ياO عُلوَʿUlu أَغرَيتِyou incited السُهادَsleeplessness بِناظِريagainst my eye
يا عُلوَ أَغرَيتِ السُهادَ بِناظِري
وَرَقَدتِand you slept عَنheedless of لَيلِthe night of المُحِبِّthe lover الساهِرِwakeful
وَرَقَدتِ عَن لَيلِ المُحِبِّ الساهِرِ
O ʿUlu, you have incited sleeplessness against my eye,
O heights that have tempted the sleepless with my gaze,
while you sleep heedless of the wakeful lover's night.
And slept through the night of the enamored watcher.
ماذاwhat يَضُرُّكِharms you لَوif سَمَحتِyou allowed عَلىdespite النَوىseparation
ماذا يَضُرُّكِ لَو سَمَحتِ عَلى النَوى
بِمُرورِwith the passing of طَيفٍa phantom مِنfrom خَيالِكِyour image زائِرِvisiting
بِمُرورِ طَيفٍ مِن خَيالِكِ زائِرِ
What harm would it do you, if despite separation you allowed
What harm if you allowed the phantom of your reflection
a visiting phantom of your image to pass by?
To pass by the ambition for a fleeting visit?
كَمhow often قَدindeed رَكِبتُI braved إِلَيكِtoward you أَخطارَthe dangers of الهَوىlove
كَم قَد رَكِبتُ إِلَيكِ أَخطارَ الهَوى
أَفَماthen does ... not يَمُرُّpass لَكِfor you الوِصالُreunion بِخاطِرِthrough the mind
أَفَما يَمُرُّ لَكِ الوِصالُ بِخاطِرِ
How often I have braved love's perils to reach you!
How often have I embarked upon the perils of passion toward you,
Does reunion never cross your mind?
Does union with you ever cross your mind?
هَلdo أَنتِyou ياO لَمياءُLamya ذاكِرَةٌremembering عَلىdespite
هَل أَنتِ يا لَمياءُ ذاكِرَةٌ عَلى
شَحطِthe remoteness of النَوىseparation عَهدَthe bond of الوَفِيِّthe faithful one الذاكِرِthe remembering one
شَحطِ النَوى عَهدَ الوَفِيِّ الذاكِرِ
Do you, O Lamya, remember, despite
O radiant moon, do you remember on the horizon of ambition
the remoteness of separation, the bond of the faithful one who remembers?
The pact of the faithful lover keeping you in remembrance?
أَضلَلتُI lost بَعدَكُمُafter you الرُقادَsleep فَماso no لِأَشfor sor-
أَضلَلتُ بَعدَكُمُ الرُقادَ فَما لِأَش
جانيrows of mine وَلَيليand my night بَعدَكُمafter you مِنany آخِرِend
جاني وَلَيلي بَعدَكُم مِن آخِرِ
Since you left, I have lost sleep; my sorrows
After you all, I lost sleep so none consoled me,
and my night since you left have no end.
And my night had no end without you all.
وَأَطَلتُمُand you prolonged سَهَريmy wakefulness وَكَمand how many مِنof لَيلَةٍa night
وَأَطَلتُمُ سَهَري وَكَم مِن لَيلَةٍ
مَرَّتpassed بِوَصلُكُمin union with you كَظِلِّlike the shadow of الطائِرِa bird
مَرَّت بِوَصلُكُم كَظِلِّ الطائِرِ
You have prolonged my wakefulness; how many a night
You made my vigil long, and how many nights
of union with you passed like a bird's shadow!
Passed with your union like the shadow of a bird.
حَجرٌa prohibition عَلىupon الأَجفانِthe eyelids أَنthat تَرِدَthey approach الكَرَىsleep
حَجرٌ عَلى الأَجفانِ أَن تَرِدَ الكَرَى
مِنfrom بَعدِafter أَيّامِthe days of العَقيقِal-Aqiq وَحاجِرِand Hajir
مِن بَعدِ أَيّامِ العَقيقِ وَحاجِرِ
My eyelids are forbidden to approach sleep
It's difficult for the eyelids to wish again
since the days of al-Aqiq and Hajir.
After the days of berries and early beginnings.
أَيّامَdays when أَنظُرُI look فيinto دَواوينِthe registers of الهَوىlove
أَيّامَ أَنظُرُ في دَواوينِ الهَوى
وَأَميسُand I sway فيin بُردِthe mantle of الشَبابِyouth الناضِرِfresh
وَأَميسُ في بُردِ الشَبابِ الناضِرِ
Days when I looked into the registers of love,
I watch the days in the books of passion
and swayed in the mantle of fresh youth.
And stroll in the coolness of flourishing youth.
ماnot كانَwas مِنof نَولِthe proper conduct of الحِسانِbeautiful women البيضِfair-skinned أَنthat
ما كانَ مِن نَولِ الحِسانِ البيضِ أَن
يَغدُرنَthey betray بيagainst me لَولاwere it not for بَياضُthe whiteness of عَذائِريmy temple-locks
يَغدُرنَ بي لَولا بَياضُ عَذائِري
It was not the wont of beautiful, fair-skinned women
It was no fault of the fair, white hands
to betray me, were it not for my white temple-locks.
That they betrayed me, were it not for my white temples.
لَولاwere it not for الصَبابَةُyearning ماnot سَمَحتُI indulged لِباخِلٍto a miser
لَولا الصَبابَةُ ما سَمَحتُ لِباخِلٍ
يَومَthe day of الوِداعِfarewell وَلاand not وَفَيتُI kept faith لِغادِرِwith a traitor
يَومَ الوِداعِ وَلا وَفَيتُ لِغادِرِ
Were it not for yearning, I would not have indulged a miser
Were it not for my youth, I'd not forgive a miser
on farewell day, nor kept faith with a traitor.
On the day of farewell, nor be faithful to one who departed.
