لِأَيَّةِ حالٍ أَعلَنَ الوَجدَ كاتِمُه

لِأَيَّةِ حالٍ أَعلَنَ الوَجدَ كاتِمُه

وَأَقصَرَ عَن داعي الصَبابَةِ لائِمُه

وَأَقصَرَ عَن داعي الصَبابَةِ لائِمُه

What plight made him who hid his anguish proclaim it,

For what fate did the lover reveal his passion,

and his reprover desist from opposing yearning's call?

And the blamer fall short of calling for restraint?

تَوَلّى سَحابُ الجودِ تَرقا سُجومُهُ

تَوَلّى سَحابُ الجودِ تَرقا سُجومُهُ

وَجاءَ سَحابُ الدَمعِ تَدمى سَواجِمُه

وَجاءَ سَحابُ الدَمعِ تَدمى سَواجِمُه

The cloud of generosity departed, its downpours ceasing,

The clouds of generosity have sailed away haughtily,

and the cloud of tears came, its torrents running blood.

While the clouds of tears flow profusely.

أَرى خَصماً يا وَهبُ أَصبَحَ حاكِماً

أَرى خَصماً يا وَهبُ أَصبَحَ حاكِماً

عَلَينا فَما نَدري إِلى مَن نُحاكِمُه

عَلَينا فَما نَدري إِلى مَن نُحاكِمُه

I see an adversary, O Wahb, who has become a judge

I see an adversary, O Wahab, who has become a judge over us,

over us; we know not before whom to bring our case against him.

So we know not whom to take our case to.

إِذا طِبتُ نَفساً بِالسَلامَةِ رَدَّني

إِذا طِبتُ نَفساً بِالسَلامَةِ رَدَّني

إِلى الحُزنِ دَهرٌ لَيسَ يَسلَمُ سالِمُه

إِلى الحُزنِ دَهرٌ لَيسَ يَسلَمُ سالِمُه

Whenever I am glad at heart to be safe, I am returned

Whenever my soul feels secure,

to sorrow by Time, whose spared ones are never safe.

Fate returns me to sorrow - its safety cannot be guaranteed.

مُعافاتُهُ طَوراً وَطَوراً بَلاؤُهُ

مُعافاتُهُ طَوراً وَطَوراً بَلاؤُهُ

كَما بَردُهُ مَرّاً وَمَرّاً سَمائِمُه

كَما بَردُهُ مَرّاً وَمَرّاً سَمائِمُه

At one turn its reprieve, at another its affliction,

Its prosperity alternates with trials,

as now its coolness, now its scorching winds.

Just as its coolness alternates with bitter poison.

وَما صِرتُ حَربَ الدَهرِ حَتّى أَضاءَ لَي

وَما صِرتُ حَربَ الدَهرِ حَتّى أَضاءَ لَي

تَحامُلُهُ الأَوفى عَلى مَن يُسالِمُه

تَحامُلُهُ الأَوفى عَلى مَن يُسالِمُه

I did not become Time's foe until there became clear to me

I did not challenge the days until its unfairness to me was exposed,

its utmost oppression of those who make peace with it.

And its hostility towards those who make peace with it.

أَيا ناشِدِ الإِحسانِ أَقوَت نُجودُهُ

أَيا ناشِدِ الإِحسانِ أَقوَت نُجودُهُ

وَيا ناشِدَ الإِسلامِ أَقوَت تَهائِمُه

وَيا ناشِدَ الإِسلامِ أَقوَت تَهائِمُه

O seeker of beneficence, its highlands lie deserted;

O you who ask for kindness, his munificence has been nourished,

and O seeker of Islam, its lowlands lie deserted.

And O you who ask for safety, its aggressions have been nourished.

وَيا ناعِيَ المَعروفِ أَسمَعتَ طالِباً

وَيا ناعِيَ المَعروفِ أَسمَعتَ طالِباً

فَأَكدى وَمَطلوباً فَأُسلِمَ جارِمُه

فَأَكدى وَمَطلوباً فَأُسلِمَ جارِمُه

And O herald of kindness's death, you have made a seeker hear,

O you who call for goodness, did you hear one requesting it,

so he found nothing—and the sought-after one, whose gatherer was forsaken.

Only to be disappointed, and one committing evil, only to be spared?

