1. نفَّرتْ هِيفَك الليالي وغيدَكْ

    بمشيبٍ كفى النُّهى تفنِيدَكْ

    The nights have frightened off your slender, supple beauties

    with gray hair that spared reason the task of reproving you.

  2. أيها الشيْبُ قد ذَعَرتَ ظباءً

    سَمِعَتْ فيّ دُونها تهديدَكْ

    O gray hair, you have frightened gazelles

    who heard your threat against me, not them.

  3. عجبي من نِفارهنَّ ولم تُهْ

    د إليهنَّ بل إليَّ وعيدَكْ

    I marvel at their flight, though you conveyed

    your menace not to them, but to me.

  4. ولقد كنتَ من أمانيَّ مُذ كنْ

    تُ وإن كان مذهبي أن أكيدَكْ

    You have been among my wishes since I first came

    to be, though my practice was to outwit you.

  5. يا عجيباً من كل وجهٍ ألا تَع

    جب من ذي حجاً تمنّى زهيدَكْ

    O marvel in every respect, do you not wonder

    at a man of reason who wished for a little of you?

  6. أنت شر المجدَّدات على الحي

    يِ ولا بأس باكتسابي جديدَكْ

    You are the worst new arrival for the living,

    yet there is no harm in my acquiring your newness.

  7. ولمَا قلتُ ذاك مُلْتَذَّ مكرو

    هك جهلاً ومُسْتَهيناً شديدَكْ

    I did not say that ignorantly delighting in your unpleasantness,

    or making light of your severity.

  8. أنت عندي العَدُوُّ أكره إقدا

    مك لكن أرى ردىً تعْريدَك

    To me you are the enemy: I hate your advance,

    but see death in your retreat.

  9. ما أرى من مُشَرَّدٍ غير خصمي

    كَ وإلا مُبِيدَهُ ومُبيدَكْ

    I see none driven away but your two foes,

    or else his destroyer and yours.

  10. أنتَ والموتُ غائبان لذي الصَّبْ

    وة تلقى حياضه أو مُذيدَكْ

    You and death are hidden from one with youthful passion;

    you encounter his pools, or the one who drives you away.

  11. فابقَ لي صاحبي على رغم أنفي

    حُبِّيَ العيْشَ حاكمٌ أن أُريدَكْ

    So remain my companion, despite myself;

    my love of life decrees that I desire you.

  12. قد أبى الله أن تكون فقيدي

    وأبى الله أن أكونَ فقيدَكْ

    God has refused that you should be lost to me,

    and God has refused that I should be lost to you.

  13. أو لا يعشق الحياة من اسْتَوْ

    طأ يا قاسم الندى تمهيدَكْ

    Would not one love life who has found comfort

    in your bedding, O Qasim of bounty?

  14. قسماً يا أبا الحسين بآلا

    ئك ما دمتَ للعُلا تشييدَكْ

    I swear, Abu al-Husayn, by your favors,

    and by your building of greatness throughout your life.

  15. وقديماً وطَّدتها قبل تجري

    مك عَشْراً فما اشتكتْ توطيدَكْ

    You made it firm long ago, before you had completed

    ten, and it never complained of your strengthening.

  16. لا يغيظنَّ معشراً حسدوني

    أنْ توالت إجادتي تمجيدَكْ

    Let it not anger those who envied me

    that I repeatedly excel in glorifying you.

  17. ولقد قلت للشباب الذي با

    ن قليلٌ من قاسمٍ أن يعيدَكْ

    I said to youth, which had departed:

    “It is a small thing for Qasim to bring you back.”

  18. يا شبابي أبو الحسين زعيمٌ

    ونداه بأن تُميد مُميدَكْ

    O my youth, Abu al-Husayn stands surety,

    and so does his bounty, that you shall topple your toppler.

  19. ولقد قلتُ للحمام وقد غر

    ردَ في أيكه يُضاهي نشيدَكْ

    I said to the dove, as it warbled

    in its grove, rivaling your song:

  20. أيُّها الطائر المغرِّد في الأيْ

    ك قصيدي يبذُّ حسناً قصيدَكْ

    “O bird warbling in the grove,

    my poem surpasses your poem in beauty.

