طالَ عهدُ الصَّب فادَّكَرا

طالَ عهدُ الصَّب فادَّكَرا

واستهلّت عينُه دِرَرا

واستهلّت عينُه دِرَرا

Long grew the lover's time apart, and he remembered,

Long has been the time of patience, so let us remember,

and his eye began to pour pearls:

His eyes began to shed tears,

عَبَرات يَستدّرُّ بها

عَبَرات يَستدّرُّ بها

زفراتٍ ترتمي شَرَرا

زفراتٍ ترتمي شَرَرا

tears with which he draws forth

Sighs that draw out

sighs that fly like sparks,

Sparks of lamentation.

لخيال من هَواك عَرا

لخيال من هَواك عَرا

وخيالٍ من لديك سرَى

وخيالٍ من لديك سرَى

for a phantom of love for you that came upon him,

A fantasy of love for you

and a phantom that traveled by night from your side.

And a fantasy of one who confided in you,

ملك الحبُّ عزائمنا

ملك الحبُّ عزائمنا

لم يدعَ سمعاً ولا بَصَرا

لم يدعَ سمعاً ولا بَصَرا

Love took possession of our resolves,

The king of love commanded our determination;

leaving neither hearing nor sight.

He left no hearing or sight.

فرقةُ الأحباب تاركة

فرقةُ الأحباب تاركة

للهوى في قلبه أثَرا

للهوى في قلبه أثَرا

Parting from loved ones leaves

The separation of loved ones leaving

a trace of love in his heart.

In the heart an effect of passion

ومواثيقُ الأحبة لم

ومواثيقُ الأحبة لم

يُحدث البعدُ لها غِيَرا

يُحدث البعدُ لها غِيَرا

And the pledges of loved ones have not

And the covenants of loved ones,

been changed by distance.

Distance did not change them.

من حبيبٍ لا أبوح به

من حبيبٍ لا أبوح به

لم أجد لي عنه مُصطَبَرا

لم أجد لي عنه مُصطَبَرا

From a beloved whom I do not name,

Of a loved one I do not speak of

I have found no patience for being without him.

I did not find in him disloyalty,

أتناسى ويجدّدُ لي

أتناسى ويجدّدُ لي

وعرفنا بعدَه السّهَرا

وعرفنا بعدَه السّهَرا

I try to forget, and he renews it for me;

I forget and he renews for me,

and in his absence we came to know sleeplessness.

And we knew through his absence wakefulness.

لم يزل يخلُطُ متعبُنا

لم يزل يخلُطُ متعبُنا

بالبكا قبل النّوى حذَرا

بالبكا قبل النّوى حذَرا

Our tormentor never ceased to mingle

He did not cease to mix our weariness

fear with weeping, before parting.

With weeping before drowsiness caution.

إن يوم البين أعجلنا

إن يوم البين أعجلنا

ما قضينا في الهوى وَطَرا

ما قضينا في الهوى وَطَرا

Indeed, the day of parting hurried us away;

If the day of separation hurried us

we had not fulfilled our desire in love.

We did not fulfill in passion and infatuation.

لو يَعود الوصل ثانيةً

لو يَعود الوصل ثانيةً

لاقتضينا منه ما غَبَرا

لاقتضينا منه ما غَبَرا

If union returned once more,

If reunion comes again

we would claim from it what remained,

We will take from it what was missed

وأخذنا بالعهود على

وأخذنا بالعهود على

من أتى بالعذر لا غَدرا

من أتى بالعذر لا غَدرا

and we would exact pledges from

And we will make covenants upon

the one who came with an excuse, not treachery.

One who came with excuses, not betrayal.

ليت شعري حين عاتبه

ليت شعري حين عاتبه

عنّي الطّيفُ بما اعتذَرَا

عنّي الطّيفُ بما اعتذَرَا

Would that I knew, when he was reproached

I wish I knew when the specter

by the phantom on my behalf, what excuse he gave.

Reproached me for my apology,

إنْ أصَحَّ الوصل توبته

إنْ أصَحَّ الوصل توبته

كانَ ذنب البين مغتَفَرَا

كانَ ذنب البين مغتَفَرَا

If reunion proved his repentance sincere,

If reunion's repentance was true

the sin of separation would be forgiven.

