سَطا بحُسام مقلته وَصالا

سَطا بحُسام مقلته وَصالا

كأنّي جئتُ أسألُه الوِصالا

كأنّي جئتُ أسألُه الوِصالا

He struck with the sword of his gaze, and charged—

He struck with the sword of his eye and charged,

With a sword whose blade was separation he drew near,

as though I had come to ask him for union.

as though I had come to ask him for union.

As though I had come to ask him for union.

وجار على المتيَّم في جفاه

وجار على المتيَّم في جفاه

وأجرى أدْمُعَ الصبّ انهمالا

وأجرى أدْمُعَ الصبّ انهمالا

He wronged the love-struck one by shunning him

He wronged the love-struck one with his coldness,

My tears rained down my cheeks continuously,

and made the lover’s tears pour down in torrents.

and made the ardent lover's tears pour down.

While he was harsh and turned away from me.

ومهما ازددت بين يديه ذلاً

ومهما ازددت بين يديه ذلاً

يَزد عزًّا ويتبعه دلالا

يَزد عزًّا ويتبعه دلالا

However much I abase myself before him,

The more I grew abased before him,

And no matter how much humiliation I showed before him,

he grows prouder, and coy disdain follows.

the more he grew proud, following it with coyness.

He only grew haughtier and more coy.

حكى البدرَ التمام له مُحَيًّا

حكى البدرَ التمام له مُحَيًّا

وشابه قدُّه الغصنَ اعتدالا

وشابه قدُّه الغصنَ اعتدالا

In countenance he rivaled the full moon,

His face mirrored the moon at its fullest,

The full moon told him of its perfection, shyly,

and his figure matched the bough in graceful poise.

and his stature resembled a branch in its straightness.

And the slender branch matched his tall stature.

وأذَّنَ حُسْنُه للوجد فيه

وأذَّنَ حُسْنُه للوجد فيه

فشاهدنا بوجنته بلالا

فشاهدنا بوجنته بلالا

His beauty called the ardent longing in him to prayer,

His beauty called ardent love to prayer in him,

His beauty heralded the passion found in him,

and upon his cheek we beheld its Bilal.

so on his cheek we beheld Bilal.

So we saw roses in his cheeks.

بقلبي نار خدٍّ قد تلظَّتْ

بقلبي نار خدٍّ قد تلظَّتْ

فتورث في جوانحي اشتعالا

فتورث في جوانحي اشتعالا

In my heart, the fire of a cheek has blazed,

In my heart the fire of a cheek has blazed,

In my heart is a fire, the burning of his cheek,

kindling a conflagration within my breast.

and so it kindles a blaze within my breast.

That sets my innermost being aflame.

وفي جسمي سقام عيون خشف

وفي جسمي سقام عيون خشف

عدت منها لي الداء العضالا

عدت منها لي الداء العضالا

And in my body lies sickness from a gazelle’s eyes;

In my body is the sickness of a fawn's eyes;

In my body is the sickness of eyes that fascinate,

from them the incurable malady returned to me.

from them the incurable illness passed to me.

From which has come to me a grave, tormenting disease.

وما أنسى بذات الرمث عهداً

وما أنسى بذات الرمث عهداً

مضى لكن حسبناه خيالا

مضى لكن حسبناه خيالا

Never shall I forget a tryst at Dhāt al-Rimth—

I cannot forget a time at Dhat al-Ramth,

I shall not forget the one with the fragrant abode,

it passed, yet we thought it but a dream—

a time gone by, though we thought it a dream:

Though that time has passed, I still deem it a dream.

زماناً لم نحاذر فيه واشٍ

زماناً لم نحاذر فيه واشٍ

ولم نسمع لعذال مقالا

ولم نسمع لعذال مقالا

a time when we feared no slanderer

a time when we feared no tale-bearer,

There was a time when we feared no separation

and heard no reproacher speak.

and heard no reproachers' words.

And heard no hurtful words.

وكم قد زارني رشأ غرير

وكم قد زارني رشأ غرير

فأرشفني على ظمأٍ زلالا

فأرشفني على ظمأٍ زلالا

How often a guileless young gazelle visited me

How often a guileless fawn visited me,

How often clear wine visited me,

and let me sip pure water in my thirst.

and gave me pure water to sip in my thirst.

