يا عَفيفَ الدّينِ الَّذي يَدُه صر

يا عَفيفَ الدّينِ الَّذي يَدُه صر

فٌ بِهِ أَسْتَكفُّ صَرْفَ الزَّمانِ

فٌ بِهِ أَسْتَكفُّ صَرْفَ الزَّمانِ

O ʿAfif al-Din, whose hand is pure coin—

O virtuous man whose hand is bound,

with which I ward off the turns of time;

With which I suffice against the turns of time,

وَالَّذي أَحسَنَ الوَفاءَ بِعَهدي

وَالَّذي أَحسَنَ الوَفاءَ بِعَهدي

فَاِتّهمت الوافين مِن خِلّاني

فَاِتّهمت الوافين مِن خِلّاني

and who fulfilled his pledge to me so well

And who was best in keeping his promise with me,

that I suspected the faithful among my friends;

So the faithful were blamed for my abandonment,

وَالَّذي في هَواهُ أَخلَصتُ دِيني

وَالَّذي في هَواهُ أَخلَصتُ دِيني

يوم تُبْلَى سرائرُ الأديانِ

يوم تُبْلَى سرائرُ الأديانِ

and in love for whom I made my faith sincere

And whose love I devoted my religion to,

against the day when faiths' inner secrets are tested.

The day the secrets of religions fade away,

أَنا أَشكو إِلَيك داياً أَداني ال

أَنا أَشكو إِلَيك داياً أَداني ال

عَتْبَ فيما مَضى على عِمرانِ

عَتْبَ فيما مَضى على عِمرانِ

I complain to you of a dāyā [unclear], who brought me to—

I complain to you of a life that tried me,

reproach, in the past, concerning ʿImran.

No reproach for what has passed of my life,

وَهْوَ عِندي موسى بن عِمْران لِلْحَظْ

وَهْوَ عِندي موسى بن عِمْران لِلْحَظْ

وةِ فيما أَنُصُّ من ديواني

وةِ فيما أَنُصُّ من ديواني

To me he is Moses son of ʿImran, so favored—

For me, it is like Moses the son of Imran regarding,

in what I set down in my collected poems.

What I compose in my poetry collection.

أَقسَمَ الناسُ ما رَأَوا مُسلِماً قَب

أَقسَمَ الناسُ ما رَأَوا مُسلِماً قَب

لي حَنَا قلبُهُ على عِبْراني

لي حَنَا قلبُهُ على عِبْراني

People swore they had never seen a Muslim before—

People swore they never saw before me,

me whose heart inclined tenderly toward a Hebrew.

A heart as caring for the Hebrews as mine.

كَيفَ كَشْخَنْتُهُ ولم يَكُ بِالكَو

كَيفَ كَشْخَنْتُهُ ولم يَكُ بِالكَو

شَحِ يا لَيتَ كانَ في اِسْتي لِساني

شَحِ يا لَيتَ كانَ في اِسْتي لِساني

How did I call him a cuckold, when he was no kawshaḥ [unclear]—

How I protected him, yet he was not,

O, would that my tongue were in my arse!

Stingy, if only my tongue had power over him.

مِلتُ عَمّن أَسا وَأَفحَشَ في اللَّوْ

مِلتُ عَمّن أَسا وَأَفحَشَ في اللَّوْ

مِ إِلى مَن لم يأل في الإِحسانِ

مِ إِلى مَن لم يأل في الإِحسانِ

I turned from one who wronged me and was foul in blame—

I'm tired of one who did me wrong and was vulgar,

toward one who spared no effort in doing good;

To one who did not cease doing good.

عن عُتَاةٍ تَخَوَّنوا بالأذى دا

عن عُتَاةٍ تَخَوَّنوا بالأذى دا

ري عُتُوّاً وأَزْعَجُوا جيراني

ري عُتُوّاً وأَزْعَجُوا جيراني

away from insolent men who treacherously encroached upon my house—

Of aggressors who betrayed me with harm,

with arrogant malice, and disturbed my neighbors.

My neighbor wronged me and disturbed my neighbors.

ضَربوا البوقَ أَنَّني عن أُلوف

ضَربوا البوقَ أَنَّني عن أُلوف

متُّ فَكّوا عَنها رُؤوسَ البراني

متُّ فَكّوا عَنها رُؤوسَ البراني

They trumpeted that, leaving thousands behind,

They trumpeted that I abandoned thousands,

I had died; they pried the lids off the jars.

And uncovered from it the heads of the innocent.

لَيسَ فيها زَيف ولا عَجميّ

لَيسَ فيها زَيف ولا عَجميّ

لا ولا ناقص ولا بَرَّاني

لا ولا ناقص ولا بَرَّاني

There was no counterfeit in them, nor any foreign coin—

There is no fraud, foreigner, deficiency or fleecing in it,

no, nor one short of weight, nor any outside coin.

So by my horses when they gallop, my boys,

فَبِغالي إِذا اِسْبَطَرَّتْ وَغِلما

فَبِغالي إِذا اِسْبَطَرَّتْ وَغِلما

ني وَما أَثمرَت خِصي غِلماني

ني وَما أَثمرَت خِصي غِلماني

So my mules, when they stretch out, and my boys—

And what my testicles produced of boys,

and whatever my boys' testicles produce—

Who claimed that I own property that distracted me from collecting it.

