قَلَّما لا تَتَصَبّاني الدِمَن

قَلَّما لا تَتَصَبّاني الدِمَن

وَتُعَنّيني بِذِكرى مِن شَجَن

وَتُعَنّيني بِذِكرى مِن شَجَن

Rarely do the old campsites fail to stir my youthful longing,

Seldom do the abodes and memories of longing fail to haunt me,

and trouble me with memories of sorrow.

Seeking one whose breast aches with fervent love,

واجِدٌ غايَةَ صَدرٍ مِن جَوىً

واجِدٌ غايَةَ صَدرٍ مِن جَوىً

ناشِدٌ بُلغَةَ عَينٍ مِن وَسَن

ناشِدٌ بُلغَةَ عَينٍ مِن وَسَن

I feel a breast's full measure of burning grief,

Whose eyes plead with eloquent glance.

seeking enough slumber for my eyes.

The passions have led me astray into the maws of destruction, though we feared it.

وَالغَواني يَتَوَرَّدنَ بِنا

وَالغَواني يَتَوَرَّدنَ بِنا

قُحَمَ الهُلكِ وَإِن هِمنا بِهِنّ

قُحَمَ الهُلكِ وَإِن هِمنا بِهِنّ

And lovely women lead us

Whenever a lightning flashes or a breeze blows gently,

into destruction's perils, though we are enamored of them.

Or a branch sways gracefully,

كُلَّما أَومَضَ بَرقٌ أَو سَرى

كُلَّما أَومَضَ بَرقٌ أَو سَرى

نَسمُ ريحٍ أَو ثَنى عَطفاً فَنَن

نَسمُ ريحٍ أَو ثَنى عَطفاً فَنَن

Whenever lightning flashes, or there drifts

The fragrant zephyrs of youth obligate me

a breath of wind, or a bough bends its side,

To roam freely in longing with outstretched arms.

كَلَّفَتني أَريَحيّاتُ الصِبا

كَلَّفَتني أَريَحيّاتُ الصِبا

طَلَقاً في الشَوقِ مُمتَدَّ السَنَن

طَلَقاً في الشَوقِ مُمتَدَّ السَنَن

youth's eager impulses send me

You have transported me from one love to another,

on a long, far-reaching course of longing.

Seeking rest for me after rest.

نَقَّلتَني في هَوىً بَعدَ هَوىً

نَقَّلتَني في هَوىً بَعدَ هَوىً

وَابتَغَت لي سَكَناً بَعدَ سَكَن

وَابتَغَت لي سَكَناً بَعدَ سَكَن

They carry me through passion after passion,

Other than my love for Sulayma, nothing has increased it

and seek for me beloved after beloved.

Through succor, or decreased it through disdain.

غَيرَ حُبّي لِسُلَيمى لَم يَزِد

غَيرَ حُبّي لِسُلَيمى لَم يَزِد

فيهِ إِسعافٌ وَلَم يَنقُصهُ ضَّن

فيهِ إِسعافٌ وَلَم يَنقُصهُ ضَّن

But my love for Sulayma was not increased

Under my clothes lies a burning ember

by favor, nor diminished by withholding.

Which cannot be extinguished by gentle coaxing.

ثَبَتَت تَحتَ الحَشا آخِيَةٌ

ثَبَتَت تَحتَ الحَشا آخِيَةٌ

مِنهُ لا يَنزِعُها المُهرُ الأَرِنّ

مِنهُ لا يَنزِعُها المُهرُ الأَرِنّ

A tethering-loop was fixed beneath my breast,

I hoped to conceal a love always manifest

from that love, which no frisky colt can wrench free.

In its fervor until it became public.

أَتَوَخّى سَترَ حُبٍّ لَم يَزَل

أَتَوَخّى سَترَ حُبٍّ لَم يَزَل

ظاهِرَ الوَجدِ بِهِ حَتّى عَلَن

ظاهِرَ الوَجدِ بِهِ حَتّى عَلَن

I seek to conceal a love that has always

That which was obscure to people so they knew not

shown itself in longing, until it became known.

What it was, was nothing all along.

