ألم تَرَيا أنّ الحُمولَ تَسيرُ

ألم تَرَيا أنّ الحُمولَ تَسيرُ

وأنّ سُليمى بالسّلامِ تُشيرُ

وأنّ سُليمى بالسّلامِ تُشيرُ

Have you two not seen that the laden camels are departing,

Do you not see that the caravans are moving on,

and that Sulayma waves farewell?

and that Suleima gestures farewell with peace?

فلا تَعذُلاني إنْ بكَيتُ صَبابةً

فلا تَعذُلاني إنْ بكَيتُ صَبابةً

وفي مُهجَتي جَيشُ الغرامِ يُغير

وفي مُهجَتي جَيشُ الغرامِ يُغير

So do not reproach me, you two, if I weep from longing,

So do not blame me if I weep like a youth,

while love's army raids my heart's core.

while in my mind an army of love storms.

وقَفْتُ أمامَ الظَعْنِ والحَيُّ راحِلٌ

وقَفْتُ أمامَ الظَعْنِ والحَيُّ راحِلٌ

وقد حال من دونِ الوَداعِ غَيور

وقد حال من دونِ الوَداعِ غَيور

I stood before the caravan as the clan departed,

I stood before the she-camels as they departed,

a jealous man having barred the way to farewell.

while a jealous one prevented me from saying goodbye.

أُغِيّضُ دَمعي وهْو يسَبِقُ واكفاً

أُغِيّضُ دَمعي وهْو يسَبِقُ واكفاً

وأَلزَمُ قلبي الكفَّ وهْو يَطير

وأَلزَمُ قلبي الكفَّ وهْو يَطير

I try to stem my tears, but they outrun me, streaming,

I restrain my tears as they flow copiously,

and force my heart to hold back, though it flies away.

and I force my heart to be patient as it flutters.

وما راعني في الصُّبْحِ إلاّ حُداتُهمْ

وما راعني في الصُّبْحِ إلاّ حُداتُهمْ

تُغنّي عِجالاً والمَطِيُّ تَثور

تُغنّي عِجالاً والمَطِيُّ تَثور

Nothing startled me at dawn but their camel-drivers,

In the morning, nothing distracted me except their singing,

singing in haste as the mounts rose to depart.

urging on the camels, which plod heavily along.

هلَ انْتَ معِيري نَظْرَةً أَشتَفي بها

هلَ انْتَ معِيري نَظْرَةً أَشتَفي بها

إليهم وهل للنّاظِرَيْنِ مُعير

إليهم وهل للنّاظِرَيْنِ مُعير

Will you lend me a glance to soothe my longing,

Did you glance back at me so I could quench my thirst

cast toward them—and who can lend a pair of eyes?

by looking at you? Do the two gazes meet?

وقد سار أفلاكُ المطايا وفوقَها

وقد سار أفلاكُ المطايا وفوقَها

بُدورٌ تَجلّى والبُروجُ خُدور

بُدورٌ تَجلّى والبُروجُ خُدور

The orbits of the mounts have moved away, and above them

The stars of the camels’ litters have journeyed on,

full moons shine forth, their zodiacal houses curtained chambers.

above them shining planets and dim constellations.

فخَلّفني قَلْبي وسارَ مُبادِراً

فخَلّفني قَلْبي وسارَ مُبادِراً

معَ الإلْفِ لمّا حانَ منه مَسير

معَ الإلْفِ لمّا حانَ منه مَسير

My heart left me behind and hastened away

My heart deserted me and hurried along

with the beloved when the time for departure came.

when it was time for it to depart with the caravan.

فلا زالَ يَسْقي الجِزْعَ باكِرُدِيمةٍ

فلا زالَ يَسْقي الجِزْعَ باكِرُدِيمةٍ

كما جَدَّ بالأظعانِ منه بُكور

كما جَدَّ بالأظعانِ منه بُكور

May an early, steady rain never cease to water al-Jiz',

It continues to water the sapling of sorrow

just as an early departure hurried the caravans from it.

with the dew of Dhidim, as it wept at dawn.

تَطاوَلَ ليلُ الأبرقَيْنِ بِناظِري

تَطاوَلَ ليلُ الأبرقَيْنِ بِناظِري

وَعهْدي بلَيلِ الجِزْعِ وهْو قصير

وَعهْدي بلَيلِ الجِزْعِ وهْو قصير

The night of al-Abraqayn grew long in my sight,

The night of separation stretched out before my eyes,

though I remember the night at al-Jiz' as short.

though I am accustomed to short nights of anguish.

