أُسَائِلُكُمْI ask you هَلْis there مِنْany خَبِيرٍexpert بِسَلْوَانِin consolation
أُسَائِلُكُمْ هَلْ مِنْ خَبِيرٍ بِسَلْوَانِ
فَفِيso in لَيْلِthe night هَمِّيmy sorrow ضَاعَwas lost أوor سُبْلِpaths أجْفَانِيmy eyelids
فَفِي لَيْلِ هَمِّي ضَاعَ أو سُبْلِ أجْفَانِي
I ask you: is there anyone versed in consolation?
For in the night of my sorrow, it was lost—or the paths of my eyelids [text unclear].
وَهَلْand whether عِنْدَكُمْwith you عِلْمٌknowledge بِصَبْريَof my patience أَنَّنِيthat I
وَهَلْ عِنْدَكُمْ عِلْمٌ بِصَبْريَ أَنَّنِي
فَقَدتُI lost جَمِيلَgracious الصَّبْرِpatience أَوْجَعَmost painful فُقْدَانِloss
فَقَدتُ جَمِيلَ الصَّبْرِ أَوْجَعَ فُقْدَانِ
And have you any knowledge of my patience—that I
have lost gracious patience in the most painful loss?
يَقُولُونَthey say خَفّضْease بَعْضَsome مَاwhat بِكَyou bear مِنْof جَوىًburning grief
يَقُولُونَ خَفّضْ بَعْضَ مَا بِكَ مِنْ جَوىً
وَهَانَand seemed slight عَلَىto الْمُرْتَاحthe carefree مَاwhat لَقِيَencountered الْعَانِيthe afflicted
وَهَانَ عَلَى الْمُرْتَاح مَا لَقِيَ الْعَانِي
They say, "Ease some of the burning grief you bear."
What the afflicted suffers seems slight to the carefree.
تَضِيقُgrows narrow عَلَىَّaround me الأَرْضُthe earth وَهيَthough it is فَسِيحَةٌspacious
تَضِيقُ عَلَىَّ الأَرْضُ وَهيَ فَسِيحَةٌ
كَمَاas ضَاقَtightened فَوْقَabove الْخِصْرِthe waist مَعْقِدُthe fastening of هِمْيَانِa money-belt
كَمَا ضَاقَ فَوْقَ الْخِصْرِ مَعْقِدُ هِمْيَانِ
The earth grows narrow around me, though it is spacious,
as a money-belt's fastening tightens above the waist.
وَمَاand does not يَفْتَأcease الشَّوْقُlonging الْمُقِيمُdwelling بِأضْلُعِيin my ribs
وَمَا يَفْتَأ الشَّوْقُ الْمُقِيمُ بِأضْلُعِي
إِذَاwhenever حِدْتُI stray عَنْfrom طَوْقِthe collar of الصَّبَابَةَpassionate longing أَفْتَانِيcounsels me
إِذَا حِدْتُ عَنْ طَوْقِ الصَّبَابَةَ أَفْتَانِي
And longing, dwelling within my ribs, never ceases,
whenever I stray from passion's collar, to counsel me.
وَلَيْسَand it is not مَشِيباًgray hair مَاwhat تَروْنَyou see بمَفْرِقِيat my hair-parting
وَلَيْسَ مَشِيباً مَا تَروْنَ بمَفْرِقِي
وَلَكِنbut rather خُطُوبٌcalamities جَمَّةٌmany ذَاتُpossessing أَلْوَانِcolors
وَلَكِن خُطُوبٌ جَمَّةٌ ذَاتُ أَلْوَانِ
What you see at my hair-parting is not gray hair,
but many calamities of different colors.
وَأرَّقَand kept awake عَيْنِيmy eyes والأسَىand grief يَبْعَثُstirs الأَسَىgrief
وَأرَّقَ عَيْنِي والأسَى يَبْعَثُ الأَسَى
مُطَوّقَةٌa collared dove نَاحَتْlamented عَلَىon غُصُنِa bough الْبَانِof the ban tree
مُطَوّقَةٌ نَاحَتْ عَلَى غُصُنِ الْبَانِ
And my eyes were kept awake—grief stirring grief—
by a collared dove lamenting on a ban-tree bough.
لِمَنْwhose دِمَنٌruined camps يَشْكُوlaments الْعَفَاءَerasure رُسُومُهَاtheir traces
لِمَنْ دِمَنٌ يَشْكُو الْعَفَاءَ رُسُومُهَا
كَخَطِّlike the script of زَبُورٍa psalter فِيin مَصَاحِفsacred books رُهْبانof monks
كَخَطِّ زَبُورٍ فِي مَصَاحِف رُهْبان
Whose ruined camps are these, their traces lamenting erasure,
like psalm-script in the sacred books of monks?
وَقَفْتُI stood بِهَاat them أَذْرِيshedding النَّجِيعَblood كَأَنَّمَاas though
وَقَفْتُ بِهَا أَذْرِي النَّجِيعَ كَأَنَّمَا
تَقَرَّبَdrew near وَشْكُthe imminence of الْبَيْنِseparation مِنِّيto me بِقُرْبَانِwith an offering
تَقَرَّبَ وَشْكُ الْبَيْنِ مِنِّي بِقُرْبَانِ
I stood there shedding blood, as though
imminent separation drew near me with an offering.
دِيَارُthe dwellings of الأُلَىthose who كَانُواwere إِذَاwhen أُفُقٌa horizon دَجَاdarkened
دِيَارُ الأُلَى كَانُوا إِذَا أُفُقٌ دَجَا
كَوَاكِبَstars يَجْلُوdispels نُورُهَاtheir light لَيْلَthe night of أَشْجَانِيmy sorrows
كَوَاكِبَ يَجْلُو نُورُهَا لَيْلَ أَشْجَانِي
The dwellings of those who, whenever a horizon darkened,
were stars whose light dispelled the night of my sorrows.
