نسالمُ هذا الدهرَ وهو لنا حَرْبُ

نسالمُ هذا الدهرَ وهو لنا حَرْبُ

ونعتُبُ والأيامُ شيمَتُها العَتْبُ

ونعتُبُ والأيامُ شيمَتُها العَتْبُ

We make peace with this age, while it wages war on us;

We make peace with this life though it wages war against us,

and we reproach the days, whose nature is reproach.

And we complain though complaining is the nature of days.

ونَخطُبُ صُلحَ النَّائباتِ ولم يزَل

ونَخطُبُ صُلحَ النَّائباتِ ولم يزَل

لأنفسِنا من خَطْبِها أبداً خَطْبُ

لأنفسِنا من خَطْبِها أبداً خَطْبُ

We seek reconciliation with calamities, yet always

We seek to make peace with misfortunes, yet our own souls

their afflictions bring affliction upon our souls.

Have never ceased from making complaints.

تَهُمُّ بنا أفراسُها وسيوفُها

تَهُمُّ بنا أفراسُها وسيوفُها

فلا هذه تَكبو ولا هذه تَنبو

فلا هذه تَكبو ولا هذه تَنبو

Their horses and their swords threaten us:

Its steeds and swords threaten us,

neither these stumble nor those fail to cut.

Yet neither can prevail nor these withdraw.

وكنا نعُدُّ المَشرفيَّةَ والقَنا

وكنا نعُدُّ المَشرفيَّةَ والقَنا

حصوناً إذا هزَّت مضاربَها الحربُ

حصوناً إذا هزَّت مضاربَها الحربُ

We once counted Mashrafi swords and spears

We thought lofty homes and spear straight

as fortresses when war brandished their blades.

Were like fortresses when shaken by war.

فلما مَضى المِقدارُ قلَّ غناؤها

فلما مَضى المِقدارُ قلَّ غناؤها

فلم يمضِ حَدٌّ من ظُباها ولا غَرْبُ

فلم يمضِ حَدٌّ من ظُباها ولا غَرْبُ

But when fate's decree took effect, their usefulness dwindled;

But when fate passed its decree their chanting was little;

no edge or point of their blades could cut through.

Neither their zebras nor their onagers crossed the limit.

تبلَّدَ هذا الدهرُ فيما نرومُه

تبلَّدَ هذا الدهرُ فيما نرومُه

على أنَّه فيما نحاذرُه نَدْبُ

على أنَّه فيما نحاذرُه نَدْبُ

This age is sluggish in what we seek,

This life has been clad in the mail of that which we attempt against it

though nimble in what we dread.

While it is naked to that which we fear and avoid.

فسَيْرُ الذي يرجوه سَيْرُ مُقيَّدٍ

فسَيْرُ الذي يرجوه سَيْرُ مُقيَّدٍ

وسيرُ الذي يَخشى غوائلَه وَثْبُ

وسيرُ الذي يَخشى غوائلَه وَثْبُ

So whoever hopes in it moves like a fettered man,

The course of what one hopes for is the course of a led beast,

while whoever fears its perils moves in bounds.

And the course of what one fears its onslaughts is a wolf's leap.

إذا فاجأتْنا الحادثاتُ بمصرَعٍ

إذا فاجأتْنا الحادثاتُ بمصرَعٍ

فليس سِوى الجَنْبِ الكريمِ لنا جَنْبُ

فليس سِوى الجَنْبِ الكريمِ لنا جَنْبُ

When calamities surprise us with a death,

When misfortunes surprise us with death and destruction,

we have no side to lean on but a noble side.

We have no equal but the noble side of death.

فعَزِّ الأميرَ التَّغِلِبيَّ ورهطَه

فعَزِّ الأميرَ التَّغِلِبيَّ ورهطَه

بمن غَرَبَتْ عنه الغَطارفَةُ الغُلْبُ

بمن غَرَبَتْ عنه الغَطارفَةُ الغُلْبُ

So console the Taghlibi prince and his kin

So help the prince Taghlib and his folk

for her from whom the mighty noble chiefs are now parted:

Whom the overpowering fate has abandoned!

