ذكر المتيّم للأحبة مألفا

ذكر المتيّم للأحبة مألفا

فسقى معاهدَه الدُّموع الوُكَّفا

فسقى معاهدَه الدُّموع الوُكَّفا

The love-stricken man recalled a haunt of his beloveds,

The lovesick Tameem recalled his loved ones

and watered its familiar grounds with streaming tears.

And shed tears enough to water their covenant

وبكى بحرّ صبابةٍ زمنَ الصِّبا

وبكى بحرّ صبابةٍ زمنَ الصِّبا

أسفاً عليه وحقّ أن يتّأسَّفا

أسفاً عليه وحقّ أن يتّأسَّفا

Burning with longing, he wept for the days of youth,

The rolling sea of youth cried

grieving for them—and rightly should he grieve.

With sorrow for it, and rightly it should grieve

ما كان أطيبَ عيشنا وألذَهُ

ما كان أطيبَ عيشنا وألذَهُ

لوساعدَ الزَّمنُ الخَؤون وأنصفا

لوساعدَ الزَّمنُ الخَؤون وأنصفا

How sweet our life would have been, how delightful,

How good was our life and how sweet

had treacherous time favored us and dealt fairly!

If only time aided misfortunes to balance

أيامَ نلهو بالنّعيم المجتّنى

أيامَ نلهو بالنّعيم المجتّنى

ونقرّ عيناً بالنَّديم المُصطَفى

ونقرّ عيناً بالنَّديم المُصطَفى

In days when we reveled in gathered pleasures,

Days we play with coveted bliss

and our eyes were gladdened by a chosen boon companion,

And delight our eyes with chosen companions

ونحلّ حافاتِ اللَّواء ونرتعي

ونحلّ حافاتِ اللَّواء ونرتعي

فيها ربيعاً للوصال وصيّفا

فيها ربيعاً للوصال وصيّفا

and settled along al-Lawāʾ's edges, grazing

And wear the hems of the banner and graze

there through a spring and summer of union;

In it a springtime for union and summer

ونزورَ من سربِ الأوانس والحمى

ونزورَ من سربِ الأوانس والحمى

رشَأً أغرَّ مُقرطَقاً ومُشنَّفا

رشَأً أغرَّ مُقرطَقاً ومُشنَّفا

and paid a visit, among the maidens' herd and in the preserve,

And visit from the herd of gazelles and zeal

to a radiant fawn, tunic-clad and wearing earrings.

Pasturing lush, bending graceful and curled

حيثُ الجفون مريضُهنَّ تخالُه

حيثُ الجفون مريضُهنَّ تخالُه

في ضعف نظرتِه سقيماً مُدنَفا

في ضعف نظرتِه سقيماً مُدنَفا

There, his languid eyelids make you think him,

Where eyelids are sickly, in the weakness of their glance

from the weakness of his gaze, sick and wasting away.

Appearing frail and squinting

بهج يميس غضاضةً وبضاضةً

بهج يميس غضاضةً وبضاضةً

غَنِجٌ يتيهُ تَدلُّلاً وتَطَرُّفا

غَنِجٌ يتيهُ تَدلُّلاً وتَطَرُّفا

Radiant, he sways in tender freshness and soft fullness;

Smiling radiantly and alluring

coquettish, he struts with coyness and affected elegance.

Coy, wandering flirtatiously and wriggling

رخص الشّوى فإذا أشار بكفِّه

رخص الشّوى فإذا أشار بكفِّه

أهدى بناناً بالخضاب مُطَرَّفا

أهدى بناناً بالخضاب مُطَرَّفا

Soft of limb, when he gestures with his palm,

Cheap are passions so if he gestures with his palm

he offers fingers tipped with dye.

He bestows a fingertip dyed with henna and adorned

يَفترُ عن بَرد كأنّ رضابَهُ

يَفترُ عن بَرد كأنّ رضابَهُ

صفو السّلافة طيِّبٌ أن يُرشفا

صفو السّلافة طيِّبٌ أن يُرشفا

He smiles, revealing hailstones, as though his saliva

His thin clothing is cool as if his plaits

were the clear essence of fine wine, pleasant to sip.

