كَمَلْنَ فأطلَعْنَ البُدورَ كَوامِلا

كَمَلْنَ فأطلَعْنَ البُدورَ كَوامِلا

ومِلْن فأبدَين الغصونَ مَوائِلا

ومِلْن فأبدَين الغصونَ مَوائِلا

They attained perfection and made full moons rise in their fullness,

They reached perfection, so the full moons rose complete,

and swayed, revealing bending branches.

And leaned, so the branches revealed supports.

غَدَون لنا بالوَصل أُنساً نَواضِراً

غَدَون لنا بالوَصل أُنساً نَواضِراً

وكنَّ مِن الهِجران وَحشاً خَواذِلا

وكنَّ مِن الهِجران وَحشاً خَواذِلا

Through union they became our radiant companions,

They came to us in union as delightful companions,

though in estrangement they had been wild creatures, forsaking us.

And were from separation a lonesome separation.

يُحرِّكن أعطافَ العَليلِ صَبابةً

يُحرِّكن أعطافَ العَليلِ صَبابةً

إذا حرَّكَتْ أعطافُهنّ الغَلائِلا

إذا حرَّكَتْ أعطافُهنّ الغَلائِلا

They stir the ailing lover's body with longing,

They stir theTrains of the ailing with mischief

when their bodies stir their delicate gowns.

When their mischief stirs its trains.

نَوَين نوىً لم يَنوِ نَقضَ عُهودِنا

نَوَين نوىً لم يَنوِ نَقضَ عُهودِنا

فغادَرن أنواعَ الدُّموعِ هَوامِلا

فغادَرن أنواعَ الدُّموعِ هَوامِلا

They resolved on a parting not meant to break our pledges,

They intended an intention whose knot separation did not untie,

yet left tears of every kind pouring freely.

So they left behind varieties of flowing tears.

وقَفْنا لتوديعِ الأَحبَّةِ مَوقِفاً

وقَفْنا لتوديعِ الأَحبَّةِ مَوقِفاً

يطولُ علينا أن نَرى منه طَائِلا

يطولُ علينا أن نَرى منه طَائِلا

We took our stand to bid the loved ones farewell;

We stood to bid farewell to loved ones in a stance,

long must we wait to see any gain from it.

So long for us that we will not see any use from it.

وسلَّت ظُبا أسيافِها مُقَلَ الظِّبا

وسلَّت ظُبا أسيافِها مُقَلَ الظِّبا

فلستَ تَرى إلا قتيلاً وقاتِلا

فلستَ تَرى إلا قتيلاً وقاتِلا

The gazelles' eyes unsheathed the blades of their swords,

The gazelles drew their swords, polishing the swords.

so you see only the slain and the slayer.

So you do not see anything but a slain and slayer.

وأغَيَدَ مُهتزِّ القَوامِ كأنّما

وأغَيَدَ مُهتزِّ القَوامِ كأنّما

يَهُزُّ قَضِيباً حين يَهتزُّ مائِلا

يَهُزُّ قَضِيباً حين يَهتزُّ مائِلا

And a supple youth of swaying figure, as though

And the shaking of erect stature sways

he shook a slender branch whenever he swayed and bent,

As if he sways a rod when leaning.

حَباني بطَيفٍ كان عارفةَ الهَوى

حَباني بطَيفٍ كان عارفةَ الهَوى

فعرَّفني شُغلاً عن النَّومِ شاغِلا

فعرَّفني شُغلاً عن النَّومِ شاغِلا

favored me with a dream-visit that was love's kindness,

A specter of one knowing of love tempted me,

and acquainted me with a care that kept me from sleep.

Introducing me to a preoccupation from sleep, occupying.

فإنْ لا أرَ الإلفَ الذي كان آلِفاً

فإنْ لا أرَ الإلفَ الذي كان آلِفاً

هوايَ ولا الشَّملَ الذي كان شامِلا

هوايَ ولا الشَّملَ الذي كان شامِلا

Even if I do not see the beloved who was once devoted to

If I don't see the familiarity which was familiar

my love, nor the fellowship that once united us,

To my love, nor the union which was inclusive,

فكمْ ليلةٍ شمَّرتُ للرَّاح رائحاً

فكمْ ليلةٍ شمَّرتُ للرَّاح رائحاً

وبتُّ لغِزلانِ الصَّريمِ مُغازِلا

وبتُّ لغِزلانِ الصَّريمِ مُغازِلا

how many a night I girded myself and set out for wine,

Then how many a night have I stayed up for the gentle wind, a scent perceiver,

and spent the night courting the gazelles of the sandy tract!

