ألا قبّح الرحمنُ داحةَ أمردا

أراد اقتداءٌ بالرقاشيّ فاقتدى

Oh how wretched is the one who tried to emulate Al-Raqqashi

May the Merciful curse Daha, that beardless youth,

Attempting to follow his example, yet went astray

He sought to emulate Al-Raqashi, and so he emulated;

ترنّمُ بالأزجالِ حين نحتّهُ

ولو نكتهُ في الجوفِ يوما لقصّدا

He sang vulgar tunes thinking them sweet melody

He croons with folk-song rhythms when he is merely hewn,

Had he but lodged them inside, he'd surely have aimed straight

But were he pierced to the hollow one day, he would declaim a formal ode.