متهلل زجل تحنُّ رواعدٌ

في حجرتيه وتستطير بروقُ

A drinking feast rolls ankles,

Lightning flashes in his room,

سدت أوائله سبيل أواخر

لم يدر سائقهن كيف يسوق

His first denied the path to last drinks,

Not knowing how to lead them on.

فسجا وأسعد حالبيه بدرة

منه سواعدُ ثرَّةٌ وعروق

So he closed up and brought joy

To them that milked his slaughtered cow,

وتنفست فيه الصبا فتبجست

منه الكلى فأديمه معقوق

Till from sapped veins he sniffed the air

And disembowelled his strength and health.

حتى إذا قُضيت لقيعان الملا

عنه حقوق بعدهن حقوق

At last when huge debts swallowed all,

Claims on claims came raining in,

طفقت رواياه تجر مزادها

فوق الربا ومزادها مشقوق

His tales began to sell themselves

Above the going interest rates,

وتضاحك الروض الكئيب لصوبه

حتى تفتق نوره المرتوق

And laughing meadows round him glowed

Until their longed-for light broke through,

وتنسمت نفحاته فكأنه

مسك تضوع فأره مفتوق

His breaths like freighted musk were freed

To wander where they would.

وتغرد المُكَّاء فيه كأنه

طَرِبٌ تعلَّل بالغناء مَشوق

The owl sings merrily as though

He strings the pearls of melody.