أَلاحَhe waved لِبَرقِto the lightning of الشامِSyria وَهوَwhile it was مَليحُlovely
أَلاحَ لِبَرقِ الشامِ وَهوَ مَليحُ
عَشيَّةَon the evening وافىhe reached الرومَRum وَهوَwhile he was طَليحُexhausted
عَشيَّةَ وافى الرومَ وَهوَ طَليحُ
He waved to Syria’s lightning, so lovely,
Alas! The Levant lightning at dusk as it headed to Rome was beautiful.
the evening he reached Rum, worn with travel.
It marched like a fantasy and stirred him towards the desert where there was a clever, eloquent guide.
سَرىit traveled by night نَحوَهُtoward him مَسرىwith the passage of الخَيالa phantom فَهاجَهُand so stirred him
سَرى نَحوَهُ مَسرى الخَيال فَهاجَهُ
إِلىtoward الرَبعِthe dwelling وَجدٌlonging بارِعٌoverwhelming وَسَنيحُand sudden
إِلى الرَبعِ وَجدٌ بارِعٌ وَسَنيحُ
It stole toward him like a phantom, stirring within him
It reminded him of his journey to the Levant with its gentle breeze in the ravines of al-Lawa.
an overwhelming, sudden longing for the dwelling.
In a valley topped by a hill, its settlements were streams flowing in the lowlands.
وَذكَّرهand reminded him مَسراهhis night journey بِالشامin Syria رَبرَباًa herd of gazelles
وَذكَّره مَسراه بِالشام رَبرَباً
نَسيمٌa breeze بِأَكنافalong the fringes of اللِوىal-Liwa وَتَريحُand brings repose
نَسيمٌ بِأَكناف اللِوى وَتَريحُ
His night journey recalled to him a herd of gazelles in Syria—
To the shade of scenes more beautiful than paradise the souls would soar still wholesome.
a breeze along al-Liwa’s fringes, bringing repose.
In it the pebbles make a sound like the tinkling of anklets around the necks of gazelles calling them for morning prayer.
بِوادٍin a valley عُلاهُits high ground رَبوَةa hill وَقَرارُهand its floor
بِوادٍ عُلاهُ رَبوَة وَقَرارُه
لُجَينُsilver مِياهٍof waters فيthrough البِطاحِthe broad flats تَسيحُflowing
لُجَينُ مِياهٍ في البِطاحِ تَسيحُ
In a valley whose heights are a hill, whose floor
The north wind blows through it then turns gently. From its pockets comes wafting sweet musk.
is silver water flowing through the broad flats,
A land we frequented in our youth going back and forth led by passion.
إِلىtoward ظلِّshade أَحوىdark-green مِنهُfrom it مُنبَجِسa gushing spring غَدَتhave come to
إِلى ظلِّ أَحوى مِنهُ مُنبَجِس غَدَت
تُعَلُّare given repeated drink بِهِfrom it الأَرواحُthe souls وَهوَwhile it is صَحيحُwholesome
تُعَلُّ بِهِ الأَرواحُ وَهوَ صَحيحُ
toward dark-green shade, a spring welling from it; now
I changed it for another, though not satisfied, for I and my like have little love for home.
souls drink of it again and again, its waters wholesome.
Damascus! If your loved ones are absent, your pouring tears will water its plains.
يصِلُّrattle الحَصىthe pebbles فيهِwithin it صَليلَlike the tinkling of الحليِjewelry فيupon
يصِلُّ الحَصى فيهِ صَليلَ الحليِ في
نُحورthe throats of الغَوانيbeautiful women عَلَّهُنَّhas given them another draught صَبوحُmorning wine
نُحور الغَواني عَلَّهُنَّ صَبوحُ
Its pebbles tinkle like ornaments upon
Missing you makes me quiver like a feather quivers in the hands of one taking an oath.
the throats of beauties given another draught of morning wine.
