قَد كَشَّفَ الحِلمُ عَنّي الجَهلَ فَاِنقَشَعَت

قَد كَشَّفَ الحِلمُ عَنّي الجَهلَ فَاِنقَشَعَت

عَنّي الضَبابَةُ لا نِكسٌ وَلا وَرَعُ

عَنّي الضَبابَةُ لا نِكسٌ وَلا وَرَعُ

Forbearance has indeed stripped folly from me, and there has lifted

Wisdom has unveiled my ignorance and dispelled my confusion,

from me the haze; no weakling am I, nor coward.

Neither humble nor devout am I now,

وَهَرَّني الناسُ إِلّا ذا مُحافَظَةٍ

وَهَرَّني الناسُ إِلّا ذا مُحافَظَةٍ

كَما يُحاذِرُ وَقعَ الأَجدَلِ الضُوَعُ

كَما يُحاذِرُ وَقعَ الأَجدَلِ الضُوَعُ

People hated me, save a man protective of his honor,

And people disdained me but those of propriety,

as a night-bird fears the falcon's strike.

As birds take heed of the falling acorns.

وَالمَوعِدِيَّ بِظَهرِ الغَيبِ أَعيُنُهُم

وَالمَوعِدِيَّ بِظَهرِ الغَيبِ أَعيُنُهُم

تُبدي شَناءَتَهُم حَوضي لَهُم تَرَعُ

تُبدي شَناءَتَهُم حَوضي لَهُم تَرَعُ

And those who threaten me behind my back—their eyes

My detractors glanced at me askance, their eyes betraying their rancor,

betray their hatred; my pool is brimming for them.

Though to my face they feigned meekness and restraint.

أَخزاهُمُ الجَهلُ حَتّى طاشَ قَولُهُمُ

أَخزاهُمُ الجَهلُ حَتّى طاشَ قَولُهُمُ

عِندَ النِضالِ فَما طاروا وَما وَقَعوا

عِندَ النِضالِ فَما طاروا وَما وَقَعوا

Folly disgraced them until their speech missed its mark

Foolishness had made them rave mindlessly when defending their words,

in the archery contest; they neither flew nor landed.

They flew not high nor struck true.

يُحاوِلونَ هِجائي عِندَ نِسوَتِهِم

يُحاوِلونَ هِجائي عِندَ نِسوَتِهِم

وَلَو رَأَوني أَسَرّوا القَولَ وَاِتَّضَعوا

وَلَو رَأَوني أَسَرّوا القَولَ وَاِتَّضَعوا

They attempt to lampoon me before their women,

They would vilify me to their women, yet if they saw me themselves,

but if they saw me, they would hush their words and humble themselves.

Humbly their tongues would still and their heads bow.

وَفي الرِجالِ يَراعٌ لا قُلوبَ لَهُم

وَفي الرِجالِ يَراعٌ لا قُلوبَ لَهُم

أَغمارُ شُمطٍ فَما ضَرّوا وَما نَفَعوا

أَغمارُ شُمطٍ فَما ضَرّوا وَما نَفَعوا

Among men are hollow reeds, with no hearts in them:

Among the men no hearts had they, merely foolish driveling louts,

gray-haired fools, who have neither harmed nor helped.

Who neither harmed nor helped aught.

إِذا نَصَبتُ لِأَقوامٍ بِمَشتِمَةٍ

إِذا نَصَبتُ لِأَقوامٍ بِمَشتِمَةٍ

أَوهَنتُ مِنهُم صَميمَ العَظمِ أَو ظَلَعوا

أَوهَنتُ مِنهُم صَميمَ العَظمِ أَو ظَلَعوا

When I confront a people with invective,

If I assail a people with blame, the stalwarts among them grow frail

I weaken the very core of their bones, or leave them limping.

Or stumble along abjectly lame.

وَالمالِكِيَّةُ قَد أَبصَرتُ ما صَنَعَت

وَالمالِكِيَّةُ قَد أَبصَرتُ ما صَنَعَت

لَمّا تَفَرَّقَ شَعبُ الحَيِّ فَاِنصَدَعوا

لَمّا تَفَرَّقَ شَعبُ الحَيِّ فَاِنصَدَعوا

And al-Malikiyya—I saw what she did

I see what the Maliki School has wrought,

when the clan's company dispersed and they split apart.

