أُمَيمُ لا تُنكِري حِلّي وَمُرتَحَلي

أُمَيمُ لا تُنكِري حِلّي وَمُرتَحَلي

إِنَّ الفَتى لَم يَزَل كَلّاً عَلى الإِبِلِ

إِنَّ الفَتى لَم يَزَل كَلّاً عَلى الإِبِلِ

Umaym, do not disapprove of my settling and departing.

Ummayma, do not deny my fine garments and possessions,

For a young man has ever been a burden upon camels.

For the youth has always been wrapped up with camels.

وَسائِلي وارِدَ الرُكبانِ عَن خَبَري

وَسائِلي وارِدَ الرُكبانِ عَن خَبَري

يُنبيكِ أَنّيَ عَينُ الماجِدِ البَطَلِ

يُنبيكِ أَنّيَ عَينُ الماجِدِ البَطَلِ

And ask the arriving rider for news of me;

Ask the caravan leaders about my news,

he will tell you I am the very embodiment of the noble hero.

It will inform you that I am the eye of the heroic warrior.

لا أَشرَبُ الماءَ ما لَم يَصفُ مَورِدُهُ

لا أَشرَبُ الماءَ ما لَم يَصفُ مَورِدُهُ

وَلا أَقولُ لِمُعوَجِّ الوِصالِ صِلِ

وَلا أَقولُ لِمُعوَجِّ الوِصالِ صِلِ

I do not drink water unless its watering place is clear,

I do not drink water unless its source is clear,

nor tell one crooked in affection, "Keep our bond."

Nor do I say to the crooked lover, "Unite with me!"

تُكَلِّفِيني مُقاماً بَينَ أَظهُرِكُم

تُكَلِّفِيني مُقاماً بَينَ أَظهُرِكُم

وَلَيسَ يَبدُو فِرِندُ السَيفِ في الخِلَلِ

وَلَيسَ يَبدُو فِرِندُ السَيفِ في الخِلَلِ

You require me to remain among you,

You impose on me to stay among you,

yet a sword's damask does not show within its sheath.

Yet the gleam of the sword does not show through cracks.

ما دامَتِ البيضُ في الأَجفانِ مُغمَدَةً

ما دامَتِ البيضُ في الأَجفانِ مُغمَدَةً

فَما يَبينُ لَها في الهامِ مِن عَمَلِ

فَما يَبينُ لَها في الهامِ مِن عَمَلِ

As long as bright swords remain sheathed in their scabbards,

As long as the whites of eyes are still sheathed,

no work of theirs upon heads can be seen.

Nothing manifests itself to them in determination.

وَفي التَنَقُّلِ عِزٌّ لِلفَتى وَعُلاً

وَفي التَنَقُّلِ عِزٌّ لِلفَتى وَعُلاً

لَم يَكمُلِ البَدرُ لَولا كَثرَةُ النَقلِ

لَم يَكمُلِ البَدرُ لَولا كَثرَةُ النَقلِ

In traveling there is honor and loftiness for a young man;

Moving around brings honor and elevation to the youth,

the moon would never become full but for its many movements.

The full moon would not be complete without frequent movement.

وَالمَندَلُ الرَطبُ في أَوطانِهِ حَطَبٌ

وَالمَندَلُ الرَطبُ في أَوطانِهِ حَطَبٌ

وَقَد يُقوَّمُ في الأَسفارِ بِالجُملِ

وَقَد يُقوَّمُ في الأَسفارِ بِالجُملِ

Fresh aloeswood is mere firewood in its native lands,

While still moist, the date fruit is just firewood in its homelands,

yet abroad it may be valued at great sums.

But when traveling it can be bartered for a camel.

داوَيتُكُم جاهِداً لَو أَنَّ داءَكُمُ

داوَيتُكُم جاهِداً لَو أَنَّ داءَكُمُ

مِمّا يُداوى بِغَيرِ البيضِ وَالأَسَلِ

مِمّا يُداوى بِغَيرِ البيضِ وَالأَسَلِ

I would have striven to cure you, had your sickness

I would have cured you, striving hard, if your disease

been curable by anything but bright swords and spears.

