سبَى منّي الفؤادَ لحاظُ فاتِنْ

سبَى منّي الفؤادَ لحاظُ فاتِنْ

وعَذَّبني فِراق أغَرَّ شادنْ

وعَذَّبني فِراق أغَرَّ شادنْ

A charmer's glances stole my heart from me,

My heart was captivated by the gaze of a beauty,

and parting from a radiant gazelle tormented me.

And I was tormented by parting from the most charming companion.

وعَوَّضني خيالاً منه طَرْفي

وعَوَّضني خيالاً منه طَرْفي

وما أرضَى به عِوَضاً ولكِن

وما أرضَى به عِوَضاً ولكِن

My eye gave me an image of him in exchange,

Her apparition substitutes for me, though I'm not content with that substitute.

yet I am not content with it as a substitute—but

Oh, how I wish I were in a tower of sadness,

ألا يا حَبّذا بُرْجُ اغْتِماضٍ

ألا يا حَبّذا بُرْجُ اغْتِماضٍ

لطَيْفي طَيْفُكمْ فيه يُقارِن

لطَيْفي طَيْفُكمْ فيه يُقارِن

ah, how lovely is the tower of closed eyelids,

Where your beautiful specter could join me.

where your phantom keeps company with mine!

And an eye that remains there every evening,

وعَيْنٌ عندَها في كُلِّ مُمْسىً

وعَيْنٌ عندَها في كُلِّ مُمْسىً

مُقيمٌ لا يَزالُ خَيالُ ظاعن

مُقيمٌ لا يَزالُ خَيالُ ظاعن

And an eye in which, every evening,

With the specter of the slender one never leaving.

the image of one departed remains a constant resident.

The flaw of the specter is that intimacy with it

وعَيْبُ الطّيفِ أَنَّ الوَصْلَ منه

وعَيْبُ الطّيفِ أَنَّ الوَصْلَ منه

لظاهرِه منَ الهِجْرانِ باطن

لظاهرِه منَ الهِجْرانِ باطن

The phantom's fault is that the union it offers

Is only external, while estrangement is intrinsic.

has an outward face concealing separation within.

The last time I saw them was the day they consulted

وآخِرُ عَهْدِهمْ يومَ اسْتَشاروا

وآخِرُ عَهْدِهمْ يومَ اسْتَشاروا

جُيوشَ الحُسْنِ فيه منَ المَكامن

جُيوشَ الحُسْنِ فيه منَ المَكامن

I last saw them on the day they drew forth

The armies of beauty, in which were hidden the treasures.

the armies of beauty from their lurking places,

The next morning they marched, about to depart,

غداةَ غدَوا يَزُمّونَ المَطايا

غداةَ غدَوا يَزُمّونَ المَطايا

وقد هَمَّ الخليطُ بأنْ يُباين

وقد هَمَّ الخليطُ بأنْ يُباين

the morning they began bridling their mounts,

And the mixed company prepared to leave.

when the companions were preparing to depart.

In one of the howdahs was a full moon,

وفي أَحَدِ الهوادجِ بَدْرُ تمٍ

وفي أَحَدِ الهوادجِ بَدْرُ تمٍ

ففي أَنوارِه تَسْري الظَّعائن

ففي أَنوارِه تَسْري الظَّعائن

In one of the howdahs was a full moon,

Whose lights the gazelles strode by.

by whose light the camel-borne travelers journeyed at night.

It stays as if it and Jesus were

يَبيتُ كأنّه وكأنَّ عِيساً

يَبيتُ كأنّه وكأنَّ عِيساً

تَعومُ برَكبها عَوْمَ السَّفائن

تَعومُ برَكبها عَوْمَ السَّفائن

He passed the night as though he—and the tawny camels

Floating on their conveyances over the waters.

swimming with their riders as ships swim—

A brother of Yamin whose company

شَقيقٌ لابنِ يامينَ استقلَّتْ

شَقيقٌ لابنِ يامينَ استقلَّتْ

بأُسرتهِ سَفينٌ لابْنِ يامِن

بأُسرتهِ سَفينٌ لابْنِ يامِن

were a full brother of Ibn Yamin, borne away

Boarded a ship, O son of Yamin.

with his household by Ibn Yamin's ships.

