اللَيل حَيث حَلَلنَ فيهِ نَهارُ

اللَيل حَيث حَلَلنَ فيهِ نَهارُ

فلذا اللَيالي وصلهنَّ قِصارُ

فلذا اللَيالي وصلهنَّ قِصارُ

Night is day wherever they alight;

The night where day infiltrated

And so the nights of union with them are short.

So the nights were shortened

يا صاحِ أَبصر في السَرابِ ضَعائِنا

يا صاحِ أَبصر في السَرابِ ضَعائِنا

كالدُرِّ يَطفو فَوقَهُ التَيّارُ

كالدُرِّ يَطفو فَوقَهُ التَيّارُ

O friend, behold in the mirage the women in their litters,

O companion, see in the mirage our prey

Like pearls over which the current floats.

Like pearls floating atop the current

تَقِف العُيون إِذا وَقفن وَأَينَما

تَقِف العُيون إِذا وَقفن وَأَينَما

دارَت بِهِنَّ العيس فَهيَ تُدارُ

دارَت بِهِنَّ العيس فَهيَ تُدارُ

Eyes halt when they halt, and wherever

The eyes stop when they stop, and wherever

The pale camels turn with them, the eyes are turned.

The rein turned them, they turn

أَرَأَيتَ مِن عنّفت فيهِ فَقالَ لي

أَرَأَيتَ مِن عنّفت فيهِ فَقالَ لي

أَما الوجوهُ فَإِنَّها أَقمارُ

أَما الوجوهُ فَإِنَّها أَقمارُ

Have you seen the one I reproached for it, who said to me:

Have you seen one I reproached, so he said to me

“As for the faces, they are moons”?

“Surely the faces are moons”

فاسفح بِنَجدٍ ماء عينك إِنَّما

فاسفح بِنَجدٍ ماء عينك إِنَّما

لِلعامِرِيَّة كل نَجدٍ دارُ

لِلعامِرِيَّة كل نَجدٍ دارُ

Shed the water of your eye in Najd; indeed,

So pour from your spring what water your eye has

All Najd is home to the ʿAmiri woman.

For every spring in Najd has a house

وَلَها بِهِ مِن كل ماء مَشرَبٍ

وَلَها بِهِ مِن كل ماء مَشرَبٍ

وَبِكُلِّ مَسقَطِ مزنةٍ آثارُ

وَبِكُلِّ مَسقَطِ مزنةٍ آثارُ

There she has a drinking-place at every water,

And for it through every drink of water

And traces wherever a rain-cloud sheds its rain.

And in every place of descent, traces

قَومٌ إِذا ما المُزن طَنَّب طَنَّبوا

قَومٌ إِذا ما المُزن طَنَّب طَنَّبوا

أَو سارَ نَحوَ دِيار قَومٍ ساروا

أَو سارَ نَحوَ دِيار قَومٍ ساروا

A people who pitch their tents when the clouds pitch theirs,

A people, if the tambourines sounded, they sounded

Or travel when the clouds travel toward a people's dwellings.

Or if it marched to the abode of a people, they marched

فتوقَّ أَعين عامِر وَسُيوفها

فتوقَّ أَعين عامِر وَسُيوفها

كُلٌّ وَجدّك صارِم بَتّارُ

كُلٌّ وَجدّك صارِم بَتّارُ

Beware the eyes of ʿAmir and their swords:

So the eyes of 'Amir and its swords awoke

Each, by your fortune, is a keen, cleaving blade.

Each, your ferocious, cutting blade

إِيّاك إِيّاكَ العُيون فَإِنَّها

إِيّاك إِيّاكَ العُيون فَإِنَّها

قَضُبٌ وَأَشفار الجُفونِ شفارُ

قَضُبٌ وَأَشفار الجُفونِ شفارُ

Beware, beware the eyes, for they

Beware, beware of the eyes, for they

Are swords, and the lashes of the lids are cutting edges.

