نَأَتكَ عَلى طولِ التَجاوُرِ زَينَبُ

نَأَتكَ عَلى طولِ التَجاوُرِ زَينَبُ

وَما شَعَرَت أَنَّ النَوى سَوفَ تَصقُبُ

وَما شَعَرَت أَنَّ النَوى سَوفَ تَصقُبُ

Zaynab has grown distant from you, after an age of dwelling near;

Zaynab has drawn away from you despite your long years as neighbors.

she never sensed that separation would soon draw near.

She did not realize that separation would soon draw near.

كأَنَّ الَّذي غالَ الرَحيلُ رُقادَها

كأَنَّ الَّذي غالَ الرَحيلُ رُقادَها

بِما عَضَبَت مِن قُربِنا النَفسَ تَعضَبُ

بِما عَضَبَت مِن قُربِنا النَفسَ تَعضَبُ

It was as though departure had stolen away her sleep,

As though departure had ravaged her sleep,

for, angered by our nearness, her soul took offense.

she severs the soul with the closeness to us she severed.

تَداعى إِلى ما فاتَنا مِن وَداعِنا

تَداعى إِلى ما فاتَنا مِن وَداعِنا

عَلى بُعدِها بِالوَأيِ إِذ تَتَقَرَّبُ

عَلى بُعدِها بِالوَأيِ إِذ تَتَقَرَّبُ

She called back toward the farewell we had missed,

It calls back what we missed of our farewell,

though far away, gesturing a promise as she drew near.

despite her distance, with a promise as she draws near.

فَإِن تَنصَبي يَوماً إِلى لَمَّةِ الهَوى

فَإِن تَنصَبي يَوماً إِلى لَمَّةِ الهَوى

فَإِنّي بِما أَلقى إِلى تِلكَ أَنصَبُ

فَإِنّي بِما أَلقى إِلى تِلكَ أَنصَبُ

If someday you incline toward the company of passion,

If someday you weary yourself seeking love's visitation,

then, for all I suffer, I am the most afflicted there.

then I, through what I suffer, am wearier in seeking it.

سَلي تُخبَري أَنَّ المَعَنّى بِذِكرِكُم

سَلي تُخبَري أَنَّ المَعَنّى بِذِكرِكُم

عَلى سُنَّةٍ فيمَن يَحيبُ وَيَدأَبُ

عَلى سُنَّةٍ فيمَن يَحيبُ وَيَدأَبُ

Ask, and you will learn that the tormented man who remembers you

Ask, and you will be told that the man tormented by remembering you

keeps to the path of those who love and persevere.

follows the way of those who wail and toil.

إِذا ذادَ عَنهُ عَقرَباً مِن هَواكُمُ

إِذا ذادَ عَنهُ عَقرَباً مِن هَواكُمُ

بِرُقيَتِهِ دَبَّت لَهُ مِنكِ عَقرَبُ

بِرُقيَتِهِ دَبَّت لَهُ مِنكِ عَقرَبُ

Whenever he turns aside a scorpion from your love,

Whenever he drives away a scorpion of his love for you

its spell makes another scorpion from you crawl upon him.

with his incantation, another scorpion from you creeps toward him.

فَباتَ يُدَنّي قَلبَهُ مِن جَلادَةٍ

فَباتَ يُدَنّي قَلبَهُ مِن جَلادَةٍ

لِيَقلِبَهُ عَنكُم فَلا يَتَقَلَّبُ

لِيَقلِبَهُ عَنكُم فَلا يَتَقَلَّبُ

He spent the night schooling his heart in hardness,

He spends the night bringing his heart toward fortitude,

to turn it away from you—but it would not turn.

to turn it away from you, but it will not turn.

أَبى مِنكِ ما يَلقى وَيَأبى فُؤادُهُ

أَبى مِنكِ ما يَلقى وَيَأبى فُؤادُهُ

سِواكِ فَيُلمي هَجرُهُ ثُمَّ يُغلَبُ

سِواكِ فَيُلمي هَجرُهُ ثُمَّ يُغلَبُ

He rejects what he suffers from you, yet his heart rejects

He rejects what he suffers from you, while his heart rejects

everyone but you; abandonment makes it bleed, then love prevails.

anyone but you; his estrangement persists, then he is overcome.

