سَجَعتُ وَقَد غَنّى الحَمامُ فَرَجَّعا

سَجَعتُ وَقَد غَنّى الحَمامُ فَرَجَّعا

وَما كُنتُ لَولا أَن يُغَنّي لَأَسجَعا

وَما كُنتُ لَولا أَن يُغَنّي لَأَسجَعا

I sang in cadence while the doves sang and trilled;

I composed poetry while the dove cooed, so they responded in rhyme

Nor would I have sung had they not sung,

I would not have composed had the dove not sung its tune

وَأَندُبَ عَهداً بِالمُشَقَّرِ سالِفاً

وَأَندُبَ عَهداً بِالمُشَقَّرِ سالِفاً

وَظِلَّ غَمامٍ لِلصِبا قَد تَقَشَّعا

وَظِلَّ غَمامٍ لِلصِبا قَد تَقَشَّعا

Or mourned a bygone time at al-Mushaqqar,

I reminisce about an era with the starling long gone

And youth's cloud-shadow, now dispersed.

As a cloud's shadow for youth poured down and dispersed

وَلَم أَدرِ مانَبكي أَرَسمَ شَبيبَةٍ

وَلَم أَدرِ مانَبكي أَرَسمَ شَبيبَةٍ

عَفا أَم مَصيَفاً مِن سُلَيمى وَمَربَعا

عَفا أَم مَصيَفاً مِن سُلَيمى وَمَربَعا

I did not know what we mourned: the traces of youth

I know not why I weep - did a picture of youth fade

Effaced, or Sulayma's summer camp and spring abode?

Or a summer from Suleima and Marib pass away?

وَأَوجَعُ تَوديعِ الأَحِبَّةِ فُرقَةً

وَأَوجَعُ تَوديعِ الأَحِبَّةِ فُرقَةً

شَبابٌ عَلى رُغمِ الأَحِبَّةِ وَدَّعا

شَبابٌ عَلى رُغمِ الأَحِبَّةِ وَدَّعا

The most painful farewell to loved ones, in its parting,

Parting from loved ones hurts me, though youth against their will bade them farewell

Is youth, which bade farewell against the loved ones' will.

I never enjoyed a night's rest as much as that night

وَما كانَ أَشهى ذَلِكَ اللَيلَ مَرقَداً

وَما كانَ أَشهى ذَلِكَ اللَيلَ مَرقَداً

وَأَندى مُحَيّا ذَلِكَ الصُبحِ مَطلِعا

وَأَندى مُحَيّا ذَلِكَ الصُبحِ مَطلِعا

How sweet that night was as a resting place,

Nor a morning more tender than that dawn's emergence

And how dewy the face of that dawn at its rising!

That era was but a day and a night, the most blissful life of shade and meadow

وَأَقصَرَ ذاكَ العَهدَ يَوماً وَلَيلَةً

وَأَقصَرَ ذاكَ العَهدَ يَوماً وَلَيلَةً

وَأَطيَبَ ذاكَ العَيشَ ظِلّاً وَمَرتَعا

وَأَطيَبَ ذاكَ العَيشَ ظِلّاً وَمَرتَعا

How brief that time was, by day and night,

Time passes without revisiting eras of beauty

And how pleasant that life in its shade and pastures!

That would adorn the pebbles of the heart, were they to crack

زَمانٌ تَقَضّى غَيرَ عَهدِ مَحاسِنٍ

زَمانٌ تَقَضّى غَيرَ عَهدِ مَحاسِنٍ

تَسومُ حَصاةَ القَلبِ أَن تَتَصَدَّعا

تَسومُ حَصاةَ القَلبِ أَن تَتَصَدَّعا

A time gone by, save for remembered charms

I turned away from it, not by choice, and perhaps

That demand the heart's stone split apart.

