لَكِ يا مَنازِلُ في القُلوبِ مَنازِلُ

لَكِ يا مَنازِلُ في القُلوبِ مَنازِلُ

أَقفَرتِ أَنتِ وَهُنَّ مِنكِ أَواهِلُ

أَقفَرتِ أَنتِ وَهُنَّ مِنكِ أَواهِلُ

You, O dwellings, have dwellings within hearts.

To you, O dwellings in hearts, dwellings

O abodes, you hold abodes within our hearts,

You stand deserted, while those hearts are inhabited by you.

You are desolate, and your lovers have become disloyal

You are desolate, yet those within are populated.

يَعلَمنَ ذاكِ وَما عَلِمتِ وَإِنَّما

يَعلَمنَ ذاكِ وَما عَلِمتِ وَإِنَّما

أَولاكُما يُبكى عَلَيهِ العاقِلُ

أَولاكُما يُبكى عَلَيهِ العاقِلُ

They know this, though you do not; and indeed,

Only He knows that, though you do not know, but

They know this, while you know it not; indeed,

the sentient one of you two is more deserving of tears.

It is you two the reasonable one weeps for

It is for the first of you that the wise man weeps.

وَأَنا الَّذي اِجتَلَبَ المَنِيَّةَ طَرفُهُ

وَأَنا الَّذي اِجتَلَبَ المَنِيَّةَ طَرفُهُ

فَمَنِ المُطالَبُ وَالقَتيلُ القاتِلُ

فَمَنِ المُطالَبُ وَالقَتيلُ القاتِلُ

And I am he whose own gaze summoned death;

And I am the one whose eyes the cup of death has turned

And I am he whose glance summoned his own doom,

who, then, is accountable, when the slain is the slayer?

So who is the accused and who is the killer?

So who is the accused, when the victim is the slayer?

تَخلو الدِيارُ مِنَ الظِباءِ وَعِندَهُ

تَخلو الدِيارُ مِنَ الظِباءِ وَعِندَهُ

مِن كُلِّ تابِعَةٍ خَيالٌ خاذِلُ

مِن كُلِّ تابِعَةٍ خَيالٌ خاذِلُ

The dwellings empty of gazelles, yet with him remains

The abodes are devoid of gazelles, and with him

The dwellings are empty of gazelles, yet within his mind,

a forsaking phantom of every woman who follows.

Is a fleeting mirage of each female companion

From every follower there is a haunting phantom.

اللاءِ أَفتَكُها الجَبانُ بِمُهجَتي

اللاءِ أَفتَكُها الجَبانُ بِمُهجَتي

وَأَحَبُّها قُرباً إِلَيَّ الباخِلُ

وَأَحَبُّها قُرباً إِلَيَّ الباخِلُ

Those women—the timid one is deadliest to my heart's blood,

The most cowardly of men has snatched them away with his forehead

The deadliest of them is the coward against my soul,

and the withholding one is dearest to me in nearness.

And the most beloved to me, the miser, draws nearer

And the most beloved to me is the one who withholds.

الرامِياتُ لَنا وَهُنَّ نَوافِرٌ

الرامِياتُ لَنا وَهُنَّ نَوافِرٌ

وَالخاتِلاتُ لَنا وَهُنَّ غَوافِلُ

وَالخاتِلاتُ لَنا وَهُنَّ غَوافِلُ

Those who shoot at us, though they shy away,

The shooters at us, though they are very skilled

Those who shoot at us while they are shying away,

and those who beguile us, though they are heedless.

And the slanderers of us, though forgetfully inattentive

And those who beguile us while appearing unaware.

كافَأنَنا عَن شِبهِهِنَّ مِنَ المَها

كافَأنَنا عَن شِبهِهِنَّ مِنَ المَها

فَلَهُنَّ في غَيرِ التُرابِ حَبائِلُ

فَلَهُنَّ في غَيرِ التُرابِ حَبائِلُ

They repaid us on behalf of the oryx that resemble them;

They compensated us for their coy glances with

They repaid us for resembling them to the wild oryx,

for they have snares elsewhere than upon the earth.

Cords in other than dust, binds

For they have snares set in places other than the dust.

