أَنعَتُ كَلباً لَقِنَ النُحاسِ

مَحسورَ أَقطارِ شُؤونِ الراسِ

I eulogize a dog endowed with wisdom

I describe a hound, quick-witted and pure of stock,

Whose affairs fill the horizons

With head stripped lean, exposing the skull's seams,

يُديرُ في وَقبَينِ ذا حِماسِ

طَمّاحَتَينِ كَلَظى المِقباسِ

He turns in my embrace with zeal

Rolling a zealous glance within deep sockets,

With two ambitious, burning eyes

Two keen eyes glowing like a torch's brand,

مِثلَ اِحوِرارِ الشادِنِ المَيّاسِ

مُسَلَّكِ الخَلقِ كَغُصنِ الآسِ

Like the redness of the hot ember

Wide and dark like those of the swaying gazelle,

Straight in conduct like a sapling

Smoothly threaded in build like a myrtle bough,

نِعمَ الخَليلُ وَالأَخُ المُواسي

مِن غَيرِ ما بَيعٍ وَلا مِكاسِ

What a fine comrade and consoling brother

What an excellent companion and consoling brother,

Without any sale or carouse

Acquired without sale or the haggler’s price,

كَم تَيسِ رَملِ لاحَ في الكِناسِ

عَفَّرَهُ بِجانِبَي أَوطاسِ

How many billy goats has he vanquished in the thickets

How many a sand-buck appearing in its cover,

He tracks them down near the cliffs

Did he cast into the dust beside the vales of Awtas,

لَم يُعطَ إِلّا مِثلَهُ النُواسي

لَم يُعطَ إِلّا مِثلَهُ النُواسي

None can match him but his equal

None but his like was gifted to al-Nuwasi,

None can match him but his equal

None but his like was gifted to al-Nuwasi,