هَل بِالطُلولِ لِسائِلِ رَدُّ

هَل بِالطُلولِ لِسائِلِ رَدُّ

أَم هَل لَها بِتَكَلُّم عَهدُ

أَم هَل لَها بِتَكَلُّم عَهدُ

Do the deserted dwellings have an answer for one who asks?

Do the ruined camps have an answer for a questioner?

Or have they any covenant to speak?

Or have they any acquaintance with speech?

دَرَسَ الجَديدُ جَديدَ مَعهَدِها

دَرَسَ الجَديدُ جَديدَ مَعهَدِها

فَكَأَنَّما هِيَ رَيطَةٌ جَردُ

فَكَأَنَّما هِيَ رَيطَةٌ جَردُ

The fresh traces of their campsite have worn away,

Ever-renewing time has worn away their once-fresh dwelling,

until it seems a bare, threadbare mantle—

So it seems a threadbare cloth,

مِن طولِ ما يَبكي الغِنامُ عَلى

مِن طولِ ما يَبكي الغِنامُ عَلى

عَرَصاتِها وَيُقَهقِهُ الرَعدُ

عَرَصاتِها وَيُقَهقِهُ الرَعدُ

so long have the clouds wept over

From the long weeping of the clouds upon

its courtyards, while thunder roars with laughter.

Its open grounds, while thunder laughs aloud;

وَتُلِثُّ سارِيَةٌ وَغادِيَةٌ

وَتُلِثُّ سارِيَةٌ وَغادِيَةٌ

وَيَكُرُّ نَحسٌ خَلفَهُ سَعدُ

وَيَكُرُّ نَحسٌ خَلفَهُ سَعدُ

Night-cloud and morning-cloud rain upon it again and again,

And night-rain and morning-rain persist,

and ill fortune circles, with good fortune close behind.

And ill fortune returns, with good fortune following it.

تَلقى شَآمِيَةٌ يَمانِيَةً

تَلقى شَآمِيَةٌ يَمانِيَةً

لَهُما بِمَورِ تُرابِها سَردُ

لَهُما بِمَورِ تُرابِها سَردُ

It receives streaming showers from Yemen;

A Syrian wind meets a Yemeni wind;

through both, its soil is clad in woven mail.

The two whirl its dust in an unbroken sweep.

فَكَسَت بَواطِنُها ظَواهِرَها

فَكَسَت بَواطِنُها ظَواهِرَها

نَوراً كَأَنَّ زُهاءَهُ بُردُ

نَوراً كَأَنَّ زُهاءَهُ بُردُ

Thus its hollows were clothed by what appeared upon them—

So its depths clothed its surface

a radiance whose splendor seemed a mantle.

In blossoms whose profusion seemed a striped cloak.

يَغدو فَيَسري نَسجَهُ حَدَبٌ

يَغدو فَيَسري نَسجَهُ حَدَبٌ

واهي العرى وَنَثيرُهُ عِقدُ

واهي العرى وَنَثيرُهُ عِقدُ

Its woven covering spreads swiftly over every rise,

A swelling cloud comes at dawn and unravels its weave,

its fastenings slack, its scattered drops a necklace.

Its fastenings slack, its scattered drops a necklace.

فَوَقَفت أَسأَلَها وَلَيسَ بِها

فَوَقَفت أَسأَلَها وَلَيسَ بِها

إِلّا المَها وَنَقانِقٌ رُبدُ

إِلّا المَها وَنَقانِقٌ رُبدُ

I stopped and questioned it, but nothing dwelt there

So I stood questioning it, though nothing was there

except white oryx and dusky ostriches,

Except oryx and dusky male ostriches,

وَمُكَدَّمٍ في عانَةٍ خَفَرَت

وَمُكَدَّمٍ في عانَةٍ خَفَرَت

حَتّى يُهَيِّجَ شَأوَها الوِردُ

حَتّى يُهَيِّجَ شَأوَها الوِردُ

and a battered ostrich cock deep in a dense thicket,

And a bite-scarred wild ass amid a timid herd,

until the approach to water spurred it into a race.

Until the journey to water stirred their gallop.

