أَيُّwhich العُيونِeyes تُجانِبُavoid الأَقذاءَmotes
أَيُّ العُيونِ تُجانِبُ الأَقذاءَ
أَمor أَيُّwhich قَلبٍheart يَقطَعُovercomes البُرَحاءَanguish
أَم أَيُّ قَلبٍ يَقطَعُ البُرَحاءَ
What eyes escape the motes?
Which eyes avoid the spears,
Or what heart can overcome anguish?
Or which hearts cut across the wastes?
وَالمَوتُand death يَقنِصُhunts down جَمعَthe gathered people كُلِّevery قَبيلَةٍtribe
وَالمَوتُ يَقنِصُ جَمعَ كُلِّ قَبيلَةٍ
قَنصَthe hunting of المَريعِthe hunter جاذِراًa wild-cow calf وَظِباءَand gazelles
قَنصَ المَريعِ جاذِراً وَظِباءَ
Death hunts down the gathered people of every tribe,
And death hunts the whole of every tribe
as a hunter takes a wild calf and gazelles.
It hunted the docile as a raider hunts the antelope.
يَتَناوَلُseizes الضَبَّthe spiny-tailed lizard الخَبيثَloathsome مِنَfrom الكُدىhard ground
يَتَناوَلُ الضَبَّ الخَبيثَ مِنَ الكُدى
وَيَحُطُّand brings down مِنfrom عَليائِهاits heights الشُغواءَthe hook-beaked eagle
وَيَحُطُّ مِن عَليائِها الشُغواءَ
It seizes the loathsome lizard from the hard ground,
It takes the malignant cobra from the nooks
and brings the hook-beaked eagle down from its heights.
And makes it shed its arrogant skin.
تَبكيweep عَلىover الدُنياthis world رِجالٌmen لَمnot تَجِدhave found
تَبكي عَلى الدُنيا رِجالٌ لَم تَجِد
لِلعُمرِfor life مِنfrom داءِthe disease of المَنونِdeath شِفاءَa cure
لِلعُمرِ مِن داءِ المَنونِ شِفاءَ
Men weep over this world, yet have found
Men weep for this world though they cannot find
no cure for life against the disease of death.
A cure for the ills of mortality.
وَالدَهرُand time مُختَرِمٌcuts lives short تَشُنُّunleash صُروفُهُits vicissitudes
وَالدَهرُ مُختَرِمٌ تَشُنُّ صُروفُهُ
فيon كُلِّevery يَومٍday غارَةًa raid شَعواءَruthless
في كُلِّ يَومٍ غارَةً شَعواءَ
Time cuts lives short; its vicissitudes unleash
And time is destroying; its vicissitudes
each day a ruthless raid.
Raid with a roaring gale each day.
إِنَّindeed بَنوsons of الدُنياthis world تَسيرُtravel رِكابُناour mounts
إِنَّ بَنو الدُنيا تَسيرُ رِكابُنا
وَتُغالِطُand try to outwit الإِدلاجَtravel at nightfall وَالإِسراءَand night journeys
وَتُغالِطُ الإِدلاجَ وَالإِسراءَ
Indeed, we sons of this world—our mounts journey on,
The sons of this world ride our mounts
and try to outwit travel at nightfall and through the night.
And delude us with darkness and journeying by night.
وَكَأَنَّناand as though we فيin العَيشِlife نَطلُبُseek غايَةًa goal
وَكَأَنَّنا في العَيشِ نَطلُبُ غايَةً
وَجَميعُناand all of us يَدَعُleave السِنينَthe years وَراءَbehind
وَجَميعُنا يَدَعُ السِنينَ وَراءَ
As though, in living, we pursue a goal,
We seem to seek in life a goal
while every one of us leaves the years behind.
While all of us leaves years behind.
أَينَwhere المَعاوِلُthe mainstays وَالغَطارِفَةُand noble lords الأولىwho
أَينَ المَعاوِلُ وَالغَطارِفَةُ الأولى
هَجَرواabandoned الدِيارَthe dwellings وَعَطَّلواand left empty الأَفناءَthe courtyards
هَجَروا الدِيارَ وَعَطَّلوا الأَفناءَ
Where are the mainstays and the noble lords who
Where are the pioneer pickaxes and shovels?
abandoned their dwellings and left the courtyards empty?
They left the homes and rendered the courts desolate.
