تهت علينا ولست فينا

تهت علينا ولست فينا

ولي عهدٍ ولا خليفه

ولي عهدٍ ولا خليفه

You lorded it over us, though among us you are neither

You wandered into our midst yet you're not one of us

An heir apparent nor a caliph.

No allegiance to me nor a successor have I

فته وزد ما علي جارٍ

فته وزد ما علي جارٍ

يقطع عني ولا وظيفه

يقطع عني ولا وظيفه

So swagger, and swagger more: I have no regular income

So wander more though I'm awash in sorrows

To be cut off from me, nor any stipend.

That sever me with no purpose or gain

ولا تقل ليس في عيبٌ

ولا تقل ليس في عيبٌ

قد تقذف الحرة العفيفه

قد تقذف الحرة العفيفه

And do not say, 'There is no fault in me';

Yet say not 'tis no fault of mine

A chaste, freeborn woman may be slandered.

Though the chaste woman be cast aspersions upon

الشعر نارٌ بلا دخانٍ

الشعر نارٌ بلا دخانٍ

وللقوافي رقى لطيفه

وللقوافي رقى لطيفه

Poetry is fire without smoke,

Poetry's a fire lacking smoke

And rhymes have subtle spells.

With subtle charms in its rhymes

كم من ثقيل المحل سامٍ

كم من ثقيل المحل سامٍ

هوت به أحرفٌ خفيفه

هوت به أحرفٌ خفيفه

How many a man of weighty standing and lofty rank

Many a man of hefty standing

Has been brought down by light letters!

Felled by the slightest strokes

لو هجى المسك وهو أهل

لو هجى المسك وهو أهل

لكل مدحٍ لصار جيفه

لكل مدحٍ لصار جيفه

If musk were lampooned, though it is worthy

Should musk insult though it merits

Of every praise, it would become carrion.

All praise, it would reek of rot