ألا يا مَشوقاً يمّمَ الرّبْعَ والمَغْنى

ألا يا مَشوقاً يمّمَ الرّبْعَ والمَغْنى

هنيئاً فوجْهُ الحسْنِ حيّاكَ بالحسْنى

هنيئاً فوجْهُ الحسْنِ حيّاكَ بالحسْنى

Ah, O longing one who made for the campsite and dwelling,

Oh you who yearns to visit this land and its beauty

joy to you! Beauty's face has greeted you with kindness.

Congratulations, for your beautiful face greets with beauty

عطفْت على سلمَى الرّكابَ مُسلّماً

عطفْت على سلمَى الرّكابَ مُسلّماً

فأهْدَتْ جَواباً رائقَ اللفظِ والمعْنَى

فأهْدَتْ جَواباً رائقَ اللفظِ والمعْنَى

You turned the mounts toward Salma, offering greetings,

You turned towards my steps in submission

and she offered a reply, lovely in wording and meaning.

And gifted an elegant, eloquent response

ويا طالَما صدّت ولم تَثْنِ مَعطِفاً

ويا طالَما صدّت ولم تَثْنِ مَعطِفاً

ولذّتْ وقد جاذَبْتُها غُصُناً لَدْنا

ولذّتْ وقد جاذَبْتُها غُصُناً لَدْنا

Oh, how often she turned away and would not bend her flank,

Oh how you often turned away and did not bend a coat

yet she was delightful as I drew her toward me, a supple bough.

Yet you delighted when I pulled you, a tender branch

وأمّا وقد لاحَ المحَيّا وحُسْنُهُ

وأمّا وقد لاحَ المحَيّا وحُسْنُهُ

فمِنْ طَلْعةٍ تُجْلَى ومنْ دوحَةٍ تُجْنى

فمِنْ طَلْعةٍ تُجْلَى ومنْ دوحَةٍ تُجْنى

But now that her face and its beauty have appeared,

As for when your radiant beauty appeared

what a countenance unveiled, what a spreading tree to gather from!

From a rising moon and a blossoming meadow

وقِدْماً سرَيْنا بالرَّكائِب مَوْهِناً

وقِدْماً سرَيْنا بالرَّكائِب مَوْهِناً

ونجْمُ الدُّجى بالأفْقِ لمْ يعرِفِ الوَهْنا

ونجْمُ الدُّجى بالأفْقِ لمْ يعرِفِ الوَهْنا

Long ago we traveled with the mounts late at night,

We walked slowly with the mounts in the night

while the night-star on the horizon knew no weakness.

And the star of dusk did not know fatigue

تخوضُ بنا بحْرَ السّرابِ ظعائِنٌ

تخوضُ بنا بحْرَ السّرابِ ظعائِنٌ

فللّه عيْنَا مَن رأى البحرَ والسُّفْنا

فللّه عيْنَا مَن رأى البحرَ والسُّفْنا

Camel litters wade with us through a sea of mirage;

Imaginary mirages lead us into the sea of mirage

God bless the eyes of whoever saw the sea and the ships!

So blessed are the eyes that saw the sea and ships

ولم أنْسَ بالحَيِّ الحِلالِ وُقوفَها

ولم أنْسَ بالحَيِّ الحِلالِ وُقوفَها

وسُكّانُه المعْنَى فمالي وللمغْنَى

وسُكّانُه المعْنَى فمالي وللمغْنَى

Nor have I forgotten their halt beside the encamped tribe;

I have not forgotten her standing in the permitted quarter

its inhabitants are what matters—what is the dwelling to me?

Its people are meanings, so what do I want with poetry?

وهل شغَفي بالبانِ إلا لأنّه

وهل شغَفي بالبانِ إلا لأنّه

بهِ شَبَهٌ ممّنْ كَلِفتُ بها معْنَى

بهِ شَبَهٌ ممّنْ كَلِفتُ بها معْنَى

Is my passion for the ban-tree for any reason but that

My passion for description is only because

it bears, in essence, a likeness to her whom I adore?

