أمِنْ أُفْقِها ذاك السّنا وتألُّقُهْ
يُؤرِّقُنَا لو أنّ وَجْداً يُؤرِّقُهْ
From that delightful horizon shining bright
If only bliss would keep it shining through the night
وما انفكَ مُجتازٌ من البرْقِ لامِعٌ
يُشَوِّقُنا تِلقاءَ مَن لا يُشَوِّقُهْ
Unceasing flashes of lightning illuminate
Enticing us to one who feels no such delight
وما إن خَبا حتى حسِبْتُ من الدّجى
على الأفْقِ زنجيّاً تكشَّفَ يَلمَقُه
Scarce had the darkness come than I thought I spied
A black man on the horizon, his teeth shining white
تَخَلّلَ سِجْفَ الليلِ للّيلِ كالِئاً
يُراعِيهِ بالصُّبْحِ الجَلِيِّ ويَرمُقُه
He slipped amid the darkness like an ungainly calf
Tended in the radiant dawn with careful sight
ولم يكتحِلْ غُمْضاً فباتَ كأنّمَا
يروغُ إلى إلفٍ من المُزْنِ يَعشقه
His eyes unlined by kohl he passed the night awake
As though beside a beloved bedmate clutching tight
فمِنْ حُرَقٍ قد باتَ وَهْناً يَشُبُّهَا
بذكراكِ تُذكَى في الفؤادِ فتُحرِقه
Those burnt with yearning while the night dragged on
Are set alight within recalling your sweet sight
عنى الوالِهَ المتبولَ منكِ ادِّكارُهُ
وأضناهُ طيْفُ من خَيالكِ يَطرُقُه
The sleepless lover tossed in thoughts of you
Is pierced by phantoms of your beauty shining bright
لأُبرِحْتُ من قلْبٍ إليكِ خُفُوقُهُ
نِزاعاً ومن دَمْعٍ عليكِ تَرَقرُقُه
I'd flee a heart enflamed in love for you
Disputing, with tears for you in ceaseless flight
وَحَشْوَ القِبابِ المستقِلّةِ غَادَةٌ
أُجَدِّدُ عَهدَ الوُدِّ منها وتُخلِقُه
Amid the lofty ceilings is renewal of affection
I'll forge while graceful branches sway upright
غريرةُ دَلٍّ ضاقَ دِرْعٌ يزينُهَا
وأقلَقَ مستنَّ الوِشاحَينِ مُقْلِقُه
The delicate wrist in bracelets confined
Disturbed the sleeve's array, provoking eager bite
يَميلُ بها اللحظُ العَليلُ إلى الكرَى
إذا رَنّقَ التفتيرَ فيهِ مُرَنِّقه
The languid glance inclines to the lovely brow
When the coy eyelash moves with glance polite
تهادى بعِطْفَيْ ناعِمٍ جاذَبَ النَّقَا
مُنَطَّقُهُ حتى تَشَكّى مُقَرطَقُه
With gentle bending arm the wristband slips
Its fastener loosed, protesting loud its plight
يُغالِبُهَا سُكْرُ الشبابِ فتنثَني
تَثَنّيَ غُصْنِ البانِ يَهتزُّ مُورِقُه
Overcome by heady youth the branch will bend
Just like the bough with ripening fruit hangs light
وما الوَجدُ ما يَعتادُ صَبّاً بذكرهَا
ولكنّهُ خَبْلُ التّصابي وأولَقُه
This fervor is not what desire is used to
But raving lunacy past reason taking flight
بوديَ لو حَيّا الربيعُ رُبوعَها
ونَمَّقَ وَشيَ الرّوضِ فيها منمِّقُه
Would that the spring renewed your haunts anew
Primping and preening meadows to your heart’s delight
تَقَضّتْ ليالينا بها ونَعيمُها
فكَرَّ على الشمل الجميعِ مُفرِّقه
Our nights with you and joys are gone, while sorrow
Parts and splits asunder all once joined so tight
أقولُ لسَبّاقٍ إلى أمَدِ العُلى
بحيْثُ ثَنى شأوَ المُرَهَّقِ مُرْهِقُه
To the rival racing to the farthest goal
Where fervor at its peak exhausts the eager knight
لَسَعيُكَ أبطى عن لَحاق ابن جعفرٍ
وسَعيُ جَهْولٍ ظَنَّ أنّك تَلحقُه
Your efforts fall behind Ja'far ibn Hubayrah’s pace
While the ignorant suppose you'll match his flight
لَعَلّكَ مُودٍ أن تقَاذَفَ شَأوُهُ
إلى أمَدٍ أعيا عليك تَعَلُّقُه
Perhaps you thought that his renown could be defamed
To the farthest time that memory holds him bright
لهُ خُلُقٌ كالرّوضِ يُنْدي تبرُّعاً
إذا ما نَبا بالحُرِّ يوماً تَخَلُّقُه
He's of a nature like the meadow, generous
When the day ignites with searing summer heat's harsh bite
وكالمَشرَفيِّ العَضْبِ يَفري غِرارُهُ
وكالعارضِ الوسميِّ يَنهَلُّ مُغدِقُه
