قَلِيلٌ بِآدَابِ الْمَوَدَّةِ مَنْ يَفِي

قَلِيلٌ بِآدَابِ الْمَوَدَّةِ مَنْ يَفِي

فَمَنْ لِي بِخِلٍّ أَصْطَفِيهِ وَأَكْتَفِي

فَمَنْ لِي بِخِلٍّ أَصْطَفِيهِ وَأَكْتَفِي

Few are those who honor friendship's courtesies.

Few fulfill the etiquette of friendship sincerely,

Who, then, will find me a friend I can choose and be content with?

So who can I find, content with frugality to confide in?

بَلَوْتُ بَنِي الدُّنْيَا فَلَمْ أَرَ صَاحِبَاً

بَلَوْتُ بَنِي الدُّنْيَا فَلَمْ أَرَ صَاحِبَاً

يَدُومُ عَلَى وُدٍّ بِغَيْرِ تَكَلُّفِ

يَدُومُ عَلَى وُدٍّ بِغَيْرِ تَكَلُّفِ

I have tested the world's people, yet found no companion

I've tested mankind yet found no true friend

Whose affection endures without affectation.

Who's affection endures without pretense.

فَهَلْ مِنْ فَتىً يَسْرُو عَنِ الْقَلْبِ هَمَّهُ

فَهَلْ مِنْ فَتىً يَسْرُو عَنِ الْقَلْبِ هَمَّهُ

بِشِيمَةِ مَطْبُوعٍ عَلَى الْمَجْدِ مُسْعِفِ

بِشِيمَةِ مَطْبُوعٍ عَلَى الْمَجْدِ مُسْعِفِ

Is there, then, a young man who will lift grief from the heart

Is there a noble soul who lightens hearts' burdens

With the character of one born to nobility, ready to help?

With innate character inclined towards glory, lending aid?

رَضِيتُ بِمَنْ لا تَشْتَهِي النَّفْسُ قُرْبَهُ

رَضِيتُ بِمَنْ لا تَشْتَهِي النَّفْسُ قُرْبَهُ

وَمَنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ مَنْدُوحَةً يَتَكَلَّفِ

وَمَنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ مَنْدُوحَةً يَتَكَلَّفِ

I have accepted one whose nearness my soul does not desire;

I'd be content with one whom the soul does not crave closeness,

Whoever finds no alternative must force himself.

And who finds no need for affectation.

وَلَوْ أَنَّنِي صَادَفْتُ خِلاًّ يَسُرُّنِي

وَلَوْ أَنَّنِي صَادَفْتُ خِلاًّ يَسُرُّنِي

عَلَى عُدَوَاءِ الدَّارِ لَمْ أَتَلَهَّفِ

عَلَى عُدَوَاءِ الدَّارِ لَمْ أَتَلَهَّفِ

Had I met a friend who brought me joy,

Had I met a miser who pleased me,

Despite my dwelling's remoteness, I would not grieve.

I'd not pine for my homeland amidst hostile dwellers.

وَلَكِنَّنِي أَصْبَحْتُ فِي دَارِ غُرْبَةٍ

وَلَكِنَّنِي أَصْبَحْتُ فِي دَارِ غُرْبَةٍ

مُقِيماً لَدَى قَوْمٍ عَلَى الْبُدِّ عُكَّفِ

مُقِيماً لَدَى قَوْمٍ عَلَى الْبُدِّ عُكَّفِ

But I have come to dwell in a land of exile,

But I live estranged among folk prone to harm

Living among a people devoted to the idol.

United only when misfortune strikes.

زَعَانِفُ هَدَّاجُونَ فِي عَرَصَاتِهِمْ

زَعَانِفُ هَدَّاجُونَ فِي عَرَصَاتِهِمْ

كَخَيْطِ نَعَامٍ بَيْنَ جَرْدَاءَ صَفْصَفِ

كَخَيْطِ نَعَامٍ بَيْنَ جَرْدَاءَ صَفْصَفِ

Rabble, shuffling through their open spaces,

Their gangling limbs in their encampments

Like a string of ostriches on a bare, level plain.

