أمَّا الخيالُ فما يَغُبُّ طُروقا

أمَّا الخيالُ فما يَغُبُّ طُروقا

يَدنو بوصلِكَ شائقاً ومَشُوقا

يَدنو بوصلِكَ شائقاً ومَشُوقا

As for the phantom, it never fails to visit by night.

Imagination does not disappear, seeking your union eagerly.

It draws near with your affection, stirring longing and full of longing.

It fulfilled loyalty, never ceasing to be truly the cheek's dimple.

وافى فحقَّقَ لي الوَفاءَ ولم يَزَلْ

وافى فحقَّقَ لي الوَفاءَ ولم يَزَلْ

خِدْنُ الصَّبابةِ بالوفاءِ حَقيقا

خِدْنُ الصَّبابةِ بالوفاءِ حَقيقا

It came and proved faithful to me; and ever has

It departed after preventing the eyelids from closing in slumber,

Love's companion been worthy of fidelity.

A heart, remembering you, knows no rest or sleep.

ومضى وقد منعَ الجُفونَ خُفوقَها

ومضى وقد منعَ الجُفونَ خُفوقَها

قَلبٌ لذكرِكَ لا يَقَرُّ خُفُوقا

قَلبٌ لذكرِكَ لا يَقَرُّ خُفُوقا

It departed, while the eyelids had been kept from drooping

Is our pact to the beloved's agony returning?

By a heart whose beating never stills at the thought of you.

So union with her will again be intimate?

هل عهْدُنا بِلوَى الشَّقيقَةِ راجِعٌ

هل عهْدُنا بِلوَى الشَّقيقَةِ راجِعٌ

فيعودَ لي فيه الوِصالُ شَقيقا

فيعودَ لي فيه الوِصالُ شَقيقا

Will our days at the sandbend of al-Shaqiqah return,

The days of your union in youth were unknown,

So that union there may once again be a brother to me?

With ignorance the night-comer found no road.

أيامَ وَصلُكَ في الصَّبابَةِ مَجْهلاً

أيامَ وَصلُكَ في الصَّبابَةِ مَجْهلاً

لا يَعرِفُ السُّلوانُ فيه طريقا

لا يَعرِفُ السُّلوانُ فيه طريقا

The days when union with you was a trackless wilderness of longing,

I love the graceful, soft-cheeked youth,

Where forgetfulness knew no path.

And visit, lovingly, the fresh-faced tender one.

أَهْوَى أنيقَ الحُسْنِ مُقَتبِلَ الصِّبا

أَهْوَى أنيقَ الحُسْنِ مُقَتبِلَ الصِّبا

وَأَزُورُ مُخضَرَّ الجَنابِ أَنيقا

وَأَزُورُ مُخضَرَّ الجَنابِ أَنيقا

I love one of exquisite beauty, in youth's first bloom,

The clouds carried him gently away, his gown

And visit a lovely place with verdant grounds.

Becoming, with the zephyr's gown, thin.

راحَ الغمامُ به صَفيقاً ثوبُه

راحَ الغمامُ به صَفيقاً ثوبُه

وغدا به ثوبُ النَّسيمِ رَقيقا

وغدا به ثوبُ النَّسيمِ رَقيقا

The cloud came there at evening, its robe thick,

It was a trick of fate, betraying passion

And at dawn the breeze's robe there was fine.

After loyalty, clouded and dejected.

هِيَ غَدرَةٌ للدَّهرِ غادَرَتِ الهَوى

هِيَ غَدرَةٌ للدَّهرِ غادَرَتِ الهَوى

بعدَ الوفاءِ مكدَّراً مَطروقا

بعدَ الوفاءِ مكدَّراً مَطروقا

It is a betrayal by Time that has left love

I do not notice the days for a moment, downcast,

After faithfulness, clouded and stricken.

Until our days return, long hoped-for.

لا ألحَظُ الأيامَ لَحظَةَ وامقٍ

لا ألحَظُ الأيامَ لَحظَةَ وامقٍ

حتى يُعيدَ زَمانَنا المَوموقا

حتى يُعيدَ زَمانَنا المَوموقا

I will not look upon the days with a lover's gaze

Ships sailing from the darkness before dawn

Until Time restores our cherished time.

As arrows shot from a tightly-drawn bow.

