ياO طَيرُbird إِنّاindeed we فيin غَدٍtomorrow طَيرُbirds
يا طَيرُ إِنّا في غَدٍ طَيرُ
روحِيdepart at evening فَإِنَّfor indeed البَينَparting تَبكيرُan early departure
روحِي فَإِنَّ البَينَ تَبكيرُ
O bird, tomorrow we too shall be birds;
O bird, we shall be birds tomorrow
depart at evening, for parting comes early.
My soul, for separation makes one rise early
قَدsometimes أَطلُبُI seek الحاجَةَthe favor مِنfrom مُشرِفٍa lofty man
قَد أَطلُبُ الحاجَةَ مِن مُشرِفٍ
مِنbefore دونِهاit زَأرٌroaring وَتَنفيرُand rebuff
مِن دونِها زَأرٌ وَتَنفيرُ
I may seek a favor from a man on high,
I seek my want from the Noble
with roaring and rebuff barring the way to it.
Without it are grief and repulsion
وَقَدand sometimes تَعاطينيoffers me drink عِراقِيَّةٌan Iraqi woman
وَقَد تَعاطيني عِراقِيَّةٌ
كَأَنَّهاas though she إِذwhen جُلِيَتwas unveiled نورُlight
كَأَنَّها إِذ جُلِيَت نورُ
And sometimes an Iraqi woman offers me drink,
An Iraqi woman has given me a draught
as though, unveiled, she were light.
As if when she was revealed, it was light
لاdo not تَسأَليask عَنabout شَأنِناour affairs كُلِّهِall of them
لا تَسأَلي عَن شَأنِنا كُلِّهِ
مِنof أَثَريmy trail عافٍeffaced وَمَقفورُand traced
مِن أَثَري عافٍ وَمَقفورُ
Do not ask about all our affairs:
Ask not about our whole affair
some of my tracks are effaced, and some are traced.
From my trace, well-omened and buried
ماnot كُلُّall ماthat عِنديis in me أُثَنّىI am praised بِهِfor it
ما كُلُّ ما عِندي أُثَنّى بِهِ
يُطوىis folded away الخَناobscenity وَالخَيرُand goodness مَنشورُspread abroad
يُطوى الخَنا وَالخَيرُ مَنشورُ
Not everything in me earns me praise;
Not all I have do I boast about
obscenity is folded away, while goodness is spread abroad.
Malice is folded and good wide published
وَشاعِرٍand many a poet تَقَذىis irritated بِناby us عَينُهُhis eye
وَشاعِرٍ تَقَذى بِنا عَينُهُ
حيناًfor a time وَلاand not يَهديهِguides him تَبصيرُenlightenment
حيناً وَلا يَهديهِ تَبصيرُ
And many a poet whose eye is sore because of us
A poet whose eye was hurt through us
for a time—no enlightenment guides him—
At times, discernment guides him not
قُلتُI said لَهُto him إِذwhen هَدَرَتroared جِنُّهُhis jinn
قُلتُ لَهُ إِذ هَدَرَت جِنُّهُ
وَكَثُرَتand multiplied عَنهُabout him الأَخابيرُthe reports
وَكَثُرَت عَنهُ الأَخابيرُ
I told him, when his jinn roared
I said to him when his demons clamoured
and reports about him multiplied:
And many cock-and-bull stories about him abounded
لَولاbut for أَناتيmy patience أَصبَحَتwould have become شُرَّعاًleveled for attack
لَولا أَناتي أَصبَحَت شُرَّعاً
فيكَat you وَغَنّىand would sing بِكَof you طَنبورُa tanbur lute
فيكَ وَغَنّى بِكَ طَنبورُ
But for my patience, spears would stand leveled
Had it not been for my respite becoming
at you, and a tanbur would sing of you.
A way into you and a lute singing you
بَداappeared نَذيرٌa warning لَكَfor you مِنfrom ناصِحٍa well-wisher
بَدا نَذيرٌ لَكَ مِن ناصِحٍ
وَالعودُand a return حَيّاتٌserpents مَناكيرُfearsome
وَالعودُ حَيّاتٌ مَناكيرُ
A warning has appeared for you from a well-wisher;
There appeared a warner to you from an adviser
a return brings fearsome serpents.
