بَكَيْتُكَ لِلْبَيْنِ قَبْلَ الْحِمامِ

بَكَيْتُكَ لِلْبَيْنِ قَبْلَ الْحِمامِ

وَأَيْنَ مِنَ الثُّكْلِ حَرُّ الْغَرامِ

وَأَيْنَ مِنَ الثُّكْلِ حَرُّ الْغَرامِ

I wept for you at parting, even before death;

I wept for you at separation, before death.

but where, beside bereavement, is passion’s ardor?

And how can the heat of love compare with bereavement?

وَما كانَ ذاكَ الْفِراقُ الْمُشِ

وَما كانَ ذاكَ الْفِراقُ الْمُشِ

تُّ إِلاّ دُخاناً لِهذا الضِّرامِ

تُّ إِلاّ دُخاناً لِهذا الضِّرامِ

That separation which scatters the heart was

And that scattering separation was nothing

nothing but smoke from this blaze.

but the smoke of this blaze.

فَعُوِّضْتُ بَعْدَ الْحَنِينِ الأَنِينَ

فَعُوِّضْتُ بَعْدَ الْحَنِينِ الأَنِينَ

وَبُدِّلْتُ بَعْدَ الْجَوى بِالسَّقامِ

وَبُدِّلْتُ بَعْدَ الْجَوى بِالسَّقامِ

After longing, I was schooled in groaning,

So, after yearning, I was given groaning,

and after love’s wasting torment, I was given sickness instead.

and after burning grief I was given sickness instead.

إِذا قَتَلَ الْبُعْدُ أَهْلَ الْهَوى

إِذا قَتَلَ الْبُعْدُ أَهْلَ الْهَوى

فأَقْتَلُ لِي مِنْهُ مَوْتُ الْكِرامِ

فأَقْتَلُ لِي مِنْهُ مَوْتُ الْكِرامِ

If distance slays the people of love,

If distance kills those who love,

the death of the noble is deadlier to me than distance.

the death of the noble is deadlier to me still.

فَيا قَمَراً يَمَنِيَّ الْمَغِيبِ

فَيا قَمَراً يَمَنِيَّ الْمَغِيبِ

وَإِنْ كانَ مَطْلِعُهُ بِالشآمِ

وَإِنْ كانَ مَطْلِعُهُ بِالشآمِ

O moon of Yemen, now setting,

So, O moon whose setting is in Yemen,

though your rising-place was in Syria!

though it rose in al-Sham,

أَكادُ لِذِكْرِكَ ألْقى الْحِمامَ

أَكادُ لِذِكْرِكَ ألْقى الْحِمامَ

إِذا هتَفَتْ ساجِعاتُ الْحَمامِ

إِذا هتَفَتْ ساجِعاتُ الْحَمامِ

At the memory of you, I nearly meet death

I nearly meet death at the memory of you

whenever the cooing doves cry out.

whenever the cooing doves cry out.

فَأَنْشُدُ مَثْواكَ عِنْدَ الْهُبُوبِ

فَأَنْشُدُ مَثْواكَ عِنْدَ الْهُبُوبِ

وَأَرْقُبُ طَيْفَكَ عِنْدَ الْمَنامِ

وَأَرْقُبُ طَيْفَكَ عِنْدَ الْمَنامِ

I seek your resting place when the wind blows,

So I seek your resting place when I wake,

and watch for your phantom when sleep comes.

and await your phantom when I sleep.

وَأَهْفُوا إِلى كُلِّ بَرْقٍ يَمانٍ

وَأَهْفُوا إِلى كُلِّ بَرْقٍ يَمانٍ

وَأَصْبُو إلى كُلِّ رَكْبٍ تَهامِ

وَأَصْبُو إلى كُلِّ رَكْبٍ تَهامِ

I yearn toward every flash of Yemeni lightning,

And I yearn toward every Yemeni lightning-flash,

and lean toward every caravan from Tihama.

and pine for every caravan from Tihamah.

وَأَسْأَلُ عَنْكَ نَسيمَ الرِّياحِ

وَأَسْأَلُ عَنْكَ نَسيمَ الرِّياحِ

وَمَنْ لِلنَّسِيمِ بِمَنْ فِي الرِّجامِ

وَمَنْ لِلنَّسِيمِ بِمَنْ فِي الرِّجامِ

I ask the breeze of the winds about you—

And I ask the gentle breeze about you,

but who can tell it of the one in al-Rujam?

but who can tell the breeze of one amid the gravestones?