  21. إنه في أبي الحسين وما أحْ

    سب إلا بمدحه تغريدَكْ

    It concerns Abu al-Husayn, and I do not suppose

    your warbling to be anything but praise of him.

  22. ولو استيقَنَتْ بذلك نفسي

    لم أدع ما حَييتُ أن أستعيدَكْ

    If my soul were certain of that,

    I would never cease, while living, to ask you to repeat it.”

  23. ولما شدتُ منك غيرَ مَشِيدٍ

    إنَّ ما قلتُ قد يُناغي مشيدَكْ

    I have extolled in you nothing not already exalted;

    what I have said may echo the one who extols you.

  24. قلتُ قولي له وقال كما قل

    ت وفي الحق أن تُشيد مشيدَكْ

    I spoke my words to it, and it spoke as I

    did: it is only right to extol your extoller.

  25. وبتسديدك استفدتُ سدادي

    ولَحَسبي بأن أكون سديدَكْ

    Through your guidance I gained my rightness;

    it suffices me to be one set right by you.

  26. لا تُصيخَنَّ نحو شعري ونحوي

    أنت جوَّدْتَ فاستمع تجويدَكْ

    Do not listen toward my poetry or toward me:

    you made it excellent, so listen to your own excellence.

  27. أنت أبَّدْتَ في المعاني فأبَّد

    نا الأماديح نقتفي تأْبيدَكْ

    You made meanings everlasting, so we immortalized

    our panegyrics, following your immortalizing.

  28. لم يُقلدكَ شاعرٌ جوهرَ الفخْ

    رِ ولا صاغ مادحوك فريدَكْ

    No poet hung the jewel of glory about your neck,

    nor did your praisers fashion your unique pearl.

  29. بل رُواءٌ ومَخْبرٌ وفِعَالٌ

    عقدتْ دون غيرها تسويدَكْ

    Rather, fine appearance, inward character, and deeds

    alone secured your lordship.

  30. فاعتَدِدْ للثلاث بالصُّنْع فيه

    واحمدِ اللهَ واصلاً تحميدَكْ

    So credit those three with the making of it,

    and praise God, continuing your praise.

  31. أنت زنتَ القلائد الزُّهْرَ قِدْماً

    ضعفَ ما زانتِ القلائدُ جيدَكْ

    You adorned the radiant necklaces of old

    twice as much as the necklaces adorned your neck.

  32. كم مَهينٍ غدا عليك بظلمٍ

    حين لا يظلم العزيزُ وليدَكْ

    How many a lowly man has come against you unjustly,

    when even a mighty man would not wrong your child!

  33. أنت أبدعْتَ من طريف المعاني

    ما تَحلَّى به فجازَ تليدَكْ

    You created such novel meanings

    as he adorned himself with, surpassing your time-honored treasures.

  34. فهْو من كلِّ جانبٍ مستفيدٌ

    منك خيراً به وليس مُفيدَكْ

    Thus, on every side, he receives

    good from you through it, without benefiting you.

  35. وَلَمَا تلك ضَعْفَةٌ أنطق الل

    هُ قديماً بغير تلك شَهيدَكْ

    Nor is that weakness; God made

    your witness, long ago, speak to the contrary.

  36. لكن الجودُ سَنَّ في كل يومٍ

    لك عيداً فأنت تعتادُ عيدَكْ

    But generosity established, on every day,

    a feast for you, and you keep observing your feast.

  37. تسمع الشعر مُعْمِلاً فيه تهوِي

    نك صَفْحاً وفي الندى تشديدَكْ

    You hear poetry, exercising leniency toward it

    in pardon, while exercising rigor in generosity.

  38. مُصغياً عن معايب فيه شتّىً

    حقُّها أن تُدِرَّ غيظاً وريدَكْ

    You turn aside from its many faults,

    which ought to swell your jugular vein with anger.