Sway like ostrich necks ‘midst withered palms.

حُفَاةٌ عُرَاةٌ غَيْرَ أَخْلاقِ صُدْرَةٍ

حُفَاةٌ عُرَاةٌ غَيْرَ أَخْلاقِ صُدْرَةٍ

تَطِيرُ كَنَسْجِ الْعَنْكَبُوتِ الْمُسَدَّفِ

تَطِيرُ كَنَسْجِ الْعَنْكَبُوتِ الْمُسَدَّفِ

Barefoot, naked but for the tatters of a vest,

Barefoot, naked, unlike the noble,

Fluttering like a spider's draped web.

They flutter like spider webs tattered and torn.

يَمُجُّونَ مِنْ أَفْوَاهِهِمْ رَشْحَ مُضْغَةٍ

يَمُجُّونَ مِنْ أَفْوَاهِهِمْ رَشْحَ مُضْغَةٍ

كَنَضْحِ دَمٍ يَنْهَلُّ مِنْ أَنْفِ مُرْعَفِ

كَنَضْحِ دَمٍ يَنْهَلُّ مِنْ أَنْفِ مُرْعَفِ

They spit from their mouths the juice of a chewed morsel,

From their mouths sputters the drivel of chewed cud

Like blood gushing from a bleeding nose.

Like blood dripping from a cleft nose.

إِذَا رَاطَنُوا بَعْضَاً سَمِعْتَ لِصَوْتِهِمْ

إِذَا رَاطَنُوا بَعْضَاً سَمِعْتَ لِصَوْتِهِمْ

عَزِيفاً كَجِنٍّ فِي الْمَفَاوِزِ هُتَّفِ

عَزِيفاً كَجِنٍّ فِي الْمَفَاوِزِ هُتَّفِ

When they speak their foreign tongue to one another, you hear in their voices

When they chatter amongst themselves you hear

A howling like jinn crying out in the wilderness.

Their voices like jinn wailing in the wilderness.

فَهَا أَنَا مِنْهُمْ بَيْنَ شَمْلٍ مُبَدَّدٍ

فَهَا أَنَا مِنْهُمْ بَيْنَ شَمْلٍ مُبَدَّدٍ

وَمِنْ حَسَرَاتِي بَيْنَ شَمْلٍ مُؤَلَّفِ

وَمِنْ حَسَرَاتِي بَيْنَ شَمْلٍ مُؤَلَّفِ

So here I am among them, amid a scattered company,

So here I am, among a dispersed flock

And among my sorrows, amid a company united.

And longings, amidst a united folk.

أَحِنُّ إِلَى أَهْلِي وَأَذْكُرُ جِيرَتِي

أَحِنُّ إِلَى أَهْلِي وَأَذْكُرُ جِيرَتِي

وَأَشْتَاقُ خُلانِي وَأَصْبُو لِمَأْلَفِي

وَأَشْتَاقُ خُلانِي وَأَصْبُو لِمَأْلَفِي

I yearn for my family and remember my neighbors,

I yearn for my family and remember my neighbors

And long for my friends and pine for my familiar home.

And miss my friends, craving the familiar.

فَلا أَنَا أَسْلُو عَنْ هَوَايَ فَأَنْتَهِي

فَلا أَنَا أَسْلُو عَنْ هَوَايَ فَأَنْتَهِي

وَلا أَنَا أَلْقَى مَنْ أُحِبُّ فَأَشْتَفِي

وَلا أَنَا أَلْقَى مَنْ أُحِبُّ فَأَشْتَفِي

So I can neither forget my love and be done with it,

I cannot indulge my desires nor find

Nor meet those I love and find relief.

Whom I love to console my spirit.

وَإِنِّي عَلَى مَا كَانَ مِنْ سَرَفِ النَّوَى

وَإِنِّي عَلَى مَا كَانَ مِنْ سَرَفِ النَّوَى

لَبَاقٍ عَلَى وَدِّي لِمَنْ كُنْتُ أَصْطَفِي

لَبَاقٍ عَلَى وَدِّي لِمَنْ كُنْتُ أَصْطَفِي

And I, despite the extremity of separation,

Yet for my overindulgence in passion

Still remain true in my affection for those I cherished.

