يا أحسن الناس وجهاً

وأكرم الناس عهداً

O fairest of men in face

And noblest of men in covenant

لكن إذا رام جوداً

أعطى قليلاً وأكدى

Yet if he sought to be generous

He gave little and was miserly

لئن وصلتك سهواً

لقد هجرتك عمداً

If I was connected to you distractedly

I surely deserted you intentionally

وإن هويتك غياً

لقد سلوتك رشداً

And if I inclined to you unwittingly

I had rightly advised you

جاوزت بي حد ذنبي

وما تجاوزت حدا

You exceeded the extent of my sin

And did not exceed any limit

عركت آذان شعري

لما طغى وتحدى

You seduced the ears of my poetry

When it was extravagant and defiant

وآل رزيك أولى

من قلد الشهب عقدا

The shame you bear is greater

Than stringing shooting stars as a necklace

لأنهم ألحفوني

من الكرامة بردا

Since they have clothed me

With coldness instead of honor

وخولوني ولكن

خلطت جاهاً ونقدا

And they initiated me but

I confused glory and cash

وغرني كل وجه

من البشاشة يندى

And every cheerful face misled me

And I said he has noble origin

وقلت أصل كريم

وجوهر ليس يصدا

And essence that does not recoil

So return my praise to me

فاردد علي مديحي

فلست أكره ردا

For I do not dislike returning it

And dash the face of my wishful thinking

والطم به وجه ظن

قد خاب عندك قصدا

Which failed in your view intentionally

And there will come to you from me

وسوف تأتيك عني

ركائب الذم تحدى

Cavalries of blame that challenge

That cut a path in the land and in Najd

يقطعن بالقول غوراً

من البلاد ونجدا

Spreading in every ear

Blame and folding praise

ينشرن في كل سمع

ذماً ويطوين حمدا