ودَّعتُ شرخَ صِبايَ قبلَ رحيلِهِ

ودَّعتُ شرخَ صِبايَ قبلَ رحيلِهِ

ونَصَلتُ منه ولاتَ حَينَ نُصولِهِ

ونَصَلتُ منه ولاتَ حَينَ نُصولِهِ

I bade farewell to the bloom of my youth before it departed,

I bid farewell to the fissures of my youth before its departure,

and withdrew from it when it was not yet time to withdraw.

And I picked its berries when they were ripe for the picking.

وَنفَضتُ كفّيَ من شبابٍ مُخلِفٍ

وَنفَضتُ كفّيَ من شبابٍ مُخلِفٍ

إيراقهُ للعين مِثلُ ذبوله

إيراقهُ للعين مِثلُ ذبوله

And I shook my hand free of a faithless youth,

I shook off the remnants of a fleeting youth,

whose leafing, to the eye, was like its withering.

Whose shedding brought tears, like the withering of plants.

وأرى الصِّبا عَجِلاً يَمُرُّ وإنني

وأرى الصِّبا عَجِلاً يَمُرُّ وإنني

ساعدتُ عاجلَهُ على تعجيله

ساعدتُ عاجلَهُ على تعجيله

I see youth hurrying past, and I myself

I see that youth is swift in passing, though

have helped its haste to hasten further.

I hastened its pace in my haste.

سَعُدَ الفتى متقّبلاً مِن دهره

سَعُدَ الفتى متقّبلاً مِن دهره

مقسومَه بقبيحهِ وجميله

مقسومَه بقبيحهِ وجميله

Happy is the young man who accepts from his time

The youth is blessed who faces his fate

his allotted share, its ugliness and its beauty.

With equanimity, through good and ill.

وأظُنّني قد كنتُ أرْوَحَ خاطراً

وأظُنّني قد كنتُ أرْوَحَ خاطراً

بالخطبِ لو لم أُعنَ في تأويله

بالخطبِ لو لم أُعنَ في تأويله

I think my mind would have been more at ease

And I imagine I might have lived in vain dreams

with calamity, had I not concerned myself with interpreting it.

Had I not strove to interpret events.

لكن شُغِفْتُ بأن أُقابلَ بينه

لكن شُغِفْتُ بأن أُقابلَ بينه

أبداً وبين خِلافه ومثيله

أبداً وبين خِلافه ومثيله

But I became engrossed in comparing it

But I was consumed with comparing

always with its opposite and its like.

Forever the alternatives and their likenesses.

وَشَغَلتُ بالي والمصيبَةُ أنني

وَشَغَلتُ بالي والمصيبَةُ أنني

أجني فراغَ العُمرِ مِن مشغوله !

أجني فراغَ العُمرِ مِن مشغوله !

I occupied my mind; the calamity is that I

I busied myself, yet the tragedy is that

reap life's emptiness from its busyness!

I reap the emptiness of life from my busyness!

يأسٌ تجاوزَ حَدَّه حتى لقد

يأسٌ تجاوزَ حَدَّه حتى لقد

أمسيتُ أخشى الشرَّ قبلَ حُلوله

أمسيتُ أخشى الشرَّ قبلَ حُلوله

Despair has overstepped its bounds, until indeed

Despair has gone beyond bounds, so that

I have come to fear evil before it arrives.

I now fear evil before it comes.

وبَلُدْتُ حتى لا ألَذُّ بمُفْرحٍ

وبَلُدْتُ حتى لا ألَذُّ بمُفْرحٍ

حَّذَرَ انتكاستهِ وخوفَ عُدوله!

حَّذَرَ انتكاستهِ وخوفَ عُدوله!

And I grew numb, no longer savoring any joy,

And I have grown so wary that I take no delight

fearing its reversal and dreading its departure.

In joy, fearing instability and reversal.

