طَلائِعُ شَيبٍ سَيرُ أَسرَعِها رَسلُ

طَلائِعُ شَيبٍ سَيرُ أَسرَعِها رَسلُ

يُرِدنَ شَبابِيَ أَن يُقالَ لَهُ كَهلُ

يُرِدنَ شَبابِيَ أَن يُقالَ لَهُ كَهلُ

The vanguards of gray hair advance—the swiftest of them at a gentle pace.

The forerunners of gray hair—even their swiftest moves at a gentle pace.

They mean for my youth to be called a mature man.

They want my youth to be called middle-aged.

نُجومٌ هِيَ اللَيلُ الَّذي زالَ تَحتَها

نُجومٌ هِيَ اللَيلُ الَّذي زالَ تَحتَها

تَفارَطُ شَتّى ثُمَّ يَجمَعُها أَفلُ

تَفارَطُ شَتّى ثُمَّ يَجمَعُها أَفلُ

Stars they are; the night beneath them has vanished.

Stars they are; the night has faded beneath them.

They come successively, scattered, until one setting gathers them.

They appear in scattered succession, then setting gathers them.

فَإِن تُبقِني الأَيّامُ تَجنُبُني العَصا

فَإِن تُبقِني الأَيّامُ تَجنُبُني العَصا

وَإِن تُفنِني فَكُلُّ حَيٍّ لَها أَكلُ

وَإِن تُفنِني فَكُلُّ حَيٍّ لَها أَكلُ

If the days preserve me, the staff will keep beside me;

So if the days keep me alive, a staff will lead me along.

and if they destroy me, every living creature is their prey.

And if they destroy me, every living being is food for them.

وَما ذَمّيَ الأَيّامَ أَن لَستُ حامِداً

وَما ذَمّيَ الأَيّامَ أَن لَستُ حامِداً

لِعَهدِ لَياليها الَّتي سَلَفَت قَبلُ

لِعَهدِ لَياليها الَّتي سَلَفَت قَبلُ

Never have the days reproached me for failing to praise

And my reproach of the days does not mean I am ungrateful

an age whose nights passed away long ago.

For the time of their nights that passed before.

أَجارَتَنا ما في فِراقِكِ راحَةٌ

أَجارَتَنا ما في فِراقِكِ راحَةٌ

وَلَكِن مَضى قَولٌ فَأَنتِ بِهِ بَسلُ

وَلَكِن مَضى قَولٌ فَأَنتِ بِهِ بَسلُ

O neighbor of ours, there is no comfort in parting from you;

O our neighbor, there is no comfort in parting from you.

but a decree has gone forth, and by it you are forbidden to me.

But a word has gone forth; by it, you are forbidden.

فَبيني فَقَد فارَقتِ غَيرَ ذَميمَةٍ

فَبيني فَقَد فارَقتِ غَيرَ ذَميمَةٍ

قَضاءٌ دَعانا لِلقَطيعَةِ لا الخَتلُ

قَضاءٌ دَعانا لِلقَطيعَةِ لا الخَتلُ

So leave me: you have departed without deserving blame;

So depart; you have parted without deserving blame.

fate summoned us to severance, not treachery.

Fate called us to separation, not deceit.

أَما وَاِغتِيالُ الدَهرِ خَلَّةَ بَينَنا

أَما وَاِغتِيالُ الدَهرِ خَلَّةَ بَينَنا

لَقَد غالَ إِلفاً ساكِناً بِهِمُ الشَملُ

لَقَد غالَ إِلفاً ساكِناً بِهِمُ الشَملُ

Indeed, time’s sudden ravaging is a familiar habit between us;

Indeed, by Time's treacherous slaying of the bond between us,

it has carried off a beloved companion around whom our fellowship dwelt united.

It has indeed destroyed a fellowship whose union was secure.

فَما بي إِلى مُستَطرَفِ العَيشِ وَحشَةٌ

فَما بي إِلى مُستَطرَفِ العَيشِ وَحشَةٌ

وَإِن كُنتُ لا مالٌ لَدَيَّ وَلا أَهلُ

وَإِن كُنتُ لا مالٌ لَدَيَّ وَلا أَهلُ

I feel no lonely longing for some novel pleasure in life,

So I feel no lonely longing for life's fresh delights,

though I possess neither wealth nor family.

