يَموتُ في الغابِ أَو في غَيرِهِ الأَسَدُ
كُلُّ البِلادِ وِسادٌ حينَ تُتَّسَدُ
The lion dies in the forest or elsewhere
When blocked, all the countries become pillows
قَد غَيَّبَ الغَربُ شَمساً لا سَقامَ بِها
كانَت عَلى جَنَباتِ الشَرقِ تَتَّقِدُ
The West has hidden a sun without disease
It was blazing on the sides of the East
حَدا بِها الأَجَلُ المَحتومُ فَاِغتَرَبَت
إِنَّ النُفوسَ إِلى آجالِها تَفِدُ
The predetermined fate limited it, so it became an émigré
Indeed, souls go to their predetermined lifespans
كُلُّ اِغتِرابٍ مَتاعٌ في الحَياةِ سِوى
يَومٍ يُفارِقُ فيهِ المُهجَةَ الجَسَدُ
Every emigration is transient in life except for
The day when the soul separates from the body
نَعى الغَمامَ إِلى الوادي وَساكِنِهِ
بَرقٌ تَمايَلَ مِنهُ السَهلُ وَالجَلَدُ
The lightening lamented to the valley and its inhabitants
When its rebel rose, swaying the plains and mountains
بَرقُ الفَجيعَةِ لَمّا ثارَ ثائِرُهُ
كادَت كَأَمسٍ لَهُ الأَحزابُ تَتَّحِدُ
The lightening of bereavement, when it ignited
Its factions were almost united like yesterday
قامَ الرِجالُ حَيارى مُنصِتينَ لَهُ
حَتّى إِذا هَدَّ مِن آمالِهِم قَعَدوا
The men stood confused, listening to it
Until when its hopes diminished, they sat down
عَلا الصَعيدَ نهارٌ كُلُّهُ شَجَنٌ
وَجَلَّلَ الريفَ لَيلٌ كُلُّهُ سُهُدُ
The day spread over the plain, all of it grief
And the night covered the countryside, all of it darkness
لَم يُبقِ لِلضاحِكينَ المَوتُ ما وَجَدوا
وَلَم يَرُدَّ عَلى الباكينَ ما فَقَدوا
Death did not leave for the laugher what they found
Nor did it return to the criers what they lost
وَراءَ رَيبِ اللَيالي أَو فُجاءَتِها
دَمعٌ لِكُلِّ شِماتٍ ضاحِكٍ رَصَدُ
Beyond the doubts of nights or their suddenness
For every gloating mocker, a tear lies in wait
باتَت عَلى الفُلكِ في التابوتِ جَوهَرَةٌ
تَكادُ بِاللَيلِ في ظِلِّ البِلى تَقِدُ
A jewel lay in the coffin on the ship
At night, in the shadow of decay, it almost burns
يُفاخِرُ النيلُ أَصدافَ الخَليجِ بِها
وَما يَدُبُّ إِلى البَحرَينِ أَو يَرِدُ
The Nile boasts to the seashells of the gulf about it
And whatever creeps or comes to the two seas
إِنَّ الجَواهِرَ أَسناها وَأَكرَمُها
ما يَقذِفُ المَهدُ لا ما يَقذِفُ الزَبَدُ
Indeed, the most splendid and honorable jewels
Are those born in the cradle, not those cast by the foam
حَتّى إِذا بَلَغَ الفَلَكُ المَدى اِنحَدَرَت
كَأَنَّها في الأَكُفِّ الصارِمُ الفَرِدُ
Until when the ship reached the destination, it descended
As if it, in the firm grip, is the only one
تِلكَ البَقِيَّةُ مِن سَيفِ الحِمى كِسَرٌ
عَلى السَريرِ وَمِن رُمحِ الحِمى قَصِدُ
That remnant from the sword of zeal is a broken one
On the deathbed, and from the spear of zeal, a thrust
قَد ضَمَّها فَزَكا نَعشٌ يُطافُ بِهِ
مُقَدَّمٌ كَلِواءِ الحَقِّ مُنفَرِدُ
It was carried by a coffin, circled around
Brought forward like the banner of truth, solitary
مَشَت عَلى جانِبَيهِ مِصرُ تَنشُدُهُ
كَما تَدَلَّهَتِ الثَكلى وَتَفتَقِدُ
Egypt walked beside it, chanting for it
Like a bereaved woman, searching and longing
وَقَد يَموتُ كَثيرٌ لا تُحِسُّهُمُ
كَأَنَّهُم مِن هَوانِ الخَطبِ ما وُجِدوا
And many may die, unnoticed
As if, from the insignificance of events, they did not exist
ثُكلُ البِلادِ لَهُ عَقلٌ وَنَكبَتُها
هِيَ النَجابَةُ في الأَولادِ لا العَدَدُ
The land's bereavement has a mind and its setback
Is excellence in children, not multitude
مُكَلَّلُ الهامِ بِالتَصريحِ لَيسَ لَهُ
عودٌ مِنَ الهامِ يَحويهِ وَلا نَضَدُ