I ached due to prolonged indecision and deception

تَحَوَّلتُ عَنهُ لَا اِختِياراً وَرُبَّما

تَحَوَّلتُ عَنهُ لَا اِختِياراً وَرُبَّما

وَجَعتُ عَلى طولِ التَلَدُّدِ أَخدَعا

وَجَعتُ عَلى طولِ التَلَدُّدِ أَخدَعا

I departed from it, not by choice, and often

Who will cool me with a gentle breeze when the heats of summer scorch me

My neck vein ached from turning back so long.

And provide me with the mornings of al-Khazzam from the meadows of Lu'lu'?

وَمَن لي بِرَدِّ الريحِ مِن أَبرَقِ الحِمى

وَمَن لي بِرَدِّ الريحِ مِن أَبرَقِ الحِمى

وَرَيّا الخُزامى مِن أُجارِعِ لَعلَعا

وَرَيّا الخُزامى مِن أُجارِعِ لَعلَعا

Who can bring me back the breeze from Abraq al-Hima,

That era has passed, leaving just memories

And lavender's fragrance from the sandy tracts of Laʿlaʿ?

That cause me pain as I ride my camel

وَقَد فاتَ ذاكَ العَهدُ إِلّا تَذَكُّراً

وَقَد فاتَ ذاكَ العَهدُ إِلّا تَذَكُّراً

لَواني عَلى ظَهرِ المَطِيِّ تَوَجَّعا

لَواني عَلى ظَهرِ المَطِيِّ تَوَجَّعا

That time has passed, save for remembrance

My heart was frigid, though we were united,

That bent me in anguish upon my mount's back.

but no sooner did it disperse than it boiled and overflowed with tears

وَكُنتُ جَليدَ القَلبِ وَالشَملُ جامِعٌ

وَكُنتُ جَليدَ القَلبِ وَالشَملُ جامِعٌ

فَما اِنفَضَّ حَتّى حارَ فَاِرفَضَّ أَدمُعا

فَما اِنفَضَّ حَتّى حارَ فَاِرفَضَّ أَدمُعا

I was stout-hearted while our company was united;

My robes dripped copious tears I attempt to hide

No sooner had it scattered than my heart faltered and poured out tears.

With my fingers, though I pretend and fake

وَبَلَّت نِجادي عَبرَةٌ مُستَهِلَّةٌ

وَبَلَّت نِجادي عَبرَةٌ مُستَهِلَّةٌ

أُكَفكِفُ مِنها بِالبَنانِ تَصَنُّعا

أُكَفكِفُ مِنها بِالبَنانِ تَصَنُّعا

A streaming tear drenched my sword-baldric,

My eyes in the darkness are like kohl -

Which I wiped away with my fingertips, feigning composure.

they refuse to settle next to my side as I lay down to rest

وَإِنّي وَعَيني بِالظَلامِ كَحيلَةٌ

وَإِنّي وَعَيني بِالظَلامِ كَحيلَةٌ

لَآبى لِجَنبي أَن يُلائِمَ مَضجَعا

لَآبى لِجَنبي أَن يُلائِمَ مَضجَعا

And I, with my eye kohled by darkness,

I take pride that I see the morn pure white

Still refuse to let my side settle into a bed.

With eyes that see the land of youth as a panorama

وَأُكبِرُ شَأناً أَن أَرى الصُبحَ أَبيَضاً

وَأُكبِرُ شَأناً أَن أَرى الصُبحَ أَبيَضاً

بِعَينٍ تَرى رَبعَ الشَبيبَةِ بَلقَعا

بِعَينٍ تَرى رَبعَ الشَبيبَةِ بَلقَعا

I deem it a grave matter to see the dawn white

As though I had not gone out for fun that night

With an eye that sees youth's dwelling a desolate waste.

