لَو رَأَيتُ الغَرامَ يَبلُغُ عُذرا

لَو رَأَيتُ الغَرامَ يَبلُغُ عُذرا

قُلتُ حُزناً وَلَم أَقُل لَكَ صَبرا

قُلتُ حُزناً وَلَم أَقُل لَكَ صَبرا

Had I seen consuming grief attain the point of excuse,

Had I seen anguish furnish an excuse,

I would have told you, “Grieve,” and not, “Be patient.”

I would have said, "Grieve," not told you, "Be patient."

وَاِستَزَدنا ريحَ الزَفيرِ هبوباً

وَاِستَزَدنا ريحَ الزَفيرِ هبوباً

وَسَحابَ الدُموعِ وَبلاً وَقَطرا

وَسَحابَ الدُموعِ وَبلاً وَقَطرا

We would have asked the wind of sighs to blow still harder,

And we would have asked the wind of sighs to blow harder,

and the cloud of tears to rain in torrents and drops.

and the cloud of tears for torrents and rain.

وَرَأَينا مُعَرَّسَ الحُزنِ سَهلاً

وَرَأَينا مُعَرَّسَ الحُزنِ سَهلاً

في الرَزايا وَجانِبَ الصَبرِ وَعرا

في الرَزايا وَجانِبَ الصَبرِ وَعرا

We found grief’s camping place easy

And found sorrow's resting place smooth

amid calamities, but patience’s side rough.

amid calamities, and patience's terrain rugged.

لَكِنِ الأَمرُ ما عَلِمتَ وَهَل تَن

لَكِنِ الأَمرُ ما عَلِمتَ وَهَل تَن

ظُرُ مِن وَقعَةِ الزَمانِ مُبَرّا

ظُرُ مِن وَقعَةِ الزَمانِ مُبَرّا

Yet the matter is as you know it: do you expect

But things are as you know—can you see

anyone to be spared the blow of Time?

anyone spared a blow from time?

واقِعاً بِالأَضدادِ أَروى وَأَظما

واقِعاً بِالأَضدادِ أَروى وَأَظما

وَقَضى وَاِقتَضى وَساءَ وَسَرّا

وَقَضى وَاِقتَضى وَساءَ وَسَرّا

Its workings unite opposites: it quenches thirst and creates thirst,

Striking with opposites, it slakes thirst and parches;

decrees and exacts, brings sorrow and brings joy.

it pays and exacts payment, saddens and gladdens.

كُلَّ يَومٍ يَغدو بِقاطِعَةِ الآ

كُلَّ يَومٍ يَغدو بِقاطِعَةِ الآ

مالِ غَضبانَ قَد تَأَبَّطَ شَرّا

مالِ غَضبانَ قَد تَأَبَّطَ شَرّا

Each day it sets out with a blade that severs

Each day it comes cutting off our

hopes—wrathful, evil tucked beneath its arm.

hopes, enraged, with evil tucked beneath its arm.

مُذنِباً كُلَّما شَكا شاكَ كَيداً

مُذنِباً كُلَّما شَكا شاكَ كَيداً

وَإِذا قيلَ قَد أَنابَ أَصَرّا

وَإِذا قيلَ قَد أَنابَ أَصَرّا

A culprit: whenever one harmed by its wiles complains,

Guilty whenever a sufferer complains of its guile;

and it is said to have repented, it persists.

when they say it has repented, it persists.

ضَيغَماً يَخبِطُ السُروبَ طَروباً

ضَيغَماً يَخبِطُ السُروبَ طَروباً

كُلَّما مَرَّ بِالعَقيرَةِ كَرّا

كُلَّما مَرَّ بِالعَقيرَةِ كَرّا

A lion, leaping joyfully upon the herds;

A lion, gleefully battering the herds,

whenever it passes the slaughtered quarry, it wheels back.

charging again whenever it passes a stricken beast.

