وَبارِدِ الظَلمِ شَتيتِ الثَغرِ

وَبارِدِ الظَلمِ شَتيتِ الثَغرِ

واهي المَواثيقِ مَعاً وَالخَصرِ

واهي المَواثيقِ مَعاً وَالخَصرِ

And one with cool saliva and widely spaced teeth,

With the cold of injustice and scattered allure,

frail alike in his pledges and his waist,

And weak pacts together and waist,

يَغضَبُ إِن شَبَّهتُهُ بِالبَدرِ

يَغضَبُ إِن شَبَّهتُهُ بِالبَدرِ

عِذارُهُ إِلى العُذولِ عُذري

عِذارُهُ إِلى العُذولِ عُذري

grows angry if I liken him to the full moon.

He gets angry if I compare him to the full moon,

His cheek-down is my excuse before the reprover.

His excuse to aloofness is my excuse,

يَمطُلُني وَهوَ المَلِيُّ المُثري

يَمطُلُني وَهوَ المَلِيُّ المُثري

قَد كُحِلَت جُفونُهُ بِسِحرِ

قَد كُحِلَت جُفونُهُ بِسِحرِ

He puts me off, though solvent and rich.

He makes me wait and he is the alluring king,

His eyelids have been lined with magic as kohl.

His eyelids are lined with magic,

قاسٍ كَأَنَّ قَلبَهُ مِن صَخرٍ

قاسٍ كَأَنَّ قَلبَهُ مِن صَخرٍ

في خَدِّهِ ماءُ الشَبابِ يَجري

في خَدِّهِ ماءُ الشَبابِ يَجري

Cruel, as though his heart were made of stone,

Harsh as if his heart is made of rock,

the water of youth flows in his cheek.

In his cheek the water of youth flows,

سِيّانِ إِعلاني بِهِ وَسِرّي

سِيّانِ إِعلاني بِهِ وَسِرّي

مَتى أُفيقُ في الهَوى مِن سُكري

مَتى أُفيقُ في الهَوى مِن سُكري

My open love for him and my secret love are alike.

Revealing my secret and public declaration of him,

When shall I sober from my drunkenness in love,

When will I wake up from my drunkenness of passion?

وَمِن ثَناياهُ العِذابِ خَمري

وَمِن ثَناياهُ العِذابِ خَمري

ضِياءُ وَجهٍ وَظَلامُ شَعرِ

ضِياءُ وَجهٍ وَظَلامُ شَعرِ

while my wine comes from his sweet front teeth?

And from his folds is my wine of torment,

The brightness of a face and the darkness of hair

The light of a face and the darkness of hair,

قَد أَخَذا مِن جَلَدي وَصَبري

قَد أَخَذا مِن جَلَدي وَصَبري

أَخذَ الصَباحِ وَالمَسا مِن عُمري

أَخذَ الصَباحِ وَالمَسا مِن عُمري

have worn away my endurance and my patience,

Have taken from my skin and patience,

as morning and evening wear away my life.

Taking the morn and evening from my life,

إِذا شَكَوتُ في هَواهُ ضُرّي

إِذا شَكَوتُ في هَواهُ ضُرّي

عادَ إِلى عادَتِهِ في الغَدرِ

عادَ إِلى عادَتِهِ في الغَدرِ

When I complain of my suffering in his love,

If I complain of his harm to me,

he returns to his habit of betrayal,

He returns to his habit of betrayal,

كَأَنَّني أَغرَيتُهُ بِهَجري

كَأَنَّني أَغرَيتُهُ بِهَجري

ما لي وَأَحداثَ اللَيالي الغُبرِ

ما لي وَأَحداثَ اللَيالي الغُبرِ

as though I had urged him to forsake me.

As if I enticed him with my estrangement,

What have I to do with the calamities of dust-gray nights?

What do I have to do with the dusty nights?

قَد عَرَفتَني وَهيَ تُبدي نُكري

قَد عَرَفتَني وَهيَ تُبدي نُكري

تَريشُ لي سِهامَها وَتَبري

تَريشُ لي سِهامَها وَتَبري

You have known me, yet they disown me.

