لَعَمرُك ما القاماتُ إِلّا أَسِنَّةٌ

لَعَمرُك ما القاماتُ إِلّا أَسِنَّةٌ

وما غَمزاتُ العَينِ إِلّا عَواضِبُ

وما غَمزاتُ العَينِ إِلّا عَواضِبُ

By your life, statures are nothing but spearheads,

Your life, the tears are but rain drops

And the eye's winks are nothing but cutting swords.

And the winks of the eyes mere wasps

وما وَجناتُ الغيدِ يَبدو شُعاعُها

وما وَجناتُ الغيدِ يَبدو شُعاعُها

وَيَظهرُ في الظّلماءِ إِلّا كَواكبُ

وَيَظهرُ في الظّلماءِ إِلّا كَواكبُ

And the cheeks of graceful beauties, whose radiance appears

The cheeks' dimples shine beams

And shines in darkness, are nothing but stars.

Appearing in darkness as stars

إِذا طلعَت تَعلو رِماحُ قُدودِها

إِذا طلعَت تَعلو رِماحُ قُدودِها

بِمَشرِقها مِنها تُضيءُ المغاربُ

بِمَشرِقها مِنها تُضيءُ المغاربُ

When she rises, the spears of her shapely forms soar;

When they rise their spears' points ascend

At her eastern rising, the western lands are lit by her.

With their rising from them the wests light up

وَما جَبهَةُ الحَسناءِ فَوقَ حواجِبٍ

وَما جَبهَةُ الحَسناءِ فَوقَ حواجِبٍ

بِغَيرِ هِلالٍ حَيثُ لَم يَكُ حاجبُ

بِغَيرِ هِلالٍ حَيثُ لَم يَكُ حاجبُ

And the beauty's forehead above her eyebrows

And the brow of the beautiful above eyebrows

Is nothing but a crescent, with no veil before it.

Is naught but a crescent where no eyebrows existed

وَلَكنّ أَعلاهُ أَضاءَ بِنورِهِ

وَلَكنّ أَعلاهُ أَضاءَ بِنورِهِ

ومُسْودَّه أَدناهُ وَهوَ الحواجبُ

ومُسْودَّه أَدناهُ وَهوَ الحواجبُ

But its upper part shone with its light,

But its top it illuminated with its light

And its blackened part is its lower part—the eyebrows.

And its darkened lower part is the eyebrow

وَلي مَذهَبٌ فيمَن عشقتُ مهذَّبٌ

وَلي مَذهَبٌ فيمَن عشقتُ مهذَّبٌ

وَلِلناسِ فيما يَعشَقونَ مَذاهِبُ

وَلِلناسِ فيما يَعشَقونَ مَذاهِبُ

And I have a refined way concerning the one I love,

And my way with whom I loved is well-mannered

While people have many ways in what they love.

While people have ways in whom they love

أَهيم بها وَلْهانَ وَالدّمعُ ساكِبٌ

أَهيم بها وَلْهانَ وَالدّمعُ ساكِبٌ

وَما أَدمُعُ الولهانِ إِلّا سَواكِبُ

وَما أَدمُعُ الولهانِ إِلّا سَواكِبُ

I am lost in love for her, distraught, with tears streaming;

I yearn for her distraught while tears pour down

And a distracted lover's tears can only pour.

And a lover's tears are nothing but falling stars

أَغيبُ بِها وَجداً وَإِنّي حاضِرٌ

أَغيبُ بِها وَجداً وَإِنّي حاضِرٌ

أيُجدي حضورُ الصّبِّ والصّبُّ غائبُ

أيُجدي حضورُ الصّبِّ والصّبُّ غائبُ

I vanish in longing for her, although I am present;

I disappear in passion while present

What use is the lover's presence when the lover is absent?

Can the presence of a lover avail if the lover is absent?

أَميلُ إِلَيها وَهيَ لا شكَّ مَطلَبي

أَميلُ إِلَيها وَهيَ لا شكَّ مَطلَبي

وَقَصدي وما لي في سِواها مَأربُ

وَقَصدي وما لي في سِواها مَأربُ

I incline toward her: she is surely my desire

I incline towards her and she is undoubtedly what I seek

And my aim; I have no wish for any but her.

