The Splendor of Spring’s Rain
In his depiction of spring, Badi’ al-Zaman al-Hamadhani states:
The brilliance of spring graces us with its water’s charm
Observe the magnificence of its land and sky.
The soil is rich, holding promise and delight
Illuminated by its light, water, and beauty.
And the waters dance between the ponds and streams
Reflecting the beauty of its clarity and purity.
The birds sing melodiously, like artists in flight,
As if the musician serenades with sweet melodies.
The flowers don’t restrain their dewy fragrance,
Gifting us their essence from the moisture they hold.
In the springtime, shops brim with fragrant wares,
And reveal their finest offerings to all who behold.
It’s as if every leader, when he appears,
Is filled with grace, clarity, and generosity.
The seekers and harvesters are drawn to him,
While those fleeing are beset by their regret.
What can compare to the sea in its flooding, or the rain in its fall,
Or the generous bounty in its torrents?
No gift is greater than this abundance lingering around his domain.
The enduring noblemen of his era,
Are revered through the eloquence of his praise and accolades.
Was the Zephyr Nothing But a Fleeting Dream?
In the following lines, al-Buhturi describes spring:
Was the breeze nothing but a soothing dream
That lingered like an echo and then faded away?
I find the briefest days are those celebrated in youth,
And the longer ones seem to harbor discontent.
I reveled in the folly of my youth, with no desire
To exchange it for a different fate even if tumult beckoned.
And the day of our meeting in parting remains etched
In memories; whenever recalled, my eyes bleed tears.
We met the one who ventured forth at dawn,
And together sought the haven we now longed for.
So I said, “Revel in our morning,” and my intention
Was but to summon the essence of our delightful gazelle.
And never did a heart enclosed within the sorrowful night
Rest unless it longed for the joy that breeze brought along.
I sang to the allure of the beauties who led me,
Until the buoyancy of youth slipped away from me.
In the past, I defied the critic’s words and did not heed
The harbingers of this grey hair, even if they admonished.
I tell the weeping clouds, as they move on,
With the scent of spring blooms wafting around me.
Whether less or more, you’ll not find an end,
Until you strive towards the essence of evermore.
For death is a peril not to be encountered;
Your demise might find you in the heart of battle.
A youth who adorned the night with splendor,
Illuminating the horizon once shrouded in darkness.
Grappling with conflicts that fortified his resolve,
And true finds of greatness will stand the test as well.
Nizar and Arib call to him and beckon,
To thrive through time as long as they can.
Humbly they cherish within their majestic grandeur,
For every great soul abhors the burden of pride.
An entire tribe blooms from his generosity,
And from them one particular is distinguished by their kin.
They have traversed the paths of generosity,
To pledge that his bounty equaled that of the sea.
Oh, Abu al-Qasim, did you not call upon the splendor of beings,
That filled the world’s terrain with blessings, both wretched and fair?
If a folk were to compare themselves alongside you,
They’d find themselves restrained by their struggles.
Peace be upon you, even if it’s a mere greeting,
Your visage alone suffices as a welcoming to us all.
Do you not perceive the stretch of the Euphrates, as if it were
The very mountains of Sharur, floating upon the waves?
And it was not of his customary grace that he saw,
But a virtue of his neighbor that he chose to learn.
And the expanse of the Syrian landscape no less,
A youth smiling brightly, welcome among the blossoms.
Spring arrived in jubilance, laughing brightly,
With its beauty so radiant that it almost began to speak.
Amidst the darkness of the night, Nowruz has awakened,
With the earliest blooms who just yesterday were lulled to slumber.
As the dew caresses them, it seems to reveal,
A hushed discourse that was once tightly held.
And from the trees, the spring garners its attire,
Like brocade that you skillfully wove for royalty.
It revealed a warmth to the hearts, as it was a newfound union,
And a glimmer for the eyes as it made its entrance.
And the breeze’s gentle caress calls towards your heart,
As if bringing the breath of beloved friends back to life.
What then restricts the wine that you’ve shared so freely?
What obstructs the strings from crafting melodious serenades?
For I have long been your comrade while the night grew weary,
As they yearn for the sparkle of bright stars on high.
You were bountiful before the cups, with no less grace,
And yet they could not manifest in your favor.
Welcome Spring and Its Blossoms
In his portrayal of spring, Sufi al-Hili remarks:
Welcome spring with its blossoms,
And the radiance of its beauty and light.
With the grace of its scenery and the fresh breezes,
And the elegance of its attire adorning the grass.
It is a season during which time delights in pride; for it
Is the one that adorns the epitome of poetic expression.
The gentle breeze substitutes for the need of remedy,
With its kindness felt during the calm and the rhythm of its return.
How lovely its flowers and fruits appear,
And the budding plants that burst with its yield!
And the birds echo throughout its trees,
Like graceful maidens who sing when they hear the flute.
The branches are clothed in blooms, once barren,
Since the inexorable winter couldn’t strip them bare.
Youths emerge with renewed youth after the cold; as the waters of spring
Surge through the roots of their renewal.
The flowers atop the branches resemble
A monarch, crowned by the loyalty of his courts.
And it seems like the arrows are adorned with pearls,
They serve as a necklace for the branches they rest upon.
And the jasmine seems like a lover caught in despair,
Longing for the caress of his beloved, taken away.
And behold the fragrant narcissus, sweet and alluring,
As if it were a beckoning gaze, awakening after a slumber.
Marvel at its blossoms and fragrances,
Gold-like, dazzling in the variety of their colors.
Look at the combination of the scattered and the intertwined,
Varied in their seasons and the grace of their gatherings.
