أدرك ما شاءَ غلامٌ فَطِنا

أدرك ما شاءَ غلامٌ فَطِنا

إذا نَبتْ به بلادٌ ظَعنا

إذا نَبتْ به بلادٌ ظَعنا

A discerning youth attains whatever he desires;

A young man realizes whatever he wants when he rises in a land

when a land proves inhospitable to him, he departs.

Though his body and honor know no rest, duty-bound while his heart is all sorrow

لا يستريحُ جسمه وعرضُه

لا يستريحُ جسمه وعرضُه

مكلَّف وقلبُه أخو العنا

مكلَّف وقلبُه أخو العنا

His body finds no rest; his honor

He makes the wilderness bear his needs and the spacious, rolling sands

is burdened, and his heart is hardship's brother.

If he finds honor behind an obstacle he goes though it be over burning sands

يُضَمِّن البيداءَ من حاجاته

يُضَمِّن البيداءَ من حاجاته

والحُرّةَ الوجناءَ ما تضمَّنا

والحُرّةَ الوجناءَ ما تضمَّنا

He entrusts to the desert, from among his needs,

Leave us to enjoy the wine though delight is but borrowed

and to the noble, stout-cheeked camel, what the two undertake.

And leave the wishes be though a wish is but yearning

إن وجد العزَّ وراءَ جانبٍ

إن وجد العزَّ وراءَ جانبٍ

مشَى ولو على عوامل القنا

مشَى ولو على عوامل القنا

If he finds glory beyond some distant region,

May no good land make me dwell to spoil me, nor home make me stay

he walks there, even upon the blades of spears.

Nor time when I’m not the best of those who live in it, of highest rank

دع للهوينَا الغَمرَ من أبنائها

دع للهوينَا الغَمرَ من أبنائها

وللمنى فما المنى إلا ضَنا

وللمنى فما المنى إلا ضَنا

Leave to ease the fool among its children,

How much contentment in a ragged, threadbare cloak, neither pure nor hiding filth

and to wishes; wishes are nothing but wasting sickness.

And the merit of corrupt livelihood, unsettled, with neither chastity nor riches spurned

لا حمَلَتني تُربَةٌ طيِّبة

لا حمَلَتني تُربَةٌ طيِّبة

تخبُث أن تضُمَّني وسَكنا

تخبُث أن تضُمَّني وسَكنا

May no good soil bear me

My soul despaired that I might chance upon a joy amid what grief has been my wont

that turns foul by harboring me at rest;

I see the eyes of those who envy me reddened, feigning beautiful patience

ولا زمانٌ أنا فيه خاملُ ال

ولا زمانٌ أنا فيه خاملُ ال

ذكرِ ومِن أفضلِ مَن فيه أنا

ذكرِ ومِن أفضلِ مَن فيه أنا

nor an age in which I am obscure in

On my face appears to them the water of acceptance while inwardly fire smolders

renown, though I am among its finest men.

And whenever my time declined I masked my state and thanked fate

كم الرضا بوشَلٍ مصرَّدٍ

كم الرضا بوشَلٍ مصرَّدٍ

لا ناقعٌ ولا يميط الدرَنا

لا ناقعٌ ولا يميط الدرَنا

How long this contentment with a scant, rationed trickle,

Until my heart died and so my breast became its tomb while my body was its shroud

which neither quenches thirst nor washes dirt away,

Who will empower destiny to vitalize me or time to release me from this age

وفضلِ عيشٍ جائرٍ مذبذبٍ

وفضلِ عيشٍ جائرٍ مذبذبٍ

لا عفةٌ فيه ولا زهدُ الغنَى

لا عفةٌ فيه ولا زهدُ الغنَى

and with the scraps of an unjust, precarious livelihood,

So rule the arena and say not that I fell short of my goal or stumbled

with neither honorable restraint nor renunciation of wealth?

