Sol 5.6

  1. أَمُبَلِّغي ما أَطلُبُ الغَزَلُ

    أَم لا فَتُنجِدُني القَنا الذُبُلُ

    Will love poetry convey what I seek?

    Or not—then let the slender spears come to my aid.

  2. وَالسَيفُ أَولى أَن أَعوذَ بِهِ

    مِمّا تَجُرُّ الأَعيُنُ النُجُلُ

    The sword is more fitting for me to seek refuge in

    than what the wide, dark eyes bring on.

  3. وَأَنا الَّذي نَفَرَ الزَمانُ بِهِ

    وَاِستَأنَسَت بِرِكابِهِ السُبُلُ

    I am the one whom Time has driven afield,

    while the roads have grown familiar with his caravan.

  4. أَسري عَلى غَرَرٍ وَتَصحَبُني

    دونَ الرِجالِ الأَينُقُ الذُلُلُ

    I travel by night through hazards, accompanied—

    to the exclusion of men—by docile she-camels.

  5. لا المالُ يَجذِبُني إِلَيهِ وَلا

    يَعتاقُها الحَوذانُ وَالنَفَلُ

    Neither wealth draws me toward it, nor

    do ḥawdhān plants and clover detain them.

  6. عَجِلٌ بِيَ الشَدُّ الحَثيثُ إِلى ال

    غاياتِ خَرّاجٌ بِيَ المَهَلُ

    Urgent, relentless riding hastens me toward the—

    goals, while measured pacing carries me safely through.

  7. في غِلمَةٍ تَرَكوا قُعودَهُمُ

    نَزَعوا وَراءَ اللَيلِ وَاِنحَفَلوا

    among young men who left their resting mounts behind;

    they pressed on past the night and gathered in force.

  8. وَإِذا المَزادُ حَمى صَلاصِلَهُ

    قَنِعوا بِما تَقضي لَنا المُقَلُ

    And when the waterskins guarded their sloshing water,

    they were content with what our eyes dispensed.

  9. وَمُقَوَّمِ الأُذُنَينِ تَحسَبُهُ

    طَوداً أَنافَ بِصَدرِهِ جَبَلُ

    And an erect-eared mount—you would think him

    a towering crag, with a mountain rising from his chest.

  10. مُتَطاوِلٌ يوفي مُعَرِّدُهُ

    عُنقاً تَضاءَلَ خَلفَها الكَفَلُ

    Lofty, his averted head extends

    a neck behind which the rump seems small.

  11. أَجهَدتُهُ وَالكَرُّ يَعصِرُهُ

    وَالماءُ مِن عِطفَيهِ يَنهَمِلُ

    I drove him to exhaustion as the charge wrung him,

    and water streamed from both his flanks.

  12. وَنَجيبَةٍ نَهَضَ الزَمانُ بِها

    مِن بَعدِ ما قَعَدَت بِها العُقُلُ

    And a noble she-camel with whom Time rose again,

    after resolve itself had been brought to a halt by her;

  13. صَدَعَت عَرانينَ الرُبى وَنَجَت

    هَوَجاً وَيُنجِدُ وَخدَها الرَمَلُ

    she split the brows of the hills and escaped

    headlong, while the sand aided her swift pace.

  14. طَلَبَت أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ وَلا

    أَينٌ أَطافَ بِها وَلا مَهَلُ

    She sought the Commander of the Faithful, and no

    weariness circled her, nor any delay.

  15. حَيثُ العُلى لا يُستَرابُ بِها

    وَالجودُ لا يَلوي بِهِ البَخَلُ

    There, high rank admits no doubt,

    and generosity is not bent by avarice.

  16. وَالطائِعُ المَرجوُّ إِن حُمِدَت

    أَيدي الرِجالِ وَقَلَّ مَن يَسَلُ

    And al-Ṭāʾiʿ, the hoped-for, when praised are

    the hands of men—and few are those one asks.

  17. مَلِكٌ إِذا حُصِرَ السِماطُ بِهِ

    كَثُرَ العِثارُ وَطَبَّقَ الزَلَلُ

    A king: when the banquet cloth encloses him,

    stumbling multiplies and error spreads everywhere.

  18. وَإِذا السَريرُ سَما بِقَدَتِهِ

    غَرِيَت بِظاهِرِ كَفِّهِ القُبَلُ

    And when the throne rises with his stature,

    kisses fasten on the back of his hand.

