يا برقُ سُقْ حَيا السّحابِ الأبرَقا

يا برقُ سُقْ حَيا السّحابِ الأبرَقا

فلقَدْ حكَيْتَ فؤادَ صبٍّ شيّقا

فلقَدْ حكَيْتَ فؤادَ صبٍّ شيّقا

O lightning, drive the clouds’ rain to al-Abraq.

O lightning, water the clouds' pasture,

For you have mirrored a lover’s yearning heart.

For you have told of a passionate lover's heart.

وإذا عبَرْتَ فحيِّ دارَ أحبّتي

وإذا عبَرْتَ فحيِّ دارَ أحبّتي

وقُلْ السلامُ عليكِ أينَ المُلتَقى

وقُلْ السلامُ عليكِ أينَ المُلتَقى

And when you pass, greet my loved ones’ dwelling,

And when you pass, greet the abode of my beloved,

and say, “Peace be upon you; where is the meeting-place?”

And say, "Peace be upon you! Where is our meeting place?"

واستوْدع الأرواحَ كلَّ عشيّةٍ

واستوْدع الأرواحَ كلَّ عشيّةٍ

نفَسَ الرياضِ مغرِّباً ومُشرِّقا

نفَسَ الرياضِ مغرِّباً ومُشرِّقا

And entrust the winds, each evening,

Entrust the spirits every evening

with the gardens’ breath, westward and eastward.

To the soul of the meadows in the setting and rising sun.

تركوا بهمْ عيني سَفوحاً دمعُها

تركوا بهمْ عيني سَفوحاً دمعُها

شوقاً وجَفْني بالفِراقِ مؤرِّقا

شوقاً وجَفْني بالفِراقِ مؤرِّقا

They left my eye pouring out its tears for them

They left my eyes slopes flowing with tears

in longing, and my eyelid keeping me awake through parting.

Of yearning, and my eyelids burnt with separation.

لا دمعُها يرْقا على تِذْكارِهمْ

لا دمعُها يرْقا على تِذْكارِهمْ

يَهْمي فيَحْمي جفنَها أن يُطْبِقا

يَهْمي فيَحْمي جفنَها أن يُطْبِقا

Its tears do not cease at the thought of them;

Neither do their tears flow with remembrance,

they stream, keeping its eyelid from closing.

Nor does grief flood their lids and close them.

قُلْ كيفَ يلتذُ الرُقادُ متيّمٌ

قُلْ كيفَ يلتذُ الرُقادُ متيّمٌ

الوجدُ قلّبَ منه قلباً مُحْرَقا

الوجدُ قلّبَ منه قلباً مُحْرَقا

Tell me, how can an enthralled lover delight in sleep,

Say, how can one afflicted with love find sleep?

when longing has tossed his scorched heart about?

Passion has set their heart aflame.

طُويَتْ جوامحُهُ على جمرِ الغَضى

طُويَتْ جوامحُهُ على جمرِ الغَضى

لمّا تعشقُ مُقلتي ظبي النّقا

لمّا تعشقُ مُقلتي ظبي النّقا

His unruly passions were folded over ghada embers,

Their pride was folded over the embers of anger,

when my eye fell for the gazelle of the sandhill.

When my gazelle-like glance fell in love.

قد حكّمَتْ في قلبِه من لحظِها

قد حكّمَتْ في قلبِه من لحظِها

بالسحْرِ سيفاً حدُّهُ لا يُتّقى

بالسحْرِ سيفاً حدُّهُ لا يُتّقى

She has set over his heart, from her glance,

Her glance has authorized in his heart,

by magic, a sword whose edge cannot be warded off.

A magic sword, whose edge cannot be warded off.

يُثْني أعنّةَ صبرِه أما انثَنَتْ

يُثْني أعنّةَ صبرِه أما انثَنَتْ

أعطافُها كالخوط أمْلدَ مورِقا

أعطافُها كالخوط أمْلدَ مورِقا

It bends back the reins of his patience—have not

It bends the joints of his patience if her neck is bent,

her flanks bent like a supple, leafy shoot?