وَأَرى الناسَ وافِراً وَمُلَقّى

وَأَرى الناسَ وافِراً وَمُلَقّى

بِالرَزايا وَالأَرضَ داراً وَقَبرا

بِالرَزايا وَالأَرضَ داراً وَقَبرا

I see people both prosperous and destitute

And I see people, one spared and another beset

through calamities, and earth both dwelling and grave.

by calamities, and earth both dwelling and grave:

مَنزِلي قَلعَةٌ وَلُبثٌ فَهَذا

مَنزِلي قَلعَةٌ وَلُبثٌ فَهَذا

كَ مَجازاً لَنا وَهَذا مَقَرّا

كَ مَجازاً لَنا وَهَذا مَقَرّا

A lodging destined soon to be left, and a brief stay: this

two abodes, of transience and permanence; that

is only our passage, while that is our lasting abode.

is our passage, and this our resting place.

كُلَّ يَومٍ نَذُمُّ لِلدَهرِ عَهداً

كُلَّ يَومٍ نَذُمُّ لِلدَهرِ عَهداً

خانَ فيهِ وَنَشتَكي مِنهُ غَدرا

خانَ فيهِ وَنَشتَكي مِنهُ غَدرا

Each day we fault Time for a covenant

Each day we reproach time for a pledge

it betrayed, and complain of its treachery.

it broke, and complain of its treachery.

قَد أُنيخَت لَنا الرَكائِبُ فَالحا

قَد أُنيخَت لَنا الرَكائِبُ فَالحا

زِمُ عَبّى زاداً وَوَطَّأَ ظَهرا

زِمُ عَبّى زاداً وَوَطَّأَ ظَهرا

The mounts have been made to kneel for us; the resolute man

The riding-camels are made to kneel for us; the prudent

has packed provisions and prepared a mount.

man has packed provisions and readied a mount.

أَسمَعَ الحادِيانِ وَاِستَعجَلَ الرَك

أَسمَعَ الحادِيانِ وَاِستَعجَلَ الرَك

بُ زِماعاً إِلى المَنونِ وَنَفرا

بُ زِماعاً إِلى المَنونِ وَنَفرا

The two camel-drivers have called; the determined caravan hastens

The two camel-drivers call out, and the caravan hastens,

toward death and sets out.

resolutely toward death, hurrying away.

كَم فَقيدٍ لَنا طَوَتهُ اللَيالي

كَم فَقيدٍ لَنا طَوَتهُ اللَيالي

ذُقنَ مِنهُ حُلواً وَذَوَّقنَ مُرّا

ذُقنَ مِنهُ حُلواً وَذَوَّقنَ مُرّا

How many dear ones the nights have folded away—

How many a lost one of ours the nights have folded away!

we tasted sweetness from him, then gave him bitterness to taste.

They tasted his sweetness and made us taste bitterness.

وَكَأَنَّ الأَيّامَ يُدرِكنَ ثَأراً

وَكَأَنَّ الأَيّامَ يُدرِكنَ ثَأراً

عِندَنا فيهِ أَو يُقَضّينَ نَذرا

عِندَنا فيهِ أَو يُقَضّينَ نَذرا

As though the days mean to exact a blood-debt

And it is as though the days were exacting vengeance

from us through him, or fulfill a vow.

from us through him, or fulfilling a vow.

إِنَّما المَرءُ كَالقَضيبِ تَراهُ

إِنَّما المَرءُ كَالقَضيبِ تَراهُ

يَكتَسي الأَخضَرَ الرَطيبَ لِيَعرى

يَكتَسي الأَخضَرَ الرَطيبَ لِيَعرى

A person is only like a twig: you see it

A person is only like a branch: you see him

clothe itself in tender green, only to be stripped bare.

clothe himself in fresh green, only to be stripped bare.

