لو أن رِجْليَ عِرسِه يداها

لو أن رِجْليَ عِرسِه يداها

ما أخطأتْهُ رحمةٌ تغشاها

ما أخطأتْهُ رحمةٌ تغشاها

If his wife's two legs were her hands,

If only her ankles were his wrist

no mercy enveloping her would miss him.

No mercy would miss him when it covered her

مذ خُلقت مرفوعةً رجلاها

مذ خُلقت مرفوعةً رجلاها

كأنما تستغفرانِ اللهَ

كأنما تستغفرانِ اللهَ

Since she was created, her two legs have been raised,

Since her legs were created high

as though both were seeking God's forgiveness.

As if they both beg Allah for forgiveness

يلومُهُ الناسُ إنِ اصطفاها

يلومُهُ الناسُ إنِ اصطفاها

مع الذي يُخبَرُ مِنْ زِناها

مع الذي يُخبَرُ مِنْ زِناها

People blame him if he chooses her,

People blame him if he chooses her

given what is reported of her adultery.

As for the one who knows her adultery

وخالدٌ يدري لمَ اجتباها

وخالدٌ يدري لمَ اجتباها

من كان يشفي داءَهُ لولاها

من كان يشفي داءَهُ لولاها

And Khalid knows why he selected her:

And Khaled knows why he chose her

who would cure his affliction were it not for her?

Who would heal his disease without her?

يمنعها الشيخُ من اشْتهاها

يمنعها الشيخُ من اشْتهاها

أو يحبس الأصلعَ في دَباها

أو يحبس الأصلعَ في دَباها

The old man withholds her from whoever desires her,

The old man prevents her from her desire

or confines the bald one among her young locusts.

Or imprisons the bald man in his attraction to her