هاجتْ هواكَ منازلٌ وديارُ

هاجتْ هواكَ منازلٌ وديارُ

دَرَسَتْ معالمهنَّ فهي قِفَارُ

دَرَسَتْ معالمهنَّ فهي قِفَارُ

Dwellings and abodes have stirred your longing;

Your abode has become desolate, and homes are in ruins.

their landmarks have worn away, so they are barren wastes.

Their features have been erased, so they are barren lands.

ولقد يكونُ ولي بهنَّ مآلفٌ

ولقد يكونُ ولي بهنَّ مآلفٌ

إذ هندُ هندُ وإذ نَوارُ نَوار

إذ هندُ هندُ وإذ نَوارُ نَوار

And indeed, I once had familiar haunts among them,

And yet, perhaps I will find intimacy in them,

when Hind was Hind and when Nawar was Nawar.

As India is India, and Nawar is Nawar.

لا غَرْو أن تبكي لرسمِ مَنازلٍ

لا غَرْو أن تبكي لرسمِ مَنازلٍ

ما في البكاءِ على المنازلِ عار

ما في البكاءِ على المنازلِ عار

No wonder you weep for the trace of dwellings;

Do not grieve over the traces of dwellings.

there is no shame in weeping over dwellings.

There is no shame in crying for dwellings.

رَبْعٌ نأى عنه الأَنيسُ فما به

رَبْعٌ نأى عنه الأَنيسُ فما به

إِلاَّ وحوشٌ رُتَّعٌ وَصِوارُ

إِلاَّ وحوشٌ رُتَّعٌ وَصِوارُ

A dwelling from which human company has departed; nothing is there

A land the beloved has abandoned, so it contains

except grazing wild beasts and a herd of wild cattle.

Only beasts, rabbits, and whistling winds.

واستضحكتْ فرحاً به الأَطيار

واستضحكتْ فرحاً به الأَطيار

غنَّى الحمامُ تطرُّباً فكأَنَّما

غنَّى الحمامُ تطرُّباً فكأَنَّما

And the birds burst into laughter there for joy.

The birds rejoiced there happily as if

The doves sang in rapture, as though

The doves cooed joyfully, and it seemed

دارتْ عليهنَّ الغداةَ عُقار

دارتْ عليهنَّ الغداةَ عُقار

وأُعيرَ وَجْهُ الأرضِ من أنوارها

وأُعيرَ وَجْهُ الأرضِ من أنوارها

wine had gone round among them that morning.

The morn circled above them offering wine.

And the face of the earth was lent, from its blossoms,

The face of the earth borrowed its lights

ما لم يكنْ من قبلِ ذاك يُعَار

ما لم يكنْ من قبلِ ذاك يُعَار

وتأزرتْ تلك الرُّبى بمطارِفٍ

وتأزرتْ تلك الرُّبى بمطارِفٍ

what had never been lent before then.

That were never lent before.

And those hills girded themselves with bordered cloaks

Those hills wore green mantles,

خُضْرٍ وأبدتْ حُسْنَها الأسحار

خُضْرٍ وأبدتْ حُسْنَها الأسحار

نَوْرٌ أنارَ على رُباها فاغتدتْ

نَوْرٌ أنارَ على رُباها فاغتدتْ

of green, and the predawn hours revealed their beauty.

And displayed their beauty at dawn.

Blossoms lit up its hills, and morning found them

A light that illuminated its dwellers so they became

وعلى الرُّبى من نَوْرِه أنوارُ

وعلى الرُّبى من نَوْرِه أنوارُ

وردٌ وخيريٌّ يَلُوحُ ونرجِسٌ

وردٌ وخيريٌّ يَلُوحُ ونرجِسٌ

with lights upon the hills from its bloom.

Radiant, and the hills had lights from its light.

Roses, gleaming wallflowers, and narcissi,

Roses, clover blooming, narcissi,

وبنفسجٌ وشَقائقٌ وَبَهار

وبنفسجٌ وشَقائقٌ وَبَهار

أبدتْ بطونُ رياضِهِ بأدِلَّةٍ

أبدتْ بطونُ رياضِهِ بأدِلَّةٍ

and violets, anemones, and yellow oxeyes.

