خُذها فَصَبغُ الظَلامِ قَد نَصَلا

خُذها فَصَبغُ الظَلامِ قَد نَصَلا

وَذَيلُهُ بِالسَنا قَدِ اِشتَعَلا

وَذَيلُهُ بِالسَنا قَدِ اِشتَعَلا

Take it, for darkness’s dye has faded away;

Take it: the dye of darkness has faded,

its trailing hem has caught fire with radiance.

and its hem has flared with radiance.

وَأُقحُوانُ الرُبى بَدا سَحَراً

وَأُقحُوانُ الرُبى بَدا سَحَراً

وَأُقحُوانُ النُجومِ قَد ذَبُلا

وَأُقحُوانُ النُجومِ قَد ذَبُلا

The daisies of the hills appeared at dawn,

And the daisies of the hills appeared before dawn,

while the daisies of the stars had withered.

and the daisies of the stars have withered.

وَالوَردُ مِثلُ الخُدودِ قَد دَمِيَت

وَالوَردُ مِثلُ الخُدودِ قَد دَمِيَت

مِن نَرجِسٍ حَدَّقَت لَها المُقَلا

مِن نَرجِسٍ حَدَّقَت لَها المُقَلا

The rose, like cheeks, was stained blood-red

And the roses, like cheeks, have flushed blood-red

by narcissi whose eyes stared wide at it.

from narcissi whose eyes stare at them.

يَسقيكَ مِن كاسِهِ وَناظِرِهِ

يَسقيكَ مِن كاسِهِ وَناظِرِهِ

دُرّاً بِكاسَي صَبابَةٍ وَطِلا

دُرّاً بِكاسَي صَبابَةٍ وَطِلا

He gives you drink from his cup and from his gaze—

He gives you drink from his cup and his eye,

pearls in two cups: longing and wine.

pearls in two cups—of yearning and wine.

تَختَدِعُ السُكرَ مُقلَتاهُ فَإِن

تَختَدِعُ السُكرَ مُقلَتاهُ فَإِن

نَبَت بِهِ الكاسُ كانَ مُستَحِلا

نَبَت بِهِ الكاسُ كانَ مُستَحِلا

His two eyes beguile drunkenness; and if

His two eyes steal intoxication; so if

the cup recoils from him, he deems it lawful.

the cup shuns him, that intoxication is lawful.

إِن وَعَدَ الوَصلَ سينُ طُرَّتِهِ

إِن وَعَدَ الوَصلَ سينُ طُرَّتِهِ

قَرَأتُ في عارِضَيهِ لَفظَةَ لا

قَرَأتُ في عارِضَيهِ لَفظَةَ لا

If he promises union, his forelock adorns the promise;

If the sīn of his forelock promises union,

upon his two side-locks I read the word “No.”

I read the word “no” upon his two cheeks.

أَيَّدَ حُبّي كِتابُ عارِضِهِ

أَيَّدَ حُبّي كِتابُ عارِضِهِ

كَذلِكَ الكُتبُ تَعضَدُ المَلَلا

كَذلِكَ الكُتبُ تَعضَدُ المَلَلا

The script upon his cheek confirmed my love,

The book of his cheek strengthened my love;

just as scriptures uphold the creeds.

just so do books lend strength to creeds.

لا تَعذُلوني عَلى مَحَبَّتِهِ

لا تَعذُلوني عَلى مَحَبَّتِهِ

فَسَيفُ عَينَيهِ يَسبِقُ العَذَلا

فَسَيفُ عَينَيهِ يَسبِقُ العَذَلا

Do not blame me for loving him:

Do not blame me for loving him:

the sword of his eyes forestalls all blame.

for the sword of his eyes outstrips reproach.

