قلبٌ يذوب إلى الأطلال والحِلَلِ
شوقاً ودمعٌ يُرَى كالعارض الهطلِ
A heart that melts for the ruins and the meadows
Yearning, with tears seen like pouring rain
ما هبت الريحُ من تلك الديار ضحىً
إلا هُزِزتُ لها كالشارب الثمل
Whenever the wind blew from that abode at dawn
I swayed to it like a drunkard
كلا ولا شِمتُ برقاً من جوانبها
إلا وعدتُ بدمعٍ منه منهمل
Never did I perceive a flash from its corners
Without shedding a tear that flows from me
شغلت عيني وقلبي في تذكُّرها
بعداً لقلبٍ عن الأحباب في شغل
It occupied my eyes and heart with remembering it
After the beloved ones with whom it was busy
لا تنكروا رسمَ دمعٍ فيَّ منسجماً
فالسحب إن لم تجُد بالغيث تنخذل
Do not deny the form of flowing tears in me
For even if clouds find no rain they disperse
ليس المحب عن الأحباب مستتراً
ما بين مرتَجزٍ قد جا ومرتَجل
A lover cannot remain hidden from loved ones
Whether settled or a newcomer
تَرْقا الدموعُ إذا كان الهوى نَغِلاً
وتأرقُ العين من دون الهوى النَغِل
Tears flow if love is scarce
And the eye sheds tears without scarce love
لا تعجبوا من بِعاد الدار عن رجلٍ
يشتاقها فالهوى قد كان من قبلي
Do not wonder that the abode is far from a man
Who longs for it, for love was there before me
قلبي وطرفي ضدٌّ في رقادهما
كأنني بين منحلٍ ومعتَقل
My heart and eyelid are opposed in their sleep
As if I am between one who is freed and one imprisoned
دعو الوشاة فما عذري بمعتذِرٍ
عنهم فأصحو وما حبي بمنتَحل
Leave the slanderers be, I have no excuse
To defend them, so I wake with no pretended love
لو أنصفوني لكانوا في الهوى رُحَما
إن المحب يُرَى في الحادث الجلل
If they were fair to me, they would have mercy
For a lover seems in tremendous events
يا لائمي لا تلم فاللوم يضرمني
فالشوك إن يقترن بالنار يشتعل
O you who blame me, do not blame, for blame kindles me
As thorns, if added to fire, are set ablaze
كفى المحب نوى محبوبِه وجعاً
وقد حَمَته رماةٌ من بني ثُعَل
Enough that a lover intends harm to his beloved
As he is protected by archers from Bani Thu'al
واعتضتُ من رَبعِ أنسٍ كان يسعدني
إخوانُه بمضيق البؤس والخطل
And I complained about a quarter of delight that made me happy
Its brothers in the distress and paucity of anguish
وددتُ حتفي وأني لا أفراقهم
فالموت في حبهم واللَه أوفقُ لي
I wish my death while I do not part from them
For death in their love, by God, is most favorable for me
أخي يميني فشلَّت في معاركتي
فليتني كنت أُرمَى عنه بالشلل
My right hand brother failed in fighting me
I wish I was shot at to disable him
أنا المفرط إذ لبَّيتُ منخدعاً
نفساً تغالطني في أضيق السبل
I am the excessive one for I complied while deceived
A soul that tricks me in the narrowest paths
وعدت أطلب ما قد فات مطلبه
هيهات والشيب يدعوني إلى الأجل
And I returned seeking what was unattainable
Alas! While old age calls me to my fate
ولَّى الشباب وما ولت عزيمته
عن الملاهي وملَّ الشيبُ من عَذَلي
Youth has passed and I did not abandon its determination
From amusements, while old age is full of my humiliation
والنفسُ أمّارةٌ بالسوء إنّ لها
في موقف الحشر حُكمَ المُقسط العَدَل
And the soul is commanding evil, it shall have
On the Day of Judgement, the judgement of the Just Judge
أضحت عن اللَه تلهو وهي جامحةٌ
والجامح الحر إن تَعقله يُعتَقل
It became heedless of God while stubborn
The stubborn free soul, if reasoned with, is captured
فاكبح جماحَ ضلالٍ ذا برهبنةٍ
تزجُّها عن حمى الشهوات في جبل
So restrain the wings of misguidance with devotion
Divert it from the sanctuary of desires to a mountain
فالنفس كالإبن إن تُهمِل سياستَه
يَعوجَّ طبعاً وإن تعدلْه يعتدل
