سَرى كما يَسري القَمَرْ

والليّلُ مُسوَدُّ الطُّرَرْ

He walked as the moon walks

While the night is clad in black attire

زَوْرٌ سرَى على خَفَر

طوَى الفلا وما شعَر

A beautiful visitor came unexpectedly

He folded his wrap and was unaware

بدْرٌ دُجاهُ مِن شَعَر

عَجِبتُ والليّلُ اعتكَر

A full moon whose brightness came from his hair

I was amazed though the night had grown dark

مَعْ نورهِ كيف استَتر

أَوجُهُه حينَ سفَر

How did he hide his light?

When his faces shone at the time of journey

بسِحْرِ طَرْفٍ ذي حَوَر

لأعينِ النّاسِ سَحَر

With the magic of an enchanting glance

That captivated people's eyes

فجاء كالبَدْرِ ومَر

ولم يَرَوا منه أثَر

He came like the full moon and passed

And they saw no trace of him

أما أنا لمّا حضَر

كأنّه إحدَى الصُّور

But when he was present before me

He seemed to be one of the images

خَبأْتُه من الحَذَر

في ناظري عنِ البَشَر

I hid him from precaution

In my eyes away from people

يا زائراً لم يُستَزَر

أحلَلْتُهُ منّي البَصَر

O you who came without invitation

I made my sight halal for him

فَعَوَّضَ العينَ السّهَر

لمّا رأَى أُنْسي نَفَر

So he compensated my eyes for wakefulness

When he saw my intimacy turn away

ولم يَصِلْ حتّى هَجَر

وزوَّد الصّبَّ الذِّكَر

And he did not arrive until he left

And provided youth with memories

فقُمتُ والدّمعُ درَر

أَكُفُّ منه ما بَدَر

So I got up with tears flowing

I restrain whatever appears from it

وأكتُمُ الصَّحبَ الخَبَر

ونحن أبناءُ سَفَر

And I conceal the news from companions

While we are children of travel

من وطَنٍ إلى وَطَر

إلى بَعيرٍ قد ضَمُر

From a homeland to homelands

To a camel that became lean

رَعى بأعْلى ذي نَفر

بينَ رياضٍ وزَهَر

Grazing at the highest summit

Among gardens and flowers

كأنّها نَشْرُ الحِبَر

يأخُذُ نَبْتاً ويَذَر

As if they were the scattering of ink

Picking some plants and leaving others

في أُنُفٍ منَ الخُضَر

ونُطَفٍ فيها خَصَر

In meadows full of greenery

And buds with a waist

حتّى أتَى مِلْءَ الضُّفُر

يُلاعِبُ الظِّلَّ أَشر

Until he came, his saddlebags full

Playing with the shadow at dusk

فمَرّ كالسَّيلِ انحدَر

يَقسِمُ عينَيْه حَذَر

So he passed like pouring rain

Splitting his eyes cautious

بينَ الطّريقِ المُبتَدَر

ووَقْعِ مَفْتولِ المرَر

Between the taken road

And the fall of twisted slopes

بعِطْفِه عنه زَوَر

حتّى إذا الحادي نَعَر

Deviating from it slyly

Until when the guide grunted

طوَى بلاداً ونَشَر

إلى ذُرا مَلْكٍ أَغَر

He traversed lands and spread out

To the land of a generous king

إليه للخَلْقِ المَفَر

تَجْري يَداهُ بالبِدَر

To whom people flee for refuge

His hands flow with generosity

