أَقْلاّ عندَ طِيّتيَ المقالا

أَقْلاّ عندَ طِيّتيَ المقالا

وحُلاّ عن مَطيَّتيَ العِقالا

وحُلاّ عن مَطيَّتيَ العِقالا

You two, spare your words as I set out,

Speak little in my presence, and restrain your reason.

And loosen the hobble from my mount.

The young man is created only as a sword,

فما خُلِقَ الفتَى إلاّ حُساماً

فما خُلِقَ الفتَى إلاّ حُساماً

وما خُلِقَ السُّرَى إلاّ صِقالا

وما خُلِقَ السُّرَى إلاّ صِقالا

For the young man was made only as a keen sword,

and steels are created only to be polished.

And night travel only as its polishing.

The blood of youth is aroused only by separation -

وما راع الدُّمَى إلاّ فِراقٌ

وما راع الدُّمَى إلاّ فِراقٌ

خطَبْتُ به إلى العلْيا وِصالا

خطَبْتُ به إلى العلْيا وِصالا

Nothing frightened the doll-like beauties but a parting

I sought it in the high places of union.

Through which I sought union with lofty glory.

I soared to her with a bouquet of youths

سمَوْتُ لها بزُهْرٍ من فُتُوٍّ

سمَوْتُ لها بزُهْرٍ من فُتُوٍّ

هتَفْتُ بهمْ وجُنْحُ اللّيلِ مالا

هتَفْتُ بهمْ وجُنْحُ اللّيلِ مالا

I rose toward it with radiant young men,

calling out to them while the wings of night withdrew.

Whom I called as night's wing drooped.

I am lighter than the stars when they walk

أَقَلُّ من الكواكبِ حينَ تَسْري

أَقَلُّ من الكواكبِ حينَ تَسْري

ضلالاً في الغياهبِ أَو كَلالا

ضلالاً في الغياهبِ أَو كَلالا

Less prone than the stars, as they journey by night,

astray in darkness or weariness.

To stray in deep darkness or grow weary.

My friend says farewell, tears flowing,

يَقولُ مُودِّعي والدَّمْعُ جارٍ

يَقولُ مُودِّعي والدَّمْعُ جارٍ

يُريك مصونَ لُؤْلُئه مُذالا

يُريك مصونَ لُؤْلُئه مُذالا

My farewell companion says, his tears streaming,

showing you the protected pearls have been humbled.

Showing you his guarded pearls now freely shed:

Give me a draft of the intoxication of your mouth

أَعِرني نَشوةً من كَأْسِ ثَغْرٍ

أَعِرني نَشوةً من كَأْسِ ثَغْرٍ

وثَوِّرْ قبلَ أَن أَصْحو الجِمالا

وثَوِّرْ قبلَ أَن أَصْحو الجِمالا

Lend me rapture from the cup of a mouth,

and stir it before I awake to beauty.

And rouse the camels before I sober,

I hate to turn my eye in the morning

كراهةَ أَن أُديرَ العَينَ صُبْحاً

كراهةَ أَن أُديرَ العَينَ صُبْحاً

فأُبصِرَ للخليطِ بها زِيالا

فأُبصِرَ للخليطِ بها زِيالا

Lest I turn my eye at dawn

and see the mixed company has become common.

And with it see the company depart.

Promises - my memory of them is ever new,

عُهودٌ لم يَزَلْ ذِكرْي جديداً

عُهودٌ لم يَزَلْ ذِكرْي جديداً

لَهُنَّ وإنْ قَدُمْنَ ولن يَزالا

لَهُنَّ وإنْ قَدُمْنَ ولن يَزالا

Pledges—my remembrance has never ceased to be fresh

to them, though they are old, and will not cease.

For them, though they have aged, nor will it cease.

By my two standards - if they were to remain white

وبالعلَمَيْنِ لو واصلْنَ بِيضٌ

وبالعلَمَيْنِ لو واصلْنَ بِيضٌ

وسُمْرٌ يدَّرعْنَ لها ظِلالا

وسُمْرٌ يدَّرعْنَ لها ظِلالا

At al-‘Alamayn are fair women—if only they granted union—

and brown cloaked in shade for her.

And tawny spears, whose shadows they wear as armor.

