1. كثر الملام ولم أك لأواري

    ما في الحشا من زفرة وأوارِ

    Reproach grew abundant, yet I would not conceal

    the sighing and burning within my breast.

  2. رامَ العَواذِلُ أن أوراي لوعتي

    بعد الوقوف على ديار نَوَارِ

    The reproachers sought to have me hide my anguish

    after standing at the dwellings of Nawar.

  3. إن الوقوف بهن شب زوافرا

    بين الجوانح والدموع جَوَارِ

    Indeed, standing among them kindled deep sighs

    between my ribs, while tears flowed.

  4. دورٌ اثرن بلابلا ومدامعا

    فالقلب يغلي والدموع جَوَارِ

    Homes that stirred anguish and tears—

    so the heart boils, and tears flow.

  5. دورٌ تعاورها الرياح عَوَاصِفاً

    والوَاكِفاتُ غوادياً وسَوَار

    Homes battered in turn by raging winds

    and pouring rains, morning and night.

  6. وتوالفت فيها الظباء فلا ترى

    فيهن غيرَ نعامة وصَوَارِ

    Gazelles have gathered there, and you see nothing

    in them but an ostrich and a herd of wild cattle.

  7. وتغيرت إلا رمادا حَولَه

    سُفعٌ ثُلاَثُ ركدٌ وَأوَارِى

    They have changed, save for ashes surrounded by

    three blackened hearthstones, unmoving, and tethering stakes.

  8. إني عهدتُ بذى الدور خريدةً

    بيضاءَ مِلءَ خلاخلٍ وسِوَارِ

    I once knew in these homes a shy maiden,

    white-skinned, her limbs filling anklets and bracelet;

  9. عذراءَ ناعمةً غضَيضاً طرفُها

    تمشى الهوينا في جِوَارِ جَوَارِى

    a tender virgin with a lowered gaze,

    walking gently in the company of maidens.

  10. قد اذكرتني إذ بدت وتبسمت

    روضا تفتق نَورُه وَدَرارِى

    When she appeared and smiled, she reminded me

    of a garden bursting into bloom, and brilliant stars,

  11. والدعصَ والفَنَنَ النضيرَ وظلمة ال

    لَيل البهيمَ وبهجةَ الأقمَارِ

    and the sand dune, the fresh green bough, and the darkness of the

    pitch-black night, and the splendor of moons;

  12. والصرخدَّيةَ والشِّهادَ مشعشعاً

    وهبوبَ مسكٍ فائحِ وصَوارِى

    and Sarkhad wine and honey, mingled,

    and wafts of fragrant musk, and masts.

  13. أمليحةَ الدَّلِّ امنحيني ألفةً

    لاتحدثى صرمى وبعد مزارى

    O lovely in your coy charm, grant me affection;

    do not cast me off or keep my visits distant.

  14. وترفقي بي واذكري ما يعتري

    قلبي من الهيمان والتذكارِ

    Be gentle with me, and remember what afflicts

    my heart with love's delirium and remembrance.

  15. لا تتركيني في دياركِ مثلما

    تُرِكَ الفويسقُ ضَائِعا في الدار

    Do not leave me in your homes as

    the petty scoundrel was left, abandoned in the house,

  16. من سوء عشرته وقلة نفعه

    لِبنَاتِه ولكثرة الأَضرار

    for his ill treatment and how little good he did

    his daughters, and for his many harms.

  17. فسعى إلى قوم غدا جارا لهم

    متطفلا تبا له من جارِ

    So he went to a people and became their neighbor,

    a parasite—damn him for a neighbor!

  18. وبنى بهم بيتا كبيت العنكبو

    ت خلا من الأصواف والأوبارِ

    And among them he built a house like a spider's,

    with neither wool nor camel hair.

  19. مازال يسبح في بحار مذمة

    متبرءاً من شيمة الأحرار

    He kept swimming in seas of reproach,

    disowning the character of noble men;

  20. متقفيا نهج المريد وحزبه

    متوليا عن منهج المختار

    following the path of the rebellious one and his faction,

    turning away from the way of the Chosen One;

  21. متوشحا حزف الخسائس كلها

    متسربلا متضلعا منعار

    girding himself with every vile practice,

    cloaked and filled to the brim with shame;

  22. متجنبا للمكرمات حاقدا

    نَكِداً حقيرَ الجاه عند البارى

    shunning noble deeds, resentful,

    ill-tempered, of little standing before the Creator.

  23. يغدو ويسرى في الضلالة بانيا

    بنيانَها بدعائم وسَوَار

    He goes out by morning and travels by night in error, building

    its edifice with supports and pillars.

  24. ما صام في رمضان قط وما انثنى

    عن ذات حَيضٍ فيه شَدَّ نهار

    He never fasted in Ramadan, nor did he refrain

    from a menstruating woman during it, at the height of day.

  25. وسطت على خطراته غفلاتُه

    فغدا خبيث النطق والإضمار

    And his heedlessness overpowered his passing thoughts,

    so his speech and hidden intent became vile.

  26. قرد قبيح قارح كلبُ الهري

    رِ مغللُ الأنياب والأظفار

    An ugly, full-grown ape, a growling dog,

    with poisoned fangs and claws.

  27. إنَّ رَآءَ صانعَ جفنةٍ حَكَّ أُستَهُ

    وأتاه يسأله عن الأخبار

    If he sees someone preparing a serving bowl, he scratches his backside

    and comes to him asking for the news.

  28. والبطن بطن سفينة والدين دِي

    نُ سفاهةٍ والعقلُ عَقلُ حمار

    His belly is a ship's belly, and his religion a creed

    of folly, and his mind a donkey's mind.

  29. يا ساعيا في الفحش يا متبلدا

    عند الوغى يا أحمقَ الأغمار

    O you who strive in obscenity, O dullard

    in battle, O most foolish of the simpletons!

  30. يا أبخلَ البخلاء يا مَن وجهه

    كالقار يا مستبضع الأشعار

    O stingiest of misers, O you whose face

    is like pitch, O borrower of poems!

  31. يا مدمن العصيان طول حياته

    يا عيبةً للعيب والأوزار

    O you addicted to disobedience all your life,

    O repository of faults and sins!

  32. رمتَ افتخارا في القريض ورفعةً

    جهلا وأنتَ من المكارِمِ عار

    You sought glory and high rank in poetry,

    in ignorance, though you are devoid of noble qualities.

  33. من سَبَّ والده وكَسَّرَ ضِلعَه

    ماذا يُعِدُّ مِنَ العُلا لِفَخَارِ

    One who cursed his father and broke his rib—

    what greatness can he offer as cause for pride?

  34. واليومَ مَن عاداك لستَ تَضُرُّه

    وتحل من وَالاَكَ دارَ بَوَارِ

    And today, you do no harm to whoever opposes you,

    yet you lodge whoever befriends you in a house of ruin.

  35. ولقد قلتك بالهجاء ولم تمت

    إن الكلاب طويلة الأَعمار

    Indeed, I slew you with satire, yet you did not die—

    dogs, indeed, are long-lived.