1. كان العزيرُ زماناً

    لا دَرَّ درُّ العُزيرِ

    For a time, al-‘Uzayr would—

    May al-‘Uzayr’s milk never flow!—

  2. إنْ سيل عن قائل الشع

    ر قَرّظ الناس غيري

    When asked about a poet,

    Praise everyone but me.

  3. وكان ذاك لأني

    لم أهدِ للشيخ أيري

    And that was because I

    Had not gifted the old man my cock.

  4. حتى إذا شمْت فيه

    أيراً كجُرذان عَير

    Until, when I sheathed in him

    A cock like an ass’s shaft,

  5. أضحى يُري الناسَ أني

    في الشعر فوق زهيرِ

    He began showing people that I

    Was above Zuhayr in poetry.

  6. وقال لي ذاك قولي

    ما احتل قَسُّك دَيري

    And he told me, “That is what I say

    As long as your priest occupies my monastery.

  7. نحن الرواةُ الأُلَى سا

    ر ذكرُهم أيَّ سير

    We are the transmitters whose

    Fame has traveled far and wide.

  8. وقولنا القول يروى

    قدْماً بشرٍّ وخير

    And ours is the word passed down

    Since olden times, for ill and good.

  9. فاشدُد يديك بنفعي

    ولا تَعرَّض لضَيري

    So hold fast with both hands to my aid,

    And do not expose yourself to my harm.”

  10. علمتُ أن هجائي

    لما جفا البرجَ طيري

    I learned that I was lampooned

    When my bird forsook the tower,

  11. وأنه لي حرب

    إذا ضنِنتُ بميري

    And that he is my enemy

    Whenever I withhold my provisions.