Are canes, and the eyelids' edges blades

لَم أَدرِ إِذ وَدَّعنَني أَمُقبِّل

لَم أَدرِ إِذ وَدَّعنَني أَمُقبِّل

لِحَلاوَة في الريق أَم مُشتارُ

لِحَلاوَة في الريق أَم مُشتارُ

When they bade me farewell, I knew not whether I was kissing

I did not know, when he bade me farewell, was he kissing

For the sweetness of their saliva, or gathering honey.

For sweetness of saliva, or chewing

أَلبَسنَني سِربال ضَمٍّ ما لَهُ

أَلبَسنَني سِربال ضَمٍّ ما لَهُ

إِلّا رُؤوسَ نُهودِها إِزرارُ

إِلّا رُؤوسَ نُهودِها إِزرارُ

They clothed me in a robe of embrace that had

It dressed me in a gown of intimacy, having

No buttons but the tips of her breasts.

Nothing but the tips of its breasts as trim

أَجني الرِضابُ مِنَ الغُصونِ وَحَبَّذا

أَجني الرِضابُ مِنَ الغُصونِ وَحَبَّذا

تِلكَ الغُصونُ وَحَبَّذا الأَثمارُ

تِلكَ الغُصونُ وَحَبَّذا الأَثمارُ

I gather sweet saliva from the boughs—how lovely

I pick fruits from the branches, and excellent

Those boughs, and how lovely the fruits!

Are those branches, excellent the fruits

في رَوضَةٍ جمَعَت لمرتاد الصَبا

في رَوضَةٍ جمَعَت لمرتاد الصَبا

مَرأىً يُحِلُّ لِمِثلِهِ وَيُسارُ

مَرأىً يُحِلُّ لِمِثلِهِ وَيُسارُ

In a garden that gathered, for one seeking the east breeze,

In a garden it gathered for the frequenter of youth

A sight for whose like one alights and journeys.

A view fitting for its like and amenable

بوجوهن ووشيهن وَنَورِها

بوجوهن ووشيهن وَنَورِها

إِنَّ الثَلاثة عِندَك النَوارُ

إِنَّ الثَلاثة عِندَك النَوارُ

With their faces, their brocade, and its blossoms—

With their faces, cheeks, and light

All three, to your eyes, are flowers.

The three for you are illuminators

إِن أَظلمت قطع الرِياض أَضالَها

إِن أَظلمت قطع الرِياض أَضالَها

نُوّارِها فَكَأَنَّها الأَنوارُ

نُوّارِها فَكَأَنَّها الأَنوارُ

If patches of the gardens darken, [apparently, they are lit by]

If the gardens' lights misguided it in darkness

Their blossoms, as though they were lights.

It is as if they are the illuminators

وَتَمازَجَت حَتّى كَأَنَّ قطينها

وَتَمازَجَت حَتّى كَأَنَّ قطينها

مِمّا تَضَمَّنَ نَبت أَرضٍ قارُ

مِمّا تَضَمَّنَ نَبت أَرضٍ قارُ

They mingled until its dwellers seemed

And they mingled until it was as if their origin

Part of what it held—plants rooted in the earth.

Was from what an established land's vegetation comprised

مِن كُلِّ بَدرٍ يَستَسِرُّ زَمانه

مِن كُلِّ بَدرٍ يَستَسِرُّ زَمانه

وَلِكُلِّ بَدرٍ مَطلَعٌ وَسِرارُ

وَلِكُلِّ بَدرٍ مَطلَعٌ وَسِرارُ

Each a full moon whose age is hidden;

From every full moon hiding its time

Every full moon has a rising and a dark phase.

Each full moon has a rise and decline

لا يُرتَجى درك لِثاري عِندَهُ

لا يُرتَجى درك لِثاري عِندَهُ

جَرح الحَداثَة وَالمهاة جَبارُ

جَرح الحَداثَة وَالمهاة جَبارُ

From him, no requital for my blood can be hoped for:

Vengeance for my wounds is not hoped for from him

Wounds dealt by youth and the oryx go uncompensated.

The wound of passion and deadly infatuation, formidable

في طَرفِها يَقضي غرار من كَرىً

في طَرفِها يَقضي غرار من كَرىً

وَلِكُلِّ ماضي الشَفرَتَين غرارُ

وَلِكُلِّ ماضي الشَفرَتَين غرارُ

In her gaze, a brief doze holds sway,

In its glance settles the stirring of worries

And every keen, double-edged blade has a cutting edge.

