بكيتُكِ لو أنّ الدموع تُديلُ

بكيتُكِ لو أنّ الدموع تُديلُ

من الحزن أو يُطفَى بهن غليلُ

من الحزن أو يُطفَى بهن غليلُ

I would weep for you, if tears could bring relief

I wept for you, if only tears would flow

from sorrow, or through them a burning anguish be quenched.

From sorrow, or if they would ease the pain

وناوحتُ فيك الوُرْقَ شجواً فلي إذا

وناوحتُ فيك الوُرْقَ شجواً فلي إذا

شدتْ ولها تحت الظلامِ هديل

شدتْ ولها تحت الظلامِ هديل

And in grief for you I exchanged laments with the gray doves; when

And I lamented you with leaves that mourn, so I have

they sang, I had my lament, and they their cooing beneath the darkness.

A murmuring beneath the darkness when they rustle

وعاتبتُ دهري فيكِ جهلاً ومن غدا

وعاتبتُ دهري فيكِ جهلاً ومن غدا

يعاتب هذا الدهر فَهْو جهول

يعاتب هذا الدهر فَهْو جهول

And in ignorance I reproached my Time for you; whoever sets out

And I blamed my time for you ignorantly, and whoever

to reproach this Time is ignorant.

Blames this time tomorrow, he is ignorant

فما كان هذا الدهرُ يوماً عَنِ الذي

فما كان هذا الدهرُ يوماً عَنِ الذي

غدا وَهْو مطبوعٌ عليه يحول

غدا وَهْو مطبوعٌ عليه يحول

For never has this Time, on any day, turned aside from

For this time has never been, one day, free from what

what it is, by nature, fashioned to do.

Became of it, imprinted on it, ever changing

إلى الله من دهرٍ كأنّ صروفَهُ

إلى الله من دهرٍ كأنّ صروفَهُ

لها أبداً عند الأنام ذُحول

لها أبداً عند الأنام ذُحول

To God I appeal against a Time whose vicissitudes seem

To God from a time whose circumstances

to bear eternal grudges against humankind.

For people, seem to eternally shift

أبى أن يُرينا وجهَ يومٍ وما بهِ

أبى أن يُرينا وجهَ يومٍ وما بهِ

على إثْر ماضٍ رنّةٌ وعويل

على إثْر ماضٍ رنّةٌ وعويل

It refuses to show us the face of a day without

It refused to show us the face of a day, in which

a cry of grief and wailing over one departed.

No sorrow of the past follows with wailing and regret

فمن هالكٍ يلقى الرَّدى حتفَ أنفهِ

فمن هالكٍ يلقى الرَّدى حتفَ أنفهِ

وآخرَ منزوفِ الحياة قتيل

وآخرَ منزوفِ الحياة قتيل

Thus one perishes, meeting death naturally,

So one who meets his end, his soul vanquished

and another, drained of life, is slain.

And another drained of life, a victim

ومستكثرٍ من حاشد الجند والردى

ومستكثرٍ من حاشد الجند والردى

شَروبٍ لأعمار الرجالِ أكول

شَروبٍ لأعمار الرجالِ أكول

And one who amassed thronging troops and death,

And one made arrogant by a horde of soldiers and destruction

a ravenous drinker and devourer of men's lives,

Quenching the lives of men insatiably

تعَاظمَ حتى كاد من فرط منعةٍ

تعَاظمَ حتى كاد من فرط منعةٍ

وعزٍّ على صرف القضاءِ يطول

وعزٍّ على صرف القضاءِ يطول

grew so proud that, through sheer invulnerability

He became so mighty, he nearly exceeded the decree of fate

and might, he almost towered above the turns of fate.

In might and glory upon people

رماهُ الردى من حيث لم يدرِ بالتي

رماهُ الردى من حيث لم يدرِ بالتي

يروح لها ذو الأكلِ وَهْو أكيل

يروح لها ذو الأكلِ وَهْو أكيل

Death struck him from where he knew not, with the blow

But destiny cast him down where he did not expect

by which the devourer departs, himself devoured.