Are the purest drink, too good to be sipped

وبه يهز فناً كسته يدُ الصِّبا

وبه يهز فناً كسته يدُ الصِّبا

وشياً من الحسنِ البديع مُفَوَّفا

وشياً من الحسنِ البديع مُفَوَّفا

And with it he sways a bough that youth's hand has clothed

With it he shakes artistry, as if youth’s hand

in variegated embroidery of wondrous beauty.

Embroidered with exquisite beauty, pleated

ويُقل مثل الدَّعص حشوَ إزارهِ

ويُقل مثل الدَّعص حشوَ إزارهِ

كفلاً يكادُ يبُتّ خَصراً أهيفا

كفلاً يكادُ يبُتّ خَصراً أهيفا

And he carries, like a sand dune filling his waistcloth,

And carries cloth rolled at his waist

a rump that all but severs his slender waist.

Nearly showing a faint waist inside

ويُرجِّل لفرعَ الأثيثَ مضَمَّخاً

ويُرجِّل لفرعَ الأثيثَ مضَمَّخاً

بالمسكِ بين قُرونِهِ ومُعَكّفا

بالمسكِ بين قُرونِهِ ومُعَكّفا

And he combs his luxuriant hair, perfumed

And his leg shows through his thin garment

with musk between its braids and curled.

Drenched in musk between his antlers and bent

يا صاحبيَّ أفّى تذكّر عاشقٍ

يا صاحبيَّ أفّى تذكّر عاشقٍ

عهدَ الحبيب ملامَةٌ فَيُعنَّفا

عهدَ الحبيب ملامَةٌ فَيُعنَّفا

O my two companions, is a lover's remembering

My friend, how can I recall a lover

his days with the beloved blameworthy, that he should be rebuked?

When the beloved’s covenant is blameworthy and defiant

مستَعبرٌ شَرِق بماءِ جفونهِ

مستَعبرٌ شَرِق بماءِ جفونهِ

أبداً يفيضُ مَرَقرَقاً ومُكَفكَفا

أبداً يفيضُ مَرَقرَقاً ومُكَفكَفا

Tearful, he chokes on the water of his eyelids;

Crying with the water of his eyelids

forever it flows, shimmering and wiped back.

Always overflowing, twinkling and blinking

ولقد رآى لونَ المشيب فما أرعَوَى

ولقد رآى لونَ المشيب فما أرعَوَى

وبكى فأقْرَح ناظريه فما اشْتَفى

وبكى فأقْرَح ناظريه فما اشْتَفى

Indeed, he saw gray hair's hue, yet did not desist,

And he saw the colour of grey hairs but was not deterred

and wept until his eyes were sore, yet found no relief.

He wept until it marred his sight but was not sated

ويَريبني صدُّ الأوانس بعدَما

ويَريبني صدُّ الأوانس بعدَما

قد كُنت أعهدها ورآئمَ عُطَّفا

قد كُنت أعهدها ورآئمَ عُطَّفا

And the maidens' rejection troubles me, after

And it pains me that the gazelles now shun me

I once knew them as tender and affectionate,

After I was accustomed to their affection and kindness

إذ فيّ أبهجة الشباب وغرَّة

إذ فيّ أبهجة الشباب وغرَّة

تجْزي الحَبيب إذا تدلّل أو جَفا

تجْزي الحَبيب إذا تدلّل أو جَفا

when youth's splendor and radiant bloom were mine,

For in the pleasures of youth and innocence

that rewarded the beloved when he was coy or aloof.

The beloved rewards when he is petulant or aloof

ومتى أشأْ نَبَّهتُ أُغيد فاتراً

ومتى أشأْ نَبَّهتُ أُغيد فاتراً

نشوانَ من سُكر الدَّلال مهَفْهَفا

نشوانَ من سُكر الدَّلال مهَفْهَفا

Whenever I wished, I roused a supple, languid youth,

And whenever I wished, I would rouse him from drunkenness

drunk with the intoxication of coyness, slender-waisted;

Melodious with the intoxication of flirtation

فرشفت من شَفتيه أشنَب صَافياً

فرشفت من شَفتيه أشنَب صَافياً

شَبِما نازعني سُلافاً قَرْقَفا

شَبِما نازعني سُلافاً قَرْقَفا

and sipped from his lips a sweet, clear draught,

So I sipped from his lips pure wine

chilled, while he shared a potent wine with me.

