ألا مال نيران الأسى تتضرم

وما بال أشواق الهوى لا تصرم؟

Ah, why do the fires of sorrow blaze,

and why do love’s longings never cease?

وما بال دمع العين يهمي كأنه

على الخد هطال من المزن سيجم

And why do tears pour from the eye, as though

upon the cheek they were an abundant downpour from rain clouds?

وتسعد سجاع الحمام كأنها

لهن حميم أنت بل أنت أعظم

You join the cooing doves in lament, as though

you were their intimate—nay, you are greater still.

لذكراك في رسم المنازل غادة

برهرهة تشبي العقول وتسقم

For you recall, among the dwellings’ traces, a maiden,

tender-skinned, captivating minds and making them ill.

فتاة تحاكي البدر ليلة تمه

يهيم بها السدم الغريم المتيم

A young woman resembling the moon on the night of its fullness,

for whom the sorrowful, devoted, love-enslaved lover pines.

لها في البها ليس للغيد قبلها

وحسن حديث للأنيس ومندم

Hers is a splendor no graceful maiden before her possessed,

and lovely conversation for an intimate and a boon companion.

وحوراء لو ترنو بها نحو راهب

لأصبح في محرابه يترنم

And a wide, dark eye—were she to gaze with it toward a monk,

he would begin singing within his prayer niche.

وقد كغصن البان عند اهتزازه

واهضم مجدول وخد معندم

And a figure like a moringa bough as it sways,

a slender, finely shaped waist, and a crimson cheek.

إذا أقبلت فالشمس من نور وجهها

وإن أدبرت فالفرع كالليل مظلم

When she approaches, the sun’s light comes from her face;

when she turns away, her hair is dark as night.

كأن وميض البرق في غسق الدجا

لميع محيا ثغرها حين يلثم

As though lightning’s flash in the deep darkness of night

were the bright gleam of her mouth when it is kissed.

كأن أرج المسك نكهة ثغرها

إذا نطقت أو عنبر متقوم

The scent of her mouth is like the fragrance of musk

when she speaks, or highly prized ambergris.

وتكلم قلب المستهام بنغمة

تزيد على الأوتار حين نكلم

And she wounds the love-stricken heart with a melody

surpassing the strings when we are addressed.

لعمري لقد فاقت وحازت محاسناً

كما حاها الشهم الأشم المقدم

By my life, she has excelled and gathered beauties,

as did the gallant, lofty, bold leader:

إمام الهدى بحر الندى معدن الوفا

رحيب الفنا شمس البلاد المعظم

leader of guidance, sea of generosity, source of fidelity,

broad of courtyard, sun of the lands, the revered one,

حليف العلى سامي الذرى بهجة الورى

وبدر الدجى والسمهري المقوم

ally of loftiness, towering in eminence, joy of humankind,

moon of the darkness and the straightened lance.

هو المجد عبد الله من ظل ذكره

يغور لعمري في البلاد ويتهم

He is glory itself, Abd Allah, whose renown keeps

spreading, by my life, through the lands, into the lowlands and Tihamah.

تولى فجلا كل جلاء عضلة

وكان لعمري بالغوامض أقهم

He took charge and fully cleared up a knotty difficulty;

and, by my life, he was most discerning in obscure matters.

ولما أتين الخرج واحتنك الفضا

عليهم بما فيه البلاء المصمم

And when they reached al-Kharj and the open country closed

around them with the relentless affliction it held,

وحاصرهم فيها ليال ولم يزل

يشب بها نار الحروب ويضرم

he besieged them there for nights, never ceasing

to kindle and stoke the fires of war there.

وتقطع فهيا الباسقات وكلما

لها منكئ مما يسيء ويؤلم

The towering palms there were felled, and every

injury causing it distress and pain was inflicted,

إلى أن تداعت يام في ذات بينها

وبادر ركب منهمو وتقدموا

until Yam summoned one another among themselves,

and a band of riders from them hastened and advanced.

