ألَا هل شجاكَ الأورقُ المتغرِّدُ

ألَا هل شجاكَ الأورقُ المتغرِّدُ

غَداة خَلا من نازلِ الحيِّ ثهمدُ

غَداة خَلا من نازلِ الحيِّ ثهمدُ

Ah, has the warbling gray dove grieved you

Alas! Did the chirping warbler sadden you

on the morning Thahmad stood empty of the tribe's dwellers?

When the abode was empty of beloved habitants?

وَهَل بَعد ما بانَت أُميمُ وودَّعت

وَهَل بَعد ما بانَت أُميمُ وودَّعت

شَجاك لَها رسمٌ دريسٌ ومعهدُ

شَجاك لَها رسمٌ دريسٌ ومعهدُ

And, after Umaym departed and bade farewell,

And after the doves appeared and bid farewell,

did her faded traces and old dwelling grieve you?

Did their imprint, lesson, and nest sadden you -

تَثنّت بِريعانِ الصِبا وتأوّدت

تَثنّت بِريعانِ الصِبا وتأوّدت

كَما ماسَ غصنُ البانةِ المتأوّدُ

كَما ماسَ غصنُ البانةِ المتأوّدُ

She swayed in youth's bloom and bent gracefully,

As the bending branch of acacia bends

as swayed the bending branch of a ban tree.

When caressed by youth like the bending branch?

يَطيش بها الريعانُ عندَ نهوضِها

يَطيش بها الريعانُ عندَ نهوضِها

وَتُثقلها أَردافها حينَ تقعدُ

وَتُثقلها أَردافها حينَ تقعدُ

Youth's vigor makes her light when she rises,

The youth make it sway when they rise,

and her buttocks weigh her down when she sits.

And burden it when they sit back down;

وللّه منّا وقفة حينَ ودّعت

وللّه منّا وقفة حينَ ودّعت

وَداعاً يضلّ المستهامَ ويرشدُ

وَداعاً يضلّ المستهامَ ويرشدُ

By God, how we stood together when she bade farewell—

By God, we paused when she bid farewell

a farewell that misleads the love-stricken and guides him!

A farewell that misguides and rightly guides.

ظللتُ أُديرُ اللحظَ يوماً وفي الحشا

ظللتُ أُديرُ اللحظَ يوماً وفي الحشا

منَ الوجدِ جمرٌ مسعر يتوقَّدُ

منَ الوجدِ جمرٌ مسعر يتوقَّدُ

All day I kept turning my gaze, while in my breast

I stirred at night from the embers of passion,

embers of longing, fiercely kindled, blazed.

A kindled glowing coal within my thoughts.

وَقد لاحَ لي منها بنانٌ ومعصمٌ

وَقد لاحَ لي منها بنانٌ ومعصمٌ

وكشرٌ يمانيٌّ وخدٌّ مورّدُ

وكشرٌ يمانيٌّ وخدٌّ مورّدُ

And I glimpsed her fingertips and wrist,

I saw her soft cheeks, wrists,

and a Yemeni smile, and a rose-tinted cheek.

A Yemeni grin, and rosy cheeks.

وَقَفنا على أَقدامنا وزفيرُنا

وَقَفنا على أَقدامنا وزفيرُنا

منَ الوجدِ في أنفاسِنا يَتصعّدُ

منَ الوجدِ في أنفاسِنا يَتصعّدُ

We stood upon our feet, while our sighing

We stood on our feet, our sighs of passion

rose from longing within our breaths.

Rising from our breaths and ascending.

صموت ولا نطق سوى فيضِ أدمعٍ

صموت ولا نطق سوى فيضِ أدمعٍ

يعبِّرُ عنّا بالغرام ويشهدُ

يعبِّرُ عنّا بالغرام ويشهدُ

Silent, with no speech but an outpouring of tears

Silent, no words but overflowing tears

that spoke for us of love and bore witness.

Speaking of our love and testifying.

أَلا فاِزرعِ المعروفَ كي تحصد الثَنا

أَلا فاِزرعِ المعروفَ كي تحصد الثَنا

فَزراعهُ يَجني الثمارَ ويحصدُ

فَزراعهُ يَجني الثمارَ ويحصدُ

Ah, sow kindness so that you may reap praise,

So plant goodness and you will reap praise

for its sower gathers the fruits and harvests them.

