للَّهِ غانية حظيت بها فما

أحلى مراشفها وأطيبها فما

For Allah, I have a songbird I was blessed with

How sweet are her pillows and how fragrant her mouth

سفرت وكوكب خدها من فضةٍ

فلثمته حتى تلثم عندما

She traveled and the planet of her cheek is silver

So I kissed it until it kissed back when

وكتمت سر وصالها فأذاعه

آثارُ ذاك اللثم لما علَّما

And I kept the secret of being with her so it spread

The traces of that kiss taught when they educated

فاليوم لا وجدي بضامرة الحشى

خافٍ ولا شوقي لباردة اللمى

Today my heart is not weary in the worn out chest

Fearful, nor is my longing for the cold beloved

ويل الفراق فما أراق مدامعاً

لكن أراق دماً وأرَّق ضيغما

Woe to parting, it did not shed tears

But shed blood and deprived tranquil sleep

ماذا علي ولست أول شاعرٍ

يهوى الجناس إذا وهبت دمي الدُمَى

What is upon me when I am not the first poet

Who loved rhyming when my blood was gifted wine

وقصرت تشبيبي على حدق المهى

وقصدت بالمدح الإمامَ الأعظما

And my youth was limited to the pupils of temptation

And I sought with praise the greatest Imam

علم الشريعة عزة الدين الذي

صارت دمشق به جناناً معلما

The master of Sharia, the might of the religion whom

Damascus through him became gardens with landmarks

حكمٌ براه اللَه يكرم صالحاً

ويبرُّ محتاجاً ويحرم مجرما

A just ruler whom Allah made righteous

And shows mercy to the needy and forbids the sinner

وله يدٌ طولى تصب إذا سطا

علقاً ويوم السلم تمطر أنعما

He has a long hand that pours when extended

Pearls and on days of peace it rains blessings

وفطانةٌ لو كنتُ ممن آمنوا

بخرافة التنجيم قلتُ منجما

And a brilliance that if I was one who believed

In the myth of astrology I would have said an astrologer

يا خير من أعطى وأفصح من روى

وأشد من شد المطهم وانتمى

O best of those who gave and most eloquent of those who narrated

And firmest of those who pulled the rope and belonged

ما أحمد القلعي إلّا فاسقٌ

خرب البلاد بظلمه وتظلما

I do not praise al-Qal'i except as a sinner

Who corrupted the country with his oppression and injustice

يفتي بلا علمٍ ويغسل بالطلا

يده إذا صلى ويكذب مُحْرِما

Issuing fatwas without knowledge and washing

His hands with soil when he prays and lying while sacred

ويقول قول اللَه مخلوقٌ ولا

يرضى بمن جعل الزناء محرما

And says the word of Allah is created and does not

Accept one who made adultery forbidden

ولديه من أصحاب لوطٍ عصابةٌ

فتكت به فتك النواصب بالدمى

And with him is a gang of the people of Lot

Who destroyed him with the destruction of the blood-shedders

ويقوم مع هذي الكبائر كلها

متبختراً متكبراً متعظما

And with all these major sins he stands

Haughtily, arrogantly, boastfully

أبمثل ذا نرضى وللشمس الرضى

من عاهل الدنيا وجبار السما

Should we be satisfied with the likes of this and the sun's satisfaction

From the ruler of the world and sovereign of the sky

طوح به عنا للعنة ربه

فلمثله خلق الإله جهنما

Cast him away from us to the curse of his Lord

For the likes of him Allah created hell

واسلم ودم حكماً كريماً فاضلاً

لا يترك الفظ اللئيم مُحكَّما

And surrender the rule to a noble, virtuous, excellent judge

Who does not leave the despicable ignoramus empowered