نعم هذه يا دهرُ أمُّ المصائبِ

نعم هذه يا دهرُ أمُّ المصائبِ

فلا تُوعِدَنِّي بعدَها بالنوائبِ

فلا تُوعِدَنِّي بعدَها بالنوائبِ

Yes, this, O Time, is the mother of calamities.

Yes, O Time, this is the mother of misfortunes,

Do not threaten me with misfortunes after this.

So do not threaten me after it with tribulations.

هتكتَ بها سِتر التجامُلِ بيننا

هتكتَ بها سِتر التجامُلِ بيننا

ولم تلتفت فينا لِبُقْيَا المُراقبِ

ولم تلتفت فينا لِبُقْيَا المُراقبِ

With it you tore the veil of courtesy between us,

It tore the veil of pretense between us,

Nor showed us the restraint of one who takes heed.

And did not care for the remnant of the watchers.

وما زلت ترمي صفحتي بين عاصدٍ

وما زلت ترمي صفحتي بين عاصدٍ

ومنحرفٍ حتى رَمَيْتَ بصائبِ

ومنحرفٍ حتى رَمَيْتَ بصائبِ

You kept shooting at my side, now with a wayward arrow,

You still cast my forehead between a foe

Now a swerving one, until you shot one true to its mark.

And a deviant, until you cast your arrows.

فرأيَكَ في قَوْدي فقد ذلَّ مِسْحَلي

فرأيَكَ في قَوْدي فقد ذلَّ مِسْحَلي

وشأنَكَ في غمزِي فقد لان جانبي

وشأنَكَ في غمزِي فقد لان جانبي

So lead me as you see fit: my bridle-bit has yielded.

So your view of my chin has weakened my fortitude,

And press me as you will: my side has softened.

And your wink at my side has bent my posture.

ولا تحسَبنِّي باسطاً يدَ دافعٍ

ولا تحسَبنِّي باسطاً يدَ دافعٍ

ولا فاتحاً من بعدها فَمَ عاتبِ

ولا فاتحاً من بعدها فَمَ عاتبِ

Do not think I shall stretch out a defender's hand,

Do not reckon me as one extending a defense hand,

Or open a reproacher's mouth after this,

Nor opening a mouth of reproach thereafter.

ولا مُسبِغاً فَضفاضةً أبتغي بها

ولا مُسبِغاً فَضفاضةً أبتغي بها

شَبَا طاعنٍ من حادثاتك ضاربِ

شَبَا طاعنٍ من حادثاتك ضاربِ

Or don ample armor in which to confront

Nor one whitewashing hypocrisy through which I hope

The sharp points of a thrusting, striking assailant from your calamities.

To appease a slanderous critic striking me.

لها كنتُ أستبقي الحياةَ وأحتمي

لها كنتُ أستبقي الحياةَ وأحتمي

وأجمعُ بُرْدِي من أكفِّ الجواذبِ

وأجمعُ بُرْدِي من أكفِّ الجواذبِ

For this I had preserved my life and sought shelter,

For it I used to preserve life and take cover,

And gathered my cloak away from tugging hands.

And gather my composure from grabbing hands.

وَلَجتَ رُواقَ العزّ حتى اقتحمتَهُ

وَلَجتَ رُواقَ العزّ حتى اقتحمتَهُ

بلا وازعٍ عنه ولا ردِّ حاجبِ

بلا وازعٍ عنه ولا ردِّ حاجبِ

You entered the pavilion of glory until you stormed it,

You penetrated the courtyard of glory until you stormed it

With none to restrain you, no doorkeeper to repel you.

Without restraint or frown of an eyebrow.

وأنشبتَ في صمَّاءَ عهدي بمتنها

وأنشبتَ في صمَّاءَ عهدي بمتنها

صفيقَ المَطَا زَلِيقة بالمخالبِ

صفيقَ المَطَا زَلِيقة بالمخالبِ

And sank your claws into solid rock whose surface I had known

And you planted in the deafness of my era with its body

As stout-backed and too slippery for claws.

The neighing of the horses slipping with their claws.

سددتَ طريقَ الفضلِ من كلِ وجهةٍ

سددتَ طريقَ الفضلِ من كلِ وجهةٍ

وملتَ على العلياء من كلّ جانبِ

وملتَ على العلياء من كلّ جانبِ

You blocked the path of excellence from every direction,

You blocked the path of glory from every direction

And assailed eminence from every side.

And turned against the noble from all sides.

فلا سَنَنٌ إلا محجَّةُ تائِهٍ

فلا سَنَنٌ إلا محجَّةُ تائِهٍ

ولا أملٌ إلا مطيَّةُ خائبِ

ولا أملٌ إلا مطيَّةُ خائبِ

There is no course except a lost man's road,

So no precedents remain except those of a lost one,

And no hope except a disappointed man's mount.

