وَصَلَتْ رُقْعَةُ الأَمِيرِ الرَّئِيسِ

غُرَّةِ الدَّهْرِ وَالخَطِيرِ النَّفِيسِ

The letter of the eminent Chief reached me

At the dawn of life, that precious rarity

فَأَزَالَتْ مَا كُنْتُ أَشْكُو وَأَهْدَتْ

لِي نَعِيماً وَأَذْهَبَتْ كُلَّ بُوسِ

It removed all my complaints and granted me

Bliss, taking away every sorrow

وَأَتى الشِّعْرُ مُبْرئاً وَشِفَاءً

وَأَنِيساً يَفُوقُ كُلَّ أَنِيسِ

And poetry came to me, healing and remedy

A joy superior to any other joy

حَسَنَ اللَّفظ مُطْرباً كُلَّ من يَسْ

مَعُ إِطْرَابَ زَابَدات الْكُؤُوسِ

Of eloquent expression, pleasing to those who hear

Together with the rapture of the tipsy cups

قَدْ جَلاَهُ الطَّبْعُ الْمُغَاثُ بِحِذْقٍ

لِعُقُولِ الْوَرَى جِلاَءَ الْعَرُوسِ

Nature endowed it with skill and finesse

To enlighten minds, like a radiant bride

أضْحَكَ اللهُ بِالأَمِيرِ زَمَانِي

وَلَقَدْ كَانَ قَبْلَهُ ذَا عُبُوسِ

God has brought laughter to my life through the Chief

Though before him it was ever gloomy

صِرْتُ مُذْ قَدَّرَ الإِلَهُ جُلُوسي

مَعَهُ سَيِّداً لِكُلِّ جَليسِ

Since God ordained that I sit beside him

As master of every companion

ضَاقَ شُكْرُ الْعُبَيْدِ عَنْ برِّ مَوْلىً

مِثْلَ ضِيقِ الغُفْرَانِ عَنْ إبْلِيسِ

Good servants' gratitude falls short of a master’s benevolence

As forgiveness falls short of absolving Iblis