أخلاي أن الشوق هبت نواسمه

وغنت على غصن الفؤاد حمائمه

My friends, the breezes of longing have stirred,

and its doves have sung upon the heart's bough.

وهبت صبا تلك الربع فاعلنت

من الوجد والأشجان ما أنا كاتمه

The east wind from that dwelling blew and revealed

the longing and sorrows I keep concealed.

ولاح لنا من جانب الحي بارق

تذكر في ثغر الحبيب مباسمه

A flash of lightning gleamed for us from the encampment's side,

recalling the smiles upon the beloved's lips.

سرى من ثنيات الحمى وهضابه

فبات بقلبي يشتكي السير قادمه

It traveled by night from the sanctuary's passes and hills,

and its visitor spent the night in my heart, complaining of the journey.

شجا القلب ربع بالشمال وصبه

بلبنان أضحى أين أين معالمه

A dwelling in the north grieved the heart and left it lovesick;

in Lebanon now—where, where are its landmarks?

نسيمات ذاك الروض هل منك نفحة

يداوي بها مضنى الفؤاد هايمه

O breezes of that garden, is there a breath from you

with which its love-distraught wanderer might heal his weary heart?

وهل للشجي من معرب عن حديث

من إذا أبو الحشا وجدا وهل من يعالمه

And is there anyone to voice the sorrowful one's tale,

of one who, when [unclear wording concerning the heart's longing]—and is there anyone to [unclear] him?

رعى الله ذياك الكثيب وجاده

من الجود هتان الحيا وسواجمه

May God guard that dune, and may it be watered

by generous, pouring rain and its streaming showers.

لقد أصبحت أثوابه من زبرجد

وقد طرزت بالأرجوان عمايم

Its robes have indeed become chrysolite,

and turbans have been embroidered in purple.

أدارت يد الأرواح ما بين زهرة

سلاف الندا صبحا فماست قوايمه

The hand of the winds passed round among the blossoms

the pure wine of dew at dawn, and its stems swayed.

وقام عليه الزنبق الغض راقصا

ترنح اعطاف الخزامى معاصمة

The tender lily rose upon it, dancing,

its wrists setting the lavender's supple branches swaying.

ومذ لثم الريحان وجنة ورده

فمال على ثغر الأقاح يلاثمه

And when basil kissed the cheek of its rose,

it leaned toward the daisies' lips to exchange kisses.

رأى النرجس الوسنان وافاه نوفر

يعانقة غصبا فقام يصادما

The drowsy narcissus saw a water lily come to meet it,

embracing it by force; so it rose to clash.

وغار شقيق في رماح زمرد

بأعلام ياقوت وجاء يخاصمه

An anemone grew jealous amid emerald spears

bearing ruby banners, and came to quarrel with it.

فبلغ نسيم الصبح عني جواره

كرام الوجوه الصبح ما أنت عالمه

So, morning breeze, tell its neighbors on my behalf—

those with noble, radiant faces—what you know.

وسل ذلك المماس عن قلب عاشق

يئن لدى دولابه وينادمه

And ask that al-Mamas about a lover's heart

moaning beside its waterwheel and keeping it company.

مقام به الأغصان مثل عرائس

تصول على عاصي الهوى وتحاكمه

A place where the branches are like brides,

assailing love's rebel, the Asi, and bringing him to trial.

كأن قضيب البان إذ مال عاشق

أراد اعتناقا ثم وافاه لائمه

As though the ban tree's bough, when it bent, were a lover

who sought an embrace, then his reprover came upon him.

إلا حبذا عصر تقضى بروضة

وحادث عهد مر فيه وقادمه

Ah, how lovely the time spent in a garden,

and a recent season that passed there, and the season to come.

ولله أيام به أن ذكرتها

تفيض من الجفن القريح غمايه

How wondrous, by God, those days there! When I recall them,

its rain-clouds [unclear reading] overflow from the wounded eyelid.

يمينا بمن أضحى فؤادي رقيقه

وفيه افتخاري حيث أني خادمه

I swear by him whose slave my heart has become,

and in whom I take pride, for I am his servant.

فما لي سلو عنه الا بمدح من

سما في الملا عزا وفاضت مكارمه

So I cannot forget him except by praising one

who rose in honor among the assembly, whose generous deeds overflowed.

هو الجنبلاطي البشير الذي روت

خلايقه ان الفخار مغانمه

He is Bashir al-Jumblati, of whom it is told

by his virtues that glory is his spoils.

