أهبتُ بأشعاري إلى السَّيِّد النَّدْبِ

أهبتُ بأشعاري إلى السَّيِّد النَّدْبِ

فجئنَ سِراعاً وانتُدِبْنَ إلى نَدْبي

فجئنَ سِراعاً وانتُدِبْنَ إلى نَدْبي

I summoned my verses to the gallant lord;

I offered my poems to the lord of lament

so they came swiftly and were mustered at my call.

He came rushing and was summoned to my lament

تَيَمَّمتُهُ فاخضرَّ عُودي وأشرقَتْ

تَيَمَّمتُهُ فاخضرَّ عُودي وأشرقَتْ

سُعودي وفاءَ الخِصبُ لي عَقِبَ الجَدْبِ

سُعودي وفاءَ الخِصبُ لي عَقِبَ الجَدْبِ

I sought him; my bough grew green, and radiant grew

I wished him well so my wood turned green and

my fortunes; abundance returned to me after drought.

My good fortune shone through after the drought

وكانتْ صُروفُ الدَّهر بي قد تَوَسَّدتْ

وكانتْ صُروفُ الدَّهر بي قد تَوَسَّدتْ

فصِرتُ كأنَّ الدَّهرَ لم يتوسَّدْ بِي

فصِرتُ كأنَّ الدَّهرَ لم يتوسَّدْ بِي

And time's vicissitudes had rested their heads upon me;

The turns of fate had leaned heavily on me

then I became as though time had never rested its head upon me.

I became as if fate had not leaned on me

أبا بكرٍ الممدوحَ أُصفيكَ مِدحَتي

أبا بكرٍ الممدوحَ أُصفيكَ مِدحَتي

وأُصفي الّذي لم يُصفِكَ الوُدَّ بالَجدْبِ

وأُصفي الّذي لم يُصفِكَ الوُدَّ بالَجدْبِ

Abu Bakr, praised one, I offer you my sincere praise,

Abu Bakr whom I praise, I describe you in my praise

and reserve drought for whoever has not offered you sincere affection.

And describe the one who did not describe you with affection as ungenerous