جاء الشتاء والصيفُ ولّى القهقرى

كأنه طيفٌ سرى حين الكرى

Winter came and summer went backwards

As if it were a ghost that passed during turmoil

والزيزُ كان ابداً لا ينثني

عن الغِنا بصوته المستَحسنِ

And the cicada was always singing

With his beautiful voice praising abundance

حتى إذا قرصه بردُ الشتا

أيقنَ أن شملَه تشتتا

Until the cold winter pinched him

He realized his cloak was torn

جاء إلى النملَةِ يشكو جوعَه

بحرقةٍ مسترسلاً دموعَه

He went to the ant complaining of his hunger

Profusely crying his tears

قال لها بذلَّةٍ يا جارتي

حني علي وارفقي بحالتي

He said to her humbly, my neighbor

Have mercy on me and care for my state

أرجوك يا صاحبة الفضل الكثير

أن تقرضيني بعض حبّات الشعير

I beg you, O owner of great kindness

To lend me some grains of barley

أعيشُ فيها زمَنَ الشتاءِ

وقد تخلَّصتُ من العناءِ

So I can live during the winter days

And get rid of this misery

حتى إذا الصيفُ أتى يا ماجدة

أَعَدتُها بأَصلها والفائدة

Until summer comes again O glorious one

I will return it with interest

وكان عيبُ النملة الأقلُّ

أن لا ترى في الدَينِ ما يحلُّ

But the flaw of the ant was that she saw no good in debt

What did you do during the harvest season?

ماذا فعلتَ زمن الحصائد

كنتُ أُغنِّي للورى قصائدي

I was singing poems to people

She said you did well young man

قالت لقد أحسنتَ فعلاً يا فتى

غنيتَ فصل الصيف فارقص في الشتا

You sang in summer so dance in winter