And courted the gazelles of the meadow, a courter.

وَحلَّيتُ كاسي والسماءُ بحَلْيِها

وَحلَّيتُ كاسي والسماءُ بحَلْيِها

فما عُطَّلَت حتَّى بدا الأفقُ عاطِلا

فما عُطَّلَت حتَّى بدا الأفقُ عاطِلا

I adorned my cup while the sky still wore its jewels,

I adorned my goblet, and the sky with its adornment,

and it was not left bare until the horizon itself was bare.

Until it paused not, until the horizon appeared barren.

هيَ البيدُ عاداتُ الرِّكابِ يَبيدُها

هيَ البيدُ عاداتُ الرِّكابِ يَبيدُها

إذا وَصلَت فيها الضُّحى والأصائِلا

إذا وَصلَت فيها الضُّحى والأصائِلا

These are the deserts; the mounts' habitual journeys wear them away,

It is destruction, the ways of travelers are destroyed

when they join forenoon to late afternoons within them,

When the forenoon and the late mornings join them.

إلى مَعْقلِ الجُودِ الذي جُعِلَتْ له

إلى مَعْقلِ الجُودِ الذي جُعِلَتْ له

صُدورُ العوالي والسيوفُ مَعاقِلا

صُدورُ العوالي والسيوفُ مَعاقِلا

toward the stronghold of generosity, for which

To the refuge of generosity, which its lofty breasts

the points of tall lances and swords were made fortresses.

And swords were made its refuges.

تَبسَّمَ برقُ الجوِّ فاختالَ لامِعاً

تَبسَّمَ برقُ الجوِّ فاختالَ لامِعاً

وحلَّ عُقودَ الغَيثِ فارفَضَّ هامِلا

وحلَّ عُقودَ الغَيثِ فارفَضَّ هامِلا

The sky's lightning smiled and strutted, gleaming,

The lightning of atmosphere smiled, gleaming radiantly,

and unfastened the rain's necklaces, so it scattered in showers.

And untied the knots of rain, so it poured heavily.

فقُلت عليٌّ منك أعلَى صَنَائعا

فقُلت عليٌّ منك أعلَى صَنَائعا

إذا ما رجَوناه وأرجَى مَخائِلا

إذا ما رجَوناه وأرجَى مَخائِلا

So I said, 'Ali surpasses you in benefactions,

So I said, “The highest qualities are below you,

when we turn to him in hope, and his signs offer greater hope.'

When we hope for them, and the most hopeful hopes.”

ربيعٌ تولَّى عن ديارِ ربيعةٍ

ربيعٌ تولَّى عن ديارِ ربيعةٍ

وقد ألبسَ النَّورَ الرُّبا والخمائِلا

وقد ألبسَ النَّورَ الرُّبا والخمائِلا

A springtime that departed from Rabi'a's lands,

A spring turned away from Diyar Rabi'ah’s abode,

having clothed the hills and groves in blossoms,

And dressed the hills and meadows with light.

فخيَّمَ في أوطانِ بَكرِ بنِ وائِلٍ

فخيَّمَ في أوطانِ بَكرِ بنِ وائِلٍ

يقابلُ بالنَّعماءِ بَكراً ووائِلا

يقابلُ بالنَّعماءِ بَكراً ووائِلا

then encamped in the lands of Bakr ibn Wa'il,

It pitched its tents in the lands of Bakr bin Wa’il,

greeting Bakr and Wa'il with blessings.

Matching Bakr and Wa’il with bliss.

وطافت رياض المدح حول قبابه

وطافت رياض المدح حول قبابه

فعم رياض المدح طلا ووابلا

فعم رياض المدح طلا ووابلا

Gardens of praise circled his pavilions,

The meadows of praise circled its domes,

so he showered the gardens of praise with drizzle and downpour.

So meadows of praise became filled and pouring.

شمائل لو أني استطعت لفضلها

شمائل لو أني استطعت لفضلها

لحملت شكريها الصبا والشمائلا

لحملت شكريها الصبا والشمائلا

Such virtues! If I could, for their excellence,

Attributes—if I could enumerate its virtues—

I would make the east and north winds carry my thanks for them.

Would carry my gratitude morning and attributes.

وكم مشهد لما اغتدى فيه شاهدا

وكم مشهد لما اغتدى فيه شاهدا

تناول مجدا يعجز المتناولا

تناول مجدا يعجز المتناولا

And on many a battlefield, when he arrived there in the morning,

And how often when witnessing a scene, the witness

he reached a glory beyond any seeker's grasp.