جَرْيَ القضاء والقَدَر

وزيرُ صِدْقٍ مُذ وَزَر

Like fate and destiny

The minister of a truthful intention since he assumed office

أصبحَ للمُلْكِ وَزَر

نَهَى مُطاعاً وأَمَر

Became responsible for the kingdom

His orders are obeyed, he commands and forbids

وساء مَن شاء وسَر

ونَفع النّاسَ وضَر

Benefiting some and harming others

Of excellent conduct and ways

ذو سيرةٍ من السِّيَر

تُتلَى كما تُتلى السُّورَ

That are recited like the Quranic chapters

If time betrays or promises are forgotten

إن وتَر الدّهرُ ثأر

أو نُسِيَ العَهدُ ذَكَر

Or sins are grave and forgiven

Or hardships dry up rain

أو عَظُمَ الذَّنْبُ غَفَر

أو جَمَد النّوْءُ مَطَر

Or horses become few and calm

No matter what evil he sees, he is patient

أو خفَّتِ الخَيلُ وقَر

مهما رأى الشّرَّ فَغَر

He stands with nobility and patience

And says the matter is predestined

قام كريماً وصَبَر

وقال أمْرٌ قد قُدِر

Then he sends regiments of horses

Glowering, excused for their outburst

وأرسَلَ الخَيلَ زُمَر

عَوابِساً معَ الغُرَر

Snorting violently among them

Assailing when the enemy surges forth

نوافِضاً فيها العُذَر

تَصلَى إذا النّبْعُ انْأطَر

With spears that fiercely spark

Until the swords in the armies clashed

ناراً لها النَّبْلُ شَرَر

حتّى ثنَى البِيضَ كِسَر

And the strikes were shortened

With their capture the kingdom settled

وقَصَّرَ الضَّرْبُ قَصَر

بخَطْفِها المُلْكُ اسَتقَر

And much good comes from harm

O you who gained power

ورُبَّ نَفْعٍ في ضَرَر

يا مالكاً قدِ اقتَدَر

Fate itself turns to you for refuge

So be forgiving if it stumbles

إليك منك الدَّهرُ فَرّ

فكُنْ مُقيلاً إن عَثَر

Time that betrayed then apologized

Judge what happened with wisdom

دهْرٌ جنَى ثُمَّ اعتَذَر

مُحَكَّماً فيما شَجَر

And be prudent with the prudent

No wrongdoer remains

وماكِراً بمَنْ مكَر

لم يَبْقَ والبَغيُ غَرَر

No aggressor persists in aggression

Whose actions were revealed or secret

باغٍ على البَغْيِ أصَر

أعلَن ذاكَ أو أسَر

Except that God destroyed him

And left no betrayer

إلاّ له اللهُ كَسَر

ولم يُغادِرْ مَن غَدَر

An example is set in the times

If we have one who is patient

وفي الزّمانِ مُعتَبَر

إن كان فينا مُصطَبَر

Then act like one who is thankful

Whoever denies blessings denies them

فاصنَعْ صنيعَ مَن شكَر

مَن كفَر النُّعمَى كفَر

Far be it from lasting you to be tested

O full moon of a kingdom that cannot be veiled

حاشا بَقاكَ المُختَبَر

يا بدْرَ مُلْكٍ لا استَسَر

And star of justice that cannot be clouded

Erasing the traces of injustice

ونجمَ عَدْلٍ لا انكَدَر

محا منَ الجَوْرِ الأَثَر

I made a mistake in reciting it

Though I was proud of it

تَصحيفُها مِمّا استَمر

