بما عَنَّ من شَكْوَى زمانٍ تَعرَّضا

بما عَنَّ من شَكْوَى زمانٍ تَعرَّضا

تناسَيْتُ لذّاتِ الزّمان الّذي مضى

تناسَيْتُ لذّاتِ الزّمان الّذي مضى

Because of the complaints that arose over a time that beset me,

With my complaints of an era I faced,

I made myself forget the pleasures of the time that passed.

I forgot the pleasures of the past days.

فلا تُذْكِراني عَهْدَ نجدٍ وأهلَه

فلا تُذْكِراني عَهْدَ نجدٍ وأهلَه

إذا الرّيحُ هَبّتْ أو إذا البرقُ أَوْمضا

إذا الرّيحُ هَبّتْ أو إذا البرقُ أَوْمضا

So do not, you two, remind me of Najd's days and its people,

So do not remind me of Najd and its people,

when the wind blows or the lightning flashes.

When the wind blows or lightning flashes.

فما في ضَميري اليومَ من طارقِ الأسَى

فما في ضَميري اليومَ من طارقِ الأسَى

مَكانٌ لتَذْكارِ السُّرورِ الّذي انقَضى

مَكانٌ لتَذْكارِ السُّرورِ الّذي انقَضى

For in my heart today, with grief come visiting,

Today, in my conscience there is no place

there is no room to recall the joy that has passed.

For remembering the joy that has passed.

ولو خَلصتْ لي من فؤاديَ شُعبةٌ

ولو خَلصتْ لي من فؤاديَ شُعبةٌ

من الهمِّ لَم أَذكُرْ سوى ساكني الغَضا

من الهمِّ لَم أَذكُرْ سوى ساكني الغَضا

And even if a portion of my heart were freed for me

Even if some worries left my heart,

from care, I would recall only the dwellers among the ghada trees.

I would not recall except my serene home.

وواللهِ لا أَنسىَ مدَى الدّهرِ عهدَهمْ

وواللهِ لا أَنسىَ مدَى الدّهرِ عهدَهمْ

على حالتَيْ سُخطٍ من الأمرِ أو رِضا

على حالتَيْ سُخطٍ من الأمرِ أو رِضا

And by God, I shall never forget my bond with them throughout time,

By God, I won’t forget their era no matter

whether discontented with my lot or content.

My state of anger or consent with fate.

أولئك هم روحي فلولا بقاؤهم

أولئك هم روحي فلولا بقاؤهم

معَ البُعدِ في قلبِ المُحبّ لهمْ قضَى

معَ البُعدِ في قلبِ المُحبّ لهمْ قضَى

They are my soul; were it not for their remaining

They are my soul so without their existence

despite the distance within their lover's heart, he would perish.

In a lover's heart despite the distance, life ends.

رعَى اللهُ قوماً ودَّعوا من أحبّةٍ

رعَى اللهُ قوماً ودَّعوا من أحبّةٍ

قضَى الدّهرُ فيهم بالتَفرُّقِ ما قضَى

قضَى الدّهرُ فيهم بالتَفرُّقِ ما قضَى

May God guard those beloved people who bade farewell;

May God guard a people who bid farewell

time decreed for them what it decreed of separation.

To loved ones, separated by time’s decree.

إذا قام في عَيني خيالُ عُهودِهم

إذا قام في عَيني خيالُ عُهودِهم

تَضايقَ بي رَحْلي على سَعَةِ الفَضا

تَضايقَ بي رَحْلي على سَعَةِ الفَضا

When the image of my days with them rises before my eyes,

When their memory appears before my eyes,

my dwelling closes in on me despite the breadth of open space.

My travel feels cramped despite the vast space.

فكيف بصبرٍ يا أُميمَ أُعيرُهُ

فكيف بصبرٍ يا أُميمَ أُعيرُهُ

فؤاداً لنَهْبِ الشّوقِ فيهمْ مُعرّضا

فؤاداً لنَهْبِ الشّوقِ فيهمْ مُعرّضا

How then, O Umaym, can I lend patience

How can I, O Umayma, pretend patience

a heart exposed to the plunder of longing for them?

