نَهيتَ أَخا العِرفانِ وَالزّهدِ وَالتّقى

نَهيتَ أَخا العِرفانِ وَالزّهدِ وَالتّقى

عَنِ المَدحِ سَمعاً إِنَّني لَسميعُ

عَنِ المَدحِ سَمعاً إِنَّني لَسميعُ

You forbade one endowed with spiritual knowledge, asceticism, and piety

You forbade the brother of knowledge, asceticism, and piety

From praise—I hear you; indeed, I am all ears.

From praise, though I listened. I am obedient,

وَلَكنّني لَم أَستَطِعْ مَنعَ بُلبلٍ

وَلَكنّني لَم أَستَطِعْ مَنعَ بُلبلٍ

يُغرِّدُ في مَدحٍ وأنّى يُطيعُ

يُغرِّدُ في مَدحٍ وأنّى يُطيعُ

But I could not restrain a nightingale

But I could not prevent the nightingale

Singing in praise—and how could it obey?

That sings in praise—how could it obey?

بَلابلُ شِعري في مَديحِكَ غرَّدت

بَلابلُ شِعري في مَديحِكَ غرَّدت

وَكُلُّ زَمانِ المَدحِ فيكَ رَبيعُ

وَكُلُّ زَمانِ المَدحِ فيكَ رَبيعُ

The nightingales of my poetry sang your praises,

The nightingales of my poetry sang in praising you.

And every season of praise for you is spring.

For you, all seasons of praise are spring.