لَكِ الخَيرُ هَل أَنساك شَحطُ النَوى عَهدا

لَكِ الخَيرُ هَل أَنساك شَحطُ النَوى عَهدا

فَيُولِيكِ هَجراً مِثلَ هَجرِكِ أَو بُعدا

فَيُولِيكِ هَجراً مِثلَ هَجرِكِ أَو بُعدا

Good be yours! Has far separation made you forget a pledge,

For you all the good, have I forgotten our distant youth?

and thus brought you estrangement like yours, or distance?

So time will repay you with estrangement like your estrangement, or with distance.

أَمِ الوُدُّ باقٍ لَم يَحُل فَنَزِيدَكُم

أَمِ الوُدُّ باقٍ لَم يَحُل فَنَزِيدَكُم

عَلى ما عَهِدتُم مِن مَوَدَّتِنا وُدّا

عَلى ما عَهِدتُم مِن مَوَدَّتِنا وُدّا

Or does affection remain unchanged, so that we may add

Or does love still remain, unchanging? We will increase for you,

more love to the affection you have known from us?

Beyond what you were accustomed to, our affection and love.

رَمى اللَهُ تَفرِيقَ الأَحِبَّةِ باسمِهِ

رَمى اللَهُ تَفرِيقَ الأَحِبَّةِ باسمِهِ

وَعَذَّبَ بِالبُعدِ القَطِيعَةَ وَالبُعدا

وَعَذَّبَ بِالبُعدِ القَطِيعَةَ وَالبُعدا

May God strike the sundering of lovers with its own name,

God has aimed at separating lovers through His name,

and torment estrangement and distance with distance.

And tormented through separation the estrangement and distance.

أُحِبُّ اللَواتي حُبُّهُنَّ بَلِيَّتي

أُحِبُّ اللَواتي حُبُّهُنَّ بَلِيَّتي

فَما أَصدَقَ الحُبَّ الشَهِيَّ وَما أَعدا

فَما أَصدَقَ الحُبَّ الشَهِيَّ وَما أَعدا

I love the women whose love is my affliction;

I love those whose love has been my affliction,

how true is alluring love, and how hostile!

So how truthful was that impassioned love and how much it gave.

يَمُرُّ تَجَنِّيهِ وَيَحلُو عَذابُهُ

يَمُرُّ تَجَنِّيهِ وَيَحلُو عَذابُهُ

فَيا لَيتَنِي ما ذُقتُ صاباً وَلا شَهدا

فَيا لَيتَنِي ما ذُقتُ صاباً وَلا شَهدا

Its unjust accusations taste bitter, and its torment sweet;

Its anguish is pleasurable as it passes me by,

so would that I had tasted neither bitter sap nor honey!

Oh, would that I never had tasted agony or bliss.

وَيا لَيتَنِي خِلوٌ مِنَ الوَجدِ لَم أَهِم

وَيا لَيتَنِي خِلوٌ مِنَ الوَجدِ لَم أَهِم

بِجُملٍ وَلَم أَعرِفِ سُعاداً وَلا هِندا

بِجُملٍ وَلَم أَعرِفِ سُعاداً وَلا هِندا

And would that I were free of passion, never infatuated

Would that I were free of passion, never having been possessed,

with Juml, never acquainted with Su'ad or Hind.

By beauty, nor known happiness or love.

عَفائِفُ أَوصَلنَ الشَبِيبَةَ بِالمُنى

عَفائِفُ أَوصَلنَ الشَبِيبَةَ بِالمُنى

إلى الشِيبِ لا دَيناً قَضَينَ وَلا وَعدا

إلى الشِيبِ لا دَيناً قَضَينَ وَلا وَعدا

Chaste women who, through hopes, carried youth

Whims carried youth to old age,

into gray-haired age, fulfilling neither debt nor promise.

Without fulfilling a religion or keeping a promise.

