1. بأبي نَظْمُكَ الّذي جَلَّ قَدْراً

    عن بَياني وعَن بَديعِ صِفاتي

    Your verse—may my father be its ransom—is exalted in worth

    Beyond my expression and my artful descriptions.

  2. فهو سِحْرٌ من دِقَّةٍ وجفَاءٍ

    وهو وَحيٌ مِن صِحَّةٍ وثَباتِ

    For it is magic in its subtlety and harshness,

    And it is revelation in its soundness and firmness.

  3. وهو وِردٌ لكُلِّ شربٍ فُراتٍ

    وحَياةٌ لكُلِّ أُنْسٍ رُفاتِ

    And it is a sweet draught for every company of drinkers,

    And life for every fellowship reduced to dust.

  4. جمعَ الحُسنَ والمَلاحةَ لفَظاً

    ثمَّ معنىً من بَعدِ طُولِ شَتاتِ

    It has united beauty and grace in wording,

    Then in meaning, after long separation.