1. قلتُ للسّائلينَ لّما رأوْني

    خَطِلَ الخطْوِ في اختلافي إليهِ

    I said to those who questioned me when they saw me

    Unsteady of step in my repeated visits to him:

  2. ما اختلافي إليه إلا لأمرٍ

    وهو في الخَلوةِ اختلافي عَليهِ

    I keep visiting him for one purpose alone—

    And that is to oppose him in private.