كَوْكَبٌa star لاحَshone بَيْنَbetween بَدْرِa full moon وشَمْسِand a sun
كَوْكَبٌ لاحَ بَيْنَ بَدْرِ وشَمْسِ
فَسَرَىand so it coursed بالسّرورِwith joy فيthrough كُلِّevery نَفْسِsoul
فَسَرَى بالسّرورِ في كُلِّ نَفْسِ
A star shone between a full moon and a sun,
A star shone between the full and crescent moon,
and coursed with joy through every soul.
Spreading joy in every soul.
سَفَرَتْunveiled عَنْfrom جَبِينِهِhis brow غُرَّةُa bright forehead blaze الْفَضْexcellence (continued)
سَفَرَتْ عَنْ جَبِينِهِ غُرَّةُ الْفَضْ
ل(completes 'excellence') وأّبْدَىand displayed العُلاَlofty honor طَلاَقَةَcheerfulness أُنْسِfriendliness
ل وأّبْدَى العُلاَ طَلاَقَةَ أُنْسِ
The bright blaze of excellence unveiled his brow,
The bud shed its envelope from its forehead,
and lofty honor displayed a welcoming smile.
Revealing its splendor and easing its familiarity.
مُسْتَهِلٌّa newborn تَقْضِيforetell المَوَالِيدُnatal charts مِنْهُfrom him
مُسْتَهِلٌّ تَقْضِي المَوَالِيدُ مِنْهُ
أَنَّهُthat he يُنْسِيءُprolongs life الكِرَامَthe noble وَيُنْسِيand makes them forgotten
أَنَّهُ يُنْسِيءُ الكِرَامَ وَيُنْسِي
A newborn whose natal charts foretell
Its auguries determine that it makes auspiciousness auspicious, and inauspiciousness inauspicious,
that he prolongs noble lives and makes the noble forgotten.
The ruler of ascendants judged according to its ascendant, happiness for the felicitous, and misery for the envious.
حَكَمَdecreed المُشْتَرِيJupiter لِطَالعِهِfor his ascendant السَّعْauspicious (continued)
حَكَمَ المُشْتَرِي لِطَالعِهِ السَّعْ
دِ(completes 'auspicious') بِسَعْدٍwith good fortune وَلِلْحَسُودِand for the envious man بِنَحْسِwith ill luck
دِ بِسَعْدٍ وَلِلْحَسُودِ بِنَحْسِ
Jupiter decreed for his auspicious ascendant
And if the branches are wholesome, their goodness indicates the integrity of the trunk,
good fortune, and ill luck for the envious man.
Leaves in it gave good tidings, displaying wisdom in creation.
وَإذَاand when ماemphatic particle الفُروعُthe branches طابَbecame sweet جَنَاهَاtheir fruit
وَإذَا ما الفُروعُ طابَ جَنَاهَا
دَلَّindicated منهاfrom them علىto نَجَابَةِnobility غَرْسِplanted stock
دَلَّ منها على نَجَابَةِ غَرْسِ
And when the branches yield sweet fruit,
It visited where the spring spreads out in the land with its breezes and cool shade,
it attests to the nobility of their stock.
As if the open space were Kisra's assembly when he disclosed himself in sumptuous garb.
صَدَحَتْsang فيهabout him بِالْبِشارَةِwith glad tidings وُرْقٌgray doves
صَدَحَتْ فيه بِالْبِشارَةِ وُرْقٌ
أَظْهَرَتْrevealed فيconcerning الْبُنَيِّthe little son حِكْمَةَthe wisdom of قَسِّQuss
أَظْهَرَتْ في الْبُنَيِّ حِكْمَةَ قَسِّ
Gray doves sang glad tidings of him,
As if the birds were reciting poems, suspended from their wings like necklaces.
displaying Quss's wisdom concerning the little son.
As if the branches were trembling in wonder whenever the voice of the mute cried out.
زارَvisited حَيْثُwhere الرَّبيعُspring يَنْشُرُunfurls فيin الرَّوْthe garden (continued)
زارَ حَيْثُ الرَّبيعُ يَنْشُرُ في الرَّوْ
ضِ(completes 'garden') بِنُوَّارِهِwith its blossoms بُرُودِmantles الدِّمَقْسِfine silk
ضِ بِنُوَّارِهِ بُرُودِ الدِّمَقْسِ
He visited where spring unfurls in the garden
As if the breeze makes it dance with the diversions of a wedding in its gentle movements.
mantles of fine silk with its blossoms.