The white told briefly of a glance and smile,

حكَيْنَ البيضَ لَحظاً وابتساماً

حكَيْنَ البيضَ لَحظاً وابتساماً

وفُقْنَ السُّمْرَ ليناً واعتدالا

وفُقْنَ السُّمْرَ ليناً واعتدالا

Their glances and smiles resembled bright swords,

while the brown softly and calmly.

And they surpassed tawny spears in suppleness and straightness.

They forbade my imagining you until indeed

وحَرَّمْنَ الخيالَ علَيَّ حتّى

وحَرَّمْنَ الخيالَ علَيَّ حتّى

لقد أَبقَيْنَ من جِسمي خَيالا

لقد أَبقَيْنَ من جِسمي خَيالا

They denied me their dream-images until

they left me without even a shadow of my body.

They left of my body only a phantom.

Had sorrow occupied my eye at night

ولو شغَل الكرَى باللّيلِ عَيْني

ولو شغَل الكرَى باللّيلِ عَيْني

جَعلْتُ لها بها عنها اشْتِغالا

جَعلْتُ لها بها عنها اشْتِغالا

Had sleep occupied my eye at night,

I would have made it, because of it, busy for it.

I would give it, through itself, distraction from itself.

The water of grace still flows from it -

وأغيدَ رَقَّ ماءُ الوجهِ منه

وأغيدَ رَقَّ ماءُ الوجهِ منه

فلو أَرخَى لثاماً عنه سالا

فلو أَرخَى لثاماً عنه سالا

And a supple youth, the water of whose face grew so fine

were it to lower a veil from it, it would flow.

That, were he to lower his veil from it, it would flow.

Its blackness makes clear the vision within,

تُبينُ سَوادَها الأبصارُ فيه

تُبينُ سَوادَها الأبصارُ فيه

فحيثُ لَحظْتَ منه حَسِبْتَ خالا

فحيثُ لَحظْتَ منه حَسِبْتَ خالا

Eyes reveal their blackness in him,

so wherever you look you think there is a mole.

So wherever you gaze on him, you think you see a beauty spot.

It was armed against me one day with a wink,

تَترَّسَ يومَ لاقاني بغَيْلٍ

تَترَّسَ يومَ لاقاني بغَيْلٍ

وراميَ حين رامَ ليَ اغْتيالا

وراميَ حين رامَ ليَ اغْتيالا

He shielded himself, the day he met me, with a thicket,

and when it wished my destruction, it took aim.

And shot at me when he sought to slay me stealthily,

With a glance that does not feel what it entices

بطَرْفٍ ليس يَشعُرُ ما التّشكِّي

بطَرْفٍ ليس يَشعُرُ ما التّشكِّي

ويُنشدُ سُقْمَ عاشقِه انْتِحالا

ويُنشدُ سُقْمَ عاشقِه انْتِحالا

With a glance that does not know what complaint is,

and recites the sickness of its lover disguised.

And recites his lover's sickness as though it were his own.

It counts our distress as real,

يَعُدُّ عليلَنا المُضْنَى صَحيحاً

يَعُدُّ عليلَنا المُضْنَى صَحيحاً

ونحن نَعُدُّ صِحّتَه اعْتِدالا

ونحن نَعُدُّ صِحّتَه اعْتِدالا

He counts our wasted invalid healthy,

while we count its health as composure.

While we count his soundness perfect proportion.

Worries have weakened me,

تأوَّبني خيالٌ من هُمومٍ

تأوَّبني خيالٌ من هُمومٍ

وإن كاثَرْنَ في العَدَدِ الرِّمالا

وإن كاثَرْنَ في العَدَدِ الرِّمالا

A phantom of cares revisited me by night,

even if they are more numerous than the sands.

Though they rivaled the sands in number.

If worries attack white hair,

فإنْ تَرُعِ الهمومُ على مَشيبٍ

فإنْ تَرُعِ الهمومُ على مَشيبٍ

فقد خُلِقَتْ مطايانا عِجالا

فقد خُلِقَتْ مطايانا عِجالا

If cares frighten me in gray-haired age,

our mounts were created to be swift.

Our mounts were indeed created swift.

How can we enjoy short lives

وكيف نَلَذُّ أَعماراً قِصاراً

وكيف نَلَذُّ أَعماراً قِصاراً

وقد أُودِعْنَ أَفكاراً طِوالا

وقد أُودِعْنَ أَفكاراً طِوالا

How can we savor short lifetimes,

when we have been given long thoughts?

When they have been filled with long thoughts?

