أَرِقتُI lay sleepless لِبَرقٍat lightning بِالحِمىin the sanctuary يَتَأَلَّقُglittering
أَرِقتُ لِبَرقٍ بِالحِمى يَتَأَلَّقُ
فَقَلبيso my heart أَسيرٌa captive حَيثُwhile دَمعِيَmy tears مُطلَقُunbound
فَقَلبي أَسيرٌ حَيثُ دَمعِيَ مُطلَقُ
I lay sleepless at lightning glittering over the sanctuary.
I was sleepless from lightning flashing in the fever,
So my heart is captive, while my tears run free.
My heart captivated wherever my tears flow freely.
إِذاwhen فُهتُI spoke بِالشَكوىin complaint تَرَنَّمَsang صاحِبيmy companion
إِذا فُهتُ بِالشَكوى تَرَنَّمَ صاحِبي
كَماas طارَحَexchanged songs with الغُصنَthe branch الحَمامُthe dove المُطَوَّقُring-necked
كَما طارَحَ الغُصنَ الحَمامُ المُطَوَّقُ
When I voice my complaint, my companion sings,
When I complain my companion sings softly,
as the ring-necked dove exchanges songs with the branch.
As a ringdove discards a branch it clasps.
فَبِتناso we spent the night قَرينَيtwo companions in لَوعَةٍanguish نَصطَليwe were scorched بِهاby it
فَبِتنا قَرينَي لَوعَةٍ نَصطَلي بِها
كَأَنّاas though we were عَلىbeside النارِthe fire النَدىGenerosity وَالمُحَلَّقُand al-Muhallaq
كَأَنّا عَلى النارِ النَدى وَالمُحَلَّقُ
So we spent the night, paired in anguish, scorched by it,
We are both suffering from a torment we ignite,
as though beside the fire we were Generosity and al-Muhallaq.
As if we were embers and sparks hurtling through air.
نَقَضّيwe settle دُيونَthe debts of الشَوقِlonging حَتّىuntil قَضىput an end عَلىto
نَقَضّي دُيونَ الشَوقِ حَتّى قَضى عَلى
غُرابِthe raven of الدُجىdarkness بازيthe hawk of الصَباحِmorning المُحَلِّقُsoaring
غُرابِ الدُجى بازي الصَباحِ المُحَلِّقُ
We paid longing's debts, until an end was made of
We pay off debts of yearning until the dusk raven
the raven of darkness by morning's soaring hawk.
With its morning hawk pierce the black night.
وَشَفَّand thinned عَنِfrom over النورِthe light الظَلامُdarkness كَأَنَّهُas though it were
وَشَفَّ عَنِ النورِ الظَلامُ كَأَنَّهُ
حِدادٌmourning garb عَلىupon بيضِwhite الصُدورِbreasts يُمَزَّقُbeing torn
حِدادٌ عَلى بيضِ الصُدورِ يُمَزَّقُ
And darkness thinned to reveal the light, as though it were
Darkness then reveals the light as if it were
mourning garb being torn upon white breasts.
Mourning rent white doves torn from a breast.
يُمانِعُresists ضَوءَthe light of الفَجرِdawn وَالفَجرُthough dawn صادِعٌrending
يُمانِعُ ضَوءَ الفَجرِ وَالفَجرُ صادِعٌ
كَماas عارَضَopposed البُرهانَthe proof قَولٌa claim مُلَفَّقُfabricated
كَما عارَضَ البُرهانَ قَولٌ مُلَفَّقُ
It resists the light of dawn, though dawn rends it,
It disputes dawn’s light while dawn blazes forth
as a fabricated claim opposes a proof.
As if its proof were met by fabricated words.
