أأجفانُare they eyelids بِيضٍfair maidens هُنّthey أمor بِيضُbright blades أجفانِsheaths
أأجفانُ بِيضٍ هُنّ أم بِيضُ أجفانِ
فَواتِكُdeadly ones لاnot تُبقيspare علىupon الدَّنِفِthe lovesick man العانيthe suffering captive
فَواتِكُ لا تُبقي على الدَّنِفِ العاني
Are they the eyelids of fair maidens, or bright blades in sheaths?
Are they whitened eyelids, or is the white of eyelids?
Deadly ones that spare no lovesick captive.
Your beauty leaves no trace on a grieving heart.
صَوارمُsharp blades عشّاقٍlovers يُقتِلْنَthey kill ذاthe possessor of الهوَىlove
صَوارمُ عشّاقٍ يُقتِلْنَ ذا الهوَى
ومنand from دونهاbefore them أيضاًalso صوارمُsharp blades فُرسانwarriors
ومن دونها أيضاً صوارمُ فُرسان
Lovers' blades, killing the one possessed by love,
Swords of lovers that slay the passionate,
and before them, too, are warriors' blades.
And other swords of horsemen just the same.
مرَرْنَthey passed بنَعْمانٍthrough Na'man فماand not زلتُI ceased واجِداًfinding
مرَرْنَ بنَعْمانٍ فما زلتُ واجِداً
إلىuntil الحولthe year نشْرَthe fragrance المسْكmusk منfrom بطنِthe valley of نَعمانNa'man
إلى الحول نشْرَ المسْك من بطنِ نَعمان
They passed through Na'man, and I kept finding,
We passed by al-Nu'man, and fragrance still
for a whole year, musk's fragrance from Na'man's valley.
comes from Nu'man's belly folds until next year.
سَوافرٌunveiled women فيin خُضْرِgreen المُلاءmantles سَوائرٌmoving women
سَوافرٌ في خُضْرِ المُلاء سَوائرٌ
كماas ماسَswayed فيamong الأوراقِthe leaves أعطافُthe curves of أغصانbranches
كما ماسَ في الأوراقِ أعطافُ أغصان
Unveiled, moving in green mantles,
It sailed among the meadow’s greenery, sailed
as the curves of branches sway among the leaves.
like boughs that bent into the leaves an arm.
وقدand already أطلعَتْthey brought forth ورْدَthe roses of الخدودِcheeks نواضراًfresh
وقد أطلعَتْ ورْدَ الخدودِ نواضراً
ومنand from دونِهاbefore them شَوكُthe thorns of القناspears فمَنِso who الجانيis the gatherer
ومن دونِها شَوكُ القنا فمَنِ الجاني
They brought forth fresh roses upon their cheeks,
The rose of cheeks shone radiantly,
but before them stand spear-thorns: who will gather them?
while close behind, the prickly pear was to blame.
ولاand nothing مثْلَequal to يوميmy day بالعُذَيْبِat al-Udhayb ونَظْرةٍand a glance
ولا مثْلَ يومي بالعُذَيْبِ ونَظْرةٍ
نظرْتُI cast وقدwhen already سارتْhad departed بواكِرُthe first of أظْعانcamel-litters
نظرْتُ وقد سارتْ بواكِرُ أظْعان
Nothing equals my day at al-Udhayb, and a glance
Nothing compares to my days in Udhayb and
I cast when the first camel-litters had departed.
when I looked, the far-off lightning began.
سمَوْتُI rose لهاtoward her فيamong غِلْمِةyouths عَربيَّةٍArab
سمَوْتُ لها في غِلْمِة عَربيَّةٍ
ذويpossessing أوجُهٍfaces نمَّتْrevealed بهاthem اللُّثْمُthe veils غُرّانradiant-faced
ذوي أوجُهٍ نمَّتْ بها اللُّثْمُ غُرّان
I rose toward her among Arab youths,
I yearned for her among an Arab tribe-
with radiant faces their veils betrayed.
youths grew mustaches, start of manliness.
فكمand how many غازَلتْناflirted with us منof لواحظِthe gazes of رَبْرَبa gazelle-herd
فكم غازَلتْنا من لواحظِ رَبْرَب
ومالَتْand inclined إليناtoward us منof سَوالفِthe necks of غِزْلانgazelles
ومالَتْ إلينا من سَوالفِ غِزْلان
How many gazes of a gazelle-herd flirted with us,
How many times we were teased by a flirt
and how many gazelles' necks inclined toward us!
who leaned toward us, by a frisky gazelle.
فقدfor indeed أصبحَتْhave become تلكthose العُهودَbygone days دوارساًfaded
فقد أصبحَتْ تلك العُهودَ دوارساً
كماas دَرَستْfaded فيthrough الدّهرِtime أرجاءُthe quarters of أرْجانArrajan
كما دَرَستْ في الدّهرِ أرجاءُ أرْجان
Those bygone days have now faded,
Those times are gone, vanished
as Arrajan's quarters have faded with time.
like tracks time’s hooves have trampled and dispersed.
ولمand not يَبْقَremains منof لَيْلَىLayla الغداةَthis morning لناظريbefore my eyes
ولم يَبْقَ من لَيْلَى الغداةَ لناظري
سِوىexcept طَلَلٍa ruined dwelling إنif زُرْتُهI visit it هاجَit stirs أشجانيmy sorrows
سِوى طَلَلٍ إن زُرْتُه هاجَ أشجاني
This morning, nothing of Layla remains before my eyes
Of Layla at dawn naught remains for my eyes
except a ruin whose visit stirs my sorrows.
but ruins - if I visit, the brambles stir grief in me.
