إِذا لَم تُعِنّي في عُلاكَ المَدائِحُ

إِذا لَم تُعِنّي في عُلاكَ المَدائِحُ

فَمَن أَينَ لي عُذرٌ عَنِ البُعدِ واصِحُ

فَمَن أَينَ لي عُذرٌ عَنِ البُعدِ واصِحُ

If praises do not help me extol your lofty worth,

If praises do not help me in my ascendancy,

then where can I find a clear excuse for my distance?

Who then can I excuse my distance and absence to?

وَكَيفَ اِعتِذاري بِالقَريضِ وَإِنَّما

وَكَيفَ اِعتِذاري بِالقَريضِ وَإِنَّما

عَهِدتُكَ تُغضي دائِماً وَتُسامِحُ

عَهِدتُكَ تُغضي دائِماً وَتُسامِحُ

And how can I offer my apology in verse, when

How can I apologize with poetry when you

I have always known you to overlook and forgive?

Are accustomed to always overlooking and forgiving?

وَإِنّي عَلى بُعدِ الدِيارِ وَقُربِها

وَإِنّي عَلى بُعدِ الدِيارِ وَقُربِها

أُطارِحُ فيكُم فِكرَتي وَتُطارِحُ

أُطارِحُ فيكُم فِكرَتي وَتُطارِحُ

And whether the dwellings are far or near, I

Whether near or far from the homeland,

converse about you with my thought, and it responds.

I confide my concerns in you, and you accept them.

وَأَنظِمُ أَبكارَ المَعاني وَعَونَها

وَأَنظِمُ أَبكارَ المَعاني وَعَونَها

فَإِن لَم أَسرِ سارَت إِلَيكَ المَدائِحُ

فَإِن لَم أَسرِ سارَت إِلَيكَ المَدائِحُ

I versify virgin meanings and their matrons;

I compose the prime of meanings and support them,

if I do not journey by night, my praises journey to you.

So if I do not succeed, the praises reach out to you.

وَإِنّي لَأَهوى حاسِديكَ لِأَنَّها

وَإِنّي لَأَهوى حاسِديكَ لِأَنَّها

تُفاتِحُني عَن ذِكرِكُم وَأُفاتِحُ

تُفاتِحُني عَن ذِكرِكُم وَأُفاتِحُ

Indeed, I love those who envy you, for they

Indeed I love those who envy you, for they

open talk with me of you, and I open talk in turn.

Prompt me to remember you, and I reciprocate.

يَسُرّونِ بِالتِذكارِ مُغرىً بِذِكرِكُم

يَسُرّونِ بِالتِذكارِ مُغرىً بِذِكرِكُم

يُبالِغُ في أَوصافِكُم وَيُناصِحُ

يُبالِغُ في أَوصافِكُم وَيُناصِحُ

They delight me with reminders—a man devoted to your remembrance,

They rejoice in reminding me, enticing with your memory,

who dwells upon your virtues and counsels sincerely.

Exaggerating in describing you, and advising benevolently.

إِذا سَأَلوا عَن سِرِّكُم فَهوَ كاتِمٌ

إِذا سَأَلوا عَن سِرِّكُم فَهوَ كاتِمٌ

وَإِن سَأَلوا عَن فَضلِكُم فَهوَ بائِحُ

وَإِن سَأَلوا عَن فَضلِكُم فَهوَ بائِحُ

If they ask about your secret, he conceals it;

If asked of your mysteries, they stay silent,

if they ask about your excellence, he reveals it.

And if asked of your merits, they elucidate eloquently.

سَقى أَرضَكُم سارٍ مِنَ الوَبلِ سائِحٌ

سَقى أَرضَكُم سارٍ مِنَ الوَبلِ سائِحٌ

وَباكَرَها غادٍ مِنَ المُزنِ رائِحُ

وَباكَرَها غادٍ مِنَ المُزنِ رائِحُ

May a sweeping downpour, traveling by night, water your land,

A happy rain quenched your land wandering about,

and may a dawn-coming, dusk-returning raincloud visit it early.

And an early returning breeze from joy blew upon it.

فَتِلكَ عَرينٌ لِلأُسودِ وَبَينَها

فَتِلكَ عَرينٌ لِلأُسودِ وَبَينَها

مَسالِكُ فيها لِلظِباءِ مَسارِحُ

مَسالِكُ فيها لِلظِباءِ مَسارِحُ

For that land is a lair for lions, and amid it

That is a den for lions with in it

are paths where gazelles have grounds to roam.

