لاحَ وَعقدُ اللَّيلِ مَسلوبُ

لاحَ وَعقدُ اللَّيلِ مَسلوبُ

بَرق بِنارِ الشَّوقِ مَشبوبُ

بَرق بِنارِ الشَّوقِ مَشبوبُ

It flashed, while night's necklace was stripped away:

The night's bonds loosened, and lightning sparked with a flame of yearning

lightning kindled with the fire of longing.

The horse asked not about the neighbor as he raced to pasture

طَوى الفَلا يَسألُ عَن حاجِرٍ

طَوى الفَلا يَسألُ عَن حاجِرٍ

وَهوَ إِلى رامَة مَجلوبُ

وَهوَ إِلى رامَة مَجلوبُ

It crossed the wilderness, asking after Hajir,

Intoxicated wandering for the camel in its folds

while being drawn toward Ramah.

And warning thunder and rain to drive off the lingering cloud

ضَلالَةً لِلبانِ في طَيِّها

ضَلالَةً لِلبانِ في طَيِّها

سُكرٌ وَلِلقِمريِّ تَطريبُ

سُكرٌ وَلِلقِمريِّ تَطريبُ

A wandering, within whose folds the ben-tree

My lids I bound in vigil, so tear-drenched were they

grows drunk, and the turtledove delights in song.

I asked the lightning about you, and on it a line was writ

وَعارِضٍ يَجمَعُ نُدّادَهُ

وَعارِضٍ يَجمَعُ نُدّادَهُ

زَجرٌ مِنَ الرَّعدِ وَتَرهيبُ

زَجرٌ مِنَ الرَّعدِ وَتَرهيبُ

And a cloud whose straying wisps are gathered

Would that it had shown more than the valley concealed

by thunder's rebuke and threatening.

Or would that I forgot to remember you, for it is torment and pain

عَقَدتُ أَجفاني بِهدّابِهِ

عَقَدتُ أَجفاني بِهدّابِهِ

فَهوَ بِماء الدَّمعِ مَقطوبُ

فَهوَ بِماء الدَّمعِ مَقطوبُ

I bound my eyelids to its fringes,

A blamer feigned sympathy with me, and some reproach was his advice

so it is mingled with the water of tears.

He thought my love for you a passing folly, though it was proper

أَسأَلُهُ عَنكُم وَفي بَرقِهِ

أَسأَلُهُ عَنكُم وَفي بَرقِهِ

سَطرٌ مِنَ الأَخبارِ مَكتوبُ

سَطرٌ مِنَ الأَخبارِ مَكتوبُ

I ask it about you, and in its lightning

Why speak of the like unless your explanation is rebuke?

a line of news is written.

My two friends, turn back! For ahead are strange wonders

فَلَيتَهُ أَظهَرَ مِن جَوشَنٍ

فَلَيتَهُ أَظهَرَ مِن جَوشَنٍ

ما كَتَمَت تِلكَ الأَهاضيبُ

ما كَتَمَت تِلكَ الأَهاضيبُ

Would that it revealed, from Jawshan,

And tell me where the dawn sun lies, for the hue of morning is perplexing

what those downpours concealed.

Oh how I suffer estrangement, which sent the Arabs roaming to Rome

أَو لَيتَني أَذهَلُ عِن ذِكرِكُم

أَو لَيتَني أَذهَلُ عِن ذِكرِكُم

فَإِنَّهُ هَمٌّ وَتَعذيبُ

فَإِنَّهُ هَمٌّ وَتَعذيبُ

Or would that I could cease remembering you,

Fate led me to it, and who fights fate is vanquished

for it is sorrow and torment.

Will you two then fault a tribe whose fires blaze in the air?

وَلائم يُظهِرُ إِشفاقَهُ

وَلائم يُظهِرُ إِشفاقَهُ

عِندي وَبَعضُ النُّصحِ تَثريبُ

عِندي وَبَعضُ النُّصحِ تَثريبُ

And a reproacher displays his concern

None but the searchers know their traces in the wilderness

before me, yet some advice is reproach.

