بَدَتappeared لَناto us الراحُthe wine فيin تاجٍa crown مِنَof الحَبَبِbubbles
بَدَت لَنا الراحُ في تاجٍ مِنَ الحَبَبِ
فَمَزَّقَتthen it tore apart حالَةَthe state of الظُلماءِdarkness بِاللَهَبِwith flame
فَمَزَّقَت حالَةَ الظُلماءِ بِاللَهَبِ
The wine appeared to us in a crown of bubbles,
The breeze appeared to us in a crown of seeds
and tore apart the darkness with flame.
So it ripped through the state of darkness with flames
بِكرٌa virgin إِذاwhen زُوَّجَتshe is wedded بِالماءِto water أَولَدَهاit makes her bear
بِكرٌ إِذا زُوَّجَت بِالماءِ أَولَدَها
أَطفالَchildren دُرٍّpearls عَلىupon مَهدٍa cradle مِنَof الذَهَبِgold
أَطفالَ دُرٍّ عَلى مَهدٍ مِنَ الذَهَبِ
A virgin: when she is wed to water, it makes her bear
Early in the morning, when married to water, it gave birth
children of pearl upon a cradle of gold.
To children of pearls on a cradle of gold
بَقِيَّةٌa remnant مِنof بَقاياthe remnants of قَومِthe people of نوحٍNoah إِذاwhen
بَقِيَّةٌ مِن بَقايا قَومِ نوحٍ إِذا
لاحَتit gleamed جَلَتit dispelled ظُلمَةَthe darkness of الأَحزانِsorrows وَالكُرَبِand afflictions
لاحَت جَلَت ظُلمَةَ الأَحزانِ وَالكُرَبِ
A remnant of the remnants of Noah's people; when
A remainder from the remnants of Noah's people, if
it gleams, it dispels the darkness of sorrows and afflictions.
It appears, the darkness of sorrows and troubles disappears
بَعيدَةُfar removed العَهدِin time بِالمِعصارِfrom the winepress لَوif نَطَقَتit spoke
بَعيدَةُ العَهدِ بِالمِعصارِ لَو نَطَقَت
لَحَدَّثَتناit would surely tell us بِماof what فيis in سالِفِbygone الحِقَبِages
لَحَدَّثَتنا بِما في سالِفِ الحِقَبِ
Long out of the winepress: were it to speak,
Distant in keeping up with the wine press, if it spoke
it would tell us of ages long past.
It would tell us about what is in bygone eras
باكَرتُهاI sought it at dawn بِرِفاقٍwith companions قَدalready زَهَتshone بِهِمُthrough them
باكَرتُها بِرِفاقٍ قَد زَهَت بِهِمُ
قَبلَbefore السُلافِthe pure wine سُلافُthe essence of العِلمِlearning وَالأَدَبِand letters
قَبلَ السُلافِ سُلافُ العِلمِ وَالأَدَبِ
I sought it at dawn with companions through whom had shone,
I woke up early with friends who blossomed with them
before pure wine, the essence of learning and letters.
Before feathers, feathers of knowledge and literature
بِكُلِّwith each مُتَّشِحٍcloaked بِالفَضلِin excellence مُتَّزِرٍgirded
بِكُلِّ مُتَّشِحٍ بِالفَضلِ مُتَّزِرٍ
كَأَنَّas though فيin لَفظِهِhis speech ضَرباًa kind مِنَof الضَرَبِwhite honey
كَأَنَّ في لَفظِهِ ضَرباً مِنَ الضَرَبِ
With each man cloaked in excellence and girded with it,
With everyone dressed in virtue and clad
as though his speech held a kind of white honey.
In eloquence, as if his words were a kind of rhythm
بَلnay رُبَّmany a لَيلٍnight غَداpassed فيamong الآهِباتِthose in readiness غَدَتbegan
بَل رُبَّ لَيلٍ غَدا في الآهِباتِ غَدَت
تَنقَضُّswooped down فيهِin it كُؤوسٌcups وَهيَwhile they were كَالشُهُبِlike shooting stars
تَنقَضُّ فيهِ كُؤوسٌ وَهيَ كَالشُهُبِ
Nay, many a night passed among those in readiness, when
But many a night has passed in which cups
cups swooped down through it like shooting stars.