For the soul is like a son, if you neglect disciplining it
It will naturally deviate, but if you straighten it, it will be upright
واقطع مشيَّةَ خاطيها بصالحةٍ
وادفع هواها وقم بالقول والعمل
And cut off the disobedience of its sins with righteousness
And repel its passions, then say and do
فالقول يهدم تقواها بلا عملٍ
والفعل يصلح أسواها بلا كسل
For words alone demolish its piety without action
And action corrects its evil without laziness
ولا تغرَّنْك منها لذةٌ حسُنت
طعماً وذوقاً فإن السم في العسل
And do not be fooled by a pleasure it finds
Tasty and pleasant, for poison lies in honey
وارحَض بدمعٍ جرى من عين رهبنةٍ
عيناً مدنَّسةً بالعالم السُفُلي
And shed tears flowing from the eye of devotion
An eye contaminated with the lowly world
فاعص العدوينِ إبليساً وشهوتَه
قد عَرَّيا آدماً من أفخر الحُلَل
So disobey the two enemies, Iblis and his desire
They stripped Adam of his most honorable garment
نصحتكم واتخذت الغيَّ لي عملاً
لذاك نُصحي لكم قولٌ بلا عمل
I advised you and took ignorance as my own practice
Thus my advice to you is words without action
أنا المريض فلا تغررك عافيتي
ما أقبحَ القولَ من دَنْفٍ لكَ اعتَدِل
I am sick, so do not be fooled by my wellness
How ugly are words of a diseased and crooked one
أدركت موتي وما أدركت غايته
من توبةٍ عن طريق الإثم والزلل
I realized my death but did not realize its extent
Of repentance from the path of sin and lapses
خالفتُ شرعَ الذي بالشرع خلَّصني
أَهنتُ عزَّتَه بالجد والجدل
I opposed the law of Him who saved me with law
I violated His honour sincerely and contentiously
عرفته عندما آمنت فيه فسل
عنه تجِد دينه إلّاه لا تسل
I knew Him when I believed in Him, so ask
About Him, you find His religion, God, do not waver
يسوع رب السما والأرضِ قاطبةً
من أوجدَ العالمينِ العالي والسُفُلي
Jesus Christ the Lord of the highest and lowest heavens
Our God, the Commander and Forbidder with His power
إلهنا الآمر الناهي بقدرته
من جاءنا شرعُه في لا وفي أجل
From whom came His law without delay
Blessed is he who believes and holds on to Him without embarrassment
طوبى لمن كان فيه مؤمناً وبه
مستمسكاً وبه يدعو بلا خجل
He has become connected with the baptism of truth
As he has become dependent without separation
فقد غدا بعماد الحق متصلاً
كما غدا باعتمادٍ غير منفصل
All the prophets bow submissively beneath His feet in fear and awe
After calling him, Ibrahim
كلُّ النبيين تجثو وهي خاضعةٌ
من تحت أقدامه بالخوف والوجل
Depicted him as a sacrifice offered on the mountain peak
Isaac embodied His blessing upon Jacob
إبرامُ مثَّلَهُ من بعد دعوته
ذبيحةً قُدِّمت في قمة الجبل
When he called him for blessings and kisses
Jacob confused him with the lion, honourably saying:
إسحاق صَوَّر في يعقوب بَرْكتَه
لما دعاه إلى التبريك والقُبُل
“How great is a lion we called a cub”
Moses and Aaron, his grandson, called him
يعقوب ألغزه بالليث مُحتشماً
يا حبذا أسدٌ كنّاه بالشِبِلِ
A sacrifice that delivered Jacob with the lamb
And the tabernacle, around which the son of Nun walked
دعاه موسى وهارون ابن بجدته
ذبيحةً خَلَّصت يعقوبَ بالحَمَل
Like His throne when the water receded
And Israel crossed the river proudly
وقبة العهد إذ طاف ابنُ نونَ بها
كعرشه حين عاد الماء كالوشل
His feet apparent in seeking without getting wet
The lantern of Jerusalem was the example of His alliance
وجاز في النهر إسرائيلُ مفتخراً
تَجِلُّ أقدامُه في السعي عن بَلَل
The lantern of truth with secrets and examples
He called, indicating to Samuel in the darkness
منارةُ القدس كانت رسمَ بِيعته
منارةِ الحق ذات السر والمُثُل