Violets, daisies, and blossoms.

The interiors of its gardens gave evidence;

Their meadows appeared with young gazelles

العيونُ تغار

العيونُ تغار

فكأَنَّ أخضره المريعَ زُمُرُّدٌ

فكأَنَّ أخضره المريعَ زُمُرُّدٌ

the eyes grow jealous.

Whose eyes compete in brilliance.

So its lush green was like emerald,

As if its lush green were emeralds,

وكأَنّ أصفرَهُ البديعَ نُضار

وكأَنّ أصفرَهُ البديعَ نُضار

نشر الخزامى الغضُّ طيَّبَ نَشْرِهِ

نشر الخزامى الغضُّ طيَّبَ نَشْرِهِ

and its exquisite yellow was like pure gold.

And its beautiful yellow were fresh jujubes.

The fresh scent of lavender sweetened its fragrance;

The lavender spread its fragrance profusely

فأَضاءَ حوذانٌ ولاح عَرار

فأَضاءَ حوذانٌ ولاح عَرار

يا صاحبيَّ ذرا الملامَ وأقْصِرا

يا صاحبيَّ ذرا الملامَ وأقْصِرا

then buttercups shone, and oxeyes gleamed.

Lighting up the valleys and slopes.

My two companions, abandon reproach and leave

My friend, leave blame and shorten your rebuke of me

عنِّي فما حَسَنٌ به الإقصار

عنِّي فما حَسَنٌ به الإقصار

لا عُذْر لي إِنْ لم أُقم أَوَدَ الصِّبا

لا عُذْر لي إِنْ لم أُقم أَوَدَ الصِّبا

me be; restraint in this is no good.

For brevity in rebuke is best.

I have no excuse if I do not set youth's crookedness straight,

I have no excuse if I don’t live my youth vigorously

ما لم يَشِبْ لي مَفْرِقٌ وَعِذار

ما لم يَشِبْ لي مَفْرِقٌ وَعِذار

وَمُهَفْهَفٍ يجري الوشاحُ بخصرِهِ

وَمُهَفْهَفٍ يجري الوشاحُ بخصرِهِ

so long as my parted hair and sideburns have not turned gray.

Before my temples turn gray and my vigor wanes.

And a slender-waisted one, round whose waist the sash flows,

A damsel with fluttering robe and sash around her waist

ويضيقُ عنه دُمْلُجٌ وَسِوار

ويضيقُ عنه دُمْلُجٌ وَسِوار

نازعتُهُ حمراءَ يحسبُ أنها

نازعتُهُ حمراءَ يحسبُ أنها

while an armlet and a bracelet are too tight for him.

Too narrow for her statue and bracelets.

I shared red wine with him; he thought it was

I disputed with her, thinking her blush to be

برقٌ تأَلَّقَ ضوؤُهُ أو نارُ

برقٌ تأَلَّقَ ضوؤُهُ أو نارُ

عُمْرِيَّةٌ ما أن تَقَضَّى عُمْرُهُا

عُمْرِيَّةٌ ما أن تَقَضَّى عُمْرُهُا

lightning whose light flashed, or fire.

Lightning whose glow flashed or fire.

An 'Umriyya wine, whose lifespan did not end

A life that no sooner its life is over

حتى تَقَضَّتْ دونه الأعمار

حتى تَقَضَّتْ دونه الأعمار

في قَعْرِ دَنٍّ لم تزل في قَعْرِهِ

في قَعْرِ دَنٍّ لم تزل في قَعْرِهِ

until lifetimes had ended before its own.

Than the lives before it have ended.

In the bottom of a wine jar, it remained in its depths

In the depth of a pit that did not cease to be in its depth

حتى تزايلَ طينُهُ والقار

حتى تزايلَ طينُهُ والقار

فعليه من نسجِ العناكبِ حُلَّةٌ

فعليه من نسجِ العناكبِ حُلَّةٌ

until its clay and pitch came apart.