I remain loyal in friendship to those I held dear.

سَجِيَّةُ نَفْسٍ لا تَمِيلُ مَعَ الْهَوَى

سَجِيَّةُ نَفْسٍ لا تَمِيلُ مَعَ الْهَوَى

وَذِمَّةُ عَهْدٍ بَيْنَ سَيْفٍ وَمُصْحَفِ

وَذِمَّةُ عَهْدٍ بَيْنَ سَيْفٍ وَمُصْحَفِ

The disposition of a soul that does not bend with desire,

A nature not inclined to fall for passions,

And the binding pledge of a covenant between a sword and a Qur'an.

And a pact between sword and scripture.

وَمَا كُلُّ مَوْشِيِّ الْحَدِيثِ بِصَادِقٍ

وَمَا كُلُّ مَوْشِيِّ الْحَدِيثِ بِصَادِقٍ

وَلا كُلُّ مَنْسُوبٍ إِلَى الْوُدِّ بِالْوَفِي

وَلا كُلُّ مَنْسُوبٍ إِلَى الْوُدِّ بِالْوَفِي

Not everyone with embroidered speech is truthful,

Not all friendly talk is truthful

Nor is everyone associated with affection faithful.

Nor every association labeled loving, faithful.

تَشَابَهَتِ الأَخْلاقُ إِلَّا بَقِيَّةً

تَشَابَهَتِ الأَخْلاقُ إِلَّا بَقِيَّةً

بِهَا يُعْرَفُ الْمَاضِي مِنَ الْمُتَخَلِّفِ

بِهَا يُعْرَفُ الْمَاضِي مِنَ الْمُتَخَلِّفِ

Characters resemble one another, save for a small remnant

Morals overlap except for remnants

By which those who forge ahead are distinguished from laggards.

By which the loyal can be known from the unfaithful.

وَمَا شَرَفُ الإِنْسَانِ إِلَّا بِنَفْسِهِ

وَمَا شَرَفُ الإِنْسَانِ إِلَّا بِنَفْسِهِ

وَإِنْ كَانَ ذَا مَالٍ تَلِيدٍ وَمُطْرِفِ

وَإِنْ كَانَ ذَا مَالٍ تَلِيدٍ وَمُطْرِفِ

A person's honor lies only in his own character,

A man’s nobility is through his soul alone

Even if he possesses wealth both inherited and newly acquired.

Though he possesses inherited fortune and estate.

وَلَوْ كَانَ نَيْلُ الْفَضْلِ سَهْلاً لَزَاحَمتْ

وَلَوْ كَانَ نَيْلُ الْفَضْلِ سَهْلاً لَزَاحَمتْ

رِجَالُ الْخَنَا أَهْلَ الْعُلا وَالتَّعَطُّفِ

رِجَالُ الْخَنَا أَهْلَ الْعُلا وَالتَّعَطُّفِ

Were excellence easy to attain, they would vie—

If gaining merit were easy, commoners would vie

Men of baseness—with those of eminence and compassion.

With the distinguished people of refuge and grace.

فَإِنْ أَخْلَفَتْ نَفْسٌ طَوِيَّةَ مَا وَأَتْ

فَإِنْ أَخْلَفَتْ نَفْسٌ طَوِيَّةَ مَا وَأَتْ

فَلِي مِنْ عَلِيٍّ صَاحِبٌ غَيْرُ مُخْلِفِ

فَلِي مِنْ عَلِيٍّ صَاحِبٌ غَيْرُ مُخْلِفِ

So if a soul betrays the inward purpose of its promise,

If a sly soul breaks its word and promise,

I have in Ali a friend who never breaks his word.

I have in Ali a friend matchless and true.

هُمَامٌ دَعَا بِاسْمِي فَلَبَّيْتُ صَوْتَهُ

هُمَامٌ دَعَا بِاسْمِي فَلَبَّيْتُ صَوْتَهُ

بِيَا مَرْحَباهُ مِنْ فُؤَادٍ مُكَلَّفِ

بِيَا مَرْحَباهُ مِنْ فُؤَادٍ مُكَلَّفِ

A noble-hearted man who called my name, and I answered his voice

A zealot called my name and I responded-

With 'Oh, welcome!' from a devoted heart.

