خليلي هل من شربةٍ تجدانها

لذي غلَّة والخلُّ يشكو إلى الخلِّ

My friend, is there a drink you can offer

To quench my thirst, as vinegar complains to vinegar?

ظمئت وما بالي ظمئت ولم أبتْ

بدارات حزوى لا ولا منبت النخل

I'm parched, though I know not why I'm parched, not having been

In the valleys of Huzwa, nor by a date palm grove.

لحى الله من تلقاه لا سائغ الندى

ولا خصر النعمى ولا سابغ الظلِّ

May God shame him who meets him, with no fresh dew to drink,

No slender waisted fair maid, no shade in which to rest.

أميراً لو أنَّ النيل في بطن كفّهِ

لأعطش بطنَ الأرض والحزن والسهل

A prince, if the Nile were in the palm of his hand,

Would deny the earth its bellyful, deny the grief and plain their water.

ولو كان يلقاهُ بضيفٍ عدوَّهُ

لماتَ أسى من غير سهمِ ولا نصل

And if he met a guest who was his foe,

He would die of misery without arrow or blade.

ولو أن أيدي الخيلِ من مثل وجههِ

وأرجلها ما احتاج حافٍ إلى نعل

And if the legs of horses were made of his face,

Their hooves would have no need of shoes.

سواء لديهِ الماء والمالُ ضنَّةً

فمتْ عطشاً أن كنت تطمع في بذل

To him water and wealth are equally mean,

So die of thirst if you hope for his charity.

وكيف يكون الجودُ عادةَ مثلهِ

وقد خلقت كفَّاهُ من طينهِ البخل

How can generosity be his habit,

When his palms were created from the clay of stinginess?

فتى هو أهدى في المعاصي من القطا

وأجمع لكن للمخازي من النمل

A youth he is, more astray in disobedience than a cat,

And more inclined to filth than an ant.