حَناناً أَخِلّائي فَقَد شَفَّني البُعدُ

حَناناً أَخِلّائي فَقَد شَفَّني البُعدُ

وَما عادِلي شافَ سِوى قُربِكُم بَعدُ

وَما عادِلي شافَ سِوى قُربِكُم بَعدُ

Have mercy, my dear friends, for distance has wasted me.

My dear friends, distance has cured me,

And now no healer remains for me but nearness to you.

And after your nearness, nothing equals healing me.

عَهِدتُ بِكُم صَفوَ الوِدادِ فَما لَهُ

عَهِدتُ بِكُم صَفوَ الوِدادِ فَما لَهُ

تَكَدَّرَ بَعدَ الصَفوِ وَاِنتَقَضَ العَهدُ

تَكَدَّرَ بَعدَ الصَفوِ وَاِنتَقَضَ العَهدُ

I knew in you unclouded affection; what has happened to it,

I trusted you with the essence of affection—how could it

that it has grown clouded after clarity, and the pledge has been broken?

Become clouded after purity and promises be broken?

فَيا سوءَ حَظّي أَن قَضَيتُم بِجَفوَتي

فَيا سوءَ حَظّي أَن قَضَيتُم بِجَفوَتي

وَيا طولَ لَيلٍ فيهِ يَحتَكِمُ السُهدُ

وَيا طولَ لَيلٍ فيهِ يَحتَكِمُ السُهدُ

Alas for my ill fortune, that you have decided to shun me,

Oh my misfortune that you abandoned me,

and alas for a long night in which sleeplessness rules.

And oh, the long night when only stars converse!

وَمِن نَكَدِ الدُنيا عَلى الحَرّانِ يَرى

وَمِن نَكَدِ الدُنيا عَلى الحَرّانِ يَرى

إِلَيهِ صَديقاً لا يَدومُ لَهُ وُدُّ

إِلَيهِ صَديقاً لا يَدومُ لَهُ وُدُّ

And one of the world's torments for the anguished man is to see

And from life's sorrows the free soul sees

a friend near him whose affection for him does not endure.

A friend not loyal, and affection not lasting.

عَلى أَنَّهُ يَلقى عَلى رَغمِ أَنفِهِ

عَلى أَنَّهُ يَلقى عَلى رَغمِ أَنفِهِ

عَدّوا لَهُ ما مِن صَداقَتِهِ بُدُّ

عَدّوا لَهُ ما مِن صَداقَتِهِ بُدُّ

Yet, against his will, he encounters

Yet, he finds—despite himself—an enemy

an enemy whose friendship he cannot do without.

Whose friendship he never sought.

يَروحُ وَيَغدو كارِهاً لِلِقائِهِ

يَروحُ وَيَغدو كارِهاً لِلِقائِهِ

وَذاكَ عَتلٌ لا يَروحُ وَلا يَغدو

وَذاكَ عَتلٌ لا يَروحُ وَلا يَغدو

He comes and goes, loath to meet him,

He goes and comes, hating to meet him,

while that brute neither comes nor goes.

While the other is unmoving, neither coming nor going,

وَيُبعِدُ عَنهُ ما اِستَطاعَ تَحَرُّزاً

وَيُبعِدُ عَنهُ ما اِستَطاعَ تَحَرُّزاً

وَتَجمَعُ الأَيّامُ وَالزَمَنُ النَكَدُ

وَتَجمَعُ الأَيّامُ وَالزَمَنُ النَكَدُ

And he keeps as far from him as he can, out of caution,

And avoids him as much as he can, wary,

yet the days and ill-starred time bring them together.

While days and time bring distress piled on distress.

لَكَالحَمدُ أَمّا مِن نَحُبُّ فلا نَرى

لَكَالحَمدُ أَمّا مِن نَحُبُّ فلا نَرى

وَلَيتَ عَلَينا الدَهرُ بِالسوءِ لا يَعدو

وَلَيتَ عَلَينا الدَهرُ بِالسوءِ لا يَعدو

Praise be to You; as for those we love, we do not see them,

But praise be—from those we love we see no evil,

and if only time would not assail us with harm!

And would that time be not harsh toward us,

فَنَسمَعُ مالاً نَرتَضي مِن مَكارِهِ

فَنَسمَعُ مالاً نَرتَضي مِن مَكارِهِ

وَنَظُرُ ما لا نَشتَهي فَلَكَ الحَمدُ

وَنَظُرُ ما لا نَشتَهي فَلَكَ الحَمدُ

So we hear disagreeable things we do not welcome,

That we hear what we like not from those who hate us

and see what we do not desire—so praise be to You.

And see what we desire not—so for that, praise be.