لِذي نُصحِهِ عَنكُم بِهِ أَجنَبِيَّةٌ

لِذي نُصحِهِ عَنكُم بِهِ أَجنَبِيَّةٌ

وَعَن نُصحِ دُنياهُ بِهِ القَلبُ أَجنَبُ

وَعَن نُصحِ دُنياهُ بِهِ القَلبُ أَجنَبُ

To one who counsels him against you, he is a stranger;

Within him is estrangement toward whoever counsels him away from you;

and to counsel about his worldly welfare, his heart is stranger still.

his heart is still more estranged from counsel for his worldly welfare.

فُؤادٌ عَلى نَهيِ النَصيحِ كَأَنَّما

فُؤادٌ عَلى نَهيِ النَصيحِ كَأَنَّما

يُحَثُّ بِما يُنهى إِلَيهِ وَيُتعَبُ

يُحَثُّ بِما يُنهى إِلَيهِ وَيُتعَبُ

A heart that, when the adviser forbids it, seems

A heart that, at its well-wisher's prohibition, seems

only urged toward what it is forbidden, exhausting itself there.

urged toward what it is forbidden, and wearied.

فَماتَ بِما يُرخى لَهُ مِن خِناقِهِ

فَماتَ بِما يُرخى لَهُ مِن خِناقِهِ

وَيَحيا عُلوقاً في الحِبالِ فَيَنشَبُ

وَيَحيا عُلوقاً في الحِبالِ فَيَنشَبُ

It dies whenever the noose around it is slackened,

It died from the loosening of its strangling cord,

and lives suspended in the ropes, only to be caught.

yet lives by clinging to the ropes and becoming caught.

كَشاكِيَةٍ مِن عَينِها غَربَ قُرحَةٍ

كَشاكِيَةٍ مِن عَينِها غَربَ قُرحَةٍ

تَداوى بِما تَدوى عَلَيهِ وَتَذرَبُ

تَداوى بِما تَدوى عَلَيهِ وَتَذرَبُ

Like a woman complaining of a running sore in her eye,

Like a woman suffering an ulcer's sting in her eye,

she doctors herself with the very thing that makes it ache and fester.

she seeks a cure in what leaves it diseased and festering.

يَغَصُّ إِذا نالَ الطَعامَ لِذِكرِكُم

يَغَصُّ إِذا نالَ الطَعامَ لِذِكرِكُم

وَيَشرَقُ مِن وَجدٍ بِكُم حينَ يَشرَبُ

وَيَشرَقُ مِن وَجدٍ بِكُم حينَ يَشرَبُ

He chokes when food reaches him, remembering you,

He chokes when he eats food, remembering you,

and, longing for you, gasps whenever he drinks.

and chokes from longing for you when he drinks.

فَلا مَذهَبٌ عَنكُم لَهُ شَطَّ أَو دَنا

فَلا مَذهَبٌ عَنكُم لَهُ شَطَّ أَو دَنا

سِواكِ وَفي الأَرضِ العَريضَةِ مَذهَبُ

سِواكِ وَفي الأَرضِ العَريضَةِ مَذهَبُ

No road away from you is his, whether far or near,

He has no path away from you, whether far or near,

except yours—though the broad earth has many roads.

to anyone but you, though the broad earth has paths.

عَلى النَأيِ مَحزونٌ وَفي القُربِ مُغرَمٌ

عَلى النَأيِ مَحزونٌ وَفي القُربِ مُغرَمٌ

فَيا كَبِدا أَيَّ الطَريقَينِ أَركَبُ

فَيا كَبِدا أَيَّ الطَريقَينِ أَركَبُ

Far away, he grieves; nearby, he is consumed with love—

Sorrowful in separation, consumed with love in closeness—

O my liver, which of the two roads shall I take?

alas, my liver! Which of the two paths shall I take?

إِذا خَدِرَت رِجلي شَفَيتُ بِذِكرِها

إِذا خَدِرَت رِجلي شَفَيتُ بِذِكرِها

أَذاها فَأَهفو بِاِسمِها حينَ تُنكَبُ

أَذاها فَأَهفو بِاِسمِها حينَ تُنكَبُ

When my leg goes numb, I heal it by remembering her,

When my leg goes numb, remembering her cures

and cry out her name whenever that pain strikes.

its pain; I let her name slip whenever it is hurt.

لَقَد عُيِّنَت عَمّا أُقاسي بِذِكرِها

لَقَد عُيِّنَت عَمّا أُقاسي بِذِكرِها

وَعَمّا يَقولُ الشاهِدي حينَ أَطرَبُ

وَعَمّا يَقولُ الشاهِدي حينَ أَطرَبُ

Remembering her has blinded me to all I suffer,

She has indeed been singled out [sense unclear] concerning what I suffer in recalling her,

and to what my witness says whenever ecstasy seizes me.

and what my witness says when longing moves me.

