خَلِيلَيَّ مَسَّ اَلمطايا لَغَبْ
وَأَلْوَى بِأَشْباحِهنَّ الدَّأَبْ
My beloveds, the horses have been saddled,
And headed off eagerly at dawn.
وَقَدْ نَصَلَتْ مِنْ حَواشِي الدُّجَى
تَمايَلُ أَعْناقُها مِنْ نَصَبْ
The edges of darkness have scattered,
Their necks swaying with exertion.
وَأَلْويَةُ الصُّبْحِ مُذْ فُصِمَتْ
عُرا اللَّيْلِ مُنْتَشِراتُ العَذَبْ
The twilight twists at dawn
As the lovely night releases its braids.
كَأَنَّ تَأَلُّقَهُ جَذْوَةٌ
تُناجِي الصَّبا بِلِسانِ اللَّهَبْ
Its radiance is like an ember
Whispering to the morning breeze.
فَلا يَسْلَمَنَّ لَها غَارِبٌ
وَلا مَنْسِمٌ بِالنَّجيعِ اخْتَضَبْ
No setting sun escapes it,
Nor a star twinkling in the blackness of night.
وَلا تَنِيا في ابْتِغاءِ العُلا
فَكَمْ راحَةٍ تُجْتَنى مِنْ تَعَبْ
Do not wander seeking exaltation-
How much comfort is gained from fatigue!
وَلا تَتْرُكاني لَقىً لِلْهُمومِ
بِحَيْثُ يُرى الرَّأْسُ تِلْوَ الذَّنَبْ
Do not leave me a victim of worries,
Where the head follows the tail.
فَإنَّ على الله نَيْلَ الَّذي
سَعَيْنا لَهُ وَعَلَيْنا الطَّلَبْ
It is for God to grant what
We strive for, and it is ours to seek.
وَإنّي إذا أَنْكرَتْني البِلادُ
وَشِيبَ رِضَى أَهْلِها بِالغَضَبْ
When my country rejects me
And its people's approval turns to anger,
لَكَالضَّيْغَمِ الوَرْدِ كاد الهَوانُ
يَدِبُّ إِلى غَابِهِ فَاغْتَرَبْ
I am like a wilted rose whose abasement
Creeps to its thickets, so it departs.
فَشَيَّدْتُ مَجْداً رَسَا أَصْلهُ
أَمُتُّ إلَيْهِ بِأُمٍّ وَأَبْ
I built glory on a firm base
To which I cling through family and origin.
وَلَمْ أَنْظِمِ الشِّعْرَ عُجْباً بهِ
وَلَمْ أَمْتَدِحْ أَحَداً عَنْ أَرَبْ
I did not versify out of self-conceit,
Nor praise anyone for material gain.
ولا هَزَّني طَمَعٌ لِلْقَريضِ
ولكِنَّهُ تَرْجُمانُ الأَدَبْ
But it translates refinement and manners-
Not for riches, but pride in my family.
ولِلْفَخْرِ أُعْنى بِهِ لا الغِنَى
فَعَنْ كِسْرِ بَيْتيَ جِيبَ العَرَبْ
God and the noble know
That ours is the choicest lineage.
وَقَدْ عَلِمَ اللهُ والنَّاسِبُو
نَ أَنَّ لنا صَفْوَ هذا النَّسَبْ
If time has worn me down,
And we are the butt of blame,
وَإنّي وَإِنْ نَالَ مِنِّي الزَّمانُ
وَنَحْنُ كَذلك سُؤْرُ النُّوَبْ
I will lift the veil from my clear lineage
And mend my reputation, pride of my people.
لأَرْفَعُ عَنْ شَمَمٍ واضِحٍ
لِثامِي وَأَرْقَعُ وَهْيَ الحَسَبْ
I will not fawn over the wealthy man
Who would mint a father from gold if he wished.
وَلا أَسْتَكينُ لِذي ثَرْوَةٍ
إذا شَاءَ صَاغَ أَبَاً مِنْ ذَهَبْ
My honor and virtue are my assets-
Slender but sufficient are my means.
فَحَسْبي وَعِرْضي نَقِيُّ الأَدِيمِ
مِنَ المَالِ نَهْدُ القُصَيْرَى أَقَبّْ
My whiteness shines if the nights
Are pierced by the tail of the morning star.
وَأَبْيَضُ إنْ لاحَ خِلْتَ العَجا
جَ لَيْلاً بِذَيْلِ الصَّباحِ انْتَقَبْ