فَاِخلِطso mingle بِصَوتِكَwith your voice كُلَّevery صَوتٍvoice وَاِستَمِعand listen
فَاِخلِط بِصَوتِكَ كُلَّ صَوتٍ وَاِستَمِع
هَلwhether فيin المَنازِلthe dwellings مَنanyone يُجيبُanswers دُعاءَa call
هَل في المَنازِل مَن يُجيبُ دُعاءَ
So mingle every voice with yours, and listen:
Mingle your voice with every voice and listen—
is there anyone in those dwellings to answer a call?
Is there anyone in the dwellings who answers a call?
وَاِشمُمand smell تُرابَthe dust of الأَرضِthe earth تَعلَمyou will know أَنَّهاthat it
وَاِشمُم تُرابَ الأَرضِ تَعلَم أَنَّها
جَرباءُmangy تُحدِثُproduces كُلَّevery يَومٍday داءَa disease
جَرباءُ تُحدِثُ كُلَّ يَومٍ داءَ
And smell the earth's dust: you will know that it
And smell the dust of the earth; you will know it is
is mangy, breeding disease each day.
The barren world which brings forth a new affliction each day.
كَمhow many راحِلٍa departed man وَلَّيتُI turned away عَنهُfrom him وَمَيِّتٍand a dead man
كَم راحِلٍ وَلَّيتُ عَنهُ وَمَيِّتٍ
رَجَعَتreturned يَديmy hand مِنfrom تُربِهِhis dust غَبراءَdust-gray
رَجَعَت يَدي مِن تُربِهِ غَبراءَ
How many a departed man I have turned from, and a dead man
How many a rider have I turned away from, and how many a corpse
from whose dust my hand returned dust-gray!
Have I returned from with hands covered in his dust!
وَكَذاand thus مَضىpassed away قَبليbefore me القُرونُthe generations يَكُبُّهُمcasts them down
وَكَذا مَضى قَبلي القُرونُ يَكُبُّهُم
صَرفُthe turning of الزَمانِtime تَسَرُّعاًin haste وَنَجاءَand swiftness
صَرفُ الزَمانِ تَسَرُّعاً وَنَجاءَ
Thus the generations before me passed away, cast down
And so the generations before me passed away as
by the turns of time, in haste and swiftness.
The vicissitudes of time swept them to destruction and perdition.
هَذاthis أَميرُCommander of المُؤمِنينَthe Faithful وَظِلُّهُand his shade
هَذا أَميرُ المُؤمِنينَ وَظِلُّهُ
يَسَعُencompasses الوَرىhumankind وَيُجَلِّلُand envelops الأَحياءَthe living
يَسَعُ الوَرى وَيُجَلِّلُ الأَحياءَ
Here is the Commander of the Faithful, whose shade
Shelters the world and brings honor to the living.
embraces humankind and covers the living.
Fate looked at him like a ravening lion
نَظَرَتlooked إِلَيهِat him مِنَfrom الزَمانِtime مُلِمَّةٌa calamity
نَظَرَت إِلَيهِ مِنَ الزَمانِ مُلِمَّةٌ
كَاللَيثِlike a lion لاnot يُغضيlowers الجُفونَthe eyelids حَياءَin shame
كَاللَيثِ لا يُغضي الجُفونَ حَياءَ
A calamity from time fixed its gaze upon him,
That never casts down its eyes in shame.
like a lion that does not lower its eyelids in shame.
And the caprice of fortune struck him a stunning blow
وَأَصابَهُand struck him صَرفُthe turning of الرَدىdeath بِرَزيَّةٍwith a grievous loss
وَأَصابَهُ صَرفُ الرَدى بِرَزيَّةٍ
كَالرُمحِlike a spear أَنهَرَopened up طَعنَةًa thrust-wound نَجلاءَgaping
كَالرُمحِ أَنهَرَ طَعنَةً نَجلاءَ
Death's vicissitude struck him with a grievous loss,
Like a piercing spear dripping with fresh blood.
like a spear opening a wide, gaping wound.
What can we expect of the Pleiades when
ماذاwhat نُؤَمِّلُdo we hope for فيin اليَراعِthe reed إِذاwhen نَشَتarises
ماذا نُؤَمِّلُ في اليَراعِ إِذا نَشَت
ريحٌa wind تَدُقُّshatters الصَعدَةَthe spear-shaft الصَمّاءَsolid
ريحٌ تَدُقُّ الصَعدَةَ الصَمّاءَ
What can we hope for in a reed, when there arises
A wind lashes the Bier star that gives no rain?
a wind that shatters the solid spear-shaft?