Like threads, softly shimmering.

ويَشوقُه ظَلْمُ الثّنايا مُشبِهاً

ويَشوقُه ظَلْمُ الثّنايا مُشبِهاً

راحاً جرَتْ ما بينَ دُرٍّ مُنْتَقى

راحاً جرَتْ ما بينَ دُرٍّ مُنْتَقى

And the gleaming moisture of her front teeth stirs his longing, like

The darkness of her curves makes him yearn,

wine flowing between choice pearls.

Like a herd that passed between selected pearls.

أبتِ الوصالَ فقُلتُ هلاّ في الكَرى

أبتِ الوصالَ فقُلتُ هلاّ في الكَرى

فحمَتْ جُفوني طيفَها أن يُطْرِقا

فحمَتْ جُفوني طيفَها أن يُطْرِقا

She refused union, so I said, “Why not in sleep?”

She refused union, so I said, would that in the grave,

So she kept her phantom from visiting my eyelids by night.

Her image might visit and bow to me.

طيبُ النّعيمُ الوصلُ بعدَ قطيعةٍ

طيبُ النّعيمُ الوصلُ بعدَ قطيعةٍ

والهجرُ بعد الوصلِ من أوفى الشّقا

والهجرُ بعد الوصلِ من أوفى الشّقا

Sweet bliss is union after estrangement,

Pleasant is union after estrangement,

and separation after union is among the fullest miseries.

And separation after union is the most faithful companion.

والحبّ تألفُه النفوسُ وحتفُها

والحبّ تألفُه النفوسُ وحتفُها

فيه وإن لم تلقَ منه الأوفَقا

فيه وإن لم تلقَ منه الأوفَقا

And souls grow fond of love, though their doom

Souls incline toward love, as do their undoing,

lies in it, even if they find nothing agreeable in it.

Though they do not find in it the best fortune.

مثلُ الفراشةِ والسِراجُ يروقُها

مثلُ الفراشةِ والسِراجُ يروقُها

نوراً ويدعوها إليه لتُحرَقا

نوراً ويدعوها إليه لتُحرَقا

Like a moth, which the lamp delights

Like the moth and the lamp, the light entices it

with light, calling it toward itself to be burned.

To come closer, only to be burnt.

والحسنُ للعشّاقِ مثلُ السيفِ يق

والحسنُ للعشّاقِ مثلُ السيفِ يق

تُلُ منْ يكابرُهُ ويُعجِبُ رونَقا

تُلُ منْ يكابرُهُ ويُعجِبُ رونَقا

And beauty, for lovers, is like a sword: it

Beauty is to lovers like the sword that

kills whoever defies it, and delights with its sheen.

Kills those who challenge it, though charming.

لكنّه يفنى وأحسنُ منه ما

لكنّه يفنى وأحسنُ منه ما

تحلو القوافي إذ لهُ طولُ البَقا

تحلو القوافي إذ لهُ طولُ البَقا

Yet it fades; finer than it is what

Yet it fades, and better than it, is that

sweetens rhymed verse, for that long endures.

Whose rhymes are sweet, for it has lasting glory,

كنظام مدحِ الحافظِ الحَبْرِ الذي

كنظام مدحِ الحافظِ الحَبْرِ الذي

راقَ المسامعَ والعيونَ منَمقا

راقَ المسامعَ والعيونَ منَمقا

Like the verses praising the hafiz, the learned scholar, which

Like the excellence of Al-Hafez's praise,

have delighted ears and eyes with their adornment.

Which pleased ears and eyes, perfectly composed.

حبْرٌ حكتْ أمداحُهُ الحِبَرَ التي

حبْرٌ حكتْ أمداحُهُ الحِبَرَ التي

فيها أرَتْ صَنعاء صُنعاً مونقا

فيها أرَتْ صَنعاء صُنعاً مونقا

A scholar whose praises resemble the patterned cloths

An ink which has recorded praises,

in which Sana’a displayed delightful workmanship.

In which Sana'a saw skillful workmanship.