مُسَلَّطٌ لا أَذُمُّ قُدرَتَهُ

مُسَلَّطٌ لا أَذُمُّ قُدرَتَهُ

وَظالِمٌ أَشكُرُ الَّذي فَعَلا

وَظالِمٌ أَشكُرُ الَّذي فَعَلا

He holds dominion—I do not fault his power;

He holds sway; I do not condemn his power,

a tyrant, yet I thank him for what he has done;

and is unjust, yet I give thanks for what he has done.

وَباخِلٌ بِالنَوالِ عادَتُهُ

وَباخِلٌ بِالنَوالِ عادَتُهُ

قَد عَلَّمَتني بِحُبِّهِ البَخَلا

قَد عَلَّمَتني بِحُبِّهِ البَخَلا

stingy with favors—as is his habit;

And he is miserly with favors; his habit

through loving him, I have learned stinginess.

has taught me miserliness through loving him.

فَهاتِها وَاِسقِني بِراحَتِهِ

فَهاتِها وَاِسقِني بِراحَتِهِ

وَطاوِعِ اللَهوَ وَاِعصِ مَن عَذَلا

وَطاوِعِ اللَهوَ وَاِعصِ مَن عَذَلا

Bring it, then, and pour for me from his palm;

So bring it, and give me drink from his palm;

obey delight and disobey whoever blames.

and yield to pleasure, and defy whoever blames.

راحٌ يَزينُ الحَبابُ حُمرَتَها

راحٌ يَزينُ الحَبابُ حُمرَتَها

كَما يَزينُ التَبَسُّمُ الخَجَلا

كَما يَزينُ التَبَسُّمُ الخَجَلا

A wine whose bubbles adorn its redness,

Wine whose bubbles adorn its redness,

as a smile adorns a blush.

as a smile adorns a blush.

يُقَلِّدُ الماءُ جيدَها دُرَراً

يُقَلِّدُ الماءُ جيدَها دُرَراً

يَنهَبُها الشَربُ بَينَهُم نَقَلا

يَنهَبُها الشَربُ بَينَهُم نَقَلا

The water garlands her neck with pearls,

Water strings pearls about its neck,

which drinkers plunder as they pass her among them.

which the drinkers plunder among themselves as tidbits.

إِن جَدَّدَت بِالمِزاجِ حِليَتَها

إِن جَدَّدَت بِالمِزاجِ حِليَتَها

جَدَّدَت شُرباً يَسومُها العَطَلا

جَدَّدَت شُرباً يَسومُها العَطَلا

Whenever mingling renews her jewelry,

If by mixing it renews its adornment,

another draught consigns her to nakedness.

it renews a drinking bout that demands it go unadorned.

حاكِمُها يَظلِمُ العُقولَ وَلا

حاكِمُها يَظلِمُ العُقولَ وَلا

تَصلُحُ حالُ النُفوسِ إِن عَدَلا

تَصلُحُ حالُ النُفوسِ إِن عَدَلا

Her sovereign wrongs the minds; nor

Its ruler wrongs minds; nor

would souls be set right if he ruled justly.

can souls fare well if he acts justly.

نَجمٌ لِلَيلِ الهُمومِ أَكثَرُ ما

نَجمٌ لِلَيلِ الهُمومِ أَكثَرُ ما

يَكشِفُ تِلكَ الدُجى إِذا أَفَلا

يَكشِفُ تِلكَ الدُجى إِذا أَفَلا

A star for the night of cares—how often

A star for the night of sorrows: most of all

it scatters that darkness when it sets.

it dispels that darkness when it sets.

قُلوبُهُم في جَنى النَعيمِ بِها

قُلوبُهُم في جَنى النَعيمِ بِها

وَإِن بَدَت في وُجوهِهِم شُعَلا

وَإِن بَدَت في وُجوهِهِم شُعَلا

Through her, their hearts dwell amid the fruits of bliss,

Their hearts enjoy the fruits of bliss through it,

though flames appear upon their faces.

though it appears as flames upon their faces.

