حُسَامٌ لَهُ مَجْدُ الْخُلُودِ قِرَابُ
يُحَوِّمُ شِعْرِي حَوْلَهُ فَيَهَابُ
A sword with eternal glory as its scabbard
My poetry revolves around it, dreading its might
وَطَوْدٌ مِنَ الْعِزِّ الْأَشَمِّ عَنَتْ لَهُ
وُجُوهٌ، وَدَانَتْ بِالْوَلَاءِ رِقَابُ
A lofty determination, firm and resolute
Faces bow down before it, necks submit in allegiance
وَسِرٌّ سَمَاوِيٌّ ثَوَى فِي ضَرِيحِهِ
لَهُ مِنْ جَنَاحَيْ جَبْرَئِيلَ قِبَابُ
A heavenly secret rests in his shrine
Gabriel's wings form a dome above it
وَقَبْرٌ كَمِحْرَابِ الصَّلَاةِ مُطَهَّرٌ
عَلَيْهِ نَعِيمٌ وَارِفٌ وَثَوَابُ
A grave, pure as a prayer niche
Upon it, bliss and rewards aplenty
وَكَنْزٌ بِهِ مِنْ جَنَّةِ الْخُلْدِ دُرَّةٌ
تَرُدُّ ثَمِينَ الدُّرِّ وَهْيَ سِخَابُ
A treasure within, a pearl from the garden of immortality
That puts gems of value to shame, however ornate
وَزَهْرٌ مِنَ الْآمَالِ رَفَّ بِرَوْضَةٍ
بِهَا الْأَرْضُ مِسْكٌ، وَالنَّسِيمُ مَلَابُ
A blossom of hopes has perfumed a meadow
The earth becomes musk, the breeze gentleness
إِذَا جَاوَزَتْهَا لِلرَّبَابِ غَمَامَةٌ
سَقَاهَا مِنَ الْحَبِّ النَّدِيِّ رَبَابُ
When a cloud passes by it, heading for the Exalted
It is watered by the Benevolent's downpour of love
قُلُوبُ بَنِي مِصْرٍ خَوَافِقُ حَوْلَهَا
لَهَا كُلَّ حِينٍ جَيْئَةٌ وَذَهَابُ
The hearts of Egypt's people orbit around it
Coming and going, ceaselessly circling
إِذَا غَابَ شَخْصُ الْعَبْقَرِيِّ بِرَمْسِهِ
فَلَيْسَ لِفَضْلِ الْعَبْقَرِيِّ غِيَابُ!
When the great man's form is absent from sight
His excellence remains, it does not disappear
وَإِنْ حَجَبَتْ بِيضَ الْأَيَادِي مَنِيَّةٌ
فَلَيْسَ عَلَى آثَارِهِنَّ حِجَابُ!
If the hands of time conceal it with death
No veil can obscure the traces he left
وَكَمْ مِنْ فَتًى جَازَ الْحَيَاةَ وَذِكْرُهُ
لَهُ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ زَوْرَةٌ وَإِيَابُ
How many a youth passed through life, remembered
Only for frequent mentions, comings and goings
وَمَا مَاتَ مَنْ رَدَّ الْحَيَاةَ لِأُمَّةٍ
وَأَحْيَا بِهَا الْآمَالَ وَهْيَ يَبَابُ
But one who restored life to a nation has not died
Reviving its hopes when they were fading
إِذَا الْمَرْءُ لَمْ يُخْلِدْهُ فَضْلُ جِهَادِهِ
«فَكُلُّ الَّذِي فَوْقَ التُّرَابِ تُرَابُ»
"If a man is not immortalized by his struggle
Then all above dust is but dust"
وَهَلْ مِثْلُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ فِي النَّاسِ عَاهِلٌ
لَهُ فَوْقَ أَحْدَاثِ الزَّمَانِ وِثَابُ؟
Is there a ruler like Ismail among all people?
