أليلَتَناO our night إذwhen أرْسَلَتْshe let down وارداًflowing hair وَحْفَاthick and dark
أليلَتَنا إذ أرْسَلَتْ وارداً وَحْفَا
وبتناand we spent the night نرىwatching الجوزْاءَOrion فيin أُذنِهاher ear شَنفاas an earring
وبتنا نرى الجوزْاءَ في أُذنِها شَنفا
O our night, when she let down thick, dark hair,
And we lay watching Orion as an earring at her ear.
وباتَand spent the night لنَاfor us ساقٍa cupbearer يقومُstanding علىagainst الدّجَىthe darkness
وباتَ لنَا ساقٍ يقومُ على الدّجَى
بشمعةِwith a candle نجمٍof a star لاnever تُقَطُّtrimmed ولاnor تُطْفىextinguished
بشمعةِ نجمٍ لا تُقَطُّ ولا تُطْفى
A cupbearer stayed with us, standing against the darkness
With a star for a candle, never trimmed and never put out.
أغَنُّsoft voiced غضيضٌmodest خفّفَmade light اللّينُgrace قَدَّهُhis frame
أغَنُّ غضيضٌ خفّفَ اللّينُ قَدَّهُ
وثقّلَتِand weighed down الصّهباءُtawny wine أجفانَهُhis eyelids الوُطْفاheavy lashed
وثقّلَتِ الصّهباءُ أجفانَهُ الوُطْفا
Soft voiced and modest, his slender frame was made lighter by grace,
And tawny wine weighed down his heavy lashed eyelids.
ولمand did not يُبْقِleave إرعاشُthe trembling المُدامِof wine لَهُfor him يَداًa hand
ولم يُبْقِ إرعاشُ المُدامِ لَهُ يَداً
ولمand did not يُبْقِleave إعناتُthe strain التثنّيof swaying لهfor him عِطفاa bend
ولم يُبْقِ إعناتُ التثنّي له عِطفا
The trembling brought on by wine left him no steady hand,
And the strain of swaying left him no strength to bend.
نَزيفٌspent قضاهُovercame him السِّكْرُdrunkenness إلاّexcept ارتجاجَهُhis trembling
نَزيفٌ قضاهُ السِّكْرُ إلاّ ارتجاجَهُ
إذاwhen كَلَّfailed عنهhim الخصْرُthe waist حمَّلهbore him الرِّدفاthe hips
إذا كَلَّ عنه الخصْرُ حمَّله الرِّدفا
Drunk, he was spent by wine, except for his trembling;
When his waist failed him, his hips bore his weight.
يقولونthey say حِقْفٌa sandhill فوقهabove it خَيْزُرانَةٌa bamboo stalk
يقولون حِقْفٌ فوقه خَيْزُرانَةٌ
أماdo they not يعرِفونَrecognize الخَيْزُرانَةَthe bamboo stalk والحِقفاand the sandhill
أما يعرِفونَ الخَيْزُرانَةَ والحِقفا
They say: a sandhill with a bamboo stalk above it.
Do they not know a bamboo stalk from a sandhill?
جعلناwe made حشاياناour innermost selves ثيابَgarments مُدامِنَاof our wine
جعلنا حشايانا ثيابَ مُدامِنَا
وقدَّتْand cut لناfor us الظلماءُdarkness منfrom جِلدِهاits skin لُحفاblankets
وقدَّتْ لنا الظلماءُ من جِلدِها لُحفا
We made our innermost selves the garments of our wine,
And darkness cut blankets for us from its own skin.
فمنthen from كَبِدٍa heart تُدْنيbrings near إلىto كَبِدٍa heart هوىًdesire
فمن كَبِدٍ تُدْني إلى كَبِدٍ هوىً
ومنand from شَفَةٍa lip تُوحيwhispers إلىto شَفَةٍa lip رَشْفاa sip
ومن شَفَةٍ تُوحي إلى شَفَةٍ رَشْفا
Desire brought one heart close to another heart,
And one lip whispered a sip to another lip.
بعيشكby your life نَبِّهْwake كأسَهhis cup وجُفونَهُand his eyelids
بعيشك نَبِّهْ كأسَه وجُفونَهُ
فقدfor already نُبِّهَwas awakened الإبريقُthe ewer منafter بعدِthat ماit أغْفىdozed
فقد نُبِّهَ الإبريقُ من بعدِ ما أغْفى
By your life, wake his cup and his eyelids:
The ewer has already been woken after it dozed.
