عصرتwrung out مَدامعكyour tears الأَناةُthe demure woman المُعصِرُthe nubile maiden
عصرت مَدامعك الأَناةُ المُعصِرُ
وَلِمِثلِand for the like of فرقتهاparting from her المَدامِعُtears تُذخَرُare stored
وَلِمِثلِ فرقتها المَدامِعُ تُذخَرُ
The demure, nubile maiden wrung tears from your eyes;
The time has pressed your tears to flow,
and tears are stored for a parting such as hers.
And why would flowing tears not ebb and flow?
رَحلتshe departed ضُحىًat midmorning وَلِكُلِّand for every قَلبٍheart حَيرةًbewilderment
رَحلت ضُحىً وَلِكُلِّ قَلبٍ حَيرةً
فيat حُسنِهاher beauty وَلِكُلِّand for every عَينٍeye مَنظَرُa sight
في حُسنِها وَلِكُلِّ عَينٍ مَنظَرُ
She departed at midmorning, leaving every heart bewildered
You left at dawn, and every heart bewildered,
by her beauty, and every eye a sight to behold.
By your beauty, and every eye finds its spectacle and show.
عَبِثَtoyed النَعيمُluxury هاher فصوَّرَso fashioned جِسمهاher body
عَبِثَ النَعيمُ ها فصوَّرَ جِسمها
خَلقاًa form جَديداًnew وَالنَعيمand luxury يُصَوِّرُgives shape
خَلقاً جَديداً وَالنَعيم يُصَوِّرُ
Luxury toyed with her and fashioned her body
Bliss sculpted her body anew,
into a new form; luxury gives shape.
And bliss is ever sculpting and will continue so.
بَكُرَتcame early طَلائِعforerunners لِلمَشيبof gray hair بِلمَّتيin my locks
بَكُرَت طَلائِع لِلمَشيب بِلمَّتي
إِنَّindeed المَشيبgray hair إِساءَةٌan offense لاnot تُغفَرُforgiven
إِنَّ المَشيب إِساءَةٌ لا تُغفَرُ
The first heralds of gray hair came early to my locks;
The first signs of grey appeared in my temples,
gray hair is an offense that cannot be forgiven.
Grey hair being unforgivable impudence and woe.
وَيقالand it is said إِنَّthat الشَيءَa thing يَأَلَفُgrows fond of شَكلهُits like
وَيقال إِنَّ الشَيءَ يَأَلَفُ شَكلهُ
وَالبيضُand fair women عَنfrom بيضِwhite المَفارِقِhair-partings تَنفُرُshy away
وَالبيضُ عَن بيضِ المَفارِقِ تَنفُرُ
They say that a thing grows fond of its own kind,
It’s said a thing grows used to its form,
yet fair women shun white hair-partings.
Yet the white recoils from the parting blow.
لاdo not تلحُهاblame her فَلكُلِّso for every يَومٍday مَوضِعa place
لا تلحُها فَلكُلِّ يَومٍ مَوضِع
وَالعُرفُand goodness فيin بَعضsome المَواضِعِplaces يُنكرُis disapproved of
وَالعُرفُ في بَعض المَواضِعِ يُنكرُ
Do not blame her: every day has its place,
Do not be insistent, for everything has its place,
and even goodness is disapproved of in some places.
And custom in some places can be censured low.
وَالشَيبُand gray hair صُبحٌdawn وَالسَوادand black hair دِجِنَّةٌdeep darkness
وَالشَيبُ صُبحٌ وَالسَواد دِجِنَّةٌ
وَاللَيلُand night أَصلَحُbetter suited لِلوصالِfor union وَأستَرُand more concealing
وَاللَيلُ أَصلَحُ لِلوصالِ وَأستَرُ
Gray hair is dawn, and black hair deep darkness;
Grey is the morn, and blackness the dark of night,
night is better suited to union, and more concealing.
And night is best for union and to hide the inner glow.
