حَفَّ كَأسَها الحَبَبُ

حَفَّ كَأسَها الحَبَبُ

فَهيَ فِضَّةٌ ذَهَبُ

فَهيَ فِضَّةٌ ذَهَبُ

Bubbles ring its cup;

The beloved polished his goblet,

so it is silver and gold.

So it became silver or gold,

أَو دَوائِرٌ دُرَرٌ

أَو دَوائِرٌ دُرَرٌ

مائِجٌ بِها لَبَبُ

مائِجٌ بِها لَبَبُ

Or circles of pearls,

Or a circlet of pearls,

a breast rippling with them;

With wine frothing in it,

أَو فَمُ الحَبيبِ جَلا

أَو فَمُ الحَبيبِ جَلا

عَن جُمانِهِ الشَنَبُ

عَن جُمانِهِ الشَنَبُ

or the beloved's mouth, revealing

Or the mouth of the darling unveiled,

its pearls through their cool lustre;

With the mustache above it curled,

أَو يَدٌ وَباطِنُها

أَو يَدٌ وَباطِنُها

عاطِلٌ وَمُختَضِبُ

عاطِلٌ وَمُختَضِبُ

or a hand, its palm

Or a hand whose palm

unadorned and henna-stained;

Is idle and reddened with henna,

أَو شَقيقُ وَجنَتِهِ

أَو شَقيقُ وَجنَتِهِ

حينَ لي بِهِ لَعِبُ

حينَ لي بِهِ لَعِبُ

or the anemone of his cheek,

Or a chamomile whose garden,

when I dally with him.

When I used to play in it as a child,

راحَةُ النُفوسِ وَهَل

راحَةُ النُفوسِ وَهَل

عِندَ راحَةٍ تَعَبُ

عِندَ راحَةٍ تَعَبُ

The comfort of souls—and is there

The solace of souls, though indeed

weariness where comfort lies?

Solace itself feels weary,

يا نَديمُ خِفَّ بِها

يا نَديمُ خِفَّ بِها

لا كَبا بِكَ الطَرَبُ

لا كَبا بِكَ الطَرَبُ

O drinking companion, be quick with it;

O boon companion walk gently with it,

may rapture never make you stumble.

Don’t let it confuse you,

لا تَقُل عَواقِبُها

لا تَقُل عَواقِبُها

فَالعَواقِبُ الأَدَبُ

فَالعَواقِبُ الأَدَبُ

Do not speak of its consequences:

Don’t speak of its consequences,

for its aftereffects are poetry.

For manners are the consequence.

تَنجَلي وَلي خُلُقٌ

تَنجَلي وَلي خُلُقٌ

يَنجَلي وَيَنسَكِبُ

يَنجَلي وَيَنسَكِبُ

It grows clear, and my disposition

It flows clear and my nature

grows clear and pours forth.

Flows clearly and overflows.

يَرقُبُ الرِفاقُ لَهُ

يَرقُبُ الرِفاقُ لَهُ

كُلَّما سَرى شَرِبوا

كُلَّما سَرى شَرِبوا

The companions watch for it;

The friends watch out for him

whenever it flows, they drink.

Whenever he went on a binge.

شاعِرُ العَزيزِ وَما

شاعِرُ العَزيزِ وَما

بِالقَليلِ ذا اللَقَبُ

بِالقَليلِ ذا اللَقَبُ

Poet to al-Aziz—and

The poet of the dear one, but what

this title is no small thing.

Titles has he with this little rhyme,

لَيلَةٌ لِسَيِّدِنا

لَيلَةٌ لِسَيِّدِنا

في الزَمانِ تُرتَقَبُ

في الزَمانِ تُرتَقَبُ

A night for our lord,

A night for our master

awaited through the ages.

Awaited in time,

دونَها الرَشيدُ وَما

دونَها الرَشيدُ وَما

أَخلَدَت لَهُ الكُتُبُ

أَخلَدَت لَهُ الكُتُبُ

Al-Rashid falls short of it, and so does

Immortalized by the scribe

what books have immortalized for him.