As if joy circulated in a cup, arousing delight in the most holy of mantles.
وكَأَنَّand as though البِطاحَthe plains مَجْلِسُthe court of كِسْرَىKisra
وكَأَنَّ البِطاحَ مَجْلِسُ كِسْرَى
حِينَwhen يَجْلُوهُhe unveils it فيin مُنَمَّقِornate لُبْسِattire
حِينَ يَجْلُوهُ في مُنَمَّقِ لُبْسِ
And as though the plains were Kisra's court,
As if there were a hidden mystery in the engagements, concealed from us by the wings of an ostrich.
when he unveils it in richly patterned attire.
A successor of the Banu Khalifa whose foundation was built by them on solid ground.
وكأَنَّand as though الطُّيورَthe birds تُنْشِدُrecite شِعْراًpoetry
وكأَنَّ الطُّيورَ تُنْشِدُ شِعْراً
عَلَّقَتْهُthey hung it مِنَfrom الجَنَاحِthe wing بِطِرْسِon a scroll
عَلَّقَتْهُ مِنَ الجَنَاحِ بِطِرْسِ
And as though the birds were reciting poetry
The fourth to the three excellent, cultivated ones, who exercised the sun's orbit in their journeys.
they had hung from a wing on a scroll.
By my soul I sacrifice myself for Abu al-Hasan al-Nadwi, and I fell short in sacrifice with myself!
وكَأَنَّand as though الغُصونَthe branches تَهْتَزُّsway عُجْباًin pride
وكَأَنَّ الغُصونَ تَهْتَزُّ عُجْباً
كُلَّماwhenever رَجَّعَتْresounded فَصَاحَةُthe eloquence of خُرْسِthe voiceless
كُلَّما رَجَّعَتْ فَصَاحَةُ خُرْسِ
And as though the branches swayed in pride
The One who possessed them while they are the best of creation, which God fashioned between jinn and mankind.
whenever the eloquence of the voiceless resounded.
They divided the times justly, so they came with the meanings of tomorrow, today, and yesterday.
وكَأَنَّand as though النَّسِيمَthe breeze يُرْقِصُsets dancing مِنْهَاfrom among them
وكَأَنَّ النَّسِيمَ يُرْقِصُ مِنْهَا
فيin خَفَاتِينِهاtheir caftans مَلاَهِيَentertainers عُرْسِa wedding
في خَفَاتِينِها مَلاَهِيَ عُرْسِ
And as though the breeze set dancing among them
If we enumerated Him among them, we would attain a lineage that differs in species by species.
wedding entertainers in their caftans.
Do you not see that the four elements are an ailment in the life of each soul?
وكَأَنَّand as though السُّرورَjoy طافَwent round بِكَأْسٍwith a cup
وكَأَنَّ السُّرورَ طافَ بِكَأْسٍ
يَبْعَثُstirs اللَّهْوَmerriment فيin مَعَاطِفِfolds قُدْسِsanctity
يَبْعَثُ اللَّهْوَ في مَعَاطِفِ قُدْسِ
And as though joy went round with a cup,
By my life, they will swiftly progress to being five, by whom every fifth is satisfied!
stirring merriment in sacred folds.
For the hand of virtue adorns only when it becomes greater from the fingers.
وكَأَنَّand as though الخُطوبَcalamities مُضْمَرُhidden سِرٍّa secret
وكَأَنَّ الخُطوبَ مُضْمَرُ سِرٍّ
كَتَمَتْهُconcealed it عَنَّاfrom us جَوَانِحُthe ribs of رَمْسِa grave
كَتَمَتْهُ عَنَّا جَوَانِحُ رَمْسِ
And as though calamities were a hidden secret
That is my intuition, and fortune judges that my arrow of intuition hits the mark!
concealed from us by the ribs of a grave.
O son of Abd al-Wahhab, of proud lineage whose share of perfection is without stinginess!
خَلَفٌa scion مِنْof بَنِيthe sons of خُلَيْفٍKhulayf عُلاَهُhis lofty honor
خَلَفٌ مِنْ بَنِي خُلَيْفٍ عُلاَهُ
شُيِّدَتْwas raised منهُمُby them بِمُحْكَمِupon a firm أُسِّfoundation
شُيِّدَتْ منهُمُ بِمُحْكَمِ أُسِّ
A scion of Banu Khulayf, whose lofty honor
Lead your noble she-camel against the people, but they have not attained the degrees of excellence!
was raised by them upon a firm foundation.
Rely on the noble Abd al-Ilah al-Muqtafi, but they have not attained the degrees of excellence!