It is protected by singers of amusements whose call at dusk rings out, the place for singers’ art.
وَتَخطوand steps بِهِthrough it الريحُthe wind الشَمالُthe north فَتَنثَنيthen turns away
وَتَخطو بِهِ الريحُ الشَمالُ فَتَنثَني
وَمِنand from جَيبِهاits bosom المِسكُthe musk الفَتيقُfreshly opened يَفوحُwafts its scent
وَمِن جَيبِها المِسكُ الفَتيقُ يَفوحُ
The north wind steps through it, then turns away,
Its rain is the brother of eyelid clouds, always bestowing favor where it is sought.
and musk, freshly opened, wafts from its bosom.
A maiden’s purpose is to sway gently; as for her stance, it is delicate; as for her gait, casual.
بِلادٌlands بِهاwhere كُنّاwe were زَماناًfor a time مَعَwith الصِباyouth
بِلادٌ بِها كُنّا زَماناً مَعَ الصِبا
نَرودwe roamed وَنَغدوand went at dawn فيin الهَوىlove وَنَروحُand returned at dusk
نَرود وَنَغدو في الهَوى وَنَروحُ
Lands where once, for a time, in youth,
The heart clung to her earring so it quivers alongside her quivering, wounded heart.
we roamed, going forth in love at dawn and returning at dusk.
Remembering her in Damascus, her home, I almost revealed my secret passion.
فَبَدّلتُso I exchanged عَنهاaway from them غَيرَهاothers than them لاnot رِضىًout of contentment بِهاwith them
فَبَدّلتُ عَنها غَيرَها لا رِضىً بِها
وَإِنّيand indeed I وَمِثليand one like me بِالدِيارِconcerning homelands شَحيحُloath to part
وَإِنّي وَمِثلي بِالدِيارِ شَحيحُ
I exchanged them for others, not because those pleased me,
In Rome, the cooing of a dove with the voice of a fawn at dawn made me sleepless.
for I—and any like me—am loath to part with home.
I scare it away, my eye thankful for its water as I weep for a stranger who weeps.
دِمَشقُDamascus فَإِنthen if تَغببvisit only at intervals رُباكَyour hills سَوافِحٌpouring rainclouds
دِمَشقُ فَإِن تَغبب رُباكَ سَوافِحٌ
سَتَرويwill water بِدَمعِwith the tears of العَينِthe eye مِنكfor you سَفوحُa streaming eye
سَتَروي بِدَمعِ العَينِ مِنك سَفوحُ
Damascus, if downpouring clouds visit your hills only now and then,
It cried where its chicks could see it while away from my chicks it suffered torment.
a streaming eye will water them with tears for you.
Two years have passed and now a third while they head to that loved place.
وَإِنّيand indeed I لِتَعرونيam surely seized by لِذكراكَat the thought of you هزَّةٌa tremor
وَإِنّي لِتَعروني لِذكراكَ هزَّةٌ
كَماjust as اِهتَزَّquivers مِنwith جِنِّthe frenzy of النَشاطِhigh spirits مَروحُa spirited steed
كَما اِهتَزَّ مِن جِنِّ النَشاطِ مَروحُ
At the thought of you a tremor surely seizes me,
Perhaps Sa‘d al-Din’s generosity will rein me in and straighten my aim to reach them.
as a spirited steed quivers with the frenzy of delight.
The Imam guiding to righteousness, Sa‘d the excellent, refined in manners, his generosity overflowing.
حِماكِyour precinct مَغانيthe haunts of اللَهوِpleasure لاmay it never زالَcease to be بِالدُمىwith lovely idols
حِماكِ مَغاني اللَهوِ لا زالَ بِالدُمى
فَصيحاًeloquent وَمَغنىand the haunt of الغانِياتbeautiful women فَصيحُis eloquent
فَصيحاً وَمَغنى الغانِيات فَصيحُ
Your precincts are pleasure’s haunts; may they never cease, through their lovely idols,
Sheltered by God’s shade, revealing His signs engraved on the essence of beings.
to speak eloquently—for the haunt of beauties is eloquent.
