أَما وَاِلتِفاتِ الرَوضِ عَن أَزرَقِ النَهرِ

أَما وَاِلتِفاتِ الرَوضِ عَن أَزرَقِ النَهرِ

وَإِشراقِ جيدِ الغُصنِ في حِليَةِ الزَهرِ

وَإِشراقِ جيدِ الغُصنِ في حِليَةِ الزَهرِ

Ah, by the garden's turning from the river's blue,

The garden turns from the blue river,

and the gleaming neck of the bough in its ornament of blossoms,

And the branch shines in its flower necklace,

وَقَد نَسَمَت ريحُ النُعامى فَنَبَّهَت

وَقَد نَسَمَت ريحُ النُعامى فَنَبَّهَت

عُيونَ النَدامى تَحتَ رَيحانَةِ الفَجرِ

عُيونَ النَدامى تَحتَ رَيحانَةِ الفَجرِ

as the Nu'ama wind breathed and awakened

The breeze of ostriches has blown, arousing

the drinking companions' eyes beneath dawn's basil;

The eyes of the regretful under the basil of dawn.

وَخِدرِ فَتاةٍ قَد طَرَقتُ وَإِنَّما

وَخِدرِ فَتاةٍ قَد طَرَقتُ وَإِنَّما

أَبَحتُ بِهِ وَكرَ الحَمامَةِ لِلصَقرِ

أَبَحتُ بِهِ وَكرَ الحَمامَةِ لِلصَقرِ

and by a maiden's chamber I visited by night—yet I only

And the languor of a girl I have courted, though

thereby opened the dove's nest to the falcon;

I disclosed it, and the dove takes shelter from the falcon.

وَقَدٍّ خَلَعتُ البُردَ عَنهُ وَإِنَّما

وَقَدٍّ خَلَعتُ البُردَ عَنهُ وَإِنَّما

نَشَرتُ بِهِ طَيَّ الصَحيفَةِ عَن سَطرِ

نَشَرتُ بِهِ طَيَّ الصَحيفَةِ عَن سَطرِ

and by a figure whose mantle I removed—yet I only

I have taken off the cloak from it, though

thereby unfolded the page to uncover a line:

I have spread by it the page’s fold from the line.

لَقَد جُبتُ دونَ الحَيِّ كُلَّ تَنوفَةٍ

لَقَد جُبتُ دونَ الحَيِّ كُلَّ تَنوفَةٍ

يَحومُ بِها نَسرُ السَماءِ عَلى وَكرِ

يَحومُ بِها نَسرُ السَماءِ عَلى وَكرِ

Indeed, I crossed every wilderness before reaching the tribe,

I have lived less than the alive, every

where heaven's eagle circles above a nest.

Eagle of the sky hovering over its nest.

وَخُضتُ ظَلامَ اللَيلِ يَسوَدُّ فَحمُهُ

وَخُضتُ ظَلامَ اللَيلِ يَسوَدُّ فَحمُهُ

وَدُستُ عَرينَ اللَيثِ يَنظُرُ عَن جَمرِ

وَدُستُ عَرينَ اللَيثِ يَنظُرُ عَن جَمرِ

I waded through night's darkness, its charcoal blackening,

And I waded the darkness of the night, its gloom is black,

and trod the lion's lair as it glared with embers.

And I crept into the lion’s den, looking from embers.

وَجِئتُ دِيارَ الحَيِّ وَاللَيلُ مُطرَفٌ

وَجِئتُ دِيارَ الحَيِّ وَاللَيلُ مُطرَفٌ

مُنَمنَمُ ثَوبِ الأُفقِ بِالأَنجُمِ الزُهرِ

مُنَمنَمُ ثَوبِ الأُفقِ بِالأَنجُمِ الزُهرِ

I came to the tribe's dwellings while night was a fringed cloak,

And I came to the homeland and the night is long,

the horizon's robe embroidered with radiant stars.

Embroidered the dress of the horizon with star flowers.

أَشيمُ بِها بَرقَ الحَديدِ وَرُبَّما

أَشيمُ بِها بَرقَ الحَديدِ وَرُبَّما

عَثَرتُ بِأَطرافِ الرُدَينِيَّةِ السُمرِ

عَثَرتُ بِأَطرافِ الرُدَينِيَّةِ السُمرِ

There I watched the lightning of steel, and sometimes

I smell by it the lightning of iron, and sometimes

stumbled against the points of brown Rudayni lances.

I stumbled on the edges of the dark brownish cloak.

