هِيَ الدارُ تَستسقيكَ مَدْمَعَكَ الجاري

هِيَ الدارُ تَستسقيكَ مَدْمَعَكَ الجاري

فَسَقياً فأجدى الدمعِ ما كَانَ للدارِ

فَسَقياً فأجدى الدمعِ ما كَانَ للدارِ

It is the dwelling that asks you for your flowing tears.

The house calls upon you, seeking your flowing tears

Then water it, for the most fruitful tears are those shed for the dwelling.

To quench its thirst, though tears avail not the abode

فلا تَسْتضِعْ دَمْعاً تُريقُ مَصُونَهُ

فلا تَسْتضِعْ دَمْعاً تُريقُ مَصُونَهُ

لِعِزَّتِهِ ما بينَ نُؤْيٍ وأَحْجَارِ

لِعِزَّتِهِ ما بينَ نُؤْيٍ وأَحْجَارِ

Do not deem worthless the tears you spill from their guarded store,

So weep not, nor shed the tears you have treasured

kept for their preciousness, amid a camp-ditch and stones.

For dignity's sake; between ruins and stones

فأنتَ امرؤٌ قد كُنتَ بالأَمسِ جَارَها

فأنتَ امرؤٌ قد كُنتَ بالأَمسِ جَارَها

وللجَارِ حَقٌّ قد عَلِمتَ على الجارِ

وللجَارِ حَقٌّ قد عَلِمتَ على الجارِ

For you are a man who was its neighbor yesterday,

For yesterday you were the house's neighbor

and a neighbor has a claim upon his neighbor, as you know.

And a neighbor has rights, as you know, upon a neighbor

عَشَوتَ إلى اللذاتِ فيها على سَنَا

عَشَوتَ إلى اللذاتِ فيها على سَنَا

شُمُوسِ وُجُوهٍ ما يَغِبنَ وأَقْمارِ

شُمُوسِ وُجُوهٍ ما يَغِبنَ وأَقْمارِ

You sought its pleasures by the radiance

You lived enjoying pleasures in it, for years

of sunlike faces that never set, and moons.

With faces like suns that never set, and moons that never wane

فَأصْبحتَ قد أنْفَقتَ أكثرَ ما مَضَى

فَأصْبحتَ قد أنْفَقتَ أكثرَ ما مَضَى

من العُمْرِ فيها بينَ عُوْنٍ وأبكارِ

من العُمْرِ فيها بينَ عُوْنٍ وأبكارِ

Thus you had spent most of what had passed

And now most of a lifetime spent there has passed

of your life there, among mature women and maidens.

Amidst help and blooming youths

نَواصِعَ بيضٍ لو أَفَضْنَ على الدُّجَى

نَواصِعَ بيضٍ لو أَفَضْنَ على الدُّجَى

سَنَاهُنَّ لاستغنَى عن الأَنْجُمِ السَّاري

سَنَاهُنَّ لاستغنَى عن الأَنْجُمِ السَّاري

Dazzling fair women: if they poured into the darkness

Radiant whites, that had they poured on the gloom

their radiance, the night traveler would need no stars.

Their brilliance would have sufficed instead of the shining stars

حَرَائرَ يَنظُرنَ الأُصولَ بِأوجُهٍ

حَرَائرَ يَنظُرنَ الأُصولَ بِأوجُهٍ

تغَصُّ بِأَموَاهِ النَّضَارَة أَحْرَارِ

تغَصُّ بِأَموَاهِ النَّضَارَة أَحْرَارِ

Freeborn women, reflecting their lineage in faces

Free women who gaze with faces

noble and brimming with the waters of freshness.

Where the blossoms of youth shine through, highborn and free

معاطِرَ لم تغمسْ يداً في لَطيمةٍ

معاطِرَ لم تغمسْ يداً في لَطيمةٍ

لهنَّ ولا استعبقْنَ جُونَةَ عَطَّارِ

لهنَّ ولا استعبقْنَ جُونَةَ عَطَّارِ

Fragrant women who never dipped a hand into perfume stock

Sweet-scented, whose hands plunged not in mire

of theirs, nor sought scent from a perfumer's casket.