He whom God graced with everlasting rule and age far outlasting Noah.
سَقاكِmay he water you أَخوbrother of جَفنِthe eyelid of السَحابthe clouds وَلاand may not عَداpass beyond
سَقاكِ أَخو جَفنِ السَحاب وَلا عَدا
رُباكyour hills الحَياthe rain حَيثُwhere المَرادُthe roaming-ground فَسيحُspacious
رُباك الحَيا حَيثُ المَرادُ فَسيحُ
May the brother of the cloud’s eyelid water you, and may
He is the appearance of the essence which veiled itself in qualities clearly manifest.
rain never pass your hills, where the roaming-ground is broad:
He is the firm handhold for one who clings. Understand the mystery to which I hint!
مَرادُthe roaming-ground of الفَتاةِthe maiden الرُودِthe tender أَمّاas for قَوامُهاher stature
مَرادُ الفَتاةِ الرُودِ أَمّا قَوامُها
فَخِفٌّthen it is light وَأَماand as for نَهضُهاher swelling bosom فَرَجيحُthen it is weighty
فَخِفٌّ وَأَما نَهضُها فَرَجيحُ
the roaming-ground of a tender maiden; as for her stature,
If the eye perceives the truth, you will witness him and know the symbol points to him.
it is light, while her swelling bosom is weighty.
Beware a profound secret without revealing it, else the sword of law permits bloodshed.
تَعلَّقَbecame attached to مَهوىthe hanging-place of قُرطِهاher earring القَلبُthe heart وَالحَشاand the inward being
تَعلَّقَ مَهوى قُرطِها القَلبُ وَالحَشا
فَذاso this one is خافِقٌfluttering مِنfrom خافِقٍa fluttering thing وَجَريحُand wounded
فَذا خافِقٌ مِن خافِقٍ وَجَريحُ
My heart and inward being cling where her earring hangs,
Say to the lad seeking truth earnestly if you possess reason and insight:
one fluttering at its flutter, the other wounded.
If in you is longing to grasp meanings and resolve to attain heights,
تَذَكَّرتُهاI remembered her بِالرومِin Rum وَالشامِwhile Syria دارُهاwas her home
تَذَكَّرتُها بِالرومِ وَالشامِ دارُها
فَكِدتُso I nearly بِمَكتومِof the hidden part of الغَرامِpassion أَبوحُI speak openly
فَكِدتُ بِمَكتومِ الغَرامِ أَبوحُ
I remembered her in Rum, while Syria was her home,
Seek refuge in Sa‘d’s protection; good fortune is his servant and the full moon obeys them.
and nearly divulged my hidden passion.
There you will find glory welcoming you; its treasures are his opinions and clarity.
وَأَرَّقَنيand kept me sleepless بِالرومِin Rum نَوحُthe lament of حَمامَةٍa dove
وَأَرَّقَني بِالرومِ نَوحُ حَمامَةٍ
لَهاshe has رَنّةa plaintive trill رَأدthe beginning of الضُحىforenoon وَصَدوحُand ringing song
لَها رَنّة رَأد الضُحى وَصَدوحُ
In Rum a dove’s lament kept me sleepless,
From him you will receive every honorable and lofty thing with the face of generosity shining upon you.
her plaintive trill and ringing song at early forenoon.
O Sa‘d, eminent in rank, your lights shining in hearts!
أُطارِحُهاI exchange laments with her وَالعَينُwhile the eye شكرىbrimming بِمائِهاwith its water
أُطارِحُها وَالعَينُ شكرى بِمائِها
بِنَوحٍwith lament وَذُوand one possessed of اللُبِّunderstanding الغَريبthe exile يَنوحُmourns
بِنَوحٍ وَذُو اللُبِّ الغَريب يَنوحُ
I answer her, my eye brimming with its water,
I see the wild mares of metre obedient whenever I wish to praise you, impetuous.
with lament—for the thoughtful exile mourns.
