قُلْtell للرَّبِيعِto spring اسْحَبْtrail مُلاءَmantles of سحائِبِclouds
قُلْ للرَّبِيعِ اسْحَبْ مُلاءَ سحائِبِ
فَاجْرُرْthen drag ذُيُولَكَyour hems فِيin مَجَرِّthe trailing path of ذَوائِبيmy tresses
فَاجْرُرْ ذُيُولَكَ فِي مَجَرِّ ذَوائِبي
Tell spring: Trail the mantles of clouds,
Tell spring to draw back the fullness of its clouds,
and drag your hems where my tresses trail.
And drag its torrents through the course of my sorrows,
لاdo not تُكْدِيَنَّever run dry ومنand from ورائِكَbehind you أَدْمُعِيmy tears
لا تُكْدِيَنَّ ومن ورائِكَ أَدْمُعِي
مَدَداًas reinforcement إِلَيْكَto you بفَيْضِwith a flood of دَمْعٍtears ساكِبِflowing
مَدَداً إِلَيْكَ بفَيْضِ دَمْعٍ ساكِبِ
Do not run dry: behind you are my tears,
Lest my tears flowing copiously towards you
bringing you aid in a flood of flowing tears.
Outlast you, mingled with profuse weeping.
وصبابَةٌand longing أَنفاسُهاits breaths لَكَfor you أُسْوَةٌan example
وصبابَةٌ أَنفاسُها لَكَ أُسْوَةٌ
إِنْif ضاقَfell short ذَرْعُكَyour capacity بالغَمامِwith the clouds الصَّائِبِrain-pouring
إِنْ ضاقَ ذَرْعُكَ بالغَمامِ الصَّائِبِ
And a longing whose breaths give you an example,
And a youth whose breath to you is exemplary
if the pouring clouds overtax your strength.
Should your burden be heavy with the striking cloud,
وامزِجْand blend بِطيبِwith the fragrance of تَحِيَّتِيmy greeting غَدِقَthe abundance of الحَيَاrain
وامزِجْ بِطيبِ تَحِيَّتِي غَدِقَ الحَيَا
فاجْعَلْهُthen make it سَقْيَa watering for أَحِبَّتِيmy loved ones وحَبائِبيand my darlings
فاجْعَلْهُ سَقْيَ أَحِبَّتِي وحَبائِبي
Mix the abundant rain with my fragrant greeting,
And mingle the fragrance of my greeting abundantly with life
and make it a watering for my loved ones and darlings.
And make it the watering of my loved ones and darlings.
عهداًa pledge كَعَهْدِكَlike your pledge منof عِهادٍsuccessive showers طالماso often
عهداً كَعَهْدِكَ من عِهادٍ طالما
كَسَتِclothed البُرُودَpatterned robes معاهِدِيmy familiar haunts ومَلاعِبيand my playgrounds
كَسَتِ البُرُودَ معاهِدِي ومَلاعِبي
a pledge like your pledge of showers, which so often
A pact like your pact with covenants that have long
clothed my haunts and playgrounds in patterned robes.
Clad my loyalists and playmates in coats of mail,
واجْنَحْand turn لِقُرْطُبَةٍtoward Cordoba فَعانِقْthen embrace تُرْبَهاits soil
واجْنَحْ لِقُرْطُبَةٍ فَعانِقْ تُرْبَها
عَنِّيon my behalf بِمِثْلِwith the like of جَوانِحيmy ribs وتَرَائِبيand my breastbones
عَنِّي بِمِثْلِ جَوانِحي وتَرَائِبي
Turn toward Cordoba and embrace its soil
And head for Cordova and embrace its soil
for me, with ribs and breastbones like mine.
In my name with my whole heart’s fervor and passion,
حَيْثُwhere اسْتَكانَتْyielded للعَفاءِto desolation منازليmy dwellings
حَيْثُ اسْتَكانَتْ للعَفاءِ منازلي
وَهَوَتْand sped away بأَفلاذِwith pieces of الفؤادِthe heart نَجَائِبيmy noble camels
وَهَوَتْ بأَفلاذِ الفؤادِ نَجَائِبي
where my dwellings yielded to desolation,
Where my dwellings yielded to desolation
and my noble camels sped away with pieces of my heart,
And the apple of my heart’s core fell to ruin,
ذُلُلاًdocile تَعَسَّفْنَthey traversed blindly الدُّجىthe darkness بِأَذِلَّةٍwith humbled ones
ذُلُلاً تَعَسَّفْنَ الدُّجى بِأَذِلَّةٍ
ولواغِباًand weary جُبْنَthey crossed الفَلاthe wilderness بِلَوَاغِبِwith weary ones
ولواغِباً جُبْنَ الفَلا بِلَوَاغِبِ
docile, forcing through darkness with humbled riders,
Humbled, subjected to the darkness with abasement
and weary, crossing the wilderness with weary riders.
And despondent, cowardly before the valiant hero.
وكواكِبٌand stars ناءَتْcarried away بِقرْبَتِهاwith their nearness النَّوىseparation
وكواكِبٌ ناءَتْ بِقرْبَتِها النَّوى
فَقَضَتْso decreed مدامِعُهَاtheir tearful eyes بِنَوءِwith the rain of الغارِبِthe setting star
فَقَضَتْ مدامِعُهَا بِنَوءِ الغارِبِ
And stars whose nearness separation bore away,
And stars that drew near in their sorrowful vigils
so their tearful eyes decreed a setting star's rain.
Fulfilled their weeping at the setting of the vanished sun
منfrom كُلِّevery مَفْجُوعٍbereaved one بتَرْحَةِby sorrow over راحِلٍone departing
من كُلِّ مَفْجُوعٍ بتَرْحَةِ راحِلٍ
لَمْdid not يُسْلِهِconsole him طَمَعٌhope بفَرْحَةِfor joy at آيبِone returning
لَمْ يُسْلِهِ طَمَعٌ بفَرْحَةِ آيبِ
from everyone grief-stricken by sorrow over one departing,
For every grief-stricken one, parted from a departing loved one
whom hope of joy at a return could not console.
