كادَ دَندانُ بِأَن يَجعَلَني

يَومَ ناباذَ طَعاماً لِلسَّمَك

My teeth almost made me

One day prey for the fish

قُلتُ دَندانَ أَغِثني فَمَضى

وَأَنا أَعلو وَأَهوي في الدَّرَك

I said: "Teeth, save me," but on they went

As I ascended and plunged into the abyss

وَلَقَد أَوقَعَني في وَرطَةٍ

شَيَّبَت رَأسي وَعايَنتُ المَلَك

They cast me into dire straits

Graying my hair, bringing me to death's door

لَيتَ دَندانَ بِكَفَّي أَسَدٍ

أَو قَتيلاً ثاوِياً فيمَن هَلَك

I wish, o teeth, you were a lion's claws

Or a corpse laid out among the dead