وكيف يرضى بدونٍ من تكون له

وكيف يرضى بدونٍ من تكون له

مُظاهراً كَذبَ الشيطانُ والأملُ

مُظاهراً كَذبَ الشيطانُ والأملُ

And how could one be content with less, when you would be for him

And how can one settle for less when you are his

a champion—one whom Satan and hope have deceived?

Supporter? Satan and hope have lied.

أنت المُهنَّدُ مَضَّاءٌ بلا بَطَلٍ

أنت المُهنَّدُ مَضَّاءٌ بلا بَطَلٍ

فكيف ينبو اذا ما هَزَّهُ البَطَلُ

فكيف ينبو اذا ما هَزَّهُ البَطَلُ

You are the Indian-forged sword, keen even without a hero;

You are the Indian-forged sword, keen even without a champion;

so how could it fail to bite whenever a hero brandishes it?

How then could it glance off when the champion brandishes it?

والغَرْسُ بالسقي والدهماءُ عالمةٌ

والغَرْسُ بالسقي والدهماءُ عالمةٌ

أنَّ المَحامدَ أسنى ما اقتنى الرجل

أنَّ المَحامدَ أسنى ما اقتنى الرجل

A sapling thrives by watering, and the common multitude knows

And planted trees thrive on watering, and the common folk know

that noble deeds are the loftiest thing a man may acquire.

That praiseworthy deeds are the finest things a man can acquire.

وما اُطيق لما أوْليْتَ مَحْمَدَةٍ

وما اُطيق لما أوْليْتَ مَحْمَدَةٍ

وكيق ينهض مَن محمولُه جبلُ

وكيق ينهض مَن محمولُه جبلُ

Nor can I adequately praise what you have bestowed upon me—

And I cannot offer fitting praise for what you have bestowed;

how can one rise when the burden he bears is a mountain?

And how can one rise whose burden is a mountain?

ولا اسْتزدتُكَ يوماً في مُحافظةٍ

ولا اسْتزدتُكَ يوماً في مُحافظةٍ

وكيف تُستمطرُ السحَّاحة الهُطل

وكيف تُستمطرُ السحَّاحة الهُطل

Nor have I ever asked more of you in your protection of me;

Nor have I ever asked you for greater care;

how could the rain-laden cloud be asked to give rain?

And how can a torrent-pouring cloud be begged for rain?

لكن أَبي ليَ فَضْلٌ أنت عالِمُه

لكن أَبي ليَ فَضْلٌ أنت عالِمُه

وهمذَةٌ أن يُقالَ العاجزُ الوَكِلُ

وهمذَةٌ أن يُقالَ العاجزُ الوَكِلُ

But a virtue in me—one you know well—refused it,

But merit you know I possess would not allow—

as did a proud resolve: that I be called helpless and dependent,

Nor would [my ambition]—that I be called a helpless dependent,

أو أنْ اُرى دون غيري في مُسلجلةٍ

أو أنْ اُرى دون غيري في مُسلجلةٍ

وباعْتناءِ عليٍّ يضربُ المَثلُ

وباعْتناءِ عليٍّ يضربُ المَثلُ

or be seen beneath another in a contest of generosity,

Or be seen below another in a [contest],

when care for me has become proverbial.

While Ali's care is proverbial.

ولستُ والزَّينبيُّ البرُّ مُعتصمي

ولستُ والزَّينبيُّ البرُّ مُعتصمي

أرضي بمنزورة ما أطَّتِ الاِبلُ

أرضي بمنزورة ما أطَّتِ الاِبلُ

With righteous al-Zaynabi as my refuge, I am not one to

Nor am I—with benevolent al-Zaynabi as my refuge—

be content with a meager gift so long as camels groan.

Content with a scant gift, so long as camels groan.

فلا عدت شرف الدين الجواد عُلاً

فلا عدت شرف الدين الجواد عُلاً

ما طافَ فوق الثَّرى حافٍ ومنتعلُ

ما طافَ فوق الثَّرى حافٍ ومنتعلُ

May your high station never leave generous Sharaf al-Din,

So may high honors never pass the generous Sharaf al-Din by,

so long as barefoot and shod men roam over the earth.

As long as the barefoot and the sandal-shod roam the earth.