عَهدي بِهِ وَالأَكُفُّ تَختَلِفُ

وَهوَ يُعاصي طَوراً وَيَنحَرِفُ

My covenant with him, though hands may vary,

He disobeys at times and goes astray.

وَكُلَّما مالَ عِطفُهُ سَفَهاً

تُميلُهُ صَفعَةٌ فَيَنعَطِفُ

Whenever he inclines to foolishness,

A slap makes him turn round the other way.

وَإِن تَوارى بِشَخصِهِ هَرَباً

مِن راحَةٍ في اِعتِمادِها خَيَفُ

If he evades exposing himself in flight,

Fearful of comfort in relying on her,

ظَلَّت سِهامُ النِعالِ تَرشُقُهُ

كَأَنَّما رَأسُهُ لَها هَدَفُ

The arrows of her slippers still strike him

As though his head were her target center.