أهاج لك التبريح إيماض بارق — Ibn Abi Hussaynah

أَهاجَ لَكَ التَبرِيحَ إِيماضُ بارِقِ

عَلى الجَوِّ مِنهُ ساطِعٌ يَتَوَهَّجُ

Did the flashing of lightning stir anguish in you,

with a radiance from it blazing across the sky?

يَلُوحُ يَمانِيّاً كَأَنَّ صَرِيمَهُ

سَنا النارِ أَذكاها سَيالٌ وَعَرفَجُ

It gleams toward Yemen, as though its streak

were the glow of a fire kindled with sayal and 'arfaj.

بَدا مَوهِناً وَاللَيلُ بِالنُورِ أَسفَعٌ

فَضَوّاهُ حَتّى اللَيلُ أَنبَطُ أَخرُجُ

It appeared late at night, the night darkly mottled with light,

then brightened it until the night was white-bellied and white-flanked.

خَبا تارَةً ثُمَّ استَطارَ كَأَنَّهُ

شَواظٌ مِنَ النارِ الَّتي تَتَأَجَّجُ

It faded once, then flared, as though it were

a smokeless flame from a fiercely blazing fire.

فَأَلمَحتُهُ صَحبِي وَقَد مَدَّ ضَوءَهُ

كَما امتَدَّ مِن تِبرٍ شَرِيطٌ مُدرَّجُ

I showed it to my companions as it stretched its light,

as a rolled ribbon of gold is drawn out.

أَرِقتُ لَهُ حَتّى بَدا الصُبحُ طالِعاً

عَلَيهِ مِنَ الظَلماءِ ثَوبٌ مُفَرَّجُ

I lay sleepless for it until dawn began to rise,

wearing a parted robe of darkness.

فَيا بَرقُ مالِي مُغرَماً بِكَ كُلَّما

رَأَيتُكَ مِن نَحوِ الحِمى تَتَبَوَّجُ

O lightning, why am I so enamored of you whenever

I see you flashing from the direction of the protected pasture,

وَذاكِرَ خَودٍ فِيكَ مِنها مَشابِهٌ

سِوارٌ وَخَلخالٌ وَطَوقٌ وَدُملُجُ

and mindful of a tender maiden, whose likeness you bear:

a bracelet, an anklet, a necklace, and an armlet?

فَإِنَّكَ يا بَرقَ السَماوَةِ مُونِقٌ

بَهِيٌّ وَدَعدٌ مِنكَ أَبهى وَأَبهَجُ

For you, O lightning of al-Samawah, are delightful,

splendid; yet Da'd is fairer and more radiant than you.

تَبَرَّجتَ تَيّاهاً بِحُسنِكَ في الدُجى

وَتِلكَ حَصانُ الجَيبِ لا تَتَبَرَّجُ

You flaunt yourself, proud of your beauty in the dark,

while she is chaste of bosom and never flaunts herself.

وَثَغركَ بَسامٌ وَلَكِنَّ ثَغرَها

خِلافَكَ مَعسُولُ الثَنايا مُفَلَّجُ

Your mouth smiles, yet her mouth,

unlike yours, has honey-sweet, finely spaced front teeth.

وَأَنتَ نَحيفُ الجِسمِ مالَكَ تابِعٌ

بَطِيٌّ وَلا خَصرٌ إِذا قُمتَ مُدمَجُ

You are slender-bodied, but have no trailing hips,

slow to move, nor a trim waist when you stand.

لَها الفَضلُ إِلّا أَنَّني مِنكَ سالِمٌ

وَمِن أُمِّ عَمرٍو طائِشُ اللُبِّ مُزعَجُ

She has the advantage, except that I am safe from you,

while Umm 'Amr leaves me witless and distraught.

فَلا تَحسَبَنِّي هائِماً بِكَ إِنَّما

يَهِيمُ بِها يا بَرقُ قَلبِي وَيَلهَجُ

So do not think I am infatuated with you; it is only

for her, O lightning, that my heart pines and is obsessed.

وَمِن أَجلِها أَحبَبتُ لَيلى لِأَنَّهُ

كَما فَرعُها وَحفُ الأَنابِيبِ أَدعَجُ

And for her sake I loved my night, because it,

like her tresses, is thick-stranded and dark.

