1. يا علاء الدين يا أع

    لى ندىَّ منه أشد

    O ʿAlāʾ al-Dīn, O highest—

    —in bounty, stronger than him [wording unclear].

  2. والذي آوى إلى ركن

    ندىَّ منه أشد

    And he to whose pillar I turn for refuge—

    —of bounty, mightier [wording unclear].

  3. والذي أضمن عنه

    أنه ينجز وهدى

    And he for whom I vouch—

    that he fulfils, and has guided.

  4. جد فقد طل البرايا

    بأب زاك وجد

    Be generous, for all creatures have been sprinkled with dew [reading uncertain]—

    by a virtuous father and grandfather.

  5. وندى كالقطر سدّ

    جلّعن حصرٍ رعدِ

    And bounty like rain—a dam—

    too great for confinement; thunder [wording unclear].

  6. بك أستعد على دهر

    ى والحاكم يعدي

    Through you I arm myself against my age,

    and the judge grants redress.

  7. سيدي غيرك يرمي ال

    مدح في مقامكم كردي

    My master, someone other than you casts the—

    —praise in your station: a Kurd [wording unclear].

  8. ويرى في وجه من يق

    صده خطة رد

    And he sees in the face of one who—

    —seeks him a course of rejection.

  9. إن كانون الذي أص

    بح يقرونا بدَردِ

    Indeed, Kānūn, which has—

    —come to host us with toothlessness:

  10. شملتي فيه شمال

    قرة والبرد بردي

    my wrap in it is a north wind—

    —biting cold; and the cold is my cloak.

  11. وتراني كل يوم

    منه في أينٍ وجهدِ

    And you see me every day—

    —because of it, in weariness and hardship.

  12. الحم المشي الى

    بابك قصد وأسدى

    [Unclear verb] walking toward—

    —your door: purpose, and he bestowed [wording unclear].

  13. أتسلى بالنسايا

    عن مديح لي تئدِ

    I console myself with deferred payments—

    —away from praise of mine that you bury alive.

  14. وأرجى جود كف

    لك سبط غير جعدِ

    And I hope for the bounty of a hand—

    —of yours, open, not clenched.

  15. فاعطنيها اليوم واغنم

    شكري الباني وحمدي

    So give it to me today, and gain—

    —my gratitude, which builds, and my praise.

  16. فأنا عيد الأيادي

    وعبيد الشعر عبدي

    For I am the feast of benefactions,

    and poetry’s ʿUbayd is my slave.