And drunk Babylonian wine that sparkles

كَأَنِّيَ لَم أَذهَب مَعَ اللَهوِ لَيلَةً

كَأَنِّيَ لَم أَذهَب مَعَ اللَهوِ لَيلَةً

وَلَم أَتَعاطَ البابِلِيَّ المُشَعشَعا

وَلَم أَتَعاطَ البابِلِيَّ المُشَعشَعا

As though I had never passed a night in revelry,

As though I had not gathered in the shade sharing poetry

Nor partaken of Babylonian wine mixed with water,

And singing for the chirping and water of the meadow

وَلَم أَتحامَل بَينَ ظِلٍّ بِسَرحَةٍ

وَلَم أَتحامَل بَينَ ظِلٍّ بِسَرحَةٍ

وَسَجعٍ لِغِرّيدٍ وَماءٍ بِأَجرَعا

وَسَجعٍ لِغِرّيدٍ وَماءٍ بِأَجرَعا

Nor moved about between a spreading tree's shade

As though I had not cast my hopes on the grey Sa'ib antelope,

And a songbird's trilling and water on a sandy plain,

the white Bassam gazelle and the brown bald antelope

وَلَم أَرمِ آمالي بِأَزرَقَ صائِبٍ

وَلَم أَرمِ آمالي بِأَزرَقَ صائِبٍ

وَأَبيَضَ بَسّامٍ وَأَسمَرَ أَصلَعا

وَأَبيَضَ بَسّامٍ وَأَسمَرَ أَصلَعا

Nor launched my hopes with a blue, true-striking shaft,

And the piebald steed with a long flowing mane, tall in stature, whom I led

And a smiling white sword and a bald brown spear,

The Yemeni lightning bolted one evening

وَأَبلَقَ خَوّارِ العِنانِ مُطَهَّمٍ

وَأَبلَقَ خَوّارِ العِنانِ مُطَهَّمٍ

طَويلِ الشَوى وَالساقِ أَقوَدَ أَتلَعا

طَويلِ الشَوى وَالساقِ أَقوَدَ أَتلَعا

And a well-built piebald horse, gentle on the rein,

So the lightning lagged behind it, too weak and too swift

Long of limb and shank, with a long, lofty neck.

As though it were an ash-colored cloud beneath which

جَرى وَجرى البَرقُ اليَمانِيُّ عَشِيَّةً

جَرى وَجرى البَرقُ اليَمانِيُّ عَشِيَّةً

فَأَبطَأَ عَنهُ البَرقُ عَجزاً وَأَسرَعا

فَأَبطَأَ عَنهُ البَرقُ عَجزاً وَأَسرَعا

He ran one evening as the Yemeni lightning raced;

lightning crept out and cracked

The lightning lagged helplessly behind him, while he sped on.

The enemies thought it enough to drive it away

كَأَنَّ سَحاباً أَسحَماً تَحتَ لِبدِهِ

كَأَنَّ سَحاباً أَسحَماً تَحتَ لِبدِهِ

يُضاحِكُ عَن بَرقٍ سَرى فَتَصَدَّعا

يُضاحِكُ عَن بَرقٍ سَرى فَتَصَدَّعا

As though a black cloud beneath his saddle-felt

As a croaking raven that cries out at dawn

Were smiling to reveal lightning that coursed and split apart.

As though it wore on its shoulders a garment of pitch darkness

وَحَسبُ الأَعادي مِنهُ أَن يَزجُروا بِهِ

وَحَسبُ الأَعادي مِنهُ أَن يَزجُروا بِهِ

مُغيراً غُراباً صَبَّحَ الحَيَّ أَبقَعا

مُغيراً غُراباً صَبَّحَ الحَيَّ أَبقَعا

Enough for his foes is to take him as an omen—

that the dawn had patched up

A raiding, pied raven that attacked the camp at dawn.

I raced it through a turbulent sea

كَأَنَّ عَلى عِطفَيهِ مِن خِلَعِ السُرى

كَأَنَّ عَلى عِطفَيهِ مِن خِلَعِ السُرى

قَميصَ ظَلامٍ بِالصَباحِ تَرَقَّعا

قَميصَ ظَلامٍ بِالصَباحِ تَرَقَّعا

As though over his flanks, from the robes of night travel,

and approached the mother of tremors - tottering and shaking

Lay a shirt of darkness patched with dawn.