مَعكَسُ السَهمِ ذا يُراشُ لِيُمضي

مَعكَسُ السَهمِ ذا يُراشُ لِيُمضي

في المَرامي وَذا يُراشُ لِيُبرى

في المَرامي وَذا يُراشُ لِيُبرى

The reverse of an arrow: this one is feathered so it may fly

The reverse of an arrow: one is feathered to strike

at its marks, while that is feathered only to be pared.

its targets; the other is feathered to be whittled down.

مَن مُؤَدٍّ إِلى عَلىٍّ أَلوكاً

مَن مُؤَدٍّ إِلى عَلىٍّ أَلوكاً

أَبِجِدٍّ عَصيتَ لِلصَبرِ أَمرا

أَبِجِدٍّ عَصيتَ لِلصَبرِ أَمرا

Who will carry a message to Ali:

Who will carry a message to Ali:

“Is it truly possible that you disobeyed patience’s command?

Did you truly disobey patience's command?

أَيُّ خَطبٍ راخى قِواكَ وَقَد كُن

أَيُّ خَطبٍ راخى قِواكَ وَقَد كُن

تَ جَديلاً عَلى الخُطوبِ مُمَرّا

تَ جَديلاً عَلى الخُطوبِ مُمَرّا

What calamity has slackened your strength, when once you

What calamity slackened your strength, when you had

stood firm—a mighty wrestler against calamities,

been a cord tightly twisted against calamities,

وَقَناةٍ صَمّاءَ تَطعَنُ في الخَط

وَقَناةٍ صَمّاءَ تَطعَنُ في الخَط

بِ خِلاجاً عَلى الزَمانِ وَشَزرا

بِ خِلاجاً عَلى الزَمانِ وَشَزرا

a hard spear-point thrust into the heart

and a solid spear thrusting into affliction

of disaster, defying Time and glaring askance?

with wrenching and sidelong thrusts against time?

أُعلُ مِن عَثرَةِ الأَسى إِنَّ لِلأَن

أُعلُ مِن عَثرَةِ الأَسى إِنَّ لِلأَن

جادِ نَهضاً وَلِلأَعاجِزِ عَثرا

جادِ نَهضاً وَلِلأَعاجِزِ عَثرا

Rise from grief’s stumble; surely the valiant

Rise from grief's stumble: the valiant

rise, while the helpless stumble.

rise again, while the helpless stumble.

أَيُّ باقٍ يُبقي عَليكَ وَلَو كُن

أَيُّ باقٍ يُبقي عَليكَ وَلَو كُن

تَ مُوَقّىً مِنَ الخُطوبِ مُعَرّى

تَ مُوَقّىً مِنَ الخُطوبِ مُعَرّى

What living man would survival spare for your sake, even if you

What enduring thing would spare you, even if you had

were guarded and kept free of calamity?

been shielded from calamities and kept free of them?

أَفقَدَ الأَصلَ بالِغاً مُنتَهى النَب

أَفقَدَ الأَصلَ بالِغاً مُنتَهى النَب

تِ المُرَجّى مَن أَفقَدَ الفَرعَ نَضرا

تِ المُرَجّى مَن أَفقَدَ الفَرعَ نَضرا

Is losing the root, after it has attained the utmost

The root was taken after reaching the utmost

hoped-for growth, like losing a branch still green?

hoped-for growth, by him who took the branch still green.

كُن كَعودِ الطَريقِ طالَ سُراهُ

كُن كَعودِ الطَريقِ طالَ سُراهُ

يَشتَكي قَفرَةً وَيَألَمُ عَقرا

يَشتَكي قَفرَةً وَيَألَمُ عَقرا

Be like the seasoned road-camel whose night journey has lengthened,

Be like the old road-camel whose night journey is long,

complaining of the wasteland and aching from a wound;

complaining of the waste, aching with saddle-sores;

وَالجَليدَ الَّذي إِذا الدَهرُ أَبكى

وَالجَليدَ الَّذي إِذا الدَهرُ أَبكى

مِنهُ قَلباً جَلّى عَلى الناسِ ثَغرا

مِنهُ قَلباً جَلّى عَلى الناسِ ثَغرا

like the hardy man who, when Time makes

and the steadfast man who, when time makes

his heart weep, shows people a smiling face;

his heart weep, shows people a smile.

