ألم تَرَيا أنّ الحُمولَ تَسيرُ

وأنّ سُليمى بالسّلامِ تُشيرُ

Do you not see that the caravans are moving on,

and that Suleima gestures farewell with peace?

فلا تَعذُلاني إنْ بكَيتُ صَبابةً

وفي مُهجَتي جَيشُ الغرامِ يُغير

So do not blame me if I weep like a youth,

while in my mind an army of love storms.

وقَفْتُ أمامَ الظَعْنِ والحَيُّ راحِلٌ

وقد حال من دونِ الوَداعِ غَيور

I stood before the she-camels as they departed,

while a jealous one prevented me from saying goodbye.

أُغِيّضُ دَمعي وهْو يسَبِقُ واكفاً

وأَلزَمُ قلبي الكفَّ وهْو يَطير

I restrain my tears as they flow copiously,

and I force my heart to be patient as it flutters.

وما راعني في الصُّبْحِ إلاّ حُداتُهمْ

تُغنّي عِجالاً والمَطِيُّ تَثور

In the morning, nothing distracted me except their singing,

urging on the camels, which plod heavily along.

هلَ انْتَ معِيري نَظْرَةً أَشتَفي بها

إليهم وهل للنّاظِرَيْنِ مُعير

Did you glance back at me so I could quench my thirst

by looking at you? Do the two gazes meet?

وقد سار أفلاكُ المطايا وفوقَها

بُدورٌ تَجلّى والبُروجُ خُدور

The stars of the camels’ litters have journeyed on,

above them shining planets and dim constellations.

فخَلّفني قَلْبي وسارَ مُبادِراً

معَ الإلْفِ لمّا حانَ منه مَسير

My heart deserted me and hurried along

when it was time for it to depart with the caravan.

فلا زالَ يَسْقي الجِزْعَ باكِرُدِيمةٍ

كما جَدَّ بالأظعانِ منه بُكور

It continues to water the sapling of sorrow

with the dew of Dhidim, as it wept at dawn.

تَطاوَلَ ليلُ الأبرقَيْنِ بِناظِري

وَعهْدي بلَيلِ الجِزْعِ وهْو قصير

The night of separation stretched out before my eyes,

though I am accustomed to short nights of anguish.

أَحِنُّ إلى الجَرْعاء من رَمْلِ عالِجٍ

فهل ماؤها للواردِينَ نَمير

I yearn for the sandy plain of ‘Alaj,

does its water still flow for the visitors?

ولا عيبَ في آرامِها غيرَ أنّها

بها عن عُيونِ النّاظرِينَ نُفور

There is no fault in resting there, save that

it distances one from the eyes of the onlookers.

وكم راحَ عانٍ للصّبابةِ حائرٌ

وكم لاحَ عِينٌ للنّواظِرِ حُور

How many lovers have wandered there confused,

how many glances of the beholders have been seduced!

أقولُ لبَدْرٍ في دُجَى اللّيلِ طالعٍ

ولي بَصَرٌ مِمّا يُنيرُ حَسير

I say to the full moon rising in the dark of night,

though I have little sight to illuminate the gloom:

أَأَرجِعُ عنكَ الطَّرْفَ حتّى أُعيدَه

على عَجَلٍ إنّي إذَنْ لَصَبور

“Shall I avert my gaze until I bring it back

quickly? If so, then I am truly patient!”

أيا قاتِلي ما لِلّيالي ورَيْبِها

وما للعَوادي تَعْتَدي وتَجور

O killer of me! Why do the nights and their uncertainty

assail me, and the deserted places attack and rage?

إذا قلتُ هذا حين أَحظَى بقُربِكمْ

تَعرَّضَ دَهْرٌ بالرّجالِ عَثور

When I say this as we are blessed with your nearness,

time trips up even the firmest of men.

لعَمْري لئن مَلَّ العَذولُ مَلامتي

لقد عرضَتْ دونَ المَلامِ أُمور

By my life! If blame for separation fills me,

other concerns have presented themselves beyond blame.

وقد سَدَّدتْ نحوي اللّيالي سِهامَها

وأَفصحَ لي عمّا يُريدُ نَذير

The nights have aimed their arrows at me

and a warner has eloquently told me his intentions.

وشَنَّ عليَّ الشّيبُ من أَجلِ حَرْبها

دِلاصاً له في العارِضَينِ قَتير

Old age has attacked me in its war,

sending against my temples a pitiless, deadly foe.

