لاdo not تعجبواmarvel (you, plural) لكويتبat a petty scribbler صعفتwere slapped
لا تعجبوا لكويتب صعفت
أصداغهhis temples حتىuntil لقدindeed نتأتbulged out
أصداغه حتى لقد نتأت
Do not marvel at a petty scribbler, slapped
Do not wonder that Quwaib grew weak,
On his temples until they bulged out.
His temples have withered away.
فيin اذنهhis ear الأقلامthe pens قدalready زرعتwere planted
في اذنه الأقلام قد زرعت
لكنهاbut they فيin صدغهhis temple نشأتsprouted
لكنها في صدغه نشأت
Pens were planted in his ear,
Pens were planted in his ear,
But they sprouted in his temple.
But they grew in his temple.