كَأَنَّas though اِحمِرارَthe reddening of الأُفقِthe horizon وَالفَجرَand dawn وَالدُجىand darkness
كَأَنَّ اِحمِرارَ الأُفقِ وَالفَجرَ وَالدُجى
دَمٌblood وَحُسامٌand a keen sword مَشرَفِيٌّMashrafi وَمَفرِقُand a head's crown
دَمٌ وَحُسامٌ مَشرَفِيٌّ وَمَفرِقُ
As though the reddening horizon, the dawn, and darkness
The red horizon, dawn and dusk are like
were blood, a Mashrafi sword, and the crown of a head.
Blood, a sword and a Yemeni blade that pierces.
أَياO جَنَّةًparadise حَلَّتsettled in لَظىًa blaze مِنfrom within جَوانِحيmy breast
أَيا جَنَّةً حَلَّت لَظىً مِن جَوانِحي
أَطَيَّis it within the folds of ضُلوعيmy ribs جَنَّةٌa paradise وَهوَwhile it يُحرَقُis being burned
أَطَيَّ ضُلوعي جَنَّةٌ وَهوَ يُحرَقُ
O paradise that settled in a blaze within my breast,
O paradise that filled my soul with burning agony
is paradise enfolded by my ribs while my heart burns?
And folded my ribs in its hellish embrace!
أَيُنكِرُcan it deny قَلبُthe heart of الصَبِّthe ardent lover مُنذُsince سَكَنتَهُyou dwelt in it
أَيُنكِرُ قَلبُ الصَبِّ مُنذُ سَكَنتَهُ
لَهيباًflame وَحَرّاًand heat وَهوَwhile it لِلشَمسِto the sun مُشرِقُsunlit
لَهيباً وَحَرّاً وَهوَ لِلشَمسِ مُشرِقُ
Can the ardent lover's heart, since you dwelt in it, deny
Can the heart of one who loves reject it
flame and heat, when it lies exposed to the sun?
When it dwells there, all fire and flame and light?
رَعىmay preserve اللَهُGod عَهداًa time لِلصِباof youth لَيسَis not يُرتَجىhoped for
رَعى اللَهُ عَهداً لِلصِبا لَيسَ يُرتَجى
وَأَخبارُهُand its tales مَتلُوَّةٌrecited تُتَشَوَّقُlonged for
وَأَخبارُهُ مَتلُوَّةٌ تُتَشَوَّقُ
May God preserve a time of youth no longer hoped for,
By youth’s troth no fulfilment can be hoped for
and its tales, recited and longed for.
And the tales told of it are those that kindle desire.
وَأَرضاًand a land يَكادُalmost اللَيلُthe night فيin عَرَصاتِهاits open spaces
وَأَرضاً يَكادُ اللَيلُ في عَرَصاتِها
لِشِدَّةِbecause of the intensity ماwith which قَدindeed ضاوَعَspread its fragrance المِسكُmusk يَعبَقُbreathes perfume
لِشِدَّةِ ما قَد ضاوَعَ المِسكُ يَعبَقُ
And a land where night in its open spaces almost
A land where night’s shadows are so perfumed
breathes fragrance, so intensely has musk spread its scent.
The amber there is saturating to the point of excess.
سَقاهاwatered it سَحابٌa cloud مِثلُlike دَمعيmy tears وَميضُهُits lightning flash
سَقاها سَحابٌ مِثلُ دَمعي وَميضُهُ
كَقَلبيlike my heart تَشُبُّflares النارُthe fire فيهِwithin it وَيَخفِقُand throbs
كَقَلبي تَشُبُّ النارُ فيهِ وَيَخفِقُ
A cloud like my tears watered it; its lightning
A raincloud nourished it, its lightning like my tears,
is like my heart: fire flares within it, and it throbs.
My heart afire, fluttering like a flame.
يُدانيdraws near الرُبىthe hills حَتّىuntil even قَصيرُthe low-growing part of نَباتِهاtheir vegetation
يُداني الرُبى حَتّى قَصيرُ نَباتِها
يَكادُalmost بِهِto it مِنout of شَوقِهِits longing يَتَعَلَّقُclings
يَكادُ بِهِ مِن شَوقِهِ يَتَعَلَّقُ
It draws near the hills until even their low-growing plants
Vegetation grows so close it can barely extend
almost cling to it out of longing.
