شَيبَgraying العذارِof the cheek-down بماذاwith what عنكfor you اعتذرُI make excuses
شَيبَ العذارِ بماذا عنك اعتذرُ
إنif ساءَنيpains me أَنthat يقولواthey say مسّكhas touched you الكبَرُold age
إن ساءَني أَن يقولوا مسّك الكبَرُ
O graying of the cheek-down, how can I excuse you,
How shall I excuse my hoary locks to the censurers?
if it pains me that they say, “Old age has touched you”?
Though it grieves me that they should say old age has gripped me,
لوif لاnot صدودُturning away الغوانيthe beauties عنfrom شعاريَmy garb or guise لمwould not
لو لا صدودُ الغواني عن شعاريَ لم
أَشعرI notice بأيّةin what حالstate أَصبحhas become الشعرُthe hair
أَشعر بأيّة حال أَصبح الشعرُ
Were it not for the beauties' aversion to my appearance, I would not
Had not the antics of youth distracted my purpose,
notice what state my hair had reached.
I'd not have felt how verse has become so hard.
لهوىunclear; probably 'it is indeed' منamong البيضwhite things لوناa color هنthey, the women منهfrom it إذاwhen
لهوى من البيض لونا هن منه إذا
أبصرتهsaw it راحappeared فيupon رأسthe head الفتىof the young man نفرُaverse
أبصرته راح في رأس الفتى نفرُ
It is a shade of white from which, whenever they
A passion which was white has now that I espy it,
see it appear upon a young man's head, they recoil.
Fled into the head of the lad and become horror.
أُحسّهاI feel them شعراتٍa few hairs فيَّupon me شائبةًgraying
أُحسّها شعراتٍ فيَّ شائبةً
كأنّماas though نشبتbecame lodged فيin مُفرقتيmy hair-parting إبرُneedles
كأنّما نشبت في مُفرقتي إبرُ
I feel those few graying hairs upon me
I feel the whitening hairs sprouting in me
as though needles had lodged in my hair's parting.
As though set in my parting like needles fixed.
إذاif رأَيتَyou see مشيباًgraying أَنتyou تنكرهreject it
إذا رأَيتَ مشيباً أَنت تنكره
فانfor indeed ذلكthat منfrom لمعflashes الأسىof sorrow اثرُّa trace
فان ذلك من لمع الأسى اثرُّ
If you see graying that you cannot accept,
When you see greyness that you disavow
that is a trace left by sorrow's flashes.
Know that it is but the trace left by sorrow's glow.
حَتّامhow long يبقىremains علىupon وجهthe course الهوىof love دَنفٌa lovesick man
حَتّام يبقى على وجه الهوى دَنفٌ
متّيمenslaved by love بصروفby the vicissitudes النأيof separation مُعتُورُrepeatedly assailed
متّيم بصروف النأي مُعتُورُ
How long shall a lovesick man remain upon love's course,
Hatim remains with a blemish on the cheek of love,
enslaved by love, assailed by separation's vicissitudes?
Like Maymun, his glance marred by estrangement's brand.
صبّa yearning lover إذاwhen نفستهgave him respite أَثرafter عبرتهhis tears
صبّ إذا نفسته أَثر عبرته
عدالةunclear; probably 'his reprovers' كادnearly يسلواforgets ثمthen يدّكرُremembers
عدالة كاد يسلوا ثم يدّكرُ
A yearning lover: when, after his tears, he is given respite
When he breathes deep his sigh shows his sadness,
by his reprovers, he nearly forgets, then remembers.
Equity itself would almost melt and trickle away.
زالتdeparted بعينكbefore your eyes عنfrom شطّthe edge الحمىof the protected grounds ظُعنٌwomen's traveling litters
زالت بعينك عن شطّ الحمى ظُعنٌ
يحثهاurges them onward غَرِدقa singer (unclear spelling) بالبينwith departure مُبتكِرثsetting out early (unclear spelling)
يحثها غَرِدق بالبين مُبتكِرث
Before your eyes, the women's litters left the sanctuary's edge,
Your glances have left the shore of ardour, urged on
urged onward by a singer setting out early for departure.
