هَلُمَّ يا لائِمي قَد أَثمَرَ البانُ

هَلُمَّ يا لائِمي قَد أَثمَرَ البانُ

وَاِنظُر فَواكِهَ فيها اللُبُّ حَيرانُ

وَاِنظُر فَواكِهَ فيها اللُبُّ حَيرانُ

Come, my reproacher: the ban tree has borne fruit.

Come now, my critic, the date palm has borne fruit

And look at fruits that leave the mind bewildered.

Look at its fruits, pure date syrup is puzzled

أَما تَرى خوطَ بانٍ في كَثيبِ نَقاً

أَما تَرى خوطَ بانٍ في كَثيبِ نَقاً

مُهَفهَفاً يَتَثَنّى وَهوَ رَيّانُ

مُهَفهَفاً يَتَثَنّى وَهوَ رَيّانُ

Do you not see a ban shoot in a dune of fine sand,

Don't you see palm trees lined on a sandy hill

slender-waisted, swaying, and full of sap?

Swaying gently while irrigated

فَالفَرعُ مِنهُ عَناقيدٌ وَوَجنَتُهُ

فَالفَرعُ مِنهُ عَناقيدٌ وَوَجنَتُهُ

تُفّاحُ لُبنانَ وَالنَهدانِ رُمّانُ

تُفّاحُ لُبنانَ وَالنَهدانِ رُمّانُ

For his locks are grape-clusters, and his cheek

Its branches are clusters and its trunks

the apples of Lebanon; his two breasts are pomegranates.

Are the apples of Lebanon and ripe pomegranates

هَذي فَواكِهُ ما تَنفَكُّ يانِعَةً

هَذي فَواكِهُ ما تَنفَكُّ يانِعَةً

فَدَع مَلامي فَمَن أَهواهُ بُستانُ

فَدَع مَلامي فَمَن أَهواهُ بُستانُ

These fruits never cease to be ripe,

These are the fruits that remain ripe

so cease reproaching me: the one I love is a garden.

So stop blaming me, for whoever loves an orchard

إِلى لَماهُ اِرتِياحُ الروحِ مُنبَعِثٌ

إِلى لَماهُ اِرتِياحُ الروحِ مُنبَعِثٌ

كَأَنَّ أَنفاسَهُ روحٌ وَرَيحانُ

كَأَنَّ أَنفاسَهُ روحٌ وَرَيحانُ

Toward his dusky lips the soul's yearning is stirred,

When he approaches it, his soul is elated

as though his breaths were solace and sweet basil.

As if his breaths were a spirit and sweet basil

أُسَبِّحُ اللَهَ إِعجاباً بِصورَتِهِ

أُسَبِّحُ اللَهَ إِعجاباً بِصورَتِهِ

إِذا رَنا وَكَأَنَّ الطَرفَ وَسنانُ

إِذا رَنا وَكَأَنَّ الطَرفَ وَسنانُ

I glorify God in admiration of his form

I glorify God in awe of His image

when he gazes, his glance seeming drowsy.

When it sings, as if eyelids and teeth were shining

بَكَيتُ في قُربِهِ مِن خَوفِ فُرقَتِهِ

بَكَيتُ في قُربِهِ مِن خَوفِ فُرقَتِهِ

علماً بِأَن سَوفَ يَتلو الوَصلَ هِجرانُ

علماً بِأَن سَوفَ يَتلو الوَصلَ هِجرانُ

I wept while near him, for fear of parting from him,

I wept in His presence out of fear of separation

knowing that estrangement would follow union.

Knowing that after union, estrangement is sure to follow

كَأَنَّما هُوَ حورِيٌّ يُبَشِّرُني

كَأَنَّما هُوَ حورِيٌّ يُبَشِّرُني

بِرَحمَةٍ وَرضىً لي مِنهُ رِضوانُ

بِرَحمَةٍ وَرضىً لي مِنهُ رِضوانُ

As though he were a houri, with glad tidings for me

It's as if He were a heavenly houris bringing good news

of mercy and favor from him, brought by Ridwan.