  19. جَلَتِ الأَئِمَّةُ عَن مَناقِبِهِ

    وَاِستَودَعَتهُ نورَها الرُسُلُ

    The Imams disclosed his noble qualities,

    and the Messengers entrusted their light to him.

  20. وَإِذا العُيوبُ مَشَت إِلَيهِ بَدا

    وَجهٌ تَخاوَصُ دونَهُ المُقَلُ

    When faults walk toward him, there appears

    a face before which eyes squint.

  21. فَاللَحظُ مُحتَبِسٌ وَمُنطَلِقٌ

    وَالقَولُ مُنقَطِعٌ وَمُتَّصِلُ

    Thus the gaze is held back and released,

    and speech breaks off and then continues.

  22. طَرِبٌ إِلى النَعماءِ عاهَدها

    أَن لا يَمُرَّ بِسَمعِهِ عَذَلُ

    Exulting in beneficence, he covenanted with it

    that no reproach should pass within his hearing.

  23. يَلقى الخُطوبَ وَوَجهُهُ طَلِقٌ

    وَيَخوضُهُنَّ وَقَلبُهُ جَذِلُ

    He meets calamities with an open face,

    and wades into them with a joyful heart.

  24. تُخفي بَشاشَتُهُ حَميَّتَهُ

    كَالسُمِّ مَوَّهَ طَعمَهُ العَسَلُ

    His cheerfulness conceals his fierce zeal,

    like poison whose taste honey has disguised.

  25. مِن مَعشَرٍ كانَت سُيوفُهُمُ

    حَلياً لِمَن ضَرَبوا وَمَن عَطِلوا

    He comes from a people whose swords were

    adornment to those they struck and those they stripped bare.

  26. بِالفَخرِ يَكسونَ الَّذي سَلَبوا

    وَالذِكرِ يُحيونَ الَّذي قَتَلوا

    With glory they clothe the one they despoiled,

    and through renown revive the one they killed.

  27. أَنتَ الجَوادُ إِذا غَلا أَمَلٌ

    وَالمُستَجارُ إِذا طَغى وَجَلُ

    You are the bountiful one when hope grows costly,

    and the refuge sought when fear overflows.

  28. وَمُطاعِنٍ بَعَثَت يَداكَ لَهُ

    طَعناً يَذُلُّ لِوَقعِهِ البَطَلُ

    How many a lancer your two hands sent

    a thrust whose impact humbles the champion.

  29. وَعَلِمتَ أَنَّ السَيلَ يَدفَعُهُ

    لَمّا أَطَلَّ العارِضُ الهَطَلُ

    You knew that the torrent would drive him back

    when the rain-laden cloud loomed.

  30. لِلَّهِ رُمحُكَ يَومَ تورِدُهُ

    وَالماءُ لا صَردٌ وَلا عَلَلُ

    How splendid, by God, is your spear when you bring it to drink—

    its water is neither cold nor a second draught.

  31. خَطِلُ المَناكِبِ لا يَميلُ بِهِ

    مَوجٌ وَمِن نَعتِ القَنا الخَطَلُ

    Tossing at the shoulders, no wave makes it lean,

    though swaying is among the spear's attributes.

  32. وَمُطاعِنَينِ إِذا هُما اِعتَرَضا

    يَتَطاعَنانِ وَلِلقَنا زَجَلُ

    And two lancers, when they met,

    thrust at one another while the spears rang aloud.

  33. نَزَلَ الهَصورُ عَلى فَريسَتِهِ

    وَمَضى يُدَحرِجُ نَجوَهُ الجُعَلُ

    The crushing lion descended upon his prey,

    while the dung beetle went on rolling its filth.

  34. شَيخانِ هَذا فارِسٌ بَطَلٌ

    أَبَداً وَهَذا عاجِزٌ مَذِلُ

    Two old men: this one is forever a valiant knight,

    while that one is helpless and abject.

  35. فَإِذا الزَمانُ أَرادَ قَودَهُما

    حَرَنَ الجَوادُ وَأَصحَبَ الوَعِلُ

    Yet when Time wished to lead them both,

    the noble steed balked, while the ibex submitted.

  36. أَمُريدَ زائِدَةِ الأَنامِ أَقِم

    هَيهاتَ مِنكَ الشَدُّ وَالعَجَلُ

    O seeker of mankind's peerless one, stay;

    far from you are hard riding and haste.

