تَزِلُّ القَوافي عَن لِساني كَأَنَّها

حُماتُ الأَفاعي ريقُهُنَّ تَصَبُّبُ

The rhymes slip from my tongue as though they were

The venom of serpents, their spittle pouring forth.

فَكَم مِن أَخٍ قَد كانَ يَأمَلُ نَفعَكُم

شُجاعٍ لَهُ نابٌ حَديدٌ وَمِخلَبُ

So many a brother who hoped to benefit you -

A brave warrior with iron fangs and claws -

أَخٌ لَو شَكَرتُم فَضلَهُ وَعَضَضتُمُ

رُؤوسَ الأَفاعي عَضَّ لا يَتَهَيَّبُ

A brother, if you had but thanked his merit and bitten

The heads of serpents with a bite that does not hesitate.