أهدى لك الشوقَ والتذكار والوصبا

شادٍ من الورق في أوكارهِ خَطبا

Longing and memories have gifted you,

A songbird in his nest composing verses.

شادٍ مِنَ الورقِ غنّى بالهديلِ وقد

هبّت عليه جنوبٌ غدوة وصبا

A songbird in his nest singing of love when

The south winds blew at dawn and evening.

غنّى وردّد أَسجاع النشيدِ ضحىً

لما عَلا في فروع الأيدِ مُنتَصِبا

He sang and repeated the rhythms of song in the morning

When high up in the branches he stood erect.

فَأسعر الحبّ جمرَ الوجدِ في كبدي

وَغادَر الدمعَ فوقَ الخدِّ مُنسكبا

So love ignited the embers of passion in my heart,

And tears flowed down my cheeks pouring out.

نَفسي الفداءُ لِمن طالبتُها صلةً

مِنها فَقالت أَلا ذا مطلبٌ صَعُبا

My soul is yours, though when I sought of it affection,

It said, “Ah, what a difficult desire!”

طالبتُها قبلةً أُطفي بنضحتها

ما شبّ مِن لاعجِ الأشواقِ واِلتَهبا

I sought of it a kiss to extinguish with its rain,

What flames of longing ignited and burned within.

فَيا لها غادة لَو أنّها وعدت

مِنها وَلو كان في ميعادِها كَذبا

Oh, if only it had promised me,

Even if there was falsehood in its promise.

مِنَ الكواعبِ يحوي الدرّ مبسمها

وَالطلع وَالبابليّ العذب والضربا

Of maidens whose smile contains pearls,

And fresh sap, and sweet fruit.

بيضاءُ في حمرةٍ تبدو محاسنُها

كأنّه فضّةٌ قَد خالَطت ذَهبا

White with blushing charms,

Like silver mixed with gold.

خالستُها نظرةً منّي وَقد سفرت

بالوجهِ في غفلةِ الواشينَ وَالرُّقبا

I stole from it a glance while it journeyed on,

Veiled from watchful eyes and spies.

فاِستَخجلت واِنزوت في البُردِ وَاِحتجبت

فَقلتُ بدرُ السما هذا قدِ اِحتَجبا

It became shy and withdrew into the cold, hiding itself,

So I said, “Moon of the sky, you have hidden yourself.”

ولاحَ إِذ بَسمت لي كشرها فرأت

عَيناي في الثغرِ سمطاً يَحتوي حَببا

But then it smiled at me, revealing its grin,

And saw my eyes in its mouth containing a beloved.

ما لي وَللناسِ ما رقّوا ولا عذروا

في حبِّ مَن في هواها صِرتُ مُكتئبا

Why do people criticize and not excuse

My love for one whose love has made me depressed?

قالوا أَلا ما له يا قومُ ما ذُكرت

له أميمةُ إِلّا حنّ واِنتَحَبا

They say, “Why, O people, whenever her blemish

Is mentioned, does he only wail and lament?”

فَقلت ما بال سالٍ في تغافلهِ

يلحى محبّاً قَضى في الحبّ ما وَجبا

So I said, “Why does the questioner in his ignorance

Blame a lover who has fulfilled what love requires?

لَولا هَواها ما أَبلى الهوى جَسَدي

وَلا غدوتُ لورقِ الأيكِ مُصطحبا

Were it not for her love, passion would not have worn down my body,

Nor would I have become a companion to withered leaves.

وَلا شَجَتني رسومٌ مِن مَنازِلهم

وَلا حنّت الورقُ في أَوطانها طَربا

Nor would traces of their dwellings have saddened me,

Nor would the leaves in their lands sing happily.”

يا طالبَ الرزقِ والأيامُ تَمنعهُ

فيما يحاولُه في كلّما طَلَبا

O you who seek provision while days deny it

In all that you attempt and pursue.

بشراك لا تأسَ فيما كان من طلبٍ

في العيشِ نَفساً فمنك الرزقُ قد قَرُبا

Be glad, do not despair in what you sought

Of livelihood - from you provision has drawn near.

هَذا مَرابع بهلا قَد أَنخت بها

فاِلقِ العَصا واِحططن الكورَ والقببا

This is a horseman's tent it has erected,

So cast down your staff, dismantle your tent and dwelling.

وَاِقصد فلاحاً وقبّل دستَ مجلسهِ

وَاِنشد بِمفخرهِ الأشعارَ وَالأدَبا

Set out to a farmer, kiss the hands in his company,

And recite the glorious verses and literature.

ممجّدٌ فيض جداوه ونائله

إِذا هما مستهلا يفضح السحبا

Glorious is its flowing bounty and the one who attains it,

When they begin, the clouds pour forth.

كالغيثِ في الجودِ يومَ الجود إن سمحت

كفّاه كالليثِ يومَ الحربِ إِن وثبا

As rain in generosity on a day of generosity if it is forgiving,

As a lion in war if provoked.

لَم يَرقَ فيما رقى مِن مجده رتباً

إِلّا سَمى واِرتَقى مِن بعدِها رُتَبا

He did not rise through the ranks he rose in glory,

Except he was appointed and rose even higher in rank.

يا سائِلاً عنه هَل تَخفى على أَحدٍ

شمسُ النهارِ لقَد ضيّقت ما رحبا

O you who ask about him - can the sun at midday

Be hidden from anyone? You have narrowed what is vast.

هَذا اِبن نبهان ذا الزاكي المفاخرِ ذا

ضَخمُ الدسيعةِ ذا من للسماحِ صَبا

This is the son of Nehan - of glorious pride,

Of generous lineage, of those the heavens have poured forth.

ذا خيرُ من شيّد العليا وأَسبقُ من

حازَ وَأَسمحُ مَن أَعطى ومَن وَهَبا

The best of those who built high places and swifter than

Those who won and more generous than those who gave and granted.

يا أيّها الملكُ القرمُ الهمام ومن

جهته من الدهر منه الفضل قد كتبا

O King so resolute, so bold, and he from whom

Favor has been decreed, this is your due.

تَهنا بما نلتَ إنّ اللّه واهبك ال

ملك الشريف وَتاج الفخرِ وَالحَسبا

Be delighted in what you have attained, truly God is the grantor

Of noble kingship, crown of pride and lineage.

وَقد حَباك بِمجدٍ سامكٍ وعلا

وَعزّةٍ في سَماها تنطحُ الشهبا

And He has graced you with towering glory and highness,

And honor - in its loftiness the stars crash.