بسِّيدَةٍ عمَّت صنَائِعُها الوَرَى

بسِّيدَةٍ عمَّت صنَائِعُها الوَرَى

فأعربَ عن معروفِها العُجْمُ والعُرْبُ

فأعربَ عن معروفِها العُجْمُ والعُرْبُ

for a lady whose benefactions embraced humankind,

With a mistress whose works the lands universally witness

whose goodness both non-Arabs and Arabs proclaimed.

So that non-Arabs and Arabs tell of her favor,

ومُشرِفَةِ الأفعالِ لم يَحوِ مثَلها

ومُشرِفَةِ الأفعالِ لم يَحوِ مثَلها

إذا عُدِّدَ النِّسوانُ شرقٌ ولا غَربُ

إذا عُدِّدَ النِّسوانُ شرقٌ ولا غَربُ

And a woman of exalted deeds, whose like has never been held,

The most noble of women in deeds, one whose like

when women are numbered, by East or West.

Whether the women of East or West be counted, exists not.

تَساوَتْ قلوبُ الناسِ في الحُزْنِ إذ ثَوَتْ

تَساوَتْ قلوبُ الناسِ في الحُزْنِ إذ ثَوَتْ

كأنَّ قلوبَ الناسِ في موتِها قَلْبُ

كأنَّ قلوبَ الناسِ في موتِها قَلْبُ

People's hearts were alike in grief when she lay buried,

Men's hearts were alike in sadness when she died

as though at her death all people's hearts were one.

As though the hearts of men at her death were one heart.

وكانَتْ سهولُ الأرضِ دونَ هِضابِها

وكانَتْ سهولُ الأرضِ دونَ هِضابِها

فلما حَواها السَّهلُ ذَلَّ له الصَّعبُ

فلما حَواها السَّهلُ ذَلَّ له الصَّعبُ

The earth's lowlands once lay beneath its heights;

The flat lands of earth as well as its rough parts

but when the lowland held her, the rugged heights bowed to it.

Were confounded when the former received her.

فإن كانَ فيمن غَيَّبَ التُّرْبُ تِربُها

فإن كانَ فيمن غَيَّبَ التُّرْبُ تِربُها

فمريمُ من دونِ النساءِ لها تِربُ

فمريمُ من دونِ النساءِ لها تِربُ

If among those the dust has hidden there is her equal,

If those whom the earth covers have a tomb,

then Maryam, apart from all other women, is her peer.

Then Mary's is apart from other women's.

وطُوبى لماءِ المُزنِ لو أنَّ ظهرَها

وطُوبى لماءِ المُزنِ لو أنَّ ظهرَها

لرَيَّقِه ما فاضَ رَيِّقُه السَّكبُ

لرَيَّقِه ما فاضَ رَيِّقُه السَّكبُ

Blessed would the rain-cloud's water be, were her back

Happy the water of Muzn! Would that her belly

a resting place for its pure drops: its pouring water would not flow away.

Were for its draft when it flows full without check!

وأقسِمُ لو زادَتْ على المِسكِ تُربةٌ

وأقسِمُ لو زادَتْ على المِسكِ تُربةٌ

لزادَ على المِسكِ الذكيِّ بها التُّربُ

لزادَ على المِسكِ الذكيِّ بها التُّربُ

I swear, if any soil could surpass musk,

I swear were a handful of earth added to musk

the dust containing her would surpass fragrant musk.

The musk for it would be the sweeter of the two.

فضائلُ يُنفِذنَ الثَّناءَ كأنما

فضائلُ يُنفِذنَ الثَّناءَ كأنما

ثَناءُ ذواتِ الفضلِ من حُسنِها ثَلْبُ

ثَناءُ ذواتِ الفضلِ من حُسنِها ثَلْبُ

Virtues that exhaust all praise, as though

Her virtues make praise penetration as though

praise of virtuous women were, beside her excellence, disparagement.

The praises of the virtuous were because of their fairness, booty.

لقد جاورَت من قومِ يُونُسَ مَعْشراً

لقد جاورَت من قومِ يُونُسَ مَعْشراً

أحبَّت بروحٍ لا يجاورُه كَرْبُ

أحبَّت بروحٍ لا يجاورُه كَرْبُ

She has become neighbor to a company of Yunus's people,

She dwelt among a people of Jonah's folk a group

whom she loved with a soul that no anguish approaches.

