ألم تر فعلة ابن الياس يوما

وقد وافى به شوق وقصد

Did you not see what Ibn al-Yas did one day

When longing and purpose led him

أمال إليّ عارضه وفيه

لطاخ مسيل غالية وندّ

To turn his steed towards me, and it bore

The tracks of a precious, generous camel

وشبّب في قصائده بدعد

ولم يرها ولا حضرته دعد

He composed novelties in his poems out of love

Though he did not see me nor was I present

فقلت ألست تعرفني عليما

بحالك كلها قبل وبعد

So I said: Do you not know me, O learned one

In your every state, before and after?

قديما لم تزل تحبى وتكسى

وتوعدُ بالندى وعليك وعد

Of old, you did not cease to love and honor me

And promise me the dew, and you were true to your word

فلا تسمح بثوبي مستميح

على عزماته حلّ وشدّ

So do not deny me a borrowed robe

When resolutions weaken and slacken

فما كل الرجال لك ابن ورقا

ولا كل الزمان عليك سعد

For not all men are to you Ibn Warqa

Nor is all time upon you good fortune

يريني ما أفادته الليالي

وفي حركاته برق ورعد

My nights show me what they have brought him

In his gestures lightning and thunder

مدحت الناس والدنيا عروس

على أثوابها ورس وورد

You praised people and the world like a bride

In her clothes, myrtle, and roses

وعفت الشعر والدنيا عجوز

وقد أثرى بها نذل ووغد

And you reviled poetry and the world like an old woman

Though the base and vile have enriched themselves through her