سَمَحَ الخَيالُ عَلى النَوى بِمَزارِ
وَالصُبحُ يَمسَحُ عَن جَبينِ نَهارِ
Imagination roamed freely, visiting the beloved's abode,
While dawn wiped away the forehead of daylight.
فَرَفعتُ مِن ناري لِضَيفٍ طارِقٍ
يَعشو إِلَيها مِن خَيالٍ طاري
So I raised up my fire for a guest who came wandering,
Seeking its warmth out of a fleeting illusion.
رَكِبَ الدُجى أَحسِن بِها مِن مَركَبٍ
وَطَوى السُرى أَحبِب بِهِ مِن ساري
Nightfall mounted it, far better than any steed,
And sped along, dearer than any rider.
وَأَناخَ حَيثُ دُموعُ عَيني مَنهَلٌ
يَروي وَحَيثُ حَشايَ مَوقِدُ نارِ
There it halted, where my tears are a watering place
That slakes its thirst, and my ardour, a burning fire.
وَسَقى فَأَروى غُلَّةً مِن ناهِلٍ
أَروى بِجانِحَتَيهِ زَندَ أُوارِ
It drank its fill, till I quenched its every burning thirst
With my eyelids’ watering – like sparks from flintstone.
خَلَعَ الهَوى ثَوباً عَلَيهِ مِنَ الضَنى
قَد شَفَّ عَنهُ فَهوَ كاسٍ عاري
Passion doffed a robe of sorrow it had worn,
Baring griefs that parched it like a cup drained bare.
يَلوي الضُلوعَ مِنَ الوُلوعِ لِخَطرَةٍ
مِن شَيمِ بَرقٍ أَو شَميمِ عَرارِ
My ribs writhe in fires of anguish for a glance
From lightning’s gleam or scent of sweet basil.
وَاللَيلُ قَد نَضَحَ النَدى سِربالَهُ
فَاِنهَلَّ دَمعُ الطَلِّ فَوقَ صِدارِ
Night has poured the dew of its gown,
And the tears’ downpour flows over my breast.
لَبِسَ المَجَرُّ عَلى السَوادِ فَخِلتُهُ
مُتَنَزِّهاً قَد شَدَّ مِن زُنّارِ
The moon dons darkness like a patch-worked cloak,
Having cinched its waist with a starry belt.
وَوَراءَ أَستارِ الدُجى مُتَمَلمِلٌ
يَلقى بِيُمنى تارَةً وَيَسارِ
There behind the curtains of gloom a wavering light
Now meets you on the right, and now upon the left,
ماطالَعَتهُ بَرقَةٌ نَجدِيَّةٌ
إِلّا اِجتَلَتها نِظرَةُ اِستِعبارِ
No faintly flickering Najdi lightning-flash
But his look of scorn extinguishes its light.
مُتَرَقِّبٌ رُسُلَ الرِياحِ عَشِيَّةً
بِمَساقِطِ الأَنواءِ وَالأَنوارِ
Watchful, studying the winds’ messengers at nightfall,
The sky’s burdens, and its lights and shadows.
وَمَجَرِّ ذَيلِ غَمامَةٍ لَبِسَت بِهِ
وَشيَ الحَبابِ مَعاطِفُ الأَنهارِ
A cloud’s trailing tail wore a gown of ambergris,
While the lightning’s gleam kissed it with a flash of fire.
خَفَقَت ظِلالُ الأَيكِ فيهِ ذَوائِباً
وَاِرتَجَّ رِدفاً مائِجُ التَيّارِ
The shadows of birds fluttered wildly there,
And the currents were stirred to tumultuous flow.
وَلَوى القَضيبُ هُناكَ جيداً أَتلَعاً
قَد قَبَّلَتهُ مَباسِمُ النُوّارِ
The slender branch bowed low, supple and swaying,
As the tender blossoms kissed it with their smiles.
