أَبَا العَبَّاسِ تَاجَ الدِّينِ أَحْمَدْ

أَبَا العَبَّاسِ تَاجَ الدِّينِ أَحْمَدْ

دَعَوْتُكَ في مُهمٍّ قَدْ تَجَدَّدْ

دَعَوْتُكَ في مُهمٍّ قَدْ تَجَدَّدْ

O Abu al-Abbas, Taj al-Din Ahmad,

O Abu al-Abbas Taj al-Din Ahmad

I have called upon you about a pressing matter newly arisen.

I have called upon you in grave need renewed

أَرَى بَصَرِي وَإنْ أَضحَى صَحِيحاً

أَرَى بَصَرِي وَإنْ أَضحَى صَحِيحاً

لَهُ فِيما أَرَى نَظَراتِ أَرْمَدْ

لَهُ فِيما أَرَى نَظَراتِ أَرْمَدْ

I find that my eyesight, though now sound,

Though my vision be keen, to mine eyes

Has, as I see it, the gaze of one with inflamed eyes.

There cometh a dimness, a gaze dark-hued

كَأَنَّ الشَّيْبَ يَسْرِقُ نُورَ عَيْني

كَأَنَّ الشَّيْبَ يَسْرِقُ نُورَ عَيْني

فَيَنقُصُ ذا إذا ماذا يُزَيَّدْ

فَيَنقُصُ ذا إذا ماذا يُزَيَّدْ

It is as though gray hair steals the light of my eye,

As if hoariness stealeth the light from mine eye

So this dwindles whenever that is increased.

And each day but addeth to what I have rued

وفي كُحْلِ الوَزِيرِ شِفاءُ عَيْني

وفي كُحْلِ الوَزِيرِ شِفاءُ عَيْني

وَلَوْ نُوِّلْتُ مِنهُ حِمْلَ مِرْوَدْ

وَلَوْ نُوِّلْتُ مِنهُ حِمْلَ مِرْوَدْ

And in the vizier's kohl lies healing for my eye,

In the kohl of the vizier is cure for mine eye

Even were I granted a kohl-stick's load of it.

Though with but a little my gaze be imbued

وَلَيْسَ قَليلُهُ عِندِي قَلِيلاً

وَلَيْسَ قَليلُهُ عِندِي قَلِيلاً

وَإعْطاءُ القَلِيلِ فَما تَعَوَّدْ

وَإعْطاءُ القَلِيلِ فَما تَعَوَّدْ

And a little of it is no small thing to me,

To me ever precious what little he gives

And giving little is not his habit.

For the poor covet e'en crumbs of his food