وَمَملوكَةٍ عِندي حَديثٌ نِتاجُها

أَتَتني بِمَولودٍ وَما بَلَغَت شَهرا

A slave girl I have, her story

Brought me a newborn, before a month passed,

عَلى أَنَّها بِكرٌ حَصانٌ وَعالِقٌ

وَهذا لَعَمري مُشكلٌ يُتعبُ الفِكرا

Though a maiden, a filly, untouched,

This is strange, it tires my mind,

وَقَد وَلَدَتها أُمُّها وَهيَ حامِلٌ

فَيا عَجباً إِنّي أَرى أَمرُها نُكرا

Her mother birthed her while pregnant,

How odd, her matter seems obscure,

وَمُذ نَبَذَتها أُمُّها حَفِيَت بِها

حُنُواً وَضَمَّتها إِلى جَنبِها أُخرى

Since her mother discarded her, I took her in,

Held her close, next to my chest,

وَفي جَمعِها نقصٌ وَتَصحيفُ عكسه

يَكونُ لَهُ صيتٌ وَلَيسَ لَهُ ذِكرى

In her gathering is a lack, and distortion the opposite,

It will have fame, but no memory.