أبى الدَهرُ أَن يَلقاكَ إِلّا مُحارِباً

أبى الدَهرُ أَن يَلقاكَ إِلّا مُحارِباً

فَجَرِّد لَهُ سَيفاً مِن العَزمِ قاضِبا

فَجَرِّد لَهُ سَيفاً مِن العَزمِ قاضِبا

Time refuses to meet you except as a foe.

Time refused to meet you except as an adversary,

So draw against it a cutting sword of resolve.

So bare a sword of resolve against it, striking,

وَلا تَلقَهُ مُستَعتِباً مِن ظُلامَةٍ

وَلا تَلقَهُ مُستَعتِباً مِن ظُلامَةٍ

فَما الدَهرُ سَمّاعاً لِمَن جاءَ عاتِبا

فَما الدَهرُ سَمّاعاً لِمَن جاءَ عاتِبا

Do not meet it seeking redress for an injustice,

And do not meet it lamenting from darkness,

for Time is no eager listener to one who comes reproaching.

For time is no listener to one who comes complaining.

وَجانِب بَنيهِ ما اِستَطَعتَ فَإِنَّهُم

وَجانِب بَنيهِ ما اِستَطَعتَ فَإِنَّهُم

عَقارِبُ لَيلٍ لا تزالُ ضَوارِبا

عَقارِبُ لَيلٍ لا تزالُ ضَوارِبا

Avoid its sons as much as you can, for they

And avoid its sons as much as you are able, for they

are scorpions of the night, never ceasing to strike.

Are scorpions of night that never stop stabbing.

وَإِن كُنتَ ذا جَهلٍ بِهم فَاِغدُ أَو فَرُخ

وَإِن كُنتَ ذا جَهلٍ بِهم فَاِغدُ أَو فَرُخ

عَلَيَّ أُخبِّركَ الأُمورَ العَجائِبا

عَلَيَّ أُخبِّركَ الأُمورَ العَجائِبا

If you know nothing of them, come in the morning or evening

And if out of ignorance you mingle with them, awake or hatch

to me; I shall tell you wondrous things.

A chick, that I may tell you of wonders most strange.

بَلَوتُهُمُ دَهراً طَويلاً وَغَرَّني

بَلَوتُهُمُ دَهراً طَويلاً وَغَرَّني

تَلألُؤ آلٍ يُرجِعُ الطَّرفَ كاذِبا

تَلألُؤ آلٍ يُرجِعُ الطَّرفَ كاذِبا

I tested them for a long time, and was deceived by

Long have I tested them, and their glittering line deceived me,

a mirage's shimmer that sends the gaze back with a false report.

With a glance that turns the eye, lying.

وَجَرَّبتهُم حَتّى إِذا ما عَرَفتُهُم

وَجَرَّبتهُم حَتّى إِذا ما عَرَفتُهُم

عَرَفتُ رَزايا جَمَّةً وَمَصائِبا

عَرَفتُ رَزايا جَمَّةً وَمَصائِبا

I tried them until, once I knew them,

When I came to know them, I knew accumulated troubles and calamities.

I knew abundant calamities and disasters.

I kept company with men—would that I had been

وَصاحَبتُ أَقواماً أَلا لَيتَ أَنَّني

وَصاحَبتُ أَقواماً أَلا لَيتَ أَنَّني

تَبَدَّلتُ زِنجاً مِنهُمُ وَصَقالِبا

تَبَدَّلتُ زِنجاً مِنهُمُ وَصَقالِبا

I kept company with people—oh, if only I

Changed to a Zanj among them, and forged black!

had taken Zanj and Slavs in their place!

I thought them shady, sheltered shade and garden,

ظَنَنتُهُمُ ظِلّاً ظَليلاً وَجنَّةً

ظَنَنتُهُمُ ظِلّاً ظَليلاً وَجنَّةً

فَكانُوا سَموماً يَومَ صَيفٍ وَحاصِبا

فَكانُوا سَموماً يَومَ صَيفٍ وَحاصِبا

I thought them sheltering shade and a garden,

But they were summer’s poison, piercing with thorns.

but they were a scorching wind on a summer's day and a stone-pelting gale.