Nor perfumed themselves with wares of perfumers

أَبَحْنَكَ مَمنُوعَ الوِصَالِ نَوَازِلاً

أَبَحْنَكَ مَمنُوعَ الوِصَالِ نَوَازِلاً

على حُكْمِ نَاهٍ كيفَ شَاءَ وأَمَّارِ

على حُكْمِ نَاهٍ كيفَ شَاءَ وأَمَّارِ

They granted you the union once forbidden, submitting

They offered you forbidden intimacies temptingly

to one who forbids and commands however he pleases.

As they wished, to one forbidding and one indulgent

إذا بِتَّ تستسقِي الثُّغُورَ مُدَامَةً

إذا بِتَّ تستسقِي الثُّغُورَ مُدَامَةً

أتَتْكَ فَلَبَّتْكَ الخُدودُ بأَزْهَارِ

أتَتْكَ فَلَبَّتْكَ الخُدودُ بأَزْهَارِ

When you spent the night asking their mouths for wine,

When you visited, the cheeks offered you their flowers

their cheeks came to you, answering with blossoms.

My place of pleasures, my desires' mart, the cradle of my sighs

أَمَوْسِمَ لَذَّاتي وسُوقَ مآربِي

أَمَوْسِمَ لَذَّاتي وسُوقَ مآربِي

ومَحْنَى لُبَاناتي ومَنْهبَ أوطَاري

ومَحْنَى لُبَاناتي ومَنْهبَ أوطَاري

O festival of my pleasures and marketplace of my desires,

Despite this house, descendants of noble stock still lead you to drink

haven of my longings and plunder-ground of my wishes,

When passions are roused, they flood the plains, unruly

سَقتكَ برغْمِ المَحْلِ أَخلافُ مُزْنَةٍ

سَقتكَ برغْمِ المَحْلِ أَخلافُ مُزْنَةٍ

تَلُفُّ مَتَى جاشَتْ سُهولاً بأَوعَارِ

تَلُفُّ مَتَى جاشَتْ سُهولاً بأَوعَارِ

may a rain-cloud's teats water you despite the drought,

And a rugged valley, however the troop has crammed it

a cloud that, whenever it surges, enfolds plains and rugged ground.

With the resolve of a wonted guide, fearing no horror

وفَجٍّ كما شَاءَ المجالُ حُشُونَهُ

وفَجٍّ كما شَاءَ المجالُ حُشُونَهُ

بِعَزْمَةِ عَوَّادٍ على الهَوْلِ كَرَّارِ

بِعَزْمَةِ عَوَّادٍ على الهَوْلِ كَرَّارِ

And many a pass, its rugged stretches as the expanse willed,

It marched on through journeys until its guide

with the resolve of one who returns to peril, charging again.

Was as accurate as a polished goblet fashioned by the Maker

تَمَرَّسَ بالأسْفارِ حتى تركنَهُ

تَمَرَّسَ بالأسْفارِ حتى تركنَهُ

لِدِقَّتِهِ كالقِدْحِ أرهفَهُ الباري

لِدِقَّتِهِ كالقِدْحِ أرهفَهُ الباري

He grappled with journeys until they left him,

To glories, when men trace their line, of a folk

in his slenderness, like an arrow-shaft honed by its carver.

Of brilliant deeds, the best of noblemen

إلى مَاجِدٍ يُعزَى إذا انتَسَبَ الوَرَى

إلى مَاجِدٍ يُعزَى إذا انتَسَبَ الوَرَى

إلى مَعْشَرٍ بِيضٍ أَمَاجِدَ أَخْيارِ

إلى مَعْشَرٍ بِيضٍ أَمَاجِدَ أَخْيارِ

Toward a noble man who, when people trace their lineage, is linked

And excelling in merit, their garb ornamented

to a company of honorable, illustrious, virtuous men;

With the treasure of relics and store of mysteries

ومُضطَلِعٍ بالفضلِ زُرَّتْ قميصُهُ

ومُضطَلِعٍ بالفضلِ زُرَّتْ قميصُهُ

على كَنْزِ آثارٍ وعَيْبَةِ أسرارِ

على كَنْزِ آثارٍ وعَيْبَةِ أسرارِ

one who shoulders excellence, his shirt buttoned

Hailing the Prophet, the Chosen One, and his trustee

over a treasure of traditions and a repository of secrets.

