تظلَّمَ عمروٌ من هِجائي وقد عَلَتْ

تظلَّمَ عمروٌ من هِجائي وقد عَلَتْ

بما قلتُ فيه حالُهُ ومراتبُهْ

بما قلتُ فيه حالُهُ ومراتبُهْ

ʿAmr complained of my satire, though it had raised

Amr complained of my satire though it enhanced

His standing and his ranks through what I said of him.

His status and rank by what I said of him

وأغفلَ ظُلمِيهِ بقَصْدِيه راغباً

وأغفلَ ظُلمِيهِ بقَصْدِيه راغباً

فواعجباً والدهرُ جمٌّ عجائبُهْ

فواعجباً والدهرُ جمٌّ عجائبُهْ

And he overlooked the wrong I did him by approaching him for favors.

Yet he ignored his own wronging me, intent

So, how astonishing—though time abounds in wonders!

On finding fault. How strange is Time and its whims!

ويا من جنى قَصْدي أبا الخَطْم إنه

ويا من جنى قَصْدي أبا الخَطْم إنه

تمنَّع واعتاصَتْ عليَّ مطالبُهْ

تمنَّع واعتاصَتْ عليَّ مطالبُهْ

And O you who brought me to seek Abu al-Khaṭm: he indeed

And you, Abu Khutam, who enjoyed my praise

Held himself aloof, and what I sought from him proved hard to obtain.

Became standoffish when I sought your help.

أُعيذُكَ من طَعْنِ الأعادي وقولهم

أُعيذُكَ من طَعْنِ الأعادي وقولهم

جَوادٌ تقضَّت من نَداهُ مآربُهْ

جَوادٌ تقضَّت من نَداهُ مآربُهْ

I seek protection for you from enemies’ attacks and their saying:

I beg you shield me from my rivals’ slanders-

“A generous man whose own aims were fulfilled through his bounty.”

“Openhand whose bounty fulfilled hopes.”