الدَهرُtime يُفجِعُbereaves بَعدَafter العَينِthe living presence بِالأَثَرِof the trace
الدَهرُ يُفجِعُ بَعدَ العَينِ بِالأَثَرِ
فَماthen what use البُكاءُweeping عَلىover الأَشباحِthe forms وَالصُوَرِand images
فَما البُكاءُ عَلى الأَشباحِ وَالصُوَرِ
Time bereaves us of the trace after the living presence.
What use, then, is weeping over forms and images?
أَنهاكَI warn you أَنهاكَI warn you لاnot آلوكَwithhold from you مَوعِظَةًcounsel
أَنهاكَ أَنهاكَ لا آلوكَ مَوعِظَةً
عَنagainst نَومَةٍa slumber بَينَbetween نابthe fang of اللَيثِthe lion وَالظُفرِand the claw
عَن نَومَةٍ بَينَ ناب اللَيثِ وَالظُفرِ
I warn you, I warn you, withholding no counsel from you,
against sleeping between the lion's fang and claw.
فَالدَهرُfor time حَربٌis war وَإِنeven if أَبدىit shows مُسالَمَةًpeace
فَالدَهرُ حَربٌ وَإِن أَبدى مُسالَمَةً
وَالبيضُand white days وَالسودُand black nights مِثلُlike البيضِbright swords وَالسُمرِand dusky spears
وَالبيضُ وَالسودُ مِثلُ البيضِ وَالسُمرِ
For time is war, even when it shows peace;
white days and black nights are like bright blades and dusky spears.
وَلاand no هَوادَةَtruce بَينَbetween الرَأسِthe head تَأخُذُهُseizes it
وَلا هَوادَةَ بَينَ الرَأسِ تَأخُذُهُ
يَدُthe hand of الضِرابِbattle وَبَينِand between الصارِمِthe cutting sword الذكرِthe hard-steeled
يَدُ الضِرابِ وَبَينِ الصارِمِ الذكرِ
There is no truce between the head seized
by the hand of battle and the hard-steeled sword.
فَلاso do not تَغُرَّنكَlet deceive you مِنfrom دُنياكَyour world نَومَتُهاits slumber
فَلا تَغُرَّنكَ مِن دُنياكَ نَومَتُها
فَماfor nothing is صِناعَةُthe trade of عَينَيهاits two eyes سِوىexcept السَهَرِwakefulness
فَما صِناعَةُ عَينَيها سِوى السَهَرِ
So do not let your world's slumber deceive you;
its eyes know no trade but wakefulness.
ماwhat ails لِلَّياليthe nights أَقالَmay pardon اللَهُGod عَثرَتَناour stumbling
ما لِلَّيالي أَقالَ اللَهُ عَثرَتَنا
مِنَthrough اللَياليthe nights وَخانَتهاand may betray them يَدُthe hand of الغيرِvicissitudes
مِنَ اللَيالي وَخانَتها يَدُ الغيرِ
What ails the nights? May God pardon our stumbling
through the nights, and may the hand of change betray them!
فيat كُلِّevery حينٍmoment لَهاthey have فيin كُلِّevery جارِحَةٍlimb
في كُلِّ حينٍ لَها في كُلِّ جارِحَةٍ
مِنّاof us جِراحٌwounds وَإِنeven if زاغَتthey evade عَنِfrom النَظَرِsight
مِنّا جِراحٌ وَإِن زاغَت عَنِ النَظَرِ
At every moment, in every limb,
they leave us wounds, though hidden from sight.
تَسُرُّthey delight بِالشيءِwith something لَكِنbut كَيin order to تغرّdeceive بِهِwith it
تَسُرُّ بِالشيءِ لَكِن كَي تغرّ بِهِ
كَالأَيمِlike the snake ثارَspringing إِلىat الجانيthe gatherer مِنَfrom الزَهرِthe flowers
كَالأَيمِ ثارَ إِلى الجاني مِنَ الزَهرِ
They delight you with something, but only to deceive you with it,
like a snake springing from the flowers at their gatherer.
كَمhow many دَولَةa dynasty ولِيَتthey undertook بِالنَصرِwith victory خدمَتهاits service
كَم دَولَة ولِيَت بِالنَصرِ خدمَتها
لَمnot تُبقِleave مِنهاof it وَسَلand ask ذِكراكَyour memory مِنany خَبَرِreport
لَم تُبقِ مِنها وَسَل ذِكراكَ مِن خَبَرِ
How many a dynasty did they serve with victory,
yet leave no tidings of it—ask your memory!
هَوَتthey brought down بِداراDara وَفَلَّتand blunted غَربَthe edge of قاتِلهhis killer
هَوَت بِدارا وَفَلَّت غَربَ قاتِله
وَكانَand he was عَضباًa sharp sword عَلىagainst الأَملاكِkings ذاpossessing أثرِan impact
وَكانَ عَضباً عَلى الأَملاكِ ذا أثرِ
They brought down Dara and blunted his killer's edge,
though he had been a sharp blade against kings, leaving his mark.
