فَتَكاتُ طَرْفِكِ أم سيوفُ أبيكِ

فَتَكاتُ طَرْفِكِ أم سيوفُ أبيكِ

وكؤوسُ خمرٍ أم مَراشفُ فيكِ

وكؤوسُ خمرٍ أم مَراشفُ فيكِ

Are these your gaze's deadly assaults, or your father's swords?

Are your glancing eyes or your father's swords slaying me,

And cups of wine, or the lips of your mouth?

Or cups of wine or pillows seducing me?

أجِلادُ مُرْهَفَةٍ وَفَتكُ مَحاجِرٍ

أجِلادُ مُرْهَفَةٍ وَفَتكُ مَحاجِرٍ

ما أنتِ راحمةٌ ولا أهلوك

ما أنتِ راحمةٌ ولا أهلوك

Is it the clash of keen blades and the deadly assault of eyes?

Smooth skins and lethal cheekbones,

You are not merciful, nor are your kin.

You are not merciful, nor chaste.

يا بنتَ ذا السيْفِ الطويلِ نجادُهُ

يا بنتَ ذا السيْفِ الطويلِ نجادُهُ

أكَذا يجوزُ الحكمُ في ناديكِ

أكَذا يجوزُ الحكمُ في ناديكِ

O daughter of this sword whose baldric is long,

O daughter of the long-bladed sword unsheathed,

Is such a judgment permitted in your gathering?

Is this how judgment should be in your gathering?

قد كان يَدعوني خيالُكِ طارقاً

قد كان يَدعوني خيالُكِ طارقاً

حتى دعاني بالقَنا داعيكِ

حتى دعاني بالقَنا داعيكِ

Your phantom once would call to me, visiting by night,

Your apparition used to call me a night visitor,

Until your summoner called me with spears.

Until your confidant called me with the arched eyebrows.

عَيناكِ أم مغناكِ مَوْعِدُنا وفي

عَيناكِ أم مغناكِ مَوْعِدُنا وفي

وادي الكرى نلقاكِ أو واديكِ

وادي الكرى نلقاكِ أو واديكِ

Are your eyes or your dwelling our meeting-place? And in

Are your eyes or your brows our trysting place, and in

The valley of sleep do we meet you, or in your own valley?

Wadi Al-Kora we meet you or your valley?

منعوكِ من سِنة الكرى وسرَوْا فلوْ

منعوكِ من سِنة الكرى وسرَوْا فلوْ

عَثَروا بطيفٍ طارقٍ ظَنّوك

عَثَروا بطيفٍ طارقٍ ظَنّوك

They denied you the drowse of sleep and traveled by night; had they

They forbade you the wont of Al-Kora and proceeded. Had they

Chanced upon a visiting phantom, they would have thought it you.

Stumbled on a visiting figure, they would have thought it was you,

وَدَعَوْكِ نَشوَى ما سقوكِ مُدامةً

وَدَعَوْكِ نَشوَى ما سقوكِ مُدامةً

لمّا تمايل عِطفُكِ اتّهَموكِ

لمّا تمايل عِطفُكِ اتّهَموكِ

They called you intoxicated, though they had given you no wine;

And when your swaying hips made them suspicious

When your waist swayed, they accused you.

They called you drunk, though they did not make you drink.

حسبوا التكحّلَ في جفونك حليْةً

حسبوا التكحّلَ في جفونك حليْةً

تاللّهِ ما بأكفِّهِمْ كحلوك

تاللّهِ ما بأكفِّهِمْ كحلوك

They thought the kohl on your eyelids an adornment;

They thought the kohl on your eyelids an ornament

By God, they did not paint your eyes with their own hands.

By God, they did not line your eyes!