While my heart is prone to yearning’s assault?

ولا عِوضٌ لي عنهمُ إن طَلبتُه

ولا عِوضٌ لي عنهمُ إن طَلبتُه

ولو كان أيضاً ما استَخْرتُ التعوُّضا

ولو كان أيضاً ما استَخْرتُ التعوُّضا

There is no replacement for them for me, should I seek one;

I have no substitute for them if I sought it,

and even if there were, I still would not choose a replacement.

Even if it was what I had once desired.

لقد سَرَّ هذا العيدُ كُلاًّ بلَهْوهِ

لقد سَرَّ هذا العيدُ كُلاًّ بلَهْوهِ

وقد زادَ قلبي لَوعةً حين أَعْرضَا

وقد زادَ قلبي لَوعةً حين أَعْرضَا

This feast has indeed delighted everyone with its merriment,

This holiday has delighted everyone with its play

yet it has heightened my heart's anguish as it turned away.

Yet increased my heart’s agony when they were absent.

دُنُوُّ أعادٍ وانتزاحُ أحِبّةٍ

دُنُوُّ أعادٍ وانتزاحُ أحِبّةٍ

لقد أَمرضَ الهمّانِ قلبي وأَرمَضا

لقد أَمرضَ الهمّانِ قلبي وأَرمَضا

The nearness of enemies and the remoteness of loved ones—

The approach of friends and the departure of loved ones

these two griefs have sickened my heart and scorched it.

Have truly sickened and inflamed my heart.

فكِلْني إلى ما بي وخُذْ أنت قَهوةً

فكِلْني إلى ما بي وخُذْ أنت قَهوةً

حكَتْ لهَباً من ساطعِ النُّورِ مُحتَضا

حكَتْ لهَباً من ساطعِ النُّورِ مُحتَضا

So leave me to what ails me, and you take wine,

So leave me to my sorrows and take coffee yourself,

resembling a flame kindled from radiant light.

It drew flames from the shining light when poured.

عُقارٌ إذا مَسّتْ يمينُك كأسَها

عُقارٌ إذا مَسّتْ يمينُك كأسَها

حَملْتَ بها سَيفاً على الهمِّ مُنتَضى

حَملْتَ بها سَيفاً على الهمِّ مُنتَضى

Wine: when your right hand touches its cup,

A potion, when your right hand holds its cup,

you bear in it a sword drawn against grief.

You carry a sword against worries to smite them.

يَعودُ إلى خَدِّ الندّيمِ خِضابُها

يَعودُ إلى خَدِّ الندّيمِ خِضابُها

إذا هو من كَفِّ المُديرِ لها نَضا

إذا هو من كَفِّ المُديرِ لها نَضا

Its dye returns to the boon companion's cheek

Its redness returns to the drinker’s cheek

when he draws it forth from the hand of the one passing it round.

When the pourer passes it his way.

إذا أنت ذَهّبتَ الزُّجاجَ بِلَوْنها

إذا أنت ذَهّبتَ الزُّجاجَ بِلَوْنها

تَرْكتُ بجاري الدّمعِ خَدّي مُفضَّضا

تَرْكتُ بجاري الدّمعِ خَدّي مُفضَّضا

When you gild the glass with its color,

When you turn the glass yellow with its color,

I leave my cheek silvered with flowing tears.

You leave my cheek streaming with tears.

وكيف إذا ما أطلَق الشّوقُ عَبْرتي

وكيف إذا ما أطلَق الشّوقُ عَبْرتي

أُطيقُ لبحرٍ مائجٍ أن أُغّيِضا

أُطيقُ لبحرٍ مائجٍ أن أُغّيِضا

And how, when longing releases my tears,

How can I endure when longing unleashes my tears,

can I make a surging sea recede?

Composing a turbulent sea I wish to still?