رُزِئنا النَدى الرِبعِيَّ حينَ تَهَلَّلَت

رُزِئنا النَدى الرِبعِيَّ حينَ تَهَلَّلَت

بَوارِقُهُ وَجادَنا مُتَراكِمُه

بَوارِقُهُ وَجادَنا مُتَراكِمُه

We were bereaved of springtime bounty just as there gleamed

The fresh downpour has mocked us since its bright flashes burst forth,

its lightning flashes, and its massed clouds drenched us.

While its abundant flow has evaded us.

خَليجٌ مِنَ البَحرِ اِنبَرى فَاِنبَرى لَهُ

خَليجٌ مِنَ البَحرِ اِنبَرى فَاِنبَرى لَهُ

قَضاءٌ أَبى أَن تَستَبِلَّ حَوائِمُه

قَضاءٌ أَبى أَن تَستَبِلَّ حَوائِمُه

A gulf from the sea came forth, and there rose against him

A bay of the sea rose up tall, so a decree rose up even taller than it,

a decree that would not let his circling birds be refreshed.

Its landmarks could not be erased.

وَغُصنُ رَسولِ اللَهِ دَوحَتُهُ الَّتي

وَغُصنُ رَسولِ اللَهِ دَوحَتُهُ الَّتي

لَها حُسنُهُ لَو دامَ في الأَرضِ دائِمُه

لَها حُسنُهُ لَو دامَ في الأَرضِ دائِمُه

And a branch whose spreading tree was God's Messenger,

It is the branch of Allah's Messenger, its loveliness,

whose beauty belonged to that tree—if only anything on earth endured.

Had it lasted on earth, would remain forever.

وَما يَومُهُ يَومٌ وَلَكِن مَنِيَّةٌ

وَما يَومُهُ يَومٌ وَلَكِن مَنِيَّةٌ

تَوافى حَصيدُ الدَهرِ فيها وَقائِمُه

تَوافى حَصيدُ الدَهرِ فيها وَقائِمُه

And his day was no ordinary day, but a death

His day was no mere day, but a death

in which Time's reaped and standing crops came together.

That reaps the harvest of lifetimes.

فَلَم تَستَطِع دَفعَ المَنونِ حُماتُهُ

فَلَم تَستَطِع دَفعَ المَنونِ حُماتُهُ

وَلَم تَستَطِع دَفعَ الحِمامِ تَمائِمُه

وَلَم تَستَطِع دَفعَ الحِمامِ تَمائِمُه

His defenders could not ward off death,

So his protectors could not prevent what was decreed,

nor could his amulets ward off doom.

Nor could the flight of his white doves avert it.

لَهانَ عَلَيهِ المَوتُ لَو كانَ عَسكَراً

لَهانَ عَلَيهِ المَوتُ لَو كانَ عَسكَراً

يُلاقيهِ أَوخَصماً أَلَدَّ يُخاصِمُه

يُلاقيهِ أَوخَصماً أَلَدَّ يُخاصِمُه

Death would have been easy for him had it been an army

Death would have been powerless had it been an army

he could meet, or an implacable adversary he could dispute with.

Marching against him, or a fierce adversary contending with him.

فَعادَ النَهارُ الجَونُ جَوناً كَأَنَّما

فَعادَ النَهارُ الجَونُ جَوناً كَأَنَّما

تَجَلَّلَهُ مِن مُصمَتِ اللَيلِ فاحِمُه

تَجَلَّلَهُ مِن مُصمَتِ اللَيلِ فاحِمُه

Then the bright day turned black, as though

The light of day then turned gloomy, as though

the coal-blackness of unbroken night had shrouded it.

Veiled by the darkness of night's mantle.

مُصابٌ كَأَنَّ الجَوَّ يُعنى بِبَعضِهِ

مُصابٌ كَأَنَّ الجَوَّ يُعنى بِبَعضِهِ

فَما يَنجَلي في ناظِرِ العَينِ قاتِمُه

فَما يَنجَلي في ناظِرِ العَينِ قاتِمُه

A calamity as though the sky were afflicted by a part of it,

A calamity as if the atmosphere only partly cleared,

so its murk never clears from the pupil of the eye.

So that which dimmed the onlooker's eyes did not fully brighten.

