عَذيري مِنَ العِشرينَ يَغمِزنَ صَعدَتي

عَذيري مِنَ العِشرينَ يَغمِزنَ صَعدَتي

وَمِن نُوَبِ الأَيّامِ يَقرَعنَ مَروتي

وَمِن نُوَبِ الأَيّامِ يَقرَعنَ مَروتي

Who will plead my case against my twenty years, pressing on my spear-shaft,

My excuse from the twenties wink at my vow

and against the days' calamities, hammering my flint;

And from the vicissitudes of days beat my manliness

وَمِن هِمَمٍ أَوجَدنَني في عَشيرَتي

وَمِن هِمَمٍ أَوجَدنَني في عَشيرَتي

وَأَكثَرنَ ما بَينَ الأَقارِبِ غُربَتي

وَأَكثَرنَ ما بَينَ الأَقارِبِ غُربَتي

and against ambitions that leave me aggrieved among my clan,

And from ambitions that made me estranged among my tribe

and deepen my estrangement among my kin;

And increased what was between the kinfolk of my estrangement

وَمِن عَزَماتٍ كُلَّ يَومٍ يَقِفنَ بي

وَمِن عَزَماتٍ كُلَّ يَومٍ يَقِفنَ بي

عَلى كُلِّ بابٍ لِلمَقاديرِ مُصمَتِ

عَلى كُلِّ بابٍ لِلمَقاديرِ مُصمَتِ

and against resolves that halt me every day

And from resolves that stand by me everyday

at every shut-fast door of destiny;

At every gate of destinies silent

وَمِن مُهجَةٍ لا تَرأَمُ الضَيمَ مَرَّةً

وَمِن مُهجَةٍ لا تَرأَمُ الضَيمَ مَرَّةً

يُعَجِّلُ عَن دارِ المَذَلَّةِ نَهضَتي

يُعَجِّلُ عَن دارِ المَذَلَّةِ نَهضَتي

and against a heart that never once embraces oppression—

And from a zeal that does not see harm ever

it hastens my departure from humiliation's dwelling;

That hastens my rise from the abode of disgrace

وَمِن لَوعَةٍ لِلحُبِّ مَشحوذَةِ الظُبى

وَمِن لَوعَةٍ لِلحُبِّ مَشحوذَةِ الظُبى

إِذا ضَرَبَت في جانِبِ القَومِ ثَنَّتِ

إِذا ضَرَبَت في جانِبِ القَومِ ثَنَّتِ

and against love's anguish, its blade-edges sharpened,

And from a yearning to love sharpened of passion

which, when it strikes the people's flank, strikes again;

When it strikes the side of the tribe it bent

وَمِن زَفرَةٍ تَحتَ الشِغافِ مُقيمَةٍ

وَمِن زَفرَةٍ تَحتَ الشِغافِ مُقيمَةٍ

إِذَ قُلتُ قَد وَلّى بِها الدَهرُ كَرَّتِ

إِذَ قُلتُ قَد وَلّى بِها الدَهرُ كَرَّتِ

and against a sigh lodged beneath the heart's covering:

And from a sigh under grief residing

when I say time has carried it away, it returns.

When I said time has turned away from it and stopped

تُذَكِّرُ أَيّاماً مَضَينَ وَلَو فَدَت

تُذَكِّرُ أَيّاماً مَضَينَ وَلَو فَدَت

بِنانُ يَدي تِلكَ اللَيالي لَفُلَّتِ

بِنانُ يَدي تِلكَ اللَيالي لَفُلَّتِ

It recalls days gone by; had

Reminding days passed though my hands could redeem

the fingertips of my hand ransomed those nights, they would have been shattered.

Those nights if they prolonged but they slipped

يُخالِسُنا الأَحبابُ حَتّى تَقَطَّعَت

يُخالِسُنا الأَحبابُ حَتّى تَقَطَّعَت

قَرائينُنا رَيبَ الزَمانِ المُشَتِّتِ

قَرائينُنا رَيبَ الزَمانِ المُشَتِّتِ

Loved ones are stolen from us until

The loved ones cheat us until our companionships severed

our bonds are severed by the treachery of scattering time.