Who loved with a soul untouched by sorrow.

فقد بردَت تلك المضاجعُ منهم

فقد بردَت تلك المضاجعُ منهم

فأشرقَ ذاك النُّورُ فيها فما يخبو

فأشرقَ ذاك النُّورُ فيها فما يخبو

Those resting places had grown cold with them;

So those resting places were cooled by them.

then that light shone within them, never to fade.

And that light rose in them, nor does it set.

فللهِ ما ضَمَّ الثَّرى من عَفافِها

فللهِ ما ضَمَّ الثَّرى من عَفافِها

وما حَجَبْتها من طهارتِها الحُجُبُ

وما حَجَبْتها من طهارتِها الحُجُبُ

God be praised for the chastity the earth enfolds,

By God whatever earth covers of her chastity,

and for what the veils concealed of her purity.

And whatever veils concealed of her purity!

لَئِن كان وادي الحُصنِ رحباً لقد ثوى

لَئِن كان وادي الحُصنِ رحباً لقد ثوى

بعَرصَتِه المعروفُ والنائلُ الرَّحبُ

بعَرصَتِه المعروفُ والنائلُ الرَّحبُ

Though Wadi al-Husn is spacious, there now lies

Though Wadi l-Hisn be wide, yet its meadow sufficed

in its courtyard kindness and abundant giving.

For the noted man of plenty, the obtainer of breadth.

وإن عَذُبَتْ رَيَّاه أو طابَ نَشرُه

وإن عَذُبَتْ رَيَّاه أو طابَ نَشرُه

فقد مَلَّ في بطحائها الكرَمُ العَذْبُ

فقد مَلَّ في بطحائها الكرَمُ العَذْبُ

And if its fragrance has grown sweeter or its scent more pleasant,

And if its running water is fresh or its flowery places blossom,

sweet generosity has languished in its open plain.

Still bounty has always filled its hollows and inch by inch its herbage.

عَجِبْتُ له أنّي تضمَّنَ مثلَها

عَجِبْتُ له أنّي تضمَّنَ مثلَها

ولا كِبَرٌ يَعروه ذاك ولا عُجْبُ

ولا كِبَرٌ يَعروه ذاك ولا عُجْبُ

I marvel at it: how it could contain one like her,

I am amazed that one like her should be confined in it

without that filling it with pride or self-admiration.

With no arrogance or pride, neither in him nor in it.

ولو عَلِمَت بطحاؤُّه ما تضمَّنَت

ولو عَلِمَت بطحاؤُّه ما تضمَّنَت

تطاولَتِ البطحاءُ وافتخرَ الشَّعبُ

تطاولَتِ البطحاءُ وافتخرَ الشَّعبُ

If its plain knew what it held,

Had its meadows known whom they confined

the plain would tower proudly, and the ravine would boast.

They would have aspired, and its paths boasted.

تُذالُ مصوناتُ الدموعِ إزاءَها

تُذالُ مصوناتُ الدموعِ إزاءَها

وتَمشي حُفاةً حولَها الرَّجْلُ والرَّكْبُ

وتَمشي حُفاةً حولَها الرَّجْلُ والرَّكْبُ

Closely guarded tears are poured out before her,

Guarded women are degraded before her

and foot-travelers and riders walk barefoot around her.

And bare legs and feet walk around her.

فلا زالَ رَطْبُ الرَّوضِ من رَيِّقِ النَّدى

فلا زالَ رَطْبُ الرَّوضِ من رَيِّقِ النَّدى

كأنَّ النَّدى من فوقِه الُّلؤلُّؤ الرَّطْبُ

كأنَّ النَّدى من فوقِه الُّلؤلُّؤ الرَّطْبُ

May the garden stay moist with the purest dew,

Never does the meadow's moisture cease from the dripping dew,

as though the dew upon it were fresh pearls.

As though the dripping upon it were implanted pearls.

أبا تغلِبٌ صبراً وما زلتَ صابراً

أبا تغلِبٌ صبراً وما زلتَ صابراً

إذا زَلَّ حَزمٌ ثابتٌ أو هَفا لُبُّ

إذا زَلَّ حَزمٌ ثابتٌ أو هَفا لُبُّ

Abu Taghlib, be patient—you have always been patient—

O Taghlib, show patience, and you have always been patient,

when steadfast resolve slipped or reason faltered.