إيهٍ أحبَّايَ الذينَ ترعرعوا

إيهٍ أحبَّايَ الذينَ ترعرعوا

ما بين أوضاحِ الصِّبا وحُجوله

ما بين أوضاحِ الصِّبا وحُجوله

Ah, my beloved friends, who grew up

Oh friends of my youth who grew up

amid youth's silver ornaments and anklets!

Between the clear dawns and the darkness of youth.

إني وإنْ غَلبَ السلُّو صَبابتي

إني وإنْ غَلبَ السلُّو صَبابتي

واعتضتُ عن نجم الهوى بأُفوله

واعتضتُ عن نجم الهوى بأُفوله

Though forgetfulness has overcome my ardent longing,

Though youthful passion has waned

and I have exchanged love's star for its setting,

And I have turned from the star of passion and its setting.

لتَشوقُني ذكراكُمُ ويهُزُّني

لتَشوقُني ذكراكُمُ ويهُزُّني

طَربٌ إلى قالِ الشباب وقِيِله

طَربٌ إلى قالِ الشباب وقِيِله

your memory still awakens my longing, and I am stirred

The memory of you stirs me

by rapture for the talk and chatter of youth.

And fills me with a yearning for the gatherings and tales of youth.

أحبابَنا بين الفُرات تمتَّعوا

أحبابَنا بين الفُرات تمتَّعوا

بالعيش بين مياهه ونخيله

بالعيش بين مياهه ونخيله

Our beloved friends along the Euphrates, enjoy

My loved ones, enjoy life along the Euphrates,

life amid its waters and its palms.

With its waters and palms.

وتذكَّروا كَلفَ امرئٍ متشوّقٍ

وتذكَّروا كَلفَ امرئٍ متشوّقٍ

منزوفِ صبرٍ بالفراق ، قتيله

منزوفِ صبرٍ بالفراق ، قتيله

And remember the passion of a longing man,

And remember the ardour of one longing,

drained of patience by separation, slain by it,

Exhausted by separation, its victim.

حرّانَ ، مدفونِ الميولِ ، وعنَدكم

حرّانَ ، مدفونِ الميولِ ، وعنَدكم

إطفاءُ غُلَّتِه وبعثُ ميوله

إطفاءُ غُلَّتِه وبعثُ ميوله

burning with thirst, his desires buried—and with you lies

Scorching, with desires buried, find with you

the quenching of his thirst and the revival of his desires.

The cooling of his torment and revival of his desires.

حَييْتُ " سامَرّا " تحيَّةَ مُعجَبٍ

حَييْتُ " سامَرّا " تحيَّةَ مُعجَبٍ

بروُاءِ مُتَّسِعِ الفِناء ظَليله

بروُاءِ مُتَّسِعِ الفِناء ظَليله

I greeted Samarra with an admirer's greeting,

I greet Damascus, the greeting of one amazed

for the beauty of its spacious, shaded grounds.

By its vast patios and cool shade.

بَلدٌ تساوَى الحسنُ فيه ، فليلُهُ

بَلدٌ تساوَى الحسنُ فيه ، فليلُهُ

كنهاره ، وضَّحاؤه كأصيله

كنهاره ، وضَّحاؤه كأصيله

A town whose beauty is everywhere equal: its night

A land where beauty equals the night,

is like its day, its midday like its late afternoon.

Its daylight like its twilight.

ساجي الرياحِ كأنما حلَفَ الصَّبا

ساجي الرياحِ كأنما حلَفَ الصَّبا

أن لا يمُرَّ عليه غيرُ عليله

أن لا يمُرَّ عليه غيرُ عليله

Its winds are still, as though the east wind swore

Sheltered from the winds, as if the morning breeze

that none but its gentlest breeze would pass over it.

Had sworn to blow there only its gentle breezes.

طَلْقُ الضواحي كاد يُربي مُقفِرٌ

طَلْقُ الضواحي كاد يُربي مُقفِرٌ

منه بنُزهتهِ على مأهوله

منه بنُزهتهِ على مأهوله

Its outskirts are open and inviting; a deserted tract

The wide open spaces threaten to make desolate

nearly surpasses its inhabited parts in pleasantness.