مِن طاعِني ثُغَرِ الرِجالِ جَآذِرٌ

مِن طاعِني ثُغَرِ الرِجالِ جَآذِرٌ

وَمِنَ الرِماحِ دَمالِجٌ وَخَلاخِلُ

وَمِنَ الرِماحِ دَمالِجٌ وَخَلاخِلُ

Among the piercers of men's throats are oryx calves,

There are wounders of the mouths of men, snarling

Among those piercing the chests of men are fawns,

and among the spears are armlets and anklets.

And from the spears, bloodstained and well-forged

And instead of spears, they bear bracelets and anklets.

وَلِذا اِسمُ أَغطِيَةِ العُيونِ جُفونُها

وَلِذا اِسمُ أَغطِيَةِ العُيونِ جُفونُها

مِن أَنَّها عَمَلَ السُيوفِ عَوامِلُ

مِن أَنَّها عَمَلَ السُيوفِ عَوامِلُ

That is why the eyes' coverings bear the name of ‘sheaths’:

And so the name of eyelids covers are their shutters

For this reason, the covers of the eyes are named scabbards,

for the eyes perform the work of swords.

Because they are made by the deeds of swords, carriers

Because they perform the very work of swords.

كَم وَقفَةٍ سَجَرَتكَ شَوقاً بَعدَما

كَم وَقفَةٍ سَجَرَتكَ شَوقاً بَعدَما

غَرِيَ الرَقيبُ بِنا وَلَجَّ العاذِلُ

غَرِيَ الرَقيبُ بِنا وَلَجَّ العاذِلُ

How many a pause set you aflame with longing, after

How many stops have made you pine in longing after

How many a pause inflamed you with longing, after

the watcher fastened on us and the censurer persisted!

The spy was fooled by us and the blamer drew near

The watcher grew obsessed with us and the scolder persisted.

دونَ التَعانُقِ ناحِلَينِ كَشَكلَتَي

دونَ التَعانُقِ ناحِلَينِ كَشَكلَتَي

نَصبٍ أَدَقَّهُما وَصَمَّ الشاكِلُ

نَصبٍ أَدَقَّهُما وَصَمَّ الشاكِلُ

Without embracing, both thin as the two marks of

Below embracing the two palm trees bent over

Without an embrace, wasted away like two vowels

the accusative, made fine and closed up by the vowel-marker.

Like the effort of a sculptor, fully chiselled

Of accusative script: the finer one, while the sign stood deaf.

اِنعَم وَلَذَّ فَلِلأُمورِ أَواخِرٌ

اِنعَم وَلَذَّ فَلِلأُمورِ أَواخِرٌ

أَبَداً إِذا كانَت لَهُنَّ أَوائِلُ

أَبَداً إِذا كانَت لَهُنَّ أَوائِلُ

Live in bliss and take delight, for affairs have endings,

Yes, and pleasures are transient

Enjoy and delight, for all matters have endings,

always, whenever they have beginnings.

If they have beginnings then they have ends

Inevitably, just as they once had beginnings.

ما دُمتَ مِن أَرَبِ الحِسانِ فَإِنَّما

ما دُمتَ مِن أَرَبِ الحِسانِ فَإِنَّما

رَوقُ الشَبابِ عَلَيكَ ظِلٌّ زائِلُ

رَوقُ الشَبابِ عَلَيكَ ظِلٌّ زائِلُ

While you remain the beauties' desire; for

As long as you have the springtime of youth

As long as you seek the desire of beauties, know that

youth's bloom upon you is only a fleeting shade.

The charms of youth are but a vanishing shadow

The prime of youth casts a fleeting shadow upon you.

لِلَّهوِ آوِنَةٌ تَمُرُّ كَأَنَّها

لِلَّهوِ آوِنَةٌ تَمُرُّ كَأَنَّها

قُبَلٌ يُزَوَّدُها حَبيبٌ راحِلُ

قُبَلٌ يُزَوَّدُها حَبيبٌ راحِلُ

Diversion has moments that pass as though they were

Frolic has a span, fleeting as if

Amusement has moments that pass as though they were

kisses given as provisions to a departing beloved.

It were a farewell kiss of a travelling beloved

Kisses snatched by a lover departing in haste.