وآمُلُ أن يَسْري الكرى بخيالِهم

وآمُلُ أن يَسْري الكرى بخيالِهم

وما كان جَفني بعدَهم لِيُغَمّضا

وما كان جَفني بعدَهم لِيُغَمّضا

And I hope sleep will come by night bearing their image,

I hope their memory moves fate

yet since they left, my eyelid will not close.

For after them my eyelids did not close.

هُمُ أَعرضوا عنّي وولّوا بِوَصْلِهمْ

هُمُ أَعرضوا عنّي وولّوا بِوَصْلِهمْ

فولّى لذيذُ العيشِ عنّي وأَعرضا

فولّى لذيذُ العيشِ عنّي وأَعرضا

They turned away from me and departed with their companionship;

They shunned me, broke our bond,

so life's sweetness departed from me and turned away.

So the sweetness of life shunned me too.

فأُقسِمُ لولا نورُ وجهِك لم أكنْ

فأُقسِمُ لولا نورُ وجهِك لم أكنْ

أرَى بعدَهم يوماً من الدّهرِ أَبيضا

أرَى بعدَهم يوماً من الدّهرِ أَبيضا

So I swear, but for the light of your face, I would never

I swear were it not for your face’s light

see, after they left, a single bright day in all of time.

I would not see a bright day after them.

ولكنْ جَلا فخْرُ الرّئاسةِ ناظِري

ولكنْ جَلا فخْرُ الرّئاسةِ ناظِري

بغُرّةِ وجْهٍ كُلُّ أُفْقٍ بهِ أَضا

بغُرّةِ وجْهٍ كُلُّ أُفْقٍ بهِ أَضا

But the pride of leadership has cleared my sight

But the pride of leadership shone my way,

with the radiance of a face that lights every horizon.

With a face that illuminates every horizon.

تَهدَّى فجَلَّى كُلَّ ما كان مُظلِماً

تَهدَّى فجَلَّى كُلَّ ما كان مُظلِماً

وجادَ فأغنَى كُلَّ مَن كان مُنْفِضا

وجادَ فأغنَى كُلَّ مَن كان مُنْفِضا

He followed guidance and illuminated all that was dark,

It calmed, clarified all darkened matters,

and gave generously, enriching everyone who was destitute.

And was generous, enriching the needful.

جَوادٌ يُنيلُ الجَزْلَ من سَيْبِ كَفّهِ

جَوادٌ يُنيلُ الجَزْلَ من سَيْبِ كَفّهِ

إذا ما لَئيمُ القومِ أَعطَى فَبرَّضا

إذا ما لَئيمُ القومِ أَعطَى فَبرَّضا

A generous man who grants abundant gifts from his hand's bounty,

A gallant who bestows bounty from his palm’s edge,

when the people's miser gives only a trickle.

When the ignoble stretch out their hands pleading.

بليغٌ يكاد الطّرِسُ يُصبِحُ مَتْنُه

بليغٌ يكاد الطّرِسُ يُصبِحُ مَتْنُه

بفَيْضِ النّدى من راحتَيْهِ مُروَّضا

بفَيْضِ النّدى من راحتَيْهِ مُروَّضا

Eloquent—the surface of the page almost becomes

An eloquent one whose speech almost makes

a garden, through the flood of bounty's dew from his palms.

The mute converse with the outpouring of dew from his hand.

عَجِبتُ لكفٍّ منه تُبسَطُ دائماً

عَجِبتُ لكفٍّ منه تُبسَطُ دائماً

ويَملِكُ منها للأعنّةِ مَقْبِضا

ويَملِكُ منها للأعنّةِ مَقْبِضا

I marvel at his hand, forever outstretched,

I am amazed by a palm constantly open from him,

while he still retains in it a grip upon the reins.

From which he controls the destinies of men.

