أَإِبراهيمُ دَعوَةَ مُستَعيدٍ

أَإِبراهيمُ دَعوَةَ مُستَعيدٍ

لِرَأيٍ مِنكَ مَحمودٍ فَقيدِ

لِرَأيٍ مِنكَ مَحمودٍ فَقيدِ

O Ibrahim, the plea of one seeking to recover

Is Abraham calling for help from one restored,

a praiseworthy regard from you, now lost.

For an opinion from you that is praiseworthy?

تَجَلّى بِشرُكَ الأَمسِيُّ عَنّي

تَجَلّى بِشرُكَ الأَمسِيُّ عَنّي

تَجَلّى جانِبِ الظِلِّ المَديدِ

تَجَلّى جانِبِ الظِلِّ المَديدِ

Your cheerfulness of yesterday has slipped away from me,

Your paganism was made clear to me yesterday,

as the edge of a long shadow slips away.

As was the lengthy shadowed side.

وَأَظلَمَ بَينَنا ما كانَ أَضوا

وَأَظلَمَ بَينَنا ما كانَ أَضوا

عَلى اللَحَظاتِ مِن فَلَقِ العَمودِ

عَلى اللَحَظاتِ مِن فَلَقِ العَمودِ

And what lay between us darkened, though once brighter

What was luminous between us became dark,

to the gaze than the breaking shaft of dawn.

In the moments between the striking of the tent poles.

وَفي عَينَيكَ تَرجَمَةٌ أَراها

وَفي عَينَيكَ تَرجَمَةٌ أَراها

تَدُلُّ عَلى الضَغائِنِ وَالحُقودِ

تَدُلُّ عَلى الضَغائِنِ وَالحُقودِ

And in your eyes I see a message

And in your eyes I see a translation

that points to resentments and grudges.

That indicates rancor and hatred.

وَأَخلاقٌ عَهِدتُ اللينَ فيها

وَأَخلاقٌ عَهِدتُ اللينَ فيها

غَدَت وَكَأَنَّها زُبَرُ الحَديدِ

غَدَت وَكَأَنَّها زُبَرُ الحَديدِ

And traits in which I once knew gentleness

Morals I was accustomed to as being gentle

have become as though they were blocks of iron.

Have become as if they were iron rods.

أَميلُ إِلَيكَ عَن وَدٍّ قَريبٍ

أَميلُ إِلَيكَ عَن وَدٍّ قَريبٍ

فَتُبعِدُني عَلى النَسَبِ البَعيدِ

فَتُبعِدُني عَلى النَسَبِ البَعيدِ

I incline toward you out of close affection,

I incline toward you with a close affection

yet you drive me away because our kinship is distant.

Yet you distance me to remote lineage.

وَما ذَنبي بِأَن كانَ اِبنُ عَمّي

وَما ذَنبي بِأَن كانَ اِبنُ عَمّي

سِواكَ وَكانَ عودُكَ غَيرَ عودي

سِواكَ وَكانَ عودُكَ غَيرَ عودي

And what fault is mine that my paternal cousin

What is my crime that the son of my uncle

is not you, and your stock is not mine?

Was none other than you, though your character was not my character?

لَئِن بَعُدَت عِراقُكَ عَن شَآمي

لَئِن بَعُدَت عِراقُكَ عَن شَآمي

كَما بَعُدَت جُدودُكَ عَن جُدودي

كَما بَعُدَت جُدودُكَ عَن جُدودي

Though your Iraq lies far from my Syria,

If your Iraq is far from my Syria

as your ancestors lie far from mine,

As your ancestors were far from my ancestors,

فَلَم تَكُ نِيَّتي عَنكَ اِختِياراً

فَلَم تَكُ نِيَّتي عَنكَ اِختِياراً

وَكانَ اللَهُ أَولى بِالعَبيدِ

وَكانَ اللَهُ أَولى بِالعَبيدِ

yet my separation from you was not by choice,

Still, my intention toward you was not by choice

and God has the greater claim upon His servants.

And God was more worthy of the servants.

وَيُصنَعُ في مُعانَدَتي لِقَومٍ

وَيُصنَعُ في مُعانَدَتي لِقَومٍ

وَبَعضَ الصُنعِ مِن سَبَبٍ بَعيدِ

وَبَعضَ الصُنعِ مِن سَبَبٍ بَعيدِ

And favor is shown to some people by opposing me;

And it was made in my defiance of a people,

and some favors spring from a distant connection.

And some making from a remote cause.

أَما اِستَحيَيتَ مِن مِدَحٍ سَوارٍ

أَما اِستَحيَيتَ مِن مِدَحٍ سَوارٍ

بِوَصفِكَ في التَهائِمِ وَالنُجودِ

بِوَصفِكَ في التَهائِمِ وَالنُجودِ

Are you not ashamed before praises that travel by night,

Are you not ashamed of the praise of Sa'war

describing you through the lowlands and highlands?

In describing you among the beasts and camels?