وقدand already وَلّتِturned away الظّلماءُdarkness تقفوfollowing نجومَهاits stars
وقد وَلّتِ الظّلماءُ تقفو نجومَها
وقدand already قامrose جيشُthe army الفجرِof dawn للّيلagainst the night واصْطفّاand formed ranks
وقد قام جيشُ الفجرِ للّيل واصْطفّا
Darkness has turned away, following its stars,
And dawn's army has risen and formed ranks against the night.
وولّتْand turned away نجُومٌstars للثُّرَيّاof the Pleiades كأنّهَاas though they
وولّتْ نجُومٌ للثُّرَيّا كأنّهَا
خواتيمُrings تَبْدوappear فيon بَنانthe fingertips يدٍof a hand تَخْفىthat hides
خواتيمُ تَبْدو في بَنان يدٍ تَخْفى
Stars of the Pleiades turned away as though they were
Rings showing on the fingertips of a hidden hand.
ومَرّand passed علىalong آثارِهَاtheir tracks دَبَرَانُهَاtheir Aldebaran
ومَرّ على آثارِهَا دَبَرَانُهَا
كصاحبِlike a man with رِدءٍsupport كُمِّنتْwere concealed خيلُهhis horses خَلفاbehind
كصاحبِ رِدءٍ كُمِّنتْ خيلُه خَلفا
Aldebaran passed along their tracks,
Like a man with support, whose horsemen lie concealed behind him.
وأقبَلَتِand approached الشِّعرىSirius العَبورُthe Crossover مُكِبّةًbending low
وأقبَلَتِ الشِّعرى العَبورُ مُكِبّةً
بمِرْزَمِهاwith its Mirzam اليَعبوبِthe swift one تَجنُبُهُleading it beside طِرْفاat its flank
بمِرْزَمِها اليَعبوبِ تَجنُبُهُ طِرْفا
Sirius the Crossover came forward, bending low,
With its swift Mirzam beside it, leading it at its flank.
وقدand already بادَرَتْهاhastened after her أُخْتُهاher sister منْfrom ورائِهاbehind her
وقد بادَرَتْها أُخْتُها منْ ورائِها
لتَخْرُقَto pierce منthrough ثِنيَيْthe two folds مَجرَّتهاof her Milky Way سِجفاa curtain
لتَخْرُقَ من ثِنيَيْ مَجرَّتها سِجفا
Its sister hastened after it from behind
To pierce a curtain between the folds of the Milky Way.
تخافُshe fears زَئيرَthe roar الليثِof the Lion يَقدُمُcoming forward نَثرَةًwith flared nostril
تخافُ زَئيرَ الليثِ يَقدُمُ نَثرَةً
وبَرْبَرَand growled فيin الظلماءthe darkness يَنسِفهاscattering it نَسْفاutterly
وبَرْبَرَ في الظلماء يَنسِفها نَسْفا
She fears the Lion's roar as it comes forward, its nostril flared,
Growling in the dark as it scatters it utterly.
كأنّas though السِّماكَينِthe two Simaks اللّذينِthe two who تَظاهَراstood together
كأنّ السِّماكَينِ اللّذينِ تَظاهَرا
علىover لِبْدَتَيْهِits two manes ضامِنانِguaranteeing لهfor it حَتْفاdeath
على لِبْدَتَيْهِ ضامِنانِ له حَتْفا
The two Simaks, standing together
Over its two manes, seem to guarantee its death.
فذاso this one رامحٌa spearman يُهويlowers إليهtoward him سِنانَهُhis spearpoint
فذا رامحٌ يُهوي إليه سِنانَهُ
وذاand this one أعزَلٌunarmed قدalready عَضَّbit أنمُلَهُhis fingertips لَهْفاin distress
وذا أعزَلٌ قد عَضَّ أنمُلَهُ لَهْفا
One, armed with a spear, lowers its point toward him;
The other, unarmed, bites his fingertips in distress.