Could be treated without eggs and honey.

وَكُلَّما زادَ نُصحي زادَ غَيُّكُمُ

وَكُلَّما زادَ نُصحي زادَ غَيُّكُمُ

لا بارَكَ اللَهُ في وُدٍّ عَلى دَخَلِ

لا بارَكَ اللَهُ في وُدٍّ عَلى دَخَلِ

Whenever my counsel increased, your waywardness increased.

But the more my advice increased, the more your disdain grew,

May God grant no blessing to affection founded on deceit.

May God not bless an affection built on fraud!

أَسَأتمُ وَظَنَنتُم لا أَباً لَكُمُ

أَسَأتمُ وَظَنَنتُم لا أَباً لَكُمُ

أَن لا أُحِسَّ بِطَعمِ الصابِ في العَسَلِ

أَن لا أُحِسَّ بِطَعمِ الصابِ في العَسَلِ

You did wrong and supposed—may you have no father!—

You did wrong and assumed I have no sense

that I would not detect bitter sap in honey.

To taste the bitterness mixed into the honey.

إِن أَترُكِ العَودَ في أَمرِ اِغتِنائِكُمُ

إِن أَترُكِ العَودَ في أَمرِ اِغتِنائِكُمُ

فَنَهلَةُ الطَرفِ مَجزاةٌ عَنِ العَلَلِ

فَنَهلَةُ الطَرفِ مَجزاةٌ عَنِ العَلَلِ

If I stop returning to the work of enriching you,

If I refrain from the lute during your times of need,

a noble steed's first draught suffices instead of further drinks.

The gaze of my eyes makes up for illnesses.

كَم قَد غَرَستُ مِنَ الإحسانِ عِندَكُمُ

كَم قَد غَرَستُ مِنَ الإحسانِ عِندَكُمُ

لَو يُثمِرُ الغَرسُ في صَفواءَ مِن جَبَلِ

لَو يُثمِرُ الغَرسُ في صَفواءَ مِن جَبَلِ

How much kindness I have planted among you—

How much virtue have I planted in you

if only planting could bear fruit on a mountain's smooth rock!

If only plants would fruit on barren mountains!

لا تَحسَبُوا أَنَّ بُعدَ الدارِ أَوحَشَني

لا تَحسَبُوا أَنَّ بُعدَ الدارِ أَوحَشَني

البُعدَ آنَسُ مِن قُربٍ عَلى دَغَلِ

البُعدَ آنَسُ مِن قُربٍ عَلى دَغَلِ

Do not suppose that distance from home has made me lonely:

Do not think the distance of my house has saddened me,

distance is more companionable than closeness founded on treachery.

Distance is more intimate than nearness built on fraud.

لَقَد تَبَدَّلتُ مِنكُم خَيرَ ما بَدَلٍ

لَقَد تَبَدَّلتُ مِنكُم خَيرَ ما بَدَلٍ

فَاِستَبدِلُوا الآنَ مِنّي شَرَّ ما بَدَلِ

فَاِستَبدِلُوا الآنَ مِنّي شَرَّ ما بَدَلِ

Indeed, I have exchanged you for the finest replacement;

I have changed from you only the best change,

now exchange me for the worst replacement.

So now change from me the worst you can exchange!

شَرُّ الأَخِلّاءِ مَن تَسري عَقارِبُهُ

شَرُّ الأَخِلّاءِ مَن تَسري عَقارِبُهُ

لا خَيرَ في آدِمٍ يُطوى عَلى نَغلِ

لا خَيرَ في آدِمٍ يُطوى عَلى نَغلِ

The worst of friends is one whose scorpions creep by night;

The most wicked companion is one whose hours

there is no good in a hide folded over rot.

Creep by - no good in a man who twists and turns!

