يا لِلهَوى مِن لِصَبّ لَم يَنَل وطرا
عَطفاً عَلى مُستَهام رقَّ واِنحسرا
O passion, what an unrelenting tormentor
Showing no mercy to one who pines and sheds copious tears
عاني المها مُستَهلّ الدَمع هامره
واهي القوى ما شَكا بُؤساً وَلا ضررا
The infatuated one, eyes raining with tears
And strength fading, though he did not complain of misery or harm
بادي الضَنى ذو غَرام سامهُ شَجَنا
وَافي العَنا مشفقاً مِن بَرحِهِ حذرا
With evident anguish, consumed by love-longing
And perfectly faithful, though avoiding the beloved warily
يَهوى الظبا وَهوى الآرام قاهره
طول المَدى وَهوَ لا يُصغي لِمَن فشرا
He yearns for the gazelle, though yearning has conquered him
For long has he been thus, not heeding those who mock
وَيح العِدا وَاللَواحي حَمّلته عَنا
أَزكى لَظى لاعج مِن وَجدِهِ اِستعرا
By heavens, how the enemies burdened him with blame!
More honourable than their vilest slander
جَمر الأَسى لَم يَزَل دَوماً يساهره
وَسط الحَشا مصعداً أَنفاسهُ شَررا
The embers of sorrow have ceaselessly kept him awake
Amidst the dust, his sighs like sparks from fire
ماذا حَوى وَيح قَلبي ظَلَّ مُرتَهنا
مُضنى الجَوى أتقاوى وَالهَوى قَهَرا
What has my poor heart contained, remaining a hostage
To overwhelming passion, while love triumphed?
يَرجو اللقا وَالظبا تيهاً تغادره
بَعد النَوى وَعيائي داؤُهُ عسرا
He hopes for union, but the gazelle leaves him wandering
After intimacy, his sickness hard to remedy
كَم مِن رَشا وَغَزال هَزَّ قَدّ قَنا
تَحتَ الحلى ذو جَمال زيّن الحبرا
How many a graceful gazelle with lovely ornaments
Beneath the jewels, of beautiful appearance
إِذا رَنا فتنَ الأَلباب ناظره
يَسبي الحجا وَبلبّي طالَما سَخِرا
If she glanced, she would tempt all hearts with her gaze
Captivating minds, she has long sported and mocked
نَجم هَوى بِأَبي مِنهُ بَديع سَنا
بَدر أَضا لا نَأى عَنّي وَلا هَجَرا
A star of love, with a radiant beauty
A full moon that does not turn away from me or spurn
تَحتَ الدُجى قَمر تَزهو مظاهره
باهي السَنا لَو رَآهُ البَدر لاستترا
Under the clouds, a moon whose brilliance shines
A beautiful crescent - if the full moon saw her, it would hide
ذاكي الشَذا خَدّهُ الوَردي طاب جَنى
حازَ البها وَسُقي ماء الحَيا خَفرا
Of brilliant cheeks, her rosy face so pure
She has obtained splendor and was watered with the water of life
بَينَ المَلا جَلّ عَن رَيب يجاوره
حَتّى زَها فَغَدا حالي بِهِ عِبَرا
She kept company with the king, above any doubt
Until she became the cause of my dire condition
يا طالَما صُنت عَمَّن لامَني أذنا
بَينَ الوَرى كَم حَسود ناصح مَكَرا
O how often I was careful of those whose ears accused me
Among the people - what a deceitful advisor they supposed!
رمت القلى رَيثَما أنّي أحاذره
لا لِلغوى مَسمَعي عَن نُصحه نَفَرا
I avoided the hearts whenever I feared them
Deaf to their advice, loathing even to hear it
هَل مِن لَحا وَمدام الثَغر كَأس هَنا
عَذب اللَمى هات يا مَن مِنهُ قَد سَكِرا
Is there any wine and red lips in a cup here
Sweet nectar - give it, you who have become intoxicated by it!
يا ذا النهى أتُرى نِدّاً يناظره
بَينَ المَلا سكراً أرشفت أَم سَكَرا
O you of high resolve, do you see a companion to gaze upon
Among the sovereigns - did you drink till drunk or merely sip?
ما إِن أَرى غَير ما أَملت فيهِ مُنى
ورداً حَلا مِن جدى آلاء مَن غَمَرا
I do not see other than what I hoped for from him
Roses and favors from my master overwhelming me
إِلّا النَدى وأمين المَجد ناشره
مروي الظما ذو المَعالي سَيّد الأُمَرا
Except generosity and the trusted guardian spreading it
Quenching thirst - he, the master of commands
بَدر التُقى مَن إِذا أَتلو لَديهِ ثَنا
شَمس الهُدى مَدحهُ يَتلو الثَنا سُوَرا
Full moon of piety - when I recite poetry to him
The sun of guidance - praising him comes after praising God
سامي الذرى رَتّلت مَدحي مآثره
بِلا مرا مَن رَأى تَرتيله اِفتَخَرا
Lofty star, however much I chant his glories in verse
Unceasingly - whoever hears my chant glories in it
وافي السَخا أَريحيّ كَم حَبا مننا
عالي الثَنا غَير مَغبون بِما اِبتَدَرا
Bountiful and generous, Arrahee, how much affection he gave us
Sublime of praise, not cheated of what he was owed
سَحّ العَطا مِن نَدى جادَت بواكره
سَحّ الحَيا لَم يَسمه بَذله ضَجَرا
He swept with a flood of generosity in its first outpourings
He swept with vitality, his giving caused him no annoyance
شَهم سَما كُلّ مَعنى حازَهُ حَسنا
حازَ العُلى حين عَمّا دونَهُ كبُرا
Of resolute character, embodying every fine quality
Embodying the sublime, when transcending what is beneath him
حَتّى رَقى عِندَما باهَت مفاخره
عِزّاً نَما طاوَلت عَلياؤُهُ القَمَرا
Until, when his glories shone forth, he attained
Honor flourishing, his supremacy towering to the moon
لا يختَشى فَهوَ غَيث البرّ إِن هَتَنا
بَل يرتَجى وَهوَ لَيث الغاب إِن زَأَرا
He is not to be feared, so he is the rain of righteousness if we waver
Rather, he is to be hoped for, though a lion if he roars
إِذا سَطا لَمَعَت بَطشاً بواتره
يَوم الوَغى لِترى مِنهُ العِدا خَطَرا
When his sharp swords flashed, in the fury of battle
For the enemy to see, they portended danger
نال المُنى لا اِنبَرى يَلقى هَنا وَمُنى
طول المَدى لَم يَزَل بِاللَهِ مُقتَدِرا
He attained his wishes, did not flag from pursuing
By God’s empowerment, any goal, however remote
حَتّى حَوى ظافِراً فيما يبادره
عَون القَضا غَير مَعصيّ بِما أَمَرا
Until, striving, he encompassed, triumphing in all he took on
With destiny’s support, not disobeying any command