وَثُكلٌ لَوَ اَنَّ الشَمسَ تُمنى بِحَرِّهِ

وَثُكلٌ لَوَ اَنَّ الشَمسَ تُمنى بِحَرِّهِ

لَأَحرَقَها في جانِبِ الأُفقِ جاحِمُه

لَأَحرَقَها في جانِبِ الأُفقِ جاحِمُه

And a bereavement: had the sun been afflicted by its heat,

An agony as though the sun were vengeful in its heat,

its blaze would have burned it at the horizon's edge.

Its searer on the horizon would have set it aflame.

وَدَمعٌ مَتى أَسكُبهُ لا أَخشَ لائِماً

وَدَمعٌ مَتى أَسكُبهُ لا أَخشَ لائِماً

وَلَو أَنَّني مِمّا تُفيضُ هَزائِمُه

وَلَو أَنَّني مِمّا تُفيضُ هَزائِمُه

And tears: whenever I pour them out, I fear no reprover,

A tear, whenever I shed it, I fear no chider,

even if I myself were among what their rainclouds pour forth.

Even if I were among its gushing floods.

وَقَبرٌ حَماهُ الجودُ أَن تَنسُجَ الصَبا

وَقَبرٌ حَماهُ الجودُ أَن تَنسُجَ الصَبا

عَلَيهِ وَأَن تَعفو عَلَيها مَعالِمُه

عَلَيهِ وَأَن تَعفو عَلَيها مَعالِمُه

And a grave that generosity kept from the east wind's weaving

A grave generosity protected against youth weaving

over it, or its landmarks fading beneath her.

Over it, and from its landmarks being effaced.

سَقَتهُ يَدا ثاوِيهِ حَتّى تَواصَلَت

سَقَتهُ يَدا ثاوِيهِ حَتّى تَواصَلَت

بِنُوّارِها كُثبانُهُ وَصَرائِمُه

بِنُوّارِها كُثبانُهُ وَصَرائِمُه

Its occupant's two hands watered it, until they met—

Watered by hands that vanished until its domes

its dunes and sandbanks, through their blossoms.

And columns were joined by their channels.

كَذَبناهُ لَم نَجزَع عَلَيهِ وَلَم نُقَم

كَذَبناهُ لَم نَجزَع عَلَيهِ وَلَم نُقَم

مَآتِمُنا لَمّا أُقيمَت مَآتِمُه

مَآتِمُنا لَمّا أُقيمَت مَآتِمُه

We were false to him: we did not grieve for him, nor hold

We denied him though we were not in anguish over him, and did not complain

our own mourning rites when his were held.

When our own departed, as his were mourned.

عَجِبتُ لِأَيدٍ أَحدَرَتهُ وَلَم تَعُد

عَجِبتُ لِأَيدٍ أَحدَرَتهُ وَلَم تَعُد

رَمائِمُ في حَيثُ اِستَقَرَّت رَمائِمُه

رَمائِمُ في حَيثُ اِستَقَرَّت رَمائِمُه

I marveled at hands that lowered him yet did not become

I am astonished at hands lowered into a grave, yet they do not

decayed bones where his decayed bones came to rest.

Tremble where his hands are laid to rest.

أَما وَأَبي النَعشِ الخَفيفِ لَقَد حَوَت

أَما وَأَبي النَعشِ الخَفيفِ لَقَد حَوَت

مَآخيرُهُ ثِقلَ العُلا وَمَقادِمُه

مَآخيرُهُ ثِقلَ العُلا وَمَقادِمُه

Indeed, by the father of the light bier, it surely held

But, by the light coffin! Indeed its final journey bore

in its rear and front the weight of high honor.

The weight of the exalted, and its first journey.

بَنى صالِحٌ سوراً عَلى آلِ صالِحٍ

بَنى صالِحٌ سوراً عَلى آلِ صالِحٍ

تَحَيَّفَ مِن عِزِّ الخِلافَةِ هادِمُه

تَحَيَّفَ مِن عِزِّ الخِلافَةِ هادِمُه

Salih built a wall around the house of Salih;

One virtuous built a wall over the family of the virtuous,

its destroyer eroded the glory of the caliphate.

Impregnable to the might of the Caliphate.

لَئِن بانَ مِنّا جودُهُ وَسَماحُهُ

لَئِن بانَ مِنّا جودُهُ وَسَماحُهُ

لَقَد بانَ مِنهُم مَجدُهُ وَمَكارِمُه

لَقَد بانَ مِنهُم مَجدُهُ وَمَكارِمُه

If his bounty and openhandedness have departed from us,

If his generosity and leniency have become evident,

his glory and noble deeds have surely departed from them.