وَإِنِّي لَظامٍ إِلى نَفْحةٍ

وَإِنِّي لَظامٍ إِلى نَفْحةٍ

بِرَيّاكَ ما وَرَدَ الْماءَ ظامِي

بِرَيّاكَ ما وَرَدَ الْماءَ ظامِي

Indeed, my very bones yearn for a breath

And I am thirsty indeed for a breath

bearing your fragrance, as a thirsty man comes to water.

of your fragrance, as long as the thirsty come to water.

وَكَمْ عَبْرَةٍ لِي وَما بَيْنَنا

وَكَمْ عَبْرَةٍ لِي وَما بَيْنَنا

سِوى أَنْ تَكِلَّ بَناتُ الْمَوامِي

سِوى أَنْ تَكِلَّ بَناتُ الْمَوامِي

How many a tear is mine, though nothing lies between us

How many tears were mine, when nothing lay between us

save that the daughters of the clouds—the rain—speak.

but the wearying of the daughters of the deserts!

فَكَيْفَ وَقَدْ أَنْزَلَتْكَ الْمَنُونُ

فَكَيْفَ وَقَدْ أَنْزَلَتْكَ الْمَنُونُ

بأَسْحَقِ دارٍ وَأَنْأَى مَقامِ

بأَسْحَقِ دارٍ وَأَنْأَى مَقامِ

How can it be, now that fate has lodged you

How much more, now that death has lodged you

in the farthest home and remotest abode—

in the remotest dwelling and farthest abode?

غَرِيباً يُبَكِّي لَهُ الأَبْعَدُونَ

غَرِيباً يُبَكِّي لَهُ الأَبْعَدُونَ

صَرِيعاً يُوَسَّدُ صُمَّ السِّلامِ

صَرِيعاً يُوَسَّدُ صُمَّ السِّلامِ

a stranger mourned even by the most distant,

A stranger, for whom even the most distant weep,

fallen, with hard stones for a pillow;

fallen, pillowed on solid stones,

سَلِيباً يُجِلْبَبُ ثَوْبَ الْبِلى

سَلِيباً يُجِلْبَبُ ثَوْبَ الْبِلى

ضَعِيفاً يُحَمَّلُ ثِقْلَ الرَّغامِ

ضَعِيفاً يُحَمَّلُ ثِقْلَ الرَّغامِ

stripped bare, clothed in the garment of decay;

stripped bare, clothed in the garment of decay,

frail, yet bearing the weight of dust?

helpless, made to bear the weight of dust.

وَيا غائِباً كَمَدِي حاضِرٌ

وَيا غائِباً كَمَدِي حاضِرٌ

بِهِ ما شَجَتْ فاقِدٌ بِالْبُغامِ

بِهِ ما شَجَتْ فاقِدٌ بِالْبُغامِ

O absent one, my anguish for you is ever present

And O absent one, my grief remains present

whenever a bereaved creature lows its lament.

for you, as long as a bereft beast mourns with lowing.

تَشَكَّتْ رِكابُكَ عَضَّ الْقُتُودِ

تَشَكَّتْ رِكابُكَ عَضَّ الْقُتُودِ

لَيالِي سُراكَ وَجَبَّ السَّنامِ

لَيالِي سُراكَ وَجَبَّ السَّنامِ

Your mounts complained of the saddles’ chafing

Your mounts complained of the saddle-frames' bite

through the nights of your journey, as their humps throbbed.

on nights of your travel, and of their humps being sheared away.

وَما كان غارِبُها فِي الرَّحِيلِ

وَما كان غارِبُها فِي الرَّحِيلِ

بأَوْجَعَ مِنْ كَبِدِي فِي الْمُقامِ

بأَوْجَعَ مِنْ كَبِدِي فِي الْمُقامِ

Yet their withers on the journey were no sorer

Yet their withers during departure

than my liver as I remained behind.

were no sorer than my liver while I stayed behind.