Its planting reaps fruits and harvests rewards.

وَكُن صابراً للأقربينَ وغيرهم

وَكُن صابراً للأقربينَ وغيرهم

فكلُّ أَخى صبرٍ على الصبر يحمدُ

فكلُّ أَخى صبرٍ على الصبر يحمدُ

And be patient with close kin and others,

Be patient with kin and strangers too

for every patient soul is praised for patience.

As each brother of patience is praised for his patience.

وَلا تَبتئس إِن عشتَ فيهم مُحسّداً

وَلا تَبتئس إِن عشتَ فيهم مُحسّداً

فَذو الفضلِ مِن بين الآنام محسّدُ

فَذو الفضلِ مِن بين الآنام محسّدُ

Do not grieve if you live among them much envied,

Be not gloomy if you live envied among them

for a man of merit is much envied among humankind.

For the virtuous are envied among all people.

وَخُذ حيث إنّ اليسرَ عندكَ نازلٌ

وَخُذ حيث إنّ اليسرَ عندكَ نازلٌ

وَفضلكَ مأمولٌ ودهركَ مسعدُ

وَفضلكَ مأمولٌ ودهركَ مسعدُ

And take, since prosperity has settled with you,

Take it easy when ease comes your way,

your bounty is hoped for, and fortune favors you.

Your grace hoped for, your days prosperous.

عَرفتُ الليالي مثل ما هيَ أَيقَنت

عَرفتُ الليالي مثل ما هيَ أَيقَنت

بِأنّيَ في علمي لها مُتفرّدُ

بِأنّيَ في علمي لها مُتفرّدُ

I knew the nights, just as they were certain

I know the nights as they know

that in my knowledge of them I was unrivaled.

That my knowledge of them is unmatched.

وَمارستُها حتّى اِنثَنت وتمايَلَت

وَمارستُها حتّى اِنثَنت وتمايَلَت

مُمارستي منها نحوسٌ وأسعدُ

مُمارستي منها نحوسٌ وأسعدُ

And I grappled with them until they bent and swayed—

I courted them until they bent and swayed

their ill fortunes and good, under my handling.

My courtship brought them misfortune and joy.

فَكَم قد صَحبتُ الدهرَ والدهرُ مقبلٌ

فَكَم قد صَحبتُ الدهرَ والدهرُ مقبلٌ

لَنا وهوَ في شرخِ الشبيبةِ أغيدُ

لَنا وهوَ في شرخِ الشبيبةِ أغيدُ

For often I kept company with Time when he favored

How many times I accompanied time in its prime,

us, supple in the prime of youth.

Approaching in the bloom of youth.

وَصاحبته من بعدِ ذا وهو شائخٌ

وَصاحبته من بعدِ ذا وهو شائخٌ

وَناظره عَن منهجِ الحقِّ أرمدُ

وَناظره عَن منهجِ الحقِّ أرمدُ

And I accompanied him afterward, when he was aged,

And accompanied it after when it grew old,

and his eye was too bleared to see the path of truth.

Its look away from the path of truth dimmed.

وَما أَنا راضٍ عن زمانٍ ملوكهُ

وَما أَنا راضٍ عن زمانٍ ملوكهُ

أكفّهم في موجبِ الجود جلمدُ

أكفّهم في موجبِ الجود جلمدُ

I am not content with an age whose kings

I am not pleased with a time whose kings,

have hands of stone when generosity is called for.

When needed most, are paralyzed hands.

تراهم لقلّ الفهمِ يَشتهروا السُهى

تراهم لقلّ الفهمِ يَشتهروا السُهى

لَديهم وَيستخفوا سماك وغرقدُ

لَديهم وَيستخفوا سماك وغرقدُ

You see them, through scant understanding, make Suha renowned

You see them gain fame for lacking wisdom,

in their eyes, while belittling Simak and Gharqad.

Taking lightly truth and drowning in vanity.

وَأَخسرُ خلقِ اللّهِ مَن كان كاذباً

وَأَخسرُ خلقِ اللّهِ مَن كان كاذباً

يَبوحُ بسرٍّ لا يبوحُ بما يسدُ

يَبوحُ بسرٍّ لا يبوحُ بما يسدُ

And the greatest loser among God's creatures is one who lies,

The most wretched of God’s creation is a liar

divulging a secret, yet saying nothing that fills a need.