فَتَبادَرَت دِرَرُ الشُؤونِ عَلى

فَتَبادَرَت دِرَرُ الشُؤونِ عَلى

خَدّى كَما يَتَناثَرُ العِقدُ

خَدّى كَما يَتَناثَرُ العِقدُ

Then pearls of tears hastened down

Then streaming tears from the tear-ducts raced down

my cheeks, scattering like a broken necklace.

My cheeks, as a necklace's beads scatter,

أَو نَضحُ عَزلاءِ الشَعيبِ وَقَد

أَو نَضحُ عَزلاءِ الشَعيبِ وَقَد

راحَ العَسِفَ بِمائِها يَعدو

راحَ العَسِفَ بِمائِها يَعدو

Was it a sprinkling from the ravine’s pouring cloud,

Or like spray from a waterskin's spout, when

whose water the evening wind drove on?

The hired servant sets off running with its water.

لَهَفى عَلى دَعدٍ وَما خُلِقَت

لَهَفى عَلى دَعدٍ وَما خُلِقَت

إِلّا لِطولِ بَلِيَّتي دَعدُ

إِلّا لِطولِ بَلِيَّتي دَعدُ

Alas for Da‘d—yet Da‘d was fashioned

Alas for Da'd! She was not created

only to prolong my affliction.

Except to prolong my affliction—Da'd.

بَيضاءُ قَد لَبِسَ الأَديمُ بَها

بَيضاءُ قَد لَبِسَ الأَديمُ بَها

ءَ الحُسنِ فَهُوَ لِجِلدِها جِلدُ

ءَ الحُسنِ فَهُوَ لِجِلدِها جِلدُ

A fair one whose skin seems clothed in whiteness;

Fair-skinned, her skin has donned the splendor

as for beauty, it is a second skin upon her skin.

Of beauty: it is a skin upon her skin.

وَيَزينُ فَودَيها إِذا حَسَرَت

وَيَزينُ فَودَيها إِذا حَسَرَت

ضافي الغَدائِرِ فاحِمٌ جَعدُ

ضافي الغَدائِرِ فاحِمٌ جَعدُ

Her dark tresses adorn her whenever she unveils them—

And adorning her temples when she unveils

abundant locks, black and curling.

Is luxuriant, coal-black, curling hair.

فَالوَجهُ مِثلُ الصُبحِ مُنبَلِجٌ

فَالوَجهُ مِثلُ الصُبحِ مُنبَلِجٌ

وَالشَعرُ مِثلُ اللَيلِ مُسوَدُّ

وَالشَعرُ مِثلُ اللَيلِ مُسوَدُّ

Her face is like the dawn, breaking clear;

Her face is radiant like the dawn,

her hair is like the night, utterly dark.

And her hair is black as night.

ضِدّانِ لِما اِستَجمِعا حَسُنا

ضِدّانِ لِما اِستَجمِعا حَسُنا

وَالضِدُّ يُظهِرُ حَسنَهُ الضِدُّ

وَالضِدُّ يُظهِرُ حَسنَهُ الضِدُّ

Two opposites which, once united, became beautiful:

Two opposites, lovely when they come together;

an opposite reveals the beauty of its opposite.

Each opposite brings out the other's beauty.

وَجَبينُها صَلتٌ وَحاجِبها

وَجَبينُها صَلتٌ وَحاجِبها

شَختُ المَحَطِّ أَزَجُّ مُمتَدُّ

شَختُ المَحَطِّ أَزَجُّ مُمتَدُّ

Her brow is smooth and open, and her eyebrow

Her forehead is broad and smooth, and her eyebrow

slender at the ends, arched and extended.

Is slender in outline, arched and long.

وَكَأَنَّها وَسنى إِذا نَظَرَت

وَكَأَنَّها وَسنى إِذا نَظَرَت

أَو مُدنَفٌ لَمّا يُفِق بَعدُ

أَو مُدنَفٌ لَمّا يُفِق بَعدُ

When she looks, she seems drowsy,

And she seems drowsy when she looks,

or like one fevered who has not yet recovered—

Or a wasting invalid, not yet recovered,

بِفتورِ عَينٍ ما بِها رَمَدٌ

بِفتورِ عَينٍ ما بِها رَمَدٌ

وَبِها تُداوى الأَعيُنُ الرُمدُ

وَبِها تُداوى الأَعيُنُ الرُمدُ

such languor lies in an eye untouched by illness,

With a languid eye untouched by inflammation,

yet by it sickened eyes are healed.

