أَعِد ذِكرَ ربع البان سفحاً وَأَجرعا

لأَروي الظَما بِالدَمع سَفحاً وَأجرعا

I yearn for the dwellings of Banu Lihyan on the slopes and meadows

To quench my thirst with tears flowing down my cheeks

وَعَن جيرة في الشعب حدّث فَإِنَّني

أراني بِهِ أَولى الأَنام وَأَولَعا

And ask about my neighbors in the valley, for I

See myself most deserving of good treatment

أدِر راحَ أنسي إِنَّ سالف ودِّهم

سُلافيَ أحسوها رَحيقاً مشعشعا

Relate to me the fond memories of their friendship

That I sensed were most delightful and joyful

وَزِدني حَديثاً عَن قَديم عُهودهم

وَكَرِّر رَعاك اللَه تِذكار مَن رَعى

And talk more about their old ties

And may God protect you, remembering those who were friendly

وَعرِّض بِذكري إِن خَطرت بِحيّهم

فَإِنّ لَهُ في خاطر القَوم موقعا

And speak of me if I cross their mind

For I have a special place in their hearts

وَسَل عَن فُؤاد الصَبّ سلعاً فَإِنَّني

حَفظت لَهُ ما في الفُؤاد وَضيَّعا

And ask about the heart of the youth—I have preserved

What was in his heart though he neglected me

وَنازعني دَهري وَلَست مُنازِعاً

أَغمَّ القَفا وَالوَجه لَيسَ بِأَنزعا

Fate turned against me though I did not oppose it

Gloom covers my horizon that cannot be dispelled

بَرى البين جسمي وَاِنبَرى لي مبارياً

لتزهق نَفسي أَو تَجيش فَتتبعا

It sees my body from afar, standing tall as my adversary

Wanting to destroy me or stir me to pursue it

وَكُنت لِصَون النَفس عَن أسهم الأَسا

إِذا ما اِدَّرعت الصَبر وَهناً تمزَّعا

I used to protect myself from the arrows of misfortune

Donning the armor of patience though it was torn

فَيا مطلع الأَقمار من منزل اللوى

سموت عَلى هام السماكين مطلعا

O you whose moon rose above the horizon of al-Liwa

You ascended to the highest point above the clouds

وَيا مربع الآرام من حيّ رامة

سقيت الحَيا ربعا وَحيّيت مربعا

O you whose plateau of comfort rises from the abode of wild cows

You quenched the thirst of the meadows and enlivened the plateau

سَقى عَهدنا صَوبُ العهادِ فَطالَما

عَهدنا بِهِ رَوض المَسَرّة أَينَعا

Our covenant watered the valley of bliss where

We made a pleasant, verdant pasture

أَيا جيرةً جارَ الزَمان بِبعدهم

عَلى بغيهِ لَم يَخش لِلبَغي مصرعا

O neighbor, time has distanced them

But did not fear misfortune befalling the unjust

تُنازعني الآمالُ شوقاً لأرضكم

ويا سهم عزمي لا أرى لكَ منزعا

My hopes vie with me in yearning for your land

And my determined will finds no restraint

ويعثر خطّي بِالخطوب فَلا أَرى

عَلى سوء حَظّي مَن يَقول لَهُ لعا

My steps stumble on misfortunes and I see not

One who rebukes my ill fate and calls it to stop

أَبيت شَجيّاً بِالسهادِ أَرى السُها

سَميري وَقَد باتَ الخليّون هجَّعا

I tossed sleepless on the pillow seeing the Pleiades

While others lie sound asleep on their beds

أَلا لَيتَ شعري ما الشجيُّ بِصانعٍ

إِذا كانَ إشفاق الخليِّ تَصنُّعا

Woe! I wish I knew—is my wakefulness a true feeling

Or is the concern of a friend merely pretended?

وَهَل يَقطع الآمال أَو يَصل الرَجا

محبٌّ تمنّى مِن حَبيبٍ تَمَنّعا

Can love sever hopes or join wishes

When a lover desires the aloofness of the beloved?