You knew me while showing no recognition,

They feather their arrows for me and sharpen them,

Sending me its arrows and being indifferent,

كَأَنَّها تَطلُبُني بِوِترِ

كَأَنَّها تَطلُبُني بِوِترِ

إِلامَ تَلقى ضُحُكي وَبِشري

إِلامَ تَلقى ضُحُكي وَبِشري

as though pursuing me for a blood-debt.

As if seeking me with a bowstring,

How long must my laughter and my cheer be met

Why does my laughter and good news meet,

بِوَجهِ جَهمِ الوَجهِ مُكفَهِرِّ

بِوَجهِ جَهمِ الوَجهِ مُكفَهِرِّ

أَما عَلِمتِ ياصُروفَ دَهري

أَما عَلِمتِ ياصُروفَ دَهري

with a grim, glowering countenance?

With a face grim and frowning?

Have you not learned, O vicissitudes of my days,

Do you not know, O turner of my fate,

عِلمَ يَقينٍ صادِقٍ وَخِبرِ

عِلمَ يَقينٍ صادِقٍ وَخِبرِ

أَنَّ جَلالَ الدينِ والي نَصري

أَنَّ جَلالَ الدينِ والي نَصري

with true, certain knowledge and experience,

True and certain knowledge and reports,

that Jalal al-Din is my champion,

That Jalal Ad-Din is my helper

وَأَنَّهُ مِنَ الأَنامِ ذُخري

وَأَنَّهُ مِنَ الأَنامِ ذُخري

أَرتَعُ في جِنانِهِ المُخضَرِّ

أَرتَعُ في جِنانِهِ المُخضَرِّ

and that, among mankind, he is my treasure?

And that he is the treasure of mankind for me!

I graze at ease within his verdant gardens;

I graze in his lush gardens,

يَضعَفُ عَن حَملِ نَداهُ شُكري

يَضعَفُ عَن حَملِ نَداهُ شُكري

إِبنُ البُخاريِّ الكَريمُ النَجرِ

إِبنُ البُخاريِّ الكَريمُ النَجرِ

my gratitude is too weak to bear his bounty.

My gratitude is too weak to carry his benefaction,

Ibn al-Bukhari, noble of stock,

The generous, noble, glorious son of Bukhari,

نَجلُ البَهاليلِ الكِرامِ الغُرِّ

نَجلُ البَهاليلِ الكِرامِ الغُرِّ

القائِدُ الجَيشِ اللُهامِ المَجرِ

القائِدُ الجَيشِ اللُهامِ المَجرِ

scion of magnanimous, noble, illustrious chiefs,

The offspring of the generous, noble, and free,

commander of the vast, teeming army,

The leader of the courageous and sweeping army,

الوافِرُ العِرضِ المُباحُ الوَفرِ

الوافِرُ العِرضِ المُباحُ الوَفرِ

الضَيِّقُ العُذرِ الرَحيبُ الصَدرِ

الضَيِّقُ العُذرِ الرَحيبُ الصَدرِ

rich in honor, his wealth open to all,

The abundant, licit, copious,

sparing of excuses, broad of breast,

The narrow excuse, spacious chest,

مُحيِي السَماحِ وَمُميتُ الفَقرِ

مُحيِي السَماحِ وَمُميتُ الفَقرِ

غَمرُ الرِداءِ وَالعَطاءِ الغَمرِ

غَمرُ الرِداءِ وَالعَطاءِ الغَمرِ

reviver of generosity and slayer of poverty,

Reviver of generosity and killer of poverty,

ample of cloak and overflowing in gifts.

Submerger with cloak and submersion in gifts,

باعَ الثَراءَ بِجَميلِ الذِكرِ

باعَ الثَراءَ بِجَميلِ الذِكرِ

يَسحَبُ ذَيلي سودَدٍ وَفَخرِ

يَسحَبُ ذَيلي سودَدٍ وَفَخرِ

He sold his wealth for noble renown;

He sold affluence for the sake of good mention,

he trails the twin hems of eminence and pride.

