1. شكت من شيبتي عينُ الفتاة

    فيا لكِ ثمّ يا لكِ من قذَاة

    The maiden’s eye complained of my gray hair.

    Ah, what a mote you are—then again, what a mote!

  2. وعفت الظبيَ أيضاً لا لفكرٍ

    يطالبنا الوداد بلا التفات

    And I, too, disdained the gazelle—not for a thought

    That demands affection of us without a glance.

  3. وكفّر ذنبَ أغزالٍ تقضت

    ختامُ المدح في قاضي القضاة

    And the sin of bygone love poems was expiated

    By the closing praise of the Judge of Judges.

  4. فما أسرى معالي المدح دُرًّا

    أنظّمه على تاج السرَاةِ

    How noble are the heights of praise—pearls

    I string upon the crown of the nobles!

  5. إمامٌ خزرجيّ البيت طافت

    على أركانه فرَقُ العفاةِ

    An imam of Khazraji lineage; there have circled

    Around his pillars bands of supplicants.

  6. لهم هممٌ بها في الفضل تروي

    عواليه الثقاةُ عن الثقاة

    They have lofty aims, through which, in matters of excellence, are recounted

    His lofty merits by the trustworthy, from the trustworthy.

  7. حلاوة مدحه في الطيب شاعت

    ولا سِيما بشكريّ النبات

    The sweetness of praising him has spread among perfumes,

    And especially in sugar-sweet growth.