I suffered with them as roses suffer sneezes,

بُليتُ بِهِم كَالوَردِ يلقى معاطِساً

بُليتُ بِهِم كَالوَردِ يلقى معاطِساً

أَحَقُّ بِأَن يَلقى أَكُفّاً خَواضِبا

أَحَقُّ بِأَن يَلقى أَكُفّاً خَواضِبا

I was afflicted with them, like a rose encountering noses

More deserving to meet palms that clap and slap!

more deserving of meeting dye-stained palms.

They strove in my blood with effort, till it was as if

سَعوا في دَمي بِالجُهدِ حَتّى كَأَنَّني

سَعوا في دَمي بِالجُهدِ حَتّى كَأَنَّني

مِنَ الرُومِ قَد أعلمتُ جَيشاً مُحارِبا

مِنَ الرُومِ قَد أعلمتُ جَيشاً مُحارِبا

They strove with all their strength to shed my blood, as though I

I, for the Romans, had roused up an army fighting.

were of the Romans, having given a warring army its banners.

Nor did a heavy fetter and shackles on my legs in darkness

وَلَم يَكفِهُم قَيدٌ ثَقيلٌ وَخَشبَةٌ

وَلَم يَكفِهُم قَيدٌ ثَقيلٌ وَخَشبَةٌ

بِرِجليَ في دَهماءَ تُنسي المَصائِبا

بِرِجليَ في دَهماءَ تُنسي المَصائِبا

A heavy shackle and a wooden stock did not suffice them,

Suffice them, causing calamities to be forgotten.

on my feet in a dark dungeon that makes other calamities forgotten.

Matters there are which, were I to recount, their relation would be long,

وَأَشياءُ لَو عَدَّدتُها طالَ شرحُها

وَأَشياءُ لَو عَدَّدتُها طالَ شرحُها

وَلَم أُحصِها في مُحكَمِ النَّظمِ حاسِبا

وَلَم أُحصِها في مُحكَمِ النَّظمِ حاسِبا

And things which, were I to enumerate them, would take long to explain,

And I could not contain them in the measures of verse, reckoning.

nor did I tally them all, as a reckoner, in well-wrought verse.

May God reward with good every sneak I saw

جَزى اللَّهُ خَيراً كُلَّ ثاوٍ رَأَيتُهُ

جَزى اللَّهُ خَيراً كُلَّ ثاوٍ رَأَيتُهُ

بِبَغدادَ لا يَنفَكُّ بِالدَربِ سارِبا

بِبَغدادَ لا يَنفَكُّ بِالدَربِ سارِبا

May God reward with good every resident I saw

In Baghdad who walked the roads without stop, a thief.

in Baghdad, continually going along the lane.

From them I met no ill day, and never avoided

فَلَم أَلقَ مِنهُم يَومَ نَحسٍ وَلَم أَبِت

فَلَم أَلقَ مِنهُم يَومَ نَحسٍ وَلَم أَبِت

أُحاذِرُ مِنهُم جانِياً أَو مُواثِبا

أُحاذِرُ مِنهُم جانِياً أَو مُواثِبا

I met no ill-fated day at their hands, nor spent the night

A kinsman or suddenly attacking foe.

fearing a wrongdoer or assailant among them.

And there followed in meanness an exultant enemy whose heart

وَأَعقَبَ سوءاً شامِتاً سُرَّ قَلبُهُ

وَأَعقَبَ سوءاً شامِتاً سُرَّ قَلبُهُ

بِضَيمي وَأَضحى عاثِرَ الجدِّ خائِبا

بِضَيمي وَأَضحى عاثِرَ الجدِّ خائِبا

May He requite with evil a gloater whose heart rejoiced

Rejoiced at my injustice, though foiled in purpose.

at my oppression; may he become ill-starred and disappointed.

Did he rejoice for other than inventing slander

فَهَل سَرَّهُ إِلّا اِختلاقُ نَميمَةٍ

فَهَل سَرَّهُ إِلّا اِختلاقُ نَميمَةٍ

وَما زَالَ سَهماً لِلنَّميمَةِ صائِبا

وَما زَالَ سَهماً لِلنَّميمَةِ صائِبا

What delighted him but the invention of malicious gossip?

And sending constantly the arrows of slander?

He has always been an arrow of slander that strikes its mark.

Let not enemies think that because of what transpired

فَلا تَحسَبُ الأَعداءُ أَنّي لِما جَرى

فَلا تَحسَبُ الأَعداءُ أَنّي لِما جَرى

تَضعضَعتُ أَو أَعطَيتُ حبلي مُشاغِبا

تَضعضَعتُ أَو أَعطَيتُ حبلي مُشاغِبا

Let no enemies suppose that, because of what happened,

I wavered or slackened my rope in discord.

