لَعَلَّ لَيالي الرَبوَتَينِ تَعودُ

لَعَلَّ لَيالي الرَبوَتَينِ تَعودُ

فَتُشرِقَ مِن بَعدِ الأُفولِ سُعودُ

فَتُشرِقَ مِن بَعدِ الأُفولِ سُعودُ

Perhaps the nights of the two hills will return,

Perhaps the nights of separation will return,

And lucky stars shine again after setting.

So dawn will rise after the sunset of estrangement.

وَيُخصِبَ رَبعُ الأُنسِ مِن بَعدِ مَحلِهِ

وَيُخصِبَ رَبعُ الأُنسِ مِن بَعدِ مَحلِهِ

وَيورِقَ مِن دَوحِ التَواصُلِ عودُ

وَيورِقَ مِن دَوحِ التَواصُلِ عودُ

And the abode of companionship grow fertile after its drought,

And the quarter of intimacy will become fertile after barrenness,

And a bough of the great tree of togetherness put forth leaves.

And the branch of communication will bloom after being cut off.

سَقى حَلَباً صَوبُ العِهادِ وَإِن وَهَت

سَقى حَلَباً صَوبُ العِهادِ وَإِن وَهَت

مَواثِقُ مِن سُكّانِها وَعُهودُ

مَواثِقُ مِن سُكّانِها وَعُهودُ

May recurring downpours water Aleppo, though weakened are

Aleppo was watered from the direction of pillars though they faltered,

Pledges and covenants from its dwellers.

Its covenants with its people still stand.

وَحَيّا عَلى أَعلى العَقيقَةِ مَنزِلاً

وَحَيّا عَلى أَعلى العَقيقَةِ مَنزِلاً

عُيونُ ظِباءٍ لِلأُسودِ تَصيدُ

عُيونُ ظِباءٍ لِلأُسودِ تَصيدُ

And may they greet a dwelling high on al-Aqiqah,

It cheered on the summit of Al-Aqeeq a house,

Where gazelles' eyes hunt lions.

The eyes of mountain goats hunt for lions.

إِذا ما اِنتَضَت فيهِ اللِحاظُ سُيوفَها

إِذا ما اِنتَضَت فيهِ اللِحاظُ سُيوفَها

فَإِنَّ قُلوبَ العاشِقينَ غُمودُ

فَإِنَّ قُلوبَ العاشِقينَ غُمودُ

Whenever glances there unsheathe their swords,

When the swords are unsheathed in it,

The hearts of lovers are their sheaths.

Then the hearts of lovers are saddened.

رَدَدنا بِهِ بيضَ الصِفاحِ كَليلَةً

رَدَدنا بِهِ بيضَ الصِفاحِ كَليلَةً

فَصالَت عَلينا أَعيُنٌ وَقُدودُ

فَصالَت عَلينا أَعيُنٌ وَقُدودُ

There we turned back bright sword-blades, blunted,

With it we brought back the full moon one night,

Yet eyes and slender figures assailed us.

So eyes looked upon us enviously.

فَلِلَّهِ عَيشٌ بِالحَبيبِ قَضَيتُهُ

فَلِلَّهِ عَيشٌ بِالحَبيبِ قَضَيتُهُ

فُوَيقَ قُوَيقٍ وَالزَمانُ حَميدُ

فُوَيقَ قُوَيقٍ وَالزَمانُ حَميدُ

God be praised for a life I spent with the beloved,

By God, my life with the beloved I spent,

Just above Quwayq, while the times were kind.

A life of happiness while time is commendable.

بِظَبيٍ مِنَ الأَتراكِ في رَوضِ خَدِّهِ

بِظَبيٍ مِنَ الأَتراكِ في رَوضِ خَدِّهِ

غَديرُ مِياهِ الحُسنِ فيهِ رَكودُ

غَديرُ مِياهِ الحُسنِ فيهِ رَكودُ

With a gazelle of the Turks, in the garden of whose cheek

With a gazelle from the Turks in the meadow of his cheek,

There is a pool where the waters of beauty lie still.

A pool of beauty's water stagnated.

