كُحلٌkohl بِعَينَيهِin his eyes أَمor ضَربٌa kind مِنَof الكُحلِnatural eye-darkness
كُحلٌ بِعَينَيهِ أَم ضَربٌ مِنَ الكُحلِ
وَردٌroses بِخَدَّيهِon his cheeks أَمor صَبغٌa tint مِنَof الخَجَلِbashfulness
وَردٌ بِخَدَّيهِ أَم صَبغٌ مِنَ الخَجَلِ
Is that kohl in his eyes, or a kind of natural darkness?
Is it kohl in his eyes or a type of kohl?
Roses on his cheeks, or a tint of bashfulness?
Is it a rose on his cheeks or a dye of shyness?
قَضيبُa bough بانٍa bān tree إِذاwhen ماever (emphasis) ماسَhe sways مَيَّلَهُmakes him lean
قَضيبُ بانٍ إِذا ما ماسَ مَيَّلَهُ
دَعَصٌa mound مِنَof الرَملِsand أَوor صَوتٌa tune مِنَin الرَمَلِramal rhythm
دَعَصٌ مِنَ الرَملِ أَو صَوتٌ مِنَ الرَمَلِ
A bān-tree bough: whenever he sways, what bends him is
A swaying branch, if it inclines,
a mound of sand, or a tune in ramal rhythm.
Is it a palm tree of sand or a sound from the sand?
يَفتُرُparts his lips عَنto reveal سِمطِa string دُرٍّpearls فيin عَقيقِcarnelian فَمٍa mouth
يَفتُرُ عَن سِمطِ دُرٍّ في عَقيقِ فَمٍ
عَذبِsweet المَراشِفِlips مَمنوعٍwithheld مِنَfrom القُبَلِkisses
عَذبِ المَراشِفِ مَمنوعٍ مِنَ القُبَلِ
He smiles, revealing a string of pearls within a carnelian mouth,
It relents from a juicy bite in a tender mouth,
sweet-lipped, yet withheld from kisses.
Sweet pillow, forbidden from kisses.
كَشَعرِهِlike his hair حَظُّfortune شِعريmy verse مِنin مَحَبَّتِهِhis love
كَشَعرِهِ حَظُّ شِعري مِن مَحَبَّتِهِ
وَكيفَand how تَتَّهِمُyou accuse الغُزلانَthe gazelles بِالغَزَلِof amorousness
وَكيفَ تَتَّهِمُ الغُزلانَ بِالغَزَلِ
My verse's fortune in his love is like his hair;
My poetry's fortune from his love,
and how can you accuse gazelles of amorousness?
Is like his hair, so how can you blame the gazelles for their gazelles?
أَقسَمتُI swore ماno رَوضَةٌa garden بِالنَيرَبَينِin al-Nayrabayn إِذاwhen
أَقسَمتُ ما رَوضَةٌ بِالنَيرَبَينِ إِذا
سَحَّتpoured عَلَيهاupon it شُئونُstreams العارِضِthe raincloud الهَطِلِdownpouring
سَحَّت عَلَيها شُئونُ العارِضِ الهَطِلِ
I swear: no garden in al-Nayrabayn, when
I swear by Nayrabian meadow, if
the streams of a downpouring cloud have showered upon it,
The rain clouds cast their shadow upon it,
شَقَّتopened شَقائِقَهاits anemones أَيديhands الرَبيعِspring وَقَدand already
شَقَّت شَقائِقَها أَيدي الرَبيعِ وَقَد
ماسَتswayed حَدائِقَهاits gardens كَالشارِبِlike a drinker الثَمِلِdrunken
ماسَت حَدائِقَها كَالشارِبِ الثَمِلِ
spring's hands have opened its anemones, and
Spring hands split its anemones when
its gardens have swayed like a drunken drinker,
Its gardens were touched like a drunkard.