Cruel fate has shut to me the roads of Hejaz, Sham, and Yemen alike

قد قنَطتْ نفسيَ أن تعثُرَ بي

قد قنَطتْ نفسيَ أن تعثُرَ بي

مسرَّةٌ مما ألفتُ الحَزَنا

مسرَّةٌ مما ألفتُ الحَزَنا

My soul has despaired of being found by

I want no enterprise to lift me up but that my resolve turns from it bending

joy, so accustomed have I grown to grief.

The days have ended both my wealth and theirs, either in gain or loss

أرى عيونَ الشامتين شارةً

أرى عيونَ الشامتين شارةً

مصبوغة تُشعِرُ صبرا حسَنا

مصبوغة تُشعِرُ صبرا حسَنا

I show the eyes of those who gloat an outward display

Cast out where the imported horses are, neither turned out to pasture nor fed grain

dyed to suggest graceful patience.

A butt for sorrows - how arrows fell on me, wounded through and through

يَظهَرُ في وجهي لهم ماءُ الرضا

يَظهَرُ في وجهي لهم ماءُ الرضا

والنارُ ما أُجِنُّه مستبطنا

والنارُ ما أُجِنُّه مستبطنا

For them, the water of contentment shows upon my face,

No joy to gain nor wealth to delight me at the rising of the shining star

but fire is what I conceal within.

As if she never tried my patience nor roused in me hardened strength

وكلَّما أَنحَى عليَّ زمني

وكلَّما أَنحَى عليَّ زمني

موَّهتُ حالي وشكرتُ الزمنا

موَّهتُ حالي وشكرتُ الزمنا

Whenever my time bears down upon me,

Nor knew what true and virtuous men I made my backing and defense

I disguise my plight and thank the times.

The noblest in spirit, most generous of hand, and greatest of us in bounty

حتى لقد ماتَ فؤادي فغدا

حتى لقد ماتَ فؤادي فغدا

صدري له لحداً وجسمي كفنا

صدري له لحداً وجسمي كفنا

Until my heart died, leaving

Those who built the ancient glory and established its towering height

my breast its grave, my body its shroud.

A people, when the year grew harsh, their sun darkened and owners of meadows slept

من لي بأن تُنشِطَني الأقدارُ أو

من لي بأن تُنشِطَني الأقدارُ أو

يَحُلَّ عنّي الدهرُ هذا القَرنا

يَحُلَّ عنّي الدهرُ هذا القَرنا

Who will see that the fates unbind me, or

When each shepherd’s dog feared its butcher, who let no sheep live nor cattle fatten

that time loosens this tether from me,

They repelled its leanness until it returned revived and thriving

فاملكَ الحلْبةَ لا أُثنَى بأن

فاملكَ الحلْبةَ لا أُثنَى بأن

أُشكَمَ دون غايتي أو أُرسَنا

أُشكَمَ دون غايتي أو أُرسَنا

so I may master the racecourse, not held back by

They met it with cheerful, lucky faces laughing, and hands that give

being bitted short of my goal, or haltered?

The justice of kings increased it in abundance, transgression, and long-practiced wrong

قد أغلق الحظُّ البهيم سُبُلي

قد أغلق الحظُّ البهيم سُبُلي

حجازَها وشامَها واليمنا

حجازَها وشامَها واليمنا

Pitch-dark fortune has barred my paths,

A heedless time ruled the people, deeming finest what is vilest and basest

those to the Hijaz, al-Sham, and Yemen.

They set up traditions and the people followed, augmenting them

فما أريد نهضةً تنتاشُني

فما أريد نهضةً تنتاشُني

إلا لَوى عزميَ عنها وثنَى

إلا لَوى عزميَ عنها وثنَى

No sooner do I seek a rising that might rescue me

To religious law, those traditions were attached, appended

than it bends my resolve away from it and turns me back.

I clung to the most splendid of magnificent lords, whose hand to me was strongest

تفانت الأيّام مالي ولها

تفانت الأيّام مالي ولها

إما بقاءٌ نافعٌ أو الفنا

إما بقاءٌ نافعٌ أو الفنا

May the days perish together! What have I to do with them?

I tended him, brother to spring, while his welfare was my repose and joy

Either a useful life, or annihilation!