حَشْو أمِّ الّذي اِدّعى أنّ لي ما

حَشْو أمِّ الّذي اِدّعى أنّ لي ما

لاً عَناني عَن جَمعِهِ ما عَناني

لاً عَناني عَن جَمعِهِ ما عَناني

shall stuff the mother of whoever claimed I had wealth—

Where is the face of the work that I do,

which my troubles kept me from amassing.

Among the faces of the merchants and notables?

أَينَ وَجهُ الكَسْبِ الَّذي أَنا فيهِ

أَينَ وَجهُ الكَسْبِ الَّذي أَنا فيهِ

مِن وُجوهُ التُّجَّار والأعيانِ

مِن وُجوهُ التُّجَّار والأعيانِ

Where is the means of earning that I pursue

I am the man of wealth, O people of meanness, I have,

among the ways of merchants and notables?

No barren land, farm, or forgetfulness,

أَنا ذو المالِ يا بَني البَظْرِ لا خا

أَنا ذو المالِ يا بَني البَظْرِ لا خا

لي ولا ضَيعَتي ولا نِسياني

لي ولا ضَيعَتي ولا نِسياني

I am the wealthy one, you sons of the clitoris—not my uncle—

Nor do I have a bundle that can be opened,

nor my estate, nor my forgetfulness.

Or appointment while I am in disgrace, or treasures.

لا ولا رزمتي تحلّ ولا زمْ

لا ولا رزمتي تحلّ ولا زمْ

تيَ مستبضعاً ولا كناني

تيَ مستبضعاً ولا كناني

No, nor is my bundle untied, nor my zamt [unclear]—

Take what I gained in poetry through poetry,

entrusted for trade, nor my quiver.

Taste the bitterness of deprivation.

اِقتَنوا ما اِقتَنَيت بِالشِّعْر في الشِّعْ

اِقتَنوا ما اِقتَنَيت بِالشِّعْر في الشِّعْ

رِ تَذُوقوا مرارةَ الحرمانِ

رِ تَذُوقوا مرارةَ الحرمانِ

Acquire through poetry what I acquired through poetry—

O husbands of prostitutes, my clenched fist deceived you,

and taste the bitterness of deprivation.

And my holding back my tongue from you.

يا بُعولَ القِحاب غَرَّكُمُ كف

يا بُعولَ القِحاب غَرَّكُمُ كف

فِيَ كفّي عنكم وَحَبسي لِساني

فِيَ كفّي عنكم وَحَبسي لِساني

O husbands of whores, you were deceived by my withholding—

And you looked at my outer garment, so you died,

my hand from you, and restraining my tongue.

Before my death, because of it and my shirts.

وَنَظرتُمْ إِلى جِبابي فَمُتُّمْ

وَنَظرتُمْ إِلى جِبابي فَمُتُّمْ

قَبلَ مَوتي مِنها وَمِن قُمصاني

قَبلَ مَوتي مِنها وَمِن قُمصاني

You looked at my robes and died

And on it the building was, so you were,

before my death, from them and from my shirts.

Under these shells, the pearls of youth.

وَعَلَيها كانَ البِناءُ فَخِلْتُمْ

وَعَلَيها كانَ البِناءُ فَخِلْتُمْ

تَحتَ هَذي الأَصدافِ دُرَّ الصَّباني

تَحتَ هَذي الأَصدافِ دُرَّ الصَّباني

Upon them your supposition rested, and you imagined

And your informers saw that I had a fire,

al-Ṣabani's pearls beneath these shells.

Hidden behind that smoke.

وَرَأى جائِبوكم أنَّ لي ناراً

وَرَأى جائِبوكم أنَّ لي ناراً

توارى وَراءَ ذاكَ الدُّخانِ

توارى وَراءَ ذاكَ الدُّخانِ

Your scouts thought I had a fire

They got up when the eulogizer among you got up,

hidden behind that smoke.

Every billy goat saying the roar of the meadows,

قَامَ لَمَّا أَنْ قَامَ ناعِيَّ مِنكُم

قَامَ لَمَّا أَنْ قَامَ ناعِيَّ مِنكُم

كلّ تَيْسٍ يقول زِير روانِ

كلّ تَيْسٍ يقول زِير روانِ

When one of you rose to announce my death,

Gloating over me, and if he were to die, he would not,

every he-goat rose saying, “zīr rawān” [unclear phrase],

For my shame, sneer, if his lips died.

شَامِتاً بي وَلَو يَموت لَما اِفتر

شَامِتاً بي وَلَو يَموت لَما اِفتر

رَ لشَرْمي من موته شفتانِ

رَ لشَرْمي من موته شفتانِ

gloating over me; yet if he died, not even—

The secret of my death was the day I was robbed between,

the two lips of my arse would part at his death.

The chin of a mule and the eye of a horse.

