رأيت المعلى ليسَ يشبهُ عمَّهُ

ولا خالَهُ ولا أباهُ المقدّما

I saw the eminent one does not resemble his uncle

Nor his maternal uncle nor his anterior father

أولئكَ مازالوا عرانينَ خندفٍ

إذا كان يوماً كاسفَ الشمسِ مظلما

Those remained barefoot and ragged

If one day the sun was intense and gloomy

فهذا فما تلقاهُ إلا مصمّماً

على مالِ ذي القربى وإن كان معدما

So this one - what you find of him is determined

To the money of the relatives even if he was penniless

فتىً كنزَ الأموال تحت عجانِهِ

إذا كنزَ الناسُ الندى والتكرّما

A young man who treasures wealth under his chin

If people treasure dew and generosity

تراهُ كماءِ البحرِ يلفظُ ملحَهُ

لواردِهِ عنه وإن كان مفعما

You see him as the sea water ejecting its salt

To the one who takes from it even if it was filled