أَنا بِالأَهوازِ جارٌ لِعُمَرٍ

لَعَظيمٍ زَعَموا ضَخمَ الخَطَرِ

In Ahwaz, I dwell as a neighbor to Umar,

A figure, they claimed, of momentous esteem.

لا يرى مِنهُ عَلَينا أَثَرٌ

لا يَكونُ الجودُ إِلّا بِأَثَرِ

Yet upon us, not a single trace of him appears,

And generosity exists not without a trace.

إِن تَكُن وَرَّقَكَ عَنّا عَجِزتَ

يا أَبا حَفصٍ فَجُد لي بِحَجَرِ

If you are powerless to offer us your silver,

O Abu Hafs, then grant me at least a stone,

يَكسِرُ الجَوزَ بِهِ صِبيانُنا

وَإِذا ما حَضَرَ اللَوزُ كَسَرِ

With which our children may crack open walnuts,

And crush the almonds whenever they are served.