Of mercy and pleasure for me from Him as welcome

وَالأَشرَفُ المَلِكُ القَيلُ الجَوادُ لَهُ

وَالأَشرَفُ المَلِكُ القَيلُ الجَوادُ لَهُ

مَكارِمٌ تَملَأُ الدُنيا وَإِحسانُ

مَكارِمٌ تَملَأُ الدُنيا وَإِحسانُ

And al-Ashraf, the king, the generous sovereign, has

The most noble king, of few but precious words, for him

noble deeds and beneficence that fill the world.

There are virtues that fill the world with kindness

يُرجى نَداهُ وَلا تُخشى بَوادِرُهُ

يُرجى نَداهُ وَلا تُخشى بَوادِرُهُ

إِلا إِذا اِصطَدَمَت في الحَربِ فُرسانُ

إِلا إِذا اِصطَدَمَت في الحَربِ فُرسانُ

His bounty is hoped for, and his outbursts are not feared,

His benevolence is hoped for and his wrath is not feared

except when horsemen clash in battle.

Except when knights clash in battle

هُناكَ يَقتَنِصُ الأَبطال مُقتَدراً

هُناكَ يَقتَنِصُ الأَبطال مُقتَدراً

كَأَنَّهُ الصَقرُ وَالأَبطالُ خِربانُ

كَأَنَّهُ الصَقرُ وَالأَبطالُ خِربانُ

There he hunts down heroes with commanding power,

There he captures heroes with might

as though he were a falcon and the heroes bustards.

As if he were the falcon and heroes frightened sparrows

شاهَت وُجوهُ العِدا يا شاهَ أَرمَنَ فَال

شاهَت وُجوهُ العِدا يا شاهَ أَرمَنَ فَال

فِرنج وَالكَرج كُلٌّ مِنك خشيانُ

فِرنج وَالكَرج كُلٌّ مِنك خشيانُ

May the enemies' faces be disfigured, O Shah of Armenia, for the

The faces of enemies have paled, O King of Armenia

Franks and the Georgians all fear you.

Franks and Kurds all cower before you

حَتّامَ أَصدى وَهَذا البَحرُ مُعتَرِضٌ

حَتّامَ أَصدى وَهَذا البَحرُ مُعتَرِضٌ

يَفيضُ في كُلِّ قُطرٍ مِنهُ خُلجانُ

يَفيضُ في كُلِّ قُطرٍ مِنهُ خُلجانُ

How long shall I thirst while this sea lies before me,

Hot tempered yet this sea remains an obstacle

from which channels overflow through every region?

Overflowing in each of its turbulent depths

بَحرٌ يَفيضُ عَلى العافينَ جَوهَرُهُ ال

بَحرٌ يَفيضُ عَلى العافينَ جَوهَرُهُ ال

ثَمينُ وَهوَ عَلى العادينَ طوفانُ

ثَمينُ وَهوَ عَلى العادينَ طوفانُ

A sea whose precious jewels overflow upon those seeking bounty,

A sea that overflows with precious pearls for the capable

yet against aggressors it is a deluge.

Yet for the commoners is a deluge

كَفاكُمُ يا بَني شاذي أُمورَكُم

كَفاكُمُ يا بَني شاذي أُمورَكُم

مَلكٌ لِأَعدائِهِ بِالذُّلِّ إِذعانُ

مَلكٌ لِأَعدائِهِ بِالذُّلِّ إِذعانُ

Your affairs have been managed for you, O sons of Shadhi,

Enough of you, O Bani Shadhi, your affairs

by a king whose enemies submit in humiliation.

A king who to his enemies submits in humiliation

يَكسو السُيوفَ جُسومَ الناكِثينَ بِهِ

يَكسو السُيوفَ جُسومَ الناكِثينَ بِهِ

وَهامُهُم لِرِماحِ الخَطِّ تيجانُ

وَهامُهُم لِرِماحِ الخَطِّ تيجانُ

He clothes the swords in the bodies of those who betray him,

He adorns the swords of oath-breakers with their necks

and their heads are crowns for the spears of al-Khatt.

As their heads become crowns for spears of battle

يَغزو فَتَغدو المَنايا في أَسِنَّتِهِ

يَغزو فَتَغدو المَنايا في أَسِنَّتِهِ

مُستَنسِراتٍ عَلى العُقبانِ عُقبانُ

مُستَنسِراتٍ عَلى العُقبانِ عُقبانُ

He raids, and the deaths on his spearheads become

He wages war as deaths become articulated

eagles grown into vultures over the eagles.

