كتمَ الهوى فوشى النّحولُ بسرِّه

كتمَ الهوى فوشى النّحولُ بسرِّه

وصحا فحيّاهُ النسيمُ بخمرِهِ

وصحا فحيّاهُ النسيمُ بخمرِهِ

He concealed his love, but emaciation betrayed his secret.

He concealed his love, so his leanness betrayed his secret,

And he sobered, but the breeze greeted him with its wine.

And the breeze revived him with its wine, so he woke up and greeted it,

وصغى إلى رجعِ الحمام بسجعِهِ

وصغى إلى رجعِ الحمام بسجعِهِ

فأهاجَتِ البَلوى بلابِلُ صدرِهِ

فأهاجَتِ البَلوى بلابِلُ صدرِهِ

And he listened to the doves' echo with their rhyming coo,

And lent an ear to the cooing of the doves with their murmuring,

so the nightingales of his breast stirred up affliction.

So cares stirred up the confusion in his chest,

وسقَتْهُ ممرَضَةُ الجُفونِ فقلبُه

وسقَتْهُ ممرَضَةُ الجُفونِ فقلبُه

صاحٍ يرقّصُهُ الخُفوقُ لسُكرِهِ

صاحٍ يرقّصُهُ الخُفوقُ لسُكرِهِ

A woman with languishing eyelids gave him drink; his heart,

And the sickness of insomnia watered him, so his heart

though sober, is set dancing by its fluttering from drunkenness.

Cried out as infatuation made it dance from intoxication,

ونسجْنَ ديباجَ السّقامِ لجسمِه

ونسجْنَ ديباجَ السّقامِ لجسمِه

بيضُ الخُصورِ فسربَلَتْهُ بصُفْرِهِ

بيضُ الخُصورِ فسربَلَتْهُ بصُفْرِهِ

And they wove the brocade of sickness for his body—

And the whiteness of consumption wove the brocade of disease on his body,

those of fair waists—and clothed him in its yellow.

So it clothed him with its yellowness,

ووشَتْ له سُودُ العيونِ بهديها

ووشَتْ له سُودُ العيونِ بهديها

وشيَ الحَمامِ فقمّصَتْهُ بحُمْرِهِ

وشيَ الحَمامِ فقمّصَتْهُ بحُمْرِهِ

And dark-eyed ones embroidered for him, through their bearing,

And the blackness of his eyes adorned him with its kohl,

the doves' embroidery, and dressed him in its crimson.

And the pigeons dyed him with their redness,

وحَلا له في الحبِّ خلعُ عِذارِه

وحَلا له في الحبِّ خلعُ عِذارِه

فجَلا ظلامَ العدل نيّرُ عُذرِهِ

فجَلا ظلامَ العدل نيّرُ عُذرِهِ

Casting off his bridle in love became sweet to him,

And passion clothed him in its revealing garb,

and his radiant excuse dispelled the darkness of justice.

So it illuminated the darkness of propriety, exonerating his excuse,

ودنا الفِراقُ وكان يبخلُ قبلَهُ

ودنا الفِراقُ وكان يبخلُ قبلَهُ

بلُجَين مدمَعِه فجادَ بتِبرِهِ

بلُجَين مدمَعِه فجادَ بتِبرِهِ

Parting drew near; before it he had begrudged

And separation approached while he used to be stingy before it

the silver of his tears, but now lavished their gold.

With the pearls of his tears, so he poured out his dust,

وبَدا له برقُ العَقيق فظنّه

وبَدا له برقُ العَقيق فظنّه

بيضَ الثّنايا وهْيَ لمعةُ تِبرِهِ

بيضَ الثّنايا وهْيَ لمعةُ تِبرِهِ

The lightning of al-Aqiq appeared to him, and he thought it

And the lightning of carnelian appeared to him, so he thought it

white front teeth, though it was the gleam of its gold.

Was the whiteness of the breasts, while it was the glitter of his dust,

ورأى بها شِبهَ النجومِ فخالَها

ورأى بها شِبهَ النجومِ فخالَها

قبَساتِ نارٍ وهْي أوجُهُ غُرِّهِ

قبَساتِ نارٍ وهْي أوجُهُ غُرِّهِ

He saw there a likeness of stars and imagined them

And he saw in it a semblance of stars, so he imagined them

brands of fire, though they were the faces of its radiant ones.