سرّ مَوتي كانَ يَومَ اِنتِهابي بَينَ

سرّ مَوتي كانَ يَومَ اِنتِهابي بَينَ

ذَقنِ الخرا وعين الحصانِ

ذَقنِ الخرا وعين الحصانِ

The secret of my death lay, on the day I was plundered, between—

Between two billy goats from two tribes whose opinion,

the chin of shit and the eye of a horse;

Was united to guaranty.

بَينَ تَيْسَيْن مِن قبيلين قد أل

بَينَ تَيْسَيْن مِن قبيلين قد أل

لَف رأيَيْهما إلى الدّامانِ

لَف رأيَيْهما إلى الدّامانِ

between two he-goats from two clans, whose views had been—

And the two adversaries plundered my inheritance,

united toward al-Daman [unclear].

In a vinegar vessel from which they drink.

وَأَصارَ الضِّدَّين نهْبَ تراثي

وَأَصارَ الضِّدَّين نهْبَ تراثي

في إِناء من خَلِّه يَشْرَبانِ

في إِناء من خَلِّه يَشْرَبانِ

Plundering my inheritance made the two adversaries

They both lie, neither supporter among them,

drink from one vessel of its vinegar.

Nor Uthmani contracts and ties the knot.

وهُما يَكذِبانِ لا عَلَوِيٌّ

وهُما يَكذِبانِ لا عَلَوِيٌّ

منهما عاقدٌ ولا عُثْمَاني

منهما عاقدٌ ولا عُثْمَاني

Both lie: neither an Alid—

God knows that the two sheikhs have no religion,

among them holds that creed, nor an Uthmanid.

That would satisfy the two sheikhs.

يَعلَمُ اللَّهُ أنّه لَيسَ لِلشَي

يَعلَمُ اللَّهُ أنّه لَيسَ لِلشَي

خَينِ دِينٌ يَرضى بِهِ الشَّيخانِ

خَينِ دِينٌ يَرضى بِهِ الشَّيخانِ

God knows that the two old men have no—

You have crossed the line, O ill-omened fate,

faith that would please the Two Shaykhs.

And you disasters of time have gathered.

قَد عَدوتَ المقدارَ يا شُؤمَ بَختي

قَد عَدوتَ المقدارَ يا شُؤمَ بَختي

وَتَجمَّعتِ يا صُرُوفَ زَماني

وَتَجمَّعتِ يا صُرُوفَ زَماني

You have exceeded the limit, O my ill fortune!

You have tied me with half blind and dark,

You have converged, O turns of my time!

Who brought the worst of the vicious and the diseased.

غِلْتُماني بِنصفِ أَعمى وَأَلْحى

غِلْتُماني بِنصفِ أَعمى وَأَلْحى

جَلَبا السَّيِّئَيْنِ مِن ميسانِ

جَلَبا السَّيِّئَيْنِ مِن ميسانِ

You two treacherously slew me with a half-blind man and a heavily bearded one,

O two wishes attacking the dead,

who brought the two evil ones from Maysan.

To revive an ember come from Oman.

يا أُمنِيتين تهجُمان على المَو

يا أُمنِيتين تهجُمان على المَو

تى تحيي قبسٍ وارد عُمَانِ

تى تحيي قبسٍ وارد عُمَانِ

O two wishes, storming upon the dead—

This vile one's honor melted away,

you revive a spark arriving in ʿUman.

And this amulet is for the feeble.

ذاب هذا النَّذيل من عرضه الحتْ

ذاب هذا النَّذيل من عرضه الحتْ

م وهذا التميم للرَّعْفَانِ

م وهذا التميم للرَّعْفَانِ

This vile fellow melted from his doomed honor [reading unclear]—

And if they depend on the feebleness of a weakling,

and this Tamim is for nosebleeding [reading unclear].

The Hashimi bier moves to the Marwani.

وإذا عَوَّلا على رَعْفِ شَلٍّ

وإذا عَوَّلا على رَعْفِ شَلٍّ

نُعشَ الهاشميُّ لِلمَرَواني

نُعشَ الهاشميُّ لِلمَرَواني

When both relied on the bleeding of a cripple,

And when there is no self-conceit,

the Hashimite was revived for the Marwanid.

My legs fly to Tahtani.

وَإِذا ما البُخُوتُ خلتُ فشاهي

وَإِذا ما البُخُوتُ خلتُ فشاهي

نا بساقٍ طارتْ إلى التَّحْتَاني

نا بساقٍ طارتْ إلى التَّحْتَاني

And when fortunes—I supposed [reading unclear]—then our falcon—

The slaves have established their rights, and the honored,

flew on one leg toward the lower one.

Have been humiliated in knowledge and the Turkmen have dragged them.

أَحكَما حقَّه العبيدُ وذلَّ الز

أَحكَما حقَّه العبيدُ وذلَّ الز

زُطُّ علماً وجراه التُركُمانِ

زُطُّ علماً وجراه التُركُمانِ

The slaves secured his due, and the—

Among them was a raven, a raven of discord,

Zuṭṭ were humbled in knowledge, while the Turkomans dragged him.

And the one-eyed, blind and helpless.

كانَ فيها غراب بَيْني غراب ال

كانَ فيها غراب بَيْني غراب ال

بَيْن والأعورُ الضَّريرُ العواني

بَيْن والأعورُ الضَّريرُ العواني

There was in it the crow of my separation, the crow of—

They made me Qarun - woe is me - with lies,

separation, and the one-eyed, blind al-ʿAwani.