The one crowned with frankness has no
Pillar of glory to contain it, or pillar to support it
وَصاحِبُ الفَضلِ في الأَعناقِ لَيسَ لَهُ
مِنَ الصَنائِعِ أَو أَعناقِهِم سَنَدُ
And the one with virtue upon necks has no
Arts or their necks to lean on
خَلا مِنَ المِدفَعِ الجَبّارِ مَركَبُهُ
وَحَلَّ فيهِ الهُدى وَالرِفقُ وَالرَشَدُ
His ship devoid of the mighty cannon
In it, guidance, kindness, and wisdom lodged
إِنَّ المَدافِعَ لَم يُخلَق لِصُحبَتِها
جُندُ السَلامِ وَلا قُوّادُهُ المُجُدُ
Indeed, cannons were not created for their company
The army of peace and its leaders are glory
يا بانِيَ الصَرحَ لَم يَشغَلهُ مُمتَدِحٌ
عَنِ البِناءِ وَلَم يَصرِفهُ مُنتَقِدُ
Oh builder of the edifice, no praiser
Distracted him from building, or critic turned him
أَصَمَّ عَن غَضَبٍ مِن حَولِهِ وَرِضىً
في ثَورَةٍ تَلِدُ الأَبطالَ أَو تَئِدُ
Deaf to anger around him and pleased
In an awakening that creates heroes or suppresses them
تَصريحُكَ الخُطوَةُ الكُبرى وَمَرحَلَةٌ
يَدنو عَلى مِثلِها أَو يَبعُدُ الأَمَدُ
Your declaration is the great step and an era
Upon its like, epochs approach or distance
الحَقُّ وَالقُوَّةُ اِرتَدّا إِلى حَكَمٍ
مِنَ الفَياصِلِ ما في دينِهِ أَوَدُ
Right and might have retreated to a rule
Among doctrines, whether in its religion or principles
لَولا سِفارَتُكَ المَهدِيَّةُ اِختَصَما
وَمَلَّ طولَ النِضالِ الذِئبُ وَالنَقَدُ
If not for your enlightened diplomacy, they would have disputed
And the length of the struggle tired the wolf and the fawn
ما زِلتَ تَطرُقُ بابَ الصُلحِ بَينَهُما
حَتّى تَفَتَّحَتِ الأَبوابُ وَالسُدَدُ
You kept knocking on the door of peace between them
Until the doors and blockades opened
وَجَدتَها فُرصَةً تُلقى الحِبالُ لَها
إِنَّ السِياسَةَ فيها الصَيدُ وَالطَرَدُ
You found it an opportunity to cast the ropes for it
Indeed, politics in it has the hunt and expulsion
طَلَبتَها عِندَ هوجِ الحادِثاتِ كَما
يَمشي إِلى الصَيدِ تَحتَ العاصِفِ الأَسَدُ
You sought it at the pinnacle of events, as
The lion walks to the hunt under the storm
لَمّا وَجَدتَ مُعِدّاتِ البِناءِ بَنَت
يَداكَ لِلقَومِ ما ذَمّوا وَما حَمَدوا
When you found the building equipment, your hands built
For the people what they blamed and what they praised
بَنَيتَ صَرحَكَ مِن جُهدِ البِلادِ كَما
تُبنى مِنَ الصَخرِ الآساسُ وَالعُمُدُ
You built your edifice from the country's effort
As the foundation and pillars are built from stone
فيهِ ضَحايا مِنَ الأَبناءِ قَيِّمَةٌ
وَفيهِ سَعيٌ مِنَ الآباءِ مُطَّرِدُ
In it, precious sacrifices from the youth
And continuous efforts from the elders
وَفي أَواسيهِ أَقلامٌ مُجاهِدَةٌ
عَلى أَسِنَّتِها الإِحسانُ وَالسَدَدُ
And in its halls, struggling pens
Upon their tongues, benevolence and integrity
وَفيهِ أَلوِيَةٌ عَزَّ الجِهادُ بِهِم
لَولا المَنِيَّةِ ما مالوا وَلا رَقَدوا
And in it, flags honor prided over them
If not for death, they would not have faltered or slept
رَمَيتَ في وَتَدِ الذُلِّ القَديمِ بِهِ
حَتّى تَزعزَعَ مِن أَسبابِهِ الوَتَدُ
You threw in the peg of old humiliation with it
Until its causes shook and the pegs fell out
طَوى حِمايَتَهُ المُحتَلُّ وَاِنبَسَطَت
حِمايَةُ اللَهِ فَاِستَذرى بِها البَلَدُ
The occupier folded his protection and
God's protection expanded, so the country felt safe
نَم غَيرَ باكٍ عَلى ماشِدتَ مِن كَرَمٍ
ما شيدَ لِلحَقِّ فَهوَ السَرمَدُ الأَبَدُ
Whoever falls asleep grieving your generosity
What is built for truth remains forever
يا ثَروَةَ الوَطَنِ الغالي كَفى عِظَةً
