الحُزنُ يُقلِقُ وَالتَجَمُّلُ يَردَعُ

الحُزنُ يُقلِقُ وَالتَجَمُّلُ يَردَعُ

وَالدَمعُ بَينَهُما عَصِيٌّ طَيِّعُ

وَالدَمعُ بَينَهُما عَصِيٌّ طَيِّعُ

Grief unsettles me, and composure restrains me;

Grief disturbs the soul, while stoic grace restrains;

and tears between them are rebellious and obedient.

Between the two, the tear is both rebel and slave.

يَتَنازَعانِ دُموعَ عَينِ مُسَهَّدٍ

يَتَنازَعانِ دُموعَ عَينِ مُسَهَّدٍ

هَذا يَجيءُ بِها وَهَذا يَرجِعُ

هَذا يَجيءُ بِها وَهَذا يَرجِعُ

They contend for tears from a sleepless one's eye:

They battle for the tears of a sleepless eye;

this one brings them forth, and that one turns them back.

One summons them forth, the other drives them in.

النَومُ بَعدَ أَبي شُجاعٍ نافِرٌ

النَومُ بَعدَ أَبي شُجاعٍ نافِرٌ

وَاللَيلُ مُعيٍ وَالكَواكِبُ ظُلَّعُ

وَاللَيلُ مُعيٍ وَالكَواكِبُ ظُلَّعُ

Sleep, after Abu Shujaʿ, has fled,

Sleep, after Abu Shuja’, has fled away,

and night is weary, and the stars limp.

The night is weary, and the stars limp on.

إِنّي لَأَجبُنُ مِن فِراقِ أَحِبَّتي

إِنّي لَأَجبُنُ مِن فِراقِ أَحِبَّتي

وَتُحِسُّ نَفسي بِالحِمامِ فَأَشجَعُ

وَتُحِسُّ نَفسي بِالحِمامِ فَأَشجَعُ

I truly quail at parting from my loved ones,

I am a coward when facing the loss of friends,

yet when my soul senses death, I grow brave.

Yet when my soul senses death, I turn brave.

وَيَزيدُني غَضَبُ الأَعادي قَسوَةً

وَيَزيدُني غَضَبُ الأَعادي قَسوَةً

وَيُلِمُّ بي عَتبُ الصَديقِ فَأَجزَعُ

وَيُلِمُّ بي عَتبُ الصَديقِ فَأَجزَعُ

And my enemies' anger hardens me,

The wrath of foes but hardens my resolve,

while a friend's reproach assails me, and I am distraught.

Yet a friend’s reproach strikes me, and I break.

تَصفو الحَياةُ لِجاهِلٍ أَو غافِلٍ

تَصفو الحَياةُ لِجاهِلٍ أَو غافِلٍ

عَمّا مَضى فيها وَما يُتَوَقَّعُ

عَمّا مَضى فيها وَما يُتَوَقَّعُ

Life is serene for an ignorant man, or one heedless

Life runs clear only for the fool or the heedless,

of what has passed in it and what is expected;

Blind to what has passed and what is yet to come.

وَلِمَن يُغالِطُ في الحَقائِقِ نَفسَهُ

وَلِمَن يُغالِطُ في الحَقائِقِ نَفسَهُ

وَيَسومُها طَلَبَ المُحالِ فَتَطمَعُ

وَيَسومُها طَلَبَ المُحالِ فَتَطمَعُ

and for one who deceives himself about realities,

And for him who deludes his own soul regarding truth,

and makes his soul seek the impossible, so it grows hopeful.

Urging it to seek the impossible, until it covets.

أَينَ الَّذي الهَرَمانِ مِن بُنيانِهِ

أَينَ الَّذي الهَرَمانِ مِن بُنيانِهِ

ما قَومُهُ ما يَومُهُ ما المَصرَعُ

ما قَومُهُ ما يَومُهُ ما المَصرَعُ

Where is he whose works include the two pyramids?

Where now is the builder of the Great Pyramids?

Who were his people? What was his day? Where did he fall?

Who were his people? What was his day? How did he fall?

