سَلْ صدورَ الرِّكابِ ماذا الحَنينُ

سَلْ صدورَ الرِّكابِ ماذا الحَنينُ

وعَليْها تلك الظِّباءُ العِينُ

وعَليْها تلك الظِّباءُ العِينُ

Ask the breasts of the riding camels what this yearning is,

Ask the riders' chests, what is this yearning?

with those wide-eyed gazelles upon them.

While those gazelles have tender eyes upon them

نحن أوْلَى بأنْ نَحِنَّ غراماً

نحن أوْلَى بأنْ نَحِنَّ غراماً

لخليطٍ تَواعَدوا أنْ يَبينوا

لخليطٍ تَواعَدوا أنْ يَبينوا

We have more right to yearn in ardent love

We are more worthy to yearn out of love

for companions who have agreed to depart.

For a blend they agreed to clarify

حيث عَهْدي به يَجولُ وِشاحٌ

حيث عَهْدي به يَجولُ وِشاحٌ

للغواني غداً يجولُ وَضين

للغواني غداً يجولُ وَضين

Where I remember a sash swaying

Where my pact with it wanders, a cloak

for the fair women, tomorrow a saddle-girth will sway.

For the coquettes tomorrow wanders, supple

يا مطايا الأحبابِ أنتُنَّ للعُشْ

يا مطايا الأحبابِ أنتُنَّ للعُشْ

شاقِ مثْلُ اسْمِكُنَّ والطّاءُ نُون

شاقِ مثْلُ اسْمِكُنَّ والطّاءُ نُون

O mounts of the beloved, to lovers you are

O mounts of loved ones, you are for the passionate

your own name with ṭāʾ changed to nūn: deaths.

Like your name and the "T" is a "N"

ليت أنّا منَ اللّيالي عَلِمنْا

ليت أنّا منَ اللّيالي عَلِمنْا

ما لنا في ضَميرِها مكنون

ما لنا في ضَميرِها مكنون

Would that we knew from the nights

If only we knew from the nights

what lies concealed for us within them.

What is hidden for us in their conscience

كلّما عنَّ لي حبيبٌ وَفِيٌّ

كلّما عنَّ لي حبيبٌ وَفِيٌّ

عَنَّ من دونهِ زمانٌ خَؤون

عَنَّ من دونهِ زمانٌ خَؤون

Whenever a faithful beloved appears to me,

Whenever a loyal lover neglects me

a treacherous time appears in his way.

Time neglects me other than him, gloomy

قلْ لأحبابيَ الّذين سَبَوْني

قلْ لأحبابيَ الّذين سَبَوْني

فوجودي شَكٌّ ووَجْدي يقين

فوجودي شَكٌّ ووَجْدي يقين

Say to my beloved ones who took me captive:

Tell those loved ones who captivated me

my existence is doubt, and my ardor certainty.

While my existence is doubt and my ecstasy certainty

أنتُمُ والزّمانُ حينَ تخونو

أنتُمُ والزّمانُ حينَ تخونو

نَ يَفي أو تَفونَ حينَ يخون

نَ يَفي أو تَفونَ حينَ يخون

You and time: when you betray,

You and time when you betray

it keeps faith; or you keep faith when it betrays.

Do I betray or betray when it betrays?

عانَدتْنا فيهمْ صروفُ اللّيالي

عانَدتْنا فيهمْ صروفُ اللّيالي

وفنونٌ من اللّيالي الجُنون

وفنونٌ من اللّيالي الجُنون

The vicissitudes of the nights opposed us over them,

The nights' turns were stubborn with us

and manifold forms of the nights' madness.

And the nights have kinds of madness

لا تسَلْ أنْ أَقُصَّ ما كان منها

لا تسَلْ أنْ أَقُصَّ ما كان منها

وأجِرْ إنْ أطقْتَ مِمّا يكون

وأجِرْ إنْ أطقْتَ مِمّا يكون

Do not ask me to recount what has happened through them;

Do not ask me to tell what was of it

protect me, if you can, from what will come.

