لا خَيرَ فيكَ سِوى كَلامٍ طَيِّبٍ

وَمَواعِدٍ تُدني وَفِعلٍ يُبعِدُ

There is no good in you except kind words,

Promises to draw near, and deeds that distance,

وَأُبُوَّةٍ في تَغلِبٍ لَو أَنَّها

لِلكَلبِ كانَ الكَلبُ فيها يَزهَدُ

And a fatherhood that—were it for a dog—

The dog in it would be abstemious.