خَليفَةَ اللَهِ الَّذي

خَليفَةَ اللَهِ الَّذي

وُعودُهُ لا تُخلَفُ

وُعودُهُ لا تُخلَفُ

O Caliph of God, whose

The caliph of Allah whose promises are never broken

promises are never broken;

And O leader whom attributes have rendered speechless

وَيا إِماماً أَعجَزَت

وَيا إِماماً أَعجَزَت

صِفاتُهُ مَن يَصِفُ

صِفاتُهُ مَن يَصِفُ

And O Imam, whose qualities have baffled

He who has no hesitation or pause for any questioner

everyone who would describe them;

His habit is generosity and softness

ما عِندَهُ لِسائِلٍ

ما عِندَهُ لِسائِلٍ

رَدٌّ وَلا تَوَقُّفُ

رَدٌّ وَلا تَوَقُّفُ

For a petitioner he has

O you whose determination is like the sharp edge of a sword

neither refusal nor hesitation;

Remaining firm when heroes’ feet tremble

وَلِلسَماحِ وَالنَدى

وَلِلسَماحِ وَالنَدى

تَليدُهُ وَالمُطرَفُ

تَليدُهُ وَالمُطرَفُ

And to generosity and bounty belong

And whose qualities are most subtle

his inherited wealth and his new acquisitions;

With glances that do not glance

يا مَن لَهُ عَزمٌ كَحَد

يا مَن لَهُ عَزمٌ كَحَد

دِ المَشرَفِيِّ مُرهَفُ

دِ المَشرَفِيِّ مُرهَفُ

O you whose resolve is like the edge

His days are a garden of sorrow

of a keenly honed Mashrafi sword;

Without injustice, tyranny or arrogance

يَثبُتُ في الرَوعِ وَأَق

يَثبُتُ في الرَوعِ وَأَق

دامُ الكُماةِ تَرجُفُ

دامُ الكُماةِ تَرجُفُ

He stands firm amid terror, while the

With cheeks whose bloom is plucked in moments

feet of armored warriors tremble;

And saliva with which bitter aloes are tempered

وَمَن لَهُ شَمائِلٌ

وَمَن لَهُ شَمائِلٌ

مِنَ الشَمولِ أَلطَفَ

مِنَ الشَمولِ أَلطَفَ

And you whose qualities

With a stature that makes my heart flutter madly

are gentler than wine;

And a stolen glance - when I see it I am carried away

وَمُقلَةٌ عَنِ الرَعا

وَمُقلَةٌ عَنِ الرَعا

ياطَرفُها لا يَطرِفُ

ياطَرفُها لا يَطرِفُ

And an eye whose gaze upon the subjects

I incline toward him yet his heart is like rock, unbending

never blinks;

And a life with him the like of which is matchless

أَيّامُهُ لِحُسنِها

أَيّامُهُ لِحُسنِها

رَوضَةُ حَزنٍ أُنُفُ

رَوضَةُ حَزنٍ أُنُفُ

His days, in their beauty, are

Can the past be compensated or replaced?

an untouched upland meadow;

I yearn for those days though yearning is futile

لَيسَ بِها ظُلمٌ وَلا

لَيسَ بِها ظُلمٌ وَلا

جَورٌ وَلا تَعَجرُفُ

جَورٌ وَلا تَعَجرُفُ

There is in them no oppression, nor

A pact of flowing sincerity when he swears an oath

injustice or high-handedness.

Indeed, al-‘Abbas rules justly in his judgement

أَما وَخَدٍّ وَردُهُ

أَما وَخَدٍّ وَردُهُ

بِاللَحَظاتِ يُقطَفُ

بِاللَحَظاتِ يُقطَفُ

Indeed, by a cheek whose rose

And he is the noblest who has trodden the earth

is plucked by glances;

My praise of him is free of pretence

وَريقَةٍ يُمزَجُ لي

وَريقَةٍ يُمزَجُ لي

بِها السُلافُ القَرقَفُ

بِها السُلافُ القَرقَفُ

And saliva—there is mixed for me

More radiant than a pearl when cleft from its shell

with it the choicest, chill-inducing wine;

Like water - no affectation in its composition

وَقامَةٍ يَهفو بِقَل

وَقامَةٍ يَهفو بِقَل

بي قَدُّها المُهَفهَفُ

بي قَدُّها المُهَفهَفُ

And a stature—my heart is set fluttering

I have filled the pages with all I have dictated of it

by its slender, graceful form;