I looked at the cargo the morning it sailed

نظرتُ إلى الحُمولِ غداةَ سارَتْ

نظرتُ إلى الحُمولِ غداةَ سارَتْ

بطَرْفٍ غيرِ سافٍ وهْو سافن

بطَرْفٍ غيرِ سافٍ وهْو سافن

I watched the laden camels the morning they departed,

With a glance that wasn't rectified, though it should've been.

with an eye not scattering dust, yet scouring.

The eggs of India are from my fervent passion,

وبيضُ الهِنْدِ من وَجْدي هَوازٍ

وبيضُ الهِنْدِ من وَجْدي هَوازٍ

بإحدَى البيضِ من عُلْيا هَوازن

بإحدَى البيضِ من عُلْيا هَوازن

And Indian blades tremble with my longing

Matched by eggs from the heights of 'Ulyā.

for one fair maiden of noble Hawazin.

The spears were exposed to the valleys,

وقد عَرَض الرّماحَ على الهَوادي

وقد عَرَض الرّماحَ على الهَوادي

لها فُرسانَ يَربوع ومازن

لها فُرسانَ يَربوع ومازن

Spears have been set across the necks

Manned by heroic horsemen of Yarbu' and Māzin.

for her by the horsemen of Yarbu' and Mazin.

Tamīm are their maternal uncles, and their paternal uncle is Qays,

تَميمٌ خالُها والعَمُّ قَيْسٌ

تَميمٌ خالُها والعَمُّ قَيْسٌ

فدونَ لقائها كلٌّ يُطاعن

فدونَ لقائها كلٌّ يُطاعن

Tamim is her maternal uncle, and Qays her paternal uncle;

So without meeting them, all complain.

each fights with spears to bar access to her.

For them skulls are cleaved every day,

تُطارُ لها الجَماجمُ كلَّ يَومٍ

تُطارُ لها الجَماجمُ كلَّ يَومٍ

وسُمْرُ الخَطِّ تُحطَمُ في الجَناجِن

وسُمْرُ الخَطِّ تُحطَمُ في الجَناجِن

For her, skulls are sent flying every day,

And the swords' edges are blunted on skulls.

and brown spears of al-Khatt shatter against breastbones.

And this life is among the fiercest enemies,

وهذا الدَّهْرُ من أَعْدَى الأعادي

وهذا الدَّهْرُ من أَعْدَى الأعادي

فما قَدْرُ المُعادي والمُضاغِن

فما قَدْرُ المُعادي والمُضاغِن

Time itself is among the bitterest enemies;

So what is the worth of an enemy or a complainer?

what account, then, are foes and grudge-bearers?

Why do I block the pursuits of my wishes

إلامَ أَذودُ صادِيةَ الأماني

إلامَ أَذودُ صادِيةَ الأماني

وماءُ مُهنَّدي في الغِمْدِ آجن

وماءُ مُهنَّدي في الغِمْدِ آجن

How long shall I drive away my thirsty hopes,

And the water of my polished sword in its sheath corroding?

while my Indian sword's water stagnates in its sheath?

The protectors of my time have perished,

وقد نفَتِ الحِفاظَ رجالُ عَصْري

وقد نفَتِ الحِفاظَ رجالُ عَصْري

فَمرَّ كما نُفي الوَلَدُ المُلاعن

فَمرَّ كما نُفي الوَلَدُ المُلاعن

The men of my age have banished honor,

So it passed like an estranged boy.

and it departed like a child disowned by sworn imprecation.

How often have I battled the sultan of nights,

وكم حارَبْتُ سُلطانَ اللّيالي

وكم حارَبْتُ سُلطانَ اللّيالي

فهاأنَذا أُسالمُ أَو أُهادِن

فهاأنَذا أُسالمُ أَو أُهادِن

How often I fought the sovereignty of the nights!

Yet here I am, submitting or withdrawing.

Now here I am, making peace or a truce.