لا تَنقِمُونَ عَلى مَن لا يَبيتُ لَكُم

لا تَنقِمُونَ عَلى مَن لا يَبيتُ لَكُم

مِنهُ سَوامٌ وَلا عِرضٌ عَلى وَجَلِ

مِنهُ سَوامٌ وَلا عِرضٌ عَلى وَجَلِ

You have no cause to resent a man who never leaves your

Do not complain about one who does not spend his nights scheming against you

herds or honor in fear of him through the night.

Or jeopardize your honor on a whim.

يُزانُ ناديكُمُ يَومَ الخِصامِ بِهِ

يُزانُ ناديكُمُ يَومَ الخِصامِ بِهِ

كَما تُزانُ بُيُوتُ الشِعرِ بِالمَثَلِ

كَما تُزانُ بُيُوتُ الشِعرِ بِالمَثَلِ

He adorns your assembly on the day of dispute,

Your party will be weighed on the day of reckoning

as a proverb adorns verses of poetry.

As poems are weighed by proverbs.

إِذا خَطِيبُكُم أَكدَت بَلاغَتُهُ

إِذا خَطِيبُكُم أَكدَت بَلاغَتُهُ

أَجابَ عَنهُ فَلَم يُقصِر وَلَم يُطِلِ

أَجابَ عَنهُ فَلَم يُقصِر وَلَم يُطِلِ

When your orator's eloquence fails,

When your speaker makes his most eloquent address

he answers in his stead, neither falling short nor speaking too long.

And is answered without undue brevity or length.

أَثرى زَماناً فَلَم يَذمُمهُ سائِلُهُ

أَثرى زَماناً فَلَم يَذمُمهُ سائِلُهُ

وَقَلَّ مالاً فَلَم يَضرَع وَلَم يَسَلِ

وَقَلَّ مالاً فَلَم يَضرَع وَلَم يَسَلِ

He was wealthy for a time, and no petitioner faulted him;

I enriched an era but no petitioner found fault in it,

when his wealth dwindled, he neither humbled himself nor begged.

I lacked wealth but did not plead or beg.

يَكسُوكُمُ كُلَّ يَومٍ مِن مَحاسِنِهِ

يَكسُوكُمُ كُلَّ يَومٍ مِن مَحاسِنِهِ

وَمَجدِهِ حُلَلاً أَبهى مِنَ الحُلَلِ

وَمَجدِهِ حُلَلاً أَبهى مِنَ الحُلَلِ

Each day he clothes you, from his virtues

Every day it clothes you in its virtues

and his glory, in robes more splendid than other robes.

And glories, garments more splendid than splendid garb.

وَلَم يَزَل هَمُّهُ تَشييدَ مَجدِكُمُ

وَلَم يَزَل هَمُّهُ تَشييدَ مَجدِكُمُ

يَوَدُّ لَو أَنَّهُ أَوفى عَلى زُحَلِ

يَوَدُّ لَو أَنَّهُ أَوفى عَلى زُحَلِ

His concern has always been to build your glory,

His sole concern has been to establish your glory,

wishing it might rise above Saturn.

He only wishes he had reached the zenith.

يُهينُ في وُدِّكُم مَن لا يَوَدُّ لَهُ

يُهينُ في وُدِّكُم مَن لا يَوَدُّ لَهُ

هُوناً وَيُكرِمُ فيهِ عِلَّةَ العِلَلِ

هُوناً وَيُكرِمُ فيهِ عِلَّةَ العِلَلِ

For love of you, he humiliates one for whom he wishes

He humiliates in his affection those who do not love him,

no humiliation, and for that love honors the source of all afflictions.

And honors the impaired and infirm.

إِن قُلتُمُ الخَيرَ يَوماً قالَ مُبتَجِحاً

إِن قُلتُمُ الخَيرَ يَوماً قالَ مُبتَجِحاً

عَنكُم وَإِن قُلتُمُ العَوراءَ لَم يَقُلِ

عَنكُم وَإِن قُلتُمُ العَوراءَ لَم يَقُلِ

If you speak well one day, he speaks proudly

If you speak well one day, he says insolently,

on your behalf; but if you utter shameful words, he is silent.

