أراهُ يورِّي حينَ يُسألُ عن دمي

أراهُ يورِّي حينَ يُسألُ عن دمي

وفي وجَنتيهِ منه آثارُ عَندمِ

وفي وجَنتيهِ منه آثارُ عَندمِ

I see him equivocate when asked about my blood,

I see him turn pale when asked about my blood,

And on his cheeks are traces of it—crimson dye.

And on his cheeks are traces of it when confronted.

كثيرُ معاني الحسنِ قلَّ نظيرُهُ

كثيرُ معاني الحسنِ قلَّ نظيرُهُ

فها هوَ فردٌ ليسَ فيهِ بتوأَمِ

فها هوَ فردٌ ليسَ فيهِ بتوأَمِ

His qualities of beauty are many; his equal is rare.

Of great beauty, rarely found his equal,

So here he is, unique, with no twin in beauty.

Though a slave, he exercises his master's control,

لهُ وهو مملوكٌ تحكُّمُ مالكٍ

لهُ وهو مملوكٌ تحكُّمُ مالكٍ

كما هو ظبيٌ فيه صولةُ ضَيغمِ

كما هو ظبيٌ فيه صولةُ ضَيغمِ

Though a slave, he has a master's authority,

Like a gazelle exerting the might of a lion.

Just as he is a gazelle with a lion's ferocity.

He appears like the full moon rising radiant,

يَلوحُ كبدرٍ طالعِ النُّورِ مُشرقٍ

يَلوحُ كبدرٍ طالعِ النُّورِ مُشرقٍ

بدا في دُجى ليلٍ مِنَ الشَّعرِ مُظلِمِ

بدا في دُجى ليلٍ مِنَ الشَّعرِ مُظلِمِ

He gleams like a full moon, rising in radiant light,

Having emerged from the gloom of dark night.

Appearing in the gloom of a dark night made of hair,

With a brow that protects the cheek like a scorpion,

بُصدغٍ يُصانُ الخَدُّ منه بعقربٍ

بُصدغٍ يُصانُ الخَدُّ منه بعقربٍ

وفَرعٍ يُزانُ القَدُّ منهُ بأرقمِ

وفَرعٍ يُزانُ القَدُّ منهُ بأرقمِ

With a temple-lock whose scorpion guards his cheek,

And a branch that supports the stature like a pole.

And flowing hair whose speckled serpent adorns his form.

So no eye but is in bliss and paradise,

فلا طَرفَ إلاَّ في نعيمٍ وجنَّةٍ

فلا طَرفَ إلاَّ في نعيمٍ وجنَّةٍ

ولا قلبَ إلاَّ في لظىً وجهنَّمِ

ولا قلبَ إلاَّ في لظىً وجهنَّمِ

So no eye dwells except in bliss and paradise,

Nor heart but is in inferno's heat and hell's blaze.

And no heart except in blazing fire and Hell.

His mouth contains pearls of speech and a smiling mouth,

حَوى فمُه دُرَّي كلامٍ ومبسمٍ

حَوى فمُه دُرَّي كلامٍ ومبسمٍ

هُما بُرءُ داءِ المستهامِ الُمتَيَّمِ

هُما بُرءُ داءِ المستهامِ الُمتَيَّمِ

His mouth holds the twin pearls of speech and a smile;

Both cures for the sickness of the frowning displeased.

They cure the sickness of the love-maddened, love-enslaved lover.

It speaks with the eloquence of scattered pearls,

فينطِقُ عن لفظِ كدُرٍّ مبدَّدٍ

فينطِقُ عن لفظِ كدُرٍّ مبدَّدٍ

ويبسمُ عن ثَغرٍ كدرِّ منُظَّمِ

ويبسمُ عن ثَغرٍ كدرِّ منُظَّمِ

So he speaks words like scattered pearls,

And smiles with the charm of well-strung pearls.

And smiles to reveal teeth like strung pearls.

Stingy is he except with estrangement and aloofness,

ويبخَلُ إلاَّ بالبِعاد وبالجَفا

ويبخَلُ إلاَّ بالبِعاد وبالجَفا

ويَسمحُ إلاَّ بالخيالِ الُمسَلِّمِ

ويَسمحُ إلاَّ بالخيالِ الُمسَلِّمِ

And he is miserly, except with separation and coldness,

Generous is he only with hopes surrendered and resigned.

And generous, except with the phantom that offers greetings.

For when her cruelty has strung taut my hopes,

يَريشُ لَما قد أَوترت من قِسيِّها

يَريشُ لَما قد أَوترت من قِسيِّها

حواجبُه مِن جفنهِ أيَّ أَسهُمِ

حواجبُه مِن جفنهِ أيَّ أَسهُمِ

He fletches, for the bows already strung

His frowning eyebrows shoot arrows from his eyes.