The blows of fate to land while he feasted

فباء من الجمِّ الغفير بقلّةٍ

فباء من الجمِّ الغفير بقلّةٍ

وأصبح بعد العزِّ وَهْو ذليل

وأصبح بعد العزِّ وَهْو ذليل

So from his teeming multitude he came away with little,

So from the great throng he met scarcity

and after his might he was brought low.

And after might awoke degraded

ألا في سبيل الله أقمارُ أوجهٍ

ألا في سبيل الله أقمارُ أوجهٍ

لها أبداً تحت الترابِ أُفول

لها أبداً تحت الترابِ أُفول

Ah, in God's path are faces bright as moons,

Indeed, in the path of God moons of faces

forever setting beneath the dust.

Under the soil forever set

وأغصانُ قاماتٍ ترفّ نضارةً

وأغصانُ قاماتٍ ترفّ نضارةً

لها عند ريعانِ النموِّ ذبول

لها عند ريعانِ النموِّ ذبول

And figures like boughs, fluttering with freshness,

And branches of statures that waved lush

that wither at the very prime of growth.

Withered at the bloom of youth

ولا كالتي أمسى بها الترْبُ مُؤْنَساً

ولا كالتي أمسى بها الترْبُ مُؤْنَساً

وأوحشَ منها منزلٌ ومَقيل

وأوحشَ منها منزلٌ ومَقيل

But none like her: the dust found companionship in her,

Not like her whom the earth befriended

while a home and a noonday resting place grew desolate without her.

When it was lonelier than her abode and rest

وأهدتْ إلى أهل القبورِ مَسرّةً

وأهدتْ إلى أهل القبورِ مَسرّةً

وساء حليلٌ بعدها وسليل

وساء حليلٌ بعدها وسليل

And she brought joy to the dwellers of the graves,

She brought the dwellers of tombs happiness

and after her a husband and a son were left grieving.

While after her the living grieved

وعَائِدَةٍ من حَجِّها لم يكنْ لها

وعَائِدَةٍ من حَجِّها لم يكنْ لها

على غَيرِ أَصْحَابِ القُبُورِ نُزُول

على غَيرِ أَصْحَابِ القُبُورِ نُزُول

And she returned from her pilgrimage, only to find

Returning from her Hajj she did not stop

no lodging save among the dwellers of the graves.

Except at the abode of those in tombs

كأن لم تَؤبْ بعد المغِيبِ ولم يكنْ

كأن لم تَؤبْ بعد المغِيبِ ولم يكنْ

لها بعد إِزْمَاعِ الرَّحيلِ قُفُول

لها بعد إِزْمَاعِ الرَّحيلِ قُفُول

As though she had not returned after her absence, nor had

As if she never returned from being veiled

there been a homecoming for her after her resolve to depart.

Nor after departure did she turn back

لأَسرَعُ ما وافَتْ وفَاءَتْ كأنَّمَا

لأَسرَعُ ما وافَتْ وفَاءَتْ كأنَّمَا

عَلَيها بأنْ لا تَستقِرَّ كفيل

عَلَيها بأنْ لا تَستقِرَّ كفيل

How swiftly she arrived and went back, as though

The swiftest she hastened, most faithful she was

a guarantor ensured she would not stay.

As if she was not allowed rest, and had no guarantor

وما قابلَ البُشْرَى النعيُّ وقَبَّحَتْ

وما قابلَ البُشْرَى النعيُّ وقَبَّحَتْ

يَدُ الحزنِ وجْهَ البِشْرِ وَهْو جَمِيلُ

يَدُ الحزنِ وجْهَ البِشْرِ وَهْو جَمِيلُ

And how swiftly death-tidings met glad news, and

The announcement of death marred the beautiful face

sorrow's hand disfigured joy's face, though it was beautiful.

