خليلي من عامر اسعدا

خليلي من عامر اسعدا

على الشوق خلا بلا مسعد

على الشوق خلا بلا مسعد

My two friends of ʿĀmir, lend your aid

My friend from Amer made me happy

to a friend in longing, with none to aid him.

With longing he came with no appointments

قفا وقفة بربوع الحمى

قفا وقفة بربوع الحمى

فلولا الوفا لهوى الخرد

فلولا الوفا لهوى الخرد

Pause awhile at the dwellings of the protected grounds;

Stop for a moment in the valleys of determination

for, were it not for fidelity to the love of bashful maidens,

If not for loyalty, the love of frivolity would fade

لما عجبت بالركب مستنجداً

لما عجبت بالركب مستنجداً

دموعي على الطلل الملبد

دموعي على الطلل الملبد

I would not have marveled at the caravan, seeking help from

I was not impressed by the caravan seeking help

my tears upon the encrusted ruins.

My tears on the ruined homes

معاهد لهو كأن الهوى

معاهد لهو كأن الهوى

بها بعد زينب لم يعهد

بها بعد زينب لم يعهد

Haunts of pleasure, as though love

Promises to him as if love after Zainab

had never been known there after Zaynab.

Was not accustomed to him

فسبحان من جعل المكرمات

فسبحان من جعل المكرمات

جميعاً بكف أبي أحمد

جميعاً بكف أبي أحمد

So glory be to Him who placed noble deeds

Glory to Him who made the generous

all in the palm of Abū Aḥmad,

All in the palm of the hand of Abu Ahmed

وقال له كن كما تشتهي

وقال له كن كما تشتهي

فكان النهاية في السؤدد

فكان النهاية في السؤدد

and said to him, “Be as you desire,”

And told him be as you wish

so he became the pinnacle of nobility.

So he reached the utmost happiness

وهل غيره أحد يرتجي

وهل غيره أحد يرتجي

ويعدي على الزمن المعتدي

ويعدي على الزمن المعتدي

And is there anyone but him in whom hope is placed,

And who else can be hoped for

and who gives aid against Time the aggressor?

And cross the tyrannical time