ياO مدعيclaimant to الشعرpoetry زوراًfalsely
يا مدعي الشعر زوراً
وانتand you شرworst سفيهِfool
وانت شر سفيهِ
O you who falsely lay claim to poetry,
and you are the worst of fools.
الشعرُpoetry فيكin you مصابstricken
الشعرُ فيك مصاب
بصحبهalong with its companions وذويهand its kin
بصحبه وذويه
Poetry is stricken in you,
along with its companions and kin.
لوif عادكvisited you الشعرpoetry يوماًone day
لو عادك الشعر يوماً
بقلبهwith its heart أوor بفيهwith its mouth
بقلبه أو بفيه
If poetry ever visited you,
with its heart or its mouth,
لكنتthen I would أنفضshake off منهfrom it
لكنت أنفض منه
يديmy hand وأبكيand weep for بنيهits sons
يدي وأبكي بنيه
then I would shake it from
my hand and weep for its sons.