فَلَم أَلقَ إِلّا صَعدَةً فَوقَ لامَةٍ

فَلَم أَلقَ إِلّا صَعدَةً فَوقَ لامَةٍ

فَقُلتُ قَضيبٌ قَد أَطَلَّ عَلى نَهرِ

فَقُلتُ قَضيبٌ قَد أَطَلَّ عَلى نَهرِ

I met only a straight spear above a coat of mail,

But I did not find except desolation over infertility,

so I said, 'A slender bough overhangs a river.'

So I said a staff overlooking a river.

وَلا شِمتُ إِلّا غُرَّةً فَوقَ شُقرَةٍ

وَلا شِمتُ إِلّا غُرَّةً فَوقَ شُقرَةٍ

فَقُلتُ حَبابٌ يَستَديرُ عَلى خَمرِ

فَقُلتُ حَبابٌ يَستَديرُ عَلى خَمرِ

Nor did I spy anything but a white blaze above chestnut red,

And I sensed nothing but a bud over a nipple,

so I said, 'Foam circling upon wine.'

So I said a seed rounding on wine.

وَدونَ طُروقِ الحَيِّ خَوضَةُ فَتكَةٍ

وَدونَ طُروقِ الحَيِّ خَوضَةُ فَتكَةٍ

مُوَرَّسَةِ السِربالِ دامِيَةِ الظِفرِ

مُوَرَّسَةِ السِربالِ دامِيَةِ الظِفرِ

Before visiting the tribe by night lay a plunge into a deadly assault,

And below the homelands of the alive is a deadly struggle,

yellow-dyed in its tunic and bloodied in its claw,

Fortified with chainmail, bloody-clawed.

تَطَلَّعُ في فَرعٍ مِنَ النَقعِ أَسوَدٍ

تَطَلَّعُ في فَرعٍ مِنَ النَقعِ أَسوَدٍ

وَتَسفُرُ عَن خَدٍّ مِنَ السَيفِ مُحَمَرِّ

وَتَسفُرُ عَن خَدٍّ مِنَ السَيفِ مُحَمَرِّ

peering through black tresses of dust,

It peeks out from a black branch,

and baring a reddened cheek of sword steel.

And reveals from a reddened cheek of the sword.

فَسِرتُ وَقَلبُ البَرقِ يَخفُقُ غَيرَةً

فَسِرتُ وَقَلبُ البَرقِ يَخفُقُ غَيرَةً

هُناكَ وَعَينُ النَجمِ تَنظُرُ عَن شَزرِ

هُناكَ وَعَينُ النَجمِ تَنظُرُ عَن شَزرِ

So I went on, while lightning's heart throbbed with jealousy

So I walked, and the heart of lightning throbs with jealousy,

there, and the star's eye glared askance.

There, and the eye of the star looks with blinking.

وَطارَ إِلَيها بي جَناحُ صَبابَةٍ

وَطارَ إِلَيها بي جَناحُ صَبابَةٍ

فَطارَ بِها عَنّي جَناحٌ مِنَ الذُعرِ

فَطارَ بِها عَنّي جَناحٌ مِنَ الذُعرِ

A wing of longing flew me to her,

And the wing of madness flew to it in me,

but a wing of terror flew her away from me.

So the wing of panic flew away from me.

فَقُلتُ رُوَيداً لاتُراعي فَإِنَّنا

فَقُلتُ رُوَيداً لاتُراعي فَإِنَّنا

لَنَطوي ضُلوعَ اللَيلِ مِنّا عَلى سِرِّ

لَنَطوي ضُلوعَ اللَيلِ مِنّا عَلى سِرِّ

I said, 'Gently; do not be afraid, for we

So I said: "Slow down, do not be startled, we

will fold night's ribs around a secret of ours.'

Will fold the ribs of the night away from us in secret."

وَسَكَّنتُ مِن نَفسٍ تَجيشُ مَروعَةٍ

وَسَكَّنتُ مِن نَفسٍ تَجيشُ مَروعَةٍ

وَمَسَّحتُ عَن عِطفٍ تَمايَلَ مُزوَرِّ

وَمَسَّحتُ عَن عِطفٍ تَمايَلَ مُزوَرِّ

I quieted a frightened soul in tumult,

And I calmed a soul raging in fright,

and stroked a side that swayed and turned away.

And I wiped an inclining shoulder that leaned in pretense.

