ليت شعرِي من ناكه بِهجائي

ليت شعرِي من ناكه بِهجائي

من هَجاني له من الشعراءِ

من هَجاني له من الشعراءِ

Would that I knew who fucked him in return for lampooning me—

Would that I knew who with satire assailed me,

which of the poets lampooned me for him.

Who provoked me, though he be of the poets the meanest.

مَنْ عَذيرِي يا قومِ من أَشْبهِ الأُمـ

مَنْ عَذيرِي يا قومِ من أَشْبهِ الأُمـ

ـمَة بابن الكَرّاعة القَطْعاءِ

ـمَة بابن الكَرّاعة القَطْعاءِ

Who will vindicate me, my people, against the man who, of all the people, most resembles

My excuse, O folk, who resembles of all the peoples

the son of the maimed guzzling woman?

The son of Karra` with his cutting satire?

يشتري باسته هجائي لقد قا

يشتري باسته هجائي لقد قا

متْ عليه عداوتي بالغلاءِ

متْ عليه عداوتي بالغلاءِ

He buys satire against me with his ass; indeed, it has cost

He buys my satire at a price, indeed against him

him dearly to be my enemy.

My enmity is strong however high the cost.

مَهْرُه كُفْءُ عُقْرِه بل كثيرٌ

مَهْرُه كُفْءُ عُقْرِه بل كثيرٌ

ذلك المهرُ لاسْتِه البَخراءِ

ذلك المهرُ لاسْتِه البَخراءِ

His bride-price matches his fee for sex—or rather, too much

His fine the like of his wound, nay more;

is that bride-price for his foul-smelling ass.

Such a price befits his cheapness of soul.