هِيَ سُلوَةٌ ذَهَبَت بِكُلِّ غَرامِ
وَالحُبُّ نَهبُ تَطاوُلِ الأَيّامِ
She is a consolation that took away all passion,
And love is the plunder of the passage of time.
وَلَقَد نَضَحتُ مِنَ السُلُوِّ وَبَردِهِ
حَرَّ الجَوى فَبَرَدتُ أَيَّ ضِرامِ
And indeed I was saturated with patience and its coldness,
The heat of passion cooled me, what cure!
مِن بَعدِ ما أَظمى الغَليلُ جَوانِحي
وَأَطالَ مِن مَلَلِ الزُلالِ أُوامي
After the thirst overwhelmed my essence,
And the beauty of the gazelles prolonged my affliction.
نَشَزَ الجَنيبُ عَلى ثَنِيّاتِ الهَوى
وَنَجَوتُ مَرمِيّاً إِلَيَّ زِمامي
My heart awoke to the coils of love,
And I was saved as the reins were thrown to me.
سَلوانَ لا أُعطي الجَآذِرَ لَفتَةً
أَو نَظرَةً إِلّا بِعَينِ لَمامِ
I do not give an alluring glance to the unfaithful,
Or a look except with a hidden eye.
نَفَضَ الصَبابَةَ خاطِري وَجَوانِحي
وَأَبى المَذَلَّةَ مَنزِلي وَمَقامي
My pride and essence shook off humiliation,
And refused disgrace as an abode and position.
وَالحُبُّ داءٌ يَضمَحِلُّ كَأَنَّما
تَرغو رَوازِحُهُ بِغَيرِ لُغامِ
Love is an illness that withers away,
As if its cords were soaked without tar.
لا يَدَّعِ العُذّالُ نَزعَ صَبابَتي
بِيَدي حَسَرتُ عَنِ الغَرامِ لِثامي
Let not the critic attempt to take away my pride,
With the hand of sorrow I uncovered my mouth from passion.
قَد كانَتِ الصَبَواتُ تَعسِفُ مِقوَدي
فَالآنَ سَوفَ أُطيلُ مِن إِجمامي
The caprices used to control my reins,
But now I will prolong my restraint.
هَيهاتَ يَخفِضُني الزَمانُ وَإِنَّما
بَيني وَبَينَ الذُلِّ حَدُّ حُسامي
Far from it! Time diminishes me, but
Between me and disgrace is the edge of my sword.
لا أَرتَضي بِالماءِ إِلّا جَمَّةً
وَلَرُبَّ طافِحَةٍ بِغَيرِ جِمامِ
I do not accept water except wholesome,
And perhaps overflowing without turbidity.
وَأَصُدُّ عَن ماءِ القَليبِ وَماؤُهُ
في حَيِّزِ الإِكرابِ وَالأَوذامِ
I refrain from the water of hearts and it is
In the realm of muddy and foul.
وَلَقَد لَبِستُ مِنَ القَناعَةِ جُبَّةً
تَضفو عَلَيَّ وَلا تَبينُ لِذامِ
And I have worn the garment of contentment,
It adorns me and does not show stains.
كَم ذَلَّلَ العُدمُ العَزيزَ وَعَظَّمَت
نَفَحاتُ هَذا المالِ غَيرَ عُظامِ
How much poverty has humiliated the mighty!
And how the breaths of wealth have exalted bones!
ما هَمُّ مَن حُرِمَ الثَراءَ إِذا سَما
وَأَحَظُّ مِن شَرَفٍ وَمِن إِعظامِ
What is the concern of one deprived of wealth if he ascends,
And I am more fortunate with honor and reverence.
شَحَبَ الزَمانُ عَلَيَّ بَعدَ غَضارَةٍ
وَإِذا نَقَضتُ فَقَد قَضَيتُ تَمامي
Time has faded upon me after flourishing,
And if I pass away then I have fulfilled my purpose.
وَجَرى الثِقافُ عَلى أَوائِلِ صَعدَتي
فَاِقتَصَّ مِن طَرَبي وَفَضلِ عُرامي
And fate has afflicted the prime of my ascent,
So it has diminished the excess of my verses.
عَنّي إِلَيكَ فَما الوِصالُ بِنافِعٍ
مَن لا يُعَذَّبُ قَلبُهُ بِغَرامِ
Away from me to you, for companionship is no benefit
To one whose heart is not tormented by passion.
ما كُنتُ أَسمَحُ بِالسَلامِ لِمُعرِضٍ
وَعَلى أَميرِ المُؤمِنينَ سَلامي
I would not allow the greeting of peace to one who turns away,
And peace be upon the Commander of the Faithful.
