1. O nightingales of the Nile Valley in the East, call back
With the poetry of the prince of the two countries, and call back

2. Repeat what the passion of Shauqi twittered
At the beginning, pauses, and endings

3. The Creator made it clear to him before he reached old age
When the beekeeper has the most beautiful honeycomb in his palm

4. Its positions in the East while the East is barren
Like the positions of rainfall in every spot

5. Delegations of words march behind it
While meanings bow down humbly before it

6. When it is pleased it comes with the breaths of a garden
When angry it comes with the shaking of an earthquake

7. I sympathize more with the oppressed than with the shade of a palm tree
And I sympathize more with the newborn than with the breast of a wet nurse

8. In its old age there is gentleness that flows and mercy
And a soul for those in despair and memories for those who are absent

9. Thoughts of its Lord race above interpretation
Like the race of steeds in a wide, fenced field

10. The lightenings of thought fly behind its lightenings
They plead to it in God's name, "Do not be too hasty!"

11. It tries to overcome thought, if its fingers did not restrain it
The fingers that restrain fearful, trembling passion

12. Don't you know that with our ingenuity we rival
The people of the East in any gathering?

13. We take pride in having Shauqi among us
And we grow prouder to have Ali with his cane

14. For the former is the healing of the body, his wounds are bound
While the latter is the healing of the anguished soul

15. You were raised in the shade of spreading trees and comfort
And a life of luxury in summer and on a vast estate

16. Whoever grows up in the house of kings, his habit is luxury
He plays and grazes freely

17. If they are surprised that Shauqi is still young and continues to be
A passionate, tender-hearted youth

18. He was aged by the intensity of rhymes and their impact
And by producing the reluctant miracle

19. Just as anxiety turned Al Hud's hair white
And panic turned the warrior's hair white

20. They blame Shauqi for not appearing as a vocalist
That is not a flaw or sign of arrogance

21. It would not be a fault for him to bring a vocalist
To recite his verses or bring someone to listen

22. Before him, Kalim Allah (Moses) came
With Haroun (Aaron) ordering him to proclaim revelation

23. You reached the furthest extent in describing the Nile, and describing
The days of Pharaoh and his idols of old

24. You told of the people of Aad, the lands, and its inhabitants
And what you said about the pyramids of Khoufu (Cheops) and Khafre

25. You presented them like Shauqiyyat (something of Shauqi) poems, if they were strung
Among the lilies and flowers they would be the fairest bouquet