I worry about my quest, though I see a time

أَهُمُّ بمَطْلبي وأَرَى زماناً

أَهُمُّ بمَطْلبي وأَرَى زماناً

أَنامِلُه بما أَبْغي ضَنائن

أَنامِلُه بما أَبْغي ضَنائن

I set my mind on my pursuit, yet see an age

I could shape to obtain what I covet.

whose fingers begrudge me what I seek.

I have sons of eras who resemble them,

ولي أَبناءُ دَهْرٍ أَشْبَهوهُ

ولي أَبناءُ دَهْرٍ أَشْبَهوهُ

فكُلٌّ منهم كأبيهِ خائن

فكُلٌّ منهم كأبيهِ خائن

I have contemporaries who resemble their age;

Yet each is, like his father, a traitor.

each is treacherous like his father.

They deviated from what I was accustomed to,

وقد حالوا عنِ المَعْهودِ طُرّاً

وقد حالوا عنِ المَعْهودِ طُرّاً

وَأَبْدَوْا عن ذَميماتِ الدَّفائن

وَأَبْدَوْا عن ذَميماتِ الدَّفائن

They have all abandoned their accustomed ways

And revealed the evils of their burial places.

and disclosed the vile things buried within.

So patience, for time is as you endure it,

فصَبْراً فالزَّمانُ كما تُعاني

فصَبْراً فالزَّمانُ كما تُعاني

وصَمْتاً فالأنامُ كما تُعايِن

وصَمْتاً فالأنامُ كما تُعايِن

So have patience: time is as you suffer it;

And silence, for people are as you perceive them.

and silence: mankind is as you behold it.

Of that which consoled me is that the era of my youth passed me by,

وممّا شَفّني أَنْ مَرَّ عنّي

وممّا شَفّني أَنْ مَرَّ عنّي

زمانُ صِباً وتلْكَ من الغَبائن

زمانُ صِباً وتلْكَ من الغَبائن

Among the things that wasted me was the passing

And that is of the delusions.

of youth beyond me—and that is a grievous loss.

Grey hair thought my resolve faded

وظَنَّ الشّيْبُ أَنّ العَزْمَ وَاهٍ

وظَنَّ الشّيْبُ أَنّ العَزْمَ وَاهٍ

إلى طَرَبٍ وأَنَّ العَظْمَ واهن

إلى طَرَبٍ وأَنَّ العَظْمَ واهن

Gray hair supposed my resolve was feeble

And my strength was diminished.

for rapture, and that my bones were frail.

Yet there remains in me a remainder that remained from love,

وفيَّ بَقيّةٌ بقيَتْ لوَجدٍ

وفيَّ بَقيّةٌ بقيَتْ لوَجدٍ

ومَن يَصْحو معَ الحَدَقِ الفَواتن

ومَن يَصْحو معَ الحَدَقِ الفَواتن

Yet some vitality remains in me for love;

And whoever wakes next to the vanished beauties.

who can stay sober amid those enchanting eyes?

So O cheek that one day appeared at the assembly,

فيا رشَأً تَعرَّضَ يومَ جَمْع

فيا رشَأً تَعرَّضَ يومَ جَمْع

وولَّى والقلوبُ له رَهائن

وولَّى والقلوبُ له رَهائن

O gazelle who appeared on a day of gathering

Then turned away while hearts were beholden to it.

and turned away, with hearts held hostage to him,

It pleases you that you captivated my heart,

ليَهْنكَ أَنْ سكنْتَ القلبَ منّي

ليَهْنكَ أَنْ سكنْتَ القلبَ منّي

وقَبلَك لم يكُنْ قلبي بساكن

وقَبلَك لم يكُنْ قلبي بساكن

may it delight you that you inhabit my heart,

When before you none had settled in my heart.

which, before you, had never been still.

