1. Spring came to you before its time
Bearing gifts from its fragrant gardens
١. وَفَدَ الرَّبِيعُ إِلَيْكِ قَبْلَ أَوَانِهِ
يُهْدِي حِلَى جَنَّاتِهِ الْفَيْحَاءِ
2. In it can be seen a likeness of some
Of your beautiful, graceful features
٢. مِنْ كُلِّ بَارِعَةِ الْجَمَالِ يُرَى بِهَا
شَبَهٌ لِبَعْضِ خِلاَلِكِ الحَسْنَاءِ
3. In verse or prose, her eloquence
Subtle expression, charming coyness
٣. فِي النَّظْمِ أَوْ فِي النَّثْرِ مِنْ طَاقَاتِهَا
لُطْفُ البَيَانِ وَرَوْنَقُ الإِخْفَاءِ
4. Rhetoric adorned by her beauty saw prohibitions
In its art that are not ostentatious
٤. نَمَّ البَدِيعُ بِحُسْنِهَا فَرَأَى النُّهَى
مِنْ فَنِّها مَا لَيْسَ بِالمُتَرَائِي
5. Rejoice with a bridal wreath now that
Every flower's radiance has shone for you
٥. أَبْهِجْ بِإِكْلِيلِ الزَّفَافِ وَقَدْ جَلاَ
لِلْعَيْنِ كُلَّ أَثِيرَةٍ غَرَّاءِ
6. Had you wished, unique things could have been fashioned
But you refused, and refusal was best
٦. لَوْ شِئْتِ صِيغَ مِنَ الفَرِيدِ وَمَا وَفَى
لَكِنْ أَبَيْتِ وَكَانَ خَيْرَ إِبَاءِ
7. Can the dressmaker create adornments
Fairer than the garden's for the maiden?
٧. هَلْ فِي يَدِ الدِّهْقَانِ أَبْهَجُ زِينَةً
مِنْ زِينَةِ البُسْتَانِ لِلْعَذْرَاءِ
8. The sky took on an unfamiliar guise
Though the season is for rain and mists
٨. صَفَتِ السَّماءُ فَخَالَفَتْ مِنْ عَهْدِهَا
وَالفَصْلُ لِلأَمْطَارِ وَالأَنْوَاءِ
9. Transparent, its beautiful clarity displays
The noble purity within your spirit
٩. شَفَّافَةً يُبْدِي جَمِيلُ نَقَائِهَا
مَا فِي ضَمِيركِ مِنْ جَمِيلِ نَقَاءِ
10. It gifted you its sun as if proffering
Solely to you the glory of dedication
١٠. جَادَتْ عَلَيْكِ بِشَمْسِهَا وَكَأَنَّها
لَكِ تَسْتَقِلُّ جَلاَلَةَ الإِهْدَاءِ
11. Shedding pieces of pearl as they laugh
With drops of rain in their allotments
١١. هَذِي مَلِيكَاتُ الَّلآلِيءِ أَقْبَلَتْ
تَفْتَرُّ عَنْ قِطَعٍ مِنَ اللأْلاَءِ
12. And competing colors and lights
They were formed in the womb of their shells
١٢. بَادٍ صَفَاءُ القَطْرِ فِي قَسِمَاتِهَا
وَتَنَافُسِ الأَلْوَانِ وَالأَضْوَاءِ
13. Like lights forming in the horizon
For ages the sovereigns of its seas
١٣. ظَلَّتْ تَكَوَّنُ فِي حَشَى أَصْدَافِهَا
كَتَكَوُّنِ الأَنْوَارِ فِي أَفْيَاءِ
14. Were sought from the furthest of regions
Until captured and brought to you captive
١٤. وَقَضَتْ عُصُوراً سَيِّدَاتِ بِحَارِهَا
يُسْعَى لَهَا مِنْ أَبْعَدِ الأَنْحَاءِ
15. Among a hoard of other jewels
They found in your noble precincts sweet
١٥. حَتَّى إِذَا حُمِلَتْ إِليْكَ سَبِيَّةً
مَجْلُوبَةً فِي جُمْلَةِ الآْلاَءِ
16. Consolation for their former pride
By meeting you, beauty redoubles
١٦. وَجَدَتْ عَزَاءً فِي رِحَابِكِ طَيِّباً
عَنْ عَزِّهَا المَاضِي وَأَيَّ عَزَاءِ
17. Their allure, finesse, and splendor
And being near you, their nature preserves
١٧. بِلِقَائِهَا حُسْناً يُضَاعِفُ مَا بِهَا
