أَطَيفٌ سَرى وَهناً مُتَيّما

أَطَيفٌ سَرى وَهناً مُتَيّما

أَمِ الرَوض بَكّاهُ الحيا فَتَبَسّما

أَمِ الرَوض بَكّاهُ الحيا فَتَبَسّما

Was it a phantom that journeyed by night, love-stricken in the dark?

Is it a love-stricken phantom passing late at night,

Or the garden, made to weep by rain, and so it smiled?

Or the meadow: rain wept over it, and it smiled?

أَنَفحَةُ وادي السِحر وافَت بِها الصَبا

أَنَفحَةُ وادي السِحر وافَت بِها الصَبا

سُحَيراً أَمِ المِسكُ الذَكيُّ تَنَسّما

سُحَيراً أَمِ المِسكُ الذَكيُّ تَنَسّما

Was it a breath from the Valley of Enchantment, borne by the east wind,

Is it a breath from the valley of magic, brought by the east wind

just before dawn—or fragrant musk exhaling its perfume?

Shortly before dawn, or fragrant musk exhaling its scent?

أَوردٌ جَنيٌّ أَم رِياضٌ أَريضَةٌ

أَوردٌ جَنيٌّ أَم رِياضٌ أَريضَةٌ

كَسَتها يَدُ الأَنواءِ وَشياً مُنَمنَما

كَسَتها يَدُ الأَنواءِ وَشياً مُنَمنَما

Are these freshly gathered roses, or luxuriant gardens

Are these freshly gathered roses, or lush meadows

clothed by the hand of the rain-clouds in finely figured brocade?

Clad by the hand of seasonal rains in finely patterned brocade?

أَزهرُ سَماءٍ أَم أَزاهِرُ رَوضَةٍ

أَزهرُ سَماءٍ أَم أَزاهِرُ رَوضَةٍ

سَقَتها غَوادي المُزنِ سَجلاً عَلى الظَما

سَقَتها غَوادي المُزنِ سَجلاً عَلى الظَما

Are they the flowers of a sky, or the blossoms of a meadow

Are these heaven's blossoms, or the flowers of a garden

watered in its thirst by morning rain-clouds pouring abundantly?

Watered in its thirst by the morning rainclouds' downpour?

فَأَغصانُها اللدنُ الرِشاقُ تَراقَصَت

فَأَغصانُها اللدنُ الرِشاقُ تَراقَصَت

لِطَيرٍ عَلى هاماتِها قَد تَرَنَّما

لِطَيرٍ عَلى هاماتِها قَد تَرَنَّما

Its supple, graceful branches began to dance

So its supple, slender boughs danced

for a bird perched upon their crowns, singing melodiously.

To a bird that sang upon their crowns.

أَمِ الشَمسُ في أَوجِ الكَمالِ مُنيرَةٌ

أَمِ الشَمسُ في أَوجِ الكَمالِ مُنيرَةٌ

أَمِ البَدرُ في أُفق السِيادَةِ قَد سَما

أَمِ البَدرُ في أُفق السِيادَةِ قَد سَما

Or is it the sun, shining at the zenith of perfection?

Or is it the sun, luminous at the zenith of perfection,

Or the full moon risen in the firmament of eminence?

Or the full moon, risen in the firmament of sovereignty?

أَبُشرى عَلى يَأسٍ أَوَعدٌ عَلى رَجا

أَبُشرى عَلى يَأسٍ أَوَعدٌ عَلى رَجا

فَلّلهِ ما أَحلى وَأَجلى وَأَكرَما

فَلّلهِ ما أَحلى وَأَجلى وَأَكرَما

Is it glad tidings after despair, or a promise amid hope?

Is it glad news amid despair, a promise amid hope?

By God, how sweet, how radiant, and how noble!

By God, how sweet, how radiant, how noble!

فَيا راكِباً إِمّا عرضت فَعُج إِلى

فَيا راكِباً إِمّا عرضت فَعُج إِلى

رُبا جِلَّقٍ لُقِّيتَ رُشداً مُيَمّما

رُبا جِلَّقٍ لُقِّيتَ رُشداً مُيَمّما

O rider, if you happen to pass that way, turn aside toward

So, rider, if you pass that way, turn toward

the hills of Damascus—may you be guided aright as you make for them.

The hills of Jilliq—may you find right guidance on your way.

وَعَرِّج بِواديها المُقَدَّسِ مُنشِداً

وَعَرِّج بِواديها المُقَدَّسِ مُنشِداً

فَيا حَبَّذا الوادي وَيا حَبَّذا الحِمى

فَيا حَبَّذا الوادي وَيا حَبَّذا الحِمى

Stop awhile in its sacred valley, proclaiming:

And turn aside into its sacred valley, chanting:

How lovely the valley! How lovely the sanctuary!

How lovely the valley, and how lovely the sanctuary!

