تمنّى الرّكب وجهك و الصباحا

فجنّ اللّيل من فجرين لاحا

The caravan longed for your face in the morning

The caravan longed for your face and the morning,

So the night blossomed with two dawns beaming

So the night went mad from two dawns that appeared.

وحنّ إلى ظلالك عبد شمس

يريح شجونه ظمأى طلاحا

A sun worshipper yearned for your shadows

And Abd Shams yearned for your shadow,

To rest his passions, my thirst quenching

To rest his sorrows, parched and weary.

حمى الله الكواكب من معدّ

وصانك بينها قمرا لياحا

May God protect the planets from an invader

May God protect the stars of Ma'add,

And keep you among them, a sailing moon

And safeguard you among them as a radiant moon.

و طمأن للجواري كلّ بحر

و بلّغها السعادة و النجاحا

And reassure every sea for the neighbors

And calm every sea for the sailing ships,

And deliver them happiness and success

And grant them happiness and success.

بطاح القدس دنّسها مغير

فهل صانت كتائبنا البطاحا

The holy city, they defiled with oppressors

The plains of Jerusalem have been defiled by a raider,

Did our brigades protect the lowlands?

So have our battalions protected the plains?

و هل جبهت بحدّ السيف دعوى

كعرض القوم فاجرة وقاحا

Did we draw swords against the unjust claim

And have they confronted with the sword's edge a claim

Of the indecent and arrogant crowds?

As wicked and brazen as the honor of those people?

و لم نغضب لها أيّام كانت

حمى نهبا و شعبا مستباحا

We did not rage when it was a sanctuary

And we did not grow angry for it in the days when it was

For plunder, and a people free for all

A plundered sanctuary and a violated people.

و لا صدّت سرايانا عدوا

و لا هاجت حمّيتنا كفاحا

Nor did our horsemen block an enemy

And our troops did not repel an enemy,

Nor did our zealots rage with struggle

Nor did our zeal stir up a struggle,

و لا اهتزّت صوارمنا انتخاء

و لا صهلت صوافننا مراحا

Nor did our swords shake choosing their victims

And our swords did not shake out of pride,

Nor did our purebreds neigh with joy

Nor did our horses neigh in exuberance.

نجابه باليهود دما و نارا

فنغضي لا إباء و لا طماحا

We will engage the Jews with blood and fire

We are confronted by the Jews with blood and fire,

With no hesitation or lofty goals

Yet we lower our eyes, with neither pride nor ambition.

جلونا الفاتحين فلا غدوّا

نرى للفاتحين و لا رواحا

We avoided the conquerors, so never again

We ousted the conquerors, so neither morning

Will we see conquerors or wandering souls

Nor evening do we see for the conquerors.

إذا انفصفت أسنّتنا وصلنا

بأيدينا الأسنّة الصفاحا

If our tongues are silenced, we will connect

If our spearheads are shattered, we forge

With our hands the swords that articulate

With our own hands the broad blades.

إذا خرس الفصيح فقد لقينا

من النيران ألسنة فصاحا

If the eloquent are muted, we have found

If the eloquent is silenced, we have met

Fiery tongues in the cries that speak out

From the flames eloquent tongues,

زماجر دكّت الطّغيان دكّا

و أخرست الزلازل و الرّياحا

Our roars subdued tyranny's thunder

Roars that crushed tyranny utterly,

And silenced quakes and gales outright

And silenced the earthquakes and the winds.

و تعرف هذه الحصباء منّا

دما سكبا و هامات وراحا

These pebbles recognize our blood spilt here

And these pebbles know from us

And skulls and limbs that withered in the fight

Poured blood, and skulls, and palms,

و أشلاء مبعثرة تمنّت

على البيد الشقائق و الأقاحا

Severed parts the sands wished to shroud

And scattered remains that wished

With poppies and sweet basil from Paradise

For anemones and daisies in the desert.

تتيه بها الرّمال و تصطفيها

من الفردوس ريحانا و راحا

Blowing upon our hero's grave who fell

The sands take pride in them and choose them

Among the torrents with passions alight

From Paradise as sweet basil and wine.

يرفّ على خمائل غوطتيها

هوى بطل على الغمرات طاحا

So he glimpsed in the mirage a martyr's dream

Hovering over the thickets of its Ghouta,

Imagining, amid the chaos, clear water to invite

Is the passion of a hero who perished in the floods,

فألمح في السّراب منى شهيد

تخيّل في الوغى الماء القراحا

Never denied of Paradise's meadows

So I glimpse in the mirage the hopes of a martyr,

At dawn blanketed in peace and plight

Who imagined in the heat of battle the pure water.

