ليلُ السُّرى مثلُ نهارِ المُقامْ

ليلُ السُّرى مثلُ نهارِ المُقامْ

ما خفتَ أن تُظلَمَ أو أن تضامْ

ما خفتَ أن تُظلَمَ أو أن تضامْ

The night of journeying is like the day of staying put,

The night of travel is like the day of staying,

so long as you fear being wronged or oppressed.

You need not fear darkness or compression.

ودون صدر البيت مُرخًى به

ودون صدر البيت مُرخًى به

عليك سِترُ الذلِّ صدرُ الحسامْ

عليك سِترُ الذلِّ صدرُ الحسامْ

Better than a place of honor in a house where

With the house's chest laid open for you,

the veil of abasement hangs over you is the sword's point.

The mantle of disgrace is the breastplate of the sword.

وجانبُ الخفض على لينه

وجانبُ الخفض على لينه

مع الأذى أوطأ منه السِّلامْ

مع الأذى أوطأ منه السِّلامْ

And ease's resting place, for all its softness—

And the side of lowliness in its softness,

with suffering in it, hard stones make a softer bed.

Along with harm, is gentler than peace.

خاطرْ فإمّا عيشةٌ حُرَّةٌ

خاطرْ فإمّا عيشةٌ حُرَّةٌ

يُرغِدُها العزُّ وإمّا الحِمامْ

يُرغِدُها العزُّ وإمّا الحِمامْ

Take a risk: either a free life,

Resolve, for either there is a free life

made comfortable by honor, or death.

Sustained by glory, or there is the dove.

كم تترك الجُمَّةَ مستروياً

كم تترك الجُمَّةَ مستروياً

بنُطفةٍ ليست تَبُلّ الأُوامْ

بنُطفةٍ ليست تَبُلّ الأُوامْ

How long will you forsake the full pool, thinking yourself quenched

How much you leave the loaded water-skins full

by a little water that cannot moisten your burning thirst?

With a sip that does not reach the buckets.

وترهَبُ الإصحار مستبرِداً

وترهَبُ الإصحار مستبرِداً

مع الضحى ظلَّ كسورِ الخيامْ

مع الضحى ظلَّ كسورِ الخيامْ

And fear the open country, seeking coolness

And you frighten the deserts while cooled,

at forenoon in the shade of the tents' side-flaps?

With the dawn a shadow like remnants of tents.

نمتَ ونام الحظّ فافتح له

نمتَ ونام الحظّ فافتح له

جفنَك وانهض فإذا قمت قامْ

جفنَك وانهض فإذا قمت قامْ

You slept, and fortune slept; open for it

You slept while fate was sleeping, so open

your eyelid, and rise: when you rise, it rises.

Your eyelids to it and rise, and when you rise, it rises.

تحتشم التغريرَ والرزقُ في ال

تحتشم التغريرَ والرزقُ في ال

إقدامِ والحرمانُ في الإِحتشامْ

إقدامِ والحرمانُ في الإِحتشامْ

You shrink from risk, yet sustenance lies in

Modesty grasps prosperity and deprivation

bold advance, and deprivation in holding back.

Is in daring; prosperity is in resolve and privation in restraint.

زاحمْ على باب العلا ضاغطا

زاحمْ على باب العلا ضاغطا

لا بدّ أن تدخُلَ بين الزحامْ

لا بدّ أن تدخُلَ بين الزحامْ

Press hard through the crowd at the gate of lofty rank:

Compete at the door of the exalted, pressing,

you must enter amid the throng.

You must enter among the crowds.

رامِ بها الليلَ فما يُسفر ال

رامِ بها الليلَ فما يُسفر ال

نجاحُ إلا عن نقابِ الظَّلامْ

نجاحُ إلا عن نقابِ الظَّلامْ

Shoot at the night with them: success emerges

Seek it by night, for nothing reveals

only from behind darkness's veil,

Success but the veil of darkness.

مَوارقاً عن عُقْل أشطانِها

مَوارقاً عن عُقْل أشطانِها

مروقَ فُوقِ السهم عن قوسِ رامْ

مروقَ فُوقِ السهم عن قوسِ رامْ

darting free of the fetters of their tethers,

Sailing away from the mind of its harbors,

as an arrow's nock flies from an archer's bow.

