دعها أبا وجزةَ واقعُد في الغنَم

دعها أبا وجزةَ واقعُد في الغنَم

فسوف يكفيك غُلامٌ كالزلم

فسوف يكفيك غُلامٌ كالزلم

Leave her, Abu Wajzah, and sit among the sheep.

Leave her be, father, and sit with the sheep

For a lad like an arrow shaft will suffice you.

For soon a boy like a colt will suffice you,

مشمّر يرفَل في نَقلٍ حذَم

مشمّر يرفَل في نَقلٍ حذَم

وفي قَفَاهُ لقمةٌ مِنَ اللُقَم

وفي قَفَاهُ لقمةٌ مِنَ اللُقَم

With garments tucked up, he struts in worn, tattered sandals.

Bare-armed, swaggering with sturdy stride,

And on his nape is a morsel among morsels.

In his nape a morsel of food,

قد ولّهت ألافُها غير لَمَم

قد ولّهت ألافُها غير لَمَم

حتى تناهَت في قَفا جعدٍ أحَم

حتى تناهَت في قَفا جعدٍ أحَم

Its intimates have been driven mad—not with a passing fit—

Whose thousands have turned him from blame

Until it came to rest on a dark, curly-haired man's nape.

Until he ends in the nape of a ruddy dark-haired one.