Even settled areas by their pristine nature.

وكفاكَ من بلدٍ جَمالاً أنَّه

وكفاكَ من بلدٍ جَمالاً أنَّه

حَدِبٌ على إنعاش قلبِ نزيله

حَدِبٌ على إنعاش قلبِ نزيله

Enough beauty in a town is this:

It suffices that this land revives the heart of one

it tenderly cares to revive its guest's heart.

Who seeks refuge there from the toil of exile.

عَجَبي بزَهْوِ صُخوره وجباله

عَجَبي بزَهْوِ صُخوره وجباله

عَجَبي بمنحَدرَاته وسُهوله

عَجَبي بمنحَدرَاته وسُهوله

I marvel at the splendor of its rocks and mountains,

I marvel at the splendor of its rocks and mountains,

I marvel at its slopes and plains,

Its slopes and plains.

بالماءِ منساباً على حَصبائه

بالماءِ منساباً على حَصبائه

بالشَّمسِ طالعةً وراء تُلوله

بالشَّمسِ طالعةً وراء تُلوله

at the water gliding over its pebbles,

The water flowing over its pebbles,

at the sun rising behind its hills,

The sun rising between its tells.

بالشاطئِ الأدنى وبَسطةِ رملِهِ

بالشاطئِ الأدنى وبَسطةِ رملِهِ

بالشاطئِ الأعلى وبَردِ مَقيله

بالشاطئِ الأعلى وبَردِ مَقيله

at the nearer bank and its sweep of sand,

The lower banks and the spacious sands,

at the farther bank and the coolness of its noonday resting-place,

The upper banks and its cool resting places.

بجماله ، والبدرُ يَملؤه سناً

بجماله ، والبدرُ يَملؤه سناً

بجلالهِ رهنَ الدُّجى وسُدوله

بجلالهِ رهنَ الدُّجى وسُدوله

at its beauty as the full moon fills it with radiance,

They are separated by gentle islands, projecting

at its majesty in the grip of darkness and its veils,

Like rivals vying in their prime.

بالنهر فيَّاضَ الجوانبِ يزدهي

بالنهر فيَّاضَ الجوانبِ يزدهي

بالمُطْربَينِ : خريرهِ وصليله

بالمُطْربَينِ : خريرهِ وصليله

at the river, its banks brimming, resplendent

The boats ply the waters, lined up

with its two entrancing sounds: its murmur and its ringing.

As if competing to reach their destinations.

ذي جانبْينِ ، فجانب مُتطامِنٌ

ذي جانبْينِ ، فجانب مُتطامِنٌ

يقسو النسيمُ عليه في تقبيله

يقسو النسيمُ عليه في تقبيله

It has two sides: one lies low,

As the curve approaches its outlet, it seems

the breeze is harsh upon it in its kiss,

To seek to reach it before the waters arrive.

بإزاءِ آخَرَ جائشٍ متلاطمٍ

بإزاءِ آخَرَ جائشٍ متلاطمٍ

يَرغو إذا ما انصبَّ نحوَ مَسيله

يَرغو إذا ما انصبَّ نحوَ مَسيله

opposite another, surging and tossing,

If you look, you can see a boat there

foaming as it rushes toward its channel.

Lit up by its lamp.

فصلتهما " الجُزُرُ " اللِّطافُ نواتئاً

فصلتهما " الجُزُرُ " اللِّطافُ نواتئاً

كلٌّ تحفَّزَ ماثلاً لعديله

كلٌّ تحفَّزَ ماثلاً لعديله

Dainty islands separated the two, jutting out,

Or the sound of oars shows by its echo

each poised upright to meet its counterpart.

Against the pebbles its song of lament.

