ومحدوبةٍ في كُلّ وقتِ ظهورُها

ومحدوبةٍ في كُلّ وقتِ ظهورُها

نخافُ عوادي غدرها فنديرُها

نخافُ عوادي غدرها فنديرُها

And a thing whose backs are forever hunched—

Her appearance is waning at every moment,

we fear its treacherous assaults, so we turn it about.

We fear the treachery of her decline so we spurn her.

لعزّت فلم يستَغنِ عنها ابنُ آدم

لعزّت فلم يستَغنِ عنها ابنُ آدم

وهانت عليهِ فَهوَ لا يستعيرُها

وهانت عليهِ فَهوَ لا يستعيرُها

It was indeed precious, so the son of Adam could not do without it;

By my honor, the son of Adam cannot do without her,

yet it grew cheap to him, so he does not borrow it.

Yet she is disdained by him - he does not seek to borrow her.

كأنّ الذي يحتالُ في ردِّ روحها

كأنّ الذي يحتالُ في ردِّ روحها

مُناج لها أو صاحبٌ يَستشيرها

مُناج لها أو صاحبٌ يَستشيرها

As though the one contriving to restore its spirit

It seems he who schemed to restore her soul,

were whispering to it, or a companion seeking its counsel.

Conversed with her, or was a friend consulting her.

كأنّ ركاماً فوقها وَهيَ تحته

كأنّ ركاماً فوقها وَهيَ تحته

عجاجٌ وطِرفلإ اشقرّ يَستَثيرُها

عجاجٌ وطِرفلإ اشقرّ يَستَثيرُها

As though a heap above it, while it lies beneath,

It seems rubble lay over her while she lay beneath,

were a dust cloud, and a chestnut steed were stirring it up.

Startling a blond, curly-haired gazelle, stirring her.