تمنَّى رجالٌ أن تزلَّ بِيَ النعلُ

تمنَّى رجالٌ أن تزلَّ بِيَ النعلُ

ولم تمش في مجدٍ بمثلي لهم رِجلُ

ولم تمش في مجدٍ بمثلي لهم رِجلُ

Men wished that the sandal beneath me would slip,

A man hoped that my sandals would wear out,

yet no foot of theirs has walked in glory to match me.

Yet no foot has walked with glory like mine,

وعابوا على هجرِ المطامع عفّتي

وعابوا على هجرِ المطامع عفّتي

ولَلْهجرُ خيرٌ حين يزري بك الوصلُ

ولَلْهجرُ خيرٌ حين يزري بك الوصلُ

They faulted my self-restraint for forsaking covetous hopes;

And they blamed me for avoiding greedy pursuits,

but estrangement is better when attachment lowers you.

Yet avoidance is best when separation visits you,

وسمَّوا إبايَ الضيمَ كِبراً ولا أرى

وسمَّوا إبايَ الضيمَ كِبراً ولا أرى

حطيطةَ نفسي وهي تنهض أن تعلو

حطيطةَ نفسي وهي تنهض أن تعلو

They called my refusal of oppression pride, but I see no

And they called my aloofness arrogance, yet I see no

abasement of my soul in its striving to rise.

Meanness in my soul as it strives to rise,

لئن أكلوا بالغيب لحمي فربما

لئن أكلوا بالغيب لحمي فربما

حضَرتُ فخان المضغ واستُؤْنِيَ الأكلُ

حضَرتُ فخان المضغ واستُؤْنِيَ الأكلُ

Though they devoured my flesh in my absence, often

If they backbite and eat my flesh in my absence, then maybe

I appeared, and their chewing failed, and the eating was delayed.

When present, the chewer's enjoyment is ruined,

وكم دونهم لي من خلائقَ مُرّةٍ

وكم دونهم لي من خلائقَ مُرّةٍ

إذا أنصفوها استثمروها جنىً يحلو

إذا أنصفوها استثمروها جنىً يحلو

How many bitter traits I have set in their way,

And how many bitter creatures I have beneath my coat of mail,

which, if they judged them fairly, they would harvest as sweet fruit!

If they were fair, their harvest would be sweet,

يقولون طامن بعضَ ما أنت شامخ

يقولون طامن بعضَ ما أنت شامخ

بنفسك إنّ الرُّخصَ غايةَ ما يغلو

بنفسك إنّ الرُّخصَ غايةَ ما يغلو

They say, 'Lower somewhat the height to which you exalt

They say you are proud of your self O morning star,

yourself: cheapness is the end of all that grows dear.'

For compliance is the utmost that ascends,

إذا كان عزّي طارداً عنّيَ الغنى

إذا كان عزّي طارداً عنّيَ الغنى

فلله فقرٌ لا يجاوره الذلُّ

فلله فقرٌ لا يجاوره الذلُّ

If my dignity drives wealth away from me,

If my honor banishes riches from me,

then blessed, by God, is poverty with no humiliation beside it.

Then thank God for poverty without disgrace,

عليَّ اجتناءُ الفضل من شجراته

عليَّ اجتناءُ الفضل من شجراته

ولا ذنبَ إن لم يجنِ حظّاً ليَ الفضلُ

ولا ذنبَ إن لم يجنِ حظّاً ليَ الفضلُ

It is mine to gather merit from its trees;

It is for me to glean virtue from its trees,

I am not to blame if merit gathers no good fortune for me.

And no blame if the harvest brought me no virtue,

خُلقتُ وحيدا في ثيابِ نزاهتي

خُلقتُ وحيدا في ثيابِ نزاهتي

غريباً وأهلُ الأرض لو شئتُ لي أهلُ

غريباً وأهلُ الأرض لو شئتُ لي أهلُ

I was created alone, clothed in my integrity,

I was created lonely in my cloak of integrity,

a stranger, though earth's people could be my kin if I wished.

A stranger, and if I wished, the people would be my tribe,

وفي الناس مثلي مقترون وإنما

وفي الناس مثلي مقترون وإنما

أزاد جوىً أن ليس في الفضل لي مثلُ

أزاد جوىً أن ليس في الفضل لي مثلُ

Among men are others as poor as I; what only

And among the people are those like me, coupled,

adds to my anguish is that in merit I have no equal.

