قَد بَلَّغَتْكَ خُطا المَهْرِيَّةِ الرّثسُمِ

قَد بَلَّغَتْكَ خُطا المَهْرِيَّةِ الرّثسُمِ

دارَ الأَحِبَّةِ فَاشْكُرُ نِعْمَةَ النّعَمِ

دارَ الأَحِبَّةِ فَاشْكُرُ نِعْمَةَ النّعَمِ

The strides of the swift-trotting Mahri camels have brought you

The clumsy lines of al-Mahriyyah have reached you,

to the home of loved ones; so give thanks for the camels' blessing.

The abode of loved ones, so thank the Bestower of bounties,

كَرائِمٌ وَهَبَتْ مَسْراكَ ما لَبِسَت

كَرائِمٌ وَهَبَتْ مَسْراكَ ما لَبِسَت

وَهُنَّ مِثْلُكَ بَيْنَ السَّهْلِ وَالحَرَمِ

وَهُنَّ مِثْلُكَ بَيْنَ السَّهْلِ وَالحَرَمِ

Noble she-camels gave your night journey what they wore,

Generous ladies who granted you joys to wear,

and they, like you, are between the plain and the sacred precinct.

And they are like you, between plains and the Sanctuary,

لَو كُنتَ تُنْصِفُ ما أَرْغَمتَ آنَفَهَا

لَو كُنتَ تُنْصِفُ ما أَرْغَمتَ آنَفَهَا

وَلا خَضَبْتَ الحَصى مِن خُفِّها بِدَمِ

وَلا خَضَبْتَ الحَصى مِن خُفِّها بِدَمِ

Had you been fair, you would not have rubbed their noses in dust,

If you were fair, you would not have forced her into submission,

nor dyed the pebbles with blood from their foot-pads.

Nor dyed the pebbles with blood from her slippers,

يا نُوقُ عُذراً فَإنَّ الشَّوقَ كَلَّفَنِي

يا نُوقُ عُذراً فَإنَّ الشَّوقَ كَلَّفَنِي

إلَى الحَبِيبِ بِمَسْرانَا فَلا تَلُمي

إلَى الحَبِيبِ بِمَسْرانَا فَلا تَلُمي

O she-camels, pardon me: longing has compelled me

O she-camel, excuse me, for yearning has burdened me,

toward the beloved on our night journey; so do not blame me.

With a journey to the beloved, so do not blame me,

ما لِي وَلا لَكِ بَعْدَ الدَّارِ مِن أَرَبٍ

ما لِي وَلا لَكِ بَعْدَ الدَّارِ مِن أَرَبٍ

هذي الظِّباءُ وَبَيتُ المَوْرِدِ الشَّبِمِ

هذي الظِّباءُ وَبَيتُ المَوْرِدِ الشَّبِمِ

Neither I nor you have any need beyond the dwelling:

After this abode, neither I nor you will have any shelter,

here are the gazelles and the dwelling at the icy-cold watering place.

Just mountain goats and a house at the brackish spring,

مِن كُلِّ مُخْطَفَةِ الأَعْطافِ مُثْقَلَةِ الْ

مِن كُلِّ مُخْطَفَةِ الأَعْطافِ مُثْقَلَةِ الْ

أَرْدافِ ناعِمَةِ الأَطْرافِ كَالْعَنَمِ

أَرْدافِ ناعِمَةِ الأَطْرافِ كَالْعَنَمِ

Each a beauty slender of waist, heavy in the

From every snatcher of glances, heavy of buttocks,

buttocks, soft of limb like the ʿanam plant.

Soft of limbs, like an arithmetic rod,

كَأَنَّما الثَّغْرُ يَهْواهَا إِذْا خَطَرَتْ

كَأَنَّما الثَّغْرُ يَهْواهَا إِذْا خَطَرَتْ

مِثْلي فَيَلْثُمُ مِنْها مِوطِئَ القَدَمِ

مِثْلي فَيَلْثُمُ مِنْها مِوطِئَ القَدَمِ

It is as though the frontier town loves her when she sways past,

As if her mouth desires her when she passes by,

as I do, and kisses the place where she sets her foot.

And kisses her footprints from her,

كَأَنَّما المَوْتُ يَجْرِي فِي مَحاجِرِهَا

كَأَنَّما المَوْتُ يَجْرِي فِي مَحاجِرِهَا

وَكُلُّ لَحْظٍ رَسولٌ طالِبٌ بِدَمِ

وَكُلُّ لَحْظٍ رَسولٌ طالِبٌ بِدَمِ

It is as though death courses through her eye sockets,

As if death runs in her eyelids,

and every glance is a messenger demanding blood.