With glory transcending the tribulations of time
طَمُوحٌ لَهُ فِي ذِرْوَةِ الدَّهْرِ مَأْرَبٌ
وَفَوْقَ مَنَاطِ الْفَرْقَدَيْنِ طِلَابُ
Lofty ambitions at the peak of eternity
Seeking heights beyond the two brilliant stars
إِذَا صَحَّ عَزْمُ الْمَرْءِ فَالْبَحْرُ ضَحْضَحٌ
وَإِنْ خَارَ فَالنَّضْحُ الْيَسِيرُ عُبَابُ
When one's resolve is firm, the ocean ripples gently
And the slightest sprinkle stirs up foam
وَلَيْسَتْ شِبَاكُ الْعِزِّ إِلَّا عَزِيمَةً
وَمَا الْمَجْدُ إِلَّا صَوْلَةٌ وَغِلَابُ!
The fetters of glory are naught but determination
Victory but leaping forth and triumph
تَمُدُّ اللَّيَالِي لِلْجَرِيءِ زِمَامَهَا
وَتَعْنُو لَهُ الْأَيَّامُ وَهْيَ صِعَابُ
Nights extend their reins for the audacious
Days assist him as he scales hardships
وَمَا كُلُّ مَنْ أَرْخَى الْعِنَانَيْنِ فَارِسٌ
وَلَا كُلُّ دَاعٍ لِلنُّهُوضِ مُجَابُ!
Not every horseman who loosens the reins is a knight
Nor every supplicant for action, answered
إِذَا مَا عَدَدْنَا مَأْثُرَاتِ يَمِينِهِ
عَلَى مِصْرَ لَمْ يَنْفَدْ لَهُنَّ حِسَابُ
If we recount the achievements of his hand
For Egypt, their number remains countless
دَعَاهَا فَسَارَتْ خَلْفَهُ تُسْرِعُ الْخُطَى
وَهِمَّتُهَا لِلْمُعْضِلَاتِ رِكَابُ
He called her, so she followed close behind
Her determination, a mount to surpass tribulations
فَمَا الشَّوْكُ فِي أَقْدَامِهَا حِينَ صَمَّمَتْ
بِشَوْكٍ، وَلَا صُمُّ الْهِضَابِ هِضَابُ
No thorns could wound her feet once resolved
No impassable mountains, however steep
إِذَا وَهَنَتْ أَذْكَى لَظَى رَغَبَاتِهَا
هُمَامٌ لَهُ عِنْدَ النُّجُومِ رِغَابُ
When her keenest desires weakened
Her pride had stars in the sky as mounts
وَإِنْ أَظْلَمَتْ طُرْقُ الْمَعَالِي أَنَارَهَا
مِنَ الرَّأْيِ مِنْهُ وَالذَّكَاءِ شِهَابُ
And if the paths to noble goals darkened
The flashes of his wisdom and intellect lit the way
رَأَتْ مِصْرُ فِيهِ عَاهِلًا عَزَّ نِدُّهُ
وَمِنْ أَيْنَ لِلْبَدْرِ الْمُنِيرِ صِحَابُ؟
Egypt saw in him a mighty ruler
And which brilliant moon lacks orbiting stars?
حَبَاهَا أَبُو الْأَشْبَالِ جُرْأَةَ ضَيْغَمٍ
لَهُ ظُفُرٌ يَفْرِي الْخُطُوبَ وَنَابُ
The father of cubs endowed her with a lion's daring
His victories scattering fears, however fierce
وَأَزْلَفَهَا مِلْءَ النَّوَاظِرِ جَنَّةً
تَمِيدُ بِهَا الْأَغْصَانُ وَهْيَ رِطَابُ
And brought her into view, a garden of bliss
Where branches sway, lush with fruit
وَأَلْبَسَهَا مِنْ نَهْضَةِ الْغَرْبِ حُلَّةً
وَكَمْ زَانَتِ الْغِيدَ الْمِلَاحَ ثِيَابُ!
And clothed her in the garb of the West's awakening
How the robe looks graceful on the elegant wearer!
فَفِي كُلِّ حَيٍّ لِلْعُلُومِ مَنَابِرٌ
وَفِي كُلِّ رُكْنٍ لِلْفُنُونِ رِحَابُ!
