أسرفن في هجري وفي تعذيبي

وأطلن موقف عبرتي ونحيبي

They have gone too far in shunning and tormenting me,

and prolonged my vigil of tears and sobbing.

وأبين يوم البين وقفة ساعة

لوداع مشغوف الفؤاد كئيب

And, on the day of parting, they refused a moment's pause

to bid farewell to one heartsick with love and sorrow.

لله عهد الظاعنين وغادروا

قلبي رهين صبابة ووجيب

How precious the bond with those departing! They left

my heart hostage to yearning and throbbing.

غربت ركائبهم ودمعي سافح

فشرقت بعدهم بماء غروب

Their mounts went west, while my tears poured down;

after they left, I choked on water from my tear ducts.

يا ناقعاً بالعتب غلة شوقهم

رحماك في عذلي وفي تأنيبي

O you who would quench my thirst for them with reproach,

have mercy as you blame and chide me.

يستعذب الصب الملام وإنني

ماء الملام لدي غير شروب

The lover finds reproach sweet, yet for me

the water of reproach is unfit to drink.

ما هاجني طرب ولا اعتاد الجوى

لولا تذكر منزل وحبيب

No rapture would have stirred me, nor heartache returned,

but for remembering a dwelling and a beloved.

أهفو إلى الأطلال كانت مطلعاً

للبدر منهم أو كناس ربيب

I yearn toward the ruins that were once a rising-place

for their full moon, or the lair of a cherished fawn.

عبثت بها أيدي البلى وترددت

في عطفها للدهر أي خطوب

Decay's hands have toyed with them; time and again have passed

through their precincts all manner of time's calamities.

تبلى معاهدها وإن عهودها

ليجدها وصفي وحسن نسيبي

Their familiar sites decay, yet their memories

are renewed by my portrayal and the beauty of my love-verse.

وإذا الديار تعرضت لمتيم

هزته ذكراها إلى التشبيب

Whenever the dwellings appear before a love-stricken man,

their memory stirs him to sing of love.

إيه عن الصبر الجميل فإنه

ألوى بدين فؤادي المنهوب

Enough of gracious patience, for it

has defaulted on the debt owed my plundered heart.

لم أنسها والدهر يثني صرفه

ويغض طرفي حاسد ورقيب

I have not forgotten them, though time redoubles its reversals,

and an envier and a watcher keep my gaze cast down.

والدار مونقة محاسنها بما

لبست من الأيام كل قشيب

And the dwelling's beauties were enchanting, thanks to

every fresh garment it had donned from the days.

يا سائق الأظعان يعتسف الفلا

ويواصل الأسآد بالتأويب

O driver of the departing caravan, crossing trackless wastes,

joining night journeys to travel by day,

متهافتاً عن رحل كل مذلل

نشوان من أين ومس لغوب

tumbling from the saddle of every docile mount,

drunk with fatigue and the touch of exhaustion.

تتجاذب النفحات فضل ردائه

في ملتقاها من صباً وجنوب

The breezes tug at the loose folds of his cloak

where the east wind and south wind meet.

إن هام من ظمإ الصبابة صحبه

نهلوا بمورد دمعه المسكوب

If his companions grow delirious with longing's thirst,

they drink deep at the spring of his streaming tears.

أو تعترض مسراهم سدف الدجى

صدعوا الدجى بغرامه المشبوب

Or if night's dark veils cross their path,

they cleave the darkness with his blazing passion.

في كل شعب منية من دونها

هجر الأماني أو لقاء شعوب

In every pass lies a desire; before reaching it comes

the forsaking of hopes or an encounter with Shuʿub, Death.

هلا عطفت صدورهن إلى التي

فيها لبانة أعين وقلوب

Why not turn their breasts toward the place

where eyes and hearts find their desire,

فتؤم من أكناف يثرب مأمناً

يكفيك ما تخشاه من تثريب

and make for a refuge in the environs of Yathrib

that spares you the rebuke you fear?

حيث النبوة أيها مجلوة

تتلو من الآثار كل غريب

There, prophethood's signs stand revealed,

recounting every marvel among its vestiges.

سر عجيب لم يحجبه الثرى

ما كان سر الله بالمحجوب

A wondrous secret the earth has not concealed:

God's secret was never one to be concealed.

