أَجفانُ خوطِ البانَةِ الأُملودِ

أَجفانُ خوطِ البانَةِ الأُملودِ

مَشغولَةٌ بِكَ عَن وِصالِ هُجودِ

مَشغولَةٌ بِكَ عَن وِصالِ هُجودِ

The eyelids of the supple bān-tree shoot

The eyelids of the graceful damsel's languid glances,

are too absorbed in you to embrace sleep.

Preoccupied with you, neglect trysts of affection.

سَكَبَت ذَخيرَةَ دَمعَةٍ مُصفَرَّةٍ

سَكَبَت ذَخيرَةَ دَمعَةٍ مُصفَرَّةٍ

في وَجنَةٍ مُحمَرَّةِ التَوريدِ

في وَجنَةٍ مُحمَرَّةِ التَوريدِ

They poured their hoard of yellow-tinged tears

She poured the treasure of a yellow tear

upon a cheek red with a rosy flush.

In a blushed cheek of flowing crimson.

فَكَأَنَّ وَهيَ نِظامِها نَظمٌ وَهى

فَكَأَنَّ وَهيَ نِظامِها نَظمٌ وَهى

مِن يارِقٍ وَقَلائِدٍ وَعُقودِ

مِن يارِقٍ وَقَلائِدٍ وَعُقودِ

As though their broken thread were a strand undone

So her visage in its symmetry appears like braids,

of bracelets, necklaces, and jeweled strings.

Necklaces and strings of pearls.

أَذكَت حُميّا وَجدِها حُمَّةَ الأَسى

أَذكَت حُميّا وَجدِها حُمَّةَ الأَسى

فَغَدَت بِنارٍ غَيرِ ذاتِ خُمودِ

فَغَدَت بِنارٍ غَيرِ ذاتِ خُمودِ

Her longing's fervor inflamed the sting of sorrow,

Her fervent passion ignited sorrow’s blaze,

so she burned with a fire that never dies.

And it blazed with unabating flames.

طَلَعَت طُلوعَ الشَمسِ في طَرَفِ النَوى

طَلَعَت طُلوعَ الشَمسِ في طَرَفِ النَوى

وَالشَمسُ طالِعَةٌ بِطَرفِ حَسودِ

وَالشَمسُ طالِعَةٌ بِطَرفِ حَسودِ

She appeared like sunrise at the brink of parting,

She rose like the dawn sun in the height of ecstasy,

while the sun rose with an envious gaze.

While the sun rose in the sky of her envious beloved.

وَتَأَمَّلَت شَبَحي بِعَينٍ أَيَّدَت

وَتَأَمَّلَت شَبَحي بِعَينٍ أَيَّدَت

عَمَدَ الهَوى في قَلبِيَ المَعمودِ

عَمَدَ الهَوى في قَلبِيَ المَعمودِ

And she studied my form with an eye that strengthened

She glanced at my specter with an eye that lent

love's pillars in my love-stricken heart.

Support to passion’s pillar in my smitten heart.

فَنَحَرتُ حُسنَ الصَبرِ تَحتَ الصَدرِ عَن

فَنَحَرتُ حُسنَ الصَبرِ تَحتَ الصَدرِ عَن

جَيَدٍ بِواضِحِ نَحرِها وَالجيدِ

جَيَدٍ بِواضِحِ نَحرِها وَالجيدِ

So I slew fair patience beneath my breast, for

So I slaughtered patience’s beauty beneath my chest

a lovely long neck, with her bright breast and throat.

With a clear slaughtering stroke across her neck.

حاشى لِجَمرِ حَشايَ أَن يَلقى الحَشا

حاشى لِجَمرِ حَشايَ أَن يَلقى الحَشا

إِلّا بِلَفحٍ مِثلِ لَفحِ وَقودِ

إِلّا بِلَفحٍ مِثلِ لَفحِ وَقودِ

Far be it from the embers in my breast to touch a breast

Far be it that sorrow’s ember should meet firewood

save with a scorching blast like that of burning fuel.