أَحِنُّ إلى الجَرْعاء من رَمْلِ عالِجٍ

أَحِنُّ إلى الجَرْعاء من رَمْلِ عالِجٍ

فهل ماؤها للواردِينَ نَمير

فهل ماؤها للواردِينَ نَمير

I yearn for al-Jar'a amid the sands of Alij:

I yearn for the sandy plain of ‘Alaj,

is its water sweet for those who come to drink?

does its water still flow for the visitors?

ولا عيبَ في آرامِها غيرَ أنّها

ولا عيبَ في آرامِها غيرَ أنّها

بها عن عُيونِ النّاظرِينَ نُفور

بها عن عُيونِ النّاظرِينَ نُفور

Its gazelles have no fault, save that

There is no fault in resting there, save that

there they shy away from the eyes of onlookers.

it distances one from the eyes of the onlookers.

وكم راحَ عانٍ للصّبابةِ حائرٌ

وكم راحَ عانٍ للصّبابةِ حائرٌ

وكم لاحَ عِينٌ للنّواظِرِ حُور

وكم لاحَ عِينٌ للنّواظِرِ حُور

How many a captive of longing went forth bewildered,

How many lovers have wandered there confused,

and how many wide-eyed, dark-eyed beauties appeared to gazing eyes!

how many glances of the beholders have been seduced!

أقولُ لبَدْرٍ في دُجَى اللّيلِ طالعٍ

أقولُ لبَدْرٍ في دُجَى اللّيلِ طالعٍ

ولي بَصَرٌ مِمّا يُنيرُ حَسير

ولي بَصَرٌ مِمّا يُنيرُ حَسير

I say to a full moon rising in the night's darkness,

I say to the full moon rising in the dark of night,

my sight weary from its radiance:

though I have little sight to illuminate the gloom:

أَأَرجِعُ عنكَ الطَّرْفَ حتّى أُعيدَه

أَأَرجِعُ عنكَ الطَّرْفَ حتّى أُعيدَه

على عَجَلٍ إنّي إذَنْ لَصَبور

على عَجَلٍ إنّي إذَنْ لَصَبور

"Shall I turn my gaze away from you, only to bring it back

“Shall I avert my gaze until I bring it back

at once? Then I am indeed patient!"

quickly? If so, then I am truly patient!”

أيا قاتِلي ما لِلّيالي ورَيْبِها

أيا قاتِلي ما لِلّيالي ورَيْبِها

وما للعَوادي تَعْتَدي وتَجور

وما للعَوادي تَعْتَدي وتَجور

O my slayer, what is with the nights and their vicissitudes,

O killer of me! Why do the nights and their uncertainty

and with calamities that assail and wrong me?

assail me, and the deserted places attack and rage?

إذا قلتُ هذا حين أَحظَى بقُربِكمْ

إذا قلتُ هذا حين أَحظَى بقُربِكمْ

تَعرَّضَ دَهْرٌ بالرّجالِ عَثور

تَعرَّضَ دَهْرٌ بالرّجالِ عَثور

Whenever I say, "Now is the time to enjoy your nearness,"

When I say this as we are blessed with your nearness,

time, forever tripping men, intervenes.

time trips up even the firmest of men.

لعَمْري لئن مَلَّ العَذولُ مَلامتي

لعَمْري لئن مَلَّ العَذولُ مَلامتي

لقد عرضَتْ دونَ المَلامِ أُمور

لقد عرضَتْ دونَ المَلامِ أُمور

By my life, if the reproacher has tired of reproaching me,

By my life! If blame for separation fills me,

other matters have come between me and reproach.

other concerns have presented themselves beyond blame.

وقد سَدَّدتْ نحوي اللّيالي سِهامَها

وقد سَدَّدتْ نحوي اللّيالي سِهامَها

وأَفصحَ لي عمّا يُريدُ نَذير

وأَفصحَ لي عمّا يُريدُ نَذير

The nights have aimed their arrows at me,

The nights have aimed their arrows at me

and a warner has told me plainly what he intends.

and a warner has eloquently told me his intentions.

وشَنَّ عليَّ الشّيبُ من أَجلِ حَرْبها

وشَنَّ عليَّ الشّيبُ من أَجلِ حَرْبها

دِلاصاً له في العارِضَينِ قَتير

دِلاصاً له في العارِضَينِ قَتير

For the sake of their war, gray hair cast upon me

Old age has attacked me in its war,

smooth armor, its silvery studs upon both cheeks.

sending against my temples a pitiless, deadly foe.