Pillars that once leaned over a crumbling brink

سَمِيِّ النبيِّ المصطفَى وأمِينِهِ

سَمِيِّ النبيِّ المصطفَى وأمِينِهِ

دَعَائِمُ قد كانتْ على جُرُفٍ هَارِ

دَعَائِمُ قد كانتْ على جُرُفٍ هَارِ

Namesake of the chosen Prophet and his trusted one,

Through him upright again stood pillars

pillars that had stood upon a crumbling bank.

That once leaned over a crumbling brink

بِهِ قامَ بعد المَيلِ وانتَصَبَت بِهِ

بِهِ قامَ بعد المَيلِ وانتَصَبَت بِهِ

دعائِمُ قد كانت على جُرُفٍ هارِ

دعائِمُ قد كانت على جُرُفٍ هارِ

Through him it stood upright after leaning, and through him rose

So when my mounts halted at his door

pillars that had stood upon a crumbling bank.

No regret for far journeys clouded my mind

فلمّا أناختْ بي على بَابِ دَارِهِ

فلمّا أناختْ بي على بَابِ دَارِهِ

مَطَايايَ لم أَذْمُمْ مَغَبَّةَ أسْفَاري

مَطَايايَ لم أَذْمُمْ مَغَبَّةَ أسْفَاري

So when they knelt with me at the door of his house,

I alighted at his porticoed house, which is

my mounts, I did not rue the outcome of my journeys.

A circling-place for visitors and the Kaaba of pilgrims

نَزَلْتُ بِمغْشِيِّ الرواقينِ دارُهُ

نَزَلْتُ بِمغْشِيِّ الرواقينِ دارُهُ

مَثَابةُ طُوَّافٍ وكَعْبةُ زُوَّارِ

مَثَابةُ طُوَّافٍ وكَعْبةُ زُوَّارِ

I alighted with one whose twin porticoes are thronged; his house

Thus, when I arrived, my arrival with an eminent man

is a gathering place for those circling it, a Kaaba for visitors.

Was better than fine silk garments, though bare

فَكَانَ نُزُولي إذْ نزلتُ بمُغْدِفٍ

فَكَانَ نُزُولي إذْ نزلتُ بمُغْدِفٍ

على المجدِ فَضْلَ البُرْدِ عَارٍ من العَارِ

على المجدِ فَضْلَ البُرْدِ عَارٍ من العَارِ

So, when I alighted, I lodged with one who drapes

Despite misfortunes, he made my drink pleasant for me

over glory his mantle's ample folds, himself bare of shame.

And made sweet the draft of life for me after bitterness

أَسَاغَ على رغم الحوادثِ مَشْرَبي

أَسَاغَ على رغم الحوادثِ مَشْرَبي

وأَعذَبَ وِرْدَ العَيْشِ لي بعد إمْرَارِ

وأَعذَبَ وِرْدَ العَيْشِ لي بعد إمْرَارِ

Despite calamities, he made my drink easy to swallow

And saved me from the clutch of fate after it

and sweetened life's watering-place for me after bitterness.

Bared fangs to fall upon me, claw and grasp

وأنقذنِي من قَبْضَةِ الدهرِ بعدمَا

وأنقذنِي من قَبْضَةِ الدهرِ بعدمَا

أَلَحَّ بأَنيابٍ عَلَيَّ وأَظْفَارِ

أَلَحَّ بأَنيابٍ عَلَيَّ وأَظْفَارِ

And he rescued me from time's grip, after it

Though ignorant of the extent of my merit, none but he

had assailed me relentlessly with fangs and claws.

Among the tribe knew my worth

جُهِلْتُ على مَعْرُوفِ فَضْلِي فلم يكنْ

جُهِلْتُ على مَعْرُوفِ فَضْلِي فلم يكنْ

سِوَاهُ من الأقْوامِ يعرِفُ مِقدَاري

سِوَاهُ من الأقْوامِ يعرِفُ مِقدَاري

I was disregarded despite my acknowledged merit; there was

Indeed, I think not a handspan of earth remains

no one among the people but him who recognized my worth.

