لئنْ كانوا النجومَ فأنتَ شمسٌ

ولولا الشمسُ ما حَسُنَ النهارُ

If they are stars, then you are a sun

Without the sun, the day would not be beautiful

جمالُكَ غارتِ الأبكارُ منهُ

وأضحتْ لا يقرُّ لها قرارُ

Your beauty, the virgins are jealous of it

And they cannot settle because of it

فإنْ باهَتْكَ بالحَلْيِ العذارى

فحسبُكَ منه طرفُكَ والعذارُ

If you outshine the virgins with ornament

Your glance and coquetry are enough

وأنتَ السيفُ إنْ يعدمْ حلياً

فلمْ يُعدم فرندُكَ والغرارُ

You are the sword, if there is no ornament

Your blade and scabbard are not lacking

وربَّ مطوَّقٍ بالتبرِ يكبو

بفارسِهِ وللنقعِ اعتكارُ

And many adorned with armor bow down

To their horseman, though to rust inclined

وزندٍ عاطلٍ يحظى بمدحٍ

ويُحرَمُهُ الذي فيه السوارُ

Many a polished sword gets praise

While the one with engraving is deprived

وقالوا خدُّهُ ماءٌ فقلنا

كأنَّ الماءَ مِنْ دمِهِ عقارُ

They said his cheek is water, we said

As if the water were extracted from his blood