Before me, many have led them to your court, each commending you as suits him.
وَناحَتand she mourned وَفرخاهاwhile her two chicks بِحَيثُwhere تَراهُماshe sees them both
وَناحَت وَفرخاها بِحَيثُ تَراهُما
وَمِنand on دونِthis side of أَفراخيmy chicks مَهامهُtrackless deserts فيحُvast
وَمِن دونِ أَفراخي مَهامهُ فيحُ
She mourned while her two chicks were within her sight,
They knew not that praising the virtuous has categories, some incomplete, some comprehensive.
while vast deserts lie between me and my chicks.
So take from your eulogist the pick of praises like a torrent whose drink is ancestry.
وَعامانand two years قَدalready مَرّاhave both passed وَذاand this العامyear ثالِثٌis a third
وَعامان قَد مَرّا وَذا العام ثالِثٌ
وَهُنَّand they إِلىtoward ذاكَthat الجَنابabode جُنوحُincline longingly
وَهُنَّ إِلى ذاكَ الجَناب جُنوحُ
Two years have passed, and this year is the third,
If the mouth drew from it a draught naming you, it would brim and the house overflow.
and they yearn toward that abode.
Wondrous, unprecedented praises of your eminence in which praise itself is wondrous!
عَسىmay فَضلthe bounty of سَعدِSa'd الدينِal-Din يَعطِفُturn نَحوَهُمtoward them
عَسى فَضل سَعدِ الدينِ يَعطِفُ نَحوَهُم
عَنانيmy reins وَقَصديand my quest فيin عُلاهُhis eminence نَجيحُsuccessful
عَناني وَقَصدي في عُلاهُ نَجيحُ
May Sa'd al-Din’s bounty turn toward them
On the pages of time remains immortalized praise whose perfection embraces mankind.
my reins; my appeal to his eminence is sure of success.
It congratulates you on Nawruz and on the Feast thereafter returning with your choice.
إِمامُimam of الهُدىright guidance سَعدُgood fortune of البَراياcreation مُهَذَّبُrefined in الthe
إِمامُ الهُدى سَعدُ البَرايا مُهَذَّبُ ال
سَجاياcharacter traits لِأَنواعwith kinds of العَطاءgiving نَفوحُlavish
سَجايا لِأَنواع العَطاء نَفوحُ
Imam of guidance, good fortune of creation, refined in
Above poetry my hopes have risen, hopeful of ascension, and hopes are truthful.
character, lavish with every kind of gift.
Your slave in the ocean of your nobility hopes though he is sinful, for you are forgiving.
مُلَقّنinstructor of ظِلِّthe shadow of اللَهِGod مُظهِرُrevealer of آيِهِHis signs
مُلَقّن ظِلِّ اللَهِ مُظهِرُ آيِهِ
بِرَقمٍin a script عَلىupon نَفسِthe very essence of الذَواتِbeings يَلوحُshines
بِرَقمٍ عَلى نَفسِ الذَواتِ يَلوحُ
Instructor of God’s shadow, revealer of His signs,
To rein in my journey towards my lands, for my expatriation has been prolonged.
in a script shining upon the very essence of beings.
Grant Sa‘d his request in your kingdom’s sky; he indicates what you prefer and it comes to pass.
مُرادٌMurad حَباهُgranted him اللَهُGod مُلكاًa kingdom مُخَلَّداًeverlasting
مُرادٌ حَباهُ اللَهُ مُلكاً مُخَلَّداً
وَعُمراًand a life طَويلاًlong عَنهُof it يقصرُfalls short نوحُNoah
وَعُمراً طَويلاً عَنهُ يقصرُ نوحُ
Murad, whom God has granted an everlasting kingdom
You remain forever the caliphate’s good fortune; yours are time’s service and Messiah.
and a long life beside which Noah falls short.