To be sparks of fire while they were the faces of his monkeys,

للَّه أيّامُ العقيقِ وحبّذا

للَّه أيّامُ العقيقِ وحبّذا

أوقاتُ لذّاتٍ مضَتْ في عصرِهِ

أوقاتُ لذّاتٍ مضَتْ في عصرِهِ

How wondrous the days of al-Aqiq, and how lovely

By God, the days of carnelian and how excellent

the hours of delight that passed in its time!

Were its times of pleasures that passed in their era!

ثغرٌ يُجابُ صهيلُه بصهيلِه

ثغرٌ يُجابُ صهيلُه بصهيلِه

ويُجيبُ باغِمَهُ الهزَبرُ بزأرِهِ

ويُجيبُ باغِمَهُ الهزَبرُ بزأرِهِ

A frontier whose neighing is met with answering neighing,

A mouth whose neighing is answered by the neighing of its stallion,

and whose gazelle's call the lion answers with his roar.

And its snarling lion answers the roar of its enemy,

تَحمي أسودُ الغاب خِشفَ كِناسِه

تَحمي أسودُ الغاب خِشفَ كِناسِه

ويضُمُّ ريشُ النّبْلِ بيضةَ خِدرِهِ

ويضُمُّ ريشُ النّبْلِ بيضةَ خِدرِهِ

Lions of the thicket guard the fawn of its covert,

The black stallions protect the fragility of their nests,

and arrow-feathers enfold the egg of its curtained chamber.

And the feathers of arrows gather the eggs of their fledglings,

لا فرقَ بين وصولِ طوقِ قَناتِه

لا فرقَ بين وصولِ طوقِ قَناتِه

للطّالبين وبينَ هالةِ بَدْرِهِ

للطّالبين وبينَ هالةِ بَدْرِهِ

There is no difference between reaching its lance's collar

There is no difference between the arrival of its ringdove’s necklace

for seekers, and reaching the halo of its full moon.

To seekers and the halo of its full moon,

أقمارُه حملَتْ أهلّةَ بِيضِه

أقمارُه حملَتْ أهلّةَ بِيضِه

وشُموسُه حُرِسَتْ بأنجُم سُمرِهِ

وشُموسُه حُرِسَتْ بأنجُم سُمرِهِ

Its moons bore the crescents of its bright swords,

Its moons carried the crescent of its eggs

and its suns were guarded by the stars of its dusky spears.

And its suns were guarded by the stars of its brown ones.

حرمٌ مَنيعُ الحيّ قد كمن الرّدى

حرمٌ مَنيعُ الحيّ قد كمن الرّدى

بجُفونِ شادِنه ونابِ هِزَبْرِهِ

بجُفونِ شادِنه ونابِ هِزَبْرِهِ

A sanctuary, its encampment impregnable, where death lies hidden

A sacred precinct whose alive lions ambushed demise

in its young gazelle's eyelids and its lion's fang.

With their watching eyelids and the fang of its lion,

هو ملعبُ البيضِ الحوالي فاِلتقِطْ

هو ملعبُ البيضِ الحوالي فاِلتقِطْ

منه اللآلي واِنتشِقْ من عِطرهِ

منه اللآلي واِنتشِقْ من عِطرهِ

It is the playground of adorned fair ones: gather

It is the playground of eggs where hoopoes alight,

pearls from it, and breathe in its fragrance.

So pick from it motley pearls and inhale its fragrance,

إيّاكَ تقربُ ورْدَ منهلِ حيّه

إيّاكَ تقربُ ورْدَ منهلِ حيّه

فالموتُ ممزوجٌ بجرعةِ خُصْرهِ

فالموتُ ممزوجٌ بجرعةِ خُصْرهِ

Beware of approaching the waters of its clan's watering place:

Beware approaching the roses of its fountain,

death is mingled with a draught of its chill.

For death is mixed in the draft of its cup,

تهَبُ الظُماةُ به لطالوت الرّدى

تهَبُ الظُماةُ به لطالوت الرّدى

بحرَ النّجيع بغرفةٍ من نهرهِ

بحرَ النّجيع بغرفةٍ من نهرهِ

There the thirsty give to death's Talut

The oppressive ignorant attack it to take the water of perdition in a handful,

a sea of gore for a scoopful from his river.

From its river for Goliath of devastation.

