أظهر الروض حلاه كنوزا

ليلاقي بفضلها النيروزا

The garden displayed its adornments as treasures,

to greet Nowruz with their bounty.

فلذا من زبرجدي أكمامه الز

زهر لجانبيه ابرز الأبريزا

Thus, from the two emeralds of its calyxes,

the flowers brought forth pure gold on either side.

وبه تاج كل غصن من النو

ر كتاج علا على برويزا

And there, each branch bears a crown of

blossoms, like a crown raised above Parviz.

دره الرطب راق دارا وفيرو

زجه لعض شائق فيروزا

Its dewy pearls delighted Dara; and its turquoise

tempts Firuz to take a bite.

وبياقوته لأعيننا القوت

ولكن ينلنه تمييزا

And through its ruby our eyes find nourishment,

but they partake of it through discernment.

إن فصل الربيع أخمد كانو

ن ليذكي بناره تموزا

Indeed, spring has quenched Kanun,

to kindle Tammuz with its fire.

منجز وعد لهونا يا خليلي

ي فخصّا وجديكما التنجيزا

It fulfills the promise of our merriment, O my two friends;

so make fulfillment your special care, by your two grandfathers!

ولقد قلّما البقاء مجاز فار

كبا آلة السرور وجوزا

Indeed, life scarcely endures—a crossing; so

mount the vehicle of joy and cross over.

واصحباني إلى تلقيه بال

أيدي اللواتي يحملن كوباً وكوزا

And accompany me to welcome it with

hands that carry a cup and a jug

من مدام جاءت تحرم بالما

ء لساغي تزويجها التجويزا

of wine that forbids her marriage to water,

refusing the cupbearer permission for the match.

نجتليها من عصر بهرام عذرا

ء عروساً بكراً تزف عجوزا

We behold her, a virgin from Bahram's age,

an untouched bride, led to her wedding as an old woman,

في عقود من الحباب كما قل

لدت شمسا من النجوم حروزا

in necklaces of bubbles, as though

you had hung amulets of stars upon a sun.

وصفاء يكاد يشبه في الود

د الأغر الآغا الكريم العزيزا

and in a purity that almost matches, in friendship,

the illustrious Agha, generous and honored,

عين أعيان دهرنا العلبيي

ن ومن قد علوا ذكا والجوزا

foremost of our age's ʿAlabi notables,

and of those who have risen above Dhuka and al-Jawza,

وغدوا مركزاً لدائرة ال

مجد وركنا للملتجي مركوزا

and become the center of the circle of

glory, and a firmly planted pillar for seekers of refuge.

قد هززناه بالقريض فشمنا

ه حساما من غمده مهزوزا

We stirred him with verse, and beheld

him as a sword brandished from its sheath.

وبلوناه بالكرام فما بر

ز إلا لسبقها تبريزا

And we tested him against the generous; he emerged

only to surpass them with distinction.

دأبه أن يفوز بالفضل والمج

د وراجيه بالمنى أن يفوزا

His wont is to win excellence and

glory, and for those who hope in him to attain their wishes.

محرز الحمد يتلف الوفر وال

وفر باتلا يرى محروزا

A winner of praise, he lavishes wealth, and

wealth is left with none of it held in reserve.

والذي يعجز الأفاضل وصفاً

لا تري في نواله تعجيزا

And he whose description defeats the most accomplished—

you find no frustration in his giving.

يا رئيساً أطال بسط المعاني

بالمعالي وطاب لفظاً وجيزا

O chief who has unfolded meanings at length

through lofty deeds, and whose concise words are pleasing;

وسمي النبي حقاً ومن كا

ن عزيز الوفاء فيه غريزا

and truly the Prophet's namesake, one in whom

precious faithfulness is innate:

بك عزت عزاز قدماً وقد

ذلت وأحييت دابقاً والفوزا

Through you, Azaz gained might long ago, though she had

been humbled; and you revived Dabiq and triumph.

كنت حجبتها عن الظلم وال

أقدار تنفي التحجب والتحجيزا

You had shielded her from injustice—though

fate sweeps away shelter and protective barriers—

باحتراز عن بنيها وحكم الد

دهر يوهي ويوهن التحريزا

by taking precautions against her sons; and time's

judgment weakens and undermines safeguards.

طألما نامت العيون هنيئاً

بك فيها وما استقرت فزيزا

How often eyes slept peacefully

thanks to you within her, never lying fearful!

وبها الآن كل جفن حسبنا

ه وريداً بصارم محزوزا

And now, in her, every eyelid—we deem

it a jugular vein slit by a sharp sword.

حلها الجور من سواك وفي

ها بيد العدل كم حللت رموزا

Tyranny from someone other than you has settled in her; yet within

her, how many riddles you solved with justice's hand!

فغدت بلقعا وكانت تضاهي

بك مصراً وتزدري تبريزا

So she became a wasteland, though she once rivaled

Misr through you, and disdained Tabriz.

ما رأينا سواك فيها مجيرا

وشهدنا الاك منها مجيزا

We saw no protector within her but you,

and witnessed you alone departing from her.

وبهذا فضلت غيرك والمنظو

م في الشعر يفضل المرجوزا

And thus you excel others, as composed

poetry excels verse in rajaz.

ولئن قيل لا تفاوت في الخل

ق وقد جهزوا الورى تجهيزا

And if it is said, 'There is no disparity in creation,

and they have thoroughly outfitted humankind,

وأبونا أب وما عززه الل

ه بثان وثالث تعزيزا

and our father is one father, whom God did not

reinforce with a second or a third,'

قلت لو قيس بالوري الحب هل

كان يساوي هبيده الشونيزا

I would reply, 'If grain were compared with humankind, would

its colocynth seeds equal black cumin?'

ولكم من أخ يحوز سداداً

وأخوه يعييه من أن يحوزا

And how many a brother attains sound judgment,

while his brother is unable to attain it!

وإذا ما الإله ألهمك الرشد

أراك المكنون والمكنوزا

And when God inspires you with right guidance,

He shows you the concealed and the treasured.

فابق ما عاد كل عيد ونورو

ز من الدهر سالما معزوزا

So live on, as long as every festival and Nowruz returns,

through the ages, safe and honored.