ما اِبيَضَّ مِن لَونِ العَوارِضِ أَفضَلُ

ما اِبيَضَّ مِن لَونِ العَوارِضِ أَفضَلُ

وَهَوى الفَتى ذاكَ البَياضُ الأَوَّلُ

وَهَوى الفَتى ذاكَ البَياضُ الأَوَّلُ

The whiteness that comes to the beard's sides is better;

No color whiter than the cheeks’

yet a young man's desire is that first whiteness.

The youth fell for that first whiteness

مِثلانِ ذا حَربُ المَلامِ وَذا لَهُ

مِثلانِ ذا حَربُ المَلامِ وَذا لَهُ

سَبَبٌ يُعاوِنُ مَن يَلومُ وَيَعذُلُ

سَبَبٌ يُعاوِنُ مَن يَلومُ وَيَعذُلُ

They are alike: one is blame's foe, while the other has

We were alike - fighting blame, and for him

a cause that aids whoever blames and reproaches.

A reason, aiding whoever blames and dispraises

أَرنو إِلى يَقَقِ المَشيبِ فَلا أَرى

أَرنو إِلى يَقَقِ المَشيبِ فَلا أَرى

إِلّا قَواضِبَ لِلرِقابِ تُسَلَّلُ

إِلّا قَواضِبَ لِلرِقابِ تُسَلَّلُ

I gaze at the pure whiteness of gray hair and see nothing

I look to the thickening of white hair, I see nothing

but cutting swords being drawn against necks.

But nooses on necks creeping

وَاللِمَّةُ البَيضاءُ أَهوَنُ حادِثٍ

وَاللِمَّةُ البَيضاءُ أَهوَنُ حادِثٍ

في الدَهرِ لَو أَنَّ الرَدى لا يَعجِلُ

في الدَهرِ لَو أَنَّ الرَدى لا يَعجِلُ

White shoulder-length hair is the least of misfortunes

And the white mark, a slight misfortune

in time, if only death did not hasten.

If only destiny does not hasten

وَلَقَد حَمَلتُ شَبابَها وَمَشيبَها

وَلَقَد حَمَلتُ شَبابَها وَمَشيبَها

فَإِذا المَشيبُ عَلى الذَوائِبِ أَثقَلُ

فَإِذا المَشيبُ عَلى الذَوائِبِ أَثقَلُ

I have borne its youth and its grayness,

I carried its youth and white hair

and behold, grayness is heavier upon the locks.

Yet white hair weighs down more on the chins

إِنّي غُرِرتُ مِنَ الهَوى فَشَرِبتُهُ

إِنّي غُرِرتُ مِنَ الهَوى فَشَرِبتُهُ

لَم أَدرِ أَنَّ عَقيبَ شُربِيَ حَنظَلُ

لَم أَدرِ أَنَّ عَقيبَ شُربِيَ حَنظَلُ

I was deceived by passion, and so I drank it;

I was tempted by passion and drank it

I did not know colocynth would follow my draught.

Unaware that bitterness followed my drinking

وَعَلِمتُ أَنَّ وَرايَ أَطوَلَ سَكرَةٍ

وَعَلِمتُ أَنَّ وَرايَ أَطوَلَ سَكرَةٍ

مِمّا أُعَلُّ مِنَ الغَرامِ وَأُنهَلُ

مِمّا أُعَلُّ مِنَ الغَرامِ وَأُنهَلُ

And I learned that a longer stupor lay ahead of me

And I knew what intoxication comes after

than the passion I am given to drink, draught upon draught.

Is lengthier than my fervor and deeper draughts

عَجَباً لِمَن يَلقى الهَوى بِفُؤادِهِ

عَجَباً لِمَن يَلقى الهَوى بِفُؤادِهِ

عَجلانَ وَهوَ مِنَ التَجَلُّدِ أَعزَلُ

عَجلانَ وَهوَ مِنَ التَجَلُّدِ أَعزَلُ

How strange is one who meets passion with his heart

Wondrous! One who meets passion with his heart

in haste, unarmed with fortitude!

Hasty, while most patient and steadfast of all

إِن لا يُعَرِّض لِلذَوابِلِ قَلبَهُ

إِن لا يُعَرِّض لِلذَوابِلِ قَلبَهُ

إِنَّ الطِعانَ مِنَ البَلابِلِ أَسهَلُ

إِنَّ الطِعانَ مِنَ البَلابِلِ أَسهَلُ

If he does not expose his heart to slender spears—

One who does not expose his heart to piercing

indeed, spear-thrusts are easier than anguish.