يُمَلُّ الهَوى ما جادَ بِالوَصلِ أَهلُهُ

يُمَلُّ الهَوى ما جادَ بِالوَصلِ أَهلُهُ

وَيَحلُو إِذا ما كانَ مُمتَنِعاً جِدّا

وَيَحلُو إِذا ما كانَ مُمتَنِعاً جِدّا

Love grows tiresome while its people freely grant union,

Passion is satiated when its people are denied reunion,

and becomes sweet when it is utterly unattainable.

And is sweetest when it is most unattainable.

أَحِنُّ إِلى دَعدٍ وَقَد شَطَّتِ النَوى

أَحِنُّ إِلى دَعدٍ وَقَد شَطَّتِ النَوى

بِدَعدٍ فَمَالِي لَستُ مُطَّرِحاً دَعدا

بِدَعدٍ فَمَالِي لَستُ مُطَّرِحاً دَعدا

I yearn for Da'd, though separation has carried away

I yearn for the past, though the days have carried it far,

Da'd; why, then, do I not cast Da'd aside?

Why am I not casting it away like the past?

عَلاقَةُ نَفسٍ مَكَّنَتها يَدُ الهَوى

عَلاقَةُ نَفسٍ مَكَّنَتها يَدُ الهَوى

وَوَجداً دَخيلا لا أَرى مِثلَهُ وَجدا

وَوَجداً دَخيلا لا أَرى مِثلَهُ وَجدا

A soul's attachment, made firm by the hand of love,

A soul's relationship that the passion of love enabled,

and a deep-seated passion—I see no passion like it.

And a strange, unparalleled agony that I see no equal to.

أُحِبُّ الفَتى السَمحَ الَّذي طَلَبَ الغِنى

أُحِبُّ الفَتى السَمحَ الَّذي طَلَبَ الغِنى

فلَّما رَأى وَجهَ الغِنى طَلَبَ الحَمدا

فلَّما رَأى وَجهَ الغِنى طَلَبَ الحَمدا

I love the generous young man who sought wealth,

I love the generous youth who sought wealth,

then, when he saw wealth's face, sought praise.

But when he saw the face of wealth, he sought praise.

وَأَمقُتُ مَن لا تَطلُبُ الحَمدَ نَفسُهُ

وَأَمقُتُ مَن لا تَطلُبُ الحَمدَ نَفسُهُ

وَلا يُضمِرُ الوُدَّ الصَحِيحَ وَلا وَدّا

وَلا يُضمِرُ الوُدَّ الصَحِيحَ وَلا وَدّا

And I detest anyone whose soul seeks no praise,

And I hate those whose souls do not seek praise,

and who harbors neither true friendship nor any affection.

Nor harbor true affection or love.

صَدِيقُكَ ما دامَ الرَخاءُ وَناهِشٌ

صَدِيقُكَ ما دامَ الرَخاءُ وَناهِشٌ

بِنابَيهِ في الخَطبِ المُلِمِّ إِذا اِشتَدّا

بِنابَيهِ في الخَطبِ المُلِمِّ إِذا اِشتَدّا

Your friend while prosperity lasts, but a biter

Your friend who remains as long as fortunes abound,

with his two fangs when a befalling calamity grows severe.

But bites with his fangs in time of dire straits.

لَحى اللَه مَن يَبدِي لِخِلِّ مَوَدَّةً

لَحى اللَه مَن يَبدِي لِخِلِّ مَوَدَّةً

وَيُضمِرُ في حَيزَومِهِ ضِدَّ ما أَبدَا

وَيُضمِرُ في حَيزَومِهِ ضِدَّ ما أَبدَا

May God curse whoever shows affection to a friend,

May God disfigure whoever shows affection to a villain,

and hides in his breast the opposite of what he showed.

Yet harbors in his gullet the opposite of what he has shown.

دَعِ الرَجُلَ المُغتابَ يَشفى بِغِيبَتي

دَعِ الرَجُلَ المُغتابَ يَشفى بِغِيبَتي

فَما غِيبَةُ المُغتابِ إِلّا ثَناً يُهدى

فَما غِيبَةُ المُغتابِ إِلّا ثَناً يُهدى

Let the backbiter find relief by slandering me;

Leave the resentful man to heal through my absence,

for a backbiter's slander is only praise bestowed.

