تَرى الظاعِنَ الغادي مُقيماً عَلى العَهدِ

تَرى الظاعِنَ الغادي مُقيماً عَلى العَهدِ

وَفاءً أَمِ الأَيّامُ غَيَّرنَهُ بَعدي

وَفاءً أَمِ الأَيّامُ غَيَّرنَهُ بَعدي

Do you think the traveler leaving at dawn still keeps the pledge

Do you see the ardent lover remaining faithful to his vow

faithfully, or have the days changed him in my absence?

Or have the days changed him after me?

وَهَل ماطِلٌ ديني مَعَ الوَجدِ عالِمٌ

وَهَل ماطِلٌ ديني مَعَ الوَجدِ عالِمٌ

بِما بِتُّ أَلقى في هَواهُ مِنَ الوَجدِ

بِما بِتُّ أَلقى في هَواهُ مِنَ الوَجدِ

And does the one withholding my due, for all my longing, know

Does the procrastinator of my debt, acquainted with passion

the anguish I spend my nights enduring in my love for him?

Know what I have poured into his love of passion?

إِذا مَطَلَت لَمياءُ وَهيَ قَريبَةٌ

إِذا مَطَلَت لَمياءُ وَهيَ قَريبَةٌ

فَأَجدَرُ أَن تُلوى الدُيونُ عَلى البُعدِ

فَأَجدَرُ أَن تُلوى الدُيونُ عَلى البُعدِ

If Lamya delays payment while she is near,

When the shining eyes of the beloved are slow to appear

how much likelier that debts go unpaid at a distance.

It is best that debts should be discharged from afar

أَلا لَيتَ شِعري هَل أَبيتَنَّ لَيلَةً

أَلا لَيتَ شِعري هَل أَبيتَنَّ لَيلَةً

وَما أَنا مِن نَأيِ الحَبيبِ عَلى وَعدِ

وَما أَنا مِن نَأيِ الحَبيبِ عَلى وَعدِ

Ah, would that I knew: shall I ever spend a night

Oh, would that I knew! Did you spend a night

with no prospect of separation from my beloved?

While I am not consoled by the absence of the beloved as promised?

وَهَل مِن سَبيلٍ وَالأَماني تَعِلَّةٌ

وَهَل مِن سَبيلٍ وَالأَماني تَعِلَّةٌ

إِلى مَعهَدٍ بِالرَملِ طالَ بِهِ عَهدي

إِلى مَعهَدٍ بِالرَملِ طالَ بِهِ عَهدي

And is there a way—though wishes are but solace—

Is there a way when hopes are disabled

to a familiar haunt in the sands, so long since I saw it?

To the trysting-place in the sands whose period with me was long?

وَهَل لِلَيالٍ مِن شَبابٍ صَحِبتُها

وَهَل لِلَيالٍ مِن شَبابٍ صَحِبتُها

أُجَرِّرُ أَذيالَ البَطالَةِ مِن رَدِّ

أُجَرِّرُ أَذيالَ البَطالَةِ مِن رَدِّ

And can the nights of youth I once kept company with,

Are there nights of my youth whose companionship

trailing the skirts of idleness, ever return?

I drag the train of unemployment and refusal?

وَأَيّامُ وَصلٍ كُلُّهُنَّ أَصائِلٌ

وَأَيّامُ وَصلٍ كُلُّهُنَّ أَصائِلٌ

وَماضي زَمانٍ كُلُّهُ زَمَنُ الوِردِ

وَماضي زَمانٍ كُلُّهُ زَمَنُ الوِردِ

And days of union, all of them late afternoons,

Days of union - all of them bringers of loving companionship

and bygone time, all a season at the watering place?

And my past time - all of it the season of devotion

سَمَحتُ بِدَمعي لِلدِيارِ مُسائِلاً

سَمَحتُ بِدَمعي لِلدِيارِ مُسائِلاً

رُسومَ الهَوى لَو أَنَّ تَسآلَها يُجدي

رُسومَ الهَوى لَو أَنَّ تَسآلَها يُجدي

I freely gave my tears to the dwellings, questioning

I allowed my tears to wander the dwellings

the traces of love—if only asking them could avail.