مُستَميتاً يَزُرُّ بِالصَبرِ دِرعاً

مُستَميتاً يَزُرُّ بِالصَبرِ دِرعاً

وَيَراهُ في ظُلمَةِ الهَمِّ فَجرا

وَيَراهُ في ظُلمَةِ الهَمِّ فَجرا

one who courts death, fastening patience on as armor,

Braving death, he fastens patience on as armor,

and sees it as dawn within care’s darkness;

and sees it as dawn in the darkness of grief.

وَقَرَتهُ رَوائِعُ الدَهرِ حَتّى

وَقَرَتهُ رَوائِعُ الدَهرِ حَتّى

لَم يُرَع غَيرَ مَرَّةٍ وَاِستَمَرّا

لَم يُرَع غَيرَ مَرَّةٍ وَاِستَمَرّا

a man whom Time’s terrors have hardened, until

Time's terrors weighed him down until

he was startled but once, then held his course.

he was shaken only once, then held firm.

كُلَّما زيدَ غُمَّةً زادَ صَبراً

كُلَّما زيدَ غُمَّةً زادَ صَبراً

ضَرَمُ الزِندِ كُلَّما لُزَّ أورى

ضَرَمُ الزِندِ كُلَّما لُزَّ أورى

Whenever his distress increased, his patience increased:

Whenever his distress increased, his patience increased;

a firebrand that, whenever pressed, flared brighter.

a firestick's blaze flares whenever it is pressed.

أَرمَضَتهُ هَواجِرُ الخَطبِ فَاِنقا

أَرمَضَتهُ هَواجِرُ الخَطبِ فَاِنقا

دَ حَمولَ الأَذى وَما قالَ هُجرا

دَ حَمولَ الأَذى وَما قالَ هُجرا

The blazing noons of calamity scorched him, and he yielded—

Calamity's noonday heats scorched him; he submitted,

bearing injury, never uttering abuse.

bearing harm patiently, saying nothing foul.

هابَ ضَحضاحَها وَمَرَّ بِهِ الدَه

هابَ ضَحضاحَها وَمَرَّ بِهِ الدَه

رُ عَلى سُبلِها فَخاضَ الغَمرا

رُ عَلى سُبلِها فَخاضَ الغَمرا

He feared its shallows, but Time bore him

He feared its shallows, and time carried him

along its paths, and he plunged into the deep.

along its paths, and he waded into the depths.

كُلَّما غابَ مِن بَني خَلَفٍ بَد

كُلَّما غابَ مِن بَني خَلَفٍ بَد

رٌ يُضيءُ الظَلامَ أَخلَفَ بَدرا

رٌ يُضيءُ الظَلامَ أَخلَفَ بَدرا

Whenever a full moon among the descendants disappeared,

Whenever a full moon of Banu Khalaf sets—

another moon rose after it, lighting the dark.

one that lights the dark—it leaves another full moon.

نَفَضَ الدَهرُ مِنهُمُ ثُمَّ أَعيَو

نَفَضَ الدَهرُ مِنهُمُ ثُمَّ أَعيَو

هُ بُدوراً مِنَ المَطامِعِ تَترى

هُ بُدوراً مِنَ المَطامِعِ تَترى

Time swept them away, and then they wearied

Time shook some of them away, yet they thwarted

it—full moons of hope succeeding one another.

its ambitions—full moons in unbroken succession.

عَجَباً سَمتُكَ السُلُوُّ وَعِندي

عَجَباً سَمتُكَ السُلُوُّ وَعِندي

مَسُّ جُرحٍ مِنَ الهَوى لَيسَ يَبرا

مَسُّ جُرحٍ مِنَ الهَوى لَيسَ يَبرا

Strange: I urge you to forget, while within me

Strange! I urged you to find solace, while within me

is the touch of a wound from love that will not heal.

is the sting of love's wound that will not heal.