سلْ يا حَماكَ اللَّهُ عن خبَر الحِمى

سلْ يا حَماكَ اللَّهُ عن خبَر الحِمى

نفَسَ الشِّمالِ فقد طَواهُ بنَشْرِهِ

نفَسَ الشِّمالِ فقد طَواهُ بنَشْرِهِ

Ask—may God protect you—about the sanctuary's news,

Ask, may God protect you from harm, about the news of the sanctuary

the breath of the north wind, which enfolds it in its unfolding.

From the breeze of the north for it has been covered by its scattering,

واِستَخبِر البَرْقَ الضحوكَ إذا اِنْبرى

واِستَخبِر البَرْقَ الضحوكَ إذا اِنْبرى

شطرَ اللّوى عمّن حكاه بثغرِهِ

شطرَ اللّوى عمّن حكاه بثغرِهِ

And question the smiling lightning when it flashes forth

And ask the smiling lightning, when it flashes

toward al-Liwa, about the one who mirrored it with his mouth.

Across the curves, about whom it told with its mouth.

يا حبّذا المتحمّلونَ وإنّهُم

يا حبّذا المتحمّلونَ وإنّهُم

سلَبوا فؤادَ الصّبِّ ملبَسَ صبرِهِ

سلَبوا فؤادَ الصّبِّ ملبَسَ صبرِهِ

How lovely the departing ones, although they

O how excellent are those who endure adversity! Verily they

stripped the lovelorn heart of the garment of its patience!

Robbed the passion of the infatuated of his patience garb.

لولا اِنتظامُ الدُرِّ بين شفاهِهم

لولا اِنتظامُ الدُرِّ بين شفاهِهم

ما جادَ ناظمُ عَبرَتي في نثرِهِ

ما جادَ ناظمُ عَبرَتي في نثرِهِ

Had pearls not been strung between their lips,

Were it not for the stringing of pearls between their lips

the stringer of my tears would not have been so lavish in scattering them.

My composer of elegy would not have been generous in its prose

وبمهجَتي الرَّكْبُ المعرَّضُ للحِمى

وبمهجَتي الرَّكْبُ المعرَّضُ للحِمى

وبُدورُ تِمٍّ في أكلّةِ سِفرِهِ

وبُدورُ تِمٍّ في أكلّةِ سِفرِهِ

My heart's blood for the caravan bound toward the sanctuary,

With my imagination, the caravan exposed to the sanctuary

and full moons within the curtains of its journey!

And the full moons during the journey of its travel,

جعلوا عليَّ بقاءَ روحي منّةً

جعلوا عليَّ بقاءَ روحي منّةً

أوَ ما رآها ركبُهمْ في إثرِهِ

أوَ ما رآها ركبُهمْ في إثرِهِ

They made my soul's survival a favor they had done me;

They made my remaining alive a favour upon me

did their caravan not see it following in its wake?

Or else their caravan did not see it behind them,

كيفَ البَقاءُ وفي غفائِر بيضِهم

كيفَ البَقاءُ وفي غفائِر بيضِهم

ساروا عن المُضنى بألْيَلِ عُمرهِ

ساروا عن المُضنى بألْيَلِ عُمرهِ

How can life remain, when within their fair ones' veils

How to remain patient while the black of their beauty spots marched on,

they left the wasted lover, taking the darkest part of his life?

Taking away the prisoner of my lifetime at night?

لا تطلبنّ القلبَ بعد رحيلهم

لا تطلبنّ القلبَ بعد رحيلهم

منّي فقد ذهبَ الأسيرُ بأسْرهِ

منّي فقد ذهبَ الأسيرُ بأسْرهِ

Do not seek the heart, after their departure,

Do not seek from me the heart after their departure,

from me: the captive has gone, bonds and all.

For the captive has left with his captivity.

قالوا الفِراقُ غداً فلاح لناظري

قالوا الفِراقُ غداً فلاح لناظري

صُوَرُ المَنايا في سُحيّرِ فَجرِهِ

صُوَرُ المَنايا في سُحيّرِ فَجرِهِ

They said, 'Parting is tomorrow,' and to my eyes appeared

They said farewell tomorrow, so the visions of demise smiled

visions of death in the faint predawn of its morning.

For my onlooker at the dawn of its separation.

