زَوامِلُ لِلإَشعارِ لا عِلمَ عِندَهُم

زَوامِلُ لِلإَشعارِ لا عِلمَ عِندَهُم

بِجَيِّدِها إِلّا كَعِلمِ الأَباعِرِ

بِجَيِّدِها إِلّا كَعِلمِ الأَباعِرِ

Mere pack-camels for poems, with no knowledge

Pack beasts carrying poetry, they have no knowledge

Of what is good in them, save such knowledge as camels have.

of its fine verse beyond the knowledge of camels.

لَعَمرُكَ ما يَدري البَعيرُ إِذا غَدا

لَعَمرُكَ ما يَدري البَعيرُ إِذا غَدا

بِأَوساقِهِ أَو راحَ ما في الغَرائِرِ

بِأَوساقِهِ أَو راحَ ما في الغَرائِرِ

By your life, a camel does not know, when it sets out

By your life, a camel does not know, when it sets out in the morning

With its loads—or returns—what the sacks contain.

with its loads or travels in the evening, what is in the sacks.