Paths for gazelles to frisk about in delight.

ظِباءٌ سَوانِحٌ وَوُرقٌ صَوادِحٌ

ظِباءٌ سَوانِحٌ وَوُرقٌ صَوادِحٌ

وَقُضبٌ نَوافِحٌ وَغُدرٌ طَوافِحُ

وَقُضبٌ نَوافِحٌ وَغُدرٌ طَوافِحُ

Gazelles crossing rightward, and gray doves singing,

Gazelles leaping playfully, fawns bleating plaintively,

fragrant boughs and overflowing pools.

Roebucks locking horns, and brash beasts roaming recklessly.

وَبَينَ قِبابِ الحَيِّ سِربُ جآذِرٍ

وَبَينَ قِبابِ الحَيِّ سِربُ جآذِرٍ

مِنَ التُركِ في رَوضٍ مِنَ الأَمنِ سارِحُ

مِنَ التُركِ في رَوضٍ مِنَ الأَمنِ سارِحُ

And among the tribe's domed tents, a herd of wild-ox calves,

Among the tribe’s encampments, a flock of ostriches

from among the Turks, roams in a meadow of safety.

Frolicking freely in a garden of security.

إِذا هِيَ هَزَّت لِلطِعانِ قُدودَها

إِذا هِيَ هَزَّت لِلطِعانِ قُدودَها

فَلا أَعزَلٌ إِلّا اِنثَنى وَهوَ رامِحُ

فَلا أَعزَلٌ إِلّا اِنثَنى وَهوَ رامِحُ

When they sway their figures for jousting,

When they shake their necks for reproach,

no unarmed man turns back but as a lancer.

None but the ostrich turns away while still attacking.

وَهَيفاءُ لَو أَهدَت إِلى المَيِّتِ نَشرَها

وَهَيفاءُ لَو أَهدَت إِلى المَيِّتِ نَشرَها

لَأُنشِرَ مَن ضُمَّت عَلَيهِ الصَفائِحُ

لَأُنشِرَ مَن ضُمَّت عَلَيهِ الصَفائِحُ

And a slender-waisted woman—if she gave a dead man her fragrance,

And if the she-ostrich spread her wings over the deceased,

the one enclosed by burial slabs would be raised to life.

The folded shrouds would open up from him.

وَلَو أَنَّها نادَت عِظامي أَجابَها

وَلَو أَنَّها نادَت عِظامي أَجابَها

فَمي لا صَدىً مِن جانِبِ القَبرِ صائِحُ

فَمي لا صَدىً مِن جانِبِ القَبرِ صائِحُ

And if she called to my bones, she would be answered by

If she called upon my bones, they would answer her,

my mouth, not an echo crying from beside the grave.

But my grave has no echo, no voice cries out!

لَئِن بَخِلَت إِنَّ الخَيالَ مُسامِحٌ

لَئِن بَخِلَت إِنَّ الخَيالَ مُسامِحٌ

وَإِن غَضِبَت فَالطَيفُ مِنها مُصالِحُ

وَإِن غَضِبَت فَالطَيفُ مِنها مُصالِحُ

Even if she withholds, her imagined image is generous;

If my beloved is stingy, imagination makes concessions,

if she is angry, her dream-phantom makes peace.

And if angry, her specter reconciles with me.

حَبيبٌ لِإِهداءِ التَحِيَّةِ مانِعٌ

حَبيبٌ لِإِهداءِ التَحِيَّةِ مانِعٌ

وَطَيفٌ لِلَذّاتِ التَواصُلِ مانِحُ

وَطَيفٌ لِلَذّاتِ التَواصُلِ مانِحُ

A beloved who withholds the gift of a greeting,

A lover preventing giving greetings,

and a dream-image granting the pleasures of union.

And a specter facilitating the communion of souls.

وَبِكرِ فَلاةٍ لَم تَخَف وَطءَ طامِثٍ

وَبِكرِ فَلاةٍ لَم تَخَف وَطءَ طامِثٍ

وَلا اِفتَضَّها مِن قَبلِ مُهرِيَ ناكِحُ

وَلا اِفتَضَّها مِن قَبلِ مُهرِيَ ناكِحُ

And many a virgin wilderness that never feared a deflowerer's tread,

In an open desert no walker’s feet corrupted,

nor had any mate deflowered her before my colt—

Nor did a bridegroom unwrap its bridal gown.