مَلِكٌ سَما حَتّى تَحَلَّقَ في العُلى
وَأَذَلَّ عِرنينَ الزَمانِ السامي
A king who ascended until he hovered in the heights,
And humiliated the lions of the lofty time.
يا اِبنَ القَماقِمِ وَالغَطارِفَةِ الأُلى
قِمَمِ العُلى وَدَعائِمِ الإِسلامِ
O son of the veils and flags,
The summits of loftiness and the pillars of Islam.
الطَودُ أَيهَمُ وَالسَماءُ عَريضَةٌ
وَاليَومَ أَيوَمُ وَالقَلَمَّسُ طامِ
The lofty mountain, and the vast sky,
And today is a day, and the pen is swift.
سيماءُ مُشتَهِرٍ وَقَلبُ مُشَيَّعٍ
وَأَناةُ مُقتَدِرٍ وَرَأيُ إِمامِ
Fame of the renowned, and heart of the revered,
And patience of the capable, and view of the imam.
أَمرُ الخِلافَةِ في يَدَيكَ وَإِنَّما
هِيَ عُقبَةٌ تُقضى بِكُلِّ هُمامِ
The command of the caliphate is in your hands, and it is only
An obstacle to be resolved with every determination.
قَد كانَ جَدُّكَ عِصمَةَ العُربِ الأُلى
وَالآنَ أَنتَ لَهُم مِنَ الإِعدامِ
Your grandfather was the protection of the mighty Arabs,
And now you are their salvation from extermination.
حَفِظوا أَياديكَ الجِسامَ وَإِنَّما
وُصّوا بِحِفظِ الخَيلِ وَالأَنعامِ
They advised to protect the mighty horses and cattle,
With the obedient guide, the imam, I was obeyed.
بِالطائِعِ الهادي الإِمامِ أَطاعَني
أَمَلي وَسَهَّلَ لي الزَمانُ مَرامي
My hopes were fulfilled and time was made easy for my purpose.
A people none among them but a horseman,
مِن مَعشَرٍ ما فيهِمُ إِلّا فَتىً
أَو جائِدٍ أَو ذائِدٍ أَو حامِ
Or assailant, or defender, or protector.
When determined they charge back
قَومٌ إِذا عَزَموا الغِوارَ تَراجَعوا
يَتَقاسَمونَ ضَراغِمَ الآجامِ
Sharing the portions of death in gulps.
Wealth does not settle above their palms,
لا يَستَقِرُّ المالُ فَوقَ أَكُفِّهِم
كَالسَيلِ يَزلَقُ عَن ذُرى الأَعلامِ
It slides like a torrent over the top of flags.
The house with tall pillars that shades them
البَيتُ ذو العَمَدِ الطِوالِ يُظِلُّهُم
بَينَ القَنا وَالحامِلِ الهَمهامِ
Between battle and standard bearer.
Every horseman and foot soldier ransom you
يَفديكَ كُلُّ مُزَنَّدٍ وَمُعَرِّدٍ
يَومَ الوَغى وَمُطاوِلٍ وَمُسامِ
On the day of battle, long strider and protector,
And miser who gave little and sometimes
وَمُبَخِّلٍ أَعطى القَليلَ وَرُبَّما
سَمَحَت حُروفُ التاءِ لِلتَمتامِ
The letters of the taa allow for completion.
The traces of scars on his cheeks and breast
أَثَرُ النُدوبِ بِصَفحَتَيهِ وَنَحرِهِ
لِصَفا مُرادٍ أَو سِهامِ مَرامِ
For a healing direction or arrows of purpose.
He sought money not for shyness or glory,
طَلَبَ الغِنى لا لِلحَياءِ وَلا النَدى
ما كُلُّ عارٍ جاءَ لِلإِحرامِ
Not every shame came for pilgrimage.
How envious of the one with clear light in the heights,
أَحَسودَ ذي النورِ المُبينِ عَلى العُلى
إِربَع عَلى ظَلَعٍ وَأَنفُكَ دامِ
Four on a rib and your nose is blood.
Either you dispute him for supremacy, for he is
إِمّا تُنازِعهُ العَلاءَ فَإِنَّهُ
قَرمٌ يُخاطِرُهُ بُوَيزِلُ عامِ
A brave one who risks the lions in battle.
And how many peers have the edges of spears surpassed
وَلَرُبَّ قِرنٍ فاتَ أَطرافَ القَنا
حَتّى أَخَذتَ عَلَيهِ بِالأَقلامِ
Until you seized them with pens.
