طيف ألم به وهننا فحياه — Al Staley

طيف ألمّ به وَهْنناً فحيَّاهُ

لما حباهُ برؤياه وزيَّاهُ

A phantom visited him late at night, and he greeted it;

for it had graced him with its vision and adorned him.

سَرى إليه فسرّى الهمّ عنه فما

اسرّه عند أسراه ومسراهُ

It came to him by night and dispelled his grief—how

glad he was at its night-coming and nightly journey!

إِعجبْ به كيف أني غَير محتشمٍ

ومن هداه وهَدّاه وأهداهُ

Marvel at it—how unreserved I am—

and at whoever guided it, led it, and gave it as a gift.

من بعد ما كان عنّ المستهامُ بهِ

حتى استهلَّت لما عاناه عَيناهُ

After the one infatuated with him had appeared,

his eyes streamed with tears for what he had endured.

ظبيٌ له من دلال إذ يغنّجه

وانّما الحسن جلاّه وأجْلاهُ

A gazelle, endowed with coquetry that makes him coy;

and beauty alone unveiled him and made him radiant.

أزوره وهوَ مُزورٌّ وأنصحهُ

ويستريب فأخشاه وأغشاهُ

I visit him while he turns away, and offer him sincere counsel;

yet he grows suspicious, so I fear him and approach him.

في كلّ يوم له إصرار ملحمةٍ

يُصلي بها من توَلاّه ووَالاهُ

Each day he persists in a battle,

with which he scorches whoever supports him and is loyal to him.

ورّجه حين مرَّ الظعن مستعراً

أزُجَّه وقَناه فيه أقْناهُ

And he shook him as the departing caravan passed, aflame [reading uncertain];

his spear-butts and spears within him enriched him [wording uncertain].

يَرعى القلوب ولا يرعى لعاشقه

فإن ألَبَّ بمغناهُ وأغناهُ

He grazes on hearts, yet shows no regard for his lover;

then if he lingers at his dwelling and enriches him—

وعد بي فيه لي لو أنهمْ نَظروا

وكيف نارٌ لما فاهوا بما فاهوا

a promise concerning me, about him, for me—if only they had looked [wording unclear];

and what a fire, when they uttered what they uttered!

فقلتُ لا تعذِلوني من تعصُّبهِ

يُودي المحبُّ وإن حيّاهُ أحياهُ

So I said, "Do not reproach me for his obstinacy:

the lover perishes, yet if he greets him, he revives him."

لو جاور الفَطِنُ التحرير حارَ له

أو لاحَ للصِّخر خلاه لَخَلاَّهُ

If the keen-witted man of refinement lived beside him, he would be bewildered by him;

or if his herbage appeared before rock, he would leave it bare [reading uncertain].

وكم تعرَّض للقلب المعذَّب من

مستعذَب الدلّ لولاهُ لوالاهُ

How many have approached the tormented heart—

ones of sweet coquetry; but for him, it would have loved that other.

يا صاحبي اهْدياني نحو مسرحهِ

فالقلبُ صَبٌّ لمرآه ومَرعاهُ

O my two companions, guide me toward his grazing ground;

for the heart is lovesick for his sight and his pasture.

وسائلاهُ بلطفٍ مَن أَباحَ لهُ

نقَض العهود وأنساه فأقساهُ

And gently ask him who permitted him

to break his pledges, made him forget, and thus hardened him.

واستْعطِفاه لمبتول الفُؤاد لقىً

عَساهُ يُنعِشُ ما تَحبوه حَوْباهُ

And beg his compassion for one brokenhearted, cast aside;

perhaps he will revive what his soul bestows on him.

وإن سَخت لي يَداهُ فاشكُرا يَدهُ

وإن سَطَت لي حَدَّاه فحُدَاهُ

And if his hands give freely to me, you two thank his hand;

and if his two edges strike at me, you two restrain him.

وكم إليه لجَا من دهره رَجلٌ

فعمّه الأمنُ إذ ألجاه ألجاهُ

How many a man has sought refuge with him from his times,

and safety enfolded him when, driven to refuge, he was sheltered.

وعاش يحيى أبو الفضل ابنُه وقي

محلَّه لتخطاه خَطايَاهُ

And may Yahya Abu al-Fadl, his son, live on; may protection be granted to

his station, so that his sins may pass him by.

مهذّب الراي والرَّايات منتدبٌ

لوفره كان من ناواه نَاءاهُ

Refined in judgment and banners, he is called upon

for his wealth; whoever opposed him would keep his distance.

هو النُّضار المُصفَّى سرُّ جوهرِه

والنَّاسُ من بعدُ أشباهٌ وأشباهُ

He is gold, refined to the core of his substance;

others, after him, are merely likeness upon likeness.

طَوْد أشمُّ فأمَّا حين تسأله

فما أرقَ محياه وأحياهُ

A lofty mountain; yet when you ask him,

how tender his countenance, and how modest he is!

يُعطيك عفوا ويَعفو إن هَفوت وإن

جشمته السّر أنساه وأنساهُ

He gives to you unasked and pardons you if you slip; and if

you burden him with a secret, he makes it forgotten—and forgotten again.

لا بالصّخور إذا طاف العُفاة كما

تعودت يُسر يُسراهُ أساراهُ

He is not rocklike when petitioners gather, as

his captives have grown accustomed to the bounty of his left hand.

توطّد الملك إذا وليّ أمانته

واستبشرت حسن مَرعاه رعاياه

Kingship stood firm when he assumed its trust,

and his subjects rejoiced in the goodness of his care.

وقام بالأمر إذ نيطت عُراه به

قيام مُضطلع أعداه أعِداهُ

He rose to the task when its bonds were fastened to him,

as a capable man whom his enemies aided.

وأعلن العدل حتى أمَّ منهجَه

وكان قدماً تعدّاه وعاداهُ

He proclaimed justice until one sought its path

who had formerly strayed from it and opposed it.

وجدّد الدّين حتى لاح معلمُه

لْلمُنشدين وَطّراه وأَطراهُ

He renewed the faith until its landmark shone forth

for reciters; he refreshed it and extolled it.

فالدّين والملك والإسلام قاطبة

رامون عن سعيه واللهِ واللهُ

Thus the faith, kingship, and Islam, all together,

are archers defending his efforts—by God, and God [ending unclear].

يا ابن الملوك استمع مدحاً أَتيت بهِ

لخادم لك انشاه ووشَّاهُ

O son of kings, listen to praise that I have brought,

by a servant of yours who composed and adorned it.

يُثني عليك وقد حفت لُهاك به

ثناء راضٍ بما أولاه مولاه

He praises you, your gifts having surrounded him,

with the praise of one content with what his master bestowed on him.

عليك مني بأخلاق مهذّبة

وفاح كالمسك ريّاه وريّاهُ

To you, from me, with refined manners—

and its fragrance and scent wafted like musk.

وكافة منك بالحُسنَى فمن جبر

الكافي المناصح واستكفاه كفاهُ

And kindness from you for all; whoever supports

the capable, sincere adviser and seeks his service will be well served by him.

ودم منيع الحمى مستمتعاً أَبداً

من النَّعيم باصفاه واصفاهُ

And remain with your domain secure, forever enjoying

the purest and clearest of bliss,

ما أَم وجهة بيت الله معتمر

يمحو بخطو مطاياه خطاياه

as long as an umrah pilgrim heads toward the House of God,

erasing his sins with the steps of his mounts.