رَأى الوَردَ مِن خَدَّيهِ يحتَملُ المحلا

فلَم تَسقِهِ عَيناهُ وَبلاً ولا طَلا

He saw the roses on his cheeks bearing beauty’s mark

Yet his eyes did not water for it out of sorrow or yearning

فَما بالُنا نَسقي البَهارَ ولَم يَكُن

أَرَقَّ ولا أَذكى نَسيماً وَلا أَحلَى

Why then should we water the blossoms that were

Neither more precious, nor fresher, nor sweeter

تَعالوا نُشاكِل فعلَهُ فلَعَلَّهُ

إِذا لَم يَجُد فينا يُعلِّمُنا البُخلا

Come let us emulate his deed, perhaps

When he finds no generosity in us, he will teach us to be stingy

وأَبغَضُ شَيءٍ فيهِ شَيءٌ أُحِبُّهُ

فَياطَيفَه أَهلاً وَيا لَيلُ لا أَهلا

I dislike in him a quality that I love in myself

So hello beautiful one, and oh night with no loved ones

سِوَى غَمراتٍ تُشبِهُ النَّومَ رُبَّما

أنالُ بِإِحداهنَّ من هاجِرٍ وَصلا

Except for wine that resembles sleep at times

Through which I attain the affection of the estranged one

وأعظمُ مَفقودٍ عَلى العاشِق الكَرى

إِذا لَم يَكُن إِلا الكَرى يَجمع الشَّملا

The greatest loss for a lover is his sanity

When only madness can bring separated ones together

وحَمراء زادَ الماءُ فيها وإنَّهُ

لَيَنقُصُ مِنها في زِيادَتِها فِعلا

The red one, water increased in it yet

With the increase it produced less action

غَضِبتُ لَها مِنهُ فَقُلتُ اقتُلوا بِها

وَلا تَقتُلوها حَسبُها شربُها قَتلا

I was angry at it, and said kill it

Do not kill it, its drinking killed it

ولا تَحسِبوا كُلَّ المِزاجِ مُوافِقاً

كَمِثلِ العَطايا فَي سَجايا أَبي يَعلى

Do not think every temperament agrees

Like the gifts in the nature of my father Ya’la

فَتى المَجدِ أَعواماً خَلَت ثُمَّ كهلُهُ

فَقَد مارَسَت مِنهُ المَعالي فَتىً كَهلا

The youth of glory, years have passed then its maturity

So the heights have practiced on it a youth, mature

بَناها فَأعلاها كَما بُنِيَت لَه

وَذو النَّسبِ العَالي إِذا ما بَنَى عَلا

He erected it thus elevating it as it was built for him

And one of high lineage when he builds, rises high

مِن القَومِ أَعلامُ الولايَةِ فيهمُ

فَأخبارُها تُروَى وآياتُها تُتلَى

The leaders of the people are their flags

Thus their affairs are narrated and their signs recited

فَإن كانَ مَولَى القَومِ مِنهُم فَإِنَّكم

يُؤدِّي بِكُم فَرضَ التَّشُهُّدِ مَن صَلَّى

If the master of the people is from amongst them, then you

Fulfill through him the duty of testification when praying

وأَفعالُكُم تُملي عَلى النَّاسِ مَدحَكُم

وكُلُّ امرِئٍ يُثني بِمِقدارِ ما استَملَى

And your deeds dictate to the people your praise

And each person praises according to what he has attained

مَناقِبُ في الدُّنيا وَفي الدِّينِ حَملُها

ثَقيلٌ عَلَى مَن لَم يُعوَّد لَها حِملا

Virtues in life and in religion, carrying them

Is difficult upon one not accustomed to bearing them

وَإنَّكَ وَالغادِي إِلَيكَ بِحاجَةٍ

لسِيان كُلٌّ مِنكُما يَبتَغي الفَضلا

You and the one coming to you for a request

Are equal, each of you seeking superiority

ولَكِنَّه المغبونُ فيما يَبيعُهُ

يَبيعُكَ ما يَبقَى عَلَيكَ بِما يَبلَى

But he is the cheated one in what he sells

Selling you that which will remain for what will perish