باكَرَتهُ وَالغَيمُ قِطعَةُ عَنبَرٍ
مَشبوبَةٌ وَالبَرقُ لَفحَةُ نارِ
Dawn bedecked it, while the clouds like shreds of amber,
And the lightning like a blade’s quick glance of fire,
وَالريحُ تَلطِمُ فيهِ أَردافَ الرُبى
لَعِباً وَتَلثِمُ أَوجُهَ الأَزهارِ
And the wind assailing the hillsides with squalls,
Toying, kissing the blossoms’ faces.
وَمنابِرُ الأَشجارِ قَد قامَت بِها
خُطَباءُ مُفصِحَةٌ مِنَ الأَطيارِ
There the tree-top pulpits where the flocks
Preach – songbirds eloquently singing.
في فِتيَةٍ جَنَبوا العَجاجَةَ لَيلَةً
وَلَرُبَّما سَفَروا عَنِ الأَقمارِ
Those horsemen who all night have shunned their beds,
Perhaps journeying beyond the moon’s domains,
ثارَ القَتامُ بِهِم دُخاناً وَاِرتَمى
زَندُ الحَفيظَةِ مِنهُمُ بِشَرارِ
Whose fire in the dark smoulders, then flames alight,
And sparks fly up from their kindling flashes.
شاهَدتُ مِن هَيئاتِهِم وَهِباتِهِم
أَشرافَ أَطوادٍ وَفَيضَ بِحارِ
I saw in their figures and their movements
The crests of high waves and seas bursting their shores.
مِن كُلِّ مُنتَقِبٍ بِوَردَةِ خَجلَةٍ
كَرَماً وَمُشتَمِلٍ بِثَوبِ وَقارِ
Each of them modest, wrapped in his cloak,
Noble, wearing the mantle of dignity.
في عِمَّةٍ خَلَعَت عَلَيهِ كَلِمَةً
وَذُؤابَةً قُرِنَت بِها كَعِذارِ
Clad by renown in a garment hemmed
With motifs like bracelets linked together.
ضافي رِداءِ المَجدِ طَمّاحِ العُلا
طامي عُبابِ الجودِ رَحبِ الدارِ
Feeder of the lofty-aspiring; reviver of generosity;
Guardian of truth, and of safekeeping troth.
جَرّارِ أَذيالُِ المعالي وَالقَنا
حامي الحَقيقَةِ وَالحِمى وَالجارِ
Who shakes off all fetters like some far-roaming beast,
Spreading his free wings, sharp-taloned.
طَرَدَ القَنيصَ بِكُلِّ قَيدِ طَريدَةٍ
زَجِلَ الجَناحِ مُوَرَّدِ الأَظفارِ
His flowing robes gathered up with sweet basil,
His languid eyes lined with brightness of youth.
مُلتَفَّةٍ أَعطافُهُ بِحَبيَرَةٍ
مَكحولَةٍ أَجفانُهُ بِنُضارِ
He casts his high-aiming hopes, and they fold back
With tips bloodied in triumph and claws dyed red.
يَرمي بِهِ الأَمَلَ القَصِيَّ فَيَنثَني
مَخضوبَ راءِ الظُفرِ وَالمِنقارِ
And at every distant goal he reaches,
His courage shines, bare and well-burnished.
وَبِكُلِّ نائي الشَوطِ أَشدَقَ أَصدَرٍ
طاوي الحَشى حالي المُقَلَّدِ ضاري
He scorns sharp swords, almost, and simply walks
Erect like a straight-flying, deadly spear.
يَفَتَرُّ عَن مِثلِ النِصالِ وَإِنَّما
يَمشي عَلى مِثلِ القَنا الخَطّارِ
Following the guide of instinct on the smooth flat land,
While night wraps herself in a black fleece.
مُستَقرِياً أَثَرَ القَنيصِ عَلى الصَفا
وَاللَيلُ مُشتَمِلٌ بِشَملَةِ قارِ
Each darkened form – its glance gives you light,
Its ardour’s flame guiding you like a beacon.
مِن كُلِّ مُسوَدٍّ تَلَهَّبَ طَرفُهُ
تَهديكَ فَحمَتُهُ بِشُعلَةِ نارِ
He who cloaks himself in the gown of glory doffs it
To reveal a shooting star in a dusty sky.
