حَللتَ عِقْدَ المَعاني فاعتلَى الكَلِمُ

حَللتَ عِقْدَ المَعاني فاعتلَى الكَلِمُ

وأُلبِستْ حَلْيَها الآدابُ والفِهَمُ

وأُلبِستْ حَلْيَها الآدابُ والفِهَمُ

You unstrung the necklace of meanings, so words rose high,

You unleashed meanings' knot so speech ascended,

and literary arts and insights were clothed in their jewels.

And adorned it with eloquence and understanding.

يا مَنْ تورّد بَحْراً للبَلاغةِ لَم

يا مَنْ تورّد بَحْراً للبَلاغةِ لَم

يَرِد مَوارِدَها عُرْبٌ ولا عَجَمُ

يَرِد مَوارِدَها عُرْبٌ ولا عَجَمُ

O you who entered a sea of eloquence—never

O you who brought forth a sea of rhetoric unparalleled,

have Arabs or non-Arabs reached its watering places.

Neither Arabs nor non-Arabs reached its springs.

وافَى قريضُك معدوماً نظائِرهُ

وافَى قريضُك معدوماً نظائِرهُ

كأنّه مِن نفيِس الدُّرِّ مُنتظِمُ

كأنّه مِن نفيِس الدُّرِّ مُنتظِمُ

Your verse arrived, its equals nowhere to be found,

Your composition attained the unattainable,

as though strung from precious pearls.

As though it's of pure pearls precisely strung.

لفظٌ شَهِيٌّ ومعنىً غيرُ منحرِفٍ

لفظٌ شَهِيٌّ ومعنىً غيرُ منحرِفٍ

عنه الصوابُ ولا بادٍ بِهِ السَّقَمُ

عنه الصوابُ ولا بادٍ بِهِ السَّقَمُ

Delightful wording, and a meaning never forsaken

A lustrous diction and uncompromising meaning,

by truth, with no ailment apparent within it.

To which rightness doesn't object or sickness succumb.

كأنه أَعينُ النُّوّار غازَلَهَا

كأنه أَعينُ النُّوّار غازَلَهَا

تبسُّمُ الشَّمسِ غَدْوا فهي تَبتَسِمُ

تبسُّمُ الشَّمسِ غَدْوا فهي تَبتَسِمُ

As though it were the eyes of blossoms, wooed

As though eyes of bright lamps that the smile

by the sun's morning smile, so they smile.

Of the morn sun spun, so they beam and grin.

أو لفظ أغيَدَ مَعْشوقٍ لعاشِقِه

أو لفظ أغيَدَ مَعْشوقٍ لعاشِقِه

مِن بعدِ لا وهو يَبْغي وصلَه نَعَمُ

مِن بعدِ لا وهو يَبْغي وصلَه نَعَمُ

Or a graceful beloved's utterance to his lover:

Or words a lover lavished on the beloved

a 'Yes' after 'No', as the lover seeks union with him.

Who longed for union after estrangement and loss.

مضمّنا مُلحاً ما مِثلُها مُلَحٌ

مضمّنا مُلحاً ما مِثلُها مُلَحٌ

وحامِلاً مِدَحاً يُزْهَى بِها الكَرمُ

وحامِلاً مِدَحاً يُزْهَى بِها الكَرمُ

Containing witticisms unmatched by any others,

Imbuing subtle wit unmatched by any,

and bearing praises in which generosity takes pride,

And bearing praise that graces all generosity.

وواصِفاً مِنْ عَذارَى نَورِ بِرْكَتِنا

وواصِفاً مِنْ عَذارَى نَورِ بِرْكَتِنا

ما أسلمتْه له القِيعانُ والأَكَم

ما أسلمتْه له القِيعانُ والأَكَم

and describing, among the maiden blossoms of our pool,

Describing the virgins of our auspicious light

what the plains and hillocks yielded to it,

To which plains and hills didn't fully submit.