فلا حرم الشهيد بروض عدن

على بردى غبوقا و اصطباحا

Protected the world of Umayyad glory

May the martyr in the gardens of Eden not be deprived

With strong roots the spears upright

Of an evening and morning drink by Barada.

حمى دنيا أميّة أريحيّ

متين الأسر قد فرع الرّماحا

Abu Hassa, if calamities have raged

A generous soul protected the world of Umayya,

He challenged fate and resisted outright

Sturdy of build, towering above the spears.

أبو حسّان إن طغت الرزايا

تحدّى الدّهر و القدر المتاحا

I smell the bright musk so pure

Abu Hassan, if calamities overflowed,

As if dawn gleams on his cheeks so bright

Challenged fate and the destined decree.

أشمّ الأنف أبلج سمهريّ

كأنّ على محيّاه صباحا

Tested by afflictions, he never complained

Proud, bright-faced, straight as a spear,

If not for his dignity, he may have wailed

As if a morning rested upon his face.

تمرّس بالخطوب فما شكاها

و لولا كبره لشكا وباحا

Remembering Damascus, your brother Saad

He wrestled with hardships but did not complain of them,

One cannot help but mention those held dear

And were it not for his pride, he would have complained and revealed all.

تذكّرت الشام أخاك سعدا

و من ذكر الحبيب فلا جناحا

The most compassionate and natural of men

Damascus remembered your brother Saad,

And fiercest against the tyrant upright

And for whoever remembers the beloved, there is no blame.

أرقّ النّاس عاطفة و طبعا

و أعنفهم على الطّاغي جماحا

Never startled by death, he engages in battle

The gentlest of people in emotion and nature,

So if the villain defames, no need to take flight

And the fiercest of them in defiance against the tyrant.

ينافح ، لا تروّعه المنايا

فإن شتم اللئيم فلا نفاحا

When Damascus wept for your brother Saad

He defends, undaunted by death,

She wept for valor and grace contrite

And if the wicked insults, he does not retaliate.

إذا بكت الشام أخاك سعدا

فقد بكت المروءة و السّماحا

We carried its star on our wings

If Damascus wept for your brother Saad,

And plucked its glory and passion outright

Then it wept for chivalry and generosity.

زحمنا النجم منه على جناح

و فيّأنا مروءته و هوى صراحا

Wounds in your core now soothed

We crowded the stars through him upon a wing,

You have honored agony without losing sight

And we took shelter in his chivalry and pure affection.

جراح في سريرتك اطمأنّت

لقد أكرمت بالصبر الجراحا

As if worry itself visits you, so it finds

Wounds in your innermost soul have settled,

On your expression joy and respite

You have truly honored the wounds with patience.

كأنّ الهمّ ضيفك فهو يلقى

على القسمات بشرا و ارتياحا

Never before have I seen worries so spoiled

As if sorrow were your guest, so it meets

And sorrows lavished with delight

Upon your features cheerfulness and comfort.

و قبلك ما رأت عيني هموما

مدلّلة و أحزانا ملاحا

Worries themselves recoil from one so noble

And before you, my eyes had never seen sorrows

To return from his cheer as cheerful sunlight

So pampered, nor griefs so beautiful.

و قد ترد الهموم على كريم

فترجع من صباحته صباحا

O world of Umayyad don't disregard

And sorrows may descend upon a noble man,

Your youth overwhelming the vast respite

And turn from his bright face into a morning.

و يا دنيا أميّة لا تراعي

شبابك يغمر الرحب الفساحا

You rose upon the ages a guiding light

And O world of Umayya, do not be dismayed,

The morning you began your conquest outright

Your youth floods the vast expanses.

طلعت على العصور هدى و خيرا

غداة طلعت غزوا و اقتتاحا

The worthy are not empowered over the meek

You rose upon the ages as guidance and goodness,

Some disgrace, you mistake, as upright!

The morning you rose for conquest and opening.

و ما نبل الصّلاح على ضعيف

فبعض الذلّ تحسبه صلاحا

You taught civilization, it is the dawn

And the nobility of righteousness is not for the weak,

That spills over the cosmos spreading twilight

For some humiliation you might mistake for righteousness.

و علّمت الحضارة فهي فجر

على الأكوان ينساح انسياحا

How civilization cleansed and refined

And you taught civilization, and it is a dawn

Yet how civilization also bred those who blight

Flowing boundlessly across the universes.

