قالوا كسا الزقزوق واعظه

قالوا كسا الزقزوق واعظه

فأجبت تلك رذيلة الفلك

فأجبت تلك رذيلة الفلك

They said: Al-Zaqzuq clothed his preacher.

They said the falcon lost his preacher,

I replied: That is the baseness of the celestial sphere.

So I replied, that knave of fate:

ما زال يسفل في صناعته

ما زال يسفل في صناعته

من بعد حوك السحب والحبك

من بعد حوك السحب والحبك

It has kept sinking lower in its craft

He still excels in his own nature

Since weaving the clouds and the celestial patterns,

Though clouds and threads he congregate,

حتى ثنى الزرزور بعد وثير الر

حتى ثنى الزرزور بعد وثير الر

ريش في قشر من السمك

ريش في قشر من السمك

Until it wrapped the starling—after soft

Until the chirper bends his feathers so well

Feathers—in fish scales.

In flecks of fish he pecks his bait.