1. وَخَيالٍ سَرى إِلَيَّ فَأَدنا

    ها عَلى النَأيِ وَالمَزارُ شَطونُ

    And a phantom came by night to me and brought near

    her, despite the distance, though the meeting-place lay far away.

  2. سارَ يَطوي الفَلا وَحيداً وَمِن دو

    نِ سُراهُ مَهامِهٌ وَحُزونُ

    He traveled alone, traversing the wastes, while before

    his night journey lay trackless deserts and rugged ground.

  3. زائِرٌ في الظَلامِ يَسمَحُ بِالوَص

    لِ وَمُهديهِ بِالسَلامِ ضَنينُ

    A visitor in the darkness, generous with union,

    while its sender begrudges a greeting.

  4. لَم يَكِد يَهتَدي لِرَحلي لَولا

    زَفَراتٌ مِن دونِهِ وَأَنينُ

    He could scarcely have found my encampment, but for

    sighs before him and moaning.

  5. وَبِأَعلا الكَثيبِ مِن أَيمَنِ الرَم

    لِ مَلِيٌّ تُلوى إِلَيهِ الدُيونُ

    And atop the dune, on the right of the sands,

    is a solvent man to whom debts are referred.

  6. بِعتُهُ مُهجَتي فَيالَكَ مِن صَف

    قَةِ غَبنٍ راضٍ بِها المَغبونُ

    I sold him my lifeblood—what a bargain

    of loss, yet the cheated one is pleased with it!

  7. وَظِباءٍ مِن عامِرٍ ما رَنَت إِل

    لا أَرَتنا أَنَّ الكِناسَ عَرينُ

    And gazelles of ʿAmir, who never gazed

    without showing us that their covert was a lion's den.

  8. بِثُغورٍ يَشجى بِهِنَّ الأَقاحي

    وَقُدودٍ تَشقى بِهِنَّ الغُصونُ

    With mouths that make the daisies grieve,

    and figures that make the branches suffer.

  9. إِن يُطاعِنَّ فَالرِماحُ قُدودٌ

    أَو يُناضِلنَ فَالسِهامُ عُيونُ

    If they fight with spears, their figures are the lances;

    or if they shoot, their eyes are the arrows.

  10. يا اِبنَةَ القَومِ كَيفَ ضاعَت عُهودي

    بَينَكُم وَالوَفاءُ في العُربِ دينُ

    O daughter of the tribe, how were my pledges lost

    among you, when fidelity is a creed among the Arabs?

  11. كَيفَ أُسلِمتُ فيكُمُ إِلى الأَشجانِ

    لَولا الغَرامُ جُنونُ

    How was I surrendered among you to sorrows,

    were passionate love not madness?

  12. قَد تَمادى هَواكَ لي فَسَقامي

    فيكَ بادٍ وَداءُ قَلبي دَفينُ

    Love of you has long persisted in me; my sickness

    for you is manifest, and my heart's disease lies hidden.

  13. وَتَقَضّى المَدى وَما أَقصَرَ العا

    ذِلُ فيكُمُ وَلا سَلا المَحزونُ

    Time has run its course, yet the reprover has not ceased

    concerning you, nor has the sorrowful one found solace.

  14. مَن تَناسى عَهدَ الشَبابِ وَأَيّا

    مَ التَصابي فَلي إِلَيكُم حَنينُ

    Let whoever will forget youth's season and the days

    of youthful dalliance; I still yearn for you.

  15. أَتَراني عَلى النَوى مُضمِراً عَن

    كَ سُلُوّاً إِنّي إِذاً لَخَؤونُ

    Do you think that, despite separation, I secretly harbor

    forgetfulness of you? Then I would indeed be faithless.

  16. أَنا مَن قَد عَلِمتِ عَهدي عَلى النَأ

    يِ وَثيقٌ وَحَبلُ وِدّي مَتينُ

    I am the one you know: my pledge, despite the distance,

    is firm, and the bond of my affection strong.

  17. لا تُحاوِل مِنّي المَوَدَّةَ بِالهَج

    رِ فَإِنّي عَلى الجَفاءِ حَرونُ

    Do not seek affection from me through estrangement,

    for I am stubborn in the face of coldness.

  18. أَنا ماءٌ عَلى التَواصُلِ رَقرا

    قٌ وَفي الهَجرِ صَخرَةٌ لا تَلينُ

    In fellowship I am clear, shimmering water;

    in estrangement, a rock that will not soften.

