أَأَلحمامَةُ في نَخلِ ابنِ هَدّاجِ

هاجَت صَبابَةُ عاني القَلبِ مُهتاجِ

The dove in the palm trees of Ibn Haddaj

Fluttered, with a lovesick heart full of passion

أَم المُخَبِّرُ أَنَّ الغَيثَ قَد وَضَعَت

مِنهُ العِشارُ تَماماً غَيرَ إِخداجِ

Or did the messenger report that the rain has deposited

Its tithe in full, without stint?

شَقَّت سَوائِفُها بالفَرشِ مِن مَلَلٍ

إِلى الأَعارِفِ مِن حَزنٍ وَأَولاجِ

Its clouds ripped through the cushions out of boredom

To the dwellings, in grief and pining

حَتّى كَأَنَّ وَجوهَ الأَرضِ مُلبَسَةٌ

طَرائِفاً مِن سَدى عَصبٍ وَديباجِ

Until it seemed the face of the earth was clad

In brocade of jet black and gold embroidery

هاجَ الصَبيُّ إِلى شَوقٍ فَهَيَّجَني

فَعِشتُ مِن قَلبِ ماضٍ غير منعاجِ

The child stirred to longing and stirred me

So I lived with a heart no longer barred

وابنُ الزبنَّجِ مِمّا قَد يُهيِّجُني

بِخُلْقِ منتحبٍ بِاللَيلِ نشّاجِ

And Ibn Zabbanj of what may stir me

With a lovely night visitor, chatting

أَمّا السَريُّ فَإِنّي سَوفَ أَمدَحُهُ

ما المادِحُ الذاكِرُ الإِحسانَ كالهاجي

As for the secret, I will praise him

For the praiser recalling kindness is never dull

ذاكَ الَّذي هُوَ بَعدَ اللَهِ أَنقَذَني

فَلَستُ أَنساهُ إِنقاذي وَإِخراجي

He who after God saved me

I'll not forget his saving and releasing me

لَيثٌ بِحَجرٍ إِذا ما هاجَهُ فَزَعٌ

هاجَ إِلَيهِ بإِلجامٍ وَإِسراجِ

A lion with a stone, when passion seizes him

Passion seizes him with muzzles and saddlebags

لأحبُوَنَّكَ مِمّا أَصطَفي مِدَحاً

مُصاحِباتٍ لِعُمّارٍ وَحُجّاجِ

I will love you for the chosen praise

That accompanies Umar and Hajjaj

أَسدى الصَنيعَةَ مِن بِرٍّ وَمِن لَطَفٍ

إِلى قَروعٍ لِبابِ المُلكِ وَلّاجِ

He gave graciousness in kindness and gentleness

To the doors of the rulers' court

كَم مِن يَدٍ لَكَ في الأَقوامِ قَد سَلَفَت

عِندَ امرىءٍ ذي غِنىً أَو عِندَ مُحتاجِ

How many hands have gone before you

With a wealthy man or with one in need