رضيتُ وما من طاعةٍ كلّ من رضِي

رضيتُ وما من طاعةٍ كلّ من رضِي

وفاءً لغدّارٍ وحبَّاً لمبغض

وفاءً لغدّارٍ وحبَّاً لمبغض

I acquiesced—yet not all who acquiesce do so in obedience—

I was content, though no obedience was from one content,

Out of fidelity to a betrayer, and love for one who hates.

Loyal to a betrayer, and loving one who hates.

وراجعت قلبي أستر الصبرَ بعده

وراجعت قلبي أستر الصبرَ بعده

فلم أر إلا مقبلاً نحو مُعرِض

فلم أر إلا مقبلاً نحو مُعرِض

I consulted my heart, concealing patience after him,

And I returned to my heart to conceal patience after it,

But found it only advancing toward one who turned away.

But I did not see anything but what comes to one who turns away.

حفاظٌ ولكن لو وجدتُ جزاءه

حفاظٌ ولكن لو وجدتُ جزاءه

وودٌّ ولكن منه لم أتعوَّضِ

وودٌّ ولكن منه لم أتعوَّضِ

Loyalty—but if only I found its reward;

There is restraint, but if I had found its reward,

And affection—but I received no recompense from it.

And affection, but from it I did not gain any compensation.

أكنتَ بصحراء الأبيرق صارفي

أكنتَ بصحراء الأبيرق صارفي

بعذلك عن بثّ الهوى أم محرّضي

بعذلك عن بثّ الهوى أم محرّضي

Were you, in the desert of al-Ubayriq, turning me

Were you in the deserts of Al-Abiriq distracting me

With your reproaches from voicing passion, or urging me on?

With your coquetry from pouring out passion, or inciting me?

عشيّةَ لا يخفى جوَى متجلدٍ

عشيّةَ لا يخفى جوَى متجلدٍ

ولا تسع الأجفانُ دمعَ مغيِّضِ

ولا تسع الأجفانُ دمعَ مغيِّضِ

That evening, when a stoic's heartache could not be hidden,

The eve whose whispering cannot be hidden by one enduring,

Nor could eyelids contain the tears of one restraining them.

Nor can the eyelids contain the tears of one who stifles weeping.

وأنت تمنيني بدمعٍ سمعته

وأنت تمنيني بدمعٍ سمعته

وما كان إلا قولةً من ممرّضي

وما كان إلا قولةً من ممرّضي

You held out hope to me of tears you had heard of,

While you wish me well with tears I heard of,

Yet it was merely an utterance from the one who made me ill.

Which was nothing but talk of one who pretends sickness.

ألا في ضمان اللّه لبٌّ أطاره

ألا في ضمان اللّه لبٌّ أطاره

أصيلاً سنا برقٍ بدِجلةَ مومِضِ

أصيلاً سنا برقٍ بدِجلةَ مومِضِ

Ah, in God's keeping be a heart carried away

Indeed, the heart of a noble steed that its reins have made fly

In late afternoon by the gleam of lightning flashing over the Tigris.

With a flashing lightning in the darkness of night at Dajlah.

له من سُحوق الغيم ردّة غامدٍ

له من سُحوق الغيم ردّة غامدٍ

وفي خفقان الريح سلَّةُ منتضى

وفي خفقان الريح سلَّةُ منتضى

From the lofty clouds it recoils like a sword being sheathed,

It has from the drizzle of clouds a calming forehead,

And in the wind's flutter, it is a sword being drawn.

And in the fluttering of the wind the outflowing of a torrent.

أضاء ويومي بالجزيرة مظلمٌ

أضاء ويومي بالجزيرة مظلمٌ

يذكِّرني من بابلٍ ليلَها المُضِي

يذكِّرني من بابلٍ ليلَها المُضِي

It shone while my day in al-Jazira was dark,

It shone while my day in Al-Jazirah was dark,

Reminding me of Babylon's radiant night,

Reminding me of Babylon and its night.