فسَقْياًso may rain bless لواديthe valley of الدَّوْمِdoum palms مَعْهدَthe former abode of جيرةٍneighbors
فسَقْياً لوادي الدَّوْمِ مَعْهدَ جيرةٍ
وإنْeven if ظَلَّit remains قَفْراًdeserted غيرَexcept مَوقفِa stopping place for رُكْبانriders
وإنْ ظَلَّ قَفْراً غيرَ مَوقفِ رُكْبان
May rain bless the doum-palm valley, my neighbors' former abode,
So, greet the valley of al-Dawm, Juayrah’s camp,
though it remains deserted, save as a stopping place for riders.
though it’s deserted, no riders stop anymore.
وقفتُI stood بهاthere صُبْحاًat dawn أُناشدُimploring مَعْشريmy companions
وقفتُ بها صُبْحاً أُناشدُ مَعْشري
وأُنشدُand I recite أشعاريmy poems وأَنشُدُand I seek غِزْلانيmy gazelles
وأُنشدُ أشعاري وأَنشُدُ غِزْلاني
I stood there at dawn, imploring my companions,
I stood there one morn, calling out to my friends,
reciting my poems and seeking my gazelles.
reciting my poems, my love songs as well.
ولمّاand when تَوسَّمْتُI recognized المنازلَthe dwellings شاقَنيstirred my longing
ولمّا تَوسَّمْتُ المنازلَ شاقَني
تَذكُّرُthe remembrance of أَيامٍdays عَهدْتُI knew وإخْوانand friends
تَذكُّرُ أَيامٍ عَهدْتُ وإخْوان
When I recognized the dwellings, longing stirred within me
And when I made out the abandoned abodes,
at memories of days I knew, and friends.
longing gripped me - I recalled bygone days and friends.
مضَتْthey passed ومضَوْاand they departed عنّيfrom me فقلتُso I said تأَسُّفاًsorrowfully
مضَتْ ومضَوْا عنّي فقلتُ تأَسُّفاً
قِفاstop, you two نَبْكِlet us weep منfrom ذكْرَىthe memory of أُناسٍpeople وأزْمانand times
قِفا نَبْكِ من ذكْرَى أُناسٍ وأزْمان
Those days passed, and they departed from me; sorrowfully I said,
Those days have passed, and they left me, so I said
'Stop, you two; let us weep at memories of people and times.'
in regret: “Stop, let us weep for people and days of old.”
تأوَّبنيrevisited me at night ذِكْرُthe memory of الأحبّةِthe loved ones طارقاًas a night visitor
تأوَّبني ذِكْرُ الأحبّةِ طارقاً
وللَّيْلِand night has فيupon الآفاقِthe horizons وَقْفةُthe pause of حَيْرانa bewildered one
وللَّيْلِ في الآفاقِ وَقْفةُ حَيْران
The memory of loved ones revisited me by night,
Remembrance of loved ones crept up on me at night
while night stood bewildered upon the horizons.
and the night halted, confused, on the horizons.
وأرَّقنيand kept me awake والمَشْرَفيُّwhile the Mashrafi sword مُضاجِعيwas my bedfellow
وأرَّقني والمَشْرَفيُّ مُضاجِعي
سَناthe glow of بارقٍlightning أسْرَىtraveled by night فَهيَّجَand stirred أَحزانيmy sorrows
سَنا بارقٍ أسْرَى فَهيَّجَ أَحزاني
And, with a Mashrafi sword beside me, I was kept awake
It deprived me of sleep - while still dark, lightning
by the glow of lightning traveling at night, stirring my sorrows.
kindled fires, awakening sorrows in me.
ثلاثةُthree أجفانٍsheaths or eyelids ففيand within طَيِّthe folds of واحدٍone
ثلاثةُ أجفانٍ ففي طَيِّ واحدٍ
غِرارٌa blade's edge وخالٍand empty منof غِرارَيْهماtheir brief slumbers اثْنانtwo
غِرارٌ وخالٍ من غِرارَيْهما اثْنان
Three sheaths: within the folds of one
Three eyelids, yet a single fold contains
lies a blade; the other two lack their brief slumber.
but two others apart from each other.
يُخَيَّلُit seems ليto me أنْthat سُمِّرَwere nailed الشُّهْبُthe stars فيin الدُّجَىthe darkness
يُخَيَّلُ لي أنْ سُمِّرَ الشُّهْبُ في الدُّجَى
وشُدَّتْand were tied بأهْدابيby my lashes إليهِنَّto them أجْفانيmy eyelids
وشُدَّتْ بأهْدابي إليهِنَّ أجْفاني
I imagine the stars have been nailed into the darkness,
I imagine the grey hair seems, in the gloom,
and my eyelids tied to them by my lashes.
to be my eyelids, fastened to them.
نظرتُI looked إلىat البَرْقِthe lightning الخَفيِّfaint كأنّهas though it
نظرتُ إلى البَرْقِ الخَفيِّ كأنّه
حديثٌa tale مُضاعٌlost بينَbetween سِرٍّsecrecy وإعْلانand proclamation
حديثٌ مُضاعٌ بينَ سِرٍّ وإعْلان
I watched the faint lightning, as though it were
I looked at the faint lightning as though it were
a tale lost between secrecy and proclamation.
whispers between a secret and open proclamation.
وباتَand spent the night لهfor it منّيfrom me وقدwhen already طَنّبَpitched its tent الدُّجَىthe darkness
وباتَ له منّي وقد طَنّبَ الدُّجَى
كَلوءُa watcher of اللَّياليnights طَرْفُهhis eye غَيْرُnot وَسْنانdrowsy
كَلوءُ اللَّيالي طَرْفُه غَيْرُ وَسْنان
Through the night, as darkness pitched its tent, it had in me
It stayed the night with me, and gloom wrapped it
a watcher of nights with an unsleeping eye.
like the darkness covers what isn’t bright.
لهhe has عارِضٌa cheek فيهupon it منof الدَّمْعِtears عارِضa raincloud
له عارِضٌ فيه من الدَّمْعِ عارِض
وخَدٌّand a cheek بهupon it خَدٌّa furrow وعَيْناهُand his two eyes عَيْنانtwo springs
وخَدٌّ به خَدٌّ وعَيْناهُ عَيْنان
He has a cheek bearing a raincloud of tears,
It has a brow where teardrops form a brow,
a cheek scored by a furrow, and two eyes that are springs.
and a cheek - one cheek next to another cheek, and two eyes.
