غشى الأرض في شباب الزمان

رائع الحسن من بني الإنسان

In the youth of time, there came to earth

One of humankind, wondrously beautiful.

وجهه كالربيع روضه القطر

وكفاه كالنسيم الواني

His face was like spring, made lush by rain,

And his hands like a languid breeze.

ما له بالطعان والحرث والزرع

ولا السعي والدؤوب يدان

He had no strength for combat, plowing, or sowing,

Nor for striving and ceaseless toil.

يقطع العمر بالغناء فتعطوا

مصغياتٍ سوانح الغزلان

He spent his life in song; and, lifting their heads,

The passing gazelles listened intently.

وتحط العقبان بين قمار

آمناتٍ من وثبة العقبان

And eagles alighted among turtle-doves,

Safe from the eagles' swoop.

وترى الأفعوان ينصت للصوت

وتصغي الذؤابان في الوديان

You saw the great serpent listen to his voice,

And wolves listen in the valleys.

كل عين من حسنه تتلقاه

بوبلٍ من دمعها هتان

Every eye, for his beauty, greeted him

With a streaming downpour of its tears.

وله روعة تبيت لها النفس

تنزي كألسن النيران

His splendor kept the soul through the night

Leaping like tongues of fire.

زعموا أنه اصطفاه مليكٌ

أخذت منه روعة الألحان

They claimed that a king had chosen him,

Captivated by the splendor of melodies.

فهو ندمانه إذا الكأس دارت

ومغنية والعشير الداني

He was his drinking companion when the cup went round,

And a singer and close companion,

وأمينٌ على خزائنه طرا

وراعيه سيد الرعيان

And keeper of all his treasures,

And his shepherd, lord of shepherds.

نعمة أرمضت قلوب أعاديه

وأورت حزازة الأخوان

A favor that scorched his enemies' hearts

And kindled his brethren's resentment.

فمضوا يسخرون منه وينحون

عليه بألسن الأضغان

So they went on mocking him and assailing

Him with tongues of malice:

لا رعاه الإله من باهلٍ كلٍّ

يزجي الزمان بالإرتان

“May God forsake him, idle burden that he is,

Who idles away his days in babble!

يرسل الصوت ضاجعاً فيميد السا

معوه تمايد النشوان

Reclining, he sends forth his voice, and those

Who hear him sway like a drunken man.

كيف لا يحسن الغناء وقد فاز

بعيش النوامة المبطان

How could he not sing well, when he enjoys

The life of a sleep-loving glutton?

مسمع معجب ولكنه الآل

تراءى للأغب الظمآن

A wondrous sound, but it is a mirage

Appearing to one parched and thirsting.

عبث كله وأن سحر القلب

بروعات حسنه الفتان

All frivolity, even if it bewitches the heart

With the splendors of its seductive beauty!”

كلهم في حائرٌ ليس يدري

أمن الأنس أم من الجنان

All were bewildered by him, none knowing

Whether he was human or of the jinn.

يسمع الناس صوته فيخرون

سجوداً فاتنات الأغاني

People heard his voice and fell

Prostrate before the bewitching songs.

فإذا ما رأوه عادوا فقالوا

أنها خدعة من الآذان

But when they saw him, they said again,

“It is a trick played by the ears.”

يكتسي منه كل لفظ جمالا

بارع الأخذ مونق الألوان

Through him, every word put on beauty,

Of dazzling charm and delightful hues.

قصدوا قصده على الرغم منهم

وجروا خلفه بغير عنان

They sought him out despite themselves

And ran behind him without a rein.

فلهم قول كافرٍ ذي كنود

ولهم فعل راسخ الإيمان

Their words were an ungrateful unbeliever's,

Their deeds those of one firm in faith.

وهو عنهم في غفلة معرض الوجه

كأن ليس من بني الإنسان

He, oblivious of them, turned his face away,

As though he were not of humankind.

يلحظ الأرض والسموات والناس

بعين جنية الإنسان

He regarded the earth, the heavens, and people

With an eye whose pupil was of the jinn.

وكأن الوجود يوحي إليه

بمعاني الجمال والإحسان

And existence seemed to reveal to him

The meanings of beauty and goodness.

ثم وافاه حينه فمضى غير

مروع من المنايا الدواني

Then his appointed hour came, and he departed,

Unterrified by approaching death,

تارك الأرض ذات حسن جديد

وشباب مخلد الريعان

Leaving the earth endowed with fresh beauty

And youth whose bloom was everlasting.

وغدت بعده مواطئ نعليه

حراماً يزورها المشرقان

After him, the places his sandals had trodden became

Sacred ground, visited by East and West.

أكبرت شأنه الخلائق حتى

عبدوه في غابر الأزمان

All creatures exalted his stature, until

They worshiped him in ages long past.

ليتهم أنصفوه حيّاً فلما

أن قضى شيعوه بالنكران

Would that they had done him justice alive, and when

He died, had sent him off with disregard.