لَعَمري لَقَد أَجدى عَلَيَّ اِبنُ بَرمَكٍ

وَما كُلُّ مَن كانَ الغِنى عِندَهُ يُجدي

By my life, the son of Barmuk has done me a great service,

Though not all who are wealthy are helpful.

حَلَبتُ بِشِعري راحَتَيهِ وَقَد رَنا

سَماحاً كَما دَرَّ السَحابُ عَلى الرَعدِ

I have milked pleasure with my poetry, though he complained -

Generously, as clouds pour down on thunder.

وَثَغرٍ كَأَفواهِ الأُسودِ سَدَدتَهُ

بِسُمرِ القَنا وَالبيضِ وَالقُرَّحِ الجُردِ

With a mouth like the maws of lions I have blocked,

With dates and eggs and peeled squash.

مَقامُكَ مَحمودٌ وَسَيبُكَ واسِعٌ

وَبَيتُكَ مَرفوعُ الدَعائِمِ بِالمَجدِ

Your abode is praiseworthy and your lineage is noble,

Your house lofty-pillared with glory.

مُفيدٌ وَمِتلافٌ سَبيلَ تُراثِهِ

إِذا ما غَدا أَو راحَ بِالجَزرِ وَالمَدِّ

Beneficent and curator of his inheritance

Whether parting or returning with loss or gain.

سَبَقتَ بِأيّامِ المَكارِمِ وَالعُلا

تُراثَ أَبٍ نالَ المَكارِمَ عَن جَدِّ

You preceded in days of generosity and sublimity

The legacy of a father who attained generosities from his ancestors.

أَجَعفَرُ إِنَّ الحَمدَ يَبقىلِأَهلِهِ

جَمالاً وَلا تَبقى الكُنوزُ عَلى الكَدِّ

Ja'far, praise indeed endures for its people

As beauty, and hoards do not last through striving.

فَأَطعِم وَكُل مِن عارَةٍ مُستَرَدَّةٍ

وَلا تُبقِها إِنَّ العَوارِيَّ لِلرَدِّ

So feed others and eat of things recovered,

Do not keep them - loans are for repayment.