أَلاlisten أَبْلِغاconvey, you two عنّيon my behalf علىdespite نَأْيِthe remoteness of دارهاher home
أَلا أَبْلِغا عنّي على نَأْيِ دارها
سُلَيْمَىSulayma سَلاميmy greeting وانْظُراand see, you two ماwhat تُعِيدانyou two bring back
سُلَيْمَى سَلامي وانْظُرا ما تُعِيدان
Listen, you two: convey from me, though her home is distant,
Go give my greetings to Sulaymah where she dwells
my greeting to Sulayma, and see what answer you bring back.
and see what answers you get, you two.
بآيةِby the token of ماhow صادَتْshe captured فؤاديmy heart إذاwhen بدَتْshe appeared
بآيةِ ما صادَتْ فؤادي إذا بدَتْ
وفيand around جيدِهاher neck عِقْدٌa necklace وفيand within الثَّغْرِthe mouth عِقْدانtwo necklaces
وفي جيدِها عِقْدٌ وفي الثَّغْرِ عِقْدان
By the token of how she captured my heart when she appeared,
By the signet when she shows her face, a knot on her brow
with one necklace around her neck and two within her mouth.
and on her lip, two knots.
وقدand already ختَمتْshe sealed منّيof mine علىupon كُلِّeach ناظرٍeye
وقد ختَمتْ منّي على كُلِّ ناظرٍ
وماand not كنتُI was للمُستَوْدِعينَto those entrusting me بخَوّانa betrayer
وما كنتُ للمُستَوْدِعينَ بخَوّان
She sealed each of my eyes,
She sealed me off from all who look on,
and I was never a betrayer of those who entrusted me,
though I wasn’t made guardian of concealed secrets.
بخاتِمِwith the signet of ثَغْرٍa mouth فَصُّهits gem منof عَقيقةٍagate
بخاتِمِ ثَغْرٍ فَصُّه من عَقيقةٍ
يَمانيةٍYemeni والنّقشُand the engraving بالدُّرِّwith pearls سَطْرانtwo rows
يَمانيةٍ والنّقشُ بالدُّرِّ سَطْران
with the signet of a mouth whose gem was agate
With the seal of her lips - its gemstone from Yemen,
from Yemen, its engraving two rows of pearls.
inscribed with two lines of pearls.
وقالتْand she said لدىduring تَقْبيلِthe kissing of عَيْنيmy eyes مُحرَّمٌforbidden
وقالتْ لدى تَقْبيلِ عَيْني مُحرَّمٌ
علىupon النّاسِpeople أَنْto ترنوgaze إلىuntil يومَthe day تَلقَانيyou meet me
على النّاسِ أَنْ ترنو إلى يومَ تَلقَاني
As she kissed my eyes, she said, 'It is forbidden
When she kissed my eyes she said: “For others,
to gaze upon people until the day you meet me.'
seeing me again is forbidden until we meet.”
فقلتُso I said أَقلِّيdo less أُمَّmother of عَمْروٍAmr وأقْصِريand cease
فقلتُ أَقلِّي أُمَّ عَمْروٍ وأقْصِري
فحُبُّكِfor your love ياO ذاتَwearer of الوِشاحَيْنِthe two sashes أَفْنانيhas consumed me
فحُبُّكِ يا ذاتَ الوِشاحَيْنِ أَفْناني
I said, 'Enough, Umm Amr; cease!
So I said: “Make it brief, O daughter of ‘Amr, shorten it,
Your love, O wearer of two sashes, has consumed me.
for your love has totally absorbed me.”
أخَتْماًa seal علىupon عَيْنيmy eyes ولاand no قلبَheart فيin الحَشاthe breast
أخَتْماً على عَيْني ولا قلبَ في الحَشا
ولستُand I am not علىover ماwhat فيis in your hands يدَيْكِa keeper of treasures بخَزّانa keeper
ولستُ على ما في يدَيْكِ بخَزّان
A seal upon my eyes, when no heart remains in my breast?
A seal on my eyes, not a heart in my breast,
And I am no keeper of what lies in your hands.'
I’m no guardian of what’s in your possession.
فقالتْso she said كلاكَmay He guard you اللهُGod منas مُتَرحِّلٍa departing traveler
فقالتْ كلاكَ اللهُ من مُتَرحِّلٍ
أَقامَremained لهfor him عنديwith me الغرامُpassion وأَضْنانيand wasted me
أَقامَ له عندي الغرامُ وأَضْناني
She said, 'May God guard you, departing traveler,
She said: “May God spare you from one who travels,
for whom passion stayed with me and wasted me.
whom passion detains with me, and longing.”
لعلَّكperhaps you تُبْلَىwill be afflicted بالسِّفارِby travels فتَرْعَويand relent
لعلَّك تُبْلَى بالسِّفارِ فتَرْعَوي
وإنalthough كنتَyou are تُغْرَىtempted فيwhile الجِوارِnearby بهِجْرانيto shun me
وإن كنتَ تُغْرَى في الجِوارِ بهِجْراني
Perhaps travel will afflict you, and you will relent,
Maybe travel will wear you out, and you’ll pasture
though while nearby you are tempted to shun me.
far away, though enticed by vicinity of me.
فكمand how many ناظرٍa gazing person فيin شاسعٍa distant place منfrom مكانهhis location
فكم ناظرٍ في شاسعٍ من مكانه
إلىtoward البيتِthe house لمnot يَنْظُرْdid he look إليهtoward it مِنَfrom الثّانيthe next house
إلى البيتِ لم يَنْظُرْ إليه مِنَ الثّاني
How many gaze from a distant place
How many a gazer from a distant place
at a house they never looked toward from the next house!'
looked here without a second glance.
