1. جُعِلتُ فِداكَ عَبدَ اللَهِ عِندي

    بِعَقبِ الهَجرِ مِنهُ وَالبِعادِ

    May I be your ransom! ‘Abd Allah is with me,

    after his estrangement and separation.

  2. لَهُ لُمَةٌ مِنَ الكُتّابِ بيضٌ

    قَضَوا حَقَّ الزِيارَةِ وَالوِدادِ

    With him is a company of fair-faced scribes,

    who have fulfilled the duties of visiting and friendship.

  3. وَأَحسِبُ يَومَهُم إِن لَم تَجُدهُم

    مُصادِفَ دَعوَةٍ مِنهُم جَمادِ

    And I reckon their day, unless you shower them with bounty,

    will meet their prayer: “Be barren!”

  4. فَكَم نَوءٍ مِنَ الصَهباءِ سارٍ

    وَآخَرَ مِنكَ بِالمَعروفِ غادِ

    For many a rainstorm of tawny wine comes by night,

    and another comes from you at dawn, bearing bounty.

  5. فَهَذا يَستَهِلُّ عَلى غَليلي

    وَهَذا يَستَهِلُّ عَلى تِلادي

    This one pours upon my burning thirst,

    and that one pours upon my inherited wealth.

  6. وَيَسقي ذا مَذانِبَ كُلِّ عِرقٍ

    وَيُترِعُ ذا قَرارَةَ كُلِّ وادِ

    This one waters the channels of every vein,

    and that one fills every valley’s basin to the brim.

  7. دَعَوتُهُمُ عَلَيكَ وَكُنتَ مِمَّن

    نُعَيِّنُهُ عَلى العُقَدِ الجِيادِ

    I invited them at your expense, and you were among those

    whom we choose to tackle well-tied knots.