نزلنا على شاعر البلدتين

نزول الجياع على المعدمِ

We descended upon the poet of the two towns

Like the famished upon the destitute

فلا باليدين أجادَ القرى

ولا المذق أحسنهُ بالفم

His hands were unskilled in giving

Nor was his palate refined in taste

وأقبل يشتم أهل الشآم

ولولا الحماقة لم يشتم

He proceeded to insult the people of Syria

Had he not been a fool, he would not have insulted

وبات يذمُّ الخفيف الثقيل

خفيفُ الدماغ ثقيل الدم

And he spent the night denouncing the light and heavy verse

Light of mind, heavy of blood