  39. وإذا قام قائلُ الشعر أرسَلْ

    تَ إليه مع اللُّهى تسديدَكْ

    When a speaker of poetry stands, you send

    him your guidance along with gifts,

  40. حائداً عن سبيلِ كلِّ لئيم

    شكر الله عند ذاك محيدَكْ

    turning away from every mean man's path:

    may God reward your turning aside then.

  41. لم تُخَيِّبْ ولم تؤنِّبْ ولم تحْ

    رمْ نصيباً من انْتِباهٍ بليدَكْ

    You have neither disappointed nor reproached, nor denied

    even your dullard a share of attention.

  42. قلتُ للدهر حين أعتبني في

    ك لحا الله بعدها مُستزيدَكْ

    I said to Time, when it made amends to me through

    you: “God curse anyone demanding more of you after this!”

  43. وحقيقٌ من اصطفاك على الأش

    ياء أن لا تَسُوء فيه عَقِيدَكْ

    One who chose you above all other things deserves

    that you not disappoint your pledged ally in him.

  44. أرضِ فيه الندى وزِدْه فإنّ تا

    بع قولاً حسبي فتابعْ مزيدَكْ

    Satisfy generosity through him, and give him more; if he keeps

    saying “Enough for me,” keep increasing your gifts.

  45. قد بعثتَ المبشّرات بريداً

    بغناه فلا تُكذِّبْ بريدَكْ

    You have sent glad tidings as a courier

    of his wealth; do not belie your courier.

  46. هَبْ لعبدٍ غدا سعيدك بالحر

    مة مَغْداه لليسار سعيدَكْ

    Grant a servant made happy by your protection

    a journey toward wealth made fortunate by you.

  47. لدَّدتني شدائدٌ فأجِرْني

    لا أطالتْ شدائدٌ تلديدَكْ

    Hardships have tossed me about, so shelter me;

    may hardships never prolong your tossing.

  48. أي مَغْنىً سواك بعدك يُؤْوِي

    نِيَ والناس يطردونَ طريدَكْ

    What abode other than you, after you, will shelter

    me, when people drive away your outcast?

  49. ومتى ما رأيتَ وجهاً من الرأْ

    ي رأى كلُّ سَيِّدٍ تقليدَكْ

    Whenever you discern an aspect of judgment,

    every chief thinks fit to follow you.

  50. واعتددْني قُبِلْتُ هل مُستجيدٍ

    بدلاً منك من غدا مُسْتَجِيدَكْ

    Count me among yours—may I be accepted! Can anyone find

    a worthy substitute for you, having sought your bounty?

  51. أنت زَهَّدْتَ في الكرامَ فلا أعْ

    دمنا الله فيهِمُ تزهيدَكْ

    You have made us indifferent to the noble; may God not deprive

    us of your making us indifferent to them.

  52. ما نَذُمُّ امرءاً حميداً ولكن

    هل حميدٌ وقد بلونا حميدَكْ

    We do not disparage a praiseworthy man, but

    is anyone praiseworthy, now we have experienced your praiseworthiness?

  53. هاكها من جلائب الفِكَر السَّف

    رِ اللواتي زوَّدْتَها تزويدَكْ

    Take these, among the wares of traveling thoughts,

    which you supplied with your own provisions.

  54. واخْلع العَشْر والبس الدَّهْرَ واستَقْ

    بِلْ صحيحاً في غبطةٍ تَعْييدَكْ

    Cast off the ten, put on all time, and welcome

    your festival in health and joy,

  55. جاعلاً للتَّواضُعِ الحرِّ تصْوِي

    بك طوْراً وللعُلا تصعيدَكْ

    making noble humility your descent

    at times, and greatness your ascent.

  56. وادَّرِعْني إلى الإمام مقالاً

    فيه لي خُطْبةٌ تَكِيدُ مَكيدَكْ

    Wear me as armor before the Imam in speech;

    there I have an oration that works your design.

  57. أيها السيدُ الجليل أطال ال

    لَهُ في طُولِ مُدَّةٍ تأييدَكْ

    O august lord, may God prolong

    your support throughout a lengthy span.

