بَشير التَهاني بِالسُرور حَباني

فَأَطلقت بِالشُكر الجَميل لِساني

I bear glad tidings with joy, O most generous one

So I have unleashed with gratitude my eloquent tongue

وَقَد كُنت قاطَعتُ الغَرام وَأَهله

عَلى رَغم لبي في الهَوى وَجِناني

Though I had shunned love and its people

Despite my heart's desire and my soul's urging

وَحاصرتُ حُصن الصَبر حَتّى مَلكته

وَلَم أَكتَرث بِالنَوم حينَ جَفاني

And I had besieged the fortress of patience until I conquered it

And cared not for sleep when it betrayed me

وَعلقت آمال العذول بسلوة

لِذَنب جَناه مَن رَنا فَرَماني

And I hung my hopes of chastity on the firmness

For the sin committed by the one who denied and spurned me

وَما ذاكَ إِلّا أَنَّهُ خانَ عَهدَهُ

وَواعد غَيري في الهَوى بِتَداني

That was only because he broke his vow

And made a pledge with another in passion

وَلَو أَنَّ لي طَرفاً يُلِمُّ بِهِ الكَرى

وَيَطرقني طَيفٌ لَهُ لَكَفاني

If only I had a glance that would wound separation

And a specter would visit me belonging to him, it would suffice me

وَكَيفَ يَزور الطَيف مثلي وَإِنَّني

حَليفُ سهاد لِلصُدود أُعاني

But how can a specter visit one like me, when I am

A companion to wakefulness, enduring the cutting off

وَلَو دامَ مَن أَهوى عَلى الغَدر لاشتفى

بإتلاف رُوحي في الصَبابة شاني

If he who I love kept betraying

He would have remedied by destroying my soul in youth, my focus

وَلَكنهُ لَمّا وَفى بَعد هَجره

وَأَنعم لي بِالوَصل قَبل هَواني

But when after his estrangement, he fulfilled

And bestowed on me the gift of union before disgrace

وَعاهَدته أَن لا يُغادر بَعدَها

وَبايَعَني طَوعاً وَقامَ بَشاني

And I made him vow to never abandon me afterwards

And he willingly pledged allegiance to me and upheld my position

صَبَوتُ إِلَيهِ صَبوة عامريةً

وَقاطَعت خلّاً في هَواه لحاني

I poured unto him a cup brimming over

And severed for his love my neck for sacrifice

فَيا لائِمي كفَّ المَلامة وَاِنتَهي

فَما اللَوم يُجدي في صَريع غَواني

So enough, O critic, of blame and be done

For censure cannot benefit one slain by passion

وَفي مَذهَبي أَن الغَرام هُوَ الهُدى

وَأن الَّذي يَنهاكَ عَنهُ لَجاني

In my doctrine, love is the true guidance

And he who prevents you from it is a transgressor

وَأَعجَب شَيء أَن يصدّك في الهَوى

عَن الرُشد ضلّيل بِزور بَيان

The strangest thing is when an ignorant man in love

Leads you astray from the right path with false rhetoric

أَبى اللَه إلّا أَن أَعيش مُتَيَّماً

مُجيباً لِداعي الحُب حَيث دَعاني

God willed that I live bereft

Answering the call of love wherever it beckons me

مُطيعاً لِأَحكام الهَوى وَمُخالِفاً

لِرَأي سَفيهٍ بِالغَرام هَجاني

Obeying the decrees of passion, and opposing

The opinion of a foolish man who rebuked me for passion

عَلى أَنَّني ما ملتُ قَط لسلوة

وَإِن ظَنّ هَذا مَن وَشى وَنَهاني

Yet I have never become bored of firmness

Even if this is presumed by the slanderer who discouraged me

فَلَولا الهَوى لَم تَنتَشر ليَ رايةٌ

وَلَولا الهَوى ما كانَ عزُّ مَكاني

If not for passion, no banner would be raised for me

If not for passion, my place would not have become exalted

وَلَولاه ما نالَ السَعادةَ عَنتَرٌ

وَقَد أَرهَب الأَبطالَ يَوم طِعان

If not for it, Antar would not have attained glory

When he terrified all the heroes on the day of spears

وَذلت لعزته المُلوك وَأَصبَحوا

عَبيداً لخطِّيٍّ لَهُ وَيَمان