By his brows, such wondrous arrows from his eyelid!

And he strikes with the sword of smooth glance,

ويضرِبُ عن لحظِ بسيفٍ مهنَّدٍ

ويضرِبُ عن لحظِ بسيفٍ مهنَّدٍ

ويَطعَنُ من قدٍّ برمُحٍ مُلَهذَمِ

ويَطعَنُ من قدٍّ برمُحٍ مُلَهذَمِ

And through his glance strikes with a sword of Indian steel,

And stabs with the spear of slender shape.

And thrusts with the keen-pointed lance of his stature.

He draws the bow of beauty doing battle,

ويسطُو بالآتِ الجمالِ مُحارباً

ويسطُو بالآتِ الجمالِ مُحارباً

وما ثَمَّ شيءٌ غير مقتلِ مُحرِمِ

وما ثَمَّ شيءٌ غير مقتلِ مُحرِمِ

And he attacks with beauty's weapons, waging war,

And naught but the killing of the unlawful is his goal.

Yet nothing is there but the slaying of a consecrated pilgrim.

Seeking the traits of noble birth while composing,

أَطَالِبَ أَوصافِ النَّسيبِ وقاصِداً

أَطَالِبَ أَوصافِ النَّسيبِ وقاصِداً

محاسِنَ مِنها بالقَريضِ الُمنَمنَمِ

محاسِنَ مِنها بالقَريضِ الُمنَمنَمِ

O seeker of love-poetry's descriptions, and pursuer

Of its glories, poems of elaborate style.

Of their beauties through finely ornamented verse:

Leave the lofty lightning to a hostile army,

دَعِ البارِقَ العالي لِرَكبٍ مُقَوِّضٍ

دَعِ البارِقَ العالي لِرَكبٍ مُقَوِّضٍ

وَخَلِّ الحِمىَ الخالي لِحَيٍّ مُخَيِّمِ

وَخَلِّ الحِمىَ الخالي لِحَيٍّ مُخَيِّمِ

Leave the lightning high above to a caravan breaking camp,

And spare the empty pen for a people camping.

And leave the empty protected pasture to a tribe pitching camp.

The valley, the battleground, and the plain are my fields,

وبالغَيضِ والَميدانِ والسَّفحِ ساحَتَي

وبالغَيضِ والَميدانِ والسَّفحِ ساحَتَي

نِقُوسا وَبِالثَغرِ الأَنيقِ الُمعَظَّمِ

نِقُوسا وَبِالثَغرِ الأَنيقِ الُمعَظَّمِ

And in al-Ghayd, al-Maydan and al-Safh—the two squares of

Where I ready archery and with the graceful mouth I aim.

Niqusa—and in the lovely, exalted frontier city,

Its comfortable abodes are the truest bliss,

مَنازِلُ يعدو أُمَّ أَوفَى نَعيمُها

مَنازِلُ يعدو أُمَّ أَوفَى نَعيمُها

فما هي بالدَّرَّاجِ فالُمتَثلمِ

فما هي بالدَّرَّاجِ فالُمتَثلمِ

Are dwellings whose delights surpass Umm Awfa's;

Not veiled sanctuaries to be pried open.

For they are not at al-Darraj or al-Mutathallam.

But they are the zenith of ascent, and the stations of

ولكِنَّها جَوُّ العُلا ومراكِزُ ال

ولكِنَّها جَوُّ العُلا ومراكِزُ ال

قَنا السُّمرِ والشُّمُّ التي لم تُسنَّمِ

قَنا السُّمرِ والشُّمُّ التي لم تُسنَّمِ

But they are glory's realm and the stations of the

The Pleiades, and the un-pierced hemisphere's guard.

Dusky lances, and lofty peaks that have never been scaled:

Havens of rest, goblets of wine,

مسارحٌ آرامٍ وآجامُ أَشبُلٍ

مسارحٌ آرامٍ وآجامُ أَشبُلٍ

وهالاتُ أَقمارٍ وَأَفلاكُ أَنجُمِ

وهالاتُ أَقمارٍ وَأَفلاكُ أَنجُمِ

Grazing grounds for gazelles and thickets for lion cubs,

Radiant moons, and wheeling stars.

And halos of moons and orbits of stars.

I say to Unaysa as she travels the plains

أقولُ لعنسي وهي تنصبُّ في السُّرَى

أقولُ لعنسي وهي تنصبُّ في السُّرَى

كفتخاءِ رَيدٍ حاولت فَضلَ مَطعَمِ

كفتخاءِ رَيدٍ حاولت فَضلَ مَطعَمِ

I say to my sturdy she-camel as she plunges through the night,

Like an ostrich overfed vying for yet more feed.

