يبتُ أخو البلوى إذا الخِلوُ غمَّضا

يبتُ أخو البلوى إذا الخِلوُ غمَّضا

وفي قلبه جمر من الوجد لا الغضا

وفي قلبه جمر من الوجد لا الغضا

The afflicted man lies awake when the carefree man closes his eyes,

My friend who is the brother of affliction weeps when alone,

and in his heart are embers of anguish, not of ghada wood.

His heart burning with passion, not indifference,

وأيّةُ بلوى كالبياض الذي بدا

وأيّةُ بلوى كالبياض الذي بدا

وأيُّ فقيدٍ كالسَّواد الذي نضا

وأيُّ فقيدٍ كالسَّواد الذي نضا

What affliction compares with the whiteness that has appeared?

And what affliction is like the whiteness that appeared,

And what lost treasure compares with the blackness that has vanished?

And what loss is like the darkness that vanished.

خليليّ إني نادبٌ عهد صاحبٍ

خليليّ إني نادبٌ عهد صاحبٍ

سقتْني لياليه الزُلال المرضرضا

سقتْني لياليه الزُلال المرضرضا

My two friends, I mourn the days of a companion

My friend, I lament the passing of an era with my companion,

whose nights gave me clear water rippling over pebbles.

Whose nights quenched me with pure, limpid water,

ولاح بديلٌ منه رذل كأنما

ولاح بديلٌ منه رذل كأنما

سقتني لياليه الزُعاف المخضخضا

سقتني لياليه الزُعاف المخضخضا

A base replacement for him appeared, as though

Only to be replaced by a contemptible substitute,

his nights had made me drink deadly poison, thoroughly stirred.

Whose nights gave me bitter, fetid water to drink.

بعيشكما لا تُكثرا عذل مكثرٍ

بعيشكما لا تُكثرا عذل مكثرٍ

ملامةَ دهرٍ قد أغصَّ وأجرضا

ملامةَ دهرٍ قد أغصَّ وأجرضا

By your lives, do not heap reproach upon one who heaps

In your life together, do not overly blame the excessive fault-finder,

blame upon an age that has made him choke and gag.

Cursing an era that has oppressed and been harsh.

شعارُ الفتى ذمُ الزمان الذي أتى

شعارُ الفتى ذمُ الزمان الذي أتى

ومن شأنه حمدُ الزمانِ الذي مضى

ومن شأنه حمدُ الزمانِ الذي مضى

A man's watchword is to condemn the age that has arrived,

The motto of the noble youth is to blame the present time,

and his habit is to praise the age that has passed.

And praise the time that has passed.

ولمْ لا وفي الآتي أخو العيش يُجتوَى

ولمْ لا وفي الآتي أخو العيش يُجتوَى

وفي الزمن الماضي أخو العيش يُرتَضى

وفي الزمن الماضي أخو العيش يُرتَضى

Why not, when in the coming age one's companion in life is loathed,

Why not, when the future holds a brother of life to embrace,

while in bygone time one's companion in life is cherished?

And the past holds a brother of life to be content with.

شبابٌ وشيبٌ ما استدار على الفتى

شبابٌ وشيبٌ ما استدار على الفتى

شبيهُهُما إلا أمرَّ وأنقضا

شبيهُهُما إلا أمرَّ وأنقضا

Youth and gray hair—their counterparts never circle over a man

Neither youth nor old age remain constant for the youth,

without embittering him and undoing him:

Except in vicissitude and passing away.

نهارٌ وليلٌ أكّد الحلْفُ أنه

نهارٌ وليلٌ أكّد الحلْفُ أنه

إذا بَنَيا مبنىً فشاداه قَوَّضا

إذا بَنَيا مبنىً فشاداه قَوَّضا

day and night, whose sworn pact affirms that

Night and day swore that if they built,

whenever they build a structure and raise it high, they tear it down.

Together they would demolish and destroy it.

