خُذ في هَوى الغيد عَنّي أَحسَن الخَبَرِ

خُذ في هَوى الغيد عَنّي أَحسَن الخَبَرِ

وَقُل رَوَيناه بِالإِسناد عَن عُمَرِ

وَقُل رَوَيناه بِالإِسناد عَن عُمَرِ

Take from me the finest account of love for graceful beauties,

Take good tidings from me about the beloved,

And say: We transmitted it with a chain of authority from Umar.

And say we related it with attribution from Umar.

وَاِنقُل أَحاديث أَشجاني مُسلسلَةً

وَاِنقُل أَحاديث أَشجاني مُسلسلَةً

عَن صَبوَتي عَن مَجاري الدَمع عَن سَهَري

عَن صَبوَتي عَن مَجاري الدَمع عَن سَهَري

And transmit the accounts of my sorrows in an unbroken chain,

And transmit the conversations that made me complain,

From my yearning, from the channels of my tears, from my sleeplessness.

About my youth, about the paths of my tears, about my night vigil.

وَاِهجر مَواضيع عذّالي فَقَد وضعت

وَاِهجر مَواضيع عذّالي فَقَد وضعت

في العذل مفترياتٍ حكمهنَّ فَري

في العذل مفترياتٍ حكمهنَّ فَري

And shun my reproachers’ fabrications, for there have been forged

And abandon the topics of my blamers, for I have composed

Falsehoods in reproach, whose verdict is fabrication.

About separation some false allegations whose rule is separation.

وَاِنسخ صحاح رِواياتي فَقَد نسخت

وَاِنسخ صحاح رِواياتي فَقَد نسخت

أَحكام شَرع الهَوى في سالف العصرِ

أَحكام شَرع الهَوى في سالف العصرِ

And transcribe my authentic accounts, for they have superseded

And transcribe the verified narrations of my love stories, for I have transcribed

The rulings of love’s law in ages past.

The rules of the law of love from the previous age.

وَاِنقُل عَن الأَغيد البسّام لي أثراً

وَاِنقُل عَن الأَغيد البسّام لي أثراً

إِذا نَقلت عَن العبّاس مِن أَثَرِ

إِذا نَقلت عَن العبّاس مِن أَثَرِ

And relate to me a report from the graceful, ever-smiling one,

And transmit from the beloved gazelle a trace for me,

When you relate a tradition from al-Abbas.

When you transmit from Al-Abbas any trace.

بِالروح أَحوى حَوى روحي بِراحتهِ

بِالروح أَحوى حَوى روحي بِراحتهِ

فَلم يَزَل خاطِري مِنهُ عَلى خَطَرِ

فَلم يَزَل خاطِري مِنهُ عَلى خَطَرِ

My soul be ransom for a dark-lipped one who held my soul in his palm,

With the spirit I desired his inclination,

For my mind has never ceased to be in peril from him.

So my thoughts about him have not ceased to be in danger.

مرُّ التَجنّي إِذا ما مَرّ فيهِ حَلا

مرُّ التَجنّي إِذا ما مَرّ فيهِ حَلا

هَتكي وَفتكي وَتبريحي وَمُصطبري

هَتكي وَفتكي وَتبريحي وَمُصطبري

Bitter is his cruelty; when he passes through my thoughts, sweet become

When the critic passes by, he undresses, kills, and unveils me,

My disgrace, my destruction, my torment, and my endurance.

My dissolution, my destruction, my exposure, and my confusion.

أَشكو فَأَنثُر ياقوت الدُموع لَهُ

أَشكو فَأَنثُر ياقوت الدُموع لَهُ

فَيَنثَني باسِماً يَفترّ عَن دررُ

فَيَنثَني باسِماً يَفترّ عَن دررُ

I complain, scattering rubies of tears before him,

I complain so I shed the gems of my tears to him,

And he turns smiling, his parted lips revealing pearls.

So he smiles at me, stopping the scattering of pearls.

