إِنّي رَأَيتُ أَبا الأَشبالِ قَد ذَهَبَت

يَداهُ حَتّى تُلاقي الشَمسَ وَالقَمَرا

I saw the father of cubs whose hands

Reached out to the sun and moon.

التارِكُ القِرنِ تَحتَ النَقعِ مُنجَدِلاً

إِذا تَلاحَقَ وِردُ المَوتِ فَاِعتَكَرا

The one who sheds his horns under the swaying trees,

When the roses of death chase one another.

لا مُكبِرٌ فَرَحاً فيما يُسَرُّ بِهِ

فَإِن أَلَمَّت عَلَيهِ أَزمَةٌ صَبَرا

He is not boastful when pleased,

And when distressed by crises, he is patient.

وَقَد شَكَرتُ أَبا الأَشبالِ ما صَنَعَت

يَداهُ عِندي وَخَيرُ الناسَ مَن شَكَرا

I thanked the father of cubs for what his hands

Had done for me, and the best people are the grateful.

لَقَد تَدارَكَني مِنهُ بِعارِفَةٍ

حَتّى تَلاقى بِها ما كانَ قَد دَثَرا

He supported me with his noble character

Until it embraced what had been concealed.

فَما لِجودِ أَبي الأَشبالِ مِن شَبَهٍ

إِلّا السَحابُ وَإِلّا البَحرُ إِذ زَخَرا

The generosity of the father of cubs

Resembles only the clouds and the sea when overflowing.

كُلٌّ يُوائِلُ ما اِمتَدَّت غَوارِبُهُ

إِذا تَكَفكَفَ مِنهُ المَوجُ وَاِنحَدَرا

Each extends what its waves include

When the waves subside and flow down.

لَيسا بِأَجوَدَ مِنهُ عِندَ نائِلِهِ

إِذا تَرَوَّحَ لِلمَعروفِ أَو بَكَرا

Neither are more generous than him for the asker

When the favours spread or are first gained.