Were destroyed appearing like comets
بَذَلتُI gave عَقليmy reason صَداقاًas a bride-price حينَwhen بِتُّI spent the night بِهِin it
بَذَلتُ عَقلي صَداقاً حينَ بِتُّ بِهِ
أُزوِّجُI wed اِبنَa son of سَحابٍclouds بِاِبنَةِto the daughter of العِنَبِthe grape
أُزوِّجُ اِبنَ سَحابٍ بِاِبنَةِ العِنَبِ
I gave my reason as bride-price when I spent that night
I gave my mind as a dowry when I stayed with it
wedding a son of clouds to the grape's daughter.
Marrying the son of clouds to the daughter of grapes
بِتناwe spent the night بِكاساتِهاby its cups صَرعىfelled وَمِضرَبُناand our plectrum
بِتنا بِكاساتِها صَرعى وَمِضرَبُنا
يُعيدُrestores أَرواحَناour souls مِنfrom مَبدَإِthe onset of الطَرَبِmusical rapture
يُعيدُ أَرواحَنا مِن مَبدَإِ الطَرَبِ
We spent the night felled by its cups, while our plectrum
We stayed up with its cups lying defeated and our
brought our souls back at the first stirrings of rapture.
Gathering restores our souls from the source of bliss
بَعثٌa resurrection أَتاناcame to us فَلَمso not نَدرِwe knew لِفَرحَتِناbecause of our joy
بَعثٌ أَتانا فَلَم نَدرِ لِفَرحَتِنا
مِنfrom نَفخَةِthe blast of الصورِthe Trumpet أَمor مِنfrom نَفحَةِthe breath of القَصَبِthe reed flute
مِن نَفخَةِ الصورِ أَم مِن نَفحَةِ القَصَبِ
A resurrection came to us; in our joy we could not tell
A joy came upon us, we could not tell
whether from the Trumpet's blast or the reed flute's breath.
If it was from the blowing of the bugle or the flute’s breath
بِرَوضَةٍin a garden طَلَّshed فيهاin it الطَلُّthe dew أَدمُعَهُits tears
بِرَوضَةٍ طَلَّ فيها الطَلُّ أَدمُعَهُ
وَالدَهرُand Time مُبتَسِمٌsmiling عَنrevealing ثَغرِهِits teeth الشَنِبِcool and gleaming
وَالدَهرُ مُبتَسِمٌ عَن ثَغرِهِ الشَنِبِ
In a garden where the dew shed its tears,
In an orchard where the sprig wept its tears
while Time smiled, revealing its cool, gleaming teeth.
And time smiles from its mustache
بَكَتwept عَلَيهِover it أَساكيبُthe torrents of الحَياlife-giving rain فَغَداso it became
بَكَت عَلَيهِ أَساكيبُ الحَيا فَغَدا
جَذلانَjoyful يَرفُلُstrutting فيin أَثوابِهِits garments القُشُبِnew
جَذلانَ يَرفُلُ في أَثوابِهِ القُشُبِ
The torrents of rain wept over it, and it became
The vines of life wept over it and it became
joyful, strutting in its fresh new robes.
A fawn frolicking in its yellow dress
بُسطٌcarpets مِنَof الرَوضِmeadow قَدalready حاكَتwove مَطارِفَهاtheir embroidered cloaks
بُسطٌ مِنَ الرَوضِ قَد حاكَت مَطارِفَها
يَدُthe hand of الرَبيعِSpring وَجارَتهاand rivaled it يَدُthe hand of السُحُبِthe clouds
يَدُ الرَبيعِ وَجارَتها يَدُ السُحُبِ
Carpets of meadow, whose embroidered cloaks were woven
An expanse of the orchard whose edges
by Spring's hand, rivaled by the hand of the clouds.
Were sewn by the hand of spring and its neighbor, the clouds
باتَتit spent the night تَجودُbeing generous عَلَيناto us بِالمِياهِwith water كَماjust as
باتَت تَجودُ عَلَينا بِالمِياهِ كَما
جادَتwas generous يَدُthe hand of المَلِكِKing المَنصورِal-Mansur بِالذَهَبِwith gold
جادَت يَدُ المَلِكِ المَنصورِ بِالذَهَبِ
All night it lavished water upon us, just as
It stayed raining on us with water as
the hand of King al-Mansur was lavish with gold.
The generous hand of king Al-Mansour rained gold
بَحرٌan ocean تَدَفَّقَpoured forth بَحرُthe ocean of الجودِgenerosity مِنfrom يَدِهِhis hand
بَحرٌ تَدَفَّقَ بَحرُ الجودِ مِن يَدِهِ
فَأَصبَحَso became المُلكُthe realm يَزهوexulting زَهوَwith the pride of مُعتَجِبِone admiring himself
فَأَصبَحَ المُلكُ يَزهو زَهوَ مُعتَجِبِ
An ocean: the ocean of generosity poured from his hand,
An ocean of generosity flowed from his hand
and the realm swelled with self-admiring pride.
