هُنالِكَ عَهْدي بالخليطِ المُزايلِ

هُنالِكَ عَهْدي بالخليطِ المُزايلِ

وفي ذلكَ الوادي أُصيبَتْ مَقاتلي

وفي ذلكَ الوادي أُصيبَتْ مَقاتلي

There was my last meeting with the departing companions,

There I pledged allegiance to the noble one,

and in that valley my vital parts were struck.

And in that valley my warriors were struck down.

فلا مِثْلَ أيّامٍ لَنا ذَهَبِيّةٍ

فلا مِثْلَ أيّامٍ لَنا ذَهَبِيّةٍ

قصيرةِ أعْمارِ البَقاءِ قلائلِ

قصيرةِ أعْمارِ البَقاءِ قلائلِ

Nothing equals those golden days of ours,

There are no days like our golden ones,

so brief in their span, so few,

Though brief in lasting, they were few.

إذِ الشَّمْلُ مجموعٌ بمنزِلِ غِبْطَةٍ

إذِ الشَّمْلُ مجموعٌ بمنزِلِ غِبْطَةٍ

ودارِ أمَانٍ من صُرُوفِ الغَوائل

ودارِ أمَانٍ من صُرُوفِ الغَوائل

when the company was gathered in a dwelling of bliss,

When ties of kinship in a home of bliss convened,

and an abode secure from calamity's turns;

And a house of safety from fate's upheavals.

لَياليَ لم تأتِ اللّيالي مَساءتي

لَياليَ لم تأتِ اللّيالي مَساءتي

ولم تَقْتسِمْ دَمعْي رُسومُ المنازل

ولم تَقْتسِمْ دَمعْي رُسومُ المنازل

nights when no night brought me sorrow,

Nights that brought no nights of sorrow,

nor did the traces of dwellings divide my tears among them.

Nor divided among homes my tears.

وأسْماءُ لم يَبْعُدْ لِهَجرٍ مَزارُهَا

وأسْماءُ لم يَبْعُدْ لِهَجرٍ مَزارُهَا

ولم تتقَطّعْ باقِياتُ الرّسائل

ولم تتقَطّعْ باقِياتُ الرّسائل

And Asma's abode had not grown distant through estrangement,

Names that no separation made their visit rare,

nor had the remaining messages ceased.

Nor severed what remained of messages.

ألا طرَقتْ تَسري بأنفاسِ رَوْضَةٍ

ألا طرَقتْ تَسري بأنفاسِ رَوْضَةٍ

وأعْطافِ مَيّاسٍ من البانِ ذائل

وأعْطافِ مَيّاسٍ من البانِ ذائل

Lo, she came by night with the breath of a garden,

Oh! You came gently breathing the air of an orchard

and the curves of a swaying, drooping ban-tree.

And the twilight scents of waving myrtle.

فيا لكَ وَحْشِيّاً من العِينِ شارِداً

فيا لكَ وَحْشِيّاً من العِينِ شارِداً

أُتِيحَ لإنْسيٍّ ضَعيفِ الحبائل

أُتِيحَ لإنْسيٍّ ضَعيفِ الحبائل

Ah, what a straying wild creature among the wide-eyed gazelles,

So forlorn your eyes have wandered, lonely one,

granted to a mortal with feeble snares!

That to a feeble mortal they are allowed.

أأسْماءُ ما عهْدي ولا عهدُ عاهِدٍ

أأسْماءُ ما عهْدي ولا عهدُ عاهِدٍ

بخِدرِكِ يسري في الفيافي المَجاهل

بخِدرِكِ يسري في الفيافي المَجاهل

Asma, neither I nor anyone acquainted has ever known

O Asma, neither I pledged nor did the pledger

your curtained chamber to travel through unknown wastes.

That your tent amid the empty plains should roam.

فإنّكِ ما تَدرينَ أيَّ تَنائِفٍ

فإنّكِ ما تَدرينَ أيَّ تَنائِفٍ

قطعْتُ بمكحولِ المدامعِ خاذل

قطعْتُ بمكحولِ المدامعِ خاذل

For you do not know what desolate stretches

You know not what separation I have borne

I crossed with a kohl-eyed gazelle apart from its herd.

