دَعِي عَزَماتِ المستضامِ تسيرُ

فَتُنْجِدُ فِي عُرْضِ الفَلا وتَغُورُ

Let your resolves march on though the jealous chide,

Advancing over the expanse of the desert they hide,

لعلَّ بما أَشجاكِ من لوعةِ النَّوى

يُعَزُّ ذليلٌ أَوْ يُفَكُّ أَسيرُ

Hoping that what has fired you with blazing desire,

Might succor a wretch or loose a captive’s tied.

أَلَمْ تعلَمِي أَن الثَّواءَ هو التَّوى

وأَنَّ بيوتَ العاجِزينَ قُبورُ

Do you not know that passion is but a pyre,

And the homes of the feeble are graves beside?

ولم تزجُرِي طَيْرَ السُّرى بِحروفِها

فَتُنْبِئْكِ إِنْ يَمَّنَّ فَهْيَ سُرورُ

Reproach not the birds of fate with magic runes—

Let them disclose if blessings or curses betide.

تُخَوِّفُنِي طولَ السِّفارِ وإِنَّهُ

لتقبيلِ كفِّ العامِريّ سَفِيرُ

You warn me the journey is long, but in truth,

Only to kiss the hand of the noble its guide.

دَعِيني أَرِدْ ماءَ المفاوِزِ آجِناً

إِلَى حَيْثُ ماءُ المكرُمَاتِ نميرُ

Let me follow the winding heights at my ease,

To where the waters of honor and duty abide,

وأَخْتَلِسِ الأَيَّامَ خُلْسَةَ فاتِكٍ

إِلَى حَيْثُ لي مِنْ غَدْرِهِنَّ خَفِيرُ

And steal the days secretly, like a soft footfall,

To where for me their deceptions cannot chide.

فإِنَّ خطيراتِ المهالِكِ ضُمَّنٌ

لراكِبِها أَنَّ الجزاءَ خطيرُ

For the paths of doom—beware!—are crowded with snares,

And great is the risk for those who therein ride.

ولَمَّا تدانَتْ للوداعِ وَقَدْ هَفا

بصَبْرِيَ منها أَنَّةٌ وزَفيرُ

When we turned to bid adieu, my patience failed,

And I sighed at her sighs—such grief we cried!

تناشِدُني عَهْدَ المَوَدَّةِ والهَوى

وَفِي المَهْدِ مبغومُ النِّداءِ صَغيرُ

She recalled the promise of love and desire,

While an infant wept out in its cradle beside.

عِيِيٌّ بمرجوعِ الخطابِ ولَفْظُهُ

بمَوْقِعِ أَهواءِ النفوسِ خَبيرُ

Her words confounded me. Her phrases impart

The secrets held in the heart they deride.

تبوَّأَ ممنوعَ القلوبِ ومُهِّدَتْ

لَهُ أَذرُعٌ محفوفَةٌ ونُحُورُ

She has reached realms from which hearts are denied,

On all sides surrounded by bodies of pride.

فكلُّ مُفَدَّاةِ الترائِبِ مُرْضِعٌ

وكلُّ مُحَيَّاةِ المحاسِنِ ظِيرُ

Each revelation of beauty a balm that heals,

Each figure, a shield to defend and to hide.

عَصَيْتُ شفيعَ النفس فِيهِ وقادَنِي

رَوَاحٌ لِتَدْآبَ السُّرى وبُكُورُ

I refused my heart its desire and it led me astray,

To the soft advance of fate I did stride.

وطارَ جَناحُ الشَّوْقِ بِي وَهَفَتْ بِهَا

جوانِحُ من ذُعْرِ الفِراقِ تطيرُ

Then lifted the wings of passion and lo! bore away

The reason and senses that in me reside.

لئِنْ وَدَّعَتْ مني غَيوراً فإِنَّنِي

عَلَى عَزْمَتِي من شَجْوِها لَغَيُورُ

Though she left me in jealousy, yet more than she,

It is I by my vows made jealous and eyed.

