Sol 6.1

  1. عَسى مَرُّ أَنفاسِ النَسيمِ المُرَدَّدِ

    يُحِدِّثُ عَن بانِ الغَضا المُتَأَوِّدِ

    Perhaps the passing breaths of the returning breeze

    will tell of the swaying ban trees of al-Ghada;

  2. وَعَلَّ الصَبا تُهدي إِلَيكَ تَحِيَةً

    تَبُلُّ بِرَيّاها صَدى قَلبِكَ الصَدي

    and perhaps the east wind will bring you a greeting

    whose fragrance moistens the thirst of your thirsty heart.

  3. فَكَم دونَ ذاكَ الجِزعِ مِن مُغرَمِ الحَشا

    إِذا عَنَّ ذِكرى موجَعِ القَلبِ مُكمَدِ

    How many a love-stricken heart lies this side of that valley bend,

    aching and grief-stricken whenever a memory arises!

  4. يُؤَرِّقُهُ بَرقُ الغَمامِ إِذا سَرى

    وَيُقلِقُهُ نوحُ الحَمامِ المُغَرِّدِ

    The clouds’ lightning, flashing by night, keeps him sleepless,

    and the lament of the singing doves disturbs him.

  5. بِنَفسي مَن وَدَّعتُها وَدُموعِها عَلى

    نَحرِها مِثلُ الجُمانِ المُبَدَّدِ

    My life for her whom I bade farewell, with tears upon

    her bosom like scattered pearls.

  6. تُناشِدُني وَالبَينُ قَد جَدَّ جِدَّهُ

    وَقَد أَعلَقَت خَوفَ النَوى يَدَها يَدي

    She implored me, as parting grew gravely earnest,

    and, fearing separation, had clasped her hand to mine:

  7. تَراكَ عَلى شَحطِ المَزارِ وَبَعدِهِ

    تَروحُ عَلى دينِ الوَفاءِ وَتَغتَدي

    “Will you, though our meeting-place is remote and far away,

    remain in the faith of constancy at evening and at dawn?

  8. أَمِ الدَهرُ مُسلٍ لِلفَتى عَن خَليلَةٍ

    تُجِدُّ هَوىً في كُلِّ يَومٍ مُجَدَّدِ

    Or does time console a man for a beloved

    who renews love with every new day?”

  9. فَقُلتُ لَها لا تَستَريبي فَإِنَّهُ

    سَواءٌ مَغيبي في هَواكِ وَمَشهَدي

    I told her, “Do not doubt me, for

    in loving you my absence and my presence are alike.

  10. فَما تَظفَرُ الأَيّامُ مِنّي بِغُدرَةٍ

    وَلا يَجذُبُ السُلوانُ عَنكِ بِمَقوَدي

    The days shall never win an act of treachery from me,

    nor shall forgetfulness draw my rein away from you.

  11. وَلا زِلتُ ذا قَلبٍ يَهيمُ صَبابَةً

    إِلَيكِ وَطَرفٍ في الغَرامِ مُسَهَّدِ

    May I always have a heart that wanders in longing

    toward you, and eyes that love keeps wakeful.

  12. عَزيزُ التَأَسّي وَالتَحَمُّلِ في الهَوى

    كَما يَعهَدُ الواشي قَليلُ التَجَلُّدِ

    Solace and endurance in love are hard for me,

    as the talebearer knows, and I have little fortitude.”

  13. وَفارَقتُها وَالدَمعُ يَمحو اِنحِدارُهُ

    نَضارَةَ خَدٍّ بِالبُكاءِ مُخَدَّدِ

    I parted from her while the falling tears effaced

    the freshness of a cheek furrowed by weeping.

  14. كَأَنَّ جُفوني في السَماحِ بِمائِها

    بَوارِعُ مِن جَدوى الوَزيرِ مُحَمَّدِ

    As though my eyelids, in freely giving their water,

    were marvels of the bounty of the vizier Muhammad.

  15. فَتى الجودِ لا مَرعى العَطاءِ مُصَوِّحٌ

    لَدَيهِ وَلا وِردُ النَدى بِمُصَرَّدِ

    A champion of generosity: the pasture of giving never withers

    with him, nor is the draught of bounty ever scant.

  16. غَنِيٌّ إِذا ما الحَربُ شَبَّ ضِرامُها

    بِآرائِهِ عَن ذابِلٍ وَمُهَنَّدِ

    When war’s blazing fire flares up, he has no need,

    thanks to his counsels, of a supple spear or Indian sword.

  17. يُضيءُ ظَلامُ الخَطبِ مِن نارِ عَزمِهِ

    وَيَقطُرُ ماءُ البِشرِ مِن وَجهِهِ النَدي

    The darkness of calamity is lit by the fire of his resolve,

    and the water of gladness drips from his dewy face.