وَاِستَرجَعَتand reclaimed مِنfrom بَنيthe sons of ساسانَSasan ماwhat وَهَبَتthey bestowed
وَاِستَرجَعَت مِن بَني ساسانَ ما وَهَبَت
وَلَمand not تَدَعleave لِبَنيfor the sons of يونانَYunan مِنany أَثَرِtrace
وَلَم تَدَع لِبَني يونانَ مِن أَثَرِ
They reclaimed from the sons of Sasan what they had bestowed,
and left no trace of the sons of Yunan.
وَأَلحَقَتand joined أُختَهاits sister طسماًTasm وَعادand returned عَلىupon
وَأَلحَقَت أُختَها طسماً وَعاد عَلى
عادٍʿAd وَجُرهُمand Jurhum مِنهاfrom them ناقِضan unraveler of المِرَرِtwisted cords
عادٍ وَجُرهُم مِنها ناقِض المِرَرِ
They joined Tasm to its sister, and upon
ʿAd and Jurhum returned their unraveler of bonds.
وَماand not أَقالَتpardon ذَويthose possessing الهَيئاتِdignity مِنfrom يَمَنٍYemen
وَما أَقالَت ذَوي الهَيئاتِ مِن يَمَنٍ
وَلاnor أَجارَتshelter ذَويthose possessing الغاياتِlofty aims مِنfrom مُضَرِMudar
وَلا أَجارَت ذَوي الغاياتِ مِن مُضَرِ
They did not pardon Yemen's men of dignity,
nor shelter Mudar's men of lofty aims.
وَمَزَّقَتand scattered سَبَأًSaba فيinto كُلِّevery قاصِيَةٍdistant corner
وَمَزَّقَت سَبَأً في كُلِّ قاصِيَةٍ
فَماso not اِلتَقىmet رائِحٌan evening traveler مِنهُمamong them بِمُبتَكرِwith a dawn traveler
فَما اِلتَقى رائِحٌ مِنهُم بِمُبتَكرِ
They scattered Saba into every distant corner,
so no evening traveler among them met a traveler at dawn.
وَأَنفَذَتand enforced فيupon كُلَيبٍKulayb حُكمَهاtheir sentence وَرَمَتand cast
وَأَنفَذَت في كُلَيبٍ حُكمَها وَرَمَت
مُهَلهلاًMuhalhil بَينَbetween سَمعِthe hearing of الأَرضِthe earth وَالبَصَرِand sight
مُهَلهلاً بَينَ سَمعِ الأَرضِ وَالبَصَرِ
They enforced their sentence upon Kulayb, and cast
Muhalhil between the earth's hearing and sight.
وَلَمand not تَرُدَّrestore عَلىto الضَليلِthe Errant One صِحَّتَهُhis health
وَلَم تَرُدَّ عَلى الضَليلِ صِحَّتَهُ
وَلاnor ثَنَتturn back أَسَداًAsad عَنfrom رَبِّهاits lord حُجرِHujr
وَلا ثَنَت أَسَداً عَن رَبِّها حُجرِ
They did not restore the Errant One to health,
nor turn Asad away from its lord, Hujr.
وَدوّخَتand laid low آلَthe house of ذُبيانٍDhubyan وَإِخوَتهُمand their brothers
وَدوّخَت آلَ ذُبيانٍ وَإِخوَتهُم
عَبساًʿAbs وَغَصَّتand made choke بَنيthe sons of بَدرٍBadr عَلىbeside النَهرِthe river
عَبساً وَغَصَّت بَني بَدرٍ عَلى النَهرِ
They laid low the house of Dhubyan and their brothers,
ʿAbs, and made the sons of Badr choke beside the river.
وَألحقَتand sent to join بِعَدِيٍّʿAdi بِالعِراقِin Iraq عَلىat
وَألحقَت بِعَدِيٍّ بِالعِراقِ عَلى
يَدِthe hand of اِبنِهِhis son أَحمَرَthe red العَينَينِtwo eyes وَالشعرِand hair
يَدِ اِبنِهِ أَحمَرَ العَينَينِ وَالشعرِ
They sent to join ʿAdi in Iraq, through
his son's hand, the red-eyed, red-haired man.
وَأَهلَكَتand destroyed إِبرويزاًIbrwiz بِاِبنِهِthrough his son وَرَمَتand drove
وَأَهلَكَت إِبرويزاً بِاِبنِهِ وَرَمَت
بِيَزدجردَYazdijird إِلىto مَروٍMarw فَلَمand did not يَحُرِreturn
بِيَزدجردَ إِلى مَروٍ فَلَم يَحُرِ
They destroyed Ibrwiz through his son, and drove
Yazdijird to Marw, from which he never returned.
وَبَلَّغتand brought يَزدجردَYazdijird الصينَChina وَاِختَزَلَتand cut off
وَبَلَّغت يَزدجردَ الصينَ وَاِختَزَلَت
عَنهُfrom him سِوىbesides الفرسthe Persians جَمعthe hosts of التُركِthe Turks وَالخَزَرِand the Khazars
عَنهُ سِوى الفرس جَمع التُركِ وَالخَزَرِ
They brought Yazdijird to China, and cut off
from him, besides the Persians, the hosts of Turks and Khazars.
