أَهوىً وَحَرُّ جَوىً بِكُم وَفِراقُ

أَهوىً وَحَرُّ جَوىً بِكُم وَفِراقُ

أَيُّ الثَلاثِ الفادِحاتِ يُطاقُ

أَيُّ الثَلاثِ الفادِحاتِ يُطاقُ

Passion, the searing torment of love for you, and parting—

Love, burning anguish for you, and separation?

which of these three crushing calamities can be borne?

Which of these three crushing afflictions can be borne?

لا تَجمَعُوا البَلوى عَلَيَّ فَرُبَّما

لا تَجمَعُوا البَلوى عَلَيَّ فَرُبَّما

جُمِعَ الضِرامُ فَعُجِّلَ الإِحراقُ

جُمِعَ الضِرامُ فَعُجِّلَ الإِحراقُ

Do not heap affliction upon me; for sometimes

Do not heap affliction upon me; often

the kindling is piled together, and the burning hastened.

kindling is gathered, and the burning hastened.

يَحلُو الهَوى لِلعاشِقِينَ وَطَعمُهُ

يَحلُو الهَوى لِلعاشِقِينَ وَطَعمُهُ

لَو عِيفَ بِئسَ الطَعمُ حِينَ يُذاقُ

لَو عِيفَ بِئسَ الطَعمُ حِينَ يُذاقُ

Love tastes sweet to lovers, though its savor,

Love is sweet to lovers; yet its flavor,

if one recoiled from it, would taste wretched indeed.

if found repugnant, is a wretched flavor when tasted.

قَتَلَتهُمُ البِيضُ الرِقاقُ وَما احتَمَوا

قَتَلَتهُمُ البِيضُ الرِقاقُ وَما احتَمَوا

عَنها بِبِيضِ الهِندِ وَهِيَ رِقاقُ

عَنها بِبِيضِ الهِندِ وَهِيَ رِقاقُ

The slender fair ones slew them, and they found no shelter

Fair, delicate women slew them, and they did not shield themselves

from them in India’s slender, gleaming blades.

against them with India's bright swords, slender though they are.

كُلُّ الدِماءِ لِأَهلَها مَضمُونَةٌ

كُلُّ الدِماءِ لِأَهلَها مَضمُونَةٌ

إِلّا دَمٌ يَومَ الفِراقِ يُراقُ

إِلّا دَمٌ يَومَ الفِراقِ يُراقُ

All shed blood is a debt guaranteed to the victim’s kin,

For all bloodshed, its kin are guaranteed recompense,

except the blood poured out upon the day of parting.

except blood shed on the day of parting.

سَنَحَت لَنا بَينَ السَديدِ وَبارِقٍ

سَنَحَت لَنا بَينَ السَديدِ وَبارِقٍ

ظَبَياتُ إِنسٍ ما لَها أَرواقُ

ظَبَياتُ إِنسٍ ما لَها أَرواقُ

There appeared to us, between al-Saʿīd and Bāriq,

Between al-Sadid and Bariq there appeared to us

human gazelles—though they possessed no horns.

gazelles of humankind, without horns.

بِيضُ المَباسِمِ وَالمَعاصِمِ وَالطُلى

بِيضُ المَباسِمِ وَالمَعاصِمِ وَالطُلى

لا الشَتُّ مَطعَمُها وَلا الطُبّاقُ

لا الشَتُّ مَطعَمُها وَلا الطُبّاقُ

White were their smiles, their wrists, and their necks;

White of teeth, wrists, and necks,

neither shathth nor tubbaq was their pasture.

neither shatt nor tubbaq plants are their food.

لَونُ المَخانِقِ وَالحُلِيِّ يَدُلُّنا

لَونُ المَخانِقِ وَالحُلِيِّ يَدُلُّنا

أَنَّ المَخانِقَ مِثلَنا عُشّاقُ

أَنَّ المَخانِقَ مِثلَنا عُشّاقُ

The color of their necklaces and ornaments tells us

The color of necklaces and ornaments tells us

that necklaces, like us, are lovers too.

that necklaces, like us, are lovers.