مِنْ رَوْنَقٍ وَنَفَاسَةٍ وَبَهَاءِ
18. The honor of their inviolate virtue
Small wonder the diamond's the noblest gem
١٨. وَجِوَارِهَا شِيَماً كَرَائِمَ صُنْتِهَا
فِي خِدْرِ عِصْمَتِهَا عَنِ الرُّقَبَاءِ
19. That earth concealed among heaven's treasures
Many a star lies buried in its mines
١٩. لاَ غَرْوَ أَنَّ المَاسَ أَكْرَمُ جَوْهَرٍ
خَبَأَتْهُ أَرْضٌ مِنْ كُنُوزِ سَمَاءِ
20. Aglow like its brethren in darkness
Yearning to meet the dawn though it fades
٢٠. كَمْ فِي مَنَاجِمِهِ تَسَهَّدَ كَوْكَبٌ
مُتَوَاقِّداً كَأَخِيهِ فِي الظَّلمَاءِ
21. And saddened to remain a lamp at dusk
Until adorning you it prospered blissfully
٢١. يَشْتَاقُ أَنْ يَلْقَى الصَّباحَ وَلَوْ تَوَى
وَيُسَاءُ أَنْ يَبْقَى سِرَاجَ مَسَاءِ
22. And its burning became the blaze of water
Perhaps singularly on your neck suspended
٢٢. حَتَّى حَلِيتِ بِهِ فَقَرَّ مُنَعَّماً
وَغَدَا تَحَرُّقُهُ تَوَهُّج مَاءِ
23. Surpassing peers in value and rank
The orphan of solitude was invited
٢٣. وَلَعَلَّ مُنْفَرِداً بِجِيدِكِ عَالِقاً
مُتَفَوِّقاً قَدْراً عَلَى النُّظرَاءِ
24. To claim every right of shared misery
And from resilience, though of hardest substance
٢٤. دُعِيَ اليَتِيمُ مِنَ التَّوَحُّدِ فَادَّعَى
حَقًّا عَلَيْكِ لِكُلِّ حِلْفِ شَقَاءِ
25. It softened with the tears of the destitute
And so by you it attained, its name interceding,
٢٥. وَمِنَ الكِيَاسَةِ وَهْوَ أَصْلَبُ جَوْهَرٍ
أَنْ رَقَّ رِقَّة أَدْمُعِ الْفُقَرَاءِ
26. The portion of the orphan and shelter
Nothing's too dear if done for wisdom
٢٦. فَأَصَابَ عِنْدَكِ وَالشَّفاعَةُ لاسْمِهِ
حَظَّ اليَتيمِ وَفَازَ بِالإِيوَاءِ
27. That raised the diamond's price among things
By its firmness and age it mirrors what
٢٧. مَا يَغْلُ مِنْ شَيْءٍ فَإِنَّ لِحِكْمَةٍ
جَلَّتْ غَلاَءَ المَاسِ فِي الأَشْيَاءِ
28. Is in you of lasting fidelity and wisdom
O mine of gold whose hue
٢٨. هُوَ بِالْمَتَانَةِ وَالسَّنى مِرْآةُ مَا
بِكِ مِنْ وَفَاءٍ ثَابِتٍ وَذَكَاءِ
29. Gives the sun a joyous, quenching gloss
O fulfiller of distant, arduous hopes
٢٩. يَا مَعْدِنَ الذَّهَبِ الَّذِي فِي لَوْنِهِ
لِلشَّمسِ مَسْحَةُ بَهْجَةٍ وَرُوَاءِ
30. Indeed I say, fulfiller of every wish
O unleasher in every soul of what was pent
٣٠. يَا مُدْنِيَ الأَرَبِ البَعِيدِ مَنَالُهُ
وَلَقَدْ أَقُولُ مُنِيلُ كُلِّ رَجَاءِ
31. Except in noble, sublime souls
If people distract you, be here a servant
٣١. يَا مُرِخصاً مِنْ كُلِّ نَفْسٍ مَا غَلاَ
حَاشَا نُفُوسِ العِلْيَةِ النُّبلاَءِ
32. And submit to this sublime way
And weigh what saved you from misguidance with guidance
٣٢. إِنْ أَلَّهَتْكَ النَّاسُ كُنْ عَبْداً هُنَا
وَاخْضَعْ لِهذِي الشِّيمَةِ الشَّماءِ
33. And your dark scheming with a fair hand
A wonder I see, and perhaps the greatest wonder
٣٣. وَزِنَ الَّتِي دَفَعَتْ ضَلاَلَكَ بِالْهُدَى
وَسَوَادَ مَكْرِكَ بِاليَدِ البَيْضَاءِ
34. The world of creation rises up for your ransom