أَحنّ لِوادي المنحنى وَنُزوله

وَما نَزَلوا إِلّا حَنايا وَأَضلعا

I grieve over the valley as it descends

Bearing nothing as they came down but slopes and sides

وَأَهفو لِبَرقٍ لاحَ مِن نَحوِ بارق

فَأُذري دُموعاً تَزدري المزن هُمَّعا

And I fret upon seeing a lightning bolt flash

From the direction of brilliant lightning, so I shed copious tears

إِذا غابَ عَن عَيني العَقيق تَلفّتت

حَشاي إِلَيهِ فَاِستهلّتهُ أَدمُعا

When carnelian disappears from my sight

My gaze turns to it and so my tears pour forth

وَركب سروا وَالعيس أَمَّت طويلعا

فَكانوا بُدوراً لِلدياجر طُلَّعا

They rode the cypresses while the branches swayed

As if they were lanterns for the darkness gleaming

وَفي الركب مَن لَو أَسفَرَت عَن جَمالها

دُجىً ما شَكَكنا أَنّ في الرَكب يوشعا

And in that group was one who, if her beauty was unveiled

From the darkness, we'd not doubt the group had become radiant

سَروا وَتَرامَت نجبُهم وَشؤوننا

سراعاً فَكانَت أَينقُ الدَمع أَسرَعا

They departed, their statuesque forms carried them away

While our affairs called to them hastily, so my tears flowed faster

وَأَودَعتهم يَوم الوداع حشاشتي

فَودَّعتها وَالرَكب لَم يَك ودَّعا

And when they bid farewell, I bid farewell to my darling

Yet they did not likewise bid the party farewell

قِفِ العيس بي يا حاديَ العيس منّةً

عَسى العينُ مِن أَحبابها أَن تمتَّعا

Stop, O camel driver, may the kindness you grant

Allow my eyes the enjoyment of seeing loved ones

وَمَن لي بِمَن عزَّت فَبزَّت فَرُبّما

غَدَت مِن عقاب الجوّ أَسمى وَأَمنَعا

I have none like those who became dear and aloof

Soaring higher than eagles, unreachable and remote

وَعَزَّت فَلم يَترك هَواها لِعاشق

عَن الذُلِّ مُستغنىً وَفي العزّ مطمعا

They became dear and left no lovers pining for them

Free from humiliation and hoping for glory

وَصادحة حنَت فَغَنت فَأَطرَبت

فَأَنَّت أَنيني فَاشتركنا بِهِ مَعاً

My singing darling sang, entrancing me,

So my tune blended with hers in unison

سأَهتفُ بِالشَكوى كَما هَتفت بِها

عَلى البان في أَوراقها الورق سُجَّعا

I will cry my complaints to the slopes

As I cried them to the leaves of the scrolls

أَلا يا حمام الأيك مِن رَوضة الحِمى

أَعندك ما بي أَم تَشبَّهت فاِربعا

O turtledoves cooing in the protected meadow

Do you share what I have or did you merely pretend?

رُويداً أَخا الخَنساء إنّ بِمُهجَتي

مِن الشَوق ما لو مسَّ صَخراً تَصدَّعا

Gently, sister! My passion, if unleashed, would

Crack boulders, though it lies suppressed

وَشتّان ما بَيني وَبَينك في الجَوى

لِيَ الوَجد طَبعاً وَهوَ فيك تَطبُّعا

What a difference between us in passion!

