أتصَابٍ إلى ذوي إسعادِهْ

أم تَناهٍ إلى ذوي إرْشادِهْ

A gift to those of blissful pleasure,

Or an approach to those of righteous guidance?

بل تَنَاهٍ وهل صِبىً بعد قَوْل

جاء عن أمِّ عَمْرةٍ وسُعادِهْ

Nay, an approach - and what youth remains after the word

That came from Umm 'Amrah and her happiness?

قالت الغادتان إذ أوقدَ الشّي

بُ سناه فلَجَّ في إيقادِهْ

The two singers said, when old age lit

Its fires in his temples and barged into kindling them:

فَرّ منك الغزالُ يا لابس الشَّي

بِ فِرار الغزال من صَيَّادِهْ

"The gazelle has fled from you, O wearer of grey hair,

With the gazelle's flight from its hunter."

وإذا اصْطادك المشيبُ فطاردْ

تَ غزالاً فلستَ بالمُصطادِهْ

And when old age hunts you down, pursue

A gazelle! You weren't made to be the hunter.

لستَ عند الطِّراد من قانصيه

أنت عند الطراد من طُرّادِهْ

You're not, to the hunters, one who takes the prey;

You are, to the hunters, one of the hunted.

فعزاءً إنَّ ابن ستين يَعْيَى

عن طِراد الغزال عنْد طِرادِهْ

So take comfort: the sixty-year-old escapes

Hunting the gazelle when it comes time to hunt it.

ومن النُّكر لَهْوُ شيْخٍ ولو أمْ

كنَه الظَّبي عَنوَةً من قيادِهْ

It would be shameful for an old man, even if

He could forcibly control the antelope and tug it by its lead rope.

كيف يَهْتَزُّ للملاهي نباتٌ

أصبح الشيبُ مؤذناً بحصادِهْ

How can green growth shake with joy

When grey hairs have proclaimed the time for harvest?

ولقد أمتعَ الزمانُ شبابي

مُتعةً من سِباطِهِ وجعادِهْ

Time entertained my youth

With the sweetest of pleasures and bitters of sorrows,

سَوْأَةً للبقاء وهْو رهين

بابْيضاض القِناع بعد اسْودادِهْ

As an excuse for survival - while it remains

A hostage to the whitening of temples after their blackening.

ولمنْ عاش غايةٌ فليُبادِرْ

سَيرَ إعدامِه إلى إيجادِهْ

To one who lives, an end must come, so let him anticipate

His death sentence and prepare for its implementation,

سَؤْأَةً للحياة والموتُ حَتْمٌ

ولبذْلِ الزمان واستردادِهْ

As an excuse for life, while death is inevitable,

And for spending time, in hopes of getting it back.

إنَّ للعيش بُكْرَةً فابتَكرْها

هل سعيدٌ بالعيش من لم يُغادِهْ

Morning's freshness is there to be innovated,

Can one be happy with life if morning hasn't smiled on him?

مَتِّع الظبْي من جنى غُصنك اللد

نِ يُمَتِّعْكَ منه قبل انخِضادِهْ

Let the antelope enjoy the ripe fruit of your branch

To delight you, before it withers,

من عناقيده وتفاحه الغَض

ضِ ورُمّانه ومن فرِْصادِهْ

With its clusters of grapes, apples, sweet pomegranates

And the blessing of its guardian.

ليس في كلِّ دولة لك جاهٌ

عند رِئْمٍ مُهَفْهَف الخلْق غادِهْ

Not in every dynasty will you have prestige

With a censured superior of meaner character.

طلع الشيْبُ ضاحكاً فخضبْنا

هُ فزال ابْيضاضُه بارْمدادِهْ

Grey hairs laughed out at me, so I dyed them;

Their whiteness then faded, mixed with my dye.

فارْضَ بالشيب إن من أعظم الخس

ران بَيْعَ انبلاجه بارْبدادِهْ

So make peace with grey hairs - it's greatly ignoble

To sell your blossoming for a trade in white mushrooms.

