وَأَغَنَّ مَعسولِ المَراشِف

وَأَغَنَّ مَعسولِ المَراشِف

كَالبَدرِ مَصقولِ السَوالِف

كَالبَدرِ مَصقولِ السَوالِف

And one with a dulcet nasal voice and honeyed lips,

And he sang with the honeyed pillows

like the full moon, his neck gleaming smooth,

Like the polished full moon of tales

يَتَظَلَّمُ الخَصرُ الضَعيفُ

يَتَظَلَّمُ الخَصرُ الضَعيفُ

إِلَيهِ مِن ثِقَلِ الرَوادِف

إِلَيهِ مِن ثِقَلِ الرَوادِف

his frail waist complains

The weak waist complains

to him of the weight of his haunches.

To it from the weight of the saddlebags

وَسَّدتُهُ كَفّي وَبا

وَسَّدتُهُ كَفّي وَبا

تَ مُوَسِّدي خَدّاً وَسالِف

تَ مُوَسِّدي خَدّاً وَسالِف

I made my palm his pillow, and he spent the night

And I blocked it with my palms and spent

pillowing me on his cheek and the side of his neck.

My pillow a cheek and tales

فَلَثَمتُهُ حُلوَ اللِما

فَلَثَمتُهُ حُلوَ اللِما

وَضَمَمتُهُ لَدنَ المَعاطِف

وَضَمَمتُهُ لَدنَ المَعاطِف

So I kissed him, sweet of dusky lips,

So I kissed it sweet softness

and embraced his supple form.

And pressed it to the folds of the robes

وَغَنيتُ عَن كَأسِ المُدا

وَغَنيتُ عَن كَأسِ المُدا

مِ بِما أَدارَ مِنَ المَراشِف

مِ بِما أَدارَ مِنَ المَراشِف

And I had no need of the cup of wine,

And I was content without a cup of wine

thanks to what he served from his lips.

With what he elicited from the pillows

وَشَكَوتُ بَرحَ صَبابَتي

وَشَكَوتُ بَرحَ صَبابَتي

فيهِ فَأَنكَرَ وَهوَ عارِف

فيهِ فَأَنكَرَ وَهوَ عارِف

And I complained of my longing's torment

And I complained of the loss of my youth

for him; he denied it, though he knew.

So he denied while knowing

وَلَقَد أَسِفتُ عَلى الصِبى

وَلَقَد أَسِفتُ عَلى الصِبى

لَو رَدَّ ماضي العَيشِ آسِف

لَو رَدَّ ماضي العَيشِ آسِف

And indeed I mourned my youth—

And indeed I regretted the boy

if only a mourner could restore bygone life!

If the past life would go back regretting

لِلَّهُ لَيلاتٌ خَلَت

لِلَّهُ لَيلاتٌ خَلَت

مِنهُ وَأَيّامٌ سَوالِف

مِنهُ وَأَيّامٌ سَوالِف

Praise God for those nights gone by,

To God nights have passed

of youth, and those bygone days,

From it and days of tales

حَيثُ الحَبيبُ مُساعِدٌ

حَيثُ الحَبيبُ مُساعِدٌ

لي وَالزَمانُ بِهِ مُساعِف

لي وَالزَمانُ بِهِ مُساعِف

when the beloved was obliging

Where the beloved is a helper

to me, and time favored me with him.

To me and time is cooperating with it

قُم يا نَديمُ مُلَبِّياً

قُم يا نَديمُ مُلَبِّياً

داعي الصَبوحِ وَلا تُخالِف

داعي الصَبوحِ وَلا تُخالِف

Rise, O drinking companion, answering

Rise O boon companion obeying

the call to morning wine, and do not refuse.

The caller of dawn and do not oppose

بادِر فَقَد جَشَرَ الصَبا

بادِر فَقَد جَشَرَ الصَبا

حُ وَغَنَّتِ الوُرقُ الهَواتِف

حُ وَغَنَّتِ الوُرقُ الهَواتِف

Hasten, for morning has broken,

Take the initiative for the dawn has chirped

and the calling gray doves have sung.