Say to Eli: “Take your two sons and resign”
What do I care about the priesthood of Israel from a past
نادى مشيراً بصاموئيلَ في غسقٍ
قُولَنْ لعالي خُذَنَّ ابنيكَ واعتزل
Since Peter rose with priesthood in the nights
And it switched from the prophets of the Torah, then from the
مالي بكهْنوتِ إسرائيل من أربٍ
مذ قام بطرسُ بالكهْنوت في المِلَل
Torah and the Covenant to the Gospel and the Apostles
And Rome was specialized with His noble deputy over
واعتاض من أنبيا التوارة ثم من ال
توراة والعهد بالإنجيل والرسل
Moses, Aaron, Jerusalem and the lamb
So all of them, with Jesus the Son of God and the
واختص رُومَا بنائبْهِ المعظَّم عن
موسى وهرون واَورشليم والحمَل
Gospel, seek with faith and action
They are His obedient servants under His obedience
فكلهم بيسوع ابنِ الإله وبال
إنجيل يسعون بالإيمان والعمل
And He is their God, Most High beyond example
Jesus means our Savior in the Gospel
فهم لديه عبيدٌ تحت طاعته
وهو لديهم إلهٌ جلَّ عن مَثَل
As He saved us from the shackle of captivity
With honour surpassing the capability of angels
يسوع معناه في البشرى مخلِّصنا
إذ كان خلصنا من قيد معتَقل
And dominance that frightened Satan in fear
From His generosity all bounties flow entirely
بعزةٍ فاقت الأملاكَ قدرتُها
وسطوةٍ صيرت إبليس في وجل
For He is the source of kindness and hope
His grace exceeded the extent of grace, it has no
من جوده تدفِقُ الخيرات أجمعُها
لأنه مركز الإحسان والأمل
Limit or equal, so speak briefly in describing Him and prolong
His signs belittled the greatness of His power
ففضله فاق حد الفضل ليس له
حدٌّ وندٌّ فقل في وصفه وطُل
Even if they become beyond reason and transmission
His divinity lit up the seven layers with it
آياته صغرت من عِظمِ قدرته
ولو غدت فوق طور العقل والنَقَل
So the sun from His light is like the sun in the baby
He honoured the Lord of mighty between His world
أنار لاهوتُه السبعَ الطباقَ به
فالشمس من نوره كالشمس في الطَفَل
So prostrate to Him and say “you have come from a man”
The forelocks of supreme heights greyed from His majesty
أكرمْ به ربَّ عزٍّ بين عالمه
فاسجد لديه وقل حُييتَ من رجل
Between the elderly and youthful from it
He came to us while hidden in humanity
شابت نواصي المعالي من جلالته
ما بين ذي هرمٍ منها ومكتَهل
To protect us from extraordinary and fear
And refuted creation in the meaning of His embodiment
قد جاءنا وهو في الناسوت مستترٌ
حرصاً علينا من الإعجاز والوجَل
You will not see anyone crooked or straight but Him
The whole world cannot perceive His reality
وأفحمَ الخلقَ في معنى تجسُّده
فلن ترى غير معوجٍّ ومعتدل
Nor His high incarnation beyond example
A Master came to us as a God wearing a body
لا يدرك العالمُ الكلي حقيقتَه
ولا تَجسُّدَه العالي عن المثَل
With both natures and hypostasis without lapse
Ever since His birth shone in Bethlehem, He came
مولىً أتانا إلهاً لابساً جسداً
بِطْبيعتيهِ وأقنوم بلا زَلَل
From a shoulder it lacked like the sun in Aries
The Persian fire was extinguished entirely by it
مذ ضاء مولده في بيت لحمَ أتى
من عاتقٍ خلتها كالشمس في الحَمَل
And Kisra became brokenhearted and confused
The statues collapsed destroyed
فأُخمدت منه نارُ الفرس قاطبةً
وبات كسرى كسير القلب ذا خبل
And Caesar died restricted without solutions
The Jews were blinded by His light out of envy
وقُوِّضت دِكَكُ الأصنام هالكةً
ومات قيصر مقصوراً عن الحيل
No good comes out of jealousy leading to impairment
Ask the Jews, and ask about the fire of the Magi, and ask
عم اليهودَ عماءً نورُه حسداً
لا خيرَ في غَيرةٍ تفضي إلى العِلل
The statues of Caesar when they perished quickly