  18. إِذا العامُ أَكدى وَالمَطالِبُ أَظلَمَت

    حَلَلتُ بِهِ بَحرَ النَدى قَمَرَ النَدي

    When the year yields nothing and all pursuits grow dark,

    I lodge with him—the sea of bounty, the moon of the assembly.

  19. أَلا قُل لِباغي الجودِ يُنضي رِكابَهُ

    عَلى الرِزقِ خَبطاً لا يَرى وَجهَ مَقصَدِ

    Come, tell the seeker of bounty who wears out his mounts

    seeking sustenance blindly, seeing no clear destination,

  20. يَجوبُ الفَيافي ناشِداً غَيرَ واجِدٍ

    نَشيدَتَهُ مُستَرشِداً غَيرَ مُرشَدِ

    who crosses the wilderness, searching but never finding

    what he seeks, asking guidance but never guided:

  21. أَنِخ بِالوَزيرِ تَلقَ مِن دونِ بابِهِ

    مَوارِدَ بَحرٍ مِن عَطاياهُ مُزبِدِ

    “Make your camel kneel by the vizier; before his gate you will find

    watering-places of a sea foaming with his gifts.

  22. أَزِرهُ القَوافي وَاِحتَكِم في عَطائِهِ

    تَزُر طيِّبَ المَلقى كَثيرَ التَوَدُّدِ

    Bring him your rhymes, and set the terms of his giving;

    you will visit one gracious in greeting, abundant in affection.

  23. إِذا أَنتَ أَذمَمتَ الرِجالَ خَلائِقاً

    فَيَمِّمهُ وَاَخبُر مِن سَجاياهُ تَحمَدِ

    If you find men’s characters blameworthy,

    then seek him out and test his qualities: you will praise him.

  24. وَإِن أَمحَلوا فَاِسرَح رِكابَكَ مُخصِباً

    بِوادي نَداً مِن جودِهِ خَضِلٍ نَدي

    And if they grow barren, loose your mounts to graze in plenty

    in a valley of bounty, lush and dewy with his generosity.”

  25. فَلَولاكَ عَضدَ الدينِ ما اِبيَضَّ مَطلَبٌ

    وَلا عَثَرَ المُستَرفِدونَ بِمُرفِدِ

    But for you, Adud al-Din, no quest would brighten,

    nor would seekers of aid find a benefactor;

  26. وَلا كَفِلَت بِالنُجحِ مَسعاةُ طالِبٍ

    وَلا صافَحَت كَفَّ الغِنى يَدُ مُجتَدِ

    no seeker’s endeavor would be assured of success,

    nor would a suppliant’s hand clasp the hand of affluence.

  27. وَبِالقَصرِ مِن آلِ المُظَفَّرِ ماجِدٌ

    كَريمُ المُحَيّا وَالشَمائِلِ وَاليَدِ

    And in the palace is a noble man of the house of al-Muzaffar,

    noble in countenance, character, and hand;

  28. طَويلُ نِجادِ السَيفِ وَالباعِ وَالقَنا

    فَسيحُ مَجالِ الهَمِّ رَحبُ المُقَلَّدِ

    long in sword-baldric, reach, and lance,

    wide-ranging in ambition, broad of neck.

  29. إِذا جِئتَهُ مُستَصرِخاً في مُلِمَّةٍ

    دَعَوتَ مَجيداً وَاِستَعَنتَ بِمُنجِدِ

    If you come crying to him for help in a calamity,

    you have called on a noble man and sought help from a rescuer.

  30. مِنَ القَومِ لا يوطونَ في كُلِّ غارَةٍ

    جِيادَهُمُ غَيرَ الوَشيجِ المُنَضَّدِ

    Among a people who, on every raid, make

    their steeds tread only on densely arrayed spears.

  31. تَتيهُ الصُدورُ وَالمَواكِبُ مِنهُم

    بِكُلِّ عَظيمٍ في الصُدورِ مُمَجَّدِ

    Seats of honor and processions glory in them,

    in every mighty man revered within men’s hearts.

  32. عَلى نَسَقٍ مِثلِ الأَنابيبِ في القَنا

    تَوالوا نِظاماً سَيِّداً بَعدَ سَيِّدِ

    In a sequence like the segments in spear-shafts,

    they succeeded one another in order, lord after lord.

  33. إِذا خَرِبَت طُرُقُ المَعالي وَجَدتَهُم

    يَسيرونَ مِنها في طَريقٍ مُعَبَّدِ

    When the paths to greatness lie ruined, you find them

    traveling a well-paved road among them.

  34. فَداكَ جَبانٌ لا يُحَدِّثُ نَفسَهُ

    بِفَتكٍ بَخيلٌ لا يَجودُ بِمَوعِدِ

    May a coward be your ransom, one who never thinks

    of a daring attack—a miser who will not give even a promise.

  35. فَداكَ جَبانٌ لا يَحَدَّثُ نَفسَهُ

    بِفَتكٍ بَخيلٌ لا يَجودُ بِمَوعِدِ

    May a coward be your ransom, one who never thinks

    of a daring attack—a miser who will not give even a promise.

