أُؤَنِّبُ الشَّوقَ فيهِم وهو يَضطَرِمُ

أُؤَنِّبُ الشَّوقَ فيهِم وهو يَضطَرِمُ

وأستَقِلُّ دموعَ العينِ وهي دَمُ

وأستَقِلُّ دموعَ العينِ وهي دَمُ

I rebuke my longing for them while it blazes,

I chide longing in them though it flares,

and deem the eye's tears too few, though they are blood.

And deem my tears restrainable while they flow.

للهِ أيُّ شُموسٍ منهُمُ غَرَبَتْ

للهِ أيُّ شُموسٍ منهُمُ غَرَبَتْ

بِغُرَّبٍ وبدورٍ ضَمَّها إِضَمُ

بِغُرَّبٍ وبدورٍ ضَمَّها إِضَمُ

By God, what suns of theirs have set

By God, how many suns among them have set

at Ghurrab, and what full moons Idam has embraced!

With loss, and homes demure they drew together!

بِيضٌ تُخبِّرُ عنها البِيضُ لامِعَةً

بِيضٌ تُخبِّرُ عنها البِيضُ لامِعَةً

بأنَّهنَّ نَعيمٌ دونَه نَقَمُ

بأنَّهنَّ نَعيمٌ دونَه نَقَمُ

Fair women, of whom the gleaming swords proclaim

The white ones tell of them glittering

that they are bliss, with vengeance barring the way.

That they are a bliss beyond which lies woe.

أَهْدَتْ لهُنَّ على خَوْفٍ إشارَتَنا

أَهْدَتْ لهُنَّ على خَوْفٍ إشارَتَنا

تَحِيَّةً رَدَّها العُنَّابُ والعَنَمُ

تَحِيَّةً رَدَّها العُنَّابُ والعَنَمُ

Our gesture, in fear, offered them

They gave our greeting despite trepidation

a greeting returned by jujubes and red 'anam berries.

A salutation the lote-tree and wild thyme returned.

هيَ الظِّباءُ ولي من رَبعِها حَرَمٌ

هيَ الظِّباءُ ولي من رَبعِها حَرَمٌ

وهيَ الشِّفاءُ ولي من لَحْظِها سَقَمُ

وهيَ الشِّفاءُ ولي من لَحْظِها سَقَمُ

They are gazelles, and their dwelling is my sanctuary;

They are the gazelles, and I have a preserve of their vale,

they are healing, yet their glance brings me sickness.

And they are healing, and I have sickness from their glance.

سُقْيا المحبِّينَ من أَهلِ الحمى ظَمأ

سُقْيا المحبِّينَ من أَهلِ الحمى ظَمأ

بَرْحٌ وسُقياهُ من أَجفانِها دِيَمُ

بَرْحٌ وسُقياهُ من أَجفانِها دِيَمُ

The lovers' drink from the sanctuary's people is thirst—

Watering lovers among the fevered is kindness,

agonizing thirst; the sanctuary drinks steady rain from their eyelids.

And watering them from their lids everlasting.

وما تَحَكَّمَ في دارٍ فِراقُهُمُ

وما تَحَكَّمَ في دارٍ فِراقُهُمُ

إلا غَدَتْ في دموعِ العَيْنِ تَحتَكِمُ

إلا غَدَتْ في دموعِ العَيْنِ تَحتَكِمُ

Their departure has never ruled a dwelling

Nothing in a house of their loss

without that dwelling gaining command of the eye's tears.

Has authority but tears adjudicate.

سَلِمْتَ ما فَعَلَتْ غِزْلانُ ذي سَلَمٍ

سَلِمْتَ ما فَعَلَتْ غِزْلانُ ذي سَلَمٍ

إذا الكِناسُ الذي حلَّتْ به سَلَمُ

إذا الكِناسُ الذي حلَّتْ به سَلَمُ

May you be safe! How have the gazelles of Dhu Salam fared,

To what the deer in a terrain of peace have done, submit:

when Salam is the covert in which they settled?

