تَخَيَّرتُ لِلمَدحِ اِبنَ يَحيى بِن خالِدٍ

فَحَسبي وَلَم أَظلِم بِأَن أَتَخَيَّرا

I have chosen to praise the son of Yahya son of Khalid

I am content and have not wronged by choosing him

لَهُ عادَةٌ أَن يَبسُطَ العَدلَ وَالنَدى

لِمَن ساسَ مِن قَحطانَ أَو مَن تَنَزَّرا

He has the habit of extending justice and benevolence

To whoever descended from Qahtan or wore a cloak

إِلى المِنبَرِ الشَرقِيِّ سارَ وَلَم يَزَل

لَهُ والِدٌ يَعلو سَريراً وَمِنبَرا

He went to the eastern pulpit and did not cease

His father sits on a throne and pulpit

يُعَدُّ وَيَحيى البَرمَكِيُّ وَلا يُرى

لَهُ الدَهرَ إِلّا قائِداً أَو مُؤَمَّرا

Yahya al-Barmaki leads and is not seen

Through time as other than a leader or one empowered