طرقتْ أسماءُ والركبُ هُجودُ

طرقتْ أسماءُ والركبُ هُجودُ

والمطايا جُنَّحُ الأزْوارِ قُودُ

والمطايا جُنَّحُ الأزْوارِ قُودُ

Asma came by night while the caravan slept,

Asma' knocked, and the travelers were lost,

and the long-necked mounts leaned upon their breasts.

And the mounts were winged creatures of fates obscure,

طرقَتْنا فأنالتْ نائلاً

طرقَتْنا فأنالتْ نائلاً

شُكرهُ لو كان في النُّبْه الجُحودُ

شُكرهُ لو كان في النُّبْه الجُحودُ

She visited us and bestowed a gift

She knocked us, so she attained her wish,

whose thanks, had it been in waking life, would be denial.

Though the ungrateful would deny it for sure,

ثم قالتْ وأحسَّتْ عَجَبي

ثم قالتْ وأحسَّتْ عَجَبي

من سراها حيثُ لا تسري الأسودُ

من سراها حيثُ لا تسري الأسودُ

Then she spoke, sensing my wonder

Then she said – and her wonder was evident:

at her night journey where even lions do not travel:

“How wondrous that she came here, where the lions roam!”

لا تعجَّبْ من سُرانا فالسُّرى

لا تعجَّبْ من سُرانا فالسُّرى

عادة الأقمار والناسُ هجودُ

عادة الأقمار والناسُ هجودُ

"Do not marvel at our traveling by night, for night travel

“Do not wonder at our coming here, for coming by night

is the moons' habit while people sleep."

Is the wont of moons, while people sleep at home”

عجبي من بذلها ما بذلَتْ

عجبي من بذلها ما بذلَتْ

وسُراها وهي مِشماسٌ خَرُودُ

وسُراها وهي مِشماسٌ خَرُودُ

My wonder was at her giving what she gave,

My wonder was at her generosity,

and her night journey, though she was shy and unapproachable.

Her coming here though she is wild and shy

نَوَّلَتْ وهْي منيعٌ نيْلُها

نَوَّلَتْ وهْي منيعٌ نيْلُها

وسَرتْ وهْي قطيعُ الخطْوِ رُودُ

وسَرتْ وهْي قطيعُ الخطْوِ رُودُ

She granted favors, though she was hard to attain,

She turned away, difficult to attain,

and traveled, though short of stride and delicate.

And came to us, though she steps lightly by

غادةٌ لوهبَّتِ الريحُ لها

غادةٌ لوهبَّتِ الريحُ لها

آدَها من مسّها ما لا يؤودُ

آدَها من مسّها ما لا يؤودُ

A tender maiden—if the wind blew upon her,

A doe, had the wind made her scent flow,

its touch would burden her with what burdens no one else.

Her lover would follow and never let go

يشهدُ الطرْفُ المُراعي أنها

يشهدُ الطرْفُ المُراعي أنها

سرقتْ من قدِّها الحسْنَ القُدودُ

سرقتْ من قدِّها الحسْنَ القُدودُ

The watchful eye bears witness that

The watchful eyes saw that she had stolen

other figures stole their beauty from hers.

From her neck beauty that would not forego

أمكن الخُمْصُ وقد خَاليتُها

أمكن الخُمْصُ وقد خَاليتُها

من عناق كاد يأباه النُّهودُ

من عناق كاد يأباه النُّهودُ

Her slender waist, when I was alone with her, made possible

I managed to embrace her, though she avoids

an embrace her breasts almost refused.

The embrace that even the loving may despise

فاعتنقنا والحشا وَفقُ الحشا

فاعتنقنا والحشا وَفقُ الحشا

ونبا عن صدْرها صدْرٌ ودُودُ

ونبا عن صدْرها صدْرٌ ودُودُ

We embraced, waist fitting waist,

So we embraced, as love dictates we should

but a loving breast was pushed away from hers.

And she sighed, her breast over mine laid nice

ولَعَهْدي قبل هاتيك بها

ولَعَهْدي قبل هاتيك بها

وهْي زوْراء عن الوصْل حَيُودُ

وهْي زوْراء عن الوصْل حَيُودُ

Yet I remember her before that encounter,

By my troth, before this she would refuse

turning away from union, ever evasive.

Contact, though her longing she could not disguise

تُسأَلُ الأدنَى فتحكى أنها

تُسأَلُ الأدنَى فتحكى أنها

من ظِباءٍ لا تَدَرَّاها الفُهُودُ

من ظِباءٍ لا تَدَرَّاها الفُهُودُ

Asked for the least, she would seem

If asked, she would claim she is just a doe

one of the gazelles that cheetahs cannot stalk.