It rings from ear to ear, yearning for a scream

رَكَضتُ بِهِ بَحراً تَدَفَّعَ مائِخاً

رَكَضتُ بِهِ بَحراً تَدَفَّعَ مائِخاً

وَأَقبَلتُ أُمَّ الرَألِ نَكباءَ زَعزَعا

وَأَقبَلتُ أُمَّ الرَألِ نَكباءَ زَعزَعا

I spurred him, a surging sea coursing onward,

from a caller or onlooker

And advanced on him—a mother ostrich, a fierce crosswind.

As though it had for a spear's action a guide

يُؤَلِّلُ مِن أُذنٍ فَأُذنٍ تَشَوُّفاً

يُؤَلِّلُ مِن أُذنٍ فَأُذنٍ تَشَوُّفاً

إِلى صَرخَةٍ مِن هاتِفٍ أَو تَطَلُّعا

إِلى صَرخَةٍ مِن هاتِفٍ أَو تَطَلُّعا

He pricked one ear, then the other, eagerly listening

and for the clamor of tongues, a listener

For a cry from a caller, or gazing ahead.

I calmed it by singing poems to the saddlebows

كَأَنَّ لَهُ مِن عامِلِ الرُمحِ هادِياً

كَأَنَّ لَهُ مِن عامِلِ الرُمحِ هادِياً

مُنيفاً وَمِن ذُلقِ الأَسِنَّةِ مِسمَعا

مُنيفاً وَمِن ذُلقِ الأَسِنَّةِ مِسمَعا

As though his neck were made from a lance's upper shaft,

and stroking its flanks, so it listened

Towering high, and his ear from the tips of spearheads.

But when the Emir's name was mentioned, it scorned him

فَسَكَّنتُ مِنهُ بِالتَغَنّي عَلى السُرى

فَسَكَّنتُ مِنهُ بِالتَغَنّي عَلى السُرى

أُمَسِّحُ مِن أَعطافِهِ فَتَسَمَّعا

أُمَسِّحُ مِن أَعطافِهِ فَتَسَمَّعا

I calmed him by singing through the night journey,

so it lowered its whinny's tune and raised it

Stroking his flanks; then he listened.

Yearning for the most generous king, repeating

وَلَمّا اِنتَحى ذِكرَ الأَميرِ اِستَخَفَّهُ

وَلَمّا اِنتَحى ذِكرَ الأَميرِ اِستَخَفَّهُ

فَخَفَّضَ مِن لَحنِ الصَهيلِ وَرَفَّعا

فَخَفَّضَ مِن لَحنِ الصَهيلِ وَرَفَّعا

When the song turned to mention of the emir, it stirred him;

and lamenting the noble journey

He lowered, then raised, the melody of his neighing,

So in its love for Ibrahim, it whinnied in Arabic

حَنيناً إِلى المَلكِ الأَغَرِّ مُرَدَّداً

حَنيناً إِلى المَلكِ الأَغَرِّ مُرَدَّداً

وَشَجواً عَلى المَسرى القَصِيِّ مُرَجَّعا

وَشَجواً عَلى المَسرى القَصِيِّ مُرَجَّعا

Repeating his longing for the radiant king,

And in assisting Ibrahim, it pawed the ground loyally

And echoing his yearning along the distant night road.

A sovereign whom glory boasts of, a gilded crown

فَفي حُبِّ إِبراهيمَ أَعرَبَ صاهِلاً

فَفي حُبِّ إِبراهيمَ أَعرَبَ صاهِلاً

وَفي نَصرِ إِبراهيمَ كَرَّ تَشَيُّعا

وَفي نَصرِ إِبراهيمَ كَرَّ تَشَيُّعا

In love for Ibrahim he spoke plainly through his neighing,

that glory itself regards as a bejeweled crown

And in support of Ibrahim he charged, out of loyalty.