For the absent one's absence is nothing but a gift bestowed.

أَبا اللَهُ لِي إِلّا الكَرامَةَ كُلَّما

أَبا اللَهُ لِي إِلّا الكَرامَةَ كُلَّما

رَجا حاسِدِي أَن أَنزِلَ المَنزَلَ الوَهدا

رَجا حاسِدِي أَن أَنزِلَ المَنزَلَ الوَهدا

God has willed nothing for me but honor, whenever

Would that God never grants me but nobility whenever

my envier hoped I would descend to a lowly station.

My envious enemies hope I'll be laid low.

وَما عاشَ لي هَذا الَّذي أَنا ناظِرٌ

وَما عاشَ لي هَذا الَّذي أَنا ناظِرٌ

إِلى وَجهِهِ المَسعُودِ لَم أَعدَمِ السَعدا

إِلى وَجهِهِ المَسعُودِ لَم أَعدَمِ السَعدا

And so long as this man lives for me, while I look

As long as this one, whose blissful face I behold, lives for me,

upon his blessed face, I shall never lack good fortune.

I will never lack in fortune or happiness.

وَيا رُبَّ يَومٍ لِلحُمَيديِّ صالِحٍ

وَيا رُبَّ يَومٍ لِلحُمَيديِّ صالِحٍ

رَأَيتُ بِهِ نُعمى أَبى صالِحٍ تُسدى

رَأَيتُ بِهِ نُعمى أَبى صالِحٍ تُسدى

And how many a happy day for al-Humaydi

Oh Lord, one day for the virtuous Hamidi

on which I saw Abu Salih's bounty bestowed!

I saw - through him - the bounty of my father given freely.

غَداةَ رَأَيتَ العِزّ تُبنى قِبابُهُ

غَداةَ رَأَيتَ العِزّ تُبنى قِبابُهُ

لَهُ وَالعُلى تَمتَدُّ أَعناقُها مَدّا

لَهُ وَالعُلى تَمتَدُّ أَعناقُها مَدّا

On the morning when you saw glory's domes being built

One morning, I saw glory being built, its pavilions

for him, and high honors stretching their necks far.

Erected for him, and the heights stretch out their necks.

وَأَطلَسَ مِدلاجٍ إلى الرِزقِ ساغِبٍ

وَأَطلَسَ مِدلاجٍ إلى الرِزقِ ساغِبٍ

يُراحُ إِلى ضَنكِ المَعِيشَةِ أَو يُغدى

يُراحُ إِلى ضَنكِ المَعِيشَةِ أَو يُغدى

And a dusky wolf, hungry, roaming by night for sustenance,

And an exalted nobleman seeking livelihood anxiously,

driven at evening or morning toward a straitened livelihood.

Whether to the hardship of living or venturing out in the morn.

أَسَنَّ وَما يَزدادُ إِلّا جَهالَةً

أَسَنَّ وَما يَزدادُ إِلّا جَهالَةً

وَخُرقاً وَلا يَنفَكُّ مُستَرِقاً وَغدا

وَخُرقاً وَلا يَنفَكُّ مُستَرِقاً وَغدا

He has grown old, yet increases only in ignorance

He has aged, only increasing in ignorance,

and folly, never ceasing to be a furtive thief and a knave.

Rags, unable to cease being a beggar wandering all day.

غَدا مُعرِضاً لِلجَيشٍ يَقصُدُ جَنبَهُ

غَدا مُعرِضاً لِلجَيشٍ يَقصُدُ جَنبَهُ

وَما كانَ أَمّاً لِلرِجالِ وَلا قَصدا

وَما كانَ أَمّاً لِلرِجالِ وَلا قَصدا

He came into the army's view, making for its flank,

Turning aside from the army, yet heading toward its flank,

though he was neither the men's object nor their aim.

Never a leader of men, nor having aimed for glory.

