تَطَلَّبتُ مَن أَدعو لِرَدِّ ظُلامَتي

تَطَلَّبتُ مَن أَدعو لِرَدِّ ظُلامَتي

فَكانَ أَبو بَكرٍ لَها وَأَبو بَكرِ

فَكانَ أَبو بَكرٍ لَها وَأَبو بَكرِ

I sought someone to call upon to redress the wrong done to me.

I sought who I should call to dispel my darkness

So there were Abu Bakr and Abu Bakr to redress it.

So Abu Bakr was for it, and Abu Bakr

وَلَو شَهِداني أَشهَداني عِنايَةً

وَلَو شَهِداني أَشهَداني عِنايَةً

تَعودُ بِحَقّي أَو تُبَلِّغُني عُذري

تَعودُ بِحَقّي أَو تُبَلِّغُني عُذري

And had they both been present with me, they would have shown me care

Had they witnessed me, they would have witnessed my care

that would restore my rightful due or secure my vindication.

That returns my right, or conveys my excuse

فَيا لَيتَ شِعري ما تُرى الشاهَ صانِعاً

فَيا لَيتَ شِعري ما تُرى الشاهَ صانِعاً

وَماعَدا تِلكَ السائِراتِ مِنَ الشِعرِ

وَماعَدا تِلكَ السائِراتِ مِنَ الشِعرِ

Oh, if only I knew what the Shah would do,

Oh, I wonder what I see the king doing

apart from those widely circulating verses.

And what else of poetry remains but that

وَهَل يَنصُرَنّي إِن أَهَبتُ بِنَصرِهِ

وَهَل يَنصُرَنّي إِن أَهَبتُ بِنَصرِهِ

أَبو تَغلِبٍ حِلفُ النَدى وَأَبو نَصرِ

أَبو تَغلِبٍ حِلفُ النَدى وَأَبو نَصرِ

And will they indeed help me if I appeal for their support—

Will Abu Taghlib, ally of dew, and Abu Nasr help me

Abu Taghlib, generosity's sworn ally, and Abu Nasr?

If I seek their aid

هُما بانِيا أُكرومَةً يُعلِيانِها

هُما بانِيا أُكرومَةً يُعلِيانِها

إِذا اِمتَثَلا فيها فَعالَ أَبي الصَقرِ

إِذا اِمتَثَلا فيها فَعالَ أَبي الصَقرِ

The two are builders of a noble deed, raising it high,

They who built a towering edifice

when, in this, they emulate the deeds of Abu al-Saqr.

When they carried out the deeds of Abu Al-Sakr therein

وَقَد عَلِمَ الأَقوامُ سالِفَ حُرمَتي

وَقَد عَلِمَ الأَقوامُ سالِفَ حُرمَتي

وَحَظَّ الشَكورِ في ثَنايَ وَفي شُكري

وَحَظَّ الشَكورِ في ثَنايَ وَفي شُكري

And the peoples have known my long-standing claim to respect,

And the people knew the sanctity I formerly possessed

and the grateful one's share in my praise and thanks.

And the share of gratitude in my folds and in my thanks

أَأَزدادُ يَأساً كِلَّما زِدتُ واجِباً

أَأَزدادُ يَأساً كِلَّما زِدتُ واجِباً

عَلَيهِ بِمَدحي أَو تَزَيَّدَ في القَدرِ

عَلَيهِ بِمَدحي أَو تَزَيَّدَ في القَدرِ

Must I grow more despairing whenever I increase an obligation

Shall I grow more despairing the more obligated I become

upon him through my praise, or he rises higher in rank?

Through my praise of him, or the more he excelled in merit

أَعوذُ بِجَدواهُ الَّتي مَلَأَت يَدي

أَعوذُ بِجَدواهُ الَّتي مَلَأَت يَدي

نَوالاً وَنُعماهُ الَّتي نَبَّهَت ذِكري

نَوالاً وَنُعماهُ الَّتي نَبَّهَت ذِكري

I seek refuge in his bounty, which filled my hand

I seek refuge in his generosity which filled my hand

with gifts, and in his favor, which made my name renowned.

With gifts, and his blessings which awakened my memory