وجرتْ على الماءِ القوارِبُ عُورضت

وجرتْ على الماءِ القوارِبُ عُورضت

بالجري فهي كراسفٍ بكبوله

بالجري فهي كراسفٍ بكبوله

Boats moved over the water, checked

Stillness descended over the whole world,

by the current, like a man shuffling in his fetters.

And the valley drew round itself a cloak of stillness.

فإذا التَوت لمسيلهِ فكأنَّما

فإذا التَوت لمسيلهِ فكأنَّما

تبغي الوصولَ إليه قبلَ وصوله

تبغي الوصولَ إليه قبلَ وصوله

And when they turn toward its channel, it is as though

A dove cooed among the rocks,

they seek to reach it before the river does.

Hearing the warbling of a lover's lament.

وإذا نظرتَ رأيتَ ثَمَّةَ قارَباً

وإذا نظرتَ رأيتَ ثَمَّةَ قارَباً

تَمتازُه بالضوء مِن قِنديله

تَمتازُه بالضوء مِن قِنديله

And when you look, you see a boat there,

The song propagated a lament among the banks

discernible by the light of its lantern,

And the rustling of branches awakened his companion.

أو صوتِ مِجدافٍ يُبينُ بوقعه

أو صوتِ مِجدافٍ يُبينُ بوقعه

فوقَ الحصى عن شجوه وعويله

فوقَ الحصى عن شجوه وعويله

or the sound of an oar, revealing with its strokes

I have seen the panorama of the Tigris in a scene

over the pebbles, its sorrow and its wailing.

That poetry fails to describe.

سادَ السكونُ على العوالم كُلَّها

سادَ السكونُ على العوالم كُلَّها

وتَجلبب الوادي رِداءَ خموله

وتَجلبب الوادي رِداءَ خموله

Stillness reigned over all the worlds,

Its sunset glow diffused over the water

and the valley donned the cloak of its repose.

Gold on its shoals and meadows.

وتنبَّهتْ بين الصخورِ حَمامةٌ

وتنبَّهتْ بين الصخورِ حَمامةٌ

تُصغي لصوت مُطارِحٍ بهديله

تُصغي لصوت مُطارِحٍ بهديله

A dove awoke among the rocks,

Until when night fell, there appeared for it

listening to the voice of one answering with his coos.

An afterglow surrounding the moon in its rising.

وأشاعَ شجواً في الضفاف ورقَّةً

وأشاعَ شجواً في الضفاف ورقَّةً

إيقاظُ نُوتيًّ بها لزميله

إيقاظُ نُوتيًّ بها لزميله

And sorrow and tenderness spread along the banks

The two glows converged, one ascending

as a boatman there awakened his companion.

And one descending.

ولقد رأيتُ فُويقَ دجلةَ مَنظراً

ولقد رأيتُ فُويقَ دجلةَ مَنظراً

الَشِعرُ لا يقوى على تحليله

الَشِعرُ لا يقوى على تحليله

I saw, just above the Tigris, a sight

Then a luminous silver light played

that poetry lacks the power to unravel:

Over the two expanses: its waters and its dunes.

شَفَقاً على الماءِ استفاضَ شُعاعُه

شَفَقاً على الماءِ استفاضَ شُعاعُه

ذَهَباً على شُطآنه وحُقوله

ذَهَباً على شُطآنه وحُقوله

a twilight glow over the water, its rays spreading

Thus the shores, the plains, the pastures,

as gold over its shores and fields,

The river, the valley and all its surroundings

حتى إذا حكَم المغيبُ بدا له

حتى إذا حكَم المغيبُ بدا له

شفقٌ يُحيطُ البدرَ حين مُثوله

شفقٌ يُحيطُ البدرَ حين مُثوله

until, when sunset took command, there appeared

Were silvery, dancing with beams, adorned

a glow encircling the full moon as it came into view.

With a wondrous, mysterious charm.

