تَخَلَّفَ عَنهُ الصَبرُ فيمَن تَخَلَّفا

وَقَد وَعَدَ القَلبُ السُلُوَّ فَأَخلَفا

Patience deserted the one who abandoned it

And the heart promised solace, but broke its promise

وَسارَ مُطيعاً لِلفِراقِ وَما شَفا

حُشاشَةَ نَفسٍ مِن رَداها عَلى شَفا

Sorrow obediently marched to separation, without healing

The restlessness of a soul seeking its cure

وَلَمّا وَقَفنا وَالرَسائِلُ بَينَنا

دُموعٌ نَهاها الوَجدُ أَن تَتَوَقَّفا

When we stopped, tears forbidden by passion to halt

The night we recalled at Al-Aqeeq and its shadow

ذَكَرنا اللَيالي بِالعَقيقِ وَظِلَّها ال

أَنيقَ فَقَطَّعنا القُلوبَ تَأَسُّفا

So elegant it tore at our hearts in regret

Sorrow disobeyed one who roused his feet to sorrow

وَعاصى الأَسى مَن حَثَّ قِدماً عَلى الأُسى

وَعَنَّفَ دَمعُ العَينِ مَن فيهِ عَنَّفا

And the tears of the eyes scolded one who scolded them

At the time of bidding farewell, forbidden kisses

وَفي حاضِرِ التَوديعِ مَمنوعَةُ الحِمى

تُريكَ صَباحاً جامَعَ اللَيلَ مُسدِفا

Show you next dawn, the gatherer of night, hastening

If your gaze fell, you’d not miss a gazelle with a fawn

إِذا نَظَرَت لَم تَعدَمِ الظَبيَ أَحوَراً

وَإِن خَطَرَت لَم تَفقَدِ الغُصنَ أَهيَفا

And if your thoughts wandered, you’d not lose a tender branch

My eyes never saw a cheek like hers

وَلَم تَرَ عَيني مَنظَراً مِثلَ خَدِّها

وَقَد كَتَبَت فيهِ يَدُ الدَمعِ أَحرُفا

Where the hand of tears wrote letters

One evening we met unexpectedly

عَشِيَّةَ وافَتنا عَلى غَيرِ مَوعِدٍ

نَوىً لَم أَزَل مِن قُربِها مُتَخَوِّفا

I had always feared its nearness

I hid my love, though patience was my ally

كَتَمتُ الهَوى جُهدي وَبِالصَبرِ مُسكَةٌ

وَبَرَّحَ ما أَلقى فَقَد بَرِحَ الخَفا

It revealed what I attempted, so attempts are futile

I have a year whose measure I know not

وَلي سَنَةٌ لَم أَدرِ ما سِنَةُ الكَرى

لِهَمٍّ أَتى ضَيفاً فَأَلفى مُضَيِّفا

For a care that came as a guest and made itself at home

It acts out a phantom that avoided my path

يُمَثِّلُ لي طَيفاً تَجَنَّبَ في الكَرى

فَلَمّا جَفاني الغُمضُ أَرضى وَأَسعَفا

So when slumber seals my eyes, it satisfies and pardons

So leave off troubling my sleep, o care

فَيا هَمُّ دُم وَاِنفِ الرُقادَ فَإِنَّني

وَجَدتُكَ مِنهُ الآنَ أَحفى وَأَرأَفا

Now you are kinder and more compassionate

Why do I follow my heart when it leads me astray

إِلامَ اِتِّباعي القَلبَ وَهوَ يُضِلُّني

مُطيعُ هَوىً لَم يَقوَ إِلّا لِأَضعُفا

Obedient to a desire that strengthened only the weak?

