هُوَ التَيسُ لُؤماً وَهوَ إِن رَاءَ غَفلَةً

مِنَ الجارِ أَو بَعضِ الصَحابَةِ ذيبُ

He is the billy-goat, vicious when he sees inattention

From a neighbor or some of the companions, then he gores.

إِذا مَدَحَ البَكريُّ عِندَكَ نَفسَهُ

فَقُل كَذَب البَكرِيُّ وَهوَ كَذُوبُ

When al-Bakri praises himself in your presence,

Say, "Al-Bakri lied, for he is a liar."

لا بَأسَ بِالبَزوَاءِ أَرضاً لَو اِنَّها

تُطَهَّرُ مِن آثارِهِم فَتُطيبُ

No harm in open spaces, if only they

Could be cleansed of their traces and thus grow fragrant.