مورَّس الوَجه أَغدو حينَ أَنظره

مورَّس الوَجه أَغدو حينَ أَنظره

مَورَّد الخَدّ مِن تيه وَمِن خَفرِ

مَورَّد الخَدّ مِن تيه وَمِن خَفرِ

I grow saffron-pale of face when I behold him,

My face becomes rosy when I look at him,

His cheek rose-red with pride and bashfulness.

My cheek reddened from confusion and from being swept away.

كَأَنّ في الخَدّ ما في القَلب مِن لَهَب

كَأَنّ في الخَدّ ما في القَلب مِن لَهَب

وَزيد فيهِ سَواد القَلب وَالبَصَرِ

وَزيد فيهِ سَواد القَلب وَالبَصَرِ

As though his cheek held the flame within my heart,

As if in the cheek is what is in the heart of fire,

And to it were added the blackness of heart and eye.

With more blackness of heart and sight added to it.

ريم رَنا فَرَمى قَلبي فَأَنفذ بِي

ريم رَنا فَرَمى قَلبي فَأَنفذ بِي

سَهماً فَرى القَلب عَن قَوس بِلا وَتَرِ

سَهماً فَرى القَلب عَن قَوس بِلا وَتَرِ

A gazelle gazed, then shot my heart, driving through me

The gazelle glanced, so he shot my heart, striking me

An arrow that cleft the heart, from a bow without a string.

With an arrow, so the heart sees without a bow or string.

فَمَن لِجرح بِهِ الآسي يحارُ أَسىً

فَمَن لِجرح بِهِ الآسي يحارُ أَسىً

مِن أَسهُم اللَحظ أَم مِن أَسهُم القَدَرِ

مِن أَسهُم اللَحظ أَم مِن أَسهُم القَدَرِ

Who, then, can tend a wound at which the healer is bewildered with grief,

So who will heal the wound of the hopeless one, bewildered in pain,

From the arrows of a glance—or from the arrows of fate?

From the arrows of the glance or from the arrows of fate?

يا ساحر الطرفِ كَم بِالسحر تمرضني

يا ساحر الطرفِ كَم بِالسحر تمرضني

أَنا السُها بِالخَفا يا كَوكَب السحرِ

أَنا السُها بِالخَفا يا كَوكَب السحرِ

O enchanter of the glance, how often your magic makes me ill!

O magician of the eyelashes, how you sicken me with magic,

I am Suha in my faintness, O star of dawn!

I am bewitched with wink, O star of magic!

نحولُ خصركَ يا مَولايَ أنحلني

نحولُ خصركَ يا مَولايَ أنحلني

وَطالَما قَد أَطَلت الهَجر فَاِختصرِ

وَطالَما قَد أَطَلت الهَجر فَاِختصرِ

The slenderness of your waist, my lord, has wasted me;

Your slender waist, my master, releases me,

Long have you prolonged estrangement—now shorten it.

Since you have prolonged estrangement, so be concise.

بِما بِعطفيكَ مِن لين وَمِن هيف

بِما بِعطفيكَ مِن لين وَمِن هيف

وَما بِعينيك مِن غنجٍ وَمِن حورِ

وَما بِعينيك مِن غنجٍ وَمِن حورِ

By the softness and slender grace of your sides,

By the gentleness and languor in your arm,

And the coyness and dark-eyed beauty in your eyes,

And the flirtation and tenderness in your eye,

وَما بصبّك مِن سكر وَمِن وَلَهٍ

وَما بصبّك مِن سكر وَمِن وَلَهٍ

وَما بِثَغرك مِن خَمر وَمِن سَكَرِ

وَما بِثَغرك مِن خَمر وَمِن سَكَرِ

And the drunkenness and rapture in your lovesick devotee,

And the nectar and infatuation in your mouth,

And the wine and intoxicating drink in your mouth,

And the wine and intoxication in your lips.