So make the most of my praise, for I am a fleeting visitor

وَمُخطَفٍ لَوني إِذا

وَمُخطَفٍ لَوني إِذا

رَأَيتُهُ يَنخَطِفُ

رَأَيتُهُ يَنخَطِفُ

And a slender-waisted one—my color, when

I have grown old in your service, an honor to me

I see him, is snatched away;

And the slave is a fragile vessel, prone to decay

أَعطِفُهُ وَقَلبُهُ

أَعطِفُهُ وَقَلبُهُ

كَالصَخرِ لا يَنعَطِفُ

كَالصَخرِ لا يَنعَطِفُ

I try to win his tenderness, yet his heart

After old age there remains only death or senility

is like stone and will not soften;

And he leaves behind a family with conflicting interests

وَعيشَةٍ دَهري عَلَي

وَعيشَةٍ دَهري عَلَي

يَ مِثلَها لاتَخلِفُ

يَ مِثلَها لاتَخلِفُ

And a life—throughout my days,

They burden him with unwanted duties

its like will never return to me;

Where is the wherewithal for such duties?

وَهَل لِماضٍ مِن شَبا

وَهَل لِماضٍ مِن شَبا

بٍ عِوَضٌ أَو خَلَفُ

بٍ عِوَضٌ أَو خَلَفُ

And is there, for bygone youth,

And with financial woes he carries stoically

any compensation or replacement?

His soul recoils from praising the worthless

لَهفي عَلى أَيّامِها

لَهفي عَلى أَيّامِها

لَو يَنفَعُ التَلَهُّفُ

لَو يَنفَعُ التَلَهُّفُ

Alas for its days,

He is not like others, guarded and restrained

if lamenting could but avail!

Singing praises of the palm even when it bears no fruit

حِلفَةَ بَرٍّ صادِقِ ال

حِلفَةَ بَرٍّ صادِقِ ال

لَهجَةِ حينَ يَحلِفُ

لَهجَةِ حينَ يَحلِفُ

The oath of an upright man, truthful

So look upon him, now that the critic is tested

in speech whenever he swears:

Your wise governance will improve his situation

إِنَّ أَبا العَبّاسِ عَد

إِنَّ أَبا العَبّاسِ عَد

لٌ في القَضاءِ مُنصِفُ

لٌ في القَضاءِ مُنصِفُ

Indeed, Abu al-Abbas is

And there has grown for the community, O Lord of Men, an heir

just in judgment and equitable;

Who is accustomed to the cage and flutters around it

وَإِنَّهُ أَكرَمُ مَن

وَإِنَّهُ أَكرَمُ مَن

داسَ الثَرى وَأَشرَفُ

داسَ الثَرى وَأَشرَفُ

And he is the most generous of all who

He brings me joy - the little one still fluttering

have trodden the earth, and the noblest;

Without inheritance or one to inherit after me

وَإِنَّ مَدحي فيهِ لا

وَإِنَّ مَدحي فيهِ لا

يَدخُلُهُ التَكَلُّفُ

يَدخُلُهُ التَكَلُّفُ

And my praise of him is not

I have no possessions or household to bequeath

touched by affectation.

My tears of affection for him flow freely

مَدحٌ كَنُوّارِ الرَبي

مَدحٌ كَنُوّارِ الرَبي

عِ وَشيُهُ مُفَوَّفُ

عِ وَشيُهُ مُفَوَّفُ

Praise like the blossoms of spring,

I have tested him and found him refined and learned

its embroidery finely patterned;

With no arrogance, vanity or haughtiness

أَبهى مِنَ الدُرِّ إِذا

أَبهى مِنَ الدُرِّ إِذا

ما شُقَّ عَنهُ الصَدَفُ

ما شُقَّ عَنهُ الصَدَفُ

More splendid than pearls when

His fruits have ripened and will soon be plucked

the shell is split to reveal them;

His desire is service in the office and administration

كَالماءِ ما في نَظمِهِ

كَالماءِ ما في نَظمِهِ

كَلٌّ وَلا تَكَلُّفُ

كَلٌّ وَلا تَكَلُّفُ

Like water: in its composition there is no

So plant him in a position where he can rise high

heaviness or affectation.

And be recognized among the people for his rank

قَد مُلِئَت عَنّي بِما

قَد مُلِئَت عَنّي بِما

أَملَيتُ مِنهُ الصُحُفُ

أَملَيتُ مِنهُ الصُحُفُ

Pages have already been filled with what

As long as the grasps of the Pleiades twist and turn

I have dictated of it.

