طَرِبتَ وَما هَذا الصِبا وَالتَكالُفُ

طَرِبتَ وَما هَذا الصِبا وَالتَكالُفُ

وَهَل لِمَهوى إِذ راعَهُ البَينُ صارِفُ

وَهَل لِمَهوى إِذ راعَهُ البَينُ صارِفُ

You were stirred—what is this youthful infatuation and self-imposed strain?

You were troubled, yet this youth and pretentiousness -

And can a lover be turned aside when parting has alarmed him?

What can the lovesick do when separated by distance?

طَرِبتَ بِأَبرادٍ وَذَكَّرَكَ الهَوى

طَرِبتَ بِأَبرادٍ وَذَكَّرَكَ الهَوى

عِراقِيَّةٌ ذِكرٌ لِقَلبِكَ شاعِفُ

عِراقِيَّةٌ ذِكرٌ لِقَلبِكَ شاعِفُ

You were stirred at Abrad, and love was recalled to you

You were troubled by a beloved who reminded you of love -

by an Iraqi woman—a remembrance that sets your heart aflame.

An Iraqi woman, a heart-piercing memory.

تَعُلُّ ذَكِيَّ المِسكِ وَحفاً كَأَنَّهُ

تَعُلُّ ذَكِيَّ المِسكِ وَحفاً كَأَنَّهُ

عَناقيدُ ميلٌ لَم يَنَلهُنَّ قاطِفُ

عَناقيدُ ميلٌ لَم يَنَلهُنَّ قاطِفُ

She drenches luxuriant hair in heady musk, as though it were

You exude the scent of fine musk and care -

drooping grape-clusters that no picker has reached.

Like bunches of fruit untouched by the picker.

وَأَحذَرُ يَومَ البَينِ أَن يُعرَفَ الهَوى

وَأَحذَرُ يَومَ البَينِ أَن يُعرَفَ الهَوى

وَتُبدي الَّذي تُخفي العُيونُ الذَوارِفُ

وَتُبدي الَّذي تُخفي العُيونُ الذَوارِفُ

And on the day of parting I fear that my love may be discovered,

And I fear the day of separation when love becomes known

and tear-streaming eyes reveal what you conceal.

And eyes, however lowering, reveal what's hidden.

إِذا قيلَ هَذا البَينُ راجَعتُ عَبرَةً

إِذا قيلَ هَذا البَينُ راجَعتُ عَبرَةً

لَها بِجِرِبّانِ البَنيقَةِ واكِفُ

لَها بِجِرِبّانِ البَنيقَةِ واكِفُ

When they say, 'This is parting,' I return to weeping,

When they speak of this separation, my tears will flow

its stream dripping at the opening of my shirt collar.

For one sobbing bitterly in a remote spot.

يَقولُ بِنَعفِ الأَخرَبِيَّةِ صاحِبي

يَقولُ بِنَعفِ الأَخرَبِيَّةِ صاحِبي

مَتى يَرعَوي غَربُ النَوى المُتَقاذِفُ

مَتى يَرعَوي غَربُ النَوى المُتَقاذِفُ

My companion says on the slope of al-Akhrabiyya,

My companion says, when will the stars of al-Nawá

'When will the fierce force of far-flung separation relent?'

Stop wandering and come together?

وَإِنّي وَإِن كانَت إِلى الشامِ نِيَّتي

وَإِنّي وَإِن كانَت إِلى الشامِ نِيَّتي

يَماني الهَوى أَهلَ المَجازَةِ آلِفُ

يَماني الهَوى أَهلَ المَجازَةِ آلِفُ

And I, though my destination lies toward al-Sham,

And though my intention was towards Syria,

am Yemeni in affection, attached to the people of al-Majaza.

My Yemeni love drew me to those I know.

وَإِنَّ الَّذي بُلِّغتِ رَقّاهُ نِسوَةٌ

وَإِنَّ الَّذي بُلِّغتِ رَقّاهُ نِسوَةٌ

نَفِسنَ عَلَيكِ الحُسنَ سودٌ زَحالِفُ

نَفِسنَ عَلَيكِ الحُسنَ سودٌ زَحالِفُ

And what you were told was passed on by women

It was women, bent on your beauty, who carried

who begrudged you your beauty—black, squat women.

The news of her passion, mounted on racing steeds.

