1. أيا مُوْليَ الصّنع الجميلِ إذا انتشى

    ويا مُبْتَدي النّيْلِ الجميلِ إذا صحا

    O bestower of gracious kindness when intoxicated,

    and O initiator of gracious bounty when sober.

  2. وفي كلّ أرضٍ من نداه حديقةٌ

    تَضَوّعَ مسكاً نَورُهَا وتفتّحا

    In every land, from his generosity, there is a garden;

    its blossoms breathed out musk and opened.

  3. عطاؤك يَعْفو المحلَ صوباً فَعَيْنُهُ

    تخطّ على آثاره كلّ ما محا

    Your giving effaces drought as a downpour; so its spring

    writes over drought’s traces all that drought erased.

  4. أأفرد بالحرمانِ من كلّ عاطلٍ

    تَطَوّقَ من نعماك ثم توشّحا

    Am I singled out for deprivation among all the unadorned

    who donned necklaces of your favors, then sashes?

  5. أتَتْني على بُعْد النوى منك دَعْوَةٌ

    قطعتُ لها بالعزم نَجْداً وصحصحا

    A summons from you reached me despite the distance of separation;

    for it, with resolve, I crossed highlands and open plains.

  6. ويَحتَالُ مِن أَهلِ القَريضِ مُصَرِّفٌ

    يُهَادي القوافي في امتداحك قُرّحا

    And a versatile craftsman among the poets works his art,

    gently leading rhymes like full-grown steeds in your praise.

  7. وكان عليه الحق ليلاً يجوبُهُ

    إليكَ فلما لاحَ وَجْهُكَ أصبَحا

    The duty he owed was a night he journeyed through

    toward you; when your face appeared, it was morning for him.

  8. رَفَعتُ وأَصحابي إلى ما يُجِدّهُ

    علاك فوَقّعْ مُمسكاً أو مُسَرّحا

    My companions and I have submitted our plea for whatever

    your eminence renews; so issue your ruling, retaining or releasing.