تَتَخَلَّفُ الآثارُ عَن أَصحابِها

تَتَخَلَّفُ الآثارُ عَن أَصحابِها

حيناً وَيُدرِكُها الفَناءُ فَتَتبَعُ

حيناً وَيُدرِكُها الفَناءُ فَتَتبَعُ

Monuments outlive their makers

The monuments linger long after their lords,

for a time; then ruin overtakes them, and they follow.

Awhile, till ruin catches them, and they follow suit.

لَم يُرضِ قَلبَ أَبي شُجاعٍ مَبلَغٌ

لَم يُرضِ قَلبَ أَبي شُجاعٍ مَبلَغٌ

قَبلَ المَماتِ وَلَم يَسَعهُ مَوضِعُ

قَبلَ المَماتِ وَلَم يَسَعهُ مَوضِعُ

No attainment satisfied Abu Shujaʿ's heart

No limit ever satisfied Abu Shuja’s heart,

before death, and no place could contain him.

Before his death, nor could any space contain him.

كُنّا نَظُنُّ دِيارَهُ مَملوءَةً

كُنّا نَظُنُّ دِيارَهُ مَملوءَةً

ذَهَباً فَماتَ وَكُلُّ دارٍ بَلقَعُ

ذَهَباً فَماتَ وَكُلُّ دارٍ بَلقَعُ

We used to think his dwellings filled

We thought his vaults were filled with hoarded gold,

with gold; then he died, and every house was a barren waste.

He died, and lo—every house lies empty and bare.

وَإِذا المَكارِمُ وَالصَوارِمُ وَالقَنا

وَإِذا المَكارِمُ وَالصَوارِمُ وَالقَنا

وَبَناتُ أَعوَجَ كُلُّ شَيءٍ يَجمَعُ

وَبَناتُ أَعوَجَ كُلُّ شَيءٍ يَجمَعُ

And behold: noble deeds, keen swords, and spears,

For behold: his honor, the sharp swords, and the spears,

and the daughters of Aʿwaj were all that he gathered.

And the thoroughbred steeds—these were all the wealth he gathered.

المَجدُ أَخسَرُ وَالمَكارِمُ صَفقَةً

المَجدُ أَخسَرُ وَالمَكارِمُ صَفقَةً

مِن أَن يَعيشَ لَها الكَريمُ الأَروَعُ

مِن أَن يَعيشَ لَها الكَريمُ الأَروَعُ

Glory and noble deeds are too poor a bargain

Glory and honor are a losing trade indeed,

for the noble, splendid man to live for them.

If the noble, magnificent soul must live for their sake.

وَالناسُ أَنزَلُ في زَمانِكَ مَنزِلاً

وَالناسُ أَنزَلُ في زَمانِكَ مَنزِلاً

مِن أَن تُعايِشَهُم وَقَدرُكَ أَرفَعُ

مِن أَن تُعايِشَهُم وَقَدرُكَ أَرفَعُ

And the people of your time occupy too low a station

The people of your time occupy too low a station

for you to live among them; your rank is higher.

For you to dwell among them, when your rank is so high.

بَرِّد حَشايَ إِنِ اِستَطَعتَ بِلَفظَةٍ

بَرِّد حَشايَ إِنِ اِستَطَعتَ بِلَفظَةٍ

فَلَقَد تَضُرُّ إِذا تَشاءُ وَتَنفَعُ

فَلَقَد تَضُرُّ إِذا تَشاءُ وَتَنفَعُ

Cool my heart, if you can, with a word;

Soothe my burning heart, if you can, with a single word;

for you can indeed harm when you wish, and help.

For you have power to harm, as you wish, and to heal.

ما كانَ مِنكَ إِلى خَليلٍ قَبلَها

ما كانَ مِنكَ إِلى خَليلٍ قَبلَها

ما يُستَرابُ بِهِ وَلا ما يوجِعُ

ما يُستَرابُ بِهِ وَلا ما يوجِعُ

Before this, nothing from you ever reached a friend

Never before this did you offer a friend

that gave cause for doubt or caused pain.

Anything to cause doubt, nor anything to cause pain.

وَلَقَد أَراكَ وَما تُلِمُّ مُلِمَّةٌ

وَلَقَد أَراكَ وَما تُلِمُّ مُلِمَّةٌ

إِلّا نَفاها عَنكَ قَلبٌ أَصمَعُ

إِلّا نَفاها عَنكَ قَلبٌ أَصمَعُ

Indeed, I used to see you: no calamity came

I used to watch you when calamity struck,

but was driven away from you by a resolute heart

Repelled always by a heart vigilant and sharp.

