لو حلّ عن خدّيْهِ عِقد لثامِه

نقلَ الهلال الى صِفاتِ تمامِه

If the knot were untied from his cheek

The crescent would attain its full perfection

لكنه صانَ الجمالَ لأنّه

وردٌ وحسنُ الوردِ في أكمامِه

Yet he guarded beauty, for he is

A rose, and the beauty of the rose is in its buds

وأنا فداءُ مجبٍ لو أنّه

ملِكٌ لكان الجَورُ في أيامِه

I would sacrifice myself for one who frowns

If only he were a king, injustice would end in his days

أرْخى ذوائبَهُ نقابَهُ

كالبدرِ بين ظلامِه وغمامِه

He lowered his tresses, his veil

Like the moon amid its darkness and clouds

يا ثغرَهُ سِرْ فيّ سيرةَ كأسِه

ورضابِه خُذْ فيّ أخذَ مُدامِه

O mouth of his, walk gently the way of his cup

And of his accord, take gently the taking of its wine

أو ما نراهُ يفُكّ طينةَ دمها

ويقولُ خافَ الفَدْمُ فك فِدامِه

Or else we do not see him unravel her being

And say the blood feared so it coagulated

حمراءُ قابلَها برفْعِ نقابِه

فكأنّ ما في خدّه في جامِه

Her redness met him by raising her veil

So that which is on his cheek seems to be in its cup

ما كان يسمحُ لي بنظرةِ يومِه

من صارَ يسمحُ لي بزورةِ عامِه

He would not allow me to look upon his face one day

Has he who would not allow me to visit him one year become indulgent?

خُلُقٌ ألانَ لي الحديثَ فلانَ لي

والغصنُ ربّتما انْثَنى بحَمامِه

A demeanor that softened speech for me, but embittered it for me

While the branch, no matter how it bent with its dove, straightened

وأما وحاجبِه الأزجِّ وطرفِه الأ

حوى وحرمةِ قوسِه وسهامِه

As for his frowning eyebrow and his languid glance

And the sanctity of his bow and arrows

ومجردٍ من معطَفَيْهِ مهنّداً

ما بينَ قائمِ سيفِه وقوامِه

Disrobed of his two robes, leaning

Between the standing of his sword and his stature

إنّ الليالي ما ذمَمْتُ صُروفَها

منذُ استجَرْتُ بياسرٍ وذِمامِه

Indeed the nights have not blamed the changes in their course

Since I took shelter in an auspicious Yasser

كنف أبو الفرجِ السعيدِ أفادَني

فرجاً وسعداً في عليّ مُقامِه

How excellent is Abul Faraj al-Sa'eed who did me

A favor and made me prosperous in his high position

إن شئتَ تعلَمُ أنهُ الملِكُ الذي

ما زال صرفُ الدهرِ من خُدّامِّ

If you wish to know that he is the king whom

The cycle of fate has not ceased to serve

قُمْ حامِه في معشرٍ من حامِه

أو سامِه في معشرٍ من سامِه

Take protection in his protection among his protected ones

Or seek refuge in his refuge among his refugees

يَلْقى الذي ما زال من إقدامِه

تتعثّرُ التيجانُ في أقدامِه

You will meet one who has never ceased to be daring

Crowns stumble at his feet