أبحتُ أبا الحسين صميم ودي

أبحتُ أبا الحسين صميم ودي

فداعبني بألفاظٍ عِذابِ

فداعبني بألفاظٍ عِذابِ

I offered Abu al-Husayn my deepest affection,

I confided my sincere affection to Abu al-Husayn

so he teased me with sweet words.

But he tormented me with painful words

رأيتُ جلوسَه عندي كعرسٍ

رأيتُ جلوسَه عندي كعرسٍ

فجُدت له بتمسيك الثيابِ

فجُدت له بتمسيك الثيابِ

I regarded his sitting with me as a wedding,

When I saw him sitting with me like a bridegroom

so I generously perfumed his clothes with musk.

I was thrilled to cling to his clothes

وبغضي للمشيب أعد عندي

وبغضي للمشيب أعد عندي

كُميتاً لونه لونُ الخضابِ

كُميتاً لونه لونُ الخضابِ

And my hatred of gray hair has prepared for me

And my hatred of old age was renewed in me

something dark reddish-brown, its color that of hair dye.

For its color was the hue of henna

وإن كان التقزز منه فخراً

وإن كان التقزز منه فخراً

فلِمْ يُكنَى الوصيُّ أبا ترابِ

فلِمْ يُكنَى الوصيُّ أبا ترابِ

And if feeling disgust at it is a source of pride,

And if disdaining it is a matter of pride

then why is the appointed successor called Abu Turab?

Why was the Trustee nicknamed Father of Dust?