And after two months when the fodder is depleted

فَاِغتَنِموا مَدحي فَإِن

فَاِغتَنِموا مَدحي فَإِن

ني زائِرٌ مُنصَرِفُ

ني زائِرٌ مُنصَرِفُ

So make the most of my praise, for

And the feast day arrives with its celebrations

I am a visitor who will depart.

You will see him in the procession, banner held high

قَد شِبتُ في خِدمَتِكُم

قَد شِبتُ في خِدمَتِكُم

وَلي بِذاكَ الشَرَفُ

وَلي بِذاكَ الشَرَفُ

I have grown gray in your service,

As if in his black garb he were a rising moon

and in that lies my honor.

Remaining with us, dispelling doubts and revealing truths

وَالعَبدُ كَيءٌ شامِطٌ

وَالعَبدُ كَيءٌ شامِطٌ

يُخشى عَلَيهِ التَلَفُ

يُخشى عَلَيهِ التَلَفُ

And your servant is feeble and grizzled;

A protected and victorious ruler, gentle yet firm

it is feared that he may perish.

What travels in darkness and a flash of lightning that captures.

وَلَيسَ بَعدَ الشَيبِ إِل

وَلَيسَ بَعدَ الشَيبِ إِل

لا ميتَةٌ أَو خَرَفُ

لا ميتَةٌ أَو خَرَفُ

And after gray hair there is nothing

but death or senility.

وَخَلفَهُ عائِلَةٌ

وَخَلفَهُ عائِلَةٌ

أَغراضُهُم تَختَلِفُ

أَغراضُهُم تَختَلِفُ

And behind him is a family

whose needs are diverse.

قَد أَلزَموهُ كُلَفاً

قَد أَلزَموهُ كُلَفاً

وَأَينَ مِنهُ الكُلَفُ

وَأَينَ مِنهُ الكُلَفُ

They have burdened him with expenses,

but how far those burdens are beyond him!

وَفيهِ مَع مَغارِمٍ

وَفيهِ مَع مَغارِمٍ

يَحمِلُها تَعَقُفُ

يَحمِلُها تَعَقُفُ

And in him, despite the debts

he bears, there is self-restraint.

تَأنَفُ مِن مَدحِ اللِئا

تَأنَفُ مِن مَدحِ اللِئا

مِ نَفسُهُ وَتَعزِفُ

مِ نَفسُهُ وَتَعزِفُ

His soul disdains praising the

base, and turns away.

ما هُوَ مِثلُ غَيرِهِ

ما هُوَ مِثلُ غَيرِهِ

مُدَروِزٌ مُقَيِّفُ

مُدَروِزٌ مُقَيِّفُ

He is not like others:

a mendicant, a cadger,

يَمتَدِحُ الكَنّافَ إِس

يَمتَدِحُ الكَنّافَ إِس

فافاً وَلا يَستَنكِفُ

فافاً وَلا يَستَنكِفُ

who praises a privy-cleaner, stooping

so low, and feels no shame.

فَاُنظُر إِلَيهِ نَظرَةً

فَاُنظُر إِلَيهِ نَظرَةً

وَقَد أَبَلَّ المُدنِفُ

وَقَد أَبَلَّ المُدنِفُ

So cast a glance upon him,

and the gravely ill man is healed.

فَحالُهُ يُصلِحُها

فَحالُهُ يُصلِحُها

تَدبيرُكَ المُلَطَّفُ

تَدبيرُكَ المُلَطَّفُ

For his condition will be set right by

your gentle management.

وَقَد نَشا لِلكَيِّ يا

وَقَد نَشا لِلكَيِّ يا

مَولى الأَنامِ مُخلِفُ

مَولى الأَنامِ مُخلِفُ

And for this feeble man there has grown, O

lord of humankind, a successor.

قَد أَلِفَ القُفصَةَ وَه

قَد أَلِفَ القُفصَةَ وَه

وَ حَولَها يُرَفرِفُ

وَ حَولَها يُرَفرِفُ

He has grown accustomed to the cage, and

he flutters about it.

يَشعَفُني حُبّاً وَما

يَشعَفُني حُبّاً وَما

زالَ الصَغيرُ يَشعَفُ

زالَ الصَغيرُ يَشعَفُ

He sets me aflame with love, and

the little one has never ceased to kindle love.