That hunters cannot catch, however hard they try

ظبْيةٌ تَصطاد من طافتْ به

ظبْيةٌ تَصطاد من طافتْ به

ربَّما طاف بك الظبْيُ الصَّيُودُ

ربَّما طاف بك الظبْيُ الصَّيُودُ

A gazelle who hunts whoever she circles—

A wild doe, that hunts those she circles around

sometimes a hunting gazelle circles you.

Perhaps she will circle around where you lie

وأبيها لقد اختال بها

وأبيها لقد اختال بها

يوم ذادت مائلي أوْدٌ أوُودُ

يوم ذادت مائلي أوْدٌ أوُودُ

By her father, there strutted proudly in her,

And her father refused to give her away

the day she rebuffed my yearning, a deeply swaying curve.

The day she leaned towards me, try as he might

أَرِجَتْ منها فلاةٌ جَرْدَةٌ

أَرِجَتْ منها فلاةٌ جَرْدَةٌ

وأضاءتْ ووجُوه الليل سُودُ

وأضاءتْ ووجُوه الليل سُودُ

A barren wilderness grew fragrant from her,

She arrived from him in barren wilderness

and shone while night's faces were black.

And shone, as faces of night glowed bright

قلتُ لما عَبِقَتْ أرْواحُها

قلتُ لما عَبِقَتْ أرْواحُها

بالملا لا دَرَسَتْ هذي العُهودُ

بالملا لا دَرَسَتْ هذي العُهودُ

When her scented breezes spread, I said

I said, as her being exuded incense;

through the open expanse, "May these bonds never fade!

“Is this Ibn Yazeed’s perfumes suffice?

أَثَنَاءُ ابنِ يَزيدٍ بيننا

أَثَنَاءُ ابنِ يَزيدٍ بيننا

أم نسيمٌ بثَّه روْضٌ مَجُودُ

أم نسيمٌ بثَّه روْضٌ مَجُودُ

Is this praise of Ibn Yazid among us,

Or just a breeze that came from a fragrant meadow?”

or a breeze released by a rain-watered garden?

What shade of bliss came to me this night?

أيُّ ظِلٍّ من نعيم فاءَ لي

أيُّ ظِلٍّ من نعيم فاءَ لي

ليلتي لوْ كان للظلِّ ركودُ

ليلتي لوْ كان للظلِّ ركودُ

What shade of bliss returned to me

If only night's shadows had permanence though

tonight—if only shade could stay still!

What a retreat she granted me! If only

يا لها من خَلْوةٍ أُعْطِيتُها

يا لها من خَلْوةٍ أُعْطِيتُها

لو أحقَّتْ أوْ عَدَا الليلَ النُّفُودُ

لو أحقَّتْ أوْ عَدَا الليلَ النُّفُودُ

What a private encounter I was granted,

The night would extend, and the cocks not crow

had it proved real, or had ending passed the night by!

Yet when morn arrived, she was lost

أصبحتْ فقْداً وكانتْ نِعمَةً

أصبحتْ فقْداً وكانتْ نِعمَةً

والعطايا حين يُسْلَبْنَ فُقُودُ

والعطايا حين يُسْلَبْنَ فُقُودُ

It became a loss, though it had been a blessing;

Gifts given, then taken, bring only woe

gifts, when stripped away, become losses.

Not like Ibn Yazeed's gifts, for they

لا كَنُعْمَى ابن يزيدٍ إنها

لا كَنُعْمَى ابن يزيدٍ إنها

أبداً حيث يلاقيها الوُجودُ

أبداً حيث يلاقيها الوُجودُ

Not like the bounty of Ibn Yazid, which

Will remain, wherever existence may flow

is always there to be found.

Majid never withheld a hand

ماجدٌ لم يَسْتَثِبْ قطُّ يداً

ماجدٌ لم يَسْتَثِبْ قطُّ يداً

وهو إن أبْدَيت بالشكر رصودُ

وهو إن أبْدَيت بالشكر رصودُ

A noble man who never sought repayment for a favor,

And if I show gratitude, it will overflow

yet watches keenly if you offer thanks.

Many fathers of glory has he

رُبَّ آباءٍ مراجيحَ له

رُبَّ آباءٍ مراجيحَ له

كلُّهم أرْوَعُ للمحل طَرُودُ

كلُّهم أرْوَعُ للمحل طَرُودُ

Many weighty forefathers were his,

Each more wondrous for the dynasty's halo

each splendid, a repeller of famine,

Whenever Bellies' clan bared its stomach

حِين يعْرى بطنُ كحْل كلُّه

حِين يعْرى بطنُ كحْل كلُّه

وظُهورُ الأرض شَهباء جَرُودُ

وظُهورُ الأرض شَهباء جَرُودُ

when the whole belly of Kahl, the famine-year, lies bare,

And the land’s backs were burnt dry and sallow

and the earth's surfaces are gray and stripped.

