أبا أحمدٍ شِعْري قَتيلُ مواعِدٍ

مطلْتَ بِها والدِّين يُلزِمكَ الدِّيهْ

O Abu Ahmed, my poetry mourns the slain,

O Abu Ahmad, my verse lies slain by your promises,

Whose blood-money you pay though the law demands.

You deferred them, yet by holy law the blood-money is due.

منحتُكَ مِن مَدحي صلاةً ورحمةً

فلا تَجعَلَنَّ رفدي مُكاءً وتَصدِيَهْ

My praise of you is a blessing and prayer -

I bestowed upon you, from my praise, blessings and mercy,

Do not make my gifts mere wailing and mourning dirge.

So do not make my recompense mere whistling and clapping.