وُمنبِئا عن فؤادٍ غيرِ منصرفٍ

وُمنبِئا عن فؤادٍ غيرِ منصرفٍ

عنِ الْوَفاءِ وَوُدٍّ ليس يُتَّهَمُ

عنِ الْوَفاءِ وَوُدٍّ ليس يُتَّهَمُ

and revealing a heart that never turns away

And telling of a heart not turning away

from loyalty, and an affection beyond suspicion.

From loyalty and love safe from all blame.

ضمّنْتَ ألفَاظه مِنْ مُضمَراتِك ما

ضمّنْتَ ألفَاظه مِنْ مُضمَراتِك ما

لم تَسْتَطِعْ حُسْنَ تضمِيناتِها الأُمَم

لم تَسْتَطِعْ حُسْنَ تضمِيناتِها الأُمَم

You embedded in its words such hidden meanings of yours

You embedded in its words from your conceits

as peoples could never have incorporated so beautifully.

What nations cannot properly embed.

يَشِفُّ لَفظُك عن معناكَ فيه وهل

يَشِفُّ لَفظُك عن معناكَ فيه وهل

صَفْوُ المُدامِة في الأقداحِ ينكتِمُ

صَفْوُ المُدامِة في الأقداحِ ينكتِمُ

Your wording reveals your meaning within it—and can

Your words reveal their meaning effortlessly,

the purity of wine in goblets be concealed?

Does pure wine in cups ever conceal itself?

لا شكّ أنّ الّذي أخفيتَ مُضمَرَه

لا شكّ أنّ الّذي أخفيتَ مُضمَرَه

في أوّل النَّظْمِ من ألْفاظكَ القَلَمُ

في أوّل النَّظْمِ من ألْفاظكَ القَلَمُ

There is no doubt that the thing whose secret you concealed

No doubt what meaning you hid

in your words at the start of the verse is the pen;

In your poem's first lines by the pen

وأنَّ ثانِي ما أضمَرْتَه قَدَحٌ

وأنَّ ثانِي ما أضمَرْتَه قَدَحٌ

كأنّه مِن بيَاضِ الصُّبحِ ملتئِمُ

كأنّه مِن بيَاضِ الصُّبحِ ملتئِمُ

and that the second thing you concealed is a goblet,

And the second thing you concealed is a goblet

as though formed from the whiteness of dawn;

Like the dawn's whiteness, perfectly arrayed.

وأنّ ثالثَ ما عَمَّيْتَه شَبَحٌ

وأنّ ثالثَ ما عَمَّيْتَه شَبَحٌ

يُمحَى بِتيجانِه الأغساقُ والظُّلَمُ

يُمحَى بِتيجانِه الأغساقُ والظُّلَمُ

and that the third thing you obscured is a figure

And the third that you obscured is a specter

by whose crowns dusk and darkness are erased.

Effaced by its crown the darkness and gloom.

وقد أجدْتَ وقد مَلَّحْتَ ممتدِحا

وقد أجدْتَ وقد مَلَّحْتَ ممتدِحا

ومضمِراً أيهّا العلاّمة الفَهِم

ومضمِراً أيهّا العلاّمة الفَهِم

You have excelled and shown wit in praising

You found the right way and seasoned with salt,

and in concealing meanings, O erudite, discerning scholar.

While concealing O eminent sage of great wisdom.

لكْن أُحاجِيك ما شيءٌ له أُذُنٌ

لكْن أُحاجِيك ما شيءٌ له أُذُنٌ

وما له هامَةٌ تَبْدو ولا قَدَمُ

وما له هامَةٌ تَبْدو ولا قَدَمُ

But I pose you a riddle: what thing has an ear,

But I pose you riddles that have no ear,

yet has neither a visible head nor a foot?

No mane that shows, no foot or leg.

