عَفا ذو حسًى مِن فَرتَنى فَالفَوارِعُ

عَفا ذو حسًى مِن فَرتَنى فَالفَوارِعُ

فَجَنبا أَريكٍ فَالتِلاعُ الدَوافِعُ

فَجَنبا أَريكٍ فَالتِلاعُ الدَوافِعُ

Dhu Hasa has faded, from Fartana to al-Fawariʿ,

He who is of sound judgment pardoned my dereliction, so the obligatory duties remain neglected;

and both flanks of Arik, and the water-bearing ravines;

I avoid the cushioned seat, so temptation and desire remain.

فَمُجتَمَعُ الأَشراجِ غَيَّرَ رَسمَها

فَمُجتَمَعُ الأَشراجِ غَيَّرَ رَسمَها

مَصايِفُ مَرَّت بَعدَنا وَمَرابِعُ

مَصايِفُ مَرَّت بَعدَنا وَمَرابِعُ

and the confluence of the watercourses; their traces were changed

The place of gathering has changed its features after we frequented it, and the resting-places have passed away.

by summers that passed after us, and springs.

I fancied I saw in it vestiges to which I was accustomed, after six years and this is the seventh.

تَوَهَّمتُ آياتٍ لَها فَعَرَفتُها

تَوَهَّمتُ آياتٍ لَها فَعَرَفتُها

لِسِتَّةِ أَعوامٍ وَذا العامُ سابِعُ

لِسِتَّةِ أَعوامٍ وَذا العامُ سابِعُ

I pondered its traces, then recognized them,

Ashen dust like the kohl of the eye, I make evident my plaint, and a slumber like the moisture of the cistern, dark and humble.

after six years—and this year is the seventh.

As though the course of the Pleiades declined because a matting on which the manufacturers have worked has been spread over it.

رَمادٌ كَكُحلِ العَينِ لَأياً أُبينُهُ

رَمادٌ كَكُحلِ العَينِ لَأياً أُبينُهُ

وَنُؤيٌ كَجَذمِ الحَوضِ أَثلَمُ خاشِعُ

وَنُؤيٌ كَجَذمِ الحَوضِ أَثلَمُ خاشِعُ

Ashes like eye-kohl, which I can barely discern,

On the back of a new constructed building, its walls he circulates amidst the soft sand selling.

and a rain-ditch like a basin's broken base, breached and sunken.

I brushed away a tear from myself but I turned it back onto my throat, a beginner and a tearful one.

كَأَنَّ مَجَرَّ الرامِساتِ ذُبولَها

كَأَنَّ مَجَرَّ الرامِساتِ ذُبولَها

عَلَيهِ حَصيرٌ نَمَّقَتهُ الصَوانِعُ

عَلَيهِ حَصيرٌ نَمَّقَتهُ الصَوانِعُ

As though the dust-laying winds' fading trails

At a time when I chided hoary hairs over youth, and said: "How sound is even hoary hair when it deters!"

over it were a mat patterned by craftswomen,

But an anxiety has intervened, occupying the place of the diadem, which the fingers seek.

عَلى ظَهرِ مِبناةٍ جَديدٍ سُيورُها

عَلى ظَهرِ مِبناةٍ جَديدٍ سُيورُها

يَطوفُ بِها وَسطَ اللَطيمَةِ بائِعُ

يَطوفُ بِها وَسطَ اللَطيمَةِ بائِعُ

on the back of a leather spread with new straps,

The feast day of my father Qabus came to me, though its reality was changed, and below me a blanket, so the resting places!

which a seller carries about amid the perfume caravan.

I pass the night as though a slight viper has visited me, in whose fangs is deadly poison dripping.

فَكَفكَفتُ مِني عَبرَةً فَرَدَدتُها

فَكَفكَفتُ مِني عَبرَةً فَرَدَدتُها

عَلى النَحرِ مِنها مُستَهِلٌّ وَدامِعُ

عَلى النَحرِ مِنها مُستَهِلٌّ وَدامِعُ

So I checked a tear welling from me and held it back;

It lulls to sleep harmlessly the jewellery of the women in his hands, clanking.

on my breast some of it streamed, and some dripped.

The charmers charm it against the evil of its poison; it divorces for a time, then returns.

