أَبُو قَذِيرٍ بَغَى عَلَيْنَا

وَمَنْ يُطِيقُ أَبَا قَذِيرِ

Abu Qadhir has transgressed against us,

And who could ever endure Abu Qadhir?

لَا أَسْتَطِيعُ لًهُ دِفَاعاً

إِلاَّ بِمَقْدُرَةِ الْقَدِيرِ

I have no power to fend him off,

Except by the power of the Almighty.

لَا أَسْتَطِيعُ غِلاَبَ لَيْثٍ

ضَارٍ لَهُ وَثْبَةُ النُّمُورِ

I cannot overcome a lion,

A fierce predator with the leap of leopards.

وَلَا أُطِيقُ لَهُ سِبَالاً

كَأَنَّهَا شَرَرُ السَّعِيرِ

Nor can I withstand his bristling mustache,

Which flashes like the sparks of a blazing fire.

يُقِيمُهَا حَنَقاً وَغَيْظاً

كَأَنَّهُ اغْتَاظَ مِنْ كَفُورِ

He makes it stand on end in rage and fury,

As though enraged by an infidel.

لَكِنْ أَنَا مُؤْمِنٌ بِرَبِّي

رَبِّ الْوَرَى الْوَاحِدِ الْكَبِيرِ

But I am a steadfast believer in my Lord,

The Lord of all creation, the One, the Great.

وَمَا عَدِمْتُ لَكُمْ وِدَاداً

أَصْفَى مِنَ السَّلْسَلِ النَّمِيرِ

And I have never lacked affection for you,

Purer than a fresh and sweet-flowing stream.

أَهْوَى لَكُمْ وَالْإِلَهُ يَدْرِي

خَيْراً يَجِلُّ عَنِ الْخَيُورِ

I wish for you—and God knows this well—

A goodness that transcends all other blessings.

وَالشِّعْرُ يُعْرِبُ عَنْ ضَمِيرِي

كَالنَّشْرِ يُعْرِبُ عَنْ عَبِيرِ

And poetry gives voice to my inner soul,

Just as the diffusing scent reveals the perfume.