ياO معجباًconceited one تاهacted haughtily علىover صحبهhis companions
يا معجباً تاه على صحبه
برأسهbecause of his head بوركَblessed be منas a رأسِhead
برأسه بوركَ من رأسِ
O conceited one, who lorded it over his companions
O admirer lost in his friendship
because of his head—blessed be that head!
Blessed is he whose upper half is bare
فنصفُهfor its half الأعلىupper بهon it أجردٌbald
فنصفُه الأعلى به أجردٌ
عارٍnaked ولكنَّand yet القفاthe nape مكسيclothed
عارٍ ولكنَّ القفا مكسي
For its upper half is bald,
Naked yet his nape covered
naked, and yet the nape is clothed.
O how beautiful when confiding in him
ياoh حسنهits beauty منas a بتناجskating rink بهon it
يا حسنه من بتناج به
تمشيwalk القباقيبُthe wooden clogs بلاwithout حسِّsound
تمشي القباقيبُ بلا حسِّ
What a splendid skating rink it is, where
The fireflies walk without feeling
clogs walk without a sound!
The glow-worm shines in his field
يبرطعfrolics البرغوثُthe flea فيin ساحهاits grounds
يبرطع البرغوثُ في ساحها
ويشردُand darts away المسكينُthe poor thing لاnot يرسيcomes to rest
ويشردُ المسكينُ لا يرسي
The flea frolics in its grounds,
The poor wanderer finds no rest
and the poor thing darts away, never coming to rest.
Partial English translation: 7 of 8 Arabic lines translated.