بَغْدَادُBaghdad فَاهْبِطْso descend أَيُّهاO النَّسرُthe eagle
بَغْدَادُ فَاهْبِطْ أَيُّها النَّسرُ
لاَno زِينةَadornment اليَوْمَtoday وَلاَand no بِشْرُgladness
لاَ زِينةَ اليَوْمَ وَلاَ بِشْرُ
Baghdad—descend, then, O eagle!
Baghdad, descend O eagle
No adornment today, and no gladness.
Today there is no beauty or good news
عُدْتَyou returned بِمَنwith one who ضَاقَgrew narrow رَحِيبُvast المَدَىthe expanse
عُدْتَ بِمَن ضَاقَ رَحِيبُ المَدَى
بِهfor him لِيَسْتَوِدعَهُto take him into keeping قَبْرُa grave
بِه لِيَسْتَوِدعَهُ قَبْرُ
You have returned with him for whom the vast expanse grew narrow,
You have come with one whose spacious horizons grew narrow
for a grave to take him into its keeping.
So the grave can keep him
فَلْتَسْتَرِحْso rest مِنْfrom فَرْطِthe excess of مَاwhat جُشِّمَتْwere burdened with
فَلْتَسْتَرِحْ مِنْ فَرْطِ مَا جُشِّمَتْ
مِنْby عَزْمهhis resolve الأَجْنِحَةُthe wings الغُبْرُdust-gray
مِنْ عَزْمه الأَجْنِحَةُ الغُبْرُ
Rest, then, from the heavy burdens imposed
Rest from the exhaustion that dirtied
by his resolve upon those dust-gray wings.
Your resolute wings with dust
مَاnot زَالَceased جَوَّابَa rover of سَمَاءٍa sky بِهَاin it
مَا زَالَ جَوَّابَ سَمَاءٍ بِهَا
يَخُطُّhe inscribes سَطْراًa line تِلوَهُfollowing it سَطْرُa line
يَخُطُّ سَطْراً تِلوَهُ سَطْرُ
He was ever a rover of skies, in which
You kept answering the heavens with glory
he inscribed a line, followed by another line,
Line after line
مُخَلِّداًimmortalizing مَاwhat شاءَhe wished تخْلِيدَهُits immortalization
مُخَلِّداً مَا شاءَ تخْلِيدَهُ
فيin المَجْدِglory حَتَّىuntil خُتِمَwas sealed السِّفرُthe book
في المَجْدِ حَتَّى خُتِمَ السِّفرُ
immortalizing whatever he wished to immortalize
Immortalizing what you wanted immortalized
in glory, until the book was sealed.
In glory until the book was sealed
آبَhe returned إِيَاباًa homecoming لَمْnot يُتَحْwas granted لامْرِئٍto a man
آبَ إِيَاباً لَمْ يُتَحْ لامْرِئٍ
أُعْظِمَwas exalted فِيin الدُّنْيَاthe world لَهُfor him قدْرُstature
أُعْظِمَ فِي الدُّنْيَا لَهُ قدْرُ
He made a homecoming granted to no man,
You came and went like no other mortal
however exalted his standing in the world.
Was ever so great in this world
فِيin الغَرْبِthe West وَالشَّرْقِand the East لَهُfor him مَشْهَدٌa gathering
فِي الغَرْبِ وَالشَّرْقِ لَهُ مَشْهَدٌ
وَمَرْكَبَاهُand his two mounts البَحْرُthe sea وَالبَرُّand the land
وَمَرْكَبَاهُ البَحْرُ وَالبَرُّ
In West and East there is a gathering for him;
In East and West he has a shrine
his two mounts are the sea and the land.
And the land and sea are his vessels
وَتَارَةًand at times يَحْمِلُهُcarries him طَائِرٌa bird
وَتَارَةً يَحْمِلُهُ طَائِرٌ
بِهin it ضِرَامٌa blaze وَلَهُand it has زَفْرُa panting breath
بِه ضِرَامٌ وَلَهُ زَفْرُ
And at times a bird carries him,
At times a bird carries him
with a blaze within it and a panting breath.
With claws and a roar
وَالحَشْدُand the throng لِلتَّشيِيعِfor the funeral procession فِيin مَوْقِفٍa gathering place
وَالحَشْدُ لِلتَّشيِيعِ فِي مَوْقِفٍ
ضَنْكٍcramped كأَنَّas though المَوْقِفَthe gathering place الحَشرthe Resurrection gathering
ضَنْكٍ كأَنَّ المَوْقِفَ الحَشر
And the funeral throng stands in a place
And the crowds for his funeral in a stance
so cramped, as though it were the gathering of the Resurrection.
