وقائلٍ إنَّ أبا حَفْصلٍ
أحمق محتاجٌ إلى ضَرْبِ
They say Abu Hafs is a fool in need of blows,
He didn't marry a youthful bride in the prime of life,
لم يتزوَّج حَدَثاً ناشئاً
يهتزُّ مثل الغُصُن الرَّطْبِ
Swaying like a moist branch,
Until he reached a state,
حتى إذا صار إلى حالةٍ
تجمعُ ضَعْفَ الباهِ والكَسْبِ
Where weakness and livelihood come together,
He married an old woman, especially at such a difficult time!
تزوَّجَ المائقُ لاسيما
في مثلِ هذا الزمن الصّعْبِ
When he was most in need of a provider,
Who could help him, he came with propriety,
أحوجَ ما كان إلى كاسبٍ
يُجدي عليه جاء بالأدبِ
In addition to his dependents, he took a wife,
Oh what a calamity upon calamity!
زاد على عَيْلتِهِ زوجةً
يا لك من نَكْبٍ على نَكْبِ
He bears burdens while he is burdened by her,
More burdens! Oh what an ordeal!
يحمل كَلّاً وهو من ضُرِّهِ
كَلٌّ فيا للّه من خَطْبِ
So I said, do not hastily blame our elder,
With disapproval, rebuke and reproach,
فقلتُ لا تعجَلْ على شيخنا
باللّوم والتعنيف والعَتْبِ
Perhaps what you reckon of his affairs,
And her affairs are the opposite and changed,
لعل ما تَحْسِبُ من أمرهِ
وأمرِها بالعكس والقلْبِ
It is she who grazes in his livelihood,
So pay heed, o heedless heart!
هو الذي يرتعُ في كَسْبها
فافطُنْ له يا نائمَ القلبِ
The likes of him whose affairs went badly,
Never! The elder is clever.
ما مثلُهُ مَنْ سَاءَ تدبيرُهُ
هيهاتَ إن الشيخَ ذو إرْبِ
When he saw his pens had become,
Grazing the gardens of fertility and barrenness,
لمَا رأى أقلامَهُ أصبحتْ
تَرعى رياضَ المَحل والجدبِ
The poor man married Laila,
Through her he came upon comfort and prosperity,
تزوّج المسكينُ ليليةً
أضحى بها في الرِّفه والخِصبِ
She toils for the elder on all fours,
Bending forward and sideways,
تكدحُ للشيخ على أربعٍ
وللقفا طوراً وللجَنْبِ
Her head never ceases to hang low,
Lowering it to the place of prostration,
فليس ينفكّ لها خافض
يخفِضها في موضعِ النَّصْبِ
So whoever sees the likes of Abu Hafs,
Insulting or the likes of me praising,
فمن رأى مثل أبي حفصلٍ
في السبّ أو مثليَ في الذبِّ
I defend him with his excuses,
While he spins poetry insulting me.
أقومُ عنهُ بمعاذيرِهِ
وهو يحوكُ الشعر في سِّبي