يَرى الناسُ ما نُبدي بِزَينَبَ إِذ نَأَت

يَرى الناسُ ما نُبدي بِزَينَبَ إِذ نَأَت

عَجيباً وَما يَخفى مِنَ الحُبِّ أَعجَبُ

عَجيباً وَما يَخفى مِنَ الحُبِّ أَعجَبُ

People see what we reveal for Zaynab now that she is far

People consider what we reveal about Zaynab since she departed

and marvel; more wondrous is the love that remains concealed.

wondrous; what remains hidden of love is more wondrous.

يَروحُ وَيَغدو واجِداً يَنتَحي الهَوى

يَروحُ وَيَغدو واجِداً يَنتَحي الهَوى

عَلى رِجلِ مَصبورٍ عَلى الوِردِ أَجرَبُ

عَلى رِجلِ مَصبورٍ عَلى الوِردِ أَجرَبُ

Morning and evening he goes, love-struck, pursuing desire,

He goes at evening and morning, yearning, making for love,

like a mangy beast, tethered by the leg and barred from the watering place.

on the leg of a mangy beast restrained at the watering place.

إِذا عَرَضَ القَومُ الحَديثَ بِذِكرِها

إِذا عَرَضَ القَومُ الحَديثَ بِذِكرِها

أَئِنُّ كَما أَنَّ المَريضُ المُوَصَّبُ

أَئِنُّ كَما أَنَّ المَريضُ المُوَصَّبُ

Whenever the company happens to speak of her,

When people introduce talk of her,

I groan as a fever-worn sick man groans.

I groan as a chronically afflicted patient groans.

إِذا ما نَأَت فَالعَيشُ ناءٍ لِنَأيِها

إِذا ما نَأَت فَالعَيشُ ناءٍ لِنَأيِها

وَإِن قَرُبَت فَالمَوتُ بِالقُربِ يَقرُبُ

وَإِن قَرُبَت فَالمَوتُ بِالقُربِ يَقرُبُ

When she is far, life itself is far because she is far;

When she is distant, life is distant because of her distance;

if she comes near, death itself comes near through that nearness.

if she draws near, death draws near with that closeness.

كَفاكَ مِنَ الذَلفاءِ لَو كُنتَ تَكتَفي

كَفاكَ مِنَ الذَلفاءِ لَو كُنتَ تَكتَفي

مَواعِدُ لَم تَذهَب بِها حَيثُ تَذهَبُ

مَواعِدُ لَم تَذهَب بِها حَيثُ تَذهَبُ

The short-nosed doe would suffice you, if you could be satisfied—

From the snub-nosed woman, had you been content, enough for you were

but promises cannot go with you wherever you go.

promises you did not take where you are going.

وَقائِلَةٍ حينَ اِستُحِقَّ رَحيلُنا

وَقائِلَةٍ حينَ اِستُحِقَّ رَحيلُنا

وَأَجفانُ عَينَيها تَجودُ وَتَسكُبُ

وَأَجفانُ عَينَيها تَجودُ وَتَسكُبُ

A woman said, when the time came for us to depart,

A woman spoke when our departure became certain,

while her eyelids poured and streamed with tears:

while the lids of her eyes poured forth and shed tears:

أَغادٍ إِلى حَرّانَ في غَيرِ شيعَةٍ

أَغادٍ إِلى حَرّانَ في غَيرِ شيعَةٍ

وَذَلِكَ شَأوٌ عَن هَوانا مُغَرَّبُ

وَذَلِكَ شَأوٌ عَن هَوانا مُغَرَّبُ

“Are you leaving for Harran with no escort,

'Are you setting out for Harran without a following?

toward a distant goal, away from familiar ground?”

That is a destination far removed from our love.'

فَقُلتُ لَها كَلَّفِتني طَلَبَ النَدى

فَقُلتُ لَها كَلَّفِتني طَلَبَ النَدى

وَلَيسَ وَراءَ اِبنِ الخَليفَةِ مَطلَبُ

وَلَيسَ وَراءَ اِبنِ الخَليفَةِ مَطلَبُ

I told her: “The quest for bounty has burdened me,

I told her, 'You charged me to seek bounty,

and beyond the caliph’s son there is nothing left to seek.

and beyond the caliph's son there is none to seek.

