لمَن الرّكائِبُ نحْو رامةَ ترْتَمي

منْ بعْدِ طولِ تأمُّلٍ وتلوّمِ

To whom are the ships sailing towards Ramah

After long contemplation and hesitation

عُوجاً كأمْثالِ القِسيِّ ضَوامِراً

مهْما ارْتَميْنَ يُصِبْنَ شاكلَةَ الرّمي

Bent like palm trunks, determined spears

No matter how high they aim, they hit the target

يحْمِلْنَ من أهْلِ الصّبابةِ أسْرَةً

كلفَتْ برَبْعٍ للغَرامِ ومَعْلَمِ

Bearing the youth of chivalry, bound

To the passion of love and its symbol

من كُلّ يقْظانِ الفؤادِ حديثُهُ

يزَعُ المنامَ عنِ العُيون النُّوَّمِ

The talk of every heart's vigil stirs

Sleep from the drowsy eyes

من كلّ منفردٍ بمجموعِ الهَوى

مُغْرىً بأشْتاتِ المحاسِنِ مُغْرَمِ

Smitten by the scattered beauty

Infatuated by the charms of the beloved

متوسّدٍ فوقَ الرواحلِ بالحِمى

متوسّلٍ في ربْعِهِ متوسِّمِ

Pillowing over the riding-beasts in yearning

Imploring in chant in the dwellings

متأمّلٍ لبِعادِهِ متألّمٍ

ومسلّمٍ لغَرامِه مُسْتَسْلِمِ

Contemplating the distance in agony

And resigned to passion in submission

هُنّ الحَنايا لا الحَطايا إذْ رَمَتْ

منْها إلى الغرضِ القصيّ بأسْهُمِ

They are the sighs of ardour, not sins, for when

They shot arrows at the precious aim

ومعاهِد الأُنْسِ التي وقفَتْ بها

للصّبْرِ حلّتْ كُلَّ عقْدٍ مُبْرَمِ

And the covenants of intimacy in which

Patience was annulled in every knot

ما بالُها إن أُرْشِدَتْ لسُلُوِّها

لا تنْتَهي ولأهْلِ عُذْرةَ تنْتَمي

Why, when guided to its smooth course

Do they not cease, belonging to the excused?

