إِنَّ عَهداً لَو تَعلَمانِ ذَميما

إِنَّ عَهداً لَو تَعلَمانِ ذَميما

أَن تَناما عَن لَيلَتي أَو تُنيما

أَن تَناما عَن لَيلَتي أَو تُنيما

It is a shameful pledge, if you two but knew,

If you knew of a promise, however trivial,

that you sleep through my night, or lull others to sleep.

To let me sleep one night or make me drowsy,

كُنتُ أَرعى البُدورَ حَتّى إِذا ما

كُنتُ أَرعى البُدورَ حَتّى إِذا ما

فارَقوني أَمسَيتُ أَرعى النُجوما

فارَقوني أَمسَيتُ أَرعى النُجوما

I used to watch the full moons, until, when

I would tend flocks till, when they left me,

they left me, I passed the evening watching the stars.

I tended the stars at nightfall.

قَد مَرَرنا بِالدارِ وَهيَ خَلاءٌ

قَد مَرَرنا بِالدارِ وَهيَ خَلاءٌ

وَبَكَينا طُلولَها وَالرُسوما

وَبَكَينا طُلولَها وَالرُسوما

We passed by the dwelling, now deserted,

We passed by the abode, now empty,

and wept over its ruins and traces.

And wept for its vestiges and graven marks,

وَسَأَلنا رُبوعَها فَاِنصَرَفنا

وَسَأَلنا رُبوعَها فَاِنصَرَفنا

بِسَقامٍ وَما سَأَلنا حَكيما

بِسَقامٍ وَما سَأَلنا حَكيما

We questioned its dwelling-sites, then departed

And asked of its pastures, turning away

with sickness, though we had consulted no physician.

Sickened, nor asked of a wise man.

أَصبَحَت رَوضَةُ الشَبابِ هَشيماً

أَصبَحَت رَوضَةُ الشَبابِ هَشيماً

وَغَدَت ريحُهُ البَليلُ سَموما

وَغَدَت ريحُهُ البَليلُ سَموما

Youth's garden has turned to dry stubble,

The meadow of youth lies broken,

and its cool, moist breeze has become a scorching wind.

Its zephyr is now but poisonous fumes;

شُعلَةٌ في المَفارِقِ اِستَودَعَتني

شُعلَةٌ في المَفارِقِ اِستَودَعَتني

في صَميمِ الفُؤادِ ثُكلاً صَميما

في صَميمِ الفُؤادِ ثُكلاً صَميما

A flame amid my parted hair has lodged within me,

A flame in parting was entrusted in the core

in my heart's very core, a profound bereavement.

Of my heart with a burning, searing grief.

تَستَثيرُ الهُمومُ ما اِكتَنَّ مِنها

تَستَثيرُ الهُمومُ ما اِكتَنَّ مِنها

صُعُداً وَهيَ تَستَثيرُ الهُموما

صُعُداً وَهيَ تَستَثيرُ الهُموما

Worries rouse what lies hidden of it,

Cares arouse what they harbored of themselves-

upward, while it in turn rouses worries.

Ascents-and they arouse cares.

غُرَّةٌ بُهمَةٌ أَلا إِنَّما كُن

غُرَّةٌ بُهمَةٌ أَلا إِنَّما كُن

تُ أَغَرّاً أَيّامَ كُنتُ بَهيما

تُ أَغَرّاً أَيّامَ كُنتُ بَهيما

A white blaze, a dark calamity! Indeed, I was

Deluded, foolish soul! Truly, you were only

radiant only in the days when my hair was black.

A fool in the days you were ignorant.

دِقَّةٌ في الحَياةِ تُدعى جَلالاً

دِقَّةٌ في الحَياةِ تُدعى جَلالاً

مِثلَما سُمِّيَ اللَديغُ سَليما

مِثلَما سُمِّيَ اللَديغُ سَليما

A dwindling of life is called dignity,

A subtlety in life called majesty

just as the snake-bitten man is called 'unharmed.'

As the vicious is named virtuous.

حَلَّمَتني زَعَمتُم وَأَراني

حَلَّمَتني زَعَمتُم وَأَراني

قَبلَ هَذا التَحليمِ كُنتُ حَليما

قَبلَ هَذا التَحليمِ كُنتُ حَليما

It has made me wise, you claim; yet I know

You claimed that I was forebearing, and I see

I was wise before this making-wise.