وَلَمand not تَرُدَّrepel مَواضيthe sharp blades of رُستُمٍRustam وَقَناand the spears of
وَلَم تَرُدَّ مَواضي رُستُمٍ وَقَنا
ذيDhu حاجِبٍHajib عَنهُfrom him سَعداSaʿd فيin اِبنَةِthe daughter of الغيرِvicissitudes
ذي حاجِبٍ عَنهُ سَعدا في اِبنَةِ الغيرِ
Neither Rustam's sharp blades nor the spears
of Dhu Hajib kept Saʿd from him in that calamity, the daughter of change.
يَومَon the day of القَليبِthe well بَنوthe sons of بَدرٍBadr فَنواperished وَسَعىand carried
يَومَ القَليبِ بَنو بَدرٍ فَنوا وَسَعى
قَليبُthe well of بَدرٍBadr بِمَنwith those فيهِwithin it إِلىto سَقَرِSaqar
قَليبُ بَدرٍ بِمَن فيهِ إِلى سَقَرِ
On the day of the well, the sons of Badr perished, and
Badr's well bore those within it to Saqar.
وَمَزَّقَتand tore apart جَعفَراًJaʿfar بِالبيضِwith bright swords وَاِختَلَسَتand snatched
وَمَزَّقَت جَعفَراً بِالبيضِ وَاِختَلَسَت
مِنfrom غيلِهِhis thicket حَمزَةَHamza الظلّامِthe merciless لِلجُزُرِtoward slaughter-camels
مِن غيلِهِ حَمزَةَ الظلّامِ لِلجُزُرِ
They tore Jaʿfar apart with bright blades and snatched
from his thicket Hamza, the merciless slayer of camels.
وَأَشرَفَتand raised بِخبَيتٍKhubayt فَوقَabove فارِعَةٍa lofty height
وَأَشرَفَت بِخبَيتٍ فَوقَ فارِعَةٍ
وَأَلصَقَتand pressed طَلحَةَTalha الفَيّاضthe Generous بِالعفرِinto the dust
وَأَلصَقَت طَلحَةَ الفَيّاض بِالعفرِ
They raised Khubayt above a lofty height,
and pressed Talha the Generous into the dust.
وَخَضَّبَتand dyed شَيبَthe gray hair of عُثمانٍʿUthman دَماًwith blood وَخَطَتand strode
وَخَضَّبَت شَيبَ عُثمانٍ دَماً وَخَطَت
إِلىtoward الزُبَيرِal-Zubayr وَلَمand not تَستَحيshow shame مِنbefore عمرِʿUmar
إِلى الزُبَيرِ وَلَم تَستَحي مِن عمرِ
They dyed ʿUthman's gray hair with blood, and strode
toward al-Zubayr, showing no shame before ʿUmar.
وَلاnor رَعَتhonor لِأَبيfor Abu اليَقطانal-Yaqtan صُحبَتَهُhis companionship
وَلا رَعَت لِأَبي اليَقطان صُحبَتَهُ
وَلَمand not تُزَوّدهprovision him إِلّاexcept الضَيحَdiluted milk فيin الغُمُرِthe little cup
وَلَم تُزَوّده إِلّا الضَيحَ في الغُمُرِ
They did not honor Abu al-Yaqtan's companionship,
and supplied him only diluted milk in a little cup.
وَأَجزَرَتand made prey for سَيفَthe sword of أَشقاهاtheir most wretched one أَباAbu حَسَنٍHasan
وَأَجزَرَت سَيفَ أَشقاها أَبا حَسَنٍ
وَأَمكَنَتand gave access مِنto حُسَينٍHusayn راحَتيthe two palms of شَمِرِShimr
وَأَمكَنَت مِن حُسَينٍ راحَتي شَمِرِ
They made Abu Hasan prey for the sword of their most wretched man,
and placed Husayn within Shimr's two palms.
وَلَيتَهاand would that they إِذwhen فَدَتransomed عَمراًʿAmr بِخارِجَةٍwith Kharija
وَلَيتَها إِذ فَدَت عَمراً بِخارِجَةٍ
فَدَتhad ransomed عَليّاًʿAli بِمَنwith whomever شاءَتthey wished مِنَof البَشَرِhumankind
فَدَت عَليّاً بِمَن شاءَت مِنَ البَشَرِ
Would that, when they ransomed ʿAmr with Kharija,
they had ransomed ʿAli with whomever they wished of humankind.
وَفيand concerning اِبنِthe son of هِندHind وَفيand concerning اِبنِthe son of المُصطَفىthe Chosen One حَسَنHasan
وَفي اِبنِ هِند وَفي اِبنِ المُصطَفى حَسَن
أَتَتthey brought بِمُعضِلَةِa quandary for الأَلبابِminds وَالفِكرِand thought
أَتَت بِمُعضِلَةِ الأَلبابِ وَالفِكرِ
Concerning Hind's son and Hasan, the Chosen One's son,
they brought a quandary for minds and thought.