Questioning the vestiges of passion, if questioning could avail

وَكُنتُ ضَنيناً أَن يُحَلَّ عُقودُهُ

وَكُنتُ ضَنيناً أَن يُحَلَّ عُقودُهُ

عَلى مَنزِلٍ لَولا هَوى رَبَّةِ العِقدِ

عَلى مَنزِلٍ لَولا هَوى رَبَّةِ العِقدِ

And I would have grudged unstringing those necklaces

I was miserly lest its knots should be loosed

over a dwelling, but for love of the necklace's wearer.

Upon a dwelling, were it not for the lady of the knot

وَلَم أَبكِ أَطلالاً لِهِندٍ مَواثِلاً

وَلَم أَبكِ أَطلالاً لِهِندٍ مَواثِلاً

بِذي الأَثلِ لَكِنّي بَكيتُ عَلى هِندِ

بِذي الأَثلِ لَكِنّي بَكيتُ عَلى هِندِ

I did not weep for Hind's ruins, still standing

I did not weep over a Hind's ruins, drawing near,

at Dhu al-Athl; rather, I wept for Hind.

By her side; but I wept over Hind

فَيا مَن لِعَينٍ يَستَهِلُّ غُروبُها

فَيا مَن لِعَينٍ يَستَهِلُّ غُروبُها

غُروباً عَلى خَدٍّ مِنَ الدَمعِ ذي خَدِّ

غُروباً عَلى خَدٍّ مِنَ الدَمعِ ذي خَدِّ

Oh, who will help an eye whose tears pour forth

So to you whose eye's setting brings about

in bucketfuls upon a cheek furrowed by weeping?

A setting upon a cheek from the tears of down

عَلى القَلبِ تَجني كُلُّ عَينٍ بِلَحظِها

عَلى القَلبِ تَجني كُلُّ عَينٍ بِلَحظِها

وَعَيني عَلى قَلبي جَنَت وَعَلى خَدّي

وَعَيني عَلى قَلبي جَنَت وَعَلى خَدّي

Every eye wrongs the heart with its glance,

Upon the heart does every eye reap with its glance

and my eye has wronged both my heart and my cheek.

While my eye reaped upon my heart and my cheek

فَرِفقاً بِعان في يَدِ الشَوقِ مُفرَدٍ

فَرِفقاً بِعان في يَدِ الشَوقِ مُفرَدٍ

بِأَشجانِهِ يا ظَبيَةَ العَلَمِ الفَردِ

بِأَشجانِهِ يا ظَبيَةَ العَلَمِ الفَردِ

So be gentle with a captive in longing's hand, alone

Gently, then, with a solitary eye in the hand of passion

with his sorrows, O gazelle of the solitary hill.

With its sorrows, O doe of the unique banner

وَعودي لِمَسجورِ الجَوانِحِ يَلتَظي

وَعودي لِمَسجورِ الجَوانِحِ يَلتَظي

غَراماً إِلى ما في ثَناياكِ مِن بَردِ

غَراماً إِلى ما في ثَناياكِ مِن بَردِ

And visit one whose ribs are aflame, blazing

My promise to the entrails roasted by passion awaits

with yearning for the coolness between your front teeth.

A yearning for what is in your cool hollows

يُكَلِّفُ عُرّافَ العِراقِ دَواؤُهُ

يُكَلِّفُ عُرّافَ العِراقِ دَواؤُهُ

وَيَعلَمُ أَنَّ البُرء في عَلَمي نَجدِ

وَيَعلَمُ أَنَّ البُرء في عَلَمي نَجدِ

His cure taxes the diviner of Iraq,

It tasks the healer of Iraq with his cure

though he knows that healing lies in Najd's two hills.