كفىit suffices حزَناًas sorrow ألاّthat not أَزالَI cease مُواصِلاًbestowing continually
كفى حزَناً ألاّ أَزالَ مُواصِلاً
أَعاديَّon my enemies ذِكْريmy remembrance والأحِبّةَand on loved ones نِسْيانيmy forgetfulness
أَعاديَّ ذِكْري والأحِبّةَ نِسْياني
Enough sorrow that I keep bestowing
Enough sorrow! Do not persist
my remembrance on my enemies, and my forgetfulness on loved ones.
in renewing memories of me and loved ones, forgetting me.
أَتانيَcame to me عنfrom أَقصَىthe farthest reaches of المدينةِthe city طارقاًas a night visitor
أَتانيَ عن أَقصَى المدينةِ طارقاً
وَعيدٌa threat وأَصْحابيwhile my companions بشَرقيِّin the eastern part of بَغْدانBaghdan
وَعيدٌ وأَصْحابي بشَرقيِّ بَغْدان
From the city's farthest reaches there came to me by night
You came to me from the far end of town, arriving
a threat, while my companions were in eastern Baghdan.
by night while my friends were east in al-Baghdad.
مَسحْتُI rubbed لهat it العَينَيْنِthe two eyes منّيof mine تَشكُّكاًin disbelief
مَسحْتُ له العَينَيْنِ منّي تَشكُّكاً
وماand not كانwas طَرْفيmy gaze بينbetween مُغْفٍa sleeping person ويَقْظانand a waking person
وما كان طَرْفي بين مُغْفٍ ويَقْظان
I rubbed my eyes at it in disbelief,
I wiped my eyes in doubt when I saw you -
though my gaze was not between sleep and waking.
my eyelids were not halfway open or fully awake.
فإنso if يكit be أعدائيmy enemies عليَّagainst me تَناصَرواjoined forces
فإن يك أعدائي عليَّ تَناصَروا
فماthen not هوit إلاّexcept منfrom تَخاذُلِthe failure of خُلاّنيmy close friends
فما هو إلاّ من تَخاذُلِ خُلاّني
If my enemies have joined forces against me,
Even if my enemies ally against me,
it is only because my friends have failed me.
it’s but because of the cowardice of my supporters.
وممّاand among what شَجانيgrieved me ياO ابْنةَdaughter of القومthe tribe أنّنيis that I
وممّا شَجاني يا ابْنةَ القوم أنّني
دَعوْتُcalled بإخْوانيfor my brothers فأقْبلَbut came خُوّانيmy betrayers
دَعوْتُ بإخْواني فأقْبلَ خُوّاني
Among my sorrows, O daughter of the tribe, is that
What saddened me, O maiden folk, is that
I called for my brothers, and my betrayers came.
I called on my brethren and traitors answered.
ولمand not أدْعُdid I summon للجُلَّىfor the great calamity أخاًa brother فأجابَنيwho answered me
ولم أدْعُ للجُلَّى أخاً فأجابَني
ولمand not أرضَdid I choose خِلاًّa close friend للوِدادِfor affection فأرْضانيwho satisfied me
ولم أرضَ خِلاًّ للوِدادِ فأرْضاني
No brother I summoned for a great calamity answered me,
I didn’t call an intimate for friendship, and he responded,
nor did a friend I chose for affection satisfy me.
nor did I want a boon companion, and he gratified me.
فياO ليتنيwould that I لمnot أدْرِhad known ماwhat الدّهرُtime is والورىand humankind
فيا ليتني لم أدْرِ ما الدّهرُ والورى
فقدfor indeed ساءنيdistressed me للدّهرِof time والنّاسِand people عِرْفانيmy knowledge
فقد ساءني للدّهرِ والنّاسِ عِرْفاني
Would that I had never known what time and humankind are:
Oh, would that I hadn’t known what time and fate are!
my knowledge of time and people has distressed me.
For I dislike my knowledge of time and people.
أبِيتُI spend the night علىupon ذكْرِthe remembrance of الجُناةِthe wrongdoers مُعاقِراًdrinking continually
أبِيتُ على ذكْرِ الجُناةِ مُعاقِراً
كؤوسَcups of دموعيmy tears والنَّدامةُand regret نَدْمانيis my drinking companion
كؤوسَ دموعي والنَّدامةُ نَدْماني
I spend the night remembering the wrongdoers, drinking
I stayed up late, drunk on remembering traitors,
cups of my tears, with regret as my drinking companion.
and regret filled me with twofold regret.
وآويand I resort إلىto عَزْمٍresolve إذاwhen جَدَّgrows earnest جِدُّهits earnestness
وآوي إلى عَزْمٍ إذا جَدَّ جِدُّه
غِنيتُI become self-sufficient بنَفْسيthrough myself فيهin it عنwithout عَوْنِthe aid of أعْوانيmy helpers
غِنيتُ بنَفْسي فيه عن عَوْنِ أعْواني
I resort to resolve which, when fully earnest,
I resort to resolve - when it’s firm, its firmness
makes me sufficient unto myself, without my helpers' aid.
enriches me, beyond needing supporters.
وأصفَحُand I pardon للإخوانِmy brothers عنfor كلَّevery زَلّةٍlapse
وأصفَحُ للإخوانِ عن كلَّ زَلّةٍ
وأصْحَرُand I come into the open إنif شئْتُI desire انْتقاماًrevenge لأقرانيagainst my peers
وأصْحَرُ إن شئْتُ انْتقاماً لأقراني
I pardon my brothers every lapse,
I pardon my brethren all offence
and, if I seek revenge, confront my peers in the open.
and take revenge on my peers if I desire.
ولاand not أتمنَّىdo I wish موتَthe death of خَصْميmy opponent وفَقْدَهand his disappearance
ولا أتمنَّى موتَ خَصْمي وفَقْدَه
كماas قدindeed تَمنَّىwished ابْناthe two sons of قَنانٍQanan وتُورانand Turan
كما قد تَمنَّى ابْنا قَنانٍ وتُوران
I do not wish for my opponent's death and disappearance,
I don’t wish for the death and loss of my foe
as the sons of Qanan and Turan have wished.
as the two sons of Qanan and Turan once did.
