لي من ثناياه راح

وخده تفاحُ

From his front teeth I have wine,

and his cheek is an apple.

مهفهف ضاق منه

حِجّل وجالَ وشاحُ

Slender-waisted: tight upon him

is an anklet, while his sash moves freely.

له جفون مراض

تدوي الصحيح صحاحُ

He has languid eyelids,

healthy themselves, yet sickening the healthy.

وقد غصن ثنته

مع الصباح رياحُ

And a figure—a bough bent

by winds at dawn.

مذ قدح الخد منه

فللغرام انقداحُ

Since his cheek struck a spark,

passion has caught fire.

نأى فللوجد قرب

وللسو انتزاحُ

He went far away; yearning drew near,

and [solace] retreated.

وباللوى من رماح

ظبي حمته الرماحُ

And at al-Liwa in Rimah,

a gazelle whom spears protect.

من دون صفحة خدي

يه مرهفات صفاحُ

Before the surface of his cheeks

stand keen-edged, broad blades.

واد تشوق فؤادي

تلاعه والبطاحُ

A valley—my heart is stirred to longing

by its hillsides and broad flats.

جو فصيح وروض

غض وماء قراحُ

Clear air, and a meadow

lush, and pure water.

وكل أحوى لقلبي

إلى لماه التياحُ

And every dark-hued one—my heart

yearns for his dusky lips.

يروقني منه خلق

سبط وخلق رداحُ

I delight in his disposition—

gentle—and in his ample form.

الفرع منه مساء

والوجه منه صباحُ

His hair is evening,

and his face is dawn.

ما للتباريح مذ صد

د عن فؤادي براحُ

Since he turned away, love's torments

have never left my heart.

يا عاذلَي خل عذلي

فما علي جناحُ

O my reproacher, cease reproaching me;

for no blame rests upon me.

لي الهوى ولمجد الد

دين الكريم السماحُ

Love is mine; to Majd al-Din,

the noble, belongs generosity.

فتى الندى والأيادي

كهل الحجى الجحجاحُ

A youth in bounty and benefaction,

an elder in wisdom, a noble chief.

من وجهه مشرق البش

ر أبلج وضاحُ

He whose face beams with cheerfulness,

radiant and bright.

ومن بوصف معالي

ه تصدق المداحُ

And he whose lofty deeds

the panegyrists truthfully describe.

إن سد باب لرزق

فكفه المفتاحُ

If a door to livelihood is shut,

his palm is the key.

وإن دجى ليل خطب

فرأيه المصباحُ

And if calamity's night grows dark,

his judgment is the lamp.

خال من الكبر حال

من ضده مستماحُ

Free from pride, adorned

with its opposite, sought for bounty.

له خجول المعالي

والمجد والأوضاحُ

Before him, lofty deeds stand abashed,

as do glory and shining ornaments.

وراحة يخجل الغي

ث غيثها السحاحُ

And a palm that shames the rain

with its own abundant downpour.

وهابة السلم يخشى

في الروح منها الكفاحُ

Lavish in peace; one fears

its face-to-face assault upon one's life.

للمستجير ملاذ

وللكسير جناحُ

A refuge for those seeking protection,

and a wing for the broken.

يا قاطع البيد تنضى

بالسير منه الطلاحُ

O crosser of wastes that wear out

weary mounts journeying through them,

تاجره بالمدح تحصل

لكفك الأرباحُ

trade with him in praise; there will be

profits for your palm.

وأنزل بناديه تنزل

بربعك الأفراحُ

And alight at his gathering; there will alight

joys at your dwelling.

يفديه من بحره عن

د بحره ضحضاحُ

May he be ransomed by one whose ocean,

beside his ocean, is a shallow pool;

ومن له البخل درع

حصينه وسلاحُ

and by one for whom miserliness is armor,

impenetrable, and a weapon.

له ثراء مصون

ووفرك المستباحُ

His wealth is guarded,

while your abundance is free to all.

لك العلى يا أبا الفض

ل محضها والصراحُ

Yours are lofty honors, O Abu al-Fadl,

their pure and unalloyed essence.

وفي بحار مساعي

ك تغرق السباحُ

And in the seas of your endeavors

the swimmers drown.

يا من إلى المجد يلقى

غدوه والرواحُ

O you—toward glory are directed

your morning journeys and evening returns.

بقيت سمحا وهويا

ما هبت الأرواحُ

May you remain generous and loving,

as long as the winds blow.

ولا تعدت معاني

عداتك الأتراحُ

And may the intent

of your promises never be assailed by grief.

ودمت ما أسود جنح

وما أنار صباحُ

And may you endure as long as night's wing darkens,

and as long as dawn gives light.