جحى استعان طبيباً

وكان في العين قُمْرَه

Jaha sought a doctor

Whose eyes were like two moons

دموعه قاطراتٌ

وراح يطلب قطره

His tears were like raindrops

As he asked for a drop

قال الحكيم وأبدى

مَلامحاً مكفهرّه

The wise man frowned

With angry features

يقلّب الكفّ آناً

ويقلبُ الجفن مرّه

Flipping his palm over

And flipping his eyelid repeatedly

الداء داء خطير

إنّي أُحاذر شرّه

A serious illness

I fear its harm

فما احمرارٌ كهذا

إلاّ توقُّدَ جمَره

Such redness as this

Is only the glowing ember

وعاد يخطِر زَهواً

مستكبراً ما أسرّه

He shook his head haughtily

Concealing his secret

يُلقي المخاوفَ شتّى

بنظرةٍ تِلْوَ نظره

Casting various worries

With a glance following his glance

مقطباً حاجِبَيه

كمن يعالج فِكرَه

Furrowing his eyebrows

Like one curing his thoughts

هل يستعين بنصلٍ

أم يستعين بإِبَرِه

Will he use a scalpel

Or will he use a needle?

نادى جحى ببنيه

والضحك يملأ ثغرَهُ

Jaha called his sons

Laughter filling his mouth

وقال في الطب قولاً

يبقى على الدهر عِبرَه

And he said about medicine

A saying that remains an example forever

يا آلة النفع سحقاً

قد صرت آلةَ أُجْرَه

O tool of benefit, cursed are you

You have become a tool of wages