ولو شاهَدَتْنِي والصَّواخِدُ تَلْتَظِي

عَلَيَّ ورقراقُ السراب يَمُورُ

Had she seen me when disaster descends as a storm,

When the mirage ripples in currents that glide,

أُسَلِّطُ حَرَّ الهاجِراتِ إذَا سَطَا

عَلَى حُرِّ وَجْهِي والأَصيلُ هَجِيرُ

I loose the hot summer winds into my burning face,

While prone on the sand the fierce lions abide,

وأَسْتَنْشِقُ النَّكْباءَ وَهْيَ بَوارِحٌ

وأَسْتَوْطِئُ الرَّمْضاءَ وَهْيَ تَفُورُ

I scent the hot winds as they swell and abide,

I court the sun’s fire as it glows and doth chide.

ولِلْمَوْتِ فِي عيشِ الجبانِ تلوُّنٌ

وللذُّعْرِ فِي سَمْعِ الجريءِ صَفيرُ

To die a coward’s death—such shifts in its form!

To fear’s piercing sounds—such range they can hide!

لَبانَ لَهَا أَنِّي مِنَ الضَّيْمِ جازِعٌ

وأَنِّي عَلَى مَضِّ الخُطُوبِ صَبُورُ

It was clear I suffer the insolent fool gladly,

And I meet tribulations with patience and pride.

أَمِيرٌ عَلَى غَوْلِ التَّنائِفِ مَا لَهُ

إذَا رِيعَ إلّا المَشْرِفيَّ وَزِيرُ

A prince, though betrayed by the waver of will,

Has none to console him but counselors wise.

ولو بَصُرَتْ بِي والسُّرى جُلُّ عَزْمَتي

وجَرْسِي لِجِنَّانِ الفَلاةِ سَمِيرُ

Had she known my resolve and seen my soul bared,

My bells ringing loud in the vale far and wide,

وأَعْتَسِفُ المَوْمَاةَ فِي غَسْقِ الدُّجى

وللأُسْدِ فِي غِيلِ الغِياضِ زَئِيرُ

Riding the scholar at night-fall, alone on my steed,

While the stars in the murk of the midnight collide,

وَقَدْ حَوَّمَتْ زُهْرُ النُّجومِ كَأَنَّها

كواعِبُ فِي خُضْرِ الحَدائِقِ حُورُ

As the stars of the Northern sky circle its point,

Like a cup passing round all the tables beside,

ودارَتْ نجومُ القُطْبِ حَتَّى كَأَنَّها

كُؤوسُ مَهاً والى بِهِنَّ مُدِيرُ

As the dust of the galaxy hovers and wheels,

O’er the gloom of the night’s dusky tide,

وَقَدْ خَيَّلَتْ طُرْقُ المَجَرَّةِ أَنَّها

عَلَى مَفْرِقِ الليلِ البهيمِ قَتِيرُ

My will cuts through darkness, the stars droop and tire,

And the eyes of the heavens are heavy and hide—

وثاقِبَ عَزْمِي والظَّلامُ مُرَوِّعٌ

وَقَدْ غَضَّ أَجفانَ النجومِ فُتُورُ

She knew then my wish was in reach of my hand,

That favor had made me a man satisfied,

لَقَدْ أَيْقَنَتْ أَنَّ المنى طَوْعُ هِمَّتِي

وأَنِّي بعطفِ العامِريِّ جديرُ

That the mere thought of him is enough to deter

The misfortunes I meet—I can turn them aside,

وأَنِّي بذكراهُ لِهَمِّيَ زاجِرٌ

وأَنِّيَ منهُ للخطوبِ نذِيرُ

For what brave soul defends our religion and reign,

Believes destiny’s weave may be severed and tried,

وأَيُّ فتىً للدينِ والملكِ والنَّدى

وتَصْدِيقُ ظَنِّ الراغِبِينَ نَزُورُ

From Tameem and Yarbo has risen thy fame,

Like the sun wheeling over the mounts at their side,

مُجِيرُ الهُدى والدينِ من كُلِّ مُلْحِدٍ

وَلَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ لِلضَّلالِ مُجِيرُ

A Hemyari prince, lofty of roof, drawing near,

Whose rain clouds pour forth water rich from inside,

تلاقَتْ عَلَيْهِ من تَميمٍ ويَعْرُبٍ

شُموسٌ تَلالا فِي العُلا وبُدُورُ

Whose reigns hold a fortune of ages gone by,

Days united in glory and prime and in pride.