علاّمةُ العُلماءِ بحرٌ زاخرٌ

علاّمةُ العُلماءِ بحرٌ زاخرٌ

عِلْماً وجوداً للبريّة مُغرِقا

عِلْماً وجوداً للبريّة مُغرِقا

The scholars’ great scholar, a surging sea,

The sign of scholars, a deep, abundant sea,

flooding mankind with knowledge and generosity.

Its knowledge and generosity drowning the land.

ومهذبُ الطبعِ الذكيّ ففهْمِهُ

ومهذبُ الطبعِ الذكيّ ففهْمِهُ

نور يفيدُ المشكلات تألّقا

نور يفيدُ المشكلات تألّقا

And refined in nature, keen-minded—his understanding

Polishing natural talent, its understanding

is a light that lends radiance to difficult questions.

Is a light that helps unravel complexities.

فضحتْ أناملَهُ الغمائمَ هطّلاً

فضحتْ أناملَهُ الغمائمَ هطّلاً

لما انبرَتْ قبل السؤال تدفّقا

لما انبرَتْ قبل السؤال تدفّقا

His fingertips have put the pouring clouds to shame,

His fingers made the clouds pour forth,

springing forth in torrents before being asked.

When they moved before questioning, overflowing.

أضحى له المجدُ المُنيف مجمَّعا

أضحى له المجدُ المُنيف مجمَّعا

في حفظِه بذلُ النوالِ مفرِّقا

في حفظِه بذلُ النوالِ مفرِّقا

Lofty glory has been gathered for him

Glory came to be gathered in memorizing it,

in his keeping, while the bounty he gives is scattered abroad.

Giving freely, though scattered about.

في كل فضلٍ قد غَدا متقدّماً

في كل فضلٍ قد غَدا متقدّماً

وأبى تناهي فضلِه أن يُلحَقا

وأبى تناهي فضلِه أن يُلحَقا

In every virtue he has become foremost,

In every virtue he has become foremost,

and the utmost reach of his excellence refuses to be overtaken.

And refused to allow his merits to be matched.

وحمَتْ مكارمُه المذمةَ عِرضَهُ

وحمَتْ مكارمُه المذمةَ عِرضَهُ

فغدا نقيّ العِرْض سامي المرتَقى

فغدا نقيّ العِرْض سامي المرتَقى

And his noble deeds have shielded his honor from reproach,

His virtues have protected his honor from blame,

so his honor is pure and his station exalted.

So his honor became lofty and noble.

في الفضل أحمدُ أحمدُ الأزكى لقد

في الفضل أحمدُ أحمدُ الأزكى لقد

حاز المَدى سَبْقاً فأعيا السُبَّقا

حاز المَدى سَبْقاً فأعيا السُبَّقا

In excellence, Ahmad is most praiseworthy, purest; he has indeed

In virtue Ahmad, Ahmad the most pure.

reached the goal first, leaving even the frontrunners powerless.

He has surpassed in excellence those who raced.

أعطى اتقاءً للإله فكانَ مَنْ

أعطى اتقاءً للإله فكانَ مَنْ

قد قال فيه اللهُ أعطى واتّقى

قد قال فيه اللهُ أعطى واتّقى

He gave out of reverence for God, becoming one

He gave piety to God, thus becoming one

of whom God said, “He gave and was God-fearing.”

Of whom God has said, “He gives and fears.”

إهنأ بخيرِ قرينة ميمونة

إهنأ بخيرِ قرينة ميمونة

قد سُرْبِلَتْ بردَ المَفاخِرِ والتُقى

قد سُرْبِلَتْ بردَ المَفاخِرِ والتُقى

Rejoice in a blessed, most excellent wife,

Congratulations on an auspicious wife,

robed in the mantle of glories and piety.

Who is robed in the cloak of glories and piety.

كان الزمانُ لها بفضلِكَ واعداً

كان الزمانُ لها بفضلِكَ واعداً

فوقى وأعطاكَ المرادَ الأوفَقا

فوقى وأعطاكَ المرادَ الأوفَقا

Time, through your excellence, had made her a promise,

Through your merit, time has promised her,

so it safeguarded her and granted you the most fitting wish.

