يا قاضِيَ البَصرَة ذا الوَجهِ الأَغَرِّ

إِلَيكَ أَشكو ما مَضى وَما غَبَر

O Judge of Basra, with your radiant face

O Judge of Basra, you of the radiant, noble face,

To you I complain of what has passed and gone by

To you I complain of what has passed and what takes place.

عَفا زَمانٌ وَشِتاءٌ قَد حَضَر

إِنَّ أَبا عَمرَةَ في بَيتي أَنجَحَر

Time has healed and winter has now arrived

A gentle season has faded, and winter is now here,

Abu Amrah in my house has made himself at home

And Abu Amra has burrowed deep inside my house, I fear,

بِضَربٍ بِالدَفِّ وَإِن شاءَ زَمَر

فَأَطردهُ عَنّي بِدَقيقٍ يَنتَظِر

Beating his tambourine, dancing if he pleases

Beating upon the drum, and playing the flute at his will,

So banish him from me with fine flour he awaits

So drive him away from me with flour, long awaited still.