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He walked as the moon walks

سرى كما يسري القمر

1. He walked as the moon walks
While the night is clad in black attire

١. سَرى كما يَسري القَمَرْ
والليّلُ مُسوَدُّ الطُّرَرْ

2. A beautiful visitor came unexpectedly
He folded his wrap and was unaware

٢. زَوْرٌ سرَى على خَفَر
طوَى الفلا وما شعَر

3. A full moon whose brightness came from his hair
I was amazed though the night had grown dark

٣. بدْرٌ دُجاهُ مِن شَعَر
عَجِبتُ والليّلُ اعتكَر

4. How did he hide his light?
When his faces shone at the time of journey

٤. مَعْ نورهِ كيف استَتر
أَوجُهُه حينَ سفَر

5. With the magic of an enchanting glance
That captivated people's eyes

٥. بسِحْرِ طَرْفٍ ذي حَوَر
لأعينِ النّاسِ سَحَر

6. He came like the full moon and passed
And they saw no trace of him

٦. فجاء كالبَدْرِ ومَر
ولم يَرَوا منه أثَر

7. But when he was present before me
He seemed to be one of the images

٧. أما أنا لمّا حضَر
كأنّه إحدَى الصُّور

8. I hid him from precaution
In my eyes away from people

٨. خَبأْتُه من الحَذَر
في ناظري عنِ البَشَر

9. O you who came without invitation
I made my sight halal for him

٩. يا زائراً لم يُستَزَر
أحلَلْتُهُ منّي البَصَر

10. So he compensated my eyes for wakefulness
When he saw my intimacy turn away

١٠. فَعَوَّضَ العينَ السّهَر
لمّا رأَى أُنْسي نَفَر

11. And he did not arrive until he left
And provided youth with memories

١١. ولم يَصِلْ حتّى هَجَر
وزوَّد الصّبَّ الذِّكَر

12. So I got up with tears flowing
I restrain whatever appears from it

١٢. فقُمتُ والدّمعُ درَر
أَكُفُّ منه ما بَدَر

13. And I conceal the news from companions
While we are children of travel

١٣. وأكتُمُ الصَّحبَ الخَبَر
ونحن أبناءُ سَفَر

14. From a homeland to homelands
To a camel that became lean

١٤. من وطَنٍ إلى وَطَر
إلى بَعيرٍ قد ضَمُر

15. Grazing at the highest summit
Among gardens and flowers

١٥. رَعى بأعْلى ذي نَفر
بينَ رياضٍ وزَهَر

16. As if they were the scattering of ink
Picking some plants and leaving others

١٦. كأنّها نَشْرُ الحِبَر
يأخُذُ نَبْتاً ويَذَر

17. In meadows full of greenery
And buds with a waist

١٧. في أُنُفٍ منَ الخُضَر
ونُطَفٍ فيها خَصَر

18. Until he came, his saddlebags full
Playing with the shadow at dusk

١٨. حتّى أتَى مِلْءَ الضُّفُر
يُلاعِبُ الظِّلَّ أَشر

19. So he passed like pouring rain
Splitting his eyes cautious

١٩. فمَرّ كالسَّيلِ انحدَر
يَقسِمُ عينَيْه حَذَر

20. Between the taken road
And the fall of twisted slopes

٢٠. بينَ الطّريقِ المُبتَدَر
ووَقْعِ مَفْتولِ المرَر

21. Deviating from it slyly
Until when the guide grunted

٢١. بعِطْفِه عنه زَوَر
حتّى إذا الحادي نَعَر

22. He traversed lands and spread out
To the land of a generous king

٢٢. طوَى بلاداً ونَشَر
إلى ذُرا مَلْكٍ أَغَر

23. To whom people flee for refuge
His hands flow with generosity

٢٣. إليه للخَلْقِ المَفَر
تَجْري يَداهُ بالبِدَر

24. Like fate and destiny
The minister of a truthful intention since he assumed office

٢٤. جَرْيَ القضاء والقَدَر
وزيرُ صِدْقٍ مُذ وَزَر

25. Became responsible for the kingdom
His orders are obeyed, he commands and forbids

٢٥. أصبحَ للمُلْكِ وَزَر
نَهَى مُطاعاً وأَمَر

26. Benefiting some and harming others
Of excellent conduct and ways

٢٦. وساء مَن شاء وسَر
