ظلمتُ شِعري وليسَ الظُّلمُ من شِيَمي

يُطيعُني حين أدعوهُ وأعصيهِ

I have wronged my poetry, yet wrongdoing is not my way,

It obeys me when I call it, and disobeys me,

يَهُمُّ أن يذكرَ القومَ اللئامَ بما

فيهم فأزجرُه عنهم وأَثْنيهِ

It seeks to mention the ignoble men for what is in them,

So I restrain it from them and commend it,

ولَيس من خُلُقي ثَلبُ الغَنِيِّ وإن

جَنى ولا ذكرُ ذي نَقصٍ بما فيهِ

It is not in my character to covet the wealthy man's money, even if he has wronged me,

Nor to mention a deficient man for what deficiency is in him.