صِلوا حبل ودّي يا كِرام وَزوروا

فَإِنّ شَهادات العَواذل زورُ

Connect the rope of affection, O honorable people, and visit,

For the testimonies of evildoers are falsehoods.

وَبالنَفس منّي مَن لَنا مِن صدودهم

تصاعد أَنفاس لَهُنَّ زَفيرُ

And I care for whoever blocks our way to them,

Rising breaths for them is but a groan.

أكلّف دَمع العَين إِطفاء لَوعَتي

وَهَيهات إِخماد السَعير عَسيرُ

I task the tears of my eyes with extinguishing my agony,

And alas, extinguishing the raging fire is difficult.

وَمَلعَب آرام كَأَنّ رُبوعه

سَماءٌ حلاها أَنجُم وَبُدورُ

The meadows of Ārām are a playground as if

Its open spaces were adorned with stars and full moons.

فَأَمّا غَرامي فَهوَ كَالدَمع مُطلق

لَدَيها وَأَمّا خاطِري فَأَسيرُ

As for my passion, it flows like tears before her,

While my mind is her captive.

وَأَما سلوّي فَهوَ لا رَيب أنَّهُ

عَسير وَقَتلي في الغَرام يَسيرُ

As for my consolation, it is undoubtedly

Difficult, while dying of love is easy.

وَبي ظبي سرب فاتر الطَرف فاتن

عَزيزٌ غَزير التيه وَهوَ غريرُ

In me is a gazelle, a wan herd with languid eyes and charming,

Dear, profuse in wandering, though disdainful of being excessively petted.

تغازله الغزلانُ وَهيَ أَوانس

فَيعروه مِن فَرط الدَلال نُفورُ

The other gazelles flirt with him as intimate friends,

But he spurns them due to being overly indulged.

وَأَحور أَمّا لَحظه فَهوَ صارِمٌ

صَحيحٌ وَأَمّا طَرفه فَكَسيرُ

As for his glances, they are penetrating

And direct, while his eyes are alluring.

لَهُ آية السحر الَّتي جاءنا بِها

عَلى فَترة مِن داعجيه نَذيرُ

He has the mark of magic that came to us

As a warner, during a respite from his alluring ways.

وَأحوى حوى مِن كُلّ ما يَبعَث الجَوى

وَيَعبث بِالمُشتاق مِنهُ أمورُ

Most fascinating is he, with everything that stirs desire

And toys with the longing lover and his affairs.

كَأَنَّ عذاريه وَوَرد خُدودهِ

سَلاسل قَد عدّت لَنا وَسَعيرُ

As if his cheeks and rose petal lips

Are chains that have been forged for us, and heated rods.

نَعيم لَنا بَعد الشَقاء لِأَنَّهُ

كلا وَجنتيهِ جَنّة وَحَريرُ

Delightful to us, after hardship, for he

Is a paradise, with both of his gardens being luxurious brocade.

يُرنّحُ مِنهُ عجبه غُصن بانَةٍ

نَضيراً وَلَكن ما حَكاهُ نَظيرُ

A bough in his prime preens from this,

Unique, though what he related has no peer.

كَأَنَّ قُلوب العاشِقين إِذا اِنثَنى

عَلَيهِ حَمامات لَهُنَّ هَديرُ

As if when he bends over the hearts of lovers,

Doves are murmuring over them with their cooing.

كَأَنّي وَالورقاء في رَوضة الحِمى

حَليفا هِيامٍ مُطربٌ وَسَميرُ

As if I and al-Waraqāʾ were in the sanctuary of infatuation,

Boon companions lost in passionate love, and singers.

ألا يا صبا ربع لَهُ القَلب قَد صَبا

وَعَهد التَصابي بَهجَةٌ وَحبورُ

Oh gentle morning breeze! The heart has inclined to a meadow

Whose memory stirs delight and early gifts.

عَلى ذَلِكَ النادي تَحيّة مُغرم

لَهُ الصَبر يَحلو وَالبعاد مَريرُ

To that companion goes the greeting of a passionate lover,

Patient in separation though it is bitter.

وَلي عَجَب مِن عادل القَدّ ظالمٍ

يَجور وَما لي مِن جَفاه مجيرُ

I wonder at fair of stature but unjust in his tyranny,

Wronging me though he has no justification.