زِمامٌ مَعَ الْوَجْدِ لِي طَيِّعٌ

زِمامٌ مَعَ الْوَجْدِ لِي طَيِّعٌ

طِواعَ الْمُذَلَّلِ جَذْبَ الزِّمامِ

طِواعَ الْمُذَلَّلِ جَذْبَ الزِّمامِ

The rein of passionate grief is pliant in my hand,

My rein is pliant in the grip of grief,

obedient as a broken-in mount when the bridle is drawn.

as a tamed beast obeys the pull of the rein.

وَدَمْعٌ يُبارِي وَجِيفَ الْمَطِيِّ

وَدَمْعٌ يُبارِي وَجِيفَ الْمَطِيِّ

فَأَخْفافُها وَجُفُونِي دَوامِي

فَأَخْفافُها وَجُفُونِي دَوامِي

My tears race the swift pace of the riding camels;

And tears race the swift gait of the mounts,

their hooves and my eyelids alike are ceaseless.

so their padded feet and my eyelids bleed.

رُزِئْتُكَ حَيّاً وَخَطْبُ الْفِرا

رُزِئْتُكَ حَيّاً وَخَطْبُ الْفِرا

قِ أَشْبَهُ شَيْءٍ بِخَطْب الْحِمامِ

قِ أَشْبَهُ شَيْءٍ بِخَطْب الْحِمامِ

I was bereft of you while you yet lived, and separation’s calamity

I lost you while you lived; the calamity of separation

most closely resembles the calamity of death.

is the closest thing to the calamity of death.

وَلَمْ يَبْقَ بَعْدَكَ لِي مُقْلةٌ

وَلَمْ يَبْقَ بَعْدَكَ لِي مُقْلةٌ

تَبِيتُ لِفَقْدِكَ ذاتَ انْسِجامِ

تَبِيتُ لِفَقْدِكَ ذاتَ انْسِجامِ

After you, no eye remains to me

And after you, no eye was left to me

but one that spends the night streaming for your loss.

to spend the night streaming over your loss.

فَداوَيْتُ شَوْقِي بِذِكْرِ اللِّقاءِ

فَداوَيْتُ شَوْقِي بِذِكْرِ اللِّقاءِ

وَعَلَّلْتُ شَمْلِي بِعَوْدِ النِّظامِ

وَعَلَّلْتُ شَمْلِي بِعَوْدِ النِّظامِ

I treated my longing by recalling reunion,

So I treated my longing with the thought of meeting,

and consoled my disarray with order’s return.

and consoled my scattered circle with the hope of reunion.

أُؤَمِّلُ قُرْبَكَ فِي كُلِّ يُوْمٍ

أُؤَمِّلُ قُرْبَكَ فِي كُلِّ يُوْمٍ

وَأَرْجُو لِقاءَكَ فِي كُلِّ عامِ

وَأَرْجُو لِقاءَكَ فِي كُلِّ عامِ

Each day I hoped that you would draw near,

I hoped for your nearness every day,

and every year I hoped to meet you.

and hoped to meet you every year.

وَلَمْ أَدْرِ أَنَّ مَرامِي الْقَضا

وَلَمْ أَدْرِ أَنَّ مَرامِي الْقَضا

ءِ قَدْ حُلْنَ بَيْنِي وبَيْنَ الْمَرامِ

ءِ قَدْ حُلْنَ بَيْنِي وبَيْنَ الْمَرامِ

I did not know that the purposes of divine decree

And I did not know that the arrows of fate

had come between me and what I desired.

had come between me and my desire.

فَسُدَّتْ مَطالِعُ ذاكَ الْجَوادِ

فَسُدَّتْ مَطالِعُ ذاكَ الْجَوادِ

وَفُلَّتْ مَضارِبُ ذاكَ الْحُسامِ

وَفُلَّتْ مَضارِبُ ذاكَ الْحُسامِ

The paths of that noble steed were barred,

So the horizons where that generous man rose were sealed,

and the striking edges of that keen sword were blunted.

and that sharp sword's striking edges were blunted.

وَغُودِرَ مُحْيِي النَّدى لِلْفناءِ

وَغُودِرَ مُحْيِي النَّدى لِلْفناءِ

وَعُوجِلَ بانِي الْعُلى بِانْهِدامِ

وَعُوجِلَ بانِي الْعُلى بِانْهِدامِ

The reviver of bounty was abandoned to extinction,

And generosity's reviver was left to perish,

and the builder of glory was hurried into ruin.

and the builder of high glory was swiftly brought to collapse.