يا ليتَ يوم البينِ من قبلِ النّوى

يا ليتَ يوم البينِ من قبلِ النّوى

لم تسمحِ الدُنيا بمولِدِ شهرِهِ

لم تسمحِ الدُنيا بمولِدِ شهرِهِ

Ah, would that, before separation, the day of parting

Oh, would that the day of separation before the intention

had never had its month brought to birth by the world!

The world did not allow the birth of its month!

يوماً علينا بالكآبةِ والأسى

يوماً علينا بالكآبةِ والأسى

شهدَتْ جَوارحُنا بموقفِ حَشرِهِ

شهدَتْ جَوارحُنا بموقفِ حَشرِهِ

A day of gloom and sorrow for us:

A day upon us of gloom and sorrow

our limbs bore witness at the scene of its resurrection.

Our limbs witnessed at the stance of its resurrection.

كيف السُّلوُّ وليس صبرُ أخي الهَوى

كيف السُّلوُّ وليس صبرُ أخي الهَوى

إلّا كحظِّ أخي النُهى في دهرِهِ

إلّا كحظِّ أخي النُهى في دهرِهِ

How can there be solace, when a lover's patience

How can I be consoled while the patience of my brother of passion

is only like the wise man's fortune in his age?

Is only like the fortune of my abstinent brother in his time?

فإلى مَ أرجو الدّهرَ يُنجزُ بالوَفا

فإلى مَ أرجو الدّهرَ يُنجزُ بالوَفا

وعدي فتعرِضُ لي مكايِدُ غَدرِهِ

وعدي فتعرِضُ لي مكايِدُ غَدرِهِ

How long shall I hope that Time will faithfully fulfill

To whom shall I hope that fate will fulfil its promise of loyalty to me

its promise to me, while the plots of its treachery confront me?

While its treacheries lie in ambush for me?

لا شيءَ أوهى من مواعِدِه سوى

لا شيءَ أوهى من مواعِدِه سوى

دعوى شريكِ أبي الحُسين بفخرِهِ

دعوى شريكِ أبي الحُسين بفخرِهِ

Nothing is flimsier than its promises, except

Nothing is weaker than its promises except

the claim of someone sharing Abu al-Husayn's glory.

The claim of the pride of Abu Al-Hussein in his pride.

ملكٌ إذا حدَثُ الزّمان لنا قَضى

ملكٌ إذا حدَثُ الزّمان لنا قَضى

أمضى مُضارعَهُ بصيغةِ أمرِهِ

أمضى مُضارعَهُ بصيغةِ أمرِهِ

A king who, when a happening of Time decrees our fate,

A king, if time tells about us, would decide

enacts its present tense in the form of his imperative.

More resolutely than its equal in his command.

فرعٌ إلى نحوِ العُلا يسمو به

فرعٌ إلى نحوِ العُلا يسمو به

أصلٌ رَسا بين النبيّ وصهرِهِ

أصلٌ رَسا بين النبيّ وصهرِهِ

A branch that toward the heights is lifted by

A branch rising to the heights carried by

a root firmly planted between the Prophet and his son-in-law.

A root anchored between the Prophet and his son-in-law.

نورٌ إذا ما بالوصيّ قرَنتَه

نورٌ إذا ما بالوصيّ قرَنتَه

أيقَنْتَ أنّ ظُهورَه من ظهرِهِ

أيقَنْتَ أنّ ظُهورَه من ظهرِهِ

A light that, if you link it to the appointed successor,

A light, when you associate it with the successor,

leaves you certain its emergence comes from his loins.

You will know its emergence is from his back.

حرٌّ لو اِنتظَمَتْ مفاخِرُ هاشمٍ

حرٌّ لو اِنتظَمَتْ مفاخِرُ هاشمٍ

بقِلادةٍ لرأيتَها في نحرِهِ

بقِلادةٍ لرأيتَها في نحرِهِ

A noble man: if Hashim's glories were strung

Free, if the glories of Hashim

into a necklace, you would see it at his throat.

Were threaded on a necklace, you would see it around his neck.

لا يُدركنَّ مديحَهُ لسِنٌ ولو

لا يُدركنَّ مديحَهُ لسِنٌ ولو

نظمَ الكواكبِ في قلائِدِ شِعرِهِ

نظمَ الكواكبِ في قلائِدِ شِعرِهِ

No eloquent speaker can encompass his praise, even were he to

His praise cannot be attained by an age, even if

string the stars into the necklaces of his verse.