Like a broad-winged eagle from a mountain ledge seeking more food:

It is desolation, travel, gloom, and exertion,

هُوَ القَفرُ والإِرقالٌ والسَّيرُّ والدُّجَى

هُوَ القَفرُ والإِرقالٌ والسَّيرُّ والدُّجَى

وتَشميرٌ ذَيلِ العَزمِ في كُلَّ مَخرَمِ

وتَشميرٌ ذَيلِ العَزمِ في كُلَّ مَخرَمِ

It is wilderness, swift trotting, journeying, and darkness,

Girding determination through every pass.

And gathering up resolve's hem at every mountain pass.

Glad tidings he traced for me and said

لَقَد خَطَّ لي خَطاً سعيداً وقَالَ لي

لَقَد خَطَّ لي خَطاً سعيداً وقَالَ لي

مَتَى تَلقَ شَهباءَ العواصِمِ تُعصَمِ

مَتَى تَلقَ شَهباءَ العواصِمِ تُعصَمِ

He traced an auspicious line for me and told me:

When will you meet the impregnable capital's dawn?

When you reach Shahba of the strongholds, you will be protected.

Pitch hope's tent at Muhammad's abode

أَنِخ طُلَّحَ الآمالِ عندَ محمّدٍ

أَنِخ طُلَّحَ الآمالِ عندَ محمّدٍ

وأَلقِ بناديهِ عَصاكَ وخَيِّمِ

وأَلقِ بناديهِ عَصاكَ وخَيِّمِ

Make the weary camels of hope kneel beside Muhammad,

And fling down your staff and make camp.

And lay down your staff in his assembly and pitch camp.

For no possession but is for the Almighty

فلا مُلكَ إِلاَّ للعزَيزِ ولا حِمىً

فلا مُلكَ إِلاَّ للعزَيزِ ولا حِمىً

سِوىَ ظِلِّهِ فاحطُط بهِ الرَّحلَ تَحتَمِ

سِوىَ ظِلِّهِ فاحطُط بهِ الرَّحلَ تَحتَمِ

For there is no kingship but al-Aziz's, and no sanctuary

And no sanctuary but beneath His shade.

Except his shade; set down your saddle there and find protection.

So pitch your abode in His shadow sure.

تَوكَّل عليهِ تُكفَ وارمِ بهِ تُصِب

تَوكَّل عليهِ تُكفَ وارمِ بهِ تُصِب

وَآولَهُ تَنجُ وأقصِدهُ تَغنَمِ

وَآولَهُ تَنجُ وأقصِدهُ تَغنَمِ

Rely on him and be provided for; shoot with his aid and hit the mark.

Trust in Him, you'll be provided for. Ward off with Him, you'll be protected.

And seek refuge with him and be saved; seek him out and gain.

Attach yourself to Him, you'll be guided aright. Seek Him, you'll profit.

وَسُم دارهُ تُنصَر وَشِم بَرقهُ تُصبَ

وَسُم دارهُ تُنصَر وَشِم بَرقهُ تُصبَ

وَرُم بِرَّهُ تَظفَر وَيمِّم تُعظَّمِ

وَرُم بِرَّهُ تَظفَر وَيمِّم تُعظَّمِ

And seek his house and receive aid; watch his lightning and be showered with rain.

His house, you'll be given victory. His lightning, you'll be exalted.

And seek his kindness and succeed; make for him and be honored.

His righteousness, you'll be rewarded. His majesty, you'll be revered.

وَرُد رَوضهُ تُخصِب ورد حوضَه تُصب

وَرُد رَوضهُ تُخصِب ورد حوضَه تُصب

وَقبل ثَراهُ تُثرِوا خدمُهُ تُخدمِ

وَقبل ثَراهُ تُثرِوا خدمُهُ تُخدمِ

And come to his garden and flourish; come to his basin and be watered.

His meadow, you'll be fertile. His basin's water you'll imbibe.

And kiss his soil and grow rich; serve him and be served.

At his tomb, you'll gain wealth. Serve Him, you'll be served.

فضمُد وَفدت بي اليَعمُلات ونَصُّها

فضمُد وَفدت بي اليَعمُلات ونَصُّها

عَليهِ لَقِيتُ الحادثِاتِ بِمَحرمِ

عَليهِ لَقِيتُ الحادثِاتِ بِمَحرمِ

Since the swift she-camels brought me, hastening

Thus have I come to offer Him vows and ritual,

Toward him, I have faced calamities within a sanctuary.

And in clinging to Him, hardships were forbidden me.

