أَلاحَ لِبَرقِ الشامِ وَهوَ مَليحُ
عَشيَّةَ وافى الرومَ وَهوَ طَليحُ
Alas! The Levant lightning at dusk as it headed to Rome was beautiful.
It marched like a fantasy and stirred him towards the desert where there was a clever, eloquent guide.
سَرى نَحوَهُ مَسرى الخَيال فَهاجَهُ
إِلى الرَبعِ وَجدٌ بارِعٌ وَسَنيحُ
It reminded him of his journey to the Levant with its gentle breeze in the ravines of al-Lawa.
In a valley topped by a hill, its settlements were streams flowing in the lowlands.
وَذكَّره مَسراه بِالشام رَبرَباً
نَسيمٌ بِأَكناف اللِوى وَتَريحُ
To the shade of scenes more beautiful than paradise the souls would soar still wholesome.
In it the pebbles make a sound like the tinkling of anklets around the necks of gazelles calling them for morning prayer.
بِوادٍ عُلاهُ رَبوَة وَقَرارُه
لُجَينُ مِياهٍ في البِطاحِ تَسيحُ
The north wind blows through it then turns gently. From its pockets comes wafting sweet musk.
A land we frequented in our youth going back and forth led by passion.
إِلى ظلِّ أَحوى مِنهُ مُنبَجِس غَدَت
تُعَلُّ بِهِ الأَرواحُ وَهوَ صَحيحُ
I changed it for another, though not satisfied, for I and my like have little love for home.
Damascus! If your loved ones are absent, your pouring tears will water its plains.
يصِلُّ الحَصى فيهِ صَليلَ الحليِ في
نُحور الغَواني عَلَّهُنَّ صَبوحُ
Missing you makes me quiver like a feather quivers in the hands of one taking an oath.
It is protected by singers of amusements whose call at dusk rings out, the place for singers’ art.
وَتَخطو بِهِ الريحُ الشَمالُ فَتَنثَني
وَمِن جَيبِها المِسكُ الفَتيقُ يَفوحُ
Its rain is the brother of eyelid clouds, always bestowing favor where it is sought.
A maiden’s purpose is to sway gently; as for her stance, it is delicate; as for her gait, casual.
بِلادٌ بِها كُنّا زَماناً مَعَ الصِبا
نَرود وَنَغدو في الهَوى وَنَروحُ
The heart clung to her earring so it quivers alongside her quivering, wounded heart.
Remembering her in Damascus, her home, I almost revealed my secret passion.
فَبَدّلتُ عَنها غَيرَها لا رِضىً بِها
وَإِنّي وَمِثلي بِالدِيارِ شَحيحُ
In Rome, the cooing of a dove with the voice of a fawn at dawn made me sleepless.
I scare it away, my eye thankful for its water as I weep for a stranger who weeps.
دِمَشقُ فَإِن تَغبب رُباكَ سَوافِحٌ
سَتَروي بِدَمعِ العَينِ مِنك سَفوحُ
It cried where its chicks could see it while away from my chicks it suffered torment.
Two years have passed and now a third while they head to that loved place.
وَإِنّي لِتَعروني لِذكراكَ هزَّةٌ
كَما اِهتَزَّ مِن جِنِّ النَشاطِ مَروحُ
Perhaps Sa‘d al-Din’s generosity will rein me in and straighten my aim to reach them.
The Imam guiding to righteousness, Sa‘d the excellent, refined in manners, his generosity overflowing.
حِماكِ مَغاني اللَهوِ لا زالَ بِالدُمى
فَصيحاً وَمَغنى الغانِيات فَصيحُ
Sheltered by God’s shade, revealing His signs engraved on the essence of beings.
He whom God graced with everlasting rule and age far outlasting Noah.
سَقاكِ أَخو جَفنِ السَحاب وَلا عَدا
رُباك الحَيا حَيثُ المَرادُ فَسيحُ
He is the appearance of the essence which veiled itself in qualities clearly manifest.
He is the firm handhold for one who clings. Understand the mystery to which I hint!
مَرادُ الفَتاةِ الرُودِ أَمّا قَوامُها
فَخِفٌّ وَأَما نَهضُها فَرَجيحُ
If the eye perceives the truth, you will witness him and know the symbol points to him.
Beware a profound secret without revealing it, else the sword of law permits bloodshed.
تَعلَّقَ مَهوى قُرطِها القَلبُ وَالحَشا
فَذا خافِقٌ مِن خافِقٍ وَجَريحُ
Say to the lad seeking truth earnestly if you possess reason and insight:
If in you is longing to grasp meanings and resolve to attain heights,
تَذَكَّرتُها بِالرومِ وَالشامِ دارُها
فَكِدتُ بِمَكتومِ الغَرامِ أَبوحُ
Seek refuge in Sa‘d’s protection; good fortune is his servant and the full moon obeys them.
There you will find glory welcoming you; its treasures are his opinions and clarity.
وَأَرَّقَني بِالرومِ نَوحُ حَمامَةٍ
لَها رَنّة رَأد الضُحى وَصَدوحُ
From him you will receive every honorable and lofty thing with the face of generosity shining upon you.
O Sa‘d, eminent in rank, your lights shining in hearts!
أُطارِحُها وَالعَينُ شكرى بِمائِها
بِنَوحٍ وَذُو اللُبِّ الغَريب يَنوحُ
I see the wild mares of metre obedient whenever I wish to praise you, impetuous.
Before me, many have led them to your court, each commending you as suits him.