The best fortune, and granted what you wished.

شمسٌ حواها الغربُ قبلَك مغرِباً

شمسٌ حواها الغربُ قبلَك مغرِباً

جعل الإلهُ لها محلّكَ مُشرِقا

جعل الإلهُ لها محلّكَ مُشرِقا

A sun whom the West held before you as her setting-place—

A sun the west hid before you setting,

God has made your abode her place of rising.

God made your place its rising.

سعدٌ قرانُكُما بأيمنِ طائرٍ

سعدٌ قرانُكُما بأيمنِ طائرٍ

لا شَوْبَ من نكَدٍ عليه يُتّقى

لا شَوْبَ من نكَدٍ عليه يُتّقى

Your union is good fortune, with the most auspicious omen;

Blessed is your marriage, under the auspices

no taint of misfortune need be feared for it.

Of the most fortunate bird, safe from harm.

لكَ بالرفاه والبنين تفاؤلاً

لكَ بالرفاه والبنين تفاؤلاً

طاب الهَناء وقد جَلا متذوّقا

طاب الهَناء وقد جَلا متذوّقا

For you, comfort and sons—an auspicious wish;

For you, good tidings of well-being and children,

joy has grown sweet, shining forth to be savored.

Joy has spread, tastefully observed.

وإليكَ من نظمِ اللسان قصائداً

وإليكَ من نظمِ اللسان قصائداً

جاءت وقد حازَتْ مديحاً مُنْتَقى

جاءت وقد حازَتْ مديحاً مُنْتَقى

And to you I offer poems woven by the tongue,

And to you, from the tongue’s poetry, carefully chosen

coming with the choice praise they have gathered.

Eulogies have come and gained distinguished praise.

شعرٌ كأنّ الدُرَّ فيه منظّمٌ

شعرٌ كأنّ الدُرَّ فيه منظّمٌ

والسحرَ والروضَ البديعَ المونَقا

والسحرَ والروضَ البديعَ المونَقا

Poetry in which pearls seem to be strung,

Poetry as if pearls were strung in it,

along with magic and a wondrous, delightful garden.

Magic, gardens, and elegant charm.

حاز المحاسنَ كلهنّ مَصْعدا

حاز المحاسنَ كلهنّ مَصْعدا

ومصوَّباً ومُجمّعاً ومُفَرّقا

ومصوَّباً ومُجمّعاً ومُفَرّقا

It embraces every beauty, ascending

It has attained all beauties, ascending,

and descending, gathered together and scattered apart.

Well-aimed, gathered, and spread about.

خذْها فقدْ شرُفَتْ معانيها التي

خذْها فقدْ شرُفَتْ معانيها التي

أخذتْ من اللفظِ البديعِ الريّقا

أخذتْ من اللفظِ البديعِ الريّقا

Take them, for noble are their meanings, which

Take them, for their meanings have been ennobled,

have drawn the choicest essence from exquisite wording.

Which have taken from eloquent words, shimmering luster.

فأتَتْكَ تنشرُ للبديعِ غرائباً

فأتَتْكَ تنشرُ للبديعِ غرائباً

أمنَتْ بحُسْنِ نظامها أن تُسْرقا

أمنَتْ بحُسْنِ نظامها أن تُسْرقا

So they come to you, unfolding rare marvels of verbal artistry,

They came to you, spreading rhetorical wonders,

safe from theft through the beauty of their composition.

Trusting in their well-composed arrangement not to be stolen.

واسحَبْ ذيولَ الفخرِ لابسَ وشيِهِ

واسحَبْ ذيولَ الفخرِ لابسَ وشيِهِ

حُلَلاً جديداً نسجُها أن يَخلَقا

حُلَلاً جديداً نسجُها أن يَخلَقا

And trail the trains of pride, wearing its brocade

Pull the train of your pride wearing its mantle,

as robes whose weave is too fresh to grow threadbare.

New robes I have woven for it to be created.