ضَمانٌ عَلى عَينَيكِ أَنِّيَ لا أَسلو

ضَمانٌ عَلى عَينَيكِ أَنِّيَ لا أَسلو

وَأَنَّ فُؤادي مِن جَوىً بِكِ لا يَخلو

وَأَنَّ فُؤادي مِن جَوىً بِكِ لا يَخلو

Your eyes stand surety that I shall never forget my love,

I pledge to you that my eyes do not sleep,

and that my heart is never free of burning heartache for you.

And that my heart is never devoid of passion for you.

وَلَو شِئتِ يَومَ الجِزعِ بَلَّ غَليلَهُ

وَلَو شِئتِ يَومَ الجِزعِ بَلَّ غَليلَهُ

مُحِبٌّ بِوَصلٍ مِنكِ إِن أَمكَنَ الوَصلُ

مُحِبٌّ بِوَصلٍ مِنكِ إِن أَمكَنَ الوَصلُ

Had you wished, on the day at the valley bend, his burning thirst would have been quenched—

And if you wished, you could on the day of distress, alleviate his illness,

a lover's—through union with you, if union were possible.

A lover seeking union with you, if union were possible.

أَلا إِنَّ وِرداً لَو يُذادُ بِهِ الصَدى

أَلا إِنَّ وِرداً لَو يُذادُ بِهِ الصَدى

وَإِنَّ شِفاءً لَو يُصابُ بِهِ الخَبلُ

وَإِنَّ شِفاءً لَو يُصابُ بِهِ الخَبلُ

Ah, a draught—if only it could drive away thirst!

Indeed a lover whose yearning might be chased away,

And a cure—if only it could remedy madness!

And indeed a remedy that might cure madness.

وَما النائِلُ المَطلوبُ مِنكِ بِمُعوِزٍ

وَما النائِلُ المَطلوبُ مِنكِ بِمُعوِزٍ

لَدَيكِ بَلِ الإِسعافُ يُعوِزُ وَالبَذلُ

لَدَيكِ بَلِ الإِسعافُ يُعوِزُ وَالبَذلُ

The bounty sought from you is not lacking

The seeker of your favor is not in want before you,

in your possession; rather, help and giving are lacking.

Rather bounty is in want and generosity indebted.

أَطاعَ لَها دَلٌّ غَريرٌ وَواضِحٌ

أَطاعَ لَها دَلٌّ غَريرٌ وَواضِحٌ

شَتيتٌ وَقَدٌّ مُرهَفٌ وَشَواً خَدلُ

شَتيتٌ وَقَدٌّ مُرهَفٌ وَشَواً خَدلُ

At her command were artless coquetry and bright teeth,

Yielding to it is an alluring, clear guide,

well spaced, a slender figure, and full limbs.

Distracted yet focused, tender yet firm.

وَأَلحاظُ عَينٍ ما عَلِقنَ بِفارِغٍ

وَأَلحاظُ عَينٍ ما عَلِقنَ بِفارِغٍ

فَخَلَّينَهُ حَتّى يَكونَ لَهُ شُغلُ

فَخَلَّينَهُ حَتّى يَكونَ لَهُ شُغلُ

And glances from an eye that never fastened on a carefree man

And glances of an eye that did not cling to empty spaces,

and let him go before he had a care.

So we left it until it would be preoccupied.

وَعِندِيَ أَحشاءٌ تُشاقُ صَبابَةً

وَعِندِيَ أَحشاءٌ تُشاقُ صَبابَةً

إِلَيها وَقَلبٌ مِن هَوى غَيرِها غُفلُ

إِلَيها وَقَلبٌ مِن هَوى غَيرِها غُفلُ

And within me are depths drawn by passionate yearning

And I have an inner self that yearns intensely

toward her, and a heart untouched by love for another.

For it while the heart is heedless in passion for other than it.

وَما باعَدَ النَأيُ المَسافَةَ بَينَنا

وَما باعَدَ النَأيُ المَسافَةَ بَينَنا

فَيُفرِطَ شَوقٌ في الجَوانِحِ أَو يَغلو

فَيُفرِطَ شَوقٌ في الجَوانِحِ أَو يَغلو

Distance has not widened the space between us

And distance did not increase the distance between us,

so that longing within my ribs should grow excessive or fierce.