"It didn't come from you," but if you speak nonsense, he is silent.

ما ضَرَّكُم لَو وَفَيتُم فَالكَريمُ إِذا

ما ضَرَّكُم لَو وَفَيتُم فَالكَريمُ إِذا

حالَ اللَئيمُ وَفى طَبعاً وَلَم يَحلِ

حالَ اللَئيمُ وَفى طَبعاً وَلَم يَحلِ

What harm would loyalty have done you? For the noble man, when

What harm to you, if you had kept your word? The noble,

the base man changes, remains faithful by nature and never changes.

When the ignoble fail their word through nature, not choice.

أَلَستُ أَوفاكُمُ عَهداً وَأَحلَمُكُم

أَلَستُ أَوفاكُمُ عَهداً وَأَحلَمُكُم

عَقداً وَأَقوَمُكُم بِالفَرضِ وَالنَفَلِ

عَقداً وَأَقوَمُكُم بِالفَرضِ وَالنَفَلِ

Am I not your most faithful in covenant, and your wisest

Have I not been truest to my vow to you,

in resolve, and your most steadfast in duties and voluntary deeds?

And most forbearing of pacts, and most steadfast in duty and supererogation?

أَلَيسَ بَيتُكُم في العِزِّ مَركَزُهُ

أَلَيسَ بَيتُكُم في العِزِّ مَركَزُهُ

بَيتي فَما كانَ مِن فَخرٍ فَمِن قبلي

بَيتي فَما كانَ مِن فَخرٍ فَمِن قبلي

Is not the foundation of your house's honor

Is not the position of your house one of glory?

my house? Whatever pride you have comes from me.

My house - whatever pride is because of me!

أَلَستُ أَطوَلَكُم في كُلِّ مَكرُمَةٍ

أَلَستُ أَطوَلَكُم في كُلِّ مَكرُمَةٍ

باعاً وَأَحملَكُم لِلحادِثِ الجَلَلِ

باعاً وَأَحملَكُم لِلحادِثِ الجَلَلِ

Am I not, in every noble deed, the greatest of you

Am I not most open-handed in every honor,

in reach, and the most able to bear a grievous calamity?

And most burdened by grave events?

كَم يَنفُقُ الغِشُّ فِيكُم وَالنِفاقُ وَكَم

كَم يَنفُقُ الغِشُّ فِيكُم وَالنِفاقُ وَكَم

لا تَرغَبُونَ إِلى نُصحٍ ولا عَذَلِ

لا تَرغَبُونَ إِلى نُصحٍ ولا عَذَلِ

How readily deceit and hypocrisy sell among you, and how often

How much hypocrisy and ostentation is spent among you,

you refuse to heed either counsel or rebuke!

And you do not incline toward honest advice or rebuke!

إِن يُمسِ مَقتُكُمُ حَظّي فَحُقَّ لَكُم

إِن يُمسِ مَقتُكُمُ حَظّي فَحُقَّ لَكُم

الوَردُ مِن قُربِهِ يُغمى عَلى الجُعَلِ

الوَردُ مِن قُربِهِ يُغمى عَلى الجُعَلِ

If your hatred becomes my portion, it is only fitting for you:

If your dislike befalls my fortune, that is your right,

the rose makes the dung beetle faint merely by its nearness.

The nearest rose pricks deepest in the palm.

وَإِن عَكَفتُم عَلى من لا خَلاقَ لَهُ

وَإِن عَكَفتُم عَلى من لا خَلاقَ لَهُ

دُوني فَقَد عَكَفَت قَومٌ عَلى هُبَلِ

دُوني فَقَد عَكَفَت قَومٌ عَلى هُبَلِ

And if you devote yourselves to one with no merit,

But if you devote yourselves to one of no merit,

instead of me, a people once devoted themselves to Hubal.

Over me, a people has devoted itself to raving madness!

