لاحَت مِن الشعر في دياجر

لاحَت مِن الشعر في دياجر

كَواكب الأَوجه الصِباح

كَواكب الأَوجه الصِباح

In the dark depths of hair there shone

The stars of morning faces shone in poetry's robes,

the stars of radiant faces.

Yet darkness mourned the night that has no dawn.

وَيلاه مِن ظُلم كُلّ هاجر

وَيلاه مِن ظُلم كُلّ هاجر

لَيل الشَجي ما لَهُ صَباح

لَيل الشَجي ما لَهُ صَباح

Woe to me for the cruelty of all who turn away!

O Fate, come to my aid that I may gain my hopes,

The sorrowing lover's night has no dawn.

And love's affliction finds once more its cure.

يا سَعدُ هَل أَنتَ لي مُساعد

يا سَعدُ هَل أَنتَ لي مُساعد

عَلى بُلوغ المَآرب

عَلى بُلوغ المَآرب

O Sa'd, will you aid me

I see the heart's delight is scent and wine and cheer,

in attaining my desires?

No blame is on the heart if it can rest.

أَما لمضنى الغَرام عائد

أَما لمضنى الغَرام عائد

مِن الحِسان الكَواعب

مِن الحِسان الكَواعب

Is there no visitor for one wasted by love

Eyes like the doe have beauty and charm so dear,

among the lovely, full-breasted women?

Dear loveliness, how great the gifts you bring!

إِنّي أَرى نُزهة الخَواطر

إِنّي أَرى نُزهة الخَواطر

ريحان خَدٍّ وَكَأس راح

ريحان خَدٍّ وَكَأس راح

Indeed, I see the mind's delight

My soul bears witness, and desire makes clear,

in a cheek's sweet basil and a cup of wine.

All that these subtle weavings intertwine.

فَما عَلى الخرّدِ الخَواطِر

فَما عَلى الخرّدِ الخَواطِر

إِذا الشَجي روحَهُ أَراح

إِذا الشَجي روحَهُ أَراح

So what harm comes to the demure, swaying maidens

Let him excuse who sees the strange and queer

if the sorrowing lover gives his soul repose?

Among the youths, made strange by pain like mine.

حورٌ عُيونُ المَها جَمالاً

حورٌ عُيونُ المَها جَمالاً

عُيونها وَالمَها مِثال

عُيونها وَالمَها مِثال

Fair, dark-eyed maidens: in beauty, the oryx's eyes

Not I in spirit risk with lances bright,

are their eyes, and the oryx their likeness.

Midst archer's darts, that threaten as they quiver.

عينٌ سَلَبنَ النُهى دَلالاً

عينٌ سَلَبنَ النُهى دَلالاً

يا حُسنَ ما أَوجَب الدَلال

يا حُسنَ ما أَوجَب الدَلال

Wide-eyed maidens, they stole reason with their coy charm.

No, by the Lord who knows the secrets of the night,

How lovely is what coy charm has wrought!

Save but to meet the pleasure of the Giver.

نَفسي الفِدا وَالغَرام شاهد

نَفسي الفِدا وَالغَرام شاهد

لِما حَوَتهُ التَرائب

لِما حَوَتهُ التَرائب

My soul be the ransom—love bears witness—

Make haste o friend to gardens of delight,

for what the breastbones enclose.

Where bulbuls sing as feathered choirs deliver,

فَليعذر الصَبَّ مَن يُشاهد

فَليعذر الصَبَّ مَن يُشاهد

مِن الغَواني غَرائب

مِن الغَواني غَرائب

So let the lovesick be excused by whoever beholds

The praise of that great Lord, God's Caliph, Might

marvels among the lovely women.

Of Mighty Lords, Protector named forever.

ما أَنا في النَفس بِالمخاطر

ما أَنا في النَفس بِالمخاطر

بَينَ قُدود هِيَ الرِماح

بَينَ قُدود هِيَ الرِماح

I do not risk my life

I weave these strands of pearl, these treasures won

among slender figures that are spears—

From virtues that belong to him alone.

لا وَالَّذي يَعلم السَرائر

لا وَالَّذي يَعلم السَرائر

إِلّا لِألقى رِضى المِلاح

إِلّا لِألقى رِضى المِلاح

no, by Him who knows the inmost secrets—

Now hark to me, and witness what he's done,

except to gain the favor of the fair.

The wonders he has made that I make known.

بادر إِلى الرَوض يا نَديمي

بادر إِلى الرَوض يا نَديمي

وَاِنشد إِذا غَرّد الحَمام

وَاِنشد إِذا غَرّد الحَمام

Hasten to the garden, O my drinking companion,

To right and left his aid is always sure,

and recite, when the doves sing,

Rewards forthose who know true openhandedness.

مَدائح السيّد الكَريمِ

مَدائح السيّد الكَريمِ

خَليفة اللَه في الأَنام

خَليفة اللَه في الأَنام

praises of the noble lord,

For foes the white blades and the dark doom pure,

God's vicegerent among humankind.

But victory and triumph for nobleness!

نَظمت مِن دُرّها قَلائد

نَظمت مِن دُرّها قَلائد

تَزهو بِتلكَ المَناقب

تَزهو بِتلكَ المَناقب

I have strung necklaces from their pearls,

resplendent with those virtues.

فَاِسمَع ثَنا فَضله وَشاهد

فَاِسمَع ثَنا فَضله وَشاهد

مِن راحَتيهِ عَجائب

مِن راحَتيهِ عَجائب

So hear the praise of his excellence, and behold

wonders from his two palms.

لِليمنِ يمناه وَالمَياسر

لِليمنِ يمناه وَالمَياسر

يُسراه وَالمال لِلسَماح

يُسراه وَالمال لِلسَماح

His right hand is for good fortune; for prosperity,

his left—and his wealth is for generosity;

وَلِلعِدا البيض وَالبَواتر

وَلِلعِدا البيض وَالبَواتر

وَلِلعُلى الفَوز وَالنَجاح

وَلِلعُلى الفَوز وَالنَجاح

and for his foes, gleaming swords and cleaving blades;

and for high glory, victory and success.