مَتى عَدَّدَ الأَقوامُ لُبّاً وَفِطنَةً

فَلا تَسأَليني عَنهُما وَسَليبي

When have the people counted insight and wisdom?

Ask me not of them, nor reproach me.

أَرى عالَماً يَرجونَ عَفوَ مَليكِهِم

بِتَقبيلِ رُكنٍ وَاِتِّخاذِ صَليبِ

I see a world pleading their king for mercy

By kissing a corner and grasping a cross.

فَغُفرانَكَ اللَهُمَّ هَل أَنا طارِحٌ

بِمَكَّةَ في وَفدٍ ثِيابَ سَليبي

Is Your forgiveness, O Lord, if I cast off

In Mecca my robes amidst a pilgrim throng?

وَهَل أَرِدُ الغُدرانَ بَينَ صَحابَةٍ

يَمانينَ لَم يَبغوا اِحتِفارَ قَليبِ

Would I betray a folk of Yemen, they

Who sought not to bare secrets of my heart?

أُفارِقُهُم ما العِرضُ مِنِّيَ عِندَهُم

ثَليباً وَلا عِرضٌ لَهُم بِثَليبِ

I leave them though they think me not of high repute,

Nor they so of me, not for robes or gold.

وَلَستُ بِلاحٍ مَن أَراحَِ سَوامَهُ

إِذا لَم يَجِئني مَوهِناً بِحَليبِ

I that eased his mount am no boaster

If he came not with milk to make me bold.

وَهانَ عَلى سَمَعي إِذا القَبرُ ضَمَّني

هَريرُ ضِباعٍ حَولَهُ وَكَليبِ

And to my ears it would be lowly, once the grave claims me,

The howl of hyenas around it, and even a dog.

عَبيدُكَ جَمٌّ رَبَّنا وَلَكَ الغِنى

وَلَم تَكُ مَعروفاً بِرِقِّ جَليبِ

Your servants a multitude, Lord, and Yours the riches,

Yet You were not known to favor coats of mail.