And no hope except that of a disappointed rider.

أَبعدَ ابنِ عبدِ اللهِ أحظَى براجعٍ

أَبعدَ ابنِ عبدِ اللهِ أحظَى براجعٍ

من العيش أو آسَى على إثْر ذاهبِ

من العيش أو آسَى على إثْر ذاهبِ

After Ibn Abd Allah, shall I enjoy any returning share

After the son of Abdullah, who found a returnee

Of life, or grieve over the trace of one departing?

From life or grieved over a departed one?

وأُرسِلُ طَرفي رائداً في خميلةٍ

وأُرسِلُ طَرفي رائداً في خميلةٍ

من الناسِ أبغي نُجعةً لمطَالبي

من الناسِ أبغي نُجعةً لمطَالبي

And send my gaze scouting through a thicket

I send my gaze ahead as a scout in yearning

Of people, seeking pasture for my desires?

For people from whom I want relief for my needs.

وأقدحُ زَنداً وارياً من هَوَى أخٍ

وأقدحُ زَنداً وارياً من هَوَى أخٍ

وأكشفُ عن ودٍّ خبيئةَ صاحبِ

وأكشفُ عن ودٍّ خبيئةَ صاحبِ

And strike a kindling fire-stick from a brother's affection,

I strike a burning match of love for a brother

And uncover a friend's hidden store of love?

And reveal the hidden affection of a companion.

وأدفعُ في صدرِ الليالي بمثلِهِ

وأدفعُ في صدرِ الليالي بمثلِهِ

فتَرجِعَ عنّي دامياتِ المناكبِ

فتَرجِعَ عنّي دامياتِ المناكبِ

And thrust against the breast of nights with one like him,

I plunge into the darkness of nights with their like,

So they recoil from me with bloodied shoulders?

So they turn away from me, continuously winking.

أَبَى ذاك قلبٌ عنه غيرُ مُغالطٍ

أَبَى ذاك قلبٌ عنه غيرُ مُغالطٍ

برجمٍ وحلمٌ بعدَهُ غيرُ عازبِ

برجمٍ وحلمٌ بعدَهُ غيرُ عازبِ

A heart refuses this, not deceiving itself about him

That heart refused save sincere, gentle patience,

Through conjecture, and a judgment not astray after him.

And forbearance after it, never harsh nor withdrawn.

وأنَّ خُروقَ المجدِ ليستْ لراقع

وأنَّ خُروقَ المجدِ ليستْ لراقع

سوَاه وصدعَ الجودِ ليس لشاعبِ

سوَاه وصدعَ الجودِ ليس لشاعبِ

And glory's rents have no mender

That the wounds of glory are not for a mender

Other than him, nor generosity's breach any healer.

Other than him, nor the cracks of generosity for a measurer.

طَوَى الموتُ منه بُردةً في دُروجها

طَوَى الموتُ منه بُردةً في دُروجها

بقيَّةُ أيامِ الكرامِ الأطايبِ

بقيَّةُ أيامِ الكرامِ الأطايبِ

Death folded away in him a cloak within whose folds

Death folded from it a cloak in whose luxury

Lay the remaining days of the noble and good.

Remained the most fragrant days of generous lives.

مُحَبَّرةً سَدَّى وألحمَ وَشْيَها

مُحَبَّرةً سَدَّى وألحمَ وَشْيَها

صَنَاعٌ بحَوْك المكرماتِ الرغائبِ

صَنَاعٌ بحَوْك المكرماتِ الرغائبِ

Richly embroidered, its pattern was warped and wefted

It clothed eminence when the days smiled upon it,

By an artisan skilled in weaving prized noble deeds.

But when they transgressed, the hand of a depriver seized it.

كسا اللهُ عِطفَ الدهرِ حيناً جمالَها

كسا اللهُ عِطفَ الدهرِ حيناً جمالَها

فلما طغى قِيضَتْ لها يَدُ سالبِ

فلما طغى قِيضَتْ لها يَدُ سالبِ

For a while God clothed Time's shoulder in its beauty;

If the lines have been erased from it, its enduring renown

Then, when Time rebelled, a plunderer's hand was appointed for it.

Will remain for long in the starry horizons.

لئن دَرَسَتْ منها الخُطوطُ فإنه

لئن دَرَسَتْ منها الخُطوطُ فإنه

لَيبْقَى طويلاً عَرفُها في المَساحبِ

لَيبْقَى طويلاً عَرفُها في المَساحبِ

Even if its patterns have been effaced,

It was a unique pearl among people,

Its fragrance will long remain in the trailing hems.

Is there a brother for the full moon among planets?