I have weakened or handed my rope to a troublemaker.

Before me, al-Nu‘man suffered his captivity in prison

فَقَبلي قَضى النُعمانُ في السِّجنِ نَحبَهُ

فَقَبلي قَضى النُعمانُ في السِّجنِ نَحبَهُ

وَغُودِرَ مَسلوباً وَقَد كانَ سالِبا

وَغُودِرَ مَسلوباً وَقَد كانَ سالِبا

Before me, al-Nu'man met his death in prison,

And was despoiled, though he had been a despoiler.

and was left despoiled, though he had been a despoiler.

And the son of Dhu ‘l-Jaddayn lived in shackles a time,

وَعاشَ اِبنُ ذي الجدَّينِ في الغُلِّ بُرهَةً

وَعاشَ اِبنُ ذي الجدَّينِ في الغُلِّ بُرهَةً

لَياليَ يَدعو قَومَهُ وَالعَصائِبا

لَياليَ يَدعو قَومَهُ وَالعَصائِبا

Ibn Dhi al-Jaddayn lived in fetters for a while,

Nights calling his tribe and the allied bands.

for nights calling upon his people and their bands.

The ills he resolved stunned Dhuhl b. Shayban

فَجلّت بُنو ذُهلِ بن شَيبانَ هَمَّهُ

فَجلّت بُنو ذُهلِ بن شَيبانَ هَمَّهُ

بِمَلمومَةٍ تُزجي العِتاقُ الشَوازِبا

بِمَلمومَةٍ تُزجي العِتاقُ الشَوازِبا

Then the sons of Dhuhl ibn Shayban dispelled his distress

With disasters that drive away the noble and pure of origin.

with a massed host driving lean thoroughbred steeds.

They took revenge with them on Chosroes’ spoils and still

أَفاؤوا بِها أَنفالَ كِسرى وَلَم تَزَل

أَفاؤوا بِها أَنفالَ كِسرى وَلَم تَزَل

تُفِيءُ السَّبايا خَيلُهُم وَالحَرائِبا

تُفِيءُ السَّبايا خَيلُهُم وَالحَرائِبا

With it they won Kisra's spoils; ceaselessly

Their cavalry return driving captives and slaves.

their horses brought back captives and plunder.

And had other than my tribe sought to wrong me,

وَلَو غَيرُ قَومي رامَ ظُلمي لَقَلَّصت

وَلَو غَيرُ قَومي رامَ ظُلمي لَقَلَّصت

خُصاهُ وَأَضحى قاصِرَ الخَطوِ لاغِبا

خُصاهُ وَأَضحى قاصِرَ الخَطوِ لاغِبا

Had anyone but my people sought to wrong me, shriveled would be

I would have docked its private parts, and it would wander confounded, diminished.

his testicles, and he would be short of stride and exhausted.

Let it look, below me, upon a band of the virtuous,

لعايَنَ دوني عُصبَةً عَبدَلِيَّةً

لعايَنَ دوني عُصبَةً عَبدَلِيَّةً

تَسامى فُرادى لِلعُلا وَمُقانِبا

تَسامى فُرادى لِلعُلا وَمُقانِبا

He would have seen before me an 'Abdali band,

Sublime when solitary, and piercing stars.

striving upward toward glory, singly and in squadrons.

أَبوها أَبي إِن أَدعُها وَجُدودُها

أَبوها أَبي إِن أَدعُها وَجُدودُها

جدُودي إِذا عَدَّ الرِّجالُ المناسِبا

جدُودي إِذا عَدَّ الرِّجالُ المناسِبا

Their father is my father when I call them, and their forefathers

Their father—if I call them—is my father, and their ancestors

are my forefathers when men count lineages.

Are my ancestors, if men enumerate the fitting.

وَمِن آلِ إِبراهيمَ كُلّ مُذَبِّبٍ

وَمِن آلِ إِبراهيمَ كُلّ مُذَبِّبٍ

عَنِ المَجدِ يَحتَلُّ الذُرى وَالغَوارِبا

عَنِ المَجدِ يَحتَلُّ الذُرى وَالغَوارِبا

And from the house of Ibrahim, every defender

And of Abraham’s seed are all who kindle

of glory, dwelling on summits and lofty crests.

Glory, donning the garments of greatness.