When the throngs of Hijaz fell apart and cracked.

تُسارِقُ الطَرفَ مِن دونِ الحِجابِ كَما

تُسارِقُ الطَرفَ مِن دونِ الحِجابِ كَما

يَرميكَ مِن دونَ عيصِ السِدرَةِ الذَرَعُ

يَرميكَ مِن دونَ عيصِ السِدرَةِ الذَرَعُ

She steals glances from behind the veil, as

Your stolen glance from behind the veil is like

a wild cow's calf looks at you from behind the lote-tree thicket.

Pebbles cast without sling or staff.

بِعارِضَينِ يَجولُ الطيبُ فَوقَهُما

بِعارِضَينِ يَجولُ الطيبُ فَوقَهُما

وَمُقلَةٍ لَم يُخالِط طَرفَها قَمَعُ

وَمُقلَةٍ لَم يُخالِط طَرفَها قَمَعُ

With two cheeks over which perfume wafts,

About them the perfume circulates, above a pair

and an eye whose gaze no inflammation has touched.

Of cheeks, and eyes no lewdness has taint.

وَأَنا كَالسَدمِ مِن أَسماءَ إِذ ظَعَنَت

وَأَنا كَالسَدمِ مِن أَسماءَ إِذ ظَعَنَت

أَوهَت مِنَ القَلبِ ما لا يَشعَبُ الصَنَعُ

أَوهَت مِنَ القَلبِ ما لا يَشعَبُ الصَنَعُ

I was like a thwarted bull-camel over Asma when she departed;

To them belong lips drinking sweetly the proffered kiss,

she damaged in my heart what no craftsman can mend.

As the thirsty drink of their like, eagerly quaff.

إِذا تَنَزَّلُ مِن عُلِيَّةٍ رَجَفَت

إِذا تَنَزَّلُ مِن عُلِيَّةٍ رَجَفَت

لَولا يُؤَيِّدُها الآجُرُّ وَالقَلَعُ

لَولا يُؤَيِّدُها الآجُرُّ وَالقَلَعُ

When she descends from an upper chamber, it would quake,

The wife of rabid Ashmat,

were it not supported by brick and stone.

In whose head were madness and raving unremitting.

يُروي العِطاشَ لَها عَذبٌ مُقَبَّلُهُ

يُروي العِطاشَ لَها عَذبٌ مُقَبَّلُهُ

إِذا العِطاشُ عَلى أَمثالِهِ كَرَعوا

إِذا العِطاشُ عَلى أَمثالِهِ كَرَعوا

She has a mouth, sweet to kiss, that quenches the thirsty,

Her cheeks unfettered by veils,

when the thirsty drink deep from such as it.

As if shackled to her temples were scraping platters.

زَوجَةُ أَشمَطَ مَرهوبٍ بَوادِرُهُ

زَوجَةُ أَشمَطَ مَرهوبٍ بَوادِرُهُ

قَد كانَ في رَأسِهِ التَخويصُ وَالنَزَعُ

قَد كانَ في رَأسِهِ التَخويصُ وَالنَزَعُ

The wife of a gray-haired man whose outbursts are feared,

Say, O bearer of momentous missives, does your parchment convey,

his head already marked by patchy gray and receding hair.

By its breadth and length of scripture, requite?

نَفى الزَعانِفَ مِنهُ حَولَ هامَتِهِ

نَفى الزَعانِفَ مِنهُ حَولَ هامَتِهِ

كَأَنَّما هِيَ في أَصداغِهِ القَزَعُ

كَأَنَّما هِيَ في أَصداغِهِ القَزَعُ

It cleared the stray tufts from around his crown,

She resembles an ostrich, but for her hollowed socket,

as though those at his temples were scattered scraps of cloud.

Bare of lashes should you strip the lid back.

يا صاحِ هَل تُبلِغَنها ذاتُ مَعجَمَةٍ

يا صاحِ هَل تُبلِغَنها ذاتُ مَعجَمَةٍ

بِصَفحَتَيها وَمَجرى نِسعِها وَقَعُ

بِصَفحَتَيها وَمَجرى نِسعِها وَقَعُ

Friend, will a she-camel of tested strength bring me to her,

She escapes the coupling of wild mountain asses, when in heat

with sores on both her flanks and where her girth lies?