And the leaves sang the carols

أَو ما تَرى هيفَ الغُصونِ

أَو ما تَرى هيفَ الغُصونِ

تَميسُ في خُضرِ المَلاحِف

تَميسُ في خُضرِ المَلاحِف

Or do you not see the slender boughs

Or do you not see the nodding of the branches

swaying in green mantles?

Mingling in the green of the pillows

وَالنورُ يَبسِمُ ثَغرُهُ

وَالنورُ يَبسِمُ ثَغرُهُ

طَرَباً وَدَمعُ المُزنِ واكِف

طَرَباً وَدَمعُ المُزنِ واكِف

And the bloom's mouth smiles

And the light smiles with its mouth

for joy, while the clouds' tears stream.

Elated and the dew of sadness ceases

وَالأَرضُ حالِيَةُ الرُبى

وَالأَرضُ حالِيَةُ الرُبى

وَالجَوُّ مِسكِيُّ المَطارِف

وَالجَوُّ مِسكِيُّ المَطارِف

And the earth is adorned upon its hills,

And the ground adorned with dew

and the air is wrapped in musky cloaks.

And the air musky with the feathers

فَاِستَجلِها كَرخِيَّةً

فَاِستَجلِها كَرخِيَّةً

بِنتَ الشَمامِسِ وَالأَساقِف

بِنتَ الشَمامِسِ وَالأَساقِف

So unveil her, a Karkh wine,

So seek it out like a rolling meadow

daughter of deacons and bishops,

The daughter of partridges and bishops

حَمراءَ صِرفاً لا يَطو

حَمراءَ صِرفاً لا يَطو

فُ بِرَحلِها لِلهَمِّ طائِف

فُ بِرَحلِها لِلهَمِّ طائِف

red and unmixed; never circles

Reddish yellow not followed

her dwelling any specter of grief;

In her carpet by care wandering

كَدَمِ الغَزالِ إِذا بَكى

كَدَمِ الغَزالِ إِذا بَكى

راوُوقُها خِلناهُ راعِف

راوُوقُها خِلناهُ راعِف

like a gazelle's blood—when it weeps,

Like the tear of a gazelle when it weeps

we fancy her strainer is bleeding at the nose.

Its cheek we kissed it quivering

وَاِعصِ العَذولَ وَبِت لَوَردِ

وَاِعصِ العَذولَ وَبِت لَوَردِ

الخَدِّ بِاللَحَظاتِ قاطِف

الخَدِّ بِاللَحَظاتِ قاطِف

And defy the reproacher, and spend the night

And avoid celibacy and spend the night plucking

plucking the cheek's rose with your glances.

The cheek’s rose with glances

وَإِذا عَكَفتَ فَلا تَكُن

وَإِذا عَكَفتَ فَلا تَكُن

إِلّا عَلى الصَهباءِ عاكِف

إِلّا عَلى الصَهباءِ عاكِف

And if you devote yourself, do so

And if you devote do not be

only to the tawny wine.

Except to the blond one devoted

وَاِمدَح إِماماً دَأبُهُ

وَاِمدَح إِماماً دَأبُهُ

مُذ كانَ إِسداءُ العَوارِف

مُذ كانَ إِسداءُ العَوارِف

And praise an imam whose habit,

And praise the imam whose habit

throughout his life, has been bestowing favors:

Since the noble virtues were protecting

المُستَضيءَ وَمَن لَهُ

المُستَضيءَ وَمَن لَهُ

ظِلٌّ عَلى الإِسلامِ وارِف

ظِلٌّ عَلى الإِسلامِ وارِف

al-Mustadi’, whose

The enlightened one and the one who has

broad shade spreads over Islam,

A shadow over Islam extending

رَبَّ الصَنائِعِ وَالأَيا

رَبَّ الصَنائِعِ وَالأَيا

دي الغُرِّ وَالمِنَنِ السَوالِف

دي الغُرِّ وَالمِنَنِ السَوالِف

the master of benefactions and

Lord of crafts and days

illustrious favors and kindnesses bestowed of old.

