وَاللَهِ ما أَدري وَإِنّي لَسائِلٌ

مُهانَةُ ذاتُ الخَيفِ أَلأَمُ أَم سَعدُ

By God, I know not, though I question still—

Is this vile creature’s life torment or joy?

أَعَبدُ هَجينٌ أَحمَرُ اللَونِ فاقِعٌ

مُوَتَّرُ عِلباءِ القَفا قَطَطٌ جَعدُ

A red-hued slave with shaggy hair is he,

With scruffy neck, a wild cat from the wolds.

وَكانَ أَبو سَرحٍ عَقيماً فَلَم يَكُن

لَهُ وَلَدٌ حَتّى دُعيتَ لَهُ بَعدُ

Now Sarh's father was sterile, and no child

Had he, till you were called his son one day.