Fate wavered with Muhammad and Mudammis—
عَصَفَraged الرَدىdeath بِمُحَمَّدٍagainst the praised وَمُذَمَّمٍand the reviled
عَصَفَ الرَدى بِمُحَمَّدٍ وَمُذَمَّمٍ
فَكَأَنَّماso it was as though وَجَدَfound الرِجالَmen سَواءَequal
فَكَأَنَّما وَجَدَ الرِجالَ سَواءَ
Death swept away the praised and the reviled,
It was as though it found all men equal.
as though it found all men alike.
And the disaster that struck at Abilja of the Hashimites
وَمُصابُand the loss of أَبلَجَa radiant man مِنfrom ذُؤابَةِthe foremost line of هاشِمٍHashim
وَمُصابُ أَبلَجَ مِن ذُؤابَةِ هاشِمٍ
وَلَجَentered القُبورَthe graves وَأَزعَجَand shook الخُلَفاءَthe caliphs
وَلَجَ القُبورَ وَأَزعَجَ الخُلَفاءَ
And the loss of a radiant man from the crest of Hashim's line
Pierced the tombs and disturbed the successors.
entered the graves and shook the caliphs.
And fate saw him who, had he wielded his sword one day,
وَتَرَbereaved الرَدىdeath مَنone who لَوif تَناوَلَgrasped سَيفَهُhis sword
وَتَرَ الرَدى مَن لَو تَناوَلَ سَيفَهُ
يَوماًone day لَنالَhe would surely take مِنَfrom الرَدىdeath ماwhatever شاءَhe wished
يَوماً لَنالَ مِنَ الرَدى ما شاءَ
Death bereaved one who, had he grasped his sword
Would have taken from fate what he wished.
one day, would have taken from death whatever he wished.
A branch it had hoped to lop off, but which
غُصنٌa branch طَموحٌhigh-reaching عَطَّفَتهُbent it down مَنيَّةٌdeath
غُصنٌ طَموحٌ عَطَّفَتهُ مَنيَّةٌ
لِلخابِطينَfor the leaf-beaters وَطاوَعَand yielded to النَكباءَthe crosswind
لِلخابِطينَ وَطاوَعَ النَكباءَ
A high-reaching branch, bent down by death
Succumbed to the humiliated and obeyed the wretched.
for those who beat its leaves, yielded to the crosswind.
O rider the earth covered in a night
ياO راحِلاًdeparted one وَرَدَentered الثَرىthe earth فيin لَيلَةٍa night
يا راحِلاً وَرَدَ الثَرى في لَيلَةٍ
كادَnearly الظَلامُthe darkness بِهاin it يَكونُbecame ضِياءَlight
كادَ الظَلامُ بِها يَكونُ ضِياءَ
O departed one, who entered the earth upon a night
When darkness almost became illumination!
whose darkness nearly turned to light!
When the two death announcers gave you your dues
لَمّاwhen نَعاكَannounced your death الناعِيانِthe two death-heralds مَشىwalked الجَوىburning grief
لَمّا نَعاكَ الناعِيانِ مَشى الجَوى
بَينَamong القُلوبِthe hearts وَضَعضَعَand convulsed الأَحشاءَthe entrails
بَينَ القُلوبِ وَضَعضَعَ الأَحشاءَ
When the two death-heralds announced your passing, grief walked
Grief walked between hearts and shook entrails.
among the hearts and convulsed the entrails.
And half the day darkened; its sun quaked
وَاِسوَدَّand turned black شَطرُhalf of اليَومِthe day تَرجُفُtrembles شَمسُهُits sun
وَاِسوَدَّ شَطرُ اليَومِ تَرجُفُ شَمسُهُ
قَلَقاًin disquiet وَجَرَّand dragged ضِياؤُهُits radiance الظَلماءَdarkness
قَلَقاً وَجَرَّ ضِياؤُهُ الظَلماءَ
Half the day grew black, its sun trembling
Restlessly, and its light dragged darkness.
with disquiet, its radiance dragging darkness behind.
And after you every living being wept
وَاِرتَجَّand shook بَعدَكَafter you كُلُّevery حَيٍّliving creature باكِياًweeping
وَاِرتَجَّ بَعدَكَ كُلُّ حَيٍّ باكِياً
فَكَأَنَّماso it was as though قُلِبَwas changed الصَهيلُneighing رُغاءَcamel-bellowing
فَكَأَنَّما قُلِبَ الصَهيلُ رُغاءَ
After you, every living creature shook with weeping,
So that neighing was turned into sobs.
as though horses' neighs had turned to camels' bellows.