وَيَدٌ كَأَنَّ قِتالَها وَنَوالَها

وَيَدٌ كَأَنَّ قِتالَها وَنَوالَها

فَرضٌ يَحِقُّ عَلَيكَ وَهوَ تَبَرُّعُ

فَرضٌ يَحِقُّ عَلَيكَ وَهوَ تَبَرُّعُ

and a hand whose fighting and giving seemed

And a hand whose fighting and giving seemed

a duty binding on you, though it was voluntary.

A mandatory duty, though truly a gift of grace.

يا مَن يُبَدِّلُ كُلَّ يَومٍ حُلَّةً

يا مَن يُبَدِّلُ كُلَّ يَومٍ حُلَّةً

أَنّى رَضيتَ بِحُلَّةٍ لا تُنزَعُ

أَنّى رَضيتَ بِحُلَّةٍ لا تُنزَعُ

O you who change a robe every day,

O you who used to change your raiment every day,

how were you content with a robe that cannot be removed?

How are you content with a robe that is never removed?

ما زِلتَ تَخلَعُها عَلى مَن شاءَها

ما زِلتَ تَخلَعُها عَلى مَن شاءَها

حَتّى لَبِستَ اليَومَ مالا تَخلَعُ

حَتّى لَبِستَ اليَومَ مالا تَخلَعُ

You never ceased bestowing it on whoever desired it,

You ceased not to bestow robes on all who asked,

until today you donned what you will not take off.

Until today you wear what you shall never cast off.

ما زِلتَ تَدفَعُ كُلَّ أَمرٍ فادِحٍ

ما زِلتَ تَدفَعُ كُلَّ أَمرٍ فادِحٍ

حَتّى أَتى الأَمرُ الَّذي لا يُدفَعُ

حَتّى أَتى الأَمرُ الَّذي لا يُدفَعُ

You never ceased warding off every grievous event,

You ceased not to repel every heavy burden,

until the event that cannot be repelled came.

Until the command arrived that can never be repelled.

فَظَلِلتَ تَنظُرُ لا رِماحُكَ شُرَّعٌ

فَظَلِلتَ تَنظُرُ لا رِماحُكَ شُرَّعٌ

فيما عَراكَ وَلا سُيوفُكَ قُطَّعُ

فيما عَراكَ وَلا سُيوفُكَ قُطَّعُ

So you remained watching, your spears not leveled

You lay gazing, your spears no longer leveled,

against what assailed you, nor did your swords cut.

Against what befell you, your swords no longer keen.

بِأَبي الوَحيدُ وَجَيشُهُ مُتَكاثِرٌ

بِأَبي الوَحيدُ وَجَيشُهُ مُتَكاثِرٌ

يَبكي وَمِن شَرِّ السِلاحِ الأَدمُعُ

يَبكي وَمِن شَرِّ السِلاحِ الأَدمُعُ

May my father ransom the lonely one, though his army is numerous;

My father be ransom for the lonely one, surrounded by armies,

it weeps—and tears are among the worst of weapons.

Who weeps now—for tears are the most wretched of weapons.

وَإِذا حَصَلتَ مِنَ السِلاحِ عَلى البُكا

وَإِذا حَصَلتَ مِنَ السِلاحِ عَلى البُكا

فَحَشاكَ رُعتَ بِهِ وَخَدَّكَ تَقرَعُ

فَحَشاكَ رُعتَ بِهِ وَخَدَّكَ تَقرَعُ

And when the weapon you acquire is weeping,

If, of all weaponry, you are left only with weeping,

then you frighten your own heart with it, and strike your cheek.

You but terrify your own heart and strike your own cheek.

وَصَلَت إِلَيكَ يَدٌ سَواءٌ عِندَها ال

وَصَلَت إِلَيكَ يَدٌ سَواءٌ عِندَها ال

بازي الأُشَيهِبُ وَالغُرابُ الأَبقَعُ

بازي الأُشَيهِبُ وَالغُرابُ الأَبقَعُ

A hand has reached you, before which alike are the

A hand has reached you that treats as equal

grayish hawk and the pied crow.