Dragging the train of my glorified blackness,

مَناقِبٌ مِثلُ النُجومِ اّلزُهرِ

مَناقِبٌ مِثلُ النُجومِ اّلزُهرِ

تَفوتُ كُلَّ عَدَدٍ وَحَصرِ

تَفوتُ كُلَّ عَدَدٍ وَحَصرِ

Virtues like the shining stars

Merits like the shining stars,

surpass all numbering and reckoning;

They escape all count and reckoning,

وَخُلُقٌ مِثلُ نَسيمِ الزَهرِ

وَخُلُقٌ مِثلُ نَسيمِ الزَهرِ

وَراحَةٌ تُخجِلُ فَيضَ البَحرِ

وَراحَةٌ تُخجِلُ فَيضَ البَحرِ

and a character like the breeze of blossoms,

And manners like the breeze of flowers,

and a palm that shames the sea's outpouring.

And comfort that shames the torrent of seas,

يَروي الوَرى بِجودِ كَفٍّ ثَرِّ

يَروي الوَرى بِجودِ كَفٍّ ثَرِّ

يَقومُ في الجَدبِ مَقامَ القَطرِ

يَقومُ في الجَدبِ مَقامَ القَطرِ

He slakes mankind's thirst with a brimming hand's bounty,

Watering mortals with the rain of generous palms,

taking the place of rain in drought,

Takes the place of rain in drought,

في مُخلِفِ الأَنواءِ مُقشَعِرِّ

في مُخلِفِ الأَنواءِ مُقشَعِرِّ

أَقلامُهُ عَلى الرِماحِ تَزري

أَقلامُهُ عَلى الرِماحِ تَزري

in a bleak season when the rain-stars fail.

Shedding his frightening gloom,

His pens put spears to shame;

His pens flow on the spears,

في حَلَباتِ المَكرُماتِ تَجري

في حَلَباتِ المَكرُماتِ تَجري

تَمضى مُضاءَ المُرهَفاتِ البُترِ

تَمضى مُضاءَ المُرهَفاتِ البُترِ

they race in the arenas of noble deeds,

They race in the arenas of gifts,

pressing on with the keenness of sharp, severing blades,

Going with the light of polished Indian swords,

تَقطَعُ في هامِ العِدى وَتَفري

تَقطَعُ في هامِ العِدى وَتَفري

إِلَيكَ يا سَيِّدَ أَهلِ العَصرِ

إِلَيكَ يا سَيِّدَ أَهلِ العَصرِ

cutting into enemies' heads and cleaving them.

Severing in the zeal of enemies and swarming,

To you, O lord of the people of this age,

To you, O master of the people of the age,

رَفَعتُ بِالمَدحِ بَناتِ فِكري

رَفَعتُ بِالمَدحِ بَناتِ فِكري

كَرائِماً تُهدى لِغَيرِ صِهرِ

كَرائِماً تُهدى لِغَيرِ صِهرِ

I have raised in praise the daughters of my thought:

I have raised with praise the daughters of my thoughts,

noble maidens presented to one who is no son-in-law.

As precious gifts offered to one not a brother-in-law,

نَزَّهتُها عَن خَطَلٍ وَهُجرِ

نَزَّهتُها عَن خَطَلٍ وَهُجرِ

تَبرا إِلَيكَ مِن عُيوبِ الشِعرِ

تَبرا إِلَيكَ مِن عُيوبِ الشِعرِ

I have kept them free of foolishness and foul speech;

I have protected them from errors and estrangement,

they avow to you their freedom from poetry's flaws.

Innocently coming to you from the flaws of poetry,

عَروضُها سالِمَةٌ مِن كَسرِ

عَروضُها سالِمَةٌ مِن كَسرِ

تَمَلَّ مِنها بِالحَصانِ البِكرِ

تَمَلَّ مِنها بِالحَصانِ البِكرِ

Their meter is sound, without a break.

Their meters safe from imperfections,

Delight in them as in a chaste virgin,

Adorned for you in the dress of the untouched camel,

مِثلِ العَروسِ أُبرِزَت مِن خِدرِ

مِثلِ العَروسِ أُبرِزَت مِن خِدرِ

نَظَمتُها نَظمَ عُقودِ الدُرِّ

نَظَمتُها نَظمَ عُقودِ الدُرِّ

like a bride brought forth from her bower.