So kingship blossoms with the bloom of arrogance
بادٍtaking the initiative بِبَذلِin bestowing النَدىbounty قَبلَbefore السُؤالِany request وَمَنand the one who
بادٍ بِبَذلِ النَدى قَبلَ السُؤالِ وَمَن
فيunder دَولَةِthe rule of التُركِthe Turks أَحياrevived ذِمَّةَthe covenant of العَرَبِthe Arabs
في دَولَةِ التُركِ أَحيا ذِمَّةَ العَرَبِ
First to bestow bounty before any request, and the one who
One who is quick to give dew before being asked and one who
under Turkish rule revived the Arabs' covenant.
Revived the covenant of Arabs in Turkish rule
بَدرٌa full moon أَضاءَilluminated ثُغورَthe frontiers of المُلكِthe realm فَاِبتَسَمَتso they smiled
بَدرٌ أَضاءَ ثُغورَ المُلكِ فَاِبتَسَمَت
بِهِthrough him فَكانَso he was لِثَغرِto the mouth of المُلكِthe realm كَالشَنَبِlike the cool sheen of teeth
بِهِ فَكانَ لِثَغرِ المُلكِ كَالشَنَبِ
A full moon that lit the realm's frontiers, till they smiled
A full moon lit up the horizons of the kingdom, so
through him; to the realm's mouth he was like the cool sheen of teeth.
The mustache of kingdom smiled like a mustache
بَنىhe built المَعاليlofty honors وَأَفنىand exhausted المالَwealth نائِلُهُhis bounty
بَنى المَعالي وَأَفنى المالَ نائِلُهُ
فَالمُلكُso the realm فيin عُرُسٍa wedding feast وَالمالُand wealth فيin حَرَبِdespoilment
فَالمُلكُ في عُرُسٍ وَالمالُ في حَرَبِ
He built lofty glories, and his largesse exhausted wealth;
He built supreme deeds and spent money, its earner
so the realm is at a wedding feast, while wealth lies plundered.
So the kingdom is in a wedding and money is at war
بِبَأسِهِthrough his might أَضحَتِbecame الأَيّامُthe days جازِعَةًterrified
بِبَأسِهِ أَضحَتِ الأَيّامُ جازِعَةً
فَلاso not تُصاحِبُthey keep company with عُضواًa limb غَيرَother than مُضطَرِبِtrembling
فَلا تُصاحِبُ عُضواً غَيرَ مُضطَرِبِ
His might left the days in terror,
With his might, days became fearful
so they keep company with no limb that does not tremble.
So they don’t accompany a body except one that trembles
بَأسٌa might يُذَلَّكُis subdued صَعبُthe fiercest of الحادِثاتِcalamities بِهِby it
بَأسٌ يُذَلَّكُ صَعبُ الحادِثاتِ بِهِ
فَأَصبَحَso became الدَهرُTime يَشكوcomplaining of شِدَّةَthe severity of التَعَبِweariness
فَأَصبَحَ الدَهرُ يَشكو شِدَّةَ التَعَبِ
A might by which the harshest calamities are subdued,
A might that humiliates the mighty events with it
so Time has come to complain of grievous weariness.
So time complains of severe fatigue
بِهِthrough him تَناسَيتُI put out of mind ماwhat لاقَيتُI endured مِنof نَصَبٍtoil
بِهِ تَناسَيتُ ما لاقَيتُ مِن نَصَبٍ
وَلَذَّةُand the pleasure of الشِبعِfullness تُنسيmakes one forget شِدَّةَthe severity of السَغَبِhunger
وَلَذَّةُ الشِبعِ تُنسي شِدَّةَ السَغَبِ
Through him I put out of mind the toil I had endured;
With it, I forgot the ordeals I faced
and the pleasure of fullness makes one forget hunger's pangs.
And the pleasure of contentment makes one forget severity of hunger
بادَرتُهُI hastened to him وَعُقابُwhile the eagle of الهَمِّcare يَطرُدُنيpursued me
بادَرتُهُ وَعُقابُ الهَمِّ يَطرُدُني
فَاليَومَso today قَدindeed عادَit has become كَالعَنقاءِlike the ʿAnqa فيin الهَرَبِflight
فَاليَومَ قَد عادَ كَالعَنقاءِ في الهَرَبِ
I hastened to him, with the eagle of care pursuing me;
I confronted it while the claws of worries expel me
so today it has become like the ʿAnqa in its flight.
