لَوْ كَانَ مِنْ دُونِ رُكامِ المُرْتَكَمْ

وَأَرْمُلِ الدَهْنا وَصَمّانِ الوَجَمْ

Were it not for the accumulated rubble,

And the mournful widow and the two fasting servants,

وَعارِضِ العِرْضِ وَأَعْناقِ العَرَمْ

لَمْ يَسْمَعِ الرَكْبُ بِهَا رَجْعَ الكِلَمْ

And the noble man of virtue and the long-necked nobility,

The caravan would not have heard the echo of voices,

إِلَّا وَساويسَ هَيانِيمِ الهَنَمْ

لا وَقَعٌ في نَعْلِهِ وَلا عَسَمْ

Except the delirious ravings of the obsessive dreamers,

With no misstep in his slipper nor fleck of mud,

مَرّاً جَنُوباً وَشَمالاً تَنْدَقِمْ

وَانْصاعَ وَثَّابٌ بِهَا وَما عَكَمْ

Passing back and forth northward and south, dignified,

While the passionate poet recited and did not falter,

كَأَنَّهُ شَلّالُ عاناتٍ كُدُمْ

كَأَنَّما تَغَرِيدُهُ بَعْدَ العَتَمْ

As if he were a pouring waterfall of troubles spilled forth,

As if his singing were after the darkness of night,

مُرْتَجِسٌ جَلْجَلَ أَوْ حادٍ نَهَمْ

أَوْ راجِزٌ فِيهِ لَجاجٌ وَيَهَمْ

Agitated, like the ringing of anklets or the roar of a lion,

Or a stubborn debater in whom is determination and zeal,

أَنْتَ الحَلِيمُ وَالأَمِيرُ المُنْتَقِمْ

تَصْدَعُ بِالْحَقِّ وَتَنْفِي مِنْ ظُلَمْ

You are the Forbearing, the Prince who takes revenge,

You speak the truth and banish injustice,

بِأَبِهِ اقْتَدَى عَدِيٌّ في الكَرَمْ

وَمَنْ يُشابِهُ أَبَهُ فَما ظَلَمْ

The noble man emulated his father in generosity,

He who resembles his father cannot be blamed.