وَمَزَّقتُ جَيبَ اللَيلِ عَنها وَإِنَّما

وَمَزَّقتُ جَيبَ اللَيلِ عَنها وَإِنَّما

رَفَعتُ جَناحَ النَسرِ عَن بَيضَةِ الخِدرِ

رَفَعتُ جَناحَ النَسرِ عَن بَيضَةِ الخِدرِ

I tore night's bosom away from her—yet I only

And I tore the pocket of the night away from it, though

lifted the eagle's wing from the egg of the chamber.

I raised the wing of the eagle away from the egg of languor.

وَقَبَّلتُ ما بَينَ المُحَيّا إِلى الطُلى

وَقَبَّلتُ ما بَينَ المُحَيّا إِلى الطُلى

وَعانَقتُ ما بَينَ التَراقي إِلى الخَصرِ

وَعانَقتُ ما بَينَ التَراقي إِلى الخَصرِ

I kissed from her face down to her throat,

And I kissed between the cheek and the halo,

and embraced from her collarbones down to her waist.

And I embraced between the neck and waist.

وَأَطرَبَ سَجعُ الحَليِ مِن خَيزُرانَةٍ

وَأَطرَبَ سَجعُ الحَليِ مِن خَيزُرانَةٍ

تَميلُ بِها ريحُ الشَبيبَةِ وَالسُكرِ

تَميلُ بِها ريحُ الشَبيبَةِ وَالسُكرِ

The cooing of jewels on a bamboo stem delighted me,

And the rhyme of the necklace was enraptured from a bracelet,

which the breeze of youth and drunkenness swayed.

The youth’s breeze and intoxication swaying with it.

غَزالِيَّةُ الأَلحاظِ ريمِيَّةُ الطُلى

غَزالِيَّةُ الأَلحاظِ ريمِيَّةُ الطُلى

مُدامِيَّةُ الأَلمى حَبابِيَّةُ الثَغرِ

مُدامِيَّةُ الأَلمى حَبابِيَّةُ الثَغرِ

Gazelle-like in her glances, white-antelope-like in her neck,

Gazelle-eyed, wild cow-lipped,

wine-like in her dusky lips, foam-like in her mouth.

Wine-colored, cherry-lipped.

تَرَجَّحُ في مَوشِيَّةٍ ذَهَبِيَّةٍ

تَرَجَّحُ في مَوشِيَّةٍ ذَهَبِيَّةٍ

كَما اِشتَبَكَت زُهرُ النُجومِ عَلى البَدرِ

كَما اِشتَبَكَت زُهرُ النُجومِ عَلى البَدرِ

She swayed in a golden embroidered robe,

Swaying in a gold bracelet,

as bright stars entwine about the full moon.

As the flowers of stars intertwined over the full moon.

تَلاقى نَسيبي في هَواها وَأَدمُعي

تَلاقى نَسيبي في هَواها وَأَدمُعي

فَمِن لُؤلُؤٍ نَظمٍ وَمِن لُؤلُؤٍ نَثرِ

فَمِن لُؤلُؤٍ نَظمٍ وَمِن لُؤلُؤٍ نَثرِ

My love verses and my tears met in my love for her,

My passion and my tears met in her love,

some pearls strung, and some pearls scattered.

So from strung pearls and from scattered pearls.

وَقَد خَلَعَت لَيلاً عَلَينا يَدُ الهَوى

وَقَد خَلَعَت لَيلاً عَلَينا يَدُ الهَوى

رِداءَ عِناقٍ مَزَّقَتهُ يَدُ الفَجرِ

رِداءَ عِناقٍ مَزَّقَتهُ يَدُ الفَجرِ

Love's hand had draped us by night

And the hand of love has robed us at night

in a robe of embrace that dawn's hand tore apart.

With a gown of embrace that the dawn’s hand tore.

وَلَمّا تَجَلّى ضَوءُ صُبحٍ كَأَنَّهُ

وَلَمّا تَجَلّى ضَوءُ صُبحٍ كَأَنَّهُ

مَشيبٌ بِفَودِ اللَيلِ طالِعَ مِن قَطرِ

مَشيبٌ بِفَودِ اللَيلِ طالِعَ مِن قَطرِ

And when morning's light appeared, as though it were

And when the light of dawn appeared, it was as if

gray hair on night's temple sprouting from one quarter,

Gray hair appeared on the night’s temple from dripping.

