أيها السيد الذي أنا عبده
والذي أنطق المدائح مجده
O Lord to whom I am a servant,
Whose glory my praises voice,
بي إلى وجهك الكريم غرام
في يديه عفو اشتياقي وكده
Passion for your noble face fills me,
In your hands lies cure for my longing and agony.
أنا إن زرت أو تخلفت عبد
بل ولي صفا وحقك وده
Whether I visit or stay away, I'm your servant,
Faithful to you, your rights and affection.
يستوي في الوفاء قربي وبعدي
وسواء قرب الوفي وبعده
In loyalty, my nearness and distance are equal,
As are the true loyalist's closeness and remoteness.
سوف أثني على مودة مولى
ضاق عنها شكر الكلام وحمده
I will praise my Master's kindness,
Too vast for words and thanks to encompass.
نجم دين فلا اعتراه أفول
صارم للهدى فلا فل حده
A star of faith whose setting I'll not witness,
A sharp sword for guidance, its edge never blunt.
قدره كاسمه رفيع فماذا
من علو المقدار ينكر ضده
His worth matches his name, lofty, so what
Of his exalted status would one deny?
إن يسد يافعاً فذلك عمر
ساد في مثله أبوه وجده
Should he help as a youth, that is his life
Excelling as his father and grandfather did.
هو في الناس مثل ذا اليوم فيهم
ند في فضله فأعوز نده
Among people he's like that day to them,
Rivaling in merit, outshining any equal.
يوم عيد هنئته ألف عام
وافد بالمنى رحابك وفده
A feast day I wished him a thousand happy returns,
My hopes at your grounds finding welcome.
عاد عن سنة العوائد فيه
صاحب لي من بعدها لا أعده
He turned from the wont of returning visits,
After which I have no one left expecting return.
سحبت برده قوارض عتبي
بعدما شفني وحقك برده
His coldness drew away my rebukes’ claws,
After healing me, and your right to coolness.
ما درى لا درى بأني ممن
لا يرجى في مثل ذا اليوم رفده
He knows not, knows not that I am one
Who hopes not on such a day for gifts.
وبأني وإن تطفلت ممن
يرتجى وصله ويرهب صده
That though bold, I'm one who hopes
For his company and dreads his aloofness.
وإذا شفه الظما بعد خمس
لم يرد منهلاً تكدر ورده
And if after five days he ignores my thirst,
He offers no stream whose flowing is disturbed.
وإذا ما استجد غيري صديقاً
فأبو العز خير من أستجده
If he seeks someone else's friendship,
The Generous One is better than one newly sought.
أبيض الوجه والمساعي كريم
جاءني فقده ولم يأت نقده
Fair of face and noble in effort,
His loss came but no compensation followed.