On the beaks of vultures, vulture over vulture

قَد عَوَّدَ الطَيرَ عاداتٍ وَثِقنَ بِها

قَد عَوَّدَ الطَيرَ عاداتٍ وَثِقنَ بِها

يَومَ الوَغى فَهوَ مِطعامٌ وَمِطعانُ

يَومَ الوَغى فَهوَ مِطعامٌ وَمِطعانُ

He has accustomed the birds to habits they trust

He has accustomed the birds to habits, trusting them

on the day of battle: he feeds lavishly and thrusts fiercely.

On days of strife, they are food and feeders

مُستَحكِمُ الرَأيِ مُستَغنٍ بِوَحدَتِهِ

مُستَحكِمُ الرَأيِ مُستَغنٍ بِوَحدَتِهِ

عَنِ الرِجالِ جَريءُ القَلبِ يَقظانُ

عَنِ الرِجالِ جَريءُ القَلبِ يَقظانُ

Sound in judgment, self-sufficient alone,

With steadfast opinion, self-reliant in solitude

with no need of men, bold-hearted and watchful.

From men, stout of heart and vigilant

بِالأَشرَفِ اِنتَصَبَ الإِسلامُ وَاِرتَفَعَ ال

بِالأَشرَفِ اِنتَصَبَ الإِسلامُ وَاِرتَفَعَ ال

إيمانُ وَاِنخَفَضَت بِالذُلِّ صُلبانُ

إيمانُ وَاِنخَفَضَت بِالذُلِّ صُلبانُ

Through al-Ashraf Islam stood tall, and exalted was

With the most noble, Islam was exalted and faith rose high

faith, while crosses sank in humiliation.

While crosses were lowered in humiliation

مَتى اِنتَضى سَيفَهُ في الحَربِ قَطَّعَ أَو

مَتى اِنتَضى سَيفَهُ في الحَربِ قَطَّعَ أَو

صالاً وَفارَقَتِ الأَرواحَ أَبدانُ

صالاً وَفارَقَتِ الأَرواحَ أَبدانُ

Whenever he unsheathes his sword in battle, he severs

Whenever he raised his sword in war, he cut sinews

limbs, and bodies part from souls.

And souls departed from bodies

ذو عَزمَةٍ تَفلِقُ الصَخرَ الأَصَمَّ وَحِل

ذو عَزمَةٍ تَفلِقُ الصَخرَ الأَصَمَّ وَحِل

مٍ لا يُوازِنُهُ رَضوى وَثَهلانُ

مٍ لا يُوازِنُهُ رَضوى وَثَهلانُ

Possessed of resolve that cleaves solid rock, and forbearance

With resolve that splits solid deaf rock and determination

that neither Radwa nor Thahlan can equal in weight.

That cannot be matched, whether pleased or tired

مُبارَكُ الوَجهِ مَيمونٌ نَقيبَتُهُ

مُبارَكُ الوَجهِ مَيمونٌ نَقيبَتُهُ

كَأَنَّما وَجهُهُ يُمنٌ وَإيمانُ

كَأَنَّما وَجهُهُ يُمنٌ وَإيمانُ

Blessed of face, auspicious in his nature,

Blessed of face, auspicious is his leadership

as though his face were good fortune and faith.

As if his face were good fortune and faith

لَمّا رَماني زَماني في نَوائِبِهِ

لَمّا رَماني زَماني في نَوائِبِهِ

نادَيتُ لَستَ زَماناً أَنتَ إِزمانُ

نادَيتُ لَستَ زَماناً أَنتَ إِزمانُ

When my time hurled me into its calamities,

When my time betrayed me with its pitfalls

I cried, 'You are not time; you are crippling affliction!'

I called out, "You are not time, but torment!"

فَراحتي صَفِرَت مِن راحَتي وَأَنا

فَراحتي صَفِرَت مِن راحَتي وَأَنا

عَلى مُنادَمَةِ النُدمانِ نَدمانُ

عَلى مُنادَمَةِ النُدمانِ نَدمانُ

So my palm is empty of my comfort, and I

My comfort left me discomforted while I

regret drinking with the boon companions.