جَمَحَ الزَمانُ فَما لَذيذٌ خالِصٌ

جَمَحَ الزَمانُ فَما لَذيذٌ خالِصٌ

مِمّا يَشوبُ وَلا سُرورٌ كامِلُ

مِمّا يَشوبُ وَلا سُرورٌ كامِلُ

Time has run wild: no delight is free

Time has spoiled, so there is no pure sweetness

Time has run wild, so no delight remains pure

of what taints it, and no joy is complete.

Nor complete joy that is unmarred

From taint, nor is any happiness complete.

حَتّى أَبو الفَضلِ اِبنُ عَبدِ اللَهِ رُؤ

حَتّى أَبو الفَضلِ اِبنُ عَبدِ اللَهِ رُؤ

يَتُهُ المُنى وَهيَ المَقامُ الهائِلُ

يَتُهُ المُنى وَهيَ المَقامُ الهائِلُ

Even Abu al-Fadl ibn Abd Allah—seeing

Except Abu Al-Fadl ibn Abdullah, his

Until the sight of Abu al-Fadl ibn Abdullah,

him is all one desires, yet it is an awe-inspiring station.

Delight of wishes and he is the lofty abode

Which is the ultimate wish, and the terrifying station.

مَمطورَةٌ طُرقي إِلَيها دونَها

مَمطورَةٌ طُرقي إِلَيها دونَها

مِن جودِهِ في كُلِّ فَجٍّ وابِلُ

مِن جودِهِ في كُلِّ فَجٍّ وابِلُ

My paths toward that sight are rain-drenched before I reach it;

Well-trodden are my paths to it, around it

My paths toward him are drenched before reaching him,

in every pass, a downpour of his generosity.

From his generosity in every rugged valley

With a downpour of his generosity in every ravine.

مَحجوبَةٌ بِسُرادِقٍ مِن هَيبَةٍ

مَحجوبَةٌ بِسُرادِقٍ مِن هَيبَةٍ

تَثني الأَزِمَّةَ وَالمَطِيُّ ذَوامِلُ

تَثني الأَزِمَّةَ وَالمَطِيُّ ذَوامِلُ

It is veiled by a pavilion of awe

Veiled with a canopy of awe

He is veiled by a pavilion of such majesty,

that turns back the reins while the mounts are trotting.

That turns away hardships, and the rider of transports

It turns back the bridles while the mounts are weary.

لِلشَمسِ فيهِ وَلِلرِياحِ وَلِلسَحا

لِلشَمسِ فيهِ وَلِلرِياحِ وَلِلسَحا

بِ وَلِلبِحارِ وَلِلأُسودِ شَمائِلُ

بِ وَلِلبِحارِ وَلِلأُسودِ شَمائِلُ

In him are traits of the sun, the winds, and the

For the sun within it, the winds, the clouds

He shares with the sun, the winds, and the clouds,

clouds, the seas, and the lions.

And the seas, and the lions, features

With the seas and the lions, his noble traits.

وَلَدَيهِ مِلعِقيانِ وَالأَدَبِ المُفا

وَلَدَيهِ مِلعِقيانِ وَالأَدَبِ المُفا

دِ وَمِلحَياةِ وَمِلمَماتِ مَناهِلُ

دِ وَمِلحَياةِ وَمِلمَماتِ مَناهِلُ

With him are wellsprings of gold and of learning

And in his presence are fruits and refinement

Possessing wealth and the distinct disciplines of lore,

imparted, and of life and death.

And water of life and death for wishes, streams

And watering places of life and death flow from his hands.

لَو لَم يُهَب لَجَبُ الوُفودِ حَوالَهُ

لَو لَم يُهَب لَجَبُ الوُفودِ حَوالَهُ

لَسَرى إِلَيهِ قَطا الفَلاةِ الناهِلُ

لَسَرى إِلَيهِ قَطا الفَلاةِ الناهِلُ

Were the uproar of delegations around him not feared,

If it were not for the grazing livestock hosts surrounding him

Were it not for the clamor of crowds around him,

the thirsty desert sandgrouse would journey to him by night.

The camel of the barren lands would roam to him

The thirsty sandgrouse of the desert would travel to him.

يَدري بِما بِكَ قَبلَ تُظهِرُهُ لَهُ

يَدري بِما بِكَ قَبلَ تُظهِرُهُ لَهُ

مِن ذِهنِهِ وَيُجيبُ قَبلَ تُسائِلُ

مِن ذِهنِهِ وَيُجيبُ قَبلَ تُسائِلُ

He knows what is within you before you reveal it to him,

He knows what is within you before you show it to him

He knows what is within you before you reveal it

through his discernment, and answers before you ask.