By the doubt of time dispersed

وَلَم يَبقَ لي إِلّا عُلَيقُ مَضَنَّةٍ

وَلَم يَبقَ لي إِلّا عُلَيقُ مَضَنَّةٍ

أُداري اللَيالي عَنهُ إِمّا أَلَمَّتِ

أُداري اللَيالي عَنهُ إِمّا أَلَمَّتِ

Nothing remains to me but a slender hold on something cherished;

And nothing remains for me but a suffering warrant

I fend the nights off from it whenever they descend.

I turn the nights from it, whether it harmed or eased

فَيا لَيتَها قَد أَنسَأَتهُ وَلَيتَها

فَيا لَيتَها قَد أَنسَأَتهُ وَلَيتَها

عَلَيهِ وَإِن لَم يَنجُ يَوماً أَذَمَّتِ

عَلَيهِ وَإِن لَم يَنجُ يَوماً أَذَمَّتِ

If only they had granted it a reprieve; if only they

Oh if only it forgot him, and oh if only upon him

had pledged it protection, though one day it might not escape.

Even if he survives no day it pained

سَقى اللَهُ مَن أَمسى عَلى النَأيِ عِلَّتي

سَقى اللَهُ مَن أَمسى عَلى النَأيِ عِلَّتي

وَقَد كانَ مَع قُربِ المَزارِ تَعِلَّتي

وَقَد كانَ مَع قُربِ المَزارِ تَعِلَّتي

May God water the one who, far away, became my affliction,

May God water who spent the night away from my ailment

though, when near enough to visit, that one was my consolation.

When being near the shrine used to cure me

أَقِلني أَقِلني نَظرَةً ما اِحتَسَبتُها

أَقِلني أَقِلني نَظرَةً ما اِحتَسَبتُها

فَقَد أَنهَلَت قَلبي غَليلاً وَعَلَّتِ

فَقَد أَنهَلَت قَلبي غَليلاً وَعَلَّتِ

Release me, release me from a glance I never reckoned on:

Take me, just take me with a glance I never reckoned

it gave my heart a first draught of burning thirst, then another.

For it has quenched my heart with anguish and ailed

فَشَوقاً إِلى وَجهِ الحَبيبِ تَلَهُّفي

فَشَوقاً إِلى وَجهِ الحَبيبِ تَلَهُّفي

وَمَيلاً إِلى دارِ الحَبيبِ تَلَفُّتي

وَمَيلاً إِلى دارِ الحَبيبِ تَلَفُّتي

Thus my pining is longing for the beloved's face,

Yearning for the face of the beloved my craving

and my turning back is a leaning toward the beloved's home.

And leaning towards the abode of the beloved my inclination

جَرَت خَطرَةٌ مِنهُ عَلى القَلبِ كُلَّما

جَرَت خَطرَةٌ مِنهُ عَلى القَلبِ كُلَّما

زَجَرتُ لَها العَينَ الدَموعَ أَرَشَّتِ

زَجَرتُ لَها العَينَ الدَموعَ أَرَشَّتِ

A thought of him passed across my heart; whenever

An idea of him passes my heart whenever

I checked my eye because of it, the eye sprinkled tears.

I deter the eye tears it sheds

وَمَرَّت عَلى لُبّي فَقُلتُ لَعَلَّها

وَمَرَّت عَلى لُبّي فَقُلتُ لَعَلَّها

تُجاوِزُني مَكظومَةً فَاِستَمَرَّتِ

تُجاوِزُني مَكظومَةً فَاِستَمَرَّتِ

It passed through my mind, and I said: perhaps

And it passes my mind so I said maybe

it will pass me by, stifled—but it persisted.