But destiny desired that none rival me in virtue,

خفيتُ وقد أوضحتُ نهجَ شواكلٍ

خفيتُ وقد أوضحتُ نهجَ شواكلٍ

تريد عيوناً وهي للعلم بي سبلُ

تريد عيوناً وهي للعلم بي سبلُ

I remained obscure, though I made plain the course of qualities

I hid though I clarified the path of towering signs

that need eyes to see, and are paths to knowing me.

Seeking eyes, and for knowledge of me there are ways,

وعَلّقتُ بالأسماع كلَّ غريبةٍ

وعَلّقتُ بالأسماع كلَّ غريبةٍ

بأمثالها لم تُفترَعْ أذُنٌ قبلُ

بأمثالها لم تُفترَعْ أذُنٌ قبلُ

I hung upon the ears every marvel

And I informed all who listen of every marvel,

whose like had never before deflowered an ear.

With examples never perceived by ears before,

ولم آلُ في إفهامهم أين موضعي

ولم آلُ في إفهامهم أين موضعي

ولكنّهم دقّوا عن الفهم أو قلّوا

ولكنّهم دقّوا عن الفهم أو قلّوا

I spared no effort to make them understand where I stand,

And I did not try to explain my worth,

but they were too petty for understanding, or too few.

But they were deaf to understanding, or deficient,

يريدونني أن أشرِيَ المالَ سائلا

يريدونني أن أشرِيَ المالَ سائلا

بعرضي وطيبُ الفرع أن يُحفظ الأصلُ

بعرضي وطيبُ الفرع أن يُحفظ الأصلُ

They want me to purchase wealth by begging

They want me to buy wealth by asking,

with my honor; the branch's soundness lies in preserving the root.

Trading my honor, but the noble branch is guarded,

ويقبحُ عندي والفتى حيثُ نفسُه

ويقبحُ عندي والفتى حيثُ نفسُه

سؤالُ البخيل مثلما يقبحُ البخلُ

سؤالُ البخيل مثلما يقبحُ البخلُ

I deem it ugly—and a man stands where his soul stands—

And it is ugly if, while the youth has his soul,

to beg of a miser, just as miserliness is ugly.

He asks the miser, as miserliness is ugly,

ولي منه إما المنع والعذرُ بعده

ولي منه إما المنع والعذرُ بعده

يُلفَّقُ مكذوباً أو المنُّ والبذلُ

يُلفَّقُ مكذوباً أو المنُّ والبذلُ

From him I get either refusal, with an excuse afterward

And from him I expect either refusal and excuse,

falsely patched together, or giving with reproachful reminders.

Feigned after, or granting and generosity,

أرى الحلمَ أدواني وعوفِيَ جاهلٌ

أرى الحلمَ أدواني وعوفِيَ جاهلٌ

وما العيشُ إلا ما رمى دونه الجهلُ

وما العيشُ إلا ما رمى دونه الجهلُ

I find that forbearance has sickened me, while a fool is spared;

I see forbearance as my tool, though the ignorant call it weakness,

life is only what folly guards with its arrows.

And life is naught but what ignorance falls short of,

صعُبتُ فلو ما كان شيء يردّني

صعُبتُ فلو ما كان شيء يردّني

إلى السهل ردّتني له الأعينُ النُّجلُ

إلى السهل ردّتني له الأعينُ النُّجلُ

I have been hard to tame; if anything could lead me back

I persevered so if nothing could dissuade me

to gentleness, wide eyes would lead me there.

To ease, then sharp blades would be dissuaded by the blunt,

ويا قلَّما أُعطي الهوى فضلَ مِقودِي

ويا قلَّما أُعطي الهوى فضلَ مِقودِي

فإن أعتلقْ حبّاً فيا قلَّما أسلو

فإن أعتلقْ حبّاً فيا قلَّما أسلو

How rarely I give desire any slack in my reins!

And how seldom do I indulge desire, so if I cling to love,

Yet if I cling to love, how rarely I forget it!

Then how seldom do I feel relief,

وكم تحت درعي باللوي من جراحةٍ

وكم تحت درعي باللوي من جراحةٍ

لعَجماءَ ما فيها قَصاصٌ ولا عَقْلُ

لعَجماءَ ما فيها قَصاصٌ ولا عَقْلُ

How many wounds lie beneath my armor at al-Liwā,

And how many wounds beneath my coat of mail,

from a speechless creature, with neither retaliation nor blood-money!