And flow if you can utter what will be

كم تُرجَّي تَعَلُّلاً بالأماني

كم تُرجَّي تَعَلُّلاً بالأماني

أنْ سيُقْضَى لصَعْبِه تَهْوين

أنْ سيُقْضَى لصَعْبِه تَهْوين

How often it is hoped, seeking solace in wishes,

How much do you hope justifying with wishes

that relief will be decreed for its hardships.

That its hardship will be alleviated

فيكَ يا دهرُ مُقْعدي ومُقيمي

فيكَ يا دهرُ مُقْعدي ومُقيمي

أمَلٌ جامحٌ وحَظٌّ حَرون

أمَلٌ جامحٌ وحَظٌّ حَرون

Within you, O Time, what bids me sit or stand

In you, O time, is my seat and my residence

is an unbridled hope and a balking fortune.

A raging hope and a deprived fortune

طَرْفيَ الدّهرَ مُقْفِرٌ من وفيٍّ

طَرْفيَ الدّهرَ مُقْفِرٌ من وفيٍّ

وفؤادي من حبِّه مَسْكون

وفؤادي من حبِّه مَسْكون

My gaze is forever bereft of a faithful beloved,

My eye from a loyal one is barren

yet my heart is inhabited by love for him.

While my heart from his love inhabited

قلتُ للبائعي سَفاهاً برُخْصٍ

قلتُ للبائعي سَفاهاً برُخْصٍ

وهْو لو كان يَفْطُنُ المَغْبون

وهْو لو كان يَفْطُنُ المَغْبون

I said to him who foolishly sold me cheap—

I told the seller foolishly cheap

though, could he realize it, he was the one cheated—

While if he understood, he is the deceived one

لا بفِعلٍ تُرضَى ولا بمقَالٍ

لا بفِعلٍ تُرضَى ولا بمقَالٍ

هبْكَ زَيْفاً ما فيك أيضاً طَنين

هبْكَ زَيْفاً ما فيك أيضاً طَنين

Neither your deeds nor your words win approval;

Neither with deed you accept nor with words

grant that you are counterfeit: you have not even a ring.

Delusion, there is no echo in you too

كلُّ هذا وبي من الحبِّ ما بي

كلُّ هذا وبي من الحبِّ ما بي

يا ابنةَ القومِ والحديثُ شُجون

يا ابنةَ القومِ والحديثُ شُجون

All this, while I suffer the love I suffer,

All of this and the love in me from me

O daughter of the tribe—and talk has many branches.

O daughter of the people, and the talk is woeful

سأَلَتْني ما لي خَفِيتُ نُحولاً

سأَلَتْني ما لي خَفِيتُ نُحولاً

كيف لي أن يُبِينَ ما لا يَبين

كيف لي أن يُبِينَ ما لا يَبين

She asked why I had become invisible through wasting.

She asked me why I became emaciated

How can I make manifest what does not appear?

How can I clarify what does not clarify?

جملةُ الأمرِ أنّني فيكِ مُضْنىً

جملةُ الأمرِ أنّني فيكِ مُضْنىً

روحهُ بالمُنى لديكِ رَهين

روحهُ بالمُنى لديكِ رَهين

The sum of it: for you I am a love-worn man,

The whole matter is that I am broken due to you

whose soul, through hopes, is held hostage with you.

Its soul with wishes to you is hostage

كنتُ مثْلَ الخيالِ إذ أنا خِلْوٌ

كنتُ مثْلَ الخيالِ إذ أنا خِلْوٌ

رُبّما تَهْتدي إليّ العُيون

رُبّما تَهْتدي إليّ العُيون

I was like a phantom even when free of love;

I was like the imagination when I was alone

eyes would sometimes find their way to me.

Perhaps the eyes will be guided to me

فأنا اليومَ من نُحوليَ مُلْقىً

فأنا اليومَ من نُحوليَ مُلْقىً

حيثُ لا تَهْتدي إليّ الظُّنون

حيثُ لا تَهْتدي إليّ الظُّنون

Today, so wasted am I, I lie

But today I am thrown from my emaciation

where even conjecture cannot find me.

Where conjectures cannot be guided to me

وكأنّي للمُلْكِ سِرٌّ يَمينُ الدْ

وكأنّي للمُلْكِ سِرٌّ يَمينُ الدْ

دِينِ من عِزّه عليه الأمين

دِينِ من عِزّه عليه الأمين

And I am like a secret of the realm: Yamin al-

As if I am the king’s secret oath

Din, by virtue of his eminence, is its trusted keeper.