Whose hopes were not cheered by the coming of one awaited
كَذَبَتْهُdeceived him بارِقَةُthe lightning flash of المُنىwishes عنregarding صادِقٍa true one
كَذَبَتْهُ بارِقَةُ المُنى عن صادِقٍ
منamong ظَنِّهِhis expectations وصَدَقْتَهُand told him truly عنregarding كاذبِa false one
من ظَنِّهِ وصَدَقْتَهُ عن كاذبِ
The flash of hopes belied a true
The delusive lightning of wishes lied to the truthful one
expectation of his, and confirmed a false one.
About his supposition, and proved the liar truthful
ظُعُنٌcaravans سَرَيْنَthey traveled الليلَthrough the night ضَرْبَةَa stroke of لازِمٍinevitability
ظُعُنٌ سَرَيْنَ الليلَ ضَرْبَةَ لازِمٍ
وسَرىand crept إِليهاtoward them الهَمُّgrief ضَرْبَةَa stroke of لازِبِinescapability
وسَرى إِليها الهَمُّ ضَرْبَةَ لازِبِ
Caravans journeyed through the night, an unavoidable stroke;
Misfortunes that scourged the night with an incurable plague
and grief stole toward them, an inescapable stroke.
And misery that befell it with an unremitting stroke,
جَمُدَتْfroze عَلَيْهِنَّover them القُلوبُthe hearts فَأَسْبَلَتْthen let flow
جَمُدَتْ عَلَيْهِنَّ القُلوبُ فَأَسْبَلَتْ
فَوْقَover المحاجِرِthe eye sockets كُلَّevery قَلْبٍheart ذائِبِmelting
فَوْقَ المحاجِرِ كُلَّ قَلْبٍ ذائِبِ
Hearts froze for them, then let flow
Their hearts frozen above the rubble,
over the eye sockets every melting heart.
Every heart melting above its ruins
وتَخازَرتْand glanced askance عنهاaway from them العُيُونُthe eyes فأَبْرَزَتْthen revealed
وتَخازَرتْ عنها العُيُونُ فأَبْرَزَتْ
عنfrom أَعْيُنٍeyes بِدِمائِهِنَّwith their own blood سَوَاكِبِpouring
عن أَعْيُنٍ بِدِمائِهِنَّ سَوَاكِبِ
Eyes glanced askance from them, then laid bare
Their eyes eluding them, so they displayed
eyes streaming with their own blood.
Eyes shedding their blood like shooting stars
وتَقَطَّعَتْand were severed أَسبابُهُنَّtheir ties لِطِيَّةٍfor a destination
وتَقَطَّعَتْ أَسبابُهُنَّ لِطِيَّةٍ
وَصَلَتْjoined بِهِنَّwith them سباسِباًwildernesses بسباسِبِto wildernesses
وَصَلَتْ بِهِنَّ سباسِباً بسباسِبِ
Their bonds were severed for a destination
Their means were severed by a fatal swoon
that led them from wilderness to wilderness.
And the epochs fettered them with recurved fetters
يَطْلُبْنَthey seek شَأْوَthe reach of غرائبٍrare verses ليَmine كُلَّمَاwhenever
يَطْلُبْنَ شَأْوَ غرائبٍ ليَ كُلَّمَا
نَأَتِgrew distant البلادُthe lands حَلَلْنَthey alighted غَيْرَnot غَرَائِبِstrangers
نَأَتِ البلادُ حَلَلْنَ غَيْرَ غَرَائِبِ
They seek to rival my rare verses, which, whenever
Seeking the marvels of an estranged land, but whenever
the lands grow distant, alight there as no strangers.
The lands approach, they find no marvels.
لَحِقَتْthey reached بأَسْبابِto the pathways of السَّمَاءِheaven فَأُعطِيَتْthen were granted
لَحِقَتْ بأَسْبابِ السَّمَاءِ فَأُعطِيَتْ
فِيهَاin it خُلُودَthe immortality of أَهِلَّةٍcrescents وكَواكِبِand stars
فِيهَا خُلُودَ أَهِلَّةٍ وكَواكِبِ
They reached heaven's pathways and were granted
They attached themselves to the means of heaven, so they were granted
there the immortality of crescents and stars.
Everlasting life among the celestial bodies and stars,
وَأَعَدَّتِand stored up الأَزْمانُthe ages مَاءَthe freshness of شَبابِهاtheir youth
وَأَعَدَّتِ الأَزْمانُ مَاءَ شَبابِها
لِحُنُوِّfor the bending of ظَهْرٍa back أَوْor لِرَأْسٍfor a head شائِبِgray-haired
لِحُنُوِّ ظَهْرٍ أَوْ لِرَأْسٍ شائِبِ
The ages stored up the freshness of their youth
And time made ready the water of their youth
for a bent back or a graying head.
For the stooping of an aged back or a graying head.
وعَقَدْنَand they forged بالأَبَدِwith eternity الأَبيدِeverlasting وإِنْalthough نَأَىit is distant
وعَقَدْنَ بالأَبَدِ الأَبيدِ وإِنْ نَأَى
حِلْفَيْنِtwo alliances حِلْفَthe alliance of مُسَايِرٍa fellow traveler ومُعَاقِبِand a successor
حِلْفَيْنِ حِلْفَ مُسَايِرٍ ومُعَاقِبِ
With everlasting eternity, though far away, they forged
They made their pact for all endless perpetuity, though remoteness
two covenants: of a fellow traveler and a successor,
Remove the oaths of an accompanying comrade and requiting confidante
مَاas long as بَلَّwets بَحْرٌa sea صُوفَةًa tuft of wool وتقاذَفَتْand tossed one another
مَا بَلَّ بَحْرٌ صُوفَةً وتقاذَفَتْ
أَمْواجُهُits waves بشَمَائِلٍwith northerly winds وجَنَائِبِand southerly winds
أَمْواجُهُ بشَمَائِلٍ وجَنَائِبِ
as long as a sea wets a tuft of wool and tosses
No sea ever donned armor and clashed its billows
its waves with northerly and southerly winds.
