مَنْ لصبٍّ دموعُه ليس تَرْفَاً

مَنْ لصبٍّ دموعُه ليس تَرْفَاً

هَمَلاناً إنْ شَام بالشام بَرْقَا

هَمَلاناً إنْ شَام بالشام بَرْقَا

Who will aid a lovesick man whose tears are no indulgence,

He whose tears of passion aren’t extravagance

streaming if he spies lightning in al-Sham;

If he becomes ecstatic in Damascus from lightning

وَكَئيبٍ إِذا تذكر أحبَا

وَكَئيبٍ إِذا تذكر أحبَا

باً بصنعاءَ حَن وحبذاً وشَوْقَا

باً بصنعاءَ حَن وحبذاً وشَوْقَا

and a sorrowful man who, recalling loved ones

And the gloomy one when he remembers his loved ones

in Sana'a, yearns—how dear!—with longing?

Yearns for Sanaa, longing, and ardor

وإذا لاحَ نحو يبَرِينَ بَرْقٌ

وإذا لاحَ نحو يبَرِينَ بَرْقٌ

هامَ شَوْقاً وهَام حبّاً وعِشقاً

هامَ شَوْقاً وهَام حبّاً وعِشقاً

And when lightning appears toward Yabrin,

And when lightning flashes toward Jebel Bariq

he wanders in longing, and wanders in love and passion.

He yearns intensely, loves intensely, and desires intensely

جيرة قد شقيتْ لولا هواهم

جيرة قد شقيتْ لولا هواهم

بهواهم ما كنتُ في الحبّ أشْقى

بهواهم ما كنتُ في الحبّ أشْقى

Neighbors—I have suffered; were it not for love of them,

My neighbor has suffered except for his passion for them

I would not, through loving them, be so wretched in love.

Without his passion for them I wouldn’t have suffered from love

مَنْ بُلِى بالغرامِ والوجدِ يوماً

مَنْ بُلِى بالغرامِ والوجدِ يوماً

وجَفْتهُ أحبابهُ فهْوَ أشْقَى

وجَفْتهُ أحبابهُ فهْوَ أشْقَى

Whoever is afflicted one day by passion and yearning,

Whoever has once suffered from love and fervor

and is shunned by his loved ones, is most wretched.

And his loved ones abandoned him, he is most suffering

وإذا بدلوه بالبُعْد قُرْباً

وإذا بدلوه بالبُعْد قُرْباً

بعد ما شَفَّهُ الضّنَى ليس يَشْقَى

بعد ما شَفَّهُ الضّنَى ليس يَشْقَى

And if they replace his distance with nearness,

And if after nearness they replace him with distance

after wasting illness has worn him down, he is no longer wretched.

After emaciation from estrangement, he won’t suffer

ورُبُوعٍ سَفْيتُها بدموع

ورُبُوعٍ سَفْيتُها بدموع

وأكفانٍ ما كنّ بالدمع تُسْقَى

وأكفانٍ ما كنّ بالدمع تُسْقَى

And dwellings I sprinkled with tears,

I spent nights shedding tears

and shrouds that had never been watered with tears.

And shrouds that weren't saturated with tears

فارحمُوا المبتَلى بكمُ فهو يهوا

فارحمُوا المبتَلى بكمُ فهو يهوا

كُم ورقُّوا لمن لكم صار رِقّاً

كُم ورقُّوا لمن لكم صار رِقّاً

So pity the man afflicted by you, for he loves

So have mercy on the afflicted one passionately loving you

you; be tender to one who has become your slave.

He passionately loves you, so be gentle to him who became devoted to you

وافقُوا بالصبِّ المتيم فالر

وافقُوا بالصبِّ المتيم فالر

فقُ لمن آلف الكآبةَ أَبقَى

فقُ لمن آلف الكآبةَ أَبقَى

Accommodate the lovesick, enthralled man, for kindness

Join in passion with the obsessed one, for compassion

better sustains one accustomed to sorrow.

Is lasting for whom melancholy has become perpetual

لا تُطِيلوا النَّوى فإنيَ مِن بَعْ

لا تُطِيلوا النَّوى فإنيَ مِن بَعْ

د نَوَاكُمْ وهَجْرِكمْ لستُ أَبقَى

د نَوَاكُمْ وهَجْرِكمْ لستُ أَبقَى

Do not prolong separation, for I, after

Don’t prolong estrangement, for after

your distance and abandonment, cannot endure.

