رَناgazed وناظِرُهُand his eye بالسِّحْرِwith enchantment مُكتَحِلُlined with kohl
رَنا وناظِرُهُ بالسِّحْرِ مُكتَحِلُ
أغَنُّsweetly nasal-voiced يُمْتارُis gathered as sustenance مِنfrom ألحاظِهِhis glances الغَزَلُlove poetry
أغَنُّ يُمْتارُ مِن ألحاظِهِ الغَزَلُ
He gazed, his eye lined with enchantment's kohl.
A glance from my beloved, lined with magic,
A sweetly nasal-voiced one, from whose glances love poetry draws sustenance.
Is richer than the most eloquent words of love.
فرُحْتُso I began أدنوto draw near بقَلْبٍwith a heart هاجَهُstirred it شَجَنٌsorrow
فرُحْتُ أدنو بقَلْبٍ هاجَهُ شَجَنٌ
وراحَand he began ينأىto draw away بخَدٍّwith a cheek زانَهُadorned it خَجَلُshyness
وراحَ ينأى بخَدٍّ زانَهُ خَجَلُ
So I began drawing near, with a heart stirred by sorrow,
I was gladdened to approach with a heart aflame with yearning,
And he began drawing away, his cheek adorned by shyness.
While he, shy, turned away a cheek adorned with modesty.
يَمشيhe walks كماas لاعَبَتْtoyed with ريحُwind الصَّباthe east wind غُصُناًa bough
يَمشي كما لاعَبَتْ ريحُ الصَّبا غُصُناً
ظلّتْkept تَجورُswaying aside بهِwith it طَوراًat times وتعتَدِلُand straightening
ظلّتْ تَجورُ بهِ طَوراً وتعتَدِلُ
He walks as the east wind plays with a bough,
He walks as though a spring breeze were toying with a bough,
Bending it aside at times, then setting it straight.
Swaying it now this way, now that.
ذوone with وَجْنَةٍa cheek إنْif جَنَتْplucked عَينُthe eye of الرّقيبِthe watcher بهاon it
ذو وَجْنَةٍ إنْ جَنَتْ عَينُ الرّقيبِ بها
وَرْدَthe rose of الحَياءِmodesty كَساهاclothed it وَرْسَهُits yellow dye الوَجَلُfear
وَرْدَ الحَياءِ كَساها وَرْسَهُ الوَجَلُ
He has a cheek: if the watcher's eye plucks from it
He whose eyes are shaded as though with kohl
The rose of modesty, fear clothes it in its yellow dye.
Wears the flush of shyness like a garment wrapped about him.
كالشّمسِlike the sun إنْif غابَhe is absent عناfrom us فهْيَthen she is طالِعَةٌrising
كالشّمسِ إنْ غابَ عنا فهْيَ طالِعَةٌ
وإنْand if أطَلَّhe appears عَلَيناbefore us غالَهاoverwhelms her الطَّفَلُtwilight
وإنْ أطَلَّ عَلَينا غالَها الطَّفَلُ
Like the sun: if he is absent from us, she rises;
He is like the sun - though he's hidden he still shines,
And if he appears before us, twilight overwhelms her.
And when he appears he dazzles like a child at play.
نخْشىwe fear عُيونَthe eyes of العِداthe enemies يَعتادُهاrepeatedly besets them شَوَسٌa hostile glare
نخْشى عُيونَ العِدا يَعتادُها شَوَسٌ
تَكادُnearly مِنْfrom وَقَداتِthe blazes of الحِقْدِhatred تَشتَعِلُcatch fire
تَكادُ مِنْ وَقَداتِ الحِقْدِ تَشتَعِلُ
We fear our enemies' eyes, ever prone to a hostile glare;
We fear the eyes of enemies grow used to him,
They almost catch fire from the blazes of hatred.
Almost set ablaze by the fiery coals of hatred.
إذاwhenever انتَضَلْناwe traded arrow-shots أحاديثَtales of الهَوىlove عَلِقَتْfastened on
إذا انتَضَلْنا أحاديثَ الهَوى عَلِقَتْ
بنَظرَةٍwith a glance تَلِدُgives birth to البَغْضاءَhatred تَنتَضِلُtrades arrow-shots
بنَظرَةٍ تَلِدُ البَغْضاءَ تَنتَضِلُ
Whenever we trade tales of love like arrows, they fasten on us
When we exchange whispers of passion, some glance
With a glance that gives birth to hatred, answering shot for shot.
