بدْرُ لَيْلٍ أَوْلا فَشَمْسُ نهارِ

بدْرُ لَيْلٍ أَوْلا فَشَمْسُ نهارِ

طَلَعتْ منْ سَحائبِ الأَزْرارِ

طَلَعتْ منْ سَحائبِ الأَزْرارِ

A full moon of night—or no, a sun of day,

The moon of a night or the sun of a day

risen from the clouds of buttons,

Rose from the clouds of buds,

فَوقَ غُصْنٍ تُميلُهُ نَشَواتُ الدَّل

فَوقَ غُصْنٍ تُميلُهُ نَشَواتُ الدَّل

لِ سُكْراً من غيرِ شُرْبِ عُقارِ

لِ سُكْراً من غيرِ شُرْبِ عُقارِ

above a bough swayed by the raptures of coquetry,

Above a branch leaning with the swaying of a tender twig,

drunk without drinking wine.

Intoxicated without drinking wine.

يَفْعَلُ الرِّيقُ مِنْهُ ما تفعلُ الخَم

يَفْعَلُ الرِّيقُ مِنْهُ ما تفعلُ الخَم

رُ ولكنْ بلا تأَذّي خُمارِ

رُ ولكنْ بلا تأَذّي خُمارِ

His saliva does what wine does,

Its saliva does what wine does to the mind,

but without the torment of a hangover.

But without hurting sobriety.

قَيْصَرِيٌّ يَكادُ يَلْعَبُ بِالأَر

قَيْصَرِيٌّ يَكادُ يَلْعَبُ بِالأَر

واحِ مِنَّا في مَلْعَبِ الزُّنارِ

واحِ مِنَّا في مَلْعَبِ الزُّنارِ

A Caesarean who almost toys with our souls

A conqueror who almost plays

in the playground of his girdle.

With our souls in the playground of youth.

رَشَأٌ كُلَّما سَرى اللحْظُ فيهِ

رَشَأٌ كُلَّما سَرى اللحْظُ فيهِ

جَرَحَتْهُ خَناجِرُ الأَبْصارِ

جَرَحَتْهُ خَناجِرُ الأَبْصارِ

A fawn: whenever a glance travels over him,

A gazelle, whenever a glance flowed in it

the daggers of eyes wound him.

The daggers of sight wounded it.

كُلَّما كَرَّ ناظِري فيهِ أَبْدى

كُلَّما كَرَّ ناظِري فيهِ أَبْدى

لُؤْلُؤاً مُطْبِقاً عَلَى جُلَّنارِ

لُؤْلُؤاً مُطْبِقاً عَلَى جُلَّنارِ

Whenever my gaze returns to him, he reveals

Whenever my eyes rolled back to it, it showed

pearls closing over pomegranate blossom.

Pearls pressed on a smooth cheek.

قَدْ تَناهى إِلى مُنافَسَةِ الحُسْ

قَدْ تَناهى إِلى مُنافَسَةِ الحُسْ

نِ بِخَدٍّ كالماءِ منْ تَحْتِ نارِ

نِ بِخَدٍّ كالماءِ منْ تَحْتِ نارِ

He has gone so far as to rival beauty

It has reached the point of competing with beauty

with a cheek like water beneath fire.

With a cheek like water from under fire.

بِعذارٍ يَقُومُ فيهِ بِعُذري

بِعذارٍ يَقُومُ فيهِ بِعُذري

عندَ مَنْ لامَني بغيرِ اعْتِذارِ

عندَ مَنْ لامَني بغيرِ اعْتِذارِ

With cheek-down that pleads my cause concerning him

With an excuse standing with my excuse

before whoever blamed me, without my making excuses.

Before one who blamed me without apologizing.

جاءَني زائِراً بِطُرَّةِ لَيْلٍ

جاءَني زائِراً بِطُرَّةِ لَيْلٍ

أُسْدِلَت فَوْقَ غُرَّةٍ مِن نَهارِ

أُسْدِلَت فَوْقَ غُرَّةٍ مِن نَهارِ

He came to visit me with a forelock of night

It came to visit me at nightfall

let fall above a bright brow of day,

Spread over a noon from daybreak,

إِذْ رأَى الوَصْلَ مُولَعاً مِنْهُ بِالهَجْ

إِذْ رأَى الوَصْلَ مُولَعاً مِنْهُ بِالهَجْ

رِ وحُكْمَ الهَوى عَلَى الجَوْرِ جارِ

رِ وحُكْمَ الهَوى عَلَى الجَوْرِ جارِ

when he saw union enamored of estrangement from him,

When it saw my attachment to separation and the rule of love over injustice prevailing,

and love's decree running a course of injustice.