He would forgive their sins, as nobles forgive,

صُفُحٌ عن جارميهمْ كَرَماً

صُفُحٌ عن جارميهمْ كَرَماً

وكذا الساداتُ تعفو وتجود

وكذا الساداتُ تعفو وتجود

They pardon their offenders out of nobility;

Not prone to vengeance, inclined to bestow

thus do great lords forgive and give.

From them he sought loftiness, sincerity

يُطلَبُ الإغضاء منهم والندى

يُطلَبُ الإغضاء منهم والندى

حيثُ لا تُنْسى حُقوقٌ بل حُقودُ

حيثُ لا تُنْسى حُقوقٌ بل حُقودُ

Forbearance and generosity are sought from them

Where rights are remembered, not lineages hollow

where rights are not forgotten, but grudges are.

They never lacked the honor they built

ما خَلَوْا من شرفٍ يَبْنونَهُ

ما خَلَوْا من شرفٍ يَبْنونَهُ

مُذْ خَلتْ منهم حُجُورٌ ومُهودُ

مُذْ خَلتْ منهم حُجُورٌ ومُهودُ

They have never lacked an honor to build

Above Nejd, which no glory could outgrow

since laps and cradles became empty of them.

He feared the say of all Muslims:

منْهُمُ من نُصِرَ الحقُّ به

منْهُمُ من نُصِرَ الحقُّ به

إذ من الأوْثان للنَّاس عُبُودُ

إذ من الأوْثان للنَّاس عُبُودُ

Among them is one through whom truth was aided

“By inheritance alone, you shadows throw”

when idols were objects of worship for the people.

So he strove to seek his family’s heights

أيُّ قرْنٍ باد منهم لم يكن

أيُّ قرْنٍ باد منهم لم يكن

حَقَّهُ لو أنصفَ الدهرُ البُيُودُ

حَقَّهُ لو أنصفَ الدهرُ البُيُودُ

Any generation of theirs that perished—

With earnest effort that would never plateau

perishing was not its due, had Time been fair.

Walking their path, following guidance

لو تَراهم قلتَ آسادُ الشّرى

لو تَراهم قلتَ آسادُ الشّرى

أو سُيُوفٌ حُسِرتْ عنها الغُمودُ

أو سُيُوفٌ حُسِرتْ عنها الغُمودُ

If you saw them, you would say, "Lions of al-Shara,"

Upright in conduct, refusing to bow

or swords from which the sheaths were drawn.

The heavier the burdens of loftiness

شَيَّدَتْ أسْلافُهُ بنْيانه

شَيَّدَتْ أسْلافُهُ بنْيانه

فوْقَ نَجْدٍ لا تُضاهيه النُّجُودُ

فوْقَ نَجْدٍ لا تُضاهيه النُّجُودُ

His forebears raised his edifice

The humbler he was, though he’d status endow

upon a height no other heights can rival.

If you tried to slight him, you’d incite

واتَّقَى قوْلَ المُسامِينَ له

واتَّقَى قوْلَ المُسامِينَ له

إنما بالإرْثِ أصبحت تَسُودُ

إنما بالإرْثِ أصبحت تَسُودُ

He guarded against his rivals' saying,

Like fire well stoked, he’d fiercely glow

"Only through inheritance have you come to rule."

He'd tremble with a rage that refused

فسعى يطلب عُلْيا أهلِه

فسعى يطلب عُلْيا أهلِه

سَعْيَ جِدٍّ لم يخالطهُ سُمودُ

سَعْيَ جِدٍّ لم يخالطهُ سُمودُ

So he strove to attain his family's heights

In him decline of glory to show

with earnest striving unmixed with idle diversion,

You who ask of his manners, know

سالكاً مِنْهاجَهُمْ يَتْلُو الهُدى

سالكاً مِنْهاجَهُمْ يَتْلُو الهُدى

صائب السيرة ما فيه حُيُودُ

صائب السيرة ما فيه حُيُودُ

treading their path, following guidance,

In seriousness he melts, in religion he’s stone

upright in conduct, without deviation.

How much he suffered worldly woes!

كلَّما حُمِّلَ أعباء العلا

كلَّما حُمِّلَ أعباء العلا

ذلَّ في عزٍّ كما ذلَّ القَعودُ

ذلَّ في عزٍّ كما ذلَّ القَعودُ

Whenever he was laden with greatness's burdens,

Yet he answered adversity's call and rose

he grew tractable in his might, like a young riding camel.

