بَقائيmy continued life شاءَwilled لَيسَnot هُمُthey اِرتِحالاdeparture
بَقائي شاءَ لَيسَ هُمُ اِرتِحالا
وَحُسنَand the beauty of الصَبرِpatience زَمّواthey bridled لاnot الجِمالاthe camels
وَحُسنَ الصَبرِ زَمّوا لا الجِمالا
It was my life that chose departure, not they;
They desired my remaining, not their own departure; they saddled up my patience along with their camels.
and they bridled my fair patience, not the camels.
They turned away abruptly; it was as though Separation, fearing me, attacked by sudden assassination.
تَوَلَّواthey turned away بَغتَةًsuddenly فَكَأَنَّso as though بَيناًseparation
تَوَلَّوا بَغتَةً فَكَأَنَّ بَيناً
تَهَيَّبَنيfeared me فَفاجَأَنيthen surprised me اِغتِيالاby stealthy assault
تَهَيَّبَني فَفاجَأَني اِغتِيالا
They turned away suddenly, as though separation
The pace of their white camels was a swift trot, while the flow of tears in their wake was a torrent.
had feared me, then ambushed me by stealth.
It seemed those camels had been kneeling upon my eyelids; when they rose to leave, the floodwaters streamed.
فَكانَso was مَسيرُthe pace of عيسِهِمِtheir pale camels ذَميلاًa quick trot
فَكانَ مَسيرُ عيسِهِمِ ذَميلاً
وَسَيرُand the flow of الدَمعِtears إِثرَهُمُin their wake اِنهِمالاa downpour
وَسَيرُ الدَمعِ إِثرَهُمُ اِنهِمالا
So their pale camels moved at a quick trot,
Distance veiled those gazelles from my sight, aiding the work of face-veils and curtained chambers.
and tears poured down in their wake.
They donned brocade not to adorn themselves, but rather to guard their beauty within it.
كَأَنَّas though العيسَthe pale camels كانَتhad been فَوقَupon جَفنيmy two eyelids
كَأَنَّ العيسَ كانَت فَوقَ جَفني
مُناخاةٍkneeling فَلَمّاthen when ثُرنَthey rose سالاboth flowed
مُناخاةٍ فَلَمّا ثُرنَ سالا
As though the pale camels had been upon my eyelids,
They plaited their locks not for the sake of grace, but fearing they might lose their way within that hair.
kneeling; when they rose, both eyelids flowed.
Bound to my body is she who wasted it away; were she to thread me through a pearl's bore, I would drift freely.
وَحَجَّبَتِand hid النَوىdistance الظَبياتِthe gazelles عَنّيfrom me
وَحَجَّبَتِ النَوى الظَبياتِ عَنّي
فَساعَدَتِthus it aided البَراقِعَthe face-veils وَالحِجالاand the curtained chambers
فَساعَدَتِ البَراقِعَ وَالحِجالا
And distance hid the gazelles from me,
And were it not that I am clearly awake, I would deem myself but a phantom of my own being.
thus aiding the face-veils and curtained chambers.
She appeared as a moon, swayed like a willow wand, exhaled the scent of ambergris, and gazed as a gazelle.
لَبِسنَthey wore الوَشيَbrocade لاnot مُتَجَمِّلاتٍadorning themselves
لَبِسنَ الوَشيَ لا مُتَجَمِّلاتٍ
وَلَكِنbut كَيso that يَصُنَّthey might protect بِهِwith it الجَمالاbeauty
وَلَكِن كَي يَصُنَّ بِهِ الجَمالا
They wore brocade, not to adorn themselves,
She tyrannized in her judgment, yet then revealed to us, in the beauty of her posture, a perfect balance.
but to protect their beauty with it.
It is as if Grief is madly in love with my heart; thus, the moment she abandons me, Grief finds union.
وَضَفَّرنَand they braided الغَدائِرَthe tresses لاnot لِحُسنٍfor beauty
وَضَفَّرنَ الغَدائِرَ لا لِحُسنٍ
وَلَكِنbut خِفنَthey feared فيamid الشَعَرِthe hair الضَلالاlosing their way
وَلَكِن خِفنَ في الشَعَرِ الضَلالا
And they braided their tresses, not for beauty,
Such is the world to those who came before me: shifting vicissitudes that never let a state endure.
but fearing they might lose their way amid their hair.
