فَحواكَyour words' import عَينٌa spy عَلىupon نَجواكَyour secret talk ياO مَذِلُblabberer
فَحواكَ عَينٌ عَلى نَجواكَ يا مَذِلُ
حَتّامَuntil when لاnot يَتَقَضّىcomes to an end قَولُكَyour speech الخَطِلُfoolish
حَتّامَ لا يَتَقَضّى قَولُكَ الخَطِلُ
Your words' import is a spy upon your secret talk, O blabberer.
How long will your foolish speech go on without end?
وَإِنَّand indeed أَسمَجَthe most unseemly مَنone whom تَشكوyou complain of إِلَيهِto him هَوىًlove
وَإِنَّ أَسمَجَ مَن تَشكو إِلَيهِ هَوىً
مَنone who كانَwas أَحسَنَthe best شَيءٍthing عِندَهُin his eyes العَذَلُreproach
مَن كانَ أَحسَنَ شَيءٍ عِندَهُ العَذَلُ
The most unseemly person to whom you complain of love
is he who regards reproach as the finest thing.
ماnot أَقبَلَتcame forward أَوجُهُthe faces of اللَذّاتِpleasures سافِرَةًunveiled
ما أَقبَلَت أَوجُهُ اللَذّاتِ سافِرَةً
مُذsince أَدبَرَتdeparted بِاللِوىat al-Liwa أَيّامُناour days الأُوَلُthe former
مُذ أَدبَرَت بِاللِوى أَيّامُنا الأُوَلُ
The faces of pleasure have not come unveiled
since our former days at al-Liwa departed.
إِنif شِئتَyou wish أَلّاthat you not تَرىsee صَبراًpatience لِمُصطَبَرٍin one striving to endure
إِن شِئتَ أَلّا تَرى صَبراً لِمُصطَبَرٍ
فَاِنظُرthen look عَلىat أَيِّwhat حالٍstate أَصبَحَhas become الطَلَلُthe ruined campsite
فَاِنظُر عَلى أَيِّ حالٍ أَصبَحَ الطَلَلُ
If you wish to see no patience in one striving to endure,
look at the state the ruined campsite has reached.
كَأَنَّماas though جادَwatered مَغناهُits dwelling فَغَيَّرَهُand changed it
كَأَنَّما جادَ مَغناهُ فَغَيَّرَهُ
دُموعُناour tears يَومَthe day بانواthey departed وَهيَwhile they تَنهَمِلُpour down
دُموعُنا يَومَ بانوا وَهيَ تَنهَمِلُ
It is as though its dwelling were watered and changed
by our tears, streaming on the day they departed.
وَلَوand if تَراهُمyou saw them وَإِيّاناand us وَمَوقِفَناand our stance
وَلَو تَراهُم وَإِيّانا وَمَوقِفَنا
فيin مَأتَمِthe mourning assembly of البَينِseparation لِاِستِهلالِناfor our wailing زَجَلُa clamour
في مَأتَمِ البَينِ لِاِستِهلالِنا زَجَلُ
If only you could see them, us, and where we stood
in separation's mourning assembly, our wailing resounding,
مِنfrom حُرقَةٍburning grief أَطلَقَتهاreleased it فُرقَةٌa separation أَسَرَتcaptured
مِن حُرقَةٍ أَطلَقَتها فُرقَةٌ أَسَرَت
قَلباًa heart وَمِنand from غَزَلٍlove فيat نَحرِهِits throat عَذَلُreproach
قَلباً وَمِن غَزَلٍ في نَحرِهِ عَذَلُ
from burning grief released by a separation that captured
a heart, and from love with reproach at its throat.
وَقَدand already طَوىfolded الشَوقَlonging فيinto أَحشائِناour innermost parts بَقَرٌwild cows
وَقَد طَوى الشَوقَ في أَحشائِنا بَقَرٌ
عَينٌwide-eyed طَوَتهُنَّenfolded them فيin أَحشائِهاtheir depths الكِلَلُcurtained canopies
عَينٌ طَوَتهُنَّ في أَحشائِها الكِلَلُ
Wild cows have folded longing into our innermost hearts—
wide-eyed, whom curtained canopies enfolded in their depths.