أيها الأشْيَبُ المسوِّد لَمَّا

آلَ إنفاقُه إلى إكسادِهْ

O grey-haired one darkly masquerading!

When destitute, yet pretending to riches.

لا تُخادعْ بلون خِطْرِك ظَبْياً

فهو أقْذى للظبي من تَسْهادِهْ

Don't be fooled by the color of your danger -

It is more perilous to the antelope than its slaughter.

حَدُّ من أتبعَ الشبابَ خِضاباً

أنه ثاكلٌ غدا في حدادِهْ

The extent of one who follows youth with dye

Is that he will neglect duty when the time for condolences comes.

حسرتي للطرَاء في حُلَّتيهِ

لهفتي للشباب في قُوَّادِهْ

My regret is for the finery of my attire,

My craving is for the youthfulness of my prime.

لا تَرى مُنْشِدَ الشبابِ يَدَ الدَهْ

رِ وتلقى منْ شئتَ من نُشَّادِهْ

You won't see the eulogizer of youth extending

A hand to poverty - and you can get whatever you wish from his patrons!

ورأيتُ الزمانَ يَمْشي رويداً

واللَّحَاقُ الوشِيكُ في أرْوَادِهْ

I saw time walking slowly,

While the imminent overtaking was during its siesta.

لا اشْتَكى يا أخي فؤادُك ما أض

حَى فُؤادِي يشكو إلى عُوّادِهْ

Don't complain, my brother, of what has boiled

My innermost being with complaints to its physician.

قسوةً من خلائلٍ بل أخِلّا

ءَ أعانوا الزمان في إرْصادِهْ

Hard-hearted friends - nay, hard-hearted comrades

Who aided time in lying in ambush for me.

بَخَسوني كبخس دهْري حُقوقي

واسْتعدُّوا عليّ كاستعدادِهْ

They denied me my rights as time has denied me;

They prepared against me as it made preparations.

أتقاضى مَراضعي من صَبابا

تِ صديقي وذكْرِهِ وافتقادِهْ

I seek compensation from the teats of my early companionship -

My friend - and his mention of me and his visitation.

لا شَراباً ولا سَماعاً وأمَّا

زادُهُ إن جفا فأهْوِنْ بزادِهْ

Not a drink! Not an audition! And if his provision is scarce

When he stops by, even his frugal meal is too heavy a burden.

آلَ وهْبٍ قد استقرَّ هواكُم

في حَشا الدهر ثابتاً بل فؤادِهْ

Oh how Wayh's affection has settled

In the most special place of the days, fixed, nay embodied in their essence!

فَأْمنوا دهرَكُمْ فقد عَشقَ الدهْ

رُ بحقٍّ بياضكُمْ في سوادِهْ

So feel safe from the days' caprice, for indeed

The days have fallen truly in love with your radiance amidst their darkness.

ولماذا يَغُولكُمْ غائل الدهْ

رِ وأنتُمْ عمادهُ من عمادِهْ

Why does the days' deceiver slight you

When you are its pillar, you who uphold its pillars?

من يَكُنْ من زُيوفه ونفايا

ه فما زلتُمُ جِيادَ جِيادِهْ

You who are not of its riffraff and dregs -

So I never ceased to be steeds of its purebred steeds.

زِيدَ في فيْئنا بكُمْ فامْتَطى المُنْ

فق مِنا الإِسرافَ بعد اقتصادِهْ

Excess was added, due to you, to our already plentiful share,

So the spendthrift began spending extravagantly after his thrift.

لم تكونوا كمعْشَرٍ جرَّدوا الفيْ

ءَ وهَلْ نحْلُه كمثْل جَرادِهْ

You were not like a group who stripped away the riches

And what is a bee's wealth compared to that of locusts?

وبعيدِ المنال من مُتعاطي

ه قَريبِ النَّوال من مُرْتادِهْ

The far-fetched dream of the ambitious

Is nearer to attainment than what the frequenter attains daily.

