وَلَمّا رَمى بِالأَربَعينَ وَراءَهُ

وَلَمّا رَمى بِالأَربَعينَ وَراءَهُ

وَقارَعَ مِ الخَمسينَ جَيشاً عَرَمرَما

وَقارَعَ مِ الخَمسينَ جَيشاً عَرَمرَما

When he had cast forty years behind him

And when he had cast forty years behind him,

and confronted, out of fifty, a vast and formidable army,

and battled a vast army of his fifties,

تَذَكَّرَ مِن عَهدِ الصِبا ما تَصَرَّما

تَذَكَّرَ مِن عَهدِ الصِبا ما تَصَرَّما

وَحَنَّ فَلَم يَترُك لِعَينَيهِ مُسجَما

وَحَنَّ فَلَم يَترُك لِعَينَيهِ مُسجَما

he remembered what had passed away from the days of youth

he remembered what had passed from the days of youth,

and yearned, leaving no tear-channel in his eyes dry.

and yearned, leaving his eyes no tear to shed.

وَجَرَّ خِطاماً أَحكَمَ الشَيبُ عَقدَهُ

وَجَرَّ خِطاماً أَحكَمَ الشَيبُ عَقدَهُ

وَقَدَّمَ رِجلاً لَم تَجِد مُتَقَدَّما

وَقَدَّمَ رِجلاً لَم تَجِد مُتَقَدَّما

He dragged a halter whose knot gray hair had tightened,

And he dragged a halter whose knot gray hair had tightened,

and put forward a foot that found no way ahead.

and set a foot forward that found no way ahead.

وَأَنكَرَ إِغفالَ العُيونِ مَكانَهُ

وَأَنكَرَ إِغفالَ العُيونِ مَكانَهُ

وَقَد كُنَّ مِن أَشياعِهِ حَيثُ يَمَّما

وَقَد كُنَّ مِن أَشياعِهِ حَيثُ يَمَّما

He resented the eyes’ disregard for his standing,

And he found it strange that eyes overlooked his presence,

though they had followed him wherever he turned.

though once they had followed him wherever he turned.

هُوَ الدَهرُ لا يُعطيكَ إِلّا تَعِلَّةً

هُوَ الدَهرُ لا يُعطيكَ إِلّا تَعِلَّةً

وَلا يَستَرِدُّ العُرفَ إِلّا تَغَنُّما

وَلا يَستَرِدُّ العُرفَ إِلّا تَغَنُّما

It is Time: it gives you nothing but fleeting consolation

Such is Time: it gives you only a consolation,

and takes back no favor except as plunder.

and reclaims its favors only as spoils.

عَزاءً عَنِ الأَمرِ الَّذي فاتَ نَيلُهُ

عَزاءً عَنِ الأَمرِ الَّذي فاتَ نَيلُهُ

وَصَبراً إِذا كانَ التَصَبُّرُ أَحزَما

وَصَبراً إِذا كانَ التَصَبُّرُ أَحزَما

Take comfort over the thing whose attainment has passed beyond reach,

Seek solace for what you failed to attain,

and be patient when patient endurance is the wiser course.

and patience when schooling yourself to patience is wiser.

فَلَم أَرَ مِثلَ الشَيبِ لاحَ كَأَنَّهُ

فَلَم أَرَ مِثلَ الشَيبِ لاحَ كَأَنَّهُ

ثَنايا حَبيبٍ زارَنا مُتَبَسِّما

ثَنايا حَبيبٍ زارَنا مُتَبَسِّما

Never have I seen the like of gray hair, dawning as though it were

For I have never seen anything like gray hair, appearing as though

the front teeth of a beloved who visited us smiling.

it were the front teeth of a beloved who visited us smiling.

فَلَما تَراءَتهُ العُيونُ تَوَسَّمَت

فَلَما تَراءَتهُ العُيونُ تَوَسَّمَت

بَديهَةَ أَمرٍ تَذعَرُ المُتَوَسِّما

بَديهَةَ أَمرٍ تَذعَرُ المُتَوَسِّما

But when the eyes beheld it, they discerned

But when eyes beheld it, they discerned

in its first appearance something to frighten the discerning.

the sudden onset of something that frightens the discerning.