وجوهرةً في الناس كانت يتيمةً

وجوهرةً في الناس كانت يتيمةً

وهل من أخٍ للبدرِ بين الكواكبِ

وهل من أخٍ للبدرِ بين الكواكبِ

And a jewel among people, a solitary gem—

Beauty refused to be bound by a composer’s necklace

Does the full moon have a brother among the stars?

Or to be crowned for it with the crown of a binding fillet.

أَبَى الحُسْنُ أن يحبَى بها عِقدُ ناظمٍ

أَبَى الحُسْنُ أن يحبَى بها عِقدُ ناظمٍ

فتُسلَكَ أو يسمو لها تاجُ عاصبِ

فتُسلَكَ أو يسمو لها تاجُ عاصبِ

Beauty refused to gift it to a stringer's necklace,

So the hand of a breaker stretched out to it

To be threaded, or let a wearer's crown aspire to it.

While glory used to protect it from a piercing hand.

فمُدَّتْ إليها بالردى يَدُ كاسرٍ

فمُدَّتْ إليها بالردى يَدُ كاسرٍ

وكان يقيها المجدُ من يد ثاقبِ

وكان يقيها المجدُ من يد ثاقبِ

So a shatterer's hand reached toward it with death,

Ask death, did it keep in it any resentment

Though glory had protected it from a piercer's hand.

For which it took revenge, continuously seeking me?

سل الموتَ هل أودعتهُ من ضغينةٍ

سل الموتَ هل أودعتهُ من ضغينةٍ

تَنَقَّمَ منها فهو بالوِتر طالبي

تَنَقَّمَ منها فهو بالوِتر طالبي

Ask Death whether I lodged some rancor in him

Every day around my enclosure it has a raid

That he resents, and so pursues me for a blood-debt.

In which it scatters, striking the brilliant stars.

له كلَّ يومٍ حولَ سَرحِيَ غارةٌ

له كلَّ يومٍ حولَ سَرحِيَ غارةٌ

يشرِّد فيها بالصفايا النجائبِ

يشرِّد فيها بالصفايا النجائبِ

Each day he launches a raid around my grazing herd,

The elite of my brothers, the choicest of my siblings,

Driving away its choicest, highbred beasts.

The best of my loved ones, and all of my relatives.

سُلافةُ إخواني وصفوةُ إخوتي

سُلافةُ إخواني وصفوةُ إخوتي

ونُخبةُ أحبابي وجُلُّ قرائبي

ونُخبةُ أحبابي وجُلُّ قرائبي

The finest of my companions, the choicest of my brothers,

I wish it would pardon Ahmad, who ransomed him

The pick of my loved ones, and the greater part of my kin.

With a spearhead of what I had gained and sought.

فَليتَ عفا عن أحمدٍ فادياً له

فَليتَ عفا عن أحمدٍ فادياً له

بمُصرمةٍ مما اقتنيتُ وحالبِ

بمُصرمةٍ مما اقتنيتُ وحالبِ

If only he had spared Ahmad, accepting his ransom

Now when its love strengthened my resolve

In dry and milk-yielding stock from what I owned.

And its help came as complete fulfillment of my needs.

أألآن لمّا اشتدّ مَتْنِي بودّه

أألآن لمّا اشتدّ مَتْنِي بودّه

وردّت مِلاءً من نَداه حَقائبي

وردّت مِلاءً من نَداه حَقائبي

Is it now—when my back had grown strong through his love,

And its downpours filled the thirsty meadows of my hopes,

And my bags had returned filled with his bounty,

While they had been empty of drinking places.

وجَمَّتْ لآمالي العطاشِ حِياضُهُ

وجَمَّتْ لآمالي العطاشِ حِياضُهُ

وكانت تُخلَّى عن نِطافِ المَشاربِ

وكانت تُخلَّى عن نِطافِ المَشاربِ

And his pools had brimmed for my thirsty hopes,

I was shocked by it when love was freshly plucked

Hopes once denied the waters of drinking-places—

The new shirt of affection, easy to grasp.

فُجِعتُ به غَضَّ الهوى حاضرَ الجَدَى

فُجِعتُ به غَضَّ الهوى حاضرَ الجَدَى

جديدَ قميصِ الودّ سَهْلَ المَجَاذب

جديدَ قميصِ الودّ سَهْلَ المَجَاذب

That I was bereaved of him, his affection fresh, his bounty at hand,

It is as if I had just attached myself to it

His shirt of friendship new, easy at every tug?

Through my long experience or old trials.

كأني على العهدِ القريبِ اعتلقتُهُ

كأني على العهدِ القريبِ اعتلقتُهُ

بطُولِ اختباري أو قديم تَجاربي

بطُولِ اختباري أو قديم تَجاربي

As though, despite our recent bond, I had attached myself to him

I covered the mouth of the grieving lamenter with my palm,

Through long testing or old experience.

