إذاwhenever بُحْتُI spoke openly بِالشَّكْوَىof the complaint عَنَيْتُI meant مَعاشِراًgroups of people
إذا بُحْتُ بِالشَّكْوَى عَنَيْتُ مَعاشِراً
بِلاwithout راحةٍrest فيin مَدْحِهِمْpraising them أَتعبُواthey wearied ذِهنيmy mind
بِلا راحةٍ في مَدْحِهِمْ أَتعبُوا ذِهني
Whenever I voice my complaint, I mean certain folk
If I complain of weariness, a tribe have wearied my mind,
who have wearied my mind with praising them, without respite.
Seeking from me fluent eulogies; but fluent song from one who sees
يُرِيدوننيthey want me رَطْبَmoist اللِّسانِthe tongue وَمَنand who رأَىhas seen
يُرِيدونني رَطْبَ اللِّسانِ وَمَن رأَى
سِراجاًa lamp غَداbecame رَطْبَmoist اللِّسانِthe tongue بِلاwithout دُهْنِoil
سِراجاً غَدا رَطْبَ اللِّسانِ بِلا دُهْنِ
They want me moist-tongued—and who has seen
No oil within his lamp, but gets from it harshness of flame, is far.
a lamp become moist-tongued without oil?
Partial English translation: 3 of 4 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1