وَلَقَدand indeed أَرانيI see myself لاnot يَلينُsoftens لِشامِسٍto a disdainful one
وَلَقَد أَراني لا يَلينُ لِشامِسٍ
عِطفيmy affection وَلاand not أُبديI offer الوِصالَunion لِهاجِرِto a deserter
عِطفي وَلا أُبدي الوِصالَ لِهاجِرِ
Indeed, I once saw that a disdainful one could not sway
You'd see me unmoved by a coquette's charm
my affection, nor would I offer union to a deserter.
Or showing affection to one who distanced himself.
وَعَلَيَّand upon me مِنfrom حُلَلِthe robes of الشَبابِyouth مُلاءَةٌa mantle
وَعَلَيَّ مِن حُلَلِ الشَبابِ مُلاءَةٌ
إِنسُthe delight of الجَليسِthe companion وَمِلءُand the fullness of عَينِthe eye of الناظِرِthe beholder
إِنسُ الجَليسِ وَمِلءُ عَينِ الناظِرِ
Upon me was a mantle from youth's robes,
My adornment is the vivacity of a companion
a delight to my companion, filling the beholder's eye.
And the joy in the eye of the onlooker.
وَقَصيرِand one short in عُمرِthe duration of الوَصلِunion يَرجِفُtrembles بِالقَناwith spear-shafts
وَقَصيرِ عُمرِ الوَصلِ يَرجِفُ بِالقَنا
مِنfrom دونِbefore زَورَتِهِhis visit أَسِنَّةُthe spearheads of عامِرٍʿAmir
مِن دونِ زَورَتِهِ أَسِنَّةُ عامِرٍ
And one whose union was brief—spear-shafts trembled,
How short the life of union quivers with old age
ʿAmir's spearheads barring the way to his visit.
Like a neglected horse beyond its heyday.
كَالظَبيِlike a gazelle مَصفودِbound التَرائِبِthe breastbones فاتِرِlanguid in
كَالظَبيِ مَصفودِ التَرائِبِ فاتِرِ
اللَحَظاتِglances ماnot وَجديmy longing عَلَيهِfor him بِفاتِرِat all languid
اللَحَظاتِ ما وَجدي عَلَيهِ بِفاتِرِ
Like a gazelle, with breastbones bound together, languid
A captured gazelle, slackened are its bonds,
of glance—yet my longing for him is not languid.
Moments cannot be found slower than it.
أَسرىhe came by night إِلَيَّto me وَكَمand how many رَقيبٍa watcher حَولَهُaround him
أَسرى إِلَيَّ وَكَم رَقيبٍ حَولَهُ
يَقظانَwakeful مِنamong سُمرِdark الرِماحِspears وَسامِرِand a night-companion
يَقظانَ مِن سُمرِ الرِماحِ وَسامِرِ
He came to me by night, though many a watcher surrounded him,
He came to me, so many guards around him
wakeful—among dark spears and companions conversing by night.
Awake with the slumber of spears and conversation.
فَغَدَوتُso I became نِضوَone wasted by الهَمِّcare لَيلَةَthe night زارَنيhe visited me
فَغَدَوتُ نِضوَ الهَمِّ لَيلَةَ زارَني
فَرِحاًjoyful بِزَورَتِهِat his visit وَباتَand he spent the night مُعاقِريmy drinking companion
فَرِحاً بِزَورَتِهِ وَباتَ مُعاقِري
Worn thin by care, on the night he visited I grew
I woke up relieved when he visited me one night,
joyful at his visit; he stayed as my drinking companion.
Happy with his visit, he stayed conversing with me.
يَجلوhe displays عَلَيَّto me سُلافَةًpure wine مِنfrom ثَغرِهِhis mouth
يَجلو عَلَيَّ سُلافَةً مِن ثَغرِهِ
عَذراءَvirgin ماnot دَنِسَتwas sullied بِوَطءِby the treading of العاثِرِthe stumbler
عَذراءَ ما دَنِسَت بِوَطءِ العاثِرِ
He offered me pure wine from his mouth,
A salute of purity broke from his lips,
virgin wine, unstained by the treading of a stumbler.
An untouched maiden not defiled by the stumbler.
حَتّىuntil بَداappeared فَلَكُthe sphere of الصَباحِmorning كَأَنَّهُas though it were
حَتّى بَدا فَلَكُ الصَباحِ كَأَنَّهُ
عَدلُthe justice of الخَليفَةِthe caliph فيin الزَمانِthe age الجائِرِunjust
عَدلُ الخَليفَةِ في الزَمانِ الجائِرِ
Until morning's sphere appeared, as though it were
Until the sphere of dawn appeared as if
the caliph's justice in an unjust age.
The just Caliph in the tyrannical era.
بِتناwe spent the night ضَجيعيtwo bedfellows of عِفَّةٍchastity وَتَقِيَّةٍand piety
بِتنا ضَجيعي عِفَّةٍ وَتَقِيَّةٍ
نَضويtwo bodies wasted by هَوىًlove بَينَbetween الضُلوعِthe ribs مُخامِرِdwelling
نَضوي هَوىً بَينَ الضُلوعِ مُخامِرِ
We spent the night as bedfellows of chastity and piety,
We both slept in chastity and piety,
two bodies wasted by love dwelling between the ribs,
Harboring passion in secret between our breasts.
مُتَنَزِّهَينِboth keeping clear عَنِof المَحارِمِforbidden acts خيفَةًin fear
مُتَنَزِّهَينِ عَنِ المَحارِمِ خيفَةً
لِسُطىof the might of أَميرِCommander of المُؤمِنينَthe Faithful الناصِرِal-Nasir
لِسُطى أَميرِ المُؤمِنينَ الناصِرِ
keeping clear of forbidden acts, in fear
Avoiding prohibitions in fear
of the might of al-Nasir, Commander of the Faithful.
Of the authority of the Commander of the Faithful.