By the notebook wherein he records all that passed between.
وفيand in الخدورthe curtained chambers بدورُfull moons التّمat fullness يحملهاcarries them
وفي الخدور بدورُ التّم يحملها
مثلbeings like الجآذرoryx calves إلاexcept أَنهاthat they بشرُhuman beings
مثل الجآذر إلا أَنها بشرُ
Within the curtained litters are full moons, borne by
In his breast the heart of love faintly flutters
beings like oryx calves, except that they are human.
As the dove when her glances and the helps are lacking.
بيضٌfair women كواعبswelling-breasted يبعثنthey awaken الهوىlove أُنفاًafresh
بيضٌ كواعب يبعثن الهوى أُنفاً
للقلبfor the heart فيat أيِّany حينtime طالعencountered نظرُa glance
للقلب في أيِّ حين طالع نظرُ
Fair, swelling-breasted maidens awaken love afresh
White, like gazelles, who arouse a passion
in the heart whenever a glance encounters them.
In the heart whene'er the sight of them is caught.
أَوfirst part of 'they gestured' مأنَrest of 'they gestured' بالطّرفwith the gaze والأطرافand the fingertips واعتذرتand made excuses
أَو مأنَ بالطّرف والأطراف واعتذرت
منهاfrom them المحاجرُthe eye-sockets عماfor what رمتَyou sought والخمرُand the veils
منها المحاجرُ عما رمتَ والخمرُ
They gestured with glances and fingertips, and
Or bashfully they glance with their glances, while from them
their eyes and veils made excuses for what you sought.
The eyelids excuse what you reproached and the wine.
بانواthey departed وفيand in كلevery شيءthing منof هوادجهمْtheir howdahs
بانوا وفي كل شيء من هوادجهمْ
ليلٌa night توسّطَwas centered فيin ديجورهِits deep darkness قَمرُa moon
ليلٌ توسّطَ في ديجورهِ قَمرُ
They departed, and in every part of their howdahs
Lovely they gleam, in everything about them
was a night with a moon at the heart of its darkness.
Night midst its sable mantles holds a moon.
وفيand in الوَصاوصthe veil-slits منfrom دُعجdark-eyed المهاoryx مُقلٌeyes
وفي الوَصاوص من دُعج المها مُقلٌ
أَزريput to shame بهنَّthem فتورُthe languor الطّرفof the gaze والحوَرُand white-black eye contrast
أَزري بهنَّ فتورُ الطّرف والحوَرُ
In the veil-slits were eyes like those of dark-eyed oryx,
In the litters glimpsed in the dark, yearning
whose languid gaze and white-black contrast put the oryx to shame.
Binds them; glances and assignations quite done.
وتحتَand beneath كلeach لثامveil واضحٍwhite رَتلٌan even-toothed mouth
وتحتَ كل لثام واضحٍ رَتلٌ
يثنيكturns you away عنهfrom it اللَّمىdark lip-color والظَّلمand the teeth's sheen والشَّزَرُand sidelong glances
يثنيك عنه اللَّمى والظَّلم والشَّزَرُ
And beneath each white veil was an even-toothed mouth,
Under each thin veil clearly seen, a line
from which dark lips, gleaming teeth, and sidelong looks turn you away.
Of loveliness, from which gloom and night deter you.
ياO حسنَهنّtheir loveliness لُييلاتٍlittle nights لناfor us سلفتٍpassed
يا حسنَهنّ لُييلاتٍ لنا سلفتٍ
وبالجزيرةand on the island أَيامناًour days لناfor us أُخَرُother ones
وبالجزيرة أَيامناً لنا أُخَرُ
How lovely those little nights of ours that passed,
O their beauty on nights of union granted us,
and our other days on the island!
And days of joy on the island bestowed!
إذهنَّwhen they مكننفاتَenfolded (irregular spelling) بالرّضىin contentment ولناand for us
إذهنَّ مكننفاتَ بالرّضى ولنا
فيهنin them منfrom غيرother than تبريحtorment الأسَىof sorrow سَهرُwakefulness
فيهن من غير تبريح الأسَى سَهرُ
When they were enveloped in contentment, and ours was
When they came to us in consent enwrapped
wakefulness in them without sorrow's anguish.
