قَرُبتَ مِن شِعرِيَ لَمّا طَما

فَكِدتَ أَن تَغرَقَ في المَوجِ

You drew near my poetry when it was raging

And almost drowned amidst the surge.

فَلا تَقِف مِن بَعدِ ذا خَلفَهُ

فَإِذا يَضرِبُ بِالزَوجِ

So stand no more behind it, but withdraw -

Lest it should smite thee with the scourge!