It strung the stars into necklaces of poetry.

للّه بينَ بيانهِ وبنانِه

للّه بينَ بيانهِ وبنانِه

كنزٌ أفادَ السائِلينَ بدُرّهِ

كنزٌ أفادَ السائِلينَ بدُرّهِ

How wondrous, between his eloquence and his fingertips,

For God, between his eloquence and composition

a treasure that enriches those who ask with its pearls!

Is a treasure that benefited the questioners with its pearls.

لو كان للبحرِ الخضَمِّ سماحُه

لو كان للبحرِ الخضَمِّ سماحُه

لم يخزُنِ الدُرَّ اليتيمَ بقَعرِهِ

لم يخزُنِ الدُرَّ اليتيمَ بقَعرِهِ

Had the vast sea his generosity,

If the deep sea had his generosity

it would not hoard the peerless pearl in its depths.

It would not hoard the orphaned pearl in its depths.

سمحٌ لو اِنّ النيّراتِ جواهرٌ

سمحٌ لو اِنّ النيّراتِ جواهرٌ

قذفَتْ بها للوَفدِ لجّةُ بحرِهِ

قذفَتْ بها للوَفدِ لجّةُ بحرِهِ

Generous: if the heavenly lights were gems,

Generous, if the rivers were jewels

the deep of his sea would cast them to the visiting delegation.

Their turbulence would cast them to the delegations.

يعطي ويحتقر النّوالَ وإنْ سَما

يعطي ويحتقر النّوالَ وإنْ سَما

فيرى الثُريّا في أصاغِرِ صِرِّهِ

فيرى الثُريّا في أصاغِرِ صِرِّهِ

He gives, and scorns the gift however lofty,

He gives and disdains gifts, so he sees the rich

seeing the Pleiades among the smallest of his money-pouches.

In the least of his young ones.

خطب العُلا فتطلّقَتْ أموالُه

خطب العُلا فتطلّقَتْ أموالُه

منه وزوّجَه النّوالُ ببِكرهِ

منه وزوّجَه النّوالُ ببِكرهِ

He wooed glory, so his riches were divorced

Supremacy courted him, so his wealth

from him, and largesse wed him to its virgin bride.

Divorced from him and fortune married him to its virgin.

تاللَّهِ ما سيفُ الرّدى بيدِ القَضا

تاللَّهِ ما سيفُ الرّدى بيدِ القَضا

يوماً بأفتَكَ من نَداهُ بوَفرِهِ

يوماً بأفتَكَ من نَداهُ بوَفرِهِ

By God, the sword of death in Fate's hand

By God, the sword of fate guided by destiny

is never more deadly than his bounty is to his wealth.

Is not more deadly than his right hand with its blade.

لو تلمِسُ الصّخرَ الأصمّ يَمينُه

لو تلمِسُ الصّخرَ الأصمّ يَمينُه

لتفجّرَتْ بالعَذْبِ أعيُنُ صخرِهِ

لتفجّرَتْ بالعَذْبِ أعيُنُ صخرِهِ

Were his right hand to touch the solid rock,

If his right hand touches the deaf rock

the springs in his rock would burst forth with sweet water.

Fountains of fresh water would spout from its rocks.

قتلَتْ مهابتُه العدوَّ مخافةً

قتلَتْ مهابتُه العدوَّ مخافةً

فكفَتْ صوارِمَهُ أسنّةُ ذُعرِهِ

فكفَتْ صوارِمَهُ أسنّةُ ذُعرِهِ

His awe-inspiring majesty slew the enemy with fear,

His awe killed the enemy in fear

so the spearpoints of his terror spared his keen swords.

So his swords sheathed their blades in their terror.

بطلٌ إذا في الضّربِ ألهبَ مارِقاً

بطلٌ إذا في الضّربِ ألهبَ مارِقاً

خِلْتَ الكواكبَ من تَطايُر جَمرهِ

خِلْتَ الكواكبَ من تَطايُر جَمرهِ

A hero who, when striking, sets a rebel aflame:

A hero, if in striking he ignites the flint

you would think the stars came from his flying embers.

You would think the stars scattered from the sparks of his flint.