So have their glory and nobility.

أَبا حَسَنٍ وَالصَبرُ مَنكِبُ مَن غَدا

أَبا حَسَنٍ وَالصَبرُ مَنكِبُ مَن غَدا

عَلى سَنَنٍ وَالحادِثاتُ تُزاحِمُه

عَلى سَنَنٍ وَالحادِثاتُ تُزاحِمُه

O Abu Hasan—patience is the shoulder of one who sets out

O Father of Hasan! Patience is the companion of one who travels

along a straight path while calamities jostle him.

The path, as events jostle him.

وَلَولا اِلتُقى لَم يَردُدِ الدَمعَ رَبُّهُ

وَلَولا اِلتُقى لَم يَردُدِ الدَمعَ رَبُّهُ

وَلَولا الحِجى لَم يَكظِمِ الغَيظَ كاظِمُه

وَلَولا الحِجى لَم يَكظِمِ الغَيظَ كاظِمُه

And but for piety, tears' master would not restrain them;

Were it not for his prudence, his Lord would not dam back tears,

and but for reason, wrath's restrainer would not contain it.

And were it not for wisdom, the forbearing would not restrain rage.

تَعَزَّ فَإِنَّ السَيفَ يَمضي وَإِن وَهَت

تَعَزَّ فَإِنَّ السَيفَ يَمضي وَإِن وَهَت

حَمائِلُهُ عَنهو وَخَلّاهُ قائِمُه

حَمائِلُهُ عَنهو وَخَلّاهُ قائِمُه

Take comfort: the sword still cuts, though loosened

Show strength! The sword continues on its path

from it are its baldrics, and its hilt forsakes it.

Even as its wielder tires, if its pillar remains standing.

هُوَ الدَهرُ يَستَدعي الفَناءَ بَقاؤُهُ

هُوَ الدَهرُ يَستَدعي الفَناءَ بَقاؤُهُ

عَلَينا وَتَأتي بِالعَظيمِ عَظائِمُه

عَلَينا وَتَأتي بِالعَظيمِ عَظائِمُه

Such is Time: its continuance summons destruction

It is time that summons decline through its continuity,

upon us, and its mighty calamities lay low the mighty.

And brings mighty things low through its calamities.

تَعَثَّرَ في عادٍ وَكانَ طَريقُهُ

تَعَثَّرَ في عادٍ وَكانَ طَريقُهُ

عَلى لُبَدٍ إِذ لَم تُطِعهُ قَوادِمُه

عَلى لُبَدٍ إِذ لَم تُطِعهُ قَوادِمُه

It stumbled among 'Ad, and its path passed

It stumbled against ‘Aad, though its course

over Lubad when his flight feathers no longer obeyed him.

Was smooth, when its milestones did not obey it.

وَغادَرَ إيوانَ المَدائِنِ غَدرُهُ

وَغادَرَ إيوانَ المَدائِنِ غَدرُهُ

بِكِسرى بنِ ساسانٍ تَرِنُّ حَمائِمُه

بِكِسرى بنِ ساسانٍ تَرِنُّ حَمائِمُه

And the palace of al-Mada'in was abandoned through its betrayal

It treacherously departed from the palace of the Persians,

of Kisra son of Sasan, its doves cooing.

Leaving Kisra bin Sasan while his doves moan.

وَمِن إِرثِكُم أَعطَت صَفِيَّةُ مُصعَباً

وَمِن إِرثِكُم أَعطَت صَفِيَّةُ مُصعَباً

جَميلَ الأَسى لِما اِستُحِلَّت مَحارِمُه

جَميلَ الأَسى لِما اِستُحِلَّت مَحارِمُه

And from your inheritance, Safiyya gave Mus'ab

From your inheritance, Safiyya gave Mus'ab

noble grief when his sanctities were violated.

A beautiful consolation for her violation.

وَثُكلُ اِبنِهِ موفٍ عَلى ثُكلِ نَفسِهِ

وَثُكلُ اِبنِهِ موفٍ عَلى ثُكلِ نَفسِهِ

فَما كانَ إِلّا صَبرُهُ وَعَزائِمُه

فَما كانَ إِلّا صَبرُهُ وَعَزائِمُه

And the loss of his son outweighed the loss of his own life,

And the bereavement of his son, Muaf, was over his own loss -

yet there was only his patience and firm resolve.

Naught remained but his patience and resolves.