When it harbors the wayside booth, peace and the booth spend the night

يُمْسي به الحُسْنُ والإِحْسانُ في قَرَنٍ

يُمْسي به الحُسْنُ والإِحْسانُ في قَرَنٍ

ويُصبحُ الخِيمُ في مَعناه والخِيَمُ

ويُصبحُ الخِيمُ في مَعناه والخِيَمُ

There beauty and kindness spend the evening yoked together,

Side by side, and dawn reveals meaning and the tent.

and at dawn, character and tents alike embody its meaning.

You came pouring down lightning, bringing thunder,

جَادَتْكَ مُذهَبَةٌ بالبَرْقِ مُجلِبَةٌ

جَادَتْكَ مُذهَبَةٌ بالبَرْقِ مُجلِبَةٌ

بالرَّعْدِ تَربَدُّ أحياناً وتَبتَسِمُ

بالرَّعْدِ تَربَدُّ أحياناً وتَبتَسِمُ

May a cloud shower you, gilded with lightning and clamorous

Smiling at times, at times frosty.

with thunder, darkening at times and smiling.

As if along with the south winds they eschew you,

كأنَّها وجُنوبُ الرِّيحِ تَجنُبُها

كأنَّها وجُنوبُ الرِّيحِ تَجنُبُها

بحرٌ يَسُدُّ فَضاءَ الجوِّ مُلتَطِمُ

بحرٌ يَسُدُّ فَضاءَ الجوِّ مُلتَطِمُ

As though, with the south wind driving it,

A sea blocking the sky’s expanse, turbulent,

it were a surging sea filling the expanse of the sky.

Of those at whose smiles earth says that through them,

منَ اللَّواتي تقولُ الأرضُ إنْ بسَمَتْ

منَ اللَّواتي تقولُ الأرضُ إنْ بسَمَتْ

هَذي الحياةُ التي يَحيا بها النَّسَمُ

هَذي الحياةُ التي يَحيا بها النَّسَمُ

One of those at whose smile the earth says,

This life by which the zephyr lives is possible,

'This is the life by which living souls live.'

As if, when they turned away to leave,

كأنَّها إذ توَلَّتْ وهيَ مُقْلِعَةٌ

كأنَّها إذ توَلَّتْ وهيَ مُقْلِعَةٌ

جَيْشُ العَدوِّ تولَّى وهو مُنهَزِمُ

جَيْشُ العَدوِّ تولَّى وهو مُنهَزِمُ

As though, when it turned away and ceased its rain,

The ranks of the foe turned in defeat,

it were the enemy's army retreating in defeat.

Their protectors’ cheeks turned upwards

عادَتْ حُماتُهُمُ سُفْعاً خُدودُهمُ

عادَتْ حُماتُهُمُ سُفْعاً خُدودُهمُ

كأنَّما سَفَعَتْ أبشارَها الحُمَمُ

كأنَّما سَفَعَتْ أبشارَها الحُمَمُ

Their defenders returned with blackened cheeks,

As if their good news raised the redness.

as though embers had scorched their skin.

They bolted, and the white hands of Ibn ‘Abdallah’s descendants appealed to them

وَلَّتْ وبِيضُ ابنِ عبدِ اللهِ تَنشُدُها

وَلَّتْ وبِيضُ ابنِ عبدِ اللهِ تَنشُدُها

كالطَّيْرِ رَوَّعَها من بارقٍ ضَرَمُ

كالطَّيْرِ رَوَّعَها من بارقٍ ضَرَمُ

They fled, while Ibn Abd Allah's bright swords pursued them,

Like birds a sudden lightning has terrified.

like birds terrified by a lightning cloud's blaze.

With valor and resolve you quenched their fire

أطفأْتَ بالكَرِّ والإِقدامِ نارَهُمُ

أطفأْتَ بالكَرِّ والإِقدامِ نارَهُمُ

وقبلُ كانتْ على الإسلامِ تَضطَرِمُ

وقبلُ كانتْ على الإسلامِ تَضطَرِمُ

With charges and bold advance you quenched their fire,

When before it was consuming Islam.

which had previously blazed against Islam.