Cramped as if it were the Day of Resurrection
تَكْرِمَةٌan honor مَاnot نَالهَاhe attained it غيْرُهُanyone besides him
تَكْرِمَةٌ مَا نَالهَا غيْرُهُ
فِيin مَاwhat إِلَيْهto it يَنْتَهِيextends الذِّكرُremembrance
فِي مَا إِلَيْه يَنْتَهِي الذِّكرُ
An honor no other has attained,
An honor none other attained
as far as remembrance reaches.
Of what is remembered
وَاحَرَبَاalas! إِنَّindeed الهُمَامَthe valiant man الَّذيwho
وَاحَرَبَا إِنَّ الهُمَامَ الَّذي
أَبْقَىspared عَليْهِhim اللُّجُّthe deep sea وَالقفْرُand the desert
أَبْقَى عَليْهِ اللُّجُّ وَالقفْرُ
Alas! The valiant man whom
War took away the resolute one
the deep sea and the desert spared,
Whom desolation and ruins embraced
وَخاضَand plunged into هَوْلَthe terror of الحَرْبِwar ثمَّthen انْثنىreturned
وَخاضَ هَوْلَ الحَرْبِ ثمَّ انْثنى
مُضاحِكاًsmiling upon أَعلاَمَهُhis banners النَّصرُvictory
مُضاحِكاً أَعلاَمَهُ النَّصرُ
who plunged into war's terror, then returned,
And plunged into the horrors of war then withdrew
with victory smiling upon his banners,
Laughing as the flags of victory fluttered
وَأَنِسَand felt at ease الطَّيرُthe birds إِلَىwith قُرْبِهِhis nearness
وَأَنِسَ الطَّيرُ إِلَى قُرْبِهِ
وَأَلِفَتْand grew accustomed to كَرَّاتهِhis repeated returns الزُّهْرُthe bright stars
وَأَلِفَتْ كَرَّاتهِ الزُّهْرُ
near whom the birds felt at ease,
And birds grew intimate in his company
and whose returns the bright stars grew used to,
And flowers adored his meadows
أَوَىhe took shelter إِلىin وَكْرٍa nest عَلَىupon شاِمخٍa lofty height
أَوَى إِلى وَكْرٍ عَلَى شاِمخٍ
فَخانَهُthen it betrayed him فِيin المَأْمَنِthe place of safety الوَكْرُthe nest
فَخانَهُ فِي المَأْمَنِ الوَكْرُ
took shelter in a nest upon a lofty height,
He took refuge in a lofty den
and the nest betrayed him in his safe retreat.
Yet in safety, the den betrayed him
فجِيعَةٌa calamity فِيin نَوْعِهَاits kind فذَّةٌunique
فجِيعَةٌ فِي نَوْعِهَا فذَّةٌ
كأَنّهَاas though it مِنْfrom بِدْعِهَاits novelty بِكْرُa virgin
كأَنّهَا مِنْ بِدْعِهَا بِكْرُ
A calamity unique in its kind,
A calamity unique in its horror
as though its novelty made it a virgin grief.
As if it was the first of its kind
تَصَوَّرَtook shape المَوتُdeath بِهَاin it صُورَةًa form
تَصَوَّرَ المَوتُ بِهَا صُورَةً
أَفْحَشَmade more hideous فِيin تَنْكِيرِهَاrendering it grotesque النُّكرُhorror
أَفْحَشَ فِي تَنْكِيرِهَا النُّكرُ
Death assumed through it a shape
Death imagined in it a repulsive form
that horror rendered hideous beyond recognition.
In its denial of recognition
فَمَاso not تَرَىyou see مِنْfrom هَوْلِهَاits terror صَاحِياًa sober person
فَمَا تَرَى مِنْ هَوْلِهَا صَاحِياً
إِلاَّexcept كَمَنْlike one whom ضَعْضَعَهُshook him السُّكرُdrunkenness
إِلاَّ كَمَنْ ضَعْضَعَهُ السُّكرُ
So, from its terror, you see no sober person
You would only see one intoxicated by its horror
except as one whom drunkenness has shaken.