Of religion from his glory the trusted one

مَلَكَ المجْدَ كُلَّه والمعالي

مَلَكَ المجْدَ كُلَّه والمعالي

مَنْ له النُّصحُ باللُّها مَقْرون

مَنْ له النُّصحُ باللُّها مَقْرون

All glory and all high honors are possessed

He possessed all glory and sublimities

by him whose sincere counsel is joined with gifts.

The one who has loyalty to God associated with him

ناصِرٌ كُلّما انْتضاهُ حُسامٌ

ناصِرٌ كُلّما انْتضاهُ حُسامٌ

ناصحٌ كُلّما ارتآه مُبِين

ناصحٌ كُلّما ارتآه مُبِين

A supporter, a sword whenever one unsheathes him;

A supporter whenever an unsheathed sword summoned him

a counselor, clear-sighted whenever one seeks his judgment.

An advisor whenever he saw him clarified

يُؤْمَنُ المرءُ ثُمّ يُؤْمَلُ جُوداً

يُؤْمَنُ المرءُ ثُمّ يُؤْمَلُ جُوداً

هو ذاك المأمولُ والمَأمون

هو ذاك المأمولُ والمَأمون

A man is trusted, then his generosity hoped for;

One is secured then expected benevolence

he is that man, both hoped for and trusted.

He is the expected and the secured one

ظلَّ فوقَ الأحرارِ ظِلاًّ ظليلاً

ظلَّ فوقَ الأحرارِ ظِلاًّ ظليلاً

وهْو دونَ الأسرارِ حِصْنٌ حَصين

وهْو دونَ الأسرارِ حِصْنٌ حَصين

He remains a deep, sheltering shade above the freeborn,

He shaded over the noble with a shady shade

and a strong fortress guarding secrets.

While under secretes he is an impregnable fortress

ليس يُخْلى ومن يُمْنِ جَدٍّ وجِدٍّ

ليس يُخْلى ومن يُمْنِ جَدٍّ وجِدٍّ

رأْيُه أو رُواؤه المَيْمون

رأْيُه أو رُواؤه المَيْمون

Never are they devoid of blessed fortune and diligence—

He is not left while he has seriousness and favor

his judgment or his auspicious bearing.

His opinion or his view is auspicious

ليس يُدرَى إذا انْتَدى يومَ فَخْرٍ

ليس يُدرَى إذا انْتَدى يومَ فَخْرٍ

فَلْكٌ ما يَضُمُّه أَو عَرين

فَلْكٌ ما يَضُمُّه أَو عَرين

When he joins a gathering on a day of boasting, no one knows

It is not known when a day of pride is initiated

whether what holds him is a celestial sphere or a lion's den.

A ship that cannot be contained or a nest

كُلّما ازدادَ رِفعةً زاد لُطْفاً

كُلّما ازدادَ رِفعةً زاد لُطْفاً

والقَنا كلّما تَطولُ تَلين

والقَنا كلّما تَطولُ تَلين

The higher he rises, the more gracious he grows;

Whenever his status increased, his kindness increased

the longer the spear-shafts grow, the more supple they become.

And the bow, whenever it lengthens, softens

قلْ لمَنْ أصبحَ الأكابرُ طُرّاً

قلْ لمَنْ أصبحَ الأكابرُ طُرّاً

ولهمْ منه باليَمينِ اليَمين

ولهمْ منه باليَمينِ اليَمين

Say to him: all the grandees now

Tell those whom the great became devoted to

have from him an oath pledged by the right hand.

And they have the right hand from him the right hand

وإذا أقسمَ الفَتى لا يَراهُ

وإذا أقسمَ الفَتى لا يَراهُ

فَرَقاً منه في يَمينٍ يَمين

فَرَقاً منه في يَمينٍ يَمين

And when a young man swears, he does not see him,

And if the young man swears, he does not see

for fear of him, as Yamin within an oath.