وَحَطَّ رِداءَ الغَيمِ عَن مَنكِبِ الصَبا

وَحَطَّ رِداءَ الغَيمِ عَن مَنكِبِ الصَبا

وَنَمَّ عَلى ذَيلُِ الدُجى نَفسُ الزَهرِ

وَنَمَّ عَلى ذَيلُِ الدُجى نَفسُ الزَهرِ

and cast the cloud's cloak from the east wind's shoulder,

And it dropped the cloud’s gown from the morning’s shoulder,

and the flowers' breath betrayed the trailing hem of darkness,

And the spirit of flowers slept on the tail of darkness.

صَدَرتُ وَدونَ النَجمِ سِترُ غَمامَةٍ

صَدَرتُ وَدونَ النَجمِ سِترُ غَمامَةٍ

يَشِفُّ كَما شَفَّ الرَمادُ عَنِ الجمرِ

يَشِفُّ كَما شَفَّ الرَمادُ عَنِ الجمرِ

I departed, with a veil of cloud before the star,

I set out, and below the star is a cloud’s veil

transparent as ash that lets the embers show.

That heals as ash healed over embers.

وَلا لَيلَ إِلّا بِالثَوِيَّةِ أَقمَرٌ

وَلا لَيلَ إِلّا بِالثَوِيَّةِ أَقمَرٌ

تَنَفَّسَ في السُكرُ عَن نَفحَةِ الشُكرِ

تَنَفَّسَ في السُكرُ عَن نَفحَةِ الشُكرِ

No night is moonlit save at al-Thawiyya,

Every night is crescent-lit with happiness,

with drunkenness breathing a waft of gratitude.

Intoxication breathed in it the breath of gratitude.

وَلا كَفَّ إِلّا لِلأَميرِ كَريمَةٌ

وَلا كَفَّ إِلّا لِلأَميرِ كَريمَةٌ

تَبَسَّمَ فيها النَصلُ عَن مَبسِمِ النَصرِ

تَبَسَّمَ فيها النَصلُ عَن مَبسِمِ النَصرِ

No hand is generous save the prince's,

And every palm for the prince is generous,

in which the blade smiled with victory's smile.

In it the blade smiled with the smile of victory.

وَهَبَّ بِها يَمضي فَيَفري كَأَنَّما

وَهَبَّ بِها يَمضي فَيَفري كَأَنَّما

شِهابٌ بِها يَنقَضُّ أَو قَدَرٌ يَجري

شِهابٌ بِها يَنقَضُّ أَو قَدَرٌ يَجري

In it the blade sprang forward and cleaved, as though

And it dashed with it, going away as if

a meteor plunged within it, or destiny ran its course.

A shooting star dashing or a fate running.

فَلِلَّهِ مَحمولٌ هُناكَ وَحامِلٌ

فَلِلَّهِ مَحمولٌ هُناكَ وَحامِلٌ

بَعيدُ مَجالِ الصَوتِ وَالصيتِ وَالذِكرِ

بَعيدُ مَجالِ الصَوتِ وَالصيتِ وَالذِكرِ

God be praised for the blade borne there and its bearer,

To God belongs what is carried there and who carries,

far-reaching in voice, renown, and remembrance.

Far from the range of voice and fame and mention.

تَلوذُ المُنى مِنهُ بِأَصيَدَ أَمجَدٍ

تَلوذُ المُنى مِنهُ بِأَصيَدَ أَمجَدٍ

صَقيلِ فِرِندِ الحَمدِ وَالمَجدِ وَالبِشرِ

صَقيلِ فِرِندِ الحَمدِ وَالمَجدِ وَالبِشرِ

Hopes seek refuge in him, a proud and glorious lord,

Refuge is sought from it through the best lion-hunting,

his steel-pattern polished with praise, glory, and cheer,

The shining of the praise, glory and good news.

وَأَبلَجَ مَنصورِ اللِواءِ إِذا سَرى

وَأَبلَجَ مَنصورِ اللِواءِ إِذا سَرى

أَظَلَّت عُقابُ النَصرِ أَجنِحَةُ النَسرِ

أَظَلَّت عُقابُ النَصرِ أَجنِحَةُ النَسرِ

and radiant, with victorious banner; whenever he travels by night,

And it whitened the insignia-bearing Mansur when he walked,

victory's eagle overshadows the Eagle's wings.

The wings of victory shaded the wings of the eagle over him.

عَلَيهِ يَمينٌ أَن تَفيضَ يَمينُهُ

عَلَيهِ يَمينٌ أَن تَفيضَ يَمينُهُ

وَأَن لا يَغُضَّ السَيفُ جَفناً عَلى وِترِ

وَأَن لا يَغُضَّ السَيفُ جَفناً عَلى وِترِ

He is sworn to let his right hand overflow,

Upon him is a right hand that overflows his right hand,

and never let the sword close an eyelid on an unavenged wrong.

