1. أَصبَحتَ مُطَّرَحاً في مَعشَرٍ جَهِلوا

    حَقَّ الأَديبِ فَباعوا الرَأسَ بِالذَنَبِ

    You have become an outcast among people who failed to recognize

    the worth of the man of letters, so they sold the head for the tail.

  2. وَالناسُ يَجمَعُهُم شَملٌ وَبَينَهُم

    في العَقلِ فَرقٌ وَفي الآدابِ وَالحَسَبِ

    And people are united by a common bond, yet among them

    are differences in intellect, learning, and ancestral honor.

  3. كَمِثلِ ما الذَهَبِ الإِبريزِ يَشرَكُهُ

    في لَونِهِ الصُفرُ وَالتَفضيلُ لِلذَهَبِ

    Just as pure gold is matched

    in color by brass, yet gold is preferred.

  4. وَالعودُ لَو لَم تَطِب مِنهُ رَوائِحُهُ

    لَم يَفرِقِ الناسُ بَينَ العودِ وَالحَطَبِ

    And were agarwood’s fragrances not sweet,

    people would not distinguish between agarwood and firewood.