تَمَلَّكتُهُ رِقّاً فَكانَ لِحُسنِهِ

تَمَلَّكتُهُ رِقّاً فَكانَ لِحُسنِهِ

هُوَ المالِكُ المَولى وَنَحنُ عَبيدُ

هُوَ المالِكُ المَولى وَنَحنُ عَبيدُ

I owned him as a slave, yet because of his beauty

I obsessed over him passionately so he became,

He was the owner and master, and we were slaves.

The owner, the lord while we are slaves.

فَكَنتُ اِبنَ هَمّامٍ وَقَد ظَفِرَت يَدي

فَكَنتُ اِبنَ هَمّامٍ وَقَد ظَفِرَت يَدي

بِهِ وَدِمَشقٌ في القِياسِ زَبيدُ

بِهِ وَدِمَشقٌ في القِياسِ زَبيدُ

Thus I was Ibn Hammam, once my hand had won

I became the son of Hammam and my hand triumphed,

Him, and Damascus, by comparison, was Zabid.

Over him while Damascus equals decay.

إِلى أَن قَضى التَفريقُ فينا قَضاءَهُ

إِلى أَن قَضى التَفريقُ فينا قَضاءَهُ

وَذَلِكَ ما قَد كُنتُ مِنهُ أَحيدُ

وَذَلِكَ ما قَد كُنتُ مِنهُ أَحيدُ

Until separation passed its decree upon us,

Until separation passed judgement between us,

And that was what I had been shunning.

And that's what I had feared.

فَغَيَّبَ بَدراً يَفضَحُ البَدرَ نورُهُ

فَغَيَّبَ بَدراً يَفضَحُ البَدرَ نورُهُ

وَغُصناً يُميتُ الغُصنَ حينَ يَميدُ

وَغُصناً يُميتُ الغُصنَ حينَ يَميدُ

It hid a full moon whose light shames the full moon,

So it eclipsed a moon whose light shames the full moon,

And a bough that slays the bough when it sways.

And a branch that withers the branch when it bends.

وَقَد كُنتُ أَخشى فيهِ مِن كَيدِ حاسِدٍ

وَقَد كُنتُ أَخشى فيهِ مِن كَيدِ حاسِدٍ

وَلَم أَدرِ أَنَّ الدَهرَ فيهِ حَسودُ

وَلَم أَدرِ أَنَّ الدَهرَ فيهِ حَسودُ

I had feared for him the plotting of an envier,

I had feared the tricks of an envious rival,

Unaware that time itself was envious of him.

Not knowing that fate was jealous of him.

فَيا مَن يَراهُ القَلبُ وَهوَ مُحَجَّبٌ

فَيا مَن يَراهُ القَلبُ وَهوَ مُحَجَّبٌ

وَتوجِدُهُ الأَفكارُ وَهوَ فَقيدُ

وَتوجِدُهُ الأَفكارُ وَهوَ فَقيدُ

O you whom the heart sees though you are veiled,

So O you whom my heart sees though veiled,

Whom thoughts make present though you are absent,

And my thoughts find though captured.

إِذا كُنتَ عَن عَيني بَعيداً فَكُلُّ ما

إِذا كُنتَ عَن عَيني بَعيداً فَكُلُّ ما

أُسَرُّ بِهِ إِلّا الحِمامَ بَعيدُ

أُسَرُّ بِهِ إِلّا الحِمامَ بَعيدُ

If you are far from my sight, then all that

If you are far from my eye then all I keep secret,

Delights me, except death, is far away.

Is the dove for it is far.

وَما نابَ عَنكَ الغَيرُ عِندي وَقَلَّما

وَما نابَ عَنكَ الغَيرُ عِندي وَقَلَّما

يَنوبُ عَنِ الماءِ القَراحِ صَعيدُ

يَنوبُ عَنِ الماءِ القَراحِ صَعيدُ

No other has taken your place with me; seldom

Nothing can substitute you for me and rarely,

Does earth stand in for pure water.

Can dust substitute for water.

إِذا كُنتُ في أَهلي وَرَهطي وَلَم تَكُن

إِذا كُنتُ في أَهلي وَرَهطي وَلَم تَكُن

لَدَيَّ فَإِنّي بَينَهُم لَوَحيدُ

لَدَيَّ فَإِنّي بَينَهُم لَوَحيدُ

If I am among my family and clan and you are not

If I am with my family and friends and you are not with me,

With me, then among them I am truly alone.

