أَنا بِالأَهوازِ جارٌ لِعَمر

لِعَظيمٍ زَعَموا ضَخمَ الخَطَر

In Ahwaz I live as a neighbor to Amr,

A man, they claim, of greatness and high standing;

لا يَرى مِنهُ عَلَينا أَثَر

لا يَكونُ الجودُ إِلّا بِأَثَر

Yet no sign of him is ever seen upon us,

And generosity is nothing without a visible sign.

إِن تَكُن وَرَقُكَ عَنّا عَجِزتَ

يا أَبا حَفصفَجِدلي بِحَجَر

If your silver coins are too scant to reach us,

Then, O Abu Hafs, show charity with a stone,

يَكسِرُ الجَوزَ بِهِ صِبيانُنا

وَإِذا ما حَضَرَ اللَوزُ كَسَر

With which our children might crack their walnuts,

And break open almonds, whenever they appear.