فَرَغنَthey devoted themselves لِلسِحرِto enchantment حَتّىuntil ظَلَّremained كُلُّevery شَجٍgrieving one
فَرَغنَ لِلسِحرِ حَتّى ظَلَّ كُلُّ شَجٍ
حَرّانَburning with thirst فيin بَعضِهِpart of him عَنaway from بَعضِهِanother part of him شُغُلُpreoccupation
حَرّانَ في بَعضِهِ عَن بَعضِهِ شُغُلُ
They devoted themselves to enchantment, until every grieving one remained
burning with thirst, one part of him distracted from another.
يُخزيshames رُكامَthe heaps of النَقاsand dunes ماwhat فيin مَآزِرِهاtheir waist-wraps
يُخزي رُكامَ النَقا ما في مَآزِرِها
وَيَفضَحُand shames الكُحلَkohl فيin أَجفانِهاtheir eyelids الكَحَلُnatural dark rims
وَيَفضَحُ الكُحلَ في أَجفانِها الكَحَلُ
What lies within their waist-wraps shames the piled sand dunes,
and their eyelids' natural darkness puts kohl to shame.
تَكادُalmost تَنتَقِلُdepart الأَرواحُsouls لَوif تُرِكَتleft free
تَكادُ تَنتَقِلُ الأَرواحُ لَو تُرِكَت
مِنَfrom الجُسومِbodies إِلَيهاto them حَيثُwherever تَنتَقِلُthey move
مِنَ الجُسومِ إِلَيها حَيثُ تَنتَقِلُ
Souls, if left free, would almost depart
from bodies to them, wherever they move.
طُلَّتwent unavenged دِماءٌblood هُريقَتwas shed عِندَهُنَّbeside them كَماjust as
طُلَّت دِماءٌ هُريقَت عِندَهُنَّ كَما
طُلَّتwent unavenged دِماءُthe blood of هَداياsacrificial offerings of مَكَّةَMecca الهَمَلُunheeded
طُلَّت دِماءُ هَدايا مَكَّةَ الهَمَلُ
Blood shed beside them went unavenged, just as
did the unheeded blood of Mecca's sacrificial offerings.
هانَتbecame cheap عَلىto كُلِّevery شَيءٍthing فَهوَso it يَسفِكُهاspills it
هانَت عَلى كُلِّ شَيءٍ فَهوَ يَسفِكُها
حَتّىeven المَنازِلُthe dwellings وَالأَحداجُand the camel-litters وَالإِبِلُand the camels
حَتّى المَنازِلُ وَالأَحداجُ وَالإِبِلُ
It became cheap to everything, and everything spills it—
even the dwellings, the camel-litters, and the camels.
بِالقائِمِthrough the ruler الثامِنِthe eighth المُستَخلَفِappointed caliph اِطَّأَدَتbecame firm
بِالقائِمِ الثامِنِ المُستَخلَفِ اِطَّأَدَت
قَواعِدُthe foundations of المُلكِkingship مُمتَدّاًextended لَهاfor them الطِوَلُthe long tether
قَواعِدُ المُلكِ مُمتَدّاً لَها الطِوَلُ
Through the eighth ruler, appointed caliph, were secured
the foundations of kingship, their tether stretched far.
بِيُمنِthrough the blessing of مُعتَصِمٍMu'tasim بِاللَهِin God لاno أَوَدٌcrookedness
بِيُمنِ مُعتَصِمٍ بِاللَهِ لا أَوَدٌ
بِالمُلكِin kingship مُذsince ضَمَّhe embraced قُطرَيهِits two ends وَلاand no خَلَلُbreach
بِالمُلكِ مُذ ضَمَّ قُطرَيهِ وَلا خَلَلُ
Through the blessing of Mu'tasim bi'llah, there is no crookedness
in kingship since he embraced its two ends, nor any breach.
يَهنيgladdens الرَعِيَّةَthe subjects أَنَّthat اللَهَGod مُقتَدِراًin His might
يَهني الرَعِيَّةَ أَنَّ اللَهَ مُقتَدِراً
أَعطاهُمُgave them بِأَبيthrough Abu إِسحاقَIshaq ماwhat سَأَلواthey asked
أَعطاهُمُ بِأَبي إِسحاقَ ما سَأَلوا
It gladdens the subjects that God, in His might,
gave them through Abu Ishaq what they asked.