فَلَمّا رَأى خَيلَ المَنايا مُغِذَّةً

فَلَمّا رَأى خَيلَ المَنايا مُغِذَّةً

إِلَيهِ تَمَطّى كَالشَراكَينِ وَامتَدّا

إِلَيهِ تَمَطّى كَالشَراكَينِ وَامتَدّا

Then, when he saw the horses of death hurrying

So when he saw the horses of death galloping

toward him, he stretched like two sandal-straps and drew himself long.

Toward him, he crawled away like snakes and crawled on.

فَحِينَ تَحَرّى لِلنَجاةِ وَأَيقَنَت

فَحِينَ تَحَرّى لِلنَجاةِ وَأَيقَنَت

لَهُ نَفسُهُ بِالخَيرِ وَاستَأنَسَت رُشدا

لَهُ نَفسُهُ بِالخَيرِ وَاستَأنَسَت رُشدا

Then, just as he sought escape, and

But when he strove for survival, and his soul

his soul felt sure of safety and reassured of a right course,

Was certain of good, reassured and guided aright.

سَما نَحوَهُ طَرفُ امرِئٍ لَو سَما بِهِ

سَما نَحوَهُ طَرفُ امرِئٍ لَو سَما بِهِ

إِلى جَبَلٍ لَانهَدَّ مِن خَوفِهِ هَدّا

إِلى جَبَلٍ لَانهَدَّ مِن خَوفِهِ هَدّا

a man's gaze rose toward him—had he raised it

The glance of a man glanced his way - had it glanced

toward a mountain, it would have crumbled utterly in fear of him.

Toward a mountain, it would have crumbled in fright.

عَلى ظَهرِ مَدمُوجِ المَرافِقِ سابِحٍ

عَلى ظَهرِ مَدمُوجِ المَرافِقِ سابِحٍ

عَلى أَربَعِ مُلدٍ تَطُولُ القَنا المُلدا

عَلى أَربَعِ مُلدٍ تَطُولُ القَنا المُلدا

Upon the back of a close-jointed, swimming steed,

Upon the back of a sturdy steed, swimming

on four supple legs longer than supple spears.

On four extended forelegs, its neck upright.

تَعَوَّدَ أَن يُرمى بِهِ كُلَّ مَطلَبٍ

تَعَوَّدَ أَن يُرمى بِهِ كُلَّ مَطلَبٍ

قَصِيٍّ وَيَكتَدُّ النَجاحُ بِهِ كَدّا

قَصِيٍّ وَيَكتَدُّ النَجاحُ بِهِ كَدّا

Accustomed to being launched toward every goal

He was accustomed to being mounted for every lofty goal,

far off, with success wrested through him by hard toil.

And determined success would always butt through.

فَأَوجَرَهُ سَمراءَ لَو مَدَّ باعَهُ

فَأَوجَرَهُ سَمراءَ لَو مَدَّ باعَهُ

بِها طاعِناً لِلسُدِّ أَنفَذَتِ السُدّا

بِها طاعِناً لِلسُدِّ أَنفَذَتِ السُدّا

So he thrust a brown spear down his throat—had he stretched his arm

So he hired him out to Samarra - had he extended his reigns

with it to strike a barrier, it would have pierced that barrier.

Charging the barricade, it would have penetrated the dam.

فَخَرَّ مُكِبّاً لِلجِرانِ وَنَفسُهُ

فَخَرَّ مُكِبّاً لِلجِرانِ وَنَفسُهُ

تُسِرُّ لِمُردِيهِ الضَغِينَةَ وَالحِقدا

تُسِرُّ لِمُردِيهِ الضَغِينَةَ وَالحِقدا

He fell headlong, throat to earth, while his soul

Yet he fell sideways to the ground, while his soul

concealed resentment and hatred toward his slayer.

Rejoiced at his vanquisher's rancor and hatred.

فَقُلتُ لَهُ يا ذِئبُ لا تَخشَ سُبَة

فَقُلتُ لَهُ يا ذِئبُ لا تَخشَ سُبَة

فَمُردِيكَ أَردى قَبلَكَ الأَسَدَ الوَردا

فَمُردِيكَ أَردى قَبلَكَ الأَسَدَ الوَردا

Then I said to him: Wolf, fear no disgrace;

So I said to him: "O wolf, fear no harm,

for your slayer slew the tawny lion before you.

