سَجَعتُ وَقَد غَنّى الحَمامُ فَرَجَّعا

وَما كُنتُ لَولا أَن يُغَنّي لَأَسجَعا

I composed poetry while the dove cooed, so they responded in rhyme

I would not have composed had the dove not sung its tune

وَأَندُبَ عَهداً بِالمُشَقَّرِ سالِفاً

وَظِلَّ غَمامٍ لِلصِبا قَد تَقَشَّعا

I reminisce about an era with the starling long gone

As a cloud's shadow for youth poured down and dispersed

وَلَم أَدرِ مانَبكي أَرَسمَ شَبيبَةٍ

عَفا أَم مَصيَفاً مِن سُلَيمى وَمَربَعا

I know not why I weep - did a picture of youth fade

Or a summer from Suleima and Marib pass away?

وَأَوجَعُ تَوديعِ الأَحِبَّةِ فُرقَةً

شَبابٌ عَلى رُغمِ الأَحِبَّةِ وَدَّعا

Parting from loved ones hurts me, though youth against their will bade them farewell

I never enjoyed a night's rest as much as that night

وَما كانَ أَشهى ذَلِكَ اللَيلَ مَرقَداً

وَأَندى مُحَيّا ذَلِكَ الصُبحِ مَطلِعا

Nor a morning more tender than that dawn's emergence

That era was but a day and a night, the most blissful life of shade and meadow

وَأَقصَرَ ذاكَ العَهدَ يَوماً وَلَيلَةً

وَأَطيَبَ ذاكَ العَيشَ ظِلّاً وَمَرتَعا

Time passes without revisiting eras of beauty

That would adorn the pebbles of the heart, were they to crack

زَمانٌ تَقَضّى غَيرَ عَهدِ مَحاسِنٍ

تَسومُ حَصاةَ القَلبِ أَن تَتَصَدَّعا

I turned away from it, not by choice, and perhaps

I ached due to prolonged indecision and deception

تَحَوَّلتُ عَنهُ لَا اِختِياراً وَرُبَّما

وَجَعتُ عَلى طولِ التَلَدُّدِ أَخدَعا

Who will cool me with a gentle breeze when the heats of summer scorch me

And provide me with the mornings of al-Khazzam from the meadows of Lu'lu'?