أَمَّلتُ دَفعَ مُلِمّاتِ الخُطوبِ بِكُم

أَمَّلتُ دَفعَ مُلِمّاتِ الخُطوبِ بِكُم

فَآهِ واشَقوتا مِن خَيبَةِ الأَمَلِ

فَآهِ واشَقوتا مِن خَيبَةِ الأَمَلِ

I hoped through you to repel the assaults of calamity;

I hoped to repel the woes of adversity through you,

so ah, alas for my misery at hope's disappointment!

But alas! What disappointment from frustrated hopes!

وَكُنتُ أَحسَبُكُم مِمَّن تَقرُّ بِهِ

وَكُنتُ أَحسَبُكُم مِمَّن تَقرُّ بِهِ

عَيني فَأَلفَيتُكم مِن سُخنَةِ المُقَلِ

عَيني فَأَلفَيتُكم مِن سُخنَةِ المُقَلِ

I thought you were among those through whom

I thought you were those by whom

my eye would be cooled; instead I found you a burning to the eyes.

My eye would be delighted, but I found you causes of my burning sorrow!

إِن يَخفَ ما بَينَكم فَضلي فَلا عَجَبٌ

إِن يَخفَ ما بَينَكم فَضلي فَلا عَجَبٌ

لا يَستَطيعُ شُعاعَ الشَمسِ ذُو السَبَلِ

لا يَستَطيعُ شُعاعَ الشَمسِ ذُو السَبَلِ

If my merit is hidden among you, that is no wonder:

If my superiority over you diminishes, no wonder -

one with a film over his eyes cannot bear the sun's rays.

A blind man cannot grasp the rays of the sun.

يا لَيتَ شِعريَ وَالأَنباءُ ما بَرِحَت

يا لَيتَ شِعريَ وَالأَنباءُ ما بَرِحَت

تُسايِرُ الريحَ بِالأَسحارِ وَالأُصُلِ

تُسايِرُ الريحَ بِالأَسحارِ وَالأُصُلِ

Would that I knew—while news has never ceased

Oh, would that I knew, though news has not yet ceased

to keep pace with the wind before dawn and in late afternoon—

To travel with the winds at dawn and nightfall:

هَل جاءَ قَومي وَأَخداني الَّذينَ هُمُ

هَل جاءَ قَومي وَأَخداني الَّذينَ هُمُ

إِن أُرمَ مِن قِبَلِ الرامينَ لا قِبلي

إِن أُرمَ مِن قِبَلِ الرامينَ لا قِبلي

whether word has reached my people and my close friends—those who,

Have my people come to rebuke me, they who,

if I am shot at, are on the archers' side, not mine—

If I aim an arrow, are not the target but the bowman?

بِأَنَّني لَم أَرِد وِرداً أُعابُ بِهِ

بِأَنَّني لَم أَرِد وِرداً أُعابُ بِهِ

وَلَم أَقِف ذاتَ يَومٍ مَوقِفَ الخَجَلِ

وَلَم أَقِف ذاتَ يَومٍ مَوقِفَ الخَجَلِ

that I have never come to a watering place for which I could be blamed,

That I have not returned to a watering-place in shame

nor ever stood in a position of shame.

Or on any day stood in an embarrassed stance?

كَسَوتُ قَومِيَ وَالبَحرَين ثَوبَ عُلاً

كَسَوتُ قَومِيَ وَالبَحرَين ثَوبَ عُلاً

يَبقى جَديداً بَقاءَ الحُوتِ وَالحَملِ

يَبقى جَديداً بَقاءَ الحُوتِ وَالحَملِ

I clothed my people and Bahrain in a robe of loftiness,

I clothed my people and both seas in a garment of elevation

ever new, as long as the Fish and the Ram endure.

Remaining ever new like the lives of whale and penguin.

لَقَد تَقَدَّمتُ سَبقاً مَن تَقَدَّمَني

لَقَد تَقَدَّمتُ سَبقاً مَن تَقَدَّمَني

سِنّاً وَأَدرَكَ شَأوي فارِطَ الأوَلِ

سِنّاً وَأَدرَكَ شَأوي فارِطَ الأوَلِ

Indeed, I surpassed in achievement those who surpassed me

I have surpassed in excellence those who preceded me,

in years, and my reach overtook the foremost of the ancients.