وَمِمّا شَجاني يَومَ بانَت لُبَينَةٌ

غُرابٌ بِبَينِ المالِكِيَّةِ يَشَحَجُ

Among what grieved me on the day Lubaynah departed

was a crow croaking at the Malikite woman's parting,

وَبَطرَبُ في إِثرِ الحُمُولِ كَأَنَّهُ

عَدُوٌّ بِتَفرِيقِ الأَحِبَّةِ مُلهَجُ

and exulting behind the camel-litters, as though it were

an enemy obsessed with sundering lovers.

رَمَتكَ عُقابُ الجَوِّ بِالحَينِ إِنَّما

نَعِيبُكَ داءٌ في الحَيازِيمِ مُولَجُ

May the eagle of the sky strike you dead! For

your cawing is nothing but a sickness lodged within the ribs.

أَمُنتَفِعٌ بِالبَينِ أَم أَنتَ شامِتٌ

إِذا زُمَّتِ الأَجمالُ أَو شُدَّ هَودَجٍ

Do you benefit from parting, or are you gloating

when camels are haltered or a howdah is strapped on?

فَما أَنتَ إِلّا بِئسَ ما اعتِيضَ مِنهُمُ

غَداةَ اِستَقَلُّوا وَالوَخِيدُ المُسَجَّجُ

You are nothing but a wretched substitute for them,

the morning they departed—you and the smooth, swift camel-pace.

وَبِالغَورِ نارٌ تَستَبِينُ كَأَنَّما

سَنا ضَوئِها مِن بَينِ جَنبَيَّ يَخلَجُ

In the lowland a fire is visible, as though

the radiance of its light were throbbing between my ribs.

نَظَرتُ إِلَيها نَظرَةً لَم يَكُن لَها

عَلى الحِلمِ بَعدَ الأَربَعينَ مُعَرَّجُ

I cast upon it a glance that had no

turning back to good sense, though I was past forty.

وَقَد لامَني صَحبِي عَلى ما أَصابَني

مِنَ الوَجدِ إِلّا أَنَّ ذا الحُبِّ مُحرَجُ

My companions reproached me for what had befallen me

of longing; but the lover is sorely pressed.

خَلِيلَيَّ لا تَستَعتِباني فَإِنَّنِي

إِلى الحِلمِ لَو واتانِي الحِلمُ أَحوَجُ

My two friends, do not ask me to mend my ways, for I

have greater need of good sense—if only good sense would serve me.

وَيا رُبَّ غَبراءِ المَخارِمِ يَرتَعِي

بِها فَرقَدٌ وَالمَسُّ لِلمَتنِ عَوهَجُ

And many a wilderness with dust-gray passes is grazed

by a wild-ox calf and a long-necked doe [description of its back unclear].

تَرى ثَمَرَ الخُطبانِ فِيها كَأَنَّهُ

عَلى صَفحَةِ البَيداءِ هامٌ مُدَحرَجُ

There you see colocynth fruit as though it were

heads rolled across the desert's face.

تُعادِيهِ خِيطانُ النَعامِ كَأَنَّها

إِلى مِيرَةٍ بُزلٌ تُشَدُّ وَتُحدَجُ

Ostrich flocks race past it, as though they were

mature camels, loaded and saddled to fetch provisions.

وَتَلقى بِها قُمصَ الأَفاعِي كَأَنَّها

حُبابُ الحُمَيّا أَزبَدَت حِينَ تُمزَجُ

And there you find the vipers' shirts, like

the bubbles of strong wine, foaming as it is mixed.

يُخَلِّفُها الصِلُّ الَّذي مَلَّ لُبسَها

كَما خَلَّفَ الدِرعُ الكَمِيُّ المُدَجَّجُ

The viper leaves them behind, tired of wearing them,

as the fully armed warrior leaves his mail behind.