Thus in every district, platforms rise for knowledge
And in every corner, open spaces for arts
وَأَيْنَ رَمَيْتَ الطَّرْفَ تَلْقَى مَعَالِمًا
سَوَامِقُهَا فَوْقَ السَّحَابِ سَحَابُ
Wherever you turn your gaze, you find monuments
Their peaks above clouds, clouds atop clouds
عَجَائِبُ صُنْعٍ يَصْغُرُ الدَّهْرُ دُونَهَا
وَكُلُّ فِعَالِ الْخَالِدِينَ عُجَابُ!
Marvels of workmanship belittling all of time
The wonders of the immortals, all marvels
وَجُهْدٌ مِنَ الْفُولَاذِ مَا كَلَّ زَنْدُهُ
وَصَادِقُ عَزْمٍ لَيْسَ فِيهِ كِذَابُ
And exertions of steel not bent by blows
A true determination, no pretense within
وَلِلْجُهْدِ فِي الدُّنْيَا نِصَابٌ وَطَاقَةٌ
وَلَيْسَ لِجُهْدِ الْعَبْقَرِيِّ نِصَابُ!
Human capacity has limits in this world
But the great man's efforts know no bounds
أَبَا مِصْرَ، هَلْ تُصْغِي وَلِلشِّعْرِ دَمْعَةٌ
بِهَا الْحُبُّ صَفْوٌ، وَالْوَفَاءُ مُذَابُ؟
Father of Egypt, will you listen as a tear flows
With it, pure affection and melting loyalty?
أَتَذْكُرُ يَوْمًا بِالْقَنَاةِ وَقَدْ سَعَتْ
شُعُوبٌ، وَسَالَتْ بِالْمُلُوكِ شِعَابُ؟
Do you recall a day by the canal, thronged
With peoples, kings rushing forth?
وَأَنْتَ تَؤُمُّ الْحَشْدَ جَذْلَانَ هَانِئًا
وَنَجْمُكَ لَمْ يَحْجِبْ سَنَاهُ ضَبَابُ
You led the masses, serene and content
Your star's brightness veiled by no clouds
وَمِصْرُ بِمُحْيِيهَا تَتِيهُ وَتَنْثَنِي
كَمَا لَعِبَتْ بِالْعَاشِقِينَ كَعَابُ
While Egypt swooned over its reviver
As the enamored are entranced by coquetry
مَوَائِدُ لَوْ مَرَّتْ بِأَوْهَامِ حَاتِمٍ
رَأَى أَنَّ مَدْحَ الْمَادِحِينَ سِبَابُ
Feasts that if beheld by Hatem's imagination
Would show all praise by eulogists as insults
وَمَوْكِبُ عِزٍّ مَا رَأَى النِّيلُ مِثْلَهُ
وَلَا خَطَّهُ فِي السَّابِقِينَ كِتَابُ
A procession of glory the Nile never witnessed before
Nor recorded in books of past peoples
تَمَنَّتْ نُجُومُ الْأُفْقِ رَوْعَةَ زَهْوِهِ
وَسَالَ لِشَمْسٍ أَبْصَرَتْهُ لُعَابُ
The stars of the horizon longed for the splendor of his glow
And the sun wept pearls for one it saw
تَفَيَّأْتَ ظِلَّ اللهِ خَمْسِينَ حِجَّةً
وَجَنَّاتُهُ لِلْعَامِلِينَ مَثَابُ
You enjoyed God's shade fifty pilgrimages
His paradise the reward for the righteous
وَأَدْرَكَ مِصْرًا مِنْ بَنِيكَ صَوَارِمٌ
مَوَاضٍ إِذَا اشْتَدَّ الزَّمَانُ صِلَابُ
And you left to Egypt from your descendants, swords
Steadfast when times grew harsh, blades firm
كِرَامٌ إِذَا نُودُوا أَجَابُوا، وَإِنْ هُمُ
رَمَوْا جَبْهَةَ الرَّأْيِ الْبَعِيدِ أَصَابُوا
Nobles who when called, dutifully responded
And if they aimed for lofty, far goals, their arrows struck true
وَهَلْ كَفُؤَادٍ فِي الْبَرِيَّةِ مَالِكٌ؟
وَهَلْ كَلُبَابِ الْمَجْدِ فِيهِ لُبَابُ؟
Is there in the wilderness, a heart like Malik's?
Or in the essence of glory, such perception?