كأنّas though رقيبَthe watcher النجمِof the star أجدَلُa falcon مَرْقَبٍof a lookout
كأنّ رقيبَ النجمِ أجدَلُ مَرْقَبٍ
يُقلِّبُturns تحتَbeneath الليلthe night فيamong ريشهhis feathers طَرفاhis gaze
يُقلِّبُ تحتَ الليل في ريشه طَرفا
The star's watcher seems a falcon on a lookout,
Turning his gaze beneath the night among his feathers.
كأنّas though بنيthe Sons نَعشٍof Naʿsh ونعشاًand Naʿsh مَطافِلٌmothers with young
كأنّ بني نَعشٍ ونعشاً مَطافِلٌ
بوَجرةَat Wajra قدwho have أضْللنَlost فيin مَهمَهٍa vast waste خِشفاa fawn
بوَجرةَ قد أضْللنَ في مَهمَهٍ خِشفا
The Sons of Naʿsh and Naʿsh seem like mothers with young
At Wajra, who have lost a fawn in a vast waste.
كأنّas though سُهَيْلاًCanopus فيat مطالِعِthe rising points أُفقهِof its horizon
كأنّ سُهَيْلاً في مطالِعِ أُفقهِ
مُفارِقُone parted from إلْفٍa companion لمdid not يَجِدْfind بعدَهafter him إلفاanother companion
مُفارِقُ إلْفٍ لم يَجِدْ بعدَه إلفا
Canopus, as it rises on its horizon, seems
A lover parted from a companion who has found no other.
كأنّas though سُهاهاits Suha عاشِقٌa lover بينamong عُوَّدٍvisitors
كأنّ سُهاها عاشِقٌ بين عُوَّدٍ
فآوِنَةًso at times يَبدوhe appears وآونَةًand at times يَخْفىhe hides
فآوِنَةً يَبدو وآونَةً يَخْفى
Its faint Suha seems a lover among visitors,
Appearing at times and disappearing at times.
كأنّas though مُعلَّىthe upper star قُطبِهاof its Pole فارسٌa horseman لَهُwith
كأنّ مُعلَّى قُطبِها فارسٌ لَهُ
لِواءانِtwo banners مركوزانِplanted قدalready كرِهdisliked الزحفاadvancing
لِواءانِ مركوزانِ قد كرِه الزحفا
The upper star of its Pole seems a horseman
With two planted banners, reluctant to advance.
كأنّas though قُدامَىthe foremost feathers النَّسرِof the Vulture والنَّسرُwhile the Vulture واقعٌis perched
كأنّ قُدامَى النَّسرِ والنَّسرُ واقعٌ
قُصِصْنَwere clipped فلمso did not تَسْمُrise الخَوافيthe rear feathers بهwith it ضعفاfrom weakness
قُصِصْنَ فلم تَسْمُ الخَوافي به ضعفا
The foremost feathers of the Vulture, while the Vulture is perched, seem
Clipped, so that its rear feathers cannot lift it in weakness.
كأنّas though أخاهits brother حينَwhen دَوّمَwheeled طائِراًflying
كأنّ أخاه حينَ دَوّمَ طائِراً
أتىcame دونbeneath نصفِhalf البدرthe moon فاختطفَand snatched النصفاthe half
أتى دون نصفِ البدر فاختطفَ النصفا
Its brother, wheeling in flight, seems
To have come below the half moon and snatched half of it away.
كأنّas though الهَزيعَthe stretch of night الآبنُوسيَّebony dark لونُهُits color
كأنّ الهَزيعَ الآبنُوسيَّ لونُهُ
سَرَىtraveled by night بالنسيجwith the woven cloth الخُسرُوانيِّroyal مُلتفّاwrapped up
سَرَى بالنسيج الخُسرُوانيِّ مُلتفّا
The ebony colored stretch of night seems
To have traveled wrapped in royal woven cloth.
كأنّas though ظلامَthe darkness الليلِof night إذwhen مالَleaned مَيْلَةًa lean
كأنّ ظلامَ الليلِ إذ مالَ مَيْلَةً
صريعُone felled مُدامٍby wine باتَwho spent the night يشرَبُهاdrinking it صِرفاundiluted
صريعُ مُدامٍ باتَ يشرَبُها صِرفا
Night's darkness, as it leaned to one side, seemed
A man felled by wine he had spent the night drinking neat.
