يا لِلهَوى من لِصَبّ لَم يَنَل أَرَبا
عَطفاً عَلى مُستَهام رقَّ وَاِنتَحَبا
O passion, what a persistent love whose ardour was never quenched,
Having pity on one tearful, lamenting, pouring out tears.
عاني المها مُستَهلّ الدَمع ساكبه
واهي القوى ما شَكا بُؤساً وَلا وَصَبا
O weak in strength! He never complained of misery or distress.
Manifesting sorrow, one impassioned whom longing has made frail.
بادي الضَنى ذو غَرام سامَهُ شَجَنا
وَافي العَنا مشفقاً مِن بَرحِهِ رَهبا
Bringing distress, compassionate toward his beloved though far removed,
He loves the gazelles but passionate love makes him its prisoner,
يَهوى الظبا وَهوى الآرام غالبه
طول المَدى وَهوَ لا يُصغي لِمَن عَتبا
The long duration of separation but he heeds not the reproachers.
Woe betide estrangement! Separation has burdened him with grief.
وَيح العِدا وَاللواحي حَمّلته عَنا
أَزكى لَظى لاعج مِن وَجدِهِ اِلتَهَبا
More ardent than flaming fires, his fervent love ever burns within.
Amidst the brushwood, his breath rising like a flame.
جَمر الأَسى لَم يَزَل دَوما يُصاحبه
وَسط الحَشا مصعداً أَنفاسهُ لَهَبا
What has my poor heart contained? Remaining enthralled,
The strength of my spirit subdued, passion prevailing.
ماذا حَوى وَيح قَلبي ظَلَّ مُرتَهنا
مُضنى الجَوى أتقاوى وَالهَوى غَلَبا
He hopes for reunion though the gazelle leads him astray,
After intention and weary toil, his sickness has become severe.
يَرجو اللقا وَالظبا تيها تُعاقبه
بعد النَوى وَعيائي داؤُهُ صَعبا
How many a roebuck and young gazelle beneath the ornaments
With beauty has adorned its collar, lovely in mantle.
كَم مِن رَشا وَغَزال هَزَّ قَدّ قَنا
تَحتَ الحلى ذو جَمال زيّن النقبا
When it glances, seducing hearts with its eyebrows,
It captures minds and for long has captivated with coquetry.
إِذا رَنا فتنَ الأَلباب حاجبهُ
يَسبي الحِجا وَبلبّي طالَما لَعِبا
A star of love - my father - excelling in beauty,
A rising moon whose light never leaves me nor sets.
نَجم هَوى بِأَبي مِنهُ بَديع سَنا
بَدر أَضا لا نَأى عَنّي وَلا غَربا
Beneath the darkness, a moon whose retinue is resplendent,
Dazzling in brilliance - if the full moon saw it, it would veil itself.
تَحتَ الدُجى قَمر تَزهو مَواكبه
باهي السَنا لَو رَآهُ البَدر لاِحتَجَبا
Freshly blooming, his rosy cheek, the flowers thrive in profusion,
Attaining splendor and watered with the wine of manners.
ذاكي الشَذا خَدّهُ الوَرديّ طاب جَنى
حازَ البها وَسُقي ماء الحَيا أَدَبا
Conspicuous among the nobility, free of doubts surrounding him
Until he shone radiantly and my state with him is wondrous.
بَينَ المَلا جَلّ عَن رَيب يُقاربه
حَتّى زَها فَغَدا حالي بِهِ عَجَبا
O how often I have guarded against those who blamed me,
Among mankind, how many envious counsellors with calumny!
يا طالَما صُنت عَمَّن لامَني أذنا
بَينَ الوَرى كَم حَسود ناصح خلبا
I cast aside the hearts until I shunned his advice,
My hearing closed to empty words, evading his counsel.
رمت القلى رَيثَما أنّي أُجانبه
لا لِلغوى مَسمَعي عَن نُصحه اِجتَنَبا
Is there any sweet wine? Let a cup with ruby lips be present,
Sweet in taste - come! For you have already drunk of it.
هَل من لَحا وَمدام الثَغر كَأس هَنا
عَذب اللَمى هات يا مَن مِنهُ قَد شَرِبا
O you of lofty manner, do you see an equal befitting him
Among the nobility, intoxicated with drink or sober?
يا ذا النهى أتُرى نِدّاً يُناسبه
بَينَ المَلا سكراً أرشفت أَم ضَربا
I see none but the beloved wishes I hoped for,
A shower of bounty from my endeavor that the Bestower has granted,
ما إِن أَرى غَير ما أمّلت فيهِ مُنى
ورداً حَلا مِن جدى آلاء مَن وَهَبا
Except the beloved, trustee of glory, its granter,
Quencher of thirsts, the most noble of the noble.
إِلّا النَدى وأمين المَجد واهبه
مروي الظما ذو المَعالي سَيّد النجبا
The full moon of piety - when I recite poetry to him,
The sun of guidance recites poetry in his praise in reply.
بَدر التُقى مَن إِذا أَتلو لَديهِ ثَنا
شَمس الهُدى مَدحَهُ يَتلو الثَنا كتبا
Sublime in lineage - I intoned eulogies of his virtues,
Wondrously, with no pretense - whoever witnesses my intonation is astonished.
سامي الذرى رَتّلت مَدحي مَناقبه
بِلا مرا مَن رَأى تَرتيله اِعتَجَبا
Bountiful and most generous, how much affection he has shown us!
Exalted in praise, not shortchanged for what he has earned.
وافي السَخا أَريحيّ كَم حَبا مننا
عالي الثَنا غَير مَغبون بِما اِكتَسَبا
He poured from clouds of benevolence abundant rains,
He poured life - his munificence did not burden him.
سَحّ العَطا مِن نَدىً جادَت سَحائبه
سَحّ الحَيا لَم يَسمه بَذله كربا
Valorous and lofty - every excellent meaning he possessed
He attained supremacy when he surpassed those below him in aspiration.
شَهم سَما كُلّ مَعنى حازَهُ حَسنا
حازَ العُلى حين عَمّا دونَهُ رَغِبا
Until he rose, when his positions became resplendent,
With honor he grew as his venerable age increased.
حَتّى رَقى عِندَما باهَت مَراتبهُ
عِزّاً نَما طاوَلت عَلياؤُهُ الشُهُبا
He is not to be feared for he is the rain of righteousness if we are tried,
But he is to be hoped for, the lion of the jungle if aroused.
لا يختشى فَهوَ غَيث البرّ إِن هَتَنا
بَل يرتَجى وَهوَ لَيث الغاب إِن وَثَبا
When he unsheathes, his swords flash
On the day of battle - you would see his enemies filled with dread.
إِذا سَطا لَمَعَت بَطشاً قَواضبه
يَوم الوَغى لِتَرى مِنهُ العِدا رُعبا
He attained his wishes - he did not flag but found pleasure here,
Throughout his life, he always placed his trust in God.
نال المُنى لا اِنبَرى يَلقى هَنا وَمُنى
طُول المَدى لَم يَزَل بِاللَهِ مُحتَسِبا
Until he embraced success in what he carefully maintained,
The aid of destiny, not disobeying what he was commanded.
حَتّى حَوى ظافِراً فيما يُراقبه
عَون القَضا غَير مَعصيّ بِما طَلَبا