As if convulsing with drunkenness
نَاهِيكَsufficient for you بِالحُزْنِis sorrow وَتَبْرِيحِهِand its torment
نَاهِيكَ بِالحُزْنِ وَتَبْرِيحِهِ
بِالنَّفسِto the soul إِنif خَالَطَهُmingles with it الذُّعْرُterror
بِالنَّفسِ إِن خَالَطَهُ الذُّعْرُ
How grievous are sorrow and its torment
Not to mention the sorrow and desolation
of the soul, when terror mingles with it!
If fear accompanies the soul
ثَوَىlay in death المَلِيكُthe king القُطْبُthe pole-star فِيat حِينِa time when لاَno
ثَوَى المَلِيكُ القُطْبُ فِي حِينِ لاَ
رَبْعٌdwelling خَلاَwas empty مِنْهُof him وَلاَand no قُطْرُregion
رَبْعٌ خَلاَ مِنْهُ وَلاَ قُطْرُ
The king, the pole-star, lay in death, when no
The noble pole lies at a time when
dwelling was without him, nor any region.
No quarter was without him or a speck
إِنْif تبْكِshe weeps عَدْنانُAdnan فَأَخْلِقْthen how fitting بِهَاfor her
إِنْ تبْكِ عَدْنانُ فَأَخْلِقْ بِهَا
هَلْis there بَعْدَbeyond مَاwhat حَلَّbefell بِهَاher خُسْرُloss
هَلْ بَعْدَ مَا حَلَّ بِهَا خُسْرُ
If Adnan weeps, how fitting for her!
If you cry O Aden weep after
Is there any loss beyond what has befallen her?
What befell it, is there loss after loss?
ذَرْهَاleave her تُقِمْlet her hold مَأْتَمَهَاher mourning assembly شامِلاًembracing
ذَرْهَا تُقِمْ مَأْتَمَهَا شامِلاً
كُلَّall بَنِيهَاher sons فَلهَاfor she has عُذْرُjustification
كُلَّ بَنِيهَا فَلهَا عُذْرُ
Let her hold her mourning assembly, embracing
Leave it to complete its mourning encompassing
all her sons, for she is justified.
All its children, it has an excuse
فَارَقَهَاleft her مَنْthe one who يَدُهُhis bounty عِنْدَهَاto her
فَارَقَهَا مَنْ يَدُهُ عِنْدَهَا
يَعْجِزُis powerless عَنْto إِيفَائِهَاrepaying it fully الشُّكرُgratitude
يَعْجِزُ عَنْ إِيفَائِهَا الشُّكرُ
He has left her—he whose bounty to her
He who served it left it unable
gratitude is powerless to repay in full.
To repay his gratitude
بِنُوِرهِby his light شُقَّتwere rent دَيَاجِيرُهَاher deep darkness
بِنُوِرهِ شُقَّت دَيَاجِيرُهَا
وَرُدَّand was restored مِنْfrom ضِلَّتِهits wandering الفَجْرُthe dawn
وَرُدَّ مِنْ ضِلَّتِه الفَجْرُ
By his light her deep darkness was rent,
With his light its dark nights were split
and dawn was restored from its wandering.
And the dawn returned from its misguidance
وَجُدِّدَتْand was renewed دَوْلَتُهَاher dominion بَعْدَafter أَنْthat
وَجُدِّدَتْ دَوْلَتُهَا بَعْدَ أَنْ
أَنْكَرَfailed to recognize فِيهَاin her عَيْنَهُits very self الإِثْرٌthe vestige
أَنْكَرَ فِيهَا عَيْنَهُ الإِثْرٌ
And her dominion was renewed after
And its state was renewed after
the very vestige failed to recognize itself within her.
Eyes had denied recognizing its ruins
يَاO ابْنَson of حُسَيْنٍHussein وَحُسَيْنٌand Hussein لَهُto him
يَا ابْنَ حُسَيْنٍ وَحُسَيْنٌ لَهُ
فِيin عِزِّهَاher glory المُؤْتَنَفِrenewed الفَخْرُthe honor
فِي عِزِّهَا المُؤْتَنَفِ الفَخْرُ
O son of Hussein—and to Hussein belongs
O son of Hussein, and Hussein has
the honor of her newly restored glory.
Supreme renewed glory through him
وَيَاand O أَخاbrother of الصِّنوَيْنِthe two kindred shoots مِنْfrom دَوْحَةٍa spreading tree
وَيَا أَخا الصِّنوَيْنِ مِنْ دَوْحَةٍ
زَكَّىennobled جَنَاهَاits fruit العَصْرُthe age فَالعَصْرُthen the next age
زَكَّى جَنَاهَا العَصْرُ فَالعَصْرُ
And O brother of the two kindred shoots from a spreading tree,
And brother of two bright ones from Doha
whose fruit age after age has ennobled.