A difference from him in a right or right hand

بانَ قِدْماً مَحلُّ مجدِك حتّى

بانَ قِدْماً مَحلُّ مجدِك حتّى

لم يَزِدْ في وُضوحهِ التَّبْيِين

لم يَزِدْ في وُضوحهِ التَّبْيِين

Your glory's station was manifest long ago, so much so

The place of your glory’s ascent became apparent

that explanation added nothing to its clarity.

Until clarity did not increase in its obviousness

وارتضاكَ السُّلطانُ نُصْحاً فأضحَى

وارتضاكَ السُّلطانُ نُصْحاً فأضحَى

من نواصي العُلا لك التَّمكين

من نواصي العُلا لك التَّمكين

The sultan chose you for your sincere counsel, and so

And the sultan became pleased with your advice so it became

the forelocks of high honor yielded you power.

From the forelocks of highness your enablement

وأتاك التَّشْريفُ منه فوافَى

وأتاك التَّشْريفُ منه فوافَى

وله أنت زائنٌ ومَزين

وله أنت زائنٌ ومَزين

His investiture reached you, and arrived

And the honor came to you from him, corresponding

to find you both adorning it and adorned.

While you are his ornament and beautifier

خلعَتْ من صُدورِ قومٍ قلوباً

خلعَتْ من صُدورِ قومٍ قلوباً

خِلْعةٌ حُسْنُها بيُمْنٍ ضَمين

خِلْعةٌ حُسْنُها بيُمْنٍ ضَمين

It tore hearts from the breasts of certain men—

It brought out from the chests of a people hearts

a robe of honor whose beauty guarantees good fortune.

A dress whose beauty has a hidden favor

مَن رأى في البدورِ حتّى رأَيْنا

مَن رأى في البدورِ حتّى رأَيْنا

والمعالي لهنَّ حِينٌ يَحين

والمعالي لهنَّ حِينٌ يَحين

Who among full moons had seen, before we saw—

Who saw until we saw in the full moons

and high honors have their appointed hour—

And the sublimities for them have a time that comes

مثْلَ بَدْرٍ أوفَى على مَتْنِ ليلٍ

مثْلَ بَدْرٍ أوفَى على مَتْنِ ليلٍ

وبصُبْحٍ قد شُقَّ منه الجَبين

وبصُبْحٍ قد شُقَّ منه الجَبين

the like of a full moon riding on the back of night,

Like a full moon that fulfilled upon a night’s back

with its brow cleft by dawn?

And with dawn from which the forehead split

ذي حُليٍّ كأنّه حينَ يَجْري

ذي حُليٍّ كأنّه حينَ يَجْري

فُلْكُ بحرٍ من عَسْجدٍ مَشْحون

فُلْكُ بحرٍ من عَسْجدٍ مَشْحون

Decked with ornaments, it seems, when running,

That has jewelry as if when it flows

a seagoing ship laden with gold.

A sea ship fully loaded

مُمسِكٌ للعِنانِ في الكفِّ منه

مُمسِكٌ للعِنانِ في الكفِّ منه

مَن بإمساكِ عسجدٍ لا يَدين

مَن بإمساكِ عسجدٍ لا يَدين

Holding its reins in his palm is

Holding the rein in the palm from it

one who does not believe in holding onto gold.

One whose holding a fully loaded ship does not obey

عَزَّ مقْدارُ تِبْرِه عند كفِّ

عَزَّ مقْدارُ تِبْرِه عند كفِّ

عنْدَها الدَّهْرَ كُلُّ تِبْرٍ يَهون

عنْدَها الدَّهْرَ كُلُّ تِبْرٍ يَهون

Its gold's worth rises in the presence of a hand

The extent of its generosity became too great at the palm

to which, forever, every piece of gold is cheap.

At it all generosity is insignificant

ومُذالٌ عليه غَيْرُ مُذالٍ

ومُذالٌ عليه غَيْرُ مُذالٍ

مُذْهَبٌ ساطعُ الشُّعاعِ مَصون

مُذْهَبٌ ساطعُ الشُّعاعِ مَصون

And trailing upon him, yet not debased,

And surrendered to it other than a surrendered one

is gold-embroidered cloth, radiant and protected,

Protected method whose rays are protected

مُعشِبٌ وهْو مُعلَمٌ ببَهارٍ

مُعشِبٌ وهْو مُعلَمٌ ببَهارٍ

من رياضٍ تَوشَّحَتْها الحُزون

من رياضٍ تَوشَّحَتْها الحُزون

lush as grass, patterned with yellow blossoms

Adorning while it is a landmark with glad tidings

from gardens worn as sashes by rugged uplands.

