قَرُبتَ مِن شِعرِيَ لَمّا طَما

قَرُبتَ مِن شِعرِيَ لَمّا طَما

فَكِدتَ أَن تَغرَقَ في المَوجِ

فَكِدتَ أَن تَغرَقَ في المَوجِ

You drew near to my poetry when it overflowed,

You drew near my poetry when it was raging

and nearly drowned in the waves.

And almost drowned amidst the surge.

فَلا تَقِف مِن بَعدِ ذا خَلفَهُ

فَلا تَقِف مِن بَعدِ ذا خَلفَهُ

فَإِذا يَضرِبُ بِالزَوجِ

فَإِذا يَضرِبُ بِالزَوجِ

So do not stand behind it after this,

So stand no more behind it, but withdraw -

for, behold, it strikes with both.

Lest it should smite thee with the scourge!