As if from yearning it would cling there and twine.
كَأَنَّas though حَياهُits rain الجَودَabundant وَالنَبتَand the plants وَالثَرىand the soil
كَأَنَّ حَياهُ الجَودَ وَالنَبتَ وَالثَرى
بَنانُthe fingers of أَبيAbu بَكرٍBakr وَخَطٌّand script وَمَهرِقُand parchment
بَنانُ أَبي بَكرٍ وَخَطٌّ وَمَهرِقُ
As though its abundant rain, the plants, and the soil
The life in its beauty, growth and soil
were Abu Bakr's fingers, script, and parchment.
Is like the fingers, script and cloak of Abu Bakr.
فَتىًa young man فيهِwithin him ماwhat فيin الشُهبِthe meteors وَالبَرقِand lightning وَالحَياand rain
فَتىً فيهِ ما في الشُهبِ وَالبَرقِ وَالحَيا
فَمِنهاso from them لَهُhe has ذِهنٌa mind وَكَفٌّand a hand وَمَنطِقُand speech
فَمِنها لَهُ ذِهنٌ وَكَفٌّ وَمَنطِقُ
A young man possessing what meteors, lightning, and rain possess;
A youth in whom is the spark, lightning and vitality
from them he has a mind, a hand, and speech.
So his mind, hand and speech are illuminated thereby.
تَخايُلُهُhis likeness فيin الغَيثِrain صَعقٌa thunderbolt وَرَحمَةٌand mercy
تَخايُلُهُ في الغَيثِ صَعقٌ وَرَحمَةٌ
وَفيand in الصارِمِthe keen sword الهِندِيِّIndian حَدٌّan edge وَرَونَقُand luster
وَفي الصارِمِ الهِندِيِّ حَدٌّ وَرَونَقُ
His likeness in the rain is thunderbolt and mercy,
In rain his visions, like bolts, bring mercy;
and in the Indian sword, an edge and luster.
In the Indian scimitar, edge and grace.
تَكَفَّلَhas undertaken مِنهُof his راحَةَالدينِthe repose of the faith خاطِرٌa mind
تَكَفَّلَ مِنهُ راحَةَالدينِ خاطِرٌ
تَعوبٌever-toiling وَنَومُand the sleep of المَلكِthe king عَزمٌa resolve مُؤَرَّقُsleepless
تَعوبٌ وَنَومُ المَلكِ عَزمٌ مُؤَرَّقُ
A mind of his ensures the repose of the faith,
From him assurance calms the land, though cares
ever toiling; and a sleepless resolve ensures the king's sleep.
Of state can render a ruler’s sleep disturbed.
يَظُنُّit fears بِهِfor him وَهوَthough he is المَحوطُwell guarded ضَياعَهُhis ruin
يَظُنُّ بِهِ وَهوَ المَحوطُ ضَياعَهُ
كَماas ساءَthought ill ظَنّاًin his judgment بِالأَحِبَّةِof loved ones مُشفِقُone full of concern
كَما ساءَ ظَنّاً بِالأَحِبَّةِ مُشفِقُ
It fears his ruin, though he is well guarded,
He feels his protection is neglected, though he is kept safe,
as one full of concern thinks ill of those he loves.
As one tenderly concerned fears for loved ones.
حِمىًa refuge فيin سَماحٍgenerosity فيin قَبولٍgracious welcome كَدَوحَةٍlike a spreading tree
حِمىً في سَماحٍ في قَبولٍ كَدَوحَةٍ
تُظِلُّgives shade وَتُجنىand is harvested كُلَّevery حينٍhour وَتُنشَقُand is smelled
تُظِلُّ وَتُجنى كُلَّ حينٍ وَتُنشَقُ
A refuge in generosity and gracious welcome, like a spreading tree
A refuge, gracious, welcoming, like a laden palm,
that shades, is harvested at every hour, and has its fragrance inhaled.