Cast off above the arrow from the bow of the archer.

لعلَّ حظًّا عُقمتْ هذه ال

لعلَّ حظًّا عُقمتْ هذه ال

أرضُ به يولَدُ بعد العقامْ

أرضُ به يولَدُ بعد العقامْ

Perhaps a fortune of which this

Perhaps this barren earth has failed

earth was barren will be born after barrenness.

To bear for you a fortune that will be born after sterility.

من طلبَ الغايةَ خطواً على

من طلبَ الغايةَ خطواً على

ظهر الهوينا رامَ صعبَ المرامْ

ظهر الهوينا رامَ صعبَ المرامْ

Whoever seeks the goal by stepping upon

Whoever seeks the ultimate step by step

the back of slow ease seeks a difficult prize.

On the back of caprice seeks the difficult aim.

لله مفطورٌ على عزِّه

لله مفطورٌ على عزِّه

أرضعه المجدُ لغير الفِطامْ

أرضعه المجدُ لغير الفِطامْ

How wondrous one born to his own honor,

By his nature disposed to glory,

whom glory suckled never to be weaned!

Suckled by majesty, unweaned.

لا يملِكُ الغِرِّيد إطرابَه

لا يملِكُ الغِرِّيد إطرابَه

شجواً ولا نشوتَه للمدامْ

شجواً ولا نشوتَه للمدامْ

The songster cannot command his delight

The warbler has no control over its trilling

with plaintive song, nor wine his intoxication.

Poignantly or its joy in wine.

ولا تُوازي صدرَه فُرجةٌ

ولا تُوازي صدرَه فُرجةٌ

تساكن الحبّ وتَقرِي الغرامْ

تساكن الحبّ وتَقرِي الغرامْ

Nor is his breast matched by a chamber

Nor does any split match his breast

dwelling with love and giving passion hospitality.

Where love halts and passion dwells.

لولا السُّرى مستضوئاً لم يكن

لولا السُّرى مستضوئاً لم يكن

يرفَع طرفاً لبدور التمامْ

يرفَع طرفاً لبدور التمامْ

Were it not for night travel, seeking light, he would not

Had it not been for the shining night, he would not

raise an eye toward the full moons.

Have lifted an eyelid to the full moons.

ينسيه حَرَّ الغيظ بردُ اللَّمَى

ينسيه حَرَّ الغيظ بردُ اللَّمَى

وجائرَ الحظ اعتدالُ القوامْ

وجائرَ الحظ اعتدالُ القوامْ

The coolness of dark lips makes him forget anger's heat,

The coolness of taunting makes him forget

and a figure's symmetry, fortune's injustice,

The heat of rage, and the justice of fate makes equanimity.

حتى تَرَى بعدَ بطونِ الرُّبَى

حتى تَرَى بعدَ بطونِ الرُّبَى

أبياتَه فوقَ ظهورِ الإكامْ

أبياتَه فوقَ ظهورِ الإكامْ

until, after the hollows of the hills, you see

Until you see after the burdens of ashes

his tents upon the backs of the hillocks.

His verses above the humps of embers.

تحسبُ من صبوته بالعلا

تحسبُ من صبوته بالعلا

وسعيِهِ خلفَ الأمور الجِسامْ

وسعيِهِ خلفَ الأمور الجِسامْ

From his yearning for lofty rank you suppose,

You reckon by his youth and his striving

and his striving after mighty affairs,

For the lofty matters and great undertakings,

أنَّ زعيمَ الدينِ أغراه بال

أنَّ زعيمَ الدينِ أغراه بال

عزة أو علَّمهُ الاِعتزامْ

عزة أو علَّمهُ الاِعتزامْ

that the leader of the faith inspired him with

That the leader of the faith seduced him

honor, or taught him resolve.

With glory or taught him determination.

حدَّثَ بالشاهد من غيبه

حدَّثَ بالشاهد من غيبه

مصدَّقُ الدعوى مزَكَّى الكلامْ

مصدَّقُ الدعوى مزَكَّى الكلامْ

He tells of his hidden self through visible proof,

He spoke of witnesses from his unseen world,

his claim confirmed, his speech vindicated.

