خُلقٌ شفَّ فالنسيمُ كثيفٌ

عنده إن قرنتَ فيه النَسيما

A character so subtle that the breeze seems dense

beside it, if you compare the breeze with it.

لأخي شيمةٍ تعلَّم منها

الغيثُ أن يستهلَّ لا أن يدوما

It belongs to a man of noble disposition, from which

the rain learned to pour forth, not to last.

قد حواها من معشرٍ ورَّثوها

منه مَن كانَ مثَلهم مُستقيما

He received it from a clan who had inherited it

from one who, like them, was upright.

فهي في اللطفِ أوَّلاً وأخيراً

شَرَعٌ تفضلُ العرارَ شميما

Thus, in gentleness, from first to last,

it is ever the same, surpassing the ʿarār flower in fragrance.

وكأَنَّ القديمَ كانَ حديثاً

وكأَنَّ الحديثَ كانَ قديما

As though the old were new,

and as though the new were old.