1. فالروض عقفت الصبا اصداغه

    والموج صفقت الشمال طرارهُ

    The east wind has curled the garden's sidelocks,

    and the north wind has buffeted the waves' forelocks.

  2. وأظن دجله اسلمت أو ما راي

    ت الجسر يقطع وسطها زناره

    And I think the Tigris has embraced Islam—or have you not seen

    the bridge severing the girdle around her waist?

  3. وحكى بناء المجد فيها غارس

    غرس الصنائع حولها اشجاره

    And a planter there emulated glory's edifice,

    planting benefactions around it as his trees.

  4. قد صور الفلك المدار كأنه

    انشاه قبل كيانه وأداره

    He has portrayed the revolving celestial sphere, as though

    he created it before it existed and set it turning.

  5. وبنى على شرف الثريا قصره

    وطحا على فلك النعائم داره

    And he built his palace upon the heights of the Pleiades,

    and spread his dwelling over the sphere of the Ostriches.

  6. فالشيد يصقل صانعوه لجيته

    والساج ينقش مخلصوه نضاره

    The plaster's craftsmen polish its silver,

    and the teak's finishers engrave its gold.

  7. شغلت خواطرنا ولحظ عيوننا

    مذ صار يجعل طرزه أشعاره

    Our thoughts and our eyes' gaze have been captivated,

    since he began making his verses its embroidered bands.

  8. أوسع مثالا ان خطرت بباله

    ونل السماء إذا بلغت دياره

    Grow grander in form if you cross his mind,

    and attain the sky when you reach his dwellings.

  9. ينسى العمالق واصف اخباره

    ويهين مصر معدد امصاره

    Whoever describes his deeds forgets the Amalekites,

    and whoever numbers his cities belittles Egypt.