همام اتى للمجد أعظم كاسب

فشادت به أركان ورد دعايمه

A resolute hero who came to glory as its greatest winner;

its pillars were raised through him, and he restored its supports.

فبالعزم سفاح وبالحلم أحنف

وللرأس مصباح الصواب وحازمه

In resolve he is Saffah, and in forbearance Ahnaf;

for the mind, a lamp of sound judgment and its resolute guide.

تعلم منه الليث بعض شجاعة

فصالت على وحش الفلاة ضراغمه

The lion learned from him something of courage,

so its mighty lions charged the beasts of the wilderness.

كريم خصال بالمعالي محكم

من المهد مذ نيطت عليه تمايمه

Noble in character, firmly grounded in lofty virtues,

from the cradle, since his amulets were hung upon him.

اذا جفت الأنواؤ فالسيل كفه

وان جن ليل النقع فالصبح صارمه

When the rain-bringing stars run dry, his palm is a torrent;

and if the night of battle-dust closes in, his sharp sword is dawn.

مجيد غدا للفضل والعدل كوكبا

وفي يده معن النوال وحاتمه

A glorious man who became a star of virtue and justice,

and in his hand are generosity's Ma'n and Hatim.

نفوس العدى حجت لقبلة سيفه

اذا قبل الكف الندية قايمه

His enemies' souls made pilgrimage to his sword's qibla,

whenever its hilt kissed his dew-moist palm.

كساه الثنا ثوبا كريما مطرزا

بأبهى كمال قد تسامت علايمه

Praise clothed him in a noble robe, embroidered

with the fairest perfection, whose emblems have indeed soared.

هو الماجد المفضال بل خير سيد

بل البدر والدر الثمين نعايمه

He is the glorious, the generous—rather, the finest lord;

nay, the full moon, and his favors are precious pearls.

كأن اجتماع المال جمع عداته

متى يدن من راحاته فهو قاسمه

As though the gathering of wealth were the mustering of his foes:

whenever it draws near his palms, he divides it.

فاكرم به شهما سعيدا مهذبا

تعالت على متن السماك عزائمه

How noble he is: gallant, fortunate, refined!

His resolves tower above the back of al-Simak.

بشير المنى رب المروءة والحجى

سني المعاني ليس ند يسامهمه

Bashir, herald of hopes, lord of chivalry and wisdom,

lofty in character, with no peer to rival him.

أتى في خلال يحسد الزهر نشرها

وزينه رشد عن الريب عاصمه

He came with virtues whose fragrance the flowers envy,

and sound judgment adorned him, guarding him from doubt.

رأى الشعر محبوب الكرام فأصبحت

لدى مجده الباهي تزف كرائمه

He saw that poetry is beloved of the noble, and so it came to pass:

its finest verses were led as brides before his radiant glory.

ألا ايها المولى الذي شاد فضله

وضأت بأفلاك المعالي نواجمه

O master who raised his excellence high,

whose stars shone in the spheres of lofty deeds:

لك الرتبة العلياء ما لاح بارق

ويخدمك الدهر المديد وسالمه

yours is the highest rank as long as lightning flashes,

and may long time serve you; be at peace with it.

تباهى مقام المجد فيك لأنه

غدا فائزا في كل ما هو رائمه

The station of glory takes pride in you, because it

has become victorious in all that it desires.

فيا حبذا لبنان اذ انت شيخه

ويا حبذا من به أنت راسمه

How lovely is Lebanon, since you are its sheikh!

And how lovely is whoever bears your mark there [wording unclear]!

تعلم من كفيك جودا فاينعت

مرابعه خيرا وجادت مواسمه

It learned generosity from your two palms; thus blossomed

its meadows with bounty, and its seasons gave abundantly.

لديك فتاة الفكر بالمدح اقبلت

ومدحك فرض ليس ينفك لازمه

The maiden of thought has come before you with praise,

and praising you is a duty whose obligation never ceases.

فكحل بعفو منك قاصر جفنها

فهيهات اني حصي مديحك ناظر

So apply your pardon as kohl to her deficient eyelid,

for I, a beholder, could never encompass your praise [wording unclear].

ودم في أمان بالمحامد رافلا

فإنك مبدا كل حمد وخالد

And remain in safety, clothed in praises,

for you are the source of every praise, and everlasting.