With it I traversed the most verdant meadows, the most aromatic spices, the lushest meadows

مَليكٌ تَباهى الحَمدُ وَشياً مُذَهَّباً

مَليكٌ تَباهى الحَمدُ وَشياً مُذَهَّباً

بِهِ وَتَراءى المَجدُ تاجاً مُرَصَّعا

بِهِ وَتَراءى المَجدُ تاجاً مُرَصَّعا

A king: praise gloried as gilded brocade

Sometimes generosity's sea flooded in its domains and surged

Through him, and glory appeared as a jewel-studded crown.

Its rain clouds poured down heavily, sufficient for you

غَشيتُ بِهِ أَندى مِنَ المُزنِ راحَةً

غَشيتُ بِهِ أَندى مِنَ المُزنِ راحَةً

وَأَطيَبَ أَفياءً وَأَمرَعَ مَربَعا

وَأَطيَبَ أَفياءً وَأَمرَعَ مَربَعا

On him I approached one whose palm was more bountiful than rainclouds,

that it only rained on a barren land, so it flourished

Whose shades were sweeter, whose meadow more lush.

Thus I have heard much praise of its sublime traits

طَمى الجودُ في يُمناهُ بَحراً وَرُبَّما

طَمى الجودُ في يُمناهُ بَحراً وَرُبَّما

تَدَفَّقَ في أَرجائِها فَتَدَفَّعا

تَدَفَّقَ في أَرجائِها فَتَدَفَّعا

Generosity rose in his right hand like a sea, and often

though the bird of good tidings is no fairer listener

Gushed through its reaches and surged onward.

So, faultfinder, the lightning you blamed flashed weakly

وَأَعدى نَداهُ الغَيثَ فَاِنهَلَّ واكِفاً

وَأَعدى نَداهُ الغَيثَ فَاِنهَلَّ واكِفاً

وَحَسبُكَ مِن سُقياهُ أَن سَجَما مَعا

وَحَسبُكَ مِن سُقياهُ أَن سَجَما مَعا

His bounty spread to the rain, which poured in streams;

and rumbled with thunder over Najd, so aroused hope

Of his watering let this suffice: the two poured down together.

When the cloud of your disapproval parts

فَرُبَّ حَديثٍ عَن عُلاهُ سَمِعتُهُ

فَرُبَّ حَديثٍ عَن عُلاهُ سَمِعتُهُ

وَما طائِرُ البُشرى بِأَحسَنَ مَسمَعا

وَما طائِرُ البُشرى بِأَحسَنَ مَسمَعا

Many a tale of his eminence have I heard,

and the lightning of prosperity illuminates you, then pasture

And no bird of glad tidings was sweeter to hear.

For Abu Ishaaq's land is the most fertile meadow,

فَيا شائِمي بَرقٍ تَوَضَّحَ مَوهِناً

فَيا شائِمي بَرقٍ تَوَضَّحَ مَوهِناً

وَقَعقَعَ إِرعاداً بِنَجدٍ فَأَطمَعا

وَقَعقَعَ إِرعاداً بِنَجدٍ فَأَطمَعا

O you two watchers of lightning that shone late at night

the most fragrant grove of shade, the sweetest meadow

And rattled with thunder over Najd, awakening hope:

It suffices you that the tribe despaired of it

إِذا كَفَّ مِن قُطرَيكُما عارِضَ النَدى

إِذا كَفَّ مِن قُطرَيكُما عارِضَ النَدى

وَراقَكُما بَرقُ البَشاشَةِ فَاِرتَعا

وَراقَكُما بَرقُ البَشاشَةِ فَاِرتَعا

If the cloud of bounty is withheld from your two lands,

so he restored what it had lost

And the lightning of cheerful welcome delights you, then graze;

Guidance in him returned through the most glorious Ahmad

فَإِنَّ أَبا اِسحاقٍ أَخصَبُ تَلعَةً

فَإِنَّ أَبا اِسحاقٍ أَخصَبُ تَلعَةً

وَأَشهى نَدى ظِلٍّ وَأَعذَبُ مَكرَعا

وَأَشهى نَدى ظِلٍّ وَأَعذَبُ مَكرَعا

For Abu Ishaq has the more fertile hillside,

Of enduring fame, sword blades the brightest and keenest

More delightful dewy shade, and a sweeter watering place.

