ولولا أمير المؤمنين وذبّه

بجيلَ عن العجل المبرقع ما صهلْ

Were it not for the Commander of the Faithful and his generosity

With mud from Bejila instead of musk upon the glistening camel

هززتكم لو أن فيكم مهزة

وذكرت ذا التأنيث فاستنوق الجمل

I would have disturbed you had there been disturbance in you

And mentioned the feminine so the camel feels uneasy

وقرَّظتكم لو أن تقريظ مادح

يواري عواراً من أديمكم النغل

And presented you with a eulogy if the eulogizer’s praise

Conceals a defect from your flawless skin

غسلنا وجوهاً من بجيلة لاصق

به حمم لم ينقها قبله الغسل

We washed faces with mud from Bejila still stuck

To it, embers that even washing could not remove

قصرت كأني وامتداحي خالداً

واسرته حادٍ وليس له ابلْ

As if I and my praise of him will remain forever

A prisoner, wandering with no way to return