فتىً لو أُطيقُ الاقتداءَ بفِعْلهِ

فتىً لو أُطيقُ الاقتداءَ بفِعْلهِ

لكان حقيقاً أنْ يُسَنَّ ويُفْرَضا

لكان حقيقاً أنْ يُسَنَّ ويُفْرَضا

A young man whose conduct, could I but imitate it,

If I could emulate his deeds, it would be right

would deserve to be made a rule and an obligation.

To enact laws making them compulsory.

قَرينانِ ما زالا له الكفَّ والنّدى

قَرينانِ ما زالا له الكفَّ والنّدى

وإلفانِ ما انفكّا له الرأيَ والمَضا

وإلفانِ ما انفكّا له الرأيَ والمَضا

His hand and bounty have always been companions,

Two boon companions never leaving his side or counsel.

and his judgment and decisiveness, inseparable intimates.

Two intimates never parted from his judgment and action.

سِمامُ الأعادي في فَمِ القلم الّذي

سِمامُ الأعادي في فَمِ القلم الّذي

يَمُرُّ له فوقَ الكتابِ مُنَضْنِضا

يَمُرُّ له فوقَ الكتابِ مُنَضْنِضا

Poison for enemies lies in the mouth of the pen that

The hissing of enemies is in the pen passing

glides for him over the page, flicking its tongue.

Over paper before him with a scratching sound.

إذا وعَد الّراجينَ في كَلماتِه

إذا وعَد الّراجينَ في كَلماتِه

حكَتْ لك رَوضاً في جوانبِه إضا

حكَتْ لك رَوضاً في جوانبِه إضا

When he promises those who hope, in his words,

When he promises the hopeful in his words,

they resemble a meadow with pools along its sides.

He depicts a garden with blossoms on its edges.

وإن أَوعدَ الجانِينَ جاء وَعيدُه

وإن أَوعدَ الجانِينَ جاء وَعيدُه

كأنّ أُسوداً في نواحيهِ رُبَّضا

كأنّ أُسوداً في نواحيهِ رُبَّضا

And if he threatens wrongdoers, his threat comes

If he threatens the sinful, his warning arrives

as though lions crouched within its reaches.

As if there were lions roaring on its outskirts.

وإن حَدَّثَ الأقوامُ عن سَلَفٍ له

وإن حَدَّثَ الأقوامُ عن سَلَفٍ له

فأحْرِ بفَخْرٍ أن يَطولَ ويَعرُضا

فأحْرِ بفَخْرٍ أن يَطولَ ويَعرُضا

And if people tell of his ancestors,

If people narrate to you the history of his ancestors,

then his glory well deserves to stretch high and wide.

Listen with pride as it lengthens and expands.

به ثَبَت البيتُ الرّفيعُ عِمادُه

به ثَبَت البيتُ الرّفيعُ عِمادُه

على حينَ بيتُ الأعجزِينَ تَقّوضا

على حينَ بيتُ الأعجزِينَ تَقّوضا

Through him the lofty house's pillar stood firm,

Through him the eminent house was firmly established,

at a time when the house of the powerless collapsed.

While the base man’s house crumbled.

كفى رؤساءَ العَصرِ أنّك فَخرُهمْ

كفى رؤساءَ العَصرِ أنّك فَخرُهمْ

إذا رفَع الوُرْقُ الرِّجالَ وخَفَّضا

إذا رفَع الوُرْقُ الرِّجالَ وخَفَّضا

It suffices the leaders of the age that you are their pride,

It is enough that you are the chiefs’ pride,

when silver raises men and brings them low.

When fate elevates some people and degrades others.

تَرى الحَسَنَ المأمولَ في آلِ قاسمٍ

تَرى الحَسَنَ المأمولَ في آلِ قاسمٍ

كبَدْرِ الدُّجَى بين النُّجومِ تَعرَّضا

كبَدْرِ الدُّجَى بين النُّجومِ تَعرَّضا

You see al-Hasan, in whom hope is placed, among the family of Qasim,

You see the hoped-for goodness in the family of Qasim

like the full moon of night appearing among the stars.

Like the full moon among the stars arrayed.