And the lute, serpents hissing
عَجِبتُI marveled مِنat ساعٍone hastening إِلىtoward جَمرَتيmy ember
عَجِبتُ مِن ساعٍ إِلى جَمرَتي
حينَwhen أَصاخَتlistened intently ليto me المَعاشيرُthe assemblies
حينَ أَصاخَت لي المَعاشيرُ
I marvel at one hastening toward my ember
I wonder at one striving towards my embers
when the assemblies have lent me their ears.
When the nobles called me
يَسعىhe hastens إِلىtoward ناريmy fire وَلَمand did not أَدعُهُI summon him
يَسعى إِلى ناري وَلَم أَدعُهُ
إِنَّindeed أَباAbu عَمروٍAmr لَمَقرورُsurely chilled
إِنَّ أَبا عَمروٍ لَمَقرورُ
He hastens toward my fire, though I never summoned him:
He comes to my fire though I did not invite him
surely Abu Amr is chilled.
Abu 'Amr is surely entombed
قَدindeed زُرتُI visited أَملاكَthe kings بَنيthe sons of هاشِمٍHashim
قَد زُرتُ أَملاكَ بَني هاشِمٍ
وَزارَنيand visited me البيضُthe fair women المَعاصيرُthe young maidens
وَزارَني البيضُ المَعاصيرُ
I have visited the kings of Hashim's sons,
I visited the estates of Banu Hashim
and fair young maidens have visited me—
And the whites, airborne flocks, visited me
مِنfrom كُلِّevery حَوراءَdark-eyed beauty هَضيمِslender الحَشاthe waist
مِن كُلِّ حَوراءَ هَضيمِ الحَشا
غالىheightened the worth بِهاof her نَبتٌmaturing وَتَوقيرُand dignity
غالى بِها نَبتٌ وَتَوقيرُ
each a dark-eyed beauty, slender of waist,
Of every doe, slender of waist
whose maturing and dignity have enhanced her worth.
High-born, revered her growth and manner
يَزيدُهاadds to her طيباًsweetness إِذاwhen أَقبَلَتshe approaches
يَزيدُها طيباً إِذا أَقبَلَت
ثَغرٌa mouth وَطَرفٌand a gaze فيهِin it تَفتيرُlanguor
ثَغرٌ وَطَرفٌ فيهِ تَفتيرُ
When she approaches, she is made still sweeter
Perfume is enhanced when she turns
by a mouth and a languorous gaze,
A mouth and a glance wherein is languor
وَحِليَةٌand finery يُحفِلُهاenriches it عُصفُرٌsafflower
وَحِليَةٌ يُحفِلُها عُصفُرٌ
كَأَنَّهas though it were فيin البِرسِthe cotton تَنّورُa furnace
كَأَنَّه في البِرسِ تَنّورُ
and finery enriched by safflower,
An ornament which hovers over it
like a furnace glowing in cotton cloth.
As if it, in the Persian cloak, a furnace
وَرُبَّماand sometimes زُرتُI visited أَخاًa brother ماجِداًnoble
وَرُبَّما زُرتُ أَخاً ماجِداً
تَشقىcome to grief بِكَفَّيهِin his two hands الدَنانيرُthe dinars
تَشقى بِكَفَّيهِ الدَنانيرُ
And sometimes I visit a noble brother,
And I sometimes visit a glorious brother
in whose hands dinars come to grief.
By whose hands dinars are split
لِلّهِto God, in admiration نَدمانيmy drinking companion أَبوAbu وابِصٍWabis
لِلّهِ نَدماني أَبو وابِصٍ
ماnot شَأنُهُhis way بُخلٌstinginess وَتَقصيرُand falling short
ما شَأنُهُ بُخلٌ وَتَقصيرُ
God bless my drinking companion, Abu Wabis:
Woe to me for Abu Wabis
stinginess and falling short are not his way.