فَواحَسْرتا مَنْ أَذَلَّ الْعَزِيزَ

فَواحَسْرتا مَنْ أَذَلَّ الْعَزِيزَ

وَوَاأَسَفا مَنْ أَذَلَّ الْمُحامِي

وَوَاأَسَفا مَنْ أَذَلَّ الْمُحامِي

Alas, my grief! Who has humbled the mighty one?

Alas for my grief! Who humbled the mighty?

Alas, my sorrow! Who has humbled the defender?

And alas for my sorrow! Who humbled the defender?

عَجِبْتُ لِضَيْمِكَ تِلْكَ الْغَداةَ

عَجِبْتُ لِضَيْمِكَ تِلْكَ الْغَداةَ

وَما كانَ جارُكَ بِالْمُستَضامِ

وَما كانَ جارُكَ بِالْمُستَضامِ

I marveled at the guest who came to you that morning,

I marveled at your humiliation that morning,

for one under your protection had never been wronged.

though your protected neighbor was never wronged.

وَأَيُّ فَتىً حاولَتْهُ الْمَنُونُ

وَأَيُّ فَتىً حاولَتْهُ الْمَنُونُ

فَلَمْ تَرْمِ عِزَّتَهُ بِاهْتِضامِ

فَلَمْ تَرْمِ عِزَّتَهُ بِاهْتِضامِ

What hero have the fates ever assailed

And what noble youth has death assailed

without seeking to abase his might through injustice?

without striking his might with humiliation?

وَكَمْ بُزَّ مِنْ مانعٍ لِلْجِوارِ

وَكَمْ بُزَّ مِنْ مانعٍ لِلْجِوارِ

وَضُيِّعَ مِنْ حافِظٍ لِلذِّمامِ

وَضُيِّعَ مِنْ حافِظٍ لِلذِّمامِ

How many a protector of neighbors have they despoiled,

And how many a defender of sanctuary has been despoiled,

and how many a guardian of honor destroyed!

and how many a keeper of pledges has been forsaken!

سَقَتْكَ بِأَلْطَفِ أَنْدائِها

سَقَتْكَ بِأَلْطَفِ أَنْدائِها

وَأَعْزَزِها سارِياتُ الْغَمامِ

وَأَعْزَزِها سارِياتُ الْغَمامِ

May the clouds water you with their gentlest dews—

May they water you with their gentlest dews,

with their most precious gift, the roaming clouds—

and their richest—the clouds that travel by night.

وَإِنْ قَلَّ ماءٌ مِنَ الْقَطْرِ جارٍ

وَإِنْ قَلَّ ماءٌ مِنَ الْقَطْرِ جارٍ

فَجادَكَ قَطْرٌ مِنَ الدّمْعِ هامِ

فَجادَكَ قَطْرٌ مِنَ الدّمْعِ هامِ

and though the water flowing from the rain be scant,

And if the flowing water of rainfall is scant,

may heads lavish drops of tears upon you.

may streaming drops of tears shower you.

وَبَكَّتْكَ كُلُّ عَرُوضيَّةٍ

وَبَكَّتْكَ كُلُّ عَرُوضيَّةٍ

تُرِنُّ بِها كُلُّ مِيمٍ وَلامِ

تُرِنُّ بِها كُلُّ مِيمٍ وَلامِ

Every metered poem has wept for you,

And may every measured poem weep for you,

with every mīm and lām resounding through it.

in which every mim and lam rings out.

إِذا ضُنَّ عَنْكَ بِنَوْرِ الرِّياضِ

إِذا ضُنَّ عَنْكَ بِنَوْرِ الرِّياضِ

حَبَتْكَ غَرائِبَ نَوْرِ الْكَلامِ

حَبَتْكَ غَرائِبَ نَوْرِ الْكَلامِ

If the gardens withhold their radiance from you,

If garden blossoms are withheld from you,

the radiant rarities of eloquence have bestowed theirs upon you.

it grants you wondrous blossoms of speech.