Through it I compare one who has inspired meaning in me

هيَ الظّبْيُ جيداً والقَضيبُ تأوُّداً

هيَ الظّبْيُ جيداً والقَضيبُ تأوُّداً

ثنَتْنيَ مِلْكاً دونَ شرْطٍ ولا اسْتِثْنا

ثنَتْنيَ مِلْكاً دونَ شرْطٍ ولا اسْتِثْنا

She is a gazelle in her neck, a bough in her supple sway;

She is a gazelle in form and a staff in intimacy

she made me her possession, without condition or exception,

She captivated me without condition or exception

بنَيِّر مرْآها وحُسْنِ قوامِها

بنَيِّر مرْآها وحُسْنِ قوامِها

إذا ما تبدّتْ تُخْجِلُ البدْرَ والغُصْنا

إذا ما تبدّتْ تُخْجِلُ البدْرَ والغُصْنا

through her radiant appearance and the beauty of her stature.

The brightness of her mirror and beauty of her stature

When she appears, she puts the full moon and the bough to shame.

When she appears, puts moons and branches to shame

فيا لَيْتَ منْها الطيْفُ قد زارَ في الدُجى

فيا لَيْتَ منْها الطيْفُ قد زارَ في الدُجى

ومن لي بهِ والسُّهْدُ قد ألِفَ الجَفْنا

ومن لي بهِ والسُّهْدُ قد ألِفَ الجَفْنا

Oh, would that her dream-image had visited me in the darkness!

Oh if only her phantom would visit me in the darkness of night

But who will bring it to me, when sleeplessness has befriended my eyelid?

For who can I hope when sleep has befriended my eyelids?

أطارَ فؤادي الشّوْقُ بعْدَ بِعادِها

أطارَ فؤادي الشّوْقُ بعْدَ بِعادِها

فلمْ يتخِذْ في الصّدْرِ وكْراً ولا وَكْنا

فلمْ يتخِذْ في الصّدْرِ وكْراً ولا وَكْنا

Longing sent my heart flying after her departure,

Yearning flew away with my heart after she left

so it made neither nest nor roost within my breast.

It did not make in my chest a den or abode

عجِبْتُ لها إذْ أتْلَفَتْهُ ببُعْدِها

عجِبْتُ لها إذْ أتْلَفَتْهُ ببُعْدِها

وما اتخذَتْ لمّا نأتْ غيرَهُ سُكْنى

وما اتخذَتْ لمّا نأتْ غيرَهُ سُكْنى

I marveled at her, for she destroyed it by her absence,

I'm amazed it befriended her despite her distance

yet when she went away, she chose no dwelling but that heart.

And did not take rest except when she came close

لقد عذَرَتْني ثمّ ضنَّتْ بوصْلِها

لقد عذَرَتْني ثمّ ضنَّتْ بوصْلِها

وأعْجَبُ شيءٍ عاذِرٌ بالمُنَى ضَنّا

وأعْجَبُ شيءٍ عاذِرٌ بالمُنَى ضَنّا

She did excuse me, then withheld reunion with her;

She excused me then was stingy to unite

and strangest of all is one who excuses, yet withholds what is wished for.

The most amazing thing is one who excuses yet is stingy when fate comes

وقد رجمَ الواشي ظنوناً كَواذباً

وقد رجمَ الواشي ظنوناً كَواذباً

فمنْ عاذِرٍ قدْ ضنّ أو عاذلٍ ظنّا

فمنْ عاذِرٍ قدْ ضنّ أو عاذلٍ ظنّا

And the slanderer hurled false suspicions,

The slanderer has cast doubts and lies

so I face one who excuses but withholds, or a reprover who suspects.

So who excuses yet is stingy or who doubts yet accuses?

وأبْدَعُ شيءٍ طائرُ الدوحِ صادِحاً

وأبْدَعُ شيءٍ طائرُ الدوحِ صادِحاً

يُذكِّرُ بالمغْنى ويُبْدِعُ إن غَنّى

يُذكِّرُ بالمغْنى ويُبْدِعُ إن غَنّى

And most wondrous is the grove's bird, singing aloud:

The most unique thing is the ring dove calling loudly

it recalls the dwelling and works wonders when it sings.

Reminding of the beauty and excelling if it sings

أذِنْتُ لهُ والسمعُ بابٌ لسَجْعِهِ

أذِنْتُ لهُ والسمعُ بابٌ لسَجْعِهِ

فثابَ ولمْ يعرِفْ حِجاباً ولا إذْنا

فثابَ ولمْ يعرِفْ حِجاباً ولا إذْنا

I listened to it, my hearing a doorway for its cooing;

I listened to it and hearing is a gateway to its song

so it returned, knowing neither barrier nor permission.