In the books he compiled,

يُهرَعُ النَزيلُ لَها

يُهرَعُ النَزيلُ لَها

وَالرَعِيَّةُ النُخَبُ

وَالرَعِيَّةُ النُخَبُ

The guest hastens to it,

The elite and the commons rushed to it,

and the choicest among the subjects.

So the palace became a pearl

فَالسَرايُ جَوهَرَةٌ

فَالسَرايُ جَوهَرَةٌ

لِلعُقولِ تَختَلِبُ

لِلعُقولِ تَختَلِبُ

For the palace is a jewel,

That captured men’s minds,

captivating minds;

Or a bouquet of flowers,

أَو كَباقَةِ زَهرا

أَو كَباقَةِ زَهرا

لِلعُيونِ تَأتَشِبُ

لِلعُيونِ تَأتَشِبُ

or like a bouquet of blossoms,

Tempting to the eyes.

densely intertwined before the eyes.

Majesty was its dome,

الجَلالُ قُبَّتُهُ

الجَلالُ قُبَّتُهُ

وَالسَنا لَهُ طُنُبُ

وَالسَنا لَهُ طُنُبُ

Majesty is its dome,

And its pinnacle a mast.

and radiance its tent-ropes.

Firm it stood, though its peak

ثابِتٌ وَذِروَتُهُ

ثابِتٌ وَذِروَتُهُ

في الفَضاءِ تَضطَرِبُ

في الفَضاءِ تَضطَرِبُ

It stands firm, while its summit

Swayed in the air aloft.

quivers in the open air.

Its oriels shone, and were

أَشرَقَت نَوافِذُهُ

أَشرَقَت نَوافِذُهُ

فَهيَ مَنظَرٌ عَجَبُ

فَهيَ مَنظَرٌ عَجَبُ

Its windows shine:

A wondrous spectacle.

they are a wondrous sight.

Its curtains and ceilings lit up,

وَاِستَنارَ رَفرَفُهُ

وَاِستَنارَ رَفرَفُهُ

وَالسُجوفُ وَالحُجُبُ

وَالسُجوفُ وَالحُجُبُ

Its canopy shines,

Amazing old and young.

and its curtains and veils.

Eyes marveled at it,

تَعجَبُ العُيونُ لَهُ

تَعجَبُ العُيونُ لَهُ

كَيفَ تَسكُنُ الشُهُبُ

كَيفَ تَسكُنُ الشُهُبُ

Eyes marvel at it:

Wondering how gray hairs felt young.

how can shooting stars stand still?

Morning suns without veils came to it,

أَقبَلَت شُموسُ ضُحىً

أَقبَلَت شُموسُ ضُحىً

ما لَهُنَّ مُنتَقَبُ

ما لَهُنَّ مُنتَقَبُ

Suns of morning approach,

Having no scheduled rising time.

with no face-veils upon them.

Darkness was their banner,

الظَلامُ رايَتُها

الظَلامُ رايَتُها

وَهيَ جَيشُهُ اللَجِبُ

وَهيَ جَيشُهُ اللَجِبُ

Darkness is their banner,

And their vast army the night,

and they are its clamorous army.

In howdahs hastily,

في هَوادِجٍ عَجَلاً

في هَوادِجٍ عَجَلاً

بِالجِيادِ تَنسَحِبُ

بِالجِيادِ تَنسَحِبُ

In howdahs, in haste,

The steeds pulled them tight,

they are drawn along by steeds.

Enticement stood before it,

قامَ دونَها سَبَبٌ

قامَ دونَها سَبَبٌ

وَاِستَحَثَّها سَبَبُ

وَاِستَحَثَّها سَبَبُ

A cause stands in their way,

And desire enticed it.

and a cause spurs them onward.

It would loiter then race off,

فَهيَ تارَةً مَهَلٌ

فَهيَ تارَةً مَهَلٌ

وَهيَ تارَةً خَبَبُ

وَهيَ تارَةً خَبَبُ

So at times they go slowly,

Capricious in every way.

and at times they trot.

