بَدَت غَرّاء كَالقَمَر التَمام

وَقَد حَوَت الجَمال عَلى التَمامِ

She appeared white like the full moon

And embodied perfect beauty

وَفت وَعد المُحبّ وَكلّ وَعدٍ

لِغانية عَلى طَرف الثمامِ

She broke the lover's promise and every covenant

To a singing girl at the edge of the thickets

وَما عَلمت وَفاء العَهد إِلّا

بِتَأديب مِن المَولى الهمامِ

I did not know loyalty to the covenant

Except through discipline from the glorious protector

إمام ذَوي النَباهة ذي المَعالي

وَتاج ذَوي المَكارم في الكِرامِ

The imam of the prudent, the exalted one

And crown of the generous among the generous

أَريب حازَ فِكراً ألمَعيّا

وَذاكرةً أحدَّ مِن الحسامِ

Arib obtained a brilliant mind

And a memory sharper than swords

تَغذّى مِن لبان العلم طفلاً

وَقَد بَلَغ النُهى قَبل الفِطامِ

He was nourished on the milk of knowledge as a child

And reached maturity before weaning

أَديب يَنتَقي دُرر المَعاني

لِذاك يَغوص لجّة كُلّ طامي

A poet who picks the pearls of meanings

Therefore he dives into the depths of every ocean

وَينظمها عُقوداً لِلمَعالي

فَتَغدو كَالمطوَّق في الحمامِ

And strings them into necklaces of virtues

To become like one adorned at the baths

نَدى أَدب بِهِ الظمآن يروى

كَما تروي العِطاش يَد الغَمامِ

The thirsty quench their thirst with the water of his literature

As the rain clouds quench the thirst of the thirsty

حَباني مِنهُ جَوهَرة فَكانَت

بِمَدحي كَالخبيئة في الرُغامِ

He gifted me a jewel and it became

Like my hidden love for him in the dunes

فَيا حَسَن الفِعال مَلَكت قَلبي

بودّك وَالرِعاية لِلزمامِ

So, O excellent doer, you have conquered my heart

With your friendship and care for the reins