Nor did passion flow unrestrained in my core, or exceed.

عَلى أَنَّ هِجرانَ الحَبيبِ هُوَ النَوى

عَلى أَنَّ هِجرانَ الحَبيبِ هُوَ النَوى

أَشَتَّت وَعِرفانَ المَشيبِ هُوَ العَذلُ

أَشَتَّت وَعِرفانَ المَشيبِ هُوَ العَذلُ

Yet abandonment by the beloved is separation itself,

For the estrangement of the beloved is aimless wandering,

most divisive; and recognizing gray hair is itself reproach.

And knowing the effects of old age is senility.

عَدِمتُ الغَواني كَيفَ يُعطَينَ لِلصِبا

عَدِمتُ الغَواني كَيفَ يُعطَينَ لِلصِبا

مَحاسِنَ أَسماءٍ يُخالِفُها الفِعلُ

مَحاسِنَ أَسماءٍ يُخالِفُها الفِعلُ

May I be rid of the beauties! How are they given, for youthful passion,

I have found the youth addressed with names,

lovely names that their conduct contradicts?

Beautiful in name but contradicted by deeds.

فَنُعمٌ وَلَم تُنعِم بِنَيلٍ نَعُدُّهُ

فَنُعمٌ وَلَم تُنعِم بِنَيلٍ نَعُدُّهُ

وَجُملٌ وَلَم تُجمِل بِعارِفَةٍ جُملُ

وَجُملٌ وَلَم تُجمِل بِعارِفَةٍ جُملُ

There is Nu'm, yet she has granted no boon we can count,

Favors but did not favor with any gains we would count,

and Juml—yet Juml has shown no gracious favor.

Beauties but did not beautify with true knowledge of beauty.

عَقَلتُ فَوَدَّعتُ التَصابي وَإِنَّما

عَقَلتُ فَوَدَّعتُ التَصابي وَإِنَّما

تَصَرُّمُ لَهوِ المَرءِ أَن يَكمُلَ العَقلُ

تَصَرُّمُ لَهوِ المَرءِ أَن يَكمُلَ العَقلُ

I grew wise and bade farewell to youthful dalliance; indeed,

I gained wisdom and so bid farewell to madness,

a man's pleasures end only when his reason is complete.

For the perfection of reason is to resist the foolhardiness of man.

أَرى الحِلمَ بُؤسى في المَعيشَةِ لِلفَتى

أَرى الحِلمَ بُؤسى في المَعيشَةِ لِلفَتى

وَلا عَيشَ إِلّا ما حَباكَ بِهِ الجَهلُ

وَلا عَيشَ إِلّا ما حَباكَ بِهِ الجَهلُ

I see prudence as misery in a young man's life,

I see forbearance as misery in the life of a youth,

and there is no life but what folly grants you.

And no life except what ignorance has granted you with madness.

بَني تَغلِبٍ أَعزَز عَلَيَّ بِأَن أَرى

بَني تَغلِبٍ أَعزَز عَلَيَّ بِأَن أَرى

دِيارَكُمُ أَمسَت وَلَيسَ لَها أَهلُ

دِيارَكُمُ أَمسَت وَلَيسَ لَها أَهلُ

Sons of Taghlib, how grievous it is to me to see

O clan of Taghlib, it honors me to see

your dwellings left without inhabitants!

Your dwellings become desolate with no inhabitants.

خَلَت بَلَدٌ مِن ساكِنيها وَأَوحَشَت

خَلَت بَلَدٌ مِن ساكِنيها وَأَوحَشَت

مَرابِعُ مِن سِنجارَ يَهمي بِها الوَبلُ

مَرابِعُ مِن سِنجارَ يَهمي بِها الوَبلُ

Balad is emptied of its inhabitants, and desolate stand

A land emptied of its inhabitants and deserted

the camping grounds of Sinjar, where heavy rain pours down.

Of encampments, with desolation howling through it.

وَأَزعَجَ أَهلَ المَحلَبِيّاتِ ناجِزٌ

وَأَزعَجَ أَهلَ المَحلَبِيّاتِ ناجِزٌ

مِنَ الحَربِ ما فيهِ خِداعٌ وَلا هَزلُ

مِنَ الحَربِ ما فيهِ خِداعٌ وَلا هَزلُ

And the people of al-Mahlabiyyat were driven out by decisive

And a formidable attacker disquieted the people of meadows

war, with neither deception nor jest in it.