It stormed them with a zeal

تَرتَمي بِهِنَّ حِمىً

تَرتَمي بِهِنَّ حِمىً

لا يَجوزُهُ رَغَبُ

لا يَجوزُهُ رَغَبُ

They rush with them to a sanctuary

Passion could not gainsay.

that no longing can surpass.

Its interior was a paradise,

بابُهُ لِداخِلِهِ

بابُهُ لِداخِلِهِ

جَنَّةٌ هِيَ الأَرَبُ

جَنَّةٌ هِيَ الأَرَبُ

Its gate, to the one entering,

The most blissful place.

is a paradise—the heart's desire.

The elite gathered there,

قامَتِ السَراةُ بِهِ

قامَتِ السَراةُ بِهِ

وَالمَعِيَّةُ النُجُبُ

وَالمَعِيَّةُ النُجُبُ

The dignitaries stand there,

And the finest company,

and the noble retinue.

The ladies vied for it,

وَاِنبَرى النِساءُ لَهُ

وَاِنبَرى النِساءُ لَهُ

عُجمُهُنَّ وَالعَرَبُ

عُجمُهُنَّ وَالعَرَبُ

And the women come forward to it,

Foreigners and Arabs,

non-Arab and Arab alike.

Chaste, beautiful and pedigreed.

العَفافُ زينَتُها

العَفافُ زينَتُها

وَالجَمالُ وَالحَسَبُ

وَالجَمالُ وَالحَسَبُ

Chastity is their adornment,

Their stars Capella and Aldebaran.

and beauty and noble lineage.

My lord, it has its own orbit,

أَنجُمٌ مَطالِعُها

أَنجُمٌ مَطالِعُها

عابِدينُ وَالرَحَبُ

عابِدينُ وَالرَحَبُ

Stars, whose rising places are

Revolving around it.

Abidin and the spacious courtyards.

Near the corner of his chamber,

سَيِّدي لَها فَلَكٌ

سَيِّدي لَها فَلَكٌ

وَهيَ مِنهُ تَقتَرِبُ

وَهيَ مِنهُ تَقتَرِبُ

My lord is their firmament,

His full moon rose for us.

and they draw near to him.

The throne was beautified by him,

عِندَ رُكنِ حُجرَتِهِ

عِندَ رُكنِ حُجرَتِهِ

بَدرُهُ لَنا كَثَبُ

بَدرُهُ لَنا كَثَبُ

At the corner of his chamber,

And the carpets and cushions.

his full moon is close to us.

Around his throne were foreigners,

يَزدَهي السَريرُ بِهِ

يَزدَهي السَريرُ بِهِ

وَالمَطارِفُ القُشُبُ

وَالمَطارِفُ القُشُبُ

The throne glories in him,

Around his throne were Arabs.

and the new, fine mantles.

The rank of ancestors was his,

حَولَ عَرشِهِ عَجَمٌ

حَولَ عَرشِهِ عَجَمٌ

حَولَ عَرشِهِ عَرَبُ

حَولَ عَرشِهِ عَرَبُ

Around his throne are non-Arabs;

Ranks were equalized through it.

around his throne are Arabs.

It was ennobled and lofty,

رُتبَةُ الجُدودِ لَهُ

رُتبَةُ الجُدودِ لَهُ

تَستَوي بِها الرُتَبُ

تَستَوي بِها الرُتَبُ

The rank of his forefathers is his;

Ancient and newly attained.

through it all ranks attain their fullness.

There lions lounged,

شُرِّفَت بِهِ وَسَما

شُرِّفَت بِهِ وَسَما

تالِدٌ وَمُكتَسَبُ

تالِدٌ وَمُكتَسَبُ

It is ennobled by him, and exalted are

And gazelles gently grazed.

both inherited and acquired glory.

Silk was their dress,

اللُيوثُ ماثِلَةٌ

اللُيوثُ ماثِلَةٌ

وَالظِباءُ تَنسَرِبُ

وَالظِباءُ تَنسَرِبُ

The lions stand in attendance,

And satin and gold their taste.

and the gazelles glide about.

