محب لبعد الدار عزت رسائله
وليس له يوما خليل يراسله
A lover longing for his distant home
Though he sends messages, he has no friend to message him
حليف غرام قد جفى جفنه الكرى
ورقت لما يلقى عليه عواذله
The blindness of passion has sealed his eyelids
When misfortunes befall him, he has no allies
غدا وطريق البحث يسلك دمعه
وها قد بدت فوق الخدود تسائله
Tomorrow he will travel the path of his tears
And lo, questions well up on his cheeks
ولم يستطع يوما فراغا عن الهوى
وكيف ومن يهواه بالحب شاغله
Never could he find a moment's respite from love
How could he, when the beloved fills his heart?
كلفت به بدرا بديع محاسن
بقلبي وطرفي حل وهي منازله
She has afflicted him with a radiant full moon
Settled in my heart and eyes, her dwelling place
يروقك حسنا لحظه وعذاره
وما هو الا سيفه وخمائله
Her beauty and coyness appeal to you
Though in truth they are but her sword and her scabbard
حبيب اذا ماس غصن قوامه
عليه اخو الاهوا تهيج بلابله
When the slender branch of her figure sways
The nightingales of passion stir and flutter about her
يشبهه بالغصن قوم لعدله
وعنديَ ان الغصن ليس يعادله
Some compare her to the branch in fairness
But to me the branch cannot equal her
وما البدلا الا ما حواه لثامه
وما الغصن الا ما جوته غلائله
The veil reveals nothing but her wrapping
The branch reveals nothing but its leaves
تعاطيك كاسات المدام لحاظه
وتغنيك عن فعل الشمول شمائله
She offers you cups of wine at dusk
Her attributes make you forget all other concerns
الى مقلتيه معظم السحر ينتمي
كأن بها هاروت ابهى بلابله
The height of sorcery emanates from her glances
As if the celestial Harut sparkled in her eyes
على البدر حسنا ساد في الوصف مثلما
بمدح خليل ساد في الناس قائله
In beauty she excels the full moon in description
As the praise of Khalil excels all other verse
جواد اذا ما السحب جادت بوبلها
فما هي الا باحتاه ونائله
When the clouds pour out their abundance
It is but a measure of her bounty and her hope
هو الليث في باس هو الغيث في ندى
اذا حاد يوم الروع او جاد نائله
She is a lioness in her ferocity, a raincloud in her gentleness
When terror strikes or fortune pours its abundance
هو البحر الا ان مورده حلا
وطابت به للواردين مناهله
She is the sea, save that her shore is sweet
Her springs flow pure for those who seek them
ومبتدئا يعطيك قبل سؤاله
علىغير مدح فوق ما انت سائله
Unsolicited, she gives before you ask
Beyond what you request, abundantly she provides
سريع نوال بالعطا متدارك
بسيط مديد وافر الجود كامله
Swiftly she bestows gifts, lavishly she rushes
Of simple means, yet boundless generosity
اذا رام امرا كان في الحال ماضيا
وان قال قولا فهو من قبل فاعله
When she desires a thing, it is swiftly done
If she speaks a word, it is already accomplished
هو الصارم الماضي الصقيل وكيف لا
وطابعه الرحمن والمجد صاقله
She is severe, resolved, polished like a sword
Branded by God, burnished by glory
فحيث اقول البيض فهي سيوفه
وحيث اقول السمر فهي عوامله
Where I say "white" it is her swords
Where I say "brown" it is her noble deeds
لال شبان شاد بيتا من العلا
رفيع الذرى ليس السماك يطاوله
Young men have built a lofty edifice
Whose height cannot be matched
وليس اخاف الفقر يوما اذا سطا
وجود خليل بالمكارم قاتله
Never do I fear poverty if she extends
The palm of her generosity to confront it
ارى مدحه فرضا عليّ وواجبا
فكم قد صرت منه لى نوافله
I see praising her as duty and obligation
For how many of her favors have I gained!
فيا واحد العليا ويا من نواله
يحلى به جيد الزمان وعاطله
O You Who are alone exalted
Who adorns the neck of the age though it rejects You
لعبدك عجل بالعطاء تكرما
فقد قيل خير البر والله عاجله
Hasten, out of generosity, to gift Your servant
For the best charity, they say, is swift
ودونك مدحا قد تنظم دره
فاني منشيه وانك باذله
Gather below a pearl of praise
For I string it, and You grant it
فلا زال مدحي فيك مسكا ختامه
أواخره تحلو لنا وأوائله
May my praises of You be sealed with musk
Sweet to us its ends and its beginnings
