يا عينِ لو أغضيتِ يومَ النوى

يا عينِ لو أغضيتِ يومَ النوى

ما كان يوما حَسَناً أن يُرَى

ما كان يوما حَسَناً أن يُرَى

O eye, if only you had closed on the day of parting—

O eye, had you averted on the day of intent

it was no lovely day to behold.

It would not have been a good day to see

كلَّفتِ أجفانَكِ ما لو جرى

كلَّفتِ أجفانَكِ ما لو جرى

برمل يَبْرينَ شكا أو جرى

برمل يَبْرينَ شكا أو جرى

You burdened your eyelids with tears that, if they ran

You tasked your eyelids with what, had it occurred

through Yabrin's sand, would make it lament or flow.

To shifting sands or flowing streams

جنايةً عرَّضتِ قلبي لها

جنايةً عرَّضتِ قلبي لها

فأحتملي أَولَي بها مَنْ جنى

فأحتملي أَولَي بها مَنْ جنى

An offense to which you exposed my heart—

Would have been a crime exposing my heart to it

so bear it: its perpetrator deserves it most.

So bear it, as it was yours who perpetrated it

سَلْ ظبياتٍ بالحِمى رُتَّعاً

سَلْ ظبياتٍ بالحِمى رُتَّعاً

خُضِّرَ منهنّ بياضُ الحِمى

خُضِّرَ منهنّ بياضُ الحِمى

Ask gazelles grazing freely in the preserve,

Ask the gazelles in the protected area, turned

through whom the preserve's white expanse was made green:

Green by them, the whiteness of the protected area

نَشَدتكنّ اللهَ ما حيلةٌ

نَشَدتكنّ اللهَ ما حيلةٌ

صاد بها الأُسْدَ عيونُ المها

صاد بها الأُسْدَ عيونُ المها

I adjure you by God: what is the device

I adjure you by God, what strategy

with which the oryxes' eyes ensnared lions?

Did the lions use to catch the eyes of the does?

إن تك سِحْرا أو لها فعلهُ

إن تك سِحْرا أو لها فعلهُ

فالسحر يشفِي منه طِبُّ الرُّقَى

فالسحر يشفِي منه طِبُّ الرُّقَى

If it is sorcery, or has sorcery's effect,

If it be witchcraft or it has its effect

then the healing art of incantations cures sorcery.

Then witchcraft is cured by the medicine of spells

فيكنّ مَن حشوُ جلابيبه

فيكنّ مَن حشوُ جلابيبه

أهيفُ راوي الرِّدف ظامي الحشا

أهيفُ راوي الرِّدف ظامي الحشا

Among you is one whose robes enfold

Among you are those whose garments contain

a slender form, lush of hips, parched of waist.

Windblown sand, gloomy of face

قلبي له مَرْعًى وصدري كلاً

قلبي له مَرْعًى وصدري كلاً

ليت كلاً ظبيُ الحِمى ما رعى

ليت كلاً ظبيُ الحِمى ما رعى

My heart is his pasture, my breast his grass.

My heart is for him a pasture and my chest altogether

Would that the preserve's gazelle had grazed on no grass!

Would that altogether the gazelles of the protected area had not grazed

يا بأبي غضبانَ لو أنه

يا بأبي غضبانَ لو أنه

يرضى بغير القتل نال الرضا

يرضى بغير القتل نال الرضا

Ah, my father be ransom for the angry one! If he

Oh father, angry, if only he

would accept anything but killing, he would find contentment.

Would be pleased with other than killing, he would attain satisfaction

أَغَصُّ بالماء حِفاظا لِما

أَغَصُّ بالماء حِفاظا لِما

فارقُته فى فمه من لَمَى

فارقُته فى فمه من لَمَى

I choke on water, keeping faith with what

I gag on water, protecting what

I left behind in his mouth: his lips' dusky hue.

I left in his mouth of moisture

ما لدماء الحبِّ مطلولةً

ما لدماء الحبِّ مطلولةً

أهكذا فيهنّ دِين الدُّمى

أهكذا فيهنّ دِين الدُّمى

Why is love's blood shed unavenged?

Why are the blood of love shed

Is this, among them, the creed of the idol-like beauties?

Is this how the law of blood-price is?

إن كانت الأعراضُ مَجزيَّةً

إن كانت الأعراضُ مَجزيَّةً

فعاقَبَ اللهُ الهوى بالهوى

فعاقَبَ اللهُ الهوى بالهوى

If rejection is to be repaid,

If honors are to be punished

may God punish passion with passion.

Then God has punished love with love

لله قلبٌ حَسَنٌ صبُره

لله قلبٌ حَسَنٌ صبُره

ما سُئل الذِّلّة إلا أبَى

ما سُئل الذِّلّة إلا أبَى

God bless a heart so noble in patience:

To God belongs a good, patient heart

whenever asked to bow to humiliation, it refused.