Palaces were their dancing stage,

الحَريرُ مَلبَسُها

الحَريرُ مَلبَسُها

وَاللُجَينُ وَالذَهَبُ

وَاللُجَينُ وَالذَهَبُ

Silk is their clothing,

Not shifting sands and grass.

and silver and gold.

Music enraptured them,

وَالقُصورُ مَسرَحُها

وَالقُصورُ مَسرَحُها

لا الرِمالُ وَالعُشُبُ

لا الرِمالُ وَالعُشُبُ

Palaces are their roaming grounds,

Not echo or beating of drums,

not sands and grasses.

The dancer was recalled at times,

يَستَفِزُّها نَغَمٌ

يَستَفِزُّها نَغَمٌ

لا صَدىً وَلا لَجَبُ

لا صَدىً وَلا لَجَبُ

A melody stirs them,

At others left aside,

not an echo, nor a clamour.

So the creamy cheeks showed,

يُستَعادُ مُرقِصُهُ

يُستَعادُ مُرقِصُهُ

تارَةً وَيُقتَضَبُ

تارَةً وَيُقتَضَبُ

Its dance-inducing strain is repeated

Though they still shied.

at times, and at others cut short.

The necklace flirted with them,

فَالقُدودُ بانُ رُبىً

فَالقُدودُ بانُ رُبىً

بَيدَ أَنَّها تَثِبُ

بَيدَ أَنَّها تَثِبُ

Their figures are ban trees of the hills,

Caring and humpbacked.

except that they leap.

One moment they were aloof,

يَلعَبُ العِناقُ بِها

يَلعَبُ العِناقُ بِها

وَهوَ مُشفِقٌ حَدِبُ

وَهوَ مُشفِقٌ حَدِبُ

The embrace plays with them,

The next affectionate and attached,

and it is solicitous and tender.

Accompanying each other as a match.

فَهيَ مَرَّةً صُعُدٌ

فَهيَ مَرَّةً صُعُدٌ

وَهيَ مَرَّةً صَبَبُ

وَهيَ مَرَّةً صَبَبُ

At one moment they ascend,

As branches come together,

and at another they descend.

Or rods in a thatch.

وَهيَ هَهُنا وَهُنا

وَهيَ هَهُنا وَهُنا

تَلتَقي وَتَصطَحِبُ

تَلتَقي وَتَصطَحِبُ

And they are here and there,

Heads tilting in bosoms,

meeting and moving together,

Hiding in close touch.

مِثلَما اِلتَقَت أَسَلٌ

مِثلَما اِلتَقَت أَسَلٌ

أَو تَعانَقَت قُضُبُ

أَو تَعانَقَت قُضُبُ

as spear-shafts meet,

Necks erect and proud,

or branches embrace.

With beauty spots adorned.

الرُؤوسُ مائِلَةٌ

الرُؤوسُ مائِلَةٌ

في الصُدورِ تَحتَجِبُ

في الصُدورِ تَحتَجِبُ

Heads incline,

Breasts plump and apple-like,

hiding against chests.

Cheeks glowing and warmed.

وَالنُحورُ قائِمَةٌ

وَالنُحورُ قائِمَةٌ

قاعِدٌ بِها الوَصَبُ

قاعِدٌ بِها الوَصَبُ

And throats stand upright;

Waists bending and weak,

weariness sits upon them.

Drawn by their heavy form.

وَالنُهودُ هامِدَةٌ

وَالنُهودُ هامِدَةٌ

وَالخُدودُ تَلتَهِبُ

وَالخُدودُ تَلتَهِبُ

And breasts lie still,

Hands smooth as branches

while cheeks blaze.

Of a looted sycamore.

وَالخُصورُ واهِيَةٌ

وَالخُصورُ واهِيَةٌ

بِالبَنانِ تَنجَذِبُ

بِالبَنانِ تَنجَذِبُ

And waists are yielding,

The wine circle with none

drawn by fingertips.

Holding the center or hub.