With well-honed swords you drove them from a land

دَفَعْتَهم بِغِرارِ السَّيفِ عن بَلَدٍ

دَفَعْتَهم بِغِرارِ السَّيفِ عن بَلَدٍ

رَحْبٍ تَدافَعَ فيه سَيْلُكَ العَرِمُ

رَحْبٍ تَدافَعَ فيه سَيْلُكَ العَرِمُ

With the sword's edge you drove them from a land—

Spacious your torrents coursed in it.

spacious, through which your raging flood surged.

So their insolence this day is beyond the sea

فأصبَحَتْ من وراءِ اليَمِّ شَوْكَتُهم

فأصبَحَتْ من وراءِ اليَمِّ شَوْكَتُهم

وهمْ من البِيضِ إن جرَّدْتَها أُمَمُ

وهمْ من البِيضِ إن جرَّدْتَها أُمَمُ

Thus their might came to lie beyond the sea,

While bereft of the white hands, they are nations.

yet they are within reach of the bright swords, if you draw them.

With spears between which and their extremities

غَشِيتَهُم برماحٍ ليسَ بينَهُمُ

غَشِيتَهُم برماحٍ ليسَ بينَهُمُ

وبينَ أطرافِها إلٌّ ولا ذِمَمُ

وبينَ أطرافِها إلٌّ ولا ذِمَمُ

You assailed them with spears; between them

Is no weak spot, you overwhelmed them.

and the spearpoints there is neither kinship nor covenant.

And you attained their strongest fortress and most distant,

ونِلْتَ أَمنعَهُم حِصْناً وأبعَدَهم

ونِلْتَ أَمنعَهُم حِصْناً وأبعَدَهم

فليسَ تَعصِمُهُمْ من بأسِكَ العِصَمُ

فليسَ تَعصِمُهُمْ من بأسِكَ العِصَمُ

You reached the strongest-fortified and remotest among them,

So no pact will protect them from your might.

so no defenses can shield them from your might.

The commander among them has been gripped

وباتَ ذو الأمرِ منهُمْ قد أَلَمَّ بهِ

وباتَ ذو الأمرِ منهُمْ قد أَلَمَّ بهِ

من خَوْفِ إلمامِكَ المُؤذي به لَمَمُ

من خَوْفِ إلمامِكَ المُؤذي به لَمَمُ

Their ruler spent the night beset

By fear of your disturbing imamate’s encroachment,

by madness, fearing your ruinous descent upon him.

In his breast by missives terrified—and terror

تَروعُ أحشاءَهُ بالكُتْبِ وَهْوَ لَهَا

تَروعُ أحشاءَهُ بالكُتْبِ وَهْوَ لَهَا

خَوفُ الرَّدى ورجاءُ السِّلمِ مُستَلِمُ

خَوفُ الرَّدى ورجاءُ السِّلمِ مُستَلِمُ

With letters you terrify his vitals, and to them he

Of doom and hope of peace are promiscuous in him.

submits, in fear of death and hope of peace.

He drinks water only with a gulp of dread

لا يَشرَبُ الماءَ إلا غَصَّ من حَذَرٍ

لا يَشرَبُ الماءَ إلا غَصَّ من حَذَرٍ

ولا يُهَوِّمُ إلا راعَهُ الحُلُمُ

ولا يُهَوِّمُ إلا راعَهُ الحُلُمُ

He drinks no water without choking from fear,

And slumbers only when prudence seizes him.

nor dozes without a dream terrifying him.

God is your ally, the spears your neighbors,

اللهُ جارُكَ والارماحُ جائِرَةٌ

اللهُ جارُكَ والارماحُ جائِرَةٌ

والبِيضُ تأخُذُ من ألوانِها اللَّممُ

والبِيضُ تأخُذُ من ألوانِها اللَّممُ

God is your protector while the spears run wild,

And the white hands seize every color of banners,

and locks of hair borrow the bright swords' colors.