Whose time honored them one after another
سُلاَلَةٌa lineage مِنْfrom هَاشِمِHashim نَجْرُهَاits stock
سُلاَلَةٌ مِنْ هَاشِمِ نَجْرُهَا
لِسَادَةِfor the lords of الشَّرْقِthe East هُوَit النَّجرُthe stock
لِسَادَةِ الشَّرْقِ هُوَ النَّجرُ
A lineage whose stock derives from Hashim,
A lineage from Hashim whose ringing
the very stock of the lords of the East.
Is for the lords of the East to hear
كُنْتَyou were عَنِfor the loss of المُنْجِبِthe noble sire تَأْسَاءَهَاher consolation
كُنْتَ عَنِ المُنْجِبِ تَأْسَاءَهَا
وَالإِخْوَةُand the brothers الصُّيابَةthe choicest الغُرُّthe illustrious
وَالإِخْوَةُ الصُّيابَة الغُرُّ
You were her solace for the loss of the sire,
You surpassed the one who brought you forth
as were your brothers, choice and illustrious.
While the brothers the best of fellows
فَاليَوْمَso today ثَنَّىstruck a second time بِكَthrough you عَادِيthe ravaging force of الرَّدَىdeath
فَاليَوْمَ ثَنَّى بِكَ عَادِي الرَّدَى
كَأَنَّهas though it يَحْفِزُهُspurs it on وِتْرُa blood-feud
كَأَنَّه يَحْفِزُهُ وِتْرُ
Today ravening death strikes again through you,
Today fate doubled you with calamity
as though a blood-feud spurred it on.
As if goading it with a bowstring
فِيمَwhy تَجَنِّيهِits unjust assault وَمَاand what وِزْرُكُمْyour sin
فِيمَ تَجَنِّيهِ وَمَا وِزْرُكُمْ
أَنَهْضَةُis the awakening of العُرْبِthe Arabs هِيَit الوِزْرُthe sin
أَنَهْضَةُ العُرْبِ هِيَ الوِزْرُ
Why its unjust assault, and what is your sin?
Why oppose him, you bear no burden
Is the Arabs' awakening itself the sin?
The awakening of the Arabs is the burden
أَيَوْمَis it on the day بَلَّغْتَyou brought العِرَاقَIraq المُنَىthe hopes
أَيَوْمَ بَلَّغْتَ العِرَاقَ المُنَى
فَالحُكْمُso government شورَىconsultation وَالحِمَىand the homeland حُرُّfree
فَالحُكْمُ شورَى وَالحِمَى حُرُّ
Is it when you brought Iraq its hopes,
O day you gave Iraq its wish
with government by counsel and the homeland free,
So rule is consultation and freedom guarded
وَيَوْمَand on the day لَمْnot يَبْقَremained لِمُسْتَعْمِرٍfor a colonizer
وَيَوْمَ لَمْ يَبْقَ لِمُسْتَعْمِرٍ
فِيamong أَهْلِهَاher people نَهْيٌprohibition وَلاَand no أَمْرُcommand
فِي أَهْلِهَا نَهْيٌ وَلاَ أَمْرُ
and when no colonizer retained
And day when no invader remains
power to forbid or command her people,
With authority or control over its people
وَيَوْمَand on the day تَرْجُوhope أُمَمُthe nations of الضَّادِthe letter ḍād أَنْthat
وَيَوْمَ تَرْجُو أُمَمُ الضَّادِ أَنْ
يَضُمُّهاunites them المِيثَاقُthe covenant وَالأَصْرُand the bond
يَضُمُّها المِيثَاقُ وَالأَصْرُ
and when the nations of ḍād hope
And day when the nations of "Dhad" hope
to be united by covenant and bond,
To unite them a covenant and bond
يَغُولُكَsnatches you away البَيْنُparting وَلَمْand not تَكْتَهِلْyou reached middle age
يَغُولُكَ البَيْنُ وَلَمْ تَكْتَهِلْ
وَلَمْand not يُصَوَّحْwithered عُودُكَyour bough النَضْرُfresh green
وَلَمْ يُصَوَّحْ عُودُكَ النَضْرُ
that parting snatches you away before middle age,
Loss separates you before
before your fresh green bough has withered?