And for every past, the two lids have stirring

أَرَأَيتَ طَرفِكَ ناشِب أَم سائِف

أَرَأَيتَ طَرفِكَ ناشِب أَم سائِف

أَم نافِث لِلسِحرِ أَم خَمّارُ

أَم نافِث لِلسِحرِ أَم خَمّارُ

Tell me, is your gaze an archer or a swordsman,

Have you seen your glance, fixated or roving

A blower of spells, or a wine-seller?

Or emitting sorcery, or winking

قَد كُنتَ أَعذَل في الهَوى قِدَماً وَقَد

قَد كُنتَ أَعذَل في الهَوى قِدَماً وَقَد

يُرمى الطَبيبُ بِغَيرِ ما يُختارُ

يُرمى الطَبيبُ بِغَيرِ ما يُختارُ

Long ago I used to rebuke others for love, yet

You had been most helpless in love before

A physician may be struck by what he would not choose.

And the doctor is blamed without choosing

خُضتُ الأُمورَ وَعمتُ في غَمراتِها

خُضتُ الأُمورَ وَعمتُ في غَمراتِها

وَمِنَ الأُمورِ مَخائِض وَغمارُ

وَمِنَ الأُمورِ مَخائِض وَغمارُ

I waded through affairs and swam in their depths;

I waded into the matters and plunged into its depths

Some affairs are fords, and some deep waters.

And some matters give birth and some are murky

فَرَأَيت دَهري قَد يُضيء وَلَيسَ مِن

فَرَأَيت دَهري قَد يُضيء وَلَيسَ مِن

شأن الزَمان الضوء وَالأَسفارُ

شأن الزَمان الضوء وَالأَسفارُ

I found my age could shine, though it is not

So I saw my lifetime illuminating and not from

Time's nature to bring light and daybreak.

The nature of time, illumination and revelation

ما عذره أَلّا يُضيءَ وَفضله

ما عذره أَلّا يُضيءَ وَفضله

عُقدٌ عَلى جيد الزَمانِ مُدارُ

عُقدٌ عَلى جيد الزَمانِ مُدارُ

What excuse has it not to shine, when his excellence

It does not apologize for not illuminating, but its superiority

Is a necklace circling the neck of time?

Is a necklace around the lifetime's neck, revolving

وَصَحوتُ مِن سكر الصِبا وَلَرُبَّما

وَصَحوتُ مِن سكر الصِبا وَلَرُبَّما

يَعتادَني في الحين مِنهُ خُمارُ

يَعتادَني في الحين مِنهُ خُمارُ

I sobered from youth's intoxication, though sometimes

And I awoke from the intoxication of youth, and perhaps

A hangover from it returns to me.

Its tipsiness would accustom me presently

وَحصرتُ نَفسي بالعفاف عَن الَّتي

وَحصرتُ نَفسي بالعفاف عَن الَّتي

تصم الكَريم وَفي العفاف حِصارُ

تصم الكَريم وَفي العفاف حِصارُ

I fenced my soul with chastity against that which

And I restricted myself to chastity from her

Stains the noble; chastity itself is a fortress.

Who clothes the generous, and in chastity, siege

فَظفرت مِن كف المُظَفَّرِ بِالمُنى

فَظفرت مِن كف المُظَفَّرِ بِالمُنى

إِذ ساعدت بِلِقائِهِ الأَقدارُ

إِذ ساعدت بِلِقائِهِ الأَقدارُ

From al-Muzaffar's hand I gained my wishes,

So I won from the hand of the victorious the wish

When fate favored my meeting him.

When the destinies helped meet it

ملك له مِنَنٌ تَمَلَّكَني بِها

ملك له مِنَنٌ تَمَلَّكَني بِها

وَبِمِثلِها يُتَمَلَّكُ الأَحرارُ

وَبِمِثلِها يُتَمَلَّكُ الأَحرارُ

A king whose favors have made me his own;

A king who possessed favors that possessed me

By such favors are free men won.

