تَقَضّى الصِبا إِلّا تَلَوُّمَ راحِلِ

تَقَضّى الصِبا إِلّا تَلَوُّمَ راحِلِ

وَأَغنى المَشيبُ عَن مَلامِ العَواذِلِ

وَأَغنى المَشيبُ عَن مَلامِ العَواذِلِ

Youth has passed, save a departing traveler's lingering;

Youth passed by leaving only remorse of a traveller,

and gray hair has made the reproving women's reproaches needless.

And old age made me careless of blames from the censurers.

وَتَأبى صُروفُ الدَهرِ سوداً شُخوصُها

وَتَأبى صُروفُ الدَهرِ سوداً شُخوصُها

عَلى البيضِ أَن يَحظَينَ مِنّي بِطائِلِ

عَلى البيضِ أَن يَحظَينَ مِنّي بِطائِلِ

And fate's reversals, black in their looming forms, forbid

The turns of fate refused favours to the white

fair women to gain any favor from me.

From me over the black although due to my merit.

يُحاوِلنَ مِنّي صَبوَةً وَأَخالُني

يُحاوِلنَ مِنّي صَبوَةً وَأَخالُني

أَخا شُغُلٍ عَمّا يُحاوِلنَ شاغِلِ

أَخا شُغُلٍ عَمّا يُحاوِلنَ شاغِلِ

They seek youthful longing from me, and I think myself

They seek my affection while I think them

held by a concern that keeps me from what they seek.

Too trifling for the anxieties they inflict.

رَمِيُّ رَزايا صائِباتٍ كَأَنَّني

رَمِيُّ رَزايا صائِباتٍ كَأَنَّني

لِما أَشتَكي مِنها رَميُّ جَنادِلِ

لِما أَشتَكي مِنها رَميُّ جَنادِلِ

A target of calamities that strike true, I seem,

My arrows of calamities hit them as though,

from the pain they cause me, a target of boulders.

When I complain of them, I shoot skinny arrows.

أَعُدُّ أَجَلَّ النائِباتِ فَجيعَةً

أَعُدُّ أَجَلَّ النائِباتِ فَجيعَةً

وَفورَ الرَزايا وَاِنثِلامَ الأَماثِلِ

وَفورَ الرَزايا وَاِنثِلامَ الأَماثِلِ

I count as the most grievous of calamities

I count the death of my beloved ones the greatest loss,

the mounting of misfortunes and the loss of the noblest men.

And overflow of disasters and breaking of similar things.

أَعَن دُوَلٍ في العُصبَتَينِ تَعاقَبَت

أَعَن دُوَلٍ في العُصبَتَينِ تَعاقَبَت

فَما نَقَّلُ الحالاتِ نَقلَ التَداوُلِ

فَما نَقَّلُ الحالاتِ نَقلَ التَداوُلِ

Is this from turns of fortune that alternated between the two bands?

About nations who alternately dominated;

For shifting circumstances is not an exchange of turns.

Transfer of conditions does not mean change of times.

وَلَولا اِهتِمامي بِالعُلا وَاِنعِكاسِها

وَلَولا اِهتِمامي بِالعُلا وَاِنعِكاسِها

لَما اِرتَعتُ ذُعراً مِن تَعَلّي الأَسافِلِ

لَما اِرتَعتُ ذُعراً مِن تَعَلّي الأَسافِلِ

Were it not for my concern for eminence and its overturning,

Had I not been concerned with the sublime and its effects,

I would not recoil in terror at the rise of the base.

I would have dreaded the rising of the lowly.

أَما قائِلٌ لِلشاهِ وَالشاهُ غُرَّةٌ

أَما قائِلٌ لِلشاهِ وَالشاهُ غُرَّةٌ

مُخَبِّرَةٌ عَن مُلكِ غَرشٍ وَكابُلِ

مُخَبِّرَةٌ عَن مُلكِ غَرشٍ وَكابُلِ

Is there no one to tell the Shah—the Shah, a radiant brow,

Who can say to the Shah while the Shah is self-conceited

proclaiming the dominion of Gharsh and Kabul—

Informing him about the kingdom of Gharsh and Kabul?