فولَّتْ به اللّذَّاتُ حتّى كأنّها

فولَّتْ به اللّذَّاتُ حتّى كأنّها

حواشي ظِلالٍ قَصّهُنَّ هجير

حواشي ظِلالٍ قَصّهُنَّ هجير

Through it pleasures fled, until they seemed

So pleasures have turned away from me

like fringes of shade trimmed by the midday heat.

as if they were marginal notes erased by the wind.

كأنّي وإلْفي قانِصٌ وطَريدُه

كأنّي وإلْفي قانِصٌ وطَريدُه

وشَيْبيَ صُبْحٌ رابَ منه سُفور

وشَيْبيَ صُبْحٌ رابَ منه سُفور

My beloved and I are like a hunter and his quarry,

It is as though my companions and I are hunted game,

and my gray hair is a dawn whose unveiling alarms it.

with old age an unrelenting morning against us.

وما حالُ مَن يبغي اصطياداً بكَفِّهِ

وما حالُ مَن يبغي اصطياداً بكَفِّهِ

إذا لاح نَوءٌ والوَسائقُ نُور

إذا لاح نَوءٌ والوَسائقُ نُور

How fares one who seeks to hunt with his hand,

What can one who tries to catch with his hands accomplish

when a rain-star appears and the driven quarry is skittish?

if a difficulty appears and the paths ahead unclear?

فَحُثا خَليليَّ المطايا كأنّها

فَحُثا خَليليَّ المطايا كأنّها

قُصورٌ عليها في الصَّباحِ صُقور

قُصورٌ عليها في الصَّباحِ صُقور

So urge on the mounts, my two friends, as though they were

So rouse the camels, my friend, as if they were castles

palaces with falcons upon them in the morning.

with hawks perched atop them in the morning!

طِوالُ الذُّرا خُضنا بها لُجَجَ الفَلا

طِوالُ الذُّرا خُضنا بها لُجَجَ الفَلا

فما بَرِحَتْ تَجْري لَهُنَّ ضُفور

فما بَرِحَتْ تَجْري لَهُنَّ ضُفور

Lofty of summit, we plunged with them into the desert's deeps,

We have plowed the long nights with them, crossing

their braided cords never ceasing to stream.

the depths of desolation, which continue to flow for them.

إلى أن تَساهَمْنا فَلثَّمَ رَكْبَها

إلى أن تَساهَمْنا فَلثَّمَ رَكْبَها

شُحوبٌ وأَلْوى بالرّكابِ ضُمور

شُحوبٌ وأَلْوى بالرّكابِ ضُمور

Until we grew gaunt, and their riders were veiled

Until, equipped with supplies, their knees were stained

by pallor, while leanness wasted the mounts.

with pallor and their flanks bent with grief.

وقد كُنَّ إملاءَ الجبالِ فلم يزَلْ

وقد كُنَّ إملاءَ الجبالِ فلم يزَلْ

بها السّيرُ حتّى عُدْنَ وهْي سُطور

بها السّيرُ حتّى عُدْنَ وهْي سُطور

They had been mountains writ large; ceaselessly

They were the dictation of the mountains, yet

travel worked upon them until they returned as mere lines.

the journey continued until they returned weary.

إلى قُطْبِ مَلكٍ لم يَزلْ فلَكُ العُلا

إلى قُطْبِ مَلكٍ لم يَزلْ فلَكُ العُلا

عليه بشُهْبِ المكرماتِ يَدور

عليه بشُهْبِ المكرماتِ يَدور

Toward a kingly pivot, around whom the sphere of eminence

To the land of a king whom the sphere of highness

ever revolves with the meteors of noble deeds.

has ceaselessly encircled with comets of honor.

وهل غيرُ تأميلِ الهُمامِ ابنِ ناصرٍ

وهل غيرُ تأميلِ الهُمامِ ابنِ ناصرٍ

لِمَنْ يَتّقي رَيبَ الزَّمانِ نَصير

لِمَنْ يَتّقي رَيبَ الزَّمانِ نَصير

And other than hope in the magnanimous Ibn Nasir,

Is there any reconsidering the resolve of the Hamama,

is there a protector for one who fears time's vicissitudes?

the son of Nasir, for one who fears the guile of time?

أخو المجدِ أمّا المُجتدي منه دائماً

أخو المجدِ أمّا المُجتدي منه دائماً

فَغمْرٌ وأمّا المُجتلَي فَمُنير

فَغمْرٌ وأمّا المُجتلَي فَمُنير

Brother to glory: what is sought from him is always

The brother of glory - as for the one who comes begging from him,

a boundless sea; what is beheld of him is radiant.

he faces a torrent, but the one who approaches with sincerity, a light.