And with its like the noble are possessed

أَضحى مقراً لِلضيوفِ وَمالُهُ

أَضحى مقراً لِلضيوفِ وَمالُهُ

ضَيف فَلَيسَ لَهُ لديهِ قَرارُ

ضَيف فَلَيسَ لَهُ لديهِ قَرارُ

He has become a home for guests, while his wealth

It became a place for guests while its money

Is a guest that finds no lasting abode with him.

Was a guest, so it has no stability with it

ينبيك عَنه وَلَو تَنَكَّرَ بشره

ينبيك عَنه وَلَو تَنَكَّرَ بشره

إِنَّ البَشاشَةَ لِلكَريمِ شِعارُ

إِنَّ البَشاشَةَ لِلكَريمِ شِعارُ

His cheerful face tells you who he is, even in disguise;

Its cheerfulness indicates it even if its skin disguises

For graciousness is the noble man's badge.

For cheer is the mark of the generous

في قَلبِهِ عَن كُلِّ سوءٍ زاجِرٌ

في قَلبِهِ عَن كُلِّ سوءٍ زاجِرٌ

وَبِفِعلِ كُلِّ فَضيلة أَضرارُ

وَبِفِعلِ كُلِّ فَضيلة أَضرارُ

In his heart is a restraint against every evil,

In his heart preventing any evil

And persistence in practicing every virtue [reading uncertain].

And in doing every virtue, harmful

مَغرىً بإحياء النَدى فيميته

مَغرىً بإحياء النَدى فيميته

إِنَّ الأَمانَةَ لِلنَّدى إِنشارُ

إِنَّ الأَمانَةَ لِلنَّدى إِنشارُ

Intent on reviving generosity, he kills it;

Tempting to revive moistness and killing it

For faithfulness toward generosity is resurrection.

For loyalty is to moistness, betrayal

صَلى اللَهُ فَإِنَّه

صَلى اللَهُ فَإِنَّه

مَن رأيه تَتَبَيَّنُ الأَسرارُ

مَن رأيه تَتَبَيَّنُ الأَسرارُ

May God bless [him], for indeed

It did not embellish parchment except his pens

Secrets become clear through his judgment.

Hands of enemies, inimical upon it, tossing

ما اختارَهُ المَولى عَلى نُضرائِهِ

ما اختارَهُ المَولى عَلى نُضرائِهِ

حَتّى اِرتَضاهُ الواحِدُ القَهَّارُ

حَتّى اِرتَضاهُ الواحِدُ القَهَّارُ

The lord did not choose him over his peers

And his pens rumble in his parchment

Until the One, the All-Subduing, approved him.

In darkness, their profitable places, lights

جمع الإِلَه لَهُ العُلى وَبِهِ كَما

جمع الإِلَه لَهُ العُلى وَبِهِ كَما

جُمِعَت بِطرفِ الرَقدِةِ الأَشفارُ

جُمِعَت بِطرفِ الرَقدِةِ الأَشفارُ

God gathered high honors for him and through him, as

So their shrieking in our hearing is from its beauty

Eyelashes come together at the onset of sleep.

Melody, and in the hearing of enemies, fire

فالوَجهُ بَدرٌ وَالعَزيمَةُ صارِمٌ

فالوَجهُ بَدرٌ وَالعَزيمَةُ صارِمٌ

وَالكَفُّ بر وَالبَنانُ بِحارُ

وَالكَفُّ بر وَالبَنانُ بِحارُ

His face is a full moon, his resolve a keen blade;

It cuts down lions, weakened,

His palm is benevolence, and his fingers seas.

And snakes' venom prolongs, shortened

يعدي اللَئيمَ بِجودِهِ فَلَو أَنَّهُ

يعدي اللَئيمَ بِجودِهِ فَلَو أَنَّهُ

حَجَرٌ جَرَت في عَرضِهِ الأَنهارُ

حَجَرٌ جَرَت في عَرضِهِ الأَنهارُ

His generosity infects the mean man; were he

The exhausted flees from the swords in his palm

A stone, rivers would flow through its breadth.

