شاب فود الصبّ حزناً مثل ما

همّ بالهجر حبيب ودّعه

A young man bid farewell to his beloved in sorrow

As she decided to part from him

يا لشيب عم وجهاً فبكى

كيف لا يبكي لشيبٍ قنّعه

Oh how his face withered and cried

How could it not cry for the separation forced upon it

يا لقلبٍ مودعٍ سرّ الأسى

ودّع الصبّ وماذا أوْدَعه

Oh how a heart bid farewell, the secret of anguish

It bid the morning farewell, what did it confide in it

يا عليًّا لست أنسى برّه

وهو لا ينسى مديحاً يسمعه

Oh Ali, I do not forget your kindness

And you do not forget praise you hear

سيدي كنْ غوثَ ألفاظي فقد

أصبحوا من شامهم في مضيعَه

My master, be the aid of my words for they

Have been lost from their famine in their pasture

حسرتي مع ذا ومع ذا فأنا

معهمُ مع بعدهم في معمَعه

My regret is with this one and that one, for I

Am with them, with them in their absence

غير أني قائلٌ قولَ فتى

كضّه صدّ فأبدى جزعه

Except that I say the words of a young man

Whose family rejected him and he showed his agony

لا تهني بعد ما أكرمتني

فشديدٌ عادةٌ منتزَعه

Do not congratulate me after you honored me

For it is a strong habit once gained

وابقَ ذا الفضلين فضلاً حازه

وارث العليا وفضلاً جمّعه

And keep those two virtues you gained

Inheritor of the most high and virtues you gathered

واهنَ بالعيد وألفٍ مثله

في سناءٍ أو هناءٍ أو دَعه

And congratulate for the feast and a thousand like it

In gladness, joy or leave it