سَيَكفي فَتىً مِن شيعَةٍ حَدُّ سَيفِهِ

سَيَكفي فَتىً مِن شيعَةٍ حَدُّ سَيفِهِ

وَكورٌ عِلافِيٌّ وَوَجناءُ ذِعلِبُ

وَكورٌ عِلافِيٌّ وَوَجناءُ ذِعلِبُ

A young man like me has no escort but his keen sword,

A youth's sword-edge will suffice him instead of a following,

his ʿUklī saddle, and a lean, swift she-camel.

with an Ilafi saddle and a sturdy-cheeked, swift she-camel.

إِذا اِستَوعَرَت دارٌ عَلَيهِ رَمى بِها

إِذا اِستَوعَرَت دارٌ عَلَيهِ رَمى بِها

بَناتِ الصُوى مِنها رَكوبٌ وَمُصعِبُ

بَناتِ الصُوى مِنها رَكوبٌ وَمُصعِبُ

Whenever the ground grows rugged beneath him, he flings against it

When a dwelling grows harsh for him, he sends her

the daughters of the waymarks—mounts both tractable and stubborn.

along the daughters of waymarks—paths both yielding and difficult.

فَعُدّي إِلى يَومَ اِرتَحَلتُ وَسائِلي

فَعُدّي إِلى يَومَ اِرتَحَلتُ وَسائِلي

نَوافِلَكِ الفَعّالَ مَن جاءَ يَضرِبُ

نَوافِلَكِ الفَعّالَ مَن جاءَ يَضرِبُ

So count from the day I set out, and ask

So count up to the day I departed, and ask

who comes seeking your abundant acts of grace.

the man of deeds who came journeying for your gifts.

لِعَلَّكِ أَن تَستَيقِني أَنَّ زَورَتي

لِعَلَّكِ أَن تَستَيقِني أَنَّ زَورَتي

سُلَيمانَ مِن سَيرِ الهَواجِرِ يُعقِبُ

سُلَيمانَ مِن سَيرِ الهَواجِرِ يُعقِبُ

Then perhaps you will know for certain that my visit

Perhaps you may become certain that my visit

to Sulayman comes after a journey through the noonday blaze.

to Sulayman yields a return for traveling through midday heat.'

وَماءِ عَفاءٍ لا أَنيسَ بِجَوِّهِ

وَماءِ عَفاءٍ لا أَنيسَ بِجَوِّهِ

حَليفاهُ مِن شَتّى عِفاءٌ وَطُحلُبُ

حَليفاهُ مِن شَتّى عِفاءٌ وَطُحلُبُ

Many a desolate pool, with no companion in its open waste,

And a forsaken waterhole, with no companion in its expanse,

had only wilderness and waterweed as its two intimates.

whose two unlike companions are dust and algae,

وَرَدتُ إِذا اِلتاثَ الهِجانُ وَقَد خَوى

وَرَدتُ إِذا اِلتاثَ الهِجانُ وَقَد خَوى

عَلَيهِ مِنَ الظَلماءِ بَيتٌ مُطَنَّبُ

عَلَيهِ مِنَ الظَلماءِ بَيتٌ مُطَنَّبُ

I reached it when the pale camels had wandered in confusion,

I reached when the white camels faltered and there had fallen

and darkness had pitched over it a tent with taut ropes.

over it a guy-roped tent of darkness.

نَعوجٌ عَلى التَأويبِ صُعرٌ مِنَ البَرى

نَعوجٌ عَلى التَأويبِ صُعرٌ مِنَ البَرى

نَواشِطُ في لُجٍّ مِنَ اللَيلِ تَنعَبُ

نَواشِطُ في لُجٍّ مِنَ اللَيلِ تَنعَبُ

At the night-call we turned them, their necks chafed by nose-rings,

Camels swerving in daylong travel, their necks bent by nose-rings,

restless in the night’s deep sea, lifting their cries.

eagerly roaming, stride with stretched necks through a deep sea of night.

إِذا ما أَنَخناها لِغَيرِ تَئِيَّةٍ

إِذا ما أَنَخناها لِغَيرِ تَئِيَّةٍ

عَلى غَرَضِ الحاجاتِ وَالقَومُ لُغَّبُ

عَلى غَرَضِ الحاجاتِ وَالقَومُ لُغَّبُ

When we made them kneel, without delay,

Whenever we made them kneel without delay,

at our goal, the men themselves were spent.

for the fulfillment of needs, while the men were weary,

وَقَعنَ فَريصاتِ السَديسِ كَما دَعا

وَقَعنَ فَريصاتِ السَديسِ كَما دَعا

عَلى فَنَنٍ مِن ضالَةِ الأَيكِ أَخطَبُ

عَلى فَنَنٍ مِن ضالَةِ الأَيكِ أَخطَبُ

The full-grown camels’ shoulder muscles quivered as they sank,

the six-year-olds' flank-muscles throbbed, as calls

like a black bird calling from a branch of a wild grove-tree.

a mottled bird on a branch of a wild lote-tree in the thicket.