For his might, kings were humbled and became

Slaves to a tattooed dark-skinned man

فَكَم مِن جَهول هَذَّب الحُبُّ طَبعَه

وَعلَّمه ظَرفاً وَحُسنَ مَعاني

How many an uncouth person's nature was refined by love

And taught him charm and beautiful meaning

وَكَم مِن سَفيه بِالهَوى فاقَ أَحنَفاً

وَأَضحى لَهُ يُومَى بِكُلِّ بَنان

How many a fool surpassed the wise through passion

And became a role model in every land

فَحتّام في دين الصَبابة وَالهَوى

يُعاندني فيمَن أُحبُّ زَماني

So whoever opposes me in the religion of youth and passion

As long as I live, clashes with me over whom I love

وَما لِفُؤادي جَنة غَير وَصله

وَلَو فَوق جَمر الهَجر مِنهُ قَلاني

And my heart has no paradise but his union

Even if, because of his estrangement, it is scorched by flames

أَأرغَب عَنهُ وَهوَ في الحُسن مُفرَدٌ

نَبيُّ جَمالٍ لا يُقاس بِثاني

Shall I turn away from him when he is unmatched in beauty?

A prophet of perfection with no second

كَما في السَخا وَالحلم وَالعلم وَالوَفا

أَميري عَليٌّ صارِمي وَسِناني

Just as in his generosity, forbearance, knowledge and loyalty

My prince, slayer of my enemies and protector

أَمير بِهِ دار العُلوم تَفاخَرَت

وَلِلفَضل فيهِ شادَ خَيرَ مَباني

A prince through whom the house of knowledge took pride

And for his virtue, built the best of buildings

فَأَما لِساني فَهوَ إِن رمت مَنعه

عَن الشُكر لِلمَولى الأَجل عَصاني

As for my tongue, if it dares to prevent

Thanking the Most High Lord, it would rebel against me

وَأَما جناني فَهوَ مغرىً بِمَدحه

فَإِن ضَلَّ لبِّي عَن ثَناه هَداني

And as for my soul, it is inclined to praise him

So if my heart strays from singing his praises, it would guide me

وَيا لَيتَ شِعري هَل أَقوم بِشُكر من

بِسائر أَنواع الهِبات حَباني

And I wonder, can I adequately thank the one

Who has gifted me with all kinds of bounties?

فَيا قُطب دائرة السِياسة وَالذَكا

وَيا دُرّة تَزهو بِعقد جُمان

O pole of the cycle of politics and intellect

O pearl glowing in a necklace of perfection

وَيا واحد الأَيّام يا مَن بِهِ سَمَت

محافلُنا الغَرا بِدُون تَواني

O highlight of my days, through you

My assemblies shine continuously, without hesitation

وَيا كَعبةً يَسعى لحجِّك جَمعُنا

لِكسب فُنون كُلّهنَّ حِسان

O Kaaba, for pilgrimage to you our group strives

To gain all the virtues perfectly

وَيا سَيداً لا زلتَ فينا مُوَفَّقاً

إِلى بَثِّ عرفان مَدى المَلَوان

O master, you continue to be blessed among us

In instilling awareness of the extent of favors

تَهنأ بِعيد الفطر يا حاتم الوَرى

فَقد نِلت كُلَّ الأَجر في رَمَضان

Congratulations on Eid al-Fitr, O seal of mankind

For you have attained all reward in Ramadan

وَدُونك بكراً يَملك القَلبَ حُسنُها

كَما تَملك الأَلبابَ بِنتُ دنان

And next to you is the full moon who captures hearts with her beauty

As she captures minds, like the daughter of Dannan

وَما مَهرُها إِلّا القبول فحيِّها

بِأَسمى تَحيات وَحُسن تَهاني

And her dowry is nothing but acceptance, so greet her

With the highest greetings and finest congratulations

فَلا زلتَ مَسروراً مُطاعاً مُبارَكاً

تقاد لَكَ العليا بِغَير عِنان

You continue to be joyous, obeyed and blessed

The highest goals are led to you without resistance

وَلا زلتَ يا اِبن الأَكرَمين مؤيداً

مِن اللَه في حفظ لَهُ وَأَمان

And you continue, O son of the most honorable parents, supported

By God, under His protection and safety