لَقَد خَلَّفَ الأَهوازَ مِن خَلفِ ظَهرِهِ

لَقَد خَلَّفَ الأَهوازَ مِن خَلفِ ظَهرِهِ

وَزَيدٌ وَراءَ الزابِ مِن أَرضِ كَسكَرِ

وَزَيدٌ وَراءَ الزابِ مِن أَرضِ كَسكَرِ

He has indeed left al-Ahwaz behind his back,

He left Ahvaz behind his back

And Zayd is beyond the Zab, in the land of Kaskar.

While Zayd was beyond the Zab in the land of Kaskar

يُهَوِّلُ إِسماعيلُ بِالبيضِ وَالقَنا

يُهَوِّلُ إِسماعيلُ بِالبيضِ وَالقَنا

وَقَد فَرَّ مِن زَيَدِ اِبنِ موسى اِبنِ جَعفَرِ

وَقَد فَرَّ مِن زَيَدِ اِبنِ موسى اِبنِ جَعفَرِ

Isma'il threatens with gleaming swords and spears,

Ismail terrifies with eggs and spears

Though he has fled from Zayd, son of Musa, son of Ja'far.

And he fled from Zayd, son of Musa, son of Ja'far

وَعايَنتُهُ في يَومِ خَلّى حَريمَهُ

وَعايَنتُهُ في يَومِ خَلّى حَريمَهُ

فَيا قُبحَها مِنهُ وَيا حُسنَ مَنظَرِ

فَيا قُبحَها مِنهُ وَيا حُسنَ مَنظَرِ

And I saw him on the day he abandoned his womenfolk:

I saw him on the day he deserted his women

So how ugly that was of him—and what a handsome sight!

Oh how ugly of him yet beautiful to behold