Like a bride brought out from her tent,

I strung them as necklaces of pearls;

I have composed it in the form of a pearl necklace,

أُشرِقُ في سالِفَةٍ وَنَحرِ

أُشرِقُ في سالِفَةٍ وَنَحرِ

يُضحي بِها عِرضُ الكَريمِ الحُرِّ

يُضحي بِها عِرضُ الكَريمِ الحُرِّ

I shine upon a neck and breast.

I shine in an ancient and pure lineage,

Through them a noble, freeborn man's honor becomes

In which the honor of the noble freeman is sacrificed,

ذا أَرَجٍ مِن طيبِها وَنَشرِ

ذا أَرَجٍ مِن طيبِها وَنَشرِ

كَأَنَّهُ مُضَمَّخٌ بِعِطرِ

كَأَنَّهُ مُضَمَّخٌ بِعِطرِ

fragrant with their perfume and wafted scent,

With a bouquet from its perfume and strewing,

as though it were drenched in perfume.

As if smeared with fragrance,

بِالشَفعِ يا رَبَّ العُلى وَالوِترِ

بِالشَفعِ يا رَبَّ العُلى وَالوِترِ

وَبِالحَجيجِ وَاللَيالي العَشرِ

وَبِالحَجيجِ وَاللَيالي العَشرِ

By the even and the odd, O Lord of the heights,

I ask you by the judge and the odd prayer,

and by the pilgrims and the ten nights,

And the pilgrimage and the ten nights,

وَبِالصَفا وَزَمزَمٍ وَالحُجرِ

وَبِالصَفا وَزَمزَمٍ وَالحُجرِ

هَب لِجَلالِ الدينِ طولَ العُمرِ

هَب لِجَلالِ الدينِ طولَ العُمرِ

and by al-Safa, Zamzam, and al-Hijr,

And Safa, Zamzam and the Black Stone,

grant Jalal al-Din long life,

Grant to Jalal Ad-Din a long life,

وَاِشدُد بِهِ في الحادِثاتِ إِزري

وَاِشدُد بِهِ في الحادِثاتِ إِزري

يا مَن يُجيبُ دَعوَةَ المُضطَرِّ

يا مَن يُجيبُ دَعوَةَ المُضطَرِّ

and through him strengthen my back amid calamities.

And strengthen me through him in tribulations,

O You who answer the distressed one's call,

O You who answers the call of the distressed!

أَجِب دُعائي وَتَقَبَّل نَذري

أَجِب دُعائي وَتَقَبَّل نَذري

أَسعِدهُ يا رَبِّ بِهَذا الَشَهرِ

أَسعِدهُ يا رَبِّ بِهَذا الَشَهرِ

answer my prayer and accept my vow.

Respond to my prayer and accept my vow,

Make him happy, O Lord, in this month,

Bring him happiness, O Lord, in this month,

سَعادَةً تَبقَى بَقاءَ الدَهرِ

سَعادَةً تَبقَى بَقاءَ الدَهرِ

في خَفضِ عَيشٍ وَاِرتِفاعِ قَدرِ

في خَفضِ عَيشٍ وَاِرتِفاعِ قَدرِ

with happiness enduring as long as time,

A happiness that remains for eternity,

in ease of life and loftiness of rank,

In lowly and high station,

ما اِفتَرَّ لَيلٌ عَن بَياضِ فَجرِ

ما اِفتَرَّ لَيلٌ عَن بَياضِ فَجرِ

وَما دَعَت هاتِفَةٌ في وَكرِ

وَما دَعَت هاتِفَةٌ في وَكرِ

as long as night smiles open to reveal dawn's whiteness,

No night has invented against the whiteness of dawn,

and as long as a calling bird cries in a nest

Nor did a caller call in a den,

بِشاهِقِ الذُروَةِ مُشمَخِرِّ

بِشاهِقِ الذُروَةِ مُشمَخِرِّ

upon a high-crested, towering mountain.

With the towering summit sneering!