Your tender branch grew firm
مَنْwhoever يَبْغِseeks فِيin الدُّنْيَاthe world مِثَالاًan example لِمَاof what
مَنْ يَبْغِ فِي الدُّنْيَا مِثَالاً لِمَا
يَبْلغattains مِنْهَاfrom it الفَطِنُthe discerning man الجَسْرُbold
يَبْلغ مِنْهَا الفَطِنُ الجَسْرُ
Whoever seeks in this world an example of what
Who seeks an ideal in life for what
the keen-witted, bold man can attain in it,
The wise can aspire
وَمَاand what بِهِby it يَغْصِبُhe wrests مِنْfrom دَهْرِهِhis age
وَمَا بِهِ يَغْصِبُ مِنْ دَهْرِهِ
مَضَنَّةa prized treasure يَمْنَعُهَاwithholds it الدَّهْرُtime
مَضَنَّة يَمْنَعُهَا الدَّهْرُ
and of how he wrests from his age
And through it seize from his fate
a prized treasure that time withholds,
What fate refuses to grant
فَدُونَهُthen let him take سِيرَةُthe life-story of قَيْلٍa king رَمَىwho aimed
فَدُونَهُ سِيرَةُ قَيْلٍ رَمَى
مَرْمىًa goal وَفِيand in مَيْسُوِرِهhis available means عُسْرُhardship
مَرْمىً وَفِي مَيْسُوِرِه عُسْرُ
let him take the life of a king who aimed
None but his path he took aim
at a goal, with hardship even in his means;
At a target though his means were limited
مَنَالُهُits attainment صَعْبٌdifficult وَأَنْصارُهُand his supporters
مَنَالُهُ صَعْبٌ وَأَنْصارُهُ
جِدُّvery قَلِيلٍfew وَالعِدَىand the enemies كُثْرُmany
جِدُّ قَلِيلٍ وَالعِدَى كُثْرُ
attaining it was hard, and his supporters
His goal is difficult and his supporters
were very few, while his enemies were many.
Few in number while the enemy plenty
سَمَاhe rose إِلىto عْرشٍa throne فَلَماthen when كَبَاit stumbled
سَمَا إِلى عْرشٍ فَلَما كَبَا
بِهbeneath him وَلَمْand not يَثْبُتْstood firm لَهُfor him ظَهْرُa support
بِه وَلَمْ يَثْبُتْ لَهُ ظَهْرُ
He rose to a throne; when it stumbled
He sought a throne so when
beneath him, and no support stood firm for him,
It disappointed him no firm footing
سَمَاhe rose إِلىto آخَرَanother لاَnot رُسْغُهُhis wrist
سَمَا إِلى آخَرَ لاَ رُسْغُهُ
وَاهٍweak وَلاَand not يُرْزِحُهُweighs him down الوِقْرُthe burden
وَاهٍ وَلاَ يُرْزِحُهُ الوِقْرُ
he rose to another, his wrist not
He sought the next with no determination
feeble, nor was he crushed by the burden.
Or weight to steady him
وَأَيُّand what مَطْلُوبٍsought-after goal عَزِيزٍprized نَأَىlay far off
وَأَيُّ مَطْلُوبٍ عَزِيزٍ نَأَى
لَمْnot يُدْنِهِbrought it near الإِيمَانُfaith وَالصَّبرُand patience
لَمْ يُدْنِهِ الإِيمَانُ وَالصَّبرُ
And what prized goal, however distant,
What desired goal was hard to attain
have faith and patience not brought near?
That faith and patience did not draw near?
بَغْدَادُBaghdad عَادَreturned العِزُّglory فِيهَاin her عَلَىto
بَغْدَادُ عَادَ العِزُّ فِيهَا عَلَى
بدْءٍthe beginning وَلأْياًand with great difficulty قُضِيَwas fulfilled الثَّأرُvengeance
بدْءٍ وَلأْياً قُضِيَ الثَّأرُ
Baghdad—glory there returned to
Baghdad, glory has returned as it began
its former state; after much toil vengeance was exacted.
And for a start vengeance was attained
بُلِّغَwas granted فِيهَاin her فَيصلٌFaisal سُؤلَهُhis desire
بُلِّغَ فِيهَا فَيصلٌ سُؤلَهُ
واعْتَذَرَتْand apologized أَيَّامُهُhis days الكُدْرُtroubled
واعْتَذَرَتْ أَيَّامُهُ الكُدْرُ
There Faisal was granted his desire,
In it Faisal was asked his wish
and his troubled days offered their apology.