And my aim and I have no purpose but her

أَخافُ عَلَيها أَن تَرى الشَّمسُ حُسنَها

أَخافُ عَلَيها أَن تَرى الشَّمسُ حُسنَها

فَتندلُه نَدْلاً تراهُ الثّعالِبُ

فَتندلُه نَدْلاً تراهُ الثّعالِبُ

I fear for her lest the sun behold her beauty

I fear the sun may see her beauty

And snatch it away with a theft the foxes would witness.

And nibble it to bits visible to foxes

عَلى أَنّ شَمسَ الأُفْقِ عينٌ وَإنّها

عَلى أَنّ شَمسَ الأُفْقِ عينٌ وَإنّها

لها لدْغةٌ لا تحتويها العقاربُ

لها لدْغةٌ لا تحتويها العقاربُ

For the sun on the horizon is an eye, and it

Though the horizon's sun is an eye

Has a sting that scorpions do not possess.

It has a sting unrestrained by antidotes

أغارُ عليها أن تمرَّ بها الصَّبا

أغارُ عليها أن تمرَّ بها الصَّبا

وَمِن لُطفِها يَحلو لَدَيها المكاسِبُ

وَمِن لُطفِها يَحلو لَدَيها المكاسِبُ

I am jealous for her lest the east wind pass her by;

I am jealous if the morning breeze passes by her

And through her delicacy, spoils taste sweet to it.

And through its gentleness unlawful gains seem sweet to her

وَتَسرِقُ نَفحَ الوردِ مِن وَردِ خَدِّها

وَتَسرِقُ نَفحَ الوردِ مِن وَردِ خَدِّها

وَيَعشقُها بِالشمِّ مِنهُ الأشايبُ

وَيَعشقُها بِالشمِّ مِنهُ الأشايبُ

And it steals the roses' fragrance from the rose of her cheek,

And steals the scent of roses from the rose of her cheek

And gray-haired men fall in love with her from smelling it.

And grey-haired men become enamoured by her scent

خَريدةُ حُسنٍ ما لها من مُشابهٍ

خَريدةُ حُسنٍ ما لها من مُشابهٍ

ولا غَرْوَ ما للشمس مثلٌ يقاربُ

ولا غَرْوَ ما للشمس مثلٌ يقاربُ

A maiden of beauty, with none to resemble her;

She is a unique beauty the like of which there is none

No wonder: the sun has no equal that comes close.

Nor any match for the sun that comes close

تَميلُ وَتَرنو كَالقضيبِ وكالظُّبى

تَميلُ وَتَرنو كَالقضيبِ وكالظُّبى

وتسفرُ مثلُ النجمِ والنجمُ ثاقبُ

وتسفرُ مثلُ النجمِ والنجمُ ثاقبُ

She sways and gazes, like a branch and like sword edges,

She sways and gazes like a twig and like a gazelle

And unveils like a star—a piercing star.

And dawns like a star while the star penetrates

فَإِنْ تبدُ يبدُ الفجرُ في اللَّيلِ صادقاً

فَإِنْ تبدُ يبدُ الفجرُ في اللَّيلِ صادقاً

وَإِنْ غَيرُها يَبدو فذا الفجرُ كاذِبُ

وَإِنْ غَيرُها يَبدو فذا الفجرُ كاذِبُ

If she appears, true dawn appears in the night;

So if she appears dawn breaks truthfully in the night

But if another appears, that dawn is false.

While if others appear that dawn is but a liar

بِروحي لَماها فَهوَ خَمرٌ تَعَسَّلَت

بِروحي لَماها فَهوَ خَمرٌ تَعَسَّلَت

وَمِنها لَقَد طابَت لَدَيَّ المَشارِبِ

وَمِنها لَقَد طابَت لَدَيَّ المَشارِبِ

My soul for the duskiness of her lips: it is honey-sweetened wine,

By my soul her breath is sweet wine

And through her, the draughts have indeed grown sweet to me.