With deadly ripples and passionate waves,
هَدَماًruin إِلَىjoined to هَدَمٍruin وَحِفْظَand the safeguarding of دَمٍblood دَماًblood
هَدَماً إِلَى هَدَمٍ وَحِفْظَ دَمٍ دَماً
حَدَبٌsolicitous care بعَطْفِwith the affection of مُشاكِهٍone alike ومُنَاسِبِand a kinsman
حَدَبٌ بعَطْفِ مُشاكِهٍ ومُنَاسِبِ
Ruin bound to ruin, and blood safeguarding blood—
Ruin upon ruin and shedding of blood, blood
tender care, with the affection of likeness and kinship.
The hunchback with sympathy, the upright with accord
زُهْرٌradiant طوالِعُهاtheir risings لِكُلِّfor every غَدٍtomorrow غَدٌanother tomorrow
زُهْرٌ طوالِعُها لِكُلِّ غَدٍ غَدٌ
وَجَزَاؤُهاand their recompense رَهْنٌpledged بأَمْسِto yesterday الذَّاهِبِvanished
وَجَزَاؤُها رَهْنٌ بأَمْسِ الذَّاهِبِ
Radiant are their risings: each tomorrow has another tomorrow,
Blossoms whose dawns for each morrow are morrows
yet their recompense is pledged to vanished yesterday.
And whose wages depend on the passing yesterday,
تَشْدُوsing بِهَاof them خُضْرُgreen الحَمَامِdoves وَحَظُّهاand their fortune
تَشْدُو بِهَا خُضْرُ الحَمَامِ وَحَظُّها
عَنْقَاءُan Anqa bird رِيعَتْstartled بالغُرَابِby the raven النَّاعِبِcroaking
عَنْقَاءُ رِيعَتْ بالغُرَابِ النَّاعِبِ
Green doves sing them, while their fortune is
With it the green pigeons sing while its lot
an Anqa startled by the croaking raven.
Is the crested curlew with its woeful cry,
حَلَّيْتُهاI adorned with them الأَرْضَthe earth الَّتِيwhich هِيَit is فارِكِيone that spurns me
حَلَّيْتُها الأَرْضَ الَّتِي هِيَ فارِكِي
وكَسَوْتُهاand I clothed with them الدَّهْرَtime الَّذِيwhich هُوَit is سالِبيone that strips me
وكَسَوْتُها الدَّهْرَ الَّذِي هُوَ سالِبي
I adorned with them the earth that spurns me,
I made it the adornment of the land which abandoned me
and clothed with them time, which strips me bare.
And clothed it in the age which despoiled me.
ومَلأْتُand I filled مِنْهُنَّfrom them العُقُولَminds عَجَائِباًwith wonders
ومَلأْتُ مِنْهُنَّ العُقُولَ عَجَائِباً
ولَنَقْصُand indeed the lack of حَظِّيmy fortune مِنamong تَمامِthe completion of عَجَائِبِيmy wonders
ولَنَقْصُ حَظِّي مِن تَمامِ عَجَائِبِي
I filled minds with wonders drawn from them,
I filled minds with wonders about them
and my deficient fortune completes my wonders.
Though my share of perfecting my wonders fell short.
مَيْتُdead الرَّغائِبِin desires والمَسِيحُand the Messiah مُوَرِّثِيthe one bequeathing to me
مَيْتُ الرَّغائِبِ والمَسِيحُ مُوَرِّثِي
إِحياءَrevival of آثاريmy works وخُلْدَand immortality of مَناقِبيmy merits
إِحياءَ آثاري وخُلْدَ مَناقِبي
My desires are dead, yet the Messiah bequeaths me
Dead are my hopes, while the Messiah inherits me,
life for my works and immortality for my merits,
Reviving my ruins and perpetuating my virtues
بِشَوارِدٍthrough wanderers فِيon الأَرْضِthe earth غيرِnot أَوابِدٍwild beasts
بِشَوارِدٍ فِي الأَرْضِ غيرِ أَوابِدٍ
وطوالِعٍand rising stars فِيin الجَوِّthe sky غَيْرِnot غَوارِبِsetting stars
وطوالِعٍ فِي الجَوِّ غَيْرِ غَوارِبِ
through wanderers on earth that are no wild beasts,
With exiles on earth other than homes
and stars rising in the sky that never set.
And stars in the sky other than settings
ولقدand indeed قَضَيْتُI fulfilled منof الصَّبابَةِlonging حَقَّهاits due
ولقد قَضَيْتُ من الصَّبابَةِ حَقَّها
فَقَضتْthen it fulfilled منfrom الأَمَلِhope البَعيدِdistant مآرَِبيmy desires
فَقَضتْ من الأَمَلِ البَعيدِ مآرَِبي
Indeed, I paid longing its due,
And I have fulfilled my youthful passion to the full
and it fulfilled my desires from distant hope.
Which in turn fulfilled my distant hopes,
قَنَّعْتُهاI veiled it الصَّبْرَin patience الجَميلَgracious فأَسْفَرَتْthen it unveiled
قَنَّعْتُها الصَّبْرَ الجَميلَ فأَسْفَرَتْ
فِيin آلِthe house of يَحْيىYahya عنshowing جميلِfair عواقِبِoutcomes
فِي آلِ يَحْيى عن جميلِ عواقِبِ
I veiled it in gracious patience, and it unveiled
I sufficed it with fine patience, so it revealed
fair outcomes in the house of Yahya.