And lamentation, while my tears like wine poured down.

تأوَّبَ مُرخَاةً عليه سُتُورُهُ

تأوَّبَ مُرخَاةً عليه سُتُورُهُ

هُدُوءاً وقد نَامتْ عيونُ العَواذل

هُدُوءاً وقد نَامتْ عيونُ العَواذل

It returned by night, its curtains lowered over it,

He alighted peacefully, his tent curtains draped,

in stillness, while the eyes of reprovers slept.

While the eyes of the cranes had fallen asleep.

وإنّي إذا يَسْري إليَّ لَخائِفٌ

وإنّي إذا يَسْري إليَّ لَخائِفٌ

عليه حِبالاتِ العيونِ الحوائل

عليه حِبالاتِ العيونِ الحوائل

And when it travels to me by night, I fear

When he comes my way I worry for him still,

for it the snares of roving eyes.

Lest the glances of eyes ensnare him.

أغارُ عليْهِ أن يُجاذبَهُ الصِّبَا

أغارُ عليْهِ أن يُجاذبَهُ الصِّبَا

فُضُولَ بُرُودٍ أو ذُيولَ غلائل

فُضُولَ بُرُودٍ أو ذُيولَ غلائل

I am jealous for it, lest the east wind tug against it

I am jealous that the morning breeze entice him

at loose mantle-ends or the hems of fine robes.

With casual coolness or trailing tresses.

وقد شاقني إيماضُ بْرقٍ بذي الغَضى

وقد شاقني إيماضُ بْرقٍ بذي الغَضى

كما حُرِّكتْ في الشمس بيض المناصل

كما حُرِّكتْ في الشمس بيض المناصل

And a lightning-flash at Dhu al-Ghada stirred my longing,

Lightning's flash has wearied me in thick clouds

as when gleaming blades are moved in the sun,

As white knives were stirred in the sun.

إذا لم يَهِجْ شوْقي خَيالٌ مُؤرِّقٌ

إذا لم يَهِجْ شوْقي خَيالٌ مُؤرِّقٌ

تَطَلّعَ من أُفقِ البُدورِ الأوافِل

تَطَلّعَ من أُفقِ البُدورِ الأوافِل

when my longing was not stirred by a sleep-robbing phantom

If longing kindles not in me a restless phantom

that rose from the horizon of setting full moons.

That peers from the horizon of setting stars,

وما النّاسُ إلاّ ظاعِنٌ ومودِّعٌ

وما النّاسُ إلاّ ظاعِنٌ ومودِّعٌ

وثاوٍ قريح الجفنِ يبكي لراحل

وثاوٍ قريح الجفنِ يبكي لراحل

People are only a traveler and one bidding farewell,

Men are but misguided, bidding farewell,

and one who stays, his eyelid sore, weeping for one departing.

Their eyes raining tears for one departed.

فهل هذه الأيّامُ إلاّ كما خَلا

فهل هذه الأيّامُ إلاّ كما خَلا

وهل نحنُ إلاّ كالقُرُونِ الأوائل

وهل نحنُ إلاّ كالقُرُونِ الأوائل

Are these days anything but what has passed before?

Are not these days as those now past?

And are we anything but like the earliest generations?

Are we not like peoples of old?

نُساقُ من الدّنيا إلى غيرِ دائِمٍ

نُساقُ من الدّنيا إلى غيرِ دائِمٍ

ونبكي من الدنيا على غيرِ طائل

ونبكي من الدنيا على غيرِ طائل

We are driven from this world toward what does not endure,

We are led from this world to no lasting place,

and we weep over what avails us nothing in this world.

And weep for this world to no avail.

فما عاجِلٌ نَرْجوهُ إلاّ كآجِلٍ

فما عاجِلٌ نَرْجوهُ إلاّ كآجِلٍ

ولا آجِلٌ نخشاه إلاّ كعاجلِ

ولا آجِلٌ نخشاه إلاّ كعاجلِ

Nothing imminent that we hope for differs from what is deferred,

No present we hope for but becomes the past,

and nothing deferred that we fear differs from what is imminent.