And every glance is a messenger seeking blood,

يا أَهْلَها قَد كَفَتْكُمْ فِي صِيانَتِها

يا أَهْلَها قَد كَفَتْكُمْ فِي صِيانَتِها

حَمْلَ الرُّدَيْنِيِّ وَالصَّمْصامَةِ الخَذِمِ

حَمْلَ الرُّدَيْنِيِّ وَالصَّمْصامَةِ الخَذِمِ

O her kin, she has spared you, in guarding her,

O people of her abode, keeping her safe is enough

the carrying of the Rudayni spear and the keen-cutting sword.

To bear, along with the burdensome and the arduous,

وِشاحُها مُعْدِمٌ وَالحِجْلُ مُقْتَدِرٌ

وِشاحُها مُعْدِمٌ وَالحِجْلُ مُقْتَدِرٌ

مُثْرٍ كَذاكَ اخْتِلافُ الرِّزْقِ فِي القِسَمِ

مُثْرٍ كَذاكَ اخْتِلافُ الرِّزْقِ فِي القِسَمِ

Her sash is destitute, and her anklet well-to-do,

Her wrap is worn out and the anklet still elegant,

wealthy—such is the disparity in allotted sustenance.

Fertile it is, just as livelihoods differ in allotment,

كَأَنَّما هِيَ مِن لِينٍ وَمِن تَرَفٍ

كَأَنَّما هِيَ مِن لِينٍ وَمِن تَرَفٍ

ماءٌ تَجَسَّدَ لِلأبْصارِ كَالصَّنَمِ

ماءٌ تَجَسَّدَ لِلأبْصارِ كَالصَّنَمِ

It is as though she, in her softness and delicacy,

As if she is of softness and luxury,

were water taking bodily form before the eyes, like an idol.

Water that took bodily form for visions, like an idol,

إيَّاكَ يا دُرُّ عَن لأَلاَءِ لَبَّتِها

إيَّاكَ يا دُرُّ عَن لأَلاَءِ لَبَّتِها

وَارْجِعْ إلَى اليَمَّ وَالأصْدافِ وَالظُّلمِ

وَارْجِعْ إلَى اليَمَّ وَالأصْدافِ وَالظُّلمِ

Keep clear, O pearls, of the radiance of her throat's hollow,

Be careful, O pearl, of the brilliance of her playfulness,

and return to the sea, the shells, and the darkness.

And return to the sea, shells, and darkness,

وَلاَ تَقُلْ إِنَّني مِن جِنْسِ مَبْسِمِها

وَلاَ تَقُلْ إِنَّني مِن جِنْسِ مَبْسِمِها

فَأَنْتَ تُوَجَدُ بِالأَدْنَى مِنَ القِيَمِ

فَأَنْتَ تُوَجَدُ بِالأَدْنَى مِنَ القِيَمِ

And do not say, 'I am of the same kind as her smiling mouth,'

And do not say that I am of the same essence as her smile,

for you can be found at the lowest of prices.

For you can be found cheaper than her value,

عِشْقُ الغَوانِي وَعِشْقُ المَجْدِ مُشْتَبِهٌ

عِشْقُ الغَوانِي وَعِشْقُ المَجْدِ مُشْتَبِهٌ

وَإِنَّما الفَرْقُ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ بِالهِمَمِ

وَإِنَّما الفَرْقُ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ بِالهِمَمِ

Passion for beautiful women and passion for glory are alike;

Love of singing girls and love of glory are similar,

and the difference between people lies only in their aspirations.

The only difference between people is in their aspirations,

فَعَيْنُ هذا تُراعِي وَصْلَ غَانِيَةٍ

فَعَيْنُ هذا تُراعِي وَصْلَ غَانِيَةٍ

وَعَينُ موسى عَنِ الإسلامِ لَمْ تَنَمِ

وَعَينُ موسى عَنِ الإسلامِ لَمْ تَنَمِ

For this man's eye seeks union with a beauty,

For the eye of this one watches for union with a singing girl,

while Musa's eye has not slept in its watch over Islam.

While the eye of Moses did not sleep from Islam,

الأشْرَفُ المَلِكُ الوَهَّابُ مُبْتَدِئاً

الأشْرَفُ المَلِكُ الوَهَّابُ مُبْتَدِئاً

شُمَّ الأُنوفِ بِما فِيها مِنَ النِّعَمِ

شُمَّ الأُنوفِ بِما فِيها مِنَ النِّعَمِ

Al-Ashraf, the king, the lavish giver, offering unasked

God is Greatest! How much provision and lifespan

to proud nobles the blessings held in his hand.

