َمّا الحِسانُ فَما لَهُنَّ عُهودُ

وَلَهُنَّ عَنكَ وَما ظَلَمنَ مَحيدُ

O possessor of timeless glory, nations have no covenants with you,

Yet you have none but good from them; your justice was never harsh.

فَاِربَع فَما لِلبيضِ فيكَ لُبانَةٌ

لِسِواكَ خوطُ البانَةِ الأُملودُ

Leave the envious be- their slander cannot stain your white attire;

The guiding string of piety adorns your miswak stick alone.

وَاِبغِ النَباهَةَ وَالثَراءَ بِعَزمَةٍ

لَم يَثنِها لَومٌ وَلا تَفنيدُ

Seek wisdom and live nobly with resolved intent;

Let no blame or dispraise deter your quest.

قَد أَعوَزَ الماءُ الطَهورُ وَما بَقي

غَيرُ التَيَمُّمِ لَو يَطيبُ صَعيدُ

Ablution water ran scarce, and there was nothing left

Except dry ablution, if only its earth would avail.

وَنَبا بِيَ الوَطَنُ القَديمُ وَإِنَّني

في البُعدِ عَمَّن حَلَّهُ لَسَعيدُ

My ancient homeland called me, though in my distant exile,

I was blessed wherever you dwelled, O guide.

وَتَنوفَةٍ عَقِمَت فَما تَلِدُ الكَرى

لَكِنَّها لِلنائِباتِ وَلودُ

Tanuwf has grown barren - it births no memories.

Rather, it births misfortunes, though constantly pregnant.

فيها يَطيشُ السَهمُ وَهوَ مُسَدَّدٌ

وَيَضِلُّ رَأيُ المَرءِ وَهو سَديدُ

Therein the arrow goes astray despite straight shooting,

And man’s sure judgment strays though his view is clear.

أَفنَيتُها بِقَلائِصٍ عاداتُها

أَن تَنقُصَ الفَلواتِ وَهيَ تَزيدُ

I exhausted it with virtues contrary to its customs-

Its wastelands diminish as it grows on praise.

وَصّى بِها حَيدانُ مَهرَةَ سالِفاً

وَنَمى الجَديلُ أُصولَها وَالعيدُ

The courtyards of Mahra's abodes exhorted it long ago.

Its roots grew as the thickets flourished.

فَمَرَرنَ يَخبِطنَ الدَياجِيَ وَالفَلا

وَأَظُنُّهُنَّ عَلِمنَ أَينَ أُريدُ

They passed by, bumping camels and fillies,

And I believe they knew where I intended to go.

تَأتَمُّ مَلكاً بِالعَواصِمِ بَحرُهُ

عَذبُ المِياهِ وَظِلُّهُ مَمدودُ

I covet a kingdom whose sea has fresh water

And whose shade is outstretched.

أَنِفَت مِنَ المُتَكَلِّفي بَذلِ اللُهى

فَلَها صُدوفٌ عَنهُمُ وَصُدودُ

It disdains ostentatious gift-givers,

So they are barred from it and driven away.

وَوَراءَها مَن لا أَذُمُّ مَهانَةً

وَأَمامَها مَحمودٌ المَحمودُ

Behind it are those I do not disdain,

While ahead a praiseworthy king praised indeed.

مَلِكٌ لِما تَبني يَداهُ شائِدٌ

وَلِما بَناهُ أَوَّلوهُ مُشيدُ

A king whom all people of the age serve,

For what his hands built he originates and repeats.

مازالَ يَبتَدِعُ العَلاءَ مُناقِضاً

مَن رَأيُهُ في حَورِهِ التَقليدُ

He continues to innovate lofty deeds, contradicting

Those whose way is but to follow tradition.

وَيَفوتُ أَهلَ الأَرضِ بِالشِيَمِ الَّتي

يَمتارُ مِنها سَيِّدٌ وَمَسودُ

He surpasses people in qualities

Whereby the best and most vile are distinguished.

وَغَرائِبٍ مِن نُطقِهِ ما مِثلُها

في الفَضلِ مُكتَسَبٌ وَلا مَولودُ

Wondrous is his speech, the like of which

Is not acquired through merit or inborn among the noble.

يُعطي وَلَو سيمَ الحَياةَ أَو الصِبى

وَيَفي وَلَو بِالغَدرِ نيلَ خُلودُ

He gives even if it costs his lifeblood and pardons

Even vile betrayal if eternal rule could be attained.

وَإِذا اِنتَمى يَومَ الوَغى ثُمَّ اِكتَنى

فَالنَصرُ فيهِ مُبدِئٌ وَمُعيدُ

When war looms, he defends his line, then retreats,

So victory begins and ends with him.

