لو كنتُ مثل ابن أبي طاهرٍ

لم أدَّعِ الشعر بل النَجْدَهْ

If I were like the son of Abi Tahir

I would not claim poetry, but excellence

حسبُك من نجدته أنه

يُنْشِدُ مثلي شعْرَه وحْدَهُ

It is enough of his excellence that

He recites poetry like me alone

أما تُراه خاف خَسْفي به

عن لطمة مِنِّيَ أوْ قَفْدَهْ

Do you not see he fears my disparagement of him

Or a blow from me

لَشدَّ ما أقدَم بؤساً له

بلا سلاحٍ وبلا عُدَّهْ

How much misery I would bring upon him

Without any weapons or equipment