تَوَدُّ بِأَنَّها لَكَ فِيَّ عُجباً

تَوَدُّ بِأَنَّها لَكَ فِيَّ عُجباً

بِجَوهَرِها المُفَصَّلِ في النَشيدِ

بِجَوهَرِها المُفَصَّلِ في النَشيدِ

You wish them yours, in wonder at me

You wish it were a wonder for you about me

for their jewels finely arrayed in song.

In its precise composition in verse.

بَنَت لَكَ مَعقِلاً في الشِعرِ ثَبتاً

بَنَت لَكَ مَعقِلاً في الشِعرِ ثَبتاً

وَأَبقَت مِنكَ ذِكراً في القَصيدِ

وَأَبقَت مِنكَ ذِكراً في القَصيدِ

They built you a firm stronghold in poetry

It built for you in poetry a stronghold,

and preserved your memory in verse.

And maintained for you renown in the ode.

وَتَبدَهُني إِذا ما الكَأسُ دارَت

وَتَبدَهُني إِذا ما الكَأسُ دارَت

بِنَزقاتٍ تَجيءُ عَلى البَريدِ

بِنَزقاتٍ تَجيءُ عَلى البَريدِ

Yet you assail me whenever the cup goes round,

And you insult me when the cup goes round

with rash outbursts that arrive by express post:

With sips that come in succession.

عَرابِدُ يُطرِقُ الجُلَساءُ مِنها

عَرابِدُ يُطرِقُ الجُلَساءُ مِنها

عَلَيَّ كَأَنَّها حَطَبُ الوُقودِ

عَلَيَّ كَأَنَّها حَطَبُ الوُقودِ

vipers that make the companions lower their heads,

Nonsense that makes the gathering hang their heads

hurled at me as though they were firewood for burning.

Over me as if it were firewood.

وَمُعتَرِضينَ إِن عَظَّمتُ أَمراً

وَمُعتَرِضينَ إِن عَظَّمتُ أَمراً

بِهِم شَهِدوا عَلَيَّ وَهُم شُهودي

بِهِم شَهِدوا عَلَيَّ وَهُم شُهودي

And objectors, if I magnify a matter

And detractors, if I exalt a matter,

involving them, testify against me, though they are my witnesses.

Bore witness against me though they are my own witnesses.

وَما لي قُوَّةٌ تَنهاكَ عَنّي

وَما لي قُوَّةٌ تَنهاكَ عَنّي

وَلا آوي إِلى رُكنٍ شَديدِ

وَلا آوي إِلى رُكنٍ شَديدِ

I have no power to keep you from me,

And I have no power to restrain you from me,

nor do I seek refuge in a mighty bulwark,

Nor do I resort to a sturdy pillar,

سِوى شُعَلٍ يَخافُ الحُرُّ مِنها

سِوى شُعَلٍ يَخافُ الحُرُّ مِنها

لَهيباً غَيرَ مَرجُوِّ الخُمودِ

لَهيباً غَيرَ مَرجُوِّ الخُمودِ

save flames from which a noble man fears

Other than flames that the free man fears

a blaze with no hope of dying down.

With a blaze that does not hope to die down.

وَلَو أَنّي أَشاءُ وَأَنتَ تُربي

وَلَو أَنّي أَشاءُ وَأَنتَ تُربي

عَلَيَّ لَثُرتُ ثَورَةَ مُستَقيدِ

عَلَيَّ لَثُرتُ ثَورَةَ مُستَقيدِ

And if I wished, while you go to excess

And if I want, while you are fostering

against me, I would rise like one demanding retribution.

Against me, I would stir a bound revolt.

ظَلَمتَ أَخاً لَوِ اِلتَمَسَ اِنتِصاراً

ظَلَمتَ أَخاً لَوِ اِلتَمَسَ اِنتِصاراً

غَزاكَ مِنَ القَوافي في جُنودِ

غَزاكَ مِنَ القَوافي في جُنودِ

You wronged a brother who, if he sought redress,

You wronged a brother - if he sought vengeance

would assail you with armies of rhymes.

Poetry would invade you in armies.

نُجومُ خَلائِقٍ طَلَعَت جَميعاً

نُجومُ خَلائِقٍ طَلَعَت جَميعاً

فَجاءَت بِالنُحوسِ وَبِالسُعودِ

فَجاءَت بِالنُحوسِ وَبِالسُعودِ

Stars of character rose all together,

The stars of fates have risen together

bringing ill fortune and good fortune.

Bringing misfortune and good fortune.

وَقَد عاقَدتَني بِخِلافِ هَذا

وَقَد عاقَدتَني بِخِلافِ هَذا

وَقالَ اللَهُ أَوفوا بِالعُقودِ

وَقالَ اللَهُ أَوفوا بِالعُقودِ

Yet you made a pact with me for the opposite of this,

You have bound me against this

and God said, 'Fulfill the covenants.'

While God said "Fulfill your oaths."