Arrows find the stabs of calamities gentler

الآنَ جَلَّلَني الوَقارُ رِداءَهُ

الآنَ جَلَّلَني الوَقارُ رِداءَهُ

وَاِنجابَ عَن عَينَيَّ ذاكَ الغَيطَلُ

وَاِنجابَ عَن عَينَيَّ ذاكَ الغَيطَلُ

Now dignity has clothed me in its mantle,

Now dignity cloaks me in its gown

and that dense darkness has lifted from my eyes.

And distracted me from that coquetry

وَنَزَعتُ وَجداً كانَ يَشمَخُ كُلَّما

وَنَزَعتُ وَجداً كانَ يَشمَخُ كُلَّما

أَغرى المَلامُ بِهِ وَلَجَّ العُذَّلُ

أَغرى المَلامُ بِهِ وَلَجَّ العُذَّلُ

And I cast off a longing that rose in pride whenever

I shook off fervor which grew bolder

reproof stirred hostility against it and the reproachers persisted.

Whenever blame enticed it and dispraise enveloped

أَنا مَن عَلِمتَ وَلَيسَ يُطفِىءُ سَطوَتي

أَنا مَن عَلِمتَ وَلَيسَ يُطفِىءُ سَطوَتي

غُلَواءُ مَن يَطغى إِلَيَّ وَيَجهَلُ

غُلَواءُ مَن يَطغى إِلَيَّ وَيَجهَلُ

I am the man you know; my might is not quenched by

I am he whom you knew, and none can extinguish my domination

the excesses of anyone who tyrannizes against me and acts foolishly.

Not even the injustice of one who transgresses against me, ignorant

يُغضي العَدوُّ إِذا طَلَعتُ وَقَلبُهُ

يُغضي العَدوُّ إِذا طَلَعتُ وَقَلبُهُ

يَغلي عَلَيهِ مِنَ الضَغائِنِ مِرجَلُ

يَغلي عَلَيهِ مِنَ الضَغائِنِ مِرجَلُ

The enemy lowers his eyes when I appear, and his heart—

The enemy’s eye dims when I appear

a cauldron of hatreds boils over it.

His heart boiling with resentments like embers

وَيُزيغُني عَمّا أُجِنُّ مُخاتِلاً

وَيُزيغُني عَمّا أُجِنُّ مُخاتِلاً

وَالأَورَقُ العاديُّ لا يَتَزَلزَلُ

وَالأَورَقُ العاديُّ لا يَتَزَلزَلُ

He tries deceitfully to turn me from what I conceal,

He would distract me from my purpose, evading

but the marauding gray wolf does not waver.

Yet the sturdy, smooth spear cannot waver

أَجلو عَلَيهِ ناجِذي وَلَوِ اِجتَلى

أَجلو عَلَيهِ ناجِذي وَلَوِ اِجتَلى

ما بَينَ أَضلاعي لَباتَ يُقَلقِلُ

ما بَينَ أَضلاعي لَباتَ يُقَلقِلُ

I bare my back tooth at him; yet if he could see

I revealed my incisors, and if he faced me

what lies between my ribs, he would spend the night trembling.

He would spend the night restless, writhing in pain

فَعَلامَ أُزجَرُ بِالوَعيدِ وَأَجتَري

فَعَلامَ أُزجَرُ بِالوَعيدِ وَأَجتَري

وَإِلامَ أَطلُبُ بِالدُخولِ وَأُمطَلُ

وَإِلامَ أَطلُبُ بِالدُخولِ وَأُمطَلُ

Why, then, am I checked with threats, though I am bold?

Why then do I threaten or attack in vain,

And how long shall I seek admittance, only to be put off?

What do I seek by entry or withdrawal?

ما لي قَنِعتُ كَأَنَّ لَيسَ مُهَنَّدي

ما لي قَنِعتُ كَأَنَّ لَيسَ مُهَنَّدي

بِيَدي وَلا جَدّي النَبِيُّ المُرسَلُ

بِيَدي وَلا جَدّي النَبِيُّ المُرسَلُ

Why have I been content, as though my Indian sword were not

I was not content, as if my ancestor

in my hand, nor the commissioned Prophet my forefather?

Were not the prophet, the messenger sent

فَلَآخُذَنَّ مِنَ الزَمانِ غُلُبَّةً

فَلَآخُذَنَّ مِنَ الزَمانِ غُلُبَّةً

حَقّي وَأَمنَعُ ما أَشاءُ وَأَبذُلُ

حَقّي وَأَمنَعُ ما أَشاءُ وَأَبذُلُ

I shall surely wrest from time, by force,

I will seize supremacy over time

my right, and withhold what I wish, and give.

