وَمَسمَعٍand a singer فيهِin him سَفَهfolly
وَمَسمَعٍ فيهِ سَفَه
وَلَيسَand there is not فيهِin him نَصَفَهfairness
وَلَيسَ فيهِ نَصَفَه
And a singer with folly in him,
With hearing filled with foolishness
And no fairness in him;
And not an ounce of wisdom
كَأَنَّماas though أَلحانُهُhis melodies
كَأَنَّما أَلحانُهُ
قَصائِدٌpoems مُعَجرِفَهoverbearing
قَصائِدٌ مُعَجرِفَه
As though his melodies
His melodies seem
Were overbearing poems.
Like poems of nonsense