Mine ingrained, while yours is merely feigned

تَغنَّ وصل شَجواً بِشَجوٍ فَإِنَّني

وَهَبتك قَلباً بِالفراق تَقطَّعا

You sing the pain of parting, and I have granted you

A heart torn by separation into pieces

وَعَوّضني الرَحمَن قَلباً بِهِ أَرى

أَحبّة قَلبي كَالأَهلَّة طُلَّعا

But God replaced it with a heart that sees

My loved ones gleaming like the crescent moon

فَيا قَلب طب نَفساً فَقَد شَمل الهَنا

رُبوعاً بِها شَمل المَعالي تَجمَّعا

So comfort yourself, my soul, for our bliss encompasses

Sublime meadows thronging with nobility

وَيا عَين قرّي إِنّ شَمس دِيارنا

بَدَت وَغَمام الغَمّ زالَ وَأقشعا

And delight, my eye, for the sun of our land has risen

And the clouds of gloom have dispersed, spreading light

وَجادَ عَلَينا باسط اليَد بِالعَطا

بَعبدٍ لَهُ أتقى المَوالي وَأَورَعا

The All-Generous has been bountiful, offering gifts

Through a most pious and devout worshipper

هُوَ العالم العَلّامة العَلَمُ الَّذي

أَناف عَلى كيوان عزّاً وَمَوضعا

He is the erudite scholar, the embodiment of knowledge

Whose might towers over the celestial spheres

فَتىً عودُهُ عيدٌ سَعيد عَلى المَلا

بِهِ جَمع الرَحمَن حزباً تَضعضعا

A noble man whose arrival heralds goodness, O best arrivals

You have attained the ultimate goodness entire

قدوم أَتى بِالخَير يا خَير قادم

عَلى خَير حالٍ فُزتَ بِالخَير أَجمَعا

You performed Hajj and conveyed the wishes at Mina’s sanctuary,

Crying, “At your service!” answering one who calls

حَجَجت وَبُلّغتَ المُنى مِن حمى منىً

وَلَبّيتَ تَدعو مَن يُجيب لِمَن دَعا

You attained mystical knowledge at Arafat, and appeared

Fragrant with musk, perfuming all around you

وَمِن عَرَفاتٍ نِلتَ عِرفان عارف

تَأَرَّج مِسكاً عرفهُ وَتَضوَّعا

In the Noble Camp, you led a multitude

Whose comfort and harmony was rent asunder

وَفي المشعر الأَسنى نَهضت بِمَعشر

فرقَّ وَراق العَيش وِرداً وَمشرعا

He poured over you abundant rainfall from His clouds of bounty,

Fulfilling hopes however numerous they were

أَفضَت أَفاض اللَه هطّال جودِهِ

عَلَيك بِما يملى مِن الأَمل الوعا

And you circumambulated God’s House, O site of His mystery,

And found His most plentiful grace circling round or pacing to and fro

وَطُفت بِبَيت اللَه يا بَيت سرِّهِ

وَأَوسَع فَضلٍ نالَ مَن طافَ أَو سَعى

And during your brilliant minor pilgrimage, your life was gladdened

As you enjoyed its promises to the fullest

وَفي العمرة الزاهي بِها العُمر بَهجَة

تَمتّعت مِنها بِالأَماني تَمتّعا

The appointed station at as-Safa continued to be pure for you

Where you found more zeal for voluntary worship

وَما زالَ ميقات الصَفا لَكَ صافياً

لِتَزدادَ مِنهُ طاعَةً وَتَطوّعا

What you conveyed has become reality in the morning

By which the neglected has advanced and grown

وَأَصبَح ما إيّاه بُلّغتَ قاضياً

بِهِ تَفثاً أنمى وَأَمرى وَأَمرَعا

Until God enables you to perform Hajj again, and the sense of duty sailed forth

With you like ships with masts erect and sails hoisted

إِلى أَن أَنمّ اللَه حجّك وَاِنبَرى

بِكَ العيس تحدى كَالبَوارج شرّعا

To the arid valley until you were delivered safely

To ar-Rabgh in the lush lowlands—a pleasing rest