وجَلَوْكِ لي إذ نحن غُصْنا بانَةٍ

وجَلَوْكِ لي إذ نحن غُصْنا بانَةٍ

حتى إذا احتَفَلَ الهوَى حجَبوك

حتى إذا احتَفَلَ الهوَى حجَبوك

And they unveiled you to me when we were two boughs of a ban tree,

And they hid you from me when we were a sprouting branch

Until, when love swelled, they veiled you.

Until, when passion was aroused, they veiled you,

ولوَى مُقبَّلَكِ اللّثامُ وما دَرَوا

ولوَى مُقبَّلَكِ اللّثامُ وما دَرَوا

أن قد لَثمْتُ به وقُبِّلَ فُوك

أن قد لَثمْتُ به وقُبِّلَ فُوك

And the veil enfolded your kissable lips, and they did not know

And when your kissing mouth was covered by the veil they did not know

That I had kissed through it and your mouth had been kissed.

That I had kissed it and your mouth I did kiss.

فضَعي اللِّثامَ فقَبل خَدّك ضُرّجَتْ

فضَعي اللِّثامَ فقَبل خَدّك ضُرّجَتْ

راياتُ يحيى بالّدم المسفوك

راياتُ يحيى بالّدم المسفوك

So lay aside the veil: before your cheek, crimsoned were

So remove the veil and kiss your cheek though it was stained

Yahya's banners with spilled blood.

With the blood of the banners of Yahya shed.

يا خيَلَهُ لا تَسخَطي عَزَماتِهِ

يا خيَلَهُ لا تَسخَطي عَزَماتِهِ

ولئن سَخِطْتِ فقلّما يُرضيك

ولئن سَخِطْتِ فقلّما يُرضيك

O his horses, do not resent his firm resolves;

O his horses, do not get angry at his resolves

And even if you are displeased, seldom does he please you.

If you get angry, he seldom placates you.

إيهاً فمِن بين الأسَّنةِ والظُّبى

إيهاً فمِن بين الأسَّنةِ والظُّبى

إنّ الملائكَةَ الكِرامَ تَليك

إنّ الملائكَةَ الكِرامَ تَليك

Onward! For from amid spearheads and sword-edges,

Away! Between the spearheads and the onagers,

The noble angels are indeed beside you.

The honorable angels follow you,

قد قلّدَتْكِ يدُ الأميرِ أعِنّةً

قد قلّدَتْكِ يدُ الأميرِ أعِنّةً

لِتَخَايَلي وشكائماً لِتَلُوكي

لِتَخَايَلي وشكائماً لِتَلُوكي

The prince's hand has fitted you with reins,

The prince’s hand has girded you with the coat of mail

For you to prance, and bits for you to chew.

For you to sway your figure and for the arrows to pierce you,

وحَماكِ أغمارَ المَواردِ إنّهُ

وحَماكِ أغمارَ المَواردِ إنّهُ

بالسّيفِ من مُهَج العِدى ساقيك

بالسّيفِ من مُهَج العِدى ساقيك

And he has kept you from the deep waters of watering places; he

And has protected you with the darkness of waterholes. He

Gives you drink, by the sword, from enemies' lifeblood.

With the sword from the internal injury of enemies gives you to drink.

عُوجي بجِنْحِ الليل فالمِلكْ الذي

عُوجي بجِنْحِ الليل فالمِلكْ الذي

يهدي النجومَ إلى العُلى هاديك

يهدي النجومَ إلى العُلى هاديك

Turn aside beneath night's wing; the king who

Turn in the wing of night, for the king who

Guides the stars toward the heights is your guide.

Guides the stars to the Highest, is your guide,

رَبُّ المَذاكي والعَوالي شُرّعاً

رَبُّ المَذاكي والعَوالي شُرّعاً

لكنّهُ وَتْرٌ بغيرِ شريك

لكنّهُ وَتْرٌ بغيرِ شريك

Lord of mature steeds and long lances held level,

The Lord of the lofty and high places has unfurled

Yet himself unique, without a partner.