  37. أَتُريدُ غاياتِ الفَخارِ وَما

    لَكَ ناقَةٌ فيهِ وَلا جَمَلُ

    Do you seek the furthest reaches of glory when

    you have neither she-camel nor camel in it?

  38. فَاِنعَق بِضَأنِكَ عَن أَناطِحِهِ

    وَدَعِ الغَميرَ تَلُسُّهُ الإِبِلُ

    So bleat with your sheep, away from its butting rams,

    and leave the lush herbage for the camels to lick.

  39. يا قابِضَ الأَيّامِ عَن وَجَلٍ

    بِيَمينِهِ عَن مَسِّها شَلَلُ

    O you who seize the days without fear,

    whose right hand leaves them palsied from its touch:

  40. يَئِلُ الَّذي أَمَّنتَ رَوعَتَهُ

    وَالعُصمُ في الأَطوادِ لا تَئِلُ

    the one whose terror you calm finds refuge,

    though mountain goats find none among the peaks.

  41. لِوَليَّكَ الدُنيا مُزَخرَفَةٌ

    وَلِأُمِّ مَن عادَيتَهُ الهَبَلُ

    For your friend, the world is richly adorned;

    for the mother of one you oppose, there is bereavement.

  42. اِن قالَ فيكَ عِداكَ مَنقَصَةً

    قالوا السَماءُ أَديمُها نَغِلُ

    If your enemies allege a fault in you,

    it is as though they said the sky's hide is corrupt.

  43. اِحذَر عَدوَّكَ أَن تُقَرِّبَهُ

    مِن قَلبِكَ الخَدَعاتُ وَالحِيَلُ

    Beware your enemy, lest he be brought near

    to your heart by deceits and stratagems.

  44. لا تُخدَعَنَّ عَلى رُقاهُ وَلَو

    أَرضاكَ مِنهُ القَولُ وَالعَمَلُ

    Never be deceived by his spells, even if

    his speech and action please you.

  45. فَفُؤادُهُ حَنِقٌ عَلَيكَ وَإِن

    طاطا وَذَلَّلَهُ لَكَ الوَجَلُ

    For his heart is resentful toward you, even if

    he bows his head and fear has subdued him for you.

  46. إِنَّ المُجَرَّدَ في هَواكَ فَتىً

    لا اللَومُ يَردَعُهُ وَلا العَذَلُ

    Truly, the one wholly devoted to your love is a youth

    whom neither blame nor reproach restrains,

  47. مِثلُ الحُسَينِ فَبَينَ أَضلُعِهِ

    قَلبٌ بِغَيرِكَ ما لَهُ شَغَلُ

    like al-Ḥusayn: between his ribs is

    a heart with no concern but you.

  48. يُثني عَلَيكَ بِكُلِّ عارِفَةٍ

    أَبَداً وَسِترُ الغَيبِ مُنسَدِلُ

    He praises you for every favor,

    always, while the veil of the unseen hangs down.

  49. ذاكَ الحُسامُ أَطَلتَ جَفوَتَهُ

    وَلَقَلَّ ما ظَفِرَت بِهِ الخِلَلُ

    That is the keen sword whose estrangement you prolonged,

    though breaches have very rarely mastered it.

  50. وَوَعَدتَهُ وَعداً تَعَلَّقَهُ

    وَالوَعدُ مَلويٌّ بِهِ الأَمَلُ

    You promised him a promise to which he clings,

    and hope is bound and twisted around the promise.

  51. فَاِنهَض بِهِ في النائِباتِ تَجَد

    عَضباً تَساقَطُ دونَهُ القُلَلُ

    Rise with him in calamities: you will find

    a sharp blade before which mountain peaks fall.

  52. وَاِسلَم أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ إِذا

    شَرَعَ الحِمامُ وَصَمَّمَ الأَجَلُ

    Remain safe, Commander of the Faithful, when

    death levels its weapon and fate resolves.

  53. مُتَقَلِّداً بِنِجادِ مَملَكَةٍ

    في غِمدِها الأَقدارُ وَالدُوَلُ

    Girded with the sword-belt of a kingdom

    in whose sheath lie destinies and dynasties.

