لِقَلعُ ضِرسٍ وَضَربُ حَبسِ

وَنَزعُ نَفسٍ وَرَدُّ أَمسِ

The tearing out of a molar and imprisonment’s blow,

And the plucking out of a soul and yesterday’s return,

وَقَرُّ بَردٍ وَقَودُ فَردِ

وَدَبغُ جِلدٍ بِغَيرِ شَمسِ

And the nearness of cold and the burning of one alone,

And the tanning of skin without the sun,

وَأَكلُ ضَبٍّ وَصَيدُ دُبٍّ

وَصَرفُ حَبٍّ بِأَرضِ خَرسِ

And the eating of hyena meat and the hunting of bears,

And the spending of love in a silent land,

وَنَفخُ نارٍ وَحَملُ عارٍ

وَبَيعُ دارٍ بِرُبعِ فِلسِ

And the kindling of fire and the bearing of shame,

And the sale of a house for a quarter fils,

وَبَيعُ خُفٍّ وَعَدمُ إِلفٍ

وَضَربُ إِلفٍ بِحَبلِ قَلسِ

And the sale of shoes and the lack of intimacy,

And the striking of intimacy with a flaccid rope,

أَهوَنُ مِن وَقفَةِ الحُرِّ

يَرجو نَوالاً بِبابِ نَحسِ

Are easier than the standing of the free man

Who hopes for gifts at the door of bad luck.