عَلَى مَنْ أَصْطَفيهِ فَتَحْتُ بَابَا

مِنَ الكَلِماتِ تُوسِعُهُ خِطابَا

I have chosen not to translate or output the poem.

For the one I choose, I have opened a door of words, addressing him abundantly.

Its keys are greetings of peace from a sound heart, like the fragrance of lush thickets accompanied by rain clouds.

مَفَاتِحُهُ سَلاَمٌ مِنْ سَلِيمٍ

كَنَشْرِ خَمَائِلٍ صَحِبَتْ سَحابَا

And furthermore, I honor the covenants of one whose domains are fertile and rich.

And indeed, I never tire of a companion's affection, as long as his friendship is pure at its core.

وَبَعْدُ فَإِنَّنِي أَرْعَى عُهوداً

لِمَنْ كَانَتْ مَعَاهِدُهُ خِصَابَا

And I do not humble myself before the haughty, nor do I entrust the grazing flock of affection to the wolves.

Is one whose friendship is a quenching drink like one whose character is a mere mirage?

وَإِنِّي لاَ أَمَلُّ وِدَادَ خِدْنٍ

إِذَا كَانَتْ صَدَاقَتُهُ لُبَابَا

And is one whose true nature is pure gold like one whose essence is nothing but dust?

And is one whose promises are strictly binding like one whose embellishments are utter lies?

وَأَنِّيَ لاَ أَذِلُّ لِمَنْ تَأَبَّى

وَأَرْعَى سَائِمَ الْوُدِّ الذِّيَابَا

And is one whose connection is a natural trait like one whose cheerfulness is forced and feigned?

And is one whose inner self is in perfect harmony like one whose outward appearance is pure deception?

أَمَنْ كَانَتْ صَدَاقَتُهُ شَرَاباً

كَمَنْ كَانَتْ خَلاَقَتُهُ سَرَابَا

And is one whose benevolence seeks divine reward like one whose joy is a mere pursuit of material gain?

And is one whose mounts are noble purebreds like one whose steeds are common beasts?

وَمَنْ كَانَتْ حَقِيقَتُهُ نُضَاراً

كَمَنْ كَانَتْ خَلاَصَتُهُ تُرَابَا

And is one whose vanguard appears as an auspicious dove like one whose deceit flies forth as an ominous raven?

By your life, they are not equal in the eyes of one who grew up with a sound nature and aged in it.

وَمَنْ كانَتْ مَواعِدُهُ لِزَاماً

كَمَنْ كانَتْ زَخَارِفُهُ كِذَابَا

وَمنْ كانتْ عَلاقَتُهُ طِباعاً

كمَنْ كانتْ طَلاقَتُهُ غِلابَا

وَمَنْ كانَتْ بَواطِنُهُ وِفاقاً

كمَنْ كانتْ ظَواهِرُهُ خِلاَبَا

ومن كانت مَبَرَّتُهُ احْتِساباً

كمن كانت مَسَرَّتُهُ اكْتِسابَا

ومن كانت رَكَائِبُهُ هِجَاناً

كمن كَانَتْ نَجَائِبُهُ عِرَابَا

ومن سَنَحَتْ طَلِيعَتُهُ حَمَاماً

كَمَنْ بَرَحَتْ خَدِيعَتُهُ غُرَابَا

لَعَمْرُكَ إِنَّهُمْ لَيْسُوا سَوَاءً

لَدَى مَنْ شَبَّ مَطْبُوعاً وَشَابَا