While the streamers of darkness still eyes in its gloom,

والنَّقْعُ لَيْلٌ يَكُفُّ الطَّرْفَ غَيهَبُه

والنَّقْعُ لَيْلٌ يَكُفُّ الطَّرْفَ غَيهَبُه

والُمرهَفاتُ كقَرْنِ الشَّمْسِ تَزْدَحِمُ

والُمرهَفاتُ كقَرْنِ الشَّمْسِ تَزْدَحِمُ

The dust is night, its darkness shutting out the gaze,

And the upright and shining ones throng like the spearpoints of a sun.

and keen blades throng like the sun's rim.

Through your help, Islam now has one fast in his refuge,

أَضْحى بِنَجْدَتِكَ الإسْلامُ مُعْتَصِماً

أَضْحى بِنَجْدَتِكَ الإسْلامُ مُعْتَصِماً

وأنتَ باللهِ والهِنديِّ مُعْتَصِمُ

وأنتَ باللهِ والهِنديِّ مُعْتَصِمُ

Through your valor, Islam has found protection,

While you in God and the Indian are sheltered.

while you find protection in God and the Indian sword.

You hurl the spear whose deathblows therein crouch,

تُزجي القَنا والمَنايا فيه كامنةٌ

تُزجي القَنا والمَنايا فيه كامنةٌ

فتَحطِمُ الشِّرْكَ أحياناً وَينحَطِمُ

فتَحطِمُ الشِّرْكَ أحياناً وَينحَطِمُ

You urge the spears onward, with death lurking within them;

So disbelief you shatter on occasion and it shatters.

they sometimes shatter polytheism, and are themselves shattered.

Marvel how when it summons him to battle

أَعْجِبْ بهِ حينَ يَدعوهُ لمَلْحَمَةٍ

أَعْجِبْ بهِ حينَ يَدعوهُ لمَلْحَمَةٍ

أَصَمُّ ليسَ به من دَعْوَةٍ صَمَمُ

أَصَمُّ ليسَ به من دَعْوَةٍ صَمَمُ

Marvel at him when he is summoned to battle

Deaf he is—no call makes an impression on him!

by a deaf one that is deaf to no summons.

As if along with its lofty dunes, its battlefield brims

كأنَّها والعَوالي مِلءُ ساحَتِها

كأنَّها والعَوالي مِلءُ ساحَتِها

مَغارِسُ الخَطِّ فيها للقَنا أَجَمُ

مَغارِسُ الخَطِّ فيها للقَنا أَجَمُ

As though, with lofty spears filling its arena,

With pens—for spears, special preserves therein.

it were al-Khatt's plantations, with thickets of spear-shafts.

So the raid proceeds orderly and the spoils divided

فالغَزْوُ مُنْتَظِمٌ والفَيء مُقْتَسَمٌ

فالغَزْوُ مُنْتَظِمٌ والفَيء مُقْتَسَمٌ

والدِّينُ مُبْتَسِمٌ والشِّرْكُ مُصْطَلَمُ

والدِّينُ مُبْتَسِمٌ والشِّرْكُ مُصْطَلَمُ

So warfare is well ordered, and the spoils apportioned,

While the religion smiles and paganism is subdued.

the faith is smiling, and polytheism is uprooted.

O questioner, ask of Ali, what his traits were:

يا سلئلي عن عليٍّ كَيفَ شِيمَتُهُ

يا سلئلي عن عليٍّ كَيفَ شِيمَتُهُ

أنظُرْ إلى الشُّكْرِ مَقْروناً به النِّعَمُ

أنظُرْ إلى الشُّكْرِ مَقْروناً به النِّعَمُ

O you who ask me what Ali's character is,

Look to gratitude joined in him with favors!

look at gratitude, with blessings joined to it.

