هَجاlampooned الناسُthe people لَيلىLayla أُمَّmother of كَعبٍKaʿb فَلَمand did not يَدَعleave
هَجا الناسُ لَيلى أُمَّ كَعبٍ فَلَم يَدَع
لَهاfor her الناسُthe people إِلّاexcept نَفنَفاًa gaping hole أَناI راقِعُهits patcher
لَها الناسُ إِلّا نَفنَفاً أَنا راقِعُه
The people lampooned Layla, mother of Kaʿb, and left
People scorned Layla, mother of Ka'b, yet spared
her nothing but a gaping hole, which I shall patch.
Her naught but shreds which I have pieced and repaired