الذائِدِthe defender الحاميthe protector of حِمىthe sanctuary of الإِسلامِIslam بِالwith the
الذائِدِ الحامي حِمى الإِسلامِ بِال
بيضِbright swords الرَواعِفِblood-dripping وَالقَناand the spears المُتَشاجِرِinterlocked
بيضِ الرَواعِفِ وَالقَنا المُتَشاجِرِ
The defender, guarding Islam's sanctuary with the
The driving force protecting the sanctity of Islam with the
blood-dripping bright swords and interlocked spears,
White banners and the clashing swords.
وَالجَحفَلِand the host المَنصورِvictorious تَخفُقُflutter حَولَهُaround it
وَالجَحفَلِ المَنصورِ تَخفُقُ حَولَهُ
عَذَباتُهُits banner-streamers وَالنابِلِand the archers المُتَناصِرِmutually supporting
عَذَباتُهُ وَالنابِلِ المُتَناصِرِ
And the victorious host, around which flutter
And the victorious army fluttering around him
its pennants, and the archers who support one another.
And the hurling allies aiding each other.
بَأسٌmight يُشَبُّis kindled عَلىagainst العَدُوِّthe enemy ضَرامُهُits blaze
بَأسٌ يُشَبُّ عَلى العَدُوِّ ضَرامُهُ
وَنَدىand bounty كَتَيّارِlike the torrent of الفُراتِthe Euphrates الزاخِرِsurging
وَنَدى كَتَيّارِ الفُراتِ الزاخِرِ
A might whose blaze is kindled against the enemy,
His might kindles against the enemy and his sharp blades
and bounty like the surging current of the Euphrates.
Are like the overflowing Euphrates in its streaming.
فَإِذاthen when تَغايَرَتِvie with one another الخُطوبُcalamities نَضاhe unsheathes لَهاagainst them
فَإِذا تَغايَرَتِ الخُطوبُ نَضا لَها
عَزماًresolve يَفُلُّthat blunts شَباthe sharp edge of الغِرارِthe blade الباتِرِsevering
عَزماً يَفُلُّ شَبا الغِرارِ الباتِرِ
When calamities vie with one another, he unsheathes against them
When adversities exchange, he rises to them
a resolve that blunts the sharp edge of a severing blade.
With resolve that defeats the devious plotter.
مَلِكٌa king إِذاwhen حَلَّalight الجُماةُthe offenders (uncertain reading) بِبابِهِat his gate
مَلِكٌ إِذا حَلَّ الجُماةُ بِبابِهِ
أَلقَواthey laid down عِصِيَّهُمُtheir staffs بِعَفوَةِthrough the pardon of غافِرِa forgiver
أَلقَوا عِصِيَّهُمُ بِعَفوَةِ غافِرِ
A king: when offenders alight at his gate,
A king, when transgressors arrive at his door,
they lay down their staffs through a forgiver's pardon.
They throw aside their staffs with forgiving release.
يَعفوhe pardons وَقَدand already مَلَكَhe has mastered العِدىthe enemies عَنfrom a position of قُدرَةٍpower
يَعفو وَقَد مَلَكَ العِدى عَن قُدرَةٍ
وَالعَفوُand pardon يَحسُنُlooks fitting بِالمَليكِin the king القادِرِpowerful
وَالعَفوُ يَحسُنُ بِالمَليكِ القادِرِ
He pardons when he has mastered his enemies, from a position of power;
He forgives though he has power over the enemy,
pardon befits a powerful king.
And forgiveness befits the powerful king.
خِرقٌa lavish giver أَهانَhe disdained الوَفرَthe abundance مِنof أَموالِهِhis wealth
خِرقٌ أَهانَ الوَفرَ مِن أَموالِهِ
حَتّىuntil تَفَرَّدَhe stood alone بِالثَناءِin praise الوافِرِabundant
حَتّى تَفَرَّدَ بِالثَناءِ الوافِرِ
A lavish giver who disdained the abundance of his wealth
A rent that disgraced the ample wealth of his treasury
until he stood alone in abundant praise.
Until he alone earned abundant praise.
رُعتُI frightened الحَوادِثَcalamities بِاِسمِهِwith his name فَكأَنَّنيso it was as though I
رُعتُ الحَوادِثَ بِاِسمِهِ فَكأَنَّني
رُعتُI frightened الظِباءَgazelles بِلَيثِwith a lion of غابٍa thicket خادِرِlurking in its lair
رُعتُ الظِباءَ بِلَيثِ غابٍ خادِرِ
I frightened calamities with his name, as though I
I take shelter with his name so it's as if
had frightened gazelles with a lion lurking in a thicket.
I take shelter with a roaring lion from a creeping hyena.
وَاِنتاشَنيand he rescued me لَمّاwhen عَلِقتُI clung بِحَبلِهِto his rope
وَاِنتاشَني لَمّا عَلِقتُ بِحَبلِهِ
مِنfrom بَينِbetween أَنيابٍfangs لَهاbelonging to them وَأَظافِرِand claws
مِن بَينِ أَنيابٍ لَها وَأَظافِرِ
He rescued me, when I clung to his rope,
And I was elated when I held on to his rope
from between their fangs and claws.
From the jaws and claws that grip.
وَلَجَأتُand I sought refuge مِنهُthrough him إِلىin مَقيلٍa resting-place بارِدٍcool
وَلَجَأتُ مِنهُ إِلى مَقيلٍ بارِدٍ
وَحَلَلتُand I alighted مِنهُwith him عَلىupon مُقيلِa pardoner of العاثِرِthe stumbler
وَحَلَلتُ مِنهُ عَلى مُقيلِ العاثِرِ
Through him I found refuge in a cool resting-place,
And I sought refuge in his cool harbor
and with him alighted upon one who pardons the stumbler.
And landed safely from his ship the fallen one.