And he knows that well-being lies in my Najd

وَطَيفِ خَيالٍ باتَ يُؤنِسُ مَضجَعي

وَطَيفِ خَيالٍ باتَ يُؤنِسُ مَضجَعي

بِوارِدَةِ الفَرعَينِ وَردِيَةَ الخَدِّ

بِوارِدَةِ الفَرعَينِ وَردِيَةَ الخَدِّ

And a phantom vision spent the night comforting my bed,

The specter of a daydream has come to cheer my bed

with a woman of flowing twin tresses and a rosy cheek.

With the roseate forearms and rosy cheek

أَلَمَّ فَداوى القَلبِ مِن أَلَمِ الجَوى

أَلَمَّ فَداوى القَلبِ مِن أَلَمِ الجَوى

وَأَسرى فَسَرّى مِن غَرامي وَمِن وَجدي

وَأَسرى فَسَرّى مِن غَرامي وَمِن وَجدي

It visited and healed the heart of passion's pain,

It pained, then healed my heart from the anguish of love

and came by night, easing my passion and my yearning.

And captivated me from my passion and fervor

وَطافَ بِرَحلي عائِداً لي وَزائِراً

وَطافَ بِرَحلي عائِداً لي وَزائِراً

فَأَعدى بِزورِ الوَصلِ مِنهُ عَلى الصَدِ

فَأَعدى بِزورِ الوَصلِ مِنهُ عَلى الصَدِ

And it came round my camp to tend and visit me,

It went round about my saddlecloth returning to and visiting me

and with its counterfeit union helped me against rejection.

So it exceeded in the false union more than the estrangement

هَزَزتُ لَهُ عِطفَيَّ شَوقاً وَصَبوَةً

هَزَزتُ لَهُ عِطفَيَّ شَوقاً وَصَبوَةً

كَما هَزَّ عِطفَيهِ الخَليفَةُ لِلحَمدِ

كَما هَزَّ عِطفَيهِ الخَليفَةُ لِلحَمدِ

I swayed my shoulders for it in longing and desire,

I swayed my shoulder to it in yearning and impulse

as the caliph swayed his shoulders at praise.

As the Caliph swayed his shoulder to praise

فَكَم مِن يَدٍ لِلطَيفِ لا بَل لِأَحمَدَ ال

فَكَم مِن يَدٍ لِلطَيفِ لا بَل لِأَحمَدَ ال

إِمامِ أَبي العَبّاسِ مَشكورَةٍ عِندي

إِمامِ أَبي العَبّاسِ مَشكورَةٍ عِندي

How many favors from the phantom—no, rather, from Ahmad, the

So many a hand to the specter - no, to Ahmad - not

Imam Abu al-Abbas—are gratefully acknowledged by me!

The Imam Abu al-Abbas - is obligated to me

أَخي العَدلِ أَمسى أُمَّةً فيهِ وَحدَهُ

أَخي العَدلِ أَمسى أُمَّةً فيهِ وَحدَهُ

وَإِنِّيَ في مَدحي لَهُ أُمَّةٌ وَحدي

وَإِنِّيَ في مَدحي لَهُ أُمَّةٌ وَحدي

Justice's companion, he alone has become a nation in it,

O brother of justice - the community has become in him alone

and in my praise of him, I too am a nation alone.

And I, in my praising him, am a community alone

لِيَ العَفوُ مِن مَعروفِهِ وَحَبائِهِ

لِيَ العَفوُ مِن مَعروفِهِ وَحَبائِهِ

وَلا غَروَ إِن أَفنَيتُ في حَمدِهِ جُهدي

وَلا غَروَ إِن أَفنَيتُ في حَمدِهِ جُهدي

His kindness and gifts come freely to me,

His pardon is mine, from his kindness and gifts

and no wonder if I spend all my strength in praising him.

And no wonder if I exhaust my utmost in praising him

إِمامٌ يَخافُ اللَهَ سِرّاً وَجَهرَةً

إِمامٌ يَخافُ اللَهَ سِرّاً وَجَهرَةً

وَيَضمِرُ تَقوى اللَهِ في الحَلِ وَالعَقدِ

وَيَضمِرُ تَقوى اللَهِ في الحَلِ وَالعَقدِ

An imam who fears God in secret and openly,

An Imam fearing God secretly and openly

and harbors reverence for God in loosing and binding.