The fair consequences of the house of Yaḥyā,
وشَدَدْتُand I tightened عَقْدَthe knot of خِتامِهاits seal فاسْتَفْتَحَتْthen it opened
وشَدَدْتُ عَقْدَ خِتامِها فاسْتَفْتَحَتْ
بِمكارِمِthrough the generosity of المنصورِal-Mansur ضِيقَthe narrowness of مَذَاهِبِيmy paths
بِمكارِمِ المنصورِ ضِيقَ مَذَاهِبِي
I tightened its closing knot, yet it opened,
And I sealed its conclusion, so it opened up
through al-Mansur's generosity, my constricted ways.
The narrow straits with the virtues of al-Manṣūr,
فَهَلَso will اَنتَyou يَاO زَمَنَseason of الرَّبيعِspring مُبَلِّغٌa conveyer
فَهَلَ اَنتَ يَا زَمَنَ الرَّبيعِ مُبَلِّغٌ
بالمَغْرِبَيْنِin the two western lands أَحِبَّتِيmy loved ones وأَقارِبيand my kin
بالمَغْرِبَيْنِ أَحِبَّتِي وأَقارِبي
So will you, O season of spring, convey
Will you then, O spring days, inform
to my loved ones and kin in the two western lands
My beloved and dear ones in the Maghrib
أَنَّthat الربيعَspring لَدَيَّwith me شِيمةُthe nature of قاطِنٍa resident
أَنَّ الربيعَ لَدَيَّ شِيمةُ قاطِنٍ
وحَياand the rain of الغمامِthe clouds عَلَيَّupon me دِيمَةُsteady rain of دائِبِone unceasing
وحَيا الغمامِ عَلَيَّ دِيمَةُ دائِبِ
that spring, with me, has a dweller's nature,
That spring for me is the attribute of an inhabitant
and the clouds' rain upon me falls steadily, without cease?
And the clouds’ life for me is the habit of one who lingers
منfrom بعدِafter مَاwhen غَمَّdarkened الصَّباحُmorning لناظِرِيto my sight
من بعدِ مَا غَمَّ الصَّباحُ لناظِرِي
واشْتفَّand drank dry مِنِّيof me البَحْرُthe sea جَرْعَةَa gulp of شارِبِa drinker
واشْتفَّ مِنِّي البَحْرُ جَرْعَةَ شارِبِ
after morning had darkened to my sight,
The fragrance of the meadows from the diffusion of my abodes
and the sea had drunk me dry in a drinker's gulp,
The copious clouds from the surplus of my drinking-places
وأَنِسْتُand I grew familiar بالأَهوالِwith terrors حَتَّىuntil لَمْnot أُبَلْI care
وأَنِسْتُ بالأَهوالِ حَتَّى لَمْ أُبَلْ
أَلِقاءُis it meeting أُسْدٍlions أَمْor لِقاءُmeeting ثَعالِبُfoxes
أَلِقاءُ أُسْدٍ أَمْ لِقاءُ ثَعالِبُ
and I grew familiar with terrors until I cared not
It goes perfumed with the breath of my features
whether I met lions or foxes.
And returns at dawn exacting my tribute
كمْhow often أَنشَبَتْsank فِيَّinto me الخطوبُcalamities مخالِباًclaws
كمْ أَنشَبَتْ فِيَّ الخطوبُ مخالِباً
حَتَّىuntil انْثَنَتْthey withdrew عنِّيfrom me بغيرِwithout مخالبِclaws
حَتَّى انْثَنَتْ عنِّي بغيرِ مخالبِ
How often calamities sank their claws into me,
It rises to gather the unique beauty of my charms
until they withdrew from me without claws!
And sets to reap the choice rarities of my wonders
وشَفَيْتُand I cured سُمَّthe venom of عَقارِبٍscorpions بأَساوِدٍwith black serpents
وشَفَيْتُ سُمَّ عَقارِبٍ بأَساوِدٍ
ودَفَعْتُand I repelled سُمَّthe venom of أَساوِدٍblack serpents بعقارِبِwith scorpions
ودَفَعْتُ سُمَّ أَساوِدٍ بعقارِبِ
I cured scorpion venom with black serpents,
It lodges spreading flowers over the plains and hills
and repelled black serpents' venom with scorpions,
That inform about you, that you are my composer
حتىuntil نَزَفْنَthey exhausted سُمومَهُنَّtheir venoms فلَمْand no longer يُرَعwas alarmed
حتى نَزَفْنَ سُمومَهُنَّ فلَمْ يُرَع
منby نافِثاتِthe spitters of السُّمِّvenom ليلُthe night of الحاطِبِthe wood-gatherer
من نافِثاتِ السُّمِّ ليلُ الحاطِبِ
until they spent their venoms, leaving untroubled
From the luxuriance which the gardens of my orchards exude
by venom-spitters the wood-gatherer's night.
And whose essence the clouds of my cisterns pour down
وسُدِكْتُand I was entangled بالغَمَرَاتِin overwhelming perils حَتَّىuntil بَلَّدَتْthey grew sluggish
وسُدِكْتُ بالغَمَرَاتِ حَتَّى بَلَّدَتْ
فَرَمَيْنَso they flung حَبْلِيmy rope فَوْقَover ذِرْوَةِthe crest of غارِبِa camel's withers
فَرَمَيْنَ حَبْلِي فَوْقَ ذِرْوَةِ غارِبِ
I was entangled in perils until they grew sluggish,
So I threaded them into each rising horizon
and flung my rope over the crest of a camel's withers.
And sent them with every piercing star
وتدارَكَتْنِيand rescued me ذِمَّةٌa pledge of protection منfrom يَعْرُبٍYa'rub
وتدارَكَتْنِي ذِمَّةٌ من يَعْرُبٍ
مَطَرَتْrained عَليَّupon me ثِمارَthe fruits of جَنَّةِthe garden of مأْرِبِMa'rib
مَطَرَتْ عَليَّ ثِمارَ جَنَّةِ مأْرِبِ
A pledge of protection from Ya'rub came to my rescue,
And - O Manṣūr - I threaded your mention among them
raining upon me fruits from Ma'rib's garden.
