جَنَّ الظَلامُ فَمُذ بَدا مُبتَسِّماً

لاحَ الهُدى وَتَجَلَّتِ الظَلماءُ

The night wore its veil, smiling since it appeared,

The light of guidance dawned and the darkness dissipated.

وَهَدَت مُحِبّاً ظَلَّ في لَيلِ الجَفا

لَمّا هَدا وَاِمتَدَّتِ الآناءُ

It guided a lover who lingered in the night of estrangement,

When it guided, the days stretched ahead.

رَشَأٌ غَدا مَن سُكرِ خَمرَةِ ريقِهِ

مُتَأَوَّدا فَكَأَنَّها صَهباءُ

The morning dew from the wine of his saliva,

Became intimate, as if it were mercury.

وَسَرَت بِخَدَّيهِ المُدامُ بِلُطفِها

فَتَوَرَّدا وَكَساهُما اللَألاءُ

The wine caressed his cheeks gently,

They blushed and were covered in ruby color.

وافى يُعيدُ مِنَ التَواصُلِ ضِعفَ ما

مِنهُ بَدا إِذ صَحَّ مِنهُ وَفاءُ

It returned double the connection that emerged from it,

When its loyalty was evident.

فَأَلَمَّ بي طَوعاً وَباتَ لِساعِدي

مُتَوَسِّدا وَفِراشُهُ الأَعضاءُ

It clung to me voluntarily and slept on my arm,

Using it as a pillow, and my limbs as its bedding.

عانَقتُهُ مُتَرَفِّقاً وَضَمَمتُهُ

مُتَأَيِّداً إِذ نامَتِ الرُقَباءُ

I embraced it gently and held it closely,

As the necks fell asleep.

حَتّى اِغتَدى مِن ساعِدَيَّ مُوَشَّحاً

وَمُقَلَّدا وَقَدِ اِعتَراهُ حَياءُ

Until it was adorned with my arms,

Wearing them as necklaces, shyness overcoming it.

وَسَطا الضِياءُ عَلى الظَلامِ وَحَبَّذا

لَو يُفتَدى وَلَهُ النُفوسُ فِداءُ

The light prevailed over the darkness and they wished,

If only it could be ransomed, the souls its ransom.

لَم أَدرِ ضَوءَ الصُبحِ أَقبَلَ جَيشُهُ

مُتَبَدِّدا وَلَهُ الشُعاعُ لِواءُ

I did not know if the dawn’s light advanced its army,

Scattering, the rays its banners.

أَو نورُ شَمسِ الدينِ قَد جَلّى الدُجى

لَمّا بَدا وَلَهُ القُلوبُ سَماءُ

Or if the light of the sun of faith illuminated the gloom,

When it appeared, and for it the hearts are the heavens.

شَمسٌ إِذا ما راحَ تَرقُبُهُ العُلى

وَإِذا غَدا فَكَأَنَّها الحِرباءُ

A sun, when the heights keep watch over it,

And when it rises, it is as if it were the full moon.

وَإِذا تَدَرَّعَ فَالسَماحَةُ دِرعُهُ

وَإِذا اِرتَدى فَلَهُ الجَمالُ رِداءُ

When it is armored, gentleness is its armor,

And when it is clothed, beauty is its cloak.

مِن آلِ عَبسونَ الَّذينَ إِذا اِنتَمَوا

عَبَسَ الرَدى وَتَوَلَّتِ اللَأواءُ

Of the tribe of Abs, who when they are enraged,

The valleys frown and the winds howl.

وَإِذا سَطوا بَكَتِ السُيوفُ وَإِن سَخوا

ضَحِكَ النَدى وَتَجَلَّتِ الغَمّاءُ

And if they are lenient, the swords weep, and if they pardon,

The dew laughs and the clouds disperse.

قَومٌ بِهُم تُجلى الكُروبُ ومِنهُم

يُرجى الجَدا إِن ضَنَّتِ الأَنواءُ

A people through whom troubles are removed, and from them,

Generosity is hoped for, even if times are hard.

فَنداهُمُ قَبلَ السُؤالِ وُجودُهُم

قَبلَ النَدى وَكَذَلِكَ الكُرَماءُ

Their munificence preceded requests,

Preceding generosity, and so are the generous.

وَهُمُ مُنىً لِمَنِ اِعتَفى وَمَنِيَّةٌ

لِمَنِ اِعتَدى فَسَعادَةٌ وَشَقاءُ

They are the refuge for one who seeks protection, and demise,

For one who transgresses - so bliss and misery.

مَولايَ شَمسَ الدينِ يا مَن كَفُّهُ

يَروي الصَدى وَبِها العُداةُ ظِماءُ

My master, sun of the faith, O you whose palm,

Quenches thirst, and with it the enemies are thirsty.

أَشكو إِلَيكَ غَريمَ شَوقٍ قَد غَدا

مُتَمَرِّدا ماعِندَهُ إِغضاءُ

I complain to you of a creditor of longing that has become,

Rebellious, with no consideration.

شَوقي إِلى عَلياكَ أَعظَمُ أَن يُرى

مُتَعَدِّدا وَيَعُمَّهُ الإِحصاءُ

My longing for your eminence is too great to be,

Enumerated and quantified.

فَاِسلَم فَإِنَّكَ خَيرُ مَولىً يُرتَجى

أَو يُجتَدى وَلَكَ اليَدُ البِيضاءُ

So submit, for you are the best master to be hoped for,

Or sacrificed to, and for you are the white hands.

لا زالَ غَيثُ نَداكَ يُمطِرُ فِضَّةً

أَو عَسجَدا تَغنى بِهِ الفُقَراءُ

The rain of your munificence still pours silver,

Or gold, satisfying the poor.