قُل للأميرِ الذي يرجو نوافَله

من جاءه طالباً للخَير منتابا

Tell the prince who hopes for largesse

From one who comes seeking goodness faithfully

إِنَّي صحبتُكَ دَهراً كلَّ ذاك أرى

من دون خَيركَ حجاباً وأبوابا

Indeed, I kept your company for an age, all that time I saw

Naught but a veil before your bounty, and closed doors

وكم ضَريكٍ أجاءته شقاوتَهُ

إليكَ إذ أنشَبتْ ضَّراؤها نَابا

And how many wretched souls in misery came to you

When misfortune bared its fangs against them

فما فتحَت له باباً لميسرةٍ

ولا سددتَ له منِ فاقةٍ بَابَا

Yet you opened no door of ease for them

Nor bolstered any from destitution with support

كغائبٍ شَاهدٍ يخفَي عليك كما

مَنْ غَابَ عنكَ فوافى حظُّه غَابَا

Like one present yet hidden from your eyes just as

One absent from you whose fortune passed him by