ياO شاعراًpoet بسقوطهof his downfall لمdid not يشعرrealize
يا شاعراً بسقوطه لم يشعر
ماnot كنتyou were أولthe first طامعhopeful person لمdid not يظفرِsucceed
ما كنت أول طامع لم يظفرِ
O poet unaware of his own downfall,
You were hardly the first hopeful man to fail.
لوif كنتyou were تعرفto know والداًa father تسموyou could rise بهthrough him
لو كنت تعرف والداً تسمو به
لمyou would not تنتسبclaim kinship ضعةin lowliness الىwith تلعفرTal‘afar
لم تنتسب ضعة الى تلعفر
If you knew a father whose name could raise you,
You would not stoop to claiming kinship with Tal‘afar.
تاهstrutted ابنthe son of بائعةa seller of الفسوقvice علىabove الورىall people
تاه ابن بائعة الفسوق على الورى
بقذالwith a nape صفعانmuch slapped ونكهةand a breath ابخرfoul-smelling
بقذال صفعان ونكهة ابخر
The son of a seller of vice strutted above all others
With a slap-battered nape and foul breath,
وبلادةand dullness فيin الشعرpoetry تشهدattests انهthat he is
وبلادة في الشعر تشهد انه
تيسa billy goat ولوeven if نصرتyou were aided بطبعby the gift of البحتريal-Buhturi
تيس ولو نصرت بطبع البحتري
And a dullness in poetry that proves he is
A billy goat, even if aided by al-Buhturi’s gift.
يحلوtastes sweet بأفواهto the mouths of الاناملthe fingertips صفعهslapping him
يحلو بأفواه الانامل صفعه
حتىuntil كأنas though قذالهthe back of his head منwere made of سكرsugar
حتى كأن قذاله من سكر
Slapping him tastes sweet to the mouths of fingertips,
As though the back of his head were made of sugar.
Translation model: Sol 6