كَشَفتُ خِمارَ الصَونِ عَن حُرِّ وَجهِها

كَشَفتُ خِمارَ الصَونِ عَن حُرِّ وَجهِها

ضُحىً وَلِثامُ الصُبحِ في الشَرقِ طائِحُ

ضُحىً وَلِثامُ الصُبحِ في الشَرقِ طائِحُ

I lifted the veil of chastity from her noble face

I unveiled the veil of its modesty in the morning,

at forenoon, while dawn's veil fell in the east.

While the dawn’s veil in the east billowed about.

وَأَنكَحتُها يَقظانَ مِن نَسلٍ لاحِقٍ

وَأَنكَحتُها يَقظانَ مِن نَسلٍ لاحِقٍ

فَأَمسَت بِهِ مَع عُقمِها وَهيَ لا قِحُ

فَأَمسَت بِهِ مَع عُقمِها وَهيَ لا قِحُ

And I married her to a wakeful steed of Lahiq's line;

I married her to the wakeful from an ensuing lineage,

so by evening, through him, she was pregnant despite her barrenness.

And by evening, despite her barrenness, she was pregnant!

مِنَ الشُهبِ في إِدراكِهِ الشُهبَ طامِعٌ

مِنَ الشُهبِ في إِدراكِهِ الشُهبَ طامِعٌ

فَناظِرُهُ نَحوَ الكَواكِبِ طامِحُ

فَناظِرُهُ نَحوَ الكَواكِبِ طامِحُ

One of the gray steeds, he aspires to catch the meteors,

An ambitious old man desires to attain the stars,

his gaze straining upward toward the stars.

So his gaze towards the planets aspires.

أَخوضُ بِهِ بَحرَ الدُجى وَهوَ راكِدٌ

أَخوضُ بِهِ بَحرَ الدُجى وَهوَ راكِدٌ

وَأَورِدُهُ حَوضَ الضُحى وَهوَ طافِحُ

وَأَورِدُهُ حَوضَ الضُحى وَهوَ طافِحُ

I cross with him the sea of darkness while it lies still,

I lead him through the sea of darkness while he is anchored,

and lead him to the basin of morning light while it overflows.

And make him enter the basin of dawn while overflowing.

وَقائِلَةٍ لا لي أَراهُ كَدَمعِهِ

وَقائِلَةٍ لا لي أَراهُ كَدَمعِهِ

يَظَلُّ وَيُمسي وَهوَ في الأَرضِ سائِحُ

يَظَلُّ وَيُمسي وَهوَ في الأَرضِ سائِحُ

And a woman said, ‘Not mine! I see him, like his tears,

“I do not see him,” says she, “like tears

roaming the earth through the day and evening.’

Roaming about by day and night upon the earth.”

أَطالِبُ مَغنىً قُلتُ كَلّا وَلا غِنىً

أَطالِبُ مَغنىً قُلتُ كَلّا وَلا غِنىً

وَلَستُ عَلى كَسبِ اللِذاذِ أُكافِحُ

وَلَستُ عَلى كَسبِ اللِذاذِ أُكافِحُ

‘Are you seeking a dwelling?’ I said, ‘No, nor wealth,

I seek no pleasure, I said no, nor any riches,

nor do I struggle to gain pleasures.

And I do not struggle to gain delights.

وَلَكِنَّ لي في كُلِّ يَومٍ إِلى العُلى

وَلَكِنَّ لي في كُلِّ يَومٍ إِلى العُلى

حَوائِجَ لَكِن دونَهُنَّ جَوائِحُ

حَوائِجَ لَكِن دونَهُنَّ جَوائِحُ

But each day I have, in pursuit of high honor,

But each day I have needs to ascend,

aspirations—yet calamities stand in their way.’

Though below them disasters rage about.

فَقالَت أَلا إِنَّ المَعالي عَزيزَةٌ

فَقالَت أَلا إِنَّ المَعالي عَزيزَةٌ

فَكَيفَ وَقَد قَلَّت لَديكَ المَنائِحُ

فَكَيفَ وَقَد قَلَّت لَديكَ المَنائِحُ

She said, ‘Indeed, lofty attainments are hard to win;

She said, “Lo, high ambitions are dear,

how can you, when the gifts at your disposal are so few?

So how when at your disposal praises are few?”

فَهَل لَكَ وَفرٌ قُلتُ إي وَهوَ ناقِصٌ

فَهَل لَكَ وَفرٌ قُلتُ إي وَهوَ ناقِصٌ

فَقالَت وَقَدرٌ قُلتُ إي وَهوَ راجِحُ

فَقالَت وَقَدرٌ قُلتُ إي وَهوَ راجِحُ

Have you abundance?’ I said, ‘Yes, but it is lacking.’