No future we dread but proves the present.

فلو أوطَأتْني الشمسَ نعْلاً وتوَّجتْ

فلو أوطَأتْني الشمسَ نعْلاً وتوَّجتْ

عِبِدّايَ تِيجانَ المُلوكِ العباهِل

عِبِدّايَ تِيجانَ المُلوكِ العباهِل

Even if it put the sun beneath my feet as a sandal, and crowned

Had the sun cast me down and crowned me king,

my slaves with the crowns of sovereign kings,

A slave, with the diadems of tyrants,

ولو خُلِّدَتْ لم أقضِ منْها لُبانَةً

ولو خُلِّدَتْ لم أقضِ منْها لُبانَةً

وكيْفَ ولم تَخْلُدْ لبكرِ بن وائل

وكيْفَ ولم تَخْلُدْ لبكرِ بن وائل

and were it made eternal, I would not fulfill my longing for it;

And had it lasted, not a moment would I stay,

and how could I, when it did not endure for Bakr ibn Wa'il,

How could it last when it left Bakr unsaved?

لقوْمٍ نَمَوْا مثْلَ الأميرِ محمّدٍ

لقوْمٍ نَمَوْا مثْلَ الأميرِ محمّدٍ

ففاؤوا كما فاءتْ شموسُ الأصائل

ففاؤوا كما فاءتْ شموسُ الأصائل

for a people who brought forth one like the emir Muhammad,

For a people who grew like Prince Muhammad,

then set as the suns of late afternoon set?

Their excellence matched the rising sun.

وإنّ بهِ منهمْ لكُفْواً ومَقْنَعاً

وإنّ بهِ منهمْ لكُفْواً ومَقْنَعاً

ولكنّنا نأسى لِفَقْدِ المَقاوِل

ولكنّنا نأسى لِفَقْدِ المَقاوِل

And in him there is indeed their equal, one who suffices,

In him they found enough and more,

yet we grieve for the loss of chieftains.

Yet still we grieve the loss of that hero.

إذا نحنُ لم نَجْزَعْ لمن كان قبلَنا

إذا نحنُ لم نَجْزَعْ لمن كان قبلَنا

لَهَوْنَا عن الأيّام لَهْوَ العقائل

لَهَوْنَا عن الأيّام لَهْوَ العقائل

If we did not grieve for those who came before us,

If we did not mourn those gone before,

we would disregard the days as noblewomen do.

Time would solace us from its misfortunes.

ولكن إذا ما دامَ مثلُ محمّدٍ

ولكن إذا ما دامَ مثلُ محمّدٍ

ففي طَيِّ ثَوْبَيْهِ جميعُ القبائل

ففي طَيِّ ثَوْبَيْهِ جميعُ القبائل

But so long as one such as Muhammad remains,

But while the likes of Muhammad remain,

all the tribes lie within the folds of his two garments.

The tribes all seek the folds of his garb.

تَسَلَّ به عّمنْ سواه ومثلُهُ

تَسَلَّ به عّمنْ سواه ومثلُهُ

يُريكَ أباه في صُدورِ المحافل

يُريكَ أباه في صُدورِ المحافل

Take comfort in him for everyone else; one such as he

In him you see his father in the eyes of the beholders

shows you his father at the forefront of assemblies.

As he gently passes them by.

وإنّ مُلُوكاً أنْجَبَتْ ليَ مِثْلَهُ

وإنّ مُلُوكاً أنْجَبَتْ ليَ مِثْلَهُ

أحَقُّ بني الدنْيا بتأبينِ عاقل

أحَقُّ بني الدنْيا بتأبينِ عاقل

And kings who have begotten for me one like him

Kings it was who begot the like of him,

are, of all the world's sons, most worthy of a wise man's eulogy.

Most deserving, if the wise lament.

هُمُ أورَثوهُ المجدَ لا مجدَ غيرُهُ

هُمُ أورَثوهُ المجدَ لا مجدَ غيرُهُ

وهم خيرُ حافٍ في البلاد وناعل

وهم خيرُ حافٍ في البلاد وناعل

They bequeathed him glory—there is no glory other than that—

They bequeathed him glory, not their own,

and they are the best in the lands, barefoot and shod.

