تَزِلُّ القَوافي عَن لِساني كَأَنَّها

تَزِلُّ القَوافي عَن لِساني كَأَنَّها

حُماتُ الأَفاعي ريقُهُنَّ تَصَبُّبُ

حُماتُ الأَفاعي ريقُهُنَّ تَصَبُّبُ

Rhymes slip from my tongue as though they were

The rhymes slip from my tongue as though they were

vipers’ venom, their saliva gushing forth.

The venom of serpents, their spittle pouring forth.

فَكَم مِن أَخٍ قَد كانَ يَأمَلُ نَفعَكُم

فَكَم مِن أَخٍ قَد كانَ يَأمَلُ نَفعَكُم

شُجاعٍ لَهُ نابٌ حَديدٌ وَمِخلَبُ

شُجاعٍ لَهُ نابٌ حَديدٌ وَمِخلَبُ

For many a brother had hoped for help from you,

So many a brother who hoped to benefit you -

brave, with a sharp fang and a claw—

A brave warrior with iron fangs and claws -

أَخٌ لَو شَكَرتُم فَضلَهُ وَعَضَضتُمُ

أَخٌ لَو شَكَرتُم فَضلَهُ وَعَضَضتُمُ

رُؤوسَ الأَفاعي عَضَّ لا يَتَهَيَّبُ

رُؤوسَ الأَفاعي عَضَّ لا يَتَهَيَّبُ

a brother who, had you thanked him for his kindness and bitten

A brother, if you had but thanked his merit and bitten

the heads of vipers, would have bitten without fear.

The heads of serpents with a bite that does not hesitate.