ورَكائبٌ يَخرُجْنَ مِنْ غَلَسِ الدُّجى

ورَكائبٌ يَخرُجْنَ مِنْ غَلَسِ الدُّجى

مثلَ السِّهامِ مَرَقْنَ منه مُروقا

مثلَ السِّهامِ مَرَقْنَ منه مُروقا

And riding camels emerge from the murk of night;

Dawn, its mantle polished, as though it were

Like arrows, they shot swiftly out of it.

A gown of red Yemenite leather, amply dyed.

والفَجرُ مَصقولُ الرِّداءِ كأنَّه

والفَجرُ مَصقولُ الرِّداءِ كأنَّه

جِلبابُ خُوْدٍ أشبَعَتْهُ خَلُوقا

جِلبابُ خُوْدٍ أشبَعَتْهُ خَلُوقا

And dawn, its mantle burnished, seems

Are those lightning-flashes in Syria a cloud

A maiden's cloak, steeped by her in saffron perfume.

Or flashes of the prince's good tidings?

أغَمامَةٌ بالشَّامِ شِمْنَ بُروقَها

أغَمامَةٌ بالشَّامِ شِمْنَ بُروقَها

أم شِمْنَ من بِشْرِ الأميرِ بُروقا

أم شِمْنَ من بِشْرِ الأميرِ بُروقا

Was it a cloud in al-Sham whose lightning they watched,

A king, whose right hand is generous with pardons,

Or did they watch lightning flashing from the prince's glad face?

Grief, and whose swords spread justice widely.

مَلِكٌ تُسَهَّلُ بالسَّماحِ يمينُه

مَلِكٌ تُسَهَّلُ بالسَّماحِ يمينُه

حَزناً وتُوسِعُ بالصَّوارِمِ ضيِقا

حَزناً وتُوسِعُ بالصَّوارِمِ ضيِقا

A king whose right hand, through generosity, smooths

He meets dew with a bright, joyous face,

Rough ground, and with keen swords makes narrow places wide.

And when the two hosts meet they are reconciled.

يَلقى النَّدى برقيقِ وَجْهٍ مُسفرٍ

يَلقى النَّدى برقيقِ وَجْهٍ مُسفرٍ

فإذا التَقَى الجمعانِ عادَ صَفِيقا

فإذا التَقَى الجمعانِ عادَ صَفِيقا

He greets generosity with a gentle, radiant face;

Capacious his abode while he dwells, but if he travels

But when the two armies meet, it becomes unyielding.

He leaves the desert constricted, narrow.

رَحْبُ المنازِلِ ما أقامَ فإن سرَى

رَحْبُ المنازِلِ ما أقامَ فإن سرَى

في جَحْفَلٍ تَرَكَ الفَضاءَ مَضِيقا

في جَحْفَلٍ تَرَكَ الفَضاءَ مَضِيقا

His quarters are spacious while he stays; but if he travels by night

He never ceased to rise in the thickets, raiding the foe

With a mighty host, he leaves open country cramped.

At dawn, and to march by night with his dove-flocks.

ما انفَكَّ يَطلُعُ بالحُتوفِ على العِدا

ما انفَكَّ يَطلُعُ بالحُتوفِ على العِدا

صُبْحَا ويَطْرُقُ بالحِمامِ طُروقا

صُبْحَا ويَطْرُقُ بالحِمامِ طُروقا

He never ceases to appear before his foes bearing death

When he set out for glory, he attained its radiant dawn,

At dawn, and to visit them by night with doom.

While men attained only its dim afterglow.

فإذا جرى للمجدِ نالَ صَبوحَه

فإذا جرى للمجدِ نالَ صَبوحَه

سبقاً ونالَ الناسُ منه غَبُوقا

سبقاً ونالَ الناسُ منه غَبُوقا

And when he races for glory, he wins its morning draught

And when the sea of calamities tested him,

By coming first, while others gain from it an evening draught.

He destroyed those who opposed him, drowned.

وإذا طمى بحرُ الكَريهَةِ خاضَه

وإذا طمى بحرُ الكَريهَةِ خاضَه

فأماتَ مَنْ عاداه فيه غَريقا

فأماتَ مَنْ عاداه فيه غَريقا

And when the sea of battle swells, he plunges into it,

Gently, enemies of the faith! Your adversary

And makes whoever opposes him die drowned in it.

