1. Better than ninety verses vainly strung
Is the one verse whose meaning's truly wrung.
١. أَحسَنُ مِن تِسعينَ بَيتاً سُدىً
جَمعُكَ مَعناهُنَّ في بَيتِ
2. How much the rule of men stands in need
Of one to wash away its greed.
٢. ما أَحوَجَ المُلكَ إِلى مَطرَةٍ
تَغسِلُ عَنهُ وَضَرَ الزَيتِ