أحسَنُ من موقفٍ على طَلَلِ

أحسَنُ من موقفٍ على طَلَلِ

وم عُقارٍ جرَت على ثمل

وم عُقارٍ جرَت على ثمل

Better than a halt beside a ruined campsite,

Better than standing on ruins

Far better than a vigil by the ruins,

And [than] wine that flowed over a drunkard,

And a house whose occupants have departed

Or wine that flows to cheer the drunken soul,

ومن حضورِ الربوع تندبُها

ومن حضورِ الربوع تندبُها

ومن بكاءٍ لرحلةِ الإبل

ومن بكاءٍ لرحلةِ الإبل

And than visiting the dwelling places, lamenting them,

And the winds mourning their absence

Better than mourning at the desert camps,

And than weeping over the camels’ departure,

And the camels' weeping on their journey

Or weeping as the camel caravans roll,

نعتُ رغيفٍ كأنّهُ قمرٌ

نعتُ رغيفٍ كأنّهُ قمرٌ

لم يكُ خبّازهُ على وجَل

لم يكُ خبّازهُ على وجَل

Is describing a loaf as though it were a moon:

I describe a loaf like a moon

Is the praise of a loaf, resplendent as the moon,

Its baker was not in fear,

Whose baker was unhurried

Whose baker worked with neither fear nor haste,

مدوّرُ الخلقِ ليّنٌ دمِثٌ

مدوّرُ الخلقِ ليّنٌ دمِثٌ

تأكلهُ خالياً على مهَل

تأكلهُ خالياً على مهَل

Round in shape, soft and tender,

Round in shape, soft and smooth

Round in creation, tender to the touch,

You eat it alone, at leisure.

Eaten plain, slowly savored

To eat alone and savor at your taste.