سالَتِ الأَكُفُّ بِها

سالَتِ الأَكُفُّ بِها

فَهيَ أَغصُنٌ نُهَبُ

فَهيَ أَغصُنٌ نُهَبُ

Hands flow over them,

For guests a table

so they are branches taken as spoil.

On which to lean and snub.

الخَوانُ دائِرَةٌ

الخَوانُ دائِرَةٌ

المَلا لَها قُطُبُ

المَلا لَها قُطُبُ

The banquet table forms a circle;

And the dishes presenting

the gathering is its pivot.

Whatever they might desire.

لِلوُفودِ مائِدَةٌ

لِلوُفودِ مائِدَةٌ

مِنهُ أَينَما اِنقَلَبوا

مِنهُ أَينَما اِنقَلَبوا

For the delegations there is a meal

A path to it always

from it, wherever they turn.

Open and branching spider-like.

وَالطَريقُ مُتَّصِلٌ

وَالطَريقُ مُتَّصِلٌ

نَحوَهُ وَمُنشَعِبُ

نَحوَهُ وَمُنشَعِبُ

And the way runs unbroken

The food before them

toward it, and branches out.

Abundant and on tap.

وَالطَعامُ حاضِرُهُ

وَالطَعامُ حاضِرُهُ

وَالمَزيدُ مُنتَهَبُ

وَالمَزيدُ مُنتَهَبُ

And food is present there,

Cool and wondrous

and extra helpings are snatched up.

Craved and sought.

بارِدٌ وَمِن عَجَبٍ

بارِدٌ وَمِن عَجَبٍ

يُشتَهى وَيُطَّلَبُ

يُشتَهى وَيُطَّلَبُ

Cold, and, strangely enough,

Sweet for the glutton

it is desired and sought.

Sweet even for the sated.

سائِغٌ لِذي سَغَبٍ

سائِغٌ لِذي سَغَبٍ

سائِغٌ وَلا سَغَبُ

سائِغٌ وَلا سَغَبُ

Palatable to the hungry,

Ready for one who asks,

palatable even without hunger.

Ready even uninvited.

حاضِرٌ لَدى طَلَبٍ

حاضِرٌ لَدى طَلَبٍ

حاضِرٌ وَلا طَلَبُ

حاضِرٌ وَلا طَلَبُ

Ready when requested,

And the wine cups which

ready even unrequested.

Never emptied or failed.

وَالمُدامُ أَكؤُسُها

وَالمُدامُ أَكؤُسُها

ما تَغيضُ وَالعُلَبُ

ما تَغيضُ وَالعُلَبُ

And the wine—its cups

Amongst us contraband,

never run dry, nor do its vessels.

Yet decrees against it failed.

وَهيَ بَينَنا سَلَبٌ

وَهيَ بَينَنا سَلَبٌ

وَالنُهى لَها سَلَبُ

وَالنُهى لَها سَلَبُ

It is plunder among us,

Its pomade anointed

and reason is its plunder.

As the grape on the vine ripened.

شَرُفَت مَنافِحُها

شَرُفَت مَنافِحُها

وَاِعتَلى بِها العِنَبُ

وَاِعتَلى بِها العِنَبُ

Its fragrant wafts are ennobled,

Around it creatures barely

and through it the grape is exalted.

Quenched their thirst no matter how they tried.

حَولَها الحَوائِمُ ما

حَولَها الحَوائِمُ ما

يَنقَضي لَها قَرَبُ

يَنقَضي لَها قَرَبُ

The circling ones surround it; never

Happy in a sanctuary

does their approach to it end.

Safe from doubt or deception.

يَغتَبِطنَ في حَرَمٍ

يَغتَبِطنَ في حَرَمٍ

لا تَنالُهُ الرِيَبُ

لا تَنالُهُ الرِيَبُ

They rejoice in a sanctuary

Nothing there except discourse

that suspicions cannot touch.

Was wanted or attractive.

ما سِوى الحَديثِ بِهِ

ما سِوى الحَديثِ بِهِ

يُبتَغى وَيُجتَذَبُ

يُبتَغى وَيُجتَذَبُ

Nothing but conversation there

Thus the generous were generous

is sought and drawn forth.

