أَرَيتَكَ الآنَ أَلمَعُ البُروق

أَرَيتَكَ الآنَ أَلمَعُ البُروق

أَم شَعلٌ مُرفَضَةٌ عَن حَريق

أَم شَعلٌ مُرفَضَةٌ عَن حَريق

Tell me now: is it the gleam of lightning,

I saw you now, more radiant than lightning,

Or flames scattered from a blaze,

Or a flaming torch ablaze from fire’s strike,

في عارِضٍ تَعرِضُ أَجوازُهُ

في عارِضٍ تَعرِضُ أَجوازُهُ

بَينَ سُوى خَبتِ فَرمَلِ الشُقوق

بَينَ سُوى خَبتِ فَرمَلِ الشُقوق

In a rain cloud whose middle reaches spread

Appearing between nothing but barren sands

Between Suwa of Khabt and the sands of al-Shuquq?

Among the cracked, parched, empty dunes.

أَسالَ بَطحانَ وَلَم يَتَّرِك

أَسالَ بَطحانَ وَلَم يَتَّرِك

أَن مُلِئَت مِنهُ فِجاجُ العَقيق

أَن مُلِئَت مِنهُ فِجاجُ العَقيق

It set Bathan flowing, and did not fail

He asked about the valley and left no water;

To fill al-Aqiq's ravines with its waters.

Its agate pools were filled from its long brim.

نَبَّهَني عَن زَورَةٍ مِن هَوىً

نَبَّهَني عَن زَورَةٍ مِن هَوىً

مُوَكَّلٍ في مَضجَعي بِالطُروق

مُوَكَّلٍ في مَضجَعي بِالطُروق

It roused me from a visit by a beloved,

He warned me of the scheming love that lurks

Charged with visiting my bed by night.

In my bed at night with piercing pangs.

عَدُوَّةٌ بادٍ لَنا ضِغنُها

عَدُوَّةٌ بادٍ لَنا ضِغنُها

أَنزَلَها الحُبُّ مَحَلَّ الصَديق

أَنزَلَها الحُبُّ مَحَلَّ الصَديق

An enemy whose rancor is plain to us,

A hostile, raging love whose bitter sting

Whom love has placed in a friend's position.

Was brought by love to where a friend once lived.

لا أُتبِعُ المَتبولَ عَتباً وَلا

لا أُتبِعُ المَتبولَ عَتباً وَلا

أَلومُ غَيرَ البارِئِ المُستَفيق

أَلومُ غَيرَ البارِئِ المُستَفيق

I do not burden the lovesick with reproach, nor

I don’t blame the confused for their reproach,

Blame anyone but the recovered, clearheaded man.

Nor fault the Maker, the All-Seeing, All-Wise.

سَأَلتُ عَن مالي وَلا مالُ لي

سَأَلتُ عَن مالي وَلا مالُ لي

غَيرَ بَقايا تُرِكَت لِلحُقوقِ

غَيرَ بَقايا تُرِكَت لِلحُقوقِ

I asked about my wealth, though no wealth is mine

I asked about my money, but have no wealth,

Save remnants left to meet rightful claims,

Save scraps that law and rights to me allot,

مُوَجَّهاتٍ لِذَوي عَيلَةٍ

مُوَجَّهاتٍ لِذَوي عَيلَةٍ

تُقَضُّ مِنهُم في فَريقٍ فَريق

تُقَضُّ مِنهُم في فَريقٍ فَريق

Set aside for those in need,

Due payments for dependents that are paid

Parceled out among them, group by group.

By bits and pieces from time to time.

هَلّا اِتَّقى الظالِمُ مِن دَعوَتي

هَلّا اِتَّقى الظالِمُ مِن دَعوَتي

تُقاهُ مِن أُثفِيَّةِ المَنجَنيق

تُقاهُ مِن أُثفِيَّةِ المَنجَنيق

Why did the oppressor not fear my curse

If only the oppressor feared my prayers,

As he fears the catapult's stone?