My right, forbid what I wish, spend what I please

وَلَأَدخُلَنَّ عَلى النِساءِ خُدورَها

وَلَأَدخُلَنَّ عَلى النِساءِ خُدورَها

وَاليَومَ لَيلٌ بِالعَجاجَةِ أَليَلُ

وَاليَومَ لَيلٌ بِالعَجاجَةِ أَليَلُ

I shall surely enter the women's secluded chambers,

I will enter the homes of women

while day is a night made darker by the dust-cloud:

And today darkness is deeper with clouds

مُتَضايِقٌ يَدعو القَريبَ ضَجاجُهُ

مُتَضايِقٌ يَدعو القَريبَ ضَجاجُهُ

أَبَداً وَيَلمَعُ بِالبَعيدِ القَسطَلُ

أَبَداً وَيَلمَعُ بِالبَعيدِ القَسطَلُ

a constricted day whose clamor calls those nearby

The desperate calls out his near while the deluded

unceasingly, while the dust-cloud flashes before those afar.

Yearns for the distant, deceived star

وَعَلَيَّ أَن يَطَأَ العِراقَ وَأَهلَها

وَعَلَيَّ أَن يَطَأَ العِراقَ وَأَهلَها

يَومٌ أَغَرُّ مِنَ الدِماءِ مُحَجَّلُ

يَومٌ أَغَرُّ مِنَ الدِماءِ مُحَجَّلُ

It is my charge that Iraq and its people be trodden by

It is incumbent on me to tread on Iraq and its people

a white-blazed day, its fetlocks marked with blood.

A day redder than blood, armed

يَومٌ تَزِلُّ بِهِ القُلوبُ مِنَ الرَدى

يَومٌ تَزِلُّ بِهِ القُلوبُ مِنَ الرَدى

جَزَعاً وَأَحرى أَن تَزِلَّ الأَرجُلُ

جَزَعاً وَأَحرى أَن تَزِلَّ الأَرجُلُ

A day on which hearts slip at death

A day when hearts slip away in fear of fate

in terror—and feet are likelier still to slip.

And feet should slip even more in dread

وَعَجاجَةٍ تَلقى السَماءَ بِمِثلِها

وَعَجاجَةٍ تَلقى السَماءَ بِمِثلِها

عِظَماً كَما مَدَّ الغَمامُ المُثقَلُ

عِظَماً كَما مَدَّ الغَمامُ المُثقَلُ

And a dust-cloud that meets the sky, matching it

With clouds reaching equally high

in vastness, as the laden clouds stretch out.

As if the laden clouds stretched

لَو شامَ موسى كَفَّهُ في لَيلِها

لَو شامَ موسى كَفَّهُ في لَيلِها

خَفيَ البَياضِ عَلى الَّذي يَتَأَمَّلُ

خَفيَ البَياضِ عَلى الَّذي يَتَأَمَّلُ

If Moses drew forth his hand in its night,

Had Moses glimpsed its night with his palm

its whiteness would be hidden from anyone who looked.

The whiteness would conceal even deep examination

طَلَبَ العُلى وَالجَدُّ فيهِ مِنَ العُلى

طَلَبَ العُلى وَالجَدُّ فيهِ مِنَ العُلى

وَإِلى المَرامِ نَأى وَطالَ تَغَلغُلُ

وَإِلى المَرامِ نَأى وَطالَ تَغَلغُلُ

The pursuit of greatness, and striving for it, are greatness;

He sought loftiness, and seriousness toward the loftiness,

and the way to the goal is a deep advance, distant and long.

Keep away from the goal, persisting in struggle

فَاِعزِم فَلَيسَ عَلَيكَ إِلّا عَزمَةٌ

فَاِعزِم فَلَيسَ عَلَيكَ إِلّا عَزمَةٌ

وَالعَجزُ عُنوانٌ لِمَن يَتَوَكَّلُ

وَالعَجزُ عُنوانٌ لِمَن يَتَوَكَّلُ

So resolve: all that is required of you is one firm resolve;

Be determined - nothing left but determination

helplessness is the hallmark of one who relies on fate.

Incapacity the mark of one who depends

أَو حَمِّلِ اللَومَ القَضاءَ فَإِنَّهُ

أَو حَمِّلِ اللَومَ القَضاءَ فَإِنَّهُ

عَودٌ لِأَثقالِ المَلامِ مُذَلَّلُ

عَودٌ لِأَثقالِ المَلامِ مُذَلَّلُ

Or load the blame upon fate, for it is

Or blame fate, for it is

a seasoned camel, tamed to bear the burdens of reproof.