وَالَّذي غُمَّ عَلى الناسِ فَلَم

وَالَّذي غُمَّ عَلى الناسِ فَلَم

يَعلَموا ما هُوَ شَيءٌ لَم يَكُن

يَعلَموا ما هُوَ شَيءٌ لَم يَكُن

And what was hidden from people, so that they did not

I pledged myself to old age, yet it did not grant me

know what it was, was something that never existed.

The goodness of a contented soul in return.

وَلَقَد بايَعتُ بِالشَيبِ فَما

وَلَقَد بايَعتُ بِالشَيبِ فَما

قيضَ لِيَ طَيِّبُ نَفسٍ بِغَبَن

قيضَ لِيَ طَيِّبُ نَفسٍ بِغَبَن

I have indeed bargained with gray hair, yet no

Of the noblest stature, his value

one content to accept a loss was found for me.

Is beyond any price.

وَمِنَ الأَعلاقِ تاوٍ قَدرُهُ

وَمِنَ الأَعلاقِ تاوٍ قَدرُهُ

عاجِزُ القيمَةِ عَن كُلِّ ثَمَن

عاجِزُ القيمَةِ عَن كُلِّ ثَمَن

And among treasures is one whose worth has perished,

The abode of Hassân is exalted for us,

its value unable to command any price.

And anything else seems fine in comparison.

رُفِعَت قَريَةُ حَسّانَ لَنا

رُفِعَت قَريَةُ حَسّانَ لَنا

وَسِواها عِندَهُ المَرأى الحَسَن

وَسِواها عِندَهُ المَرأى الحَسَن

Hassan's village rose into view before us,

So it is as if when we prayed toward

and, in his eyes, the lovely prospect lay elsewhere.

The Dome of the Pilgrim, we were idol worshippers.

فَكَأَنّا حينَ صَلَّينا إِلى

فَكَأَنّا حينَ صَلَّينا إِلى

قُبَّةِ الحَجّاجِ عُبّادُ وَثَن

قُبَّةِ الحَجّاجِ عُبّادُ وَثَن

It was as though, when we prayed toward

I regard Kûfa as my homeland, and I see

al-Hajjaj's dome, we were worshipers of an idol.

The Najaf of Hira as my home and haven.

أَمِقُ الكوفَةَ أَرضاً وَأَرى

أَمِقُ الكوفَةَ أَرضاً وَأَرى

نَجَفَ الحيرَةِ أَرضاها وَطَن

نَجَفَ الحيرَةِ أَرضاها وَطَن

I cherish Kufa as a land, and regard

The encampments of Tayy are best for one who stays

the Najaf of al-Hira as the most pleasing home.

For a time in the abode, striving and erect.

حِلَلُ الطائِيِّ أَولى حِلَلٍ

حِلَلُ الطائِيِّ أَولى حِلَلٍ

بِمُقامِ الدَهرِ لِلثاوي المُبِنّ

بِمُقامِ الدَهرِ لِلثاوي المُبِنّ

Al-Ta'i's dwellings are the worthiest dwellings

Where time is not feared to run out,

for a lifelong stay by one who settles there,

Nor is the caprice of fate dreaded.

حَيثُ لا يُستَبطَأُ الحَظُّ وَلا

حَيثُ لا يُستَبطَأُ الحَظُّ وَلا

يُتَخَشّى غَولَهُ صَرفُ الزَمَن

يُتَخَشّى غَولَهُ صَرفُ الزَمَن

where good fortune is never thought slow, nor

Possessor of the land of the two Iraqs

are time's vicissitudes feared for their ravages.

As far as the deserts extend, and the swords of Aden.

حائِزٌ مُلكَ العِراقَينِ إِلى

حائِزٌ مُلكَ العِراقَينِ إِلى

ما حَوى الشِحرُ فَأَسيافُ عَدَن

ما حَوى الشِحرُ فَأَسيافُ عَدَن

He holds dominion over the two Iraqs, as far as

You fancy him far away, yet the awe

all that al-Shihr embraces, and then Aden's shores.

Of the words of Yemen have no power.

تَتَظَنّاهُ عَلى البُعدِ فَلا

تَتَظَنّاهُ عَلى البُعدِ فَلا

تَملِكُ الهَيبَةَ أَقوالُ اليَمَن

تَملِكُ الهَيبَةَ أَقوالُ اليَمَن

From afar they picture him, yet cannot

The insolent tremble before his authority,

master their awe—the chiefs of Yemen.

