1. أمصطبح بدجلة لي صبوحاً

    يغار غبوقه من منتشيه

    O morning drinker by the Tigris, give me a morning draught

    whose evening counterpart envies those it intoxicates.

  2. ويصدقني على الزوراء زورٌ

    قريب العهد يكذب مرتجيه

    And a false tale about al-Zawra speaks truth to me,

    newly told, yet belying those who hope in it.

  3. فانشر بالرصافة عقد درٍّ

    يتيم الدر تيَّم لاقطيه

    So spread in Rusafa a string of pearls,

    peerless pearls that have enthralled their gatherers.

  4. تراني نازلاً بغداد مغنىً

    يطيب الليث فيه لنازليه

    You see me lodging in Baghdad, an abode

    where the lion is gentle with those who dwell there.

  5. وهل دار السلام تفي سلامي

    فذا وادي الغري يضيق فيه

    Can the Abode of Peace contain my greeting,

    for this valley of al-Ghari is too narrow for it?

  6. اقول الى حمامات تغنَّت

    باثل الكرخ صوتك رجعيه

    I say to doves that sang

    among al-Karkh's tamarisks: 'Repeat your song.'

  7. عسى الندب الحسين يمدُّ كفاً

    تبيع لي الرجاء فاشتريه

    Perhaps the noble Husayn will extend a hand

    that sells me hope, and I shall buy it.

  8. جواد يعرف المعروف منه

    بآلاف تألف من مأيه

    A generous man whose bounty is known

    in thousands formed from his promise.

  9. اذا ما هزَّ للمعروف كشحاً

    تخاوص عنه اعين كاشحيه

    When he stirs his flank to do good,

    his enemies' eyes narrow and turn away from him.

  10. ارى قمر السماء اذا تعلىَّ

    يلوح بذلك الوجه الوجيه

    I see the moon of heaven, when it rises high,

    shining with that noble face.

  11. تجلى موفيا بدراً فقلنا

    بدا بدر التمام لمجتليه

    He appeared, a moon in all its fullness, and we said:

    'The moon at its fullness has appeared to its beholders.'

  12. زها زهو ابن اربعة وعشر

    شبيه البدر جاء بلا شبيه

    He shone like the moon at fourteen nights;

    the full moon's likeness came, himself without a peer.

  13. طلبناه على الزمن اقتراحاً

    فجاد به الزمان لطالبيه

    We asked Time for him, a wish of our own,

    and Time bestowed him freely on those who sought him.

  14. وصفناه بكل بديع حسن

    فجاء به يحيّر واصفيه

    We described him with every wondrous beauty,

    and he displayed it, bewildering those who describe him.

  15. فكيف تلي له السوداء طبعا

    ارق من النسيم وما يليه

    How, then, can black bile rule his temperament,

    more delicate than the breeze and whatever approaches it?

  16. لسوف يهون فيها الخطب حتى

    تميط الداء عنك وتمتطيه

    The ordeal it brings will surely ease, until

    you cast the disease away from you and make it your mount.

  17. اعاذل عدِّ فيه اللوم واكفف

    فما قلبي يطاوع عاذليه

    O reproacher, put aside blame concerning him, and desist,

    for my heart will not obey those who reproach it.

  18. تعنّفني ولي قلب لجوج

    يعاصي الشوق فيه معنفيه

    You rebuke me, yet I have a stubborn heart;

    longing within it defies those who rebuke it.

  19. ودعني يا هذيم وصدق حبي

    فما انا يا هذيم بمدعيه

    Let me be, Hudhaym, and believe my love,

    for I am not feigning it, Hudhaym.

  20. ركبت لو استطعت اليه شوقي

    وما وخد الركاب فارتضيه

    If I could, I would ride my longing to him;

    and what is the camels' swift stride, that I should settle for it?

  21. احبُّ الناس بين الناس ظرفا

    محبٌّ يصطفيك وتصطفيه

    Among people, the dearest for his wit and grace

    is a loving friend who chooses you, and whom you choose.

  22. يؤلف بيننا ادبٌ وفضلٌ

    كزهر الروض طاب لمجتنيه

    Literature and merit unite us,

    like garden flowers sweet to those who gather them.

  23. ونذهب في القريض معاً بطبع

    هو الذهب الخليص لناقديه

    And together we journey through verse with a natural gift

    that is pure gold to those who assay it.

  24. اجل قدحاً هو القدح المعلى

    يسوغ الشرب فيه لشاربيه

    Pass round a cup—it is the loftiest cup—

    whose drink goes down smoothly for its drinkers.

  25. وعش فالدهر فيك يتيه كبراً

    وليس عليك من كبروتيه

    And live long, for Time exults proudly in you,

    while you bear no pride or conceit.