سرور المعالي عاد والعود اجمل

وهذا محياها به متهلل

The light of grandeur has returned, and return is most beautiful,

And this is its greeting, with which it exults,

بدت للملا تزهو بأحسن منظر

تصور معناه على الذهن معظل

It appeared to the exalted, adorned with the finest spectacle,

Imagining its meaning imprinted on the mind.

عليها من الإقبال حلة مفخر

من التيه إذ تمشي بها تترفل

Upon it is a garment of pride, magnificent,

Wandering in its loss, it sways gracefully,

أجل من العقيق عقد بجيدها

من السعد منظوماً وأبهى وافضل

More precious than carnelian, a necklace around its neck,

Strung with good fortune, and most superb.

تهز قوام العجب من طربٍ بها

أهل أحرزت من دهرها ما تؤمل

It shakes the frame of wonder with ecstasy through it,

My people have attained from its time what they hope for.

نعم حلت الأفراح وارتحل الأسى

وأدبرت الأكدار والصفو مقبل

Yes, joy has arrived and sorrow departed,

And calamities receded while serenity draws near.

وزان سماء المجد بدر بها بدا

له فلك الأفضال والعز منزل

And the full moon of glory rose through it,

For it is the orbit of sublime deeds and the abode of might.

ونوار روض الجود قد فاح نشره

بأطيب من نشر الكبا حين يشعل

And the light of the garden of generosity has diffused its blossoming,

With the sweetest scent when the east wind ignites.

وهب نسيم الفوز للناس بالمنى

بيوم به فاز الاغر المفضل

And the breeze of victory blew to the people their wishes,

On a day through which the honorable one excelled.

تزينت له الدنيا وباهت به الملا

واسعد الآمال فيه المؤمل

The world has adorned itself for it and the noble ones dazzled by it,

And hopes became fortunate through it for the hopeful.

سأجعله ما عشت عيداً معظما

وأوصي به بعدي إذا مت يجعل

As long as I live I will sanctify it as a great celebration,

And bequeath it, when I die, to be made so.

خليلي قد طاب الزمان فأسرعا

إلى الراح إن الأنس بالراح اكمل

My friend, time has become good, so hurry

To comfort, for companionship in comfort is most complete.

أدر أيها الساقي الكؤوس فإنها

لكل صداً في جوهر القلب صيقل

Turn, O cupbearer, the cups, for they

Are for every breast the burnisher of the heart's essence.

شمولاً بها تزداد لطفا شمائلي

ويرتاح بالأفراح بالي المبلبل

With them, fine features increase in refinement,

And the ecstatic heart rests in joy.

إذا برزت من دنها في كؤسها

توهمت أن البدر للشمس هيكل

When it emerges from its flask in the cup,

You would think the full moon a temple for the sun.

تخبر عن عادٍ القديم وتبع

بأبلغ معنى ما على الشرب يشكل

It tells of the old happiness and succession,

In the most eloquent meaning of what adorns drink.

أحاديث لو تتلى على ورع صبا

إليها وعن حاناتها ليس يعدل

Conversations which if recited to the devotion of youth,

To it and about its taverns, nothing equals.

هنيئاً لأقمار بهالات انسهم

بدور بشمس الراح تقفي وتقبل

Congratulations to moons whose crescents keep company,

With the house of the light of comfort, tarrying and accepting.

لعمري لقد فازوا كما فزت بالمنى

بقرب كريمٍ طل نعماه مسبل

By my life, they have succeeded just as you succeeded in attaining your wish,

Through the proximity of a generous one whose favours cascade.

اجل مهيب مرهب لأعدائه

وايمن من يرجى إذا حل مشكل

Most revered, most awe-inspiring to his enemies,

And most auspicious for one who hopes when a problem arises.

أغر عليه للمعالي دلائل

تلوح وعنوان السنا ليس يجهل

For the grandeur, signs point to him,

Beaming, and the banner of glory is not concealed.

له همة تدني له كل شاسع

وتستسهل الصعب الذي ليس يسهل

He has an ambition that brings near everything far,

And makes easy the difficult which cannot be easily resolved.

سريعاً بطيئاً صفحة وعقابه

بعيداً قريباً حين ينوي ويسأل

Swift, slow, forgiving, and his punishment,

Far, near, when he intends and asks.

له ثاقب الرأي المنير إذا دجى

ظلام مهم منه ذو اللب يوجل

For him is the penetrating wisdom, when the darkness

Of a confusing affair darkens, perplexing the mind.

به يقتدي من ساعدا لله جده

ويزور مرتاب شقي فيخذل

Through it those who have helped his forefathers are guided,

And the wretched doubter is abandoned and fails.

يصور أشكال الحقائق عقله

بآلة فكر والفؤاد السجنجل

His mind depicts the forms of truths,

With the instrument of thought and insightful heart.

فيعرف كنه الشيء من قبل كونه

فيقضي بما يختار منه ويفعل

So he knows the essence of a thing before it exists,

And decides what he chooses of it and acts.

ولا شك أن المؤمن البر ناظر

بنورٍ من الرحمن لا يتأول

And no doubt the faithful seer,

Sees with a light from The Merciful, no metaphor.

خوارق للعادات آيات مجده

تحير بها الأذهان والعقل يعقل

Miracles transcending normalcy, signs of his glory,

Perplex minds and reason comprehends.