By which drinking became pleasant for me

وَبي طَرْفُها المَخمورُ مِن خَمرَةِ الكَرى

وَبي طَرْفُها المَخمورُ مِن خَمرَةِ الكَرى

وَمِن خَمرَةِ التّسهيدِ طرفِيَ شاربُ

وَمِن خَمرَةِ التّسهيدِ طرفِيَ شاربُ

And my own self for her gaze, drunk on the wine of slumber;

While my eyes are intoxicated by the wine of poesy

While my gaze drinks the wine of sleeplessness.

And by the wine of yearning my eyes drink

نَهَتنيَ عَن كَوني أَرى شَمسَ وَجهِها

نَهَتنيَ عَن كَوني أَرى شَمسَ وَجهِها

فَقُلتُ لَها الحِرباءُ مِثلي تراقبُ

فَقُلتُ لَها الحِرباءُ مِثلي تراقبُ

She forbade me to look upon the sun of her face;

She forbade me from beholding the sun of her face

I told her, 'The chameleon watches just as I do.'

So I said to her the wakeful are like me - watching

وَأَنّى أَراها وَالعُيونُ حَواجِبي

وَأَنّى أَراها وَالعُيونُ حَواجِبي

بِشَزْرٍ لَقَد هانَت لَدَيهِ القَواضِبُ

بِشَزْرٍ لَقَد هانَت لَدَيهِ القَواضِبُ

And how can I see her, when eyes are my barriers,

And how can I see her while my eyelids are eyebrows

With a hostile glance beside which keen swords seem feeble?

By my life the telescopes are now so insignificant

وَكَونُ اللّواحي أَعيُناً وَحَواجِباً

وَكَونُ اللّواحي أَعيُناً وَحَواجِباً

فَوا أَسَفي إِنَّ العيونَ حَواجبُ

فَوا أَسَفي إِنَّ العيونَ حَواجبُ

And the reprovers are both eyes and barriers—

That my eyelids are eyes and eyebrows

Alas for me: the eyes are barriers!

Oh my sorrow if the eyes are eyebrows

وَلَم يَكُ فَقدُ الرّوحِ مِنّي مُصيبَةً

وَلَم يَكُ فَقدُ الرّوحِ مِنّي مُصيبَةً

وَلَكِن لَواحي الصبِّ هنَّ المَصائِبُ

وَلَكِن لَواحي الصبِّ هنَّ المَصائِبُ

The loss of my soul was no calamity for me,

And the loss of my soul was no calamity for me

But the lover's reprovers are the calamities.

But oh the sorrows of my sobriety those are the calamities

رَأَتني نَحيلَ الجسمِ مِن أَلَمِ الجَوى

رَأَتني نَحيلَ الجسمِ مِن أَلَمِ الجَوى

فَقالَت دَعوهُ تَعتَليهِ المَعاطِبُ

فَقالَت دَعوهُ تَعتَليهِ المَعاطِبُ

She saw me wasted in body by the pain of burning love,

She saw me thin bodied from the pain of love

And said, 'Leave him; let perils overtake him.'

So she said leave him so rivals will scorn him

وَشامَت بَياضاً قَد أَلمَّ بِعارِضي

وَشامَت بَياضاً قَد أَلمَّ بِعارِضي

فَظَنَّتْه شَيباً وَهوَ تأباهُ كاعبُ

فَظَنَّتْه شَيباً وَهوَ تأباهُ كاعبُ

And she glimpsed a whiteness that had settled on my cheek,

And she suspected the paleness that afflicted my cheek

And thought it gray hair—something a budding maiden rejects.

Thinking it grey hair while repudiated by the fool

وَلَيسَ بِشيبٍ إِنّما هوَ نورُها

وَلَيسَ بِشيبٍ إِنّما هوَ نورُها

عَلى عارضي بادٍ وَما أَنا شايِبُ

عَلى عارضي بادٍ وَما أَنا شايِبُ

But it is not gray hair; it is only her light

It is not grey hair, it is but her light

Shining on my cheek: I am not gray-haired.

