أَعِندَ الحُرّ للأَيام ثارُ

يُطالِبهُ بِهِ الفلك المُدارُ

The free man keeps grudges against time,

With which the cycles of planets reproach him.

رُوَيداً يا زَمان أَرفق قَليلاً

أَما لِلسُكر صَحو أَو خِمار

Go easy, O time! Be more gentle!

Is there no end to drunkenness or wine?

أَما في ذلة الأَمجاد عَيب

عَلَيكَ وَلا بِهَون الحُرّ عار

It is disgraceful that glories should be humiliated,

A disgrace to you, though no dishonor stains the free man.

يَعزُّ عَلَيَّ أَن يَكبو جَواد

لَدَيكَ وَلا يُقال لَهُ عثار

It grieves me that a steed should stumble before you

And no excuse be made for him.

أَساءَت إِلى كَريم لا تُباري

بِزخرتها أَناملَهُ البِحار

It has done wrong to a generous man whose fingers

Cannot match its pearls, even were he to fill the seas.

أَقل هِباتِهِ في كُلِ أَرض

كِرام الخَيل أَثقَلُها النضار

The least of his gifts in every land

Are the finest horses, though laden with pure blood.

فَتي يَهب الحَياة وَلا يُبالي

إِذا ما عَزَّ مال أَو عَقار

A youth who grants life without a care,

If wealth declines or buildings crumble.

تَسيل هِباتُهُ مُتَتابِعات

وَيَتبَع رَفدُهُ مِنهُ اِعتِذار

His gifts pour constantly,

And his apology follows after his generosity.

وَيبسم وَالسَلاهب ساهِمات

عَبوس وَالكَماة لَها اَزورار

He smiles while spears strike,

Frowning while the arrows have buttons.

بِنَفسي مِن أَودَعَهُ وَصَبري

يُصاحِبهُ وَقَلبي مُستَطار

I pledge myself, who has lodged it, and my patience

Accompanies it, while my heart is afire,

أَشيعهُ بِأَنفاس مِداد

تَرددهنَّ أَحشاءٌ حِرار

I bid it farewell with breaths

Repeated by burning entrails.

أَحَقاً أَنتَ يا مَولايَ غادٍ

وَبَعدَك لي سُكون أَو قَرار

Indeed, my Master, are you leaving

When after you I have no peace or rest?

مَقامي بَعد نَأيك بَل حَياتي

أَرى عاراً بِها وَالعار نار

My place, after your departure, even my life,

I see as disgraceful, and disgrace is fire.

وَلَكن لَيسَ لِلمَرء اِحتِيال

مَع القَدر المُناح وَلا اِختِيار

But man has no stratagem

Against fate's bending, no choice.

فسر في ذمة الرَحمَن وَأَبشر

بِعز بِعدَهُ نعم غزار

Travel safely under God's protection and receive good news

Of might after it! Yes, abundant favours!

فَمثلك كُل ذي كَرَم وَمَجد

لَهُ خَل وَكُلُ الأَرض دار

The like of you, every man of bounty and glory,

Has a departure, while all the earth is his abode,

فَلا نابتكَ نائِبة اللَيالي

فَإِنَّ بَقاكَ لِلدُنيا فَخار

Your plants will not be blighted by the nights,

For your survival is the pride of the world,

وَدونكها فَواف رائِعات

بِدار عَلى الزَمان بِها عَقار

And apart from it are lofty dwellings

In an abode towering over time.

وَلَم أَمدَحكَ لاستجداءِ نَعمى

وَلا بِعُلاكَ لِلمَدح اِفتِقار

I have not praised you seeking favour,

Nor needing praise for your elevation.

وَلَكن ذاكَ مِن قَلبٍ كَريم

لَهُ شَغف بِمثلِكَ وَاِفتِخار

But that flows from a generous heart

That loves the like of you and takes pride in you.