Perhaps it is the fires of the Malhama clan, that destroy all around

ظَنَّ غَرامي بِكُم صَبوَة

ظَنَّ غَرامي بِكُم صَبوَة

وَهوَ مِنَ الآدابِ مَحسوبُ

وَهوَ مِنَ الآدابِ مَحسوبُ

He took my passion for you for youthful infatuation,

And if their kin have gone, their hospitality falls on the foreign guest

though it is counted among refined virtues.

A people we recalled, though the wind with none but them conversed

ما لَكَ لا حَدَّثتَ عَن مِثلِها

ما لَكَ لا حَدَّثتَ عَن مِثلِها

إِلَّا وَتَعليلُكَ تَأنيبُ

إِلَّا وَتَعليلُكَ تَأنيبُ

Why do you never speak of such passion

Our fondness caused the winds and stars delight

without your consolation becoming rebuke?

Parties from 'Amir they gathered, and pitched a tent at Al-Jawza

يا صَاحِبَي رَحلي أَعِيدا أَما

يا صَاحِبَي رَحلي أَعِيدا أَما

نِيَّ فَفي الغَيبِ أَعاجيبُ

نِيَّ فَفي الغَيبِ أَعاجيبُ

O my two travelling companions, renew my

When asked, their virtue was ready, and elegant their manner

wishes, for the unseen holds wonders.

Eloquence shone before the dew, and good cheer was as beloved as beauty

وَخَبِّراني أَينَ شَمسُ الضُّحى

وَخَبِّراني أَينَ شَمسُ الضُّحى

فَإِنَّ لَونَ الصُّبحِ غِربيبُ

فَإِنَّ لَونَ الصُّبحِ غِربيبُ

And tell me where the midmorning sun is,

The fire of battle wondered at the flames of their hands, yet they are gentle

for dawn's color is pitch-black.

Forgetting the past, they inclined to Malik

وا أَسَفي مِن غُربَةٍ طَوَّحَت

وا أَسَفي مِن غُربَةٍ طَوَّحَت

فيها إِلى الرُّومِ الأَعارِيبُ

فيها إِلى الرُّومِ الأَعارِيبُ

Alas, my sorrow for an exile that cast

And a secret in him was unveiled, once concealed

the desert Arabs among the Romans.

He is a spear aloft, far from the reach of spears

قادَني الدَّهرُ إِلَيها وَمَن

قادَني الدَّهرُ إِلَيها وَمَن

يُحارِبُ الأَقدارَ مَغلوبُ

يُحارِبُ الأَقدارَ مَغلوبُ

Time led me into it, and whoever

And after him the channels flowed straight

battles the decrees of fate is defeated.

His thoughts reveal the unseen, while people's minds only grope

فَهَل تَشيمانِ عَلى راهِطٍ

فَهَل تَشيمانِ عَلى راهِطٍ

ناراً لَها في الجَوِّ ألهُوبُ

ناراً لَها في الجَوِّ ألهُوبُ

Then do you two discern above Rahit

Crises of time are in his palm, and fate's torrents made calm

a fire with a leaping flame in the sky?

His perfection spares you listing his faults

دونَ سَناها كُلُّ مَجهُولَةٍ

دونَ سَناها كُلُّ مَجهُولَةٍ

تَعرِفُها الجُردُ السَّراحِيبُ

تَعرِفُها الجُردُ السَّراحِيبُ

Before its glow lies every unknown waste

And any advice to shun him is avoidance

that the sleek, long-limbed steeds know.

He has a station beyond comprehension

لَعَلَّها نارُ بَني مَلهَم

لَعَلَّها نارُ بَني مَلهَم

تُعقَرُ في أَرجائِها النِّيبُ

تُعقَرُ في أَرجائِها النِّيبُ

Perhaps it is the fire of Banu Malham,

For gray hairs, guidance and correction

where aged she-camels are hamstrung all around.

It rose with him and so after him

إِن خَلَت في المَحْلِ أَخلافُها

إِن خَلَت في المَحْلِ أَخلافُها

دَرَّت عَلى الضَّيفِ العَراقيبُ

دَرَّت عَلى الضَّيفِ العَراقيبُ

If their teats run empty in drought,

In the horizon it still rises and sets

their hamstrings flow freely for the guest.

