بانَت سُعادُ وَأَمسى حَبلُها اِنقَطَعا
وَاِحتَلَّتِ الغَمرَ فَالجُدَّينِ فَالفَرعا
Her happiness has faded and its rope is now cut,
My youth gave way to old age then to senility.
وَأَنكَرَتني وَما كانَ الَّذي نَكِرَت
مِنَ الحَوادِثِ إِلّا الشَيبَ وَالصَلَعا
She did not recognize me, but what made her unrecognizable,
Was nothing but the grey hair and baldness.
قَد يَترُكُ الدَهرُ في خَلقاءَ راسِيَةٍ
وَهياً وَيُنزِلُ مِنها الأَعصَمَ الصَدَعا
Time may leave sturdy youths as frail wrecks,
And bring down the strongest from the heights of glory.
بانَت وَقَد أَسأَرَت في النَفسِ حاجَتَها
بَعدَ اِئتِلافٍ وَخَيرُ الوُدِّ ما نَفَعا
She has faded after achieving her heart’s desire,
After a harmonious union and the best affection too.
وَقَد أَرانا طِلاباً هَمَّ صاحِبِهِ
لَو أَنَّ شَيئاً إِذا ما فاتَنا رَجَعا
We saw life's seekers whose companions
Wished the past would come back if it slipped away!
تَعصي الوُشاةَ وَكانَ الحُبُّ آوِنَةً
مِمّا يُزَيِّنُ لِلمَشغوفِ ما صَنَعا
She resisted tyrants and affection was just,
Adorning all the lover did and had made.
وَكانَ شَيءٌ إِلى شَيءٍ فَفَرَّقَهُ
دَهرٌ يَعودُ عَلى تَشتيتِ ما جَمَعا
When life disjoined what it once brought together,
Scattering what it once united and gathered.
وَما طِلابُكَ شَيئاً لَستَ مُدرِكَهُ
إِن كانَ عَنكَ غُرابُ الجَهلِ قَد وَقَعا
You cannot attain what you seek,
If the ignorance of youth has departed from you.
تَقولُ بِنتي وَقَد قَرَّبتُ مُرتَحَلاً
يا رَبِّ جَنِّب أَبي الأَوصابَ وَالوَجَعا
“Father”, my daughter pleads, “Spare my dad all harm and agony”.
She sought the intercession of noble ladies of proud descent,
وَاِستَشفَعَت مِن سَراةَ الحَيِّ ذا شَرَفٍ
فَقَد عَصاها أَبوها وَالَّذي شَفَعا
But her father refused and rejected their intercession.
Gently, my daughter. Ambition
مَهلاً بُنَيَّ فَإِنَّ المَرءَ يَبعَثُهُ
هَمٌّ إِذا خالَطَ الحَيزومَ وَالضِلَعا
Stirs a man when it touches his mind and ribs.
On yourself, the same as you prayed, so be patient
عَلَيكِ مِثلُ الَّذي صَلَّيتِ فَاِغتَمِضي
يَوماً فَإِنَّ لِجَنبِ المَرءِ مُضطَجَعا
A day, for the bereaved to rest at home.
Ask the leaders of the caravans and await
وَاِستَخبِري قافِلَ الرُكبانِ وَاِنتَظِري
أَوبَ المُسافِرِ إِن رَيثاً وَإِن سَرعا
The return of the traveler, be it soon or late.
Be like she who when her visitor was absent,
كوني كَمِثلِ الَّتي إِذ غابَ وافِدُها
أَهدَت لَهُ مِن بَعيدٍ نَظرَةً جَزَعا
Gazed at him from afar, suffering distress.
Do not be like one who expects no return
وَلا تَكوني كَمَن لا يَرتَجي أَوبَةً
لِذي اِغتِرابٍ وَلا يَرجو لَهُ رِجَعا
Of the distant exile, and no homecoming.
No glance of languid eyes truly resembles hers,
ما نَظَرَت ذاتُ أَشفارٍ كَنَظرَتِها
حَقّاً كَما صَدَقَ الذِئبِيُّ إِذ سَجَعا
As the wolf proclaimed when it howled out loud.
When she gave an honest look, not deceptive,
إِذ نَظَرَت نَظرَةً لَيسَت بِكاذِبَةٍ
إِذ يَرفَعُ الآلُ رَأسَ الكَلبِ فَاِرتَفَعا
As the family of wolves collectively raised their heads.
She tossed her smooth neck, no deceiver,
وَقَلَّبَت مُقلَةً لَيسَت بِمُقرِفَةٍ
إِنسانَ عَينِ وَمُؤقاً لَم يَكُن قَمعا
A human, weak, not one to oppress.