Myself before that forebearance patient.

مَن رَأى بارِقاً سَرى صامِتِيّاً

مَن رَأى بارِقاً سَرى صامِتِيّاً

جادَ نَجداً سُهولَها وَالحُزوما

جادَ نَجداً سُهولَها وَالحُزوما

Who has seen a lightning-cloud pass by night, a Ṣāmitī,

One who saw lightning stride silent

drenching Najd, its plains and uplands,

Across the plateau of Najd and its sand hills,

يوسُفِيّاً مُحَمَّدِيّاً حَفِيّاً

يوسُفِيّاً مُحَمَّدِيّاً حَفِيّاً

بِذَليلِ الثَرى رَؤوفاً رَحيما

بِذَليلِ الثَرى رَؤوفاً رَحيما

Yūsufī, Muḥammadī, solicitous

One Joseph, one Muhammad, one vigilant

toward the lowly dust, compassionate and merciful?

With the outcast vile, compassionate, tender,

فَسَقى طَيِّئاً وَكَلباً وَدودا

فَسَقى طَيِّئاً وَكَلباً وَدودا

نَ وَقَيساً وَوائِلاً وَتَميما

نَ وَقَيساً وَوائِلاً وَتَميما

So it watered Ṭayyiʾ, Kalb, and Dūdān,

Who gave drink to Tay, to Kalb, to Dowd,

and Qays, Wāʾil, and Tamīm.

To Na and Qais and Wail and Temim,

لَن يَنالَ العُلى خُصوصاً مِنَ الفِت

لَن يَنالَ العُلى خُصوصاً مِنَ الفِت

يانِ مَن لَم يَكُن نَداهُ عُموما

يانِ مَن لَم يَكُن نَداهُ عُموما

No youth will attain eminence for himself

None attains glory, especially of youths

unless his generosity extends to all.

Unless his help embraces all.

نَشَأَت مِن يَمينِهِ نَفَحاتٌ

نَشَأَت مِن يَمينِهِ نَفَحاتٌ

ما عَلَيها أَلّا تَكونَ غُيوما

ما عَلَيها أَلّا تَكونَ غُيوما

From his right hand rose wafts of bounty,

From his right hand blows issued

none the worse for not being clouds.

Which it was not theirs to be clouds,

أَلبَسَت نَجداً الصَنائِعَ لا شي

أَلبَسَت نَجداً الصَنائِعَ لا شي

حاً وَلا جَنبَةً وَلا قَيصوما

حاً وَلا جَنبَةً وَلا قَيصوما

They clothed Najd in benefactions, not wormwood,

Clothing Najd in the skilled work, not coarse

nor low shrubs, nor fragrant yarrow.

Filigree nor embroidered gowns;

كَرُمَت راحَتاهُ في أَزَماتٍ

كَرُمَت راحَتاهُ في أَزَماتٍ

كانَ صَوبُ الغَمامِ فيها لَئيما

كانَ صَوبُ الغَمامِ فيها لَئيما

His two palms were generous in hard times,

Who spared his rest in wars

when the clouds' downpour was miserly.

When toward the clouds their temper was mean:

لا رُزَيناهُ ما أَلَذَّ إِذا هُزَّ

لا رُزَيناهُ ما أَلَذَّ إِذا هُزَّ

وَأَندى كَفّاً وَأَكرَمَ خيما

وَأَندى كَفّاً وَأَكرَمَ خيما

May we never lose him! How delightful when stirred,

We enjoyed him not so much as when he shook

how lavish of hand, how noble in nature!

And his palm sweated and he honored tents;

وَجَّهَ العيسَ وَهيَ عيسٌ إِلى اللَ

وَجَّهَ العيسَ وَهيَ عيسٌ إِلى اللَ

هِ فَآلَت مِثلَ القِسِيِّ حَطيم

هِ فَآلَت مِثلَ القِسِيِّ حَطيم

He directed the pale camels—still pale camels—toward God;

He turned Jesus,-and Jesus unto God-

and they became like bows, broken down.