Your estrangement and separation from me, I won't remain

وارفُضُوا البَيْن والبعَادً فإني

وارفُضُوا البَيْن والبعَادً فإني

لستُ أقوى نعُرْوَةُ الحبِّ وُثقَى

لستُ أقوى نعُرْوَةُ الحبِّ وُثقَى

Reject parting and estrangement, for I

And refuse separation and distance, for I

have no strength; love's bond is firm.

Cannot endure the firm bond of love

أَنَا أَرْضَى إن كان يُرْضيكُمُ

أَنَا أَرْضَى إن كان يُرْضيكُمُ

قتلَى وما قد لقيت منكم وألقىَ

قتلَى وما قد لقيت منكم وألقىَ

I am content, if it pleases you,

I’m satisfied if it satisfies you

with my death and what I have suffered and shall suffer from you.

That you’ve killed me and what I’ve suffered from you and encountered

قد كفَاني ما بِي هوىً لا تزيدو

قد كفَاني ما بِي هوىً لا تزيدو

ني جَفاءً فإنني صِرْتُ مُلْقَى

ني جَفاءً فإنني صِرْتُ مُلْقَى

The passion within me is enough; do not add

What passion has made me suffer suffices me, don't increase

more coldness toward me, for I have been cast aside.

Your disdain, for I've become downtrodden

أَنَا نشوانُ مِن رحيقِ هوَاكُم

أَنَا نشوانُ مِن رحيقِ هوَاكُم

طولَ دَهْرى لا زلتُ أَسْقِى وأُسْقَى

طولَ دَهْرى لا زلتُ أَسْقِى وأُسْقَى

I am intoxicated by the nectar of your love,

I'm delighted with the wine of your passion

throughout my life—may I ever give drink and be given drink.

My whole life I've continued to sip and be sipped

كلما قُلت قد هبطتُ من الشدةٍ

كلما قُلت قد هبطتُ من الشدةٍ

في حبِّكم بَدَا لِيَ مَرْقَى

في حبِّكم بَدَا لِيَ مَرْقَى

Whenever I say I have descended from hardship,

Whenever I say I've descended from fervor in your love

in love for you, an ascent appears before me.

Your lights have shown me ascension

كلما قُلت قد صَحَوْتُ من الحبِّ

كلما قُلت قد صَحَوْتُ من الحبِّ

سَقَاني نَوَاكُمْ كأسَ فُرْقَى

سَقَاني نَوَاكُمْ كأسَ فُرْقَى

Whenever I say I have sobered up from love,

Whenever I say I’ve awakened from love

your distance makes me drink a cup of parting.

Your lights have quenched me with a cup of salvation

ومديحي لك ابنَ سلطان سيفٍ

ومديحي لك ابنَ سلطان سيفٍ

قد سارَ غَرْباً وشَرْقَا

قد سارَ غَرْباً وشَرْقَا

And my praise of you, O son of Sultan Sayf,

And my praise of you, son of Sultan Saif

has traveled west and east.

Has traveled west and east

هوَ رَبُّ الندَى أبو العرب السا

هوَ رَبُّ الندَى أبو العرب السا

مى عَلا الخلْقِ في البرية خُلْقَا

مى عَلا الخلْقِ في البرية خُلْقَا

He is the lord of generosity, the exalted Abu al-Arab,

He is the Lord of dew, father of Arabs, the sublime

rising above all people in creation in character.

Exalted above people in character and manners

فاقَ أهلَ الزمان أصلا ومجداً

فاقَ أهلَ الزمان أصلا ومجداً

مثل ما فاقهم طِباعاً وخُلقا

مثل ما فاقهم طِباعاً وخُلقا

He surpassed the people of his age in lineage and glory,

He surpassed the people of all eras in origin and glory

just as he surpassed them in disposition and character.

Just as he surpassed them in nature and manners

وهو أنْدَاهم يداً في العطايا

وهو أنْدَاهم يداً في العطايا

وهو أزْكاهم فُروعاً وعَرْقَا

وهو أزْكاهم فُروعاً وعَرْقَا

His hand is the most generous of theirs in giving,

He is most generous, his hand the most open in giving

and he is the noblest of them in branches and roots.