Of delights and prolonged tales

بَذَلَ النَوالَ لِكُلِّ را

بَذَلَ النَوالَ لِكُلِّ را

جٍ وَالأَمانَ لِكُلِ خائِف

جٍ وَالأَمانَ لِكُلِ خائِف

He bestowed bounty on every hopeful seeker,

He gave gifts to every

and safety on everyone afraid.

Suitor and safety to every fearful one

مَلِكٌ أَطاعَتهُ المَما

مَلِكٌ أَطاعَتهُ المَما

لِكُ وَالقَبائِلُ وَالطَوائِف

لِكُ وَالقَبائِلُ وَالطَوائِف

A king whom kingdoms have obeyed,

A king whom the sovereigns

and tribes and factions,

And tribes and factions obeyed

بِالمَشرَفِيّاتِ الرَواعِ

بِالمَشرَفِيّاتِ الرَواعِ

دِ وَالمُثَقَّفَةِ الرَواجِف

دِ وَالمُثَقَّفَةِ الرَواجِف

through thundering Mashrafi swords

With the well-educated lands

and well-straightened, quivering spears;

And the cultivated plains

سَهلاً عَلى باغي النَدى

سَهلاً عَلى باغي النَدى

صَعباً عَلى الباغي المُخالِف

صَعباً عَلى الباغي المُخالِف

gentle toward the seeker of bounty,

Easy on the seeker of dew

stern toward the defiant aggressor;

Hard on the opposing seeker

مُتَهَجِّداً واَلَيلُ دا

مُتَهَجِّداً واَلَيلُ دا

جٍ صائِماً وَاليَومُ صائِف

جٍ صائِماً وَاليَومُ صائِف

praying at night while the night is

Staying up while the night is peaceful fasting while the day is hot

dark, and fasting while the day is scorching.

Let no pleasure of his appease you

لا يُؤنِسَنَّكَ مِن رِضا

لا يُؤنِسَنَّكَ مِن رِضا

هُ جَريمَةٌ فَلَهُ عَواطِف

هُ جَريمَةٌ فَلَهُ عَواطِف

Do not be driven to despair of his favor

For he has emotions

by an offense, for he has compassion.

His virtues have ennobled him

شَرُفَت مَناقِبُهُ فَحَل

شَرُفَت مَناقِبُهُ فَحَل

لَ مِنَ الخِلافَةِ في المَشارِف

لَ مِنَ الخِلافَةِ في المَشارِف

His virtues were exalted, so he took his place

So the caliphate was adorned with jewels

on the loftiest heights of the caliphate,

From a people whose loyalty

مِن مَعشَرٍ بِوَلائِهِم

مِن مَعشَرٍ بِوَلائِهِم

تَبيَضُّ في الحَشرِ الصَحائِف

تَبيَضُّ في الحَشرِ الصَحائِف

from a people through allegiance to whom

Whitens in the resurrection the scrolls

the records turn white at the Resurrection;

Red of tongues and gazelles

حُمرُ الأَسِنَّةِ وَالظُبى

حُمرُ الأَسِنَّةِ وَالظُبى

بيضُ المَجالي وَالمَعارِف

بيضُ المَجالي وَالمَعارِف

their spearheads and sword-edges red,

White pure in knowledge and virtues

their countenances and features white.