And turned my face away from it, refusing to address it.

سدَدتُ فَمَ الناعِي بكفِّي تطيرُّاً

سدَدتُ فَمَ الناعِي بكفِّي تطيرُّاً

ولوَّيتُ وجهي عنه لَيَّ مُغاضِبِ

ولوَّيتُ وجهي عنه لَيَّ مُغاضِبِ

I stopped the death-announcer's mouth with my palm, fearing an ill omen,

And I said, clarify what you are saying, perhaps

And turned my face from him as an angry man turns.

It will be like those untrue rumors.

وقلتُ تبيَّنْ ما تقولُ لعلَّها

وقلتُ تبيَّنْ ما تقولُ لعلَّها

تكون كتلك الطائراتِ الكواذبِ

تكون كتلك الطائراتِ الكواذبِ

And said, 'Make sure of what you say; perhaps it

How often has a cloud passed over its news, then

Is like those flying, lying rumors.'

Its cover cleared up to show the soundness of affairs!

فكم غامَ من أخباره ثم أقشعتْ

فكم غامَ من أخباره ثم أقشعتْ

سحابتهُ عن صالحِ الحالِ ثائبِ

سحابتهُ عن صالحِ الحالِ ثائبِ

How often a report of him grew cloudy; then there lifted

But when evil appeared to me in the marrow of its talk,

Its cloud, revealing him restored to good health.

I girded my ribs with patience.

فلمّا بدا لِي الشرُّ في كَرِّ قوله

فلمّا بدا لِي الشرُّ في كَرِّ قوله

ربطتُ نَوازِي أضلعي بالرواجِبِ

ربطتُ نَوازِي أضلعي بالرواجِبِ

When the evil became plain to me in his repeated words,

And I inclined toward the shadow of a barren,

I bound my leaping ribs with my finger-joints.

Brief patience, and a pretense of calm, lying.

ومِلتُ إلى ظِلٍّ من الصبر قالصٍ

ومِلتُ إلى ظِلٍّ من الصبر قالصٍ

قصيرٍ وظَنٍّ بالتجمُّلِ كاذبِ

قصيرٍ وظَنٍّ بالتجمُّلِ كاذبِ

And turned toward a shrinking shade of patience,

And a serene soul whose dignity

Brief, and a false expectation of composure,

Had violated its composure in trying events.

ونفْسٍ شَعاعٍ قد أخلَّ وقارُها

ونفْسٍ شَعاعٍ قد أخلَّ وقارُها

بعادتِهِ في النازلاتِ الصعائبِ

بعادتِهِ في النازلاتِ الصعائبِ

And a scattered soul whose dignity had failed

And an eye whose lid grief, strange, had swollen,

To keep its accustomed manner amid grievous calamities,

So it flowed away, lost in strange tears.

وعينٍ هَفَا الحزنُ الغريبُ بجفنها

وعينٍ هَفَا الحزنُ الغريبُ بجفنها

فطاحَ ضياعاً في الدموعِ الغرائبِ

فطاحَ ضياعاً في الدموعِ الغرائبِ

And an eye whose lid unfamiliar grief had swept away,

I ask glory about it, and it has stopped,

So it fell, lost amid unaccustomed tears.

Like the dumb being asked about a vanished companion.

أُسائلُ عنه المجدَ وهو معطَّلٌ

أُسائلُ عنه المجدَ وهو معطَّلٌ

سؤالَ الأجبِّ عن سَنامٍ وغاربِ

سؤالَ الأجبِّ عن سَنامٍ وغاربِ

I question glory about him, glory now stripped bare,

And I take comfort from the news, and it distresses me,

As a humpless camel asks about a hump and withers.

Afflicted as I follow its trailing consequences.

وأستروحُ الأخبارَ وهي تسوءني

وأستروحُ الأخبارَ وهي تسوءني

علائقَ منها في ذيولِ الجنائبِ

علائقَ منها في ذيولِ الجنائبِ

And seek relief in tidings, though they grieve me—

So it clarifies what it had been ambiguous about,

Scraps of them caught in the tails of led mounts.

And affirms to me what I had doubted.

فيُفصِحُ لي ما كان عنه مُجَمْجِماً

فيُفصِحُ لي ما كان عنه مُجَمْجِماً

ويصدُقُني ما كان عنه مُواربي

ويصدُقُني ما كان عنه مُواربي

What had muttered indistinctly about him now speaks plainly to me,

A leader balanced when absent in his death

And what had evaded me about him now tells me the truth.

Are the horizons of the world from east to west.