Remain in the company of regrets, regretting

كَم صاحِبٍ حاصِبٍ لي غَيرَ مُتَّئِبٍ

كَم صاحِبٍ حاصِبٍ لي غَيرَ مُتَّئِبٍ

فَالخِلُّ كَالخَلِّ وَالإِخوانُ خُوّانُ

فَالخِلُّ كَالخَلِّ وَالإِخوانُ خُوّانُ

How many a companion casts stones at me, unashamed!

How many bosom friends that were unkind to me

For the friend is like vinegar, and brothers are traitors.

So a friend is like an enemy, and brothers traitors

قَدِ اِدَّعى الشِّعرَ أَقوامٌ وَلَيسَ لَهُم

قَدِ اِدَّعى الشِّعرَ أَقوامٌ وَلَيسَ لَهُم

يَوماً عَلى ما اِدَّعوهُ فيهِ بُرهانُ

يَوماً عَلى ما اِدَّعوهُ فيهِ بُرهانُ

People have laid claim to poetry, yet they have no

Some have claimed poetry yet they don't have

proof, ever, for what they have claimed about it.

A single day's proof for their claim

تَفَرزَنوا وَتَبَيدَقنا وَما بَرِحوا

تَفَرزَنوا وَتَبَيدَقنا وَما بَرِحوا

بَيادِقاً وَأَنا في الصَّدرِ فِرزانُ

بَيادِقاً وَأَنا في الصَّدرِ فِرزانُ

They made themselves chess-viziers, and we became pawns, yet they remained

We were distinguished while they were imposters

pawns, while I am a vizier in the place of honor.

Yet they persisted as imposters while I was judicious in my chest

لأَقصُدَن مَلِكاً أَعيَت فَصاحَتُهُ

لأَقصُدَن مَلِكاً أَعيَت فَصاحَتُهُ

قُساً وَما نالَها مِن قَبلُ سَحبانُ

قُساً وَما نالَها مِن قَبلُ سَحبانُ

I shall surely seek a king whose eloquence has baffled

I will go to a king whose generosity exhausted petitions

Quss, and which Sahban never attained before.

That none before had attained, not even the pleading morning star

مُعطي الأُلوفِ وَطَعّانُ الأُلوفِ لَدى ال

مُعطي الأُلوفِ وَطَعّانُ الأُلوفِ لَدى ال

هَيجا إِذا أُوقِدَت لِلحَربِ نيرانُ

هَيجا إِذا أُوقِدَت لِلحَربِ نيرانُ

Giver of thousands and piercer of thousands in

Giver of thousands and spender of thousands with no

battle, when the fires of war are lit.

Reluctance when the fires of war are ignited

حَتّى أَعودَ وَحُسّادي تَقولُ لَقَد

حَتّى أَعودَ وَحُسّادي تَقولُ لَقَد

أَثرى مِنَ الفَضلِ وَالأَموالِ فِتيانُ

أَثرى مِنَ الفَضلِ وَالأَموالِ فِتيانُ

So that I return, my enviers saying, 'Indeed,

Until I return while my enviers say, "He has been

Fityan has grown rich in bounty and wealth.'

Enriched with grace and wealth, what a youth!"

يا أَيُّها المَلِكُ اِسلَم وَاِبقَ وَاِسمُ وَدُم

يا أَيُّها المَلِكُ اِسلَم وَاِبقَ وَاِسمُ وَدُم

ما يَمَّمَت حَجَّ بَيتِ اللَهِ رُكبانُ

ما يَمَّمَت حَجَّ بَيتِ اللَهِ رُكبانُ

O king, be safe, live on, rise high, and endure,

O king, embrace Islam, live long, be prosperous, let blood

as long as riders head for pilgrimage to the House of God.

Flow, for pilgrims have not ceased circumambulating God's House

وعشتَ ما عاشه نوحٌ ونلت مدى ال

وعشتَ ما عاشه نوحٌ ونلت مدى ال

مُلكِ الذي نالَهُ قِدماً سليمانُ

مُلكِ الذي نالَهُ قِدماً سليمانُ

And may you live as long as Noah lived, and attain the extent of

And live long as Noah lived and attain the extent

the dominion Solomon attained of old.

Of kingdom that Solomon attained long ago