Not an unbeliever with slander.

جَعَلوني قارونَ وَيْلي على دف

جَعَلوني قارونَ وَيْلي على دف

فَين لا كافراً من البُهْتَانِ

فَين لا كافراً من البُهْتَانِ

They made me Qarun—woe to me—on two—

Do you see me eating up my children's food,

boards, not an unbeliever, through slander.

Like what the Caesar used to do?

أَتُرَاني أكلتُ جزرَ عِيالي

أَتُرَاني أكلتُ جزرَ عِيالي

مِثلَ ما كانَ يفعلُ القَيْسَراني

مِثلَ ما كانَ يفعلُ القَيْسَراني

Do you think I ate my family's slaughter-meat,

Or hoarding money in my son Khalid,

as al-Qaysarani used to do?

The year Sinan's mother led him?

أَم كَنَزتُ الفلوسَ في خالدِ اِبني

أَم كَنَزتُ الفلوسَ في خالدِ اِبني

عام قادت عليه أمّ سِنانِ

عام قادت عليه أمّ سِنانِ

Or did I hoard coins in Khalid, my son,

Or my oils killed the martyr, while I own,

the year Umm Sinan acted as his procuress?

Profits in the Ma'arrah of Nu'man?

أَم دَهاني قتلُ الشّهيد وَعِندي

أَم دَهاني قتلُ الشّهيد وَعِندي

حاصِلٌ في مَعَرَّةِ النُّعْمانِ

حاصِلٌ في مَعَرَّةِ النُّعْمانِ

Or did the martyr's murder befall me while I had—

Or have I taken over enumerating what,

holdings in Maʿarrat al-Nuʿman?

Ibn Ziyad used to collect of the villages' stores?

أَم تَولّيتُ سَرد ما كان يجني

أَم تَولّيتُ سَرد ما كان يجني

ه ابنُ زيدانَ من خُدور القِيانِ

ه ابنُ زيدانَ من خُدور القِيانِ

Or did I undertake to tally what was gathered—

Or do you see me coming out against Ibn Nusaybi,

by Ibn Zaydan from singing-girls' private chambers?

Who ate the validated books with impunity?

أم تراني خرجت في ابن النَّصي

أم تراني خرجت في ابن النَّصي

بيِّ أكيلُ الصِّحاح بالغفرانِ

بيِّ أكيلُ الصِّحاح بالغفرانِ

Or do you think I ventured concerning Ibn al-Nasibi,

Or did I complain like him, so for me are,

measuring out full-weight coins for forgiveness?

A thousand acres when I'm content with a hundred?

أم تعلَّلتُ مثله فليَ اليو

أم تعلَّلتُ مثله فليَ اليو

مَ إِذا ما اِقتَصرتُ أَلف فدانِ

مَ إِذا ما اِقتَصرتُ أَلف فدانِ

Or did I make excuses like him, so that today I have—

Or am I one of a group who stained with debt,

even speaking modestly, a thousand feddans?

Until they accounted for blood money for the indebted?

أَم أَنا مِن جماعَةٍ غَمّسوا بالد

أَم أَنا مِن جماعَةٍ غَمّسوا بالد

دينِ حَتّى اِحتَسوا دِماءَ الدِّنانِ

دينِ حَتّى اِحتَسوا دِماءَ الدِّنانِ

Or am I one of those who dipped in religion—

They bent it into supererogatory acts with perception,

until they sipped the blood of wine-jars?

In which their ostentation and reciting Quran were shown.

كوّروها جوالقاتٍ بفقهٍ با

كوّروها جوالقاتٍ بفقهٍ با

ن فيه رياؤهم وقرانِ

ن فيه رياؤهم وقرانِ

They bundled them into sacks through a jurisprudence—

Or did I break the quarters like the breaking of Banu,

in which their hypocrisy, and qirān [unclear], appeared.

Muhjawir with lies or Banu Za'faran?

أم كسرتُ الجهات كسْرَ بني مح

أم كسرتُ الجهات كسْرَ بني مح

جوبَ بالبُهْتِ أو بني الزَّعْفَرانِ

جوبَ بالبُهْتِ أو بني الزَّعْفَرانِ

Or did I ruin the districts as Banu Mahjub did—

Or have I committed adultery after donning the rags,

through lies—or Banu al-Zaʿfaran?

And it overflowed like the noon drinks?

أتجانَى مِن بَعدِ ما ألبسَ الد

أتجانَى مِن بَعدِ ما ألبسَ الد

دَلق وقد فاضَ كالغُذَاةِ صماني

دَلق وقد فاضَ كالغُذَاةِ صماني

Am I falsely accused, after putting on the patched cloak—

Which of those I lampooned and praised,

while my ṣamānī overflowed like al-ghudhāh [unclear]?