فَقِيدٌ بميْسانَ استوت في افتقاده

فَقِيدٌ بميْسانَ استوت في افتقاده

مَشارقُ آفاق العُلا بالمغاربِ

مَشارقُ آفاق العُلا بالمغاربِ

One lost in Maysan: in losing him, there became equal

Generosity and shame were fettered,

The eastern and western horizons of eminence.

Two lame ones in earth piled atop each other.

وقِيدَ الحياءُ والسماحُ فأُرْجِلا

وقِيدَ الحياءُ والسماحُ فأُرْجِلا

عَقيريْنِ في تُرْبٍ له مُتراكبِ

عَقيريْنِ في تُرْبٍ له مُتراكبِ

And modesty and generosity were led away, then made to dismount,

His blamers breathe the sparks of rancor,

Both slain in the earth heaped over him.

As if my heart were in the throats of howling wolves.

تُنافِثُ عن جمرِ الغضا نادِباتُهُ

تُنافِثُ عن جمرِ الغضا نادِباتُهُ

كأنّ فؤادي في حُلوقِ النَّوادبِ

كأنّ فؤادي في حُلوقِ النَّوادبِ

His mourning women breathe forth the heat of ghada embers,

They shed white tears and clawed their foreheads,

As if my heart were in the throats of the mourners.

You would think they cried blood with their eyebrows.

بكتْ أدمعاً بِيضاً ودمَّتْ جِباهَها

بكتْ أدمعاً بِيضاً ودمَّتْ جِباهَها

فتحسَبُها تَبكي دَماً بالحواجبِ

فتحسَبُها تَبكي دَماً بالحواجبِ

They wept clear tears and bloodied their foreheads,

The lofty plateau of continuous glory collapsed,

So you would think their brows were weeping blood.

The customs of dew were abolished, the star of planets vanished.

هوتْ هَضْبةُ المجدِ التليدِ وعُطِّلتْ

هوتْ هَضْبةُ المجدِ التليدِ وعُطِّلتْ

رسومُ الندَى وانقضَّ نجمُ الكواكبِ

رسومُ الندَى وانقضَّ نجمُ الكواكبِ

The hill of ancient glory fell, and forsaken were

The mounts of the honorable returned thirsty,

The customs of bounty; the star of stars plunged down.

Suffering from thirst in the drinking places of the diligent.

ورُدَّت رِكابُ المُخمِسين بِظمئِها

ورُدَّت رِكابُ المُخمِسين بِظمئِها

تكدّ الدلاءَ في رَكايا نواضبِ

تكدّ الدلاءَ في رَكايا نواضبِ

The mounts of those watering every fifth day were turned back thirsty,

And who can make the teeth gray, returning them

Wearing out buckets in drying wells.

To greenness through the years of old age?

ومَنْ يستبلُّ المُسنِتونَ بسيبْهِ

ومَنْ يستبلُّ المُسنِتونَ بسيبْهِ

فَيرجِعَ خُضْراً بالسنين الأشاهِبِ

فَيرجِعَ خُضْراً بالسنين الأشاهِبِ

And who will refresh the drought-stricken with his bounty,

O Master, you removed injustice from him when

And turn the ash-gray years green again?

Degradation in blind darkness had made him fall.

ومولىً كشفتَ الضيمَ عنه وقد هَوى

ومولىً كشفتَ الضيمَ عنه وقد هَوى

به الذلُّ في عَمياءَ ذاتِ غَياهبِ

به الذلُّ في عَمياءَ ذاتِ غَياهبِ

And a dependent from whom you lifted oppression, when

So when he saw you, he took heart

Humiliation had plunged him into a blind abyss of gloom—

And his leg steadied plainly leaning on you.

فلما رآك استشعرَ النَّصْفَ واستوتْ

فلما رآك استشعرَ النَّصْفَ واستوتْ

بهِ رِجلهُ في واضح مُتلاحبِ

بهِ رِجلهُ في واضح مُتلاحبِ

When he saw you, he sensed justice, and firm became

And in whom shall poetry be molded after you as a composer

His footing on a clear, well-marked road.

Of necklaces of praise, endowed with merits?

وفيمن يُصاغُ الشعرُ بعدَك ناظماً

وفيمن يُصاغُ الشعرُ بعدَك ناظماً

عقودَ الثناءِ حاظياً بالمنَاقبِ

عقودَ الثناءِ حاظياً بالمنَاقبِ

About whom will poetry be fashioned after you, stringing

And where is your brother generosity if an asking hand

Necklaces of praise, graced with noble qualities?

Does not find you a divider of those wishes?