لَوif كانَthere were فيin عاجِلٍthe immediate مِنfrom آجِلٍthe deferred بَدَلٌa substitute
لَو كانَ في عاجِلٍ مِن آجِلٍ بَدَلٌ
لَكانَthen there would be فيin وَعدِهِhis promise مِنfor رِفدِهِhis bounty بَدَلُa substitute
لَكانَ في وَعدِهِ مِن رِفدِهِ بَدَلُ
If the immediate could be replaced by the deferred,
his promise would stand in place of his bounty.
تَغايَرَgrew mutually jealous الشِعرُpoetry فيهِover him إِذas سَهِرتُI kept vigil لَهُfor it
تَغايَرَ الشِعرُ فيهِ إِذ سَهِرتُ لَهُ
حَتّىuntil ظَنَنتُI thought قَوافيهِits rhymes سَتَقتَتِلُwould fight each other
حَتّى ظَنَنتُ قَوافيهِ سَتَقتَتِلُ
Poetry grew jealous over him as I kept vigil for it,
until I thought its rhymes would fight one another.
لَولاwere it not for قَبولِيَmy accepting نُصحَthe counsel of العَزمِresolve مُرتَحِلاًwhile journeying
لَولا قَبولِيَ نُصحَ العَزمِ مُرتَحِلاً
لَراكَضانيwould both have raced me إِلَيهِto him الرَحلُthe saddle وَالجَمَلُand the camel
لَراكَضاني إِلَيهِ الرَحلُ وَالجَمَلُ
Had I not heeded resolve's counsel while journeying,
the saddle and camel would both have raced me to him.
لَهُhe has رِياضُgardens of نَدىًgenerosity لَمnot يُكبِdimmed زَهرَتَهاtheir bloom
لَهُ رِياضُ نَدىً لَم يُكبِ زَهرَتَها
خُلفٌa broken promise وَلَمand not تَتَبَختَرstrutted بَينَهاamong them العِلَلُexcuses
خُلفٌ وَلَم تَتَبَختَر بَينَها العِلَلُ
He has gardens of generosity whose bloom has not been dimmed
by broken promises, nor have excuses strutted among them.
مَدىthe destination of العُفاةِsuppliants فَلَمso not تَحلُلalighted بِهِthere قَدَمٌa foot
مَدى العُفاةِ فَلَم تَحلُل بِهِ قَدَمٌ
إِلّاexcept that تَرَحَّلَdeparted عَنهاfrom it العَثرُstumbling وَالزَلَلُand slipping
إِلّا تَرَحَّلَ عَنها العَثرُ وَالزَلَلُ
The destination of suppliants: no foot has alighted there
but stumbling and slipping have departed from it.
ماnot إِنat all يُباليhe cares إِذاwhen حَلّىhe adorns خَلائِقَهُhis character
ما إِن يُبالي إِذا حَلّى خَلائِقَهُ
بِجودِهِwith his generosity أَيَّwhich قُطرَيهِof his two sides حَوىcontained العَطَلُlack of adornment
بِجودِهِ أَيَّ قُطرَيهِ حَوى العَطَلُ
He does not care, once he has adorned his character
with his generosity, which of his two sides remains unadorned.
كَأَنَّas though أَموالَهُhis wealth وَالبَذلُand giving يَمحَقُهاconsumes it
كَأَنَّ أَموالَهُ وَالبَذلُ يَمحَقُها
نَهبٌplunder تَعَسَّفَهُravaged it التَبذيرُsquandering أَوor نَفَلُbooty
نَهبٌ تَعَسَّفَهُ التَبذيرُ أَو نَفَلُ
His wealth, as giving consumes it, seems
plunder ravaged by squandering, or booty.
شَرَستَyou were fierce بَلrather لِنتَyou were gentle بَلrather قانَيتَyou blended ذاكَthat بِذاwith this
شَرَستَ بَل لِنتَ بَل قانَيتَ ذاكَ بِذا
فَأَنتَso you لاno شَكَّdoubt فيكَin you السَهلُthe plain وَالجَبَلُand the mountain
فَأَنتَ لا شَكَّ فيكَ السَهلُ وَالجَبَلُ
You were fierce—no, gentle—no, you blended that with this;
so, beyond doubt, plain and mountain are both in you.