وغَريبٍ مستْبشِر النفس بالغرْ

بَة فَرْدٍ مستأنس بانفرادِهْ

The loner who comforts himself with solitude - how strange!

Individuality is more endearing to him than crowds.

فله في القلوب ما لا نراه

في قلوب الهوى ولا أكبادِهْ

In hearts he occupies what we do not see

Occupied in the hearts of loved ones or livers.

جَلَّ نُبْلاً ودقَّ لطفاً وأضحى

والهوى والعقولُ طوعَ اقتيادِهْ

Sublime in nobility, refined in gentleness, he has become

The beloved of passions and minds, complying with his lead.

لا يُسمَّى في هزْل شعري ولكن

في أجَلِّ الجليل من أجدادِهْ

He cannot be labelled in a poet's versifying,

But rather in the most distinguished stock of forefathers.

بل أسمِّيه بل أكنِّيه بل أن

مِيه نَسْباً إلى ذرا أطوادِهْ

Nay I name him, nay I give him a agnomen, nay I classify him

In ancestry, traced back to the heights of his towering heights.

جَبَلِ الحلْم لُجَّة العِلْم لا يُطْ

مَعُ في نسْفِهِ ولا استنفادِهْ

The mountain of wisdom, the branches of knowledge -

Its foundations cannot be shaken nor undermined.

تستفيدُ الوقارَ منه الرواسي

وتُقِرُّ البحارُ لاسْتمدادِهْ

Thrones derive from him their stability,

And oceans acknowledge that from which they extend.

أحْنَفِ الحلم قيْسه حين يهفو

كلُّ حِلم عَمْرِو الدَّهاء زِيادِهْ

The most judicious wisdom, compared to him

All kinds of wiles are lesser, however crafty.

لا رمى اللَّه ذلك الطَّوْدَ واليم

مَ بتنضيبه ولا بانهدادِهْ

God did not hurl such obduracy and resoluteness together,

Through a determination to shape and mold him.

أيُّ ضِدٍّ من أجله لم يخالل

هُ وخلٍّ من أجله لم يعادِهْ

What opponent didn't he reconcile with?

What friend didn't he make amends with?

لا ترى خائفَ المَغالة منه

لا ولا آمناً من استطرادِهْ

You don't see one fearful of exaggerating him

Nor one complacent with delimiting him.

وإذا ما اَرْتَدى صنائِعَهُ الدَّهْ

رُ ولاحَتْ حُلاه في أجيادِهْ

When the days don their crafts upon him

And the signs of his peak fitness become apparent during his glory,

ظل يختالُ بهجةً لا افتخاراً

كاختيال الربيع في أَبرادِهْ

He remains shining elegantly, not priding himself,

Like the spring priding itself during the cold months.

عَيْبُه شيمةٌ له يُعْتقُ الحر

رُ ويقفو إعتاقَه باعْتِبادِهْ

His faults are merits attributed to him - sins absolved

And freedom bestowed due to his captivity.

مُسْتَضيمٌ لَذَّاتِه لمعالِي

هِ مُذِيلٌ معاشَه لِمَعَادِهْ

One who wrongs himself for his own sake and principles

Is one appending his life to the hereafter.

فالهدى من سبيله والحُمَيْدَى

من نواه والبرُّ من أزْوَادِهْ

Easy and difficult,

As well as sufficient gentleness and commendation.

ذو انحلال وذو انعقاد إذا شئْ

تَ حَميدَ انحلاله وانعقادِهْ

He avoids shame in keeping promises,

Yet seeks to avoid betrayal in making them.

وإذا رَاصَدَ الغُيوبَ بِظَنٍّ

فكأنّ الغُيوب من أرْصادِهْ

The flavor of coy glance from him to a visitor

Is sweeter to him than slumber.

صَفَدُ المستميح ما في يديه

ويدا من بَغاه في أصفادِهْ

Preoccupied - nay, frequenting positions of ministry,

Busy - tired of the frequent comings and goings.