The deepest sorrow, to my mind, lies in a joy whose possessor is certain it must soon depart.
بِجِسميwith my body as ransom مَنshe who بَرَتهُshe wore it thin فَلَوso if أَصارَتshe made
بِجِسمي مَن بَرَتهُ فَلَو أَصارَت
وِشاحيmy girdle ثَقبَthe hole of لُؤلُؤَةٍa pearl لَجالاit would move freely
وِشاحي ثَقبَ لُؤلُؤَةٍ لَجالا
My body be ransom for her who wasted it; if she made
I have grown used to my wandering, making my saddle my earth, and the strong camel my dwelling place.
a pearl's hole my girdle, my body would move freely within it.
I have never sought a permanent station in any land, nor merely planned departure, for I am motion itself.
وَلَولاand were it not أَنَّنيthat I am فيin غَيرِother than نَومٍsleep
وَلَولا أَنَّني في غَيرِ نَومٍ
لَكُنتُI would be أَظُنُّنيI think myself مِنّيof myself خَيالاa phantom
لَكُنتُ أَظُنُّني مِنّي خَيالا
And were I not awake,
Perched upon unrest, as if the wind surges beneath me, I steer it toward the south or to the north.
I would think myself a phantom of myself.
Toward Al-Badr ibn ‘Ammar, he who was never, even at the month’s first dawning, a mere crescent.
بَدَتshe appeared قَمَراًa moon وَمالَتand she swayed خوطَa shoot of بانٍa ban tree
بَدَت قَمَراً وَمالَت خوطَ بانٍ
وَفاحَتand she was fragrant عَنبَراًambergris وَرَنَتand she gazed غَزالاa gazelle
وَفاحَت عَنبَراً وَرَنَت غَزالا
She appeared a moon and swayed like a ban-tree shoot,
He did not grow great to fill a void within himself; he has ever been the Prince, and so shall ever remain.
was fragrant as ambergris and gazed like a gazelle.
He stands peerless, though if you gaze upon him, you see the likeness of every beautiful thing unseen.
وَجارَتand she was unjust فيin الحُكومَةِjudgment ثُمَّthen أَبدَتshe revealed
وَجارَت في الحُكومَةِ ثُمَّ أَبدَت
لَناto us مِنfrom حُسنِthe beauty of قامَتِهاher stature اِعتِدالاbalance
لَنا مِن حُسنِ قامَتِها اِعتِدالا
And she was unjust in judgment, then revealed
A sharp sword for the hoped-for Ibn Ra’iq, the blade of the Pious Caliph in the days he struck.
to us, in her beautiful stature, perfect balance.
A spearhead upon the shaft of the Bani Ma‘add, of the Bani Asad when they summon the clash of war.
كَأَنَّas though الحُزنَsorrow مَشغوفٌenamored بِقَلبيof my heart
كَأَنَّ الحُزنَ مَشغوفٌ بِقَلبي
فَساعَةَfor at the hour of هَجرِهاher desertion يَجِدُit finds الوِصالاunion
فَساعَةَ هَجرِها يَجِدُ الوِصالا
It is as though sorrow were enamored of my heart,
The mightiest victor in hand and blade, in power, in protection, and in noble kin.
for at the hour she forsakes me, it finds union.
The noblest of boasters in spirit and tribe, the most generous in lineage, through father and kin.
كَذاthus الدُنياthe world عَلىfor مَنwhoever كانَwas قَبليbefore me
كَذا الدُنيا عَلى مَن كانَ قَبلي
صُروفٌturns of fate لَمdid not يُدِمنَthey sustain عَلَيهِfor him حالاa state
صُروفٌ لَم يُدِمنَ عَلَيهِ حالا
Thus was the world for those before me:
The praise he truly deserves would be, for the world and its inhabitants, impossible to render.
turns of fate that let no state endure for them.
And double what has been said of him would still remain, even if no speaker left a word unsaid.
