1. دعوتَ الى مماحكةِ الصيام

    وإعمال الملاهي والمُدامِ

    You invited me to wrangle with the fast,

    and to indulge in diversions and wine.

  2. ولو سبقَ الرسولُ لكان سعيي

    إليك ينوب عن طول الكلام

    Had the messenger arrived earlier, my hastening

    to you would have taken the place of lengthy speech.

  3. وما شوقي إليك بدون شوقي

    إلى ثمَر التصابي والغرامِ

    And my longing for you is no less than my longing

    for the fruits of youthful dalliance and passion.

  4. ولكن حلَّ في نفرٍ عسوفٌ

    بمنشورٍ محلَّ المُستهامِ

    But a ruthless man arrived with a band,

    bearing a decree, at the abode of the lovesick

  5. حسينٍ فاستباح له حريماً

    بطرفٍ باعثٍ سببَ الحِمامِ

    Husayn, and seized a sanctuary for himself,

    with a glance that set the cause of death in motion.

  6. وأظهرَ نخوةً وسطا وأبدى

    فظاظته بتركٍ للسلام

    And he displayed arrogance, acted violently, and revealed

    his harshness by withholding a greeting.

  7. وأزعجني بألفاظٍ غلاظٍ

    وقد أعطيته طرفي زمامي

    And he disturbed me with harsh words,

    though I had already given him both ends of my rein.

  8. ولو خالفته لم يخش قتلي

    وقنعني سريعاً بالحُسام

    Had I opposed him, he would not have feared killing me,

    and would swiftly have struck my head with the sharp sword.