هَوَتْfell مِنْfrom سَمَاءٍa sky بَعْدَمَاafter كُنَّthey had been زِينَةًan adornment
هَوَتْ مِنْ سَمَاءٍ بَعْدَمَا كُنَّ زِينَةً
فلَهْفِيso alas for me عَلَيْهَاfor them مِنْof ثَلاَثَةِthree شُهْبَانِshooting stars
فلَهْفِي عَلَيْهَا مِنْ ثَلاَثَةِ شُهْبَانِ
They fell from a sky they had once adorned;
alas for those three shooting stars!
رَمَانِيstruck me بِيَعْقُوبَwith Ya'qub الزَّمَانُtime وَبَعْدَهُand after him
رَمَانِي بِيَعْقُوبَ الزَّمَانُ وَبَعْدَهُ
رَمَانِيstruck me بابراهيمَwith Ibrahim فَذَانِكَso those two سَهْمَانِtwo arrows
رَمَانِي بابراهيمَ فَذَانِكَ سَهْمَانِ
Time struck me with Ya'qub's loss, and afterward
struck me with Ibrahim's: those were two arrows.
وَإِنand if كَانَthere is مَاwhat lies بَيْنَbetween الخُطُوبِcalamities تَفَاضُلٌa difference in degree
وَإِن كَانَ مَا بَيْنَ الخُطُوبِ تَفَاضُلٌ
فَلاَthen no مِثْلَequal to فَقْدِيmy loss of أَحْمَدَAhmad بْنَson of سُلَيْمَانِSulayman
فَلاَ مِثْلَ فَقْدِي أَحْمَدَ بْنَ سُلَيْمَانِ
And if calamities differ in their gravity,
none equals my loss of Ahmad ibn Sulayman.
فَإِنِّيfor I إِنْif أَدْرَجْتُhave enclosed مَحْضَthe pure essence of مَسَرَّتِيmy joy
فَإِنِّي إِنْ أَدْرَجْتُ مَحْضَ مَسَرَّتِي
وَجُمْلَةَand all أُنْسيmy companionship بَيْنَbetween لَحْدٍa grave-niche وَأَكْفَانِand shrouds
وَجُمْلَةَ أُنْسي بَيْنَ لَحْدٍ وَأَكْفَانِ
For even if I have enclosed my pure delight
and all my companionship between a grave-niche and shrouds,
فَوَاللهِso by God مَاnot أَنْسَانِيmade me forget الدَّهْرُtime أَوَّلاًthe first
فَوَاللهِ مَا أَنْسَانِي الدَّهْرُ أَوَّلاً
بِثَانٍthrough a second وَلاَnor أُنْسِيْتُwas I made to forget بِالثَّالِثِthrough the third الثَّانِيthe second
بِثَانٍ وَلاَ أُنْسِيْتُ بِالثَّالِثِ الثَّانِي
by God, time has not made me forget the first
through the second, nor did the third make me forget the second.
تَخَوَّنَهُمْbetrayed them صَرْفُthe vicissitudes of الرَّدَىdeath فَتَخَرَّمُواso they were carried off
تَخَوَّنَهُمْ صَرْفُ الرَّدَى فَتَخَرَّمُوا
كَمَاas انْتَثَرَتْscattered يَوْماًone day قِلاَدَةُa necklace of عِقْيَانِpure gold
كَمَا انْتَثَرَتْ يَوْماً قِلاَدَةُ عِقْيَانِ
Death's vicissitudes betrayed them, carrying them away,
as a necklace of pure gold once scattered.
فَمِنْso one of سَابِقٍthose preceding وَلَّىdeparted عَلَىon إِثْرِthe heels of سَابِقٍanother predecessor
فَمِنْ سَابِقٍ وَلَّى عَلَى إِثْرِ سَابِقٍ
كَمَاas اسْتَبَقَتْraced one another غُرَّthe white-blazed الْجِيَادِsteeds بِمَيْدَانِon a racecourse
كَمَا اسْتَبَقَتْ غُرَّ الْجِيَادِ بِمَيْدَانِ
One departed predecessor followed another,
as white-blazed steeds race on a racecourse.
بِنَفْسِيwith my life مَنْthe one whom حَيَّيتُهُI greeted him فَسْتَخَفَّthen he slighted بِيme
بِنَفْسِي مَنْ حَيَّيتُهُ فَسْتَخَفَّ بِي
وَلَوْand if أَنَّهُhe رَدَّreturned التَّحِيَّةَthe greeting أَحْيَانِيhe would revive me
وَلَوْ أَنَّهُ رَدَّ التَّحِيَّةَ أَحْيَانِي
My life for him whom I greeted, who then slighted me!
Had he returned my greeting, he would have revived me.
وَعَهْدِيand my recollection بِهِof him مَهْمَاwhenever دَعَوْتُI called وَبَيْنَهُand between him
وَعَهْدِي بِهِ مَهْمَا دَعَوْتُ وَبَيْنَهُ
وَبَيْنِيand me الْفَلاَthe wilderness والسيلand the torrent وَالْخَيْلُand horses لَبَّانِيhe answered me
وَبَيْنِي الْفَلاَ والسيل وَالْخَيْلُ لَبَّانِي
I remember him: whenever I called, though between him
and me lay wilderness, torrent, and horses, he answered me.
دَنَاdrew near مَنْزِلاًin dwelling مِنِّيto me وَشَطَّbut grew distant مَزَارُهُvisiting him
دَنَا مَنْزِلاً مِنِّي وَشَطَّ مَزَارُهُ
فَأيْنَso where لِقَلْبِيfor my heart مِنْهُfrom him بِالشَّاحِطِwith the distant one الدَّانِيthe near one
فَأيْنَ لِقَلْبِي مِنْهُ بِالشَّاحِطِ الدَّانِي
His dwelling drew near me, but visiting him grew distant;
how can my heart reach him, so far yet so near?