Then I am lonely amongst them.

وَإِن كُنتَ في قَفرِ الفَلاةِ مُقَرَّباً

وَإِن كُنتَ في قَفرِ الفَلاةِ مُقَرَّباً

إِلَيَّ فَعَيشي في الفَلاةِ رَغيدُ

إِلَيَّ فَعَيشي في الفَلاةِ رَغيدُ

But if, in the waste of the desert, you are brought close

And if you are brought near to me in the wilderness,

To me, my life in the desert is pleasant.

My life in wilderness would be comfortable.

وَلَو كُنتَ تُشرى بِالنَفيسِ بِذَلتُهُ

وَلَو كُنتَ تُشرى بِالنَفيسِ بِذَلتُهُ

وَلَو أَنَّ حَبّاتِ القُلوبِ نُقودُ

وَلَو أَنَّ حَبّاتِ القُلوبِ نُقودُ

If you could be bought with what is precious, I would give it,

Even if you were to be bought with treasures, I would give away,

Even if the very cores of hearts were coins.

The beads of my soul even if they were dinars.

وَلَكِنَّ مَن أَودى هَواكَ بِلُبِّهِ

وَلَكِنَّ مَن أَودى هَواكَ بِلُبِّهِ

مُريدٌ لِما أَصبَحتُ مِنكَ أُريدُ

مُريدٌ لِما أَصبَحتُ مِنكَ أُريدُ

But he whose mind love for you has undone

But the one whose love took your heart,

Desires what I have come to desire from you.

Is intent on what I have become fond of.

جَلَوتَ لَهُ وَجهاً وَقَدّاً مُرَنَّحاً

جَلَوتَ لَهُ وَجهاً وَقَدّاً مُرَنَّحاً

وَفَرعاً وَفَرقاً وافِرٌ وَمَديدُ

وَفَرعاً وَفَرقاً وافِرٌ وَمَديدُ

You unveiled to him a face and a swaying figure,

It manifested for him a delicate face and stature,

And hair and a parting, luxuriant and long.

Abundant foliage and widespread branches.

فَشاهَدَ بَدراً فَوقَ غُصنٍ يُظِلُّهُ

فَشاهَدَ بَدراً فَوقَ غُصنٍ يُظِلُّهُ

دُجىً لاحَ فيهِ لِلصَباحِ عَمودُ

دُجىً لاحَ فيهِ لِلصَباحِ عَمودُ

He saw a full moon above a bough, shaded by

So he witnessed a moon above a branch that shades it,

Darkness in which a pillar of dawn appeared.

Darkness that has no pillar for the morning.

أَقولُ وَقَد حَقَّ الفِراقُ وَأَحدَقَت

أَقولُ وَقَد حَقَّ الفِراقُ وَأَحدَقَت

مِنَ التُركِ حَولي عِدَّةٌ وَعَديدُ

مِنَ التُركِ حَولي عِدَّةٌ وَعَديدُ

I say, when parting was certain and there encircled me

I say while separation has come and the Turks,

A company and multitude of Turks,

Surrounded me in large numbers.

وَقَد حَجَبَ الظَبيَ الرَقيبُ وَأَقبَلَت

وَقَد حَجَبَ الظَبيَ الرَقيبُ وَأَقبَلَت

تُمانِعُني دونَ الكِناسِ أُسودُ

تُمانِعُني دونَ الكِناسِ أُسودُ

When the watcher had hidden the gazelle, and there came

The gazelle blocked my view and the black lions,

Lions barring me from his thicket,

Look at me carefully though they are steel.

وَتَنظُرُني شَزراً مِنَ السُمرِ وَالظُبى

وَتَنظُرُني شَزراً مِنَ السُمرِ وَالظُبى

نَواظِرُ إِلّا أَنَّهُنَّ حَديدُ

نَواظِرُ إِلّا أَنَّهُنَّ حَديدُ

And glaring sidelong at me from spears and sword-edges were

May God curse them for estranging me against my will,

Eyes, except that they were iron:

And accusing me of betrayal though I am friendly.

