وقافيةand a poem منكfrom you أوضاحهاits bright ornaments
وقافية منك أوضاحها
ولكنbut لفظيmy wording فيهاin it لمعgleams
ولكن لفظي فيها لمع
And a poem whose bright ornaments come from you,
My rhymes, their meaning you elucidate
yet my words gleam within it.
Though my words therein shine bright
عراقيةIraqi اللفظthe diction شاميةSyrian الthe
عراقية اللفظ شامية ال
محاسنbeauties علويةheavenly المصطنعthe making
محاسن علوية المصطنع
Iraqi in diction, Syrian in its
Iraqi in diction, Syrian in import
beauties, heavenly in its making.
Of excellence, a work of highest art
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 to
O Thou, the One, all glory is Thine own!
none but the peerless poet do you listen.
For none save Thee alone does poesy impart
مدحتكI praised you حتىuntil بلغتI reached المشيبgray-haired age
مدحتك حتى بلغت المشيب
وكنتand I was بباكat your gate دونbefore اليفعadolescence
وكنت بباك دون اليفع
I have praised you until my hair turned gray,
I'll praise Thee till old age doth creep
and I was at your gate before adolescence.
And weep for Thee, though youth may depart