And they are the best guardian of lands and mount.

لهم من مَساعِيهِمْ دُرُوعٌ حصِينَةٌ

لهم من مَساعِيهِمْ دُرُوعٌ حصِينَةٌ

تُوَقّيهِمُ من كلِّ قوْلٍ وقائل

تُوَقّيهِمُ من كلِّ قوْلٍ وقائل

From their deeds they have impregnable coats of mail,

Theirs are impregnable shields from their efforts

shielding them from every utterance and every speaker.

Warding them from every word and speaker.

وهم يتَّقُونَ الذَّمَّ حتى كأنّهُ

وهم يتَّقُونَ الذَّمَّ حتى كأنّهُ

ذُعافُ الأفاعي في شِفارِ المناصل

ذُعافُ الأفاعي في شِفارِ المناصل

They guard against blame as though it were

They fear blame as though it were

the deadly venom of vipers on the edges of blades.

The venom of adders in the hands of warriors.

وحُقَّ لهمْ أن يَتّقوهُ فلمْ تَكُنْ

وحُقَّ لهمْ أن يَتّقوهُ فلمْ تَكُنْ

تُصابُ بهِ الأعراضُ دونَ المَقاتل

تُصابُ بهِ الأعراضُ دونَ المَقاتل

And rightly they guard against it, for never was

Rightfully they fear it, for never

honor struck by it while the vital parts were spared.

Were honors marred save by the valiant.

أُولئك مَن لا يُحسِنُ الجودَ غيرُهم

أُولئك مَن لا يُحسِنُ الجودَ غيرُهم

ولا الطَّعنَ شَزراً بالرِّماح الذوابل

ولا الطَّعنَ شَزراً بالرِّماح الذوابل

Those are the ones: no others excel in generosity,

They are peerless in bounty and in piercing

or in thrusting obliquely with slender spears.

With straight spear-thrusts the coats of mail.

فلم يَدْرِ إلاّ اللّهُ ما خُلِقُوا لهُ

فلم يَدْرِ إلاّ اللّهُ ما خُلِقُوا لهُ

ولا ما أثاروا من كُنوزِ الفضائل

ولا ما أثاروا من كُنوزِ الفضائل

None but God knew what they were created for,

None knows but Allah what they were created for

or what treasures of virtue they unearthed.

Or the treasures of virtue they inspired.

شبيهٌ بأعلامِ النُّبوَّةِ ما أرى

شبيهٌ بأعلامِ النُّبوَّةِ ما أرى

لهم في النَّدى من مُعجزاتِ الشَّمائل

لهم في النَّدى من مُعجزاتِ الشَّمائل

What I see is akin to the signs of prophecy:

I see in them, from the signs of prophecy,

the miracles of character they display in generosity.

Miracles like moons in the shining pools.

أُجِلُّكَ عَزَّ اللّهُ ذكْرَكَ فارساً

أُجِلُّكَ عَزَّ اللّهُ ذكْرَكَ فارساً

إذا صُرَّ آذانُ الجِيادِ الصَّواهِل

إذا صُرَّ آذانُ الجِيادِ الصَّواهِل

I revere you as a horseman—may God exalt your renown—

Most sublime, may God raise your mention, O knight

when the ears of neighing steeds are pinned back.

When the steeds of war stamp and neigh.

وما لسيوفِ الهندِ دونَكَ بَسْطَةٌ

وما لسيوفِ الهندِ دونَكَ بَسْطَةٌ

ولو زِيدَ فِيه مثلُ ذَرع الحَمائل

ولو زِيدَ فِيه مثلُ ذَرع الحَمائل

And without you, Indian swords have no reach,

No Indian swords can match you

even if their length were increased by the measure of their baldrics.

Though aided by the reach of outstretched arms.

تُرَشِّفُها في السّلْمِ ماءَ جُفونِها

تُرَشِّفُها في السّلْمِ ماءَ جُفونِها

فتَجزَأُ عن ماء الطُّلى والبآدل

فتَجزَأُ عن ماء الطُّلى والبآدل

In peace you let them sip the water of their scabbards,

At peace you sheathe them, eyes welling,

so they dispense with the water of throats and upper chests.

