لعلَّهم لو وقفوا

لعلَّهم لو وقفوا

أبلَّ هذا المدنَفُ

أبلَّ هذا المدنَفُ

Perhaps, had they halted,

Perhaps if they had stopped,

this wasted sufferer would have recovered.

this slanderer would have desisted,

قالوا غداً وعدُ النوى

قالوا غداً وعدُ النوى

يا بردَها لو لم يفُوا

يا بردَها لو لم يفُوا

They said, “Tomorrow is parting's appointed time.”

and said tomorrow, and intention's promise

How cooling it would have been, had they not kept their word!

O how cold it would be if they had not been treacherous!

فاستنفروا وأجمعوا

فاستنفروا وأجمعوا

واستنظروا وأخلفوا

واستنظروا وأخلفوا

So they stirred to leave and resolved,

So they were provoked and gathered,

sought a delay, then broke their promise.

and waited and were remiss.

تسرّع الناجي الحشا

تسرّع الناجي الحشا

وجعجعَ المكلَّفُ

وجعجعَ المكلَّفُ

The one whose heart was unscathed hurried,

The survivor made haste

while the love-burdened one was held back.

and the appointed clamoured,

ثم استوى على النوى ال

ثم استوى على النوى ال

سابقُ والمخلَّفُ

سابقُ والمخلَّفُ

Then separation made equals of

Then they kissed and wiped over,

the one ahead and the one left behind.

and rolled in the dust and circumambulated.

هل أنت يا قلبُ معي

هل أنت يا قلبُ معي

أو معَهم منصرِفُ

أو معَهم منصرِفُ

Are you, my heart, with me,

Verily the perfection of kingdom is from

or departing with them?

the injustice of nights being equitable,

قل لهُمُ عن جسدي

قل لهُمُ عن جسدي

إن سألوا وأسعفوا

إن سألوا وأسعفوا

Tell them about my body,

And that he and his people

if they ask and offer help:

are the most benevolent of eyes that glance

قفوا على فارطكم

قفوا على فارطكم

يا أيّهذا السلفُ

يا أيّهذا السلفُ

“Halt beside your forerunner,

And he is, in their pride,

O you who have gone ahead!”

a pride for them and an honour,

ما كل سير اليعملا

ما كل سير اليعملا

تِ الغشْمُ والتعجرفُ

تِ الغشْمُ والتعجرفُ

Not every way of driving swift she-camels

Every gloomy cloud is illuminated

is brutality and reckless force.

by his face and dispersed.

تحرّجوا فما دمي

تحرّجوا فما دمي

أنف البعير يرعُفُ

أنف البعير يرعُفُ

Have scruples: my blood is not

And every governor to the ruler

a camel's nose bleeding.

is preoccupied with his name and leaves.

يا سائق الأظعان أر

يا سائق الأظعان أر

وِدْ بعضَ ما تعتسفُ

وِدْ بعضَ ما تعتسفُ

O driver of the camel-litters, ease up

He flew and the bird circles

a little in your harsh driving.

fluttering around him,

فإنّ بين سُوقها

فإنّ بين سُوقها

أفئدةً تُختَطفُ

أفئدةً تُختَطفُ

For between their legs

And it was done - the brilliant one -

lie hearts being snatched away.

its lights were eclipsed by his lights.

أنتَ على خدورها

أنتَ على خدورها

فارفق بها مستخلَفُ

فارفق بها مستخلَفُ

You have charge of their curtained chambers;

And the judicious king managed

be gentle with them, their entrusted keeper.

his view that examines.

وهي على الدرّ الذي

وهي على الدرّ الذي

أُكِنَّ فيه الصدفُ

أُكِنَّ فيه الصدفُ

They, in turn, guard the pearl in which

So he included in it his justice -

the shell itself lies concealed.

that which sincerity had disseminated.

وفي الركاب بَكرةٌ

وفي الركاب بَكرةٌ

تطولها وتَشرفُ

تطولها وتَشرفُ

Among the riding camels is a young she-camel

He led the difficulties gently,

that overtops them and stands high.

straightening for them and being kind,

تضعُف عن راكبها

تضعُف عن راكبها

فهل تراها تُردَفُ

فهل تراها تُردَفُ

She is too weak to bear her rider;

Until he was balanced on the path

do you think she could carry another behind?

and it inclined, devout.

