كفاني ذكر الناس لي ومآثري

وما لك فيهم يا ابن عمي ذاكر

The people's mention of me and my exploits suffice me,

And what business have you with them, O cousin, remembering me?

عدوي وأشياعي كثير كذاك من

غدا وهو نفاع المساعي وضائر

My enemies and partisans are many, likewise

Tomorrow comes with profitable efforts and harmful ones.

ومالك فيهم من عدوٍ فيتقي

ومالك فيهم من صديق يكاثر

You have no enemy among them to beware of,

Nor a friend among them to multiply.

وقولي مسموع له ومصدق

وقولك منبت مع الريح طائر

My words are heard by him and believed,

While your words with the wind fly away.

وأني وإن أضيتني وعققتني

لمحتمل ما جاءني في منك صابر

And though you wrong and trouble me,

I bear patiently what comes to me from you.