26. From which ancient era in the villages burst forth
The springs of this thought, or is it the sister of Joshua?

27. In Tut there is ingenious creativity
And in Nash'i among roses, divine inspiration emerges

28. My heart asks you today, not succeeding,
Like the tears Rim scattered on the ground

29. It asked you, "I saw her beauty make
The beauty of veiled women forgotten"

30. The sister of Andalus appeared to us with what
Appeared and so was best for guidance

31. In Sadah's weaving you brought a miraculous sign
From the plain that cannot be tamed by Ibn Mufarraj

32. And the sublime description of the Sphinx you presented
Like an untouched garden before you grazed in it

33. You went beyond the ability of any describer
Skilled in the subtle art within his workshop

34. And in "Look at the moons" is the sigh of a lovesick man
And the wailing of a broken-hearted man

35. You cried over the mystery of the sky and its purity
Which they have degraded with their pretentiousness

36. Devils among men steal listens in secret
Unconcerned with the One hearing the hidden listener

37. You composed a Siniyya (poetic ode) for Al Buhturi
With a Siniyya that silenced every pretender

38. Everything that rebelled against others submitted to you
O master of eloquence it came obediently to you

39. Al Buhturi disturbed the throne of Kisra (Persian King)
While you disturbed the Red Palace with sorrowful laments

40. You stood there crying over the meadows as he once cried
Oh what two great crying stands in pairs!

41. Your weaving is like brocade, pure and brilliant
While in weaving what comes is a patched garment

42. Your poetry is like a renewed flowing river
While the poetry of others is stagnant water

43. Have I come upon the seal of time which you have poured out
From revelation and inspiration, or is it a false claim?

44. Today my heart recalls you, unsuccessful,
Is it the magic of Aswan or the cooing of turtledoves?

45. You have taken possession of the kingdom of poetry, and left
No rhyme scheme for us, O Shauqi, not even a fingertip

46. For God's sake, leave the prose writers some way
To benefit them, so be conscious of God and be content

47. You have worked to attain immortality, and attained it
So say in gratitude, "My Lord, guide me"

48. His poetry is a mirror of his time for people
And a mirror of the age of poetry since Tubba (Yemeni King)

49. He comes to us sometimes appearing as Ahmad (Ibn Tulun)
And sometimes as Al Buhturi dressed in jewelry

50. He interprets the lyrics of Hujwiri (Sufi poet)
And brings us his descendant from the Arabian nights

51. And if memories of the great men come to mind, along with a horseman
And what they left of words fully satisfying

52. He brings us a flowering garden from their gardens
While he, as their keeper, sings and grazes in it

53. Tell those who aspire to compete and overtake:
By God, you have hoped for what cannot be hoped for!

54. For he is a cutting sword forged by God
So which armor can withstand and stop his blows?

55. Can a sturdy coat of mail repel a slashing sword
With which fate strikes powerfully with an outstretched palm?

56. You were exiled but did not despair or plead humbly
While he whom days cast aside despairs and pleads

57. You were fertile in exile, never barren
Exile increases the fertility of the brilliant and original

58. In exile, Hujwiri increased the fertility of his talent
And returned purposeful to his homeland

59. In the island, Saim Ali attained the highest
Rank unattained by kings of speech

60. You recalled the sweet Nile while your soul was thirsty
For a sip from a cup of streaming water

61. You sent asking the people of Egypt for a sip
You tore up my entrails and broke my ribs

62. Should I be quenched or remain thirsty, and you are most right
To a sip? So o heart of brilliance, be torn apart!

63. If you wish, O sky, turn away from us
And O its water, withhold! O earth, swallow us!

64. It would be sinful for us to enjoy a sip
While you call upon us and we can hear

65. God willed you return safe and sound
Whoever God protects is safe, benefits, and returns

66. You returned and Egypt's eye was delighted and
The gardens of poetry were a resplendent spring

67. You attained what you sought and erected a monument
On the western bank in the best location

68. Around it is a garden that revives its blossoms
At dawn with abundant irrigation from its flowing water

69. It is protected as the Nile flows gently beneath its shade
Like a cheek flowing in a striped cloak

70. Just yesterday you hoped for a drop from it
So it is yours - cool your inflammation and quench your thirst!

71. Prince of poetry, I have come pledging allegiance
And here are the delegations of the East pledging with me

72. Sing the meadows of the Nile and glance
Upon the inhabitants of the two rivers, speak loudly, create!

73. Do not forget Nejd, it is the cradle of passion
And the pasture of beautiful gazelles grazing and resting

74. Call upon Mount Lebanon and reserve
A share of joy for Tunisia, divide and distribute!

75. For in poetry is the encouragement of the ambitious to rise high
And in poetry is the asceticism of the devout worshipper

76. In poetry is what makes the sword's impact unnecessary
As one verse did for the valiant warrior

77. In poetry is the revival of souls and their irrigation
And you are the sweetest spring for the soul's irrigation

78. Awaken dormant minds and hearts that have been
Bound too long with fetters

79. For they are afflicted with tribulation upon tribulation
And you, O poet of the East, push it away!

80. By God's grace you still have the ability
To benefit, so rouse your eloquence and quench!

81. Take the reins of the people and pull those worthy
To glory and supremacy - the most honorable path

82. Guide us to stay the straight course, for we
Have treaded a path of guidance not twisting and winding

83. We have filled the earth's horizon with exhaustion and torment
With Indian and Turkish and European and Arab swords

84. The daughters of poetry have extracted from us positions
With the fall of the beloved, the beloved's writings, and separation

85. While our people in the East have slept too long
And the sleep of poetry cannot be anticipated

86. The world has changed, though its people
Once saw the soft fur of sheep as the softest bed

87. The coolness of knowledge once was Camels and kind
When would deprivation make them forage in the wilderness?

88. Now Bukhar is not satisfied as a riding beast
Nor is wire pleased with its flowing current

89. Once all matters were the aim of an arrow
Now some matters are the aim of a cannon

90. Yet we still sing as the ancients did of spears, eggs, and armor
We knew the extent of the old thing, but is there an extent

91. To the new thing, present and beneficial, gratifying?
Each nation has equipment for events

92. And our equipment is to rouse our neglected heritage
O neglect of pens, if we do not make it

93. The pillar of the shaking East's cornerstone
Its shame will be trampled under smug noses

94. While the Lord of the Sanctuary walks with a broken nose
It pains Him, O people of the East, for your stars

95. In their horizon not to rise and for your banners above
Them not to wave, and your pens beneath them not to be unfurled

96. How can evil be warded or destiny reached
When we see its unity is shattered?

97. So if you are a noble speaker whose words
Call in the path of the Nile and East, or be silent!

98. The people of the East, it pains him that your stars in their horizon do not rise
And their banners above them do not wave, and their pens beneath them do not unfurl