لم يضْحك الشَّيبُ في فَوْدَيهِ بل كلَحَا

لم يضْحك الشَّيبُ في فَوْدَيهِ بل كلَحَا

سَمِّ القبِيحَ من الأسْماءِ ما قَبُحَا

سَمِّ القبِيحَ من الأسْماءِ ما قَبُحَا

Gray hair did not smile at his temples; rather, it grimaced.

The gray hairs in his beard did not make him laugh, rather his cheeks wrinkled.

Call the ugly by an ugly name.

Name the ugly with the ugliest names.

قالت علا النّاسُ إلا أنتَ قلتُ لها

قالت علا النّاسُ إلا أنتَ قلتُ لها

كذاك يسْفُلُ عند الوزن من رَجَحَا

كذاك يسْفُلُ عند الوزن من رَجَحَا

She said, “People have risen, except you.” I told her:

She said: people are elevated except you. I told her:

“So too, when weighed, the heavier one sinks lower.”

Thus the lighter one descends on the scale.

عَلا سليمانُ بعد اليوم فاتَّئبي

عَلا سليمانُ بعد اليوم فاتَّئبي

أنْ لا تَرَيْني بدارِ الهُونِ مُطَّرَحَا

أنْ لا تَرَيْني بدارِ الهُونِ مُطَّرَحَا

Sulayman has risen; henceforth, be ashamed

Solomon became elevated after this day so repent,

that you no longer see me cast aside in the abode of humiliation.

Lest you see me thrown down at the abode of disgrace.