So today it has come back like an ostrich fleeing
بِكُمthrough you تَبَلَّجَbrightened وَجهُthe face of الحَقِّtruth ياO مَلِكاًking
بِكُم تَبَلَّجَ وَجهُ الحَقِّ يا مَلِكاً
بِهِthrough whom تَشَرَّفَgained honor هامُthe crowns of المُلكِkingship وَالرُتَبِand ranks
بِهِ تَشَرَّفَ هامُ المُلكِ وَالرُتَبِ
Through you the face of truth has brightened, O king,
How many glories shine on the face of truth, O king
through whom the crowns of kingship and rank gain honor.
It has honored the turban of kingship and ministries
بَنَيتَyou built لِلمَجدِfor glory أَبياتاًhouses مُشَيَّدَةًloftily built
بَنَيتَ لِلمَجدِ أَبياتاً مُشَيَّدَةً
وَلَمand not يُمَدُّwould be stretched لَهاfor them لَولاكَbut for you مِنany طُنُبِtent-rope
وَلَم يُمَدُّ لَها لَولاكَ مِن طُنُبِ
You built lofty houses for glory,
You built towers of glory for magnificence
and but for you not a tent-rope would have been stretched for them.
And had it not been for you, no bricks would have been laid for it
بَسَطتَyou spread فيthroughout الأَرضِthe earth عَدلاًjustice لَوif لَهُto it اِتَّبَعَتfollowed
بَسَطتَ في الأَرضِ عَدلاً لَو لَهُ اِتَّبَعَت
نَوائِبُthe calamities of الدَهرِTime لَمnot تُعذَرbe excused وَلَمand not تَنُبِbefall
نَوائِبُ الدَهرِ لَم تُعذَر وَلَم تَنُبِ
You spread justice through the earth; were it obeyed by
You spread justice in the land, if
Time's calamities, they would not be excused, nor would they strike.
The world’s afflictions pursued it, they would not be excused or pardoned
بَلَّغتَyou drove سَيفَكَyour sword فيinto هامِthe heads of العَدوِّthe foe كَماjust as
بَلَّغتَ سَيفَكَ في هامِ العَدوِّ كَما
أَنشَيتَyou intoxicated سَيفَthe sword of العَطاbounty فيin قِمَّةِthe crown of النَشَبِwealth
أَنشَيتَ سَيفَ العَطا في قِمَّةِ النَشَبِ
You drove your sword into the heads of the foe, just as
You delivered your sword to the neck of the enemy as
you made bounty's sword drunk upon the crown of wealth.
You planted the sword of generosity at the top of the tall tree
باشِرembrace غَرائِبَthe marvels of أَشعاريmy poems فَقَدfor indeed بَرَزَتhave emerged
باشِر غَرائِبَ أَشعاري فَقَد بَرَزَت
إِلَيكَto you أَبكارُthe virgins of أَفكاريmy thoughts مِنَfrom الحُجُبِthe veils
إِلَيكَ أَبكارُ أَفكاري مِنَ الحُجُبِ
Embrace the marvels of my poems, for there have emerged
Review the curiosities of my poetry for the innocent minds of my thoughts Have come out to you from behind the veil
to you the virgins of my thoughts from behind their veils.
Innovations of poetry, if I came up with them
بَدائِعٌmarvels مِنof قَريضٍverse لَوif أَتيتُI came بِهاwith them
بَدائِعٌ مِن قَريضٍ لَو أَتيتُ بِها
فيin praise of غَيرِكُمanyone but you كانَit would be مَنسوباًattributed إِلىto الكَذِبِfalsehood
في غَيرِكُم كانَ مَنسوباً إِلى الكَذِبِ
Marvels of verse: had I offered them
In other than you, it would be attributed to lying
in praise of anyone but you, the verse would have been deemed false.
You remain what you are as long as the orbits are in blessings
بَقيتَmay you remain ماas long as دارَتِrevolve الأَفلاكُthe spheres فيamid نِعَمٍblessings
بَقيتَ ما دارَتِ الأَفلاكُ في نِعَمٍ
مَحروسَةٍguarded مِنfrom صُروفِthe reversals of الدَهرِTime وَالنُوَبِand calamities
مَحروسَةٍ مِن صُروفِ الدَهرِ وَالنُوَبِ
May you remain, as long as the spheres revolve, amid blessings
Protected from the vicissitudes of fate and afflictions
guarded from Time's reversals and calamities.
Partial English translation: 57 of 58 Arabic lines translated.