مَتى لاحَ بَرقٌ أَو بَدا طَلَلٌ قَفرُ

مَتى لاحَ بَرقٌ أَو بَدا طَلَلٌ قَفرُ

جَرى مُستَهِلٌّ لا بَكِيٌّ وَلا نَزرُ

جَرى مُستَهِلٌّ لا بَكِيٌّ وَلا نَزرُ

Whenever lightning flashed or a desolate ruin appeared,

Whenever lightning flashed or a wilderness mirage loomed,

A torrent of tears flowed, neither slow nor scant.

A resolute runner sped on, neither weeping nor hesitating.

وَما الشَوقُ إِلّا لَوعَةٌ إِثرَ لَوعَةٍ

وَما الشَوقُ إِلّا لَوعَةٌ إِثرَ لَوعَةٍ

وَغَزرٌ مِنَ الآماقِ يَتبَعُها غُزرُ

وَغَزرٌ مِنَ الآماقِ يَتبَعُها غُزرُ

And longing is nothing but burning pang upon burning pang,

Yearning is but anguish after anguish,

And a flood from the eye-corners, followed by further floods.

And a flood from the depths, chased by another flood.

فَلا تَذكُرا عَهدَ التَصابي فَإِنَّهُ

فَلا تَذكُرا عَهدَ التَصابي فَإِنَّهُ

تَقَضّى وَلَم نَشعُر بِهِ ذَلِكَ العَصرُ

تَقَضّى وَلَم نَشعُر بِهِ ذَلِكَ العَصرُ

So do not, you two, recall the days of youthful folly, for

So do not recall the days of accord, for they

That age passed away without our noticing it.

Are past, and we did not sense their passing in that age.

سَقى اللَهُ عَهداً مِن أُناسٍ تَصَرَّمَت

سَقى اللَهُ عَهداً مِن أُناسٍ تَصَرَّمَت

مَوَدَّتُهُم إِلّا التَوَهُّمُ وَالذِكرُ

مَوَدَّتُهُم إِلّا التَوَهُّمُ وَالذِكرُ

May God water the days of people—severed is

God watered a people whose affection

Their affection, save for imagining and remembrance.

Was naught but fancy and memories.

وَفاؤُن مِنَ الأَيامِ رَجعُ حُدوجِهِم

وَفاؤُن مِنَ الأَيامِ رَجعُ حُدوجِهِم

كَما أَنَّ تَشريدَ الزَمانِ بِهِم غَدرُ

كَما أَنَّ تَشريدَ الزَمانِ بِهِم غَدرُ

Faithfulness from the days would be the return of their camel-litters,

Their loyalty was the return of their whiteness,

Just as time's scattering them is treachery.

As the vicissitudes of time were treacherous with them.

هَلِ العَيشُ إِلّا أَن تُساعِفُنا النَوى

هَلِ العَيشُ إِلّا أَن تُساعِفُنا النَوى

بِوَصلِ سُعادٍ أَو يُساعِدَنا الدَهرُ

بِوَصلِ سُعادٍ أَو يُساعِدَنا الدَهرُ

Is life anything but separation favoring us

Is life anything but sorrow doubled

With union with Su'ad, or time coming to our aid?

By the intimacy of bliss or time aided by fate?

عَلى أَنَّها ما عِندَها لِمُواصِلٍ

عَلى أَنَّها ما عِندَها لِمُواصِلٍ

وِصالٌ وَلا عَنها لِمُصطَبِرٍ صَبرُ

وِصالٌ وَلا عَنها لِمُصطَبِرٍ صَبرُ

Yet she has nothing for one seeking union—

It has neither union for one who seeks to reunite

No union; nor has one enduring her absence any patience.

Nor patience for one who bears patiently.

إِذا ما نَهى الناهي فَلَجَّ بِيَ الهَوى

إِذا ما نَهى الناهي فَلَجَّ بِيَ الهَوى

أَصاخَت إِلى الواشي فَلَجَّ بِها الهَجرُ

أَصاخَت إِلى الواشي فَلَجَّ بِها الهَجرُ

Whenever the reprover forbade me, passion grew stubborn in me;

When the deterrer deterred me, passion defied him.

She listened to the slanderer, and estrangement grew stubborn in her.

When he forbade her, she cried out to the sleepless; estrangement defied her.

