عَلى الحَيِّ سِرنا عَنهُمُ وَأَقاموا

عَلى الحَيِّ سِرنا عَنهُمُ وَأَقاموا

سَلامٌ وَهَل يُدني البَعيدَ سَلامُ

سَلامٌ وَهَل يُدني البَعيدَ سَلامُ

We journeyed on, away from the encampment; they stayed behind.

To the tribe—we journeyed away from them, while they stayed—

A greeting—but can a greeting bring the distant near?

peace! But can a greeting bring the distant near?

إِذا ما تَدانَينا فَأَنتِ عَلاقَةٌ

إِذا ما تَدانَينا فَأَنتِ عَلاقَةٌ

وَإِمّا تَباعَدنا فَأَنتِ غَرامُ

وَإِمّا تَباعَدنا فَأَنتِ غَرامُ

Whenever we draw close, you are attachment itself;

When we draw near, you are a bond of love;

whenever we draw apart, you are consuming passion.

and when we draw apart, you are love's torment.

أَرى الناسَ في جَوٍّ تَحُلّينَ غَيرَهُ

أَرى الناسَ في جَوٍّ تَحُلّينَ غَيرَهُ

وَلي مِنهُمُ بُرءٌ وَمِنكِ سَقامُ

وَلي مِنهُمُ بُرءٌ وَمِنكِ سَقامُ

I see mankind inhabiting an air other than the one you grace;

I see people in a realm other than the one you inhabit;

from them comes my cure, but from you my sickness.

and I am free of them, but lovesick for you.

يُكَلِّفُني حُبّيكِ أَن أَتبَعَ الهَوى

يُكَلِّفُني حُبّيكِ أَن أَتبَعَ الهَوى

يُضِلُّ وَآتي الأَمرَ فيهِ مَلامُ

يُضِلُّ وَآتي الأَمرَ فيهِ مَلامُ

Your love compels me to follow a passion

My love for you compels me to follow desire

that leads astray, and to undertake what earns reproach.

that leads astray, and to do a deed that invites blame.

وَما اِنفَكَّ داعي البَينِ حَتّى تَزايَلَت

وَما اِنفَكَّ داعي البَينِ حَتّى تَزايَلَت

قِبابٌ بَناها حاضِرٌ وَخِيامُ

قِبابٌ بَناها حاضِرٌ وَخِيامُ

The caller to separation never ceased until there drew apart

The herald of separation did not relent until they parted—

domed dwellings raised by settled folk, and tents.

the domed pavilions built by settled folk and the tents.

عَشِيَّةَ ما بي عَن شُبَيثَ تَرَحُّلٌ

عَشِيَّةَ ما بي عَن شُبَيثَ تَرَحُّلٌ

فَأَمضي وَلا لي في شُبَيثَ مُقامُ

فَأَمضي وَلا لي في شُبَيثَ مُقامُ

That evening I had no wish to depart from Shubayth,

That evening, I had no urge to depart from Shubayth

yet I must go, for in Shubayth I cannot remain.

and go my way, yet no place to stay in Shubayth.

فَما نَلتَقي إِلّا عَلى حُلمِ هاجِدٍ

فَما نَلتَقي إِلّا عَلى حُلمِ هاجِدٍ

يُحِلُّ لَنا جَدواكِ وَهيَ حَرامُ

يُحِلُّ لَنا جَدواكِ وَهيَ حَرامُ

We meet only within a sleeper’s dream,

So we meet only in a sleeper's dream,

which grants us its bounty though that bounty is forbidden.

which makes your favor lawful for us, though it is forbidden.

إِذا ما تَباذَلنا النَفائِسَ خِلتَنا

إِذا ما تَباذَلنا النَفائِسَ خِلتَنا

مِنَ الجِدِّ أَيقاظاً وَنَحنُ نِيامُ

مِنَ الجِدِّ أَيقاظاً وَنَحنُ نِيامُ

When we exchange our precious treasures, you would think us

When we exchange precious gifts, you would think us,

truly awake in earnest, though we sleep.

from our earnestness, awake, though we are asleep.