And if you had glanced at it for a moment,

وأَنّك لو أَجلْتَ الطّرفَ فيه

وأَنّك لو أَجلْتَ الطّرفَ فيه

لَما صادفْتَ غيرَك فيه قاطن

لَما صادفْتَ غيرَك فيه قاطن

And if you let your gaze roam within it,

You wouldn't have found, residing in it, another but you.

you would find no resident there but yourself,

Besides being loyal to Zayn al-Din in truth,

وغيرُ وَلاءِ زَيْنِ الدينِ صدْقاً

وغيرُ وَلاءِ زَيْنِ الدينِ صدْقاً

فَداكَ به بدِينِ اللهِ دائن

فَداكَ به بدِينِ اللهِ دائن

save also true allegiance to Zayn al-Din,

I ransom you with that, indebted to God.

with which a follower of God's faith would ransom you.

The imam who guides the religion of God thereby

إمامُ هُدّى لدِينِ اللهِ منه

إمامُ هُدّى لدِينِ اللهِ منه

على أَعدائه أَعلَى مَعاوِن

على أَعدائه أَعلَى مَعاوِن

An imam of guidance, from whom God's faith

Is its greatest supporter against its enemies.

has the loftiest assistance against its enemies.

Leave him be, for Zayn adorned his name with meaning,

دَعُوهُ زَيْنَه فازدانَ معنىً

دَعُوهُ زَيْنَه فازدانَ معنىً

وكم يُدعَى بزَيْنٍ غَيرُ زائن

وكم يُدعَى بزَيْنٍ غَيرُ زائن

They called him its adornment, and it was adorned in truth;

While many are called Zayn without it suiting them.

how many are called an adornment without adorning!

More charming than virtues and glories is his father,

أَغرُّ من المكارمِ والمعالي

أَغرُّ من المكارمِ والمعالي

أَبوه أَحلَّه أَعلَى الأماكن

أَبوه أَحلَّه أَعلَى الأماكن

A radiant man whose noble deeds and lofty qualities

Whom he succeeded in the highest places.

his father established in the highest places.

And the elite of Sūdān were purified through his ascent

وصَفوةُ سُؤْدَدٍ خلَصتْ عُلاه

وصَفوةُ سُؤْدَدٍ خلَصتْ عُلاه

منَ الرِّيَبِ الشّوائبِ والشّوائن

منَ الرِّيَبِ الشّوائبِ والشّوائن

The choicest nobility, whose eminence is free

From suspicions, motes, and faults.

of suspicions, blemishes, and disgraces.

He has, in life, traces of benevolence,

له في الدّهرِ آثارٌ حسانٌ

له في الدّهرِ آثارٌ حسانٌ

إذا اخْتُبرَتْ وأخلاقٌ أحاسن

إذا اخْتُبرَتْ وأخلاقٌ أحاسن

He has fine deeds recorded through time,

If examined, and the best of morals.

when tested, and still finer qualities.

And a state free of defects, an untainted disposition,

وحالٌ غيرُ حائلةٍ وطَبْعٌ

وحالٌ غيرُ حائلةٍ وطَبْعٌ

بلا طَبَعٍ وشأْنٌ غيرُ شائن

بلا طَبَعٍ وشأْنٌ غيرُ شائن

An unchanging estate, and a nature

And a way free of any crookedness.

without rust, and a standing without disgrace.

A protector who remained for Islam a crown,

هُمامٌ ظَلَّ للإسلامِ تاجاً

هُمامٌ ظَلَّ للإسلامِ تاجاً

فقَلَّ له المُوازي والمُوازن

فقَلَّ له المُوازي والمُوازن

A high-minded man who remained a crown for Islam,

So rarely did any equal or rival him.

with few to equal or rival him.

He who fills the corridor due to his esteemed stature

ومَغْشيُّ الرِّواقِ لعُظْمِ قَدْرٍ

ومَغْشيُّ الرِّواقِ لعُظْمِ قَدْرٍ

يَغَصُّ ذُراهُ بالخيلِ الصّوافن

يَغَصُّ ذُراهُ بالخيلِ الصّوافن

His portico is thronged because of his great worth;

Crowds it with steeds and weaponry.

his heights are crowded with steeds poised at rest.

A leader whose assets are his wisdom and dignity,

مُذيلٌ مالَه حَزْماً ولكنْ

مُذيلٌ مالَه حَزْماً ولكنْ

نَداهُ لدِينهِ والعِرْض صائن

نَداهُ لدِينهِ والعِرْض صائن

He lavishes his wealth prudently, while

Not his wealth, which he spends to uphold propriety.

his bounty safeguards his faith and honor.

