مَماتٌ في المَواكِبِ أَم حَياةُ

وَنَعشٌ في المَناكِبِ أَم عِظاتُ

Death in processions or life And a bier in litters or preachings?

And is your day in the wilderness or resurrection?

وَيَومُكَ في البَرِيَّةِ أَم قِيامٌ

وَمَوكِبُكَ الأَدِلَّةُ وَالشِياتُ

And is your procession the guides and the paths?

And your sermons, oh orchards of valleys With their kinds and revelations

وَخَطبُكَ يا رِياضُ أَمِ الدَواهي

عَلى أَنواعِها وَالنازِلاتُ

Sermons are revered for a revered man

And amplify in the great substitute

يُجِلُّ الخَطبُ في رَجُلٍ جَليلٍ

وَتَكبُرُ في الكَبيرِ النائِباتُ

And the dead is not mourned by homelands

Like one mourned by the wailing women

وَلَيسَ المَيتُ تَبكيهِ بِلادٌ

كَمَن تَبكي عَلَيهِ النائِحاتُ

Can glories meet their demise

So they collapse then the wilderness revives them?

وَهَل تَلقى مَناياها الرَواسي

فَتَهوي ثُمَّ تُضمِرُها فَلاةُ

And the high places break into positions

And get buried in fertile soil

وَتُكسَرُ في مَراكِزِها العَوالي

وَتُدفَنُ في التُرابِ المُرهَفاتُ

And the lion gets covered in the forest

And pebbles would not settle with it

وَيُغشى اللَيثُ في الغاباتِ ظُهراً

وَكانَت لا تَقَرُّ بِها الحَصاةُ

And time throws the caller of the eye of the sun

And no shooters would protect their banner

وَيَرمي الدَهرُ نادِيَ عَينِ شَمسٍ

وَلا يَحمي لِوائَهُمُ الرُماةُ

Yes, glories were carried on the bier

And the honored were shrouded by soil

أَجَل حُمِلَت عَلى النَعشِ المَعالي

وَوسِّدَتِ التُرابَ المَكرُماتُ

And cannons, pillar of peace, were carried

Escorted by horsemen and infantry

وَحُمِّلَتِ المَدافِعُ رُكنَ سِلمٍ

يُشَيِّعُهُ الفَوارِسُ والمُشاةُ

And glory settled in its grave and spent the night

Roamed by the wailing and the crying

وَحَلَّ المَجدُ حُفرَتَهُ وَأَمسى

يُطيفُ بِهِ النَوائِحُ وَالبُكاةُ

Riadh fell from the peak of his loftiness

And empty generations succeeded him

هَوى عَن أَوجِ رِفعَتِهِ رِياضٌ

وَحازَتهُ القُرونُ الخالِياتُ

As if he did not fill the world with deeds

And orators did not chant of his state

كَأَن لَم يَملَإِ الدُنيا فِعالاً

وَلا هَتَفَت بِدَولَتِهِ الرُواةُ

Lightening eulogized him, perturbed, so stars

Flew in the sky, hovering

نَعاهُ البَرقُ مُضطَرِباً فَماجَت

نُجومٌ في السَماءِ مُحَلِّقاتُ

As if the sun was eulogized at night

To it so it is sadly eclipsed

كَأَنَّ الشَمسَ قَد نُعِيَت عِشاءً

إِلَيها فَهيَ حَسرى كاسِفاتُ

A gloomy page has been folded and turned

Over the traces of those who tread and passed

صَحيفَةُ غابِرٍ طُوِيَت وَوَلَّت

عَلى آثارِ مَن دَرَجوا وَفاتوا

The others say when reciting it

Thus mothers should give birth

يَقولُ الآخَرونَ إِذا تَلَوها

كَذَلِكَ فَليَلِدنَ الأُمَّهاتُ

May Allah reward Riadh’s content parents

They planted and the plants are for the nation

جَزى اللَهُ الرِضا أَبَوَي رِياضٍ

هُما غَرَسا وَلِلوَطَنِ النَباتُ