عَلى حينَ عاتَبتُ المَشيبَ عَلى الصِبا

عَلى حينَ عاتَبتُ المَشيبَ عَلى الصِبا

وَقُلتُ أَلَمّا أَصحُ وَالشَيبُ وازِعُ

وَقُلتُ أَلَمّا أَصحُ وَالشَيبُ وازِعُ

At a time when I reproached gray hair for youthful longing,

It came to me: "May you be cursed! That you have wronged me, and that is what makes the ears tingle."

and said, 'Have I not yet come to my senses, when gray hair restrains?'

The saying that I should attain it, which is, coming from the like of you, shocking.

وَقَد حالَ هَمٌّ دونَ ذَلِكَ شاغِلٌ

وَقَد حالَ هَمٌّ دونَ ذَلِكَ شاغِلٌ

مَكانَ الشِغافِ تَبتَغيهِ الأَصابِعُ

مَكانَ الشِغافِ تَبتَغيهِ الأَصابِعُ

But an absorbing worry has come between me and that,

By my life ― and my life is not easy for me ― the dice have told against me a terrible tale.

at the heart's sheath, where the fingers seek it out.

The shocking tale of `Awf; I attempt nothing but it, faces of monkeys desiring one they may cozen.

وَعيدُ أَبي قابوسَ في غَيرِ كُنهِهِ

وَعيدُ أَبي قابوسَ في غَيرِ كُنهِهِ

أَتاني وَدوني راكِسٌ فَالضَواجِعُ

أَتاني وَدوني راكِسٌ فَالضَواجِعُ

A threat from Abu Qabus, without rightful cause,

There came to you a man harboring hatred against me, who has, from an enemy, the like of that pleading his cause,

reached me, though Rakis and al-Dawajiʿ lay between us.

Who came to you with a saying the woven threads of which are lies, and he brought not the truth which is brilliant.

فَبِتُّ كَأَنّي ساوَرَتني ضَئيلَةٌ

فَبِتُّ كَأَنّي ساوَرَتني ضَئيلَةٌ

مِنَ الرُقشِ في أَنيابِها السُمُّ ناقِعُ

مِنَ الرُقشِ في أَنيابِها السُمُّ ناقِعُ

So I spent the night as though a slender snake had attacked me,

He brought you a saying I was not going to utter, even if all fetters were bound upon my arms.

one of the mottled snakes, deadly venom in its fangs.

I swore an oath and left you no doubt, for does one sin, who has a nation, while obedient?

يُسَهَّدُ مِن لَيلِ التَمامِ سَليمُها

يُسَهَّدُ مِن لَيلِ التَمامِ سَليمُها

لِحَليِ النِساءِ في يَدَيهِ قَعاقِعُ

لِحَليِ النِساءِ في يَدَيهِ قَعاقِعُ

Its bitten victim is kept sleepless through the longest night;

With fair companions, of smooth skin and plumpness, who visit at night, their progress jostling.

women's jewelry rattles in his two hands.

Wild cows their eyes rival the wind, for them on the road are equipages and litters.

تَناذَرَها الراقونَ مِن سوءِ سُمِّها

تَناذَرَها الراقونَ مِن سوءِ سُمِّها

تُطَلِّقُهُ طَوراً وَطَوراً تُراجِعُ

تُطَلِّقُهُ طَوراً وَطَوراً تُراجِعُ

The charm-healers warned one another against it, so evil was its venom;

Dishevelled they cling to their pilgrimage, so they are like the ends of cane, bending.

at times it releases him, and at times returns.

You have burdened me with the sin of a man and left him, like the one whose shoulder bears the knotted ropes.

أَتاني أَبَيتَ اللَعنَ أَنَّكَ لُمتَني

أَتاني أَبَيتَ اللَعنَ أَنَّكَ لُمتَني

وَتِلكَ الَّتي تَستَكُّ مِنها المَسامِعُ

وَتِلكَ الَّتي تَستَكُّ مِنها المَسامِعُ

Word reached me—may you be beyond reproach—that you blamed me,

If I am not believed when I deny it, and my oath of innocence is unavailing,

and that is what deafens the ears:

And I am not safe with anything I may say, while you are resolved upon a matter unavoidably occurring,

مَقالَةُ أَن قَد قُلتَ سَوفَ أَنالُهُ

مَقالَةُ أَن قَد قُلتَ سَوفَ أَنالُهُ

وَذَلِكَ مِن تِلقاءِ مِثلِكَ رائِعُ

وَذَلِكَ مِن تِلقاءِ مِثلِكَ رائِعُ

the report that you have said, 'I shall get him.'