O rider whom has carried

يا راكِباً نَهَضَت بِهِ

يا راكِباً نَهَضَت بِهِ

مِن حَظِّهِ وَجناءُ شارِف

مِن حَظِّهِ وَجناءُ شارِف

O rider, borne onward

His fortune and lofty destination

by a sturdy old she-camel through his good fortune,

He reached his purpose freely without

بَلَغَ المُنى عَفواً وَلَم

بَلَغَ المُنى عَفواً وَلَم

يَطوِ المَهامِهَ وَالتَنائِف

يَطوِ المَهامِهَ وَالتَنائِف

who reached his desires effortlessly, without

Experiencing anxiety and exhaustion

traversing trackless deserts and wastelands,

My God, My God if

اللَهَ ثُمَّ اللَهَ إِن

اللَهَ ثُمَّ اللَهَ إِن

رُفِعَ الحِجابُ وَأَنتَ واقِف

رُفِعَ الحِجابُ وَأَنتَ واقِف

For God's sake, again for God's sake, if

The veil is lifted and you are standing

the veil is lifted while you stand there,

And you saw the brilliance of prophecy

وَرَأَيتَ لَألاءَ النُبُو

وَرَأَيتَ لَألاءَ النُبُو

وَةِ وَهوَ بِالأَبصارِ خاطِف

وَةِ وَهوَ بِالأَبصارِ خاطِف

and you see the radiance of prophethood,

Dazzling the sights

as it dazzles the eyes,

Then kiss its dust-covered cheek

فَاِلثِم ثَراهُ مُعَفِّراً

فَاِلثِم ثَراهُ مُعَفِّراً

خَدَّيكَ في تِلكَ المَواقِفِ

خَدَّيكَ في تِلكَ المَواقِفِ

then kiss his ground, rubbing

In those situations

your cheeks in the dust at those places.

And say peace be upon you

وَقُلِ السَلامُ عَليكَ يا

وَقُلِ السَلامُ عَليكَ يا

خَيرَ الأَئِمَّةِ وَالخَلائِف

خَيرَ الأَئِمَّةِ وَالخَلائِف

And say: Peace be upon you, O

O best of imams and caliphs

best of imams and caliphs!

O son of fierce tribes

يا اِبنَ الأَحامِسِ مِن قُرَي

يا اِبنَ الأَحامِسِ مِن قُرَي

شٍ وَالجَحاجِحَةِ الغَطارِف

شٍ وَالجَحاجِحَةِ الغَطارِف

O son of the valiant men of Quraysh

And the loud rumbling torrents

and of the mighty chiefs, the noble lords!

When hopes come burdened

يامَن إِذا حَلَّت بِهِ الآ

يامَن إِذا حَلَّت بِهِ الآ

مالُ مُسنِيَةً ضَعائِف

مالُ مُسنِيَةً ضَعائِف

O you—whenever hopes alight upon you,

They leave lightly from his harbors

drought-worn and feeble,

Shall I fear the shaking of steps

صَدَرَت ثِقالاً مِن مَوا

صَدَرَت ثِقالاً مِن مَوا

هِبِهِ وَقَد وَرَدَت خَفائِف

هِبِهِ وَقَد وَرَدَت خَفائِف

they depart weighed down with

When you reveal to the glooms?

your gifts, though they arrived lightly laden.

The caliph cannot blame

أَأَخافُ رائِعَةَ الخُطو

أَأَخافُ رائِعَةَ الخُطو

بِ وَأَنتَ لِلغِمّاءِ كاشِف

بِ وَأَنتَ لِلغِمّاءِ كاشِف

Should I fear the terrors of calamity,

Those who blame him out of fear

when you dispel dire distress?

For there is the age of caliphate

إِنَّ الخَليفَةَ لا يُلِم

إِنَّ الخَليفَةَ لا يُلِم

مُ بِمَن يُلِمُّ بِهِ المَخاوِف

مُ بِمَن يُلِمُّ بِهِ المَخاوِف

Indeed, the caliph does not assail

With long lasting survival aligning

anyone assailed by fears.

And you remained as long as the breeze flowed

فَهَناكَ عُمرُ خِلافَةٍ

فَهَناكَ عُمرُ خِلافَةٍ

طولُ البَقاءِ لَها مُحالِف

طولُ البَقاءِ لَها مُحالِف

So may the span of your caliphate gladden you,

And the passions blew tempestuous

with long endurance for its ally;

Calling out rise at dawn

وَبَقيتَ ما رَكَدَ النَسيمُ

وَبَقيتَ ما رَكَدَ النَسيمُ

وَهَبَّتِ الهوجُ العَواصِف

وَهَبَّتِ الهوجُ العَواصِف

and may you endure as long as the breeze falls still

Summoning the dawn insistently

and blustering tempests blow,

Proclaiming the farmer with good tidings

وَدَعا بِحَيَّ عَلى الفَلاحِ

وَدَعا بِحَيَّ عَلى الفَلاحِ

مُبَشِّراً بِالصُبحِ هاتِف

مُبَشِّراً بِالصُبحِ هاتِف

and the call, 'Come to salvation,' is raised

At dawn calling

by a voice heralding the dawn.