Lights the spark of enmity that smolders inside.
واهاًah لعَصْرٍfor an age يُعَنّيناtorments us تَذَكُّرُهُits remembrance
واهاً لعَصْرٍ يُعَنّينا تَذَكُّرُهُ
مَضىpassed وفيand in الخَطوِthe footsteps منof أيّامِهِits days عَجَلُhaste
مَضى وفي الخَطوِ من أيّامِهِ عَجَلُ
Ah, for an age whose remembrance torments us!
Alas for an age that saddens us when recalled -
It passed, with haste in the footsteps of its days.
It is gone, while of its days Misfortune hurried ahead.
بمَنزِلٍat a dwelling حَلَّunfastened فيهin it الغَيْثُthe rain حُبْوَتَهُits knee-wrap
بمَنزِلٍ حَلَّ فيه الغَيْثُ حُبْوَتَهُ
حتىuntil استَهَلَّpoured down عليهِupon it عارِضٌa raincloud هَطِلُdownpouring
حتى استَهَلَّ عليهِ عارِضٌ هَطِلُ
At a dwelling where rain unfastened its knee-wrap,
At a camp where the rain poured down its store,
Until a downpouring raincloud poured upon it.
Till a passing cloud emptied itself completely.
أهدَىbestowed لناon us صِحّةًhealth تَقوىgrow strong النُّفوسُsouls بِهاthrough it
أهدَى لنا صِحّةً تَقوى النُّفوسُ بِها
نَسيمُهُits breeze وأثارَتْand stirred ضَعْفَهُits frailty العِلَلُailments
نَسيمُهُ وأثارَتْ ضَعْفَهُ العِلَلُ
Health that strengthens souls was bestowed on us
It brought health to revive our souls,
By its breeze; and ailments had stirred its frailty.
Though its breeze revealed our weakness, and sickness laid us low.
ومَوقِفٍand a meeting-place ضَجَّcried out جِيدُthe neck of الرّيمِthe white gazelle منat غَيَدٍsupple grace
ومَوقِفٍ ضَجَّ جِيدُ الرّيمِ من غَيَدٍ
فيهِthere وأزْرىand brought shame بألْحاظِto the glances of المَهاthe oryxes كَحَلُkohl
فيهِ وأزْرى بألْحاظِ المَها كَحَلُ
And at a meeting-place, the white gazelle's neck cried out at the supple grace
A place where the ostrich egg cracked because of the ostriches' neighing,
There, and kohl put the oryxes' glances to shame.
Their eyes rimmed with the kohl of compacted dust.
زُرناwe visited بهِat it رَشأًa fawn يَرتادُseeks غِرّتَهُhis unguarded moment
زُرنا بهِ رَشأً يَرتادُ غِرّتَهُ
ذوone with لِبْدَةٍa mane بنِجادِin the baldric of السيفِthe sword مُشْتَمِلُwrapped
ذو لِبْدَةٍ بنِجادِ السيفِ مُشْتَمِلُ
There we visited a fawn, whose unguarded moment was sought
We visited it as high-blooded steeds in their prime
By a maned lion, wrapped in a sword-belt.
Wore coats of mail and bore Indian swords.
يُديرُpasses round كأسَينِtwo cups منْof لَحْظٍa glance ومُبْتَسَمٍand a smile
يُديرُ كأسَينِ منْ لَحْظٍ ومُبْتَسَمٍ
يُغْنيهِماspares them both عَنْthe need for حَبابٍbubbles ثَغْرُهُhis mouth الرَّتَلُwith evenly spaced teeth
يُغْنيهِما عَنْ حَبابٍ ثَغْرُهُ الرَّتَلُ
He passes round two cups, of a glance and a smile;
They swung their goblets of glance and smile,
His evenly toothed mouth spares them both the need for bubbles.
Needing no wine - their mouths were springs of sweetness.
