متنبيكمyour Mutanabbi (would-be prophet) ابنson of سقاءwater carrier of كوفاKūfā- (beginning of Kūfān)
متنبيكم ابن سقاء كوفا
ن-n (completing Kūfān) ويوحىand revelation is sent منfrom الكنيفthe privy اليهto him
ن ويوحى من الكنيف اليه
Your Mutanabbi is the son of Kūfān’s water carrier,
Mutanabbi, son of a water-carrier in Kufa
and revelation comes to him from the privy.
Who finds inspiration in a humble cell
كانhe used to منfrom فيهhis mouth يسلحshit الشعرpoetry حتىuntil
كان من فيه يسلح الشعر حتى
سلحتshat فقحةthe arsehole of الزمانTime عليهupon him
سلحت فقحة الزمان عليه
He used to shit poetry from his mouth, until
Was one whose mouth was an armory of verse
Time’s arsehole shat upon him.
Till bald Time aimed its arrows at that citadel