In them we knew, without end, sleepless care.
يحلُّdwells منamong عرَصاتٍopen courtyards حيثُwhere يجمعُناgathers us
يحلُّ من عرَصاتٍ حيثُ يجمعُنا
فيهاthere مفاكهةُplayful banter الأُلاَّفof intimate companions والسَّمَرُand evening conversation
فيها مفاكهةُ الأُلاَّف والسَّمَرُ
It dwelt in open courtyards where we were brought together
It descends in rivers where together we meet,
by companions' playful banter and evening conversation.
Fruitful converse and talk in the soft night hours,
وحيثُand where يُصبيcaptivates الغوانيthe beauties بالصِّباwith youth خضِلاًfresh and dewy
وحيثُ يُصبي الغواني بالصِّبا خضِلاً
وحيثand where بينamong العَذارىthe maidens تُخلَعُare cast off العُذُرُthe bridles
وحيث بين العَذارى تُخلَعُ العُذُرُ
And where dewy youth captivated the beauties,
Where singers lull the rose with song,
and where, among maidens, the bridles were cast off.
And amongst the maidens decency is put off.
عيشa life رغيدof ease غذاناnourished us فيin بشاشتهِits cheerfulness
عيش رغيد غذانا في بشاشتهِ
بالوصلthrough union منfrom أَرْيhoney أَخلافthe udders المنيِof wishes (unclear reading) درَرُcopious streams
بالوصل من أَرْي أَخلاف المنيِ درَرُ
A life of ease: in its cheerfulness we were nourished
A life of ease it feeds us in its gaiety
through union, with streams of honey from the udders of wishes.
With union, and from the beloved's ways, pearls.
هلwhether حانَthe time has come للصبّfor the yearning lover قربٌnearness منto أَحبتهhis loved ones
هل حانَ للصبّ قربٌ من أَحبته
أَوحانor has the time come منهfrom him علىin the face of الفقدانloss مُصْطَبرُpatient endurance
أَوحان منه على الفقدان مُصْطَبرُ
Has nearness to his loved ones come at last for the yearning lover,
Has the time come for lovers to draw near their loves?
or has the time come for him to endure their loss?
Or is the time of desolation and long suffering?
كفىwould suffice ببعضwith some النُّهىreason لوif كنتُI were مُنتهياًdesisting
كفى ببعض النُّهى لو كنتُ مُنتهياً
والشيبِand gray hair منas a زاجرٍdeterrent لوif كنتI were أَزْدَجِرُI take warning
والشيبِ من زاجرٍ لو كنت أَزْدَجِرُ
Some measure of reason would suffice, were I to desist,
A little reproof would suffice, if I could reprove,
and gray hair as a warning, were I to take warning.
Or hoariness deter, if I could but chide.
لقدindeed تملَّيتُI enjoyed fully أَيامthe days الشبابof youth ومَاand not
لقد تملَّيتُ أَيام الشباب ومَا
خِلتُI thought انقَضىwas exhausted ليَfor me منof لهوthe play الصِّباof youth وطَرُdesire
خِلتُ انقَضى ليَ من لهو الصِّبا وطَرُ
I have savored youth's days to the full, yet never
I've had my fill of youth's days, and there remains
thought my desire for youthful play was exhausted.
Naught of the wantonness of youth or any trace.
أَصبوI yearn إلىfor الغادةthe graceful woman الحسناءِthe beautiful قسَّمهاdivided her
أَصبو إلى الغادة الحسناءِ قسَّمها
بينbetween الرّضاconsent والصّدودِand aversion الشُوقlonging والخفرُand modesty
بين الرّضا والصّدودِ الشُوق والخفرُ
I yearn for the graceful beauty, divided
I yearn now for the lovely settlement parcelled out
between consent and aversion by longing and modesty.
Between consent and refusal, passion and flight.
