لولا ابتسامك لم تبكِ العيون دماً

لولا ابتسامك لم تبكِ العيون دماً

والسُّحب لم يبد منها الودق والمطر

والسُّحب لم يبد منها الودق والمطر

Were it not for your smile, eyes would not weep blood,

Had it not been for your smile, eyes would not have shed tears

nor would the clouds yield showers and rain.

And clouds would not have rained water and leaves

لو بيعَ وصلك للعاني بمهجته

لو بيعَ وصلك للعاني بمهجته

هانت عليه وفي ذا يحسن النظر

هانت عليه وفي ذا يحسن النظر

If union with you were sold to the captive for his life's blood,

If access to you was sold to the lovesick with his passion

he would deem his life a small price; this merits reflection.

It would be cheap for him and in that he is right

أفنيت ماء عيوني بالصدود كم

أفنيت ماء عيوني بالصدود كم

كما خزاعة أفنى جمعَها عُمرُ

كما خزاعة أفنى جمعَها عُمرُ

How often you drained the water of my eyes with rejection,

I have wasted the water of my eyes with repulsions, so much

as Umar annihilated Khuza'a's host.

As Khuza'ah wasted their tribe, Omar

سواد عين المعالي نقش معصمها

سواد عين المعالي نقش معصمها

بحر العطيّات إلا إنه بشر

بحر العطيّات إلا إنه بشر

The dark pupil of glory's eye, the ornament on its wrist,

The blackness of the honorable eye is tattooed on her wrist

a sea of gifts—yet he is human.

The sea of gifts except that it is mortal

مُمَلّكٌ ساس أحوال الرعية في

مُمَلّكٌ ساس أحوال الرعية في

عدلٍ تألّف منه الأسدُ والبقر

عدلٍ تألّف منه الأسدُ والبقر

A sovereign who governed his subjects' affairs with

A ruler who managed the affairs of the public in

justice that brought lions and cattle into harmony.

Justice which the lion and the cow adapted to

له جبال حلوم لو شوامخها

له جبال حلوم لو شوامخها

رست على الفَلك الدوّار ينكسر

رست على الفَلك الدوّار ينكسر

He has mountains of forbearance; were their towering peaks

He has mountains of sweet flesh, if their loftiness

to settle on the revolving celestial sphere, it would shatter.

Landed on the revolving sky, it would shatter

شهمٌ تقنّصَ بالبيض الجوارح من

شهمٌ تقنّصَ بالبيض الجوارح من

أُسدِ الشرى كلّ منّاع له أثر

أُسدِ الشرى كلّ منّاع له أثر

A gallant man who hunted with white, wounding blades, among

Brave, he wore the birds to hunt

the lions of al-Shara, every staunch defender of renown.

Every stubborn lion, he has an effect

فكل شمسٍ حديد الباس إن طلعت

فكل شمسٍ حديد الباس إن طلعت

نجومه في ظلام النقع تتكدر

نجومه في ظلام النقع تتكدر

Every headstrong warrior of fierce might—should his stars rise,

So every rising sun, dressed in iron armor

they grow dim in the darkness of battle-dust.

Its stars in the darkness of alopecia fade

بدا لنا فبدا في ضمن جوهره ال

بدا لنا فبدا في ضمن جوهره ال

فرد الكرام بجمع ليس ينحصر

فرد الكرام بجمع ليس ينحصر

He appeared to us, and within his indivisible essence appeared

He appeared to us, so he appeared within his essence, the

the noble, in a gathering beyond all reckoning.

Unique generous whose number cannot be counted

فكان في الحكم كالمرآة حين تُرى

فكان في الحكم كالمرآة حين تُرى

تُعدّ فرداً وفيها الشكل والصّور

تُعدّ فرداً وفيها الشكل والصّور

Thus, in reckoning, he was like a mirror when beheld:

So he was in ruling like a mirror when seen

counted as one, though within it are form and images.

It appears individual yet in it is the image and form

عصوه من مضر الحمرا خزاعة عن

عصوه من مضر الحمرا خزاعة عن

جهلٍ وأنفسَهم ضرّوا وما شعروا

جهلٍ وأنفسَهم ضرّوا وما شعروا

Khuza'a of Mudar al-Hamra disobeyed him out of

They disobeyed him from the red Mudar, Khuza'ah out of

ignorance; they harmed themselves without realizing.

Ignorance and themselves they harmed without feeling

عبّوا جموعهم أسد الشرى وسطَوا

عبّوا جموعهم أسد الشرى وسطَوا

على القرى ولحصن الدين قد بقروا

على القرى ولحصن الدين قد بقروا

They marshaled their hosts, lions of al-Shara, and raided

They rallied their groups, the lion of evil attacked

the villages, ripping open the fortress of the faith.

On villages and the fortress of religion they tore open

وأهلكوا الحرث والنسل الذي ظفروا

وأهلكوا الحرث والنسل الذي ظفروا

به فهم قطُّ لم يُبقوا ولم يذروا

به فهم قطُّ لم يُبقوا ولم يذروا

They destroyed the crops and offspring they gained

And they destroyed the harvest and progeny which they gained

possession of; they spared nothing and left nothing at all.