لَكَ اللَهُ مِن جانٍ عَلَيَّ بِرُغمِهِ

لَكَ اللَهُ مِن جانٍ عَلَيَّ بِرُغمِهِ

وَمُتَّهَمٍ بِالَغَدرِ وَهوَ وَدودُ

وَمُتَّهَمٍ بِالَغَدرِ وَهوَ وَدودُ

God be with you, you who wrong me against your will,

And whoever spent the night forcibly separated from my company,

Accused of treachery though you are loving,

Yearning for the intimacy of man though he yearns.

وَمَن باتَ مَغصوباً عَلى تَركِ صُحبَتي

وَمَن باتَ مَغصوباً عَلى تَركِ صُحبَتي

بِنَزعِ مُريدِ الإِنسِ وَهُوَ مَريدُ

بِنَزعِ مُريدِ الإِنسِ وَهُوَ مَريدُ

You who spent the night forced to abandon my company

Neglected between beauty and the palace of my passion for him rebuilt,

By the wrenching of a human seeker, himself rebellious.

Nothing remains but sorrow, remembrance,

مُعَطَّلَةٌ بَينَ السَلُوِّ لِفَقدِهِ

مُعَطَّلَةٌ بَينَ السَلُوِّ لِفَقدِهِ

وَقَصرُ غَرامي في هَواهُ مَشيدُ

وَقَصرُ غَرامي في هَواهُ مَشيدُ

Desolate amid solace at his loss [wording unclear],

And an apparition I see in my bed so it returns,

While the palace of my passion for him stands high.

May God reward the apparition with good when it returns,

وَلَم يَبقَ إِلّا حَسرَةٌ وَتَذَكُّرٌ

وَلَم يَبقَ إِلّا حَسرَةٌ وَتَذَكُّرٌ

وَطَيفٌ يُرى في مَضجِعي فَيَرودُ

وَطَيفٌ يُرى في مَضجِعي فَيَرودُ

Nothing remains but regret and remembrance,

Travelling from the heights of Damascus seeking its like,

And a phantom seen at my bed, roaming there.

While we are on the summit of Mardin prone.

جَزى اللَهُ عَنّي الطَيفَ خَيراً فَإِنَّهُ

جَزى اللَهُ عَنّي الطَيفَ خَيراً فَإِنَّهُ

يُعيدُ لِيَ اللَذّاتِ حينَ يَعودُ

يُعيدُ لِيَ اللَذّاتِ حينَ يَعودُ

May God reward the phantom well on my behalf,

I spent a life that if we spent it awake,

For it restores my pleasures when it returns.

Limits would have been instituted upon us by God.

سَرى مِن أَعالي الشامِ يَقصِدُ مِثلَهُ

سَرى مِن أَعالي الشامِ يَقصِدُ مِثلَهُ

وَنَحنُ بِأَعلى مارِدَينَ هُجودُ

وَنَحنُ بِأَعلى مارِدَينَ هُجودُ

It journeyed by night from upper al-Sham, seeking its like,

And lightning that told of the smile of the beloved sparkling,

While we slept on the heights of Mardin.

Weakly while the companions are asleep.

فَقَضَّيتُ عَيشاً لَو قَضَيناهُ يَقظَةً

فَقَضَّيتُ عَيشاً لَو قَضَيناهُ يَقظَةً

لَقامَت عَلينا لِلإِلَهِ حُدودُ

لَقامَت عَلينا لِلإِلَهِ حُدودُ

I spent a life that, had we lived it awake,

Teaching my eye crying though it is the expert,

God's prescribed penalties would have fallen upon us.

Just as the hand of the righteous sultan taught generosity though he is knowledgeable.

وَبَرقٍ حَكى ثَغرَ الحَبيبِ اِبتِسامُهُ

وَبَرقٍ حَكى ثَغرَ الحَبيبِ اِبتِسامُهُ

تَأَلَّقَ وَهناً وَالرِفاقُ رُقودُ

تَأَلَّقَ وَهناً وَالرِفاقُ رُقودُ

And a lightning flash, whose smile echoed the beloved's mouth,

A sovereign when he aims for pride his ancestors,

Gleamed late at night while the companions slept.

Rise with him to glory though they are dead.

