وقالت لا أراك تُليق شيئاً

وقالت لا أراك تُليق شيئاً

أتُهلك ما جَمعتَ وتستفيدُ

أتُهلك ما جَمعتَ وتستفيدُ

And she said, “I see you keep nothing;

She said, "I see you give away everything,

Do you squander what you have amassed and what you earn?”

Destroying what you've gathered, gaining naught."

فقلتُ بحَسبها يَسرُ وعار

فقلتُ بحَسبها يَسرُ وعار

ومُرتحلٌ إِذا رَحَلَ الوفودُ

ومُرتحلٌ إِذا رَحَلَ الوفودُ

So I said: a gambler and a seeker of gifts suffice her,

I said, "For one like you disgrace and honour

And a traveller when the delegations depart.

Come easily, and travellers must travel on."

فلُومي إن بدا لكِ أو أفيقي

فلُومي إن بدا لكِ أو أفيقي

فَقبلك فاتني وهو الحميدُ

فَقبلك فاتني وهو الحميدُ

So blame me if you wish, or come to your senses.

So blame or wake me from this dream of mine.

For before you I lost him, the praiseworthy one—

But sweeter than your censure is your love.

أبو العوراءِ لم أكمد عليه

أبو العوراءِ لم أكمد عليه

وقيس فاتني وأخي يَزيدُ

وقيس فاتني وأخي يَزيدُ

Abu al-‘Awra’; I did not pine with grief for him.

Abu'l Hawra's left me far behind; so has

And I lost Qays, and my brother Yazid.

Qays, and my brother Yazid's gone as well.

مَضوا لسبيلهم وبَقيتُ وحدي

مَضوا لسبيلهم وبَقيتُ وحدي

وقَد يُغني رَباعته الوَحيدُ

وقَد يُغني رَباعته الوَحيدُ

They went their way, and I remained alone.

All took their roads, and solitary I

And a lone man may sustain his clan.

Remain, though solitude may satisfy.

فلولا الشامِتون أخذتُ حقي

فلولا الشامِتون أخذتُ حقي

وإن كانت بمطلبه كؤودُ

وإن كانت بمطلبه كؤودُ

So, but for those who gloat, I would have claimed my due,

Had I no fear of slanderers' gloating, I

Even if an arduous ascent lay in the way of obtaining it.

Would take my right though difficult the road.