لَو لَم تَجِد بِهَوى الأَحِبَّةِ وَجدَنا

لَو لَم تَجِد بِهَوى الأَحِبَّةِ وَجدَنا

ما اصفَرَّتِ الأَحجالُ وَالأَطواقُ

ما اصفَرَّتِ الأَحجالُ وَالأَطواقُ

Had they not felt in loving the beloved what we feel,

Had they not felt our longing through love of the beloved,

their anklets and their collars would not have yellowed.

the anklets and neck-rings would not have yellowed.

يا صاحِبيَّ تَأَمَّلا هَل بِالحِمى

يا صاحِبيَّ تَأَمَّلا هَل بِالحِمى

ظُعُنٌ لِخَولَةَ بِالعَشِيِّ تُساقُ

ظُعُنٌ لِخَولَةَ بِالعَشِيِّ تُساقُ

My two companions, look: is there within the protected land

My two companions, look closely: are there in the protected pasture

a caravan of Khawla’s women being driven on at evening?

Khawla's camel-borne litters being driven at evening?

مِثلُ النَخِيلِ المُشمَخِرِّ زَهَت بِهِ

مِثلُ النَخِيلِ المُشمَخِرِّ زَهَت بِهِ

غِبَّ الصَباحِ أَواعِسٌ وَبُراقُ

غِبَّ الصَباحِ أَواعِسٌ وَبُراقُ

Like lofty date palms, made resplendent

Like towering palms, adorning

after morning by dusky and bright-white camels;

pale and piebald camels after dawn.

أَو كَالسَفِينِ فَلا يَكُونُ عُبابُهُ

أَو كَالسَفِينِ فَلا يَكُونُ عُبابُهُ

إِلّا الضُحى وَسَرابُهُ الخَفّاقُ

إِلّا الضُحى وَسَرابُهُ الخَفّاقُ

or like ships whose billowing sea is nothing

Or like ships, whose swelling sea is nothing

but the morning light and the quivering mirage.

but morning light and its flickering mirage.

وَلَقَد سَرَيتُ وَمُؤنِسِي مُتَماُيلٌ

وَلَقَد سَرَيتُ وَمُؤنِسِي مُتَماُيلٌ

مَيلَ النَزِيفِ مُرَوَّعٌ مِقلاقُ

مَيلَ النَزِيفِ مُرَوَّعٌ مِقلاقُ

I traveled by night, my companion swaying,

Indeed, I journeyed by night, my companion swaying

like one bled dry—startled and anxious;

like a drunkard, startled and restless.

في لَونِهِ كَلَفٌ وَفِي أَعضائِهِ

في لَونِهِ كَلَفٌ وَفِي أَعضائِهِ

قَضَفٌ وَفِي أَوصالِهِ اِستِثاقُ

قَضَفٌ وَفِي أَوصالِهِ اِستِثاقُ

a mottling in his color, and in his limbs

In its color is dark mottling, and in its limbs

leanness, while all his joints were firmly knit;

slenderness, while its joints are firmly bound.

عارِي العِظامِ دُوَينَ مَفرِقِ رَأسِهِ

عارِي العِظامِ دُوَينَ مَفرِقِ رَأسِهِ

مِثلُ النِطاقِ ذُؤابَةٌ وَنِطاقُ

مِثلُ النِطاقِ ذُؤابَةٌ وَنِطاقُ

bare-boned, with, just below the crown of his head,

Bare-boned, just below the parting of its head

a forelock like a belt, and a belt around him.

are a tassel like a girdle, and a girdle.

هَذا وَماءٌ جامِدٌ مِمّا اِقتَنى

هَذا وَماءٌ جامِدٌ مِمّا اِقتَنى

أَزمانَهُ المُتَجَبِّرُ العِملاقُ

أَزمانَهُ المُتَجَبِّرُ العِملاقُ

And this—a blade of frozen water, among the treasures amassed

This, and frozen water, from what was once owned

in his ages by the overbearing giant;

in his days by the tyrannical giant.