وَيَومَ تَثَنَّت لِلوَداعِ وَسَلَّمَت

وَيَومَ تَثَنَّت لِلوَداعِ وَسَلَّمَت

بِعَينَينِ مَوصولٌ بِلَحظِهِما السِحرُ

بِعَينَينِ مَوصولٌ بِلَحظِهِما السِحرُ

And on the day she swayed to bid farewell and greeted me

And the day she turned to bid farewell and entrusted me

With two eyes whose glances were bound to magic,

With eyes whose glance was bound by sorcery,

تَوَهَّمتُها أَلوي بِأَجفانِها الكَرى

تَوَهَّمتُها أَلوي بِأَجفانِها الكَرى

كَرى النَومِ أَو مالَت بِأَعطافِها الخَمرُ

كَرى النَومِ أَو مالَت بِأَعطافِها الخَمرُ

I thought drowsiness had bent her eyelids—

I imagined her bending her tired lids

The drowsiness of sleep—or wine had swayed her form.

In the weariness of sleep or the intoxication of wine.

لَعَمرُكَ ما الدُنيا بِناقِصَةِ الجَدى

لَعَمرُكَ ما الدُنيا بِناقِصَةِ الجَدى

إِذا بَقِيَ الفَتحُ بنُ خاقانَ وَالقَطرُ

إِذا بَقِيَ الفَتحُ بنُ خاقانَ وَالقَطرُ

By your life, the world lacks no bounty

By your life, the world suffers no lack of splendor

So long as al-Fath ibn Khaqan and rain remain.

While the opening remains, and the Ottomans and the rain.

فَتىً لايَزالُ الدَهرُ حَولَ رِباعِهِ

فَتىً لايَزالُ الدَهرُ حَولَ رِباعِهِ

إِيادٍ لَهُ بيضٌ وَأَفنِيَةٌ خُضرُ

إِيادٍ لَهُ بيضٌ وَأَفنِيَةٌ خُضرُ

A young man whose dwellings are always ringed

A youth around whom time forever circles

By his white hands of kindness and green courtyards.

With white banners and green courtyards.

أَضاءَ لَنا أُفقَ البِلادِ وَكَشَّفَت

أَضاءَ لَنا أُفقَ البِلادِ وَكَشَّفَت

مَشاهِدُهُ ما لا يُكَشِّفُهُ الفَجرُ

مَشاهِدُهُ ما لا يُكَشِّفُهُ الفَجرُ

He lit the land's horizon for us, and laid bare

He illuminated the horizons for us and his sights unveiled

Through his presence what dawn cannot lay bare,

What dawn itself does not reveal.

بِوَجهٍ هُوَ البَدرُ المُنيرُ نَفى الدُجى

بِوَجهٍ هُوَ البَدرُ المُنيرُ نَفى الدُجى

سَناهُ وَأَخلاقٍ هِيَ الأَنجُمُ الزُهرُ

سَناهُ وَأَخلاقٍ هِيَ الأَنجُمُ الزُهرُ

With a face that is the radiant full moon, banishing darkness

With a face that is the shining full moon, he dispelled gloom.

With its light, and virtues that are the shining stars.

His qualities are the bright stars.

غَمامُ سَماحٍ ما يَغَبُّ لَهُ حَياً

غَمامُ سَماحٍ ما يَغَبُّ لَهُ حَياً

وَمِسعَرُ حَربٍ ما يَضيعُ لَهُ وِترُ

وَمِسعَرُ حَربٍ ما يَضيعُ لَهُ وِترُ

A cloud of generosity whose life-giving rain never pauses,

A cloud of benevolence that does not disappear in life

And a kindler of war, who lets no wrong go unavenged;

And a fiery warrior whose arrow never misses its mark.

وَحارِسُ مُلكٍ مايَزالُ عَتادَهُ

وَحارِسُ مُلكٍ مايَزالُ عَتادَهُ

مُهَنَّدَةٌ بيضٌ وَخَطِّيَةٌ سُمرُ

مُهَنَّدَةٌ بيضٌ وَخَطِّيَةٌ سُمرُ

And a guardian of kingship, whose armament is always

The guardian of a kingdom whose preparedness

White Indian swords and brown Khatti spears.

Is ever white swords and brown steeds.