فَبَعضُناso some of us قائِلٌsay ماnot اِغتالَهُassassinated him أَحَدanyone
فَبَعضُنا قائِلٌ ما اِغتالَهُ أَحَد
وَبَعضُناand some of us ساكِتٌare silent لَمnot يُؤتَovercome مِنby حَصَرِspeechlessness
وَبَعضُنا ساكِتٌ لَم يُؤتَ مِن حَصَرِ
Some of us say, 'No one assassinated him';
others are silent, though not from a failure of speech.
وَأَردتand slew اِبنَthe son of زِيادٍZiyad بِالحُسَينِfor al-Husayn فَلَمyet not
وَأَردت اِبنَ زِيادٍ بِالحُسَينِ فَلَم
يَبُؤequal in requital بِشِسعٍa sandal-strap لَهُof his قَدalready طاحَfallen أَوor ظُفُرِa nail
يَبُؤ بِشِسعٍ لَهُ قَد طاحَ أَو ظُفُرِ
They slew Ibn Ziyad for al-Husayn; yet he did not
equal even a fallen sandal-strap of his, or a nail.
وَعَمَّمَتand turbaned بِالظُبىwith blade-edges فَودَيthe two temples of أَبيAbu أَنَسٍAnas
وَعَمَّمَت بِالظُبى فَودَي أَبي أَنَسٍ
وَلَمand not تَرُدَّward off الرَدىdeath عَنهُfrom him قَناthe spears of زُفَرِZufar
وَلَم تَرُدَّ الرَدى عَنهُ قَنا زُفَرِ
They turbaned Abu Anas's temples with blade-edges,
and Zufar's spears did not keep death from him.
أَنزَلتthey brought down مُصعَباًMusʿab مِنfrom رَأسِthe summit of شاهِقَةٍa lofty height
أَنزَلت مُصعَباً مِن رَأسِ شاهِقَةٍ
كانَتwas بِهاthere مُهجَةُthe lifeblood of المُختارِal-Mukhtar فيin وَزَرِa refuge
كانَت بِها مُهجَةُ المُختارِ في وَزَرِ
They brought Musʿab down from a lofty summit
where al-Mukhtar's life had found a refuge.
وَلَمand not تُراقبrespect مَكانَthe standing of ابنIbn الزُبَيرِal-Zubayr وَلاnor
وَلَم تُراقب مَكانَ ابن الزُبَيرِ وَلا
راعَتhonor عِياذَتهُhis refuge-seeking بِالبَيتِin the House وَالحَجَرِand the Stone
راعَت عِياذَتهُ بِالبَيتِ وَالحَجَرِ
They did not respect Ibn al-Zubayr's standing, nor
honor his seeking refuge in the House and the Stone.
وَأَعمَلَتand worked فيupon لَطيمِthe one slapped by الجِنِّthe jinn حيلَتَهاtheir guile
وَأَعمَلَت في لَطيمِ الجِنِّ حيلَتَها
وَاِستَوسَقَتand rallied لِأَبيto Abu الذبّانِal-Dhubban ذيpossessor of البَخَرِfoul breath
وَاِستَوسَقَت لِأَبي الذبّانِ ذي البَخَرِ
They worked their guile upon the man slapped by the jinn,
and rallied to Abu al-Dhubban, the foul-breathed.
وَلَمand not تَدَعleave لِأَبيfor Abu الذبّانِal-Dhubban قاضِبهُhis cutting sword
وَلَم تَدَع لِأَبي الذبّانِ قاضِبهُ
لَيسَis not اللَطيمُthe slapped one لَهاagainst them عَمروʿAmr بِمُنتَصِرِvictorious
لَيسَ اللَطيمُ لَها عَمرو بِمُنتَصِرِ
Nor did they leave Abu al-Dhubban his cutting sword;
ʿAmr, the slapped one, could win no victory over them.
وَأَحرَقتُand I burned شِلوَthe remains of زَيدٍZayd بعدَماafter اِحتَرَقَتburned
وَأَحرَقتُ شِلوَ زَيدٍ بعدَما اِحتَرَقَت
عَلَيهِfor him وَجداًin grief قُلوبُthe hearts of الآيِthe verses وَالسُوَرِand the surahs
عَلَيهِ وَجداً قُلوبُ الآيِ وَالسُوَرِ
And I burned Zayd's remains, after there had burned
with grief for him the hearts of the verses and surahs.
وَأَظفَرَتand gave victory بِالوَليدِover al-Walid بنِibn اليَزيدِal-Yazid وَلَمand not
وَأَظفَرَت بِالوَليدِ بنِ اليَزيدِ وَلَم
تُبقِleave الخِلافَةَthe caliphate بَينَbetween الكَأسِthe wine-cup وَالوَتَرِand the string
تُبقِ الخِلافَةَ بَينَ الكَأسِ وَالوَتَرِ
They delivered up al-Walid ibn al-Yazid, and did not
leave the caliphate between the wine-cup and the string.