أَتوبُ إِلَيكَ مِن ثِقَةٍ بِخِلٍّ

أَتوبُ إِلَيكَ مِن ثِقَةٍ بِخِلٍّ

طَريفٍ بِالأُخُوَّةِ أَو تَليدِ

طَريفٍ بِالأُخُوَّةِ أَو تَليدِ

I repent before you of trusting a friend,

I repent to you from trusting scarcity

new in brotherhood or long established.

Of a gentle disposition or harmony.

وَأَشكُرُ نِعمَةً لَكَ بِاِطِّلاعي

وَأَشكُرُ نِعمَةً لَكَ بِاِطِّلاعي

عَلى أَنَّ الوَفاءَ اليَومَ مودِ

عَلى أَنَّ الوَفاءَ اليَومَ مودِ

And I thank you for the favor of showing me

And I thank the blessing to you in my knowing

that loyalty today has perished.

That loyalty today is a habit.

سَأَرحَلُ عاتِباً وَيَكونُ عَتبي

سَأَرحَلُ عاتِباً وَيَكونُ عَتبي

عَلى غَيرِ التَهَدُّدِ وَالوَعيدِ

عَلى غَيرِ التَهَدُّدِ وَالوَعيدِ

I shall depart reproachfully, and my reproach

I will depart faulting while my faulting is

will be without threats or menaces.

Without threat or warning.

وَأَحفَظُ مِنكَ ما ضَيَّعتَ مِنّي

وَأَحفَظُ مِنكَ ما ضَيَّعتَ مِنّي

عَلى رَغمِ المُكاشِحِ وَالحَسودِ

عَلى رَغمِ المُكاشِحِ وَالحَسودِ

And I shall honor in you what you neglected in me,

And I will preserve from you what you neglected of me

despite the spiteful and the envious.

In spite of the quarreling and envy.

رَأَيتُ الحَزمَ في صَدرٍ سَريعٍ

رَأَيتُ الحَزمَ في صَدرٍ سَريعٍ

إِذا اِستَوبَأتُ عاقِبَةَ الوُرودِ

إِذا اِستَوبَأتُ عاقِبَةَ الوُرودِ

I saw prudence in swiftly leaving the watering-place

I have seen composure in a quick breast

when I judged the outcome of coming to drink unwholesome.

When I discern the consequence of affection.

وَكُنتُ إِذا الصَديقُ رَأى وِصالي

وَكُنتُ إِذا الصَديقُ رَأى وِصالي

مُتاجَرَةً رَجِعتُ إِلى الصُدودِ

مُتاجَرَةً رَجِعتُ إِلى الصُدودِ

And whenever a friend regarded my companionship

I used to, if a friend saw my intimacy

as commerce, I turned to estrangement.

As business, return to aloofness.

سَلامٌ كُلَّما قيلَت سَلامٌ

سَلامٌ كُلَّما قيلَت سَلامٌ

عَلى سَعدِ العُفاةِ أَني سَعيدِ

عَلى سَعدِ العُفاةِ أَني سَعيدِ

Peace, whenever 'peace' is spoken,

Greetings whenever greetings are said

upon the petitioners' good fortune, [Abu?] Sa'id.

To Sa'd the gentle, that I am happy.

فَتىً جَعَلَ التَعَصُّبَ لِلمَعالي

فَتىً جَعَلَ التَعَصُّبَ لِلمَعالي

وَوَجَّهَ وُدَّهُ نَحوَ الوَدودِ

وَوَجَّهَ وُدَّهُ نَحوَ الوَدودِ

A young man who devoted his zeal to noble pursuits

A youth who made zeal for high values

and directed his affection toward the affectionate,

And directed his love toward fellowship.

وَخَلَّدَ مَجدَهُ بَينَ القَوافي

وَخَلَّدَ مَجدَهُ بَينَ القَوافي

وَبَعضُ الشِعرِ أَملى بِالخُلودِ

وَبَعضُ الشِعرِ أَملى بِالخُلودِ

and immortalized his glory among rhymes;

And immortalized his glory among the verse

and some verse has a greater claim to immortality.

While some poetry I composed for eternity.

كَذَلِكَ لاحَ في أَقصى ظُنوني

كَذَلِكَ لاحَ في أَقصى ظُنوني

فَلَم أَلحَظهُ لَحظَةَ مُستَزيدِ

فَلَم أَلحَظهُ لَحظَةَ مُستَزيدِ

Thus he shone in the furthest reaches of my expectations,

That is how it shone in my highest hopes

and I did not look at him as one asking for more.

And I did not perceive it a moment of excess.

وَكَيفَ يَكونُ ذاكَ وَكُلُّ يَومٍ

وَكَيفَ يَكونُ ذاكَ وَكُلُّ يَومٍ

يُقابِلُني بِمَعروفٍ جَديدُ

يُقابِلُني بِمَعروفٍ جَديدُ

And how could that be, when every day

And how could that be when each day

he meets me with a fresh kindness?

He meets me with some new kindness?