As honored as a house with a sanctuary

قَومٌ ذَكَرناهُم وَمِن دونِهِم

قَومٌ ذَكَرناهُم وَمِن دونِهِم

لِلرِّيحِ إِسآدٌ وَتَأوِيبُ

لِلرِّيحِ إِسآدٌ وَتَأوِيبُ

A people we remembered, though between us and them

Oh son of Ali, how did dew become obligatory upon you, rather than voluntary?

the wind journeys by night and by day.

Before you the people strayed from its path

فَرَنَّحَتنا لَهُم نَشوَة

فَرَنَّحَتنا لَهُم نَشوَة

يَطرَبُ مِنها الرَّاحُ وَالكُوبُ

يَطرَبُ مِنها الرَّاحُ وَالكُوبُ

So rapture for them set us swaying,

And few pursued what was sought

making the wine and goblet rejoice.

After you, none were guided but by your minarets

ذَوائِبُ مِن عامِرٍ ضَمَّها

ذَوائِبُ مِن عامِرٍ ضَمَّها

بَيتٌ عَلى الجَوزاءِ مَضروبُ

بَيتٌ عَلى الجَوزاءِ مَضروبُ

Nobles of Amir, gathered together

The people of Sham were unharmed though rain abandoned them, for your goodness flowed

by a tent pitched upon al-Jawza.

How many meadows you have in their valleys

لَهُم إِذا أَمَّهُم سائِلٌ

لَهُم إِذا أَمَّهُم سائِلٌ

فَنٌّ مِنَ الجودِ وَأسلوبُ

فَنٌّ مِنَ الجودِ وَأسلوبُ

Whenever a petitioner approaches them, they have

That the scent of musk reaches its guards

an art of generosity and a distinctive way.

You are no slender-waisted woman, Muzna, strutting among them

طَلاقَةٌ تُشرِقُ قَبلَ النَّدى

طَلاقَةٌ تُشرِقُ قَبلَ النَّدى

وَالبِشرُ مِثلُ الحُسنِ مَحبوبُ

وَالبِشرُ مِثلُ الحُسنِ مَحبوبُ

A cheerful welcome shines before their bounty,

With trailing robes dragging behind

and a smiling face, like beauty, is beloved.

Rather, one related to the victorious King made it flourish

تَعجَبُ مِن إِسعارِ أَيديهِمُ

تَعجَبُ مِن إِسعارِ أَيديهِمُ

نارُ الوَغى وَهيَ شآبيتُ

نارُ الوَغى وَهيَ شآبيتُ

It marvels at the kindling by their hands—

His hands gave generously when life was miserly and bounty withheld

battle's fire—though those hands are rain showers.

O best of those whose light the mounts of misfortune climbed

لانوا وَفيهِم لِلعِدى قَسوَة

لانوا وَفيهِم لِلعِدى قَسوَة

وَالغَيثُ مَرجُوٌ وَمَرهوبُ

وَالغَيثُ مَرجُوٌ وَمَرهوبُ

They are gentle, yet hold harshness for their foes;

I heeded your charity, though friends failed with distance

and rain is both hoped for and feared.

So my love of you remains though spears ignited it

تَناسَوا قَبلَ إِلى مالِكِ

تَناسَوا قَبلَ إِلى مالِكِ

وَبانَ سِرٌّ فيهِ مَحجوبُ

وَبانَ سِرٌّ فيهِ مَحجوبُ

They formerly traced their lineage to Malik [reading uncertain],

And the ardor of a doe, all reproach above me

and a secret concealed within him came to light.

My age kept me from you, though it brought me close in quest

فَهوَ سِنان طالَ عَن رُمحِهِ

فَهوَ سِنان طالَ عَن رُمحِهِ

وَاعتَدَلَت بَعدُ الأَنابِيبُ

وَاعتَدَلَت بَعدُ الأَنابِيبُ

For he is a spearhead taller than its shaft,

I found a land whose lightning glittered, guarded by a wolf

and the shaft's segments thereafter stand even.