وَمَن لي بِرَدِّ الريحِ مِن أَبرَقِ الحِمى

وَرَيّا الخُزامى مِن أُجارِعِ لَعلَعا

That era has passed, leaving just memories

That cause me pain as I ride my camel

وَقَد فاتَ ذاكَ العَهدُ إِلّا تَذَكُّراً

لَواني عَلى ظَهرِ المَطِيِّ تَوَجَّعا

My heart was frigid, though we were united,

but no sooner did it disperse than it boiled and overflowed with tears

وَكُنتُ جَليدَ القَلبِ وَالشَملُ جامِعٌ

فَما اِنفَضَّ حَتّى حارَ فَاِرفَضَّ أَدمُعا

My robes dripped copious tears I attempt to hide

With my fingers, though I pretend and fake

وَبَلَّت نِجادي عَبرَةٌ مُستَهِلَّةٌ

أُكَفكِفُ مِنها بِالبَنانِ تَصَنُّعا

My eyes in the darkness are like kohl -

they refuse to settle next to my side as I lay down to rest

وَإِنّي وَعَيني بِالظَلامِ كَحيلَةٌ

لَآبى لِجَنبي أَن يُلائِمَ مَضجَعا

I take pride that I see the morn pure white

With eyes that see the land of youth as a panorama

وَأُكبِرُ شَأناً أَن أَرى الصُبحَ أَبيَضاً

بِعَينٍ تَرى رَبعَ الشَبيبَةِ بَلقَعا

As though I had not gone out for fun that night

And drunk Babylonian wine that sparkles

كَأَنِّيَ لَم أَذهَب مَعَ اللَهوِ لَيلَةً

وَلَم أَتَعاطَ البابِلِيَّ المُشَعشَعا

As though I had not gathered in the shade sharing poetry

And singing for the chirping and water of the meadow

وَلَم أَتحامَل بَينَ ظِلٍّ بِسَرحَةٍ

وَسَجعٍ لِغِرّيدٍ وَماءٍ بِأَجرَعا

As though I had not cast my hopes on the grey Sa'ib antelope,

the white Bassam gazelle and the brown bald antelope

وَلَم أَرمِ آمالي بِأَزرَقَ صائِبٍ

وَأَبيَضَ بَسّامٍ وَأَسمَرَ أَصلَعا

And the piebald steed with a long flowing mane, tall in stature, whom I led

The Yemeni lightning bolted one evening

وَأَبلَقَ خَوّارِ العِنانِ مُطَهَّمٍ

طَويلِ الشَوى وَالساقِ أَقوَدَ أَتلَعا

So the lightning lagged behind it, too weak and too swift

As though it were an ash-colored cloud beneath which

جَرى وَجرى البَرقُ اليَمانِيُّ عَشِيَّةً

فَأَبطَأَ عَنهُ البَرقُ عَجزاً وَأَسرَعا

lightning crept out and cracked

The enemies thought it enough to drive it away

كَأَنَّ سَحاباً أَسحَماً تَحتَ لِبدِهِ

يُضاحِكُ عَن بَرقٍ سَرى فَتَصَدَّعا

As a croaking raven that cries out at dawn

As though it wore on its shoulders a garment of pitch darkness

وَحَسبُ الأَعادي مِنهُ أَن يَزجُروا بِهِ

مُغيراً غُراباً صَبَّحَ الحَيَّ أَبقَعا

that the dawn had patched up

I raced it through a turbulent sea

كَأَنَّ عَلى عِطفَيهِ مِن خِلَعِ السُرى

قَميصَ ظَلامٍ بِالصَباحِ تَرَقَّعا

and approached the mother of tremors - tottering and shaking

It rings from ear to ear, yearning for a scream

رَكَضتُ بِهِ بَحراً تَدَفَّعَ مائِخاً

وَأَقبَلتُ أُمَّ الرَألِ نَكباءَ زَعزَعا

from a caller or onlooker

As though it had for a spear's action a guide

يُؤَلِّلُ مِن أُذنٍ فَأُذنٍ تَشَوُّفاً

إِلى صَرخَةٍ مِن هاتِفٍ أَو تَطَلُّعا

and for the clamor of tongues, a listener

I calmed it by singing poems to the saddlebows

كَأَنَّ لَهُ مِن عامِلِ الرُمحِ هادِياً

مُنيفاً وَمِن ذُلقِ الأَسِنَّةِ مِسمَعا

and stroking its flanks, so it listened

But when the Emir's name was mentioned, it scorned him

فَسَكَّنتُ مِنهُ بِالتَغَنّي عَلى السُرى

أُمَسِّحُ مِن أَعطافِهِ فَتَسَمَّعا

so it lowered its whinny's tune and raised it

Yearning for the most generous king, repeating

وَلَمّا اِنتَحى ذِكرَ الأَميرِ اِستَخَفَّهُ

فَخَفَّضَ مِن لَحنِ الصَهيلِ وَرَفَّعا

and lamenting the noble journey

So in its love for Ibrahim, it whinnied in Arabic

حَنيناً إِلى المَلكِ الأَغَرِّ مُرَدَّداً

وَشَجواً عَلى المَسرى القَصِيِّ مُرَجَّعا

And in assisting Ibrahim, it pawed the ground loyally

A sovereign whom glory boasts of, a gilded crown

فَفي حُبِّ إِبراهيمَ أَعرَبَ صاهِلاً

وَفي نَصرِ إِبراهيمَ كَرَّ تَشَيُّعا

that glory itself regards as a bejeweled crown

With it I traversed the most verdant meadows, the most aromatic spices, the lushest meadows