He makes flow between the edge of the sword and the pen,

نالَ العُلَى بِيَدٍ بَيْضاءَ ما بَرِحَتْ

نالَ العُلَى بِيَدٍ بَيْضاءَ ما بَرِحَتْ

مِنْ فَوْقَ كُلَّ يَدٍ أَو تَحْتَ كُلِّ فَمِ

مِنْ فَوْقَ كُلَّ يَدٍ أَو تَحْتَ كُلِّ فَمِ

He attained the heights with a white hand that has remained

What are waves but the sea's thrashing out of envy for it,

above every hand, or beneath every mouth.

And what is lightning but the field's shyness from its rain,

اللَّهُ أكْبَرُ كَمْ رِزْقٍ وَكمْ أَجَلٍ

اللَّهُ أكْبَرُ كَمْ رِزْقٍ وَكمْ أَجَلٍ

يُجْرِيِهما بَيْنَ حَدِّ السَّيْفِ وَالقَلَمِ

يُجْرِيِهما بَيْنَ حَدِّ السَّيْفِ وَالقَلَمِ

God is greatest! How many livelihoods and how many lifespans

O kindler of fire for guests out of generosity,

he makes flow between the edge of the sword and the pen!

And kindler of fire for enemies out of vengeance,

مَا المَوجُ إلاَّ الْتِطامُ البَحْرِ مِنْ حَسَدٍ

مَا المَوجُ إلاَّ الْتِطامُ البَحْرِ مِنْ حَسَدٍ

لَهُ وَلاَ الْبَرْقُ إلاّ خَجْلَةُ الدَّيَمِ

لَهُ وَلاَ الْبَرْقُ إلاّ خَجْلَةُ الدَّيَمِ

Waves are only the sea's self-buffeting out of envy

For how many flags of peace do you have a fire,

of him; and lightning is only the blush of the steady rains.

And for how many flags of war do you have a fire,

يا مُوقِدَ النارِ لِلأَضْيافِ مِنْ كَرَمٍ

يا مُوقِدَ النارِ لِلأَضْيافِ مِنْ كَرَمٍ

وَمُوقِدَ النّارِ لِلأَعْداءِ مِن نِقَمِ

وَمُوقِدَ النّارِ لِلأَعْداءِ مِن نِقَمِ

O kindler of fire for guests out of generosity,

The sword is like you, smiling when faced,

and kindler of fire for enemies out of vengeance,

When the faces of horses and heroes frown,

فَكَمْ لِسَلْمِكَ مِن نارٍ عَلى عَلَمٍ

فَكَمْ لِسَلْمِكَ مِن نارٍ عَلى عَلَمٍ

وَكَمْ لِحَرْبِكَ مِن نارٍ عَلى عَلَمِ

وَكَمْ لِحَرْبِكَ مِن نارٍ عَلى عَلَمِ

so how many a fire for your peace burns upon a hilltop,

Between heated war from enemy riders,

and how many a fire for your war burns upon a banner!

And a sea clash from the vessels' collision,

السَّيْفُ مِثْلُكَ طَلْقُ الوَجْهِ مُبْتَسِمٌ

السَّيْفُ مِثْلُكَ طَلْقُ الوَجْهِ مُبْتَسِمٌ

إِذْا اكْفَهَرَّتْ وُجوهُ الخَيلِ وَالبُهُمِ

إِذْا اكْفَهَرَّتْ وُجوهُ الخَيلِ وَالبُهُمِ

The sword, like you, is bright-faced and smiling

There the whites rip out the innards out of evil,

when the faces of horses and mighty warriors grow grim,

And the browns bury in the livers out of ailment,

ما بَينَ حرٍّ مِنَ الخِرْصانِ مُضْطَرِمٍ

ما بَينَ حرٍّ مِنَ الخِرْصانِ مُضْطَرِمٍ

وَلُجِّ بَحْرٍ مِنَ المَإِذْيِّ مُلْتَطِمِ

وَلُجِّ بَحْرٍ مِنَ المَإِذْيِّ مُلْتَطِمِ

between the blazing heat of spearheads

There, indeed, my precious soul is certain

and the surging depths of a sea of fine mail.

That survival is for it in the arena of nonexistence,

هُنالِكَ البِيضُ تَفْرِي الَهامَ مِن شَرَهٍ

هُنالِكَ البِيضُ تَفْرِي الَهامَ مِن شَرَهٍ

وَتَكْرَعُ السُّمْرُ فِي الأكبادِ مِن قَرَمِ

وَتَكْرَعُ السُّمْرُ فِي الأكبادِ مِن قَرَمِ

There the white blades cleave heads in ravenous hunger,

The essence of glory is aversion, scarcely accustomed,

and the brown spears drink deep from livers, hungry for flesh.