Like stringing beads on a necklace’s string
فهناكَso there أَنْصَلْتُI removed الأَسِنَّةَthe spearheads وانْتَحىand turned
فهناكَ أَنْصَلْتُ الأَسِنَّةَ وانْتَحى
سيفيmy sword بِهَاtherein مَسْحاًin sweeping blows بسُوقِat the shanks of ركائِبيmy riding camels
سيفي بِهَا مَسْحاً بسُوقِ ركائِبي
There I removed the spearheads, and turned
A mention atop minds nobler than any lodging
my sword there to sweeping blows at my riding camels' shanks.
And over the wastelands of earth clearer than any rider
ورفَعْتُand I raised ناراًa fire للعيونِbefore the eyes وقودُهاits fuel
ورفَعْتُ ناراً للعيونِ وقودُها
أَقْتابُthe saddles of أَحْدَاجيmy camel-litters وَوَقْرُand the load of حقائِبيmy packs
أَقْتابُ أَحْدَاجي وَوَقْرُ حقائِبي
I raised a fire before all eyes, its fuel
Ramparts for your glory, raised by signs
the saddles of my litters and the load of my packs.
The standards of my courtesy and mention of my virtues
نِعَمٌblessings تكادalmost تَرُدُّrestore أَيَّامَthe days of الصِّباyouth
نِعَمٌ تكاد تَرُدُّ أَيَّامَ الصِّبا
وتُعيدُand bring back أَزْمانَthe times of النَّعِيمِbliss الذَّاهِبِvanished
وتُعيدُ أَزْمانَ النَّعِيمِ الذَّاهِبِ
Blessings that almost restore the days of youth
With openings from every current eulogy
and bring back the times of vanished bliss:
And conclusions from every passing praise
أَيَّامَdays when أَلْقىI meet الصُّبْحَthe morning تِرْبَa peer of كواكبٍstars
أَيَّامَ أَلْقى الصُّبْحَ تِرْبَ كواكبٍ
أَدَباًin letters وأُحْييand I enliven اللَّيْلَthe night خِلْبَa charmer of كواعِبِfull-breasted maidens
أَدَباً وأُحْيي اللَّيْلَ خِلْبَ كواعِبِ
days when I met the morning as a peer of stars
So the two realms coveted the discourse of the most eloquent poet
in letters, and enlivened the night, a charmer of full-breasted maidens.
And the world screamed for the most articulate suitor
والمَكْرُمَاتُand noble deeds منازليmy dwellings ومشاهِدِيand my gathering places
والمَكْرُمَاتُ منازلي ومشاهِدِي
والمُقْرَباتُand prized steeds مراكِبيmy mounts ومَرَاقِبيand my vantage points
والمُقْرَباتُ مراكِبي ومَرَاقِبي
Noble deeds were my dwellings and gathering places,
I then discoursed while fate was part of my pulpits
and prized steeds my mounts and vantage points.
And aspired while the galaxy was part of my battles
إِذْwhen أَنتَyou يَاO زَمَنَseason of الرَّبيعِspring مُخَيِّمٌencamped
إِذْ أَنتَ يَا زَمَنَ الرَّبيعِ مُخَيِّمٌ
فِيon ساحِليmy shore ومُغَيِّمٌand casting clouds منfrom جانِبيmy side
فِي ساحِلي ومُغَيِّمٌ من جانِبي
when you, O season of spring, were encamped
I wrote of it scriptures for the nights
upon my shore, casting clouds from my side,
Which the tongues of enduring time recite
عَبِقُfragrant الرَّوائِحِin scents منfrom نَثِيرِthe scatterings of غدائِرِيmy tresses
عَبِقُ الرَّوائِحِ من نَثِيرِ غدائِرِي
غَدِقُabundant السَّحائِبِin clouds منfrom فُضُولِthe surplus of مشارِبيmy cups
غَدِقُ السَّحائِبِ من فُضُولِ مشارِبي
fragrant with scents scattered from my tresses,
Until I made the glory of your kingdom present
abundant in clouds from the surplus of my cups.
In every region, absent from your lands,
وتَرُوحُand you go at evening مُغْتَبِقاًdrinking at evening شَمُولَthe wine of شمائِليmy qualities
وتَرُوحُ مُغْتَبِقاً شَمُولَ شمائِلي
وتعُودُand you return مُصْطَبِحاًdrinking at dawn ضَرِيبَthe blended milk of ضَرائِبيmy dispositions
وتعُودُ مُصْطَبِحاً ضَرِيبَ ضَرائِبي
You go at evening to drink the wine of my qualities,
And I revealed your exemplar to the world amidst the clamor
and return to drink at dawn the blended milk of my dispositions.
Strutting between mounted warriors and sailing ships
تَغْدُوyou go at dawn فَتَسْتَملِيthen take dictation of بديعَthe wondrous محاسِنيmy beauties
تَغْدُو فَتَسْتَملِي بديعَ محاسِني
وترُوحُand you go at evening تَسْتَقرِيseeking out نفيسَthe precious غرائِبِيmy rarities
وترُوحُ تَسْتَقرِي نفيسَ غرائِبِي
You go at dawn to take dictation of my wondrous beauties,
And I showed you to the humble nations crowned
and at evening seek out my precious rarities.