The noble grey falcon and the spotted crow.

مَن لِلمَحافِلِ وَالجَحافِلِ وَالسُرى

مَن لِلمَحافِلِ وَالجَحافِلِ وَالسُرى

فَقَدَت بِفَقدِكَ نَيِّراً لا يَطلَعُ

فَقَدَت بِفَقدِكَ نَيِّراً لا يَطلَعُ

Who is there for assemblies, armies, and night journeys?

Who now for the assemblies, the armies, the night-journeys?

In losing you, they lost a luminary that will not rise.

In losing you, they lost a sun that shall not rise again.

وَمَنِ اِتَّخَذتَ عَلى الضُيوفِ خَليفَةً

وَمَنِ اِتَّخَذتَ عَلى الضُيوفِ خَليفَةً

ضاعوا وَمِثلَكَ لا يَكادُ يُضَيِّعُ

ضاعوا وَمِثلَكَ لا يَكادُ يُضَيِّعُ

And whom did you appoint as your successor over the guests?

And whom have you appointed successor for your guests?

They are forsaken, and one like you would hardly neglect them.

They are lost—though one like you would never let them be lost.

قُبحاً لِوَجهِكَ يا زَمانُ فَإِنَّهُ

قُبحاً لِوَجهِكَ يا زَمانُ فَإِنَّهُ

وَجهٌ لَهُ مِن كُلِّ قُبحٍ بُرقُعُ

وَجهٌ لَهُ مِن كُلِّ قُبحٍ بُرقُعُ

Shame upon your face, O Time, for it is

May your face be cursed, O Time, for truly

a face with a veil of every kind of ugliness.

It is a face masked by every kind of ugliness.

أَيَموتُ مِثلُ أَبي شُجاعٍ فاتِكٌ

أَيَموتُ مِثلُ أَبي شُجاعٍ فاتِكٌ

وَيَعيشُ حاسِدُهُ الخَصِيُّ الأَوكَعُ

وَيَعيشُ حاسِدُهُ الخَصِيُّ الأَوكَعُ

Can a man like Abu Shujaʿ Fatik die,

Does a hero like Abu Shuja’ Fatik die,

while his envier lives, the crooked-toed eunuch?

While his envier lives on—that flat-footed eunuch?

أَيدٍ مُقَطَّعَةٌ حَوالي رَأسِهِ

أَيدٍ مُقَطَّعَةٌ حَوالي رَأسِهِ

وَقَفاً يَصيحُ بِها أَلا مَن يَصفَعُ

وَقَفاً يَصيحُ بِها أَلا مَن يَصفَعُ

Severed hands surround his head,

Cut-off hands hang about his head,

and a nape cries out to them: 'Will no one slap?'

And a nape that cries out through them: "Is there no one to slap me?"

أَبقَيتَ أَكذَبَ كاذِبٍ أَبقَيتَهُ

أَبقَيتَ أَكذَبَ كاذِبٍ أَبقَيتَهُ

وَأَخَذتَ أَصدَقَ مَن يَقولُ وَيَسمَعُ

وَأَخَذتَ أَصدَقَ مَن يَقولُ وَيَسمَعُ

You spared the greatest liar you ever spared,

You spared the most deceitful of liars—you spared him!

and took the truest of all who speak and hear.

And took the most truthful man who ever spoke or heard.

وَتَرَكتَ أَنتَنَ ريحَةٍ مَذمومَةٍ

وَتَرَكتَ أَنتَنَ ريحَةٍ مَذمومَةٍ

وَسَلَبتَ أَطيَبَ ريحَةٍ تَتَضَوَّعُ

وَسَلَبتَ أَطيَبَ ريحَةٍ تَتَضَوَّعُ

And you left the foulest of reviled odors,

You left behind the foulest, most wretched stench,

and stole the sweetest scent that wafts abroad.

And stole away the sweetest scent that ever breathed.

فَاليَومَ قَرَّ لِكُلِّ وَحشٍ نافِرٍ

فَاليَومَ قَرَّ لِكُلِّ وَحشٍ نافِرٍ

دَمُهُ وَكانَ كَأَنَّهُ يَتَطَلَّعُ

دَمُهُ وَكانَ كَأَنَّهُ يَتَطَلَّعُ

So today, for every fleeing wild beast, at rest is

Today the blood of every fleeing beast settles calm,

its blood, which once seemed to peer forth.