ولكنّنيbut I واللهُwhile God للحقِّof truth ناصِرٌis the champion
ولكنّني واللهُ للحقِّ ناصِرٌ
أصُدُّI turn away عنِfrom الشّانيthe hater وآخُذُand attend فيto شانيmy affairs
أصُدُّ عنِ الشّاني وآخُذُ في شاني
But I, with God the champion of truth,
But by God, I will defend what’s right,
turn away from the hater and attend to my own affairs.
protect from slander and take my due from slanderers.
وماand not زالتِhave ceased الأيّامُthe days تُبديto show تَعجٌّباًamazement
وما زالتِ الأيّامُ تُبدي تَعجٌّباً
لأمْرَيَّat my two circumstances فيin الدُّنياthe world مكانيmy station وإمكانيand my ability
لأمْرَيَّ في الدُّنيا مكاني وإمكاني
The days have never ceased to show amazement
Days keep expressing wonder
at my two worldly circumstances: my station and my ability.
at my status in life, what I can and cannot do.
كذَبْتُI spoke falsely وبيتِby the House of اللهِGod عِرضِيَmy honor وافرٌis undiminished
كذَبْتُ وبيتِ اللهِ عِرضِيَ وافرٌ
ودِينيand my faith ونَقْصُand a shortage of المالِmoney ليسis not بنُقْصانa deficiency
ودِيني ونَقْصُ المالِ ليس بنُقْصان
I spoke falsely, by God's House! My honor is undiminished,
I lied not - my honor is great,
and so is my faith; a shortage of money is no deficiency.
my faith secure, and lack of money no disgrace.
وليand I have كلِمٌwords مازِلنَthat have remained والمجدُwhile glory شاهدٌis a witness
ولي كلِمٌ مازِلنَ والمجدُ شاهدٌ
قلائدَnecklaces for أَعناقٍnecks وأَقراطَand earrings for آذانears
قلائدَ أَعناقٍ وأَقراطَ آذان
I have words that have remained, as glory bears witness,
My sayings stand forever, glory bears witness,
necklaces for necks and earrings for ears.
necklaces on necks and earrings on ears.
ودولةُand a realm of فَضْلٍmerit لوif جعلْتُI made نَزاهتيmy integrity
ودولةُ فَضْلٍ لو جعلْتُ نَزاهتي
وزيريَmy minister فيهاwithin it والقناعةَand contentment سُلْطانيmy sultan
وزيريَ فيها والقناعةَ سُلْطاني
And a realm of merit: were I to make my integrity
The kingdom of merit - if I made my integrity
my minister there, and contentment my sultan,
its minister, contentment its sultan.
إذنْthen لَحمانيwould protect me ظِلُّthe shade of ذاthis one فأعزَّنيand honor me
إذنْ لَحماني ظِلُّ ذا فأعزَّني
نَعَمْyes وأتانيand would reach me رِفْدُthe bounty of هذاthis one فأَغْنانيand enrich me
نَعَمْ وأتاني رِفْدُ هذا فأَغْناني
then this one's shade would protect and honor me;
So sheltering shade came my way, ennobling me.
yes, and this one's bounty would reach and enrich me.
Gifts reached me, enriching me.
ولمand not أَتَزوَّدْwould I provision myself منfrom خَسيسِthe baseness of مَطالبيmy pursuits
ولم أَتَزوَّدْ من خَسيسِ مَطالبي
وأَبناءُwhile the sons of دَهريmy age بينَare between ذُلٍّhumiliation وحِرْمانand deprivation
وأَبناءُ دَهري بينَ ذُلٍّ وحِرْمان
I would take no provisions from my base pursuits,
For my lowly wants, I didn’t gather provision,
while my contemporaries remained between humiliation and deprivation.
while the sons of fate sank into misery and deprivation.
ولكنّنيbut I أَصبحْتُhave come to be بينamong مَعاشرٍgroups of people
ولكنّني أَصبحْتُ بين مَعاشرٍ
بَلانيtested me بهمْthrough them صَرْفُthe vicissitudes of الزّمانِtime فأبلانيand wore me down
بَلاني بهمْ صَرْفُ الزّمانِ فأبلاني
But I have come to dwell among people
I found myself among folk
through whom time's vicissitudes tested and wore me down.
who tested me, so time fully tested me.
كأنّas though مُقامَthe standing of الفاضلِيَنthe virtuous لديهمُamong them
كأنّ مُقامَ الفاضلِيَن لديهمُ
سَناthe radiance of الشَّمسِthe sun ذُرَّتwas scattered فيinto نَواظرِthe eyes of عُمْيانblind people
سَنا الشَّمسِ ذُرَّت في نَواظرِ عُمْيان
The standing of the virtuous among them is like
To them, the abode of the noble
sunlight scattered into blind eyes.
is like the sun’s rays cast on the eyes of the blind.
لقدindeed رابَنيtroubled me وَعْدٌa promise أَتَىcame المَطْلُdelay دُونَهin its way
لقد رابَني وَعْدٌ أَتَى المَطْلُ دُونَه
ففوَّتَand caused the loss of أَوطاريmy wishes عليَّfor me وأَوْطانيand my homelands
ففوَّتَ أَوطاري عليَّ وأَوْطاني
A promise troubled me, with delay standing in its way,
A promise came but its arrival lagged behind,
depriving me of my wishes and my homelands.
wasting my moments and homelands for me.
وليand for me حَجَّةٌa year مرَّتْpassed وتَمَّand was completed خِتامُهاits conclusion
ولي حَجَّةٌ مرَّتْ وتَمَّ خِتامُها
بذيin Dhu حَجّةٍal-Hijjah والدَّهْرُand time بالنّاسِfor people يَوْمانis two days
بذي حَجّةٍ والدَّهْرُ بالنّاسِ يَوْمان
A year has passed for me, reaching its conclusion
I have a defense - its conclusion
in Dhu al-Hijjah; time gives people two kinds of days.
came at the Pilgrimage with the world's people in two days.