Even if they grew merry and high.

هَكَذا الكِرامُ كِرا

هَكَذا الكِرامُ كِرا

مٌ وَإِن هُموا طَرَبوا

مٌ وَإِن هُموا طَرَبوا

Thus the noble remain no-

A night that rose and towered,

-ble, even when they revel.

Would that dawn called it a lie!

لَيلَةٌ عَلَت وَغَلَت

لَيلَةٌ عَلَت وَغَلَت

لَيتَ فَجرَها كَذِبُ

لَيتَ فَجرَها كَذِبُ

A night exalted and precious;

The prince guarantees us

would that its dawn were a lie!

That eras will repeat it.

يَكفُلُ الأَميرُ لَنا

يَكفُلُ الأَميرُ لَنا

أَن تَعيدَها الحِقَبُ

أَن تَعيدَها الحِقَبُ

The prince guarantees us

Long live a king for pleasure -

that the ages will bring it back.

Our master and father alike!

عاشَ لِلنَدى مَلِكٌ

عاشَ لِلنَدى مَلِكٌ

سَيِّدٌ لَنا وَأَبُ

سَيِّدٌ لَنا وَأَبُ

Long live a king devoted to bounty,

The peer of monarchs when

our lord and father.

Generosity feels confined or slight.

حاتِمُ المُلوكِ إِذا

حاتِمُ المُلوكِ إِذا

ضاقَ بِالنَدى النَشَبُ

ضاقَ بِالنَدى النَشَبُ

The Hatim of kings, when

Joy his comfort,

wealth proves too scant for generosity.

Grace his gift,

السُرورُ أَنعُمُهُ

السُرورُ أَنعُمُهُ

وَالهَناءُ ما يَهَبُ

وَالهَناءُ ما يَهَبُ

Joy is his bounty,

Conviviality his nature,

and happiness what he bestows.

And affection his appetite.

وَالنَدى سَجِيَّتُهُ

وَالنَدى سَجِيَّتُهُ

وَالحَنانُ وَالحَدَبُ

وَالحَنانُ وَالحَدَبُ

Generosity is his nature,

My dear, long may

and affection and tender care.

The garden of your glory thrive.

يا عَزيزُ دامَ لَنا

يا عَزيزُ دامَ لَنا

رَوضُ عِزِّكَ الأَشِبُ

رَوضُ عِزِّكَ الأَشِبُ

O Aziz, may there endure for us

This bride of refined entertainment

the lush garden of your glory.

Seeks acceptance and desires to arrive.

هَذِهِ عَروسُ نُهىً

هَذِهِ عَروسُ نُهىً

في القُبولِ تَرتَغِبُ

في القُبولِ تَرتَغِبُ

This is a bride of intellect,

Your poet of zeal and devotion

yearning for acceptance.

Has marched her to you, alive.

زَفَّها لَكُم وَجلا

زَفَّها لَكُم وَجلا

شاعِرُ الحِمى الأَرِبُ

شاعِرُ الحِمى الأَرِبُ

To you she was led as a bride and unveiled

The gathering has honored her,

by the discerning poet of the sanctuary.

And the absentee recognized her worth.

اِحتَفى الحُضورُ بِها

اِحتَفى الحُضورُ بِها

وَاِكتَفى بِها الغَيَبُ

وَاِكتَفى بِها الغَيَبُ

Those present welcomed her warmly,

You are our protecting shades,

and those absent were content with her.

And fertile oases.

أَنتُمُ الظِلالُ لَنا

أَنتُمُ الظِلالُ لَنا

وَالمَنازِلُ الخُصُبُ

وَالمَنازِلُ الخُصُبُ

You are our shade,

If my life praised you

and our fertile homes.

It could not fully pay what it owes.

لَو مَدَحتُكُم زَمَني

لَو مَدَحتُكُم زَمَني

لَم أَقُم بِما يَجِبُ

لَم أَقُم بِما يَجِبُ

Were I to praise you all my life,

I would not fulfill what is due.