لِلناسِ أَنَّكَ كَنزٌ في الثَرى بَدَدُ
Oh treasure of the precious homeland, enough lesson
For people that you are a treasure in the buried soil
لَم يُطغِكَ الحُكمُ في شَتّى مَظاهِرِهِ
وَلا اِستَخَفَّكَ لينُ العَيشِ وَالرَغَدُ
Rule did not make you arrogant in all its aspects
Nor did the softness of living and prosperity slight you
تَغدو عَلى اللَهِ وَالتاريخِ في ثِقَةٍ
تَرجو فَتُقدِمُ أَو تَخشى فَتَتَّئِدُ
You rise for God and history confidently
Seeking, so you advance, or fearing, so you hold back
نَشَأتَ في جَبهَةِ الدُنيا وَفي فَمِها
يَدورُ حَيثُ تَدورُ المَجدُ وَالحَسَدُ
You were raised at the world's forefront and in its mouth
Where glory and envy revolve
لِكُلِّ يَومٍ غَدٌ يَمضي بِرَوعَتِهِ
وَما لِيَومِكَ يا خَيرَ اللِداتِ غَدُ
For each day there is a passing tomorrow in its splendor
And for your day, O best of babies, there is no tomorrow
رَمَتكَ في قَنَواتِ القَلبِ فَاِنصَدَعَت
مَنِيَّةٌ ما لَها قَلبٌ وَلا كَبِدُ
Death has cast you into the channels of the heart, so it cracked
A death that has no heart or liver
لَمّا أَناخَت عَلى تامورِكَ اِنفَجَرَت
أَزكى مِنَ الوَردِ أَو مِن مائِهِ الوُرُدُ
When it moored at your coffin, the most fragrant
Of roses or their water burst forth
ما كُلُّ قَلبٍ غَدا أَو راحَ في دَمِهِ
فيهِ الصَديقُ وَفيهِ الأَهلُ وَالوَلَدُ
Not every heart that came or went, in its blood
Is the friend, family, and children
وَلَم تُطاوِلكَ خَوفاً أَن يُناضِلَها
مِنكَ الدَهاءُ وَرَأيٌ مُنقِذٌ نَجِدُ
Nor did cowardice make you hesitate that
Wisdom and sound opinion would rescue you from it
فَهَل رَثى المَوتُ لِلبِرِّ الذَبيحِ وَهَل
شَجاهُ ذاكَ الحَنانُ الساكِنُ الهَمِدُ
Did death eulogize the slaughtered righteous, and did
That residing tenderness, still and zealous, lament it?
هَيهاتَ لَو وُجِدَت لِلمَوتِ عاطِفَةُ
لَم يَبكِ مِن آدَمٍ أَحبابَهُ أَحَدُ
Never! If death had sentiment
No loved one would cry over their loved ones
مَشَت تَذودُ المَنايا عَن وَديعَتِها
مَدينَةُ النورِ فَاِرتَدَّت بِها رَمَدُ
The cities of light marched guarding its trust
Then turned back, blinded in both eyes
لَو يُدفَعُ المَوتُ رَدَّت عَنكَ عادِيَهُ
لِلعِلمِ حَولَكَ عَينٌ لَم تَنَم وَيَدُ
If death could be resisted, its transgression against you
For knowledge around you, an eye that did not sleep and a hand
أَبا عَزيزٍ سَلامُ اللَهِ لا رُسُلٌ
إِلَيكَ تَحمِلُ تَسليمي وَلا بُرَدُ
Abu Aziz, may God's peace, no messengers
Carry my greetings and messages to you
وَنَفحَةٌ مِن قَوافي الشِعرِ كُنتَ لَها
في مَجلِسِ الراحِ وَالرَيحانِ تَحتَشِدُ
And a breeze of poetry's rhymes, you were
Gathering for it in the garden of comfort and basil
أَرسَلتُها وَبَعَثتُ الدَمعَ يَكنُفُها
كَما تَحَدَّرَ حَولَ السَوسَنِ البَرَدُ
I sent it and I sent tears surrounding it
As drops streamed around the lilies
عَطَفتُ فيكَ إِلى الماضي وَراجَعَني
وُدٌّ مِنَ الصِغَرِ المَعسولِ مُنعَقِدُ
I leaned towards the past in you and
Affection from the sweet childhood returned to me
صافٍ عَلى الدَهرِ لَم تُقفِر خَلِيَّتُهُ
وَلا تَغَيَّرَ في أَبياتِها الشُهُدُ
Pure over time, its cell did not become desolate
And the honey in its verses did not change
حَتّى لَمَحتُكَ مَرموقَ الهِلالِ عَلى
حَداثَةٍ تَعِدُ الأَوطانَ ما تَعِدُ
Until I saw you towering like the crescent
On a novelty that promises countries what it promises
وَالشِعرُ دَمعٌ وَوِجدانٌ وَعاطِفَةٌ
يا لَيتَ شِعرِيَ هَل قُلتُ الَّذي أَجِدُ
Poetry is tears, passion, and sentiment
Oh how I wish my poetry conveyed what I feel!