يُعَلِّمُ عينَيَّ البُكا وَهُوَ الفُها

يُعَلِّمُ عينَيَّ البُكا وَهُوَ الفُها

وَإِن كانَ دَمعي ما عَليهِ مَزيدُ

وَإِن كانَ دَمعي ما عَليهِ مَزيدُ

It teaches my eyes to weep, though weeping is their old companion,

If he is generous then seas of generosity are springs,

Even though my tears cannot be increased.

And if he is righteous then the towering suns are abundant.

كَما عَلِّمَت صَوبَ الحَيا وَهوَ عالِمٌ

كَما عَلِّمَت صَوبَ الحَيا وَهوَ عالِمٌ

يَدُ الصالِحِ السُلطانِ كَيفَ يَجودُ

يَدُ الصالِحِ السُلطانِ كَيفَ يَجودُ

Just as the downpour of rain, though knowing, was taught

He has leniency under violence and determination,

By the hand of Sultan al-Salih how to give generously.

Above firmness ascending.

مَليكٌ إِذا رامَ الفَخارَ سَمَت بِهِ

مَليكٌ إِذا رامَ الفَخارَ سَمَت بِهِ

إِلى الفَخرِ آباءٌ لَهُ وَجُدودُ

إِلى الفَخرِ آباءٌ لَهُ وَجُدودُ

A king: when he seeks glory, he is raised

You straightened the deviation of truth though it is forbidden,

To honor by his fathers and forebears.

And shouldered the burden of rule though it is heavy.

إِذا جادَ فَالبيدُ السَباسُبُ أَبحُرٌ

إِذا جادَ فَالبيدُ السَباسُبُ أَبحُرٌ

وَإِن صالَ فَالشُمُّ الشَواهِقُ بيدُ

وَإِن صالَ فَالشُمُّ الشَواهِقُ بيدُ

When he gives, the flat wastelands are seas,

And you have set sights in the grazing of the worshippers,

And when he attacks, the lofty peaks are deserts.

Through it people in the shade of security sleep.

سَماحٌ لَهُ تَحتَ الطِباقِ تَحَذَّرٌ

سَماحٌ لَهُ تَحتَ الطِباقِ تَحَذَّرٌ

وَعَزمٌ لَهُ فَوقَ الشِدادِ صُعودُ

وَعَزمٌ لَهُ فَوقَ الشِدادِ صُعودُ

His generosity is wary beneath the layered heavens [wording unclear],

And you have revived the relics of the martyr with the attainer,

And his resolve ascends above the mighty heavens.

With the people, he who drives them and who is martyred.

لَياليهِ بيضٌ عِندَ بَذلِ هِباتِهِ

لَياليهِ بيضٌ عِندَ بَذلِ هِباتِهِ

وَأَيّامُهُ عِندَ الوَقائِعِ سودُ

وَأَيّامُهُ عِندَ الوَقائِعِ سودُ

His nights are white when he bestows his gifts,

So what a sword in the hands of the family of Urtuq,

And his days in battle are black.

Defending their concerns and repelling transgression.

يُرَنِّحُهُ سَمعُ المَديحِ تَكَرُّماً

يُرَنِّحُهُ سَمعُ المَديحِ تَكَرُّماً

وَإِنَّ لَبيداً عِندَهُ لَبَليدُ

وَإِنَّ لَبيداً عِندَهُ لَبَليدُ

Hearing praise makes him sway with generosity,

O bearer of hardships though they are calamities,

And even Labid beside him is truly dull.

O uniter of wealth though it is armies.

وَقَفتُ وَأَهلُ العَصرِ تَنشُرُ فَضلَهُ

وَقَفتُ وَأَهلُ العَصرِ تَنشُرُ فَضلَهُ

وَيَسأَلُني عَن مَجَدِه فَأُعيدُ

وَيَسأَلُني عَن مَجَدِه فَأُعيدُ

I stood while the people of the age spread his excellence,

May God reward you, you have surpassed planets in ascent,

And he asks me about his glory, so I repeat it:

To the highest extent so where do you want to go?

