قالوا ذر الشعرَ وكن عائدا

بالله يصرفْ عنك شيطانَهُ

They said, "Abandon poetry and be content

May God turn his devilry away from you

في الناس جَهلٌ وبهم شِرَّة

لأجل ذَيْنَ صغَّروا شاَنهُ

Among the people there is ignorance and evil

It is why they belittled its status

لم يفقهوا اللفظ ولم يفهموا ال

معنَى ولا يَدرون ميزانَهُ

They did not understand the words or comprehend the

Meaning, nor know its measure

فكلُّهم يُنكر رُجحانَه

وكلُّهم يجهلُ نقصانَهُ

So all of them deny its superiority

And all are ignorant of its deficiencies

قلتُ أمن أجل عمىً فيهمُ

لا يُظهر المعدِنُ عِقيانَهُ

I said, "Is it because there is blindness in them

That the mine does not show its veins?"

هبُوا لسانى راعيا ناعقا

دعا بما تجهلُه ضانَهُ

They set my tongue to be a shepherd's dog

Barking at what their lambs do not know

قد يُطربُ القُمرىُّ أسماعَنا

ونحن لا نفهم ألحانَهُ

The moon may enchant our hearing

While we do not understand its melodies