Glory said to me, as I praised it, “these branches have borne such fruit”

قد نبذَتْني مَنبذ المجلوبِ لا

قد نبذَتْني مَنبذ المجلوبِ لا

يُسرَحُ في الإِبْل ولا يُسقَى الهنا

يُسرَحُ في الإِبْل ولا يُسقَى الهنا

They have cast me off like an imported camel, neither

He stood loyal on the king’s watch defending what he saw clearly

allowed to graze among the camels nor given tar to drink.

Keen of insight, not needing to squint for first glances

دريئةً للهمّ كيف وَقعتْ

دريئةً للهمّ كيف وَقعتْ

سهامُه كنتُ الجريحَ المثخَنا

سهامُه كنتُ الجريحَ المثخَنا

A target for sorrow: however

His palm warded off all aimed arrows, whether glancing or piercing

its arrows fall, I am the wounded one, sorely stricken.

The great man sufficed, and his judgment made what was towering bow down

لا وطرا من لذّةٍ أقضِي ولا

لا وطرا من لذّةٍ أقضِي ولا

عنديَ في طارقةِ الجُلَّى غنى

عنديَ في طارقةِ الجُلَّى غنى

I fulfill no longing for pleasure, nor

He established the kingdom, his back unbending while fate before it bent

have I any resources when great calamity strikes.

When its arbiters refused, obeying no order contained in its missives

كأنّها ما جرّبتْ حلمي ولا

كأنّها ما جرّبتْ حلمي ولا

تعاورتْ منّيَ جنبا خشِنا

تعاورتْ منّيَ جنبا خشِنا

As though the days had never tested my forbearance,

Business was difficult, so they sought his healing and the illness took hold

nor assailed my rugged side in turn,

They said: the leader, so their fears were calmed - at his name they submitted

ولا درَتْ أيَّ رجالِ عصمةٍ

ولا درَتْ أيَّ رجالِ عصمةٍ

جعلتُهم منها لظهري جُنَنا

جعلتُهم منها لظهري جُنَنا

nor known what men of protection

The refractory kingdom returned to obedience after its defiance

I have made shields for my back against them:

No longer a rebel but a neck obedient, compliant, and yielding

الأشرفين هِمما والأكرمي

الأشرفين هِمما والأكرمي

نَ أيدياً والأكثرينا مِننَا

نَ أيدياً والأكثرينا مِننَا

the noblest in aspiration, and the most generous

With hands that execute, seldom at rest, skin calloused and tongue sharpened

in hands, and the most abundant in benefactions,

When his spear rent an army you would think he writes with a reed

والرافعين بِعُلا أنفسِهم

والرافعين بِعُلا أنفسِهم

ما شيَّد المجدُ القديمُ وبنَى

ما شيَّد المجدُ القديمُ وبنَى

and those who raise, by their own eminence,

If he spoke well you would take him for one fluent with the eloquent pen

what ancient glory erected and built.

He saw high rank as the finest of things so made precious wealth a trifle

قومٌ إذا العامُ اقشعرَّت شمسُه

قومٌ إذا العامُ اقشعرَّت شمسُه

وكبَّ أربابُ المَقارِي الجِفَنا

وكبَّ أربابُ المَقارِي الجِفَنا

A people who, when the year's sun shivers,

Giving generously until the generous said: “he has deposited his wealth with me for safekeeping”

and the hosts overturn their serving bowls,

The gold coin felt lonely away from his coffers, so rarely did it lodge with him

وخافَ كلبُ الحيِّ من جازِرِه

وخافَ كلبُ الحيِّ من جازِرِه

ما أكلَ الشاءَ وأفنَي البُدُنا

ما أكلَ الشاءَ وأفنَي البُدُنا

and the camp's dog fears its slaughterer,

Say to Abu'l Qasim, God’s distributor, whose meaning is conveyed without names

now that he has eaten the sheep and exhausted the fat camels,

Every time night falls, I complain to you of a stabbing longing

تساهموه يطردون جَدبَهُ

تساهموه يطردون جَدبَهُ

حتى يعودَ متمِرا ومُلْبِنا

حتى يعودَ متمِرا ومُلْبِنا

share its burden, driving away its dearth,

And an affliction that rends my garment and mine inner parts when I turn toward you

until it yields dates and milk again.