And through it inflamed eyes are healed.

وَتُريكَ عِرنينا يُزَيِّنُهُ

وَتُريكَ عِرنينا يُزَيِّنُهُ

شَمَمٌ وَخَدّا لَونُهُ الوَردُ

شَمَمٌ وَخَدّا لَونُهُ الوَردُ

She shows you a noble nose, adorned

And she shows you a nose adorned

by proud elevation, and a cheek the color of roses.

By a high bridge, and a rose-colored cheek.

وَتُجيلُ مِسواكَ الأَراكِ عَلى

وَتُجيلُ مِسواكَ الأَراكِ عَلى

رَتلٍ كَأَنَّ رُضابَهُ الشَهدُ

رَتلٍ كَأَنَّ رُضابَهُ الشَهدُ

She passes an arak twig over

And she passes an arak tooth-stick over

even-set teeth whose moisture is honey.

Even teeth whose saliva seems like honey.

وَاِمتَدَّ مِن أَعضادِها قَصَبٌ

وَاِمتَدَّ مِن أَعضادِها قَصَبٌ

فَعمٌ تَلَتهُ مَرافِقٌ دُردُ

فَعمٌ تَلَتهُ مَرافِقٌ دُردُ

Reed-slender forearms extend from her upper arms,

And from her upper arms extend long limbs,

followed by soft, smoothly rounded elbows.

Full-fleshed, with smooth elbows following them.

وَالمِعصان فَما يُرى لَهُما

وَالمِعصان فَما يُرى لَهُما

مِن فَعمَةٍ وَبَضاضَةٍ زَندُ

مِن فَعمَةٍ وَبَضاضَةٍ زَندُ

Her wrists are so delicate

And her wrists—on neither can one see

that no hard joint appears through their softness and brightness.

A wristbone, for their fullness and soft flesh.

وَلَها بَنانٌ لَو أَرَدتَ لَهُ

وَلَها بَنانٌ لَو أَرَدتَ لَهُ

عَقداً بِكَفِّكَ أَمكَنَ العَقدُ

عَقداً بِكَفِّكَ أَمكَنَ العَقدُ

She has fingers which, if you wished them

And she has fingers that, were you to wish

to tie a knot within your palm, could tie it.

To knot them with your palm, could be knotted.

وَكَأَنَّما سُقِيَت تَرائِبُها

وَكَأَنَّما سُقِيَت تَرائِبُها

وَالنَحرُ ماءَ الحُسنِ إِذ تَبدو

وَالنَحرُ ماءَ الحُسنِ إِذ تَبدو

It is as though her collarbones had been watered—

As though her upper chest had been watered,

and her throat, when she appears—with beauty’s own water.

And her throat, with beauty's water when she appears.

وَبِصَدرِها حُقّانِ خِلتُهُما

وَبِصَدرِها حُقّانِ خِلتُهُما

كافورَتَينِ عَلاهُما نَدُّ

كافورَتَينِ عَلاهُما نَدُّ

Upon her breast are two rounded vessels

And on her chest are two rounded caskets; I thought them

like two pieces of camphor crowned with fragrant aloeswood.

Two camphor cakes topped with nadd perfume.

وَالبَطنُ مَطوِيٌّ كَما طُوِيَت

وَالبَطنُ مَطوِيٌّ كَما طُوِيَت

بيضُ الرِياطِ يَصونُها المَلدُ

بيضُ الرِياطِ يَصونُها المَلدُ

Her belly is folded as delicately as

And her belly is folded, as are folded

the white blossoms of meadows sheltered beneath their tender covering.

White cloths kept safe by their keeper.

وَبِخَصرِها هَيَفٌ يُزَيِّنُهُ

وَبِخَصرِها هَيَفٌ يُزَيِّنُهُ

فَإِذا تَنوءُ يَكادُ يَنقَدُّ

فَإِذا تَنوءُ يَكادُ يَنقَدُّ

A slender waist adorns her;

And a slenderness adorns her waist,

when she rises, it nearly seems to break.

So when she heaves herself up, it almost snaps.