فَقالوا لَهُ حُكمٌ فَقُلتُ وَحِكمَةٌ

فَقالوا لَهُ حُكمٌ فَقُلتُ وَحِكمَةٌ

فَقالوا لَهُ جَدٌّ فَقُلتُ وُجودُ

فَقالوا لَهُ جَدٌّ فَقُلتُ وُجودُ

They said, 'He has authority.' I said, 'And wisdom.'

A group congratulate you on the happy feast,

They said, 'He has good fortune.' I said, 'And generosity.'

And for me everyday that brings you joy is a feast.

فَقالوا لَهُ قَدرٌ فَقُلتُ وَقُدرَةٌ

فَقالوا لَهُ قَدرٌ فَقُلتُ وَقُدرَةٌ

فَقالوا لَهُ عَزمٌ فَقُلتُ شَديدُ

فَقالوا لَهُ عَزمٌ فَقُلتُ شَديدُ

They said, 'He has rank.' I said, 'And power.'

Had the Feast of Sacrifice been a visualised praise of you,

They said, 'He has resolve.' I said, 'Strong.'

My praise would be its necklaces though it has interlinked rings.

فَقالوا لَهُ عَفوٌ فَقُلتُ وَعِفَّةٌ

فَقالوا لَهُ عَفوٌ فَقُلتُ وَعِفَّةٌ

فَقالوا لَهُ رَأيٌ فَقُلتُ سَديدُ

فَقالوا لَهُ رَأيٌ فَقُلتُ سَديدُ

They said, 'He has pardon.' I said, 'And chastity.'

Were it not for loving you no eulogy would delight me,

They said, 'He has judgment.' I said, 'Sound.'

Nor spread my poem between people.

فَقالوا لَهُ أَهلٌ فَقُلتُ أَهِلَّةٌ

فَقالوا لَهُ أَهلٌ فَقُلتُ أَهِلَّةٌ

فَقالوا لَهُ بَيتٌ فَقلُتُ قَصيدُ

فَقالوا لَهُ بَيتٌ فَقلُتُ قَصيدُ

They said, 'He has kin.' I said, 'Crescent moons.'

When I undertook praise and relaxed for the dew,

They said, 'He has a house.' I said, 'An ode.'

We set out and each of us in seeking is outstanding.

مِنَ القَومِ في مَتنِ الجِيادِ وِلادُهُم

مِنَ القَومِ في مَتنِ الجِيادِ وِلادُهُم

كَأَنَّ مُتونَ الصافِناتِ مُهودُ

كَأَنَّ مُتونَ الصافِناتِ مُهودُ

He comes from folk whose birth is on the backs of swift horses,

We sought meaning and loftiness so I never stopped,

As though the backs of noble steeds were cradles.

Composing excellent poetry while you are generous.

غُيوثٌ لَهُم يَومَ الجِيادِ مِنَ الظُبى

غُيوثٌ لَهُم يَومَ الجِيادِ مِنَ الظُبى

بُروقٌ وَمِن وَطءِ الجِهادِ رُعودُ

بُروقٌ وَمِن وَطءِ الجِهادِ رُعودُ

They are rainclouds: on the day of steeds, their blades give

They say my vigor for journeying has diminished,

Lightning, and their tread in battle gives thunder.

Not knowing that bounty is shackles.

أَيا مَلِكاً لَو يَستَطيعُ سَمِيَّهُ

أَيا مَلِكاً لَو يَستَطيعُ سَمِيَّهُ

تَحَمُّلَهُ ما خالَفَتهُ ثَمودُ

تَحَمُّلَهُ ما خالَفَتهُ ثَمودُ

O king, if your namesake could have

So I said I am tired of travel since my hand triumphed,

Borne it, Thamud would not have defied him.

With multiples of what I choose and desire.

دُعيتَ لِمُلكٍ لا يَؤودُكَ حِفظُهُ

دُعيتَ لِمُلكٍ لا يَؤودُكَ حِفظُهُ

وَإِن كانَ ثِقلاً لِلجِبالِ يَؤودُ

وَإِن كانَ ثِقلاً لِلجِبالِ يَؤودُ

You were called to a kingdom whose keeping does not burden you,

In the presence of a sovereign like a spear, its blade,

Though it is a weight that would burden mountains.

Progressing while its shade is outstretched.