كُنّاwe used to نضيفُascribe إِلىto الغُرابِthe raven فراقناour parting
كُنّا نضيفُ إِلى الغُرابِ فراقنا
فَإِذاbut behold المَشيبُgray hair هوَitself الغُرابُthe raven الأَزهَرُthe shining-white one
فَإِذا المَشيبُ هوَ الغُرابُ الأَزهَرُ
We used to attribute our parting to the raven,
We blamed our parting on the raven, blacker than black,
but gray hair itself is the shining-white raven.
But lo, the grey is the most raven-hued crow.
كَيفَhow السَبيلthe way إِلىto لِقائِكِmeeting you فيin الدُجىdarkness
كَيفَ السَبيل إِلى لِقائِكِ في الدُجى
وَاللَيلُand the night حَيثُwherever حَلَلتِyou alighted مِنهُwithin it مُقمِرُmoonlit
وَاللَيلُ حَيثُ حَلَلتِ مِنهُ مُقمِرُ
How can I find a way to meet you in the darkness,
How can I come to you in the dark of night,
when night is moonlit wherever you alight within it?
When you have made the moon-lit night your wardrobe and trousseau?
يَتَحَيَّفُgnaws away at القَمَرُthe moon المُحاقَwaning تَحَيُّفاًlittle by little
يَتَحَيَّفُ القَمَرُ المُحاقَ تَحَيُّفاً
وَهلالand the crescent خَدِّكِof your cheek كُلَّevery يَومٍday مُبدرُfull
وَهلال خَدِّكِ كُلَّ يَومٍ مُبدرُ
The moon is gnawed away by its waning, little by little,
The waning moon wanes away,
yet the crescent of your cheek is full every day.
While the crescent of your cheek waxes nightly with its graceful bow.
بَدرٌa full moon يُغادِرleaves رَبعَهُits dwelling مِنfrom طيبهits fragrance
بَدرٌ يُغادِر رَبعَهُ مِن طيبه
يَهديis offered as a gift ثَراهits soil كَماjust as يُهاديis exchanged as a gift العَنبَرُambergris
يَهدي ثَراه كَما يُهادي العَنبَرُ
A full moon that leaves its dwelling so richly scented
A full moon leaving its quarter in its scent,
that its dust is gifted as ambergris is gifted.
Presenting its gift like fine ambergris musk on the go.
وَتَحُلّand dwells بِالبَيداءِin the desert حِصناًa fortress سورهits wall
وَتَحُلّ بِالبَيداءِ حِصناً سوره
زُرقblue الأَسِنَّةِspearheads وَالعَجاجُand dust clouds الأَكدَرُmurky
زُرق الأَسِنَّةِ وَالعَجاجُ الأَكدَرُ
And dwells in a desert fortress whose wall is
You camp in the open desert, fortified,
blue spearheads and murky clouds of dust.
With green tents and screeching clamor of warriors, mailed and armored beaux.
يَعتادfrequents فيin أَلحاظِناour glances لِودادِهِfor love of him
يَعتاد في أَلحاظِنا لِودادِهِ
فَكَأَنَّهاso as though they جُندٌtroops لَديهat his side وَعسكَرُand an army
فَكَأَنَّها جُندٌ لَديه وَعسكَرُ
He frequents our glances through our love for him,
He has grown used to our eyes through his love,
as though they were troops and an army at his side.
As if our eyes are armies under his command and control.
تعصيdisobey قُلوبhearts ذَويthose possessed of الهَوىlove أَربابُهاtheir masters
تعصي قُلوب ذَوي الهَوى أَربابُها
فيهِfor him فَكُلٌّso each فيin هَواهُlove of him مُسَخَّرُsubjugated
فيهِ فَكُلٌّ في هَواهُ مُسَخَّرُ
Lovers' hearts disobey their masters
The hearts of those passion-possessed disobey their lords,
for his sake; each is enslaved to love of him.
Subject to their passions, each one pulled along in tow.