Mute, with neither redress nor justice,

وهيفاءَ يَروِي الخَوطُ عنها اهتزازَه

وهيفاءَ يَروِي الخَوطُ عنها اهتزازَه

ويسرِقُ من ألحاظها لونَه الكُحلُ

ويسرِقُ من ألحاظها لونَه الكُحلُ

And a slender woman, from whom the twig takes its tale of swaying,

And smooth Grace, the kohl stealing its color

while kohl steals its color from her glances.

From her glances, and the plaits telling of her restlessness,

أشارت وحولي في الظعائن أعينٌ

أشارت وحولي في الظعائن أعينٌ

محاجرها غيظٌ وأفئدة غِلُّ

محاجرها غيظٌ وأفئدة غِلُّ

She gestured, while around me among the women in litters were eyes

She gestured and around me eyes of blamers,

whose sockets were rage, and hearts that were rancor:

Their looks were rage and their hearts rancor,

تخفَّفْ بفيض الدمع من ثِقَل الجوى

تخفَّفْ بفيض الدمع من ثِقَل الجوى

تجدْ راحةً إن الدموع هي الثّقلُ

تجدْ راحةً إن الدموع هي الثّقلُ

'Unburden yourself of love's weight with a flood of tears;

Exhaust with copious tears the weight of passion,

you will find relief: the tears themselves are the burden.'

For tears find repose, and tears are the weight,

أخوّفها بالخَيفِ ها إنّ دارنا

أخوّفها بالخَيفِ ها إنّ دارنا

حرامٌ فمن أفتاكِ أن دمي حِلُّ

حرامٌ فمن أفتاكِ أن دمي حِلُّ

At al-Khayf I warn her: 'Look! Our dwelling

I frightened her with propriety - behold, our home

is sacred; who declared my blood lawful for you?'

Is sacrosanct, who misguided you that my blood is licit?

دعيني أعش قالت دع الوجد بي إذن

دعيني أعش قالت دع الوجد بي إذن

فقلت لها أقررتِ أن الهوى قتلُ

فقلت لها أقررتِ أن الهوى قتلُ

'Let me live.' She said, 'Then leave your passion for me.'

Let me live, she said, leave fervor with me,

I said to her, 'You have admitted that love kills.'

So I said to her, you have decreed that love is murder,

وواشٍ بها لم تخدَع الشوقَ كامناً

وواشٍ بها لم تخدَع الشوقَ كامناً

رُقاهُ ولم يُخصَم بإغوائه الخبلُ

رُقاهُ ولم يُخصَم بإغوائه الخبلُ

And a slanderer of her: my hidden longing was not deceived

And she of perfect form, desire did not fool her

by his charms, nor was my frenzy overcome by his enticement.

Though it seduced the witless and disputes not with madness,

تحَّبب في عذلي ليُبردَ لوعتي

تحَّبب في عذلي ليُبردَ لوعتي

فبغَّضه أن الهوى جمره العذُل

فبغَّضه أن الهوى جمره العذُل

He courted my favor through reproach, to cool my anguish;

She tried to make me love my refusal to increase my agony,

but he grew hateful, for reproach is love's glowing coal.

So I hated it, for love’s ember is refusal,

يلوم وسوَّى عندَه الناسَ ظنُّه

يلوم وسوَّى عندَه الناسَ ظنُّه

تَبيَّنْ على مَن لمتني إنها جُمْلُ

تَبيَّنْ على مَن لمتني إنها جُمْلُ

He blames me, his judgment making all people equal in his eyes.

He blames and sees people equal in his opinion,

'Look whom you reproached me over: she is Juml!'

So it was clear who had blamed me, for it was a camel,

يجرِّب دهري كيف صبري وإنما

يجرِّب دهري كيف صبري وإنما

يجرَّبُ ما لم يُختَبَرْ حدُّهُ النصلُ

يجرَّبُ ما لم يُختَبَرْ حدُّهُ النصلُ

My time tests how well I endure, yet only

My fate tests how patient I am, and yet

a blade whose edge has not been tried is put to the test.

It tests what has no known limit, like a blade,

تبلَّغْ ببعض الرزق إن عزَّ كلُّه

تبلَّغْ ببعض الرزق إن عزَّ كلُّه

وتُوصَلُ رُمّات فيُبلغك الحبلُ

وتُوصَلُ رُمّات فيُبلغك الحبلُ

Make do with some sustenance if the whole is hard to obtain;

Sustain yourself with some sustenance if all independence is dear,

worn rope-ends are joined, and the rope will carry you there.