لَهُ عَزْمَةٌ وَثَّابَةٌ عَلَوِيَّةٌ
تَرُدُّ صُرُوفَ الدَّهْرِ وَهْيَ حِرَابُ
A resolve, constancy, and lofty ambition
That turns back the vicissitudes of fate as they strike
إِذَا مَا امْتَرَى فِي الْمُعْجِزَاتِ مُكَابِرٌ
فَسِيرَتُهُ لِلْمُمْتَرِينَ جَوَابُ
If one boasts of defying miracles
His conduct is the rebuttal that speaks
وَمَنْ مِثْلُ فَارُوقٍ وَلِلْعَرْشِ عِزَّةٌ
وَلِلْمُلْكِ وَالْمَجْدِ الْأَثِيلِ مَهَابُ؟
And who, like Omar, has glory of the throne
And for kingdom and eternal glory, such awe?
مَضَاءٌ وَإِقْدَامٌ وَجُودٌ وَصَوْلَةٌ
وَآمَالُ حُرٍّ طَامِحٍ وَشَبَابُ
Radiance, daring, generosity, and achievement
The hopes of a free and aspiring youth
سَعَى لِرَسُولِ اللهِ يَحْدُوهُ شَوْقُهُ
وَلِلشَّوْقِ وَالْحُبِّ الصَّمِيمِ جِذَابُ
He strove for God's Messenger, driven by passion
For fervor and sincere love attract
يُنَاجِيهِ فَيَّاضُ الْمَدَامِعِ خَاشِعًا
صَمُوتًا، وَصَمْتُ الْخَاشِعِينَ خِطَابُ
He whispered, eyes flowing with tears
Silent yet eloquent is the silence of worshippers
رَأَى فِيهِ رَضْوَى مِثْلَهُ فِي ثَبَاتِهِ
وَحَيَّاهُ مِنْ رَحْبِ الْبَقِيعِ جَنَابُ
He saw in him a kindred satisfaction with steadfastness
And he greeted him from the expanse of Al-Baqi
حَصِيفٌ لَهُ فِي مَوْقِفِ الْحَقِّ صَوْلَةٌ
وَرَأْيٌ إِذَا غُمَّ الصَّوَابُ صَوَابُ
Judicious, with unwavering stance for truth
His judgement right when correctness was uncertain
يُجَمِّعُ شَمْلَ الْعُرْبِ فِي ظِلِّ وَحْدَةٍ
كَمَا جَمَعَ الْأُسْدَ الضَّرَاغِمَ غَابُ
Uniting the Arab peoples under the shadow of unity
As lions are gathered by the growling wolf
إِذَا ابْتَسَمُوا فَالْبَاتِرَاتُ بَوَاسِمٌ
وَإِنْ غَضِبُوا فَالْبَاتِرَاتُ غِضَابُ
When they smile, grimaces become smiles
When angry, grimaces are but anger
وَفِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ مِنَّةٌ بَعْدَ مِنَّةٍ
إِذَا مَا انْقَضَى بَابٌ تَفَتَّحَ بَابُ
With each day, blessing upon blessing
When one door closes, another opens
وَكُلُّ أَيَادِي غَيْرِهِ حُلْمُ حَالِمٍ
وَكُلُّ نَوَالٍ مِنْ سِوَاهُ سَرَابُ
While others' restraint is a peacemaker's patience
And any gain besides his, a mirage
عَتَبْنَا عَلَى الدُّنْيَا فَمُذْ أَشْرَقَتْ بِهِ
تَقَضَّى خِصَامٌ بَيْنَنَا وَعِتَابُ
We blamed the world, but since he shone forth
Our quarrel and rebukes came to an end
وَصُغْنَا لَهُ مِنْ كُلِّ مَا تُبْدِعُ النُّهَى
رَوَائِعَ، لَمْ يُبْذَلْ لَهُنَّ نِقَابُ
We heard from him the finest of all creation
Masterpieces never unveiled before
فَلَا زَالَ مَوْفُورَ الْجَلَالِ مُسَدَّدًا
يُجِيبُ إِذَا تَدْعُو الْعُلَا وَيُجَابُ!
So he remains, majestic andSupported
Answering the sublime when called, and answered!