Saying to me while dawn was in night's fist

قائِلاً لي والفَجْرُ في قَبضَةِ اللَّيْ

قائِلاً لي والفَجْرُ في قَبضَةِ اللَّيْ

لِ وَجِسْمُ الدُّجى مِن الصُّبْحِ عارِ

لِ وَجِسْمُ الدُّجى مِن الصُّبْحِ عارِ

Saying to me, while dawn was in night's grasp

And the body of darkness borrowed morning's defects:

and darkness's body was bare of morning:

"Rise, fulfill dawn's right for the morning star

قُمْ نُقَضِّ حَقَّ الصّبُوحِ فقد أَذّ

قُمْ نُقَضِّ حَقَّ الصّبُوحِ فقد أَذّ

ذَنَ بِالصُّبحِ طائِرُ الأَسْحارِ

ذَنَ بِالصُّبحِ طائِرُ الأَسْحارِ

Rise! Let us pay morning wine its due, for already

Has crowed with the dawn, the bird of dusk,

the bird of the predawn hours has proclaimed the dawn.

And stars like coins stared

ونُجومٌ مِثْلُ الدَّراهِمِ أَحْدَقْ

ونُجومٌ مِثْلُ الدَّراهِمِ أَحْدَقْ

نَ ببَدرٍ في الجَوِّ كالدّينارِ

نَ ببَدرٍ في الجَوِّ كالدّينارِ

And stars, like dirhams, had encircled

At a full moon in the air like a golden dinar,

a full moon in the sky, like a dinar,

Dim as if they are eyes

باهِتاتٌ كأَنَّهُنَّ عُيونٌ

باهِتاتٌ كأَنَّهُنَّ عُيونٌ

ناظِراتٌ مِنها بِلا أَشْفارِ

ناظِراتٌ مِنها بِلا أَشْفارِ

pale, as though they were eyes

Looking without eyelids,

gazing out from them without lashes,

Like mirrors of creatures to Abul Qasim among us

كَمَزَايا خَلائِقٍ لأَبي القا

كَمَزَايا خَلائِقٍ لأَبي القا

سِمِ فينا مُنِيرَةِ الأَنْوارِ

سِمِ فينا مُنِيرَةِ الأَنْوارِ

like the merits of Abu al-Qasim's character,

Enlightening lights,

radiant with light among us.

Jobless, I adorned them with necklaces,

عَاطِلاتٍ حَلَّيْتُها بِسَجَايا

عَاطِلاتٍ حَلَّيْتُها بِسَجَايا

هُ الَّتي ذِكْرُها بِلا اسْتِغْفارِ

هُ الَّتي ذِكْرُها بِلا اسْتِغْفارِ

Unadorned, I decked them with his qualities,

Mentioning them without seeking forgiveness,

whose mention needs no plea for forgiveness.

A tender branch, soft in swaying, fertile in blooming, fruitful in fruition,

غُصنٌ لَيِّنُ المَهزَّةِ لَدْنٌ

غُصنٌ لَيِّنُ المَهزَّةِ لَدْنٌ

زاهِرُ الزَّهْرِ مُثمِرُ الإِثْمارِ

زاهِرُ الزَّهْرِ مُثمِرُ الإِثْمارِ

A bough, gentle in its sway, supple,

Winds of wishes whisked around it

blooming with flowers, bearing fruit.

And elevated aspirations watered it without rain,

عَصَفَتْ حَوْلَهُ رِياحُ الأَماني

عَصَفَتْ حَوْلَهُ رِياحُ الأَماني

وَسَقَتْهُ العُلا بِلا أَمطارِ

وَسَقَتْهُ العُلا بِلا أَمطارِ

The winds of hopes blew fiercely around him,

Like the north wind at the end of short nights

and eminence watered him without rain.

When it blows in the brief darknesses,

كنَسيمِ الشَّمالِ في آخرِ اللي

كنَسيمِ الشَّمالِ في آخرِ اللي

لِ إِذا هَبَّ في الليالي القِصارِ

لِ إِذا هَبَّ في الليالي القِصارِ

Like the north wind's breeze at night's end,

A highborn of a household that transcended

when it blows on the short nights.

Their destinies over destinies,

عَلَوِيٌّ مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتٍ تَعالَوا

عَلَوِيٌّ مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتٍ تَعالَوا

دُونَ أَقدارِهِمْ عَلَى الأَقْدارِ

دُونَ أَقدارِهِمْ عَلَى الأَقْدارِ

An Alid, from a house whose people rose

Its palm built for it in the sand of glory

above all ranks, yet below their own worth.

A colonnade lined with pottery,

ضَرَبَتْ كَفُّهُ لَهُ في رُبى المَجْ

ضَرَبَتْ كَفُّهُ لَهُ في رُبى المَجْ

دِ رُواقاً مُطنّباً بِالفَخارِ

دِ رُواقاً مُطنّباً بِالفَخارِ

His palm has pitched for him on glory's heights

Killer of the people whenever the battle darkened

a pavilion secured by ropes of pride.

He faced it with white sharp swords,

قَاتِلُ القَومِ كُلَّما أَظلمَ النَّقْ

قَاتِلُ القَومِ كُلَّما أَظلمَ النَّقْ

عُ جَلاهُ بالأَبْيَضِ البَتَّارِ

عُ جَلاهُ بالأَبْيَضِ البَتَّارِ

Slayer of the host: whenever the battle-dust darkens,

With courage you do not see him knowing in war,

he clears it with the white, cleaving sword.