وَمُوَرَّسِ السِربالِ يَخلَعُ قَدَّهُ
عَن نَجمِ رَجمٍ في سَماءِ غُبارِ
Decline has wrapped it in the garb of shadows,
While the darkness hides it like the new moon’s curve.
عَطَفَ الضُمورُ سَراتَهُ فَكَأَنَّهُ
وَالنَقعُ يَحجُبُهُ هِلالُ سِرارِ
What keen observer there, listening intently
With ears wide-open and senses fully aware!
وَلَرُبَّ رَوّاعٍ هُنالِكَ أَنبَطٍ
خَلقِ المَسامِعِ أَطلَسِ الأَطمارِ
He steps cautiously, pauses, gathers himself up,
Swoops down, swerving with a bracelet’s twist,
يَجري عَلى حَذَرٍ فَيَجمَعُ بَسطَهُ
يَهوي فَيَنعَطِفُ اِنعِطافَ سِوارِ
Tautening his bowstring, he oozes honey, halting,
Almost slipping from the hands of Destiny.
مُمتَدِّ حَبلِ الشَأوِ يَعسِلُ راتِعاً
فَيَكادُ يُفلِتُ أَيدِيَ الأَقدارِ
Hesitating, fear of havoc hurls him back and forth
Like a ball tossed from the palms of desert plains.
مُتَرَدِّداً يَرمي بِهِ خَوفُ الرَدى
كُرَةً تَهادَتها أَكُفُّ قِفارِ
What light and nimble flier has sped away,
Then stumbled by one fleeter than he!
وَلَرُبَّ طَيّارٍ خَفيفٍ قَد جَرى
فَشَلا بِجارٍ خَلفَهُ طَيّارِ
Each short-striding peahen gait, undulating,
Dragging her robe’s train like a swaying pendant;
مِن كُلِّ قاصِرَةِ الخُطى مُختالَةٍ
مَشيَ الفَتاةِ تَجُرُّ فَضلَ إِزارِ
Red-beaked, she fancies she has fed
On sweet nectar from a brimming cup;
مَخضوبَةِ المِنقارِ تَحسَبُ أَنَّها
كَرَعَت عَلى ظَمَإٍ بِكاسِ عُقارِ
No hand can grasp her, fearing the desolation
Of some dark night or day of bitter woe.
لا تَستَقِرَّ بِها الأَيادي خَشيَةً
مِن لَيلِ وَيلٍ أَو نَهارِ بَوارِ
Had she sought protection in the sanctuary
Of my father Yahya, he would have sheltered her.
وَلَوِ اِستَجارَت مِنهُما بِحِمى أَبي
يَحيى لَأَمَّنَها أَعَزَّ جِوارِ
A sanctuary – if the hunted takes cover there,
He fears no injustice from any neighbour.
حَرَمٌ إِذا اِشتَمَلَ الطَريدُ بِظِلِّهِ
لَم يَخشَ مِن جَورٍ هُنالِكَ جاري
The winds halt at its gate in awe,
And the surging sea of soldiers falls quiet.
تَقِفُ الرِياحُ بِجانِبَيهِ هَيبَةً
وَيَعُبُّ بَحرُ العَسكَرِ الجَرّارِ
There the hunted gazelles of Naqa feel secure
In their lairs from the snarling jackals.
وَيَقيلُ مَن أَمِنَ بِهِ ظَبيُ النَقا
في جِحرِ خيسِ الضَيغَمِ الزَئّارِ
Destiny effected its purpose as though
Its hands held the reins of Fate.
خَدَمَ القَضاءُ مُرادَهُ فَكَأَنَّما
مَلَكَت يَداهُ أَعِنَّةَ الأَقدارِ
Time yielded to its command, as though
Time hearkened to it for instruction.
وَعَنا الزَمانُ لِأَمرِهِ فَكَأَنَّما
أَصغى الزَمانُ بِهِ إِلى أَمّارِ
It adorned leadership with youthful grace,
As the light of day adorns the gown of gloom.