Until its clay and tar diminished.

So upon it lay a robe of spiders' weaving,

On him is a garment of spider webs woven

منسوجةٌ ومن الغبارِ إِزار

منسوجةٌ ومن الغبارِ إِزار

وإِلى أبي عبد الإله عَدَتْ بنا

وإِلى أبي عبد الإله عَدَتْ بنا

woven, and a waistcloth of dust.

And a loincloth of dust.

And toward Abu 'Abd al-Ilah sped, bearing us,

And to Abi Abdillah we have returned after

نُجُبٌ تَقَسَّمُ نُحْضَها الأسفار

نُجُبٌ تَقَسَّمُ نُحْضَها الأسفار

إن المطَهَّرَ جعفرَ بنَ محمدٍ

إن المطَهَّرَ جعفرَ بنَ محمدٍ

noble camels whose flesh journeys wear away.

A separation that divided its yearnings.

Indeed, the purified Ja'far son of Muhammad

Verily, the pure Ja'far ibn Muhammad

بَرُّ يفوزُ بحبِّهِ الأبرارُ

بَرُّ يفوزُ بحبِّهِ الأبرارُ

سمحُ السجيةِ باسطٌ لِعُفَاتِهِ

سمحُ السجيةِ باسطٌ لِعُفَاتِهِ

is righteous; the righteous prosper through his love.

Is righteous, succeeding through his love of the devout.

Generous by nature, he offers his petitioners

Open-handed, extending his palms,

وَجْهاً عليه مهابةٌ ووقار

وَجْهاً عليه مهابةٌ ووقار

نجمٌ تفَرَّقَ عن سناهُ أنجمٌ

نجمٌ تفَرَّقَ عن سناهُ أنجمٌ

a face bearing majesty and dignity.

His face commanding awe and dignity.

A star, from whose radiance stars have spread,

A star whose beams are scattered by stars surrounding it,

بحرٌ تَشعَّبَ من نداهُ بحار

بحرٌ تَشعَّبَ من نداهُ بحار

قرمٌ رأى بَذْلَ المكارمِ هيّناً

قرمٌ رأى بَذْلَ المكارمِ هيّناً

a sea, from whose bounty seas have branched.

An ocean branched into seas from its abundance.

A chief who deemed bestowing noble favors easy,

A full moon who saw generosity as effortless,

فكبارُها أبداً لديه صغار

فكبارُها أبداً لديه صغار

أنت المقدَّمُ والمعظَّمُ والذي

أنت المقدَّمُ والمعظَّمُ والذي

so the greatest of them are always small to him.

Thus, its greatest acts are small in his eyes.

You are the foremost, the honored, and the one

You are the foremost, the revered, the one

بِيدَيْهِ حَلَّ النَّقْضُ والإمرار

بِيدَيْهِ حَلَّ النَّقْضُ والإمرار

ما حلَّ مصراً قطُّ مثلُكَ آخرُ

ما حلَّ مصراً قطُّ مثلُكَ آخرُ

in whose two hands lie undoing and binding.

In whose hands lies acceptance and rejection.

No other like you has ever settled in a city,

Never did Egypt have a ruler like you before,

فلذاك تحسدُ مصرَك الأمصار

فلذاك تحسدُ مصرَك الأمصار

روضُ الأماني من نوالك مُعْشِبٌ

روضُ الأماني من نوالك مُعْشِبٌ

and so the cities envy your city.

And so the capitals envy your Egypt.

The meadow of wishes is lush from your gifts,

The garden of wishes is verdant with your gift

وسماءُ جودِكَ بالنَّدى مِدْرار

وسماءُ جودِكَ بالنَّدى مِدْرار

وَطِوالٌ أيامِ الزمانِ على الورى

وَطِوالٌ أيامِ الزمانِ على الورى

and the sky of your generosity pours abundant dew.

And the sky of your bounty pours with dew.