Who reveals a secret but does not reveal what benefits.

وَأَخسرُ خلقِ اللّه مَن نالَ ثروةً

وَأَخسرُ خلقِ اللّه مَن نالَ ثروةً

وَيُسراً وَلَم يَبسط له عندها يدُ

وَيُسراً وَلَم يَبسط له عندها يدُ

And the greatest loser among God's creatures is one who gains wealth

The most wretched of God’s creation is one granted wealth and ease

and ease, yet no hand is then outstretched to him.

Who does not extend his hand and give generously.

إِليكَ سليمان عتاباً مصرّحاً

إِليكَ سليمان عتاباً مصرّحاً

يجدّد لي منك الرضا ويؤكّدُ

يجدّد لي منك الرضا ويؤكّدُ

To you, Sulayman, I offer an open reproach,

To you, Solomon, I openly complain

to renew your favor toward me and confirm it.

To renew your satisfaction and confirmation.

لَقد طالَ حَبسي وَاِنتِظاري وما قضى

لَقد طالَ حَبسي وَاِنتِظاري وما قضى

لِجودك لي عَن مترفِ المزنِ مرعدُ

لِجودك لي عَن مترفِ المزنِ مرعدُ

My confinement and waiting have indeed grown long, and no

My detention and waiting have been so long, yet

thunderer from lavish rain clouds has brought me your bounty.

None of your promised gifts have come my way.

مَضت لي وقَد ولَّت ثلاثةُ أشهرٍ

مَضت لي وقَد ولَّت ثلاثةُ أشهرٍ

وَلم يُقضَ لي يا سيّدي منك موعدُ

وَلم يُقضَ لي يا سيّدي منك موعدُ

Three months have passed for me and gone,

Three months have passed for me in longing,

and no promise from you has been fulfilled for me, my lord.

Yet no promise has been fulfilled my lord.

فَلَم أَدرِ ذا مطلٌ لِتُبعدني بهِ

فَلَم أَدرِ ذا مطلٌ لِتُبعدني بهِ

فَمثلكَ مَن في الناس يُدني ويبعدُ

فَمثلكَ مَن في الناس يُدني ويبعدُ

I could not tell: was this delay meant to send me away?

I know not if this delaying distances me,

For one like you brings people near and sends them away.

For who among people draws near and distances like you?

وَإِن كانَ هذا المطلُ عقباهُ نائلٌ

وَإِن كانَ هذا المطلُ عقباهُ نائلٌ

فَبِئسَ نيلٌ طالَ فيه التلدُّدُ

فَبِئسَ نيلٌ طالَ فيه التلدُّدُ

And if this delay ends in a gift,

If this delay's consequence is attainment,

wretched is a gain involving such long, bewildered waiting.

Then miserable is attainment mixed with hesitation.

فَإن كانَ ذا مطل لِتُبعدني بهِ

فَإن كانَ ذا مطل لِتُبعدني بهِ

فَمثلك مَن في الناس يُدني ويبعدُ

فَمثلك مَن في الناس يُدني ويبعدُ

But if this is delay intended to send me away,

If this delaying is meant to distance me,

one like you brings people near and sends them away.

Then who among people draws near and distances like you?

أَلَم ترَ أنّ الدهرَ يصرف نابه

أَلَم ترَ أنّ الدهرَ يصرف نابه

عليَّ وسيفُ الحادثاتِ مجرّدُ

عليَّ وسيفُ الحادثاتِ مجرّدُ

Do you not see that Time grinds his fang

Do you not see that time points its blame at me

against me, and calamities' sword is unsheathed?

While the sword of events is unsheathed?

أَترضى بأن أمضي إِلى الشام أو إِلى

أَترضى بأن أمضي إِلى الشام أو إِلى

خُراسانَ في نيلِ الغنى أتردّدُ

خُراسانَ في نيلِ الغنى أتردّدُ

Would you be content for me to go to al-Sham or to

Are you pleased that I wander to Damascus or

Khurasan, wandering in pursuit of wealth?

Khorasan, wavering in attaining riches?

