1. أقول لها وشاب بها عذاري

    مضت أيامنا في الاعتذار

    I say to her—my side-whiskers have grayed because of her—

    Our days have passed in apologies.

  2. فإن كنت الصديقة لي فخلي

    ذوي عذل وحلي في دياري

    So if you are my friend, then leave

    The reproachers, and settle in my abode.

  3. كفاك تحاولاً ان مر حول

    واحبي ليله في الانتظار

    Enough of trying—a year has passed,

    And I keep vigil through its night, waiting.

  4. فما انا قاطع أملي لوعدٍ

    ولا أنت الوفية بالمزار

    For I will not abandon my hope in a promise,

    Nor are you faithful in coming to visit.

  5. وعذري في الهوى العذري باد

    واني بائد مني اصطباري

    And my excuse in chaste love is plain,

    And truly my endurance is vanishing from me.

  6. فبعد اليوم لومي فيك لؤم

    لعلي استريح بالاشتهار

    So, from today on, blaming me for you is base;

    Perhaps I may find relief in notoriety.

  7. وان كنت الابية لافتضاحي

    فمني بالوصال لكي اداري

    And if you disdain my being exposed,

    Then favor me with union, so I may be discreet.

  8. دعيني اجتني ورداً بخدٍ

    زها حتى ازدرى بالجلنار

    Let me pluck a rose from a cheek

    That bloomed until it scorned the pomegranate blossom,

  9. والتم منك ثغراً لؤلؤياً

    لتذهب لوعتي وتذوب ناري

    And kiss a pearly mouth of yours,

    So my anguish may depart and my fire melt away.

  10. لئالئه حكت نظماً بديعاً

    لمن حاز العلا مع الاعتبار

    Its pearls resembled exquisite verse

    For one who attained eminence and esteem:

  11. همامٌ فاضلٌ شهمٌ زكيٌ

    مجيد الاصل من قوم خيار

    A man of resolve, virtuous, gallant, and pure,

    Of noble lineage, from a worthy people;

  12. عريق بالصفات الغر طرا

    غريق في فنون كالبحار

    Deep-rooted in all illustrious qualities,

    Immersed in arts as vast as the seas.

  13. وحال حاله في كل حال

    وعار عرضه من كل عار

    And his condition is pleasing in every circumstance,

    And his honor is free of every disgrace.

  14. وعال نعته والقدر غالٍ

    وقار للضيوف مع الوقار

    And lofty are his attributes, and precious his worth,

    And he entertains guests with dignity.

  15. وان قصرت في شعري فاني

    أرى شكري عليه من شعاري

    And if I fall short in my verse, I indeed

    Regard my gratitude to him as part of my creed.

  16. له فضل على اقران عصر

    كبدر مشرق بين الدراري

    He surpasses the peers of his age,

    Like a radiant full moon among brilliant stars.

  17. فلا زالت شمائله تضاهي

    نسيم الروض في طرف النهار

    So may his qualities never cease to rival

    The garden breeze at the edge of day;

  18. ولا زالت مكارمه تحاكي

    مدى الأيام تهتان القطار

    And may his generous deeds never cease to resemble

    Through the days, the steady fall of raindrops.