A rod leveling the blame heaped

وَيُجيرُ مِن عَوراءِ هَمِّكَ سابِحٌ

وَيُجيرُ مِن عَوراءِ هَمِّكَ سابِحٌ

أَو صارِمٌ أَو ذابِلٌ أَو مِقوَلُ

أَو صارِمٌ أَو ذابِلٌ أَو مِقوَلُ

A swift steed shields you from your cares' disgrace,

A swimmer, horseman, languid or spoken

or a keen sword, or a slender spear, or an eloquent tongue.

May provide cover during your concerns

لا تُحدِثَن طَمَعاً وَجَدُّكَ مُدبِرٌ

لا تُحدِثَن طَمَعاً وَجَدُّكَ مُدبِرٌ

وَاِطلُب مَدى الدُنيا وَجَدُّكَ مُقبِلُ

وَاِطلُب مَدى الدُنيا وَجَدُّكَ مُقبِلُ

Do not entertain ambition while your fortune recedes;

Do not create hope while your fervor retreats

seek the world's farthest reach while your fortune advances.

And seek the life of the world while desire comes

وَاِعقِل رَجاءَكَ بِالحُسَينِ فَإِنَّهُ

وَاِعقِل رَجاءَكَ بِالحُسَينِ فَإِنَّهُ

حَرَمٌ يُذِمُّ مِنَ الزَمانِ وَمَعقِلُ

حَرَمٌ يُذِمُّ مِنَ الزَمانِ وَمَعقِلُ

Bind your hope to al-Husayn, for he is

Tether your hopes to the excellent

a sanctuary granting shelter from time, and a fortress.

Sanctum diminishing the times, and stronghold

جَذلانَ تَقطُرُ نِعمَةً أَيّامُهُ

جَذلانَ تَقطُرُ نِعمَةً أَيّامُهُ

لِلطالِبينَ فَراغِبٌ وَمُؤَمِّلُ

لِلطالِبينَ فَراغِبٌ وَمُؤَمِّلُ

Joyful, his days drip bounty

Generous hands from which his days drip

for seekers—those desirous and those hopeful.

Favors for seekers, hopeful and expectant

ماضي المَقالِ يَكادُ مِن تَطبيقِهِ

ماضي المَقالِ يَكادُ مِن تَطبيقِهِ

يَومَ الجِدالِ يَئِنُّ مِنهُ المَفصِلُ

يَومَ الجِدالِ يَئِنُّ مِنهُ المَفصِلُ

Keen in speech, his striking home almost makes

My words nearly crumple, when applied

the joint itself groan beneath it on the day of debate.

On the day of trial, from their precision

غَيرِ المُعاجِلِ بِالعِقابِ إِذا هَفا

غَيرِ المُعاجِلِ بِالعِقابِ إِذا هَفا

جُرمٌ وَيَسبُقُ بِالعَطاءِ وَيَعجَلُ

جُرمٌ وَيَسبُقُ بِالعَطاءِ وَيَعجَلُ

Never hasty with punishment when

He does not hastily punish a crime, once it wanes,

a wrong occurs, he is first and swift in giving.

And is quick to bestow, hastening

ضِرغامِ هَيجاءٍ كَفاهُ بِأَنَّهُ

ضِرغامِ هَيجاءٍ كَفاهُ بِأَنَّهُ

عِندَ القَواضِبِ وَالقَنا بي مُشبِلُ

عِندَ القَواضِبِ وَالقَنا بي مُشبِلُ

A lion of battle: it suffices him that

The confusion of stirring up turmoil, it is enough

amid cutting swords and spears, he has me as his cub.

To be near destruction and the writhing of agony

نَستَعطِفُ الأَمرَ المُوَلّي بِاِسمِهِ

نَستَعطِفُ الأَمرَ المُوَلّي بِاِسمِهِ

فَيَعودُ أَو نَدعو العَلاءَ فَيُقبِلُ

فَيَعودُ أَو نَدعو العَلاءَ فَيُقبِلُ

We coax back a retreating affair with his name,

We appeal to authority by his name

and it returns; or we summon high rank, and it comes.

And it responds, or we call the Most High, and He comes

وَلَرُبَّ يَومٍ قَد مَلَأتَ فُروجَهُ

وَلَرُبَّ يَومٍ قَد مَلَأتَ فُروجَهُ

خَيلاً تَدَرَّعُ بِالغُبارِ وَتُرقِلُ

خَيلاً تَدَرَّعُ بِالغُبارِ وَتُرقِلُ

Many a day you have filled its gaps

And perhaps one day, you filled its expanse

with horses armored in dust and trotting swiftly,

With steeds clad in dust, milling about

وَفَوارِساً يَتَزاحَمونَ عَلى الرَدى

وَفَوارِساً يَتَزاحَمونَ عَلى الرَدى

نَهلاً وَقَد عَزَّ البَرودُ السَلسَلُ

نَهلاً وَقَد عَزَّ البَرودُ السَلسَلُ

and horsemen jostling toward death

And horsemen vying over bodies

for a first draught, when cool, flowing water was scarce.