تُضِيءُ لأبصارِ الوَرى شمسُ وجهه

تُضِيءُ لأبصارِ الوَرى شمسُ وجهه

وصَوبُ نَداهُ للعُفاةِ درُور

وصَوبُ نَداهُ للعُفاةِ درُور

The sun of his face lights the eyes of humankind,

The sun of his face illuminates the sights of all,

and the downpour of his bounty flows abundantly for suppliants.

and the direction of his help is a flowing stream for the destitute.

إذا ما بهاءُ الدِّين ظاهَرَ نَصْرُه

إذا ما بهاءُ الدِّين ظاهَرَ نَصْرُه

فللدّينِ بالإسعادِ منه ظُهور

فللدّينِ بالإسعادِ منه ظُهور

When Baha al-Din's aid gives support,

When the brilliance of religion appears through his victory,

religion gains ascendancy through his assistance.

religion experiences from him a renaissance.

فتىً رفَع الإقبالُ رايةَ رأيِه

فتىً رفَع الإقبالُ رايةَ رأيِه

فعَزَّ به مُلْكٌ وسُرَّ سرير

فعَزَّ به مُلْكٌ وسُرَّ سرير

A young man whose counsel's banner good fortune raised:

A noble youth whom fortune raised the banner of his opinion,

through him a kingdom grew mighty, and a throne rejoiced.

through which a kingdom gained might and a throne joy.

حوَى الحسنَ في خَلْقٍ وخُلْقٍ كليهما

حوَى الحسنَ في خَلْقٍ وخُلْقٍ كليهما

فَراقَك منه ظاهِرٌ وضَمير

فَراقَك منه ظاهِرٌ وضَمير

He possessed beauty in outward form and character alike,

He combined beauty in appearance and character, both of them,

so both his outward and inward being delighted you.

your separation from which is evident and concealed.

إليه انتمتْ فينا الفضائلُ كُلُّها

إليه انتمتْ فينا الفضائلُ كُلُّها

فدَعْوَى سِواهُ للفضائلِ زُور

فدَعْوَى سِواهُ للفضائلِ زُور

All virtues among us traced their lineage to him,

In us are embodied all the virtues utterly,

so any other man's claim to them is false.

so anyone else’s claim to virtue is false.

وقالتْ أَبونا ابنُ الكرامِ مُحمَّدٌ

وقالتْ أَبونا ابنُ الكرامِ مُحمَّدٌ

فقلتُ أَبٌ لو تَعلَمونَ كَبير

فقلتُ أَبٌ لو تَعلَمونَ كَبير

They said, "Our father is Muhammad, son of the noble."

And it said “Our father is the son of nobility, Muhammad,”

I said, "A great father, if you but knew!"

and I said “A father, if you only knew how great!”

هُمامٌ به فيها اقتديتُ فكُلُّنا

هُمامٌ به فيها اقتديتُ فكُلُّنا

له فِكْرةٌ تُسدي العُلا وتُنير

له فِكْرةٌ تُسدي العُلا وتُنير

A magnanimous man whom I followed in those virtues; each of us

Aspirations through which I have followed his example,

has a thought that fosters eminence and sheds light.

and each of us is a thought that gives might and illumination.

تَقومُ قناةُ المُلْكِ من حُسنِ رأيه

تَقومُ قناةُ المُلْكِ من حُسنِ رأيه

وحُسْنُ ثَناهُ في عُلاهُ يَسير

وحُسْنُ ثَناهُ في عُلاهُ يَسير

The spear-shaft of kingship stands straight through his sound counsel,

The edifice of the kingdom is supported by his good opinion,

and fine praise of him is little beside his eminence.

and the excellence of his praise gives his highness ease.

فللقَوْلةِ الغَرّاء منّيَ خاطِرٌ

فللقَوْلةِ الغَرّاء منّيَ خاطِرٌ

وللدّولةِ الغرَّاءِ منه خَطير

وللدّولةِ الغرَّاءِ منه خَطير

For splendid speech, there is a thought from me;

So for the noble dynasty I have an idea,

for the splendid state, a man of stature from him.

and for the noble state from him a warning.

غدا لملوكِ الأرضِ بالنُّصحِ عُمدةً

غدا لملوكِ الأرضِ بالنُّصحِ عُمدةً

على حينَ أَمرُ الاِعتمادِ نَزور

على حينَ أَمرُ الاِعتمادِ نَزور

Through counsel he became a mainstay for the kings of earth,

Tomorrow for the kings of the earth, a pillar of advice,

at a time when dependable support is scarce.

while the matter of reliance is weakening.