He rendered the Salib idol an object of generosity

وَحَسبُكُما أَن قَد تَأَسّى بِهِ الحَيا

وَحَسبُكُما أَن قَد تَأَسّى بِهِ الحَيا

فَعاوَدَ مِن رُحماهُ ما كانَ أَقلَعا

فَعاوَدَ مِن رُحماهُ ما كانَ أَقلَعا

Let it suffice you two that the life-giving rain has followed his example,

And the Matruur doe inviolate, showing no hesitation

And through his mercy resumed what it had ceased.

When creeping he is stealthier than a deceitful mirage

وَعَزَّ الهُدى مِنهُ بِأَمجَدَ أَوحَدٍ

وَعَزَّ الهُدى مِنهُ بِأَمجَدَ أَوحَدٍ

طَويلِ نِجادِ السَيفِ أَبلَجَ أَروَعا

طَويلِ نِجادِ السَيفِ أَبلَجَ أَروَعا

Through him guidance gained strength from a most noble, peerless man,

More accurate in aim than a meteoric shooting star

Long of sword-baldric, radiant-faced and awe-inspiring.

The sword in battle is no fairer than when the palm

أَحَلَّ بِهِ العودَ السَليبَ سَماحَةً

أَحَلَّ بِهِ العودَ السَليبَ سَماحَةً

وَأَحرَمَ مَطرورَ الظِبا لا تَوَرُّعا

وَأَحرَمَ مَطرورَ الظِبا لا تَوَرُّعا

Through him he made the stripped branch lawful, out of generosity,

unsheathes it behind shields, glowing radiantly

And forbade keen-edged blades, though not from scruple.

The voice of caution and dew called him by name

إِذا دَبَّ أَخفى مِن خَيالِ مَكيدَةٍ

إِذا دَبَّ أَخفى مِن خَيالِ مَكيدَةٍ

تَصَوَّبَ أَسرى مِن شِهابٍ وَأَطلَعا

تَصَوَّبَ أَسرى مِن شِهابٍ وَأَطلَعا

When he crept, he was more hidden than the phantom of a stratagem;

so he obediently rose to the prime of youth, fervent and passionate

He swooped more swiftly than a meteor and rose higher.

He sprang like a leaping blade, valiantly

وَما السَيفُ مِن كَفِّ الكَمِيِّ مُجَرَّداً

وَما السَيفُ مِن كَفِّ الكَمِيِّ مُجَرَّداً

بِأَسطى وَراءَ النَقعِ مِنهُ وَأَسطَعا

بِأَسطى وَراءَ النَقعِ مِنهُ وَأَسطَعا

No sword drawn from a mailed warrior's hand

And raced like a roaring torrent, spontaneously

Is fiercer behind the battle-dust, or brighter, than he.

You cannot distinguish between them, which more

دَعا بِاِسمِهِ داعي الحَفيظَةِ وَالنَدى

دَعا بِاِسمِهِ داعي الحَفيظَةِ وَالنَدى

فَلَبّى عَلى شَرخِ الشَبابِ وَأَهطَعا

فَلَبّى عَلى شَرخِ الشَبابِ وَأَهطَعا

The herald of honor and bounty called him by name;

eloquently speaks - the noble and distinguished orator

In the flower of youth he answered and hastened.