ويَنثَنيand he sways مِشْيَةَwith the gait of النّشوانِthe drunkard مِنfrom تَرَفٍluxurious ease
ويَنثَني مِشْيَةَ النّشوانِ مِن تَرَفٍ
كأنّماas though قَدُّهُhis figure منْfrom طَرفِهِhis glance ثَمِلُdrunk
كأنّما قَدُّهُ منْ طَرفِهِ ثَمِلُ
And he sways with a drunkard's gait, out of luxurious ease,
The gait of the swaying ostrich is slowed by luxury,
As though his figure were drunk on his own glance.
As if its leg were bent beneath the folds of its garment.
أزْمانَin days when رَقَّتْsoftened حَواشيthe fringes of الدّهْرِtime فيunder دُوَلٍreigns
أزْمانَ رَقَّتْ حَواشي الدّهْرِ في دُوَلٍ
لاnot يَشْرَإِبُّcranes its neck إلَيهاtoward them حادِثٌa calamity جَلَلُgrave
لا يَشْرَإِبُّ إلَيها حادِثٌ جَلَلُ
In days when time's fringes softened under reigns
Ages have passed whose outskirts Fortuna revolved,
Toward which no grave calamity craned its neck.
Not daring to approach their sublime majesty.
كأنّهاas though they بندىًthrough the bounty of المُسْتَظْهِرِal-Mustazhir ارْتَجَعَتْregained
كأنّها بندىً المُسْتَظْهِرِ ارْتَجَعَتْ
رَوْقَthe bloom of الشّبيبَةِyouth حتىuntil ماؤُهاtheir water خَضِلُfresh and dewy
رَوْقَ الشّبيبَةِ حتى ماؤُها خَضِلُ
As though, through al-Mustazhir's bounty, they had regained
It was like the dew of adolescence regained
Youth's bloom, till their very waters were fresh and dewy.
Its freshness, till its water ran pure.
عَصْرٌan age كَوَرْدِlike the roses of الخُدودِthe cheeks البيضِwhite قدalready غَرَسَتْplanted
عَصْرٌ كَوَرْدِ الخُدودِ البيضِ قد غَرَسَتْ
يَدُthe hand of الحَياءِmodesty بهِin it ماwhat تَجْتَنيpluck القُبَلُkisses
يَدُ الحَياءِ بهِ ما تَجْتَني القُبَلُ
An age like roses on white cheeks, where was planted
An age like a white-cheeked rose transplanted -
By modesty's hand what kisses pluck.
The hand of Modesty has snatched away what lips would cull.
وعِزَّةٌand a might دونَbelow أدْناهاits lowest reach مُمَنَّعَةٌan impregnable height
وعِزَّةٌ دونَ أدْناها مُمَنَّعَةٌ
ممّاof that which يُناجيwhispers to عَلَيهِupon it الفَرْقَدَal-Farqad الوَعِلُthe ibex
ممّا يُناجي عَلَيهِ الفَرْقَدَ الوَعِلُ
And a might beneath whose lowest reach lies an impregnable height,
And a glory of forbidding height,
One on which the ibex whispers to the star al-Farqad.
Safe from the whispering of the slanderous and base.
فالعَدْلُso justice مُنتَشِرٌwidespread والعَزْمُand resolve مُجْتَمِعٌconcentrated
فالعَدْلُ مُنتَشِرٌ والعَزْمُ مُجْتَمِعٌ
والعُمْرُand life مُقْتَبَلٌyouthful والرأيُand judgment مُكْتَهِلُmature
والعُمْرُ مُقْتَبَلٌ والرأيُ مُكْتَهِلُ
So justice spreads abroad, and resolve stands concentrated;
Justice flourishes, resolve is unified,
And life is youthful, while judgment is mature.
Life looks ahead, reason is mature.
ساسَgoverned البَرِيّةَhumankind قَرْمٌa great chief ماجِدٌnoble نَدِسٌdiscerning
ساسَ البَرِيّةَ قَرْمٌ ماجِدٌ نَدِسٌ
غَمْرُabundant البَديهَةِin ready wit نَدْبٌgallant حازِمٌresolute بَطَلُa hero
غَمْرُ البَديهَةِ نَدْبٌ حازِمٌ بَطَلُ
A noble, discerning chief governed humankind,
It set upright the pillars of its realm an illustrious,
Abundant in ready wit, gallant, resolute, a hero.