إني دعوتك واثقاً بإجابتي

يا خير مدعو وخير مجيب

I have called upon you, confident that you will answer me,

O best of those called upon, and best of responders.

قرت في مدحي فإن يك طيباً

فبما لذكرك من أريج الطيب

[I fell short] in my praise; if it is fragrant,

it is from the perfume your remembrance breathes.

ماذا عسى يبغي المطيل وقد حوى

في مدحك القرآن كل مطيب

What more could one who speaks at length seek, when

the Qur'an has gathered every fragrant expression in your praise?

يا هل تبلغني الليالي زورة

تدني إلي الفوز بالمرغوب

Ah, will the nights bring me a visit

that brings within my reach the prize I long for?

أمحو خطيئاتي بإخلاصي بها

وأحط أوزاري وإصر ذنوبي

Through my sincerity in it, I would erase my sins

and lay down my burdens and the weight of my offenses,

في فتية هجروا المنى وتعودوا

إنضاء كل نجيبة ونجيب

among young men who forsook desires and grew accustomed

to wearing out every noble she-camel and he-camel.

يطوي صحائف ليلهم فوق الفلا

ما شئت من خبب ومن تقريب

Across the wastes, the pages of their night are folded

by all the trotting and cantering you could wish.

إن رنم الحادي بذكرك رددوا

أنفاس مشتاق إليك طروب

If the camel-driver chants your remembrance, they echo

the breaths of one enraptured with longing for you.

أو غرد الركب الخلي بطيبة

حنوا لمغناها حنين النيب

Or if the carefree caravan sings of Taybah,

they yearn for its abode as old she-camels yearn.

ورثوا اعتساف البيد عن آبائهم

إرث الخلافة في بني يعقوب

They inherited crossing trackless deserts from their fathers,

as the caliphate was inherited among the sons of Yaʿqub:

الطاعنين الخيل وهي عوابس

يغشى مثار النقع كل سبيب

those who spear the horses as they scowl,

while billowing dust veils every mane;

والواهبين المقربات صوافناً

من كل خوار العنان لعوب

and who give away prized steeds, one hoof raised,

each pliant to the rein and full of play;

والمانعين الجار حتى عرضه

في منتددى الأعداء غير معيب

and who shield their neighbor, so that even his honor

remains unblemished in the enemies' assembly.

تخشى بوادرهم ويرجى حلمهم

والعز شيمة مرتجى ومهيب

Their sudden fury is feared, their forbearance hoped for,

and might is the hallmark of one who inspires hope and awe.

سائل به طامي العباب وقد سرى

تزجيه ريح العزم ذات هبوب

Ask the surging sea about him, as he journeyed by night,

borne onward by the gusting wind of resolve.

تهديه سهب أسنة وعزائم

يصدعن ليل الحادث المرهوب

Plains of spearpoints and firm resolves guide him,

cleaving the night of dreaded calamity,

حتى انجلت ظلم الضلال بسعيه

وسطا الهدى بفريقها المغلوب

until the darkness of error cleared through his striving,

and guidance struck down its vanquished faction.

يا بن الألى شادوا الخلافة بالتقى

واستأثروك بتاجها المغصوب

O son of those who built the caliphate upon piety,

and singled you out for its usurped crown,

جمعوا لحفظ الدين أي مناقب

كرموا بها في مشهد ومغيب

what virtues they amassed to safeguard the faith!

By these they were honored, in presence and absence.

لله مجدك طارفاً أو تالداً

فلقد شهدنا منهن كل عجيب

How splendid your glory, newly won or inherited!

For we have witnessed in them every marvel.

كم رهبة أو رغبة بك والعلى

تقتاد بالترغيب والترهيب

How much fear or hope you inspire! Greatness

is won through encouragement and intimidation.

لا زلت مسروراً بأشرف دولة

يبدو الهدى من أفقها المرقوب

May you remain gladdened by the noblest dynasty,

from whose watched-for horizon guidance shines,

تحيي المعالي غادياً أو رائحاً

وحديد سعدك ضامن المطلوب

reviving lofty virtues, morning or evening,

while the steel of your good fortune guarantees your aim.