By it so they are a people who did not spare and did not leave

وقادهم للردى مذمومهم سفهاً

وقادهم للردى مذمومهم سفهاً

منه وبادر نحو الغيّ وابتدروا

منه وبادر نحو الغيّ وابتدروا

Their blameworthy chief led them to ruin through folly

And their despised leader led them to perdition

of his own; he hastened toward error, and they rushed on.

Through ignorance and he rushed towards wrongdoing and they followed

وظنّ أن ابا الخطّاب صولته

وظنّ أن ابا الخطّاب صولته

لدى الوغى كعلي باشا الذي قهروا

لدى الوغى كعلي باشا الذي قهروا

He thought Abu al-Khattab's onslaught

He thought that Abu Bakr in his mightiness

in battle was like Ali Pasha's, whom they had defeated.

Against the turmoil was like Ali Pasha whom they overpowered

حمودُ ويلك لا تغررك سابقة

حمودُ ويلك لا تغررك سابقة

حمود فانج سريعاً إنّ ذا عُمَرُ

حمود فانج سريعاً إنّ ذا عُمَرُ

Hammud, woe to you! Let no past success deceive you.

Woe to you Hammoud, do not let Hammoud Fang’s precedent fool you

Hammud, flee at once: this is Umar!

Hammoud, flee quickly, this is Omar

حمود أنت مع الشيطان مقترن

حمود أنت مع الشيطان مقترن

فلم يكن بأبي حفصٍ ظفر

فلم يكن بأبي حفصٍ ظفر

Hammud, you are coupled with Satan,

Hammoud you are associated with the devil

so no victory over Abu Hafs was won.

So you were not triumphant with Abu Hafs

وقد تمادى على عصيانه وبغى

وقد تمادى على عصيانه وبغى

وليس تردعه الآيات والنذر

وليس تردعه الآيات والنذر

He persisted in his disobedience and transgressed,

And he transgressed in his disobedience and oppression

nor did signs and warnings restrain him.

And he is not deterred by verses and warnings

وفرّق العرب في دوِّ السماوة تغ

وفرّق العرب في دوِّ السماوة تغ

تال النفوس فبَلهَ الشاة والبقر

تال النفوس فبَلهَ الشاة والبقر

He scattered the Arabs through the wastes of al-Samawa, taking

And he divided the Arabs in the lands of Al-Samawa, confusing

lives, let alone sheep and cattle.

Souls, so he confused sheep and cows

ورام من شؤمه مُلكاً يدين له

ورام من شؤمه مُلكاً يدين له

ملوك تُبَّعَ إن غابوا وإن حضروا

ملوك تُبَّعَ إن غابوا وإن حضروا

In his ill fortune he sought a kingdom to which

And in his misfortune he coveted a kingdom submitting to him

the kings of Tubba' would submit, whether absent or present.

The kings of Tubba whether absent or present

مستحقراً آل عثمان الذين لهم

مستحقراً آل عثمان الذين لهم

على بني أصفرٍ من بأسهم خطَر

على بني أصفرٍ من بأسهم خطَر

Scorning the House of Uthman, whose

Looking down on the family of Othman who have over

might makes them a threat to Banu Asfar.

The yellow house of Bani Asfar, danger from their might

وغرّه أنّ أعواناً له صُبُراً

وغرّه أنّ أعواناً له صُبُراً

على اللقا كل جمعٍ أمَّهم كسروا

على اللقا كل جمعٍ أمَّهم كسروا

He was deceived by helpers of his, steadfast

And he was fooled that he had helpers

in battle, who broke every host that marched against them.

Steadfast in battle, every group they crushed

وما درى أن مولانا الوزير أبا

وما درى أن مولانا الوزير أبا

حفصٍ يبيدُهُم قلّوا وإن كثروا

حفصٍ يبيدُهُم قلّوا وإن كثروا

He did not know that our lord, the vizier Abu

He did not know that our Master Vizier Abu

Hafs, would annihilate them, whether few or many.

Hafs would destroy them, few and many

فعند ذا أمّهم في جحفل لجبٍ

فعند ذا أمّهم في جحفل لجبٍ

يحفّه النصر والإقبال والظفر

يحفّه النصر والإقبال والظفر

Then he marched against them with a mighty, clamorous host,

So when their mother in an army of the valley's cliff

surrounded by victory, good fortune, and triumph,

Which victory, success and triumph surrounds

حتى أقام على أرباض دارهم

حتى أقام على أرباض دارهم

زلّوا وفي القصب الملتفِّ قد حُصروا

زلّوا وفي القصب الملتفِّ قد حُصروا

until he encamped on the outskirts of their abode;

Until he stood over the remains of their abode

they faltered and were hemmed in among tangled reeds.

They slipped and in the twisted reed, they were trapped

ظنوا المياه التي في الهور تحرسهم

ظنوا المياه التي في الهور تحرسهم

إذا هُمُ فوقها للبر قد عبروا

إذا هُمُ فوقها للبر قد عبروا

They thought the waters in the marsh would guard them,

They thought the waters in the marshes would protect them

once they had crossed over them to dry land.

