أَلا مَن مُبلِغٌ سُفيانَ عَنّي

وَظَنّي أَن سَيُبلِغَهُ الرَسولُ

Oh that some messenger to Sufyan may tell,

Though I think the messenger himself will tell,

وَمَولاهُ عَطِيَّةَ أَنَّ قيلاً

خَلا مِنّي وَأَن قَد باتَ قيلُ

And his lord 'Atiyya, that but little

Comes from me though gossip comes apace.

سَئِمتُم رَبَّكُم وَكَفَرتُموهُ

وَذلِكُمُ بِأَرضِكُمُ جَميلُ

You grew weary of your Lord and so denied Him

Though that in your own land is foul disgrace.

أَلا تُوفِي كَما أَوفى شَبيبٌ

فَحَلَّ لَهُ الوِلايَةُ وَالشُمولُ

Oh, be as true as the youth Shabib was,

So that guardianship and power on him did devolve.

أَبوهُ كانَ خَيرَكُمُ وَفاءً

وَخَيرَكُمُ إِذا حُمِدَ الجَميلُ

His father was the truest of you all

And the best of you when good is told abroad.

أُلامُ عَلى الهِجاءِ وَكُلُّ يَومٍ

تُلاقيني مِنَ الجيرانِ غولُ

Woe for satire! Each day from my neighbors

Come raids, while I'm helpless to return a blow.

سَأَجعَلُها لأَجمَعِكُم شِعاراً

وَقَد يَمضي اللِسانُ بِما يَقولُ

I'll make it a device for all of you

Though the tongue may speak what the heart disavows.