دعْ بين جِلدي والعظام مكانا

دعْ بين جِلدي والعظام مكانا

يسعُ الغرام ويحملُ الأحزانا

يسعُ الغرام ويحملُ الأحزانا

Leave room between my skin and bones—

Leave between my skin and bones a space

enough to hold passion and bear sorrows.

that holds passion and bears sorrows.

واستبقِ طرفي ربّما غلِط الكرى

واستبقِ طرفي ربّما غلِط الكرى

بطروقِه فسلكتُه وسنانا

بطروقِه فسلكتُه وسنانا

And spare my eye: perhaps sleep has lost its way

And spare my eyes: perhaps slumber will stray

in its nightly rounds, and I, though drowsy, might set it back upon its course.

in its nightly visit, and I may slip into it, drowsy.

ما كان ما حملَ الوشاةُ نصيحةً

ما كان ما حملَ الوشاةُ نصيحةً

ممّن يوثِّق ناقلاً بهتانا

ممّن يوثِّق ناقلاً بهتانا

What the slanderers carried was no sincere counsel

What the talebearers brought was no sincere counsel

from anyone trustworthy, but calumny passed along.

from one who trusts a bearer of slander.

عذلوكِ فيّ فغيروكِ سريرةً

عذلوكِ فيّ فغيروكِ سريرةً

ورأيتِ شَيبا فاستحلتِ عِيانا

ورأيتِ شَيبا فاستحلتِ عِيانا

They reproached you over me and changed your inmost heart;

They reproached you over me and changed your inward feelings;

then, seeing gray hair, you openly deemed my rejection lawful.

you saw gray hair and changed outwardly too.

عذلٌ يُرَى عدلا وجورُ ذوائبٍ

عذلٌ يُرَى عدلا وجورُ ذوائبٍ

سمَّوه لي عزا فجرَّ هوانا

سمَّوه لي عزا فجرَّ هوانا

Reproaching me is deemed justice, while the wrong done to my locks—

Reproach deemed justice, and the tyranny of locks—

they named it honor for me, yet it brought humiliation.

they called it honor for me, yet it brought humiliation.

ما غُيِّرتْ بالشِّيبِ لوناً لِمَّتي

ما غُيِّرتْ بالشِّيبِ لوناً لِمَّتي

حتى تغيَّر صاحبي ألوانا

حتى تغيَّر صاحبي ألوانا

Youth had not changed the color of my locks

My locks had scarcely changed one shade with gray

until my beloved began to change his colors.

before my companion changed through many colors.

بيضاء سوَّدتِ الصحيفةَ عنده

بيضاء سوَّدتِ الصحيفةَ عنده

واستعجلته بوصلها الهِجرانا

واستعجلته بوصلها الهِجرانا

One white hair blackened my record in his eyes

A white hair blackened my record in his eyes

and, by appearing plainly, hastened him toward estrangement.

and, by joining me, hastened his estrangement.

إن يَجتنِبْ منها الهشيمَ مصوِّحا

إن يَجتنِبْ منها الهشيمَ مصوِّحا

فيما اجتنى رَيعانَها ريحانا

فيما اجتنى رَيعانَها ريحانا

If he shuns the withered brushwood in me, seeking what is sound,

If he shuns its stubble, dry and withered,

why did he pluck its youthful bloom as fragrant basil?

why did he gather its first bloom as sweet basil?

يا من يُعيِّرُ في الكرى ويَلَذُّهُ

يا من يُعيِّرُ في الكرى ويَلَذُّهُ

لله أجفاناً له أجفانا

لله أجفاناً له أجفانا

O you who reproach me for sleep while savoring it—

O you who reproach me over sleep, yet relish it—

by God, what eyelids he has—what eyelids!

by God, what eyelids he has! How cruelly he has shunned us!

إن الذين نسُوا برامةَ عهدَنا

إن الذين نسُوا برامةَ عهدَنا

سعدوا وأشقانا به أوفانا

سعدوا وأشقانا به أوفانا

Those who at Rāma forgot our covenant

Those who forgot our pledge at Rama

prospered, while the one among us most faithful to it suffered most.

were happy; the truest to it is the most wretched of us.

ظعنوا فشبتُ وما كبرتُ وإنما

ظعنوا فشبتُ وما كبرتُ وإنما

راح الشباب يشيع الأظعانا

راح الشباب يشيع الأظعانا

They departed; I turned gray though I had not aged—it was only

They departed, and I went gray, though I had not grown old; rather,

youth itself departing, escorting the departing camel-litters.

youth went away to escort the departing camel-litters.

أجد الديار كما عهدت وإنما

أجد الديار كما عهدت وإنما

شكوايَ أنّي أفقِدُ الجيرانا

شكوايَ أنّي أفقِدُ الجيرانا

I find the dwellings just as I knew them; only

I find the dwellings as I knew them; my only

my grief is that I miss the neighbors.

complaint is that I miss the neighbors.

