1. يا من ورد منه خد

    واهتز هز الغصن قد

    O you whose cheek is a rose,

    and whose figure sways like a bough!

  2. لم لا تود على التنا

    ئي والتداني من يودُّ

    Why do you not love, in separation

    and closeness, the one who loves you?

  3. منه التعرض للوصا

    ل ومنك أعراض وصدُّ

    From him, advances toward union;

    from you, aversion and rejection.

  4. قصر الغرام سلوه

    فالدمع منذ جفوت مدُّ

    Passion has curtailed his solace;

    so since you shunned him, his tears have been a flood.

  5. وجد الهوى مرا فلم

    يعدم له كمد ووجدُ

    He found love bitter, and so

    never lacked grief and longing from it.

  6. وبمهجتي من ما له

    من هجر من يهواه بدُّ

    My life's blood would ransom one who has

    no choice but to shun the one who loves him.

  7. جذلان يمزح والغرا

    م بقلب عاشقه يجِدُ

    Joyous, he jests, while passion

    is earnest in his lover's heart.

  8. يا من تباعد منه إِس

    عاف وقارب نه بعدُ

    O you, whose aid has grown distant,

    while estrangement has drawn near!

  9. رد الفؤاد وأنه

    لوديعة ما تستردُّ

    Return my heart; it is indeed

    a trust that cannot be reclaimed.

  10. يا طيب يوم مر لي

    بنهر عيسى لو يردُّ

    How sweet the day that passed for me

    by the River Isa—if only it could return!

  11. والزهر سبط والريا

    ض أريضة والماء جعدُ

    The blossoms were sleek, the gardens

    luxuriant, and the water curly.

  12. والطل منثور وفي

    جيد الشقائق منه عقدُ

    Dew lay scattered, and on

    the anemones' necks hung a necklace of it.

  13. ومع البنفسج من خدو

    د سقاتنا أس ووردُ

    And with the violets, from the cheeks

    of our cupbearers came myrtle and roses.

  14. حيث النسيم معنبر

    وضباب ذاك الأفق ندُّ

    There the breeze was ambergris-scented,

    and that horizon's mist was fragrant incense.

  15. والغصن يرقص والغدي

    ر مصفق والورق تشدو

    The bough danced, and the pool

    clapped while the gray doves sang.

  16. والشمس تخفي في نقا

    ب الغيم أحيانا وتبدو

    The sun would hide within the veil

    of clouds at times, and then appear.

  17. والجو بعض منه كما

    فور وبعض لازوردُ

    The sky was partly camphor,

    and partly lapis lazuli.

  18. فالخلد من يمسي أخا

    راح يروح لها ويغدو

    So eternal bliss is his who becomes a companion

    of wine, seeking it at dusk and dawn.

  19. والحر من هو دهره

    للصاحب المأمول عبدُ

    And the free man is he who, all his life,

    is a slave to the patron in whom hope is placed.

  20. ملك طويل الباع سا

    عد مجدد سعد رجدُ

    A king of far-reaching power, aided

    by renewed good fortune and prosperity.

  21. أعوانه الأفلاك حي

    ن يصول والأقدار جند

    The celestial spheres are his helpers when

    he charges, and the fates are his army.

  22. من رفده ما لا يعدّ

    وجوده ما لا يحدّ

    His bounty is beyond counting,

    and his generosity beyond all bounds.

  23. حامي الحقيقة باسل

    سامي العلى يقظان نجدُ

    A defender of honor, valiant,

    lofty in glory, vigilant, brave.

  24. أسد إذا ورد الحرو

    ب غضنفر طيانِ ورد

    A lion when he enters battle,

    a mighty, ravenous, tawny lion.

  25. ما للحصام بكفه

    في الروع إلا الهام غمدُ

    The sword in his hand has

    no sheath amid battle's terror but skulls.

  26. إن كان غورا بالتوا

    ضع فهو بالعلياء نجدُ

    If he is a lowland in humility,

    in glory he is a highland.

  27. ماء لمن صافاه وه

    و صفًى على الأعداء صلدُ

    Water to those who are sincere with him;

    to his enemies, he is hard, smooth rock.

  28. في كل يوم للعفا

    ة لديه جود مستجدُ

    Every day, for those seeking gifts,

    he has bounty anew.

  29. يكبو زناد مبخل

    أبدا ويورى منه زندُ

    A miser's firesticks fail

    always, while his firestick kindles flame.

  30. فالوعد نقد والوعي

    د نسيئة والعهد عقدُ

    So his promise is cash in hand; his threat,

    payment deferred; his pledge, a binding contract.

  31. غرس الخلافة والذي

    أثماره نصح وودُّ

    A sapling of the caliphate, whose

    fruits are sincere counsel and affection.

  32. ها أنت نائبها الأسد

    نعم وساعدها الأشدُّ

    Here you are, its deputy, the lion—

    yes, and its strongest arm.

  33. فلاى ملك ما تسو

    د وأي ثغر ما تسدُّ

    So in what kingdom do you not hold sway,

    and what frontier do you not secure?

  34. يا من خلائقه الشوا

    هد أنها خمر وشهدُ

    O you, whose qualities bear witness

    that they are wine and honey!

  35. يا من يرد الجيش جا

    ش وما له عاف يردُّ

    O you, who repel an army when it surges,

    yet turn away no seeker of your gifts!

  36. منك السياسة والحرا

    سة للمالك تستمدُّ

    From you, statecraft and protection

    for the sovereign are drawn.

  37. إن كنت في كسب المحا

    مد واحدا فنداك سردُ

    If, in earning praise, you are

    peerless, your bounty comes in unbroken succession.

  38. فبقيت ما برد النسي

    م وما ضفى لليل بردُ

    So may you endure as long as the breeze is cool,

    and as long as night's mantle spreads.