1. I praised Ibn Bassam with a praise that if
I had praised with it the deaf rock it would have cracked.

2. And if I invoke with his breath the wild beasts,
they would befriend me, and if I invoke with it barrenness, it would become fertile.

3. I sent him four verses, thinking that
I had sent with them beauty like four stars.

4. When he went from his abode in beauty of appearance,
they saw he had acted well with the people, hearing.

5. So he did not repay me with fine words for their words,
nor was he obliging to me nor made me covetous.

6. So they returned stripped of their jewels,
wasted! Nay, their Lord returned most wasted.

7. And I was barren when I removed his chin-strap,
though it was a drinking-place for the destitute and a pasturage.