1. قَطَعتُ أَبا لَيلى وَما كُنتُ قَبلَهُ

    قَطوعاً وَلا مُستَقصِرُ الوُدِّ جافِيا

    I broke with Abu Layla; before him I had never been

    one to sever ties, to find affection wanting, or to be aloof.

  2. أَغُبُّ السَلامَ حينَ تَكثيرِ مَعشَرٍ

    يَعُدّونَ تَكريرَ السَلامِ تَقاضِيا

    I space out my greetings while a company multiplies theirs—

    people who count repeated greetings as pressing a claim.

  3. وَحَسبي اِقتِضاءً أَن أُطيفَ بِواقِفٍ

    عَلى خَلَّتي أَو عالِمٍ بِمَكانِيا

    And to press my claim, I need only visit one aware

    of my need, or acquainted with my standing.

  4. مَتى تَسأَلِ السِجزِيَّ عَن غَيبِ حاجَتي

    يُبَيِّن لَكَ السِجزِيُّ ما كانَ خافِيا

    Whenever you ask al-Sijzi about the hidden truth of my need,

    al-Sijzi will make plain to you what was concealed.

  5. فِداءٌ لَهُ مُستَبطَءُ النُجحِ أَخدَجَت

    مَواعيدُهُ حَتّى رَجَعنَ أَمانِيا

    May one slow to grant requests be his ransom—abortive were

    his promises, until they turned into mere wishes.