Welcome to him, from a devoted heart though strained.

وَلَوْ صَاحَ بِي فِي غَارَةٍ لَوَزَعْتُهَا

وَلَوْ صَاحَ بِي فِي غَارَةٍ لَوَزَعْتُهَا

عَلَى مَتْنِ مَحْبُوكِ السَّرَاةِ بِمُرْهَفِ

عَلَى مَتْنِ مَحْبُوكِ السَّرَاةِ بِمُرْهَفِ

Had he called to me amid a raid, I would have repelled it,

Had he called me into the fray, I would have charged in

On the back of a firm-spined steed, with a keen blade.

Atop a snorting steed, though untamed.

وَلَكِنَّنِي لَبَّيْتُ دَعْوَةَ نَظْمِهِ

وَلَكِنَّنِي لَبَّيْتُ دَعْوَةَ نَظْمِهِ

بِأَسْمَرَ مَشْقُوقِ اللِّسَانِ مُحَرَّفِ

بِأَسْمَرَ مَشْقُوقِ اللِّسَانِ مُحَرَّفِ

But I answered the summons of his verse

But I answered the call of his poem

With a brown reed pen, split-tongued and cut obliquely.

With my darkly cracked tongue, articulating as I can.

إِذَا حَرَّكَتْهُ رَاحَتِي فَوْقَ مُهْرَقٍ

إِذَا حَرَّكَتْهُ رَاحَتِي فَوْقَ مُهْرَقٍ

بِذِكْرِ عُلاهُ بزَّ كُلَّ مُثَقَّفِ

بِذِكْرِ عُلاهُ بزَّ كُلَّ مُثَقَّفِ

When my palm moves it over a sheet,

When my palm strokes the parchment

In celebrating his eminence, it outdoes every straightened spear.

Speaking his glories, all scholars pale.

هُوَ الْبَطَلُ السَّبَّاقُ فِي كُلِّ غَايَةٍ

هُوَ الْبَطَلُ السَّبَّاقُ فِي كُلِّ غَايَةٍ

يَهَابُ رَدَاهَا الْمَرْءُ قَبْلَ التَّعَسُّفِ

يَهَابُ رَدَاهَا الْمَرْءُ قَبْلَ التَّعَسُّفِ

He is the champion, first to every goal

He's the intrepid hero in every endeavor,

Whose deadly peril a man fears before venturing rashly.

His might makes the faint of heart balk before presumption.

إِذَا قَالَ لَمْ يَتْرُكْ بَيَانَاً لِقَائِلٍ

إِذَا قَالَ لَمْ يَتْرُكْ بَيَانَاً لِقَائِلٍ

وَإِنْ سَارَ لَمْ يَتْرُكْ مَجَالاً لِمُقْتَفِي

وَإِنْ سَارَ لَمْ يَتْرُكْ مَجَالاً لِمُقْتَفِي

When he speaks, he leaves no eloquence for another speaker;

When he speaks he leaves no clarity for others.

And when he advances, he leaves no room for a follower.

When he marches he leaves no path for followers.

لَهُ قَلَمٌ لَوْ كَانَ لِلسَّيْفِ حَدُّهُ

لَهُ قَلَمٌ لَوْ كَانَ لِلسَّيْفِ حَدُّهُ

لَفَلَّ حَبِيكَ السَّرْدِ فِي كُلِّ مَوْقِفِ

لَفَلَّ حَبِيكَ السَّرْدِ فِي كُلِّ مَوْقِفِ

He has a pen whose edge, if a sword possessed it,

His pen, were it as sharp as the sword,

Would shatter tightly woven mail in every encounter.

Would shred the prose of every standpoint.

