ومسمع غناؤه

يبدل بالفقر الغنى

His singing brings joy,

Exchanging poverty for wealth.

شهدته في عصبةٍ

رضيتهم لي قرنا

I saw him in a group,

I was pleased to make him my companion.

أبصرته فلم تخب

فراستي لما دنا

I looked at him closely,

My insight did not fail me as I drew near.

وقلت من ذا وجهه

كيف يكون محسنا

And I asked, "Who is this with the radiant face?

How can he be so virtuous?"

ورمت أن أروح لل

ظن به ممتحنا

I intended to test him,

Suspicious of his goodness.

فقلت من بينهم

هات أخي غن لنا

I said, "Of all these people,

Bring me this man, let him sing for us!"

ويوم سلعٍ لم يكن

يومي بسلعٍ هينا

It was not an easy day,

My day in the market.

فانشال منه حاجب

وحلجب منه انحنى

He frowned, and lowered his brow,

The gathering filled with a foul odor.

وامتلأ المجلس من

فيه نسيماً منتنا

When it hit their souls,

It stirred up enmity and bitterness.

أوقع إذ وقع في الأن

فس أسباب العنا

He said what he said,

To those who would hear amidst the shadows of death.

وقال لما قال من

يسمع في ظل الفنا

He was not content with just melody and rhythm,

Until he created a new composition.

وما اكتفى باللحن وال

تخليط حتى لحنا

After all his boasting and bragging,

And tomorrow, how we will match him!

هذا وكم تكشخن ال

وغد وكم تقرنننا

He imitated musical ensembles,

As if he had composed it himself.

يوهم زمراً أنه

قطعه ودندنا

He let out a grating voice,

Beyond the acceptable limits.

وصاح صوتاً نافراً

يخرج عن حد البنا

Those present did not realize

What calamity he had brought upon them all.

وما درى محضره

ماذا على القوم جنى

Some held their noses,

Others covered their ears.

فذا يسد أنفه

وذا يسد الأذنا

A group shielded their eyes,

To block him out.

ومنهم جماعة

تستر عنه الأعينا

I became so angry I almost

Vented my rage in sorrowful song.

فاغتظت حتى كدت من

غيظٍ أبث الشجنا

I said, "People, listen!

Either to the singer or to me!"

وقلت يا قوم اسمعوا

إما المغني أو أنا

I swore I would not sit

Until this man left here.

أقسمت لا أجلس أو

يخرج هذا من هنا

"Drag this dog out by his leg,

This sickness and contempt!"

جروا برجل الكلب إن

السقم هذا والضنا

They said, "You have been merciful to us,

And averted affliction from us."

قالوا لقد رحمتنا

وذدت عنا المحنا

I rejoiced in removing him,

Easing my soul and earning their praise.

فحزت في إخراجه

راحة نفسي والثنا

When he turned his back,

I saw relief openly expressed among them.

وحين ولى شخصه

قرأت فيهم معلنا

"Praise God," they said,

"Who has removed our sorrow!"

الحمد لله الذي

أذهب عنا الحزنا