“I see”, she said, “a man holding a shoulder,
قالَت أَرى رَجُلاً في كَفِّهِ كَتِفٌ
أَو يَخصِفُ النَعلَ لَهفي أَيَّةً صَنَعا
Or cobbling shoes, longing for any task”.
They called her a liar for what she said, then at dawn
فَكَذَّبوها بِما قالَت فَصَبَّحَهُم
ذو آلِ حَسّانَ يُزجي المَوتَ وَالشِرَعا
The tribe of Hassan's hounds brought death and havoc.
The lofty houses of the carefree were demolished,
فَاِستَنزَلوا أَهلَ جَوٍّ مِن مَساكِنِهِم
وَهَدَّموا شاخِصَ البُنيانِ فَاِتَّضَعا
Those towering buildings were razed down.
A village where fear silenced its shelters,
وَبَلدَةٍ يَرهَبُ الجَوّابُ دُلجَتَها
حَتّى تَراهُ عَلَيها يَبتَغي الشِيَعا
Until you see death roaming about seeking victims.
You hear nothing in its stillness to comfort you
لا يَسمَعُ المَرءُ فيها ما يُؤَنِّسُهُ
بِاللَيلِ إِلّا نَئيمَ البومِ وَالضُوَعا
Except the hooting owls and howling jackals.
I ventured there driven by ambition
كَلَّفتُ مَجهولَها نَفسي وَشايَعَني
هَمّي عَلَيها إِذا ما آلُها لَمَعا
When its roaming beasts glimmered at night.
A foul lascivious one who, when she stumbled,
بِذاتِ لَوثٍ عَفَرناةٍ إِذا عَثَرَت
فَالتَعسُ أَدنى لَها مِن أَن أَقولَ لَعا
Curse her! Revilement suited her more than praise.
She sways with the stalk of tattoo on her thigh
تَلوي بِعِذقِ خِصابٍ كُلَّما خَطَرَت
عَن فَرجِ مَعقومَةٍ لَم تَتَّبِع رُبَعا
Over a vulva that never followed virginity.
She pretends to be untouched whenever she blinks
تَخالُ حَتماً عَلَيها كُلَّما ضَمَرَت
مِنَ الكَلالِ بِأَن تَستَوفِيَ النِسعا
As if to preserve her virginity unspoiled!
As if after the billy-goats had their fill of her,
كَأَنَّها بَعدَما أَفضى النَجادُ بِها
بِالشَيَّطَينِ مَهاةٌ تَبتَغي ذَرَعا
She was a lustful devil seeking mere pleasure.
A prowling wolf desired her in the land
أَهوى لَها ضابِئٌ في الأَرضِ مُفتَحِصٌ
لِلحَمِ قِدماً خَفِيُّ الشَخصِ قَد خَشَعا
Walking softly, hidden in form but timid.
He kept deceiving her to enjoy her alone
فَظَلَّ يَخدَعُها عَن نَفسِ واحِدِها
في أَرضِ فَيءٍ بِفِعلٍ مِثلُهُ خَدَعا
In an unclaimed wilderness, repeating his deceit.
She came in heat to give birth to a son and nourish him
حانَت لِيَفجَعَها بِاِبنٍ وَتُطعِمَهُ
لَحماً فَقَد أَطعَمَت لَحماً وَقَد فَجَعا
With meat! She fed meat as she mourned!
He kept eating her as she grazed
فَظَلَّ يَأكُلُ مِنها وَهيَ راتِعَةٌ
حَدَّ النَهارِ تُراعي ثيرَةً رُتُعا
From dawn to dusk, watching over the flock.
Until when her udder was full, she came
حَتّى إِذا فيقَةٌ في ضَرعِها اِجتَمَعَت
جاءَت لِتُرضِعَ شِقِّ النَفسِ لَو رَضَعا
To suckle, to nourish, if only he would suck!
In haste she went to the nearest place, but a group
عَجلاً إِلى المَعهَدِ الأَدنى فَفاجَأَها
أَقطاعُ مَسكٍ وَسافَت مِن دَمٍ دُفَعا
Of fearless Meccan knights suddenly took her by surprise.
So she left, bereaved, in sorrow,
فَاِنصَرَفَت فاقِداً ثَكلى عَلى حَزَنٍ
كُلٌّ دَهاها وَكُلٌّ عِندَها اِجتَمَعا
While each one there had gathered around her.
She was heedless of him and did not feel
وَذاكَ أَن غَفَلَت عَنهُ وَما شَعَرَت
أَنَّ المَنِيَّةَ يَوماً أَرسَلَت سَبُعا
That death had one day sent forth a lion.
