Sol 6.1

  1. إذا الشمس غابت عن مسالك مُسهلٍ

    فكُلُّ هُداهُ ضَيْعةٌ وضَلالُ

    When the sun disappears from the paths of a traveler on level ground,

    then all his wayfinding is loss and wandering;

  2. فكيف بذي وعْرٍ تعاوَرُ شملَهُ

    سُرى الخطبِ والأحداث وهو ثَقالُ

    what, then, of one on rugged ground, whose affairs are beset in turn

    by the night-marches of calamity and mishaps, while he is weighed down?

  3. كأنِّي غَداةَ البَيْن نونٌ بقَفْرةٍ

    بها من فِراقِ الرَّافدينِ خَبالُ

    On the morning of parting, I am like a fish in a wasteland,

    deranged there by separation from the Two Rivers.

  4. تُذكِّرُها الجَمَّ الغزيرَ تَنوفةٌ

    يَغُرُّ بها الهِيمَ الصَّوادي آلُ

    A trackless waste reminds it of abundant, copious water,

    where a mirage deceives thirst-maddened, parched camels.

  5. فلا نَزحتْ دارٌ بفارس خِنْدفٍ

    إذا جَدَّ مَحْلٌ عارِقٌ ونِزالُ

    So may no dwelling carry Khindif’s knight far away,

    when gnawing famine and battle grow fierce:

  6. فتىً في مواليهِ نسيمٌ ومُزْنَةٌ

    وعندَ أعاديهِ قَناً ونِصالُ

    a youth, a breeze and raincloud among his allies,

    but before his enemies, lances and blades.

  7. يحوز له الفخريْنِ يومَ سَلامِهِ

    ويومَ وَغاهُ نَجْدَةٌ ونَوالُ

    The twin glories are won for him on his day of peace

    and his day of battle, by valor and bounty.

  8. فتَغْنى به الأبطالُ وهي جَحاجحٌ

    وتُجْلى به اللَّزْباتُ وهي ثِقالُ

    So heroes find all they need in him, great chieftains though they are,

    and hardships are dispelled by him, heavy though they are.

  9. هَنيءُ النَّدى والنصر لا يستثيرهُ

    صَريخٌ ولا يدعو نَداهُ سُؤالُ

    Sweet are his bounty and aid; he is not roused

    by a cry for help, nor does a request summon his bounty.

  10. تَبرُّعُه داعيهِ والطَّبْعُ باعِثٌ

    فلا لَمْحَ إِلاَّ صارِمٌ وسِجالُ

    His free generosity summons him, and his nature spurs him on;

    so nothing meets the eye but a keen sword and brimming buckets.

  11. لأقلامِه في كل ذُعْرٍ وأزْمَةٍ

    رَدىً وندىً مُستعظَمٌ ومُذالُ

    His pens hold, in every terror and crisis,

    formidable death and freely lavished bounty.

  12. إذا أنْفد الحُضْرُ الوجيفَ رأيتها

    مِراحاً لها فوقَ الطُّروسِ مَجالُ

    When galloping has spent its speed, you see them

    lively, with room to range across the pages.

  13. فهُنَّ كِرامُ النُّحْل عند عُفاتهِ

    وهُنَّ أفاعٍ في العِدى وصِلالُ

    So they are generous in gifts to his petitioners,

    and among his foes they are vipers and asps.

  14. وسارَ إلى العَلْياءِ شدّاً كأنما

    عَزائمُهُ في الرَّائعاتِ نِبالُ

    And he sped toward the heights, as though

    his resolves, amid terrors, were arrows.

  15. تحمَّلُهُ نحو المناقبِ هِمَّةٌ

    عُذافِرَةٌ لا أنْيُقٌ وجِمالُ

    High resolve bears him toward noble deeds,

    sturdy and strong—not she-camels and he-camels.

  16. وزيرٌ إذا استنجدته لِمُلِمَّةٍ

    هززْت قَرا عضْبٍ جلاهُ صقالُ

    A vizier: when you seek his aid in a calamity,

    you set a keen sword’s spine quivering, bright with polish.

  17. تنوضُ بُروقُ البِشر من قسماتِه

    وتَغْشاكَ منه هَيْبَةٌ وجَلالُ

    Lightning of gladness flashes from his features,

    and awe and majesty from him envelop you.

  18. فلا بَرحَتْ تاجَ الملوكِ مدائحٌ

    يُرَجِّعُ سَفْرٌ فَضْلَها وحِلال

    So may praises never forsake you, crown of kings,

    their excellence chanted by travelers and settled folk,

  19. أبا جعفرٍ ما صامَ للّهِ صائمٌ

    وعيَّدَ ذو عيدٍ وهَلَّ هِلالُ

    O Abu Jaʿfar, as long as anyone fasts for God,

    and a celebrant keeps a feast, and a crescent appears.