Without me, it is but ruins where an owl hoots

أَبلَجُ تُبدي الغَيبَ أَفكارُهُ

أَبلَجُ تُبدي الغَيبَ أَفكارُهُ

وَكُلُّ رأي النَّاسِ تَجريبُ

وَكُلُّ رأي النَّاسِ تَجريبُ

Bright-browed, his thoughts reveal the unseen,

Can my hopes, if fulfilled in thought, order and arrange?

while all people's judgment is experimentation.

Will you believe me if gain is false, and lies cheat?

أَزِمَّةُ الأَيام في كَفِّهِ

أَزِمَّةُ الأَيام في كَفِّهِ

وَجامِحُ الأَقدارِ مَجنوبُ

وَجامِحُ الأَقدارِ مَجنوبُ

The reins of days are in his palm,

For after prolonged sorrow, Joseph healed Jacob's agony

and the unruly steed of fate is led at his side.

كَمالُهُ يُغنيكَ عَن عَدِّ ما

كَمالُهُ يُغنيكَ عَن عَدِّ ما

فيهِ وَكُلُّ النُصحِ تَجنيبُ

فيهِ وَكُلُّ النُصحِ تَجنيبُ

His perfection spares you counting what

is in him; all counsel is a steering away.

لَهُ مَحَلٌّ دونَ إِدراكِهِ

لَهُ مَحَلٌّ دونَ إِدراكِهِ

لِلشُّهبِ تَصعيدٌ وَتَصويبُ

لِلشُّهبِ تَصعيدٌ وَتَصويبُ

He holds a station beyond the reach

of bright stars in their rising and falling.

أَوفى عَلَيها فَلَها بَعدَهُ

أَوفى عَلَيها فَلَها بَعدَهُ

في الأُفقِ تَشريقٌ وَتَغريبُ

في الأُفقِ تَشريقٌ وَتَغريبُ

He rose above them; behind him they

journey east and west along the horizon.

تَشرُفُ إِن قابَلَها مِثلَما

تَشرُفُ إِن قابَلَها مِثلَما

تَشرُفُ بِالبَيتِ المَحاريبُ

تَشرُفُ بِالبَيتِ المَحاريبُ

They gain honor if he faces them, just as

prayer niches gain honor from the House.

يا ابنَ عَلِيَّ كَيفَ صارَ النَّدى

يا ابنَ عَلِيَّ كَيفَ صارَ النَّدى

عَلَيكَ فَرضاً وَهوَ مَندوبُ

عَلَيكَ فَرضاً وَهوَ مَندوبُ

O son of Ali, how did generosity become

an obligation upon you, though it is only recommended?

قَبلَكَ ضَلَّ النَّاسُ عَن نَهجِهِ

قَبلَكَ ضَلَّ النَّاسُ عَن نَهجِهِ

وَعَزَّ شَأوٌ فيهِ مَطلوبُ

وَعَزَّ شَأوٌ فيهِ مَطلوبُ

Before you, people strayed from its path,

and the goal sought in it was hard to reach.

فَما هَدى بَعدَكَ قُصَّادَهُ

فَما هَدى بَعدَكَ قُصَّادَهُ

إِلَّا مَنارٌ لَكَ مَنصوبُ

إِلَّا مَنارٌ لَكَ مَنصوبُ

So after you, nothing has guided its seekers

but a beacon raised for you.

ما ضَرَّ أَهلَ الشَّامِ أَن يُخلِفَ

ما ضَرَّ أَهلَ الشَّامِ أَن يُخلِفَ

الغَيثُ وَإِحسانُكَ مَسكوبُ

الغَيثُ وَإِحسانُكَ مَسكوبُ

It does not harm the people of al-Sham if

the rain fails, while your bounty pours forth.

كَم لَكَ في واديهِمُ رَوضَةً

كَم لَكَ في واديهِمُ رَوضَةً

نَمَّ إِلى رائِدِها الطِّيبُ

نَمَّ إِلى رائِدِها الطِّيبُ

How many a garden of yours lies in their valley,

its fragrance revealing it to the pasture-scout!

ما أَنتِ يا مُزنَةُ خَطّارَة

ما أَنتِ يا مُزنَةُ خَطّارَة

فيها وَلا ذَيلُكِ مَسحُوبُ

فيها وَلا ذَيلُكِ مَسحُوبُ

You do not sway proudly, O rain cloud,

through it, nor is your train drawn across it.

