وإنِّي ومَدْحي أبا جعفرٍ

بما طابَ منْ شِعْريَ السَّائر

My praise of Abu Ja'far

With the finest of my poetry

وزيرَ الإِمامِ وكَهْفَ الأنامِ

ومُعْتصم اللاَّجىء الحائرِ

Minister of the Imam, refuge of all people

Shelter for the lost, confused wanderer

وإنْ جِئْتُ في وَصْفِهِ بالعُجابِ

وأحسنتُ في القولِ والخاطِرِ

If I come to describe him with wonder

Speaking well with heart and mind

كَمَنْ جاءَ يَحْوي ببَطْنِ السِّقاءِ

على ضيقِه لُجَّةَ الزَّاخِرِ

Like one who tries to contain in a waterskin

What will burst its tightness, a gushing torrent

وأينَ السِّقاءُ مِنَ الزَّاخراتِ

وأينَ عُلاهُ مِنَ الشَّاعِر

Where is the waterskin compared to bursting torrents

Where is my praise compared to this poet?

ولكنْ أجيءُ بجُهْدِ المُقِلِّ

ومِنْ فَضْلِهِ أنَّهُ عاذري

But I try with my humble effort

And it is his grace that he excuses me