مَليكٌ تَباهى الحَمدُ وَشياً مُذَهَّباً

بِهِ وَتَراءى المَجدُ تاجاً مُرَصَّعا

Sometimes generosity's sea flooded in its domains and surged

Its rain clouds poured down heavily, sufficient for you

غَشيتُ بِهِ أَندى مِنَ المُزنِ راحَةً

وَأَطيَبَ أَفياءً وَأَمرَعَ مَربَعا

that it only rained on a barren land, so it flourished

Thus I have heard much praise of its sublime traits

طَمى الجودُ في يُمناهُ بَحراً وَرُبَّما

تَدَفَّقَ في أَرجائِها فَتَدَفَّعا

though the bird of good tidings is no fairer listener

So, faultfinder, the lightning you blamed flashed weakly

وَأَعدى نَداهُ الغَيثَ فَاِنهَلَّ واكِفاً

وَحَسبُكَ مِن سُقياهُ أَن سَجَما مَعا

and rumbled with thunder over Najd, so aroused hope

When the cloud of your disapproval parts

فَرُبَّ حَديثٍ عَن عُلاهُ سَمِعتُهُ

وَما طائِرُ البُشرى بِأَحسَنَ مَسمَعا

and the lightning of prosperity illuminates you, then pasture

For Abu Ishaaq's land is the most fertile meadow,

فَيا شائِمي بَرقٍ تَوَضَّحَ مَوهِناً

وَقَعقَعَ إِرعاداً بِنَجدٍ فَأَطمَعا

the most fragrant grove of shade, the sweetest meadow

It suffices you that the tribe despaired of it

إِذا كَفَّ مِن قُطرَيكُما عارِضَ النَدى

وَراقَكُما بَرقُ البَشاشَةِ فَاِرتَعا

so he restored what it had lost

Guidance in him returned through the most glorious Ahmad

فَإِنَّ أَبا اِسحاقٍ أَخصَبُ تَلعَةً

وَأَشهى نَدى ظِلٍّ وَأَعذَبُ مَكرَعا

Of enduring fame, sword blades the brightest and keenest

He rendered the Salib idol an object of generosity

وَحَسبُكُما أَن قَد تَأَسّى بِهِ الحَيا

فَعاوَدَ مِن رُحماهُ ما كانَ أَقلَعا

And the Matruur doe inviolate, showing no hesitation

When creeping he is stealthier than a deceitful mirage

وَعَزَّ الهُدى مِنهُ بِأَمجَدَ أَوحَدٍ

طَويلِ نِجادِ السَيفِ أَبلَجَ أَروَعا

More accurate in aim than a meteoric shooting star

The sword in battle is no fairer than when the palm

أَحَلَّ بِهِ العودَ السَليبَ سَماحَةً

وَأَحرَمَ مَطرورَ الظِبا لا تَوَرُّعا

unsheathes it behind shields, glowing radiantly

The voice of caution and dew called him by name

إِذا دَبَّ أَخفى مِن خَيالِ مَكيدَةٍ

تَصَوَّبَ أَسرى مِن شِهابٍ وَأَطلَعا

so he obediently rose to the prime of youth, fervent and passionate

He sprang like a leaping blade, valiantly

وَما السَيفُ مِن كَفِّ الكَمِيِّ مُجَرَّداً

بِأَسطى وَراءَ النَقعِ مِنهُ وَأَسطَعا

And raced like a roaring torrent, spontaneously

You cannot distinguish between them, which more

دَعا بِاِسمِهِ داعي الحَفيظَةِ وَالنَدى

فَلَبّى عَلى شَرخِ الشَبابِ وَأَهطَعا

eloquently speaks - the noble and distinguished orator

He erected virtues and built

وَهَبَّ كَما هَبَّ الحُسامُ شَهامَةً

وَعَبَّ كَما عَبَّ الخِضَمُّ تَبَرُّعا

raising them to the Lord Most High

He lowered the voice and sound of the stubborn rebel

وَجَرَّ بِهِ ذَيلَ الخَميسِ اِبنُ غابَةٍ

تَرَدّى غُلاماً بِالعُلى وَتَلَفَّعا

and shook the pillar of the disobedient one, toppling it

Chieftains surrendered power to him deferentially,

وَداسَ العِدى رَكضاً وَأَجرى إِلى الوَغى

بِأَطوَعَ مِن يُمناهُ فِعلاً وَأَطبَعا

humbling what had been arrogant and haughty

His character made every well-mannered person docile

فَلَم يُدرَ أَيُّ مِنهُما مَنطِقاً

فَصيحاً وَإِفرِنداً كَريماً وَمَقطَعا

until the defiant became submissive

Who will convey to me that I attained through him

فَشَيَّدَ مِن ذاتِ المَكارِمِ وَاِبتَنى

وَرَفَّهَ في جَنبِ الإِلَهِ وَرَفَّعا

whatever I wished to enjoy?

I composed his praise and attained an elevated perspective

وَخَفَّضَ مِن صيتِ الأَبِيِّ وَصَوتِهِ

وَزَلزَلَ مِن رُكنِ العَصِيِّ وَضَعضَعا

until I reached the pinnacle and the highest place

Does any desire remain for the soul except to gaze

وَأَلقَت إِلَيهِ بِالمَقادَةِ قادَةٌ

تَطامَنَ مِن أَعناقِها ماتَرَفَّعا

upon the Supreme Pen as it signs its decree?

Neither the rising moon in its most beautiful phase

وَذَلَّلَ مِن أَخلاقِهِ كُلُّ رَيَّضٍ

فَأَصبَحَ خَوّارَ الشَكيمَةِ طَيِّعا

nor the pouring rain at its most generous

You were blessed with a feast that received you upon arrival

فَمَن مُبلِغُ الأَيّامَ عَنّي أَنَّني

تَبَوَّأتُ مِنهُ حَيثُ شِئتُ تَمَتُّعا

It would not have occurred had you not risen

It is enough of a gift that it shaded you when you came

وَطِرتُ ثَناءً وَاِطَّلَعتُ ثَنِيَّةً

فَأَشرَفتُ إِبضاعاً وَأَشرَفتُ مَوضِعا

It only needs you to speak for it to hear

A breeze from the branch of a sublime palm tree greeted you -

وَهَل بَقِيَت لِلنَفسِ إِلّا اِطِّلاعَةٌ

إِلى القَلَمِ الأَعلى يَخُطُّ مُوَقِّعا

like the breaths of maidens, it was gentle and pure

It plays with the train of the canopy and wipes

فَما القَمَرُ الساري بِأَجمَلِ غُرَّةً

وَلا الوابِلُ الغادي بِأَكرَمَ مَصنَعا

tears from the trail of the clouds

فَهَنُئتَ عيداً قَد تَلَقّاكَ قادِماً

وَلَم يَكُ لَولا أَن طَلَعتَ لَيَطلُعا

وَحَسبُكَ جَدَّ قَد أَظَلَّكَ قادِماً

فَما هُوَ إِلّا أَن تَقولَ فَيَسمَعا

وَحَيّاكَ مِن فَرعٍ لِأَشرَفِ دَوحَةٍ

نَسيمٌ كَأَنفاسِ العَذارى تَضَوَّعا

يُلاعِبُ مِن خوطِ الأَراكَةِ مَعطَفاً

وَيَمسَحُ مِن مَسرى الغَمامَةِ مَدمَعا