أَبا خالِدٍ لا تَبْخَسِ الشِّعْرَ حَقَّهُ

فَتَقْتَصَّ مِنْكَ الشّارِداتُ الأَوابِدُ

Abu Khalid, do not underestimate poetry, its right,

Or the eloquent poets will take revenge on you.

وَإِنْ خِفْتَ هَجْواً وَاتَّقَيْتَ بِنائِلٍ

قَوارِصَ تَأْباها النُّفوسُ المَواجِدُ

If you fear satire and are wary of critics

Whose harsh words reject pretentious souls.

فَمِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يُقْضَى إِلى الفِكْرِ وَحْيُهُ

وَتَمْلَأَ أَفْواهَ الرُّواةِ القَصائِدُ

Before inspiration comes to thought

And poems fill the mouths of reciters.

أَغَرَّكَ أَنّي لِلِّسانِ عَنِ الخَنى

بِحِلْمي وَمِنْ أَخْلاقِنا الحِلْمُ ذائِدُ

Does it delude you that I spare your tongue

Out of my forbearance, which in my nature prevails?

فَما الظَّنُّ وَالمَغْرُورُ مَنْ لا يَهابُني

بِصِلٍّ عَلى أَنْيابِهِ السُّمُّ راكِدُ

What hope has the fool who does not fear me,

When poison lies ready on my fangs?