From gardens it dressed in gloom

أَخضرُ اللَّونِ مُكْتَسيهِ كَساهُ

أَخضرُ اللَّونِ مُكْتَسيهِ كَساهُ

كُسوةً لم يكنْ لها تَكوين

كُسوةً لم يكنْ لها تَكوين

Green in color, its wearer clothed it

Green in color wearing its dress

in a raiment never brought into being.

A dress that had no creation

إنّما اخضرَّ حينَ أسبلَ فيه

إنّما اخضرَّ حينَ أسبلَ فيه

عارِضٌ واكفُ العَزالى هَتون

عارِضٌ واكفُ العَزالى هَتون

It turned green only when there poured into it

But rather it turned green when it dripped in it

a cloud with flowing spouts, ceaselessly raining:

A witness whose solitary ones are flexible

عارِضٌ للجيوشِ عارِضُ مُزْنٍ

عارِضٌ للجيوشِ عارِضُ مُزْنٍ

فمَعاني الجمالِ فيه فُنون

فمَعاني الجمالِ فيه فُنون

a reviewer of armies, a rain-bearing cloud;

A witness to the armies a witness of purpose

thus beauty's meanings in him are manifold.

So the meanings of beauty in it diverse

جُنْدُه فوق قَطْرِه حينَ يُحصَى

جُنْدُه فوق قَطْرِه حينَ يُحصَى

كَثْرةً إذ يَضُمُّهمْ تَدْوين

كَثْرةً إذ يَضُمُّهمْ تَدْوين

His troops outnumber his raindrops when counted,

Its soldiers above its horizon when counted

so numerous when a register gathers them.

In number as it contains them recording

سار في موكبِ الجلالةِ والخَلْ

سار في موكبِ الجلالةِ والخَلْ

قُ شُخوصٌ عُيونُهمْ لا شَفون

قُ شُخوصٌ عُيونُهمْ لا شَفون

He proceeded in a procession of majesty, while the people

It walked in the procession of majesty and creation

were mere figures—all eyes, not eyelids.

Figures whose eyes do not blink

والنّدى من أَمامِه راكبٌ يَحْ

والنّدى من أَمامِه راكبٌ يَحْ

جُبُ والشَّأْوُ في العطاء بَطين

جُبُ والشَّأْوُ في العطاء بَطين

Generosity rode ahead of him, serving as chamberlain,

And the dew in front of it riding, awing

and the reach of his giving was vast.

And the dignity in giving steadfast

وغلامٌ وراءه في يدَيْه

وغلامٌ وراءه في يدَيْه

زَنْدُ بأسٍ للنّارِ فيه كُمون

زَنْدُ بأسٍ للنّارِ فيه كُمون

Behind him was a page, bearing in his hands

And a boy behind it in his hands

a fire-stick of valor, with fire hidden within:

A weapon of might for the fire latent in it

مَشْرَفيٌّ كأنّما الغِمْدُ منه

مَشْرَفيٌّ كأنّما الغِمْدُ منه

بَطْنُ لَيلٍ فيه الصّباحُ جَنين

بَطْنُ لَيلٍ فيه الصّباحُ جَنين

a Mashrafi sword, whose scabbard seemed

Decorated as if the scabbard from it

the belly of night, with morning an unborn child inside.

The night’s abdomen in which the dawn is a fetus

ومِجَنٌّ شَبيهُ أُفْقِ سَماءٍ

ومِجَنٌّ شَبيهُ أُفْقِ سَماءٍ

بمَصابيحها لها تَزْيين

بمَصابيحها لها تَزْيين

And a shield like the horizon of a sky

And a broadsword resembling the horizon of a sky

whose lamps provide its adornment.