وَجَلا الإِمارَةَ في رَقيقِ نَضارَةٍ
جَلَتِ الدُجى في حُلَّةِ الأَنوارِ
At a place where it cinched itself with a choker
Of teardrop pearls and bangles for its wrist,
في حَيثُ وَشَّحَ لَبَّةً بِقِلادَةٍ
مِنها وَحَلّى مِعصَماً بِسِوارِ
Munificence fills to overflowing the hands
Of paupers and the eyes of all who visit.
جَذلانَ يَملَأُ مِنحَةً وَبَشاشَةً
أَيدي العُفاةِ وَأَعيُنَ الزُوّارِ
Dispensing like the full moon or a pouring rain cloud
Between the well-guarded moon and clouds with trailing rain.
مُتَقَسِّمٌ مابَينَ بَدرِ دُجُنَّةٍ
أَسرى وَبَينَ غَمامَةٍ مِدرارِ
The bosom-friend, remembering it, breathes freely, as though
Scenting the fragrance of a perfumed garden.
أَرِجَ النَدِيُّ بِذِكرِهِ فَكَأَنَّهُ
مُتَنَفَّسٌ عَن رَوضَةٍ مِعطارِ
In its eloquence and pleasing countenance,
Delighting hearing and sight.
في حُسنِ مَنطِقِهِ وَهَشَّةِ وَجهِهِ
مُستَمتَعُ الأَسماعِ وَالأَبصارِ
Racing the winds in liberality – no contrary
Winds could outstrip it on the racecourse.
جارى الرِياحَ إِلى السَماحِ فَما جَرَت
مَعَهُ الرِياحُ النُكبُ في مِضمارِ
It grew chaste, tightening its belt of chastity,
For chastity is the mark of free men.
وَزَكا فَشَدَّ عَلى العَفافِ إِزارَهُ
إِنَّ العَفافَ لَشيمَةُ الأَحرارِ
Wakeful, intelligent, sound in judgement, noble in aim,
Its fire and beacon suffice you.
يَقِظٌ ذَكا فَهماً وَأَشرَفَ هِمَّةً
وَكَفاكَ مِن نارٍ بِهِ وَمَنارِ
It wore humility despite its majesty, and rose
To heights loftier than the spire of a minaret.
لَبِسَ التَواضُعَ عَن جَلالٍ وَاِرتَقى
شَرَفاً بِحَيثُ سَما سَماءَ فَخارِ
Leadership offered it supreme command, to fill
The eyes of beholders with joyful wonder.
أَلقَت إِلَيهِ بِالأُمورِ إِمارَةٌ
مَلَأَت رُواءً أَعيُنَ النُظّارِ
The reins of that splendid state are held
By the hand of that intrepid horseman.
فَعِنانُ تِلكَ الدَولَةِ الغَرّاءِ في
تَدبيرِ ذاكَ الفارِسِ المِغوارِ
A hero whose orbit encompasses the spheres,
Seized by the outstretched hand of Destiny;
بَطَلٌ جَرى الفَلَكُ المُحيطُ بِسَرجِهِ
وَاِستَلَّ صارِمَهُ يَدُ المِقدارِ
In his grip the taut bowstring of smooth harir,
And the white sharp sword of Indian steel.
يَمتَدُّ حَبلُ الأَسمَرِ الخَطِّيِّ في
يَدِهِ وَباعُ الأَبيَضِ البَتّارِ
His right hand on the day of battle, his left -
However much fire and storm he desires!
بِيَمينِهِ يَومَ الوَغى وَشِمالِهِ
ماشاءَ مِن نارٍ وَمِن إِعصارِ
The sun is his wine, the steeds his fair maidens,
The air his goblet, the swords his servers;
فَالشَمسُ خَمرٌ وَالجِيادُ عَرائِسٌ
وَالجَوُّ كاسٍ وَالسُيوفُ مَداري
The horses stumble over the spear-shafts’ thorns
And wade stained in the deep blood;
وَالخَيلُ تَعثُرُ في شَبا شَوكِ القَنا
وَتَظَلُّ تَسبَحُ في الدَمِ المَوّارِ
The flashing blades bend over the corpses
As though twisted cords upon his buttons.