قَلائِصُ إِن حَرَّكتَ كَفّاً تَكَمَّشَت

قَلائِصُ إِن حَرَّكتَ كَفّاً تَكَمَّشَت

كَأَنَّ عَلى أَكسائِها الجِنَّ تُجلِبُ

كَأَنَّ عَلى أَكسائِها الجِنَّ تُجلِبُ

Young she-camels: move a hand, and they huddle together,

Young she-camels that gather themselves swiftly if you move a hand,

as though jinn were clamoring over their coverings.

as though jinn were shouting over their hindquarters.

سُقينَ بِحَذّاءِ النَجاءِ شِمِلَّةٍ

سُقينَ بِحَذّاءِ النَجاءِ شِمِلَّةٍ

إِذا قالَ يَعفورُ الفَلاةِ تَأَوَّبوا

إِذا قالَ يَعفورُ الفَلاةِ تَأَوَّبوا

A gaunt, hard-riding guide drove them, bent on escape;

They were watered with a fleet-striding, swift she-camel,

when the wild ass of the waste called, “Turn back,” they pressed on.

when the desert fawn said, 'Travel through the day!'

مُفَرَّجَةُ الضَبعَينِ مَمهورَةُ القَرى

مُفَرَّجَةُ الضَبعَينِ مَمهورَةُ القَرى

تَحُذُّ عَلَيها راكِبٌ مُتَنَقِّبُ

تَحُذُّ عَلَيها راكِبٌ مُتَنَقِّبُ

Broad in the forelegs, their backs made firm,

Wide between the forelegs, strong-backed,

a veiled rider urges them swiftly onward.

she speeds with a veiled rider upon her.

سَرى اللَيلَ وَالتَهجيرَ في كُلِّ سَبسَبٍ

سَرى اللَيلَ وَالتَهجيرَ في كُلِّ سَبسَبٍ

يُعارِضُهُ مِن عارِضِ النَصِّ سَبسَبُ

يُعارِضُهُ مِن عارِضِ النَصِّ سَبسَبُ

He traveled by night and through burning noon across every waste,

He traveled by night and through midday heat across every desert plain;

one level stretch of hard track following another.

across his stretch of hard driving another desert plain confronts him.

دَياميمُ تَرمي بِالمَطِيِّ إِلَيكُمُ

دَياميمُ تَرمي بِالمَطِيِّ إِلَيكُمُ

تَظَلُّ بَناتُ الأَزَلِ فيهِنَّ تَلعَبُ

تَظَلُّ بَناتُ الأَزَلِ فيهِنَّ تَلعَبُ

Vast deserts cast the riding beasts toward you,

Trackless wastes hurl the mounts toward you,

where the daughters of hunger sport among them all day.

where the daughters of the lean wolf spend the day at play.

وَكَم جاوَزَت مِن ظَهرِ أَرعَنَ شاخِصٍ

وَكَم جاوَزَت مِن ظَهرِ أَرعَنَ شاخِصٍ

وَمِن بَطنِ وادٍ جَوفُهُ مُتَصَوِّبُ

وَمِن بَطنِ وادٍ جَوفُهُ مُتَصَوِّبُ

How many a towering, jutting mountain-back they crossed,

How many towering, jutting mountain ridges she crossed,

and how many a valley-bottom whose hollow plunged downward.

and valleys whose hollows slope downward!

لَها هاتِفٌ يَحكي غِناءً عَشَنَّقاً

لَها هاتِفٌ يَحكي غِناءً عَشَنَّقاً

سَميعاً بِما أَدّى لَهُ الصَوتُ مُعرِبُ

سَميعاً بِما أَدّى لَهُ الصَوتُ مُعرِبُ

There a caller echoes a high-pitched song,

She has a caller mimicking a lanky man's song,

hearing and clearly voicing whatever sound reaches him.

keen-eared, clearly expressing what the voice conveys to him.