Upon my cheek spreading while I am no greybeard

رَعَى اللَّهُ أَهلَ العِشقِ إِنَّ قُلوبَهم

رَعَى اللَّهُ أَهلَ العِشقِ إِنَّ قُلوبَهم

لَمِن لحظها فيها نِبالٌ صَوائبُ

لَمِن لحظها فيها نِبالٌ صَوائبُ

May God watch over lovers, for their hearts

May God protect the people of passion, their hearts

Indeed hold unerring arrows from her glance.

Are struck by the glances of the beloved with accurate arrows

وَأَحيا فُؤادي حَيثُ ماتَ مِنَ النّوى

وَأَحيا فُؤادي حَيثُ ماتَ مِنَ النّوى

وَحَلَّت بِهِ دونَ القُلوبِ النّوائبُ

وَحَلَّت بِهِ دونَ القُلوبِ النّوائبُ

And may He revive my heart, since it has died of separation,

And may He revive my heart after dying of pining

And calamities settled upon it, rather than other hearts.

And adversities had befallen it unlike other hearts

وَأُوهِنَ مِن أَيدي العَنا حَيثُ قَد غَدا

وَأُوهِنَ مِن أَيدي العَنا حَيثُ قَد غَدا

كَأَوهَنِ بَيتٍ قَد بَنَتهُ العَناكِبُ

كَأَوهَنِ بَيتٍ قَد بَنَتهُ العَناكِبُ

And it was weakened at the hands of suffering, for it has become

And I was weakened at the hands of enemies after I had been

Like the frailest house that spiders have built.

Like the weakest house built by spiders

فَيا وَيحَ قَلبي فَالنّوى قَد أَطارَهُ

فَيا وَيحَ قَلبي فَالنّوى قَد أَطارَهُ

وَيا وَيحَ جَنبي حَيثُ روحي تُجانبُ

وَيا وَيحَ جَنبي حَيثُ روحي تُجانبُ

Alas for my heart! Separation has sent it flying;

Oh woe my heart which pining has made it fly away

And alas for my side, as my soul departs from it.

Oh woe my flank where my soul has turned away

عَلى كلِّ حالٍ هَكَذا شِرعَةُ الهوى

عَلى كلِّ حالٍ هَكَذا شِرعَةُ الهوى

وَفي مِثلِهِ تَقضي عَلَينا الحَبائِبُ

وَفي مِثلِهِ تَقضي عَلَينا الحَبائِبُ

In every state, such is the law of love,

However this is the law of passion

And in such matters, beloveds pass judgment upon us.

And through the like of it sorrows prevail over us

فَقُم يا اِبنَ ودّي نَدخُلِ الرَّوضَ نَلتَهي

فَقُم يا اِبنَ ودّي نَدخُلِ الرَّوضَ نَلتَهي

فَأَذكى ذَوي الأَشجانِ لاهٍ وَلاعِبُ

فَأَذكى ذَوي الأَشجانِ لاهٍ وَلاعِبُ

Rise, son of my affection; let us enter the garden and amuse ourselves.

So rise my dear son and enter the garden happily

For the wisest among the sorrowful diverts himself and plays.

To inspire those who have sorrows with jest and play

أَتَزعمُ أَنّي لِلأمانِيِّ بالِغٌ

أَتَزعمُ أَنّي لِلأمانِيِّ بالِغٌ

وَأَنَّ الأماني كَالظُّنونِ كَواذبُ

وَأَنَّ الأماني كَالظُّنونِ كَواذبُ

Do you claim that I shall attain my wishes,

Do you claim I have given up on my hopes

And yet wishes, like conjectures, are false?

While hopes are liars like conjectures?

فَدَعْ عَنكَ هَذا الزَّعمَ يا اِبنَ أَخي الهَوى

فَدَعْ عَنكَ هَذا الزَّعمَ يا اِبنَ أَخي الهَوى

فَكَم ماتَ صَبٌّ أَخطَأتهُ المَطالِبُ

فَكَم ماتَ صَبٌّ أَخطَأتهُ المَطالِبُ

Abandon this claim, then, O nephew of Love;

Leave this claim my nephew passion

For how many a lover has died, his desires eluding him!