And gets tired in another's hand, the cutting blade

كتم النَوال وَقَد أَتاهُ تَظَرُّفاً

كتم النَوال وَقَد أَتاهُ تَظَرُّفاً

فَكَأَنَّ إِظهار النَوال العارُ

فَكَأَنَّ إِظهار النَوال العارُ

He concealed the bounty he had bestowed, out of refinement,

For the claws in the lion of battle's hand

As though displaying bounty were a disgrace.

Are canes, and in another's hands, nails

ما طَرَّزَ القرطاس إِلّا أَقلامه

ما طَرَّزَ القرطاس إِلّا أَقلامه

أَيدي العدى مهجاً عَلَيهِ تُمارُ

أَيدي العدى مهجاً عَلَيهِ تُمارُ

Nothing embroidered the paper but his pens;

It satisfies the battalion and his writing

The enemies' hands; hearts supplied upon it [wording unclear].

And his toil, erasing, and crossing out

وَتَمُجُّ في قرطاسه أَقلامه

وَتَمُجُّ في قرطاسه أَقلامه

ظُلَماً مَواقِع نَفعِها أَنوارُ

ظُلَماً مَواقِع نَفعِها أَنوارُ

His pens spit onto his paper

Not all whom pens praise like the son of

Darkness that brings light wherever it benefits.

'Ali, do pens praise, the gushing, intuitive pen

فَصَريرها في سَمعِنا مِن حُسنِهِ

فَصَريرها في سَمعِنا مِن حُسنِهِ

نَغَمٌ وَفي سِمعِ الأَعادي نارُ

نَغَمٌ وَفي سِمعِ الأَعادي نارُ

Their scratching, so beautiful in our ears, is

Why not ask the sons of dogs about his might

Music, but in enemies' ears it is fire.

And the growling between both armies, kindled?

تَقِصُ اللُيوث الغلب وَهي ضَعائِف

تَقِصُ اللُيوث الغلب وَهي ضَعائِف

وَتَطول سُمر الخُطِّ وَهيَ قِصارُ

وَتَطول سُمر الخُطِّ وَهيَ قِصارُ

They cut down thick-necked lions, though frail,

And the whites float in the blood as if

And outreach the tawny spears of al-Khatt, though short.

They are seeds, and the spilled blood, potion

يَفري الكَليل مِنَ السُيوفِ بِكَفِّهِ

يَفري الكَليل مِنَ السُيوفِ بِكَفِّهِ

وَيَكِلُّ في يَد غَيرِهِ البَتّار

وَيَكِلُّ في يَد غَيرِهِ البَتّار

A blunt sword cleaves in his hand,

Two lands, then remnants and defeated,

While the cleaver grows blunt in another's.

And two heavens, bodies and limping

إِنَّ المَخالِب في يَدي لَيث الوَغى

إِنَّ المَخالِب في يَدي لَيث الوَغى

قَضبٌ وَفي يَد غَيرِهِ أَظفارُ

قَضبٌ وَفي يَد غَيرِهِ أَظفارُ

In the hands of the lion of battle, claws

The imam had mercy on you for the city, a mercy

Are swords; in another's hand, mere nails.

By which hopes were watered, and it is heat

يَرضي الكَتيبة وَالكِتابَة سَعيه

يَرضي الكَتيبة وَالكِتابَة سَعيه

وَعناؤُهُ وَالنَقض وَالأَمرارُ

وَعناؤُهُ وَالنَقض وَالأَمرارُ

His striving pleases both the battalion and the scribal art,

In a horde the slain fell upon it

As do his toil, his undoing and firm binding.

Darkness stirring its darkness, destinies

ما كُلُّ مَن حَمِدَتهُ كابنِ ع

ما كُلُّ مَن حَمِدَتهُ كابنِ ع

ليٍّ الأَقلامُ يَحمَدُهُ القَنا الخَطّارُ

ليٍّ الأَقلامُ يَحمَدُهُ القَنا الخَطّارُ

Not everyone praised, like Ibn ʿA—

Its spears married pebbles, so

—li, by pens is praised by the swaying spears.