هُوَhe المُظهَرthe manifestation of الذاتِthe Essence الَّتيwhich قَدindeed تَحَجَّبَتhas been veiled
هُوَ المُظهَر الذاتِ الَّتي قَد تَحَجَّبَت
بِمَجلىby a manifestation of صِفاتٍattributes فيin حُلاهhis adornments وُضوحُclarity
بِمَجلى صِفاتٍ في حُلاه وُضوحُ
He is the manifestation of the Essence that has been veiled
by a display of attributes made plain in his adornments.
هُوَhe العُروَةُthe handhold الوُثقىfirmest لَدىfor مُتَمَسِّكٍone who holds fast
هُوَ العُروَةُ الوُثقى لَدى مُتَمَسِّكٍ
هُوَhe السِرُّthe secret فَاِفهَمso understand ماwhat إِلَيهِtoward him أتيحُI make accessible
هُوَ السِرُّ فَاِفهَم ما إِلَيهِ أتيحُ
He is the firmest handhold for one who clings;
he is the secret—understand what I disclose concerning him.
فَإِنfor if تَحلُis adorned مِنكَwithin you العَينُthe eye حَقّاًtruly شَهِدتَهُyou behold him
فَإِن تَحلُ مِنكَ العَينُ حَقّاً شَهِدتَهُ
وَأَيقَنتَand you know for certain أَنّthat الرَمزَthe allusion مِنهُfrom him صَريحُexplicit
وَأَيقَنتَ أَنّ الرَمزَ مِنهُ صَريحُ
If the eye within you is truly adorned, you will behold him,
and know with certainty that his allusion is explicit.
وَإِيّاكَand beware سِرّاًa secret غامِضاًobscure دونَbefore كَشفِهِits unveiling
وَإِيّاكَ سِرّاً غامِضاً دونَ كَشفِهِ
صَوارِمُsharp swords شَرعof sacred law لِلدِماءِfor bloodshed تُبيحُpermit
صَوارِمُ شَرع لِلدِماءِ تُبيحُ
Beware an obscure secret: before its unveiling stand
the sharp swords of the Law, permitting bloodshed.
وَقُلand tell لِفَتىto a young man يَبغيseeking الحَقيقَةَthe truth طالِباًin pursuit
وَقُل لِفَتى يَبغي الحَقيقَةَ طالِباً
إِذاif كُنتَyou are ذاpossessed of رُشدٍsound judgment وَفيهِand in it رَبيحُgain
إِذا كُنتَ ذا رُشدٍ وَفيهِ رَبيحُ
Tell a young man seeking truth in earnest:
If you possess sound judgment—and in it lies gain—
وَفيكَand within you لإِدراكِto grasp المَعانيmeanings تَشَوُّفٌa longing
وَفيكَ لإِدراكِ المَعاني تَشَوُّفٌ
وَعَزمٌand a resolve إِلىtoward نَيلِattaining العَلاءthe heights طَموحُaspiring
وَعَزمٌ إِلى نَيلِ العَلاء طَموحُ
and within you is a longing to grasp meanings,
and a resolve aspiring to attain the heights,
أَنِخmake your camel kneel بِحِمىin the sanctuary of سَعدٍSa'd لَهُto him السَعدُgood fortune خادِمٌa servant
أَنِخ بِحِمى سَعدٍ لَهُ السَعدُ خادِمٌ
وَعَبداهُماand the two slaves of them both بَدرُthe full moon of السَماءِheaven وَيوحُand Yuh, the sun
وَعَبداهُما بَدرُ السَماءِ وَيوحُ
make your camel kneel in Sa'd’s sanctuary, where good fortune serves him;
the full moon of heaven and Yuh, the sun, are slaves to them both.