وَشُعْلَةُ فِكْرٍ لَوْ بِمِثْلِ ضِيَائِهَا

وَشُعْلَةُ فِكْرٍ لَوْ بِمِثْلِ ضِيَائِهَا

أَنَارَ سِرَاجُ الأُفْقِ مَا كَانَ يَنْطَفِي

أَنَارَ سِرَاجُ الأُفْقِ مَا كَانَ يَنْطَفِي

And a flame of thought—if with the like of its radiance

And the torch of his mind-if its glow could light

The horizon's lamp shone, it would never go out.

The lamps of sky, their flames would never die.

فَسِيحُ مَجَالِ الْفِكْرِ ثَبْتٌ يَقِينُهُ

فَسِيحُ مَجَالِ الْفِكْرِ ثَبْتٌ يَقِينُهُ

بَعِيدُ مَنَاطِ الْهَمِّ حُرُّ التَّصَرُّفِ

بَعِيدُ مَنَاطِ الْهَمِّ حُرُّ التَّصَرُّفِ

Wide is the range of his thought, firm his conviction,

So free is his mind’s realm, steadfast his certitude,

Far-reaching his ambition, unfettered his action.

Far from anxiety's abode, unfettered and free.

أَدِيبٌ لَهُ فِي جَنَّةِ الشِّعْرِ دَوْحَةٌ

أَدِيبٌ لَهُ فِي جَنَّةِ الشِّعْرِ دَوْحَةٌ

أَفَاءَتْ عَلَى الدُّنْيَا بِأَجْمَلِ زُخْرُفِ

أَفَاءَتْ عَلَى الدُّنْيَا بِأَجْمَلِ زُخْرُفِ

A man of letters, he has in poetry's garden a great tree

A writer, his niche in poetry's garden

That shades the world with the loveliest adornment.

Has brought beauty to the world with its most precious adornments.

إِذَا نَوَّرَتْ أَفْنَانُهَا غِبَّ دِيمَةٍ

إِذَا نَوَّرَتْ أَفْنَانُهَا غِبَّ دِيمَةٍ

مِنَ الْفِكْرِ جَاءَتْ بِالْبَدِيعِ الْمُفَوَّفِ

مِنَ الْفِكْرِ جَاءَتْ بِالْبَدِيعِ الْمُفَوَّفِ

When its boughs blossom after a steady rain

When its branches shine, the trite and common

Of thought, they bring forth richly patterned wonders.

Fade before his brilliant novelty.

تَرَنَّمَ فِيهَا مِنْ ثَنَائِي بُلْبُلٌ

تَرَنَّمَ فِيهَا مِنْ ثَنَائِي بُلْبُلٌ

بِلَحْنٍ لَهُ فِي السَّمْعِ نَبْرَةُ مِعْزَفِ

بِلَحْنٍ لَهُ فِي السَّمْعِ نَبْرَةُ مِعْزَفِ

A nightingale of my praise sings within it,

A bulbul trills in it a melodious tune

With a melody that sounds to the ear like an instrument's note.

Whose sound holds a plaintive musicality.

حَفِيتُ لَهُ بِالْوُدِّ مِنِّي وَكَيْفَ لا

حَفِيتُ لَهُ بِالْوُدِّ مِنِّي وَكَيْفَ لا

أُسَابِقُهُ فِي وُدِّهِ وَهْوَ بِي حَفِي

أُسَابِقُهُ فِي وُدِّهِ وَهْوَ بِي حَفِي

I have offered him my devoted affection; and how could I not

I befriended him with affection—why wouldn't I

Strive to outdo him in affection, when he cares for me?

Rush to return his friendship as he did for me.

تَأَلَّفَ نَفْسِي بَعْدَ مَا زَالَ أُنْسُهَا

تَأَلَّفَ نَفْسِي بَعْدَ مَا زَالَ أُنْسُهَا

وَنَوَّهَ بِاسْمِي بَعْدَ مَا كَادَ يَخْتَفِي

وَنَوَّهَ بِاسْمِي بَعْدَ مَا كَادَ يَخْتَفِي

He won my soul's affection after its solace had vanished,

My soul found harmony after being discordant,

And made my name celebrated after it had nearly disappeared.

As he spoke my name after I’d nearly disappeared.

