تَعَلَّمَ طَيْفُورِي خِلاَلَ سَمِيِّه

تَعَلَّمَ طَيْفُورِي خِلاَلَ سَمِيِّه

وَإِنْ كَانَ مَنْسُوباً إِلَى غَيْرِ بِسْطَامِ

وَإِنْ كَانَ مَنْسُوباً إِلَى غَيْرِ بِسْطَامِ

My Tayfur has learned his namesake’s traits,

My bird learned in its cage's confinement

Though he comes from somewhere other than Bistam.

Though attributed to other than Bistam

وَجَاءَ فَقيِرَ الْوَقْتِ لاَبِس خِرْقَةٍ

وَجَاءَ فَقيِرَ الْوَقْتِ لاَبِس خِرْقَةٍ

فَلَيْسَ بِرَاضٍ غَيْرَ صُحْبَةِ صَوَّامِ

فَلَيْسَ بِرَاضٍ غَيْرَ صُحْبَةِ صَوَّامِ

And he came to the dervish of the age, wearing a patched cloak;

The poor-timed came wearing tattered robes

So he is content only with the company of one who fasts often.

Content with none but the fasting folk's company

فَدَيْتُكَ لاَ تَرْدُدْهُ عَنْكَ مُخَيْبا

فَدَيْتُكَ لاَ تَرْدُدْهُ عَنْكَ مُخَيْبا

وَدَرِّسْهُ يَا مَوْلاَيَ قِصَّةَ بِلْعَامِ

وَدَرِّسْهُ يَا مَوْلاَيَ قِصَّةَ بِلْعَامِ

May I be your ransom—do not turn him away from you disappointed.

I ransom you, don't disappoint him, spurning him away

And teach him, O my master, the story of Balaam.

Instruct him, my lord, the story of Bil'am