Except with a touch like the kiss of tinder.

أَضحى الَّذي بَقَّتهُ نيرانُ الحَشا

أَضحى الَّذي بَقَّتهُ نيرانُ الحَشا

مِنّي حَبيساً في سَبيلِ البيدِ

مِنّي حَبيساً في سَبيلِ البيدِ

What the fires within my breast had spared

He whom the fires of grief left of me

of me became a captive on the desert road.

Has become a captive for destruction’s sake.

أَذراءُ أَمطاءِ الغِنى يَضحَكنَ عَن

أَذراءُ أَمطاءِ الغِنى يَضحَكنَ عَن

أَذراءِ أَمطاءِ المَطايا القودِ

أَذراءِ أَمطاءِ المَطايا القودِ

The crests on wealth's backs smile forth

The delights of wealth laugh off the delights

from the crests on the backs of long-necked riding-camels.

Of mounts pacing with provisions for the road.

فَظَلَلتُ حَدَّ الأَرضِ تَحتَ العزمِ في

فَظَلَلتُ حَدَّ الأَرضِ تَحتَ العزمِ في

وَجناءَ تُدني حَدَّ كُلِّ بَعيدِ

وَجناءَ تُدني حَدَّ كُلِّ بَعيدِ

So I shaded earth's bounds beneath my resolve, upon

So I roamed the earth’s expanse beneath resolve

a stout-cheeked she-camel that brings every distant bound near.

In plains that diminish the range of all faraway places.

تَحثو إِذا حَثَّ العِتاقَ الوَخدُ في

تَحثو إِذا حَثَّ العِتاقَ الوَخدُ في

غُرَرِ العِتاقِ النَقعَ بِالتَوحيدِ

غُرَرِ العِتاقِ النَقعَ بِالتَوحيدِ

She flings—when swift striding spurs the thoroughbreds—into

They spur faster when the pillow's shift spurs on

the thoroughbreds' brows the dust, all by herself.

The cheeks' profusion toward divine oneness.

تَعريسُها خَلَلَ السُرى تَقريبُها

تَعريسُها خَلَلَ السُرى تَقريبُها

حَتّى أَنَختُ بِأَحمَدَ المَحمودِ

حَتّى أَنَختُ بِأَحمَدَ المَحمودِ

Her rest amid the night march is her trotting pace,

Her wedding nights midst the bedchambers, her acclimation

until I made her kneel before Ahmad, the praised.

Until I triumphed with the most praised Ahmad.

فَحَطَطتُ تَحتَ غَمامَةٍ مَغمورَةٍ

فَحَطَطتُ تَحتَ غَمامَةٍ مَغمورَةٍ

بِحَيا بُروقٍ ضاحِكاً وَرُعودِ

بِحَيا بُروقٍ ضاحِكاً وَرُعودِ

So I alighted beneath a cloud overflowing

So I alighted beneath a cloudburst

with the rain of lightning and thunder, smiling.

With laughter-flashing and rumbling storms.

تَلقاهُ بَينَ الزائِرينَ كَأَنَّهُ

تَلقاهُ بَينَ الزائِرينَ كَأَنَّهُ

قَمَرُ السَماءِ يَلوحُ بَينَ سُعودِ

قَمَرُ السَماءِ يَلوحُ بَينَ سُعودِ

You meet him among the visitors as though he were

You find him amongst visitors as though he were

the moon of heaven, shining among auspicious stars.

The moon of heaven gleaming among the stars.

لَو فاحَ عودٌ في النَدِيِّ وَذِكرُهُ

لَو فاحَ عودٌ في النَدِيِّ وَذِكرُهُ

لَعَلا بِطيبِ الذِكرِ طيبَ العودِ

لَعَلا بِطيبِ الذِكرِ طيبَ العودِ

If aloeswood and his renown breathed fragrance in the gathering,

If aloes wood were to exude in the stream and its scent

his renown's sweetness would surpass the scent of aloeswood.

