خطِّ ابنِ مقلةَ من أرعاهُ مُقْلَتَهُ

خطِّ ابنِ مقلةَ من أرعاهُ مُقْلَتَهُ

ودَّتْ جوارِحُهُ لو حُوِّلتْ مُقَلا

ودَّتْ جوارِحُهُ لو حُوِّلتْ مُقَلا

Whoever turns his eye to Ibn Muqla's calligraphy—

Write to Ibn Muqla, cared for by his reed pen,

His limbs wish they could be turned into eyes.

Whose limbs would envy if they were pens instead.

فالدُّرُّ يصفرُّ لاستحسانِهِ حسداً

فالدُّرُّ يصفرُّ لاستحسانِهِ حسداً

والبدرُ يحمرُّ من أنوارِهِ خَجَلا

والبدرُ يحمرُّ من أنوارِهِ خَجَلا

For pearls turn yellow with envy as they admire it,

Pearls turn yellow in appreciation of his skill,

And the full moon turns red in shame at its radiance.

The moon blushes red from the glow of his words.