يَوماًever بِأَحسَنَany lovelier مِنthan وَردِroses الخُدودِcheeks عَلىupon
يَوماً بِأَحسَنَ مِن وَردِ الخُدودِ عَلى
بانِbān trees القُدودِfigures وَلاnor مِنthan نَرجِسِnarcissi المُقَلِeyes
بانِ القُدودِ وَلا مِن نَرجِسِ المُقَلِ
is ever lovelier than cheek-roses upon
One day, better than the roses on cheeks,
bān-like figures, or than the narcissi of eyes.
Than narcissus shoots, no, better than bent narcissus.
وَقائِلٍand a speaker وَشُموسِand the suns الراحِwine آفِلَةٌsetting
وَقائِلٍ وَشُموسِ الراحِ آفِلَةٌ
فيناwithin us وَشَمسُand the sun مُديرِthe server الراحِwine لَمnot تَقِلِtake a midday rest
فينا وَشَمسُ مُديرِ الراحِ لَم تَقِلِ
And someone said, as the suns of wine were setting
While the suns were setting, he said
within us, while the cupbearer's sun had taken no midday rest:
But the sun of our love never declined.
هَذاthis هُوَis الحُبُّlove لَولاbut for كَثرَةَthe multitude of الرِقَباwatchers
هَذا هُوَ الحُبُّ لَولا كَثرَةَ الرِقَبا
وَلَذَّةُand the delight of العَيشِliving لَولاbut for سُرعَةَthe swiftness of الأَجَلِdeath
وَلَذَّةُ العَيشِ لَولا سُرعَةَ الأَجَلِ
This is love, but for the multitude of watchers,
This is love, if not for the abundance of censoring,
and the delight of living, but for death's swiftness.
And life's joy if not for the swiftness of death.
لاdo not تَأسَفَنَّever grieve عَلىover مالٍmoney فَقُلتُso I said لَهُto him
لا تَأسَفَنَّ عَلى مالٍ فَقُلتُ لَهُ
عَلِيُّAli بنُson of مامينَMamin بَعدَafter اللَهِGod مُتَّكَليmy mainstay
عَلِيُّ بنُ مامينَ بَعدَ اللَهِ مُتَّكَلي
Do not grieve over money. So I said to him:
Do not grieve over wealth, I said to it,
Ali ibn Mamin, after God, is my mainstay.
Ali son of Mamoun, after God is my reliance.
مُجاهِدَO champion of الدينِthe Faith فَالأَديانَand indeed the faiths قاطِبَةًall together
مُجاهِدَ الدينِ فَالأَديانَ قاطِبَةً
وَصارِمَand sword of الدَولَةِthe state الغَرّاءِradiant فيamong الدُوَلِstates
وَصارِمَ الدَولَةِ الغَرّاءِ في الدُوَلِ
O champion of the Faith—of all faiths, indeed—
The fighter of religion, so all religions,
and sword of the radiant state among states.
And challenger of the splendid state against states.
مَلكٌa king لَهُhe possesses الرَأيَjudgment وَالراياتِand the banners عالِيَةٌhigh
مَلكٌ لَهُ الرَأيَ وَالراياتِ عالِيَةٌ
يَومَthe day of الطِرادِjousting عَلىupon العَسّالَةِthe swaying spears الذُبُلِslender
يَومَ الطِرادِ عَلى العَسّالَةِ الذُبُلِ
A king possessed of judgment, his banners flying high
A king whose opinion and high banners
on the day of jousting, upon swaying, slender spears;
On the day of battle upon the tired horses.
وَفارِسٌand a knight بَطَلٌheroic لَمnot يَلقَmet طَعنَتَهُhis spear-thrust
وَفارِسٌ بَطَلٌ لَم يَلقَ طَعنَتَهُ
عِندَduring الكَريهَةِbattle غَيرُother than الفارِسِthe knight البَطَلِheroic
عِندَ الكَريهَةِ غَيرُ الفارِسِ البَطَلِ
and a heroic knight: none has met his thrust
A brave knight whom in the thick of battle
in battle except a heroic knight.
None pierces but the brave knight.
