يا هلال الصيام — Ahmed Shawqi

يا هلال الصيام مثلك في السا

مين للعز من طوى الأفلاكا

O crescent of fasting, your equal among those aspiring

to glory is one who has traversed the celestial spheres.

مرحبا بالثواب منك وأهلا

بليال جمالها لقياكما

Welcome to the reward you bring, and welcome

to nights whose beauty lies in meeting you both.

كل عال أو كابر أو نبيل

أو وجيه من النجوم فداكا

Every lofty, great, or noble one,

or distinguished one among the stars, is a ransom for you.

كيف يبلغن ما بلغت وما حا

ولن شأوا ولا سرين سراكا

How can they attain what you attained, when they have not

sought such a height, nor made your nightly journey?

أنت مهد الشهور والحسن والإشـ

ـراق مهد الوجود منذ صباكا

You are the cradle of the months, of beauty and

radiance—the cradle of existence since your infancy.

فوق هام الظلام ضوء جبين الـ

ـكون تاج للكائنات ضياكا

Above darkness's heads, the light upon the brow

of the universe is your radiance, a crown for all beings.

غرة الليل والركاب إذا أد

همه قام سابحا في سناكا

The white blaze of night and of the mounts, when its black

steed rises, swimming in your radiance.

وإذا ما أناف يُظهر أحجا

لا ويبدي أطواقه كنت ذاكا

And when it rises high, showing white markings

on its legs and displaying its collars, that is you.

ورقيب على الدياجي إذا ألـ

ـقت عصاها صدّعتِها بعصاكا

And a sentinel over the dark nights: when they lay

down their staff, you cleave them with your own.

وجناح لطائر صاده الليـ

ـل فأمسى يعالج الأشراكا

And a wing for a bird caught by

night, so it spends the evening struggling with the snares.

أيها الطائر المريد فما تقـ

ـدر نفس عما يريد فكاكا

O willful bird, for no

soul can find release from what He wills.

تُقسم الكائنات منك بنون

قلم النور خطها فحلاكا

All beings swear by a nūn drawn from you,

which the pen of light inscribed, thus adorning you,

في كتاب جُعلت قفلا عليه

من يمين ما أومأت بسواكا

in a book upon which you were set as a lock,

formed from an oath that pointed to none but you.