1. يا أَبا أَحمَدَ لا يُن

    جي مِنَ الشِعرِ الفِرارُ

    O Abu Ahmad, flight does not

    save you from poetry.

  2. لِبَني العَبّاسِ أَحلا

    مٌ عِظامٌ وَوَقارُ

    The sons of al-Abbas have

    great wisdom and dignity.

  3. وَلَهُم في الحَربِ إِقدا

    مٌ وَرَأيٌ وَاِصطِبارُ

    And in war they have

    courage, judgment, and steadfastness.

  4. وَلَهُم أَلسِنَةٌ تَب

    ري كَما تَبري الشِفارُ

    And they have tongues that

    cut as blades cut.

  5. وَوُجوهٌ كَنُجومِ ال

    لَيلِ تَهدي مَن يَحارُ

    And faces like the stars of the

    night, guiding those who lose their way.

  6. وَنَسيمٌ كَنَسيمِ ال

    رَوضِ جادَتهُ القِطارُ

    And a breeze like the breeze of the

    meadow richly watered by rain.

  7. وَلِعِطفَيكَ عَنِ المَج

    دِ شِماسٌ وَاِزوِرارُ

    But your two sides, from glory,

    shy away and turn aside.

  8. إِن تَكُن مِنهُم بِلا شَك

    كٍ فَلِلعودِ قُتارُ

    If you are one of them, without

    doubt, even aloeswood gives off acrid smoke.

  9. وَلِصَفوِ الماءِ أَقذا

    ءٌ وَلِلخَمرِ خُمارُ

    And pure water has

    impurities, and wine brings a hangover.