أَتَجزَعُ لِلفِراقِ وَهُم جِوارُ
فَكَيفَ إِذا نَأَت بِهِمُ الدِيارُ
Do you grieve for the departure though they are neighbors,
How would it be if the homes took them far away?
وَرُحتَ وَفي الهَوادِجِ مِنكَ قَلبٌ
يَسيرُ مَعَ الرَكائِبِ حَيثُ ساروا
And you left with yearning in your breasts for them,
A heart that travels with the caravans wherever they went.
وَقُطِّعَتِ المَواثِقُ مِن سُلَيمى
وَشَطَّ بِها وَجيرَتِها المَزارُ
And the covenants with Sulaima were severed,
And its neighborly relations and familial ties were cast away.
وَأَضحَت لا يَزورُ لَها خَيالٌ
عَلى نَهي المُحِبِّ وَلا يُزارُ
And it became such that no imagination visits it,
Prohibited by the lover, no longer to be visited.
فَيا لِلَّهِ ما تَنفَكُّ صَبّاً
يَشوقُكَ مَنزِلٌ أَقوى وَدارُ
So oh how endless is your ardent longing
For an abode stronger in love, and a house.
تَحِنُّ إِذا بَدا بِالغَورِ وَهناً
وَميضٌ أَو أَضاءَت مِنهُ نارُ
You yearn when it appears from afar, passionately,
Whether a figure or a fire lit from it.
سَقى اللَهُ العَقيقَ وَإِن شَجَتني
صَباباتٌ إِلَيهِ وَاِدِّكارُ
May God water Al-Aqeeq even if
Yearnings for it have torn me apart.
فَفي عُقُداتِ ذاكَ الرَملِ ظَبيٌ
نَفورٌ ما أَنِستَ بِهِ نَوارُ
For in the dunes of that sand is a gazelle,
Strange whom the does have not befriended.
يَصيدُ وَلا يُصادُ وَمُقلَتاهُ
تُصيبُ وَلا يُصابُ لَديهِ ثارُ
It hunts and is not hunted, and its glances
Hit their mark but it is not hit - it has no vengeance.
لَهُ خَصرٌ يَجولُ الحُقبُ فيهِ
وَأَردافٌ يَضيقُ بِها الإِزارُ
It has a waist around which epochs revolve,
And hips which narrow wraps cannot contain.
فَلا عَطفٌ لَديهِ وَلا وِصالٌ
وَلا جَلَدٌ لَديَّ وَلا اِصطِبارُ
It has no affection or union,
Nor do I have composure or patience.
فَيا لَمياءُ مَن لِقَتيلِ شَوقٍ
مُطاحٍ في الهَوى دَمُهُ جَبارُ
So oh tears of one slain by ardent love,
Fallen in passion whose blood violent pours forth.
وَداءٍ لا يُصابُ لَهُ دَواءٌ
وَعانٍ لا يُفَكُّ لَهُ إِسارُ
An ailment that has no remedy,
A helpless one whose shackles cannot be undone.
أَميلُ إِذا اِدَّكَرتُ هَوىً وَشَوقاً
كَما مالَت بِشارِبِها العُقارُ
I lean as I recall the passion and longing,
As the spyglass leaned towards its observer.
وَأَطرَبُ وَالمَشوقُ لَهُ اِنتِشاءٌ
إِذا ذُكِرَت لَياليهِ القِصارُ
And I am joyous as I yearn for it, with a joy,
When its short nights are remembered.
وَلائِمَةٍ تَعيبُ عَلَيَّ فَقري
إِلَيكَ فَما لِباسُ الفَقرِ عارُ
While the critic berates me for my destitution,
For the raiment of poverty is no shame.
وَما أَنا مَن يُرَوِّعُهُ اِغتِرابٌ
وَلا يَعتاقُهُ وَطَنٌ وَدارُ
I who am not one terrified by estrangement,
Nor freed by homeland and abode.