If his name were included in my poetry collection,

أَي بِأَنّي رَهَنتُ داري وَصَرَّفْ

أَي بِأَنّي رَهَنتُ داري وَصَرَّفْ

ت بَقايا الأَسمالِ مِن خُلْقاني

ت بَقايا الأَسمالِ مِن خُلْقاني

That is, because I pawned my house and disposed of—

It would be good fortune for him. And how many Solomons do I have in the land,

the remaining tatters of my worn-out clothes,

If ignorance came over me from my ignorant father?

واقفاً بالرّقاع في كلّ فجٍّ

واقفاً بالرّقاع في كلّ فجٍّ

أتَرَجَّى مَرَاحم السُّلطانِ

أتَرَجَّى مَرَاحم السُّلطانِ

standing with petitions in every lane,

O Abu Salim, if you are to reconcile with me,

hoping for the sultan's mercies.

Then destiny is among my supporters.

ومتى صمَّموا على

ومتى صمَّموا على

تثنى من دفاتر الدّيوانِ

تثنى من دفاتر الدّيوانِ

And whenever they resolved upon [text incomplete]—

And Abu Fadl is for me and sufficient for me is Abu Fadl,

being doubled from the bureau's registers [reading unclear].

When virtue drops the heaviness of confusion.

حينَ أَغشى بِالبيض دارَ فُلانٍ

حينَ أَغشى بِالبيض دارَ فُلانٍ

وأُحيي بالصُّفْر دون فُلانِ

وأُحيي بالصُّفْر دون فُلانِ

When I visit So-and-so's house with silver coins,

And when the dispossessed complain about my state,

and greet with gold coins before So-and-so,

In a year of dearth, while you two are the caretakers,

فَتَرى كُلَّ مَن تولَّى عذابي

فَتَرى كُلَّ مَن تولَّى عذابي

بَعدَ رِزقِ الأَعوادِ مِن أَعواني

بَعدَ رِزقِ الأَعوادِ مِن أَعواني

you see everyone who undertook my torment,

If you live, then the bridge is mine, and stronghold,

after the wooden rods' allowance, among my helpers.

And protection, precedence and care are mine.

مَن عَذيري مِن أُمَّةٍ كُنتُ فيهم

مَن عَذيري مِن أُمَّةٍ كُنتُ فيهم

قبل موتي قُبَيْل موت هواني

قبل موتي قُبَيْل موت هواني

Who will vindicate me against a people among whom I lived—

My chamber throws sparks, and my mule prances,

before my death, shortly before the death of my humiliation?

From the irritation of commands.

ما سَقوني كفّاً ولا أَطعَموني

ما سَقوني كفّاً ولا أَطعَموني

لُقمةً مُذ تلاحك الطنبانِ

لُقمةً مُذ تلاحك الطنبانِ

They gave me no palmful to drink, nor fed me—

And I raise my gaze between my mule and my cushion,

a morsel, since the two tent-ropes pressed together.

To them, and my room and my horse.

حَرَموني وَكُنتُ أَشكُرُهم مَطْ

حَرَموني وَكُنتُ أَشكُرُهم مَطْ

هَرَ عِرقٍ منّي وَطيبَ لُبانِ

هَرَ عِرقٍ منّي وَطيبَ لُبانِ

They denied me; yet I thanked them, through the purity—

Amin was generous until he became stingy,

of my own stock and the goodness of nursing milk.

Then I was generous, so Ibn Hani made light of me.

فَمَتى أَبْصَرَ الورَى شاعِراً قب

فَمَتى أَبْصَرَ الورَى شاعِراً قب

لي تَولّى شُكراً على الحِرْمَانِ

لي تَولّى شُكراً على الحِرْمَانِ

When had mankind seen a poet before—

They envied me, and where is one who poured oil,

me offering thanks for deprivation?

On the stomachs of the gently-bred and the plowers?

ثُمَّ لَمّا حَصلتُ في الحَرَم المُحْ

ثُمَّ لَمّا حَصلتُ في الحَرَم المُحْ

رمِ لي مِن مَكانِهِ وَمَكاني

رمِ لي مِن مَكانِهِ وَمَكاني

Then, when I entered the sanctuary made inviolable—

And the eulogizer is suffering, so they enumerated his virtues,

for me by his standing and mine,

And what he kept secret of grievances appeared.

عِندَ أَزكى الملوكِ أَصلاً وَوَصلاً

عِندَ أَزكى الملوكِ أَصلاً وَوَصلاً

أَن تَناصوا لِلفَخرِ يَومَ رِهانِ

أَن تَناصوا لِلفَخرِ يَومَ رِهانِ

with the purest of kings in lineage and connection,

And the unseemly among them walked to the horned,

should they grapple for glory on a day of contest;

Praising what my hands made there.

مَن إِذا قويسَ الوَرى كانَ مِن أَصْ

مَن إِذا قويسَ الوَرى كانَ مِن أَصْ

غرِ غِلمانِهِ بَنو حَمدانِ

غرِ غِلمانِهِ بَنو حَمدانِ

one who, when mankind is compared, has among the least—

Then when he deafened them, he considered it,

of his servant-boys the sons of Hamdan;

A denial and refusal, praising what I made.

هادِماً ما بَنَوا وَدَهرهُم يَعْ

هادِماً ما بَنَوا وَدَهرهُم يَعْ

جَزُ أَن يَهدمَ الَّذي هُو باني

جَزُ أَن يَهدمَ الَّذي هُو باني

demolishing what they built, while their age is powerless—

And the skilled asked me, thinking,

to demolish what he builds.