Whether from the mountain ravines, meadows, or Yazin.

توجِفُ الأَذواءُ مِن طاعتِهِ

توجِفُ الأَذواءُ مِن طاعتِهِ

مِن حِوالٍ أَو رُعَينٍ أَو يَزَن

مِن حِوالٍ أَو رُعَينٍ أَو يَزَن

The Dhu-lords hasten in obedience to him,

The tribes ask about their envoys

from Hiwal, Ru'ayn, or Yazan.

At the gates of the Munificent One of bounty.

يَسأَلُ الأَقوامُ عَن رُوّادِهِم

يَسأَلُ الأَقوامُ عَن رُوّادِهِم

عِندَ أَبوابِ مُرَجّى ذي مِنَن

عِندَ أَبوابِ مُرَجّى ذي مِنَن

The peoples ask after their scouts

A tribe, if it isolates itself, incurs no wrath,

at the gates of a benefactor in whom hopes are placed.

And the land overflows with good if he permits.

عُصَبٌ إِن يَحتَجِب لا يَسخَطوا

عُصَبٌ إِن يَحتَجِب لا يَسخَطوا

وَتَفيضُ الأَرضُ خَيراً إِن أَذِن

وَتَفيضُ الأَرضُ خَيراً إِن أَذِن

Bands who, if he withdraws, feel no resentment,

His nature reveals a quality wherein

and earth overflows with bounty if he grants leave.

Generosity flows openly like hoarded treasure.

صَرَّحَت أَخلاقُهُ عَن شيمَةٍ

صَرَّحَت أَخلاقُهُ عَن شيمَةٍ

يَهَبُ السُؤدُدُ فيها ما اختَزَن

يَهَبُ السُؤدُدُ فيها ما اختَزَن

His character has revealed a disposition

It was not made incomplete by the attribute of generosity,

in which nobility gives all it has stored.

Nor the death of the coveter, even if it were wished for.

لَم تَحُزها صِفَةُ المُطري وَلا

لَم تَحُزها صِفَةُ المُطري وَلا

مُنيَةُ الراغِبِ لَو قيلَ تَمَنّ

مُنيَةُ الراغِبِ لَو قيلَ تَمَنّ

Neither the flatterer's description has encompassed it, nor

If you waited to find one like him,

the seeker's wish, were he told, 'Wish.'

You would be like one waiting for a time that has not come.

لَو تَرَقَّبَت لِتَلقى مِثلَهُ

لَو تَرَقَّبَت لِتَلقى مِثلَهُ

كُنتَ كَالراقِبِ وَقتاً لَم يَحِن

كُنتَ كَالراقِبِ وَقتاً لَم يَحِن

If you waited to encounter his like,

He guaranteed deliverance to mankind, and did not fail them

you would be like one awaiting a time not yet due.

Like the guardian of the faith who fulfilled what he guaranteed.

ضَمِنَ البِشرَ فَلَم يَلطِط بِهِ

ضَمِنَ البِشرَ فَلَم يَلطِط بِهِ

كَزَعيمِ الدَينِ أَدى ما ضَمِن

كَزَعيمِ الدَينِ أَدى ما ضَمِن

He pledged a cheerful welcome and did not renege on it;

No sooner did the enemies move

like a debt's guarantor, he paid what he pledged.

Than the steeds brought news of the fortress,

ما انتَهى الأَعداءُ حَتّى ناقَلَت

ما انتَهى الأَعداءُ حَتّى ناقَلَت

حُصُنُ الخَيلِ بِأَنباءِ الحُصُن

حُصُنُ الخَيلِ بِأَنباءِ الحُصُن

The enemies did not desist until there sped

Whenever war intensified for them, they recoiled,

the stallions, bearing tidings of the fortresses.

Stained with what they trampled crimson.

كُلَّما احمَرَّ لَها البَأسُ ثَنَت

كُلَّما احمَرَّ لَها البَأسُ ثَنَت

وَهِيَ مِمّا وَطِئَت حُمرُ الثُنَن

وَهِيَ مِمّا وَطِئَت حُمرُ الثُنَن

Whenever battle reddened before them, they wheeled back,

He pacified the disturbance in Baghdad, though

their fetlock-hairs red from what they had trampled.

The regions were in tumult and now are still.