وَلَكِنَّها الأَقدارُ تَجري كَما تَشا

وَلَكِنَّها الأَقدارُ تَجري كَما تَشا

فَهَذا لَهُ دُرٌّ وَهَذا لَهُ رَدُّ

فَهَذا لَهُ دُرٌّ وَهَذا لَهُ رَدُّ

But these are the fates: they run as they will;

But such is fate—it flows as it wills,

this one has pearls, and that one rejection.

So for one there is nearness, and for another, distance.

وَهَذا لَهُ صَحبٌ بِهِم صارَ هائِماً

وَهَذا لَهُ صَحبٌ بِهِم صارَ هائِماً

وَذاكَ لَهُ صَحبُ بَهائِمٍ إِن عَدّوا

وَذاكَ لَهُ صَحبُ بَهائِمٍ إِن عَدّوا

And this one has companions of whom he has become enamored,

One has company with whom he became distracted,

while that one's companions, if reckoned, are beasts.

While another's friends are mere beasts, if counted.

فَكُن أَيُّها القَلبُ المُعَنَّفُ صابِراً

فَكُن أَيُّها القَلبُ المُعَنَّفُ صابِراً

وَلا تَبتَئِس فَالنازِلاتِ لَها حَدُّ

وَلا تَبتَئِس فَالنازِلاتِ لَها حَدُّ

Be patient, then, O harshly treated heart,

So, O heart tried, be patient,

and do not grieve, for calamities have their limit.

And do not despair—for to all calamities there is an end.

فَيَومٌ إِلى الحَظوى وَيَومٌ إِلى الأَسى

فَيَومٌ إِلى الحَظوى وَيَومٌ إِلى الأَسى

وَعِندَ اِشتِدادِ الخَطبِ يَستَعمِلُ الجَدُّ

وَعِندَ اِشتِدادِ الخَطبِ يَستَعمِلُ الجَدُّ

For one day leads to favor, another to sorrow,

One day is blissful, one day sorrowful,

and when adversity grows fierce, earnest effort is put to use.

And in great straits, seriousness is employed.

وَغَيرَ بَعيدٍ اَن تَنالَكَ غَبطَةً

وَغَيرَ بَعيدٍ اَن تَنالَكَ غَبطَةً

إِذا دامَ مِنكَ الحَزمُ وَاِتَّجَهَ الجَهدُ

إِذا دامَ مِنكَ الحَزمُ وَاِتَّجَهَ الجَهدُ

And it is not unlikely that joy will reach you,

And soon you may attain felicity

if your resolve endures and your effort is well directed.

If you remain determined and effort is directed.

فَما كُلُّ مَظلومٍ يَدومُ اِضطِهادَهُ

فَما كُلُّ مَظلومٍ يَدومُ اِضطِهادَهُ

وَما كُلُّ ذي الحَزمِ سَيُخطِئُهُ القَصدُ

وَما كُلُّ ذي الحَزمِ سَيُخطِئُهُ القَصدُ

For not everyone wronged is oppressed forever,

Not every oppressed remains persecuted

nor will the goal elude every man of resolve.

Nor does everyone determined err from his aim.

وَما الباسُ إِلّا لِلمُجِدّينَ مَركَبُ

وَما الباسُ إِلّا لِلمُجِدّينَ مَركَبُ

وَما اليَأسُ إِلّا لِلقَواعِدِ مُعتَدُ

وَما اليَأسُ إِلّا لِلقَواعِدِ مُعتَدُ

Hardship is but a mount for those who strive,

There is no heroism except for the resolute,

and despair but a provision for those who sit idle.

And no despair except for those resigned.

وَأَنّى يَكونُ السُخطُ يَنتَظِرُ الرِضا

وَأَنّى يَكونُ السُخطُ يَنتَظِرُ الرِضا

وَمَهما يَكُن جَزرٌ سَيَعقِبُهُ مَدُّ

وَمَهما يَكُن جَزرٌ سَيَعقِبُهُ مَدُّ

And wherever there is discontent, it awaits contentment,

And how can dissatisfaction await satisfaction?

and whatever ebb there may be, a flood tide will follow it.

However high the ebb, it is followed by a tide.

وَما الفَلَكُ إِلّا الأَعلى هَدَيتَ مُسمِرُ

وَما الفَلَكُ إِلّا الأَعلى هَدَيتَ مُسمِرُ

وَلا مَطلَعُ الإِقابلِ مِن دونِهِ سَدُّ

وَلا مَطلَعُ الإِقابلِ مِن دونِهِ سَدُّ

The celestial sphere is only fastened on high—may you be guided—

The heavens are always guided by the Highest,

nor does any barrier beneath it block good fortune's rise.