So he became as fragments of potsherds;

وَأَحَقُّ الأَقوامِ أَن يَقضِيَ الدَي

وَأَحَقُّ الأَقوامِ أَن يَقضِيَ الدَي

نَ ثُمَّ لَمّا عَلاهُ صارَ أَديما

نَ ثُمَّ لَمّا عَلاهُ صارَ أَديما

And he is the worthiest of men to discharge the debt;

The most entitled of men to settle the debt

then, when it weighed upon him, he became mere skin.

Then, towering over it, lasting;

لَم يُحَدِّث نَفساً بِمَكَّةَ حَتّى

لَم يُحَدِّث نَفساً بِمَكَّةَ حَتّى

جازَتِ الكَهفَ خَيلُهُ وَالرَقيما

جازَتِ الكَهفَ خَيلُهُ وَالرَقيما

He spoke to no one about Mecca until

His soul spoke not of Mecca till his steeds

his horses had passed al-Kahf and al-Raqīm.

And archers pierced the cave and Raqim;

حَرَمُ الدينِ زارَهُ بَعدَ أَن لَم

حَرَمُ الدينِ زارَهُ بَعدَ أَن لَم

يُبقِ لِلكُفرِ وَالضَلالِ حَريما

يُبقِ لِلكُفرِ وَالضَلالِ حَريما

He visited religion's sanctuary after he had

The sanctuary after the Din was intact

left unbelief and error no sanctuary.

Left not for unbelief or misguidance inviolate;

حينَ عَفّى مَقامَ إِبليسَ سامَي

حينَ عَفّى مَقامَ إِبليسَ سامَي

بِالمَطايا مَقامَ إِبراهيما

بِالمَطايا مَقامَ إِبراهيما

When he effaced the station of Iblīs, he strove

When he pardoned the place of Iblis the accursed

with his mounts toward the station of Ibrāhīm.

With horses he made the place of Abraham sublime;

حَطَمَ الشِركَ حَطمَةً ذَكَّرَتهُ

حَطَمَ الشِركَ حَطمَةً ذَكَّرَتهُ

في دُجى اللَيلِ زَمزَماً وَالحَطيما

في دُجى اللَيلِ زَمزَماً وَالحَطيما

He shattered polytheism with a blow that reminded him,

He broke idolatry with a breaking that reminded him

in the night's darkness, of Zamzam and al-Ḥaṭīm.

In the darkness of night of Zamzam and the rubble;

فاضَ فَيضَ الأَتِيِّ حَتّى غَدا المَو

فاضَ فَيضَ الأَتِيِّ حَتّى غَدا المَو

سِمُ مِن فَضلِ سَيبِهِ مَوسوما

سِمُ مِن فَضلِ سَيبِهِ مَوسوما

He overflowed like a rushing flood, until the pilgrimage season

So the grace of the Giver overflowed till the swords

was marked by the abundance of his bounty.

From his bounty were patterned.

قَد بَلَونا أَبا سَعيدٍ حَديثاً

قَد بَلَونا أَبا سَعيدٍ حَديثاً

وَبَلَونا أَبا سَعيدٍ قَديما

وَبَلَونا أَبا سَعيدٍ قَديما

We have tested Abū Saʿīd in recent days,

We made trial of Abu Sa'id recent

and we tested Abū Saʿīd long ago.

And made trial of Abu Sa'id of old,

وَوَرَدناهُ ساحِلاً وَقَليباً

وَوَرَدناهُ ساحِلاً وَقَليباً

وَرَعَيناهُ بارِضاً وَجَميما

وَرَعَيناهُ بارِضاً وَجَميما

We came to him for water, as seashore and well,

And we knew him barren and fertile

and grazed upon him as new shoots and lush growth.

And knew him friendly and ungracious

فَعَلِمنا أَن لَيسَ إِلّا بِشِقِّ الن

فَعَلِمنا أَن لَيسَ إِلّا بِشِقِّ الن

نَفسِ صارَ الكَريمُ يُدعى كَريما

نَفسِ صارَ الكَريمُ يُدعى كَريما

Thus we learned that only at great cost to the soul

So we knew that only by the rending of selves

does a generous man come to be called generous.