إِلى القاعة الوَعساء حَتّى تَخلَّصت

إِلى رابغٍ غب الخليصاءِ نجّعا

The valley echoed with the scent of dense orchards,

So the wild cows and mountain goats bleated in delight

وَفاحَ شَذا وادي زرودٍ تُذيعهُ

بِها أَثلات البانِ وَالرند يُنّعا

Beneath the lone mountain arak trees found shade

Offering places for the eyes to pasture

وَدون الكَثيب الفَرد ظلُّ أَراكة

تعاين مِنهُ العَينُ لِلعَينِ مرتَعا

The springs of al-Adhb and La‘la‘ watered it

With the lightning of al-Abruqayn flickering brightly

وَعَنَّ لَها ماء العذيب وَلعلعٍ

وَأَومَض بَرق الأبرقين وَلعلعا

Stirring deep longing in the valleys, it engulfed

Flashes of splendor unlike any life ever sparkled

فَعاجَت بِأَكناف اللوى وَلَوت بِها

بُروقُ سُعودٍ لا حَياً لحنَ لمّعا

So it soared by force of passion and love for the sanctuary

Whereupon desolation appeared increasingly delightful

وَطارَت بِحُكم الشَوق وَالسوق للحمى

فَلاحَ فلاحٌ فاِستطارت تَولّعا

To neighbors in the plains whom one might seek for help

And from the tyranny of time seek inviolability

إِلى جيرَةٍ في السوح من يَستجِر بهم

تَمنّى وَعَن جور الزَمان تَمنَّعا

To the Abode of the Chosen One and the Pure—Taybah—which

God eternally distinguished with sublime qualities

إِلى طيبة المُختار وَالطيب بعض ما

لَها اللَه أَبدى مِن صِفاتٍ وَأَبدَعا

To the Highest Station where the angels descended

Prostrating in service and bowing down

إِلى المَنزل الأَعلى الَّذي نَزلت بهِ

مَلائكة المَولى سُجوداً وَركّعا

There the arrows of oaths launched from afar

In humility, and necks bent down in submission

هُناكَ اِنبَرَت بَريَ السِهام مِن المُدى

خشوعاً وَبِالأَعناق طَأطأن خُضَّعا

To Him who rightly guided them, the best to walk the earth

And ascend beyond the seven heavens unhindered

إِلى مَن هَداها خَير مَن وَطِئَ الثَرى

وَمَن جاوَزَ السَبع الطِباق تَرفُّعا

The Most Generous who gave, Most Merciful who guided

Noblest at fulfilling, Truest when He promised

وَأسمَح مَن أَعطى وَأَرأف مَن هدى

وَأَكرَم مَن أَوفى وَأَصدَق مَن دَعا

A Messenger whose followers God has honored

While kings like Chosroes submitted to His command

رَسولٌ أَعَزّ اللَه أتباعه كَما

أَذَلَّ لَهُ الجَبّار كِسرى وَتبَّعا

Never was one crowned with a kingdom and power

More invincible than His ability to compel and bring low

وَما اِعتزّ ذو تاجٍ بِملك وَسَطوة

عَلى قُدرةٍ إِلّا لَهُ اللَه أَخضَعا

So blessed is he who in His service strives

Hoping to intercede for all sinners

فَطوبى لِمَن في بابِهِ قامَ راجِياً

شَفيعاً بِكُلّ المُذنبين مشفَّعا

And gaining from Him cups that God most sublimely filled

You performed the pilgrimage and visited the Best of Messengers

وَها أَنتَ ذا نِلت المُنى بِرحابهِ

وَفُزتَ بِه كَأساً لَها اللَه أَترَعا

And returned—the best return to a refuge

Not before you embodied every merit

حَجَجت وَزُرت المُصطَفى خَير مَن وَفى

وَعُدت وَخَير العودِ أَهناه مرجعا

And excelled in virtues and nobility understood by reasonable minds

You reached true piety as an elder, adult and youth

وَما جزت حَتّى حزت كُلّ فَضيلَةٍ

وَفَضلٍ وَعاه مِن ذَوي اللُبِّ مَن وَعى

Grasping its essence while still being suckled and nurtured

