أسائلُ عنها الركبَ والدمعُ سائلٌ

أسائلُ عنها الركبَ والدمعُ سائلٌ

عَسى استعطَفَتْها للوصالِ الوسائلُ

عَسى استعطَفَتْها للوصالِ الوسائلُ

I ask the caravan about her, while tears flow.

I ask the travelers about her, while tears keep asking,

Perhaps entreaties have moved her toward reunion.

Perhaps gentle ways have softened her for reunion.

وأستخبِرُ الحادي ولا علمَ عندَهُ

وأستخبِرُ الحادي ولا علمَ عندَهُ

بما كتمَتْ عنه القَنا والقنابِلُ

بما كتمَتْ عنه القَنا والقنابِلُ

I question the camel-driver, but he has no knowledge

And I question the messenger but he has no knowledge,

of what the spears and squadrons concealed from him.

Of what the spearheads and missiles have concealed.

وقد عقدتْ كفُّ النسيمِ برودَها

وقد عقدتْ كفُّ النسيمِ برودَها

فعدتُ وعندي للبَليلِ بلابِلُ

فعدتُ وعندي للبَليلِ بلابِلُ

The breeze's hand had knotted its mantles,

The breeze has folded its hands cooled by her distance,

so I returned, troubled by the cool, damp breeze.

So I returned while having for the night confused dreams.

وكيف ألومُ الراحَ في الراحِ بعدَها

وكيف ألومُ الراحَ في الراحِ بعدَها

إذا كان فيها في الشَمولِ شمائلُ

إذا كان فيها في الشَمولِ شمائلُ

How can I blame the hand for wine after her,

How can I blame the wind in the wind after she left,

when in it—in the wine—there are such charms?

When it enveloped the traits of her figure?

فإن غُرِسَتْ في بابلٍ فتوقّها

فإن غُرِسَتْ في بابلٍ فتوقّها

فكلُّ غزالٍ حلّ بابلَ نابِلُ

فكلُّ غزالٍ حلّ بابلَ نابِلُ

And if it was planted in Babylon, beware of it:

If she dwells in Babylon then yearn for her,

every gazelle that settles in Babylon is an archer.

For every gazelle that enters Babylon is plundered.

ولولا رسومٌ للرسومِ لأقْشَعَتْ

ولولا رسومٌ للرسومِ لأقْشَعَتْ

سحائبُ من دمعي هوامٍ هواملُ

سحائبُ من دمعي هوامٍ هواملُ

Were it not for duties owed to the ruins, they would lift—

Were it not for the customary rules of verse,

the clouds of my tears, streaming down unchecked.

Clouds of tears from my passion would pour down showers.

وقد شبّ ريحُ الهجْرِ نارَ هَجيرِه

وقد شبّ ريحُ الهجْرِ نارَ هَجيرِه

فقُلِّصَ منها للوصالِ أصائلُ

فقُلِّصَ منها للوصالِ أصائلُ

Estrangement's wind had kindled the fire of its midday heat,

And the wind of separation has kindled the fire of departure,

so reunion's late afternoons were cut short by it.

So hopes of reunion were reduced through it.

وأودى رياضاً من صِبا وصبابةٍ

وأودى رياضاً من صِبا وصبابةٍ

لبهجتِها زهرُ الخمائلِ خاملُ

لبهجتِها زهرُ الخمائلِ خاملُ

It laid waste gardens of youth and passionate longing,

It destroyed gardens of youth and prime,

before whose beauty the flowers of the groves pale.

For which the blossoms of pleasure are now lifeless.

أعاذلُ لا تعبَثْ بقلبي فإنّه

أعاذلُ لا تعبَثْ بقلبي فإنّه

عن العذلِ لا ذُهليّةُ الحيّ ذاهلُ

عن العذلِ لا ذُهليّةُ الحيّ ذاهلُ

O reproacher, do not toy with my heart, for it

I reproach, do not disturb my heart for it is,

is heedless of reproach, not of the clan's Dhuhli woman.

Beyond reproach. Is the living man in stupor to be blamed?

وإن لُمْتُ عاماً أولاً منه عاصياً

وإن لُمْتُ عاماً أولاً منه عاصياً

فما عندَه في قابلٍ لك قابِلُ

فما عندَه في قابلٍ لك قابِلُ

And if I reproached its rebellious part in a past year,

If I wronged you one year, disobeying,

it has none receptive to you in the year to come.

Then he has no equivalent rival to match you.

وواللهِ ما السُلوانُ عندي بناصرٍ

وواللهِ ما السُلوانُ عندي بناصرٍ

لمن خذلَتْه الآنساتُ الخواذِلُ

لمن خذلَتْه الآنساتُ الخواذِلُ

By God, forgetfulness, in my view, is no helper

By God, the nightingale is to me no helper,

to one abandoned by those charming, faithless women.

When intimate friends have abandoned the forsaken.