وَإِنَّما رَوَّضَها عارِض

وَإِنَّما رَوَّضَها عارِض

إِلى نَصيرِ المُلكِ مَنسوبُ

إِلى نَصيرِ المُلكِ مَنسوبُ

It was only a rain cloud that made it verdant,

a cloud ascribed to Nasir al-Mulk.

جادَت يَداهُ حينَ ضَنَّ الحَيا

جادَت يَداهُ حينَ ضَنَّ الحَيا

وَالخَيرُ مَمنوعٌ وَمَوهوبُ

وَالخَيرُ مَمنوعٌ وَمَوهوبُ

His hands gave freely when the rain was stingy,

and bounty was both withheld and bestowed.

يا خَيرَ مَن نُصَّت إِلى نارِهِ

يا خَيرَ مَن نُصَّت إِلى نارِهِ

ضَوامِرُ البُزلِ المَصاعِيبُ

ضَوامِرُ البُزلِ المَصاعِيبُ

O best of those toward whose fire were urged

lean, mature, unruly camels.

رَعَيتُ إِحسانَكَ عِندي وَقَد

رَعَيتُ إِحسانَكَ عِندي وَقَد

خانَ مَع البُعدِ الأَصاحِيبُ

خانَ مَع البُعدِ الأَصاحِيبُ

I cherished your kindness toward me, though

companions turned faithless with distance.

فَلي غَرامٌ بِكَ ما أَضرَمَت

فَلي غَرامٌ بِكَ ما أَضرَمَت

زِنادَهُ البِيضُ الرَّعابِيبُ

زِنادَهُ البِيضُ الرَّعابِيبُ

For I bear you a passion not kindled

by fair, tender beauties at its flints.

وَصَبوَة نَحوَكَ عُذرِيَّةٌ

وَصَبوَة نَحوَكَ عُذرِيَّةٌ

فَكُلُّ مَدحي فيكَ تَشبيبُ

فَكُلُّ مَدحي فيكَ تَشبيبُ

And an Udhri, chaste longing toward you,

so all my praise of you is love poetry.

أَبعَدَني مِنكَ زَمان لَهُ

أَبعَدَني مِنكَ زَمان لَهُ

في طَلَبي وَخدٌ وَتَقرِيبُ

في طَلَبي وَخدٌ وَتَقرِيبُ

Time drove me far from you, and it

pursues me with a swift stride and a canter.

وَأَلفُ دارٍ بَرقُها لامِعُ

وَأَلفُ دارٍ بَرقُها لامِعُ

الآلِ وَراعي سَرحِها الذِّيبُ

الآلِ وَراعي سَرحِها الذِّيبُ

And a thousand dwellings whose lightning is the gleam

of mirage, their grazing herd's shepherd the wolf.

ما هِيَ مِن بَعدِيَ إِلَّا كَما

ما هِيَ مِن بَعدِيَ إِلَّا كَما

أَقفَرَ في الأَطلالِ مَلحوبُ

أَقفَرَ في الأَطلالِ مَلحوبُ

Since my departure, they are only as

Malhub, deserted among the ruins.

فَهَل أَمانِيَّ إِذا راضَها

فَهَل أَمانِيَّ إِذا راضَها

في الفِكرِ تَقديرٌ وَتَرتيبُ

في الفِكرِ تَقديرٌ وَتَرتيبُ

Then will my wishes, when they are tamed

in thought by planning and ordering,

تَصدُقني فيكَ إِذا ما

تَصدُقني فيكَ إِذا ما

المُنى خِداعٌ وَأَكاذِيبُ

المُنى خِداعٌ وَأَكاذِيبُ

prove true to me about you, when

wishes are deception and lies?

فَقَد شَفى الغُلَّةَ مِن يوسُفٍ

فَقَد شَفى الغُلَّةَ مِن يوسُفٍ

بَعدَ طَويلِ الحُزنِ يَعقوبُ

بَعدَ طَويلِ الحُزنِ يَعقوبُ

For the burning longing for Yusuf was quenched

after long sorrow, by Yaqub.