يَصونُ بَنو العَبّاسِ سَطوَةَ بَأسِهِ

يَصونُ بَنو العَبّاسِ سَطوَةَ بَأسِهِ

لَشَغبِ عِداً يَعتادَ أَو حادِثٍ يَعرو

لَشَغبِ عِداً يَعتادَ أَو حادِثٍ يَعرو

The sons of al-'Abbas hold the force of his valor in reserve

The Abbasids guard against the tyranny of his might

For enemies' recurring unrest or a calamity that strikes.

Any insurgent mob or sudden incident.

يَبيتُ لَهُم حَيثُ الأَمانَةُ وَالتَقى

يَبيتُ لَهُم حَيثُ الأَمانَةُ وَالتَقى

وَيَغدو لَهُم حَيثُ الكِفايَةُ وَالنَصرُ

وَيَغدو لَهُم حَيثُ الكِفايَةُ وَالنَصرُ

He spends his nights for them where fidelity and piety abide,

He dwells with them wherever there is loyalty and piety

And sets forth for them where competence and victory abide.

And goes out to them wherever there is sufficiency and victory.

يَعُدُّ اِنتِفاضاً أَن تُطاوِلُهُم يَدٌ

يَعُدُّ اِنتِفاضاً أَن تُطاوِلُهُم يَدٌ

وَيَعتَدُّ وِزراً أَن يَغُشَّهُمُ صَدرُ

وَيَعتَدُّ وِزراً أَن يَغُشَّهُمُ صَدرُ

He counts it rebellion that a hand should challenge them,

He considers it treason if a hand reaches for them

And reckons it a sin that a heart should deceive them.

And a burden if a chest deceives them.

تَواضَعَ مِن مَجدٍ فَإِن هُوَ لَم يَكُن

تَواضَعَ مِن مَجدٍ فَإِن هُوَ لَم يَكُن

لَهُ الكُبرُ في أَكفائِهِ فَلَهُ الكِبرُ

لَهُ الكُبرُ في أَكفائِهِ فَلَهُ الكِبرُ

He is humble through nobility; though he has no

He is humble despite his glory, for if arrogance

Haughtiness among his peers, he has greatness.

Was not his equal, then supremacy is his.

وَذو رِعَةٍ لا يَقبَلُ الدَهرَ خُطَّةً

وَذو رِعَةٍ لا يَقبَلُ الدَهرَ خُطَّةً

إِذا الحَمدُ لَم يَدلُل عَليها وَلا الأَجرُ

إِذا الحَمدُ لَم يَدلُل عَليها وَلا الأَجرُ

And a man of scruple, who never accepts a course

A man of piety who does not accept the times’ stains

If neither praise nor reward points the way to it.

When praise does not prove it nor reward.

فَداكَ رِجالٌ باعَدَ المَنعُ رِفدَهُم

فَداكَ رِجالٌ باعَدَ المَنعُ رِفدَهُم

فَلا الخِمسُ وِردٌ مِن نَداهُم وَلا العِشرُ

فَلا الخِمسُ وِردٌ مِن نَداهُم وَلا العِشرُ

May men be your ransom whose stinginess keeps their gifts far off;

You ransom men whose remoteness has barred their gifts,

So no draught of their bounty comes on the fifth day or the tenth.

So neither a fifth nor tenth of their generosity reaches you.

أَلامَت سَجاياهُم وَضَنَّت أَكُفُّهُم

أَلامَت سَجاياهُم وَضَنَّت أَكُفُّهُم

فَإِحسانُهُم سوءٌ وَمَعروفُهُم نُكرُ

فَإِحسانُهُم سوءٌ وَمَعروفُهُم نُكرُ

Their dispositions grew base, and their hands grew stingy;

Their dispositions have faulted and their palms tightened,

So their beneficence is evil, and their kindness wickedness.

So their benevolence is evil and their favors denied.

يَكونُ وَفورُ العِرضِ هَمَّكَ دونَهُم

يَكونُ وَفورُ العِرضِ هَمَّكَ دونَهُم

إِذا كانَ هَمُّ القَومِ أَن يَفِرَ الوَفرُ

إِذا كانَ هَمُّ القَومِ أَن يَفِرَ الوَفرُ

Unlike them, your concern is the fullness of honor,

The abundance of provision distracts you from them

While those men's concern is that their wealth grow plentiful.

While their concern is that subsistence may flee.

