أَلاَ يا نسيمَ الريحِ إنْ كنتَ عابِرا

أَلاَ يا نسيمَ الريحِ إنْ كنتَ عابِرا

على الثغرِ فاقْرِى الساحَليْن سلامي

على الثغرِ فاقْرِى الساحَليْن سلامي

O breeze of the wind, if you should pass

Ah, O breeze of the wind, if you are passing

over the port, convey my greetings to both its shores.

over the port, convey my greetings to the two shores.

فبالرملِ من شرقيِّه مَنْ بحُبِّه

فبالرملِ من شرقيِّه مَنْ بحُبِّه

سَرائرُ تَسْرى في أدق عظامي

سَرائرُ تَسْرى في أدق عظامي

For on the sands east of it is one to whom

For in al-Raml, to its east, is one for love of whom

my inmost secrets speak, coursing through my finest bones.

secret feelings course through the finest of my bones.

عزيزٌ على قلبي ولا سيَّما إذا

عزيزٌ على قلبي ولا سيَّما إذا

أطالتْ عليه العاذلات مَلامي

أطالتْ عليه العاذلات مَلامي

He is dear to my heart—dearest especially when

He is dear to my heart, especially when

the women who reproach me prolong their blame over him.

the reproaching women prolong their blame of me over him.

مريض جُفونِ الطَّرْفِ من غيرِ علةٍ

مريض جُفونِ الطَّرْفِ من غيرِ علةٍ

فهنّ سقيماتٌ بغير سَقام

فهنّ سقيماتٌ بغير سَقام

His languid eyelids seem ill, though no malady afflicts them;

Languid of eyelids, though without any ailment,

they are ailing without sickness.

they are ailing, yet without sickness.

بفيهِ لآلٍ في عقيقٍ كأنها

بفيهِ لآلٍ في عقيقٍ كأنها

أَقاحىُّ رملٍ في سُلاف مُدام

أَقاحىُّ رملٍ في سُلاف مُدام

In his mouth are pearls set in carnelian, as though

In his mouth are pearls in carnelian, as though they were

desert daisies floated in the purest aged wine.

sand-grown daisies in the purest wine.

وفي خَدِّه نارٌ وماء تَألَّفا

وفي خَدِّه نارٌ وماء تَألَّفا

ومن عَجبٍ ماءٌ خِلال ضِرام

ومن عَجبٍ ماءٌ خِلال ضِرام

In his cheek, fire and water have joined—

And fire and water have united in his cheek;

what a wonder: water amid a blaze!

how wondrous: water amid a blaze.

كأن غصون البانِ في كُثُب النّقا

كأن غصون البانِ في كُثُب النّقا

جُذِبْنَ على رِدْفٍ له وقَوام

جُذِبْنَ على رِدْفٍ له وقَوام

As though branches of the bān tree upon dunes of pure sand

As though ban-tree branches among dunes of fine sand

had been drawn across his shapely haunches and upright form.

had been drawn across his rump and figure.

وكم ليلةٍ بِتْنا وبيني وبينه

وكم ليلةٍ بِتْنا وبيني وبينه

عَفافٌ يُناجِى في العناق غرامي

عَفافٌ يُناجِى في العناق غرامي

How many a night we passed, while between him and me

And many a night we spent, while between me and him

chastity whispered to my passion even in our embrace.

chastity whispered to my passion in the embrace.

وقد ضَمَّنا شوقٌ كما ضم ساهِرا

وقد ضَمَّنا شوقٌ كما ضم ساهِرا

ثَوَى لكَرَى جَفْنيْه عند مَنام

ثَوَى لكَرَى جَفْنيْه عند مَنام

Longing clasped us as sleep clasps a wakeful man

Longing had clasped us as it clasps a wakeful man

when slumber settles on his eyelids at bedtime.

lying down to bring sleep to his eyelids at bedtime.

وقائمُ سيِفي في يَميني وجِيدُه

وقائمُ سيِفي في يَميني وجِيدُه

بيُسراى في عِقْدٍ بغير نظام

بيُسراى في عِقْدٍ بغير نظام

The hilt of my sword stood in my right hand, while his neck

The hilt of my sword was in my right hand, and his neck

lay in my left—a necklace left unstrung—

in my left, in a necklace without a string,

حِذارا علينا من غيور مُبادِرٍ

حِذارا علينا من غيور مُبادِرٍ

يُسابِقني بالضرب قبل قيامي

يُسابِقني بالضرب قبل قيامي

for fear that some jealous rival might rush upon us

in caution for us against a jealous man quick to act,

and forestall me with a sword-blow before I could rise.

who might outstrip me in striking before I rose.