يُراقِبُ صَولُ الوَغدِ حينَ يَهُزُّهُ اِق

يُراقِبُ صَولُ الوَغدِ حينَ يَهُزُّهُ اِق

تِدارٌ وَصَولُ الحُرِّ حينَ يُضامُ

تِدارٌ وَصَولُ الحُرِّ حينَ يُضامُ

The base man’s assault is watched when pow—

One watches the base man's onslaught when he is stirred by

—er rouses him, and the free man’s when he is wronged.

power, and the freeborn man's onslaught when he is wronged.

وَأَعلَمُ ما كُلُّ الرِجالِ مُشَيَّعٌ

وَأَعلَمُ ما كُلُّ الرِجالِ مُشَيَّعٌ

وَما كُلُّ أَسيافِ الرِجالِ حُسامُ

وَما كُلُّ أَسيافِ الرِجالِ حُسامُ

I know that not every man is stouthearted,

And I know that not every man is stouthearted,

nor every sword borne among men a keen-edged blade.

nor is every sword men carry a keen blade.

أَدينُ بِأَلّا تُستَحَلَّ أَمانَةٌ

أَدينُ بِأَلّا تُستَحَلَّ أَمانَةٌ

لِحُرٍّ وَأَلّا يُستَباحَ ذِمامُ

لِحُرٍّ وَأَلّا يُستَباحَ ذِمامُ

My creed is that no trust shall be violated

I hold as my creed that no trust be violated

when owed to a free man, nor any covenant profaned.

that belongs to a freeborn man, nor any pledge of protection breached.

وَأَترُكُ عِرضُ المَرءِ لَو شِئتُ كانَ لي

وَأَترُكُ عِرضُ المَرءِ لَو شِئتُ كانَ لي

وَلِلذَمِّ فيهِ مَسرَحٌ وَمَسامُ

وَلِلذَمِّ فيهِ مَسرَحٌ وَمَسامُ

I leave a man’s honor untouched, though, had I wished, it lay open to me,

And I leave a man's honor untouched, though, if I wished, it would offer me

with ample range and room for censure.

and censure a pasture and a grazing ground within it.

وَكَيفَ أَذودُ الخَسفَ عَمَّن تَطولُهُ

وَكَيفَ أَذودُ الخَسفَ عَمَّن تَطولُهُ

يَدي وَأُسامُ الخَسفَ حينَ أُسامُ

يَدي وَأُسامُ الخَسفَ حينَ أُسامُ

How could I ward disgrace from one whom

How can I ward off humiliation from one within reach of

my hand can reach, yet endure disgrace when it is laid on me?

my hand, yet suffer humiliation when it is imposed on me?

فَتَاللَهِ أَرضى بِالعِراقِ إِقامَةً

فَتَاللَهِ أَرضى بِالعِراقِ إِقامَةً

وَفي الأَرضِ لِلسَفرِ المُغِذِّ شَآمُ

وَفي الأَرضِ لِلسَفرِ المُغِذِّ شَآمُ

By God, I would be content to make my dwelling in Iraq,

So, by God, I will not be content to dwell in Iraq,

though Syria lies within reach of the swift traveler.

while Syria lies on earth for travelers pressing onward.

شَذاتِيَ مِن نَحوِ الصَديقِ كَليلَةُ ال

شَذاتِيَ مِن نَحوِ الصَديقِ كَليلَةُ ال

مُدى وَزِياراتي الصَديقَ لِمامُ

مُدى وَزِياراتي الصَديقَ لِمامُ

The blades I turn toward a friend are blunt as kni—

Where a friend is concerned, my sharpness bears blunted

—ves, and my visits to a friend are rare.

blades, and my visits to a friend are brief and rare.