دعِ الكلةَ الحمراءَ تشجو بريمِها

دعِ الكلةَ الحمراءَ تشجو بريمِها

لمن رامَ منها طُرّةً فهو باخِلُ

لمن رامَ منها طُرّةً فهو باخِلُ

Let the red canopy stir heartache with its gazelle,

Leave the red rose to lament with its hurt,

for anyone seeking a fringe from it; he is miserly.

Whoever desires elevation from it is mean.

تحملَ منه بعضُه جوْرَ بعضِه

تحملَ منه بعضُه جوْرَ بعضِه

وهذا وشاحٌ شاهدٌ وخلاخِلُ

وهذا وشاحٌ شاهدٌ وخلاخِلُ

One part of him bore the tyranny of another,

It bears only part of its tyranny over another,

and this sash bears witness, and these anklets too.

This witness, its torn dress, and anklets.

رماني وقال اردُدْ عليّ مثالَها

رماني وقال اردُدْ عليّ مثالَها

فأنصَفَ لكنْ أين صبرٌ يُناضلُ

فأنصَفَ لكنْ أين صبرٌ يُناضلُ

He shot at me and said, 'Send its like back at me.'

She blamed me saying: respond in kind!

He dealt fairly—but where is patience that can shoot back?

But where is the patience to resist her?

وغيرانَ أمّا ظِفْرُه فمهنّدٌ

وغيرانَ أمّا ظِفْرُه فمهنّدٌ

ذليقٌ وأما نابُه فهو ذابِلُ

ذليقٌ وأما نابُه فهو ذابِلُ

And a jealous one—his claw is an Indian-forged sword,

As for her anger, its victory is confirmed,

keen-edged; his fang is a slender spear.

Rightly so, and as for her mouth, it is withering.

شققتُ إليه ثوبَ نقْعٍ كأنّه

شققتُ إليه ثوبَ نقْعٍ كأنّه

دُجى الليلِ أنه متواصِلُ

دُجى الليلِ أنه متواصِلُ

I tore toward him through a garment of dust, as though it were

I opened my cloak of woven thread as if it were,

the darkness of night, being unbroken.

The darkness of night that is continuous.

وما كنتُ من أبطالِه غير أنني

وما كنتُ من أبطالِه غير أنني

جليدٌ لأعباءِ النوائبِ حاملُ

جليدٌ لأعباءِ النوائبِ حاملُ

I was not among its heroes, except that I am

And I was not one of her heroes except that I am,

steadfast, a bearer of calamities' burdens.

Stalwart in bearing the strokes of misfortune.

ولولا الإمامُ الحَبْرُ ما عزّ جانبي

ولولا الإمامُ الحَبْرُ ما عزّ جانبي

ولا سدّ مني معشرٌ وقبائلُ

ولا سدّ مني معشرٌ وقبائلُ

Were it not for the learned imam, my side would not be strong,

Were it not for the Commander of the Faithful, my side would not be honored,

nor would companies and tribes have been held back from me.

Nor would a group from me form a tribe.

هو البحرُ بالعِرفانِ والعُرفُ قد طَمى

هو البحرُ بالعِرفانِ والعُرفُ قد طَمى

فأنهلَ منه سائلٌ ومُسائلُ

فأنهلَ منه سائلٌ ومُسائلُ

He is the sea in knowledge, and his bounty has overflowed,

He is the sea of knowledge and refinement has been obliterated,

so petitioner and questioner have drunk their fill from him.

So one who asks and one who questions have drawn from it.

فحاتمُ طيٍّ في السماحةِ مادِرٌ

فحاتمُ طيٍّ في السماحةِ مادِرٌ

لديهِ وقسٌّ في الفصاحةِ باقِلُ

لديهِ وقسٌّ في الفصاحةِ باقِلُ

So Hatim of Tayy, in generosity, is Madir

The seal ring of Tayy in generosity is overflowing,

beside him, and Quss, in eloquence, is Baqil.

And firm in eloquence though not very eloquent.

من الفُرْسِ فُرسانُ الحديثِ ومن غدَتْ

من الفُرْسِ فُرسانُ الحديثِ ومن غدَتْ

أواخرُهُم ممدوحةٌ والأوائلُ

أواخرُهُم ممدوحةٌ والأوائلُ

He is of the Persians, knights of hadith, and of those whose

Among mankind the horsemen of discourse, and when

later generations are praised, as are their earliest.

Their later ones are praised, so are the earlier ones.

همُ القومُ أمّا مجدُهم فمخيّمٌ

همُ القومُ أمّا مجدُهم فمخيّمٌ

لديهم وأما ذكرُهُم فهو راحِلُ

لديهم وأما ذكرُهُم فهو راحِلُ

They are the people: their glory encamps

They are the people. Their glory is indeed camping,

among them, while their renown travels afar.

With them, and their fame is travelling.

