قمراً نراهُ أم مليحاً أمردا

ولحاظهُ بين الجوانح أم ردى

Is it a full moon that we see, or a handsome beloved,

With his cheeks between my ribs, or a beloved friend?

من آل بدرٍ طلعةً أو نسبةً

والرقمتين سوالفاً أو موْلدا

Descended from the family of Full Moon, or related,

And the two eyelids conversers, or born?

آهاً لمنطقه البديع معرَّبا

ولسيفِ ناظرِهِ الكحيل مهندا

Alas! His eloquent speech is Arabized,

And the sword of his kohl-lined eyes slaying.

لم يجرِ دمعي في هواه مسلسلا

حتَّى ثوى قلبي لديهِ مقيَّدا

My tears did not flow ceaselessly in his love,

Until my heart rested with him, fettered.

أدعو السيوف صقيلةً من لحظهِ

وإذا دعوت لماه جاوَبني الصدى

I call upon swords, polished by his glance,

And when I call his water answers me with an echo.

وإذا دعوت بنان أَحمدَ جاوبت

سُحب الندى من قبلِ ما سمعَ النَّدا

And when I call the son of Ahmed he answers me,

The clouds of dew before the call reaches them.

لشهاب دين الله وصفٌ ضاءَ في

أفقٍ فقل نجم السما رَجمَ العِدى

About the flame of Allah’s religion an illuminating attribute shone,

In a horizon, so say the star of sky pelted the enemies.

كمْ صافحت من راحتيهِ يد امرئ

عشراً وصبحه الهناءُ فعيَّدا

How many times have I shook the hand of a man

Whose morning is filled with joy repeated ten times over.

يا خيرَ من علقت يدي بولائهِ

أقسمت ما سدت الأكارم عن سدى

O best of those whose loyalty my hands cling to,

I swear the generous did not close from generosity.

يا مسدِي النعمى التي قد أصبحت

سنداً لمن يشكو الزمان ومسندا

O fulfiller of bounties that have become

A support for those who complain of fate and tribulations.

أحسنْ بجاهكَ شافعي يا مالكاً

أروي بجودِ يديهِ مسندَ أحمدا

Do good with your status my advocate Malik,

Water with your generous hands the pillar of Ahmed.

كم راحةٍ أوليتها من راحةٍ

ويدٍ صنعت بها لمفتقرٍ يدا

How much comfort I have been granted from comfort

And a hand I have used to help the needy their hands.

والله لا أجريت في عددِ الورى

خبرَ الثنا إلاَّ وأنتَ المبتَدا

By Allah, I will not count among the people

News of praise except with you first.

ولقد تزيّد شعرُ من اسْتعفته

بنداكَ حسناً في الزمانِ مجددا

And indeed the poetry increased beautifully

With your gift in the times again magnificent.

والشعر مثل الروض يعجب حسنه

لا سيما إن كانَ قد وقعَ الندى

And poetry is like a garden, its beauty pleasing,

Especially if the dew has fallen on it.