جاهَدتَ في تَمهيدِ حِمصٍ راحِلاً

عَنها وَزِنتَ فِنائَها فِناءَها

You strove to pave the way to Homs though far,

And deemed its end as naught but utter loss.

كَالنَجمِ حَلَّ مُحَسِّناً في أُفقِهِ

واِنقَضَّ مِنهُ حامِياً وَمُحَصَّنا

You shone out like a star along its ridge,

Then fled its heat, though armored and secure.

كَالسَيفِ أَغمِدهُ يَكُن لَكَ حِليَةً

أَو لا فَجَرِّدهُ يَكُن لَكَ مَأمَنا

A sword, kept sheathed, can serve as ornament;

Unsheathed, it shields you with unfailing might.

كَالبَيتِ كانَ مِنَ القَصيدَةِ بَيتَها

واِزدادَ حُسناً حينَ جاءَ مُضَمَّنا

Each verse within the ode was as a room

Embellished by the one where it was housed.

كَالغَيثِ في البَلَدِ المُحيلِ أَتى عَلى

حُسنِ الدُعاءِ وَسارَ عَن حُسنِ الثَنا

You came to a land laboring under drought

With rains of grace and left with thanks undone.

وَلَقَد تَهادَتكَ البِلادُ فَأَنتَ رَي

حانٌ هُناكَ وَأَنتَ نُوّارٌ هُنا

You went from land to land in dedication,

A sunlit lamp alight in every clime.

باراكَ قَومٌ في العُلا وَلِعِلَّةٍ

عَزَّ الجُمانُ إِذا الَحَصى لا يُقتَنى

Blessed the folk you aided to ascend

As stars uncounted stud the vault of night.

زُجُّ القَناةِ مُشابِهٌ لِسِنانِها

حَتّى يَهُمَّ مُحارِبٌ أَن يُطعَنا

The channel and its banks match stroke for stroke

Till warriors fear to strike a blow in war.

دَع مَن يُنازِعُكَ الغَناءَ فَإِنَّهُ

خَرِسٌ يُنازِعُ مَعبَداً حُسنَ الغِنا

Leave be who vie with you in singing's art,

A mute contending with a maestro's gift.