إِلّا رَحمتَ عَليلاً لا عِلاج لَهُ

إِلّا رَحمتَ عَليلاً لا عِلاج لَهُ

يا جارح القَلب إِلّا مرهم النَظَرِ

يا جارح القَلب إِلّا مرهم النَظَرِ

Will you not pity a sick man who has no cure,

Have mercy on a sick one who has no cure,

O wounder of the heart, except the salve of a glance?

O wounder of the heart, except the ointment of seeing you.

أشتاقُ رَشف اللَمى وَاللَحظ يَمنَعني

أشتاقُ رَشف اللَمى وَاللَحظ يَمنَعني

فَيَظمأ القَلب بَينَ الوِرد وَالصَدرِ

فَيَظمأ القَلب بَينَ الوِرد وَالصَدرِ

I long to sip his dark lips, but his glance forbids me,

I yearn for a sip and a glance, but it prevents me,

So the heart thirsts between coming to the water and turning away.

So the heart thirsts between roses and breasts.

يا لَوعة الوَجد إن أُحرَم بِهِ أَمَلي

يا لَوعة الوَجد إن أُحرَم بِهِ أَمَلي

عَلى فُؤاديَ لا تبقي وَلا تَذري

عَلى فُؤاديَ لا تبقي وَلا تَذري

O burning anguish of love, if I am denied my hope in him,

O agony of passion, if my hopes are denied me

Spare nothing of my heart, and leave nothing behind.

Over my heart, you leave nothing and spare nothing.

ما أَنس لا أَنسَ لَمّا زارَني سحراً

ما أَنس لا أَنسَ لَمّا زارَني سحراً

وَقَد تَشاجر ورق الأَيك في الشَجَرِ

وَقَد تَشاجر ورق الأَيك في الشَجَرِ

Whatever I forget, I shall not forget when he visited me before dawn,

I do not forget, I do not forget when he visited me at night,

While the grove’s gray doves were quarreling in the trees.

And the leaves of the creeping plants had quarreled in the trees,

وَسنان يَفترّ عَن بَرق فَأنشدهُ

وَسنان يَفترّ عَن بَرق فَأنشدهُ

يا ساهر البَرق أَيقظ راقد السَمرِ

يا ساهر البَرق أَيقظ راقد السَمرِ

Drowsy, his smile flashed lightning, and I recited to him:

And his shining teeth smiled, so I recited to him:

O watcher of the lightning, wake the slumberer at our night-talk!

O watcher of the lightning, wake the sleeper of the night vigil.

فَقامَ يَسعى وَشَمس الراح في يَدهِ

فَقامَ يَسعى وَشَمس الراح في يَدهِ

يا مَن رَأى الشَمس تجلى في يَد القَمَرِ

يا مَن رَأى الشَمس تجلى في يَد القَمَرِ

He rose and hastened, the sun of wine in his hand—

So he got up, walking quickly, and the sun of comfort was in his hand,

O you who saw the sun revealed in the hand of the moon!

O you who saw the sun shine in the hand of the moon!

لاهوت حسن بناسوت الجَمال بَدا

لاهوت حسن بناسوت الجَمال بَدا

في صورةٍ حارَ مِنها عابد الصُورِ

في صورةٍ حارَ مِنها عابد الصُورِ

Divine loveliness appeared embodied in human beauty,

The divinity of the beauty of his appearance showed

In a form that bewildered the worshipper of images.

In a form the worshipers of images were confused about.

لَو قابل النسوة اللاتي فُتنَّ جَوىً

لَو قابل النسوة اللاتي فُتنَّ جَوىً

لَقُلن تاللّه ما هَذا مِن البَشَرِ

لَقُلن تاللّه ما هَذا مِن البَشَرِ

Had he faced the women driven wild with passion,

If he met the women who were infatuated with passion,

They would have said: By God, this is no human being!

They would say, by God, this is not one of humans!

حَيّا مَرابع أنسي يَنثَني مَرَحا

حَيّا مَرابع أنسي يَنثَني مَرَحا

فَقُلت أَهلاً بِغُصن البانة النَضرِ

فَقُلت أَهلاً بِغُصن البانة النَضرِ

He greeted the haunts of my delight, swaying merrily,

He came to me cheerful, so I said, Welcome

And I said: Welcome, fresh bough of the ban tree!

