سَيَحبِسُني أَظُنُّ عَنِ المَسيرِ

فُتوني بِاِبنِ مُسعِدَةِ الصَغيرِ

My heart’s desire holds me back, I fear

I deem that I shall be detained from the march,

Charmed am I by Mus’ada’s young son here

By my enchantment with the young Ibn Mus'idah.

فَلا تَعذُل عَلَيهِ أَبا عَلِيٍّ

فَإِنّي لَم أَلُمكَ عَلى الكَبيرِ

So do not, father Ali, blame the lad

So chide me not for his sake, O Abu Ali,

For I have not reproached you for the elder, there.

For I have not reproached you regarding the elder.

أَما وَجَلالِ مَن أَصفاكَ وُدّي

وَأَكرَمَني بِمَعرِفَةِ الأَميرِ

By the glory of Him who has graced you, my friend

Nay, by the glory of the One who made my love for you sincere,

And honored me with the Amir’s comprehension,

And honored me with the acquaintance of the Emir,

لَئِن نَطَقَ اللِسانُ بِبَعضِ حُبّي

لَأَعظَمُ مِنهُ ما لَكَ في الضَميرِ

If my tongue gives voice to some of my love,

If my tongue has voiced a portion of my affection,

Far greater, dear friend, is that in my heart’s depth.

That which lies for you within my soul is greater still.