وَذِي خِلالٍ كَأَنَّ اللهَ صَوَّرَهَا

مِنْ صِبْغَة اللُّؤْمِ أَوْ مِنْ حَمْأَةِ الرَّيَبِ

With charms as though God had shaped her

Out of ambergris or out of sunless gloom

نَالَ الْعَلاءَ وَلَكِنْ خَابَ رَاِئدُهُ

عَنْ نُجْعَةِ الْفَضْلِ والآدابِ والْحَسَبِ

She won high rank, but her guide missed

The abode of learning, manners, and pedigree

هَجَوْتُهُ رَغْبَةً في الصِّدْقِ إِذْ نَفَرَتْ

شَمَائِلِي عَنْ مَقَالِ الْمَدْحِ فِي الْكَذِبِ

I lampooned him, seeking sincerity, when my nature

Recoiled from eulogizing with lies