That guard me from the stone thrower’s sharp shots,

زَوَت وَزيرَ السوءِ عَن مُلكِهِ

زَوَت وَزيرَ السوءِ عَن مُلكِهِ

إِلى المَكانِ المُستَشَقِّ السَحيق

إِلى المَكانِ المُستَشَقِّ السَحيق

It drove the evil vizier from his dominion,

Which removed the minister of evil from his rule

To a hard-to-reach, far-distant place.

To a distant, elevated, awful place!

مُناكِدٌ قَد كانَ مِن لُؤمِهِ

مُناكِدٌ قَد كانَ مِن لُؤمِهِ

يَحمي عَلى الناسِ بِلالَ الحُلوق

يَحمي عَلى الناسِ بِلالَ الحُلوق

A vexatious man, who in his baseness

A tyrant who would cruelly impose

Denied people even water to wet their throats.

Upon the people the injustices of greed.

وَفي أَمينِ اللَهِ لي مُنصِفٌ

وَفي أَمينِ اللَهِ لي مُنصِفٌ

إِن حادَ خَصمي عَن سَواءِ الطَريق

إِن حادَ خَصمي عَن سَواءِ الطَريق

And in God's trusted one I have a just arbiter,

But in God’s trustee I have found justice,

If my adversary strays from the straight path.

If my opponent strays off the right path.

وَمُعتَمِدٌ عَلى اللَهِ قَد

وَمُعتَمِدٌ عَلى اللَهِ قَد

أَيَّدَهُ اللَهُ بِعَقدٍ وَثيق

أَيَّدَهُ اللَهُ بِعَقدٍ وَثيق

And Mu'tamid, who relies on God—

And my trust in God, whom He has aided

God has strengthened him with a firm bond.

With a firm, unbreakable, covenanted bond.

تَرى عُرى التَدبيرِ يَحكَمنَ عَن

تَرى عُرى التَدبيرِ يَحكَمنَ عَن

مُقتَصِدٍ فيما يُعاني شَفيق

مُقتَصِدٍ فيما يُعاني شَفيق

You see the bonds of governance made firm by

You see the reins of rule held by one who judges

One prudent in what he undertakes, and caring.

With balance, gentle to the suffering.

حَلَفتُ بِالمَسعى وَبِالخَيفِ مِن

حَلَفتُ بِالمَسعى وَبِالخَيفِ مِن

مِنى وَبِالبَيتِ الحَرامِ العَتيق

مِنى وَبِالبَيتِ الحَرامِ العَتيق

I swore by al-Mas'a and by al-Khayf in

I swore by the black stone, the Ancient House,

Mina, and by the ancient Sacred House,

The running between Safa and Marwa's mounts,

تَحُجُّهُ الأَركُبُ مَخشوشَةً

تَحُجُّهُ الأَركُبُ مَخشوشَةً

رُكبانُها مِن كُلِّ فَجٍّ عَميق

رُكبانُها مِن كُلِّ فَجٍّ عَميق

Caravans make pilgrimage to it, nose-reined,

Their riders chanting God's praises from each valley,

Their riders coming from every deep ravine.

No vain talk nor sin reported of them.

يُكَبِّرونَ اللَهَ لا مُخبِرٌ

يُكَبِّرونَ اللَهَ لا مُخبِرٌ

عَن رَفثٍ مِنهُم وَلا عَن فُسوق

عَن رَفثٍ مِنهُم وَلا عَن فُسوق

They proclaim God's greatness; none tells

We found you when you sought us out

Of lewdness among them, nor of transgression.

With a tender, compassionate governance,

لَقَد وَجدنا لَكَ إِذ سُستَنا

لَقَد وَجدنا لَكَ إِذ سُستَنا

سِياسَةَ الحاني عَلَينا الشَفيق

سِياسَةَ الحاني عَلَينا الشَفيق

Indeed, when you governed us, we found in you

You gathered Bani Ja'far, divided by wrongs,

The rule of one tender toward us and compassionate.