وَمَتى تُخَوَّفُ ذي البِلادُ وَدونَها

مَلِكٌ تَدينُ لَهُ المُلوكُ الصيدُ

When the lord of nations and those under them

Feel dread, kings submit to him like prey.

وَلِيَت نُمَيرٌ نَصرَهُ وَرَبيعَةٌ

وَلَهُ مِنَ العَزمِ الوَحِيِّ جُنودُ

Numayr and Rabi’a ready their aid for him.

The Divine inspiration prepares armies for him.

وَلَقَد حَباهُ أُخُوَّةً وَمَحَبَّةً

مَلِكٌ لَهُ أَهلُ الزَمانِ عَبيدُ

A king for whom all people are servants -

God endowed him with siblinghood and affection.

وَدَعاهُ ذا الحَسَبَينِ عِلماً أَنَّهُ

يُزهى بِهِ التَعظيمُ وَالتَمجيدُ

The Owner of the Two Noble Sanctuaries invited him in knowledge

That through him veneration and glorification become manifest.

يَا بنَ الَّذينَ إِذا تَضَوَّعَ نَشرُهُم

كَسَدَ العَبيرُ بِهِ وَهانَ العودُ

O son of those whose assembly, when filled,

Emits such fragrance that perfume and wood abate!

أُسَرٌ لَها فَوقَ السَماءِ أَسِرَّةٌ

وَلِطِفلِها الحابي هُناكَ مُهودُ

They have above the sky a most wondrous rising place,

And for their babbling children, cradles await.

قَومٌ أَقاموا سوقَ كُلِّ فَضيلَةٍ

كَسَدَت وَقاموا وَالأَنامُ قُعودُ

A people who established markets for every virtue,

Prevailing while people slumbered.

وَغَنوا وَلا في البَأسِ يَدخُلُ ذِكرُهُم

وَالبَأسُ أَوفى كَسبِهِم وَالجودُ

They sang though no affliction entered their abodes,

But chastisement most befitting their deeds and generosity.

كُلٌّ إِذا ما الحَربُ شُبَّت عامِرٌ

وَإِذا أَتى الأَضيافُ فَهوَ لَبيدُ

Each becomes populous when war flames up,

And each is hospitable when guests arrive.

تَتوَقَّعُ الأَذوادُ مِنهُ عاقِراً

ما زالَ يَحمي سَرحَها وَيَذودُ

Droves expect barrenness from them,

Yet they never cease to protect their meadows and fortify.

مِن كُلِّ مُحدَثَةِ الفَصيلِ وَمُقرَمٍ

قَد صَدَّ عَنهُ الجَيشَ وَهوَ عَتودُ

Against every rebel band and rogue,

They drive away armies while extremely enraged.

تُصبيهِ مُرهَفَةُ الظُبى مَخضوبَةً

بِدَمِ الأَعادي لا الظِباءُ الغيدُ

Does, made pregnant by them, birth fawns

Dyed with the blood of enemies, not with dust.

وَلَهُ نُهودٌ في المُغارِ عَلَيهِمُ

تُنسي غُصوناً حَملُهُنَّ نُهودُ

For them in alcoves are wild cows

Whose udders give milk though having no calves.

وَيَروقُهُ نَأيٌ وَعَودٌ يَقطَعُ ال

فَلَواتِ لا نايٌ يَروقُ وَعودُ

He loves remoteness and returning through wastelands,

Not flutes that captivate and enchant.

طالوا الأَنامَ وَطُلتَهُم بِخَلائِقٍ

خُلِقَت عَلى ما تَشتَهي وَتُريدُ

They have prolonged the lives of people and their stay,

With traits created just as each wishes and desires.

وَلَقَد حَوَيتَ مِنَ المَعالي طارِفاً

تَغنى بِهِ عَن أَن يُعَدَّ تَليدُ

You have indeed attained lofty glories enough

To make you independent of following convention.

كَرَمٌ تُمَدُّ إِلَيهِ أَعناقُ المُنى

وَسُطىً لِهَيبَتِها الجِبالُ تَميدُ

A generosity people crane their necks to reach

And for which even mountains bow in humility.

وَنَأَيتَ عَن أَهلِ الزَمانِ بِهِمَّةٍ

قَد جازَتِ النَسرَينِ وَهيَ صَعودُ

You have attained, with exceptional resolve,

A loftiness that transcends both eagles in ascent.

لا كَالرِجالِ تَبايَنوا لَكِن كَما

يَتَبايَنُ المَوجودُ وَالمَفقودُ

Not as men differed, but as existent differs from nonexistent;

This endures desired, while the other is lost.