فواهاً على الإسكندرية كلما

فواهاً على الإسكندرية كلما

تَنكَّد عيشي دونَها بدَوام

تَنكَّد عيشي دونَها بدَوام

Ah, Alexandria! Whenever

Ah, for Alexandria, whenever

my life away from her is ceaselessly embittered.

my life away from it is endlessly embittered.

ديارٌ بها أحبابُ قلبي ومَنْشَئِي

ديارٌ بها أحبابُ قلبي ومَنْشَئِي

وقوميَ من فتيانِ آل جُذام

وقوميَ من فتيانِ آل جُذام

A homeland holding my heart’s beloved and the place where I was raised,

A land of my heart's loved ones and my upbringing,

and my people—the young men of the house of Judhām.

and my people, among the young men of the house of Judham.

فلى من جُذام عصبةٌ جَرَوِيةٌ

فلى من جُذام عصبةٌ جَرَوِيةٌ

صَفَتْ كزُلالٍ من مُتونِ غَمام

صَفَتْ كزُلالٍ من مُتونِ غَمام

In Judhām I have a vigorous company,

For I have a Jarawi kin-band from Judham,

pure as limpid water wrung from the body of a cloud.

pure as clear water from the backs of clouds.

هي الذهبُ الإبريزُ صَفَّتْ نضارةً

هي الذهبُ الإبريزُ صَفَّتْ نضارةً

يدُ السَّبْكِ من عيبٍ يَشوب وذام

يدُ السَّبْكِ من عيبٍ يَشوب وذام

They are unalloyed gold, refined in brightness;

They are pure gold, whose brightness has been refined

the smelter’s hand has purged them of flaw and stain.

by the hand of smelting, free of tainting flaw and blemish.

إذا اليمنُ اعتدّتْ بأوفَى فضيلةٍ

إذا اليمنُ اعتدّتْ بأوفَى فضيلةٍ

وَجدْتُهم فيها أَمامَ أَمام

وَجدْتُهم فيها أَمامَ أَمام

When Yemen takes pride in the fullest measure of excellence,

When Yemen prides itself on the fullest virtue,

I find them foremost among its people.

I find them in it ahead of the foremost.

أسودُ وَغًى ولا ترتِضى نيلَ مكسب

أسودُ وَغًى ولا ترتِضى نيلَ مكسب

وإنْ جَلَّ إلا مِن قناً وحُسام

وإنْ جَلَّ إلا مِن قناً وحُسام

Lions in battle, they accept no gain,

Lions of war, they accept no gain,

however great, unless won by spear and sword.

however great, except through spears and a keen sword.

يَبيتون خُمْصا والمَطاعمُ جَمةٌ

يَبيتون خُمْصا والمَطاعمُ جَمةٌ

إذا شِيبَ أدنى ذلةٍ بطعام

إذا شِيبَ أدنى ذلةٍ بطعام

They go to bed hollow-bellied though food is plentiful

They spend the night hungry though food is plentiful,

if the least humiliation has been mixed into the meal.

if the slightest humiliation is mixed with a meal.

ومالموت إلا الذلُّ في العيشِ عندهم

ومالموت إلا الذلُّ في العيشِ عندهم

وما العيشُ إلا عزةٌ بحمِام

وما العيشُ إلا عزةٌ بحمِام

To them, death is nothing—but life in disgrace is;

To them, death is nothing but humiliation in life,

and life is nothing—but honor, though bought with death.

and life is nothing but honor, even in death.

طِوالٌ حَكَوا خَطِّيةً بأَكُفِّهم

طِوالٌ حَكَوا خَطِّيةً بأَكُفِّهم

ثِقاتٌ لدى الهَيْجا بفَرْطِ ذِمام

ثِقاتٌ لدى الهَيْجا بفَرْطِ ذِمام

Tall men, like Khattiyya spears held in their hands,

Tall, they resemble the Khatti spears in their hands;

reliable amid battle’s fiercest crush.

trustworthy in battle, with utmost loyalty.