هُمُ رؤساءُ النّاس وهْو رئيسُهمْ

هُمُ رؤساءُ النّاس وهْو رئيسُهمْ

عَلاءً لكَبْتِ الحاسدين مُقيَّضا

عَلاءً لكَبْتِ الحاسدين مُقيَّضا

They are the leaders of mankind, and he is their leader,

They are the leaders of mankind and he is their chief,

appointed to eminence, to subdue the envious.

Lofty ones frustrating the envious.

أَسا جُرْحَ هذا المُلكِ لمّا رأى له

أَسا جُرْحَ هذا المُلكِ لمّا رأى له

أديماً بأنيابِ الزّمانِ مُعَضَّضا

أديماً بأنيابِ الزّمانِ مُعَضَّضا

He healed this kingdom's wound when he saw its

How the eternal kingdom was pained when it saw

hide gnawed by the fangs of time.

Its garment torn by the fangs of time.

وزاحمَ عنه مَنكِبَ الدَّهرِ نَجدةً

وزاحمَ عنه مَنكِبَ الدَّهرِ نَجدةً

فَزيَّل أقدامَ الخُطوبِ وأدْحَضا

فَزيَّل أقدامَ الخُطوبِ وأدْحَضا

And in valor he thrust time's shoulder away from it,

He came to its aid, repelling with his shoulder

dislodging the feet of calamities and making them slip.

The tribulations of fate, dispelling them.

فدُمْتَ منيعَ العِزِّ في دِرْعِ عِصْمةٍ

فدُمْتَ منيعَ العِزِّ في دِرْعِ عِصْمةٍ

إذا الدَّهرُ عن قَوسِ النّوائبِ أنْبَضا

إذا الدَّهرُ عن قَوسِ النّوائبِ أنْبَضا

So may you remain unassailable in honor, in a coat of protection,

You remain an unbreachable bastion of glory,

when time twangs the bow of misfortunes.

When fate draws back its bow of afflictions.

فما أنا بالّناسي صَنائعَكَ الّتي

فما أنا بالّناسي صَنائعَكَ الّتي

رَددْتُ بها ظَهْرَ المُعاندِ مُنقَضا

رَددْتُ بها ظَهْرَ المُعاندِ مُنقَضا

For I shall not forget your favors, with which

I will never forget your feats by which

I left my adversary's back shattered.

You repelled the back of the stubborn foe.

تَمنّيتُ لو كان الزّمانُ يُعيرُني

تَمنّيتُ لو كان الزّمانُ يُعيرُني

جَناحاً إلى نَيلِ المعالي لأنْهَضا

جَناحاً إلى نَيلِ المعالي لأنْهَضا

I wished that time would lend me

I wish time could lend me wings,

a wing to attain high honors, that I might rise,

That I may attain the heights and soar.

وأقطَعَ عُمْري في ذُراكَ بغِبْطةٍ

وأقطَعَ عُمْري في ذُراكَ بغِبْطةٍ

وأهجُرَ أذراءَ الّلئامِ وأرفُضا

وأهجُرَ أذراءَ الّلئامِ وأرفُضا

and spend my life happily in your shelter,

And devote my life happily in your presence,

forsaking the shelters of the ignoble and casting them off,

Forsaking the wretchedness of villains.

وأُصبِحَ في يُمنَى يدَيك على العِدا

وأُصبِحَ في يُمنَى يدَيك على العِدا

حُساماً إذا ما أنت أَمضَيتَه مضَى

حُساماً إذا ما أنت أَمضَيتَه مضَى

and become, in your right hand against your enemies,

To be at your right hand in battle, a sword,

a keen sword that goes forth whenever you send it forth.

Moving as you decree when brandished.

ولكنْ إذا أَبرمت أَمراً أُريدُه

ولكنْ إذا أَبرمت أَمراً أُريدُه

أَبى الدّهرُ إلاّ أن يَجورَ فيَنْقُضا

أَبى الدّهرُ إلاّ أن يَجورَ فيَنْقُضا

But whenever I settle a matter I desire,

But when you resolve a matter I desire,

time insists on acting unjustly and undoing it.

