يختلُّ حولاً بخلال واحِدِ

ثم يَكرُّ كَرَّة المُعاودِ

He swerves around in but a single flaw,

Then turns back as if it were his habit.

عليه بَرْياً بمُدىً حَدائدِ

عُوِّدن إصلاح الخلال الفاسدِ

Upon it with a vast, unbounded range,

We were taught to mend a flaw when corrupt.

ثم يقول كالقَنُوع الزاهدِ

أغنى عن الطارف حِفْظُ التالدِ

Then says, like the contented ascetic:

"The keeping of the ancient suffices me more than freshness."

لا خير في البادئ غير العائدِ

إن أبا موسى لَعينُ الماجدِ

No good is in the innovator other than the traditionalist,

Indeed Abu Musa is the fount of glory.