وحسناء لم ترج الإيابَ لغائبٍ

وحسناء لم ترج الإيابَ لغائبٍ

فترعى ولم تنوِ القضاءَ لمقرضِ

فترعى ولم تنوِ القضاءَ لمقرضِ

And of a beauty who hoped for no absent one's return,

And a beautiful woman who did not hope for the return of an absent one,

To keep faith with him, nor intended repayment to a lender.

So she pastured, and did not intend the decree for a creditor.

لها منزل بالغور بين معدَّنٍ

لها منزل بالغور بين معدَّنٍ

مَشيدٍ ومنشورِ البساط مروَّضِ

مَشيدٍ ومنشورِ البساط مروَّضِ

Her home lies in the lowlands, between a firmly founded structure,

She has a house in Al-Ghor between erected

Built high, and a garden spread like a carpet.

And spread out carpets disciplined.

حَبستُ به أبغي الحياة لقاتلي

حَبستُ به أبغي الحياة لقاتلي

غراماً وأدعو بالشفاء لممرضي

غراماً وأدعو بالشفاء لممرضي

I lingered there, seeking life for my slayer,

I confined there seeking life for my killers,

Out of love, and praying for healing for the one who sickened me.

Out of love, and praying for recovery for the sick.

ولما تواقفنا وفي العيس فضلةٌ

ولما تواقفنا وفي العيس فضلةٌ

بقدر الوقوفِ ساعةً ثم تنقضي

بقدر الوقوفِ ساعةً ثم تنقضي

And when we halted together, with a little strength left in the pale camels,

And when we stopped, and some time remained

Enough to stand a while, and then be spent,

In the extent of stopping an hour, then it would pass.

رأت شيبةً ما لوّحت بعوارضي

رأت شيبةً ما لوّحت بعوارضي

فصرّح بالهجران كلُّ مَعرِّضِ

فصرّح بالهجران كلُّ مَعرِّضِ

She saw gray hair, though it had not yet appeared in my sideburns,

She saw some gray hairs that peeked through my temples,

And everyone who had hinted now openly declared abandonment.

So she was frank in shunning as did every turner away.

وقالت أشيخٌ قلتُ كهلٌ فأطرقت

وقالت أشيخٌ قلتُ كهلٌ فأطرقت

وقالت أمامَ السهم إنذارُ مُنبِضِ

وقالت أمامَ السهم إنذارُ مُنبِضِ

She said, 'An old man?' I said, 'Middle-aged'; she lowered her gaze,

And she said, "you've grown old." I said, "A mature man." And she fell silent.

And said, 'The bowman's warning comes before the arrow.

And she said, "Before the arrow is warning of one who bends his bow."

يناغيك بعد الشيب قلبي وناظري

يناغيك بعد الشيب قلبي وناظري

ومِن أين يصفو أسودان لأبيضِ

ومِن أين يصفو أسودان لأبيضِ

Should my heart and eye woo you after your graying?

My heart and my sight solicit you after gray hair,

And how could two black ones be true to a white one?'

And from where can the blackness be pure for the white?

فيالَسَني أيامَ يعطلُ مِسحلي

فيالَسَني أيامَ يعطلُ مِسحلي

وصمتيَ في حَلْي اللجام المفضّضِ

وصمتيَ في حَلْي اللجام المفضّضِ

So alas for my years, when my bridle-ring lies idle,

Oh, the days when my sword hand was paralyzed,

And for my silence amid a silver-plated bridle's ornaments!

And my silence in the jewelry of theobedient bridle.

أنُوَّامَ ليلٍ قصَّر اليومُ عمرَه

أنُوَّامَ ليلٍ قصَّر اليومُ عمرَه

سلوا ببقاء الليل من لم يغمِّض

سلوا ببقاء الليل من لم يغمِّض

O sleepers of a night whose span the day has shortened,

The nights whose day has shortened its life-

Ask one who has not closed his eyes how long night endures.

Ask the permanence of night from one who does not sleep.