With a war containing no jest or frivolity.

وَأَقوَت مِنَ القَمقامِ أَعراصُ مارِدٍ

وَأَقوَت مِنَ القَمقامِ أَعراصُ مارِدٍ

فَما ضُمِنَت تِلكَ الأَعِقَّةُ وَالرَملُ

فَما ضُمِنَت تِلكَ الأَعِقَّةُ وَالرَملُ

And Marid's courtyards at al-Qamqam stand deserted,

And the cliffs of a towering rebel were set ablaze

as does all that those ravines and sands contained.

By the fires of battle, unrestrained over the dunes.

أَفي كُلِّ يَومِ فِرقَةٌ مِن جَميعِكُم

أَفي كُلِّ يَومِ فِرقَةٌ مِن جَميعِكُم

تَبيدُ وَدارٌ مِن مَجامِعِكُم تَخلو

تَبيدُ وَدارٌ مِن مَجامِعِكُم تَخلو

Is it every day that a band from among you

Is it that every day a band of all of you

perishes, and a dwelling among your gathering places stands empty?

Perish, and a house of your assemblies lies empty?

مَصارِعُ بَغيٍ تابَعَ الظُلمُ بَينَها

مَصارِعُ بَغيٍ تابَعَ الظُلمُ بَينَها

بِساعَةِ عِزٍّ كانَ آخِرَهُ الذُلُّ

بِساعَةِ عِزٍّ كانَ آخِرَهُ الذُلُّ

Death-sites of aggression, injustice making one follow another,

Battlefields of aggression whose injustice between them

through an hour of glory whose end was abasement.

In an instant of glory concluded with humiliation.

إِذا ما اِلتَقَوا يَومَ الهِياجِ تَحاجَزَوا

إِذا ما اِلتَقَوا يَومَ الهِياجِ تَحاجَزَوا

وَلِلمَوتِ فيما بَينَهُم قِسمَةٌ عَدلُ

وَلِلمَوتِ فيما بَينَهُم قِسمَةٌ عَدلُ

Whenever they met on the day of battle, they drew apart,

When they met on a day of fury they were averse,

and death's portion among them was evenly divided.

And in their midst death had a fair share.

غَدَوا عُصبَتَي وِردٍ سِجالُهُما الرَدى

غَدَوا عُصبَتَي وِردٍ سِجالُهُما الرَدى

فَفي هَذِهِ سَجلٌ وَفي هَذِهِ سَجلُ

فَفي هَذِهِ سَجلٌ وَفي هَذِهِ سَجلُ

They became two bands at a watering-place, their exchanged buckets death:

The two bands set out at dawn, their rejection cruelty,

a bucketful for this band, and a bucketful for that.

So in this, a register, and in that, a register.

إِذا كانَ قَرضٌ مِن دَمِ عِندَ مَعشَرٍ

إِذا كانَ قَرضٌ مِن دَمِ عِندَ مَعشَرٍ

فَلا خَلَفٌ في أَن يُؤَدّى وَلا مَطلُ

فَلا خَلَفٌ في أَن يُؤَدّى وَلا مَطلُ

If a debt of blood is owed among a people,

When there is a debt owed among a people

there is no default in its repayment, and no delay.

It will be repaid, no procrastination or delay.

كَفِيٌّ مِنَ الأَحياءِ لاقى كَفِيَّهُ

كَفِيٌّ مِنَ الأَحياءِ لاقى كَفِيَّهُ

وَمِثلٌ مِنَ الأَقوامِ زاحِفَهُ مِثلُ

وَمِثلٌ مِنَ الأَقوامِ زاحِفَهُ مِثلُ

A worthy man from one tribe met his match,

The living have met their match,

and an equal among the peoples was assailed by an equal.

And the exemplars, their similitude creeps up to match them.