Even though I have neither wealth nor family.

بِنا لا بِكِ الأَمرُ الَّذي تَكرَهينَهُ

بِنا لا بِكِ الأَمرُ الَّذي تَكرَهينَهُ

أَتى الحِلمُ بِالعُتبى وَقَد سَبَقَ الجَهلُ

أَتى الحِلمُ بِالعُتبى وَقَد سَبَقَ الجَهلُ

What you dread has befallen us, not you;

The matter you dislike rests with us, not with you.

forbearance came afterward, but folly had already gone before.

Forbearance brought amends, though folly had come first.

فَلا شَوقَ إِنَّ اليَأسَ أَعقَبَ سَلوَةً

فَلا شَوقَ إِنَّ اليَأسَ أَعقَبَ سَلوَةً

سَواءٌ نَوى مَن لا يُراجَعُ وَالثُكلُ

سَواءٌ نَوى مَن لا يُراجَعُ وَالثُكلُ

There is no longing now: despair has brought forgetfulness in its wake;

So there is no longing: despair has brought consolation.

the departure of one who never returns and bereavement are alike.

Parting from one never rejoined is the same as bereavement.

عَلَيكِ سَلامٌ لا تَحِيَّةَ ذي قِلىً

عَلَيكِ سَلامٌ لا تَحِيَّةَ ذي قِلىً

حَلا بَعدَكِ العَيشُ الَّذي كانَ لا يَحلو

حَلا بَعدَكِ العَيشُ الَّذي كانَ لا يَحلو

Peace be upon you—not the greeting of one who bears hatred.

Peace upon you—not the greeting of one who hates.

After you, that life became sweet which once could never sweeten.

After you were gone, life, once without sweetness, grew sweet.

أَلا رُبَّ يَومٍ صادِقِ العَيشِ نِلتُهُ

أَلا رُبَّ يَومٍ صادِقِ العَيشِ نِلتُهُ

بِها وَنَدامايَ العَفافَةُ وَالبَذلُ

بِها وَنَدامايَ العَفافَةُ وَالبَذلُ

Ah, many a day of genuine delight I enjoyed

Ah, many a day of genuine delight I enjoyed

with her, while chastity and generosity were my boon companions—

With her, while chastity and generosity were my boon companions.

عَشِيَّةَ آواها الحِجابُ كَأَنَّها

عَشِيَّةَ آواها الحِجابُ كَأَنَّها

خَذولٌ مِنَ الغِزلانِ خالِيَةٌ عُطلُ

خَذولٌ مِنَ الغِزلانِ خالِيَةٌ عُطلُ

an evening when seclusion sheltered her, as though she were

One evening, when the curtain sheltered her, she seemed

a solitary doe among the gazelles, alone and unadorned.

A doe apart from the herd of gazelles, alone and unadorned.

لَعَمرُ اِبنِها لَولا اِحتِراقُ الحَشا لَهُ

لَعَمرُ اِبنِها لَولا اِحتِراقُ الحَشا لَهُ

لَماتَ الجَوى أَو لَاِستُفيدَ بِها مِثلُ

لَماتَ الجَوى أَو لَاِستُفيدَ بِها مِثلُ

By my life—her son! Had my inmost heart not burned for him,

By her son's life, but for my heart's burning for him,

love’s anguish would have died, or through her I would have gained another like him.

Love's anguish would have died, or like-for-like requital been exacted through her.

سَلَوتُ وَإِن قالَ العَواذِلُ لا يَسلو

سَلَوتُ وَإِن قالَ العَواذِلُ لا يَسلو

وَأَقسَمتُ لا يَرقى إِلى سَمعِيَ العَذلُ

وَأَقسَمتُ لا يَرقى إِلى سَمعِيَ العَذلُ

I found consolation, though the reproachers said, “He cannot forget”;

I have found consolation, though the reproaching women say, 'He finds none.'

and I swore reproach would never reach my ears.

And I swore no reproach would rise to my ears.