And harboring the fear of God in [times of] peace and conflict

إِلى جَدِّهِ المَنصورِ يَنزَعُ جَدُّهُ

إِلى جَدِّهِ المَنصورِ يَنزَعُ جَدُّهُ

فَناهيكَ مِن جَدٍّ سَعيدٍ وَمِن جَدِّ

فَناهيكَ مِن جَدٍّ سَعيدٍ وَمِن جَدِّ

His good fortune takes after his forefather al-Mansur—

From his grandfather the Mansur his grandsire derives

what a happy fortune, and what a forefather!

So cease from a fortunate lineage and grandsire!

يُفَرِّقُ ما بَينَ الجَماجِمِ وَالطُلى

يُفَرِّقُ ما بَينَ الجَماجِمِ وَالطُلى

وَيَجمَعُ بَينَ الشاءِ وَالأَسَدِ الوَردِ

وَيَجمَعُ بَينَ الشاءِ وَالأَسَدِ الوَردِ

He parts skulls from necks,

He distinguishes between what is between skulls and foreheads

and unites the sheep with the tawny lion.

And conjoins sympathizer and lion foe

وَتَعرِفُ أَطرافُ العَوالي بَلائَهُ

وَتَعرِفُ أَطرافُ العَوالي بَلائَهُ

مَشيجاً وَأَعرافُ المُطَهَّمَةِ الجُردِ

مَشيجاً وَأَعرافُ المُطَهَّمَةِ الجُردِ

The tips of lofty spears know his prowess

The fringes of the lofty places know his tribulation

in the mêlée, as do the manes of fine, sleek steeds.

Terrifying and the bare tops of al-Muṭahhamah

يُعِدُّ لِإِرهابِ العِدى كُلَّ لَيِّنِ ال

يُعِدُّ لِإِرهابِ العِدى كُلَّ لَيِّنِ ال

مَهَزَّةِ لَدنِ المَتنِ مُعتَدِلِ القَدِّ

مَهَزَّةِ لَدنِ المَتنِ مُعتَدِلِ القَدِّ

To terrify foes he readies every spear, supple in its

He prepares for subjugating the foe every sharp soft-hided one

quivering, pliant of shaft, straight of stature,

[Straight and] proportionate in stature, steady of hand

وَذي شُطَبٍ كَالماءِ يَجري صِقالُهُ

وَذي شُطَبٍ كَالماءِ يَجري صِقالُهُ

وَسابِحَةٍ شَطباءَ كَالحَجَرِ الصَلدِ

وَسابِحَةٍ شَطباءَ كَالحَجَرِ الصَلدِ

and every grooved sword, its polish flowing like water,

With a frontal gleam like water flowing is his burnishing

and a long-bodied, swimming steed, hard as solid stone.

And smooth-rubbed blades like solid rock

فَيَفري بِها قَبلَ اللِقاءِ مَهابَةً

فَيَفري بِها قَبلَ اللِقاءِ مَهابَةً

وَمِن عَجَبٍ أَن يَقطَعَ السَيفُ في الغَمدِ

وَمِن عَجَبٍ أَن يَقطَعَ السَيفُ في الغَمدِ

Through dread he cleaves with them before the fight—

With these he takes flight before the encounter

how wondrous that a sword should cut while sheathed!

In awe, and how wondrous that the sword cuts while sheathed!

لَهُ خاتَمُ المَبعوثِ أَحمَدَ خاتَمٍ

لَهُ خاتَمُ المَبعوثِ أَحمَدَ خاتَمٍ

النُبُوَّةِ مَوروثاً مَعَ السَيفِ وَالبُردِ

النُبُوَّةِ مَوروثاً مَعَ السَيفِ وَالبُردِ

His is the signet of the messenger Ahmad, the seal

To him belongs the seal-ring of Ahmad the Chosen seal

of prophethood, inherited with the sword and mantle.

