أطاوي السبسب القهب — Alluah — Saqi

O you who fold up the dusty-gray desert,
on the forelegs of a swift, thirsty camel,
as one folds a striped cloak and a sleeveless tunic,
halt at Su'al and seek your reward.
And ask for the dwelling of the man,
the generous fulfiller of hopes.
The one I seek suffices me—my son,
Muhammad, son of Bal'arab.
Noble through a mother of high standing and a father,
and paternal uncles of lofty lineage,
an Afifi when his lineage is traced,
noble in character and inherited honor.
And say: what is the fault, and what the error?
And what is the lamenting, and what the neglect?
And procrastination in one like you
is blameworthy to a person of refinement.
You severed the cord of one who kept ties,
and exchanged affection for aversion;
yet he took no one in your place,
despite distance, and in letters.
So if our counsel
to you has become our disgrace,
then our insight has indeed stumbled,
without excuse or reason.
For it is in my nature and character:
without divulging secrets or flattering,
my affection is unadulterated,
and I have not mixed it with hatred.
I do not keep my friend in ignorance,
nor drive him away from me;
one like me is among those who love him,
in sincerity and in anger.
So if your estrangement
is on this account, then your excuse
is indeed accepted; and others,
simply for your information, have not replied.
And if our pledges
have been severed, and our ties to you
have faded, then God, our Creator,
is not solicitous toward you or me.
For sustenance cannot be snatched,
nor are friends acquired,
nor loved ones beguiled,
through absence or reproach.
A youth remains constant in affection;
when pressed for consent, he breaks free,
and spurns the tale-bearers' words,
even from his mother and father.
Muhammad, O son of Bal'arab,
face to face and in letters,
I counseled you as one seeking divine reward,
and keeping you close entails some toil.
I have seen that people, so long as they unite,
remain safe from their enemies;
but if their footing slips,
they fall into humiliation and ruin.
And Oman is sought
by tyrants who ravage her,
and upheavals overturn her,
through reversal after reversal.
And everyone pursues what he covets,
even if only a glimmer of gain should flash;
even when given it, he would not be content
with less than life and property.
So be among the forbearing,
to attain the rank of the virtuous;
for wise leaders
are surely in the highest ranks.
So be the sword of your cousins,
cutting off the enemy's head;
and in prosperity and distress,
be a partner, not a usurper.
And keep ties with them if they cut you off,
and keep reaching out even if they withhold;
and descend whenever they climb
to a height by reviling you.
For the best of men is one who is patient,
and thus takes warning from the past;
with reason's eye he sees
the hidden matter, however obscure it is.
So this is my counsel and this my affection;
I have explained them, and everything I hold
I have disclosed, without retracting;
this is the utmost of my desire.
And a waft of greetings from me,
and pure praise repeated on my behalf,
be upon you, without excluding
any Nati'i among the companions.
And do not forget Sulaiman,
nor Khalaf, nor anyone who
greeted us out of affection for you,
and the entire circle of kin.
And I console you for the departed,
slain by the keen, cutting blade:
a youth who would not close his eyes
to rancor and suspicions.
And you are his successors now,
for children grieving for him;
and with you, should they fall into discord,
they need fear no calamities.