وأين أخوك الجودُ من كفِّ راغبٍ

وأين أخوك الجودُ من كفِّ راغبٍ

إذا لم تكن قَسَّامَ تلك الرغائب

إذا لم تكن قَسَّامَ تلك الرغائب

And where is your brother Generosity for a seeking hand,

And who will hear my voice and appreciate my help,

If you are not there to apportion those coveted gifts?

Struggling and loving, from the eligible?

ومن ذا يعي صوتي ويعتدّ نُصرتي

ومن ذا يعي صوتي ويعتدّ نُصرتي

جهاداً وودّي من وشيج المَنَاسبِ

جهاداً وودّي من وشيج المَنَاسبِ

And who will heed my voice, and reckon my support

Though fate slept and though when I called you

As striving, and my love as close-knit bonds of kinship?

The face of dawn, you did not answer.

برغميَ أنْ هبَّ النيامُ وأنني

برغميَ أنْ هبَّ النيامُ وأنني

دعوتُكَ وجهَ الصبح غيرَ مُجاوِبِ

دعوتُكَ وجهَ الصبح غيرَ مُجاوِبِ

Against my will the sleepers have risen, while I

And you were not seen escorting a caravan,

Called you at dawn's first light, and you gave no answer.

Nor asking where a rider’s arrival was from.

وأن لا تُرَى مُستعرِضاً حاجَ رُفقةٍ

وأن لا تُرَى مُستعرِضاً حاجَ رُفقةٍ

ولا سائلاً من أين مقْدَمُ راكبِ

ولا سائلاً من أين مقْدَمُ راكبِ

And you are no longer seen surveying a company's needs,

Whenever time paralyzed my dwellings

Or asking from where a rider has come.

I would call upon you, so you saved my belongings.

وكنتُ إذا ما الدهرُ شلَّ مَعاطني

وكنتُ إذا ما الدهرُ شلَّ مَعاطني

دعوتُكَ فاستنقذتَ منه سَلائبي

دعوتُكَ فاستنقذتَ منه سَلائبي

And whenever Time drove the herds from my watering-places,

The treasure of my intimacy when a brother isolates me,

I called you, and you rescued my plundered possessions from it.

My refuge when my paths are closed off from me.

ذخيرةُ أنسي يومَ يوحشني أخي

ذخيرةُ أنسي يومَ يوحشني أخي

وبابي إذا سُدّتْ عليَّ مذاهبي

وبابي إذا سُدّتْ عليَّ مذاهبي

My store of comfort when my brother makes me lonely,

Though many a dutiful brother, even if I have not found

And my doorway when my paths are closed against me.

One like you, a brother in my family or strangers.

وكم من أخٍ بَرٍّ وإن أنا لم أجدْ

وكم من أخٍ بَرٍّ وإن أنا لم أجدْ

كَأَنْتَ أخاً في أُسرتي والأجانبِ

كَأَنْتَ أخاً في أُسرتي والأجانبِ

How many a kind brother there is, yet I have not found

Death traveled from its homelands into my shelters,

A brother like you among my family or strangers.

And dug from its ruins to get my loved ones.

سَرَى الموتُ من أوطانه في مآلفي

سَرَى الموتُ من أوطانه في مآلفي

ونقَبَ من أخلافِهِ عن حبائبي

ونقَبَ من أخلافِهِ عن حبائبي

Death traveled by night from his haunts into my familiar places,

I wonder at this land, how it blames us,

And tunneled along his hidden paths in search of my loved ones.

Splitting us apart, though the land is the mother of wonders.

عجبتُ لهذي الأرضِ كيف تلُمُّنا

عجبتُ لهذي الأرضِ كيف تلُمُّنا

لتَصدَعَنا والأرضُ أمُّ العجائبِ

لتَصدَعَنا والأرضُ أمُّ العجائبِ

I marvel at this earth: how it gathers us

With our spears we ward off from our souls,

To split us apart—and earth is the mother of wonders.

And from our days we feel anguished by battles.

نطارِدُ عن أرواحِنا برماحِنا

نطارِدُ عن أرواحِنا برماحِنا

ونَطربُ من أيامنا للحرائبِ

ونَطربُ من أيامنا للحرائبِ

We ward death off from our souls with our spears,

The life of this world enchants us with the satiety of one who eats,

And rejoice in the plunder our days bring.

Though it is ruinous ill and the drink of one who drinks.

وتَسحَرنا الدنيا بشَبعةِ طاعمٍ

وتَسحَرنا الدنيا بشَبعةِ طاعمٍ

هي السَّقَمُ المُرْدِي ونَهلةِ شاربِ

هي السَّقَمُ المُرْدِي ونَهلةِ شاربِ

The world bewitches us with an eater's fill,

I speak to myself when alone about its eternity,

Which is deadly sickness, and a drinker's draught.

Yet where is my father gone and where are my relatives?