Has a nature disposing foes with compelling.

مَهْلاً عُداةَ الدِّينِ إنَّ لخَصمِكُم

مَهْلاً عُداةَ الدِّينِ إنَّ لخَصمِكُم

خُلقاً بإرغامِ العدوِّ خَلِيقا

خُلقاً بإرغامِ العدوِّ خَلِيقا

Hold, enemies of the faith: your adversary has

I warn you, defender of Truth! He sees only

A nature well suited to bringing the enemy low.

The keen edges of swords exacting dues.

أنذرتُكُم حامي الحَقيقَةِ لا يَرى

أنذرتُكُم حامي الحَقيقَةِ لا يَرى

إلا لِمُرْهَفَةِ السُّيوفِ حُقوقا

إلا لِمُرْهَفَةِ السُّيوفِ حُقوقا

I have warned you of honor's defender, who recognizes

His resolves closed the mountain passes, and his

No rights except those of sharpened swords.

Judgments allied with success and right guidance.

سَدَّتْ عَزائِمهُ الثُّغورَ وحالفَتْ

سَدَّتْ عَزائِمهُ الثُّغورَ وحالفَتْ

آراؤُه التَّسديدَ والتَّوفيقا

آراؤُه التَّسديدَ والتَّوفيقا

His resolves secured the frontiers, and

He flung the lands of the Byzantines with a resolve

His counsels allied themselves with sound judgment and success.

Still gleaming at dawn in the darkness.

ورمَى بِلادَ الرُّومِ بالعَزْمِ الذي

ورمَى بِلادَ الرُّومِ بالعَزْمِ الذي

ما زالَ صُبحاً في الظَّلامِ فَتِيقا

ما زالَ صُبحاً في الظَّلامِ فَتِيقا

And he struck the lands of Rum with the resolve that

The spheres of his power groaned in a glittering assault

Has always been a dawn breaking through darkness.

Dazzling eyes with its flashing.

رَزَحَتْ مخائِلُ بأسِه في عارضٍ

رَزَحَتْ مخائِلُ بأسِه في عارضٍ

مُتألِّقٍ يَغْشى العُيونَ بَريقا

مُتألِّقٍ يَغْشى العُيونَ بَريقا

Portents of his might hung heavy in a cloud-bank,

A host, when the enemy met its breasts,

Flashing, its brilliance overwhelming the eyes.

Found no refuge for retreat.

جيشٌ إذا لاقَى العدُوُّ صُدورَه

جيشٌ إذا لاقَى العدُوُّ صُدورَه

لم تَلْقَ للأعجازِ منه لُحُوقا

لم تَلْقَ للأعجازِ منه لُحُوقا

An army—when the enemy meets its front ranks,

Eclipsed for it was the sun, while the sun

You find no chance of overtaking its rear.

Of iron shone on its flanks, rising.

حُجِبَتْ له شَمْسُ النَّهارِ وأشرَقَتْ

حُجِبَتْ له شَمْسُ النَّهارِ وأشرَقَتْ

شَمْسُ الحديدِ بجانِبَيْهِ شُروقا

شَمْسُ الحديدِ بجانِبَيْهِ شُروقا

For it, the sun of day was veiled, and there rose

He emptied their strongholds, seized their loot

The sun of iron, radiant on both its flanks.

By force, and scattered their horde dispersed.

أخلى معاقِلَهم وحازَ نِهابَهُم

أخلى معاقِلَهم وحازَ نِهابَهُم

قَسْراً وفَرَّقَ جَمْعَهُمْ تَفريقا

قَسْراً وفَرَّقَ جَمْعَهُمْ تَفريقا

He emptied their strongholds and seized their spoils

That plain was clad in blood by him, while

By force, and utterly scattered their host.

Those valleys blazed in conflagration.

فتضرَّجَتْ تلك البِطاحُ به دماً

فتضرَّجَتْ تلك البِطاحُ به دماً

وتضرَّمَتْ تلك الفِجاجُ حَريقا

وتضرَّمَتْ تلك الفِجاجُ حَريقا

So those broad valley floors were stained with blood through him,

He bent his steeds, their flanks gashed,

And those mountain passes blazed with fire.

And plied his swords, cleft and split.