You complain to the drowning man of the troubles

تَذُمُّ إليَّ من زَمني خُطوباً

تَذُمُّ إليَّ من زَمني خُطوباً

شكَوْتَ إلى الغريقِ بها ابْتِلالا

شكَوْتَ إلى الغريقِ بها ابْتِلالا

You condemn to me the calamities of my time:

that have come to me in my time of trial.

You complain of wetness to a drowning man.

But no, by your father, I do not fear time -

فلا وأَبيكَ أَخشَى الدَّهرَ قِرْناً

فلا وأَبيكَ أَخشَى الدَّهرَ قِرْناً

ولكنّي أُنازِلُه نِزالا

ولكنّي أُنازِلُه نِزالا

No, by your father, I do not fear Time as a rival,

rather I engage it in combat.

But I meet it in single combat.

I show patience and fortitude

أَظاهِرُ بينَ صَبْرٍ واعتصامٍ

أَظاهِرُ بينَ صَبْرٍ واعتصامٍ

بمَنْ خلَق النّوائبَ والرِّجالا

بمَنْ خلَق النّوائبَ والرِّجالا

I combine patience with seeking refuge

to the one who created misfortunes and men.

In Him who created calamities and men.

When the winds blow they increase our burning,

إذا عصَفتْ فأطفأتِ الأعادي

إذا عصَفتْ فأطفأتِ الأعادي

صُروفُ الدِّهْرِ زادَتْنا اشْتِعالا

صُروفُ الدِّهْرِ زادَتْنا اشْتِعالا

When they rage and extinguish the enemies,

and the fires of anger grow brighter,

Time's reversals make us blaze still more.

and are revived by the wetness that hides decay.

ونيرانُ الغَضا تَزْدادُ وَقْداً

ونيرانُ الغَضا تَزْدادُ وَقْداً

وتَحْيا بالّتي تُخْبي الذُّبالا

وتَحْيا بالّتي تُخْبي الذُّبالا

The fires of ghada wood burn ever fiercer,

I turn my gaze to well-formed flesh

And live through what extinguishes wicks.

whose limbs dispel shade.

أُقلِّبُ ناظِرَيْ لَحْمٍ صَيودٍ

أُقلِّبُ ناظِرَيْ لَحْمٍ صَيودٍ

غدَتْ أَعطافُه تَنْفي الظِّلالا

غدَتْ أَعطافُه تَنْفي الظِّلالا

I turn the two eyes of a hunting body,

And I wrap myself in darkness with in my left hand the rein of a cloak that tells of the north,

Whose sides now cast away all shadows.

of those who, when they are disturbed for an instant,

وأشْتَمِلُ الظّلامَ وفي شِمالي

وأشْتَمِلُ الظّلامَ وفي شِمالي

زِمامُ شِمِلّةٍ تَحْكي الشَّمالا

زِمامُ شِمِلّةٍ تَحْكي الشَّمالا

I wrap myself in darkness, while in my left hand

make you fear their dress will slip away.

Is the rein of a swift she-camel resembling the north wind.

Had they spent a month undressing in the east,

منَ الّلائي إذا طَرِبتْ لحَدْوٍ

منَ الّلائي إذا طَرِبتْ لحَدْوٍ

خَشِيتَ منَ النُّسوعِ لها انْسِلالا

خَشِيتَ منَ النُّسوعِ لها انْسِلالا

One of those that, when stirred by the driver's song,

the crescent moon would have outsped us to the west.

Make you fear her slipping free of the saddle-straps.

When I strung them into a necklace

ولو سلَختْ لنا في الشّرْقِ شَهْراً

ولو سلَختْ لنا في الشّرْقِ شَهْراً

سَبقْنَ بنا إلى الغَرْبِ الهلالا

سَبقْنَ بنا إلى الغَرْبِ الهلالا

Even if they spent a month for us in the east,

over all horizons, proudly,

They would bear us west ahead of the crescent moon.

I made pilgrimage with them to the meteors of religion -

فلمّا أَنْ نظَمتُ بها وِشاحاً

فلمّا أَنْ نظَمتُ بها وِشاحاً

على الآفاقِ قاطبةً فَجالا

على الآفاقِ قاطبةً فَجالا

When I had strung with her a sash

so for my aspiring faith it was made complete.