وكانتْand were لياليهاits nights عليَّupon me طويلةًlong
وكانتْ لياليها عليَّ طويلةً
تَمُرُّpassing علىover شاكٍone complaining منof الدَّهْرِtime وَلْهانdistraught
تَمُرُّ على شاكٍ من الدَّهْرِ وَلْهان
Its nights were long upon me,
Its nights were long for me,
passing over one distraught and complaining of time.
passing by one who complained of fate and humiliation.
فلمّاbut when تقَضَّتْit ended خِلْتُI imagined أَنَّthat زمانَهاits duration
فلمّا تقَضَّتْ خِلْتُ أَنَّ زمانَها
علىdespite طُولهِits length المَشْكُوِّlamented قَبسةُa snatched flame of عَجْلانa hasty person
على طُولهِ المَشْكُوِّ قَبسةُ عَجْلان
But when it ended, I imagined its duration,
When the promised time ended,
despite its lamented length, a spark snatched in haste.
I knew that its lengthy duration knit two ends together.
ولاand no غَرْوَwonder إلاّexcept مَنone who يَظَلُّremains علىover الَّذيwhat
ولا غَرْوَ إلاّ مَن يَظَلُّ على الَّذي
يُضيّعُhe wastes منof أَيّامِهhis days غيرَnot لَهْفانgrief-stricken
يُضيّعُ من أَيّامِه غيرَ لَهْفان
Nothing is strange except someone who remains
Blame none but those who waste
ungrieved over the days of his life he wastes.
their days on other than earnestness or play.
أَقولُI say ونَحْرُwhile the throat of الغَرْبِthe west حالٍis adorned عَشيّةًat dusk
أَقولُ ونَحْرُ الغَرْبِ حالٍ عَشيّةً
كأنَّas though علىupon لَبّاتهits breast طَوْقَa collar of عِقْيانpure gold
كأنَّ على لَبّاته طَوْقَ عِقْيان
I speak at dusk, while the west's throat is adorned,
I say, as night’s slaughter turns the horizon red one eve,
as though a collar of pure gold lay upon its breast:
its upper lip appears circled by snakes.
أَحَرْفُis it the edge of مِراةٍa mirror منfrom خلالِwithin غِشائهاits covering
أَحَرْفُ مِراةٍ من خلالِ غِشائها
بَداhas appeared أَمor هلالٌa crescent لاحَgleamed للنّاظرِfor the observer الرّانيgazing intently
بَدا أَم هلالٌ لاحَ للنّاظرِ الرّاني
Is it a mirror's edge that, through its covering,
Are they glimmering mirror shapes in its veil,
has appeared, or a crescent gleaming for the intent observer?
or a crescent moon gleaming for the onlooker?
أَمِor الفَلكُthe celestial sphere الدَّوّارُrevolving أَمسَىhas become مُوسَّماًbranded
أَمِ الفَلكُ الدَّوّارُ أَمسَى مُوسَّماً
بآخِرِwith the last حَرْفٍletter منof حُروفِthe letters of اسْمِthe name عُثْمانUthman
بآخِرِ حَرْفٍ من حُروفِ اسْمِ عُثْمان
Or has the revolving sphere become branded
Or has the revolving sphere now adorned itself
with the last letter of the name Uthman?
with the last letter of Uthman’s name?
فتىًa youth يَمْتطيwho rides الأفلاكَthe celestial spheres والخَيْلَand horses دائماًcontinually
فتىً يَمْتطي الأفلاكَ والخَيْلَ دائماً
فوَسْمٌso a branding بأنْوارٍwith lights ووَسْمٌand a branding بنِيرانwith fires
فوَسْمٌ بأنْوارٍ ووَسْمٌ بنِيران
A youth who forever rides the spheres and horses:
A prince forever mounted on celestial spheres and steeds -
a branding with light, and a branding with fire.
branded with lights and branded with fires.
مليكٌa king إلىto أَبوابهِhis gates الدّهْرَthroughout time يَنْتهيcomes
مليكٌ إلى أَبوابهِ الدّهْرَ يَنْتهي
سُرَىthe night-journey of كلِّevery مِطْعَانِmighty lance-wielder علىupon كُلِّevery مِذْعانobedient mount
سُرَى كلِّ مِطْعَانِ على كُلِّ مِذْعان
A king to whose gates, throughout time, comes
A sovereign before whom time halts,
the night-journey of every lance-wielder on every obedient mount.
submitter to his every piercing spear.
ولولاand were it not for نَدَىthe bounty of شَمْسِShams المُلوكِal-Muluk وجُودهُand his generosity
ولولا نَدَى شَمْسِ المُلوكِ وجُودهُ
لَماwould not زَعزعَتْhave shaken وَفْدٌa delegation ذَوائبَthe tassels of كِيرانcamel-saddles
لَما زَعزعَتْ وَفْدٌ ذَوائبَ كِيران
Were it not for the bounty and generosity of Shams al-Muluk,
If not for the sun of kings' radiance and generosity,
no delegation would have shaken camel-saddles' tassels.
no tribe would shake the pillars of Kieran's land.
بهِthrough him الدَّولةُthe state الغَرّاءُglorious أَضْحَتْhas become مُنيرةًradiant
بهِ الدَّولةُ الغَرّاءُ أَضْحَتْ مُنيرةً
فلاso may it not أَظْلمَتْgrow dark ماas long as غرَّدتْsings ذاتُa possessor of أَلْحانmelodies
فلا أَظْلمَتْ ما غرَّدتْ ذاتُ أَلْحان
Through him the glorious state has become radiant;
By him the glorious state grew luminous -
may it never darken while a songbird sings.
so, the singers never lost their tunes.
