1. سَقَت رَفهاً وَظاهِرَةً وَغِبّاً

    أَبا بِشرٍ أَهاضيبُ الغَمامِ

    May he be watered at will, daily, and on alternate days—

    Abu Bishr, by the clouds’ downpours.

  2. لَبِستُ بِهِ الصَبابَةَ غَيرَ أَنّي

    سُرِرتُ بِهِ لِزَمزَمَ وَالمَقامِ

    I clothed myself in longing for him, yet I

    Rejoiced for Zamzam and the Maqam on his account,

  3. غَداةَ غَدَت بِهِ أُجُدٌ حَلالٌ

    تَشَذَّرُ تَحتَ غِطريفٍ حَرامِ

    The morning a sturdy, unconsecrated she-camel set out carrying him,

    Strutting beneath a nobleman consecrated for pilgrimage.

  4. ثَوَت لِفِراقِهِ الآدابُ شُعثاً

    وَجَفَّت بَعدَهُ غُدُرُ الكَلامِ

    The arts of letters lay disheveled at his departure,

    And after him the pools of speech ran dry.

  5. أَخو ثِقَةٍ نَأى فَبَقيتُ لَمّا

    نَأى غَرَضاً لِإِخوانِ السَلامِ

    A trusted friend went away; so I was left, when

    He went away, a target for companions of mere greetings—

  6. ذَوي الهِمَمِ الهَوامِدِ وَالأَكُفِّ ال

    جَوامِدِ وَالمُرُوّاتِ النِيامِ

    Men with lifeless aspirations and hands

    Frozen, and chivalrous virtues asleep.

  7. يَظَلُّ عَلَيكَ أَصفَحُهُم حَقوداً

    لِرُؤيا إِن رَآها في المَنامِ

    The most forgiving of them stays resentful toward you

    For a dream, if he sees it in his sleep.

  8. وَمِن شَرِّ المِياهِ إِذا اِستُميحَت

    أَواجِنُها عَلى طولِ المُقامِ

    And among the worst waters, when their bounty is sought,

    Are those grown stagnant through long standing.