واني على همي بعصْري وأهْلهِ

واني على همي بعصْري وأهْلهِ

وطولِ شَقائي بينهمْ وعَنائي

وطولِ شَقائي بينهمْ وعَنائي

And I, despite my distress over my era and its people,

I bear my concerns in my time and among my people

and my long misery among them and my suffering,

And the length of my misfortune among them and my troubles

وكونِ مديحي رُشْوةً أحتمي بها

وكونِ مديحي رُشْوةً أحتمي بها

من القوم لا شيْماً لصوْبِ عَطاءِ

من القوم لا شيْماً لصوْبِ عَطاءِ

and my praise being a bribe with which I shield myself

And my praise being a bribe with which I protect myself

from the people, not watching for a downpour of bounty—

From people who have no decency or generosity

خزنْتُ لساني سُؤْدداً ورئاسةً

خزنْتُ لساني سُؤْدداً ورئاسةً

ولو شئتُ فاقَ المُرْهفاتِ هجائي

ولو شئتُ فاقَ المُرْهفاتِ هجائي

I have held my tongue for honor and eminence,

I disciplined my tongue, stern and dignified

though, had I wished, my satire would surpass keen blades—

And if I wished, my satire would surpass the eloquent

لمُثْنٍ على نشوانَ بالمجد موجفٍ

لمُثْنٍ على نشوانَ بالمجد موجفٍ

إِلى الحمد فَرَّاعٍ لكُلِّ عَلاءِ

إِلى الحمد فَرَّاعٍ لكُلِّ عَلاءِ

do indeed praise one intoxicated with glory, hastening

In praise of Nishwan, glorious in his glory

toward praise, scaling every height.

Elevating to praise every noble man

تفرَّدَ واسْتثناهُ باهرُ مجْدهِ

تفرَّدَ واسْتثناهُ باهرُ مجْدهِ

فكانَ مَحَلاًّ قابلاً لثَنائي

فكانَ مَحَلاًّ قابلاً لثَنائي

He stood peerless, singled out by the splendor of his glory;

His magnificent glory singled him out and made exceptional

thus he became a fitting recipient of my praise.

So he became worthy of my praise

فأضحي رئيس الدين في غير مِريةٍ

فأضحي رئيس الدين في غير مِريةٍ

وأصبحتُ مَدَّاحاً بغيرِ رياءِ

وأصبحتُ مَدَّاحاً بغيرِ رياءِ

So he became Chief of the Faith, beyond all doubt,

He became the supreme leader of religion without doubt

and I became a panegyrist without pretense.

And I became a praiser without pretense

وَقورُ الحُبى جمُّ الحجا ذو صرامة

وَقورُ الحُبى جمُّ الحجا ذو صرامة

يَسُرُّكَ في يوميْ نَدىً ولِقاءِ

يَسُرُّكَ في يوميْ نَدىً ولِقاءِ

Dignified with knees drawn up, rich in wisdom and firm in resolve,

Dignity's refuge, the sanctuary of reverence, strict

he delights you on both the day of bounty and the day of battle.

Who gladdens you some days with company and visit

هُمامٌ اذا ما قال أو صال فُرِّقتْ

هُمامٌ اذا ما قال أو صال فُرِّقتْ

كتائِبُ يوم الرَّوْعِ والفُصحاءِ

كتائِبُ يوم الرَّوْعِ والفُصحاءِ

A valiant man: whenever he speaks or charges, scattered are

A protector, if he speaks or prays, will disperse

the hosts of the day of terror and the ranks of the eloquent.

The regiments on the day of clamor and the eloquent

هنيئاً له العيدُ الذي جُلُّ فخْرهِ

هنيئاً له العيدُ الذي جُلُّ فخْرهِ

بطولِ حَياةٍ عندهُ وبَقاءِ

بطولِ حَياةٍ عندهُ وبَقاءِ

May the feast be joyful for him; its chief pride

Happy is the feast whose greatest pride is

lies in living long beside him and enduring.

The length of life for him and survival

أبا تغْلِبٍ صيتي بَعيدٌ وانما

أبا تغْلِبٍ صيتي بَعيدٌ وانما

أطَلْتُ بزوْراءِ العِراقِ ثَوائي

أطَلْتُ بزوْراءِ العِراقِ ثَوائي

Abu Taghlib, my renown is far-reaching; it is only that

Abu Taghlib, my reputation is far-reaching, and yet

I have prolonged my stay in al-Zawra of Iraq.

I have come to Iraq, the goal of my wanderings