قَد يَنتُجُ الضِدُّ ضِدَّهُ وَإِذا

قَد يَنتُجُ الضِدُّ ضِدَّهُ وَإِذا

شِئتَ فَجودَ الوَزيرِ خُذ مَثَلا

شِئتَ فَجودَ الوَزيرِ خُذ مَثَلا

An opposite may indeed beget its opposite; if

An opposite may produce its opposite; and if

you wish, take the vizier’s generosity as proof.

you wish, take the minister's generosity as an example.

رَفيعَني حَظُّهُ الحِمامَ كَما

رَفيعَني حَظُّهُ الحِمامَ كَما

قَد صانَ وَجهي بِكُلِّ ما بَذَلا

قَد صانَ وَجهي بِكُلِّ ما بَذَلا

His allotted death has filled me with dread, even as

His favor spared me death, just as

he preserved my honor with all he bestowed.

he has kept my face from shame with all he gave.

يَأتي بِلا مَوعِدٍ نَداهُ فَلَو

يَأتي بِلا مَوعِدٍ نَداهُ فَلَو

كانَ كَلاماً لَكانَ مُرتَجَلا

كانَ كَلاماً لَكانَ مُرتَجَلا

His largesse arrives unpromised; were it

His bounty comes without an appointment; so if

speech, it would be impromptu.

it were speech, it would be improvised.

لَوِ اِكتَفى ساطِياً بِهَيبَتِهِ

لَوِ اِكتَفى ساطِياً بِهَيبَتِهِ

كَفَتهُ بيضَ السُيوفِ وَالأَسَلا

كَفَتهُ بيضَ السُيوفِ وَالأَسَلا

If, when attacking, he relied on his awe alone,

If, in assault, he relied on his awe alone,

only a few swords and spears would suffice him.

it would spare him the need for bright swords and spears.

أَو لَم يُنِل غَيرَ بِشرِهِ صِلَةً

أَو لَم يُنِل غَيرَ بِشرِهِ صِلَةً

أَرضى بِها كُلَّ سائِلٍ سَأَلا

أَرضى بِها كُلَّ سائِلٍ سَأَلا

Or if he had no ally but his cheerful face,

Or if he bestowed no gift but his smiling welcome,

with it he would satisfy every petitioner who asked.

with it he would satisfy every petitioner who asked.

يَقتَرِعُ البَحرُ وَالغمامَةُ مَن

يَقتَرِعُ البَحرُ وَالغمامَةُ مَن

أَدناهُما مِن سَماحِهِ سُبُلا

أَدناهُما مِن سَماحِهِ سُبُلا

The sea and the cloud draw lots to decide

The sea and the cloud draw lots over which

which comes nearer to his paths of generosity.

of the two is nearer in its ways to his generosity.

تَاللَهِ ما شَرَّفَ السَحابَ سِوى

تَاللَهِ ما شَرَّفَ السَحابَ سِوى

أَن ضَرَبوها لِجودِهِ مَثَلا

أَن ضَرَبوها لِجودِهِ مَثَلا

By God, nothing has ennobled the clouds except

By God, nothing has ennobled the clouds except

that they were made a likeness of his bounty.

that people have made them a likeness of his bounty.

وَلا بِلُجِّ البِحارِ مِن كَرَمٍ

وَلا بِلُجِّ البِحارِ مِن كَرَمٍ

إِلّا جِوارٌ بِدارِهِ اِتَصَلا

إِلّا جِوارٌ بِدارِهِ اِتَصَلا

Whatever generosity lies in the ocean’s depths

Nor is there any bounty in the depths of the seas

comes only from neighboring his house.

save the closeness that links them to his house.

كَأَنَّ جَدوى يَدَيهِ مَأدُبَةٌ

كَأَنَّ جَدوى يَدَيهِ مَأدُبَةٌ

دعا إِلَيها بِبِشرِهِ الجَفَلى

دعا إِلَيها بِبِشرِهِ الجَفَلى

The generosity of his hands is like an open feast

As if the bounty of his hands were a feast

to which his smiling face calls everyone.

to which he invited all, with his smiling welcome.