That aloofness would be from my eyelids.

مَلكٌ صِرتُ في ذُراه فلا مَسْ

مَلكٌ صِرتُ في ذُراه فلا مَسْ

لمةٌ أمسى من بني مروانِ

لمةٌ أمسى من بني مروانِ

A king whose shelter I entered; no Maslama—

They speculated that I excelled, so they were proud,

is now among the sons of Marwan [reading unclear].

Of the nonsense of my excellence upon the chins.

أَرفَعُ الطَّرْفَ بَينَ بَغْلي وبِرْذَوْ

أَرفَعُ الطَّرْفَ بَينَ بَغْلي وبِرْذَوْ

ني إِلَيهِم وَحُجرَتي وَحِصاني

ني إِلَيهِم وَحُجرَتي وَحِصاني

I lift my gaze between my mule and my hack—

Oh what an issue that carried away my happiness,

toward them, and my mare and my stallion.

That I was sent as the second Noah.

جادَ حتّى عبد الأمين بخيلاً

جادَ حتّى عبد الأمين بخيلاً

ثمّ جوَّدتُ فَاِستهين اِبن هاني

ثمّ جوَّدتُ فَاِستهين اِبن هاني

He gave till ʿAbd al-Amin seemed miserly;

It guaranteed my survival, then the drowning,

then I excelled, and Ibn Hani was held cheap.

Of the gloaters increased in my flood.

حَسَدوني وَأَينَ مَن شَعّف السم

حَسَدوني وَأَينَ مَن شَعّف السم

مَ بطونَ الوهاد والغيطانِ

مَ بطونَ الوهاد والغيطانِ

They envied me; and where is he who inflamed poison—

It was only an hour, then it took away,

in the bellies of hollows and lowlands? [Reading unclear.]

The scales' pans from the people of meanness.

وَتعانى الناعي فسَنُّوا مُداهُم

وَتعانى الناعي فسَنُّوا مُداهُم

وبدا ما أسرَّ من شنآنِ

وبدا ما أسرَّ من شنآنِ

The death-announcer took pains, so they sharpened their knives,

It was said to be a quake, so he hid,

and the rancor he had concealed appeared.

In the bosom of his mother, he who disgraced me.

وَمَشى مِنهُمُ الأجمُّ إلى ال

وَمَشى مِنهُمُ الأجمُّ إلى ال

أقْرنِ حَمداً هناكَ ما قَد هناني

أقْرنِ حَمداً هناكَ ما قَد هناني

The hornless one among them went to the—

And they left dripping with deceit,

horned one, praising there what had gladdened me.

And faces painted with saffron.

ثُمَّ لَمّا أَصمَّهمْ أتراها

ثُمَّ لَمّا أَصمَّهمْ أتراها

أَنْ نكيراً ومُنْكراً حمد ماني

أَنْ نكيراً ومُنْكراً حمد ماني

Then, when it deafened them—do you suppose—

This is like chicory from the loins of protector,

that Nakir and Munkar praised Mani? [Reading unclear.]

And that is like mallow for jaundice.

وَاِستَسلّا مِنّي المُهنَّد ظنّاً

وَاِستَسلّا مِنّي المُهنَّد ظنّاً

أَن تَكون اللُّحُودُ من أَجفاني

أَن تَكون اللُّحُودُ من أَجفاني

The two drew the Indian-steel sword from me, thinking—

And tomorrow we will meet, and the cupping-glass will bubble,

that graves would be among my scabbards.

When it smells the sprigs of lemongrass.

طَيَّرُوا أَنَّني فلحت فَخَرّوا

طَيَّرُوا أَنَّني فلحت فَخَرّوا

في خرافالحي على الأذقانِ

في خرافالحي على الأذقانِ

They spread the news that I had prospered, and fell—

And you see the falcon has risen up from my roof,

among the quarter's sheep upon their chins.

So the rocks of Al-Karwan have flowed.

يا لَها علّة أَطارَت بِحُسّا

يا لَها علّة أَطارَت بِحُسّا

دي أنّي بُعثتُ نوحَ الثاني

دي أنّي بُعثتُ نوحَ الثاني

What an illness, that sent my enviers flying—

Where am I from the people of aqueducts and gardens,

for I was raised as a second Noah!

If I release the sunset of their building?

ضَمِنَت لي بقاءَهُ ثمَّ زَادت

ضَمِنَت لي بقاءَهُ ثمَّ زَادت

غَرقُ الشامتين في طوفاني

غَرقُ الشامتين في طوفاني

It guaranteed me his longevity, then added—

Or are these not the fruits of one who was saved,

the drowning of those who gloated, in my flood.

From the eighties behind the eighties?

لَم يَكُن غير ساعةٍ ثمَّ شالَت

لَم يَكُن غير ساعةٍ ثمَّ شالَت

ببني البظر كفَّةُ الميزانِ

ببني البظر كفَّةُ الميزانِ

It was only an hour; then the scale-pan rose—

He flew behind the hundred in verse, and his ingenuity,

with the sons of the clitoris in it.

