1. I yearn, O gazelle, has a lover returned
Toying with souls or worshipping?
١. أشارد يا غزال أم وارد
وعابث بالنفوس أم عابد
2. Do your eyes believe our souls
Are confined to paths of its noble lightning?
٢. أعند عينيك ان أنفسنا
حبس على سبل نبلها الصارد
3. Rather, the multitude of lovers deludes him
That the past of their souls will return
٣. بل كثرة العاشقين توهمه
بأن ماضي نفوسهم عائد
4. Gently, Abu Al-Hassan, lest you mourn him
And excel me in praying for him, praising
٤. مهلا أبا الحسن لا فجعت به
واستبق منا داع له حامد
5. We are the sons of passionate love and for us is
The pride of the gentle and lasting
٥. نحن بني نجدة الهوى ولنا
فيه فخار الطريف والتالد
6. And how many raids on the brink
Do we launch from which we return with the coveted booty
٦. وكم لنا غارة على ثغر
نصدر عنها بالمغنم البارد
7. Those were covenants that have not been distant
The edge of nights from us while lying down
٧. تلك عهود قد كان لا بعدت
طرف الليالي عنا بها راقد
8. And the days have not separated us
Rather, we thought our union is one
٨. ومأسها الدهر عن تفرقا
بل ظننا لا لتئامنا واحد
9. If only the residents of Aleppo would know
My state and the state of those who miss them
٩. ليت دري القاطنون في حلب
حالي وما حال من لهم فاقد
10. Hopefully watching the delegation of Levant
He may see them with the eye of the sleeper
١٠. يرقب وفد الشآم ذا قلق
عسى يراهم بناظر الراقد
11. I left it as my abode by consent of a time
That has not stopped being generous to the virtuous
١١. فارقت منه مثواي في رضا زمن
على ذوي الفضل لم يزال واجد
12. I went out with the mail, hoping
That the nights will clear and the corrupt will be fixed
١٢. خرجت منه مع البزاة عسى
تصفو الليالي ويصلح الفاسد
13. To the settlement of glory and its source
The wishes returned and the goal of the seeker
١٣. إلى قرار العلا ومصدره
ورد الأماني وبغية القاصد
14. The delight of Islam, its protector
And the supporter of the religion of guidance the next morning
١٤. قرة عين الإسلام مهجته
ومن لدين الهدى غدا عاضد
15. It brings to life the splendor of science
An opportunity for the virtuous and agony for the envious
١٥. يحي حياة العلوم بهجتها
فرصة ذي الفضل غصة الحاسد
16. I have delighted in it while my heart is cracked
By the injustice of my stagnant fate
١٦. لذت به والفؤاد منصدع
بالضيم من ريب دهري السامد
17. You have done, O fate, what you have done, so what is the excuse
In the presence of the most just of creatures
١٧. فعلت يا دهر ما فعلت فما العذر
لدى اعدل الورى الماجد
18. Just rule is one of his resolutions
It has triumphed over fate, so the sitter sufficed
١٨. الحكم العدل من عزائمه
قامت على الدهر فاكتفى القاعد
19. And your enviers have become confused
As if they are blind without a leader
١٩. وأصبحت حيرة حواسده
كأنها العمى ما لها قائد
20. Lord of rhymes whose pearls
Wish to be adorned by the fasting
٢٠. رب القوافي التي لآلئها
تود لو قلدت بها الناهد
21. When contemplated, you will find a young man
With meteors of thought hunting him down
٢١. إذا تأملتها وجدت فتى
شهب الدياجي بفكره الصائد
22. His requesters outpace the cattle from him
So he is not seen postponing or promising
٢٢. يسبق منه الأنعام سائله
فلا يرى ممطلا ولا واعد
23. Far from him, as he is the vast sea, to
Issue therewith paucity of supply
٢٣. حاشاه وهو البحر الخضم بأن
يصدر عنه بالغلة الوارد
24. Created like the meadows of early spring
Bending from dream, so he attacked the table
٢٤. خلق كروض الربيع باكره
نوء من الحلم فاغتدى مائد
25. Say what you wish of his virtues
The wonders of the sea have no denier
٢٥. حدث بما شئت عن مكارمه
عجائب البحر ما لها جاحد
26. A branch whose origins have passed and their glory
Remains and they are gone and their merit witnessed
٢٦. فرع أصول مضوا ومجدهم
باق وغابوا وفضلهم شاهد
27. To you, Shaykh of Islam, I have come
With transports carrying eternal praise
٢٧. إليك شيخ الإسلام قد وفدت
ركائب تحمل الثنا الخالد
28. Followed by the purest prayers that descend
With good fortune while its worry ascended
٢٨. يتبعها خالص الدعاء شج
هابط حظ وهمه صاعد
29. Time has inflicted its anklets upon him
And grasped him with palms and forearms
٢٩. ألقى عليه الزمان كلكله
ونال منه بالكف والساعد
30. Hopefully a glance towards him from an eye of the Most High
An eye that sees his solid grandfather
٣٠. عسى التفات إليه من طرف الط
طرف يرى زند جده الصالد
31. And I commend to the people of manners, seeking help
Helping them manage their time, supporting
٣١. واسلم لأهل الآداب مستنداً
عوناً على صرف دهرهم عاضد