فتحالفَ الشفقانِ ، هذا فائرٌ

فتحالفَ الشفقانِ ، هذا فائرٌ

صُعُداً وهذا ذائبٌ بنزوله

صُعُداً وهذا ذائبٌ بنزوله

Then the two glows allied: this one welling

The sky was perfectly clear, so that if a breath

upward, and that one dissolving as it descended.

Crossed it, it would appear in its polished transparency.

ثُمَّ استوى فِضّيُّ نُورٍ عابثٍ

ثُمَّ استوى فِضّيُّ نُورٍ عابثٍ

بالمائِجَيْنِ : مِياههِ ورموله

بالمائِجَيْنِ : مِياههِ ورموله

Then a silvery light settled, playing

It is for the likes of this life that a young man

with its two undulating expanses: its waters and its sands.

Yearns and cares for its hopes.

فاذا الشواطئُ والمساحبُ والرُّبى

فاذا الشواطئُ والمساحبُ والرُّبى

والشطُّ والوادي وكلُّ فُضوله

والشطُّ والوادي وكلُّ فُضوله

And behold, the shores, the sandy stretches, the hills,

And if I grieve for ruin, it is because

the riverbank, the valley, and all its outlying reaches

It was lush land, which grieves you in its transformation.

قمراءُ ، راقصةُ الأشعَّةِ ، جُلّلت

قمراءُ ، راقصةُ الأشعَّةِ ، جُلّلت

بخفيِّ سِرٍّ رائعٍ مجهوله

بخفيِّ سِرٍّ رائعٍ مجهوله

were moonlit, their rays dancing, draped

It seemed splendid mansions, now desolate,

in a hidden mystery, wondrous in its unknown essence.

Humbled, with all pride lost.

والجوُّ أفرطَ في الصفاءِ فلو جرى

والجوُّ أفرطَ في الصفاءِ فلو جرى

نَفَسٌ عليه لَبانَ في مصقوله

نَفَسٌ عليه لَبانَ في مصقوله

The air was so exceedingly clear that, were

Like an army routed, whose regiments have fled,

a breath to pass over it, it would show on its polished surface.

Leaving remnants for the enemy's plunder.

هذي الحياةُ لِمِثلها يحنو الفتى

هذي الحياةُ لِمِثلها يحنو الفتى

حِرصاً وإشفاقاً على مأموله

حِرصاً وإشفاقاً على مأموله

This is life; for its like a young man cares tenderly,

The Lover's retreat is destroyed,

with care and concern for all he hopes for.

Like a despairing lover bereft of his beloved.

وإذا أسِفتُ لمؤسِفٍ فلأنَّه

وإذا أسِفتُ لمؤسِفٍ فلأنَّه

خِصْبُ الثَّرى يُشجيكَ فرطُ مُحوله

خِصْبُ الثَّرى يُشجيكَ فرطُ مُحوله

And if I grieve at something grievous, it is because

The Ja'fari still stands, though time

its soil is fertile, and its utter barrenness saddens you.

Has not diminished its magnificence.

قد كانَ في خَفْضِ النَّعيم فبالغتْ

قد كانَ في خَفْضِ النَّعيم فبالغتْ

كفُّ الليالي السودِ في تحويله

كفُّ الليالي السودِ في تحويله

It once lay in ease and bliss, but

Its evident desolation seems to betray

the hand of black nights went far in transforming it.

Anguish over its vanished luxury above its tells.

بَدَتِ القصورُ الغامراتُ حزينةً

بَدَتِ القصورُ الغامراتُ حزينةً

من كلّ منهوبِ الفِناءِ ذليله

من كلّ منهوبِ الفِناءِ ذليله

The vast palaces appeared sorrowful,

As if it found no substitute for Ja'far

each plundered of its courtyard and humbled,

To bring it joy, nor a peer for his generation.

كالجيشِ مهزومَ الكتائبِ فلَّه

كالجيشِ مهزومَ الكتائبِ فلَّه

ظَفَرٌ ورَقَّ عدوَه لفلوله

ظَفَرٌ ورَقَّ عدوَه لفلوله

like an army, its battalions routed, shattered

Its halls once resounded with his poetry

by victory, its enemy moved to pity for its scattered remnants.