فَلِذا الثَناءُ عَلَيكَ ضِدُ ثَنائِهِم

ذا مُنشَدٌ أَبَداً وَذا مَنشودُ

So praising you counters their praise:

One is ever chanted while the other is sought.

مازالَ يَسقَمُ وَعدُهُم وَوَعيدُهُم

وَيَصِحُّ عِندَكَ مَوعِدٌ وَوَعيدُ

Their promises and threats remain suspect,

While your promise and warning prove true.

عاشوا وَما يَخضَلُّ في حُجُراتِهِم

تُربٌ وَلا يَخضَرُّ فيهِم عودُ

They lived but withered in their chambers,

No greenery thriving, only dust accumulated.

فَأَرَحتَهُم بِاليَأسِ مِن ذا المُرتَقى

فَلَهُم نُكوصٌ دونَهُ وَنُدودُ

You made them despair of attaining these heights,

So they recoiled and were driven away.

وَإِذا سَمَت آمالُ حاسِدِ نِعمَةٍ

بَسَطَ الرَجاءَ فَعَبدُكَ المَحسودُ

When the hopes of one jealous of another's blessing aim high,

Your servant overlooked turns hopeful.

وَالعَيشُ غَضٌّ ما سَلِمتَ لأَمَّةٍ

إِصلاحُها إِلّا عَلَيكَ بَعيدُ

Life is miserable unless you secure for your nation

Reform, which none but you can achieve.

أَوطَنتَ فيها الأَمنَ بَعدَ نُزوحِهِ

وَنَفَيتَ عَنها الخوفَ فَهوَ طَريدُ

You instilled security after its flight,

Banishing fear so none remains.

فَلَوِ اِستَطاعَت أَن تُكَلِّمَ أَرضُهُم

أَثنَت عَلَيكَ تَهائِمٌ وَنُجودُ

If their land could speak, it would praise you,

With oxen and camels extolling your nobleness.

ظَلَّت عَشيرَتُكَ الَّتي عاشَرتَها

فَلَها مُروقٌ دائِمٌ وَمُرودُ

You made those tribes you dealt with

Live in everlasting anxiety and exile.

فَجَعَلتَ مَحضَ الخَوفِ مِلءَ صُدورِهِم

فَعَنا عَنيدٌ وَاِستَقامَ عَنودُ

You instilled pure dread in their hearts

So the disgraced and outcast grew straight.

ما إِن يَحُلُّ الرُعبُ صَدراً واغِراً

فَتُقيمَ فيهِ سَخائِمٌ وَحُقودُ

When fear resides in an open chest,

It erects encampments and becomes entrenched.

لَو كُنتَ يا تاجَ المُلوكِ مُؤازِراً

لِسَمِيِّ جَدِّكَ ما عَصَتهُ ثَمودُ

Had you, O crown of kings, supported

The prophet, your grandfather, Thamud would not have defied him.

أَو كُنتَ ناصِرَ هاشِمٍ فيما مَضى

ما دَلَّ مُرتادٌ وَخابَ مُريدُ

Or had you aided Hashim in days gone by,

No pilgrim would lose his way, or seeker be denied.

تَزدادُ مَجداً لَيسَ يُعرَفُ كُلَّما

قالَت عُداتُكَ ما عَساهُ يَزيدُ

You grow in glory - none can comprehend the full extent -

Whenever your enemies say: “How much more will he gain?”

فَشِمِ السُيوفَ فَطالَما جَرَّدتَها

حَتّى لَقُلنا ما لَهُنَّ غُمودُ

So bare the swords - you have brandished them so long,

We would think they have no sheaths.

هِندِيَّةٌ كَم مَزَّقَت في مَأزِقٍ

ما كانَ أَحكَمَ سَردَهُ داوودُ

Many an Indian sword, when dire straits struck,

Shattered though tempered by David's mighty hands.

أَثنى عَلَيكَ مُؤالِفٌ وَمُخالِفٌ

طَوعاً بِأَنَّكَ في الزَمانِ فَريدُ

Those concurring and conflicting praise you,

Admitting you are unmatched in this age.

فَعَجِبتُ كَيفَ أَقَرَّ أَنَّكَ واحِدٌ

في الناسِ مَن ما دينُهُ التَوحيدُ

So I wondered how he confessed you are peerless

Among people whose faith is God's Oneness.

وَقَصَرتَ وَعدَكَ فَليَدُم مَقصورُهُ

لِمُؤَمِّليكَ وَعُمرُكَ المَمدودُ

You fell short of your promise, so may its remainder persist

For those hopeful in you, and may you live long.