Is one named generous made generous

طَلَبُ المَجدِ يورِثُ المَرءَ خَبلاً

طَلَبُ المَجدِ يورِثُ المَرءَ خَبلاً

وَهُموماً تُقَضقِضُ الحَيزوما

وَهُموماً تُقَضقِضُ الحَيزوما

The pursuit of glory brings a man madness,

Seeking glory leaves one confused

and worries that crush his breast.

And with cares that fracture the mind;

فَتَراهُ وَهوَ الخَلِيُّ شَجِيّاً

فَتَراهُ وَهوَ الخَلِيُّ شَجِيّاً

وَتَراهُ وَهوَ الصَحيحُ سَقيما

وَتَراهُ وَهوَ الصَحيحُ سَقيما

You see him grief-stricken, though free of cares,

You see him sound yet fractured

and see him sick, though sound in health.

And see him well yet ill

تَجِدُ المَجدَ في البَرِيَّةِ مَنثو

تَجِدُ المَجدَ في البَرِيَّةِ مَنثو

راً وَتَلقاهُ عِندَهُ مَنظوما

راً وَتَلقاهُ عِندَهُ مَنظوما

You find glory scattered among mankind,

You find glory in the wilderness like

but with him you find it strung in order.

Scattered clouds and receive it by him patterned

تَيَّمَتهُ العُلى فَلَيسَ يَعُدُّ ال

تَيَّمَتهُ العُلى فَلَيسَ يَعُدُّ ال

بُؤسَ بُؤساً وَلا النَعيمَ نَعيما

بُؤسَ بُؤساً وَلا النَعيمَ نَعيما

High glory has enslaved him, so he does not count

The sublime cloaked him so he counts not misery

hardship as hardship, nor comfort as comfort.

Misery nor comfort comfort

وَتُؤامُ النَدى يُري الكَرَمَ الفا

وَتُؤامُ النَدى يُري الكَرَمَ الفا

رِدَ في أَكثَرِ المَواطِنِ لوما

رِدَ في أَكثَرِ المَواطِنِ لوما

And generosity's twin makes a single act of bounty

The dew of bounty shows generosity solitary

seem meanness in most circumstances.

In most places blamed

كُلَّما زُرتُهُ وَجَدتُ لَدَيهِ

كُلَّما زُرتُهُ وَجَدتُ لَدَيهِ

نَسَباً ظاعِناً وَمَجداً مُقيما

نَسَباً ظاعِناً وَمَجداً مُقيما

Whenever I visit him, I find with him

Whenever I visited him I found by him

a journeying lineage and an abiding glory.

A pedigree decayed and lasting glory

أَجدَرُ الناسِ أَن يُرى وَهوَ مَغبو

أَجدَرُ الناسِ أَن يُرى وَهوَ مَغبو

نٌ وَهَيهاتَ أَن يُرى مَظلوما

نٌ وَهَيهاتَ أَن يُرى مَظلوما

Most apt of men to be seen shortchanged,

Most deserving are men seen destitute;

yet far from ever being seen oppressed.

Never can he be seen wronged

كُلُّ حالٍ تَلقاهُ فيها وَلَكِن

كُلُّ حالٍ تَلقاهُ فيها وَلَكِن

لَيسَ يُلقى في حالَةٍ مَذموما

لَيسَ يُلقى في حالَةٍ مَذموما

You may meet him in every condition, but

Every state you meet him in, only

never in a condition deserving blame.