And the melodious chanting of al-Walid.

" العاشقُ " المهجورُ قُوّضَ رُكنُهُ

" العاشقُ " المهجورُ قُوّضَ رُكنُهُ

كالعاشق الآسي لفقدِ خليله

كالعاشق الآسي لفقدِ خليله

The deserted al-Ashiq, its pillar pulled down,

The excellent poets of past times

is like a lover grieving for his lost beloved.

Adorned the Golden Age and were its pride.

" والجعفريُّ " ولم يقصِّررسمُهُ

" والجعفريُّ " ولم يقصِّررسمُهُ

الباقي برغُم الدَّهر عن تمثيله

الباقي برغُم الدَّهر عن تمثيله

And al-Ja'fari—its outline has not failed,

They vaunted a poet as if

surviving despite time, to depict it—

The meaning of wisdom lay only in his attainment!

بادي الشحوبِ تَكادُ تقرأ لوعةً

بادي الشحوبِ تَكادُ تقرأ لوعةً

لنعيمه المسلوبِ فوقَ طلوله

لنعيمه المسلوبِ فوقَ طلوله

shows its pallor; you can almost read anguish

Sweet speech was their reward, and they wove

for its stolen bliss upon its ruins.

A crown of sovereignty from its strands.

وكأنَّما هو لم يجِدْ عن " جعفرٍ "

وكأنَّما هو لم يجِدْ عن " جعفرٍ "

بدلآ يُسَرُّ به ولاً عن جِيله

بدلآ يُسَرُّ به ولاً عن جِيله

It is as though it has found, in place of Ja'far,

When they sought silence, they recalled

no substitute to delight in, nor one for his generation.

The King's abundant grace in his gifts.

فُضَّتْ مَجالسُهُ به وخلَوْنَ مِن

فُضَّتْ مَجالسُهُ به وخلَوْنَ مِن

شعر " الوليدِ بها ومن ترتيله

شعر " الوليدِ بها ومن ترتيله

Its gatherings were dispersed within it and emptied of

One who shields his soul, not degrading it

al-Walid's poetry there, and his recitation.

With meanness, giving wealth without conceit.

إن الفحُولَ السالفينَ تعهَّدوا

إن الفحُولَ السالفينَ تعهَّدوا

عصرَ القريضِ وأُعجبوا بفحوله

عصرَ القريضِ وأُعجبوا بفحوله

The great men of old nurtured

And when they sang, it was as if a bird trilled,

the age of poetry and admired its masters.

The effects of luxury apparent in its warbling.

يتفاخرونَ بشاعرٍ فكأنَّما

يتفاخرونَ بشاعرٍ فكأنَّما

تحصيلُ معنى الحُكْمِ في تحصيله !

تحصيلُ معنى الحُكْمِ في تحصيله !

They took pride in a poet, as though

I was moved by a tender sadness,

the essence of sovereignty lay in securing him.

Bewildered in the eye, at its entrance.

فجزَوْهُمُ حُلوَ الكلامِ وطرَّزوا

فجزَوْهُمُ حُلوَ الكلامِ وطرَّزوا

إكليلَ ربِّ المُلْك مِن إكليله

إكليلَ ربِّ المُلْك مِن إكليله

So the poets repaid them with sweet words and embroidered

I asked fate about its design?

the sovereign's crown from the poet's own crown.

its surface, breadth and length?

كانوا إذا راموا السكوتَ تذكَّروا

كانوا إذا راموا السكوتَ تذكَّروا

فَضلَ المليكِ الجمَّ في تنويله

فَضلَ المليكِ الجمَّ في تنويله

Whenever they wished to fall silent, they recalled

It answered me: this ruin is its breast

the king's abundant bounty in his giving:

And the empty ruin the trail of its tail.

