يشمِّرُ أنفَه إن قال شِعرا

يشمِّرُ أنفَه إن قال شِعرا

فتحسب رفعَهُ صلَفاً وكِبْرَهْ

فتحسب رفعَهُ صلَفاً وكِبْرَهْ

He turns up his nose when he recites poetry;

He wrinkles his nose if he recites poetry

So you take his raising it for haughtiness and pride.

So you'd think his raising it is arrogance and haughtiness

ولو ميّزتَه تمْييز مثلى

ولو ميّزتَه تمْييز مثلى

لقُلتَ بأنه قد قالَ شَعْرهْ

لقُلتَ بأنه قد قالَ شَعْرهْ

But if you judged him as I do,

And if you examined him perfectly

You would say that he has indeed plucked his hair.

You'd say he has just recited his poetry