Across all the horizons, and it had swept around,

And the nearness of the most fortunate of my hopes

حَججْتُ بها شِهابَ الدّينِ حَجّاً

حَججْتُ بها شِهابَ الدّينِ حَجّاً

فكان لدينِ هِمَّتيَ الكَمالا

فكان لدينِ هِمَّتيَ الكَمالا

I made on her a pilgrimage to Shihab al-Din,

made happy - we exalted and cast down our burdens,

And my ambition's faith found its perfection.

by the light of the meteors of Allah’s religion.

وأَسعَدَ قُربُ أَسعدَ آمِليه

وأَسعَدَ قُربُ أَسعدَ آمِليه

فكبَّرْنا وأَلقيْنَا الرِّحالا

فكبَّرْنا وأَلقيْنَا الرِّحالا

As‘ad's nearness gladdened those who hoped in him,

Eyes that had adorned themselves with kohl rested,

So we proclaimed God's greatness and laid down our saddles.

The greatest meteor wandering the horizons

بنُورِ شهابِ دينِ اللهِ قَرَّتْ

بنُورِ شهابِ دينِ اللهِ قَرَّتْ

عُيونٌ قد ملَكْنَ به اكتِحالا

عُيونٌ قد ملَكْنَ به اكتِحالا

By the light of Shihab, meteor of God's faith, were soothed

in traces and most noble deeds,

Eyes that through him had gained their kohl.

and highest in rank of glories

أَجلُّ الشُّهْبِ في الآفاقِ سَيْراً

أَجلُّ الشُّهْبِ في الآفاقِ سَيْراً

وآثاراً وأَشْرفُها فِعالا

وآثاراً وأَشْرفُها فِعالا

The greatest of meteors in their course through the horizons,

when they take pride, and greatest in gifts.

And in their traces, and the noblest in deeds;

We hope it will last and remain

وأعْلاها مَحلاًّ في المَعالي

وأعْلاها مَحلاًّ في المَعالي

إذا افتخَروا وأعظَمُها نَوالا

إذا افتخَروا وأعظَمُها نَوالا

The highest stationed in the heights of honor,

while the sun of its state is safe from declining,

When they boast, and the greatest in bounty.

guiding newcomers to it by name

ونَأْمُلُ أنْ سيُفْنيها ويَبْقَى

ونَأْمُلُ أنْ سيُفْنيها ويَبْقَى

وتَأْمَنُ شَمسُ دَوْلته زَوالا

وتَأْمَنُ شَمسُ دَوْلته زَوالا

We hope he will bring them to nothing and endure,

so the young man does not fear going astray.

And that the sun of his rule be safe from setting.

It became accustomed to generously hosting them from the start -

يَدُلُّ الوافِدينَ إليه ذِكْرٌ

يَدُلُّ الوافِدينَ إليه ذِكْرٌ

فلا يَخْشَ الفتى عنه الضَّلالا

فلا يَخْشَ الفتى عنه الضَّلالا

His fame guides those who come to him,

were they to ask, it would not know how to refuse.

So let no youth fear losing the way to him.

It increases in humility over its loftiness

تَعوَّد أنْ يَجودَهمُ ابْتداءً

تَعوَّد أنْ يَجودَهمُ ابْتداءً

فلو سأَلوهُ ما عَرَفَ السُّؤالا

فلو سأَلوهُ ما عَرَفَ السُّؤالا

He is accustomed to giving them unprompted;

and shows who is higher than one exalted.

Were they to ask him, he would not recognize asking.

It is the brother of a pen to which pens are humbly obedient -

يَزيدُ على تَواضُعِه ارْتفاعاً

يَزيدُ على تَواضُعِه ارْتفاعاً

ويَظْهَرُ مَن عَلا مِمَّنْ تَعالى

ويَظْهَرُ مَن عَلا مِمَّنْ تَعالى

His humility increases his elevation,

slaves while it is their master in majesty,

And the truly exalted is distinguished from the self-exalting.

with a victorious hand of books in glory

أخو قَلَمٍ له الأقلامُ طُرّاً

أخو قَلَمٍ له الأقلامُ طُرّاً

عَبيدٌ وهْوَ مَوْلاها جَلالا

عَبيدٌ وهْوَ مَوْلاها جَلالا

Master of a pen, to which all other pens

so they come swaggering proudly.

Are slaves, while it is their lord in majesty.