To the tender branch of flexibility and youth.

وَماس في حللٍ خُضر فَذكّرني

وَماس في حللٍ خُضر فَذكّرني

خُضر الرُبوع زَهَت بِالسَيّد الخضري

خُضر الرُبوع زَهَت بِالسَيّد الخضري

He swayed in green robes, reminding me

And he was clad in green garments, so he reminded me

Of verdant abodes made radiant by Sayyid al-Khudari.

Of the green meadows adorned with the verdant.

مُختار أَهل التُقى وَالفَضل سَيّدهم

مُختار أَهل التُقى وَالفَضل سَيّدهم

سَميّ مُختار رَبّ العَرش مِن مُضَرِ

سَميّ مُختار رَبّ العَرش مِن مُضَرِ

Chosen among the people of piety and virtue, their master,

The chosen one of piety and superiority, their master,

Namesake of the man of Mudar chosen by the Lord of the Throne.

The elect chosen one of the Lord of the Throne from Mudar.

مُحمّد الذات مَحمود الصِفات لَهُ

مُحمّد الذات مَحمود الصِفات لَهُ

مِن المَحامد عدٌّ غَير منحصرِ

مِن المَحامد عدٌّ غَير منحصرِ

Muhammad in person, praiseworthy in attributes; he has

Muhammad in essence, praiseworthy in attributes, for him

Commendable qualities beyond all counting.

From praises a number that cannot be comprehended.

بَحرٌ مِن العلم لَكن لا قَرار لَهُ

بَحرٌ مِن العلم لَكن لا قَرار لَهُ

طود مِن الحلم لَكن قطّ لَم يمرِ

طود مِن الحلم لَكن قطّ لَم يمرِ

An ocean of learning, yet with no bottom;

An ocean of knowledge, but without shores for it,

A mountain of forbearance, yet never swayed.

A towering mountain of patience, but a cat has never passed it.

مِن الألى رَسخت أَقدامهم وَسَما

مِن الألى رَسخت أَقدامهم وَسَما

إِقدامهم فَوق هام الأَنجُم الزهرِ

إِقدامهم فَوق هام الأَنجُم الزهرِ

One of those whose feet stand firm, while high rises

From firmness their feet were rooted, and their courage

Their boldness, above the heads of the radiant stars.

Soared above the zealousness of the sparkling stars.

مُستَظهر الحَقّ حَتّى لا خفاءَ بِهِ

مُستَظهر الحَقّ حَتّى لا خفاءَ بِهِ

مُؤيّد الحُكم بِالبُرهان وَالأَثَرِ

مُؤيّد الحُكم بِالبُرهان وَالأَثَرِ

He makes truth manifest, leaving it no obscurity,

Manifesting the truth until there is no concealment with it,

And supports each ruling with proof and transmitted tradition.

Supported by evidence and traces.

فَالسَمع تَاللّه لَم يسمع بذي نَظرٍ

فَالسَمع تَاللّه لَم يسمع بذي نَظرٍ

أَعلى يَداً مِنهُ بِالسَمعيِّ وَالنَظرِ

أَعلى يَداً مِنهُ بِالسَمعيِّ وَالنَظرِ

And by God, no ear has heard of a thinker

By God, hearing has not heard one with insight

More masterful than he in transmitted learning and reason.

Higher of hand than him in hearing and sight.

وَرُشد إِرشاده كَالماء يخمدُ ما

وَرُشد إِرشاده كَالماء يخمدُ ما

بِالقَلب أَورَت زِناد الغيّ مِن شَرَرِ

بِالقَلب أَورَت زِناد الغيّ مِن شَرَرِ

The wisdom of his guidance, like water, quenches whatever

The guidance of his guidance is like water extinguishing what

Sparks the flints of error have kindled within the heart.