متى باشَر الخطْبَ الجليلَ برأْيهِ

متى باشَر الخطْبَ الجليلَ برأْيهِ

أتَى المُلكَ بالفَتْحِ القريبِ بَشير

أتَى المُلكَ بالفَتْحِ القريبِ بَشير

Whenever he addresses a momentous affair with his judgment,

Whenever he undertakes a momentous affair with his opinion,

a herald brings the kingdom news of imminent victory.

good tidings of imminent opening come to the kingdom.

وكم فِتْنَةٍ تَطْغَى بكلِّ مُشيِّعٍ

وكم فِتْنَةٍ تَطْغَى بكلِّ مُشيِّعٍ

له النّقْعُ ليلٌ والسِّنانُ سَمير

له النّقْعُ ليلٌ والسِّنانُ سَمير

How many a rebellion surged with every fearless warrior,

How many seditions grow arrogant under any guide,

for whom battle-dust is night and a spearhead his evening companion!

for him the beak by night and the blade by day!

كأنَّ سُيوفَ الهندِ فيها كواكبٌ

كأنَّ سُيوفَ الهندِ فيها كواكبٌ

مع الصُّبْحِ في هامِ الكُماةِ تَغور

مع الصُّبْحِ في هامِ الكُماةِ تَغور

The swords of India within it seem like stars

It is as if the swords of India against them are stars,

that, with dawn, sink into the skulls of armored warriors.

sinking with the dawn into the shoulder-blades of the warriors.

وتَبْني نُسورُ الخَيلِ ممّا تُثيرُه

وتَبْني نُسورُ الخَيلِ ممّا تُثيرُه

على الجوِّ طَوْداً تَعتليه نُسور

على الجوِّ طَوْداً تَعتليه نُسور

The horses' hoof-frogs build, from what they stir up,

And the eagles of the horses form mountains from what they stir up,

a mountain in the air that vultures ascend.

atop the air castles which eagles inhabit.

فقد أصبحَتْ خَوفاً صُدورُ معاشرٍ

فقد أصبحَتْ خَوفاً صُدورُ معاشرٍ

كما نُفِّرَتْ من طَيْرِهنَّ وُكور

كما نُفِّرَتْ من طَيْرِهنَّ وُكور

Thus the breasts of whole companies became, through fear,

For terror has come to fill the breasts of many people,

like nests emptied of their birds.

as if their nests were startled and abandoned.

كُفيتَ بإيماءٍ منَ الرَّأْي شَرَّها

كُفيتَ بإيماءٍ منَ الرَّأْي شَرَّها

فَقرَّ قَرارٌ واستمَرَّ مَرير

فَقرَّ قَرارٌ واستمَرَّ مَرير

You were spared its evil by a mere hint of counsel;

With a mere gesture of opinion, its evil was checked,

stability settled, and the cord of resolve grew firm.

so that firmness faltered and bitterness was prolonged.

أيا مَن سما نَفْساً وأصلاً فأَشرقَتْ

أيا مَن سما نَفْساً وأصلاً فأَشرقَتْ

لعُلياهُ أنْوارٌ لهنَّ بُهور

لعُلياهُ أنْوارٌ لهنَّ بُهور

O you who rose high in soul and lineage, so that there shone

O you who perfected a soul and origin, so lights

for his eminence lights of dazzling brilliance!

of splendor rose up for their loftiness!

إليكَ كأنّ الدّهْرَ في كلِّ ليلةٍ

إليكَ كأنّ الدّهْرَ في كلِّ ليلةٍ

بكفِّ الثُّريا في السَّماء يُشير

بكفِّ الثُّريا في السَّماء يُشير

Toward you, it is as though time, every night,

To you it is as if, every night,

points in the sky with the hand of the Pleiades.

the cosmos points to you with the hand of Canopus.

تقولُ كذا فلْيَسْمُ في المجدِ مَن سما

تقولُ كذا فلْيَسْمُ في المجدِ مَن سما

ويَفخَرْ بإدْراكِ العلاء فَخور

ويَفخَرْ بإدْراكِ العلاء فَخور

It says, "Thus let whoever rises rise in glory,

Saying: “Let the one who has perfected in glory be named,

and let the boastful boast of attaining eminence."

and take pride in attaining the heights, proudly!”

جمَعْتَ التُّقَى والجودَ والبأسَ والنُّهى

جمَعْتَ التُّقَى والجودَ والبأسَ والنُّهى

بَيانُك دُرٌّ والبنانُ بُحور

بَيانُك دُرٌّ والبنانُ بُحور

You united piety, generosity, valor, and understanding;

You have combined piety, munificence, courage and forbiddance -

your eloquence is pearls, and your fingers are seas.

your elucidation a pearl and your front teeth shore pearls.