It would pass me injured so it persisted

أُداري شَجاها كَي يُخَلّى مَكانُهُ

أُداري شَجاها كَي يُخَلّى مَكانُهُ

وَهِيهاتَ أَلقَت رَحلَها وَاِطمَأَنَّتِ

وَهِيهاتَ أَلقَت رَحلَها وَاِطمَأَنَّتِ

I soothe its sorrow so that its place may be vacated;

I shun its passion so its place may empty

but far from it! It laid down its baggage and settled in.

But alas it pitched its bags and settled

وَأَعلَمُ ما خاضَت يَدُ الدَهرِ لِلفَتى

وَأَعلَمُ ما خاضَت يَدُ الدَهرِ لِلفَتى

أَمَرَّ مَذاقاً مِن فِراقِ الأَحِبَّةِ

أَمَرَّ مَذاقاً مِن فِراقِ الأَحِبَّةِ

I know that nothing time's hand has stirred up for a man

And I know what the hand of fate has tasted the youth

tastes more bitter than parting from loved ones.

A thing more bitter than being apart from loved ones

فَكَم زَعزَعَتني النائِباتُ فَلَم أُزِل

فَكَم زَعزَعَتني النائِباتُ فَلَم أُزِل

لَها قَدَمي عَن وَطأَةِ المُتَثَبِّتِ

لَها قَدَمي عَن وَطأَةِ المُتَثَبِّتِ

How often calamities have shaken me, yet I did not shift

So how much did adversities shake me but I never

my foot for them from the stance of one firmly planted.

Moved my feet from the stand of the steadfast

وَكَم صاحَتِ الأَيّامُ خَلفي بِرَوعَةٍ

وَكَم صاحَتِ الأَيّامُ خَلفي بِرَوعَةٍ

فَصِرتُ بِعَينِ الجازِعِ المُتَلَفِّتِ

فَصِرتُ بِعَينِ الجازِعِ المُتَلَفِّتِ

How often the days cried out behind me with a fright,

And how much did days cry behind me with horrors

so I took on the gaze of one alarmed, looking back.

And I became with the frightened eye that turns

تَسُلُّ عَليَّ الحادِثاتُ سُيوفَها

تَسُلُّ عَليَّ الحادِثاتُ سُيوفَها

فَمِن مُغمَدٍ قَد نالَ مِنّي وَمُصلَتِ

فَمِن مُغمَدٍ قَد نالَ مِنّي وَمُصلَتِ

Disasters draw their swords against me:

The events bare their swords at me

some have wounded me sheathed, and some unsheathed.

So some sheathed have attained me and some unsheathed

زِمامي بِكَفِّ الدَهرِ أَتبَعُ خَطوَهُ

زِمامي بِكَفِّ الدَهرِ أَتبَعُ خَطوَهُ

وَما الدَهرُ إِلّا مالِكٌ لِلأَزِمَّةِ

وَما الدَهرُ إِلّا مالِكٌ لِلأَزِمَّةِ

My rein is in time's palm; I follow its step,

I hold the reins of fate following its course

and time is nothing but the master of reins.

And fate is but the holder of the crises

وَقَد كُنتُ آبى أَن أُقادَ وَإِنَّما

وَقَد كُنتُ آبى أَن أُقادَ وَإِنَّما

أَلانَ قِيادي مَن أَلانَ عَريكَتي

أَلانَ قِيادي مَن أَلانَ عَريكَتي

I used to refuse to be led; it was only

And I used to refuse to be led but rather

the one who softened my temper who made me easy to lead.

My leading softened who softened my saddle

فَلا تَشمَتوا إِن يَثلِمِ الدَهرُ جانِبي

فَلا تَشمَتوا إِن يَثلِمِ الدَهرُ جانِبي

فَأَكثَرُ مِمّا مَرَّ مِنّي بَقَيَّتي

فَأَكثَرُ مِمّا مَرَّ مِنّي بَقَيَّتي

So do not gloat if time chips away at my side:

So do not gloat if fate wounds my side

more of me remains than has passed away.