يا تاركي أنْسَى العناقَ فراقُهُ

يا تاركي أنْسَى العناقَ فراقُهُ

أشكو إليك الريحَ والأغصانا

أشكو إليك الريحَ والأغصانا

O you who leave me—your parting makes me forget embraces;

O you who left me, whose departure made me forget embraces,

to you I complain of wind and branches.

I complain to you of the wind and branches.

لان الصَّفا يومَ الوَداع لرحمتي

لان الصَّفا يومَ الوَداع لرحمتي

لو أنّ قلبَ الوادعيّة لانا

لو أنّ قلبَ الوادعيّة لانا

Even hard rock softened on farewell day out of pity for me—

The hard rock softened in pity for me on farewell day;

if only the departing beloved's heart had softened.

would that the Wadiʿiyya's heart had softened!

يا وحدتي ما أكثر الإخوانا

يا وحدتي ما أكثر الإخوانا

نظراً وأكثرَ فيهم الخوَّانا

نظراً وأكثرَ فيهم الخوَّانا

O my solitude! How many brothers I have

O my loneliness! How numerous the brothers

to outward sight—and how many more traitors among them!

to outward sight—and how many more betrayers among them!

في كلِّ مطْرَحِ لحظةٍ حولي أخٌ

في كلِّ مطْرَحِ لحظةٍ حولي أخٌ

صفوٌ إذا هزَّ الغنى الأفنانا

صفوٌ إذا هزَّ الغنى الأفنانا

Wherever my gaze falls, a brother stands around me—

Wherever a glance falls around me, there is a brother,

sincere whenever wealth shakes its boughs.

sincere when wealth shakes the boughs.

راعٍ معي إبلي فإن هي أعجفتْ

راعٍ معي إبلي فإن هي أعجفتْ

إبلي تقلَّبَ أو يَعُدنَ سِمانا

إبلي تقلَّبَ أو يَعُدنَ سِمانا

Tend my camels with me: if they grow lean,

He tends my camels with me; but if they grow lean—

they remain my camels however their condition changes, or if they return fat.

my camels—he changes sides until they fatten again.

إن عضّني ريبُ الزمان أعانه

إن عضّني ريبُ الزمان أعانه

وتراه يأبَى ما أصبتُ زمانا

وتراه يأبَى ما أصبتُ زمانا

If time's adversity bites me, he helps it;

If the vicissitudes of Time bite me, he helps it;

yet you see him begrudge whatever good fortune I attain.

yet you see him opposing Time whenever I prosper.

أشريه في خَفضِ المعيشة غاليا

أشريه في خَفضِ المعيشة غاليا

ويبيعُني في ضنكها مجَّانا

ويبيعُني في ضنكها مجَّانا

I buy him dearly in the ease of life,

I buy him dearly when life is easy,

and in its hardship he sells me for nothing.

and he sells me for nothing in its hardship.

ألقاهُمُ عددَ الكواكب كثرةً

ألقاهُمُ عددَ الكواكب كثرةً

حولي وألقَى وحديَ الحدَثانا

حولي وألقَى وحديَ الحدَثانا

I meet them, as numerous as the stars,

I find them as countless as the stars

all around me—yet I face calamities alone.

around me, yet face calamities alone.

كفِّر وكن مستثنيا إلا إذا

كفِّر وكن مستثنيا إلا إذا

أقسمتَ أنك لا ترى إنسانا

أقسمتَ أنك لا ترى إنسانا

Brand them all faithless, making an exception only if

Atone for your oaths and add a saving clause—except when

you swear that you see no human being.

you swear that you see no human being.

كما أُسمِعُ الصُّمَّ البلاغةَ مفهِماً

كما أُسمِعُ الصُّمَّ البلاغةَ مفهِماً

وأُرِي عجائبَ فضلِيَ العميانا

وأُرِي عجائبَ فضلِيَ العميانا

Just as I make the deaf hear eloquence and understand it,

So I make the deaf hear eloquence, explaining it,

and show the blind the wonders of my excellence.

and show the blind the wonders of my merit.

فإن الزمان صحا وصحَّ بواحدٍ

فإن الزمان صحا وصحَّ بواحدٍ

فبطول حملي جهلَه سكرانا

فبطول حملي جهلَه سكرانا

If Time has sobered and grown sound through one man,

If Time has sobered and grown sound through one man,

then through my long forbearance its folly has grown drunk.

it is because I long endured its drunken ignorance.

ولئن وجدتُ من المحاسن عينَها

ولئن وجدتُ من المحاسن عينَها

فبفرط ركضي أطلبُ الأعيانا

فبفرط ركضي أطلبُ الأعيانا

Though among virtues I found their very essence,

And if I have found the very essence of virtues,

in the fury of my striving I seek the eminent themselves.

it is through galloping far and hard in search of eminent men.