From his mind, and answers before you ask

From his own mind, and answers before you ask.

وَتَراهُ مُعتَرِضاً لَها وَمُوَلِّياً

وَتَراهُ مُعتَرِضاً لَها وَمُوَلِّياً

أَحداقُنا وَتَحارُ حينَ يُقابِلُ

أَحداقُنا وَتَحارُ حينَ يُقابِلُ

They see him in profile and turned away—

You see him intercepting and facing

You see him confronting events and turning away,

our eyes—and are bewildered when he faces them.

Our eyelids, and they are confused when he reciprocates

While our eyes are bewildered when meeting his gaze.

كَلِماتُهُ قُضُبٌ وَهُنَّ فَواصِلٌ

كَلِماتُهُ قُضُبٌ وَهُنَّ فَواصِلٌ

كُلُّ الضَرائِبِ تَحتَهُنَّ مَفاصِلُ

كُلُّ الضَرائِبِ تَحتَهُنَّ مَفاصِلُ

His words are swords, and they are cleavers;

His words are clubs, and they are separators

His words are sharp blades, and they are decisive;

all the targets beneath them are joints.

under them are the joints of all sorrows

All other natures are mere joints beneath their edge.

هَزَمَت مَكارِمُهُ المَكارِمَ كُلَّها

هَزَمَت مَكارِمُهُ المَكارِمَ كُلَّها

حَتّى كَأَنَّ المَكرُماتِ قَنابِلُ

حَتّى كَأَنَّ المَكرُماتِ قَنابِلُ

His noble deeds have routed all noble deeds,

His virtues defeated all virtues

His noble deeds have defeated all other virtues,

till it is as though noble deeds were squadrons.

As if the virtuous were mere ruins

Until it seems as if acts of honor are raiding parties.

وَقَتَلنَ دَفراً وَالدُهَيمَ فَما تُرى

وَقَتَلنَ دَفراً وَالدُهَيمَ فَما تُرى

أُمُّ الدُهَيمِ وَأُمُّ دَفرٍ هابِلُ

أُمُّ الدُهَيمِ وَأُمُّ دَفرٍ هابِلُ

They slew Dafr and al-Duhaym; what, then, is seen?

They killed Dafr and Duhaym relentlessly

They have slain Time and Calamity; thus one sees not

Umm al-Duhaym and Umm Dafr are bereaved.

So do you see the mother of Duhaym or Dafr in labor?

The mother of Woe nor the mother of Time bereaved.

عَلّامَةُ العُلَماءِ وَاللُجُّ الَّذي

عَلّامَةُ العُلَماءِ وَاللُجُّ الَّذي

لا يَنتَهي وَلِكُلِّ لُجٍّ ساحِلُ

لا يَنتَهي وَلِكُلِّ لُجٍّ ساحِلُ

The most learned of scholars, and the ocean that

The sign of scholars, an ocean

The Scholar of scholars, and the deep ocean that

has no end, though every ocean has a shore.

That has no end, and every ocean has a shore

Has no end, though every other ocean has a shore.

لَو طابَ مَولِدُ كُلِّ حَيٍّ مِثلَهُ

لَو طابَ مَولِدُ كُلِّ حَيٍّ مِثلَهُ

وَلَدَ النِساءُ وَما لَهُنَّ قَوابِلُ

وَلَدَ النِساءُ وَما لَهُنَّ قَوابِلُ

If every living being's birth were as noble as his,

If the birth of every living being were like his

If the birth of every living soul were pure like his,

women would give birth without midwives.

Women would give birth, though they have no midwives

Women would give birth without need of midwives.

لَو بانَ بِالكَرَمِ الجَنينُ بَيانَهُ

لَو بانَ بِالكَرَمِ الجَنينُ بَيانَهُ

لَدَرَت بِهِ ذَكَرٌ أَمُ اَنثى الحامِلُ

لَدَرَت بِهِ ذَكَرٌ أَمُ اَنثى الحامِلُ

If a fetus were distinguished by nobility as clearly as he is,

If the fetus showed generosity through birth

If the fetus could be distinguished by generosity,

its bearer would know thereby whether it was male or female.