Of tidings, and the hand of sorrow grew ugly

وسَاءَتْ كما سَرَّتْ وأَبْعِدْ بِفرحةٍ

وسَاءَتْ كما سَرَّتْ وأَبْعِدْ بِفرحةٍ

يُعَقِّبُها رُزْءٌ أَلَمَّ جَليلُ

يُعَقِّبُها رُزْءٌ أَلَمَّ جَليلُ

And she saddened as she had gladdened; away with a joy

Joy soured as it gladdened, so avert with gladness

followed by a grave calamity that befalls!

Sorrow that follows, painfully atrocious

لعمرُ أبي المَسْرُورِ بالشيءِ إنَّهُ

لعمرُ أبي المَسْرُورِ بالشيءِ إنَّهُ

إلى الحُزْنِ فيما بعدُ سَوفَ يؤولُ

إلى الحُزْنِ فيما بعدُ سَوفَ يؤولُ

By the life of the father of one who rejoices in something, he surely

By the life of the happy one, he will ultimately

will later come to sorrow.

Regret and to grief turn back

رأتْ أَبَويها طَالَ عَهدُهَما بِهَا

رأتْ أَبَويها طَالَ عَهدُهَما بِهَا

فزارتْهما إنَّ المُحبَّ وَصُولُ

فزارتْهما إنَّ المُحبَّ وَصُولُ

She saw that her parents had long been parted from her,

She saw her parents, long had passed since them

so she visited them: one who loves maintains the bond.

So she visited them, for the lover fulfils

فيا ابنةَ مَنْ لو كانَ بَعْدَ مُحَمَّدٍ

فيا ابنةَ مَنْ لو كانَ بَعْدَ مُحَمَّدٍ

رَسُولٌ لَما أَمْسَى سِوَاهُ رَسُولُ

رَسُولٌ لَما أَمْسَى سِوَاهُ رَسُولُ

So, O daughter of one who, had there been after Muhammad

O daughter of the one if after Muhammad

a messenger, none but he would have been the messenger;

There was a messenger, none other would be messenger

وزوجةَ من لو فَتَّشَ الخَلقُ لم يكنْ

وزوجةَ من لو فَتَّشَ الخَلقُ لم يكنْ

ليلقى له في العَالَمينَ مَثيلُ

ليلقى له في العَالَمينَ مَثيلُ

and wife of one for whom, if all creation searched, it could not

And wife of the one if the creation searched

find an equal in all the worlds;

They would find no peer for him in the worlds

وأُختَ الذينَ استفرغُوا الجَهْدَ في العُلا

وأُختَ الذينَ استفرغُوا الجَهْدَ في العُلا

وأثرَى بهم عَافٍ وعَزَّ نَزِيْلُ

وأثرَى بهم عَافٍ وعَزَّ نَزِيْلُ

and sister of those who spent their utmost effort on noble heights,

And sister of those who exerted themselves in ascendance

and through whom a supplicant grew rich and a guest gained honor;

Enriching them in ease and hosting nobles

وأُمَّ الذي والسِّنُّ خَمسٌ جَرَى إلى

وأُمَّ الذي والسِّنُّ خَمسٌ جَرَى إلى

مَدَى لذَوِي الخمسِينَ عنهُ نُكُولُ

مَدَى لذَوِي الخمسِينَ عنهُ نُكُولُ

and mother of him who, at the age of five, raced toward

And mother of the one who at five ran

a goal from which men of fifty shrink back;

A race meant for those in their fifties

وإحدَى النِّساءِ اللائِي هُنَّ لِفَرْطِ ما

وإحدَى النِّساءِ اللائِي هُنَّ لِفَرْطِ ما

كَسَبْنَ مِنَ اخْلاقِ البُعُولِ بُعُولُ

كَسَبْنَ مِنَ اخْلاقِ البُعُولِ بُعُولُ

and one of those women who, from the abundance of what

And one of the women who due to their gaining

they acquired of husbands' virtues, are husbands themselves.