وَلَو ضَرَبوا في المَكرُماتِ بِسُهمَةٍ

وَلَو ضَرَبوا في المَكرُماتِ بِسُهمَةٍ

لَكانَ لَهُم فيها اللَفا وَلَكَ الكُثرُ

لَكانَ لَهُم فيها اللَفا وَلَكَ الكُثرُ

And even if they took a share in noble deeds,

Had they competed in noble deeds,

The scant portion would be theirs, and the abundance yours.

Trinkets would be theirs and abundance yours.

بَقاءُ المَساعي أَن تُمِدَّ لَكَ البَقا

بَقاءُ المَساعي أَن تُمِدَّ لَكَ البَقا

وَعُمرُ المَعالي أَن يَطولَ لَكَ العُمرُ

وَعُمرُ المَعالي أَن يَطولَ لَكَ العُمرُ

The endurance of noble endeavors lies in prolonging your life,

The survival of efforts is that survival be extended to you

And the life of lofty achievements in lengthening your life.

And the life of glories that your life be prolonged.

لَقَد كانَ يَومُ النَهرِ يَومَ عَظيمَةٍ

لَقَد كانَ يَومُ النَهرِ يَومَ عَظيمَةٍ

أَطَلَّت وَنَعماءٍ جَرى بِهِما النَهرُ

أَطَلَّت وَنَعماءٍ جَرى بِهِما النَهرُ

Indeed, the day of the river was a day of great calamity

Indeed the day of the river was a day of great feats

That loomed, and of blessing—the river flowed with both.

With blessings that flowed, and the river flowed through them.

أَجَزتَ عَلَيهِ عابِراً فَتَساجَلَت

أَجَزتَ عَلَيهِ عابِراً فَتَساجَلَت

أَواذِيِّهُ لَمّا طَما فَوقَهُ البَحرُ

أَواذِيِّهُ لَمّا طَما فَوقَهُ البَحرُ

You crossed over it, and a contest began

You crossed over as a passerby, and its waves clashed

Among its waves, when the sea swelled above it.

When the sea roared over it.

وَزالَت أَواخي الجِسرِ وَاِنهَدَمَت بِهِ

وَزالَت أَواخي الجِسرِ وَاِنهَدَمَت بِهِ

قَواعِدُهُ العُظمى وَما ظَلَمَ الجِسرُ

قَواعِدُهُ العُظمى وَما ظَلَمَ الجِسرُ

The bridge's moorings gave way, and beneath him crumbled

The pillars of the bridge collapsed and its foundations crumbled,

Its mighty foundations; the bridge was not to blame.

Yet the bridge did not oppress.

تَحَمَّلَ حِلماً مِثلَ قُدسٍ وَهِمَّةٍ

تَحَمَّلَ حِلماً مِثلَ قُدسٍ وَهِمَّةٍ

كَرَضوى وَقَدراً لَيسَ يَعدِلُهُ قَدرُ

كَرَضوى وَقَدراً لَيسَ يَعدِلُهُ قَدرُ

It bore forbearance like Quds, and ambition

It bore forbearance like sanctity and resolve

Like Radwa, and a worth that no worth could equal.

Like consent and a destiny none can equal.

وَلَو لا دِفاعُ اللَهِ عَنكَ وَمَنُّهُ

وَلَو لا دِفاعُ اللَهِ عَنكَ وَمَنُّهُ

عَلَيكَ وَفَضلٌ مِن مَواهِبِهِ غَمرُ

عَلَيكَ وَفَضلٌ مِن مَواهِبِهِ غَمرُ

But for God's protection of you, and His favor

Were it not for God's defense of you and His favor upon you

Upon you, and overflowing grace among His gifts,

And abundant grace from His gifts,

لَأَظلَمَتِ الدُنيا وَلَاِنقَضَّ حُسنُها

لَأَظلَمَتِ الدُنيا وَلَاِنقَضَّ حُسنُها

وَلَاِنحَتَّ مِن أَفنانِها الوَرَقُ الخُضرُ

وَلَاِنحَتَّ مِن أَفنانِها الوَرَقُ الخُضرُ

The world would have darkened, and its beauty collapsed,

The world would have darkened, its beauty collapsed,

And the green leaves would have fallen from its boughs.

And the green leaves fallen from its branches.