وَلَستُ بِغاشي القَومِ إِلّا ذُؤابَةً

وَلَستُ بِغاشي القَومِ إِلّا ذُؤابَةً

وَلا بابِهِم إِلّا عَلَيهِ زِحامُ

وَلا بابِهِم إِلّا عَلَيهِ زِحامُ

I frequent none among a people but their very chief,

And I visit no people except their foremost chiefs,

and approach no door of theirs unless a crowd is gathered there.

nor their gate unless a crowd throngs it.

وَأَزهَرَ وَضّاحِ العَشِيّاتِ لا يَني

وَأَزهَرَ وَضّاحِ العَشِيّاتِ لا يَني

مِنَ البِشرِ يَنأى عَن ذَراهُ قَتامُ

مِنَ البِشرِ يَنأى عَن ذَراهُ قَتامُ

Radiant, bright-faced through the evenings, never flagging—

And a radiant man, bright in the evenings, never wearying

his cheer keeps every pall of gloom far from his heights.

of cheerfulness; dusty gloom keeps far from his heights.

مَتى جِئتَهُ عَن مَوعِدٍ أَو فُجاءَةً

مَتى جِئتَهُ عَن مَوعِدٍ أَو فُجاءَةً

تَهَلَّلَ بَدرٌ وَاِستَهَلَّ غَمامُ

تَهَلَّلَ بَدرٌ وَاِستَهَلَّ غَمامُ

Whenever you visit him, by appointment or surprise,

Whenever you come to him by appointment or unannounced,

a full moon beams and a rain cloud pours.

a full moon beams, and a cloud begins to rain.

تُحَدِّثُنا كَفّاهُ وَالمَحلُ راهِنٌ

تُحَدِّثُنا كَفّاهُ وَالمَحلُ راهِنٌ

عَنِ الأَرضِ تُكلا وَالسَماءِ تُغامُ

عَنِ الأَرضِ تُكلا وَالسَماءِ تُغامُ

His two hands tell us, though drought holds all things hostage,

His two palms tell us, though drought persists,

of earth made fertile and sky massing clouds.

of the earth growing pasture and the sky filling with clouds.

أَقولُ لِيَعقوبَ بنِ أَحمَدَ وَالنَدى

أَقولُ لِيَعقوبَ بنِ أَحمَدَ وَالنَدى

يَرومُ بِهِ العَوصاءَ لَيسَ تُرامُ

يَرومُ بِهِ العَوصاءَ لَيسَ تُرامُ

I say to Ya‘qub ibn Ahmad: generosity

I say to Yaʿqub ibn Ahmad, while generosity

through him seeks the difficult feat that none else attempts—

through him seeks the hardest task, one that cannot be attempted:

تَكاليفَ فِعلٍ لَو عَلا الأَرضَ ثِقلُهُ

تَكاليفَ فِعلٍ لَو عَلا الأَرضَ ثِقلُهُ

شَكا يَذبُلٌ ما نابَهُ وَشَمامُ

شَكا يَذبُلٌ ما نابَهُ وَشَمامُ

deeds whose burdens, were their weight laid upon the earth,

the burdens of a deed whose weight, if laid upon the earth,

would make Yadhbul and Shamam complain of what befell them.

would make Yadhbul and Shamam complain of what befell them.

لَأَظلَمَ ما بَيني وَبَينَكَ مُضحِياً

لَأَظلَمَ ما بَيني وَبَينَكَ مُضحِياً

وَلِلظُلمِ بَينَ الخُلَّتَينِ ظَلامُ

وَلِلظُلمِ بَينَ الخُلَّتَينِ ظَلامُ

Surely I would wrong what lies between you and me in broad daylight,

What lies between me and you has indeed darkened in broad daylight,

yet wrongdoing between two intimates is darkness.

and injustice casts darkness between the two bonds of friendship.