مضى زمنُ اللحظ الذي كان يستبي

مضى زمنُ اللحظ الذي كان يستبي

قُلوبَ المها فاجعله دمعاً مُغيَّضا

قُلوبَ المها فاجعله دمعاً مُغيَّضا

Gone is the time of the glance that used to capture

The days of joy that enraptured hearts have passed,

the hearts of oryx-eyed beauties; now turn it into dwindling tears.

So shed tears for it that pour down.

أرى مُطرياتي عِبنَني ورفَضْنني

أرى مُطرياتي عِبنَني ورفَضْنني

وذو الشَيب أهلٌ أن يُعاب ويرفضا

وذو الشَيب أهلٌ أن يُعاب ويرفضا

I see the women who praised me finding fault with me and rejecting me;

I see my love has abandoned and rejected me,

a gray-haired man deserves to be faulted and rejected.

Yet it is right that one with white hair be blamed and spurned.

وما انفكَّ موتوراً من ابيض رأسهُ

وما انفكَّ موتوراً من ابيض رأسهُ

لَقىً للهوى لا ينقُضُ الوترَ مَنْقضا

لَقىً للهوى لا ينقُضُ الوترَ مَنْقضا

A man whose head has whitened is forever wronged,

Still he never ceased, with his white head bowed,

love's castoff, unable ever to avenge his wrong.

Devoted to passion, with an unbroken vow.

وتلقى أخا الفرع البهيم مظفَّراً

وتلقى أخا الفرع البهيم مظفَّراً

إذا شاء أضْنى ذاتَ دلٍّ وأحْرضا

إذا شاء أضْنى ذاتَ دلٍّ وأحْرضا

Yet you find the man with jet-black locks triumphant:

He meets the foolish youth, bedazzled,

if he wills, he makes a coquettish woman waste away and brings her near death.

If he wishes, drawing near a tender branch or shedding leaves.

كذا الجند منصورٌ بتسويد زيّه

كذا الجند منصورٌ بتسويد زيّه

وتلقاهُ مخذولاً إذا هو بيَّضا

وتلقاهُ مخذولاً إذا هو بيَّضا

So too an army is victorious when its uniform is black,

That is how victorious armies are with their black uniforms,

and you find it forsaken when it dons white.

Yet they meet him defeated when he dons white.

لشتّانَ ما بين الشباب وضدّه

لشتّانَ ما بين الشباب وضدّه

شبابُ الفتى يُصمي إذا الشيبُ أنبضا

شبابُ الفتى يُصمي إذا الشيبُ أنبضا

How vast the difference between youth and its opposite!

Far apart are the differences between youth and its opposite -

A man's youth strikes dead when gray hair merely twangs the bow.

The youth of the noble one prays when old age moans.

ينفِّرُ هذا كل صيدٍ محصَّلٍ

ينفِّرُ هذا كل صيدٍ محصَّلٍ

ويصطادُ هذا كل صيدٍ تعرّضا

ويصطادُ هذا كل صيدٍ تعرّضا

Gray hair frightens off every quarry already secured,

This repels all acquired gain,

while youth catches every quarry that presents itself.

While that hunts any prey exposed.

تحبَّب دهري بالشباب مُلاوةً

تحبَّب دهري بالشباب مُلاوةً

فلما أحل الشيبَ رأسي تبغّضا

فلما أحل الشيبَ رأسي تبغّضا

My age courted my affection with youth for a long while;

My lifetime was sweetened by youth,

then, when it lodged gray hair in my head, it made itself hated.

But when old age whitened my head, it was embittered.

كأن شباباً كان لي فسُلبتُهُ

كأن شباباً كان لي فسُلبتُهُ

كسانيَ منه سالفُ الدهرِ مِعْرضا

كسانيَ منه سالفُ الدهرِ مِعْرضا

It is as though the youth I possessed and was then robbed of

It was as if I had a youth that was stolen from me,

was a robe of finery that bygone time had clothed me in.

Leaving me deprived of it from time past.