فَقَوَّمتَ زَيغَ الحَقِّ وَهوَ مُمَنَّعٌ

فَقَوَّمتَ زَيغَ الحَقِّ وَهوَ مُمَنَّعٌ

وَقُمتَ بِعِبءِ المُلكِ وَهُوَ شَديدُ

وَقُمتَ بِعِبءِ المُلكِ وَهُوَ شَديدُ

You righted the distortion of justice, though it was fortified,

He woke to me while honor was sleeping from me,

And shouldered the heavy burden of kingship.

And aided me while people are sitting.

وَسَهَّدتَ في رَعي العِبادِ نَواظِراً

وَسَهَّدتَ في رَعي العِبادِ نَواظِراً

بِها الناسُ في ظِلِّ الأَمانِ رُقودُ

بِها الناسُ في ظِلِّ الأَمانِ رُقودُ

You kept eyes sleepless in tending your subjects,

So O direction of generosity to which the children of hope bow down,

Through which the people sleep in the shade of security.

Prostrating to its pillars and kneeling in submission.

وَأَحيَيتَ أَثارَ الشَهيدِ بِنائِلٍ

وَأَحيَيتَ أَثارَ الشَهيدِ بِنائِلٍ

مَعَ الناسِ مِنهُ سائِقٌ وَشَهيدُ

مَعَ الناسِ مِنهُ سائِقٌ وَشَهيدُ

You revived the martyr's legacy with bounty,

May an everlasting kingdom bring you joy,

From which the people have a driver and a witness.

And memory amongst people scattered.

فَيا لَكَ سَيفاً في يَدَي آلِ أُرتُقٍ

فَيا لَكَ سَيفاً في يَدَي آلِ أُرتُقٍ

يُدافِعُ عَن أَحسابِهِم وَيَذودُ

يُدافِعُ عَن أَحسابِهِم وَيَذودُ

What a sword you are in the hands of the house of Artuq,

If the one with singular traits remains safe then no harm,

Defending their noble lineages and warding off foes!

Thus is one who became unique amongst people.

وَيا حامِلَ الأَثقالِ وَهيَ شَدائِدٌ

وَيا حامِلَ الأَثقالِ وَهيَ شَدائِدٌ

وَيا مُتلِفَ الأَموالِ وَهِيَ جُنودُ

وَيا مُتلِفَ الأَموالِ وَهِيَ جُنودُ

O bearer of burdens, though they are hardships,

When the light of the full moon spreads in its horizon of fortune,

O destroyer of riches, though they are armies!

It is not harmed that the sky is envious.

لَكَ اللَهُ قَد جُزتَ الكَواكِبَ صاعِداً

لَكَ اللَهُ قَد جُزتَ الكَواكِبَ صاعِداً

إِلى الغايَةِ القُصوى فَأَينَ تُريدُ

إِلى الغايَةِ القُصوى فَأَينَ تُريدُ

God be with you: you have passed the stars, ascending

To the utmost goal—where else do you wish to go?

يُهَنّيكَ بِالعيدِ السَعيدِ مَعاشِرٌ

يُهَنّيكَ بِالعيدِ السَعيدِ مَعاشِرٌ

وَلي كُلَّ يَومٍ مِن هَنائِكَ عيدُ

وَلي كُلَّ يَومٍ مِن هَنائِكَ عيدُ

Communities congratulate you on the blessed feast,

Yet your happiness makes every day a feast for me.

وَلَو أَنَّ عيدَ النَحرِ نَحرٌ مُجَسَّمٌ

وَلَو أَنَّ عيدَ النَحرِ نَحرٌ مُجَسَّمٌ

غَدا فيكَ مَدحي وَهوَ فيهِ عُقودُ

غَدا فيكَ مَدحي وَهوَ فيهِ عُقودُ

Were the Feast of Sacrifice a neck made flesh,

My praise of you would be necklaces upon it.

وَلَولا هَواكُم ما سَرَت لِيَ مَدحَةٌ

وَلَولا هَواكُم ما سَرَت لِيَ مَدحَةٌ

وَلا شاعَ لي بَينَ الأَنامِ قَصيدُ

وَلا شاعَ لي بَينَ الأَنامِ قَصيدُ

Were it not for love of you, no praise of mine would have traveled,

Nor any ode of mine spread among humankind.