حَبابَةHababa حَبُّa seed of رُمّانٍpomegranate أُتيحَwas allotted لَهاto her
حَبابَة حَبُّ رُمّانٍ أُتيحَ لَها
وَأَحمَرٌand a red one قَطَّرَتهُfelled him نَفحَةُa gust of القطرِrain
وَأَحمَرٌ قَطَّرَتهُ نَفحَةُ القطرِ
For Hababa, a pomegranate seed was allotted;
and a red one, felled by a breath of rain.
وَلَمand not تَعُدremain قُضُبُthe blades of السفاحِal-Saffah نائِيَةًfar away
وَلَم تَعُد قُضُبُ السفاحِ نائِيَةً
عَنfrom رَأسِthe head of مَروانَMarwan أَوor أَشياعِهِhis followers الفُجُرِthe wicked
عَن رَأسِ مَروانَ أَو أَشياعِهِ الفُجُرِ
Al-Saffah's blades were no longer far
from Marwan's head, or his wicked followers.
وَأَسبَلَتand shed دَمعَةَa tear of الروحِthe Spirit الأَمينِthe Faithful عَلىover
وَأَسبَلَت دَمعَةَ الروحِ الأَمينِ عَلى
دَمblood بِفخٍّat Fakh لِآلِof the house of المُصطَفىthe Chosen One هَدرِshed unavenged
دَم بِفخٍّ لِآلِ المُصطَفى هَدرِ
They let fall the Faithful Spirit's tear over
the blood of the Chosen One's house, shed unavenged at Fakh.
وَأَشرَقَتand choked جَعفَراًJaʿfar وَالفَضلُand al-Fadl يَنظُرُهُwatched him
وَأَشرَقَت جَعفَراً وَالفَضلُ يَنظُرُهُ
وَالشَيخُand the elder يَحيىYahya بريقon the spittle of الصارِمِthe cutting sword الذَكَرِthe hard-steeled
وَالشَيخُ يَحيى بريق الصارِمِ الذَكَرِ
They choked Jaʿfar, as al-Fadl watched him,
and the aged Yahya, on the hard-steeled sword's spittle.
وَأَخفَرَتand broke فيin the case of الأمينِal-Amin العَهدِthe pledge وَاِنتَدَبَتand rose
وَأَخفَرَت في الأمينِ العَهدِ وَاِنتَدَبَت
لِجَعفَرٍagainst Jaʿfar بِاِبنِهِthrough his son وَالأَعبُدِand the slaves الغُدُرِthe treacherous
لِجَعفَرٍ بِاِبنِهِ وَالأَعبُدِ الغُدُرِ
They broke the pledge to al-Amin, and rose against
Jaʿfar through his son and treacherous slaves.
وَماand not وَفَتkept faith بِعُهودِwith the covenants of المُستَعينِal-Mustaʿin وَلاnor
وَما وَفَت بِعُهودِ المُستَعينِ وَلا
بِماwith what تَأَكَّدَwas secured لِلمُعتَزِّfor al-Muʿtazz مِنof مِرَرِfirm bonds
بِما تَأَكَّدَ لِلمُعتَزِّ مِن مِرَرِ
They kept neither al-Mustaʿin's covenants nor
the bonds firmly secured for al-Muʿtazz.
وَأَوثَقَتand bound فيin عُراهاtheir snares كُلَّevery مُعتَمدٍMuʿtamid (one relying)
وَأَوثَقَت في عُراها كُلَّ مُعتَمدٍ
وَأَشرَقَتand choked بِقَذاهاwith their mote كُلَّevery مُقتَدِرِMuqtadir (powerful one)
وَأَشرَقَت بِقَذاها كُلَّ مُقتَدِرِ
They bound every Muʿtamid in their snares,
and choked every Muqtadir with their mote.
وَرَوَّعتand terrified كُلَّevery مَأمونٍMaʾmun (secure one) وَمُؤتَمنٍand Muʾtaman (trusted one)
وَرَوَّعت كُلَّ مَأمونٍ وَمُؤتَمنٍ
وَأَسلَمَتand abandoned كُلّevery مَنصورٍMansur (aided one) وَمُنتَصِرِand Muntasir (victorious one)
وَأَسلَمَت كُلّ مَنصورٍ وَمُنتَصِرِ
They terrified every Maʾmun and Muʾtaman,
and abandoned every Mansur and Muntasir.
وَأَعثَرَتand tripped آلَthe house of عَبّادٍʿAbbad لَعاًrecovery! لَهُمُfor them
وَأَعثَرَت آلَ عَبّادٍ لَعاً لَهُمُ
بِذَيلِwith the tail of زَبّاءَa shaggy calamity لَمnot تنفِرshy away مِنَfrom الذُعرِfright
بِذَيلِ زَبّاءَ لَم تنفِر مِنَ الذُعرِ
They tripped the house of ʿAbbad—may they recover!—
with the tail of a shaggy calamity that did not shy from fright.
بَنيO sons of المُظَفَّرِal-Muzaffar وَالأَيّامُand the days لاmay not نَزَلَتalight
بَني المُظَفَّرِ وَالأَيّامُ لا نَزَلَت
مَراحِلat way-stations وَالوَرىand mankind مِنهاthrough them عَلىon سَفَرِa journey
مَراحِل وَالوَرى مِنها عَلى سَفَرِ
O sons of al-Muzaffar! May the days never alight
at way-stations, while mankind journeys through them.