تُغني العُفاةَ وَتَصطَفي مُهَجَ العِدى

قامَت بِذاكَ أَدِلَّةٌ وَشُهودُ

It provides for the destitute and screens the transgressors -

By this, proofs and witnesses have been established.

وَبِمَنهَجِ الأَطماعِ تَختَلِفُ الوَرى

هَذا يُفيدُ غِنىً وَذاكَ يُبيدُ

People vary in the aims they pursue -

One enriches, another destroys.

يا كَعبَةَ الجودِ الَّتي طُفنا بِها

فَلنا رُكوعٌ حَولَها وَسُجودُ

O Kaaba of munificence, we circumambulated you,

So we bow down and prostrate around you.

بِجَنابِكَ اِبيَضَّت لَياليَّ الَتي

أَيّامُها مِن قَبلِ قُربِكَ سودُ

Nights illuminated by your presence

Were dark before your nearness.

وَخَرَجتُ مِن حَجرِ الزَمانِ لِعِلمِهِ

أَنّي بِإِفضائي إِلَيكَ رَشيدُ

I emerged from the confines of time knowing

That in turning to you, I am right-guided.

مِنَنٌ غَلَبتَ بِها القَريضَ فَما لَهُ

بِذَراكَ تَصويبٌ وَلا تَصعيدُ

Favors that left the skillful poet at a loss -

He cannot properly direct or climb them.

وَأَعَدنَ لي شَرخَ الشَبابِ وَلَم أَخَل

مِن قَبلِها أَنَّ الشَبابَ يَعودُ

They restored to me the days of my youth - before,

I thought not that youth would return.

وَلَهُنَّ في سوقِ الثَناءِ بَضائِعٌ

تُزجى وَفي سوقِ العُفاةِ قُيودُ

For them in the market of praise are treasures hawked,

While in the market of the chaste are fetters.

أَذهَلتَني عَن أَن أَقومَ بِحَقِّها

يا واسِمي بِالعَجزِ حينَ يَجودُ

They mystified tongues such that if unleashed,

Our camels would race, spurred by them.

وَإِذا اِعتَرَفتُ بِهِ وَقَصَّرَ شاطِرِي

عِيّاً فَذاكَ الإِعتِرافُ جُحودُ

Their frequent mention made the gloomy night preserve them -

What is repeated, both raven and desert know.

لا تُلزِمَنّي فَوقَ جَهدي مُعنِتاً

بِصِفاتِ مَجدٍ مالَها تَحديدُ

Discern their merit if you excel poems -

Not all who praise the splendid become splendid.

وَمَعَ اِعتِذارِيَ فَاِستَمِع لِغَريبَةٍ

عَونايَ فيها الفِكرُ وَالتَسهيدُ

I charge you with caring for me, for among the tribes

I have become one whose slavery you own.

لَو أَنَّ فَحلَي طَيِّئٍ حَضَرا لَها

أَمضى حَبيبٌ حُكمَها وَوَليدُ

My sole request, then, is your pardon for a slip -

No more than what you already granted me.

مَبذُولَةٌ في القَومِ وَهيَ مَصونَةٌ

مَعقولَةٌ في الحَيِّ وَهيَ شَرودُ

Can anything befall me that I should fear,

When your good judgment provides my arms and supplies?

خَفَّت عَلى الأَفواهِ حَتّى لَاِنبَرَت

تَحدو بِها مَعَنا المَطايا القودُ

You continue to renew each coming year

In glory, outshining all garments.

وَتَكَرَّرَت فينا فَمِمّا كُرِّرَت

قَد صارَ يَحفَظُها الدُجى وَالبيدُ

I see the stars transgress their rules

Except upon you - for them, you are felicitous.

فاضِل بِها الأَشعارَ تَعرِف فَضلَها

ما كُلُّ مَن مدَحَ المَجيدَ مُجيدُ

أوصيكَ بي خَيراً فَإِنّي في الأُلى

أَصبَحتَ مالِكَ رِقِّهِم مَعدودُ

وَوَصيَّتيكَ فَجُد بِعَفوِكَ زَلَّةٌ

ما فَوقَ ما أَولَيتَنيهِ مَزيدُ

أَيَنالُني شَيءٌ أُحاذِرُهُ وَلي

مِن حُسنِ رَأيِكَ عُدَّةٌ وَعَديدُ

لا زِلتَ تُبلي كُلَّ عامٍ قادِمٍ

في العِزِّ ما خَلَفَ اللَبيسَ جَديدُ

وَأَرى النُجومَ تَخالَفَت أَحكامُها

إِلّا عَلَيكَ فَإِنَّهُنَّ سُعودُ