Quenching my burning thirst.

وعهدي ليله أبداً قصير

وعهدي ليله أبداً قصير

فلما سار من أهواه طالا

فلما سار من أهواه طالا

I had always known his night to be brief;

In the days I recall, the night was always short;

My night with him was always too short,

but when the one I love departed, it grew long.

but when the one I love departed, it grew long.

But when my loved one departed, it dragged on.

وأنَّى يرتجي الَّلاحي سلُوِّي

وأنَّى يرتجي الَّلاحي سلُوِّي

وقد ذابت حشاشتي انسلالا

وقد ذابت حشاشتي انسلالا

How can the censor hope that I shall forget,

How can the reproacher hope I will forget my love,

How can the sleepless one hope for rest,

when my heart’s core has melted away, slipping from me?

when the life left in me has melted, slipping away?

When my eyelids flow with ceaseless tears?

أيهديني عن الأَشواق لاحٍ

أيهديني عن الأَشواق لاحٍ

وما قد زادني إلاَّ ضلالا

وما قد زادني إلاَّ ضلالا

Can any censor guide me away from longing,

Can a reproacher guide me away from longing,

Will a flashing glimmer guide me

when he has only led me further astray?

when he has only led me further astray?

When it has only further led me astray?

فلا تسألْ وقيت الشرّ دمعاً

فلا تسألْ وقيت الشرّ دمعاً

إذا ما لاح برق الحيف سالا

إذا ما لاح برق الحيف سالا

Do not ask—may you be spared all ill—about tears

Do not question tears—may you be spared harm—

Do not ask when faced with evil, for tears,

that flow whenever the lightning of al-Ḥayf gleams.

that flow whenever the lightning of injustice flashes.

If the injustice pours forth profusely.

أَحَلَّتْ سربُ ذاك الربع قتلي

أَحَلَّتْ سربُ ذاك الربع قتلي

ولم يك قبلهن دمي حلالا

ولم يك قبلهن دمي حلالا

The gazelles dwelling in that campsite made my blood lawful,

The flock of that dwelling made my killing lawful,

That band from the encampment burdened me with murder

though before them it had not been lawful to shed.

though before them my blood was not lawful to shed.

And before them my blood was never lawful.

ولو أبصَرتَ إذ رحلوا فؤادي

ولو أبصَرتَ إذ رحلوا فؤادي

رأيت الصبر يتّبع الجمالا

رأيت الصبر يتّبع الجمالا

Had you seen my heart when they departed,

Had you seen my heart as they departed,

If you had seen when they departed with my heart,

you would have seen patience following the beauties away.

you would have seen patience following the camels.

You’d have seen patience following after beauty.

ألا لله ما فعلتْ بقلبي

ألا لله ما فعلتْ بقلبي

جفون لم تخل إلاَّ نصالا

جفون لم تخل إلاَّ نصالا

Ah, by God, what they have done to my heart—

Ah, by God, what they have done to my heart—

Oh what their eyelids have done to my heart,

eyelids containing nothing but arrowheads!

eyelids you could take for nothing but blades!

Ceaselessly unsheathing swords.

وربٍّ قد كسا الأَحباب حسناً

وربٍّ قد كسا الأَحباب حسناً

كساني من صبابتها انتحالا

كساني من صبابتها انتحالا

By the Lord who clothed the beloved ones in beauty,

By the Lord who clothed the beloved ones in beauty,

A Lord who dressed the loved ones in beauty

my passion for them clothed me in wasting sickness.

he clothed me in wasting through longing for her.

Adorned me in their attributes.

وإنِّي في الغرام وفي التصابي

وإنِّي في الغرام وفي التصابي

كمثل محمَّدٍ حزت الكمالا

كمثل محمَّدٍ حزت الكمالا

In love and youthful ardor, I

In passion and youthful dalliance,

In love and desire I am as Muhammad was,

like Muhammad have attained perfection:

I have attained perfection, like Muhammad.

Achieving the utmost level of perfection.

فتًى في العلم والإِكرام بحرٌ

فتًى في العلم والإِكرام بحرٌ

وكانَ وروده عذباً زلالا

وكانَ وروده عذباً زلالا

a young man who is an ocean of learning and generosity,

A youth who is an ocean of learning and generosity,

A young man, a sea of knowledge and generosity,

whose waters have ever been sweet and pure.

and drinking from him was sweet and clear.

