1. وجارية لطهماز ربيّة

    مهنّدة التأصل أعجميّه

    And a slave-girl, a fosterling of Tahmaz,

    Indian in origin, a foreigner—

  2. شغفت بها زمانا ثم صارت

    بهجراني لها كالأجنبيّه

    I was enamored of her for a time; then she became,

    through my forsaking her, like a stranger.

  3. وفي ذات الدخان التبغ أضحى

    فوأدي هائما صافي الطويّه

    And for the bearer of tobacco smoke,

    my heart grew enamored, sincere in its affection.

  4. وهمت بها وهامت بي وكانت

    إذا ما سرت تصحبني رضيّه

    I was entranced by her, and she by me; she would,

    whenever I went, accompany me gladly.

  5. ولما قل من عسر دخاني

    وفرغنا الجراب مع الخبيّه

    And when hardship made my tobacco dwindle,

    and we emptied the pouch along with the hidden reserve,

  6. شكت جوعا وحنّت نحو قوت

    واضحت ذات أشجان بكيّه

    she complained of hunger and yearned for sustenance,

    and grew sorrowful and tearful.

  7. اذكرها المودة وهي غضبى

    وادعوها فتلحظني أبيَّه

    I remind her of our affection, while she is angry,

    and call to her, but she eyes me defiantly.

  8. فقامت تلك لمّا أن رأتني

    بلا تبغٍ وفزّت كالظبيّه

    Then the other rose when she saw me

    without tobacco, and sprang up like a gazelle.

  9. وقد شمتت وقالت بافتخارٍ

    أنا الخود المحدثة الشهيّه

    And she gloated and said with pride:

    “I am the alluring maiden who converses;

  10. ولي نطقٌ يجودُ بكل شعرٍ

    ولي نغمٌ حكى النايَ الشجيّه

    mine is a voice that pours forth every kind of verse,

    and mine a melody that echoes the plaintive flute.

  11. ورأسي مذهبٌ مملوء تبرٍ

    من التنباك والنار المضيّه

    My head is gilded, filled with gold-dust

    from tumbak tobacco and the glowing fire.

  12. وقدي اسمرٌ رطبٌ وإني

    جعلت من النضار يداً نديّه

    My figure is dusky and supple, and I

    have fashioned a dewy hand of pure gold.

  13. ويخدمني الصبا والعمر شبا

    وإني دائماً بنتٌ فتيّه

    The east wind serves me, and my years are youthful,

    and I am always a young maiden.

  14. أنا النركيلة الحسناء نطقاً

    أنادمُ كل ذي فطنٍ زكيّه

    I am the narghile, lovely in speech;

    I keep convivial company with all who have keen wit.

  15. نشأتُ بحجر طهماز وإني

    فتاةٌ ذات حسنٍ فارسيّه

    I grew up in Tahmaz's lap, and I am

    a Persian maiden endowed with beauty.

  16. ولا اشكو الطعام كما شكتهُ

    صباحاً ضرتي الخرسا الدنيّه

    Nor do I complain for food, as did

    my mute, lowly co-wife in the morning.

  17. وباتت من فروع القوت تبكي

    وأضحت بالزوايا مرتميّه

    And she spent the night weeping for various foods,

    and lay cast aside in corners.

  18. ولمّا قلّ عنها التبغ صارت

    له ماسورة تبغي المنيّه

    And when her tobacco dwindled, she became

    a tube for it, longing for death.

  19. فكيف بدلتني وبدلت حسني

    ولذاتي بعوجا منحنيّه

    How, then, have you exchanged me and my beauty

    and my delights for a crooked, bent one?

  20. فكم نادمتني ليلاً طويلاً

    وفي سحرٍ وصبح والعشيّه

    For how often you kept me convivial company through a long night,

    and before dawn, in the morning, and in the evening!

  21. وكم ناشدتك الشعر المقفى

    حديثاً في اللويلات الدجيّه

    And how often I exchanged rhymed verse with you,

    in conversation through the little dark nights!

  22. وكم اسمعتك الآلات طرّاً

    بأنغامٍ وألحانٍ سميّه

    And how often I let you hear all the instruments,

    with melodies and sublime tunes!”

  23. ورامت ان تذكرني عهوداً

    تقضت في أويقاتٍ بهيّه

    And she sought to remind me of past times

    spent in lovely little moments.

  24. فلم تمهل عليها أم تبغٍ

    ونادت كالقناة السمهريّه

    But Mother Tobacco gave her no respite,

    and called out like a stiff spear-shaft:

  25. ونادتها أفاجرة ارتداعا

    إلى كم ذا التفهق يا رديّه

    She cried to her, “Wanton one, desist!

    How long this pompous talk, vile one?

  26. أنا الهيفاء ذات اللين قد

    انيسة كل ذي رتب عليّه

    I am the slender one, supple of figure,

    the companion of everyone of lofty rank,

  27. جالس كل ذي فضل بصمت

    وآداب وأوصاف بهيّه

    keeping company with every worthy man in silence,

    with courtesy and fine qualities.

  28. أراك في يدي زيد وعمرو

    وانظرم كمكنسة مسيّه

    I see you in the hands of Zayd and Amr,

    and behold you like a copper broom.

  29. وإن كنت لدى مولاك حينا

    تجمع نحوه من كل فيّه

    And if you are with your master for a while,

    you gather people around him from every group.

  30. وان غبت تكلف ان ينادي

    عليك بجلق أو في هديّه

    And if you go missing, he must have a call made

    for you in Jilliq, or as a gift.

  31. وان دام استنادك في خباء

    ليمنعك تصدر للرزيّه

    And if you remain propped inside a tent,

    to keep you from going forth into calamity,

  32. ولما ان تدنست بخبث

    تلظّت فوقك النار الحميّه

    and when you become sullied with filth,

    the fierce fire blazes above you.

  33. تنادين الحريق بكل صوت

    يقرقر مثل ريح صرصريّه

    You cry out ‘Fire!’ with every sound

    that gurgles like a howling wind.

  34. سلي مخول عن حسني وطهري

    ونسأل عن مزاياك عطيّه

    Ask Makhoul about my beauty and purity,

    and let us ask Atiyya about your merits.

  35. فكم قد ابرزت شفتاه سبا

    وناداك هلمي يا شقيّه

    For how often his lips have let loose abuse,

    and he has called to you, ‘Come here, wretched one!’

  36. وكم نادى لطهماز بشتم

    ولعن حيث أبدع ذي البليّه

    And how often he called out to Tahmaz with insults

    and curses for inventing this affliction!

  37. تعاتبني بأني ذات فقر

    وما عندي دخان ياجفيّه

    You reproach me for being poor

    and having no tobacco, harsh one!

  38. فإني من ندا راحات شهم

    بشير المجد ذو العليا غنيّه

    For I, through the bounty of a gallant man's palms—

    Bashir of glory, lord of high rank—am rich.

  39. وإن يك فيه مدحي باختصار

    فقد فاضت عطاياه الوفيّه

    And though my praise of him is brief,

    his abundant gifts have overflowed.

  40. أدام الله نعماه بسعد

    وخلد عزّ دولته الزهيّه

    May God prolong his prosperity with good fortune,

    and perpetuate the glory of his splendid reign.

  41. وحيّاه الإله بطول عمر

    وأيده بساعده القويّة

    And may the Lord bless him with a long life,

    and support him with His mighty arm.”