Has killed many a youth his quests had missed

وَشَنِّفْ بِأَذكارِ الحبيبةِ مَسمَعي

وَشَنِّفْ بِأَذكارِ الحبيبةِ مَسمَعي

فَتِلكَ لَهُ قرطٌ هَوَتهُ الكَواعِبُ

فَتِلكَ لَهُ قرطٌ هَوَتهُ الكَواعِبُ

And adorn my hearing with remembrances of the beloved;

And delight my hearing with the beloved's remembrance

For those are an earring for it, coveted by budding maidens.

For that is an earring the flirts have coveted

وَمنّيَ فَاِسمَعْ عَن عَليٍّ مَناقِباً

وَمنّيَ فَاِسمَعْ عَن عَليٍّ مَناقِباً

فَإِنّ عليّاً عَنه تُروى المَناقِبُ

فَإِنّ عليّاً عَنه تُروى المَناقِبُ

And from me, hear of Ali's virtues,

And from me listen to the virtues of Ali

For it is of Ali that virtues are recounted.

For virtues are transmitted regarding Ali

مَناقِبُهُ لم تُحصَ عدّاً لَوِ اِنتَهى

مَناقِبُهُ لم تُحصَ عدّاً لَوِ اِنتَهى

وَلَكنَّهُ مِنهُ تُعدُّ المَعايِبُ

وَلَكنَّهُ مِنهُ تُعدُّ المَعايِبُ

His virtues cannot be numbered, even if counting ran its course;

His virtues cannot be fully counted

Yet in his case, faults can be counted.

But faults are counted regarding him

وَما هِيَ إِلّا وَصفُه وَاِتّصافُهُ

وَما هِيَ إِلّا وَصفُه وَاِتّصافُهُ

بِكُلِّ كَمالٍ قَد جَفَتهُ المَثالِبُ

بِكُلِّ كَمالٍ قَد جَفَتهُ المَثالِبُ

And they are nothing but his being described and endowed

And they are but descriptions of his righteousness

With every perfection that failings have shunned.

With every perfection authors have relayed

فَذاكَ أَميرُ المُؤمِنينَ بِعَصرِهِ

فَذاكَ أَميرُ المُؤمِنينَ بِعَصرِهِ

حَديثاً وَفَضلاً مِنهُ تَبدو الغَرائِبُ

حَديثاً وَفَضلاً مِنهُ تَبدو الغَرائِبُ

He is the Commander of the Faithful in his age,

He is the commander of the faithful in his time

In hadith and excellence; from him wonders appear.

Ancient in grace and marvels appear from him

إِمامٌ بِهِ كلُّ الأَفاضِلِ تَقتَدي

إِمامٌ بِهِ كلُّ الأَفاضِلِ تَقتَدي

وَذاكَ اِقتِضاءٌ صَحَّحتهُ المَذاهِبُ

وَذاكَ اِقتِضاءٌ صَحَّحتهُ المَذاهِبُ

An imam whom all the eminent follow;

A leader all the virtuous emulate

And that is a requirement confirmed by the schools of thought.

A requirement certified by doctrines

فَلَو أَمَّهُ بِالفضلِ أَكبَرُ فاضِلٍ

فَلَو أَمَّهُ بِالفضلِ أَكبَرُ فاضِلٍ

فَقَدْ أُمَّ بالأميِّ قارٍ وَكاتِبُ

فَقَدْ أُمَّ بالأميِّ قارٍ وَكاتِبُ

Were the greatest scholar to seek him for his excellence,

So if the greatest man in grace gave him allegiance

Readers and writers have indeed been led by the unlettered one.

The literate would give allegiance to the illiterate

هوَ البطلُ الكَرّارُ في كلِّ مَعركٍ

هوَ البطلُ الكَرّارُ في كلِّ مَعركٍ

مِنَ المُشكِلِ الخافي وَما هوَ هارِبُ

مِنَ المُشكِلِ الخافي وَما هوَ هارِبُ

He is the champion, charging again and again into every battle

He is the recurring hero in every battle

With obscure difficulties, and he does not flee.