The wicked ignited in hearts of sparks.

مَولى بِهِ ثَغر دمياط تَبسّم عَن

مَولى بِهِ ثَغر دمياط تَبسّم عَن

نَيل المُنى وَبُلوغ العزّ وَالوَطَرِ

نَيل المُنى وَبُلوغ العزّ وَالوَطَرِ

A master through whom Damietta’s port has smiled, revealing

My master, by him the lips of Damietta smiled,

Hopes attained, and honor and desires fulfilled.

Attaining wishes and reaching might and loftiness.

بِهِ اللَيالي غَدَت صَفواً بِلا كَدَرٍ

بِهِ اللَيالي غَدَت صَفواً بِلا كَدَرٍ

وَتِلكَ أَيّامُها أَمناً بِلا حَذَرِ

وَتِلكَ أَيّامُها أَمناً بِلا حَذَرِ

Through him, the nights have become serenity without trouble,

By him the nights became pure without any filth,

And those days of theirs, security without fear.

And those days secure without any caution.

سقيت يا ثغر دُمياط كُؤوس هنا

سقيت يا ثغر دُمياط كُؤوس هنا

وَجادك الغَيث مِن هامٍ وَمُنهمرِ

وَجادك الغَيث مِن هامٍ وَمُنهمرِ

May you be watered with cups of happiness, O port of Damietta,

You quenched thirst, O lips of Damietta, from cups of bliss,

And may rain pour generously upon you in torrents and streams.

And your rain clouds poured from zeal and downpour.

رُبوع فَضل إِذا ما بِتّ أَذكُرُها

رُبوع فَضل إِذا ما بِتّ أَذكُرُها

يَلتَذّ سَمعي كَما يَشتاقُها نَظَري

يَلتَذّ سَمعي كَما يَشتاقُها نَظَري

Abodes of virtue: whenever I spend the night recalling them,

Gardens of virtue, when I spend the night remembering them

My hearing delights, just as my sight longs for them.

My hearing is delighted as my sight yearns for them.

إِن يَسمح الدَهر لي يَوماً بِرؤيَتِها

إِن يَسمح الدَهر لي يَوماً بِرؤيَتِها

لَم يَبقَ لِلدَهر ذَنب غَير مُغتَفرِ

لَم يَبقَ لِلدَهر ذَنب غَير مُغتَفرِ

If time should grant me one day the sight of them,

If time allows me one day to see them,

No sin of time would remain unforgiven.

No sin of time remains except a forgiven sin.

أَحيا المَعالم نَشر العلم مِنهُ بِها

أَحيا المَعالم نَشر العلم مِنهُ بِها

فَلو نَبا الغَيث أَغناها عَن المَطَرِ

فَلو نَبا الغَيث أَغناها عَن المَطَرِ

His spreading of knowledge there has revived their landmarks;

It gave life to landmarks, spreading knowledge from it,

Should the rain fail, it would spare them the need for showers.

So if the rain announced good tidings, it would spare it from rain.

يا دَوحَة لَم يَزَل في ظِلِّها مَلأ

يا دَوحَة لَم يَزَل في ظِلِّها مَلأ

أَعلى مِن الزُهر يجني يانع الزهرِ

أَعلى مِن الزُهر يجني يانع الزهرِ

O spreading tree beneath whose shade there is ever an assembly,

O Doha, in its shade a filled group never ceased

Higher than the bright stars, gathering ripe blossoms;

Picking ripe fruit above flowers.

وَنيّراً يَهتدي الساري بِطلعَتِهِ

وَنيّراً يَهتدي الساري بِطلعَتِهِ

يَسمو على النيّرين الشَمس وَالقَمَرِ

يَسمو على النيّرين الشَمس وَالقَمَرِ

And radiant light by whose rising the night-traveler finds his way,

And a brilliant star they are guided by its rising,

Soaring above the two luminaries, sun and moon;

Transcending sun and moon.