فَلا وَأَبيكَ الخَيرِ ما اِنفَكَّ ساطِعٌ

فَلا وَأَبيكَ الخَيرِ ما اِنفَكَّ ساطِعٌ

مِنَ الشَيبِ يَجلو مِن دُجى اللَيلِ مُظلِما

مِنَ الشَيبِ يَجلو مِن دُجى اللَيلِ مُظلِما

No—by your noble father! It has never ceased shining:

No, by your noble father, a light kept shining

gray hair dispelling whatever the darkness of night had obscured,

from gray hair, clearing darkness from the gloom of night,

إِلى أَن أَعادَ الدُهمَ شُهباً وَلَم يَدَع

إِلى أَن أَعادَ الدُهمَ شُهباً وَلَم يَدَع

لَنا مِن شِياتِ الخَيلِ أَقرَحَ أَرثَما

لَنا مِن شِياتِ الخَيلِ أَقرَحَ أَرثَما

until it turned the black locks gray-white and left

until it turned the black steeds gray and left

not even a forehead blaze or white muzzle among the markings of horses.

us no steed marked with a white forehead-star and white upper lip.

هَلِ الشَيبُ إِلّا حِليَةٌ مُستَعارَةٌ

هَلِ الشَيبُ إِلّا حِليَةٌ مُستَعارَةٌ

وَمُنذِرُ جَيشٍ جاءَنا مُتَقَدِّما

وَمُنذِرُ جَيشٍ جاءَنا مُتَقَدِّما

Is gray hair anything but borrowed adornment,

Is gray hair anything but a borrowed adornment,

and its warning the herald of an army advancing upon us?

and the herald of an army, come to us in advance?

فَها أَنا مِنهُ حاسِرٌ مُتَعَمِّمٌ

فَها أَنا مِنهُ حاسِرٌ مُتَعَمِّمٌ

وَلَم أَرَ مِثلي حاسِراً مُتَعَمِّما

وَلَم أَرَ مِثلي حاسِراً مُتَعَمِّما

Here I am, because of it, bareheaded yet turbaned;

So here I am through it, bareheaded yet turbaned,

never have I seen another like myself, bareheaded yet turbaned.

and I have never seen anyone like me—bareheaded yet turbaned.

كَأَنَّ مَكانَ التاجِ سِلكاً مُفَصَّلاً

كَأَنَّ مَكانَ التاجِ سِلكاً مُفَصَّلاً

بِنَورِ الخُزامى أَو جُماناً مُنَظَّما

بِنَورِ الخُزامى أَو جُماناً مُنَظَّما

As though, in place of the crown, there lay a jeweled strand,

As though in place of the crown lay a thread adorned

bright with lavender blossoms, or pearls strung in order;

with lavender blossoms, or pearls strung in order.

وَضِيءٌ كَنَصلِ السَيفِ إِن رَثَّ غِمدُهُ

وَضِيءٌ كَنَصلِ السَيفِ إِن رَثَّ غِمدُهُ

إِذا كانَ مَصقولَ الغِرارَينِ مِخذَما

إِذا كانَ مَصقولَ الغِرارَينِ مِخذَما

and a radiance like a sword-blade, though its sheath grow worn,

Radiant as a sword blade, even if its sheath is worn,

provided its two edges are polished and its cutting edge keen.

when its two edges are polished and it cuts keenly.

إِذا لَم يَشِب رَأسٌ عَلى الجَهلِ لَم يَكُن

إِذا لَم يَشِب رَأسٌ عَلى الجَهلِ لَم يَكُن

عَلى المَرءِ عارٌ أَن يَشيبَ وَيَهرَما

عَلى المَرءِ عارٌ أَن يَشيبَ وَيَهرَما

If my head has not grown gray in ignorance, there is no

If a head has not grown gray in ignorance, there is no

shame upon a man in growing gray and old.

shame upon a man in growing gray and old.

خَليلَيَّ كُرّاً ذِكرَ ما قَد تَقَدَّما

خَليلَيَّ كُرّاً ذِكرَ ما قَد تَقَدَّما

وَإِن هاجَتِ الذِكرى فُؤاداً مُتَيَّما

وَإِن هاجَتِ الذِكرى فُؤاداً مُتَيَّما

My two friends, return to the memory of what has gone before,

My two friends, recall again what has gone before,

even if remembrance stirs a heart enslaved by love.

even if remembrance stirs a love-enslaved heart.

فَإِن حَديثَ اللَهوِ لَهوٌ وَرُبَّما

فَإِن حَديثَ اللَهوِ لَهوٌ وَرُبَّما

تَسَلّى بِذِكرِ الشَيءِ مَن كانَ مُغرَما

تَسَلّى بِذِكرِ الشَيءِ مَن كانَ مُغرَما

For talk of pleasure is pleasure itself, and often

For talk of pleasure is itself a pleasure, and often

one enamored finds solace in recalling the beloved thing.

one enamored finds solace in remembering it.

