يا أَبا الفَضلِ لا تَنَم

وَقَعَ الذِئبُ في الغَنَم

O Abū al-Faḍl, do not fall asleep—

the wolf has fallen upon the flock.

إِنَّ حَمّادَ عَجرَدٍ

إِن رَأى غَفلَةً هَجَم

For Ḥammād ʿAjrad,

if he spies a lapse, will pounce.

بَينَ فَخذَيهِ حَربَةٌ

في غِلافٍ مِنَ الأَدَم

Between his thighs is a spear,

in a sheath of leather.

إِن خَلا البَيتُ ساعَةً

مَجمَجَ الميمَ بِالقَلَم

If the house stands empty awhile,

he muddles the mīm with his pen.