سُحقاًperdition لِيَومِكُمto your day يَوماًas a day وَلاand may not حَمَلَتbear
سُحقاً لِيَومِكُم يَوماً وَلا حَمَلَت
بِمِثلِهِits like لَيلَةٌa night فيin غابِرِthe remainder of العُمُرِlife
بِمِثلِهِ لَيلَةٌ في غابِرِ العُمُرِ
Perdition to your day, that day! May no night
ever bear its like through the rest of life.
مَنwho لِلأَسرَّةِfor the thrones أَوor مَنwho لِلأَعِنَّةِfor the reins أَوor
مَن لِلأَسرَّةِ أَو مَن لِلأَعِنَّةِ أَو
مَنwho لِلأَسِنَّةِfor the spearheads يُهديهاguiding them إِلىto الثغرِthe frontier
مَن لِلأَسِنَّةِ يُهديها إِلى الثغرِ
Who now for the thrones, or who for the reins, or
who for the spearheads, guiding them to the frontier?
مَنwho لِلظُبىfor blade-edges وَعَواليand the lofty spears of الخَطِّKhatt قَدalready عُقِدَتwere knotted
مَن لِلظُبى وَعَوالي الخَطِّ قَد عُقِدَت
أَطرافُthe tips of أَلسنِهاtheir tongues بِالعيِّby speechlessness وَالحَصَرِand faltering speech
أَطرافُ أَلسنِها بِالعيِّ وَالحَصَرِ
Who for blade-edges and the lofty Khatt spears, whose
tongue-tips are knotted by speechlessness and faltering?
وَطَوَّقَتand wreathed بِالمَناياwith deaths السودِthe black بيضَهُمُtheir white helmets
وَطَوَّقَت بِالمَنايا السودِ بيضَهُمُ
فَاِعجَبso marvel لِذاكَat that وَماand nothing مِنهاof them سِوىexcept الذِكرِremembrance
فَاِعجَب لِذاكَ وَما مِنها سِوى الذِكرِ
They wreathed their white helmets in black deaths;
marvel at that—nothing remains of them but remembrance.
مَنwho لِليَراعَةِfor the reed pen أَوor مَنwho لِلبَراعَةِfor eloquence أَوor
مَن لِليَراعَةِ أَو مَن لِلبَراعَةِ أَو
مَنwho لِلسَماحَةِfor generosity أَوor لِلنَفعِfor benefit وَالضَرَرِand harm
مَن لِلسَماحَةِ أَو لِلنَفعِ وَالضَرَرِ
Who now for the reed pen, or who for eloquence, or
who for generosity, or for benefit and harm?
أَوor دَفعaverting كارِثَةٍa disaster أَوor رَدعchecking آزِفَةٍan imminent calamity
أَو دَفع كارِثَةٍ أَو رَدع آزِفَةٍ
أَوor قَمعsuppressing حادِثَةٍa calamity تَعياdefies عَلىbeyond القُدَرِpowers
أَو قَمع حادِثَةٍ تَعيا عَلى القُدَرِ
Or for averting disaster, or checking an imminent calamity,
or suppressing an event beyond the reach of strength?
وَيبَalas for السَماحِgenerosity وَوَيبَand alas for البَأسِvalor لَوif only سَلِماboth had survived
وَيبَ السَماحِ وَوَيبَ البَأسِ لَو سَلِما
وَحَسرَةُand the grief of الدينِfaith وَالدُنياand worldly life عَلىfor عُمَرِʿUmar
وَحَسرَةُ الدينِ وَالدُنيا عَلى عُمَرِ
Alas for generosity, alas for valor—if only both had survived!
And the grief of faith and worldly life for ʿUmar!
سَقَتmay water ثَرىthe earth of الفَضلِal-Fadl وَالعَبّاسِand al-ʿAbbas هامِيَةٌa pouring cloud
سَقَت ثَرى الفَضلِ وَالعَبّاسِ هامِيَةٌ
تُعزىis ascribed إِلَيهِمto them سَماحاًin generosity لاnot إِلىto المَطَرِthe rain
تُعزى إِلَيهِم سَماحاً لا إِلى المَطَرِ
May a pouring cloud water the earth of al-Fadl and al-ʿAbbas,
its generosity ascribed to them, not to the rain.
ثَلاثَةٌthree ماnot أَرىdisplayed السعدانُthe two fortunate planets مِثلَهُمُtheir like
ثَلاثَةٌ ما أَرى السعدانُ مِثلَهُمُ
وَأَخبَرَand reported وَلَوeven if عُزّزواthey were reinforced فيin الحُوتِPisces بِالقَمَرِby the moon
وَأَخبَرَ وَلَو عُزّزوا في الحُوتِ بِالقَمَرِ
Three whose like the two fortunate planets never displayed,
or reported, even reinforced in Pisces by the moon.