How I busy imminent days with thoughts

وَكَم أَشغَلُ العُمرَ القَريبَ ذَهابُهُ

بِذِكرِ حَبيبٍ بانَ أَو مَنزِلٍ عَفا

Of a departed beloved or abandoned campsite

Seeking justice from its consequences, though justice

وَأَطلُبُ في أَعقابِهِ عَدلَ خُرَّدٍ

عَدَلنَ عَنِ الإِنصافِ مِنكَ تَنَصُّفا

Turned from fairness towards you out of fairness

I kept company with the nights of fate until they wearied me

صَحِبتُ لَيالي الدَهرِ حَتّى مَلِلنَني

وَثَقَّلتُ حَتّى آنَ لي أَن أُخَفِّقا

And I grew heavy until it was time for me to be relieved

The jealous never attained their purpose from me

وَما بَلَغَ الحُسّادَ فِيَّ مُرادَهُم

قُعودي عَنِ الأَمرِ الدَنيءِ تَعَفُّفا

My abstinence from disgrace was modesty

A man is none but one who disdains himself

وَما المَرءُ إِلّا مَن يَضَنُّ بِنَفسِهِ

إِباءً وَلا يَرضى مِنَ العِزِّ بِاللَفا

Refusing glory except with dignity

One who does not eat carrion opportunity

وَمَن لا يَعيفُ الطَيرَ إِن سَنَحَت لَهُ

وَإِن خالَطَ الماءَ اِمتِنانٌ تَعَيَّفا

Or, if he shares water, partakes from its surface

A seller of honour for wealth is wretched

يَبوءُ بِخُسرٍ بائِعُ العِزِّ بِالغِنى

وَأَخسَرُ مِنهُ مُشتَري الغَدرِ بِالوَفا

Yet one who buys betrayal with loyalty is more wretched

The desired intention is not fulfilled by what I pour into it

وَما الغَرَضُ المَطلوبُ مِمّا أُريغُهُ

إِذا كانَ يَوماً بِالمُروءَةِ مُجحِفا

If one day it violates manliness altogether

I knew men whose company I do not blame

عَرَفتُ رِجالاً لا أَذُمُّ جِوارَهُم

لِكَونِيَ فيهِ ناعِمَ البالِ مُترَفا

Since I live luxuriously and lavishly through them

But I saw none except tyrants putting on displays

فَلَم أَرَ إِلّا شاكِماً يَبذُلُ اللُهى

مُصانَعَةً أَو حاكِماً مُتَحَيِّفا

Or unjust rulers passing crooked judgements

Other than a king whose deeds refuse baseness

سِوى مَلِكٍ يَأبى الدَنِيّاتِ فِعلُهُ

فَيَبذُلُ إِنعاماً وَيَحكُمُ مُنصِفا

So he bestows favour and rules with justice

Tender yet brave, his excellence surpassed others

نَخا وَسَخى في المُمحِلاتِ فَجارُهُ

بِخَيرٍ فَلا يُعصى وَعافيهِ يُعتَفا

He is neither disobeyed nor does he exceed bounds

If the glorious seek elevation, they fall short

إِذا ما جَرى في غايَةٍ صَدَقَ اِسمُهُ

وَغادَرَ كُلّاً خَلفَهُ مُتَخَلِّفا

And if they try to hide his majesty, it appears

If he is wronged, punishment does not cross its limits

لَعَمري لَقَد بَذَّ المُلوكَ جَميعَهُم

بِأَربَعَةٍ في غَيرِهِ لَن تَأَلَّفا

For he never acts except to exceed them

Inclined to reciprocate good by nature

بِأَمنٍ لِمَن يَخشى وَقَهرٍ لِمَن طَغى

وَسَبقٍ لِمَن جارى وَعَفوٍ لِمَن هَفا

When the beneficent come to him, out of obligation

From his gifts, we gained riches and security

فَإِن طَلَبَ الأَمجادُ مَسعاهُ قَصَّروا

وَإِن حاوَلوا إِخفاءَ سُؤدُدِهِ خَفا

And fear of loss and poverty from some he neglected

The most generous of people when the coward is stingy

وَإِن صالَ لَم تَعدُ العُقوبَةُ حَدَّها

عَلى أَنَّهُ ما جادَ إِلّا وَأَسرَفا

And the most truthful when lightning raggedly flickers