Which news of me has not reached under wraps

على أنّه لم يبقَ فيما أظنُّهُ

على أنّه لم يبقَ فيما أظنُّهُ

من الأَرضِ شِبْرٌ لم تُطبِّقْهُ أخباري

من الأَرضِ شِبْرٌ لم تُطبِّقْهُ أخباري

Yet there remained, as I believe, no

And no wonder - the Elixir is most famed

span of earth that news of me had not covered.

Yet still remains, through ignorance, behind veils

ولا غروَ فالإِكسيرُ أكبرُ شهرةً

ولا غروَ فالإِكسيرُ أكبرُ شهرةً

وما زالَ من جَهلٍ بهِ تحتَ أسْتَارِ

وما زالَ من جَهلٍ بهِ تحتَ أسْتَارِ

No wonder: the elixir is still more renowned,

When his palm was filled, he grieved not

yet it remains beneath veils through ignorance of it.

For a coin, if he gained it not, or a dinar

مَتَى بَلَّ بي كَفّاً فليسَ بآسِفٍ

مَتَى بَلَّ بي كَفّاً فليسَ بآسِفٍ

على دِرْهَمٍ إنْ لم ينلْهُ ودِينارِ

على دِرْهَمٍ إنْ لم ينلْهُ ودِينارِ

Whenever he moistens a palm with me, he feels no regret

O noble son, the Trustee praised them

over a dirham, should he fail to obtain it, or a dinar.

As none but the unprotesting hand would gainsay

فيا ابنَ الأُلى أثنى الوصيُّ عليهُمُ

فيا ابنَ الأُلى أثنى الوصيُّ عليهُمُ

بما ليسَ يثني وَجهُهُ يَدَ إنكارِ

بما ليسَ يثني وَجهُهُ يَدَ إنكارِ

O son of those whom the Legatee praised

With two traits, when not one of his comrades

with words whose face no hand of denial can turn aside,

Bared teeth for battle save those who fled headlong

بصِفِّينَ إذْ لم يُلْفِ من أوْلِيائِهِ

بصِفِّينَ إذْ لم يُلْفِ من أوْلِيائِهِ

وقد عَضَّ نَابٌ للوغَى غَيرَ فَرَّارِ

وقد عَضَّ نَابٌ للوغَى غَيرَ فَرَّارِ

at Siffin, when he found among his allies,

And they saw a battle-hungry jinn tribe rush

as battle's fang bit, none but a fugitive;

To death, faster than one fevered to the fire

وأبصرَ منهمْ جِنَّ حَرْبٍ تهافتُوا

وأبصرَ منهمْ جِنَّ حَرْبٍ تهافتُوا

على الموتِ إِسْراعَ الفَرَاشِ إلى النَّارِ

على الموتِ إِسْراعَ الفَرَاشِ إلى النَّارِ

and saw among them battle-jinn who hurled themselves

Hastening to the summoner of wars, deeming them

into death as swiftly as moths toward the fire.

The drink of life at the wellspring of life

سِرَاعاً إلى دَاعي الحُرُوبِ يرونَها

سِرَاعاً إلى دَاعي الحُرُوبِ يرونَها

على شِرْبِها الأعمارَ مَنْهَلَ أَعْمَارِ

على شِرْبِها الأعمارَ مَنْهَلَ أَعْمَارِ

Swift to answer the call of war, they saw it,

They stirred the gloom of the whites and relied on

despite its drinking up lives, as a watering-place of life.

Parting from a people who parted from probity, reprobates

أَطَارُوا غُمُودَ البِيضِ واتَّكَلُوا على

أَطَارُوا غُمُودَ البِيضِ واتَّكَلُوا على

مَفَارقَ قَومٍ فارقُوا الحقَّ فُجَّارِ

مَفَارقَ قَومٍ فارقُوا الحقَّ فُجَّارِ

They cast away their bright swords' sheaths and relied on

And couched when they frothed at the mouth, at the necks

the heads of wicked men who had forsaken truth.