What ails him? Stinginess and neglect
فَتىًa young man يُباريcompetes with كَأسُهُhis cup كَفَّهُhis hand
فَتىً يُباري كَأسُهُ كَفَّهُ
جُوداًin generosity وَبَعضُand some of القومِthe people خَنزيرُswine
جُوداً وَبَعضُ القومِ خَنزيرُ
A young man whose cup competes with his hand
A knight whose cup matches his palm
in generosity—and some people are swine.
In munificence, while some men are swine
باكَرتُهُI visited him early أَعشوI grope إِلىtoward نارِهِhis fire
باكَرتُهُ أَعشو إِلى نارِهِ
شَوقاًout of longing وَماand not ضاقَتwere too narrow بِيَfor me الدُورُthe houses
شَوقاً وَما ضاقَت بِيَ الدُورُ
I visited him early, groping toward his fire,
I came early to his fire
out of longing, not because houses were too narrow for me.
Yearning, and dwellings were not cramped for me
فَظَلَّso he continued يَقلينيroasting me وَأَفتَرُّهُand I draw grins from him
فَظَلَّ يَقليني وَأَفتَرُّهُ
كُلٌّeach بِماwith what يَصنعُhe does مَسرورُdelighted
كُلٌّ بِما يَصنعُ مَسرورُ
He kept roasting me, while I drew grins from him;
So he kept roasting me, and I let him wander
each was delighted with what he did.
Each one made happy by what he does
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen اليَومُthe day مَضىpassed كُلُّهُall of it
حَتّى إِذا اليَومُ مَضى كُلُّهُ
وَباحَand disclosed بِالمَكتومِthe hidden سُرسورُa cricket
وَباحَ بِالمَكتومِ سُرسورُ
Until, when the whole day had passed
Until the day had completely passed
and a cricket had disclosed the hidden,
And the secret was announced by glad tidings
وَراعَناand startled us فيin ميمِهِits mim (letter m) كافِرٌa concealer
وَراعَنا في ميمِهِ كافِرٌ
خَليفَةُthe successor of الشَمسِthe sun وَتستيرُand a shrouding
خَليفَةُ الشَمسِ وَتستيرُ
and in its mim a concealer startled us—
There espied us in its gathering an infidel
the sun's successor and a shrouding—
Successor to the sun who takes cover
وَاِغتلَّهاand made the most of it زَورُthe guest of أَبيAbu وابِصٍWabis
وَاِغتلَّها زَورُ أَبي وابِصٍ
شَتاًin winter فَهَزَّتهُso they stirred him المَآخيرُthe taverns
شَتاً فَهَزَّتهُ المَآخيرُ
Abu Wabis's guest made the most of it
The lies of Abu Wabis led him astray
in winter, and the taverns stirred him.
Vehemently, so the endings jostled him
دَعاhe called لَناfor us الحورُthe dark-eyed beauties عَلَيهاupon them الحَياmodesty
دَعا لَنا الحورُ عَلَيها الحَيا
ياO حَبَّذاhow lovely الحورُthe dark-eyed beauties المَعاطيرُthe fragrant ones
يا حَبَّذا الحورُ المَعاطيرُ
He called the dark-eyed beauties for us, modesty upon them:
The doe-eyed girls called for us, upon them life
ah, how lovely those fragrant, dark-eyed beauties!
How excellent pure doe-eyed girls
بِتناwe spent the night نُعاطيهاpassing them رُهاوِيَّةًwine from Ruha
بِتنا نُعاطيها رُهاوِيَّةً
وَهيَwhile they عِكافٌlingering بَينَناamong us صورٌinclining
وَهيَ عِكافٌ بَينَنا صورٌ
We spent the night passing them wine from Ruha,
We sip it slowly with wanderings in the goblet
while they lingered among us, leaning close.
It is among us a picture perfect image
تُزَيِّنُadorns الشَربَthe drinking company وَقَدand already زانَهاadorned them
تُزَيِّنُ الشَربَ وَقَد زانَها
فيamid الدُرِّthe pearls شَبَّتهُkindled their glow التَماصيرُthe colored bands
في الدُرِّ شَبَّتهُ التَماصيرُ
They adorn the drinking company, and are themselves adorned
It enhances drinking, and jewels have adorned it
amid pearls whose glow the colored bands kindle.