يَفديكَ ضاغنةٌ عليك ضلوعُهُ

يَفديكَ ضاغنةٌ عليك ضلوعُهُ

حسَدا يغادر ماءَها نيرانا

حسَدا يغادر ماءَها نيرانا

May one whose ribs harbor rancor against you ransom you—

May he ransom you whose ribs harbor hatred against you,

out of envy whose very water leaves fires behind.

with envy that turns their water into fires.

حيرانُ راشك منبِتاك وحصَّه

حيرانُ راشك منبِتاك وحصَّه

خَوَرُ العروقِ ففُتَّه طيرَانا

خَوَرُ العروقِ ففُتَّه طيرَانا

Bewildered: your two ancestral stocks fletched you like an arrow, while his fortress

Bewildered—your two roots feathered you, while he was stripped bare

was weak-rooted and scattered him in flight.

by weakness in his roots, so you outstripped him in flight.

أمسى الأذلَّ بأرضه وبرغمه

أمسى الأذلَّ بأرضه وبرغمه

وعززتَ أنت بهجرك الأوطانا

وعززتَ أنت بهجرك الأوطانا

The abject man remained in his own land against his will,

He became the most abased in his own land, despite himself,

while you won glory by forsaking homelands.

while you grew mighty by leaving your homelands.

لم يستشرك لها وظنَّ برأيهِ

لم يستشرك لها وظنَّ برأيهِ

خيرا فخابَ عن الشِّيار وخانا

خيرا فخابَ عن الشِّيار وخانا

He did not consult you about her, but deemed his own judgment

He did not consult you about her, and thought his judgment

good; deprived of counsel, he failed and betrayed.

good; but he missed the honey harvest, and his judgment failed him.

ومن العجائب أن يشُلَّك قارحا

ومن العجائب أن يشُلَّك قارحا

عنها ويرجو ضمَّها قُرْحانا

عنها ويرجو ضمَّها قُرْحانا

Among the wonders: he drives you, a seasoned stallion, away from her,

Among strange things is that he drives you, seasoned,

yet hopes to possess her as an untried colt.

away from her, yet hopes to embrace her himself untried.

لا نام بعدك إن حلا نومٌ له

لا نام بعدك إن حلا نومٌ له

طَرفٌ يفارقُ فضلَك اليقظانا

طَرفٌ يفارقُ فضلَك اليقظانا

May no eye sleep after you, if sleep tastes sweet to

May it never sleep after you, though it find sleep sweet—

an eye that, while awake, turns away from your excellence.

an eye that parts from your ever-watchful excellence.

وعلى التقارب والنوى فتملَّني

وعلى التقارب والنوى فتملَّني

خِلَّاً تُسَرُّ به دنا أو بانا

خِلَّاً تُسَرُّ به دنا أو بانا

Whether nearness or distance befalls me, wish for me

Near or far away, may you long enjoy me

a friend whose qualities delight you, whether he draws near or goes away—

as a friend you delight in, whether close or distant.

ترضاه ما شهِد النديَّ وما خلا

ترضاه ما شهِد النديَّ وما خلا

ودّاً وحَمْدانيَّةً ولسانا

ودّاً وحَمْدانيَّةً ولسانا

one you approve both when he attends the assembly and when alone,

You will approve of him in the gathering and alone,

in affection, Hamdanid loyalty, and eloquence—

in affection, Hamdani spirit, and speech.

ممّن يكون أشفَّ عندك كلّما أس

ممّن يكون أشفَّ عندك كلّما أس

تشففتَه وكشفتَ عنه بيانا

تشففتَه وكشفتَ عنه بيانا

rather than one who grows more hateful in your sight whenever I seek

One who grows clearer to you whenever you

his intercession and expose him to you plainly.

scrutinize him and lay his meaning bare.

إن أعجبتك اليومَ منه خَلّةٌ

إن أعجبتك اليومَ منه خَلّةٌ

أوفتْ خلالُ غدٍ وبِنَّ حسانا

أوفتْ خلالُ غدٍ وبِنَّ حسانا

If today a single trait in him pleases you,

If one quality in him pleases you today,

tomorrow his virtues will come full and appear fair.

tomorrow's virtues will surpass it and shine forth fair.

واسمع لها عذراءَ بِكرا كلّما

واسمع لها عذراءَ بِكرا كلّما

خُطِبتْ لديك فأردفتك عَوانا

خُطِبتْ لديك فأردفتك عَوانا

And hear from her a maiden ode, virgin and unprecedented; whenever

And hear her as a virgin, untouched, whenever

she is courted before you, I follow her with a mature companion.

she is wooed before you, then follows you as a wedded woman.