أُحدّثُ نفسي خالياً بخلودها

أُحدّثُ نفسي خالياً بخلودها

فأين أبي الأدنىَ وأين أقاربي

فأين أبي الأدنىَ وأين أقاربي

I speak to my soul in solitude of its immortality;

I was only one of a family,

But where is my own father, and where are my kin?

Remaining among people only a departing son.

ولا كنتُ إلا واحداً من عشيرةٍ

ولا كنتُ إلا واحداً من عشيرةٍ

ولا باقياً في الناس إلا ابن ذاهب

ولا باقياً في الناس إلا ابن ذاهب

Yet I have been only one member of a clan,

Am I more immune than a builder of ruins,

And survive among people only as the son of one departed.

And my back firmer than one who reconstructs a fallen one?

فهل أنا أَجْبَى من مَقَاوِل حِمْيَرٍ

فهل أنا أَجْبَى من مَقَاوِل حِمْيَرٍ

وأمنعُ ظَهراً من مُشيِّد مَارِبِ

وأمنعُ ظَهراً من مُشيِّد مَارِبِ

Do I gather more tribute than the princes of Himyar,

Did the covenant of heaven take for me a hand

Or am I more strongly backed than the builder of Ma'rib?

From death or did the frown of an eyebrow consent?

وهل أخَذتْ عهد السموءلِ لي يدٌ

وهل أخَذتْ عهد السموءلِ لي يدٌ

من الموت أو عند حَنيَّةُ حاجبِ

من الموت أو عند حَنيَّةُ حاجبِ

Has any hand secured al-Samaw'al's pledge for me

I repel the throats of my companions with a sword,

From Death—or do I hold Hajib's bow?

As if I could defend them from the consequences of my acts.

أردّ شفاراً عن نحورِ صَحابةٍ

أردّ شفاراً عن نحورِ صَحابةٍ

كأنيَ دَفَّاعٌ لها عن ترائبي

كأنيَ دَفَّاعٌ لها عن ترائبي

I ward blades off from the throats of companions,

I have no knowledge from which adversity will be my fate,

As though I could repel them from my own breastbones.

And in which land my side will settle.

ولا عِلمَ لي من أيّ شِقَّىَّ مَصرَعي

ولا عِلمَ لي من أيّ شِقَّىَّ مَصرَعي

وفي أيِّما أرضٍ يُخ لجانبي

وفي أيِّما أرضٍ يُخ لجانبي

Yet I do not know on which of my two sides I shall fall,

Since the arrow of death will inevitably fall,

Or in which land my side will be laid down.

I wish I were one shot by the hand of my companion!

إذا كان سهمُ الموتِ لابدّ واقعاً

إذا كان سهمُ الموتِ لابدّ واقعاً

فيا ليتني المرميُّ من قَبلِ صاحبي

فيا ليتني المرميُّ من قَبلِ صاحبي

If Death's arrow must inevitably strike,

I wish a witness to my neighborhood were buried in Kufa,

Would that I were struck before my companion.

Even if the testimony is of an absent one.

ويا ليتَ مقبوراً بكوفان شاهدٌ

ويا ليتَ مقبوراً بكوفان شاهدٌ

جوايَ وإن كانت شهادةَ غائبِ

جوايَ وإن كانت شهادةَ غائبِ

And would that the one buried in Kufan could witness

I wish the expanse of earth between us

My burning grief, though his were an absent man's witness.

Were folded by the hands of riders over the hillsides.

ولَيتَ بِساطَ الأرض بيني وبينه

ولَيتَ بِساطَ الأرض بيني وبينه

طوتْه على الأعضادِ أيدي الركائبِ

طوتْه على الأعضادِ أيدي الركائبِ

Would that the carpet of earth between me and him

So I would stop over it to bid him farewell

Had been folded upon their shoulders by the riding-camels' forelegs,

Even if he did not understand the words of one addressing him.

فَعُجْتُ عليه واقفاً فمسلِّماً

فَعُجْتُ عليه واقفاً فمسلِّماً

وإن هُوَ لم يَفقهْ حديثَ المُخاطِبِ

وإن هُوَ لم يَفقهْ حديثَ المُخاطِبِ

So I could turn aside to him, stand, and offer greeting,

And I wish the edge of love between us remained

Though he would not understand the speaker's words.

Even if its day had never been part of my gains.

ولَيتَ طريفَ الودّ بيني وبينه

ولَيتَ طريفَ الودّ بيني وبينه

وإن طابَ يوماً لم يكن من مَكاسبي

وإن طابَ يوماً لم يكن من مَكاسبي

Would that the newfound friendship between me and him,

Greetings to joys after you, if I live

Though sweet one day, had never been among my gains.

They will not be the comfort of my aims.