Of the obscure and the covert and he is no escapee

يَكِرُّ بِذهنٍ يَسبِقُ البرقَ لامِعاً

يَكِرُّ بِذهنٍ يَسبِقُ البرقَ لامِعاً

وَفَكرٍ يُحاكي الشُّهبَ وَهيَ ثَواقِبُ

وَفَكرٍ يُحاكي الشُّهبَ وَهيَ ثَواقِبُ

He charges with a mind that outruns the flashing lightning,

He attacks with a mind faster than lightning flashing

And thought that resembles meteors as they pierce.

And a thought rivalling shooting stars traversing

فَإِن جالَ في مِضمارِ بَحثٍ مناظراً

فَإِن جالَ في مِضمارِ بَحثٍ مناظراً

فَقَد فرَّ مَمنوعُ المُرادِ المشاغِبُ

فَقَد فرَّ مَمنوعُ المُرادِ المشاغِبُ

If he ranges through the arena of inquiry as a debater,

So if he surged in the battleground of debate and discourse

The quarrelsome opponent, denied his aim, has fled.

He frustrated the forbidden aims of mischief makers

وَإِن صالَ بِالأَقلامِ فَوقَ كواغدٍ

وَإِن صالَ بِالأَقلامِ فَوقَ كواغدٍ

فَقَد كَتَبت بِالسُّمر بيضٌ قَواضِبُ

فَقَد كَتَبت بِالسُّمر بيضٌ قَواضِبُ

And if he attacks with pens upon sheets of paper,

And if he journeyed with pens across pages

Then white, keen-cutting swords have written with brown spears.

The starlings would write with white beaks

وَيا حَبَّذا فيها الطُّروسُ كَأَنّها

وَيا حَبَّذا فيها الطُّروسُ كَأَنّها

يُخالِطُ مِنها الضّوءُ فيها غَياهِبُ

يُخالِطُ مِنها الضّوءُ فيها غَياهِبُ

And how splendid are the written pages there, as though

And excellent in them the script like

Their light mingles there with deep darkness.

The light mingling in them with darkness

وَتِلكَ كُنوزٌ لِلمَعاني فَإِنْ بَدَت

وَتِلكَ كُنوزٌ لِلمَعاني فَإِنْ بَدَت

عَنِ الدُّرِّ وَالياقوتِ تَبدُ العَجايِبُ

عَنِ الدُّرِّ وَالياقوتِ تَبدُ العَجايِبُ

And those are treasuries of meanings; if they disclose

And those are treasures of meaning so if they appeared

Pearls and rubies, wonders appear.

Wonders would appear over pearls and rubies

نَتيجَةُ هَذا الدَّهر مِن حُسنِ شَكلِهِ

نَتيجَةُ هَذا الدَّهر مِن حُسنِ شَكلِهِ

بَدَت عَن قَضايا المَجدِ وَالمَجدُ واجبُ

بَدَت عَن قَضايا المَجدِ وَالمَجدُ واجبُ

He is this age's conclusion, from the soundness of its form,

The yield of this time in beauty of form

Arising from the propositions of glory—glory being necessary.

Revealed issues of glory and glory became mandatory

وَتِلكَ القَضايا مُوجِبات لَهُ العُلا

وَتِلكَ القَضايا مُوجِبات لَهُ العُلا

وَعَمّن سِواهُ أَوجَبَتها السّوالِبِ

وَعَمّن سِواهُ أَوجَبَتها السّوالِبِ

And those propositions affirm high rank for him,

And those issues made his supremacy obligatory

While negations concerning others establish it for him.

While for others they necessitated lowliness

فَلَو ودَّ مَتنَ العزِّ يَركَبُه غَدَت

فَلَو ودَّ مَتنَ العزِّ يَركَبُه غَدَت

تودُّ المعالي أنهنّ نجائبُ

تودُّ المعالي أنهنّ نجائبُ

Were he to wish to mount the back of glory, then

So if the stretches of glory were mounts to ride

The lofty honors would wish to be noble steeds.

The high pursuits would wish they were comets

أَبى اللَّهُ إِلّا أَن يَسودَ بِفَضلهِ

أَبى اللَّهُ إِلّا أَن يَسودَ بِفَضلهِ

وما سَوّدته فيه أمٌّ ولا أبُ

وما سَوّدته فيه أمٌّ ولا أبُ

God has willed only that he lead through his own excellence,

But God refused save that he prevails in merit

And neither mother nor father made him a master in it.