وَكَأَنَّهُand as though he مِنfrom يُمنgood fortune حيدرةHaydara استَعارَborrowed
وَكَأَنَّهُ مِن يُمن حيدرة استَعارَ
النَصرَvictory فَهوَso he عَلىover القُلوبِhearts مُظَفَّرُvictorious
النَصرَ فَهوَ عَلى القُلوبِ مُظَفَّرُ
It is as though he borrowed from Haydara's good fortune
As if, from (Ali's son) Hyder's auspice, he borrowed victory,
victory, for he is triumphant over hearts.
And so he vanquishes hearts - his triumph certain and foretold.
أَوor منfrom جَلالتِهِhis majesty استَعارَborrowed جَمالهhis beauty
أَو من جَلالتِهِ استَعارَ جَماله
فَعُيونناso our eyes عَنهbefore him تَكِلُّgrow weary وَتَحسَرُand falter
فَعُيوننا عَنه تَكِلُّ وَتَحسَرُ
Or borrowed his beauty from Haydara's majesty,
Or from his own majesty he borrowed his beauty,
so our eyes grow weary and fail to behold him.
Which leaves our eyes shifting, confounded and distraught at his manly glow.
ملكٌa king لَهُhe has فيin كُلِّevery أَرضٍland نِعمَةًa favor
ملكٌ لَهُ في كُلِّ أَرضٍ نِعمَةً
وَبِكُلِّand in every مُعتَرِكٍbattlefield ثَناءpraise يُؤثَرُis handed down
وَبِكُلِّ مُعتَرِكٍ ثَناء يُؤثَرُ
A king with a benefaction in every land,
A kingdom he possesses in every land,
and praise handed down from every battlefield.
And every battlefield resounds with his feats maintained and extolled.
وَلِسَيفِهِand for his sword فيin كُلِّevery هامٍhead مَورِدٌa watering-place
وَلِسَيفِهِ في كُلِّ هامٍ مَورِدٌ
وَلِرُمحِهِand for his spear فيin كُلِّevery صَدرٍbreast مَصدَرُan outlet
وَلِرُمحِهِ في كُلِّ صَدرٍ مَصدَرُ
His sword has a watering-place in every head,
To his sword, in every foe, a cleaving blow,
and his spear an outlet in every breast.
To his lance, into every chest a destined goal.
مُتَقَلِّدٌwearing مِنfrom رَأيِهِhis judgment وَحُسامِهِand his keen sword
مُتَقَلِّدٌ مِن رَأيِهِ وَحُسامِهِ
سَيفَينِtwo swords ذاthis one يَخفىis hidden وَذَلِكَand that one يَظهَرُis visible
سَيفَينِ ذا يَخفى وَذَلِكَ يَظهَرُ
He wears, in his judgment and his keen blade,
Girded with two swords - of wisdom and steel,
two swords: this one hidden, that one visible.
One hidden from sight and one visible, brandished brave and bold.
صيغَتwas fashioned لِحَيدرَةَfor Haydara بنson of يَملولYamlul يَدٌa hand
صيغَت لِحَيدرَةَ بن يَملول يَدٌ
مِنهاfrom it المَناياdeaths وَالمُنىand wishes يَتَحَدَّرُpour down
مِنها المَنايا وَالمُنى يَتَحَدَّرُ
A hand was fashioned for Haydara ibn Yamlul,
Molded by the hand of Hyder ibn Yammal,
from which deaths and wishes pour down.
From it doom and destiny will flow.
وَجَبينهand his brow بَدرa full moon وَساحَةand the expanse of صَدرِهِhis chest
وَجَبينه بَدر وَساحَة صَدرِهِ
بَرٌland وَأَنمُلُand the fingertips of راحَتَيهِhis two palms أَبحُرُseas
بَرٌ وَأَنمُلُ راحَتَيهِ أَبحُرُ
His brow is a full moon; the expanse of his chest
His brow a full moon, and his chest a open plain,
is land, and the fingertips of his two palms are seas.
His palm-trees oceans running long and uncontrolled.
