وَاللَهِby God ماnot أَدريI know وَإِنّيand indeed I لَسائِلٌam certainly asking
وَاللَهِ ما أَدري وَإِنّي لَسائِلٌ
مُهانَةُMuhanah ذاتُshe of الخَيفِal-Khayf أَلأَمُbaser أَمor سَعدُSa'd
مُهانَةُ ذاتُ الخَيفِ أَلأَمُ أَم سَعدُ
By God, I do not know, and indeed I ask:
By God, I know not, though I question still—
Is Muhanah of al-Khayf baser, or Sa'd?
Is this vile creature’s life torment or joy?
أَعَبدُO slave هَجينٌof mixed birth أَحمَرُred اللَونِin color فاقِعٌglaringly bright
أَعَبدُ هَجينٌ أَحمَرُ اللَونِ فاقِعٌ
مُوَتَّرُtaut عِلباءِsinew of القَفاthe nape قَطَطٌtightly curled جَعدُcurly-haired
مُوَتَّرُ عِلباءِ القَفا قَطَطٌ جَعدُ
O slave of mixed birth, glaringly red in color,
A red-hued slave with shaggy hair is he,
With taut nape-sinews, tight-curled and curly-haired!
With scruffy neck, a wild cat from the wolds.
وَكانَand was أَبوAbu سَرحٍSarh عَقيماًsterile فَلَمso not يَكُنthere was
وَكانَ أَبو سَرحٍ عَقيماً فَلَم يَكُن
لَهُfor him وَلَدٌa child حَتّىuntil دُعيتَyou were called لَهُhis بَعدُafterward
لَهُ وَلَدٌ حَتّى دُعيتَ لَهُ بَعدُ
And Abu Sarh was sterile, so there was no
Now Sarh's father was sterile, and no child
Child of his until you were later called his son.
Had he, till you were called his son one day.
Sol 6.1