فَغَنَّت غِناءً عَينُهُ وَلِسانُهُ

فَغَنَّت غِناءً عَينُهُ وَلِسانُهُ

قَريبُ مَصارِ الصَوتِ لَيسَ يُثَقَّبُ

قَريبُ مَصارِ الصَوتِ لَيسَ يُثَقَّبُ

His eye and tongue break into song,

She sang a song whose eye and tongue

the passages of his voice close-set, never indistinct.

are close to the sound's return, unpierced.

هُوَ الخَنفُ لا إِنسٌ وَلا نَجلُ جِنَّةٍ

هُوَ الخَنفُ لا إِنسٌ وَلا نَجلُ جِنَّةٍ

يَعيشُ وَلا يَغذوهُ أُمٌّ وَلا أَبُ

يَعيشُ وَلا يَغذوهُ أُمٌّ وَلا أَبُ

Still-winged, with neither people nor date-palms nearby,

It is the nasal sound, neither human nor offspring of jinn,

he lives, though neither mother nor father feeds him.

living, though neither mother nor father nourishes it.

إِلَيكَ أَبا أَيّوبَ أَسمَعتُ صاحِبي

إِلَيكَ أَبا أَيّوبَ أَسمَعتُ صاحِبي

أَغانِيَهُ وَالناعِجاتُ تَسَرَّبُ

أَغانِيَهُ وَالناعِجاتُ تَسَرَّبُ

To you, Abu Ayyub, I made my companion hear

Toward you, Abu Ayyub, I made my companion hear

that the swift she-camels were streaming onward.

its songs, as the swerving she-camels streamed along.

إِذا خَرَجَت مِن عَينِهِ قُلتُ لَيتَني

إِذا خَرَجَت مِن عَينِهِ قُلتُ لَيتَني

يَجوبُ الدُجى مِنها حَرارٌ وَتَنعَبُ

يَجوبُ الدُجى مِنها حَرارٌ وَتَنعَبُ

Whenever it vanished from his sight, I said, “If only I might be

When she passed out of his sight, I said, 'Would that I...'

the desert bird that crosses the darkness from there, crying.”

Noble ones among them cleave the darkness, striding with necks outstretched.

شَرِبتُ بِرَنقٍ مِن مُدامٍ وَلَو دَنَت

شَرِبتُ بِرَنقٍ مِن مُدامٍ وَلَو دَنَت

حِياضُ سُلَيمانٍ صَفا لِيَ مَشرَبُ

حِياضُ سُلَيمانٍ صَفا لِيَ مَشرَبُ

I drank turbid water—but had those pools drawn near,

I drank clouded wine; had there drawn near

Sulayman’s watering places would have made my drink run clear.

Sulayman's pools, my drink would have run clear.

إِذا جِئتِ حَرّاناً وَزُرتِ أَميرَها

إِذا جِئتِ حَرّاناً وَزُرتِ أَميرَها

فَرَبُّكِ مَضمونٌ وَواديكِ مُعشِبُ

فَرَبُّكِ مَضمونٌ وَواديكِ مُعشِبُ

When you reach Harran and call on its emir,

When you come to Harran and visit its prince,

your pasture is assured and your valley green.

your master is secure, and your valley grassy.

هُناكَ اِمرُؤٌ إِنَّ النَوالَ لِمَن دَنا

هُناكَ اِمرُؤٌ إِنَّ النَوالَ لِمَن دَنا

لَهُ عَطَنٌ سَهلٌ وَكَفٌّ تَحَلَّبُ

لَهُ عَطَنٌ سَهلٌ وَكَفٌّ تَحَلَّبُ

The man who guides you there has gifts awaiting whoever draws near;

There is a man there: for anyone who draws near, bounty

his watering place is easy, his hand a streaming udder,

has with him an easy watering place and a hand flowing with milk.

دَرورٌ لِقَومٍ بِالحَياةِ عَلى الرِضى

دَرورٌ لِقَومٍ بِالحَياةِ عَلى الرِضى

عَلى أَنَّ فيها مَوتَهُم حينَ يَغضَبُ

عَلى أَنَّ فيها مَوتَهُم حينَ يَغضَبُ

pouring for the needy even upon bare rock;

Abundantly it pours life for people while he is pleased,

yet in that same hand lies death when anger stirs him.

though in it lies their death when he is angered.

