وَجَدْتُ الحلمَ ينصرني على مَنْ

أسُلّ لحربه ظُبةَ الحُسامِ

I found dreams to support me against those

Whose swords I sharpen for war,

ولي كَلِمٌ كأنّ اللّفْظَ منها

يَرُشّ السمعَ منه بالسّهامِ

And I have words that are as though their utterance

Showers the hearing with arrows,

ولكنّي أكفكفها بِحِلْمٍ

يُلاثُ البُرْدُ منه على شمامِ

But I restrain them with wisdom

That freezes anger into cold metal,

ولستُ أُعيدُ من حَنَقٍ عليه

مخاطبةً لتجديد الخصامِ

And I do not repeat in resentment against him

Words that would rekindle quarrel,

ويقصرُ في الحقيقة كلُّ شيءٍ

ثَنَيْتَ جمِيعَهُ غَيْرَ الكَلامِ

For in truth everything falls short

Except gentle words that soothe and calm.