For most of what passed me remains

تَحَيَّفَ شوساً مِن عُيونٍ فَأَغمَضَت

تَحَيَّفَ شوساً مِن عُيونٍ فَأَغمَضَت

وَذَلَّلَ غُلباً مِن رِقاِبٍ فَذَلَّتِ

وَذَلَّلَ غُلباً مِن رِقاِبٍ فَذَلَّتِ

It wore down defiant eyes, and they closed,

It has blinded an eye so it closed

and subdued mighty, thick necks, and they bowed.

And subjugated a neck so it bowed

فَآهٍ عَلى الدُنيا إِذ الجَدُّ صاعِدٌ

فَآهٍ عَلى الدُنيا إِذ الجَدُّ صاعِدٌ

وَأَوهِ مِنَ الدُنيا إِذا النَعلُ زَلَّتِ

وَأَوهِ مِنَ الدُنيا إِذا النَعلُ زَلَّتِ

Ah for the world when fortune rises!

Oh what a loss for the life when seriousness rises

And alas for the world when the sandal slips!

And oh what a pity for life when the slipper slips

أَلا هَل أُخيضُ الطِرفَ يَوماً بِغَمرَةٍ

أَلا هَل أُخيضُ الطِرفَ يَوماً بِغَمرَةٍ

إِذا الخَيلُ بِالغُرِّ الوُجوهِ تَمَطَّتِ

إِذا الخَيلُ بِالغُرِّ الوُجوهِ تَمَطَّتِ

Ah, will I one day plunge my steed into a battle's depths,

Should I not squint one day confused

when horses stretch forward bearing bright-faced riders,

When the horses with dusty faces sneezed

وَلَم تَلقَ فيها غَيرَ طَعنٍ مُضَجِّجٍ

وَلَم تَلقَ فيها غَيرَ طَعنٍ مُضَجِّجٍ

وَضَربٍ سَريعٍ بِالمَنايا مُسَكِّتِ

وَضَربٍ سَريعٍ بِالمَنايا مُسَكِّتِ

and there one meets nothing but thrusts that raise cries,

And would find in it nothing but a resounding stab

and swift blows that silence through death?

And a quick strike with deaths hustled

تَرِنُّ لَهُ هامُ الرِجالِ وَإِن رَمَت

تَرِنُّ لَهُ هامُ الرِجالِ وَإِن رَمَت

بِأَعيُنِها فيهِ النِساءُ أَرَنَّتِ

بِأَعيُنِها فيهِ النِساءُ أَرَنَّتِ

Men's skulls ring to its blows; and if

The necks of men will incline to it and even if

women cast their eyes into it, they cry aloud.

The women’s eyes in it blinked

فَسَوفَ تَراني طائِراً في غُبارِها

فَسَوفَ تَراني طائِراً في غُبارِها

عَلى سابِحٍ تَهفو غَدائِرُ لِمَّتي

عَلى سابِحٍ تَهفو غَدائِرُ لِمَّتي

Then you will see me flying through its dust,

So you will see me flying in its dust

on a swimming steed, my braided locks fluttering,

On a swimmer my braids fluttered

بِيَومٍ كَثيرٍ بِالغُبارِ عُطاسُهُ

بِيَومٍ كَثيرٍ بِالغُبارِ عُطاسُهُ

إِذا ثَوَّبَ الداعي قَليلُ المُشَمِّتِ

إِذا ثَوَّبَ الداعي قَليلُ المُشَمِّتِ

on a day that sneezes often with dust:

On a day so dusty its sneeze little

when the caller cries again, few say 'Bless you!'

When the caller of few gloaters yelled

مَعارِكُ يُخدِجنَ المِهارَ وَبَعدَها

مَعارِكُ يُخدِجنَ المِهارَ وَبَعدَها

مَناعي رِجالٍ مُلقَياتِ الأَجِنَّةِ

مَناعي رِجالٍ مُلقَياتِ الأَجِنَّةِ

Battles that bring foals forth before their time, followed by

The battles boil fighting and after

tidings of men's deaths that cast out unborn children.