وَلَها هَنٌ رابٍ مجَسَّتُهُ

وَلَها هَنٌ رابٍ مجَسَّتُهُ

ضَيقُ المَسالِكِ حُرَّهُ وَقدُ

ضَيقُ المَسالِكِ حُرَّهُ وَقدُ

Her secret place, when touched, is

And she has a vulva swelling to the touch,

narrow of passage, warm and close.

Narrow in passage, its heat a flame.

فَكَأَنَّهُ مِن كَبرِهِ قَدَحٌ

فَكَأَنَّهُ مِن كَبرِهِ قَدَحٌ

أَكلَ العِيال وَكَبَّهُ العَبدُ

أَكلَ العِيال وَكَبَّهُ العَبدُ

It is as though it were the mouth of a cup,

So from its size it seems like a bowl

sealed and guarded from every intruder.

From which the household ate, and which the slave overturned.

فَإِذا طَعَنتَ طَعَنتَ في لَبدٍ

فَإِذا طَعَنتَ طَعَنتَ في لَبدٍ

وَإِذا سَلَلتَ يَكادُ يَنسَدُّ

وَإِذا سَلَلتَ يَكادُ يَنسَدُّ

When entered, it closes softly around what enters;

When you thrust, you thrust into felt;

when it is withdrawn, the passage nearly seals.

And when you withdraw, it almost closes.

وَالتَفَّ فَخذاها وَفَوقَهُما

وَالتَفَّ فَخذاها وَفَوقَهُما

كَفَلٌ يُجاذِبُ خَصرَها نَهدُ

كَفَلٌ يُجاذِبُ خَصرَها نَهدُ

Her thighs press close together, and above them

Her thighs press together, and above them

are haunches whose fullness contends with her slender waist.

A full, raised rump tugs against her waist.

فَقِيامُها مَثنىً إِذا نَهَضت

فَقِيامُها مَثنىً إِذا نَهَضت

مِن ثِقلَةٍ وَقُعودها فَردُ

مِن ثِقلَةٍ وَقُعودها فَردُ

When she stands, their weight draws them backward;

Her rising takes two efforts when she gets up,

from their heaviness, even her sitting seems a posture apart.

Because of heaviness; her sitting takes one.

وَالساقِ خَرعَبَةٌ مُنَعَّمَةٌ

وَالساقِ خَرعَبَةٌ مُنَعَّمَةٌ

عَبِلَت فَطَوقُ الحَجلِ مُنسَدُّ

عَبِلَت فَطَوقُ الحَجلِ مُنسَدُّ

Her shanks are tender and luxuriant,

And her leg is long, supple, and softly nurtured;

so full that her anklets nearly disappear.

It has filled out, so her anklet leaves no gap.

وَالكَعبُ أَدرَمُ لا يَبينُ لَهُ

وَالكَعبُ أَدرَمُ لا يَبينُ لَهُ

حَجمً وَلَيسَ لِرَأسِهِ حَدُّ

حَجمً وَلَيسَ لِرَأسِهِ حَدُّ

Her ankle is smoothly rounded, no bone protruding,

And her ankle is flesh-covered, showing no

no sharp head showing upon it.

Bony prominence, its tip without a sharp edge.

وَمَشَت عَلى قَدمَينِ خُصِّرتا

وَمَشَت عَلى قَدمَينِ خُصِّرتا

وَالتَفَّتا فَتَكامَلَ القَدُّ

وَالتَفَّتا فَتَكامَلَ القَدُّ

She walks upon two finely shaped feet,

And she walked on two feet tapered at the instep,

and all her limbs unite to complete her stature.

And both were rounded, so her figure was complete.

ما شَأنَها طولٌ وَلا قِصَرٌ

ما شَأنَها طولٌ وَلا قِصَرٌ

في خَلقِها فَقَوامُها قَصدُ

في خَلقِها فَقَوامُها قَصدُ

Neither excessive height nor shortness is hers;

Neither tallness nor shortness marks her

in her creation, every proportion is measured.

In her build; her stature is balanced.