لَعَمْرِي لَئِنْ ساءَنا الدَّهْرُ فِيكَ

لَعَمْرِي لَئِنْ ساءَنا الدَّهْرُ فِيكَ

لَقَدْ سَرِّنا في أَخِيكَ الْهُمامِ

لَقَدْ سَرِّنا في أَخِيكَ الْهُمامِ

By my life, though time has grieved us through your loss,

By my life, if time has grieved us over you,

it has gladdened us in your valiant brother.

it has indeed gladdened us in your valiant brother.

هُوَ الْمَرْءُ يَشْجُعُ فِي كُلِّ خَطْبٍ

هُوَ الْمَرْءُ يَشْجُعُ فِي كُلِّ خَطْبٍ

مَهُولٍ وَيَجْبُنُ عَنْ كُلِّ ذامِ

مَهُولٍ وَيَجْبُنُ عَنْ كُلِّ ذامِ

He is the man who grows brave before every calamity,

He is the man who is brave in every calamity,

however terrifying, yet recoils from every shameful deed.

however dreadful, yet fearful of every disgrace.

ذَهَبْتَ وَكَلَّفْتَهُ فِتْيَةً

ذَهَبْتَ وَكَلَّفْتَهُ فِتْيَةً

ذَوِي غُرَرٍ وَوُجُوهٍ وِسامِ

ذَوِي غُرَرٍ وَوُجُوهٍ وِسامِ

You departed, entrusting him with young men

You departed, entrusting him with young men

of radiant brows and handsome faces,

of radiant brows and handsome faces,

كَما أَوْدَعَ الأُفْقَ زُهْرَ النُّجُومِ

كَما أَوْدَعَ الأُفْقَ زُهْرَ النُّجُومِ

وَوَلّى إِلى الْغَرْبِ بَدْرُ التَّمامِ

وَوَلّى إِلى الْغَرْبِ بَدْرُ التَّمامِ

as the horizon was entrusted with the blossoms of the stars

just as it left the horizon with shining stars,

when perfection’s full moon turned toward the west.

and turned westward—the moon at its fullness.

عَلَى أَنَّ أَدْمُعَنا بِالْجُفُو

عَلَى أَنَّ أَدْمُعَنا بِالْجُفُو

نِ أَغْرى مِنَ الْوجْدِ بِالمُسْتَهامِ

نِ أَغْرى مِنَ الْوجْدِ بِالمُسْتَهامِ

Though our tears cling to the eyelids

Yet our tears cling to our eyelids

more tenaciously than passion clings to the love-distraught,

more closely than passion to the love-bewildered.

وَلِمْ لا وَذكْرُكَ يَرْمِي الْقُلُوبَ

وَلِمْ لا وَذكْرُكَ يَرْمِي الْقُلُوبَ

بِأَنْفَذَ مِنْ صائِباتِ السِّهامِ

بِأَنْفَذَ مِنْ صائِباتِ السِّهامِ

and why should they not, when remembrance of you strikes hearts

And why not, when your memory strikes the hearts

with something keener than well-aimed arrows?

more piercingly than arrows that hit their mark?

هُمُومٌ تُبَلِّدُ فَهْمَ الْبَلِيغِ

هُمُومٌ تُبَلِّدُ فَهْمَ الْبَلِيغِ

وَتُعْيِي نَوافِثَ سِحْرِ الْكَلامِ

وَتُعْيِي نَوافِثَ سِحْرِ الْكَلامِ

Cares that dull the eloquent man’s understanding

Sorrows that dull the eloquent man's understanding

and bewilder those who breathe forth the magic of speech

and baffle those who breathe the magic of speech.

صَدَعْنَ الْقُلُوبَ فَلْولا أَبُو

صَدَعْنَ الْقُلُوبَ فَلْولا أَبُو

عَلِيٍّ لَما ظَفِرَتْ بِالْتِئامِ

عَلِيٍّ لَما ظَفِرَتْ بِالْتِئامِ

have split our hearts; but were it not for Abu—

They split hearts; but had it not been for Abu

—Ali, they would never have found healing:

Ali, those hearts would never have found healing.