فيه سَهْلٌ وفيه حَزْنٌ وفيه

ما كفى من ذُعَافِهِ وشِهادِهَ

The enormity of his superb generosity to us:

That we fall short in enumerating it.

يتقي الخُلْفَ في العِداتِ ولكن

يتوخَّى الإِخْلاف في إيعادِهْ

We would not wish to be without that effort, for we

Are relieved, gentle in what he desires.

وَلَطَعْمُ اكْتِحالةٍ مِنْهُ بالزَّا

ئر أحلى في عَيْنه من رُقادِهْ

From the trusted supporters and aides of guidance,

The manifestation of proof and its strong pillars.

مُعْرقٌ بل مردَّدٌ في الوزارا

تِ مُعَنَّىً قد مَلَّ من تردادِهْ

People are tested by merits and grace -

And what test in revealing his essence and purpose?

ذنبُ إحسانه العظيم لدينا

أننا عاجزون عن تعدادِهْ

Let the praiser in him say little - for bounties from him

And ordeals are present during his most valuable days.

لا عدمنا ذاك العناء فإنَّا

مستريحون رُوَّدٌ في مَرادِهْ

The throngs of praise do not match our passion for him,

So how can they match the throngs of his praisers?

من ثِقاتِ الندى ومن ناصريه

من ظهور الحجا ومن أَعْضادِهْ

How often did we visit, and how often did he reciprocate!

Yet, our frequenting remained distant from its destination.

فُتِن الناسُ بالفضائل والفضْ

ل وما فِتْنةٌ لِكُنْهِ مُرادِهْ

Revisiting words with favors - for his giving

Is to be revisited, renewed with each bestowal.

ليقلْ فيه مادحٌ فالعطايا

والمنايا هناك في أشهادِهْ

Those who praise him fearspendimg,yetwithhim there's assurance

Of ample means before loss or diminution.

ما احتشاد المديح كُفْءُ هُوَيْنا

هُ فأنَّى يكون كُفْء احتشادِهْ

A peculiar marvel at his munificence

If it occurred without our begging and his extension.

كم أعدنا وكم أعاد وهيها

ت بعيدٌ مُعَادُنا من مُعادِهْ

He is like time whenever it passes while we pass,

Consuming lifespans through its vitality and support.

عائد القول بالخُلُوقة رهْنٌ

ويعود العطاءُ لاستجدادِهْ

To all donatees, you are the one donated to

And people are but conduits to enrich you.

ويخاف الإِنفاد ممتدحوه

ولديه الأمانُ من إنفادِهْ

If there are holidays for time, then your days

Are holidays to time and its celebrations.

وعجيبٌ تعجُّبٌ من نَداه

إن جرى لانقطاعنا وامتدادِهْ

O Abu'l Qasim! None can compare

To the flowing of his issuing or insertion.

وهو كالدهر حين يجري ونجري

فَتَقَضَّى الأعمارُ في أمدادِهْ

Fire feels safe, not mere flames, but the inferno,

Sheltered by the moistness of his rain-water collector.

كل مستبرعٍ فأنت من الأر

واح فيه والناس من أجسادِهْ

How many luminosities your hand ignited -

So step forward.

إن يكن للزمان عيدٌ فأيَّا

مك عند الزمان من أعيادِهْ

How many towering flames you overpowered in their extinguishing.

O highest of whom I've called in this assembly,

يا أبا القاسم الذي لا يجارى

عند إصداره ولا إيرادِهْ

Those known to me and those unbeknownst.

It isn't right, for one allowed to find means to aid you,

تأمن النارُ لا الحريقُ بل الأن

وارُ طرَّاً من واريات زنادِهْ

That he does not spend effortfully in your cause.

Nor for one blessed by your bliss -

كم ضياءٍ شببتَه فتعالى

وشُواظٍ بالغت في إخمادِهْ

That he does not increase in your prosperity.

