دَعَوتُكَ لَمّا أَن بَدَت لِيَ حاجَةٌ

وَقُلتُ رَئيسٌ مِثلُهُ مَن تَفَضَّلا

I called you when a need appeared to me

And said: a leader like him - who can be so gracious?

لَعَلَّكَ لِلفَضلِ الَّذي أَنتَ رَبُّهُ

تَغارُ فَلا تَرضى بِأَن تَتَبَدَّلا

Perhaps you are jealous of the favor you possess

And so refuse to share and exchange it

إِذا لَم يَكُن إِلّا تَحَمُّلُ مِنَّةٍ

فَمِنكَ وَأَمّا مِن سِواكَ فَلا وَلا

If it is only to bear an obligation

Then it's from you, but not from another, never

حَمَلتُ زَماناً عَنكُمُ كُلَّ كُلفَةٍ

وَخَفَّفتُ حَتّى آنَ لي أَن أُثَقِّلا

For a time, I have borne every burden from you

And lightened myself until it was time I weigh down

وَمِن خُلُقي المَشهورِ مُذ كُنتُ أَنَّني

لِغَيرِ حَبيبٍ قَطُّ لَن أَتَذَلَّلا

It is known of my manners since I was

That for other than the beloved, I'll never humble myself

وَقَد عِشتُ دَهراً ما شَكَوتُ بِحادِثٍ

بَلى كُنتُ أَشكو الأَغيَدَ المُتَدَلِّلا

And I've lived an age, complaining of no misfortune

Rather, I complained of the languid and melting

وَما هُنتُ إِلّا لِلصَبابَةِ وَالهَوى

وَما خِفتُ إِلّا سَطوَةَ الهَجرِ وَالقِلى

I softened only for youth and passion

And feared only the tyranny of estrangement and misery

أَروحُ وَأَخلاقي تَذوبُ صَبابَةً

وَأَغدو وَأَعطافي تَسيلُ تَغَزُّلا

I awaken and my manners dissolve in youth

I come to and my sides spill over in melting

أُحِبُّ مِنَ الظَبيِ الغَريرِ تَلَفُّتاً

وَأَهوى مِنَ الغُصنِ النَضيرِ تَفَتُّلا

I love the shy gazelle's glancing

And passion the supple branch's clinging

فَما فاتَني حَظّي مِنَ اللَهوِ وَالصِبا

وَما فاتَني حَظّي مِنَ المَجدِ وَالعُلى

So I've not missed my share of play and youth

Nor missed my share of glory and loftiness

وَيارُبَّ داعٍ قَد دَعاني لِحاجَةٍ

فَعَلتُ لَهُ فَوقَ الَّذي كانَ أَمَّلا

And oh Lord, a caller called me for a need

So I did for him more than he wished for

سَبَقتُ صَداهُ بِاهتِمامي بِكُلِّ ما

أَرادَ وَلَم أُحوِجهُ أَن يَتَمَهَّلا

I anticipated his call, attentive to all

He wanted, without making him wait

وَأَوسَعتُهُ لَمّا أَتاني بَشاشَةً

وَلُطفاً وَتَرحيباً وَخُلقاً وَمَنزِلا

I welcomed him when he came cheerful,

Kindly, hospitably, well-mannered and settled

بَسَطتُ لَهُ وَجهاً حَيِيّاً وَمَنطِقاً

وَفِيّاً وَمَعروفاً هَنِيّاً مُعَجَّلا

I showed him a lively, eloquent face

Generous, known, delighted and swift

وَراحَ يَراني مُنعِماً مُتَفَضِّلاً

وَرُحتُ أَراهُ المُنعِمَ المُتَفَضِّلا

And he saw me bestowing and favoring

While I saw him bestowed on and favored