ولمّا حجَجْتَ البيتَ حَجَّك لائذاً

ولمّا حجَجْتَ البيتَ حَجَّك لائذاً

بكَ البيتُ والوفدُ الحَجيجُ حُضور

بكَ البيتُ والوفدُ الحَجيجُ حُضور

When you made pilgrimage to the House, there came on pilgrimage to you, seeking refuge

When you made the pilgrimage to the Sacred House, the House and pilgrims

in you, the House itself, while the pilgrim throng stood present.

seeking refuge hurried to make pilgrimage to you.

ولم تُرَ يوماً كعبتانِ تلاقَتا

ولم تُرَ يوماً كعبتانِ تلاقَتا

ورُكنانِ إمّا زائرٌ ومَزور

ورُكنانِ إمّا زائرٌ ومَزور

Never were two Kaabas seen to meet,

Never before have two Kaabas met,

or two pillars, one visiting and one visited.

nor two corners - either a visitor or visited.

بمَسْحِ يَمينِ اللّهِ زِدْتَ ميامِناً

بمَسْحِ يَمينِ اللّهِ زِدْتَ ميامِناً

فأصبحْتَ من جَوْرِ الزّمانِ تُجير

فأصبحْتَ من جَوْرِ الزّمانِ تُجير

By touching God's right hand, you gained still more blessings,

Through the blessings of God’s right hand, you have increased our glories,

and now you shelter others from time's injustice.

so you give refuge from the injustice of time.

يُعيرُ ملوكَ الأرضِ رأيُك نُورَهُ

يُعيرُ ملوكَ الأرضِ رأيُك نُورَهُ

كأنّك شمسٌ والملوكُ بُدور

كأنّك شمسٌ والملوكُ بُدور

Your judgment lends its light to the kings of earth,

Your opinion puts to shame the kings of the earth with its light,

as though you were the sun and the kings full moons.

as if you were a sun and the kings planets.

إذا اجتمعَتْ يوماً به ادَّخَرتْ سناً

إذا اجتمعَتْ يوماً به ادَّخَرتْ سناً

إلى العودة الأُخْرَى بذاكَ تُنير

إلى العودة الأُخْرَى بذاكَ تُنير

When they meet it one day, they store up radiance

If they gather one day in consultation with it,

until the next return, shining by that light.

it will store for them years until the next return.

أرَى رائدَ التّوفيقِ في كلِّ مَنْزِلٍ

أرَى رائدَ التّوفيقِ في كلِّ مَنْزِلٍ

يَصيرُ معَ الإقبالِ حيث تَصير

يَصيرُ معَ الإقبالِ حيث تَصير

I see the guide of success, at every stopping-place,

I see the guide of fortune in every abode,

going with good fortune wherever you go.

keeping pace with luck wherever it goes.

وكم حاسدٍ عُلْياكَ يُمسي كأنّه

وكم حاسدٍ عُلْياكَ يُمسي كأنّه

لفَرْطِ الأَسى من مُقْلتَيْهِ نَحير

لفَرْطِ الأَسى من مُقْلتَيْهِ نَحير

How many an envier of your eminence reaches evening as though

How many envious ones wish you ill, and so nightfall leaves them

slaughtered through both eyes by overwhelming sorrow!

as if distraught with grief and crazed.

إذا لُحْتَ للأبصارِ أَغضَى كأنّمَا

إذا لُحْتَ للأبصارِ أَغضَى كأنّمَا

سَناك سِنانٌ في حَشاهُ طَرير

سَناك سِنانٌ في حَشاهُ طَرير

When you appear before his eyes, he lowers them, as though

When you appear to all sights, they look away as if

your radiance were a keen spearhead in his innards.

your brilliance were a flashing blade amidst the darkness.

فدَتْك رجالٌ أَصبحوا وجسومُهمْ

فدَتْك رجالٌ أَصبحوا وجسومُهمْ

إذا هيَ قِيستْ للقُلوبِ قُبور

إذا هيَ قِيستْ للقُلوبِ قُبور

May those men ransom you whose bodies have become,

May men sacrifice themselves for you, who have become bodies

when compared with their hearts, graves.

while if weighed against hearts, they are but tombs.

هُمْ في قُصورٍ تُضرَبُ الحُجْبُ دونَهمْ

هُمْ في قُصورٍ تُضرَبُ الحُجْبُ دونَهمْ

وفيهمْ لناعمّا نُريدُ قُصور

وفيهمْ لناعمّا نُريدُ قُصور

They live in palaces, with curtains drawn before them,

They are in palaces with veils drawn around them,

yet in them we find shortcomings in what we seek.

while we desire delicate palaces for them.