أَلا لَيتَهُ مِن غَيرِهم فَأَردُّهُ

أَلا لَيتَهُ مِن غَيرِهم فَأَردُّهُ

بِهم فَيَروحُ الدَهرُ خَزيانَ ناكِبا

بِهم فَيَروحُ الدَهرُ خَزيانَ ناكِبا

Oh, if only he were not one of them, then I would repel him

Would that one of them other than these drive them back!

with them, and Time would depart disgraced and retreating.

Then time would wander abased, retreating.

فَيا راكِباً تَطوي بِهِ البِيدَ جَسرَةٌ

فَيا راكِباً تَطوي بِهِ البِيدَ جَسرَةٌ

وَتَغتالُ غيطانَ الفَلا وَالأَخاشِبا

وَتَغتالُ غيطانَ الفَلا وَالأَخاشِبا

O rider, for whom a sturdy she-camel folds up the wastes,

O rider who crosses the waste, borne

and devours the wilderness's hollows and rugged hills,

On a lively she-camel leaping over the dune and thickets,

إِذا أَنتَ أَلقَيتَ العِصيَّ مُخَيِّماً

إِذا أَنتَ أَلقَيتَ العِصيَّ مُخَيِّماً

بِالاِحسا وَجاوَرتَ المُلوكَ الأَطايِبا

بِالاِحسا وَجاوَرتَ المُلوكَ الأَطايِبا

when you lay down your staffs, making camp

When you alight, camping in al-Ahsā’, neighboring

in al-Ahsa and lodging beside the noblest kings,

Kings whose abodes remain pure, unsullied,

فيمِّم لِجَرعاءِ الشَّمالِ فَإِنَّ لِي

فيمِّم لِجَرعاءِ الشَّمالِ فَإِنَّ لِي

بِها خِلَّةً أَشتاقُها وَمَلاعِبا

بِها خِلَّةً أَشتاقُها وَمَلاعِبا

then head for Jar'a of the North, for I have

Travel on to Jar‘ā’ in the north, for I have

there a beloved I long for, and places of play.

An ardor for it that I yearn for and sport with.

وَقِف وَقفَةً بِالدَّربِ غَربِيَّ بابِها

وَقِف وَقفَةً بِالدَّربِ غَربِيَّ بابِها

فَثَمَّ تلاقي أُسرَتي وَالأَقارِبا

فَثَمَّ تلاقي أُسرَتي وَالأَقارِبا

Pause awhile on the road west of its gate;

Stop for a stop on the west road at its gate,

there you will meet my family and relatives.

Where you will meet my family and kin.

فَتَلقى مُلوكاً كَالأَهِلَّةِ لَم تَزَل

فَتَلقى مُلوكاً كَالأَهِلَّةِ لَم تَزَل

تَهشُّ إِلى الجُلّى وَتَأبى المَعايِبا

تَهشُّ إِلى الجُلّى وَتَأبى المَعايِبا

You will meet kings like crescent moons, who have always

You will meet kings like the ahlah whose abodes

welcomed great challenges and spurned disgraceful faults.

Ever sought the heights and refused baseness.

وَإِن تَأتِ قَصرَ القُرمُطِيِّ تَجِد بِهِ

وَإِن تَأتِ قَصرَ القُرمُطِيِّ تَجِد بِهِ

جَماجِمَ قَومي وَالقُرومَ المَصاعِبا

جَماجِمَ قَومي وَالقُرومَ المَصاعِبا

If you come to al-Qurmuti's palace, you will find there

If you come to Qurmis’ palace, you will find in it

the heads of my people and their untamable champions,

The skulls of my people and days heavy with calamities.

ذَوي المُلكِ وَالتيجانِ وَالمَنصِبِ الَّذي

ذَوي المُلكِ وَالتيجانِ وَالمَنصِبِ الَّذي

سَما فَعلا فَخراً فَجازَ الكَواكِبا

سَما فَعلا فَخراً فَجازَ الكَواكِبا

possessors of kingship, crowns, and the rank that

Possessors of rule, crown, and office—that

rose, soared in glory, and passed beyond the stars.

Soared to the heights, traversing the stars.

فَقُل لَهُمُ بَعدَ السَلامِ مَقالَةً

فَقُل لَهُمُ بَعدَ السَلامِ مَقالَةً

تَعمُّ بِها عَنّي شَباباً وَشائِبا

تَعمُّ بِها عَنّي شَباباً وَشائِبا

Tell them, after your greeting, a message

Say to them, after greeting, words

that reaches, on my behalf, young and gray-haired alike.