Fleeing with swift brown steeds,

خاطراً لا تراهُ يَعْرِفُ في الكر

خاطراً لا تراهُ يَعْرِفُ في الكر

رِ فِراراً بِالأَسمرِ الخَطارِ

رِ فِراراً بِالأَسمرِ الخَطارِ

Striding proudly, you see that in the charge he knows no

Leaving the iron dress of armor on him

flight, with his brown, swaying spear.

In a dress of dust,

تارِكاً حُلَّةَ الحَديدِ من النَّقْ

تارِكاً حُلَّةَ الحَديدِ من النَّقْ

عِ عليهِ في حُلَّةٍ مِن غُبارِ

عِ عليهِ في حُلَّةٍ مِن غُبارِ

Leaving the iron coat upon him

Not slow to stand in the orbit of war,

wrapped by the battle-cloud in a coat of dust.

But swift in rotation,

لا بطيءُ الوُقوفِ في فَلَكِ الحَرْ

لا بطيءُ الوُقوفِ في فَلَكِ الحَرْ

بِ ولكنَّهُ سَريعُ المدارِ

بِ ولكنَّهُ سَريعُ المدارِ

Not sluggish as he stands within the sphere of war,

Skipping to the path of glories

but swift in his circling.

With glories full of dangers,

يَتَخَطَّى إِلى طَرِيقِ المَعالي

يَتَخَطَّى إِلى طَرِيقِ المَعالي

بِمَعالٍ خَطِيرَةِ الأَخْطارِ

بِمَعالٍ خَطِيرَةِ الأَخْطارِ

He strides toward the path of greatness

Trailing the train of excellence while bare-backed,

through noble deeds of great worth.

On it no garb of shame,

سَاحِباً ذَيْلَ فاضِلٍ وهوَ عاري الظ

سَاحِباً ذَيْلَ فاضِلٍ وهوَ عاري الظ

ظَهْرِ فيهِ من لُبْسِ ثَوْبِ العَارِ

ظَهْرِ فيهِ من لُبْسِ ثَوْبِ العَارِ

Trailing a virtuous man's hem, with his back bare

Favors that have no favors over him

beneath it of any robe of disgrace.

In which the predestined came with predestination,

مِنَنٌ ما لها عَليهِ امْتِنانٌ

مِنَنٌ ما لها عَليهِ امْتِنانٌ

جاءَ فيها المَقْدُورُ بالمِقْدارِ

جاءَ فيها المَقْدُورُ بالمِقْدارِ

Graces that lay no claim upon him;

Good deeds not connected with equalities

in them, what was destined came in due measure.

That fulfill equalities,

حَسَناتٌ لم تَتَّصلْ بِمَسَاوٍ

حَسَناتٌ لم تَتَّصلْ بِمَسَاوٍ

تَتَقَضَّى تَقَضِّيَ الأَوطارِ

تَتَقَضَّى تَقَضِّيَ الأَوطارِ

Good deeds unjoined to faults,

This virtues contained only

fulfilled as needs are fulfilled.

By His power over might,

ما حَوَتْ هذِهِ المناقبَ إِلا

ما حَوَتْ هذِهِ المناقبَ إِلا

باقتِدارٍ مِنها عَلَى الإِقتِدارِ

باقتِدارٍ مِنها عَلَى الإِقتِدارِ

These virtues were gathered only

My protector from time, if I do not

through their own power to wield power.

Seek from its afflictions a neighbor,

يا مُجيري مِنَ الزَّمانِ إِذا لَمْ

يا مُجيري مِنَ الزَّمانِ إِذا لَمْ

أَسْتَجِرْ منْ خُطُوبِهِ لي بِجارِ

أَسْتَجِرْ منْ خُطُوبِهِ لي بِجارِ

O my protector from time, when I have not

Need from poetry,

sought a neighbor's shelter for myself from its calamities:

If the fingers saw it while mute

هاكَ شِعْراً إِلَيْهِ يَفْتَقِرُ المُو

هاكَ شِعْراً إِلَيْهِ يَفْتَقِرُ المُو

سِرُ في دَهْرِهِ مِنَ الأَشْعارِ

سِرُ في دَهْرِهِ مِنَ الأَشْعارِ

take this poem, needed even by one wealthy

They would secretly speak to it without strings,

in the poetry of his age.

The palm of meanings has sprinkled upon it

لَوْ رَأَتْهُ العِيدانُ وَهْيَ سَكُوتٌ

لَوْ رَأَتْهُ العِيدانُ وَهْيَ سَكُوتٌ

كَلَّمَتْهُ سِرّاً بِلا أَوْتارِ

كَلَّمَتْهُ سِرّاً بِلا أَوْتارِ

If the lutes saw it while they were silent,

Jewels from the jewelry of ideas."

they would speak to it secretly, without strings.

نَثَرَتْ راحَةُ المَعاني عَلَيْهِ

نَثَرَتْ راحَةُ المَعاني عَلَيْهِ

جَوهَراً مِنْ جَواهِرِ الأَفكارِ

جَوهَراً مِنْ جَواهِرِ الأَفكارِ

The palm of meanings has scattered upon it

jewels from the gems of thought.