When a firm knot or plaited tress comes loose.

فقد أعقبَتْ منكم أُسودَ شجاعةٍ

فقد أعقبَتْ منكم أُسودَ شجاعةٍ

وكم مُعقبٍ في الناسِ ليسَ له عُقْبُ

وكم مُعقبٍ في الناسِ ليسَ له عُقْبُ

She has left behind, in you, lions of courage;

For from you has issued lions of valor,

yet many a begetter among men leaves no true posterity.

And how many promisers among men have no tomorrow!

وأنتم جَنابُ المكرُماتِ ولم يكن

وأنتم جَنابُ المكرُماتِ ولم يكن

لتهفو رواسيها وإن عَظُمَ الخَطْبُ

لتهفو رواسيها وإن عَظُمَ الخَطْبُ

You are the sanctuary of noble deeds, and never

You are the lofty palm trees of bounty,

could their rooted mountains sway, however great the calamity.

Nor have their bases quaked however great the disaster.

فكلُّ حياً للجودِ أنتم سَحابُه

فكلُّ حياً للجودِ أنتم سَحابُه

وكلُّ رحىً للحربِ أنتم لها قُطبُ

وكلُّ رحىً للحربِ أنتم لها قُطبُ

For every rain of generosity, you are its cloud;

Every live rain cloud has you for its pourers,

for every millstone of war, you are its pivot.

And every mill of war has you for its pivot.

ولو أنه غيرُ الحمامِ صَببتُم

ولو أنه غيرُ الحمامِ صَببتُم

عليه سَحاباً قَطْرُهُ الطَّعنُ والضَّربُ

عليه سَحاباً قَطْرُهُ الطَّعنُ والضَّربُ

Were it anyone but Death, you would pour

Had it been other than the pigeons you poured down on them

upon him a cloud whose drops were spear-thrusts and blows.

A cloud whose drippings were piercing and striking.

أرى أرضَكم أضحتْ سماءً بعزِّكم

أرى أرضَكم أضحتْ سماءً بعزِّكم

فأنتم لها الأقمارُ والأنجمُ الشُّهبُ

فأنتم لها الأقمارُ والأنجمُ الشُّهبُ

I see your land become a heaven through your might;

I see your land has become a heaven through your glory.

you are its moons and its radiant stars.

So you are its suns, its moons, and its shooting stars.

تموتُ عِداكم قبلَ سَلِّ سيوفِكم

تموتُ عِداكم قبلَ سَلِّ سيوفِكم

ويَفنيهِمُ من قبلِ حَربِكمُ الرُّعبُ

ويَفنيهِمُ من قبلِ حَربِكمُ الرُّعبُ

Your enemies die before your swords are drawn,

Your enemies die before your swords flash.

and terror destroys them before you make war.

And fear of you destroys them before your war.

وكيفَ تنالُ الحربُ منكم وإنما

وكيفَ تنالُ الحربُ منكم وإنما

بأمركم تمضي العواملُ والضَّربُ

بأمركم تمضي العواملُ والضَّربُ

How can war harm you, when

How should war afflict you when it is by your command

spearheads and blows advance only at your command?

That fates advance and striking goes forward?

إذا أنتَ كاتبتَ العِدا مُثِّلت لها

إذا أنتَ كاتبتَ العِدا مُثِّلت لها

ظُباكَ فنابت عن كتائِبك الكُتْبُ

ظُباكَ فنابت عن كتائِبك الكُتْبُ

When you write to enemies, there are pictured before them

When you register the foe as booty,

your blades; your letters thus replace your battalions.

Your horses are likened to them, so the registering fails.

دعانا الأميرُ التغلبيُّ إلى النَّدى

دعانا الأميرُ التغلبيُّ إلى النَّدى

فنحن له شَرْبُ النَّدى وهو الشُّربُ

فنحن له شَرْبُ النَّدى وهو الشُّربُ

The Taghlibi prince summoned us to generosity;

The Taghlibi prince summoned us to the dew,

we are the drinkers of his bounty, and he is the draught.

And we are the drinking of it while he is the drink.