And scattered crumbs will reach you with a rope,

ولولا الفضولُ لم تكن غيرُ حاجةٍ

ولولا الفضولُ لم تكن غيرُ حاجةٍ

اذا الكُثرُ لم يسنح لها سدّها القُلُّ

اذا الكُثرُ لم يسنح لها سدّها القُلُّ

Without superfluities, there would be only a need

And were it not for superfluity, nothing would remain but need,

that little would meet if abundance did not come its way.

For little can seldom fulfill it if plenty is missed,

وَكُنتُ متى استصرختُ نُصرةَ صاحبٍ

وَكُنتُ متى استصرختُ نُصرةَ صاحبٍ

على ساعةٍ لا يرتجِي غيثها المحلُ

على ساعةٍ لا يرتجِي غيثها المحلُ

Whenever I cried out for a friend's aid

I would be helped whenever I cried for the aid of a companion,

against an hour whose rain the drought could not hope for,

At a moment no region hopes for its rain,

كفتني يداه في الندى كلَّ طلقةٍ

كفتني يداه في الندى كلَّ طلقةٍ

مقبَّلةٍ على مكارمها كَلُّ

مقبَّلةٍ على مكارمها كَلُّ

his hands, in their bounty, spared me every open hand

His hands sufficed me in dew for every dissolved alliance,

kissed for its noble deeds, yet helpless.

Kissing his great virtues continually,

وأرفد ظهري أن تشلّ جوانبي

وأرفد ظهري أن تشلّ جوانبي

أخٌ ما أخى منه لظهرِ أبي نسلُ

أخٌ ما أخى منه لظهرِ أبي نسلُ

And, lest my sides fail, my back was supported by

And he reinforced my back when my sides gave way,

a brother—no child of my father's loins was more brotherly than he.

A brother, not a brother to my father begotten,

أخ لاحمت بيني الشُّكول وبينه

أخ لاحمت بيني الشُّكول وبينه

لكل فتى من نسج شيمته شكلُ

لكل فتى من نسج شيمته شكلُ

A brother whom likenesses joined to me:

A brother to whom familiarity bound me,

every man has a counterpart woven from his own character.

For every young man is molded in a form befitting his trait,

ذهبنا بها حيث الصفاء ولم نكن

ذهبنا بها حيث الصفاء ولم نكن

لنذهبَ فيها حيث يرسلنا الأصلُ

لنذهبَ فيها حيث يرسلنا الأصلُ

We took our bond where purity lies, and would not

We walked there together where is purity, and did not

take it where ancestry would send us.

Walk where our lineage marched us without choice,

أذَمَّ ابن أيّوبٍ على ما عقدتُهُ

أذَمَّ ابن أيّوبٍ على ما عقدتُهُ

به من جوارٍ ذمَّةً ليس تنحلُّ

به من جوارٍ ذمَّةً ليس تنحلُّ

Ibn Ayyub pledged, upon the bond I made

The son of Job has condemned what pact I concluded with him,

with him for protection, a covenant that cannot come undone.

An inviolable company, fills then empties its leather,

على اليسر والإعسار كيف احتلبتُهُ

على اليسر والإعسار كيف احتلبتُهُ

ملأتُ وِطابي ثم أخلافُه حَفْلُ

ملأتُ وِطابي ثم أخلافُه حَفْلُ

In ease or hardship, however I milked him,

Against wealth and poverty, how I milked him,

I filled my milk-skins, while his udders were still full.

My containers then his successors' cups overflowed,

ضمانٌ عليه أنّ عيني قريرةٌ

ضمانٌ عليه أنّ عيني قريرةٌ

تنام وقلبي من وساوسه يخلو

تنام وقلبي من وساوسه يخلو

He guarantees that my eye, at peace,

He is secured by my sated eye that sleeps

will sleep, and my heart be free of its whispering doubts.

While my heart is empty of its disquieting thoughts,

سليم الوفاء أملسُ العرض لو مشى

سليم الوفاء أملسُ العرض لو مشى

ليدرُج في أحسابه ما مشى النملُ

ليدرُج في أحسابه ما مشى النملُ

Sound in loyalty, smooth in honor: were it to walk

Loyal in friendship, smooth in honor, so that if he walked

to creep within his noble lineages, an ant could make no progress.

To deceive, even ants would not walk his path,

مفدّىً بأفراد الرجال مفضّلٌ

مفدّىً بأفراد الرجال مفضّلٌ

لمطريه من آثاره شاهدٌ عدلُ

لمطريه من آثاره شاهدٌ عدلُ

Ransomed with the choicest of men, preeminent;

Ransomed by the individuals of men, preferred

his deeds provide his praiser with an impartial witness.

