أسائله يوم النوى كيفَ حاله

أعيذك ممَّا قلَّ منه احتماله

I ask him on the day of parting, how is he?

I seek refuge for you from what little endurance remains

تقضَّت ليالي الوصل إلاَّ ادِّكارها

وغابَ حبيب القلب إلاَّ خياله

The nights of union have passed, except for remembering them

And the beloved of my heart is gone, except for his image

بروحيَ ناءٍ كنت أشكو ملالهُ

فمن لي بأن يدنو ويبقى ملاله

With a grieving soul, I used to complain of his indifference

So who can come near me and stay, sharing my indifference?

من الغيد إن تنسبه فهو كما ترى

أخوا وجنتيه الشمس والمسك خاله

The full moon, if you attribute it to him, is as you see

Brothers, and its two gardens are the sun and musk are its moles

عدا البدر أن يحكي جميع صفاته

ولكن حكاها نورهُ وانتقاله

Except the moon relates all his qualities

But his light related them and his passing

وراحَ القنا من نيل عطفِه باهتاً

فكان حقيقاً حرّه واعْتقاله

The canals of his kindness left dry and confused

So it was truly its heat and its bonds

خذْ الحذر من لحظٍ له وذوائبٍ

فما هو إلاَّ سحرهُ وحباله

Take care of a glance that has curls and tresses

It is nothing but his magic and his ropes

وإيَّاكما في الحبِّ من لومِ مبعدٍ

وقولا له في الوصلِ كيف احْتياله

And beware in love of the blame of one who is far

And say to him in union, how cunning is he!

جعلت وفاء العهد زينة شيمتي

كما زانَ أبناء الزمان جماله

I made faithfulness of covenant the adornment of my qualities

Just as the sons of time adorned their beauty

أخو العلم والنعماء يهدي رشاده

ويجدي على داعي الرجاء نواله

The brother of knowledge and virtues guides his advice

And benefits the supplicant of hope with his bestowal

جميلُ المحيَّا يملأ العين بهجةً

وأجمل من ذاكَ المحيَّا فعاله

The beautiful greeter fills the eye with joy

And more beautiful than that is his deed

محا الجدب عن وجه البرايا بأنملٍ

تريك حيا الوسميّ كيف انْهماله

He erased barrenness from the face of the wilds with fingers

That show you how the marked one coils

ألم تره والله يبسط عمرهُ

يمرّ على الوادي فتثنى رماله

Did you not see him, by Allah, extending his life

Passing by the valley, so its sands fold

رئيس بيَدِ القائلين سكونه

ويفضل عن يمنى الغمام شماله

The chief of speakers, his tranquility

And he surpasses the right of the clouds with his left

له قلمٌ إن قال روّى سجله

مسامعنا أو جالَ روّت سجاله

He has a pen, if it speaks it quenches its register

Our hearings or it flows, his registers flow

حرام على الحالين سحر بديعه

إذا جالَ في سلبِ العقول حلاله

It is forbidden for the enchanted, the magic of his eloquence

When it wanders in capturing minds, its permitted

يجول به في الحربِ والسلم ماجدٌ

مؤيدة أقواله وفعاله

A glorious one roams with it in war and peace

His words and his actions supported

من المالكي رقّ المديح بنائلٍ

كأن بحار الأرض في الجودِ آله

Of the Maliki, the tenderness of praise with softness

As if the seas of earth in generosity are his property

يزيد اتّضاعاً كلّما زادَ رفعةً

وكم صاعدٍ أخنى عليه اخْتياله

He increases in humility whenever he gains loftiness

And how many ascenders were bent by his cunning

ألا أيها الباغي منالاً لشأوِهِ

إليكَ فليس الأمر ممَّا تناله

Come forth, O transgressor, to his lofty position

To you, for the matter is not one you can attain

له الله من غالي السجيَّة عذبها

كما انْهلَّ من فرع السحاب زلاله

To him belongs the sweetness of precious temperament

As the drizzle of clouds descended with its freshness

نزلت بمغناه فلم أخشَ حادثاً

وكيفَ وهذا جاهه لي وماله

I alighted with his singing, and did not fear mishap

And how could I, when this glory is mine and wealth

أمولاي إن الحال مدَّ رجاؤه

إليكَ وإن القصد آل مآله

My lord, the state has extended its hope

To you, and the goal ended with its outcome

دعاك لتمييز الوسائل طالبٌ

فلا غَرْوَ أن يسمو بريّك حاله

A seeker called you to discern the means

So no wonder your lofty state rises