The falling of brave men thrown

وَرُمحي إِلى الأَعداءِ كَيدي وَصارِمي

وَرُمحي إِلى الأَعداءِ كَيدي وَصارِمي

جَنانِيَ يَومَ الرَوعِ وَالصَبرُ جُنَّتي

جَنانِيَ يَومَ الرَوعِ وَالصَبرُ جُنَّتي

My spear is my stratagem against enemies, and my keen sword

With my spear to the enemies my trick and my sword

my heart on the day of terror; patience is my shield,

My shields on the day of horror and patience my armour

وَكُلُّ غُلامٍ ذي جِلادٍ وَنَجدَةٍ

وَكُلُّ غُلامٍ ذي جِلادٍ وَنَجدَةٍ

وَكُلُّ جَوادٍ ذي هِباتٍ وَمَيعَةِ

وَكُلُّ جَوادٍ ذي هِباتٍ وَمَيعَةِ

and every youth endowed with battle-skill and valor,

And every young man of might and help

and every noble steed endowed with gifts and spirited vigor.

And every steed of gifts and cooperation

إِذا ما الجِيادُ الجُردُ أَجرى لَبانَها

إِذا ما الجِيادُ الجُردُ أَجرى لَبانَها

وَشَمَّصَها وَقعُ الظُبى وَالأَسِنَّةِ

وَشَمَّصَها وَقعُ الظُبى وَالأَسِنَّةِ

When the sleek steeds' breasts are made to stream,

When the smooth purebred horses perspired

and the impact of blade-edges and spearpoints makes them rear,

And the striking of hoofs and fangs foamed

فَإِنَّ عِناني في يَمينِ مُعَوَّدٍ

فَإِنَّ عِناني في يَمينِ مُعَوَّدٍ

عَلى عُقَبِ الأَيّامِ قَودَ الأَعِنَّةُ

عَلى عُقَبِ الأَيّامِ قَودَ الأَعِنَّةُ

my rein is in the right hand of one accustomed

My reign will be in the right of a seasoned one

through the days' reversals to managing reins.

Who tames time’s young fillies

إِذا اِعتَرَضَ المَأمولُ مِن دونِهِ الرَدى

إِذا اِعتَرَضَ المَأمولُ مِن دونِهِ الرَدى

شَقَقتُ إِلَيهِ الدارِعينَ بِمُهجَتي

شَقَقتُ إِلَيهِ الدارِعينَ بِمُهجَتي

When death stands in the way of what I hope for,

If the wished obstructs, I would tear through the armoured

I cleave through armored men toward it with my lifeblood,

And plunge in it, I care not if I met

وَغامَستُ فيهِ لا أُبالي لَوَ اَنَّني

وَغامَستُ فيهِ لا أُبالي لَوَ اَنَّني

تَلَقَّيتُ مِنهُ مُنيَتي أو مَنِيَّتي

تَلَقَّيتُ مِنهُ مُنيَتي أو مَنِيَّتي

and plunge into it, not caring whether

From it my death or pleasure

I meet through it my desire or my death.

If my soul accepts death, it indeed

إِذا سَمَحَت بِالمَوتِ نَفسي فَإِنَّهُ

إِذا سَمَحَت بِالمَوتِ نَفسي فَإِنَّهُ

يَقِلُّ اِحتِفالي بِالَّذي جَرَّ ميتَتي

يَقِلُّ اِحتِفالي بِالَّذي جَرَّ ميتَتي

When my soul is willing to give itself to death,

Decreases my fervour for what dragged my corpse

little do I care what brings about my dying.

And I do not care what fate reaped after

وَما إِن أُبالي ما جَنى الدَهرُ بَعدَما

وَما إِن أُبالي ما جَنى الدَهرُ بَعدَما

يَبُلُّ يَميني قائِمٌ مِن صَفيحَتي

يَبُلُّ يَميني قائِمٌ مِن صَفيحَتي

Nor do I care what time inflicts, once

My right hand bleeds standing from my sword

the hilt of my broad blade moistens my right hand.