Truthful of claim, immaculate of speech.

يريك بالجذوة من فضله

يريك بالجذوة من فضله

ما خلفَها من لهب واضطرامْ

ما خلفَها من لهب واضطرامْ

Through a live ember of his excellence, he shows you

He shows you the embers of his overflowing virtue

the flame and blazing fire behind it.

What flames and combustion lie behind it.

أسرارُ وجهٍ شفَّ عن خُلْقِه

أسرارُ وجهٍ شفَّ عن خُلْقِه

تطلُّعَ الخمرِ وراءَ الفِدَامْ

تطلُّعَ الخمرِ وراءَ الفِدَامْ

The secrets of a face that reveals his character,

The traits of a face that revealed his nature

like wine peering from behind its straining cloth.

Aspiring to wine behind the cupbearer.

وجهٌ ترى البدرَ به مسفرا

وجهٌ ترى البدرَ به مسفرا

وهو هلالٌ لك تحت اللثامْ

وهو هلالٌ لك تحت اللثامْ

A face in which you see the full moon shining,

A face in which you see the full moon shining

though beneath its veil it is a crescent to you.

While it is a crescent concealed from you by the veil.

ماء الحياءِ الرطب والحسنُ في

ماء الحياءِ الرطب والحسنُ في

وجنته ماءٌ وراحٌ وجامْ

وجنته ماءٌ وراحٌ وجامْ

Fresh modesty's dew and beauty in

The moist modesty and beauty in his cheek

his cheek are water, wine, and a goblet.

Are water, spices and wine.

قد كان لو أُفرِجَ عن طُرْقهِ

قد كان لو أُفرِجَ عن طُرْقهِ

منسجماً أو همَّ بالإنسجامْ

منسجماً أو همَّ بالإنسجامْ

Had its channels been opened, it would indeed have been

Were he to devote himself to a kiss in worship,

flowing, or about to flow.

He would pray to it and fast.

لو عكفَ الحسنُ على قِبلةٍ

لو عكفَ الحسنُ على قِبلةٍ

تعبُّدا صلَّى إليه وصامْ

تعبُّدا صلَّى إليه وصامْ

If beauty devoted itself to a direction of prayer,

And a resolve makes easier whatever

it would pray toward him and fast in worship.

Great matters it seeks to diminish.

وهمّةٌ أيسرُ ما ترتقِي

وهمّةٌ أيسرُ ما ترتقِي

إليه تهوينُ الأمورِ العِظامْ

إليه تهوينُ الأمورِ العِظامْ

And an ambition whose easiest height

It trod upon the air and his enviers

is making mighty matters easy.

With the tread of disgrace over coal.

داست به الجوَّ وحسّادَه

داست به الجوَّ وحسّادَه

مَداوسَ الذِّلَة فوق الرَّغامْ

مَداوسَ الذِّلَة فوق الرَّغامْ

It bore him treading the heavens, and trod his enviers

He healed the king when he was sick and healed him

underfoot in abasement upon the dust.

From the lengthy illness of the messengers of frustration.

شفا بها الملكَ وقد شفَّه

شفا بها الملكَ وقد شفَّه

من سُفراء العجزِ طولُ السَّقامْ

من سُفراء العجزِ طولُ السَّقامْ

With it he healed the kingdom, already wasted

His opinions saved him before his day

by long sickness from incapacity's emissaries.

From the thoughts of a rescuing victory, pure and blaming.

كفَته منه قبلَ أيامِهِ

كفَته منه قبلَ أيامِهِ

آراءُ نصرٍ هنُّ بيضٌ ولامْ

آراءُ نصرٍ هنُّ بيضٌ ولامْ

Before his days of action, it was spared that

And he pushed away from himself and denied sitting

by counsels of victory, themselves bright swords and armor.

The decimating misfortunes raging and uprising.

ورَدَّ عنه وادعا قاعدا

ورَدَّ عنه وادعا قاعدا

دُهمَ الخطوب الثائراتِ القيامْ

دُهمَ الخطوب الثائراتِ القيامْ

And, at ease and seated, he repelled from it

And he was counted after his brother and after

dark calamities, raging and rising up.