مازالَhas always remained فيin قَولِهِhis words بَينَamong الوَرىmankind عَمَلٌaction
مازالَ في قَولِهِ بَينَ الوَرى عَمَلٌ
وَغَيرُهُand anyone besides him فيamong الوَرىmankind قَولاًwords بِلاwithout عَمَلِaction
وَغَيرُهُ في الوَرى قَولاً بِلا عَمَلِ
His words among mankind have always held deeds,
His actions between people remain consistent
while others among mankind are words without deeds.
While others' words among people remain without action.
يَزدادُhe increases فيin أَعيُنِthe eyes of الأَعداءِenemies مَنزِلَةًin stature
يَزدادُ في أَعيُنِ الأَعداءِ مَنزِلَةً
كَأَنَّهُas though he were قَمَرٌa moon فيin عَينِthe eye of ذيone with حَوَلِcrossed eyes
كَأَنَّهُ قَمَرٌ في عَينِ ذي حَوَلِ
He rises in stature in his enemies' eyes,
He rises in the eyes of enemies in rank
like a moon in a cross-eyed man's eye.
As if he were a moon in the eye of one squint-eyed.
كَماjust as يَقيسُmeasure بِهِagainst him الحُسّادُthe envious أَنفُسَهُمthemselves
كَما يَقيسُ بِهِ الحُسّادُ أَنفُسَهُم
وَأَينَand where قَعرُthe bottom of الثَرىthe earth مِنcompared with قُلَّهِthe summit of الجَبَلِthe mountain
وَأَينَ قَعرُ الثَرى مِن قُلَّهِ الجَبَلِ
Even as the envious measure themselves against him—
How the envious measure themselves against him!
and where is earth's bottom beside a mountain's peak?
Yet how far is the earth's depths from a mountain's summit?
فَخرَO pride of المَعاليlofty deeds عَلَوتَyou surpassed الناسَmankind مَرتَبَةًin rank
فَخرَ المَعالي عَلَوتَ الناسَ مَرتَبَةً
وَلَمand not تَزَلceased مُنعِماًbestowing gifts بِالخَيلِof horses وَالخَوَلِand servants
وَلَم تَزَل مُنعِماً بِالخَيلِ وَالخَوَلِ
O pride of lofty deeds, you have surpassed men in rank,
Glories have bowed, you've risen above people in rank
and have never ceased bestowing horses and servants.
And you remain bestowing horses and horsemen.
كَمhow many حَملَةٍa charge لَكَof yours فيagainst الأَعداءِenemies صادِقَةٍresolute
كَم حَملَةٍ لَكَ في الأَعداءِ صادِقَةٍ
وَطَعنَةٍand a thrust بِأَصمِّwith a solid الكَعبِshaft-joint مُعتَدِلِstraight
وَطَعنَةٍ بِأَصمِّ الكَعبِ مُعتَدِلِ
How many a resolute charge you have made against foes,
How true are the strikes you deliver to enemies
and a thrust with a straight, solid-jointed spear!
With steadfast spear tips and sword pommels!
عاجَلتَهُمyou struck them swiftly فَتَرَكتَso you left الخَيلَthe horses خالِيَةًempty
عاجَلتَهُم فَتَرَكتَ الخَيلَ خالِيَةً
مِنهُمof them وَقَدand indeed خُلِقَwas created الإِنسانُhumankind مِنof عَجَلِhaste
مِنهُم وَقَد خُلِقَ الإِنسانُ مِن عَجَلِ
You struck them swiftly, leaving the horses emptied
You hastened them and left the horses empty
of them; and man was created of haste.
Of them, though man was created of haste.
ماnot أَنتَyou فيamong أُمَراءِprinces الدَهرِthe age مُفتَخَرٌa source of pride
ما أَنتَ في أُمَراءِ الدَهرِ مُفتَخَرٌ
إِلّاexcept كَفَخرِlike the pride of اِبنِthe son of عَبدِservant of اللَهِGod فيamong الرُسُلِthe messengers
إِلّا كَفَخرِ اِبنِ عَبدِ اللَهِ في الرُسُلِ
You are a source of pride among the princes of the age
You take no pride among the world's princes
only as the son of Abd Allah is among the messengers.