فسلاحُ ليلِ الحتْفِ مِخلَبُ سيفِه

فسلاحُ ليلِ الحتْفِ مِخلَبُ سيفِه

وجَناحُ طيرِ النُّجْحِ رايةُ نصرِهِ

وجَناحُ طيرِ النُّجْحِ رايةُ نصرِهِ

The weapon of death's night is the claw of his sword,

The claw of his sword is the death of night,

and the wing of success's bird is his banner of victory.

And the wing of success is the banner of his victory.

بحرٌ إذا خاضَتْهُ أفكارُ الوَرى

بحرٌ إذا خاضَتْهُ أفكارُ الوَرى

غرِقَتْ به قبلَ البلوغُ لعِبْرِهِ

غرِقَتْ به قبلَ البلوغُ لعِبْرِهِ

A sea which, when humanity's thoughts wade into it,

A sea - if the thoughts of mankind plunged into it

drowns them before they reach its farther shore.

They would drown in it before reaching its lesson.

فطِنٌ يكادُ الليلُ يُشرِقُ كالضُحى

فطِنٌ يكادُ الليلُ يُشرِقُ كالضُحى

لو أنّ فكرَتَه تمرُّ بفِكرِهِ

لو أنّ فكرَتَه تمرُّ بفِكرِهِ

So discerning that night would almost shine like morning

A genius - the night almost shines like the morning

if the thought of it passed through his mind.

If his idea passed through his mind.

آيُ الفَصاحةِ إن يخُطَّ يَراعُهُ

آيُ الفَصاحةِ إن يخُطَّ يَراعُهُ

لم تَبدُ أنجمُها بظُلمةِ حِبرِهِ

لم تَبدُ أنجمُها بظُلمةِ حِبرِهِ

If his reed pen writes the signs of eloquence,

The miracles of eloquence - if he wrote

their stars do not appear in the darkness of his ink.

Its stars would not appear in the darkness of his ink.

ترك المواكبَ كالكواكِبِ فاِهتدى

ترك المواكبَ كالكواكِبِ فاِهتدى

فيهنّ مَنْ يَسْري لمَشرِقِ يُسْرِهِ

فيهنّ مَنْ يَسْري لمَشرِقِ يُسْرِهِ

He left the processions like stars; thus guidance was found

He abandoned entourages like the stars, so

among them by whoever journeyed by night toward the sunrise of his bounty.

Those who walk to the east of his ease are guided by them.

غيثٌ يكادُ التِّبرُ ينبُتُ بالرُبى

غيثٌ يكادُ التِّبرُ ينبُتُ بالرُبى

كالنورِ لو وُسِمَتْ بلؤلؤِ قَطْرِهِ

كالنورِ لو وُسِمَتْ بلؤلؤِ قَطْرِهِ

A raincloud: gold would almost sprout on the hills

A rain whose dust nearly sprouts plants

like blossoms, if they were marked with the pearls of his rain.

As if it were lighted with the pearls of its drops.

لو أنّ للأعناقِ منها ألسُناً

لو أنّ للأعناقِ منها ألسُناً

نطَقَتْ بأفواهِ الجُيوبِ بشُكرِهِ

نطَقَتْ بأفواهِ الجُيوبِ بشُكرِهِ

If necks had tongues made from those pearls,

If the camel necks had tongues from it

they would give him thanks through the mouths of collars.

They would speak with the mouths of their humps in gratitude.

لم يغشَ وجهَ الأفْقِ حتّى ينطوي

لم يغشَ وجهَ الأفْقِ حتّى ينطوي

كلَفُ الدُجى لو حاز رونَق بِشرِهِ

كلَفُ الدُجى لو حاز رونَق بِشرِهِ

It would fold away before veiling the horizon's face—

The morning horizon was not overcast until

the stain of night—if the horizon possessed his smile's radiance.

The burden of darkness donned the finery of his good tidings.

سامٍ يمُدُّ إلى العُلا باعاً طوتْ

سامٍ يمُدُّ إلى العُلا باعاً طوتْ

مجرى الدّراري السبْعِ خُطوةُ بِشرهِ

مجرى الدّراري السبْعِ خُطوةُ بِشرهِ

Lofty, he reaches an arm toward glory, having traversed

Exalted, he reached to the heights stretching

the course of the seven bright stars with one stride of his gladness.

The seven rivers in a single stride of his exaltation.

