ساقٌ ترَنَّحَ يَشْدو فَوقَهُ ساقُ

كأنَّهُ لِحنينِ الصَّوتِ مُشْتاقُ

A branch swayed, singing above it a branch

As if it longs for the melody of sound

يا ضَيعةَ الشِّعْرِ في بُلْهٍ جَرامقَةٍ

تَشابَهتْ مِنهُمُ في اللُّؤمِ أَخلاقُ

O lost poetry in the ignorance of fools

Whose morals have become alike in meanness

غُلَّتْ بِأَعناقِهمْ أَيْدٍ مُقَفَّعةٌ

لا بُورِكَتْ مِنْهُمُ أَيْدٍ وَأعْناقُ

Chains tied around their necks by grasping hands

Neither blessed are their hands or necks

كَأنَّما بَيْنَهُمْ في مَنْعِ سائِلهِمْ

وحَبْسُ نائِلِهمْ عَهْدٌ ومِيثاقُ

As if between them in preventing their beggar

And depriving their attainer is a covenant and pact

كم سُقْتُهُم بِأَمادِيحي وقُدْتُهُم

نحوَ المعالِي فما انْقادُوا ولا انْساقوا

How often I led them with my praises and guided them

To the heights yet they neither followed nor advanced

وَإنْ نَبا بِيَ في ساحاتِهمْ وطنٌ

فَالأرضُ واسعةٌ والنَّاسُ أَفْراقُ

And if a homeland called me in their plains

The earth is wide and people differ

ما كُنتُ أَوَّلَ ظَمْآنٍ بِمهْمَهَةٍ

يَغُرُّهُ مِنْ سَرابِ القَفْرِ رِقْراقُ

I was not the first thirsty one tempted

By the mirage of the desert’s heat flickering

رِزْقٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ أَرضاهُمْ وَأَسخَطَني

واللَّهُ لِلأَنْوكِ المَعْتُوهِ رزَّاقُ

A livelihood from God that pleased them and angered me

And God provides for the confused young camel

يا قابِضَ الكَفِّ لا زالتْ مُقَبَّضَةً

فما أنامِلُها لِلنَّاسِ أَرْزاقُ

O you who clenches his fist remaining clenched

My palms are not stingy in giving people their provision

وَغِبْ إذا شِئْتَ حَتَّى لا تُرى أبَداً

فما لِفقْدِكَ في الأَحْشاءِ إقْلاقُ

Disappear if you wish until you are never seen again

For your loss does not cause turmoil in the hearts

ولا إليكَ سَبيلُ الجُودِ شارِعَةٌ

وَلا عَليْكَ لِنُورِ المَجدِ إشْراقُ

No path to generosity is open to you

Nor does the light of glory shine upon you

لم يَكْتَنِفْني رَجاءٌ لا ولا أملٌ

إلا تَكَنَّفهُ ذُلٌّ وَإمْلاقُ

No hope came to me nor any expectation

Except shrouded in humiliation and frustration