So the occurrences of fate in my eyes are not

فَما حَدَثانُ الدَهرِ عِندي بِفاتِكٍ

فَما حَدَثانُ الدَهرِ عِندي بِفاتِكٍ

وَلا جِنَّةُ البَقّارِ عِندي بِجِنَّةِ

وَلا جِنَّةُ البَقّارِ عِندي بِجِنَّةِ

Time's calamities are no slayer in my eyes,

Like Paradise for the slaughtered is Paradise

nor is al-Baqqar's madness madness to me.

No, I do not count life living with harm

أَلا لا أعُدُّ العَيشَ عَيشاً مَعَ الأَذى

أَلا لا أعُدُّ العَيشَ عَيشاً مَعَ الأَذى

لِأَنَّ قَعيدَ الذُلِّ حَيٌّ كَمَيِّتِ

لِأَنَّ قَعيدَ الذُلِّ حَيٌّ كَمَيِّتِ

No, I do not count life as life amid hurt,

For sitting in disgrace alive is like dead

for one who sits in humiliation is alive like the dead.

They frighten me with death and death is rest

يُخيفونَني بِالمَوتِ وَالمَوتُ راحَةٌ

يُخيفونَني بِالمَوتِ وَالمَوتُ راحَةٌ

لِمَن بَينَ غَربَي قَلبِهِ مِثلُ هِمَّتي

لِمَن بَينَ غَربَي قَلبِهِ مِثلُ هِمَّتي

They frighten me with death, but death is rest

For whoever between the sides of his heart my zeal is like

for one with ambition like mine between his heart's two edges.

So do not show me your noses for I am

فَلا تَبرُزوا لي بِالأَنوفِ فَإِنَّني

فَلا تَبرُزوا لي بِالأَنوفِ فَإِنَّني

مُعَوَّدَةٌ جَدعَ المَوارِنِ شَفرَتي

مُعَوَّدَةٌ جَدعَ المَوارِنِ شَفرَتي

So do not confront me with noses raised, for

Accustomed, blunting the sharp blades, to file

my blade is accustomed to severing the soft tips of noses.

We have built the corridor of glory, its height towering

بَنَينا رِواقَ المَجدِ تَعلو سُموكُهُ

بَنَينا رِواقَ المَجدِ تَعلو سُموكُهُ

لَقَد عَظُمَت تِلكَ المَباني وَجَلَّتِ

لَقَد عَظُمَت تِلكَ المَباني وَجَلَّتِ

We built glory's portico, its roofs rising high;

So those buildings have become great and dignified

indeed, those structures have grown mighty and magnificent.

Keep silent do not say my father for yours

أَقِلّوا عَلَينا لا أَباً لِأَبيكُمُ

أَقِلّوا عَلَينا لا أَباً لِأَبيكُمُ

وَلا تَرشُقونا بِاللُتَيّا وَبِالَّتي

وَلا تَرشُقونا بِاللُتَيّا وَبِالَّتي

Spare us—may your father have no father—

And do not sprinkle on us insults or faults

and do not pelt us with this petty thing and that.

You want us to obey while you are the mightiest

تُريدونَ أَن نوطي وَأَنتُم أَعِزَّةٌ

تُريدونَ أَن نوطي وَأَنتُم أَعِزَّةٌ

بِأَيِّ كِتابٍ أَم بِأَيَّةِ سُنَّةِ

بِأَيِّ كِتابٍ أَم بِأَيَّةِ سُنَّةِ

You want us trampled while you remain mighty:

By what book or which sunna?

by what scripture, or by what tradition?

If you are from us, indeed your inclination

فَإِن كُنتُمُ مِنّا فَقَد طالَ مَيلُكُم

فَإِن كُنتُمُ مِنّا فَقَد طالَ مَيلُكُم

قَديماً عَلى عيدانِ تِلكَ الأَرومَةِ

قَديماً عَلى عيدانِ تِلكَ الأَرومَةِ

If you belong to us, your assault has long endured

Has long been on the rods of the balcony

upon the branches of that stock, from ancient times.