وَلَمّا رَأَيتُ الخَطبَ ضَنكاً سَبيلُهُ

وَلَمّا رَأَيتُ الخَطبَ ضَنكاً سَبيلُهُ

وَقَد عَظُمَ المَكروهُ وَاِستَفظَعَ الأَمرُ

وَقَد عَظُمَ المَكروهُ وَاِستَفظَعَ الأَمرُ

And when I saw the crisis, its path constricted,

When I saw the situation dire, its way narrow,

And harm had grown grave, and the affair dreadful,

Evil magnified, and the matter grave,

صَرَمتَ فَلَم تَقعُد بِحَزمِكَ حيرَةُ ال

صَرَمتَ فَلَم تَقعُد بِحَزمِكَ حيرَةُ ال

مَروعِ وَلَم يَسدُد مَذاهِبَكَ الذُعرُ

مَروعِ وَلَم يَسدُد مَذاهِبَكَ الذُعرُ

You acted decisively, so your resolve was not checked by the bewilderment of the

You remained steadfast. Perplexity did not seize you in its confusion,

Terrified man, nor did dread block your paths.

Nor confusion direct your course in its turmoil.

وَما كانَ ذاكَ الهَولُ إِلّا غَيابَةً

وَما كانَ ذاكَ الهَولُ إِلّا غَيابَةً

بَدا طالِعاً مِن تَحتِ ظُلمَتِها البَدرُ

بَدا طالِعاً مِن تَحتِ ظُلمَتِها البَدرُ

And that terror was nothing but a dark hollow;

That horror was but an illusion

The full moon appeared, rising from beneath its darkness.

Whose shining moon rose from beneath its darkness.

فَإِن نَنسى نُعمى اللَهِ فيكَ فَحَظَّنا

فَإِن نَنسى نُعمى اللَهِ فيكَ فَحَظَّنا

أَضَعنا وَإِن نَشكُر فَقَد وَجَبَ الشُكرُ

أَضَعنا وَإِن نَشكُر فَقَد وَجَبَ الشُكرُ

So if we forget God's blessing in you, then our share

If we forget God's blessings upon us through you, we lose merit.

We have squandered; and if we give thanks, thanks are indeed due.

If we thank Him, gratitude becomes obligatory.

أَراكَ بِعَينِ المُكتَسي وَرَقَ الغِنى

أَراكَ بِعَينِ المُكتَسي وَرَقَ الغِنى

بِآلائِكَ اللاتي يُعَدِّدُها الشِعرُ

بِآلائِكَ اللاتي يُعَدِّدُها الشِعرُ

I behold you with the eye of one clad in the leaves of wealth,

I see you with the eye of one dressed in riches

Through your blessings, which poetry enumerates.

And well-being, which poetry enumerates.

وَيُعجِبُني فَقري إِلَيكَ وَلَم يَكُن

وَيُعجِبُني فَقري إِلَيكَ وَلَم يَكُن

لَيُعجِبُني لَولا مَحَبَّتُكَ الفَقرُ

لَيُعجِبُني لَولا مَحَبَّتُكَ الفَقرُ

And my need of you delights me; never would

I am pleased by my poverty unto you, though poverty

Poverty delight me, but for my love of you.

Would not please me, were it not for your love of the poor.

وَوَاللَهِ ما ضاعَت أَيادٍ أَتَيتَها

وَوَاللَهِ ما ضاعَت أَيادٍ أَتَيتَها

إِلَيَّ وَلا أَزرى بِمَعروفِها الكُفرُ

إِلَيَّ وَلا أَزرى بِمَعروفِها الكُفرُ

And by God, no favors have gone to waste that you bestowed

By God, no hands you extended to me acted treacherously.

On me, nor has ingratitude diminished their goodness.

Ingratitude does not deny their good deeds.

وَما لِيَ عُذرٌ في جُحودِكَ نِعمَةً

وَما لِيَ عُذرٌ في جُحودِكَ نِعمَةً

وَلَو كانَ لي عُذرُن لَما حَسُنَ العُذرُ

وَلَو كانَ لي عُذرُن لَما حَسُنَ العُذرُ

And I have no excuse for failing to acknowledge your favor,

I have no excuse to reject a blessing from you,

And even if I had an excuse, the excuse would not be fitting.

For even if I had an excuse, it would not be proper.