ويطّبينيand entices me أَغاريدُthe melodies القيِانof singing girls لدىat
ويطّبيني أَغاريدُ القيِان لدى
مُعرّسthe encampment اللهَّوof amusement حيثُwhere النَّايُthe flute والوَترُand the string
مُعرّس اللهَّو حيثُ النَّايُ والوَترُ
The singing girls' melodies entice me
And the warblings of the singers please me when
at pleasure's encampment, where there are flute and strings.
At the riotous party, where are lute and strings.
وابتديand I begin مجلسَa gathering اللَّذاتof pleasures يشهدُهattend it
وابتدي مجلسَ اللَّذات يشهدُه
بيضُfair الوجوهof face كرامٌgenerous سادةlords زُهُرُradiant
بيضُ الوجوه كرامٌ سادة زُهُرُ
And I begin a gathering of delights, attended
I initiate the pleasance, attended by
by fair-faced, generous, radiant lords.
Fair faced noble lords, a garden's fairest flowers.
أُعلهّمI give them repeated drinks كأسَa cup خرطومٍof fine wine إذاwhen قرعتis mixed
أُعلهّم كأسَ خرطومٍ إذا قرعت
بالماءwith water يَرفضّscatter منfrom أَرجائهاits edges الشَّرَرُsparks
بالماء يَرفضّ من أَرجائها الشَّرَرُ
I ply them with a cup of fine wine; when it is mixed
I teach it to quaff from a long-spouted cup, which,
with water, sparks scatter from its edges.
When you splash it with water, sparks from it burst.
وربَّand many a ليلٍnight وقدand already غابتhad vanished كواكبهُits stars
وربَّ ليلٍ وقد غابت كواكبهُ
إلىinto السقامsickness وشابتand turned gray للدّجىof the darkness طُرّرُforelocks
إلى السقام وشابت للدّجى طُرّرُ
And many a night, when its stars had sunk
Often I've spent a night whose stars disappeared
into sickness and darkness's forelocks had turned gray,
Into sickness, while for the darkness motes condensed.
ومسنَّاand touched us منfrom ندىthe dew ريحof the wind الصّباthe easterly breeze بللٌmoisture
ومسنَّا من ندى ريح الصّبا بللٌ
لماwhen اخضألُّgrew lush لناfor us بالرّقةِat al-Raqqa الشَّجَرُthe trees
لما اخضألُّ لنا بالرّقةِ الشَّجَرُ
a dampness from the east wind's dew touched us,
And we are moist with dew from the zephyr's breath
as the trees grew lush for us at al-Raqqa.
When the trees bend with moisture their boughs towards us.
بيهتunclear; probably 'I roused' كلَّeach ثقيلheavy الرأسof head مالtilted بهwith him
بيهت كلَّ ثقيل الرأس مال به
كاسُthe cup الكَرىof sleep وثنىand bent أَعطافهhis sides السُكُرُintoxication
كاسُ الكَرى وثنى أَعطافه السُكُرُ
I roused each heavy-headed man whom
Every heavy headed one forgets his care;
sleep's cup had tilted and drunkenness had bent at the waist.
The cup of destiny makes him bow down drunken.
أدعوهI call him لأْياًwith difficulty ولأَياًand with difficulty ماemphatic particle يكلّمنيhe speaks to me
أدعوه لأْياً ولأَياً ما يكلّمني
وجَفنهand his eyelid شَنجٌpuckered بالنَّومwith sleep مَنكَسرُdrooping
وجَفنه شَنجٌ بالنَّوم مَنكَسرُ
I call him with effort, and scarcely does he speak to me,
I call him but he answers me not,
his eyelid puckered, drooping with sleep.
His eyelid numb with sleep and crumbling.
فيin روضةa garden منamong رياضthe gardens الصّيفof summer مكتحلkohl-lined
في روضة من رياض الصّيف مكتحل
فيهاin it بطلِّwith fine drops of نداهاits dew الرّوضthe garden growth والزَّهرُand flowers
فيها بطلِّ نداها الرّوض والزَّهرُ
In a garden among summer's gardens, kohl-lined
In a garden of the summertide, made up,
with its fine dew were the greenery and flowers.
