عليكupon you أباO Abu (father of) عبدالالهAbd al-Ilah (servant of God) خلعتهاI bestowed it as a robe of honor
عليك أبا عبدالاله خلعتها
لهاfor it البدرthe full moon طوقa collar والنجومand the stars دلائلguides
لها البدر طوق والنجوم دلائل
I have bestowed it upon you as a robe of honor, Abu Abd al-Ilah.
Upon you, O father of Abdallah, I cast it off,
The full moon is its collar, and the stars its guides.
The moon is its necklace, the stars its pendants,
وماand not هيit الاexcept الدهرtime فيin طولlength عمرهاits life
وما هي الا الدهر في طول عمرها
وانand though لمnot تكنbe فيهاin it الضحىthe forenoon والأصائلand the late afternoons
وان لم تكن فيها الضحى والأصائل
And it is nothing but time itself in the length of its life,
Yet it is naught but time, in the length of its duration,
though it contains neither forenoon nor late afternoons.
Even if therein were no late morn or swift steeds.
Sol 6.1