And time's long days, for humankind,

The days of time boast longevity to mankind

مما بَلَوْا من ظِلِّهنَّ قِصار

مما بَلَوْا من ظِلِّهنَّ قِصار

خَشَعَتْ لهيبتك القلوبُ وأطرقت

خَشَعَتْ لهيبتك القلوبُ وأطرقت

are short, because of what they have known of their shade.

Of the briefness of their shade.

Hearts bowed before your majesty, and downcast

Hearts are humbled by your awe, and sights lowered

خوفاً وإِجلالاً لك الأَبصارُ

خوفاً وإِجلالاً لك الأَبصارُ

لولا أحاديثٌ مَضَتْ لملوككمْ

لولا أحاديثٌ مَضَتْ لملوككمْ

were the eyes, in fear and reverence for you.

In fear and reverence of you.

Had no tales of your kings circulated

Were it not for accounts of your kings that circulated

في الناسِ لم تكُ تُعْرَفُ الأسمار

في الناسِ لم تكُ تُعْرَفُ الأسمار

ولكمْ مناقبُ لا مناقبَ مثلُها

ولكمْ مناقبُ لا مناقبَ مثلُها

among people, evening tales would not be known.

Among the people, lineages would not be known.

And you have virtues; no virtues like them

And you have virtues that have no equal

جاءتْ بها الأَخبار والآثار

جاءتْ بها الأَخبار والآثار

ما إِنْ يُقَاسُ بجودكم جودٌ ولا

ما إِنْ يُقَاسُ بجودكم جودٌ ولا

have been conveyed by reports and traditions.

Brought by narrations and antiquities.

No generosity can be compared with yours, nor

No bounty can be compared to your bounty

بفخاركم أبداً يُقَاسُ فخار

بفخاركم أبداً يُقَاسُ فخار

إني لأَضْمِرُ من ودادِكَ في الحشا

إني لأَضْمِرُ من ودادِكَ في الحشا

can any glory ever be compared with your glory.

Nor glory ever compared to your glory.

Indeed, I harbor within my breast, of love for you,

Though I profess outwardly little of my affection for you

أضعافَ ما قد بَثَّهُ الإظهار

أضعافَ ما قد بَثَّهُ الإظهار

كنْ أنتَ نعمَ الجارَ يا ابنَ محمدٍ

كنْ أنتَ نعمَ الجارَ يا ابنَ محمدٍ

many times what outward expression has revealed.

Inwardly it is manifold.

Be, yourself, an excellent neighbor, O son of Muhammad,

Be a good neighbor, O son of Muhammad

إذ كان هذا الدهرُ بئسَ الجار

إذ كان هذا الدهرُ بئسَ الجار

كلُّ الورى بجميلِ شُكْركَ ناطقٌ

كلُّ الورى بجميلِ شُكْركَ ناطقٌ

since this age has been a wretched neighbor.

Since this life is a wretched neighbor.

All humankind speaks with gracious thanks to you,

All the world praises your generosity

حتى لكادتْ تنطقُ الأحجار

حتى لكادتْ تنطقُ الأحجار

وكأَنما الدنيا بقربِكَ جَنَّةٌ

وكأَنما الدنيا بقربِكَ جَنَّةٌ

so that even the stones have almost spoken.

Even pebbles almost speak of it.

And the world near you is as though a paradise,

It is as though, with your presence, life is paradise

والليلُ منها للأنامِ نهار

والليلُ منها للأنامِ نهار

فلئن كفرنا نَعمةً أنعمتها

فلئن كفرنا نَعمةً أنعمتها

and its night is day for humankind.

And its night for people is day.

So if we are ungrateful for a blessing you bestowed

If we show ingratitude for a favor you have granted

يوماً علينا إِننا كُفَّار

يوماً علينا إِننا كُفَّار

أصبحتَ ما لكَ من هوىً غير العلى

أصبحتَ ما لكَ من هوىً غير العلى

on us one day, we are indeed ingrates.

Indeed we are ungrateful.

You have come to desire nothing but lofty honor,

You have become disinterested in all passions but the sublime

والناسُ في أهوائهمْ أوطار

والناسُ في أهوائهمْ أوطار

while people have their wants amid their passions.

While people wander in their whims.