And not a mother or father blackened him

عَلى أَنَّهُ قد سادَ مَجداً بِأَصلِهِ

عَلى أَنَّهُ قد سادَ مَجداً بِأَصلِهِ

وَذَلكَ أَصلٌ فيهِ طهَ وَغالبُ

وَذَلكَ أَصلٌ فيهِ طهَ وَغالبُ

Though he has also attained glorious eminence through his lineage,

Though he did prevail in lineage glory

A lineage containing Taha and Ghalib.

And that is lineage in which are glory and prevailing

فَذاكَ هوَ المَجدُ المُؤكّدُ في الوَرى

فَذاكَ هوَ المَجدُ المُؤكّدُ في الوَرى

لَعمرُك ماذا المجدُ إلّا مَواهِبُ

لَعمرُك ماذا المجدُ إلّا مَواهِبُ

That is confirmed glory among humankind;

By your life, what is glory but gifts?

So this is the assured glory in the world

فَماذا ثَنائي بَعدَ هَذا وَمِدْحَتي

فَماذا ثَنائي بَعدَ هَذا وَمِدْحَتي

وَلِكَنّ هَذا لِلمَدائِحِ طالبُ

وَلِكَنّ هَذا لِلمَدائِحِ طالبُ

What, then, are my praise and commendation after this?

Your life what then is glory but grants?

Yet this calls for praises.

What then are my praises and eulogies after this

فَإِن لَم تَصفه في حَميد مَدائِحي

فَإِن لَم تَصفه في حَميد مَدائِحي

فَإنّيَ مِن ذاكَ الحميدِ مُعاتَبُ

فَإنّيَ مِن ذاكَ الحميدِ مُعاتَبُ

If you fail to describe him in my worthy praises,

But this quests praises though the slave is addressed

Then I shall be reproached by that praiseworthy man.

And if you did not describe him in the praise I lauded

فَيا أَيّها المَولَى الَّذي هوَ مالكي

فَيا أَيّها المَولَى الَّذي هوَ مالكي

وَمَنْ أَنا في مَدحي مَزاياكَ راغِبُ

وَمَنْ أَنا في مَدحي مَزاياكَ راغِبُ

O master, you who own me,

Then in that praise I would blame you

And whose merits I am eager to praise,

So here is an immaculate ode I have composed

لَئِن كُنتَ قَد كاتبتَني بقصيدةٍ

لَئِن كُنتَ قَد كاتبتَني بقصيدةٍ

فإنَّ اِفتِخارَ العبدِ حيث يُكاتَبُ

فإنَّ اِفتِخارَ العبدِ حيث يُكاتَبُ

If you have written to me with a poem,

Upon which is wondrous eloquence and imagery

For a servant's pride lies in being written to.

How many a suitor has it vexed with its beauty

وَلَكن نُجومُ المَدْحِ لا أَستَطيعُها

وَلَكن نُجومُ المَدْحِ لا أَستَطيعُها

وَمِن أَجلِ ذا في الرِّقِّ يبقى المُكاتبُ

وَمِن أَجلِ ذا في الرِّقِّ يبقى المُكاتبُ

Yet I cannot meet the installments of praise,

And he was barred from fulfilling his hopes while disappointed

And for this reason, the slave under contract remains in bondage.

While you alone are permitted to it beyond all mankind

فَهاكَ أَبيتَ اللّعنَ بِكراً جميلةً

فَهاكَ أَبيتَ اللّعنَ بِكراً جميلةً

عَلَيها مِنَ الحُسنِ البَديع جَلابِبُ

عَلَيها مِنَ الحُسنِ البَديع جَلابِبُ

So take this—may you be spared curses—a beautiful virgin,

You alone are its suitor beyond all people

Clothed in robes of wondrous beauty.