  36. نَوافِدُهُ مُبيَضَّةٌ وَلِثامُهُ

    يُلاثُ عَلى عِرضٍ مِنَ العارِ أَسوَدِ

    His windows are whitewashed, while his veil

    is wound over a reputation blackened by disgrace.

  37. إِذا ما أَناخَ المُدلِجونَ بِبابِهِ

    أَناخوا بِجَعجاعٍ مِنَ الأَرضِ فَدفَدِ

    When the night travelers make their camels kneel at his door,

    they alight on a harsh, barren expanse of ground.

  38. يَبيتُ نَزيلاً لِلمَذَلَّةِ جارُهُ

    وَيَرحَلُ عَنهُ الضَيفُ غَيرَ مُزَوَّدِ

    His neighbor spends the night a guest of humiliation,

    and the guest departs from him without provisions.

  39. دَعَوتُكَ وَالأَحداثُ تَقرَعُ مَروَتي

    فَكُنتَ مُجيري مِن أَذاها وَمُسعِدي

    I called upon you while misfortunes hammered my flint,

    and you sheltered me from their harm and gave me aid.

  40. فَليتَ اللَيالي الجائِراتِ تَعَلَّمَت

    قَضاءَكَ أَوكانَت بِهَديِكَ تَهتَدي

    Would that the unjust nights had learned

    your judgments, or were guided by your guidance!

  41. عَلِقتُ وَقَد أَصبَحتُ فيكَ مُوالِياً

    بِحَبلِ ذِمامٍ مِن وَلائِكَ مُحصَدِ

    I have clung, now that I have become loyal to you,

    to a firmly twisted cord of protection in your patronage.

  42. بَسَطتَ لِساني بِالعَطاءِ وَخاطِري

    وَلا عُذرَ لي إِن كُنتُ غَيرَ مُجَوِّدِ

    Your giving has given free rein to my tongue and my imagination;

    I have no excuse if I fail to excel.

  43. وَأَلبَستَني النُعمى الَّتي جَلَّ قَدرُها

    فَأَفنَيتَ آمالي وَكَثَّرتَ حُسَّدي

    You clothed me in a favor of immense worth,

    thus fulfilling all my hopes and multiplying my enviers.

  44. وَأَتعَبتَ شُكري وَهوَ عودٌ مُدَرَّبٌ

    بِحَملِ بَوادٍ مِن نَداكَ وَعوَّدِ

    You have wearied my gratitude, though it is a mature, well-trained camel,

    accustomed to bearing your bounty’s first gifts and repeated favors.

  45. وَأَحمَدتُ يَومي في ذَراكَ وَإِنَّني

    لَأَرجوكَ ذُخراً لِلشَدائِدِ في غَدِ

    I have found my day praiseworthy in your shelter, and indeed

    I look to you as a reserve against tomorrow’s hardships.

  46. أُعيذُكَ أَن أَضحى وَظِلُّكَ سابِغاً

    مَقيلي وَأَن أَظما وَبَحرُكَ مَورِدي

    I adjure you: let me not scorch while your ample shade is

    my noonday refuge, nor thirst while your sea is my watering-place;

  47. وَأَن تَستَلينَ الحادِثاتُ عَريكَتي

    وَتَعلَمُ أَني مِن نَذاكَ بِمَرصَدِ

    nor let calamities find my resolve yielding,

    when they know that I await your bounty.

  48. فَكَم مِن مَديحٍ فيكَ لي بَينَ مُتهِمٍ

    تَناقُلِهُ أَيدي الرِكابِ وَمُنجِدِ

    How many a praise-poem of mine about you travels between those bound for Tihama

    and those bound for Najd, borne onward by the forelegs of mounts!

  49. تَنوبُ مَنابي في الثَناءِ رُواتُهُ

    فَتَنشُرُهُ في كُلِّ نادٍ وَمَشهَدِ

    Its reciters take my place in praising you,

    and spread it in every gathering and assembly.

  50. يَزورُكَ أَيّامَ التَهاني مُبَشِراً

    بِمُلكٍ عَلى مَرِّ الزَمانِ مُجَدَّدِ

    It visits you on days of congratulation, bringing glad tidings

    of sovereignty renewed through the passing ages.

  51. نَطَقتُ بِعِلمٍ فيكَ لا بِفَراسَةٍ

    فَلَم أُطرِ في وَصفي وَلَم أَتَزَيَّدِ

    I spoke of you with knowledge, not mere intuition;

    I neither overpraised in my description nor exaggerated.

  52. فَمَن كانَ في مَدحِ الرِجالِ مُقَلِّداً

    فَإِنِّيَ في مَدحيكَ غَيرُ مُقَلِّدِ

    If anyone imitates others in praising men,

    I, in praising you, am no imitator.