A glimpse of the unseen you're conscious of
٣٤. عَجباً أَرَى وَلَعَلَّ أَعْجَبَ مَا يُرَى
دُنْيَا الخَلاَئِقِ تَنْبَرِي لِفِدَاءِ
35. As if the remote, hidden appears to you
Those meadows, every tender green
٣٥. لماحَةً لِلْغَيْبِ شَاعِرَةً بِهِ
حَتَّى لَيَحْضُرُهَا الْخَفِيُّ النَّائِي
36. Smooth to the tread, soft to walk upon
Whoever scattered in them while they reaped their harvest
٣٦. تِلْكَ الرَّوَاعِي كُلَّ أَخْضَرَ نَاعمٍ
مِنْ كُلِّ نَاعِمَةِ الْخُطَى مَلْسَاءِ
37. Giving their lives freely in generosity
That the one they perish weaving
٣٧. مَنْ بَثَّ فِيهَا وَهْيَ تَقْنِي قَزَّهَا
مِنْ بَذْلِهَا أَعَمَارَهَا بِسَخَاءِ
38. Brings you fortune and lasting days
Country girls frolicked at dawn
٣٨. أَنَّ الَّذِي تَقْضِي شَهِيدَةَ نَسْجِهِ
لَكِ فِيهِ سَعْدٌ وَامْتِدَادُ بَقَاءِ
39. Moving gaily, strolling at ease
On each frisky, lively young she-camel
٣٩. هَبَّت صَبِيَّاتُ المَزَارِعِ بُكْرَةً
يَخْطِرْنَ بَيْنَ السَّيرِ وَالإِسْرَاءِ
40. Obedient of limb, modest of mien
The glad tidings of ripe crops called them
٤٠. مِنْ كُلِّ عَاصِيَةِ النُّهودِ بِهَا تُقًى
مِطْوَاعَةِ الأَعْطَافِ ذَاتِ حَيَاءِ
41. And they answered the caller's glad tidings
The cotton, laughing in its whiteness
٤١. نَادَى بِهَا الْبُشَرَاءُ حَيِّ عَلَى الْجَنَى
فَعَدَتْ تُلَبِّي دَعْوَةَ الْبُشَرَاءِ
42. Pure of the gloom of dust
They split it open like a screen on its sides
٤٢. وَالْقُطْنُ مُوفٍ ضَاحِكٌ بِبَياضِهِ
وَصَفَائِهِ مِنْ كُدْرَةِ الْغَبْرَاءِ
43. And pick it amidst, like a sea between
Singers of youth's ballads
٤٣. يَشْقُقْنَ مِثْلَ السِّترِ مِنْ جَنَبَاتِهِ
وَيَخُضْنَ شِبْهَ الْبَحْرِ في الأَثْنَاءِ
44. However the fancy and sweet air wills
Reciting from imagination's description a vision
٤٤. مُتَغَنِّياتٍ مِنْ أَهَازِيجِ الصِّبا
مَا شَاءَ وَحْيُ هَوَىً وَطِيبُ هَوَاءِ
45. Of a poet's bride, ornamented, charming
A lovely doe-eyed maiden, the loveliest
٤٥. يُنْشِدْنَ مِنْ وَصْفِ المَخِيلَةِ جَلْوَةً
لَعَرُوسِ شِعْرٍ زَيْنَةٍ هَيْفَاءِ
46. Ever seen among lovely doe-eyed maidens
God lavished gifts on her beyond limit
٤٦. حُورِيَّة عَيْنَاءَ أَبْهَى مَا يُرَى
فِي الْغِيدِ مِنْ حُورِيَّة عَيْنَاءِ
47. Never leaving her abode without a gift
At her command fields are stripped naked
٤٧. وَفَرَ الإِلَهُ لَهَا الَعْطَاءَ فَلَمْ يَعُدْ
عَنْ بَابِهَا عَافٍ بِغَيْرِ عَطَاءِ
48. The Universal Mother in her shift and gown
She whom they exalted and named
٤٨. وَبِأَمْرِهَا تَعْرَى الْحُقُولُ فَتَنْثَنِي
أُمُّ الْعُرَاةِ بِمِيرَةٍ وَكِسَاءِ
49. With the finest descriptions and names
A fancied bride made real
٤٩. تِلْكَ الَّتِي أَكْبَرْنَهَا وَنَعَتْنَهَا
بِأَحَاسِنِ الأَوْصَافِ وَالأَسْمَاءِ
50. By her traits, living now among the living
You recognize her, so I'll say my verse
٥٠. كَانَتْ عَرُوسَ تَوَهُّم فَتَحَقَّقتْ
بِصِفَاتِهَا وَغَدَتْ مِنَ الأَحْيَاءِ