Then you are like the night that overtakes me, though I think the refuge from you ample.

And that, coming from one like you, is terrifying.

Bits of slender rope in strong ropes whereby hands pull toward you, tempting.

لَعَمري وَما عُمري عَلَيَّ بِهَيِّنٍ

لَعَمري وَما عُمري عَلَيَّ بِهَيِّنٍ

لَقَد نَطَقَت بُطلاً عَلَيَّ الأَقارِعُ

لَقَد نَطَقَت بُطلاً عَلَيَّ الأَقارِعُ

By my life—and my life is no trifling thing to me—

Do you threaten a slave who has not betrayed you any trust, and leave a slave who is unjust while he is rising?

the Aqariʿ have indeed spoken lies against me;

You are a spring that nourishes people with its rain clouds, and a sword that death has lent as one cutting.

أَقارِعُ عَوفٍ لا أُحاوِلُ غَيرَها

أَقارِعُ عَوفٍ لا أُحاوِلُ غَيرَها

وُجوهُ قُرودٍ تَبتَغي مَن تُجادِعُ

وُجوهُ قُرودٍ تَبتَغي مَن تُجادِعُ

the Aqariʿ of ʿAwf—I mean no others—

God has refused anything but His justice and loyalty, so neither favour is lost nor the known forgotten.

monkey faces, seeking someone to trade insults with.

You give drink when you wish, inexhaustible, with a leather bucket whose cords are fine musk, fragrant.

أَتاكَ اِمرُؤٌ مُستَبطِنٌ لِيَ بِغضَةً

أَتاكَ اِمرُؤٌ مُستَبطِنٌ لِيَ بِغضَةً

لَهُ مِن عَدوٍّ مِثلَ ذَلِكَ شافِعُ

لَهُ مِن عَدوٍّ مِثلَ ذَلِكَ شافِعُ

A man came to you, secretly harboring hatred for me,

with another enemy of like feeling to support him.

أَتاكَ بِقَولٍ هَلهَلِ النَسجِ كاذِبٍ

أَتاكَ بِقَولٍ هَلهَلِ النَسجِ كاذِبٍ

وَلَم يَأتِ بِالحَقِّ الَّذي هُوَ ناصِعُ

وَلَم يَأتِ بِالحَقِّ الَّذي هُوَ ناصِعُ

He came to you with a false tale, loosely woven,

and did not bring the clear, unclouded truth.

أَتاكَ بِقَولٍ لَم أَكُن لِأَقولَهُ

أَتاكَ بِقَولٍ لَم أَكُن لِأَقولَهُ

وَلَو كُبِلَت في ساعِدَيَّ الجَوامِعُ

وَلَو كُبِلَت في ساعِدَيَّ الجَوامِعُ

He came to you with words I would never utter,

even if fetters were clamped upon both my forearms.

حَلَفتُ فَلَم أَترُك لِنَفسِكَ ريبَةً

حَلَفتُ فَلَم أَترُك لِنَفسِكَ ريبَةً

وَهَل يَأثَمَن ذو أُمَّةٍ وَهوَ طائِعُ

وَهَل يَأثَمَن ذو أُمَّةٍ وَهوَ طائِعُ

I swore, leaving no doubt in your mind—

and would a man of faith willingly incur sin?—

بِمُصطَحِباتٍ مِن لَصافٍ وَثَبرَةٍ

بِمُصطَحِباتٍ مِن لَصافٍ وَثَبرَةٍ

يَزُرنَ إِلالاً سَيرُهُنَّ التَدافُعُ

يَزُرنَ إِلالاً سَيرُهُنَّ التَدافُعُ

by she-camels traveling together from Lasaf and Thabra,

visiting Ilal, their pace a jostling rush,

سَماماً تُباري الريحَ خوصاً عُيونُها

سَماماً تُباري الريحَ خوصاً عُيونُها

لَهُنَّ رَذايا بِالطَريقِ وَدائِعُ

لَهُنَّ رَذايا بِالطَريقِ وَدائِعُ

like swifts racing the wind, their eyes sunken.

