1. وَزائِرٍ عَلى عَجَل

    شَكَرتُهُ وَلَم أَزَل

    And a visitor in haste—

    I thanked him, and thank him still.

  2. وَواصِلٍ قَد قُلتُ إِذ

    عادَ سَريعاً ماوَصَل

    And of a caller I said, when

    he turned back so quickly, “He never came!”

  3. أَرادَ أَن يَسأَلَ عَن

    ني فَاِنثَنى وَما سَأَل

    He meant to ask about

    me, but turned away and never asked.

  4. عَتَبتُهُ لِأَنَّهُ

    أَلبَسَني ثَوبَ الخَجَل

    I reproached him because he

    clothed me in the garment of embarrassment.

  5. ماضَرَّهُ لَو كانَ وا

    فى زائِراً عَلى مَهَل

    What harm would it have done him, had he

    come to visit at leisure?

  6. كَم واقِفٍ في رَسمِ دا

    رٍ لِلحَبيبِ أَو طَلَل

    How many stand by the traces of a dwelling

    of the beloved, or by its ruins!

  7. مَولايَ سامِحني بِما

    تَراهُ بي مِنَ الزَلَل

    My lord, forgive me for whatever

    faults you see in me.

  8. فَكَم وَكَم سَتَرتَ لي

    مِن خَطَإٍ وَمِن خَطَل

    For how often, how often you have concealed for me

    errors and foolish talk!

  9. فَإِنَّكَ الأَخُ الحَبي

    بُ السَيِّدُ المَولى الأَجَل

    For you are the beloved brother,

    the master, the most exalted lord.