A grave probed by the breeze with its dust
قَبرٌa grave تَخَبَّثَgrew foul بِالنَسيمِin the breeze تُرابُهُits dust
قَبرٌ تَخَبَّثَ بِالنَسيمِ تُرابُهُ
دونَapart from القُبورِthe graves وَعَقَّلَand tethered الأَنواءَthe rain-stars
دونَ القُبورِ وَعَقَّلَ الأَنواءَ
A grave whose dust grew foul in the breeze,
Beyond the tombs, locking up the gusts.
unlike other graves, and tethered the rain-stars.
The virgin clouds meet it and their helpers
تَلقاهُmeet it أَبكارُthe maiden ones of السَحابِthe clouds وَعونُهاand their mature ones
تَلقاهُ أَبكارُ السَحابِ وَعونُها
تَلقىreceives الحَياthe rain وَتُبَدِّدُand scatters الأَنداءَthe dewdrops
تَلقى الحَيا وَتُبَدِّدُ الأَنداءَ
Maiden clouds and mature ones greet it;
Meet the living and disperse condolences.
it receives the rain and scatters the dew.
Joyous of flank, its ground laughs
مُتَهَلِّلُradiant الجَنَباتِthe sides تَضحَكُsmiles أَرضُهُits earth
مُتَهَلِّلُ الجَنَباتِ تَضحَكُ أَرضُهُ
فَكَأَنَّso as though بَينَbetween فُروجِهِits clefts الجَوزاءَOrion
فَكَأَنَّ بَينَ فُروجِهِ الجَوزاءَ
Radiant in its sides, its earth smiles,
As though jujubes lay among its furrows.
as though Orion lay between its clefts.
The best of men rightfully deserves a glorious grave;
أَولىmost deserving الرِجالِamong men بِرَيِّof watering قَبرٍa grave ماجِدٍa noble man
أَولى الرِجالِ بِرَيِّ قَبرٍ ماجِدٍ
غَمَرَflooded الرِجالَmen تَبَرُّعاًfree gifts وَعَطاءَand bounty
غَمَرَ الرِجالَ تَبَرُّعاً وَعَطاءَ
Most worthy among men of a watered grave is a noble one
He flooded men with voluntary gifts and donations.
who flooded men with free gifts and bounty.
If only the driving away of clouds obeyed me,
وَلَوَand if اَنَّthat دُفّاعَthe torrents of الغَمامِthe clouds يُطيعُنيobeyed me
وَلَوَ اَنَّ دُفّاعَ الغَمامِ يُطيعُني
لَجَرىwould flow عَلىover قَبرِthe grave of اللَئيمِthe vile man غُثاءَas refuse
لَجَرى عَلى قَبرِ اللَئيمِ غُثاءَ
And if the clouds' torrents obeyed me,
I would send down a torrent upon the vile man's tomb.
they would flow as refuse over the vile man's grave.
The rain clouds would forever drip on it
لازالَmay it never cease تَنطُفُdripping فَوقَهُabove it قِطَعُmasses of الحَياrain
لازالَ تَنطُفُ فَوقَهُ قِطَعُ الحَيا
بِمُجَلجِلٍwith thunderous rain يَدَعُleaving الصُخورَthe rocks رَواءَwell-watered
بِمُجَلجِلٍ يَدَعُ الصُخورَ رَواءَ
May masses of rain never cease dripping above it,
With rumbling that makes boulders gush forth tears.
with thunderous showers that leave the rocks well-watered.
And each cloud that paused by it, we would think
وَتَظُنُّand you would think كُلَّevery غَمامَةٍcloud وَقَفَتpaused بِهِat it
وَتَظُنُّ كُلَّ غَمامَةٍ وَقَفَت بِهِ
تَبكيweeps عَلَيهِover him تَوَدُّداًin affection وَوَلاءَand loyalty
تَبكي عَلَيهِ تَوَدُّداً وَوَلاءَ
You would think every cloud that paused above it
Wept over it affectionately and loyally.
wept over him in affection and loyalty.
And when the winds blew upon its dust
وَإِذاand when الرِياحُthe winds تَعَرَّضَتbrush بِتُرابِهِagainst his dust
وَإِذا الرِياحُ تَعَرَّضَت بِتُرابِهِ
قُلناwe say السَماءُthe sky تَنَفَّسُbreathes الصُعَداءَa deep sigh
قُلنا السَماءُ تَنَفَّسُ الصُعَداءَ
And when the winds brush against his dust,
We would say the sky was sniffing the dust.
we say: the sky is heaving a deep sigh.