Do you have merit, I said yes, but it falls short.

She said, ‘And worth?’ I said, ‘Yes, and it is weighty.’

She said, purpose? I said yes, but it outweighs.

فَقالَت وَجدٌّ قُلتُ إي وَهوَ أَعزَلٌ

فَقالَت وَجدٌّ قُلتُ إي وَهوَ أَعزَلٌ

فَقالَت وَضِدٌّ قُلتُ إي وَهوَ رامِحُ

فَقالَت وَضِدٌّ قُلتُ إي وَهوَ رامِحُ

She said, ‘And fortune?’ I said, ‘Yes, but it is unarmed.’

Dedication? I said yes, but it is helpless.

She said, ‘And an adversary?’ I said, ‘Yes, and he is a lancer.’

Opposition? I said yes, but it attacks.

فَقالَت وَمَجدٌ قُلتُ إي وَهوَ مُتعِبٌ

فَقالَت وَمَجدٌ قُلتُ إي وَهوَ مُتعِبٌ

فَقالَت وَسَعدٌ قُلتُ إي وَهوَ ذابِحُ

فَقالَت وَسَعدٌ قُلتُ إي وَهوَ ذابِحُ

She said, ‘And glory?’ I said, ‘Yes, but it is wearisome.’

Glory? I said yes, but it is tiring.

She said, ‘And good fortune?’ I said, ‘Yes, but it is a slaughterer.’

Bliss? I said yes, but it slaughters.

فَقالَت وَمُلكٌ قُلتُ إي وَهوَ فاسِدٌ

فَقالَت وَمُلكٌ قُلتُ إي وَهوَ فاسِدٌ

فَقالَت وَمَلكٌ قُلتُ إي وَهوَ صالِحُ

فَقالَت وَمَلكٌ قُلتُ إي وَهوَ صالِحُ

She said, ‘And a realm?’ I said, ‘Yes, but it is corrupt.’

Kingship? I said yes, but it corrupts.

She said, ‘And a king?’ I said, ‘Yes, and he is Salih—righteous.’

A good king? I said yes, and it makes prosperous.

مَليكٌ شَرى كَنزَ الثَناءِ بِمالِهِ

مَليكٌ شَرى كَنزَ الثَناءِ بِمالِهِ

عَلى أَنَّهُ في صَفقَةِ المَجدِ رابِحُ

عَلى أَنَّهُ في صَفقَةِ المَجدِ رابِحُ

A sovereign who bought a treasure of praise with his wealth,

A king who bought the treasure of praise with his wealth,

yet profits in the bargain for glory.

Knowing he profits in the trade of glory.

تَظُنُّ بِأَيديهِ الأَنامُ أَنامِلاً

تَظُنُّ بِأَيديهِ الأَنامُ أَنامِلاً

وَهُنَّ لِأَرزاقِ العِبادِ مَفاتِحُ

وَهُنَّ لِأَرزاقِ العِبادِ مَفاتِحُ

People think his hands bear fingers,

People think his hands are caring

yet they are keys to people's sustenance.

While they are keys to people’s livelihoods.

جَوادٌ إِذا ما الجودُ غاضَت بِحارُهُ

جَوادٌ إِذا ما الجودُ غاضَت بِحارُهُ

حَليمٌ إِذا خَفَّ الحُلومُ الرَواجِحُ

حَليمٌ إِذا خَفَّ الحُلومُ الرَواجِحُ

Generous when generosity's seas run dry,

Generous, if generosity stirred its seas,

forbearing when weighty minds grow flighty.

Clement, if clemency calmed its surging waves.

إِذا خامَرَتهُ الراحُ أَبقَت رَوِيَّةً

إِذا خامَرَتهُ الراحُ أَبقَت رَوِيَّةً

مِنَ الرَأيِ لا تَخفى عَليها المَصالِحُ

مِنَ الرَأيِ لا تَخفى عَليها المَصالِحُ

When wine pervades him, it preserves a considered

When opinions perplex him, his perspective retains

judgment from which no beneficial course is hidden.

Wisdom that does not neglect his interests.

يَعُمُّ الأَقاصي جودُهُ وَهوَ عابِسٌ

يَعُمُّ الأَقاصي جودُهُ وَهوَ عابِسٌ

وَتَخشى الأَداني بِشرَهُ وَهوَ مازِحُ

وَتَخشى الأَداني بِشرَهُ وَهوَ مازِحُ

His generosity reaches those farthest away even when he frowns,

His generosity reaches the far lands while frowning,

and those nearest fear his cheerfulness even when he jests.