Between the stones and slippers sparked fire

هَلّا سَألت بَني كِلابٍ بأسَهُ

هَلّا سَألت بَني كِلابٍ بأسَهُ

وَالنَقع بَينَ الجَحفَلَين مُثارُ

وَالنَقع بَينَ الجَحفَلَين مُثارُ

Why not ask the sons of Kilab about his valor,

So it parented a son contradicting its origin

When dust was stirred between the two armies,

And its father, red, yellow dominating it

وَالبَيضُ تَطفو في الدِماءِ كَأَنَّها

وَالبَيضُ تَطفو في الدِماءِ كَأَنَّها

حَبَبٌ وَمَسفوحِ الدِماء عِقارُ

حَبَبٌ وَمَسفوحِ الدِماء عِقارُ

And bright blades floated in blood as though they were

Your spears race, creators in the defiance

Bubbles, and the spilled blood were wine?

Of sight, and in their lids are lashes

أَرضَينَ ثُمَّ تَرائِب وَحَواسِر

أَرضَينَ ثُمَّ تَرائِب وَحَواسِر

وَسماوَتَين جَوارِحُ وَعثارُ

وَسماوَتَين جَوارِحُ وَعثارُ

Two lands; then breastbones and bareheaded men [wording unclear].

The tongues guide each straying spear

And two heavens, birds of prey and stumbling [wording unclear].

To their throats, as if they are visions

رَحِمَ الإِمامُ بك المَدينة رَحمَةً

رَحِمَ الإِمامُ بك المَدينة رَحمَةً

رويت بِها الآمال وَهيَ حِرارُ

رويت بِها الآمال وَهيَ حِرارُ

Through you the imam showed the city mercy,

And it has, over legs, striding, for

By which hopes were quenched while burning with thirst.

The anklets were raised, and the dust over dust

في جَحفَلٍ وَقع المَذاكي فوقه

في جَحفَلٍ وَقع المَذاكي فوقه

ظُلماُ يثير ظَلامها المِقدارُ

ظُلماُ يثير ظَلامها المِقدارُ

In a host, above which the hoofbeats of mature steeds

It uncovers hearts as if they are

Are darkness whose gloom destiny stirs.

Between the hearts and them, a curtain

نَكَحَت سنابكها الحَصى فَتَوَلَّدَت

نَكَحَت سنابكها الحَصى فَتَوَلَّدَت

بَينَ الحِجارَةِ وَالنِعال النارُ

بَينَ الحِجارَةِ وَالنِعال النارُ

Their hooves mated with the pebbles, and thus was born

And penetrating into their cores

Fire between the stones and the horseshoes.

From where perceptions cannot penetrate

فأباهُما ولدٌ يُنافي أَصله

فأباهُما ولدٌ يُنافي أَصله

وَأَباهُ أَحمَرُ يَعتَليهِ صَفارُ

وَأَباهُ أَحمَرُ يَعتَليهِ صَفارُ

A child disowned them both, at odds with its origin;

And as if your spear, when it penetrated them

And a red one, crowned with yellow, disowned that origin.

Was a wire stringing them, and they are beads

تَعدو رِماحك خالِقاتٍ في العِدى

تَعدو رِماحك خالِقاتٍ في العِدى

حَدقاً وَفي أَجفانِها أَشفارُ

حَدقاً وَفي أَجفانِها أَشفارُ

Your spears race on, creating in the foes

They planted, and they harvested, so if they attempt

Eyes, with lashes within their lids.

Again, this is the bet and racetrack

تَهدي الأَسِنَّة كُلُّ رمحٍ طائِشٍ

تَهدي الأَسِنَّة كُلُّ رمحٍ طائِشٍ

لِنحورهم فَكأَنَّها أَبصارُ

لِنحورهم فَكأَنَّها أَبصارُ

The spearheads guide every wayward spear

They schemed, but their striding did not benefit them

To their throats, as though they were eyes.

And they passed on, but their fleeing did not benefit them

وَلَهُ عَلى الأَقدامِ إِقدام وَقَد

وَلَهُ عَلى الأَقدامِ إِقدام وَقَد

رفع القَنا وَعَلا الغُبار غُبارُ

رفع القَنا وَعَلا الغُبار غُبارُ

He has boldness on foot, and already

And you turned away from them victorious, while their hearts

The spears are raised, and dust rises above dust.