O you whom the awful mass visited—
إِيُّهاenough! تَمَطَّرَrushed نَحوَكَtoward you الداءُthe sickness الَّذيthat
إِيُّها تَمَطَّرَ نَحوَكَ الداءُ الَّذي
قَرَضَgnawed away الرِجالَmen وَفَرَّقَand parted القُرَباءَkinsmen
قَرَضَ الرِجالَ وَفَرَّقَ القُرَباءَ
Enough! The sickness raced toward you, the one that
It tore men apart and separated intimates!
gnawed men away and parted kinsmen.
The spears were honored to accompany you;
إِنَّindeed الرِماحَthe spears رُزِئنَwere bereaved مِنكَof you مُشَيَّعاًa dauntless man
إِنَّ الرِماحَ رُزِئنَ مِنكَ مُشَيَّعاً
غَمرَample الرِداءِof mantle مُهَذَّباًrefined مِعطاءَbountiful
غَمرَ الرِداءِ مُهَذَّباً مِعطاءَ
The spears have indeed lost in you a dauntless man,
The generous flood covered the mourners.
of ample mantle, refined and bountiful,
The long bones of your arms were like
وَطَويلَand long عَظمِin the bones of الساعِدَينِboth forearms كَأَنَّماas though
وَطَويلَ عَظمِ الساعِدَينِ كَأَنَّما
رَفَعَتraised بِعِمَّتِهِwith his turban الجِيادُthe steeds لِواءَa banner
رَفَعَت بِعِمَّتِهِ الجِيادُ لِواءَ
and long in the bones of both forearms, as though
The stallions' banners raised by their prowess.
the steeds had raised his turban as a banner.
And after you we faced each smiling morn
وَلَقَينَand they met بَعدَكَafter you كُلَّevery صُبحٍdawn ضاحِكٍsmiling
وَلَقَينَ بَعدَكَ كُلَّ صُبحٍ ضاحِكٍ
يَوماًa day أَغَمَّgloomy وَلَيلَةًand a night لَيلاءَpitch-black
يَوماً أَغَمَّ وَلَيلَةً لَيلاءَ
And after you, at each smiling dawn, they faced
As a day of sorrow and a gloomy night.
a gloomy day and a pitch-black night.
Your life was consecrated to the plundering horses as booty,
أَنعاكَI announce your death لِلخَيلِto the horses المُغيرَةِraiding شُزَّباًlean
أَنعاكَ لِلخَيلِ المُغيرَةِ شُزَّباً
وَاليَومَand the day يَضرِبُpitches بِالعَجاجِwith dust خِباءَa tent
وَاليَومَ يَضرِبُ بِالعَجاجِ خِباءَ
I announce your death to the lean, raiding horses,
And today the tents are pitched with goat hair.
while the day pitches a tent of swirling dust,
By the plunging of your sword the horsemen claimed
وَلَخَوضِand to the plunging of سَيفِكَyour sword وَالفَوارِسُwhile the horsemen تَدَّعيcall for
وَلَخَوضِ سَيفِكَ وَالفَوارِسُ تَدَّعي
حَرباًwar يَجُرُّdrags نِداؤُهاits summons الأَسماءَthe names
حَرباً يَجُرُّ نِداؤُها الأَسماءَ
and to your sword's plunges, as the horsemen call for
A battle whose renown shook the summits.
a war whose summons drags names in its wake,
With gains you opened up, and situations
وَغَيابَةٍand a darkness فَرَّجتَهاyou dispelled it وَمَقامَةٍand an assembly
وَغَيابَةٍ فَرَّجتَها وَمَقامَةٍ
سَدَّدتَyou aimed true فيهاin it حُجَّةًan argument غَرّاءَradiant
سَدَّدتَ فيها حُجَّةً غَرّاءَ
and to a darkness you dispelled, and an assembly
In which you set forth a convincing argument.
where you aimed a radiant argument unerringly.
You mixed men's words with a speech
وَخَلَطتَand you mingled أَقوالَthe sayings of الرِجالِmen بِمِقوَلٍwith a tongue
وَخَلَطتَ أَقوالَ الرِجالِ بِمِقوَلٍ
ذَرِبٍkeen-edged كَماas خَلَطَmingled الضَرّابُthe swordsman دِماءَblood
ذَرِبٍ كَما خَلَطَ الضَرّابُ دِماءَ
You mingled men's sayings with a tongue
Flying at them like the swordsman's blood.
keen-edged, as the swordsman mingles blood.