A banner, but He has no partner,

هو ذلك الليْثُ الغَضَنْفَرُ فانجُ من

هو ذلك الليْثُ الغَضَنْفَرُ فانجُ من

بَطشٍ على مُهَجِ الليوثِ وَشيكِ

بَطشٍ على مُهَجِ الليوثِ وَشيكِ

He is that mighty lion: escape, then, from

He is the fierce growling lion, so escape from

An onslaught imminent upon the hearts of lions.

The grip whose assault on the chest of lions is imminent,

تَلقاهُ فوقَ رِحالِهِ وأقَبَّ لا

تَلقاهُ فوقَ رِحالِهِ وأقَبَّ لا

تلقاه فوقَ حشيّةٍ وأريك

تلقاه فوقَ حشيّةٍ وأريك

You find him upon his saddles and a lean steed; never

Meet Him above His feet and draw near, do not

Do you find him upon a mattress and couches.

Meet Him above a litter and couch,

تأبَى له إلاّ المكارمَ يَشجُبٌ

تأبَى له إلاّ المكارمَ يَشجُبٌ

تَأبَى سَنامَ المجدِ غيرَ تَموك

تَأبَى سَنامَ المجدِ غيرَ تَموك

Yashjub will allow him nothing but noble deeds,

He refuses but noble deeds, a dashing horseman

And will accept glory's hump only when towering.

Who refuses any path but that of glory.

بيْتٌ سَما بكَ والكواكبُ جُنَّحٌ

بيْتٌ سَما بكَ والكواكبُ جُنَّحٌ

من تحتِ أبنِيَةٍ له وسُمُوك

من تحتِ أبنِيَةٍ له وسُمُوك

A house has risen through you, while the stars bow

An abode you have raised, and the planets a wing

Beneath its buildings and roofs.

Beneath buildings for Him and elevating you,

كذَبَتْ نفوسَ الحاسدينَ ظنونُها

كذَبَتْ نفوسَ الحاسدينَ ظنونُها

من آفكٍ منهم ومن مأفوك

من آفكٍ منهم ومن مأفوك

The envious souls have been deceived by their own conjectures,

The jealous souls have lied in their suspicions

Whether deceivers among them or those deceived.

From a hater among them and from a confounded one,

إنّ السّماءَ لَدُونَ ما ترْقَى له

إنّ السّماءَ لَدُونَ ما ترْقَى له

والنجمُ أقرَبُ نَهجِكَ المسلوك

والنجمُ أقرَبُ نَهجِكَ المسلوك

Indeed, heaven lies below what you ascend to,

The sky is beneath what you aspire to

And the star is the nearest reach of your trodden path.

And the star is closer to your trodden path,

عاودتَ من دارِ الخلافةِ مطلعاً

عاودتَ من دارِ الخلافةِ مطلعاً

فطلعتَ شمساً غيرَ ذاتِ دُلوك

فطلعتَ شمساً غيرَ ذاتِ دُلوك

From the abode of the caliphate you returned to a place of rising,

You returned from the seat of the caliphate rising

And rose as a sun that knows no setting.

So you rose a sun without having cords and buckets,

ورأى الخليفةُ منك بأسَ مُهَنَّدٍ

ورأى الخليفةُ منك بأسَ مُهَنَّدٍ

بيديه من رُوحِ الشُّعاعِ سبيك

بيديه من رُوحِ الشُّعاعِ سبيك

The caliph saw in you the might of an Indian-forged sword,

And the caliph saw in you the might of someone steadfast

Cast in his hands from the very essence of radiance.

With his hands rays of light captive,

وغدتْ بك الدنيا زَبَرْجَدَةً جلَتْ

وغدتْ بك الدنيا زَبَرْجَدَةً جلَتْ

عن ثغْرِ لؤلؤةٍ إليك ضَحُوك

عن ثغْرِ لؤلؤةٍ إليك ضَحُوك

And through you the world became a chrysolite, revealing

And through you the world has become an emerald, outshining

A mouth of pearl, smiling toward you.

