أَلَيسَis it not عَجيباًstrange أَنَّنيthat I مَعdespite تَسَبُبيmy striving for a livelihood
أَلَيسَ عَجيباً أَنَّني مَع تَسَبُبي
وَشِعريand my poetry ماnot أَعطَيتI have been given جداًgood fortune وَلاnor حداan advantage
وَشِعري ما أَعطَيت جداً وَلا حدا
Is it not strange that, despite my striving
And my poetry, I have been granted neither good fortune nor an advantage?
وَإِنيand indeed I إِذاwhen ماever (emphatic) زُرتI visit قَوماًsome people مُسلِّماًoffering greetings
وَإِني إِذا ما زُرت قَوماً مُسلِّماً
حَجَبتُI am denied entry فَظَنواso they think إِنَّنيthat I أَبتَغيseek رَفداa gift
حَجَبتُ فَظَنوا إِنَّني أَبتَغي رَفدا
And whenever I visit people to offer greetings,
I am denied entry, for they think I seek a gift.
وَقَدand indeed طالَhas lasted long إِفلاسيmy poverty وَأَحسَبُand I am thought مُثرياwealthy
وَقَد طالَ إِفلاسي وَأَحسَبُ مُثريا
فَأَصبَحتso I have come to be لاnot يُجدىgifts are given عَليَّto me وَأَستَجديand I beg
فَأَصبَحت لا يُجدى عَليَّ وَأَستَجدي
My poverty has long endured, yet I am thought wealthy,
So I receive no gifts, though I beg.
Sol 6.1