سقياً لجنّة فَضل أَنتَ غارسها

سقياً لجنّة فَضل أَنتَ غارسها

لَم يفسد المَنّ مِنها يانع الثَمَرِ

لَم يفسد المَنّ مِنها يانع الثَمَرِ

May the garden of bounty you have planted be watered,

A waterer of the garden of virtue you planted,

Its ripe fruit never spoiled by reminders of favors.

No defect occurred in its ripe fruit.

يا وارثَ العلم وَالإِسم اِرتَفع شَرَفاً

يا وارثَ العلم وَالإِسم اِرتَفع شَرَفاً

وَاِفخَر فَما فَوق ذا فَخرٌ لِمُفتَخرِ

وَاِفخَر فَما فَوق ذا فَخرٌ لِمُفتَخرِ

O heir to learning and the name, rise in honor,

O inheritor of knowledge and name, rise in nobility

And take pride: no one has a greater cause for pride than this.

And take pride, for none is prouder than the proud.

جلّت مَساعيك في دَرس العُلوم فَكَم

جلّت مَساعيك في دَرس العُلوم فَكَم

مطوّلٍ عَنك مَأخوذ وَمُختَصرِ

مطوّلٍ عَنك مَأخوذ وَمُختَصرِ

Great are your efforts in studying the sciences: how many

Your efforts shined in studying the sciences, so how many

Lengthy works and abridgments have been learned from you!

Summaries are transmitted from you and full transmissions.

إِنّ الفُنون الَّتي أَنشأت في صغرٍ

إِنّ الفُنون الَّتي أَنشأت في صغرٍ

كانَت هُدىً لِشيوخ العَصر في الكبرِ

كانَت هُدىً لِشيوخ العَصر في الكبرِ

The disciplines you developed in your youth

Surely the arts you established in your youth

Were guidance for the elders of the age in their old age.

Were guidance for the elders of the age in old age.

لِلّه مِنكَ همام بَذل همّته

لِلّه مِنكَ همام بَذل همّته

في طاعة اللَه لا في طاعة البَشَرِ

في طاعة اللَه لا في طاعة البَشَرِ

God be praised for the noble man in you, who devoted his zeal

To God belong the concerns, he exerted his efforts

To obeying God, not to obeying mortals.

In obeying God, not in obeying humans.

صافي السَريرة إِلّا أنّ سيرته

صافي السَريرة إِلّا أنّ سيرته

مسك إِذا ضاع ما ضاعَت مَع السيرِ

مسك إِذا ضاع ما ضاعَت مَع السيرِ

Pure of heart—yet his conduct

Pure in conscience, but his conduct

Is musk: when its scent wafts, his repute is not lost along the way.

Is musk - if it is lost, nothing is lost with travel.

يَسرو إِذا البَدر يَسري في أسرّته

يَسرو إِذا البَدر يَسري في أسرّته

شتّان ما بَين سارٍ مِنهما وَسَري

شتّان ما بَين سارٍ مِنهما وَسَري

He is noble as the full moon travels through the lines of his brow;

How different between one who walks among them happily

How far apart are the night-traveler and the noble one!

And one who walks among them secretly by night!

إِذا دَعا الطِرس أَقلامي لمدحته

إِذا دَعا الطِرس أَقلامي لمدحته

لَبّت عَلى الراس تَسعى سَعي مُبتدرِ

لَبّت عَلى الراس تَسعى سَعي مُبتدرِ

When the page summons my pens to praise him,

If the young pigeons called my pens for his praise,

They answer, running on their heads in eager haste.

They would comply, hastening to the task.

صَريرها عِندَ سَمعي في طلاوته

صَريرها عِندَ سَمعي في طلاوته

ألذُّ مِن نَغمات الناي وَالوَتَرِ

ألذُّ مِن نَغمات الناي وَالوَتَرِ

Their scratching, in all its sweetness to my ear,

Their scratching, when I hear it in its freshness,

Is lovelier than the melodies of flute and strings.

Is sweeter to me than the melodies of flute and strings.

