قالوا عن الفتحِ قد بعدتَ فهل

قالوا عن الفتحِ قد بعدتَ فهل

ذكرك عند الصحاب بالنسب

ذكرك عند الصحاب بالنسب

They said, “You have grown distant from al-Fatḥ; has he

They said, “You have grown distant from al-Fath; is

mentioned you among his friends by your pedigree—

your name mentioned among the companions by lineage?

أفي حواشي الغلمان قلت ألا

أفي حواشي الغلمان قلت ألا

يا ليْتني كنتُ في حواشي الكتب

يا ليْتني كنتُ في حواشي الكتب

among the pageboys in his retinue?” I said, “Ah—

Is it among the boys’ retinues?” I said, “Ah,

if only I were in the margins of books!”

would that I were in the margins of books!”