Just as you brought great feats to our homeland, through which

بَلَغت التُقى شَيخاً وَكَهلاً وَيافِعاً

وَأَدرَكت فَحواها فَطيماً وَمُرضعا

We reached the heights for which we hoped

God blessed us with security and attainment

كَما بَلَغت أَوطاننا بِكَ غايةً

بَلَغنا بِها أَوطارنا وَالرَجا مَعا

So no heart in which you dwell felt distressed

The encounter has quenched our joy, bringing comfort,

وَمَنَّ عَلَينا اللَه بِالأَمنِ وَالمُنى

فَما باتَ قَلب أَنتَ فيهِ مُروَّعا

Remaining most effective dispelling worries

I remained attaining my hopes, raising

سَقانا اللقا راحَ الهَنا فَأَراحنا

فَما زالَ أَنفى لِلهُموم وَأَنفعا

The banner of congratulations for my pleasant age

And I congratulated my loved ones and myself for the righteousness

فَبتُّ عَلى نَيل الأَمانيِّ رافِعاً

لِواء التَهاني مِن زَماني مُمتَّعا

That pleased the times and sufficed them

My praise of you has become most pleasing and extensive

وَهَنَّأتُ أَحبابي وَنفسي بِما بِهِ

مِن البرِّ أَرضانا الزَمان وأقنعا

While it can never be enough, being exquisite and fragrant

When my mind selects meanings to adorn

فَطابَت فَطالت في ثناك مَدائحي

وَضاعَت فَما ضاعَت شذاً وتَضوّعا

A magnificent necklace of peerless pearls

I disdain praising the lowly as gross flattery

إِذا ما اِنتَقى ذِهني المَعاني يَصوغها

لجيد المَعالي عقد دُرٍّ مُرَصّعا

As I sit burning with caustic lye

If I severely criticize a contemptible man

وَآنف مِن مَدح الدنيِّ كَراهَةً

كَمَن باتَ بِالزرنيخ يَدهَن أَقرَعا

My appraisal of him is even harsher

By God, if a loathsome man sips of my ode

إِذا كانَ ذمّي لِلخَسيس فَظاعَةً

عَلى ما بِهِ مَدحي لَهُ كانَ أَفظَعا

It becomes to him even deadlier than poison

But let me generously honor a noble man

وَيا رُبَّ كَأسٍ مِن قَريضي إِذا اِحتَسى

لَئيمٌ بِها كانَت مِن السُمُّ أَنقَعا

For he is the most deserving of good favor

So here is a bride whom I consider of no match but you

وَلَكنّما أولي الكَريم كَرامَةً

بِها هُوَ أَولى مِن بَني الدَهر أَجمَعا

Even when your merits are far more sublime

Her veil covers her—modest, embarrassed—bowing her face

فَهاكَ عَروساً لا أَرى كُفؤاً لَها

سِواكَ وَإِن كانَت صِفاتك أَرفَعا

May God protect you as long as night grows dark

She is the virtuous one, elusive to possess

حِماك حَماك اللَه أَمَّت فَأَطرَقت

فَحيّت بِوَجهٍ بِالحَياءِ تَبرقَعا

To the ignorant who stupidly rules

When she defies other rhymes, astonishing them

مَعانٍ هِيَ العَنقاءُ عزَّ اِقتِناصها

عِناداً لِمَن بِالدَّست جَهلاً تَربَّعا

She becomes obedient in my able hands

So leave what the simpleton claims, and take her uniquely

إِذا ما عصت غَيري القَوافي وَراعَها

يراعي غدت مِن خاتَم اليَد أَطوَعا

When she is recited, time listens to her attentively

May blessings remain for people when you are absent

فَدَع ما اِدّعى اللاحي وَخُذها فَريدة

إِذا أُنشِدَت أَصغى لَها الدَهر مَسمَعا

As the sun may disappear but will rise again

No equal was found, even if her qualities were most lofty

وَدُم لِلمَلا لا غِبتَ شَمساً مُنيرَةً

إِذا الشَمس شاءت أن تَغيب وَتَطلعا

Besides you—and were your merits even higher