حَذِرتُ الحُبَّ لَو أَغنى حِذاري

حَذِرتُ الحُبَّ لَو أَغنى حِذاري

وَرُمتُ الفَرَّ لَو نَجّى فِراري

وَرُمتُ الفَرَّ لَو نَجّى فِراري

I was wary of love—if only my caution had availed;

I warned love even if my warning enriched it,

And sought escape—if only my flight had saved me.

And I fled from separation even if my fleeing rescued it.

وَمازالَت صُروفُ الدَهرِ حَتّى

وَمازالَت صُروفُ الدَهرِ حَتّى

غَدَت أَسماءُ شاسِعَةَ المَزارِ

غَدَت أَسماءُ شاسِعَةَ المَزارِ

And time's vicissitudes did not cease until

Yet the turns of fate continued, until

Asma became far off, difficult to visit.

The names of spacious tombs prevailed.

وَما أُعطى القَرارَ وَقَد تَناءَت

وَما أُعطى القَرارَ وَقَد تَناءَت

وَهَذا الحُبُّ يَمنَعُني قَراري

وَهَذا الحُبُّ يَمنَعُني قَراري

I am granted no rest, though she has grown distant,

And I was not given rest, though wishes increased,

And this love keeps me from my repose.

And this love prevents my peace.

يَغارَ الوَردُ أَن سَفَرَت وَيَبدو

يَغارَ الوَردُ أَن سَفَرَت وَيَبدو

تَغَيُّرُ كَأبَةً في الجُلَّنارِ

تَغَيُّرُ كَأبَةً في الجُلَّنارِ

The rose grows jealous when she unveils, and there appears

The roses are jealous that I traveled, and their

A melancholy change in the pomegranate blossom.

Changing color shows gloom in the rosebud.

هَواكِ أَلَجَّ في عَيني قَذاها

هَواكِ أَلَجَّ في عَيني قَذاها

وَخَلّى الشَيبَ يَلعَبُ في عِذاري

وَخَلّى الشَيبَ يَلعَبُ في عِذاري

Love for you kept the mote stubbornly in my eye,

Your love blinded me, so the speck remains in my eye,

And let gray hair play in my sideburns,

And gray hair plays in my braids.

بِما في وَجنَتَيكِ مِنِ اِحمِرارِ

بِما في وَجنَتَيكِ مِنِ اِحمِرارِ

وَما في مُقلَتَيكِ مِنِ اِحوِرارِ

وَما في مُقلَتَيكِ مِنِ اِحوِرارِ

Because of the redness in your cheeks

Because of the blushing in your cheeks,

And the striking black and white of your eyes.

And the batted lashes of your eyes.

لَئِن فارَقتُكُم عَبَثاً فَإِنّي

لَئِن فارَقتُكُم عَبَثاً فَإِنّي

عَلى يَومِ الفِراقِ لَجِدُّ زارِ

عَلى يَومِ الفِراقِ لَجِدُّ زارِ

Though I parted from you heedlessly, I am

If I leave you wrongly, I will indeed

Most reproachful toward the day of parting.

Be sad on the day of parting.

وَكَم خَلَّيتُ عِندَكِ مِن لَيالٍ

وَكَم خَلَّيتُ عِندَكِ مِن لَيالٍ

مُعَشَّقَةٍ وَأَيّامٍ قِصارِ

مُعَشَّقَةٍ وَأَيّامٍ قِصارِ

And how many nights I left behind with you—

And how many nights I spent with you,

Filled with love, and days all too short!

Enamored nights and brief days.

فَهَل أَنا بائِعٌ عَيشاً بِعَيشٍ

فَهَل أَنا بائِعٌ عَيشاً بِعَيشٍ

مَضى أَو مُبدِلٌ داراً بِدارِ

مَضى أَو مُبدِلٌ داراً بِدارِ

Am I, then, trading a life for a life

So am I selling a life for a life past,

Gone by, or exchanging one home for another?

Or exchanging a house for a house?

