ما لِغِياثٍ مِن غِياثٍ إِذا

أَدَرتَهُ في لَولَبِ الصَكِّ

What good is salvation when it comes

If you're caught in a web of lies?

شَيخٌ إِذا اِستَدعَيتَ أَلفاظَهُ

جاءَتكَ بَينَ الزورِ وَالإِفكش

An old man whose words you summon

Will regale you with deceit and disguise

مُستَطوِلِ الرَأسِ عَريضِ القَفا

مُضطَرِمِ الأَنيابِ وَالفَكِّ

With elongated head and protruding chin

Baring fangs and grinning wide

لَو ماتَ لي أَلفٌ وَأَبصَرتُهُ

لَبُلتُ في ثَوبي مِنَ الضَحِكِ

Had he died a thousand times before my eyes

I would laugh till my robes were dyed