كُلُّ فَضلٍ لِكُلِّ نَوعٍ وَجِنسِ

دونَ فَضل المِرآةِ مِن غَيرِ لِبسِ

Each excellence for each kind and genus

Without the mirror's excellence, no doubt exists

لَطُفَت رِقَّةً وَفاضَت صَفاءً

فَهِيَ كَالمال في عيان ولمس

Refined in gentleness and pure transparency

It is as cash in hand to see and touch

وَاِستَدارَت بِباهِرِ النورِ حَتّى

ظَنَّها الناظِرونَ قِطعَةَ شَمسِ

Circled with splendid light until

Beholders thought it was a piece of the sun

وَهِيَ أَصفى أَخٍ يَكشِف لي

عَنّي وَأَدنى خِلٍّ يُوَفِّرُ أُنسي

It is the clearest brother revealing me

To myself and the closest friend providing my intimacy

وَإِذا ما نَأى نَديمي عَنّي

ظَلَّ طَرَفي بِها يُنادِمُ نَفسي

And if my companion moves apart from me

My gaze remains with it, conversing with my soul