وثَنَى الجِيادَ يَشُقُّ جَيْبَ عَجاجِها

وثَنَى الجِيادَ يَشُقُّ جَيْبَ عَجاجِها

ومضَى السُّيوفَ فينثني مَشقوقا

ومضَى السُّيوفَ فينثني مَشقوقا

And he turned the steeds back, tearing the bosom of their dust-cloud,

Fate smiles, as though displaying by its gleaming

And drove the swords onward, so it folded back, split open.

The pleasing dimples of a cheek.

والدَّهْرُ مُبتَسِمٌ يروقُ كأنَّما

والدَّهْرُ مُبتَسِمٌ يروقُ كأنَّما

أبدى بطَلْعَتِهِ الثَّنايا الرُّوقا

أبدى بطَلْعَتِهِ الثَّنايا الرُّوقا

And Time smiles, delighting, as though

A noble conquest, increasing guidance,

At his appearance it bared its prominent front teeth.

As error is increased by shameful disobedience.

فَتْحٌ جَليلُ القَدْرِ زِيدَ به الهُدى

فَتْحٌ جَليلُ القَدْرِ زِيدَ به الهُدى

بِرّاً كما زِيدَ الضَّلالُ عُقُوقا

بِرّاً كما زِيدَ الضَّلالُ عُقُوقا

A conquest of great worth that made right guidance grow

Most High! How many choice favors you have granted!

In righteousness, as it made error grow in impiety.

You have been granted thereby a meaning in praise subtle.

أعَليُّ كم نِعَمٍ مَنَحتَ جَليلَةٍ

أعَليُّ كم نِعَمٍ مَنَحتَ جَليلَةٍ

مَنَحَتْكَ مَعنىً في الثَّناءِ دَقيقا

مَنَحَتْكَ مَعنىً في الثَّناءِ دَقيقا

O Ali, how many great favors you have bestowed,

You have raised by it for Hayyan Taghlib a nobility

Which granted you a subtle theme for praise!

High-soaring, aspiring to highest place.

ونَدىً رفَعْتَ به لِحَيَّيْ تَغلبٍ

ونَدىً رفَعْتَ به لِحَيَّيْ تَغلبٍ

شَرَفاً أنافَ فعانقَ العَيُّوقا

شَرَفاً أنافَ فعانقَ العَيُّوقا

And bounty by which you raised, for Taghlib's two clans,

So I have surrendered to a generosity busying

A glory that towered high and embraced al-Ayyuq.

A heart with love of the generous utterly.

فاسلَم لمَكْرْمَةٍ شَغَلَتْ بحبِّها

فاسلَم لمَكْرْمَةٍ شَغَلَتْ بحبِّها

قلباً بحُبِّ المكرُماتِ عَلُوقا

قلباً بحُبِّ المكرُماتِ عَلُوقا

So live in safety for a noble deed whose love has filled

My praise turns aside, it being a bouquet

A heart deeply attached to the love of noble deeds.

Whose fragrance the keen-sensed freely inhale.

وتَمَلَّ مدحي إنه رَيحانَةٌ

وتَمَلَّ مدحي إنه رَيحانَةٌ

نَفَحَتْ فباشَرَها اللَّبيبُ طَليقا

نَفَحَتْ فباشَرَها اللَّبيبُ طَليقا

And long enjoy my praise: it is a fragrant flower.

I gleaned speech from it, then fashioned it into verse

It breathed out fragrance, and the discerning man touched it, smiling.

As though gleaning sheer limpid honey from it.

شَعْشَعْتُ منه اللَّفْظَ ثم نَظَمْتُه

شَعْشَعْتُ منه اللَّفْظَ ثم نَظَمْتُه

فكأنَّما شعشعتُ منه رَحيقَا

فكأنَّما شعشعتُ منه رَحيقَا

I made its wording sparkle, then strung it into verse,

Formerly it was neglect, till your generosity

As though I had diluted pure wine drawn from it.

Became by your munificence a towering sign.

قد كان غُفْلاً قبلَ جُودِكَ فَاغْتَدَى

قد كان غُفْلاً قبلَ جُودِكَ فَاغْتَدَى

عَلَماً بجُودِكَ في الوَرى مَرْمُوقا

عَلَماً بجُودِكَ في الوَرى مَرْمُوقا

It was unmarked before your bounty, but became

Through your bounty a banner, admired among humankind.