سِوى حرم من حلّه فَهوَ آمِنٌ

وَمن أَمّهُ بِالمكرماتِ جَديرُ

Except the sanctuary of one whose resolution is safety,

And one who has graced him with favors is deserving.

نَزلنا بِهِ فَوق السماكين رفعةً

قُصورَ عَلاءٍ ما بِهنَّ قُصورُ

We visited him atop the celestial spheres loftily,

Palaces of the eminent that have no equals.

لَدى أسدٍ تَستنفر الأسد خَيلَه

وَتَستَألف الأَبطال حينَ تُغيرُ

With a lion whose cavalry the lions spur to battle,

And whose champions, when stirred, he rallies.

لَدى مَن دعاه المَجد في كُلّ سُؤدد

أَميناً عَلى العَلياءِ فَهوَ أَميرُ

With one whom glory called in every calamity,

Trustworthy of the noble deeds, thus he is the prince.

لَدى مَن لَديهِ الوَفد أَغرَقه النَدى

عَلى أَنَّ كِلتي راحَتيهِ بُحورُ

With one whom at his abode the delegation overwhelmed withdew,

Though both my hands are filled with his oceans.

لَدى من رُفات الجُود أَحيت هِباتهُ

كَأَن قَد دَعاها لِلقِيام نُشورُ

With one whom revived generosity made his gifts seem

As if he called upon the deceased to be resurrected.

لَدى فرقد العَلياء لا ثانياً لَهُ

وَقطب رحى الهَيجاء حينَ تَدورُ

With unmatched eminent and famed one when the millstones turn,

He took charge of the people’s affairs and he, by their state,

تَولّى أُمور الناس وَهوَ بِحالِها

عَليم وِبالسرّ المَصون خَبيرُ

Is knowing and privy to the guarded secret.

When the matter’s complexities confounded its unraveling,

إِذا غامضات الأَمر أعجز كَشفها

فَلَيسَ لَها إِلّا إِلَيهِ مَصيرُ

Then only to him is their course bound.

His is discernment and pardoning, with forbearance and ability,

لَهُ النَقد وَالإِغضاء حِلماً وَقُدرة

وَأَيُّ قَديرٍ في الأَنام غَفورُ

And which Lord among the people is more forgiving?

He is high-minded, while his clemency is abundant,

هُوَ الشَهم أَمّا حلمه فَهوَ وافر

مَديدٌ وَأَمّا عِلمهُ فَغَزيرُ

Enduring, and his knowledge vast.

He is the full moon, not so the moon whose light wanes,

هُوَ البَدر لا فَالبَدر يَنقص نوره

وَهَذا لعمري كامِلٌ وَمُنيرُ

And this one, by my life, is complete and luminous.

He is the sea, not so the sea whose water is agitated,

هُوَ البَحر لا فَالبَحر لا شَكَّ ماؤُهُ

أجاج وَهَذا سائِغٌ وَنَميرُ

While this one is gentle and limpid.

Through his bounty the horizons are filled as if

بِجدواه قَد عَمَّ المَلا فَكَأَنَّما

عَلَيهِ دُيون أَو عَلَيهِ نذورُ

Obligated to him or vows upon him.

As if the dew were treasure with none but

كَأَنّ النَدى كنز وَلَيسَ عَلى سوى

يَديهِ لَهُ بَين الأَنام ظُهورُ

His hands having appearance among the people.

Though his wealth complains of his charity, in truth

شَكا مالهُ مِن بَذلِهِ بيد أَنَّهُ

لَهُ كُلّ قَلب حامِدٌ وَشَكورُ

Every heart grateful and content belongs to him.

When all the people speak of his generosity and his treasuries

إِذا ما الوَرى قالوا بِجود وَحرفت

خَزائنه قالَت أراه يَجورُ

Are emptied, they say, “He is doing wrong!”

For him are the glad tidings in the delegation of lovers, just as

لَهُ البشر في وفد المُحبّين مِثلَما

لَها الخَير جمٌّ وَالهَناء وَفورُ

Goodness, bliss, and abundance belong to it.

I sought refuge in the sanctuary of his eminence, so he gave me

حللتُ حِمى عَليائه فَأَقامَني

مَقاماً يردُّ الطَرف وَهوَ حَسيرُ

A status that turns eyes away, and it is difficult.