Apart from the water of blades and crescents.

وتَقلِسُ مِنْ رِيٍّ إذا ما أمَرْتَها

وتَقلِسُ مِنْ رِيٍّ إذا ما أمَرْتَها

بتَصْديعِ هاماتٍ وفَتْقِ أباجل

بتَصْديعِ هاماتٍ وفَتْقِ أباجل

And, overfull, they disgorge when you command them

And unleash them, at your command,

to cleave skulls and rip open great veins.

To crack skulls and cleave stout chests.

فلا تَتَبعِ الحُسّادَ منكَ مَلامَةٌ

فلا تَتَبعِ الحُسّادَ منكَ مَلامَةٌ

فما شَرَفُ الحُسّادِ منكَ بِباطل

فما شَرَفُ الحُسّادِ منكَ بِباطل

Let no reproach from you pursue the envious,

No blame then follows you from the envious,

for the honor the envious gain from you is not unfounded.

For the renown of enviers is worthless to you.

وكم قد رأينَا من مَسولٍ وسائِلٍ

وكم قد رأينَا من مَسولٍ وسائِلٍ

قديماً ومن مَفضُولِ قومٍ وفاضل

قديماً ومن مَفضُولِ قومٍ وفاضل

How many we have seen of those petitioned and those petitioning,

Oft we've seen the questioners and inquirers of old,

in times past, the lesser men of a people and the eminent;

The surpassed one of a people and its superior.

فكُلُّهُمُ يَفْديكَ من مُتَهلِّلٍ

فكُلُّهُمُ يَفْديكَ من مُتَهلِّلٍ

إلى المُجتَدي العافي وأربَدَ باسل

إلى المُجتَدي العافي وأربَدَ باسل

all would ransom you: the man who beams

All would ransom you from the scorner

at the needy supplicant, and the grim-faced, valiant warrior.

To the resolute, deliverer, and steadfast hero.

تَقيكَ دِماءُ القِرْنِ من مُتَخَمِّطٍ

تَقيكَ دِماءُ القِرْنِ من مُتَخَمِّطٍ

على القِرنِ مشبوحِ اليدين حُلاحِل

على القِرنِ مشبوحِ اليدين حُلاحِل

The blood of a peer in battle shields you—that of one raging

The blood of your peers protects you from the wheedler

against his opponent, broad-handed, a noble chief,

Clasping hands on a horn, sly and impudent.

ضَمِينٌ بلَفِّ الصّفِّ بالصّفِّ كلما

ضَمِينٌ بلَفِّ الصّفِّ بالصّفِّ كلما

تَبَاعدَ ما بينَ الكلى والعوامل

تَبَاعدَ ما بينَ الكلى والعوامل

pledged to join rank with rank whenever

Wedged in the ranks, rank after rank, whenever

the gap between kidneys and spear-points grows wide.

Space spread between flanks and squadrons.

تُؤنِّسُهُ الهَيجا ويُطرِبُ سَمعَهُ

تُؤنِّسُهُ الهَيجا ويُطرِبُ سَمعَهُ

صريرُ العَوالي في صُدورِ الجَحافل

صريرُ العَوالي في صُدورِ الجَحافل

Battle comforts him, and his hearing delights in

It cheers him, the tumult, and the rasping

the creak of tall spears in the breasts of great armies.

Of the steeds in the breasts of the regiments delights him.

هو التّاركُ الثغْرَ القَصِيَّ دُروبُهُ

هو التّاركُ الثغْرَ القَصِيَّ دُروبُهُ

مَقَرّاً لفُسطاطٍ وداراً لنازل

مَقَرّاً لفُسطاطٍ وداراً لنازل

He leaves the frontier, whose passes are far away,

He who abandons the distant frontier, paths well-trodden,

a place to pitch a tent and a home for a traveler.

A seat for a borough and house for a guest.