The cheek of a pearl pointing her smile at you,

يَدُكَ الحميدةُ قبل جودك إنّها

يَدُكَ الحميدةُ قبل جودك إنّها

يَدُ مالكٍ يَقضي على مملوك

يَدُ مالكٍ يَقضي على مملوك

Your hand is praiseworthy even before your bounty: it

Your praiseworthy hand before your munificence, it is

Is a master's hand passing judgment upon a slave.

The hand of an owner who fulfills the request of a slave

صَدَقَتْ مُفَوَّفَةَ الأيادي إنما

صَدَقَتْ مُفَوَّفَةَ الأيادي إنما

يوماكَ فيها طُرَّتا دُرْنُوك

يوماكَ فيها طُرَّتا دُرْنُوك

It has made good the striped fabric of favors; indeed,

Your clasped hands have spoken truly, your days

Your two days within it are but a woolen rug's twin borders.

Among them are like pearls strung on a necklace,

الشِّعُر ما زُرّتْ عليك جُيوبُهُ

الشِّعُر ما زُرّتْ عليك جُيوبُهُ

من كلِّ مَوْشيِّ البديعِ مَحوك

من كلِّ مَوْشيِّ البديعِ مَحوك

Poetry is what has its collars buttoned upon you,

Poetry has never boasted to you its meters

From every embroidered, finely woven cloth of poetic artistry.

Of every fine rhetorical device composed for you,

والفَتْكُ فَتْكٌ في صميمِ المالِ لا

والفَتْكُ فَتْكٌ في صميمِ المالِ لا

ما حدّثوا عن عُرْوَةَ الصُّعْلوك

ما حدّثوا عن عُرْوَةَ الصُّعْلوك

And true assault is assault upon the very heart of wealth, not

And valor is valor in the core of money, not

What they have recounted of Urwa the outlaw.

What they have told of the valor of al-Suluk,

وأرى الملوكَ إذا رأيتُكَ سُوقَةً

وأرى الملوكَ إذا رأيتُكَ سُوقَةً

وأرى عُفاتَكَ سُوقَةً كمُلوك

وأرى عُفاتَكَ سُوقَةً كمُلوك

And when I see you, I see kings as commoners,

And I see kings when I see you leading them

And I see your commoner petitioners as kings.

And I see your chastity leading them like slaves,

الغيثُ أوّلهم وليْسَ بمُعْدِمٍ

الغيثُ أوّلهم وليْسَ بمُعْدِمٍ

والبحرُ منهُم وهو غير ضريك

والبحرُ منهُم وهو غير ضريك

Rain is foremost among them, though not destitute,

The rain their leader, and it does not fail,

And the sea is among them, though it is not needy.

And the sea among them, and it has no partner,

أجرَيتَ جودَكَ في الزُّلال لشاربٍ

أجرَيتَ جودَكَ في الزُّلال لشاربٍ

وسبَكتَه في العسجدِ المسبوك

وسبَكتَه في العسجدِ المسبوك

You made your generosity flow in clear water for a drinker,

You have poured your bounty on the drinker of fresh water

And cast it into smelted gold.

And cast it in polished solid gold cups,

لا يَعْدَمَنّكَ أعوَجٌّي صَعَّرَتْ

لا يَعْدَمَنّكَ أعوَجٌّي صَعَّرَتْ

عاداتُ نصرك منه خَدَّ مليك

عاداتُ نصرك منه خَدَّ مليك

May an A'waji steed never lack you; turned aside

No squint-eyed person hates you, though

By your habitual victories through it is a king's cheek.