خَليلَيَّ مِن فَرعَي قُرَيشٍ رُزيتُما

خَليلَيَّ مِن فَرعَي قُرَيشٍ رُزيتُما

فَتىً قارَعَ الأَيّامَ حَتّى تَثَلَّما

فَتىً قارَعَ الأَيّامَ حَتّى تَثَلَّما

My two friends of Quraysh’s two branches, you have been bereaved

My two friends from the two branches of Quraysh, you have lost

of a youth who battled the days until he was chipped and blunted.

a young man who battled the days until he was chipped.

وَأَحكَمُهُ التَجريبُ حَتّى كَأَنَّما

وَأَحكَمُهُ التَجريبُ حَتّى كَأَنَّما

يُعايِنُ مِن أَسرارِهِ ما تَوَهَّما

يُعايِنُ مِن أَسرارِهِ ما تَوَهَّما

Experience tempered him so thoroughly that he seemed

And experience tempered him until it was as though

to behold among its secrets what he had once only imagined.

he saw firsthand what he had surmised of its secrets.

وَمَن ضَعُفَت أَعضاؤُهُ اِشتَدَّ رَأيُهُ

وَمَن ضَعُفَت أَعضاؤُهُ اِشتَدَّ رَأيُهُ

وَمَن قَوَّمَتهُ الحادِثاتُ تَقَوَّما

وَمَن قَوَّمَتهُ الحادِثاتُ تَقَوَّما

He whose limbs grow weak gains strength of judgment;

And whoever's limbs grow weak, his judgment grows strong;

he whom calamities discipline becomes well disciplined.

and whoever events set straight becomes upright.

خُذا عِظَةً مِن أَحوَذِيٍّ تَقَلَّبَت

خُذا عِظَةً مِن أَحوَذِيٍّ تَقَلَّبَت

بِهِ دُوَلُ الأَيّامِ بُؤساً وَأَنعُما

بِهِ دُوَلُ الأَيّامِ بُؤساً وَأَنعُما

You two, take admonition from a seasoned master over whom

Take, both of you, a lesson from a resourceful man whom

the turns of Fortune have passed in misery and prosperity.

the fortunes of the days have tossed between misery and blessings.

إِذا رَفَعَ السُلطانُ قَوماً تَرَفَّعوا

إِذا رَفَعَ السُلطانُ قَوماً تَرَفَّعوا

وَإِن هَدَمَ السُلطانُ مَجداً تَهَدَّما

وَإِن هَدَمَ السُلطانُ مَجداً تَهَدَّما

When authority raises a people, they rise;

When the sovereign raises a people, they rise,

and when authority tears down a glory, it crumbles.

and when the sovereign demolishes a glory, it falls.

إِذا ما اِمرُؤٌ لَم يُرشِدِ العِلمُ لَم يِجِد

إِذا ما اِمرُؤٌ لَم يُرشِدِ العِلمُ لَم يِجِد

سَبيلَ الهُدى سَهلاً وَإِن كانَ مُحكَما

سَبيلَ الهُدى سَهلاً وَإِن كانَ مُحكَما

If knowledge does not guide a man, he will not find

If learning does not guide a man, he will not find

the path of guidance easy, though he be judicious.

the path of guidance easy, even if he is accomplished.

وَلَم أَرَ فَرعاً طالَ إِلّا بِأَصلِهِ

وَلَم أَرَ فَرعاً طالَ إِلّا بِأَصلِهِ

وَلَم أَرَ بَدءَ العِلمِ إِلّا تَعَلُّما

وَلَم أَرَ بَدءَ العِلمِ إِلّا تَعَلُّما

Never have I seen a branch grow tall except through its root,

And I have never seen a branch grow tall except through its root,

nor have I seen the beginning of knowledge except in learning.

nor seen learning begin except with study.

وَمَن قارَعَ الأَيّامَ أَوفَرَ لُبَّهُ

وَمَن قارَعَ الأَيّامَ أَوفَرَ لُبَّهُ

وَمَن جاوَرَ الفَدمَ العَيِيَّ تَفَدَّما

وَمَن جاوَرَ الفَدمَ العَيِيَّ تَفَدَّما

Whoever battles the days—his understanding is fuller;

And whoever battles the days enriches his understanding,

whoever dwells beside a dull, tongue-tied fool grows dull.

and whoever lives beside a dull, inarticulate man grows dull.