أَعاذِلَتي عَلى أَسماءَ ظُلماً

أَعاذِلَتي عَلى أَسماءَ ظُلماً

وَإِجراءِ الدُموعِ لَها الغِزارِ

وَإِجراءِ الدُموعِ لَها الغِزارِ

O you who unjustly chide me over Asma,

My harassers blamed names unjustly,

And for shedding copious tears for her:

And my pouring tears are plenty.

مَتى عاوَدتِني فيها بِلَومٍ

مَتى عاوَدتِني فيها بِلَومٍ

فَبِتِّ ضَجيعَةً لِلمُستَعارِ

فَبِتِّ ضَجيعَةً لِلمُستَعارِ

Whenever you return to blaming me for her,

Whenever you blame me again,

Then may you sleep beside the Borrowed One—

Sleep as a borrowed pillow.

لِأَسلَحَ حينَ يُمسي مِن حُبارى

لِأَسلَحَ حينَ يُمسي مِن حُبارى

وَأَضرَطَ حينَ يُصبِحُ مِن حِمارِ

وَأَضرَطَ حينَ يُصبِحُ مِن حِمارِ

One who shits more at dusk than a bustard,

When the passionate become evening,

And farts more at dawn than a donkey.

And the envious become morning.

إِذا أَحبابُهُ أَمسَوا عَشِيّاً

إِذا أَحبابُهُ أَمسَوا عَشِيّاً

أَعَدّوا وَاِستَعَدّوا لِلبَوارِ

أَعَدّوا وَاِستَعَدّوا لِلبَوارِ

When his loved ones find themselves at dusk,

When his loved ones become evening,

They make ready and brace themselves for ruin.

They prepare and make ready for ruin.

إِذا أَهوى لِمَرقِدِهِ بِلَيلٍ

إِذا أَهوى لِمَرقِدِهِ بِلَيلٍ

فَيا خَزيَ البَراذِعِ وَالسَراري

فَيا خَزيَ البَراذِعِ وَالسَراري

When he drops down to his bed at night,

When he desires his bed at night,

Then oh, the disgrace of the saddlecloths and concubines!

Oh disgrace of the cushions and pillows.

وَيا بُؤسَ الضَجيعِ وَقَد تَطَلّى

وَيا بُؤسَ الضَجيعِ وَقَد تَطَلّى

بِخِلطَي جامِدٍ مَعَهُ وَجارِ

بِخِلطَي جامِدٍ مَعَهُ وَجارِ

And woe to the bedfellow, now smeared

Oh misery of the bedfellow, having found

With two mixtures—solid and flowing together.

A rigid mixture next to him as company.

وَما كانَت ثِيابُ المُلكِ تُحشى

وَما كانَت ثِيابُ المُلكِ تُحشى

جَريرَةَ بائِلٍ فيهِنَّ خارِ

جَريرَةَ بائِلٍ فيهِنَّ خارِ

And royal robes were never meant to be stuffed

The clothes of a king were never packed

With the disgrace of one pissing and shitting in them.

With the fleas of a worn-out coat.

فَلَو أَنّا اِستَطَعنا لَاِفتَدَينا

فَلَو أَنّا اِستَطَعنا لَاِفتَدَينا

قَطوعَ الرَقمِ مِنهُ بِالبَوارِ

قَطوعَ الرَقمِ مِنهُ بِالبَوارِ

If only we could, we would ransom

If only we were able, we would ransom

The lengths of figured cloth from him, even at the price of ruin.

Pieces of writings from it with ruin.

يُبيدُ الراحَ في يَومِ النَدامى

يُبيدُ الراحَ في يَومِ النَدامى

وَيُفني الزادَ في يَومِ الخُمارِ

وَيُفني الزادَ في يَومِ الخُمارِ

He drains the wine on the day of boon companions,

It destroys passions on the day of regret,

And consumes the provisions on the day of the hangover.

And it ruins provision on the day of drunkenness.

يَعُبُّ فَيُنفِدُ الصَهباءَ جِلفٌ

يَعُبُّ فَيُنفِدُ الصَهباءَ جِلفٌ

قَريبُ العَهدِ بِالدِبسِ المُدارِ

قَريبُ العَهدِ بِالدِبسِ المُدارِ

A boor, he gulps and exhausts the tawny wine,

It kneads, so it finishes off the bread, a glutton

Not long removed from molasses passed around.

