سَأَشكُرُ عَمراً أَن تَراخَت مَنيَّتي

سَأَشكُرُ عَمراً أَن تَراخَت مَنيَّتي

أَياديَ لَم تُمنَن وان هيَ جَلَّت

أَياديَ لَم تُمنَن وان هيَ جَلَّت

I shall thank ʿAmr, if my appointed death is delayed,

I shall thank ʿAmr, if my death is delayed,

I will be thankful all my life that my wishes slackened

for favors never marred by reproach, however great they were—

For favors never held over me, however great.

Hands that did not bestow though they seemed generous

فَتىً غَيرُ مَحجوبِ الغِنى عَن صَديقِه

فَتىً غَيرُ مَحجوبِ الغِنى عَن صَديقِه

وَلا مُظهِرُ الشَكوى إِذا النَعلُ زَلَّتِ

وَلا مُظهِرُ الشَكوى إِذا النَعلُ زَلَّتِ

a young man whose bounty is never withheld from his friend,

A young man whose wealth is not withheld from his friend,

A man not veiled from helping his friend when in need

nor one to voice complaint when the sandal slips.

Nor one who voices complaint when his sandal slips.

Nor exhibiting complaint should his sandal scrape the ground

رَأى خَلَّتي من حيث يَخفى مَكانُها

رَأى خَلَّتي من حيث يَخفى مَكانُها

فَكانَت قَذى عينيهِ حَتّى تَجَلَّتِ

فَكانَت قَذى عينيهِ حَتّى تَجَلَّتِ

He perceived my need where its place lay hidden,

He saw my need where it lay hidden,

He saw my poverty where it was hidden

and it was grit in his eyes until it was cleared away.

So it was grit in his eyes until it cleared away.

So it pained his eyes until it was unveiled

إِذا استُقبِلَت منه المَودَّةُ أَقبلت

إِذا استُقبِلَت منه المَودَّةُ أَقبلت

وان غُمِزَت مِنه القَناةُ أَكفهَرَّتِ

وان غُمِزَت مِنه القَناةُ أَكفهَرَّتِ

When affection from him is met, it advances;

When his affection is welcomed, it comes forth;

When met with his affection, it came forward

but if his spear-shaft is tested, it bristles grimly.

And if his spear-shaft is tested, it turns grim.

When smitten by his disdain, it drew back enraged