فَأوليتُ خُوصَ العيسِ كُلَّ كَرامةٍ

فَأوليتُ خُوصَ العيسِ كُلَّ كَرامةٍ

وَقبَّلتُ من أَخفافها كُلَّ مَنسِمِ

وَقبَّلتُ من أَخفافها كُلَّ مَنسِمِ

So I bestowed every honor on the sunken-eyed pale camels,

So I was granted honor's generosity,

And kissed every toe of their padded feet.

And kissed each tender spot from His shoed feet.

وَأَنشدتُ لَمَّا زُرتُهُ مُتَرنِّماً

وَأَنشدتُ لَمَّا زُرتُهُ مُتَرنِّماً

بِشعرٍ يُزيلَ الهَمَّ عِندَ التَّرنُّمِ

بِشعرٍ يُزيلَ الهَمَّ عِندَ التَّرنُّمِ

And when I visited him, I recited melodiously

And when visiting Him, chanting I offered this poem

Poetry that dispels sorrow when sung:

That banishes sorrow when chanted musically.

فِراقٌ ومَن فارقتُ غَيرُ مُذَمَّمِ

فِراقٌ ومَن فارقتُ غَيرُ مُذَمَّمِ

وَأمٌّ وَمَن يمَّمتُ خَيرُ مُيمَّمِ

وَأمٌّ وَمَن يمَّمتُ خَيرُ مُيمَّمِ

A parting—the one I parted from is without reproach;

Parting - but the one I parted from, no blame can be found.

And a quest—the one I sought is the best to seek.

A mother - but the one I purpose towards, the best of goals.

وأصبَحتُ في ظلِّ ابنِ غازي بنِ يُوسفِ

وأصبَحتُ في ظلِّ ابنِ غازي بنِ يُوسفِ

وأنسانُ طَرفِ الدَّهرِ مِنَّي بهِ عَمِ

وأنسانُ طَرفِ الدَّهرِ مِنَّي بهِ عَمِ

And I am now in the shade of the son of Ghazi ibn Yusuf,

I woke under the shadow of Son of Ghazi Son of Yusuf,

And through him the pupil of Time's eye is blind to me.

And the eye of time was delighted with me through him.

مَليكٌ لَهُ يَومانِ يومُ مَواهبٍ

مَليكٌ لَهُ يَومانِ يومُ مَواهبٍ

وَيومُ كِفاحِ يَصبغُ الأَرضَ بالدَّمِ

وَيومُ كِفاحِ يَصبغُ الأَرضَ بالدَّمِ

A king who has two days: a day of gifts,

A king who has two days - a day of bestowal,

And a day of battle that dyes the earth with blood.

And a day of struggle painting the earth in blood.

ولا طارقٌ إلاَّ أَسيرٌ لأَنعُمِ

ولا طارقٌ إلاَّ أَسيرٌ لأَنعُمِ

وَلا مارقٌ إلاَّ عقيرٌ لقَشعَمِ

وَلا مارقٌ إلاَّ عقيرٌ لقَشعَمِ

And no night visitor is other than a captive to his favors,

No dissenter but is captive to his gifts,

And no rebel is other than slain prey for an aged vulture.

No deserter but is stunted by his resolute helmsman.

وإِن يَكُ تَقصيرٌ فَعُذريَ واضِحٌ

وإِن يَكُ تَقصيرٌ فَعُذريَ واضِحٌ

أيُمكِنُ أَن تُرقَى السماءُ بِسُلَّمِ

أيُمكِنُ أَن تُرقَى السماءُ بِسُلَّمِ

And if there is a shortcoming, my excuse is plain:

And if there is shortcoming, my excuse is clear,

Can the sky be climbed with a ladder?

Can heaven be climbed with a ladder?

وَبعدُ فَأنتَ العادِلُ الحُكمِ في الذي

وَبعدُ فَأنتَ العادِلُ الحُكمِ في الذي

تَقولُ فَميَّزهُ بِرأيكِ واحكُمِ

تَقولُ فَميَّزهُ بِرأيكِ واحكُمِ

And finally, you are just in judging what

Anyway, You are the Just Judge. So distinguish

You say; assess it with your judgment and decide.

Between what I say, and judge with Your wisdom.

فما كُلَّ مَن حاكَ القَوافي بِشاعرِ

فما كُلَّ مَن حاكَ القَوافي بِشاعرِ

ولا كُلُّ ذي طُفرٍ ونابٍ بِضَيغَمِ

ولا كُلُّ ذي طُفرٍ ونابٍ بِضَيغَمِ

For not everyone who weaves rhymes is a poet,

For not all who compose verse are poets,

Nor is every creature with claw and fang a lion.

Nor everyone with Incisors and canines, a lion.