طالَ الزَمانُ عَلَيهِ حَتّى أَنَّهُ

طالَ الزَمانُ عَلَيهِ حَتّى أَنَّهُ

لَم يَبقَ إِلّا ماؤُهُ الرَقراقُ

لَم يَبقَ إِلّا ماؤُهُ الرَقراقُ

time passed over it so long that

So long has time passed over it that

nothing remained but its clear, rippling gleam.

nothing remains but its shimmering water.

نِعمَ الرَفيقُ إِذا المَفاوِزُ لَم يَكُن

نِعمَ الرَفيقُ إِذا المَفاوِزُ لَم يَكُن

فِيهِنَّ لِلرَجُلِ الوَحيدِ رِفاقُ

فِيهِنَّ لِلرَجُلِ الوَحيدِ رِفاقُ

An excellent companion whenever the wastelands hold

What a fine companion, when in the desert wastes

no companions for the solitary man.

the solitary man has no companions!

تَرمِي بِرَحلِي في الفِجاجِ وَنُمرُقِي

تَرمِي بِرَحلِي في الفِجاجِ وَنُمرُقِي

قَذّافَهُ زَيّافَةٌ مِطراقُ

قَذّافَهُ زَيّافَةٌ مِطراقُ

She casts my saddle and cushion through the mountain tracks—

Through the passes she tosses my saddle and cushion—

far-flinging, swift-striding, hammering the road.

a tossing, proudly striding, easy-paced she-camel.

أَمّا إِذا جَدَّ النَجاءُ فَإِنَّها

أَمّا إِذا جَدَّ النَجاءُ فَإِنَّها

بَرقٌ وَأَمّا إِن وَنَت فَبُراقُ

بَرقٌ وَأَمّا إِن وَنَت فَبُراقُ

When escape grows urgent, she is

When swift travel becomes urgent, she is

lightning; and when she slackens, she is Burāq.

lightning; and if she slackens, she is Buraq.

سَيرُ المَطِيِّ تَناعُسٌ وَتَقاعُسٌ

سَيرُ المَطِيِّ تَناعُسٌ وَتَقاعُسٌ

تَحتَ الظَلامِ وَسَيرُها إِعناقُ

تَحتَ الظَلامِ وَسَيرُها إِعناقُ

Other mounts proceed in drowsy, lagging steps

The riding beasts move drowsily and sluggishly

beneath the darkness, while hers is a headlong pace.

beneath the darkness, while hers is a swift stride.

وَصَلَت إِلى حَلَبٍ تُحاوِلُ رِزقَها

وَصَلَت إِلى حَلَبٍ تُحاوِلُ رِزقَها

مِمَّن تُحاوَلُ عِندَهُ الأَرزاقُ

مِمَّن تُحاوَلُ عِندَهُ الأَرزاقُ

She reached Aleppo, seeking her sustenance

She reached Aleppo, seeking her sustenance

from him at whose hands all sustenance is sought.

from him with whom livelihoods are sought.

فَأَتَت كَرِيمَ الخِيمِ عادَةُ كَفِّهِ الن

فَأَتَت كَرِيمَ الخِيمِ عادَةُ كَفِّهِ الن

نُعمى وَعادَةُ مالِهِ الإِنفاقُ

نُعمى وَعادَةُ مالِهِ الإِنفاقُ

She came to the noble-natured man, whose hand is accustomed to

So she came to one noble in nature, whose hand is accustomed to

bestowing blessings, and whose wealth is accustomed to being spent.

bounty, and whose wealth is accustomed to being spent.

