1. Abbas, my son is my refuge
From the loneliness of living and from hatred

2. His chatter comforts me in my loneliness
I hope his chatter never ceases to comfort me

3. And his jumping between his toys
Though they're all too big for him

4. Hitting this one and kissing that
And they're all trying to be good to him

5. Pushing one away and turning to another
Though there's no call for deceit

6. He rides my back unapologetically
Loving him as a child despite his age

7. Reckless, fearing no rebuke
And uncaring of people's disapproval

8. But know he is an obedient boy
Who repays me for his upbringing

9. He kisses my hand every day without
Stinting on a kiss from his mouth

10. Convey to ‘Azzouz his longings
And the thanks buried in his chest

11. And say to him that a Ma’azini lad
‘Azzouz, calls you to Egypt

12. O friend, which by God is more beautiful
When he stumbles in his walk

13. And which do you think, my friend
Resembles the Samaritan in his matter

14. Gabriel raised him in his religion
And he grew covering others

15. And his long glorification did not help
Whether secretly or openly

16. And that did not change his carpenter way
Nor turn the branch from its root

17. When Moses went to his Lord
He led Israel astray immediately

18. And he brought them the calf, scorning
Their dreams, laughing secretly

19. And who do you see is Moses the Converser
Whom Pharaoh raised on his disbelief

20. Pharaoh saw him and was not deterred
Except by a prophet in a pious lad

21. Calling to God and His approval
And to the Almighty’s promise in his palace

22. I do not fear the loss of wealth
Abbas, in his advancing years

23. Nor do I care if when he grows up
He loses interest in life and its comforts

24. Assailing people with his sins
Without benefiting people with his virtues

25. And I do not dread seeing him a lad
Who has filled the world with his evil

26. Rather, my friend, I dread
Poetry surging in his chest

27. Who will buy my poetry scorning
The heedless one’s life of ease

28. Who will buy my warbling debasing
The oblivious one’s dawn

29. Who will buy a tear that reveals to the lad
Its wandering, not its outpouring

30. Who will buy a soul and its torments
For one heavily burdened in thought

31. Who will buy this but a frequenter of wine
Seeking harm with both feet