أَلا أَيُّها المُستَعتِبُ الدَهرَ مَسَّهُ

أَلا أَيُّها المُستَعتِبُ الدَهرَ مَسَّهُ

مِنَ الضيقِ وَالتَأنيبِ نابٌ وَمِخلَبُ

مِنَ الضيقِ وَالتَأنيبِ نابٌ وَمِخلَبُ

O you who ask Time to make amends—you have been struck

O you who seek to make Time relent, whom have touched

by the fang and claw of hardship and reproach.

the fang and claw of hardship and reproach:

إِذا قَذِيَت عَينُ الزَمانِ فَداوِها

إِذا قَذِيَت عَينُ الزَمانِ فَداوِها

بِقُربِ سُلَيمانٍ فَإِنَّكَ مُعتَبُ

بِقُربِ سُلَيمانٍ فَإِنَّكَ مُعتَبُ

When Time’s eye is flecked with grit, treat it

when Time's eye is troubled by a mote, cure it

by drawing near Sulayman; then you will be soothed.

by drawing near Sulayman: you will find redress.

عَداكَ العِدى ما سارَ تَحتَ لِوائِهِ

عَداكَ العِدى ما سارَ تَحتَ لِوائِهِ

بَطاريقُ في الماذِيِّ كَهلٌ وَأَشيَبُ

بَطاريقُ في الماذِيِّ كَهلٌ وَأَشيَبُ

May my enemies pass you by while beneath his banner march

May enemies pass you by as long as beneath his banner march

commanders in the ranks—elders and graybeards.

patricians in fine mail, mature men and grey-haired ones.

هُوَ المَرءُ يَستَعلي قُرَيشاً بِنَفعِهِ

هُوَ المَرءُ يَستَعلي قُرَيشاً بِنَفعِهِ

وَدَفعِ عَدُوٍّ فاحِشٍ حينَ يَكلَبُ

وَدَفعِ عَدُوٍّ فاحِشٍ حينَ يَكلَبُ

He is the man by whose favors Quraysh rises,

He is the man who towers over Quraysh through his beneficence

and by whose repulse a monstrous foe is checked when it rages.

and his repelling a vicious foe when it turns rabid.

رَزينُ حَصاةِ العِلمِ لا يَستَخِفُّهُ

رَزينُ حَصاةِ العِلمِ لا يَستَخِفُّهُ

أَحاديثُ يَستَوعي عَلَيها المُعَيِّبُ

أَحاديثُ يَستَوعي عَلَيها المُعَيِّبُ

Steady, a touchstone of knowledge, no impulse makes him flighty;

His wisdom's stone is weighty; he is not swayed by

no faultfinder can encompass all that is reported of him.

tales to which the faultfinder listens intently.

شَبيهُ أَميرِ المُؤمِنينَ وَسَيفُهُ

شَبيهُ أَميرِ المُؤمِنينَ وَسَيفُهُ

بِهِ يُتَّقى في النائِباتِ وَيُعصَبُ

بِهِ يُتَّقى في النائِباتِ وَيُعصَبُ

He is the Commander of the Faithful’s likeness and his sword;

The likeness of the Commander of the Faithful, and his sword:

through him men take shelter and rally in calamity.

through him protection is sought in calamities, and allegiance is bound.

يَهَشُّ لِميقاتِ الجِهادِ فُؤادُهُ

يَهَشُّ لِميقاتِ الجِهادِ فُؤادُهُ

فَلا يَتَطَرَّقهُ البَنانُ المُخَضَّبُ

فَلا يَتَطَرَّقهُ البَنانُ المُخَضَّبُ

His heart leaps at the appointed hour of holy war,

His heart delights at the appointed hour of jihad,

untouched by henna-dyed fingertips.

so stained fingertips cannot make their way into it.

إِذا الحَربُ قامَت قامَ حَتّى يُفيدَها

إِذا الحَربُ قامَت قامَ حَتّى يُفيدَها

قُعوداً وَحُثحوثُ الكَتيبَةِ مُطنَبُ

قُعوداً وَحُثحوثُ الكَتيبَةِ مُطنَبُ

When war rises, he rises; he does not cease until he brings it

When war stands up, he stands until he makes it

to rest, while the army’s hard-driving tumult stretches on.

sit down, while the battalion's tireless driver presses on.

لَهُ كُلَّ عامٍ غَزوَةٌ بِمُسَوَّمٍ

لَهُ كُلَّ عامٍ غَزوَةٌ بِمُسَوَّمٍ

يَقودُ المَنايا رايُهُ حينَ يَذهَبُ

يَقودُ المَنايا رايُهُ حينَ يَذهَبُ

Each year he has a campaign with branded mounts,

Every year he makes a campaign with a marked battle-host;

his banner leading deaths wherever he goes.

his judgment leads the fates of death wherever he goes.

