لَعِبتْ بعطفيهِ الشمولُ فَمَادَا

لَعِبتْ بعطفيهِ الشمولُ فَمَادَا

كالغصنِ حرَّكَهُ الهوى فأنادا

كالغصنِ حرَّكَهُ الهوى فأنادا

Wine toyed with his flanks, and he swayed,

The sleeves of his cloak played with the breeze,

like a bough the breeze stirred and set swaying.

Swaying like a branch stirred by passion and calling out.

ريمٌ أعَارَ مها الصرائم أعيناً

ريمٌ أعَارَ مها الصرائم أعيناً

نُجلاً وآرامَ الحِمَى أجيادا

نُجلاً وآرامَ الحِمَى أجيادا

A gazelle who lent the oryxes of the sandy tracts eyes

Slim but firmer than the striking whiteness

wide, and the gazelles of the preserve necks.

Of a thoroughbred on the day of battle.

خُنُثُ اللحاظِ وإنها لأشدُّ من

خُنُثُ اللحاظِ وإنها لأشدُّ من

بِيضِ الظُّبا يومَ القِراعِ جلادا

بِيضِ الظُّبا يومَ القِراعِ جلادا

Soft in his glances, yet they are fiercer than

The eyes that met mine, and the eyes that avoided mine

gleaming sword-edges in combat on the day of battle.

And settled on my heart.

هاتيكَ جَاورتِ الجفونَ وهذهِ

هاتيكَ جَاورتِ الجفونَ وهذهِ

أَبتِ الجفونَ وحَلَّتِ الأكبادا

أَبتِ الجفونَ وحَلَّتِ الأكبادا

Those keep company with sheaths, while these

I competed with him, with the coolness of his contentment,

spurn eyelids and lodge in livers.

With the flavour and embers of his cheek aflame.

نازعتُهُ رَاحاً كَبَرْدِ رُضابِهِ

نازعتُهُ رَاحاً كَبَرْدِ رُضابِهِ

طعماً وجذوةِ خدِّهِ إيقادا

طعماً وجذوةِ خدِّهِ إيقادا

I shared with him wine, like his cool saliva

So he yielded, like a restive steed whose bridle I pulled gently,

in taste, and his cheek's ember in its fire.

And he yielded.

فانقادَ كالمُهرِ الجموحِ جَذَبتُهُ

فانقادَ كالمُهرِ الجموحِ جَذَبتُهُ

رفقاً بثنيِ عِنانِهِ فانقادَا

رفقاً بثنيِ عِنانِهِ فانقادَا

Then he yielded like a headstrong colt; I drew him

The night, black-robed, spreading darkness

gently, turning his rein, and he yielded.

Like the pupils of beauties, pitch-black.

والليلُ زنجيُّ الملاءةِ ناشرٌ

والليلُ زنجيُّ الملاءةِ ناشرٌ

لمماً كأحداقِ الحسانِ جِعَادا

لمماً كأحداقِ الحسانِ جِعَادا

And night, its mantle African-black, spread

The full moon rose, graced with beauty,

curly locks, dark as beautiful women's pupils.

Outshining the bright moon, magnifying it.

فَنَضَا دُجاهُ بُغرَّةٍ أرْبَى بها

فَنَضَا دُجاهُ بُغرَّةٍ أرْبَى بها

حُسناً على البدرِ المنير وزادا

حُسناً على البدرِ المنير وزادا

Then he stripped away its darkness with a radiant brow, surpassing thereby

By the slenderness, like a gazelle’s, of its crescent,

the shining full moon in beauty, and exceeding it still.

Joined in succession like pearls.

قَسَماً بخُوصٍ كالحُنِيِّ ضوامرٍ

قَسَماً بخُوصٍ كالحُنِيِّ ضوامرٍ

وَصَلتْ بتدآبِ السُرى الإسآدا

وَصَلتْ بتدآبِ السُرى الإسآدا

I swear by sunken-eyed camels, lean as bows,

Bearing traces of passion, leaders of beauty,

that linked all-night marches through unceasing night travel,

Their breath the scent of musk, exhaling through their veils.

يحملن شُعثاً من ذؤابةِ وائلٍ

يحملن شُعثاً من ذؤابةِ وائلٍ

شُمَّ المعاطِسِ سادةً أنجادا

شُمَّ المعاطِسِ سادةً أنجادا

bearing disheveled men from Wa'il's elite,

I shall leave this abode, not relying

high-nosed lords, valiant men.