أبتاع مِنها القَوافي كُلّها غررٌ

أبتاع مِنها القَوافي كُلّها غررٌ

في سوق فِكري بِلا غبن وَلا غررِ

في سوق فِكري بِلا غبن وَلا غررِ

I buy from them rhymes, all of them choice pieces,

I bought from it all rhymes as precious gems

In the market of my thought, without unfair loss or risk,

In the market of my thoughts without any cheating or gems.

لِمَن عَلا الشعر سعراً في مَدائحهِ

لِمَن عَلا الشعر سعراً في مَدائحهِ

حَتّى غَلا وَهوَ مَن رَيب الغلوّ بَري

حَتّى غَلا وَهوَ مَن رَيب الغلوّ بَري

For him in whose praises poetry has risen in price,

For one who raised the price of poetry in his praises

Until it grew costly, though he is free of suspicion of exaggeration.

Until it became expensive, and he avoids exorbitance in price.

أَكرم بمُنتسبٍ للحمد مكتسبٍ

أَكرم بمُنتسبٍ للحمد مكتسبٍ

لِلّه منتدبٍ بِاللَه مُنتصرِ

لِلّه منتدبٍ بِاللَه مُنتصرِ

How noble is one linked to praise, laboring

Honor one related to praise, earning,

For God, devoted to His service, and victorious through God!

From God commissioned, by God supported.

يَفوح طيب ثَناه في حَواسدهِ

يَفوح طيب ثَناه في حَواسدهِ

كَفائح المسك بَينَ الفهر وَالحجرِ

كَفائح المسك بَينَ الفهر وَالحجرِ

The sweet scent of his praise wafts among those who envy him,

The fragrance of his praise emanates in his sermons

Like musk releasing fragrance between pestle and stone.

Like the diffusion of musk between spacious mounts.

مَن خَصّه اللَهُ بِالحُبّ القَديم كَما

مَن خَصّه اللَهُ بِالحُبّ القَديم كَما

عَلَيهِ أَجمَع حُبّ البَدوِ وَالحَضَرِ

عَلَيهِ أَجمَع حُبّ البَدوِ وَالحَضَرِ

One whom God singled out with timeless love, just as

One whom God distinguished with ancient love, as

Nomad and townsman have united in love for him.

The love of nomads and city dwellers united upon him.

عَذب المَناهل مَشمول الشَمائل في

عَذب المَناهل مَشمول الشَمائل في

نور الفَضائل باهي المَجد وَالخَطَرِ

نور الفَضائل باهي المَجد وَالخَطَرِ

Sweet in his springs, his traits enveloped in

Sweet waterhole, embraced in mannerisms in

The light of virtues, resplendent in glory and eminence.

The light of virtues, magnificent in glory and venture.

هُوَ الهمام الَّذي في الدين همّتهُ

هُوَ الهمام الَّذي في الدين همّتهُ

فاقَت عَلى فوق حَدّ الصارم الذكرِ

فاقَت عَلى فوق حَدّ الصارم الذكرِ

He is the resolute man whose zeal in religion

He is the zealous one whose zeal in religion

Has risen far above the edge of the keen steel sword.

Surpassed the edge of the sharp sword.

فاِنشر عَلَيهِ لِواء الحَمد واِدع لَهُ

فاِنشر عَلَيهِ لِواء الحَمد واِدع لَهُ

عَلى المَدى بِمَزيد الفَضل وَالعُمرِ

عَلى المَدى بِمَزيد الفَضل وَالعُمرِ

So unfurl over him the banner of praise, and pray for him

So spread over him the banner of praise and invoke for him

Throughout time, for greater virtue and longer life.

Continued increase of grace and life.

وَرِد تَجد بَحر علم عِندَ بَحر تقىً

وَرِد تَجد بَحر علم عِندَ بَحر تقىً

وَفُز لَدى مَجمَع البَحرين بِالدررِ

وَفُز لَدى مَجمَع البَحرين بِالدررِ

And come to drink: you will find a sea of learning beside a sea of piety,

You will find an ocean of knowledge with an ocean of piety,

And win pearls at the meeting of the two seas.