And his dark days apologized
بَايَعَهُpledged allegiance to him القَوْمُthe people وَمَاand not أَخْطَأُواthey erred
بَايَعَهُ القَوْمُ وَمَا أَخْطَأُوا
فِيin شَأْنِهِhis case الحَزْمَprudence وَمَاand not اغْتَرُّواthey were deceived
فِي شَأْنِهِ الحَزْمَ وَمَا اغْتَرُّوا
The people pledged allegiance to him; they did not err
The people pledged allegiance, not wrong
in prudent judgment of him, nor were they deceived.
In their judgment or blind in passion
وَأَكَّدَand strengthened البَيْعَةَthe allegiance pledge إِيمَانُهُمْtheir faith
وَأَكَّدَ البَيْعَةَ إِيمَانُهُمْ
بِأَنَّهthat he is العُدَّةُthe mainstay وَالذُّخْرُand the treasure
بِأَنَّه العُدَّةُ وَالذُّخْرُ
And their pledge was strengthened by their faith
And their faith affirmed the pledge
that he was their mainstay and their treasure.
That he is the armor and treasure
مُعْجِزَةٌa miracle جَاءَcame بِهَاwith it مُقْدِمٌa daring man
مُعْجِزَةٌ جَاءَ بِهَا مُقْدِمٌ
لاَnot فَائِلُunsound in الرَّأْيِjudgment وَلاَand not غِمْرُan inexperienced man
لاَ فَائِلُ الرَّأْيِ وَلاَ غِمْرُ
A miracle wrought by a daring man,
A miracle came with the new arrival
neither unsound in judgment nor inexperienced.
No expert advisor or cultivator
يَخَالُimagines مَنْwhoever يَقْرَأُreads أَنْبَاءَهَاits accounts
يَخَالُ مَنْ يَقْرَأُ أَنْبَاءَهَا
أَنَّthat الَّذِيwhat يَقْرُؤُهُhe reads it شعْرُpoetry
أَنَّ الَّذِي يَقْرُؤُهُ شعْرُ
Whoever reads its story imagines
Who reads the news would imagine
that what he is reading is poetry.
That what he reads is poetry
أَجَلْyes هُوَit الشِّعرُpoetry وَلَكِنَّهُbut it
أَجَلْ هُوَ الشِّعرُ وَلَكِنَّهُ
حَقِيقَةٌa truth تُلمَسُcan be touched لاَnot سِحْرُmagic
حَقِيقَةٌ تُلمَسُ لاَ سِحْرُ
Yes, it is poetry, but it is
Yes, it is poetry but it is
tangible truth, not magic.
Reality, felt, not sorcery
مَاnot جَهِلَتْfailed to recognize خَيْلُthe horses of العِدَىthe enemies فيْصَلاًFaisal
مَا جَهِلَتْ خَيْلُ العِدَى فيْصَلاً
وَالطَّعنُand spear-thrusting فِيin لَبَّاتِهَاtheir throat-bases هَبْرُflesh-cutting
وَالطَّعنُ فِي لَبَّاتِهَا هَبْرُ
The enemy's horses were no strangers to Faisal,
The enemy horses did not know Faisal
as thrusts hacked into the bases of their throats.
And spears only shine bared in their flesh
وَمَاand not بَدَتْappeared فِيamid النَّقعِthe battle-dust أَسْيَافُهُhis swords
وَمَا بَدَتْ فِي النَّقعِ أَسْيَافُهُ
إِلاَّexcept وَقدْand already بَشَّsmiled بِهَاat them ثَغرُa mouth
إِلاَّ وَقدْ بَشَّ بِهَا ثَغرُ
And his swords never appeared amid the battle-dust
Stands he alone attained with which
without a mouth smiling at their sight.
No great army could contend
مَوَاقِفٌoccasions نالَhe attained بِهَاthrough them وَحْدَهُalone
مَوَاقِفٌ نالَ بِهَا وَحْدَهُ
مَاwhat لاَnot يُنِيلُcan bestow العسْكرُthe army المَجْرُvast
مَا لاَ يُنِيلُ العسْكرُ المَجْرُ
There were occasions when he alone attained
Fortune favored him where neither
what a vast army cannot secure.
White nor brown foretold fortune
أَسْعَدَهُaided him الرَّأْيُjudgment بِهَاin them حَيْثُwhere لاَnot
أَسْعَدَهُ الرَّأْيُ بِهَا حَيْثُ لاَ
تُسْعِدُهُaid him بِيضٌwhite swords وَلاَand no سُمْرُbrown spears
تُسْعِدُهُ بِيضٌ وَلاَ سُمْرُ
Judgment aided him in them, where no
He deemed the East's treasures worthless to himself
white swords or brown spears could aid him.