حُلوُ الجَنى وَإذا يُهاجُ فَإِنَّهُ

حُلوُ الجَنى وَإذا يُهاجُ فَإِنَّهُ

مُرٌّ بِما ساءَ العَدُوَّ زُعاقُ

مُرٌّ بِما ساءَ العَدُوَّ زُعاقُ

Sweet is his fruit; but when provoked, he is

Sweet in fruit, but when provoked he is

bitter with what pains the enemy—a deadly draught.

bitter and briny in what brings the enemy grief.

يُغنِي وَيُفقِرُ واهِباً أَو سالِباً

يُغنِي وَيُفقِرُ واهِباً أَو سالِباً

مُذ كانَ فَهوَ الحارِمُ الرَزّاقُ

مُذ كانَ فَهوَ الحارِمُ الرَزّاقُ

He enriches and impoverishes, granting or depriving;

He enriches and impoverishes, giving or taking;

ever has he been the withholder and the provider.

ever since he came to be, he has been the withholder and provider.

كَالعارِضِ الوَطِفِ الَّذي في طَيِّهِ ال

كَالعارِضِ الوَطِفِ الَّذي في طَيِّهِ ال

إِرهام وَالإِرعادُ وَالإِبراقُ

إِرهام وَالإِرعادُ وَالإِبراقُ

Like a thick-fleeced raincloud whose folds contain

Like a dense, drooping raincloud holding in its folds

steady rain, thunder, and lightning.

gentle rain, thunder, and lightning.

جَلدٌ عَلى نُوَبِ الزَمانِ وَرَيبِهِ

جَلدٌ عَلى نُوَبِ الزَمانِ وَرَيبِهِ

ساعٍ إلى أَمَدِ العُلى سَبّاقُ

ساعٍ إلى أَمَدِ العُلى سَبّاقُ

Steeled against time’s assaults and uncertainties,

Steadfast against time's calamities and reversals,

he races foremost toward the furthest reach of glory.

striving for the farthest reaches of glory, leading the race.

لا طائِشٌ وَهَلٌ وَلا مُتَعَجرِفٌ

لا طائِشٌ وَهَلٌ وَلا مُتَعَجرِفٌ

عَجِلٌ وَلا مُتَلَوِّنٌ مِخراقُ

عَجِلٌ وَلا مُتَلَوِّنٌ مِخراقُ

Neither flighty nor fearful, nor overbearing;

Neither rash and timorous, nor arrogant

neither rash nor fickle, nor a swaggering deceiver.

and hasty, nor fickle and boastful.

مَحضُ الأُبُوَّةِ وَالمُرُوَّةِ خالِصٌ

مَحضُ الأُبُوَّةِ وَالمُرُوَّةِ خالِصٌ

طابَ النِجارُ فَطابَتِ الأَعراقُ

طابَ النِجارُ فَطابَتِ الأَعراقُ

The pure essence of noble parentage and chivalry—

Pure in ancestry and manly virtue, unalloyed;

his stock was good, and so his roots were good.

his stock is noble, and so his roots are noble.

لا يُحمَدُ الخَلقُ الجَميلُ مِنَ الفَتى

لا يُحمَدُ الخَلقُ الجَميلُ مِنَ الفَتى

حَتّى يَتِمَّ فَتُحمَدَ الأَخلاقُ

حَتّى يَتِمَّ فَتُحمَدَ الأَخلاقُ

A young man’s beautiful nature is not praised

A young man's handsome form is not praised

until it is complete; then all his qualities are praised.

until he is complete, and his character is praised.

مَن يَلقَ فَخرَ المُلكِ يَلقَ حُلاحِلاً

مَن يَلقَ فَخرَ المُلكِ يَلقَ حُلاحِلاً

ما لِلنُضارِ بِراحَتَيهِ مَلاقُ

ما لِلنُضارِ بِراحَتَيهِ مَلاقُ

Whoever encounters the glory of his sovereignty meets a mighty lord

Whoever meets Fakhr al-Mulk meets a mighty chief,

in whose two palms gold finds no resting place.

with gold finding no resting place in his palms.