فتىًa youth فَرْقُthe difference ماthat is بَيْنَbetween الأنامِhumankind وبَيْنَهand him
فتىً فَرْقُ ما بَيْنَ الأنامِ وبَيْنَه
هوis الفَرْقُthe difference فيماthat is بَيْنَbetween كُفْرٍunbelief وإيمانand faith
هو الفَرْقُ فيما بَيْنَ كُفْرٍ وإيمان
A youth whose difference from the rest of humankind
A prince, the difference between people and him
is the difference between unbelief and faith.
is that between blasphemy and faith.
وأَبْلَجُand a radiant-faced man لمnot تُخْلَقْwas created لشَيْئَيْنِfor two things كَفُّهhis hand
وأَبْلَجُ لم تُخْلَقْ لشَيْئَيْنِ كَفُّه
لإحْسانِfor excelling at إمْساكٍwithholding وإمْساكِand withholding إحْسانbeneficence
لإحْسانِ إمْساكٍ وإمْساكِ إحْسان
A radiant-faced man whose hand was not made for two things:
His palm was created for only two things:
excelling at withholding, or withholding beneficence.
withholding goodness, or granting goodness.
فلاand not اليَمنُYemen اعتَدَّتْhas reckoned كمَدْحيequal to my praise لمَجْدِهof his glory
فلا اليَمنُ اعتَدَّتْ كمَدْحي لمَجْدِه
مَدائحَthe praises of حَسّانٍHassan لأمْلاكِfor the kings of غَسّانGhassan
مَدائحَ حَسّانٍ لأمْلاكِ غَسّان
Yemen has not reckoned equal to my praise of his glory
Yemen's praise doesn't vie with my praise of his glory
Hassan's praises of the kings of Ghassan.
like Hassan's praise of Ghassan's possessions.
ولاnor نسبَتْhas attributed فيamid الرَّوْعِterror مثْلَthe like of مَضائهhis keenness
ولا نسبَتْ في الرَّوْعِ مثْلَ مَضائه
إلىto سَيْفِa sword of غِمْدٍa sheath أَوor إلىto سَيْفِa sword of غُمْدانGhumdan
إلى سَيْفِ غِمْدٍ أَو إلى سَيْفِ غُمْدان
Nor has it attributed, amid terror, keenness like his
None linked roar to sword sheathed
to a sheathed sword, or to a sword of Ghumdan.
or to two unsheathed swords, as I did for his valor.
لهhe has ماضِياًtwo keen edges صمصامةٍa sharp sword ويَراعةٍand a reed-pen
له ماضِياً صمصامةٍ ويَراعةٍ
أُعِدّاboth were prepared لمِطْعامِfor a lavish feeder at الأصائلِlate afternoons مِطْعانa mighty lance-wielder
أُعِدّا لمِطْعامِ الأصائلِ مِطْعان
His are the two keen edges of sword and reed-pen,
He has a past of strength and excellence,
both readied for a lavish evening host, a mighty lance-wielder.
swords prepared to feed warriors' spears.
ولمand not نَرhave we seen لَيْثاًa lion قبلَbefore رُؤْيتناour seeing لهhim
ولم نَر لَيْثاً قبلَ رُؤْيتنا له
هِزَبْراًa mighty lion لهhe has فيin الكفِّthe hand للقِرْنِfor the adversary نابانtwo fangs
هِزَبْراً له في الكفِّ للقِرْنِ نابان
Before seeing him, we had never seen a lion,
No lion had we seen before seeing him
a mighty lion with two fangs in his hand for his adversary.
brandishing canines in his grip for horns.
أقولُI say لغِرٍّto an unwary man قامstanding فيin ظِلِّthe shade of غابةٍa thicket
أقولُ لغِرٍّ قام في ظِلِّ غابةٍ
مُزاحِمَcrowding وَرْدٍa tawny lion بينَbetween شِبْلَيْهits two cubs غَضْبانenraged
مُزاحِمَ وَرْدٍ بينَ شِبْلَيْه غَضْبان
I say to an unwary man standing in a thicket's shade,
I say to someone irked standing in the shade of trees,
crowding an angry tawny lion between its two cubs:
intruder between a lion cub and its rage:
أأعداءهO his enemies لاdo not تُخْرِجوهdrive him out عنِof الرِّضاcontentment
أأعداءه لا تُخْرِجوه عنِ الرِّضا
ولاand do not تُحْرِجوهُprovoke him فهْوfor he والدّهرُand fate سِيَّانare alike
ولا تُحْرِجوهُ فهْو والدّهرُ سِيَّان
O his enemies, do not drive him out of contentment,
Don't provoke him from contentment, enemies,
nor provoke him: he and fate are alike.
or embarrass him - he and fate are equals.
يَدُلُّhe guides برأْيٍwith judgment طامحِaspiring الطَّرْفِin gaze للعُلاto the heights
يَدُلُّ برأْيٍ طامحِ الطَّرْفِ للعُلا
مُفيقٍsober وجُودًand generosity باسطِoutstretching الكَفِّthe hand نَشْوانintoxicated
مُفيقٍ وجُودً باسطِ الكَفِّ نَشْوان
He guides with judgment whose gaze aspires to the heights,
With lofty ambitions he guides to ascendancy,
sober, and with generosity open-handed and intoxicated.
awake, generous, open-handed, felicitous.
ويَنْجوand rescues بأهلِthe people of الفَضْلِmerit فُلْكُthe ship of رجائهِhope in him
ويَنْجو بأهلِ الفَضْلِ فُلْكُ رجائهِ
إذاwhen حادثاتُthe calamities of الدَّهرِtime جاءتْcome بطُوفانwith a deluge
إذا حادثاتُ الدَّهرِ جاءتْ بطُوفان
The ship of hope in him rescues the virtuous
In the spear-thrust, the ship of hope survives
when time's calamities bring a deluge.
when the days' tribulations bring a deluge.
