أَبارِقٌ طالَعنا مِن نَجدِ
يُضيءُ في عارِضِهِ المُربَدِّ
Flashes have appeared to us from Najd
Illuminating in its horizon the frigid
مُستَعبِراً عَن زَفَراتِ الرَعدِ
ماءً كَما اِرتَجَّت شِعابُ العِدِّ
Voicing the rumblings of thunder
Like water as the valleys of Mount 'Ed trembled
يَقرِنُ أَعناقَ الرُبى بِالوَهدِ
وَمَنهَلٌ مُبَرقَعٌ بِالثَمدِ
Connecting the necks of mounts with ties
And a meadow dotted with dew
هَتَكتُهُ بِاليَعمَلاتِ الجُردِ
مُلَثَّماتٍ بِاللُغامِ الجَعدِ
Torn by firm mountain goats
Veiled in thick hair
يَفقَأنَ بِالمَصدَرِ عَينَ الوِردِ
وَلَيلَةٍ صَدِيَّةِ الفِرِندِ
It bursts the eye of the wild rose with its source
And a resonant starry night
بيضُ النُجومِ وَاِحمِرارُ الوَقدِ
مِثلُ سِماطَي نَرجِسٍ وَوَردِ
The whiteness of stars and the redness of ember
Like the cups of narcissus and rose
أَو مُقَلٍ صَحائِحٍ وَرُمدِ
تُنازِعُ اللَحظَ وَلَيسَ تُعدي
Or kohl-lined eyes and powder
They vie with the glance but cannot exceed
يَقولُ لي الدَهرُ أَلا تَستَجِدي
أَينَ ضِياءُ المَطلَبِ المُسوَدِّ
Time says to me, do not ask
Where is the light of the jet-black desire
أَرى اللَيالي يَشتَهينَ بُعدي
وَلا يُقَرِّبنَ يَداً مِن زَندي
I see the nights wish for my absence
And do not extend a hand to my waist
يَلِجنَ بَينَ صارِمي وَغِمدي
كَأَنَّ صَمصامي بِغَيرِ حَدِّ
They penetrate between my sword and its sheath
As if my sword has no edge
وَحاجَتي تُصلى بِنارِ الرَدِّ
أُلاحِظُ الغَيَّ بِعَينِ الرُشدِ
And my need is prayed with the fire of rejection
I observe the absent with the eye of certitude
وَلا أُبالي مِن تَمادي بُعدي
أَعوذُ مِن رِزقٍ بِغَيرِ كَدِّ
And do not care for the extent of my distance
I seek refuge from sustenance without toil
في ذا الوَرى قَلبٌ بِغَيرِ حِقدِ
مَن ذا الَّذي عَلى الزَمانِ يُعدي
In this abode, a heart without malice
Who is it that surpasses time?
كُلُّ جَوادٍ كاذِبٌ في الوَعدِ
وَكُلُّ خِلٍّ خائِنٌ في الوُدِّ
Every steed is false in its promise
And every friend is treacherous in affection
يَحِلُّ بِالعُذرِ نِطاقَ العَهدِ
لا عانَقَت هُوجُ الرِياحِ بُردي
The girth of the pact loosens
The biting winds embraced my chill
إِلاّ عَلى ظَهرِ أَقَبِّ نَهدِ
يَخطو عَلى مُلَملَماتٍ مُلدِ
Only over the back of a firm, tender breast
It steps upon slippery slopes
كَأَنَّهُ فيَ سَرعانِ الوَخدِ
يَلعَبُ في أَرساغِهِ بِالنَردِ
As if it plays dice in its stirrups
O you who intimidate with bliss
يَأَيُّها المُخَوَّفي بِسَعدِ
طَرَحتَني بَينَ النُيوبِ الدُردِ
You have cast me amongst the fierce wolves
And if victory came to you from preparation
وَلَو أَتاكَ النَصرُ مِن مَعَدِّ
جَلجَلَتَ مِن لَحمي زَئيرَ الأُسدِ
You would snarl from my flesh the roar of a lion
Alas for a soul imprisoned in my hide
آهاً لِنَفسٍ حُبِسَت في جِلدي
إِنَّ الأَسيرَ غَرِضٌ بِالقِدِّ
Indeed the captive is purposeful in seeking ransom
The noblest of my treasures is a sword in its sheath
أَشرَفُ ذُخري صارِمٌ في الغِمدِ
إِنَّ العُلى نَشوُ سُيوفِ الهِندِ
Indeed high ambition is the sword of India
I must knock on the door of seriousness
لا بُدَّ أَن أَطرُقَ بابَ الجَدِّ
وَأَجعَلَ الخُلَّةَ عُرسَ الرِفدِ
And make the sword-belt the groom of my waist
And the tongue of my sword dispel the night
وَيَطرُدَ اللَيلَ لِسانُ زَندي
حَتّى أُقاسَ بِأَبي وَجدّي
Until I match my father and grandfather
Congratulations O owner of the softness of glory
هُنِّئتَ يامالِكَ رِقَّ المَجدِ
وَمُتعِبي دونَ الوَرى بِالحَمدِ
And fatigue in the earth with praise
From you are gifts, and wishes from me
مِنكَ العَطايا وَالمُنى مِن عِندي
