هَزَزْتُهُ بِالمَدْحِ جَهْدِي فَمَا اهْتَزَّ

وَنَادَى النَّاسُ كَمْ تَتْعَبُ

I shook him with praise with all my might, but he did not stir,

And people called out, "How much work you do in vain!"

فَقُلْتُ أَرْجُو زُبْدَةً قِيلَ لي

فَاتَكَ أَيْنَ اللَّبَنُ الطِّيِّبُ

I said, "I hope for cream," and it was said to me,

"Where is the good milk that is lost to you?"