1. إِنَ عَمراً وَما تَجَشَّمَ عَمروٌ

    كَاِبنِ بيضٍ غَداةَ سُدَّ السَبيلُ

    Indeed, ʿAmr, with what ʿAmr has shouldered,

    is like Ibn Bayḍ on the morning the road was blocked.

  2. لَم يَجِد غالِبٌ وَراءَكَ مَعَدىً

    لِتِراتٍ وَلا دَمٌ مَطلولُ

    Ghālib found no recourse beyond you

    for blood debts, nor was any blood left unredressed.

  3. كُلُ أَمرٍ يَنوبُ عَبَساً جَميعاً

    أَنتَ فيهِ المُطاعُ فيما تَقولُ

    Every matter that befalls all of ʿAbs—

    in it, you are obeyed in whatever you say.

  4. قَد تَحَمَلتَ خَيرَ ذاكَ وَليداً

    أَنتَ لِلصالِحاتِ قُدُماً فَعولُ

    You shouldered the best of that while still a child;

    you boldly and constantly perform good deeds.