With sièges and wreathed with brigades
وتبيتُand you spend the night تنشُرُspreading فِيover الأَباطِحِgravelly riverbeds والرُّبىand hills
وتبيتُ تنشُرُ فِي الأَباطِحِ والرُّبى
زَهْراًflowers يُخَبِّرُdeclaring عنكof you أَنَّكَthat you كاتِبيare my scribe
زَهْراً يُخَبِّرُ عنك أَنَّكَ كاتِبي
You spend the night spreading over gravelly beds and hills
I lifted the veil of night from you for one who departs, approaches, distances or draws near
flowers declaring of you that you are my scribe,
Until they saw your brilliance beneath the darkness
مِمَّاfrom what تَرِفُّshimmer بِهِwith it رِياضُthe meadows of حدائِقيmy gardens
مِمَّا تَرِفُّ بِهِ رِياضُ حدائِقي
ويُفيضُand pours forth جَوْهَرَهُits jewels عُبابُthe surge of غوارِبيmy cresting waves
ويُفيضُ جَوْهَرَهُ عُبابُ غوارِبي
from what makes the meadows of my gardens shimmer,
Like a vision to one who travels in a dreamer's imagination
and whose jewels the surge of my cresting waves spills forth.
A flier in the tumult of the fray with arrivals
فَنَظَمْتُهاso I strung them فِيthrough كُلِّevery أُفْقٍhorizon نازِحٍdistant
فَنَظَمْتُها فِي كُلِّ أُفْقٍ نازِحٍ
وبَعَثْتُهاand I sent them مَعَwith كُلِّevery نَجْمٍstar ثاقِبِpiercing
وبَعَثْتُها مَعَ كُلِّ نَجْمٍ ثاقِبِ
So I strung them through every distant horizon,
Like arrivals, retinues and riders like mounts
and sent them with every piercing star.
Until the son of Shanj, humbled on the day he wronged you
وَنَظَمْتُand I strung يَاO مَنصورُMansur ذكرَكَyour name وَسْطَهاamong them
وَنَظَمْتُ يَا مَنصورُ ذكرَكَ وَسْطَها
نَظْمَas the stringing of العُقُودِnecklaces عَلَىacross تَرَائِبِthe breastbones of كاعِبِa full-breasted maiden
نَظْمَ العُقُودِ عَلَى تَرَائِبِ كاعِبِ
I strung your name among them, O Mansur,
Hastens to you in repentance, a guilty sinner
as necklaces are strung across a full-breasted maiden's breast.
After he had plundered the lands and could find
ذِكْرٌa remembrance عَلَىto الأَلبابِminds أَكْرَمُthe noblest نازِلٍvisitor
ذِكْرٌ عَلَى الأَلبابِ أَكْرَمُ نازِلٍ
وَعَلَىand on فِجاجِthe broad paths of الأَرْضِthe earth أَوْضَحُthe most conspicuous راكِبِrider
وَعَلَى فِجاجِ الأَرْضِ أَوْضَحُ راكِبِ
A remembrance, the noblest visitor to minds,
No refuge from your abode, a fleeing escapee
and the most conspicuous rider on earth's broad paths.
And saw weakness in rising against you, the best ally
سُورٌchapters لِمَجْدِكَfor your glory رَفَّعَتْraised high آياتِهاtheir verses
سُورٌ لِمَجْدِكَ رَفَّعَتْ آياتِها
أَعْلامُthe banners of آدابيmy literary arts وذِكْرُand remembrance of مناقِبيmy merits
أَعْلامُ آدابي وذِكْرُ مناقِبي
Chapters for your glory, their verses raised high by
And saw fleeing to you as the safest companion
the banners of my literary arts and the remembrance of my merits,
He called upon you confessing the humiliation of a sinner
بفواتِحٍwith openings منfrom كُلِّevery مَدْحٍpraise سائِرٍwidely circulating
بفواتِحٍ من كُلِّ مَدْحٍ سائِرٍ
وخواتِمٍand endings منfrom كُلِّevery حَمْدٍeulogy ذاهِبِfar-ranging
وخواتِمٍ من كُلِّ حَمْدٍ ذاهِبِ
with openings from every widely traveling praise,
And came to you clothed in the habit of a monk
and endings from every far-ranging eulogy.
My prospects became visible during your protection
فاسْتَشْرَفَso looked up to الثَّقَلانِhumankind and jinn أَخْطَبَthe most eloquent شَاعِرٍpoet
فاسْتَشْرَفَ الثَّقَلانِ أَخْطَبَ شَاعِرٍ
وأَصَاخَتِand listened الدُّنياthe world لأَشْعَرِto the most poetic خاطِبِorator
وأَصَاخَتِ الدُّنيا لأَشْعَرِ خاطِبِ
Then humankind and jinn looked up to the most eloquent poet,
When my exile overwhelmed my sunsets
and the world listened to the most poetic orator.
So you sealed my long tribulation by welcoming me
فَخَطَبْتُso I delivered an oration والعَوَّاءُand al-Awwa بَعْضُamong منابِرِيmy pulpits
فَخَطَبْتُ والعَوَّاءُ بَعْضُ منابِرِي
وأَمَمتُand I led in prayer والجوزَاءُand al-Jawza بعضamong محَاربيmy prayer niches
وأَمَمتُ والجوزَاءُ بعض محَاربي
I delivered an oration, with al-Awwa among my pulpits,
And rewarded the strangeness of my plight with hopes
and led in prayer, with al-Jawza among my prayer niches.
You saved me from every impending misfortune
وكَتَبْتُand I wrote منهاfrom them لِلَّياليfor the nights مُصْحَفاًa scripture
وكَتَبْتُ منها لِلَّيالي مُصْحَفاً
تتلُوهُrecite it أَلسِنَةُthe tongues of الزَّمانِtime الدَّائِبِunceasing
تتلُوهُ أَلسِنَةُ الزَّمانِ الدَّائِبِ
From them I wrote a scripture for the nights,
To the point of despairing hope's frustration
recited by the tongues of unceasing time,
I found succor for my needs in your presence
حَتَّىuntil تركتُI made سَناءَthe splendor of مُلْكِكَyour reign حاضِراًpresent
حَتَّى تركتُ سَناءَ مُلْكِكَ حاضِراً
فِيin كُلِّevery أُفْقٍhorizon عنaway from بلادِكَyour lands غائِبِdistant
فِي كُلِّ أُفْقٍ عن بلادِكَ غائِبِ
until I made the splendor of your reign present
And solace for my sorrows and cure from my afflictions
in every horizon distant from your lands.
