وقائل كيف تهجو

عمْراً وعمروٌ مُعِدُّ

How can you satirize

A man whose presence is prepared

له زُنوج حضور

هَزَلت وهْو مُجدُّ

By armies of servants?

You joked, yet he is glorious.

فقلتُ في الله ربِّي

وقاسمٍ لي رَدُّ

So I said: By God, my Lord,

And Qasim is my defender.

هل استمدَّ بعوْنٍ

سواهما مُسْتَمِدُّ

Has he gained any support

Other than them two?

أو استعدَّ عتاداً

سواهما مُسْتَعِدُّ

Or has he prepared any equipment

Other than them two?

يا سَيّداً لم يزل وهْ

و بالعُلا مُستَبدُّ

O Master, always mighty

And absolute in the heights.

اجعْل لعبدك رفداً

فمزْحُ رفْدك جِدُّ

Grant your servant some aid,

For your aid's jest is serious.

لا تُطْمِعَنْ فيَّ عَمْراً

فإنه ليَ ضِدُّ

Do not make me hope in a man,

For he is against me.

لا زلتَ تُبْلي أُنُوفاً

كأنفه وتُجِدُّ

You continually humble proud souls,

As if his soul and yours compete.

مُقدّماً ألَف نِدٍّ

له وما لك ندُّ

Putting forth a thousand rivals

For him, while you have no rival.

تَحبُو وتُحْبَى ومالُ ال

كريم جَزْرٌ ومَدُّ

You love and are loved, and the generous one's

Hospitality and refusal alternate.

تُعطيك أيدي الليالي

عفواً ولا تَسْترِدُّ

The nights grant you a pardon for free

And do not take back.

ونعمةُ الله حسبي

تبقى ونُعماك عِدُّ

God's bounty is enough for me,

It remains while your favors count.

أشْبعتَ عبداً فمالي

أراك لا تَسْتَكِدُّ

You have satisfied a servant, so why

Do I see you are not content?

أسْنِدْ إليّ تجدْني

كبعض من تَسْتسِدُّ

Rely on me and you will find me

Like some you rely upon.