أَلاَah لَيْتَwould that عُمْرِيmy life لَمْnot يُفِدْنِيhad granted me زَمَانُهُits time
أَلاَ لَيْتَ عُمْرِي لَمْ يُفِدْنِي زَمَانُهُ
مَوَدَّةَthe affection of خِلٍّa dear friend سَارَdeparted عَنِّيfrom me وَخَلاَّنِيand left me alone
مَوَدَّةَ خِلٍّ سَارَ عَنِّي وَخَلاَّنِي
Ah, would that my life's passing days had never granted me
the affection of a dear friend who departed and left me alone.
فَلَوْand if شَعَرَتْhad perceived نَفْسِيmy soul وَإِنِيand indeed I لَشَاعِرٌam surely a poet
فَلَوْ شَعَرَتْ نَفْسِي وَإِنِي لَشَاعِرٌ
بِهِof him يَوْمَon the day أَرْدَانِيhe struck me down لَشَمَّرْتُI would have rolled up أَرْدَانِيmy sleeves
بِهِ يَوْمَ أَرْدَانِي لَشَمَّرْتُ أَرْدَانِي
Had my soul perceived—and I am indeed a poet—
him on the day he struck me down, I would have rolled up my sleeves.
هُوَit is الْمَوْتُdeath يَخْتَارُchooses الْخِيَارَthe best وَيَنْتَقِيand selects
هُوَ الْمَوْتُ يَخْتَارُ الْخِيَارَ وَيَنْتَقِي
جَنىًfruit لِبَنِيfor the children of الدُّنْيَاthis world كَمَاas يَفْعَلُdoes الْجَانِيthe fruit-picker
جَنىً لِبَنِي الدُّنْيَا كَمَا يَفْعَلُ الْجَانِي
It is death: it chooses the best and selects
the fruit of this world's children, as a fruit-picker does.
فَلاَso do not تَقْنَacquire مَاwhat يَفْنَىperishes تَعِشْyou will live وَادِعَat ease in الْحَشَاthe heart
فَلاَ تَقْنَ مَا يَفْنَى تَعِشْ وَادِعَ الْحَشَا
أبىrefused الدَّهْرُtime أَنْto يُبْقِيleave intact عَلَىupon الدَّثِرِthe decaying الفَانِيthe perishing
أبى الدَّهْرُ أَنْ يُبْقِي عَلَى الدَّثِرِ الفَانِي
Do not acquire what perishes, and you will live with a peaceful heart;
time refuses to spare what decays and perishes.
صَدِيقُthe friend of الْفَتَىa young man إِنْif حُقِّقَis established الْحَقُّthe truth رَوحُهُhis soul
صَدِيقُ الْفَتَى إِنْ حُقِّقَ الْحَقُّ رَوحُهُ
وَكَمْand how great نِسْبَةٍa kinship مَاthere is بَيْنَbetween رُوحٍa soul وَجُثْمَانِand a body
وَكَمْ نِسْبَةٍ مَا بَيْنَ رُوحٍ وَجُثْمَانِ
A man's friend, truth rightly understood, is his soul;
and how strong the bond between soul and body!
وَمَاand what حَالُis the condition of زَنْدٍa wrist لَمْnot يُؤيَدْsupported بِسَاعِدٍby a forearm
وَمَا حَالُ زَنْدٍ لَمْ يُؤيَدْ بِسَاعِدٍ
وَمَاand what حَالُis the condition of طَرْفٍan eye قَدْhas أُصِيبَbeen afflicted بِإِنْسَانِin its pupil
وَمَا حَالُ طَرْفٍ قَدْ أُصِيبَ بِإِنْسَانِ
What is a wrist without the support of a forearm?
And what is an eye whose pupil has been stricken?
وَهَبْنِيand suppose I أَمِنْتُwas safe from الْحَادِثَاتcalamities ولَمْand did not تَرُعْfrighten
وَهَبْنِي أَمِنْتُ الْحَادِثَات ولَمْ تَرُعْ
جَنَانِيmy heart وَخَلاَّنِيand left me alone الزّمَانُtime وَحَلاَّنِيand adorned me
جَنَانِي وَخَلاَّنِي الزّمَانُ وَحَلاَّنِي
Suppose I were safe from calamities, and they did not frighten
my heart, and time left me alone and adorned me:
ألَيْسَis it not إِلَىtoward التَّحْلِيلِdissolution كَلَّevery مُرَكَّبcompound
ألَيْسَ إِلَى التَّحْلِيلِ كَلَّ مُرَكَّب
مُقَدِمَةٌa premise لَمْnot يَخْتَلِفْdisagreed عِنْدَهَاabout it اثْنَانِtwo people
مُقَدِمَةٌ لَمْ يَخْتَلِفْ عِنْدَهَا اثْنَانِ
is not every compound bound for dissolution—
a premise on which no two have disagreed?
يَدُسُّslips لِيfor me الدَّهْرُtime المَكِيدَةَthe snare فِيinto الْمُنَىhopes
يَدُسُّ لِي الدَّهْرُ المَكِيدَةَ فِي الْمُنَى
فَإِنْso if قُلْتُI say قَضَّانِيit paid me الْحُقُوقَmy dues تَقَاضَانِيit demands payment from me
فَإِنْ قُلْتُ قَضَّانِي الْحُقُوقَ تَقَاضَانِي
Time slips its snare for me into my hopes;
if I say, "It has paid me my dues," it demands payment from me.