And that the sword does not close an eyelid over a chord.

يَعُبُّ عُبابَ البَحرِ في السِلمِ وَالوَغى

يَعُبُّ عُبابَ البَحرِ في السِلمِ وَالوَغى

بِبَذلِ اليَدِ الغَرّاءِ وَالفَتكَةِ البِكرِ

بِبَذلِ اليَدِ الغَرّاءِ وَالفَتكَةِ البِكرِ

He surges with the sea's surge in peace and war,

It stirs the floods of the sea in peace and commotion

through his radiant hand's bounty and an unprecedented onslaught.

With the spending of the noble hand and fresh conquest.

لَهُ رايَةٌ لَو زاحَمَ الدَهرُ تَحتَها

لَهُ رايَةٌ لَو زاحَمَ الدَهرُ تَحتَها

لَعُدَّت بِهِ دُهمُ اللَيالي مِنَ الشُقرِ

لَعُدَّت بِهِ دُهمُ اللَيالي مِنَ الشُقرِ

He has a banner: if Time jostled beneath it,

He has a banner, if fate contended under it

through him the black nights would be counted among the tawny ones.

The eras of nights would be counted as blond from dark-haired.

وَعَزمٌ يُذِلُّ الطَودَ هَدّاً وَنَجدَةٌ

وَعَزمٌ يُذِلُّ الطَودَ هَدّاً وَنَجدَةٌ

تَهُزُ قُدودَ السُمرِ في الحُلَلِ الحُمرِ

تَهُزُ قُدودَ السُمرِ في الحُلَلِ الحُمرِ

And resolve that humbles the mountain, crushing it, and courage

And a resolve that humiliates mountains submissively, and championship

that shakes the brown spears' forms in crimson robes.

That shakes the lofty necks of the reddish bold ones.

وَوَجهٌ وَضيءٌ شَفَّ عَنهُ لِثامَهُ

وَوَجهٌ وَضيءٌ شَفَّ عَنهُ لِثامَهُ

كَما شَفَّ رَقراقُ الغَمامِ عَنِ البَدرِ

كَما شَفَّ رَقراقُ الغَمامِ عَنِ البَدرِ

And a radiant face whose veil lets it shine through,

And a bright face that its mask unveiled,

as a shimmering wisp of cloud reveals the full moon.

As the thinning of clouds unveiled the full moon.

إِذا كَتَمتَهُ بِالمَفاضَةِ دِرعُهُ

إِذا كَتَمتَهُ بِالمَفاضَةِ دِرعُهُ

تَراءى هِلالٌ مِنهُ يَطلُعُ مِن بَحرِ

تَراءى هِلالٌ مِنهُ يَطلُعُ مِن بَحرِ

When his armor conceals him in its full-length mail,

If his coat of mail concealed it in closure

a crescent appears from him, rising out of a sea.

A crescent of it would appear rising from a sea.

سَرى بَينَ نُوّارٍ لِزُرقِ أَسِنَّةٍ

سَرى بَينَ نُوّارٍ لِزُرقِ أَسِنَّةٍ

حِدادٍ وَأَوراقٍ لِراياتِهِ خُضرِ

حِدادٍ وَأَوراقٍ لِراياتِهِ خُضرِ

He traveled by night amid blossoms of blue spearheads,

He walked between fires of lances’ blue steel,

keen-edged, and the green leaves of his banners.

Blacksmiths and banners’ green leaves for his banners.

فَهَزَّت إِلَيهِ عِطفَها كُلَّ رايَةٍ

فَهَزَّت إِلَيهِ عِطفَها كُلَّ رايَةٍ

تَهُزُّ عَلَيهِ الغُصنَ في الوَرَقِ النَضرِ

تَهُزُّ عَلَيهِ الغُصنَ في الوَرَقِ النَضرِ

Every banner swayed its flank toward him,

So every banner leaned its shoulder toward him,

waving a bough above him amid fresh leaves.

As branches lean upon it in green leaves.

وَحَنَّ إِلَيهِ كُلُّ وِردٍ مُحَجَّلٍ

وَحَنَّ إِلَيهِ كُلُّ وِردٍ مُحَجَّلٍ

كَأَنَّ لُجَيناً سالَ مِنهُ عَلى تِبرِ

كَأَنَّ لُجَيناً سالَ مِنهُ عَلى تِبرِ

And every white-stockinged bay yearned toward him,

And every rosy blossom inclined toward him,

as though silver flowed from it over raw gold.