Which once throbbed as if watching in constant fear.

وَتَصالَحَت ثَمَرُ السِياطِ وَخَيلُهُ

وَتَصالَحَت ثَمَرُ السِياطِ وَخَيلُهُ

وَأَوَت إِلَيها سوقُها وَالأَذرُعُ

وَأَوَت إِلَيها سوقُها وَالأَذرُعُ

And the tips of the whips and his horses have made peace,

The tips of the whips have made peace with his horses;

and their shanks and forelegs have found refuge with them.

Their shanks and limbs have found rest at last.

وَعَفا الطِرادُ فَلا سِنانٌ راعِفٌ

وَعَفا الطِرادُ فَلا سِنانٌ راعِفٌ

فَوقَ القَناةِ وَلا حُسامٌ يَلمَعُ

فَوقَ القَناةِ وَلا حُسامٌ يَلمَعُ

And the chase has vanished; no spearhead bleeds

The chase is over; no spear-point drips with blood

atop a shaft, nor does a keen sword gleam.

Atop the shaft, nor does any sharp sword gleam.

وَلّى وَكُلُّ مُخالِمٍ وَمُنادِمٍ

وَلّى وَكُلُّ مُخالِمٍ وَمُنادِمٍ

بَعدَ اللُزومِ مُشَيِّعٌ وَمُوَدِّعُ

بَعدَ اللُزومِ مُشَيِّعٌ وَمُوَدِّعُ

He has departed, and every close friend and drinking companion,

He has departed, and every friend and drinking companion,

after constant companionship, escorts him and bids farewell:

Who once clung close, is now but a mourner bidding farewell.

مَن كانَ فيهِ لِكُلِّ قَومٍ مَلجَأً

مَن كانَ فيهِ لِكُلِّ قَومٍ مَلجَأً

وَلِسَيفِهِ في كُلِّ قَومٍ مَرتَعُ

وَلِسَيفِهِ في كُلِّ قَومٍ مَرتَعُ

he in whom every people had a refuge,

He, in whom every people found a sanctuary,

and whose sword had a pasture among every people.

And in whom every people found a pasture for his sword.

إِن حَلَّ في فُرسٍ فَفيها رَبُّها

إِن حَلَّ في فُرسٍ فَفيها رَبُّها

كِسرى تَذِلُّ لَهُ الرِقابُ وَتَخضَعُ

كِسرى تَذِلُّ لَهُ الرِقابُ وَتَخضَعُ

If he dwelt among Persians, their lord was there:

If he dwelt among Persians, he was their lord,

Khosrow, before whom necks bowed and submitted.

A Chosroes to whom necks bowed down in submission.

أَو حَلَّ في رومٍ فَفيها قَيصَرٌ

أَو حَلَّ في رومٍ فَفيها قَيصَرٌ

أَو حَلَّ في عُربٍ فَفيها تُبَّعُ

أَو حَلَّ في عُربٍ فَفيها تُبَّعُ

Or if he dwelt among Romans, a Caesar was there;

If he dwelt among Byzantines, he was their Caesar;

or if he dwelt among Arabs, a Tubbaʿ was there.

If among Arabs, he was their Tubba’.

قَد كانَ أَسرَعَ فارِسٍ في طَعنَةٍ

قَد كانَ أَسرَعَ فارِسٍ في طَعنَةٍ

فَرَساً وَلَكِنَّ المَنِيَّةَ أَسرَعُ

فَرَساً وَلَكِنَّ المَنِيَّةَ أَسرَعُ

He was indeed the swiftest horseman in a spear-thrust,

He was the swiftest horseman to land a thrust,

in his steed's speed—but death is swifter.

Yet Death proved swifter still.

لا قَلَّبَت أَيدي الفَوارِسِ بَعدَهُ

لا قَلَّبَت أَيدي الفَوارِسِ بَعدَهُ

رُمحاً وَلا حَمَلَت جَواداً أَربَعُ

رُمحاً وَلا حَمَلَت جَواداً أَربَعُ

May horsemen's hands, after him, never wield

May the hands of horsemen never wield a spear after him,

a spear, nor may four legs carry a noble steed.

Nor four legs ever bear a steed again.