أيُّها المُقتَدَى بأفعاله الغُر

رِ على أنَّهنَّ قد نِلنَ مِنِّي

O you who is followed for his virtuous deeds

Have mercy, though they say that I gained from you

صَدَّغني لِصدِّكَ الناسُ جمعاً

فأبِحهُم وَصلي إِذا لم تَصِلني

They blamed me for your aloofness, all people

So forgive them, and if you don’t join me in prayer

أعطِني رُقعةً بخطِّك أن لَي

سَ لسوءٍ كانَ انحرافُك عنِّي

Give me a note in your handwriting that

Your estrangement from me was not due to any wrong I did

أو فَقل لي فيمَ اجتِنابي وأخلا

قُكَ تَدنُو إلى سِوايَ وتُدني

Or tell me why you avoid me and refrain

From coming near to me and drawing me close

ألِذَنبٍ جَنيتُ ما بَسَطَ ال

لهُ يداً لي ولا لساناً فأجنِي

For no sin I committed, for God

Did not extend a hand to me, nor a tongue for me to bite

قد أتَى عنكَ ما تَكادُ مَعانِي

هِ بِه قبلَ أن تُغَنَّى تُغنِّي

There has come from you what meanings almost

Sing before you are done singing

لَقطاتٌ كالغانِياتِ ولكِن

يتبدَّلنَ في ثِيابٍ وحُسنِ

Flirts like singers, but they

Change in clothes and beauty

فأنا العاتِبُ الذي وجَبَ ال

عَتبُ عليهِ فاعجَب لذلكَ منِّي

So I am the reproacher who deservedly

Reproached, so wonder at that from me

حينَ أهديتَ واحتَويتَ على ال

آدابِ فَنّاً منها إلى كلِّ فَنِّ

When you were generous and possessed the

Etiquette, you chose from it every art