Recently familiar with syrup poured freely.

رَدَدناهُ بِرُمَّتِهِ ذَليلاً

رَدَدناهُ بِرُمَّتِهِ ذَليلاً

وَقَد عَمَّ البَرِيَّةَ بِالدَمارِ

وَقَد عَمَّ البَرِيَّةَ بِالدَمارِ

We sent him back, in his entirety, abased,

We repelled him, despised,

After he had engulfed mankind in devastation.

And he spread destruction upon the land.

وَكانَ أَضَرَّ فيهِم مِن سُهَيلٍ

وَكانَ أَضَرَّ فيهِم مِن سُهَيلٍ

إِذا أَوبا وَأَشأَمَ مِن قُدارِ

إِذا أَوبا وَأَشأَمَ مِن قُدارِ

And he was more harmful among them than Suhayl

He was more malicious among them than Suhayl,

When it brought pestilence, and more ill-omened than Qudar.

When it sets, with inauspicious rising of stars.

تَفانى الناسُ حَتّى قُلتُ عادوا

تَفانى الناسُ حَتّى قُلتُ عادوا

إِلى حَربِ البَسوسِ أَوِ الفِجارِ

إِلى حَربِ البَسوسِ أَوِ الفِجارِ

People destroyed one another, till I said they had returned

The people perished until I said they returned

To the war of al-Basus or al-Fijar.

To the war of dirhams or immorality.

فَلَولا اللَهُ وَالمُعتَزُّ بِدنا

فَلَولا اللَهُ وَالمُعتَزُّ بِدنا

كَما بادَت جَديرٌ مِن وَبارِ

كَما بادَت جَديرٌ مِن وَبارِ

But for God and al-Mu'tazz, we would have perished,

If not for God and the honored supporter of the religion,

As Jadir of Wabar perished.

Many a monastery would have perished like Jurayr.

تَدارَكَ عُصبَةً مِنّا حَيارى

تَدارَكَ عُصبَةً مِنّا حَيارى

عَلى جُرفٍ مِنَ الحَدَثانِ هارِ

عَلى جُرفٍ مِنَ الحَدَثانِ هارِ

He rescued a bewildered band of us

He embraced a confused group among us,

On a crumbling brink of time's calamities.

On the brink of a burning pit.

تَلافاهُم بِطولٍ مِنهُ جَمٍّ

تَلافاهُم بِطولٍ مِنهُ جَمٍّ

وَعَفوٍ شامِلٍ بَعدَ اِقتِدارِ

وَعَفوٍ شامِلٍ بَعدَ اِقتِدارِ

He saved them with lavish bounty from himself,

With His eternal tolerance and

And all-embracing pardon after gaining power.

Forgiveness and power spread wide.

إِمامُ هُدىً يُحَبَّبُ في التَأَنّي

إِمامُ هُدىً يُحَبَّبُ في التَأَنّي

وَيُخشى في السَكينَةِ وَالوَقارِ

وَيُخشى في السَكينَةِ وَالوَقارِ

A guiding imam, endeared by his deliberation,

A leader of guidance who endears deliberation,

And feared in his calm and dignity.

And is feared in tranquility and dignity.

إِذا نَظَرَ الوُفودُ إِلَيهِ قالوا

إِذا نَظَرَ الوُفودُ إِلَيهِ قالوا

أَبَدرُ اللَيلِ أَم شَمسُ النَهارِ

أَبَدرُ اللَيلِ أَم شَمسُ النَهارِ

When the delegations look at him, they say:

When the delegations look upon him, they say:

Is he the night's full moon, or the day's sun?

"Is it the full moon of night or the sun of day?"

لَهُ الفَضلانِ فَضلُ أَبٍ وَأُمٍّ

لَهُ الفَضلانِ فَضلُ أَبٍ وَأُمٍّ

وَطيبُ الخيمِ في كَرَمِ النِجارِ

وَطيبُ الخيمِ في كَرَمِ النِجارِ

His are both excellences: a father's and a mother's,

To him belong the two virtues - the virtue of father and mother,

And goodness of character in noble lineage.

