نُبِّئتُكَ استَقصَرتَني مادِحاً

نُبِّئتُكَ استَقصَرتَني مادِحاً

فجُدتَ بالمُستقصَرِ النَّزرِ

فجُدتَ بالمُستقصَرِ النَّزرِ

I was told you found me wanting as a poet of praise,

I have been told you found me lacking in praise,

so you bestowed a paltry, meager gift.

Yet with little, you were content.

فاعتَبر التقصيرَ ما بَيننا

فاعتَبر التقصيرَ ما بَيننا

هل هُو في جُودِكَ أو شِعري

هل هُو في جُودِكَ أو شِعري

Then judge the shortcoming between us:

Consider the shortcoming that lies between us -

is it in your generosity or my poetry?

Does it stem from your generosity, or my poetry?