On one who is miserly or one who is generous.

لأُفارقَنَّ الخطَّ غيرَ مُعَوِّلٍ

لأُفارقَنَّ الخطَّ غيرَ مُعَوِّلٍ

فيها على مَنْ ضنَّ أو مَنْ جَادَا

فيها على مَنْ ضنَّ أو مَنْ جَادَا

I shall surely leave al-Khatt, without relying

A land that dishonours the noble and honours knaves -

there on anyone who withholds or anyone who gives.

Evil has overwhelmed the times.

بلدٌ تُهينُ الأكرمين للؤمها

بلدٌ تُهينُ الأكرمين للؤمها

شروى الزمانِ وتُكرِمُ الأوغادا

شروى الزمانِ وتُكرِمُ الأوغادا

A land that, in its baseness, humiliates the noblest,

And I shall remember in it a man who was immersed

like Time, and honors scoundrels.

In plenty when there was opportunity for generosity.

ولأذكرنَّ على النوى فيها امرءاً

ولأذكرنَّ على النوى فيها امرءاً

غمرَ النوالِ متى استُمِيحَ أجادا

غمرَ النوالِ متى استُمِيحَ أجادا

And despite distance, I shall surely remember a man there,

And I shall grope my way through the darkness of night,

lavish in bounty, who gives generously whenever gifts are sought.

A king through what his hands possess of horses and generosity.

ولأخبِطَنَّ حَشَا الظلامِ مُيمِّماً

ولأخبِطَنَّ حَشَا الظلامِ مُيمِّماً

مَلِكاً بما ملكتْ يداهُ جوادا

مَلِكاً بما ملكتْ يداهُ جوادا

And I shall surely tread through darkness's depths, heading toward

He seeks only purebred steeds, short spears,

a king generous with what his hands possess.

White swords, and noble horses of battle.

لا يقتني غيرَ السَّوابغِ والقَنَا

لا يقتني غيرَ السَّوابغِ والقَنَا

والبِيض والخيلِ العتاقِ عَتَادا

والبِيض والخيلِ العتاقِ عَتَادا

He keeps nothing but full-length coats of mail and spears,

From a people who exemplified all that is good -

and gleaming swords and noble-bred horses as his armament.

He established their glory and made it endure.

من معشرٍ سَنَّ المكارمَ يافثٌ

من معشرٍ سَنَّ المكارمَ يافثٌ

لهُمُ وأَسَّسَ مجدَهم وأَشَادَا

لهُمُ وأَسَّسَ مجدَهم وأَشَادَا

Of a people—Japheth laid down noble virtues

His banners were never raised in procession

for them, founded their glory, and raised it high.

Except to return having conquered lands.

ما سُيِّرتْ راياتُهُ في موكبٍ

ما سُيِّرتْ راياتُهُ في موكبٍ

إلا رجعنَ وقد ملَكْنَ بلادا

إلا رجعنَ وقد ملَكْنَ بلادا

Never were his banners sent forth with a marching host

Seizing whatever he wished from its territories,

but they returned having conquered lands.

Not granting respite to kings.

يَقْتادُ من أملاَكِهَا مَا شَاءَهَ

يَقْتادُ من أملاَكِهَا مَا شَاءَهَ

قَسراً ولا يعطي الملوكَ مقادا

قَسراً ولا يعطي الملوكَ مقادا

He takes captive whichever of their kings he wishes,

Pulpits tremble at the mention of his name,

by force, and yields no rein to kings.

Poles quiver in joy at the thought of him.

تثني معاطفَها المنابرُ باسمِهِ

تثني معاطفَها المنابرُ باسمِهِ

وتهزُّ من طربٍ به الأعوادا

وتهزُّ من طربٍ به الأعوادا

The pulpits bend their sides at his name,

Like the flowing pearls of his crown, he has words

and shake their timbers with delight in him.

That please you in how they begin and conclude.

وله كما اطَّردتْ لآلئُ تاجِهِ

وله كما اطَّردتْ لآلئُ تاجِهِ

كَلِمٌ تروقُكَ مبدأً ومَعَادا

كَلِمٌ تروقُكَ مبدأً ومَعَادا

And he has, like his crown's pearls in ordered succession,

Like the advent of spring, his waist has a figure

words that delight you at first and when revisited.

