1. قَد بِعتَني مِنكَ أَبا العَبّاسِ

    حَلياً مِنَ الخَطِّ بِلا مِكاسِ

    Abu al-Abbas, you have indeed sold me your own

    jewelry of calligraphy, without haggling,

  2. تودِعُهُ في سَفَطِ القِرطاسِ

    فَكُلُّ شِعرٍ لِيَ مِنهُ كاسِ

    which you place in a casket of paper;

    so every poem of mine is clothed in it—

  3. مِن مُوثِرٍ لِخِلِّهِ مُواسِ

    يَفوقُ في الشِعرِ أَبا نُوّاسِ

    from one who puts his friend first and lends him aid,

    who surpasses Abu Nuwas in poetry.

  4. إِن أَنسَ حاجاتي فَغَيرَ ناسِ

    لا عَدِمَ الناسُ اِهتِمامَ الناسِ

    If I forget my needs, you do not forget them;

    may people never lack the care of others.