على النقا المبلول من

على النقا المبلول من

ها غُصُنٌ مهفهفُ

ها غُصُنٌ مهفهفُ

Upon her moistened dune

And he knew the world and what

stands a slender, supple branch.

had aided the one who knew.

مال وقام فاستقا

مال وقام فاستقا

م لامُهُ والألفُ

م لامُهُ والألفُ

It swayed and rose, then straightened—

So his inclination established it -

its lām and its alif.

his education that enlightens.

أورق لو أزفَّ لي

أورق لو أزفَّ لي

ذاك القضيب المخطَفُ

ذاك القضيب المخطَفُ

I would burst into leaf, were led to me

A soul with truth it fortifies

that slender-waisted bough.

and to it, it turns.

آه على ريحانه

آه على ريحانه

لو كان مما يُقطفُ

لو كان مما يُقطفُ

Ah, for its sweet basil—

The world coquets with it

if only it could be plucked!

and it turns away from the world.

سلالةٌ من الهلا

سلالةٌ من الهلا

ل جسمُه المنحَّفُ

ل جسمُه المنحَّفُ

An offshoot of the crescent

It vows, not to trick it,

is its slender body.

its ornate possessions,

يا زمني على الغضا

يا زمني على الغضا

ما أنتَ إلا الأسفُ

ما أنتَ إلا الأسفُ

O my days at al-Ghaḍā,

And a power that holds it back

you are nothing now but regret.

from its glory - chastity.

لهفي عليك ماضياً

لهفي عليك ماضياً

لو ردّك التأسُّفُ

لو ردّك التأسُّفُ

How I yearn for you, now past—

And tranquility calmly filling

if only regret could bring you back!

while it bleeds out.

قد كنتُ في ظلّك لا

قد كنتُ في ظلّك لا

أخاف ما أُخوَّفُ

أخاف ما أُخوَّفُ

Once, beneath your shade, I did not

The Tigris and Euphrates or

fear what I was threatened with.

shawls for it and kerchiefs.

وأنت والشبابُ لي

وأنت والشبابُ لي

خميلةٌ ومُطرَفُ

خميلةٌ ومُطرَفُ

You and youth were, for me,

It would be pure white if it flowed with it -

a leafy grove and a bordered cloak.

it would not say "I am wasteful."

ولِدَتي على المها

ولِدَتي على المها

بينكما تَصرَّفُ

بينكما تَصرَّفُ

And my age-peer, among the oryx,

And a nature like water - no,

ranged freely between you both.

like a flash of lightning that is sipped.

فبنتما وصوّحتْ

فبنتما وصوّحتْ

روضةُ عيشي الأنُفُ

روضةُ عيشي الأنُفُ

Then you both departed, and withered

It intoxicates soberly -

the fresh meadow of my life.

if grape juice intoxicates you.

فاليوم كلّ ناظرٍ

فاليوم كلّ ناظرٍ

يُرمَدُ لي أو يُطرَفُ

يُرمَدُ لي أو يُطرَفُ

So today every watching eye

Exalted above description - none

grows sore for me, or is struck.

can do it justice, who describes it.

تلفَّتتْ ذاتُ اللمى

تلفَّتتْ ذاتُ اللمى

عن المنى تنحرفُ

عن المنى تنحرفُ

She of the dusky lips glanced around,

And its sign dazzled -

turning away from hopes.

so the sinner admitted.

فصدَفتْ أمس لها

فصدَفتْ أمس لها

واليوم عنها تصدِفُ

واليوم عنها تصدِفُ

Yesterday she inclined toward them,

The crown consulted it - and afterwards -

but today she turns away.

deafness in its ears.

رأتْ بها ما كرهتْ

رأتْ بها ما كرهتْ

فأنكرتْ ما تعرفُ

فأنكرتْ ما تعرفُ

She saw in them what she disliked,

And the lifespan of past kings

and disowned what she knew.

its new life exceeded.

وهي التي من يدها

وهي التي من يدها

سيفُ عِذاري يُرهفُ

سيفُ عِذاري يُرهفُ

Yet it was her hand that

Verily the one who held the sword

whetted the sword of my cheek-down.

below it was not timid.