Vigilant lion, a bold hero.
برَأفَةٍwith compassion ماnever تخَطّىstepped نَحْوَهاtoward it عُنُفٌharshness
برَأفَةٍ ما تخَطّى نَحْوَها عُنُفٌ
ومِنْحَةٍand bounty لمْnot يُكَدِّرْclouded صَفْوَهاits purity بَخَلُstinginess
ومِنْحَةٍ لمْ يُكَدِّرْ صَفْوَها بَخَلُ
With compassion toward which no harshness ever stepped,
With a tenderness untouched by violence,
And bounty whose purity no stinginess clouded.
A generosity untainted by meanness.
لوif كانَhe had been فيamong السَّلَفِthe forebears الماضِينَof old إذwhen طَفِقَتْbegan
لو كانَ في السَّلَفِ الماضِينَ إذ طَفِقَتْ
نَعْلُthe sandal of اليَمانينthe Yemenis يُرْخيloosens شِسْعَهاits thong الزَّلَلُslipping
نَعْلُ اليَمانين يُرْخي شِسْعَها الزَّلَلُ
Had he been among the forebears of old, when
If only the ancestors of old when the sandals
Missteps began loosening the thong of the Yemenis' sandal,
Of the Yemenis began to slip because of Time
لقَدَّمَتْهُwould have put him first قُرَيشٌQuraysh ثمّthen ماnot ولَغَتْlapped
لقَدَّمَتْهُ قُرَيشٌ ثمّ ما ولَغَتْ
للبَغْيout of rebellion فيin دَمِهاits blood صِفّينُSiffin والجَمَلُand the Camel
للبَغْي في دَمِها صِفّينُ والجَمَلُ
Quraysh would have placed him first; then never would they have lapped
Had brought him forward - Quraysh would have presented him,
At its blood out of rebellion—Siffin and the Camel.
Then civil strife would not have soaked their blood.
يَتلوfollows الأئِمّةَthe imams منamong آبائِهِhis forefathers وبهِمْand through them
يَتلو الأئِمّةَ من آبائِهِ وبهِمْ
فيin كُلِّall ماthat which أثّلوهُthey established it يُضْرَبُis set المَثَلُthe example
في كُلِّ ما أثّلوهُ يُضْرَبُ المَثَلُ
He follows the imams among his forefathers, and they
He follows the Imams of his fathers, and in
Are held up as examples in all that they established.
All their perfections he sets a noble example.
شُوسُfierce الحَواجِبِof brow فيin الهَيْجاءِbattle إذْwhen لَقِحَتْgrew pregnant
شُوسُ الحَواجِبِ في الهَيْجاءِ إذْ لَقِحَتْ
بيضُbright المَسافِرِof face وهّابونَlavish givers ماwhatever سُئِلواthey were asked for
بيضُ المَسافِرِ وهّابونَ ما سُئِلوا
Fierce-browed in battle when it grows pregnant with strife,
When the eyebrows were roused to earnestness
Bright-faced, lavish givers of whatever they are asked.
Their glance was lightning, and they withheld nothing asked.
لَهُمْtheirs منَof البَيتِthe House ماwhat طافَcircled الحَجيجُthe pilgrims بهِaround it
لَهُمْ منَ البَيتِ ما طافَ الحَجيجُ بهِ
والسهْلُand the plain منof سُرّةِthe navel of البَطْحاءِal-Batha والجَبَلُand the mountain
والسهْلُ من سُرّةِ البَطْحاءِ والجَبَلُ
Theirs is the House around which the pilgrims circle,
Theirs is the House the pilgrims circle,
And the plain at al-Batha's navel, and the mountain.
The plain round Batha, and the mountain paths.
إذاwhen انتَضَىhe draws السّيفَthe sword وارَىcovers الأرْضَthe earth بَحْرُa sea of دَمٍblood
إذا انتَضَى السّيفَ وارَى الأرْضَ بَحْرُ دَمٍ
تُضْحيbecome فَواقِعَهُits bubbles الهَاماتُheads والقُلَلُand summits
تُضْحي فَواقِعَهُ الهَاماتُ والقُلَلُ
When he draws his sword, a sea of blood covers the earth;
When the swords flash baring the earth, blood
Heads and summits become its bubbles.