وَتُرمى فَتُشويها الرُماةُ وَقَتَّلَت

وَتُرمى فَتُشويها الرُماةُ وَقَتَّلَت

قُلوباً بِنَبلٍ لَم تَشِنها المَراصِفُ

قُلوباً بِنَبلٍ لَم تَشِنها المَراصِفُ

And she is shot at, but the archers only graze her; she has slain

And they shot her down, the archers, and killed

hearts with arrows unmarred by the arrow-maker's tools.

Hearts with arrows no breastplates can stop.

صَرَمتُ اللَواتي كُنَّ يَقتَدنَ ذا الهَوى

صَرَمتُ اللَواتي كُنَّ يَقتَدنَ ذا الهَوى

شَبيهٌ بِهِنَّ الرَبرَبُ المُتَآلِفُ

شَبيهٌ بِهِنَّ الرَبرَبُ المُتَآلِفُ

I broke with the women who used to lead this lover;

I have turned against those who emulated that love -

the close-knit herd of wild cattle resembles them.

Their twittering resembles the warbler's song.

طَلَبنا أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ وَدونَهُ

طَلَبنا أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ وَدونَهُ

تَنائِفُ غُبرٌ واصَلَتها تَنائِفُ

تَنائِفُ غُبرٌ واصَلَتها تَنائِفُ

We sought the Commander of the Faithful, and between us and him

We sought the Commander of the Faithful but found

lay dusty wastes joined to further wastes.

Only layers of dust raised by his entourage.

بِمائِرَةِ الأَعضادِ إِمّا لِشَدقَمٍ

بِمائِرَةِ الأَعضادِ إِمّا لِشَدقَمٍ

وَإِمّا بَناتُ الداعِرِيِّ العَلائِفُ

وَإِمّا بَناتُ الداعِرِيِّ العَلائِفُ

On she-camels with swinging forelegs, either of Shadqam's stock,

At Mayyirat al-A‘ḍād, belonging to Shaddām

or the fodder-fed daughters of al-Da'iri.

Or the Da‘rī daughters, loose-haired beauties.

يَخِدنَ بِنا وَخداً وَقَد خَضَبَ الحَصى

يَخِدنَ بِنا وَخداً وَقَد خَضَبَ الحَصى

مَناسِمُ أَيدي اليَعمَلاتِ الرَواعِفُ

مَناسِمُ أَيدي اليَعمَلاتِ الرَواعِفُ

They bear us at a brisk stride; already the pebbles are stained

They smile at us, their cheeks dyed red

by the bleeding pads of the sturdy she-camels' forefeet.

By the blood their soft hands have spilled.

بَلَغنا أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ وَلَم يَزَل

بَلَغنا أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ وَلَم يَزَل

عَلى عِلَّةٍ فيهِنَّ رَحلٌ وَرادِفُ

عَلى عِلَّةٍ فيهِنَّ رَحلٌ وَرادِفُ

We reached the Commander of the Faithful, and still,

We reached the Commander, who was still feeling

despite their weakness, the camels bore saddle and pillion-rider.

Ill, some riding, some walking by his side.

وَيَرجوكَ مَن لَم تَستَطِعكَ رِكابُهُ

وَيَرجوكَ مَن لَم تَستَطِعكَ رِكابُهُ

وَيَرجوكَ ذو حَقٍّ بِبابِكَ ضائِفُ

وَيَرجوكَ ذو حَقٍّ بِبابِكَ ضائِفُ

And those whose mounts could not reach you hope in you,

Those whose steeds cannot reach you hope in you

and a rightful claimant, a guest at your door, hopes in you.

As do the wronged who seek justice at your gate.

وَإِنّي لِنُعماكَ الَّتي قَد تَظاهَرَت

وَإِنّي لِنُعماكَ الَّتي قَد تَظاهَرَت

وَفَضلِكَ يا خَيرَ البَرِيَّةِ عارِفُ

وَفَضلِكَ يا خَيرَ البَرِيَّةِ عارِفُ

And I, for your favors that have come one upon another,

For the favors you have showered on me, best of Creation,

and your bounty, O best of creation, am grateful.

I praise you, O successor known for his piety!

فَلا الجَهدُ ما عاشَ الخَليفَةُ مُرهِقي

فَلا الجَهدُ ما عاشَ الخَليفَةُ مُرهِقي

وَلا أَنا لي عِندَ الخَليفَةِ كاسِفُ

وَلا أَنا لي عِندَ الخَليفَةِ كاسِفُ

So hardship will not overwhelm me while the caliph lives,

No misery lasts while the Caliph draws breath

nor have I anyone before the caliph to eclipse me.