A praise that makes Zuhair avert his eyes

مَدْحٌ يَغُضُّ زُهَيْرٌ عنه ناظِرَه

مَدْحٌ يَغُضُّ زُهَيْرٌ عنه ناظِرَه

ونائلٌ يَتوارَى عِنْدَهُ هَرِمُ

ونائلٌ يَتوارَى عِنْدَهُ هَرِمُ

Praise that makes Zuhayr lower his gaze,

And a gainer that peaks of glory near him decline.

and bounty before which Harim hides himself.

A bestower who frees with honor his hands

وباسطٌ يَدَه بالعُرْفِ مُطلِقُها

وباسطٌ يَدَه بالعُرْفِ مُطلِقُها

بالحَتْفِ يُنعِمُ أحياناً وَينتَقمُ

بالحَتْفِ يُنعِمُ أحياناً وَينتَقمُ

He extends his hand in kindness, and lets it loose

Who at times enriches through bounty, at times through vengeance.

with death; at times he bestows favor and takes vengeance.

A shearer, like God’s house, whom the Arabs and non-Arabs recognize

مُشَهَّرٌ مثلُ بيتِ اللهِ تَعرِفُه

مُشَهَّرٌ مثلُ بيتِ اللهِ تَعرِفُه

بِفَضْلِ ما ذاعَ عنه العُرْبُ والعَجَمُ

بِفَضْلِ ما ذاعَ عنه العُرْبُ والعَجَمُ

Renowned like God's House, he is recognized

Through the overwhelming merits voiced of him.

by Arabs and non-Arabs through the merits told of him.

If dawn gleams, it is the rising sun,

إذا بَدا الصبحُ فهو الشَّمسُ طالِعةً

إذا بَدا الصبحُ فهو الشَّمسُ طالِعةً

وإن دَجَى اللَّيلُ فهو النارُ والعَلَمُ

وإن دَجَى اللَّيلُ فهو النارُ والعَلَمُ

When dawn appears, he is the rising sun,

And if night falls, it is the lamp and the standard.

and when night grows dark, he is the fire and the landmark.

No encomiast lends him an attribute,

لا يَستعيرُ له المُدَّاحُ مَنقَبَةً

لا يَستعيرُ له المُدَّاحُ مَنقَبَةً

ولا يقولون فيه غيرَ ما عَلِموا

ولا يقولون فيه غيرَ ما عَلِموا

His praise-poets borrow no virtue for him,

Nor do they say of him other than what they knew.

nor say of him anything but what they know.

He saw magnanimity as a strong, towering quality, so he aspired to it,

رأى السَّماحَ فطيماً فاشرَأَبَّ له

رأى السَّماحَ فطيماً فاشرَأَبَّ له

وخيرُهُم مَنْ رَآه وهو مُحتَلِمُ

وخيرُهُم مَنْ رَآه وهو مُحتَلِمُ

He saw generosity as a weanling and craned his neck toward it,

And the best of them is he who saw him when he came of age.

while the best of them saw it upon reaching manhood.

Openhanded to his hopeful ones in the shade of his mercy

رَحبٌ على آمليهِ ظِلُّ رَحْمَتِهِ

رَحبٌ على آمليهِ ظِلُّ رَحْمَتِهِ

وليسَ بينَهُمُ قُربَى ولا رَحِمُ

وليسَ بينَهُمُ قُربَى ولا رَحِمُ

The shade of his mercy spreads wide over those who hope in him,

Though neither blood kin nor womb-kin exist between them.

though no kinship or blood tie joins them.

His hands encompass when vitality encompasses a land—

عَمَّتْ أياديه إذا عَمَّ الحَيا بلداً

عَمَّتْ أياديه إذا عَمَّ الحَيا بلداً

إنَّ التي عَمَّتِ الدُّنيا هي الكَرَمُ

إنَّ التي عَمَّتِ الدُّنيا هي الكَرَمُ

His favors reach everywhere when rain reaches a land;

For those that encompass the world are bounty.

what encompasses the whole world is generosity.