فولَّتْ به اللّذَّاتُ حتّى كأنّها

حواشي ظِلالٍ قَصّهُنَّ هجير

So pleasures have turned away from me

as if they were marginal notes erased by the wind.

كأنّي وإلْفي قانِصٌ وطَريدُه

وشَيْبيَ صُبْحٌ رابَ منه سُفور

It is as though my companions and I are hunted game,

with old age an unrelenting morning against us.

وما حالُ مَن يبغي اصطياداً بكَفِّهِ

إذا لاح نَوءٌ والوَسائقُ نُور

What can one who tries to catch with his hands accomplish

if a difficulty appears and the paths ahead unclear?

فَحُثا خَليليَّ المطايا كأنّها

قُصورٌ عليها في الصَّباحِ صُقور

So rouse the camels, my friend, as if they were castles

with hawks perched atop them in the morning!

طِوالُ الذُّرا خُضنا بها لُجَجَ الفَلا

فما بَرِحَتْ تَجْري لَهُنَّ ضُفور

We have plowed the long nights with them, crossing

the depths of desolation, which continue to flow for them.

إلى أن تَساهَمْنا فَلثَّمَ رَكْبَها

شُحوبٌ وأَلْوى بالرّكابِ ضُمور

Until, equipped with supplies, their knees were stained

with pallor and their flanks bent with grief.

وقد كُنَّ إملاءَ الجبالِ فلم يزَلْ

بها السّيرُ حتّى عُدْنَ وهْي سُطور

They were the dictation of the mountains, yet

the journey continued until they returned weary.

إلى قُطْبِ مَلكٍ لم يَزلْ فلَكُ العُلا

عليه بشُهْبِ المكرماتِ يَدور

To the land of a king whom the sphere of highness

has ceaselessly encircled with comets of honor.

وهل غيرُ تأميلِ الهُمامِ ابنِ ناصرٍ

لِمَنْ يَتّقي رَيبَ الزَّمانِ نَصير

Is there any reconsidering the resolve of the Hamama,

the son of Nasir, for one who fears the guile of time?

أخو المجدِ أمّا المُجتدي منه دائماً

فَغمْرٌ وأمّا المُجتلَي فَمُنير

The brother of glory - as for the one who comes begging from him,

he faces a torrent, but the one who approaches with sincerity, a light.

تُضِيءُ لأبصارِ الوَرى شمسُ وجهه

وصَوبُ نَداهُ للعُفاةِ درُور

The sun of his face illuminates the sights of all,

and the direction of his help is a flowing stream for the destitute.

إذا ما بهاءُ الدِّين ظاهَرَ نَصْرُه

فللدّينِ بالإسعادِ منه ظُهور

When the brilliance of religion appears through his victory,

religion experiences from him a renaissance.

فتىً رفَع الإقبالُ رايةَ رأيِه

فعَزَّ به مُلْكٌ وسُرَّ سرير

A noble youth whom fortune raised the banner of his opinion,

through which a kingdom gained might and a throne joy.

حوَى الحسنَ في خَلْقٍ وخُلْقٍ كليهما

فَراقَك منه ظاهِرٌ وضَمير

He combined beauty in appearance and character, both of them,

your separation from which is evident and concealed.

إليه انتمتْ فينا الفضائلُ كُلُّها

فدَعْوَى سِواهُ للفضائلِ زُور

In us are embodied all the virtues utterly,

so anyone else’s claim to virtue is false.

وقالتْ أَبونا ابنُ الكرامِ مُحمَّدٌ

فقلتُ أَبٌ لو تَعلَمونَ كَبير

And it said “Our father is the son of nobility, Muhammad,”

and I said “A father, if you only knew how great!”

هُمامٌ به فيها اقتديتُ فكُلُّنا

له فِكْرةٌ تُسدي العُلا وتُنير

Aspirations through which I have followed his example,

and each of us is a thought that gives might and illumination.

تَقومُ قناةُ المُلْكِ من حُسنِ رأيه

وحُسْنُ ثَناهُ في عُلاهُ يَسير

The edifice of the kingdom is supported by his good opinion,

and the excellence of his praise gives his highness ease.

فللقَوْلةِ الغَرّاء منّيَ خاطِرٌ

وللدّولةِ الغرَّاءِ منه خَطير

So for the noble dynasty I have an idea,

and for the noble state from him a warning.

غدا لملوكِ الأرضِ بالنُّصحِ عُمدةً

على حينَ أَمرُ الاِعتمادِ نَزور

Tomorrow for the kings of the earth, a pillar of advice,

while the matter of reliance is weakening.

