أَهُزُّ عاسِيَةَ العيدانِ آبِيَةً

عَلى الخَوابِطِ لا ليناً وَلا وَرَقا

I shake my sturdy spear at the impudent

Not gently, nor weakly upon their backs

وَما مَدَحتُهُمُ أَنّي رَجَوتُهُمُ

لَكِنَّهُ عُوَذٌ مِن شَرِّهِم وَرُقى

I praised them not that I hoped for them

But it is protection from their evil and ascent

قالوا نَعُدُّكَ لِلجُلّى فَقُلتُ لَهُم

حَسبي مِنَ الرَيِّ ما لا يَبلُغُ الشَرَقا

They said they would count me as eminent, but I said

Enough rain comes to me not reaching the East

ناموا خَليَّينَ عَمّا بي فَلِم تَرَكوا

وَهناً عَلَيَّ مَطالَ الهَمِّ وَالأَرَقا

They slept empty of me, so why did they leave

Weakness upon me, the worries and sleeplessness prolonged

كَفى بِقَومٍ هِجاءً أَنَّ مادِحَهُم

يُهدي الثَناءَ إِلى أَعراضِهِم فَرَقا

It is enough that a people are censured that one who praises them

Directs praise to their character suspectly

مَن لَم يُبالِ بِأَعقابِ الحَديثِ غَداً

فَما يُبالي أَمانَ القَولُ أَم صَدَقا

He who cares not for the conclusions of words tomorrow

Cares not if the words are safety or truth