Fate refuses except to undo and breach it.

على أنّني أُهدي على القُرْبِ والنّوى

على أنّني أُهدي على القُرْبِ والنّوى

ثناءً على ما قد منَنْتَ كما اقْتَضى

ثناءً على ما قد منَنْتَ كما اقْتَضى

Yet in nearness and distance I offer

Yet I give sincere advice and goodwill,

praise for what you have bestowed, as is its due.

As befits your bounty you have bestowed.

وأُفصحُ قَولاً بالّذي أنت أهلُه

وأُفصحُ قَولاً بالّذي أنت أهلُه

ولو لم يكُنْ ما كان أيضاً لِيَغْمُضا

ولو لم يكُنْ ما كان أيضاً لِيَغْمُضا

And I speak plainly of what you deserve,

I speak frankly of what you deserve,

though even without my doing so, it would not be obscure.

Even if none existed, refusing to be silent.

وأُنشِدُ تَقْريظي لدَيكَ مُصرَّحاً

وأُنشِدُ تَقْريظي لدَيكَ مُصرَّحاً

وأَذكرُ نَثْقيلي عليك مُعرِّضا

وأَذكرُ نَثْقيلي عليك مُعرِّضا

And I recite my praise before you openly,

I declaim my praise to you openly,

and mention the burden I place upon you only by allusion.

And mention my dependence on you directly.

وأحْسنُ ما يُلفَى ليَ الأمرُ مرَّةً

وأحْسنُ ما يُلفَى ليَ الأمرُ مرَّةً

إذا ما غدا منّى إليك مُفَوَّضا

إذا ما غدا منّى إليك مُفَوَّضا

My affairs are found at their best on any occasion

I will do my best in the task assigned me,

when I have entrusted them to you.

When duty takes me from you to another.

وليس زَماني ما بَقِيتُ وإن جَفا

وليس زَماني ما بَقِيتُ وإن جَفا

بذَمّي له أَهلاً لأنْ أتعَرَّضا

بذَمّي له أَهلاً لأنْ أتعَرَّضا

As long as I live, my time, though cruel, is not

My remaining time will not spare the days

worthy of my confronting it with blame.

If they slander me, for me to counter them.

فهل أنت للأيّامِ اعنّيَ زاجرٌ

فهل أنت للأيّامِ اعنّيَ زاجرٌ

فلستُ أَرى في القومِ إلاّ مُحرّضا

فلستُ أَرى في القومِ إلاّ مُحرّضا

Will you then rebuke the days on my behalf?

Will you curb the times that trouble me?

For among the people I see only those who goad them on.

For I see only provocateurs among the people.

أَبِنْ لي مكاناً من قَبولِك في الورَى

أَبِنْ لي مكاناً من قَبولِك في الورَى

وأكرِمْ وَليّاً في الهوَى لكَ مُمْحِضا

وأكرِمْ وَليّاً في الهوَى لكَ مُمْحِضا

Make clear my place in your favor among mankind,

Grant me a place in your acceptance in the world,

and honor a friend wholly sincere in his love for you.

And honor a loyal friend enamored of you.

فلا زال صرفُ الدَّهرِ حين تَقودُه

فلا زال صرفُ الدَّهرِ حين تَقودُه

ذَلولاً وللقومِ المُعادينَ رَيِّضا

ذَلولاً وللقومِ المُعادينَ رَيِّضا

May time's changing fortune, when you lead it, remain

May the turns of fate while you steer it,

docile, but untamed for hostile people,

Be submissive, and make foes yield.

ليسعَى كما تَرضَى إذا سعَتِ الدنا

ليسعَى كما تَرضَى إذا سعَتِ الدنا

ويَجري بما تَهوَى إذا ما جَرى القَضا

ويَجري بما تَهوَى إذا ما جَرى القَضا

to move as you please when the worlds move,

So it will strive as you wish when glory strives,

and run as you desire when destiny runs its course.