Of prophethood, inherited along with sword and chill night

وَما بَرِحَت طَيرُ الخِلافَةِ حَوَّماً

وَما بَرِحَت طَيرُ الخِلافَةِ حَوَّماً

عَليهِ كَما حامَ الظِماءُ عَلى الوِردِ

عَليهِ كَما حامَ الظِماءُ عَلى الوِردِ

The birds of the caliphate never ceased circling

The bird of the caliphate did not cease hovering over him

above him, as thirsty creatures circle the watering place.

As the thirsty dove hovers over the myrtle

فَآلَ إِلى تَدبيرِهِ الأَمرُ وادِعَ العَزيمَةِ

فَآلَ إِلى تَدبيرِهِ الأَمرُ وادِعَ العَزيمَةِ

مِن غَيرِ اِعتِسافٍ وَلا كَدِّ

مِن غَيرِ اِعتِسافٍ وَلا كَدِّ

Thus rule passed into his management, his resolve untroubled,

So the matter inclined unto his command, while determination

without coercion or toil.

Shrank without exhaustion or toil

وَقامَ يَرُدُّ الخَطبَ عَنها بِساعِدٍ

وَقامَ يَرُدُّ الخَطبَ عَنها بِساعِدٍ

قَوِيٍّ عَلى دَفعِ العَظائِمِ مُشتَدِّ

قَوِيٍّ عَلى دَفعِ العَظائِمِ مُشتَدِّ

And he rose to ward calamity from it with an arm

He rose to fend off grave affairs with his mighty

strong and mighty in repelling the gravest perils.

Arm, vigorous in repelling matters of great import

يُقيمُ حُدودَ اللَهِ غَيرَ مُراقِبٍ

يُقيمُ حُدودَ اللَهِ غَيرَ مُراقِبٍ

بِقائِمٍ مَطرورِ الشِبا باتِرِ الحَدِّ

بِقائِمٍ مَطرورِ الشِبا باتِرِ الحَدِّ

He enforces God's prescribed bounds, fearing no one,

He upholds God's ordinances without watchman

with a raised sword, keen of point and severing of edge,

With a drawn, well-honed, Indian blade

وَعارِضِ مَوتٍ أَحمَرٍ بَكَرَت بِهِ

وَعارِضِ مَوتٍ أَحمَرٍ بَكَرَت بِهِ

سَراياهُ في يَومٍ مِنَ النَقعِ مُسوَدِّ

سَراياهُ في يَومٍ مِنَ النَقعِ مُسوَدِّ

and a cloud of crimson death, brought forth at dawn

With them are wild cows' forearms like gardens

by his detachments on a day blackened by battle-dust.

Their tall ones like spear-points fixed in the ground

يُزَمجِرُ في أَرجائِهِ أُسُدُ الشَرى

يُزَمجِرُ في أَرجائِهِ أُسُدُ الشَرى

وَيَلمَعُ في حافاتِهِ قُضُبُ الهِندِ

وَيَلمَعُ في حافاتِهِ قُضُبُ الهِندِ

The lions of al-Shara roar through its reaches,

Winds from his wrath rain upon the enemy

and the blades of India flash along its edges.

Showers of arrows from seasoned bows twisted back

يُسَدُّ الفَضاءُ الرَحبُ مِنهُ بِجَحفَلٍ

يُسَدُّ الفَضاءُ الرَحبُ مِنهُ بِجَحفَلٍ

كَأَنَّكَ قَد أَشرَفتَ مِنهُ عَلى السَدِّ

كَأَنَّكَ قَد أَشرَفتَ مِنهُ عَلى السَدِّ

Its mighty host blocks the wide expanse,

Say to the kings of earth: obey his command

as though you looked out from it upon the barrier.