It gives shade and fruit at all times and splits open.
لَهُhe has قَلَمٌa pen قَدindeed أوتِيَwas endowed with الحُكمَwisdom شيمَةًas a natural trait
لَهُ قَلَمٌ قَد أوتِيَ الحُكمَ شيمَةً
فَلَوso if كانَit were طِفلاًa child كانَit would be فيin المَهدِthe cradle يَنطِقُspeaking
فَلَو كانَ طِفلاً كانَ في المَهدِ يَنطِقُ
He has a pen endowed with wisdom as its nature;
His pen was granted wisdom as its merit
so, were it a child, it would speak in the cradle.
So, were he an infant, from the cradle he would speak.
بَكىwept السَيفُthe sword مِنهُbecause of it غَيرَةًin jealousy فَبَريقُهُso its gleam
بَكى السَيفُ مِنهُ غَيرَةً فَبَريقُهُ
عَلىupon صَفحَتَيهِits two faces عَبرَةٌa tear تَتَرَقرَقُquivering
عَلى صَفحَتَيهِ عَبرَةٌ تَتَرَقرَقُ
The sword wept in jealousy of it; its gleam
The sword weeps from jealousy of him so its blade
upon its two faces is a trembling tear.
Bears teardrops sparkling on its surface.
وَلَيسَand is not اِهتِزازُthe quivering of الرُمحِthe spear لِلطَعنِfor thrusting خِفَّةًnimbleness
وَلَيسَ اِهتِزازُ الرُمحِ لِلطَعنِ خِفَّةً
وَلَكِنَّهاbut it is مِنfrom شِدَةِthe intensity of الرُعبِterror أَولَقُmadness
وَلَكِنَّها مِن شِدَةِ الرُعبِ أَولَقُ
Nor is the spear's quivering for the thrust nimbleness;
When the spear quivers it is not from feebleness of thrust
rather, it is madness born of overwhelming terror.
But from the intensity of fright makes it shake.
قَصيرٌshort طَويلُlong in الباعِreach شاكٍcomplaining مِنَof الضَنىwasting sickness
قَصيرٌ طَويلُ الباعِ شاكٍ مِنَ الضَنى
تَصُحُّgrow sound بِهِthrough it مَرضىthe ailing المَعانيmeanings وَتُفرِقُand recover
تَصُحُّ بِهِ مَرضى المَعاني وَتُفرِقُ
Short, yet long of reach, complaining of wasting sickness;
Small yet vast of reach, doubting scarcity,
through it, ailing meanings grow sound and recover.
The sick of spirit recover through him and are nourished.
إِذاwhen ماever جَرىit runs بِالرِزقِwith provision فَالمُزنُthen the rain clouds جامِدٌmotionless
إِذا ما جَرى بِالرِزقِ فَالمُزنُ جامِدٌ
وَمَهماand whenever جَرىit runs فيacross الطُرسِthe parchment فَالبَرقُthen lightning مُؤنِقُdelightful
وَمَهما جَرى في الطُرسِ فَالبَرقُ مُؤنِقُ
Whenever it runs with provision, the rain clouds stand still;
When gifts flow the miser is frozen
and whenever it runs across the parchment, lightning is delightful.
And when lightning flashes the lightning forks and flashes.
بَثَثتَyou spread بِأُفقِacross the horizon of الغَربِthe West كُلَّevery غَريبَةٍmarvel
بَثَثتَ بِأُفقِ الغَربِ كُلَّ غَريبَةٍ
مِنَof القَولِspeech يَشجىgrieves الشَرقَthe East مِنهاbecause of it وَيَشرِقُand chokes
مِنَ القَولِ يَشجى الشَرقَ مِنها وَيَشرِقُ
You have spread across the western horizon every marvel
You promulgated in the West every strange notion
of speech, at which the East grieves and chokes.
That grieves the East, though it rises from there resplendent.