فَلَأُثنِيَنَّso I shall surely praise عَلىupon صَنائِعِهِhis favors كَماjust as
فَلَأُثنِيَنَّ عَلى صَنائِعِهِ كَما
أَثنىpraised الرَبيعُspring عَلىupon السَحابِthe clouds الماطِرِrain-bearing
أَثنى الرَبيعُ عَلى السَحابِ الماطِرِ
So I shall surely praise his favors, just as
So I will praise his deeds as the spring praises
spring praises the rain-bearing clouds.
The pouring rainclouds.
فيهِthrough him رَضيتُI became content عَنِwith الحُظوظِfortunes وَكُنتُand I had been ذاpossessed of
فيهِ رَضيتُ عَنِ الحُظوظِ وَكُنتُ ذا
صَدرٍa breast عَنِtoward الحَظِّfortune المُجانِبِaloof واغِرِresentful
صَدرٍ عَنِ الحَظِّ المُجانِبِ واغِرِ
Through him I grew content with fortune, though I had had
Through him I was content with fortunes and I had
a breast resentful of fortune that shunned me.
A heart open to depriving fortune the unkind one.
بِكَthrough you ياO أَباAbu (father of) العَبّاسِal-Abbas أَحمَدُAhmad أُنشِرَتwere revived
بِكَ يا أَبا العَبّاسِ أَحمَدُ أُنشِرَت
رِمَمُthe decayed remains of المَكارِمِnoble deeds وَالسَماحِand generosity الداثِرِvanished
رِمَمُ المَكارِمِ وَالسَماحِ الداثِرِ
Through you, O Abu al-Abbas Ahmad, were revived
Through you, O Abu Al-Abbas Ahmad, the banners of
the decayed remains of noble deeds and vanished generosity.
Generosity and giving freely have been raised.
أَحسَنتَyou did good فيin الدَهرِthe age المُسيءِthat mistreats بِأَهلِهِits people
أَحسَنتَ في الدَهرِ المُسيءِ بِأَهلِهِ
وَوَفَيتَand you kept faith فيin الزَمَنِthe time الخَؤونِfaithless الغادِرِtreacherous
وَوَفَيتَ في الزَمَنِ الخَؤونِ الغادِرِ
You have done good in an age that mistreats its people,
You have done good in this mean world against its people,
and kept faith in a faithless, treacherous time.
And fulfilled in the treacherous time against the treacherous one.
ياO مُنهِضَraiser of الأَمَلِhope المَهيضِbroken جَناحُهُits wing
يا مُنهِضَ الأَمَلِ المَهيضِ جَناحُهُ
بِقَوادِمٍwith outer wing-feathers مِنfrom جودِهِhis bounty وَعَواشِرِand inner wing-feathers
بِقَوادِمٍ مِن جودِهِ وَعَواشِرِ
O raiser of hope whose wing was broken,
O you who revived the withering hope, its wing
with outer and inner wing-feathers from his bounty!
Strengthened by his generosity to come and its peers.
لِلَّهِby God كَمhow many لَكَare yours مِنof يَدٍa helping hand مَشكورَةٍgratefully remembered
لِلَّهِ كَم لَكَ مِن يَدٍ مَشكورَةٍ
بَسَطَتhave loosened عَوارِفُهاits favors لِسانَthe tongue of الشاكِرِthe grateful one
بَسَطَت عَوارِفُها لِسانَ الشاكِرِ
By God, how many a gratefully remembered hand is yours,
By God, so many grateful hands you have
whose favors have loosened the grateful one's tongue!
Whose favors have extended the tongue of the grateful one.
وَعَطِيَّةٍand a gift بِكرٍmaiden يَجِلُّis too exalted حِباؤُهاits bestowal
وَعَطِيَّةٍ بِكرٍ يَجِلُّ حِباؤُها
عَنbeyond أَنthat يُثَمَّلَbe likened (uncertain reading) بِالحَبِيِّto the raincloud الباكِرِearly
عَن أَن يُثَمَّلَ بِالحَبِيِّ الباكِرِ
And many a maiden gift, whose bounty is too exalted
And an unspoiled gift, its love too grand
to be likened to a raincloud arriving at dawn!
To be blemished by the early rising critic.
رُعتَyou terrified العَدُوَّthe enemy بِكُلِّwith every أَزرَقَblue spearhead لَهذَمٍkeen-edged
رُعتَ العَدُوَّ بِكُلِّ أَزرَقَ لَهذَمٍ
وَأَصَمَّand a solid spear عَسّالٍquivering وَأَبيَضَand a bright sword باتِرِsevering
وَأَصَمَّ عَسّالٍ وَأَبيَضَ باتِرِ
You terrified the enemy with every blue, keen-edged spearhead,
You routed the enemy with every sharp sword,
every solid, quivering spear, and every bright, severing sword.
And deaf spear, and white piercing blade.
وَبِكُلِّand with every سابِحَةٍgalloping mare إِذاwhen طَلَبَتshe seeks مَدىًa distance
وَبِكُلِّ سابِحَةٍ إِذا طَلَبَت مَدىً
طارَتshe flies بِقادِمَتيon the two leading feathers of عُقابٍan eagle كاسِرِswooping
طارَت بِقادِمَتي عُقابٍ كاسِرِ
And with every galloping mare that, when she seeks a distance,
And every swimming ship when it sought great depths,
flies on the two leading feathers of a swooping eagle.
It sailed with your arriving eagles the crushing ones.
وَبِغمَةٍand with youths (uncertain reading) مِثلِlike الشُموسِsuns عَوابِسٍscowling
وَبِغمَةٍ مِثلِ الشُموسِ عَوابِسٍ
خَلَطواthey blended البَسالَةِvalor بِالجَمالِwith beauty الباهِرِdazzling
خَلَطوا البَسالَةِ بِالجَمالِ الباهِرِ
And with young men, scowling like suns,
And the frowning like suns, their courage mixed
who blend valor with dazzling beauty.
With stunning beauty and dazzling splendor.