And waver not, straying from the goal

بِأَيديهِمُ مِثلُ الرِياضِ مِنَ الظُبى

بِأَيديهِمُ مِثلُ الرِياضِ مِنَ الظُبى

وَعاليهِمُ مِثلُ النَهاءِ مِنَ السَردِ

وَعاليهِمُ مِثلُ النَهاءِ مِنَ السَردِ

In their hands, sword-edges are like gardens,

Conceal not disobedience of your Imam's decree

and upon them, linked mail is like pools.

Opposing him, for disobedience destroys

مَرَتهُم رِياحٌ مِن سُطاهُ فَأَمطَرَ ال

مَرَتهُم رِياحٌ مِن سُطاهُ فَأَمطَرَ ال

عَدُوُّ رِهاماً مِن مُثَقَّفَةٍ مُلدِ

عَدُوُّ رِهاماً مِن مُثَقَّفَةٍ مُلدِ

Winds of his might milked them, and they showered the

Obey him whether freeman or slave, for he

enemy with fine rain of straightened, supple spears.

Is the deputy of an envoy to freeman and slave

فَقُل لِمُلوكِ الأَرضِ دينوا لِأَمرِهِ

فَقُل لِمُلوكِ الأَرضِ دينوا لِأَمرِهِ

وَلا تَتَوَلَّوا حائِرينَ عَنِ القَصدِ

وَلا تَتَوَلَّوا حائِرينَ عَنِ القَصدِ

So tell the kings of the earth: submit to his command,

Trust not in his pardon to strike you

and do not turn, bewildered, from the right course.

With a terrible blow - water and fire in his power

وَلا تُضمِروا عِصيانَ أَمرِ إِمامِكُم

وَلا تُضمِروا عِصيانَ أَمرِ إِمامِكُم

مُخالَفَةً عَنهُ فَعِصيانُهُ يُردي

مُخالَفَةً عَنهُ فَعِصيانُهُ يُردي

And do not harbor disobedience to your imam's command,

Unto the victorious son of the luminous morning our she-camels bore us

in defiance of him, for disobeying him brings ruin.

Not grazing at pasture, nor contending with other mounts at the water-spring

أَطيعوهُ مِن حُرٍّ وَعَبدٍ فَإِنَّهُ

أَطيعوهُ مِن حُرٍّ وَعَبدٍ فَإِنَّهُ

خَليفَةُ مَبعوثٍ إِلى الحُرِّ وَالعَبدِ

خَليفَةُ مَبعوثٍ إِلى الحُرِّ وَالعَبدِ

Obey him, free men and slaves alike, for he is

She-camels that were not roped for guests yet did not

the successor of one sent to the free and the enslaved.

Crave gifts from other than the Caliph for their provender

وَلا تَأمَنوا مَع عَفوِهِ أَن يُصيبَكُم

وَلا تَأمَنوا مَع عَفوِهِ أَن يُصيبَكُم

بِقارِعَةٍ فَالماءُ وَالنارُ في الزَندِ

بِقارِعَةٍ فَالماءُ وَالنارُ في الزَندِ

And despite his pardon, do not think yourselves safe from his striking you

So they arrived at the abode of security and plenty, pasturing

with a calamity: water and fire are both in the fire-stick.

In the meadows of munificence and bounty from the theater of glory

إِلى الناصِرِ اِبنَ المُستَضيءِ رَمَت بِنا

إِلى الناصِرِ اِبنَ المُستَضيءِ رَمَت بِنا

رَكائِبُ ما ريعَت بِنَصٍّ وَلا وَخدِ

رَكائِبُ ما ريعَت بِنَصٍّ وَلا وَخدِ

To al-Nasir, son of al-Mustadi, we were borne

Not a pregnant she-camel whose sack swells, promising

by mounts never frightened by hard driving or swift strides,

Fertility, truthful of promise

وَلا سُرِحَت تَرتادُ مَرعىً دَنِيَّةً

وَلا سُرِحَت تَرتادُ مَرعىً دَنِيَّةً

وَلا زاحَمَت هيمَ المَطايا عَلى وِردِ

وَلا زاحَمَت هيمَ المَطايا عَلى وِردِ

nor turned loose to seek pasture in abasement,

Driving the sand-grouse before her visage

nor jostling thirsty riding-beasts at a watering place.