The people of life are on a barren journey

And the journeys of geniuses have purpose

بَنو الدُنيا عَلى سَفَرٍ عَقيمٍ

وَأَسفارُ النَوابِغِ مُرجَعاتُ

I see the dead united by resurrection

And how many geniuses were revived when they died

أَرى الأَمواتَ يَجمَعُهُم نُشورٌ

وَكَم بُعِثَ النَوابِغُ يَومَ ماتوا

Righteousness of earth, dead and alive

And its beauty and guiding stars

صَلاحُ الأَرضِ أَحياءٌ وَمَوتى

وَزينَتُها وَأَنجُمُها الهُداةُ

Their conscience and hands are upon it

Guidance, ease, and improvements

قَرائِحُهُم وَأَيدِيَهِم عَلَيها

هُدىً وَيَسارَةٌ وَمُحَسَّناتُ

If a blood money was asked for them, earth would say

We are its reparations

فَلَو طُلِبَت لَهُم دِيَةٌ لَقالَت

كُنوزُ الأَرضِ نَحنُ هِيَ الدِياتُ

Oh father of the fierce nation, Egypt cried for you

As daughters cried for the caring father

أَبا الوَطَنِ الأَسيفِ بَكَتكَ مِصرُ

كَما بَكَتِ الأَبَ الكَهفَ البَناتُ

You did its rights as a young man and elder

And the day the Nile bent as it aged

قَضَيتَ لَها الحُقوقَ فَتىً وَكَهلاً

وَيَومَ كَبُرتَ وَاِنحَنَتِ القَناةُ

And the day of prohibition for its princes

And the day its rebels were the commanders

وَيَومَ النَهيُ لِلأُمَراءِ فيها

وَيَومَ الآمِرونَ بِها العُصاةُ

So you were for its government a lantern

When its major predicaments spread darkness

فَكُنتَ عَلى حُكومَتِها سِراجاً

إِذا بَسَطَت دُجاها المُشكِلاتُ

Gray hair adds to your soul from life

When life decreases with gray hair

يَزيدُ الشَيبُ نَفسَكَ مِن حَياةٍ

إِذا نَقَصَت مَعَ الشَيبِ الحَياةُ

And years fill you with power and determination

When it is said years discourage

وَتَملَأُكَ السُنونَ قِوىً وَعَزماً

إِذا قيلَ السِنونُ مُثَبِّطاتُ

Like an Indian sword, more effective when it chips

And its plates and snakes peel

كَسَيفِ الهِندِ أَبلى حينَ فُلَّت

وَرَقَّت صَفحَتاهُ وَالظُباتُ

Of high status in nations like a star viewed by astronomers

As if you are in heaven alive, oh Yahya

رَفيعُ القَدرِ بِالأَمصارِ يُرني

كَما نَظَرَت إِلى النَجمِ السُراةُ

And your family among the bright stars

You command the matter, no commanders nor prohibitors

كَأَنَّكَ في سَماءِ المُلكِ يَحيى

وَآلُكَ في السَماءِ النَيِّراتِ

Have power over you

If ministers do not lead, you discard them

تَسوسُ الأَمرَ لا يُعطي نَفاذاً

عَلَيكَ الآمِرونَ وَلا النُهاةُ

As if they are nuclei

Crooked staffs, arrogant and pretending

إِذا الوُزَراءُ لَم يُعطوا قِياداً

نَبَذتُهُمُ كَأَنَّهُمُ النَواةُ

Thus grew your lush plants

Characteristics carried you to the horizons of glories

زَماعٌ في اِنقِباضٍ في اِختِيالٍ

كَذَلِكَ كانَ بِسمَركُ النُباتُ

Thus traits raise a man

You found glory in life a banner

صِفاتٌ بَلَّغَتكَ ذُرى المعالي

كَذَلِكَ تَرفَعُ الرَجُلَ الصِفاتُ

Received by the eminent, determined

And people remain as long as they are subjects

وَجَدتَ المَجدَ في الدُنيا لِواءً