Would rise with the scent of the finest aloes wood.

وَلّاهُ مَنصورٌ سَماحَ يَمينِهِ

وَلّاهُ مَنصورٌ سَماحَ يَمينِهِ

وَمَضى فَقيدَ المِثلِ غَيرَ فَقيدِ

وَمَضى فَقيدَ المِثلِ غَيرَ فَقيدِ

Mansur entrusted him with his right hand's bounty,

Mansur endowed him with his generous right hand

and departed, peerless, yet not lost.

And he left unequaled without equal.

فَيَرى فَناءَ المالِ أَفضَلَ ذُخرِهِ

فَيَرى فَناءَ المالِ أَفضَلَ ذُخرِهِ

وَخُلودَ ذِكرِ الحَمدِ خَيرَ خُلودِ

وَخُلودَ ذِكرِ الحَمدِ خَيرَ خُلودِ

So he sees wealth's depletion as his finest treasure,

So he sees wealth’s evanescence as the best of his treasures,

and undying remembrance in praise as the best immortality.

And endless praise as the best of eternity.

يُبدي أَبو الحَسَنِ اللُهى وَيُعيدُها

يُبدي أَبو الحَسَنِ اللُهى وَيُعيدُها

فَمُؤَمِّلوهُ مِنَ اللُهى في عيدِ

فَمُؤَمِّلوهُ مِنَ اللُهى في عيدِ

Abu al-Hasan offers lavish gifts and gives them again,

Abu al-Hasan shows kindness and restores it,

so those who hope in him find a festival in his gifts.

So those hopeful of kindness await his feast day.

حَيَّيتُ غُرَّتَهُ بِحُسنِ مَدائِحٍ

حَيَّيتُ غُرَّتَهُ بِحُسنِ مَدائِحٍ

غُرٍّ فَحَيّا غَرَّتي بِالجودِ

غُرٍّ فَحَيّا غَرَّتي بِالجودِ

I saluted his radiant brow with beautiful odes,

I greeted his prime with excellent eulogies—

radiant themselves; he saluted my brow with bounty.

A greeting, so greet my prime with bounty!

لَو رامَ جُلموداً بِجانِبِ صَخرَةٍ

لَو رامَ جُلموداً بِجانِبِ صَخرَةٍ

يَوماً لَرَضَّضَ جانِبَ الجُلمودِ

يَوماً لَرَضَّضَ جانِبَ الجُلمودِ

If he set his sights on a boulder beside a rock

If solidity were to intend one day to cleave

one day, he would crush the boulder's flank.

The side of solidity it would split asunder.

وَإِذا الثُغورُ اِستَنصَرَتهُ شَبا القَنا

وَإِذا الثُغورُ اِستَنصَرَتهُ شَبا القَنا

أَروى الشَبا مِن ثُغرَةٍ وَوَريدِ

أَروى الشَبا مِن ثُغرَةٍ وَوَريدِ

And when the frontiers call on him for aid with spearpoints,

When the land's expanses need his aid, the youth’s resolve

he slakes those points with blood from throat and jugular.

Quenches their thirst from a spring and artery.

يَستَلُّ إِثرَ عَدُوِّها عَزَماتِهِ

يَستَلُّ إِثرَ عَدُوِّها عَزَماتِهِ

فَيَعُمُّها بِالنَصرِ وَالتَأيِيدِ

فَيَعُمُّها بِالنَصرِ وَالتَأيِيدِ

He unsheathes his resolves in pursuit of their foe,

He pursues their enemies with his determination

so he envelops them in victory and reinforcement.

Granting them triumph and support.

ذو ناظِرٍ حَدِبٍ وَسَمعٍ عائِرٍ

ذو ناظِرٍ حَدِبٍ وَسَمعٍ عائِرٍ

نَحوَ الطَريدِ الصارِخِ المَجهودِ

نَحوَ الطَريدِ الصارِخِ المَجهودِ

He has a compassionate eye and an ear that roams

With a sharp, intent gaze and hearing set toward

toward the fugitive crying for help, worn out.