Their hooves fall short as the paths rise steep.

مِثلُ المَحالَةِ إِلّا أَنَّ نُقبَتَها

مِثلُ المَحالَةِ إِلّا أَنَّ نُقبَتَها

عَيساءُ فيها إِذا جَرَّدتَها شَجَعُ

عَيساءُ فيها إِذا جَرَّدتَها شَجَعُ

Like a great well-pulley, except that her coloring

As if she were a piebald racing mare, behind her follow

is pale tawny; stripped bare, she shows great height.

Two legs whose heels in each stride land with a clap.

تَنجو نَجاءَ أَتانِ الوَحشِ إِذ ذَبَلَت

تَنجو نَجاءَ أَتانِ الوَحشِ إِذ ذَبَلَت

وَمَسَّ أَخفافَهُنَّ النَصُّ وَالوَقَعُ

وَمَسَّ أَخفافَهُنَّ النَصُّ وَالوَقَعُ

She speeds like a wild she-ass when she has grown lean,

Or a gazelle, keeping pace with her in pursuit

and hard driving and soreness have worn their padded feet.

Is a nimble hyrax, succeeding its mate with rapid foot.

كَأَنَّها أَسحَمُ الرَوقَينِ مُنتَجِعٌ

كَأَنَّها أَسحَمُ الرَوقَينِ مُنتَجِعٌ

تَتلوهُ رِجلانِ في كَعبَيهِما صَمَعُ

تَتلوهُ رِجلانِ في كَعبَيهِما صَمَعُ

As though she were a bull with two black horns, seeking pasture,

Close they vie as their race intensifies,

with two legs trailing him, slender at the hocks.

With but waste-land between them as boundary and limit.

أَو هِقلَةٌ مِن نَعامِ الجَوِّ عارَضَها

أَو هِقلَةٌ مِن نَعامِ الجَوِّ عارَضَها

قَردُ العِفاءِ وَفي يافوخِهِ صَقَعُ

قَردُ العِفاءِ وَفي يافوخِهِ صَقَعُ

Or a hen among al-Jaww's ostriches, approached by

A female hare, tiring, is startled by the call

a male with matted plumage and a white patch on his crown:

Of another male further behind, giving chase, acute.

هَيقٌ خَفيفٌ يُباريها إِذا نَهَضَت

هَيقٌ خَفيفٌ يُباريها إِذا نَهَضَت

وَهوَ لَها بَعدَ جِدٍّ مِنهُما تَبَعُ

وَهوَ لَها بَعدَ جِدٍّ مِنهُما تَبَعُ

a nimble cock-ostrich racing her when she rises,

Twenty five were counted, then she accepted the buck

and, after hard striving by both, he follows her.

As though they had reached the upper ridges again.

تَعاوَرا الشَدَّ لَمّا اِشتَدَّ وَقعُهُما

تَعاوَرا الشَدَّ لَمّا اِشتَدَّ وَقعُهُما

وَكانَ بَينَهُما مِن غائِطٍ وَشَعُ

وَكانَ بَينَهُما مِن غائِطٍ وَشَعُ

They took turns at running when their footfalls grew fierce,

By the Lord of the Christians on their feast day,

and a stretch of lowland lay between them.

And the Muslims when convened by the crowds without,

نَعّابَةٌ بَعدَ جَهدِ الأَينِ يُفزِعُها

نَعّابَةٌ بَعدَ جَهدِ الأَينِ يُفزِعُها

صَوتٌ لِآخَرَ تالٍ بَعدَها يَقَعُ

صَوتٌ لِآخَرَ تالٍ بَعدَها يَقَعُ

Loud-calling after exhausting toil, she is startled by

By the Lord of each monk sequestered in his abbey

the cry of another following behind her, who mounts her

Who passes evenings unconcerned by worldly wares,

خَمساً وَعِشرينَ ثُمَّ اِستَدرَعَت زَغَباً

خَمساً وَعِشرينَ ثُمَّ اِستَدرَعَت زَغَباً

كَأَنَّهُنَّ بِأَعلى لَعلَعٍ رِجَعُ

كَأَنَّهُنَّ بِأَعلى لَعلَعٍ رِجَعُ

twenty-five times; then she dons a mantle of downy chicks,

By the mendicants in their faded woolen robes,

as though they were pools on the heights of La'la'.