When wealth is hidden from him one day,

إذا خُبئَتْ له الأموالُ يَوماً

إذا خُبئَتْ له الأموالُ يَوماً

فأيدي السائلين له المَخازن

فأيدي السائلين له المَخازن

If wealth is ever stored away for him,

The hands of the beseechers are his treasuries.

the supplicants' hands are his storehouses.

A noble man who shows affection but doesn't flatter,

فتىً يحبو ولكنْ لا يُحابي

فتىً يحبو ولكنْ لا يُحابي

إذا فصَلَ القضاءُ ولا يُداهن

إذا فصَلَ القضاءُ ولا يُداهن

A noble man who gives, but shows no partiality

When fate separates, and doesn't compromise.

when judgment is passed, nor does he flatter.

And the pillar of God's religion finds refuge in him,

ويأوي رُكْنُ دينِ اللهِ منه

ويأوي رُكْنُ دينِ اللهِ منه

إلى حَرَمٍ منَ الشُّبُهاتِ آمن

إلى حَرَمٍ منَ الشُّبُهاتِ آمن

Through him, the pillar of God's faith finds refuge

In a sanctuary safe from doubts.

in a sanctuary safe from ambiguities.

O finest of orators in speech, as attested by the sincere and disputants,

ألا يا أخطبَ الخُطباء طُرّاً

ألا يا أخطبَ الخُطباء طُرّاً

كما شَهِدَ المُصادِقُ والمُشاحن

كما شَهِدَ المُصادِقُ والمُشاحن

O most eloquent of all orators,

And fairest of judges in the world, whether intimate or stern.

as both friend and adversary have testified,

You have attained the heights and meanings,

وأعدلَ مَن قضَى في الدّهرِ يوماً

وأعدلَ مَن قضَى في الدّهرِ يوماً

إذا أَضحَى يُلايِنُ أَو يُخاشن

إذا أَضحَى يُلايِنُ أَو يُخاشن

and most just of all who ever judged,

And the merits and fine traits were counted for you.

whether dealing gently or sternly,

And the beauties in the family became yours,

لقد حُزْتَ المعاليَ والمعاني

لقد حُزْتَ المعاليَ والمعاني

وعُدَّ لك المَزايا والمَزاين

وعُدَّ لك المَزايا والمَزاين

you have attained lofty virtues and noble qualities,

So for that, they called your father the father of beauties.

and distinctions and graces are reckoned yours.

It pleases you that Khuzestan yielded

وأصبحتِ المَحاسنُ لِلآلى

وأصبحتِ المَحاسنُ لِلآلى

لذاك كَنَوا أَباك أَبا المَحاسن

لذاك كَنَوا أَباك أَبا المَحاسن

Virtues have become pearls;

To your hands the reins, by the auspices.

that is why they called your father Abu al-Mahasin.

So discipline those who announce the judgments from it,

لِيَهْنِكَ أنّ خُوزِستانَ أَلْقَى

لِيَهْنِكَ أنّ خُوزِستانَ أَلْقَى

إلى يَدِكَ العِنانَ على المَيامن

إلى يَدِكَ العِنانَ على المَيامن

May it delight you that Khuzistan has yielded

And expose the deceits of the deviants.

its reins into your hand, auspiciously.

And every gambler who yesterday eve

فَثقِّفْ منه مُنْآدَ القضايا

فَثقِّفْ منه مُنْآدَ القضايا

وأبرِزْ أَخْزَميّاتِ الشّنائن

وأبرِزْ أَخْزَميّاتِ الشّنائن

Straighten its crooked legal affairs,

Arose while the scales weighed against him.

and display those Akhzam-like inherited traits.

As if the honored assembly cast for its aim

وكلُّ مُجازِفٍ من قَبلُ أَمسَى

وكلُّ مُجازِفٍ من قَبلُ أَمسَى

وأَصبحَ وهْو بالقسطاسِ وازِن

وأَصبحَ وهْو بالقسطاسِ وازِن

Every formerly reckless man now passes his evenings

The arrow of ascendance while betting on it.

and mornings weighing with the balance of justice.