The sin of separation is forgiven.

وعهدنا الدَّارَ عامِرةً

وعهدنا الدَّارَ عامِرةً

ومحلَّ الَّلهو معتَمَرَا

ومحلَّ الَّلهو معتَمَرَا

And we knew the dwelling when it flourished,

And we made the house prosperous

and the place of pleasure thronged with visitors.

And the place of play active,

وتَصيّدنا جآذرَها

وتَصيّدنا جآذرَها

بين أسنان الصِّبا خُمرَا

بين أسنان الصِّبا خُمرَا

And we hunted its wild-cow calves,

And we hunted its edges

concealed, amid the years of youth.

With the teeth of youth and wine.

ولقد نقطع لَيلتَنا

ولقد نقطع لَيلتَنا

باعتناق الحبّ أو سَمَرَا

باعتناق الحبّ أو سَمَرَا

And indeed we would pass our night

And we used to split our night

embracing the beloved, or in evening talk.

With embracing passion or conversation,

ولقد نغدو على مُلحٍ

ولقد نغدو على مُلحٍ

في بطالات الصّبا بُكَرَا

في بطالات الصّبا بُكَرَا

And indeed we would set out for delights

And we used to have sweet in the morning

early, amid youth's idle frolics.

In the youth’s playfulness.

بين أيّام الرّبيع وقد

بين أيّام الرّبيع وقد

بسطت فوق الثّرى حِبَرَا

بسطت فوق الثّرى حِبَرَا

In the days of spring, when

Amongst spring days that

they had spread brocades over the soil.

Spread papers on the ground,

علّها الطَّلُّ ورقرَقها

علّها الطَّلُّ ورقرَقها

بَردُ أنفاس الصَّبا سَحَرَا

بَردُ أنفاس الصَّبا سَحَرَا

Dew watered it, and it was made to shimmer by

Dew dyed it and its twinkling

the cool breaths of the east wind at dawn.

With the breath of youth's magic,

فاكتَسى بالنّبت ظاهِرُها

فاكتَسى بالنّبت ظاهِرُها

وتحلّى النّورَ والزَّهَرا

وتحلّى النّورَ والزَّهَرا

So its surface clothed itself in vegetation,

So its exterior was clothed in vegetation

and adorned itself with blossoms and flowers.

And adorned with light and flowers.

وغدا الفتيان في مَلحٍ

وغدا الفتيان في مَلحٍ

يَتعاطونَ بها السُّكُرَا

يَتعاطونَ بها السُّكُرَا

And the youths went forth amid delights,

And the youths had sweetness

indulging there in intoxication.

Indulging in it intoxication,

فلهونا ثم ألزمنا

فلهونا ثم ألزمنا

شيبُنا عن وردها صَدَرا

شيبُنا عن وردها صَدَرا

So we made merry; then we were compelled by

So we sported, then committed

our gray hair to leave its watering-place.

Our whiteness from its roses.

أعرضت عنّا الكواعب مُذْ

أعرضت عنّا الكواعب مُذْ

رأتِ الأعلام والكِبَرا

رأتِ الأعلام والكِبَرا

The budding-breasted maidens turned away from us when

The charmers turned away from us when

they saw the signs and old age.

They saw the banners and old age,

فانثنينا نبتغي سبباً

فانثنينا نبتغي سبباً

في اكتساب الرّزق مختَبَرا

في اكتساب الرّزق مختَبَرا

So we turned aside, seeking a means

So we turned seeking a reason

proven for earning a livelihood.

To earn provision through experience.

قلَّ ما حاوَلَ مقتصِدٌ

قلَّ ما حاوَلَ مقتصِدٌ

حسنُ التدبير فافتَقَرا

حسنُ التدبير فافتَقَرا

Rarely has a thrifty man striven,

Rarely did a manager try

with sound management, only to fall into poverty.

Good planning and become poor,

وإذا المحرومُ أقعده

وإذا المحرومُ أقعده

عن غنىً عجزٌ شكا القدَرا

عن غنىً عجزٌ شكا القدَرا

And when a luckless man is held back

And when the deprived sits

from wealth by inability, he complains of fate.