Stabbing them, while the cutting blades are scarce

مِن كُلِّ أَروَعَ ماجِدٍ في كَفِّهِ

مِن كُلِّ أَروَعَ ماجِدٍ في كَفِّهِ

قَلَقٌ هَتوفٌ بِالمَنونِ وَمَعوِلُ

قَلَقٌ هَتوفٌ بِالمَنونِ وَمَعوِلُ

Each an awe-inspiring, noble man, in whose hand

In each valiant hand, anxiety waving

a restless blade cries out for death and wails.

His death flag, and tools of annihilation -

ضَرباً كَأَشداقِ الهِجانِ رَواغِياً

ضَرباً كَأَشداقِ الهِجانِ رَواغِياً

وَوَغىً كَما اِضطَرَمَ الأَباءُ المُشعَلُ

وَوَغىً كَما اِضطَرَمَ الأَباءُ المُشعَلُ

With blows like the mouths of bellowing purebred camels,

Blows like the cheeks of warriors, faces distorted

and battle-roar like kindled reeds ablaze,

Tumult as fierce as the ignited inferno

وَعُيونَ طَعنٍ كَالعُيونِ يَمُدُّها

وَعُيونَ طَعنٍ كَالعُيونِ يَمُدُّها

ماءٌ مَذانِبُهُ العُروقُ الذُبَّلُ

ماءٌ مَذانِبُهُ العُروقُ الذُبَّلُ

and spear-wounds like springs, fed

Eyes of piercing like eyes it sends forth

by water whose channels are the withered veins.

Water whose veins have shriveled

مِن كُلِّ شَوهاءَ الضُلوعِ مُثيرُها

مِن كُلِّ شَوهاءَ الضُلوعِ مُثيرُها

مُتَعَوِّذٌ وَالناظِرُ المُتَأَمِّلُ

مُتَعَوِّذٌ وَالناظِرُ المُتَأَمِّلُ

From every hideous, rib-baring wound, its maker

Out of every horrible gash in the ribs, it’s cause

seeks refuge, as does the observer who looks closely.

A hostage-taker, and an onlooker examining

شَهّاقَةٍ تَدِقُ النَجيعَ وَتَنطَوي

شَهّاقَةٍ تَدِقُ النَجيعَ وَتَنطَوي

فيها المَسائِلُ أَو تَضَلُّ الأُنمُلُ

فيها المَسائِلُ أَو تَضَلُّ الأُنمُلُ

A deep, gaping wound that rains gore, and folded away

Voracious in consuming the soft internal organs

within it are probes, or fingertips are lost.

Gathering inquiries, or losing fingers

يَنزو لَها عَلَقٌ تُمُطِّقَ خَلفَهُ

يَنزو لَها عَلَقٌ تُمُطِّقَ خَلفَهُ

أَو عانِدٌ يَلقى النَواظِرَ شَلشَلُ

أَو عانِدٌ يَلقى النَواظِرَ شَلشَلُ

Clotted blood spurts from it, and it smacks its lips in its wake,

There descends to it soft things it chews after

or an unchecked stream meets the eyes, cascading.

Or a challenger meeting stares askance

وَلَدَيكَ إِن طَمَحَ العَدوُّ صَوارِمٌ

وَلَدَيكَ إِن طَمَحَ العَدوُّ صَوارِمٌ

تُدمى عَرانينَ العِدا وَتُذَلِّلُ

تُدمى عَرانينَ العِدا وَتُذَلِّلُ

You have, should the enemy grow ambitious, keen swords

While you - should the enemy aspire - have swords

that bloody the enemies' noses and humble them.

That bloody the foe’s forearms and humble them

كَالنارِ ما يَسأَلنَ غَيرَ ضَريبَةٍ

كَالنارِ ما يَسأَلنَ غَيرَ ضَريبَةٍ

وَالسَيفُ أَعلى مَن يَجودُ وَيُسأَلُ

وَالسَيفُ أَعلى مَن يَجودُ وَيُسأَلُ

Like fire, they ask for nothing but a target;

Like fire that requires no more than a slight

the sword is highest among givers and those petitioned.

While the sword is loftier to give and is asked

يُستَبهَمُ الأَمرُ الفَظيعُ فَلا تَرى

يُستَبهَمُ الأَمرُ الفَظيعُ فَلا تَرى

إِلّا القَواضِبَ مَطلَعاً يُتَقَبَّلُ

إِلّا القَواضِبَ مَطلَعاً يُتَقَبَّلُ

A dreadful affair grows inscrutable, and you see nothing

The horrific unknown, you see nothing but

but cutting swords as an acceptable way out.

