سما التلعفري إلى وصالي

سما التلعفري إلى وصالي

ونفس الكلب تكبر عن وصاله

ونفس الكلب تكبر عن وصاله

Al-Tala‘fari aspired to my company,

Al-Talʿafari aspired to fellowship with me,

though even a dog’s soul is too proud for his.

And a dog's soul is too proud for fellowship with him.

ينافي خلقه خلقي فتأبى

ينافي خلقه خلقي فتأبى

فعالي أن تضاف الى فعاله

فعالي أن تضاف الى فعاله

His character clashes with mine, and so

His character clashes with mine, so they refuse—

my deeds refuse to be coupled with his.

My deeds—to be linked to his.

فصنعتي النفيسة في لساني

فصنعتي النفيسة في لساني

وصنعته الخسيسة في قذاله

وصنعته الخسيسة في قذاله

For my noble craft lies in my tongue,

For my noble craft lies in my tongue,

while his base craft lies at the nape of his neck.

And his base craft in the back of his head.

فإن أشعر فما هو من رجالي

فإن أشعر فما هو من رجالي

وإن يصفع فما أنا من رجاله

وإن يصفع فما أنا من رجاله

If I make poetry, he is none of my circle;

If I compose poetry, he is not one of my men;

and if he describes, I am none of his.

And if he is slapped, I am not one of his.