هي نفثةُ السحر التي قد أرْخَت ال

هي نفثةُ السحر التي قد أرْخَت ال

ساداتُ مثلُك لي بها الأرسانا

ساداتُ مثلُك لي بها الأرسانا

She is a breath of magic that has loosened the—

She is the breath of magic through which the

reins of lords like you for me through her.

lords, like you, have slackened their reins for me.

مما شريتُ هوى الملوك بمثله

مما شريتُ هوى الملوك بمثله

قِدْماً فصاروا لي به إخوانا

قِدْماً فصاروا لي به إخوانا

With poems like this I purchased the affection of kings

Of the kind with which I bought the love of kings

long ago, and through it they became my brothers.

long ago, so that through it they became my brothers.

صيَّرتُها ثَمناً لمثلك إنني

صيَّرتُها ثَمناً لمثلك إنني

أبدا أغالي دونها الأثمانا

أبدا أغالي دونها الأثمانا

I made her a price for one like you; indeed I

I made her the price of one like you; for I

always bid every other price beneath her.

always place all other prices beneath her.

وصداقُها المقبوضُ وصُلك أختَها

وصداقُها المقبوضُ وصُلك أختَها

بِعُرى الوزيرِ وزفُّها حُمْلانا

بِعُرى الوزيرِ وزفُّها حُمْلانا

Her dower, already received, is your affection for her sister,

Her dowry, paid in hand, is your binding her sister

secured by the vizier's bond; now send her forth, a bride borne aloft.

to the vizier's ties, and bearing her along in bridal escort,

وجلاؤها في معرِض الوصف الذي

وجلاؤها في معرِض الوصف الذي

يجلو لها الأبصارَ والآذانا

يجلو لها الأبصارَ والآذانا

Her unveiling is in the arena of that praise

and unveiling her in that display of description

which clears eyes and minds to behold her.

which polishes eyes and ears to receive her.

فلربَّ مجلوّ مغطًّى حسنُهُ

فلربَّ مجلوّ مغطًّى حسنُهُ

تجنيه باستحسانك الإحسانا

تجنيه باستحسانك الإحسانا

Many a displayed beauty has had her loveliness obscured;

For many a displayed thing has its beauty veiled;

your approval makes her reap excellence.

your appreciation wins it generosity.

أختانِ فاحفظني بجهدِك فيهما

أختانِ فاحفظني بجهدِك فيهما

بكريم سَوْقهِما ليَ الأحيانا

بكريم سَوْقهِما ليَ الأحيانا

They are two sisters; preserve me through them with all your effort,

Two sisters: safeguard me in them with all your effort,

through a noble man by whom circumstances conveyed them to me.

by graciously presenting them for me from time to time.

بلِّغه أنَّ الفضلَ في المعنَى وإن

بلِّغه أنَّ الفضلَ في المعنَى وإن

أسمَوا فلاناً عنده وفلانا

أسمَوا فلاناً عنده وفلانا

Tell him that true merit lies in meaning, though

Tell him that merit lies in meaning, even if

they have exalted So-and-so and So-and-so in his regard.

they name so-and-so before him, and so-and-so.

فلعلَّ يُمنَك أن يغادرني بها

فلعلَّ يُمنَك أن يغادرني بها

بعد الأسى مستبشرا جذلانا

بعد الأسى مستبشرا جذلانا

Perhaps then, because of her, he will be restrained from betraying me,

Perhaps your good fortune will leave me, through her,

and after sorrow I shall be glad and exultant.

after sorrow, rejoicing and glad.

لولا أمانتُك التي اشتُهرت إذا اس

لولا أمانتُك التي اشتُهرت إذا اس

تُودِعتَ سرّاً أو ضمِنتَ ضمَانا

تُودِعتَ سرّاً أو ضمِنتَ ضمَانا

Were it not for your trustworthiness, famed whenever

Were it not for your trustworthiness, renowned when you are

you are entrusted with a secret or undertake a guarantee,

entrusted with a secret or undertake a pledge,

ما كنتُ أسمحُ أن أولِّيَها أبا

ما كنتُ أسمحُ أن أولِّيَها أبا

تلَقَى نظائرَ عندَه أقرانا

تلَقَى نظائرَ عندَه أقرانا

I would never consent to appoint as her father

I would not consent to give her into a father's care,

a man whose peers meet their equals at his court.

where she would meet her counterparts as rivals.

ولخفتُ غَيْرتَهن في تنفِيرها

ولخفتُ غَيْرتَهن في تنفِيرها

والحزمُ ألَّا آمنَ الغَيرانا

والحزمُ ألَّا آمنَ الغَيرانا

I would fear their jealousy might drive her away;

I would fear their jealousy driving her away;

prudence never trusts the jealous.

prudence is not to trust the jealous.