وَلَكِنّي أَعُدُّ لَها اللَيالي
وَعِندَ بُلوغِها تَحلو الثِمارُ
Rather I count the nights,
And at their culmination, the fruits will be sweet.
وَلَستُ عَلى الخَصاصَةِ مُستَكيناً
فَيُعطِبَني لَدى اليُسرِ اليَسارُ
I am not in destitution while bounty exists,
Lest scarcity at times of ease makes me woeful.
عَرَفتُ الدَهرَ عِرفاناً تَساوى
بِهِ عِندي ثَراءٌ وَاِفتِقارُ
I know time in a way that to me
Wealth and poverty are equal.
أَمّا لِحَوامِلِ الآمالِ عِندي
نِتاجٌ وَهِيَ مُثقَلَةٌ عِشارُ
For the camels of hopes I have progeny,
While pregnant they pay a tithe.
وَما لِلبَدرِ ما يَبدو لِعَيني
مَطالِعُهُ لَقَد طالَ السِرارُ
The full moon - nothing of it appears to my eyes -
Its emergence has been so long concealed.
أَما مَلَّت مَرابِطَها المَذاكي
أَما سَئِمَت حَمائِلَها الشِفارُ
Are not its pillars tired, its burdens exhausting,
Have not its containers thirsted, so they take from my tears,
أَما ظَمِئَت فَتَستَسقي بَناني
رِقاقُ البيضِ وَالأَسَلُ الحِرارُ
The shells of eggs and the honey of bees?
If you do not seek glory in your youth,
إِذا لَم تَبغِ مَجداً في شَبابٍ
أَتَطلُبُهُ وَقَد شابَ العِذارُ
Will you desire it when gray hairs have sprouted?
Why do I grieve when the abodes are desolate,
عَلامَ تَأَسُّفي إِذ حُمَّ بَينٌ
وَلا قُربٌ يَسُرُّ وَلا جَوارُ
With no kinship to delight, nor neighborhood?
Though I may summon strength and a heart
عَلى أَنّي وَإِن جَرَّدتُ عَزماً
وَقَلباً لا يُراعُ فَيُستَطارُ
Which circumstances cannot make lose courage.
I roamed the land which casts off my aspirations,
وَجُبتُ الأَرضَ تَلفُظُني المَرامي
وَتُنكِرُني السَباسِبُ والقِفارُ
And the wastes deserted me, denying acknowledgement.
I seek, like the glory of faith, a companion,
أُحاوِلُ مِثلَ مَجدِ الدينِ جاراً
بِهِ عِندَ الحَوادِثِ يُستَجارُ
In calamities, a refuge sought.
And a comfort from it more fresh,
وَأَندى راحَةً مِنهُ وَكَفّاً
وَقَد جَمِدَت مِنَ السَنَةِ القِطارُ
When the winters have solidified into ice.
I proceed ahead of it in fright,
وَأمضى مُقدَماً في الرَوعِ مِنهُ
إِذا الأَبطالَ أَعجَلَها الفِرارُ
When even heroes hurry to flee.
I find in it a broader arena and abode,
وَأَرحَبَ ساحَةً مِنهُ وَداراً
إِذا ضاقَت بِساكِنِها الدِيارُ
When homes become too narrow for their inhabitants.
It guaranteed to show the land benevolence,
تَكَفَّلَ أَن يُري لِلأَرضِ جوداً
وَما كَفِلَت بِهِ السُحبُ الغِرارُ
While the delusive clouds did not fulfill.
It swore to subjugate the dark nights,
وَأَقسَمَ ان يُذَمَّ مِنَ اللَيالي
فَما يَخشى الخُطوبَ لَديهِ جارُ
No calamities frightening it into flight.
When the gazes adorned themselves with it they cast down,
إِذا اِكتَحَلَت بِهِ الأَبصارُ أَغضَت
وَفيها مِن مَهابَتِهِ اِنكِسارُ
In awe of its reverence they blinked away.