And he is most pure in nobility and pedigree

سبَق السابقين مجداً وجوداً

سبَق السابقين مجداً وجوداً

وعطاءً في حليةِ الملكِ سَبْقَا

وعطاءً في حليةِ الملكِ سَبْقَا

He outstripped the foremost in glory and generosity,

He preceded the frontrunners in glory and generosity

and giving, surpassing them in the adornment of kingship.

And giving in the adornment of kingship, excelling

فارْق يا ابنَ الكرامِ درَج العليا

فارْق يا ابنَ الكرامِ درَج العليا

ء لا زلتَ للمكارِمِ تَرْقَى

ء لا زلتَ للمكارِمِ تَرْقَى

So ascend, O son of the noble, the steps of the heights;

So rise, O son of nobles, above the highest rank

may you always ascend toward noble deeds.

You have not ceased rising to the noblest virtues

لا تُبالِ فالأمرُ والنهىُ والدْ

لا تُبالِ فالأمرُ والنهىُ والدْ

دُنيا لكم فامحق المخالِفَ مَحْقَا

دُنيا لكم فامحق المخالِفَ مَحْقَا

Do not be troubled: command, prohibition, and the world

Don’t care, for the matter of command and prohibition is yours

are yours; utterly annihilate the opponent.

The world is for you, so obliterate the opponent, obliterating him

واترك الضِّدَّ لا يقرُّ ولا يسط

واترك الضِّدَّ لا يقرُّ ولا يسط

يع صرفاً ولا خلافاً ونطقاً

يع صرفاً ولا خلافاً ونطقاً

And leave the adversary unable to rest or

And leave the opponent, he cannot comply or obey

maneuver, oppose you, or speak.

Diverting or opposing in speech

وارمِ من عادَانا وخالفنا في

وارمِ من عادَانا وخالفنا في

أمرِنا بالقِلَى ومن مَال شَقّا

أمرِنا بالقِلَى ومن مَال شَقّا

And assail whoever is hostile to us and opposes us in

And pelt those who opposed and defied us in our matter

our affairs with hatred, and whoever turns toward division.

With destruction, and who turned away, defying

واسخُ وارجو الإله واصدعْ وسامحْ

واسخُ وارجو الإله واصدعْ وسامحْ

واسمُ واسترْ وزرْ وعشْ واحمِ وابْقَى

واسمُ واسترْ وزرْ وعشْ واحمِ وابْقَى

And be generous, hope in God, proclaim openly, and forgive;

Be forgiving, be hopeful, speak openly, be tolerant, fast, protect, sustain, have mercy, endure

rise high, cover faults, visit, live, protect, and remain.

Be forgiving, protect, gain knowledge, yearn, guide, have mercy, strive, increase, honor, and be gentle

واسلُ واسترْ واستفدْ وترمَّق

واسلُ واسترْ واستفدْ وترمَّق

واهدِ وارحمْ وجدْ وزدْ واعزُ وارقَا

واهدِ وارحمْ وجدْ وزدْ واعزُ وارقَا

Find solace, cover faults, gain benefit, and watch closely;

Pardon, overlook, speak, block, transcend

guide, have mercy, give generously, increase, be mighty, and ascend.

And build for me ascendable steps of glory that I may ascend

واعفُ واصفحْ وقلْ وسُدْ وتجاوز

واعفُ واصفحْ وقلْ وسُدْ وتجاوز

وابنِ لي مُرْتَقَى المعالي لأَرْقَى

وابنِ لي مُرْتَقَى المعالي لأَرْقَى

Pardon, forgive, speak, rule, and overlook;

I have, in your presence, prolonged praising you

and build me a stairway to lofty honors, that I may ascend.

And your glories I have been most long-necked of all people

أنا أصبحتُ في ذَرَاك زمَدْحِي

أنا أصبحتُ في ذَرَاك زمَدْحِي

ومعاليك أطولُ الناس عُنْقَا

ومعاليك أطولُ الناس عُنْقَا

Beneath your shelter I have become, through my praise

My poetry has flourished with you and wandered lost

and your lofty deeds, the longest-necked of men.

Among the poets because it has become sincere

زانَ شِعرى بِكُم وتاهَ على الشع

زانَ شِعرى بِكُم وتاهَ على الشع

ار طُرٍّا لأنه صارَ صِدْقَا

ار طُرٍّا لأنه صارَ صِدْقَا

My poetry is adorned by you and exults above the poets,

Any praise of others is nonsense

all of them, because it has become truthful.