إِذا ما أَخٌ جَرَّ الرِماحَ انبَرى لَهُ

إِذا ما أَخٌ جَرَّ الرِماحَ انبَرى لَهُ

أَخٌ لا بَليدٌ في الطِعانِ وَلا وَغلُ

أَخٌ لا بَليدٌ في الطِعانِ وَلا وَغلُ

Whenever a brother trailed his spears, there rose against him

When a brother dragged his spear,

a brother neither dull in spear-fighting nor an intruder.

A brother leapt forth, neither slow in piercing nor burdened.

تَحُثُّهُمُ البيضُ الرِقاقُ وَضُمَّرٌ

تَحُثُّهُمُ البيضُ الرِقاقُ وَضُمَّرٌ

عِتاقٌ وَأَحسابٌ بِها يُدرَكُ التَبلُ

عِتاقٌ وَأَحسابٌ بِها يُدرَكُ التَبلُ

Slender, bright swords urge them on, and lean steeds,

They are roused by white banners and a gloomy resolve,

purebred, and ancestral honors through which vengeance is secured.

Freed captives, and accounts by which one reaches maturity.

وَما المَوتُ إِلّا أَن تُشاهِدَ ساعَةً

وَما المَوتُ إِلّا أَن تُشاهِدَ ساعَةً

فَوارِسَهُم في مَأزِقٍ وَهُمُ رَجلُ

فَوارِسَهُم في مَأزِقٍ وَهُمُ رَجلُ

Death is simply to watch, for a single hour,

Death is but to witness an hour

their horsemen in a cramped melee, on foot,

When their horsemen are trapped and they are on foot.

بِطَعنٍ يَكُبُّ الدارِعينَ دِراكُهُ

بِطَعنٍ يَكُبُّ الدارِعينَ دِراكُهُ

وَضَربٍ كَما تَرغو المُخَزَّمَةُ البُزلُ

وَضَربٍ كَما تَرغو المُخَزَّمَةُ البُزلُ

with thrusts whose quick succession topples armored men,

With a stab whose blow fells the armored,

and blows like the bellowing of nose-ringed, full-grown camels.

And a blow that spills guts like a water skin.

يُهالُ الغُلامُ الغَمرُ حَتّى يَرُدَّهُ

يُهالُ الغُلامُ الغَمرُ حَتّى يَرُدَّهُ

عَلى الهَولِ مِن مَكروهِها الأَشيَبُ الكَهلُ

عَلى الهَولِ مِن مَكروهِها الأَشيَبُ الكَهلُ

The inexperienced youth is terrified, until he is driven back

The young lad bears the hardship until

into the horror of battle's hardships by the gray-haired elder.

The gray elders turn him back from its horrors.

تَجافى أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ عَنِ الَّتي

تَجافى أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ عَنِ الَّتي

أَتَيتُم وَلِلجانينَ في مِثلِها الثُكلُ

أَتَيتُم وَلِلجانينَ في مِثلِها الثُكلُ

The Commander of the Faithful overlooked the deed

The Commander of the Faithful has turned away from she

you committed, though such deeds bring bereavement to their perpetrators.

Whom you came to, while for the guilty in the like of it is loss.

وَعادَ عَلَيكُم مُنعِماً بِفَواضِلٍ

وَعادَ عَلَيكُم مُنعِماً بِفَواضِلٍ

أَتَت وَأَميرُ المُؤمِنينَ لَها أَهلُ

أَتَت وَأَميرُ المُؤمِنينَ لَها أَهلُ

And he turned back to you, bestowing abundant favors

And he returned bestowing bounties upon you

that came from one worthy of them—the Commander of the Faithful.

With merits that came while he was their rightful guardian.

وَكانَت يَدُ الفَتحِ بنِ خاقانَ عِندَكُم

وَكانَت يَدُ الفَتحِ بنِ خاقانَ عِندَكُم

يَدَ الغَيثِ عِندَ الأَرضِ حَرَّقَها المَحلُ

يَدَ الغَيثِ عِندَ الأَرضِ حَرَّقَها المَحلُ

And the hand of al-Fath ibn Khaqan toward you was

In your presence the hand of conquest of Khagan's son

the hand of rain upon a land scorched by drought.

Was like the rain's hand to the scorched earth.