Whose presence was as sweet as fresh water.

له عزم حكى الشمّ الرَّواسي

له عزم حكى الشمّ الرَّواسي

وخُلقٌ قد حكى الرِّيح الشمالا

وخُلقٌ قد حكى الرِّيح الشمالا

His resolve rivals the lofty, steadfast mountains,

His resolve resembled lofty, firmly rooted mountains,

With a resolve that told of lofty ambitions

and his character resembles the north wind’s gentle breath.

and his character resembled the north wind.

And a manner that recalled the north wind.

ومرتاح إلى الإِكرام طبعاً

ومرتاح إلى الإِكرام طبعاً

ولا يحوي لبذل المال مالا

ولا يحوي لبذل المال مالا

By nature he delights in showing generosity,

By nature he delights in giving,

Naturally inclined towards magnanimity,

and sets no store by wealth when giving it away.

and through giving wealth he retains no wealth.

Without ever tiring of spending wealth.

أحبّ الناس في الدنيا لديه

أحبّ الناس في الدنيا لديه

فتًى أبدى لنائله السؤالا

فتًى أبدى لنائله السؤالا

The dearest person in the world to him

The dearest person in the world to him

The most beloved of people in his eyes

is a young man who makes his need known to receive his bounty.

is a youth who has asked for his bounty.

Is one who makes requests of him always.

ويهوى المكرمات بكلِّ آنٍ

ويهوى المكرمات بكلِّ آنٍ

ولن نلقى به عنها ملالا

ولن نلقى به عنها ملالا

At every moment he loves noble deeds,

He loves noble deeds at every moment,

He loves acts of kindness at all times,

and we shall never find him weary of them.

and we shall never find him weary of them.

And we never find weariness in him.

وكانَ نداه للعافين وصلاً

وكانَ نداه للعافين وصلاً

وكانَ على أعاديه وبالا

وكانَ على أعاديه وبالا

His largesse brought the needy close to him,

His bounty was a bond of fellowship for petitioners,

His help to the fortunate was connection,

while upon his enemies it was a scourge.

and it was a scourge upon his enemies.

And to his enemies - tribulation.

كساهُ الله تاجاً من فخارٍ

كساهُ الله تاجاً من فخارٍ

وألبسه المهابة والجلالا

وألبسه المهابة والجلالا

God clothed him with a crown of glory

God clothed him in a crown of glory,

God crowned him with a crown of glory,

and robed him in awe and majesty.

and arrayed him in awe and majesty.

Cloaking him in awe and majesty.

فلو زالتْ جبال الله عنها

فلو زالتْ جبال الله عنها

لكانَ وقاره فيها جبالا

لكانَ وقاره فيها جبالا

Were God’s mountains to vanish from the earth,

If God's mountains vanished from the earth,

If God’s mountains disappeared from around it,

his dignity upon it would stand as mountains.

his dignity would be mountains upon it.

His dignity upon them would be as mountains.

نديّ الكفّ راحته غمام

نديّ الكفّ راحته غمام

فلو لمس الحصى فيها لسالا

فلو لمس الحصى فيها لسالا

Dewy-handed, his palm is a rain cloud;

His hand is moist with bounty; his palm is a cloud,

The palm of his generous hand is a cloud,

were it to touch pebbles, they would melt and flow.

and if he touched pebbles in it, they would flow.

That if it touched the pebbles rain would flow from it.

وما بخلتْ له أبداً يمينٌ

وما بخلتْ له أبداً يمينٌ

وما عَرَفَ المواعد والمطالا

وما عَرَفَ المواعد والمطالا

His right hand has never withheld anything from him,

Never did his right hand withhold,

His right hand has never withheld,

nor has he known promises and delay.

and he knew neither promises nor procrastination.

Nor known appointments or procrastination.

همامٌ لو يروم الأُفق نيلاً

همامٌ لو يروم الأُفق نيلاً

بباعٍ من عزائمه لنالا

بباعٍ من عزائمه لنالا

A high-souled man: were he to seek to reach the horizon,

A man of high resolve: if he sought to reach the horizon,

With some of his mighty determination,

one span of his resolve would attain it.

he would reach it with an arm-span of his resolve.