With its lanterns it has adornment for it

وقَرينانِ من رماح طِوالٍ

وقَرينانِ من رماح طِوالٍ

مثْلما سايرَ القرينَ القرين

مثْلما سايرَ القرينَ القرين

And two companions, a pair of long spears,

And two spears of long lengths

like one companion walking beside another.

As the partner went with the partner

بسِنانَيْنِ أغْلفَيْنِ ولكنْ

بسِنانَيْنِ أغْلفَيْنِ ولكنْ

بهما قَلْبُ مَن قَلاكَ طَعين

بهما قَلْبُ مَن قَلاكَ طَعين

With two sheathed spearheads, yet

With two scabbards green refined

they have pierced the heart of whoever hates you.

In which the heart of the one you fought is broken

في غِشاءيْنِ أَصفَريْنِ صَقيلَيْ

في غِشاءيْنِ أَصفَريْنِ صَقيلَيْ

نِ يقولُ المُشاهِدُ المُسْتَبِين

نِ يقولُ المُشاهِدُ المُسْتَبِين

In two polished yellow sheaths,

In two yellow covers polished

the discerning observer says:

He says the distinct observer

أَورَثا حاسدِيك ما عكَسوهُ

أَورَثا حاسدِيك ما عكَسوهُ

فلثَوْبَيْهما بهِ تَلْوين

فلثَوْبَيْهما بهِ تَلْوين

They gave your enviers what those men reflected back;

They inherited your enviers what they reflected

with it, their two coverings took their color.

So for their two garments by it dyeing

رُتَبٌ من عُلاً بدَتْ وهْيَ عُنوا

رُتَبٌ من عُلاً بدَتْ وهْيَ عُنوا

نٌ ويأتي من بَعْدِه المَضْمون

نٌ ويأتي من بَعْدِه المَضْمون

Ranks of eminence appeared, a heading

Ranks of height appeared, warnings

whose contents follow afterward.

And what is ensured comes after it

يا هُماماً فاقَ السّماءَ سُمُوّاً

يا هُماماً فاقَ السّماءَ سُمُوّاً

بعدَ هذا من السَّعادةِ سِين

بعدَ هذا من السَّعادةِ سِين

O noble hero, surpassing the sky in loftiness,

O ambitions beyond the sky in sublimity

after this comes a sīn of happiness.

After this from felicity fortunate

بِكَ تُزْهَى الأعمالُ لا أنت بالأع

بِكَ تُزْهَى الأعمالُ لا أنت بالأع

مالِ فالعَيْنُ أَنت وهْيَ الجُفون

مالِ فالعَيْنُ أَنت وهْيَ الجُفون

Deeds take pride in you, not you in

By you deeds are adorned, not you with deeds

deeds: you are the eye, and they the eyelids.

For the eye you are while they are the eyelids

ففِداءٌ لراحتَيْكَ الورَى طُرْ

ففِداءٌ لراحتَيْكَ الورَى طُرْ

راً جَواداً برُوحِه وضَنين

راً جَواداً برُوحِه وضَنين

Let all mankind be ransomed for your two palms,

So the creation for your comfort are knights

without exception: lavish of soul or grudging.

Generous with their spirits and cooing

كعبةٌ أَنت للعَلاءِ وإنْ لَم

كعبةٌ أَنت للعَلاءِ وإنْ لَم

تَك في قُربِكَ الصَّفا والحَجون

تَك في قُربِكَ الصَّفا والحَجون

You are a Kaaba for high honor, even though

You are a kaaba for the high while if not

al-Safa and al-Hajun are not nearby.

Near you purity and pilgrimage

وكريمٌ من السّماءِ مُعانٌ

وكريمٌ من السّماءِ مُعانٌ

وعلى الدّهرِ للعُفاةِ مُعِين

وعلى الدّهرِ للعُفاةِ مُعِين

A generous man aided by heaven,

And benevolent from the sky meanings

and, against time, a helper to petitioners.

And upon time for the destitute an aid

كم طوَتْ ما طَوتْ بيَ الأرضُ حتّى

كم طوَتْ ما طَوتْ بيَ الأرضُ حتّى

بَلّغتْني ذُراه حَرْفٌ أَمون

بَلّغتْني ذُراه حَرْفٌ أَمون

How much earth it folded up beneath me, until

How much the earth folded until

a hardy, trusty she-camel brought me to his heights!