وَآمُلُand I hope for بُقْيَاcontinuance فِيin مَحِلَّةa dwelling of قُلْعَةٍdeparture
وَآمُلُ بُقْيَا فِي مَحِلَّة قُلْعَةٍ
لَقَدْindeed زِدْتُI have exceeded فِيin فَرْضِconceiving الأَمَانِيhopes عَلَىbeyond بَانِيa builder
لَقَدْ زِدْتُ فِي فَرْضِ الأَمَانِي عَلَى بَانِي
Yet I hope for permanence in a dwelling meant to be abandoned;
in constructing hopes, I have indeed outdone a builder.
أيَعْقُوبُO Ya'qub مَاnot حُزْنِيmy grief عَلَيْكَfor you بِمُنْقَضٍending
أيَعْقُوبُ مَا حُزْنِي عَلَيْكَ بِمُنْقَضٍ
وَلاَnor أُنْسُthe companionship of إِنْسَانٍany person مُصَابَكَyour loss أَنْسَانِيmade me forget
وَلاَ أُنْسُ إِنْسَانٍ مُصَابَكَ أَنْسَانِي
O Ya'qub, my grief for you is not ending;
no person's companionship has made me forget your loss.
وَلاَnor حَلِيَthe jewels of الْحَالِيthe adorned one عَلَىdespite الْبُعْدِdistance غَرّنِيdeceived me
وَلاَ حَلِيَ الْحَالِي عَلَى الْبُعْدِ غَرّنِي
وَلاَnor عَيْشِيَmy life الْهَانِيpleasant عَلَىdespite النَّأيremoteness الْهَانِيdistracted me (apparently intended)
وَلاَ عَيْشِيَ الْهَانِي عَلَى النَّأي الْهَانِي
Nor have the jewels of the adorned beguiled me in your absence,
nor has my pleasant life distracted me while you are far away.
فَمَنْso who لِيwill give me بِدَمْعtears فِيin الْمَحَاجِرِthe eye-sockets مُنْهَمٍpouring
فَمَنْ لِي بِدَمْع فِي الْمَحَاجِرِ مُنْهَمٍ
عَلَيْكَfor you وَقَلبٍand a heart فِيin الْحَنَاجِرِthe throats حَيْرَانِbewildered
عَلَيْكَ وَقَلبٍ فِي الْحَنَاجِرِ حَيْرَانِ
Who will grant me tears pouring from my eye-sockets
for you, and a bewildered heart lodged in my throat?
نَسَبْتُI traced the lineage of إِلَىto مَاءِthe water of السَّمَاءِheaven مَدَامِعِيmy tears
نَسَبْتُ إِلَى مَاءِ السَّمَاءِ مَدَامِعِي
فَأَوْرَثَso it bequeathed لِيto me فِيهَاin them شَقَائِقَanemones of نُعْمَانِNu'man
فَأَوْرَثَ لِي فِيهَا شَقَائِقَ نُعْمَانِ
I traced my tears' lineage to the water of heaven,
and it bequeathed me anemones of Nu'man within them.
إِذَاwhen مَاindeed حَدَتْurged onward رِيحُthe wind of الزَّفِيرِsighing سَحَابَهَاtheir clouds
إِذَا مَا حَدَتْ رِيحُ الزَّفِيرِ سَحَابَهَا
ثِقَالاًheavy سَقَىwatered مِنْهَاfrom them المَعَاهِدَthe familiar haunts عِهْدَانِrecurring showers
ثِقَالاً سَقَى مِنْهَا المَعَاهِدَ عِهْدَانِ
When the wind of sighing drives their clouds,
heavy with rain, recurring showers from them water the old haunts.
وَقَدْand indeed كَانَwas قَبْلَbefore الْيَوْمtoday دَمْعِيَmy tears خَالِصاًpure
وَقَدْ كَانَ قَبْلَ الْيَوْم دَمْعِيَ خَالِصاً
وَلَكِنَّbut إِدْمَانِيmy persistence عَلَىin الدَّمْعِweeping أَدْمَانِيmade me bleed
وَلَكِنَّ إِدْمَانِي عَلَى الدَّمْعِ أَدْمَانِي
Before today my tears were pure,
but my persistence in weeping has made me bleed.
لَقَدْindeed كُنْتَyou were لِيfor me رُكْناًa pillar شَدِيداًstrong وَسَاعِداًand an arm
لَقَدْ كُنْتَ لِي رُكْناً شَدِيداً وَسَاعِداً
مَدِيداَfar-reaching وَمَذْand trea- (fragment) خُوراً-sured (fragment) لِسِرِّيfor my secrets وَإِعْلاَنِيand my public affairs
مَدِيداَ وَمَذْ خُوراً لِسِرِّي وَإِعْلاَنِي
You were indeed a strong pillar for me, and an arm
far-reaching, and treasured for my private and public life.
كَسَاclothed لَحْدَكَyour grave-niche الرَّيْحَانُsweet basil وَالرَّوْحُand repose وَالرِّضَىand divine favor
كَسَا لَحْدَكَ الرَّيْحَانُ وَالرَّوْحُ وَالرِّضَى
فَقَدْfor indeed كُنْتَyou were رَوْحِيmy solace فِيin الْحَيَاةِlife وَرَيْحَانِيand my sweet basil
فَقَدْ كُنْتَ رَوْحِي فِي الْحَيَاةِ وَرَيْحَانِي
May sweet basil, repose, and divine favor clothe your grave;
for you were my solace in life and my sweet basil.
وَجَادَتْand rained generously عَلَىupon مَثْواكَyour resting-place مُزْنَةُa rain-cloud of رَحْمَةٍmercy
وَجَادَتْ عَلَى مَثْواكَ مُزْنَةُ رَحْمَةٍ
يُحَيِّيكَgreets you مِنْهَاfrom it كُلُّevery أَوْطَفَthick cloud هَتَّانِpouring rain
يُحَيِّيكَ مِنْهَا كُلُّ أَوْطَفَ هَتَّانِ
May a cloud of mercy rain generously upon your resting-place,
each thick, streaming cloud from it greeting you.