And the good fragrance of the generous family.

هَزَرناهُ لِأَحداثِ اللَيالي

هَزَرناهُ لِأَحداثِ اللَيالي

فَأَحمَدنا مَضارِبَ ذي الفَقارِ

فَأَحمَدنا مَضارِبَ ذي الفَقارِ

We brandished him against the nights' calamities,

We mentioned him for the events of the nights,

And found Dhu al-Fiqar's striking edges worthy of praise.

So we praised the camps of Dhi al-Faqar.

أَميرَ المُؤمِنينِ نَداكَ بَحرٌ

أَميرَ المُؤمِنينِ نَداكَ بَحرٌ

إِذا ما فاضَ غَضَّ مِنَ البِحارِ

إِذا ما فاضَ غَضَّ مِنَ البِحارِ

Commander of the Faithful, your bounty is a sea:

O Commander of the Faithful, your being called is an ocean,

Whenever it overflows, it puts the seas to shame.

When it floods, it reduces the seas!

لَأَنتَ أَمَدُّ بِالمَعروفِ كَفّاً

لَأَنتَ أَمَدُّ بِالمَعروفِ كَفّاً

وَأَوهَبُ لِلُّجَينِ وَلِلنُضارِ

وَأَوهَبُ لِلُّجَينِ وَلِلنُضارِ

Indeed, your hand reaches farther in kindness,

You are most generous, extending your palm,

And you give more freely of silver and gold.

And most forgiving to the seekers and the active.

وَأَحفَظُ لِلذِمامِ إِذا مَتَتنا

وَأَحفَظُ لِلذِمامِ إِذا مَتَتنا

إِلَيكَ بِهِ وَأَحمى لِلذِمارِ

إِلَيكَ بِهِ وَأَحمى لِلذِمارِ

And you are more faithful to the bond when we appeal

And most protective of the guarantee, if

To you through it, and more protective of what must be defended.

We come to you with it, and most defensive of the guaranteed.

لَئِن تَمَّ الفِداءُ كَما رَجَونا

لَئِن تَمَّ الفِداءُ كَما رَجَونا

بِيُمنِكَ بَعدَ مُكثٍ وَاِنتِظارِ

بِيُمنِكَ بَعدَ مُكثٍ وَاِنتِظارِ

If the ransom is completed as we hoped,

If the ransom is completed, as we hope,

Through your blessing, after delay and waiting,

By your good fortune, after waiting.

فَمِن أَزكى خِلالِكَ أَن تُفادي

فَمِن أَزكى خِلالِكَ أَن تُفادي

إِلى الأَهلينَ مِنهُم وَالدِيارِ

إِلى الأَهلينَ مِنهُم وَالدِيارِ

Then among your purest virtues is to ransom

Then of your most pure traits, is to return

Those among them back to their families and homes.

The estranged ones back to their tribes and homes.

بَذَلتَ المالَ فيهِم كَي يَعودوا

بَذَلتَ المالَ فيهِم كَي يَعودوا

إِلى الأَهلينَ مِنهُم وَالدِيارِ

إِلى الأَهلينَ مِنهُم وَالدِيارِ

You spent wealth on them so they might return

You spent money on them that they may return

To their own families and their homes.

To their tribes and homes.

فَيا لَكِ فَعلَةً يُهدى نَثاها

فَيا لَكِ فَعلَةً يُهدى نَثاها

إِلى أَهلِ المُحَصَّبِ وَالجِمارِ

إِلى أَهلِ المُحَصَّبِ وَالجِمارِ

Oh, what a deed, whose fame is carried

O you who performed a deed that its example is gifted

To the people of al-Muhassab and al-Jimar!

To the people of resolve and brave heroes.

حَبَوتَ بِحُسنِ سُمعَتِها وَصيفاً

حَبَوتَ بِحُسنِ سُمعَتِها وَصيفاً

فَنالَ بِنُبلِها شَرَفَ الفَخارِ

فَنالَ بِنُبلِها شَرَفَ الفَخارِ

You graced Wasif with its fair renown,

You won, by the goodness of its reputation, a lover,

And through its nobility he won the honor of glory.