The feast truly manifested itself to you in a lovely
وجَلَوْتُand I unveiled للدُّنياto the world مثالَكَyour image فِيin الوَغىbattle
وجَلَوْتُ للدُّنيا مثالَكَ فِي الوَغى
تختالُyou stride proudly بَيْنَamong ذوابِلٍslender spears وقَواضِبِand cutting swords
تختالُ بَيْنَ ذوابِلٍ وقَواضِبِ
I unveiled to the world your image in battle,
Radiance, for misfortunes and calamities
striding proudly among slender spears and cutting swords.
Your eyebrow which you engendered proceeds before you
وأَرَيْتُكَand I showed you الأُمَمَthe generations الخُلُوفَyet to come مَتَوَّجاًcrowned
وأَرَيْتُكَ الأُمَمَ الخُلُوفَ مَتَوَّجاً
بخوافِقٍwith fluttering banners ومُكَلَّلاًand wreathed بكتائِبِin battalions
بخوافِقٍ ومُكَلَّلاً بكتائِبِ
I showed you to generations yet to come, crowned
Like the sun when it shone its eyebrow at you
with fluttering banners and wreathed in battalions.
In a scene with the brilliance of your forehead beaming
ورَفَعْتُand I lifted سِتْرَthe veil of الليلِnight عنكَfrom you لِغَابِرٍfor one left behind
ورَفَعْتُ سِتْرَ الليلِ عنكَ لِغَابِرٍ
ومُقَدَّمٍand one ahead ومُباعِدٍand one far away ومُقارِبِand one nearby
ومُقَدَّمٍ ومُباعِدٍ ومُقارِبِ
I lifted the veil of night from you for those behind
Beaming with soft hair and braided locks
and those ahead, those far away and those near,
A lovely sight challenging the slanderers with blades
حَتَّىuntil أَرَيْتَهُمُI showed them السَّناbrilliance تَحْتَbeneath الدُّجىdarkness
حَتَّى أَرَيْتَهُمُ السَّنا تَحْتَ الدُّجى
وخيالَand the image of سَارٍa night traveler فِيin مَخِيلَةِthe imagination of سارِبِa daytime traveler
وخيالَ سَارٍ فِي مَخِيلَةِ سارِبِ
until I showed them brilliance beneath darkness,
Strutting between suitors and respondents
and a night traveler's image in a day traveler's fancy:
Until you ascended the throne of your kingdom, surrounded
طَيَّارَflying بارِقَةِthe lightning flash of الوغىbattle بمَقادِمٍwith vanguards
طَيَّارَ بارِقَةِ الوغى بمَقادِمٍ
كَقوادِمٍlike flight feathers ومَوَاكِبٍand columns كمناكِبِlike shoulders
كَقوادِمٍ ومَوَاكِبٍ كمناكِبِ
flying through battle's lightning with vanguards
By the light of joy on all sides
like flight feathers, and columns like shoulders.
And you extended for kissing a beneficent palm
حَتَّىeven ابْنُIbn شَنْجٍShanj يَوْمَon the day أَمَّكَhe sought you خاضِعاًsubmissively
حَتَّى ابْنُ شَنْجٍ يَوْمَ أَمَّكَ خاضِعاً
تَسعىhastens إِلَيْكَtoward you بِهِwith him نَدَامَةُthe remorse of تائِبِa penitent
تَسعى إِلَيْكَ بِهِ نَدَامَةُ تائِبِ
Even Ibn Shanj, on the day he sought you in submission,
Whose fingers sip from the oceans of gifts
was driven to you by a penitent's remorse,
It almost cries out about you, “Is there one who craves?
منْfrom بَعْدِafter مَاwhen رَازَhe tested البلادَthe lands فَلَمْand did not يَجِدْfind
منْ بَعْدِ مَا رَازَ البلادَ فَلَمْ يَجِدْ
فِيon الأَرْضِthe earth عنaway from مأْواكَyour refuge مَهْرَبَan escape for هارِبِa fugitive
فِي الأَرْضِ عن مأْواكَ مَهْرَبَ هارِبِ
after he had tested the lands and found
Or a monk, or a fearful one, or a seeker?”
on earth no fugitive's escape away from your refuge.
So submit and be the last cultivator of the earth
ورأَىand he saw الضَّلالَstraying عَلَيْكَagainst you أَضْعَفَthe weakest ناصِرٍally
ورأَى الضَّلالَ عَلَيْكَ أَضْعَفَ ناصِرٍ
ورأىand he saw الفِرَارَflight إِلَيْكَto you أَيْمَنَthe most auspicious صاحِبِcompanion
ورأى الفِرَارَ إِلَيْكَ أَيْمَنَ صاحِبِ
He saw that straying against you was the weakest ally,
And for the vanquisher of foes, the first vanquisher
and that flight to you was the most auspicious companion.
ودعاكَand he called upon you مُعْتَرِفاًconfessing بِذِلَّةٍwith the abasement of مُذْنِبٍa sinner
ودعاكَ مُعْتَرِفاً بِذِلَّةٍ مُذْنِبٍ
وأَتاكَand he came to you مُشْتَمِلاًwrapped بِلِبْسَةٍin the garb of راهِبِa monk
وأَتاكَ مُشْتَمِلاً بِلِبْسَةٍ راهِبِ
He called on you, confessing with a sinner's abasement,
and came to you wrapped in a monk's garb.