Until the rays of the sun shone on her,
حَتّى إِذا ذَرَّ قَرنُ الشَمسِ صَبَّحَها
ذُؤالُ نَبهانَ يَبغي صَحبَهُ المُتَعا
A caller to hunting sought his companions' pleasure.
With hounds swift as arrows, baring
بِأَكلُبٍ كَسِراعِ النَبلِ ضارِيَةٍ
تَرى مِنَ القِدِّ في أَعناقِها قِطَعا
Necks clad with leather thongs in place of pearls.
She left behind her nothing but vertebrae, ribs,
فَتِلكَ لَم تَتَّرِك مِن خَلفِها شَبَهاً
إِلّا الدَوابِرَ وَالأَظلافَ وَالزَمَعا
Bones and front legs, all gnawed away.
I consoled her after the youths had enjoyed her,
أَنضَيتُها بَعدَما طالَ الهِبابُ بِها
تَأُمَّ هَوذَةَ لا نِكساً وَلا وَرَعا
She fears not, and seeks no refuge in caves.
"Fear not, for you are from honored stock
يا هَوذَ إِنَّكَ مِن قَومٍ ذَوي حَسَبٍ
لا يَفشَلونَ إِذا ما آنَسوا فَزَعا
Who fail not when facing perils, afraid."
They are the Khadramites! When absent or present,
هُمُ الخَضارِمُ إِن غابوا وَإِن شَهِدوا
وَلا يُرَونَ إِلى جاراتِهِم خُنعا
They bow to none of their neighbors in humility.
Their homes secure their neighbors
قَومٌ بُيوتُهُمُ أَمنٌ لِجارِهِمُ
يَوماً إِذا ضَمَّتِ المَحضورَةُ الفَزَعا
One day when terror fills the heart with fear.
In war, when it bares its claws, they are
وَهُم إِذا الحَربُ أَبدَت عَن نَواجِذِها
مِثلُ اللُيوثِ وَسُمٍّ عاتِقٍ نَقَعا
Like ferocious lions baring canine teeth.
A rain for widows and orphans everywhere,
غَيثُ الأَرامِلِ وَالأَيتامِ كُلِّهِمُ
لَم تَطلُعِ الشَمسُ إِلّا ضِرَّ أَو نَفَعا
The sun never rose but bringing harm or benefit.
Whoever encounters fear submits without pretense
مَن يَلقَ هَوذَةَ يَسجُد غَيرَ مُتَّئبٍ
إِذا تَعَصَّبَ فَوقَ التاجِ أَو وَضَعا
Whether wearing a crown or removing headgear.
For him are garlands of rubies embellished
لَهُ أَكاليلُ بِالياقوتِ زَيَّنَها
صُوّاغُها لا تَرى عَيباً وَلا طَبَعا
By artisans without defects in their workmanship.
Finest Yemeni brocade he wears
وَكُلُّ زَوجٍ مِنَ الديباجِ يَلبَسُهُ
أَبو قُدامَةَ مَحبوّاً بِذاكَ مَعا
A gift from Abu Qudamah with affection.
Grey hair did not detract from his standing
لَم يَنقُصِ الشَيبُ مِنهُ ما يُقالُ لَهُ
وَقَد تَجاوَزَ عَنهُ الجَهلُ فَاِنقَشَعا
As ignorance was lifted from him entirely.
Brightest, whitest, from whom rain is implored,
أَغَرُّ أَبلَجُ يُستَسقى الغَمامُ بِهِ
لَو صارَعَ الناسَ عَن أَحلامِهِم صَرعا
He would battle people to achieve his dreams.
The elders burdened this youth with responsibilities
قَد حَمَّلوهُ فَتِيَّ السِنِّ ما حَمَلَت
ساداتُهُم فَأَطاقَ الحِملَ وَاِضطَلَعا
Borne by their noble predecessors, and he shouldered them.
Their testing only increased Abu Qudama's
وَجَرَّبوهُ فَما زادَت تَجارِبُهُم
أَبا قُدامَةَ إِلّا الحَزمَ وَالفَنَعا
Wisdom, composure, virtue and excellence.
Whoever sees Hauza or enters his domain
مَن يَرَ هَوذَةَ أَو يَحلُل بِساحَتِهِ
يَكُن لِهَوذَةَ فيما نابَهُ تَبَعا
Becomes a loyal follower of Hauza in all affairs.
The leaders of men are his entourage
تَلقى لَهُ سادَةَ الأَقوامِ تابِعَةً
كُلٌّ سَيَرضى بِأَن يُرعى لَهُ تَبعا
Each satisfied to be considered his follower.
O Hauza! The best of men who walks with dignity,
يا هَوذُ يا خَيرَ مَن يَمشي عَلى قَدَمٍ
بَحرَ المَواهِبِ لِلوُرّادِ وَالشَرَعا
An ocean of bounty for visitors and poets.