Yet it chose none but you for its arrow,

كأنّ المجلسَ الرُّكنيَّ رامٍ

كأنّ المجلسَ الرُّكنيَّ رامٍ

رمَى غرضَ العُلا وهْو المُراهن

رمَى غرضَ العُلا وهْو المُراهن

It is as though the Rukni court were an archer

When the spears were scattered before it.

aiming at glory's target while staking its wager.

It deputized you in lieu of a full moon, while it is the sun,

فلم يَخْتَرْ سِواك إليه سَهْماً

فلم يَخْتَرْ سِواك إليه سَهْماً

وبينَ يدَيْهِ قد نُثرَ الكَنائن

وبينَ يدَيْهِ قد نُثرَ الكَنائن

It chose no arrow but you for that target,

So the light of you two that encompassed the cities.

though quivers lay scattered before it.

Oh, may you both be ransomed from all evil

أَنابَكَ عنه بدْراً وهْو شَمسٌ

أَنابَكَ عنه بدْراً وهْو شَمسٌ

فنُورُكما الّذي شَمَلَ المَدائن

فنُورُكما الّذي شَمَلَ المَدائن

It deputized you as a full moon, itself a sun;

The morning your ascension became pillars of existence.

your combined light has encompassed the cities.

And time no longer counted except the nights

ألا ففَداكما من كلِّ سَوءٍ

ألا ففَداكما من كلِّ سَوءٍ

غداةَ عُلاكُما أركانُ كائن

غداةَ عُلاكُما أركانُ كائن

Ah, may you both be ransomed from every evil,

When from it emerged one inactive.

at the dawning of your glory, by the pillars of all existence.

O you in whom the ships of hope of people

ولا عَدتِ العِدا غِيَرُ اللّيالي

ولا عَدتِ العِدا غِيَرُ اللّيالي

إذا زمَنٌ تحَرَّكَ منه ساكن

إذا زمَنٌ تحَرَّكَ منه ساكن

May the reversals of the nights never pass your enemies by,

Have none but the familiarity of your generosity as their sail.

whenever time stirs what lay still within it.

Just as you adorned me with gifts across the lands,

أيا مَن ما لفُلْكِ رَجاء قَومٍ

أيا مَن ما لفُلْكِ رَجاء قَومٍ

سِوى مأْلوفِ جُودِ يدَيْكَ شاحن

سِوى مأْلوفِ جُودِ يدَيْكَ شاحن

O you, the ship of a people's hope has no loader

I have strung together for you the scattered pearls.

but the accustomed bounty of your hands.

Praise whose fragrance fills the horizons,

كما طَوَّقْتَني المِنَنَ البَوادي

كما طَوَّقْتَني المِنَنَ البَوادي

لقد أَقْرَطْتُك الدُّرَر الثّمائن

لقد أَقْرَطْتُك الدُّرَر الثّمائن

As you encircled my neck with manifest favors,

And I am not of those who sell their gratitude miserly.

I have adorned your ears with precious pearls:

For others, wealth guarantees me, but through fine recollection,

ثَناءٌ تعبَقُ الآفاقُ منه

ثَناءٌ تعبَقُ الآفاقُ منه

ولستُ لمَنْ شَرَى شُكْري بغابن

ولستُ لمَنْ شَرَى شُكْري بغابن

praise whose fragrance fills the horizons.

And the tongues of narrators are its lodes.

I do not cheat anyone who buys my thanks.

I have roaming in the land mares

لغَيْرِكَ تَضْمَنُ الأموالُ غَيْري

لغَيْرِكَ تَضْمَنُ الأموالُ غَيْري

ولكنّي بحُسْنِ الذَّكرِ ضامن

ولكنّي بحُسْنِ الذَّكرِ ضامن

For others, wealth guarantees men other than me;

That trot evenly between the two flanks.

but I guarantee honorable remembrance.

