Poems
- أحاط جودك بالدنيا فليس لهYour generosity has encompassed the world; it has no
- أربع الندى تهمي به وتصوبIs this an abode where bounty's dew streams and pours,
- أطلت في الدهر تصعيدي وتصويبيLong have I ascended and descended through life;
- ألا رب من يدعى فتى ليس بالفتىLo, many a man called a gallant is no true gallant.
- ألستم معشر الأملاك طائفةAre you not, O company of kings, a people
- ألم تر للجزيرة كيف أوفىHave you not seen, by the island, how it looms
- إن سرت عنك ففي يديك قياديIf I depart from you, then you hold my reins
- إني لأسمع شدوا لا أحققهIndeed, I hear singing that I cannot make out;
- بأبي سكيران اللواحظ ما رناMy father be ransom for that tipsy-eyed one! Never did he gaze
- بنفس وإن كنت لا نفس ليI would give a soul in ransom, though I have none—
- بيني وبين الليالي همة جللBetween me and the nights stands a mighty ambition.
- تم له الحسن بالعذارHis beauty was perfected by the down on his cheeks,
- جهبذ قول وفارس ندسA master of speech and a discerning knight,
- دنا العيد لو تدنو به كعبة المنىThe feast has drawn near—if only the Kaaba of hopes would draw near with it,
- رب فرن رأيته يتلظىMany an oven have I seen blazing,
- زعموا الغزال حكاه قلت لهم نعمThey claimed the gazelle resembled him. I told them, “Yes—”
- سبق الفناء فما يدوم بقاءExtinction came first, so no existence endures.
- سقى فسقى الله الزمان من أجلهHe gave me drink—may God water the age for his sake—
- سموه سيفا وفي عينيه سيفانThey named him Saif (“Sword”), and in his eyes are two swords.
- عجبا له أبكيه ملء مدامعيHow strange! I weep for him with all my tears,
- عزم تجرد فيه النصر والظفرA resolve in which victory and triumph stood revealed,
- علل فؤادك قد أبل عليلSoothe your heart; an ailing person has recovered.
- غاض الوفاء فما تلقاه في رجلLoyalty has ebbed away, so you find it in no man;
- غزال يستطاب الموت فيهA gazelle for whose sake death is sweet,
- في حسن رأي عبيد الله لي عوضIn Ubayd Allah's favorable regard I find recompense,
- قالوا صحا وأدال الغي بالرشدThey said: he has sobered and exchanged folly for sound judgment.
- قامت لتحجب ضوء الشمس قامتهاShe rose so that her figure might veil the sun’s light
- قتلت بني الأيام خبرا فباطنيEnglish translation unavailable
- قل الوفاء فما تلقاه في أحدLoyalty has grown scarce, so you find it in no one,
- كأنما الشمعتان إذ سمتاAs though the two candles, when they rose high,
- للدهر عندي في جنابك ليلةFor fate, a night in your embrace
- للصيد قبلك سنة مأثورةBefore you, hunting was a time-honored custom;
- لولا تبسم ذاك الظلم والبردWere it not for that smile of gleaming, hail-white teeth,
- لئن جاد شعر ابن الحسين فإنماIf indeed Ibn al-Husayn's poetry excels, it is only
- ما الشعر مرتجلا أو غير مرتجلWhether poetry is improvised or premeditated
- محل ألبس الدنيا جمالاA dwelling that clothed the world in beauty,
- ناهضتهم والبارقات كأنهاYou rose against them, the flashing blades like
- هما فخارتا راح وريحThey are two earthenware jars of wine and wind.
- وافت به غفلة الرقيبThe watcher's inattention brought him,
- وبركة تزهى بنيلوفرWith lotus blossoms the pond is adorned,
- وجعت من البرق وفي كفهاShe was pained by the lightning, while in her palm
- وحرشفة إن كنت ذا قدرة علىAnd an artichoke—if you have the power to
- وشادن قد كساه الروض حلتهAnd a young gazelle whom the meadow has clothed in its robe
- وصارم في يديك منصلتAnd a keen sword, unsheathed in your hands—
- وقفت بحيث تلحظك العواليYou stood where the lofty spears eyed you,
- ولن ترى أعجب من أنسAnd you will never see anyone stranger than Anas:
- ومشمولة في الكأس تحسب أنهاAnd wine cooled by the north wind in the cup—you would think it
- يا حسنه يوما شهدت زفافهاHow lovely the day I witnessed her bridal procession,
- يا نوم عاود جفونا طالما سهرتO sleep, return to eyelids that have long stayed awake.
- يا هلال استتر بوجهك عناO crescent, hide your face from us.
- يعز على العلياء أني خاملIt pains eminence that I remain obscure,
- يقول حذارا لا اغترارا فطالماHe says, 'Beware; do not be deceived, for often
No poems found.