مالي عَلى جَورِ اللَيالي صاحِبٌ

أَدعوهُ غَيرُ الصاحِبِ اِبنِ الصاحِبِ

I have no companion to alleviate the tyranny of nights,

Other than the friend of a friend whom I call but is not my companion.

مَلِكٌ سَقاني مِن نَداهُ وَرَأيِهِ

لَمّا اِشتَكَيتُ بِصَيِّبٍ وَبِصائِبِ

A generous king who quenched my thirst with his benevolence and wisdom,

When I complained of my misery and tribulations.

فَأَعادَ أَيّامي الجُفاةَ حَوانِياً

وَأَلانِ لي قَلبَ الزَمانِ العاتِبِ

He brought back to me my unforgiving lost days,

And softened for me the heart of time, however blaming.

وَرَأى الحَوادِثَ وَهيَ تَقرَعُ مَروَتي

بِشَوائِبٍ مِن غَدرِها وَنَوائِبِ

He saw the events striking at my dignity,

With treachery and misfortunes.

فَأَدالَني مِن صَرفِها وَاِنتاشَني

مِن بَينِ أَنيابٍ لَها وَمَخالِبِ

He saved me from its twists and revived me,

From between its claws and talons.

وَحَنا عَلَيَّ فَرَدَّ لي زَمَنَ الصِبا ال

ماضي وَأَيّامَ الشَبابِ الذاهِبِ

He was affectionate and brought back my past youth,

And days of departed adolescence.

فَلَأَشكُرَنَّ نَداهُ شُكرَ الرَوضَةِ

الغَنّاءِ مُنهَلَّ الغَمامِ الساكِبِ

So I will thank his benevolence like a meadow,

The singing rainfall's fountainhead.

وَلَأَملَأَنَّ شَرقَ البِلادِ وَغَربَها

بِشَوارِقٍ مِن مَديحِهِ وَغَوارِبِ

And I will fill the East and West of the world,

With glimmerings of his praise and setting lights.

تُبقي عَلى الأَيّامِ مِنهُ قِلادَةً

كَالعِقدِ في عُنقِ الفَتاةِ الكاعِبِ

Leaving for the days a necklace from him,

Like a bead necklace around the neck of a maiden.