Masculine virtues of husbands became husbands

عَفَائِفُ ما زُرَّتْ لَهُنَّ على الخَنَا

عَفَائِفُ ما زُرَّتْ لَهُنَّ على الخَنَا

جُيُوبٌ ولا جُرَّتْ عليهِ ذُيُولُ

جُيُوبٌ ولا جُرَّتْ عليهِ ذُيُولُ

Chaste women, whose collars were never buttoned over lewdness,

Chaste women who were never blamed for shame

nor their trailing hems dragged over it.

Nor were garments trailing pulled over them

جَمَعنَ إلى عَقْلٍ عُلاً جَابَ قُمْصَهَا

جَمَعنَ إلى عَقْلٍ عُلاً جَابَ قُمْصَهَا

لَهُنَّ عليٌّ ذُو العُلا وعَقِيلُ

لَهُنَّ عليٌّ ذُو العُلا وعَقِيلُ

They joined to wisdom a nobility whose garments

They combined intellect and sublime lineage

Ali, possessor of nobility, and Aqil cut for them.

Worn as a shirt only by Ali the Sublime and Intimate

وأثرينَ من هَدْيِ البَتُولِ وِرَاثةً

وأثرينَ من هَدْيِ البَتُولِ وِرَاثةً

فَمَنْ شِئْتَها مِنْهُنَّ فَهْيَ بَتُولُ

فَمَنْ شِئْتَها مِنْهُنَّ فَهْيَ بَتُولُ

And grew rich by inheriting al-Batul's example;

And they inherited guidance from the Maid

whichever of them you choose is herself a Batul.

So whichever you wish of them is a maiden

ومن لا يُعزّى عِفَّةً ونَجَابةً

ومن لا يُعزّى عِفَّةً ونَجَابةً

على مِثلها طُولَ الزمانِ حَليلُ

على مِثلها طُولَ الزمانِ حَليلُ

And one for whose like, in chastity and nobility,

She who is unmatched in chastity and prestige

no husband can ever be consoled, through all time.

For long eras a peerless paramour

لَهوَّنْتِ أرزاءَ الحَواصِنِ فَلْتَغُلْ

لَهوَّنْتِ أرزاءَ الحَواصِنِ فَلْتَغُلْ

خلافَكِ مَنْ لاَثَ العِصَابةَ غُوْلُ

خلافَكِ مَنْ لاَثَ العِصَابةَ غُوْلُ

You have made the losses of chaste women seem light; let a ghoul

You would make strongholds of modesty collapse

snatch away, after you, whoever wraps the headband.

So let those plunder who plunder

فإنْ قَلَّ بعدَ العَوْدِ لَبْثُكِ فالأَسَى

فإنْ قَلَّ بعدَ العَوْدِ لَبْثُكِ فالأَسَى

عليكِ وإن طَالَ الزَّمانُ طَويلُ

عليكِ وإن طَالَ الزَّمانُ طَويلُ

If your stay after returning was short, then the grief

If after returning your stay is brief, the sorrow

for you, however long time lasts, is long.

For you, even if time is long, remains

فَزَارَكِ من رَبِّ العِبَادِ سَلامُهُ

فَزَارَكِ من رَبِّ العِبَادِ سَلامُهُ

وزَارَكِ مِرْزَامُ العَشيِّ هَطُولُ

وزَارَكِ مِرْزَامُ العَشيِّ هَطُولُ

So may His peace, from the Lord of all servants, visit you,

For the Lord of worshippers sent you His peace

and may a thundering evening cloud visit you with pouring rain.

And the full moons of night visited you

ويا أصبرَ النَّاسِ الذينَ نَرَاهُمُ

ويا أصبرَ النَّاسِ الذينَ نَرَاهُمُ

وأَحمَلَهُمْ للعِبْءِ وَهْو ثَقيلُ

وأَحمَلَهُمْ للعِبْءِ وَهْو ثَقيلُ

And O most patient of the people we behold,

O most patient of people we saw

and most able to bear the burden, heavy though it is:

Bearing the heavy load and its weight

عَزاءً ولا أرضاهُ لكنْ مَقَالةً

عَزاءً ولا أرضاهُ لكنْ مَقَالةً

بها أَبَداً يُوصِي الخليلَ خليلُ

بها أَبَداً يُوصِي الخليلَ خليلُ

take solace—I do not approve it, but it is a saying

Condolences will not please you, but words

with which a friend always counsels a friend.