تَلَقّاهُ المَقاديمُ الأُباةُ

And the leaders remain the shepherds

Oh Riadh, you spanned an era not spanned

وَيَبقى الناسُ ما داموا رَعايا

وَيَبقى المُقدِمونَ هُمُ الرُعاةُ

With Al-Ma’mun, Tigris and Euphrates

An era during which glories dressed up

رِياضُ طَوَيتَ قَرناً ما طَوَتهُ

مَعَ المَأمونِ دِجلَةُ وَالفُراتُ

Wished by magnificent states

And the two Caesars loved that Rome

تَمَنَّت مِنهُ أَيّاماً تَحَلّى

بِها الدُوَلُ الخَوالي الباذِخاتُ

Had of his civilization symbols

God granted you two lifetimes

وَوَدَّ القَيصَرانِ لَوَ أَنَّ روما

عَلَيها مِن حَضارَتِهِ سِماتُ

And lifetimes of benefactors are blessed

So you stood over it experienced and knowledgeable

حَباكَ اللَهُ حاشِيَتيهِ عُمراً

وَأَعمارُ الكِرامِ مُبارَكاتُ

And the school of men are experiences

Industries of its people pass by you like verses seen

فَقُمتَ عَلَيهِ تَجرِبَةً وَخُبراً

وَمَدرَسَةُ الرِجالِ التَجرِباتُ

Inventions and novelties

You caught up with Al-Bukhari when he was a child

تَمُرُّ عَلَيكَ كَالآياتِ تَترى

صَنائِعُ أَهلِهِ وَالمُحدَثاتُ

So he grew up and pens pledged allegiance to him

Carriages move on its wings

فَأَدرَكتَ البُخارَ وَكانَ طِفلاً

فَشَبَّ فَبايَعَتهُ الصافِناتُ

And factories control created winds

And it ascends into the sky on towers

تُجابُ عَلى جَناحَيهِ الفَيافي

وَتَحكِمُ في الرِياحِ المُنشَآتُ

Tomorrow they are lightning bolts in the world

And while electricity was seen as a breach

وَيُصعِدُ في السَماءِ عَلى بُروجٍ

غَداً هِيَ في العالَمِ بارِجاتُ

It becomes with each day, breaching

And the sea bowed until the depths humbled

وَبَينا الكَهرُباءُ تُعَدُّ خَرقاً

إِذا هِيَ كُلَّ يَومٍ خارِقاتُ

And ships were tied with reins

And messages were delivered without wings

وَدانَ البَحرُ حَتّى خيضَ عُمقاً

وَقيدَت بِالعِنانِ السافِياتِ

Crossing seas nor a tool

As if countries answer each other intimately

وَبُلِّغَتِ الرَسائِلُ لا جَناحٌ

يَجوبُ بِها البِحارَ وَلا أَداةُ

When a rain drop answers another

The paved road talked to me listfully

كَأَنَّ القُطرَ حينَ يُجيبُ قُطراً

ضَمائِرُ بَينَها مُتَناجِياتُ

The talk of death shows me sermons

It is the definite news, and anything else

رَهينَ الرَمسِ حَدَّثَني مَلِيّاً

حَديثَ المَوتِ تَبدُ لِيَ العِظاتُ

Are talks of fortunes and nonsense

I asked you what death is, which cup

هُوَ الخَبَرُ اليَقينُ وَما سِواهُ

أَحاديثُ المُنى وَالتُرَّهاتُ

And what is its taste and who are its servers?

And what does man dread of it

سَأَلتُكَ ما المَنِيَّةُ أَيُّ كَأسٍ

وَكَيفَ مَذاقُها وَمَنِ السُقاةُ

When throats are squeezed by its fists?

And which death of two is most bitter

وَماذا يوجِسُ الإِنسانُ مِنها

إِذا غَصَّت بِعَلقَمِها اللَهاةُ

For science or missed death?

Do souls fall safely

وَأَيُّ المَصرَعَينِ أَشَدُّ مَوتٌ

عَلى عِلمٍ أَمِ المَوتُ الفَواتُ

Like hearts fell for the preserved land?