Except for giving away riches or shedding blood,

هُناكَ إِنَّ نَفِيسَ النَّفْسِ مُعْتَقِدٌ

هُناكَ إِنَّ نَفِيسَ النَّفْسِ مُعْتَقِدٌ

أَنَّ البَقاءَ لَهُ فِي حَيِّزِ العَدَمِ

أَنَّ البَقاءَ لَهُ فِي حَيِّزِ العَدَمِ

There, indeed, the noble-hearted man believes

You have ennobled Ayyub, O Moses, just as

that his survival lies in the realm of nonexistence.

The soul of Ibrahim was ennobled by Al-Mustafa in ancient times,

بِكْرُ المَعالِي نَفُورٌ قَطُّ ما أَنِسَتْ

بِكْرُ المَعالِي نَفُورٌ قَطُّ ما أَنِسَتْ

إلاّ لِبَذْل نَوالِ أو لِسَفْكِ دَمِ

إلاّ لِبَذْل نَوالِ أو لِسَفْكِ دَمِ

The virgin of lofty honors is elusive; she has never felt at ease

You have established for the religion and the world and its inhabitants,

except with the giving of bounty or the shedding of blood.

The age of youth after old age and decay,

شَرَّفْتَ أَيُّوبَ يا موسى كما شَرُفَتْ

شَرَّفْتَ أَيُّوبَ يا موسى كما شَرُفَتْ

بِالمُصْطَفَى نَفْسُ إبْرَاهِيمَ فِي القِدَمِ

بِالمُصْطَفَى نَفْسُ إبْرَاهِيمَ فِي القِدَمِ

You ennobled Ayyub, O Musa, just as honor came

Your generosity is an ocean, the richest of all creation,

through the Chosen One to Ibrahim's soul in ancient times.

Through which you brought people altogether closer,

أَعَدْتَ لِلدِّينِ وَالدُّنْيا وَساكِنِها

أَعَدْتَ لِلدِّينِ وَالدُّنْيا وَساكِنِها

عَصْرَ الشَّبِيبَةِ بَعْدَ الشَّيْبِ وَالهَرَمِ

عَصْرَ الشَّبِيبَةِ بَعْدَ الشَّيْبِ وَالهَرَمِ

You restored to religion, the world, and its inhabitants

I am the one whom a caring hand of yours embraced,

the age of youth after gray hair and decrepitude.

So what can I say about what has passed and my regret?

جُودٌ هُوَ البَحْرُ أغْنى الخَلْقَ كُلَّهُمُ

جُودٌ هُوَ البَحْرُ أغْنى الخَلْقَ كُلَّهُمُ

فِيهِ فَقَرَّبَ بَيْنَ النّاسِ كُلِّهِمِ

فِيهِ فَقَرَّبَ بَيْنَ النّاسِ كُلِّهِمِ

A generosity that is the sea has enriched all creation

You planted me with a hand that enriched those it enriched,

through it, and so brought all people together.

So pluck the fruits of my gratitude's harvest through my words,

أَنا الَّذِي شَمَلَتْنِي مِنْكَ عاطِفَةٌ

أَنا الَّذِي شَمَلَتْنِي مِنْكَ عاطِفَةٌ

فَما أَقُولُ عَلى ما فَاتَ وَانَدَمِي

فَما أَقُولُ عَلى ما فَاتَ وَانَدَمِي

I am the one whom a kindness from you has embraced,

And celebrate a feast you provided for all people,

so I do not cry over what has passed, 'Alas, my regret!'

Through which you won the reward of all people.

غَرَسْتَنِي بِيَدِ أَثْرَى ثَرايَ بِها

غَرَسْتَنِي بِيَدِ أَثْرَى ثَرايَ بِها

فَاقْطِفْ ثِمارَ جَنِيِّ الشُّكْرِ مِن كَلِمي

فَاقْطِفْ ثِمارَ جَنِيِّ الشُّكْرِ مِن كَلِمي

You planted me with a hand through which my soil grew rich;

so pluck the ripe fruits of gratitude from my words.

وَاسْعَدْ بِعِيدٍ رَزَقْتَ النَّاسَ كُلَّهُمُ

وَاسْعَدْ بِعِيدٍ رَزَقْتَ النَّاسَ كُلَّهُمُ

فِيهِ فَفُزْتَ بِأَجْرِ النّاسِ كُلِّهِمِ

فِيهِ فَفُزْتَ بِأَجْرِ النّاسِ كُلِّهِمِ

And rejoice in a festival: you provided for all people

during it, and thus won the reward of all people.