كأنّas though عمودَthe pillar الفجرِof dawn خاقانُa khagan عسكرٍof an army
كأنّ عمودَ الفجرِ خاقانُ عسكرٍ
منof التركِthe Turks نادىcalled بالنجاشيّto the Negus فاستخفىso he hid
من التركِ نادى بالنجاشيّ فاستخفى
The pillar of dawn seems the khagan of an army
Of Turks, who called to the Negus, and he hid.
كأنّas though لِواءَthe banner الشمسِof the sun غُرَّةُthe radiant brow جعْفَرٍof Jaʿfar
كأنّ لِواءَ الشمسِ غُرَّةُ جعْفَرٍ
رأىsaw القِرْنَthe opponent فازدادتْso increased طلاقتهits brightness ضِعفاtwofold
رأى القِرْنَ فازدادتْ طلاقته ضِعفا
The sun's banner seems Jaʿfar's radiant brow;
At sight of an opponent, its brightness doubled.
وقدand already جاشَتِsurged الدأماءُthe deep بِيضاًbright صَوارِماًcutting swords
وقد جاشَتِ الدأماءُ بِيضاً صَوارِماً
ومارنَةًand supple spears سُمْراًbrown وفَضْفاضَةًand ample mail زَغْفاclosely woven
ومارنَةً سُمْراً وفَضْفاضَةً زَغْفا
The surging deep brought forth bright, cutting swords,
Brown, supple spears, and ample coats of mail.
وجاءتْand came عِتاقُnoble steeds الخيلthe horses تَرديgalloping كأنّهاas though they
وجاءتْ عِتاقُ الخيل تَردي كأنّها
تَخُطُّwrite لهfor him أقلامُthe pens آذانهاof their ears صُحْفاpages
تَخُطُّ له أقلامُ آذانها صُحْفا
Noble horses came galloping, as though
The pens of their ears were writing pages for him.
هنالكthere تلقىyou meet جعفراًJaʿfar غيرَother than جَعْفَرٍJaʿfar
هنالك تلقى جعفراً غيرَ جَعْفَرٍ
وقدand already بُدِّلَتْwas changed يُمْناهُhis right hand منfrom رِفْقهاits gentleness عنفاto force
وقد بُدِّلَتْ يُمْناهُ من رِفْقها عنفا
There you meet a different Jaʿfar,
His right hand changed from gentleness to force.
وكائِنْhow often تَراهُyou see him فيin الكريهةِbattle جاعِلاًmaking
وكائِنْ تَراهُ في الكريهةِ جاعِلاً
عزيمتَهُhis resolve بَرْقاًlightning وصولتَهand his assault خَطْفاa sudden strike
عزيمتَهُ بَرْقاً وصولتَه خَطْفا
How often you see him in battle, making
His resolve lightning and his assault a sudden strike.
وكائِنْand how often تراهyou see him فيin المقامةِthe assembly جاعلاًmaking
وكائِنْ تراه في المقامةِ جاعلاً
مَشاهدَهhis judgments فَصْلاًdecisive وخطبتَهand his speech حَرْفاprecise
مَشاهدَه فَصْلاً وخطبتَه حَرْفا
How often you see him in an assembly, making
His judgments decisive and his speech precise.
وتأتيand come عطاياهُhis gifts عِدادَequal in number to جُنُودِهِhis soldiers
وتأتي عطاياهُ عِدادَ جُنُودِهِ
فماso neither افترقتْdiffered صِنفاًin kind ولاnor اجتمعتْunited صِنفاas one kind
فما افترقتْ صِنفاً ولا اجتمعتْ صِنفا
His gifts come as numerous as his soldiers;
They are no less varied in their kinds, nor less united as one host.
ويَعْيَاand struggles بماwith what يأتيhe does خطيبٌan orator وشاعِرٌand a poet
ويَعْيَا بما يأتي خطيبٌ وشاعِرٌ
وإنeven if جاوزexceeded الإطنابlengthy speech واستغرقand exhausted الوصفاdescription
وإن جاوز الإطناب واستغرق الوصفا
An orator and a poet struggle to tell of his deeds,
Even if they speak at length and exhaust description.