And you indulged in earnest and jest,
وَوَلِعتَ في جِدِّ الحَدِيثِ وَهَزلِهِ
وَلَعَ القَواضِبِ بِالطُلى وَالهامِ
And the hands on the reins and determination.
A host dense with equipment and armored horses,
في فَيلَقٍ جَمِّ الذَوابِلِ وَالظُبى
مُثرٍ مِنَ الإِسراجِ وَالإِلجامِ
Overflowing with saddles and reins.
Its waves clatter as if it were above its porch
مُتَدَفِّقِ القُطرَينِ يَرجُفُ نَقعُهُ
بِعَصائِبِ الراياتِ وَالأَعلامِ
A torrent that accompanies an extending cloud.
You kept revealing it with polished spears,
فَكَأَنَّهُ وَالنَقعُ فَوقَ رِواقِهِ
سَيلٌ يُسايِرُ مُستَطيلَ غَمامِ
And the horses between warning and fasting.
You stirred its flanks as if you had unleashed
ما زِلتَ تَكشِفُهُ بِمَصقولِ القَرا
وَالخَيلُ بَينَ مُغيرَةٍ وَصِيامِ
A spring upon legs.
An eye wanders arrogantly on the bridle,
قَلقَلتَ مِن أَعطافِهِ فَكَأَنَّما
فَجَّرتَ يُنبوعاً عَلى الأَقدامِ
So you almost ride it without a bridle.
And a hand rages on the sword courageously,
طِرفٌ يَتيهِ عَلى اللِجامِ تَكَبُّراً
فَتَكادُ تَركَبُهُ بِغَيرِ لِجامِ
So you almost extend it without a sword.
And the thrust returns with the spear, while their chests
وَيَدٌ تَصولُ عَلى الحُسامِ شَجاعَةً
فَتَكادُ تَبسُطُها بِغَيرِ حُسامِ
Are scratched behind the steeds continually.
The red heels as if kneaded with
وَالطَعنُ يَرجِعُ بِالقَنا وَصُدورُها
خَطّاطَةٌ خَلفَ الجِيادِ دَوامِ
Blood and twisted intestine.
Alas while you live to his homelands
حُمرُ الكُعوبِ كَأَنَّما أَلوى بِها
نَضخٌ مِنَ الشَيّانِ وَالعُلّامِ
Time pushes with turban and Syria.
This is Hussein, and you have pulled his kinship
إيهاً وَأَنتَ حَياً إِلى أَوطانِهِ
دَفعُ الزَمانِ بِمُعرِقٍ وَشَآمِ
A pull that passes by the wombs of relatives.
You gave him pure affection and passion
هَذا الحُسَينُ وَقَد جَذَبتَ بِضَبعِهِ
جَذباً يُمِرُّ قَرائِنَ الأَرحامِ
And wonders of honour and kindness.
And you sent him back with words of no turning away
أَعطَيتَهُ مَحضَ المَوَدَّةِ وَالهَوى
وَغَرائِبَ الإِعزازِ وَالإِكرامِ
And the promise is not false.
Being good to kin and stranger is an obligation,
وَرَدَدتَهُ بِالقَولِ لَيسَ بِخُلَّبٍ
في عَقبِهِ وَالوَعدُ غَيرُ جَهامِ
And sons of uncles are most deserving of favours.
Let not the enemies gloat over him after
مُتَناوِلاً طَرَفَ الفَخارِ يَجُرُّهُ
وَيَقودُ مُصعَبَهُ بِغَيرِ زِمامِ
What they presented of rancour and darkness.
It is an utterance that cannot be reversed,
لَمّا رَآكَ رَأى النَبِيَّ مُحَمَّداً
في بُردَةِ الإِجلالِ وَالإِعظامِ
Like an arrow that escapes the fingers of the archer.
And words present themselves like the crescent, so if
وَرَأى بِمَجلِسِكَ المُعَرِّقِ في العُلى
حَرَمَ الرَجاءِ وَقُبَّةَ الإِسلامِ
The doer walks in them, that is the full moon.
And how many a doer of an act that does not bend
أَوسَعتَ مِن خَطَواتِهِ في مَوقِفٍ
مُتَغَلغِلٍ بِتَضايُقِ الأَقدامِ
If he wanted to reverse it with all his wishes.
And so did kings crumble and found it formidable
وَرَفَعتَ ناظِرَهُ إِلَيكَ مُسَلِّماً
في أَيِّ أُبَّهَةٍ وَأَيِّ مَقامِ
To undo what they raised of pillars.
And the tooth of the son of the paralyzed became helpless
وَمِنَ القُلوبِ سَواكِنٌ وَخَوافِقٌ
وَمِنَ العُيونِ غَوامِضٌ وَسَوامِ
To break what he built of pyramids.