And attain at the confluence of the two seas pearls.

وَاِنظم عُقود الثَنا وَاِنثُر مَحامدهُ

وَاِنظم عُقود الثَنا وَاِنثُر مَحامدهُ

فَرائِداً بَينَ مَنظوم وَمنتثرِ

فَرائِداً بَينَ مَنظوم وَمنتثرِ

String necklaces of praise, and scatter his merits

And string together necklaces of praise and scatter his glories

As rare pearls, both strung and scattered.

In prose and verse.

وَقُل أَقل عثرَتي وَاِستُر عَلى زللي

وَقُل أَقل عثرَتي وَاِستُر عَلى زللي

وَاِصفح عَن العَجز وَاِمنَح عَفو مُقتدرِ

وَاِصفح عَن العَجز وَاِمنَح عَفو مُقتدرِ

And say: excuse my stumble, and conceal my slips;

And say I fell short, and conceal my stumble,

Overlook my inability, and grant the pardon of one who has power.

And pardon incapacity, and grant the pardon of the Capable.

وَاِعذر قُصورَ فَتىً جَفَّت قَريحتهُ

وَاِعذر قُصورَ فَتىً جَفَّت قَريحتهُ

يا خَير مُقترح عُذراً لِمعتذرِ

يا خَير مُقترح عُذراً لِمعتذرِ

Excuse the shortcomings of a young man whose poetic gift has dried up,

And excuse the inadequacy of a lad whose talent dried up,

O best deviser of excuses for one who seeks pardon!

O best proposer of excuses for one who makes excuses.

فقري لِسجع حَمام الرَوض أنظمهُ

فقري لِسجع حَمام الرَوض أنظمهُ

إِلَيكَ فَضلاً عَن الأَسجاع وَالفقرِ

إِلَيكَ فَضلاً عَن الأَسجاع وَالفقرِ

I lack even the garden doves’ cooing to versify

The inadequacy of my technical composition, I drafted it

For you, let alone rhymed prose and passages.

To you, surpassing technicality and inadequacy.

وَإِنَّما غيرة الأَيّام قَد منعت

وَإِنَّما غيرة الأَيّام قَد منعت

سَبيل قصدي وإن الدَهر ذو غِيرِ

سَبيل قصدي وإن الدَهر ذو غِيرِ

It is only the jealousy of the days that has barred

But the jealousy of time has hindered

The path of my purpose, for time is full of changes.

My intention, and time is jealous.

إِلَيكها مِن بنات الخدر جاريةً

إِلَيكها مِن بنات الخدر جاريةً

بِها تَجرّى عَلى حسّان نَظم جَري

بِها تَجرّى عَلى حسّان نَظم جَري

Here she comes to you, a maiden from among the daughters of seclusion;

To you from the words of poetry a young girl

Through her, bold verse has dared to challenge Hassan.

Runs with it to the poetry of passion.

أمّت حِماكَ حَماكَ اللَه راجيَةً

أمّت حِماكَ حَماكَ اللَه راجيَةً

قبولَها مِنكَ يا شَمسي وَيا قَمَري

قبولَها مِنكَ يا شَمسي وَيا قَمَري

She sought your sanctuary—may God protect you—hoping

It protects you, may God protect you, hoping

For your acceptance, O my sun and my moon.

For your acceptance, O my sun and O my moon!

فَاِسلم وَدم كَوكَب الأَسحار ما طَلَعت

فَاِسلم وَدم كَوكَب الأَسحار ما طَلَعت

غَزالة الأُفق تَرعى نَرجس السحرِ

غَزالة الأُفق تَرعى نَرجس السحرِ

So live unharmed, and remain the star of dawns, as long as there rises

So submit to the star of dawn, it rose

The gazelle of the horizon, grazing on dawn’s narcissus.

A gazelle of the horizon grazing the narcissus of dawn.