يتنازع الأرباب فيك نفاسة

يتنازع الأرباب فيك نفاسة

كل يمنّ بأنه سّواكا

كل يمنّ بأنه سّواكا

The lords contend over you, so rare a treasure are you;

The lords contend over you in jealous rivalry;

each claims the favor of having fashioned you.

Each boasts of his favor, saying he fashioned you.

ربٌّ يقول خلقته ورزقته

ربٌّ يقول خلقته ورزقته

قلما يروع صريره الأفلاكا

قلما يروع صريره الأفلاكا

One lord says, “I created him and sustained him,

A lord says, “I created him and gave him

though seldom does his scratching startle the celestial spheres.”

A pen whose scratching terrifies the celestial spheres.”

فيصبح منحنق إله آخر

فيصبح منحنق إله آخر

أقصر فلست هنا ولست هناكا

أقصر فلست هنا ولست هناكا

Then another grows enraged with him:

Then another god grows enraged:

“Enough! You are neither here nor there.

“Desist, for you are neither here nor there.

أنا ربه سوّيته ورفعته

أنا ربه سوّيته ورفعته

في الناس حتى ساير الأملاكا

في الناس حتى ساير الأملاكا

I am his lord; I shaped him and raised him

I am his lord; I fashioned him and raised him

among mankind until he walked beside kings.

Among men until he kept pace with kings.

ورزقته دار المؤيد فابتنى

ورزقته دار المؤيد فابتنى

فيها القصور وشيد الأملاكا

فيها القصور وشيد الأملاكا

I gave him the house of al-Mu’ayyad, and there he built

And I gave him the house of al-Mu'ayyad, so he built

palaces and raised up estates.

Palaces there and built up estates.

فاذا أشاء رفعته فوق السها

فاذا أشاء رفعته فوق السها

وجعلته فوق السماك سماكا

وجعلته فوق السماك سماكا

Whenever I wish, I lift him above al-Suhā,

So when I wish, I raise him above al-Suha,

and make him a Simāk above al-Simāk itself.

And make him a Simak star above al-Simak.

وإذا أشاء وضعته وجعلته

وإذا أشاء وضعته وجعلته

كفريد وجدى كاتبا أفاكا

كفريد وجدى كاتبا أفاكا

And whenever I wish, I lay him low and make him

And when I wish, I bring him low and make him

like Farid Wajdi—a mendacious writer.”

Like Farid Wajdi, a lying writer.”

شيخ المؤيد بالمؤيد بالذي

شيخ المؤيد بالمؤيد بالذي

خلق المؤيد بالذي أغناكا

خلق المؤيد بالذي أغناكا

O sheikh of al-Mu’ayyad—by al-Mu’ayyad, by Him who

O sheikh of al-Mu'ayyad, by al-Mu'ayyad, by Him

created al-Mu’ayyad, by Him who made you rich—

Who created al-Mu'ayyad, by Him who enriched you—

هل أنت خِلقة واحد متصرف

هل أنت خِلقة واحد متصرف

في ملكه لا يرتضى الإشراكا

في ملكه لا يرتضى الإشراكا

are you the handiwork of one sovereign disposer,

Are you the creation of One who rules

who in His realm admits no partnership?

His dominion and tolerates no partners?

أم أنت خلقة لجننة شيمية

أم أنت خلقة لجننة شيمية

تهب العقول وتمنح الإدراكا

تهب العقول وتمنح الإدراكا

Or are you the handiwork of a committee of character,

Or are you the creation of a chemical committee

which gives minds and grants understanding?

That bestows minds and grants understanding?

سبحانها من لجنة لو أنها

سبحانها من لجنة لو أنها

خلقت لنا بين الرجال سواكا

خلقت لنا بين الرجال سواكا

Glory be to it—what a committee! If only it

How glorious that committee would be, if it

had created for us, among men, someone other than you.

Had created for us, among men, anyone besides you!

لو أنني من صنعهم لنكرتهم

لو أنني من صنعهم لنكرتهم

وجحدتهم فاكفر بذاك وذاكا

وجحدتهم فاكفر بذاك وذاكا

Were I of their making, I would surely disown them

If I were of their making, I would disown them

and deny them; so renounce that one and this.

And repudiate them; so disbelieve in that one and the other.

لله أنت أبا الصحافة لا لهم

لله أنت أبا الصحافة لا لهم

كذبوا فهم لا يخلقون شراكا

كذبوا فهم لا يخلقون شراكا

To God you belong, Father of the Press—not to them.

You are God's, O father of the press—not theirs.

They have lied: they cannot create even a sandal-thong.

They lied, for they cannot create even a sandal strap.