Poems
- أبا جعفر خف تبوة بعد صولةAbu Jaʿfar, fear a setback after an onslaught.
- أبا جعفر سمتني خطةO Abu Jaʿfar, you subjected me to treatment
- أبا جعفر هلا اصطنعت مودتيO Abu Jaʿfar, why not cultivate my friendship,
- أبتداء بالتجنيDo you begin with false accusations,
- أبدا معتذر لا يعذرForever making excuses, yet never excused,
- أبغضته من بعد ما بذل الرضاHave you hated him after goodwill was offered?
- أبلغ أبا إسحق واحدةTell Abu Ishaq one thing:
- أتيتك شتى الرأي لابس حيرةI came to you, my judgment scattered, clad in bewilderment;
- أثبت الرحمن بالسعد المضيThe All-Merciful established, with radiant good fortune,
- إحدى الملمات الجلائلOne of the grievous calamities
- أحسب النوم حكاكاI think sleep has imitated you,
- أخ بيني وبين الدهرA brother, between me and Time,
- أخ كنت آوي منه عند ادكارهA brother whose shelter I would seek whenever I remembered him,
- أخ لي أبثثته كربةA brother of mine—I confided a sorrow to him;
- اختلجت عيني فأبصرتهMy eye twitched, and then I saw him,
- إذا أزموا ألقوا فضول حبائهمWhen hardship strikes, they cast off the loose ends of their knee-binding wraps,
- إذا الحرب جالت بهم جولةWhen war whirls them about,
- إذا السنة الشهباء مدت سماءهاWhen the ashen year of drought spreads out its sky,
- إذا المرء أثرى ثم ضن برفدهIf a man grows wealthy, then withholds his aid,
- إذا أنت لم تملل أخاك بقلبهIf you do not tire of your brother in his affliction
- إذا ذكر الناس أعداءهمWhen people mention their enemies,
- إذا ذم من زمن يومهWhen a man condemns the day time has given him,
- إذا سقى الله مرجوا لنائبةWhen God waters one whose help is hoped for in calamity,
- إذا طمع يوما غزاني منحتهIf ever hope assails me, I offer it
- إذا ما الفكر ولد حسن لفظWhen thought begets beauty of expression,
- إذا ما انقضى مجلس للوزيرWhenever a gathering of the vizier ends,
- إذا ما بدوا والقوم فوق سروجهمWhen they come into view, while the men sit high in their saddles,
- آذنتك الشعرات البيضThe hairs have made you expect—the
- أراك إذا أيسرت خيمت عندناI see you, when you prosper, pitching camp with us,
- أراك فلا أرد الطرف كيلاI gaze at you and do not blink, lest
- أزالت عزاء القلب بعد التجلدThe heart’s solace, after steadfast endurance, was swept away
- أساءوا وفيهم محسنون فإن تهبThey have done wrong, yet among them are doers of good; so if you spare
- أسد ضار إذا مانعتهA fierce lion when you resist him,
- أسرك يا مناي ولا أسوكI gladden you, O my heart's desire, and do not grieve you,
- اسمعي مني أبثك شانيListen to me: I confide my plight to you.
- اشرب الراح صحيحاDrink wine when you are well,
- أشرق المشرق بالمعتزThe East shone with al-
- أصبح الملك عاليا بأبي العباسKingship has risen high through Abu al-Abbas,
- أصبحت من رأي أبي جعفرBy Abu Ja‘far’s judgment, I have come to be
- أضحت عرى الإسلام وهي منوطةNow the bonds of Islam stand bound
- أضحى هلال العهد قدThe crescent of the succession has already
- أعتقني سوء ما فعلت من الرقThe evil of what you did freed me from
- أعيضت بعد حمل الشوكAfter carrying thorns, they were given instead
- أقبلن يكنفن مثل الشمس طالعةThey came forward, flanking one like the rising sun.