And my glory reached those born previously.

بِذاكَ قُدوَةُ أَهلِ العِلمِ قاطِبَةً

بِذاكَ قُدوَةُ أَهلِ العِلمِ قاطِبَةً

أَبو البَقاءِ مُحِبُّ الدَينِ يَشهَدُ لي

أَبو البَقاءِ مُحِبُّ الدَينِ يَشهَدُ لي

To this the exemplar of all people of learning,

By that the leading exemplar of scholars,

Abu al-Baqa, Muhibb al-Din, bears witness for me.

Abu Bakr Muhyi al-Din bears witness to me.

هُوَ الإِمامُ الَّذي كُلٌّ لَهُ تَبَعٌ

هُوَ الإِمامُ الَّذي كُلٌّ لَهُ تَبَعٌ

مِن كُلِّ حافٍ عَلى الدُنيا وَمُنتَعِلِ

مِن كُلِّ حافٍ عَلى الدُنيا وَمُنتَعِلِ

He is the imam whom everyone follows,

He is the Imam whom all who stand guard over the world follow,

every man on earth, barefoot or shod.

From every crescent-blade and new-gemmed scabbard.

فَما الخَليلُ لَهُ مِثلٌ يُقاسُ بِهِ

فَما الخَليلُ لَهُ مِثلٌ يُقاسُ بِهِ

وَهَل يُقايَسُ بَينَ البَحرِ والوَشَلِ

وَهَل يُقايَسُ بَينَ البَحرِ والوَشَلِ

For al-Khalil is no equal by whom he could be measured;

No peer to him exists by whom he might be measured,

can the sea be compared with a trickle?

Can one compare the sea and the pit?

وَبَعضِ غُلمانِهِ يَكفي فَكَيفَ بِهِ

وَبَعضِ غُلمانِهِ يَكفي فَكَيفَ بِهِ

مُهَذَّباً لَم يَحِف جَوراً وَلَم يَمِلِ

مُهَذَّباً لَم يَحِف جَوراً وَلَم يَمِلِ

Even some of his pupils suffice—then what of him,

Yet some of his servants suffice - so what of him,

refined, never straying into injustice or partiality?

Well-mannered, neither rough nor wearied!

وَلَم يَقُل وَحدَهُ ما قالَ بَل شَهدَت

وَلَم يَقُل وَحدَهُ ما قالَ بَل شَهدَت

بِهِ الأَفاضِلُ مِن بَغدادَ عَن كَمَلِ

بِهِ الأَفاضِلُ مِن بَغدادَ عَن كَمَلِ

He was not alone in saying what he said; rather, witness was borne

Not he alone has said this, but the best minds

to it by the eminent men of Baghdad, all of them.

Of Baghdad have testified to his perfection.

وَلَيسَ في الشِعرِ مِن فَضلٍ يَطُولُ بِهِ

وَلَيسَ في الشِعرِ مِن فَضلٍ يَطُولُ بِهِ

مِثلي وَلَو فاقَ أَعلى سَبعِها الطُوَلِ

مِثلي وَلَو فاقَ أَعلى سَبعِها الطُوَلِ

Nor is there merit in poetry that could elevate

In poetry, none can boast favours equalling mine,

one like me, even were he to surpass the finest of its seven long odes.

Even if he climbed to the height of the Great Bear!

بَل فَضلُ مِثلِيَ أَن يَسمُو بِهِمَّتِهِ

بَل فَضلُ مِثلِيَ أَن يَسمُو بِهِمَّتِهِ

عَن مَدحِ فَدمٍ عَن العَلياءِ في شُغُلِ

عَن مَدحِ فَدمٍ عَن العَلياءِ في شُغُلِ

Rather, the merit of one like me is to rise through his resolve

Rather, the favour of the likes of me is to aspire through their ambition

above praising a dullard whose concerns keep him from greatness.

Beyond praising the insignificant, busy with petty matters.