فعارِضُهُ الأهْمَى لأوّلِ شائِمٍ

فعارِضُهُ الأهْمَى لأوّلِ شائِمٍ

ودِرَّتُهُ الأولى لأوّلِ سائل

ودِرَّتُهُ الأولى لأوّلِ سائل

His most generous raincloud is for the first rain-watcher,

His first response to the impassioned,

and his first outpouring for the first petitioner.

His first riposte to the questioning cynic.

تَجودُكَ مِن يُمنْاهُ خمسةُ أبحُرٍ

تَجودُكَ مِن يُمنْاهُ خمسةُ أبحُرٍ

تفيضُ دِهاقاً وهي خمسُ أنامل

تفيضُ دِهاقاً وهي خمسُ أنامل

Five seas from his right hand rain their bounty upon you,

Your generosity flows from your right hand like five oceans

overflowing brimful, though they are five fingertips.

Pouring forth, though they are but five fingers.

عَطاءٌ بِلا مَنٍّ يُكَدِّرُ صَفْوَهُ

عَطاءٌ بِلا مَنٍّ يُكَدِّرُ صَفْوَهُ

فليسَ بمنّانٍ وليسَ بباخل

فليسَ بمنّانٍ وليسَ بباخل

Giving without reminders of favor to cloud its purity:

A giving with no hint of reluctance that would spoil its purity,

for he neither boasts of favors nor acts the miser.

Neither insisting on favors nor withholding.

تَرَى الملِكَ المخدومَ في زِيّ خادمٍ

تَرَى الملِكَ المخدومَ في زِيّ خادمٍ

حَوالَيْهِ والمأمولَ في ثوبِ آمل

حَوالَيْهِ والمأمولَ في ثوبِ آمل

You see the king whom others serve in a servant's garb

You see the protected king in the raiment of a servant,

around him, and the hoped-for patron in a hopeful man's robe.

While the hopeful one wears the garb of aspiration.

كأنّا بنوه أهلُهُ وعَشِيرُهُ

كأنّا بنوه أهلُهُ وعَشِيرُهُ

يُرَشِّحُنَا بالمَأثُراتِ الجلائل

يُرَشِّحُنَا بالمَأثُراتِ الجلائل

As though we were his sons, his household, and his intimates,

It is as though we are his family, his kin,

he nurtures us with glorious noble deeds.

Who gift us with those noble favors.

يُطيفُ بطَلق الوجهِ للعُرْفِ قائلٍ

يُطيفُ بطَلق الوجهِ للعُرْفِ قائلٍ

وبالعُرْفِ أمّارٍ وللُعرْفِ فاعل

وبالعُرْفِ أمّارٍ وللُعرْفِ فاعل

One circles a smiling man, a spokesman for kindness,

Circling with bright face, saying to custom,

commanding kindness and practicing kindness,

"By custom pass and for custom act."

بمبسوط كفِّ الجودِ للرّزقِ قاسِمٍ

بمبسوط كفِّ الجودِ للرّزقِ قاسِمٍ

ومسلولِ سيْفِ النصرِ للدين شامل

ومسلولِ سيْفِ النصرِ للدين شامل

with generosity's hand outstretched, distributing sustenance,

With open palm dividing sustenance,

and victory's sword drawn, sheltering the faith.

And drawn sword aiding faith universally.

فتىً كلُّ سعيٍ من مساعيهِ قِبلةٌ

فتىً كلُّ سعيٍ من مساعيهِ قِبلةٌ

يُصَلّي إليها كلُّ مجْدٍ ونائل

يُصَلّي إليها كلُّ مجْدٍ ونائل

A young man whose every endeavor is a direction for prayer,

A prince whose every effort is devout service

toward which all glory and bounty pray.

To which every glory makes its prayer.

وفي كُلّ يوْمٍ فِيهِ للشّعرِ مَذهَبٌ

وفي كُلّ يوْمٍ فِيهِ للشّعرِ مَذهَبٌ

على أنّهُ لم يُبْقِ قَوْلاً لِقائل

على أنّهُ لم يُبْقِ قَوْلاً لِقائل

And every day there is in him a path for poetry,

And everyday versifiers find in their craft

although he has left no word for any speaker.

That no poem remains for a poet to create.