رابعٌa fourth للثَّلاَثَةِto the three الرَّائِضِيthe tamers of المَجْglory (continued)
رابعٌ للثَّلاَثَةِ الرَّائِضِي المَجْ
دَ(completes 'glory') بمَسْعَاتِهِمْthrough their endeavors رِيَاضَةَthe taming of شُمْسِunruly steeds
دَ بمَسْعَاتِهِمْ رِيَاضَةَ شُمْسِ
A fourth alongside the three who tame glory
And begin your poems as an applauded entertainer, not for earning praise!
through their endeavors, as unruly steeds are tamed.
I have conveyed what I have heard as innovation about you, and veered away from old stories and conventions.
وبنَفْسِيand with my life أًفْدِيI ransom أَبَاAbu (father of) الحَسَنِal-Hasan النَّدْthe noble man (continued)
وبنَفْسِي أًفْدِي أَبَا الحَسَنِ النَّدْ
بَ(completes 'noble man') وَأَقْلَلْتُand I offered too little فِيin الفِدَاءِransoming بِنَفْسِيwith my life
بَ وَأَقْلَلْتُ فِي الفِدَاءِ بِنَفْسِي
And with my life I ransom noble Abu al-Hasan,
So it came like the playful doves whose gleam gives light while it is in the inkpot.
yet I have offered too little in ransoming him with my life.
Whenever its ideas laughed, it showed a gap tooth amid cushions with bags for storing women's belongings.
واحِدٌone man حازَهُمْencompassed them وَهُمْand they خَيْرُthe best of خَلْقٍcreatures
واحِدٌ حازَهُمْ وَهُمْ خَيْرُ خَلْقٍ
صَوَّرfashioned اللُّهGod بَيْنَamong جِنٍّjinn وَإنْسِand humankind
صَوَّر اللُّه بَيْنَ جِنٍّ وَإنْسِ
One man encompasses them, and they are the finest creatures
God fashioned among jinn and humankind.
عَدَلُواthey balanced قِسْمَةَthe division of الزَّمانِtime فَجَاءُواand so they came
عَدَلُوا قِسْمَةَ الزَّمانِ فَجَاءُوا
بِمَعَانِيwith the meanings of غَدٍtomorrow وَيَوْمٍand today وأَمْسِand yesterday
بِمَعَانِي غَدٍ وَيَوْمٍ وأَمْسِ
They balanced time's divisions, and so came bearing
the meanings of tomorrow, today, and yesterday.
لَوْif عَدَدْنَاهwe counted him فِيهُمُamong them لأَصَبْنَاwe would surely find
لَوْ عَدَدْنَاه فِيهُمُ لأَصَبْنَا
نِسْبَةًa correspondence تَسْتَبِينُmakes clear جِنْساًone kind بِجِنْسِthrough another kind
نِسْبَةً تَسْتَبِينُ جِنْساً بِجِنْسِ
If we counted him among them, we would find
a correspondence that reveals one kind through another.
هَلْquestion particle تَرَىsees الأَرْبَعَthe four الطَّبَائِعَnatural principles إلاَّexcept
هَلْ تَرَى الأَرْبَعَ الطَّبَائِعَ إلاَّ
عِلَّةًa cause فيin حَيَاتِهاits life كُلُّevery نَفْسٍsoul
عِلَّةً في حَيَاتِها كُلُّ نَفْسٍ
Can the four natural principles be seen as anything but
the cause of life for every soul?
وَلَعَمْرِيand by my life لَيَعْدُوَنَّwill surely advance سَرِيعاًswiftly
وَلَعَمْرِي لَيَعْدُوَنَّ سَرِيعاً
خَمْسةًfive يَرْتَوِيdrinks its fill بِهِمْthrough them كُلُّevery خِمْسِfive-day watering interval
خَمْسةً يَرْتَوِي بِهِمْ كُلُّ خِمْسِ
And, by my life, they will soon advance to
five, who slake every five-day thirst.
فَيَدُfor the hand of الفَضْلِexcellence لَيْسَis not تَحْسُنُbeautiful إلاexcept
فَيَدُ الفَضْلِ لَيْسَ تَحْسُنُ إلا
حِينَwhen تَزْهُوglories مِنَof الْبَنَانِthe fingers بِخَمْسِwith five
حِينَ تَزْهُو مِنَ الْبَنَانِ بِخَمْسِ
For the hand of excellence is beautiful only
when it glories in five fingers.