Not like the indifferent whose repute

فمتى استَهْضمتَه اسْتَحْمَشْتَهُ

فمتى استَهْضمتَه اسْتَحْمَشْتَهُ

مثلَ ما يسْتَحْمِشُ النارَ الوقودُ

مثلَ ما يسْتَحْمِشُ النارَ الوقودُ

But whenever you slight him, you kindle him,

Is but death, from all custom far thrown

just as fuel kindles fire.

A group where if they intend a good deed

وَعَرَتْهُ هِزَّةٌ تَأبى له

وَعَرَتْهُ هِزَّةٌ تَأبى له

أن يُرى فيه عن المجد خُمُودُ

أن يُرى فيه عن المجد خُمُودُ

A surge seizes him, refusing

They balk, though boldness to evil shown

that any slackening from glory be seen in him.

Would that they were apes, emulating the ways

أيها السائل عن أخلاقه

أيها السائل عن أخلاقه

في الجدا ذوْبٌ وفي الدِّين جُمودُ

في الجدا ذوْبٌ وفي الدِّين جُمودُ

O you who ask about his character:

Of men, as apes copy gestures half known!

in generosity he melts; in faith he stands firm.

I said to my age, as it oppressed

كمْ مَرى الدنيا له إبْساسُهُ

كمْ مَرى الدنيا له إبْساسُهُ

واستجاب الدَّرُّ والدنيا جَدُودُ

واستجاب الدَّرُّ والدنيا جَدُودُ

How often his coaxing has milked the world for him,

The virtuous, shadows obscurely sown:

and milk has answered, though the world was dry-uddered!

The vile bid you good morrow, for them

لا كقوم هامد معروفُهُمْ

لا كقوم هامد معروفُهُمْ

بل هُمُ موْتى عن العُرفِ هُمُودُ

بل هُمُ موْتى عن العُرفِ هُمُودُ

Not like people whose kindness is extinguished;

You allow free rein, while choking men of renown

rather, they are dead to kindness, lifeless.

Oh time, wherein all is reversed!

معشر فيهم نُكولٌ إن نَوَوْا

معشر فيهم نُكولٌ إن نَوَوْا

فِعْلَ خيرٍ وعلى الشر مُرودُ

فِعْلَ خيرٍ وعلى الشر مُرودُ

A company who hesitate if they intend

Mounts’ blankets are now but animal skins torn

to do good, but persist stubbornly in evil.

If Ibn Yazeed grants me respite

ليتهمْ كانوا قُروداً فحكوْا

ليتهمْ كانوا قُروداً فحكوْا

شِيم الناس كما تَحْكي القرودُ

شِيم الناس كما تَحْكي القرودُ

If only they were monkeys, and so imitated

From you, my eyes will never show scorn

people's traits as monkeys imitate!

Thumal, the hoped for, unfetter of bonds

ولقد قلتُ لدهري إذ غدا

ولقد قلتُ لدهري إذ غدا

وهو للأخيْار ظلّامٌ ضَهُودُ

وهو للأخيْار ظلّامٌ ضَهُودُ

Indeed, I said to my time when it became

Nature made free, spirit made loose, vigour full blown

grossly unjust and oppressive toward the good:

Azd became radiant, and he shone between them

يسْلَم الوغْدُ عليه وله

يسْلَم الوغْدُ عليه وله

إن رأى حُرَّاً هريرٌ وشُدُودُ

إن رأى حُرَّاً هريرٌ وشُدُودُ

the base man fares safely under it, but it has,

Like a mountain between deer and goats strewn

if it sees a freeborn man, growls and charges.

Bringing to life whoever of them death took

يا زماناً عُكسَتْ أحواله

يا زماناً عُكسَتْ أحواله

فسُروج الخيل تعلوها اللُّبُودُ

فسُروج الخيل تعلوها اللُّبُودُ

"O time whose conditions are inverted,

While from the folk the vile spirits were thrown

so felt pads rise above horses' saddles:

Say to he who denies his outstanding merit

إن يُجرْني ابنُ يزيد مرّةً

إن يُجرْني ابنُ يزيد مرّةً

منك لا يُلْمِم بِعَيْنَيَّ سُهودُ

منك لا يُلْمِم بِعَيْنَيَّ سُهودُ

if Ibn Yazid gives me refuge once

As the Jews denied the truth so clearly shown

from you, sleeplessness shall not visit my eyes."

In denying him, you opposed your fortune

الثُّماليُّ ثِمالُ المُرْتجَى

الثُّماليُّ ثِمالُ المُرْتجَى

مُطلِقُ الأصفاد والطَّلْقُ الصّفُودُ

مُطلِقُ الأصفاد والطَّلْقُ الصّفُودُ

Al-Thumali, the refuge of hope,

So desist and leave, like Thamud overthrown

releaser of fetters, the openhanded, lavish giver.