ونَفع النّاسَ وضَر

27. That are recited like the Quranic chapters
If time betrays or promises are forgotten

٢٧. ذو سيرةٍ من السِّيَر
تُتلَى كما تُتلى السُّورَ

28. Or sins are grave and forgiven
Or hardships dry up rain

٢٨. إن وتَر الدّهرُ ثأر
أو نُسِيَ العَهدُ ذَكَر

29. Or horses become few and calm
No matter what evil he sees, he is patient

٢٩. أو عَظُمَ الذَّنْبُ غَفَر
أو جَمَد النّوْءُ مَطَر

30. He stands with nobility and patience
And says the matter is predestined

٣٠. أو خفَّتِ الخَيلُ وقَر
مهما رأى الشّرَّ فَغَر

31. Then he sends regiments of horses
Glowering, excused for their outburst

٣١. قام كريماً وصَبَر
وقال أمْرٌ قد قُدِر

32. Snorting violently among them
Assailing when the enemy surges forth

٣٢. وأرسَلَ الخَيلَ زُمَر
عَوابِساً معَ الغُرَر

33. With spears that fiercely spark
Until the swords in the armies clashed

٣٣. نوافِضاً فيها العُذَر
تَصلَى إذا النّبْعُ انْأطَر

34. And the strikes were shortened
With their capture the kingdom settled

٣٤. ناراً لها النَّبْلُ شَرَر
حتّى ثنَى البِيضَ كِسَر

35. And much good comes from harm
O you who gained power

٣٥. وقَصَّرَ الضَّرْبُ قَصَر
بخَطْفِها المُلْكُ اسَتقَر

36. Fate itself turns to you for refuge
So be forgiving if it stumbles

٣٦. ورُبَّ نَفْعٍ في ضَرَر
يا مالكاً قدِ اقتَدَر

37. Time that betrayed then apologized
Judge what happened with wisdom

٣٧. إليك منك الدَّهرُ فَرّ
فكُنْ مُقيلاً إن عَثَر

38. And be prudent with the prudent
No wrongdoer remains

٣٨. دهْرٌ جنَى ثُمَّ اعتَذَر
مُحَكَّماً فيما شَجَر

39. No aggressor persists in aggression
Whose actions were revealed or secret

٣٩. وماكِراً بمَنْ مكَر
لم يَبْقَ والبَغيُ غَرَر

40. Except that God destroyed him
And left no betrayer

٤٠. باغٍ على البَغْيِ أصَر
أعلَن ذاكَ أو أسَر

41. An example is set in the times
If we have one who is patient

٤١. إلاّ له اللهُ كَسَر
ولم يُغادِرْ مَن غَدَر

42. Then act like one who is thankful
Whoever denies blessings denies them

٤٢. وفي الزّمانِ مُعتَبَر
إن كان فينا مُصطَبَر

43. Far be it from lasting you to be tested
O full moon of a kingdom that cannot be veiled

٤٣. فاصنَعْ صنيعَ مَن شكَر
مَن كفَر النُّعمَى كفَر

44. And star of justice that cannot be clouded
Erasing the traces of injustice

٤٤. حاشا بَقاكَ المُختَبَر
يا بدْرَ مُلْكٍ لا استَسَر

45. I made a mistake in reciting it
Though I was proud of it

٤٥. ونجمَ عَدْلٍ لا انكَدَر
محا منَ الجَوْرِ الأَثَر

46. Compared to other realms
So purify it from impurities

٤٦. تَصحيفُها مِمّا استَمر
وكان فيها مُفتَخَر

47. And make righteous those lands
With justice when your life is long

٤٧. على المَمالِكِ الأُخَر
فَصفّها منَ الكَدَر

48. How many say but do not think
God, who created humankind

٤٨. وعُمَّ هاتيكَ الكُوَر
عَدْلاً إذا عَمَّ عَمَر

49. Did not create evil in Nausherwan's nature
Had I taken the 'sheen' and 'raa' from his name

٤٩. كم قائلٍ وما افتَكر
رَبُّ العبادِ ما فَطَر

50. It would have concealed from people
When written, evil deeds

٥٠. في طَبْعِ نَوشَروانَ شَر
ولو مِنَ اسْمِهِ قَدَر

51. I say this cannot be fooled
He is of resolute determination

٥١. الشِّينَ والرّاءَ ستَر
عنِ الورَى إذا سطَر

52. A place where, if he wanted, he commanded
Like a massive unmoving mountain

٥٢. قلتُ بِذا لا يُغْتَرَر
فهْو بعيد المُسْتَمَر

