1. لَمّا دَعا داعي أَبي الأَشبالِ

    مُبَشِّراً بِأَوَّلِ الأَنجالِ

    When the herald of Abu al-Ashbal called out,

    Bringing glad tidings of his firstborn,

  2. سَعَت سِباعُ الأَرضِ وَالسَماءِ

    وَاِنعَقَدَ المَجلِسُ لِلهَناءِ

    The beasts of prey of earth and sky came hurrying,

    And the assembly convened to offer congratulations.

  3. وَصَدَرَ المَرسومُ بِالأَمانِ

    في الأَرضِ لِلقاصي بِها وَالداني

    And a decree of safe conduct was issued

    Throughout the land, for those within it, far and near.

  4. فَضاقَ بِالذُيولِ صَحنُ الدار

    مِن كُلِّ ذي صوفٍ وَذي مِنقارِ

    So the house's courtyard was crowded with tails,

    Of every woolly creature and every creature with a beak.

  5. حَتّى إِذا اِستَكمَلت الجَمعِيَّه

    نادى مُنادي اللَيثِ في المَعِيَّه

    When at last the gathering was complete,

    The lion's herald called out among the retinue:

  6. هَل مِن خَطيبٍ مُحسِنٍ خَبير

    يَدعو بِطولِ العُمرِ لِلأَمير

    “Is there a skilled, experienced orator

    Who will pray for a long life for the prince?”

  7. فَنَهَضَ الفيلُ المُشيرُ السامي

    وَقالَ ما يَليقُ بِالمَقام

    Then the elephant, the exalted marshal, rose,

    And said what befitted the occasion.

  8. ثُمَّ تَلاهُ الثَعلَبُ السَفيرُ

    يُنشِدُ حَتّى قيلَ ذا جَرير

    Then the fox, the ambassador, followed him,

    Reciting verses, until they said, “This is Jarir!”

  9. وَاِندَفَعَ القِردُ مُديرُ الكاسِ

    فَقيلَ أَحسَنتَ أَبا نُواسِ

    And the monkey, the cupbearer, sprang forward,

    Then they said, “Well done, Abu Nuwas!”

  10. وَأَومَأَ الحِمارُ بِالعَقيرَة

    يُريدُ أَن يُشَرِّفَ العَشيرَه

    And the donkey signaled with his voice,

    Wishing to honor the clan.

  11. فَقالَ بِاِسمِ خالِقِ الشَعير

    وَباعِثِ العَصا إِلى الحَمير

    Then he said, “In the name of the Creator of barley,

    And the sender of the stick to donkeys!”

  12. فَأَزعَجَ الصَوتُ وَلِيَّ العَهدِ

    فَماتَ مِن رَعدَتِهِ في المَهدِ

    The sound then startled the heir apparent,

    So he died of fright in his cradle.

  13. فَحَمَلَ القَومُ عَلى الحِمارِ

    بِجُملَةِ الأَنيابِ وَالأَظفارِ

    Then the company fell upon the donkey,

    With all their fangs and claws.

  14. وَاِنتُدِبَ الثَعلَبُ لِلتَأبين

    فَقالَ في التَعريضِ بِالمِسكين

    And the fox was appointed to deliver the eulogy,

    Then he said, slyly mocking the poor wretch:

  15. لا جَعَلَ اللَهُ لَهُ قَراراً

    عاشَ حِماراً وَمَضى حِمارا

    “May God grant him no rest!

    He lived a donkey and died a donkey.”