وَإِنّي لَكم يا آل نبهان شاعرٌ

وَإِنّي لَكم يا آل نبهان شاعرٌ

مَدائحهُ فيكم تغورُ وتنجدُ

مَدائحهُ فيكم تغورُ وتنجدُ

I am your poet, O house of Nabhan,

Indeed, for the House of Nuhan I am a poet

whose praises of you travel through lowlands and highlands.

Whose praises penetrate deep and take root.

فَوا أسفاً وا لهفَ قلبي وصفقتي

فَوا أسفاً وا لهفَ قلبي وصفقتي

عَلى زمنٍ ماضٍ ولي فيه موردُ

عَلى زمنٍ ماضٍ ولي فيه موردُ

Ah, sorrow! Ah, my heart's anguish, my palms struck in regret

Alas my heartache, the clapping of my hands,

over a bygone age in which I had a watering place!

For a past time in which I had a spring.

زمانٌ بهِ الأملاكُ تطلبُ ما أنا

زمانٌ بهِ الأملاكُ تطلبُ ما أنا

أقرّضه في مُحكماتي وأنشدُ

أقرّضه في مُحكماتي وأنشدُ

An age in which kings sought what I

A time when possessions seek what I

fashioned in my finely wrought poems and recited.

Recite in my compositions and chant.

أَبوكَ حَباني بِالمواهبِ مثل ما

أَبوكَ حَباني بِالمواهبِ مثل ما

نَظمتُ له المدحَ الّذي ليس ينفدُ

نَظمتُ له المدحَ الّذي ليس ينفدُ

Your father bestowed gifts on me, just as

Your father, Habani, I praised with gifts

I wove for him praise that never runs out.

As I composed the praise which does not fade.

وَأعمامهُ راشوا جَناحي بسيبهم

وَأعمامهُ راشوا جَناحي بسيبهم

فَمَدحي لَهم في الدهرِ باقٍ مخلَّدُ

فَمَدحي لَهم في الدهرِ باقٍ مخلَّدُ

And his uncles feathered my wing with their bounty;

And your uncles spread my wings with their swords

so my praise of them endures through time, immortal.

So my praises of them in time remain immortal.

فَما كنتُ أَدري أنّ ذا الدهر بعدَهم

فَما كنتُ أَدري أنّ ذا الدهر بعدَهم

يكدِّرُ عَيشي صرفه وينكِّدُ

يكدِّرُ عَيشي صرفه وينكِّدُ

I never knew that this Time, after them,

I did not know that after them this time

would cloud my life with his vicissitudes and embitter it.

Would embitter my life, diverting its course and saddening.

وَما كنتُ أَدري أَن أرى البعدَ بعدهم

وَما كنتُ أَدري أَن أرى البعدَ بعدهم

يكدِّر صفوَ العيش فيه وينكدُ

يكدِّر صفوَ العيش فيه وينكدُ

Nor did I know that after them I would see estrangement

I did not know I would see distance after them

cloud life's serenity in that age and embitter it.

Embitter the sweetness of life and sadden.

وَلَستُ على الأملاكِ بالشعرِ واغلٌ

وَلَستُ على الأملاكِ بالشعرِ واغلٌ

وَإِن عظموا أو عزّ غيض ومحتدُ

وَإِن عظموا أو عزّ غيض ومحتدُ

I am no intruder upon kings through my poetry,

I do not flatter rulers with my poetry

however mighty they are, or unassailable their thicket and lineage.

Though they be great or mighty, harsh and hot-headed.

وَما كنتُ أَدري أَن أخيَّب أو أرى

وَما كنتُ أَدري أَن أخيَّب أو أرى

بَضائعَ شعري عند مثلِك تكسدُ

بَضائعَ شعري عند مثلِك تكسدُ

I never knew that I would be disappointed, or see

I did not know I would disappoint or see

the wares of my poetry go unsold with one like you.

My poetry wares stagnant with your likeness.

سَيحظى بِشعري كلُّ حرٍّ مهذَّب

سَيحظى بِشعري كلُّ حرٍّ مهذَّب

وَيُحرمُهُ في الناس لحزٌ ملدّدُ

وَيُحرمُهُ في الناس لحزٌ ملدّدُ

Every noble, refined man will enjoy my poetry,

My poetry will favor every refined soul,

and among men a stingy, contentious man will be denied it.

And be forbidden among people, prolonged malice.