Of the steeds, sacrificed to the butcher like slaughtered sheep

وأَرْسَوا وقد لاثُوا على الرُكَبِ الحُبَى

وأَرْسَوا وقد لاثُوا على الرُكَبِ الحُبَى

بُرُوكاً كَهَدْيٍ أبركُوهُ لجَزَّارِ

بُرُوكاً كَهَدْيٍ أبركُوهُ لجَزَّارِ

They held firm, wrapping knee-bands around their knees,

kneeling like a sacrificial beast made to kneel for a butcher.

Then he said, and his soul was pleased thereat

فقالَ وقد طابتْ هُنَالِكَ نفسُهُ

فقالَ وقد طابتْ هُنَالِكَ نفسُهُ

رِضىً وأَقَرُّوا عينَهُ أَيَّ إقْرَارِ

رِضىً وأَقَرُّوا عينَهُ أَيَّ إقْرَارِ

Then he spoke, his soul there filled

Content, and his eyes well pleased, what pleasure!

with contentment, and they had utterly delighted his eye:

"Had I been gatekeeper at the gates of Paradise

فلو كنتُ بَوَّاباً على بَابِ جَنَّةٍ

فلو كنتُ بَوَّاباً على بَابِ جَنَّةٍ

كما أَفْصَحَتْ عنهُ صَحِيحاتُ آثارِ

كما أَفْصَحَتْ عنهُ صَحِيحاتُ آثارِ

“Then, were I a gatekeeper at the gate of Paradise”—

As the valid sources have made plain

as authentic traditions clearly report of him.

I would have laden your back with kindness, nor ceased

لأَثْقَلْتَ ظَهْري بالصنيعِ فلم أكدْ

لأَثْقَلْتَ ظَهْري بالصنيعِ فلم أكدْ

أَنُوءُ بِأعباءٍ ثقُلْنَ وأَوقَارِ

أَنُوءُ بِأعباءٍ ثقُلْنَ وأَوقَارِ

You have indeed weighed down my back with kindness; I can scarcely

To stoop beneath burdens of gravity and honor

rise beneath heavy burdens and loads.

And tamed your mind after its sapling roared

وروّضْتَ فِكْري بعدما صَاحَ نبتُهُ

وروّضْتَ فِكْري بعدما صَاحَ نبتُهُ

بمُنْعَبِقٍ من مَاءِ فَضْلِكَ مِدْرَارِ

بمُنْعَبِقٍ من مَاءِ فَضْلِكَ مِدْرَارِ

You made my thought a garden after its growth had withered,

With an outpouring from the water of your overflowing merit

with a fragrant, copious flow of your bounty's water.

And tasked me to race behind you after you reached

وكَلَّفتَني جَرْياً وَرَاءَكَ بعدما

وكَلَّفتَني جَرْياً وَرَاءَكَ بعدما

بلغتَ مَكاناً دونَهُ يقفُ الجاري

بلغتَ مَكاناً دونَهُ يقفُ الجاري

And you charged me to run behind you after

A station none can attain with bounding flight

you had reached a place short of which the runner halts.

How can the short-striding vie in speed

فَجَشَّمتَنيها خُطَّةً لا يَنَالُها

فَجَشَّمتَنيها خُطَّةً لا يَنَالُها

توثُّبُ مُسْتَوفي الجَنَاحَينِ طَيَّارِ

توثُّبُ مُسْتَوفي الجَنَاحَينِ طَيَّارِ

Thus you burdened me with it—a feat unattainable

In every racecourse with the long of stride?

by the leap of a flier with both wings complete.

And obliged me to praise a man - had I praised him

وأَينَ مُجاراةُ الكُمَيْتِ مُجلِّياً

وأَينَ مُجاراةُ الكُمَيْتِ مُجلِّياً

تَناولَ شأوَ السبقِ في كلِّ مِضْمَارِ

تَناولَ شأوَ السبقِ في كلِّ مِضْمَارِ

And how can one match al-Kumayt, first at the finish,

With the poets' verse - let my poems go!

who has reached the winning goal in every racecourse?