مُغرىً بِحُبِّ المَكرُوماتِ كَأَنَّها ال

مُغرىً بِحُبِّ المَكرُوماتِ كَأَنَّها ال

عَذراءُ وَهوَ المُدنَفُ المُشتاقُ

عَذراءُ وَهوَ المُدنَفُ المُشتاقُ

Enamored of noble deeds, as though they were a

Enamored of noble deeds, as though they were the

virgin and he the lovesick, yearning lover.

virgin, and he the lovesick, yearning lover.

يُعطِي عَلى عُسرٍ وَيُسرٍ لا الغِنى

يُعطِي عَلى عُسرٍ وَيُسرٍ لا الغِنى

مِمّا يُغَيِّرُهُ وَلا الإِملاقُ

مِمّا يُغَيِّرُهُ وَلا الإِملاقُ

He gives in hardship and in ease: neither wealth

He gives in hardship and ease; neither riches

changes him, nor destitution.

nor destitution is something that changes him.

كَرَماً يُنالُ بِهِ العُلى وَمَناقباً

كَرَماً يُنالُ بِهِ العُلى وَمَناقباً

غُرّاً تَطُولُ بِمثلِها الأَعناقُ

غُرّاً تَطُولُ بِمثلِها الأَعناقُ

Through generosity the heights are won, and through resplendent

Generosity through which glory is won, and distinctions

virtues such as his all necks stretch upward.

radiant, whose like make necks rise tall.

لَولا أَبو العُلوانِ لَم يَكُ لِلنَدى

لَولا أَبو العُلوانِ لَم يَكُ لِلنَدى

سُوقٌ وَلَم يَكُ لِلقَريضِ نَفاقُ

سُوقٌ وَلَم يَكُ لِلقَريضِ نَفاقُ

Were it not for Abū al-ʿUlwān, generosity would have no

Were it not for Abu al-Ulwan, generosity would have no

market, nor poetry any currency.

market, nor would poetry find a ready sale.

إِنَّ المَكارِمَ ما لِخَلقٍ غَيرِهِ

إِنَّ المَكارِمَ ما لِخَلقٍ غَيرِهِ

لا وَاجِبٌ فِيها وَلا اِستِحقاقُ

لا وَاجِبٌ فِيها وَلا اِستِحقاقُ

High virtues belong to no creature but him—

Indeed, no creature other than he has in noble deeds

neither duty nor rightful claim compels them.

any due share or rightful claim.

مَلِكٌ تَعُوذُ بِهِ المُلوكُ إِذا نَبا

مَلِكٌ تَعُوذُ بِهِ المُلوكُ إِذا نَبا

شامٌ بِها وَجَزيرَةٌ وَعِراقُ

شامٌ بِها وَجَزيرَةٌ وَعِراقُ

A king in whom other kings take refuge when hostility rises

A king in whom kings seek refuge when

in Syria, the Jazira, and Iraq.

al-Sham, al-Jazira, and Iraq cast them out.

لَكُمُ الأَمانُ مِنَ الزَمانِ بِقُربِهِ

لَكُمُ الأَمانُ مِنَ الزَمانِ بِقُربِهِ

لا نَبوَةٌ تُخشى وَلا إِرهاقُ

لا نَبوَةٌ تُخشى وَلا إِرهاقُ

Near him, you are safe from the assaults of time:

Near him, you have safety from time;

no recoil is feared, and no exhaustion.

no setback is feared, nor any crushing hardship.

إِمّا اِصطِلاحٌ أَو كِفاحٌ بِالقَنا

إِمّا اِصطِلاحٌ أَو كِفاحٌ بِالقَنا

حَتّى يُعَصفِرَها الدَمُ المُهراقُ

حَتّى يُعَصفِرَها الدَمُ المُهراقُ

Either reconciliation—or combat with spears

Either reconciliation, or combat with spears,

until spilled blood dyes them saffron-red.

until spilled blood dyes them safflower-red.