إِن لَم يَكُن وَصلٌ لَدَيكِ لَنا

إِن لَم يَكُن وَصلٌ لَدَيكِ لَنا

يَشفى الصَبابَةَ فَليَكُن وَعدُ

يَشفى الصَبابَةَ فَليَكُن وَعدُ

If no union with you is to be ours,

If you have no loving union for us

then let a promise at least soothe this passion.

To cure love's yearning, then let there be a promise.

قَد كانَ أَورَقَ وَصلَكُم زَمَناً

قَد كانَ أَورَقَ وَصلَكُم زَمَناً

فَذَوَى الوِصال وَأَورَقَ الصَدُّ

فَذَوَى الوِصال وَأَورَقَ الصَدُّ

Once your affection flourished green for a time;

For a time, union with you had put forth leaves;

then union withered, and rejection put forth leaves.

Then union withered, and rejection put forth leaves.

لِلَّهِ أشواقي إِذا نَزَحَت

لِلَّهِ أشواقي إِذا نَزَحَت

دارٌ بِنا وَنَأى بِكُم بُعدُ

دارٌ بِنا وَنَأى بِكُم بُعدُ

God knows my longing when

God, how I long whenever far away lies

a land carries us far away and Da‘d carries you far from us.

The home that holds us, and distance carries you away.

إِن تُتهِمى فَتَهامَةٌ وَطُن

إِن تُتهِمى فَتَهامَةٌ وَطُن

أَو تُنجِدي إِنَّ الهَوى نَجدُ

أَو تُنجِدي إِنَّ الهَوى نَجدُ

If you go down to Tihama, Tihama is my homeland;

If you go to Tihamah, then Tihamah is home;

if you climb into Najd, then Najd is where my passion lies.

Or if you go to Najd, love itself is Najd.

وَزَعَمتِ أَنَّكِ تُضمِرينَ لَنا

وَزَعَمتِ أَنَّكِ تُضمِرينَ لَنا

وُدّاً فَهَلّا يَنفَعُ الوُدُّ

وُدّاً فَهَلّا يَنفَعُ الوُدُّ

You claimed that you concealed for us

You claimed that you harbor for us

affection—but why does affection bring no benefit?

Affection; why then does that affection not help?

وَإِذا المُحِبُّ شَكا الصُدودَ وَلَم

وَإِذا المُحِبُّ شَكا الصُدودَ وَلَم

يُعطَف عَلَيهِ فَقَتلُهُ عَمدُ

يُعطَف عَلَيهِ فَقَتلُهُ عَمدُ

When the lover complains of rejection and no

And when a lover complains of rejection but is not

tenderness is shown him, his killing is deliberate.

Shown compassion, then killing him is willful.

تَختَصُّها بِالوُدِّ وُهيَ عَلى

تَختَصُّها بِالوُدِّ وُهيَ عَلى

ما لا تُحِبُّ فَهكَذا الوَجدُ

ما لا تُحِبُّ فَهكَذا الوَجدُ

The world shifts and sways because of one person:

You single her out for love, though she persists in

such is passion when it brings what one does not love.

What you dislike: such is love's anguish.

إِمّا تَرى طِمرَيَّ بَينَهُما

إِمّا تَرى طِمرَيَّ بَينَهُما

رَجُلٌ أَلَحَّ بِهَزلِهِ الجِدُّ

رَجُلٌ أَلَحَّ بِهَزلِهِ الجِدُّ

Though you see, among them, a man grown lean,

If you see my two ragged garments, between them

one upon whose jest earnestness has pressed hard,

A man whose leanness earnest toil has deepened,

فَالسَيفُ يَقطَعُ وَهُوَ ذو صَدَأٍ

فَالسَيفُ يَقطَعُ وَهُوَ ذو صَدَأٍ

وَالنَصلُ يَعلو الهامَ لا الغِمد

وَالنَصلُ يَعلو الهامَ لا الغِمد

a sword still cuts although it bears rust,

A sword cuts even when it is rusty,

and the blade—not the sheath—rises over heads.

And the blade strikes heads—not the sheath.

هَل يَنفَعَنَّ السَيفَ حِليَتُهُ

هَل يَنفَعَنَّ السَيفَ حِليَتُهُ

يَومَ الجِلادِ إِذا نَبا الحَدُّ

يَومَ الجِلادِ إِذا نَبا الحَدُّ

Will a sword’s ornament profit you

Does a sword's ornament ever benefit it

on the day of combat if its edge proves blunt?