وَلَمّا جَلَوتُ المَدحَ وَاِرتَحتُ لِلنَدى

وَلَمّا جَلَوتُ المَدحَ وَاِرتَحتُ لِلنَدى

وَرُحنا وَكُلٌّ في الطِلابِ مُجيدُ

وَرُحنا وَكُلٌّ في الطِلابِ مُجيدُ

When I unveiled my praise and rejoiced in generosity,

We set out, each excelling in his quest.

قَصَدنا المَعاني وَالمَعالي فَلَم أَزَل

قَصَدنا المَعاني وَالمَعالي فَلَم أَزَل

أُجيدُ بِأَشعاري وَأَنتَ تَجودُ

أُجيدُ بِأَشعاري وَأَنتَ تَجودُ

We sought meanings and lofty deeds; I have never ceased

To excel in my poems, while you give generously.

يَقولونَ لي قَد قَلَّ نَهضُكَ لِلسُرى

يَقولونَ لي قَد قَلَّ نَهضُكَ لِلسُرى

وَما عَلِموا أَنَّ النَوالَ قُيودُ

وَما عَلِموا أَنَّ النَوالَ قُيودُ

They say to me, 'You now seldom rise to travel by night,'

Unaware that largesse is a set of fetters.

فَقُلتُ مَلَلتُ السَيرَ مُذ ظَفِرَت يَدي

فَقُلتُ مَلَلتُ السَيرَ مُذ ظَفِرَت يَدي

بِأَضعافِ ما أَختارُهُ وَأُريدُ

بِأَضعافِ ما أَختارُهُ وَأُريدُ

I said, 'I tired of travel once my hand had gained

Many times what I choose and desire,

لَدى مَلِكٍ كَالرَمحِ أَمّا سِنانُهُ

لَدى مَلِكٍ كَالرَمحِ أَمّا سِنانُهُ

فَماضٍ وَأَمّا ظِلُّهُ فَمَديدُ

فَماضٍ وَأَمّا ظِلُّهُ فَمَديدُ

With a king like a lance: its point

Is sharp, while its shade stretches far.'

تَنَبَّهَ لي وَالعِزُّ عَنِّيَ راقِدٌ

تَنَبَّهَ لي وَالعِزُّ عَنِّيَ راقِدٌ

وَقامَ بِنَصري وَالأَنامُ قُعودُ

وَقامَ بِنَصري وَالأَنامُ قُعودُ

He awoke to me while honor slept far from me,

And rose to support me while humankind sat idle.

فَيا قِبلَةَ الجودِ الَّتي لِبَني الرَجا

فَيا قِبلَةَ الجودِ الَّتي لِبَني الرَجا

رُكوعٌ إِلى أَركانِها وَسُجودُ

رُكوعٌ إِلى أَركانِها وَسُجودُ

O qibla of generosity, toward which the sons of hope

Bow at its corners and fall in prostration!

لِيَهنِكَ مُلكٌ لا يَزالُ مُخَيِّماً

لِيَهنِكَ مُلكٌ لا يَزالُ مُخَيِّماً

لَدَيكَ وَذِكرٌ في الأَنامِ شَريدُ

لَدَيكَ وَذِكرٌ في الأَنامِ شَريدُ

May you rejoice in a kingdom that remains encamped

With you, and renown that roams among humankind.

لَئِن بِتَّ مَحسودَ الخِصالِ فَلا أَذىً

لَئِن بِتَّ مَحسودَ الخِصالِ فَلا أَذىً

كَذا مَن غَدا في الناسِ وَهُوَ فَريدُ

كَذا مَن غَدا في الناسِ وَهُوَ فَريدُ

Though your virtues are envied, there is no harm:

So it is with one who is unique among people.

إِذا عَمَّ نورُ البَدرِ في أُفقِ سَعدِهِ

إِذا عَمَّ نورُ البَدرِ في أُفقِ سَعدِهِ

فَما ضَرَّهُ أَنَّ السَماكَ حَسودُ

فَما ضَرَّهُ أَنَّ السَماكَ حَسودُ

When the full moon's light fills its fortunate horizon,

What harm does al-Simak's envy do it?