أَقُولُ لِصَحبِي وَالرِكابُ شَواحِبٌ

كَأَن رذاياها المَزادُ المُشَنَّجُ

I say to my companions, while the riding-camels are gaunt,

their spent ones like shriveled waterskins,

وَقَد لاحَ لِلسّارِي هِلالٌ كَأَنَّهُ

مِنَ الفِضَّةِ البَيضاءَ مِيلٌ مُعَوَّجُ

and a crescent has appeared to the night traveler, like

a bent kohl-stick of white silver:

أَلا عَرِّجُوا بالعِيسِ نَحوَ ابنِ صالِحٍ

وَمِيلُوا عَلى حُرٍّ فَمالُوا وَعَرَّجُوا

'Turn the pale camels toward Ibn Salih,

and make for a noble man!' So they turned and drew aside

إِلى مَلِكٍ سَمحِ اليَمِينَينِ لِلنَدى

إِلَيهِ وَلِلمَعرُوفِ قَصدٌ وَمَنهَجُ

to a king generous with both hands; bounty

and goodness find in him their goal and their path.

صَفا صَفوَ ماءِ المُزنِ لَم يَختَلِط بِهِ

قَذى الأَرضِ وَالتُربُ الخَبِيثُ المُمَزَّجُ

He is pure as rain-cloud water, unmixed with

earth's debris or foul dust stirred into it.

أَكُونُ مِراراً ذا هُمُومٍ كَثِيرَةٍ

وَأَنظُرُ في وَجهِ المُعِزِّ فَتُفرَجُ

Often I am beset by many cares,

but I look upon al-Mu'izz's face, and they are dispelled.

فَتىً ناجِزُ المِيعادِ لا خُلفَ عِندَهُ

وَلا دُونَهُ بابٌ مِنَ الرِزقِ مُرتَجُ

A man prompt to keep his promise, never breaking his word,

with no door to livelihood barred on the way to him.

إِذا زارَهُ الزُوّارُ وافَت فُرُوشُهُ

تُجَرُّ وَباراها قِراهُ المُرَوَّجُ

When visitors come to him, his carpets arrive,

drawn out, while his swiftly supplied guest-fare keeps pace.

تَعادى بِها غُرُّ الوَلائِدِ في الدُجى

حِجالاً عَلَيهِنَّ اللِباسُ المُدَبَّجُ

Bright-faced serving girls race with them through the dark,

like bridal pavilions draped in brocaded coverings.

تَراهُنَّ قُعساً تَحتَ سُودٍ مَواثِلٍ

يَبُوخُ عَلَيهِنَّ السَدِيفُ المُلَهوَجُ

You see them arched beneath tall black pots,

while hastily cooked hump-fat cools upon them.

تَعَجَّلَ لِلطُراقِ ما كانَ حاضِراً

نَضِيجاً وَلِلغُيّابِ آخَرُ يُنضَجُ

He hastens to serve night visitors whatever is ready,

already cooked, while more is cooked for those still absent.

وَلَيلٍ خَبَطناهُ بِعِيسٍ تَطَوَّحَت

إِلَيهِ كَما طاحَ النَعامُ المُهَجَّجُ

Many a night we struck through on pale camels that plunged

into it like ostriches driven to flight,

إِلى أَن رَأَينا الشُهبَ في الغَربِ جُنَّحاً

وَلِلصُبحِ وَجهٌ مِثلُ وَجهِكَ أَبلَجُ

until we saw the bright stars sinking westward,

and dawn had a face as radiant as your own.

فَلَمّا أَنَخنا في ذَراكَ رِكابَنا

كَفَيتَ الفَتى المُحتاجَ ما يَتَحَوَّجُ

When we made our riding-camels kneel in your shelter,

you met the needy man's every need.

فَبُوُرِكتَ مِن غَيثٍ يَسِحُّ إِذا غَدا

يَشِحُّ بِنُعماهُ الجَهامُ المُزَبرَجُ

So blessed be you—a rain that pours whenever

the gaudy, rainless cloud withholds its bounty.

وَما وَلَدَت مِن عامِرٍ عامِرِيَّةٌ

أَشَدَّ جَناناً مِنكَ وَالخَيلُ تُسرَجُ

No woman of 'Amir has borne, from 'Amir's stock,

a heart more steadfast than yours when the horses are saddled,

خِفافاً إِلى حَملِ العَوالي كَأَنَّها

إِذا ما ثَنَيناها النَخِيلُ المُهَيَّجُ

swift to bear the lofty lances, which seem,

when we bend them, like shaken palm trees.

