أَبا دُلَفٍ دَلَفَت حاجَتي

إِلَيكَ وَما خِلتُها بالدلوفِ

O Abadulf, my need brought me to you,

O Abu Dulaf, my need has crept its way to you,

Not having tried it with the evasive one,

To you—though I never imagined it one to creep.

له كَلِمٌ فيكَ مَعقولَةٌ

إِزاءَ القُلوب كركب وقوف

For you have an effective word,

He has words regarding you, tethered fast,

Regarding hearts, like a standing caravan.

Set before hearts like a caravan brought to a halt.

تملك إِن كُنتَ ذا إِربة

مِن العالَمين لشيخ وَصيف

You rule, if you have a hermitage,

So acquire, if you are a man of purpose,

From both worlds, for an old man and a youth.

From all the world, a servant for this old man;

وَأغلب فضفاض جلد اللبان

يُدافِع غبغبه بالوَظيفِ

And most of the ample hide of frankincense

Thick-necked, with the skin of his chest hanging loose,

Repels its dense smoke with the case.

Who fends off his dewlap with his very shin.