إنْ عَزَّ لُقْياك وماءُ النَّدى

هامٍ فإني شاكرٌ عاذِرُ

If meeting you is hard, while the waters of bounty

pour, then I am grateful—and I excuse you.

يَسقي السَّحابُ الجدب سحّاً ولا

يجتمعُ المَمْطورُ والماطِرُ

The cloud drenches the parched earth in torrents, though

the rained-upon and the rain-giver do not meet.

أحرزَ نجمُ الدين سبقَ العُلى

فكلُّ ساعٍ دونهُ حاسِرُ

Najm al-Din has won the race to glory’s heights;

thus every striver behind him is exhausted.