To one glowering, frowning of face, dust-covered,

رَكائِبُ ما زُمَّت لِرِفدٍ وَلَم تَكُن

رَكائِبُ ما زُمَّت لِرِفدٍ وَلَم تَكُن

لِتَرغَبَ مِن غَيرِ الخَليفَةِ في رَفدِ

لِتَرغَبَ مِن غَيرِ الخَليفَةِ في رَفدِ

Mounts never haltered for bounty, nor would they

When the breeze inclines them, swaying,

desire a gift from anyone but the caliph.

You see the smile of lightning in the roar of thunder

فَحَلَّت بِدارِ الأَمنِ وَالخِصبِ تَرتَعي

فَحَلَّت بِدارِ الأَمنِ وَالخِصبِ تَرتَعي

رِياضَ النَدى وَالجودِ مِن مَسرَحِ المَجدِ

رِياضَ النَدى وَالجودِ مِن مَسرَحِ المَجدِ

So they alighted in the abode of safety and plenty, grazing

They flow upon the ridge of the hill, hastening down

the meadows of bounty and generosity in glory's pasture.

To the hollow until the sandgrouse overtakes the ostrich

وَما مُزنَةٌ وَطفاءُ دانٍ سَحابُها

وَما مُزنَةٌ وَطفاءُ دانٍ سَحابُها

مُبَشِّرَةٌ بِالخِصبِ صادِقَةُ الوَعدِ

مُبَشِّرَةٌ بِالخِصبِ صادِقَةُ الوَعدِ

And no dense raincloud, its masses hanging low,

Attaining more abundant than the Caliph's palm

heralding plenty, true to its promise,

When his favors are abundant with delegations

يُساقُ الثَرى مِنها فَيُسفِرُ وَجهُها

يُساقُ الثَرى مِنها فَيُسفِرُ وَجهُها

إِلى مُكفَهِرٍّ عابِسِ الوَجهِ مُربَدِّ

إِلى مُكفَهِرٍّ عابِسِ الوَجهِ مُربَدِّ

from which moisture is driven, its face revealed

So hear, Commander of the Faithful, my free-born she-camels

as grim, frowning and dusky,

When they claim lineage, excelling in ancestry

إِذا ما أَمالَتها الصَبى مُرجَحِنَّةً

إِذا ما أَمالَتها الصَبى مُرجَحِنَّةً

أَرَتكَ اِبتِسامَ البَرقِ في صَخَبِ الرَعدِ

أَرَتكَ اِبتِسامَ البَرقِ في صَخَبِ الرَعدِ

when the east wind tilts it, swaying heavily,

Chosen by a servant for praising you, conceded

showing you lightning's smile amid thunder's clamor,

Extemporizing, disposed to sport and earnestness

تَسِحُّ عَلى هامِ الأَهاضيبِ هامِياً

تَسِحُّ عَلى هامِ الأَهاضيبِ هامِياً

مِنَ الوَدقِ حَتّى يَلحَقُ القورُ بِالوَهدِ

مِنَ الوَدقِ حَتّى يَلحَقُ القورُ بِالوَهدِ

pouring upon the heads of plateaus a streaming flood

Who comes and goes, scheming his loyalty

of rain, until flat-topped hills meet the hollows—

Having no fatigue save praising you

بِأَغزَرَ مِن كَفِّ الخَليفَةِ نائِلاً

بِأَغزَرَ مِن كَفِّ الخَليفَةِ نائِلاً

وَرِفداً إِذا اِغتَصَّت مَغانيهِ بِالوَفدِ

وَرِفداً إِذا اِغتَصَّت مَغانيهِ بِالوَفدِ

is more abundant in gifts than the caliph's palm,

He makes your foes drink a draught that he seasons for them

or in bounty, when his dwellings teem with delegations.