  54. وَاِنعَم بِيَومِ المِهرِجانِ وَلا

    نَعِمَ العُداةُ بِهِ وَلا عَقَلوا

    Rejoice in the Day of Mihrajān, while

    the enemies neither rejoice in it nor comprehend.

  55. فَلَأَنتَ نَهّاضٌ إِذا قَعَدوا

    أَبَداً وَصَعّادٌ إِذا نَزَلوا

    For you rise whenever they sit,

    forever, and ascend whenever they descend.

  56. يَومٌ تُجَدِّدُهُ السُنونَ وَقَد

    دَرَجَت عَلَيهِ الأَعصُرُ الأُوَلُ

    A day the years renew, although

    the earliest ages have passed over it.

  57. فَالناسُ فيهِ مُعَلَّلٌ طَرِبٌ

    يَرجو الأُوارَ وَشارِبٌ ثَمِلُ

    On it the people are diverted and delighted:

    one hopes for the blaze, and another drinks, intoxicated.

  58. ما اِستَجمَعَت فِرَقُ الهُمومِ بِهِ

    إِلّا وَبَدَّدَ جَمعَها الجَذَلُ

    Never do the bands of worries gather in it

    but gladness scatters their assembly.

  59. هُوَ خِطَّةٌ نَزَلَ الشِتاءُ بِها

    وَالصَيفُ مُنطَلِقٌ وَمُرتَحِلُ

    It is a realm where winter has alighted

    while summer is setting out and departing.

  60. وَأَنا الَّذي أَهوى هَواكَ وَلَو

    ضُرِبَت عَلَيَّ البيضُ وَالأَسَلُ

    I am the one who loves devotion to you, even if

    white swords and spears rain blows upon me.

  61. وَطِئَت قَبائِلُ غالِبٍ عَقِبي

    وَتَشَرَّفَت بِمَقامِيَ الحِلَلُ

    The tribes of Ghālib have trodden in my wake,

    and encampments were ennobled by my stay.

  62. وَفَقَأتُ عَينَ البُخلِ مُذ كَثُرَت

    بِنَداكَ عِندي الأَينُقُ البُزُلُ

    I have put out the eye of avarice, since

    through your bounty my mature she-camels grew many.

  63. وَمُراغِمٍ يَغدو عَلى قَنَصي

    فَيَحوزُهُ وَيَدايَ مُحتَبِلُ

    Many a rival goes early to seize my quarry,

    and takes it, while my two hands still hold the snare.

  64. خُضتُ الغِمارَ فَجازَ جُمَّتَها

    دوني وَطَبَّقَ ثَوبِيَ البَلَلُ

    I plunged into the depths; the crest of their flood

    passed over me, and wetness covered my garment.

  65. وَمُذَكِّري رَحِماً مُعَنَّسَةً

    كَالشَمسِ أَخلَقَ ضَوءَها الطَفَلُ

    And one reminds me of a kinship long neglected,

    like the sun whose light the late hour has worn away:

  66. رَحِمٌ تَعَلَّقُ بِالبَعيدِ كَما

    عَلِقَ الحِباءَ النازِحُ الطُوَلُ

    a kinship that clings to the distant one, just as

    the long, far-stretched rope clings to the tent.

  67. اِثنانِ يَقتَطِعانِ مِن فُرَصي

    وَأَنا الَّذي أُرخي وَأَهتَبِلُ

    Two claimants cut away portions of my opportunities,

    while I am the one who gives rein and seizes the chance.

  68. غَرَضي بِمَدحِكَ أَن يُطاوِعَني

    عِوَجٌ بِأَيّامي وَيَعتَدِلُ

    My purpose in praising you is that

    the crookedness in my days obey me and straighten.

  69. وَأَقومُ بَينَ يَدَيكَ مُرتَجِلاً

    لا العَيُّ يَقطَعُني وَلا الخَطَلُ

    I stand before you, improvising;

    neither speechlessness cuts me off nor wild error.

  70. وَلَئِن نَما كُلُّ المَديحِ إِلى

    فَلَتاتِ قَولي وَاِنتَمى الغَزَلُ

    And though all panegyric traces its growth back to

    the spontaneous turns of my speech, and love poetry claims descent,

  71. فَالأَرضُ أُمُّ التُربِ أَجمَعِهِ

    وَأَبو البَريَّةِ كُلِّها رَجُلُ

    the earth is mother of all soil,

    and the father of all humankind is one man.