لحجرto the stone الحمامthe bathhouse عنديwith me يدa kindness
لحجر الحمام عندي يد
ومنةand a favor لستI am not أؤديهاrepaying it
ومنة لست أؤديها
The bath-stone has done me a kindness
The pigeon's stone I hold in hand
and a favor I do not repay.
A kindness I cannot repay
وهوand it is لرجليfor my foot صيقلa polisher لاnot ينيslackening
وهو لرجلي صيقل لا يني
عنfrom طبعgrime فيin الرجلthe foot ينقيهاcleanses it
عن طبع في الرجل ينقيها
It is a polisher for my foot, never tiring
It smooths my feet, does not complain
of cleansing the foot of its grime.
Of the stamp my foot would flay
كأنهاas though it were كورةa hive نحلof bees إذاwhen
كأنها كورة نحل إذا
غمستهاyou dipped it فيin الحبرthe ink تشبيهاby way of comparison
غمستها في الحبر تشبيها
It is like a beehive, when
As if it were a ball of beeswax
you dip it in ink—by way of comparison.
Dipped in ink, a fine display