And so was Amr owner of the trench, after
قَرَّبتَ مِن فَمِهِ أَنامِلَ راحَةٍ
مَعروفَةٍ بِالنَقضِ وَالإِبرامِ
The disturbance of pulling, to return arrows.
Woe to a deluded one who disobeys you, for he
وَخَصَصتَهُ بِالبِشرِ مِنكَ وَإِنَّما
بِشرُ الإِمامِ قَرابَةُ الإِنعامِ
Exposes himself to the claws of the young lion.
Far from it! Your obedience is salvation, and your love
بِرُّ الأَقارِبِ وَالأَباعِدِ واجِبٌ
وَأَحَقُّ بِالنُعمى بَنو الأَعمامِ
Piety, and thanking you is the best of fates.
Submit, Commander of the Faithful, to a felicity
لا تَشمِتَنَّ بِهِ الأَعادي بَعدَما
عَرَضوا مِنَ الأَحقادِ وَالأَوغامِ
Tied with the tails of years.
And live the days of survival, and do not cease
هِيَ قَولَةٌ لا يُستَطاعُ رُجوعُها
كَالسَهمِ يَخرُجُ عَن بَنانِ الرامي
To overwhelm with your gratitude the tongues of people.
A soul the turtledoves forbid out of reverence,
وَالقَولُ يَعرِضُ كَالهِلالِ فَإِن مَشى
فيهِ الفَعالُ فَذاكَ بَدرُ تَمامِ
Souls are not forbidden to seek passion.
For God knows your light has not ceased
وَلَرُبَّ فاعِلِ فِعلَةٍ لا تَنثَني
لَو رامَ رَجعَتَها بِكُلِّ مَرامِ
To ridicule injustice and darkness.
And glory informs of your actions that it
وَكَذا المُلوكُ تَقَوَّضوا وَاِستَصعَبوا
تَقويضَ ما رَفَعوا مِنَ الآطامِ
Sends down to it in sanctity and protection.
So listen, Commander of the Faithful, for
وَغَدا سِنانُ اِبنُ المُشَلِّلِ عاجِزاً
عَن نَقضِ ما عَلّى مِنَ الأَهرامِ
Ears are doors to minds.
Words of praise are not insincere,
وَكَذاكَ عَمروٌ ذو المَعابِلِ فاتَهُ
بَعدَ اِضطِرابِ النَزعِ رَدُّ سِهامِ
And gratitude for blessings is not sturdiness.
Your collected strength came to you fully,
وَيلٌ لِمَغرورٍ عَصاكَ فَإِنَّهُ
مُتَعَرِّضٌ لِمَخالِبِ الضِرغامِ
Subjugating souls in bodies.
Who can I ask to recite them to you in a stance
هَيهاتَ طاعَتُكَ النَجاةُ وَحُبُّكُ ال
تَقوى وَشُكرُكَ أَفضَلُ الأَقسامِ
I consider an honor the length of my days?
I do not claim hyperbole in it, but rather
فَاِسلَم أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ لِغِبطَةٍ
مَعقودَةٍ بِذَوائِبِ الأَعوامِ
My words do justice to the pinnacles of men.
وَتَمَلَّ أَيّامَ البَقاءِ وَلا تَزَل
تَطغى بِشُكرِكَ أَلسُنُ الأَقوامِ
نَفسٌ يُحَرِّمُها الحِمامُ مَهابَةً
لَيسَ النُفوسُ عَلى الرَدى بِحَرامِ
فَاللَهُ يَعلَمُ أَنَّ نورَكَ لَم يَزَل
مُستَهزِئاً بِالظُلمِ وَالإِظلامِ
وَالمَجدُ يُخبِرُ عَن فِعالِكَ أَنَّهُ
يُدلي إِلَيهِ بِحُرمَةٍ وَذِمامِ
فَاِسمَع أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ فَإِنَّما ال
أَسماعُ أَبوابٌ إِلى الأَفهامِ
القَولُ في الإِطراءِ غَيرُ مُبَلَّدٍ
وَالشُكرُ لِلنَعماءِ غَيرُ عُقامِ
جاءَتكَ مُحصَدَةَ القُوى حَبّارَةً
تَستَعبِدُ الأَرواحَ في الأَجسامِ
مَن لي بِإِنشاديكَها في مَوقِفٍ
أَعتَدُّهُ شَرَفاً مَدى أَيّامي
لا أَدَّعي فيهِ الغُلُوَّ وَإِنَّما
يوفي عَلى قُلَلِ الرِجالِ كَلامي