Ninety arguments and two witnesses pruned him.

قيل كانت إرجافةً فَتَوَا

قيل كانت إرجافةً فَتَوَا

رى في حِرا أُمِّهِ الذي ورّاني

رى في حِرا أُمِّهِ الذي ورّاني

It was said, “It was a false rumor”; so he hid—

His poetry amazed people, and he is dead,

in his mother's cunt, he who had buried me.

Tucked into the folds of the shroud.

وَمَضَوا تقطِرُ الأَخادِعُ فرصا

وَمَضَوا تقطِرُ الأَخادِعُ فرصا

داً وتُطْلَى الوجوهُ بالزَّعْفَرَانِ

داً وتُطْلَى الوجوهُ بالزَّعْفَرَانِ

They went away, their neck-veins dripping mulberry juice—

It is miraculous, it was proven true by it, if you prophecy,

and their faces smeared with saffron.

And I have not come with proof.

هَذِهِ كَالشَقيقِ مِن صالِبِ الحم

هَذِهِ كَالشَقيقِ مِن صالِبِ الحم

مَى وهذي كالورْسِ لليرقانِ

مَى وهذي كالورْسِ لليرقانِ

This one is like an anemone from raging fever—

I am a sheikh, if his rhymes are connected,

and that one like yellow wars-dye from jaundice.

They fly above the hypocrisy of the youth.

وَغَداً نَلتقي وَيَنجَحِرُ السَّرْ

وَغَداً نَلتقي وَيَنجَحِرُ السَّرْ

ح إذا شمَّ بنَّة السَّرحانِ

ح إذا شمَّ بنَّة السَّرحانِ

Tomorrow we shall meet, and the grazing herd will hide in its holes—

Not heavy when he converses, his molar engraves,

when it smells the wolf's scent.

Meanings in the engraved meanings.

وَتَرى البازَ قَد تَطاوَلَ من سَر

وَتَرى البازَ قَد تَطاوَلَ من سَر

حي فَسالَت جَواعِر الكروانِ

حي فَسالَت جَواعِر الكروانِ

You will see the hawk rise high when I loose it—

Neither is his spittle that drips down the love,

and the curlews' arseholes stream.

From above the watering place of the devil.

أين منّي بني القناطر والحا

أين منّي بني القناطر والحا

نات إنْ أطلقتْ غروبَ بنانِ

نات إنْ أطلقتْ غروبَ بنانِ

Where, compared with me, are the sons of bridges and taverns—

Neither is his foot when it enters the house, a misfortune,

if my fingers' sharp points are unleashed?

Bitter for its inhabitants.

أَو ما هَذِهِ نَتائِجُ مَن نا

أَو ما هَذِهِ نَتائِجُ مَن نا

جَى الثمانين من وراء ثمانِ

جَى الثمانين من وراء ثمانِ

Are these not the fruits of one who whispered—

He meets the frown of his days smiling,

to eighty, from beyond eight?

Wicked, loose-reined libertine.

طار خلف المائين نظماً وقد قص

طار خلف المائين نظماً وقد قص

صَتهُ تِسعونَ حجّةً وَاِثنتانِ

صَتهُ تِسعونَ حجّةً وَاِثنتانِ

He flew in verse after two hundred [reading uncertain], though clipped—

And if the market becomes congested with hypocrisy,

by ninety years and two.

He sells the perfume of gifts for free.

أَطرَبَ الناسَ شِعره وهوَ مَيتٌ

أَطرَبَ الناسَ شِعره وهوَ مَيتٌ

مُدْمَجٌ في لفائف الأكفانِ

مُدْمَجٌ في لفائف الأكفانِ

His poetry delighted people while he was dead,

So congratulations to those I satirized and praised,

wrapped tightly in the folds of shrouds.

If his name is included in my poetry collection.

معجزٌ صَحَّ لي به إن تنَبَّأْ

معجزٌ صَحَّ لي به إن تنَبَّأْ

تُ وما قد أتيتُ بالبرهانِ

تُ وما قد أتيتُ بالبرهانِ

A miracle by which my claim would be confirmed, were I to proclaim prophecy—

If ignorance from my ignorant father overtook me,

though I have not yet brought the proof.

And how many Solomons do I have in the land?

أنا شيخ إذا تَوَصَّتْ قوافي

أنا شيخ إذا تَوَصَّتْ قوافي

ه أطارت عنافق الشُبَّانِ

ه أطارت عنافق الشُبَّانِ

I am an old man whose rhymes, when they ring out [reading uncertain]—

O Abu Salim, if you reconcile with me,

blow away the tufts beneath young men's lips.

Then destiny is among my supporters.

جلب ابن الحجّاج تمراً وشِعْري

جلب ابن الحجّاج تمراً وشِعْري

فيه فَوْحُ التُّفَّاح من لُبْنانِ

فيه فَوْحُ التُّفَّاح من لُبْنانِ

Ibn al-Hajjaj brought dates; my poetry—

And Abu Fadl is for me and sufficient for me is Abu Fadl,

contains the fragrance of apples from Lebanon.

When virtue drops the heaviness of confusion.