With no other orientation below to block its course.

وَلا سِيَّما إِن كُنتَ تَقصِدُ أَحمَدا

وَلا سِيَّما إِن كُنتَ تَقصِدُ أَحمَدا

هُنالِكَ تُلقي الجَدَّ يَتبَعُهُ المَجدُ

هُنالِكَ تُلقي الجَدَّ يَتبَعُهُ المَجدُ

And especially if you are seeking Ahmad,

Especially if you seek Ahmad,

there you find good fortune, with glory following it.

There, effort is followed by success and glory.

كَريمٌ لَهُ في المَكرُماتِ مَناهِلُ

كَريمٌ لَهُ في المَكرُماتِ مَناهِلُ

وُروداً بِها الصادونَ إِذ عَذَّبَ الوَردُ

وُروداً بِها الصادونَ إِذ عَذَّبَ الوَردُ

Generous, he has wellsprings of noble deeds,

Noble, with a spring of virtues,

where the thirsty come to drink, for the draught is sweet.

Where the clouds poured forth when the rose admonished.

تَكونُ مِنها رَوضَ أَنعَمَ فَضلِهِ

تَكونُ مِنها رَوضَ أَنعَمَ فَضلِهِ

وَفَتحٌ فيها مِن مَحاسِنِهِ الوَردُ

وَفَتحٌ فيها مِن مَحاسِنِهِ الوَردُ

From them a garden of the blessings of his bounty takes shape,

It becomes a meadow of the bounty of his favor,

and roses blossom there from his lovely qualities.

Where the boon of his beauty blooms.

يُحيطُ بِها سورُ السَعادَةِ شامِخاً

يُحيطُ بِها سورُ السَعادَةِ شامِخاً

وَيَطرَبُ فيها بُلبُلُ اليَمَنِ إِذا يَشدو

وَيَطرَبُ فيها بُلبُلُ اليَمَنِ إِذا يَشدو

A towering wall of happiness surrounds it,

Encircled by the walls of bliss, towering,

and Yemen's nightingale rejoices there when it sings.

Where the songbirds of Yemen trill melodiously within.

فَكُلُّ عَلاءٍ دونَ عَليائِهِ هَوا

فَكُلُّ عَلاءٍ دونَ عَليائِهِ هَوا

وَكُلُّ بِناءٍ دونَ بُنيانِهِ هَدُّ

وَكُلُّ بِناءٍ دونَ بُنيانِهِ هَدُّ

For every height beneath his loftiness has fallen,

So all heights beyond his are delusion,

and every building beneath his edifice is ruin.

And all buildings beyond his are facades.

هُوَ البَدرُ لَكِنَّ الكَمالَ رَفيقُهُ

هُوَ البَدرُ لَكِنَّ الكَمالَ رَفيقُهُ

هُوَ المُشتَري قَدراً مَنازِلُهُ السَعدُ

هُوَ المُشتَري قَدراً مَنازِلُهُ السَعدُ

He is the full moon, but perfection is his companion;

He is the full moon, but perfection accompanies him,

he is Jupiter in stature, with good fortune for his stations.

He is the star—his mansions of fortune are auspicious.

لَهُ خَلقٌ كَالروحِ تُحيي الَّذي بِهِ

لَهُ خَلقٌ كَالروحِ تُحيي الَّذي بِهِ

وَلُطفٌ وَذَوقٌ مِنهُما يَقطِرُ الشَهدُ

وَلُطفٌ وَذَوقٌ مِنهُما يَقطِرُ الشَهدُ

He has a character like the soul, giving life to whatever it inhabits,

His nature gives life, like the soul,

and gentleness and refinement from which honey drips.

And his grace and taste from which honey drips.

وَحُسنُ ذَكاءٍ لَستُ أَعهَدُ مِثلَهُ

وَحُسنُ ذَكاءٍ لَستُ أَعهَدُ مِثلَهُ

فَيَعلَمُ مِنكَ القَولُ مِن قَبلُ أَن يَبدو

فَيَعلَمُ مِنكَ القَولُ مِن قَبلُ أَن يَبدو

And a fine intelligence whose equal I have never known,

The elegance of his mind is unmatched by any I know,

so he knows your words before they emerge.

So your words are known to him before being uttered.

وَتَعشَقُهُ العَليا وَتُعطيهِ حَلِيَّها

وَتَعشَقُهُ العَليا وَتُعطيهِ حَلِيَّها

فَمِن دُرِّها الغالي عَلى جيدِهِ عِقدُ

فَمِن دُرِّها الغالي عَلى جيدِهِ عِقدُ

And Eminence loves him and gives him her jewels,

The heights are enamored of him and give him their jewels,

so upon his neck lies a necklace of her precious pearls.