- ألا رب لؤم بين عز وثروةAlas, my Lord, glory and wealth are a burning fire
- ألا قل لخير الناس نفسا ووالداLo, tell the best of men in himself and in his father,
- ألان إذا قرت عيون وحققتIs it now, when eyes have found contentment and fulfilled are
- الله أظهر دينهGod made His religion manifest,
- الله أيد بالخلافة جعفراGod strengthened Jaʿfar with the caliphate,
- ألم ترها مرة إذ نأتDid you not see her once, when she drew away,
- إما تريني أمام القوم متبعاIf you see me ahead of the people, being followed,
- أميل مع الذمام على ابن أميI side with the bond of loyalty against my mother's son,
- إن الزمان وما ترى بمفارقيIndeed, time and what you see in the partings of my hair
- إن امرأ ضن بمعروفهIndeed, a man who withholds his kindness
- إن لا أراك إذا ظلمتIf I do not see you when you do wrong,
- أنا من بين ذا الورى مظلومI, among all this mankind, am wronged.
- أناة فإن لم تغن أعقب بعدهاForbearance—if it does not avail, he follows it thereafter
- إنما المرء صورةA person is but an image;
- إني اغتربت أرجي أن أنال غنىIndeed, I went abroad, hoping to gain wealth,
- أواقف أنت من صبر على ثقةAre you standing firm, confident in your patience,
- أولى البرية طرا أن تواسيهOf all people, most deserving of your support
- أيرضيك أن تضنى فدام لك الرضاDoes it please you that I waste away? May contentment remain yours.
- إيها أبا جعفر وللدهر كراتHold back, Abu Ja‘far! Time has its turns,
- أيها الربع الذي قد دثراO dwelling-place that has fallen into ruin,
- بأبي قل لي لكي أعلمMy father be your ransom! Tell me, so that I may
- باتت تشوقني برجع حنينهاShe spent the night stirring my longing with the echo of her yearning cry.
- بارك الله للأمير أبي العباسMay God bless the emir Abu al-'Ab—
- بدا حين أثرى بإخوانهWhen he grew wealthy, he began with his brethren,
- برزن فلا ذو اللب أقين لبهThey came forth; no man of sense kept his wits
- بقلبي عن هوى البيض انصرافMy heart turns away from love of fair-skinned women.
- بكى البين قبلي عاشقون ولا أرىLovers before me wept over separation, but I do not see myself
- بلوت الزمان وأهل الزمانI have tested time and the people of time;
- تأمل سماء أظلت عليContemplate a sky that has cast its shade over
- تخذتكم درعا وترسا لتدفعواI took you as armor and a shield to ward off
- تزيده الأيام إن أقبلتWhen the days turn favorable toward him, they increase him
- تعز يا خير الورى عن أخTake comfort, O best of humankind, for the loss of a brother
- تغير لي دهر وأنكر صاحبTime has turned against me, and a friend has disowned me.
- تغير لي فيمن تغير حارثHarith has changed toward me, among those who have changed.
- تلا جري عباس يزيد وخالدYazid and Khalid followed Abbas in the race,
- تلج السنون بيوتهم وترى لهمYears of famine enter their homes, yet for their sake you see
- تمر الصبا صفحا بساكن ذي الغضاThe east wind brushes past the dweller of Dhu al-Ghada,
- حب لأحمد قد فشاLove for Ahmad has already spread
- حسن حوى كل المحاسن واعتلىHasan possessed every virtue and rose to
- حي أجساد جبل بدناتHail the stout bodies of Jabbul,
- خذي خبري عن سائرين صحبتهمLearn of me from travelers whom I accompanied,
- خل النفاق لأهلهLeave hypocrisy to its people.
- خير ما سائس وخير مسوسThe finest ruler and the finest of the ruled,
- دع المن عن قوم أرقوك أنفساLeave off blaming a people who distressed you
- دعني أواصل من قطعتLet me keep ties with the one you have cut
- دعوت لإحدى النائبات محمداI called upon Muhammad for help in a calamity,
- دعوتك في بلوى ألمت صروفهاI called upon you amid an ordeal whose blows had fallen;
- دموع دعاهن الهوى فأجبنهTears—love summoned them, and they answered it.