سلامٌ على الأفراح بعدَك إنها

سلامٌ على الأفراح بعدَك إنها

وإن عشتُ ليست إربةً من مَآربي

وإن عشتُ ليست إربةً من مَآربي

Farewell to joys after you, for they,

When grief soils the garment, I wash it away,

Even if I live, are no desire among my aims.

So it returns anew with pouring tears.

إذا دنَّس الحزنَ السلوُّ غسلتُهُ

إذا دنَّس الحزنَ السلوُّ غسلتُهُ

فعاد جديداً بالدموعِ السواكبِ

فعاد جديداً بالدموعِ السواكبِ

When forgetfulness stains grief, I wash it,

And if the days make a blessing befall me,

And it returns renewed with streaming tears.

I mention you within it, so it turns into my misfortunes.

وإن أحدثَتْ عندي يدُ الدهرِ نِعمةً

وإن أحدثَتْ عندي يدُ الدهرِ نِعمةً

ذكرتُك فيها فاغتدتْ من مَصائبي

ذكرتُك فيها فاغتدتْ من مَصائبي

And if Time's hand bestows a blessing upon me,

I avoid the eyes of gloaters as endurance,

I remember you in it, and it becomes one of my calamities.

And smile at them with frowning faces.

أُدارِي عيونَ الشامتين تجلُّداً

أُدارِي عيونَ الشامتين تجلُّداً

وأبسِمُ منهم في الوجوهِ القواطبِ

وأبسِمُ منهم في الوجوهِ القواطبِ

I fend off the eyes of those who gloat, showing fortitude,

I show them that I am steady, rising,

And smile into their scowling faces.

With claws beneath my wings.

أُرِيهم بأني ثابتُ الريش ناهضٌ

أُرِيهم بأني ثابتُ الريش ناهضٌ

وتحت جَناحي جانفاتُ المخالبِ

وتحت جَناحي جانفاتُ المخالبِ

I show them that my feathers are firm and I can rise,

The downpour of tears interspersed with sighs escorted you,

While crooked talons lie beneath my wing.

Beacons that did not shine with the gleam of an amulet.

سَقَتكَ بمعتادِ الدموع مُرِشَّةً

سَقَتكَ بمعتادِ الدموع مُرِشَّةً

أفاويقُ لم تُخدِج بلَمعةِ خالبِ

أفاويقُ لم تُخدِج بلَمعةِ خالبِ

May you be watered with the customary tears, sprinkling down,

The lightning’s ring in its sides defiles

In successive showers, never failing with a flash of rainless lightning.

The red headbands of the black hills.

يلوث خطافُ البرقِ في جَنَباتِها

يلوث خطافُ البرقِ في جَنَباتِها

بهامِ الهضابِ السودِ حُمرَ العصائبِ

بهامِ الهضابِ السودِ حُمرَ العصائبِ

The darting flash of lightning, within their flanks, winds

Above the earth’s expanse, a companion to it,

Red headbands around the heads of the black hills.

Of what it greeted of the cheeks of sturdy mounts.

لها فوق مَتنِ الأرض وهي رفيقةٌ

لها فوق مَتنِ الأرض وهي رفيقةٌ

بما صافحت وَخْدُ القرومِ المصاعب

بما صافحت وَخْدُ القرومِ المصاعب

Upon the earth's back it has, though it is gentle

It sees every soil that was once smooth

With what it touches, the swift stride of mighty, unbroken camel stallions.

As devoted to it, and every young foal as its youth.

تَرَى كلَّ تُربٍ كان يَعتاضُ لَيناً

تَرَى كلَّ تُربٍ كان يَعتاضُ لَيناً

لها وغلاماً كلَّ أشمطَ شائبِ

لها وغلاماً كلَّ أشمطَ شائبِ

You see every kind of soil gain softness

When the bare expanse of a land is covered with its mud

From it, and every grizzled old man become a youth.

It becomes a verdant garden with creeping plants.

إذا عُمِّمتْ جَلْحاءُ أرضٍ بوبلها

إذا عُمِّمتْ جَلْحاءُ أرضٍ بوبلها

غدتْ روضةً وفراءَ ذات ذوائبِ

غدتْ روضةً وفراءَ ذات ذوائبِ

When a bald tract of earth is turbaned in its downpour,

Even if the sea in your grave is murmuring

It becomes a luxuriant garden with flowing locks.

With its waves, away from the trains of clouds.

وإن كان بحرٌ في ضريحك غانياً

وإن كان بحرٌ في ضريحك غانياً

بجُمَّاتِهِ عن قاطراتِ السحائبِ

بجُمَّاتِهِ عن قاطراتِ السحائبِ

Though the sea in your tomb has no need,

With its brimming waters, of the dripping clouds.