أَيا مَن نونُ حاجِبِهِ سَقامُ

أَيا مَن نونُ حاجِبِهِ سَقامُ

وَيا مَن لامُ سالِفِهِ حِمامُ

وَيا مَن لامُ سالِفِهِ حِمامُ

O you whose eyebrow’s nūn is sickness,

O you whose frown is illness,

And you whose sidelock’s lām is death!

And whose past is soothing as a dove,

كَتَبتُ إِلى رِضاكَ بِقَطعِ رَسمي

كَتَبتُ إِلى رِضاكَ بِقَطعِ رَسمي

وَلَم يَثبُت عَلَيَّ لَكَ اِحتِرامُ

وَلَم يَثبُت عَلَيَّ لَكَ اِحتِرامُ

I wrote appealing to your goodwill about my allowance being cut off,

I have written seeking your approval with my compositions,

And no respect for you was binding upon me.

Yet no respect for you has stuck with me,

وَقَد فَصَّلتُ جُملَةَ ما دَهاني

وَقَد فَصَّلتُ جُملَةَ ما دَهاني

بِلا غَلَطٍ فَرَأيُكَ وَالسَلامُ

بِلا غَلَطٍ فَرَأيُكَ وَالسَلامُ

I have indeed detailed all that befell me,

And I have clearly explained how I've been wronged,

Without error—so let me have your judgment, and peace.

Without mistakes, so your view is what matters, farewell.