That announce me to youth and graybeard alike:

أَلا يا لَقَومي وَالفَتى حينَ يَرتَمي

أَلا يا لَقَومي وَالفَتى حينَ يَرتَمي

بِهِ الدَهرُ يَدعو قَومَهُ لا الأَجانِبا

بِهِ الدَهرُ يَدعو قَومَهُ لا الأَجانِبا

O my people, help! A young man, when hurled

“Ho, my people, the young man when

about by Time, calls his own people, not strangers.

Time casts him forth calls his tribe, not strangers!

كَفى حزناً أَنّي بِبَغدادَ مُفرَدٌ

كَفى حزناً أَنّي بِبَغدادَ مُفرَدٌ

عِنِ الأَهلِ أَلقى كُلَّ يَومٍ عَجائِبا

عِنِ الأَهلِ أَلقى كُلَّ يَومٍ عَجائِبا

It is sorrow enough that I am alone in Baghdad,

“Enough of sorrow that in Baghdad I stand

away from my family, meeting wonders every day.

Alone, far from family, meeting each day wonders.

وَيَشتاقُكُم قَلبي فَأَذكُرُ دونَكُم

وَيَشتاقُكُم قَلبي فَأَذكُرُ دونَكُم

مَهامِهَ لا أَشتاقُها وَسَباسِبا

مَهامِهَ لا أَشتاقُها وَسَباسِبا

My heart longs for you; then I remember, between me and you,

“My heart yearns for you—and I remember apart from you

desert wastes I do not long for, and barren plains.

Concerns I do not yearn for and trifles.

فَيسهلُ عِندي خَوضُها فَيعزُّ لي

فَيسهلُ عِندي خَوضُها فَيعزُّ لي

تَذَكُّرُ حالاتٍ أَشَبنَ الذَوائِبا

تَذَكُّرُ حالاتٍ أَشَبنَ الذَوائِبا

Crossing them seems easy to me, but hard for me is

“So to plunge into them is easier for me, but more difficult

the memory of circumstances that turned my forelocks gray.

Is to remember circumstances that mingled misfortunes.

وَلا عارَ في ضَيمِ المُلوكِ عَلى الفَتى

وَلا عارَ في ضَيمِ المُلوكِ عَلى الفَتى

وَما زَالَ حُكمُ السَيفِ في الأَرضِ غالِبا

وَما زَالَ حُكمُ السَيفِ في الأَرضِ غالِبا

There is no shame upon a young man in oppression by kings;

“There is no shame in the injustice of kings against the youth.

the sword's rule has always prevailed on earth.

Ever victorious in the land has been the judgment of the sword.

بَلى إِنَّ ضَيمَ الأَقرَبينَ وَجَدتُهُ

بَلى إِنَّ ضَيمَ الأَقرَبينَ وَجَدتُهُ

أَشَدَّ عَلى الأَحشاءِ حرّاً وَلاهِبا

أَشَدَّ عَلى الأَحشاءِ حرّاً وَلاهِبا

Yet oppression by those nearest to me, I have found,

“But the wrong done me by kinsmen—that I found

is harsher on the innards, in heat and searing flame.

Hotter upon my heart, burning and flaming!

أَلا إِنَّهُ الداءُ العَياءُ وَإِنَّهُ الش

أَلا إِنَّهُ الداءُ العَياءُ وَإِنَّهُ الش

شجا في التَراقي وَالمُزيلُ المَراتِبا

شجا في التَراقي وَالمُزيلُ المَراتِبا

Indeed, it is the incurable disease, and it is the—

“O no! It is the naked ill, the cleaving wound, and it

choking obstruction at the collarbones, and the undoer of ranks.

Broke apart the necklaces and stripped away the ranks.

وَلَولا بَناتُ العامِرِيَّةِ لَم أَكُن

وَلَولا بَناتُ العامِرِيَّةِ لَم أَكُن

لِأَلوي إِلى دارِ المَذَلَّةِ جانِبا

لِأَلوي إِلى دارِ المَذَلَّةِ جانِبا

Were it not for al-'Amiriyya's daughters, I would not

“Were it not for the Abbasid’s daughters, I would not

turn my side toward the abode of humiliation.