And the near fear his jest while he is humoring.

كَما تَهَبُ الأَنواءُ وَهيَ عَوابِسٌ

كَما تَهَبُ الأَنواءُ وَهيَ عَوابِسٌ

وَتَضحَكُ في وَجهِهِ القَتيلِ الصَفائِحُ

وَتَضحَكُ في وَجهِهِ القَتيلِ الصَفائِحُ

Just as rainclouds give while frowning,

Like gales that blow while gloomy,

and sword-blades smile in the slain man's face.

Yet smile in the face of their slain victim.

مِنَ القَومِ إِن عُدَّ الفَخارُ فَإِنَّهُم

مِنَ القَومِ إِن عُدَّ الفَخارُ فَإِنَّهُم

هُمُ الروحُ فَخراً وَالأَنامُ جَوارِحُ

هُمُ الروحُ فَخراً وَالأَنامُ جَوارِحُ

He is of a people who, when honor is reckoned, are indeed

Of people, if nobility is counted, they are

the soul of glory, while humankind are limbs.

The spirit of glory, and the people its organs.

أَكُفُّهُمُ لِلمَكرُماتِ مَفاتِحٌ

أَكُفُّهُمُ لِلمَكرُماتِ مَفاتِحٌ

وَذِكرُهُمُ لِاِسمِ الكِرامِ فَواتِحُ

وَذِكرُهُمُ لِاِسمِ الكِرامِ فَواتِحُ

Their palms are keys to noble deeds,

I hold back their hands from honorable deeds,

and mention of them comes first when the generous are named.

And their mention opens the gate to all that is generous.

إِذا اِحتَجَبوا نَمَّت عَلَيهِم خِلالَهُم

إِذا اِحتَجَبوا نَمَّت عَلَيهِم خِلالَهُم

كَذا المِسكُ يَخفى جُرمُه وَهوَ فائِحُ

كَذا المِسكُ يَخفى جُرمُه وَهوَ فائِحُ

If they withdraw from sight, their virtues betray them;

If they become concealed, their merits secretly multiply,

thus musk's substance lies hidden while its fragrance spreads.

Just as musk's essence is hidden while fragrant.

أَيا مَلِكاً أَرضى المَعالي بِسَعيِهِ

أَيا مَلِكاً أَرضى المَعالي بِسَعيِهِ

وَراضَ جِيادَ المُلكِ وَهيَ جَوامِحُ

وَراضَ جِيادَ المُلكِ وَهيَ جَوامِحُ

O king who pleased lofty honor through his striving

O king who pleases lofty ambitions with his efforts,

and tamed the steeds of sovereignty while they were headstrong,

Even the steeds of kingship that roam about untamed.

نَهَضتَ بِأَمرٍ يُعجِزُ الشُمَّ ثِقلُهُ

نَهَضتَ بِأَمرٍ يُعجِزُ الشُمَّ ثِقلُهُ

فَقُمتَ بِهِ جَزعاً وَرَأيُكَ قادِحُ

فَقُمتَ بِهِ جَزعاً وَرَأيُكَ قادِحُ

you rose to a task whose weight overwhelms the lofty,

You took on a task too heavy for the suns to bear,

and bore it in distress while your judgment struck sparks.

Yet you stood up to it with resolve and piercing insight.

وَأَلَّفتَ شَملَ المُلكِ بَعدَ شَتاتِهِ

وَأَلَّفتَ شَملَ المُلكِ بَعدَ شَتاتِهِ

وَقَد صاحَ فيهِ بِالتَفَرُّقِ صائِحُ

وَقَد صاحَ فيهِ بِالتَفَرُّقِ صائِحُ

You reunited the realm after its dispersal,

You unified the nation after its fragments scattered,

when a crier had called within it for division.

With separatists amongst it loudly clamoring.

مَدَدتَ إِلى العَلياءِ كَفَّكَ وَالعُلى

مَدَدتَ إِلى العَلياءِ كَفَّكَ وَالعُلى

تَمُدُّ أَكُفّاً ما لَهُنَّ مَصافِحُ

تَمُدُّ أَكُفّاً ما لَهُنَّ مَصافِحُ

You stretched your palm toward the highest heights, while high honor

You reached to the heavens with your palm, and the heights

stretched out hands with no one to clasp them.

Stretch out palms that have no equal to shake.

