ما بالُ من نوهتُ دهراً

فيه يتيهُ عليَّ كِبرا

Why have I praised you for so long,

When you make me go astray in old age,

وكسوتُه العَليا فجرَّ

عليَّ ثوبَ الزهوِ فخرا

And I clothed you in fine garments,

Yet you cast on me the dress of vainglory.

كم قمتُ فيكَ مُفاخراً

مَن كان أشرف منك قدرا

How often did I boast of you,

Who was nobler than you in rank,

ومُوازناً مَن لا يراك

بجنبِ طودِ عُلاه ذرَّا

And compare those who do not see you,

To the side of your towering height.

ومُسايراً مَن كان أسيرَ

في المكارمِ منك ذِكرا

And keep pace with those who were captive

To your virtues in renown,

ومُطاولاً مَن لم تَقِس

أبداً بباعك منهُ فِترا

And contend with those who never

Fell short of your great achievements,

ومُباهياً مَن لا يعدّ

كفخره لعُلاك فخرا

And take pride over those who do not count

Their pride like your loftiness as pride.

كنت الهلالَ فزدت في

مدحي إلى أن صرت بدرا

I was the crescent but increased in

My praise of you until I became the full moon.

أنت البغاثُ لمعشرٍ

فعلامَ صرت عليَّ صقرا

You are the rain clouds, so why have you

Become for me a predatory falcon?