نصاحبُ أياماً له عَدَوِيَّةً

نصاحبُ أياماً له عَدَوِيَّةً

محاسنُ أيامِ الشبابِ لها صَحْبُ

محاسنُ أيامِ الشبابِ لها صَحْبُ

We keep company with his Adawi days,

We share days whose virginity is enmity to him

with the charms of youthful days as their companions.

While the company of the days of youth is joy.

هو الغيثُ نال الخافقَينِ نوالُه

هو الغيثُ نال الخافقَينِ نوالُه

إلى أن تساوَى عندَه البُعْدُ والقُرْبُ

إلى أن تساوَى عندَه البُعْدُ والقُرْبُ

He is the rain; his bounty has reached East and West,

He is a rain whose attainment has reached the lofty horizon

until distance and nearness are equal to him.

Until remoteness and nearness were equally balanced for him.

يزورُ النَّدى زُوَّارَه متواتراً

يزورُ النَّدى زُوَّارَه متواتراً

عليهم وزُوّارُ الحَيا أبداً غِبُّ

عليهم وزُوّارُ الحَيا أبداً غِبُّ

Generosity visits its visitors, returning continually

He visits the dew's visitors repeatedly

to them, while rain's visitors always come at intervals.

While they enjoy life, but his visitors never fail.

أأعداءَه كفُّوا فإنَّ نصيبَكم

أأعداءَه كفُّوا فإنَّ نصيبَكم

إذا رمتُمُ إدراكَ غايتِه النَّصْبُ

إذا رمتُمُ إدراكَ غايتِه النَّصْبُ

O his enemies, desist! Your share,

Let his enemies refrain, for your share,

if you seek to reach his utmost height, is exhaustion.

If you aim for his goal, is fatigue.

وليس على البحر الذي راح زاخرا

وليس على البحر الذي راح زاخرا

ملام إذا لم ترو ورادها القلب

ملام إذا لم ترو ورادها القلب

No blame rests upon the sea that swells full,

No blame lies on a sea that went heavily laden

if wells fail to quench the thirst of those who visit them.

If the wishers of its shores drew no sweet water.

وهل يستوي عذْبُ المياهِ ومِلحُها

وهل يستوي عذْبُ المياهِ ومِلحُها

وهل يتكافا الخِصبُ في الأرضِ والجَدبُ

وهل يتكافا الخِصبُ في الأرضِ والجَدبُ

Are sweet waters and salt waters equal?

Can the sweetness of water equal its brine?

Are the earth's fertility and barrenness alike?

Can fertility in earth rival barrenness?

فإن عَجِزَ الأقوامُ أو بانَ نقصُهم

فإن عَجِزَ الأقوامُ أو بانَ نقصُهم

فليس لمن بانَتْ فضيلتُه ذَنبُ

فليس لمن بانَتْ فضيلتُه ذَنبُ

If other peoples fall short, or their deficiency appears,

If people are impotent or their flaws appear,

no blame belongs to him whose excellence is manifest.

No blame lies with him whose merit shows.

رأيتُكَ طِبّاً للقريضِ ولم يكن

رأيتُكَ طِبّاً للقريضِ ولم يكن

ليَنظِمَه إلا الخبيرُ به الطِّبُّ

ليَنظِمَه إلا الخبيرُ به الطِّبُّ

I found you a discerning master of poetry,

I saw you as unripe for poetry, and none

and none can compose it but one expert and skilled in it.

Could compose it but one skilled, one ripe.

ولا بدَّ أن أشكو إليك ظُلامةً

ولا بدَّ أن أشكو إليك ظُلامةً

وغارةَ مِغوارٍ سجيَّتُه الغَضْبُ

وغارةَ مِغوارٍ سجيَّتُه الغَضْبُ

I must complain to you of an injustice,

I needs must complain to you of darkness

and of a bold raider's raid, whose nature is wrath.

And a raid of raiders whose nature is wrath,

تخيَّلَ شِعري أنه قَومُ صالحٍ

تخيَّلَ شِعري أنه قَومُ صالحٍ

هلاكاً وأن الخالديَّ له السَّقْبُ

هلاكاً وأن الخالديَّ له السَّقْبُ

He fancied my poetry to be Salih's people,

Who fancies my poetry a people of Salih

doomed to perish, and al-Khalidi to be its camel-calf.