Only asked for humility but refused

وصاحب كالسيف ما صادفت

وصاحب كالسيف ما صادفت

ضَرْبتُهُ غَرْبَاهُ إلا مضى

ضَرْبتُهُ غَرْبَاهُ إلا مضى

And a companion like a sword: whenever

And a companion is like the sword - whenever

his stroke met its two edges, he cut through.

I strike him fiercely he only continues

يركب في الحاجات أخطارَها

يركب في الحاجات أخطارَها

إما خَساً فيها وإما زَكَا

إما خَساً فيها وإما زَكَا

He rides the perils of his pursuits,

He risks dangers in trying situations

whether their outcome be odd or even.

Either vilely or nobly within them

يَقِيل إن هَجَّر في ظلِّه

يَقِيل إن هَجَّر في ظلِّه

ويحسب الليلَ البهيمَ الضُّحى

ويحسب الليلَ البهيمَ الضُّحى

He rests in his own shade when he journeys at midday,

He unloads if estranged in his shade

and takes the pitch-black night for morning light.

And reckons the night as the bright morning

كأنه في الخطب بالحظِّ أو

كأنه في الخطب بالحظِّ أو

بدرِ بني عبد الرحيم أهتدى

بدرِ بني عبد الرحيم أهتدى

As though in adversity, by fortune or

As if he, in ordeals, is guided

the full moon of the sons of Abd al-Rahim, he were guided.

By the full moon of Bani Abdul Rahim

فداء من يُحْسِن أن يوسع الْ

فداء من يُحْسِن أن يوسع الْ

إحسانَ قومٌ خُلِقوا للفِدى

إحسانَ قومٌ خُلِقوا للفِدى

Let the ransom for him who knows how to lavish

Redemption to one who is gracious to expand

generosity be a people created for sacrifice.

Generosity to a people created for ransom

جاد على الأملاك وأستظهروا

جاد على الأملاك وأستظهروا

بالمنع بُخْلا فى زمان الغنى

بالمنع بُخْلا فى زمان الغنى

He lavished gifts upon kings, while they sought strength

They spent freely and sought help

in miserly withholding, in a time of abundance.

With stinginess in times of prosperity

تبعث أحشاؤهم غيظَه

تبعث أحشاؤهم غيظَه

إلى حلوقٍ حسبتْه الشَّجَا

إلى حلوقٍ حسبتْه الشَّجَا

Their entrails send their rage at him

Their greed sends its rage

to throats that deem it a choking bone.

To throats you would think were well-fed

أراهُمُ عجزَهُمُ ناهضٌ

أراهُمُ عجزَهُمُ ناهضٌ

بالثقل ما أستُضوِئ إلا وَرَى

بالثقل ما أستُضوِئ إلا وَرَى

He showed them their helplessness, shouldering

I see their incapacity overburdened

the burden; whenever asked for light, he blazed.

By the load - it only proceeded when it saw

من معشرٍ تَضْمنُ تيجانُهم

من معشرٍ تَضْمنُ تيجانُهم

صُوعَ المعالي وعِيابَ النُّهى

صُوعَ المعالي وعِيابَ النُّهى

From a clan whose crowns contain

From a group whose crowns contain

measures of greatness and coffers of wisdom.

The heights of nobility and the shame of prohibition

تُرفَع منهم عن جباهٍ بها

تُرفَع منهم عن جباهٍ بها

أبّهةُ الملْكِ عفا أو سطا

أبّهةُ الملْكِ عفا أو سطا

They are lifted from foreheads that bear

Raised from them from brows on which

the majesty of kingship, whether pardoning or striking.

Rest the majesty of kingship, pardoning or leveling

للعزِّ حَشْدٌ دون أبوابهم

للعزِّ حَشْدٌ دون أبوابهم

يُشعِرك الخوفَ ولمَّا يُرَى

يُشعِرك الخوفَ ولمَّا يُرَى

Glory's host stands before their gates,

For glory is an army before their doors

making you feel fear before it is even seen.

That makes you feel fear though unseen

إذا أحبّوا غايةً حَرَّموا

إذا أحبّوا غايةً حَرَّموا

دون مداها أن تُحَلَّ الحُبَى

دون مداها أن تُحَلَّ الحُبَى

When they desire a goal, they forbid

When they love a goal they forbid

untying the knee-bindings short of its furthest reach.

Anything short of its extent to be tied

قل للحسين بن عليّ وما

قل للحسين بن عليّ وما

نماك أصل الخير حتى نما

نماك أصل الخير حتى نما

Say to al-Husayn ibn Ali—and

Say to Hussein bin Ali, from whom

goodness's root brought you forth only after it flourished:

The origin of good grew until it grew

أدّيت عنهم فاحتبت روضةٌ

أدّيت عنهم فاحتبت روضةٌ

تنبت بالنضرة فضلَ الحيا

تنبت بالنضرة فضلَ الحيا

You discharged their duty; a meadow wrapped itself,

I repaid on their behalf so a meadow loved me

bringing forth, in freshness, the bounty of rain.