Like the reddening cloud, his bounty pours
Like beauty's downpour, gifts both far and wide
وكالكوكبِ الدُّرّيِّ يُحمدَ في الوغى
تألُّقُ بِيضِ المُرهَفاتِ تألُّقُه
Like a brilliant star, praised amidst the clamor
Its bright beams shining through the darkest night
ويَعنُفُ في الهيجاءِ بالقِرْن رِفْقُهُ
وأعنَفُ ما يسطو به السيْفُ أرفَقُه
In discord his gentleness, more forceful
Than the sword's sharp edge, proves kinder might
لهُ من جُذامٍ في الذّوائبِ مَحتِدٌ
زكا منبتاً في مَغرسِ المجدِ مُعرَقُه
Of lasting glory, planted in the soil of honor
His roots nourish branches rising noble, upright
رفيعُ بناءِ البيتِ فيهم مُشيدُهُ
مُطَنِّبُهُ بالمَأثُراتِ مُرَوِّقُه
The edifice of glory built lofty within them
Embellished with great deeds, most gracious sight
هُمُ جوهرُ الأحساب وهو لُبابُهُ
وإفْرِندُهُ المُعْشي العيونَ ورَونقُه
The quintessence are they; his spirit their core
Eyes delighting, on their friends bestowing light
إذا ما تجلّى من مَطالِعِ سَعْدِهِ
تجلّى عليك البدرُ يَلتاحُ مَشرِقُه
When from the dawn his fortune's starred horizon rises
The full moon rises upon you, glowing bright
لَئِنْ مُلِئَتْ منهُ الجوانحُ رَهْبَةً
لقد راقَها من منظرِ العَينِ مُونِقُه
Though awe may fill the heart at his majestic sight
The gaze was gentled by his cheerful light
مُقَلَّصُ أثناءِ النّجادِ مُعَصَّبٌ
بتاج العُلى بين السماكينِ مَفْرَقُه
Drawn tight the headdress between highborn ranks
The crown between two swords shines graceful, bright
لهُ هاجِسٌ يَفْري الفَرِيَّ كأنّهُ
شَبَا مَشرَفّيٍ ليسَ ينبو مُذَلَّقُه
He has a caution that sends cowardice fleeing
Like a sharp-clawed lion, no spineless flight
يُصيبُ بيانَ القوْل يُوفي بحَقّهِ
على باطِلِ الخَصْمِ الألَدِّ فيمحَقُه
He hits his target speaking true with equity
Vanquishing the enemy’s deceit outright
أطاعَ له بَدءُ السَّماحِ وعَودُهُ
فكان غَماماً لا يَغُبُّ تَدَفُّقُه
He obeyed kindness in its first steps, and his vow
An unceasing cloud of rain pouring forth its might
دَلوحاً إذا ما شِمتَهُ افتَرَّ وَبْلُهُ
وإرْهامُهُ سَحّاً عليكَ ورَيّقُه
A bucket, once lowered, gushed an abundance
His irrigation enriched you, fresh and bright
إذا شاءَ قادَ الأعوَجِيّاتِ فيْلَقاً
ومنْ بينِ أيْديها الحِمامُ وفَيْلَقُه
When he wished, he led the lame like horses
While doves and rock-doves winged in joyous flight
وكنْتَ إذا ازوَرَّتْ لقَوْمٍ كتيبَةٌ
وعارَضَها من عارِضِ الطعن مُبرِقُه
Whenever horsemen approached a troop
You deployed, meeting the blades' thrust and bite
وقُدْتَ بها قُبَّ الأياطِلِ شُزَّباً
تُسابقُ وَقْدَ الرّيحِ عَدْواً فتَسبقُه
You led their steeds ahead, a searing flame
Racing the winds, surpassing them in might
تخَطّى إلى النّهْبِ الخميسَ ودونَهُ
سُرَادِقُ خَطّيّاتِهِ ومُسَرْدَقُه
You went beyond to seize the foe's fifth share
While his tents and canopies shone brightly dight
إذا شارَفَتْهُ قلتَ سِربُ أجادِلٍ
يُشارِفُ هَضْباً من ثَبيرٍ مُحلِّقُه
When you approached them, I said, "A troop
Of wild cows nears a hillside robed in white"
رعى اللّهُ إبراهيمَ مِنْ مِلكٍ حَنا
على المُلكِ حانِيهِ وأشفَقَ مُشفِقُه
God protected Abraham from the tyrant kings
His defender, merciful Ja'far won the fight
وأورى بزند الأرقمِ الصِّلّ جعفَرٌ
ولم يُعْيِهِ فَتْقُ من الأرضِ يَرتقُهُ
Ja'far restored the ties of kinship to Arqam's clan
Though the earth's expanse tired those who would unite
إلى ذاك رأيُ الهِبْرِزِيِّ إذا ارتأى
وصِدْقُ ظنونِ الألَمعيِّ ومَصْدَقُه
Such is the view of al-Hibrri if he opines
And the honesty of al-Alma'i so upright
على كُلِّ قُطْرٍ منه لَفْتَةُ ناظِرٍ
يُراعي بها الثّغْرَ القَصِيَّ ويَرمقُه
