تنْبو الظُّبى والقَنا حيناً وآوِنَةً

والصاحب الصدر ماضي العزم قصَّال

The friends and camels set out at times and intervals,

And the courageous, determined companion travels light.

وتبخلُ السُّحْبُ بالجدوى ونائلُه

في العسر واليسر هامي الصوب هطَّالُ

The clouds are stingy with rain, yet its seeker

Wanders lost in hardship and ease.

خِرْقٌ إذا نزل العافونَ منزلَهُ

فالجدب أوْطَف والغسَّاق سلْسال

When the rain descends in its proper place,

The barren land becomes fertile and the valley flows.

لا يطَّبيهِمْ وإنْ حَنُّوا لأرضهُم

إلى مواطنهم والأهلِ تَرْحالُ

They cannot be content, though they yearn for their land

And journey home to their people.

يحمي ويقْري فذو خصبٍ به مرحٌ

وتائهٌ من رفيعِ العِزِّ مُخْتالُ

One it nourishes and waters - so he prospers,

While one far from glorious power wanders confused.

يستأسدُ الجارُ والضِّيفانُ عائمةٌ

فعندهُ منهما نونٌ ورِئبالُ

The neighbor turns lion, while the two guests swim;

With them he is friendly or hostile.

إذا سنى نارِه أعْلاهُ جاحِمُهُ

عادَ الثَّقالُ المُعنَّى وهو شِمْلالُ

When he kindles his burning fire on high,

The cherished heavy guest returns humbled.

مَسَرَّةً بعَمِيمِ الجودِ ذي خطرٍ

يحيا بإحسانه جُرْدٌ وآبالُ

With the danger of his great generosity, he brings joy

To both horsemen and camels.

حوى العُلى عضد الدين الكريمُ ثناً

رواتُهُ ضاعِنو سَفْرٍ وقُفَّالُ

Exalted Support of the Faith sang his praise,

His poems wanderers on long journeys.

زَوْلٌ تُرَنِّحُ عِطْفيهِ مدائحُه

كأنما الشعرُ في عِطفيهِ جِرْيالُ

When his verses extol him their tenderness sighs -

As if poetry itself laments in their tenderness.

إذا تُفاخِرُهُ الأجوادُ يوم نَدىً

فالصاحب البحر والأجوادُ أوشالُ

When the generous compete, he is the bountiful sea,

The companion, and the most open-handed of all.

فهُنِّيَ العيدُ والأيامُ قاطِبَةً

بقاءَهُ ما جرى بالمَهْمَهِ الآلُ

So days and times rejoiced altogether

At his continuance, however events unfold.