Took endless glory, exhausting the taker,

أفاض به بحرا من الجيش طاميا

أفاض به بحرا من الجيش طاميا

إذا اعترضته العين لم تلق ساحلا

إذا اعترضته العين لم تلق ساحلا

He poured across it a surging sea of troops;

Flowing an abundant sea of army, overwhelming,

when the eye surveyed it, it found no shore.

If the eye intercepts it, it will not find a coast,

بأسد غدت بيض الصوارم في الوغى

بأسد غدت بيض الصوارم في الوغى

وسمر القنا آجامها والجداولا

وسمر القنا آجامها والجداولا

With lions, for whom gleaming swords became, in battle,

With a lion, the white swords in battle became its claws

along with dusky spears, their thickets and streams.

And the spear shafts its fangs and canines.

وخافقة في الجو إن ناجت الصبا

وخافقة في الجو إن ناجت الصبا

حسبتهما فيه محبا وعاذلا

حسبتهما فيه محبا وعاذلا

And a banner fluttering aloft: when it whispers to the east wind,

A fluttering flag in the air if the breeze stirs it,

you would take the pair there for a lover and a reproacher.

You’d think them a lover and reproacher in it.

إذا استعجلت في نطقها الريح بشرت

إذا استعجلت في نطقها الريح بشرت

علي بن عبد الله بالنصر عاجلا

علي بن عبد الله بالنصر عاجلا

When the wind hastens its speech, it brings glad tidings

If the wind competed in moving it, it gave tidings

to Ali ibn Abd Allah of swift victory.

To me of ‘Ali bin 'Abdillah’s quick victory.

فأوضح نهجا كان لولاه دارسا

فأوضح نهجا كان لولاه دارسا

وأطلع سعدا كان لولاه آفلا

وأطلع سعدا كان لولاه آفلا

He made clear a path that, but for him, would have been effaced,

So it clarified an approach that without it was ruined,

and raised good fortune that, but for him, would have set.

And brought out a felicity that without it was bleak.

أرتك ملوك الروم رايات ملكهم

أرتك ملوك الروم رايات ملكهم

فأعملت في الروم الظبا والعواملا

فأعملت في الروم الظبا والعواملا

The kings of the Romans showed you their royal banners,

You let the kings of Rome their kingdom’s banners,

so you set blades and spearshafts to work against the Romans.

So you set the hyenas and vultures to work in Rome.

وقمت مقاما يترك السيف صاعدا

وقمت مقاما يترك السيف صاعدا

إذا ما التقى الصفان والرمح نازلا

إذا ما التقى الصفان والرمح نازلا

You took a stand that kept the sword rising,

And you took a stance the sword leaves ascending

when the two ranks met, and the spear descending.

When the two ranks meet, and the spears descending.

ترى فوقه للطير جيشا مسالما

ترى فوقه للطير جيشا مسالما

إذا الجيش بالخطي كر مقاتلا

إذا الجيش بالخطي كر مقاتلا

Above it you see a peaceable army of birds,

You see above it the birds a peaceful army

as the army charges into combat with Khatti spears.

When the infantry in the valley stirs, battling.

بذلت مصون النفس فيه ولم تزل

بذلت مصون النفس فيه ولم تزل

لنفسك في يوم الكريهة باذلا

لنفسك في يوم الكريهة باذلا

You offered your treasured life there, and have never ceased

You spent your protected soul in it, and did not cease to be

to offer yourself on the day of battle.

For yourself, on the day of hardship, spending.

وسرت إليه تحمل البيض والقنا

وسرت إليه تحمل البيض والقنا

فزفت إليك البيض بيضا عقائلا

فزفت إليك البيض بيضا عقائلا

You advanced upon it, bearing bright swords and spears,

And you went to it bearing bait and spears,

so the bright swords brought you fair, highborn women as brides.

So you sent me the bait as plucked geese.

فكُنتَ سِناناً حين شَمَّرْتَ ماضياً

فكُنتَ سِناناً حين شَمَّرْتَ ماضياً

وكانت عَدِيٌّ كلُّها لك عامِلا

وكانت عَدِيٌّ كلُّها لك عامِلا

You were a keen spearhead when you girded yourself for action,

You were a warrior when you resolutely marched,

and all of Adi was a spearshaft for you.

And all of ‘Adiy was for you operating.