For my rain over his traces, an equitable witness,

كأنّ فتِيَّ الأقحوانِ على الندى

كأنّ فتِيَّ الأقحوانِ على الندى

يشاب بمسكٍ خلقُه الباردُ السهلُ

يشاب بمسكٍ خلقُه الباردُ السهلُ

As though fresh chamomile in the dew,

As if the youth of valiant trees upon the dew

mingled with musk, were his cool, gentle nature.

Were mixed with musk, his nature cool and smooth,

بَليلُ البنانِ يقبِض التربَ يابساً

بَليلُ البنانِ يقبِض التربَ يابساً

ويَفرِجُ عنه وهو أخضرُ مبتلُّ

ويَفرِجُ عنه وهو أخضرُ مبتلُّ

Moist-fingered, he grasps dry dust

Like the juicy dark trees grasping dry soil

and lets it go, green and wet.

Then opening over it, green and moist,

كأنّ سجاياه ونُجح عداته

كأنّ سجاياه ونُجح عداته

خُلقن ولم يُخلَقْ نفاقٌ ولا مطلُ

خُلقن ولم يُخلَقْ نفاقٌ ولا مطلُ

As though his qualities and the fulfillment of his promises

As if his traits and successful tools

were created before hypocrisy or delay was created.

Were created without any hypocrisy or blemish,

من القوم لم يستنزلوا عن علائهم

من القوم لم يستنزلوا عن علائهم

ولم تُغتصبْ منهم دِياتٌ ولا ذَحلُ

ولم تُغتصبْ منهم دِياتٌ ولا ذَحلُ

He is of a people never brought down from their heights,

When roused, they rushed out in numbers and multiplied,

from whom neither blood-money nor vengeance was wrested.

Though invited to a feast, they were few,

اذا فُزِّعوا طاروا نفيراً فأكثروا

اذا فُزِّعوا طاروا نفيراً فأكثروا

عديداً وإن نودوا لمطعمةٍ قلّوا

عديداً وإن نودوا لمطعمةٍ قلّوا

When alarmed, they fly out in a levy, swelling

Their voice, together or separate, is weighty

their numbers; but when called to a feast, they are few.

And the day of strife, their leader's voice rises,

نديُّهمُ وهُمْ جميعٌ موقَّرٌ

نديُّهمُ وهُمْ جميعٌ موقَّرٌ

ويوم الخصام صوتُ فذّهِمُ يعلو

ويوم الخصام صوتُ فذّهِمُ يعلو

Their assembly, though all are gathered, is dignified;

And they do not utter estrangement if embarrassed by it,

on the day of dispute, a lone man's voice rises high.

Their dreams spare them foul sayings,

ولا ينطقون الهُجر إن أُحرجوا له

ولا ينطقون الهُجر إن أُحرجوا له

بأحلامهم عن فُحش أقوالهم فضلُ

بأحلامهم عن فُحش أقوالهم فضلُ

They utter no obscenity, even when provoked to it;

Their horsemen train steeds and racers,

their forbearance lifts them above foulness in their speech.

Champions whose saddles do not slip or loosen,

يروض الجيادَ والقراطيسَ منهمُ

يروض الجيادَ والقراطيسَ منهمُ

فوارسُ لا مِيلُ السروج ولا عُزلُ

فوارسُ لا مِيلُ السروج ولا عُزلُ

Among them, steeds and sheets of paper are schooled

When they pierce, the piercing is eloquent,

by horsemen neither unsteady in the saddle nor unarmed.

And when they write, the script is murder,

إذا طاعنوا كان الطعانُ بلاغةً

إذا طاعنوا كان الطعانُ بلاغةً

وان كاتبوا كان الكتابُ هو القتلُ

وان كاتبوا كان الكتابُ هو القتلُ

When they thrust with lances, their thrusting is eloquence;

Their years make the sons of men into elders,

and when they write, the writing itself is killing.

While their child, though not a year, is an old man,

تُكهِّلُ أبناءَ الرجال سِنوهُمُ

تُكهِّلُ أبناءَ الرجال سِنوهُمُ

وطفلهُمُ ما عَدَّ من سَنةٍ كهلُ

وطفلهُمُ ما عَدَّ من سَنةٍ كهلُ

Their years bring other men's sons to maturity,

I attached you since my days to the kind elevated affection

and their child, whatever his years, is a mature man.

