أيرضى الأمير أطال الإله

بقاء الأمير عزيزاً مطاعا

Does the prince wish to prolong his rule,

With the prince’s power lasting long and obeyed,

بأن فلَّ حرمانه مقولي

فأحذاه بعد المضاء انقطاعا

That I lost my sayings about him,

And he took them after decree as disconnected?

وكانت قوافيَّ في مدحه

مئين فقد صرن فيه رباعا

My rhymes in praising him

Were flowing, but now turned into quatrains.

وما كان إلا حساماً أضيع

ومهما أضيع من الأمر ضاعا

It was nothing but a sword I wasted,

And no matter how much I wasted, it was a waste.

فلو شاء صيقله رده

جديداً وولاه كفاً صناعا

If he wished to polish it back

Anew and appoint it as a skilled hand,

تعيد شباه إلى حاله

وتلقى على صفحتيه شعاعا

It would restore its brilliance,

And cast rays on its blade.

ليوم تقنَّع فيه الرجال

وتحسر فيه النساء القناعا

For a day when men are content

And women regretful in their veils.