يا بانيَ الدَّرجِ الذي أولَى به

لو كان يعقل هَدْمُها من دارِهِ

O builder of the staircase, which, had it sense,

Its ruin would have been foremost in its thought,

لا تبنينَّ بنيةً قوَّادةً

تُزْني بناتِ أبي البنات بجارِهِ

Build no edifice that plays the pimp

And beautifies the daughters of Abu'l-Banat for its neighbor.

لم يَبنها إلا امرؤ متعصّبٌ

للكَشْخ يعجبه ارتفاع شَنارِهِ

None built it but a man of violent passion

Who admires the steep height of its gable.

يا بانيَ الدرج الوثيق بناؤُها

بالصخر ينقله على أشفارِهِ

O builder of the staircase, so stoutly constructed

With rock transported on his shoulders,

شكراً لما هتَّكن من حُرماتِهِ

لا بل لما كثَّرن من أصهارِهِ

Thanks for letting me violate his harem;

Nay rather, for multiplying my in-laws.

كم غافلٍ في سُوقه قنَّعتَهُ

في عُونه خِزياً وفي أبكارِهِ

How many a heedless man hast thou hoodwinked

With shame for his help and for his daughters!

لو غار هدَّمها بفيهِ وأنفهِ

طلباً لها حتى المماتِ بثارِهِ

Had he been jealous he had demolished it with his mouth and nose

Seeking vengeance for it until his dying day.

لكنهُ رجلٌ يبرِّجُ عِرْسَهُ

وبناتِه ليزدْنَ في أنصارِهِ

But he is a man who decks out his wedding feast

That his daughters may increase their partisans.