Poems
- أأحور عن قصدي وقد برح الخفاShall I turn from my purpose, now that concealment has lifted,
- أتيتك راجيا يا ذا الجلالI have come to You in hope, O Possessor of Majesty.
- أحمامة البيدا أطلت بكاكO dove of the desert, you have prolonged your weeping.
- ألا حي العقاب وقاطنيهCome, greet al-ʿUqāb and its inhabitants,
- ألا خبر بمنتزح النواحيNews of one who roams the outskirts,
- ألا قل لصنهاجة أجمعينCome, tell all of Sanhaja,
- السوط أبلغ من قال ومن قيلThe whip is more eloquent than talk and hearsay,
- الشيب نبه ذا النهى فتنبهاGray hair awakened the man of reason, and he took heed.
- ألفت العقاب حذار العقابI have grown used to the eagle for fear of punishment;
- إن أولي العلم بما في الفتنIndeed, those who know what trials hold
- أي خطيئاتي أبكي دماFor which of my sins shall I weep blood?
- أيا قوس خراط يشير ولا يرميO woodturner's bow, pointing but never shooting!
- أيا وزيرا لم يزل آخذاO vizier, who has never ceased to take
- أين الملوك وأين ما جمعوا وماWhere are the kings, and where is what they amassed and what
- بصرت بشيبة وخطت نصيليI saw a gray hair that had streaked my beard,
- تغازلني المنية من قريبDeath flirts with me from close by,
- تفت فؤادك الأيام فتاThe days melt your heart into copper,
- تمر لداتي واحدا بعد واحدMy peers pass away, one after another;
- رفعتم على قاضيكم فخفضتمYou brought a complaint against your judge, only to be brought low.
- عج بالمطي على اليباب الغامرTurn the riding camels aside toward the vast wasteland,
- فإن الردى غال أهل التقىFor death has carried off the people of piety,
- قالوا ألا تستجد بيتاThey said, “Will you not acquire a new house
- قد بلغت الستين ويحك فاعلمYou have reached sixty—alas for you! Know
- كأني بنفسي وهي في السكراتI seem to behold my soul in its death throes,
- كل امرئ فيما يدين يدانEvery person is repaid according to how he treats others.
- كم آمن للمنون لاهHow many a man, feeling safe from death, heedless
- لا قوة لي يا ربي فأنتصرI have no strength, my Lord, with which to prevail,
- لبرزت في ميدان كل بطالةI have indeed excelled in the arena of every idle pursuit,
- لو كنت في ديني من الأبطالIf I were among the champions in my faith,
- ما أميل النفس إلى الباطلEnglish translation unavailable
- ما عناء الكبير بالحسناءWhy does the old man weary himself over a beauty,
- ما عيدك الفخم إلا يوم يغفر لكYour grand festival is only the day you are forgiven,
- من ليس بالباكي ولا المتباكيWhoever neither weeps nor tries to weep
- منا توج الملك إلا بابن سلمانNone but the son of Sulman is crowned a king
- وذي غنى أوهمته همتهAnd many a wealthy man was deluded by his ambition
- ويل لأهل النار في النارWoe to the people of the Fire within the Fire!
- يا أيها المغتر باللهO You Deceived by God
- يضيع مفروض ويغفل واجبA prescribed duty is neglected, an obligation overlooked;
No poems found.