When it depicted a bow and arrow

بكفّ مُتَوِّجٍ للكُتْبِ عِزّاً

بكفّ مُتَوِّجٍ للكُتْبِ عِزّاً

فتَأْتي وهْي تَخْتالُ اخْتِيالا

فتَأْتي وهْي تَخْتالُ اخْتِيالا

In the hand of one who crowns writings with honor,

and struggled in the high places with them,

So they come strutting proudly.

it told in the heart of its envious foe

إذا ما مثَّلَتْ قَوساً وسَهماً

إذا ما مثَّلَتْ قَوساً وسَهماً

وناضَل في العُلا بِهما نِضالا

وناضَل في العُلا بِهما نِضالا

When his writings portray a bow and an arrow,

the truth of what its example traced.

And he contends with both for lofty glory,

It has an opinion the Sultan insisted

حكَى في قَلْبِ حاسدِه فِعالاً

حكَى في قَلْبِ حاسدِه فِعالاً

حَقيقةَ ما يَخُطُّ له مِثالا

حَقيقةَ ما يَخُطُّ له مِثالا

In his envier's heart he enacts, in deeds,

that he rely upon completely.

The reality of what he pens as an image.

If he ties relations with one he hopes for,

له رَأْيٌ أبَى السُّلطانُ إلاّ

له رَأْيٌ أبَى السُّلطانُ إلاّ

عليه أنْ يُعِدَّ له اتّكالا

عليه أنْ يُعِدَّ له اتّكالا

His judgment is such that the sultan insists

then one need not fear the knot will unravel.

On placing his reliance upon it.

When an enemy of religion revolts,

إذا عقَد الذِّمامَ لِمَنْ رَجاهُ

إذا عقَد الذِّمامَ لِمَنْ رَجاهُ

فلا يَخْشَ لعُقْدتِه انْحِلالا

فلا يَخْشَ لعُقْدتِه انْحِلالا

When he binds a pledge for one who hopes in him,

they experience its harshest steel.

Let him not fear that knot's undoing.

And most eloquent in speech or discourse

إذا ما ثارَ دونَ الدّينِ خَصْمٌ

إذا ما ثارَ دونَ الدّينِ خَصْمٌ

بَلَوا منه أَشَدّ فتىً مِحالا

بَلَوا منه أَشَدّ فتىً مِحالا

Whenever an adversary rises in the way of faith,

when they witness a tyrant or debate.

They find him the most formidable of youths,

Secure is its bond of dignity when

وأَوسعَهمْ كِلاماً أو كَلاماً

وأَوسعَهمْ كِلاماً أو كَلاماً

إذا شَهِدوا جِلاداً أو جِدالا

إذا شَهِدوا جِلاداً أو جِدالا

And the most lavish of them in wounds or words,

great waves make the mountains tremble.

When they witness combat or debate.

Its sword blade is polished but

وَثيقٌ عَقْدُ حُبْوتهِ وَقاراً

وَثيقٌ عَقْدُ حُبْوتهِ وَقاراً

إذا الغَمَراتُ زَعَزعْنَ الجبالا

إذا الغَمَراتُ زَعَزعْنَ الجبالا

His sitting-wrap is firmly knotted in composure,

its edge penetrates within like an awl.

When ordeals shake the mountains.

When a virtue is perfected and counted

صَقيلٌ حَدُّ صارِمِه ولكنْ

صَقيلٌ حَدُّ صارِمِه ولكنْ

يُدِبُّ فِرِنْدُهُ فيه النِّمالا

يُدِبُّ فِرِنْدُهُ فيه النِّمالا

The edge of his keen sword is polished, yet

for one of generosity, your virtues for us were made complete.

Its watered markings set ants crawling through it.

How often hopeful has quenched its thirst at your spring,

إذا ما خَصْلةٌ كَمُلَتْ وعُدَّتْ

إذا ما خَصْلةٌ كَمُلَتْ وعُدَّتْ

لذي كَرَمٍ كَمُلْتَ لنا خِصالا

لذي كَرَمٍ كَمُلْتَ لنا خِصالا

Whenever a virtue is perfected and reckoned

a suckling that does not lead to weaning!

For a noble man, you are perfect in every virtue to us.

How often has the cloud drawn its cheek until

وكم رَضَعَ الرَّجاءُ نَداكَ قِدْماً

وكم رَضَعَ الرَّجاءُ نَداكَ قِدْماً

رَضاعاً لم يُعقِّبْهُ فِصالا

رَضاعاً لم يُعقِّبْهُ فِصالا

How often hope has suckled at your bounty of old,

it learned to drizzle from your fingers!