وحَقُّ صدورٍ للورى أنْ يُرَى لهمْ

وحَقُّ صدورٍ للورى أنْ يُرَى لهمْ

قلوبٌ عليها يَشتمِلْنَ صُدور

قلوبٌ عليها يَشتمِلْنَ صُدور

The leaders of mankind ought to be seen to possess

The right of breasts is for them to be seen with hearts

hearts, with breasts enclosing them.

that envelop them entirely when revealed.

هُمُ مَيّزوا الأموالَ وهْي لِلُؤْمِهمْ

هُمُ مَيّزوا الأموالَ وهْي لِلُؤْمِهمْ

صِحاحٌ عنِ الأعراضِ وهْي كُسور

صِحاحٌ عنِ الأعراضِ وهْي كُسور

They separated their wealth, kept whole by their meanness,

They distinguished wealth, which was as pebbles to their courage,

from their reputations, which are broken fractions.

while honor was precious and they considered it paltry.

وقد تَسلَمُ الأعراضُ وهْي سخافة

وقد تَسلَمُ الأعراضُ وهْي سخافة

قواريرُ منهمْ والأكفُّ صُخور

قواريرُ منهمْ والأكفُّ صُخور

Yet their reputations may stay safe, though fragile

Reputations were surrendered, which were trifles,

as glass vessels among them, while their hands are rocks.

but their palms were rocks.

أيا مَن كَفُوآتُ المدائحِ أصبحَتْ

أيا مَن كَفُوآتُ المدائحِ أصبحَتْ

لها من سَجاياهُ الحِسانِ مُهور

لها من سَجاياهُ الحِسانِ مُهور

O you, whose worthy brides of praise now have

O you whose perfections deeds of praise have become

dowries drawn from his beautiful qualities!

necklaces for which his qualities of commendation are pearls.

ولي من ثنائي والولاءِ أَواصِرٌ

ولي من ثنائي والولاءِ أَواصِرٌ

ترادَفَ منها أوّلٌ وأَخير

ترادَفَ منها أوّلٌ وأَخير

I have bonds of praise and loyalty,

My praise and devotion have strong ties,

their first and last following in succession.

with the first and last linked together.

وعندي لأَسلافٍ مضَوْا لكَ أَنعُمٌ

وعندي لأَسلافٍ مضَوْا لكَ أَنعُمٌ

وبالحِفْظِ عَهْدُ الأكرمينَ جَدير

وبالحِفْظِ عَهْدُ الأكرمينَ جَدير

I retain kindnesses from forebears of yours who passed away,

I still possess the favors of noble ancestors who have passed

and the pledge of the most noble deserves safeguarding.

and it befits the most generous to preserve their loyalty.

وإنّي على شُكْري لهنّ مُثابِرٌ

وإنّي على شُكْري لهنّ مُثابِرٌ

طُوالَ اللّيالي ما أقامَ ثَبير

طُوالَ اللّيالي ما أقامَ ثَبير

I persist in my gratitude for those favors

I persist in thanking them throughout the nights,

throughout the nights, as long as Thabir stands.

for as long as the Pleiades remain.

فكيف بشُكْرٍ في أوانِ اكتِهالِه

فكيف بشُكْرٍ في أوانِ اكتِهالِه

إذا أحسنَ الرُوّادُ وهْو شَكير

إذا أحسنَ الرُوّادُ وهْو شَكير

What, then, of gratitude in the season of its maturity,

So how can gratitude in its plentitude be thanked

if it pleased pasture-seekers while still a tender shoot?

when the visitors have done well and it is most thankful?

أقولُ لقُرحانِ الصّبابةِ مُدْنَفٌ

أقولُ لقُرحانِ الصّبابةِ مُدْنَفٌ

بشِعْري وعِزْهاةُ المدائحِ زير

بشِعْري وعِزْهاةُ المدائحِ زير

I say: one untouched by longing is made lovesick

I say to the wounds of youth, my poetry is infatuated,

by my poetry, and the shunner of panegyrics becomes a gallant.

while the old and wise are solemn.

على أنّ بالأفكارِ شُغْلاً لوِ انتهَتْ

على أنّ بالأفكارِ شُغْلاً لوِ انتهَتْ

عنِ النَّظْمِ لكنّ اللِّبيبَ وقور

عنِ النَّظْمِ لكنّ اللِّبيبَ وقور

Though my thoughts would have work enough if they desisted

Although my thoughts are preoccupied with other matters,

from verse-making; yet the discerning man is composed.

averting poetry, but the judicious are dignified.

