1. يا صاحبي وسميري

    في مسكني ومسيري

    O my friend and evening companion,

    In my dwelling and on my journey,

  2. ان كنت ترغب نظما

    يزهو كروض نضير

    If you desire verse

    That flourishes like a verdant garden,

  3. فانظر لديوان حبرٍ

    ملقب بالاسير

    Then look at the collected poems of a scholar

    Known as al-Asir.

  4. فيه فرائد درٍّ

    بيعت بنقدٍ يسير

    In it are rare pearls,

    Sold for a modest sum,

  5. مع انها ذات حسن

    وذات قدر خطير

    Though they possess beauty

    And great worth.

  6. تسر كل اديبٍ

    غير الحسود الحقير

    They delight every man of letters,

    Except the contemptible envier.

  7. وليس ان رام يوماً

    لحاقه بقدير

    Nor, should he one day try,

    Is he able to match him.

  8. وكيف لا وهو ادرى

    في نظمها من جرير

    And how could it be otherwise, when he is better versed

    In composing them than Jarir?

  9. قد فاق فيه سواه

    بفضل علم غزير

    Indeed, he has surpassed all others in it,

    Thanks to abundant knowledge.

  10. فما له يا ابن ودجي

    في عصرنا من نظير

    Thus, O son of Wadji, he has

    No equal in our age.

  11. وقد ملئت سروراً

    بشعره المستنير

    And I have been filled with joy

    By his radiant poetry.

  12. فقلت فيه بحق

    وافى بصدق الضمير

    So I spoke of it with truth

    That came with sincerity of heart:

  13. وبهجة الطبع ارخ

    جاءت لشعر الاسير

    And date the joy of printing:

    'It has come to al-Asir's poetry.'