تَسيرُtravels فَتَحكيand resembles البَدرَthe full moon سَيراًin its course وَغُرَّةًand radiance
تَسيرُ فَتَحكي البَدرَ سَيراً وَغُرَّةً
خَلاexcept أَنَّهاthat it مَعصومَةٌis protected لَيسَis not تُمحَقُeffaced
خَلا أَنَّها مَعصومَةٌ لَيسَ تُمحَقُ
It travels, mirroring the full moon in course and radiance,
You travel telling tales of the full moon and crescent
save that it is protected and never wanes.
Though you are safe from error and immune to loss.
يُحاكيresembles ثُغورَthe mouths of الغانِياتِlovely women اِبتِسامُهاits smile
يُحاكي ثُغورَ الغانِياتِ اِبتِسامُها
وَمَنظَرُهاand its appearance وَالوَردُand the rose أَروىlushest وَأَورَقُand leafiest
وَمَنظَرُها وَالوَردُ أَروى وَأَورَقُ
Its smile resembles the mouths of lovely women,
Your smile emulates the dimples of singing girls
and its appearance, the rose at its lushest and leafiest.
And your aspect is fresher than blossoms in bloom.
إِذاwhen وَرَدَتit enters حَفلاًa gathering تَغامَزَexchange glances أَهلُهُits people
إِذا وَرَدَت حَفلاً تَغامَزَ أَهلُهُ
صَحائِفُscrolls فُضَّتwere unsealed أَمor نَوافِجُmusk-pods تُفتَقُare opened
صَحائِفُ فُضَّت أَم نَوافِجُ تُفتَقُ
When it enters a gathering, those present exchange glances:
When you attend a gathering, they glance at each other
Have scrolls been unsealed, or musk-pods opened?
As if pages are opened or pearls split open.
فَمِنso among مُطلِقٍone unleashing مِنهُمamong them عُرىthe bonds of المَدحِpraise مُسهِبٍspeaking at length
فَمِن مُطلِقٍ مِنهُم عُرى المَدحِ مُسهِبٍ
وَمِنand among صامِتٍone silent عَجزاًfrom helplessness فَمُطرٍso one extolling وَمُطرِقُand one lowering his gaze
وَمِن صامِتٍ عَجزاً فَمُطرٍ وَمُطرِقُ
Some among them unleash the bonds of praise at length,
So some there unleash extravagant praise,
while some are silent, helpless—one extolling, another lowering his gaze.
While others from awe are silent, raining or still.
لَكَyou have النُظمُverse تَهوىdesires الشَمسُthe sun لَوif only كُسِيَتshe were clothed بِهِin it
لَكَ النُظمُ تَهوى الشَمسُ لَو كُسِيَت بِهِ
وَجُرِّدَand were stripped away عَنهاfrom her نورُهاher light المُتَأَلِّقُglittering
وَجُرِّدَ عَنها نورُها المُتَأَلِّقُ
Yours is verse the sun would wish to be clothed in,
Poetry loves you more than the sun cloaked in it
and to be stripped of her glittering light.
With her light stripped away, brilliant and coruscating.
فَيَعشوso grows dim-sighted لَهُby it الأَعشىal-A'sha إِذاwhen لاحَappears نورُهُits light
فَيَعشو لَهُ الأَعشى إِذا لاحَ نورُهُ
وَيَجريand runs جَريرٌJarir ظالِعاًlimping حينَwhen يُعنِقُhastens
وَيَجري جَريرٌ ظالِعاً حينَ يُعنِقُ
So al-A'sha is dazzled by it when its light appears,
To you the blind poet sings when your light appears
and Jarir runs limping when it speeds along.
And Jarir flows freely when your star rises.
هُوَit is الدُرُّthe pearl يُهديbestows الدُرَّpearls بَحرٌa sea مُكَدَّرٌmurky
هُوَ الدُرُّ يُهدي الدُرَّ بَحرٌ مُكَدَّرٌ
زُعاقٌbitterly salt وَذاand this يَهديهِbestows it عَذبٌsweet مُرَوَّقُclear
زُعاقٌ وَذا يَهديهِ عَذبٌ مُرَوَّقُ
It is pearl: a murky sea bestows pearls,
You are the pearl who gives pearls, the bitter sea
briny, while this is bestowed by one sweet and clear.
