أَعِر شِعرَكَ الأَطلالَ وَالدِمَّنَ القَفرا

فَقَد طالَ ما أَزرى بِهِ نَعتُكَ الخَمرا

Show your hair to the ruins and the deserted wilderness,

Lend your verse to the ruins and the desolate encampments,

For too long has your wine description burdened me,

For your praise of wine has long brought poetry to shame.

دَعاني إِلى نَعتِ الطُلولِ مُسَلَّطٌ

تَضيقُ ذِراعي أَن أَجوزَ لَهُ أَمراً

A tyrant calls me to describe curls,

A powerful ruler has summoned me to describe the remains,

My arms too narrow to allow him anything,

And I am powerless to transgress his command.

فَسَمعٌ أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ وَطاعَةٌ

وَإِن كُنتَ قَد جَشَّمتَني مَركَباً وَعرا

Obedience to the Commander of the Faithful I hear and obey,

So I hear and obey, O Commander of the Faithful,

Even if you have made me ride a difficult and bumpy conveyance.

Though you have saddled me with a rough and rugged mount.