And the circuit of the celestial spheres is but

فما عُهِدَ المطامعُ قَطُّ فيكمْ

فما عُهِدَ المطامعُ قَطُّ فيكمْ

ولا فيمَنْ تُولّونَ المَطاعن

ولا فيمَنْ تُولّونَ المَطاعن

No greed has ever been known among you,

Their evenly pacing, spite-filled saddles.

nor grounds for reproach in those you appoint.

And there were seven before my time,

وما أَنا غيرَ عَضْبٍ تَنْتَضيه

وما أَنا غيرَ عَضْبٍ تَنْتَضيه

على عُنُقِ العَدُوُّ لكَ المُباين

على عُنُقِ العَدُوُّ لكَ المُباين

I am nothing but a sharp sword you draw

So my poetry joined them as the eighth.

against the neck of the enemy who opposes you.

And though I speak strangely at times,

وكم من حائدٍ عنكمْ تَمادَتْ

وكم من حائدٍ عنكمْ تَمادَتْ

غَوايتُه فأصبحَ وهْو حائن

غَوايتُه فأصبحَ وهْو حائن

How many a man who turned away from you persisted

Know that in deed, I am gentle.

in his error, and became doomed!

You are exalted above praise, so no tongue

مَرنْتُ على عَدُوِّكمُ إلى أنْ

مَرنْتُ على عَدُوِّكمُ إلى أنْ

قَدِمْتُ برَغْمِ هاتيكَ المَوارن

قَدِمْتُ برَغْمِ هاتيكَ المَوارن

I trained myself against your enemy until

Can revere your stature like one that wails.

I arrived, to the chagrin of those snouts.

So the suspension of praise from an eloquent one

ولو أنّي قدَرْتُ لكان منّي

ولو أنّي قدَرْتُ لكان منّي

سِنانٌ في نُحورِ البيدِ طاعن

سِنانٌ في نُحورِ البيدِ طاعن

If I had been able, there would have come from me

Upon you is a protective charm from an admiring eye.

a spearpoint thrusting into the deserts' throats,

You will own the souls of the people generously,

أَمامَ السّائرِين إليك شَوقاً

أَمامَ السّائرِين إليك شَوقاً

يُرقِّصُ كُلَّ مَلئِ النِّسْعِ بادن

يُرقِّصُ كُلَّ مَلئِ النِّسْعِ بادن

ahead of those traveling to you in longing,

And this poetry is an augur for the noble ones.

making every stout, girth-filling camel dance.

You will test Khuzestan just like the many Khuzes,

ولكنْ هُمْ نَوَوْا لذُراكَ حَجّاً

ولكنْ هُمْ نَوَوْا لذُراكَ حَجّاً

وكانوا في القَصيِّ منَ المَواطن

وكانوا في القَصيِّ منَ المَواطن

But they had intended a pilgrimage to your heights

And how many guests will be followed by hosts.

while dwelling in faraway places.

And you will rule over the remaining climes,

فسرْتَ وأَنت بُغْيَتُهمْ إليهمْ

فسرْتَ وأَنت بُغْيَتُهمْ إليهمْ

فقد حَجّوا وما بَرِحوا الأماكن

فقد حَجّوا وما بَرِحوا الأماكن

You traveled to them, yourself their goal;

And I stand by that statement confidently.

thus they made their pilgrimage without leaving their abodes.

So prosperity came to you in every land

فها أنا في فنائكَ كُلَّ يَومٍ

فها أنا في فنائكَ كُلَّ يَومٍ

أَروحُ بعُمْرةٍ للحجِّ قارِن

أَروحُ بعُمْرةٍ للحجِّ قارِن

Here I am in your courtyard every day,

You brought shade, and the auspices came to you.

going forth with an 'umrah joined to the hajj.

You remain eternally preserving the memory of your father,

ولا أَرْضَى لتَهْنئتي نِثاراً

ولا أَرْضَى لتَهْنئتي نِثاراً

إذا عُدَّ الذي حَوتِ الخَزائن

إذا عُدَّ الذي حَوتِ الخَزائن

For my congratulations, I accept no scattered offering,

As his era's clouds poured down.

when the treasuries' contents are reckoned,

سوى الدُّرِّ الّذي قَلَمي وفكْري

سوى الدُّرِّ الّذي قَلَمي وفكْري

وأَلسنةُ الرُّواةِ لها مَعادن

وأَلسنةُ الرُّواةِ لها مَعادن

except the pearls for which my pen, my thought,

and the tongues of reciters are mines.

