لَعَمرُكَ لا أَهجو مَنولَةَ كُلَّها

وَلَكِنَّما أَهجو اللِئامَ بَني عَمرِ

By your life! I do not satirize all of humankind,

Rather I satirize only the vile among the sons of Omar.

مَشاتيمَ لِاِبنِ العَمِّ في غَيرِ كُنهِهِ

مَباشيمَ عَن لَحمِ العَوارِضِ وَالتَمرِ

Evil-speakers to the sons of their paternal uncles,

Who refrain from eating meat and dates.

مَفاريطَ لِلماءِ الظَنونِ بِسُحرَةٍ

تُغاديكَ قَبلَ الصُبحِ عانَتُهُم تَجري

Who divide the waters of opinion into sorceries

That come to you before dawn, their oppression flowing,

يُزَجّونَ أَسدامَ المِياهِ بِأَينُقٍ

مَثاليبَ مُسوَدٍّ مَغابِنُها أُدرِ

They dam the lion's mouths of waters with slender waists,

Their dark, wide sleeves are like water wheels.