وَبايَنتُ حَتّى صِرتُ لِلبينِ راكِباً

وَبايَنتُ حَتّى صِرتُ لِلبينِ راكِباً

قَرى العَزمِ فَرداً مِثلَ ما اِنفَرَدَ النَصلُ

قَرى العَزمِ فَرداً مِثلَ ما اِنفَرَدَ النَصلُ

I held myself apart until I became a rider bound for parting,

And I broke away until, for separation, I mounted

provisioned by resolve, alone as the sword-blade stands alone.

Resolve's back, alone as a blade stands alone.

سَعَت أَلسُنُ الواشينَ فيما يَعيبُني

سَعَت أَلسُنُ الواشينَ فيما يَعيبُني

وَهَل كُنتُ إِلّا ماجِداً عابَهُ وَغلُ

وَهَل كُنتُ إِلّا ماجِداً عابَهُ وَغلُ

The slanderers’ tongues sought something with which to disgrace me;

The slanderers' tongues busied themselves with what would shame me.

yet was I anything but a noble man whom rancor maligned?

But was I anything but a noble man maligned by an intruder?

وَكَم عائِبٍ لي وَدَّ أَنّي وَلَدتُهُ

وَكَم عائِبٍ لي وَدَّ أَنّي وَلَدتُهُ

وَلَو كَرُمَت أَعرافُهُ وَزَكا الأَصلُ

وَلَو كَرُمَت أَعرافُهُ وَزَكا الأَصلُ

How many a faultfinder of mine has wished that I had fathered him,

And many a faultfinder of mine wished I had fathered him,

though his qualities were noble and his lineage pure,

Even if his traits were noble and his stock pure.

وَأَنّي قَصِيُّ الرِحمِ مَجدي لِغَيرِهِ

وَأَنّي قَصِيُّ الرِحمِ مَجدي لِغَيرِهِ

فَعابَ وَما آلى وَمِن دونِهِ سَدلُ

فَعابَ وَما آلى وَمِن دونِهِ سَدلُ

while I am remote in kinship and my glory belongs to another!

And since I am distant kin and my glory benefits another,

So he censured me unstintingly, though veils hung before him.

He found fault and spared no effort, with a curtain before him.

جَزَأتَ عَنِ الفَضلِ الحَميدِ وَقَلَّصَت

جَزَأتَ عَنِ الفَضلِ الحَميدِ وَقَلَّصَت

لِنابَيكَ في المَرعى مَشافِرُكَ الهُدلُ

لِنابَيكَ في المَرعى مَشافِرُكَ الهُدلُ

You made do without praiseworthy excellence, and drew back

You were content without praiseworthy virtue, and drew back

your drooping lips in the pasture to expose your two fangs.

Your drooping camel-lips to bare your two fangs in the pasture.

فَأُقسِمُ لَولا حاجِزُ الوُدِّ بَينَنا

فَأُقسِمُ لَولا حاجِزُ الوُدِّ بَينَنا

وَكانَ مَعَ العُتبى المَوَدَّةُ وَالوَصلُ

وَكانَ مَعَ العُتبى المَوَدَّةُ وَالوَصلُ

I swear: were it not for affection’s barrier between us,

So I swear: but for the barrier of affection between us,

and the love and union that came with reconciliation,

And the affection and closeness that came with amends,

وَأَنمُلَةٌ قَدَّمتَها لَكَ لا يَدٌ

وَأَنمُلَةٌ قَدَّمتَها لَكَ لا يَدٌ

لَساءَكَ مِنّي ما سُرِرتَ بِهِ قَبلُ

لَساءَكَ مِنّي ما سُرِرتَ بِهِ قَبلُ

and for a fingertip I once extended you—not a whole hand—

And a fingertip you offered, to your credit—not a hand—

what once gave you joy would have brought you pain from me.

What once delighted you from me would have grieved you.