وَما لَهُ بَعدِيَ مَو

وَما لَهُ بَعدِيَ مَو

روثٌ وَلا مُخَلِّفُ

روثٌ وَلا مُخَلِّفُ

And after me he will have no

inheritance, nor anyone to leave him one.

وَلَيسَ لي مِلكٌ وَلا

وَلَيسَ لي مِلكٌ وَلا

دارٌ عَليهِ توقَفُ

دارٌ عَليهِ توقَفُ

I own no property, nor any

house to be settled upon him.

وَأَدمُعي مِن فَرطِ إِش

وَأَدمُعي مِن فَرطِ إِش

فاقي عَليهِ تَذرِفُ

فاقي عَليهِ تَذرِفُ

And my tears, from the depth of my

anxious concern for him, pour down.

وَهوَ وَقَد بَلَوتُهُ

وَهوَ وَقَد بَلَوتُهُ

مُهَذَّبٌ مُثَقَّفُ

مُهَذَّبٌ مُثَقَّفُ

And he—I have put him to the test—

is refined and well-educated.

ما فيهِ لا كِبرٌ وَلا

ما فيهِ لا كِبرٌ وَلا

تيهٌ وَلا تَعَجرُفُ

تيهٌ وَلا تَعَجرُفُ

There is in him no pride, nor

conceit or high-handedness.

قَد أَينَعَت أَثمارُهُ

قَد أَينَعَت أَثمارُهُ

وَعَن قَليلٍ تُقطَفُ

وَعَن قَليلٍ تُقطَفُ

His fruits have already ripened,

and soon they will be gathered.

وَهَمُّهُ الخِدمَةُ في ال

وَهَمُّهُ الخِدمَةُ في ال

ديوانِ وَالتَصَرُّفُ

ديوانِ وَالتَصَرُّفُ

His concern is service in the

chancery, and administration.

فَاِغرِسهُ لي في خِدمَةٍ

فَاِغرِسهُ لي في خِدمَةٍ

يَسمو بِها وَيَشرُفُ

يَسمو بِها وَيَشرُفُ

So plant him for me in a post of service

through which he may rise and gain honor;

يَعلو بِها بَينَ الأَنا

يَعلو بِها بَينَ الأَنا

مِ قَدرُهُ وَيُعرَفُ

مِ قَدرُهُ وَيُعرَفُ

Through it, among humankind,

his standing will rise and become known.

مادامَ رَيّانَ القَضي

مادامَ رَيّانَ القَضي

بِ عودُهُ مُنعَطِفُ

بِ عودُهُ مُنعَطِفُ

While his shoot is still full of sap,

his stem still supple;

وَبَعدَ شَهرَينِ إِذا

وَبَعدَ شَهرَينِ إِذا

ما دارَ فيهِ العَلَفُ

ما دارَ فيهِ العَلَفُ

And after two months, when

the fodder has worked its way through him,

وأَقَبَلَ العيدُ الَّذي

وأَقَبَلَ العيدُ الَّذي

تُنفَقُ فيهِ العُرَفُ

تُنفَقُ فيهِ العُرَفُ

And the feast day comes, when

gifts are lavished,

تَراهُ في المَوكِبِ وَه

تَراهُ في المَوكِبِ وَه

وَ كَاللِواءِ مُشرِفُ

وَ كَاللِواءِ مُشرِفُ

You will see him in the procession,

and he will tower like a banner;

كَأَنَّهُ في الهَيئَةِ ال

كَأَنَّهُ في الهَيئَةِ ال

سَوداءِ بَدرٌ مُسدِفُ

سَوداءِ بَدرٌ مُسدِفُ

As though, in his attire of

black, he were a full moon shrouded in dusk.

فَاِبقَ لَنا تَدفَعُ ما

فَاِبقَ لَنا تَدفَعُ ما

يُريبُنا وَتَكشِفُ

يُريبُنا وَتَكشِفُ

So remain for us, warding off what

troubles us, and dispelling it,

مُمَلَّكاً مُظَفَّراً

مُمَلَّكاً مُظَفَّراً

ماضَمَّ لاماً أَلِفُ

ماضَمَّ لاماً أَلِفُ

Sovereign and victorious,

as long as alif embraces lam,

وَما سَرى تَحتَ الدُجى

وَما سَرى تَحتَ الدُجى

وَميضُ بَرقٍ يَخطِفُ

وَميضُ بَرقٍ يَخطِفُ

And as long as beneath the darkness travels

the dazzling gleam of lightning.