He abides by the counsel of the eminent
يَرعى إِلى قَولِ ساداتِ الرِجالِ إِذا
أَبدَوا لَهُ الحَزمَ أَو ما شاءَهُ اِبتَدَعا
When showing wisdom or whatever he wills to initiate.
The dweller of Hait, when you approach him,
وَما مُجاوِرُ هيتٍ إِن عَرَضتَ لَهُ
قَد كانَ يَسمو إِلى الجُرفَينِ وَاِطَّلَعا
His massive flood seems to rise over the Dual Heights.
His battalions march when he travels in state,
يَجيشُ طوفانُهُ إِذ عَبَّ مُحتَفِلاً
يَكادُ يَعلو رُبى الجُرفَينِ مُطَّلِعا
Nearly reaching the peak of Dual Heights in ascent.
The winds blow in his favor, so his ships extend
طابَت لَهُ الريحُ فَاِمتَدَّت غَوارِبُهُ
تَرى حَوالِبَهُ مِن مَوجِهِ تَرَعا
As far as the eye can see amidst the waves.
None is more generous when asked to give,
يَوماً بِأَجوَدَ مِنهُ حينَ تَسأَلُهُ
إِذ ضَنَّ ذو المالِ بِالإِعطاءِ أَو خَدَعا
Than Hauza, except the miserly who deceive.
Asking Tameem about his days of captivity
سائِل تَميماً بِهِ أَيّامَ صَفقَتِهِم
لَمّا أَتَوهُ أَسارى كُلَّهُم ضَرَعا
When they were all brought to him in chains.
In the stifling darkness of `Aita, where they could find
وَسطَ المُشَقَّرِ في عَيطاءَ مُظلِمَةٍ
لا يَستَطيعونَ فيها ثَمَّ مُمتَنَعا
No refuge or means of escape.
Had they been fed manna and quails,
لَو أُطعِموا المَنَّ وَالسَلوى مَكانَهُمُ
ما أَبصَرَ الناسُ طُعماً فيهِمُ نَجَعا
People would not see any benefit reach them.
Oppressed in the darkness by neglect of the king,
بِظُلمِهِم بِنِطاعِ المَلكَ ضاحِيَةً
فَقَد حَسَوا بَعدُ مِن أَنفاسِهِم جُرَعا
Afterwards they tasted the bitter draught of captivity.
The king's punishment befell them all,
أَصابَهُم مِن عِقابِ المَلكِ طائِفَةٌ
كُلُّ تَميمٍ بِما في نَفسِهِ جُدِعا
Every Tameemite's heart bled with grief.
He said to the king: “Set a hundred free
فَقالَ لِلمَلكِ سَرِّح مِنهُمُ مِئَةً
رِسلاً مِنَ القَولِ مَخفوضاً وَما رَفَعا
As envoys, with softened then defiant speech.”
So the king freed a hundred from their fetters,
فَفَكَّ عَن مِئَةٍ مِنهُم وِثاقَهُمُ
فَأَصبَحوا كُلَّهُم مِن غُلَّةِ خُلِعا
And they all gained booty from the raid.
With them Dhahiyah on the Easter feast drew near
بِهِم تَقَرَّبَ يَومَ الفِصحِ ضاحِيَةً
يَرجو الإِلَهَ بِما سَدّى وَما صَنَعا
To God through charity, with righteousness and good deeds.
He did not intend, by this charity,
وَما أَرادَ بِها نُعمى يُثابُ بِها
إِن قالَ كَلمَةَ مَعروفٍ بِها نَفَعا
Reward, if he simply spoke a good word.
They see no previous favor in this,
فَلا يَرَونَ بِذاكُم نِعمَةً سَبَقَت
إِن قالَ قائِلُها حَقّاً بِها وَسَعى
If the speaker strives rightly in what he says.
Men cannot mend what is decrepit though they try
لا يَرقَعُ الناسُ ما أَوهى وَإِن جَهَدوا
طولَ الحَياةِ وَلا يوهونَ ما رَقَعا
All their lives, nor restore what is beyond repair.
What God wills to divide He will divide,
لَمّا يُرِد مِن جَميعٍ بَعدُ فَرَّقَهُ
وَما يُرِد بَعدُ مِن ذي فُرقَةٍ جَمَعا
And no longer unite what He once brought together.
The people of Shibam won the favor of Saudad
قَد نالَ أَهلَ شَبامٍ فَضلُ سُؤدَدِهِ
إِلى المَدائِنِ خاضَ المَوتَ وَاِدَّرَعا
Who plunged into death on his way to the cities.