منَ الحِمْيَرَيِّينَ الَّذِينَ أَكُفُّهُمْ

سحائِبُ تَهْمِي بالنَّدى وبُحُورُ

They master all life for the seeker who comes,

Though calamity threatens they lay it aside.

ذَوُو دُوَلِ المُلْكِ الَّذِي سَلَفَتْ بِهَا

لَهُمْ أَعصُرٌ مَوْصُولَةٌ ودُهُورُ

They aided the creed and nation of Light,

No champions has it, their valor denied.

لَهُمْ بَذَلَ الدهرُ الأَبيُّ قِيادَهُ

وهُمْ سَكَّنُوا الأَيَّامَ وَهْيَ نَفُورُ

They embraced the Revelation when it came down,

While mankind but returns to its darkness and hide.

وهُمْ ضَرَبُوا الآفاقَ شرقاً ومغرِباً

بِجَمْعٍ يَسيرُ النَّصْرُ حَيْثُ يَسيرُ

Your virtues exceed all power to appraise,

Human thought fails even to grasp them and tried—

وهُمْ يَستَقِلُّونَ الحياةَ لِرَاغِبٍ

ويَسْتَصْغِرُونَ الخطْبَ وَهْوَ كبيرُ

No, all other glory falls short of your worth,

Hope placed elsewhere is hopeless beside.

وهُمْ نَصَرُوا حِزْبَ النُّبُوَّةِ والهُدى

وَلَيْسَ لَهَا فِي العالَمِينَ نَصِيرُ

Years and eras of bliss have rolled o’er your reign,

Days of joy and delight and prosperity’s tide.

وهُمْ صَدَّقُوا بالوَحْيِ لَمّا أَتاهُمُ

وَمَا النَّاسُ إِلّا عائِدٌ وكَفُورُ

Your days are not cursed, no hearts are aggrieved,

Your life is a feast, blessings spread far and wide.

مناقِبُ يَعْيا الوَصْفُ عَنْ كُنْهِ قَدْرِها

ويَرْجِعُ عَنْها الوَهْمُ وَهْوَ حَسِيرُ

When all had assembled to hail and farewell,

The curtains were lifted from dawn’s glowing bride,

ألا كُلُّ مَدْحٍ عَنْ مَدَاكَ مُقَصِّرٌ

وكلُّ رجاءٍ فِي سِواكَ غُرُورُ

Rank upon rank stood swords and lances drawn,

Line upon line scrolls from their sheaths put aside,

تَمَلَّيْتَ هَذَا العيدَ عِدَّةَ أَعْصُرٍ

تُوَالِيكَ منها أَنعُمٌ وحُبُورُ

They saw obedience raises man high as the stars,

Signs of God in their splendor displayed and descried—

ولا فَقَدَتْ أَيَّامَكَ الغُرَّ أَنفُسٌ

حياتُكَ أَعيادٌ لهم وسُرورُ

The sea and the moon glowed beneath the same dome,

The throne of the heavens spread out in its pride,

ولما تَوافَوْا للسَّلامِ ورُفِّعَتْ

عن الشمسِ فِي أُفْقِ الشُّروقِ سُتورُ

Swift to approach, though their hearts quaked in awe,

Slow to draw nigh, though their eyes opened wide,

وَقَدْ قامَ من زُرقِ الأَسِنَّةِ دُونَها

صفوفٌ ومن بِيضِ السُّيوفِ سُطُورُ

Saying in voices half silenced in dread,

Eyes brimming with tears they could scarcely hide:

رأَوْا طاعَةَ الرَّحمنِ كَيْفَ اعتِزازُها

وآياتِ صُنْعِ اللهِ كَيْفَ تُنيرُ

“High deeds of guidance encircle your reign,

God granted you fortune and sovereignty’s pride.

وكَيْفَ اسْتَوى بالبَحْرِ والبَدْرِ مَجْلِسٌ

وقامَ بِعِبْءِ الرَّاسِياتِ سَريرُ

Your nature is giving, seeking no gain,

And your thoughts embrace lands both far and wide.