The pregnant one would know, is it male or female?

The pregnant woman would know if she bore male or female.

لِيَزِد بَنو الحَسَنِ الشِرافُ تَواضُعاً

لِيَزِد بَنو الحَسَنِ الشِرافُ تَواضُعاً

هَيهاتَ تُكتَمُ في الظَلامِ مَشاعِلُ

هَيهاتَ تُكتَمُ في الظَلامِ مَشاعِلُ

Let the noble sons of al-Hasan grow humbler;

So that the sons of Hasan would increase in humility

May the noble Sons of Hasan increase in humility,

never can torches be hidden in darkness.

Alas! Lighthouses are not concealed in darkness

Though—far from it—can torches be hidden in darkness?

سَتَروا النَدى سَترَ الغُرابِ سِفادَهُ

سَتَروا النَدى سَترَ الغُرابِ سِفادَهُ

فَبَدا وَهَل يَخفى الرَبابُ الهاطِلُ

فَبَدا وَهَل يَخفى الرَبابُ الهاطِلُ

They concealed bounty as the raven conceals its mating,

They hid the dew, hiding the crow’s filth

They concealed their bounty as the crow hides its mating,

yet it appeared: can clouds pouring rain be hidden?

So it appeared, and does the pouring rain hide?

Yet it appeared; for can the pouring rain be hidden?

جَفَخَت وَهُم لا يَجفَخونَ بِهابِهِم

جَفَخَت وَهُم لا يَجفَخونَ بِهابِهِم

شِيَمُ عَلى الحَسَبِ الأَغَرِّ دَلائِلُ

شِيَمُ عَلى الحَسَبِ الأَغَرِّ دَلائِلُ

They boast of these men, though the men do not boast of them—

They strutted, yet they do not strut with their vanity

Their natures boasted, though they themselves do not boast;

qualities that attest their illustrious lineage.

Traits of noble origin, the clearest proofs

For character traits are the proofs of noble lineage.

مُتَشابِهِي وَرَعِ النُفوسِ كَبيرُهُم

مُتَشابِهِي وَرَعِ النُفوسِ كَبيرُهُم

وَصَغيرُهُم عَفُّ الإِزارِ حُلاحِلُ

وَصَغيرُهُم عَفُّ الإِزارِ حُلاحِلُ

Alike in the piety of their souls, their eldest

The piety of their souls is alike, elder and younger

Alike in the piety of their souls: the elder among them

and their youngest are chaste beneath the waistcloth, noble chiefs.

Chastity of loincloth, flapping

And the younger are chaste of garment, dignified.

يا اِفخَر فَإِنَّ الناسِ فيكَ ثَلاثَةٌ

يا اِفخَر فَإِنَّ الناسِ فيكَ ثَلاثَةٌ

مُستَعظِمٌ أَو حاسِدٌ أَو جاهِلُ

مُستَعظِمٌ أَو حاسِدٌ أَو جاهِلُ

Ah, boast! For people, regarding you, are three kinds:

Oh boast, for people are three in relation to you

So take pride! For regarding you, people are but three:

an awed admirer, or an envier, or an ignoramus.

One in awe, or envious, or ignorant

One who idolizes, one who envies, or one who is ignorant.

وَلَقَد عَلَوتَ فَما تُبالي بَعدَما

وَلَقَد عَلَوتَ فَما تُبالي بَعدَما

عَرَفوا أَيَحمَدُ أَم يَذُمُّ القائِلُ

عَرَفوا أَيَحمَدُ أَم يَذُمُّ القائِلُ

And you have risen so high that you care not, once

You have risen, so you care not after

You have ascended so high, you no longer care,

they know you, whether the speaker praises or blames.

They knew, does he praise or criticize the speaker?

After they know you, whether the speaker praises or blames.

أُثني عَلَيكَ وَلَو تَشاءُ لَقُلتَ لي

أُثني عَلَيكَ وَلَو تَشاءُ لَقُلتَ لي

قَصَّرتَ فَالإِمساكُ عَنّي نائِلُ

قَصَّرتَ فَالإِمساكُ عَنّي نائِلُ

I praise you; and if you wished, you would say to me:

I praise you, and if you wished, you would say to me

I extol you, yet if you wished, you could say to me:

‘You have fallen short’—so withholding rebuke from me is a gift.