ثَلاثَةٌthree ماnot اِرتَقىrose النِسرانِthe two Eagle stars حَيثُwhere رَقواthey rose
ثَلاثَةٌ ما اِرتَقى النِسرانِ حَيثُ رَقوا
وَكُلُّand everything ماthat طارَflew مِنamong نَسرeagles وَلَمand did not يَطرِfly
وَكُلُّ ما طارَ مِن نَسر وَلَم يَطرِ
Three who climbed where the two Eagle stars never rose,
nor any eagle that flew, or did not fly.
ثَلاثَةthree كَذَواتِlike the divisions of الدَهرِtime مُنذُsince نَأَواthey went far away
ثَلاثَة كَذَواتِ الدَهرِ مُنذُ نَأَوا
عَنّيfrom me مَضىpassed الدَهرُtime لَمnot يَربَعpause وَلَمand not يَحُرِreturn
عَنّي مَضى الدَهرُ لَم يَربَع وَلَم يَحُرِ
Three like time's own divisions; since they went far
from me, time has passed on, neither pausing nor returning.
وَمَرَّand departed مِنfrom كُلِّevery شَيءٍthing فيهِwithin it أَطيَبُهُits sweetest part
وَمَرَّ مِن كُلِّ شَيءٍ فيهِ أَطيَبُهُ
حَتّىeven التَمَتُّعُdelight بِالآصالِin evenings وَالبُكَرِand mornings
حَتّى التَمَتُّعُ بِالآصالِ وَالبُكَرِ
The sweetest part of everything within it has gone,
even delight in evenings and mornings.
أَينَwhere الجَلالُthe majesty الَّذيwhose غَضّتsubdued مَهابَتهُits awe
أَينَ الجَلالُ الَّذي غَضّت مَهابَتهُ
قُلوبناour hearts وَعُيونُand the eyes of الأَنجُمِthe stars الزُهُرِthe brilliant
قُلوبنا وَعُيونُ الأَنجُمِ الزُهُرِ
Where is the majesty whose awe subdued
our hearts and the eyes of the brilliant stars?
أَينَwhere الإِباءُunyielding pride الَّذيwhose أَرسَواthey laid قَواعِدَهُits foundations
أَينَ الإِباءُ الَّذي أَرسَوا قَواعِدَهُ
عَلىon دَعائِمَpillars مَنof عِزٍّmight وَمِنand of ظَفَرِvictory
عَلى دَعائِمَ مَن عِزٍّ وَمِن ظَفَرِ
Where is the unyielding pride whose foundations they laid
on pillars of might and victory?
أَينَwhere الوَفاءُfidelity الَّذيwhose أَصفَواthey purified شَرائِعَهُits watering places
أَينَ الوَفاءُ الَّذي أَصفَوا شَرائِعَهُ
فَلَمso not يَرِدcame to drink أَحَدٌanyone مِنهاfrom them عَلىupon كَدَرِmuddiness
فَلَم يَرِد أَحَدٌ مِنها عَلى كَدَرِ
Where is the fidelity whose watering places they made pure,
so none came to drink from them and found muddiness?
كانواthey were رَواسِيَthe firm mountains of أَرضِthe earth of اللَهِGod مُنذُsince مَضواthey departed
كانوا رَواسِيَ أَرضِ اللَهِ مُنذُ مَضوا
عَنهاfrom it اِستَطارَتflew wildly بِمَنwith those فيهاwithin it وَلَمand not تَقرِsettle
عَنها اِستَطارَت بِمَن فيها وَلَم تَقرِ
They were the firm mountains of God's earth; since they departed
from it, it has flown wildly with its people, never settling.
كانواthey were مَصابيحَهاits lamps فَمُذand since خَبَواthey went out عَثَرَتstumbled
كانوا مَصابيحَها فَمُذ خَبَوا عَثَرَت
هَذيthis الخَليقَةُcreation ياO للَّهِGod! فيin سَدَرِbewilderment
هَذي الخَليقَةُ يا للَّهِ في سَدَرِ
They were its lamps; since they went out,
this creation has stumbled—O God!—in bewilderment.
كانواthey were شَجىa bone in the throat of الدَهرِtime فَاِستَهوَتهُمthen lured them خدَعٌtricks
كانوا شَجى الدَهرِ فَاِستَهوَتهُم خدَعٌ
مِنهُfrom it بِأَحلامِwith the wisdom of عادٍʿAd فيin خُطىthe strides of الحَضَرِgalloping
مِنهُ بِأَحلامِ عادٍ في خُطى الحَضَرِ
They were a bone in time's throat; then tricks lured them
from it, despite the wisdom of ʿAd, at a gallop's pace.
وَيلُwoe to اِمّهِits mother مِنwhat a طَلوبِseeker of الثَأرِvengeance مُدرِكِهِattaining it
وَيلُ اِمّهِ مِن طَلوبِ الثَأرِ مُدرِكِهِ
مِنهُمfrom them بِأُسدٍagainst lions سُراةٍnoble leaders فيin الوَغىbattle صبرِsteadfast
مِنهُم بِأُسدٍ سُراةٍ في الوَغى صبرِ
Woe to its mother! What a seeker of vengeance, attaining it
from them—from noble lions steadfast in battle!