So priceless pearls encircle his neck.

وَتَرمُقُهُ عَينُ العِنايَةِ بِالصَفا

وَتَرمُقُهُ عَينُ العِنايَةِ بِالصَفا

فَيُمسي وَيَغدو وَالسَلامُ لَهُ مَهدُ

فَيُمسي وَيَغدو وَالسَلامُ لَهُ مَهدُ

And the eye of providence regards him with pure affection,

The eye of Providence looks upon him with joy,

so he passes evening and morning with peace as his cradle.

And safety is his cradle, night and day.

أَلَم تَرَهُ وَالفَوزُ تَحتَ رِكابِهِ

أَلَم تَرَهُ وَالفَوزُ تَحتَ رِكابِهِ

لَهُ فَوقَ بُرجِ النَصرِ قَر رَفَعَ البَندُ

لَهُ فَوقَ بُرجِ النَصرِ قَر رَفَعَ البَندُ

Have you not seen him, victory beneath his stirrups,

Have you not seen victory under his feet,

his banner firmly raised above the tower of victory?

A banner raised high over the tower of triumph?

وَفي كُلِّ نادٍ ذِكرُهُ عاطِرُ الثَنا

وَفي كُلِّ نادٍ ذِكرُهُ عاطِرُ الثَنا

وَفي كُلِّ وادٍ لا يَزالُ لَهُ حَمدُ

وَفي كُلِّ وادٍ لا يَزالُ لَهُ حَمدُ

And in every assembly his mention is fragrant with praise,

And in every assembly, his sweet name is mentioned,

and in every valley praise of him never ceases.

And in every valley, praise of him still resounds.

فَيا عاذِلي في وُدِّهِ وَاِمتِداحِهِ

فَيا عاذِلي في وُدِّهِ وَاِمتِداحِهِ

تَأنَّ فاني عَنهُما لَستُ أَرتَدُ

تَأنَّ فاني عَنهُما لَستُ أَرتَدُ

So, O you who reproach me for loving and praising him,

So, reproacher of my love and praise of him,

have patience, for I do not retreat from either.

Refrain—I cannot renounce them.

أَبى اللَهُ إِلّا أَن أَكونَ مُحِبُّهُ

أَبى اللَهُ إِلّا أَن أَكونَ مُحِبُّهُ

فَشَخصي لَهُ خَدنٌ وَشِعري لَهُ عَبدُ

فَشَخصي لَهُ خَدنٌ وَشِعري لَهُ عَبدُ

God has willed nothing other than that I love him,

God willed that I be his loving servant,

so I myself am his companion, and my poetry his slave.

So my cheek is his and my poem is his captive.

وَتَجعَلُني اَثني عَلى حُسنِ صُنعِهِ

وَتَجعَلُني اَثني عَلى حُسنِ صُنعِهِ

إِيادٌ لَهُ عِندي يَضيقُ لَها العَدُّ

إِيادٌ لَهُ عِندي يَضيقُ لَها العَدُّ

And I am led to praise the beauty of his deeds

And He makes me praise his good graces,

by his favors to me, too many to count.

Favors upon me flow, too many to be counted.

وَماذا عَساني آتِياً في مَديحِهِ

وَماذا عَساني آتِياً في مَديحِهِ

وَمَعدِنُهُ دُرٌّ وَجَوهَرُهُ فَردُ

وَمَعدِنُهُ دُرٌّ وَجَوهَرُهُ فَردُ

And what can I possibly bring in praise of him,

What can I offer in praising him?

when his substance is pearl and his essence peerless?

His origin is pearls and his essence sublime.

فَبَلِّغهُ عَنّي يا نَسيمَ تَحِيَّةٍ

فَبَلِّغهُ عَنّي يا نَسيمَ تَحِيَّةٍ

يَشوقُ لَها خَيري وَيَحسُدُها نَدُّ

يَشوقُ لَها خَيري وَيَحسُدُها نَدُّ

So carry him a greeting from me, O breeze,

Convey my greetings to him, O breeze,

one that Khayri longs for and a rival envies.

For which my soul yearns and which jealousy resents.

وَدَع ذِكرَ أَشواقي لَئِلّا تَهولُهُ

وَدَع ذِكرَ أَشواقي لَئِلّا تَهولُهُ

وَخَلِّ الَّذي في القَلبِ في القَلبِ يَشتَدُّ

وَخَلِّ الَّذي في القَلبِ في القَلبِ يَشتَدُّ

And leave aside mention of my longings, lest they alarm him,

Leave mention of my longings lest they overwhelm him,

and let what lies in the heart intensify within the heart.

And keep what is in my heart within my heart intensified.