لا عَيشَ إِلّا بِكَفِّ ساقِيَةٍ

ذاتَ دَلالٍ في طَرفِها مَرَضُ

No life except by the toil of the water-drawer's arms

A water-skin with sickness in its strap-handle as if, when she loosens her arms,

كَأَنَّ في الراحِ حينَ تَمزُجُها

نُجومَ دُرٍّ تَهوي وَتَنخَفِضُ

Stars of pearl plunge through the air and descend.