تُزْجي عُهودَ الدّمْعِ من أجْفانِها

وجْداً بذكْرى عهدِها المتقدّمِ

They awaken the tears' pacts from their lids

Passionately, by the memory of days gone by

لمْ تُنْكِرِ الحيَّ الحِلالَ وإنّما

بهُيامِها عرَفَتْهُ بعْدَ توهّمِ

They did not deny the passion its lawfulness, but

By their madness, they realized it after illusion

وعقيلةُ الحَيَّيْنِ تُوقِفُ ركْبَها

فالقوْمُ بينَ تأمُّلٍ وتألّمِ

The witness of the two encampments halts their journey

While the people waver between thought and pain

مالُوا على الأقْتابِ حين تأمّلوا

فالرّكبُ بين توسّدٍ وتوسّمِ

They turned to the planets when they reflected

So the journey is between pillowing and imagining

أتْبَعْتُها نظَري غَداةَ تمنّعَتْ

فالطّرْفُ بينَ تمنّعٍ وتنعُّمِ

I followed her with my gaze when she was coy

So the glance is between refusal and delight

يُذْكي بمُحْمَرِّ الدموعِ صَبابَتي

فالقَلبُ بينَ تضرُّجٍ وتضرُّمِ

It kindles the red of tears on my youth

Thus the heart is between streaming and chanting

كم وقْفَةٍ حتَمتْ عليهِ بالهَوى

فالوجْدُ بيْنَ تحتّمٍ وتحكُّمِ

How many halts has passion compelled upon it

Thus fervour is between obligation and control

والشّمْسُ تبْدو في السّحابِ وتخْتَفي

فالأفْقُ بينَ تغيُّبٍ وتغيُّمِ

The sun appears in the clouds and disappears

Thus the horizon is between setting and glooming

والطّيرُ تشْدو والحدائِقُ تنثَني

فالدّوحُ بينَ ترنُّحٍ وترنّمِ

The birds sing and the gardens sway

Thus the orchard is between humming and chanting

والغيثُ يسحَبُ ذيلَهُ فوقَ الرُبى

فالسّحْبُ بين تجمّعٍ وتجهّمِ

The rain drags its tail over the hills

Thus the clouds are between gathering and frowning

والزَّهْرُ قد شقّ النسيمُ جُيوبَهُ

فالرّوضُ بين تبسّمٍ وتنَسُّمِ

The flowers bloom as the breeze rends their dresses

Thus the meadow is between smiling and breathing

كثَناءِ يوسُفٍ الذي شرعَ النّدى

فالجودُ بيْنَ مؤمَّلٍ وميمَّمِ

Like the bending of Joseph who paved the dew

Thus generosity is between hope and purpose

ملِكٌ إذا تُلِيتْ مآثِرُ مُلكِه

فالدُّرُّ بيْنَ منضَّدٍ ومنظَّمِ

A king, when the exploits of his reign are recited

Thus the pearl is between threading and arranging

يُسْتَفتَحُ النادي بذِكْرِ خِلالِه

فالوصْفُ بينَ مقدّسٍ ومُقدَّمِ

The assembly is inaugurated by the mention of his virtues

Thus the description is between sanctity and precedence

كمْ حِكْمَةٍ نادَتْ سيوفَ جِهادِهِ

هَذي العِدى قد أجْهَدَتْ فتحَكَّمي

How many wisdoms have called out his swords of jihad

These enemies have exhausted, so arbitrate!