So it returned and did not know a veil or permission

وطوّق بالأنداءِ جيداً كأنّهُ

وطوّق بالأنداءِ جيداً كأنّهُ

حَبَى يوسُفاً مَوْلايَ بالمَدْحِ فاسْتَغْنى

حَبَى يوسُفاً مَوْلايَ بالمَدْحِ فاسْتَغْنى

And it garlanded its neck with dewdrops, as though it

It circled with odes as if

had offered praise to Yusuf, my lord, and grown rich.

It wove Joseph with praise so was self-sufficient

هوَ الملِكُ الأعْلى هو النّاصِرُ الذي

هوَ الملِكُ الأعْلى هو النّاصِرُ الذي

مَعالِي عَوالِيهِ مؤسّسةُ المَبْنى

مَعالِي عَوالِيهِ مؤسّسةُ المَبْنى

He is the supreme king; he is al-Nasir, whose

He is the Highest King, the Victorious Supporter

lofty spears' glories stand on firm foundations.

Whose lofty glories established the foundation

فحَسْبُ ملوكِ الغربِ والشّرقِ أنّهُ

فحَسْبُ ملوكِ الغربِ والشّرقِ أنّهُ

يُؤمّلُه الأقْصى من الخلْقِ والأدْنى

يُؤمّلُه الأقْصى من الخلْقِ والأدْنى

It is enough for the kings of West and East that he

It is enough for east and west kings that He

is the hope of people farthest and nearest.

Hopes for their safety, both far and near

إذا ما تبدّى البدْرُ نُوراً ورِفْعَةً

إذا ما تبدّى البدْرُ نُوراً ورِفْعَةً

أرى قدْرَهُ أسْمى وطلعتَهُ أسْنى

أرى قدْرَهُ أسْمى وطلعتَهُ أسْنى

When the full moon appears in radiance and loftiness,

When the full moon rises with light and loftiness

I see his rank as loftier, his countenance as brighter.

I see its value highest and its rising most sublime

تُيَسِّرُ يُسْراهُ لسائِلهِ المُنى

تُيَسِّرُ يُسْراهُ لسائِلهِ المُنى

وتَبْسُط يُمْناهُ لآمِلِه الأمْنا

وتَبْسُط يُمْناهُ لآمِلِه الأمْنا

His left hand brings his petitioner's wishes within reach,

It makes easy the ease for the asker of purpose

and his right hand extends safety to whoever hopes in him.

And extends its favors for the hopeful of safety

فيُرْدي أعادِيهِ ويُحْيِي عُفاتَهُ

فيُرْدي أعادِيهِ ويُحْيِي عُفاتَهُ

بمَكْرُمَةٍ قدْ سَنّ أو غارَةٍ شنّا

بمَكْرُمَةٍ قدْ سَنّ أو غارَةٍ شنّا

He slays his enemies and gives life to his petitioners,

So it defeats its enemies and revives its chastity

through a generous deed he instituted, or a raid he launched.

With either a generous act or a waged war

حَباني بالآمالِ والمالِ رِفْدُهُ

حَباني بالآمالِ والمالِ رِفْدُهُ

فأغْنَى وعنْ تسْآل مَنْ دونَهُ أغْنى

فأغْنَى وعنْ تسْآل مَنْ دونَهُ أغْنى

His bounty endowed me with hopes and wealth;

Its support enriches me with hopes and wealth

it enriched me, and spared me from asking anyone beneath him.

So I am self-sufficient and need not ask others for meaning

مدائِحُهُ كانتْ وسائِلَ للغِنى

مدائِحُهُ كانتْ وسائِلَ للغِنى

فللّهِ ما أغْنى وللهِ ما أعْنَى

فللّهِ ما أغْنى وللهِ ما أعْنَى

Panegyrics to him were the means to wealth;

My praises of it were means to become rich

by God, what enrichment! And by God, what toil!

So praise belongs to Allah for what enriches me and sustains me

أمَولايَ قد بلّغْتَني كُلَّ مطْلَبٍ

أمَولايَ قد بلّغْتَني كُلَّ مطْلَبٍ

بِفَيْضِ نوالٍ جَوْدُهُ يُخْجِلُ المُزْنا

بِفَيْضِ نوالٍ جَوْدُهُ يُخْجِلُ المُزْنا

O my lord, you have brought me to every goal,

My Master, you have given me all that I sought

with a flood of bounty whose abundance puts the rainclouds to shame.