- دنت بأناس عن تناء زيارةA visit brought some people near, despite the distance;
- راحت به العيس عن أرض بها شجنThe pale camels bore him away from a land of sorrow.
- ربما ارتجت الليالىPerhaps the nights have shaken violently
- ربما تكره النفوس من الأمرSometimes souls dislike a matter—
- رحنا إليك وقد راحت بك الراحWe went to you when wine had already carried you away,
- رد قولي وصدق الأقوالاHe rejected my words and believed what was said,
- سأشكر عمرا إن تراخت منيتيI will be grateful if my desire wanes from me
- ساعدنا الدهر فبتنا معاTime favored us, so we spent the night together.
- سقيا ورعيا لأيام مضت سلفاMay days gone by be blessed with rain and care.
- سل الليل من يجلو الدجى عن متونهAsk the night who clears the darkness from its back
- سيدي أنت إنني بك صبYou are my lord; I am lovesick for you.
- صف مراحا إن كنت تهوى مراحاDescribe Mirāḥ, if you love Mirāḥ,
- ضحك الدهر بعد طول عبوسTime laughed after long frowning
- ظلوم محاجر الحدقهCruel-eyed is he,
- عذلت امرءا في عشقه ليس يعذركI reproached a man for his love; he does not excuse you.
- عفت مساو تبدت منك واضحةFaults that showed themselves plainly in you have effaced
- علق نفيس من الدنيا فجعت بهI was bereaved of a precious treasure of this world.
- عهدي بعوف وهو من مازنWhen I last knew ʿAwf, he was of Māzin;
- عيناك قد حكتا مبيتكYour eyes have told of the night
- غشيتني من الهموم غواشShrouds of sorrow have enveloped me,
- فإن تشبعي منا وتروي ضلالةSo if, in your folly, you have had your fill of us and quenched your thirst,
- فإن تكن الدنيا أنالتك ثروةIf this world has bestowed riches upon you,
- فدعني راغما أشقى بوجديSo leave me, abased, to suffer from my longing.
- فصرت من سوء ما بليت بهSo, because of the ill I have suffered, I have come
- فعلت فأثنوا شاكرين لمنعمYou acted, so they praised, grateful to a benefactor.
- فلو كان للشكر شخص يبينSo if gratitude had a form that could be discerned
- فهبني مسيئا مثل ما قلت ظالماSo suppose me a wrongdoer, unjust, just as I said;
- قالت بعدت فخنت في الحبShe said, “You went far away, so you were unfaithful in love,
- قالت لئن خفت من شيب ومن كبرShe said, “If you fear gray hair and old age,
- قدرت فلم تضرر عدوا بقدرةYou had power, yet with that power you harmed no enemy.
- قسيمان من قلبي قسيم لحبهاTwo portions make up my heart: one portion, for loving her,
- قطع الموت كل حبل وثيقDeath has severed every firm bond.
- قل للخليفة ترب العلم والأدبSay to the caliph, companion of learning and letters,
- قلت إن الذنب لي والذنبYou said the fault is mine, yet the
- قلت لها حين أكثرت عذليI said to her when she kept reproaching me:
- قولا لعبد الله ذاك الذيSay, you two, to Abd Allah, that man whom
- كان أخا ثم عاد لي أملاHe was a brother, then became my hope;
- كان الشباب كخضاب قد نصلYouth was like dye that had faded.
- كفى بفعال امرئ عالمA learned man's deeds suffice
- كل لساني عن وصف ما أجدMy tongue fails to describe what I feel.
- كم ترى يبقى على ذا بدنيHow long, do you think, will my body last like this?
- كم قد تجرعت من غيظ ومن حزنHow much rage and sorrow I have swallowed!
- كن كيف شئت وقل ما تشاBe as you please and say what you will.
- كنت السواد لمقلتيYou were the dark pupil of my eye;
- كيف أصبحت صفي النفسHow are you this morning, O beloved of the
- لا أهنيك بطوسI do not congratulate you on Tus;
- لا تعقدن عقدة إن كنت ناقضهاDo not tie a knot if you are going to undo it.