Incline to the abode of humiliation and feebleness.

لَقَد كانَ لِي بِالأَهلِ أَهلٌ وَبِالغِنى

لَقَد كانَ لِي بِالأَهلِ أَهلٌ وَبِالغِنى

فِناءٌ وَأَلقى بِالمُصاحِبِ صاحِبا

فِناءٌ وَأَلقى بِالمُصاحِبِ صاحِبا

I surely had kin in place of kin, and through wealth

“I had family through my family, and in riches,

a courtyard; and I could find one companion in place of another.

Perishing. I met with a companion, companioned.

وَلَكِنَّني أَخشى عَلَيهنَّ أَن يَرى

وَلَكِنَّني أَخشى عَلَيهنَّ أَن يَرى

بِهِنَّ عَدوٌّ مالَهُ كانَ طالِبا

بِهِنَّ عَدوٌّ مالَهُ كانَ طالِبا

But I fear for them, lest there be seen

“But I fear for them that an enemy who has no wealth might see

in them, by an enemy, what he had been seeking:

In them war’s lights extinguished, gloomy.

مُقاساة ضُرٍّ أَو مُعاناة غُربَةٍ

مُقاساة ضُرٍّ أَو مُعاناة غُربَةٍ

تُريهنَّ أَنوارِ الصَّباحِ غَياهِبا

تُريهنَّ أَنوارِ الصَّباحِ غَياهِبا

the suffering of harm or the endurance of exile

“I loathe that they wake in other than my company,

that makes morning's lights seem deepest darkness to them.

So I wake to their disasters turned back on me.

وَآنفُ أَن يُصبِحنَ في غَيرِ مَعشَري

وَآنفُ أَن يُصبِحنَ في غَيرِ مَعشَري

فَأُصبِحُ قَد رَدّوا عَلَيَّ النَصائِبا

فَأُصبِحُ قَد رَدّوا عَلَيَّ النَصائِبا

I disdain that they should end up among anyone but my people,

“They wake having been married off either to some

only to find that they have turned their snares back against me.

Vile armored man who sees kindness as obliging poverty,

فَيُصبِحنَ قَد أُنكِحنَ إِمّا مُدَرَّعاً

فَيُصبِحنَ قَد أُنكِحنَ إِمّا مُدَرَّعاً

لَئيماً يَرى الإِحسانَ لِلفَقرِ جالِبا

لَئيماً يَرى الإِحسانَ لِلفَقرِ جالِبا

Then they might be married off to either a mail-clad man,

“Or the son of a lost and straying wretch

ignoble, who considers kindness a bringer of poverty,

Called to unbelief by misguidance, a recluse.

وَإِمّا اِبنَ ضِلٍّ تائِهٍ في ضَلالَةٍ

وَإِمّا اِبنَ ضِلٍّ تائِهٍ في ضَلالَةٍ

مِنَ الغيِّ تَدعوهُ الطَواغيتُ راهِبا

مِنَ الغيِّ تَدعوهُ الطَواغيتُ راهِبا

or a son of a nobody, wandering in delusion

“Like Nu‘m’s daughter, married off when

of error, whom the false gods call a monk.

He slipped away in Sa‘d’s misfortune, fleeing,

كَما نُكِحَت بِنتُ المُهَلهلِ إِذ غَدا

كَما نُكِحَت بِنتُ المُهَلهلِ إِذ غَدا

مِنَ الضَّيمِ في سَعدِ العَشيرَةِ هارِبا

مِنَ الضَّيمِ في سَعدِ العَشيرَةِ هارِبا

As al-Muhalhil's daughter was married off when he went

“With the slightest bride price to a suitor in straits

fleeing oppression among Sa'd al-'Ashira,

While her father swallowed the burning coals.

بِأَيسَرِ مَهرٍ عِندَ أَلأَمِ خاطِبٍ

بِأَيسَرِ مَهرٍ عِندَ أَلأَمِ خاطِبٍ

وَوالِدُها غَيظاً يَعضُّ الرَواجِبا

وَوالِدُها غَيظاً يَعضُّ الرَواجِبا

for the smallest bride-price, to the meanest suitor,

“Had she woken in the house of Bakr or Taghlib,

while her father, in fury, bit his finger-joints.

No lowborn would have sought to court her.