The screaming, exhausted prey.

تَلقاهُ مُنفَرِداً وَتَحسَبُ أَنَّهُ

تَلقاهُ مُنفَرِداً وَتَحسَبُ أَنَّهُ

مِن عَزمِهِ في عُدَّةِ وَعَديدِ

مِن عَزمِهِ في عُدَّةِ وَعَديدِ

You meet him alone, yet imagine that he is

You find him alone, and suppose that he is,

through his resolve, amid arms and a host.

Through his resolve, an army and multitude.

يا أَيُّها المَلِكُ المُرَجّى وَالَّذي

يا أَيُّها المَلِكُ المُرَجّى وَالَّذي

قَدَحَت بِهِ فِطَني نِظامَ نَشيدي

قَدَحَت بِهِ فِطَني نِظامَ نَشيدي

O king in whom hopes rest, and you through whom

O you, the hoped-for King, whom my insight has moved

my wits struck sparks to string together my song:

To compose the rhythm of my poem.

أَنا راجِلٌ بِبِلادِ مَروٍ راكِبٌ

أَنا راجِلٌ بِبِلادِ مَروٍ راكِبٌ

في جَودَةِ الأَشعارِ كُلَّ مُجيدِ

في جَودَةِ الأَشعارِ كُلَّ مُجيدِ

I am on foot in the lands of Marw, yet I outride

I am a footman in the land of Ma'arr, mounted

every accomplished poet in excellence of verse.

Atop the steeds of sublime poetry.

فَأَعِزَّ ذِلَّةَ رُجلَتي بِمُهَذَّبٍ

فَأَعِزَّ ذِلَّةَ رُجلَتي بِمُهَذَّبٍ

حُلوَ المَخيلِ مُقَذَّذٍ مَقدودِ

حُلوَ المَخيلِ مُقَذَّذٍ مَقدودِ

So ennoble my lowly state on foot with a refined steed,

So honor the lowliness of my legs with one who is refined,

pleasing to behold, neatly trimmed and well-proportioned,

Sweet of gait, elegant and extended.

ذي كُمتَةٍ أَو شُقرَةٍ أَو حُوَّةٍ

ذي كُمتَةٍ أَو شُقرَةٍ أَو حُوَّةٍ

أَو دُهمَةٍ فَهِمُ الفُؤادِ سَديدِ

أَو دُهمَةٍ فَهِمُ الفُؤادِ سَديدِ

with a bay, chestnut, or dark-bay coat,

Of brown, blond or bay coat,

or a black one—keen of heart and sure.

Or dusky—the very marrow of sagacity.

تَتَنَزَّهُ اللَحَظاتُ في حَرَكاتِهِ

تَتَنَزَّهُ اللَحَظاتُ في حَرَكاتِهِ

كَتَنَزُّهي في ظِلِّكَ المَمدودِ

كَتَنَزُّهي في ظِلِّكَ المَمدودِ

Glances roam in delight through his movements,

The glances dance gracefully in his motions

as I roam in delight beneath your spreading shade.

Like my dances in your extended shade.

مُتَسَربِلٌ بُرداً يَفوقُ بِوَشيِهِ

مُتَسَربِلٌ بُرداً يَفوقُ بِوَشيِهِ

بَينَ المَواكِبِ حُسنَ وَشيِ بُرودِ

بَينَ المَواكِبِ حُسنَ وَشيِ بُرودِ

Clad in a mantle, he surpasses with its pattern,

Clad in a coat that surpasses in its lightness

amid the cavalcades, the beauty of embroidered cloaks.

The beauty of the coats of brocade.

فَإِذا بَدا في مَشهَدٍ قامَت لَهُ

فَإِذا بَدا في مَشهَدٍ قامَت لَهُ

نُبَلاءُ صَدرِ المَحفِلِ المَشهودِ

نُبَلاءُ صَدرِ المَحفِلِ المَشهودِ

So when he appears at an assembly, there rise for him

So when he appears in a scene, the nobles

the nobles at the head of the gathered company.