Its freshness the garden's adornment and its flowers,
إنِif الصباthe east wind خفقتfluttered خلالَهاthrough it طفقتit began
إنِ الصبا خفقت خلالَها طفقت
تختالُsways proudly واصطَفقْتand struck together ماthe space بينهاbetween them العُذُرُthe leafy tresses
تختالُ واصطَفقْت ما بينها العُذُرُ
If the east wind fluttered through it, it began
Wherein the zephyr pants, begins to show off,
to sway proudly, and its leafy tresses struck together.
Struts and prances; amongst them all are flirts,
كأنهاas though it منfrom عليّAli نفحةٌa fragrant breath ونَدىًand dew or bounty
كأنها من عليّ نفحةٌ ونَدىً
وبهجةٌوسجيّاتٌand splendor and qualities لهof his غُرَرُradiant
وبهجةٌوسجيّاتٌ له غُرَرُ
As though it were a fragrant breath and dew from Ali,
As though upon me an air of sweetness,
and splendor, and his radiant qualities.
And brightness, gaiety and loveliness of him.
إذاwhen أَبوAbu القاسمal-Qasim الميمونَthe blessed لاحappears لناbefore us
إذا أَبو القاسم الميمونَ لاح لنا
فكلّthen every حسنbeauty خلاexcept ماwhat فيهis in him مُحْتَقَرُheld contemptible
فكلّ حسن خلا ما فيه مُحْتَقَرُ
When blessed Abu al-Qasim appears before us,
When Abul Qasim the Fortunate appears to us
all beauty except his is held in contempt.
All other beauty beside seems paltry and small.
سمحُgenerous اليدينof both hands طويلlong الباعin reach مبتسِمٌsmiling
سمحُ اليدين طويل الباع مبتسِمٌ
بالمكرماتwith noble deeds وأعباءُand the burdens العلىof greatness وفُرُare many
بالمكرمات وأعباءُ العلى وفُرُ
Open-handed, far-reaching, smiling
Open handed, ample armed, smiling
with noble deeds, though the burdens of greatness are many.
With favours, burdens of excellence and plenty.
ماضيfirm العزيمةin resolve نهّاضquick to rise إلىto فرصٍopportunities
ماضي العزيمة نهّاض إلى فرصٍ
لاnot بالجلبانa coward ولاnor فيin باعهhis reach قِصَرُshortness
لا بالجلبان ولا في باعه قِصَرُ
Firm in resolve, quick to seize opportunities,
Resolute of purpose, active for chances
no coward, nor short of reach.
To show not cowardice, no weakling of arm.
يحفّهsurround him كأسودlike lions الغابof the forest منon يمينthe right
يحفّه كأسود الغاب من يمين
شمُّhigh and proud العرانينnose-bridges فيon يومthe day الوغىof battle صُبُرُsteadfast
شمُّ العرانين في يوم الوغى صُبُرُ
Around him, like forest lions on his right,
He is flanked like forest lions, on his right
are proud, high-nosed men, steadfast on the day of battle.
A brave pack, enduring on the day of wrath.
عليهمupon them منfrom ثيابthe garments المجدof glory أَرديةrobes
عليهم من ثياب المجد أَردية
بيضwhite طواهرpure لمnot يعلقclings بهاto them الغَمرُtaint
بيض طواهر لم يعلق بها الغَمرُ
They wear robes from the garments of glory,
Over them are cloaks of honour, immaculate white,
white and pure, with no taint clinging to them.
Pure stains on which no mud has clung.
يعلrises بهمwith them نحوtoward أَسبابthe paths العلىof greatness هِمَهمٌaspirations (unclear spelling)
يعل بهم نحو أَسباب العلى هِمَهمٌ
أَزديةAzdi وفنسunclear; probably 'and a spirit' ماnot بهاin it خوَرُweakness
أَزدية وفنس ما بها خوَرُ
Bearing them upward toward the ways of greatness are aspirations
Their striving is ever for the means to ascend;
of the Azd, and a spirit that knows no weakness.
Ambitious, with no baseness their spirits stirs.
تاهتgloried بمجدهُمin their renown العلياءُhigh honor وابتهجتand rejoiced
تاهت بمجدهُم العلياءُ وابتهجت
بهin it المنابرthe pulpits والتيجانand crowns والسُّوَرُand ramparts
به المنابر والتيجان والسُّوَرُ
High honor boasted of their glory, and rejoicing
By his glory the greatest are confused,
in it were the pulpits, crowns, and ramparts.
