قالوا هجاك أبو حفصٍ فقلتُ لهم

لا شبَّ قرنُ أبي حفص ولا زُرعا

They said Abu Hafs had satirized you, so I said to them:

The hair of Abu Hafs' head has not yet sprouted, nor his beard grown,

لئن هجاني وفرطُ الجهِل أوقعه

لقد تزوَّج أيضاً بعدمَا صلعا

If he has satirized me, though ignorance made him slip,

He also married, after he became bald.

قد قلتُ إذ قيل قد زُفَّت حليلتُه

صبراً كأني بقرن الشيخ قد طلعا

When it was said his bride was led to him, I said:

"Patience!" As if seeing the old man's hair sprouting!

طلَّقتُها منه إن عفَّتْ له أبداً

ما أبصرت منه ذاك المنظر الشَّنِعا

If she is ever chaste with him, I divorce her from him -

I never saw from him that hideous sight.

أقبح بوجهِ أبي حفصٍ وعفَّتِها

هذان شيئان لا واللَهِ لا اجتمعا

Uglier than Abu Hafs' face and her chastity

Are two things that, by God, can never come together!