Of the honored assembly's breasts stand for him.

يَجِدُ السُرورَ الراكِبُ الغادي بِهِ

يَجِدُ السُرورَ الراكِبُ الغادي بِهِ

كَسُرورِهِ بِالفارِسِ المَولودِ

كَسُرورِهِ بِالفارِسِ المَولودِ

The rider who sets out on him in the morning finds joy

The rider finds joy in the one carrying him

like his joy in a newborn horseman.

Like his joy in the natural-born knight.

إِن سابَقَتهُ الخَيلُ في مَيدانِها

إِن سابَقَتهُ الخَيلُ في مَيدانِها

قَذَفَت إِلَيهِ الخَيلُ بِالإِقليدِ

قَذَفَت إِلَيهِ الخَيلُ بِالإِقليدِ

If the horses race him on their course,

If the horses outpace him in the race-course

the horses cast him the key of command.

They fling their reins to him in surrender.

فَيَروحُ بَينَ مُؤَدِّبيهِ مُخالِفاً

فَيَروحُ بَينَ مُؤَدِّبيهِ مُخالِفاً

مُتَعَصِّباً بِعِصابَةِ التَسويدِ

مُتَعَصِّباً بِعِصابَةِ التَسويدِ

So he returns among his trainers, set apart,

So he goes amongst his trainers defying

wearing the headband of supremacy.

And girt with the sash of the blackest black.

وَمُشَيِّعوهُ مُعَوِّذوهُ بِكُلِّ ما

وَمُشَيِّعوهُ مُعَوِّذوهُ بِكُلِّ ما

عَرَفوهُ مِن عُوَذٍ مِنَ التَحميدِ

عَرَفوهُ مِن عُوَذٍ مِنَ التَحميدِ

And his escorts invoke protection over him with all

While his entourage charm him against every

the protective charms they know, drawn from praise of God.

Incantation they know to avert praise.

يَتَعَشَّقونَ نَضارَةً في وَجهِهِ

يَتَعَشَّقونَ نَضارَةً في وَجهِهِ

عُشقَ الفَتى وَجهَ الفَتاةِ الرودِ

عُشقَ الفَتى وَجهَ الفَتاةِ الرودِ

They adore the freshness in his face

They fall for the radiance in his face—

as a young man loves the face of a tender maiden.

The love of a boy for a rosy-cheeked girl.

أَغضى عَلَيكَ جُفونَ شُكرِكَ إِنَّها

أَغضى عَلَيكَ جُفونَ شُكرِكَ إِنَّها

ثَقُلَت عَلَيَّ لِجودِكَ المَوجودِ

ثَقُلَت عَلَيَّ لِجودِكَ المَوجودِ

I lower before you the eyelids of my gratitude to you, for they

I lower my eyelids in gratitude to you—they

have grown heavy upon me from your present bounty.

Grew heavy upon me due to your bounty.

إِنّي اِعتَصَمتُ بِطولِ طَودِكَ إِنَّهُ

إِنّي اِعتَصَمتُ بِطولِ طَودِكَ إِنَّهُ

طَودٌ يَقومُ مَقامَ طَودِ حَديدِ

طَودٌ يَقومُ مَقامَ طَودِ حَديدِ

Indeed, I have taken refuge in your mountain's height, for it

I take refuge in the height of your towering mountain,

is a mountain that stands in place of a mountain of iron.

A mountain that takes the place of steel bastions.

لا يَهتَدي صَرفُ الزَمانِ إِلى اِمرِىءٍ

لا يَهتَدي صَرفُ الزَمانِ إِلى اِمرِىءٍ

مُتَصَرِّفٍ بِفَنائِكَ المَعهودِ

مُتَصَرِّفٍ بِفَنائِكَ المَعهودِ

Time's vicissitudes cannot find their way to a man

The course of time arrives at no man

who moves about within your familiar courtyard.

Presiding in your familiar domain.