واستعِمِل الفِكَر في أُمٍّ يكون لها

واستعِمِل الفِكَر في أُمٍّ يكون لها

نَجِلٌ وليس لها ثَدْيٌ ولا رَحِمُ

نَجِلٌ وليس لها ثَدْيٌ ولا رَحِمُ

And turn your thoughts to a mother who has

Use your mind on a mother who has a boy

a child, yet has neither breast nor womb.

Yet has no breast or womb.

مَيْت تَحِلُّ بِلا ذَبْحٍ لآكِلها

مَيْت تَحِلُّ بِلا ذَبْحٍ لآكِلها

وما جَرَى قطُّ فيها للحياة دَمُ

وما جَرَى قطُّ فيها للحياة دَمُ

Dead, she may be eaten lawfully without slaughter,

Dead, made lawful to eat without slaughter,

and no lifeblood has ever flowed within her.

In her no blood of life ever flowed.

تنشَقُّ عن وَلَدٍ حيٍّ إذا حَمَلَتْ

تنشَقُّ عن وَلَدٍ حيٍّ إذا حَمَلَتْ

ولم يُشَقَّ لها عَيْنٌ ترى وفَمُ

ولم يُشَقَّ لها عَيْنٌ ترى وفَمُ

She splits open to reveal a living child when pregnant,

She gives birth to a living boy though

though no seeing eye or mouth was opened for her.

No eye was slit for her to see or mouth speak.

وما نطُوقٌ ولم يَنْطِق بجارحةٍ

وما نطُوقٌ ولم يَنْطِق بجارحةٍ

إذا تنغّم فَدَّت حُسْنَه النَّغم

إذا تنغّم فَدَّت حُسْنَه النَّغم

And what is eloquent, though it speaks with no bodily organ?

Not articulated yet it sings beautifully,

When it sings, melodies give themselves as ransom for its beauty.

When it makes music, minds and souls hark.

أَجَشُّ يُبْدي إذا دَغْدَغْتَهُ ضَحِكاً

أَجَشُّ يُبْدي إذا دَغْدَغْتَهُ ضَحِكاً

تُصغي إليه عُقولُ الناس والهِمَمُ

تُصغي إليه عُقولُ الناس والهِمَمُ

Husky-voiced, it gives a laugh when you tickle it,

Deaf yet laughs when tickled,

to which people's minds and aspirations listen.

People's minds and resolves turn to hear it.

نَعَمْ وما طائرٌ يسمو بأَرْبَعةٍ

نَعَمْ وما طائرٌ يسمو بأَرْبَعةٍ

وإن مَشَى حملتْه سِتّة رُسُمُ

وإن مَشَى حملتْه سِتّة رُسُمُ

Yes—and what bird soars on four,

Yes, and a bird that flies with four

and if it walks, six swift-stepping limbs carry it?

Yet when it walks six drawings carry its marks.

ما زُقَّ قَطُّ ولم تَحْضُنْه والدةٌ

ما زُقَّ قَطُّ ولم تَحْضُنْه والدةٌ

ولم يَزَلْ وهو للأطيار مغْتنَمُ

ولم يَزَلْ وهو للأطيار مغْتنَمُ

It was never fed beak-to-beak, nor brooded over by a mother,

Never brooded nor cradled by a mother,

and it has always been a prize for birds.

Yet to birds a much coveted prize.

وما مُسفهةٌ وَرْهاء قاطِعةٌ

وما مُسفهةٌ وَرْهاء قاطِعةٌ

لكلّ أرضٍ قُطوعاً ليس تنفصم

لكلّ أرضٍ قُطوعاً ليس تنفصم

And what reckless, witless thing crosses

A foolish endless scrollcutting through all lands

every land on an unbroken course?

With an edge no force can break.

مسحوبة الذَّيْل ما تَنْبو مصمِّمة

مسحوبة الذَّيْل ما تَنْبو مصمِّمة

في كلّ طَوْدٍ بحَدٍّ ليسَ يَنْثلِمُ

في كلّ طَوْدٍ بحَدٍّ ليسَ يَنْثلِمُ

Trailing its skirt, never glancing off, it cuts straight

Trailing endless with no intent to stop

through every mountain with an edge that never chips.