وَحَرَّكَ أَسْلاكَ التَّرَاسُلِ بَيْنَنَا

وَحَرَّكَ أَسْلاكَ التَّرَاسُلِ بَيْنَنَا

بِسَيَّالِ وُدٍّ لَفْظُهُ لَمْ يُحَرَّفِ

بِسَيَّالِ وُدٍّ لَفْظُهُ لَمْ يُحَرَّفِ

And set the wires of correspondence between us vibrating

He reconnected the channels of communication between us

With a flowing current of affection whose wording was unaltered.

With an outpouring of love in unaffected verse.

وَفِي النَّاسِ مَعْطُوفٌ عَلَى الْوُدِّ قَلْبُهُ

وَفِي النَّاسِ مَعْطُوفٌ عَلَى الْوُدِّ قَلْبُهُ

وَمِنْهُمْ سَقِيمُ الْعَهْدِ بَادِي التَّحَرُّفِ

وَمِنْهُمْ سَقِيمُ الْعَهْدِ بَادِي التَّحَرُّفِ

Among people are those whose hearts incline to affection,

Among people, his heart is disposed toward friendship,

And others infirm in loyalty, their turning away plain.

While the sickly betray their bonds, clearly deviant.

تَوَسَّمْتُ فِيهِ الْخَيْرَ قَبْلَ لِقَائِهِ

تَوَسَّمْتُ فِيهِ الْخَيْرَ قَبْلَ لِقَائِهِ

وَأَحْمَدْتُ مِنْهُ الْخُبْرَ بَعْدَ التَّعَرُّفِ

وَأَحْمَدْتُ مِنْهُ الْخُبْرَ بَعْدَ التَّعَرُّفِ

I discerned goodness in him before meeting him,

I anticipated goodness from him before meeting,

And approved what I learned of him after acquaintance.

And praised his character after getting to know him.

وَمَا حَرَكَاتُ النَّفْسِ إِلَّا دَلالَةٌ

وَمَا حَرَكَاتُ النَّفْسِ إِلَّا دَلالَةٌ

عَلَى صِدْقِ مَا قَالُوا بِهِ فِي التَّعَيُّفِ

عَلَى صِدْقِ مَا قَالُوا بِهِ فِي التَّعَيُّفِ

And the soul's stirrings are nothing but a sign

The motions of the soul reveal

Of the truth of what they have said concerning augury.

The truth in how the discriminating describe intimacy.

فَقَدْ تَكْذِبُ الْعَيْنُ الْفَتَى وَهْوَ غَافِلٌ

فَقَدْ تَكْذِبُ الْعَيْنُ الْفَتَى وَهْوَ غَافِلٌ

وَيَصْدُقُ ظَنُّ الْعَاقِلِ الْمُتَشَوِّفِ

وَيَصْدُقُ ظَنُّ الْعَاقِلِ الْمُتَشَوِّفِ

For the eye may deceive a heedless young man,

Eyes may deceive the oblivious youth,

While the surmise of the wise, watchful man proves true.

Yet the discerning’s perception rings true.

وَفَيْتُ بِوَعْدِي فِي الثَّنَاءِ وَإِنْ يَكُنْ

وَفَيْتُ بِوَعْدِي فِي الثَّنَاءِ وَإِنْ يَكُنْ

مَقَالِي بِهَاتِيكَ الْفَضَائِلِ لا يَفِي

مَقَالِي بِهَاتِيكَ الْفَضَائِلِ لا يَفِي

I have kept my promise of praise, though

I've made good on my promise to praise him, though

My words do not do justice to those virtues.

My words hardly do justice to his virtues and merits.

وَكَيْفَ وَإِنْ أُوتِيتُ فِي النَّظْمِ قُدْرَةً

وَكَيْفَ وَإِنْ أُوتِيتُ فِي النَّظْمِ قُدْرَةً

أَضُمُّ شَتَاتَ الْكَوْنِ فِي بَعْضِ أَحْرُفِ

أَضُمُّ شَتَاتَ الْكَوْنِ فِي بَعْضِ أَحْرُفِ

And how could I, even if granted skill in verse,

How could I, when even if gifted with some poetic skill,

Gather the universe's scattered parts into a few letters?

I could not gather the universe into a few letters.