1. يا مُظهرَ العَقل في وِلايته

    كيف ما زِلتَ ظاهرَ النَزَقِ

    O you who display reason in your governorship,

    How is it that you are still so plainly rash?

  2. لا تَستقرُّ الزمانَ أجمَعه

    مِن عُظم ما قد حَمَلت من قَلَق

    You remain unsettled all the time,

    From the great anxiety you have borne,

  3. مُقدِّماً من يرى تَأخُّره

    مُؤَخِّراً مَن يَفوز بالسَبَق

    Advancing one who is seen to lag behind,

    Holding back one who succeeds in taking the lead.

  4. وَوَضعُك الشَيءَ غيرَ مَوضعِه

    يَشهد عند الأَنامِ بالحُمُق

    And your placing a thing outside its proper place

    Testifies before humankind to your folly,

  5. مع الذي تَقتَضي الفِراسةُ مِن

    تَصغير راسٍ والطول في العُنُق

    Along with what physiognomy infers from

    A small head and a long neck.