لَسنا نُحَسِّنُ أَن يُضاعَ لِجارِنا

لَسنا نُحَسِّنُ أَن يُضاعَ لِجارِنا

حَقٌّ وَلا عَهدٌ وَلا مِيثاقُ

حَقٌّ وَلا عَهدٌ وَلا مِيثاقُ

We do not deem it right that our neighbor should lose

We do not approve the loss, for our neighbor, of

a right, a covenant, or a solemn pledge.

a right, a pledge, or a covenant.

عِزّاً بَناهُ اللَهُ فِينا بِالقَنا

عِزّاً بَناهُ اللَهُ فِينا بِالقَنا

وَحَماهُ هَذا السَيِّدُ الغيداقُ

وَحَماهُ هَذا السَيِّدُ الغيداقُ

A glory God built among us with spears

Honor that God built among us with spears,

and this bountiful lord has guarded.

and this lavishly generous lord defended.

أَمِنَت بِهِ الآفاقُ حَتّى لَم يُرَد

أَمِنَت بِهِ الآفاقُ حَتّى لَم يُرَد

لِلضَأنِ في حُجُزاتَها أَرباقُ

لِلضَأنِ في حُجُزاتَها أَرباقُ

Through him the horizons became so secure that

Through him the horizons grew so safe that no

even sheep in their folds had no need of tethers.

tethers were needed for sheep within their bounds.

يا مَن بَراهُ اللَهُ وَاحِدَ خَلقِهِ

يا مَن بَراهُ اللَهُ وَاحِدَ خَلقِهِ

فَتَفَرَّدَ المَخلُوقُ وَالخَلّاقُ

فَتَفَرَّدَ المَخلُوقُ وَالخَلّاقُ

O you whom God fashioned unique among His creation,

O you whom God fashioned unique among His creatures,

so the created one stood singular—and the Creator singular.

so the creature and the Creator are each unique.

ما يَهتَدِي لِصِفاتِ مَجدِكَ خاطِري

ما يَهتَدِي لِصِفاتِ مَجدِكَ خاطِري

كَلَّ اللِسانُ وَضاقَتِ الأَخلاقُ

كَلَّ اللِسانُ وَضاقَتِ الأَخلاقُ

No thought can find its way to the attributes of your glory;

My mind finds no way to describe your glory;

the tongue has failed, and every description grown too narrow.

the tongue is weary, and dispositions are strained.

يُغنِيكَ فَضلُكَ عَن مَدِيحَةِ مادِحٍ

يُغنِيكَ فَضلُكَ عَن مَدِيحَةِ مادِحٍ

وَالشَمسُ أَفضَلُ مَدحِها الإِشراقُ

وَالشَمسُ أَفضَلُ مَدحِها الإِشراقُ

Your virtue makes a eulogist’s eulogy needless;

Your excellence makes a panegyrist's praise needless for you;

the sun’s finest praise is its own radiance.

and the sun's finest praise is its radiance.

وَالشِعرُ دُونَ مَحَلِّ قَدرِكَ قَدرُهُ

وَالشِعرُ دُونَ مَحَلِّ قَدرِكَ قَدرُهُ

لَكِن لَنا وَلَأَهلِهِ أَرزاقُ

لَكِن لَنا وَلَأَهلِهِ أَرزاقُ

Poetry falls short of the station of your worth,

Poetry's worth lies below the station of your worth,

yet through it, we and its people gain our livelihoods.

but for us and its practitioners, there are livelihoods.

يا مَن يُؤَرِّقُ ناظرَيَّ صِفاتُهُ

يا مَن يُؤَرِّقُ ناظرَيَّ صِفاتُهُ

لا زالَ يُشكى ذَلِكَ الإِيراقُ

لا زالَ يُشكى ذَلِكَ الإِيراقُ

O you whose qualities keep my two eyes awake,

O you whose qualities keep my two eyes sleepless,

may that sleeplessness never cease to be complained of.

may that sleeplessness never cease to be lamented.