أَطِل جَفوَةَ الدُنيا وَتَهوينَ شَأنِها

أَطِل جَفوَةَ الدُنيا وَتَهوينَ شَأنِها

فَما العاقِلُ المَغرورُ مِنها بِعاقِلِ

فَما العاقِلُ المَغرورُ مِنها بِعاقِلِ

to remain long estranged from the world and belittle its worth?

Disdain the baseness of the world and think it low,

For the wise man beguiled by it is no wise man.

For the deluded wise man is not wise.

يُرَجّي الخُلودَ مَعشَرٌ ضَلَّ سَعيُهُم

يُرَجّي الخُلودَ مَعشَرٌ ضَلَّ سَعيُهُم

وَدونَ الَّذي يَرجونَ غَولُ الغَواءِ

وَدونَ الَّذي يَرجونَ غَولُ الغَواءِ

A company whose striving has gone astray hopes for immortality,

Some whose efforts went wrong seek eternity

yet the devastation of delusion lies before what they hope for.

While beyond what they seek is maze of delusion.

وَلَيسَ الأَماني في البَقاءِ وَإِن مَضَت

وَلَيسَ الأَماني في البَقاءِ وَإِن مَضَت

بِها عادَةٌ إِلّا أَحاديثُ باطِلِ

بِها عادَةٌ إِلّا أَحاديثُ باطِلِ

And hopes of living on, though sustained

Habits of survival are mere absurd talk

by custom, are nothing but tales of falsehood.

Not hopes for real stability.

إِذا ما حَريزُ القَومِ باتَ وَما لَهُ

إِذا ما حَريزُ القَومِ باتَ وَما لَهُ

مِنَ اللَهِ واقٍ فَهوَ بادي المَقاتِلِ

مِنَ اللَهِ واقٍ فَهوَ بادي المَقاتِلِ

When a people's well-guarded man spends the night with no

When a people's caution disappears and they have nothing

protector from God, his vital parts lie bare.

To protect them, then ruin overtakes fighters.

وَما المُفلِتونَ أَجمَلَ الدَهرُ فيحِمِ

وَما المُفلِتونَ أَجمَلَ الدَهرُ فيحِمِ

بِأَكثَرَ مِن أَعدادِ مَن في الحَبائِلِ

بِأَكثَرَ مِن أَعدادِ مَن في الحَبائِلِ

And those who escape, whom time has treated kindly,

Fortune did not favour more than the number

are no more numerous than those caught in the snares.

Of those already in its coils.

يُسارُ بِنا قَصدَ المَنونِ وَإِنَّنا

يُسارُ بِنا قَصدَ المَنونِ وَإِنَّنا

لَنَشعَفُ أَحياناً بِطَيِّ المَراحِلِ

لَنَشعَفُ أَحياناً بِطَيِّ المَراحِلِ

We are led toward death, and indeed we

Fate takes us towards death though we may,

sometimes delight in folding up the journey's stages;

Sometimes go slowly on that path.

عِجالاً مِنَ الدُنيا بِأَسرَعِ سَعيِنا

عِجالاً مِنَ الدُنيا بِأَسرَعِ سَعيِنا

إِلى آجِلٍ مِنها شَبيهٍ بِعاجِلِ

إِلى آجِلٍ مِنها شَبيهٍ بِعاجِلِ

hurrying from the world with our swiftest striving,

Quickly from the world, our aim is

toward its future, which resembles its present.

A fixed term soon to arrive.

أَواخِرُ مِن عَيشٍ إِذا ما اِمتَحَنتَها

أَواخِرُ مِن عَيشٍ إِذا ما اِمتَحَنتَها

تَأَمَّلتَ أَمثالاً لَها في الأَوائِلِ

تَأَمَّلتَ أَمثالاً لَها في الأَوائِلِ

The later days of life, if you examine them,

The last part of life, if examined,

you will discern their likenesses in its beginnings.

Resembles the first in examples.