In fear of you, a blazing army

تَجلو بِحَبّاتِ القلوبِ كَأَنَّها

تَجلو بِحَبّاتِ القلوبِ كَأَنَّها

بَينَ القُلوبِ وَبَينَهُنَّ سرارُ

بَينَ القُلوبِ وَبَينَهُنَّ سرارُ

They are burnished with the kernels of hearts, as though

The doves saw in you a chest like theirs

There were whispered confidences between the hearts and them.

The sky's breadth, from it a minaret

وَمغلغلات في سويداواتها

وَمغلغلات في سويداواتها

مِن حيث لا تَتَغلغل الأَفكارُ

مِن حيث لا تَتَغلغل الأَفكارُ

And they plunge deep into their black cores,

O you whose march and halt

Where thoughts themselves cannot penetrate.

The deserts and cities vie

وَكأَنَّ رمحك إِذ تَغَلغَل فيهم

وَكأَنَّ رمحك إِذ تَغَلغَل فيهم

سلك ينظمهم وَهم تقصارُ

سلك ينظمهم وَهم تقصارُ

Your spear, when it penetrated them, seemed

For Damascus, your way has ardor and passion

A thread stringing them, while they were a close-fitting necklace.

Since the news pronounced your arrival

زَرَعوا وَقَد حَصَدوا فأن يَتَعَرَّضوا

زَرَعوا وَقَد حَصَدوا فأن يَتَعَرَّضوا

أُخرى فهذي المهر وَالمُضمارُ

أُخرى فهذي المهر وَالمُضمارُ

They sowed and have reaped; if they expose themselves

If not for dignity in Damascus and its people

Once more, here are the steeds and the racecourse.

They would have flown from overwhelming joy and flown

كَرّوا فَلَم يَنفعهم إِقدامهم

كَرّوا فَلَم يَنفعهم إِقدامهم

وَمَضوا فَلَم ينفعهم الإِدبارُ

وَمَضوا فَلَم ينفعهم الإِدبارُ

They charged, but their advance did not avail them;

And the meadows would have grown from it until, vacant

They withdrew, but retreat did not avail them.

You upon it, a torrent overflowing

وَقفلت عَنهُم غانِماً وَقلوبهم

وَقفلت عَنهُم غانِماً وَقلوبهم

فيها لخوفك عَسكَرٌ جرارُ

فيها لخوفك عَسكَرٌ جرارُ

You returned from them with spoils, while their hearts

I called you while difficulties surrounded

Held, from fear of you, a vast marching army.

Me like an arm encompassing a bracelet

رَأَت الضَحاضِح مِنكَ صَدراً مِثلها

رَأَت الضَحاضِح مِنكَ صَدراً مِثلها

سعة ضياء الجَوِّ مِنهُ مَنارُ

سعة ضياء الجَوِّ مِنهُ مَنارُ

The shallow waters saw in you a breast like themselves

My poetry was perplexed by your ascent for it

In breadth; the sky's light takes a beacon from it.

Is a sun, and the person's eye, then perplexed

يا ذا الَّذي لِمَسيره وَمَقامِهِ

يا ذا الَّذي لِمَسيره وَمَقامِهِ

تَتَحاسَد البَيداء وَالأَمصارُ

تَتَحاسَد البَيداء وَالأَمصارُ

O you, over whose traveling and staying

So relieve, Abu Al-Faraj, the difficulties, for they have

The wilderness and the cities envy one another!

Become, in their twists, a wall turning upon me

لِدِمَشق نَحوَكَ صبوة وَصباوة

لِدِمَشق نَحوَكَ صبوة وَصباوة

مُذ صَرَّحَت بِقُدومِكَ الأَخبارُ

مُذ صَرَّحَت بِقُدومِكَ الأَخبارُ

Damascus feels passion and longing for you,

Time conceals my virtues, as if I

Since the tidings announced your arrival.

And as if they in its heart, concealed

لَولا وَقارُ في دِمَشق وَأَهلها

لَولا وَقارُ في دِمَشق وَأَهلها

طارَت لإِفراطِ السُرورِ وَطاروا

طارَت لإِفراطِ السُرورِ وَطاروا

Were it not for dignity in Damascus and its people,

It weighed down my hearing from the words of its people

It would have flown from excess of joy, and so would they.