Naught beautiful have I seen since you left, though people and times change

وأقبلوه أوجُها ميَامِناً

وأقبلوه أوجُها ميَامِناً

تضحَك فيه وأكُفًّا يُمُنا

تضحَك فيه وأكُفًّا يُمُنا

They greet it with auspicious faces

I wished that seeing you would cure the longing, if wishes could grant all wants

that smile through it, and with right hands.

I resigned myself to pining so I allowed myself to abandon kith and kin for you

وزاده عدلُ الملوك في الندى

وزاده عدلُ الملوك في الندى

تمرُّدا وبالجدَا تَمرُّنا

تمرُّدا وبالجدَا تَمرُّنا

And the peer of kings in bounty increased it

I asked leave of life though barren, but life granted no leave

in boldness and in practiced giving.

I said: perhaps a rift will mend, and close from your generosity to fill

ومَلَكتْ عجلٌ على الناس به

ومَلَكتْ عجلٌ على الناس به

رأسَ الفخارِ وعَرانينَ السنا

رأسَ الفخارِ وعَرانينَ السنا

Through him, Ijl won, above all others,

And perhaps a harsh time will turn toward me by what you have power over time to do

the crown of glory and the crests of splendor.

But separation denied me in kindness, protecting though from one deemed injurious

سَنَّ لهم فاتبعوا وزيَّدوا

سَنَّ لهم فاتبعوا وزيَّدوا

وألحقوا بالفَرض تلك السُّننا

وألحقوا بالفَرض تلك السُّننا

He established their practices; they followed and added more,

If I bought an hour with you for what lies between my ribs I would not complain of fraud

and made those customs as binding as obligations.

So reproach not a young man whom longing drove from devotion - no sin did he commit

علِقتُ منهم بأغرَّ ماجدٍ

علِقتُ منهم بأغرَّ ماجدٍ

كان الأشدَّ في يديَّ الأمتنا

كان الأشدَّ في يديَّ الأمتنا

From among them I attached myself to a radiant, noble man,

Passion emboldened him to bear travails - how many days like it would make one a coward

the strongest, firmest bond within my hands.

Perhaps he who urged him on will return him to you, more precious and dearer in worth

رعيتُه أخا الربيعِ وهَمتْ

رعيتُه أخا الربيعِ وهَمتْ

راحتهُ لي فذمَمتُ المُزُنا

راحتهُ لي فذمَمتُ المُزُنا

I looked to him, spring's brother, and showers poured

So he may come back valiant and fierce, though under your care gentle and tame

from his palm for me, and I disparaged the rainclouds.

If an adverse fate parts me from you while luck persists in rebellion

وقال لي المجدُ وقد أحمدتُه

وقال لي المجدُ وقد أحمدتُه

تلك الغصونَ أثمرتْ هذا الجنا

تلك الغصونَ أثمرتْ هذا الجنا

Glory said to me, after I had found him praiseworthy,

And a time away suggests I cannot find with you what I do not possess myself

'Those branches have borne this fruit.'

Then specters of you, vanishing, will come to you - spirits who, when we speak, materialize

أوفَى على مَرقَبةِ الملكِ فتىً

أوفَى على مَرقَبةِ الملكِ فتىً

يرى خفيَّ المشكلات بيِّنا

يرى خفيَّ المشكلات بيِّنا

A young man rose upon the watchtower of kingship,

From those women no tongue ever loosed the like, arousing any ear

seeing the hidden intricacies of problems clearly.

If the speaker but waved it with his hand I would gain from that my ransoming

موفَّقُ النظرةِ لا تحُوجُهُ

موفَّقُ النظرةِ لا تحُوجُهُ

أوائلُ اللحظ إلى كرِّ الثِّنَى

أوائلُ اللحظ إلى كرِّ الثِّنَى

Favored in his insight, he is not compelled

Kings before you borrowed affection and tied for me the necklace of favors

by his first glance to take a second look.