فَلَهُمthen theirs is إِذاwhen اِعتَقَلواthey hold أَنابيبَthe hollow shafts of القَناspears
فَلَهُم إِذا اِعتَقَلوا أَنابيبَ القَنا
نَظَرُthe gaze of الضَراغِمِlions مِنfrom عُيونِthe eyes of جَآذِرِwild-cow calves
نَظَرُ الضَراغِمِ مِن عُيونِ جَآذِرِ
When they hold the hollow shafts of spears,
When the swords were sheathed in luster,
they gaze like lions from the eyes of wild-cow calves.
They concealed the beauty of their faces with masks.
مِنof عُصبَةِthe band of التُركِTurks الَّذينَwho بِبَأسِهِمthrough their might
مِن عُصبَةِ التُركِ الَّذينَ بِبَأسِهِم
وَدَّتloved شَوارِدُthe strays of كُلِّevery مُلكٍkingdom شاغِرِunguarded
وَدَّت شَوارِدُ كُلِّ مُلكٍ شاغِرِ
Of the band of Turks, through whose prowess
They surpassed their peers on the day of battle
the strays of every unguarded kingdom loved them.
With the blossoms of beauty in blushing cheeks.
غُرٌّfair-faced men إِذاwhen صينَis protected الجَمالُbeauty بِبُرقُعٍby a veil
غُرٌّ إِذا صينَ الجَمالُ بِبُرقُعٍ
سَتَرواthey concealed جَمالَthe beauty of وُجوهِهِمtheir faces بِمَغافِرِwith mail coifs
سَتَروا جَمالَ وُجوهِهِم بِمَغافِرِ
Fair-faced men: when beauty is guarded by a veil,
Every dust-stirring warrior raging ahead,
they conceal their handsome faces with mail coifs.
Hardened at shedding blood, the risk-taker.
تاهواthey vaunted themselves عَلىover أَقرانِهِمtheir peers يَومَon the day of الوغىbattle
تاهوا عَلى أَقرانِهِم يَومَ الوغى
بِرِياضِwith gardens of حُسنٍbeauty فيupon الخُدودِthe cheeks نَواضِرِfresh
بِرِياضِ حُسنٍ في الخُدودِ نَواضِرِ
They vaunt themselves over their peers on battle-day
He made the club-bearers deaf with his blows
with fresh gardens of beauty upon their cheeks.
And shot hearts with his glances the deadly ones.
مِنof كُلِّeach خَوّاضِone who plunges into الغَمارِbattle's depths مُلَجِّجٍgoing deep
مِن كُلِّ خَوّاضِ الغَمارِ مُلَجِّجٍ
مَرنٍpracticed عَلىin سَفكِshedding الدِماءِblood مُغامِرِventuresome
مَرنٍ عَلى سَفكِ الدِماءِ مُغامِرِ
Each one plunges deep into the torrents of battle,
The wisdom of the victorious Mansur keeps vigil
practiced in bloodshed, venturing into danger.
Over guarding the kingdoms awake and watchful.
أَصمىhe slew outright الكُماةَarmored warriors بِمَقصَدٍwith a well-aimed shaft مِنfrom كَفِّهِhis hand
أَصمى الكُماةَ بِمَقصَدٍ مِن كَفِّهِ
وَرَمىand he shot القُلوبَhearts مِنَfrom اللِحاظِglances بِعائِرِwith a stray dart
وَرَمى القُلوبَ مِنَ اللِحاظِ بِعائِرِ
He strikes armored warriors dead with a well-aimed shaft from his hand,
The flash of his sword and the shine of his forehead
and shoots hearts with a stray dart from his glances.
Are two gleams in the night of the raging darkness.
تَدبيرَthe direction of مَنصورِone victorious in الجُيوشِarmies مُؤَيَّدٍdivinely aided
تَدبيرَ مَنصورِ الجُيوشِ مُؤَيَّدٍ
يَقظانَwakeful فيin رَعيِtending المَمالِكِkingdoms ساهِرِvigilant
يَقظانَ في رَعيِ المَمالِكِ ساهِرِ
Through the strategy of one victorious in armies, divinely aided,
His promises are like arrows from the sturdy bow,
wakeful and vigilant in tending kingdoms.
Shooting from above the likes of arrows the piercing ones.
إيماضُthe flashing of مُنصُلِهِhis blade وَضَوءُand the brightness of جَبينِهِhis brow
إيماضُ مُنصُلِهِ وَضَوءُ جَبينِهِ
بَرقانِtwo lightning-flashes فيin لَيلِthe night of العَجاجِbattle-dust الثائِرِswirling
بَرقانِ في لَيلِ العَجاجِ الثائِرِ
The flashing of his blade and the brightness of his brow
They left the shadows of life in their homelands
are two lightning-flashes in the night of swirling battle-dust.
And exposed themselves to adversity and departure.
أَومىhe gestured وَأَمثالُand the likes of القِسِيِّbows لَواعِبٌswaying
أَومى وَأَمثالُ القِسِيِّ لَواعِبٌ
مِنfrom فَوقِabove أَمثالِthe likes of السِهامِarrows ضَوامِرِlean mounts
مِن فَوقِ أَمثالِ السِهامِ ضَوامِرِ
He gestured, while bow-like forms swayed
Every disheveled one in the caravan, loyal
above arrow-like, lean mounts.
To God, penitent to Him, an emigrant.
هَجَرواthey forsook ظِلالَthe shades of العَيشِease فيin أَوطانِهِمtheir homelands
هَجَروا ظِلالَ العَيشِ في أَوطانِهِم
وَتَعَرَّضواand they exposed themselves لِسَمائِمٍto scorching winds وَهَواجِرِand noonday heats
وَتَعَرَّضوا لِسَمائِمٍ وَهَواجِرِ
They forsook the shade of ease in their homelands
Thirsty, throwing himself forward feeling
and exposed themselves to scorching winds and noonday heat.
The fear of Judgement in the vacant wasteland.