On every bit of him, a glance that stares
Surveys the far horizon with discerning sight
وأعيَا الحروريّينَ مُتَّقِدُ النُّهَى
مُظاهِرُ عِقدِ الحزْمِ بالحزْم موثِقُه
Wearying those of Kharura, the hot brand of censure
Binding firm the pact, with reason's might
فكم فِيهِمِ من ذي غِرارَينِ قد نَبَا
ومِدْرَهِ قَومٍ قد تَلَجْلَجَ منطِقُه
Among them many whose heated talk bubbles forth
And a tribe whose judicious speech shines bright
يرونَ بإبراهيمَ سَهْماً يَريشُهُ
لهم بالمَنَايا جعفرٌ ويُفَوِّقُه
They see in Abraham an arrow Ja'far feathers
To pierce their foes with darts dealing mortal blight
مؤازِرُهُ في عُنفُوانِ شبابهِ
يُسَدِّدُهُ في هَدْيِهِ ويُوَفِّقُه
In his fiery youth his aid and guidance
Corrects and grants him triumph shining bright
يَطيبُ نسيمُ الزّابِ من طِيبِ ذكره
كما فتّقَ المِسكَ الذكيَّ مُفتِّقُه
The scent of aloeswood wafts sweet from good mention of him
As the pure musk’s essence perfumes with delight
ويعبق ذاك الترب من أوجه الدجى
كما فاح من نثر الأجنة أعبقه
And the earth there exhales a scent from the horizons of night
Like the diffuse fragrance the gum resins alight
وقد عمَّ من في ذلك الثغرِ نائِلاً
كما افترقَتْ تَهمي من المُزْن فُرَّقُه
Bestowing upon all in that land till satisfied
As camphor crystals spread in profuse flight
أإخبْاتُهُ أحْفَى بهم أم حَنَانُهُ
ورأفَتُهُ أم عَدْلُهُ وتَرَفُّقُه
Does his resolution or his tenderness console them,
His fairness or his mercy grant respite?
ثَوَى بكَ عز المُلكِ فيهم ولم تَزَلْ
وأنتَ لهُ العِلْقُ النفيسُ ومَعْلَقُه
Power’s glory resides within them, and you’ve not ceased to be
The precious pendant under his wing shining bright
شَهِدْتُ فلا واللّهِ ما غابَ جَعفرٌ
ولا باتَ ذا وَجْدٍ إليك يُؤرِّقُه
By God, Ja'far did not neglect you for an instant
Nor spend a night consumed with love and fervent spite
وبالمغرب الأقصَى قَريعُ كتائبٍ
تخُبُّ بمَسراهُ فيرجُفُ مَشرِقُه
In the far Maghreb the lofty regiments collapse
When they face his blade; in the east his day is bright
سيُرضيكَ منهُ بالإيابِ وسَعْدِهِ
ويجمَعُ شَملاً شادَ مجْداً تَفَرُّقُه
Returning, his success will gratify and delight you
Reuniting ties unity had put to flight
ويَشفي مشوقاً منكَ بالقُربِ لوعَةً
وبَرْحَ غليلٍ في الجوانحِ يُقْلِقُه
It will heal the longing you have borne with his return
And relieve a heartache stirring restlessness at night
ويُبْهِجُ أرضَ الزّاب بهجةَ سؤددٍ
وتُبْهِجُه أفوافُ زَهْرٍ وتُونِقُه
It will delight the Zab's land with happy tidings
As blossoms gild it, graced in beauty’s dress bedight
لك الخير قد طالَتْ يدايَ وقصّرَتْ
يدا زَمَنٍ ألْوى بنَحضي يمزِّقه
Yours are blessings; my hands have overreached
While time's hands tore my purpose to blight
كفى بعضُ ما أوْليْتَ فأذَنْ لقِافلٍ
بفضلك زُمَّتْ للترَحُّلِ أينُقُه
Some of what you have granted is enough; permit this caravan
Bound by your grace to travel in seemly plight
أفَضْتَ عليه بالنّدى غيرَ سائِلٍ
بحارَكَ حتى ظنَّ أنّك تُغْرِقُه
You have bestowed gifts on me though I did not ask
I thought your sea would drown me in its might
سأشكركَ النُّعْمَى عليَّ وإنّني
بذاك لَواني الشّأوِ عنك مُرهَّقُه
I will thank you for blessings upon me though I
Unable to match your renown have lost all might
وما كحميدِ القولِ ينمي مزيدُه
ولا كاليَدِ البيضاء عندي تحَقُّقُه
No speech grows like praise that exalts its subject
Nor seems as true as a fair outstretched hand in bright sight
وما أنا أو مثلي وقولٌ يقوله
إذا لم أكُنْ أُلفي به مَن يُصَدِّقُه
Neither I nor my like and what we say
Unless I habitually match the words to truth's light
