دع الليالي فلِلمعالي
حكمٌ على جَورها يَجورُ
Leave the nights alone—for lofty deeds
Let the nights pass, for their injustice oppresses
have a judgment that overrules their tyranny.
As if they had not seen Ali
كأنها ما رأت علِياً
في يده الهمُّ والسرورُ
As though they had never seen ʿAlī,
In his hand worries and joys
in whose hand lie sorrow and joy:
From calamities to gifts
من المنايا إلى العطايا
ترداد كفَّيه والمسيرُ
from deaths to bounties
The return of his palms and journey
runs the repeated sweep and course of his two hands.
If they extend an hour for a matter
إن سَعتا ساعةً لأمرٍ
مخيِّمٍ أخلفَت أمورُ
If for an hour they pursue a purpose
Of an installed affair, events come after
firmly settled, affairs miscarry.
For him from drinking when the night darkens
له من السُّمرِ حين يَدجو
ليل عجاجِ الوغى سميرُ
Among the brown-shafted spears he has, when darkens
The night of tumultuous clamor grows long
the night of battle’s dust, a nocturnal companion.
In his two rests among them
يطولُ في راحتَيه منها
إلى نحور العدى القصيرُ
In his palms, the short one among them lengthens
To the short necks of the enemies
toward the throats of the foe.
What do you think it shows to whom it shows
ماذا تراهُ لمن تَراه
أكثَر إعراضَها الدهورُ
What do you think awaits one whom you see
Most of its ages are aloof
the ages have so greatly shunned?
It has intoxicated him with wine
قد أسكرتُه على خُمارٍ
وبعدَ نكباتِها تَدورُ
They have made him drunk while still hungover,
And after its setbacks it turns
and after their blows they wheel back again.
And you are the excellent protector from it
وأنت نعمَ المجيرُ منها
تمنعُ إن سلَّم المجيرُ
And you are indeed the finest refuge from them:
You prevent if the protected surrenders
you defend even when the protector yields.
Are you pleased with him being preoccupied
هل أنت راضٍ له بصرفٍ
أنتَ على صَرفِه قَديرُ
Are you content that a turn of fate should befall him
You have power over his preoccupation
when you have power to turn it away?
No eye of his stole sleep
ما سرَقَت عينُه رُقاداً
إلا وأوردته فيه صورُ
His eye never stole a moment’s sleep
Except images came to him in it
without Tyre ushering him into it.
As if his passion is a wing
كأنَّما شوقُه جناحٌ
به إلى أرضِها يطيرُ
As though his longing were a wing
With it he flies to its land
on which he flies to her land.
It has embraced him residing
قد ضمَّه واقعاً مقيماً
يرقُبُ ما يأمر الأميرُ
Clasped by it, he has alighted and remains,
Watching what the leader commands
awaiting what the prince commands.
Sol 5.6