You meet him in arid years with a raincloud

مَليءٌ بِأَن يَأتي الجَميلَ خَليقَةً

إِذا ما أَتاهُ المُحسِنونَ تَكَلُّفا

That pours down and, on a stormy day, gushes forth

I fear the dominance of time with its own opinions

وَجَدنا الغِنى وَالأَمنَ مِمّا أَفادَهُ

وَخَوفَ الرَدى وَالفَقرِ مِن بَعضِ ما نَفا

Disposing affairs according to its own preferences

Scornful if the sword’s edge is held back

أَعَمُّ الوَرى جوداً إِذا بَخِلَ الحَيا

وَأَصدَقُهُم بِشراً إِذا البَرقُ سَوَّفا

When the subjugated supplicant is weakened

Denying it return to its sheath

تُلاقيهِ في العامِ الجَديبِ غَمامَةً

تَسُحُّ وَفي اليَومِ العَصَبصَبِ مُرهَفا

Until it sees the necks of enemies evenly positioned

Not pleased to excel Amer in valor

أَخافَ الزَمانَ المُستَبِدَّ بِرَأيِهِ

فَصارَ عَلى أَحكامِهِ مُتَصَرِّفا

While excelling Amr in forbearance

Recognized by the superiority that stunned all

وَيَأنَفُ أَن يَستَصحِبَ السَيفُ كَفَّهُ

إِذا لَم يَقُدَّ السابِرِيَّ المُضَعَّفا

When other kings affiliate themselves to gain recognition

I visited him and gained Māmā, encountered Suhbān

وَيَمنَعُهُ مِن أَن يُعاوِدَ غِمدَهُ

إِلى أَن يَرى هامَ الأَعادي مُنَصَّفا

And saw Joseph, felt orchard and meadow

When scholars are asked, he examines their limits

وَلَم يُرضِهِ أَن فاقَ في البَأسِ عامِراً

وَعَمراً إِلى أَن فاقَ في الحِلمِ أَحنَفا

And they do not err but have been refined

Listing for us miracles he broadcasts

وَيُعرَفُ بِالفَضلِ الَّذي بَهَرَ الوَرى

إِذا ما اِنتَمى مَلكٌ سِواهُ لِيُعرَفا

And guides with those he attained and was granted

I did not complain to him of the ongoing gifts

وَما زُرتُهُ إِلّا اِعتَفَيتُ اِبنَ مامَةٍ

وَخاطَبتُ سُحباناً وَشاهَدتُ يوسُفا

Except feeling inadequate to thank him for them

Various gifts, if enumerated, would suffice me

إِذا كَلَّ أَهلُ العِلمِ أَرهَفَ حَدَّهُم

وَما خَطِلوا إِلّا وَكانَ مُثَقَّفا

What I gained successively in installments

With blessings from him, an elevated ascent

إِلى أَن عَدَدنا مُعجِزاتٍ يُذيعُها

وَيُهدي بِها مِمّا أَنالَ وَأَتحَفا

And by its side, a covered Harriman coach

By your shadow, O Honor of Kings, son of its crown

وَلَم آتِهِ أَشكو اِتِّصالَ هِباتِهِ

وَضَعفِيَ عَن شُكريهِ إِلّا وَأَضعَفا

An era before your nearness fulfilled me

You remained in this glorious land, ever

مَواهِبُ شَتّى لَو عَدَتني وَحوشِيَت

كَفانِيَ ما أَحرَزتُهُ مُتَسَلِّفا

Gracious and kind to its inhabitants

You transformed the turns of fate, peerless

بِيُمنايَ مِنها صَعدَةٌ وَبِأُختِها

مِجَنٌّ وَقِدماً كُنتُ أَعزَلَ أَكشَفا

So they passed as the night ends at dawn

No weak resolve scattered fear from them

بِظِلِّكَ يا عِزَّ المُلوكِ اِبنَ تاجِها

وَفى لي زَمانٌ قَبلَ قُربِكَ ما وَفا

And sheltered them in secure shade it spread

Nor did the Bountiful veil Himself from their pleas

بَقيتَ لِذا الثَغرِ العَزيزِ فَلَم تَزَل

عَلى ساكِنيهِ حانِياً مُتَعَطِّفا

Or disappoint their prayer when night falls

That this noble feast delight you always