As if it were, in the topaz, a bakehouse
جوفٌhollow مُصيخاتٌlistening intently وَإِنand if قُبِّلَتkissed
جوفٌ مُصيخاتٌ وَإِن قُبِّلَت
حَنَّتthey moaned كَماas حَنَّmoaned المَشاويرُthe mashawir (sense uncertain)
حَنَّت كَما حَنَّ المَشاويرُ
Hollow and listening closely; when kissed,
Languid, if kissed, it would bend
they moaned as the mashawir moaned.
As the fine spears bent
يَشدونَthey sing أَصواتاًmelodies مَدينِيَّةًof Medina
يَشدونَ أَصواتاً مَدينِيَّةً
وَضَربَand the playing of مَكِّيٍّa Meccan لَهُto it صورُswaying
وَضَربَ مَكِّيٍّ لَهُ صورُ
They sing melodies of Medina
They sing melodies from Medina
and a Meccan beat that makes them sway.
And an instrument of Mecca was strumming for it
تَبكيweep المَزاميرُthe flutes لَهاfor them تارَةًat times
تَبكي المَزاميرُ لَها تارَةً
شَجواًin sorrow وَتَحكيهاand echo them المَزاهيرُthe lutes
شَجواً وَتَحكيها المَزاهيرُ
At times the flutes weep for them
The pipes weep for it at times
in sorrow, and the lutes echo them.
Grief, and the lutes discourse of it
وَأَناand I مَحبورٌdelighted بِتَغريدِهاby their trilling
وَأَنا مَحبورٌ بِتَغريدِها
إِمّاwhen تَداعىanswer one another البَمُّthe bass string وَالزيرُand the treble string
إِمّا تَداعى البَمُّ وَالزيرُ
And I delight in their trilling
While I am enchanted by its trilling
when bass and treble strings answer one another.
Now the bamboos and pipes ring
ثُمَّthen اِنقَضىended ذاكَthat فَلَمand did not أَبكِهِI weep for it
ثُمَّ اِنقَضى ذاكَ فَلَم أَبكِهِ
غالَdestroyed نَعيمَthe bliss of العَيشِliving تَكديرُvexation
غالَ نَعيمَ العَيشِ تَكديرُ
Then that ended, and I did not weep for it:
Then that passed, and I did not bewail it
vexation stole away the bliss of living.
The bliss of life embittered by uproar
دَعleave ذاthis فَإِنَّfor indeed الغُرَّthe radiant nobles مِنof هاشِمٍHashim
دَع ذا فَإِنَّ الغُرَّ مِن هاشِمٍ
أَبناءُthe sons of داوودَDawud المَساعيرُthe firebrands
أَبناءُ داوودَ المَساعيرُ
Leave that: the radiant nobles of Hashim
Leave that, for the nobility of Hashim
are the sons of Dawud, the firebrands.
Are sons of David, acting with speed
يَغدونَgo forth at dawn لِلحَربِto war بِأَقرانِهاagainst its champions
يَغدونَ لِلحَربِ بِأَقرانِها
صيدٌproud, high-headed men إِذاwhen هابَfeared العَواويرُthe cowards
صيدٌ إِذا هابَ العَواويرُ
They go forth at dawn to war against its champions,
They set out to war with its like
proud men when the cowards are afraid.
Game, when the preyer flees
بِالسَيبِthrough bounty مِنهُمamong them نَفَرٌa band سادَةٌlords
بِالسَيبِ مِنهُم نَفَرٌ سادَةٌ
إِلَيهِمُto them تُلقيyield الجَماهيرُthe multitudes
إِلَيهِمُ تُلقي الجَماهيرُ
By bounty, a band among them are lords;
Among them are outstanding chiefs
to them the multitudes yield.
To whom throngs thow themselves
قُلsay لَلغُواةِto the misguided الطالِبيwho seek شَأوِهِمtheir reach
قُل لَلغُواةِ الطالِبي شَأوِهِم
لاnot يُدرِكُovertake الريحَthe wind المَجاميرُthe swift steeds
لا يُدرِكُ الريحَ المَجاميرُ
Tell the misguided who seek to attain their reach:
Say to those who foolishly seek to debase them
swift steeds cannot overtake the wind.