That outdoes the generous in generosity.

ولهُ كما حَلَّ الربيعُ نطاقَهُ

ولهُ كما حَلَّ الربيعُ نطاقَهُ

سيبٌ يُبَخِّلُ صوبُهُ الأجوادا

سيبٌ يُبَخِّلُ صوبُهُ الأجوادا

And he has, like spring when it loosens its girdle,

In his hands are death and wishes -

bounty whose downpour makes the generous seem miserly.

Subduing the recalcitrant and gratifying seekers.

وله يدٌ فيها المنيةُ والمنى

وله يدٌ فيها المنيةُ والمنى

تشقي السَّوامَ وتُسعِدُ الوُفَّادا

تشقي السَّوامَ وتُسعِدُ الوُفَّادا

And he has a hand bearing death and hopes,

Green meadows that have always been

which brings misery to grazing herds and joy to visiting petitioners.

A place of comfort for the anguished.

ومرابعٌ خضرُ المحاني لم تزلْ

ومرابعٌ خضرُ المحاني لم تزلْ

عرصاتُها للمعتَفينَ مُرادا

عرصاتُها للمعتَفينَ مُرادا

And spring pastures, green in their winding reaches, have always

Determination that ignites, opinions like

had their open grounds as a destination for seekers of gifts.

The striking of steel on flint by those who kindle fires.

وعزائمٌ تذكو وآراءٌ كما

وعزائمٌ تذكو وآراءٌ كما

أورتْ أكفُّ القادحينَ زنادا

أورتْ أكفُّ القادحينَ زنادا

And resolves that blaze, and judgments as when

So let every eminent man strive to support

the hands of fire-strikers kindle fire-sticks.

A pillar of faith that cannot be made to soften or bend.

فليُفدِ ركنَ الدينِ كلُّ مُبجَّلٍ

فليُفدِ ركنَ الدينِ كلُّ مُبجَّلٍ

لا يستلينُ له الثناءُ قِيادا

لا يستلينُ له الثناءُ قِيادا

So let Rukn al-Din be ransomed by every dignitary

The twisting of hands counts the inheritance money -

to whom praise refuses to yield its reins,

Uprightness and kindness lead to ruin.

جَعْدُ اليدينِ يَعُدُّ خزنَ تراثِهِ

جَعْدُ اليدينِ يَعُدُّ خزنَ تراثِهِ

رُشداً وإِسداءَ الجميلِ فسادا

رُشداً وإِسداءَ الجميلِ فسادا

tight-fisted, counting the hoarding of his inheritance

When he hears praise or satire, he has a face

as prudence, and bestowing kindness as ruin.

That draws the clear water of streams.

وله إذا سُمِعَ الثناءُ أو اجتُدِي

وله إذا سُمِعَ الثناءُ أو اجتُدِي

وجهٌ ينيلُ شَبَا اليراعِ مدادا

وجهٌ ينيلُ شَبَا اليراعِ مدادا

And he has, when praise is heard or a gift is sought,

O son of the exalted, unleash their steeds

a face that supplies reed-pen tips with ink.

To the furthest extent on the day of racing.

يابنَ الأُلى بذُّوا جيادَهُمُ إلى

يابنَ الأُلى بذُّوا جيادَهُمُ إلى

أمدِ العُلا يومَ السباقِ طِرادا

أمدِ العُلا يومَ السباقِ طِرادا

O son of those who outstripped their steeds toward

They built their glories with a reckless horse

glory's goal, galloping on the day of the race.

And a gazelle who knew the stoniness of the desert.

شَادُوا مناقِبَهُمْ بسيبٍ غامرٍ

شَادُوا مناقِبَهُمْ بسيبٍ غامرٍ

وظُباً أَلِفْنَ طُلا العِدا أغْمادا

وظُباً أَلِفْنَ طُلا العِدا أغْمادا

They built their glories with overflowing bounty,

So people are either a praiser of them

and blades accustomed to enemies' necks as sheaths.

Or one who secretly harbours malice.

فالناسُ بينَ اثنين إمَّا مادحٌ

فالناسُ بينَ اثنين إمَّا مادحٌ

لَهُمُ وإمَّا مُضمِرٌ أحقادا

لَهُمُ وإمَّا مُضمِرٌ أحقادا

So people are one of two: either a praiser

The hand of Yafith attained the heights of glory through them -

of them, or one who harbors grudges.

For they are his children.

