أَبلِغ أَبا صالِحٍ إِمّا مَرَرتَ بِهِ

أَبلِغ أَبا صالِحٍ إِمّا مَرَرتَ بِهِ

رِسالَةً مِن قَتيلِ الماءِ وَالراحِ

رِسالَةً مِن قَتيلِ الماءِ وَالراحِ

Convey to Abu Salih, if ever you pass by him,

Convey to Abū Ṣāliḥ if you pass him by

a message from one slain by water and wine.

A message from the slain of water and pasture.

الآنَ أَقصَرتُ إِقصاراً مَلَكتُ بِهِ

الآنَ أَقصَرتُ إِقصاراً مَلَكتُ بِهِ

مَقادَتي وَأَطَعتُ اللَهَ وَاللاحي

مَقادَتي وَأَطَعتُ اللَهَ وَاللاحي

Now I have abstained, and through that abstinence have mastered

Now I have shortened my journey, controlling it

my own reins, and obeyed God and the reprover.

I have tamed my riding-beast and obeyed the Almighty.

أَشكو إِلَيكَ وَما الشَكوى بِمُجدِيَةٍ

أَشكو إِلَيكَ وَما الشَكوى بِمُجدِيَةٍ

خَطبَينِ قَد طَوَّلا حُزني وَإِبراحي

خَطبَينِ قَد طَوَّلا حُزني وَإِبراحي

I complain to you, though complaint is of no avail,

I complain to you, though complaining will not help,

of two calamities that have prolonged my sorrow and torment:

Of two misfortunes that have prolonged my sadness and sleeplessness,

مِن نَوبَةٍ وَاِختِلالٍ بِتُّ بَينَهُما

مِن نَوبَةٍ وَاِختِلالٍ بِتُّ بَينَهُما

فَلا يَكُن لَكَ إِمسائي وَإِصباحي

فَلا يَكُن لَكَ إِمسائي وَإِصباحي

a bout of illness and poverty, between which I spent the night.

From an illness and imbalance between them both

So may my evenings and mornings never be yours.

Let there be no evening or morning for you.

بَني قُشَيرٍ أَلا سُقيا لِمَضطَهَدٍ

بَني قُشَيرٍ أَلا سُقيا لِمَضطَهَدٍ

بَني قُشَيرٍ أَلا سُقيا لِمُلتاحِ

بَني قُشَيرٍ أَلا سُقيا لِمُلتاحِ

Sons of Qushayr, is there no drink for one oppressed?

O sons of Quṣayr! Will you not give drink to one persecuted,

Sons of Qushayr, is there no drink for one parched?

O sons of Quṣayr! Will you not give drink to a supplicant?

عِندي لَكُم نِعمَةٌ بِالأَمسِ واحِدَةٌ

عِندي لَكُم نِعمَةٌ بِالأَمسِ واحِدَةٌ

لا خَيرَ في غُرَّةٍ مِن غَيرِ أَوضاحِ

لا خَيرَ في غُرَّةٍ مِن غَيرِ أَوضاحِ

You have one favor to your credit with me from yesterday;

I have a favor for you yesterday, only one -

a forehead blaze is no good without white stockings.

No good in a barefaced one without explanations.