راحَت فَصَحَّ بِها السَقيم

ريحٌ مُعَطَّرَةُ النَسيم

The fragrant gentle breeze brought relief to the ailing,

A breeze, perfumed and pleasant.

مَقبولَةٌ هَبَّت قَبولاً

فَهيَ تَعبَقُ في الشَميم

It blew kindly, acceptable,

Its essence exudes fragrance.

أَفَضيضُ مِسكٍ أَم بَلَنسِيَةٌ

لِرَيّاها نَميم

Is it pure musk or sweet basil?

For its redolence, it is praised.

بَلَدٌ حَبيبٌ أُفقُهُ

لِفَتىً يَحُلُّ بِهِ كَريم

A beloved land it is

For a noble youth who dwells in it.

أَيها أَبا عَبدِ الإِلَهِ

دُعاءُ مَغلوبِ العَريم

O father of Allah's servant,

The prayer of the helpless and weak.

إِن عيلَ صَبري مِن فِراقِكَ

فَالعَذابُ بِهِ أَليم

My patience at being apart from you

Is indeed painful torment.

أَو أَتبَعَتكَ حَنينَها

نَفسي فَأَنتَ لَها قَسيم

If only my soul had followed you,

For it would have been your companion.

ذِكرى لِعَهدِكَ كَالسُهادِ

سَرى فَبَرَّحَ بِالسَليم

Memories of you are like necklaces

That bring joy when remembered.

مَهما ذَمَمتُ فَما زَماني

في ذِمامِكَ بِالذَميم

No matter how much I blame it, my time

Is worthless without you.

زَمَنٌ كَمَألوفِ الرَضاعِ

يَشوقُ ذِكراهُ الفَطيم

A time, like a suckling infant,

Whose memory makes the weaned yearn.

أَيّامَ أَعقِدُ ناظِرَيَّ

بِذَلِكَ المَرأى الوَسيم

I keep my eyes focused

On that handsome sight.

فَأَرى الفُتُوَّةَ غَضَّةً

في ثَوبِ أَوّاهٍ حَليم

I see chivalrous youth

In the garb of mild patience.

أَللَهُ يَعلَمُ أَنَّ حُبَّ

كَ مِن فُؤادي بِالصَميم

God knows that my love for you

Comes from the depths of my heart.

وَلَئِن تَحَمَّلَ عَنكَ لي

جِسمٌ فَعَن قَلبٍ مُقيم

If my body stayed away from you

My heart remained loyal.

قُل لي بِأَيِّ خِلالِ سَروِكَ

قَبلُ أُفتَنُ أَو أَهيم

Tell me, by which of your graceful ways

Shall I be tempted or perplexed?

أَبِمَجدِكَ العَمَمِ الَّذي

نَسَقَ الحَديثَ مَعَ القَديم

Is it your glorious renown, which

Blended old tales and new?

أَم ظَرفِكَ الحُلوِ الجَنى

أَم عِرضِكَ الصافي الأَديم

Or your sweet and beautiful charm?

Or your clear and flawless dignity?

أَم بِرِّكِ العَذبِ الجَمامِ

وَبِشرِكَ الغَضِّ الجَميم

Or your refreshing and pure kindness?

And your tender and precious smile?

أَم بِالبَدائِعِ كَاللَآلِئِ

مِن نَثيرٍ أَو نَظيم

Or the striking novelties, like pearls

Scattered or strung symmetrically?

وَبَلاغَةٍ إِن عُدَّ أَهلوها

فَأَنتَ لَهُم زَعيم

And the eloquence - if its people were counted,

You would be their champion.

فِقَرٌ تَسوغُ بِها المُدامُ

إِذا تَكَرَّرَها النَديم

Poverty, which drinking companions

Frequently make excuses for.

إِن أَشمَسَت تِلكَ الطَلاقَةُ

فَالنَدى مِنها مُقيم

If that wit shone forth,

Fresh dew would come from it.

إِنَّ الَّذي قَسَمَ الحُظوظَ

حَباكَ بِالخُلُقِ العَظيم

He who apportions good fortune

Has graced you with noble manners.

لا أَستَزيدُ اللَهَ نُعمى

فيكَ لا بَل أَستَديم

I do not ask God for more blessings through you,

But rather, that He sustain it.

فَلَقَد أَقَرَّ العَينَ أَنَّكَ

غُرَّةُ الزَمَنِ البَهيم

It brings joy to the eye that you

Are the foal of the stupid era.

حَسبي الثَناءُ لِحُسنِ بِرِّ

كَ ما بَدا بَرقٌ فَشيم

Praising your excellent kindness is enough,

Like lightning that flashes brightly.

ثُمَّ الدُعاءُ بِأَن تَهَنَّأَ

طولَ عَيشِكَ فو نَعيم

Then praying that you live long,

And enjoy comfort and bliss.

ثُمَّ السَلامُ تُبَلَّغَنهُ

فَغَيبُ مُهديهِ سَليم

Then greetings I shall convey to you,

Though the absent sender is safe.