فأوحشْتَ رَبعاً منهُمُ كانَ آنساً

فأوحشْتَ رَبعاً منهُمُ كانَ آنساً

وخلَّيتَ فَجّاً منهُمُ كان آهِلا

وخلَّيتَ فَجّاً منهُمُ كان آهِلا

You made their once-peopled dwelling desolate,

You frightened a quarter of them that was sociable

and emptied of them a pass that had been inhabited.

And emptied a gap among them that was populated.

وأجرَيتَ بالتَّلِّ الدِّماءَ فلو جَرت

وأجرَيتَ بالتَّلِّ الدِّماءَ فلو جَرت

به الخَيْلُ حولاً ما أثَرنَ القَساطِلا

به الخَيْلُ حولاً ما أثَرنَ القَساطِلا

You made blood flow upon the hill; if horses ran

And you made the blood flow in the valleys, so if

over it for a year, they would raise no clouds of dust.

The horses circled it, the waterwheels would not trace it.

لقد أمِنَ الأيَّامَ من كانَ خائفاً

لقد أمِنَ الأيَّامَ من كانَ خائفاً

ونالَ عُرى الآمالِ من كان آمِلا

ونالَ عُرى الآمالِ من كان آمِلا

Indeed, whoever was fearful is now safe from the days,

Whoever was fearful secured the days,

and whoever hoped has grasped the handholds of hope.

And whoever was hopeful obtained the hopes' reigns.

بمُشتمِلٍ بالعَدلِ سُلَّت سيوفُه

بمُشتمِلٍ بالعَدلِ سُلَّت سيوفُه

على الدَّهرِ حتى عادَ في الحُكمِ عادِلا

على الدَّهرِ حتى عادَ في الحُكمِ عادِلا

Through one cloaked in justice, whose swords were drawn

With one clothed in justice, his swords were drawn

against Time until it became just in judgment.

Upon fate, until it returned in ruling, just.

تَحرَّجَ أن يَظْمَا القَنا فأعادَه

تَحرَّجَ أن يَظْمَا القَنا فأعادَه

برُغمِ الأعادي قانئ اللَّونِ ناهِلا

برُغمِ الأعادي قانئ اللَّونِ ناهِلا

He scrupled to let the spears thirst, so he brought them back

It embarrassed the spears to whet, so he returned them,

despite his enemies, crimson-hued and quenched.

Despite the enemies, reddened in color, soaked.

إذا حاولَ الأقرانُ في الرَّوعِ خَتلَه

إذا حاولَ الأقرانُ في الرَّوعِ خَتلَه

أبرَّ عليهِم مُقدِماً لا مُخاتِلا

أبرَّ عليهِم مُقدِماً لا مُخاتِلا

When rival champions tried to deceive him amid battle's terror,

If the peers attempt confusion in it, he refuted them,

he surpassed them by bold advance, not by guile.

Coming forward, not contending.

فلو نَطقَ الدهرُ الذي ليسَ ناطقاً

فلو نَطقَ الدهرُ الذي ليسَ ناطقاً

تَنصَّلَ إذ هَزَّت يداه المَناصِلا

تَنصَّلَ إذ هَزَّت يداه المَناصِلا

If Time, which cannot speak, could speak,

If the fate that is not speaking spoke,

it would plead innocence when his hands brandished the blades.

It would dodge when his hands shook the towels.

سأشكُرُ إنعامَ الامير وفضلَه

سأشكُرُ إنعامَ الامير وفضلَه

فقد ألبساني أنعُماً وفَضائِلا

فقد ألبساني أنعُماً وفَضائِلا

I shall thank the prince's generosity and bounty,

I will thank the Prince for his gift and favor,

for both have clothed me in blessings and distinctions.

Since he dressed me in boons and merits.

غدوتُ وآمالي الظِّماءُ تقودُني

غدوتُ وآمالي الظِّماءُ تقودُني

إلى جُودِ كفَّيهِ فعادَت نواهِلا

إلى جُودِ كفَّيهِ فعادَت نواهِلا

I set out in the morning, my thirsty hopes leading me

I came while my thirsty hopes led me

to the bounty of his two palms, and they returned quenched.

To the generosity of his palms, so they came back sated.

وحلَّيتُ أبكارَ القصائدِ باسمِه

وحلَّيتُ أبكارَ القصائدِ باسمِه

ولولاه أضحَت ثَيِّباتٍ عَواطِلا

ولولاه أضحَت ثَيِّباتٍ عَواطِلا

I adorned the maiden poems with his name;

And I adorned the firsts of poems with his name,

without him they would be no longer virgins, stripped of adornment.

Else they would have become old spinsters.