لو أنصفت أسودَه

لو أنصفت أسودَه

ما راعها المنصَّفُ

ما راعها المنصَّفُ

Had she done its blackness justice,

You strengthened so you supported it

its half-gray state would not have alarmed her.

and you alone weakened the weakened.

حلفتُ بالمقَصِّري

حلفتُ بالمقَصِّري

ن ركبوا فأوجفوا

ن ركبوا فأوجفوا

I swore by those who cropped their hair,

You protected it from vileness

who mounted and rode swiftly.

while its chest was targeted.

لانوا على العيش وخا

لانوا على العيش وخا

فوا فَوتها فعنفُوا

فوا فَوتها فعنفُوا

They lived in ease, then feared

Ministers under you

missing their chance, and drove hard.

below men stand.

بانوا فطاروا في الرحا

بانوا فطاروا في الرحا

ل شُعُثاً حين حَفوا

ل شُعُثاً حين حَفوا

They departed, flying in their camel-saddles,

You are to it what brings the house close

disheveled when they went barefoot.

or casts it away.

رجَوا لأثقال الذنو

رجَوا لأثقال الذنو

ب ساعةً تخفِّفُ

ب ساعةً تخفِّفُ

They hoped, for their heavy burdens of sin,

Your love ennobles it -

for a moment that would lighten them.

it is excused or it is rebuked.

فاستنفدوا جهدَهُمُ

فاستنفدوا جهدَهُمُ

سارين حتى وقفوا

سارين حتى وقفوا

They spent all their strength,

So why do people seek

journeying by night until they stood.

to connect with it while it splits away?

فلثموا ومسحوا

فلثموا ومسحوا

وجمّروا وطوّفوا

وجمّروا وطوّفوا

Then they kissed and touched,

They tasted so you were lightning

cast pebbles and circled round.

that deceives when it snatches away.

إن كمال الملك من

إن كمال الملك من

جَور الليالي منصفُ

جَور الليالي منصفُ

Indeed, Kamāl al-Mulk brings redress

And the confusion of their palms

against the tyranny of the nights.

pulls it while the hard ground does.

وإنه وقومَهُ

وإنه وقومَهُ

أكرمُ عينٍ تَطرِفُ

أكرمُ عينٍ تَطرِفُ

And he and his people

They returned it so they censured it

are the noblest of all whose eyes blink.

for what they have and deprived it.

وهو على فخرهمُ

وهو على فخرهمُ

فخرٌ لهم وشرَفُ

فخرٌ لهم وشرَفُ

Above their own renown, he is

And it is one they had tried

their boast and their honor.

its defiance and knew it.

أبلجُ كلُّ غُمّةٍ

أبلجُ كلُّ غُمّةٍ

بوجهه تنكشفُ

بوجهه تنكشفُ

Bright-browed: every gloom

It did not become heavy but rather

is dispelled by his face.

you weakened, and they weakened.

وكلّ والٍ للخطو

وكلّ والٍ للخطو

ب باسمه منصرفُ

ب باسمه منصرفُ

And every agent of calamity

You taught people a lesson by

turns away at his name.

running while they stood still.

حلَّق والنسرُ المُطا

حلَّق والنسرُ المُطا

ر حوله يرفرفُ

ر حوله يرفرفُ

He soared, while the flying eagle

And that is what the encumbered

fluttered around him.

human cannot achieve.

وتمَّ فالبيضاءُ عن

وتمَّ فالبيضاءُ عن

أنواره تنكسفُ

أنواره تنكسفُ

He reached perfection; the white orb, before

And how can the arrogant

his radiance, is eclipsed.

deny while they are honored?

ودبّر الملكَ السحي

ودبّر الملكَ السحي

لَ رأيُه المستحصِفُ

لَ رأيُه المستحصِفُ

The loosely spun kingdom was governed

And your glory a mediator -

by his firmly woven judgment.

and all glory is fleeting.

فضمّ منه عدلهُ

فضمّ منه عدلهُ

ما نشرَ التحيُّفُ

ما نشرَ التحيُّفُ

His justice gathered together

With you, my lineage flowed and many

what encroaching wrong had scattered.

feathers of mine gathered.