سأثني بآلاء الشبيبةِ باسِطاً

سأثني بآلاء الشبيبةِ باسِطاً

لساني بها حتى أحينَ فأُقبَضا

لساني بها حتى أحينَ فأُقبَضا

I shall praise youth's blessings, extending

I will praise the virtues of my youth,

my tongue in their praise until my end comes and I am taken away.

My tongue occupied with it until I breathe my last.

وأُعنَى وأُغرى بالخضابِ ممرِّضاً

وأُعنَى وأُغرى بالخضابِ ممرِّضاً

شباباً مريضاً حقُه أن يُمَرَّضا

شباباً مريضاً حقُه أن يُمَرَّضا

And I shall attend to hair dye, enamored of it, nursing

And I will be preoccupied and tempted by henna, nursing,

a sickly youth that rightly deserves nursing.

A sick youth who deserves to be nursed.

وأُقسم أني لا أرى من شبيبتي

وأُقسم أني لا أرى من شبيبتي

سوى قاسمٍ مستخلَفاً متعوَّضا

سوى قاسمٍ مستخلَفاً متعوَّضا

And I swear that I see no successor to my youth

I swear I see nothing left of my youth

and no replacement for it but Qasim.

Except a remainder, a substitute that replaces it.

هو المرء نعماهُ شبابٌ مجدَّدٌ

هو المرء نعماهُ شبابٌ مجدَّدٌ

وإن حث شيبي بالشباب فأوفضا

وإن حث شيبي بالشباب فأوفضا

He is the man whose favors are youth renewed,

One's person - his youth is renewed bounty,

even though my gray hair drove youth to flee in haste.

Even if my old age urges me to youth, and so I yield.

فتىً لم يزل مذ عدَّ عشراً وأربعاً

فتىً لم يزل مذ عدَّ عشراً وأربعاً

لكل جليلٍ مرتضىً أو مُربَّضا

لكل جليلٍ مرتضىً أو مُربَّضا

A youth who, ever since he counted fourteen years,

A youth who, since he reached fourteen,

has been approved for every great task or held ready for it.

Was agreeable to every venerable and sheltered one.

لو امتحنَ الله البحارَ بجوده

لو امتحنَ الله البحارَ بجوده

لأضحتْ وأمست من عطاياه غُيَّضا

لأضحتْ وأمست من عطاياه غُيَّضا

If God tested the seas with his generosity,

If God had tried the seas with his generosity,

morning and evening would find them drained by his gifts.

They would have overflowed with his gifts.

ولو لمستْ صُمَّ الصخورِ يمينُهُ

ولو لمستْ صُمَّ الصخورِ يمينُهُ

لأضحَتْ بسلسالٍ من الماء فيَّضا

لأضحَتْ بسلسالٍ من الماء فيَّضا

And if his right hand touched the solid rocks,

If his right hand had touched barren rocks,

they would overflow with limpid, flowing water.

They would have streamed forth with water bursting out.

وإن راض للسلطان خشناءَ صعبةً

وإن راض للسلطان خشناءَ صعبةً

فناهيكَ روّاضا به ومروِّضا

فناهيكَ روّاضا به ومروِّضا

And if he tames some rough, unruly thing for the ruler,

And if he was compliant to the Sultan's rugged, difficult task,

what a consummate tamer and trainer he is!

Let alone being a tender tamer and trainer to him.

متى سلَّ سيفاً مارقٌ سلَّ رأيَهُ

متى سلَّ سيفاً مارقٌ سلَّ رأيَهُ

فقطّعه والسيفُ للسيف يُنتضى

فقطّعه والسيفُ للسيف يُنتضى

Whenever a rebel draws a sword, he unsheathes his judgment

Whenever an unsheathed sword rebelled, he swung at it,

and cuts him to pieces, while sword is drawn against sword.

And the sword is made to clang against a sword.

وأحسنُ من روض الربيع خلائقاً

وأحسنُ من روض الربيع خلائقاً

إذا ذهَّبَ النَوْرَ الربيعُ وفضَّضا

إذا ذهَّبَ النَوْرَ الربيعُ وفضَّضا

And fairer in character than spring's meadows,

Far better than the garden of spring in character

when spring gilds and silvers their blossoms.