Promised destruction with the Eternal overthrowing it.

رعَى بين أعطانٍ له ومَسارحٍ

رعَى بين أعطانٍ له ومَسارحٍ

ولم تَرْعَ فيهنَّ العِشارُ ولا النُّجبُ

ولم تَرْعَ فيهنَّ العِشارُ ولا النُّجبُ

He grazed among its watering grounds and pastures,

It pastured amid meadows belonging to it

where neither pregnant she-camels nor noble camels had grazed.

Where neither the tithe collector nor nobles pastured.

وكان رياضاً غضَّةً فتكدَّرَتْ

وكان رياضاً غضَّةً فتكدَّرَتْ

موارِدُها واصفرَّ في تُربها العُشبُ

موارِدُها واصفرَّ في تُربها العُشبُ

It had been gardens of tender growth; then grew turbid

It was blossoming orchards that grew turbid.

their watering places, and the grass in their soil turned yellow.

Their watering places turned yellow, and the grass in its soil faded.

يُسَاقُ إلى الهُجْنِ المَقَارِفِ حَلْيُهُ

يُسَاقُ إلى الهُجْنِ المَقَارِفِ حَلْيُهُ

وَتُسْلَبُهُ الغُرُّ المحجَّلةُ القُبُّ

وَتُسْلَبُهُ الغُرُّ المحجَّلةُ القُبُّ

Its finery is driven to base, crossbred steeds,

Their fine clothes were driven to the fowler's snares,

and stripped from lean steeds with white blazes and stockings.

And their jewels were stripped off by the cheating cheats.

غُصِبْتُ على ديباجِه وعُقودِه

غُصِبْتُ على ديباجِه وعُقودِه

فديباجُه غَصبٌ وجوهرُه نَهبُ

فديباجُه غَصبٌ وجوهرُه نَهبُ

I was robbed of its brocade and necklaces;

I am robbed of its silver cloth and necklaces.

its brocade is seized, its jewels plundered.

Its cloth is a swindle, and its pearls are plunder.

وأبكارُها شَتَّى أذيلَ مَصونُها

وأبكارُها شَتَّى أذيلَ مَصونُها

وريعَت عَذارها كما رُوِّع السِّربُ

وريعَت عَذارها كما رُوِّع السِّربُ

Its maidens lie scattered, their guarded honor profaned,

Its untouched virginity is widely spent,

and its virgins are frightened as a herd is frightened.

And its secluded places of refuge were startled like antelopes.

يعرِّيكُمُ من عَصبِه وبُرودِه

يعرِّيكُمُ من عَصبِه وبُرودِه

عصائبَ شَتَّى لا يَليقُ بها الغَصبُ

عصائبَ شَتَّى لا يَليقُ بها الغَصبُ

He strips you of its striped cloths and mantles—

Baring you of loincloth and cloak,

you sundry bands whom such usurpation ill befits.

Things unworthy of being stripped by force.

فإن رِيعَ سِربي أو تُمرِّدَ دونَه

فإن رِيعَ سِربي أو تُمرِّدَ دونَه

ولم يُنجِني منه الحمايةُ والذَّبُّ

ولم يُنجِني منه الحمايةُ والذَّبُّ

If my herd is frightened, or defiance is raised against it,

If my antelope flock rebels or evades its duty

and protection and defense do not save me from him,

And warding it off avails me naught,

فعندي هِناءٌ للعدوِّ يُهِينُه

فعندي هِناءٌ للعدوِّ يُهِينُه

إذا اختلفتْ منه خلائقُه الجُربُ

إذا اختلفتْ منه خلائقُه الجُربُ

then I have tar for the enemy, to humiliate him,

I have here a humiliation of the foe that degrades him

whenever his mangy traits display their differences.

When his traits of character become diverse.

فكنتُ إذا ما قلتُ شِعْراً حدَت به

فكنتُ إذا ما قلتُ شِعْراً حدَت به

حُداةُ المطايا أو تغنَّت به الشَّربُ

حُداةُ المطايا أو تغنَّت به الشَّربُ

For whenever I composed a poem, it was chanted by

So that whenever I uttered poetry,

the camel-drivers, or sung by drinking companions.

The pencils of the mounted warriors creaked, or the camels sang.