كتبتُ والنَّائباتُ أُذنٌ

كتبتُ والنَّائباتُ أُذنٌ

عليَّ في رُقعَتي وعينُ

عليَّ في رُقعَتي وعينُ

I wrote, with misfortunes all ears

I wrote, while the deputies lent an ear,

and all eyes on me as I penned my letter.

Keeping watch over me in my letter's every line,

تقولُ لي حاتِمٌ وأوسٌ

تقولُ لي حاتِمٌ وأوسٌ

ولاَ أبو القاسِمِ الحُسَينُ

ولاَ أبو القاسِمِ الحُسَينُ

They tell me, 'Hatim and Aws,

Saying to me, "Hatim and Aus,"

but not Abu al-Qasim al-Husayn,'

"Nor Abu'l-Qasim al-Husayn,"

لخَوفهِا أن يَطولَ بَيني

لخَوفهِا أن يَطولَ بَيني

وبَينهَا من نَداك بَينُ

وبَينهَا من نَداك بَينُ

fearing that there might stretch far between me

Fearing that between me

and them, through your bounty, a separation.

And them your call would make too long a stay.