إذا شئتَ أصلَ المجدِ والفخرِ فابْغِه

إذا شئتَ أصلَ المجدِ والفخرِ فابْغِه

وحَسْبُك من شيخٍ لهم وغُلام

وحَسْبُك من شيخٍ لهم وغُلام

If you seek the very root of glory and pride, seek it there;

If you want the root of glory and pride, seek it:

one elder and one youth of theirs would suffice you.

an elder of theirs or a youth will suffice you.

أخَفُّ إلى الهيْجاءِ من وَفْدِ عاصفٍ

أخَفُّ إلى الهيْجاءِ من وَفْدِ عاصفٍ

وأَثَبتُ حِلْما من هِضاب شَمام

وأَثَبتُ حِلْما من هِضاب شَمام

They hasten toward battle faster than a storming wind,

Swifter to battle than the onrush of a gale,

yet in forbearance stand firmer than the heights of Shamām.

and firmer in forbearance than the heights of Shamam.

حَيُّيون أَنْدَى أوجُها وأَناملا

حَيُّيون أَنْدَى أوجُها وأَناملا

من الغيثِ وإلىَ وَدْقَة بسِجام

من الغيثِ وإلىَ وَدْقَة بسِجام

Modest men, more bountiful of face and fingertips

Modest, more bountiful of face and fingertips

than rain, from its first drops to its streaming downpour.

than rain that follows a shower with torrents.

يَصونون ما تحوِى المآزرُ من تُقىً

يَصونون ما تحوِى المآزرُ من تُقىً

وفضلٍ وما في بُرْقعٍ ولثام

وفضلٍ وما في بُرْقعٍ ولثام

Out of piety, they guard what their own waist-wraps conceal,

They guard what waist-wraps conceal, through piety

and, out of virtue, whatever lies behind veil and face-covering.

and virtue, and what lies beneath veil and face-covering.

إذا قيلتِ العَوْراء غَضَّوا وغودِرت

إذا قيلتِ العَوْراء غَضَّوا وغودِرت

بأسماعِهم منها أَحرُّ كِلام

بأسماعِهم منها أَحرُّ كِلام

When an obscene word is spoken, they lower their eyes, and

When a shameful utterance is spoken, they lower their gaze, and there remain

their ears leave its most scorching speech unheard.

in their ears its most searing wounds.

أَلاَ هلْ إلى الإسكندريةِ أَوْبَةٌ

أَلاَ هلْ إلى الإسكندريةِ أَوْبَةٌ

تُبرِّد أشواقي وحَرَّ أُوامى

تُبرِّد أشواقي وحَرَّ أُوامى

Ah, is there any return to Alexandria

Ah, is there a return to Alexandria

that might cool my longing and the burning of my thirst?

to cool my longings and the heat of my thirst?

كأنّى على إفراطِ شيبٍ أصابني

كأنّى على إفراطِ شيبٍ أصابني

عليها رضيعٌ في حَديث فِطام

عليها رضيعٌ في حَديث فِطام

Despite the profusion of my gray hair, I seem

As though, despite the abundant gray that has overtaken me,

upon her breast a suckling only newly weaned.

for her I were an infant only just weaned.

وإني وإنْ باشرتُ أرفعَ رتبةٍ

وإني وإنْ باشرتُ أرفعَ رتبةٍ

بمدحِ ملوكٍ أُعجبتْ بكلامي

بمدحِ ملوكٍ أُعجبتْ بكلامي

And though I attained the highest rank

And though I have attained the highest rank

through the words with which I praised kings,

by praising kings impressed by my words,

لَكالطيرِ تُدْنَى في القصورِ لصوتِها

لَكالطيرِ تُدْنَى في القصورِ لصوتِها

فتبكي على أَوكارِها بمَوام

فتبكي على أَوكارِها بمَوام

I am like a bird brought into palaces for its song,

I am indeed like birds brought near in palaces for their song,

yet weeping for its nests with mournful cries.

who weep for their nests with plaintive cries.

وما الشوقُ للأوطانِ من أجلِ طِيبِها

وما الشوقُ للأوطانِ من أجلِ طِيبِها

ولا شرفٍ فيها وفضلِ مُقام

ولا شرفٍ فيها وفضلِ مُقام

Longing for homelands does not arise from their pleasantness,

Longing for homelands is not for their pleasantness,

nor merely from some beauty or distinction of abode.

nor their distinction and the excellence of residing there.

