إِذا كَدَّرَ المَرءُ أَلفاظَهُ

عَلَيَّ فَلَم أَحظَ مِنها بِصافِ

When a man muddies his words

And I glean no purity

بَعَثتُ العِتابَ إِلى سَمعِهِ

نَذيراً وَأَهمَلتُ أَمرَ اِنتِصافي

I send a warning to his hearing

As a harbinger, though I neglect to seek redress

فَإِن هُوَ لَم يَصحُ مِن سُكرِهِ

صَفَعتُ قَفا عِرضِهِ بِالقَوافي

If he doesn’t sober from his drunkenness

I will slap his pride with verses

يا غَزالاً مُتَرَّفاً

وَقَضيباً مُهَفهَفاً

O playful gazelle

And swaying twig

وَالَّذي رَوضُ خَدِّهِ

يُنبِتُ الوَردَ مُضعَفا

By Him whose garden is his cheek

Growing double roses

أَنا أَفديكَ ظالِماً

كُنتَ أَم كُنتَ مُنصِفا

I will redeem you wronged

Whether you were unjust or fair