Rising nooses that are welcomed

ما بَينَ مَن يَخشى المَنيَّةَ وَالَّذي

ما بَينَ مَن يَخشى المَنيَّةَ وَالَّذي

يَصلى بِها في العُمرِ إِلّا مَنزِلُ

يَصلى بِها في العُمرِ إِلّا مَنزِلُ

Between one who fears death and one who

Nothing between he who fears death and he

braves its fire, there is but one station in a lifetime.

Who has it for life’s companion but halting places

لا تَنظُرِ الباغي لِقُربى وَاِرمِهِ

لا تَنظُرِ الباغي لِقُربى وَاِرمِهِ

بِالذُلِّ وَاِقطَع ما عَلَيهِ يُعَوِّلُ

بِالذُلِّ وَاِقطَع ما عَلَيهِ يُعَوِّلُ

Give the aggressor no respite for kinship; strike him

Do not regard a wrong-doer as kin and make him suffer disgrace

with humiliation, and cut off what he relies upon.

Sever ties he depends on and pull his pillars down

هَذا الأَمينُ أَدالَ مِنهُ شَقيقُهُ

هَذا الأَمينُ أَدالَ مِنهُ شَقيقُهُ

وَمَضى عَقيراً بِاِبنِهِ المُتَوَكِّلُ

وَمَضى عَقيراً بِاِبنِهِ المُتَوَكِّلُ

Here is al-Amin: his brother turned the tables on him;

This trusted one, his brother is more equitable than him

and al-Mutawakkil passed away, slain through his son.

He died estranged from his trusting son

وَالعَفوُ مَكرُمَةٌ فَإِن أَغرى بِها

وَالعَفوُ مَكرُمَةٌ فَإِن أَغرى بِها

مُتَغافِلٌ قالَ الرِجالُ مُغَفَّلُ

مُتَغافِلٌ قالَ الرِجالُ مُغَفَّلُ

Pardon is noble; but if by it

Pardoning is honorable - when conceded

a man feigning blindness emboldens others, men call him a dupe.

To one forgetful, the men say: Oblivious!

وَلَقَد حَضَرتُ وَأَنتَ غائِبُ نَكبَةٍ

وَلَقَد حَضَرتُ وَأَنتَ غائِبُ نَكبَةٍ

فَخَلاكَ ما قالَ العِدا وَتَقَوَّلوا

فَخَلاكَ ما قالَ العِدا وَتَقَوَّلوا

I witnessed a calamity while you were absent,

I was present when you were absent at a defeat

so what the enemies said and fabricated passed you by.

Your absence spared you what the enemies said and what they invented

لا يَغرُرَنَّكَ أَنَّهُم بِسِهامِهِم

لا يَغرُرَنَّكَ أَنَّهُم بِسِهامِهِم

أَشوَوا وَما بَلَغوا مَدى ما أَمَّلوا

أَشوَوا وَما بَلَغوا مَدى ما أَمَّلوا

Do not be deceived because, with their arrows,

Do not be fooled if their arrows

they struck no vital spot and fell short of what they hoped.

Scorched, for they have not reached what they hoped for

هَيهاتَ لَم يَرمِ العَدوُّ بِسَهمِهِ

هَيهاتَ لَم يَرمِ العَدوُّ بِسَهمِهِ

وَإِنِ اِنزَوى إِلّا لَيَدمى المَقتَلُ

وَإِنِ اِنزَوى إِلّا لَيَدمى المَقتَلُ

Far from it! The foe did not shoot his arrow,

Never does an enemy’s arrow, even if it hits true

even from concealment, except to make a vital spot bleed.

Wound except what is already destined for death

وَأَنا المُضارِبُ عَن عُلاكَ بِمِقوَلٍ

وَأَنا المُضارِبُ عَن عُلاكَ بِمِقوَلٍ

ماضي الغِرارِ وَلا الجُرازُ المِصقَلُ

ماضي الغِرارِ وَلا الجُرازُ المِصقَلُ

I defend your greatness with a tongue

I counter those who blame you with a saying

of keen edge—not with a polished, cleaving sword.

Past regrets, nor polished excuses

يُدمي الجَوارِحَ وَهوَ ساكِنُ غِمدِهِ

يُدمي الجَوارِحَ وَهوَ ساكِنُ غِمدِهِ

وَلَقَلَّما يَمضي بِغِمدٍ مُنصُلُ

وَلَقَلَّما يَمضي بِغِمدٍ مُنصُلُ

It bloodies limbs while resting in its sheath;

That sheds blood while still in its sheath

rarely does a sword cut while still sheathed.

