خَلّوا مَلامي في هِجاءِ اِمرِىءٍ

يَصلُحُ بَعدَ الذَبحِ لِلخَلِّ

Leave my critics to rail against a man

Who can be reformed after slaughter like a camel colt.

لا تَعجَلوا إِنَّ العُجيلَ الَّذي

أَطَلتُمُ مِن أَجلِهِ عَذلي

Do not hasten, for the hasty one whom

You have prolonged your censure for my sake,

عارٍ مِنَ الإِحسانِ وَالحُسنِ بَل

خالٍ مِنَ الإِفضالِ وَالفَضلِ

Is devoid of kindness and goodness, rather

Empty of generosity and merit.

قولوا لَهُ يا أَجهَلَ الناسِ إِذ

أَفاضَ في جِدٍّ وَفي هَزلِ

Say to him, “O most ignorant of men, since

You have indulged in seriousness and in jest,

قَد عُبِدَ العِجلُ فَلا غَروَ أَن

يُعَوِّلوا مِنكَ عَلى عِجلِ

The calf has now been worshipped, so no wonder

They rely on you hastily.

وِلايَةٌ تِهتَ بِها بَعدُ في ال

قُوَّةِ لَم تَخرُج إِلى الفِعلِ

A governorship that will lead you astray hereafter through

Power that did not come into action.

قُلِّدتَ مِنها يَومَ قُلِّدتَها

نِيابَةً غِمداً بِلا نَصلِ

You were appointed to it the day you were appointed

As a deputy, a sheath without a blade.

فَهيَ وَما أَنتَ بِأَهلٍ لَها

في غَيرِ أَوطانٍ وَلا أَهلِ

It and you are not suited for each other

In other lands or with other people.

لَم تَرتَضِع دِرَّتَها أَو رَما

ها اللَهُ في الأَولادِ بِالثُكلِ

You were not nurtured on her pearls or did

God cast her children away through bereavement.

مُذ نُبتَ فيها لَم تُوَفَّق بِحَم

دِ اللَهِ في قَولٍ وَلا فِعلِ

Since you sprouted there, you have not been guided by

The praise of God, neither in word nor deed.

فَلا يَغُرَّنَّكَ أَن لانَ في

كَفِّكَ مِنها مَلمَسُ الصِلِّ

So do not let it deceive you that the

Handling of her affairs is in your grasp.”