For your vanquisher has felled the rose-colored lion before you."

وَما هِيَ إِلّا مِيتَةٌ قَلَّ عارُها

وَما هِيَ إِلّا مِيتَةٌ قَلَّ عارُها

إِذا أَرغَمَ السِيدانَ مَن أَرغَمَ الأُسدا

إِذا أَرغَمَ السِيدانَ مَن أَرغَمَ الأُسدا

And this is only a death whose shame is slight,

"It is but a carcass whose shame is little

when he who humbled lions humbles wolves.

When the master subdues the one who subdued lions."

وَأَحسَنُ ما عايَنتَ بَحراً مُجاوِراً

وَأَحسَنُ ما عايَنتَ بَحراً مُجاوِراً

لِبَحرٍ حَمَدنا وَردَ هَذا وَذا وِردا

لِبَحرٍ حَمَدنا وَردَ هَذا وَذا وِردا

And how lovely the sea you saw beside

The best thing you saw was a sea bordering

another sea; we praised visiting this one and drinking from that.

Another sea - we praised one and the other returned praise.

أَلا نَبِّنِي ناشَدتُكَ اللَهَ صادِقاً

أَلا نَبِّنِي ناشَدتُكَ اللَهَ صادِقاً

أذا البَحرُ أَم كَفّا أَبِي صالحٍ أَندى

أذا البَحرُ أَم كَفّا أَبِي صالحٍ أَندى

Listen, tell me truthfully—I adjure you by God:

Please, tell me truthfully - by God - which was the sea?

is this sea more generous, or Abu Salih's two palms?

Or the palm of my father Salih's hand that was more plentiful?

لَقَد أُسدَتِ السُحبُ الغِزارُ إِلى الثَرى

لَقَد أُسدَتِ السُحبُ الغِزارُ إِلى الثَرى

جَمِيلاً وَما أَسدَت إِلَيها كَما أَسدى

جَمِيلاً وَما أَسدَت إِلَيها كَما أَسدى

The rain-laden clouds have indeed bestowed upon the soil

The abundant clouds pour beautifully to the land,

a kindness, but not one like the kindness he bestowed upon it.

But they did not pour to it as he poured.

مَشى فَوقَها خَيرُ البَرِيَّةِ كُلِّها

مَشى فَوقَها خَيرُ البَرِيَّةِ كُلِّها

فَطَيَّبَها حَتّى غَدا تُربُها نَدّا

فَطَيَّبَها حَتّى غَدا تُربُها نَدّا

The best of all creation walked upon it,

The best of all creation walked upon it,

and perfumed it until its soil became fragrant incense.

Sweetening it until its soil turned to musk.

وَخَيَّمَ بِالحاوِي فَتىً باتَ حاوِياً

وَخَيَّمَ بِالحاوِي فَتىً باتَ حاوِياً

مَناقِب غُرّا مَن حَواها حَوى المَجدا

مَناقِب غُرّا مَن حَواها حَوى المَجدا

And at al-Hawi camped a youth who spent the night holding

And he sheltered the elite youth who sheltered

radiant virtues; whoever holds them holds glory.

The glorious virtues of the one he sheltered.

إِذا النَورُ أَهدى نَفحَةً مِن نَسِيمِهِ

إِذا النَورُ أَهدى نَفحَةً مِن نَسِيمِهِ

فَمِن عِرضِهِ أَهدى النَسِيمُ الَّذي أَهدى

فَمِن عِرضِهِ أَهدى النَسِيمُ الَّذي أَهدى

When the blossoms offer a fragrant breath from their breeze,

When the light gifts a breeze from its gentle wind,

then from his honor the breeze gives the gift it gives.

Then from his honor the breeze he gifted blows.