I would fall short of matching what he deserves

وأَلْزمتَني مَدْحَ امرئٍ لو مدحتُهُ

وأَلْزمتَني مَدْحَ امرئٍ لو مدحتُهُ

بِشِعْرِ بني حَوَّاءَ دَعْ عنكَ أَشْعاري

بِشِعْرِ بني حَوَّاءَ دَعْ عنكَ أَشْعاري

You obliged me to praise a man whom, were I to praise

However little or much I say

with all the poetry of Eve's children—leave aside my own verses—

An imam guiding to truth, righteous, devout - when he claims descent

لَقصَّرْتُ عن إدراكِ ما يستحقُّهُ

لَقصَّرْتُ عن إدراكِ ما يستحقُّهُ

عُلاَهُ فَإقْلالي سَوَاءٌ وإكثاري

عُلاَهُ فَإقْلالي سَوَاءٌ وإكثاري

I would fall short of attaining what is deserved

From nobles of unsullied virtues, most pure

by his exalted rank; my little and my much are alike.

And righteous to the righteous; trace back his line,

إمَامُ هدًى بَرٌّ تَقِيٌّ إذَا انتمَى

إمَامُ هدًى بَرٌّ تَقِيٌّ إذَا انتمَى

إلى سَادَةٍ غُرِّ الشَّمائِلِ أَطْهَارِ

إلى سَادَةٍ غُرِّ الشَّمائِلِ أَطْهَارِ

An imam of guidance, righteous and devout, tracing his lineage

And none but the righteous engendered the righteous to Adam

to lords of radiant character, pure men.

Awaited - Allah has delayed his time

وبَرٌّ لِبَرٍّ لو نَسبتَ فَصَاعِداً

وبَرٌّ لِبَرٍّ لو نَسبتَ فَصَاعِداً

إلى آدمٍ لم ينمِهِ غَيرُ أَبْرَارِ

إلى آدمٍ لم ينمِهِ غَيرُ أَبْرَارِ

A righteous man born to a righteous man: if you trace him upward

For naught but the cause of right and proof

to Adam, none but righteous men fathered him.

In him is a resolve that can bend fate, a determination

ومُنْتَظَرٌ ما أَخَرَّ اللهُ وقتَهُ

ومُنْتَظَرٌ ما أَخَرَّ اللهُ وقتَهُ

لِشَيءٍ سِوَى إبرَازِ حَقٍّ وإظْهَارِ

لِشَيءٍ سِوَى إبرَازِ حَقٍّ وإظْهَارِ

And the awaited one: God has not deferred his time

That befriends the lamb and the fierce lion

for anything but bringing truth forth and making it manifest.

An anger the glooms have hidden, and he is to be summoned

له عزمةٌ تُثنِي القضَاءَ وهِمَّةٌ

له عزمةٌ تُثنِي القضَاءَ وهِمَّةٌ

تؤلِّفُ بينَ الشَّاةِ والأَسَدِ الضاري

تؤلِّفُ بينَ الشَّاةِ والأَسَدِ الضاري

His resolve bends destiny, and his aspiration

To avenge past scores and settle old accounts

brings together the ewe and the ravening lion.

O Abu'l Qasim arise, and relieve the bitterness

وعَضْبٌ أَغَبَّتْهُ الغُمودُ ويُنتَضى

وعَضْبٌ أَغَبَّتْهُ الغُمودُ ويُنتَضى

لإدراكِ ثَارَاتٍ سبقنَ وأَوْتَارِ

لإدراكِ ثَارَاتٍ سبقنَ وأَوْتَارِ

And a keen sword, left resting in its sheaths, to be unsheathed

Of a band, though every unbeliever is past its wrongs

to exact vengeance for past wrongs and blood-debts.

Why delay the purpose and goal, when our waiting

أبَا القاسمِ انهضْ واشفِ غلَّ عِصَابةٍ

أبَا القاسمِ انهضْ واشفِ غلَّ عِصَابةٍ

قضَى وَطَراً من ظُلمِها كلُّ كَفَّارِ

قضَى وَطَراً من ظُلمِها كلُّ كَفَّارِ

Abu al-Qasim, rise and heal the rancor of a band

Is for clouds that have shaded us, without rain?

every hardened unbeliever has satisfied his desire by oppressing.