His virtues cannot enumerated be

أضحت الأزْدُ وأضحى بينها

أضحت الأزْدُ وأضحى بينها

جبلاً وهْيَ رِعانٌ ورُيودُ

جبلاً وهْيَ رِعانٌ ورُيودُ

The Azd stand, and he stands among them

Double the sands that cloak this earthly zone

as a mountain, while they are peaks and spurs,

O Abu Al-Abbas, I'm a man who hates

ناعشاً منْ حَيَّ منهُمْ ناشراً

ناعشاً منْ حَيَّ منهُمْ ناشراً

من أجنَّتْهُ من القوم اللُّحودُ

من أجنَّتْهُ من القوم اللُّحودُ

raising those of them who live, reviving

Those who stubbornly the truth have disowned

those of the people whom the graves have enclosed.

By God, you're the man whom I love

قل لمن أنكر بغْياً فضلَهُ

قل لمن أنكر بغْياً فضلَهُ

مثل ما أنكَرَتِ الحقَّ يَهودُ

مثل ما أنكَرَتِ الحقَّ يَهودُ

Tell whoever spitefully denies his excellence,

As I love bowing down before the Throne

just as the Jews denied the truth:

I have not ceased being your loyal footman, heart and hand and tongue since I served in your troops

إنما عاندت إذ عاندتَهُ

إنما عاندت إذ عاندتَهُ

حظَّك الأوفَرَ فابعَدْ وثمودُ

حظَّك الأوفَرَ فابعَدْ وثمودُ

"In opposing him, you opposed only

Witness that you're a teeming sea

your own richest fortune; perish, you and Thamud!"

With gifts from your essence ceaselessly strown

وانْهَ مَنْ يُحْصى حَصاه إنه

وانْهَ مَنْ يُحْصى حَصاه إنه

ضعْفُ ما ضمَّ من الرمل زَرودُ

ضعْفُ ما ضمَّ من الرمل زَرودُ

Dissuade whoever would count his pebbles: they are

Your ripe juicy pearls gathered effortlessly

twice the sand embraced by Zarud.

Provide for us necklaces looped and sewn

يا أبا العباس إني رَجُلٌ

يا أبا العباس إني رَجُلٌ

فيَّ عمَّنْ عاند الحقَّ عُنودُ

فيَّ عمَّنْ عاند الحقَّ عُنودُ

O Abu al-Abbas, I am a man

But the sea is bitter brine, while you’re

who turns away from whoever opposes truth.

The fresh sweet drink, coolness easily known

ويميناً إنك المرْءُ الذي

ويميناً إنك المرْءُ الذي

حُبُّهُ عندي سواءٌ والسُّجودُ

حُبُّهُ عندي سواءٌ والسُّجودُ

And I swear: you are the man

If affairs have kept me from you

whose love, to me, is equal to prostration.

Though you I wished to see, and restfulness disown

لم أزَلْ قِدْماً وقلبي ويدي

لم أزَلْ قِدْماً وقلبي ويدي

ولساني لك مُذْ كنتُ جُنودُ

ولساني لك مُذْ كنتُ جُنودُ

Ever, from long ago, my heart and my hand,

I'm one banned from sweet potions that heal

and my tongue have been your soldiers since I came to be.

A thirst that makes life without them moan

شاهدٌ أنك بحرٌ زاخرٌ

شاهدٌ أنك بحرٌ زاخرٌ

لك من نفسك مَدٌّ بل مُدودُ

لك من نفسك مَدٌّ بل مُدودُ

I bear witness that you are a surging sea,

So provide me a cause that allows

with a tide from your own self—indeed, many tides.

Me to enter your sea, if blessings have grown

يُجْتَنَى دُرُّكَ رَطباً ناعماً

يُجْتَنَى دُرُّكَ رَطباً ناعماً

فلنا منه شُنوفٌ وعُقُودُ

فلنا منه شُنوفٌ وعُقُودُ

Your pearls are harvested fresh and delicate;

And undertake my need, appointing one

from them we have earrings and necklaces.

Through whom stacks of wares can be easily thrown

غير أن البحر ملحٌ آسنٌ

غير أن البحر ملحٌ آسنٌ

ولأنتَ المشْرَبُ العذْبُ البَرودُ

ولأنتَ المشْرَبُ العذْبُ البَرودُ

Except that the sea is salty and stale,

My need weighs heavy, so carry its load

while you are the sweet, cool drinking source.