ويُعْجِبُهand delights him الضَّيفُthe guest المُنيخُwho dismounts كأنّهas though it
ويُعْجِبُه الضَّيفُ المُنيخُ كأنّه
زيارةُthe visit of إلفٍa beloved وصْلُهreunion with him بعدَafter هِجْرانestrangement
زيارةُ إلفٍ وصْلُه بعدَ هِجْران
A guest who dismounts delights him, as though it were
A departing guest pleases him as though
a beloved's visit, reunion after estrangement.
he were a loved one come after estrangement.
وأصدَقُand the most unerring of خَلْقِthe creatures of اللهِGod طعْناًin thrusting بذابلٍa slender spear
وأصدَقُ خَلْقِ اللهِ طعْناً بذابلٍ
إذاwhen مُدَّare extended للخيلِfor the horses القناthe spears بينَbetween آذانears
إذا مُدَّ للخيلِ القنا بينَ آذان
He is the most unerring of God's creatures in thrusting a slender spear,
Most truly slandered by one who withers is he
when spears are extended between the horses' ears.
when to the steeds he extends the spear between ears.
لهhe has قُلُبٌwells فيin الطَّعْنِpiercing فيin كُلِّevery لَبّةٍbreast
له قُلُبٌ في الطَّعْنِ في كُلِّ لَبّةٍ
طِوالُthe long القناspears فيهنّwithin them أمثالُare like أشْطانwell-ropes
طِوالُ القنا فيهنّ أمثالُ أشْطان
In every breast he pierces, he has wells,
In every strike his heart bears
with long spears within them like well-ropes.
spear-points that rival pythons in length.
أياO مَنyou who إذاwhen أضلَلْتI lose عندamong معاشرٍgroups of people
أيا مَن إذا أضلَلْت عند معاشرٍ
رَجائيَmy hope أضحَىbecomes عندin كَفَّيْهِhis two hands وِجدانيmy finding
رَجائيَ أضحَى عند كَفَّيْهِ وِجداني
O you, when among some people I lose
O you when strayed among folk
my hope, I find it in your two hands.
and my hopes rested in your palms bringing solace.
إذاwhen اسْتُعرِضَتْare reviewed أيّامُthe days of عامٍa year فإنّماthen indeed
إذا اسْتُعرِضَتْ أيّامُ عامٍ فإنّما
لَناwe have بكَthrough you أعيادٌfeast days وللنّاسِand other people have عِيدانtwo feasts
لَنا بكَ أعيادٌ وللنّاسِ عِيدان
When the days of a year are reviewed,
When a year's days are reviewed, you make
through you we have feast days, while others have but two feasts.
feasts for me while people get but two feasts.
ومُذْand since خُلِقَتْwas created عينُthe eye of اللّياليnights وفُتِّحَتْand was opened
ومُذْ خُلِقَتْ عينُ اللّيالي وفُتِّحَتْ
إلىtoward الخَلْقِcreation لمnot تَعْلَقْhas it attached itself سِواكexcept to you بإنْسانto a person; also, a pupil
إلى الخَلْقِ لم تَعْلَقْ سِواك بإنْسان
Since the eye of nights was created and opened
Since the eye of night was created and opened
upon creation, it has fixed on no person but you.
to people, none bound me as you did to another.
توسَّطْتَyou stood at the center منof آلِthe house of النّظامِNizam سَراتَهمْtheir nobles
توسَّطْتَ من آلِ النّظامِ سَراتَهمْ
كأنّكas though you بيتُthe House of اللهGod حُفَّwere surrounded بأركانby pillars
كأنّك بيتُ الله حُفَّ بأركان
You stand at the center of the nobles of the house of Nizam,
Among the Abbasids you hold centre place,
as though you were God's House, ringed by pillars.
as though you were the Sacred House ringed by cornerstones.
لكto you الخيرُblessings أنتyou العارِضُare the raincloud الجودُgenerosity وَبْلُهis its downpour
لك الخيرُ أنت العارِضُ الجودُ وَبْلُه
وبيand I have غُلَلٌburning thirst فامْطُرْso rain بساحةِupon the ground of ظَمْآنa thirsty man
وبي غُلَلٌ فامْطُرْ بساحةِ ظَمْآن
Blessings on you! You are the cloud, and generosity its downpour;
Yours is bounty. You are munificence and its rain,
I burn with thirst: rain upon a thirsty man's ground.
while I have fetters - so rain on the thirsty ground.
ومثْلُكand one like you مَنis someone who لاdoes not يَشْتريbuy حَمْدَthe praise of ناظمٍa versifier
ومثْلُك مَن لا يَشْتري حَمْدَ ناظمٍ
ولاnor ناثرٍa prose writer إلاّexcept بأوفَرِat the fullest أثْمانprices
ولا ناثرٍ إلاّ بأوفَرِ أثْمان
One such as you buys no versifier's praise,
And your like doesn't buy a poet's praise
nor any prose writer's, except at the fullest price.
or a prosodist's, but with amplest prices.
فلاso never يَخْلُوَنْbe empty ديوانُكمْyour register منof مَعيشتيmy livelihood
فلا يَخْلُوَنْ ديوانُكمْ من مَعيشتي
وأنْتُمْwhile you ملوكٌare kings مدْحُكمْyour praise مِلْءُfills ديوانيmy poetry collection
وأنْتُمْ ملوكٌ مدْحُكمْ مِلْءُ ديواني
Let your register never be without my livelihood,
Thus your register is never devoid of my livelihood,
when you are kings whose praise fills my collected poems.
while you all are kings whose praise fills a register.
بَقِيتَmay you endure بقاءَfor the duration of الدّهرِtime فيin ظِلِّthe shade of دولةٍsovereignty
بَقِيتَ بقاءَ الدّهرِ في ظِلِّ دولةٍ
وعزٍّand might جديدٍrenewed ماas long as تَوالَىsucceed each other الجَديدانday and night
وعزٍّ جديدٍ ما تَوالَى الجَديدان
May you endure as long as time, beneath the shade of sovereignty
You remain eternal in the shade of a state,
and renewed might, while day and night succeed each other.
glory renewed perpetually with the new.
Sol 6.1