قاد الصعابَ الحُمسَ يش

قاد الصعابَ الحُمسَ يش

تدّ لها ويلطُفُ

تدّ لها ويلطُفُ

He led the fierce, unruly ones, being

And my name soared flowing

stern with them, yet gentle,

with the winds that blow violently.

حتى استوى على الطري

حتى استوى على الطري

ق وهي مِيلٌ حُنُفُ

ق وهي مِيلٌ حُنُفُ

until he held a straight course on the road,

My back is fortified by you

though they were crooked and bent-footed.

and my side is sheltered.

وعرَفَ الدنيا وما

وعرَفَ الدنيا وما

أعانه معرِّفُ

أعانه معرِّفُ

He knew the world, though no

I befriended you, and the house -

instructor had aided him.

spacious, fertile - unites.

فقد أقام مَيلها

فقد أقام مَيلها

تدبيرُه المثقِّفُ

تدبيرُه المثقِّفُ

Its crookedness was set aright

So my praise of you

by his straightening governance.

focuses beyond other people.

نفسٌ مع الحق تعز

نفسٌ مع الحق تعز

زُ وله تنعطفُ

زُ وله تنعطفُ

A soul that stands strong with truth,

It has blended my passions

and bends toward it.

with serenity that aspires.

تَبرَّجُ الدنيا لها

تَبرَّجُ الدنيا لها

وَهِيَ عنها تعزِفُ

وَهِيَ عنها تعزِفُ

The world displays its finery to it,

For your love has quenched

but it turns away from the world.

the blazing, the streaming.

تُقسِم لا خادعَها

تُقسِم لا خادعَها

مَتاعُها المزخرَفُ

مَتاعُها المزخرَفُ

It swears it shall not be deceived by

You possessed my soul, so I have

the world's ornamented wares.

no escape from you.

وقدرة يحبسها

وقدرة يحبسها

عن شأوها التعفُّفُ

عن شأوها التعفُّفُ

And power held back

And your friendship in it is a place

from its utmost reach by self-restraint.

like my core or finer.

وراحةٌ ركيّة

وراحةٌ ركيّة

تُملأ وهي تُنزفُ

تُملأ وهي تُنزفُ

And a palm that is a well,

So neither faith, my essence in you,

being filled even as it is drained.

nor hopes can heal.

دجلةُ والفرات أو

دجلةُ والفرات أو

شالٌ لها ونُطَفُ

شالٌ لها ونُطَفُ

The Tigris and Euphrates are mere

I will not despair, even if you shun,

trickles and drops beside it.

that you will show kindness.

بيضاءُ لو جاد بها

بيضاءُ لو جاد بها

ما قال إني مسرفُ

ما قال إني مسرفُ

A white palm: were he to give it away,

And the patience of Jacob is with me

he would not say, “I am extravagant.”

until Joseph returns.

وخُلُقٌ كالماء لا

وخُلُقٌ كالماء لا

بل كاللمى يُرتشَفُ

بل كاللمى يُرتشَفُ

And a character like water—no,

There remains upon you what

rather like the sweetness of dusky lips, sipped.

Umm Hudayl called out.

تسكرُ منه صاحياً

تسكرُ منه صاحياً

إن أسكرتك القرقفُ

إن أسكرتك القرقفُ

You grow drunk on it while sober,

And what a Yaum al-Mizdalifa walked,

if wine has ever intoxicated you.

billowing its train and slapping it.

جلَّ عن الوصف فما

جلَّ عن الوصف فما

يُنصفه من يصِفُ

يُنصفه من يصِفُ

He is too great for description, and

Upon it, from the coolness of spring,

no describer does him justice.

its layered wrap.

وبهرتْ آيتُه

وبهرتْ آيتُه

فاعترف المقترفُ

فاعترف المقترفُ

His sign shone dazzlingly,

In a rising of blessing

so even the wrongdoer confessed.

whose descent does not cease.

شاوره التاج وفي

شاوره التاج وفي

أُذْنيه بعدُ الشَّنَفُ

أُذْنيه بعدُ الشَّنَفُ

The crown sought his counsel while

For people are appendages

earrings were still in his ears.

and you are the axis and the equitable.

