ضحكت فقالوا ألا تحتشم
بكيت فقالوا ألا تبتسم
بسمت فقالوا يرائي بها
عبست فقالوا بدا ما كتم
صمت فقالوا كليل اللسان
نطقت فقالوا كثير الكلم
حلمت فقالوا صنيع الجبان
ولو كان مقتدرًا لانتقم
بسلت فقالوا لطيشٍ به
وما كان مجترئًا لو حكم
يقولون شذ إذا قلت لا
وإمعة حين وافقتهم
فأيقنت أني مهما أرد
رضى الناس لابد من أن أذم
قصيدة الإمام الشافعي—

When I laughed, they said “Can’t you ever be modest?”
When I cried, they said “Don’t you ever smile?”
When I smiled, they said “You’re showing off.”
When I frowned, they said “You started showing your true colors”.
When I kept silent, they said “You have a feeble tongue.”
When I spoke, they said “You are too talkative.”
When I was tolerant, they called it cowardice.
And said “Had you been brave, you would have taken a revenge.”
When I showed up some courage, they said it is reckless,
And that I wouldn’t have behaved so if I were poised.
When I said NO, they thought I’m odd.
When I agreed with them, they called me a blind follower.
So it became certain, that no matter how hard I try,
Pleasing people will bring me nothing but pillory.
Poem by Imam Shafi’i, Translated into English by Dina Al-Mahdy