1. أَيا أَسَدَ الأَدابِ عَطفَةَ راحِمٍ

    عَلى نَقَدٍ أَودى بِأَشعارِهِ النَقدُ

    O lion of letters, show a merciful soul’s compassion

    To a little sheep whose poems criticism has destroyed.

  2. أَتَخُبُ مِنّي كُلَّ لَخناءَ عانِسٍ

    وَكَيفَ وَخُطبانُ الخُطوبِ لَها نَقدُ

    Do you [woo?] from me every foul-smelling spinster?

    And how, when calamities’ suitors have ready cash for her?