And by its nobility he attained the honor of excellence.

رَعَيتَ أَمانَةً مِنهُ وَنُصحاً

رَعَيتَ أَمانَةً مِنهُ وَنُصحاً

وَأَنتَ مُوَفَّقٌ في الاِختِيارِ

وَأَنتَ مُوَفَّقٌ في الاِختِيارِ

You honored his trustworthiness and loyal counsel,

You observed a trust from him and sincere advice,

And you are well guided in your choice.

And you are successful in your choices.

وَفازَ مِنَ الوَفاءِ لَكُم عَزيزاً

وَفازَ مِنَ الوَفاءِ لَكُم عَزيزاً

وَخاطَرَ عِندَ تَغريرِ الخِطارِ

وَخاطَرَ عِندَ تَغريرِ الخِطارِ

And through loyalty to you he emerged honored,

And he won your faithfulness honored,

And risked himself when the stakes were perilous.

And risked when enticed by dangers.

وَآثَرَكُم وَلَم يُؤثِر عَلَيكُم

وَآثَرَكُم وَلَم يُؤثِر عَلَيكُم

وَقَد شَرَعَت لَهُ دُنيا المُعارِ

وَقَد شَرَعَت لَهُ دُنيا المُعارِ

And he preferred you, preferring no one above you,

And he preferred you and did not prefer over you,

Though the Loaned One's world lay open to him.

When the world of positions was paved for him.

إِذا ما قَرَّبوهُ وَآنَسوهُ

إِذا ما قَرَّبوهُ وَآنَسوهُ

غَلا في البُعدِ عَنهُم وَالنِفارِ

غَلا في البُعدِ عَنهُم وَالنِفارِ

Whenever they drew him near and welcomed him,

When they drew him near and socialized with him,

He went to extremes in staying far from them and shunning them:

He recoiled from them and avoided their company;

حَياءً أَن يُقالَ أَتى بِغَدرٍ

حَياءً أَن يُقالَ أَتى بِغَدرٍ

وَنُبلاً أَن يَحُلَّ مَحَلَّ عارِ

وَنُبلاً أَن يَحُلَّ مَحَلَّ عارِ

Out of shame lest he be said to have committed treachery,

Shy that it be said he came with betrayal,

And from nobility lest he take a place of disgrace,

And noble that the place of dishonor be his.

وَهِمَّةُ مُستَقِلِّ النَفسِ يَسمو

وَهِمَّةُ مُستَقِلِّ النَفسِ يَسمو

بِهِمَّتِهِ إِلى الرُتَبِ الكِبارِ

بِهِمَّتِهِ إِلى الرُتَبِ الكِبارِ

And with the ambition of one who holds his life cheap, he rises

And the ambition of the independent soul aspires

Through his ambition to lofty ranks.

With its ambition to the greatest positions.

شَكَرتُكَ بِالقَوافي عَن شَفيعي

شَكَرتُكَ بِالقَوافي عَن شَفيعي

إِلَيكَ وَصاحِبي الأَدنى وَجاري

إِلَيكَ وَصاحِبي الأَدنى وَجاري

I thanked you in rhymes on behalf of my intercessor

I thanked you in rhyme on behalf of my intercessor for me,

With you, and my closest companion and my neighbor,

My companion, neighbor, and my confidante.

وَمَولاكَ الَّذي مازِلتَ تَرضى

وَمَولاكَ الَّذي مازِلتَ تَرضى

وَتَحمَدُ غَيبَهُ في الاِختِيارِ

وَتَحمَدُ غَيبَهُ في الاِختِيارِ

And your client, whom you have always favored

And your master whom you continue to be pleased with

And whose unseen conduct you commend in choosing.

And praise his absence in visiting.

فَلا نَعدَم بَقاءَكَ في سُرورٍ

فَلا نَعدَم بَقاءَكَ في سُرورٍ

وَعِزٍّ ما سَرى الظَلماءَ سارِ

وَعِزٍّ ما سَرى الظَلماءَ سارِ

So may we never lack your enduring presence in joy

So we do not lack your continued joy

And glory, as long as a traveler journeys through darkness.

And honor as long as the darkness flows!