أَشَدُّthe severest الغَمِّgrief عِنديto me فيin سُرورٍa joy
أَشَدُّ الغَمِّ عِندي في سُرورٍ
تَيَقَّنَbecame certain of عَنهُaway from it صاحِبُهُits possessor اِنتِقالاdeparture
تَيَقَّنَ عَنهُ صاحِبُهُ اِنتِقالا
To me, the deepest grief lies in a joy
O son of those who thrust with every pliable lance, striking spots that leave the hero coughing blood.
whose possessor is certain he must leave it.
O son of those who strike with every trenchant blade, cleaving the humblest and the highest of the Arabs.
أَلِفتُI became accustomed to تَرَحُّليmy wandering وَجَعَلتُand I made أَرضيmy land
أَلِفتُ تَرَحُّلي وَجَعَلتُ أَرضي
قُتوديmy saddle-frames وَالغُرَيرِيَّand the Ghurayri camel الجُلالاmassive
قُتودي وَالغُرَيرِيَّ الجُلالا
I grew accustomed to wandering and made my homeland
I see the poetasters are beguiled into censuring me; yet who would praise a fatal, chronic plague?
my saddle-frames and the massive Ghurayri camel.
And he who suffers from a bitter, sickly mouth will find the purest, freshest water tastes of bile.
فَماso not حاوَلتُI sought فيin أَرضٍa land مُقاماًa settled stay
فَما حاوَلتُ في أَرضٍ مُقاماً
وَلاand not أَزمَعتُI resolved on عَنfrom أَرضٍa land زَوالاdeparture
وَلا أَزمَعتُ عَن أَرضٍ زَوالا
I sought no settled stay in any land,
They asked, "Will this steed bear you to the Pleiades?" I answered, "Yes, if I desired so low a depth."
nor resolved to depart from any land.
He is the annihilator of war-horses and enemies, of the white blades of India and the long brown lances.
عَلىin قَلَقٍrestlessness كَأَنَّas though الريحَthe wind تَحتيbeneath me
عَلى قَلَقٍ كَأَنَّ الريحَ تَحتي
أُوَجِّهُهاI direct it جَنوباًsouthward أَوor شَمالاnorthward
أُوَجِّهُها جَنوباً أَو شَمالا
Restless, as though the wind were beneath me,
Leader of horses, branded and fleet of foot; yet upon the tribe he raids at dawn, they land heavily.
I direct it southward or northward,
Wheeling about with straightened spears, their tips gleaming as if lamp-wicks burned upon them.
إِلىtoward البَدرِBadr (the full moon) بنِson of عَمّارِAmmar الَّذيwho لَمdid not
إِلى البَدرِ بنِ عَمّارِ الَّذي لَم
يَكُنwas فيat غُرَّةِthe beginning of الشَهرِthe month الهِلالاthe crescent
يَكُن في غُرَّةِ الشَهرِ الهِلالا
toward Badr ibn Ammar, who never
When their hooves shatter the solid rocks, the stones return to sand beneath their pounding tread.
was a crescent at the month's beginning.
The answer to him who asks, "Has he a peer?" is "No"; and to you who ask for bounty, "No" is never his reply.
وَلَمand did not يَعظُمgrow great لِنَقصٍbecause of a deficiency كانَwas فيهِin him
وَلَم يَعظُم لِنَقصٍ كانَ فيهِ
وَلَمand did not يَزَلِcease to be الأَميرَthe emir وَلَنand will not يَزالاcease to be
وَلَم يَزَلِ الأَميرَ وَلَن يَزالا
He did not grow great to remedy any lack within him;
A soul has found safety from destitution through you, counting its mere hope in you as counted wealth.
he has always been the emir, and always will be.
And hearts have trembled before you, until their very terror became a shield within them.
بِلاwithout مِثلٍan equal وَإِنand even if أَبصَرتَyou saw فيهِin him
بِلا مِثلٍ وَإِن أَبصَرتَ فيهِ
لِكُلِّfor every مُغَيَّبٍunseen thing حَسَنٍbeautiful مِثالاa likeness
لِكُلِّ مُغَيَّبٍ حَسَنٍ مِثالا
Without equal, even if you see in him
Your joy lies in bringing joy to all mankind, teaching them to act boldly upon your grace.
a likeness of every beautiful thing unseen.
When they ask, you thank them for the request; and should they fall silent, you ask them to demand.
