1. لآلٍ في سلوكٍ قد جلاها

    بنانك أم معانٍ في سطور

    Are these pearls on threads, polished

    By your fingertips, or meanings in written lines?

  2. وألفاظٌ بأفضالٍ توالت

    علينا أم قلائد في نحور

    And words with favors, coming one after another

    Upon us, or necklaces about necks?

  3. رعاكَ الله من بحرٍ أجادت

    بديهةُ فكرِهِ نظمَ البحور

    May God preserve you, an ocean—how finely

    His mind's spontaneous inspiration has composed the meters!

  4. وصدرٍ تقبل الكلمات منه

    فتجلسها المسامع في الصدور

    And a breast whose words are accepted,

    So ears seat them within breasts.

  5. لقد رقت وقد راقت لسمعي

    نظائر منه كالروض النضير

    Indeed, they were delicate and delighted my ear—

    Kindred compositions from him, like a verdant garden.

  6. وشيَّد لي بيوتاً من جمانٍ

    إذا شيدت بيوتٌ من صخور

    And he built me houses of pearls,

    When houses are built of rocks.

  7. مشى الأدباء في طرق المعاني

    به وبلفظه فمشوْا بنور

    The men of letters walked the paths of meaning,

    Through him and his wording, and so they walked in light.