جاء الرسولُ لعَبْدِه بكِتابِه

فيه لطائفُ لَوْمِه وعِتابِهِ

The messenger came to his servant with his book

In it were subtle blames and reproaches

فقرأتُ مُودَعه ففَتَّح لفظُه

معنىً كزَهْرِ الروضِ غِبَّ سَحابه

So I read his farewell, its words opened

Meanings like flowers blossoming after the rain clouds

أقسمتُ لو أخفَى الرسولُ مكانَه

لَسَرىَ النسيمُ بعَرْفِه فوَشَى به

I swear if the messenger hid his place

The breeze would still spread his fragrance

الروض في قِرْطاسه والمِسْك في

أنفاسه والسِّحْر في آدابه

The garden is in his parchment, the musk is in

His breath, the magic is in his manners

كالأمنِ للملهوف من أعدائه

والوَصْلِ للمهجور من أحبابه

Like safety for the anxious from his enemies

And union for the outcast from his loved ones

كالنوم بين جفون من فقد الكرى

سَهَرا لما يلقاه من أَوْصابه

Like sleep between the eyelids of one who lost consciousness

Staying up for what he faces from his predicaments

لَفْظٌ لو اجتمع الخَليقةُ كلُّها

في واحدٍ أَعْياه ردُّ جَوابه

Words - if all creation gathered

In one being, responding would tire him

لو مَرَّ بالكِنْدِىِّ أَيْسَرُ لفظةٍ

من شِعْره لَثم التراب ببابه

If the easiest of his words passed by Kindi

He would kiss the dust at his door

مَنْ ذا يُجارِى البحرَ في تياره

مَن ذا يزور اللَّيْثَ داخلَ غابه

Who can compete with the sea in its currents?

Who dares visit the lion in his den?

جُرمْى أقلُّ وإنْ تَعاظَمَ كَثْرةً

من أن يُغيِّر سيدي عن دابِه

My crime is lesser, though multiplied

Than that my master would change his ways