فَسارُوا عِجالاً والقُلوبُ خَوَافِقٌ

وأُدْنُوا بِطاءً والنَّوَاظِرُ صُورُ

Wherever falsehood disbands, there your truth shines forth,

Where the Muslims attack the miscreant tribes.

يَقُولونَ والإِجلالُ يُخْرِسُ أَلسُناً

وحازَتْ عُيُونٌ مِلأَها وصُدُورُ

You humble the proud though they beg and entreat,

Cast them out on the plains for the hills to deride.

لقَدْ حاطَ أَعلامَ الهُدى بِكَ حائِطٌ

وقَدَّرَ فيكَ المَكْرماتِ قَدِيرُ

Your resolve is for victory, splendid and sweet,

Good tidings your fortune proclaims far and wide.

مُقِيمٌ عَلَى بَذْلِ الرَّغائِبِ واللُّهى

وفِكْرُكَ فِي أَقْصى البِلادِ يَسيرُ

They cried: O scion of lords ever righteous and wise,

A servant gives thanks for your magnanimous side.

وأَيْنَ انْتَوى فَلُّ الضَّلالَةِ فَانْتَهى

وأَيْنَ جُيُوشُ المسلِمينَ تُغِيرُ

Though needy, when you are near all is gain,

The means to please you is all I have tried.

وحَسْبُكَ من خَفْضِ النَّعِيمِ مُعَيِّداً

جِهازٌ إِلَى أَرضِ العِدى ونَفِيرُ

Without your sheltering arm I would suffer men’s harms—

Time’s injustice is vicious and fate heavy eyed.

فَقُدْها إِلَى الأَعداءِ شُعْثاً كَأَنَّها

أَرَاقِمُ فِي شُمِّ الرُّبى وصُقُورُ

Your lot blocked my path, though I persevered,

God’s will is a judge none can turn or misguide.

فَعَزْمُكَ بالنَّصْرِ العَزِيزِ مُخَبِّرٌ

وسَعْدُكَ بالفَتْحِ المُبِينِ بَشِيرُ

My thanks disappoint Nash’an’s though long I have toiled,

True loyalty fails when its ropes are untied.

ونادَاكَ يَا ابْنَ المُنْعِمِينَ ابْنُ عَشرَةٍ

وعَبدٌ لِنُعْماكَ الجِسامِ شَكُورُ

So aid me against the insoluble plight,

Send me forth against lions though clawed they deride.

غَنِيٌّ بِجَدْوى واحَتَيْكَ وإِنَّهُ

إِلَى سَبَبٍ يُدْني رِضاكَ فَقِيرُ

High names droop down in worship before you alone,

The doer of all deeds is only your side.

ومِنْ دُونِ سِتْرَيْ عِفَّتِي وتَجَمُّلِي

لَرَيْبٌ وصَرْفٌ للزَّمانِ يَجُورُ

Impossibles happen, though means disappoint—

The arrow flies true though the bow’s frame belied.

وضاءَلَ قَدْرِي فِي ذَرَاكَ عوائِقٌ

جَرَتْ ليَ بَرْحاً والقضاءُ عَسِيرُ

Your pardon is sure for the penitent soul,

It is you who reward us, Compassionate Guide!

وَمَا شَكَرَ النَّخْعِيُّ شُكْرِي ولا وَفى

وفائيَ إِذْ عَزَّ الوَفاءُ قَصِيرُ

فَقُدْنِي لِكَشْفِ الخَطْبِ والخَطْبُ مُعضِلٌ

وكِلْنِي لِلَيْثِ الغابِ وَهْوَ هَصُورُ

فَقَدْ تَخْفِضُ الأَسماءُ وَهْيَ سَوَاكِنٌ

ويَعْمَلُ فِي الفِعْلِ الصَّحيحِ ضَمِيرُ

وتَنْبُو الرُّدَيْنيَّاتُ والطُّولُ وافِرٌ

ويَنْفُذُ وَقْعُ السَّهْمِ وَهْوَ قَصِيرُ

حنانَيْكَ فِي غُفْرانِ زَلَّةِ تائِبٍ

وإِنَّ الَّذِي يَجْزِي بِهِ لغَفورُ