وَمَاand not كَانَwas إِبْرَاهِيمُIbrahim إِلاَّexcept حَدِيقَةًa garden
وَمَا كَانَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ إِلاَّ حَدِيقَةً
مِنَof الْفَضْلِexcellence تُوتِيyields أَكْلَهَاits fruit كُلَّevery إِبَّانِseason
مِنَ الْفَضْلِ تُوتِي أَكْلَهَا كُلَّ إِبَّانِ
Ibrahim was nothing but a garden
of excellence, yielding its fruit in every season.
أَمِينٌtrustworthy عَلَىwith السِّرِّthe secret المَصُونِsafeguarded مُحَافِظٌwatchful
أَمِينٌ عَلَى السِّرِّ المَصُونِ مُحَافِظٌ
عَلَىover كَتْمِهِconcealing it إِنْif ضَاقَgrew strained صَدْرٌa breast بِكتْمَانِby concealment
عَلَى كَتْمِهِ إِنْ ضَاقَ صَدْرٌ بِكتْمَانِ
Faithful to a guarded secret, steadfast
in concealing it, though a breast grew strained by concealment.
لِئَنْeven if بَلِيَتْdecayed تِلْكَthose المَحَاسنُbeauties فيin الثَّرَىthe earth
لِئَنْ بَلِيَتْ تِلْكَ المَحَاسنُ في الثَّرَى
فَحُزْنِيthen my grief جَدِيدٌis fresh ماas long as اسْتَمَرَّendure الْجَدِيدَانِday and night
فَحُزْنِي جَدِيدٌ ما اسْتَمَرَّ الْجَدِيدَانِ
Even if those beauties have decayed in the earth,
my grief stays fresh as long as day and night endure.
وَآهٍand alas عَلَيْهَاfor them مِنْfor نعيمٍbliss ونَضْرَةٍand freshness
وَآهٍ عَلَيْهَا مِنْ نعيمٍ ونَضْرَةٍ
وَلَهْفاًand alas عَلَيْهِfor him منfor شَبَابٍyouth وَرَيْعَانِand its prime
وَلَهْفاً عَلَيْهِ من شَبَابٍ وَرَيْعَانِ
Ah for them, for their bliss and freshness!
Alas for him, for his youth and its prime!
ذَكَرْتُكَI remembered you وَالأَيَّامُand the days سَلْمٌwere peaceful وَشَمْلُنَاand our company
ذَكَرْتُكَ وَالأَيَّامُ سَلْمٌ وَشَمْلُنَا
جَمِيعٌwas united وَطَرْفُand the eye of الدَّهْرِtime لَيْسَwas not بِيَقْظَانِawake
جَمِيعٌ وَطَرْفُ الدَّهْرِ لَيْسَ بِيَقْظَانِ
I remembered you when the days were peaceful and our company
was united, and time's eye was not awake;
وَللنَّرْجِسِand the narcissus has المَطْلُولُdew-sprinkled تَحْدِيقُthe stare of أَعْيُنٍeyes
وَللنَّرْجِسِ المَطْلُولُ تَحْدِيقُ أَعْيُنٍ
وَللآسَةِand the myrtle has الغَنَّاءِlush تَحْدِيدُthe pointed shape of آذَانِears
وَللآسَةِ الغَنَّاءِ تَحْدِيدُ آذَانِ
the dew-sprinkled narcissus had the stare of eyes,
and the lush myrtle the pointed shape of ears;
وَلِلشَّمْسِand the sun has مَيْلٌan inclination لِلْغُرُوبِtoward sunset مُرَنَّحٌswaying
وَلِلشَّمْسِ مَيْلٌ لِلْغُرُوبِ مُرَنَّحٌ
كَماas رجَحَtipped the balance الدِّينَارُthe dinar فِيin كَفِّthe pan of مِيزَانِa balance
كَما رجَحَ الدِّينَارُ فِي كَفِّ مِيزَانِ
the sun swayed, inclining toward sunset,
as a dinar tips the pan of a balance.
بِسَاطٌa carpet طَوَاهُfolded it away الدَّهْرُtime إِلاَّexcept تَذَكّراًas remembrance
بِسَاطٌ طَوَاهُ الدَّهْرُ إِلاَّ تَذَكّراً
فَمَاso not تَنْقَعُquenches الرَّمْضَاءُthe scorching ground غُلَّةَthe thirst of ظَمْآنِa thirsty man
فَمَا تَنْقَعُ الرَّمْضَاءُ غُلَّةَ ظَمْآنِ
A carpet time has folded away, save in memory;
the scorching ground cannot quench a thirsty man's burning thirst.
وَإِنْand if ذُكِرَare mentioned الإِخْوَانُfriends مَنْwho مثِلُis like أحمَدٍAhmad
وَإِنْ ذُكِرَ الإِخْوَانُ مَنْ مثِلُ أحمَدٍ
ألاَindeed كُلّevery مَرْعىًpasture بَعْدَهُafter him غَيْرُother than سَعْدَانِsa'dan grass
ألاَ كُلّ مَرْعىً بَعْدَهُ غَيْرُ سَعْدَانِ
When friends are mentioned, who is like Ahmad?
Indeed, every pasture after him is no sa'dan pasture.