53. Or a lion, when angry, snarling
Sheathing claws and canines

٥٣. مُحْلٍ إذا شاءَ أَمَر
كالطّودِ ما لم يُستَثَر

54. But if he becomes an enemy openly
There is no rest if he growls

٥٤. واللّيثِ ما شاء خَدَر
غامدَ نابٍ وظُفُر

55. No survival if he attacks
O you who humiliated the mighty in battle

٥٥. ثمّ إذا عادَى جَهَر
ولا يماشِيكَ الخَمَر

56. With the opinion that came from his chest
You hoped for victory over fate

٥٦. فلا قَرارٌ إن زَأَر
ولا بقاءٌ إن هَصَر

57. So do not make excuses
Or spend the night confused

٥٧. يا مُخجِلَ العَضْبِ الذَّكَر
من صَدْرِه رَأيٌ صَدَر

58. If you pierce with needles
They become spears at the borders

٥٨. أطمعْتَ في الدَّهْرِ الظَّفَر
فلا تَعلّلْ بالعِذَر

59. O guide to glory's path, walk it
If time afflicts you with harm

٥٩. ولا تَبِتْ على وَغَر
فلو وخَزْتَ بالإبَر

60. Make the Kaaba of hopes a destination
For it is the circumambulation place of the noble

٦٠. صارتْ رماحاً في الثُّغَر
يا حادِيَ العِيسِ أَثِر

61. So perform its pilgrimage and ritual
Seeking refuge in religion

٦١. أَسْرِ على السّعْدِ وسِر
إن مَسّك الدَّهْرُ بِضُر

62. From the unpredictability of fate
A master over the stars he shone

٦٢. فكَعبةَ الآمالِ زُر
فهْو مَطافُ كلِّ حُر

63. By his grace all gained certainty
Of the family of Kisra in their elite

٦٣. فاحجُجْ ذُراهُ واعتَمِر
بشَرفِ الدّينِ استَجِر

64. Like the Prophet among Mudar
Raised from the purest lineage

٦٤. من حادثِ الدَّهْرِ يُجِر
مَولىً على النَّجمِ أَبَر

65. So his branches were wholesome and pure
His path for whoever follows it

٦٥. بفَضْلِه كلٌّ أَقَر
من آلِ كسْرَى في نَفَر

66. Is like scattered fragrant musk
May he ransom him if an evil time

٦٦. مثْلَ النّبِيِّ في مُضَر
نَمَوْهُ من أَزْكَى شَجَر

67. Bares its fang, and hearts break
From his light that dazzled

٦٧. فطابَ فَرْعاً وطَهُر
آثارُه لِمَنْ أَثَر

68. Can the morning star rival the sun at dawn?
The sword of Abu Nasr victory gave

٦٨. كأنّها المِسْكُ ذَفَر
فَداهُ إنْ دَهْرٌ كَشَر

69. To the religion of guidance until victorious
Sending the enemy fleeing defeated

٦٩. عن نابِ خَطْبٍ قد فَطَر
نِكْسٌ له القَلْبُ انفَطَر

70. A sword God made sharp
The enemy's blood by it shed

٧٠. مِن نُورِه الّذي بَهَر
وهل يُباري إنْ فَخَر

71. So be submissive to us and at peace
In the shade of untroubled life

٧١. شمسَ الضُّحَى نجْمُ السّحر
سيفُ أَبي نَصْرٍ نَصَر

72. Far from the beloved's rejection
Safeguarded, pure from worries

٧٢. دينَ الهدى حتّى انتصَر
وللعدا طُرّاً قَهَر

73. O you through whom justice has spread
And through whom virtue became famous

٧٣. سيفٌ له اللهُ شَهَر
دَمُ العدا به هَدَر

74. Who, when he looks at the praiser,
Overflows with a flooding sea

٧٤. فاسلَمْ لنا من الغِير
في ظِلِّ عيشٍ لا انْحَسر

75. With plenty and bounty from him abundant
Every science is asked of him and called

٧٥. بَعيدِ وِردٍ مِنْ صَدَر
مَصونِ صَفْوٍ من كَدَر

76. A refined scholar of excellence settled
Live as long as the full moon shines

٧٦. يا مَن به العَدْلُ انتشَر
ومَن له الفَضْلُ اشْتَهَر

77. And the night wraps itself in darkness
With pouring rain of generosity

٧٧. مادِحُه إذا نظَر
يُفرغُ في غَمْرٍ غُمَر

78. And valiant courage blazed
Giving overflowing gifts

٧٨. وعندَه الحظُّ وفَر
من كلِّ عِلمٍ يُستَطَر