Since subsidiary power has been assumed by the victorious,

يا أجلَّ الذين ناديتُ في الجم

لة منْ أمره ومَن لم أُنادِهْ

You've become second to none in his support.

He has the right for you to enrich - so enrich him,

ليس من حقِّ من أتيح لإنجا

دك أن لا تُجِدَّ في إنجادِهْ

And be keen to take initiative in his gain.

Be certain that neither wealth is donated

لا ولا حَقِّ من حَباك بإسعا

دك أن لا تزيد في إسعادِهْ

But men who sacrifice, worthily, for his worthiness.

With you is acumen, embodied,

قد تولّى الأمورَ مُعتضدٌ بال

لَه أصبحتَ ثانياً لاعتضادِهْ

Nay with you is the sword in its scabbard!

Your excellent and blessed firstborn -

وله حقُّه من الرِّفْد فارفدْ

هُ وكن من مُبادري استرفادِهْ

The best, most correct opinion, leadership and honest descent.

Don't distance him from you as vigor

وتيقَّنْ أن ليس يُرْفَدُ مالاً

بل رجالاً يُضْحون آداً لآدِهْ

Radiates from him - soundness isn't in separation.

Make him a sharp sword you've forged

ولديك الدهاءُ في محتواه

بل لديك الصَّفيحُ في أغمادِهْ

For the eminent, altruistic, and aiding.

To wear it elegantly during peace or bear it,

سِبْطُك الأكبر المبارك رأياً

ورُواءً وحَقِّ طِيب ولادِهْ

Courageously wielding it against hardened heads.

So make him your trusted supporter and adviser

لا تُباعده من أمامك ما اسطَعْ

تَ فليس الصواب في إبعادِهْ

To fulfill any hopes you've invested in his qualification.

Far more penetrating than the sword is his management -

هَبه سيْفاً أعددْتَه قَلَعِيّاً

للإمام النَّجِيد في إنجادِهْ

And highly effective at the onset and conclusion of affairs.

Highest peak at conducting

يرتديه في السِّلْم زَيْناً وطوْراً

يَنْتَضيه في الحرب عند جلادِهْ

Without pause at full throttle and acceleration.

An unprecedented aid since Lancelot's prime

فاسْتَلِلْهُ على الخطوب تُحَقِّقْ

ما أراك الرجاءُ في إعدادِهْ

Or in their era - Shaddad or their equals;

Surpassing Kulayb, Jassas and Harith altogether

وَلَتَدْبِيرُه أحَدُّ من السَّيْ

فِ وأمضى في بدئه وَعِوَادِهْ

And the zeal of Muhalhil's partisans.

Towered over Muhalhil's place during expedition

سَوْرة الصِّلِّ في تعاطيه لا بل

ثورةُ لليث في حَشا أَلْبادِهْ

And over his partisans and addition.

If you carry the strenuous burden of great weight,

نجدةٌ لم تكن لَعْنترةَ العب

سِيِّ في عصره ولا شَدَّادِهْ

Place its heaviness on his shoulder blades.

He bears its extreme weight, as well as Ash-Sharwara's,

وأبَّرتْ على كُلْيب وجسَّا

سٍ جميعاً وحارثٍ وعُبادِهْ

And the heavy burdens of Dhubyan, Yadhbul, and their ilk,

Vanquisher of rivals, apparent is his argument

وتعالتْ عن المهلَّبِ قِدْماً

في أَيازيده وعن أزيادِهْ

Against questioners of his capabilities.

May one who disputes what matches him be damned -

وإذا ما بَعِلْتَ بالعبء ذي الثِّق

ل فضعْ ثقلَهَ على أكتادِهْ

The trade in truth and Lord of reciprocity lies in ambush for him.

So be mindful of God and consequences and precipitancies

يَحتملْ أوْقَهُ وينهضْ بِرضْوى

وشَرَوْرَى ويَذْبُلٍ ونَضادِهْ

And consolidate his authority through his governorship.