And his palm spared from a silver coin
أَغْلَىthe costliest كُنُوزِtreasures of الشَّرْقِthe East فِيin نَفْسِهِhis soul
أَغْلَى كُنُوزِ الشَّرْقِ فِي نَفْسِهِ
وَكَفُّهand his palm مِنْof دِرْهَمٍa dirham صِفْرُempty
وَكَفُّه مِنْ دِرْهَمٍ صِفْرُ
The East's most precious treasures lay in his soul,
But his greatest conquest was not
yet his palm was empty of a single dirham.
What the enemy snatched or pried loose
لَكِنَّbut أَسْمَىthe loftiest of فتْحِهِhis conquests لمْnot يَكنْwas
لَكِنَّ أَسْمَى فتْحِهِ لمْ يَكنْ
مَاwhat غَصَبَseized by force الكَرُّthe charge أَوِor الفَرُّthe retreat
مَا غَصَبَ الكَرُّ أَوِ الفَرُّ
But his loftiest conquest was not
Rather what his wisdom prepared
what charge or retreat had seized by force;
And his staunch well-considered soul
بَلْrather هُوَit مَاwhat هَيَّأهُprepared it حَزْمُهُhis resolve
بَلْ هُوَ مَا هَيَّأهُ حَزْمُهُ
وَجَأْشُهُand his courage الرَّابِطُsteadfast وَالفِكْرُand thought
وَجَأْشُهُ الرَّابِطُ وَالفِكْرُ
rather, it was what his resolve prepared,
Say what you will of Faisal, he is
along with his steadfast courage and thought.
An ocean from which pearls are extracted
مَاwhatever شِئْتَyou wish قُلْsay فِيabout فَيْصَلٍFaisal إِنَّهُindeed he
مَا شِئْتَ قُلْ فِي فَيْصَلٍ إِنَّهُ
بَحْرٌa sea وَمِنْهُand from it يُؤْخَذُare drawn الدُّرُّpearls
بَحْرٌ وَمِنْهُ يُؤْخَذُ الدُّرُّ
Say what you will of Faisal: he is
Ask those who know him if excellence
a sea from which pearls are drawn.
Flows from him or is concealed
سَلْask عَارِفِيهِthose who know him تَدْرِyou will know مَاwhat شَأْنُهhis worth
سَلْ عَارِفِيهِ تَدْرِ مَا شَأْنُه
إِنْif يُرْجَis hoped for فَضْلٌbounty أَوْor يُخَفْis feared ضُرُّharm
إِنْ يُرْجَ فَضْلٌ أَوْ يُخَفْ ضُرُّ
Ask those who know him; learn his worth
Chivalry complete so it is no wonder
when bounty is hoped for or harm feared.
That the sweet and the bitter are sampled
رُجُولَةٌmanhood تَمَّتwas perfected فَلاَso no بِدْعَwonder أَنْthat
رُجُولَةٌ تَمَّت فَلاَ بِدْعَ أَنْ
يُورَدَis drawn مِنْهَاfrom it الحُلوُthe sweet وَالمُرُّand the bitter
يُورَدَ مِنْهَا الحُلوُ وَالمُرُّ
Manhood perfected: no wonder, then,
Mild manners found in their time
that sweet and bitter are drawn from it.
While coarse manners call for coarseness
أَلخُلُقُthe character اللَّيِّنgentle يُلْفَىis found بِهِin him
أَلخُلُقُ اللَّيِّن يُلْفَى بِهِ
فِيat حِينِهِits proper time وَالخُلُقُand the character الوَعْرُrugged
فِي حِينِهِ وَالخُلُقُ الوَعْرُ
A gentle nature is found in him
Obliging in good its nature still
at its proper time, and a rugged nature too.
Obliging if evil imposed
يَكْلَفُis devoted بِالخَيْرِto goodness وَفِيand in طَبْعِهِhis nature
يَكْلَفُ بِالخَيْرِ وَفِي طَبْعِهِ
تَكَلُّفٌa forced effort إِنْif يُحْتَمِis required الشَّرُّevil
تَكَلُّفٌ إِنْ يُحْتَمِ الشَّرُّ
He is devoted to good; in his nature
For the enemies is his harshness
evil takes effort, if it must be done.