Do they eternally live or as the claim, perish

وَهَل تَقَعُ النُفوسُ عَلى أَمانٍ

كَما وَقَعَت عَلى الحَرَمِ القَطاةُ

Like bones or remnants perish?

Exalted is God who takes them to Him

وَتَخلُدُ أَم كَزَعمِ القَولِ تَبلى

كَما تَبلى العِظامُ أَوِ الرُفاتُ

And revives them as plants thrived

And rewards them with safe bounty

تَعالى اللَهُ قابِضُها إِلَيهِ

وَناعِشُها كَما اِنتَعَشَ النَباتُ

And a living without harm

Is one like you strained for truth?

وَجازيها النَعيمَ حِمىً أَميناً

وَعَيشاً لا تُكَدِّرُهُ أَذاةُ

And in your land it had guards

Isn’t it true that life fades

أَمِثلُكَ ضائِقٌ بِالحَقِّ ذَرعاً

وَفي بُردَيكَ كانَ لَهُ حُماةُ

And the alive, its end is death?

So sleep as long as you wish, let not life sadden you

أَلَيسَ الحَقُّ أَنَّ العَيشَ فانٍ

وَأَنَّ الحَيَّ غايَتُهُ المَماتُ

Nor regret of a life missed

Youth grew old and nights

فَنَم ما شِئتَ لا توحِشكَ دُنيا

وَلا يَحزُنكَ مِن عَيشٍ فَواتُ

And family went away and kittens were needed

A fort I built, now without its people

تَصَرَّمَتِ الشَبيبَةُ وَاللَيالي

وَغابَ الأَهلُ وَاِحتَجَّتِ اللِدّاتُ

So what of a house around you and the daughters?

In it any food for a day?

خَلَت حِلمِيَّةٌ مِمَّن بَناها

فَكَيفَ البَيتُ حَولَكَ وَالبَناتُ

And any blessings filling valleys with sheep?

And any of their silk for you a pillow

أَفيهِ مِنَ المَحَلَّةِ قوتُ يَومٍ

وَمِن نِعَمٍ مَلَأنَ الطَودَ شاةُ

When your side was roughened

All turned away, none benefited you

وَهَل لَكَ مِن حَريرَهُما وِسادٌ

إِذا خَشُنَت لِجَنبَيكَ الصَفاةُ

Except what dervishes scavenged

God’s servants, most honored to Him

تَوَلّى الكُلُّ لَم يَنفَعكَ مِنهُ

سِوى ما كانَ يَلتَقِطُ العُفاةُ

Are benefactors consoling society

Like the Messiah’s feast, poverty stands

عِبادُ اللَهِ أَكرَمُهُم عَلَيهِ

كِرامٌ في بَرِيَّتِهِ أُساةُ

Around it and miserable women sit

I took you in life lightly

كَمائِدَةِ المَسيحِ يَقومُ بُؤسٌ

حَوالَيها وَتَقعُدُ بائِساتُ

And which people have no carelessness?