ذَخِيرَةthe treasure of أيَّامِيmy days وَوُسْطَىand the central bead of قِلاَدتيmy necklace
ذَخِيرَة أيَّامِي وَوُسْطَى قِلاَدتي
وَنُكْتَةُand the essence of إِخْلاَصِيmy devotion وَحِكْمَةُand the wisdom of دِيوَانِيmy collected verse
وَنُكْتَةُ إِخْلاَصِي وَحِكْمَةُ دِيوَانِي
The treasure of my days, the central bead of my necklace,
the essence of my devotion, the wisdom of my collected verse;
وَمَنْand the one who إِنْif ضَلِلْتُI lost القَصْدَthe right direction يَوْمَon a day of اسْتِفَادَةٍseeking knowledge
وَمَنْ إِنْ ضَلِلْتُ القَصْدَ يَوْمَ اسْتِفَادَةٍ
هَدَانِيguided me إِلَىto نَهْجِthe clear course of السَّبِيلِthe road وَهَادَانِيand supported my steps
هَدَانِي إِلَى نَهْجِ السَّبِيلِ وَهَادَانِي
the one who, if I lost my direction while seeking knowledge,
guided me to the clear road and supported my steps.
شَهِيدٌa martyr مَرَتْwrung out عَيْنِيmy eye عَلَيْهِover him نَجِيعَهَاits blood
شَهِيدٌ مَرَتْ عَيْنِي عَلَيْهِ نَجِيعَهَا
كَأَنَّهُمْas though they وارَوْهُburied him مَاright بيْنَbetween أَجْفَانِيmy eyelids
كَأَنَّهُمْ وارَوْهُ مَا بيْنَ أَجْفَانِي
A martyr: my eye wrung out its blood over him,
as though they had buried him between my eyelids.
أَخِلاَّءًdear friends كَانُواwere فِيin الشَّدَائِدِhardships عُدَّةًa resource
أَخِلاَّءً كَانُوا فِي الشَّدَائِدِ عُدَّةً
إِذَاwhen أَثْمَرَتْbore fruit هُوجُthe raging الخُطُوبِcalamities بِخُطْبَانِin fresh calamities
إِذَا أَثْمَرَتْ هُوجُ الخُطُوبِ بِخُطْبَانِ
Dear friends who were a resource amid hardships,
when raging calamities bore fresh calamities as fruit.
تَمَّناهُمُlonged for them مَثْوَىthe abode of الرَّدَىdeath فَتَحَمَّلُواso they departed
تَمَّناهُمُ مَثْوَى الرَّدَى فَتَحَمَّلُوا
وَحَلَّواand settled جوَارَbeside اللهِGod أَكْرَمَas the noblest ضِيفَانِguests
وَحَلَّوا جوَارَ اللهِ أَكْرَمَ ضِيفَانِ
Death's abode longed for them, and they departed,
settling beside God as the noblest guests.
يَحِقُّit is fitting لَهَمْfor them أنْto يُغْبَطُواbe envied إِذْsince تنَقَلُواthey moved
يَحِقُّ لَهَمْ أنْ يُغْبَطُوا إِذْ تنَقَلُوا
إِلَىto العَالمِthe world البَاقِيeverlasting منَfrom العَالمِthe world الفَانِيperishing
إِلَى العَالمِ البَاقِي منَ العَالمِ الفَانِي
They deserve to be envied, since they moved
to the everlasting world from the perishing world.
وَمَاand how أَكْفَتِswift اللَّقُياthe meeting وَإِنْthough بعُدَis distant المَدَىthe reach
وَمَا أَكْفَتِ اللَّقُيا وَإِنْ بعُدَ المَدَى
ويَاand oh قُرْبَthe nearness of مَاwhat is بَيْنَbetween المُعَجِّلِthe hastening one والوَانِيand the laggard
ويَا قُرْبَ مَا بَيْنَ المُعَجِّلِ والوَانِي
How swift the meeting, though the distance be great!
How small the gap between the hastening and the laggard!
سَكَنْتُمْyou rested فَحَرَّكْتُمْso you stirred جحِيمَthe hellfire of جَوَانِحِيmy ribs
سَكَنْتُمْ فَحَرَّكْتُمْ جحِيمَ جَوَانِحِي
وَغِبْتُمْand you vanished فَأَحْضَرْتُمْso you brought forth لَوَاعِجَthe burning pangs of أَحْزَانِيmy sorrows
وَغِبْتُمْ فَأَحْضَرْتُمْ لَوَاعِجَ أَحْزَانِي
You rested, and stirred the hellfire within my ribs;
you vanished, and brought forth the burning pangs of my sorrows.
وَيمَّمتُمand you headed toward خُلْدَthe eternity of النَّعِيمِbliss فَإِنَّنِيwhile I
وَيمَّمتُم خُلْدَ النَّعِيمِ فَإِنَّنِي
لأشْقَىam surely miserable فَيَاso alas بُؤْسِيfor my misery بِسُكَّانِthrough the inhabitants of نَعْمَانِNu'man
لأشْقَى فَيَا بُؤْسِي بِسُكَّانِ نَعْمَانِ
You headed toward everlasting bliss, while I
am surely wretched—alas for my misery through Nu'man's inhabitants!
وَلوand if أنَّنِيI أَعْطَيْتُgave نَفْسِيَmy soul حَقَّهَاits due
وَلو أنَّنِي أَعْطَيْتُ نَفْسِيَ حَقَّهَا
فَمَاfor not أنَاI لِلْعَهْدِto the bond الكَرِيمِnoble بِخَوَّانِa traitor
فَمَا أنَا لِلْعَهْدِ الكَرِيمِ بِخَوَّانِ
And if I gave my soul its due—
for I am no traitor to that noble bond—
بَكَيتُI wept عَلَىover أَجْدَائِكُمْyour graves (apparently intended) غَيْرَwithout مُقْلِعٍceasing
بَكَيتُ عَلَى أَجْدَائِكُمْ غَيْرَ مُقْلِعٍ
إِلَىuntil أنْthat يَقُولَsay النَّاسُpeople عَابدَa worshipper of أَوْثَانِidols
إِلَى أنْ يَقُولَ النَّاسُ عَابدَ أَوْثَانِ
I would weep over your graves without ceasing,
until people said, "An idol-worshipper!"