His brother third, for completeness.

وعُدَّ من بعد أخيه ومن

وعُدَّ من بعد أخيه ومن

بعدِ أخيهِ ثالثا للتّمامْ

بعدِ أخيهِ ثالثا للتّمامْ

After his brother, and after

A means between this and that

his brother, he was reckoned a third, completing the whole.

By which the thread and the system were perfected.

واسطةٌ من بين هذا وذا

واسطةٌ من بين هذا وذا

تكامَلَ السلكُ بها والنّظامْ

تكامَلَ السلكُ بها والنّظامْ

A central jewel between this one and that,

For they are three of equal rank, for every

completing the thread and its ordered necklace.

Ritual of the pilgrimage rites that are performed.

فهم ثلاثُ الخَيفِ في كلِّها

فهم ثلاثُ الخَيفِ في كلِّها

لمنسِكِ الحج فروضٌ تقامْ

لمنسِكِ الحج فروضٌ تقامْ

They are the three of al-Khayf; in each

Ask Ali about his adversary, we are content

the prescribed rites of pilgrimage are performed.

With the witnesses of the contender against him.

سل بعليٍّ خصمَه إننا

سل بعليٍّ خصمَه إننا

نقنَع فيه بشهود الخِصامْ

نقنَع فيه بشهود الخِصامْ

Ask his opponent about Ali: we

He who envies him will inform you that he alone

are content, in his case, with hostile witnesses.

Is this people’s inevitable destiny.

يُخبِرْك من يحسدُه أنه

يُخبِرْك من يحسدُه أنه

ضرورةً واحدُ هذا الأنامْ

ضرورةً واحدُ هذا الأنامْ

Whoever envies him will tell you that he is

A child girded with melancholy, from whom

necessarily unique among all humankind.

No talisman's knot has been untied.

تمنطق السوددَ طفلا وما

تمنطق السوددَ طفلا وما

فُضَّ من العُوذَةِ منه خِتامْ

فُضَّ من العُوذَةِ منه خِتامْ

He girded himself with eminence as a child, before

And to the sublime in his company was born

a seal on his amulet had been broken.

A fiftieth birthing from which he sleeps.

وهبَّ للعلياء في عَشْرِه

وهبَّ للعلياء في عَشْرِه

ولدةُ الخمسينَ عنها يَنامْ

ولدةُ الخمسينَ عنها يَنامْ

He sprang toward lofty rank at ten,

So he passed in his tyranny preceding

while a man of fifty sleeps heedless of it.

While people followed his lead, and he was the imam.

فمرَّ في غَلْوِتِهِ سابقا

فمرَّ في غَلْوِتِهِ سابقا

والناس مأمومون وهو الإمامْ

والناس مأمومون وهو الإمامْ

So he sped ahead in his dash,

And the wind invited while trying to catch him:

the people following, and he their leader.

“Repel him if there is any flaw in him.”

والريحُ تدعو وهي تقتصُّه

والريحُ تدعو وهي تقتصُّه

رُدُّوه إن كان لفيه لجامْ

رُدُّوه إن كان لفيه لجامْ

The wind cries as it follows his track:

O eyes of the people! Look and wonder

'Bring him back, if his mouth has a bridle!'

At the matured glory of this boy.

يا أعيُنَ الناس انظري واعجبي

يا أعيُنَ الناس انظري واعجبي

بذَّ كهولَ المجد هذا الغلامْ

بذَّ كهولَ المجد هذا الغلامْ

O eyes of the people, look and marvel:

He extended to asking while the enemy

this youth has outstripped the elders of glory!

Stretched out two hands to bestowal and vengeance.

مدّ إلى سؤَّاله والعدا

مدّ إلى سؤَّاله والعدا

يَدَيْنِ للإنعام والإنتقامْ

يَدَيْنِ للإنعام والإنتقامْ

He stretched toward his petitioners and enemies

Breaking and mending in a stance

two hands, for bounty and vengeance.

Between extending either of the two and clasping.