That tries and does not indulge any love that it does not test,

علقتُك من دهري عُلوقَ مجرِّبٍ

علقتُك من دهري عُلوقَ مجرِّبٍ

تعوَّد لا يغلو هوىً دون أن يبلو

تعوَّد لا يغلو هوىً دون أن يبلو

In my life I clung to you as an experienced man clings,

And my vow regarding you became compulsory when you came of age,

one accustomed not to overprize a love before he tests it.

That books and messages bring us together,

وأوجبَ نذري فيك أن صار بالغاً

وأوجبَ نذري فيك أن صار بالغاً

تجمعنا ما تبلغ الكتب والرسلُ

تجمعنا ما تبلغ الكتب والرسلُ

And my vow to you became binding when there grew a vast—

So a separation harvested, then compassion, and we dispersed,

letters and messengers joining us whenever they arrived—

Its confusion passed, and then the bond was joined,

فراقٌ جنى ثم ارعوى فتفرَّقتْ

فراقٌ جنى ثم ارعوى فتفرَّقتْ

غيايتُهُ وانضمّ من بعده الشملُ

غيايتُهُ وانضمّ من بعده الشملُ

separation that wronged us, then relented; its

The water flowed after my separation, then returned dense

cloud dispersed, and afterward our company was reunited.

After the shade had gone,

جرى الماءُ لي مذ أبتَ بعد جفونه

جرى الماءُ لي مذ أبتَ بعد جفونه

وعاد كثيفاً بعد ما انتقلَ الظلُّ

وعاد كثيفاً بعد ما انتقلَ الظلُّ

Water flowed for me since you returned, after its lids had closed,

So if I do not thank my time for what

and the shade returned dense after it had departed.

I complained of, then no loyalty or faith remains,

فإن أنا لم أشكر زمانِيَ بالذي

فإن أنا لم أشكر زمانِيَ بالذي

شكوتُ فلا عهدٌ لديَّ ولا إلُّ

شكوتُ فلا عهدٌ لديَّ ولا إلُّ

If I do not thank my time for that very thing

For the white hand of the youth, if he does not

I complained of, then I keep neither covenant nor sacred bond.

Reward praise through it, binds,

وإنّ اليد البيضاء في عُنق الفتى

وإنّ اليد البيضاء في عُنق الفتى

اذا هو لم يَجزِ الثناءَ بها غُلُّ

اذا هو لم يَجزِ الثناءَ بها غُلُّ

And the white hand upon a man's neck,

And if I did not seek refuge for our love with amulets

if he does not repay it with praise, is a shackle.

To bind it in every purpose's knot, it dissolves,

وإنْ لم أعوِّذ ودَّنا بتمائم

وإنْ لم أعوِّذ ودَّنا بتمائم

لإيثاقها في عَقدِ كلِّ نوىً حَلُّ

لإيثاقها في عَقدِ كلِّ نوىً حَلُّ

And if I do not guard our love with amulets

Windows through which no magic or charm penetrates,

whose binding unties the knot of every separation—

Dikes no torrent or sand overcomes,

نوافذ مالا ينفُذ السحرُ والرُّقىَ

نوافذ مالا ينفُذ السحرُ والرُّقىَ

قواطع مالا يقطع السيلُ والرملُ

قواطع مالا يقطع السيلُ والرملُ

piercing what sorcery and charms cannot pierce,

You see through them honor always rich in wonderful qualities

cutting what torrent and sand cannot cut—

Though if bare of nobility, it would be destroyed,

ترى العرضَ منها ذا فرائدَ حالياً

ترى العرضَ منها ذا فرائدَ حالياً

ولو أنه عُريانُ من شرفٍ عُطْلُ

ولو أنه عُريانُ من شرفٍ عُطْلُ

you see honor adorned by them with choice pearls,

Its medicine absorbs all seriousness,

even if it is naked of nobility, unadorned.

And its presence is an instinct seen as jest,

بداوتُها تستصحب الجِدَّ كلَّه

بداوتُها تستصحب الجِدَّ كلَّه

وحاضرها طبعٌ يُرى أنه الهزلُ

وحاضرها طبعٌ يُرى أنه الهزلُ

Their desert manner carries all seriousness with it;

It sends you gifts everyday, a guide,

their urban manner is a natural gift that seems like play.

When absent, it has no husband,

تزورك منها كلَّ يوم هديّةً

تزورك منها كلَّ يوم هديّةً

هدِيٌّ متى تَعدَمْ فليس لها بَعلُ

هدِيٌّ متى تَعدَمْ فليس لها بَعلُ

Each day there visits you, as a gift from them,

a bride who, if you are absent, has no husband.