وَالبيضُ تُحنى في الطُلى فَكَأَنَّما
لُوِيَت عُرىً مِنها عَلى أَزرارِ
The dried blood fractures the sun’s flashing blades
As though it were rust on golden coins.
وَالنَقعُ يَكسُرُ مِن سَنا شَمسِ الضُحى
فَكَأَنَّهُ صَدَأٌ عَلى دينارِ
The sword kept company with triumph, joined together
Like a bracelet on an outstretched wrist.
صَحِبَ الحُسامَ النَصرُ صُحبَةَ غَبطَةٍ
في كَفِّ صَوّالٍ بِهِ سَوّارِ
If it gave him a hint one day, he would flare up
In vengeance – sleeping not, forgetting no blood-claim.
لَو أَنَّهُ أَوحى إِلَيهِ بِنَظرَةٍ
يَوماً لَثارَ فَلَم يَنَم عَن ثارِ
He passed by, and a shiver of pride took hold of him,
Laughter of delight beneath his mail coat.
وَمَضى وَقَد مَلَكَتهُ هِزَّةُ عِزَّةٍ
تَحتَ العَجاجِ وَضِحكَةُ اِستِبشارِ
Many yellow-handed, craven in their wishes,
Clad in diverse borrowed plumes.
وَلَرُبَّ صِفرِ الكَفِّ هاذٍ بِالمُنى
كَلِفٍ بِأَطوارٍ مِنَ الأَوطارِ
Night has covered them with its dark mantle,
And they are alone with the vacancies of their thoughts.
قَد أَسبَلَ الظَلماءَ سِتراً دونَهُ
وَخلا بِأَبكارٍ مِنَ الأَفكارِ
The days cried out to him, raising their voices,
As though calling to him from behind a wall:
صاحَت بِهِ الأَيّامُ تَرفَعُ صَوتَها
فَكَأَنَّما نادَتهُ خَلفَ جِدارِ
“Abandon every notion of repose or ease,
And seek the bounty destined for Ibrahim!”
دَع عَنكَ ثَيِّبَ كُلِّ نُعمى وَاِلتَمِس
مِنَحاً لِإِبراهيمَ فَهيَ عَذاري
“Settle down where your abode is blessed
By auspicious days, or favourable times.”
وَاِربَع بِحَيثُ تَصوبُ أرَضَكَ ديمَةٌ
لِيَمينِ يُمنٍ أَو يَسارِ يَسارِ
Smiles blossom on the cheeks of hillsides,
And meadows are carpeted with greenery.
هَطلاءُ تَضحَكَُ كُلُّ زَهرَةِ صَفحَةٍ
عَنها وَتُعشِبُ كُلُّ ساحَةِ دارِ
From a band who bloodied the gleaming swords
And the idolators’ faces on the day of trial;
مِن مَعشَرٍ تَدمى بِهِم يَومَ الوَغى
بيضُ السُيوفِ وَأَوجُهُ الكُفّارِ
Before whom the tyrant's soul quakes in awe
And the rebel, powerless, is humiliated;
وَتَحورُ نَفسُ المُستَطيلِ مَهابَةً
وَيَذِلُّ رُغماً مَعطِسُ الجَبّارِ
Whom the world nurtures for its preservation,
And religion nurtures as its defenders;
جَمَعَ النَدى بِهِم وَصَدرُ المُنتَدى
كَرَمَ النُفوسِ وَرِقَّةِ الأَبشارِ
In whose land the hands of the noble have built
The highest minaret in their proudest home;
سادَ السُراةُ بِما اِستَفادوا عَنهُمُ
إِنَّ الشُموسَ لِعِلَّةُ الأَقمارِ
Every shower of generosity, each ample-giving raincloud
That pours down in the fray, wildly courageous;
وَسَخا الكِرامُ بِما اِستَمَدّوا مِنهُمُ
إِنَّ البِحارَ لَمَنشَءُ الأَمطارِ
Who rush into the fray ranked like the waves
Of a raging sea with seething, frothing crests.
