العارضthe rain cloud بالغورover al-Ghawr أَبرقflashed lightning
العارض بالغور أَبرق
فأضاءso it illuminated أجراعاsandy flats وأبرقَand stony ground
فأضاء أجراعا وأبرقَ
The cloud-bank over al-Ghawr flashed lightning,
The lightning flashed in the valley,
lighting sandy flats and stony ground.
Illuminating the valleys and flashing,
ظلتremained جفونكyour eyelids يومon the day شرeast of (first part)
ظلت جفونك يوم شر
قيeast of (continued) الحمىthe protected pastures بالدمعwith tears تشرقbrimmed
قي الحمى بالدمع تشرق
Your eyelids kept, that day east
Your eyelids remained closed on an evil day,
of the protected pastures, brimming with tears,
While fever made your tears glisten,
أسفاin grief علىover بعدthe remoteness of الفريthe company (first part)
أسفا على بعد الفري
قthe company (continued) وشملand the unity of الفتناour fellowship المفرّقtorn apart
ق وشمل الفتنا المفرّق
grieving at the company's distance
Regretting the absence of the beloved one,
and our fellowship torn apart,
While discord enveloped those separated,
ومعربدand riotous اللحظاتglances منfrom سكرthe intoxication of الصyouth (first part)
ومعربد اللحظات من سكر الص
صباyouth (continued) خنثsoft and effeminate مقرطقtunic-clad
صبا خنث مقرطق
and for one whose glances riot with youth's intoxication,
The moments passed intoxicated with the nectar of youth,
soft and effeminate, clad in a short tunic,
Softly murmuring like a turtle dove,
حلواsweet الشمائلdisposition كالشموlike wine (first part)
حلوا الشمائل كالشمو
لwine (continued) سلافthe choicest vintage of ريقتهhis saliva وأروقand clearer
ل سلاف ريقته وأروق
sweet in disposition; like wine
With beautiful features like a summertime plant,
is his mouth's pure vintage, and clearer still.
Its saliva pleasant and most elegant,
قمرa moon يدلis coyly proud بحسنهof his beauty الthe (prefix of next word)
قمر يدل بحسنه ال
موموقِdearly loved والدلand coquetry المعشقlove-inspiring
موموقِ والدل المعشق
A moon, flaunting his beauty,
A moon lending its beauty to the expectant one,
so dearly loved, and his captivating coyness;
Seducing with a seductive glance,
حرجtight السوارthe bracelet وشاحهhis sash
حرج السوار وشاحه
كفؤادlike the heart of عاشقهhis lover وأقلقand more restless
كفؤاد عاشقه وأقلق
his bracelet sits tight; his sash
Disturbing the bracelet and its ornament,
is like his lover's heart, and more restless.
Like a lover's heart, anxious and restless,
رشقpierced القلوبhearts ومرand passed بيby me
رشق القلوب ومر بي
كالغصنمختالاlike a branch, swaying proudly وأرشقand more graceful
كالغصنمختالا وأرشق
He pierced hearts and passed me by,
Sprinkling hearts as it passed by,
like a branch, swaying proudly, yet more graceful.
Swaying like a delicate branch,
نادمتهI drank with him والنجمwhile the star فيin
نادمته والنجم في
إذنthe ear الدجىof night قرطan earring معلقhanging
إذن الدجى قرط معلق
I drank with him, while a star in
I reproached it while the star hung,
night's ear was a dangling earring,
In the ear of nightfall, dangling,
والطلand the dew فيon ورقthe petals of الشقاanemones (first part)
والطل في ورق الشقا
ئقanemones (continued) جائلrolling about والظلand the shade أورقgreen
ئق جائل والظل أورق
and dew upon the anemones' petals
With the shadow in the leaves of the arbor,
rolled, while the shade was green.
Wavering while the shade turned green,
وصبحتهand I gave him a morning drink فيin روضةa garden
وصبحته في روضة
باتspent the night بصوبwith the downpour of المزنthe rain clouds تغبقbeing given an evening drink
بات بصوب المزن تغبق
At dawn I served him, in a garden
And its morning in a garden,
that had drunk the clouds' downpour through the night,
That spent the night facing the south wind, wilting,
ذهبيةgolden لهبيةflame-like
ذهبية لهبية
كالبرقlike lightning تحتbeneath دجىdarkness تألقflashed
كالبرق تحت دجى تألق
a golden, flame-bright wine,
Golden flaming
like lightning flashing beneath the dark.
Like lightning in the darkness shining,
يخطوwalks المديرthe cup-passer لكأسهاof its cup
يخطو المدير لكأسها
فيin دستباناتgloves ويلمقand a coat
في دستبانات ويلمق
The bearer of its cup walks
The full moon walks towards its cup,
in gloves and a coat.