حُسامٌa sharp sword لِاِبنِfor the son of رائِقٍRa'iq المُرَجّىthe hoped-for
حُسامٌ لِاِبنِ رائِقٍ المُرَجّى
حُسامِthe sword of المُتَّقيal-Muttaqi أَيّامَin the days صالاhe charged
حُسامِ المُتَّقي أَيّامَ صالا
A sharp sword for Ibn Ra'iq, in whom hope is placed,
The happiest supplicant we have seen is one who grants the benefactor the privilege of giving.
al-Muttaqi's sword in the days he charged.
Your arrow parts from the man it strikes just as it parted from the bow—never pausing in between.
سِنانٌa spearhead فيin قَناةِthe spear-shaft of بَنيthe sons of مَعَدٍّMa'add
سِنانٌ في قَناةِ بَني مَعَدٍّ
بَنيthe sons of أَسَدٍAsad إِذاwhen دَعواthey called for النِزالاcombat
بَني أَسَدٍ إِذا دَعوا النِزالا
A spearhead on the shaft of the sons of Ma'add,
The shafts do not rest within the flesh, as if the feathers were chasing the arrowheads through.
the sons of Asad, when they call for combat.
You outstripped the vanguards, never to be rivaled; you transcended all heights, never to be outdone.
أَعَزُّthe mightiest مُغالِبٍcontender كَفّاًin hand وَسَيفاًand sword
أَعَزُّ مُغالِبٍ كَفّاً وَسَيفاً
وَمَقدِرَةًand power وَمَحمِيَةًand protective zeal وَآلاand kin
وَمَقدِرَةً وَمَحمِيَةً وَآلا
The mightiest contender in hand and sword,
I swear, were you to serve as the right hand of a being, all mankind would not suffice to be his left.
in power, protective zeal, and kin;
When I look upon you, I turn my gaze within a heaven whose rising stars are your noble traits.
وَأَشرَفُand the noblest فاخِرٍone boasting نَفساًself وَقَوماًand people
وَأَشرَفُ فاخِرٍ نَفساً وَقَوماً
وَأَكرَمُand the most honorable مُنتَمٍone claiming lineage عَمّاpaternal uncle وَخالاand maternal uncle
وَأَكرَمُ مُنتَمٍ عَمّا وَخالا
and the noblest who boasts of himself and his people,
And I marvel at you: how could you grow and mature, when even in the cradle you were granted perfection?
and the most honorable in lineage, in paternal and maternal uncles.
يَكونُwould be أَحَقُّthe most fitting إِثناءٍpraise عَلَيهِof him
يَكونُ أَحَقُّ إِثناءٍ عَلَيهِ
عَلىfor الدُنياthe world وَأَهليهاand its people مُحالاimpossible
عَلى الدُنيا وَأَهليها مُحالا
The praise most fitting for him would be
impossible for the world and its people.
وَيَبقىand remains ضِعفُtwice as much as ماwhat قَدalready قيلَwas said فيهِof him
وَيَبقى ضِعفُ ما قَد قيلَ فيهِ
إِذاwhen لَمdid not يَتَّرِكleave أَحَدٌanyone مَقالاanything to say
إِذا لَم يَتَّرِك أَحَدٌ مَقالا
And twice what has been said of him still remains,
even when no one has left a thing to say.
فَياso O اِبنَson of الطاعِنينَthose who thrust بِكُلِّwith every لَدنٍsupple spear
فَيا اِبنَ الطاعِنينَ بِكُلِّ لَدنٍ
مَواضِعَthe places يَشتَكيsuffers from البَطَلُthe champion السُعالاa cough
مَواضِعَ يَشتَكي البَطَلُ السُعالا
O son of those who thrust with every supple spear
into the places where a champion suffers a cough;
وَياand O اِبنَson of الضارِبينَthose who strike بِكُلِّwith every عَضبٍkeen sword
وَيا اِبنَ الضارِبينَ بِكُلِّ عَضبٍ
مِنَof العَرَبِthe Arabs الأَسافِلَthe lower parts وَالقِلالاand the crowns of heads
مِنَ العَرَبِ الأَسافِلَ وَالقِلالا
and son of those who strike with every keen sword
the Arabs' lower limbs and the crowns of their heads.