It delivered to me its atoms trusted

فلقد صُغْتُ من مديح سِواراً

فلقد صُغْتُ من مديح سِواراً

تكْتَسيهِ للدِّينِ مِنكَ يَمينِ

تكْتَسيهِ للدِّينِ مِنكَ يَمينِ

Indeed, I have fashioned from praise a bracelet

I was composed from praising a bracelet

for you, religion's right hand, to wear.

You wear for the religion from you a right

إنّما النّاسُ إصبَعٌ من شِمالٍ

إنّما النّاسُ إصبَعٌ من شِمالٍ

يا أخا المَجْدِ حيثُ أَنت اليَمين

يا أخا المَجْدِ حيثُ أَنت اليَمين

Other people are but a finger of a left hand,

But people are a finger from the left

O brother of glory, while you are the right.

O brother of glory where you are the right

كيف يَبْغي الوُصّافُ وَصْفَكَ حقّاً

كيف يَبْغي الوُصّافُ وَصْفَكَ حقّاً

وهْو فَوقٌ منَ العَلا وهْيَ دُون

وهْو فَوقٌ منَ العَلا وهْيَ دُون

How can describers seek to describe you truly,

How can the describer desire your description truly?

when your description is above eminence, and eminence beneath?

While above the height and below inept

حَسُنَتْ في العُلا صِفاتُك جِدّاً

حَسُنَتْ في العُلا صِفاتُك جِدّاً

فهْيَ لا يُبْتَغَى لها التّحْسين

فهْيَ لا يُبْتَغَى لها التّحْسين

Your qualities in high honor are truly beautiful,

Your traits became very beautiful in the height

and need no further beautifying.

So they cannot be sought to improve

بَلِّغا لي أَبا عليٍّ مَقالاً

بَلِّغا لي أَبا عليٍّ مَقالاً

وهْو منّي بكلِّ شكرٍ قَمين

وهْو منّي بكلِّ شكرٍ قَمين

You two, convey a message for me to Abu Ali,

Deliver to me Abu Ali words

who deserves every thanks from me:

While he is thankfully devoted to me

أَنّ حُبّي له مدَى الدّهرِ مَفْرو

أَنّ حُبّي له مدَى الدّهرِ مَفْرو

ضٌ وحُبّي مَعاشراً مَسْنون

ضٌ وحُبّي مَعاشراً مَسْنون

my love for him is obligatory throughout time,

That my love for him is the lifetime obligatory

while my love for other companions is a recommended practice.

And my love associated secured

كم تَمنَّيْتُ عَودةً لي إليه

كم تَمنَّيْتُ عَودةً لي إليه

والأماني على اللّيالي دُيون

والأماني على اللّيالي دُيون

How often I wished to return to him,

How much I wished to return to him

and wishes are debts owed by the nights.

While wishes upon nights are debts

والفتَى عُرْضةً وللدَّهرِ حُكْمٌ

والفتَى عُرْضةً وللدَّهرِ حُكْمٌ

والمُنَى غَفْلةً وللشّيء حِين

والمُنَى غَفْلةً وللشّيء حِين

A young man is a target, and time has judgment;

The young man is vulnerable while time has a judgment

wishes are heedlessness, and everything has its appointed hour.

Death heedlessly and for something a time

يا مَكينَ الملوكِ دَعوةَ مَنْ كا

يا مَكينَ الملوكِ دَعوةَ مَنْ كا

نَ له عندهُ مَكَانٌ مكين

نَ له عندهُ مَكَانٌ مكين

O confidant of kings, heed the plea of one who once

O stabilizer of kings, prayer of one who

had a firmly established place with you.

Had a stable place with him

كُنْ كعَهْدي في الوُدِّ فاليومَ فوقَ ال

كُنْ كعَهْدي في الوُدِّ فاليومَ فوقَ ال

عَهْدِ في الجودِ لي بكَ المَظْنون

عَهْدِ في الجودِ لي بكَ المَظْنون

Be as I knew you in affection; today, beyond

Be as my loyalty in devotion so today above

my old experience, is the generosity I expect of you toward me.