تَأَمَّل بِعَينَيكَ الفِجاجَ كَأَنَّها

تَأَمَّل بِعَينَيكَ الفِجاجَ كَأَنَّها

مُكَلَّلَةٌ وَشياً مُجَلَّلَةٌ بُردا

مُكَلَّلَةٌ وَشياً مُجَلَّلَةٌ بُردا

Look with your two eyes upon the broad valleys, as though they

Contemplate the rivulets as if they are

were crowned with embroidery, draped in striped cloaks.

Adorned with bracelets, adorned with pearls.

غِنِينا بِرَيّاها عَنِ المِسكِ كُلَّما

غِنِينا بِرَيّاها عَنِ المِسكِ كُلَّما

تَهادى وَأَنسَتنا شَقائِقُها الوَردا

تَهادى وَأَنسَتنا شَقائِقُها الوَردا

Their fragrance freed us from any need for musk whenever

Their flowing has enriched us over musk whenever

it wafted gently; their anemones made us forget the roses.

It undulates, and its meadows make us forget roses.

رِياضٌ كَأَخلاقِ الأَمِيرِ أَنِيقَةٌ

رِياضٌ كَأَخلاقِ الأَمِيرِ أَنِيقَةٌ

تَمُجُّ شِفاهُ الأَرضِ مِن رِيقِها بَردا

تَمُجُّ شِفاهُ الأَرضِ مِن رِيقِها بَردا

Gardens, lovely like the prince's character,

Gardens graceful as the prince's nature,

where the earth's lips spill coolness from its saliva.

The earth's lips moistened by its freshness and coolness.

كَأَنَّ الحِسانَ الغِيدَ جُزنَ بِأَرضِها

كَأَنَّ الحِسانَ الغِيدَ جُزنَ بِأَرضِها

فَأَلقَت عَلَيها كُلُّ غانِيَةٍ عِقدا

فَأَلقَت عَلَيها كُلُّ غانِيَةٍ عِقدا

As though lovely, graceful women had crossed their land,

As if singing nightingales were set free in its land,

and each beauty had cast a necklace upon it.

So every singing girl cast down her necklace upon it.

أَبا صالِحٍ رُوحي فِداكَ مِن الرَدى

أَبا صالِحٍ رُوحي فِداكَ مِن الرَدى

وَإِن قَلَّ ما يُفدِي وَجَلَّ الَّذي يُفدى

وَإِن قَلَّ ما يُفدِي وَجَلَّ الَّذي يُفدى

Abu Salih, may my soul ransom you from death,

O my father Salih, my soul is your ransom from harm,

though the ransom is little and the one ransomed great.

Though little can ransom, and great is the one ransomed.

تَمَتَّع بِدُنياكَ الَّتي قَد مَلأتَها

تَمَتَّع بِدُنياكَ الَّتي قَد مَلأتَها

مِنَ الأَمنِ حَتّى أَصبَحَت حَرَماً مَهدا

مِنَ الأَمنِ حَتّى أَصبَحَت حَرَماً مَهدا

Enjoy your world, which you have already filled

Enjoy your world which you have filled

with safety, until it became a sanctuary, a cradle.

With such security, it has become a protected sanctuary.

وَدُونَكَ هَذا المَدحَ فَرداً نَظَمتُهُ

وَدُونَكَ هَذا المَدحَ فَرداً نَظَمتُهُ

لِأَبلَجَ أَمسى واحِداً في النَدى فَردا

لِأَبلَجَ أَمسى واحِداً في النَدى فَردا

And take this unique praise that I composed

Beyond this praise, I composed this response

for a radiant-faced man, now singular and peerless in generosity.

To gleam, peerless in brilliance, under the dew.

زَها زَهو هَذا السَفحِ بِالنَورِ فَاِكتَسى

زَها زَهو هَذا السَفحِ بِالنَورِ فَاِكتَسى

بِوَجهِكَ حُسناً لا قَليلاً وَلا ثَمدا

بِوَجهِكَ حُسناً لا قَليلاً وَلا ثَمدا

It bloomed as this hillside blooms with flowers, and clothed itself

It has taken on the radiance of this plain's splendor,

through your face in beauty neither little nor a mere trickle.

Adorning itself with your beauty, no less and no more.