1. قَد فَقَدنا الوَفاءَ فَقدَ الحَميمِ

    وَبَكَينا العُلا بُكاءَ الرُسومِ

    We have indeed lost loyalty as one loses a dear friend,

    and wept for greatness as one weeps over ruins.

  2. لا أَمَلُّ الزَمانَ ذَمّاً وَحَسَبي

    شُغُلاً أَن ذَمَمتُ كُلَّ ذَميمِ

    I never tire of censuring Time; it is enough for me

    as an occupation to have censured every blameworthy man.

  3. أَتَظُنُّ الغِنى ثَواءً لِذي الهِمَّ

    ةِ مِن وَقفَةٍ بِبابِ لَئيمِ

    Do you think wealth will abide with a man of high

    resolve, gained by standing at a base man's door?

  4. وَأَرى عِندَ خَجلَةِ الرِدِّ مِنّي

    خَطَراً في السُؤالِ جِدَّ عَظيمِ

    And in my shame at being refused, I see

    a very grave risk in asking.

  5. وَلَوَجهُ البَخيلِ أَحسَنُ في بَع

    ضِ الأَحايينِ مِن قَفا المَحرومِ

    And the miser's face is fairer, at certain

    times, than the back of a rejected man's head.

  6. وَكَريمٍ غَدا فَأَعلَقَ كَفّي

    مُستَميحاً في نِعمَةٍ مِن كَريمِ

    And a generous man went forth and brought within my grasp,

    as I sought bounty, a generous man's gift.

  7. حازَ حَمدي وَلِلرِياحِ اللَواتي

    تَجلُبُ الغَيثَ مِثلُ حَمدِ الغُيومِ

    He won my praise; and the winds that

    bring rain deserve the same praise as the clouds.

  8. عَودَةٌ بَعدَ بَدأَةٍ مِنكَ كانَت

    أَمسِ يا أَحمَدَ اِبنَ عَبدِ الرَحيمِ

    A renewed favor, after a first from you, came

    yesterday, O Ahmad, son of Abd al-Rahim.

  9. ما تَأَتّيكَ بِالظَنينِ وَلا وَج

    هُكَ في وَجهِ حاجَتي بِشَتيمِ

    Your gracious approach is not suspect, nor is your

    face grim when faced with my need.