إنِّي أحاجي منك فرداً في الحجى

إنِّي أحاجي منك فرداً في الحجى

تزهو به الدنيا ونيسابور

تزهو به الدنيا ونيسابور

Indeed, I pose a riddle to you, peerless in intellect,

I seek from you a single companion in speech

In whom the world and Nishapur take pride.

Who would make the world and Nishapur proud

فأقولُ ما شجرٌ بديعٌ وصفُهُ

فأقولُ ما شجرٌ بديعٌ وصفُهُ

لكنَّهُ ببلادِهِ مقصورُ

لكنَّهُ ببلادِهِ مقصورُ

So I ask: what tree has a wondrous description,

So I say, what a wondrous tree it is in description

Yet is confined to its own land?

Though confined within the bounds of its own land

أوراقُهُ ورق وعودٌ عودُهُ

أوراقُهُ ورق وعودٌ عودُهُ

والنَّورُ تبرٌ قد علاهُ نورُ

والنَّورُ تبرٌ قد علاهُ نورُ

Its leaves are silver, and its wood is aloeswood.

Its leaves are of silver and its branches of gold

And its blossom is unworked gold, crowned with light.

And pure light adorns it with an aura bright

ونشارُهُ الياقوتُ فيه الجزع مَطْ

ونشارُهُ الياقوتُ فيه الجزع مَطْ

ويٌّ وبينَهما يُرى الكافورُ

ويٌّ وبينَهما يُرى الكافورُ

And its sawdust is ruby; within it, onyx is fold-

Its sap is ruby with which grief is mixed

ed, and between the two camphor is seen.

And between them camphor shines in white