وصِحْتُand I cried بِرَكْبِto the caravan of العَدْلِjustice لاdo not تَنْوِintend خَطْرَةًa passing thought
وصِحْتُ بِرَكْبِ العَدْلِ لا تَنْوِ خَطْرَةً
عَلَىagainst حُسْنِthe faithfulness of عَهْدِيmy bond فَهْوَfor it توأَمُis the twin of إِيمَانِيmy faith
عَلَى حُسْنِ عَهْدِي فَهْوَ توأَمُ إِيمَانِي
And cry to the caravan of justice: "Do not direct a passing thought
against my faithful bond, for it is my faith's twin."
ولاَand no عَارَshame فيin وِرْدِcoming to الحَمَامِdeath فَإِنَّهُfor it
ولاَ عَارَ في وِرْدِ الحَمَامِ فَإِنَّهُ
سَبيلُthe path of الوَرَىmankind مَاwhat lies بَيْنَbetween شِيبٍthe gray-haired وشُبَّانِand youths
سَبيلُ الوَرَى مَا بَيْنَ شِيبٍ وشُبَّانِ
There is no shame in coming to death, for it is
the path of all people, old and young.
لَعَمْرُكَby your life مَاnot يَصْفُوruns clear الزَّمَانُtime لِوَراِدٍfor one coming to drink
لَعَمْرُكَ مَا يَصْفُو الزَّمَانُ لِوَراِدٍ
وَإِنْand even if طَالَlasts long مَاso long as أحْمَىstoke لَظَىthe blaze of الْحَرْبِwar صَفَّانِtwo battle-lines
وَإِنْ طَالَ مَا أحْمَى لَظَى الْحَرْبِ صَفَّانِ
By your life, time never runs clear for one who comes to drink,
however long it lasts, while two battle-lines stoke war's blaze.
وَقِسand compare آتِياًwhat is coming مِنْof أَمْرِهِits affairs بالَّذِيwith what مَضَىhas passed
وَقِس آتِياً مِنْ أَمْرِهِ بالَّذِي مَضَى
فَرُبَّfor many a قِيَاسٍanalogy كَانَwas أَصْلاًa basis لِبُرْهَانِfor a proof
فَرُبَّ قِيَاسٍ كَانَ أَصْلاً لِبُرْهَانِ
Compare what is coming of its affairs with what has passed;
many an analogy has been the foundation of a proof.
أَمَاhave not تَرَكَتْleft كسْرَىKisra كَسيراًbroken صُرُوفُهُits vicissitudes
أَمَا تَرَكَتْ كسْرَى كَسيراً صُرُوفُهُ
وَلانَand yielded عَلَىto صَوْلاَتِهِits assaults مَلِكُthe king of الَّلانّthe Alans
وَلانَ عَلَى صَوْلاَتِهِ مَلِكُ الَّلانّ
Have not its vicissitudes left Kisra broken,
and has not the king of the Alans yielded to its assaults?
وَمَدَّand extended إِلَىtoward سَيْفٍSayf أَكُفَّthe hands of اعْتِدَائِهِits aggression
وَمَدَّ إِلَى سَيْفٍ أَكُفَّ اعْتِدَائِهِ
فَأَخْرَجَهُso it drew him out بالرَّغْمby force مِنْfrom غَمْدِthe sheath of غُمْدَانِGhumdan
فَأَخْرَجَهُ بالرَّغْم مِنْ غَمْدِ غُمْدَانِ
It stretched the hands of its aggression toward Sayf,
and forcibly drew him from Ghumdan's sheath.
وهَلْand did داَفَعَتْrepel خَطْباًa calamity تَوَابعُthe followers of تُبَّعٍTubba'
وهَلْ داَفَعَتْ خَطْباً تَوَابعُ تُبَّعٍ
وَهَلْand did دَرَأَتward off كَرْباًdistress ِسَياسَةُthe statecraft of سَاسَانِSasan
وَهَلْ دَرَأَت كَرْباً ِسَياسَةُ سَاسَانِ
Did Tubba's followers repel a calamity?
Did Sasan's statecraft ward off distress?
وَكانَand was قِيَادُthe leading of الصَّعْبِal-Sa'b صَعْبَاًdifficult مُمَنَّعَاًunassailable
وَكانَ قِيَادُ الصَّعْبِ صَعْبَاً مُمَنَّعَاً
فَأَلقَىso he cast إِلَىto الدُّنْيَاthe world مَقَادَةَthe reins of إِذْعَانِsubmission
فَأَلقَى إِلَى الدُّنْيَا مَقَادَةَ إِذْعَانِ
Al-Sa'b's reins were hard to seize, well defended;
yet he cast to the world the reins of submission.
جَلَتْunveiled لِبَنِيto the sons of العَبَّاسِal-'Abbas وَجْهَthe face of عُبُوسِهَاits frown
جَلَتْ لِبَنِي العَبَّاسِ وَجْهَ عُبُوسِهَا
وَقَبْلُand earlier أَمَرَّتْmade bitter شِرْبَthe drink of أَبْنَاءِthe sons of مَرْوَانِMarwan
وَقَبْلُ أَمَرَّتْ شِرْبَ أَبْنَاءِ مَرْوَانِ
It unveiled its frowning face to the sons of al-'Abbas,
and earlier made the sons of Marwan's drink bitter.
وَكَمْand how often أَخْلَفَتْdisappointed شَتَّىvaried المُنَىhopes مِنْof خَلِيفَةٍa caliph
وَكَمْ أَخْلَفَتْ شَتَّى المُنَى مِنْ خَلِيفَةٍ
وَأَذوَتْand withered رِيَاحُthe winds of الدَّهْرِtime أَدْوَاءَailments تِيجَانِof crowns
وَأَذوَتْ رِيَاحُ الدَّهْرِ أَدْوَاءَ تِيجَانِ
How often it disappointed a caliph's varied hopes,
and time's winds withered the ailments of crowns [text unclear].
