1. By your life, I have no intention to compose poetry,
Though I have long been resourceful.
١. لَعَمرُكَ ما بي نُجعَةٌ فَأَرومَها
وَإِنّي عَلى طولِ الزَمانِ لَمُجدِبُ
2. I carried the pigeons on my shoulders, yet said nothing
To cheer myself; rather I said they weep and lament.
٢. حَمَلتُ عَلى الأُلى الحَمامَ فَلَم أَقُل
يُغَنّي وَلَكِن قُلتُ يَبكي وَيَندُبُ
3. That is because calamities are many,
And most often cruel, not gentle.
٣. وَذَلِكَ أَنَّ الحادِثاتِ كَثيرَةٌ
وَغالِبُهُنَّ الفَظُّ لا المُتَحَدِّبُ
4. Every man of letters, alas, will be led to destruction
By his literary skill, not that the youth is well-mannered.
٤. وَكُلٌّ أَديبٍ أَي سَيُدعى إِلى الرَدى
مِنَ الأَدبِ لا أَنَّ الفَتى مُتَأَدِّبُ