They have exhausted companions left along the road in safekeeping;

عَلَيهِنَّ شُعثٌ عامِدونَ لِحَجِّهِم

عَلَيهِنَّ شُعثٌ عامِدونَ لِحَجِّهِم

فَهُنَّ كَأَطرافِ الحَنيِّ خَواضِعُ

فَهُنَّ كَأَطرافِ الحَنيِّ خَواضِعُ

upon them ride disheveled men bound for their pilgrimage,

so they bow low like the tips of bows:

لَكَلَّفتَني ذَنبَ اِمرِئٍ وَتَرَكتَهُ

لَكَلَّفتَني ذَنبَ اِمرِئٍ وَتَرَكتَهُ

كَذي العُرِّ يُكوى غَيرُهُ وَهوَ راتِعُ

كَذي العُرِّ يُكوى غَيرُهُ وَهوَ راتِعُ

you have surely burdened me with a man's guilt and spared him,

like a mangy camel: another is cauterized while it grazes.

فَإِن كُنتُ لا ذو الضِغنِ عَنّي مُكَذَّبٌ

فَإِن كُنتُ لا ذو الضِغنِ عَنّي مُكَذَّبٌ

وَلا حَلفي عَلى البَراءَةِ نافِعُ

وَلا حَلفي عَلى البَراءَةِ نافِعُ

So if, in my case, the spiteful man is not disbelieved,

nor does my oath of innocence avail,

وَلا أَنا مَأمونٌ بِشَيءٍ أَقولُهُ

وَلا أَنا مَأمونٌ بِشَيءٍ أَقولُهُ

وَأَنتَ بِأَمرٍ لا مَحالَةَ واقِعُ

وَأَنتَ بِأَمرٍ لا مَحالَةَ واقِعُ

nor am I trusted in anything I say,

and you will inevitably take some action,

فَإِنَّكَ كَاللَيلِ الَّذي هُوَ مُدرِكي

فَإِنَّكَ كَاللَيلِ الَّذي هُوَ مُدرِكي

وَإِن خِلتُ أَنَّ المُنتَأى عَنكَ واسِعُ

وَإِن خِلتُ أَنَّ المُنتَأى عَنكَ واسِعُ

then you are like the night that will overtake me,

even if I think there is ample room to flee from you.

خَطاطيفُ جُحنٌ في حِبالٍ مَتينَةٍ

خَطاطيفُ جُحنٌ في حِبالٍ مَتينَةٍ

تَمُدُّ بِها أَيدٍ إِلَيكَ نَوازِعُ

تَمُدُّ بِها أَيدٍ إِلَيكَ نَوازِعُ

Crooked hooks on sturdy ropes,

hands tugging toward you draw them taut.

أَتوعِدُ عَبداً لَم يَخُنكَ أَمانَةً

أَتوعِدُ عَبداً لَم يَخُنكَ أَمانَةً

وَتَترُكُ عَبداً ظالِماً وَهوَ ظالِعُ

وَتَترُكُ عَبداً ظالِماً وَهوَ ظالِعُ

Do you threaten a servant who has not betrayed your trust,

and spare a wrongdoing servant, though he limps?

وَأَنتَ رَبيعٌ يُنعِشُ الناسَ سَيبُهُ

وَأَنتَ رَبيعٌ يُنعِشُ الناسَ سَيبُهُ

وَسَيفٌ أُعيرَتهُ المَنِيَّةُ قاطِعُ

وَسَيفٌ أُعيرَتهُ المَنِيَّةُ قاطِعُ

And you are spring, whose bounty revives the people,

and a cutting sword lent to Death.

أَبى اللَهُ إِلّا عَدلَهُ وَوَفائَهُ

أَبى اللَهُ إِلّا عَدلَهُ وَوَفائَهُ

فَلا النُكرُ مَعروفٌ وَلا العُرفُ ضائِعُ

فَلا النُكرُ مَعروفٌ وَلا العُرفُ ضائِعُ

God has willed nothing but his justice and faithfulness;

so no evil is known, and no kindness goes to waste.

وَتُسقى إِذا ما شِئتَ غَيرَ مُصَرَّدٍ

وَتُسقى إِذا ما شِئتَ غَيرَ مُصَرَّدٍ

بِزَوراءَ في حافاتِها المِسكُ كانِعُ

بِزَوراءَ في حافاتِها المِسكُ كانِعُ

And you are given drink whenever you wish, unstinted,

from a curved goblet, musk clinging to its rims.