وكنتم جناحي ثم هيض ببعدكم

وكنتم جناحي ثم هيض ببعدكم

فهل بعدكم عضو إذا طرت منهضي

فهل بعدكم عضو إذا طرت منهضي

You were my wing; then it was broken by your absence.

You were my wings but then you were folded after you left,

Is there, without you, a limb to lift me if I fly?

So do I, when I fly, have any limbs left?

أأركض أبغي في البلاد معوضةً

أأركض أبغي في البلاد معوضةً

بكم طال تطوافي إذن فتركُّضي

بكم طال تطوافي إذن فتركُّضي

Shall I gallop through the lands in search of a substitute

Shall I run seeking a substitute for you in the lands?

For you? Long, then, would be my wandering and my galloping.

For long has been my circling, so my stumbling increased.

بلى قَبَصٌ من آل أيّوبَ صاح بي

بلى قَبَصٌ من آل أيّوبَ صاح بي

سناه وقد أعتمت دونك فاستضي

سناه وقد أعتمت دونك فاستضي

Yes—a flame from the house of Ayyub called to me

Rather, a warrior from the family of Ayyub called to me

With its radiance, as I entered darkness: 'Take this, and find light!'

Gray-haired, and the dark closed in after you, so disperse it!

رعَتْ نفسي الخُلاَّتِ قبل وداده

رعَتْ نفسي الخُلاَّتِ قبل وداده

هشيماً فلما عنَّ لي قلتُ أحمضي

هشيماً فلما عنَّ لي قلتُ أحمضي

My soul had grazed on friendships before his affection

My soul pastured on arid terrain before his love,

As dry stubble; when he appeared to me, I said, 'Graze on salt-herbage!'

So when he was gentle to me, I said, “Be more acidic!”

أبا طالبٍ والظنُّ أنك شافعٌ

أبا طالبٍ والظنُّ أنك شافعٌ

لها في غنىً عن باعثٍ ومحضِّضِ

لها في غنىً عن باعثٍ ومحضِّضِ

O Abu Talib—I trust you will intercede

Abu Talib, and it is thought you will intercede

For it, without needing prompting or urging—

For her without need for a prompt or an inciter.

شكيّةَ مملوءٍ من الوعد قلبُهُ

شكيّةَ مملوءٍ من الوعد قلبُهُ

تحدَّثَ عن داء من المطل مُرمِضِ

تحدَّثَ عن داء من المطل مُرمِضِ

A complaint from one whose heart is full of promises,

A beloved whose heart is filled with promises

Who tells of a searing sickness caused by delay.

Spoke of an illness that lingers from procrastination.

غنيٌّ بتسويف الأماني تقطّعتْ

غنيٌّ بتسويف الأماني تقطّعتْ

عُرَى صبره بين المجيء إلى المُضي

عُرَى صبره بين المجيء إلى المُضي

Rich in deferred hopes, broken are

Wealthy through putting off wishes, the ties

The bonds of his patience between coming and going.

Of his patience were cut between coming and departing.

أحلَّ بكم في الصوم للفطر حاجةً

أحلَّ بكم في الصوم للفطر حاجةً

وقد عَبَر الأضحى به وهو يقتضي

وقد عَبَر الأضحى به وهو يقتضي

During the fast he lodged with you a request for Eid al-Fitr,

You descended upon me in fasting for the feast of breaking fast

Yet Eid al-Adha has passed him by, and he still seeks his due.

When the day of sacrifice had passed with him still needing.

أترضَوْن أن تصفو لغيري حياضُكم

أترضَوْن أن تصفو لغيري حياضُكم

وأرضِيَ تُغذى جرعةَ المتبرّض

وأرضِيَ تُغذى جرعةَ المتبرّض

Are you content that your pools run clear for others,

Would you be pleased that others enjoy your love

While my land is nourished with the sip of one gleaning drops?

While I am pleased with a sip of one who pretends disinterest?