أُذَكَّرُ أَيّامَ المُصافاةِ بَعدَ ما

أُذَكَّرُ أَيّامَ المُصافاةِ بَعدَ ما

تَجَرَّمَ عامٌ بَعدَهُنَّ وَعامُ

تَجَرَّمَ عامٌ بَعدَهُنَّ وَعامُ

I remember the days of our pure accord, after

I am reminded of the days of sincere friendship, after

a year has passed beyond them, and then another year.

a year has passed since them, and another year.

نَدِمتُ عَلى أَمرٍ مَضى لَم يُشِر بِهِ

نَدِمتُ عَلى أَمرٍ مَضى لَم يُشِر بِهِ

نَصيحٌ وَلَم يَجمَع قُواهُ نِظامُ

نَصيحٌ وَلَم يَجمَع قُواهُ نِظامُ

I regretted a deed now past, urged by

I regretted a past deed that was not advised by

no faithful counselor and marshaled by no sound design.

a sincere adviser, and whose powers no order bound together.

وَقَد خَبَّروا أَنَّ النَدامَةَ تَوبَةٌ

وَقَد خَبَّروا أَنَّ النَدامَةَ تَوبَةٌ

يُصَلّى بِها أَن تُقتَنى وَيُصامُ

يُصَلّى بِها أَن تُقتَنى وَيُصامُ

They have told us that regret itself is repentance,

They have indeed reported that remorse is repentance,

a thing for which one prays and fasts, that it may be won.

for whose attainment one prays and fasts.

وَإِنَّ جُحودي سوءُ ظَنٍّ بِمُنعِمٍ

وَإِنَّ جُحودي سوءُ ظَنٍّ بِمُنعِمٍ

وَعَدّي مَعاذيري عَلَيهِ خِصامُ

وَعَدّي مَعاذيري عَلَيهِ خِصامُ

For me to deny your favor would be mistrust of a benefactor,

And my ingratitude is surely mistrust of a benefactor,

and to rehearse my excuses to him would be contention.

and my listing excuses to him is a quarrel.

وَقَد شَمِلَت بِشراً لِأَوسٍ صَنيعَةٌ

وَقَد شَمِلَت بِشراً لِأَوسٍ صَنيعَةٌ

بِما أَمَرَت سُعدى وَوَرَّثَ لامُ

بِما أَمَرَت سُعدى وَوَرَّثَ لامُ

A benefaction has encompassed Bishr for Aws,

A kindness from Aws indeed extended to Bishr,

through what Su‘da ordained and Lam handed down.

through what Suʿda commanded and Lam bequeathed.

فَإِن تَمتَثِلها فَالمَكارِمُ خِطَّةٌ

فَإِن تَمتَثِلها فَالمَكارِمُ خِطَّةٌ

لَكُم تابِعٌ في نَهجِها وَإِمامُ

لَكُم تابِعٌ في نَهجِها وَإِمامُ

If you follow it, noble deeds are a well-marked path;

If you emulate it, noble deeds are a course

among you, on that path, are both follower and guide.

for you, with a follower and a leader along its path.

وَلَو شِئتُمُ أَن تَستَثيروا اِستَثَرتُمُ

وَلَو شِئتُمُ أَن تَستَثيروا اِستَثَرتُمُ

عِجالاً وَلَكِنَّ الكِرامَ كِرامُ

عِجالاً وَلَكِنَّ الكِرامَ كِرامُ

Had you wished to stir matters up, you could have stirred them

Had you wished to stir things up, you could have done so

at once—but the noble remain noble.

swiftly—but the noble remain noble.

يُكَرُّ عَلَيَّ اللَومُ فيكُم وَلابِسٌ

يُكَرُّ عَلَيَّ اللَومُ فيكُم وَلابِسٌ

مِنَ اللَومِ مَن لا يَستَفيقُ يُلامُ

مِنَ اللَومِ مَن لا يَستَفيقُ يُلامُ

Blame is repeatedly laid upon me on your account by a blamer;

Blame returns upon me over you, and one clad

one who never awakens from blame is himself blameworthy.

in blame, who does not come to his senses, is reproached.