والكسرُ والجبرةُ في موقفٍ

والكسرُ والجبرةُ في موقفٍ

ما بين بَسطٍ منهما وانضمامْ

ما بين بَسطٍ منهما وانضمامْ

Breaking and mending stand at a single point,

He gave generously until he left no remainder

between those hands' opening and closing.

For himself, neither sea nor cloud.

وجاد حتى لم يَدعْ فضلةً

وجاد حتى لم يَدعْ فضلةً

عليه للبحر ولا للغمامْ

عليه للبحر ولا للغمامْ

He gave until he left no advantage

He sees the violation of what he preserves

over himself to the sea or the clouds.

Of his abundant wealth as waste of promise and breach of oath.

يَرى لما يحَفظُ من وفره

يَرى لما يحَفظُ من وفره

إضاعةَ العهدِ ونقضَ الذمامْ

إضاعةَ العهدِ ونقضَ الذمامْ

He regards whatever he keeps of his abundance as

As if what of his money has dissolved

betrayal of the pledge and breach of obligation.

And dispersed pleasantly were prohibited to him, illicit.

كأنَّ ما قد حلَّ من ماله

كأنَّ ما قد حلَّ من ماله

وطاب محظورٌ عليه حرامْ

وطاب محظورٌ عليه حرامْ

As though whatever of his wealth is lawful

His critic tempted him into extravagance,

and wholesome were forbidden to him, prohibited.

So he desires whoever asks him to be blamed.

أغراه بالتبذير لُوَّامُه

أغراه بالتبذير لُوَّامُه

فودّ من يسأله أن يُلامْ

فودّ من يسأله أن يُلامْ

His reproachers incited him to lavish spending,

May he who opposes your heights ransom you, if

so his petitioners wished that he be reproached.

The ransom of the generous were the malicious.

يفديك مَن عادى معاليك أن

يفديك مَن عادى معاليك أن

كان فداءَ الكرماءِ اللئامْ

كان فداءَ الكرماءِ اللئامْ

May those who oppose your noble heights ransom you, if

Your slips behind you tax him heavily

the base can serve as ransom for the generous.

While he has not torn the garment of rising.

تُوقِصه خلفَك عَثْراتُه

تُوقِصه خلفَك عَثْراتُه

كبواً وما شقَّ رداءَ القيامْ

كبواً وما شقَّ رداءَ القيامْ

Behind you, his stumbles break his neck

Wielding a paralyzed and loosened sword

in a fall, before he has even rent the cloak of rising.

Not bound by a scabbard.

يذارع الجوّ بمشلولةٍ

يذارع الجوّ بمشلولةٍ

محلولةٍ لم يرتبِطها عِصامْ

محلولةٍ لم يرتبِطها عِصامْ

He measures the sky with a palsied hand,

Sheathing it randomly, he who drew it

hanging loose, with no strap to bind it.

And could not strike a decisive blow.

يُغمِدها من حيث سُلَّتْ ومَن

يُغمِدها من حيث سُلَّتْ ومَن

سلَّ ولم يقدِر على الضرب شامْ

سلَّ ولم يقدِر على الضرب شامْ

He sheathes it where it was drawn; whoever

He climbs seeking you while your feet

draws without the power to strike sheathes again.

Are about to descend at the two valleys of Shamam.

يصعَد يبغيك وقد أوشكتْ

يصعَد يبغيك وقد أوشكتْ

رجلاك أن تنزل بابنيْ شَمامْ

رجلاك أن تنزل بابنيْ شَمامْ

He climbs seeking you, while already

You have been blessed with upbringing and my hand has grown long

your feet are about to alight upon the two sons of Shamam.

And produced flesh, furnishing bones.

طابَ بكم تُربِي وطالتْ يدي

طابَ بكم تُربِي وطالتْ يدي

وأنبتتْ لحما أثيثاً عِظامْ

وأنبتتْ لحما أثيثاً عِظامْ

Through you my soil grew sweet and my reach grew long,

And it restored to me in your wealth

and bones put forth abundant flesh.

My dried grapes and baldness after my greying.