مِنof كُلِّevery أَشعَثَdisheveled one فيin الرِحالَةِthe riding-saddle مُخلِصٍdevoted
مِن كُلِّ أَشعَثَ في الرِحالَةِ مُخلِصٍ
لِلَّهِto God أَوّابٍoft-returning إِلَيهِto Him مُهاجِرِemigrating
لِلَّهِ أَوّابٍ إِلَيهِ مُهاجِرِ
Each a disheveled rider in the saddle, devoted
Their corpses taken by the south so their necks surrendered
to God, returning to Him, journeying toward Him.
To the blades of butchers the slaughtering ones.
ظَمآنَthirsty يَقذِفُhe casts نَفسَهُhimself مُستَشعِراًinwardly conscious of
ظَمآنَ يَقذِفُ نَفسَهُ مُستَشعِراً
خَوفَfear of القِيامَةِthe Resurrection فيin الهَجيرِthe noonday heat الواغِرِscorching
خَوفَ القِيامَةِ في الهَجيرِ الواغِرِ
Thirsty, he casts himself forward, conscious
And God's sacraments, magnified without
of fear of the Resurrection, in the searing noonday heat.
What Mecca guaranteed of purity and places of devotion.
يَرميhurls بِهِمthem into أَهوالَthe terrors of كُلِّevery تَنوفَةٍtrackless waste
يَرمي بِهِم أَهوالَ كُلِّ تَنوفَةٍ
عيسٌpale camels كَخيطانِlike flocks of النَعامِostriches النافِرِfleeing
عيسٌ كَخيطانِ النَعامِ النافِرِ
Into the terrors of every trackless waste they are hurled
The House, and the Holy Precinct circled by it,
by pale camels like flocks of fleeing ostriches.
And what screens and covers it has.
مِنof كُلِّevery والِعَةٍone enamored بِحِرَّتِهاof her burning thirst إِذاwhen
مِن كُلِّ والِعَةٍ بِحِرَّتِها إِذا
ظَمِئَتshe thirsts تُعَلَّلُshe is consoled بِالسَرابِby the mirage الساحِرِenchanting
ظَمِئَت تُعَلَّلُ بِالسَرابِ الساحِرِ
Each enamored of her burning thirst; when
Surely the Caliph is best of those who trod
she grows thirsty, the enchanting mirage consoles her.
The courtyards, from the best people, present and past.
وَجناءَa thick-cheeked camel تَحمِلُshe carries مِنfrom هِضابِthe hills of يَلَملَمٍYalamlam
وَجناءَ تَحمِلُ مِن هِضابِ يَلَملَمٍ
رُكناًa buttress وَتَنظُرُand she gazes مِنfrom قَليبٍa well غائِرِdeep-sunk
رُكناً وَتَنظُرُ مِن قَليبٍ غائِرِ
A thick-cheeked camel, bearing from Yalamlam's hills
A people whose love and obedience will distinguish
a buttress, and gazing out from a deep-sunk well.
The believer from the nonbeliever on Judgement Day.
يَرجونَthey hope for مَوقِفَa station of رَحمَةٍmercy تُلقىare cast off بِهاthrough it
يَرجونَ مَوقِفَ رَحمَةٍ تُلقى بِها
أَعباءُburdens of أَوزارٍsins لَهُمtheirs وَكَبائِرِand grave transgressions
أَعباءُ أَوزارٍ لَهُم وَكَبائِرِ
They hope for a station of mercy where are laid down
Their gatherings are scrolls of precedence
the burdens of their sins and grave transgressions.
In every principle or branches of the pulpits.
وَالبُدنُand sacrificial camels خاضِعَةَbowing الرِقابِtheir necks دَوامِيَbleeding at الthe
وَالبُدنُ خاضِعَةَ الرِقابِ دَوامِيَ ال
لَبّاتِthroat-bases تَفحَصُpaw فيin البَخيعِslaughter-blood المائِرِflowing
لَبّاتِ تَفحَصُ في البَخيعِ المائِرِ
And the sacrificial camels, necks bowed, bleeding at their
When their people slip into a tight spot,
throat-bases, paw at the flowing slaughter-blood.
The anxieties of every alarming crisis are calmed.
أَخَذَتtook up مَصارِعَهاtheir places of death الجَنوبُthe flanks فَأُسلِمَتand were surrendered
أَخَذَت مَصارِعَها الجَنوبُ فَأُسلِمَت
مِنهاfrom them النُحورُthe throats إِلىto شِفارِthe blades of الجازِرِthe slaughterer
مِنها النُحورُ إِلى شِفارِ الجازِرِ
Their flanks settled in their places of death; then
When lineages boast, their ancestry can be traced
their throats were given over to the slaughterer's blades.
Back through pedigrees, glories, and ancestral trees.
وَشَعائِرِand by the rites of اللَهِGod الَّتيwhich عَظُمَتare mighty وَماand what
وَشَعائِرِ اللَهِ الَّتي عَظُمَت وَما
ضَمِنَتهُcontains it مَكَّةُMecca مِنof صَفاًal-Safa وَمَشاعِرِand sacred stations
ضَمِنَتهُ مَكَّةُ مِن صَفاً وَمَشاعِرِ
And by God's mighty rites, and what
They cling to the staff of prophecy and lean
Mecca embraces of al-Safa and sacred stations,
On the courtyard of the house of prophethood the pure one.
وَالبَيتِand by the House وَالحَرَمِand the sanctuary المُطيفِencircling بِهِaround it وَماand what
وَالبَيتِ وَالحَرَمِ المُطيفِ بِهِ وَما
واراهُconceals it مِنof حُجُبٍveils لَهُfor it وَسَتائِرِand curtains
واراهُ مِن حُجُبٍ لَهُ وَسَتائِرِ
And by the House and the sanctuary surrounding it, and what
In praising you, O House of Abbas, I have
conceals it: its veils and curtains.
Covered over my blemishes and faults in my lineage and clan.