And I stand embarrassed before the Caliph.

إِذا قيلَ شَكوى بِالإِمامِ تَصَدَّعَت

إِذا قيلَ شَكوى بِالإِمامِ تَصَدَّعَت

عَلَيهِ مِنَ الخَوفِ القُلوبُ الرَواجِفُ

عَلَيهِ مِنَ الخَوفِ القُلوبُ الرَواجِفُ

When word came of the imam's illness, shattered were

When there are complaints against the Imam, hearts

the trembling hearts, from fear for him.

Tremble with fear and quake in their chests.

أَتانا حَديثٌ كانَ لا صَبرَ بَعدَهُ

أَتانا حَديثٌ كانَ لا صَبرَ بَعدَهُ

أَتَت كُلَّ حَيٍّ قَبلَ ذاكَ المَتالِفُ

أَتَت كُلَّ حَيٍّ قَبلَ ذاكَ المَتالِفُ

A report reached us after which no patience could remain;

News reached us, after which there was no more patience -

may deadly calamities visit every tribe before that!

It came upon every clan before that fateful event.

فَلَمّا دَعَونا لِلخَليفَةِ رَبَّنا

فَلَمّا دَعَونا لِلخَليفَةِ رَبَّنا

وَكانَ الحَيا تُزجى إِلَيهِ الضَعائِفُ

وَكانَ الحَيا تُزجى إِلَيهِ الضَعائِفُ

Then, when we prayed to our Lord for the caliph,

When we prayed for the Caliph, calling upon our Lord,

and he was the rain toward which the weak are driven—

And the living were herded to him, frail and weak,

أَتَتنا لَكَ البُشرى فَقَرَّت عُيونُنا

أَتَتنا لَكَ البُشرى فَقَرَّت عُيونُنا

وَدارَت عَلى أَهلِ النِفاقِ المَخاوِفُ

وَدارَت عَلى أَهلِ النِفاقِ المَخاوِفُ

good tidings of you reached us, and our eyes grew cool with joy,

Tidings of you came, bringing joy to our eyes

and fears turned upon the hypocrites.

And dread to the hypocrites and all their fears.

فَأَنتَ لِرَبِّ العالَمينَ خَليفَةٌ

فَأَنتَ لِرَبِّ العالَمينَ خَليفَةٌ

وَلِيٌّ لِعَهدِ اللَهِ بِالحَقِّ عارِفُ

وَلِيٌّ لِعَهدِ اللَهِ بِالحَقِّ عارِفُ

So you are the deputy of the Lord of all worlds,

For you are God's Caliph on Earth, protector

a guardian of God's covenant, knowing what is right.

Of His covenant, knowledgeable in truth.

هَداكَ الَّذي يَهدي الخَلائِفَ لِلتُقى

هَداكَ الَّذي يَهدي الخَلائِفَ لِلتُقى

وَأُعطيتَ نَصراً لَم تَنَلهُ الخَلائِفُ

وَأُعطيتَ نَصراً لَم تَنَلهُ الخَلائِفُ

He who guides the caliphs to piety has guided you,

He who guides the caliphs to piety has guided you.

and you were granted a victory no caliphs had attained.

You were granted a victory no caliph before you achieved.

وَأَدَّت إِلَيكَ الهِندُ ما في حُصونِها

وَأَدَّت إِلَيكَ الهِندُ ما في حُصونِها

وَمِن أَرضِ صينِ اِستانُ تُجبى الطَرائِفُ

وَمِن أَرضِ صينِ اِستانُ تُجبى الطَرائِفُ

And India has yielded to you what is in her fortresses,

India has surrendered its fortresses to you

and rare treasures are levied from the land of Chinistan.

And tribute flows from the land of China.

وَأَرضَ هِرَقلَ قَد قَهَرتَ وَداهِراً

وَأَرضَ هِرَقلَ قَد قَهَرتَ وَداهِراً

وَتَسعى لَكُم مِن آلِ كِسرى النَواصِفُ

وَتَسعى لَكُم مِن آلِ كِسرى النَواصِفُ

And you have conquered Heraclius's land and Dahir,

The land of Heraclius you have subdued and humbled

and servants from Kisra's house hasten in your service.