And by it the pulpits, crowns and walls delighted.
يهنيكمُmay it gladden you فيin المعاليhigh honors ياO بنيsons of عُمَرٍUmar
يهنيكمُ في المعالي يا بني عُمَرٍ
ماwhat شادَهhe built لكمُfor you فيthrough مجدهhis glory عُمَرُUmar
ما شادَه لكمُ في مجده عُمَرُ
May you rejoice in high honors, O sons of Umar,
Good fortune is yours in the heights, O Banu Umar,
in what Umar has built for you through his glory.
What Umar built up for you in his glory!
أقسْمتُI swore بالبيتby the House محجوجاًvisited by pilgrims يطُوفcircles بهaround it
أقسْمتُ بالبيت محجوجاً يطُوف به
مستَشْعرٌmindful of سننthe practices الإحرامof ritual consecration مُعْتَمرُan umrah pilgrim
مستَشْعرٌ سنن الإحرام مُعْتَمرُ
I swore by the House, visited by pilgrims, around which circles
I swear by the House all revered, circumambulated
an umrah pilgrim mindful of the rites of consecration.
By a scanty clad pilgrim, enacting the rites.
لقدindeed إذاthen (unclear reading) النّاسthe people مقسومَapportioned الحظوظtheir shares علىthrough
لقد إذا النّاس مقسومَ الحظوظ على
نُعمىthe bounty أَبيof Abu القاسمal-Qasim البادونَthe nomads والحَضَرand settled people ُ
نُعمى أَبي القاسم البادونَ والحَضَر ُ
Indeed, then, people's shares are apportioned through
Men portioned in lots of fortunes, but to me
Abu al-Qasim's bounty, nomads and settled people alike.
The bounty of Abu'l Qasim the Excellent and the Settled.
وأسدتِand bestowed الأَزْدُthe Azd عندىon me اليومtoday منِof نعَمٍfavors
وأسدتِ الأَزْدُ عندى اليوم منِ نعَمٍ
ماwhat لاnot ربيعةُRabi'a أسدتهُbestowed it ولاnor مُضَرُMudar
ما لا ربيعةُ أسدتهُ ولا مُضَرُ
The Azd have bestowed on me today such favors
Today the Azd have shown me kindnesses
as neither Rabi'a nor Mudar has bestowed.
Such as Rabia nor Mudar displayed.
لوif لاnot نوالُthe bounty بنيof the sons of نبهانNabhan يشملناencompasses us
لو لا نوالُ بني نبهان يشملنا
لمwould not ندرِwe know ايَّwhat نباتٍgrowth يُنبتbrings forth المَطَرُthe rain
لم ندرِ ايَّ نباتٍ يُنبت المَطَرُ
Were it not for the gifts of the sons of Nabhan embracing us,
Had it not been for Nawal's sons including us
we would not know what growth the rain brings forth.
We'd not have known what rain causes to grow.
مدّواthey spread عليناover us افانينthe branches النّدىof bounty بردتbecame cool
مدّوا علينا افانين النّدى بردت
ظلالُهاtheir shade وحَلاand became sweet منهاfrom them لناfor us الثّمَرُthe fruit
ظلالُها وحَلا منها لنا الثّمَرُ
They spread the branches of bounty above us; cool became
They stretched to us goblets of dew, cooled by
their shade, and sweet to us their fruit.
Its shade, and from it fruits came to us.
لكَfor you السّعادةُhappiness والإقبالُand good fortune ترضعكمsuckles you all
لكَ السّعادةُ والإقبالُ ترضعكم
دَرَّthe milk المنىof wishes ولأُمand for the mother of الحاسِدُthe envier العبَرُtears
دَرَّ المنى ولأُم الحاسِدُ العبَرُ
Happiness be yours, and may good fortune suckle you all
Good fortune and favour are yours, you were suckled
with the milk of wishes; for the envier's mother, tears.
On flowing wish‐milk, while for foes is sorrow.
Sol 6.1