يَجلوunveils إِذاwhen عَبِسَscowls اللَئيمُthe base man لِوَفدهat his guests
يَجلو إِذا عَبِسَ اللَئيمُ لِوَفده
وَجهاًa face لماءfor the water of البِشرِgood cheer فيهِin it مخبَرُevidence
وَجهاً لماء البِشرِ فيهِ مخبَرُ
When the base man scowls at his guests, he unveils
When the villain scowls in his presence,
a face bearing witness to the water of good cheer.
His face is bright as water washed pure, cleansed of heathen mold.
طَلقٌbright and open كَصَفحِlike the flat of السَيفِa sword إِلّاexcept أَنَّهُthat it
طَلقٌ كَصَفحِ السَيفِ إِلّا أَنَّهُ
فيon جانِبَيهِits two sides مِنof البَشاشَةِcheerfulness جَوهَرُa jewel
في جانِبَيهِ مِن البَشاشَةِ جَوهَرُ
Open and bright as a sword's flat, except that
Smooth as a sword's blade, except
on its two sides gleams the jewel of cheerfulness.
On both sides, with gentle kindness and charm, his manner he'll fold.
وَتَرىand behold عِداهُhis foes إِذاwhen رَأَوهُthey see him وَحدَهُhim alone
وَتَرى عِداهُ إِذا رَأَوهُ وَحدَهُ
جَيشاًan army لَهُfor it ظهرَthe back الحِصانthe horse مُعَسكَرُan encampment
جَيشاً لَهُ ظهرَ الحِصان مُعَسكَرُ
His foes, when they see him alone, behold
You'd think when his enemies saw him alone,
an army whose encampment is the back of his horse.
They saw a whole army, horses prancing unrestrained and cajoled.
كَمhow often رَدَّrepelled دونَahead of الدارِعينَthe armored men بِنَفسِهِby himself
كَم رَدَّ دونَ الدارِعينَ بِنَفسِهِ
جَيشاًan army يَضيقُis too narrow بِهِfor it الفَضاءthe open plain الأَقوَرُthe vast one
جَيشاً يَضيقُ بِهِ الفَضاء الأَقوَرُ
How often, ahead of the armored men, has he alone repelled
How often he stopped advancing armies single-handedly,
an army for which the vast open plain is too narrow.
As multitudes bottlenecked in the narrow lane and passageway tolled.
لِلنَّقعِfor the dust فيهِwithin it وَلِلجوارِحِand for birds of prey فَوقَهُabove it
لِلنَّقعِ فيهِ وَلِلجوارِحِ فَوقَهُ
سِترانِtwo veils أَدكَنdusky ذاthis one وَذاكَand that one مُحَبَّرُpatterned
سِترانِ أَدكَن ذا وَذاكَ مُحَبَّرُ
For the dust within it and the birds of prey above it,
Over him the spears and trumpets,
there are two veils: this one dusky, that one patterned.
Layered darker than darker in status manifold.
تَعرىgo bare الوِهادthe lowlands وَتَكتَسيand clothe themselves مِنfrom جُندِهِhis troops
تَعرى الوِهاد وَتَكتَسي مِن جُندِهِ
طُرُزاًembroidered bands وَتنتَقِبُand veil themselves الجِبالthe mountains وَتُسفِرُand unveil themselves
طُرُزاً وَتنتَقِبُ الجِبال وَتُسفِرُ
The lowlands go bare, then clothe themselves with his troops
The rough ground sheds its cloak and is clad
in embroidered bands; the mountains veil and unveil themselves.
In fine dress, as mountains dawn their brilliant gold.
قَسَمَdivided الفَلاthe wilderness شِطرَينِinto two halves تَحتَbeneath مَسيرهhis march
قَسَمَ الفَلا شِطرَينِ تَحتَ مَسيره
شَطراًone half يَسيرُhe travels بِهِthrough it وَشَطراًand one half يَنصُرُhe aids
شَطراً يَسيرُ بِهِ وَشَطراً يَنصُرُ
He split the wilderness in two beneath his march:
The desert sand divides in two halves beneath his tread,
one half he travels through, and the other he aids.
One half on which he walks, the other half to bless and uphold.
