1. رأيت فتى شكا ألماً قوياً

    بمعصمه إلى آسٍ رشيدِ

    I saw a young man who complained of severe pain

    in his wrist to a wise physician.

  2. فقلت له أداء أم جراح

    وما أسباب ذا الكرب الشديدِ

    So I asked him, “Is it illness or wounds?

    And what has caused this grievous distress?”

  3. فقال لقيت ذا عهد ودوداً

    فصافحني كجبار عنيد

    He said, “I met an affectionate old acquaintance,

    who then shook my hand like an obstinate tyrant.

  4. وهز يدي شديد الضغط حتى

    حسبت بنانه قِطَعَ الحديد

    And he shook my hand, squeezing so hard that

    I thought his fingers were pieces of iron.

  5. مصافحة أراها شر ذكرى

    لملقاه ولست بمستعيد

    A handshake I deem the worst reminder

    of meeting him; I would not ask for it again.

  6. ولم يقصد بها غيظي ولكن

    جرى فيها على النمط الجديد

    He did not mean to anger me by it, but

    followed the new fashion in doing so.”