Your hands have rectified for him the kingship -

فائزاً قِدْحُه على حاسديه

ظاهراً حقُّه على جُحَّادِهْ

Do not ruin it through corruption!

Lest critics say one who depended on you

عَقَّ من عقَّ مثلَه اللَّهُ والحق

قُ وربُّ الجزاء في مرصادِهْ

Betrayed you when confidence in him had peaked.

An advisor's concealment of advice deliberately

فاتق اللَّه والعواقب والسُّل

واشدُدْ سلطانه بوِكادِهْ

From an imam who greatly relies on him is betrayal.

Not by drawing nearer to his brother is oppression increased upon him,

طالما استَصْلَحَتْ يداك له المُلْ

ك فلا تُقْرفَنَّ باستفسادِهْ

Rather, it adds to his strength and relation.

Grant Qasim's peerless brother a sibling -

لا يقولنَّ حاسدٌ خان من كا

تَم سلطَانَه أعَدَّ عَتادِهْ

Protection of a brother is a brother's sheltering.

The counsel of Abu Al Hussein Al Kawaf is enough -

غَشَّ من أخَّرَ النصيحة عمْداً

عن إمام عليه جُلُّ اعتمادِهْ

As he is sufficient from his cynosure and guidance.

A reserve of sincerity, stronger in cohesion,

ليس يُوْهي أخاهُ شدُّكَ إيَّا

هُ به بل يزيدُه في اشتدادِهْ

Not a flimsy one invited to dependence.

The utmost precision is an increase of merit

أهْدِ للقاسم الوحيد أخاه

إنَّ إيحاشَه أخو إيحادِهْ

For pillars of a building or its pegs.

You see goodness in it, not deficient,

ومعاني أبي الحسين كَوافٍ

وهو واف من ثغره بِسَدادِهْ

Except that contentment with increase is unattainable.

You have ruled sufficiently for the imam -

رُكْنُ صدقٍ تُدعَى إلى الشَّد منه

لا ضعيف تُدْعى إلى إسنادِهْ

The protector in hardship, his rescuer from strangleholders;

As upright as a sword's straight blade,

وكمالُ الإِتقان فضلُ مَزيد

في عماد البناء أو أوتادِهْ

The briskness of its sharpness and fluidity of acceleration.

Why not as a stalwart supporter, pride thereby

وترى الخيْرَ لا نقيصَةَ فيه

غير أن لا مَلال من مُسْتزادِهْ

What is ideal aid and habit?

To fully aid the imam, support in its entirety,

وَلقد جُدْتَ للإمام بكافٍ

أصْمعِ القلب شَهْمِهِ وَقَّادِهْ

A liberator, his plot against plotters.

No flaws can be imputed to you for acts,

قُدَّ كالسيف قَدّه وغِرارَيْ

هِ ورقْراقِ مائه واطِّرادِهْ

But neglect in itself is a flaw unprevented.

Blame lies not in relinquishing your son, but rather

أفلا جُدْتَ بالظَّهير فَتُلفَى

مُعْتِداً ما الكمالُ في إعتادِهْ

Recognition of the side of his brother and his cradle.

Rather, his judgement is warranted by justice -

لِتُعِين الإِمامَ عوناً تماماً

مُنْجِداً كيدهَ على كُيَّادِهْ

So prepare ease for his brother and increase beyond the cushion.

The critics denied the exclusivity of your twin stars,

ليس في الفعل عائب لك لكن

لك في التَّرك عائبٌ لم تُصادِهْ

Yet a decided resolution lies in such exclusion.

O people! Inform us, fulfill the right

والمُعاب اطِّراحُك ابنك لا مَنْ

حُكَ جَنْبَيْ أخيه لِينَ مِهادِهْ

Of a martyr giving testimony to his witnesses:

Did an eminent, judicious leader proceed from you,

بل محقَّاً بعدل حكمك فامهد

لأخيه وزده فوق وسادِهْ

Matching the judicious, eminent one from his sons?