متى باشَر الخطْبَ الجليلَ برأْيهِ

أتَى المُلكَ بالفَتْحِ القريبِ بَشير

Whenever he undertakes a momentous affair with his opinion,

good tidings of imminent opening come to the kingdom.

وكم فِتْنَةٍ تَطْغَى بكلِّ مُشيِّعٍ

له النّقْعُ ليلٌ والسِّنانُ سَمير

How many seditions grow arrogant under any guide,

for him the beak by night and the blade by day!

كأنَّ سُيوفَ الهندِ فيها كواكبٌ

مع الصُّبْحِ في هامِ الكُماةِ تَغور

It is as if the swords of India against them are stars,

sinking with the dawn into the shoulder-blades of the warriors.

وتَبْني نُسورُ الخَيلِ ممّا تُثيرُه

على الجوِّ طَوْداً تَعتليه نُسور

And the eagles of the horses form mountains from what they stir up,

atop the air castles which eagles inhabit.

فقد أصبحَتْ خَوفاً صُدورُ معاشرٍ

كما نُفِّرَتْ من طَيْرِهنَّ وُكور

For terror has come to fill the breasts of many people,

as if their nests were startled and abandoned.

كُفيتَ بإيماءٍ منَ الرَّأْي شَرَّها

فَقرَّ قَرارٌ واستمَرَّ مَرير

With a mere gesture of opinion, its evil was checked,

so that firmness faltered and bitterness was prolonged.

أيا مَن سما نَفْساً وأصلاً فأَشرقَتْ

لعُلياهُ أنْوارٌ لهنَّ بُهور

O you who perfected a soul and origin, so lights

of splendor rose up for their loftiness!

إليكَ كأنّ الدّهْرَ في كلِّ ليلةٍ

بكفِّ الثُّريا في السَّماء يُشير

To you it is as if, every night,

the cosmos points to you with the hand of Canopus.

تقولُ كذا فلْيَسْمُ في المجدِ مَن سما

ويَفخَرْ بإدْراكِ العلاء فَخور

Saying: “Let the one who has perfected in glory be named,

and take pride in attaining the heights, proudly!”

جمَعْتَ التُّقَى والجودَ والبأسَ والنُّهى

بَيانُك دُرٌّ والبنانُ بُحور

You have combined piety, munificence, courage and forbiddance -

your elucidation a pearl and your front teeth shore pearls.

ولمّا حجَجْتَ البيتَ حَجَّك لائذاً

بكَ البيتُ والوفدُ الحَجيجُ حُضور

When you made the pilgrimage to the Sacred House, the House and pilgrims

seeking refuge hurried to make pilgrimage to you.

ولم تُرَ يوماً كعبتانِ تلاقَتا

ورُكنانِ إمّا زائرٌ ومَزور

Never before have two Kaabas met,

nor two corners - either a visitor or visited.

بمَسْحِ يَمينِ اللّهِ زِدْتَ ميامِناً

فأصبحْتَ من جَوْرِ الزّمانِ تُجير

Through the blessings of God’s right hand, you have increased our glories,

so you give refuge from the injustice of time.

يُعيرُ ملوكَ الأرضِ رأيُك نُورَهُ

كأنّك شمسٌ والملوكُ بُدور

Your opinion puts to shame the kings of the earth with its light,

as if you were a sun and the kings planets.

إذا اجتمعَتْ يوماً به ادَّخَرتْ سناً

إلى العودة الأُخْرَى بذاكَ تُنير

If they gather one day in consultation with it,

it will store for them years until the next return.

أرَى رائدَ التّوفيقِ في كلِّ مَنْزِلٍ

يَصيرُ معَ الإقبالِ حيث تَصير

I see the guide of fortune in every abode,

keeping pace with luck wherever it goes.

وكم حاسدٍ عُلْياكَ يُمسي كأنّه

لفَرْطِ الأَسى من مُقْلتَيْهِ نَحير

How many envious ones wish you ill, and so nightfall leaves them

as if distraught with grief and crazed.

إذا لُحْتَ للأبصارِ أَغضَى كأنّمَا

سَناك سِنانٌ في حَشاهُ طَرير

When you appear to all sights, they look away as if

your brilliance were a flashing blade amidst the darkness.

فدَتْك رجالٌ أَصبحوا وجسومُهمْ

إذا هيَ قِيستْ للقُلوبِ قُبور

May men sacrifice themselves for you, who have become bodies

while if weighed against hearts, they are but tombs.

هُمْ في قُصورٍ تُضرَبُ الحُجْبُ دونَهمْ

وفيهمْ لناعمّا نُريدُ قُصور

They are in palaces with veils drawn around them,

while we desire delicate palaces for them.

