زادت سعاد بقربها بعدي
فنأى يقول لها اسلمي بعدي
My happiness increased when I was near her
But she went away, saying "Bid me farewell"
وزهت فخلت الشمس يحملها
غصنٌ على جبل من الزبد
Her features glowed, so the sun bore her away
On a branch, on a mountain of foam
في مرط نبهانيةٍ فمها
يحيى وصارم طرفها يردي
With mouth like a spring of Nabhan, so it
Revives, though her glances cause perdition
لو مس ظل قميصها يفنٌ
عادت عليه خلاعة المرد
Were the shadow of his shirt to touch her, it would perish
As would one decked in silks of Yemen
ما كنت أذعن أن أرى قمراً
عندي فأبطل وجهها عندي
I did not think I would see a moon
And by my side put out her face
ما لي وما للراح إن حضرت
والشرب بين الآس والورد
Why should I and the wind be here, when she came
And drinking between spear-tips and roses?
وأثيثها آسي ووجنتها
وَردي وعذب رضابها وِردي
Her furnishings are "Ease" and her cheeks "Roses"
And the drink in her sweet and the draughts pure wine
والراح في فيها ونكهتها
وحديثها والعين والخد
And the wind in her hair, her freshness,
Her conversation and the eye and the cheek
لم أنس زورتها وقد لعبت
ريح الدلال بقدها الرندي
I forget when I visit her, though the wind
Of coquetry has tangled her curling tresses
وبدت لنا في المهد معركةٌ
أصبحت فيها صاحب البند
In her cradle we fought a battle
From which I emerged lord of the pact
ما خاضها غيري ولا دخلت
فيها يدٌ إلا يدي وحدي
None has fought it but me, nor entered it
Save my hand and mine alone
لولا التقى والصبح يصرفها
عني صرفت الهزل بالجد
Were it not for morn turning her from me
I would turn playfulness into seriousness
يا رب حتى الصبح يبعدني
عنها وحتى عفتي ضدي
O Lord, until morn takes me
From her and my virtue opposes me
لولا التأسي بالذين نأت
أقمارهم لفنيت من وجدي
Were it not that I follow those
Whose moons set, I would perish from passion
لي أسوةٌ بالشام حين نأى
عنها سليم الكوكب السعدي
I emulate Damascus when there departed
From her the star of good fortune
مولى له فصل الخطاب وإم
لاء الجواب وصحة النقد
He has a Lord whose decisive speech
And excellent answers are sound judgment
لا ينثني عن سرج سابحة
تردي لغير سماحة تجدي
He does not turn from a steed roaming
To other than bounty and righteousness
يغشى السنين الشهب نائله
فينوب عن زرع وعن حصد
The years heap up ashes while he attains
What takes the place of crops and harvests
وإذا الصريخ دعا دعا بطلاً
يختال بين البيض والملد
When the war-cry calls, he calls for a hero
Who struts between white and black banners
يغشى الوغى بمهندٍ خذمٍ
لا يستلذ بصحبة الغمد
He plunges into the fray with a shining sword
That takes no joy in the scabbard's company
رطب القرار كأن خضرته
بدء العذار بأوجه المرد
Moist of abode, as if its greenery
Were the first down upon the cheeks of boys
يستأصل الخطب الجسيم به
يوماً ويوماً بالندى المجدي
It uproots grave fears, day after day
With continuous glory and renown
جاءت له رتب العلى فرقاً
تدعوه للأولى بلا وعد
The highest titles came to him in throngs
Calling him to the first without promise
فاختار ثانية وقال لها
ما فاز بالأولى سوى جدي
But he chose the second and said to it
"None has attained the first but my grandfather"
وابن النبي إذا تواضع لا
ينفك فوق الأطلس الغرد
The Prophet's grandson, though he is humble
Is still above the throne of Jupiter
أكرم به ابن علىً يرنحه
يوم الطراد تكاثر الحشد
Honor Ali's son, whom the mill of war on the day of multitudes
Has left wavering
من سادة ساد الوجود بهم
وسما بما نسلوا من الولد
Of the lords who with them ruled existence
And marked with descendants their line
تردي عواتقهم عواملهم
يوم اقتران الهام بالهندي
Their destriers and their works on the day
The momentous joined with the wondrous
سادوا وسدت فكنت أحمدهم
يا خير من يهدى له حمدي
They ruled and you ruled, so I thank
The best of those my praise guides
داموا ودمت ملث ديمتهم
وإمامهم في الحل والعقد
They lasted and you have remained a refuge, lasting as long as they lasted
And their imam in peace and in war
تستقبل الأعياد حاليةً
بالفوز والإقبال والسعد
You meet times in prosperity
With success, well-being, and joy
وتذود بالجود العسار كما
ذادت سعاد بقربها بعدي
And you drive want away with generosity, as
My happiness increased when I was near her
