وقصير تراه فوق يَفاعٍ

فتراهُ كأنهُ في غَيَابَهْ

And short you see it above the mound

So you see it as if in its absence

لم تدعْ قَفْدَهُ يدُ الدهر حتى

قَمَعَتْ فيه طُولَهُ وشبابَهْ

Fate's hand did not leave its vessel until

It suppressed its height and youth

وجَلتْ رأسَهُ نِعمّا فأضحى

بارزَ الصرحِ ما يُوارى صُؤابَهْ

And it smoothed its head nicely so it became

Visible from the palace what covers its cup

يا أبا حفصٍ الذي فَطِنَ الدهْـ

ـرُ لميدان رأسهِ فاستطابَهْ

O Abu Hafs whom fate was aware of the arena of his head so it chose it

The time was graceful in making you a slap

ظَرُف الدهرُ في اتخاذك صَفْعا

ناً وما خلْتُهُ ظريفَ الدُّعابَهْ

And I did not leave it graceful in joking