Do not let it burden you, though you the mighty throne

ولئن أقعدني عنك الذي

ولئن أقعدني عنك الذي

ساقني نحوك ما اختِيرَ القُعودُ

ساقني نحوك ما اختِيرَ القُعودُ

And though I am kept from you by that which

Learn what you do not yet know

drove me toward you, staying away was not my choice.

Some things whose price cannot be easily shown

أنا صادٍ ذادني عن مشْرَبٍ

أنا صادٍ ذادني عن مشْرَبٍ

سائغٍ يشفي الصَّدى دهْرٌ كَنودُ

سائغٍ يشفي الصَّدى دهْرٌ كَنودُ

I am thirsty, driven from a drinking source

That glory has a steep and narrow path

pleasant and healing thirst, by an ungenerous time.

Up which, with hardship, man must climb and groan

فَتَنَهْنَهْتُ عليماً أنَّني

فَتَنَهْنَهْتُ عليماً أنَّني

إن تطعَّمْتُك بدْءاً سأعودُ

إن تطعَّمْتُك بدْءاً سأعودُ

So I restrained myself, knowing

And that when a master grants a lowly one power

that if I tasted your bounty once, I would return.

The master rules, while the slave obeys his dictate alone

ألْحَظُ الرِيَّ وحشْوي غُلَّةٌ

ألْحَظُ الرِيَّ وحشْوي غُلَّةٌ

غير أن ليس يُواتيني الوُرودُ

غير أن ليس يُواتيني الوُرودُ

I gaze at quenched thirst while my insides burn,

And that he who does good, others defer to

but reaching the water is not granted me.

Rarely is an unguided creature tightly reined

ومن البَرْح لَحاظي مشرباً

ومن البَرْح لَحاظي مشرباً

أنا مشغوفٌ به عنْهُ مَذودُ

أنا مشغوفٌ به عنْهُ مَذودُ

Among torments is my gazing at a drinking source

It is not built up by futile platitudes

I am enamored of, yet driven away from.

Nor trodden by frivolity, faces prone

فأعِرْني سبباً يُوردُني

فأعِرْني سبباً يُوردُني

بحْرَك الغَمْرَ أعانتْك السُّعودُ

بحْرَك الغَمْرَ أعانتْك السُّعودُ

So lend me a means that brings me to

Rather, by a free man exerting himself

your deep sea; may good fortune aid you.

While creation sleeps, he wakes fitfully moaning

وهْو أن تنهض لي في حاجتي

وهْو أن تنهض لي في حاجتي

نهضةً يُكوى بها الجارُ الحسودُ

نهضةً يُكوى بها الجارُ الحسودُ

It is that you rise to act for me in my need,

And by him showing, with his cheeks' flash

an action that scorches the envious neighbor,

Faces where frowns and rejection have grown

وتُخلِّيني لما أمتاحُهُ

وتُخلِّيني لما أمتاحُهُ

منك فالأشْغال بالحال قيودُ

منك فالأشْغال بالحال قيودُ

and free me for what I draw

And by his ears being battered by what

from you, for preoccupations are shackles in my present state.

The insolent and foolish and vile have thrown

أزِلِ السَّدَّ الذي قد عاقني

أزِلِ السَّدَّ الذي قد عاقني

عنك زالت دون ما تهوى السُّدودُ

عنك زالت دون ما تهوى السُّدودُ

Remove the barrier that has hindered me

All I enumerated, the prices of glory

from you; may barriers to what you desire vanish!

For which, from them, gold coins can be bought and loaned

يا أخَا النَّهْض الذي ما مثله

يا أخَا النَّهْض الذي ما مثله

حين لا تنهض بالقوم الجُدودُ

حين لا تنهض بالقوم الجُدودُ

O champion of action, who has no equal

So regard me as one whose hand is yours

when fortunes fail to raise people up:

I am indebted, until vines twist and trees have grown

لي مديحٌ قلتُهُ في سَيّدٍ

لي مديحٌ قلتُهُ في سَيّدٍ

لم تزل تُهْدي له الشعرَ الوُفودُ

لم تزل تُهْدي له الشعرَ الوُفودُ

I have praise I composed about a lord

With your hands, that if once denied

to whom delegations have never ceased presenting verse,

Witnesses would rise up from where they were sown

من حَبير الشِّعْر من أسْمَعُهُ

من حَبير الشِّعْر من أسْمَعُهُ

فوعاه قال روضٌ أو بُرُودُ

فوعاه قال روضٌ أو بُرُودُ

embroidered verse: whoever I let hear it

In infidelity's darkness they shine like pillars

and who grasps it says, "A garden, or striped robes!"