With a final assault by both bands disputing
وَمَطيَّةٍand a mount أَنضَيتَهاyou wore it out وَكِلاكُماand both of you
وَمَطيَّةٍ أَنضَيتَها وَكِلاكُما
تَتَنازَعانِyou two contend over السَيرَtravel وَالإِنضاءَand exhaustion
تَتَنازَعانِ السَيرَ وَالإِنضاءَ
And to a mount you wore out, while the two of you
The advance and the withdrawal by turns.
vied with each other in travel and exhaustion.
Weeping for you is an obligatory duty
إِنَّindeed البُكاءَweeping عَلَيكَfor you فَرضٌa duty واجِبٌobligatory
إِنَّ البُكاءَ عَلَيكَ فَرضٌ واجِبٌ
وَالعَيشُand life لاnot يُبكىis wept عَلَيهِover it رِياءَfor show
وَالعَيشُ لا يُبكى عَلَيهِ رِياءَ
Indeed, weeping for you is a binding duty,
While living is not wept for hypocritically.
and life is not wept over merely for show.
By your father, an eye aims at every high place—
بِأَبيكَin your father يَطمَحُaspires نَحوَtoward كُلِّevery عَظيمَةٍgreat deed
بِأَبيكَ يَطمَحُ نَحوَ كُلِّ عَظيمَةٍ
طَرفٌan eye تَعَلَّمَlearned بَعدَكَafter you الإِغضاءَto lower its gaze
طَرفٌ تَعَلَّمَ بَعدَكَ الإِغضاءَ
In your father, aspiring toward every mighty deed,
An eye taught after you to veil itself in sorrow.
is an eye that learned, after you, to lower its gaze.
So farewell, Commander of the Faithful, may you ever
فَاِسلَمso remain safe أَميرَCommander of المُؤمِنينَthe Faithful وَلاand do not تَزَلcease
فَاِسلَم أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ وَلا تَزَل
تُجريrace الجِيادَthe steeds وَتُحرِزُand win الغُلواءَthe utmost goal
تُجري الجِيادَ وَتُحرِزُ الغُلواءَ
So remain safe, Commander of the Faithful, and never cease
Spur on the stallions and gain the heights.
racing the steeds and claiming the utmost goal.
If you are safe from disasters, you will be pleased,
فَإِذاso if سَلِمتَyou remain safe مِنَfrom النَوائِبِcalamities أَصبَحَتyou become
فَإِذا سَلِمتَ مِنَ النَوائِبِ أَصبَحَت
تَرضىyou are content وَنَرضىand we are content أَنthat يَكونَhe be فِداءَa ransom
تَرضى وَنَرضى أَن يَكونَ فِداءَ
For if you are spared calamities, you will come
And we would be pleased to ransom you.
to accept, as we do, that he should be your ransom.
And if death has its sway, it has come
وَلَئِنand even if تَسَلَّطَتِgained sway المُنونُdeath لَقَدindeed أَتَتdid
وَلَئِن تَسَلَّطَتِ المُنونُ لَقَد أَتَت
ماwhat رَدَّturned لَومَthe blame of اللائِمينَthe censurers ثَناءَinto praise
ما رَدَّ لَومَ اللائِمينَ ثَناءَ
And though death has asserted its sway, it has indeed done
Not returning the critics' blame but bringing praise.
what turned the censurers' blame to praise:
Granting us this honorable, polished sword
وَهَبَتgave لَناto us هَذاthis الحُسامَthe keen sword المُنتَضىunsheathed
وَهَبَت لَنا هَذا الحُسامَ المُنتَضى
فيناamong us وَهَذيand this العِزَّةَmight القَعساءَunassailable
فينا وَهَذي العِزَّةَ القَعساءَ
it gave us this unsheathed sword
And that stubborn, lofty glory.
among us, and this unassailable might.
You hastened to fight off the early tears gracefully,
نَهنَهتَyou restrained بادِرَةَthe first rush of الدُموعِtears تَجَمُّلاًto keep composure
نَهنَهتَ بادِرَةَ الدُموعِ تَجَمُّلاً
وَالعَينُand the eye تُؤنِسُperceives عَبرَةًa tear وَبُكاءَand weeping
وَالعَينُ تُؤنِسُ عَبرَةً وَبُكاءَ
You restrained the first rush of tears to keep your composure,
While the eye comforts sadness and weeping.
while the eye perceives a tear and weeping.
