أَبا خالِدٍ لا تَبْخَسِ الشِّعْرَ حَقَّهُ

أَبا خالِدٍ لا تَبْخَسِ الشِّعْرَ حَقَّهُ

فَتَقْتَصَّ مِنْكَ الشّارِداتُ الأَوابِدُ

فَتَقْتَصَّ مِنْكَ الشّارِداتُ الأَوابِدُ

O Abu Khalid, do not deny poetry its due,

Abu Khalid, do not underestimate poetry, its right,

lest the far-roaming, untamed verses exact vengeance on you.

Or the eloquent poets will take revenge on you.

وَإِنْ خِفْتَ هَجْواً وَاتَّقَيْتَ بِنائِلٍ

وَإِنْ خِفْتَ هَجْواً وَاتَّقَيْتَ بِنائِلٍ

قَوارِصَ تَأْباها النُّفوسُ المَواجِدُ

قَوارِصَ تَأْباها النُّفوسُ المَواجِدُ

And if you fear satire and would ward off with a gift

If you fear satire and are wary of critics

the stinging barbs that noble souls reject,

Whose harsh words reject pretentious souls.

فَمِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يُقْضَى إِلى الفِكْرِ وَحْيُهُ

فَمِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يُقْضَى إِلى الفِكْرِ وَحْيُهُ

وَتَمْلَأَ أَفْواهَ الرُّواةِ القَصائِدُ

وَتَمْلَأَ أَفْواهَ الرُّواةِ القَصائِدُ

then do so before its inspiration is imparted to the mind

Before inspiration comes to thought

and poems fill the mouths of reciters.

And poems fill the mouths of reciters.

أَغَرَّكَ أَنّي لِلِّسانِ عَنِ الخَنى

أَغَرَّكَ أَنّي لِلِّسانِ عَنِ الخَنى

بِحِلْمي وَمِنْ أَخْلاقِنا الحِلْمُ ذائِدُ

بِحِلْمي وَمِنْ أَخْلاقِنا الحِلْمُ ذائِدُ

Has it deceived you that I restrain my tongue from foul speech

Does it delude you that I spare your tongue

through my forbearance—and forbearance is one of our traits?

Out of my forbearance, which in my nature prevails?

فَما الظَّنُّ وَالمَغْرُورُ مَنْ لا يَهابُني

فَما الظَّنُّ وَالمَغْرُورُ مَنْ لا يَهابُني

بِصِلٍّ عَلى أَنْيابِهِ السُّمُّ راكِدُ

بِصِلٍّ عَلى أَنْيابِهِ السُّمُّ راكِدُ

What, then, do you think—and whoever does not fear me is deluded—

What hope has the fool who does not fear me,

of a viper with venom lying still upon its fangs?

When poison lies ready on my fangs?