On the day of combat, if its edge fails to bite?

وَلَقَد عَلِمتُ بِأَنَّني رَجُلٌ

وَلَقَد عَلِمتُ بِأَنَّني رَجُلٌ

في الصالِحاتِ أَروحُ أَو أَغدو

في الصالِحاتِ أَروحُ أَو أَغدو

I have long known myself to be a man

And I know full well that I am a man

who goes forth and returns engaged in worthy deeds.

Who goes out at evening or dawn to do good deeds.

سِلمٌ عَلى الأَدنى وَمَرحَمَةٌ

سِلمٌ عَلى الأَدنى وَمَرحَمَةٌ

وَعَلى الحَوادِثِ هادِيءٌ جَلدُ

وَعَلى الحَوادِثِ هادِيءٌ جَلدُ

Peaceful toward those nearest me, compassionate,

Peaceful and merciful to those near me,

yet calm and steadfast before calamities;

And calm and steadfast in the face of calamities.

مُتَجَلبِبُ ثَوبَ العَفافِ وَقَد

مُتَجَلبِبُ ثَوبَ العَفافِ وَقَد

غَفَلَ الرَقيبُ وَأَمكُنَ الوِردُ

غَفَلَ الرَقيبُ وَأَمكُنَ الوِردُ

clothed in the garment of chastity even when

Clad in the garment of chastity, even when

the watcher is heedless and access to the water is open;

The watcher is heedless and the watering-place is open;

وَمُجانِبٌ فِعلَ القَبيحِ وَقَد

وَمُجانِبٌ فِعلَ القَبيحِ وَقَد

وَصَلَ الحَبيبُ وَساعَدَ السَعدُ

وَصَلَ الحَبيبُ وَساعَدَ السَعدُ

one who shuns an ugly deed though

And shunning ugly deeds, even when

the beloved yields and good fortune lends its aid.

The beloved grants union and good fortune helps.

مَنَعَ المَطامِعَ أن تُثَلِّمَني

مَنَعَ المَطامِعَ أن تُثَلِّمَني

أَنّي لِمَعوَلِها صَفاً صَلدُ

أَنّي لِمَعوَلِها صَفاً صَلدُ

Covetous desires are forbidden to humiliate me:

Greedy desires could not chip away at me,

against their pickaxes I am solid rock.

For I am hard rock against their pickaxe.

فَأَروحُ حُرّاً مِن مَذّلَّتِها

فَأَروحُ حُرّاً مِن مَذّلَّتِها

وَالحُرُّ حينَ يُطيعُها عَبدُ

وَالحُرُّ حينَ يُطيعُها عَبدُ

Thus I depart free of their abasement—

So I go free of their humiliation;

for the free man, once he covets, becomes a slave.

A free man, when he obeys them, is a slave.

آلَيتُ أَمدَحُ مقرفاً أبَداً

آلَيتُ أَمدَحُ مقرفاً أبَداً

يَبقى المَديحُ وَيَذهَبُ الرفدُ

يَبقى المَديحُ وَيَذهَبُ الرفدُ

I have sworn never to praise a base man,

I have sworn never to praise a baseborn man:

for praise remains when the gift has vanished.

Praise endures, while the gift disappears.

هَيهاتَ يأبى ذاكَ لي سَلَفٌ

هَيهاتَ يأبى ذاكَ لي سَلَفٌ

خَمَدوا وَلَم يَخمُد لَهُم مَجدُ

خَمَدوا وَلَم يَخمُد لَهُم مَجدُ

Far from me! My forebears forbade me that—

Far from it! My forebears forbid me that:

they died, but their glory did not die.

They died out, but their glory never died out.

وَالجَدُّ كِندَةٌ وَالبَنون هُمُ

وَالجَدُّ كِندَةٌ وَالبَنون هُمُ

فَزَكا البَنون وَأَنجَبَ الجَدُّ

فَزَكا البَنون وَأَنجَبَ الجَدُّ

Our ancestry is Kindah, and these are its sons;

Kinda is the grandsire, and they are the sons;

the sons grew noble, and noble was the stock that bore them.

So the sons proved worthy, and the grandsire begot nobly.