  58. يا إمام الهُداة في كل أرضٍ

    جعل الله من عَصاك حصيدَكْ

    O Imam of guides in every land,

    may God make those who disobey you your harvested crop.

  59. وَلَّدَ الغيْثَ بعد قَحْطٍ ندى كف

    فيْكَ لا يَعْدَمِ الحيا توليدَكْ

    The bounty of your two palms begot rain after drought;

    may the rain never lack your begetting.

  60. ولقد رام أن يكون نديداً

    فأبى الله أن يكون نديدَكْ

    It sought to become a peer,

    but God refused to let it be your peer.

  61. خَدَّ في الأرض حين خدَّدْتَ في الها

    م بِبِيض صوارمٍ تَخْديدَكْ

    It furrowed the earth when you carved into

    heads with bright, trenchant swords.

  62. قسماً ما رجا العَدوُّ هُويْنا

    ك ولا خاف آمِلٌ تنكيدَكْ

    I swear, the enemy never hoped for your gentleness,

    nor did a hopeful man fear your frustrating him.

  63. لا ولا سُمْتَ مجتديك إذا جدْ

    تَ عليه بنائلٍ تَصْريدَكْ

    No, nor did you impose upon your supplicant, when you gave

    him a gift, your scant giving.

  64. كم رأى الله منك عَرْفاً وعُرْفاً

    لا يرى شُكْرَ بعضه تخليدَكْ

    How much fragrance and kindness God has seen from you—

    He deems even immortality insufficient thanks for part of it.

  65. فابْقَ لا فلَّ حدَّكَ اللَّهُ عن حد

    دٍ ولا فَضَّ عن عديدٍ عديدَكْ

    Live on: may God never blunt your edge against an edge,

    nor scatter your host before another host.

  66. قيِّمَ الملك يمنح الشمل تألي

    فك للمال واللهى تبديدَك

    Guardian of the realm, the people are drawn together

    by your scattering of wealth and gifts.

  67. وتُلَقِّي الطريدَ يَعْروكَ إيوا

    ءك إياه والعِدا تَطْريدَك

    You grant the outcast who comes to you your shelter,

    and your enemies your banishment,

  68. مُعْمِلاً في الورى لُجَيْنَكَ بل عَيْ

    نك ما أحسَنوا وطوراً حديدَكْ

    putting your silver—rather, your gold—to use among mankind

    while they do well, and at times your iron.

  69. تستمِيحُ البدورُ منك ولا يب

    لغ مجهودُ واصفٍ تحديدَكْ

    The full moons ask largesse of you; no describer's

    utmost effort can define your bounds.

  70. ويميناً لقد تَقَيَّلْتَ مَهْدِي

    يَكَ ف أمْرِ قاسم ورشيدَكْ

    By oath, you have followed the example of your Mahdi,

    and your Rashid, in the matter of Qasim.

  71. إن تُوَحِّدْهُ في الصَّنِيعة والصُّنْ

    عِ فقد راح مخلصاً توحيدَكْ

    If you single him out for favor and beneficence,

    he has become sincere in acknowledging you alone.

  72. سُدْتَ أنتَ الملوكَ حزْماً وعزْماً

    ومُلوكيَّةً وساد عبيدَكْ

    You surpassed kings in prudence and determination

    and kingliness; he surpassed your servants.

  73. فإذا استغْلَقَتْ أُمُورُكَ فاجعل

    ه لمغلاق بابها إقْليدَكْ

    When your affairs are locked fast, make

    him your key to their locked door,

  74. وأباهُ الذي اقتدى بكَرَاهُ

    وبتَسْهيد عيْنه تسْهيدَكْ

    and his father, who followed, even in his sleep,

    and in keeping his eye awake, your own wakefulness.

  75. جرَّدَ الرأْيَ قبل تجريدك السَّيْ

    فَ فأعفى تجريدُه تجريدَكْ

    He unsheathed counsel before you unsheathed the sword,

    and his unsheathing spared yours.

