1. عقِبَ الشّعيرِ لقد هوَتْ بكَ عِيري

    كالمُجْرِمينَ هَوَوْا لقَعْرِ سَعيرِ

    O Barley Pass, my caravan has indeed plunged down you,

    Like criminals who plunged to the depths of blazing fire.

  2. بَيْنا نَرى منْ فوْقِ ظهْرِ محدَّبٍ

    صارَتْ منَ الأشْكالِ في تَقْعيرِ

    While we look from atop a convex back,

    It has turned concave in shape,

  3. منْ كلِّ واجِبَةٍ كَغارِبِ ناقَةٍ

    أو كلِّ عَوْجاءٍ كعُنْقِ بَعيرِ

    From every steep descent like a she-camel’s withers,

    Or every crooked bend like a camel’s neck.

  4. ما الشّينُ في اسْمِكِ غيرُ نُقطَةِ أَلثَغٍ

    بدَلَ السّعيرِ أتى بلَفْظِ شَعيرِ

    The shīn in your name is nothing but a lisper’s dot:

    Instead of saʿīr—blazing fire—he uttered shaʿīr—barley.