Passion plays no part in their presence, wavering

أنكر المنكرون إفرادَ نجْمَيْ

ك وحزمٌ أصبحتَ من أفرادِهْ

To an abundance of reason in its elevation.

So follow reason - it is the arbiter of God,

ما رأى العالِمون بالحظِّ حظاً

لكلا الفرقدين في إفرادِهْ

Walk not the path of its opposition!

Consider - does passion challenge a horn

أيها الناسُ خَبِّرونا وأدُّوا

حقَّ مُستشهدٍ لدى شُهَّادِهْ

To the steed of reason amid its soldiers?

How, when deceit lurks among its squadrons

هل نبا مِنْكُمُ كبيرٌ سديدٌ

بالكبير السَّديد من أولادِهْ

And opinion, his brother, and victory, among its support?

Do not expose the propriety of your viewpoint

ما الهوى في حُدورِهِ يتهاوى

بِكَفِيٍّ للعقل في إصعادِهْ

To rebuke from one deficient in propriety.

Plaudit may revert unplausibly

فاتْبَعِ العقلَ إنه حاكم الل

هِ ولا تمشِ في طريق عنادِهْ

If you divert minds from applauding.

By iron is success attained ironclad -

ما الهوى في لفيفِهِ إن تأمَّلْ

ت بِقرْنٍ للعقل في أجنادِهْ

So cast at it the iron in its blacksmith.

I have presented it undiluted by aversion's drunkenness

كيف والمكْرُ من سراياه والرَّأ

يُ أخوه والنصرُ من أمدادِهْ

To be summoned by the divine to reclaim its own.

It is a disavowal - not of the accurst among them -

لا تُعَرِّض سدادَ رأيك للطَّع

ن عليه من ناقِصٍ في سدادِهْ

But the select, from the items of his select.

It appeals to people directly while draped

قد يعودُ الحميدُ غير حميدٍ

إن عَكَسْتَ العقول عن إحمادِهْ

In silk, like melody from its lone innovator.

Did an outstanding composer gift it thus,

بالحديد الحدِيدُ يُفلَحُ قِدْماً

فالْقها من حديده بحدادِهْ

Or was it woven from prose by a weaver on his loom?

May God disfigure every sayer of a verse

هاكها لا يضيرها أنَّ جلفاً

لم يقلها مزمَّلاً في بجادِهْ

Whose verse is unseemly despite his versifying.

Hearts spew their water when recited -

مِنْ مُعادي القريض يُدْعَى عليها

بقتال الإله من مستعادِهْ

Before the air runs dry of ink moisture.

Each verse provokes delight

منْ مُفَدَّاه لا الملعَّنِ منه

بل من المسْتجاد من مُستَجادِهْ

If it doesn't stir inert natures out of stillness.

Each is genuflection, even if the ignorant

تُنْشِدُ الناسَ نفسَها وهي في المهْ

رَقِ مثلَ الغِناء من أوحادِهْ

Rejected courtesy, falling short of kneeling.

It was long-winded, harmonious, eloquent and talented

لم يَكِلها إلى النشيد مُجِيدٌ

صاغها من رقاده بل سُهادِهْ

In bestowal upon one meriting bestowal.

Except that I matched it with one loftier -

قَبَّح اللَّهُ كلَّ قائلِ شعرٍ

شعرُهُ عيِّلٌ على إنشادِهْ

Those who speak at length fall short before its breadth.

يُنْشفُ القلبُ ماءه حين تُمْلَى

قبل نشْفِ الهواء ماءَ مدادِهْ

كلُّهَا مُطْرِبٌ وإن لم تحرك

طربَ الميِّتِ الطباع الجمادِهْ

كلها سجدة وإن كفر الجهْ

ل فجلَّ الإحسانُ عن إسجادِهْ

أطنبتْ أطربتْ أفادتْ أجادتْ

في مُجادٍ مستاهِل لمُجَادِهْ

غير أني قرنتها بعلاء

تَنفُد المطنِباتُ قبل نفادِهْ