هوَhe is الدهرُtime إلاّexcept أنّنيthat I لاdo not أرىsee لهfor him
هوَ الدهرُ إلاّ أنّني لا أرى له
علىagainst غيرany but منone who ناواهopposed him خَطباًa calamity ولاnor صَرْفاa reversal
على غير من ناواه خَطباً ولا صَرْفا
He is time itself, except that I see no
Calamity or change from him for anyone but his enemy.
إذاwhen شَهِدَattended الهيجاءَbattle مَدّتْit extended لهُfor him يداًa hand
إذا شَهِدَ الهيجاءَ مَدّتْ لهُ يداً
كأنّas though عليهاupon it دُمْلُجاًan armlet منْهُfrom him أوor وقْفاa band
كأنّ عليها دُمْلُجاً منْهُ أو وقْفا
When he attends battle, it extends a hand to him,
As though it wore a bracelet or band from him.
وصالَand struck بهاwith it غضبانَangrily لوif يستقيhe sought a drink الذيthat which
وصالَ بها غضبانَ لو يستقي الذي
تُريقُpour out عواليهhis spearpoints منof الدّمblood ماhe would not استَشفىbe satisfied
تُريقُ عواليه من الدّم ما استَشفى
He strikes with that hand in anger; if he sought a drink from what
The tips of his spears pour out in blood, he would never be satisfied.
جزيلُabundant الندىin generosity والباسand might تصدُرُreturns كفُّهhis hand
جزيلُ الندى والباس تصدُرُ كفُّه
وقدhaving already نازلَتْfought ألفاًa thousand وقدand having already وهبَتْgiven ألفاa thousand
وقد نازلَتْ ألفاً وقد وهبَتْ ألفا
Abundant in generosity and might, his hand returns
Having fought a thousand and given to a thousand.
يدٌa hand يستهلُّshowers الجودgenerosity فيهاwithin it معَwith النّدىdew
يدٌ يستهلُّ الجود فيها معَ النّدى
ويعبَقُand gives off منهاfrom it الموتُdeath يومَon the day الوغىof battle عَرفاas a scent
ويعبَقُ منها الموتُ يومَ الوغى عَرفا
In that hand, generosity showers down with dew,
And on the day of war, death gives off its scent from it.
وماand were not سُدّدَset aright الأملاكُthe kings منbefore قبلJaʿfar's time جعفَرٍJaʿfar
وما سُدّدَ الأملاكُ من قبل جعفَرٍ
ولاnor أنكرُواdid they reject نُكراًa wrong ولاnor عرفواdid they know عُرفاkindness
ولا أنكرُوا نُكراً ولا عرفوا عُرفا
Kings before Jaʿfar were never set aright;
They neither rejected wrong nor recognized kindness.
هُمُthey ساجَلوهvied with him والسَّماحُwhile generosity لأهْلِهِbelongs to its people
هُمُ ساجَلوه والسَّماحُ لأهْلِهِ
فأكدَواso they ran dry وماwhile not أكدىdid he run dry وأصْفَواand they became pure وماwhile not أصفىwas he less pure
فأكدَوا وما أكدى وأصْفَوا وما أصفى
They vied with him, though generosity belongs to its own people;
They ran dry while he did not, and they claimed purity while he was purer.
إذاwhen أصْلدواthey yielded no spark أورىhe kindled one وإنand if عجِلواthey rushed ارتأىhe reflected
إذا أصْلدوا أورى وإن عجِلوا ارتأى
وإنand if بخِلواthey withheld أعطىhe gave وإنand if غَدرواthey betrayed أوفىhe kept faith
وإن بخِلوا أعطى وإن غَدروا أوفى
When they yielded no spark, he kindled one; when they rushed, he reflected;
When they withheld, he gave; when they betrayed, he kept faith.
فللمجدِso for glory ماwhat أبقَىhe kept وللجودِand for generosity ماwhat اقتَنىhe gained
فللمجدِ ما أبقَى وللجودِ ما اقتَنى
وللناسِand for people ماwhat أبدىhe showed وللّهِand for God ماwhat أخفىhe concealed
وللناسِ ما أبدى وللّهِ ما أخفى
What he keeps is for glory, what he gains for generosity,
What he shows is for people, and what he conceals is for God.
