أَأَحمَدَ إِنَّ الحاسِدينَ حُشودُ

وَإِنَّ مَصابَ المُزنِ حَيثُ تُريدُ

Ahmad, indeed the envious are crowds

And indeed the stroke of grief is where you want

فَلا تَبعُدَنَ مِنّي قَريباً فَطالَما

طُلِبتَ فَلَم تَبعُد وَأَنتَ بَعيدُ

So do not distance yourself from me, ever close

You were sought yet never distanced, while far away

أَصِخ تَستَمِع حُرَّ القَوافي فَإِنَّها

كَواكِبُ إِلّا أَنَّهُنَّ سُعودُ

Listen closely to the ecstasy of rhymes, for they

Are stars, except they are more blissful

وَلا تُمكِنِ الإِخلاقَ مِنها فَإِنَّما

يَلَذُّ لِباسُ البُردِ وَهُوَ جَديدُ

And do not allow morals from it, for the only thing that gives pleasure

Is wearing a new coat in the cold