He could attain the far horizons.

ويؤذن بشرُه بسحاب جود

ويؤذن بشرُه بسحاب جود

وكان تبسم الكرماء خالا

وكان تبسم الكرماء خالا

His cheerful face heralds clouds of generosity,

His cheerful face heralds clouds of bounty,

The cheer of his face foretells clouds of generosity,

and the smiles of generous men are its beauty marks.

and the smile of the generous was a rain-cloud.

As the smiles of the generous are moles.

لقد نلنا به صعب الأَماني

لقد نلنا به صعب الأَماني

فلم نعرف بساحته المحالا

فلم نعرف بساحته المحالا

Through him we attained our hardest hopes,

Through him we attained our hardest wishes,

We attained through him the difficult hopes,

and in his court we never knew the impossible.

so in his courtyard we knew no impossibility.

And knew no impossibilities in his dominion.

وحبر العلم بل بحر غزير

وحبر العلم بل بحر غزير

أجلّ الناس في الدُّنيا نوالا

أجلّ الناس في الدُّنيا نوالا

A master of learning—rather, a swelling sea—

A master of learning—rather, an abundant sea—

An ocean of knowledge and the greatest attainment

the most exalted of men in worldly bounty.

the most exalted of people in this world for bounty.

Of that which souls desire in this world.

بدا منه محيّا ثم نور

بدا منه محيّا ثم نور

فأمسى في ذوي الآمال فالا

فأمسى في ذوي الآمال فالا

From him appeared a radiant countenance, and there was light;

From him appeared a face, and then a light,

He emerged as a moon then as a light,

so he became a good omen to all who cherish hopes.

and he became a good omen among those with hopes.

Becoming unmatched in splendor.

ومدَّ يمينه في البسط يوماً

ومدَّ يمينه في البسط يوماً

فأغمرنا عطاءاً واتِّصالا

فأغمرنا عطاءاً واتِّصالا

One day he stretched out his right hand in munificence

One day he stretched out his right hand in open giving,

He extended his hand one day in expansion,

and overwhelmed us with gifts and gracious closeness.

and flooded us with gifts and fellowship.

Inundating us with gifts and connection.

حباهُ اللهُ في حسن السجايا

حباهُ اللهُ في حسن السجايا

وتلك عطيَّة الباري تعالى

وتلك عطيَّة الباري تعالى

God endowed him with beauty of character;

God endowed him with beauty of character,

God endowed him with excellent traits,

such is the gift of the Creator, exalted is He—

and that is the gift of the Creator, exalted is He.

And that is the Exalted Creator's giving.

خلالٌ كالصوارم مرهفات

خلالٌ كالصوارم مرهفات

أجادتها محاسنه الصقالا

أجادتها محاسنه الصقالا

virtues keen as sharpened swords,

Traits like swords honed keen,

Penetrative intimacies like sharp swords,

finely polished by his excellences.

which his virtues have polished to perfection.

Carved out through his polished virtues.

فإن قلنا لدى الدُّنيا جميل

فإن قلنا لدى الدُّنيا جميل

عنينا حسن خلقك والخصالا

عنينا حسن خلقك والخصالا

If we say there is beauty in this world,

If we say the world holds something beautiful,

If we say to the world “beautiful one,”

we mean your gracious character and virtues.

we mean the beauty of your character and traits.

We mean the beauty of your manners and traits.

أتحصي المادحون له كمالاً

أتحصي المادحون له كمالاً

ومن ذا عدّ في الأرض الرمالا

ومن ذا عدّ في الأرض الرمالا

Can his panegyrists ever number his perfections?

Can the praisers count his perfections?

Can panegyrists number the totality of his perfection?

Who has ever counted the sands of the earth?

Who has ever counted the sands upon the earth?

And who can count the grains of sand on earth?

وما غالتْ بك المُدَّاحُ حَمْداً

وما غالتْ بك المُدَّاحُ حَمْداً

إذا ما فيك أطنَبَ ثمَّ غالى

إذا ما فيك أطنَبَ ثمَّ غالى

The eulogists do not exaggerate in praising you,

The panegyrists have not praised you excessively,

You have not exaggerated in your praise of him,

however fully they extol you, then surpass all bounds.

even when one speaks at length of you, then goes to extremes.

