1. عفتُ القريضَ فلا أسمو له أبداً

    حتى لقد عفت أن أرويه في الكتب

    I have spurned poetry, and shall never aspire to it.

    So much so that I have even spurned quoting it in books.

  2. هجرتُ نظمي له لا من مهابته

    لكنَّها خيفةٌ من حرفة الأدبِ

    I abandoned composing it, not out of awe of it,

    Rather, it is fear of the ill fortune that comes with letters.