As if a flood streamed from it over straw.

يَجولُ في عَنانٍ بِهِ الصَبا

يَجولُ في عَنانٍ بِهِ الصَبا

وَيَزخُرُ في لِبدٍ بِهِ البَحرُ في البَرِّ

وَيَزخُرُ في لِبدٍ بِهِ البَحرُ في البَرِّ

The east wind roams within its reins,

He tours with him the bridle of morning,

and the sea surges in its saddlecloth upon dry land.

And the sea foams in the land with him.

وَأَشهَبُ وَضّاحٌ تَحَمَّلَ رُقعَةً

وَأَشهَبُ وَضّاحٌ تَحَمَّلَ رُقعَةً

مِنَ الحُسنِ لَم تَعبُر بِهِ العَينُ في بَسرِ

مِنَ الحُسنِ لَم تَعبُر بِهِ العَينُ في بَسرِ

And a dazzling gray horse carried a page

And the gray Waddah who bore a sheet

of beauty that no eye passed with a scowl.

Of beauty that the eye did not pass in insight.

تَحُطُّ سُطورَ الضَربِ في صَدرِهِ الظُبى

تَحُطُّ سُطورَ الضَربِ في صَدرِهِ الظُبى

وَيَعجِمُها وَخرُ المُثَقَّفَةِ السُمرِ

وَيَعجِمُها وَخرُ المُثَقَّفَةِ السُمرِ

Sword edges lay lines of blows upon its chest,

It lowers the lines of writing on his antelope chest,

and the piercing of straightened brown lances dots them.

And he obscures it, and the cultivated dark-skinned woman.

وَيَدرُجُ مِنهُ السِلمُ ما تَنشُرُ الوَغى

وَيَدرُجُ مِنهُ السِلمُ ما تَنشُرُ الوَغى

فَطَوراً إِلى طَيٍّ وَطَوراً إِلى نَشرِ

فَطَوراً إِلى طَيٍّ وَطَوراً إِلى نَشرِ

Peace rolls up from it what war unfolds,

And peace flows from him what war provokes,

now toward folding, now toward unfolding.

At times to peace and at times to publishing.

وَأَدهَمُ لَولا أَنَّهُ راقَ صورَةً

وَأَدهَمُ لَولا أَنَّهُ راقَ صورَةً

لَما عَرَفَتهُ العَينُ مِن لَيلَةِ الهَجرِ

لَما عَرَفَتهُ العَينُ مِن لَيلَةِ الهَجرِ

And a black horse—had its form not charmed,

And brown, had he not maintained an image

the eye could not have told it from a night of separation.

The eye would not have recognized him from the night of estrangement.

طَويلُ سَبيبِ العُرفِ وَالعُنقِ وَالشَوى

طَويلُ سَبيبِ العُرفِ وَالعُنقِ وَالشَوى

قَصيرُ عَسيبِ الذَيلِ وَالأُذنِ وَالنَسرِ

قَصيرُ عَسيبِ الذَيلِ وَالأُذنِ وَالنَسرِ

Long in mane-hair, neck, and limbs,

Long of honorable forelock and neck and passion,

short in tailbone, ear, and the frog of the hoof.

Short of tail and ear and eagle.

لَهُ غُرَّةٌ تَستَصحِبُ النَصرَ طَلقَةٌ

لَهُ غُرَّةٌ تَستَصحِبُ النَصرَ طَلقَةٌ

كَفاكَ بِها في سَورَةِ الحَشرِ مِن عَشرِ

كَفاكَ بِها في سَورَةِ الحَشرِ مِن عَشرِ

It has a radiant white blaze that takes victory as companion,

He has a glory that victory accompanies, a shooting star

enough for you, amid the muster's tumult, in place of ten.

It suffices you in the Chapter of The Victory out of ten.

أَما وَاِنتِشارِ النَقعِ عَنهُ صَحيفَةً

أَما وَاِنتِشارِ النَقعِ عَنهُ صَحيفَةً

لَقَد راعَ في تِلكَ الصَحيفَةِ مِن حِبرِ

لَقَد راعَ في تِلكَ الصَحيفَةِ مِن حِبرِ

Ah, by the dust spreading from it like a page,

As for the opening of the bright banner about him a page,

indeed, what awe-inspiring ink upon that page!