- لا تلمني فإن همك أن تثريBlame me not, for your concern is to hoard
- لا دار للمرء بعد الموت يسكنهاA person has no house to inhabit after death
- لا يمنعنك خفض العيش في دعةLet not a life of ease and repose be denied you
- لاموا وقالوا اصطبر عنها فقلت لهمThey reproached me and said, “Be patient without her,” so I told them:
- لفضل بن سهل يدFadl ibn Sahl has a hand
- لكل عدو جولة ثم مرجعEvery enemy has his turn, then a return
- لم أبك من صرف دهرI never wept at an age’s vicissitudes
- لم أر نحسا مذ غداة أمسI have seen no ill fortune since yesterday morning.
- لما أتاني خبر الزياتWhen news of al-Zayyat reached me,
- لما وثقت وخنتنيWhen I trusted you and you betrayed me,
- لمن لا أرى أعرضت عن كل من أرىFor one I do not see, I have turned away from all whom I see.
- لن يدرك المجد أقوام وإن كرمواNo people will attain glory, however noble they may be,
- لنا إبل كوم يضيق بها الفضاWe have high-humped camels; the open expanse is too narrow for them.
- ليلة كاد يلتقي طرفاهاA night whose two ends nearly met,
- لئن أدرك الزيات بالزيت رتبةIf al-Zayyat attained a rank through oil,
- لئن أصبحت طوع يديهIf indeed I am now at his hands’ command,
- لئن صدرت لي زورة عن محمدEven if a visit of mine to Muhammad ended
- لئن كنت ملهى للعيون وقرةThough you were a delight and a solace to the eyes,
- ليهنك أصهار أذلت بعزهاMay you rejoice in in-laws who, by their might, humbled
- ما الذي أفعل أم ما أقولWhat am I to do, or what am I to say?
- ما لي بجائحة أرىAgainst a calamity I see, I have no
- ما واحد من واحدNo one among men
- مبتسم عن بردSmiling to reveal teeth like hailstones,
- متيم متلف تلددهA man enslaved by love, undone by his restless distraction;
- مررت يوما حجرة القبورOne day I passed by the precinct of the graves,
- مضت على عهده اللياليThe nights have passed since his time,
- معجب عند نفسهHe is pleased with himself,
- معودتي الغفران للذنب والرضىMy tormentress, grant pardon for my sin—and your favor;
- ملامك عني جل خطب فأوجعاMy angel, cease reproaching me, for grief has left me sick
- من أتاني في حاجة فله الفضلHe who comes to me with a need
- من بالخلافة أولىWho is more worthy of the caliphate
- من تهيا له أخ كأخ ليWho has ever had a brother like mine?
- من كانت الآمال ذخرا لهIf hopes are a treasure to anyone,
- من يشتري مني إخاء محمدWho will buy Muhammad’s friendship from me?
- نصيحة أيها الوزيرA word of advice, O vizier:
- نعم الورى بسوابغ النعماءHumankind enjoyed abundant blessings,
- نعى الناعي إلي أبيThe death-messenger announced my father's death to me,
- هب الزمان رمانيSuppose Time has struck me;
- هل كنت تهوين أن أرضى سواك وأنDid you wish me to be content with someone other than you, and to
- هنتك أكرومة جللت نعمتهاMay you enjoy an honor whose blessing has clothed you,
- هنيئا للوزير قضاء دينJoy to the minister in a debt repaid,
- هوى وغلت به الأحشاء منهاIt descended, and her entrails seethed with it,
- وأجني على قومي وأحمل عنهمAnd I wrong my people, and bear their burdens;
- وإذا امرؤ كنفت به آباؤهAnd when a man's forefathers shelter him,
- وإذا جزى الله امرأ بإخائهAnd when God rewards a man for his brotherly friendship,
- وإذا دعوت أخا يزينكAnd when you call upon a brother who adorns
- وأفضل ما يأتيه ذو الدين والحجىAnd the best that one endowed with faith and wisdom can do
- وأنت هوى النفس من بينهمAnd you, among them, are the soul's desire.