وكان فيها مُفتَخَر

Compared to other realms

So purify it from impurities

على المَمالِكِ الأُخَر

فَصفّها منَ الكَدَر

And make righteous those lands

With justice when your life is long

وعُمَّ هاتيكَ الكُوَر

عَدْلاً إذا عَمَّ عَمَر

How many say but do not think

God, who created humankind

كم قائلٍ وما افتَكر

رَبُّ العبادِ ما فَطَر

Did not create evil in Nausherwan's nature

Had I taken the 'sheen' and 'raa' from his name

في طَبْعِ نَوشَروانَ شَر

ولو مِنَ اسْمِهِ قَدَر

It would have concealed from people

When written, evil deeds

الشِّينَ والرّاءَ ستَر

عنِ الورَى إذا سطَر

I say this cannot be fooled

He is of resolute determination

قلتُ بِذا لا يُغْتَرَر

فهْو بعيد المُسْتَمَر

A place where, if he wanted, he commanded

Like a massive unmoving mountain

مُحْلٍ إذا شاءَ أَمَر

كالطّودِ ما لم يُستَثَر

Or a lion, when angry, snarling

Sheathing claws and canines

واللّيثِ ما شاء خَدَر

غامدَ نابٍ وظُفُر

But if he becomes an enemy openly

There is no rest if he growls

ثمّ إذا عادَى جَهَر

ولا يماشِيكَ الخَمَر

No survival if he attacks

O you who humiliated the mighty in battle

فلا قَرارٌ إن زَأَر

ولا بقاءٌ إن هَصَر

With the opinion that came from his chest

You hoped for victory over fate

يا مُخجِلَ العَضْبِ الذَّكَر

من صَدْرِه رَأيٌ صَدَر

So do not make excuses

Or spend the night confused

أطمعْتَ في الدَّهْرِ الظَّفَر

فلا تَعلّلْ بالعِذَر

If you pierce with needles

They become spears at the borders

ولا تَبِتْ على وَغَر

فلو وخَزْتَ بالإبَر

O guide to glory's path, walk it

If time afflicts you with harm

صارتْ رماحاً في الثُّغَر

يا حادِيَ العِيسِ أَثِر

Make the Kaaba of hopes a destination

For it is the circumambulation place of the noble

أَسْرِ على السّعْدِ وسِر

إن مَسّك الدَّهْرُ بِضُر

So perform its pilgrimage and ritual

Seeking refuge in religion

فكَعبةَ الآمالِ زُر

فهْو مَطافُ كلِّ حُر

From the unpredictability of fate

A master over the stars he shone

فاحجُجْ ذُراهُ واعتَمِر

بشَرفِ الدّينِ استَجِر

By his grace all gained certainty

Of the family of Kisra in their elite

من حادثِ الدَّهْرِ يُجِر

مَولىً على النَّجمِ أَبَر

Like the Prophet among Mudar

Raised from the purest lineage

بفَضْلِه كلٌّ أَقَر

من آلِ كسْرَى في نَفَر

So his branches were wholesome and pure

His path for whoever follows it

مثْلَ النّبِيِّ في مُضَر

نَمَوْهُ من أَزْكَى شَجَر

Is like scattered fragrant musk

May he ransom him if an evil time

فطابَ فَرْعاً وطَهُر

آثارُه لِمَنْ أَثَر

Bares its fang, and hearts break

From his light that dazzled

كأنّها المِسْكُ ذَفَر

فَداهُ إنْ دَهْرٌ كَشَر

Can the morning star rival the sun at dawn?