Or behold the delicate clouds and the shapes that emerge
Before the eye, in their flow and gestures.
These clouds weave mourning in the sky,
While the earth rejoices in the wedding of time’s festive season.
It cried and the daffodil revealed its petals,
And bluebells glitter on their cheeks.
Water flows in the current of the Tigris with ease,
And bridges lie in their restraints and bonds.
Clouds imitate the water in its flow,
As water resembles clouds that are interspersed.
So rush into the elegant meadow,
For life is best among its simplicity and its abundance.
If you see a newly adorned blooming meadow,
Then sip from the vintage wine over the new spring.
From the palm of hands that multiply in generosity,
Get intoxicated with melodies and joys they convey.
Transparent as a crystal, behold it in its beauty,
A statue of your form within the clarity of its cheeks.
And when you reach the peak of intoxication,
Ease off to rekindle the understanding once sleeping.
For the matter of intoxication becomes excessive,
As in drinking, moderation melts into the limitless.
The Laughter of Spring Amidst the Tears of Rain
In his description of spring, Ibn al-Rumi expresses:
Spring laughs while the clouds weep,
As if it levels the plants with their peaks.
Among the greens that wear their capes,
A palette of vibrant hues, bursting alive.
Mixing its branches in sudden dance,
It appears as if graced by the earth.
The bright dawn flecks its brilliance,
Illuminating the veils of night, stretching on.
Even beasts find satisfaction within its bounty,
And the birds indulging in delectable meals.
For their meals are leisurely and undisturbed,
While doves serenade each other’s flight.
And amidst the emerald fields shines the wisdom
Of precious stones beneath the beads of dew.
And I see the poets’ palaces erected in adoration,
As they sway gently, causing a natural wonder.
The cemetery of flowers and the era of growth
Are twofold in their majesty and charm.
Spring calls against the backdrop of seasonal joys,
Whispering beautifully in passions lost and gained.
With candles that heighten the joy by day,
Illuminating the depths of darkness beneath your watch.
Marvel at the flames that flicker against sorrow,
Refusing to ignite within the depths of emptiness.
As if the richness of love veils all losses,
And jubilations emerge from every wound.
Spring has woven such splendor into view,
That even the weeping hearts cannot resist.
Renew Our Love and Remember the Spring
In his verses, Ibrahim Najy writes about spring:
Renew our love and speak to me of spring,
For I have lived embracing beauty’s allure.
I long to be swathed in the greenery’s embrace,
And rest behind the flowers, lifeless but dreaming.
Ah, take me to all our friends actively alive,
And unite us all in this season of flourishing.
Do not tell me to purchase joy and status,
For to me, the beauty of hills is worth more than all.
For others may possess the world and its treasures,
But my heart yearns solely for elevated beauty.
For it, I defied and suffered through life’s trials,
And I swore I’d yield to beauty alone, forever.
With sweet spring, I feast on blossoms and fragrances,
And hence bear no burdens of hunger.
For it is my sustenance amid the chaos of life,
And the empty lands it flourishes with abundance.
A Song of Spring
Badr Shakir al-Sayyab shares his thoughts on spring:
A dream of joyous horizons sketched by the wings of birds,
With amiable tidings dancing upon the hills amidst laughter.
Soft breezes sway upon the flowers of gardens and miniature streams,
As butterflies alight on the gentle blossoms of the field.
They rise and fall across the meadows like a joy-filled melody,
The dawn builds a lovely corner for dew among flowers.
Let us build a nest within our kisses,
For love needs a place in the heart’s decor.
The Birth of Spring
Abdullah al-Burduni illustrates the essence of spring:
Spring was born, fragrant with light,
Melodies fluttered like the bright-spread wings of poetry.
Its processions swept across the earth as,
A skilled player wafts over the strings.
Joyful and sweet, it surpasses the conversations of longing,
And sparkles like the whispers of fleeting dreams.
It is more delightful than the enchantments of spring,
And more tender than the silence of crying hearts.
Spring descended upon life as if it bore
A message to rekindle the youth within us.
Through it, the profound earth rejoices and sings,
As beauty dances on the surface of vivid charms.
It seems spring has brought about festivity
As whimsical tunes permeate the air with celebration.
And every height reveals a joyous melody,
With songs of the past now echoing within ancient walls.
Welcome to the Spring’s Full Bloom
Ahmad Shawqi conveys the beauty of spring:
Welcome, oh spring, in the fullness of your light,
And in your illuminations and sweet seasons.
The earth flourishes in joyous processions,
And time itself blossoms in its grand festival.
The wilderness returns smiling, bright with laughter,
Like a noble walking in his garden of joy.
It reclaims its splendor beneath its waves,
Extended by the majesty of its gardens.
Embellished in the elegance of gracefulness,
The land awakens with laughter and cheer.
Captivating as the glamor of eyes revealed,
Water cascades like jewels amidst the meadows.
Fantastical, the vision heightens with everlasting hues,
Rich in the chiseled colors of nature.
The touch of God is present in each form’s design,
Each intricate detail testifies to his sublime artistry.
As the groves hum a melody through the breezes,
The birds chirp sweet nothings in their gentle perches.
Beneath the flowers, the earth hums a gentle song,
As if harmonizing with nature’s celestial choir.
Every spirit dances in a melody akin to a wedding,
Gathering for joyous celebrations, all unfurling.
Songs fill the skies, promising harmony,
As spring unfolds its myriad meanings.
Where shall the light of spring be found among the flowers,
If all simply revel in its splendid beauty?