أَقامَ كُلُّ مُلِثِّ الوَدقِ رَجّاسِ
عَلى دِيارٍ بِعُلوِ الشامِ أَدراسِ
Every lover of the slender gazelle stationed himself
In the lofty lands of Syria which are difficult to ascend
فيها لِعَلوَةِ مُصطافٌ وَمُرتَبَعٌ
مِن بانَقوسا وَبابِلّي وَبِطياسِ
In it are the dwellings of Mustafa and scattered about
Are the tents of the Banu Qays and Babylonians and Byzantines
مَنازِلٌ أَنكَرَتنا بَعدَ مَعرِفَةٍ
وَأَوحَشَت مِن هَوانا بَعدَ إيناسِ
Abodes which became unfamiliar to us after acquaintance
And estranged us with disdain after intimacy
ياعَلوَ لَو شِئتِ أَبدَلتِ الصُدودَ لَنا
وَصلاً وَلانَ لِصَبٍّ قَلبُكِ القاسي
O Elevated one, if you wished you could change the aloofness towards us
To cordiality, and be for a passionate heart not harsh
هَل مِن سَبيلٍ إِلى الظُهرانِ مِن حَلَبٍ
وَنَشوَةٍ بَينَ ذاكَ الوَردِ وَالآسِ
Is there a way to go out to the meadows from Aleppo
And enjoy ourselves amidst the roses and myrtles?
إِذ أَقبَلُ الراحَ وَالأَيّامُ مُقبِلَةٌ
مِن أَهيَفٍ خَنِثِ العِطفَينِ مَيّاسِ
When the wind blew the days turned
From a feeble, tender lullaby to a violent gale
أَمُدُّ كَفّي لِأَخذِ الكَأسِ مِن رَشَأِ
وَحاجَتي كُلُّها في حامِلِ الكاسِ
I extend my palm to take the cup from the wine-pourer
And all my need is with the bearer of the goblet
بِبَردِ أَنفاسِهِ يَشفي الغَليلَ إِذا
دَنا فَقَرَّبَها مِن حَرِّ أَنفاسي
With the coolness of his breath he heals the anguish when
He approaches and brings it near the heat of my breath
إِذا تَعاظَمَني أَمرٌ فَزَعتُ إِلى
شِعري وَوَجَّهتُ أَجمالي وَأَفراسي
When a matter becomes grave I take refuge in
My poetry and aim my beauty and my steeds
هَل مِن رَسولٍ يُؤَدّي ما أُحَمِّلُهُ
إِلى الأَميرِ أَبي موسى بنِ عَبّاسِ
Is there a messenger who will convey what I instruct him
To the Emir Abu Musa ibn ‘Abbas?
عَبّاسٌ بنُ سَعيدٍ في أَرومَتِهِ
يَحكي أَرومَةَ عَبّاسِ بنِ مِرداسِ
‘Abbas the son of Sa‘eed in his mansion
Tells the tale of ‘Abbas the son of Mirdas
أَيهاتِ مِنكَ لَقَد أُعطيتَ مَأثُرَةً
مَأثورَةً عَن جُدودٍ غَيرِ أَنكاسِ
Alas! From you were given glorious deeds
Handed down from ancestors, not worthless folk
آباؤُكَ الصيدُ تَحميهِم وَتَجمَعُهُم
مَنازِلُ العِزِّ مِن غَيلٍ وَأَخياسِ
Your forefathers, the hunt was their protection and brought them together
Abodes of honor whether barren or fertile
المُقعِصونَ زُهَيراً عَن غَنِيِّهِمِ
وَقَد سَقاها كُؤوسَ المَوتِ في شاسِ
Those who cry over the loss of their wealth from Zuheir
After he had given them goblets of death to drink in a marsh
وَأَنتَ مُنهَرِتُ الشِدقَينِ تَلحَظُني
إيماضَ بارِقَةٍ أَو ضَوءَ مِقباسِ
While you glance at me, your cheeks streaming
Like the flash of lightning or the glow of an ember
