وافى لصنوه شاعر يوما فما

وجد المزور فخط سطرا في الحمى

A poet came to visit his beloved one day, but

The deceiver found no inspiration, so no line could he pen.

ألقى على ورق الزيارة نتفة

من شعره واليك ما قد نظما

He plucked a tuft of his hair and tossed it

Onto the guestbook, composing as follows:

لو رفرف الخطاف حول مقركم

متطلبّا خلف النوافذ مجثما

If a partridge were to flutter around your abode

Seeking respite behind the shutters in wait,

ولمحت في إحدى المفاوز زهرة

كسيت ذبولا واشتكت فيه الظما

And in one of the crevices spied a flower

Withered and choked with thirst imploring relief,

لفتحتُ للخطّاف مصراع الكوى

وسقيتُ عطشى الزهر ها إني هما

I'd open the door of the shack for the partridge

And quench the thirst of the flower - behold, I care!