قَضى وَطَراً مِن لِذَّةٍ وَنَعيمِ

وَساقٍ وَجُلّاسٍ وَماءِ كُرومِ

He spent a period of pleasure, bliss,

Wine, and a boon companion with a brimming cup.

وَمُصطَبِحٍ لِلراحِ لَمّا أَدارَها

قَرَنتُ يَدي مِن كَأسِها بِنَديمِ

When the cup-bearer brought it round I took it in my hand,

And said to him, “You’re not the one you used to be,

فَقُلتُ لَهُ لَستَ الَّذي كُنتَ مَرَّةً

سِوى رَجُلٍ باقي السَماحِ كَريمِ

Just a generous, noble man as ever.”

Greetings to pleasures and distractions and youth,

سَلامٌ عَلى اللَذّاتِ وَاللَهوِ وَالصِبا

سَلامُ وَداعٍ لا سَلامَ قُدومِ

A farewell greeting, no greeting of welcome.

Glory to the Commander of the Faithful—may he be safe

هَنَتكَ أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ سَلامَةٌ

بِرُغمِ عَدوٍّ في الحَديدِ كَظيمِ

Despite the enemy’s rancor and spite.

He held fast with a lion’s grip

وَثَبتَ إِلَيهِ وَثبَةً أَسَدِيَّةً

طَوَت خَبَراً وَاِستَأثَرَت بِعُلومِ

That grasped news and hoarded secrets,

And he paid the swords no heed

وَما راعَهُ إِلّا أَسُنَّةُ عَسكَرٍ

كَظُلمَةِ لَيلٍ نُقِّبَت بِنُجومِ

Save as darkness lit by stars.

It was as if Solomon had flown him

كَأَنَّ سُلَيمانَ النَبِيَّ أَطارَهُ

بِحَنّانَةٍ تَنضو الرِياحَ عَقيمِ

On a carpet borne on idle winds,

While your right hand unlocked conquests

وَيُمناكَ مُفتاحِ الفُتوحِ وَما حَنَت

عَلى قَلَمٍ إِلّا لِكَشفِ هُمومِ

And your pen relieved only cares.