أبا حسن جاءت إلي مثوبة

من النمط الأدنى عن النمط العالي

O Abu Hasan, a reward has come to me

of the lowest grade in return for the highest.

أتتني أثواب غلاظ كأنها

خوطر ينسجن القريض لبخال

Coarse garments came to me, as though they were

thoughts weaving verse for misers.

وأين الثياب المذهبات قشيبة

ولي مذهبات فيك ليست بأسمال

And where are the gold-adorned garments, fresh and fine,

when I have golden verses in your praise that are no tattered rags?

سيبلى على قرب جديد فعالكم

وتبقى على مر الجديدين أقوالي

The newness of your deeds will soon wear out,

while my words will endure as day and night pass.

ويعطل جيدي من حلي نداكم

وجيد معاليكم بها أبداً حالي

And my neck will be left bare of the ornaments of your bounty,

while the neck of your glories will be forever adorned with them.

ولولا حيائي من علاك رددتها

ولم آخذ النزر الرخيص من الغالي

But for my modesty before your eminence, I would have returned them,

and would not have accepted a cheap trifle from one so dear.

ولكن أبى لي ذاك علمي بأنني

قسيمك لو أحوجت في النفس والمال

But what kept me from that was knowing that I am

your partner in life and wealth, should I be in need.