  19. عَدِّني مَورِدَ الهَوانِ فَلا صا

    دَفتُ رَيّاً يَكونُ في الرِيِّ هونُ

    Lead me past humiliation's watering place; may I never

    find a draught whose quenching brings dishonor.

  20. عَلَّمَتني الآباءُ أَخلاقَ قَومٍ

    أَقسَموا أَنَّ جارَهُم لا يَهونُ

    My forefathers taught me the virtues of a people

    who swore that their neighbor would never be dishonored.

  21. لا تَخَف في جِوارِهِم نُوَبَ الأَي

    يامِ فَالجارُ فيهِمُ مَضمونُ

    Fear no vicissitudes of the days under their protection;

    for their neighbor's safety is guaranteed.

  22. المُصيبونَ في دُجى الخَطبِ وَالمُع

    طونَ في الجَدبِ وَالسَحابُ ضَنينُ

    Unerring in calamity's darkness, and giving

    during drought, when the clouds are miserly.

  23. يَكتَسي التُربُ عَرفَهُم فَمَكانٌ

    وَطِئَتهُ نِعالُهُم دارينُ

    The dust clothes itself in their fragrance; any place

    their sandals have trodden is Darin.

  24. لَكُمُ يا بَني المُظَفَّرِ آيا

    تٌ وَفَضلٌ يَومَ الفِخارِ مَتينُ

    Yours, O sons of al-Muzaffar, are distinctions

    and merit, firmly established on the day of boasting.

  25. لا تُساميكُمُ القَبائِلُ فَالنا

    سُ الدَنايا وَأَنتُمُ العِرنينُ

    No tribes can rival you; other people are

    the lowly ones, and you the proud nose.

  26. عَذُبَت عِندَكُم وَراقَت قِطافُ ال

    كَرَمِ العِدِّ وَالمِياهُ أَجونُ

    Sweet and pure with you are the fruits of

    ever-flowing generosity, while the waters are foul.

  27. وَاللَيالي بيضٌ لَدَيكُم إِذا الأَي

    يامُ أَمسَت بِغَيرِكُم وَهيَ جونُ

    With you the nights are white, while the days

    with others turn black.

  28. يا مُضِلَّ السَماحِ يَهوي بِهِ وَج

    ناءُ حَرفٌ مِثلُ الهِلالِ أَمونُ

    O you who have lost generosity, swiftly carried by a

    strong-cheeked, lean, trusty she-camel, like the crescent!

  29. وَغِمارُ الفَلا كَأَنَّ مَطايا

    هُ إِذا عُمنَ في الفَلاةِ سَفينُ

    And in the desert's depths his mounts seem,

    when swimming across the wastes, to be ships.

  30. يَنشُدُ المَكرُماتِ في كُلِّ أَرضٍ

    لَيسَ فيها عَمّا أَضَلَّ مُبينُ

    He seeks noble deeds in every land

    where none can tell him of what he has lost.

  31. أَنضِ ثَوبَ السُرى فَفي القَصرِ مِن بَغ

    داذَ خِرقٌ لَهُ السَماحَةُ دينُ

    Cast off the cloak of night travel: the palace in

    Baghdad holds a nobleman whose creed is generosity.

  32. حَيثُ رَوضُ النَدى جَميمٌ وَماءُ ال

    جودِ غَمرٌ لِلسائِلينَ مَعينُ

    There the meadow of bounty is lush, and the water of

    generosity is abundant and freely flowing for supplicants.

  33. لا تُؤَمِّل سِواهُ فَهوَ كَفيلٌ

    لِمَساعيكَ بِالنَجاحِ ضَمينُ

    Place hope in none but him; he is a guarantor,

    a surety of success for your endeavors.

  34. تَلقَ مِنهُ بَحراً وَطَودَ حِمىً يَأ

    وي إِلَيهِ اليَتيمُ وَالمِسكينُ

    In him you will find a sea and a mountain of refuge,

    where the orphan and the destitute seek shelter.

  35. فارِسٌ مِن عَتادِهِ القُضُبُ الهِن

    دِيَّةُ البيضُ وَالعِتاقُ الصُفونُ

    A knight whose equipment includes the blades

    of India, gleaming white, and noble, poised steeds.

  36. مَشعَلٌ في البُزوغِ أَمضى مِنَ النَص

    لِ وَقورٌ يَومَ السَلامِ رَزينُ

    A blazing torch as he rises, sharper than a blade,

    dignified and composed on the day of peace.