فَلَئِن قَفَوتُ جَميلَ فَعلِهِمُ

فَلَئِن قَفَوتُ جَميلَ فَعلِهِمُ

بِذَميم فِعلي إِنَّني وَغدُ

بِذَميم فِعلي إِنَّني وَغدُ

If I follow the beauty of their deeds,

If I follow their noble deeds

my own deed, secured by their honor, belongs to tomorrow.

With vile deeds of my own, I am indeed a wretch.

أَجمِل إِذا حاوَلتَ في طَلَبٍ

أَجمِل إِذا حاوَلتَ في طَلَبٍ

فَالجِدُّ يُغني عَنكَ لا الجَدُّ

فَالجِدُّ يُغني عَنكَ لا الجَدُّ

Act nobly whenever you pursue a purpose:

Be restrained when pursuing a request;

earnest striving avails you, not ancestry alone.

Diligence serves you, not luck.

لِيَكُن لَدَيكَ لِسائِلٍ فَرَجٌ

لِيَكُن لَدَيكَ لِسائِلٍ فَرَجٌ

إِن لِم يَكُن فَليَحسُن الرَدُّ

إِن لِم يَكُن فَليَحسُن الرَدُّ

Let there be relief with you for one who asks;

Let a petitioner find relief with you;

and if there is none, let the refusal at least be gracious.

If there is none, let the answer be gracious.

وَطَريدِ لَيلٍ ساقَهُ سَغَبٌ

وَطَريدِ لَيلٍ ساقَهُ سَغَبٌ

وَهناً إِلَيَّ وَقادَهُ بَردُ

وَهناً إِلَيَّ وَقادَهُ بَردُ

Many a night-wanderer, driven on by hunger,

And a night-wanderer, whom hunger drove

came toward me, with cold as his guide.

Late at night to me, and cold led him,

أَوسَعتُ جُهدَ بَشاشَةٍ وَقُرىً

أَوسَعتُ جُهدَ بَشاشَةٍ وَقُرىً

وَعَلى الكَريمِ لِضَيفِهِ الجُهدُ

وَعَلى الكَريمِ لِضَيفِهِ الجُهدُ

I gave him welcome and food to the utmost of his need—

I lavished my utmost cheer and hospitality;

the noble man owes his guest his utmost effort.

A generous man owes his guest his utmost.

فَتَصَرَّمَ المَشتى وَمَنزِلُهُ

فَتَصَرَّمَ المَشتى وَمَنزِلُهُ

رَحبٌ لَدَيَّ وَعَيشُهُ رَغدُ

رَحبٌ لَدَيَّ وَعَيشُهُ رَغدُ

Winter passed away while his lodging

Then winter passed, while his lodging

remained spacious with me and his life was easy.

Was spacious with me, and his life comfortable.

ثُمَّ اِغتَدى وَرِداوُّهُ نعِمٌ

ثُمَّ اِغتَدى وَرِداوُّهُ نعِمٌ

أَسدَيتُها وَرِدائِيَ الحَمدُ

أَسدَيتُها وَرِدائِيَ الحَمدُ

Then he departed wearing a robe of favors

Then he set out at dawn, his cloak the favors

I had bestowed, while I wore the robe of his praise.

I had bestowed, while my cloak was praise.

يا لَيتَ شِعري بَعدَ ذَلِكُمُ

يا لَيتَ شِعري بَعدَ ذَلِكُمُ

وَمَصيرُ كُلِّ مُؤَمِّلٍ لَحدُ

وَمَصيرُ كُلِّ مُؤَمِّلٍ لَحدُ

Would that I knew, after all of this—

Ah, if only I knew, after all that—

when every hopeful person’s destination is the grave—

And every hopeful one's end is a grave—

أَصَريعٌ كَلمٍ أَم صَريعُ ضَنىً

أَصَريعٌ كَلمٍ أَم صَريعُ ضَنىً

أَودى فَلَيسَ مِنَ الرَدى بُدُّ

أَودى فَلَيسَ مِنَ الرَدى بُدُّ

shall I become like one struck down, left as prey,

Shall I, struck down by a wound or by wasting illness,

gone beyond recall? There must, then, be an answer.

Perish? There is no escape from death.