ولي في الأرضِ غُرٌّ سائراتٌ

ولي في الأرضِ غُرٌّ سائراتٌ

تَهاداها الأياسِرُ والأيامن

تَهاداها الأياسِرُ والأيامن

I have bright poems traveling through the world,

exchanged as gifts by those to the left and right.

وما سَيّارةُ الأفْلاكِ إلاّ

وما سَيّارةُ الأفْلاكِ إلاّ

حَواسِدُها المُسِرّاتُ الضَّغائن

حَواسِدُها المُسِرّاتُ الضَّغائن

The wandering stars of the spheres are nothing

but their envious rivals, concealing grudges.

وكانتْ سَبعةً من قَبْلِ عَصْري

وكانتْ سَبعةً من قَبْلِ عَصْري

فشِعْري راحَ وهْو لَهُنَّ ثامن

فشِعْري راحَ وهْو لَهُنَّ ثامن

They numbered seven before my age;

my poetry has become their eighth.

على أَنَّي وإنْ أَغرَبْتُ قَوْلاً

على أَنَّي وإنْ أَغرَبْتُ قَوْلاً

عليمٌ أنّني في الفعْلِ لاحن

عليمٌ أنّني في الفعْلِ لاحن

Yet, though I devise rare speech,

I know I falter in deeds.

كَبُرْتَ عنِ المديح فلا لِسانٌ

كَبُرْتَ عنِ المديح فلا لِسانٌ

له إعْظامُ قَدْرِكَ غَيْر شاحن

له إعْظامُ قَدْرِكَ غَيْر شاحن

You are above praise; there is no tongue

that reverence for your worth does not fill.

فتَعليقُ المدائح من بليغٍ

فتَعليقُ المدائح من بليغٍ

عليك تَميمةٌ من عَيْنِ عائن

عليك تَميمةٌ من عَيْنِ عائن

The praises an eloquent man hangs

upon you are an amulet against an envier's eye.

ستَملِكُ رِقَّ أهلِ الأرضِ طُرّاً

ستَملِكُ رِقَّ أهلِ الأرضِ طُرّاً

وهذا الشِّعْرُ للكُرَماء كاهن

وهذا الشِّعْرُ للكُرَماء كاهن

You shall hold all the earth's people in thrall;

this poetry is a diviner for the generous.

وتَبْلو الخُوزَ مثْلَ الخُوزِ شَتىً

وتَبْلو الخُوزَ مثْلَ الخُوزِ شَتىً

وكم ضَيْفٍ سيَتْبَعُه ضَيافن

وكم ضَيْفٍ سيَتْبَعُه ضَيافن

You shall try many a Khuz like Khuz itself;

many a guest will be followed by uninvited guests.

وتَحكُمُ في الأقاليمِ البَواقي

وتَحكُمُ في الأقاليمِ البَواقي

وها أَنا للبَيانِ بذاكَ راهِن

وها أَنا للبَيانِ بذاكَ راهِن

You shall govern the remaining provinces,

and here I stand as pledge for that declaration.

فطالَعَكَ السُّعودُ بكلِّ أَرْضٍ

فطالَعَكَ السُّعودُ بكلِّ أَرْضٍ

ظَلِلْتَ بها وصَبّحَك المَيامن

ظَلِلْتَ بها وصَبّحَك المَيامن

May lucky stars rise upon you in every land

where you dwell, and auspicious signs greet your mornings.

ودُمْتَ دَوامَ ذِكْرِ أَبيكَ غَضّاً

ودُمْتَ دَوامَ ذِكْرِ أَبيكَ غَضّاً

وجادَتْ عهدَه السُّحُبُ الهَواتن

وجادَتْ عهدَه السُّحُبُ الهَواتن

May you remain fresh as long as your father's memory endures,

and may the pouring clouds lavish rain upon his memory.