وَعُروَةُ إِذ لا رِجلُهُ اِنصَرَفَت بِهِ

وَعُروَةُ إِذ لا رِجلُهُ اِنصَرَفَت بِهِ

وَقَد خَرَمَت عَنهُ بَنيهِ خَوارِمُه

وَقَد خَرَمَت عَنهُ بَنيهِ خَوارِمُه

And 'Urwa, when his leg no longer carried him,

Urwa - when his legs failed him,

and Time's severing calamities had taken his sons from him—

And his sanctities were robbed from him by his sons -

بَكى أَقرَبوهُ شَجوَهُ وَهوَ ضاحِكٌ

بَكى أَقرَبوهُ شَجوَهُ وَهوَ ضاحِكٌ

يُعَزّيهِمِ حَتّى تَحَيَّرَ ذائِمُه

يُعَزّيهِمِ حَتّى تَحَيَّرَ ذائِمُه

his nearest kin wept for his sorrow while he smiled,

Those who consoled him wept, while he laughed,

consoling them until his detractor was bewildered.

Bewildering the consoler.

وَمَن جَهِلَ الأَمرَ الَّذي هُوَ غايَةٌ

وَمَن جَهِلَ الأَمرَ الَّذي هُوَ غايَةٌ

لَمَبدَإِنا هَذا فَإِنَّكَ عالِمُه

لَمَبدَإِنا هَذا فَإِنَّكَ عالِمُه

And whoever knows not the fate that is the end

One who is ignorant of the matter which is the pinnacle

of this beginning of ours—you surely know it.

Of our purpose - this is its source, if you are one who knows.

وَيَظلِمُكَ المَوتُ الغَشومُ فَتَرتَدي

وَيَظلِمُكَ المَوتُ الغَشومُ فَتَرتَدي

بِعِزِّ الأُسى حَتّى كَأَنَّكَ ظالِمُه

بِعِزِّ الأُسى حَتّى كَأَنَّكَ ظالِمُه

And ruthless death wrongs you, yet you robe yourself

Death, perfidious, wrongs you, so you don

in the strength of exemplars, until you seem the one wronging it.

The honour of sorrow, as though you were its wrongdoer.

كَبيرٌ لَدى الرُزءِ الكَبيرِ وَإِنَّما

كَبيرٌ لَدى الرُزءِ الكَبيرِ وَإِنَّما

عَلى قَدرِ جِرمِ الفيلِ تُبنى قَوائِمُه

عَلى قَدرِ جِرمِ الفيلِ تُبنى قَوائِمُه

Great in the face of great loss; and only

Mighty in the face of mighty calamity, but only

in proportion to an elephant's bulk are its legs built.

According to the size of the elephant are its pillars built.

إِذا شِئتَ أَن تَستَصغِرَ الخَطبَ فَاِلتَفِت

إِذا شِئتَ أَن تَستَصغِرَ الخَطبَ فَاِلتَفِت

إِلى سَلَفٍ بِالقاعِ أُهمِلَ نائِمُه

إِلى سَلَفٍ بِالقاعِ أُهمِلَ نائِمُه

If you wish to consider the calamity small, then turn

If you wish to diminish tribulations, then consider

to forebears in the plain, whose sleeper lies untended.

Those of old laid to rest in the ground.

وَفيهِ النَبِيُّ المُصطَفى وَعَلِيُّهُ

وَفيهِ النَبِيُّ المُصطَفى وَعَلِيُّهُ

وَعَبّاسُهُ وَجَعفَراهُ وَقاسِمُه

وَعَبّاسُهُ وَجَعفَراهُ وَقاسِمُه

And among them are the chosen Prophet and his 'Ali,

Among them is the chosen Prophet, his cousin,

and his 'Abbas, his two Ja'fars, and his Qasim.

Al-‘Abbas, Ja‘far, and his son Qasim.

وَإِن يَكُ أَضحى لِلمَنِيَّةِ هاشِمٌ

وَإِن يَكُ أَضحى لِلمَنِيَّةِ هاشِمٌ

فَأَسوَتُهُ فيها وَفي المَجدِ هاشِمُه

فَأَسوَتُهُ فيها وَفي المَجدِ هاشِمُه

And if Hashim has now succumbed to death,

If a Hashimite is one morning destined for death

then his Hashim is his exemplar in death as in glory.

His exemplars in it, and in glory, are Hashimites.