When they were over it, they crossed to the land

وما دروا أن بحر العزم يدركهم

وما دروا أن بحر العزم يدركهم

وليس يعصمهم من بأسه حذر

وليس يعصمهم من بأسه حذر

They did not know that the sea of resolve would overtake them,

And they did not know that the sea of determination would reach them

nor would caution shield them from his might.

And no caution could protect them from its might

فخاض نحوهم لجّ المياه مع ال

فخاض نحوهم لجّ المياه مع ال

أُلى هم له آوَوا وقد نصروا

أُلى هم له آوَوا وقد نصروا

So he waded toward them through the deep waters with

So it surged towards them, the turbulent sea water with the

those who had sheltered him and given him support,

Brave men, for them they took refuge and they gained victory

من كل ليث عرينٍ فوق سابحةٍ

من كل ليث عرينٍ فوق سابحةٍ

كأنه في الوغى من بأسه حجَرُ

كأنه في الوغى من بأسه حجَرُ

each a lion of his lair upon a fleet mare,

From every lion's den above the swimmers

like a rock in battle through the force of his might.

As if in the fray, from its might it was stone

قومٌ من الروم لو راموا عدوَّهم

قومٌ من الروم لو راموا عدوَّهم

وكان خلف البحار السبع قد قدَروا

وكان خلف البحار السبع قد قدَروا

Men of Rum: were they to seek their enemy,

A people from Rome, if they wanted their enemy

though he were beyond the seven seas, they would prevail.

And were behind the seven seas they would manage

والحرب قامت على ساقٍ وقد حَمِيَ ال

والحرب قامت على ساقٍ وقد حَمِيَ ال

وطيس حتى بدا الناظر الشرر

وطيس حتى بدا الناظر الشرر

War rose upon its leg, and hot grew the

And war stood on one leg and the

furnace, until sparks appeared to the beholder.

Dust grew hot until the looker saw sparks

وحام طير الفنا في الجانبين وقد

وحام طير الفنا في الجانبين وقد

عزّ القنا وتولّى الصارم الذكر

عزّ القنا وتولّى الصارم الذكر

Death's birds wheeled over both sides, while

And the bird of doom hovered on both sides and

spears grew scarce, and the hard-steeled blade took charge.

The spear point was entrusted and the penis remembered

وقد بدا النقص في الباغين مذ كثر ال

وقد بدا النقص في الباغين مذ كثر ال

وقص الوجيء بهم والوخز فانكسروا

وقص الوجيء بهم والوخز فانكسروا

Losses appeared among the rebels as frequent grew the

And the deficiency in the rebels appeared when the

neck-breaking blows and stabs upon them; so they were routed.

Cutting off and stabbing them increased, so they broke

ورنّم السيف العسّال صفّق في

ورنّم السيف العسّال صفّق في

ظهورهم وببطن الوحش قد قُبِروا

ظهورهم وببطن الوحش قد قُبِروا

The swaying sword sang, clapping upon

And the sharp sword clapped in

their backs; in the bellies of wild beasts they were buried.

Their backs and in the belly of the beast they were buried

وأَيَّدَت دولة الإسلام إذ فنيت

وأَيَّدَت دولة الإسلام إذ فنيت

خزاعة حيث بالنعماء قد كفروا

خزاعة حيث بالنعماء قد كفروا

And it strengthened the state of Islam when

And the state of Islam was supported when Khuza'ah perished

Khuza'a perished, for they had been ungrateful for blessings.

Where with blessings they disbelieved, O Omar

يا ناظم المجد يا سمط الفضائل يا

يا ناظم المجد يا سمط الفضائل يا

خميلة المدح فيها النَّور والزَّهر

خميلة المدح فيها النَّور والزَّهر

O stringer of glory, O necklace of virtues, O

O composer of glory, O elite of virtues, O

grove of praise, with blossoms and flowers within!

The beloved of praise in which is light and flowers

ثمّنتَ في سيفك السبع الزواخر وال

ثمّنتَ في سيفك السبع الزواخر وال

سبع الكواكب بله الشمس والقمر

سبع الكواكب بله الشمس والقمر

With your sword you made eight of the seven surging seas and the

You have priced in your sword the seven planets and the

seven planets, let alone the sun and moon.

Seven stars including the sun and the moon

وزدتَ في الملك إجلالاً ومقدرةً

وزدتَ في الملك إجلالاً ومقدرةً

جلَّت عن العدِّ أوصافٌ لكم غرر

جلَّت عن العدِّ أوصافٌ لكم غرر

And you added majesty and power to the realm;

And you have increased the rule in reverence and power

your radiant qualities are too great to count.

Qualities that numbers cannot comprehend, so many secrets

أزلتُ فرد العنا عمّن يؤرخه

أزلتُ فرد العنا عمّن يؤرخه

وصُنت بالسيف دين اللَه يا عمر

وصُنت بالسيف دين اللَه يا عمر

I removed the odd unit of 'distress' from whoever dates it;

I have made eternal he who dates it

and with the sword you safeguarded God's religion, O Umar.

And you have protected the religion of God with the sword, O Omar