1. إلفٌ لنا بارعُ الصفات

    غرابُ بَيْنِ المُغنِّياتِ

    A companion of ours, outstanding in his qualities,

    a raven of parting among the songstresses.

  2. مُكدَّحٌ شهرَنا بكيٌّ

    مطفَّلٌ فائقُ الثباتِ

    Scarred and tearful, he has made us notorious,

    a sponger of extraordinary persistence.

  3. لا يؤمنُ الناسُ من غُدُوٍّ

    ولا رواحٍ ولا بياتِ

    People are not safe from his morning visits,

    nor his evening visits, nor his overnight stays.

  4. قد اشترى الدورَ من ذويها

    وطالبَ القومَ بالبَتاتِ

    He has bought the houses from their owners,

    and pressed the people for the furnishings.

  5. يا مسلمونَ انفروا جميعاً

    إليه أوْ اِنْفروا ثُباتِ

    O Muslims, march forth all together,

    to him—or march forth in bands.

  6. ذو رُقيةٍ من رُقى طُفيلٍ

    يأخذُ بالعين كالسُّباتِ

    He possesses a charm from the charms of Tufayl;

    he takes hold of the eye like deep sleep.

  7. أُغريَ بالمُحسنينَ وصفي

    وهمُّهُ وصفُ محسناتِ

    My praise is drawn to benefactors,

    while his concern is describing accomplished women.

  8. ووجهُ مظلومة هواهُ

    وهمُّها في بني الفُراتِ

    And Mazluma's face is his desire,

    while her thoughts are with the sons of al-Furat.

  9. يصطبحُ الخمرَ كلَّ يومٍ

    ولو على الريق والفُتاتِ

    He takes his morning wine every day,

    even on an empty stomach and with crumbs.