Is he when spring's blossoms wither and are gone.

إذا الناس أضحوا ظاعنين عن امرئٍ

إذا الناس أضحوا ظاعنين عن امرئٍ

نبا بهمُ أضحوا ببابيه خُفَّضا

نبا بهمُ أضحوا ببابيه خُفَّضا

When people depart from a man

When people slander a man,

who treated them harshly, they settle at his two doors in comfort.

They become humbled at his door.

أقاسمُ يا من يقسمُ الجودُ ماله

أقاسمُ يا من يقسمُ الجودُ ماله

أثِبْ مِدَحاً غرَّاً وودّاً مُمحَّضا

أثِبْ مِدَحاً غرَّاً وودّاً مُمحَّضا

O Qasim, you whose wealth generosity shares out,

O Qasim, O you who generosity shares his wealth,

reward radiant praises and unalloyed affection.

Confirm sincerity and affection absolutely pure!

ألم ترني أقرضْتُك الودّ طائِعاً

ألم ترني أقرضْتُك الودّ طائِعاً

ولم تر قبلي مُعسراً قط أقرضا

ولم تر قبلي مُعسراً قط أقرضا

Have you not seen me freely lending you affection,

Did you not see me willingly lending you affection?

though before me you had never seen a destitute man lend?

Never before have you seen me refuse to lend to one in need.

فلم برتُ حتى قيل في ظل سخطةٍ

فلم برتُ حتى قيل في ظل سخطةٍ

وأصبحتُ للتَّرحيم نَصباً معرَّضا

وأصبحتُ للتَّرحيم نَصباً معرَّضا

Why have I gone unwanted, till I was said to lie beneath displeasure's shadow,

Yet no sooner had I shone before being told, in the shade of disfavor,

and become an exposed target for pitying prayers?

I had become an object of condemnation exposed.

ولمْ لَمْ تُخيِّب ظن من قال خائبٌ

ولمْ لَمْ تُخيِّب ظن من قال خائبٌ

وهزَّ لظنّي فيك رأساً وأنغضا

وهزَّ لظنّي فيك رأساً وأنغضا

And why have you not belied the judgment of one who said, 'He has failed,'

Why did you not belie who said 'he fails,'

and shook and wagged his head at my expectations of you?

Shaking his head at my hopes in you in rejection?

إذا ما أشاعَ الناسُ أنْ قد حبسْتني

إذا ما أشاعَ الناسُ أنْ قد حبسْتني

ولم أتدرّع بينهم خِلعةَ الرضا

ولم أتدرّع بينهم خِلعةَ الرضا

If people spread the report that you have detained me,

When people spread that you had imprisoned me

and among them I have not donned the robe of favor,

And I did not arm myself with consent's armor,

فقد نالني بعضُ الذي رضخُوا به

فقد نالني بعضُ الذي رضخُوا به

فهل لك في أن تُرحضَ الشكَّ مَرحضا

فهل لك في أن تُرحضَ الشكَّ مَرحضا

then some of what they hurled at me has struck me.

Then I was afflicted with some of what those who yielded accepted,

Will you wash doubt thoroughly away?

Is it yours to erase this doubt entirely?

وما ذاك إلا بالذي أنتَ أهلهُ

وما ذاك إلا بالذي أنتَ أهلهُ

وإن لم يُطق شُكري بنعماك مَنْهضا

وإن لم يُطق شُكري بنعماك مَنْهضا

That requires only what is worthy of you,

That is only fitting for you,

though my gratitude cannot rise to the burden of your favors.

Even if my gratitude cannot match your blessings, rising up.

لعمري لقد صوِّرتَ أبيضَ مُشرقاً

لعمري لقد صوِّرتَ أبيضَ مُشرقاً

فلم لا تُريني وجه نُعماك أبيضا

فلم لا تُريني وجه نُعماك أبيضا

By my life, you were fashioned fair and radiant;

By my life, you portrayed a shining bright white,

why, then, do you not show me your bounty's fair face?