So it returns them in sorrow without sight,
فَيُرجِعُها عَلى الأَعقابِ حَسرى
بِهُدّابِ الجُفونِ لَها عِثارُ
With the lids of their eyes it has blinded them.
It is gentle in humility, yet also lofty,
يَلينُ تَواضُعاً وَبِهِ اِعتِلاءٌ
وَيُعرِضُ صافِحاً وَلهُ اِقتِدارُ
Presenting its hand in greeting, yet also able.
If at night it boasts of glory,
إِذا أَمسى يُفاخِرُهُ بِمَجدٍ
طَريفُ المَجدِ لَيسَ لَهُ اِفتِخارُ
The most esteemed glory does not flatter itself.
The treasures of wealth evade it,
تَذُبُّ ذَخائِرُ الأَموالِ عَنهُ
وَيَخذُلُهُ الخَليقَةُ وَالنِجارُ
Yet people and carpenters have let it down.
Some are named misguided in the kingdom,
يُسَمّى ضَلَّةً بِالمُلكِ قَومٌ
سِواكَ وَذَلِكَ اِسمٌ مُستَعارُ
Except for you - that name is a false loan.
I forbid them even if they exert themselves,
أَكُفُّهُمُ وَإِن بَذَلوا جُمودٌ
وَأَنفُسُهُم وَإِن كَرّوا صِغارُ
And their selves even if they are enraged, the insignificant.
They thought they had become kings,
وَظَنّوا أَنَّهُم أَمسَوا مُلوكاً
وَهُم أَهلُ البَضائِعِ وَالتِجارُ
When they are but people of merchandise and trade.
A brow which no crown illuminates,
جَبينٌ لا يُضيءُ عَليهِ تاجٌ
وَكَفٌّ لا يَليقُ بِهِ السِوارُ
A palm which no bracelet befits.
How many fierce, valiant raids,
وَكَم مِن غارَةٍ شَعواءَ تُمسي
لَها في كُلِّ جارِحَةٍ أُوارُ
In each limb are gaps and wounds.
They provoke in the hearts of the people turmoil,
تَجيشُ بِها صُدورُ القَومِ حَتّى
تَكادُ تَطيرُ بَينَهُم الشِرارُ
Almost making the sparks fly among them.
When the concealer among them reveals it with a garment,
إِذا حَسَرَ الكَمِيُّ بِها لِثاماً
غَدا وَلِثامُهُ النَقعُ المُثارُ
It becomes in the morning a torn, tattered cover.
The hearts of the horsemen are almost blown away in shock,
تَكادُ تَطيرُ مِن دَهشٍ قُلوبُ ال
فَوارِسِ لَو يَكونُ لَها مَطارُ
If only it had wings to fly.
You met it with wisdom, not in foolishness,
تَلَقّاها بِرَأيٍ غَيرِ نابٍ
وَعَزمٍ لا يُفَلُّ لَهُ غِرارُ
And resolve which no delusions make fail.
So you steered its calamities, and for it are wings,
فَقادَ صِعابِها وَبِها جَماحٌ
وَأَخمَدَ نارَها وَلها اِستِعارُ
And extinguished its fire, though it has kindling.
Its leaders subdued, dispersed,
أَقائِدَها مُسَوَّمَةً عِراباً
شَوارِدَ لا يُشَقُّ لَها غُبارُ
Vagrants whom no dust storm can dishevel.
Are you not of those who have illumination
أَلستَ مِنَ الَّذينَ لَهُم مُضاءٌ
إِذا نَبَتِ الصَوارِمُ وَالشِفارُ
When the swords gleam and the blades are bared?
When they attend war they are ferocious lions,
إِذا شَهِدوا الوَغى فَهُمُ لُيوثٌ
وَإِن سُئِلوا النَدى فَهُمُ بِحارُ
And if asked for help they are seas full.