فَجاءَتكَ طَوعاً في الزَمامِ وَلَم تَكُن

فَجاءَتكَ طَوعاً في الزَمامِ وَلَم تَكُن

بِمُهجَتِها إِلّا عَليكَ تُكافِحُ

بِمُهجَتِها إِلّا عَليكَ تُكافِحُ

It came to you willingly under the rein, and had never

The reins came to you voluntarily, though before

fought with its very lifeblood for anyone but you.

They would only struggle against you defiantly.

وَجَمرَةِ حَربٍ أَجَّجَ الشَوسُ وَقَدها

وَجَمرَةِ حَربٍ أَجَّجَ الشَوسُ وَقَدها

وَبيضُ الظُبى وَالعادِياتُ الضَوابِحُ

وَبيضُ الظُبى وَالعادِياتُ الضَوابِحُ

And many a coal of war whose blaze the fierce kindled,

The flames of war the wicked kindled,

with white-edged swords and snorting chargers—

With stallions stampeding, mares attacking undeterred.

رِجالٌ جَحاجِحٌ وَجُردٌ سَوابِحٌ

رِجالٌ جَحاجِحٌ وَجُردٌ سَوابِحٌ

وَسُمرٌ جَوارِحٌ وَبيضَ صَفائِحُ

وَسُمرٌ جَوارِحٌ وَبيضَ صَفائِحُ

mighty men and sleek steeds swimming onward,

Men steadfast, troops floating about,

brown spears that wound, and white sword-blades—

Bay steeds nimble, and white swords bare.

وَقَفتَ لَها وَالمُرهَفاتُ ضَواحِكٌ

وَقَفتَ لَها وَالمُرهَفاتُ ضَواحِكٌ

وُجوهُ الرَدى ما بَينَهُنَّ كَوالِحُ

وُجوهُ الرَدى ما بَينَهُنَّ كَوالِحُ

you stood against it while sharpened swords smiled,

You stood up to them while the neighing fillies laughed,

the faces of death scowling among them.

And the faces of depravity displayed amongst them.

وَوَجهُكَ واضِحٌ وَعَضبُكَ ناضِحٌ

وَوَجهُكَ واضِحٌ وَعَضبُكَ ناضِحٌ

وَزَندُكَ قادِحٌ وَعَزمُكَ فادِحُ

وَزَندُكَ قادِحٌ وَعَزمُكَ فادِحُ

Your face was bright, your keen sword spattered blood,

Your face beamed, your frown glowered,

your fire-stick struck sparks, your resolve was formidable.

Your sword blazed, and your resolve overwhelmed.

فَيا مَلِكاً يُثني عَلَيهِ فَمُ العُلى

فَيا مَلِكاً يُثني عَلَيهِ فَمُ العُلى

وَتَنسِبُهُ يَومَ الهِياجِ الصَفائِحُ

وَتَنسِبُهُ يَومَ الهِياجِ الصَفائِحُ

O king whom the mouth of high honor praises,

O king who is praised by the mouth of the exalted,

and whom sword-blades claim as kin on the day of battle,

And who the raging tempests name loftily!

لَئِن بَعُدَت مِنّا الجَوانِحُ عَنكُمُ

لَئِن بَعُدَت مِنّا الجَوانِحُ عَنكُمُ

فَفي رَبعِكُم مِنّا القُلوبُ جَوانِحُ

فَفي رَبعِكُم مِنّا القُلوبُ جَوانِحُ

though our ribs have grown distant from you,

If our wings have become distant from you,

our hearts lean toward you within your dwelling.

Our hearts towards you still soar about.

وَلَكِن حالِيَ في التَباعُدِ بَيِّنٌ

وَلَكِن حالِيَ في التَباعُدِ بَيِّنٌ

لَدَيكَ وَعُذرِيَ في التَأَخُّرِ واضِحُ

لَدَيكَ وَعُذرِيَ في التَأَخُّرِ واضِحُ

Yet my condition in separation is plain

But my state of distance is clear to you,

to you, and my excuse for delay is clear.

And my excuse for delay elucidated.

سَأَختِمُ أَبكارَ المَدائِحِ بِاِسمِكُم

سَأَختِمُ أَبكارَ المَدائِحِ بِاِسمِكُم

كَما بِاِسمِكُم قِدَماً لَها أَنا فاتِحُ

كَما بِاِسمِكُم قِدَماً لَها أَنا فاتِحُ

I shall seal the virgin praises with your name,

I will conclude the prime of praises with your names,

just as long ago I opened them with your name.

Since with your names I first opened their gate.