79. The full moon began below him
Fulfilling the wants of those in need

٧٩. نادى إليه وحشَر
آدِبُ فَضْلٍ ما انتقَر

80. Plunging into it with thought
Then being generous without restraint

٨٠. عش ما بدا بَدْرٌ زهَر
وما به الليّلُ اعتَجَر

81. In every land, rural and urban
He was like the brimming sea

٨١. من غَيْثِ جُودٍ انهمَر
ولَيثِ بأسٍ استَعر

82. Encompassing all with rain
And distinguishing some with pearls

٨٢. مُعطِي عطاءٍ قد غَمَر
أَصبح أَدناهُ البِدَر

83. O you generous in meaningful words
Truth unborrowed

٨٣. مُبِرُّ رِفْدِ مَن شَعَر
وغاص فيه بالفِكَر

84. None like you appeared
Generosity manifest in a mortal

٨٤. ثُمَّ سخا وما اقتَصَر
في كُلِّ بَدْوٍ وحَضَر

85. Fills the eyes of any who look
And God originates creation

٨٥. فكان كالبَحْرِ زَخَر
فَعَمَّ كُلاً بالمَطَر

86. O you who enriches the poor
And mends the broken

٨٦. وخَصَّ قوماً بالدُّرَر
ياجُودُ قَولاً مُعتَبَر

87. Your time is excellent to draw from
I have other hopes in you

٨٧. حقيقةً لم تُسَتعر
مِثْلُك ما كان ظَهَر

88. While my livelihood is insignificant
Were it tears they would not flow

٨٨. الجودُ في شَخْصِ بَشَر
يَمْلأُ عَيْنَيْ مَن نَظَر

89. Take over publicizing my affair
And rebuke a time that harmed me

٨٩. واللّهُ مُبِدعُ الفِطَر
يا مُغْنِياً مَنِ افتقَر

90. If you rebuked, it would not be rebuked
After this is there any hope?

٩٠. وجابِراً مَنِ انكَسَر
عَصْرُك نِعمَ المُعْتَصَر

91. Or is it time to harvest the fruits
From a loving plantation long nurtured

٩١. لَديك آمالي أُخَر
ولي معاشٌ مُحتَقَر

92. This journey must be hastened
Is there any to remember us?

٩٢. لو كان دَمْعاً ما قَطَر
فَضُمَّ من أَمري النّشَر

93. All are in the fits of travel
Becoming like plaited cords

٩٣. وازْجُرْ زماناً بي أَضَر
فلو زجرتَ لا نْزجَر

94. And I have no recourse
Or return or passage

٩٤. هل بعدَ هذا منتظَر
أم آن أن يُجنَى ثَمَر

95. So my thoughts are in danger
From the fear in them

٩٥. من غَرْسِ وُدٍّ مُدَّخَر
هذا المَسيرُ يُبتَدَر

96. Of being stoned and stoning
A right hand that never lost restraint

٩٦. فهل لنا من مُدَّكَر
كُلٌّ بأُهْبَةِ السَّفَر

97. If I controlled my soul I would choose
Making your presence my abode

٩٧. أضحَى كَفُوقٍ في وَتَر
وليس لي من مُقْتَدَر

98. And it would comfort my eye
So be most right to excuse

٩٨. لمَرْجِعٍ ولا مَمَر
فخاطِري على خَطَر

99. A servant to an unbroken vow
Besides your love nothing is vowed

٩٩. من خَوفِ ما فيه خَطَر
بالحِجْرِ منّي والحَجَر

100. So order a command to obey
Return consideration to my matter

١٠٠. يَمينُ بِرٍّ ما فَجَر
لو مُلِّكَتْ نَفْسي الخِيَر

101. And hear my words of pleading
Like scattered pearls

١٠١. كان ذُراكَ لي مَقَر
وكان للعَينِ أَقَر

102. With every innovative meaning
Summarized in each verse

١٠٢. فكن أحَقَّ مَن عَذَر
عبداً لعَهْدٍ ما خَفَر

103. As if upon a necklace strung
A day of joy in life

١٠٣. سوى هواكَ ما ذَخَر
وغيرَ عَوْدٍ ما نَذَر

104. Of beauty, fragrance, and creation
Like the life of the master of Mudar

١٠٤. فمُرْ بأمْرٍ يُؤتَمَر
أَعِدْ إلى أَمْرِي نَظَر

١٠٥. وهاكَ من قَولي فِقَر
كأنّها الدُّرُّ انتثَر

١٠٦. من كُلِّ معنىً مُبتكَر
في كلِّ بَيتٍ مُختَصَر

١٠٧. كأنّه على القَدَر
يومُ السُّرورِ في العُمُر

١٠٨. حُسْناً وطِيباً وقِصَر
كعُمْرِ سِيدِ من مُضَر