So hear them, early and late, pacing round you, encompassing with gifts

لكفِّه من القنيص كلُّ ما

لكفِّه من القنيص كلُّ ما

نص إليه مَنِسرا وبُرثُنا

نص إليه مَنِسرا وبُرثُنا

His hand possesses, as prey, all that

And exalt the day of festival - with this necklace of strung pearls

raises beak and claw toward him.

None saw the like, more beautiful around his neck, since Kisra left

كفَى العظيمَ ورمَى برأيه

كفَى العظيمَ ورمَى برأيه

حيثُ هفا رأيُ المصيبِ وونَى

حيثُ هفا رأيُ المصيبِ وونَى

He met great challenges, and aimed his judgment

Attain the height of joy and remain, for me and for glory and for us

where even a sound thinker's judgment stumbled and faltered.

And be through this ensured by God that you will live, and my faith assured

وقام بالدولة مدُّ ظهرِه

وقام بالدولة مدُّ ظهرِه

والدهرُ قد طأطأ منها وانحنَى

والدهرُ قد طأطأ منها وانحنَى

His upright back upheld the state,

Stand before you, vigorous, deputizing for me in this prayer and affection

though time had bowed it down and bent it.

And seek one who succeeds me, echoing this wish and love

لما أبت صمَّاؤُها فلم تُطِعْ

لما أبت صمَّاؤُها فلم تُطِعْ

من أمر حاويها الرُّقَى والدَّخَنا

من أمر حاويها الرُّقَى والدَّخَنا

When its deaf serpent resisted and would not heed

its charmer's command, his spells and smoke,

وأعضلَ الخطبُ اشتَفوا بطِبّه

وأعضلَ الخطبُ اشتَفوا بطِبّه

فأفرقتْ والداءُ قد تمكّنا

فأفرقتْ والداءُ قد تمكّنا

and the crisis proved intractable, they sought healing in his medicine;

and it recovered, though the disease had taken hold.

قالوا الرئيسُ فاطمأنَّ وحشُها

قالوا الرئيسُ فاطمأنَّ وحشُها

بعد النّفارِ باسمه وأذعنَا

بعد النّفارِ باسمه وأذعنَا

They said, 'The chief,' and its wild beast grew calm,

after bolting, at his name, and yielded.

وعاد محزومُ المطَا ريِّضَها

وعاد محزومُ المطَا ريِّضَها

من بعدِ ما كان زَبُونا أرِنا

من بعدِ ما كان زَبُونا أرِنا

Its tamed mount returned, its back firmly girt,

after being a kicking, unruly creature.

ماضي اليدينِ مُنصُلا وقلَما

ماضي اليدينِ مُنصُلا وقلَما

صعبَ المِراس جَلَدا ولسَنا

صعبَ المِراس جَلَدا ولسَنا

Keen in both hands, with sword and pen,

hard to contend with, in fortitude and eloquence.

إذا فلَى برمحه كتيبةً

إذا فلَى برمحه كتيبةً

حسبتَه يكتُب فيها بالقنا

حسبتَه يكتُب فيها بالقنا

When he combs through a battalion with his spear,

you think he writes through it with spears.

فإن أفاض كاتباً ظننتَه

فإن أفاض كاتباً ظننتَه

بالقلَم الجاري الضلوعَ طعَنا

بالقلَم الجاري الضلوعَ طعَنا

And when he pours forth writing, you think he has

pierced ribs with his flowing pen.

رأى الندى أجلبَ شيءٍ للعلا

رأى الندى أجلبَ شيءٍ للعلا

فجعل المالَ العزيزَ هيِّنا

فجعل المالَ العزيزَ هيِّنا

He saw generosity as the surest lure for eminence,

so made precious wealth a thing of little worth.

وجاد حتى قال من جاد له

وجاد حتى قال من جاد له

أودعَ عندي مالَه أو خزنَا

أودعَ عندي مالَه أو خزنَا

He gave so freely that those he gave to said,

'He has deposited his wealth with me, or stored it here.'