هَبَلتُكَ حَيّاً لَم تُصِبكَ مَنِيَّةٌ

هَبَلتُكَ حَيّاً لَم تُصِبكَ مَنِيَّةٌ

خَلا أَنَّ وُدّاً ماتَ لَيسَ لَهُ عَقلُ

خَلا أَنَّ وُدّاً ماتَ لَيسَ لَهُ عَقلُ

May your mother be bereft of you while you live, though death has not struck you—

I have lost you while you live; no death has struck you,

save that a love has died, with neither blood-price nor compensation.

Except that affection has died, with no blood money owed for it.

فَمَهلاً أَما لي مَذهَبٌ عَنكَ واسِعٌ

فَمَهلاً أَما لي مَذهَبٌ عَنكَ واسِعٌ

مُوَطَّأَةٌ في كُلِّ وَجهٍ لَهُ السُبلُ

مُوَطَّأَةٌ في كُلِّ وَجهٍ لَهُ السُبلُ

But wait! Have I no broad way of escape from you,

So, easy now! Have I not a broad path away from you,

well-trodden in every direction where roads run?

With roads smoothed for it in every direction?

أَلا رُبَّما اِقتَدتُ الرَجاءَ إِلى المُنى

أَلا رُبَّما اِقتَدتُ الرَجاءَ إِلى المُنى

بِوَعدِكَ حَتّى يَستَبِدَّ بِهِ المَطلُ

بِوَعدِكَ حَتّى يَستَبِدَّ بِهِ المَطلُ

Ah, often I led hope toward desire

Ah, often I led hope toward my wishes

by your promise, until delay took sole possession of it.

By your promise, until delay took sole control of it.

وَأَبتَعِثُ الآمالَ ثُمَّ أَرُدُّها

وَأَبتَعِثُ الآمالَ ثُمَّ أَرُدُّها

إِلَيكَ لِيَومٍ ما وَمَضرِبُها مَحلُ

إِلَيكَ لِيَومٍ ما وَمَضرِبُها مَحلُ

I send hopes forth, then turn them back

And I dispatch hopes, then send them back

toward you for some future day, though their destination is barren.

To you for some day, while their campsite lies barren.

فَلا سَلِمَ حَتّى تَستَقيدُ إِلى الرِضى

فَلا سَلِمَ حَتّى تَستَقيدُ إِلى الرِضى

وَيَحتَرِشُ الغِلَّ المَوَدَّةُ وَالبَذلُ

وَيَحتَرِشُ الغِلَّ المَوَدَّةُ وَالبَذلُ

There can be no peace until you let yourself be led toward reconciliation,

So no peace until you yield to reconciliation,

and affection and generosity hunt rancor down.

And affection and generosity hunt down rancor.

لَعَمري لَقَد أَعطَيتَ لِلجودِ أُهبَةً

لَعَمري لَقَد أَعطَيتَ لِلجودِ أُهبَةً

ثَراءً وَهَل يَجري إِذا أُضمِرَ البَغلُ

ثَراءً وَهَل يَجري إِذا أُضمِرَ البَغلُ

By my life, I have indeed furnished generosity for its task

By my life, you have indeed given generosity its equipment:

with abundant wealth—but can the mule run when it is kept lean?

Wealth—but can a mule race when trained lean?

وَقَفتُ لِساني عَنكَ وَالقَولُ مُفصِحٌ

وَقَفتُ لِساني عَنكَ وَالقَولُ مُفصِحٌ

وَما بِالقَوافي عَنكَ لَو أُهمِلَت مَهلُ

وَما بِالقَوافي عَنكَ لَو أُهمِلَت مَهلُ

I have restrained my tongue from you, though speech speaks plainly,

I held my tongue from you, though words speak plainly.

and my rhymes, if I unleashed them against you, would grant no respite.

Nor would the rhymes, if unleashed, be slow to reach you.

عَليكَ سَلامٌ لَم أَقُل فيكَ ريبَةً

عَليكَ سَلامٌ لَم أَقُل فيكَ ريبَةً

وَلَكِن ثَناءً كانَ أَفسَدَهُ البُخلُ

وَلَكِن ثَناءً كانَ أَفسَدَهُ البُخلُ

Peace be upon you: I have uttered no slander against you,

Peace upon you; I spoke no slander against you,

only praise—praise that stinginess corrupted.

But praise that stinginess had spoiled.