So outrun your tears during misfortunes, and know
فَاِستَبِقso preserve دَمعَكَyour tears فيamid المَصائِبِmisfortunes وَاِعلَمنand know for certain
فَاِستَبِق دَمعَكَ في المَصائِبِ وَاِعلَمن
أَنَّthat الرَدىdeath لاnot يُشمِتُgives cause to gloat الأَعداءَthe enemies
أَنَّ الرَدى لا يُشمِتُ الأَعداءَ
So keep your tears in reserve amid misfortunes, and know
That fate does not gloat over enemies.
that death gives enemies no cause to gloat.
Ask about a sword whose blade you molded
وَتَسَلَّand take consolation عَنfor سَيفٍa sword طَبَعتَyou forged غِرارَهُits edges
وَتَسَلَّ عَن سَيفٍ طَبَعتَ غِرارَهُ
وَأَعرتَand you lent شَفرَتَهُits blade سَناًradiance وَمَضاءَand keenness
وَأَعرتَ شَفرَتَهُ سَناً وَمَضاءَ
And take consolation for a sword whose edges you forged,
And whose edges you stripped bare, fang and cutting edge.
and whose blade you lent radiance and keenness.
And patience for a son who can replace him
وَالصَبرُand patience عَنover وَلَدٍa son يَجِئُone brings بِمِثلِهِwith his like
وَالصَبرُ عَن وَلَدٍ يَجِئُ بِمِثلِهِ
أَولىmore fitting وَلَكنand yet نَندُبُwe lament الآباءَfathers
أَولى وَلَكن نَندُبُ الآباءَ
Patience over a son whose like one may beget
Is preferable, but we mourn the fathers.
is more fitting; but we lament fathers.
So time brought him back, and fate returned him—
فَلَقَدfor indeed رَجَعتَyou returned عَنِfrom المُطيعِal-Muti' بِسَلوَةٍwith consolation
فَلَقَد رَجَعتَ عَنِ المُطيعِ بِسَلوَةٍ
مِنfrom بَعدِafter ماwhen جَرَتِflowed الدُموعُthe tears دِماءَas blood
مِن بَعدِ ما جَرَتِ الدُموعُ دِماءَ
For you emerged from grief for al-Muti' with consolation,
With malice—and he did well once, and did ill.
after tears had flowed as blood.
He flung his years to the doves as though
وَالإِبنُand the son لِلأَبِfor the father إِنif تَعَرَّضَbefalls حادِثٌa calamity
وَالإِبنُ لِلأَبِ إِن تَعَرَّضَ حادِثٌ
أَولىmost fitting الأَنامِamong people بِأَنto يَكونَbe وِقاءَa shield
أَولى الأَنامِ بِأَن يَكونَ وِقاءَ
A son, for his father, when calamity assails,
He had flung off his cloak from his shoulders.
is the person most fit to serve as a shield.
So let the days know that you never ceased
وَإِذاand when اِرتَقىascend الآباءُthe fathers أَمنَعَthe most impregnable نَجوَةٍheight
وَإِذا اِرتَقى الآباءُ أَمنَعَ نَجوَةٍ
فَدَعthen let الرَدىdeath يَستَنزِلُbring down الأَبناءَthe sons
فَدَع الرَدى يَستَنزِلُ الأَبناءَ
And when fathers ascend the most impregnable height,
To rout disasters and sweep away sorrows,
let death bring the sons down.
Submitting to you the day they faced you,
وَرَدَcame الزَمانُtime بِهِwith him وَأَورَدَهُand led him to water الرَدىdeath
وَرَدَ الزَمانُ بِهِ وَأَورَدَهُ الرَدى
بَغياًunjustly فَأَحسَنَso did good مَرَّةًonce وَأَساءَand did ill
بَغياً فَأَحسَنَ مَرَّةً وَأَساءَ
Time came with him, and death led him to the watering-place,
Courageously paring their own misfortunes of solace.
unjustly—once it did good, then ill.
And breasts heaved until they straightened
وَرَمىand cast سِنيهِhis years إِلىtoward الحِمامِdeath كَأَنَّماas though
وَرَمى سِنيهِ إِلى الحِمامِ كَأَنَّما
أَلقىthrew off بِهاwith them عَنfrom مَنكِبَيهِhis shoulders رِداءَa cloak
أَلقى بِها عَن مَنكِبَيهِ رِداءَ
He flung his years toward death, as though
A rib over the slopes of its curves.
he were casting them off his shoulders like a cloak.
With flames suppressed, keeping his rage hidden
فَلتَعلَمِso let them know الأَيّامُthe days أَنَّكَthat you لَمnot تَزَلhave ceased
فَلتَعلَمِ الأَيّامُ أَنَّكَ لَم تَزَل
تَفريcleave الخُطوبَcalamities وَتَكشِفُand dispel الغَمّاءِdark distress
تَفري الخُطوبَ وَتَكشِفُ الغَمّاءِ
So let the days know that you have never ceased
Like the cloudburst's withheld waters.
to cleave calamities and dispel the darkest distress.