تُجَرِّحُ أَقوالُ الوُشاةِ فَريصَتي

تُجَرِّحُ أَقوالُ الوُشاةِ فَريصَتي

وَأَكثَرُ أَقوالِ الوُشاةِ سِهامُ

وَأَكثَرُ أَقوالِ الوُشاةِ سِهامُ

The talebearers’ words wound my sensibility,

The slanderers' words lacerate my side,

and most words spoken by talebearers are arrows.

and most of the slanderers' words are arrows.

تَرى أَلسُناً أُصمِتنَ بِالعِيِّ أَن هَفا

تَرى أَلسُناً أُصمِتنَ بِالعِيِّ أَن هَفا

بِيَ الرَأيُ مَصنوعاً لَهُنَّ كَلامُ

بِيَ الرَأيُ مَصنوعاً لَهُنَّ كَلامُ

You see tongues struck dumb by inarticulacy; yet if

You see tongues once stilled by inarticulacy—because of a lapse

my judgment slips, speech is suddenly fashioned for them.

in my judgment—furnished with speech fashioned for them.

لَعَلَّ غَياباتِ السَخائِمِ تَنجَلي

لَعَلَّ غَياباتِ السَخائِمِ تَنجَلي

وَمُعوَجَّ ما تُخفي الصُدورُ يُقامُ

وَمُعوَجَّ ما تُخفي الصُدورُ يُقامُ

May the hidden depths of rancor be swept clear,

Perhaps the dark depths of rancor will clear,

and the crookedness concealed within breasts be set straight.

and the crookedness of what breasts conceal will be set straight.

وَلَمّا نَبَت بي الأَرضُ عُدتُ إِلَيكُمُ

وَلَمّا نَبَت بي الأَرضُ عُدتُ إِلَيكُمُ

أَمُتُّ بِحَبلِ الوُدِّ وَهوَ رِمامُ

أَمُتُّ بِحَبلِ الوُدِّ وَهوَ رِمامُ

When the earth rejected me, I returned to you;

And when the earth rejected me, I returned to you,

I clung to affection’s cord though it was frayed.

claiming a bond through love's cord, though it is tattered.

وَقَد يُهتَدى بِالنَجمِ يُشكِلُ سَمتُهُ

وَقَد يُهتَدى بِالنَجمِ يُشكِلُ سَمتُهُ

وَيُروى بِماءِ الجَفرِ وَهوَ ذِمامُ

وَيُروى بِماءِ الجَفرِ وَهوَ ذِمامُ

One may be guided by a star whose bearing is obscure,

One may be guided by a star whose bearing is unclear,

and drink from al-Jafr’s water though it is scant.

and have one's thirst quenched with a well's water, though it is scant.

وَما كُلُّ ما بُلِّغتُمُ صِدقُ قائِلٍ

وَما كُلُّ ما بُلِّغتُمُ صِدقُ قائِلٍ

وَفي البَعضِ إِزراءٌ عَلَيَّ وَذامُ

وَفي البَعضِ إِزراءٌ عَلَيَّ وَذامُ

Not everything reported to you is the truth of its speaker;

Not everything reported to you is truthfully spoken;

some of it disparages me and brands me with shame.

and some of it holds disparagement and censure of me.

وَلا عُذرَ إِلّا أَنَّ بَدءَ إِساءَةٍ

وَلا عُذرَ إِلّا أَنَّ بَدءَ إِساءَةٍ

لَها مِن زِياداتِ الوُشاةِ تَمامُ

لَها مِن زِياداتِ الوُشاةِ تَمامُ

There is no excuse, except that an offense, small at its beginning,

There is no excuse, save that the beginning of an offense

was brought to its full measure by the talebearers’ additions.

is brought to completion by the slanderers' additions.