A suckling never followed by weaning.

The sky has not attained where it would allow

وكم سحَب السّحابُ الخَدَّ حتّى

وكم سحَب السّحابُ الخَدَّ حتّى

تَعلّمَ من أناملَك انْهِمالا

تَعلّمَ من أناملَك انْهِمالا

How often the cloud dragged its cheek until

your horses shoes among its people.

It learned from your fingertips to pour.

When the horse of the defiant wanted to gallop,

وما سمَتِ السّماءُ بحيثُ تَرضَى

وما سمَتِ السّماءُ بحيثُ تَرضَى

لخَيْلِك من أَهِلَّتِها نِعالا

لخَيْلِك من أَهِلَّتِها نِعالا

The sky has not risen high enough for you to accept

the pack retreated from it in columns.

Its crescents as shoes for your horses.

If you compete with the sea's abyss in generosity,

إذا فَرَسُ المُعانِدِ رامَ رَكْضاً

إذا فَرَسُ المُعانِدِ رامَ رَكْضاً

تَراجعَت الحُجولُ له شِكالا

تَراجعَت الحُجولُ له شِكالا

When an opponent's horse tries to gallop,

it could not contain even an ant's sip.

Its white leg-markings revert to hobbles.

It is enough glory for paper and pens

إذا ساجَلْتَ لُجَّ البَحْرِ جُوداً

إذا ساجَلْتَ لُجَّ البَحْرِ جُوداً

فما يَحْوِي لأنْمُلَةٍ بَلالا

فما يَحْوِي لأنْمُلَةٍ بَلالا

If you rival the sea's depths in generosity,

that they divided your right and left hand between them.

It holds not enough moisture for a fingertip.

You were created beautifully for the wine vessels of eminence,

كفَى القِرطاسَ والأقلامَ فَخْراً

كفَى القِرطاسَ والأقلامَ فَخْراً

أنِ اقْتَسَما يَمينَك والشِّمالا

أنِ اقْتَسَما يَمينَك والشِّمالا

It is glory enough for paper and pens

and the horses of zeal have spread out for you a place.

That they share your right and left hands.

Whenever you extend to it a hand with ink,

قِداحُ عُلاً خُلِقْتَ لها مُجِيلاً

قِداحُ عُلاً خُلِقْتَ لها مُجِيلاً

وخَيلُ نُهىً فَسَحْتَ لها مَجالا

وخَيلُ نُهىً فَسَحْتَ لها مَجالا

Arrow-lots of glory, which you were made to cast,

it comes to a limb and stops a heated debate.

And horses of wisdom, for which you opened a field.

The time has blamed its course on its passion –

إذا ما مَدَّةٌ لك من دَواةٍ

إذا ما مَدَّةٌ لك من دَواةٍ

أتَتْ طَرْفاً كفَتْ حَرْباً سِجالا

أتَتْ طَرْفاً كفَتْ حَرْباً سِجالا

If a dip of yours from an inkwell

a brother of blames whose ropes you have tied.

Comes as a steed, it suffices for a war of changing fortunes.

How often has the envious one sought in vain

لقد ذَمَّ الزَّمانَ إلى هَواهُ

لقد ذَمَّ الزَّمانَ إلى هَواهُ

أخو ذِمَمٍ عقَدْتَ له حِبالا

أخو ذِمَمٍ عقَدْتَ له حِبالا

Indeed, he has complained of Time to the one he loves—

that your slipper meet the crown of its forehead!

A man of covenants for whom you tied their cords.

You have intended for one of little wealth humiliation,

وكم طلَبَ الحَسودُ فلم يُقابِلْ

وكم طلَبَ الحَسودُ فلم يُقابِلْ

لنَعْلِك تاجُ مَفْرِقهِ قِبالا

لنَعْلِك تاجُ مَفْرِقهِ قِبالا

How often the envier strove, yet never matched

so your action refuted for him words.

His head's crown to a strap upon your sandal.

And folded a joint of his until he became

وذي ضِغْنٍ عَمدْتَ له احتِقاراً

وذي ضِغْنٍ عَمدْتَ له احتِقاراً

فَعالَك وانتضَيْتَ له مَقالا

فَعالَك وانتضَيْتَ له مَقالا

Many a rancorous man you meant to treat with scorn;

one who sees murder but cannot see a fight.

