في مُكْفَهِرِّ الطِرْيَمِ الشَرَنْبَثِ

أَقْعَثَنِي مِنْهُ بِسَيْبٍ مُقْعَثِ

In the dark thicket of al-Tirim,

A lean fox startled me with its barking.

لَيْس بِمَنْزُورٍ وَلا بِرَيِّثِ

دُونَكَ مَدْحاً مِنْ أَخٍ مُلَيَّثِ

It was neither well-fed nor plump,

But praised you more than a faithful brother,

عَنْكَ بِما أَوْلَيْتَ فِي تَأَثُّثِ

لا خَيْرَ في وُدٍّ امْرِئٍ مُلَثْلِثِ

Who turned away from you when fortunes changed,

No good in the love of a fickle man.