And for the loyal his gentleness
وَلِلعُداةِand for foes الغَمْرُthe overwhelming flood مِنْof بَأْسِهِhis might
وَلِلعُداةِ الغَمْرُ مِنْ بَأْسِهِ
وَلِلوُلاَةِand for the governors النَّائِلُthe bounty الغمْرُabundant
وَلِلوُلاَةِ النَّائِلُ الغمْرُ
For foes, the engulfing flood of his might;
This to a lofty mind, to a
and for the governors, his abundant bounty.
Great heart not one for conceit
هَذَاall this إِلىalong with عَقْلٍa mind رَفِيعٍlofty إِلىalong with
هَذَا إِلى عَقْلٍ رَفِيعٍ إِلى
قَلْبٍa heart كَبِيرٍgreat مَاno بِهِin it كِبْرُarrogance
قَلْبٍ كَبِيرٍ مَا بِهِ كِبْرُ
All this, with a lofty mind, with
To qualities without corruption marring
a great heart containing no arrogance;
Their purity by any misdeed or betrayal
إِلىalong with سَجَايَاtraits لَمْnot يَشُبْtainted صَفْوَهَاtheir purity
إِلى سَجَايَا لَمْ يَشُبْ صَفْوَهَا
فِيin حادِثٍany event خَبٌّdeceit وَلاَand no غَدْرُtreachery
فِي حادِثٍ خَبٌّ وَلاَ غَدْرُ
with traits whose purity was never tainted
To rare loyalty, rarely fulfilled
in any event by deceit or treachery;
In a ruler experienced
إِلىalong with وَفَاءٍfidelity نَادِرٍrare قَلَّمَاseldom
إِلى وَفَاءٍ نَادِرٍ قَلَّمَا
حَقَّقهُconfirmed it فِيin عَاهِلٍa sovereign خُبْرُexperience
حَقَّقهُ فِي عَاهِلٍ خُبْرُ
with rare fidelity, which seldom
To generosity, neither posture nor
has experience confirmed in a sovereign;
Subtlety lessened by frowns or welcomes
إِلىalong with سَخَاءٍgenerosity لَمْnot يَضِرْmarred ظَرْفَهُits grace
إِلى سَخَاءٍ لَمْ يَضِرْ ظَرْفَهُ
أَوْor لُطْفَهُits gentleness مَنٌّreminding of favors وَلاَand no جَهْرُpublic display
أَوْ لُطْفَهُ مَنٌّ وَلاَ جَهْرُ
with generosity whose grace was never marred,
To sincerity amid attractions in it
nor its gentleness, by reminders of favors or public display;
Is mystery above the flowers' secrets
إِلىalong with خُلُوصٍsincerity فِيin الطَّوَايَاthe inward folds بِهِin it
إِلى خُلُوصٍ فِي الطَّوَايَا بِهِ
مِمَّاof what بِأَزْهَارِin the flowers of الرُّبَىthe hills سِرُّa secret
مِمَّا بِأَزْهَارِ الرُّبَى سِرُّ
with sincerity in the heart's folds, holding
It refreshes the soul everlasting not
a secret like that within the flowers of the hills.
Fading though perfume fades
تَنْشَقُهُinhales it النَّفسُthe soul ذكِياًfragrant وَمَاand not
تَنْشَقُهُ النَّفسُ ذكِياً وَمَا
يَفْنىvanishes إِذَاwhen مَاever فَنِيَhas vanished العِطْرُthe perfume
يَفْنى إِذَا مَا فَنِيَ العِطْرُ
The soul inhales it, fragrant, and it does not
In God's mercy the king who passed
fade when the perfume fades.
Before his time was complete
فِيin رَحْمَةِthe mercy of اللّهِGod المَلِيكُthe king الَّذِيwho
فِي رَحْمَةِ اللّهِ المَلِيكُ الَّذِي
ولَّىdeparted وَلَمْand not يَكْتَمِلِwas complete العُمْرُthe lifetime
ولَّى وَلَمْ يَكْتَمِلِ العُمْرُ
In God's mercy is the king who
His memory remains, a solace for those
departed before his life was complete.
Who lost him before dawn rose
ذِكْرَاهُhis memory تَبْقَىremains وَهْيَand it is سَلَوَىa solace لِمَنْfor those who
ذِكْرَاهُ تَبْقَى وَهْيَ سَلَوَى لِمَنْ
فَارَقَهُمْhe left them مَاas long as طَلَعَrises البَدْرُthe full moon
فَارَقَهُمْ مَا طَلَعَ البَدْرُ
His memory remains, a solace to those
he left behind, as long as the full moon rises.
Partial English translation: 136 of 138 Arabic lines translated.