يا اِبنُ عَمرٍ وَالخَيرُ فيكَ قَليلُ

كَذَبَ الظَنُّ فيكَ وَالتَأميلُ

O son of Umar, though good in you is little,

False is the hope and wishful thinking in you.

مَن يَكُن حامِلاً إِلَيكَ كِتاباً

فَكِتابي إِلَيكَ أَيرٌ طَويلُ

If one comes to you bearing a letter from me,

Then my letter to you is very long.

وَرَسولي لَحظٌ يُخَمِّشُ أَلفا

ظَكَ إِن لَم يوجَد إِلَيكَ رَسولُ

And my messenger is a glance that rips through a thousand,

If no messenger can make it to you.

لا تَدَلَّل عَلَيَّ بِالبُخلِ إِنّي

لَيسَ يَصبينِيَ الحَبيبُ البَخيلُ

Do not plead poverty as an excuse, for I

Am not pleased by a miserly beloved.