تتيهُ بهِم يومَ اللقاءِ سوابحٌ

تتيهُ بهِم يومَ اللقاءِ سوابحٌ

وتُزْهى بهم يومَ العَطاءِ محافِلُ

وتُزْهى بهم يومَ العَطاءِ محافِلُ

On the day of battle, swift steeds glory in them,

Swallow-like thoughts wander with them on the day of meeting,

and gatherings are proud of them on the day of giving.

And assemblies are adorned with them on the day of bestowal.

وتُلهِبُ نارَ البأسِ في الحربِ منهمُ

وتُلهِبُ نارَ البأسِ في الحربِ منهمُ

أيادِ بها ماءُ السماحةِ جائلُ

أيادِ بها ماءُ السماحةِ جائلُ

And the fire of valor in war is kindled by their

The hands of some of them enflame the fires of valor in war,

hands, through which the water of generosity flows.

With them the water of clemency flows profusely.

وما الناسُ إلا متنُ رمحٍ وهم به ال

وما الناسُ إلا متنُ رمحٍ وهم به ال

عَوالي وبعضُ الفاخرينَ الأسافِلُ

عَوالي وبعضُ الفاخرينَ الأسافِلُ

People are only a spear's shaft, while upon it they are the

People are but the shafts of spears while they are the

upper tips; some who boast are its lowest parts.

Arrowheads, and some superior ones are the lower parts.

سقى الله دوحَ المجدِ صيّبَ سَقْيهِمْ

سقى الله دوحَ المجدِ صيّبَ سَقْيهِمْ

فعارضُهُ داني الهيادبِ هاطِلُ

فعارضُهُ داني الهيادبِ هاطِلُ

May God water glory's great trees with the downpour of their watering;

May God water the meadow of glory with their pouring drink,

for its raincloud, with low-hanging fringes, pours down.

For its counterpart, abased nibblers, are invalid.

لهمْ شرفٌ بالحافظِ الحَبْرِ يعتلي

لهمْ شرفٌ بالحافظِ الحَبْرِ يعتلي

فيصعَدُ حيثُ النيّراتُ نوازِلُ

فيصعَدُ حيثُ النيّراتُ نوازِلُ

Their honor rises through al-Hafiz, the scholar,

Through the Commander of the Faithful they have a nobility that ascends,

ascending where the radiant stars descend.

To where the descending stars alight.

وناهيكَ من حَبْرٍ حُسامُ يراعُه

وناهيكَ من حَبْرٍ حُسامُ يراعُه

له لفْظُ سحبانٍ وقُسُّ حَمائلِ

له لفْظُ سحبانٍ وقُسُّ حَمائلِ

And what a scholar! His reed pen is a sword,

And no less a commander is the Sword of Truth, vigilant for him,

with Sahban's speech, and Quss for its baldric.

Whose words are those of lightning and whose determination is firm.

يجولُ بميدانِ البلاغةِ طاعناً

يجولُ بميدانِ البلاغةِ طاعناً

برُمْحِ يراعٍ سدّدَتْهُ الأناملُ

برُمْحِ يراعٍ سدّدَتْهُ الأناملُ

He ranges through eloquence's arena, thrusting

He roams the field of eloquence charging with the spear

with a reed-pen spear aimed by the fingertips.

Of piercing proof that his fingers have straightened.

وما كُتْبُه إلا الكتائبُ في الوغى

وما كُتْبُه إلا الكتائبُ في الوغى

ولا الحجّةُ الغرّاءُ إلا الجحافِلُ

ولا الحجّةُ الغرّاءُ إلا الجحافِلُ

His books are nothing but battalions in battle,

His writings are but battalions in the fray,

and the radiant proof is nothing but massed armies.

And his convincing arguments the heavily-armed companies.

جنى كلَّ فخرٍ عن رياضِ جدودِه

جنى كلَّ فخرٍ عن رياضِ جدودِه

وهل ثمرٌ إلا العُلا والفضائلُ

وهل ثمرٌ إلا العُلا والفضائلُ

He gathered every glory from his forefathers' gardens,

He has plucked each bloom of pride from the gardens of his ancestors,

and what fruit is there but loftiness and virtues?

And what fruit is there other than sublime traits?

فهُنِّئَ بالشهْرِ الأصمّ فإنّه

فهُنِّئَ بالشهْرِ الأصمّ فإنّه

لجدُّ سميعٍ بالذي أنا قائلُ

لجدُّ سميعٍ بالذي أنا قائلُ

So may he be congratulated on the Deaf Month, for he

Congratulations for the deaf month, for it

is truly a keen listener to what I say.

Is serious for one who hears what I say.

ولا زالَ في عزٍّ يدومُ ونعمةٍ

ولا زالَ في عزٍّ يدومُ ونعمةٍ

يُقيمُ وسعدٍ مُسعدٍ لا يُزايلُ

يُقيمُ وسعدٍ مُسعدٍ لا يُزايلُ

And may he ever remain in lasting honor and blessing,

He still remains in enduring honor and lasting bounty,

abiding, with gladdening good fortune that never departs.

In prosperity, felicity that does not cease.