We care not, when we profit through his rainwater,

فما نبالي إذا فُزْنا بِديمَتِهِ

فما نبالي إذا فُزْنا بِديمَتِهِ

أن يُمْسَكَ الغَيْثُ أو أن تَهلِكَ الدِّيَمُ

أن يُمْسَكَ الغَيْثُ أو أن تَهلِكَ الدِّيَمُ

If we gain his steady rain, we do not care

Whether the rain withholds or whether the ponds dry up.

whether rain is withheld or the steady showers perish.

He is life and riches however his aspect changes,

هو الحَيا والغِنى ما انهَلَّ عارِضُه

هو الحَيا والغِنى ما انهَلَّ عارِضُه

وهو الرَّدَى ما ارتدى بالسَّيفِ والعَدَمُ

وهو الرَّدَى ما ارتدى بالسَّيفِ والعَدَمُ

He is rain and wealth whenever his raincloud pours,

And he is loss however the sword and end rebuff.

and death and destitution whenever he girds on his sword.

He cast the cross and the cross’ sons, and they were not

رمى الصَّليبَ وأبناءَ الصَّليبِ فلم

رمى الصَّليبَ وأبناءَ الصَّليبِ فلم

تُغْمَدْ صَوارِمُه إلاّ وهُم رِمَمُ

تُغْمَدْ صَوارِمُه إلاّ وهُم رِمَمُ

He struck the Cross and the children of the Cross; never

Sheathed, his blades, but they were shattered.

were his keen swords sheathed until his foes lay as rotting remains.

In scabbards the blades deny them sheathed

بالِبيضِ تُنْكِرُها الأغمادُ مُغمَدَةً

بالِبيضِ تُنْكِرُها الأغمادُ مُغمَدَةً

والجُرْدِ تَعرِفُها الغِيطانُ والأَكَمُ

والجُرْدِ تَعرِفُها الغِيطانُ والأَكَمُ

With bright swords the scabbards do not recognize when sheathed,

While the hilts—deserts and thickets recognize them bared.

and sleek steeds known to the hollows and hillocks.

Bound round their waists, his apologetic airs are not removed,

لا تُخلَعُ العُذْرُ عنها عندَ أَوْبَتِها

لا تُخلَعُ العُذْرُ عنها عندَ أَوْبَتِها

ولا تُنَفَّسُ عن أَوساطِها الحُزُمُ

ولا تُنَفَّسُ عن أَوساطِها الحُزُمُ

Their bridle-straps are not removed on their return,

Nor are their burdens eased from their middles.

nor are the girths loosened from their middles.

As if created for war, saddled

كأنَّما نُتِجَتْ للحَربِ مُسرَجَةً

كأنَّما نُتِجَتْ للحَربِ مُسرَجَةً

مُرَكَّباتٍ على أفواهِها اللُّجُمُ

مُرَكَّباتٍ على أفواهِها اللُّجُمُ

As though they were foaled for war already saddled,

Were his steeds frothing at the bit.

with bits fitted to their mouths.

O defender of the faith, the faith is held secure

يا صارِمَ الدينِ إنَّ الدِّينَ قد عَلِقَتْ

يا صارِمَ الدينِ إنَّ الدِّينَ قد عَلِقَتْ

كَفَّاهُ منك بِحَبْلٍ ليسَ يَنصَرِمُ

كَفَّاهُ منك بِحَبْلٍ ليسَ يَنصَرِمُ

O cutting sword of the faith! The faith has clung,

By your palms with a bond no rending frays.

with both its hands, to a rope from you that never breaks.

I apprehend your pardon, knowing well

أَشِيمُ عَفْوَكَ عِلْماً أنْ ستَنْشُرُه

أَشِيمُ عَفْوَكَ عِلْماً أنْ ستَنْشُرُه

عَليَّ تلك السَّجايا الغُرُّ والشِّيَمُ

عَليَّ تلك السَّجايا الغُرُّ والشِّيَمُ

I watch for your pardon, knowing it will be spread

Those natural dispositions of pride and forbearance will unfold upon me.

over me by those radiant qualities and dispositions.