تَنميهُمُ الدُنيا إِلى صِنهاجَةٍ
وَالدينُ يُنميهُم إِلى الأَنصارِ
How many fettered they have freed of bonds,
Of poverty and the shackles of captivity!
شادَت يَدُ العَلياءِ في عَرَصاتِهِم
أَعلى مَنارٍ في أَعَزِّ دِيارِ
The robe of glory they wear is embroidered
With endless praise that does not fade or tatter.
مِن كُلِّ غَيثٍ لِلسَماحَةِ واكِفٍ
يَهمي وَقِرنٍ في الوَغى هَدّارِ
Had they attained eternity in the fame they enjoy,
No bond of lifespan could have held them.
يَتَتابَعونَ إِلى الصَريخِ كَأَنَّهُم
أَمواجُ بَحرٍ قَد طَمى زَخّارِ
From the creator of wonders I bring you rhyming verse
Whose ecstasy has stirred the deepest soul;
كَم مُطلَقٍ لِنَداهُمُ وَظِباهُمُ
مِن قَيدِ إِعسارٍ وَقَدِّ إِسارِ
They came to you extolling Abu Bakr,
Bearing, like virgins, faultless charms.
وَرِداءِ مَجدٍ طُرِّزَت أَعطافُهُ
بِالحَمدِ لايَبلى عَلى الأَعصارِ
So pour forth freely your eulogies, for the branches
Of these lines have blossomed with wild camomile.
فَلَو أَنَّهُم خَلَدوا خُلودَ ثَنائِهِم
لَم تَنفَصِم عَنهُم عُرى الأَعمارِ
They have stirred the hearts of listeners with wisdom
That almost stirred the pages of the stars.
وَإِلَيكَ مِن حَوكِ البَديعِ قَوافِياً
هَزَّ النَشيدُ بِها مُتونَ شَفارِ
They wiped away the heavy sleep from the riders’ eyes
And startled them with joy upon their carpets.
زَفَّت أَبا بَكرٍ إِلَيكَ مَحاسِناً
جاءَتكَ تَحمِلُ عُذرَةَ الأَبكارِ
They saw you as an equal, so they chose you
Over all others, beyond the farthest lands.
فَأَصِخ إِلى هَزجِ المَديحِ فَإِنَّما
صَدَحَت بِأَغصانِ السُطورِ قِماري
Dawn for their garden with bright morning light
That makes the flowers laugh with delight.
هَزَّت مَعاطِفَ سامِعيها حِكمَةً
كادت تَهُزُّ مَعاطِفَ الأَسطارِ
And to her surrendered Abu Yahya his rule,
Like the nights' starry beauty at daybreak.
مَسَحَت جُفونَ الرَكبِ مِن سِنَةِ الكَرى
وَلَوَتهُمُ طَرَباً عَلى الأَكوارِ
Dedicate to her your swordarm, for the sword is held
By the horseman who wields it, and the arrow by the archer
وَرَأَتكَ كُفؤاً فَاِنتَحَتكَ عَلى النَوى
وَالبُعدِ بَعدَ السِتَّةِ الأَقطارِ
Intercede for the dwellers of this land, you who offer
Praise for the courtyards and answers to their prayers.
فَاِطلَع لِرَوضَتِها صَباحاً نَيِّراً
يَستَضحِكُ النُوّارُ لِلأَنوارِ
وَاِسلَم أَبا يَحيى لَها مِن دَولَةٍ
كَسَتِ اللَيالي رَونَقَ الأَسحارِ
وَاِنهَد لَها فَالسَيفُ في يَدِ فارِسٍ
يَسطو بِهِ وَالسَهمُ في يَدِ باري
وَاِشفَع عَلى شَحطِ الدِيارِ لِآمِلٍ
أَهدى الثَناءَ عَلى تَنائي الدارِ