يغولُhe overwhelms ظُنونَthe expectations المُزْنِof rain clouds والمُزْنُwhile the clouds وافِرٌare full
يغولُ ظُنونَ المُزْنِ والمُزْنُ وافِرٌ
ويُغرِقand he overwhelms موْجَthe waves البحرِof the sea والبحرُwhile the sea قدalready شَفّاran low
ويُغرِق موْجَ البحرِ والبحرُ قد شَفّا
He outdoes what one expects of rain clouds, though the clouds are full,
And overwhelms the sea's waves, though the sea has run low.
فلوso if أنّنيI شَبّهْتُهُcompared him البحرَto the sea زاخِراًsurging
فلو أنّني شَبّهْتُهُ البحرَ زاخِراً
خَشيتُI feared بكونِby making المدحِthe praise فيin مثلهhis case قذْفاan insult
خَشيتُ بكونِ المدحِ في مثله قذْفا
If I compared him to the sea in its fullness,
I would fear that such praise would be an insult to him.
وماand do not تَعْدِلُequal الأنواءُthe rain bearing winds صُغرىthe little one بَنانِهِof his fingers
وما تَعْدِلُ الأنواءُ صُغرى بَنانِهِ
فكيْفَthen how بشْيءٍcould a thing يعدِلُequal الزَّندthe forearm والكفّاand the hand
فكيْفَ بشْيءٍ يعدِلُ الزَّند والكفّا
Storm clouds cannot equal even his little fingertip;
How then could anything equal his forearm and hand?
مليكُruler رقابِof people's lives الناسِthe owner مالِكُof their affection وُدِّهمtheir affection
مليكُ رقابِ الناسِ مالِكُ وُدِّهم
كذلكthus فليستَصْفِlet him win devotion قوماًa people منwhoever استصْفىwins devotion
كذلك فليستَصْفِ قوماً من استصْفى
He rules people's lives and possesses their affection;
Thus should anyone who wins a people's devotion win it.
فتىًa young man تَسْحَبُtrails الدّنياthe world بهِthrough him خُيَلاءَهَاits pride
فتىً تَسْحَبُ الدّنيا بهِ خُيَلاءَهَا
وقدand already طمَحتْraised طَرفاًa gaze وقدand already شَمختْraised high أنفاa nose
وقد طمَحتْ طَرفاً وقد شَمختْ أنفا
He is a young man through whom the world trails its pride,
Lifting its gaze and holding its nose high.
وتسْألُهُand ask him النّصْفَfor justice الحوادثُevents هَونةًhumbly
وتسْألُهُ النّصْفَ الحوادثُ هَونةً
وكانتْthough they were لقَاحاًuntamed لمdid not تسَلْask قبلهbefore him النصفاfor justice
وكانتْ لقَاحاً لم تسَلْ قبله النصفا
Events humbly ask him for justice,
Though once untamed, they asked no one before him for justice.
وكانتْand stood سماءُthe sky اللّهِof God فوْقَabove عِمادِهَاits pillars
وكانتْ سماءُ اللّهِ فوْقَ عِمادِهَا
إلىuntil اليْومtoday لمhad not تُسقِطْdropped علىupon أحَدٍanyone كِسفاa fragment
إلى اليْوم لم تُسقِطْ على أحَدٍ كِسفا
God's sky stood above its pillars,
And until today had dropped no fragment upon anyone.
وقدand already مُلِئَتْwas filled شُهْباًwith meteors فلمّاthen when تمرّدَتْrebelled
وقد مُلِئَتْ شُهْباً فلمّا تمرّدَتْ
حَوالَيْهaround him أعداءُenemies الهدىof guidance أحدثتْit began قَذفاto hurl
حَوالَيْه أعداءُ الهدى أحدثتْ قَذفا
It was filled with meteors; when the foes of guidance
Rebelled around him, it began to hurl them.
ألاnow then فامزِجواso mix كأسَthe cup المُدامِof wine بذكْرِهِwith mention of him
ألا فامزِجوا كأسَ المُدامِ بذكْرِهِ
فلنthen never تجِدُواwill you find مَزْجاًa mixture أرَقَّmore delicate ولاnor أصْفىpurer
فلن تجِدُوا مَزْجاً أرَقَّ ولا أصْفى
So mix the cup of wine with mention of him:
You will find no blend more delicate or pure.
