أَلا أَبلِغ أَبا عُثما

أَلا أَبلِغ أَبا عُثما

نَ عِذرَةَ مُعتِبٍ أَسِفا

نَ عِذرَةَ مُعتِبٍ أَسِفا

Listen: convey to Abu Uthman

Shall I not convey to Abu Uthman

the apology of a regretful man seeking to make amends.

The excuse of a reproachful, sorrowful man?

فَلَستُ كَمَن يَوَدُّكَ بِال

فَلَستُ كَمَن يَوَدُّكَ بِال

لِسانِ وَيُكثِرُ الحَلِفا

لِسانِ وَيُكثِرُ الحَلِفا

For I am not like one who loves you with

For I am not like one who loves you

the tongue and swears oath after oath.

With the tongue and swears much.

عَتَبتَ عَلَيَّ في أَشيا

عَتَبتَ عَلَيَّ في أَشيا

ءَ كانَت بَينَنا سَرَفا

ءَ كانَت بَينَنا سَرَفا

You reproached me for things

You reproached me for things

that were excesses between us.

That were excessive between us.

فَلا تُشمِت بِيَ الأَعدا

فَلا تُشمِت بِيَ الأَعدا

ءَ وَالجيرانَ مُلتَهِفا

ءَ وَالجيرانَ مُلتَهِفا

So do not let the enemies gloat over me,

So do not let the enemies gloat over me

nor the neighbors, while I am anguished.

And the neighbors pry.

تَوَدُّ لَو أَنَّني لَحمٌ

تَوَدُّ لَو أَنَّني لَحمٌ

رَأَتهُ الطَيرُ فَاِختُطِفا

رَأَتهُ الطَيرُ فَاِختُطِفا

You wish that I were flesh

You would like that I were flesh

seen by the birds and snatched away.

Seen by birds that carried me off piecemeal.

وَلا تَرفَع بِهِ رَأساً

وَلا تَرفَع بِهِ رَأساً

عَفا الرَحمنُ ما سَلَفا

عَفا الرَحمنُ ما سَلَفا

Nor would you lift your head at it;

And do not with it raise your head proudly—

may the Merciful forgive what is past.

God pardon what is past!