أَرىI see المُتَشاعِرينَthe would-be poets غَرواthey became obsessed بِذَمّيwith reviling me
أَرى المُتَشاعِرينَ غَروا بِذَمّي
وَمَنand who ذاthis one يَحمَدُpraises الداءَthe disease العُضالاincurable
وَمَن ذا يَحمَدُ الداءَ العُضالا
I see the would-be poets obsessed with reviling me;
and who would praise an incurable disease?
وَمَنand whoever يَكُis ذاpossessing فَمٍa mouth مُرٍّbitter مَريضٍailing
وَمَن يَكُ ذا فَمٍ مُرٍّ مَريضٍ
يَجِدfinds مُرّاًbitter بِهِin it الماءَthe water الزُلالاclear and sweet
يَجِد مُرّاً بِهِ الماءَ الزُلالا
Whoever has a bitter, ailing mouth
finds clear, sweet water bitter in it.
وَقالواand they said هَلwhether يُبَلِّغُكَhe brings you to الثُرَيّاthe Pleiades
وَقالوا هَل يُبَلِّغُكَ الثُرَيّا
فَقُلتُso I said نَعَمyes إِذاif شِئتُI wish اِستِفالاdescent
فَقُلتُ نَعَم إِذا شِئتُ اِستِفالا
They said, 'Will he bring you to the Pleiades?'
I said, 'Yes, if I wish to descend.'
هُوَhe المُفنيthe destroyer of المَذاكيmature steeds وَالأَعاديand enemies
هُوَ المُفني المَذاكي وَالأَعادي
وَبيضَand the white swords of الهِندِIndia وَالسُمرِand the brown spears الطِوالاlong
وَبيضَ الهِندِ وَالسُمرِ الطِوالا
He wears out mature steeds and destroys his enemies,
and wears out white Indian swords and long brown spears.
وَقائِدُهاand their leader مُسَوَّمَةًmarked for battle خِفافاًlight-footed
وَقائِدُها مُسَوَّمَةً خِفافاً
عَلىagainst حَيٍّa tribe تُصَبِّحُهُthey assail it at dawn ثِقالاheavy
عَلى حَيٍّ تُصَبِّحُهُ ثِقالا
And he leads them, marked for battle and light of foot,
against a tribe they assail at dawn with crushing weight.
جَوائِلَwheeling about بِالقُنِيِّwith spears مُثَقَّفاتٍstraightened
جَوائِلَ بِالقُنِيِّ مُثَقَّفاتٍ
كَأَنَّas though عَلىupon عَوامِلِهاtheir spear-tips الذُبالاlamp-wicks
كَأَنَّ عَلى عَوامِلِها الذُبالا
Wheeling with straightened spears,
as though their spear-tips bore lamp-wicks.
إِذاwhen وَصِأَتthey trod on بِأَيدِيَهاwith their forefeet صُخوراًrocks
إِذا وَصِأَت بِأَيدِيَها صُخوراً
يَفِئنَthey become لِوَطءِfor the tread of أَرجُلِهاtheir hindfeet رِمالاsand
يَفِئنَ لِوَطءِ أَرجُلِها رِمالا
When their forehooves trample rocks,
those rocks turn to sand for their hindhooves to tread.
جَوابُthe answer to مُسائِليthe one questioning me أَلَهُdoes he have نَظيرٌan equal
جَوابُ مُسائِلي أَلَهُ نَظيرٌ
وَلاand none لَكَfor you فيin سُؤالِكَyour question لاno أَلالاindeed, no
وَلا لَكَ في سُؤالِكَ لا أَلالا
My answer to one asking me, 'Has he an equal?'
is 'No'—and none equals you in asking this; indeed, no!
لَقَدindeed أَمِنَتbecame secure against بِكَthrough you الإِعدامَpoverty نَفسٌa soul
لَقَد أَمِنَت بِكَ الإِعدامَ نَفسٌ
تَعُدُّcounts رَجاءَهاits hope إِيّاكَyou مالاwealth
تَعُدُّ رَجاءَها إِيّاكَ مالا
Through you, a soul has surely become secure against poverty,
counting its hope in you as wealth.
وَقَدand indeed وَجِلَتgrew afraid قُلوبٌhearts مِنكَof you حَتّىuntil
وَقَد وَجِلَت قُلوبٌ مِنكَ حَتّى
غَدَتbecame أَوجالُهاtheir fears فيهاwithin them وِجالاafraid
غَدَت أَوجالُها فيها وِجالا
And hearts have feared you so greatly
that even the fears within them have grown afraid.