He erected virtues and built

وَهَبَّ كَما هَبَّ الحُسامُ شَهامَةً

وَهَبَّ كَما هَبَّ الحُسامُ شَهامَةً

وَعَبَّ كَما عَبَّ الخِضَمُّ تَبَرُّعا

وَعَبَّ كَما عَبَّ الخِضَمُّ تَبَرُّعا

He sprang up as the keen blade springs, in valor,

raising them to the Lord Most High

And surged as the great sea surges, giving freely.

He lowered the voice and sound of the stubborn rebel

وَجَرَّ بِهِ ذَيلَ الخَميسِ اِبنُ غابَةٍ

وَجَرَّ بِهِ ذَيلَ الخَميسِ اِبنُ غابَةٍ

تَرَدّى غُلاماً بِالعُلى وَتَلَفَّعا

تَرَدّى غُلاماً بِالعُلى وَتَلَفَّعا

Through him a son of the forest trailed the army's hem,

and shook the pillar of the disobedient one, toppling it

Who, as a boy, had robed and wrapped himself in glory.

Chieftains surrendered power to him deferentially,

وَداسَ العِدى رَكضاً وَأَجرى إِلى الوَغى

وَداسَ العِدى رَكضاً وَأَجرى إِلى الوَغى

بِأَطوَعَ مِن يُمناهُ فِعلاً وَأَطبَعا

بِأَطوَعَ مِن يُمناهُ فِعلاً وَأَطبَعا

He trampled the foes at a gallop and sped into battle

humbling what had been arrogant and haughty

With one more obedient in action than his right hand, more pliant.

His character made every well-mannered person docile

فَلَم يُدرَ أَيُّ مِنهُما مَنطِقاً

فَلَم يُدرَ أَيُّ مِنهُما مَنطِقاً

فَصيحاً وَإِفرِنداً كَريماً وَمَقطَعا

فَصيحاً وَإِفرِنداً كَريماً وَمَقطَعا

None could tell which of the two excelled

until the defiant became submissive

In eloquent speech, noble temper, and cutting edge.

Who will convey to me that I attained through him

فَشَيَّدَ مِن ذاتِ المَكارِمِ وَاِبتَنى

فَشَيَّدَ مِن ذاتِ المَكارِمِ وَاِبتَنى

وَرَفَّهَ في جَنبِ الإِلَهِ وَرَفَّعا

وَرَفَّهَ في جَنبِ الإِلَهِ وَرَفَّعا

Thus he built high from the very substance of noble deeds,

whatever I wished to enjoy?

And brought comfort and elevation in God's cause.

I composed his praise and attained an elevated perspective

وَخَفَّضَ مِن صيتِ الأَبِيِّ وَصَوتِهِ

وَخَفَّضَ مِن صيتِ الأَبِيِّ وَصَوتِهِ

وَزَلزَلَ مِن رُكنِ العَصِيِّ وَضَعضَعا

وَزَلزَلَ مِن رُكنِ العَصِيِّ وَضَعضَعا

He lowered the fame and voice of the defiant,

until I reached the pinnacle and the highest place

Shook the rebel's pillar and weakened it.

Does any desire remain for the soul except to gaze

وَأَلقَت إِلَيهِ بِالمَقادَةِ قادَةٌ

وَأَلقَت إِلَيهِ بِالمَقادَةِ قادَةٌ

تَطامَنَ مِن أَعناقِها ماتَرَفَّعا

تَطامَنَ مِن أَعناقِها ماتَرَفَّعا

Leaders surrendered the reins to him;

upon the Supreme Pen as it signs its decree?

Their once-proud necks bowed low.

Neither the rising moon in its most beautiful phase

وَذَلَّلَ مِن أَخلاقِهِ كُلُّ رَيَّضٍ

وَذَلَّلَ مِن أَخلاقِهِ كُلُّ رَيَّضٍ

فَأَصبَحَ خَوّارَ الشَكيمَةِ طَيِّعا

فَأَصبَحَ خَوّارَ الشَكيمَةِ طَيِّعا

Every untamed one subdued his own temper,

nor the pouring rain at its most generous

And became gentle on the bit, obedient.