Competing with me for a sip, gurgling

حتّى إذا قذفت بنا أيدي النّوى

حتّى إذا قذفت بنا أيدي النّوى

بالبين عن دار الأحبة مَقْذَفا

بالبين عن دار الأحبة مَقْذَفا

Until, when the hands of separation flung us

Until the hands of estrangement cast us

in estrangement, far from the beloveds' dwelling,

Far from the abode of loved ones, flung

ألقى الزّمان على رياضٍ مياسِري

ألقى الزّمان على رياضٍ مياسِري

بَركاً فغادرهنَّ قاعاً صَفصفا

بَركاً فغادرهنَّ قاعاً صَفصفا

time cast upon the gardens of my prosperity

Time has cast upon my meadows

its crushing breast, leaving them a bare, level plain.

Affliction, and left them vacant and barren

فنظمت من درَر المعاني حليةً

فنظمت من درَر المعاني حليةً

ونسَجتُ من حبر القوافي مُطْرَفا

ونسَجتُ من حبر القوافي مُطْرَفا

Then I strung an ornament from the pearls of meaning,

So I strung pearls of meaning into a necklace

and wove a bordered mantle from the brocades of rhyme.

And wove from the rhymes of poetry an ornament

وسلكتُ لجَّ البحر في سَيَرانِهِ

وسلكتُ لجَّ البحر في سَيَرانِهِ

وقطَعتُ جَوز المهمه المتعَسَّفا

وقطَعتُ جَوز المهمه المتعَسَّفا

And I traversed the sea's depths as it surged,

And sailed the tumultuous sea on its course

and crossed the heart of the pathless wilderness.

And cut through the unruly huge waves

وصحبتُ آمالي وكلّفتُ السّرى

وصحبتُ آمالي وكلّفتُ السّرى

شُعثا لواغبَ في الأزمّةِ شنَّفا

شُعثا لواغبَ في الأزمّةِ شنَّفا

I took my hopes as companions and burdened with night travel

And accompanied my hopes and tasked the path

shaggy, weary mounts, restive in their reins,

Shabby, arduous in times of distress, gritty

حتى أزور أبا المغيرة طالباً

حتى أزور أبا المغيرة طالباً

منه السّماحةَ والشَّجاعةَ والوَفا

منه السّماحةَ والشَّجاعةَ والوَفا

until I could visit Abū al-Mughīra, seeking

Until I visit Abul Mugheera seeking

from him generosity, courage, and fidelity.

His forgiveness, bravery, and loyalty

أعني مُحمّد بنَ قَحطان الَّذي

أعني مُحمّد بنَ قَحطان الَّذي

بسط النّدى وله الفناء المقتفى

بسط النّدى وله الفناء المقتفى

I mean Muḥammad ibn Qaḥṭān, who

I mean Muhammed bin Qahtan whom

spread his bounty and whose courtyard is sought out.

The world favored, and his courtyard is the goal

ورثَ العُلى وبنى لهُ آباؤهُ

ورثَ العُلى وبنى لهُ آباؤهُ

بيتاُ على شرف السّماك مُشرّفا

بيتاُ على شرف السّماك مُشرّفا

He inherited eminence, and his forefathers built him

He inherited greatness and his fathers built

a lofty house upon the height of al-Simāk.

A home atop the honorable summit

وهو الذي حسُنت جميع صفاته

وهو الذي حسُنت جميع صفاته

وتجلّ أخلاقٌ له أن توصَفا

وتجلّ أخلاقٌ له أن توصَفا

He is the one whose every quality is fine,

He whose traits are all beautiful

and whose virtues are too exalted to describe.

And his manners shine too brightly to be described

لأبي المغيرة أنعُمٌ مُعتَادَة

لأبي المغيرة أنعُمٌ مُعتَادَة

أبداً نوءُ الكواكب أخلَفا

أبداً نوءُ الكواكب أخلَفا

Abū al-Mughīra's favors come unfailingly,

Abul Mugheera has habitual blessings

ever, though the stars' promised rain fails.