لعلّكم ارتبتم بفضل تسهلي

لعلّكم ارتبتم بفضل تسهلي

عليكم وإلمامي بكم وتعرُّضي

عليكم وإلمامي بكم وتعرُّضي

Perhaps you grew suspicious of my excessive ease

Perhaps you have intended, by your graciousness

Toward you, my visits to you, and my seeking your favor.

To me and my knowledge of you, my imposition.

فلا تحسبوا ذلاًّ فما من ضراعةٍ

فلا تحسبوا ذلاًّ فما من ضراعةٍ

بدا لكُمُ نابُ الشجاع المنضنِضِ

بدا لكُمُ نابُ الشجاع المنضنِضِ

Do not think it abasement; it was not from weakness

So do not think it humiliation, for no cowardice

That the tongue-flicking serpent showed you its fang.

Appeared to you from the fang of a courageous biter.

وغيرك من يرمي القضاءَ بذنبه

وغيرك من يرمي القضاءَ بذنبه

إذا قيل قد فرّطتَ قال كذا قُضي

إذا قيل قد فرّطتَ قال كذا قُضي

Someone other than you blames fate for his fault:

And another attributes his fate to his sin

When told, 'You have fallen short,' he says, 'So it was decreed.'

When it is said “you were negligent” he says “so it was decreed.”

تسمَّعْ لها لم توفِ شكرَك حقَّه

تسمَّعْ لها لم توفِ شكرَك حقَّه

ولو قد وفت ما كنتُ بالشكر ارتضى

ولو قد وفت ما كنتُ بالشكر ارتضى

Listen to it; it has not duly thanked you,

Listen to her, you did not fulfill your gratitude fully,

And even had it done so, I would not be content with thanks.

And even if you had, I would not have been pleased with gratitude.

جميلة وجهٍ عاطلٍ من كُسَى الغنَى

جميلة وجهٍ عاطلٍ من كُسَى الغنَى

وإن وسمتها منك حُلَّةُ معرضِ

وإن وسمتها منك حُلَّةُ معرضِ

Beautiful of face, bare of the robes of wealth,

A beautiful face, missing the garments of riches,

Though a robe for display from you has distinguished it.

And if you clothe it, the garb of one who turns away suits it.

وفي القلب ما لا يبلغ الفمُ بثَّهُ

وفي القلب ما لا يبلغ الفمُ بثَّهُ

وفَى بقريضٍ دونه الهمُّ مُجرِضي

وفَى بقريضٍ دونه الهمُّ مُجرِضي

Within the heart is what the mouth cannot express;

And in the heart is what the mouth cannot express,

It has paid its due in verse, though grief chokes me short of it.

And prose conveys it less than the anxiety that rends me.

فعذراً وفوزاً بانبساطي فإنه

فعذراً وفوزاً بانبساطي فإنه

عزيزٌ على ما اعتاد فرطُ تقبّضي

عزيزٌ على ما اعتاد فرطُ تقبّضي

So pardon me, and count my openness a gain, for it is

So excuse me, and congratulations on my elation, for it

Rare, given the habits of my extreme reserve.

Is hard for what I'm accustomed to, the excess of my composure.

وأخذا من الأيام أوفَى حظوظها

وأخذا من الأيام أوفَى حظوظها

بخيرٍ تجدْ ما شئتَ منهنّ وارفضِ

بخيرٍ تجدْ ما شئتَ منهنّ وارفضِ

And may you take from the days their fullest portion,

And I have taken from the days what fulfilled its luckiest

In prosperity: find in them what you wish, and reject the rest.

With good - you will find whatever you want of them, so take and refuse.

تساقُ لك الدنيا بظهرٍ مذلَّلٍ

تساقُ لك الدنيا بظهرٍ مذلَّلٍ

إذا وزَعَتْ قَرْما بنفرةِ ريِّضِ

إذا وزَعَتْ قَرْما بنفرةِ ريِّضِ

The world is led to you on a submissive back,

The world is led to you with a submissive back,

Even when it checks a proud camel-stallion with a barely trained mount's shying.

When it distributes sustenance with the tossing of a well-fed camel.