وَلَولاهُ طُلَّت بِالعُقوقِ دِماأُكُم

وَلَولاهُ طُلَّت بِالعُقوقِ دِماأُكُم

فَلا قَوَدٌ يُعطى الأَذَلُّ وَلا عَقلُ

فَلا قَوَدٌ يُعطى الأَذَلُّ وَلا عَقلُ

Were it not for him, your blood would have gone unavenged for your disobedience,

Were it not for him, your blood would have been shed in defiance,

for the abased receive neither retaliation nor blood-money.

No blood money given for the lowly or the wise.

تَلافَيتَ يا فَتحَ الأَراقِمَ بَعدَما

تَلافَيتَ يا فَتحَ الأَراقِمَ بَعدَما

سَقاهُم بِأَوحى سُمِّهِ الأَرقَمُ الصِلُّ

سَقاهُم بِأَوحى سُمِّهِ الأَرقَمُ الصِلُّ

You rescued al-Araqim, O Fath, after

O Fatah, you followed the wounds with remedies,

the spotted viper had made them drink its fastest-acting venom.

After poisoning them with the deadly venom of arrows.

وَهَبتَ لَهُم بِالسِلمِ باقي نُفوسِهِمُ

وَهَبتَ لَهُم بِالسِلمِ باقي نُفوسِهِمُ

وَقَد شارَفوا أَن يَستَتِمَّهُمُ القَتلُ

وَقَد شارَفوا أَن يَستَتِمَّهُمُ القَتلُ

Through peace you granted them their remaining lives,

You granted them the remainder of their lives through peace

when slaughter was on the verge of finishing them all.

Though killing had almost finished them entirely.

أَتَوكَ وُفودَ الشُكرِ يُثنونَ بِالَّذي

أَتَوكَ وُفودَ الشُكرِ يُثنونَ بِالَّذي

تَقَدَّمَ مِن نُعماكَ عِندَهُمُ قَبلُ

تَقَدَّمَ مِن نُعماكَ عِندَهُمُ قَبلُ

They came to you as envoys of gratitude, praising

Delegations of gratitude came to you praising

the favors you had bestowed upon them before.

What blessings of yours preceded for them before.

فَلَم أَرَ يَوماً كانَ أَكثَرَ سُؤدُداً

فَلَم أَرَ يَوماً كانَ أَكثَرَ سُؤدُداً

مِنَ اليَومِ ضَمَّتهُم إِلى بابِكَ السُبلُ

مِنَ اليَومِ ضَمَّتهُم إِلى بابِكَ السُبلُ

I have seen no day more full of lordly honor

Never have I seen a day more crowded

than the day when the roads brought them to your door.

Than this day with paths leading them to your court.

تَراءَوكَ مِن أَقصى السَماطِ فَقَصَّروا

تَراءَوكَ مِن أَقصى السَماطِ فَقَصَّروا

خُطاهُم وَقَد جازوا السَتورَ وَهُم عُجلُ

خُطاهُم وَقَد جازوا السَتورَ وَهُم عُجلُ

They saw you from the far end of the ranks and shortened

You could see them from the outskirts of Samarra,

their steps, though they had passed the curtains in haste.

Their steps hurried though they had crossed the plain walking.

فَلَمّا قَضَوا صَدرَ السِماطِ تَهافَتوا

فَلَمّا قَضَوا صَدرَ السِماطِ تَهافَتوا

عَلى يَدِ بَسّامٍ سَجِيَّتُهُ البَذلُ

عَلى يَدِ بَسّامٍ سَجِيَّتُهُ البَذلُ

When they reached the head of the ranks, they rushed

When they traversed Samarra and converged,

to the hand of a smiling man whose nature is generosity.

Upon a smiling hand whose nature is generosity.

إِذا شَرَعوا في خُطبَةٍ قَطَعَتهُمُ

إِذا شَرَعوا في خُطبَةٍ قَطَعَتهُمُ

جَلالَةُ طَلقِ الوَجهِ جانِبُهُ سَهلُ

جَلالَةُ طَلقِ الوَجهِ جانِبُهُ سَهلُ

Whenever they began a speech, they were interrupted by

When they began a speech, the splendor

the majesty of one cheerful of face and easy to approach.

Of the radiance of your face's aspect distracted them.