لَقَد حَلَّ قُطر الشام نورُ هِدايَةٍ

لَقَد حَلَّ قُطر الشام نورُ هِدايَةٍ

يَفوقُ سَنا لألائِهِ البَدرَ في السَما

يَفوقُ سَنا لألائِهِ البَدرَ في السَما

For upon the land of Syria there has alighted a light of guidance

A light of guidance has indeed alighted in al-Sham,

whose gleaming radiance surpasses the full moon in the sky.

Its glittering radiance outshining the full moon in heaven.

وَأَصبَحَتِ الأَرجاءُ تُزهى مُنيرَةً

وَأَصبَحَتِ الأَرجاءُ تُزهى مُنيرَةً

وَغُصنُ الأَماني بِالمَسَرَّةِ قَد نَما

وَغُصنُ الأَماني بِالمَسَرَّةِ قَد نَما

The surrounding lands now glory in their illumination,

And every quarter now glories in radiance,

and the branch of hopes has grown through joy.

And the bough of hopes has grown in gladness.

أَما تَنظرُ الغَنّاءُ أَبدَت مَلابِساً

أَما تَنظرُ الغَنّاءُ أَبدَت مَلابِساً

مِنَ النُورِ وَشّاها الرَبيعُ وَسَهَّما

مِنَ النُورِ وَشّاها الرَبيعُ وَسَهَّما

Do you not behold the verdant land? It has displayed garments

Do you not see the verdant city displaying robes

of light, which spring adorned and richly patterned.

Of light, embroidered and striped by spring?

وَباكرها الوَسميُّ يَنثُر لُؤلُؤاً

وَباكرها الوَسميُّ يَنثُر لُؤلُؤاً

مِنَ الطَلّ في سلك البَهاءِ تَنظّما

مِنَ الطَلّ في سلك البَهاءِ تَنظّما

The season’s first rain came early to it, scattering pearls

And the first autumn rain visited her early, scattering pearls

of dew, strung upon the thread of splendor.

Of dew, strung on a thread of splendor.

وَغَنَّت بِدَوحِ النَيّرَبَينِ حَمائِمٌ

وَغَنَّت بِدَوحِ النَيّرَبَينِ حَمائِمٌ

فَجاوَبَها قَمريّ مُقري مَزمزَما

فَجاوَبَها قَمريّ مُقري مَزمزَما

Among the great trees of the two Nayrab gardens, doves sang,

And doves sang in the great trees of al-Nayrabayn,

and a ringdove answered them, reciting in a murmuring strain,

And a turtledove of Muqri answered them, warbling,

لِمَوطِئِ شَيخِ العَصرِ قاضي قُضاتِها

لِمَوطِئِ شَيخِ العَصرِ قاضي قُضاتِها

إِمامٌ لَدى أَعتابِهِ السَعدُ خَيّما

إِمامٌ لَدى أَعتابِهِ السَعدُ خَيّما

in honor of the tread of the age’s great shaykh, the chief of its judges—

At the arrival of the age's master, chief of her judges—

an imam at whose thresholds good fortune has pitched its tents:

An imam at whose thresholds good fortune has pitched its tent.

أَريبٌ مهيبٌ لَوذَعيٌّ مُهَذَّبٌ

أَريبٌ مهيبٌ لَوذَعيٌّ مُهَذَّبٌ

كَريمُ نَداه يُخجل الغَيثَ إِن هَمى

كَريمُ نَداه يُخجل الغَيثَ إِن هَمى

astute, awe-inspiring, keen-witted, refined;

Astute, awe-inspiring, quick-witted, refined,

a noble man whose bounty shames the rain-cloud when it pours;

Generous: his bounty shames the rain when it pours.

غَياثٌ لِمَلهوفٍ أَمانٌ لِخائِفٍ

غَياثٌ لِمَلهوفٍ أَمانٌ لِخائِفٍ

مَلاذٌ لِمَحزونٍ شَكا مُتَظَلِّما

مَلاذٌ لِمَحزونٍ شَكا مُتَظَلِّما

a deliverer of the distressed, a refuge for the fearful,

Relief for the distressed, safety for the fearful,

a haven for the sorrowful who comes complaining of wrong.

A refuge for the sorrowful who complains of injustice.

فَيا أَوحَد الدُنيا وَيا عالِماً غَدا

فَيا أَوحَد الدُنيا وَيا عالِماً غَدا

لَهُ الفَخرُ وَالشَيخُ الرَئيس مُسلِّما

لَهُ الفَخرُ وَالشَيخُ الرَئيس مُسلِّما

O peerless man of the world, O scholar before whom

So, O peerless one of the world, O scholar who now

glory—and the eminent chief himself—has yielded in submission;

Holds glory, with the Shaykh al-Ra'is acknowledging it!

وَيا سَيِّداً حازَ الفَضائل كُلَّها

وَيا سَيِّداً حازَ الفَضائل كُلَّها

فَلا عالِمٌ يَلقاهُ إِلّا وَأَحجَما

فَلا عالِمٌ يَلقاهُ إِلّا وَأَحجَما

O master who has gathered every virtue,

O lord who has gained every virtue,

whom no scholar meets without drawing back in awe;

No scholar meets him without drawing back.