وَلا في بَني حَوّاءَ مِثلُكَ مُقدِماً

عَلى الهَولِ لا يَنبُو وَلا يَتَلجلَجُ

Nor among the sons of Eve is there your equal in advancing

into terror, never recoiling or faltering.

وَمَن مِثلُ فَخرِ المُلكِ يَملِكُ حِلمَهُ

وَيَزدادُ رَحباً صَدرُهُ حِينَ يُحرَجُ

Who commands his temper like Fakhr al-Mulk,

his breast growing broader when he is hard pressed?

وَلَم أَرَ مِثلَ الحَمدِ يُنشَرُ لِلفَتى

وَلا مِثلَهُ عَن فاعِلِ السُوءِ يَدرُجُ

I have seen nothing like praise spread abroad for a man,

nor anything like it pass the evildoer by.

وَفِي الفازَةِ البَيضاءِ مِن آلِ صالِحٍ

فَتىً مُولَعٌ بِالخَيرِ مُذ كانَ مُلهَجُ

Within the white pavilion of the house of Salih

is a man devoted to goodness, intent on it since his earliest days,

مِنَ الصالِحيِّينَ الَّذينَ تَطَوَّلُوا

فَطالُوا وَجَلَّوا كُلَّ بُؤسٍ وَفَرَّجُوا

one of the Salihis, who conferred great favors,

and thus rose high, dispelling every misery and bringing relief.

أَحاسِدَهُم نَهنَهتَ عَن طَلَبِ العُلى

وَجَدُّوا فَنالُوها وَنِمتُ وَأَدلَجُوا

O you who envy them, you held back from seeking high rank,

while they strove and attained it; I slept, and they traveled by night.

إِلَيكَ فَقَد رامَ الَّذي رُمتَ مَعشَرٌ

تَرَقَّوا عَلى آثارِهِم فَتَزَلَّجُوا

Away with you! Others sought what you sought,

climbing in their footsteps, only to slip.

أَبا صالِحٍ أَنتَ الَّذي سَيبُ كَفِّهِ

يَسِحُّ كَما سَحَّ الغَمامُ المُثَجَّجُ

Abu Salih, you are he whose hand's bounty

pours as the rain-laden cloud pours,

لِيثبِتَ أَركانَ العَشِيرَةِ بَعدَما

تَهَدَّمَ مِنها المُشَمخِرُ المُبَرَّجُ

to steady the pillars of the clan after

its towering, turreted stronghold had fallen.

وَنُبتَ مَناباً عَن أَخِيكَ تَهُزُّهُ

كَشُكرِكَ في أَكفانِهِ وَهوَ مُدرَجُ

You have taken your brother's place, stirring him

as your gratitude does, though he lies wrapped in his shrouds.

وَإِنَّكَ لِلأَقصَينَ ذُخرٌ وَعُدَّةٌ

فَكَيفَ لِذِي لَحمٍ بلَحمِكَ يُمزَجُ

Even for the most distant, you are a reserve and a safeguard;

how much more for one whose flesh is mingled with your flesh!

عَلِيٌّ وَمَحمُودٌ سَواءٌ وَصالِحٌ

كَطِرفٍ لَهُ هادٍ وَعُرفٌ وَمَنسِجُ

'Ali, Mahmud, and Salih are as one,

like a noble steed with neck, mane, and withers.

فَزِدهُم جَميلاً مِن جَميلَكَ إِنَّهُم

إِذا ما عَرا خَطبٌ وَلَجَّجتَ لَجَّجُوا

Grant them still more of your gracious kindness, for they,

when disaster strikes and you plunge in, plunge in with you.

وَقَد شاعَ في الآفاقِ ما أَنتَ فاعِلٌ

وَأَثنَت عَلى نُعماكَ قَيسٌ وَمَذحِجُ

What you do has spread through all horizons,

and Qays and Madhhij have praised your bounty.

فَلا ذاقَتِ الدُنيا فِراقَكَ إِنَّنِي

أَرى ساحَةَ الدُنيا بِوَجهِكَ تبهِجُ

May the world never taste parting from you! For I

see the world's expanse made radiant by your face.