إِذا نَكَسوا أَبصارَهُم مِن مَهابَةٍ

إِذا نَكَسوا أَبصارَهُم مِن مَهابَةٍ

وَمالوا بِلَحظٍ خِلتَ أَنَّهُمُ قُبلُ

وَمالوا بِلَحظٍ خِلتَ أَنَّهُمُ قُبلُ

When they lowered their eyes in awe

When they averted their gaze in awe

and tilted a glance, you would think they were cross-eyed.

And turned with a glance, you would think them facing you before.

نَصَبتَ لَهُم طَرفاً حَديداً وَمَنطِقاً

نَصَبتَ لَهُم طَرفاً حَديداً وَمَنطِقاً

سَديداً وَرَأياً مِثلَ ما اِنتُضِيَ النَصلُ

سَديداً وَرَأياً مِثلَ ما اِنتُضِيَ النَصلُ

You met them with a keen gaze and speech

You set for them a piercing gaze, an eloquent tongue,

that was sound, and judgment like an unsheathed blade.

And a sound opinion like an unsheathed blade.

وَسَلَّ سَخيماتِ الصُدورِ فَعالُكَ ال

وَسَلَّ سَخيماتِ الصُدورِ فَعالُكَ ال

جَميلُ وَأَبرا غِلَّها قَولُكَ الفَصلُ

جَميلُ وَأَبرا غِلَّها قَولُكَ الفَصلُ

And your deeds drew out the grudges in their breasts—

It probed the diseases of their chests, so your doing

beautiful deeds—and your decisive words healed their rancor.

Is beautiful, and the finest remedy for their malice, your decisive words.

فَما بَرَحوا حَتّى تَعاطَت أَكُفُّهُم

فَما بَرَحوا حَتّى تَعاطَت أَكُفُّهُم

قِراكَ فَلا ضِغنٌ لَدَيهِم وَلا ذَحلُ

قِراكَ فَلا ضِغنٌ لَدَيهِم وَلا ذَحلُ

They did not leave until their hands had received

They did not stop until their palms

your hospitality; no resentment or blood feud remained among them.

Took your charity, neither stingy nor lacking.

وَجَرّوا بُرودَ العَصبِ تَضفو ذُيولُها

وَجَرّوا بُرودَ العَصبِ تَضفو ذُيولُها

عَطاءَ جَوادٍ ما تَكاءَدَهُ البُخلُ

عَطاءَ جَوادٍ ما تَكاءَدَهُ البُخلُ

And they trailed striped cloaks, their hems flowing long,

They dragged the coolness of fresh vines, their trailing hems

the gift of a generous man never burdened by miserliness.

Bestowing gifts of a generous one whom greed has never spoiled.

وَما عَمَّهُم عَمرُو بنُ غَنمٍ بِنِسبَةٍ

وَما عَمَّهُم عَمرُو بنُ غَنمٍ بِنِسبَةٍ

كَما عَمَّهُم بِالأَمسِ نائِلُكَ الجَزلُ

كَما عَمَّهُم بِالأَمسِ نائِلُكَ الجَزلُ

Nor did 'Amr ibn Ghanm encompass them all through kinship

Amr ibn Ghanm did not generalize against them

as your abundant bounty encompassed them yesterday.

As your grant did yesterday in favor.

بِكَ التَأَمَ الشَعبُ الَّذي كانَ بَينَهُم

بِكَ التَأَمَ الشَعبُ الَّذي كانَ بَينَهُم

عَلى حينِ بُعدٍ مِنهُ وَاِجتَمَعَ الشَملُ

عَلى حينِ بُعدٍ مِنهُ وَاِجتَمَعَ الشَملُ

Through you the rift that lay between them was healed,

Through you the common people became united

when that had seemed far off, and their company was reunited.

When once estranged from them and separated.

فَمَهما رَأَوا مِن غِبطَةٍ في اِصطِلاحِهِم

فَمَهما رَأَوا مِن غِبطَةٍ في اِصطِلاحِهِم

فَمِنكَ بِها النُعمى جَرَت وَلَكَ الفَضا

فَمِنكَ بِها النُعمى جَرَت وَلَكَ الفَضا

Whatever happiness they find in their reconciliation,

So whatever delight they saw in their reconciliation

its blessing has flowed from you, and yours is the merit [final word incomplete].

Is from your bounty flowing, and to you belongs grace.