And composure in some matters is composure

وَنبت مِنها المَرجُ حَتّى خِلتَه

وَنبت مِنها المَرجُ حَتّى خِلتَه

خَداً أَسيلاً أَنتَ فيهِ عذارُ

خَداً أَسيلاً أَنتَ فيهِ عذارُ

And its meadow grew until I fancied it

I did not fear except for supremacy, for

A smooth cheek, with you the down along its side.

Aspiring to glories is for its loftiness eclipsing visions

إِنّي دَعوتك وَالخُطوب محيطة

إِنّي دَعوتك وَالخُطوب محيطة

بي مِثلَما ضَمَّ الذِراعُ سِوارُ

بي مِثلَما ضَمَّ الذِراعُ سِوارُ

I called on you while calamities surrounded

We ransom you from other than time, and you have not ceased

Me, as a bracelet clasps the arm.

To ransoms like you lifetimes hoard

قَد حار شعري في علاك لأَنَّها

قَد حار شعري في علاك لأَنَّها

شَمسٌ وطرف المرء ثَمَّ يُحارُ

شَمسٌ وطرف المرء ثَمَّ يُحارُ

My poetry is bewildered by your eminence, for it

In them is what empowered them with generosity and life

Is a sun, and a person's gaze is dazzled there.

O glorious, with which cities were adorned

فافرج أَبا الفرج الخُطوبِ فَقَد غَدَت

فافرج أَبا الفرج الخُطوبِ فَقَد غَدَت

وَصروفها سورٌ عَليَّ تُدارُ

وَصروفها سورٌ عَليَّ تُدارُ

Dispel calamities, Abu al-Faraj, for they have become

With such loftiness the dawn never shone

With their reversals, a wall raised around me.

And the birds in its summit vied

يَخفي الزَمان فَضائِلي فَكَأَنَّني

يَخفي الزَمان فَضائِلي فَكَأَنَّني

وَكَأَنَّها في قَلبِهِ إَضمارُ

وَكَأَنَّها في قَلبِهِ إَضمارُ

Time hides my virtues, as though I

And they were secrets within its heart.

أَثقَلَت سَمعي عَن مَقالَة أَهلِهِ

أَثقَلَت سَمعي عَن مَقالَة أَهلِهِ

وَالوَقرُ في بَعضِ الأُمورِ وَقارُ

وَالوَقرُ في بَعضِ الأُمورِ وَقارُ

I dulled my hearing to what its people say;

In some affairs, deafness is dignity.

لَم أَخَف إِلّا للعلو وَإِنَّما

لَم أَخَف إِلّا للعلو وَإِنَّما

تخطي السُهى لِعُلوِّهِ الأَبصارُ

تخطي السُهى لِعُلوِّهِ الأَبصارُ

I was hidden only by my loftiness; indeed,

Eyes miss Suha because of its height.

نَفديكَ مِن غَيرِ الزَمانِ وَلَم تَزَل

نَفديكَ مِن غَيرِ الزَمانِ وَلَم تَزَل

لفداء مِثلَكَ تَذخر الأَعمارُ

لفداء مِثلَكَ تَذخر الأَعمارُ

We would ransom you from time's reversals; ever

Have lives been stored to ransom one like you.

فيهِنَّ ما خولن مِن كَرَمٍ وَعِش

فيهِنَّ ما خولن مِن كَرَمٍ وَعِش

يا ماجِداً زينت بِهِ الأَمصارُ

يا ماجِداً زينت بِهِ الأَمصارُ

They hold the nobility bestowed on them; live on,

O glorious one by whom the cities are adorned,

في رِفعَةٍ ما لاحَ صُبحٌ طالِع

في رِفعَةٍ ما لاحَ صُبحٌ طالِع

وَتجاوَبَت في أَيكها الأَطيارُ

وَتجاوَبَت في أَيكها الأَطيارُ

In exaltation, as long as a rising dawn appears

And birds answer one another in their thickets.