لُهامٌ كَأَنَّ البيضَ في حَجَراتِهِ

لُهامٌ كَأَنَّ البيضَ في حَجَراتِهِ

نُجومُ سَماءٍ نورُها مُتَجَوِّبُ

نُجومُ سَماءٍ نورُها مُتَجَوِّبُ

There, the helmets within his chambers seem

A vast host—as though the white blades within its flanks

stars in a sky whose light has broken through.

were stars of a sky whose light sweeps through.

كَراديسُ خَيلٍ لا تَزالُ مُغيرَةً

كَراديسُ خَيلٍ لا تَزالُ مُغيرَةً

بِها المَلِكُ الرومِيُّ عانٍ مُعَذَّبُ

بِها المَلِكُ الرومِيُّ عانٍ مُعَذَّبُ

Like massed squadrons of horses, forever raiding,

Squadrons of horses never cease raiding,

they leave the Roman king a captive under torment.

through which the Roman king is captive and tormented.

كَأَنَّ بَناتِ اليونِ بَعدَ إِيابِهِ

كَأَنَّ بَناتِ اليونِ بَعدَ إِيابِهِ

مُوَزَّعَةً بَينَ الصَحائِبِ رَبرَبُ

مُوَزَّعَةً بَينَ الصَحائِبِ رَبرَبُ

It is as though the daughters of the Greeks before him

As though the daughters of al-Yun, after his return,

were scattered among the troops—a herd of gazelles.

distributed among the companions, were a herd of gazelles.

مَواهِبُ مَغبوطٌ بِها مَن يَنالُها

مَواهِبُ مَغبوطٌ بِها مَن يَنالُها

صَفايا سَبايا الرومِ بِكرٌ وَثَيِّبُ

صَفايا سَبايا الرومِ بِكرٌ وَثَيِّبُ

Gifts—fortunate is the man who receives them:

Gifts for which whoever receives them is envied:

captured Roman women, maiden and matron alike.

the choicest captive women of Rome, maiden and once-married.

وَما قَصَدَت قَوماً مُحَلّينَ خَيلُهُ

وَما قَصَدَت قَوماً مُحَلّينَ خَيلُهُ

فَتَصرُفَ إِلّا عَن دِماءٍ تَصَبَّبُ

فَتَصرُفَ إِلّا عَن دِماءٍ تَصَبَّبُ

Never have his horses sought an encamped people

Never did his cavalry attack a people settled in their camps

and turned away except from blood poured out.

and turn away except from freely streaming blood.

جَديرٌ بِتَركِ النائِحاتِ إِذا غَدا

جَديرٌ بِتَركِ النائِحاتِ إِذا غَدا

لَهُنَّ عَلى القَتلى عَويلٌ وَمَندَبُ

لَهُنَّ عَلى القَتلى عَويلٌ وَمَندَبُ

He can leave the mourning women, when he raids,

When he sets out, he is sure to leave wailing women

wailing and lamenting over their slain.

with loud lament and mourning over the slain.

أَغَرُّ هِشامِيُّ القَناةِ إِذا اِنتَمى

أَغَرُّ هِشامِيُّ القَناةِ إِذا اِنتَمى

نَمَتهُ بُدورٌ لَيسَ فيهِنَّ كَوكَبُ

نَمَتهُ بُدورٌ لَيسَ فيهِنَّ كَوكَبُ

A radiant Hashemite, firm as a spear when he declares his lineage,

Radiant, his spearshaft Hishami when he claims his descent,

descended from full moons among whom no mere star appears.

full moons begot him, with not a mere star among them.

جَميلُ المُحَيّا حينَ راحَ كَأَنَّما

جَميلُ المُحَيّا حينَ راحَ كَأَنَّما

تُخُيِّرَ في ديباجَةِ الوَصفِ مُذهَبُ

تُخُيِّرَ في ديباجَةِ الوَصفِ مُذهَبُ

When he appears, the beauty of his face makes it seem

Beautiful of face as he goes forth, as though

that gold is coursing across its breadth.

gilded work had been chosen in the brocade of description.

يَزينُ سَريرَ المُلكِ زَيناً وَيَنتَهي

يَزينُ سَريرَ المُلكِ زَيناً وَيَنتَهي

بِهِ المِنبَرُ المَنصوبُ في يَومِ يَخطُبُ

بِهِ المِنبَرُ المَنصوبُ في يَومِ يَخطُبُ

He adorns the throne of kingship and reaches its full height;

He beautifies the royal throne; and highest honor is reached

through him the raised pulpit is exalted on the day he preaches.

through him by the raised pulpit on the day he preaches.