كل العجائب قد سمعت وما أرى

كل العجائب قد سمعت وما أرى

أني سمعت لشاعرٍ قرنان

أني سمعت لشاعرٍ قرنان

I have heard of every marvel, yet I do not think

I heard of all wonders, yet I see not

I have heard of a poet with two horns:

That I heard of a poet with two horns

قرن يحك به السماء ومثله

قرن يحك به السماء ومثله

ذنب يزور الحوت في الأزمان

ذنب يزور الحوت في الأزمان

One horn with which he scratches the sky, and its equal—

One horn that scrapes the sky and the like of it

A tail that visits the whale through the ages.

A tail that visits the whale through times

وإذا تحدث أحدثت لهواتهُ

وإذا تحدث أحدثت لهواتهُ

فترى الأنوف تلوذ بالأردان

فترى الأنوف تلوذ بالأردان

And when he speaks, his throat breaks wind,

And when he talks he talks nonsense

So you see noses seeking refuge in sleeves.

So you see the noses take refuge in sleeve cuffs

وترى أخادعه تعط كأرنبٍ

وترى أخادعه تعط كأرنبٍ

عكفت عليه مناسر العقبان

عكفت عليه مناسر العقبان

And you see his neck-veins being torn like a hare

And you see his lies give like a rabbit

Over which the eagles’ hooked beaks have gathered.

That eagles' beaks crouch over