1. استبشر الدهر بعد ما استبصر

    فراق منه الرواء والمخبر

    Time rejoiced after it saw clearly;

    So its outward appearance and inward nature grew pleasing.

  2. وجرد الجو ثوب دكنته

    واكتست الارض ثوبها الاخضر

    And the sky shed its dusky robe,

    And the earth clothed itself in its green robe,

  3. واضحكت عن بديع زهرتها

    لما بكى الغيث قبل واستعبر

    And smiled, revealing its wondrous bloom,

    When the rain had first wept and shed tears.

  4. ما در در الغمام منتثراً

    الا انتحى الروض نظم ما ينثر

    The clouds' pearls never poured down scattered

    Without the garden setting about stringing what they scattered.

  5. ولا انتضى البرق فيه انصله

    الا دم المحل بينها يهدر

    Nor did lightning unsheathe its blades within it

    Without drought's blood being shed with impunity among them.

  6. لولا عقيق البروق حين سرى

    لم يكن الروض يثمر الجوهر

    But for lightning's agate as it traveled by night,

    The garden would not have borne jewels.

  7. حدائق بل كأنها حدق

    تهجع طوراً وتارة تسهر

    Gardens—rather, they are like eyes,

    Sleeping at times, and at others keeping vigil.

  8. اذا صبت نحوها الصبا فتقت

    للانف مسكاً من ردعها اذفر

    When the east wind inclines toward them, it releases

    For the nose, strongly fragrant musk from their scented stains.

  9. ارض تباهي السماء مشرقة

    بكل نجم من زهرها ازهر

    A land that vies with the sky, radiant

    With every shining star among its blossoms.

  10. وقبل ما فاخرت كواكبها

    بالغر والصيد من بني حمير

    And earlier it had vied in glory with the sky's stars

    With the illustrious, lordly sons of Himyar:

  11. بكل غيث اذا السماء صحت

    وكل ليث اذا القنا كسر

    With every shower when the sky is clear,

    And every lion when the spears are shattered,

  12. وكل سهم اذا انتحى غرضا

    وكل شهم اذا علا منبر

    And every arrow when it makes for a target,

    And every noble man when he mounts a pulpit.

  13. بحار جود تفيض من كرم

    ذا المجد بينها الكوثر

    Seas of generosity, overflowing with munificence;

    The lord of glory is al-Kawthar among them.