Even if you ramble on at length hyperbolizing.

أعوذ ببأسه من كلِّ خطبٍ

أعوذ ببأسه من كلِّ خطبٍ

فقد أضحى على الدُّنيا عقالا

فقد أضحى على الدُّنيا عقالا

I seek refuge in his might from every calamity,

I seek refuge in his might from every calamity—

I seek refuge in his might from every hardship,

for he has become a bridle restraining the world,

for he has become a hobble upon the world—

For he has disciplined the world.

وعزم يقهر الأَعداء قهراً

وعزم يقهر الأَعداء قهراً

وإنْ لم تلتق منه قتالا

وإنْ لم تلتق منه قتالا

and a resolve that utterly subdues enemies

and in a resolve that utterly subdues enemies,

A determination that vanquishes enemies forcibly,

even without battle being joined by him.

even if you have faced no combat from him.

Even if you have not seen him in battle.

فلو طاولنَه السُّمر العوالي

فلو طاولنَه السُّمر العوالي

على نيل المرام إذنْ لطالا

على نيل المرام إذنْ لطالا

Were the tall, brown lances to vie with him

If the tall, dusky spears challenged his reach

If the highest summits opposed

in reaching the goal, he would outstrip them.

in attaining the goal, he would reach higher.

His attainment of his every desire, still he would reach them.

وقد كمل العلوم وكلّ فخر

وقد كمل العلوم وكلّ فخر

وقد زان المفاخر والكمالا

وقد زان المفاخر والكمالا

He has perfected every science and every glory,

He has perfected the sciences and every glory,

He has completed every science and pride,

and adorned all honors and perfections.

and adorned all glories and perfection.

And embellished glories and perfections.

وما هو غير بدر في المعالي

وما هو غير بدر في المعالي

فلا عجب إذا نالَ الكمالا

فلا عجب إذا نالَ الكمالا

He is nothing less than a full moon among the heights of honor;

He is nothing but a full moon in the heights of glory,

He is none but a full moon in the horizons,

no wonder, then, that he attained perfection.

so no wonder he has attained perfection.

So no wonder that he has attained perfection.

فلو شاهدت في التقرير منه

فلو شاهدت في التقرير منه

بياناً خلته السحر الحلالا

بياناً خلته السحر الحلالا

Were you to witness his lucid exposition,

If you witnessed in his exposition

If you observed the most precise explanation from him

you would deem its eloquence lawful magic.

eloquence, you would deem it lawful magic.

You would find an unmatched clarity.

يهدي الله فيه الخلق رشداً

يهدي الله فيه الخلق رشداً

وفيه يكشف الله الضلالا

وفيه يكشف الله الضلالا

Through it God guides creation to righteousness,

Through him God guides mankind aright,

God guides creation rightly through him

and through it God dispels error.

and through him God dispels error.

And removes misguidance through him.

ولم يترك لأهل الفخر فخراً

ولم يترك لأهل الفخر فخراً

ولم يترك لذي قولٍ مقالا

ولم يترك لذي قولٍ مقالا

He left the proud no glory to claim,

He has left no glory for those who boast,

He left people no pride to take,

and left no eloquent speaker anything to say.

and left nothing to say for any speaker.

Nor words for opponents to speak.

فما خابت ظنون أخي مرامٍ

فما خابت ظنون أخي مرامٍ

أصارك في مطالبه مآلا

أصارك في مطالبه مآلا

The hopes of any man with an aim have never failed

Never have the expectations failed of one seeking a goal

Thus, my brother’s hopes were not dashed,

who made you the destination of his quests.

who made you the final resort for his requests.

Making your satisfaction his destination.

فخذها سيِّدي منها قصيداً

فخذها سيِّدي منها قصيداً

وصيّر لي رضاك بها نوالا

وصيّر لي رضاك بها نوالا

Accept it, my lord: from these verses, a poem,

So accept it, my lord, a poem drawn from these verses,

Take it, my master, as a poem from me,

and make your pleasure in it my reward.

and make your approval of it a gift to me.

And make your pleasure with it my fortune.