From wealth, inability complains of fate.

وأبو عبد الإله لَنا

وأبو عبد الإله لَنا

راح عوناً واغتذى وَزَرا

راح عوناً واغتذى وَزَرا

And Abu Abd al-Ilah, for us,

And Abu Abdullah is for us

became a helper and took nourishment as a refuge [unclear wording].

A helper's rest, and carried burdens.

سُحُبٌ من كَفّهِ وَكَفت

سُحُبٌ من كَفّهِ وَكَفت

وكُفينا السّيرَ والسَّفَرا

وكُفينا السّيرَ والسَّفَرا

Clouds poured rain from his palm,

Clouds from his palm

and we were spared wayfaring and travel.

And palm trees shaded us from journeying and travel.

ورتّعنا في حدائقه

ورتّعنا في حدائقه

فحمدنا الظَّلَّ والثَمَرا

فحمدنا الظَّلَّ والثَمَرا

And he let us graze in his gardens,

And we grazed in his gardens

so we praised the shade and the fruit.

So we praised the shade and fruit.

بأبي عبد الإله نَما

بأبي عبد الإله نَما

مَنبت المعروفِ وازْدَهَرا

مَنبت المعروفِ وازْدَهَرا

Through Abu Abd al-Ilah grew

With my father Abdullah we grew

the seedbed of kindness, and it blossomed.

The place of favors and it flourished.

ومحل الفضل يعمُره

ومحل الفضل يعمُره

طولُ عُمر بن أبي عُمَرا

طولُ عُمر بن أبي عُمَرا

And the abode of excellence is kept flourishing by

The place of virtue he inhabits,

the long life of Ibn Abi Umar.

Length of age of the son of Abu Omara.

وهو المونةُ تهطلُ من

وهو المونةُ تهطلُ من

ذهبٍ أو ورَقٍ مطَرا

ذهبٍ أو ورَقٍ مطَرا

And he is sustenance, pouring down in

He is the stucco dripping from

a rain of gold or silver.

Gold or sheets of rain.

وهو السَّيد طاعتُه

وهو السَّيد طاعتُه

إن نَهى فرضٌ وإن أمَرا

إن نَهى فرضٌ وإن أمَرا

And he is the lord; obedience to him,

And he is the master whom obedience

whether he forbids or commands, is obligatory.

Is an obligation if he forbids and commands.

وهو البحر غواربُهُ

وهو البحر غواربُهُ

تَقذف الدُّرَ إذا زَخَرا

تَقذف الدُّرَ إذا زَخَرا

And he is the sea, whose wave-crests

And he is the sea whose boats

cast up pearls when it surges.

Cast pearls when they overflow.

وهو الليث بسالته

وهو الليث بسالته

يقهر الليثَ إذا زأرا

يقهر الليثَ إذا زأرا

And he is the lion; his valor

And he is the lion in his might

overpowers the lion when it roars.

Who overpowers the lion when it roars.

ذكرُه بالحدم متّصلٌ

ذكرُه بالحدم متّصلٌ

ولهُ الفضل إذا حَضَرا

ولهُ الفضل إذا حَضَرا

His renown is linked with fiery ardor [unclear wording],

Remembrance of him is connected to valor

and his is excellence when he is present.

And he has the merit when present.

مُطْلع في الدَّست مجلسه

مُطْلع في الدَّست مجلسه

بدرَ تِمّ يَهَبُ البِدَرا

بدرَ تِمّ يَهَبُ البِدَرا

His assembly upon the dais brings forth

Rising in his assembly a full moon,

a full moon bestowing purses of coins.

A perfect moon giving moons.

وله النُّعمى التي سبَغَت

وله النُّعمى التي سبَغَت

وله الفضل الذي بَهَرا

وله الفضل الذي بَهَرا

His is the bounty that abounds,

And for him the blessings which covered

and his the excellence that dazzles.

And for him the merit which dazzled.