وَمَن عَدلُهُ قَد شاعَ في كُلِّ مَوطِنٍ

وَمَن عَدلُهُ قَد شاعَ في كُلِّ مَوطِنٍ

فَأَنجَدَ في قُطر البِلاد وَأَتهَما

فَأَنجَدَ في قُطر البِلاد وَأَتهَما

O you whose justice has become renowned in every region,

And you whose justice has spread to every place,

reaching both the highlands and the lowlands throughout the land.

Reaching Najd and Tihama across the realm.

قَصَدتُ ذُرى عَلياكَ فَالدَهرُ قَد جَنى

قَصَدتُ ذُرى عَلياكَ فَالدَهرُ قَد جَنى

عَليّ وَما لي غَير بابِكَ مُنتَمى

عَليّ وَما لي غَير بابِكَ مُنتَمى

I have sought the summits of your lofty honor, for Time has wronged

I sought the heights of your eminence, for Time has wronged

me, and other than your door I have nowhere to turn.

Me, and I have no refuge but your door.

وَلي مُقلَةٌ قَرحى طَويلٌ سُهادُها

وَلي مُقلَةٌ قَرحى طَويلٌ سُهادُها

وَقَلبٌ بِنيرانِ القَطيعة أُضرِما

وَقَلبٌ بِنيرانِ القَطيعة أُضرِما

I have a wounded eye whose sleeplessness has lasted long,

And I have a sore eye, long kept from sleep,

and a heart set ablaze by the fires of estrangement.

And a heart set ablaze by the fires of separation.

لَعَلَّك يا مَولايَ تَرحمُ فاقَتي

لَعَلَّك يا مَولايَ تَرحمُ فاقَتي

وَتُنصِفُني مِن عَبدِكَ الدَهر بَعدَما

وَتُنصِفُني مِن عَبدِكَ الدَهر بَعدَما

Perhaps, my lord, you will pity my need

Perhaps, my lord, you will pity my poverty,

and grant me justice against your servant, Time, now that

And grant me redress against your servant, Time, after all this.

فَلي عالَةٌ رَبّي العَليمُ بِحالِهِم

فَلي عالَةٌ رَبّي العَليمُ بِحالِهِم

فُؤادي لَهُم أَضحى بِجَمرٍ يضرّما

فُؤادي لَهُم أَضحى بِجَمرٍ يضرّما

I have dependents—my Lord knows well their condition—

For I have dependents—my Lord knows their plight—

and for their sake my heart has become a blaze of glowing coals.

My heart, for their sake, now burns with glowing coals.

وَنَفسٌ تَرى أَنّ السُؤالَ مَذَلَّةٌ

وَنَفسٌ تَرى أَنّ السُؤالَ مَذَلَّةٌ

سِوى أَنَّها تَرجو نَداكَ تَكَرُّما

سِوى أَنَّها تَرجو نَداكَ تَكَرُّما

And I have a soul that regards asking as humiliation,

And I have a soul that regards begging as abasement,

save that it hopes for your bounty as an act of grace.

Yet hopes you will graciously bestow your bounty.

لِأَنَّكَ يا قسَّ الفَصاحَة حاتمٌ

لِأَنَّكَ يا قسَّ الفَصاحَة حاتمٌ

وَجُودُكَ يا بَحر المَكارِم قَد طَما

وَجُودُكَ يا بَحر المَكارِم قَد طَما

For in eloquence you are Quss, and in generosity Hatim,

For you, O Quss of eloquence, are a Hatim,

and your munificence, O sea of noble deeds, has overflowed.

And your generosity, O ocean of noble deeds, has overflowed.

عَسى جُودُكَ الفيَّاضُ يَأتي بِنِعمَةٍ

عَسى جُودُكَ الفيَّاضُ يَأتي بِنِعمَةٍ

تُرَوِّي بهِ وَلهانَ مِن أَلَمِ الظَما

تُرَوِّي بهِ وَلهانَ مِن أَلَمِ الظَما

May your abundant generosity bring a blessing

May your overflowing bounty bring a blessing

that quenches one distraught by the agony of thirst.

With which you give drink to one distraught by the pain of thirst.

بَقيتَ بَقاءَ النَيّرَينِ بِنِعمَةٍ

بَقيتَ بَقاءَ النَيّرَينِ بِنِعمَةٍ

مَدى الدَهرِ ما ناحَت مُطوَّقَةٌ وما

مَدى الدَهرِ ما ناحَت مُطوَّقَةٌ وما

May you endure as long as the two luminaries, blessed

May you endure in blessing as long as the two luminaries,

through all eternity, so long as a ring-necked dove coos, and so long as...

Throughout all time, as long as a collared dove laments, and as long as...