1. أُهدي لِحَضرتكم تحيّة شائق

    وَثناءَ ذي ودٍّ ودعوةَ وامقِ

    I offer Your Honour the greeting of one who longs,

    And an affectionate one's praise, and a loving one's prayer,

  2. لا للإثابةِ ثمّ أُنهي إثرها

    إنّ التخلّفَ واقعٌ لعوائقِ

    Not for reward; then, after this, I report:

    My absence is indeed due to obstacles.

  3. مِنها بشهرٍ مرّ أنّي فاردٌ

    وَالأهلُ مَرضى وَالبناءُ مضايقي

    Among them: during the past month I have been alone,

    And my family are ill, and building work hampers me.

  4. عُذرٌ تركّب لي ولا من ندحةٍ

    عنهُ يحقّ قبوله من صادقِ

    An excuse has come together for me, with no escape

    From it; it merits acceptance from a truthful person.

  5. لا زالَ رأيكَ للخلائقِ صادراً

    عَن حسنِ خلقٍ في رضاء الخالقِ

    May your judgment toward humankind ever spring

    From good character, in accord with the Creator's pleasure.