Rarely does a drawn sword remain sheathed

هَيهاتَ يَلحَقُ بِالصَميمِ مُدَرَّعٌ

هَيهاتَ يَلحَقُ بِالصَميمِ مُدَرَّعٌ

أَبَداً وَيُزري بِالبِحارِ الجَدوَلُ

أَبَداً وَيُزري بِالبِحارِ الجَدوَلُ

Never can one clad in armor match a man of solid mettle,

Never can armor reach the mortal spot

nor can a brook ever put the seas to shame.

Nor can the wave push back the rapids

ما صارِمٌ كَدِرُ الذُبابِ كَصارِمٍ

ما صارِمٌ كَدِرُ الذُبابِ كَصارِمٍ

خَلَعَ الجَلاءَ عَلى ظُباهُ الصَيقَلُ

خَلَعَ الجَلاءَ عَلى ظُباهُ الصَيقَلُ

No dull-pointed sword is like a sword

No blade’s like the buzzing of flies, not one

whose edges the polisher has clothed in brightness.

That bared its sharpness on smooth stone

وَسَماؤُنا الظَلماءُ يَكتُمُ شَخصَها

وَسَماؤُنا الظَلماءُ يَكتُمُ شَخصَها

أَنّى أَضاءَ العارِضُ المُتَهَلِّلُ

أَنّى أَضاءَ العارِضُ المُتَهَلِّلُ

Our dark sky, with its vast form, conceals—

Our gloomy sky hides its perspective

wherever it shines—the flashing cloud.

Wherever bright dawn leaks through

لَيسَ التَفَرُّدُ بِالعَلاءِ طَماعَةً

لَيسَ التَفَرُّدُ بِالعَلاءِ طَماعَةً

إِنَّ العُلى دَرَجٌ لِمَن يَتَوَقَّلُ

إِنَّ العُلى دَرَجٌ لِمَن يَتَوَقَّلُ

Standing alone in glory is not greed;

Being peerless is no arrogance

greatness is a stairway for whoever climbs.

Loftiness is the rank of one who climbs

نَظمٌ وَنَثرٌ قَد طَمَحتُ إِلَيهِما

نَظمٌ وَنَثرٌ قَد طَمَحتُ إِلَيهِما

صُعُداً وَيَعنو لِلأَخيرِ الأَوَّلُ

صُعُداً وَيَعنو لِلأَخيرِ الأَوَّلُ

Verse and prose: I have aspired to both,

Poetry and prose - I aspired to them

upward, and the former bows to the latter.

As ladders, while beginnings yearn for the last

وَحَديثُ فَضلي ضارِبٌ بِعُروقِهِ

وَحَديثُ فَضلي ضارِبٌ بِعُروقِهِ

في الأَرضِ يَنقُلُهُ المَطيُّ البُزَّلُ

في الأَرضِ يَنقُلُهُ المَطيُّ البُزَّلُ

The tale of my excellence strikes its roots

And talk of my merit laid roots

into the earth, borne by full-grown riding camels.

Coursing the land, transported on a fleet horse

لَولاكَ ما سَمَحَت بِقَولٍ هِمَّتي

لَولاكَ ما سَمَحَت بِقَولٍ هِمَّتي

قَدري أَجَلُّ مِنَ القَريضِ وَأَفضَلُ

قَدري أَجَلُّ مِنَ القَريضِ وَأَفضَلُ

Were it not for you, my ambition would not consent to speech;

Had it not been for you, my resolve would not have approved

my worth is loftier than poetry, and better.

My pen more sublime than poetry, superior

هَذا وَفي بَعضِ الَّذي اِمتَلَأَت بِهِ

هَذا وَفي بَعضِ الَّذي اِمتَلَأَت بِهِ

عَنّي البِلادُ لَقائِلٌ مِتَعَلِّلُ

عَنّي البِلادُ لَقائِلٌ مِتَعَلِّلُ

All this; and in some of what has filled

Along with some of what the countries brimmed with

the lands from me, a speaker finds a pretext.

Are disapproving critics finding fault

لَمّا نَظَرتُ إِلى عُلاكَ غَريبَةٍ

لَمّا نَظَرتُ إِلى عُلاكَ غَريبَةٍ

وَمُضَيَّعٌ راعي المَناقِبِ مُهمَلُ

وَمُضَيَّعٌ راعي المَناقِبِ مُهمَلُ

When I saw your greatness a stranger,

When I regarded your strange sublimity

and the guardian of noble virtues neglected and abandoned,

While the guardian of glory was neglected

أَحرَزتُها مُتَوَغِّلاً غاياتِها

أَحرَزتُها مُتَوَغِّلاً غاياتِها

وَالمَجدُ مَلءُ يَدِ الَّذي يَتَوَغَّلُ

وَالمَجدُ مَلءُ يَدِ الَّذي يَتَوَغَّلُ

I secured it, pressing into its farthest reaches;

I seized it undetected, infiltrating its limits

glory fills the hand of whoever presses deeply.