So no peace until you hear from its buzzing

فَلا صُلحَ حَتّى تَسمَعوا مِن أَزيزِها

فَلا صُلحَ حَتّى تَسمَعوا مِن أَزيزِها

صَواعِقَ إِمّا صَكَّتِ الأُذنَ صُكَّتِ

صَواعِقَ إِمّا صَكَّتِ الأُذنَ صُكَّتِ

No peace until you hear from its rumbling

Thunders either deafening the ear or deafening

thunderbolts that, if they strike the ear, deafen it.

And no peace until they see from its loftiness

وَلا صُلحَ حَتّى يَنظُروا مِن زُهائِها

وَلا صُلحَ حَتّى يَنظُروا مِن زُهائِها

شَواهِقَ لا يَبلُغنَ صَوتَ المُصَوِّتِ

شَواهِقَ لا يَبلُغنَ صَوتَ المُصَوِّتِ

And no peace until they see, amid its multitudes,

Pinnacles the shouter cannot reach

towering heights beyond the reach of a caller's voice;

And until you see it shedding to you

وَحَتّى تَروها كَالسَعالى إِلَيكُمُ

وَحَتّى تَروها كَالسَعالى إِلَيكُمُ

تَفَلَّتُ مِن أَرسانِها وَالأَجِلَّةِ

تَفَلَّتُ مِن أَرسانِها وَالأَجِلَّةِ

and until you see them coming toward you like she-ghouls,

Its arrows from its quivers and armouries

breaking free of their halters and horsecloths.

I promise the enemies with the like of it

فَإِنّي زَعيمٌ لِلأَعادي بِمِثلِها

فَإِنّي زَعيمٌ لِلأَعادي بِمِثلِها

وَذَلِكَ رَهنٌ في ذِمامي وَذِمَّتي

وَذَلِكَ رَهنٌ في ذِمامي وَذِمَّتي

For I promise the enemies the like of it;

And that is a pledge in my halter and pledge

that stands as a pledge upon my honor and my covenant.

So oh grower of me, are you by honour flourishing

فَيا مُنبِتي هَل أَنتَ بِالعِزِّ مورِقي

فَيا مُنبِتي هَل أَنتَ بِالعِزِّ مورِقي

حَنانَيكَ كَم أَبقى وَقَد طالَ مَنبَتي

حَنانَيكَ كَم أَبقى وَقَد طالَ مَنبَتي

O my planter, will you make me leaf out in honor?

Your tenderness - how long remains and my growth has prolonged?

Have mercy, have mercy! How long must I remain, when my growth has lasted so long?

Is not my competence at adversities proven?

أَما كَمَلَت عِندَ الخُطوبِ تَجارَتي

أَما كَمَلَت عِندَ الخُطوبِ تَجارَتي

أَما خَلَصَت عِندَ الأُمورِ رَوِيَّتي

أَما خَلَصَت عِندَ الأُمورِ رَوِيَّتي

Has not my trade matured amid calamities?

Is not my way at affairs well navigated?

Has not my considered judgment been refined amid affairs?

Am I not measured to every successor

أَما أَنا مَوزونٌ بِكُلِّ خَليفَةٍ

أَما أَنا مَوزونٌ بِكُلِّ خَليفَةٍ

أَرى أَنَفاً مِن أَن يَكونَ خَليفَتي

أَرى أَنَفاً مِن أَن يَكونَ خَليفَتي

Am I not weighed against every caliph,

I see unfit to be my successor?

whom I would scorn to have as my deputy?

Am I not from the lofty people who already

أَلَستُ مِنَ القَومِ الأُلى قَد تَسَلَّفوا

أَلَستُ مِنَ القَومِ الأُلى قَد تَسَلَّفوا

دُيونَ العُلى قَبلَ الوَرى في الأَظِلَّةِ

دُيونَ العُلى قَبلَ الوَرى في الأَظِلَّةِ

Am I not of the people who borrowed

Borrowed the debts of nobility before people in the shadows?

the debts of glory before mankind, amid the shadows?