Stains hillocks and hills where the blades have touched.
شَزْرُtightly twisted المَريرَةِin resolve سَبّاقٌracing ahead إِلىtoward أمَدٍa goal
شَزْرُ المَريرَةِ سَبّاقٌ إِلى أمَدٍ
يَزْوَرُّturns aside عنْfrom شَأوِهِhis reach الهَيّابَةُthe timorous one الوَكَلُhelpless
يَزْوَرُّ عنْ شَأوِهِ الهَيّابَةُ الوَكَلُ
His resolve tightly twisted, he races ahead toward a goal;
The bitter herb is quick to attack without pause,
The timid weakling turns aside from his reach.
While the cowardly hyena snarls but dares not approach.
يَروضُhe trains أفكارَهُhis thoughts والحَزْمُand prudence يُسهِرُهُkeeps him awake
يَروضُ أفكارَهُ والحَزْمُ يُسهِرُهُ
وللإصابَةِand for success فيin أعقابِهاtheir wake زَجَلُa ringing cry
وللإصابَةِ في أعقابِها زَجَلُ
He trains his thoughts, while prudence keeps him awake,
He trains his thoughts, and reason keeps vigil,
And in their wake, success rings aloud.
And consequence dogs every one of his steps.
حتىuntil يَرىhe sees لَيلَهُhis night بالصُّبْحِwith dawn مُلتَثِماًveiled
حتى يَرى لَيلَهُ بالصُّبْحِ مُلتَثِماً
وقدand already قَضىhas decreed بالكَرىslumber للعاجزِfor the incapable الفَشَلُfailure
وقد قَضى بالكَرى للعاجزِ الفَشَلُ
Until he sees his night veiled by the dawn,
Until he sees his night bound in the morn,
While failure has already decreed slumber for the incapable.
And the helpless routed by his mighty decree.
ياO خَيرَbest of مَنthose for whom خَضَبَتْstained أخْفافَهاtheir hoof-pads بدَمٍwith blood
يا خَيرَ مَن خَضَبَتْ أخْفافَها بدَمٍ
حتّىuntil أُنيخَتْwere made to kneel إِلىat أبوابِهِhis doors الإبِلُthe camels
حتّى أُنيخَتْ إِلى أبوابِهِ الإبِلُ
O best of those for whom their hoof-pads were stained with blood,
O best of those whose feet were dyed with blood,
Until the camels were made to kneel at his doors!
Till the camels came to rest before his gates.
بِهاin them صَدىًthirst وحِياضُand the pools of الجودِgenerosity مُترَعَةٌbrimful
بِها صَدىً وحِياضُ الجودِ مُترَعَةٌ
للوارِدينَfor those arriving to drink عَلَيهاat them العَلُّthe second draught والنَّهَلُand the first draught
للوارِدينَ عَلَيها العَلُّ والنَّهَلُ
Thirst afflicts them, while the pools of generosity are brimful;
In him the cisterns of bounty brim over
For those who come to them, a second draught and a first.
For all who come - the highborn and the low.
هُنّيتَmay you be blessed بالقادِمِwith the newcomer المَيْمونِauspicious طائِرُهُhis omen
هُنّيتَ بالقادِمِ المَيْمونِ طائِرُهُ
نَعْماءُa blessing يَختالwalk proudly فيin أفيائِهاits shades الدُّوَلُdynasties
نَعْماءُ يَختال في أفيائِها الدُّوَلُ
May you be blessed with the newcomer whose omen is auspicious,
Good fortune sang when he came into the world
A blessing in whose shade dynasties walk proudly.
A Hashimite, Caliph of God and heir of the Messengers.
لوif تَستَطيعُthey could لَوَتْwould turn شَوقاًin longing أخادِعَهاtheir neck-veins
لو تَستَطيعُ لَوَتْ شَوقاً أخادِعَها
إليكَtoward you ثمّthen إليهtoward him الأعْصُرُthe ages الأُوَلُof old
إليكَ ثمّ إليه الأعْصُرُ الأُوَلُ
If they could, they would turn their necks in longing
A brilliant youth for whom dawn breaks,
Toward you, then toward him—the ages of old.