وفات أسلافَ الكهو

وفات أسلافَ الكهو

ل عمرُه المؤتنفُ

ل عمرُه المؤتنفُ

Even the forebears of old men were surpassed

You were created uniquely in us -

by his newly begun life.

a second to none recognized.

إن الذي استلّك سي

إن الذي استلّك سي

فاً دونه لمرهِفُ

فاً دونه لمرهِفُ

He who drew you forth as a sword

I say without false modesty

to shield himself was surely a fine sword-whetter.

for that statement, and I vow,

قَويتَ فنصرتَه

قَويتَ فنصرتَه

وحدُّك المضعَّفُ

وحدُّك المضعَّفُ

You were strong and came to his aid,

And guarantees, perhaps

with your double-strength edge.

for you a promised time is not missed.

أجننته من الردى

أجننته من الردى

وصدرهُ مستهدفُ

وصدرهُ مستهدفُ

You shielded him from death

Keepsakes from describing you

while his breast lay exposed as a target.

with goods that are recognized.

وزارةٌ عليكُمُ

وزارةٌ عليكُمُ

دون الرجال تقفُ

دون الرجال تقفُ

A vizierate that stays with you

For you they are swords -

to the exclusion of other men.

and they are gifts with you.

أنتم لها ما تقربُ ال

أنتم لها ما تقربُ ال

دار بكم أو تقذِفُ

دار بكم أو تقذِفُ

You are its men, whether the abode

brings you close or casts you far.

يشعفها هواكُمُ

يشعفها هواكُمُ

تُعذَرُ أو تُعنَّفُ

تُعذَرُ أو تُعنَّفُ

Love of you inflames it,

whether it is excused or reproached.

فما لقومٍ يبتغو

فما لقومٍ يبتغو

ن وصلها وتصدِفُ

ن وصلها وتصدِفُ

What, then, of people who seek

its union while it turns away?

شاموا فكنت برقةً

شاموا فكنت برقةً

تخدعُ حين تخطفُ

تخدعُ حين تخطفُ

They watched for lightning, but you were a flash

that deceives at the moment it dazzles.

والتيهُ من أكفّهم

والتيهُ من أكفّهم

يجذبها والصلَفُ

يجذبها والصلَفُ

Pride pulls it from their hands,

and so does conceit.

عادوا بها فعيّفوا

عادوا بها فعيّفوا

بما لهم وأجحفوا

بما لهم وأجحفوا

They returned with it, but made repellent

what was theirs, and brought ruin.

وهي التي قد جرّبوا

وهي التي قد جرّبوا

نشوزَها وعرَفوا

نشوزَها وعرَفوا

It is the one whose rebelliousness

they had already tried and known.

ما ثقُلت وإنما

ما ثقُلت وإنما

قويتُمُ وضعُفوا

قويتُمُ وضعُفوا

It did not grow heavier; rather,

you grew strong while they grew weak.

عبرتم الناس بأن

عبرتم الناس بأن

جريتُمُ ووقفوا

جريتُمُ ووقفوا

You outstripped mankind, since

you kept running while they stopped.

وذاك ما لا يستطي

وذاك ما لا يستطي

عُ البَشَرُ المكلَّفُ

عُ البَشَرُ المكلَّفُ

That is something beyond the power

of mortals burdened with duty.

وكيف لمباهلٍ

وكيف لمباهلٍ

أن نُكِروا ويشرُفوا

أن نُكِروا ويشرُفوا

How could a challenger assert

that those held obscure should rise to honor?

ومجدكم واسطةٌ

ومجدكم واسطةٌ

وكلُّ مجدٍ طرَفُ

وكلُّ مجدٍ طرَفُ

Your glory is the central jewel,

and every other glory an outer bead.

بكم سرى عِرقي وكث

بكم سرى عِرقي وكث

ثَ ريشيَ الملتحَفُ

ثَ ريشيَ الملتحَفُ

Through you my root spread, and thickened

the plumage that cloaks me.

وطار ذكري جارياً

وطار ذكري جارياً

مع الرياح تعصفُ

مع الرياح تعصفُ

My fame took wing, coursing

with the winds as they blow.

ظهري بكم محصَّنٌ

ظهري بكم محصَّنٌ

وجانبي مكنَّفُ

وجانبي مكنَّفُ

My back is fortified by you,

and my flank protected.