يَديmy hand لِمَنto whoever شاءَwishes رَهنٌa pledge لَمhas not يَذُقtasted جُرَعاًdraughts
يَدي لِمَن شاءَ رَهنٌ لَم يَذُق جُرَعاً
مِنfrom راحَتَيكَyour two palms دَرىknows ماwhat الصابُbitter sap وَالعَسَلُand honey
مِن راحَتَيكَ دَرى ما الصابُ وَالعَسَلُ
I pledge my hand to whoever wishes: none who has not tasted draughts
from your palms knows what bitter sap and honey are.
صَلّىmay bless الإِلَهُGod عَلىupon العَبّاسِal-Abbas وَاِنبَجَسَتand may gush forth
صَلّى الإِلَهُ عَلى العَبّاسِ وَاِنبَجَسَت
عَلىover ثَرىًsoil حَلَّهُhe occupied it الوَكّافَةُdripping clouds الهُطُلُpouring heavily
عَلى ثَرىً حَلَّهُ الوَكّافَةُ الهُطُلُ
May God bless al-Abbas, and may there gush
over the soil where he dwelt clouds dripping and pouring.
ذاكَthat one الَّذيwho كانَwas لَوif أَنَّthat الأَنامَhumanity لَهُhis
ذاكَ الَّذي كانَ لَو أَنَّ الأَنامَ لَهُ
نَسلٌoffspring لَماthen not راضَهُمtamed them جُبنٌcowardice وَلاnor بَخَلُmiserliness
نَسلٌ لَما راضَهُم جُبنٌ وَلا بَخَلُ
Such was he: had all humanity been his
offspring, neither cowardice nor miserliness would have tamed them.
أَبوfather of النُجومِthe stars الَّتيwhich ماnot ضَنَّheld back ثاقِبُهاtheir brilliant one
أَبو النُجومِ الَّتي ما ضَنَّ ثاقِبُها
أَنbecause لَمnot يَكُنwas بُرجُهُits constellation ثَورٌTaurus وَلاnor حَمَلُAries
أَن لَم يَكُن بُرجُهُ ثَورٌ وَلا حَمَلُ
Father of stars, whose brightest did not hold back
for having neither Taurus nor Aries as its constellation.
مِنamong كُلِّevery مُشتَهَرٍrenowned man فيin كُلِّevery مُعتَرَكٍbattlefield
مِن كُلِّ مُشتَهَرٍ في كُلِّ مُعتَرَكٍ
لَمnot يُعرَفِwas known المُشتَريJupiter فيهِin it وَلاnor زُحَلُSaturn
لَم يُعرَفِ المُشتَري فيهِ وَلا زُحَلُ
Each one renowned in every battlefield
where neither Jupiter nor Saturn was known.
يَحميهِprotects him لَألاؤُهُhis radiance أَوor لَوذَعِيَّتُهُhis keen wit
يَحميهِ لَألاؤُهُ أَو لَوذَعِيَّتُهُ
مِنfrom أَنthat يُذالَhe be demeaned بِمَنby 'who?' أَوor مِمَّنِ'from whom?' الرَجُلُthe man
مِن أَن يُذالَ بِمَن أَو مِمَّنِ الرَجُلُ
His radiance or his keen wit protects him
from being slighted by 'Who?' or 'From whom is the man?'
وَمَشهَدٍand many a battlefield بَينَbetween حُكمِthe rule of الذُلِّdisgrace مُنقَطِعٌcut off
وَمَشهَدٍ بَينَ حُكمِ الذُلِّ مُنقَطِعٌ
صاليهِits combatant أَوor بِحِبالِby the ropes of المَوتِdeath مُتَّصِلُbound
صاليهِ أَو بِحِبالِ المَوتِ مُتَّصِلُ
And many a battlefield, where disgrace's decree cuts off
its combatant, or death's ropes bind him fast—
ضَنكٍharrowing إِذاwhen خَرِسَتfell mute أَبطالُهُits champions نَطَقَتspoke
ضَنكٍ إِذا خَرِسَت أَبطالُهُ نَطَقَت
فيهِin it الصَوارِمُthe sharp swords وَالخَطِّيَةُand the Khatti spears الذُبُلُslender
فيهِ الصَوارِمُ وَالخَطِّيَةُ الذُبُلُ
harrowing, where, when its champions fall mute, speak
the sharp swords and slender Khatti spears.