And Kisrá's descendants hurry to serve you.

وَذَلِكَ مِن فَضلِ الَّذي جَمَّعَت لَهُ

وَذَلِكَ مِن فَضلِ الَّذي جَمَّعَت لَهُ

صُفوفُ المُصَلّى وَالهَدِيُّ العَواكِفُ

صُفوفُ المُصَلّى وَالهَدِيُّ العَواكِفُ

And that is from the bounty of Him for whom have gathered

This by the grace of Him whose ranks of worshippers

the ranks at the prayer-ground and the waiting sacrificial beasts.

Prostrate as one, devotedly circumambulating.

وَنازَعتَ أَقواماً فَلَمّا قَهَرتَهُم

وَنازَعتَ أَقواماً فَلَمّا قَهَرتَهُم

وَأُعطيتَ نَصراً عادَ مِنكَ العَواطِفُ

وَأُعطيتَ نَصراً عادَ مِنكَ العَواطِفُ

And you contested peoples; then, when you overcame them

You conquered other nations and when you subdued them,

and were granted victory, your kindly favors returned.

You were granted victory, and your mercy returned.

لَقَد وَجَدوا مِنكُم حِبالاً مَتينَةً

لَقَد وَجَدوا مِنكُم حِبالاً مَتينَةً

فَذَلّوا وَلانَت لِلقِيادِ السَوالِفُ

فَذَلّوا وَلانَت لِلقِيادِ السَوالِفُ

They indeed found your ropes strong,

They found your ropes to be strong,

so they submitted, and their necks grew pliant to the reins.

So they submitted, and the dispute was settled.

وَأَنتَ اِبنُ عيصِ الأَبطَحَينِ وَتَنتَمي

وَأَنتَ اِبنُ عيصِ الأَبطَحَينِ وَتَنتَمي

لِفَرعٍ صَميمٍ لَم تَنَلهُ الزَعانِفُ

لِفَرعٍ صَميمٍ لَم تَنَلهُ الزَعانِفُ

And you are a son of the two Abtahs' stock, and trace your descent

You are the son of ‘Ays al-Ash‘athān, descended

to a pure ancestral branch untouched by lowborn hangers-on.

From a noble lineage untouched by criticism.

نَمَتكَ إِلى العُليا فَوارِسُ داحِسٍ

نَمَتكَ إِلى العُليا فَوارِسُ داحِسٍ

وَصيدُ مَنافٍ المُقرَماتُ المَطارِفُ

وَصيدُ مَنافٍ المُقرَماتُ المَطارِفُ

The horsemen of Dahis raised you to the heights,

The steeds of Dāḥis have carried you to the heights

and Manaf's proud chiefs—prized camels reserved for breeding.

And the plunder of Manāf, taken by speedy warriors.

لَهُ باذِخاتٌ مِن لُؤَيِّ بنِ غالِبٍ

لَهُ باذِخاتٌ مِن لُؤَيِّ بنِ غالِبٍ

يُقَصِّرُ عَنها المُدَّعي وَالمُخالِفُ

يُقَصِّرُ عَنها المُدَّعي وَالمُخالِفُ

His are lofty honors from Lu'ayy son of Ghalib,

You have clear evidence from Lu’ayy ibn Ghalib -

which pretender and opponent fall short of.

Before it the pretender and dissenter are silenced.

نَجيبٌ أَريبٌ كانَ جَدُّكَ مُنجِباً

نَجيبٌ أَريبٌ كانَ جَدُّكَ مُنجِباً

وَأَدَّت إِلَيكَ المُنجِباتُ العَفائِفُ

وَأَدَّت إِلَيكَ المُنجِباتُ العَفائِفُ

You are noble and discerning; your grandfather begot noble offspring,

Noble, articulate - your grandfather was a begetter,

and chaste mothers of noble offspring passed that lineage down to you.

And begetters of repute have come down to you.

وَما زالَ مِن آلِ الوَليدِ مُذَبِّبٌ

وَما زالَ مِن آلِ الوَليدِ مُذَبِّبٌ

أَخو ثِقَةٍ عَن كُلُّ ثَغرٍ يُقاذِفُ

أَخو ثِقَةٍ عَن كُلُّ ثَغرٍ يُقاذِفُ

And the house of al-Walid has never lacked a defender,

The house of al-Walīd has never lacked

a man of trust, trading missiles in defense of every frontier.

A brother of trust who wards off every assault.