With words of praise for you sweeter than honey

فَسَمعاً أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ لِحُرَّةٍ

فَسَمعاً أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ لِحُرَّةٍ

إِذا اِنتَسَبَت فاءَت إِلى حَسَبٍ عِدِّي

إِذا اِنتَسَبَت فاءَت إِلى حَسَبٍ عِدِّي

So lend an ear, Commander of the Faithful, to a freeborn poem,

You see them sticks among the spittle when they hear it

which, when tracing its lineage, returns to ancient nobility.

And it seethes up in foam

تَخيَّرَها عَبدٌ لِمَدحِكَ مُسمِحُ ال

تَخيَّرَها عَبدٌ لِمَدحِكَ مُسمِحُ ال

بَديهَةِ مَطبوعٌ عَلى الهَزلِ وَالجِدِّ

بَديهَةِ مَطبوعٌ عَلى الهَزلِ وَالجِدِّ

A servant chose it for your praise, free-flowing in

So glance at them and they will appear nooses

improvisation, gifted by nature in jest and earnest.

Upon them the marks of good fortune and purpose

يَروحُ وَيَغدوا مِن وَكيدِ وَلائِهِ

يَروحُ وَيَغدوا مِن وَكيدِ وَلائِهِ

وَليسَ لَهُ غَيرَ اِمتِداحِكَ مِن وَكدِ

وَليسَ لَهُ غَيرَ اِمتِداحِكَ مِن وَكدِ

He goes at evening and morning, out of steadfast allegiance,

No arrow of fortune missed one at whom you glanced

and has no aim other than praising you.

Drawing near, with the auspicious planet in ascendance

يُجَرِّعُ مِن عاداكَ صاباً يُذيقُهُ

يُجَرِّعُ مِن عاداكَ صاباً يُذيقُهُ

بِأَلفاظِ مَدحٍ فيكَ أَحلى مِنَ الشُهدِ

بِأَلفاظِ مَدحٍ فيكَ أَحلى مِنَ الشُهدِ

He makes your enemies gulp bitter sap, letting them taste it

Still you cast a shade upon the earth, ample

through words of praise for you sweeter than honeycomb.

Far-reaching, and of age coextensive with time

تَراها شَجاً بَينَ التَرائِبِ مِنهُمُ

تَراها شَجاً بَينَ التَرائِبِ مِنهُمُ

إِذا سَمِعوها فَهيَ تَحنُقُ بِالزُبدِ

إِذا سَمِعوها فَهيَ تَحنُقُ بِالزُبدِ

You see it lodged like a choking bone between their breastbones,

when they hear it, their breasts seething with foaming rage.

فَحُطها بِلَحظٍ مِنكَ تَبدوا لَوائِحاً

فَحُطها بِلَحظٍ مِنكَ تَبدوا لَوائِحاً

عَليها إِماراتُ السَعادَةِ وَالجَدِّ

عَليها إِماراتُ السَعادَةِ وَالجَدِّ

So protect it with a glance from you, that there may shine

upon it the signs of happiness and good fortune.

فَما فاتَ سَهمُ الحَظِّ مَن كُنتَ ناظِراً

فَما فاتَ سَهمُ الحَظِّ مَن كُنتَ ناظِراً

إِلَيهِ قَريباً مِنهُ بِالكَوكَبِ السَعدِ

إِلَيهِ قَريباً مِنهُ بِالكَوكَبِ السَعدِ

For fortune's arrow never misses anyone you look upon,

drawing near to him as an auspicious star.

فَلا زِلتَ ذا ظِلٍّ عَلى الأَرضِ وارِفٍ

فَلا زِلتَ ذا ظِلٍّ عَلى الأَرضِ وارِفٍ

مَديدٍ وَذا عُمرٍ مَعَ الدَهرِ مُمتَدِّ

مَديدٍ وَذا عُمرٍ مَعَ الدَهرِ مُمتَدِّ

May you ever possess a luxuriant shade over the earth,

far-reaching, and a life extending with time.