Lit up in black night, towering tall and lone

كلما أنشدَه في محفلٍ

كلما أنشدَه في محفلٍ

ذَلِقُ المقْوَل جيَّاشٌ شَرودُ

ذَلِقُ المقْوَل جيَّاشٌ شَرودُ

Whenever it is recited in an assembly by

So befriend me, friend me, my gratitude overflowing, pouring endlessly like the constantly moving streams

a fluent-tongued man, overflowing and far-ranging,

And help me in my need, recruiting one through whom

هيلَت الأسماعُ من لفْظٍ له

هيلَت الأسماعُ من لفْظٍ له

واقْشعرّتْ لمعانيه الجُلودُ

واقْشعرّتْ لمعانيه الجُلودُ

ears are awed by his utterance,

Upon people, gifts pile up easily thrown

and skins shiver at its meanings.

A free and noble man helps in needs

ولَّدَتْهُ فِطْنَةٌ إنسيَّةٌ

ولَّدَتْهُ فِطْنَةٌ إنسيَّةٌ

تدَّعيها الجنُّ غرّاءٌ وَلُودُ

تدَّعيها الجنُّ غرّاءٌ وَلُودُ

A human intelligence brought it forth,

Not a envious one, but a giver widely known

claimed by the jinn, brilliant and prolific.

He seeks to fulfill needs, not covet and hoard

يتلظَّى بين وَصْلَيْ شاعرٍ

يتلظَّى بين وَصْلَيْ شاعرٍ

لُدُّ قَوْل الشعر والشعر لَدودُ

لُدُّ قَوْل الشعر والشعر لَدودُ

It blazes between the two sides of a poet,

Rarely is one bound who himself has not bound and tightly sewn

fierce in composing verse—and verse is a fierce adversary.

أذْعَنَ المدْحُ له في شاعرٍ

أذْعَنَ المدْحُ له في شاعرٍ

يغْزُر المنطق فيه ويجودُ

يغْزُر المنطق فيه ويجودُ

Praise yielded to him through a poet

whose speech is abundant and excellent.

فجرى في القول وامتدَّ له

فجرى في القول وامتدَّ له

وتناهى حين ردَّتْهُ الحُدودُ

وتناهى حين ردَّتْهُ الحُدودُ

So he ran freely in speech, and it stretched out before him,

and reached his utmost when the boundaries turned him back.

فاستمعْ شعري فإن أحْمَدْتَهُ

فاستمعْ شعري فإن أحْمَدْتَهُ

حين يرعى الفكرُ فيه وَيَرودُ

حين يرعى الفكرُ فيه وَيَرودُ

Listen to my verse; if you approve it

when thought grazes and roams within it,

فاحْتَقبْ حمدي بإسْماعِكَهُ

فاحْتَقبْ حمدي بإسْماعِكَهُ

مَلكاً يملكهُ حلْمٌ وجودُ

مَلكاً يملكهُ حلْمٌ وجودُ

then earn my thanks by having it heard by

a king ruled by forbearance and generosity.

ليَ في مَدْحيَ فيه أمَلٌ

ليَ في مَدْحيَ فيه أمَلٌ

وبلاغٌ وله فيه خلودُ

وبلاغٌ وله فيه خلودُ

In my praise of him I have hope

and sustenance, while for him it holds immortality.

عارضٌ أمطر غيري وَدَعَتْ

عارضٌ أمطر غيري وَدَعَتْ

رائدي منْهُ بُروقُ ورُعودُ

رائدي منْهُ بُروقُ ورُعودُ

A rain cloud that rained on others, while

its lightning and thunder summoned my scout:

العَلاء المبتَنى شُمّ العُلا

العَلاء المبتَنى شُمّ العُلا

فوق ما أَثَّل قَحطانُ وهُودُ

فوق ما أَثَّل قَحطانُ وهُودُ

Al-Ala, whose towering heights of glory are built

above what Qahtan and Hud established,

وابن من حقَّق تأْويلَ اسمه

وابن من حقَّق تأْويلَ اسمه

فله في كل علياءَ صُعودُ

فله في كل علياءَ صُعودُ

and son of him who fulfilled his name's meaning,

for he ascends every height.

حاجتي ثقْلٌ وقد حُمّلْتَهَا

حاجتي ثقْلٌ وقد حُمّلْتَهَا

فاحْتملْها لا تكاءَدْكَ كَؤودُ

فاحْتملْها لا تكاءَدْكَ كَؤودُ

My need is a burden, and you have been charged with it;

then bear it—may no steep ascent overburden you.