Through the vines, sipping,
نفختit breathed out فخلتso I imagined نسيمهاits fragrance
نفخت فخلت نسيمها
مسكاmusk ذكياstrongly fragrant حينwhen ينشقinhaled
مسكا ذكيا حين ينشق
It breathed, and I thought its fragrance
It blew and its breeze dispersed musk,
was keen-scented musk when inhaled,
Subtle and fragrant when it wafts,
أوor طيبthe fragrance of ماwhat أثنيI praise بهwith it
أو طيب ما أثني به
منof رائقpure المدحpraise المنسقwell-arranged
من رائق المدح المنسق
or the perfume of what I offer
What excellent praise I utter about it,
of pure, well-ordered praise,
Eloquent eulogies, composed and structured,
أَبداever علىin praise of المولىthe lord البهاBaha' (first part)
أَبدا على المولى البها
ءBaha' (continued) ونشرهand its fragrance أذكىmore fragrant وأعبقand more redolent
ء ونشره أذكى وأعبق
ever in honor of Lord Baha',
Eternal blessings upon the magnificent lord,
and its fragrance is keener and richer.
And his achievements, most wise and redolent,
بحرa sea يعومswims البحرthe sea فيin
بحر يعوم البحر في
جدوىthe bounty of أناملهhis fingertips فيغرقand so drowns
جدوى أنامله فيغرق
A sea: the sea swims in
An ocean swimming in the sea through the efficacy of his fingers, lest it drown,
the bounty of his fingertips, then drowns.
A lion fearing the lion on the day of panic, his might tearing apart,
ليثa lion يخافfears الليثthe lion يوday (first part)
ليث يخاف الليث يو
مday (continued) الروعof terror سطوتهhis onslaught ويفرقand trembles
م الروع سطوته ويفرق
A lion: even the lion fears, on the day
The determined one takes steps illuminated and polished, smooth,
of terror, his onslaught, and quakes.
No hardship can help him nor any favor burden him,
ذوpossessed of العزمresolve يمضيpresses onward فيthrough الخطوcalamities (first part)
ذو العزم يمضي في الخطو
بcalamities (continued) مضاءwith the keenness of مصقولa polished blade مذلقsharpened
ب مضاء مصقول مذلق
Resolute, he cuts through calamities
If I praise none but him,
like a polished, sharpened blade.
I have found the one I praise to be truthful,
لاnot رفدهhis bounty صعبhard to obtain ولاnor
لا رفده صعب ولا
معروفهhis kindness كدرturbid مرنقsullied
معروفه كدر مرنق
His bounty is not hard to obtain, nor
Or I have illuminated the traits of censure,
is his kindness clouded or sullied.
Shining with generosity and radiance,
إنif ماever مادحa panegyrist غيرهsomeone other than him
إن ما مادح غيره
ألفيتyou would find مادحهhis panegyrist يصدقُspeaking truth
ألفيت مادحه يصدقُ
If ever a panegyrist praises another,
With his vision he pastures the enemy,
you find his panegyrist speaking truth.
And his wrath at night is disturbing,
أوor أظلمتgrow dark شيمthe natures of اللئاthe base (first part)
أو أظلمت شيم اللئا
مthe base (continued) أضاءhe shines منthrough كرمgenerosity وأشرقand gleams
م أضاء من كرم وأشرق
Or if the natures of the base turn dark,
He established the market of poetry after its recession,
he glows with generosity and shines.
On the prairie of praise, toiling,
بيراعهwith his reed-pen راعhe terrified العدوthe enemy
بيراعه راع العدو
وفجنهapparently: and his eyelid خوفاfrom fear مؤرقٌkept sleepless
وفجنه خوفا مؤرقٌ
With his reed-pen he terrified the enemy,
O Father of Excellence and Munificence,
whose eyelid is kept sleepless by fear.
The river of generosity tomorrow will flow,
واقامand he established للأشعارfor poetry بعafter (first part)
واقام للأشعار بع
دafter (continued) كسادهاits lack of demand سوقاa market ونفقand made it sell
د كسادها سوقا ونفق
He established for poetry, after
O son of the one whose justice encompassed the country and its people,
its slump, a market, and gave it currency.
Supporter of the religion of God thereby achieving glory and success,
لولاهwere it not for him لمnot ترyou would see فيin العراIraq (first part)
لولاه لم تر في العرا
قIraq (continued) مروجاa promoter بالمدحin praise يعرقsweating
ق مروجا بالمدح يعرق
Without him, you would see no one in Iraq
His opinions are a wall for the state of the Abbasids,
sweating in the trade of praise.
And a trench for it he fights unrelentingly,
بكthrough you ياO أباAbu; father of الفضلal-Fadl الجواgenerous (first part)
بك يا أبا الفضل الجوا
دgenerous (continued) غداhas become غديرthe pool of الجودgenerosity متأقbrimful
د غدا غدير الجود متأق
Through you, O generous Abu al-Fadl,
the pool of bounty has filled to the brim.
