لَيتَ شِعري مُسافِرَ بنَ أَبي عَمـ

لَيتَ شِعري مُسافِرَ بنَ أَبي عَمـ

ـرٍو وَلَيتٌ يَقولُها المَحزونُ

ـرٍو وَلَيتٌ يَقولُها المَحزونُ

Would that I knew, Musāfir son of Abū ʿAmr—

I wish I knew, oh traveller, son of Abi ‘Amr

and “would that” is what the sorrowful say.

And a wish that the sad one would say

أَيُّ شَيءٍ دَهاكَ أَوغالَ مَرآ

أَيُّ شَيءٍ دَهاكَ أَوغالَ مَرآ

كَ وَهَل أَقدَمَت عَلَيهِ المَنونُ

كَ وَهَل أَقدَمَت عَلَيهِ المَنونُ

What befell you, or stole away the sight

What thing led you to those deep valleys

of you—and did Death venture against it?

And did death make its visitation?

أَنا حاميكَ مِثلَ آبائِيَ الزُهـ

أَنا حاميكَ مِثلَ آبائِيَ الزُهـ

ـرِ لِآبائِكَ الَّتي لا تَهونُ

ـرِ لِآبائِكَ الَّتي لا تَهونُ

I am your protector, as were my radiant forefathers

I will protect you as my forefathers, the honored,

to your forefathers, who are never abased.

Protected yours, who do not waver

مَيتُ صِدقٍ عَلى هُبالَةَ أَمسَيـ

مَيتُ صِدقٍ عَلى هُبالَةَ أَمسَيـ

ـتُ وَمِن دونِ مُلتَقاكَ الحُجونُ

ـتُ وَمِن دونِ مُلتَقاكَ الحُجونُ

A worthy dead man at Hubālah; I have reached evening,

Truthful in keeping a night’s promise

and al-Ḥujūn lies between me and meeting you.

While without meeting you, sorrows mount

رَجعَ الرَكبُ سالِمينَ جَميعاً

رَجعَ الرَكبُ سالِمينَ جَميعاً

وَخَليلي في مَرمَسٍ مَدفونُ

وَخَليلي في مَرمَسٍ مَدفونُ

The riders returned, all safe,

The caravan returned, all safe

while my dear friend lies buried in a grave.

While my friend in a tomb lies buried

بورِكَ المَيِّتُ الغَريبُ كَما بو

بورِكَ المَيِّتُ الغَريبُ كَما بو

رِكَ نَضرُ الرَيحانِ وَالزَيتُونُ

رِكَ نَضرُ الرَيحانِ وَالزَيتُونُ

Blessed be the dead man far from home, as blessed

Blessed is the stranger dead as is blessed

is the fresh growth of basil and olive.

The budding of basil and olive trees

مِدرَةٌ يَدفَعُ الخُصومَ بِأَيدٍ

مِدرَةٌ يَدفَعُ الخُصومَ بِأَيدٍ

وَبِوَجهٍ يزينُهُ العِرنينُ

وَبِوَجهٍ يزينُهُ العِرنينُ

A spokesman who repels adversaries with might,

A fortress fending off opponents with hands

and with a face graced by its nose.

And with a face adorned by youth

كَم خَليلٍ يَزينُهُ وَاِبنُ عَمٍّ

كَم خَليلٍ يَزينُهُ وَاِبنُ عَمٍّ

وَحَميمٌ قَضَت عَلَيهِ المَنونُ

وَحَميمٌ قَضَت عَلَيهِ المَنونُ

How many a friend who graced him, and a cousin,

How many a friend adorned and cousin

and a close companion, has Death struck down!

And intimate has death imposed itself upon

فَتَعَزَّيتُ بِالتَأَسّي وَبِالصَبـ

فَتَعَزَّيتُ بِالتَأَسّي وَبِالصَبـ

ـرِ وَإِنّي بِصاحِبي لَضَنينُ

ـرِ وَإِنّي بِصاحِبي لَضَنينُ

So I consoled myself through others’ example and patience,

So I found solace in consolation and patience

and indeed I am loath to part with my companion.

And truly for my companion I grieve

كُنتَ لي عُدَّةً وَفَوقَكَ لا فَو

كُنتَ لي عُدَّةً وَفَوقَكَ لا فَو

قَ فَقد صِرتُ لَيسَ دونَكَ دونُ

قَ فَقد صِرتُ لَيسَ دونَكَ دونُ

You were my mainstay, with no height above you;

You were my asset and none above you

now I have come to this: no depth lies beneath you.

So now I have become with none below

كانَ مِنكَ اليَقينُ لَيسَ بِشافٍ

كانَ مِنكَ اليَقينُ لَيسَ بِشافٍ

كَيفَ إِذ رَجَّمَتكَ عِندي الظُنونُ

كَيفَ إِذ رَجَّمَتكَ عِندي الظُنونُ

Certainty about you was no cure;

There was certainty in you, not mere hope

what then, when conjectures pelted you in my mind?

How, when suspicions at me were thrown?

كُنتَ مَولىً وَصاحباً صادِقَ الخِبـ

كُنتَ مَولىً وَصاحباً صادِقَ الخِبـ

ـرَةِ حَقّاً وَخُلَّةً لا تَخونُ

ـرَةِ حَقّاً وَخُلَّةً لا تَخونُ

You were an ally and companion, faithful when tested,

You were an ally and friend, true of wisdom

truly, and a friendship that never betrays.

Indeed, and an intimate who does not betray

فَعَلَيكَ السَلامُ مِنّي كَثيراً

فَعَلَيكَ السَلامُ مِنّي كَثيراً

أَنفَدَت ماءَها عَلَيكَ الشُؤونُ

أَنفَدَت ماءَها عَلَيكَ الشُؤونُ

So may abundant peace from me be upon you;

So peace be upon you, abundantly from me

the tear ducts have exhausted their water over you.

Its waters poured upon you, sorrows no more