Growing in prosperity the merit of life

مناقبٌ يجمعنا مجدها

مناقبٌ يجمعنا مجدها

جمعَ العُرَى في عُقَدات الرِّشا

جمعَ العُرَى في عُقَدات الرِّشا

Noble deeds whose glory binds us together,

Virtues that unite us, their glory

as loops are bound in the knots of well-ropes.

Unites necklaces in knots of pearls

لذاك ما ظُلِّل لي واسعٌ

لذاك ما ظُلِّل لي واسعٌ

أرتُع منه آمناً في حِمَى

أرتُع منه آمناً في حِمَى

For that reason a spacious shelter was spread for me,

For that reason an expanse has been shaded for me

where I graze safely within a preserve.

Where I graze safely in protected grounds

كأنني في دُوركم منكمُ

كأنني في دُوركم منكمُ

في غير ما يُحْظَر أو يُحْتَمى

في غير ما يُحْظَر أو يُحْتَمى

As though in your houses I were one of you,

As if I am one of you within your homes

in everything not forbidden or reserved.

Without transgressing sanctity or duty

في نعمةٍ منكم إذا أستُكْثَرِتْ

في نعمةٍ منكم إذا أستُكْثَرِتْ

منها الفُرادَى أعقبتها الثِّنَى

منها الفُرادَى أعقبتها الثِّنَى

Amid bounty from you, whenever thought abundant,

In a blessing from you - when I am allowed more

its single gifts are followed by pairs.

Than enough, it is followed by a pair

يحسدني الناسُ عليها ولو

يحسدني الناسُ عليها ولو

قطَّعنى حاسُدها ما أعتدى

قطَّعنى حاسُدها ما أعتدى

People envy me for it; even if

People envy me it though if

one who envies it cut me to pieces, he would not overstep.

My envier cut me up, I would not care

نشرتُها شكرا ولو أنني

نشرتُها شكرا ولو أنني

طويتُها نَّمتْ نميمَ الصَّبا

طويتُها نَّمتْ نميمَ الصَّبا

I spread it abroad in thanks; even if I

I spread it in thanks, and even if I

folded it away, it would tell tales like the east wind.

Folded it, it would spawn the gossip of morning

فلتبقَ لي أنت فحّقاً إذا

فلتبقَ لي أنت فحّقاً إذا

وجدت قولي لا عدمتُ المنَى

وجدت قولي لا عدمتُ المنَى

May you remain for me; for then, indeed,

So let it remain for me, and truly when

I find my words true: may I never lack my wishes.

I find my words, I will not lack wishes

في نعمةٍ ليست بعاريَّةٍ

في نعمةٍ ليست بعاريَّةٍ

تُضْمَن أو مقروضةٍ تُقْتَضَى

تُضْمَن أو مقروضةٍ تُقْتَضَى

Amid bounty that is no borrowed thing,

In a blessing that is no temporary favor

requiring surety, nor a loan to be repaid.

That is guaranteed or loaned then sought

يَعضُد فيها العامُ ما قبلَهُ

يَعضُد فيها العامُ ما قبلَهُ

ويفضُل اليومَ أخوه غدا

ويفضُل اليومَ أخوه غدا

Each year strengthens what came before in it,

In it this year supports last year

and tomorrow, today's brother, surpasses today.

And today exceeds yesterday's morrow

في كلّ يومٍ لك عيدٌ فما

في كلّ يومٍ لك عيدٌ فما

يغرب في عينيك عيدٌ أتى

يغرب في عينيك عيدٌ أتى

Every day holds a feast for you, so no

Every day you have a feast, so never

feast that comes ever sets before your eyes.

Does a passed feast set in your eyes

وخذ من الأضحى بسهميك من

وخذ من الأضحى بسهميك من

حظَّيْن في آخرة أو دُنَى

حظَّيْن في آخرة أو دُنَى

And take from al-Adha, with your two lot-arrows,

And take from the Eid sacrifice my share of

two shares of fortune, in the hereafter or this world.

Two portions - in the hereafter or here below

أجرك مذخورٌ لِهَاذَاكَ وال

أجرك مذخورٌ لِهَاذَاكَ وال

نَّيروزُ موفورٌ على حفظِ ذا

نَّيروزُ موفورٌ على حفظِ ذا

Your reward is stored up for that world, and

Your reward is stored for that future, and

Nowruz is bountiful, while this world's share is preserved,

Continuous celebration is upon preserving this one

ما طِيفَ بالأستار في مثلِهِ

ما طِيفَ بالأستار في مثلِهِ

ودامتِ المَروةُ أختَ الصَّفا

ودامتِ المَروةُ أختَ الصَّفا

as long as the veils are circled on days like this,

The Pleiades have not risen during its like

and al-Marwah remains the sister of al-Safa.

And the station of Marwah has lasted, sister of Safa