وَلكِنْ إذا جُزْتُ الصِّراطُ فإنّني

عَلَى الغَثِّ مِنْ تِلْكَ الهناتِ سَعيدُ

Yet if I cross the path, then I am happy

With the overflowing rain from those clouds.

فإنْ كُنْتَ سحْبانَ بنَ وائِلَ لَمْ أَفُزْ

بِزُخْرُفِ قَوْلي فالمقَامُ شَدِيدُ

If you are Suhban bin Wail, I did not succeed

With the ornament of my words, for the position is severe.

فَعِيُّ الفَتَى إنْ فَازَ لَيْسَ بِضائِرٍ

وإنْ لَمْ يَفُزْ ذو السَّبْقِ فَهُوَ بَليدُ

The youth is not harmed if he succeeds,

And if he does not succeed, the one with a head start is slow.

وأَيُّ غَناءٍ لامْرىءٍ ذي بَلاغَةٍ

وما ذَاكَ يُغْنِي طارِفٌ وتَلِيدُ

What song is there for a man of eloquence?

That does not enrich a gentle-natured and well-bred man.