كمْ همّةٍ نحْو الكواكِبِ ترْتَقي

يومَ الطِّعانِ وللمَواكِبِ ترْتَمي

How many ambitions towards the stars ascend

On the day of spears as the processions aspire

بمَروعِ غَرْبٍ للسّوابِقِ ينْتَهي

ومُثيرِ حرْبٍ للبَوارِقِ ينْتَمي

With the awe of magnificent west to the leading

And the stirring of war belonging to the brilliant

من سائِقٍ يهْدي العُداةَ إلى الرّدى

أو سابِقٍ فذِّ الشِّياتِ مطهّمِ

Of a driver who guides the enemies to demise

Or outstanding, refined and intrepid

فإذا استَنارَت للسّيوفِ بَوارقٌ

في الرّوْعِ أجْلَتْ كلَّ خطْبٍ مُظْلِمِ

So when gleams shine on the swords in fright

They reveal every dark matter in the fray

وإذا تجلّتْ للأسنّةِ أنجُمٌ

في النّقْعِ أبْدَتْ كُلَّ معْنىً مُبْهَمِ

And when stars shine on the tongues in the skirmish

They show every ambiguous meaning in the battle

والحربُ إن عُقِدَتْ لها راياتُهُ

للكُفْرِ حلّتْ كُلَّ عهدٍ مُبْرَمِ

And if war is waged and its banners unfurled

Against blasphemy, it dissolves every covenant

يقضي بأمْرٍ في المُلوكِ مُحكَّمٍ

يمْضي بعزْمٍ كالحُسامِ مُصمِّمِ

He ordains with unchallengeable royal command

He goes forth with resolve like swords decisive

ما ظُلّلتْ لُجَجُ السّوابِغِ في الوَغى

إلا بأدْواحِ القَنا المُتحطّمِ

The billows of the towering waves were not shadowed in the fray

Except by the poles of the broken lances

ما جُرّدَتْ بيضُ الظُّبا في المُلْتَقى

إلا لأن كُسيَتْ بمُحْمَرّ الدّمِ

The ostrich eggs were not stripped in the battlefield

Except when clad in red blood

يا مُنجِدَ الأمْلاكِ بالعزْمِ الذي

أبْدَى السّبيلَ لمُنجِدٍ ولمُتْهِمِ

O saviour of kingdoms with resolve that

Showed the way to the saviour and the bold

هذي العِدى ترْجو نَدَى يدِكَ التي

هيَ مورِدُ الظّامي وكنْزُ المُعْدِمِ

These enemies seek the blessing of your hand that

Is the refuge of the shelterless and treasure of the destitute

لم يجْنَحوا للسّلْمِ إلا بعدَما

ألْقَتْ لك الدُنْيا يدَ المُسْتَسْلِمِ

They inclined to peace only after

The world surrendered to you fully submitted

كمْ أمّةٍ أمّتْكَ بعْدَ خِلافِها

لتَنالَ عفْوَكَ تحْفَةً في المَقْدَمِ

How many nations after their defiance

Sought your pardon, a gift for those arriving

فأنَلتَها من حِلْمِكَ النعْمى التي

ظفِرتْ بهنّ يدُ المُسيءِ المُجْرِمِ

You granted them from your forbearance, bounties that

The hands of the evildoer and criminal obtained

أمَّنْتَها فالقوْمُ بينَ مُهوّنٍ

للخَطْبِ في دَعَةٍ وبيْنَ مُهَوِّمِ

You gave them security, while the people waver between

Demoralized by fate and anxious

أوْلَيْتَها من جودِكَ النّعَمَ التي

جلّتْ فلا عدِمَتْ وجودَ المُنْعِمِ

You bestowed upon them from your generosity, bounties that

Abundant, never depleted your munificence

هذا ويا للهِ وجْهَتُكَ التي

أعلتْ لدينِ اللهِ أشرفَ مَعْلَمِ

This, by God, is your purpose that

Exalted the most noble symbol of the religion of God

أعْمَلتَها طوْعَ السّعودِ رَكائِباً

تسْري وتَنتقِلُ انتِقالَ الأنْجُمِ

You launched the ships by the aid of good fortune

Moving, traversing like the stars

وحلَلْتَ فوقَ البحْرِ أمْنَعَ مَعْقِلٍ

حيثُ الكواكبُ ترْتَقي أو ترْتَمي

And anchored atop the sea the mightiest stronghold

Where the planets rise and fall

قد قابَلَ الكفَّ الخَضيبَ كأنّه

أبَداً يُشيرُ لها بكفِّ مُسَلّمِ

As if it forever gestures to it with a blood-stained palm

Like one fully submitted

وأقَمْتَ بالقَصْرِ الذي بنُجودِهِ

يُلْفَى الأمانُ لمنجِدٍ أو مُتْهِمِ

And you established the palace in which by its generosity

Safety is found by the saviour or the bold

فتَرى الثّنيّةَ دونَ مظْهَرِ أفْقِهِ

تلْقى رياحَ الجوّ فاغِرَةَ الفمِ

You see the creek below the horizon

Meeting the winds with gaping mouth

ثمّ انتقلْتَ لضفّةِ الوادي الذي

منهُ تُمِدُّ البحْرَ راحةُ منْعِمِ

Then you moved to the bank of the valley which

The sea is fed by its comfort

طارَدتَ فيها كُلَّ أطْلَسَ شارِدٍ

متَهَيّبٍ نحْو المنيّةِ مُقْدِمِ

You pursued therein every straying vagabond

Fleeing towards death advancing

وقدِ انثَنيْتَ لحضْرةِ المُلْكِ التي

ما وصفُ غُرّ خلالِها بمُكتّمِ

And you headed to the seat of the kingdom which

No description of its beauty is concealed

وافَيْتَها فاهْنأ بأسْعَدِ وِجْهةٍ

وقدِمْتَها فاهْنأ بأسْعَدِ مَقْدَمِ

You reached it, so congratulations on the happiest destination

You arrived in it, so greetings on the happiest arrival

موْلايَ لا تُحْصى خِلالُكَ في العُلى

إلا بآياتِ الكِتابِ المُحْكَمِ

My lord, your virtues cannot be counted except

By the verses of the Book, precise

فإليْكَها طوْعَ البلاغةِ آثرَتْ

حُكْمَ البِدارِ إليْكَ دونَ تلَوُّمِ

To you thus by eloquence they chose

The rule of poetry without hesitation

جاءتْكَ منْ حُرِّ الكلامِ بلُؤلُؤٍ

ما بيْنَ فذٍّ للنّظامِ وتوْءَمِ

They came to you from the choicest words as pearls

Flawless in composition and rhyme

فبقيتَ ما سارَ الحَجيجُ إلى مِنىً

واحْتَلَ بالبيتِ العَتيقِ وزمْزَمِ

So you remained as long as pilgrims flowed to Minah

And the Ancient House and Zamzam were filled