1. يا ضرطة يُخْلِقُ الزمانُ وما

    تبرحُ إحدى الطَّرائف الجُدُدِ

    O fart, time grows old, yet

    you remain one of the fresh curiosities.

  2. أرسلها صاحب البريد كما

    قُوِّضَ بعضُ الهضاب من أُحُدِ

    The postmaster let it loose, as though

    some of Uhud’s hills had been brought crashing down.

  3. سارت بلا كُلْفَةٍ ولا تعبٍ

    سَيْر القوافي الأوابد الشُّرُدِ

    It traveled without expense or fatigue,

    as wild, far-roaming rhymes do.

  4. كأّنما طارت الرياح بها

    فألحقتْها بكل ذي بُعُدِ

    As though the winds had flown with it

    and brought it to everyone far away.

  5. لو أنَّ أخبارَهُ كضرطته

    إذن كَفَتْهُ مؤونة البُرُدِ

    If his news were like his fart,

    then it would spare him the expense of postal couriers.