ومدَّعٍ بصراً بالشعرِ قلتُ له

ومدَّعٍ بصراً بالشعرِ قلتُ له

والقولُ قولان مألوفٌ ومبتدَعُ

والقولُ قولان مألوفٌ ومبتدَعُ

And to one claiming insight into poetry, I said:

I said to one who claimed insight into poetry,

And speech is of two kinds: familiar and original.

Words are of two kinds, trite or ingeniously wrought.

ما يبصرُ الشعرَ إلا من له بَصَرٌ

ما يبصرُ الشعرَ إلا من له بَصَرٌ

في قلبه ليس في عينيه يا لُكَعُ

في قلبه ليس في عينيه يا لُكَعُ

None perceives poetry but one who has sight

None can perceive poetry but one whose heart's sight

In his heart, not in his eyes, you fool.

Sees not with eyes that stare out vacantly.