Turbid, roiled, given sweetness by the purified dipped in it.
تَكامَلتَyou reached perfection بَينَin الجودِgenerosity وَالشِعرِand poetry فَاِغتَدىso became
تَكامَلتَ بَينَ الجودِ وَالشِعرِ فَاِغتَدى
عَلَيكَon you عِيالاًdependents حاتِمٌHatim وَالفَرَزدَقُand al-Farazdaq
عَلَيكَ عِيالاً حاتِمٌ وَالفَرَزدَقُ
You reached perfection in generosity and poetry, so they became
You combine generosity and poetry, so Hatim and Farazdaq
dependents on you—Hatim and al-Farazdaq.
Depend on you though of independent means.
قَريضٌpoetry وَقَرضٌand benefaction لِلنُهىfor discerning minds فَمَسامِعٌso ears
قَريضٌ وَقَرضٌ لِلنُهى فَمَسامِعٌ
تُشَنَّفُare adorned with earrings مِنهاfrom them أَوor رِقابٌnecks تُطَوَّقُare adorned with necklaces
تُشَنَّفُ مِنها أَو رِقابٌ تُطَوَّقُ
Poetry and benefaction for discerning minds: ears
Averse to censure, your words make hearts joyful
are adorned with their earrings, or necks with their necklaces.
Or necks that were surrounded by oppression freedom.
لَأَخضَلتَyou have indeed grown lush جوداًin generosity وَاِشتَعَلتَand blazed نَباهَةًin eminence
لَأَخضَلتَ جوداً وَاِشتَعَلتَ نَباهَةً
فَزِندُكَso your fire-stick يوريkindles fire حَيثُwhere غُصنُكَyour branch يورِقُgrows leaves
فَزِندُكَ يوري حَيثُ غُصنُكَ يورِقُ
Truly, you have grown lush with generosity and blazed with eminence;
In munificence and intelligence you shine green
so your fire-stick kindles where your branch puts forth leaves.
While your branch and roots flourish and grow.
فَإِنَّكَfor you فيin نَفسِthe very essence of المَكارِمِnoble virtues وَالعُلاand eminence
فَإِنَّكَ في نَفسِ المَكارِمِ وَالعُلا
طِباعٌinborn nature وَخُلقٌand character وَالأَنامُwhile mankind تَخَلُّقُaffectation
طِباعٌ وَخُلقٌ وَالأَنامُ تَخَلُّقُ
For you, in the very essence of noble virtues and eminence,
In character itself, high-mindedness and noble deeds
are inborn nature and character, while mankind is affectation.
You are nature, ethics, while people merely act refined.
أَلاbehold وَتَهنَأand may you enjoy موسِماًa festive season لِوُفودِهِupon its arrival
أَلا وَتَهنَأ موسِماً لِوُفودِهِ
لَقَدindeed كادَalmost قَبلَbefore الوَقتِthe appointed time نَحوَكtoward you يَسبِقُraced
لَقَد كادَ قَبلَ الوَقتِ نَحوَك يَسبِقُ
Ah, may you enjoy a festive season upon its arrival;
Behold! Your season of bounty comes early
indeed, it nearly raced toward you before its appointed time.
As if racing ahead of time to reach you.
وَزارَكَand visited you دونَapart from الناسِthe people وَحدَكَyou alone إِنَّماonly
وَزارَكَ دونَ الناسِ وَحدَكَ إِنَّما
ثَناهُheld it back التُقىpiety أَوor عادَةٌa custom لَيسَdoes not تَخلُقُwear out
ثَناهُ التُقى أَو عادَةٌ لَيسَ تَخلُقُ
And would have visited you alone, apart from all others; only
You were visited ahead of others, alone,
piety, or a custom that never wears out, held it back.