Or shred in pieces however it's pulled taut.

تَجري وليس لها رِجْلٌ تَسيرُ بها

تَجري وليس لها رِجْلٌ تَسيرُ بها

ولا جَناحٌ وتسْري حين تَعْتَزِم

ولا جَناحٌ وتسْري حين تَعْتَزِم

It runs, yet has no foot on which to travel,

Running without legs moving when resolved,

nor wing, and journeys by night when it wills.

No wings yet flows smooth when determined.

معشوقةٌ من جميع الناس إنْ ضَعُفَتْ

معشوقةٌ من جميع الناس إنْ ضَعُفَتْ

منها قُواها وتُخشَى حين تَزْدَحم

منها قُواها وتُخشَى حين تَزْدَحم

It is beloved by all people when weakened

All people's beloved, feared when crowded

in strength, but feared when it masses.

If weakened, devoid of power and might.

وما صَدُوقٌ بلا نُطْقٍ ولا فَهَمٍ

وما صَدُوقٌ بلا نُطْقٍ ولا فَهَمٍ

بَرٌّ أَمينٌ مُبينٌ صامِتٌ حَكَمُ

بَرٌّ أَمينٌ مُبينٌ صامِتٌ حَكَمُ

And what is truthful without speech or understanding—

Honest and silent though lacking speech or sense,

upright, trustworthy, making things clear, a silent arbiter?

Upright, trusted, manifest, wise referee.

يَقضي وليس له سَمْعٌ ولاَ بَصرٌ

يَقضي وليس له سَمْعٌ ولاَ بَصرٌ

وتَرْتضيه الوَرَى عَدْلاً إذا اخْتَصَموا

وتَرْتضيه الوَرَى عَدْلاً إذا اخْتَصَموا

It judges, though it has neither hearing nor sight,

Judges without hearing or sight,

and people accept it as just when they dispute.

People accept its rulings as fair when disputing.

خُذْها فأنتَ سَنَنْتَ المُضْمَرات لنا

خُذْها فأنتَ سَنَنْتَ المُضْمَرات لنا

وأنتَ أذْكَيْتَ ما مِنهنّ يَضْطَرِم

وأنتَ أذْكَيْتَ ما مِنهنّ يَضْطَرِم

Take them, for you set the pattern of riddles for us,

Take them, for you set out concealments for us

and you kindled what blazes among them.

And illuminated what of them burns bright.

واصبر لشَرْحِ معانِيها وإن عظُمَتْ

واصبر لشَرْحِ معانِيها وإن عظُمَتْ

كما بها جاءنا تيّارُكَ العَرِمُ

كما بها جاءنا تيّارُكَ العَرِمُ

And be patient in explaining their meanings, however great they may be,

Be patient explaining their meanings though plentiful

just as your raging torrent came to us bearing them.

As your gushing stream brought them to light.

فهاكَها بَبدِيع الحُسْنِ مُثقَلةً

فهاكَها بَبدِيع الحُسْنِ مُثقَلةً

يشكو حَرارتَها القِرْطاسُ والقَلَمُ

يشكو حَرارتَها القِرْطاسُ والقَلَمُ

So take them, laden with wondrous beauty;

Parchment and pen moan under their weight.

the paper and pen complain of their heat.

As though brides of plaited hair on script lines,

كأنّها في سطُور الخَطّ ماثلةً

كأنّها في سطُور الخَطّ ماثلةً

عروس خِدْرٍ خَلُوب الدَّلِّ تَغْتَلِمُ

عروس خِدْرٍ خَلُوب الدَّلِّ تَغْتَلِمُ

As though, standing within the lines of script, they were

Bashfully peeking, cheeks all aflush.

a bride in her bower, beguilingly coy, aflame with desire.