Prosperity smiles as his star rises.
أهلاًwelcome بمُنْتَجَبٍto a chosen one سُرَّتْwere gladdened بمَوْلِدِهِby his birth
أهلاً بمُنْتَجَبٍ سُرَّتْ بمَوْلِدِهِ
منْfrom هاشِمٍHashim خُلْفاءُthe caliphs of اللهِGod والرُّسُلُand the messengers
منْ هاشِمٍ خُلْفاءُ اللهِ والرُّسُلُ
Welcome to a chosen one, whose birth delighted
The caliphate bends its sleeves to serve him,
God's caliphs of Hashim's line, and the messengers.
He will always embellish its bending arms.
أغَرُّradiant مُستَظْهِرِيٌّof al-Mustazhir's line يُستَضاءُlight is drawn بهِfrom him
أغَرُّ مُستَظْهِرِيٌّ يُستَضاءُ بهِ
تَبَلَّجَdawned السّعْدُgood fortune عنهُfrom him وهوwhile he is مُقْتَبَلُin early youth
تَبَلَّجَ السّعْدُ عنهُ وهو مُقْتَبَلُ
Radiant, of al-Mustazhir's line, from whom light is drawn;
The horses curvet with joy in their rider,
Good fortune dawned from him while he was yet young.
The swords smile in their sheaths.
تَثْنيsways الخِلافَةُthe caliphate عِطْفَيهاher two sides بهِat him جَذَلاًin delight
تَثْني الخِلافَةُ عِطْفَيها بهِ جَذَلاً
لاmay not زالَcease يَسْتَنُّfrolicking فيin أعطافِهاher sides الجَذَلُjoy
لا زالَ يَسْتَنُّ في أعطافِها الجَذَلُ
The caliphate sways both her sides in delight at him;
This new moon will be revealed a full moon,
May joy never cease to frolic about her sides.
Drawing to him the reins of obedience.
والخيلُand the horses تَمْرَحُprance منْfrom عُجْبٍpride بِفارِسِهاin their rider
والخيلُ تَمْرَحُ منْ عُجْبٍ بِفارِسِها
والبيضُand white blades تَبْسِمُsmile فيin الأغْمادِthe sheaths والأسَلُand the spears
والبيضُ تَبْسِمُ في الأغْمادِ والأسَلُ
And horses prance in pride at their rider,
A scion grafted on the Abbasid line,
And white blades smile in their sheaths, as do the spears.
His roots joined to God's Messenger.
هذاthis الهِلالُcrescent سَتَجلوهُwill unveil it العُلاhigh glory قَمَراًas a full moon
هذا الهِلالُ سَتَجلوهُ العُلا قَمَراً
تُلقيcast إليهِto him عِنانَthe reins of الطّاعةِobedience المُقَلُeyes
تُلقي إليهِ عِنانَ الطّاعةِ المُقَلُ
This crescent will be unveiled by glory as a full moon;
Your Lord has granted you in children what
To him eyes cast the reins of obedience.
Their ancestors attained, fulfilling hopes.
فَرْعٌa branch تأثّلَtook firm root بالعبّاسِin al-Abbas مَغْرِسُهُits planting-place
فَرْعٌ تأثّلَ بالعبّاسِ مَغْرِسُهُ
وأصلُهُand its root برَسولِto the Messenger of اللهِGod مُتّصلُjoined
وأصلُهُ برَسولِ اللهِ مُتّصلُ
A branch whose stock took firm root in al-Abbas,
And whose root is joined to God's Messenger.
أعطاكَgave you ربُّكَyour Lord فيin الأولادِchildren ماwhat بَلَغَتْattained
أعطاكَ ربُّكَ في الأولادِ ما بَلَغَتْ
أجدادُهُمْtheir forefathers فيكَin you حتىuntil حُقِّقَwas fulfilled الأمَلُhope
أجدادُهُمْ فيكَ حتى حُقِّقَ الأمَلُ
Your Lord has given you in your children what was attained
By their forefathers in you, until hope was fulfilled.
Partial English translation: 78 of 82 Arabic lines translated.