هز الغرام معاقد التيجان
وأذل صعب رياضة الأقران
Love shook the crowns of kings
And humbled the proud glances of equals
ما كنت أول طامح في جامح
فحل اللحاظ مؤنث الأجفان
I was not the first ambitious one led astray
By the charms of languid eyelids
رطب الشمائل ضاحك عن مبسم
نبتت لآلئه على المرجان
With soft features, laughing through a bud
His pearls grew on coral
لا عشت ان أخذ العذول بمقودي
فثنيت عن قصد إليه عناني
I lived not to let my desire control me
So I tightened my reins from yielding to it
لله ليلة هب نحوى زائرا
يدعوه نحوى ما إليه دعاني
One night he came to me, a visitor
Called to me by my longing for him
فرعا يجر إليَّ اذيال الدجى
كالغصن مضطربا من الخفقان
A branch pulling the trains of darkness to me
Swaying like a branch in turmoil
فأذاقنا طعم الحياة لقاؤه
فأدار خمرة ريقه وسقاني
His meeting tasted to us the delight of life
He passed around his saliva, quenching my thirst
فازددت من ظمآي إليه كأنما
بالرى أعطشني الذي أرواني
My thirst for him made me thirstier
As though the water bearer made me thirsty instead of quenching me
وافي به نحو الدجى فاستله
منى ومنه الصبح رأى عيان
I walked with him into the dark, and he stole
Me from myself, and dawn saw clearly what happened between us
فكأنما كانا عليه تطاردا
في خده انتثرت عقود جمان
It was as though dawn and dark fought over him
Scattering necklaces of pearls on his cheek
خجلا يغاورلي فواتر طرفه
وإليه ألسن حالتي تنعاني
The shy remnants of his gaze keep me company
While my state speaks plainly of my love for him
والصبح يطلع رأسه بين الدجى
وكأنه نار خلال دخان
Dawn raises its head amidst the darkness
Like fire through smoke
والورق فوق الأيك تصدح والضيا
في الأفق يمشي مشية السكران
Leaves on branches chatter and the nightingale
Walks tipsily on the horizon
والليل قد ركب النهار قفاءه
والنجم يكسر طرفه ويداني
Night rode day bareback
The star winks and nods to me
فمضى وألبسني السقام وإنما
من كل ما احببته أغراني
He left and clothed me in lovesickness
For I loved him passionately
يا رحمتا لمتيم لعبت به
أيدي الغرام فصار كالولهان
Oh mercy for one lost in love
Played by the hands of passion until maddened
أترى الحسان تروم قلبي بعدها
وقد استجرتُ بخدمة السلطان
Would beauty still seek my heart after this?
For I gained standing by serving the Sultan
الأشرف الملك الذي قاد الورى
قود الكماة الخيل بالارسان
The magnificent king who led the world
With the reins of the brave steeds
الناهب المهجات في يوم الوغي
والضارب الفرسان بالفرسان
The plunderer of souls on the day of battle
Striking horseman with horseman
المرسل النفحات يتبعها الغنى
والمردف الإِحسان بالإِحسان
The sender of generous winds followed by wealth
And kindness followed by kindness
الباسط السطوات من لا يتقى
إلا بغض الطرف والإِذعان
The dispenser of autorithy who is not feared
Save by averting eyes and surrender
ملك يرى في أريحية عمره
رأي الكهول ونجدة الشجعان
A king who sees in the comfort of his life
The wisdom of elders and aid of the brave
ملك تحاذره الملوك وتتقى
وتخر عند لقاه للاذقان
A king feared by other kings
Who bow their heads before him in submission
ما جآء إسمعيل إلا آية
في الملك والإِحسان والإِيمان
No sooner did Ishmael arrive bearing
Signs of the kingship, kindness faith
ملك إذا ما هز أغصان القنا
رجفت لهيبته ذرى ثهلان
A king, when he shakes the branches of his spear
Its awe makes Thahlān's offspring tremble
يهديه في ليل الخطوب إذا دجا
من رأيه وسنانه نوران
In nights of tribulation, it gives light
Through his opinion and its blade, two lights
أو ما رأيت إذا بدا بين الورى
متصور في صورة الإِنسان
Have you not seen, when he appears among mankind
Formed in the image of man
عجبا له يحويه سرح عتيقه
وبصدره ويمينه بحران
Wond’rous that he is contained by his ancient dominion
While in his chest and hand two seas
بلّت أياديه مغارس ملكه
حتى جرت بالماء في الأغصان
His hands set the seedlings of his kingdom
Until water flowed through its branches
إني لأعلم أن حظي وافر
اذ صرت معدودا من الغلمان
I know indeed my fortune is ample
Since I am counted among the pages
قل للزمان إليك عني إنني
من لا يخاف حوادث الأزمان
Say to time, "Against you, I am
Not afraid of the turns of time."
أتراه يجهل من علقت بحبله
أما تراه مع النجوم يراني
Does he not know the one I clung to his rope?
Do you not see him high among the stars watching me?
لو لم يكن لي منه إلا أنني
ممن وفدت على المليك كفاني
If I gained naught from him but that I am
One who visited the king, that would suffice me
لا زالت الأيام طوع مراده
والحظ والمقدور والثقلان
Still the days flow by his wishes
As fortune, fate and the stars
