طَلَعت تنشر أعلام الكرم

نعمةٌ في ضمنها كلّ النعم

There arose, unfurling the banners of generosity,

a blessing holding every blessing within it;

ويد طالت بها زهرا يدي

أثبتت في الفخر لي أيّ قدم

and a hand through which my own attained splendor

set for me—what a footing!—in glory:

رفعة لي في المعالي لا يرتقي

عزّة جانبها لا يهتضم

a height among high honors that none can climb,

a might whose flank can never be violated.

أيّ رَعي أشرقت أنواره

وندىّ يفضح تسكاب الديم

What gracious regard, whose lights have shone forth,

and largesse that shames the rainclouds’ pouring!

أفحمتني فجناتي طائش

ولساني بين عيّ وبَكَم

It has struck me dumb; my thoughts are in disarray,

and my tongue is caught between faltering and muteness.

أيّ لفظ بالغ ذاك المدى

أو لسانٌ واصفٌ ذَاكَ الكرم

What expression could ever reach that far,

or what tongue describe such generosity?

لو نظمت الشهب والدرّ معا

ما وفت بمدح هاتيك الشّيَم

Were I to string shooting stars and pearls together,

they would not suffice to praise those noble qualities.

أو أعارني الربيع ما وشى

في الربا من حسنه وما رقم

Or if spring lent me all it has embroidered

across the hills from its beauty, all it has patterned,

أو جعلتُ الصبحَ طُرسا والدُّجى

حبره لم أقض واجب الخدم

or if I made dawn into a page, and darkness

its ink, I could not discharge the duty of service.

وصلت أسباب فخري في الورى

صلة الندب الرضى الحبر العلَم

It joined the strands of my glory among humankind:

the gift of the noble, well-pleasing sage, the renowned one.