تَبَغْددَbecame like Baghdad منْهُthrough him الزّابُthe Zab حتىuntil رأيْتُهُI saw it
تَبَغْددَ منْهُ الزّابُ حتى رأيْتُهُ
يهبّblow نسيمُthe breeze الروضof the garden فيهِin it فيُستَجفىand seem coarse
يهبّ نسيمُ الروض فيهِ فيُستَجفى
The Zab became so like Baghdad through him that I saw
A garden breeze blow there and seem coarse.
تكادُalmost عقودُthe necklaces الغانياتِof beautiful women تَؤودُهُweigh it down
تكادُ عقودُ الغانياتِ تَؤودُهُ
رَفاهِيَةًwith luxury والجوُّwhile the air يَسْرِقُهsteals it لُطْفاfor its gentleness
رَفاهِيَةً والجوُّ يَسْرِقُه لُطْفا
The necklaces of beautiful women almost weigh it down
With luxury, while the air steals its gentleness.
بحيْثُwhere أبوthe father الأيّامِof days يَلحَفُنيwraps me لهُfor him
بحيْثُ أبو الأيّامِ يَلحَفُني لهُ
جَناحاًa wing وأُمُّand the mother الشمسof the sun تُرضِعُنيnurses me خِلفاat a breast
جَناحاً وأُمُّ الشمس تُرضِعُني خِلفا
There the father of days wraps me in his wing,
And the mother of the sun nurses me at her breast.
فلاso no منزِلاًlodging ضَنكاًcramped تَحُلُّsettle ركائبيmy mounts
فلا منزِلاً ضَنكاً تَحُلُّ ركائبي
ولاnor عَقَداًa pass وَعْثاًrugged ولاnor سَبْسَباًa plain قُفّاbarren
ولا عَقَداً وَعْثاً ولا سَبْسَباً قُفّا
My mounts settle at no cramped lodging,
Nor on a rugged pass or a barren, empty plain.
تسيرُtravel القوافيthe verses المذهَباتُgilded أحوكُهاI weave them
تسيرُ القوافي المذهَباتُ أحوكُها
فتمضيso they go on وإنalthough كانتْthey are علىupon مجدكمyour glory وقفاdedicated
فتمضي وإن كانتْ على مجدكم وقفا
The gilded verses I weave set out,
And travel on, though dedicated to your glory.
منَamong اللاءthose which تغدوgo forth وهيwhile they فيin السلمpeace مركبيare my mount
منَ اللاء تغدو وهي في السلم مركبي
ولوand if كانتِthere were الهيجاءُbattle قدَّمتُهاI would place them صَفّاin a rank
ولو كانتِ الهيجاءُ قدَّمتُها صَفّا
They are among those that go forth as my mount in peace;
Were there battle, I would place them in the front rank.
يمانِيّةٌYemeni فيin نَجْرِهاtheir origin أزدِيّةٌAzdi
يمانِيّةٌ في نَجْرِها أزدِيّةٌ
أُفصّلُهاI fashion them نَظماًas verse وأُحْكِمُهاand I set them firmly رَصْفاin arrangement
أُفصّلُها نَظماً وأُحْكِمُها رَصْفا
Yemeni in origin, Azdi by descent,
I shape them into verse and set them firmly in order.
صرفتُI turned عِنانَthe reins الشعرof poetry إلاّexcept إليكُمُtoward you
صرفتُ عِنانَ الشعر إلاّ إليكُمُ
وفيكمand concerning you فإنيfor I ماcould not استطعتُmanage لكمfor you صَرفاa turning away
وفيكم فإني ما استطعتُ لكم صَرفا
I have turned the reins of poetry toward you alone;
In writing of you, I could not turn them away.
وماand I was not كنْتُI was مَدّاحاًa hired praiser ولكنْbut مُفَوَّهاًan eloquent speaker
وما كنْتُ مَدّاحاً ولكنْ مُفَوَّهاً
يُلبّىhe is answered إذاwhen نادىhe calls ويُكفىand he is aided إذاwhen استكفىhe asks for aid
يُلبّى إذا نادى ويُكفى إذا استكفى
I was no hired praiser, but an eloquent speaker
Who was answered when he called and aided when he asked.