يستوحشُ الدينارُ مِن بَنانهِ

يستوحشُ الدينارُ مِن بَنانهِ

فقلّما جاورها مستوطِنا

فقلّما جاورها مستوطِنا

The dinar feels a stranger to his fingers,

so seldom does it settle beside them.

قل لأبي القاسم قسَّامِ اللُّهى

قل لأبي القاسم قسَّامِ اللُّهى

وفي المعالي ما يفاد بالكُنَى

وفي المعالي ما يفاد بالكُنَى

Say to Abu al-Qasim, dispenser of gifts—

among lofty deeds is what honorifics convey—

أشكو إليك كلّما جَنَّ الدُّجى

أشكو إليك كلّما جَنَّ الدُّجى

هزَّةَ شوقٍ تستطير الوسنا

هزَّةَ شوقٍ تستطير الوسنا

I lament to you, whenever darkness falls,

a tremor of longing that scatters sleep,

ومقلةً إذا التفتُّ نحوكم

ومقلةً إذا التفتُّ نحوكم

بلَّ الرداءَ شأنُها والرُّدُنا

بلَّ الرداءَ شأنُها والرُّدُنا

and an eye that, when I turn toward you,

soaks robe and sleeves with its tears.

ما انفتحتْ من بعدكم فأبصرتْ

ما انفتحتْ من بعدكم فأبصرتْ

على اختلاف الناس شيئا حسنا

على اختلاف الناس شيئا حسنا

Since parting from you, it has never opened and seen,

among all the varied people, anything beautiful.

قد كنتُ مُنِّيتُ بأن تراكُمُ

قد كنتُ مُنِّيتُ بأن تراكُمُ

لحاجها لو كان أغناها المنى

لحاجها لو كان أغناها المنى

I had been given hope that it might see you,

in its insistence—if only wishes could have satisfied it.

ورضتُ نفسي للنوى فأسمحتْ

ورضتُ نفسي للنوى فأسمحتْ

أن تهجرَ الأهلَ لكم والوطنا

أن تهجرَ الأهلَ لكم والوطنا

I trained my soul for separation, and it consented

to leave family and homeland for your sake.

واستأذنت على الحيا مجدبةً

واستأذنت على الحيا مجدبةً

أرضِي ولكنّ الحيا ما أذِنا

أرضِي ولكنّ الحيا ما أذِنا

In drought, leave to approach the rain was sought

by my land; but the rain gave no leave.

وقلتُ صدعٌ ربما لُمَّ وعج

وقلتُ صدعٌ ربما لُمَّ وعج

فاءُ عست بجودكم أن تسمَنا

فاءُ عست بجودكم أن تسمَنا

I said, 'A crack may yet be mended, and a lean

one may grow fat through your generosity;

وزمنٌ قاسٍ سيعطفونه

وزمنٌ قاسٍ سيعطفونه

نحوي بما هم يملكون الأزمنا

نحوي بما هم يملكون الأزمنا

and harsh times they will bend

toward me, for they command the times.'

لكن أبيتَ شَفقا وصَنتني

لكن أبيتَ شَفقا وصَنتني

يا لَمسيءٍ ويُظَنُّ محسنا

يا لَمسيءٍ ويُظَنُّ محسنا

But you refused out of concern and protected me—

O wrongdoer thought a benefactor!

ولو شريتُ ساعةً منك بما

ولو شريتُ ساعةً منك بما

بين ضلوعي ما شكوت الغبنا

بين ضلوعي ما شكوت الغبنا

Had I bought an hour with you at the price of

what lies between my ribs, I would not have complained of loss.

فلا تؤاخذ بفتىً صددته

فلا تؤاخذ بفتىً صددته

عن نسكه عقوبةً وما جنى

عن نسكه عقوبةً وما جنى

Do not hold to account a youth whom you barred

from his devotions as punishment, though he did no wrong.

شجَّعه الشوقُ على مشَقّةٍ

شجَّعه الشوقُ على مشَقّةٍ

كم سيمَ يوما مثلَها فجبُنا

كم سيمَ يوما مثلَها فجبُنا

Longing emboldened him to face a hardship

whose like, on many a day, he was made to face and feared.

