واللهِ لا كنتُ مادحاً طَرَفَاً

فالنفخُ في البرقِ مالهُ صورَهْ

By God, I was not one who praised excessively,

For blowing into lightning avails naught.

ولا هجوت اللئيمَ في عمري

منْ ذا يطيقُ الوقوعَ في جُورَهْ

Nor did I satirize the vile in my life,

For who can bear falling into his tyranny?