You were blessed with a feast that received you upon arrival

فَمَن مُبلِغُ الأَيّامَ عَنّي أَنَّني

فَمَن مُبلِغُ الأَيّامَ عَنّي أَنَّني

تَبَوَّأتُ مِنهُ حَيثُ شِئتُ تَمَتُّعا

تَبَوَّأتُ مِنهُ حَيثُ شِئتُ تَمَتُّعا

Who will tell the days on my behalf that I

It would not have occurred had you not risen

Have settled with him wherever I wished, taking my pleasure?

It is enough of a gift that it shaded you when you came

وَطِرتُ ثَناءً وَاِطَّلَعتُ ثَنِيَّةً

وَطِرتُ ثَناءً وَاِطَّلَعتُ ثَنِيَّةً

فَأَشرَفتُ إِبضاعاً وَأَشرَفتُ مَوضِعا

فَأَشرَفتُ إِبضاعاً وَأَشرَفتُ مَوضِعا

I soared in praise and climbed a mountain pass,

It only needs you to speak for it to hear

And rose high in my trade, and high in my station.

A breeze from the branch of a sublime palm tree greeted you -

وَهَل بَقِيَت لِلنَفسِ إِلّا اِطِّلاعَةٌ

وَهَل بَقِيَت لِلنَفسِ إِلّا اِطِّلاعَةٌ

إِلى القَلَمِ الأَعلى يَخُطُّ مُوَقِّعا

إِلى القَلَمِ الأَعلى يَخُطُّ مُوَقِّعا

Has anything remained for my soul but a glimpse

like the breaths of maidens, it was gentle and pure

Of the highest pen, writing its decrees?

It plays with the train of the canopy and wipes

فَما القَمَرُ الساري بِأَجمَلِ غُرَّةً

فَما القَمَرُ الساري بِأَجمَلِ غُرَّةً

وَلا الوابِلُ الغادي بِأَكرَمَ مَصنَعا

وَلا الوابِلُ الغادي بِأَكرَمَ مَصنَعا

The moon travelling by night has no fairer brow,

tears from the trail of the clouds

Nor the morning downpour a more generous beneficence.

فَهَنُئتَ عيداً قَد تَلَقّاكَ قادِماً

فَهَنُئتَ عيداً قَد تَلَقّاكَ قادِماً

وَلَم يَكُ لَولا أَن طَلَعتَ لَيَطلُعا

وَلَم يَكُ لَولا أَن طَلَعتَ لَيَطلُعا

May you be blessed in the festival that comes to greet you,

Which would not have dawned had you not risen.

وَحَسبُكَ جَدَّ قَد أَظَلَّكَ قادِماً

وَحَسبُكَ جَدَّ قَد أَظَلَّكَ قادِماً

فَما هُوَ إِلّا أَن تَقولَ فَيَسمَعا

فَما هُوَ إِلّا أَن تَقولَ فَيَسمَعا

Good fortune, arriving to shade you, is enough for you:

You need only speak, and it will listen.

وَحَيّاكَ مِن فَرعٍ لِأَشرَفِ دَوحَةٍ

وَحَيّاكَ مِن فَرعٍ لِأَشرَفِ دَوحَةٍ

نَسيمٌ كَأَنفاسِ العَذارى تَضَوَّعا

نَسيمٌ كَأَنفاسِ العَذارى تَضَوَّعا

From a branch of the noblest great tree, you were greeted

By a breeze, fragrant as maidens' breath,

يُلاعِبُ مِن خوطِ الأَراكَةِ مَعطَفاً

يُلاعِبُ مِن خوطِ الأَراكَةِ مَعطَفاً

وَيَمسَحُ مِن مَسرى الغَمامَةِ مَدمَعا

وَيَمسَحُ مِن مَسرى الغَمامَةِ مَدمَعا

That toys with the curved waist of an arak shoot,

And wipes the cloud's tearful eye along its course.