شوقي إليك على التبا

عد والتّقارب زائدُ

My longing for you, whether far away—

or near—only grows.

وكذا المحبّ ودادهُ

في كلّ حال واحدُ

So too, the lover’s affection

is one and the same in every state.

والحرّ من لا تنقُصُ ال

أيام ما هو عاقِد

The free man is he whose resolve

the days do not undo.

ما جفن شوقي مذ نأتْ

تلك المعيشةُ هاجِد

The eyelid of my longing, since that way of life grew distant,

has never slept.

جُمَعْت بها فيك المُنى

لي واستُهِين الحاسد

Through it, all my hopes in you were gathered

for me, and the envier was held in scorn.

فكأنّني لك للورى

طرّاً هناك مشاهد

As though I were there, beholding you

amid all humankind.

داوَى انفرادي منك أن

سٌ للكآبة طارد

My solitude apart from you was healed by

companionship with writing that drove it away;

وتذاكُرٌ وتفاوُضٌ

وتخالُصٌ وفوائدُ

by shared recollection and exchange,

sincere fellowship and benefits,

وخلائقٌ بِيضٌ على

حُسْن الوفاء شواهد

and radiant virtues that bear

witness to the beauty of fidelity.

وكذا الأديب إذا تأد

دَب للأديب مُعاضِد

Likewise, when a man of letters shows adab

toward a fellow man of letters, he supports him—

ومُصاحِبٌ ومُواصِلٌ

ومؤالِفٌ ومساعدُ

a companion and keeper of bonds,

a congenial friend and helper.

أأبا محمّدٍ المحمْ

مدّ والحِجا لك حامد

O Abu Muhammad, O praised one—

discernment itself praises you.

إنّي فقدتك مثلَ ما

فقد البنانَ الساعدُ

I have missed you just as

a forearm misses its fingers,

أو مثلَ ما فَقَد الكرى

جَفْنُ الكئيب الساهدُ

or as sleep is missed by

the sorrowful, wakeful eyelid.

فلقد يعود حرارةً

فيه النعيم البارد

For even cool delight becomes

burning heat within it.

فاسلمَ سَلِمْتَ معجَّلا

لي منك وصلٌ خالد

So remain safe—may you be kept safe—and hasten

an enduring reunion with you for me.

فلقد أعارك ظَرْفَه

دون الأنام عُطارِد

For Mercury lent you his wit,

to the exclusion of all mankind;

وسما بك الأْدبُ الطري

ف المستفاد التالد

and through you adab rose high, whether newly

acquired or inherited.

والمجد ليس يناله

إلاَّ الأديبُ الماجِد

Glory is attained

only by the glorious man of letters.

هذا الزمان لِما يسو

ء وصالَنا متعاهِد

This age, despite the pain it causes,

still attends faithfully to our state;

رأْيُ الليالي في تَفرْ

رُقنا ضعيف فاسد

the nights’ judgment that we should be

parted is weak and unsound.