Why do you not show me the face of your favors white?

أُعيذ نَدى كفَّيك من أن يعوقه

أُعيذ نَدى كفَّيك من أن يعوقه

لجاجٌ ومن قيلِ العدى كان فانقضى

لجاجٌ ومن قيلِ العدى كان فانقضى

I seek protection for the generosity of your two hands, lest it be hindered

I seek refuge for the softness of your palms from ever being fettered

by stubbornness or enemies' talk that came and passed.

By stubbornness, and from the time of enmity that has passed.

تذكَّر مديحاً لو هززتُ لبعضِه

تذكَّر مديحاً لو هززتُ لبعضِه

صفاً قاسياً لاهتز منه وروّضا

صفاً قاسياً لاهتز منه وروّضا

Remember praises with some of which, had I stirred

Remember praise which if I shook just an iota of it,

a hard rock, it would have stirred and turned verdant.

It would make the firmly rooted violently quake.

يُمخِّضُ ودي كل يوم وليلةٍ

يُمخِّضُ ودي كل يوم وليلةٍ

بذلك صدراً لا يزال ممخّضا

بذلك صدراً لا يزال ممخّضا

Every day and night my affection churns

My love gives birth every day and night

a breast with that praise, a breast forever churned.

To this, a heart that does not cease being in labor.

وألقاك مهزوزاً به وكأنما

وألقاك مهزوزاً به وكأنما

ألاقيكَ مشحُوذاً عليَّ مُحرَّضا

ألاقيكَ مشحُوذاً عليَّ مُحرَّضا

And I find you stirred by it, yet it is as though

And I met you shaken by it as if

I meet you sharpened and incited against me.

I had met you emboldened against me, incited.

لقد خابَ من أضحى إليك مُبغَّضاً

لقد خابَ من أضحى إليك مُبغَّضاً

وأمسى إلى الأعداء فيك مُبغَّضا

وأمسى إلى الأعداء فيك مُبغَّضا

He has failed who becomes hateful to you,

Lost is he who became hateful to you,

and by evening hateful to the enemies because of you.

Spending his evenings hating your enemies.

أحاط به شرّان والفقرُ ثالثٌ

أحاط به شرّان والفقرُ ثالثٌ

وفي واحدٍ ما شفَّ قلباً وأرمضا

وفي واحدٍ ما شفَّ قلباً وأرمضا

Two evils surround him, and poverty is a third;

Misfortune, poverty, and misery surrounded him,

in one alone is enough to waste a heart and scorch it.

And with one, how many a heart was softened and blinked away tears!

على أنني ما كنتُ عند ذوي النُهى

على أنني ما كنتُ عند ذوي النُهى

مقيتاً ولا بين الكرام مُرفّضا

مقيتاً ولا بين الكرام مُرفّضا

Yet among men of understanding I have never been

Yet I was not hated by people of piety,

hated, nor among the noble rejected.

Nor despised among the generous.

وقد كاد قلبي من جفائكَ ينْتزي

وقد كاد قلبي من جفائكَ ينْتزي

ولكنني خفّضتُ جأشاً مخفَّضا

ولكنني خفّضتُ جأشاً مخفَّضا

My heart almost leapt from your estrangement,

My heart was almost ripped out by your abandonment,

but I restrained my spirit, keeping it subdued.

But I subdued the violent outburst within.

ولم لا وقد جرَّأتَ كل مُضاغنٍ

ولم لا وقد جرَّأتَ كل مُضاغنٍ

عليَّ فأضحى سيفُه ليَ مُنتضى

عليَّ فأضحى سيفُه ليَ مُنتضى

And why should it not, when you have emboldened every rancorous man

Why not, when you emboldened every deceitful one against me,

against me, so that his sword is drawn against me?

So each one's sword was unleashed against me.

وأوهنْتَ ركني للعدى فتركْتَني

وأوهنْتَ ركني للعدى فتركْتَني

لمن رامني بالضَّيم عظماً مُرضَّضا

لمن رامني بالضَّيم عظماً مُرضَّضا

You have weakened my support before the enemies, leaving me

And you weakened my pillar against the enemies, leaving me

a shattered bone for whoever seeks to wrong me.