و ربّ حضارة طهّرت و طابت

و ربّ حضارة ولدت سفاحا

You taught chivalry, it is a scent

And many a civilization was purified and wholesome,

Of Paradise that intoxicates us with its respite

And many a civilization was born of illicit union.

و علّمت المروءة فهي عطر

من الفردوس يسكرنا نفاحا

You taught Arabness, it is our honor

And you taught chivalry, and it is a perfume

Never to be disgraced or profaned outright

From Paradise, whose fragrance intoxicates us.

و علّمت العروبة فهي عرض

لربك لن يهان و لن يباحا

Glory filled you, never to be

And you taught Arabism, and it is an honor

For any but your youth, all hopes alight

By your Lord, it shall never be insulted nor violated.

أساح المجد حسبك لن تكوني

لغير شبابك المأمول ساحا

Take whatever you wish, make requests

O courtyard of glory, it is enough that you will never be

Of the bounty in this life, bring to light

A courtyard for anyone but your hoped-for youth.

خذي ما شئت و اقترحي علينا

كرائم هذه الدنيا اقتراحا

Abu Hassa, noble friend, elevate

Take what you wish and demand from us

My praises, a pride and tribute outright

The finest things of this world as a demand.

أبا حسّان رفّ كريم ودّي

على نعماك فخرا و امتداحا

My afflictions I have not relayed, and we

Abu Hassan, my noble affection fluttered

Do not number them, though abundant in plight

Over your graces, in pride and praise.

بلائي ما شهدت و ليس منّا

إذ عدّدتها غررا و ضاحا

When calamities crowd me, I gather

My trial is what you have witnessed, and it is no boast,

My will, and will not waver in respite

When I recount them as bright and shining marks.

إذا زحمتني الجلّى بروع

جمعت لها الإباء فلا براحا

If misfortunes pressed Thabeer when fires flared

When a great calamity crowded me with terror,

His pride would roar and seethe in spite

I gathered my pride to face it, and did not retreat.

و لو زحمت ثبيرا حين شدّت

عليّ لضجّ غاربه و زاحا

More painful than misfortunes, a friend

And had it crowded Mount Thabir when it intensified

Whose jealousy defiles our dignity outright

Against me, its peak would have cried out and shifted.

و أوجع من مصائبها خليل

أغار على المروءة و استباحا

He hides his hatred, embers and rage

And more painful than its afflictions is a friend

And listens to me, feigning empathy contrite

Who raided chivalry and violated it,

يكتّم بغضه حقدا و جمرا

و يسمعني حنينا و التياحا

He claims his schemes are secretive guiles

Concealing his hatred as malice and embers,

But time itself exposed him in broad daylight

While letting me hear yearning and devotion.

و يزعم كيده سرّا خفيّا

لقد جهر الزّمان به افتضاحا

He denies yet if revealed, he would regret

And he claims his malice is a hidden secret,

Mocking freely and laughing with delight

Yet time has loudly proclaimed it in disgrace.

تنكر و هو لو كشّفت عنه

أسفّ مجانة و هوى مزاحا

Debased, we do not call it malice

He denied it, yet if you uncovered him,

And disgraced, we do not call it a fight

He stooped to shamelessness and fell into mockery.

و ذلّ فلا نسمّيه عداء

و هان فلا نسمّيه نطاحا

If we wished, we would punish him, but to please

He became so lowly we do not call it enmity,

Our character, we pardon with respite

And so insignificant we do not call it a clash.

و لو شئنا جزيناه و نرضي

شمائلنا فنوسعه سماحا

Does Damascus disown me, when in my heart

And had we wished, we would have repaid him, satisfying

I took its swords and spears without respite

Our noble traits by showering him with forgiveness.

أتنكرني الشام و في فؤادي

تلقّيت الصوارم و الرماحا

If I forget loyalty amid calamities

Does Damascus deny me, while in my heart

They pardoned the glaring betrayal outright

I have received the cutting swords and spears?

إذا نسيت على الجلّى وفائي

فقد عذروا على الغدر الملاحا

I sang of Damascus, its blood and revenge

If it forgot my loyalty in the face of great hardship,

With no complaints, though known is its plight

They have excused the beautiful ones for their betrayal.

و غنّيت الشام دما و ثأرا

فلا شكوى عرفت و لا نواحا

Your auspicious era crowned my poetry

And I sang to Damascus of blood and vengeance,

Adorning it with its gems so bright

So I knew neither complaint nor wailing.

و أكرم عهدك الميمون شعري

فقلّده جواهري الصحاحا

And my poetry honored your auspicious era,

And adorned it with my flawless jewels.