The friend advises to the friend eternally

فإنَّ أَسَاكَ اليومَ يستأصِلُ العَزَى

فإنَّ أَسَاكَ اليومَ يستأصِلُ العَزَى

ويتركُ رَبْعَ الصَّبْرِ وَهْوَ مَحيلُ

ويتركُ رَبْعَ الصَّبْرِ وَهْوَ مَحيلُ

For your grief today uproots consolation,

For your sorrow today wipes out consoling

and leaves the abode of patience barren.

Leaving a quarter of patience, impossible

ودونكَها كالروضِ بَاكَرَهَا الحَيَا

ودونكَها كالروضِ بَاكَرَهَا الحَيَا

وهَبَّتْ جَنُوبٌ فوقَهُ وقَبُولُ

وهَبَّتْ جَنُوبٌ فوقَهُ وقَبُولُ

Take it, like a garden visited at dawn by rain,

While below you the garden blossomed

over which south and east winds have blown.

As spring winds blew upon it gently

وإنِّيَ لَلْخلُّ الذي لا ترونَهُ

وإنِّيَ لَلْخلُّ الذي لا ترونَهُ

يميلُ مع النَّعْمَاءِ حَيثُ تميلُ

يميلُ مع النَّعْمَاءِ حَيثُ تميلُ

And I am indeed the friend whom you do not see

I am truly the date palm you do not see

swaying with good fortune wherever it sways.

Swaying as blessings sway

لسانُكُمُ الطَّلْقُ الذي لو رميتُمُ

لسانُكُمُ الطَّلْقُ الذي لو رميتُمُ

بِهِ قائِلاً لم يدرِ كيفَ يَقُولُ

بِهِ قائِلاً لم يدرِ كيفَ يَقُولُ

Your fluent tongue: if you hurled it

Your smooth tongues, if you throw

at a speaker, he would not know how to speak;

Words, the speaker knows not what he says

وسيفُكُمُ العضْبُ الذي إن ضَرَبتُمُ

وسيفُكُمُ العضْبُ الذي إن ضَرَبتُمُ

بهِ لم يُصافحْ مَضْرِبَيْهِ فُلُولُ

بهِ لم يُصافحْ مَضْرِبَيْهِ فُلُولُ

and your keen sword, which, if you strike

And your biting swords, if you strike

with it, no notches clasp its two cutting edges.

With them, no blades will greet their striking ever

وإنْ كانَ فيكمْ من يُنَاجِيهِ ظَنُّهُ

وإنْ كانَ فيكمْ من يُنَاجِيهِ ظَنُّهُ

عليَّ بِشَيءٍ ما عليهِ دَليلُ

عليَّ بِشَيءٍ ما عليهِ دَليلُ

And if among you is one whose suspicion whispers to him

If among you is one whose assumptions

something against me for which there is no proof,

Whisper of something against me without proof

خلا أنَّ مَدْحاً سَارَ لي فيهِ لم تزلْ

خلا أنَّ مَدْحاً سَارَ لي فيهِ لم تزلْ

شَواردُهُ في الخَافِقَينِ تجولُ

شَواردُهُ في الخَافِقَينِ تجولُ

save that a praise-poem of mine about him spread abroad,

Other than praise which circulated of me

its wandering verses never ceasing to roam the two horizons,

Whose phrases roam the two horizons

فدومُوا كما شئْتُمْ وشَاءَ وليُّكُمْ

فدومُوا كما شئْتُمْ وشَاءَ وليُّكُمْ

يَزُرْكم بمدحي بُكرةً وأصِيْلُ

يَزُرْكم بمدحي بُكرةً وأصِيْلُ

then remain as you wish, and as your devoted friend wishes;

Then persist as you wish, and as your Guardian wishes

may morning and evening visit you bearing my praise.

May he visit you with my praise morning and evening