So the tongue of circumstance sang in verse, saying,

فَأَمسى لِسان الحال يُنشد قائِلاً

جِوارك مِن جورِ الزَمان يُجيرُ

“Your shelter protects me from the tyranny of time.”

We returned while the masters of hearts are honored

وَردنا وَأَرباب الصُدور أَعزّةٌ

لَدَيهِ فَما لي عَن عُلاه صُدورُ

In his presence, so I have no revealing my love for his loftiness.

Oh how a life without the like of it for the likes of me

ألا إنّ عَيشاً لَيسَ في باب مِثلِهِ

لِمثليَ بَينَ العالمين مَريرُ

Between the two worlds is bitter!

A life whose length is not spent praising him

وَإِن حَياة لا تقضى بِحَمدهِ

وَتمداحه تِلكَ الحَياة غُرورُ

And lauding him, that life is but delusion.

He has the most steadfast and broad chest when it comes

همام لَهُ صَدر العُلى وَهوَ قَلبه

إِذا عُدَّ لِلمَجد الرَفيع صُدورُ

To the most lofty glory, if the eminent in rank were chests.

He came late in time yet he is foremost in merit,

تَأَخّر عَهداً وَهوَ بِالفَضل أَوّل

وَعَهد إمام المُرسلين أَخيرُ

And the era of the Seal of the Messengers is the last.

He is rain and lion with dread, none stand against his command,

هُوَ الغَيث وَاللَيث المقاد لأَمرهِ

مِن الذُعر جمٌّ لا ينال غفيرُ

An overwhelming mass that no great throng can attain.

You would think them, when seen atop the lofty naked mountains,

عَلى صَهوات الصافِنات تَخالهم

أُسوداً لَها فَوق الصُقور زَئيرُ

Lions with a roar greater than eagles for them.

Galactic stars above them whose riders

سَوابق لَو سابقنَ سرباً من القَطا

هَوى وارداً لِلماء وَهيَ صُدورُ

Almost cause the fixed stars to waver.

When they stomp the slain foe, it is as if

عَلَيها النُجُوم السارِيات فَوارس

تَكاد لَهُنَّ الراسيات تَمورُ

They are prey pounced on by hungry eagles.

Their hooves make the towering mountains quake, shedding

إِذا أَوطؤوها عاصما خلت أَنَّهُ

فَريسٌ قَد اِنقَضَّت عَلَيهِ نُسورُ

Their peaks that call out with the shrieking of females.

They race the ostrich with strides, every battlefield

تزلزل مِنها الشامِخات فطورها

أطير وَنادى بِالثبور ثَبيرُ

Becoming knightly with banners adorning them.

When they raise high the felled enemy with their blades,

تَخطّ بِخطّيّ القَنا كلّ معرك

طُروساً بِها قَد زانَهنّ سُطورُ

The blades have a shrill hiss for them.

Foremost troops, with that vanguard ahead of them

إِذا ما عَلوا هام الصَريع مِن العِدا

فَللهامِ مِن أَقلامهنَّ صَريرُ

Is for the enemies a warning host.

They kiss the honored sword then melt

أَمقدام ذا الجَيش المقدَّم دونهُ

مِن الرُعب جَيش لِلعداة نَذيرُ

The polished Indian sword.

Above a diminishing indescribable shadow, though

يقبّل مِنكَ المشرفيَّ غضنفر

وَيصهر قَدَّ السَمهريّ صهورُ

Can mysteries be described when they are hidden?

I was amazed by his towering mountains whose peaks

عَلى ضامر لا وَصف يُدرك شَأوه

وَهَل توصف الأَسرار وَهيَ ضَميرُ

Reached the sea, though can peaks surpass mountains?

They stirred turbulent seas that none but

عَجبت لَهُ طَوداً رَسى البَحر فَوقَهُ

وَهَل فَوق أَطواد تقرّ بُحورُ

The enemies lusted for when aroused.

Thus the people were amazed by you and started

أَثار عَجاجاً لَم يَكُن طُلَّ مِن دَم

بِهِ لِسِوى الأَعداء حينَ يَثورُ

To point to you with the words of the elders.

More wondrous is that the swords and spears

لِذا عَجبت مِنكَ الأَنام فَأَصبَحَت

إِلَيكَ بِقَول الأَقدَمين تُشيرُ

Are cradled in the hands of the warriors when they are males.

