وَرُبَّ أَخٍ حَميمٍ بِتُّ لَيلي

أُجَرَّعُ مِن مَلامَتِهِ الحَميما

Many a dear friend passes my nights in blame,

Making me drink deep of his bitter cup.

يَقولُ عَلامَ مِن غَيرِ اِجتِرامٍ

هَجَوتَ موفقَ الدينِ الحَكيما

He says "Why with no just cause did you defame

The wise Mowaffaq? Such fault is corrupt."

فَقُلتُ لَهُ تَأَنَّ فَغَيرُ عَدلٍ

إِذا ما لامَ مَن سَلِمَ السَليما

I said "Gently! He who blames the innocent

Himself loses his right to justice and fair trial."

شَكَوتُ إِلَيهِ مِن كانونَ قُرّاً

أَبيتُ لِضُرِّهِ أَرعى النُجوما

I complained to him of the cruel, cold winter,

And that I could not rest for its bitter squalls.

فَما أَلوى عَلَيَّ وَقالَ خَلطٌ

يَزولُ إِذا تَجَنَّبتَ اللُحوما

But he was not kind, and said "'Tis but a spell

That will pass when you give up meat for your meals."

فَقَضَّيتُ الشِتاءَ كَما تَقَضّى

شِتا البُرغوثِ في ذَقنِ اِبنِ سيما

So I endured the winter as the gnat endures

The winter in the beard of Ibn Sima.