من صائنٍ للنفس غيرِ مُذيلها

من صائنٍ للنفس غيرِ مُذيلها

شُحُاً ومُعطي المالِ غيرِ مُديله

شُحُاً ومُعطي المالِ غيرِ مُديله

one who guarded his dignity, never debasing it

Ask the winds blowing

through stinginess, and gave wealth without squandering it.

They know best all its branches and roots.

وإذا شَدَوا فكما تغنَّى طائرٌ

وإذا شَدَوا فكما تغنَّى طائرٌ

أثرُ النعيمِ يَبينُ في تهليله

أثرُ النعيمِ يَبينُ في تهليله

And when they sang, it was as a bird sings,

And learn that when time passes

the trace of bliss evident in its jubilant song.

The meteors of heaven are the tread of its steeds.

ولقد شجتني عَبرةٌ رَقراقةٌ

ولقد شجتني عَبرةٌ رَقراقةٌ

حَيرانةٌ في العين عند دُخوله

حَيرانةٌ في العين عند دُخوله

A shimmering tear stirred my sorrow,

The Abbasids stretched out a conquering hand

hovering in my eye as I entered it.

So time walked for them with fists of conquest.

إني سألتُ الدهرَ عن تخطيطهِ

إني سألتُ الدهرَ عن تخطيطهِ

عن سَطحه، عن عَرضه ، عن طُوله

عن سَطحه، عن عَرضه ، عن طُوله

I asked Time about its design,

And when they grew tyrannous, their truthful kingdom was ravaged,

about its surface, its breadth, its length.

With the false claim of a deceitful kingdom.

فأجابني : هذي الخريبةُ صدرُه

فأجابني : هذي الخريبةُ صدرُه

والبلقعُ الخالي مَجرُّ ذيوله

والبلقعُ الخالي مَجرُّ ذيوله

It answered me: this little ruin is its breast,

Thus is politics in its claims,

and the empty wasteland is where its skirts once trailed.

Awarding the unworthy what is due to the worthy.

وَسَلِ الرياحَ السافياتِ فانَّها

وَسَلِ الرياحَ السافياتِ فانَّها

أدرى بكلِّ فروعه وأصوله

أدرى بكلِّ فروعه وأصوله

Ask the dust-scattering winds, for they

Samarra, I have immortalized you, though I have not conveyed

know its branches and its roots best.

But a little of your abundant virtues.

وتعلَّمَنْ أنَّ الزمانَ إذا انتحى

وتعلَّمَنْ أنَّ الزمانَ إذا انتحى

شُهُبَ السَّما كانت مداسَ خُيوله

شُهُبَ السَّما كانت مداسَ خُيوله

And know that when Time bears down upon

O joy of the heart which left nothing

the meteors of heaven, they become a treadway for its horses.

Of sadness and sorrow their trace and their lodging.

مدَّت بنو العبَّاس كفَّ مُطاوِلٍ

مدَّت بنو العبَّاس كفَّ مُطاوِلٍ

فمشى الزمانُ لهم بكفِّ مَغوله

فمشى الزمانُ لهم بكفِّ مَغوله

The sons of al-Abbas stretched out a rival's hand,

You revived one whose heart's fire raged

and Time advanced against them with its Mongols' hand.

And relieved him of the torment of his fevered heart.

واجتاحَ صادقَ مُلكهِمْ لما طَغوا

واجتاحَ صادقَ مُلكهِمْ لما طَغوا

بدعيِّ مُلكٍ كاذبٍ مَنحوله

بدعيِّ مُلكٍ كاذبٍ مَنحوله

When they grew tyrannical, it swept away their genuine sovereignty

You gave him hope and banished the anxieties

with a pretender's false, fraudulently claimed rule.

That troubled him, actualizing his imaginings.

وكذا السياسةُ في التقاضي عندَه

وكذا السياسةُ في التقاضي عندَه

تسليمُ فاضلهِ الى مفضوله

تسليمُ فاضلهِ الى مفضوله

Such is statecraft in Time's reckoning:

You made his hopes truthful, worthy of one like him,

surrendering its better to its worse.