My turning away was a crime with no atonement in my eyes,

كَانَ انصرافَي جُرْماً لا كِفاءَ له

كَانَ انصرافَي جُرْماً لا كِفاءَ له

عندي وأيُّ لَبيبٍ ليسَ يَجتَرِمُ

عندي وأيُّ لَبيبٍ ليسَ يَجتَرِمُ

My departure was an offense without equal

And what sensible being is there who does not sin?

in my eyes; yet what wise man commits no wrong?

An opinion went awry with a stumble

رَأْيٌ هَفَا هَفْوَةً زَلَّتْ لها قَدَمي

رَأْيٌ هَفَا هَفْوَةً زَلَّتْ لها قَدَمي

وما هَفا الرأيُ إلاّ زَلَّتِ القَدَمُ

وما هَفا الرأيُ إلاّ زَلَّتِ القَدَمُ

A judgment went astray, a lapse through which my foot slipped;

For which my feet slipped, and nothing but feet’s slipping makes opinion deviate.

judgment never strays without the foot slipping.

It was a coercion that removed freewill, and does one

هو اضطِرارٌ أزالَ الاختيارَ وهَل

هو اضطِرارٌ أزالَ الاختيارَ وهَل

يَختارُ ذو اللُّبِّ ما يُرْدي وما يَصِمُ

يَختارُ ذو اللُّبِّ ما يُرْدي وما يَصِمُ

It was compulsion that removed choice; and would

With mind elect what debases and what is resolute?

a man of reason choose what ruins and disgraces him?

How can the thirsty one deliberately bypass his watering-place

وكيفَ يَجتَنِبُ الظَّمآنُ مَورِدَهُ

وكيفَ يَجتَنِبُ الظَّمآنُ مَورِدَهُ

عَمْداً إذا راحَ وهو البارِدُ الشَّبِمُ

عَمْداً إذا راحَ وهو البارِدُ الشَّبِمُ

And how could a thirsty man avoid his watering-place

If he goes, parched and arid?

deliberately, when he goes there and it is cool and icy?

Pardon, for were my heart split open from its page

صَفْحاً فلو شُقَّ قلبي عن صَحيفَتِه

صَفْحاً فلو شُقَّ قلبي عن صَحيفَتِه

لَظَلَّ يُقْرَأُ منه الخوفُ والنَّدَمُ

لَظَلَّ يُقْرَأُ منه الخوفُ والنَّدَمُ

Pardon me! Were my heart split open to reveal its page,

Fear and regret would continue to be read therein.

fear and remorse would remain there to be read.

To you they came like a necklace whose arranger

جاءَتك كالعِقْدِ لا تُزْري بِنَاظِمِها

جاءَتك كالعِقْدِ لا تُزْري بِنَاظِمِها

حُسناً وتُزْري بما قالوا وما نَظَمُوا

حُسناً وتُزْري بما قالوا وما نَظَمُوا

It has come to you like a necklace, not shaming the one who strung it

Does no good, though you have done good in what you recited and composed.

in beauty, yet shaming what they have said and composed.

For poetry is like a garden, this part dark, that fresh,

والشِّعْرُ كالرَّوْضِ ذا ظامٍ وذا خَضِلٌ

والشِّعْرُ كالرَّوْضِ ذا ظامٍ وذا خَضِلٌ

وكالصَّوارمِ ذا نابٍ وذا خَذِمُ

وكالصَّوارمِ ذا نابٍ وذا خَذِمُ

Poetry is like a garden: this part parched, that part lush;

Or like swords—this side keen, that side blunt.

and like cutting blades: this one blunt, that one keen.

Or like spear-hafts, this one’s lot a bending,

أو كالعَرانينِ هذا حَظُّهُ خَنَسٌ

أو كالعَرانينِ هذا حَظُّهُ خَنَسٌ

مُزْرٍ عليه وهذا حظُّه شَمَمُ

مُزْرٍ عليه وهذا حظُّه شَمَمُ

Or like noses: this one's lot is snubness,

Disgraced, and that one’s portion bold and straight.

which mars it, while that one's lot is a lofty bridge.