Then he troubled you, and you unsheathed a saying against him.

Lastly, your right hand counted generosity

وطَبَّق مَفْصِلاً منه فأضحَى

وطَبَّق مَفْصِلاً منه فأضحَى

يَرى قَتْلاً وليسَ يَرى قِتالا

يَرى قَتْلاً وليسَ يَرى قِتالا

It struck one of his joints cleanly, so he came to

that it pulled its reins taut.

See killing, but see no combat.

His sickness was not days, but

وآخِرَ ما عدَتْ يُمناكَ جُوداً

وآخِرَ ما عدَتْ يُمناكَ جُوداً

أنِ استَلَّتْ سَخائمَه اسْتِلالا

أنِ استَلَّتْ سَخائمَه اسْتِلالا

And the final reach of your right hand's generosity

a Nabataean shower that heals the incurable.

Was to draw out his grudges completely.

I asked fate, “Is there any share for me in you?”

ولم يَك داؤه أَمَماً ولكنْ

ولم يَك داؤه أَمَماً ولكنْ

نطاسِيٌّ النّدى يَشْفِي العُضالا

نطاسِيٌّ النّدى يَشْفِي العُضالا

His illness was not slight, but

It answered neither with a yes nor no,

Bounty is a skilled physician that heals intractable ills.

that I may know your opinion of me beforehand,

سألتُ الدَّهرَ هل ليَ فيكَ حظُّ

سألتُ الدَّهرَ هل ليَ فيكَ حظُّ

فلا نَعَمٌ أجابَ بهِ ولا لا

فلا نَعَمٌ أجابَ بهِ ولا لا

I asked Time, ‘Have I any fortune in you?’

and follow if it treats me well or ill.

It answered with neither yes nor no,

My name is none but your servant - how then

لِيَعْلمَ فيَّ رأْيَكَ قَبْلُ عِلْماً

لِيَعْلمَ فيَّ رأْيَكَ قَبْلُ عِلْماً

فيَتبَع إنْ أدالَ وإنْ أذالا

فيَتبَع إنْ أدالَ وإنْ أذالا

So it might first learn your judgment of me,

did my place to you become safekeeping or abasement?

Then follow it, whether granting me ascendancy or abasement.

Just as you call thirst or drink

وما اسْمِي غيرُ عبدِكَ َكيف أضحَى

وما اسْمِي غيرُ عبدِكَ َكيف أضحَى

مَكانيَ منكَ صَوْناً وابْتِذالا

مَكانيَ منكَ صَوْناً وابْتِذالا

My name is only ‘your servant,’ however

whatever foreigners you meet.

My station with you may be—cherished or debased.

But I have long-standing days of slavery,

كما تُسْمي عِطاشاً أو رِواءً

كما تُسْمي عِطاشاً أو رِواءً

تُصادِفُها أعاريباً نِهالا

تُصادِفُها أعاريباً نِهالا

As you call them thirsty or quenched—

so that points to you my guide.

Bedouins you meet, either thirsty or newly watered.

One who does not know how to attract game with generosity

ولكنْ لي تَقادمُ عَهْدِ رِقٍ

ولكنْ لي تَقادمُ عَهْدِ رِقٍ

فذاكَ عليكَ علَّمني الدَّلالا

فذاكَ عليكَ علَّمني الدَّلالا

But mine is a bond of servitude long established;

will not hunt the wild beast of praise.

That has taught me to presume upon you.

It is forbidden that I see in my composition

ولن يَصْطادَ وَحْشَ المَدْحِ مَنْ لا

ولن يَصْطادَ وَحْشَ المَدْحِ مَنْ لا

يُجيدُ بِكِفّةِ الكَرَمِ احْتِبالا

يُجيدُ بِكِفّةِ الكَرَمِ احْتِبالا

No one will hunt the wild beasts of praise unless he

diversion from the pact that preceded unraveling.

Knows how to snare with generosity's net.

And how can followers diverge from a saying

وحاشَى أن أرَى لك في اصْطِناعي

وحاشَى أن أرَى لك في اصْطِناعي

عنِ العهدِ الّذي سَبق انْفِتالا

عنِ العهدِ الّذي سَبق انْفِتالا

Far be it that I should see, in your favoring me,

when the followed has spoken?

A turning away from the pledge already made.

