"I laughed and they said 'Won't you have shame!'"

"I laughed and they said 'Won't you have shame!'"

ضحكت فقالوا ألا تحتشم = بكيت فقالوا ألا تبتسم 
بسمت فقالوا يرائي بـها = عبست فقالوا بدا ما كتم
صمت فقالوا كليل اللسان = نطقت فقالوا كثير الكلم
حلمت فقالوا صنيع الجبان = ولو كان مقتدراً لانتـقم
بسلت فقالوا لطيشٍ به = وما كان مجترئاً لو حكم
يقولون شذ إذا قلت لا = وإمعة حين وافقتهم
فأيقنت أني مهما أرد = رضى الناس لابد أن أذم

I laughed and they said 'Won't you have some shame!'
I cried and they said 'Won't you smile?'

I smiled and they said 'He only shows off!'
I frowned and they said, 'What he has concealed has come out'

I was silent and they said 'Incoherent'
I spoke and they said 'He talks too much!'

I bore patience and they said 'What a coward
And were he to have power he'd surely punish!'

I was brave and they said 'He strikes with it
And were he to rule, he'd surely be reckless!'

They say 'wierd!' when I disagree
And call me 'opportunistic' when I agree

So I became certain that whenever I wanted to please people,
I am to be criticised.
[Author unknown]

As they say: رضى الناس غاية لا تدرك - "pleasing people is an objective that can never be attained."