The bloom of lovely patience is faded, giving notice

إلاَمَ وحَتَّامَ المنى وانتظارُنا

إلاَمَ وحَتَّامَ المنى وانتظارُنا

سَحَائبَ قد أظلَلْننا دُونَ أَمْطَارِ

سَحَائبَ قد أظلَلْننا دُونَ أَمْطَارِ

How long, until when, these hopes and our waiting

Of barrenness, for procrastination prolonged overlong

for clouds that have shaded us but brought no rain?

Lay open the sanctuary of oppression, inviolable -

ذَوَتْ نُضْرَةُ الصَّبْرِ الجميلِ وآذَنَتْ

ذَوَتْ نُضْرَةُ الصَّبْرِ الجميلِ وآذَنَتْ

بِيُبْسٍ لإمْهَالٍ تَمَادَى وأَنْظَارِ

بِيُبْسٍ لإمْهَالٍ تَمَادَى وأَنْظَارِ

The freshness of beautiful patience has withered and foretells

With a Thursday raid filling the earth, recurrent

dryness through protracted delay and deferment.

With it, all enfeebled in resolution will display

أَبِحْ حَرَمَ الجَوْرِ المَنِيعِ جَنابُهُ

أَبِحْ حَرَمَ الجَوْرِ المَنِيعِ جَنابُهُ

بجرِّ خَمِيسٍ يملأُ الأرضَ جَرَّارِ

بجرِّ خَمِيسٍ يملأُ الأرضَ جَرَّارِ

Storm the sanctuary of tyranny, whose precinct is impregnable,

To the Overbearing One's minions the awe of an Overpowering One

by marching a vast army that fills the earth.

When the lance is broken, the sword is bared, working

بهِ كلُّ مَسْجُورِ العَزِيمةِ مُظْهِرٌ

بهِ كلُّ مَسْجُورِ العَزِيمةِ مُظْهِرٌ

على حَشَيةِ الجَبَّارِ هَيْبَةَ جَبَّارِ

على حَشَيةِ الجَبَّارِ هَيْبَةَ جَبَّارِ

In it, every warrior whose resolve is aflame displays

Havoc among dusky slaves and fair-skinned villeins

in the tyrant's heart the awe of a mighty one.

I made you a promise of praise beyond measure, so let not

إذا حُطِمَ الرمحُ انتضَى السيفَ مُعْمِلاً

إذا حُطِمَ الرمحُ انتضَى السيفَ مُعْمِلاً

لأسمرَ عَسَّالٍ وأَبْيضَ بَتَّارِ

لأسمرَ عَسَّالٍ وأَبْيضَ بَتَّارِ

When the spear is shattered, he draws the sword, wielding

My recompense match the extent of my verse and my limit

a brown, quivering lance and a bright, cleaving blade.

Below you I place her, matchless among women

أَزرتُكَ مَنْزُورَ الثَّنَاءِ فلا يكنْ

أَزرتُكَ مَنْزُورَ الثَّنَاءِ فلا يكنْ

جَزَايَ على مقدارِ شِعْرِي ومِقْدَاري

جَزَايَ على مقدارِ شِعْرِي ومِقْدَاري

I have brought you scant praise, so let not

To any but you - the veils of my thoughts

my recompense be measured by my poetry and my worth.

And the All-Controller's salutations persist

وَدُونكَها عذراءَ لم تُجْلَ مثلُها

وَدُونكَها عذراءَ لم تُجْلَ مثلُها

على أحدٍ إلاَّكَ أَسْتَارُ أفكاري

على أحدٍ إلاَّكَ أَسْتَارُ أفكاري

Take her, a virgin whose like has never been unveiled

Reaching you through them night and day"

to anyone but you by the curtains of my thoughts.

ولا زَالَ تسليمُ المُهَيْمِنِ وَاصلاً

ولا زَالَ تسليمُ المُهَيْمِنِ وَاصلاً

إِليكَ بهِ سَيْراً عَشِيّاً وإِبْكَارِ

إِليكَ بهِ سَيْراً عَشِيّاً وإِبْكَارِ

And may the Guardian's salutation ever reach

you, journeying with it at evening and at daybreak.