To those who sought to injure me, a bone crushed.

وقد كنتُ للأعداء قبلك مِقمعاً

وقد كنتُ للأعداء قبلك مِقمعاً

إذا الحيّةُ النضناضُ يوماً تنضنضا

إذا الحيّةُ النضناضُ يوماً تنضنضا

Before you, I was a scourge to my enemies,

I used to suppress the enemies before you,

if ever the tongue-flickering serpent flicked its tongue.

When the hissing serpent would hiss one day.

وكانوا يدبُّون الضَّراء فأصبحوا

وكانوا يدبُّون الضَّراء فأصبحوا

وكل مبادٍ يركضُ الغيَّ مَرْكضا

وكل مبادٍ يركضُ الغيَّ مَرْكضا

They used to creep under cover, but now

They used to plot harms, but became

every openly hostile man gallops headlong in wrongdoing.

Each schemer rushing into folly confused.

فأصبحت مفروضاً عليّ اتقاؤهم

فأصبحت مفروضاً عليّ اتقاؤهم

وما كان لو أعززت نصري ليُفرَضا

وما كان لو أعززت نصري ليُفرَضا

Now I am obliged to guard against them,

So I was forced to beware of them

though this would not have been imposed had you strengthened my defense.

When, had you supported me, it would not have been imposed.

فيا ويح مولاك استغاث بمشربٍ

فيا ويح مولاك استغاث بمشربٍ

فأشرقَ واستشفى شفاءً فأمْرضا

فأشرقَ واستشفى شفاءً فأمْرضا

Alas for your client, who sought relief at a drinking-place

My master - one despairing of life cried for help,

and choked; he sought a remedy and fell ill.

And the east shone and was cured - then became sick again!

ولولا اعتقادي أنك الخيرُ كله

ولولا اعتقادي أنك الخيرُ كله

لأجمعتُ توديعاً قضى الله ما قضى

لأجمعتُ توديعاً قضى الله ما قضى

Were it not for my belief that you are all goodness,

Were it not for my conviction that you are all goodness,

I would have resolved on farewell: God has decreed what He has decreed.

I would have bid farewell - God ordain what He ordains.

وإني وإن دارتْ علي دوائرٌ

وإني وإن دارتْ علي دوائرٌ

لأُعرضُ عمَّن صدَّ عني وأعرَضا

لأُعرضُ عمَّن صدَّ عني وأعرَضا

And I, even if misfortunes turn their circles upon me,

Though circles turn against me,

surely turn away from whoever shuns me and turns away.

I will turn away from those who turned from me.

وما زلتُ عزّافاً إذا الزادُ رابني

وما زلتُ عزّافاً إذا الزادُ رابني

بخبثٍ وعيّافاً إذا الماءُ عَرْمضا

بخبثٍ وعيّافاً إذا الماءُ عَرْمضا

I have always refused provisions when they troubled me

I remain pure when provisions become foul through malice,

with foulness, and shunned water when it grew algae.

And a connoisseur when the water becomes bitter.

ومن عجبٍ أني بسطت بمنطقي

ومن عجبٍ أني بسطت بمنطقي

عليك لساناً في الإسارِ مُقبّضا

عليك لساناً في الإسارِ مُقبّضا

It is strange that through my speech I have extended

Wondrous that I unleashed my tongue upon you

against you a tongue held tight in captivity.

In captivity - though it remains restrained.

ولولا رجاَءٌ فيك حيٌّ لما غدتْ

ولولا رجاَءٌ فيك حيٌّ لما غدتْ

عروقي ولا راحت من الخوفِ نُبَّضا

عروقي ولا راحت من الخوفِ نُبَّضا

Were it not for a hope in you still alive, neither morning

Were it not for hope in you, alive,

nor evening would find my veins pulsing with fear.

My veins would not have stirred, nor been eased of fear.