هُنالِكَthere تَلقىyou find المَجدَglory مُلقٍspreading رواقَهُits canopy
هُنالِكَ تَلقى المَجدَ مُلقٍ رواقَهُ
لَهُit has غُرَرٌradiant gleams مِنfrom رَأيهِhis counsel ووُضوحُand clarity
لَهُ غُرَرٌ مِن رَأيهِ ووُضوحُ
There you will find glory spreading its canopy,
with radiant gleams from his counsel, and clarity.
وَيَلقاكَand greets you مِنهُfrom him بِالمَكارِمwith noble gifts وَالعُلىand exalted honor
وَيَلقاكَ مِنهُ بِالمَكارِم وَالعُلى
مُحَيّاًa countenance بِهِthrough which وَجهُthe face of العَطاءِgiving صَبوحُradiant
مُحَيّاً بِهِ وَجهُ العَطاءِ صَبوحُ
From him, bearing noble gifts and exalted honor, comes
a countenance that makes the face of giving radiant.
أَلاbehold أَيُّهاO السَعدُSa'd الرَفيعُexalted مَنازِلاًin rank
أَلا أَيُّها السَعدُ الرَفيعُ مَنازِلاً
وَأَنوارُهُand his lights فيin الخافِقينeast and west تَلُوحُshine
وَأَنوارُهُ في الخافِقين تَلُوحُ
O Sa'd, exalted in rank,
whose lights shine over east and west,
أَرىI find الغُرَّthe choicest مِنamong شُوسِthe defiant ones of القَوافيrhymes مُطيعَةًobedient
أَرى الغُرَّ مِن شُوسِ القَوافي مُطيعَةً
مَتىwhenever رُمتُI sought مَدحاًpraise فيكَof you وَهيَthough they are جُمُوحُheadstrong
مَتى رُمتُ مَدحاً فيكَ وَهيَ جُمُوحُ
I find the choicest of defiant rhymes obedient
whenever I seek to praise you, though they are headstrong.
وَقَدand indeed قادَهاhas led them قَبليbefore me لِبابِكَto your door مَعشَرٌa company
وَقَد قادَها قَبلي لِبابِكَ مَعشَرٌ
وَكُلٌّand each بِماwith what أَثنىhe praised عَلَيكَof you مشيحُzealously intent
وَكُلٌّ بِما أَثنى عَلَيكَ مشيحُ
A company before me has led them to your door,
each zealously intent on the praise he offers you.
وَماand not عَرَفواthey knew أَنَّthat القَريضَpoetry لِذيfor one possessed of النُهىunderstanding
وَما عَرَفوا أَنَّ القَريضَ لِذي النُهى
ضُروبٌkinds فَمِنهاso among them are ناقِصٌdeficient رَجيحُweighty
ضُروبٌ فَمِنها ناقِصٌ رَجيحُ
They did not know that verse, to one of understanding,
comes in kinds: some deficient, some weighty.
فَخُذso take مِنهُfrom it حُسّانَthe fairest المَدائِحِof panegyrics غادَةًa graceful maiden
فَخُذ مِنهُ حُسّانَ المَدائِحِ غادَةً
عَلىupon عِطفِهاher flank ماءُthe water of النَسيبِlove verse يَسيحُflows
عَلى عِطفِها ماءُ النَسيبِ يَسيحُ
So take from it the loveliest of praises, a graceful maiden,
down whose flank the water of love verse flows.
لَوِif اِستافَhad scented مِنهاfrom her الثَغرthe mouth مِهيارَMihyar باسِماًsmiling
لَوِ اِستافَ مِنها الثَغر مِهيارَ باسِماً
غَداhe would become ثَمِلاًdrunk وَالدارُthough the dwelling مِنهُfrom him طَروحُfar removed
غَدا ثَمِلاً وَالدارُ مِنهُ طَروحُ
Had Mihyar scented her smiling mouth,
he would have grown drunk, though her dwelling lay far from him.