ذَاكَthat حَدْسِيmy surmise وًالسَّعْدand good fortune يَحْكُمُjudges أَنِّيthat I
ذَاكَ حَدْسِي وًالسَّعْد يَحْكُمُ أَنِّي
صائِبٌhitting the mark فيin رَمِيَّتيmy shot سَهْمُthe arrow of حَدْسِيmy surmise
صائِبٌ في رَمِيَّتي سَهْمُ حَدْسِي
That is my surmise, and good fortune judges that I
hit the mark in my shot with the arrow of my surmise.
ياO ابْنَson of عَبْدِAbd (servant of) الْوَهَّابِal-Wahhab (the Bestower) نِسْبَةَa lineage of فَخْرٍpride
يا ابْنَ عَبْدِ الْوَهَّابِ نِسْبَةَ فَخْرٍ
حَظُّهاits share فيin الكَمَالِperfection لَيْسَis not بِبَخْسِscant
حَظُّها في الكَمَالِ لَيْسَ بِبَخْسِ
O son of Abd al-Wahhab, a lineage of pride
whose share in perfection is not scant.
تِهْexult بعرْنِينِكَwith your nose الأّشَمِّhigh-bridged عَلَىabove القَوْthe people (continued)
تِهْ بعرْنِينِكَ الأّشَمِّ عَلَى القَوْ
مِ(completes 'people') فَلَمْfor ... not يَبْلُغُواthey reach مَرَاتِبَthe ranks of خُنْسreceding planets
مِ فَلَمْ يَبْلُغُوا مَرَاتِبَ خُنْس
Exult with your high-bridged nose above the people,
for they have not reached the ranks of the receding planets.
وَاعْتَضِدْand seek support بِالنَّجِيبwith the noble عَبْدِAbd (servant of) الآلهal-Ilah (God) الْthe (prefix to next line)
وَاعْتَضِدْ بِالنَّجِيب عَبْدِ الآله الْ
مُقْتَفِيfollower فَلَمْfor ... not يَبْلُغُواthey reach مَرَاتِبَthe ranks of خُنسreceding planets
مُقْتَفِي فَلَمْ يَبْلُغُوا مَرَاتِبَ خُنس
And take strength from noble Abd al-Ilah, the
follower; for they have not reached the ranks of the receding planets.
وَاصْطَبِحْand drink in the morning مِنْfrom مَدَائِحٍpraises خَنْدَرِيساًaged wine
وَاصْطَبِحْ مِنْ مَدَائِحٍ خَنْدَرِيساً
صُفِّقَتْwas blended لِلسَّماعِfor hearing لاnot للتَّحَسِّيfor sipping
صُفِّقَتْ لِلسَّماعِ لا للتَّحَسِّي
And drink at dawn the aged wine of praises,
blended for hearing, not for sipping.
سُقْتُI drove ماwhat صُغْتُI fashioned فيكَin your praise مِنْfrom جَدَدِfirm, level ground الفِكْthought (continued)
سُقْتُ ما صُغْتُ فيكَ مِنْ جَدَدِ الفِكْ
رِ(completes 'thought') وَعَرَّجْتُand I turned aside عَنْaway from خِبَارٍloose earth وَوَعْسِand soft sand
رِ وَعَرَّجْتُ عَنْ خِبَارٍ وَوَعْسِ
I drove what I fashioned in your praise over thought's firm ground,
and turned aside from loose earth and soft sand.
فَأَتَىso it came كَالْكَوَاعِبِlike budding-breasted maidens الْغِيدِthe supple ones يُعْشِيdazzles
فَأَتَى كَالْكَوَاعِبِ الْغِيدِ يُعْشِي
ضَوْؤُهُits light وًهْوَwhile it فِيin حُبَيْرَةِa little striped robe نِقْسِink
ضَوْؤُهُ وًهْوَ فِي حُبَيْرَةِ نِقْسِ
So it came like supple, budding-breasted maidens, dazzling
with its light, though clad in a little striped robe of ink.
كُلَّمَاwhenever اسْتَضْحَكَتْlaughed مَعَانِيهِits meanings أَبْدَتْrevealed
كُلَّمَا اسْتَضْحَكَتْ مَعَانِيهِ أَبْدَتْ
شَنَباًcool whiteness of teeth قيin (apparent typo) مَرَاشِفٍlips مِنْهُof it لُعْسِdusky
شَنَباً قي مَرَاشِفٍ مِنْهُ لُعْسِ
Whenever its meanings laughed, they revealed
cool white teeth within its dusky lips.
Partial English translation: 32 of 60 Arabic lines translated.