Save that of Abdullah’s son among the messengers.
حَوَيتَyou acquired بِالوالِدَينِthrough both parents الحَمدَpraise حينَwhen أَتىcame
حَوَيتَ بِالوالِدَينِ الحَمدَ حينَ أَتى
مُحَمَّدٌMuhammad وَتَرَقَبتَand you awaited العُلىlofty rank بِعَليthrough Ali
مُحَمَّدٌ وَتَرَقَبتَ العُلى بِعَلي
Through your parents you won praise, when there came
You attained praise of both parents when
Muhammad; and through Ali you awaited lofty rank.
Muhammad came and you anticipated the most high through Ali.
مَولايَmy lord كَمhow many مادِحٍa panegyrist تُعطيهِyou reward him مُنتَحِلٍa plagiarist
مَولايَ كَم مادِحٍ تُعطيهِ مُنتَحِلٍ
وَشاعِرٍand a poet لَمnot تُنِلهُyou reward him غَيرَnot مُنتَحِلِa plagiarist
وَشاعِرٍ لَم تُنِلهُ غَيرَ مُنتَحِلِ
My lord, how many a plagiarizing panegyrist you reward,
My master, how many plagiarizing panegyrists
and a poet you leave unrewarded, though no plagiarist!
Do you reward, other than plagiarizers?
ماnot يَستَويare equal فيamong الوَرىmankind دُرٌّa pearl وَمُخَشلَبٌand a glass imitation pearl
ما يَستَوي في الوَرى دُرٌّ وَمُخَشلَبٌ
وَلاnor يُقايَسُis compared بَينَbetween الصابِbitter plant sap وَالعَسَلِand honey
وَلا يُقايَسُ بَينَ الصابِ وَالعَسَلِ
Among men, a pearl and a glass bead are not equal,
No pearl is equal to counterfeit in the world,
nor can bitter sap be compared with honey.
Nor is honey compared with aloe sap.
لاdo not تَعجَبَنَّever marvel لِقَصريat my shortness عِندَbeside طولِهِمtheir height
لا تَعجَبَنَّ لِقَصري عِندَ طولِهِم
فَالفَخرُfor glory لِلَّيثِbelongs to the lion لَيسَis not الفَخرُglory لِلجَمَلِfor the camel
فَالفَخرُ لِلَّيثِ لَيسَ الفَخرُ لِلجَمَلِ
Do not marvel at my shortness beside their height;
Do not wonder at my falling short next to their length,
for glory belongs to the lion, not the camel.
For pride belongs to the lion, not the camel.
أَناI الَّذيthe one who حَظُهُhis fortune تَحتَbelow الحَضيضِthe nadir وَقَدand already
أَنا الَّذي حَظُهُ تَحتَ الحَضيضِ وَقَد
نَظَمتُI composed فيكَabout you بِلاwithout شِبهٍa likeness وَلاnor مَثَلِan equal
نَظَمتُ فيكَ بِلا شِبهٍ وَلا مَثَلِ
I am he whose fortune lies beneath the lowest depth, yet
I am the one whose fortune is below lowliest,
I have composed in your praise, without likeness or equal,
Yet I composed poetry of you beyond compare.
شِعراًverse تَعالىrose high عَلىabove الشِعرىSirius وَجازَand passed عَلىover
شِعراً تَعالى عَلى الشِعرى وَجازَ عَلى
الجَوزاal-Jawza constellation وَأَصبَحَand became مَحمولاًborne عَلىupon الحَملِAries, the Ram
الجَوزا وَأَصبَحَ مَحمولاً عَلى الحَملِ
verse that rose above Sirius and passed over
Poetry transcending poets and surpassing
al-Jawza, and came to be borne upon Aries, the Ram.
Prize poems, conveyed even by a camel.
Sol 6.1