إِنَّsurely الخَليفَةَthe caliph خَيرُthe best of مَنthose who وَطِئَtrod الحَصاpebbles
إِنَّ الخَليفَةَ خَيرُ مَن وَطِئَ الحَصا
مِنof خَيرِthe best بادٍnomad فيamong الأَنامِmankind وَحاضِرِand townsman
مِن خَيرِ بادٍ في الأَنامِ وَحاضِرِ
Surely the caliph is the best to tread the pebbles,
Your patronage is my treasure for the Hereafter when
the best among mankind, nomad or townsman.
My hands are emptied of acquiring treasures.
مِنof مَعشَرٍa people وَرِثواthey inherited النَبِيَّthe Prophet خِلافَةًcaliphal succession
مِن مَعشَرٍ وَرِثوا النَبِيَّ خِلافَةً
أَفضَتpassed down إِلَيهِمto them كابِراًa great forefather عَنfrom كابِرِa great forefather
أَفضَت إِلَيهِم كابِراً عَن كابِرِ
Of a people who inherited the Prophet's caliphate,
You are guides for people, and intercessors in
passed down to them from great forefather to great forefather.
This life and on the Day of Requital to come.
قَومٌa people بِحُبِّهِمُby loving them وَطاعَتِهِمand obeying them غَداًtomorrow
قَومٌ بِحُبِّهِمُ وَطاعَتِهِم غَداً
فيat الحَشرِthe Gathering يُعرَفُis distinguished مُؤمِنٌa believer مِنfrom كافِرِan unbeliever
في الحَشرِ يُعرَفُ مُؤمِنٌ مِن كافِرِ
A people by love and obedience to whom, tomorrow
The world is beautified by traces of you
at the Gathering, believer is distinguished from unbeliever.
Praised among its people and memorials.
غُلبٌmighty men مَجالِسُهُمtheir seats مُتونُthe backs of سَوابِقٍswift steeds
غُلبٌ مَجالِسُهُم مُتونُ سَوابِقٍ
فيin كُلِّevery رَوعٍalarm أَوor فُروعُthe heights of مَنابِرِpulpits
في كُلِّ رَوعٍ أَو فُروعُ مَنابِرِ
Mighty men whose seats are the backs of swift steeds
And to you the eminent turn, and every
in every alarm, or the heights of pulpits.
Boaster ends with you in glory and pride.
وَإِذاand when تَخَمَّطَrage قَومُهُمtheir people فيin مَأزِقٍa strait
وَإِذا تَخَمَّطَ قَومُهُم في مَأزِقٍ
سَكَنَتfall still شَقاشِقُthe throat-sacs of كُلِّevery خَطبٍcalamity هادِرِroaring
سَكَنَت شَقاشِقُ كُلِّ خَطبٍ هادِرِ
When their people rage in a strait,
So give greetings to the Commander of the Faithful from a nation
the throat-sacs of every roaring calamity fall still.
Immersed in the dew of your hands the copious ones.
وَإِذاand when القُرومُthe great chiefs تَرَدَّدَتrange back أَنسابُهُمtheir lineages
وَإِذا القُرومُ تَرَدَّدَت أَنسابُهُم
فيin الفَخرِboasting بَينَbetween مَرازِبٍmarzbans وَأَكاسِرِand Khosrows
في الفَخرِ بَينَ مَرازِبٍ وَأَكاسِرِ
And when great chiefs trace their lineages
And a state whose rule has conquered kingdoms,
in boasting back to marzbans and Khosrows,
With prevalent authority and manifest might.
نَزَعواthey traced their descent إِلىto عيصِthe stock of النُبوَّةِprophethood وَاِنتَدواand assembled
نَزَعوا إِلى عيصِ النُبوَّةِ وَاِنتَدوا
بِفِناءِin the courtyard of بَيتٍa house لِلرِسالَةِfor the prophetic message طاهِرِpure
بِفِناءِ بَيتٍ لِلرِسالَةِ طاهِرِ
they trace theirs to the stock of prophethood, and assemble
Its caliphate tied in the happiest fortune
in the courtyard of the pure house of the prophetic message.
And most blessed fate and auspicious omen.
بِمَديحِكُمthrough praising you ياO آلَHouse of عَبّاسٍAbbas سَماrose
بِمَديحِكُم يا آلَ عَبّاسٍ سَما
قَدريmy rank وَسُدتُand I led قَبائِليmy tribes وَعَشائِريand my clans
قَدري وَسُدتُ قَبائِلي وَعَشائِري
Through praising you, O House of Abbas, has risen
And may you enjoy it as a feast returning
my rank, and I have led my tribes and clans.
With good tidings of its like for you again and again.
وَوَلاؤُكُمand loyalty to you ذُخرٌa treasure لِآخِرَتيfor my hereafter إِذاwhen
وَوَلاؤُكُم ذُخرٌ لِآخِرَتي إِذا
صَفِرَتbecame empty يَديmy hand مِنof مُقتَناتِthe accumulations of ذَخائِريmy treasures
صَفِرَت يَدي مِن مُقتَناتِ ذَخائِري
Loyalty to you is a treasure for my hereafter, when
And seek from the elite of praise an elite utterance
my hand is empty of the treasures I have amassed.
whose owner suffers no loss in a failed deal.
أَنتُمyou هُداةُguides of الناسِmankind وَالشُفَعاءُand the intercessors فيin الthe
أَنتُم هُداةُ الناسِ وَالشُفَعاءُ في ال
دُنياworld وَفيand on يَومِthe day of الجَزاءِrecompense الآخِرِfinal
دُنيا وَفي يَومِ الجَزاءِ الآخِرِ
You are the people's guides and intercessors in the
Rural and refined, so judge it
world, and on the final Day of Recompense.
With eloquence of nomad and grace of city dweller.
تَتَجَمَّلُis adorned الدُنياthe world بِآثارٍby deeds لِكُمof yours
تَتَجَمَّلُ الدُنيا بِآثارٍ لِكُم
مَحمودَةٍpraiseworthy فيamong أَهلِهاits people وَمآثِرِand noble achievements
مَحمودَةٍ في أَهلِها وَمآثِرِ
The world is adorned by your deeds,
It comes to you flaunting in the clothes of its beauty
praised among its people, and your noble achievements.
