وَإِنّي لَأَستَحِيَ السُؤالَ وَمَذهَبي

وَإِنّي لَأَستَحِيَ السُؤالَ وَمَذهَبي

عَريضٌ وَآبى الشُحَّ إِلّا عَلى عِرضي

عَريضٌ وَآبى الشُحَّ إِلّا عَلى عِرضي

And indeed I am ashamed to ask, and my path

Though asking shames me, my nature is generous,

is broad; I reject stinginess, except in guarding my honor.

I disdain only stinginess, not my honor.

وَما كانَ مِثلي يَعتَريكَ رَجاؤُهُ

وَما كانَ مِثلي يَعتَريكَ رَجاؤُهُ

وَلَكِن أَساءَت شيمَةٌ مِن فَتىً مَحضِ

وَلَكِن أَساءَت شيمَةٌ مِن فَتىً مَحضِ

And the hope of one like me would not seek you out,

One such as I would not trouble you hoping,

but a true young man's nature has erred.

Except that an exemplar's ways have shamed me.

وَإِنّي وَإِشرافي عَلَيكَ بِهِمَّتي

وَإِنّي وَإِشرافي عَلَيكَ بِهِمَّتي

لَكَالمُبتَغي زُبداً مِنَ الماءِ بِالمَخضِ

لَكَالمُبتَغي زُبداً مِنَ الماءِ بِالمَخضِ

And indeed I, in turning my aspirations toward you,

For I and my pursuit of you are like

am like one seeking butter from water by churning.

One who churns water seeking foam.