أرقصوه بقولهم فيلسوف

أرقصوه بقولهم فيلسوف

حين غنت على قفاه الكفوف

حين غنت على قفاه الكفوف

They made him dance by calling him a philosopher,

They danced him with their saying he's a philosopher

when palms sang upon the back of his neck.

When the palms clapped upon his nape

كاتب الشرق ماله من جزاء

كاتب الشرق ماله من جزاء

غير صفع السقاة حين تطوف

غير صفع السقاة حين تطوف

The writer of the East has no reward

The writer of the East, he has no reward

but the cupbearers’ slaps as they make their rounds.

Except the slaps of the water-carriers as they circle round

وله السبك حين ينشى وما يسـ

وله السبك حين ينشى وما يسـ

ـبك مما يخط إلا الحروف

ـبك مما يخط إلا الحروف

And his is the casting when he composes; yet he casts

And his is the pouring forth when he composes but he pours not forth

nothing of what he writes but letters.

Except the letters of what he writes

كذبت في باينه كل دعوى

كذبت في باينه كل دعوى

هو في الناس سارق معروف

هو في الناس سارق معروف

Every claim about his eloquence has proved false;

Every claim against him is a lie

among people, he is a well-known thief.

Among the people he's a known thief