سَكَّنَت مِن شَغبِ بَغدادَ وَقَد

سَكَّنَت مِن شَغبِ بَغدادَ وَقَد

كانَ جَيّاشَ النَواحي فَسَكَن

كانَ جَيّاشَ النَواحي فَسَكَن

They quelled Baghdad's turmoil, though it had

Against the houses of Khafân, though

seethed on every side, then grew calm.

Distrust had replaced what was expected.

وَعَلى داراتِ خَفّانَ وَقَد

وَعَلى داراتِ خَفّانَ وَقَد

أَخلَفَ الهَيصَمُ ما كانَ يُظَنّ

أَخلَفَ الهَيصَمُ ما كانَ يُظَنّ

And across Khaffan's circular clearings, when

With famous, wondrous swords

al-Haysam had belied what had been expected,

That do not spare the mind from madness.

شاهِراتٍ خَلفَهُ مَأثورَةً

شاهِراتٍ خَلفَهُ مَأثورَةً

مِن سُيوفٍ ما تَقِيَ مِنها الجُنَن

مِن سُيوفٍ ما تَقِيَ مِنها الجُنَن

brandishing behind him patterned blades,

He left the rural areas and sought

swords against which shields provide no defense.

Refuge for Anbâr in its canebrakes.

تَرَكَ الريفَ وَعَلّى يَبتَغي

تَرَكَ الريفَ وَعَلّى يَبتَغي

في أَبانَينَ عِياذاً وَقَطَن

في أَبانَينَ عِياذاً وَقَطَن

He left the cultivated land and went uphill, seeking

He reckons the viper’s abode the army’s might,

refuge in the two Abans and Qatan.

And one whom the serpent bites startles him.

يَحسِبُ الأَرطى زُها الجَيشِ وَمَن

يَحسِبُ الأَرطى زُها الجَيشِ وَمَن

تَنهَشِ الحَيَّةُ يُفزِعُهُ الرَسَن

تَنهَشِ الحَيَّةُ يُفزِعُهُ الرَسَن

He takes the arta shrubs for the army's ranks; and one whom

Had he resumed wisdom, he would have appealed

a snake has bitten is frightened by a halter-rope.

To gracious clemency when shown clemency.

وَلَو استَأنَفَ رُشداً لاطَّبى

وَلَو استَأنَفَ رُشداً لاطَّبى

عَطفَ مَنّانٍ إِذا استُعطِفَ مَنّ

عَطفَ مَنّانٍ إِذا استُعطِفَ مَنّ

And if he resumed sound judgment, he would win

With two right hands that confer prosperity,

the compassion of a giver who grants favors when implored,

And white hands are meet for generous hands.

بِيَمينَينِ تُفيدانِ الغِنى

بِيَمينَينِ تُفيدانِ الغِنى

وَالأَيادي البيضُ لِلأَيدي اليُمُن

وَالأَيادي البيضُ لِلأَيدي اليُمُن

with two right hands that bestow wealth,

Wherever the tribes asked him to stop

and bright benefactions belong to right hands.

His aloofness with words, they found him genteel.

أَينَما استَنزَلَهُ الأَقوامُ عَن

أَينَما استَنزَلَهُ الأَقوامُ عَن

وَفرِهِ بِالقَولِ أَلفَوهُ أُذُن

وَفرِهِ بِالقَولِ أَلفَوهُ أُذُن

Wherever people urge him to part with

The palms of munificence are always ready

his wealth through their words, they find him all ears.

When the companion of bounty begins to bestow.

تَتَأَيّا بَغَتاتِ الجودِ مِن

تَتَأَيّا بَغَتاتِ الجودِ مِن

رادِفِ النُعمى مَتى يَبدَأُ يُثَنّ

رادِفِ النُعمى مَتى يَبدَأُ يُثَنّ

You await sudden bursts of generosity from

What day after (another) day has failed

one who adds boon to boon; whenever he begins, he gives again.

To perform a kindness after a kindness?

أَيَّ يَومٍ بَعدَ يَومٍ لَم يُعِد

أَيَّ يَومٍ بَعدَ يَومٍ لَم يُعِد

حَسَناً مِن فِعلِهِ بَعدَ حَسَن

حَسَناً مِن فِعلِهِ بَعدَ حَسَن

On what day, following another, has he failed to repeat

a fine deed of his after another fine deed?