So you were, and increased his hopes.

خُلِّدْتِ سامراءُ ، لم أوصِلْكِ مِن

خُلِّدْتِ سامراءُ ، لم أوصِلْكِ مِن

فَضْلٍ حَشَدتِ عليَّ غيرَ قليله

فَضْلٍ حَشَدتِ عليَّ غيرَ قليله

May you be immortal, Samarra; I have repaid none of

This fresh beauty will be returned to you

the bounty you heaped upon me, save a little.

Redoubled by my poetry and its beauties.

يا فرحةَ القلبِ الذي لم تتركي

يا فرحةَ القلبِ الذي لم تتركي

أثراً لِلاعجِ همّه ودخيله

أثراً لِلاعجِ همّه ودخيله

O joy of the heart, in which you have left

But I have transgressed, for my heart turns over ideas

no trace of its searing sorrow or hidden anguish.

Beyond poetry's ability to represent.

وافاكِ مُلتهِبَ الغليلِ وراح عن

وافاكِ مُلتهِبَ الغليلِ وراح عن

مغناكِ يَحمَدُ منكِ بردَ غليله

مغناكِ يَحمَدُ منكِ بردَ غليله

It came to you aflame with thirst and departed from

And exquisite meanings in you confound

your abode praising the coolness you brought to its thirst.

Their expression, refined as it is.

أنعشتِهِ ونَفَيْتِ عنه هواجساً

أنعشتِهِ ونَفَيْتِ عنه هواجساً

ضايقْنَه ، وأثرتِ من تخييله

ضايقْنَه ، وأثرتِ من تخييله

You revived it and banished from it misgivings

Perhaps what is conveyed of speech will be transformed

that oppressed it, and stirred its imagination.

In a coming world to its meanings.

وصدقته أملاً رآكِ لِمثله

وصدقته أملاً رآكِ لِمثله

أهلاً فكنتِ ، وزدتِ في تأميله

أهلاً فكنتِ ، وزدتِ في تأميله

You fulfilled a hope of its, for it saw you as

There metaphor will expand, freeing one

worthy of such a hope; you were, and heightened its hopes.

From summary meaning to detail.

هذا الجميلُ الغضُّ سوف يردُّه

هذا الجميلُ الغضُّ سوف يردُّه

شِعري إليكِ مُضاعفاً بجميله

شِعري إليكِ مُضاعفاً بجميله

This fresh kindness will be repaid

by my poetry to you, multiplied by its own beauty.

ولقد غَلوتُ فكمْ يقلبي خاطرٌ

ولقد غَلوتُ فكمْ يقلبي خاطرٌ

عَجزتْ مَعاني الشعر عن تمثيله

عَجزتْ مَعاني الشعر عن تمثيله

Yet I have gone too far: how many a thought in my heart

the meanings of poetry have failed to portray!

وَلطيفِ معنىً فيك ضاقَ بليدُها

وَلطيفِ معنىً فيك ضاقَ بليدُها

بذكِّيهِ ، ودقيقُها بجَليله

بذكِّيهِ ، ودقيقُها بجَليله

And many a subtle meaning in you—poetry's dull expression fell short

of its brilliance, and its fine expression of its grandeur.

ولعلَّ منقولَ الكلامِ محوَّلٌ

ولعلَّ منقولَ الكلامِ محوَّلٌ

في عالَمٍ آتٍ إلى مَعقوله

في عالَمٍ آتٍ إلى مَعقوله

Perhaps conveyed speech will be transformed

in a world to come into its intelligible meaning.

فهُناكَ يتَّسِع التخلّصُ لامرِئٍ

فهُناكَ يتَّسِع التخلّصُ لامرِئٍ

من مُجمَل المعنى إلى تفصيله

من مُجمَل المعنى إلى تفصيله

There a man will have ample room to pass

from meaning in outline to its full detail.