وَغَادَرَتِand left القَصرthe palace الْمَشِيدَlofty بِنَاؤُهُits structure
وَغَادَرَتِ القَصر الْمَشِيدَ بِنَاؤُهُ
بِسَنْدَادat Sindad قُفْراdesolate بَلْقَعاًa wasteland بَعْدَafter عُمْرَانprosperity
بِسَنْدَاد قُفْرا بَلْقَعاً بَعْدَ عُمْرَان
It left the palace, whose structure was lofty,
at Sindad a barren wasteland after its flourishing.
وَلوand if تُبْقit should preserve يَوْماًone day لِلْخَوَرْنقfor al-Khawarnaq رَونَقاًsplendor
وَلو تُبْق يَوْماً لِلْخَوَرْنق رَونَقاً
وَلاَnor شَعَبَتْmended مَاwhat اخْتَلَّwas ruined مِنْin شِعْبِthe ravine of بَوَّانِBawwan
وَلاَ شَعَبَتْ مَا اخْتَلَّ مِنْ شِعْبِ بَوَّانِ
Even if it should one day preserve al-Khawarnaq's splendor,
it has not mended the damage in Shi'b Bawwan either.
وَكَمْand how many مِنْa أَبِيٍّproud man سَامَهُimposed on him القَسْرَcompulsion دَهْرُهُhis time
وَكَمْ مِنْ أَبِيٍّ سَامَهُ القَسْرَ دَهْرُهُ
فَأَبْدَىso it showed لهُto him بَعْدَafter الرَّضَاfavor وَجْهَa face غَضْبَانِangry
فَأَبْدَى لهُ بَعْدَ الرَّضَا وَجْهَ غَضْبَانِ
How many a proud man has his time subjected to compulsion,
showing him, after favor, an angry face!
وَمُحْتَقِبٍand a bearer of مَاضِيa blade sharp in الذُّبَابَيْنِboth edges فِيin الوَغَىbattle
وَمُحْتَقِبٍ مَاضِي الذُّبَابَيْنِ فِي الوَغَى
سَطَاassailed مِنْهُof him بِالأَنْفِat the nose الحَمِّيproud ذُبَابَانِtwo flies
سَطَا مِنْهُ بِالأَنْفِ الحَمِّي ذُبَابَانِ
And many a bearer of a blade sharp on both edges in battle
had two flies attack his proud nose.
وَأَيَّand what سُرُورٍjoy لَمْnot يَعُدْreturned بِمَسَاءَةٍwith sorrow
وَأَيَّ سُرُورٍ لَمْ يَعُدْ بِمَسَاءَةٍ
وأيand what كمالperfection لمnot يعاقبwas followed بنقصانby deficiency
وأي كمال لم يعاقب بنقصان
What joy has not returned with sorrow?
What perfection has not been followed by deficiency?
وَمَنْand whoever بَاعَsold مَاwhat يَبْقَىendures بِفَانٍfor something perishing فَإِنَّمَاthen only
وَمَنْ بَاعَ مَا يَبْقَى بِفَانٍ فَإِنَّمَا
تَعَجَّلَhastened فِيin دُنْيَاهُhis worldly life صَفْقَةَa bargain of خُسْرَانِloss
تَعَجَّلَ فِي دُنْيَاهُ صَفْقَةَ خُسْرَانِ
Whoever sells what endures for something perishing
has hastened a losing bargain in his worldly life.
خُذُوهَاaccept it عَلَىdespite بُعْدِthe distance of النَوَىseparation مِنfrom مُسَهَّدٍa sleepless man
خُذُوهَا عَلَى بُعْدِ النَوَى مِن مُسَهَّدٍ
حَلِيفِa companion of أسىًgrief هَاbehold فِيwithin الجَوَانحِthe ribs لَهْفَانِyearning
حَلِيفِ أسىً هَا فِي الجَوَانحِ لَهْفَانِ
Accept this, despite the distance of separation, from a sleepless man,
a companion of grief—behold, yearning within his ribs.
وَوَاللهِand by God مَاnot وَفَّيِتُhave I fulfilled حَقَّthe due of مَوَدَّةٍaffection
وَوَاللهِ مَا وَفَّيِتُ حَقَّ مَوَدَّةٍ
وَلكَنَّهُbut it ُوسْعِيis my capacity وَمَبْلَغُand the limit of إِمْكَانِيmy ability
وَلكَنَّهُ ُوسْعِي وَمَبْلَغُ إِمْكَانِي
By God, I have not fulfilled affection's due,
but this is my capacity and the limit of my ability.
وَمَهْمَاand whenever تسَاَوىare equal مُطْنِبٌa prolix speaker وَمُقَصِّرٌand a concise one
وَمَهْمَا تسَاَوى مُطْنِبٌ وَمُقَصِّرٌ
بِحَالٍin a circumstance فَحُكْمُthen the standing of النُطْقِspeech وَالَّصْمِتand silence سِيَّانِis the same
بِحَالٍ فَحُكْمُ النُطْقِ وَالَّصْمِت سِيَّانِ
Whenever the long-winded and the brief are equal
in circumstance, speech and silence have the same standing.
وَلاand no لَوْمَblame لِيfor me فِيin العَجْزِinability عَنْto نَيْلattain فَائِتٍwhat is lost
وَلا لَوْمَ لِي فِي العَجْزِ عَنْ نَيْل فَائِتٍ
فَإِنَّfor indeed الذِيthat which أعْيَdefeated البَرِيَّةَall mankind أَعْيَانِيdefeated me
فَإِنَّ الذِي أعْيَ البَرِيَّةَ أَعْيَانِي
I bear no blame for failing to attain what is lost,
for what has defeated all mankind has defeated me.
Sol 6.1