وصرنا إلى أرض السفائل ثم لم

يزال بها يسدي الأمور ويلحم

We went to the land of al-Safa’il; then he did not

cease to weave affairs there, laying warp and weft,

إلى أن مضت تسعون يوماً وكلها

يجاول أسباباً بها الشر يحسم

until ninety days had passed; throughout them all

he explored means by which evil could be cut off.

وما ذاك عن وهم تخون عزمه

ولكنه حزم ورأي مصمم

That was not from a misgiving that undermined his resolve,

but from prudence and resolute judgment.

فلما أتت أفزاع يام بفخرها

وأبطا من يعزى إلينا وأحجم

When Yam’s reinforcements arrived in their pride,

while those affiliated with us delayed and held back,

رأى ما رأى في رأيه الصلح واقتضى

له النظر العالي الذي هو أحزم

he chose, as he judged fit, peace; this was dictated

to him by his lofty discernment, which was more prudent.

فأعطاهمو ما أملوه رحامة

ورفقاً بهذا الخلق والكل منهمو

So he granted them what they hoped for, out of compassion

and gentleness toward these people; and every one of them

يرى أن في الإصلاح خيراً وإنما

طريق الصفى أهدى سبيلاً وأقوما

sees good in reconciliation; it is only

the path of amity that is the better-guided, straighter way.

فلله ربي الحمد والشكر والثنا

على ما قضى فيما جرى وهو أحكم

So to God, my Lord, belong praise, thanks, and acclaim

for what He decreed in what happened; He is the wisest judge.

فيا أيها الركب اليمانون بلغو

تحيات مكلوم الفؤاد وسلموا

O Yemeni riders, convey

the greetings of one wounded at heart, and offer

سلاماً يحاكي فافح المسك عرقه

وأحلى من الشهد اللذيذ وأطعم

a greeting whose fragrance rivals wafting musk,

sweeter than delicious honey, and finer in taste.

وعوجوا على أرض العمار نجائباً

تجشمت الأخطار والقصد منهم

Turn your noble camels toward the land of al-‘Ammar,

camels that have braved dangers; there, the ones sought are

أخ وصديق ومشفقان كلاهما

ونحن من الإشفاق والوجد أعظم

a brother and a friend, both caring souls,

and our own concern and longing are greater.

وبلغهما ما أحدث الله حكم ما

جرى بالقضى والله بالخلق أعلم

Tell them both what God has brought about, the decree of what

has occurred by divine ordainment; God knows His creation best.

وناشدهما بالله ما أحدث الجفى

وفيم أرى حبل المودة يصرم

And implore them both by God: what has caused this estrangement,

and why do I see the cord of affection being severed?

أحبابنا حتى متى وإلى متى

أ أكتم ما ألقاه أو أتكلم

Our beloved ones, how long—until when—

shall I conceal what I suffer, or shall I speak?

فإن كان هجراناً بذنب جنيته

سأرجع في نفسي بذاك وأندم

If this estrangement is for a sin I committed,

I shall examine myself about it and feel remorse;

لأنكما أهل المودة والصفا

ومن نأيكم نار الأسى تتضرم

for you both are people of affection and sincerity,

and from your distance the fire of sorrow blazes.

وإن لم يكن ذنب جنيت وإنما

تناسيتما عهداً من الود يبرم

But if there is no sin I committed, and instead

you both have chosen to forget a firmly bound covenant of love,

فبالله قوماً فانظرا وتفكرا

فرأيتما لو تعلمان المقدم

then, by God, rise, both of you; consider and reflect:

you would both see, if you knew, what should take precedence.

ولكنني والحمد لله لم أزل

مقيماً على العهد الذي هو أحزم

Yet I, praise be to God, have never ceased

to abide by the covenant—the more prudent course.

وصل إلهي ما تنسمت الصبا

سحيراً وما لاحت من الأفق نجم

And bless, my God, as long as the east wind breathes

at early dawn, and as long as a star appears on the horizon,

على المصطفى والآل والصحب كلهم

وتابعهم ما طاف بالبيت محرم

the Chosen One, his family, and all his companions,

and whoever follows them, as long as a consecrated pilgrim circles the House.