He cannot be met in a state condemned

وَإِذا كانَ عارِضُ المَوتِ سَحّاً

وَإِذا كانَ عارِضُ المَوتِ سَحّاً

خَضِلاً بِالرَدى أَجَشَّ هَزيما

خَضِلاً بِالرَدى أَجَشَّ هَزيما

And when death's looming cloud pours down,

And if the encounter of death was inclining

drenched with doom, hoarse and thundering,

To vile infidelity, it bolted disordered

في ضِرامٍ مِنَ الوَغى وَاِشتِعالٍ

في ضِرامٍ مِنَ الوَغى وَاِشتِعالٍ

تَحسَبُ الجَوَّ مِنهُما مَهموما

تَحسَبُ الجَوَّ مِنهُما مَهموما

amid battle's blaze and flaming fury,

In the fray and fires, you'd think the atmosphere

you think the very sky grief-stricken from them both,

Gloomy from both care and smoke

وَاِكتَسَت ضُمَّرُ الجِيادِ المَذاكي

وَاِكتَسَت ضُمَّرُ الجِيادِ المَذاكي

مِن لِباسِ الهَيجا دَماً وَحَميما

مِن لِباسِ الهَيجا دَماً وَحَميما

and the lean, full-grown steeds are clothed

The withers of chargers anointed with wars

in battle's garb of blood and hot sweat,

Soaked the raiment of valor with blood and pus

في مَكَرٍّ تَلوكُها الحَربُ فيهِ

في مَكَرٍّ تَلوكُها الحَربُ فيهِ

وَهيَ مُقَوَّرَةٌ تَلوكُ الشَكيما

وَهيَ مُقَوَّرَةٌ تَلوكُ الشَكيما

in a charge where war chews them,

In stratagems the war there chewed them

while, hollow-flanked, they chew their bits,

And it chewed the shoulders' bone

قُمتَ فيها بِحُجَّةِ اللَهِ لَمّا

قُمتَ فيها بِحُجَّةِ اللَهِ لَمّا

أَن جَعَلتَ السُيوفَ عَنكَ خُصوما

أَن جَعَلتَ السُيوفَ عَنكَ خُصوما

you stood there with God's proof, when

You rose in it by the authority of God when

you made swords your advocates.

You made the swords disputing you adversaries

فَتَحَ اللَهُ في اللِواءَ لَكَ الخا

فَتَحَ اللَهُ في اللِواءَ لَكَ الخا

فِقِ يَومَ الإِثنَينِ فَتحاً عَظيما

فِقِ يَومَ الإِثنَينِ فَتحاً عَظيما

God granted you, beneath the fluttering banner,

God opened victory in the banner for you

a mighty victory on Monday.

On Monday an opening sublime

حَوَّمَتهُ ريحُ الجَنوبِ وَلَن يُح

حَوَّمَتهُ ريحُ الجَنوبِ وَلَن يُح

مَدَ صَيدُ الشاهينَ حَتّى يَحوما

مَدَ صَيدُ الشاهينَ حَتّى يَحوما

The south wind sent it circling; no praise is given

The south wind besieged it, and the falcon's prey

to the peregrine's hunting until it circles.

Shall not be underestimated till it swoops down;

في عَذاةٍ مَهضوبَةٍ كانَ فيها

في عَذاةٍ مَهضوبَةٍ كانَ فيها

ناضِرُ الرَوضِ لِلسَحابِ نَديما

ناضِرُ الرَوضِ لِلسَحابِ نَديما

On sweet-soiled ground drenched with rain, where

In a punishment flogged that had in it

the meadow's fresh growth was the clouds' boon companion.

The freshness of meadow for clouds a boon friend

لُيِّنَت مُزنُها فَكانَت رِهاماً

لُيِّنَت مُزنُها فَكانَت رِهاماً

وَسَجَت ريحُها فَكانَت نَسيما

وَسَجَت ريحُها فَكانَت نَسيما

Its rain clouds were softened into fine showers,

Its roughness was softened so it was pliant

and its wind fell calm, becoming a gentle breeze.

And its wind subsided so it was gentle

نِعمَةُ اللَهِ فيكَ لا أَسأَلُ اللَ

نِعمَةُ اللَهِ فيكَ لا أَسأَلُ اللَ

هَ إِلَيها نُعمى سِوى أَن تَدوما

هَ إِلَيها نُعمى سِوى أَن تَدوما

God's blessing is in you; I ask God

God's blessing upon you-I ask not God

for no blessing besides it, save that it endure.

For blessings other than it should endure

وَلَو أَنّي فَعَلتُ كُنتُ كَمَن يَس

وَلَو أَنّي فَعَلتُ كُنتُ كَمَن يَس

أَلُهُ وَهوَ قائِمٌ أَن يَقوما

أَلُهُ وَهوَ قائِمٌ أَن يَقوما

And if I did, I would be like someone asking

Had I done so I would be like one asking Him

someone already standing to stand up.

Standing to stand