They turned, and their bravest became their most cowardly
سل اليهود وسل نار المجوس وسل
أوثان قيصر إذ بادوا على عجل
When they were shot with arrows of humiliation and failure
For fire and water are not brought out by striking
ولَّوا وأشجعُهم قد صار أفرقَهم
لما رُمُوا بسهام الذل والفشل
Fire is in inflaming, and water is in wetness
And a star emerged that appeared magically from the east at dawn
فالنار والماء لا يُبديهما قَدَحٌ
فالنار في ضَرَمٍ والماء في بلل
Leading an army solid like a rock from a mountain
With it are Magian kings, with them garments
وانقضَّ نجمٌ بدا من مشرقٍ سحراً
يقود جيشاً كصخرٍ قُدَّ من جبل
And a gift bowing with the best garments
To Jesus, before whom they cast their weakness
معْه ملوكُ مجوسٍ معْهم حُللٌ
وتُحفةٌ سُجَّداً في أفخر الحلل
When they came seeking deliberately
Kaspar, Melchyor, and Balthazar were famed
لدى يسوع الذي ألقوا أعنَّتَهم
لديه مذ أقبلوا يسعون في مَهَل
And Bakhtyashar who rises above the first
When they saw His star above their shoulders
كِسْبارُ مَلْكُونُ قد شاعت فعالُهما
وبَخْتَصار الذي يسمو على الأول
They saddled their steeds of horses and camels
Tell the accursed Herod to refrain
لما رأوا نجمَه من فوق حِلَّتهم
قد أسرَجوهم جيادَ الخيل والإبل
From the kingdom of Galilee, for the king of fate has come
Leave me and my description of signs that amazed
قولوا لهيرودُسَ الملعون يعدل عن
مُلكِ الجليل فقد جا مالكُ الدول
Our minds, so if you falter, then do not speak
For how can signs that overwhelmed
دعني ووصفيَ آياتٍ له بهرت
منا العقولَ فإن تَعْجَز فلا تقُل
The speech of creations in prose and poetry be counted?
Rise and secretly steal His glory as a thief hoping
فكيف تُحصَرُ آياتٌ له حَصَرت
نُطقَ الخلائق من نثرٍ ومرتجل
For what you seek from hope, for He deserves what you wish
Depend on Him and leave saying you heard
قم فاسترق مجدَه كاللص مرتَجياً
فهو الجدير بما تبغيه من أمل
To not depend in life on a man
And follow Jesus who guided you since
عوّل عيه ودع قولاً سمعت به
أن لا تعوِّل في الدنيا على رجل
His signs were recited to you, so submit and say “I agree”
After tasting death, He rose victorious
واتبع يسوعَ الذي أهداكَ مذ تُليت
عليك آياتُه فاخضع وقل أجَل
With his living body after the term ended
And His power overflowed in His apostles, so they became
من بعد ما ذاق موتاً قام منتصراً
بجسمه الحيِّ من بعد انقِضا الأجل
With the grace they received, O my friend, like mountains
It is as if while He is in them, when He blessed them
واَفاض قدرتَه في رسله فغدَوا
بفضل ما نالهم يا صاحِ كالقِلَل
A sun increasing in brilliance while in Aries
Illuminated on the day of ascension as He was
كأنه وهو فيهم يومَ باركَهم
شمسٌ تزيد بهاءً وهي في الحمَل
Surrounded by soldiers and cavalry
His ascension was from the low valley to
بالنور ملتحفاً يومَ الصعود كما
قد كان مكتنفاً بالجند والخول
The heavenly mount, the mount of the Throne calmly
Before Him are the prophets and apostles following Him
صعوده كان من طور الحضيض إلى
طُور السماوات طور العرش في مهَل
His stray lamb carried like a child
With His ascension, all ranks were lowered in
أمامه الأنبيا والرسلُ تتبعه
خروفُه الضالُ محمولاً كما الطِفِل
The meaning of their attachment to His easy side
O you who deny the clear truth about Him
برفعه خُفضت كلُّ المراتب في
معنى إضافتها لجنبه السهل
If you tasted it you would not deny the truth like the lowly
His true teachings by deeds are composed
يا ظالماً ينكر الحق الصراح به
لو ذقته ما نَكَرتَ الحق كالسَفَل
How good knowledge is when adorned with action!