أَتَوَخّى بَردَ القُلوبِ مِنَ الوَج

أَتَوَخّى بَردَ القُلوبِ مِنَ الوَج

دِ وَقَلبي يَزدادُ بِالوَجدِ حَرّا

دِ وَقَلبي يَزدادُ بِالوَجدِ حَرّا

I seek to cool the heart from longing,

I seek to cool hearts from grief,

yet my heart grows hotter with longing.

while my heart grows hotter with grief.

وَإِذا قُلتُ يَنزِعُ الدَهرُ ناباً

وَإِذا قُلتُ يَنزِعُ الدَهرُ ناباً

مِن بَقايا ذَوِيَّ أَعلَقَ ظُفرا

مِن بَقايا ذَوِيَّ أَعلَقَ ظُفرا

Whenever I say, “Time has pulled a fang

And when I say time is withdrawing a fang

from the remnants of my kin,” it seizes with a claw.

from my surviving kin, it sinks a claw.

كُلَّما أَبلَغَ العَواذِلُ سَمعي

كُلَّما أَبلَغَ العَواذِلُ سَمعي

في التَسَلّي عَن مَعشَرٍ زادَ وَقرا

في التَسَلّي عَن مَعشَرٍ زادَ وَقرا

Whenever the censurers make my ears hear

Whenever reproachers reach my hearing,

their calls to forget my people, I grow deafer.

urging me to forget a people, it grows more deaf.

أَجِدُ القَلبَ بَعدَ لَومِيَ أَسخى

أَجِدُ القَلبَ بَعدَ لَومِيَ أَسخى

فَكَأَنَّ اللاحَيَّ بِما قالَ أَغرى

فَكَأَنَّ اللاحَيَّ بِما قالَ أَغرى

After reproaching myself, I find my heart more lavish,

After being reproached, I find my heart more generous;

as though the reproacher’s words had only spurred it on.

as though the reproacher's words had spurred it on.

زادَ عَذلاً فَزادَ قَلبي وُلوعاً

زادَ عَذلاً فَزادَ قَلبي وُلوعاً

رُبَّ آسٍ أَرادَ نَفعاً فَضَرّا

رُبَّ آسٍ أَرادَ نَفعاً فَضَرّا

He increased his blame; my heart increased in passion—

He increased his rebuke; my heart increased its devotion.

many a healer, intending benefit, has caused harm.

Many a healer sought to help, but harmed.

فَسَقى الدَمعُ مَعشَراً نَزَلوا القَل

فَسَقى الدَمعُ مَعشَراً نَزَلوا القَل

بَ وَأَخلوا باقي المَنازِلِ طُرّا

بَ وَأَخلوا باقي المَنازِلِ طُرّا

May tears water a people who settled in the heart

So may tears water a people who settled in the heart

and left every other dwelling empty.

and left every other dwelling empty.

كُلَّما قَصَّرَ الحَيا كانَ ماءُ ال

كُلَّما قَصَّرَ الحَيا كانَ ماءُ ال

عَينِ أَبقى صَوباً وَأَعظَمَ غَزرا

عَينِ أَبقى صَوباً وَأَعظَمَ غَزرا

Whenever the raincloud withheld its rain, the water of the

Whenever rain fell short, the water of the

eye remained a longer-lasting shower, more copious in its pouring.

eye poured longer and in greater abundance.

