لَنا نَديمٌ لِمِثلِنا صُلحا

يُفرِحُ قَلبَ الأَسى إِذا اِقتَرَحا

We have a companion suitable for our likes,

Who gladdens the heart of sorrow when conversing.

قَد نَشَرَ اللَهوُ فَهوَ يَسحَبُهُ

مُغتَبِقاً تارَةً وَمُصطَبِحا

Sportiveness has spread its wings and it retracts them,

Now diving, now rising to the surface.

إِذا اِقتَرَحنا عَلَيهِ مَضحَكَةً

أَخرَجَ دولابُ حِفظِهِ المُلَحا

When we propose to him an amusing tale,

The reservoir of his wit brings forth the salt.