Led only by piety not merely display.
وَماand not مِنكُماof you two إِلّاexcept سَعيدٌhappy مُهَنّأٌcongratulated
وَما مِنكُما إِلّا سَعيدٌ مُهَنّأٌ
وَلَكِنbut لِذيfor one possessing اللُبِّintellect الهَناءُfelicity المُحَقَّقُtrue
وَلَكِن لِذي اللُبِّ الهَناءُ المُحَقَّقُ
And both of you are happy and congratulated,
Yet both of you are joyous and in celebration
but true felicity belongs to the one with understanding.
But true delight belongs to the one of profound mind.
وَدونَكَهاand take it حَسناءَa fair one مِنfrom غَيرِone not مُحسِنٍaccomplished
وَدونَكَها حَسناءَ مِن غَيرِ مُحسِنٍ
كَماas جاءَcame مِنfrom ذيone with الذَنبِguilt عُذرٌan excuse مُنَمَّقُfinely embellished
كَما جاءَ مِن ذي الذَنبِ عُذرٌ مُنَمَّقُ
Take this fair one from one who does not excel,
And beneath it a beautiful woman though no one did her beauty justice,
as an offender brings a finely embellished excuse.
As a sinner comes with an excuse, though contrived.
أَأُهديshall I offer إِلىto شَمسِthe sun of الضُحىmidmorning كَوكَبَthe star السُهاal-Suha
أَأُهدي إِلى شَمسِ الضُحى كَوكَبَ السُها
وَيُنفِقُand finds a market ليfor me فيin مَعدِنِa mine of التِبرِraw gold زِئبَقُmercury
وَيُنفِقُ لي في مَعدِنِ التِبرِ زِئبَقُ
Shall I offer the star al-Suha to the midmorning sun,
Shall I present a star of Suhail to the morn’s sun
and can mercury find a market for me in a mine of raw gold?
While springs of honor for me run dry of quicksilver?
تُحِبُّlove الوَرىpeople الآدابَliterature وَهيَthough it is مُضاعَةٌneglected
تُحِبُّ الوَرى الآدابَ وَهيَ مُضاعَةٌ
فَأَحسَبُهاso I deem it الدُنياthe world تُلامُis reproached وَتُعشَقُand is adored
فَأَحسَبُها الدُنيا تُلامُ وَتُعشَقُ
People love literature, though it is neglected;
The people love culture though it is neglected
so I deem it the world itself—reproached, yet adored.
So I reckon the age is blamed while still indulged.
وَلَولاكَand but for you إِذnow that أَصبَحتَyou have become حُجَّةَproof of سَعدِهاits good fortune
وَلَولاكَ إِذ أَصبَحتَ حُجَّةَ سَعدِها
لَكُنتُI would have been بِدَعوىthe claim of الشُؤمِill fortune فيهاconcerning it أُصَدِّقُbelieving
لَكُنتُ بِدَعوى الشُؤمِ فيها أُصَدِّقُ
And but for you, now proof of its good fortune,
Had you not been, her gladness would have no proof,
I would believe the claim that it brings ill fortune.
Else in claiming ill-fortune there I would have agreed.
كَأَنَّas though مُلِمَّthe arrival of الرِزقِlivelihood طَيفٌa dream-phantom وَهِمَّتيand my ambition
كَأَنَّ مُلِمَّ الرِزقِ طَيفٌ وَهِمَّتي
سُهادٌsleeplessness وَلَيسَand does not الطَيفُthe dream-phantom فيduring السُهدِwakefulness يَطرُقُvisit by night
سُهادٌ وَلَيسَ الطَيفُ في السُهدِ يَطرُقُ
As though livelihood's arrival were a dream-phantom, and my ambition
The portion of sustenance is like a specter while my dreams
were sleeplessness; no dream-phantom visits in wakefulness.
Are a pillow, and no specter visits one asleep!
Sol 6.1