أَغَرُّ تُمَزَّقُ عَنْهُ الْخُطُوبُ

أَغَرُّ تُمَزَّقُ عَنْهُ الْخُطُوبُ

كَما مَزَّقَ الْبَدْرُ ثَوْبَ الظَّلامِ

كَما مَزَّقَ الْبَدْرُ ثَوْبَ الظَّلامِ

a radiant noble from whom calamities tear away

A radiant man, from whom calamities are torn away,

as the full moon tears apart the garment of darkness.

as the full moon tears the robe of darkness.

رَعَتْ مَجْدَ آلِ الزَّرافِيِّ مِنْهُ

رَعَتْ مَجْدَ آلِ الزَّرافِيِّ مِنْهُ

مَكارِمُ تَعْضُدُهُ بِالْدَّوامِ

مَكارِمُ تَعْضُدُهُ بِالْدَّوامِ

Through him, the house of al-Zarafiyyin tends its glory,

The glory of the house of al-Zarafi has been guarded by his

supported forever by noble deeds.

noble deeds, which uphold it forever.

فإِنْ حُطِمَ اللَّدْنُ فَالْعَضْبُ باقٍ

فإِنْ حُطِمَ اللَّدْنُ فَالْعَضْبُ باقٍ

وَإِنْ أَقْلَعَ الْغَيْثُ فَالْبَحْرُ طامِ

وَإِنْ أَقْلَعَ الْغَيْثُ فَالْبَحْرُ طامِ

If the supple lance is shattered, the keen sword remains;

So if the supple spear is shattered, the keen sword remains;

and if the raincloud passes, the sea still overflows.

and if the rain ceases, the sea still overflows.

وَفِي واحِدٍ مِنْ بَنِي أَحْمَدٍ

وَفِي واحِدٍ مِنْ بَنِي أَحْمَدٍ

لَنا خَلَفٌ مِنْ جَمِيعِ الأَنامِ

لَنا خَلَفٌ مِنْ جَمِيعِ الأَنامِ

And in one among the sons of Ahmad

And in one of the sons of Ahmad

we have a successor in place of all mankind.

we have one to replace all humankind.

عَزاءَكَ يَا بْنَ الْعُلى إِنَّما

عَزاءَكَ يَا بْنَ الْعُلى إِنَّما

تَهُونُ الْعَظائِمُ عِنْد الْعِظَامِ

تَهُونُ الْعَظائِمُ عِنْد الْعِظَامِ

Your consolation, O son of glory, is simply this:

Take heart, O son of high glory; only

great calamities grow light before great men.

among the great do great calamities grow small.

كَذا أَخَذَ النّاسُ في دَهْرِهِمْ

كَذا أَخَذَ النّاسُ في دَهْرِهِمْ

بِقِسْمَيْنِ مِنْ عِيشَةٍ واخْتِرامِ

بِقِسْمَيْنِ مِنْ عِيشَةٍ واخْتِرامِ

Thus are people apportioned in their age

Thus people have received, throughout their time,

two shares: a span of life and sudden death.

two portions: living and death.

فَكُلُّ اجْتمِاعٍ بِهِ لِلشَّتاتِ

فَكُلُّ اجْتمِاعٍ بِهِ لِلشَّتاتِ

وَكُلُّ رِضَاعٍ بِهِ لِلْفِطامِ

وَكُلُّ رِضَاعٍ بِهِ لِلْفِطامِ

Every gathering is destined for dispersal,

So every union within it is destined for dispersal,

and every nursing for weaning.

and every suckling within it for weaning.

بَقِيتَ وَأَبْناؤُكَ الأَكْرَمُونَ

بَقِيتَ وَأَبْناؤُكَ الأَكْرَمُونَ

بَقاءِ الْهِضابِ بِرُكْنَيْ شَمامِ

بَقاءِ الْهِضابِ بِرُكْنَيْ شَمامِ

May you remain with your noble sons

May you endure, and your most noble sons,

as the hills endure beside Shamam’s two peaks.

as the hills endure on the two flanks of Shamam.

فَمِثْلُكَ لَيْسَ عَلَى حادِثٍ

فَمِثْلُكَ لَيْسَ عَلَى حادِثٍ

أَلَمَّ فَنَكَّبَهُ مِنْ مَلامِ

أَلَمَّ فَنَكَّبَهُ مِنْ مَلامِ

For one such as you, no blame is due

For one like you bears no blame for a calamity

for any calamity that has befallen him.

that befell him and brought him low.