ما أَخجلني وقد أتتني الكتبُ
تشكو وتقولُ إنّهم قد عتبوا
How ashamed I am, now that the letters have come to me!
They complain and say: they have indeed taken offense.
هم أهلُ مودَّتي رضوا أم غضبوا
ما أَعظمَ زلّتي إذا لم يهبوا
They are my own people—my affection is theirs, whether pleased or angry.
How grave my fault, if they do not forgive!