نالتْ بِهِمْ هامَ السُّهى يدُ يافِثٍ

نالتْ بِهِمْ هامَ السُّهى يدُ يافِثٍ

طولاً لكونِهِمُ له أولادا

طولاً لكونِهِمُ له أولادا

Through them, Japheth's hand reached Suha's crown,

A people who, if aroused for battle while the day

stretching so far because they are his children.

Was black as the darkest night:

قومٌ إذا استنهضتهم لملمَّةٍ

قومٌ إذا استنهضتهم لملمَّةٍ

واليومُ كالليلِ الأحمِّ سوادا

واليومُ كالليلِ الأحمِّ سوادا

A people who, when you summon them against calamity,

They mounted the smooth-running horses and stood out

while day is black as the pitch-dark night,

White as the tongues of morn dressed in iron.

رَكِبوا مُنيفاتِ الهوادي وانتضَوا

رَكِبوا مُنيفاتِ الهوادي وانتضَوا

بيضاً كألسنةِ الصباحِ حِدادا

بيضاً كألسنةِ الصباحِ حِدادا

mount steeds with lofty necks and unsheathe

They donned iron armour and stripped themselves

gleaming blades like dawn's tongues, keen-edged.

To leather the colour of sparks from the blacksmith’s fire.

واستلأموا قُمُصَ الحديدِ وجَرَّدُوا

واستلأموا قُمُصَ الحديدِ وجَرَّدُوا

سُمُراً كأرشيةِ الركيِّ صِعَادا

سُمُراً كأرشيةِ الركيِّ صِعَادا

And don iron shirts and bare

They sought the shade of high places and felt

brown, straight spears like the ropes of wells.

The roughness of rugged land and embraced misfortunes.

وتفيّأوا ظلَّ العوالي واحتسَوا

وتفيّأوا ظلَّ العوالي واحتسَوا

عَلَقَ النجيعِ وعَانقُوا الآسادا

عَلَقَ النجيعِ وعَانقُوا الآسادا

And shelter in the shade of tall spears, and sip

With white swords whose blades had tasted

clotted gore, and embrace lions,

The blood of victims and spared lives.

في مَاقِطٍ وصلتْ جماجمَ صيدِهِ

في مَاقِطٍ وصلتْ جماجمَ صيدِهِ

بِيضُ الصِّفاحِ وعافتِ الأجسادا

بِيضُ الصِّفاحِ وعافتِ الأجسادا

on a battlefield where its proud warriors' skulls are reached

The feast of breaking the fast has come to you -

by gleaming broad blades, which shun their bodies.

So have an Eid of happiness ever repeating.

وافاكَ عيدُ الفِطرِ طَلْقُ المجتلَى

وافاكَ عيدُ الفِطرِ طَلْقُ المجتلَى

فاستجلِ عيداً بالسعادةِ عادا

فاستجلِ عيداً بالسعادةِ عادا

Eid al-Fitr has come to you with a radiant countenance,

Ramadan has passed while you filled its nights

so behold a festival that has returned with happiness.

With piety and devotion dazzling the worshippers.

ومضى الصيامُ وقد حشوتَ عِيَابَهُ

ومضى الصيامُ وقد حشوتَ عِيَابَهُ

ورعاً ونسكاً أبهَرَ العُبَّادا

ورعاً ونسكاً أبهَرَ العُبَّادا

And fasting has departed, after you had filled its bags

So receive these words of mine as a bride adorned

with piety and devotion that dazzled worshippers.

With necklaces of meaning, singular and paired.

فاستجلِ من كَلِمي عروساً قُلِّدَتْ

فاستجلِ من كَلِمي عروساً قُلِّدَتْ

دُرَرَ المعانِي تَوائماً وفُرادى

دُرَرَ المعانِي تَوائماً وفُرادى

So unveil from my words a bride adorned

Submit, live in prosperity, and enjoy a state

with pearls of meaning, paired and single.

That satisfies the Guardian and subdues the envious.

واسلمْ ودُمْ وانعمْ وعِشْ في دولةٍ

واسلمْ ودُمْ وانعمْ وعِشْ في دولةٍ

تُرضيْ الوليَّ وتُكمِدُ الحُسَّادا

تُرضيْ الوليَّ وتُكمِدُ الحُسَّادا

And be safe, endure, enjoy bliss, and live in a reign

that pleases your ally and grieves the envious.