ولكنه في النفسِ طبعٌ لأجله

ولكنه في النفسِ طبعٌ لأجله

تُجادل في تفضيلها وتُحامي

تُجادل في تفضيلها وتُحامي

Rather, it is an instinct in the soul, for whose sake

Rather, it is an instinct in the soul, for whose sake

you contend for their preeminence and rise to defend them.

one argues their superiority and champions them.

كذا الطفل يبغي الأُمَّ معْ سوء شخصِها

كذا الطفل يبغي الأُمَّ معْ سوء شخصِها

ويَشْنَا سِواها وهْي ذاتُ وَسام

ويَشْنَا سِواها وهْي ذاتُ وَسام

Thus a child seeks its mother despite her homely face,

Thus a child seeks its mother despite her ugly appearance,

and spurns another woman though she is beautiful.

and hates another, though she be beautiful.

ومن غربةٍ يبكي الجنينُ إذا بدا

ومن غربةٍ يبكي الجنينُ إذا بدا

وقد كان في ضيقٍ وفرطِ ظلام

وقد كان في ضيقٍ وفرطِ ظلام

From estrangement the newborn weeps when it first appears,

And from estrangement the infant cries when it emerges,

though it had been in confinement and utter darkness.

though it had been in confinement and deepest darkness.

ويُعذَر من يشتاق أسوأَ موطنٍ

ويُعذَر من يشتاق أسوأَ موطنٍ

فكيف مُقاما طيبا كمقامي

فكيف مُقاما طيبا كمقامي

Whoever longs even for the worst homeland is excused—

One who longs for the worst homeland is excused;

what then of one whose dwelling is as pleasant as mine?

how much more for a pleasant dwelling such as mine!

يُحب الفتى أوطانه وبها العِدا

يُحب الفتى أوطانه وبها العِدا

فكيف بأحبابٍ علىَّ كِرام

فكيف بأحبابٍ علىَّ كِرام

A young man loves his homeland though enemies dwell there;

A man loves his homelands though enemies dwell there;

what then when mine holds loved ones noble in my eyes?

how much more with loved ones dear to me!

سكنتُ بها الدنيا فلما تركتُها

سكنتُ بها الدنيا فلما تركتُها

سكنتُ دَفينا في بُطونِ رِجام

سكنتُ دَفينا في بُطونِ رِجام

There I inhabited the world; when I departed from her,

I dwelt in the world there; but when I left it,

I dwelt like one buried in the bellies of stone-heaps.

I dwelt buried in the depths of heaps of stones.

عَلَى أنني فيما كَرِهتُ مُحَسَّد

عَلَى أنني فيما كَرِهتُ مُحَسَّد

وأَحْسَدُ من يبِغيه كلُّ هُمام

وأَحْسَدُ من يبِغيه كلُّ هُمام

Yet here, in what I hate, I am an object of envy,

Yet I am much envied for the very thing I loathe,

while I envy one whom every high-hearted man seeks to emulate.

and I envy the one whom every man of mettle seeks.

يرى الأَرْىَ ما أعتدُّ شُرْبا ويستقِى

يرى الأَرْىَ ما أعتدُّ شُرْبا ويستقِى

بما أَتوقَّى من وشيكِ سِمام

بما أَتوقَّى من وشيكِ سِمام

He sees honey in what I count a bitter draught, and drinks

He sees honey in what I reckon a draught, and drinks

what I guard against as swiftly approaching poison.

what I guard against as swiftly acting poisons.

وبعدُ فما أوطانُنا إنْ تَحققتْ

وبعدُ فما أوطانُنا إنْ تَحققتْ

سوى حُفَرٍ في جَنْدَلٍ ورَغام

سوى حُفَرٍ في جَنْدَلٍ ورَغام

After all, what are our homelands, if the truth is grasped,

And after all, what are our homelands, rightly considered,

but hollows among boulders and dust?

but holes amid stone and dust?

فما منزل الإنسانِ فيها مَقرُّه

فما منزل الإنسانِ فيها مَقرُّه

وإن كان ذا خَيْمٍ بها وخِيام

وإن كان ذا خَيْمٍ بها وخِيام

A person’s dwelling in them is no lasting abode,

A person's dwelling in them is not his permanent abode,

even if he owns household goods and tents there.

even if he has tents and pavilions there.

