1. يا أحمد الدوي دعوة مشفق

    قلق الركاب شبحٍ قصي صادي

    O Ahmad [al-Badawi], hear the plea of an anxious man,

    restless in the saddle, a distant, thirsty figure.

  2. عبث الهوى بقناتة فتأودت

    وعدا وزاد ففت في الأعضاد

    Desire toyed with his spear-shaft until it bent,

    and assailed him ever more, sapping the strength of his arms.

  3. فقد الحمى فقد الصديق فجهده

    في الناس جهد الزند بالاصفاد

    He lost his sanctuary, lost his friend; his striving

    among people is the striving of a wrist in fetters.

  4. والدهر نازعني رداء شبيبتي

    وانتاش مني طارفي ونلادي

    And time wrestled with me for the mantle of my youth,

    and snatched from me my acquired and inherited wealth.

  5. والفت كتم خصاصتي فكأنها

    بين الضلوع تميمة لفؤادي

    And I grew accustomed to concealing my poverty, as though it were

    an amulet between my ribs for my heart.

  6. وإلى جوار حماك اقصدنا السرى

    فنزلت ساحة كعبة القصاد

    And night travel directed us toward the precincts of your sanctuary,

    so I alighted in the courtyard of the seekers' Kaaba.

  7. وعلمت إذ وافيت بابك انني

    انا والغنى كنا على ميعاد

    And when I reached your door, I knew that I

    had an appointed meeting with wealth.

  8. وعلمت ان حمى سواك من الورى

    كحمى رقادي اذ بغير سهاد

    And I knew that the refuge of any other among mankind

    is like my sleep's refuge when sleeplessness [raids it].

  9. انا في ذمامك كيف كنت فلا تك

    ل حبل المسيء لغارب الأبعاد

    I am in your protection, however I may be; do not entrust

    the wrongdoer's rope to the withers of banishment.

  10. هل كان بكرع من فراتك وارد

    لو ان شرطاً عصمة الورّاد

    Would any seeker have drunk deeply from your sweet waters

    if the drinkers' sinlessness were a condition?

  11. هل كان يأتي الفتح باب منتدى

    البدوي فيه لحاضر او بادي

    Would al-Fath come to the door of a gathering

    where al-Badawi is present for townsman or nomad?

  12. فامدد إليه بد المغيث وناجه

    نجوى الكرام بالسن الامداد

    So extend to him a rescuer's hand, and speak privately to him,

    as the generous speak, with the tongues of aid.

  13. وامسح بنظرتك الرحيمة زيغه

    حتى يعود مثقف المآد

    And wipe away his deviation with your merciful gaze,

    until he returns, his crookedness straightened,

  14. وبعود من وجه النجاح بغرة

    وسمت بصبح تبسم الاجواد

    and returns from the face of success with a radiant brow,

    marked by the dawn of the generous men's smiles,

  15. وينيل كور العيس عفو مقذف

    برمى بها التأويب بالاسآد

    and grants the pale camels' saddle the pardon of one cast afar,

    as day-marching hurls them onward with night-marching.

  16. وافرج ابا فرّاج عقدة انسه

    فاليك آل قياده وقيادي

    And, Abu Farraj, loosen the knot binding his comfort,

    for his reins and mine have passed to you.

  17. ركبا اليك من الرجاء هوادياً

    وإلى حماك سناك كان الهادي

    The two rode toward you on the guiding mounts of hope,

    and your radiance was their guide to your sanctuary.

  18. اثنان ساقهما هواك فيما

    بحر البحور ندى وبدر البادي

    Two whom love of you has driven—[so, O]

    sea of seas in bounty, and full moon of the nomad!

  19. زجل السحاب فكم به من رحمة

    وشهاب قهر في العدا وقاد

    A thunderous cloud—how much mercy it holds!

    And a blazing meteor of subjugation among foes.

  20. سيف تخزطلي العتاة بروقه

    وتهز منه فرائص الآساد

    A sword whose flashes [are unsheathed against] the tyrants,

    and at which the lions' flanks are shaken.

  21. خضل بانداء النبوة روضه

    ارج التنسم طيب الميلاد

    His garden is moist with the dews of prophethood,

    fragrant on the breeze, pure in birth.

  22. فاسلكهما سبل الكرامة والرضا

    بلغهما اسباب كل مراد

    So lead them both along the paths of honor and favor;

    bring them both to the means of every desired goal.

  23. يا احمد البدوي جملة أمرنا

    انا تجار بضائع الامجاد

    O Ahmad al-Badawi, the sum of our affair is this:

    we are merchants in the wares of glory.

  24. وتقسمتنا في البلاد مطامع

    خلقت لشقوتنا بليل كساد

    And ambitions have divided us throughout the lands,

    created for our misery in a night of stagnant trade.

  25. فاقدح زناد واجنا والمع لنا

    بيد لها فوق السحاب ايادي

    So strike the flints of [our prosperity], and flash for us

    with a hand whose favors rise above the clouds.

  26. ناداك من نادي الكرام ولم يجد

    الا فتى الفتيان حيني ينادي

    He who called upon the generous has called to you, and found

    none but the noblest of young men [when] he calls.