ياO ابنson of الذيhim who عمencompassed البلاthe lands (first part)
يا ابن الذي عم البلا
دthe lands (continued) وأهلهاand their people عدلاwith justice وطبقand covered all
د وأهلها عدلا وطبق
O son of him who encompassed the lands
and their people with justice, covering all,
عضدstrengthened الإلهGod الدينthe faith منهfrom him
عضد الإله الدين منه
بماجدwith a noble man ندسdiscerning موفقfavored with success
بماجد ندس موفق
God strengthened the faith through him,
a noble man, discerning and blessed with success.
آراؤهhis counsels سورa rampart لدوfor the state (first part)
آراؤه سور لدو
لةstate (continued) آلthe House of عباسAbbas وخندقand a moat
لة آل عباس وخندق
His counsels are a rampart for the realm
of the House of Abbas, and a moat.
ومناضلand a champion عنهاon its behalf بسهwith an arrow (first part)
ومناضل عنها بسه
مan arrow (continued) فيamid النوائبcalamities غيرnot أفوقbroken at the nock
م في النوائب غير أفوق
And he champions it with an arrow
whose nock is never broken in calamities.
خفاقever-fluttering ألويةbanners of النّدىgenerosity
خفاق ألوية النّدى
ماnever أمّهsought him راجٍa hopeful seeker فأخفقonly to fail
ما أمّه راجٍ فأخفق
His banners of bounty ever flutter;
no hopeful seeker has come to him and failed.
ذوpossessor of راحةa palm فتحتthat opened لناfor us
ذو راحة فتحت لنا
بابthe door of السماحةgenerosity وهوwhile it was مغلقshut
باب السماحة وهو مغلق
His palm has opened for us
the door of generosity when it was shut,
وخلائقand qualities كالراحlike wine بالwith the
وخلائق كالراح بال
ماءwater القراحpure غدتhave become تصفقbeing blended
ماء القراح غدت تصفق
and his qualities are like wine, blended with
pure, unmixed water.
يهميpours like rain إذاwhen سئلasked for الندىbounty
يهمي إذا سئل الندى
فكأنهas though he were سيلa torrent تدفقpouring forth
فكأنه سيل تدفق
He rains when asked for bounty,
as though he were a torrent pouring forth.
كمhow many فكhe freed منfrom أَسرِthe bondage of الخطوcalamities (first part)
كم فك من أَسرِ الخطو
بcalamities (continued) وكيدهاand their guile عانa captive واطلقand set free
ب وكيدها عان واطلق
How many a captive he has loosed from calamities' bonds
and their guile, and set free!
ياO موئلrefuge of الجانيthe offender الطريbanished (first part)
يا موئل الجاني الطري
دbanished (continued) ومآلand the resort of منone who أكدىmet with failure وأملقand became destitute
د ومآل من أكدى وأملق
O refuge of the banished offender,
and haven of those who have failed and become destitute,
خذaccept منfrom لسانيmy tongue مدحةa panegyric
خذ من لساني مدحة
قلبthe heart of الحسودthe envious man بهاby it محرقset ablaze
قلب الحسود بها محرق
accept from my tongue a panegyric
that sets the envious man's heart ablaze,
غراءradiant محدثهnewly composed لهاit has
غراء محدثه لها
فعلthe effect of المدامwine أماthough not yet (uncertain reading) يعتقbecomes aged
فعل المدام أما يعتق
radiant and newly composed, yet having
the power of wine, though not yet aged.
لوif أنهاthat it طرقتcame knocking حياshame (first part)
لو أنها طرقت حيا
ءshame (continued) سمعthe hearing of بشارBashar لاwould (prefix of لأطرق) طرقbow his head (completes لأطرق)
ء سمع بشار لا طرق
If it came knocking, then, in shame,
Bashar would bow his head upon hearing it.
تبقىlives on مجدددةrenewed ملاits garments (first part)
تبقى مجدددة ملا
بسهاits garments (continued) إذاwhen ماever الدهرtime أخلقgrows threadbare
بسها إذا ما الدهر أخلق
It lives on, its garments ever renewed,
even when time itself grows threadbare.
واسعدبعيدand rejoice at the feast الفطرof breaking the fast وأبand live on (first part)
واسعدبعيد الفطر وأب
قlive on (continued) لظنّfor the expectation of ذيone possessing أملhope تحققfulfillment
ق لظنّ ذي أمل تحقق
Rejoice at Eid al-Fitr, and live on,
fulfilling the expectations of those who hope.
لاmay it not زالcease شأوكyour course فيin العلىthe heights
لا زال شأوك في العلى
شأواthe course of امرىءa man هيهاتfar from possible يلحقbe overtaken
شأوا امرىء هيهات يلحق
May your course in the heights ever remain
that of a man impossible to overtake.
Partial English translation: 50 of 84 Arabic lines translated.