إِنif شئتَyou desire أَنصارhelpers الحِمامِdeath فَنادهthen call to him
إِن شئتَ أَنصار الحِمامِ فَناده
وَالخَيلُand the horses تعثرstumble بِالقَناover lances ياO حَيدَرُHaydar
وَالخَيلُ تعثر بِالقَنا يا حَيدَرُ
If you desire death's helpers, call out to him,
If you wish the supporters of the Holy Sanctuary, call upon him!
while horses stumble over lances: O Haydar!
The horses stumble over the rugged valley in the battle bold.
وَكأنَّand as though صدرَthe forepart of قَناتِهِhis lance يَومthe day of الوَغىbattle
وَكأنَّ صدرَ قَناتِهِ يَوم الوَغى
سِلكٌa thread وَأَبطالand the champions الفَوارِسِthe horsemen جَوهَرُjewels
سِلكٌ وَأَبطال الفَوارِسِ جَوهَرُ
It is as though the forepart of his lance, on battle day,
As if the valley of his combat were a crucible
were a thread, and the champions among horsemen its jewels.
And the horsemen champions refined jewels and gold.
مُتَيَقِّظٌvigilant فيin كُلِّevery جارِحَةٍlimb لَهُof his
مُتَيَقِّظٌ في كُلِّ جارِحَةٍ لَهُ
مَخصوصةspecially endowed قَلبa heart وَعينand an eye تَنظُرُthat watches
مَخصوصة قَلب وَعين تَنظُرُ
Watchful, with every limb of his
In each limb, an observant heart he has,
endowed with its own heart and an eye that watches.
A devoted heart and watching eye their tireless roles extolled.
لِلجودِfor generosity ماwhat تَحويhold يَداهُhis two hands وَماand what حَوىhe has held
لِلجودِ ما تَحوي يَداهُ وَما حَوى
وَالمَجدُand glory ماwhat يُخفيconceals الحَياءmodesty وَيُظهِرُand reveals
وَالمَجدُ ما يُخفي الحَياء وَيُظهِرُ
All his hands hold, and all he has held, is for generosity;
What his hands contain and encompass for generosity!
and glory is what modesty conceals and reveals.
Glory lies in what modesty hides and what is publicly told.
أَمّاas for الإِمامthe Imam فَإِنَّهُso he is indeed لَكَto you شاكِرٌgrateful
أَمّا الإِمام فَإِنَّهُ لَكَ شاكِرٌ
وَاللَهُand God أَرضىmore pleased مِنهُthan he عَنكَwith you وَأَشكَرُand more appreciative
وَاللَهُ أَرضى مِنهُ عَنكَ وَأَشكَرُ
As for the Imam, he is thankful to you,
The Imam is thankful to you as he ought,
and God is more pleased with you than he, and more appreciative.
And God is pleased with you and thanks you manifold.
آليتI swore أستَسقيto seek rain الغَمائِمthe clouds بَعدَهاafter it
آليت أستَسقي الغَمائِم بَعدَها
وَيَمينand the right hand of حَيدرةHaydara الغِمامِthe raincloud الأَكبَرُthe greatest
وَيَمين حَيدرة الغِمامِ الأَكبَرُ
I swore to seek rain from the clouds after it,
I wished to beg the rainclouds after you,
while Haydara's right hand is the greatest raincloud.
But your hand is raincloud enough, bursting, raining uncontrolled.
أَولَيتَنيyou bestowed on me مِنfrom غَيرِabsence of مَعرِفَةٍacquaintance جَرَتthat had occurred
أَولَيتَني مِن غَيرِ مَعرِفَةٍ جَرَت
نِعَماًfavors فَجِئتَكَso I came to you بِالمَدائِحِwith praises أَشكُرُgiving thanks
نِعَماً فَجِئتَكَ بِالمَدائِحِ أَشكُرُ
You bestowed on me, without prior acquaintance,
You have granted me blessings without prior merit,
favors; so I came to you with praises, giving thanks.
So in gratitude I come to you this poor poem to have and hold.