لِلنَفعِ وَالضُرِّ عِندَهُ شِيَمٌ

لِلنَفعِ وَالضُرِّ عِندَهُ شِيَمٌ

أَمَرَّ فيها لِطاعِمٍ وَحَلا

أَمَرَّ فيها لِطاعِمٍ وَحَلا

Benefit and harm are both among his traits,

For benefit and harm he has dispositions;

one bitter to taste, the other sweet.

through them he is bitter to the taster, and sweet.

كَأَنَّما طَعمُ عادَتَيهِ هَوى

كَأَنَّما طَعمُ عادَتَيهِ هَوى

بَرَّحَ فيها العِتابَ وَالقُبَلا

بَرَّحَ فيها العِتابَ وَالقُبَلا

It is as though the flavor of his two ways were passion,

As though the taste of his two ways were a passion

in which both reproach and kisses bite deep.

that made reproach and kisses overwhelming within them.

لِاِبنِ خَلاصٍ مُحَمّدٍ هِيَ تُهدى

لِاِبنِ خَلاصٍ مُحَمّدٍ هِيَ تُهدى

فَقَد حَكَت مَدحَهُ غَزَلا

فَقَد حَكَت مَدحَهُ غَزَلا

To Muhammad ibn Khallāṣ this is offered,

It is dedicated to Muhammad ibn Khalāṣ,

for it has made his praise resemble love poetry.

for it has cast his praise as a love poem.

فاقَت بِهِ سَبتَةُ البِلادَ كَما

فاقَت بِهِ سَبتَةُ البِلادَ كَما

دَولَةُ يَحيى قَد فاقَتِ الدُوَلا

دَولَةُ يَحيى قَد فاقَتِ الدُوَلا

Through him Ceuta outstripped all other lands, just as

Through him Ceuta surpassed the lands, as

Yahya’s state outstripped every state.

Yahya's reign has surpassed all reigns.

وَاِعتَدَلَ الدَهرُ حينَ حَلَّ بِها

وَاِعتَدَلَ الدَهرُ حينَ حَلَّ بِها

فَكانَ شَمساً وَكانَتِ الحَمَلا

فَكانَ شَمساً وَكانَتِ الحَمَلا

Time reached its balance—its equinox—when he settled there:

And time grew temperate when he settled there;

he was a sun, and she was Aries.

for he was the sun, and she was Aries.

أَحَبَّهُ الناسُ دونَ مُختَلِفٍ

أَحَبَّهُ الناسُ دونَ مُختَلِفٍ

كَما أَحَبّوا الشَبابَ مُقتَبَلا

كَما أَحَبّوا الشَبابَ مُقتَبَلا

All people loved him, none dissenting,

People loved him, without a dissenter,

as they love the east wind when it blows their way.

as they loved youth in its first bloom.

أَجني بِهِ زُخرُفَ المَعيشَةِ إِذ

أَجني بِهِ زُخرُفَ المَعيشَةِ إِذ

لَم يُبقِ لي جودُ كَفِّهِ أَمَلا

لَم يُبقِ لي جودُ كَفِّهِ أَمَلا

Through him, life’s finery brought forth its fruit, for

Through him I reap life's finery, since

the bounty of his hand left me no wish.

his hand's generosity has left me no wish unfulfilled.

بَلَّغَهُ اللَهُ في الكَمالِ مَدىً

بَلَّغَهُ اللَهُ في الكَمالِ مَدىً

إِلَيهِ تَصبو الوَرى وَقَد فَعَلا

إِلَيهِ تَصبو الوَرى وَقَد فَعَلا

May God bring him to perfection’s furthest reach,

May God bring him to a degree of perfection

for which all creation yearns—and He has done so.

to which humanity aspires—and He has already done so.