To you it is wed and settled and now

فَكَم طالِبٍ ضَنَّتْ عليهِ بِحُسنها

فَكَم طالِبٍ ضَنَّتْ عليهِ بِحُسنها

وقد رُدَّ عن نَيل المُنى وهو خائِبُ

وقد رُدَّ عن نَيل المُنى وهو خائِبُ

How many a suitor she has begrudged her beauty,

It is prohibited without doubt to strangers

And he was turned back from attaining his wishes, disappointed.

It became concealed in my thoughts from others than you

وَأَنتَ لَها دون البريّةِ محْرَمٌ

وَأَنتَ لَها دون البريّةِ محْرَمٌ

وَأَنتَ لَها دونَ الخَلائِقِ خاطِبُ

وَأَنتَ لَها دونَ الخَلائِقِ خاطِبُ

You alone, among humankind, are her lawful intimate,

For its knowledge that you in my thoughts attract it

And you alone, among all creatures, are her suitor.

And from you thought derives what you have granted it

إِلَيكَ لَقد زُفَّتْ وحلّتْ وَقَد غدا

إِلَيكَ لَقد زُفَّتْ وحلّتْ وَقَد غدا

حَراماً بلا شكٍّ عليها الأجانبُ

حَراماً بلا شكٍّ عليها الأجانبُ

To you she has been brought as a bride and made lawful; now

Yet it guides you for you are the grantor

Strangers are surely forbidden to her.

So if you accept it, it asks no more

تَوارَت بِفِكري عَن سِواكَ لِعِلمِها

تَوارَت بِفِكري عَن سِواكَ لِعِلمِها

بِأَنّكَ مِن فِكري لَها أَنت جاذبُ

بِأَنّكَ مِن فِكري لَها أَنت جاذبُ

She hid within my thoughts from everyone but you, knowing

While it deserves no acceptance is what it seeks

That you are the one who draws her out of my thoughts.

So pardon my shortcoming in praise and eulogy

وَمِنك اِستَمدَّ الفِكرُ فيما وَهَبته

وَمِنك اِستَمدَّ الفِكرُ فيما وَهَبته

وَلِكنَّهُ يُهديكَ ما أَنتَ واهِبُ

وَلِكنَّهُ يُهديكَ ما أَنتَ واهِبُ

And from you, thought drew strength in what you bestowed,

Obligations and duties have eluded me

Yet it offers you what you yourself give.

And that is repentance for my sin, no doubt

فَإِن تَحْبُها مِنكَ القَبولَ فَما لَها

فَإِن تَحْبُها مِنكَ القَبولَ فَما لَها

وَحَقِّك في غَيرِ القَبولِ مآربُ

وَحَقِّك في غَيرِ القَبولِ مآربُ

If you grant her acceptance from you, she has,

While one without sin has no repenting from sin

By your right, no desire other than acceptance.

And live in the safety granted by God however much

فَهَبها قُصوري في المَديحِ وفي الثّنا

فَهَبها قُصوري في المَديحِ وفي الثّنا

فَقَد فاتَني مِنهُ فروضٌ وَوَاجِبُ

فَقَد فاتَني مِنهُ فروضٌ وَوَاجِبُ

So forgive her my shortcomings in praise and commendation;

The morning breeze blew and the clouds poured rain

For I have missed its prescribed duties and obligations.

وَتِلكَ لِجاني الذَّنبِ لا شكَّ تَوبَةٌ

وَتِلكَ لِجاني الذَّنبِ لا شكَّ تَوبَةٌ

وَلَيسَ بِذي ذَنبٍ مِنَ الذّنبِ تائِبُ

وَلَيسَ بِذي ذَنبٍ مِنَ الذّنبِ تائِبُ

And this, for one guilty of a fault, is surely repentance;

One who repents of a fault is no longer guilty of it.

وَدُمْ بِأَمانِ اللَّهِ ما هبَّتِ الصَّبا

وَدُمْ بِأَمانِ اللَّهِ ما هبَّتِ الصَّبا

وَما هَطَلت بِالغّيثِ سَحّاً سَحائِبُ

وَما هَطَلت بِالغّيثِ سَحّاً سَحائِبُ

Remain in God's protection as long as the east wind blows,

And as long as clouds pour down rain in torrents.