ولقدand indeed تراءَتْappeared فِيin ذَرَاكَyour shelter مطالِعِيmy risings
ولقد تراءَتْ فِي ذَرَاكَ مطالِعِي
حينَwhen اسْتَبَدَّheld complete sway تَغَرُّبيmy exile بِمغارِبيover my settings
حينَ اسْتَبَدَّ تَغَرُّبي بِمغارِبي
My risings indeed appeared beneath your protection,
when my exile held sway over my settings.
فَخَتَمْتَso you ended طُولَthe length of تَقَلُّبيmy wandering بتَقَبُّلِيby welcoming me
فَخَتَمْتَ طُولَ تَقَلُّبي بتَقَبُّلِي
وجزَيْتَand you rewarded غُرَّthe radiant غرائِبِيmy rarities برَغائِبِwith coveted gifts
وجزَيْتَ غُرَّ غرائِبِي برَغائِبِ
You ended my long wandering by welcoming me,
and rewarded my radiant rarities with coveted gifts.
وأًجَرْتَنيand you sheltered me منfrom كُلِّevery خَطْبٍcalamity طارِقٍknocking
وأًجَرْتَني من كُلِّ خَطْبٍ طارِقٍ
حَتَّىeven مُناجَاةِthe intimate whispering of الرَّجاءِhope الخائِبِdisappointed
حَتَّى مُناجَاةِ الرَّجاءِ الخائِبِ
You sheltered me from every calamity that knocked,
even the intimate whisper of disappointed hope.
ووجَدْتُand I found عندat يَدَيْكَyour hands سَدَّrelief of مفاقِريmy privations
ووجَدْتُ عند يَدَيْكَ سَدَّ مفاقِري
وسُلُوَّand solace for أَحزانِيmy sorrows وبُرْءَand healing for مصائِبِيmy afflictions
وسُلُوَّ أَحزانِي وبُرْءَ مصائِبِي
At your hands I found my needs supplied,
my sorrows consoled, and my afflictions healed.
ولقدand indeed تَجَلَّىshone forth العيدُthe feast day عَنْكَfrom you بِغُرَّةٍwith a radiant brow
ولقد تَجَلَّى العيدُ عَنْكَ بِغُرَّةٍ
جَلّاءةٍdispelling لِفَوَادِحٍcrushing calamities وغَياهِبِand deep darkness
جَلّاءةٍ لِفَوَادِحٍ وغَياهِبِ
Indeed, the feast day shone forth from you with a radiant brow,
dispelling crushing woes and deepest darkness.
يتلُوكَfollows you حاجِبُكَyour chamberlain الَّذِيwhom أَنْجَبْتَهُyou begot
يتلُوكَ حاجِبُكَ الَّذِي أَنْجَبْتَهُ
كالشَّمْسِlike the sun إِذْwhen ضَرَبَتْit reached forth إليكَtoward you بِحاجِبِwith a brow
كالشَّمْسِ إِذْ ضَرَبَتْ إليكَ بِحاجِبِ
Your chamberlain, whom you begot, follows you,
like the sun as it reaches you with its brow,
فيin مَشهدٍa gathering بِسَناwith the radiance of جبينِكَyour forehead مشرِقٍbright
في مَشهدٍ بِسَنا جبينِكَ مشرِقٍ
شَرِقٍcrowded بآسادٍwith lions وجُرْدِand sleek سَلاهِبِlong-limbed steeds
شَرِقٍ بآسادٍ وجُرْدِ سَلاهِبِ
in a gathering bright with the radiance of your forehead,
crowded with lions and sleek, long-limbed steeds:
غُرٍّwhite-blazed تَواعَدُchallenge one another للطِّعَانِto spear combat صَواهِلٍneighing
غُرٍّ تَواعَدُ للطِّعَانِ صَواهِلٍ
تختالُstrut proudly بَيْنَbetween مُخاطِبٍone calling ومُجاوِبِand one answering
تختالُ بَيْنَ مُخاطِبٍ ومُجاوِبِ
white-blazed neighers, challenging one another to spear combat,
strutting between one that calls and one that answers.
حَتَّىuntil ارْتَقَيْتَyou ascended سريرَthe throne of مُلْكِكَyour reign حَفَّهُencircled it
حَتَّى ارْتَقَيْتَ سريرَ مُلْكِكَ حَفَّهُ
نُورُthe light of السرورِgladness جوانِباًsides بِجوانِبِupon sides
نُورُ السرورِ جوانِباً بِجوانِبِ
until you mounted your royal throne, encircled by
the light of gladness on side after side.
ومدَدْتَand you extended للتقبيلِfor kissing راحَةَthe palm of مُنعِمٍa benefactor
ومدَدْتَ للتقبيلِ راحَةَ مُنعِمٍ
تَنْهَلُّpour forth أَنْمُلُهاits fingertips بُحُورَseas of مَواهِبِgifts
تَنْهَلُّ أَنْمُلُها بُحُورَ مَواهِبِ
You extended for kissing the palm of a benefactor,
whose fingertips pour forth seas of gifts,
وتكادُand it almost تهتِفُcries out عَنكَon your behalf هلis there منany راغِبٍone desiring
وتكادُ تهتِفُ عَنكَ هل من راغِبٍ
أَوْor راهبٍone in dread أَوْor خائفٍone afraid أَوْor طالِبِone seeking
أَوْ راهبٍ أَوْ خائفٍ أَوْ طالِبِ
almost crying on your behalf: Is there anyone desiring,
or in dread, or afraid, or seeking?
فاسْلَمso remain safe وكُنْand be للأَرْضِfor the earth آخِرَthe last عامِرٍinhabitant
فاسْلَم وكُنْ للأَرْضِ آخِرَ عامِرٍ
ولغالِبِand over the victor among الأَعْدَاءِthe foes أَوَّلَthe first غَالِبِvictor
ولغالِبِ الأَعْدَاءِ أَوَّلَ غَالِبِ
Remain safe, and be the earth's last inhabitant,
and the first victor over victorious foes.
Partial English translation: 133 of 160 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1