أبلِغِي سَيِّدَتي بال

لَهِ يا أمَّ عُبَيدَه

Lady mine, inform her that I pine,

For her, O mother of her slaves!

إنَّها أَرشَدَها ال

لَهُ وإن كانَت رَشِيدَه

Though for God her steps inclined,

And for Him if she persuades.

وَعَدَتنِي قَبلَ أن تَخ

رُجَ لِلحَجِّ وَلِيدَه

Ere the pilgrimage her foot could stir,

She did promise and did vow;

فَتَأَنَّيتُ وَأَرسَل

تُ بِعِشرِينَ قَصِيدَه

Messages with verses fair I bore,

And then verses ever new.

كُلَّما أَخلَقنَ أخلَف

تُ لها أخرَى جَدِيدَه

Twenty messengers addressed with verse,

Each forthright succeeding now.

لَيسَ في بَيتِي لِتَمهِي

دِ فِراشِي مِن قَعيدَه

No maid have I soft limbs to ply

At night's time with amorous play;

غَيرُ عَجفَاءَ عَجُوزٍ

سَاقُها مِثلُ القَدِيدَه

Naught but haggard old woman whose

Legs like pestles gnarled away;

وَجهُهَا أقبَحُ مِن حُو

تٍ طَرِيٍّ في عَصِيدَه

Face more ugly than the owls

That o'er ruins drear hold sway.

ما حَيَاةٌ مَعَ أُنثَى

مِثلَ عِرسِي بِسَعِيدَه

No life's joy with partner chained

As mine, burdened cares at bay!