With righteousness when they were split by sins.

جَمَعتَ أَشتاتَ بَني جَعفَرٍ

جَمَعتَ أَشتاتَ بَني جَعفَرٍ

بِالبِرِّ لَمّا فُرِّقوا بِالعُقوق

بِالبِرِّ لَمّا فُرِّقوا بِالعُقوق

You gathered the scattered sons of Ja'far,

You brought them yesterday the justice

With kindness, when disloyalty had divided them.

You always have, being just to all.

وَكُنتَ بِالطولِ الَّذي جِئتَهُ

وَكُنتَ بِالطولِ الَّذي جِئتَهُ

إِلَيهِمِ بِالأَمسِ عَينَ الخَليق

إِلَيهِمِ بِالأَمسِ عَينَ الخَليق

And through the bounty you brought

You do not neglect duties to a loved one,

To them yesterday, you proved yourself truly worthy.

So how could you forget the rights of a sibling?

وَما أَضَعتَ الحَقَّ في أَجنَبٍ

وَما أَضَعتَ الحَقَّ في أَجنَبٍ

فَكَيفَ تَنسى واجِباً في الشَقيق

فَكَيفَ تَنسى واجِباً في الشَقيق

And you have not neglected a stranger's rights,

The world yielded to you what it once refused,

So how could you forget a duty toward a full brother?

And peace what was once broken and split.

جادَت لَكَ الدُنيا بِما مانَعَت

جادَت لَكَ الدُنيا بِما مانَعَت

وَاِبتَدَأَت في رَتقِ تِلكَ الفُتوق

وَاِبتَدَأَت في رَتقِ تِلكَ الفُتوق

The world has lavished on you what it once withheld,

The Shia, nobles now fallen into disgrace,

And has begun to mend those rents.

Have bowed to peace after their breach.

فَشيعَةُ الشاري إِلى ذِلَّةٍ

فَشيعَةُ الشاري إِلى ذِلَّةٍ

قَد جَنَحوا لِلسِلمِ بَعدَ المُروق

قَد جَنَحوا لِلسِلمِ بَعدَ المُروق

So al-Shari's followers, brought low,

The honor of the Safavids lies abandoned,

Have inclined to peace after rebellion.

Pawned to one of the necklaces of necks.

وَرِمَّةُ الصَفّارِ مَتروكَةٌ

وَرِمَّةُ الصَفّارِ مَتروكَةٌ

رَهناً لِإِحدى عَلقاتِ العُلوق

رَهناً لِإِحدى عَلقاتِ العُلوق

And al-Saffar's corpse lies abandoned,

And the traitor of Basra, whom we fear

A hostage to one of Death's clutches.

No refuge can be found in such straits,

وَحائِنُ البَصرَةِ عِندَ الَّتي

وَحائِنُ البَصرَةِ عِندَ الَّتي

تُخشى عَلَيهِ لاحِجٍ في مَضيق

تُخشى عَلَيهِ لاحِجٍ في مَضيق

And Basra's doomed man, facing what

Seeks to flee if he sees an escape

Is feared for him, is stuck in a narrow pass.

From his plight by any means or road.

يَنوي فِراراً لَو يَرى مَخلَصاً

يَنوي فِراراً لَو يَرى مَخلَصاً

مِن سَبَبٍ يُفضي بِهِ أَو طَريق

مِن سَبَبٍ يُفضي بِهِ أَو طَريق

He intends flight, if only he could see an escape,

Yet your beloved continues to be watered

Through some means that would lead him out, or a path.

By the rivers of plenty and barren steeps.

لازالَ مَعشوقُكَ يُسقى الحَيا

لازالَ مَعشوقُكَ يُسقى الحَيا

مِن كُلِّ داني المُزنِ واهي الخُروق

مِن كُلِّ داني المُزنِ واهي الخُروق

May your Ma'shuq ever be watered by life-giving rain,

We have not known, since first seeing him,

From every low-hanging rain cloud with gaping rents.