لاnot يَطمَعُhopes المَرءُa person أَنto يَجتابَtraverse غَمرَتَهُits depths
لا يَطمَعُ المَرءُ أَن يَجتابَ غَمرَتَهُ
بِالقَولِby speech ماso long as لَمnot يَكُنis جِسراًa bridge لَهُfor him العَمَلُaction
بِالقَولِ ما لَم يَكُن جِسراً لَهُ العَمَلُ
No man hopes to traverse its depths
by speech, unless action forms a bridge for him.
جَلَّيتَyou dispelled وَالمَوتُwhile death مُبدٍexposing حُرَّthe bare part of صَفحَتِهِhis face
جَلَّيتَ وَالمَوتُ مُبدٍ حُرَّ صَفحَتِهِ
وَقَدand already تَفَرعَنَplayed Pharaoh فيin أَوصالِهِits limbs الأَجَلُthe appointed end
وَقَد تَفَرعَنَ في أَوصالِهِ الأَجَلُ
You dispelled it while Death displayed his naked face,
and Doom had played Pharaoh in its limbs.
أَبَحتَyou opened أَوعارَهُits rugged places بِالضَربِwith blows وَهوَwhile it حِمىًa preserve
أَبَحتَ أَوعارَهُ بِالضَربِ وَهوَ حِمىً
لِلحَربِfor war يَثبُتُstands firm فيهِin it الرَوعُterror وَالوَهَلُand panic
لِلحَربِ يَثبُتُ فيهِ الرَوعُ وَالوَهَلُ
With blows you opened its rugged places, though it was a preserve
for war, where terror and panic stand firm.
آلُthe family of النَبِيِّthe Prophet إِذاwhen ماever ظُلمَةٌdarkness طَرَقَتcame by night
آلُ النَبِيِّ إِذا ما ظُلمَةٌ طَرَقَت
كانواthey were لَناfor us سُرُجاًlamps أَنتُمyou لَهاfor them شُعَلُflames
كانوا لَنا سُرُجاً أَنتُم لَها شُعَلُ
The Prophet's family, whenever darkness came by night,
were lamps for us; you are their flames.
يَستَعذِبونَfind sweet مَناياهُمtheir deaths كَأَنَّهُمُas though they
يَستَعذِبونَ مَناياهُم كَأَنَّهُمُ
لاnot يَيأَسونَdespair مِنَof الدُنياthe world إِذاwhen قُتِلواthey are slain
لا يَيأَسونَ مِنَ الدُنيا إِذا قُتِلوا
They find their deaths sweet, as though
they do not despair of this world when slain.
قَومٌa people إِذاwhen وَعَدواthey promise أَوor أَوعَدواthey threaten غَمَرواthey flood
قَومٌ إِذا وَعَدوا أَو أَوعَدوا غَمَروا
صِدقاًwith truth ذَوائِبَthe summits of ماwhat قالواthey said بِماwith what فَعَلواthey did
صِدقاً ذَوائِبَ ما قالوا بِما فَعَلوا
A people who, when they promise or threaten, flood
the very summits of their words with truth through their deeds.
أُسدُlions of عَرينٍa lair إِذاwhen ماever الرَوعُterror صَبَّحَهاattacks them at dawn
أُسدُ عَرينٍ إِذا ما الرَوعُ صَبَّحَها
أَوor صَبَّحَتهُthey attack it at dawn وَلَكِنbut غَابُهاtheir thickets الأَسَلُspears
أَو صَبَّحَتهُ وَلَكِن غَابُها الأَسَلُ
Lions of a lair, when terror attacks them at dawn,
or they attack it at dawn—but their thickets are spears.
