ما عَلى رَسمِ مَنزِلٍ بِالجَنابِ
لَو أَبانَ الغَداةَ رَجعَ الجَوابِ
The traces of an abode in that region
Were its dwellers to return at dawn with tidings
غَيرتهُ الصَّبا وَكُلُّ مُلِثٍّ
دائِمِ الوَدقِ مُكفَهِرِّ السَّحابِ
The morning breeze has changed it, and every wind
laden with clouds pouring down rain constantly
دار هِندٍ وَهَل زَماني بِهِندٍ
عائِدٌ بِالهَوى وَصَفوِ الجَنابِ
A house in India, though is my time in India
Returning in passion with smooth cheeks
كَالذي كانَ وَالصَّفاءُ مَصونٌ
لَم تَشُبهُ بِهِجرَةٍ وَاِجتِنابِ
As it was, serenity well-kept
Resembling neither estrangement nor avoidance
ذاكَ مِنها إِذ أَنتَ كَالغُصنِ غضّ
وَهيَ رؤدٌ كَدُميَةِ المِحرابِ
That was the case when you were like a tender branch
And it a sanctuary like the prayer niche of a temple
غادَةٌ تَستَبي العُقولَ بِعَذبٍ
طَيِّبِ الطَّعمِ بارِدِ الأَنيابِ
A gazelle turning minds with her sweetness
Of good taste, cool teeth
وَأَثيثٍ مِن فَوقِ لَونٍ نَقِيٍّ
كَبَياضِ اللُّجَينِ في الزِّريابِ
And furniture of pure complexion
Like the whiteness of smoothed rocks in a brook
فَأَقِلَّ المَلامَ فيها وَأَقصِر
لجَّ قَلبي مِن لَوعَةٍ وَاِكتِئابِ
So lessen the blame about her and shorten
My heart from burning and gloom
صاحِ أَبصَرتَ أَو سَمِعتَ براعٍ
رَدَّ في الضَّرعِ ما قَرى في العِلابِ
O comrade, have you seen or heard of one skilled
Who could return what prosperous years wasted
انقَضَت شِرَّتي وَأَقصَرَ جَهلي
وَاستَراحَت عَواذِلي مِن عِتابي
My villainy has ended and my ignorance ceased
My evils are relieved of rebuke
رُبَّ خالٍ مُتَوّجٍ لي وَعَمٍّ
ماجِدٍ مُجتَدىً كَريم النِّصابِ
Many a maternal uncle honored me, and many
An illustrious, generous paternal uncle
إِنَّما سمّي الفَوارِسُ بِالفُر
سِ مُضاهاة رِفعَةِ الأَنسابِ
Knights were only named knights
To match the nobility of pedigree
فَاِترُكي الفَخرَ يا أُمامُ عَلَينا
وَاِترُكي الجَورَ وَاِنطقي بِالصَّوابِ
So leave off boasting over us
And leave injustice, and speak right
وَاِسأَلي إِن جَهلتِ عَنّا وعَنكُم
كَيفَ كُنّا في سالِفِ الأَحقابِ
And if you are ignorant about us and yours
How we were in bygone eras
إِذ نُرَبّي بَناتِنا وَتدسّو
نَ سَفاهاً بَناتِكُم في التُّرابِ
When we nurtured our daughters and you
Ignobly buried your daughters in dust