And nonsense leads to wretched stupidity

كلُّ مدحٍ في غيركم هذيانٌ

كلُّ مدحٍ في غيركم هذيانٌ

والهذاءُ الرَّدِىُّ يورِثُ حُمْقَا

والهذاءُ الرَّدِىُّ يورِثُ حُمْقَا

All praise of anyone but you is babbling,

Praising the just imams was an obligation

and vile babbling breeds folly.

While praising misguidance was injustice and sin

كان مدح الأئمةِ العدلِ دينا

كان مدح الأئمةِ العدلِ دينا

وامتداح الضلال ظلماً وفسقَا

وامتداح الضلال ظلماً وفسقَا

Praising just imams was piety,

O descendant of the Imam Sultan Saif

and praising error was injustice and impiety.

You are most guided of all and most pious and reverent

يا سليلَ الإمام سلطانَ سيف

يا سليلَ الإمام سلطانَ سيف

أنت أهدَى الورَى وأزكَى وأَتقَى

أنت أهدَى الورَى وأزكَى وأَتقَى

O descendant of Imam Sultan Sayf,

O young man of the most praiseworthy and thanked

you are the best-guided of mankind, the purest and most God-fearing.

And beware the enemies’ effort, and be forbearing

يا فتَى الأكرمينَ حَمْداً وشكراً

يا فتَى الأكرمينَ حَمْداً وشكراً

هذه سلم العُلَى فَتْرَقى

هذه سلم العُلَى فَتْرَقى

O youth of the noblest, praise and gratitude!

For the forbearing, his time is characterized by caution

This is the ladder to the heights, so ascend.

The people depend on you, so how can

وتوقى الأعداءَ جهدَك واحلمْ

وتوقى الأعداءَ جهدَك واحلمْ

فأخُو الحِلم دَهرَه بَتَوَقّي

فأخُو الحِلم دَهرَه بَتَوَقّي

Guard against enemies as best you can, and be forbearing,

You leave them to drown in your seas of generosity

for the man of forbearance lives ever watchfully.

And the kings of the world are your servants

أعيالٌ لكَ الأنامُ فأنَّى

أعيالٌ لكَ الأنامُ فأنَّى

خِلْتهم في بحار جُودِكَ غَرْقَى

خِلْتهم في بحار جُودِكَ غَرْقَى

All mankind are your dependents, for I

And subjects unable to emancipate themselves

have imagined them drowned in the seas of your bounty.

ومُلوك الدنيا لديكَ عبيدٌ

ومُلوك الدنيا لديكَ عبيدٌ

وموال لا يستطيعونَ عِتُقَا

وموال لا يستطيعونَ عِتُقَا

The world's kings are slaves before you,

With features bearing no defects but

and retainers who cannot gain emancipation.

That they flash lightning at the enemies, flashing at them

هاكَ مدحاً كأنه الدرّ والمر

هاكَ مدحاً كأنه الدرّ والمر

جان والزِّبرقانُ بل هو أَبْقَى

جان والزِّبرقانُ بل هو أَبْقَى

Take this praise, like pearls and coral

By them faces whiten and darken

and the full moon—nay, it is more enduring.

While the enemies’ faces blacken in rage and misery

بقوافٍ لا عيبَ تلقاهُ إلا

بقوافٍ لا عيبَ تلقاهُ إلا

أنها ترشقُ المُعادِين رَشْقَا

أنها ترشقُ المُعادِين رَشْقَا

In rhymes where you will find no fault, except

It surpassed in meaning, softness, and expression

that they pelt adversaries with volleys.

And the stringing grew long in precise, refined versification

فبِها تبيضُّ الوجوهُ وتسو

فبِها تبيضُّ الوجوهُ وتسو

دٌّ وجوهُ الأعداء غَيْظاً وتَشْقَى

دٌّ وجوهُ الأعداء غَيْظاً وتَشْقَى

Through them faces grow white, while

enemies' faces grow black with rage and suffer.

فاقَ معنىً ورقةً وعبارا

فاقَ معنىً ورقةً وعبارا

تٍ وطالَ القريضُ نظمَا فَدَقَّا

تٍ وطالَ القريضُ نظمَا فَدَقَّا

It excelled in meaning, delicacy, and expression,

and the verse grew long in composition, becoming finely wrought.