سلام يا رازقي من في شبام

وادالهم بعد ما كانوا خثيل

Hail, O Raziqi grape of Shibam!

It brought them prosperity after they had been wretches.

عمر لهم دور وقد كانت ديام

اظن به بينهم واحد فضيل

It built them houses where once there had been kitchen huts.

I reckon there is a righteous man among them.

أضحوا بنعمه وقد كانوا قيام

يتراددا كل خمسه في فتيل

They came to live in plenty, though once they stood about,

Every five of them taking turns at a single twist of tobacco.

حتى الميو عندهم مثل الحمام

يبقى يردد على نوع الهديل

Even their cat is like a dove:

It keeps repeating a dove-like coo.

والحلبه الحامضه مثل المدام

والشمس وقت الخريف فيها قليل

And the sour fenugreek is like wine,

And sunshine there is scarce in the rainy season.

وكوكبان خصوا اهله بالنظام

والأنس في سوحهم هايل مهيل

And Kawkaban—single out its people in verse;

The merriment in their courtyards is wondrous beyond measure.

ويدعسوا شجح في وقت الصدام

رقد تبرغش إلى الهربه بكيل

And they trample Shajh when battle comes;

Bakil lay low, scurrying away in flight.

عناتره كلهم حتى الغلام

وفي الميه قد يجد واحد ذليل

They are all Antarahs, even the boy;

Among a hundred, one might find a single weakling.

والقات والمصطكا مثل الغمام

يسيل في الغيم في وقت الأصيل

And qat and mastic are like a cloud,

Streaming amid the clouds in the late afternoon.

وفيهم الندب ذياك الهمام

نجل أحمد الفرد إلى ماله مثيل

And among them is that gallant, valiant man,

Ahmad's peerless son, who has no equal.

عليه من علوى الشاعر سلام

ما قام في الصبح تتمطط جعيل

Upon him be greetings from Alwi the poet,

As long as a little dung beetle rises and stretches in the morning.