For pearls, whether threaded or scattered
تعليمه الحق بالأعمال منتَظمٌ
ما أحسن العلمَ إذ يزدان بالعمل
Increase in beauty with the calmness of the distracted
His Gospel relates the texts of His words without fault
فالدر إن سُمتَه نظماً ومنتثراً
يزيد حسناً بجيد الحاسر العُطُل
Effective on the soul and body like a cure for ailments
It repels His enemies with its company mercifully
إنجيلُه صادق المعنى يخبِّرُنا
عن نَصِّ أقواله من غير ما خلل
As the stab of a sword repels a coward
So the deceased in illness will not oppose it
سديدةُ النصِّ لا تنفكُّ فاعلةً
في النفس والجسم فعل البرء في العِلل
Kohl is not like kohl in the eyes
Bless us when we believed His call
تَرُدُّ أعداءها من أُنسِها رُحَما
كما تردُّ جباناً طعنةُ الأَسَل
He is the Most Noble of creations, and we the noblest of faiths
O my repentants, wear from praise of your Master
فلا يعارضُها من مات في سقمٍ
ليس التكحُّل في العينين كالكحل
A garment of repentance more beautiful than garments
Then compile from the poetic meters of tears a house
طوبى لنا حين آمنا بدعوته
هوْ أشرف الخلق إنا أشرفُ المِلل
Of poetry between praise and amorous allusions
How those who praise Him have prolonged
يا تائبين البسوا من مدح سيدِكم
ثوباً لتوبتكم أبهى من الحُلل
Yet they did not delve into praise but a droplet
They have not sought to elevate our Master above
ثم انظموا من عروض الدمع منهملاً
بيتاً من الشعر بين المدح والغزل
That mountain with his praise
Except we became intoxicated with the wine of praise in delight
كم قد تطاول فيه المداحون وما
خاضوا من المدح إلّا قطرةَ الوَشَل
Between sober, inebriated, and one obsessed with love
The beauty of this musical ode increased our passion
ما همَّ يرفعُ شادينا عقيرتَه
بمدحه فوق أعلى ذلك الجبل
For praising Mary, mother of the Eternal Creator
Not to mention the rank she gained with honor
إلّا غدونا بخمر المدح في طربٍ
ما بين صاحٍ وشخصٍ بالهوى ثَمَل
When a Most High God beyond example dwelled in her
O best of creations of God of all creations
وزادنا حسنُ هذا الشدو ذا شغفاً
بمدح مريم أمِّ الخالق الأزلي
And best of every devout and loyal from them
So how do your ranks surpass those of the prophets, when
ناهيك عن رتبةٍ حازت بها شرفاً
إذ حل فيها إلهٌ جلَّ عن مَثَل
They were to you like an unmatched class?
The sun in its course declines below Saturn
يا خير خلق إلهِ الخلق كلِّهم
وخيرَ كلِّ صفيٍّ منهمُ وولي
But in its destiny rises above Saturn
You were raised like your name with derivation
فكيفَ ترقى رُقيكِ الأنبياء وقد
كانوا لديك كفصل غير متَّصل
Above all prophets, martyrs and apostles
Your status has continued to be accompanied and famed
فالشمس في سَيرها تنحطُّ عن زُحَلٍ
لكنَّ في قدرها تعلو على زحل
With descriptions, attachments, emphases and substitutions
To the extent that pride with you has become exclusive knowledge Even if another sought it seriously, he would not attain it
رُفِعتِ كاسمِكِ تي بالإشتقاق على
كل النبيين والشهْداء والرسل
You connected what was between the Redeemer and Adam
Without the other who sought it previously yet did not attain it
ما زال قدرُك متبوعاً ومشتَهراً
بالنعت والعطف والتوكيد والبدل
With a force that directed its resolves
The pillars of Satan collapsed without standing
حتى بك الفخر أضحى مفرداً علماً
لو سامه آخرٌ بالجد لم يَصل
Your status became lofty when His position
Surpassed the praise of one who climbed and one who improvised
وَصَلتِ ما بين ذا الفادي وآدمه
الغيرُ من رامه قَبلاً فلم يَصِل
Time perishes but praises upon you are never counted
Can the sea one day be emptied by the ladle?
وصُلتَ في سطوةٍ هدّت عزائمُها
أركانَ إبليس فانهدت ولم يَصُل
My rain has come praising a strange sinner
If not for you, he would not have been hopeful
وجلَّ قدرُك مذ قد عزّ موقعُه
ففاق مدحةَ من رَوّا ومرتَجل
If not for you, he would not have hoped in you for his repentance
After an ancient covenant without action
يفنى الزمان وما يُحصَى عليك ثَناً
هل تَنزَحُ البحرَ يوماً مصَّةُ الوَشَل
Every time you pulled him from his misguidance
Your hands while he is prisoner of ignorance and lapses
غِيثي غريباً أثيماً جاء ممتدحاً
لولاك ما كان محمولاً على الأمل
I have nothing but praise when adversity befell me
For Mary the Virgin which is appropriate in my poetry
لولاك ما كان يرجو فيك توبتَه
من بعد عهدٍ قديمٍ غير ذي عمل
كلّا ولا جذبته من غوايته
يداك وهو أسيرُ الجهل والزلل
ما لي سوى المدح إن نابتني نازلةٌ
لمريم البِكر وهو الرشدُ في سلبي