وتَعلَّمْ غيرَ ما مُستَأْنفٍ

وتَعلَّمْ غيرَ ما مُستَأْنفٍ

علْم شيء أيها العِدُّ المَكُودُ

علْم شيء أيها العِدُّ المَكُودُ

And learn—not that you are newly acquiring

knowledge of anything, O inexhaustible, abundant spring—

أن للمجد سبيلاً وعْرةً

أن للمجد سبيلاً وعْرةً

ضيِّقاً مسلَكُها فيه صَعودُ

ضيِّقاً مسلَكُها فيه صَعودُ

that glory has a rugged path,

narrow in its passage, with an uphill climb.

وبما يُولي مَسُوداً سَيّدٌ

وبما يُولي مَسُوداً سَيّدٌ

أمَرَ السيدُ فانقادَ المسُودُ

أمَرَ السيدُ فانقادَ المسُودُ

Through what a master bestows on a subordinate,

the master commands, and the subordinate obeys.

وبأن أَحْسَنَ ذا أذعنَ ذا

وبأن أَحْسَنَ ذا أذعنَ ذا

قَلَّ ما قِيد بلا شيء مَقودُ

قَلَّ ما قِيد بلا شيء مَقودُ

Because this one did kindness, that one yielded;

rarely is anyone led without something in return.

ليس تُثْنيَ بالأباطيل الطُّلَى

ليس تُثْنيَ بالأباطيل الطُّلَى

لا ولا تُوطأ بالهزْل الخُدودُ

لا ولا تُوطأ بالهزْل الخُدودُ

You do not bend necks with empty pretenses;

no, nor are cheeks trodden down by frivolity,

بل بأن يُنْصب حُرٌّ نفسَه

بل بأن يُنْصب حُرٌّ نفسَه

وبأن يسهر والناس رُقودُ

وبأن يسهر والناس رُقودُ

but by a freeborn man putting himself to toil,

and staying awake while people sleep,

وبأن يَلْقَى بضاحي وجْهِه

وبأن يَلْقَى بضاحي وجْهِه

أوْجُهاً فيها عُبُوسٌ وصُدودُ

أوْجُهاً فيها عُبُوسٌ وصُدودُ

and meeting with his open face

faces full of scowling and aversion,

وبأن يقرع بَابَيْ سَمْعِهِ

وبأن يقرع بَابَيْ سَمْعِهِ

ما يقول الكَزُّ والهَشُّ الرَّقودُ

ما يقول الكَزُّ والهَشُّ الرَّقودُ

and letting the two doors of his hearing be struck by

what the dour man says, and the genial, sleepy man.

كل ما عدَّدْتُ أثمانَ العُلا

كل ما عدَّدْتُ أثمانَ العُلا

ولمَا يُبْتاعُ منهنَّ نُقُودُ

ولمَا يُبْتاعُ منهنَّ نُقُودُ

All I have listed are the prices of glory,

and ready coin for what is purchased of those heights.

فاتَّخِذْ عندي لك الخيرُ يداً

فاتَّخِذْ عندي لك الخيرُ يداً

ترتهنْ شكري بها ما اخضرَّ عُودُ

ترتهنْ شكري بها ما اخضرَّ عُودُ

So place a favor to your credit with me—may good be yours—

and hold my gratitude in pledge for it while any bough stays green,

من أياديك التي لو جُحدَتْ

من أياديك التي لو جُحدَتْ

مرةً قام لها منْهُ شُهودُ

مرةً قام لها منْهُ شُهودُ

among your favors which, if denied

once, would have witnesses rise from it to attest them.

تُجتَلى في غُمَّةِ الكفْر كما

تُجتَلى في غُمَّةِ الكفْر كما

يُجتلى في ظُلمةِ الليل العَمودُ

يُجتلى في ظُلمةِ الليل العَمودُ

They shine forth in the gloom of ingratitude, as

the pillar of dawn shines through the darkness of night.

وتألَّفْني تَألَّفْ صاحباً

وتألَّفْني تَألَّفْ صاحباً

بي أَلوفاً شكره شكْرٌ شَرودُ

بي أَلوفاً شكره شكْرٌ شَرودُ

And win me over: win a companion

in me, devoted, whose gratitude travels far.

واستَعِنْ في حاجتي واندبْ لها

واستَعِنْ في حاجتي واندبْ لها

من به رَاقَتْ على الناس عَتودُ

من به رَاقَتْ على الناس عَتودُ

Seek help in my need, and appoint to it

the man through whom Atud won people's admiration.

يَسْعَ في الحاجة حُرٌّ ماجدٌ

يَسْعَ في الحاجة حُرٌّ ماجدٌ

لا حَسودٌ لأخيه بل حَشودُ

لا حَسودٌ لأخيه بل حَشودُ

Let a freeborn, noble man pursue this need,

not one who envies his brother, but one who rallies help.