Even more wondrous is that they blaze in their palms

وَمِن عجب أَنّ الصَوارم وَالقَنا

تَحضن بِأَيدي القَوم وَهيَ ذُكورُ

A fire though palms are seas.

The eminent are jealous that other than you be seen

وَأَعجَب مِنها أَنَّها في أَكُفِّهم

تُؤَجّجُ ناراً وَالأَكُفّ بُحورُ

As their prince, for the lover is jealous.

Had the people opposed them in the least, the land would have

تَغار العُلى مِن غَير ذاتك أَن تَرى

أَميراً لَها إِن المُحبّ غيورُ

Nearly collapsed before shifting.

To you, trustee of glory, a maiden strides freely

وَلو غايرتها الناس طرّاً لَأَوشَكَت

بِها الأَرض لَما أَن تغير تَغورُ

With the awesome beauty of her face as her guard.

She trails the train of her gown’s hem with eloquence

إِلَيكَ أَمين المَجد عَذراء غادَةً

لَها خَفرُ الوَجه البَديع خَفيرُ

So where can the likes of Jarīr rival her to you?

She strung choice pearls into a necklace for her smooth neck,

تَجرّ عَلى سحبان ذَيل فَصاحة

فَأَنّى يُجاريها إِلَيك جَريرُ

Pulled from it in places by her breasts.

My patron, the month of fasting departed in farewell,

نَظمت الدَراري عقد درّ لجيدها

تجاذبه مِنهُ طُلىً وَنُحورُ

separating from a beloved, though the lover ispatient.

It suffices you what was counted in it of piety,

أَمَولايَ شَهر الصَوم سارَ مُوَدّعاً

وَداعَ حَبيب وَالمُحبّ صَبورُ

Uncountable gifts for you and rewards.

Yes, it is the month of good while few are the people ofgood,

وَحَسبكَ ما قَد عُدَّ فيهِ مِن التُقى

مَواهب لا تُحصى لَكُم وَأُجورُ

Though those who fast are many.

It saddens us if we did not have as consolation

أَجل هُوَ شَهر الخَير وَالخَير أَهله

قَليل وَأَما الصائِمون كَثيرُ

Your strength, a returning feast and joy.

It is the feast, not any feast but what in it

يَعزُّ عَلَينا ذاكَ لَو لَم يَكُن لَنا

بعزّك عيد عائد وَسُرورُ

Is our joy, while the joy of enviers is misfortune.

As for our worldly lives, through you, and our faith,

هُوَ العيد لا عيد سِوى ما بِهِ الهَنا

لَنا وَسُرور الحاسِدين شُرورُ

Their defining moments have bloomed and emerged.

We congratulate you at holidays for they

وَأَما لدنيانا بكم وَلديننا

فَآصال أَفراح زَهَت وَبُكورُ

Are most deserving, so the months do not diminish.

If it is said the sun’s light aged it, then

نهنّي بِكَ الأَعياد وَهيَ أَهلّة

فَلا تَختشي الأهصار وَهيَ بُدورُ

From the radiance of your face, the sun has light.

May God return to us the like of you,

لَئن قيلَ نور الشمس أَكسبها سناً

فَللشَمس مِن إِشراق وَجهِكَ نورُ

In delight for your eminence, its place set.

O delight of days, you remain unharmed

أَعادَ عَلَينا اللَهُ أمثال مثله

سُروراً لعلياكم عَلَيهِ سَريرُ

That years be happy for us and months.

So long as the morning breeze of youth breathes

وَيا بَهجة الأَيّام لا زلت سالِماً

لِتسعد أَعوامٌ لَنا وَشُهورُ

And the fragrance of your beauty remains,

The return of the auspicious feast in its arrival

مَدى الدَهر ما قَد هَينمت نسمة الصِبا

وَقَد فاحَ طيب مِن ثَناك عَطيرُ

To you is not with the best wishes marked.

And its years chant to you upon return:

وَما عائد العيد السَعيد قُدومه

إِلَيكُم بِخَير التَهنئات يشيرُ

“Connect the rope of affection, O honorable people, and visit.”

وَتُنشدكم أَعوامه عِندَ عوده

صلوا حَبل ودّي يا كِرام وَزوروا