وَلَم أَرَ أَعدى لِاِمرِئٍ مِن قَرابَةٍ

وَلَم أَرَ أَعدى لِاِمرِئٍ مِن قَرابَةٍ

وَلا سِيَّما إِن كانَ جاراً أَوِ اِبنَما

وَلا سِيَّما إِن كانَ جاراً أَوِ اِبنَما

I have seen no foe more hostile to a man than kinship,

And I have seen no worse enemy to a man than his kin,

especially when the kinsman is a neighbor or a son.

especially if the kinsman is a neighbor or a son.

وَمَن طَلَبَ المَعروفَ مِن غَيرِ أَهلِهِ

وَمَن طَلَبَ المَعروفَ مِن غَيرِ أَهلِهِ

أَطالَ عَناءً أَو أَطالَ تَنَدُّما

أَطالَ عَناءً أَو أَطالَ تَنَدُّما

Whoever seeks kindness from those unworthy of it

And whoever seeks kindness from those not given to it

prolongs his suffering—or prolongs his regret.

prolongs his hardship or prolongs his regret.

وَمَن شَكَرَ العُرفَ اِستَحَقَّ زِيادَةً

وَمَن شَكَرَ العُرفَ اِستَحَقَّ زِيادَةً

كَما يَستَحِقُّ الشُكرَ مَن كانَ مُنعِما

كَما يَستَحِقُّ الشُكرَ مَن كانَ مُنعِما

Whoever gives thanks for a kindness deserves an increase,

And whoever is grateful for kindness deserves more,

just as a benefactor deserves thanks.

just as the giver of favors deserves gratitude.

وَمَن سامَحَ الأَيّامَ يَرضَ حَياتَهُ

وَمَن سامَحَ الأَيّامَ يَرضَ حَياتَهُ

وَمَن مَنَّ بِالمَعروفِ عادَ مُذَمَّما

وَمَن مَنَّ بِالمَعروفِ عادَ مُذَمَّما

Whoever deals gently with the days is content with his life;

And whoever makes peace with the days is content with his life,

whoever holds a kindness over others returns blameworthy.

and whoever holds his favors over others becomes reviled.

وَمَن نافَسَ الإِخوانَ قَلَّ صَديقُهُ

وَمَن نافَسَ الإِخوانَ قَلَّ صَديقُهُ

وَمَن لامَ صَبّاً في الهَوى كانَ أَلوَما

وَمَن لامَ صَبّاً في الهَوى كانَ أَلوَما

Whoever vies with his brethren has few friends;

And whoever competes with his brothers finds his friends few,

whoever reproaches a youth for love is more blameworthy still.

and whoever blames a lover for his passion is more blameworthy.

أَما وَأَميرِ المُؤمِنينَ لَقَد رَمى ال

أَما وَأَميرِ المُؤمِنينَ لَقَد رَمى ال

عَدُوَّ فَلا نِكساً وَلا مُتَهَضِّما

عَدُوَّ فَلا نِكساً وَلا مُتَهَضِّما

Indeed—by the Commander of the Faithful—the en—

Indeed, by the Commander of the Faithful, he struck the

emy has struck no coward, nor any man oppressed,

enemy—neither a weakling nor one submitting to humiliation,

وَلا ناسِياً ما كانَ مِن حُسنِ رَأيِهِ

وَلا ناسِياً ما كانَ مِن حُسنِ رَأيِهِ

لِخُطَّةِ خَسفٍ سامَنيها مُحَتِّما

لِخُطَّةِ خَسفٍ سامَنيها مُحَتِّما

nor one forgetful of the sound judgment he once possessed.

nor forgetting his former sound judgment

He imposed upon me, inescapably, a course of humiliation,

concerning a course of abasement he insistently imposed on me,

عُلوقاً بِأَسبابِ النَبِيِّ وَإِنَّما

عُلوقاً بِأَسبابِ النَبِيِّ وَإِنَّما

يُحِبُّ بَني العَبّاسِ مَن كانَ مُسلِما

يُحِبُّ بَني العَبّاسِ مَن كانَ مُسلِما

in violation of the Prophet’s bonds; and only

clinging to the bonds of the Prophet; and only

he who is Muslim loves the sons of al-Abbas.

one who is Muslim loves the sons of al-Abbas.

لَعَلَّ بَني العَبّاسِ يَأسو كُلومَهُم

لَعَلَّ بَني العَبّاسِ يَأسو كُلومَهُم

فَيَجبُرَ مِنّي هاشِمٌ ما تَهَشَّما

فَيَجبُرَ مِنّي هاشِمٌ ما تَهَشَّما

Perhaps the sons of al-Abbas will heal their wounds,

Perhaps the sons of al-Abbas will have their wounds healed,

and Hashim will mend for me what has been shattered.

and Hashim will mend what has been shattered in me.