1. مَدحي لِغَيرك في الوَرى تَقليدُ

    هُوَ صورة وَجَنابك المَقصودُ

    My praise of others among humankind is mere imitation;

    it is an image, while your noble person is the true object.

  2. ظَمأي أَراني الناس ماءً سُغتَهُ

    غَصصاً هِيَ التَكدبر وَالتَنكيدُ

    My thirst made people seem like water to me; I swallowed it

    in choking draughts—nothing but vexation and distress.

  3. وَغَدَوتُ أَستَسقي سَحاباً غَيثهُ

    لا كانَ ذاكَ بَوارق وَرُعودُ

    And I went seeking rain from a cloud whose rainfall—

    may it be no more!—was lightning flashes and thunder.

  4. تَسبي خُدود الغَيد مَفقود الحجى

    بِدَم يَجول وَإِسمَهُ تَوريدُ

    The cheeks of graceful beauties captivate the witless

    with blood that courses through them, called a rosy blush.

  5. لَكنَّ عُذري عِندَ غَيرك وَاضِحٌ

    إِذ كانَ باب جئتُهُ مَسدودُ

    But my excuse is clear to others besides you,

    for a door I approached was shut.

  6. يا بن الحُسام المُنتَضى قُم فَاِنتَصر

    لا سَير بَينَ أَثقَلتُهُ قُيودُ

    O son of the unsheathed sword, rise and prevail!

    No movement amid shackles that have weighed him down [wording unclear].

  7. وَافيتُ سَدتك الَّتي مِن أُمِها

    أَضحى يَقبَل راحَتيهِ الجود

    I came to your threshold; whoever seeks it

    finds Generosity kissing both his palms.

  8. كَم صُغت فيكَ مِن القَريض فَرائِداً

    هِيَ في نُحور المُكرَمات عُقودُ

    How many pearls of verse have I fashioned in your praise!

    They are necklaces on the throats of noble deeds.

  9. وَبِها فَخاري حَيثُ وَصفك ضِمنَها

    وَيَبيت لِلعيوق وَهُوَ حَسودُ

    Through them I take pride, for your portrayal is within them,

    and al-ʿAyyūq spends the night envious [syntax unclear].