وعاودتْني حين أغنيتمُ

وعاودتْني حين أغنيتمُ

بعد مشيبي شِرّتي والعُرَامْ

بعد مشيبي شِرّتي والعُرَامْ

And when you enriched me, there returned to me,

So receive it as a delightful foal

after my graying, my vigor and unruliness.

With congratulations and joyous faces.

فاستقبِلوها غُرَراً طَلْقةً

فاستقبِلوها غُرَراً طَلْقةً

مع التهاني ووجوهاً وِسامْ

مع التهاني ووجوهاً وِسامْ

So welcome them as bright, smiling brows,

Beautiful of face whenever she calls

with congratulations, and as handsome faces,

Men from behind the curtain.

بارزةَ الحسن لكم كلَّما

بارزةَ الحسن لكم كلَّما

نادتْ رجالا من وراء الفِدامْ

نادتْ رجالا من وراء الفِدامْ

their beauty unveiled for you whenever

Generous men have allied me through you

they call to men from behind the mouth-veil.

To her unmarriageable ones, noble men.

كرائما صاهرني منكُمُ

كرائما صاهرني منكُمُ

على عَذْاراها رجالٌ كرامْ

على عَذْاراها رجالٌ كرامْ

Noble maidens: men from among you became my kin

When the distinguished women complain of woe

through her virgin brides—men of noble birth.

For them through you is lasting bliss.

إذا المَهيرات شكونَ الشَّقا

إذا المَهيرات شكونَ الشَّقا

طاب لها فيكم نعيمٌ ودامْ

طاب لها فيكم نعيمٌ ودامْ

When dowried brides complain of hardship,

Proceeding freely, her forearms not confined

they find pleasant, lasting bliss among you.

By form nor her tresses restrained by headband.

سائرة لم يعتقل رُسغَها

سائرة لم يعتقل رُسغَها

شُكل ولم يحبِس طُلالا زِمامْ

شُكل ولم يحبِس طُلالا زِمامْ

Traveling on, their fetlock has not been bound

She left no distance between Nejd and familiarity

by hobbles, nor their forms restrained by a rein.

Nor abandoned Iraq for Syria.

لم تترك الغورَ لنجدٍ مع ال

لم تترك الغورَ لنجدٍ مع ال

إلف ولم تهجر عراقاً لشامْ

إلف ولم تهجر عراقاً لشامْ

They have not left the Ghawr for Najd with the

Birds with you while ostriches in your company

beloved, nor abandoned Iraq for Sham.

And caravans with ostrich chicks.

مع النُّعامى طائرات بكم

مع النُّعامى طائرات بكم

وجافلات معَ طَردِ النَّعامْ

وجافلات معَ طَردِ النَّعامْ

Flying with the south wind, carrying you,

Your reputations in the folds of whatever

and rushing with the chase of ostriches.

The docile camel carried are for a gentle people.

أعراضُكم في طيّ ما حمّلتْ

أعراضُكم في طيّ ما حمّلتْ

لطائمٌ وهي لقوم لِطامْ

لطائمٌ وهي لقوم لِطامْ

Your honors, enfolded in what they carry,

Remnants of the ornaments of your accounts

are perfume-laden caravans; to some, they are slaps.

As long as chokers are the adornment of the doves.

بواقيا حليةَ أحسابكم

بواقيا حليةَ أحسابكم

ما دامت الأطواقُ حَلْيَ الحَمامْ

ما دامت الأطواقُ حَلْيَ الحَمامْ

Enduring as adornment to your ancestral honors,

The Nayrouz has not served the ascent of you

as long as collars remain the ornament of doves.

For which it is a bracelet or handmaidens.

ما خدَم النيروزُ إقبالَكم

ما خدَم النيروزُ إقبالَكم

فهي لها أسورة أو خِدامْ

فهي لها أسورة أو خِدامْ

As long as Nowruz attends your prosperity,

A day of the year but in your state

they are bracelets or anklets for those honors.

It turns a thousand years.

يومٌ من العام ولكنَّه

يومٌ من العام ولكنَّه

يكُرُّ في دولتكم ألفَ عامْ

يكُرُّ في دولتكم ألفَ عامْ

It is one day of the year, but

in your reign it returns for a thousand years.