And flow as you desire when destiny flows.

قُروضٌ من الدَّهرِ الهِباتُ لأهلِه

قُروضٌ من الدَّهرِ الهِباتُ لأهلِه

فلا ارتَجَعَ النُّعمَى التي لك أَقرَضا

فلا ارتَجَعَ النُّعمَى التي لك أَقرَضا

Time's gifts to its people are loans;

The gifts of fate to its people are loans,

may it never reclaim the blessings it lent you.

Never reclaiming the bounty it has lent to you.

ودُونَك من مَيدانِ فكْريَ سابِقاً

ودُونَك من مَيدانِ فكْريَ سابِقاً

إذا ما جيادُ الشِّعْرِ جارَيْنَه نَضا

إذا ما جيادُ الشِّعْرِ جارَيْنَه نَضا

And take this winning racer from the arena of my thought,

Before you in the field of my thoughts is a forerunner,

which outstrips poetry's noble steeds when they race against it.

When the steeds of poetry race their rival.

أتاكَ على أنْ ليس رُتْبةُ جِنْسِه

أتاكَ على أنْ ليس رُتْبةُ جِنْسِه

إلى حَدِّ أن يُجلَى عليك ويُعْرَضا

إلى حَدِّ أن يُجلَى عليك ويُعْرَضا

It comes to you, though the standing of its kind does not reach

It comes to you though its status

the point of being unveiled before you and presented.

Does not reach the point of illuminating or reaching you.

فهل أنتَ أعلَى اللّهُ قَدْرَك

فهل أنتَ أعلَى اللّهُ قَدْرَك

عاطِفٌ عليه فيُكْسَى من قَبولِك معْرضا

عاطِفٌ عليه فيُكْسَى من قَبولِك معْرضا

Will you then—may God exalt your rank—

Has God elevated you beyond that,

favor it, so it is clothed in the garb of your acceptance?

Turning to it and clothing it in your acceptance.

فقد كنتَ قِدْماً تَرتَضِي ما أقولُه

فقد كنتَ قِدْماً تَرتَضِي ما أقولُه

وما تَرتَضيهِ أنت لا شَكّ مُرتَضى

وما تَرتَضيهِ أنت لا شَكّ مُرتَضى

For in former days you approved what I said,

For in the past you accepted my words,

and what you approve is doubtless worthy of approval.

And what you accept, no doubt, is approved.

وكم من لسانٍ يَقْرِضُ الشِّعرَ حَقُّهُ

وكم من لسانٍ يَقْرِضُ الشِّعرَ حَقُّهُ

من الشِّعْرِ أن يُقتَصَّ منه فيُقْرَضا

من الشِّعْرِ أن يُقتَصَّ منه فيُقْرَضا

How many a tongue that fashions verse has as its due

How many tongues diminish poetry’s right,

that verse exact revenge upon it and have it cut off!

As if poetry can be pruned and docked!

فدُمْ في بقاءٍ لا تَزالُ خُيولُه

فدُمْ في بقاءٍ لا تَزالُ خُيولُه

تُصيبُ لها في حَلْبةِ الدَّهرِ مَرْكضا

تُصيبُ لها في حَلْبةِ الدَّهرِ مَرْكضا

So abide in lasting life, whose horses never cease

So live on with your horses never ceasing

to find a place to gallop in the racecourse of time.

To score triumphs in the arena of fate.

وعشْ سالماً ما غَيّر الأُفْقُ لُبْسَه

وعشْ سالماً ما غَيّر الأُفْقُ لُبْسَه

فَسوَّدَ طَوراً للعيونِ وبَيّضا

فَسوَّدَ طَوراً للعيونِ وبَيّضا

And live unharmed as long as the horizon changes its garb,

And live safely no matter how the horizon changes,

making it now black to the eyes, now white.

At times blackening, at others brightening, for onlookers.