لعلَّ مَن أشخصه يردّه

لعلَّ مَن أشخصه يردّه

أغلى لديكم قيمةً وأوزنا

أغلى لديكم قيمةً وأوزنا

Perhaps the one who sent him away will bring him back

more precious in your eyes, and weightier in worth.

فربّما عاد صليبا شرِسا

فربّما عاد صليبا شرِسا

ما كان تحت العَجْمِ سهلا ليِّنا

ما كان تحت العَجْمِ سهلا ليِّنا

For sometimes there returns, hard and fierce,

what was pliant and soft when put to the test.

لئن عداني قدَرٌ مماكسٌ

لئن عداني قدَرٌ مماكسٌ

عنكم وحظٌّ ما يزال أرعنا

عنكم وحظٌّ ما يزال أرعنا

Even if a haggling fate has kept me

from you, and a fortune ever reckless,

وفترةٌ من رأيكم تشهَدُ أنْ

وفترةٌ من رأيكم تشهَدُ أنْ

ما عندكم من الجوى ما عندنا

ما عندكم من الجوى ما عندنا

and a slackening in your resolve that shows

you do not feel the anguish that we feel,

فغادياتٌ رائحاتٌ نحوكم

فغادياتٌ رائحاتٌ نحوكم

صرائحٌ إذا الكلام هَجُنا

صرائحٌ إذا الكلام هَجُنا

still, morning and evening, there come toward you

purebred verses, when other speech is mongrel,

من اللواتي ما انبرى مسترعيا

من اللواتي ما انبرى مسترعيا

بمثلها قطُّ لسانٌ أُذُنا

بمثلها قطُّ لسانٌ أُذُنا

such that never has there stepped forward to seek

an ear's attention with their like, any tongue.

لو مسَح الجوَّ ببطن كفّهِ

لو مسَح الجوَّ ببطن كفّهِ

قائلُها كنتُ بذاك قَمِنا

قائلُها كنتُ بذاك قَمِنا

Were the sky stroked by the palm of the hand

of their poet, I would be worthy of that.

تسلَّفتْ وُدَّ الملوك قبلكم

تسلَّفتْ وُدَّ الملوك قبلكم

وعقَدَتْ لي في الرقاب المِننا

وعقَدَتْ لي في الرقاب المِننا

They drew an advance of kings' affection before you,

and tied debts of gratitude to me around their necks.

فاسمع لهنّ سابقا ولاحقا

فاسمع لهنّ سابقا ولاحقا

سوائرا فيك يُطَبِّقنَ الدُّنا

سوائرا فيك يُطَبِّقنَ الدُّنا

So listen to them, earlier and later,

traveling in your praise, encompassing the worlds.

وجُلّ يوم المهرجان هذه

وجُلّ يوم المهرجان هذه

قلادة تُنظَمُ درّاً مثمنَا

قلادة تُنظَمُ درّاً مثمنَا

Adorn the day of Mihrajan with this—

a necklace strung with precious pearls.

لم ير مذ فارقَ كسرى مثلَها

لم ير مذ فارقَ كسرى مثلَها

أجملَ فوق جيدهِ وأزينا

أجملَ فوق جيدهِ وأزينا

Since leaving Kisra, it has seen none like it,

fairer or more splendid upon its neck.

واستوفِ أقصى غايةٍ من سعده

واستوفِ أقصى غايةٍ من سعده

وابقَ له وللمعالي ولنا

وابقَ له وللمعالي ولنا

Take the utmost measure of its good fortune,

and endure for it, for lofty deeds, and for us.

وكنْ بذاك من ضمان الله لي

وكنْ بذاك من ضمان الله لي

في أن تعيش وضماني مُوقِنا

في أن تعيش وضماني مُوقِنا

Be assured by God's pledge to me in this,

that you shall live, and by my own pledge.

واندبْ لها بين يديك ناهضا

واندبْ لها بين يديك ناهضا

يَخلُفُني في ذا الدعاءِ والهنا

يَخلُفُني في ذا الدعاءِ والهنا

Appoint for it someone to stand before you,

taking my place in this prayer and congratulation.