And their feet and palms were not created

وَما خُلِقَت أَقدامُهُم وَأَكُفُّهُم

وَما خُلِقَت أَقدامُهُم وَأَكُفُّهُم

لِغَيرِ العَوالي وَالظُبى وَالأَسِرَّةِ

لِغَيرِ العَوالي وَالظُبى وَالأَسِرَّةِ

Their feet and hands were not created

Except for the high aims, passion, and captivation

for anything but tall spears, blade-edges, and thrones.

The ones with white foreheads that shine between them

ذَوو الجَبَهاتِ البيضِ تَلمَعُ بَينَها

ذَوو الجَبَهاتِ البيضِ تَلمَعُ بَينَها

وُسومُ المَعالي وَالوُجوهِ المُضيئَةِ

وُسومُ المَعالي وَالوُجوهِ المُضيئَةِ

Men of white foreheads, among which gleam

Signs of nobility and bright faces

the marks of lofty deeds, and of radiant faces.

They refused disgrace would touch them from a side

أَبوا أَن يُلِمَّ الذُلُّ مِنهُم بِجانِبٍ

أَبوا أَن يُلِمَّ الذُلُّ مِنهُم بِجانِبٍ

وَما العِزِّ إِلّا لِلنُفوسِ الأَبِيَةِ

وَما العِزِّ إِلّا لِلنُفوسِ الأَبِيَةِ

They refused to let humiliation touch any side of them;

And honour is but for the dignified souls

honor belongs only to souls that will not bow.

And how many between the one with a clement nose and my carrier

وَكَم بَينَ ذي أَنفٍ حَمِيٍّ وَحامِلي

وَكَم بَينَ ذي أَنفٍ حَمِيٍّ وَحامِلي

مَوارِنَ قَد عُوَّدنَ جَذبَ الأَخِشَّةِ

مَوارِنَ قَد عُوَّدنَ جَذبَ الأَخِشَّةِ

How great the gulf between one with a fiercely proud nose and bearers of

Of shields who are trained to pull armours

soft nose-tips trained to the pull of nose-pegs!

Yes I am from the learned but I see

بَلى إِنَّني مَن تَعلَمانِ وَإِنَّما

بَلى إِنَّني مَن تَعلَمانِ وَإِنَّما

أَرى الدَهرَ يَعمى عَن بَيانِ فَضيلَتي

أَرى الدَهرَ يَعمى عَن بَيانِ فَضيلَتي

Yes, I am the one you two know; it is only

Fate blind to explaining my virtue

that I see time blind to the clear display of my merit.

So I fell with my soul not my family, granting

فَخَرتُ بِنَفسي لا بِأَهلي مُوَفِّراً

فَخَرتُ بِنَفسي لا بِأَهلي مُوَفِّراً

عَلى ناقِصي قَومي مَناقِبَ أُسرَتي

عَلى ناقِصي قَومي مَناقِبَ أُسرَتي

I boasted of myself, not of my kin, reserving

To the lacking of my people the virtues of my ancestry

my family's merits for those of my people who fall short.

And a day will inevitably come suddenly

وَلابُدَّ يَوماً أَن يَجيءَ فُجاءَةً

وَلابُدَّ يَوماً أَن يَجيءَ فُجاءَةً

فَلا تَنظُراني عِندَ وَقتٍ مُوَقَّتِ

فَلا تَنظُراني عِندَ وَقتٍ مُوَقَّتِ

And one day it must come suddenly,

So do not watch me at a promised time

so do not, you two, expect me at an appointed time.

By God, I have not exhausted before attaining it

وَوَاللَهِ لا كَدَّيتُ دونَ مَنالِها

وَوَاللَهِ لا كَدَّيتُ دونَ مَنالِها

وَظَنّي بِرَبّي أَن يُبِرَّ أَلِيَّتي

وَظَنّي بِرَبّي أَن يُبِرَّ أَلِيَّتي

And by God, I shall not stop short of attaining it,

And my belief in my Lord is to fulfil my power

and I trust my Lord to make good my oath.