إلينا بدت في بعثه لم تزل بها

إلى العالم الأخبار تروى وتنقل

Through his mission, wonders appeared to us, enduring

Through them, narrations to the world are conveyed and circulated.

يقولون من هذا الكريم الذي أتى

أذا ملك أم ذا من الله مرسل

They say who is this generous one who came,

Is he an angel or one sent by God?

تبارك من أعطاه ما يستحقه

من الملك ما أعطا سليمان أول

Blessed is He who gave him what he deserves,

Of kingship what He gave Solomon before.

علاء وتسديداً ومجداً وسؤدداً

ورأياً عليه في المهم المعول

Elevation, guidance, glory, joy,

And wisdom upon which is relied in important affairs.

وذلك فضل الله يؤتيه من يشا

ويختص بالتفضيل من هو أفضل

That is the grace of God, He gives it to whom He wills,

And He singles out with preference the one who is superior.

فتباً لمن ناوى بطياً أماله

نذير بصحب الفيل عما يؤمل

So destruction to one who vainly aspires,

Like the companions of the elephant, hopes.

جسور على الأخطار لا يرهب الردى

ثبوت بيوم الروع لا يتقلقل

Audacious in the face of dangers, not fearing adversity,

Steadfast on the day of calamity, not wavering.

إذا ما عدى بالعاديات إلى العدا

غشاهم بويل القارعات التزلزل

If they transgress the limits into aggression,

He will overwhelm them with the torment of the convulsing.

ولو انهم يلقون عن ذاك موئلا

لفروا ولكن ما لهم عنه موئل

If only they would abandon him as refuge,

They would flee but for them from him there is no refuge.

ويومئذ أين المفر لهم وقد

أحاط بهم ليل من الويل أليل

That day, where is the escape for them, while

The night of woe has encompassed them, endless.

به تخطف الهام المواضي كأنها

وحق المعالي الطير والهام خردل

Through it ambitions are snatched, as if they

For the grandeur, are insects and locusts.

وقد نزل النصر العزيز لذي السنا

وبالتب باء المعتدى المتطول

And victory, mighty, has descended for the one of glory,

While the transgressor, wretched, disappointed, laments.

فيا فائق الأقران جودا وسؤدداً

وأسنى أبي في دبي له العلو

So O eminent above peers in generosity and joy,

And most felicitous, for whom fortune is set lofty.

ومن باسه يخشى وجدواه يرتجدى

فطوراً وطوراً يردي خصماً ويفضل

Whose awe is feared and struggle deprecated,

Vanquishing one opponent after another, excelling.

ومن إن دعي يوماً سواه بإسمه

لهيبته لم تحمل الخصم أرجل

And if anyone were called other than him one day,

Because of his reverence, the opponent’s feet would not carry him.

عليك بنصر الحق لله حسبة

وكن مقسطاً في الحكم إياك تعدل

Upon you is the victory of truth, God is sufficient,

And be just in your rule, yourself you must judge.

وراع الرعايا باهتمام وفطنة

ووالهم بالفضل يا متفضل

Shepherd the flock with care and insight,

And endow them with virtue, O most virtuous.

وكن فيهمو ذا سيرةٍ عمرية

فانك عنهم سوف والله تسأل

And be among them of Umar's conduct,

For you will, by God, be questioned about them.

وخف دعوة المظلوم إذ ليس بينها و

حجاب وبين الله إياك تغفل

And fear the supplication of the oppressed, for between it

And God, no barrier, do not be oblivious of it.

بالباس بادر كل باغ مراجم

عنيد له عن شرعة الحق معدل

With firmness, hasten against every recalcitrant transgressor,

Obstinate, for him the path of truth altered.

وجز لهم بحراً خميساً عرمرماً

فمن جحفل يقفوه كالموج جحفل

And mete out for them a roaring, raging sea,

So whoever is tyrannical, it tosses him like a wave.

وشن عليهم غارة اثر غارةٍ

بيوم به عن طفلها الأم تذهل

And unleash upon them raid after raid,

On a day through which a mother is bewildered of her child.

وحكم امين المارتين من الخطا

بهم فهي بالأحكام أمضى وافصل

And the trusted one judges between the two parties in dispute

For he is in judgments most determined and excellent.

إلى أن ترى الفجار صرعى من الثوى

كأنهموا علوا بخمرٍ وانهلوا

Until you see the wicked fallen dead from the calamity,

As if they had risen intoxicated and drained it.

وقد عدت من دار أبيت بها الثوا

وجئت سريعاً نحو دارك أعجل

And I have returned from the house I spent the night,

And came hastily to your abode speeding.

بها كنت معبوباً على بثي الثنا

عليكم وما للعتب في ذاك مدخل

In it I was enamored reciting your praise

Upon you, and for reproach in that there is no admission.

فقلت لمن يعتب رويدك إنني

وحق علاه نحوه مترحل

So I said to the reproacher, gently, I

By the truth of the most high, am travelling to him.

فلا تعتبن أني مدحت أبا الثنا

بما فيه من فضل كأنك تجهل

So do not blame me for praising the father of glory

With what virtue in him is, as if you are ignorant.

ففي ابن سهيل يسمو شعري مفخرا

وبإبن سهيلٍ كل صعب سيسهل

For in the son of Suhayl my poetry rises gloriously,

And by the son of Suhayl every hardship will be eased.