وَما عامُكَ الماضي وَإِن أَفرَطَت بِهِ

وَما عامُكَ الماضي وَإِن أَفرَطَت بِهِ

عَجائِبُهُ إِلّا أَخو عامِ قابِلِ

عَجائِبُهُ إِلّا أَخو عامِ قابِلِ

And your past year, however extravagant

Last year, however extraordinary its marvels,

its wonders, is only the brother of the year to come.

Was but a brother to the next year.

غَفَلنا عَنِ الأَيّامِ أَطوَعَ غَفلَةِ

غَفَلنا عَنِ الأَيّامِ أَطوَعَ غَفلَةِ

وَما خَونُها المَخشِيُّ عَنّا بِغافِلِ

وَما خَونُها المَخشِيُّ عَنّا بِغافِلِ

We have most willingly been heedless of the days,

We neglected days, easy to neglect,

yet their dreaded treachery is not heedless of us.

But the fearful betrayed no trust.

تَغَلغَلَ رُوّادُ الفَناءِ وَنَقَّبَت

تَغَلغَلَ رُوّادُ الفَناءِ وَنَقَّبَت

دَواعي المَنونِ عَن جَوادٍ وَباخِلِ

دَواعي المَنونِ عَن جَوادٍ وَباخِلِ

The scouts of destruction have penetrated deep, and

Seekers of death penetrated and

death's summons have sought out the generous and the miserly.

Motive for death searched the mean and niggardly.

وَما فَدَحَتنا نَكبَةٌ كَاِفتِقادِنا

وَما فَدَحَتنا نَكبَةٌ كَاِفتِقادِنا

أَبا الفَضلِ نَجلَ الأَكرَمينَ الأَفاضِلِ

أَبا الفَضلِ نَجلَ الأَكرَمينَ الأَفاضِلِ

And no calamity has crushed us like the loss of

No disaster hurt us like the loss

Abu al-Fadl, scion of the noblest, most virtuous men.

Of Abul Fadl, son of the two honoured nobles.

شَبَبنا لَهُ نارَ الجَوى وَجَرَت لَنا

شَبَبنا لَهُ نارَ الجَوى وَجَرَت لَنا

عَليهِ أَساكِبُ الدُموعِ الهَوامِلِ

عَليهِ أَساكِبُ الدُموعِ الهَوامِلِ

We kindled grief's fire for him, and shed

For him we kindled the fire of love,

over him torrents of freely falling tears.

And the downpour of tears flowed from us,

وَلَم نُعطِهِ حَقَّ الغَرامِ وَلَم نَكُن

وَلَم نُعطِهِ حَقَّ الغَرامِ وَلَم نَكُن

لِنَبلُغَ مَفؤوضَ الأَسى بِالنَوافِلِ

لِنَبلُغَ مَفؤوضَ الأَسى بِالنَوافِلِ

Yet we did not pay him love's due, nor could we

We did not give him the right of passion,

fulfill grief's obligation with voluntary offerings.

Nor attained the fullness of sorrow.

وَلِيُّ هُدى سَفرٍ إِلى المَجدِ سائِرٍ

وَلِيُّ هُدى سَفرٍ إِلى المَجدِ سائِرٍ

وَقائِدُ زَحفٍ لِلخُطوبِ مُقاتِلِ

وَقائِدُ زَحفٍ لِلخُطوبِ مُقاتِلِ

Patron and guide of a caravan journeying toward glory,

Guide on a journey to glory, leader

and commander of a host fighting against calamities.

In an attack against calamities, fighter,

يُؤَمَّلُ لِلخَيرِ الكَثيرِ إِذا نَبَت

يُؤَمَّلُ لِلخَيرِ الكَثيرِ إِذا نَبَت

خَلائِقُ أَصحابِ الخُيورِ القَلائِلِ

خَلائِقُ أَصحابِ الخُيورِ القَلائِلِ

He is looked to for abundant good whenever

When good manners grow in the few

the dispositions of men of scant kindness fall short.

Who have little, much good is expected.