مَنwho ليfor me وَلاand no مَنone بِهِمin their place إِنif أَظلمَتgrew dark نُوَبٌcalamities
مَن لي وَلا مَن بِهِم إِن أَظلمَت نُوَبٌ
وَلَمand not يَكُنwas لَيلُهاtheir night يُفضيled إِلىto سَحَرِdawn
وَلَم يَكُن لَيلُها يُفضي إِلى سَحَرِ
Who is there for me—none can replace them—if calamities grow dark,
and their night does not lead to dawn?
مَنwho ليfor me وَلاand no منone بِهِمin their place إِنif عُطِّلَتwere abandoned سُنَنٌestablished ways
مَن لي وَلا من بِهِم إِن عُطِّلَت سُنَنٌ
وَأُخفِيَتand were silenced أَلسُنُthe tongues of الآثارِtraditions وَالسِيَرِand histories
وَأُخفِيَت أَلسُنُ الآثارِ وَالسِيَرِ
Who is there for me—none can replace them—if established ways are abandoned,
and the tongues of traditions and histories are silenced?
مَنwho ليfor me وَلاand no مَنone بِهِمin their place إِنif أُطبِقَتclosed in مِحَنٌafflictions
مَن لي وَلا مَن بِهِم إِن أُطبِقَت مِحَنٌ
وَلَمand not يَكُنwas وِردُهاarrival at their waters يَدعوpromised إِلىto صَدَرِdeparture
وَلَم يَكُن وِردُها يَدعو إِلى صَدَرِ
Who is there for me—none can replace them—if afflictions close in,
and arriving at their waters offers no departure?
عَلىupon الفَضائِلِthe virtues إِلّاexcept الصَبرَpatience بَعدَهُمafter them
عَلى الفَضائِلِ إِلّا الصَبرَ بَعدَهُم
سَلامُthe farewell of مُرتَقِبٍone watching لِلأَجرِfor reward مُنتَظرِwaiting
سَلامُ مُرتَقِبٍ لِلأَجرِ مُنتَظرِ
Upon the virtues—all but patience—after them,
be the farewell of one watching, waiting for reward,
يَرجوhopes عَسى'perhaps' وَلَهُand he has فيin أُختِهاits sister أَمَلٌhope
يَرجو عَسى وَلَهُ في أُختِها أَمَلٌ
وَالدَهرُand time ذوhas عُقَبٍturns شَتّىvarious وَذوand has غِيَرِtransformations
وَالدَهرُ ذو عُقَبٍ شَتّى وَذو غِيَرِ
who hopes in 'perhaps' and has hope in its sister,
while time has many turns and transformations.
قَرَّطتُI adorned آذانَthe ears of مَنthose فيهاupon it بِفاضِحَةٍwith a shaming poem
قَرَّطتُ آذانَ مَن فيها بِفاضِحَةٍ
عَلىupon الحِسانِbeautiful women حَصىbeads of الياقوتruby وَالدُرَرِand pearls
عَلى الحِسانِ حَصى الياقوت وَالدُرَرِ
I have adorned the ears of those upon it with a poem that puts to shame
the ruby beads and pearls worn by beautiful women;
سَيّارَةٍtraveling فيin أَقاصيthe farthest reaches of الأَرضِthe earth قاطِعَةٍsilencing
سَيّارَةٍ في أَقاصي الأَرضِ قاطِعَةٍ
شَقاشقاًboastful tongues هَدَرَتroared فيin البدوِthe desert وَالحَضَرِand towns
شَقاشقاً هَدَرَت في البدوِ وَالحَضَرِ
traveling to the earth's farthest reaches, silencing
the blustering tongues that roared in desert and town;
مُطاعَةobeyed in الأَمرِcommand فيin الأَلبابِminds قاضِيَةfulfilling
مُطاعَة الأَمرِ في الأَلبابِ قاضِيَة
مِنَfor المَسامِعِlistening ears ماwhatever لَمnot يُقضَwas fulfilled مِنof وَطَرِlonging
مِنَ المَسامِعِ ما لَم يُقضَ مِن وَطَرِ
its command obeyed by minds, fulfilling
for listening ears whatever longing remained unfulfilled.
ثُمَّthen الصَلاةblessings عَلىupon المُختارِthe Chosen One سَيِّدِناour master
ثُمَّ الصَلاة عَلى المُختارِ سَيِّدِنا
المُصطَفىthe Chosen المُجتَبىthe Elect المَبعوثِthe one sent مِنfrom مُضَرِMudar
المُصطَفى المُجتَبى المَبعوثِ مِن مُضَرِ
Then blessings upon the Chosen One, our master,
the chosen, the elect, the one sent from Mudar,
وَالآلِand his family وَالصحبِand his companions ثُمّthen التابِعينَthose following لَهُhim
وَالآلِ وَالصحبِ ثُمّ التابِعينَ لَهُ
ماas long as هَبَّblew ريحٌa wind وَهَلَّand poured السُحبُthe clouds بِالمَطَرِwith rain
ما هَبَّ ريحٌ وَهَلَّ السُحبُ بِالمَطَرِ
and his family and companions, then those who follow him,
as long as wind blows and clouds pour rain.
Sol 6.1