وقائل لم غبتَ عن لحظه

وقائل لم غبتَ عن لحظه

وأنت من أصغر غلمانه

وأنت من أصغر غلمانه

And someone asked: “Why have you been absent from his sight,

And someone said, why have you been absent from his glances

when you are among the least of his servants?”

When you are the youngest of his young men

فقلت ما أجهل فخري بمن

فقلت ما أجهل فخري بمن

تسمو به سادات أزمانه

تسمو به سادات أزمانه

I said: “I am not unaware of the honor I gain from one

So I said, how ignorant is my pride in one

through whom the lords of his age rise high.

Whose nobility makes him eminent among the notable men of his time

هيبته تمنع من قربه

هيبته تمنع من قربه

وحبه يغري بغشيانه

وحبه يغري بغشيانه

Awe of him keeps me from drawing near to him,

His awe prevents nearness to him

and love for him tempts me to visit him.

And his love tempts me to get close to him

وقد تبلدتُ فهل حيلةٌ

وقد تبلدتُ فهل حيلةٌ

تبسط أنسي عند لقيانه

تبسط أنسي عند لقيانه

And I have grown bewildered—is there some means

And I have grown dull, so is there a way

to put me at ease when I meet him?”

To spread my intimacy when meeting him