In them from distant wanderings, the signs of age show clear,

إِنّي وَرَبِّ النَصارى عِندَ عيدِهِمِ

إِنّي وَرَبِّ النَصارى عِندَ عيدِهِمِ

وَالمُسلِمينَ إِذا ما ضَمَّها الجُمَعُ

وَالمُسلِمينَ إِذا ما ضَمَّها الجُمَعُ

I swear by the Christians' Lord at their feast,

Their mounts' saddle-bags swelling, the necessities of the riders abound,

and of the Muslims when Friday assemblies gather them,

Be they urgent affairs or journeys far and near.

وَرَبِّ كُلِّ حَبيسٍ فَوقَ صَومَعَةٍ

وَرَبِّ كُلِّ حَبيسٍ فَوقَ صَومَعَةٍ

يُمسي وَلا هَمُّهُ الدُنيا وَلا الطَمَعُ

يُمسي وَلا هَمُّهُ الدُنيا وَلا الطَمَعُ

and by the Lord of every recluse atop a hermit's tower,

I praised the Quraysh and implored them for aid,

who reaches evening caring neither for the world nor for gain,

When my companions slept and slumber snatched them away.

وَالمُلبِدينَ عَلى خوصٍ مُخَدَّمَةٍ

وَالمُلبِدينَ عَلى خوصٍ مُخَدَّمَةٍ

قَد بانَ فيهِنَّ مِن طولِ السُرى خَضَعُ

قَد بانَ فيهِنَّ مِن طولِ السُرى خَضَعُ

and of the matted-haired pilgrims on hollow-eyed, white-fetlocked camels,

When some folks maligned me, the tribe came to my defense,

whose bowed necks show the effects of long night-travel.

Whose lofty station with God is secure and will not decay.

حَثّوا الرَواحِلَ مَشدوداً حَقائِبُها

حَثّوا الرَواحِلَ مَشدوداً حَقائِبُها

مِن شَأنِ رُكبانِها الحاجاتُ وَالسَرَعُ

مِن شَأنِ رُكبانِها الحاجاتُ وَالسَرَعُ

They urged their mounts onward, their saddlebags bound fast;

In a Garden of spirits belonging to The Divine,

their riders' concern was needs to meet and haste—

No alarm disturbs the birds along its boughs as they sway.

لَقَد مَدَحتُ قُرَيشاً وَاِستَغَثتُ بِهِم

لَقَد مَدَحتُ قُرَيشاً وَاِستَغَثتُ بِهِم

إِذ ما أَنامُ إِذا ما صُحبَتي هَجَعوا

إِذ ما أَنامُ إِذا ما صُحبَتي هَجَعوا

I have indeed praised Quraysh and sought their help,

When storms whipped the meadows, they shared the milk

when I lay sleepless while my companions slept.

Of the nursing mothers, neglecting nor greed displaying.

وَإِذ وَشى بِيَ أَقوامٌ فَأَدرَكَني

وَإِذ وَشى بِيَ أَقوامٌ فَأَدرَكَني

رَهطُ الَّذي رَفَعَ الرَحمَنُ فَاِرتَفَعوا

رَهطُ الَّذي رَفَعَ الرَحمَنُ فَاِرتَفَعوا

And when some men informed against me, there came to my aid

They fed in time of hardship, while pretentious pedants

the clan of him whom the Merciful exalted, and they rose high,

Scoffed in their distant enclaves, deceitful and feigning.

في جَنَّةٍ هِيَ أَرواحُ الإِلَهِ فَما

في جَنَّةٍ هِيَ أَرواحُ الإِلَهِ فَما

يُفَزِّعُ الطَيرَ في أَغصانِها فَزَعُ

يُفَزِّعُ الطَيرَ في أَغصانِها فَزَعُ

in a garden of God's refreshing mercies, where no

Summoned I was by Bishr to a feast,

fear startles the birds among its boughs.

