رَكوبٌ لَأَعناقِ الأُمورِ وَلَم يَكُن

رَكوبٌ لَأَعناقِ الأُمورِ وَلَم يَكُن

يَدُبُّ عَلى أَعجازِها مُتَقَفِّرا

يَدُبُّ عَلى أَعجازِها مُتَقَفِّرا

He was ever astride the necks of affairs, and never

Riding the necks of matters, though it was not

crept along their hindquarters, following their tracks.

Creeping on their hinder parts with puffed chest

إِذا أَدبَرَ المَطلوبُ عَنهُ فَخَلِّهِ

إِذا أَدبَرَ المَطلوبُ عَنهُ فَخَلِّهِ

فَإِنَّ عَناءً أَن تُحاوِلَ مُدبِرا

فَإِنَّ عَناءً أَن تُحاوِلَ مُدبِرا

If what he seeks turns away from him, then let it go;

When the sought turns away from you, then leave it

for it is toil to pursue what turns away.

Attempting the back-turned is troublesome effort