من آلِ حيدرَةَ الأُلى اِزدانَ العُلا

من آلِ حيدرَةَ الأُلى اِزدانَ العُلا

فيهم كما اِزْدانَ الرّبيعُ بزَهرِهِ

فيهم كما اِزْدانَ الرّبيعُ بزَهرِهِ

Of the house of Haydara, those through whom glory

From the Ahl al-Bayt, the most supreme, supremacy adorned them

was adorned, just as spring is adorned by its blossoms.

As spring adorned itself with its flowers.

غُرٌّ إذا منهم تولّدَ كوكَبٌ

غُرٌّ إذا منهم تولّدَ كوكَبٌ

حسدَتْ شُموسُ الأفْقِ مفخَرَ ظِئْرِهِ

حسدَتْ شُموسُ الأفْقِ مفخَرَ ظِئْرِهِ

Radiant ones: whenever a star was born among them,

A cave, if a star descended from them

the suns of the horizon envied its wet nurse's glory.

The suns of the horizon would envy the pride of its womb.

قفرٌ لوَ اِنّهُمُ جلَوْا أحسابَهم

قفرٌ لوَ اِنّهُمُ جلَوْا أحسابَهم

في اللّيل لاشتبَهَتْ بأضوإِ زَهرِهِ

في اللّيل لاشتبَهَتْ بأضوإِ زَهرِهِ

A wilderness—if they unveiled their noble pedigrees

A desert, if they revealed their lineages in the night

by night, they would be mistaken for its brightest stars.

It would resemble the bright full moons with the blossoms of its flowers.

من كلِّ أبلَجَ في ذُيولِ قِماطِه

من كلِّ أبلَجَ في ذُيولِ قِماطِه

علقَ العُلا ونَشا السّماحُ بحِجْرِهِ

علقَ العُلا ونَشا السّماحُ بحِجْرِهِ

From every bright-browed one, to the hems of whose swaddling clothes

From all the most generous, on the fringes of his cloak,

glory clung, while generosity grew up in his lap.

He suspended supremacy and benevolence sprouted from his lap.

لم يبكِ وهْوَ على حَشيّةِ مهدِه

لم يبكِ وهْوَ على حَشيّةِ مهدِه

إلّا لحُبِّ ركوبِ صهوَة مُهرِهِ

إلّا لحُبِّ ركوبِ صهوَة مُهرِهِ

He never wept, while upon his cradle's mattress,

He did not cry when he was in the cradle of his cradle

except for longing to ride the back of his colt.

Except for love of riding the saddle of his pony.

للَّه دَرُّك يا عليُّ ففضلُهُم

للَّه دَرُّك يا عليُّ ففضلُهُم

بك فُصِّلَتْ آياتُ مُحكَمِ ذِكرِهِ

بك فُصِّلَتْ آياتُ مُحكَمِ ذِكرِهِ

God bless you, O Ali! Their merit—

For God's sake, their superiority

through you, the verses of its definitive record were expounded.

Clarified the unambiguous verses of His mention through you.

اللّهُ حَسبُك كيف سِرْتَ إلى العُلا

اللّهُ حَسبُك كيف سِرْتَ إلى العُلا

ما بينَ أنيابِ الحِمامِ وظُفْرِهِ

ما بينَ أنيابِ الحِمامِ وظُفْرِهِ

God is enough for you! How you journeyed toward glory

God suffices you - how you reached the heights

between the fangs of death and its claw!

Between the fangs of the doves and their claws!

لولاكَ قُدْسُ المجدِ أصبحَ طورُه

لولاكَ قُدْسُ المجدِ أصبحَ طورُه

دكّاً يموجُ وخرَّ موسى قدْرِهِ

دكّاً يموجُ وخرَّ موسى قدْرِهِ

But for you, the mountain of glory's sacred realm would have become

Were it not for you, the sanctity of glory would have become

seething rubble, and the Moses of its stature would have fallen.

Ruins surging and Moses' pot would have collapsed.

قامت بنجدتِه سيوفُك فاِغْتدَتْ

قامت بنجدتِه سيوفُك فاِغْتدَتْ

بالنّصرِ تبسِمُ كالثّغورِ بثغرِهِ

بالنّصرِ تبسِمُ كالثّغورِ بثغرِهِ

Your swords rose to its defense, and came

Your swords rose to its help, so it smiled

to smile with victory, like mouths, at its frontier.