بل العجبُ الوحشيُّ خوفيك بعدما

بل العجبُ الوحشيُّ خوفيك بعدما

غدوتَ غياثاً للّهيفِ مُقَيَّضا

غدوتَ غياثاً للّهيفِ مُقَيَّضا

But the wildest wonder is my fear of you, after

Rather, the beastly stranger - my fearing you after

you became succor providentially sent to the distressed.

You became a rescuer for the frightened weak!

وماليَ أخشى من عدِمت مَراضعي

وماليَ أخشى من عدِمت مَراضعي

من العيش إلا فضلَه المتبرَّضا

من العيش إلا فضلَه المتبرَّضا

Why should I fear him, when I have no breasts to nurse from

Closer than delaying rain is its downpour,

in life except his bounty, sipped drop by drop?

Even if the rain returns the thunder and lightens.

لأقربُ من إصعاق غيثٍ غياثُهُ

لأقربُ من إصعاق غيثٍ غياثُهُ

وإن رجّع الغيثُ الرعودَ وأومضا

وإن رجّع الغيثُ الرعودَ وأومضا

A raincloud's succor is likelier than its lightning's harm,

Wondrous that I demanded you fulfill me

even when the raincloud echoes thunder and flashes lightning.

When your face is more deserving to endure and seek fulfillment!

ومن عجب أني اقتضيْتك نائلاً

ومن عجب أني اقتضيْتك نائلاً

ووجهُك أولى أن يُعانى ويقتضَى

ووجهُك أولى أن يُعانى ويقتضَى

It is strange that I have demanded a gift from you,

I looked - had you empowered me with what you possess,

when your face is worthier of being sought with effort and requested.

I would not have been compensated from that meeting.

نظرتُ فلو ملّكتني ما ملكته

نظرتُ فلو ملّكتني ما ملكته

لما كنتُ من ذاك اللقاء معوَّضا

لما كنتُ من ذاك اللقاء معوَّضا

I looked: had you bestowed on me all you own,

Wondrous that I prolong my reproach against you

it would not have been a substitute for that meeting.

When you have become the chosen among people!

ومن عجب أني أطيلُ تعتُّبي

ومن عجب أني أطيلُ تعتُّبي

عليكُ وقد أصبحتَ في الخلق مُرتَضى

عليكُ وقد أصبحتَ في الخلق مُرتَضى

It is strange that I prolong my reproaches

I wronged you with complaint while you gave me life

against you, though you are esteemed among all people.

And clothed me in the garment of life loose-fitting.

ظلمتُك بالشكوى وأنت انتعشتني

ظلمتُك بالشكوى وأنت انتعشتني

وألبستني ثوبَ الحياة مفضفَضا

وألبستني ثوبَ الحياة مفضفَضا

I wronged you by complaining, when you revived me

How often did I brandish the sword's edge against you tyrannically

and clothed me in the ample robe of life.

Yet your palm did not detach and strike me down!

وكم رمتُ حدّ السيف منك تسلُّطاً

وكم رمتُ حدّ السيف منك تسلُّطاً

عليك فلم تَنقُضْ بيَ الكفُّ مَنْقضا

عليك فلم تَنقُضْ بيَ الكفُّ مَنْقضا

How often I courted the edge of your sword, presuming

Out of shyness, forbearance, and rising above

against you, yet your hand never once stirred against me,

What would have produced enmity, a crop harvested.

حياءً وحلماً واعتلاءً عن التي

حياءً وحلماً واعتلاءً عن التي

يكون الجنَى منها بناناً معضَّضا

يكون الجنَى منها بناناً معضَّضا

through modesty, forbearance, and rising above the deed

To a master who often overlooked and closed his eyes.

whose harvest would be fingers bitten in remorse.

I will surrender all my affairs to your custody,

وها أنا من ذنبي وعتبيَ تائبٌ

وها أنا من ذنبي وعتبيَ تائبٌ

إلى سيدٍ كم غَضَّ عنّي وغمّضا

إلى سيدٍ كم غَضَّ عنّي وغمّضا

Here I am, repentant of my fault and reproaches,

And the like of me to justice like yours delegates.

before a master who has so often overlooked my faults and closed his eyes.