  76. وحَقيقٌ بأن تُنفَّلَ تَقري

    بَك شُكْماً وضدَّه تبعيدَكْ

    He deserves to be awarded your nearness

    as recompense, and his opposite your banishment.

  77. قلتُ للمنزل الذي أنت مولا

    ه لقد عظَّم الإلهُ صعيدَكْ

    I said to the dwelling whose master you

    are: “God has indeed exalted your soil.

  78. حلَّ فيك الذكاءُ شخْصاً وأضحى

    كل لؤُمٍ طريدَه وشريدَكْ

    Intelligence has dwelt in you in person, and

    every baseness has become his fugitive and your exile.

  79. لا أصاب الرَّدى جوادَك يا ربْ

    عُ ولا فاجَأَ الحمامُ نجيدَكْ

    May destruction never strike your generous man, O abode,

    nor death surprise your valiant man.

  80. فابْقَ والشُّمَّخُ الرواسي على المسْ

    نَد تُنْسيكَ ثم تُنسئ بيدَكْ

    Live on, while the towering, firmly rooted ones upon the seat

    make you forget, then postpone your ruin.

  81. قسماً أيها المَحلُّ لقد شا

    كل تَنْضيدُهُ العُلا تنضيدَكْ

    I swear, O abode, there is truly a likeness:

    his ordering of greatness matches your ordered tiers.

  82. وأفاعيلُه تماثيلَك الزْه

    رَ وتمريدُ عزِّه تمريدَكْ

    His deeds resemble your radiant statues,

    and the smooth finish of his might your smooth finish.

  83. لا تزلْ والوفود تَعْفر أفنا

    ءك ما عشتَ والأسود وصيدَكْ

    Endure, while delegations raise dust in your courtyards

    as long as you live, and lions stand at your threshold.

  84. حولك الصِّيدُ من رجالك كالجن

    نان والهاشميُّ يفرع صيدَكْ

    Around you, the proud lords among your men are like jinn,

    and the Hashimite towers above your proud lords.

  85. مُستَقلُّ العماد مُعْتَضدُ بال

    لَه أضحى عَضيدَنا وعضيدَكْ

    Lofty stands his pillar; strengthened by

    God, he has become our helper and yours.

  86. فمتى كان مَغْرَمٌ ومُقامٌ

    كان من بين أهله صنْديدَك

    Whenever there is expense to bear and a stand to make,

    he is your champion among his people.

  87. ومتى كان مأثَمٌ أو مَلامٌ

    كان من خوف ذا وذاك عَديدَكْ

    Whenever there is sin or blame,

    fear of this and that makes him one of your many.”

  88. قاسم الخير أمْض أمرَكَ في أمْ

    ري فما جرَّبَ الندى تبليدَكْ

    Qasim of goodness, carry out your decision in my affair;

    generosity has never experienced your sluggishness.

  89. وأَقدْني من الليالي مُثيباً

    عن إمامٍ ولّاكها ليَقيدَكْ

    Grant me retribution against the nights, rewarding me

    on behalf of an Imam who entrusted them to you to grant you retribution.

  90. أنا من كلِّ ناصرٍ غير نُعْما

    ك وحيدٌ فلا تُضَيِّعْ وحيدَكْ

    I am bereft of every helper other than your favors,

    alone; do not neglect your solitary one.

  91. أنت وكَّدْتَ حرمتي بك فانْفِ

    أن تَرى الغدْرَ ناقضاً توكيدَكْ

    You confirmed my protected standing with you; prevent

    treachery from being seen undoing your confirmation.

  92. واغتفرْ لي تَوَرُّديك اغتفاراً

    من رأى حُسْنَه رأى توريدَكْ

    Forgive my repeated resort to you with such forgiveness

    that whoever sees its beauty sees you leading me to water.

  93. أنت عَوَّدتَني التَّسَحُّبَ بالحلْ

    م فلا تَمْنَعنَّني تَعْويدَكْ

    Through forbearance you accustomed me to taking liberties;

    do not deny me what you accustomed me to.