ألِفْتُكم والمنزل ال

ألِفْتُكم والمنزل ال

رَحب الخصيبُ يؤلفُ

رَحب الخصيبُ يؤلفُ

I have grown fond of you; a spacious,

fertile dwelling invites affection.

فمِدَحي عليكُمُ

فمِدَحي عليكُمُ

دون الأنام تعكُفُ

دون الأنام تعكُفُ

My praises attend upon you,

to the exclusion of all mankind.

من مُزجت أهواؤه

من مُزجت أهواؤه

بسلوة تكلَّفُ

بسلوة تكلَّفُ

He whose passions are mixed

with forgetfulness has forced himself.

فقد سقا حبَّكم ال

فقد سقا حبَّكم ال

مدَهِّق المصرِّفُ

مدَهِّق المصرِّفُ

For love of you has been poured by

the cup-filler, the dispenser.

ملكتمُ نفسي فما

ملكتمُ نفسي فما

لي عنكُمُ منصرَفُ

لي عنكُمُ منصرَفُ

You possess my soul, and so

I have no turning away from you.

وودّكم منها مكا

وودّكم منها مكا

ن كبدي أو ألطفُ

ن كبدي أو ألطفُ

Love of you holds within it

my liver's place, or somewhere subtler still.

فلا برا وجدي بكم

فلا برا وجدي بكم

ولا أفاق الشعَفُ

ولا أفاق الشعَفُ

May my yearning for you never heal,

nor my passion ever recover!

لست وإن أعرضتُمُ

لست وإن أعرضتُمُ

أيأسُ أن تَعَطَّفُوا

أيأسُ أن تَعَطَّفُوا

Even if you turn away, I do not

despair of your showing kindness again.

وصبر يعقُوبَ معي

وصبر يعقُوبَ معي

حتى يُردَّ يوسفُ

حتى يُردَّ يوسفُ

Jacob's patience is with me

until Joseph is returned.

يبقى عليك ما دَعت

يبقى عليك ما دَعت

أمُّ هديل تَهتفُ

أمُّ هديل تَهتفُ

May it remain yours as long as

Umm Hadīl, the dove, calls out;

وما أهلَّ وسعى

وما أهلَّ وسعى

مزدلِفٌ معرِّفُ

مزدلِفٌ معرِّفُ

and as long as one raises the pilgrim's cry and hastens,

attending Muzdalifah and ʿArafāt;

وما مشى النيروز ير

وما مشى النيروز ير

خي ذيله ويُسدفُ

خي ذيله ويُسدفُ

and as long as Nowruz walks, letting

its train fall, while shade is cast

عليه من بُرد الربي

عليه من بُرد الربي

ع بُردُه المفوَّفُ

ع بُردُه المفوَّفُ

upon it from spring's mantles

by its striped robe;

في طالِع من نعمةٍ

في طالِع من نعمةٍ

أفولُه لا يزِفُ

أفولُه لا يزِفُ

under an ascendant star of blessing

whose setting never draws near.

فالناس أذيالٌ وأن

فالناس أذيالٌ وأن

ت قطبُها والمَنصَفُ

ت قطبُها والمَنصَفُ

For people are trailing skirts, while you

are their pivot and their center.

خُلقتَ فينا واحداً

خُلقتَ فينا واحداً

ثانيه من لا يُعرَفُ

ثانيه من لا يُعرَفُ

You were created unique among us;

your second is one no one knows.

أقول لا محتشماً

أقول لا محتشماً

لقولها وأحلِفُ

لقولها وأحلِفُ

I say it without shame

at saying it, and I swear it.

وضامنات لعلا

وضامنات لعلا

كم موعداً لا يُخلَفُ

كم موعداً لا يُخلَفُ

And verses pledge to your loftiness

a promise never broken,

سوائر من وصفكم

سوائر من وصفكم

بضوعةٍ تَعَرَّفُ

بضوعةٍ تَعَرَّفُ

traveling abroad with your praise,

known by their wafting fragrance.

فهي لكم صوارمٌ

فهي لكم صوارمٌ

وهي لديكم تُحَفُ

وهي لديكم تُحَفُ

They are sharp swords for you,

and treasures in your keeping.