كأنّ فؤادي طُولَ دهريَ حلبةٌ

كأنّ فؤادي طُولَ دهريَ حلبةٌ

على أنّه للنائباتِ أَسير

على أنّه للنائباتِ أَسير

My heart throughout my lifetime seems a racecourse,

It is as if my heart throughout my life is an arena,

although it is a captive to calamities.

captive to the blows of fate.

تَخلَّف فيه قاصرَ الهَمِّ نافِثاً

تَخلَّف فيه قاصرَ الهَمِّ نافِثاً

صاوا وأَرْيُ الشِّعْرِ منه مَشور

صاوا وأَرْيُ الشِّعْرِ منه مَشور

Within it, one of scant ambition lagged, spitting forth

In it remains one with shallow care, pouring forth

[unclear word], while poetry's honey is harvested from it.

noise, while the sight of poetry for it is muddled.

قَدِمتَ علينا والرّبيعُ بمَوعدٍ

قَدِمتَ علينا والرّبيعُ بمَوعدٍ

فقد عادَ روضُ العيشِ وهْو نَضير

فقد عادَ روضُ العيشِ وهْو نَضير

You came to us with spring at its appointed time,

You have come to us while spring is keeping its promise,

and the garden of life became fresh again.

so the garden of life has returned refreshed.

لِجودِك يا أَندَى الورى ولجودِه

لِجودِك يا أَندَى الورى ولجودِه

سحابانِ كُلٌّ للأنامِ مَطير

سحابانِ كُلٌّ للأنامِ مَطير

For your bounty, O most generous of humankind, and for its bounty,

Due to your munificence, O brightest light of the world, and its munificence,

there are two clouds, each raining upon mankind.

two clouds, each a rain for the people.

ففي كُلِّ دارٍ مِنْحةٌ وعَطيَّةٌ

ففي كُلِّ دارٍ مِنْحةٌ وعَطيَّةٌ

وفي كُلِّ قاعٍ رَوضةٌ وغَدير

وفي كُلِّ قاعٍ رَوضةٌ وغَدير

In every house there is a gift and a grant,

In every house, there are gifts and grants,

and in every lowland a meadow and a pool.

in every plain, a garden and stream.

كأنّ الأقاحي والشّقائقَ في الثَّرى

كأنّ الأقاحي والشّقائقَ في الثَّرى

خدودٌ بها مَصقولةٌ وثُغور

خدودٌ بها مَصقولةٌ وثُغور

The daisies and anemones in the soil seem

It is as if the anemones and poppies on the land

like polished cheeks and mouths there.

are flushed cheeks with polished and gaping holes.

فعشْ ألفَ عَصْرٍ مثلَ ذا العصرِ كاملاً

فعشْ ألفَ عَصْرٍ مثلَ ذا العصرِ كاملاً

فمِثْلُك مجداً لم تَجِدْه عُصور

فمِثْلُك مجداً لم تَجِدْه عُصور

So live a thousand full ages like this age,

So live for a thousand eras like this perfect age,

for no ages have found your equal in glory.

for the ages have not found one like you in glory.

لدَهْرِكَ تَغْدو كيف شِئْتَ مُصرِّفاً

لدَهْرِكَ تَغْدو كيف شِئْتَ مُصرِّفاً

إذا صَرَّفتْهم كيف شِئْنَ دهور

إذا صَرَّفتْهم كيف شِئْنَ دهور

May you go on directing your time however you wish,

However you wish, you make the days your guide,

while ages direct others however they please.

since epochs are guided however they wish.

وأَحسنُ حالِ الدّهرِ أنّك سالِمٌ

وأَحسنُ حالِ الدّهرِ أنّك سالِمٌ

وهل فَقْدُ خَلْقٍ ما بَقِيتَ يَضير

وهل فَقْدُ خَلْقٍ ما بَقِيتَ يَضير

Time's best condition is that you are safe;

The best state of fate is that you are safe,

does the loss of anyone harm us while you remain?

and does the loss of any creature harm when you remain?

كفانا كريمٌ من بني الدّهرِ واحدٌ

كفانا كريمٌ من بني الدّهرِ واحدٌ

وواحِدُ صِدْقٍ إن وجَدْتَ كثير

وواحِدُ صِدْقٍ إن وجَدْتَ كثير

One noble man among the sons of time suffices us,

One noble man from the sons of time suffices us,

and one true-hearted man, if you find him, is many.

and the sincerity of one, even if you find many.