عَذَرْنَا النَّخل في إبداء شوكٍ

يذودُ به الأناملَ عن جناهُ

We excused the palm tree for showing thorns

With which fingers ward off harm from its fruit.

فما للعَوْسج الملعون أبدى

لنا شوكاً بلا ثمرٍ نراهُ

But why did the accursed wild gourd show

Thorns without any fruit that we see?

تُراه ظنَّ فيه جَنىً كريماً

فأظهر عُدَّةً تحمي حماهُ

You would think it had a generous crop

So it displayed gear to defend its bounty.

فلا يتسلَّحنَّ لدفع كفٍّ

كَفاه لُؤْمُ مَجناه كفاهُ

But let it not arm itself to ward off a hand,

Its own ugliness is defense enough.