وقافيةand a poem منكfrom you أوضاحهاits bright adornments
وقافية منك أوضاحها
ولكنand yet لفظيmy wording فيهاwithin it لمعgleams
ولكن لفظي فيها لمع
And a poem whose bright adornments come from you,
My rhymes are clear because of you
yet my words gleam within it:
Though my words shine brightly in them
عراقيةIraqi اللفظdiction شاميةSyrian الthe
عراقية اللفظ شامية ال
محاسنbeauties علويةAlid المصطنعthe patron
محاسن علوية المصطنع
Iraqi in diction, Syrian in its
Iraqi in word, Syrian in
beauties, Alid in its patronage.
Lofty, carefully crafted beauty
فياso O واحدpeerless one المجدglory صنهاpreserve it فمنfor from
فيا واحد المجد صنها فمن
سوىother than واحدpeerless one الشعرpoetry ماnot تستمعyou listen
سوى واحد الشعر ما تستمع
So, peerless in glory, preserve it, for from
O Glorious One, perfect it, for who
none but the peerless poet do you hear.
Besides the One would heed my verse?
مدحتكI praised you حتىuntil بلغتI reached المشيبgray hair
مدحتك حتى بلغت المشيب
وكنتand I was بباكat your gate دونshort of اليفعadolescence
وكنت بباك دون اليفع
I have praised you until my hair turned gray,
I will praise you until old age comes
and I was at your gate before adolescence.
Though now I am still young and vigorous