So long in soil when we meet

أَخَذتُكَ في الحَياةِ عَلى هَناتٍ

وَأَيُّ الناسِ لَيسَ لَهُ هَناتُ

Even if enmities and revenge stirred up

I was created as if an illegal Jesus

فَصَفحاً في التُرابِ إِذا اِلتَقَينا

وَلو شِيَتِ العَداوَةُ وَالتَراتُ

Hatred and gloating forbidden to my heart

I get mistreated sometimes, so I pass

خُلِقتُ كَأَنّي عيسى حَرامٌ

عَلى قَلبي الضَغينَةُ وَالشَماتُ

Generous, nourishing not as I get nourished

And to me for men, even if unfriendly

يُساءُ إِلَيَّ أَحياناً فَأَمضي

كَريماً لا أَقوتُ كَما أُقاتُ

Stations of kindness that cannot be missed

You saw dew with the eye of the sun

وَعِندِيَ لِلرِجالِ وَإِن تَجافوا

مَنازِلُ في الحَفاوَةِ لا تُفاتُ

So sunrise met it with two suns

Over what the people frequented there

طَلَعتَ عَلى النَدى بِعَينِ شَمسٍ

فَوافَتها بِشَمسَينِ الغَداةُ

Crowds come and the sleepless deliberate

Your dignity seized them in humbleness

عَلى ما كانَ يَندو القَومُ فيها

تَوافى الجَمعُ وَاِئتَمَرَ السُراةُ

As its residents straightened the prayers

You saw the faces of your people, how they respected

تَمَلَّكَهُم وَقارُكَ في خُشوعٍ

كَما نَظَمَت مُقيميها الصَلاةُ

And how girlish was Egypt, the young woman

Reason was respected before you until

رَأَيتَ وُجوهَ قَومِكَ كَيفَ جَلَّت

وَكَيفَ تَرَعرَعَت مِصرُ الفَتاةُ

Wisdom and maturity manifested

And you can restrain their stubbornness

أُجيلَ الرَأيُ بَينَ يَدَيكَ حَتّى

تَبَيَّنَتِ الرَزانَةُ وَالحَصاةُ

And they obey you in what you rule uncaring

When youth shows passion and vanity

وَأَنتَ عَلى أَعِنَّتِهِم قَديرٌ

وَهُم بِكَ في الَّذي تَقضي حُفاةُ

Your forbearance and patience gesture to it

Why don’t you stand in the club orating

إِذا أَبدى الشَبابُ هَوىً وَزَهواً

أَشارَ إِلَيهِ حِلمُكَ وَالأَناةُ

For you are great eternal words

Spouting the wisdom of your ninety in it

فَهَلّا قُمتَ في النادي خَطيباً

لَكَ الكَلِمُ الكِبارُ الخالِداتُ

So the youth’s ears listen intently

You say when will I see neighbors return

تُفَجِّرُ حِكمَةَ التِسعينِ فيهِ

فَآذانُ الشَبيبَةِ صادِياتُ

And those dispersed for brotherhood gather

And where are the advisors among us and them

تَقولُ مَتى أَرى الجيرانَ عادوا

وَضُمَّ عَلى الإِخاءِ لَهُم شَتاتُ

Maybe they despair what aggressors damaged

Messengers of evil walked between family

وَأَينَ أولو النُهى مِنّا وَمِنهُم

عَسى يَأسونَ ما جَرَحَ الغُلاةُ

And suspicions fragmented good thoughts

When confidence withers amongst people

مَشَت بَينَ العَشيرَةِ رُسلُ شَرٍّ

وَفَرَّقَتِ الظُنونَ السَيِّئاتُ

Bonds and connections shatter

Trust, maybe those you doubted

إِذا الثِقَةُ اِضمَحَلَّت بَينَ قَومٍ

تَمَزَّقَتِ الرَوابِطُ وَالصِلاتُ

Become days of trusted brethren

And a loved one you cannot bear

فَثِق فَعَسى الَّذينَ اِرتَبتَ فيهِم

عَلى الأَيّامِ إِخوانٌ ثِقاتُ

His friendship’s flaws begin to show

And a disliked one because of suspicions

وَرُبَّ مُحَبَّبٍ لا صَبرَ عَنهُ

بَدَت لَكَ في مَحَبَّتِهِ بَداةُ

Is endeared to you by experiences

Oh children of nations, get up and then up

وَمَكروهٍ عَلى أَخَذاتِ ظَنٍّ

تُحَبِّبُهُ إِلَيكَ التَجرُباتُ

Some death is brought about by sleep

Some people walked to glory, pace of lightning

بَني الأَوطانِ هُبّوا ثُمَّ هُبّوا

فَبَعضُ المَوتِ يَجلِبُهُ السُباتُ

While we walk barefoot

They prepare forces, land and sea

مَشى لِلمَجدِ خَطفَ البَرقِ قَومٌ

وَنَحنُ إِذا مَشَينا السُلحُفاةُ

And our tools are delusional wishes

يُعِدّونَ القُوى بَرّاً وَبَحراً

وَعُدَّتُنا الأَماني الكاذِباتُ