ولكنه رَهْنُ المنايا لمدةٍ

ولكنه رَهْنُ المنايا لمدةٍ

محرَّرةٍ معلومةٍ بإمام

محرَّرةٍ معلومةٍ بإمام

Rather, he is mortgaged to death for a term

Rather, he is death's hostage for a term

fixed and known in the ordained record.

fixed and known in a record.

غريبٌ وإنْ لم يَنْتزِح عن بلادِه

غريبٌ وإنْ لم يَنْتزِح عن بلادِه

فقيدٌ على عز وبُعْد مَرام

فقيدٌ على عز وبُعْد مَرام

He is a stranger though he never leaves his country,

A stranger, even if he has not gone far from his lands,

a captive despite his might and far-reaching ambition.

lost, despite honor and far-reaching ambition.

تغرَّب في الأحشاء عن ظهر والدٍ

تغرَّب في الأحشاء عن ظهر والدٍ

وغَرَّبه الميلاد بعد زحام

وغَرَّبه الميلاد بعد زحام

He entered exile in the entrails, away from his father’s loins,

He was estranged within the womb from his father's loins,

and birth exiled him again after that crowded confinement.

and birth estranged him again after that crowding.

وفي غربةِ الدنيا له أيُّ حسرةٍ

وفي غربةِ الدنيا له أيُّ حسرةٍ

ومن بعدِها لا شكَّ غربةُ سام

ومن بعدِها لا شكَّ غربةُ سام

In the exile of this world, what cause has he for sorrow,

And in this world's estrangement, what anguish is his!

when after it comes, beyond doubt, another wearying exile?

And afterward, without doubt, comes death's estrangement.

وغُربته عند الحساب أشدُّها

وغُربته عند الحساب أشدُّها

فأيُّ أمورٍ لا تُطاق جِسام

فأيُّ أمورٍ لا تُطاق جِسام

His estrangement at the Reckoning is the harshest of all—

His estrangement at the reckoning is the harshest of all;

what immense burdens there are that cannot be borne!

what tremendous, unbearable ordeals!

وما قَصْدُه من بعدِ هذا وهَمُّه

وما قَصْدُه من بعدِ هذا وهَمُّه

سِوى مكسبٍ يَحْظَى به ويُسامى

سِوى مكسبٍ يَحْظَى به ويُسامى

Yet after all this, his purpose and concern

Yet after all this, what are his aim and concern

are merely gain, through which he hopes to prosper and rise.

but gain to enjoy and use to vie for eminence?

وما حَظُّه من كسْبه غيرُ قُوتِه

وما حَظُّه من كسْبه غيرُ قُوتِه

ويَجمع للوُرّاثِ كلَّ حَرام

ويَجمع للوُرّاثِ كلَّ حَرام

Of all his earnings, his share is only his sustenance,

His share of his earnings is nothing but his sustenance,

while he amasses every forbidden gain for his heirs.

while he gathers every unlawful gain for his heirs.

ومن سَعْدِه ألا يكونَ فإنْ يكن

ومن سَعْدِه ألا يكونَ فإنْ يكن

يَمُت وهْو في الأحشاء ليس بِنامي

يَمُت وهْو في الأحشاء ليس بِنامي

Part of his good fortune would be never to exist; and if he must,

His good fortune would be not to exist; and if he does,

to die while still ungrown within the womb.

to die while still in the womb, not yet growing.

فما هو للآفات إلا دَريئةٌ

فما هو للآفات إلا دَريئةٌ

لوَخزِ رماحٍ أو لرَشْقِ سِهام

لوَخزِ رماحٍ أو لرَشْقِ سِهام

For he is nothing but a target for afflictions,

For he is nothing but a target for calamities,

for the thrust of spears or the volley of arrows.

for the thrusts of spears or volleys of arrows.

وغايتُه حالان إِما لجنةٍ

وغايتُه حالان إِما لجنةٍ

لها من جوارِ اللهِ خيرُ مُقام

لها من جوارِ اللهِ خيرُ مُقام

His final end is one of two states: either a Garden,

And his end is one of two: either the Garden,

where nearness to God is the finest abode,

which, in nearness to God, offers the finest abode,

وإِما إلى نارٍ فيا لك غربةٌ

وإِما إلى نارٍ فيا لك غربةٌ

وطولُ عذاب دائمٍ ولِزام

وطولُ عذاب دائمٍ ولِزام

or else the Fire—what an exile that would be,

or else the Fire—oh, what an exile for you,

and what long, unending, inescapable torment!

and what long torment, everlasting and inescapable!