Well-known is his charity, the folk his custom obey.

كانوا إِذا الريحُ لَفَّت عُشبَ ذي إِضَمٍ

كانوا إِذا الريحُ لَفَّت عُشبَ ذي إِضَمٍ

غَيثَ المَراضِعِ ما ضَنّوا وَما مَنَعوا

غَيثَ المَراضِعِ ما ضَنّوا وَما مَنَعوا

When the wind tangled the grass of Dhu Idam, they were

O Bishr, were I not so esteemed among you,

rain for nursing mothers, neither stingy nor withholding.

The overbearing lout would confront me to bray.

وَالمُطعِمينَ عَلى ما كانَ مِن إِزَمٍ

وَالمُطعِمينَ عَلى ما كانَ مِن إِزَمٍ

إِذا أَراهيطُ مَلّوا ذاكَ أَو خَدَعوا

إِذا أَراهيطُ مَلّوا ذاكَ أَو خَدَعوا

And they fed others, whatever famine there was,

You are the elite of Quraysh, your lineage is purest,

when other bands grew weary of that or held back.

The lords of Mecca, of noble descent today.

إِنّي دَعاني إِلى بِشرٍ فَواضِلُهُ

إِنّي دَعاني إِلى بِشرٍ فَواضِلُهُ

وَالخَيرُ قَد عَلِمَ الأَقوامُ مُتَّبَعُ

وَالخَيرُ قَد عَلِمَ الأَقوامُ مُتَّبَعُ

Indeed, Bishr's bounties drew me to him,

God granted you that which you most deserved,

and goodness, as the peoples know, is sought after.

When kings of your calibre for themselves fortune fray.

يا بِشرُ لَو لَم أَكُن مِنكُم بِمَنزِلَةٍ

يا بِشرُ لَو لَم أَكُن مِنكُم بِمَنزِلَةٍ

أَلقى يَدَيهِ عَلَيَّ الأَزلَمُ الجَذَعُ

أَلقى يَدَيهِ عَلَيَّ الأَزلَمُ الجَذَعُ

Bishr, had I not held a place of honor among you,

Those they drive out do not thrive,

Time, the cropped yearling, would have laid both hands on me.

Nor can the mightiest seize what they turn away.

أَنتُم خِيارُ قُرَيشٍ عِندَ نِسبَتِها

أَنتُم خِيارُ قُرَيشٍ عِندَ نِسبَتِها

وَأَهلُ بَطحائِها الأَثرَونَ وَالفَرَعُ

وَأَهلُ بَطحائِها الأَثرَونَ وَالفَرَعُ

You are Quraysh's choicest when its descent is traced,

So today I exert myself to the utmost for your sake,

and its gravelly valley's richest dwellers, and its topmost branch.

Though no soul tasked beyond its means can essay.

أَعطاكُمُ اللَهُ ما أَنتُم أَحَقُّ بِهِ

أَعطاكُمُ اللَهُ ما أَنتُم أَحَقُّ بِهِ

إِذا المُلوكُ عَلى أَمثالِهِ اِقتَرَعوا

إِذا المُلوكُ عَلى أَمثالِهِ اِقتَرَعوا

God has given you what you have the greatest right to,

when kings cast lots over things like it.

لَيسوا إِذا طَرَدوا يَنمي طَريدُهُمُ

لَيسوا إِذا طَرَدوا يَنمي طَريدُهُمُ

وَلا تَنالُ أَكُفُّ القومِ ما مَنَعوا

وَلا تَنالُ أَكُفُّ القومِ ما مَنَعوا

They are not men whose quarry escapes when they give chase,

nor can men's hands reach what they withhold.

فَاليَومَ أَجهَدُ نَفسي ما وَسِعتُ لَكُم

فَاليَومَ أَجهَدُ نَفسي ما وَسِعتُ لَكُم

وَهَل تُكَلَّفُ نَفسٌ فَوقَ ما تَسَعُ

وَهَل تُكَلَّفُ نَفسٌ فَوقَ ما تَسَعُ

So today I strain myself for you as far as I am able,

and is any soul charged beyond what it can bear?