سُرورُكَyour joy أَنthat تَسُرُّyou gladden الناسَthe people طُرّاًall together
سُرورُكَ أَن تَسُرُّ الناسَ طُرّاً
تُعَلِّمُهُمyou teach them عَلَيكَwith you بِهِthrough it الدَلالاtaking liberties
تُعَلِّمُهُم عَلَيكَ بِهِ الدَلالا
Your joy is to gladden all people,
through it, you teach them to take liberties with you.
إِذاwhen سَأَلواthey ask شَكَرتَهُمُyou thank them عَلَيهِfor it
إِذا سَأَلوا شَكَرتَهُمُ عَلَيهِ
وَإِنand if سَكَتواthey are silent سَأَلتَهُمُyou ask them السُؤالاasking
وَإِن سَكَتوا سَأَلتَهُمُ السُؤالا
When they ask, you thank them for it;
and if they fall silent, you ask them to ask.
وَأَسعَدُand the happiest مَنthose whom رَأَيناwe have seen مُستَميحٌa seeker of gifts
وَأَسعَدُ مَن رَأَينا مُستَميحٌ
يُنيلُgives to المُستَماحَthe giver بِأَنby يَنالاreceiving
يُنيلُ المُستَماحَ بِأَن يَنالا
And the happiest we have seen is a seeker of gifts
who gives to the giver by receiving from him.
يُفارِقُleaves سَهمُكَyour arrow الرَجُلَthe man المُلاقيwho meets it
يُفارِقُ سَهمُكَ الرَجُلَ المُلاقي
فِراقَas it leaves القَوسِthe bow ماwhenever لاقىit meets الرِجالاmen
فِراقَ القَوسِ ما لاقى الرِجالا
Your arrow leaves the man who meets it
as it leaves the bow, whenever it meets men.
فَماso never تَقِفُcome to rest السِهامُthe arrows عَلىat قَرارٍa resting place
فَما تَقِفُ السِهامُ عَلى قَرارٍ
كَأَنَّas though الريشَthe fletching يَطَّلِبُseeks النِصالاthe arrowheads
كَأَنَّ الريشَ يَطَّلِبُ النِصالا
The arrows never come to rest,
as though their feathers were chasing their arrowheads.
سَبَقتَyou outstripped السابِقينَthe foremost فَماso never تُجارىare you rivaled
سَبَقتَ السابِقينَ فَما تُجارى
وَجاوَزتَand you surpassed العُلُوَّloftiness فَماso never تُعالىare you surpassed
وَجاوَزتَ العُلُوَّ فَما تُعالى
You have outstripped the foremost, so none can race you;
and passed beyond the heights, so none can rise above you.
وَأُقسِمُand I swear لَوif صَلَحتَyou were fit to be يَمينَthe right hand of شَيءٍanything
وَأُقسِمُ لَو صَلَحتَ يَمينَ شَيءٍ
لَماwould not صَلَحَbe fit العِبادُmankind لَهُfor it شِمالاas a left hand
لَما صَلَحَ العِبادُ لَهُ شِمالا
And I swear: were you fit to be anything's right hand,
all mankind would not be fit to be its left.
أُقَلِّبُI turn مِنكَof you طَرفيmy gaze فيin سَماءٍa sky
أُقَلِّبُ مِنكَ طَرفي في سَماءٍ
وَإِنand though طَلَعَتrose كَواكِبُهاits stars خِصالاas virtues
وَإِن طَلَعَت كَواكِبُها خِصالا
I turn my gaze across the sky that is you,
though its stars rise as virtues.
وَأَعجَبُand I marvel مِنكَat you كَيفَhow قَدَرتَyou were able تَنشاto grow
وَأَعجَبُ مِنكَ كَيفَ قَدَرتَ تَنشا
وَقَدand already أُعطيتَyou were granted فيin المَهدِthe cradle الكَمالاperfection
وَقَد أُعطيتَ في المَهدِ الكَمالا
And I marvel at you: how could you grow,
when you were given perfection in the cradle?
Partial English translation: 47 of 94 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1