وَغَرستَand you planted عِنديwith me نعمةa favor لَكَfor you أَثمَرَتbore fruit
وَغَرستَ عِندي نعمة لَكَ أَثمَرَت
وَمنand among الفِعالِdeeds مُقَدَّمwhat comes first وَمؤَخَّرُand what follows
وَمن الفِعالِ مُقَدَّم وَمؤَخَّرُ
And you planted in me a favor that bore fruit for you;
You planted in me a gift that bore fruit for you,
among deeds, some come first and others follow.
The giver precedes and succeeds every deed as foretold.
فَدِمَشقٌso Damascus قَدhas نارَتshone بِحُسنِwith the beauty of رِياضِهاits gardens
فَدِمَشقٌ قَد نارَت بِحُسنِ رِياضِها
إِذwhen كُنتyou were فيهاin it أَنتَyou سَعدٌa lucky star نَيِّرُradiant
إِذ كُنت فيها أَنتَ سَعدٌ نَيِّرُ
So Damascus shone with the beauty of its gardens,
Damascus flared up in the beauty of its meadows,
when you were there, a radiant lucky star.
When you were there, fortunate and blessings untold.
فَظلامُهاso its darkness فَجرٌdawn وَحُسنand the beauty of ضِيائِهاits radiance
فَظلامُها فَجرٌ وَحُسن ضِيائِها
دُرٌّpearls وَتربَتُهاand its soil عَبيرٌperfume أَذفَرُintensely fragrant
دُرٌّ وَتربَتُها عَبيرٌ أَذفَرُ
Its darkness is dawn, and the beauty of its radiance
Its darkness is dawn, the beauty of its lights pearls,
is pearl; its soil is richly scented perfume.
Its soil is perfume and saffron purple and gold.
أَنتَyou الرَبيعُspring وَكَيفَand how تَحياcomes to life بَلدَةٌa town
أَنتَ الرَبيعُ وَكَيفَ تَحيا بَلدَةٌ
حَتّىuntil يُجاوِرُهاdwells beside it الرَبيعspring المُمطِرُrain-bearing
حَتّى يُجاوِرُها الرَبيع المُمطِرُ
You are spring; how can a town come to life
You are the spring - how can any land live
until rain-bearing spring dwells beside it?
Until graced by your presence, soft spring rains cajoling fold.
أَكثرتI made much of جودكyour bounty ثُمَّthen قلتI said وَنَفسُand the soul of مَنone who
أَكثرت جودك ثُمَّ قلت وَنَفسُ مَن
يهبgives النَفيسprecious things مِنَamong العَطاياgifts أَكثَرُgreater
يهب النَفيس مِنَ العَطايا أَكثَرُ
I made much of your bounty, then said: the soul of one
You gave abundantly then reduced your giving - but one
who gives precious gifts is greater still.
Who gives precious gifts gives ever more and manifold.
ياO صاحِfriend لَيسَis not بِمُنكَرٍsomething surprising أَنthat يُجتَنىbe gathered
يا صاحِ لَيسَ بِمُنكَرٍ أَن يُجتَنى
مِنfrom مِثلِthe like of هذاthis البَحرُsea هَذاthis الجَوهَرُjewel
مِن مِثلِ هذا البَحرُ هَذا الجَوهَرُ
O friend, it is no wonder that one should gather
O you whose cry is the best of good counsel -
such a jewel from a sea like this.
It is no shame that this ocean bore this pearl.
بِالنُصحِthrough sincere counsel قَدَّمكplaced you first الإِمامthe Imam عَلىabove الوَرىmankind
بِالنُصحِ قَدَّمك الإِمام عَلى الوَرى
ومنand among الفِعالdeeds مُقدَّمٌwhat takes precedence لاnot يُنكَرُis denied
ومن الفِعال مُقدَّمٌ لا يُنكَرُ
Through sincere counsel, the Imam set you above mankind;
By his counsel the Imam preferred you over all people,
and some deeds have a precedence none can deny.
He whose actions precede, this cannot be controlled.
Sol 6.1