سلام على عهد الشبيبة والصب

ورونقه الفينان في واحة الربى

Peace be upon the era of youth and boyhood love, and its lush splendor in the oasis of the hills,

And its swaying green branches, whenever the nightingale of love sings upon them, enchanting with sorrow and delight.

وأغصانه الخضر الموائس إن شد

عليها هزار الحب أشجى وأطربا

We frolic within its spreading shadows, and from its ripeness gather the delicious, beloved fruit,

Strutting in a garment whose weave seems like thickets of flowers swayed by the gentle breeze.

تداعب من أفيائها كل وراف

ومن ينعها نجني الشهي المحببا

We play therein, with Time not denying our wishes, even when the seasons grew stingy and barren.

We whisper to the nights whenever lightning flashes; we rejoiced at its sight, even if it proved a deceptive gleam.

ونختال في برد كأن نسيجه

خمائل أزهار ترنحها الصبا

A time has passed while hopes remain, reminding us of innocent play and childhood grounds,

And a life we accepted in both its misery and blessing, and a love we shared as our source and drink.

فنمرح فيها لا الزمان بصادف

منانا وإن شح الزمان وأجدبا

And brothers of truth—how sweet was their conversation, how pleasant and fresh to the listening ear.

May God watch over that time and its people, even if we found therein no great wealth nor high rank.

نناغي الليالي كلما لاح بارق

سعدنا بمرآه وإن كان خلبا

For within it lay true loyalty to faith and piety, and pure affection, truthfulness, and dignity.

Gatherings of culture crowned by modesty, where one never encountered the wavering fool,

زمان تقضى والأماني مقيمة

تذكرنا لهوا بريئا وملعبا

Nor anyone stinging with what they possessed; rather, generosity there was coupled with warm welcomes.

If a verse of poetry passed by bearing wisdom, a man of understanding would embrace it, seconding and commending it,

وعيشا تقبلناه بؤسا ونعمة

وحبا تقاسمناه وردا ومشربا

Praising the mention of the verse and the poet who selected it for its wording, meaning, and intent.

And when the call arose, they all answered its summons and performed the duties required of them.

وإخوان صدق ما أحيلى حديثهم

وأشهاه في سمع الندي وأعذبا

Their lips never ceased expressing gratitude for a moment, their praise a heartfelt overflow returning to God.

Their inner souls were pure of all malice, and their aims were ever closest to the Truth.

رعى الله ذياك الزمان وأهله

وإن لم نجد فيه ثراء ومنصبا

Traits like garden blooms studded with dew, perfuming the hills, the courtyards, and the open desert.

Their path followed God's sublime nature, and they adopted no other doctrine beside it.

ففيه الولاء الحق للدين والتقى

وفيه الوداد المحض والصدق والإبا

Possessing virtues sung of by every visitor, they were most compassionate and protective toward their kin.

They honored the rights of neighbors, and among them the spring of goodness never ceased to pour.

مجالس آداب يتوجها البه

حياء؛ فلا تلقى السفيه المذبذبا

The eye could not deny the virtue of their cooperation, and the people's hearts were vast with affection.

They strove for their livelihood with vigor and resolve, cleaving the tumultuous seas from east to west,

ولا باخلا بالمستطاع وإنم

بها الجود مقرونا بأهلا ومرحبا

Repelling wave after wave, and extracting pearls by force even when the sea refused to yield.

They never extended a hand to beg, believing that lawful provision must be gathered through toil.

إذا مربيت الشعر يحمل حكمة

تبناه ذو فهم فثنى وعقبا

Epics of light and fire that transcended the limits of mere wishes through ambition and drive.

When they are mentioned, I cannot hold back my tears; though my soul tries to scold them, they overcome.

وشاد بذكر الشعر والشاعر الذي

تخيره لفظا ومعنى ومأربا

Those who have gone are gone, yet memories remain immortal, accompanying a lifetime like one procession leading another.

They carved into my heart a scene lost to the distance, yet from my inner sight, it has never faded away.

فإما تعالى الذكر لبى جميعهم

نداه وأدوا ما عليهم توجبا

شفاههم لم تبرح الشكر لحظة

وتسبيحهم فيض القلوب تأوبا

سرائرهم من كل غل نقية

وغاياتهم ما كان للحق أقربا

صفات كنبت الروض رصعه الندى

فضوع آكاما وسوحا وسبسبا

على فطرة الله السنية نهجهم

وما اتخذوا من دون ذلك مذهبا

لهم شيم يشدو بها كل زائر

وكانوا على الأرحام أحنى وأحدبا

يراعون للجيران حق جوارهم

وما انفك فيهم منبع الخير صيبا

تعاونهم لهم تنكر العين فضله

وكانت صدور القوم بالعطف أرحبا

سعوا في سبيل العيش جدّا وهمة

فشقوا عباب اليم شرقا ومغربا

يصدون منه موجة إثر موجة

ويستخرجون الدر قسرا وإن أبى

وما بسطوا كف السؤال لأنهم

يرون حلال الرزق بالكسب يجتبى

ملاحم من نور ونار تجاوزت

حدود الأماني همة وتوثبا

إذا ذكروا لم يملك الدمع مدمعي

وإن غالبته النفس زجرا تغلبا

مضى من مضى والذكريات خوالد

يواكبن عمرا؛ موكب جر موكبا

نحتن بقلبي منظراً غاب في المدى

ولكنه عن ناظري ما تغيبا