With abundant bestowal whose generosity shames misers

ولمْ لا وقد وافتْ علامَتُك التي

ولمْ لا وقد وافتْ علامَتُك التي

لها الحُسْنُ في شفعِ الزّيادةِ بالحُسْنى

لها الحُسْنُ في شفعِ الزّيادةِ بالحُسْنى

And why not, when your signature has arrived, whose

Why not, when your sign which is marked with beauty

beauty lies in pairing increase with gracious favor?

In adding to beauty, arrived to intercede?

وجُدتَ بما قد أمّلَ العبْدُ مُنعِماً

وجُدتَ بما قد أمّلَ العبْدُ مُنعِماً

فشكراً بما أوْليْتَ من مقْصَدٍ أسْنى

فشكراً بما أوْليْتَ من مقْصَدٍ أسْنى

And you graciously granted what your servant had hoped for,

You were generous in fulfilling the hopes of a servant

so thanks for the most exalted goal you have granted.

So thanks for what you bestowed of the best aims

وشرّفْتَ عبْداً قد أتاكَ مُسلِّماً

وشرّفْتَ عبْداً قد أتاكَ مُسلِّماً

يَرى اليُمْنَ في تَقبيلِ راحَتِك اليُمْنى

يَرى اليُمْنَ في تَقبيلِ راحَتِك اليُمْنى

And you honored a servant who came to salute you,

And you ennobled a servant who came submitting

seeing good fortune in kissing the palm of your right hand.

Seeing prosperity in kissing your right hand

نوالكَ كافٍ كافِلٌ كلَّ سائِلٍ

نوالكَ كافٍ كافِلٌ كلَّ سائِلٍ

لهُ في الورى معْنىً تَناسَوْا بهِ مَعْنا

لهُ في الورى معْنىً تَناسَوْا بهِ مَعْنا

Your bounty suffices, providing for every petitioner;

Your bestowal suffices, securing every asker

among people it has a significance that made them forget Ma'n.

To whom meanings in life are forgotten with neglect

يميناً بمنْ حثّ الرّكائِبَ في مِنىً

يميناً بمنْ حثّ الرّكائِبَ في مِنىً

ومنْ حجّ بيت اللهِ والحجْرَ والرُّكْنا

ومنْ حجّ بيت اللهِ والحجْرَ والرُّكْنا

I swear by whoever urged the mounts onward in Mina,

A blessing upon the one who hurried his Mount at Mina

and whoever made pilgrimage to God's House, the Hijr, and the Corner,

And the one who performed Pilgrimage of God's House, the Stone and the Corner

ومنْ قد سَرى ليْلاً لتكْليمِ رَبِّهِ

ومنْ قد سَرى ليْلاً لتكْليمِ رَبِّهِ

إلى أن تدَلّى قابَ قوسيْن أو أدْنى

إلى أن تدَلّى قابَ قوسيْن أو أدْنى

and by him who traveled by night to speak with his Lord,

And the one who journeyed by night to speak privately to His Lord

until he drew near, two bow-lengths away or closer:

Until he hung two bow lengths or closer

لما ساجَل البَدْرُ المُنيرُ ولا الحَيا

لما ساجَل البَدْرُ المُنيرُ ولا الحَيا

يَلوحُ ويَهْمي منكَ حُسْناً ولا مَنّا

يَلوحُ ويَهْمي منكَ حُسْناً ولا مَنّا

neither the radiant full moon nor the rain has rivaled

Neither the brilliant full moon nor life

what shines and pours from you: beauty or bounty.

Radiate or bestow from you beauty or bounty

ودونكَها بالحمدِ راقَ جمالُها

ودونكَها بالحمدِ راقَ جمالُها

وبالمَدْحِ فاقتْ كُلَّ غانِيةٍ حَسْنا

وبالمَدْحِ فاقتْ كُلَّ غانِيةٍ حَسْنا

And take it: thanksgiving has made its beauty delightful,

And through praise her beauty surpassed

and through praise it surpassed every lovely woman in beauty.

Every lovely singer in beauty

فأثنى عليْكَ العَبْدُ بَدْءاً وعوْدَةً

فأثنى عليْكَ العَبْدُ بَدْءاً وعوْدَةً

إلى أن ثَنى صرْفَ الزّمانِ بما أثْنى

إلى أن ثَنى صرْفَ الزّمانِ بما أثْنى

So your servant praised you, at first and anew,

So the servant praised you again and again

until, through his praise, he turned aside the vicissitudes of time.

To where time turned with what he praised