قَد قَشَرتُ العَصا وَلَم أَعلَقِ السَي

رَ وَأَعدَدتُ لِلهِجاءِ لِساني

I have stripped the stick and did not hang the sword

I have bared the staff of war and kept my saddle strapped, honing my tongue for stinging satire.

And I prepared my tongue for satire

So beware my assault and the striking point of my verse, and dread the visitation of my poetic demon.

فَاِحذَروا صَولَتي وَمَوقِعَ شِعري

وَاِتَّقوا أَن يَزورَكُم شَيطاني

So beware of my assault and the impact of my poetry

O my boon companions, O sons of Nawbakht, do not let my hooded mantle be lost within your midst.

And beware lest my devil tempt you

Two hundred dirhams was its cost, yet a mere two hundred will not suffice to please your brother.

يا نَدامايَ يا بَني نَوَّبَختٍ

لا يَضيعَنَّ بَينَكُم طَيلَساني

Oh my regret, O sons of misfortune

I visited you only to stand in a place of gain; I did not visit you to stand in a place of loss.

Do not let my long tongue go astray among you

مائَتا دِرهَمٍ شِراهُ وَلَكِن

لَيسَ تُرضي أَخاكُمُ المِئَتانِ

Two hundred dirhams he bought but

Two hundred do not satisfy your brother

إِنَّما زُرتُكُم لِمَوضِعِ رِبحٍ

لَم أَزُركُم لِمَوضِعِ الخُسرانِ

I only visited you for profit

I did not visit you for loss