تملأ الأرضَ مواهبُه

تملأ الأرضَ مواهبُه

وتعمُّ البَدوَ والحَضَرا

وتعمُّ البَدوَ والحَضَرا

His gifts fill the earth,

His gifts fill the land

and reach nomads and settled folk alike.

And spread among nomads and settled peoples.

وعُفاة البَر زائرةٌ

وعُفاة البَر زائرةٌ

لذَراه زُمَراً زُمَرا

لذَراه زُمَراً زُمَرا

And the land's supplicants come visiting

And the barefoot of the land are visitors

his shelter, band after band.

In groups to see him in groups.

قَدّر الله له حَسَباً

قَدّر الله له حَسَباً

وثناءً طيّباً عَطِرا

وثناءً طيّباً عَطِرا

God ordained for him ancestral honor,

God destined for him lineage

and sweet, fragrant praise.

And good fragrant praise.

لو دعُي ذو محافَظةٍ

لو دعُي ذو محافَظةٍ

لا يَرى في عُوده خَوَرا

لا يَرى في عُوده خَوَرا

If a guardian of honor were called upon,

If one of chastity is called

no weakness would be found in his timber.

He sees no dishonor in returning.

أشبه الأعمامَ من يمنٍ

أشبه الأعمامَ من يمنٍ

واقتفى أخوالَه مُضَرا

واقتفى أخوالَه مُضَرا

He resembled his paternal uncles from Yemen,

He resembles the uncles from Yemen

and followed his maternal uncles of Mudar.

And followed his maternal uncles Mudar.

سادة يجمع مجلِسُهم

سادة يجمع مجلِسُهم

للمعالي والنَّدى صُوَرا

للمعالي والنَّدى صُوَرا

Lords whose assembly gathers

Chiefs whom his assembly collects

embodiments of lofty virtues and generosity.

For glory and dew images.

مجلسٌ تلقى الكواكبَ في

مجلسٌ تلقى الكواكبَ في

صَحنِهِ والشمسَ والقَمَرا

صَحنِهِ والشمسَ والقَمَرا

An assembly where you meet the stars in

An assembly where the planets meet

its courtyard, and the sun and moon,

In its basin, and the sun and moon.

والأجلَّ ابنَ أبي عُمَرا

والأجلَّ ابنَ أبي عُمَرا

والمجيدَ الفعلَ والنَّظَرا

والمجيدَ الفعلَ والنَّظَرا

and the most illustrious, Ibn Abi Umar,

And the most majestic, the son of Abu Omara

and glorious in deed and judgment.

And the most glorious, the deed and vision.

بارعٌ في كلّ مَكرُمَةٍ

بارعٌ في كلّ مَكرُمَةٍ

لا ترى في باعِهِ قِصَرا

لا ترى في باعِهِ قِصَرا

Outstanding in every noble deed,

Skillful in every honorable deed,

you see no shortness in his reach.

You see no shortcoming in his vendition.

يا أبا عبد الإله أقِمْ

يا أبا عبد الإله أقِمْ

ما أقام النّجمُ مقتَدِرا

ما أقام النّجمُ مقتَدِرا

O Abu Abd al-Ilah, remain

Oh Abu Abdullah remain

powerful as long as the star endures.

As the empowered star remained.

صُمْ وافطر ثمَّ ضَحِّ وكُن

صُمْ وافطر ثمَّ ضَحِّ وكُن

خير من صلّى ومن نَحَرا

خير من صلّى ومن نَحَرا

Fast and break your fast; then offer sacrifice, and be

Fast, break fast, then sacrifice, and be

the best of those who pray and those who slaughter offerings.

Better than one who prayed and sacrificed.

وإليك البكرَ حاليةً

وإليك البكرَ حاليةً

بعقود ضُمّنت دُرَرا

بعقود ضُمّنت دُرَرا

And to you I bring the virgin, adorned

And to you the virgin

with necklaces strung with pearls.

With contracts embedded with pearls.

أجْزل الحَظَّ لشاعِرها

أجْزل الحَظَّ لشاعِرها

واتخذها لَكَ مُدَّخَرا

واتخذها لَكَ مُدَّخَرا

Grant her poet a generous share,

Give ample reward to her poet

and keep her as a treasure for yourself.

And take her for you as stored.