So do not permit bonds of thought to loosen from me -

وكيف تُجاوزُ الأتباعُ قَوْلاً

وكيف تُجاوزُ الأتباعُ قَوْلاً

تُخالِفُه إذا المَتْبوعُ قالا

تُخالِفُه إذا المَتْبوعُ قالا

How can followers overstep a statement,

for in my pearl there is truth that must be valued.

Contradicting it, once their leader has spoken?

Indulgence to all who have done a good deed,

فلا تُرخِصْ عُقودَ الفِكْرِ منّي

فلا تُرخِصْ عُقودَ الفِكْرِ منّي

ففي دُرّي حَقيقٌ أن يُغالَى

ففي دُرّي حَقيقٌ أن يُغالَى

Do not cheapen the necklaces of thought I bring,

and above indulgence is one who has done and allied.

For my pearls deserve a high price.

When your gift is absent it becomes a burden,

فسَمْحٌ كُلُّ مَن أَولَى جَميلاً

فسَمْحٌ كُلُّ مَن أَولَى جَميلاً

وفوقَ السّمْحِ مَن أَولَى ووالَى

وفوقَ السّمْحِ مَن أَولَى ووالَى

Generous is anyone who grants a kindness,

and the best thing is the outcome its praiser hopes for.

But above the generous is one who grants and keeps granting.

I have a master - if I name him one day

إذا ما غَبَّ رِفْدُكَ صار عِبْئاً

إذا ما غَبَّ رِفْدُكَ صار عِبْئاً

وخيرُ الأْمرِ أحمَدُهُ مَآلا

وخيرُ الأْمرِ أحمَدُهُ مَآلا

If your aid comes intermittently, it becomes a burden,

his name for me will bring good fortune.

And the best course is the most praiseworthy in outcome.

If I name him I will tell of me

ولي مَولىً إذا أُسمِيه يَوماً

ولي مَولىً إذا أُسمِيه يَوماً

يكونُ ليَ اسْمُه بالسّعْدِ فالا

يكونُ ليَ اسْمُه بالسّعْدِ فالا

I have a lord whose name, whenever I name him,

what I will be when I see him.

Becomes for me an omen of good fortune.

So days of celebration continue for him each year

إذا أسمَيْتُهُ أَخبَرْتُ عنّي

إذا أسمَيْتُهُ أَخبَرْتُ عنّي

بما سأكونُ حينَ أَراه حالا

بما سأكونُ حينَ أَراه حالا

When I name him, I tell of myself

with the Three Meteors, and happiest is their completion.

What state I shall be in when I see him.

So the letter that begins the title is enough

فلا زالتْ له في كُلِّ عامٍ

فلا زالتْ له في كُلِّ عامٍ

تَعُدُّ يَداهُ أعيادٌ تَوالى

تَعُدُّ يَداهُ أعيادٌ تَوالى

May there never cease, for him in every year,

with the second name to find connection.

Successive feasts that his two hands count,

And to count the days of congratulations

على عَدَدِ الثّلاثةِ من شهابٍ

على عَدَدِ الثّلاثةِ من شهابٍ

وأسْعَد فامْتثِلْهنّ امْتِثالا

وأسْعَد فامْتثِلْهنّ امْتِثالا

By the number of three letters from Shihab

by their number when the year passes.

And As‘ad—follow them exactly.

Like that, eternally, the nations continue

فحَرْفا أوَّلِ التّلقيبِ كافٍ

فحَرْفا أوَّلِ التّلقيبِ كافٍ

بثاني الاِسْمِ أنَ يَجِدَ اتّصالا

بثاني الاِسْمِ أنَ يَجِدَ اتّصالا

The first two letters of the title suffice

to count for him connection and separation.

When joined to the second letter of the name,

وأن يَعتَدَّ أيَّامَ التّهاني

وأن يَعتَدَّ أيَّامَ التّهاني

بعِدَّتها إذا ما الحَوْلُ حالا

بعِدَّتها إذا ما الحَوْلُ حالا

And let him count the days of congratulations

By their number whenever the year turns.

كذلكَ دائماً ما زال تُحْصي

كذلكَ دائماً ما زال تُحْصي

له الأُمَمُ اتِّصالاً وانْفِصالا

له الأُمَمُ اتِّصالاً وانْفِصالا

Thus forever, so long as there is reckoning

By the nations for him, of union and separation.