  37. لابِسٌ في الحُروبِ مِن رَأيِهِ المُح

    صَدِ دِرعاً ما ضاعَفَتها القُيونُ

    In war he wears, from his tightly woven judgment,

    armor no smiths have doubled.

  38. مُصلِتٌ مِن مَضائِهِ سَيفَ عَزمٍ

    سَلَّطَتهُ عَلى النُفوسِ المَنونُ

    From his keenness he bares a sword of resolve

    that Death has set loose upon souls.

  39. سَيفُهُ مِن مَضاءِ كَفَّيهِ وَالدِر

    عُ عَلَيهِ مِن قَلبِهِ مَوضونُ

    His sword comes from the keenness of his hands, and the armor

    upon him is woven from his heart.

  40. إِن سَخا أَو سَطا فَلا الأَسَدُ الوَر

    دُ بِضارٍ وَلا السَحابُ هَتونُ

    If he gives or strikes, the tawny lion

    is no ravager beside him, nor are the clouds rain-pouring.

  41. يُشرِقُ التاجُ مِنهُ فَوقَ جَبينٍ

    كِسرَوِيٍّ لِلتاجِ فيهِ غُضونُ

    The crown shines upon him above a brow

    like Kisra's, upon which the crown lies folded.

  42. قَولُهُ يَفضُلُ الفِعالَ وَيُسرا

    هُ إِذا راحَ لِلعَطاءِ يَمينُ

    His words surpass deeds; and his left hand,

    when he goes forth to give, is a right hand.

  43. يا مُعيني عَلى الخُطوبِ وَقَد أَس

    لَمَني ناصِري وَقَلَّ المَعينُ

    O my helper against calamities, when

    my supporter has forsaken me and helpers are few.

  44. صانَ قَدري عَن مَعشَرٍ يُحرَمُ السا

    ئِلُ فيهِم وَيُمنَعُ الماعونُ

    He preserved my dignity from a people whose petitioner

    is denied, and whose small kindnesses are withheld.

  45. لَهُم في مَواسِمِ الحَمدِ أَعرا

    ضٌ عِجافٌ لُؤماً وَوَفرٌ سَمينُ

    In the seasons of praise their reputations are

    lean from baseness, while their wealth is fat.

  46. حاشَ لِلَّهِ أَن تَراني فيهِم

    مُرخِصاً لِلثَناءِ وَهوَ ثَمينُ

    God forbid that you should see me among them,

    cheapening praise, though it is precious,

  47. أَرتَجي فَضلَ ناقِصٍ وَأُداري

    كُلَّ جِنسٍ ما في سَجاياهُ لينُ

    hoping for bounty from a deficient man, and humoring

    every sort of man whose nature has no gentleness.

  48. خُلَّبُ البَرقِ باتَ يَصدِقُ مُعرو

    فُكَ لِلشائِمينَ وَهوَ يَمينُ

    Deceptive lightning now speaks truly of your bounty

    to the lightning-watchers, though it is an oath.

  49. حِلفُ سوءٍ أُمُّ الأَيادي بِهِ ثَك

    لى وَطَرفُ العَلاءِ مِنهُ سَخينُ

    A vile confederate: through him the mother of benefactions is

    bereaved, and nobility's eye burns with grief because of him.

  50. مُستَهامٌ بِالبُخلِ صَبٌّ كَما حا

    مَ إِلى الأَخيَلِيَّةِ المَجنونُ

    He is love-crazed with miserliness, besotted, as

    the mad lover hovered toward al-Akhyaliyya.

  51. وَكَأَنَّ العافي يُخاطِبُ مِن جَد

    واهُ رَسماً بِرامَةٍ لا يُبينُ

    And the seeker of his bounty seems to address

    a mute trace of a camp at Rama.

  52. فَفَدَت كَفَّكَ الَّتي جودُها الكَو

    ثَرُ كَفٌّ عَطائُها غِسلينُ

    May your hand, whose bounty is al-Kawthar, be ransomed

    by a hand whose gifts are ghislin.

  53. صَدَقَت فيكَ يا مُحَمَّدُ آما

    لي وَخابَت لَدى سِواكَ الظُنونُ

    In you, O Muhammad, my hopes have proved true,

    and expectations of others have failed.

  54. مَلَّكَتني لَكَ الأَيادي فَإِن أُم

    سِ طَليقاً فَإِنَّ شُكري رَهينُ

    Your favors have made me yours; even if I remain

    free, my gratitude is captive.