صَرَفتَ صُروفَ الدَهرِ غَيرَ مُشارِكٍ

فَزالَت كَما زالَ الأَتِيُّ عَنِ الصَفا

Honoring it whenever the fires are lit

You grace it with beauty whenever it comes

فَلا فُلَّ عَزمٌ شَرَّدَ الخَوفَ عَنهُمُ

وَأَسكَنَهُم ظِلّاً مِنَ الأَمنِ قَد ضَفا

And succeed it among the people when it departs

You blended dew and good news until they intermixed

وَلا حَجَبَ اللَهُ الكَريمُ اِبتِهالَهُم

وَلا خابَ داعيهِم إِذا اللَيلُ أَغضَفا

Like the intermingling of sweet, pure water and meadow

Accounts of noble deeds shrivel and fold

لِيَهنِكَ ذا العيدُ الشَريفُ وَلا تَزَل

لَهُ ما أَقامَ النَيِّرانِ مُشَرِّفا

While your story continuously flows and is pursued

Virtues no discerning person would overlook

تُبِرُّ عَلَيهِ بِالجَمالِ إِذا أَتى

وَتَخلُفُهُ في ذا الأَنامِ إِذا اِنكَفا

Does the dawn’s light conceal itself from one who sees?

My poems made necklaces of scattered beads

قَرَنتَ النَدى بِالبِشرِ حَتّى تَمازَجا

كَمَزجِ الزُلالِ العَذبِ صَهباءَ قَرقَفا

Though not all who collect gems string them

With strong, elevated diction I do not fear slipping,

تَصَرَّمُ أَخبارُ الكِرامِ فَتَنطَوي

وَذِكرُكَ ما يَنفَكُّ يُروى وَيُقتَفا

Becoming sad or solemnly proceeding

When it strikes your enemy’s hearing even if gentle

فَضائِلُ لا تَخفى عَلى ذي نَحيزَةٍ

وَهَل لِضِياءِ الصُبحِ عَن ناظِرٍ خَفا

It seems rocks, though it is the softest water

A diver selected it from the depths of thought

فَرائِدُ قَد صارَت بِنَظمي قَلائِداً

وَما كُلُّ مَن أَلفى الجَواهِرَ أَلَّفا

If he seizes the finest pearls from its depths

You always obliged me with your fine favor

بِغُرِّ قَوافٍ لا أَخافُ عِثارَها

تَجَشَّمنَ حَزناً أَو تَيَمَّمنَ صَفصَفا

Frankly, and I clothed you in layered praise

Until we were seen by one knowledgeable of us

إِذا طَرَقَت سَمعَ المُعاديكَ خالَها

صُخوراً وَإِن كانَت مِنَ الماءِ أَلطَفا

And each is content with what his hands grasped

And here I am, after nothingness, hoped for and esteemed

تَخَيَّرَها مِن لُجَّةِ الفِكرِ غائِصٌ

إِذا حازَ أَسنى الدُرِّ مِن قَعرِها طَفا

I refused to let my poetry be seen threadbare

Except by you, and my thanks seen snatched away

وَما زِلتَ تَحبوني بِإِحسانِكَ النَدى

صَريحاً وَأَكسوكَ الثَناءَ مُفَوَّفا

You whitened for me the face of hope and often

It appeared to me, though I knew you not, despondent and pretentious

إِلى أَن رَآنا مَن لَهُ خِبرَةٌ بِنا

وَكُلٌّ بِما حازَت يَداهُ قَدِ اِكتَفا

You revealed my merits, though they were hidden from all

With a merit that sufficed the eulogist to pretend to it

فَها أَنتَ أَغنى الناسِ عَن مَدحِ مادِحٍ

وَها أَنا بَعدَ العُدمِ أُرجى وَأُعتَفا

I was merely a blade whose essence the sparks concealed

The clash of lightning exposed its expanse

أَبَيتُ بِشِعري أَن يَراهُ مُسَربِلاً

سِواكَ وَشُكري أَن يُرى مُتَخَطَّفا

فَبَيَّضتَ لي وَجهَ الرَجاءِ وَطالَما

بَدا لي وَلَم أَعرِفكَ أَربَدَ أَكلَفا

وَأَظهَرتَ فَضلي وَهوَ خافٍ عَنِ الوَرى

بِفَضلٍ كَفى المُدّاحَ أَن تَتَكَلَّفا

وَما كُنتُ إِلّا صارِماً فيهِ جَوهَرٌ

جَلَوتَ الصَدا عَن مَتنِهِ فَتَكَشَّفا