The planets orbiting never alternate

طلقُ اليدين بماله عن شيمةٍ

طلقُ اليدين بماله عن شيمةٍ

منه إذا بعضّ الرّجال تَكَلّفا

منه إذا بعضّ الرّجال تَكَلّفا

Open-handed with his wealth, from an innate disposition

Open handed with wealth giving generously

of his own, while some men merely put it on,

When some men merely feign to give

متَطلَّبُ حسنَ الثناءِ يعُدُّهُ

متَطلَّبُ حسنَ الثناءِ يعُدُّهُ

عِوَضاً له ممّا أفاد وأتلفا

عِوَضاً له ممّا أفاد وأتلفا

he seeks fine praise, counting it

Seeking good praise, he sees it

his recompense for what he acquired and spent.

As recompense for what he brought and spent

حسنُ البديهة مبدعٌ من فكره

حسنُ البديهة مبدعٌ من فكره

حِكما أرقَّ من الهواء وألطَفا

حِكما أرقَّ من الهواء وألطَفا

Gifted in improvisation, he brings forth from his mind

Witty, his thoughts generate wisdom

maxims more delicate and subtler than air.

More subtle than air, and gentler

ومهذبٍ فطن خطيب مصَقع

ومهذبٍ فطن خطيب مصَقع

ذلق اللّسان يخال سيفاً مُرهفا

ذلق اللّسان يخال سيفاً مُرهفا

And refined, perceptive, an eloquent orator,

Eloquent, judicious, a skilled orator

nimble of tongue, he seems a finely honed sword.

Fluent of tongue like a sharpened sword

ويسلَّ رأياً بالذّكاءِ مُجَرَّداً

ويسلَّ رأياً بالذّكاءِ مُجَرَّداً

ويهز غصناً بالمضاء مثقَّفا

ويهز غصناً بالمضاء مثقَّفا

And he draws a judgment, unsheathed through intelligence,

His opinion assails with intelligence, unfettered

and brandishes a bough straightened by resolve.

And he brandishes a branch with glory, cultured

وإذا الحروبُ تبادرت أقرانها

وإذا الحروبُ تبادرت أقرانها

لقي الأسنَّة حاسراً أو أكشَفا

لقي الأسنَّة حاسراً أو أكشَفا

And when wars' champions rush against one another,

And when wars broke out among his peers

he meets the spearpoints bareheaded or unshielded.

He met the evildoers defiantly and heroically

قسماً بوفد الكعبة الحرم اغتدوا

قسماً بوفد الكعبة الحرم اغتدوا

يسعون بين المروتين إلى الصّفا

يسعون بين المروتين إلى الصّفا

I swear by the Kaaba's consecrated pilgrims, out at dawn,

By pilgrims heading to the Holy Ka’ba, they set out

hastening between the two Marwas toward al-Ṣafā;

Seeking between the two hills of Marwa and Safa

وأليّةً بالرّائحات إلى مِنى

وأليّةً بالرّائحات إلى مِنى

عوجاً يزرنَ محصّبا ومعرَّفا

عوجاً يزرنَ محصّبا ومعرَّفا

and swear by the she-camels bound at evening for Minā,

And "Labbaik", their scent to Mina

bent-legged, visiting Muḥaṣṣab and Muʿarraf:

Winding, chanting the talbiyah and devoted

لأبي المغيرة خسر شمسٍ لم يزَلْ

لأبي المغيرة خسر شمسٍ لم يزَلْ

في آل قحطان أعزّ وأشرَفا

في آل قحطان أعزّ وأشرَفا

Abū al-Mughīra—[unclear phrase: 'loss of a sun']—has ever remained

Abul Mugheera lost a sun who always

the mightiest and noblest in the house of Qaḥṭān.

Was the dearest and noblest among the Qahtan

أصبحت يا ابن المعالي أوحداً

أصبحت يا ابن المعالي أوحداً

لا زلت في سبل العُلى متصرَّفا

لا زلت في سبل العُلى متصرَّفا

You have become peerless, O son of lofty honors;

You have become, o son of glories, peerless

may you ever move freely along the paths of eminence.

Still leading the paths of greatness

وإليكها عربيّةً حلّيتها

وإليكها عربيّةً حلّيتها

دراًّ من الأدب الفصيح مؤلَّفا

دراًّ من الأدب الفصيح مؤلَّفا

And here is an Arabic ode for you, which I have adorned

And to you, I crafted this ode in Arabic

with strung pearls of eloquent literary art.

Adorning it with eloquent literary pearls