فِقَرٌ تحصد الفقار إذا الحس

فِقَرٌ تحصد الفقار إذا الحس

ساد صنَّتْ منهم على الآذانِ

ساد صنَّتْ منهم على الآذانِ

Verses that reap backbones, when the envious—

send their buzzing against the ears.

كنسيم الصّباح جَمَّشَ حدَّ الر

كنسيم الصّباح جَمَّشَ حدَّ الر

راح فرَّتْ عنهُ ثغورُ القناني

راح فرَّتْ عنهُ ثغورُ القناني

Like the morning breeze that fondled the sharp edge of wine—

the mouths of bottles parted before it.

شاعر كلُّ بعرةٍ منه كالدُّر

شاعر كلُّ بعرةٍ منه كالدُّر

رَةِ تُشْرَى بأوفر الأثمانِ

رَةِ تُشْرَى بأوفر الأثمانِ

A poet whose every dung-pellet is like a pearl—

bought at the highest prices.

لا ثَقيلَ إِذا تَشَدَّقَ يَقسو

لا ثَقيلَ إِذا تَشَدَّقَ يَقسو

ضرسه في مُضَرَّساتِ المعاني

ضرسه في مُضَرَّساتِ المعاني

Not a bore whose molar, when he mouths his words, hardens—

amid meanings with jagged teeth.

لا ولا طيلسانُه أهْدَلَ الشَّق

لا ولا طيلسانُه أهْدَلَ الشَّق

قَة من فوق مُقْلَتَيْ شيطانِ

قَة من فوق مُقْلَتَيْ شيطانِ

No, nor does his mantle let its flap droop—

over a devil's two eyes.

لا ولا رِجْلُهُ إذا وَلَج الدَّا

لا ولا رِجْلُهُ إذا وَلَج الدَّا

ر وبالٌ مُرٌّ على السُّكَّانِ

ر وبالٌ مُرٌّ على السُّكَّانِ

No, nor is his foot, when he enters a house—

a bitter blight upon its inhabitants.

يتلقّى عبوسَ أيّامه طَلْ

يتلقّى عبوسَ أيّامه طَلْ

قاً خليعَ العِذار رخْوَ العِنَانِ

قاً خليعَ العِذار رخْوَ العِنَانِ

He meets his days' scowls with an open face—

his cheek-strap cast off, his rein slack.

وإذا سوقةٌ تَلَظَّت نفاقاً

وإذا سوقةٌ تَلَظَّت نفاقاً

باع عطرَ المُجَّان بالمَجَّانِ

باع عطرَ المُجَّان بالمَجَّانِ

When commoners blaze with hypocrisy,

he sells the libertines' perfume for nothing.

فهنيئاً لِمَن هَجَوْتُ ومَن أمْ

فهنيئاً لِمَن هَجَوْتُ ومَن أمْ

دَحُ إنْ ضُمِّنَ اِسمُهُ ديواني

دَحُ إنْ ضُمِّنَ اِسمُهُ ديواني

So good fortune to him I satirize, and him I praise—

if his name is included in my collected poems.

إنْ عَرَتني جهالةٌ من أبي جَهْ

إنْ عَرَتني جهالةٌ من أبي جَهْ

لٍ وكم لي في الأرض من سَلْمَانِ

لٍ وكم لي في الأرض من سَلْمَانِ

If ignorance from Abu Jahl assails me—

how many a Salman I have on earth!

يا أَبا سالِم إِذا كُنتَ رِدئي

يا أَبا سالِم إِذا كُنتَ رِدئي

سالِماً فَالقَضاء مِن أَعواني

سالِماً فَالقَضاء مِن أَعواني

O Abu Salim, if you are my support—

safe and sound—then fate is among my helpers.

وَأَبو الفَضل لي وَحَسْبيْ أَبو الفَضْ

وَأَبو الفَضل لي وَحَسْبيْ أَبو الفَضْ

لِ إِذا الفضلُ حطَّ ثقل الحرانِ

لِ إِذا الفضلُ حطَّ ثقل الحرانِ

And Abu al-Fadl is mine, and Abu al-Fadl suffices me—

when generosity sets down the balking beast's burden.

وَمَتى يَشتَكي المَفاقِر حالي

وَمَتى يَشتَكي المَفاقِر حالي

عامَ محْلٍ وَأَنتما المرزمانِ

عامَ محْلٍ وَأَنتما المرزمانِ

When could my condition complain of poverty—

in a year of drought, while you two are the two Mirzams?

إِن تَعيشا فَالجِسر لي وعزازٌ

إِن تَعيشا فَالجِسر لي وعزازٌ

حُرُزٌ والأَحصُّ والتقدمانِ

حُرُزٌ والأَحصُّ والتقدمانِ

If you two live, al-Jisr and ʿAzaz are mine—

as strongholds—and al-Ahass and al-Taqdaman.

حُجْريَ يقذفُ السّعِيرَ ومُهْري

حُجْريَ يقذفُ السّعِيرَ ومُهْري

يتهرّا من كظّه الأيتانِ

يتهرّا من كظّه الأيتانِ

My mare hurls blazing fire, and my colt—

its two haunches are torn by its fullness.