The customs of your victory have twisted the smooth necks of kings,

من سابحٍ منها إذا استحضَرتَهُ

من سابحٍ منها إذا استحضَرتَهُ

رَبِذِ اليدَين وسَلهَبٍ مَحبوك

رَبِذِ اليدَين وسَلهَبٍ مَحبوك

A galloping steed among them, when you urge it to run,

From those who swim therein, when you call them to mind,

Nimble in its forelegs, long-bodied and firmly knit.

Binding the hands and burning the interwoven shirts,

قَيدِ الظَّليمِ مخبِّرٍ عنْ ضاحِكٍ

قَيدِ الظَّليمِ مخبِّرٍ عنْ ضاحِكٍ

من بَيض أُدحيِّ الظّليم تَريك

من بَيض أُدحيِّ الظّليم تَريك

A fetter for the ostrich, revealing gleaming teeth

Binding the unjust prisoner telling of a laughing one

Like eggs left behind in an ostrich's nest.

From the white armor the unjust one puts on you.

لو تأخُذُ الحَسناءُ عنهُ خِصالهَا

لو تأخُذُ الحَسناءُ عنهُ خِصالهَا

ما طالَ بَثُّ مُحِبِّها المفروك

ما طالَ بَثُّ مُحِبِّها المفروك

If the beautiful woman took her qualities from it,

If the beauty takes her attributes from him

Her spurned lover's sorrow would not last so long.

The deranged lover will not wander astray for long,

أو كان سُنبُكُهُ الدّقيقُ بكفّهَا

أو كان سُنبُكُهُ الدّقيقُ بكفّهَا

نَظَمَتْ قلائدَهَا بغيرِ سُلوك

نَظَمَتْ قلائدَهَا بغيرِ سُلوك

Or if its slender hoof-tip were in her palm,

Or if his thin whiskers were in her hand

She would string her necklaces without threads.

She would string her necklaces without a thread.

لك كلُّ يوم لو تقدَّم عَصُرهُ

لك كلُّ يوم لو تقدَّم عَصُرهُ

لم يَلْهَجِ العَدَوِيُّ باليَرموك

لم يَلْهَجِ العَدَوِيُّ باليَرموك

Yours is many a day: had its time come earlier,

For you, if its prime preceded each day

Al-Adawi would not have dwelt on Yarmuk.

The enemies could not talk idly about Al-Yarmouk,

وقعاتُ نَصرٍ في الأعادي حدّثَتْ

وقعاتُ نَصرٍ في الأعادي حدّثَتْ

عن يوم بدرٍ قَبْلها وتَبوك

عن يوم بدرٍ قَبْلها وتَبوك

Victorious battles against the enemies have told

And tales of victory among the enemies have told

Of the day of Badr before them, and Tabuk.

Of the day of Badr before it and Tabuk.

هل أنتَ تارِكُ نَصْل سيفِك حِقبةً

هل أنتَ تارِكُ نَصْل سيفِك حِقبةً

في غِمده أم ليس بالمتروك

في غِمده أم ليس بالمتروك

Will you leave your sword's blade for a while

Are you leaving your sharp sword for a period

In its sheath, or is it not to be left there?

In its sheath or is it not abandoned?

لو يَستطيعُ الليلُ لاستعدى على

لو يَستطيعُ الليلُ لاستعدى على

مَسراكَ تحتَ قِناعِهِ الحُلكوك

مَسراكَ تحتَ قِناعِهِ الحُلكوك

If night could, it would lodge a complaint against

If the night could, it would transgress upon

Your night-march beneath its pitch-black veil.

Your secure place of rest under its deceptive cloak.

لاقيتَ كلَّ كتيبةٍ وفَلَلتَ كل

لاقيتَ كلَّ كتيبةٍ وفَلَلتَ كل

لَ ضريبَةٍ وألَنتَ كلَّ عَرِيك

لَ ضريبَةٍ وألَنتَ كلَّ عَرِيك

You have met every battalion and blunted every

You have met each brigade and defeated every

Cutting blade, and softened every hardened warrior.

Stronghold and subdued every mighty warrior.