The sword of Abu Nasr victory gave

عن نابِ خَطْبٍ قد فَطَر

نِكْسٌ له القَلْبُ انفَطَر

To the religion of guidance until victorious

Sending the enemy fleeing defeated

مِن نُورِه الّذي بَهَر

وهل يُباري إنْ فَخَر

A sword God made sharp

The enemy's blood by it shed

شمسَ الضُّحَى نجْمُ السّحر

سيفُ أَبي نَصْرٍ نَصَر

So be submissive to us and at peace

In the shade of untroubled life

دينَ الهدى حتّى انتصَر

وللعدا طُرّاً قَهَر

Far from the beloved's rejection

Safeguarded, pure from worries

سيفٌ له اللهُ شَهَر

دَمُ العدا به هَدَر

O you through whom justice has spread

And through whom virtue became famous

فاسلَمْ لنا من الغِير

في ظِلِّ عيشٍ لا انْحَسر

Who, when he looks at the praiser,

Overflows with a flooding sea

بَعيدِ وِردٍ مِنْ صَدَر

مَصونِ صَفْوٍ من كَدَر

With plenty and bounty from him abundant

Every science is asked of him and called

يا مَن به العَدْلُ انتشَر

ومَن له الفَضْلُ اشْتَهَر

A refined scholar of excellence settled

Live as long as the full moon shines

مادِحُه إذا نظَر

يُفرغُ في غَمْرٍ غُمَر

And the night wraps itself in darkness

With pouring rain of generosity

وعندَه الحظُّ وفَر

من كلِّ عِلمٍ يُستَطَر

And valiant courage blazed

Giving overflowing gifts

نادى إليه وحشَر

آدِبُ فَضْلٍ ما انتقَر

The full moon began below him

Fulfilling the wants of those in need

عش ما بدا بَدْرٌ زهَر

وما به الليّلُ اعتَجَر

Plunging into it with thought

Then being generous without restraint

من غَيْثِ جُودٍ انهمَر

ولَيثِ بأسٍ استَعر

In every land, rural and urban

He was like the brimming sea

مُعطِي عطاءٍ قد غَمَر

أَصبح أَدناهُ البِدَر

Encompassing all with rain

And distinguishing some with pearls

مُبِرُّ رِفْدِ مَن شَعَر

وغاص فيه بالفِكَر

O you generous in meaningful words

Truth unborrowed

ثُمَّ سخا وما اقتَصَر

في كُلِّ بَدْوٍ وحَضَر

None like you appeared

Generosity manifest in a mortal

فكان كالبَحْرِ زَخَر

فَعَمَّ كُلاً بالمَطَر

Fills the eyes of any who look

And God originates creation

وخَصَّ قوماً بالدُّرَر

ياجُودُ قَولاً مُعتَبَر

O you who enriches the poor

And mends the broken

حقيقةً لم تُسَتعر

مِثْلُك ما كان ظَهَر

Your time is excellent to draw from

I have other hopes in you

الجودُ في شَخْصِ بَشَر

يَمْلأُ عَيْنَيْ مَن نَظَر

While my livelihood is insignificant

Were it tears they would not flow

واللّهُ مُبِدعُ الفِطَر

يا مُغْنِياً مَنِ افتقَر

Take over publicizing my affair

And rebuke a time that harmed me

وجابِراً مَنِ انكَسَر

عَصْرُك نِعمَ المُعْتَصَر

If you rebuked, it would not be rebuked

After this is there any hope?

لَديك آمالي أُخَر

ولي معاشٌ مُحتَقَر

Or is it time to harvest the fruits

From a loving plantation long nurtured

لو كان دَمْعاً ما قَطَر

فَضُمَّ من أَمري النّشَر

This journey must be hastened

Is there any to remember us?

وازْجُرْ زماناً بي أَضَر

فلو زجرتَ لا نْزجَر

All are in the fits of travel

Becoming like plaited cords

هل بعدَ هذا منتظَر

أم آن أن يُجنَى ثَمَر

And I have no recourse

Or return or passage

من غَرْسِ وُدٍّ مُدَّخَر

هذا المَسيرُ يُبتَدَر

So my thoughts are in danger

From the fear in them

فهل لنا من مُدَّكَر

كُلٌّ بأُهْبَةِ السَّفَر

Of being stoned and stoning

A right hand that never lost restraint

أضحَى كَفُوقٍ في وَتَر

وليس لي من مُقْتَدَر

If I controlled my soul I would choose

Making your presence my abode

لمَرْجِعٍ ولا مَمَر

فخاطِري على خَطَر

And it would comfort my eye

So be most right to excuse

من خَوفِ ما فيه خَطَر

بالحِجْرِ منّي والحَجَر

A servant to an unbroken vow

Besides your love nothing is vowed

يَمينُ بِرٍّ ما فَجَر

لو مُلِّكَتْ نَفْسي الخِيَر

So order a command to obey

Return consideration to my matter

كان ذُراكَ لي مَقَر

وكان للعَينِ أَقَر

And hear my words of pleading

Like scattered pearls

فكن أحَقَّ مَن عَذَر

عبداً لعَهْدٍ ما خَفَر

With every innovative meaning

Summarized in each verse

سوى هواكَ ما ذَخَر

وغيرَ عَوْدٍ ما نَذَر

As if upon a necklace strung

A day of joy in life

فمُرْ بأمْرٍ يُؤتَمَر

أَعِدْ إلى أَمْرِي نَظَر

Of beauty, fragrance, and creation

Like the life of the master of Mudar

وهاكَ من قَولي فِقَر

كأنّها الدُّرُّ انتثَر

من كُلِّ معنىً مُبتكَر

في كلِّ بَيتٍ مُختَصَر

كأنّه على القَدَر

يومُ السُّرورِ في العُمُر

حُسْناً وطِيباً وقِصَر

كعُمْرِ سِيدِ من مُضَر