لمّا رَأَيتُ البَزَّ وَالشارَه
وَالفَرشَ قَد ضاقَت بِهِ الحارَه
When I saw the fruits and nuts
Overflowing every home
وَاللَوزَ وَالسُكَّرَ يُرمى بِهِ
مِن فَوقِ ذي الدارِ وَذي الدارَه
Raisins and sugar being thrown
From lofty houses all around
وَأَحضَروا المُلهَينِ لَم يَترُكوا
طَبلاً وَلا صاحِبَ زَمّارَه
They brought entertainers, leaving
No drum or flute player absent
قُلتُ لِماذا قيلَ أُعجوبَةٌ
مُحَمَّدٌ زُوِّجَ عَمّارَه
I asked, why do they say it's a miracle-
That Muhammad married 'Ammarah!
لا عَمَّرَ اللَهُ بِها بَيتَهُ
وَلا رَأَتهُ مُدرِكاً ثارَه
May God not bless through her his house
Nor let him see his vengeance sated
ماذا رَأَت فيهِ وَماذا رَجَت
وَهيَ مِنَ النِسوانِ مُختارَه
What did she see in him, what did she hope for
She, chosen among all women?
أَسوَدُ كَالسَفّودِ يُنسى لَدى
التَنّورِ بَل مِحراكُ قَيّارَه
Black as tar, forgotten by
The bread oven - though he's a baker
يُجري عَلى أَولادِهِ خَمسَةً
أَرغِفَةً كَالريشِ طَيّارَه
He feeds his five children
Bread as insubstantial as feathers
وَأَهلُهُ في الأَرضِ مِن خَوفِهِ
إِن أَفرَطوا في الأَكلِ سَيّارَه
His family, fearing him, eat sparingly
Else receive his blows
وَيحَكِ فِرّي وَاِعصِبي ذاكَ بي
فَهذِهِ أُختُكِ فَرّارَه
He brags "Obey me, girl! Your sister,
I am she who got away!"
إِذا غَفا بِاللَيلِ فَاِستَيقِظي
ثُمَّ اِظفري إِنَّكِ ظَفّارَه
"Awake at night, then sneak out!
You're clever enough for that!"
فَصَعَّدَت نائِلَةً سُلَّماً
تَخافُ أَن تَصعَدَهُ الفارَه
Nailah climbed a ladder
Fearing a mouse might climb after
سُرورُ غَرَّتها فَلا أَفلَحَت
فَإِنَّها اللَخناءُ غَرّارَه
Happy in her error - she could not succeed!
That smooth-talking trickster
لَو نِلتَ ما أُبعِدتَ مِن ريقِها
إِنَّ لَها نَفثَة سَحّارَه
Had you tasted her spittle
Her breath's bewitching charm!