وَناحَت وَفرخاها بِحَيثُ تَراهُما
وَمِن دونِ أَفراخي مَهامهُ فيحُ
They knew not that praising the virtuous has categories, some incomplete, some comprehensive.
So take from your eulogist the pick of praises like a torrent whose drink is ancestry.
وَعامان قَد مَرّا وَذا العام ثالِثٌ
وَهُنَّ إِلى ذاكَ الجَناب جُنوحُ
If the mouth drew from it a draught naming you, it would brim and the house overflow.
Wondrous, unprecedented praises of your eminence in which praise itself is wondrous!
عَسى فَضل سَعدِ الدينِ يَعطِفُ نَحوَهُم
عَناني وَقَصدي في عُلاهُ نَجيحُ
On the pages of time remains immortalized praise whose perfection embraces mankind.
It congratulates you on Nawruz and on the Feast thereafter returning with your choice.
إِمامُ الهُدى سَعدُ البَرايا مُهَذَّبُ ال
سَجايا لِأَنواع العَطاء نَفوحُ
Above poetry my hopes have risen, hopeful of ascension, and hopes are truthful.
Your slave in the ocean of your nobility hopes though he is sinful, for you are forgiving.
مُلَقّن ظِلِّ اللَهِ مُظهِرُ آيِهِ
بِرَقمٍ عَلى نَفسِ الذَواتِ يَلوحُ
To rein in my journey towards my lands, for my expatriation has been prolonged.
Grant Sa‘d his request in your kingdom’s sky; he indicates what you prefer and it comes to pass.
مُرادٌ حَباهُ اللَهُ مُلكاً مُخَلَّداً
وَعُمراً طَويلاً عَنهُ يقصرُ نوحُ
You remain forever the caliphate’s good fortune; yours are time’s service and Messiah.
هُوَ المُظهَر الذاتِ الَّتي قَد تَحَجَّبَت
بِمَجلى صِفاتٍ في حُلاه وُضوحُ
هُوَ العُروَةُ الوُثقى لَدى مُتَمَسِّكٍ
هُوَ السِرُّ فَاِفهَم ما إِلَيهِ أتيحُ
فَإِن تَحلُ مِنكَ العَينُ حَقّاً شَهِدتَهُ
وَأَيقَنتَ أَنّ الرَمزَ مِنهُ صَريحُ
وَإِيّاكَ سِرّاً غامِضاً دونَ كَشفِهِ
صَوارِمُ شَرع لِلدِماءِ تُبيحُ
وَقُل لِفَتى يَبغي الحَقيقَةَ طالِباً
إِذا كُنتَ ذا رُشدٍ وَفيهِ رَبيحُ
وَفيكَ لإِدراكِ المَعاني تَشَوُّفٌ
وَعَزمٌ إِلى نَيلِ العَلاء طَموحُ
أَنِخ بِحِمى سَعدٍ لَهُ السَعدُ خادِمٌ
وَعَبداهُما بَدرُ السَماءِ وَيوحُ
هُنالِكَ تَلقى المَجدَ مُلقٍ رواقَهُ
لَهُ غُرَرٌ مِن رَأيهِ ووُضوحُ
وَيَلقاكَ مِنهُ بِالمَكارِم وَالعُلى
مُحَيّاً بِهِ وَجهُ العَطاءِ صَبوحُ
أَلا أَيُّها السَعدُ الرَفيعُ مَنازِلاً
وَأَنوارُهُ في الخافِقين تَلُوحُ
أَرى الغُرَّ مِن شُوسِ القَوافي مُطيعَةً
مَتى رُمتُ مَدحاً فيكَ وَهيَ جُمُوحُ
وَقَد قادَها قَبلي لِبابِكَ مَعشَرٌ
وَكُلٌّ بِما أَثنى عَلَيكَ مشيحُ
وَما عَرَفوا أَنَّ القَريضَ لِذي النُهى
ضُروبٌ فَمِنها ناقِصٌ رَجيحُ
فَخُذ مِنهُ حُسّانَ المَدائِحِ غادَةً
عَلى عِطفِها ماءُ النَسيبِ يَسيحُ
لَوِ اِستافَ مِنها الثَغر مِهيارَ باسِماً
غَدا ثَمِلاً وَالدارُ مِنهُ طَروحُ
غَرائِبُ مَدحٍ في عُلاكَ تَنَظَّمَت
غَرائِبُ فيها لِلمَديح مَديحُ
عَلى صَفحاتِ الدَهرِ يَبقى مُخلَّد ال
ثَناءِ وَقَد ضَمَّ الأَنام صَفيحُ
تُهَنِّيكَ بِالنَورُوزِ وَالعيدُ بَعدَهُ
يَعودُ بِما تَختاره وَيَروحُ
تَرقَّت إِلى الشِعرى عَنِ الشِعرِ رِفعَةٌ
رَجاء تَرَقٍّ وَالرَجاءُ صَحيحُ
فَعَبدُكَ في طامي عُبابِك طامِعٌ
وَإِن يَكُ ذا ذَنبٍ فَأَنتَ صَفوحُ
لِيَثني عَنان السَيرِ نَحوَ دِيارِهِ
فَقَد طالَ مِنهُ غُربَةٌ وَنُزوحُ
وَدُم في سَماءِ المُلكِ سَعداً مُرادُهُ
يُشير بِما تَختارُهُ وَيُليحُ
وَلا زِلتَ في أُفق الخِلافَة سَعدَها
لَكَ الدَهرُ عَبدٌ خادِمٌ وَمَسيحُ