مَتى اِشتَبَهوا مَرأىً عَلى العَينِ أَعرَبَت

مَتى اِشتَبَهوا مَرأىً عَلى العَينِ أَعرَبَت

شَمائِلُ مِن خِرقٍ غَريبِ الشَمائِلِ

شَمائِلُ مِن خِرقٍ غَريبِ الشَمائِلِ

Whenever they look alike to the eye, the distinction is declared

When they appear to the eyes mixed up,

by the traits of a noble man whose traits are rare.

Their virtues appear wonderfully mixed up.

إِذا طَلَعَت مِنهُ شَذاةٌ عَلى العِدا

إِذا طَلَعَت مِنهُ شَذاةٌ عَلى العِدا

أَرَت أَنَّ بَغثَ الطَيرِ صَيدُ الأَجادِلِ

أَرَت أَنَّ بَغثَ الطَيرِ صَيدُ الأَجادِلِ

When a war-galley of his appears against the enemies,

When some of them manage the enemy,

it shows that weak birds are falcons' prey.

It seems the prey of eagles is for fledglings.

وَيَكفي مِنَ الرُمحِ المُبِرِّ بِطولِهِ

وَيَكفي مِنَ الرُمحِ المُبِرِّ بِطولِهِ

بَلاغُ الحِمامِ مِن سِنانٍ وَعامِلِ

بَلاغُ الحِمامِ مِن سِنانٍ وَعامِلِ

And of the spear that surpasses others in length, enough

The piercing spear is enough in its length

is the death dealt by its point and upper shaft.

To reach the pigeon from feathers and nails.

زَعيمُ بَني ميكالَ حَيثُ تَكامَلوا

زَعيمُ بَني ميكالَ حَيثُ تَكامَلوا

وَكانَ اِبتِداءَ النَقصِ فَرطُ التَكامُلِ

وَكانَ اِبتِداءَ النَقصِ فَرطُ التَكامُلِ

Chief of the sons of Mikal when they attained perfection,

Chief of Bani Mikyal when they were united

and perfection's excess was the beginning of decline.

Though the beginning of loss was lack of union,

أَخو إِخوَةٍ ما كانَ مَحمُدُ سَعيِهِم

أَخو إِخوَةٍ ما كانَ مَحمُدُ سَعيِهِم

بِوانٍ عَنِ الحُسنى وَلا بِمُواكِلِ

بِوانٍ عَنِ الحُسنى وَلا بِمُواكِلِ

Brother to brothers whose praiseworthy striving was never

Brother of brothers, Mohammed's efforts were not

slack in doing good, nor reliant on others.

Negligent of goodness nor slow to aid.

بَني أَحوَذِيٍّ يَغمُرُ السَيفَ وافِياً

بَني أَحوَذِيٍّ يَغمُرُ السَيفَ وافِياً

بِبَسطَتِهِ وَالسَيفُ وافي الحَمائِلِ

بِبَسطَتِهِ وَالسَيفُ وافي الحَمائِلِ

Sons of a masterful man who dwarfs a full-length sword

The sword immersed in the blood of Bani Ahwaadh,

by his great stature, though the sword's baldrics are ample.

And the sword fulfils its promises.

تَضيقُ الدُروعُ التُبَّعِيّاتُ مِنهُمُ

تَضيقُ الدُروعُ التُبَّعِيّاتُ مِنهُمُ

عَلى كُلِّ رَحبِ الباعِ سَبطِ الأَنامِلِ

عَلى كُلِّ رَحبِ الباعِ سَبطِ الأَنامِلِ

Among them, the Tubbaʿite coats of mail are too tight

Their coats of mail straiten every wide

for every man of broad reach and supple fingers.

Expanse for the lion with outstretched paws.

عَراعِرُ قَومٍ يَسكُنُ الثَغرُ إِن مَشَوا

عَراعِرُ قَومٍ يَسكُنُ الثَغرُ إِن مَشَوا

عَلى أَرضِهِ وَالثَغرُ جَمُّ اَلزَلازِلِ

عَلى أَرضِهِ وَالثَغرُ جَمُّ اَلزَلازِلِ

Great chiefs of a people: the frontier quiets if they march

They were men who shook the land, if they walked on it,

upon its soil, though the frontier is rife with tremors.