Still your gaze ascends the heights from you

سأسْلم تفويضي إليك بأسره

سأسْلم تفويضي إليك بأسره

ومثلي إلى عدلٍ كعدلك فوَّضا

ومثلي إلى عدلٍ كعدلك فوَّضا

I shall surrender all my affairs into your keeping;

If you wish, it may come from you, lowered modestly.

one such as I entrusts himself to justice like yours.

Below you - from a poet thankful to you

وما زلتَ تسمو للعلا منك نظرةٌ

وما زلتَ تسمو للعلا منك نظرةٌ

إذا شئتَ كانت منك طرفاً مغضَّضا

إذا شئتَ كانت منك طرفاً مغضَّضا

You have always risen toward glory; a glance from you,

Though he agitated the noble and pure tents.

when you wish, becomes a gaze cast down.

Able - if he wishes clarity, he attains it,

ودُونَكها من شاعرٍ لك شاكرٍ

ودُونَكها من شاعرٍ لك شاكرٍ

وإن حرّك الخِيمَ الكريم وحضَّضا

وإن حرّك الخِيمَ الكريم وحضَّضا

Take this from a poet grateful to you,

And if precision, he refines and makes obscure.

even if he stirs and urges your noble nature:

If his path is desolation, he sees in you a caring shepherd

قديرٍ متى شاء الإبانَة نالها

قديرٍ متى شاء الإبانَة نالها

وإن شاء تدقيقاً أدقّ وأغمضا

وإن شاء تدقيقاً أدقّ وأغمضا

an able poet, who attains clarity whenever he wishes,

Seeing clearly what he must watch closely and directly.

and, if he seeks subtlety, speaks minutely and obscurely.

And if his path is hopes, he sees in you a rain cloud

إذا سُمته هجراً رأى بك راعياً

إذا سُمته هجراً رأى بك راعياً

بصيراً بما يرعى أخلَّ وأحمضا

بصيراً بما يرعى أخلَّ وأحمضا

If you subject him to estrangement, he sees in you a shepherd

Offering its blessing, and bursting forth.

who knows his flock, giving sweet pasture and salty pasture.

No merit increases in you by praise gaining prominence,

وإن سُمته مطلاً رأى بك عارضاً

وإن سُمته مطلاً رأى بك عارضاً

من الغيثِ ألقى بَرْكه وتمخَّضا

من الغيثِ ألقى بَرْكه وتمخَّضا

And if you subject him to delay, he sees in you a cloud

Rather, it is like musk encountering one who kneads.

of rain, laying down its breast and churning.

For you - remembrance, the only purity, all of it,

وما ازدادَ فضلٌ فيك بالمدح شهرةً

وما ازدادَ فضلٌ فيك بالمدح شهرةً

بل كان مثل المسك صادفَ مِخْوَضا

بل كان مثل المسك صادفَ مِخْوَضا

Praise has made no excellence in you more renowned;

If a mouth one day murmurs it in ablution.

it has merely been like musk that met a stirring rod.

When mouths are devoid due to ignorant base praise,

لك الذِّكَرُ اللاتي هي الطُّهرُ كله

لك الذِّكَرُ اللاتي هي الطُّهرُ كله

إذا ما فمٌ يوم بهن تمضمضا

إذا ما فمٌ يوم بهن تمضمضا

The praises of you are purity itself,

They do not become adorned through praising you.

whenever a mouth one day rinses itself with them.

You who are all purity when the ignorant chatter,

إذا حاضت الأفواه من مدح جاهلٍ

إذا حاضت الأفواه من مدح جاهلٍ

لئيمٍ فما أضحت بمدحك حُيَّضا

لئيمٍ فما أضحت بمدحك حُيَّضا

When mouths menstruate from praising an ignorant,

As if a mouth murmuring your name gargled.

base man, they do not menstruate from praising you.