The winds do not overtake the clouds
كَمhow many مِنa كَريمٍnoble man مِنof بَنيthe sons of هاشِمٍHashim
كَم مِن كَريمٍ مِن بَني هاشِمٍ
مُهدىًbestowed بِهِthrough him الصِحَّةُwell-being وَالخيرُand goodness
مُهدىً بِهِ الصِحَّةُ وَالخيرُ
How many a noble man of Hashim's sons,
How many a noble of Banu Hashim
through whom well-being and goodness are bestowed!
Guided aright by providence and prosperity
لِلمُلكِfor sovereignty عَبّاسٌAbbas وَأَبناؤُهُand his sons
لِلمُلكِ عَبّاسٌ وَأَبناؤُهُ
قِدماًfrom of old وَلِلحُشِّand for the privy الخَنازيرُthe swine
قِدماً وَلِلحُشِّ الخَنازيرُ
Sovereignty belongs to Abbas and his sons
For kingship, there is Abbas and his sons
from of old; swine belong in the privy.
Afoot, and for the rabble, swine
مِثلَsuch as سُلَيمانَSulayman وَمَنand who مِثلُهُis his equal
مِثلَ سُلَيمانَ وَمَن مِثلُهُ
تَحتَamid الوَغىbattle's tumult وَالسَيفُand the sword مَشهورُunsheathed
تَحتَ الوَغى وَالسَيفُ مَشهورُ
Such as Sulayman—and who is his equal
The like of Solomon, and who is the like of him?
amid battle, with the sword unsheathed?
Under the fray and the famed sword
نِصفانِtwo halves مِنof جودٍgenerosity وَمِنand of عِزَّةٍmight
نِصفانِ مِن جودٍ وَمِن عِزَّةٍ
لاnot يَستَميهِhunts him down العَسكَرُthe army الخورُthe faint-hearted
لا يَستَميهِ العَسكَرُ الخورُ
Two halves: one generosity, one might;
Two halves of munificence and might
the faint-hearted army cannot hunt him down.
That the vile mob cannot appraise
فيin صَدرِهِhis breast حِلمٌforbearance وَفيand in دِرعِهِhis armor
في صَدرِهِ حِلمٌ وَفي دِرعِهِ
لَيثٌa lion عَليهِupon him التاجُthe crown مَزرورُfastened
لَيثٌ عَليهِ التاجُ مَزرورُ
In his breast is forbearance, and within his armor
In his breast, clemency; in his coat of mail
a lion, with the crown fastened upon him.
A lion with the bejewelled crown
تَستَبشِرُrejoice البيضُthe bright swords بِلُقيانِهِat meeting him
تَستَبشِرُ البيضُ بِلُقيانِهِ
طَوراًat times وَتَختالُand strut proudly المَنابيرُthe pulpits
طَوراً وَتَختالُ المَنابيرُ
The bright swords rejoice in meeting him
The whites give happy tidings when they meet him
at times, and the pulpits strut with pride.
At times, and the wild geese strut
يَعرِقنَthey gnaw at خِرّيتاًan expert guide عَلَيهِupon him النَدىgenerosity
يَعرِقنَ خِرّيتاً عَلَيهِ النَدى
كَالبُردِlike a mantle إِذwhen تَمَّwas completed بِهِin it النيرُthe woven pattern
كَالبُردِ إِذ تَمَّ بِهِ النيرُ
They gnaw at a master guide, generosity upon him,
Dew sweats amber upon him
like a mantle when its woven pattern is complete.
As though completed by it, coldness
عَطاؤُهُhis giving دَفقٌa flood وَمَوعودُهُand his promise
عَطاؤُهُ دَفقٌ وَمَوعودُهُ
طيبُsweetness of الثَناpraise وَالوَجهُand the face مَنصورُgranted victory
طيبُ الثَنا وَالوَجهُ مَنصورُ
His giving is a flood, and his promise
His bestowal gushes, and his promise
earns sweet praise; his countenance is victorious.
