أَوقَدتُ بَعدَ الهُدُوِّ ناراً

أَوقَدتُ بَعدَ الهُدُوِّ ناراً

لَها عَلى الطارِقينَ عَينُ

لَها عَلى الطارِقينَ عَينُ

After the stillness, I kindled a fire;

After the stillness, I kindled a fire.

it had an eye upon those who came by night.

It keeps an eye on those who come by night.

شَرارُها إِن عَلا نُضارٌ

شَرارُها إِن عَلا نُضارٌ

لَكِنَّهُ إِن هَوى لُجَينُ

لَكِنَّهُ إِن هَوى لُجَينُ

Its sparks, when they rose, were gold;

Its sparks, when they rise, are pure gold;

but when they fell, they were silver.

But when they fall, they are silver.

دَعَتهُم فَاِنثَنى إِلَيها

دَعَتهُم فَاِنثَنى إِلَيها

مُحِبُّهُم قُوَّةٌ وَأَينُ

مُحِبُّهُم قُوَّةٌ وَأَينُ

It called them—then toward it turned

It called them, and toward it turned

the one who loves them, in strength and weariness—

Their lover—strength and weariness—

إِلى كَريمِ الفِعالِ سَمحٍ

إِلى كَريمِ الفِعالِ سَمحٍ

عَطاؤُهُ لِلكَريمِ زَينُ

عَطاؤُهُ لِلكَريمِ زَينُ

to a man noble in deed, open-handed.

Toward a generous man of noble deeds.

His giving is an adornment to the noble.

His giving is an adornment to the noble.

يَقضي دُيونَ العُلا بِبَذلٍ

يَقضي دُيونَ العُلا بِبَذلٍ

إِذ لَيسَ يُقضى لَهُنَّ دَينُ

إِذ لَيسَ يُقضى لَهُنَّ دَينُ

He pays the debts of lofty virtues through largesse,

He pays the debts of lofty honor with bounty,

for no debt owed them is repaid.

Since no debt owed to those heights can be repaid.