أَغنى نَدى هَذا الأَميرِ وَفَضلُهُ

أَغنى نَدى هَذا الأَميرِ وَفَضلُهُ

أَن تُختَطى بِرِكابِنا الآفاقُ

أَن تُختَطى بِرِكابِنا الآفاقُ

This emir’s bounty and favor have spared us

This prince's generosity and excellence make it needless

from tracing the horizons beneath our mounts.

to traverse the horizons on our riding camels.

رُوحِي وَإِن قَلَّت فِداهُ فَإِنَّهُ

رُوحِي وَإِن قَلَّت فِداهُ فَإِنَّهُ

دَرّاكُ كُلِّ فَضِيلَةٍ لَحّاقُ

دَرّاكُ كُلِّ فَضِيلَةٍ لَحّاقُ

My soul, though small, is his ransom; for he

May my soul, slight though it is, be his ransom; for he

overtakes and catches every virtue.

attains every virtue and swiftly overtakes it.

عَجِلُ النَدى وَالبَأسِ لَيسَ لِوَعدِهِ

عَجِلُ النَدى وَالبَأسِ لَيسَ لِوَعدِهِ

أَبداً وَلا لِوَعِيدِهِ إِخفاقُ

أَبداً وَلا لِوَعِيدِهِ إِخفاقُ

Swift in bounty and in might—his promise is never

Swift in bounty and might, his promise knows

unfulfilled, nor does his threat ever fail.

no failure ever, nor does his threat.

يا مالِكَ الدُنيا الَّذي أَوصافُهُ

يا مالِكَ الدُنيا الَّذي أَوصافُهُ

يَعيا بِهِنَّ القالَةُ الحُذّاقُ

يَعيا بِهِنَّ القالَةُ الحُذّاقُ

O master of the world, whose qualities

O master of the world, whose qualities

weary even the most accomplished speakers.

baffle accomplished speakers!

لَولا المَهابَةُ إِذ بَرَزتَ مُعَيِّداً

لَولا المَهابَةُ إِذ بَرَزتَ مُعَيِّداً

نَهَبَتكَ مِن شَغَفٍ بِكَ الأَحداقُ

نَهَبَتكَ مِن شَغَفٍ بِكَ الأَحداقُ

Were it not for awe when you came forth for the feast,

Were it not for awe, when you appeared celebrating the feast,

eyes would have plundered you with their passionate gaze.

eyes would have plundered you in their passion for you.

وَلَكَم وَلِيٍّ وَدَّ أَنَّ جَبِينَهُ

وَلَكَم وَلِيٍّ وَدَّ أَنَّ جَبِينَهُ

لِشِراكِ نَعلِكَ في الطَرِيقِ طِراقُ

لِشِراكِ نَعلِكَ في الطَرِيقِ طِراقُ

How many a loyal friend has wished that his forehead

And how many a devoted follower wished that his forehead

might pave the road beneath your sandal-strap.

were a sole for your sandal-strap upon the road.

حُبّاً تَمَكَّنَ في القُلُوبِ وَدَولَةً

حُبّاً تَمَكَّنَ في القُلُوبِ وَدَولَةً

مُزِجَت بِشُكرِ مُدِيلِها الأَرياقُ

مُزِجَت بِشُكرِ مُدِيلِها الأَرياقُ

Through love rooted in hearts, and through a dominion

Out of love firmly rooted in hearts, and for a reign

that mingled mouths with thanks to him who restored it.

that mingles saliva with thanks to its bestower.

لا زالَ مُخضَرَّ الجَنابِ يَحُجُّهُ ال

لا زالَ مُخضَرَّ الجَنابِ يَحُجُّهُ ال

قُصّادُ وَالوُفّادُ وَالطُرّاقُ

قُصّادُ وَالوُفّادُ وَالطُرّاقُ

May his verdant court remain a shrine for

May his precincts remain green, and may he be sought in pilgrimage by

petitioners, delegations, and all who knock at its gate.

petitioners, visiting delegations, and night callers.