Victoriously with the lips of its breaches.

جرّدْتَها فرجَمْتَ شيطانِ العِدا

جرّدْتَها فرجَمْتَ شيطانِ العِدا

بنُجومِها ودحَرْتَ ماردَ شرِّهِ

بنُجومِها ودحَرْتَ ماردَ شرِّهِ

You unsheathed them and pelted the foes' devil

You unsheathed them, so you pelted the devil of enemies

with their stars, and drove away the demon of his evil.

With their stars and repelled the demon of its evil.

قُضُبٌ إذا رأتِ الأسودُ فرِنْدَها

قُضُبٌ إذا رأتِ الأسودُ فرِنْدَها

شهِدَتْ مَناياها بأيدي ذرِّهِ

شهِدَتْ مَناياها بأيدي ذرِّهِ

Blades: when lions see their watered-steel pattern,

Spears - when the lions saw their blades -

they behold their deaths at the hands of his ants.

Witnessed their deaths at the hands of their scattering.

مولايَ سمعاً من رَقيقِك مِدحةً

مولايَ سمعاً من رَقيقِك مِدحةً

هي بنتُ فكرتِه ودُميةُ قَصْرِهِ

هي بنتُ فكرتِه ودُميةُ قَصْرِهِ

My lord, hear a panegyric from your servant:

My master - may you hear from your benign servant a eulogy

it is the daughter of his thought, the figurine of his palace.

Which is the daughter of his thought and the doll of his palace,

بِكرٌ يحجِّبُها الجَمالُ وإنْ بدَتْ

بِكرٌ يحجِّبُها الجَمالُ وإنْ بدَتْ

ويصونُها خفرُ الدّلالِ بسَتْرِهِ

ويصونُها خفرُ الدّلالِ بسَتْرِهِ

A virgin whom beauty veils, even when she appears,

A virgin whom beauty veils even when she appears

and whom the modesty of coquetry protects with its veil.

And the guards of coquetry protect with their screens,

لو كان تخطِبُها النُجومُ لبَدرِها

لو كان تخطِبُها النُجومُ لبَدرِها

حاشاكَ لم تُعْطِ القَبولَ لمَهْرِهِ

حاشاكَ لم تُعْطِ القَبولَ لمَهْرِهِ

Were the stars to woo her for their full moon,

If the stars asked for her hand, for her full moon -

you excepted, she would not consent to his bridal gift.

You are far above, you would not consent to their dowry,

فاِستجلِها عذراءَ هذّبَ لفظَها

فاِستجلِها عذراءَ هذّبَ لفظَها

طبعٌ أرقُّ من النّسيمِ بمرّهِ

طبعٌ أرقُّ من النّسيمِ بمرّهِ

So behold her unveiled, a maiden whose diction was refined by

So make her gentle, she refined her diction

a nature gentler than the breeze in its passing.

A nature more delicate than the breeze in its passing,

وليَهْنِكَ الشّهرُ المباركُ صومُه

وليَهْنِكَ الشّهرُ المباركُ صومُه

وجزاكَ ربُّك عنه أفضلَ أجرِهِ

وجزاكَ ربُّك عنه أفضلَ أجرِهِ

May the month whose fasting is blessed bring you joy,

And may the blessed month gladden you with its fast

and may your Lord reward you for it with His finest recompense.

And may your Lord reward you for it with the most generous compensation,

شهرٌ لوَ اِنّ من الوَرى أوقاتُه

شهرٌ لوَ اِنّ من الوَرى أوقاتُه

عُدّتْ لرُحْتَ وأنت ليلَةُ قَدْرِهِ

عُدّتْ لرُحْتَ وأنت ليلَةُ قَدْرِهِ

A month: if its hours were counted among humankind,

A month - if the times of people were counted as its times

you would go forth as its Night of Decree.

You would be delighted while you are the night of its predestination,

واِسْعَدْ بعِيدٍ أنت فينا مِثلُه

واِسْعَدْ بعِيدٍ أنت فينا مِثلُه

واِفْطُرْ قُلوبَ المعتَدين بفِطرِهِ

واِفْطُرْ قُلوبَ المعتَدين بفِطرِهِ

And rejoice in a feast whose equal you are among us,

And have a happy feast day, you are its like among us

and break the aggressors' hearts with its breaking of the fast.

And break the hearts of the aggressors with its breakfast.