  55. عَوَّدَتني النُعمى يَداكَ وَعادا

    تُ الأَيادي عَلى الكِرامِ دُيونُ

    Your hands have accustomed me to blessings, and repeated

    acts of kindness are debts upon the generous.

  56. كُلَّ عامٍ تُجِدُّها لَكَ نُعما

    كَ فَلا أَخلَفَت عُلاكَ السِنينُ

    Each year your favor renews them for you;

    may the years never fail your eminence.

  57. أَنا أَهلٌ وَأَنتَ أَيضاً بِأَن تَب

    عَثَ أَمثالَها إِلَيَّ قَمينُ

    I am deserving, and you too are worthy

    to send me others like it.

  58. هِيَ لي جُنَّةٌ مِنَ الفَقرِ ما عِش

    تُ وَحِصنٌ مِنَ الخُطوبِ حَصينُ

    It is my shield against poverty for as long as

    I live, and a fortified stronghold against calamities.

  59. لا تَراني إِذا تَحَلَّلتُها أَخ

    ضَعُ مِن حادِثٍ وَلا أَستَكينُ

    When I put it on, you will not see me

    bow before misfortune or meekly submit.

  60. أَكتَسي رَونَقاً بِمَلبَسِها الضا

    في فَتُمسي صوراً إِلَيَّ العُيونُ

    I clothe myself in splendor with its ample garment,

    so that eyes turn toward me.

  61. طالَما أَصبَحَت وَأَمسَت وَلي في ال

    قُرِّ مِنها مَعاقِلٌ وَحُصونُ

    Many a morning and evening it has given me

    strongholds and fortresses against the cold.

  62. فَاِستَمِعها عَذراءَ تَحمِلُ أَبكا

    رَ المَعاني مِنها قَوافٍ عونُ

    So hear it as a maiden, bearing virgin

    meanings in its mature rhymes.

  63. مِدَحٌ كَالرِياضِ باكَرَها القَط

    رُ فَمِنها الخَيرِيُّ وَالنِسرينُ

    Praises like gardens visited at dawn by rain,

    among them wallflowers and musk roses.

  64. فَاِفتَرِع ذُروَةَ البَقاءِ بِمُلكٍ

    أَخمَصاهُ التَأييدُ وَالتَمكينُ

    So scale the summit of permanence with a dominion

    whose two arched soles are support and firm establishment.

  65. بالِغاً في أَخيكَ ما نالَهُ مو

    سى وَقَد شَدَّ إِزرَهُ هارونُ

    Attaining through your brother what Moses attained,

    when Aaron strengthened his back.

  66. مُذ دَعوهُ تاجاً تَمَنّى هِلالُ ال

    أُفقِ لَو أَنَّهُ الغَداةَ جَبينُ

    Since they called him 'Crown,' the crescent of the

    horizon has wished it were a forehead this morning.

  67. وَاِبقَ وَاِبناكَ ما أَقامَ ثَبيرٌ

    وَأَقَلَّت وُرقَ الحَمامِ الغُصونُ

    May you and your two sons endure while Thabir stands,

    and boughs carry the gray doves.

  68. فَبَهاءُ الدينِ الَّذي إِن دَعَونا

    هُ لِخَطبٍ فَحَدُّهُ مَسنونُ

    As for Baha al-Din: if we summon

    him to a crisis, his edge is sharpened.

  69. أُدعُهُ لِلسَماحِ وَالبَأسِ يَلقا

    كَ مُجيباً مِنهُ القَوِيُّ الأَمينُ

    Call him for generosity and valor; he will meet

    you in answer, showing himself strong and trustworthy.

  70. وَشِهابُ الدينِ الَّذي يَصدَعُ الخَط

    بَ بِوَجهٍ يَنجابُ عَنهُ الدُجونُ

    And Shihab al-Din, who cleaves calamity

    with a face from which darkness lifts.

  71. كامِنٌ في سِرارِ أَعطافِهِ المَج

    دُ وَلِلنارِ في الزِنادِ كَمونُ

    Hidden in the secret recesses of his frame is

    glory, as fire lies hidden in the flints.

  72. وَاِسلَموا تُنجِزونَ أَعداءَكُم ما

    رَضِعَ الطِفلُ وَاِستَهَلَّ الجَنينُ

    May you remain safe, finishing off your enemies, as long as

    a child suckles and a newborn cries.