He certainly saw in that page from ink.

وَنالَ فَطيماً سُؤدُدَ الكَهلِ في الصِبا

وَنالَ فَطيماً سُؤدُدَ الكَهلِ في الصِبا

فَتَمَّ تَمامَ البَدرِ في غُرَّةِ الشَهرِ

فَتَمَّ تَمامَ البَدرِ في غُرَّةِ الشَهرِ

He gained, while newly weaned, an elder's eminence in childhood,

And he attained noble qualities of old age in youth,

and reached the full moon's fullness at the month's beginning.

So the fullness of the moon was complete in the new moon of the month.

وَحَلَّت بِهِ الآمالُ وَهيَ شَريفَةٌ

وَحَلَّت بِهِ الآمالُ وَهيَ شَريفَةٌ

مَحَلَّ لَيالي الصَومِ مِن لَيلَةِ القَدرِ

مَحَلَّ لَيالي الصَومِ مِن لَيلَةِ القَدرِ

Hopes, noble though they are, settled with him

And hopes descended upon him, and they are noble,

in the place fasting nights hold beside the Night of Decree.

The position of Ramadan’s nights from The Night of Destiny.

لَبيبٌ فَما نَدري أَرَأياً لِحادِثٍ

لَبيبٌ فَما نَدري أَرَأياً لِحادِثٍ

يُبَيِّتُ أَم سَهماً لِشاكِلَةٍ يَبري

يُبَيِّتُ أَم سَهماً لِشاكِلَةٍ يَبري

Discerning: we cannot tell whether it is a plan for an event

Insightful, so we do not know if an opinion for an event

he devises by night, or an arrow he whittles for a flank.

He contemplates or an arrow for a testing he aims.

تَقَسَّمَهُ جودٌ يَفيضُ وَهِمَّةٌ

تَقَسَّمَهُ جودٌ يَفيضُ وَهِمَّةٌ

فَمِن مَنهَلٍ غَمرٍ وَمِن جَبَلٍ وَعرِ

فَمِن مَنهَلٍ غَمرٍ وَمِن جَبَلٍ وَعرِ

Overflowing generosity and high resolve share him between them,

Bestowed upon him are bounty overflowing and ambition,

part a deep watering place, part a rugged mountain.

So from an abundant spring and from a tall mountain.

لَهُ كُلُّ نُعمى بَيَّضَت كُلَّ صَفحَةٍ

لَهُ كُلُّ نُعمى بَيَّضَت كُلَّ صَفحَةٍ

بِكُلِّ مَكانٍ فَالبَهيمُ مِنَ الغُرِّ

بِكُلِّ مَكانٍ فَالبَهيمُ مِنَ الغُرِّ

Every favor of his has whitened every page

His are all comforts that whitened every page

in every place, so even the pitch-dark is among the bright.

In every place, so excellent things from pearls.

فَلَو مَسَحَت يُمناهُ عَن وَجهِ لَيلَةٍ

فَلَو مَسَحَت يُمناهُ عَن وَجهِ لَيلَةٍ

لَحَطَّت قِناعَ اللَيلِ عَن قَمَرٍ يَسري

لَحَطَّت قِناعَ اللَيلِ عَن قَمَرٍ يَسري

If his right hand passed over a night's face,

If his right hand wiped over the face of a night,

it would remove night's veil from a moon traveling on.

It would uncover the mask of the night from a passing moon.

رَمَيتُ بِآمالي إِلَيهِ وَإِنَّما

رَمَيتُ بِآمالي إِلَيهِ وَإِنَّما

حَمَلتُ بِها المَرعى الجَديبَ إِلى القَطرِ

حَمَلتُ بِها المَرعى الجَديبَ إِلى القَطرِ

I cast my hopes toward him, though I only

I shot my hopes toward him, though

carried with them a barren pasture to the rain.

I carried them to the barren pasture for rain.

وَلا أَمَلٌ إِلّا كِتابُ شَفاعَةٍ

وَلا أَمَلٌ إِلّا كِتابُ شَفاعَةٍ

إِذا الخَطبُ أَعيا وِزرُهُ شَدَّ مِن أَزري

إِذا الخَطبُ أَعيا وِزرُهُ شَدَّ مِن أَزري

There is no hope but a letter of intercession,

And there is no hope but the book of intercession,

which, when calamity's burden exhausts me, strengthens my back.

When calamities burden, its burden pulled harder than my rope.

