أَيُّها الشاعِرُ مَهلاً

أَيُّها الشاعِرُ مَهلاً

قَد حَمَلنا مِنكَ ثِقلا

قَد حَمَلنا مِنكَ ثِقلا

O poet, slow down!

O poet, hold on!

We have already borne a burden from you.

We have borne enough of your burden.

لا تَكُن في النَقدِ مِمَّن

لا تَكُن في النَقدِ مِمَّن

زادَ في الشَطرَنجِ بَغلا

زادَ في الشَطرَنجِ بَغلا

Do not be, in criticism, among those

Do not be like those who

who added a mule to chess.

Added more oppression to the chessboard.

إِن أَجَبناكَ فَنَقصٌ

إِن أَجَبناكَ فَنَقصٌ

أَن يُجيبَ العُلوُ سُفلا

أَن يُجيبَ العُلوُ سُفلا

If we answer you, it is a failing

If we answer you, it is a shortcoming

for the lofty to answer the lowly.

For the exalted to answer the lowly.