وحَقُّ صدورٍ للورى أنْ يُرَى لهمْ

قلوبٌ عليها يَشتمِلْنَ صُدور

The right of breasts is for them to be seen with hearts

that envelop them entirely when revealed.

هُمُ مَيّزوا الأموالَ وهْي لِلُؤْمِهمْ

صِحاحٌ عنِ الأعراضِ وهْي كُسور

They distinguished wealth, which was as pebbles to their courage,

while honor was precious and they considered it paltry.

وقد تَسلَمُ الأعراضُ وهْي سخافة

قواريرُ منهمْ والأكفُّ صُخور

Reputations were surrendered, which were trifles,

but their palms were rocks.

أيا مَن كَفُوآتُ المدائحِ أصبحَتْ

لها من سَجاياهُ الحِسانِ مُهور

O you whose perfections deeds of praise have become

necklaces for which his qualities of commendation are pearls.

ولي من ثنائي والولاءِ أَواصِرٌ

ترادَفَ منها أوّلٌ وأَخير

My praise and devotion have strong ties,

with the first and last linked together.

وعندي لأَسلافٍ مضَوْا لكَ أَنعُمٌ

وبالحِفْظِ عَهْدُ الأكرمينَ جَدير

I still possess the favors of noble ancestors who have passed

and it befits the most generous to preserve their loyalty.

وإنّي على شُكْري لهنّ مُثابِرٌ

طُوالَ اللّيالي ما أقامَ ثَبير

I persist in thanking them throughout the nights,

for as long as the Pleiades remain.

فكيف بشُكْرٍ في أوانِ اكتِهالِه

إذا أحسنَ الرُوّادُ وهْو شَكير

So how can gratitude in its plentitude be thanked

when the visitors have done well and it is most thankful?

أقولُ لقُرحانِ الصّبابةِ مُدْنَفٌ

بشِعْري وعِزْهاةُ المدائحِ زير

I say to the wounds of youth, my poetry is infatuated,

while the old and wise are solemn.

على أنّ بالأفكارِ شُغْلاً لوِ انتهَتْ

عنِ النَّظْمِ لكنّ اللِّبيبَ وقور

Although my thoughts are preoccupied with other matters,

averting poetry, but the judicious are dignified.

كأنّ فؤادي طُولَ دهريَ حلبةٌ

على أنّه للنائباتِ أَسير

It is as if my heart throughout my life is an arena,

captive to the blows of fate.

تَخلَّف فيه قاصرَ الهَمِّ نافِثاً

صاوا وأَرْيُ الشِّعْرِ منه مَشور

In it remains one with shallow care, pouring forth

noise, while the sight of poetry for it is muddled.

قَدِمتَ علينا والرّبيعُ بمَوعدٍ

فقد عادَ روضُ العيشِ وهْو نَضير

You have come to us while spring is keeping its promise,

so the garden of life has returned refreshed.

لِجودِك يا أَندَى الورى ولجودِه

سحابانِ كُلٌّ للأنامِ مَطير

Due to your munificence, O brightest light of the world, and its munificence,

two clouds, each a rain for the people.

ففي كُلِّ دارٍ مِنْحةٌ وعَطيَّةٌ

وفي كُلِّ قاعٍ رَوضةٌ وغَدير

In every house, there are gifts and grants,

in every plain, a garden and stream.

كأنّ الأقاحي والشّقائقَ في الثَّرى

خدودٌ بها مَصقولةٌ وثُغور

It is as if the anemones and poppies on the land

are flushed cheeks with polished and gaping holes.

فعشْ ألفَ عَصْرٍ مثلَ ذا العصرِ كاملاً

فمِثْلُك مجداً لم تَجِدْه عُصور

So live for a thousand eras like this perfect age,

for the ages have not found one like you in glory.

لدَهْرِكَ تَغْدو كيف شِئْتَ مُصرِّفاً

إذا صَرَّفتْهم كيف شِئْنَ دهور

However you wish, you make the days your guide,

since epochs are guided however they wish.

وأَحسنُ حالِ الدّهرِ أنّك سالِمٌ

وهل فَقْدُ خَلْقٍ ما بَقِيتَ يَضير

The best state of fate is that you are safe,

and does the loss of any creature harm when you remain?

كفانا كريمٌ من بني الدّهرِ واحدٌ

وواحِدُ صِدْقٍ إن وجَدْتَ كثير

One noble man from the sons of time suffices us,

and the sincerity of one, even if you find many.