أيا ابن زهير لست أعطيك بعدها

سلاماً ووداً والمكان رحيب

O son of Zuhayr, after this I shall no longer give you

greetings and affection, though the place is spacious.

لقد كنت قبل اليوم أحسب انك ال

همام إلى سبل النجاح تصوب

Before today, I had indeed thought you were the

high-minded man, aiming toward the paths of success,

الى ان بدا لي منك ما لو رأيته

من الطفل قبل اليوم فلت عجيب

until something appeared from you which, had I seen it

in a child before today, I would have said, 'How strange!'

لقد جاءني النجل السعيد ابنك الذي

شمائله بين بين الانام تطيب

Indeed, your fortunate son came to me, he whose

virtues are pleasing among mankind.

فقام مقامي شاكياً منك شدة

ومنعاً من الاداب وهو خطيب

He stood in my place, complaining of your harshness

and of being barred from learning, speaking as an orator.

فما زال بين القوم يبدي تأسفاً

عَلَى العلم حتى قد علاه نحيب

He kept expressing sorrow among the people

over learning, until sobbing overwhelmed him.

قيس اخا الود ما هذا الملام وأنت لم

تكن عالماً بالأمر وهو غريب

Qays, brother in affection, what is this reproach, when you were not

aware of the matter, strange as it is?

اتزعم ان ابني شكاني وانه

ظلوم يجوب الزور حيث يجوب

Do you claim that my son complained of me, though he is

very unjust, roaming through falsehood wherever he roams?

غلا قوله بغياً فاني وضعته

بمدرسة عامين وهو نجيب

His words went too far, unjustly, for I placed him

in a school for two years, and he was gifted.

فادرك من علم الحساب فوائداً

وعاد بحسن الخط وهو اريب

Thus he gained useful knowledge of arithmetic

and returned with fine handwriting, and he was clever.

فاخرجته من بعد ذاك وان لي

بفعلي عذراً والآله رقيب

Then I took him out after that, and I have

an excuse for my action, and God keeps watch.

فان لمني بعد الذي قد ذكرته

فمالك في هذا الملام مصيب

So if you blame me after what I have mentioned,

then Malik is right in this reproach.