شَفيعٌ لَو اِستَعطَفتُ عَصرَ الصِبا بِهِ

شَفيعٌ لَو اِستَعطَفتُ عَصرَ الصِبا بِهِ

لَعاجَ سَقَتهُ دَمعَةُ المُزنِ مِن عَصرِ

لَعاجَ سَقَتهُ دَمعَةُ المُزنِ مِن عَصرِ

An intercessor: were I to seek youth's favor through it,

An intercessor, if I implored the era of youth through him,

youth would return—may the cloud's tear water that age!

The pressing of the sad tear would have poured from pressing.

وَبي مَسُّ شَكوى لاأُطيقُ لَها السُرى

وَبي مَسُّ شَكوى لاأُطيقُ لَها السُرى

فَإِن لَم أَطَأ بابَ الأَميرِ فَعَن عُذرِ

فَإِن لَم أَطَأ بابَ الأَميرِ فَعَن عُذرِ

I am touched by illness; because of it I cannot travel by night,

And in me is the touch of a complaint I cannot bear to reveal,

so if I have not trodden the prince's door, it is with an excuse.

So if I do not come to the prince’s door, then for an excuse.

وَلَو مُلِئَت عَينُ الدُجى لَمَلَأتُها

وَلَو مُلِئَت عَينُ الدُجى لَمَلَأتُها

بِغُرَّةِ شَمسِ العَصرِ في مَطلَعِ القَصرِ

بِغُرَّةِ شَمسِ العَصرِ في مَطلَعِ القَصرِ

Were the eye of darkness to be filled, I would fill it

And if the eye of darkness were filled, I would have filled it

with the radiant brow of the age's sun, rising from the palace.

With the new moon of the late morning at the palace’s rise.

وَما المَرءُ إِلّا قَلبُهُ وَإِذا سَرى

وَما المَرءُ إِلّا قَلبُهُ وَإِذا سَرى

مَعَ الرَكبِ مِن شَوقٍ فَإِنّي مَعَ السَفرِ

مَعَ الرَكبِ مِن شَوقٍ فَإِنّي مَعَ السَفرِ

A man is only his heart; and when it travels by night

And man is nothing but his heart, and if it walked

with the caravan out of longing, then I am among the travelers.

With the caravan of passion, then I am with the journey.

أَبا الطاهِرِ أَقبَلها إِلَيكَ تَحِيَّةً

أَبا الطاهِرِ أَقبَلها إِلَيكَ تَحِيَّةً

أَرَقتُ بِها سَحرَةً رَونَقَ السِحرِ

أَرَقتُ بِها سَحرَةً رَونَقَ السِحرِ

Abu al-Tahir, accept it as a greeting sent to you,

Oh Abu Al-Tahir, I direct it to you as a greeting,

In the predawn hour I poured through it the splendor of enchantment.

I was sleepless composing it, the charm of sorcery.

خَلَعتُ قَوافيها عَلَيكَ وَإِنَّما

خَلَعتُ قَوافيها عَلَيكَ وَإِنَّما

نَظَمتُ بِها عِقداً نَفيساً عَلى نَحرِ

نَظَمتُ بِها عِقداً نَفيساً عَلى نَحرِ

I draped you in its rhymes, though I only

I cast its rhymes unto you, though

strung with them a precious necklace upon your breast.

I strung with it a precious necklace over the throat.

فَسُد وَطَإِ التيجانَ عِزّاً وَذُد وَجُد

فَسُد وَطَإِ التيجانَ عِزّاً وَذُد وَجُد

فَسيحَ فِناءِ المُلكِ عالي يَدِ الأَمرِ

فَسيحَ فِناءِ المُلكِ عالي يَدِ الأَمرِ

So reign, tread crowns down in might, defend, and give,

So block the crowns of glory and power, and enrich generosity,

with a spacious royal court and a high hand of command,

Spacious in the abolition of the kingdom, the command’s hand high.

طَليقَ لِسانِ السَيفِ وَالضَيفُ وَالنَدى

طَليقَ لِسانِ السَيفِ وَالضَيفُ وَالنَدى

رَفيعَ مَنارِ القَدرِ وَالذِكرِ وَالفَخرِ

رَفيعَ مَنارِ القَدرِ وَالذِكرِ وَالفَخرِ

with the tongues of sword, guest, and bounty unfettered,

Unfettered is the tongue of the sword, the guest, and the dew,

and the beacon of rank, renown, and pride raised high.

Lofty is the minaret of destiny, fame, and pride.