And the land is full of tremors.

فَكَم فيهِمِ مِن مُنعِمٍ مُتَطَوِّلٍ

فَكَم فيهِمِ مِن مُنعِمٍ مُتَطَوِّلٍ

بِآلائِهِ أَو مُشرِفٍ مُتَطاوِلِ

بِآلائِهِ أَو مُشرِفٍ مُتَطاوِلِ

And how many among them are benefactors, lavish

So many of them enjoy blessings and show pride,

with their favors, or lofty men towering high!

Or are eminent and show arrogance,

إِذا سُئِلوا جاءَت سَيولُ أَكُفِّهِم

إِذا سُئِلوا جاءَت سَيولُ أَكُفِّهِم

نَظائِرَ جَمّاتِ التِلاعِ السَوائِلِ

نَظائِرَ جَمّاتِ التِلاعِ السَوائِلِ

When they are asked, torrents pour from their palms,

When asked they give freely like floods

matching the brimming pools of flowing ravines.

Resembling abundant rains from clouds.

يَقولونَ ما أَرضى وَلا تَرضَ قائِلاً

يَقولونَ ما أَرضى وَلا تَرضَ قائِلاً

إِذا لَم يَكُن في القَولِ أَوَّلَ فاعِلِ

إِذا لَم يَكُن في القَولِ أَوَّلَ فاعِلِ

They say what pleases me; be not pleased with a speaker

They say what pleases regardless of critics

unless he is the first to act upon his words.

If none preceded them in the saying.

خَليقونَ سَرواً أَن تُلينَ أَكُفُّهُم

خَليقونَ سَرواً أَن تُلينَ أَكُفُّهُم

عَرائِكَ أَحداثِ الزَمانِ الجَلائِلِ

عَرائِكَ أَحداثِ الزَمانِ الجَلائِلِ

They are noble enough for their palms to soften

Worthy that their palms soften

the tempers of time's great calamities.

The necks of huge events of time.

وَمازالَ لَحظُ الراغِبينَ مُعَلَّقاً

وَمازالَ لَحظُ الراغِبينَ مُعَلَّقاً

إِلى قَمَرٍ مِنهُم رَفيعِ المَنازِلِ

إِلى قَمَرٍ مِنهُم رَفيعِ المَنازِلِ

And the gaze of hopeful seekers has ever been fixed

And the eyes of seekers still expect

upon a moon among them, of lofty stations.

Favours from one, lofty in position,

أَبا غانِمٍ لا تَبرَحَن غُنمَ آمِلٍ

أَبا غانِمٍ لا تَبرَحَن غُنمَ آمِلٍ

تَأَمَّلَ نُجحاً أَو مُعَوَّلَ عائِلِ

تَأَمَّلَ نُجحاً أَو مُعَوَّلَ عائِلِ

O Abu Ghanim, never cease to be the gain of a hopeful man

Abu Ghanim, may the sheep of a hopeful ever

who looks for success, or the mainstay of one in need.

Expect success or depend on a helper.

دَعَوتُ بِكَ الحاجاتِ أَمسِ فَطَبَّقَت

دَعَوتُ بِكَ الحاجاتِ أَمسِ فَطَبَّقَت

مَضارِبُ مَأثورِ الغَرارينِ قاصِلِ

مَضارِبُ مَأثورِ الغَرارينِ قاصِلِ

Yesterday I invoked you for my needs, and blows struck true

I prayed to you yesterday, so the tents

from the striking edges of a patterned, double-edged, severing sword.

Of abundant rain poured without restraint,

وَلَو تُنصِفُ الأَقدارُ كانَت مَطالِبي

وَلَو تُنصِفُ الأَقدارُ كانَت مَطالِبي

إِلَيكَ وَكانَ الآخَرونَ وَسائِلي

إِلَيكَ وَكانَ الآخَرونَ وَسائِلي

And if the fates were just, my requests would be

If fates were just, my requests would be

addressed to you, and others would be my intermediaries.

To you and others would request for me.