And if the valleys of gloom become straitened they endure,
وَإِن ضَنَّت غَوادي المُزنِ صابوا
حَيّاً وَإِذا دَجى خَطبٌ أَناروا
Vigilant, and if darkness falls they illuminate.
And if they intend a distant goal they attain it,
وَإِن أَومَوا إِلى غَرَضٍ بَعيدٍ
أَصابوهُ وَإِن شَهِدوا أَغاروا
And if witnessing aggressions they deter.
In their palms ascend glories,
وَتَثبُتُ في أَكُفِّهِمُ العَوالي
وَتَزلُقُ فَوقَها البِدرُ النِضارُ
While above them the full moons circle.
They have kindness to offenders, spacious,
لَهُم لُطفٌ عَلى الجاني رَحيبٌ
لَهُم عُرفٌ وَفي الخَمرِ الخُمارُ
Customs of refinement, even when intoxicated.
Faces like suns radiating light,
وُجوهٌ كَالشُموسِ لَها ضِياءٌ
وَأَحسابٌ كَما اِتَضَحَ النَهارُ
And manners when day has dawned clear.
Dreams, that when calamities boil,
وَأَحلامٌ إِذا الأَطوادُ طاشَت
رَسَت وَلَها السَكينَةُ وَالوَقارُ
Settle, upon them tranquility and dignity.
They are the star which if a straying traveller loses his way,
هُمُ النَجمُ الَّذي إِن ضَلَّ سارٍ
هَداهُ بِنورِهِ وَهُمُ المَنارُ
Its light guides him - they are the minaret.
The whiteness of the swords points to them,
يَدُلُّ عَليهِمُ بيضُ السَجايا
إِذا دَلَّت عَلى الكُرَماءِ نارُ
When the fires signal upon the generous.
Father of al-Faraj, listen to my praise
أَبا الفَرَجِ اِسِتَمَع مِنّي ثَناءً
لِغَيرِكَ لا يُباعُ وَلا يُعارُ
Of others - it cannot be sold or borrowed.
For you strings of pearls were composed, and in it
لَكُم نُظِمَت قَلائِدُهُ وَفيهِ
عَلى أَجيادِ غَيرِكُمُ نِفارُ
About others than you there is unwillingness.
It remains at your homes, residing in them nightly,
يَظَلُّ لَدى بُيوتِكُمُ وَيُمسي
بِها وَلَهُ طَوافٌ وَاِعتِمارُ
Circling, as if in pilgrimage and devotion.
It goes to your hospitality, while in it
يَسيرُ إِلى نَوالِكُمُ وَفيهِ
عُدولٌ عَن سِواكُم وَاِزوِرارُ
Is aversion from others, and hesitation.
Chinstraps which enchant the hearts, until
قَوافٍ تَسحَرُ الأَلبابَ حَتّى
يُخالُ بِها فُتورٌ وَاِحوِرارُ
Listlessness and confusion are imagined.
It is the excellent, unsaddled she-camel, whose bride-price
هِيَ البِكرُ الحَصانُ يَقِلُّ مَهراً
لَها غُرَرُ المَطافيلِ البِكارُ
Is little, whose deceptions are those of the virgins.
You remain throughout time with the eternity of a king,
بَقيتَ عَلى الزَمانِ بَقاءَ مَلكٍ
يَدورُ بِأَمرِكَ الفَلَكُ المُدارُ
Through your command the revolving sphere circles.
The nights obey you in their circumstances,
تُطيعُكَ في تَصَرُّفِها اللَيالي
إِلَيكَ الحُكمُ فيها وَالخِيارُ
For you is the judgement among them and the choice.
For you is the extended lifetime, and for the enemies,
لَكَ العُمُرُ المَديدُ وَلِلأَعادي
وَإِن رَغَمَت أُنوفُهُمُ البَوارُ
Even if their eagerness sharpens into depravity.