Ashen when your glance fell on him,
خَضَعَتbowed لَكَto you الأَعداءُthe enemies يَومَon the day لَقيتَهاyou met them
خَضَعَت لَكَ الأَعداءُ يَومَ لَقيتَها
جَلداًsteadfast تُجَرِّدُyou unsheathe لِلمُصابِagainst affliction عَزاءَfortitude
جَلداً تُجَرِّدُ لِلمُصابِ عَزاءَ
Your enemies bowed to you the day you met them
The hatred in his heart forgot its rancor.
steadfast, unsheathing fortitude against affliction.
As for your generosity, it was a fate which
وَتَمَطَّتِand stretched out الزَفراتُthe sighs حَتّىuntil قَوَّمَتstraightened
وَتَمَطَّتِ الزَفراتُ حَتّى قَوَّمَت
ضِلعاًa rib عَلىdespite أَضغانِهاits grudges عَوجاءَcrooked
ضِلعاً عَلى أَضغانِها عَوجاءَ
The sighs stretched themselves until they straightened
Flooded hearts and inspired poets.
a crooked rib, despite its grudges.
While I am one who praised you in encomiums
وَمُضاعِنٍand a rancorous man مَلآنَbrimful يَكتُمُconceals غَيظَهُhis rage
وَمُضاعِنٍ مَلآنَ يَكتُمُ غَيظَهُ
جَزَعاًin distress كَماas كَتَمَheld المَزادُthe waterskins الماءَwater
جَزَعاً كَما كَتَمَ المَزادُ الماءَ
And many a rancorous man, brimful, conceals his rage
And prepared for the oppressor of you invectives.
in distress, as waterskins hold water.
I emptied my thoughts of all but love for you
مُتَحَرِّقٌburning within فَإِذاbut when رَأَتكَsee you لِحاظُهُhis glances
مُتَحَرِّقٌ فَإِذا رَأَتكَ لِحاظُهُ
نَسِيَتforgot مَجامِعُthe recesses of قَلبِهِhis heart الشَحناءَrancor
نَسِيَت مَجامِعُ قَلبِهِ الشَحناءَ
Burning within—but when his glances see you,
As the girding man empties his vessel.
the recesses of his heart forget rancor.
So farewell, while time continues to taunt me
وَأَمّاand indeed وجودُكَby your bounty إِنَّهُit is indeed قَسَمٌan oath لَقَدindeed
وَأَمّا وجودُكَ إِنَّهُ قَسَمٌ لَقَد
غَمَرَflooded القُلوبَthe hearts وَأَنطَقَand made speak الشُعَراءَthe poets
غَمَرَ القُلوبَ وَأَنطَقَ الشُعَراءَ
And by your bounty—truly, an oath—it has indeed
With hopes reaching out toward your company.
flooded hearts and made the poets speak.
وَأَناand I الَّذيthe one who والَيتُI delivered successively فيكَof you مَدائِحاًpanegyrics
وَأَنا الَّذي والَيتُ فيكَ مَدائِحاً
وَعَبَأتُand I mustered لِلباغيfor the aggressor عَلَيكَagainst you هِجاءَsatire
وَعَبَأتُ لِلباغي عَلَيكَ هِجاءَ
I am the one who delivered praises of you in succession,
and mustered satire for the aggressor against you.
وَنَفَضتُand I shook out إِلّاexcept مِنof هَواكَlove for you خَواطِريmy thoughts
وَنَفَضتُ إِلّا مِن هَواكَ خَواطِري
نَفضَthe shaking-out of المُشَمِّرِone girded for work بِالعَراءِin the open وِعاءَa vessel
نَفضَ المُشَمِّرِ بِالعَراءِ وِعاءَ
I emptied my thoughts of all but love for you,
as one girded for work shakes out a vessel in the open.
فَاِسلَمso remain safe وَلاand never زالَcease الزَمانُtime يُعيرُنيlends me
فَاِسلَم وَلا زالَ الزَمانُ يُعيرُني
طَمَعاًa longing يَمُدُّextends إِلىtoward نَداكَyour bounty رَجاءَhope
طَمَعاً يَمُدُّ إِلى نَداكَ رَجاءَ
So remain safe, and may time never cease lending me
a longing that extends hope toward your bounty.
Partial English translation: 123 of 130 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1