A good opinion and face triumphant
يَستَهلِكُhe exhausts المالَwealth وَيُبقيand preserves الحِجاgood sense
يَستَهلِكُ المالَ وَيُبقي الحِجا
وَلَيسَand not مِنهُfrom him الكَلِمُthe words العورُdefective
وَلَيسَ مِنهُ الكَلِمُ العورُ
He exhausts wealth, yet preserves good sense;
He expends wealth and preserves repute
no defective words come from him.
And no unsound word issues from him
قَدindeed قُدِّرَwas measured الحَمدُpraise عَلىto وَجهِهِhis face
قَد قُدِّرَ الحَمدُ عَلى وَجهِهِ
تَحُفُّهُsurround him الشُمُّthe lofty nobles المَغاويرُthe valiant warriors
تَحُفُّهُ الشُمُّ المَغاويرُ
Praise has been measured to fit his face;
Praise is ordained upon his face
lofty, valiant warriors surround him.
Musk wraps it in waves
وَاللَهِby God ماnot عِنديI have سِوىexcept بِرِّهِhis kindness
وَاللَهِ ما عِندي سِوى بِرِّهِ
وَالمَلِكُand the king الصالِحُrighteous مَبرورُhonored with kindness
وَالمَلِكُ الصالِحُ مَبرورُ
By God, I have nothing but his kindness,
By God, I have none but his probity
and the righteous king is duly honored.
And the righteous king is blessed
صِحَّتُهُhis health كَالماءِlike water فيin مَدِّهِits rising flood
صِحَّتُهُ كَالماءِ في مَدِّهِ
يَقريoffers hospitality بِهِthrough it جودٌgenerosity وَتَبكيرُand promptness
يَقري بِهِ جودٌ وَتَبكيرُ
His health is like water in its swelling flood;
His well-being like water in its abundance
through it, generosity and promptness offer hospitality.
Munificence by which he gives drink at dawn
فَغَمَّso he distressed حُسّاديmy enviers وَحَبَّرتُهُand I adorned him
فَغَمَّ حُسّادي وَحَبَّرتُهُ
بِالحَمدِwith praise إِنindeed الحَمدَpraise تَحبيرُadornment
بِالحَمدِ إِن الحَمدَ تَحبيرُ
So he distressed my enviers, and I adorned him
So my enviers are vexed, and I saturate him
with praise, for praise is adornment.
With praise – for praise is dyeing
زانَadorned سُليمانَSulayman بَنيthe sons of هاشِمٍHashim
زانَ سُليمانَ بَني هاشِمٍ
كَماas يَزينُadorn الكاعِبَthe young maiden السورُthe bracelets
كَما يَزينُ الكاعِبَ السورُ
Sulayman has adorned the sons of Hashim
He adorns Solomon of Banu Hashim
as bracelets adorn a young maiden.
As beauty adorns the well-robed
مِنfrom حِلمِهِhis forbearance حِلمٌforbearance وَمِنand from حَزمِهِhis resolve
مِن حِلمِهِ حِلمٌ وَمِن حَزمِهِ
حَزمٌresolve وَمِنand from نَعماهُhis favors تَيسيرُease
حَزمٌ وَمِن نَعماهُ تَيسيرُ
From his forbearance comes forbearance, and from his resolve
Of his forbearance, forbearance; of his wisdom, wisdom
resolve; from his favors comes ease.
And from his bounty, facilitation
ضَرّابُa frequent striker of أَعناقٍnecks وَفَكّاكُهاand their liberator
ضَرّابُ أَعناقٍ وَفَكّاكُها
فَسَيفُهُso his sword مِسكٌmusk وَتَأمورُand heart's blood
فَسَيفُهُ مِسكٌ وَتَأمورُ
A striker of necks, and their liberator:
Smiter of necks and deliverer of them
his sword is musk and heart's blood.
His sword chaste musk perfumed
يَمحوhe erases بِجودٍwith generosity بُخلَthe stinginess of إِخوانِهِhis brothers
يَمحو بِجودٍ بُخلَ إِخوانِهِ
وَالذَنبُand sin تَمحوهُerase it المَقاديرُfate's decrees
وَالذَنبُ تَمحوهُ المَقاديرُ
With generosity he erases his brothers' stinginess,
He effaces the meanness of his brothers with munificence
and fate's decrees wipe away sin.
And destiny erases sins
Sol 6.1