“You fell short,” so keeping quiet about me is attainment

'You have fallen short,' for silence from me is a gift.

لا تَجسُرُ الفُصَحاءُ تُنشِدُ هَهُنا

لا تَجسُرُ الفُصَحاءُ تُنشِدُ هَهُنا

بَيتاً وَلَكِنّي الهِزَبرُ الباسِلُ

بَيتاً وَلَكِنّي الهِزَبرُ الباسِلُ

The eloquent dare not recite here

The eloquent do not dare recite a verse here

The eloquent dare not recite a verse in this place,

a verse, but I am the valiant lion.

But I am the courageous composer

But I am the roaring lion, the courageous one.

ما نالَ أَهلُ الجاهِلِيَّةِ كُلُّهُم

ما نالَ أَهلُ الجاهِلِيَّةِ كُلُّهُم

شِعري وَلا سَمِعَت بِسِحرِيَ بابِلُ

شِعري وَلا سَمِعَت بِسِحرِيَ بابِلُ

All the people of the pre-Islamic age failed to match

None of the people of the Jahiliya attained

None of the people of the Age of Ignorance reached

my poetry, nor has Babylon heard of my magic.

My poetry, nor heard the sorcery of Babil

My poetry, nor did Babylon ever hear my sorcery.

وَإِذا أَتَتكَ مَذَمَّتي مِن ناقِصٍ

وَإِذا أَتَتكَ مَذَمَّتي مِن ناقِصٍ

فَهِيَ الشَهادَةُ لي بِأَنِّيَ كامِلُ

فَهِيَ الشَهادَةُ لي بِأَنِّيَ كامِلُ

And if censure of me comes to you from someone deficient,

And if deficiency comes to you from a critic

And if my defamation comes to you from a deficient man,

it is testimony in my favor that I am perfect.

It is testimony that I am complete

It is the testimony for me that I am complete.

مَن لي بِفَهمِ أُهَيلِ عَصرٍ يَدَّعي

مَن لي بِفَهمِ أُهَيلِ عَصرٍ يَدَّعي

أَن يَحسُبَ الهِندِيَّ فيهِم باقِلُ

أَن يَحسُبَ الهِندِيَّ فيهِم باقِلُ

Who can help me understand the petty folk of an age where one claims

Who can I find to understand the ignoramuses of an era who claim

Who will help me with the people of an age who claim

to out-reckon the Indian—Baqil among them?

That the Indian among them is inferior?

That the speechless fool among them is a sharp blade?

وَأَما وَحَقِّكَ وَهوَ غايَةُ مُقسِمٍ

وَأَما وَحَقِّكَ وَهوَ غايَةُ مُقسِمٍ

لِلحَقُّ أَنتَ وَما سِواكَ الباطِلُ

لِلحَقُّ أَنتَ وَما سِواكَ الباطِلُ

Indeed, by your honor—the utmost oath a swearer can take—

But by your right, which is the purpose of the sworn

But by your right—and it is the utmost oath—

you are surely the truth, and all besides you is falsehood.

The truth is you, and anything other than you is falsehood

You are the Truth, and all other than you is the False.

الطيبُ أَنتَ إِذا أَصابَكَ طيبُهُ

الطيبُ أَنتَ إِذا أَصابَكَ طيبُهُ

وَالماءُ أَنتَ إِذا اِغتَسَلتَ الغاسِلُ

وَالماءُ أَنتَ إِذا اِغتَسَلتَ الغاسِلُ

Perfume—you are its fragrance when it touches you;

You are the pure one if purity meets you

You are the Essence, should the perfume touch you;

and water—you are its cleanser when you bathe.

And the water if you bathe, the washer

And you are the Water, should the washer bathe.

ما دارَ في الحَنَكِ اللِسانُ وَقَلَّبَت

ما دارَ في الحَنَكِ اللِسانُ وَقَلَّبَت

قَلَماً بِأَحسَنَ مِن نَثاكَ أَنامِلُ

قَلَماً بِأَحسَنَ مِن نَثاكَ أَنامِلُ

No tongue has moved within the palate, nor have fingers wielded

The tongue has not gone round the palate and flipped

No tongue has ever turned in the mouth, nor have fingers

a pen, with anything finer than praise of you.

A pen better than your fingers have done

Turned a pen, with anything finer than your renown.