For might fills the hand that infiltrates

في سيرَةٍ غَرّاءَ تُستَضوى بِها ال

في سيرَةٍ غَرّاءَ تُستَضوى بِها ال

دُنيا وَيَلبَسُها الزَمانُ الأَطوَلُ

دُنيا وَيَلبَسُها الزَمانُ الأَطوَلُ

In a radiant life that illumines the

In a splendid life story fire is borrowed

world, and which the longest ages wear.

And eras don, the longest garb

مُلِئَت بِفَضلِكَ فَالوَليُّ مُكَثِّرٌ

مُلِئَت بِفَضلِكَ فَالوَليُّ مُكَثِّرٌ

ما شاعَ عَنها وَالعَدوُّ مُقَلِّلُ

ما شاعَ عَنها وَالعَدوُّ مُقَلِّلُ

It is filled with your excellence; your friend magnifies

Filled with your merit - authority proliferates

what is spread abroad of it, while your enemy belittles it.

What circulates, while the enemy diminishes

يَفتَنُّ فيها القائِلونَ كَأَنَّما

يَفتَنُّ فيها القائِلونَ كَأَنَّما

طَلَعَت كَما طَلَعَ الكِتابُ المُنزَلُ

طَلَعَت كَما طَلَعَ الكِتابُ المُنزَلُ

Speakers display their varied arts upon it, as though

In it the critics are tested, as though

it had appeared as the revealed Book appeared.

What descended like the Scripture sent down

هَنَّأتُ جَدَّكَ بِالتَحَلُّقِ في العُلى

هَنَّأتُ جَدَّكَ بِالتَحَلُّقِ في العُلى

وَلَأَنتَ نِعمَ المُقبِلُ المُتَقَبَّلُ

وَلَأَنتَ نِعمَ المُقبِلُ المُتَقَبَّلُ

I congratulated your fortune on soaring into greatness;

I congratulated your ancestor for clinging to the sublime

what a fine, fortunate, well-received man you are!

You are most worthy of coming and being welcomed

وَطَرَحتُ تَهنِئَةً بِأَيّامٍ أَرى

وَطَرَحتُ تَهنِئَةً بِأَيّامٍ أَرى

فيها سَواءً مَن يَقِلُّ وَيَنبُلُ

فيها سَواءً مَن يَقِلُّ وَيَنبُلُ

I cast aside congratulations for days on which I see

I presented congratulations for days in which I see

the lowly and the noble stand equal.

Equal whether diminished or ennobled

وَأَرى لِحاظَ الحاسِدينَ مُريبَةً

وَأَرى لِحاظَ الحاسِدينَ مُريبَةً

وَالغَيظُ بَينَ ضُلوعِهِم يَتَغَلغَلُ

وَالغَيظُ بَينَ ضُلوعِهِم يَتَغَلغَلُ

I see the envious ones' sidelong glances are suspicious,

I see the frowning faces of enviers

while rage penetrates deep between their ribs.

Enmity writhing within their ribs

ما لِلزَمانِ يَعُقُّني بِعِصابَةٍ

ما لِلزَمانِ يَعُقُّني بِعِصابَةٍ

تَجفو عَلَيَّ مَعَ الزَمانِ وَتَثقُلُ

تَجفو عَلَيَّ مَعَ الزَمانِ وَتَثقُلُ

Why does time wrong me with a band

Why does time activate against me a gang

that grows harsh toward me with time, and weighs upon me?

Who shun me, and my time weighs on them?

يَذوي عَلى قَدَمِ اللَيالي عَهدُها

يَذوي عَلى قَدَمِ اللَيالي عَهدُها

مِثلَ الأَديمِ عَلى التَقادُمِ يَنغَلُ

مِثلَ الأَديمِ عَلى التَقادُمِ يَنغَلُ

Their pledge withers beneath the nights' tread,

The span of their nights fades like leather

like leather that rots with age.

Fragmenting over accumulation into fibers

وَدَّ الحَليمُ شِفاءَ دائِكَ كُلَّهُ

وَدَّ الحَليمُ شِفاءَ دائِكَ كُلَّهُ

وَصَداقَةُ السُفَهاءِ داءٌ مُعضِلُ

وَصَداقَةُ السُفَهاءِ داءٌ مُعضِلُ

A forbearing man's affection cures all your ailment;

The forebearing one cured all your maladies

friendship with fools is an intractable disease.

While bonds with fools are an unsolved affliction