وَلَو أَصبَحَت في دارِ بَكرٍ وَتَغلِبٍ

وَلَو أَصبَحَت في دارِ بَكرٍ وَتَغلِبٍ

لَما رامَ أَن يَأتي لَها النَّذلُ خاطِبا

لَما رامَ أَن يَأتي لَها النَّذلُ خاطِبا

Had she been in the land of Bakr and Taghlib,

“O Ibn Abi Rafa’, gently with them! Be

the vile man would not have sought to come courting her.

A father who perseveres in honoring them!

فَيا اِبنَ أَبي رِفقاً بِهنَّ وَكُن أَباً

فَيا اِبنَ أَبي رِفقاً بِهنَّ وَكُن أَباً

مُديباً عَلى إِكرامِهِنَّ مُواظِبا

مُديباً عَلى إِكرامِهِنَّ مُواظِبا

O son of my father, be gentle with them, and be a father

“Be patient, endure, lower your wing in mercy

attentive, steadfast in honoring them.

To them, and do not frown on them, sullen.

وَصِل وَاِحتَمِل وَاِخفِض جَناحَكَ رَحمَةً

وَصِل وَاِحتَمِل وَاِخفِض جَناحَكَ رَحمَةً

لَهُنَّ وَلا تَقطِب عَلَيهنَّ حاجِبا

لَهُنَّ وَلا تَقطِب عَلَيهنَّ حاجِبا

Keep ties, bear patiently, and lower your wing in mercy

“Beware lest you treat them with coldness, for I

toward them, and do not knit your brow at them.

See death walking barefoot, plunging, if you neglect them.

وَحاذِر عَلَيهنَّ الجَفاءَ فَإِنَّني

وَحاذِر عَلَيهنَّ الجَفاءَ فَإِنَّني

أَرى المَوتَ أَن يَمشينَ شُعثاً سَواغِبا

أَرى المَوتَ أَن يَمشينَ شُعثاً سَواغِبا

Beware of harshness toward them, for I

“If I leave them well, fortunate

see death in their walking disheveled and hungry.

Against the days, they will dwell among the piercing stars.

فَإِن سَلِمَت نَفسي لَهُنَّ هَنيئَةً

فَإِن سَلِمَت نَفسي لَهُنَّ هَنيئَةً

مِنَ الدَهرِ جاوَرنَ النُّجومَ الثَواقِبا

مِنَ الدَهرِ جاوَرنَ النُّجومَ الثَواقِبا

If my life remains safe and untroubled for them

“Time will return to me after its passion,

from Time, they shall dwell beside the piercing stars.

Its cheeks spread in the dust repenting,

وَعادَ إِليَّ الدَهرُ بَعدَ غَرامِهِ

وَعادَ إِليَّ الدَهرُ بَعدَ غَرامِهِ

يعفِّرُ خَدَّيهِ عَلى الأَرضِ تائِبا

يعفِّرُ خَدَّيهِ عَلى الأَرضِ تائِبا

And Time shall return to me after its relentless torment,

“As before me it came pleading to my father,

rubbing its cheeks in the earth, repentant,

Having decided to flex its claws against him.

كَما جاءَ قَبلي مُستَكيناً إِلى أَبي

كَما جاءَ قَبلي مُستَكيناً إِلى أَبي

وَقَد همَّ أَن يَلوي عَلَيهِ المَخالِبا

وَقَد همَّ أَن يَلوي عَلَيهِ المَخالِبا

as it came before me, submissive, to my father,

“For us is an unbroken custom from God—

though it had intended to curl its claws around him.

To elevate us with favors and grant our wishes.

وَلِلّهِ فينا عادَةٌ مُستَمِرَّةٌ

وَلِلّهِ فينا عادَةٌ مُستَمِرَّةٌ

يُجلّلُنا النُّعمى وَيُعطي الرَغائِبا

يُجلّلُنا النُّعمى وَيُعطي الرَغائِبا

God has with us an unbroken custom:

“Thanks to Him, then, beneficent, gracious to us,

He clothes us in blessings and grants desired gifts.

Praise penetrating time, lasting.”

فَشُكراً لَهُ مِن مُنعِمٍ مُتَفَضَّلٍ

فَشُكراً لَهُ مِن مُنعِمٍ مُتَفَضَّلٍ

عَلَينا وَحَمداً ينفذُ الدَهر واصِبا

عَلَينا وَحَمداً ينفذُ الدَهر واصِبا

So thanks to Him, a benefactor bestowing bounty

upon us, and unceasing praise that passes through Time.