In abundant, luxurious fabrics and veils.
وَإِلَيكُمُand to you يُنمىis traced العَلاءُeminence وَيَنتَهيand comes to its limit
وَإِلَيكُمُ يُنمى العَلاءُ وَيَنتَهي
فيin الفَخرِglory كُلُّevery مُساجِلٍrival وَمُفاخِرِand boaster
في الفَخرِ كُلُّ مُساجِلٍ وَمُفاخِرِ
To you all eminence is traced, and at you stops
It slipped away with an elegant subtle meaning -
every rival in glory and every boaster.
I am a nation in its prosody, limit, and enchanting utterance.
فَاِسلَمso remain safe أَميرَCommander of المُؤمِنينَthe Faithful لِأُمَّةٍfor a nation
فَاِسلَم أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ لِأُمَّةٍ
مَغمورَةٍimmersed بِنَدىin the bounty of يَدَيكَyour two hands الغامِرِoverflowing
مَغمورَةٍ بِنَدى يَدَيكَ الغامِرِ
So remain safe, Commander of the Faithful, for a nation
I opened my mouth with it out of poverty and made it
immersed in the overflowing bounty of your hands,
A means to cover my deficiencies and needs.
وَلِدَولَةٍand for a dynasty قَهَرَsubdued المَمالِكَkingdoms مُلكُهاits rule
وَلِدَولَةٍ قَهَرَ المَمالِكَ مُلكُها
بِنَفاذِthrough the reach of سُلطانٍauthority وَعِزٍّand might ظاهِرِmanifest
بِنَفاذِ سُلطانٍ وَعِزٍّ ظاهِرِ
And for a dynasty whose rule has subdued kingdoms
Gifts and favors pass, while their remembrance remains
through the reach of its authority and manifest might.
Across the course of vanishing time.
عُقِدَتwas established خِلافَتُهاits caliphate بِأَسعَدِunder the happiest طالِعٍascendant
عُقِدَت خِلافَتُها بِأَسعَدِ طالِعٍ
فيin خَيرِthe best إِبّانٍseason وَأَيمَنِand the most auspicious طائِرِomen
في خَيرِ إِبّانٍ وَأَيمَنِ طائِرِ
Its caliphate was established under the happiest ascendant,
in the best season and under the most auspicious omen.
وَتَمَلَّهُand enjoy it long عيداًas a feast يَعودُreturning مُبَشِّراًwith glad tidings
وَتَمَلَّهُ عيداً يَعودُ مُبَشِّراً
لِعُلاكَfor your eminence مِنfrom among أَمثالِهِdays like it بِنَظائِرِwith counterparts
لِعُلاكَ مِن أَمثالِهِ بِنَظائِرِ
And enjoy it long, a feast returning with glad tidings
for your eminence of many more like it.
وَاِستَجلِand unveil مِنfrom غُرَرِthe choicest of المَديحِpraise غَريرَةًa maiden
وَاِستَجلِ مِن غُرَرِ المَديحِ غَريرَةً
ماnot آبَreturned تاجِرُهاher merchant بِصَفقَةِwith the bargain of خاسِرِa loser
ما آبَ تاجِرُها بِصَفقَةِ خاسِرِ
Unveil a maiden from the choicest praise,
whose merchant has never returned with a losing bargain.
بَدَوِيَّةًBedouin حَضَرِيَّةًurbane فَاِحكُمso judge لَهاher worthy
بَدَوِيَّةً حَضَرِيَّةً فَاِحكُم لَها
بِفَصاحَةِof the eloquence of الباديthe nomad وَلُطفِand the refinement of الحاضِرِthe townsman
بِفَصاحَةِ البادي وَلُطفِ الحاضِرِ
Bedouin and urbane—judge her worthy
of the nomad's eloquence and the townsman's refinement.
جاءَتكَshe came to you تَرفُلُtrailing her robes فيin ثِيابِthe garments of جَمالِهاher beauty
جاءَتكَ تَرفُلُ في ثِيابِ جَمالِها
فيin وَشيِthe embroidery of أَفوافٍstriped fabrics لَهاhers وَحَبائِرِand brocades
في وَشيِ أَفوافٍ لَها وَحَبائِرِ
She came to you trailing the garments of her beauty,
in embroidered striped fabrics and brocades.
فَضُلَتshe excelled بِمَعنىthrough meaning رائِقٍlucid أَناI أُمَّةٌa whole nation
فَضُلَت بِمَعنى رائِقٍ أَنا أُمَّةٌ
فيin نَظمِهِits composition وَحديby myself وَلَفظٍand diction ساحِرِenchanting
في نَظمِهِ وَحدي وَلَفظٍ ساحِرِ
She excels through lucid meaning—I am a whole nation
by myself in its composition—and through enchanting diction.
فِقَراًverses فَتَحتُI opened بِهاwith them فَميmy mouth وَجَعَلتُهاand I made them
فِقَراً فَتَحتُ بِها فَمي وَجَعَلتُها
سَبَباًa means لِسَدِّto relieve خَصاصَتيmy need وَمَفاقِريand my poverty
سَبَباً لِسَدِّ خَصاصَتي وَمَفاقِري
Verses with which I opened my mouth, and which I made
a means to relieve my need and poverty.
تَفنىperish المَواهِبُgifts وَالعَطاءُand bounty وَذِكرُهاand their remembrance
تَفنى المَواهِبُ وَالعَطاءُ وَذِكرُها
باقٍendures عَلىthrough مَرِّthe passage of الزَمانِtime الغابِرِyet to come
باقٍ عَلى مَرِّ الزَمانِ الغابِرِ
Gifts and bounty perish, but their remembrance
endures through the passage of time to come.
Partial English translation: 148 of 164 Arabic lines translated.