Any new conquest or pleasant time,

فَما خَلَونا مُذ رَأَيناهُ مِن

فَما خَلَونا مُذ رَأَيناهُ مِن

فَتحٍ جَديدٍ وَزَمانٍ أَنيق

فَتحٍ جَديدٍ وَزَمانٍ أَنيق

For since we saw it, we have never lacked

He went out overlooking the meeting place

Fresh victories and delightful times.

Of the Tigris, facing it with bright face.

أَشرَفَ نَظّاراً إِلى مُلتَقى

أَشرَفَ نَظّاراً إِلى مُلتَقى

دِجلَةَ يَلقاها بِوَجهٍ طَليق

دِجلَةَ يَلقاها بِوَجهٍ طَليق

It rose high, gazing intently toward its meeting with

Gazing at the sun as its light appears

The Tigris, greeting her with a cheerful face.

At dawn, like the sunrise when day breaks.

وَطالِعَ الشَمسَ عَلى مَوعِدٍ

وَطالِعَ الشَمسَ عَلى مَوعِدٍ

بِمِثلِ ضَوءِ الشَمسِ عِندَ الشُروق

بِمِثلِ ضَوءِ الشَمسِ عِندَ الشُروق

And faced the sun at an appointed hour,

I have not seen a palace as beautiful

With a light like the sun's at sunrise.

As it appears to all who look upon it.

لَم أَرَ كَالمَعشوقِ قَصراً بَدا

لَم أَرَ كَالمَعشوقِ قَصراً بَدا

لِأَعيُنِ الرائينَ غَيرَ المَشوق

لِأَعيُنِ الرائينَ غَيرَ المَشوق

I have seen no palace like al-Ma'shuq appear

This one prominently displayed its beauty,

To the eyes of onlookers, save al-Mashuq.

While the other raced to catch up behind.

هَذاكَ قَد بَرَّزَ حُسنِهِ

هَذاكَ قَد بَرَّزَ حُسنِهِ

سَبقاً وَهَذا مُسرِعٌ في اللُحوق

سَبقاً وَهَذا مُسرِعٌ في اللُحوق

That one has excelled in its beauty,

Both are an early dawn whose clouds

Taking the lead, while this one hastens to catch up.

Were folded behind it with heavy rain.

هُما صَبوحٌ باكِرٌ غَيمُهُ

هُما صَبوحٌ باكِرٌ غَيمُهُ

ثُنِّيَ في أَعقابِهِ بِالغَبوق

ثُنِّيَ في أَعقابِهِ بِالغَبوق

They are a morning draught for early thirst,

Water does not give me delight,

Followed in its wake by an evening draught.

So give me the surah of that sweet draft,

الماءُ لا يَبعَثُ لي نَشوَةً

الماءُ لا يَبعَثُ لي نَشوَةً

فَعاطَني سَورَةَ ذاكَ الرَحيق

فَعاطَني سَورَةَ ذاكَ الرَحيق

Water brings me no intoxication;

It suffices that you soften its sharpness

So give me the heady surge of that pure wine.

With gentle tones played over it smoothly.

حَسبُكَ أَن تَكسِرَ مِن حَدِّها

حَسبُكَ أَن تَكسِرَ مِن حَدِّها

بِالنَغَمِ الصافي عَلَيها الرَقيق

بِالنَغَمِ الصافي عَلَيها الرَقيق

You need only temper its sharpness

I have resolved not to drink it mixed,

With pure, delicate melody over it.

Unless it is mixed with a clear, pure drink.

آلَيتُ لا أَشرَبُ مَمزوجَةً

آلَيتُ لا أَشرَبُ مَمزوجَةً

إِن لَم تَكُن مَزجَةَ ريقٍ بِريق

إِن لَم تَكُن مَزجَةَ ريقٍ بِريق

I swore not to drink it mixed,

Unless the mingling is saliva with saliva.