51. With her, opposite me
By God, the mechanisms of iron circle
٥١. أَعَرَفْتَها فَلَقَدْ أَكُونُ بِمَسْمَعٍ
مِنْهَا أَقُولُ الشِّعرَ وَهْيَ إِزَائِي
52. Bringing glistening clothes and fullness
Wondrous their enormity and workmanship's precision
٥٢. للهِ أًجْهِزَةُ الْحَدِيدِ مُدَارةً
تَأْتِي بِأَثْوابٍ زَهَتْ وَمُلاَءِ
53. What delicacy along with rugged limbs
Who thought Antarah could be seen
٥٣. عَجَبٌ ضَخَامَتُهَا وَدِقَّة صُنْعِهَا
كَمْ رِقَّة معي غِلْظَةِ الأَعْضَاءِ
54. Surpassing in skill all poets
A man said, hearing its clamor
٥٤. مَنْ كَانَ يَحْسِبُ أَنَّ عَنْتَرَةً يُرَى
مُتَفَوِّقاً ظَرْفاً عَلَى الشُّعرَاءِ
55. And witnessing that black enormity
A smile appeared from it when
٥٥. قَالَ امْرُؤٌ مِنْ سَامِعِي ضَوْضَائِهَا
وَشُهُودِ تِلْكَ الْجَهْمَةِ السَّوْدَاءِ
56. It brought this white raiment
Is today an occasion where bliss
٥٦. إِنَّ ابْتِساماً لاَحَ مِنْهَا عِنْدَ مَا
جَاءَتْ بِهذِي الْحُلَّةِ البَيْضَاءِ
57. Is apportioned equally to wretched and happy?
The days have never accomplished one where
٥٧. أَليَوْمَ عِيدٌ فِي تَقَاسُمِ حَظِّهِ
لِلْبَائِسِينَ رِضىً وَلِلسُّعدَاءِ
58. Every complainer and every hopeful were reconciled
Joy was universal and complete, hardly
٥٨. مَا اسْطَاعَ فِيهِ الدَّهْرُ أَشْكَى كُلَّ ذِي
شَكْوَى وَهَادَنَ كُلَّ ذِي بُرَحَاءِ
59. A trace visible of parted desires
All witnessing or absent praised you
٥٩. عَمَّ السُّرُورُ وَتَمَّ حَتَّى لَمْ يَكَدْ
أَثَرٌ يُرَى لِتَفَرُّقِ الأَهْوَاءِ
60. And doubled in prayer for you
Daughter of Sulaym! A man ascended the heights
٦٠. كُلٌّ بِهِ مِنْ شَاهِدٍ أَوْ غَائِبِ
أَثْنَى عَلَيْكِ وَقَدْ ثَنَى بِدُعَاءِ
61. With sincere determination and judgment
True nobility belongs to she of the Pleiades
٦١. بِنتَ السَّليمِ وَجَلَّ مِنْ رَجُلٍ سَمَا
بِصَوَادِقِ العَزَمَاتِ وَالآرَاءِ
62. Her mother's kin, and her father brother of Gemini
Of a house all gallantry whenever
٦٢. أَلفَخْرُ حَقُّ مَنِ الثُّرَيَّا أُمُّها
نَسَباً وَوَالِدُهَا أَخُو الْجَوَزَاءِ
63. Men protect, and all praise whenever praised
If they engaged in trade, still many a time
٦٣. مِنْ أُسْرةٍ هُمْ أَهْلُ كُلِّ مُروُءَةٍ
يَوْمَ الْحِفَاظِ وَأَهْلُ كُلِّ ثَنَاءِ
64. They gave generously with concealment
Disdaining empty boasts
٦٤. إِنْ عَالَنُوا لِتِجَارَةٍ فَلَطَالَمَا
بَذَلُوا النَّوَالَ الْجَمَّ رَهْنَ خَفَاءِ
65. And avoiding vulgar crowds in kindness
May you attain the fortune you seek
٦٥. بِتَرَفُّع عَنْ كُلِّ فَخْرٍ بَاطِلٍ
وَتَجَنُّب فِي البِرِّ لِلْغَوْغَاءِ
66. For you have won the noblest mate
From a succession of notables and notables
٦٦. لِيَكُنْ لَكِ الْحَظُّ الَّذِي تَرْجِينَهُ
فَلَقَدْ ظَفِرْتِ بِأَكْرَمِ الأَكْفَاءِ
67. Whose lineage was refined in lofty abodes
For you to have the fortune you wish
٦٧. نَسْلِ الأَمَاجِدِ مِنْ أَمَاجِدِ قَدْ زَكَتْ
أَنْسَابُهُمْ فِي دَوْحَةِ العَلْيَاءِ