Loyalty in generosity to me the expected

لك منّي مدَى الزّمانِ ثَناءٌ

لك منّي مدَى الزّمانِ ثَناءٌ

كُلُّ دارٍ من نَشْرِه دارِين

كُلُّ دارٍ من نَشْرِه دارِين

From me you shall have praise for all time;

For you from me for the lifetime praise

its fragrant diffusion makes every dwelling Darin.

Every house from its publication houses

أَنت في حَلْبةِ الكرامِ هِجانٌ

أَنت في حَلْبةِ الكرامِ هِجانٌ

حيثُ يُمسي الغَمامُ وهْو هَجين

حيثُ يُمسي الغَمامُ وهْو هَجين

In the racecourse of the generous, you are purebred,

You in the field of generosity tumult

where even the raincloud becomes a mongrel.

Where the clouds become gloomy and pregnant

كُلَّ يومٍ للمُلْكِ ما عِشتَ فيه

كُلَّ يومٍ للمُلْكِ ما عِشتَ فيه

معَ ضوء الصّباح فَتْحٌ مُبِين

معَ ضوء الصّباح فَتْحٌ مُبِين

Every day you live brings the kingdom

Every day for the kingdom what you lived in it

a clear victory with the dawn's light.

With the dawn’s light an evident opening

ففِداءٌ لِما وَطئتَ من الأرْ

ففِداءٌ لِما وَطئتَ من الأرْ

ض حسودٌ إذا سُرِرْتَ حزين

ض حسودٌ إذا سُرِرْتَ حزين

For whatever earth you tread, let the ransom be

So may it sacrifice for what you trod of land

an envier, sorrowful whenever you rejoice.

Envious if you become happy gloomy

مِن فتىً مالُه إذا شاء ذُخراً

مِن فتىً مالُه إذا شاء ذُخراً

في رقاب الورى له مَخْزون

في رقاب الورى له مَخْزون

From a man whose wealth, if he wishes a reserve,

From a young man whose wealth if he willed provision

is stored for him upon the necks of mankind.

Upon necks of creation he has stored

عَصْرُه للوليِّ مِنَنٌ مِنَ اللّ

عَصْرُه للوليِّ مِنَنٌ مِنَ اللّ

هِ عليه وللأعادي مَنون

هِ عليه وللأعادي مَنون

His age is for his friend a bounty from God

His time for the guardian from God a blessing

bestowed upon him, and for enemies it is death.

Upon him and for the enemy a misfortune

فلْتدُمْ للعلا وللمَجْدِ ما صي

فلْتدُمْ للعلا وللمَجْدِ ما صي

غَتْ لوَرْقاءَ في الغُصونِ لُحون

غَتْ لوَرْقاءَ في الغُصونِ لُحون

May you endure for high honor and glory, so long as

So let it remain for the height and glory what

melodies are fashioned for gray doves among the boughs,

Warqa’ composed in the twigs melodies

وأُديرتْ كأسْ النَّسيمِ معَ الصُّبْ

وأُديرتْ كأسْ النَّسيمِ معَ الصُّبْ

حِ فمالَتْ بالسُّكرِ منها الغُصون

حِ فمالَتْ بالسُّكرِ منها الغُصون

and the cup of the breeze is passed around with morning,

And it circulated like the cup of breeze with

so the branches sway, drunk from it.

Dawn so it leaned with sweetness the twigs

فسِواهُ بالضّادِ والظّاء للحُرْ

فسِواهُ بالضّادِ والظّاء للحُرْ

رِ ضَنينٌ بماله وظَنين

رِ ضَنينٌ بماله وظَنين

For anyone but him, with ḍād and ẓāʾ, is toward the freeborn

So make it equal to it with “d” and “th” for eagerness

ḍanīn—stingy with his wealth—and ẓanīn—suspect.

A cooing with his wealth and assume it

فإذا أُلجيءَ المُضافُ إليه

فإذا أُلجيءَ المُضافُ إليه

فهْو منه بنَصْرهِ التَّمكين

فهْو منه بنَصْرهِ التَّمكين

But when the distressed man is driven to him,

So if the grammatical object of relation is coerced

he finds firm security from him through his support.

It is from it with its aid the enablement