كَم حَشَوتُ الثَرى حُساماً طَريراً

كَم حَشَوتُ الثَرى حُساماً طَريراً

وَطَويلاً لَدناً وَطِرفاً أَغَرّا

وَطَويلاً لَدناً وَطِرفاً أَغَرّا

How many a keen, polished sword have I made the earth swallow,

How many gleaming swords I have packed into the earth,

and a long, supple spear, and a blaze-faced steed;

long, supple spears, and white-blazed steeds,

وَخُدوداً مِثلَ الذَوابِلِ مُلساً

وَخُدوداً مِثلَ الذَوابِلِ مُلساً

وَجَباهاً مِثلَ الدَنانيرِ غُرّا

وَجَباهاً مِثلَ الدَنانيرِ غُرّا

cheeks smooth as spear-shafts,

and cheeks smooth as supple spear-shafts,

and brows radiant as gold dinars.

and foreheads bright as gold dinars.

وَكَأَنَّ القُبورَ مِنهُم بِذي الجِز

وَكَأَنَّ القُبورَ مِنهُم بِذي الجِز

عِ عِيابٌ حَمَلنَ دُرّاً وَعِطرا

عِ عِيابٌ حَمَلنَ دُرّاً وَعِطرا

Their graves among them, at Dhi al-Jaz‘,

And it is as though their graves at Dhu al-Jizʿ

seem like chests bearing pearls and perfume.

were coffers laden with pearls and perfume.

أَوجُهٌ صانَها الجَلالُ فَأَمسَي

أَوجُهٌ صانَها الجَلالُ فَأَمسَي

نَ تُراباً تَحتَ الجَنادِلِ غُبرا

نَ تُراباً تَحتَ الجَنادِلِ غُبرا

Faces guarded by majesty have now become

Faces that majesty once guarded have become

dusty earth beneath the boulders.

grey dust beneath the stones.

عَطَّلَ الدَهرُ مِن حِلاهُنَّ فينا

عَطَّلَ الدَهرُ مِن حِلاهُنَّ فينا

وَتَحَلّى الثَرى بِهِنَّ وَأَثرى

وَتَحَلّى الثَرى بِهِنَّ وَأَثرى

Time left our midst bereft of their adornment,

Time deprived us of their adornment,

while earth adorned itself with them and grew rich.

and the earth adorned itself with them and grew rich.

قَطَعَ المَوتُ بَينَنا فَتَبايَن

قَطَعَ المَوتُ بَينَنا فَتَبايَن

نا لِقاءً إِلّا نِزاعاً وَذِكرا

نا لِقاءً إِلّا نِزاعاً وَذِكرا

Death cut between us, and we drew apart—

Death severed our bond, so we parted,

no meeting remains except in yearning and remembrance.

meeting only in yearning and remembrance.

فَبَعَدنا وَما اِعتَمَدنا بِعاداً

فَبَعَدنا وَما اِعتَمَدنا بِعاداً

وَهَجَرنا وَما أَرَدنا الهَجرا

وَهَجَرنا وَما أَرَدنا الهَجرا

We grew distant though we never intended distance;

So we grew distant, though we intended no distance,

we parted though we never wished to part.

and became estranged, though we desired no estrangement.

رَوعَةٌ إِن جَزِعتُ مِنها فَعُذرٌ

رَوعَةٌ إِن جَزِعتُ مِنها فَعُذرٌ

لِجَزوعٍ وَإِن صَبَرتُ فَأَحرى

لِجَزوعٍ وَإِن صَبَرتُ فَأَحرى

It is a shock: if I grieve, grief is excusable

A shock—if I lose composure at it, there is excuse

in one distraught; and if I endure, that is more fitting.

for one distraught; if I endure, that is more fitting.

وَقَعَت مَوقِعَ العَوانِ مِنَ الدَه

وَقَعَت مَوقِعَ العَوانِ مِنَ الدَه

رِ وَإِن كانَتِ الرَزِيَّةُ بِكرا

رِ وَإِن كانَتِ الرَزِيَّةُ بِكرا

Against Time I stand in the place of a seasoned matron,

It struck like a seasoned affliction of time,

though the calamity itself is virgin-new.

though the calamity itself was a maiden.