غَرائِبُrare gems of مَدحٍpraise فيin عُلاكَyour exalted rank تَنَظَّمَتwere strung together
غَرائِبُ مَدحٍ في عُلاكَ تَنَظَّمَت
غَرائِبُrarities فيهاin them لِلمَديحfor praise مَديحُpraise
غَرائِبُ فيها لِلمَديح مَديحُ
Rare praises, strung together for your exalted rank—
rarities in which praise itself is praised.
عَلىupon صَفحاتِthe pages of الدَهرِtime يَبقىit endures مُخلَّدimmortal in الthe
عَلى صَفحاتِ الدَهرِ يَبقى مُخلَّد ال
ثَناءِpraise وَقَدthough already ضَمَّhas enclosed الأَنامhumankind صَفيحُflat stone
ثَناءِ وَقَد ضَمَّ الأَنام صَفيحُ
Upon the pages of time it will endure, immortal in
praise, even when stone slabs have enclosed all humankind.
تُهَنِّيكَit congratulates you بِالنَورُوزِon Nowruz وَالعيدُand the feast بَعدَهُafter it
تُهَنِّيكَ بِالنَورُوزِ وَالعيدُ بَعدَهُ
يَعودُreturns بِماwith what تَختارهyou choose وَيَروحُand departs
يَعودُ بِما تَختاره وَيَروحُ
It congratulates you on Nowruz; the feast after it
returns with what you choose, then takes its leave.
تَرقَّتit rose إِلىto الشِعرىSirius عَنِbeyond الشِعرِpoetry رِفعَةٌin loftiness
تَرقَّت إِلى الشِعرى عَنِ الشِعرِ رِفعَةٌ
رَجاءin hope of تَرَقٍّadvancement وَالرَجاءُand the hope صَحيحُwell-founded
رَجاء تَرَقٍّ وَالرَجاءُ صَحيحُ
It has risen in loftiness beyond poetry to Sirius,
in hope of advancement—and the hope is sound.
فَعَبدُكَso your servant فيin طاميthe overflowing عُبابِكsurge of your sea طامِعٌhopeful
فَعَبدُكَ في طامي عُبابِك طامِعٌ
وَإِنand even if يَكُhe is ذاpossessed of ذَنبٍa fault فَأَنتَyet you are صَفوحُforgiving
وَإِن يَكُ ذا ذَنبٍ فَأَنتَ صَفوحُ
Your servant has hopes in your sea’s swelling surge,
and though he bears a fault, you are forgiving,
لِيَثنيso he may turn عَنانthe reins of السَيرِtravel نَحوَtoward دِيارِهِhis home
لِيَثني عَنان السَيرِ نَحوَ دِيارِهِ
فَقَدfor indeed طالَhas lasted long مِنهُfor him غُربَةٌexile وَنُزوحُand wandering abroad
فَقَد طالَ مِنهُ غُربَةٌ وَنُزوحُ
so he may turn his journey’s reins toward his home;
for his exile and wandering have lasted long.
وَدُمand remain فيin سَماءِthe heaven of المُلكِkingship سَعداًa lucky star مُرادُهُhis Murad
وَدُم في سَماءِ المُلكِ سَعداً مُرادُهُ
يُشيرsignals بِماto what تَختارُهُyou choose وَيُليحُand gestures
يُشير بِما تَختارُهُ وَيُليحُ
Remain a lucky star in kingship’s heaven, whose Murad
signals and intimates whatever you choose.
وَلاand may not زِلتَyou cease to be فيin أُفقthe horizon of الخِلافَةthe caliphate سَعدَهاits lucky star
وَلا زِلتَ في أُفق الخِلافَة سَعدَها
لَكَto you الدَهرُtime عَبدٌa slave خادِمٌa servant وَمَسيحُand an anointed one
لَكَ الدَهرُ عَبدٌ خادِمٌ وَمَسيحُ
May you ever be the lucky star on the caliphate’s horizon,
with time your slave, your servant, your anointed one.
Partial English translation: 47 of 94 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1