وَرُقعَةٍ جاءَتكَ مَثنِيَّةً

كَأَنَّها خَدٌّ عَلى خَدِّ

And a note came to you, folded double,

as though it were cheek laid upon cheek:

نَبذُ سَوادٍ في بَياضٍ كَما

ذُرَّ فَتيتُ المِسكِ في الوَردِ

flecks of black upon white, just as

powdered musk is sprinkled among roses.

ساهِمَةُ الأَسطارِ مَصروفَةٌ

عَن مُلَحِ الهَزلِ إِلى الجِدِّ

Its lines are somber, turned away

from the pleasantries of jest to earnestness.

يا كاتِباً أَسلَمَني عَتبُهُ

إِلَيهِ حَسبي مِنكَ ما عِندي

O scribe, to whom his reproach has handed me over,

what I have from you is enough for me.