تَناوَلُreach for الفَوتَescape أَيديthe hands of المَوتِdeath قادِرَةًfully able
تَناوَلُ الفَوتَ أَيدي المَوتِ قادِرَةً
إِذاwhen تَناوَلَtakes up سَيفاًa sword مِنهُمُamong them بَطَلُa hero
إِذا تَناوَلَ سَيفاً مِنهُمُ بَطَلُ
Death's hands grasp what would escape, with full power,
when a hero among them takes up a sword.
لِيَسقَمِlet sicken الدَهرُTime أَوor تَصحِحgrow sound مَوَدَّتُهُits affection
لِيَسقَمِ الدَهرُ أَو تَصحِح مَوَدَّتُهُ
فَاليَومَfor today أَوَّلَthe first يَومٍday صَحَّgrew sound ليfor me أَمَلُa hope
فَاليَومَ أَوَّلَ يَومٍ صَحَّ لي أَمَلُ
Let Time sicken, or let its affection grow sound;
for today is the first day a hope of mine is sound.
أَدنَيتُI brought near رَحليmy saddle إِلىto مُدنٍone bringing near مَكارِمَهُhis noble gifts
أَدنَيتُ رَحلي إِلى مُدنٍ مَكارِمَهُ
إِلَيَّto me يَهتَبِلُhe seeks اللَذdelight حَيثُwhere أَهتَبِلُI seek it
إِلَيَّ يَهتَبِلُ اللَذ حَيثُ أَهتَبِلُ
I brought my saddle near to one who draws his noble gifts
near to me, seeking delight where I seek it.
يَحميهِprotects him حَزمٌprudence لِحَزمِagainst the prudence of البُخلِavarice مُهتَضِمٌcrushing
يَحميهِ حَزمٌ لِحَزمِ البُخلِ مُهتَضِمٌ
جوداًthrough generosity وَعِرضٌand honour لِعِرضِtoward the honour of المالِwealth مُبتَذِلُholding cheap
جوداً وَعِرضٌ لِعِرضِ المالِ مُبتَذِلُ
Prudence protects him, crushing the prudence of avarice
through generosity, and honour holding wealth's honour cheap.
فِكرٌthought إِذاwhen راضَهُtames it راضَtames الأُمورَaffairs بِهِthrough it
فِكرٌ إِذا راضَهُ راضَ الأُمورَ بِهِ
رَأيٌjudgment تَفَنَّنَdisplayed varied arts فيهِin it الرَيثُdeliberation وَالعَجَلُand haste
رَأيٌ تَفَنَّنَ فيهِ الرَيثُ وَالعَجَلُ
Thought that, when tamed, is used to tame affairs
by a judgment in which deliberation and haste display their arts.
قَدalready جاءَhas come مِنfrom وَصفِكَdescribing you التَفسيرُdetailed exposition مُعتَذِراًpleading
قَد جاءَ مِن وَصفِكَ التَفسيرُ مُعتَذِراً
بِالعَجزِon grounds of inability إِنif لَمnot يُغِثنيhelps me اللَهُGod وَالجُمَلُand summaries
بِالعَجزِ إِن لَم يُغِثني اللَهُ وَالجُمَلُ
Detailed description of you has come pleading
inability, unless God and summaries come to my aid.
لَقَدindeed لَبِستَyou donned أَميرَCommander of المُؤمِنينَthe Faithful بِهاthrough it
لَقَد لَبِستَ أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ بِها
حَلياًjewelry نِظاماهُits two strings بَيتٌa verse سارَwidely circulated أَوor مَثَلُa proverb
حَلياً نِظاماهُ بَيتٌ سارَ أَو مَثَلُ
You have indeed donned through it, Commander of the Faithful,
jewelry whose two strings are a far-traveling verse or a proverb.
غَريبَةٌa rare poem تُؤنِسُsoothes الآدابُliterature وَحشَتَهاits solitude
غَريبَةٌ تُؤنِسُ الآدابُ وَحشَتَها
فَماso not تَحُلُّalights عَلىamong قَومٍa people فَتَرتَحِلُthen departs
فَما تَحُلُّ عَلى قَومٍ فَتَرتَحِلُ
A rare poem, whose solitude literature soothes,
so it never settles among a people only to depart.
Sol 6.1