- وإني في دعائك عن خطوبAnd I, in calling upon you concerning calamities
- وجني ورد فوق خد مشرقAnd a fresh-picked rose upon a radiant cheek,
- وحاكم في القلوبAnd a ruler over hearts,
- وخل كنت عين الرشد منهAnd a friend—I was his eye of sound judgment,
- وخليل لي أرضاهAnd a friend of mine, whom I accept
- وصاحب ماجد خلائقهAnd a companion, noble in his character,
- وصلت رقعة الأمير الرئيسThe letter arrived from the prince, the chief,
- وعابك أقوام وقالوا شبيهةSome people faulted you and said, “She resembles
- وعلمتني كيف الهوى وجهلتهAnd you taught me the ways of love, though you did not know it.
- وقائل لي أبداAnd one who always speaks to me,
- وقلت لهم قرب كقربي طاهرAnd I told them, “A closeness like mine is pure.”
- وكنا متى ما نلتمس بسيوفناAnd whenever we sought with our swords
- وكنت أخي بإخاء الزمانYou were my brother in the brotherhood of time
- وكنت أخي بالدهر حتى إذا نباYou were my brother in good times, until fortune turned hostile;
- وكنت أرجي أنه حين يلتحيAnd I had hoped that when he grew a beard,
- ولحيني قلت لا أرضىAnd to my undoing I said, “I will not ac-
- ولرب خدن كان إنAnd many a close friend was, if
- ولرب نازلة يضيق بها الفتىAnd for my Lord relief comes, when straits oppress a man
- ولست كباك من تهامة منزلاAnd I am not like one who weeps over a dwelling in Tihama,
- ولكن الجواد أبا هشامAnd yet the generous Abu Hisham
- ولكن عبد الله لما حوى الغنىBut when Abd Allah came into wealth,
- ولم تدر يوم البين أني وأنهاAnd she did not know, on the day of parting, that I and she
- ولما بدا جعفر في الخميسAnd when Jaʿfar appeared amid the army,
- ولما رأيتك لا فاسقاAnd when I saw you were no evildoer
- ولما علتني كبرة وتوزعتAnd when old age overtook me, and their deaths carried off
- وليلة من الليالي الزهرAnd a night among the radiant nights—
- وما زلت مذ لدن اعطيتهEver since he was given to me, I have not ceased
- وما لبس الأقوام ثوبا من الهوىAnd no people have worn a garment of passion,
- ومن كان يؤتى من عدو وحاسدAnd if others are assailed by an enemy and an envier,
- ومؤمل للنائبات إذاAnd one relied upon in calamities, when
- وناجيت نفسي بالفراق أروضهاAnd I spoke privately with my soul of parting, seeking to tame it.
- ونبئت ليلى أرسلت بشفاعةAnd I was told that Layla had sent someone to intercede
- يا أبا جعفر لكم من نعيمO Abu Ja‘far, how much prosperity
- يا أخا العرف إذا عنO brother of knowledge, when it turns away,
- يا أخا لم أر في الناس خلاO brother, I have seen no close friend among people
- يا أميرا ما رأيناO prince, never have we seen
- يا با علي خير قولك ماO Abu Ali, the best of your speech is what
- يا صاحبي تأملا عذرىO my two friends, consider my excuse.
- يا صديقي الذي بذلت له الودO my friend, to whom I offered love
- يا صديقي بالأمس صرت عدواO my friend of yesterday, you have become an enemy.
- يا ظالما أدلى علياO cruel one who has presumed upon me,
- يا مذيقي غصة الكمدO you who make me taste the choking pang of grief,
- يا مليح الدلال رفقا بصبO you of charming coquetry, be gentle with a lovesick lover
- يا من حنيني إليهO you for whom I long,
- يا نائما أرقنيO sleeper who has kept me sleepless,
- يبعث منه الندى في المحولGenerosity calls forth from him, amid drought,
- يجيلون عن ليل بهيم ظنونهمThey turn over their conjectures about a pitch-dark night.
- يمضي الأمور على بدائههHe carries affairs through by his ready intuitions,
No poems found.