وَمَولَىً كَذِئبِ السوءِ لَو يَستَطيعُني

أَصابَ دَمي يَوماً بِغَيرِ فَتيلِ

And to an evil guardian if only he could subdue me

One day my blood was shed without a wick

وَأَعرَضَ عَمّا ساءَهُ وَكَأَنَّما

يُقادُ إِلى ما ساءَني بِدَليلِ

And he turned away from what displeased him as if

He is being led to what displeased me with evidence

مُجامَلَةً مِنّي وَإَثرامِ غَيرِهِ

بِلا حَسَنٍ مِنهُ وَلا بِجَميلِ

Out of courtesy from me and honoring another

Without merit from him or favor

وَوَشِئتُ لَولا الحُلمُ جَدَّعتُ أَنفَهُ

بِايعابِ جَدعٍ باديءٍ وَعَليلِ

And I wished if not for patience I would have broken his nose

With a thick, solid strike that is painful and sickening

حِفاظاً عَلى أَحلامِ قَومٍ زُرِيتُهُم

رَزانٍ يَزينونَ النَدِيَّ كَهولِ

To preserve the dreams of a people I was intimate with

Who adorn amiability like worn out ropes