أباO Abu أحمدٍAhmad قدindeed كانthere was فيon الأرضearth مَوئِلٌa refuge
أبا أحمدٍ قد كان في الأرض مَوئِلٌ
فلمyet I did not أبغِseek ليfor myself ركْناًa support سواكَbesides you ولاnor كهفاa shelter
فلم أبغِ لي ركْناً سواكَ ولا كهفا
Abu Ahmad, there were refuges on earth,
But I sought no support or shelter apart from you.
وأنتَand you الذيthe one who لمdid not يُطلِعcause to rise اللّهُGod شَمسَهُHis sun
وأنتَ الذي لم يُطلِع اللّهُ شَمسَهُ
علىupon أحَدٍanyone منْهُthan you أبَرَّmore dutiful ولاnor أوفىmore faithful
على أحَدٍ منْهُ أبَرَّ ولا أوفى
You are the one upon whom God has made His sun rise;
It has shone on no one more dutiful or faithful than you.
وماand the sun does not الشمسclothe تكسوevery كلَّthing شيءin its rays شُعاعَهاits rays
وما الشمس تكسو كلَّ شيء شُعاعَها
بأسبغَmore amply عنديto me منthan نَداكyour generosity ولاnor أضفىmore fully
بأسبغَ عندي من نَداك ولا أضفى
The sun clothing all things in its rays
Is, to me, no more ample or encompassing than your generosity.
أخذتَyou took بضَبعيmy arm والخطوبُwhile hardships رَوَاغِمٌwere brought low
أخذتَ بضَبعي والخطوبُ رَوَاغِمٌ
فسُمتَso you made submit زمانيmy age كلّهُall of it خُطّةًto a state خَسفاof humiliation
فسُمتَ زماني كلّهُ خُطّةً خَسفا
You took me by the arm while hardships were brought low,
And made my whole age submit to humiliation.
فمنso from كَبِدٍa heart لمّاwhen اعتلَلتَyou fell ill تقطَّعَتْwas torn apart
فمن كَبِدٍ لمّا اعتلَلتَ تقطَّعَتْ
ومنand from أُذُنٍan ear صَمّتْthat went deaf ومنand from ناظرٍan eye كُفّاthat was blinded
ومن أُذُنٍ صَمّتْ ومن ناظرٍ كُفّا
When you fell ill, one heart was torn apart,
One ear went deaf, and one eye was blinded.
وقدand indeed كانthere was ليfor me قلْبٌa heart فغودرَbut it was left جَمْرَةًan ember
وقد كان لي قلْبٌ فغودرَ جَمْرَةً
عليكfor you وعيشٌand a life سجسجٌgentle فغداthen became رَضفاburning coals
عليك وعيشٌ سجسجٌ فغدا رَضفا
I had a heart, but it was left an ember
For your sake; a gentle life turned to burning coals.
ولمand I have not أرَseen شيئاًanything مثلَlike وصْلِreunion أحِبّتيwith my loved ones
ولم أرَ شيئاً مثلَ وصْلِ أحِبّتي
شِفاءًas healing ولكنbut كانwas بُرؤكَyour recovery ليfor me أشفىmore healing
شِفاءً ولكن كان بُرؤكَ لي أشفى
I have seen nothing as healing as reunion with loved ones,
Yet your recovery was more healing to me.
وكيفَand how اتّراكيcould I leave فيكconcerning you بَشّاًjoy ولوعَةًand anguish
وكيفَ اتّراكي فيك بَشّاً ولوعَةً
ولمwhen you did not تتّرِكwithhold رُحماًkinship لقوميfrom my people ولاnor عطفاkindness
ولم تتّرِك رُحماً لقومي ولا عطفا
How could I leave joy and anguish behind for you,
When you withheld neither kinship nor kindness from my people?
أمنْتُI felt safe بكَthrough you الأيّامَfrom days وهيthough they مخوفَةٌinspire fear
أمنْتُ بكَ الأيّامَ وهي مخوفَةٌ
ولوand if بيديكَin your hands الخُلدُimmortality أمّنْتَنيyou would protect me الحَتْفاfrom death
ولو بيديكَ الخُلدُ أمّنْتَني الحَتْفا
Through you I felt safe from days that inspire fear;
If immortality were in your hands, you would protect me from death.
Sol 6