أَبى طولَ البَقاءِ وَحُبَّ سَلمى
هِلالٌ حينَ يَطلُعُ لا يُبالي
A crescent spurned long life and love of Salma;
when it rises, it pays no heed.
يَمُرُّ عَلى الجِبالِ وَهُنَّ صُمٌّ
فَيُعطي الوَهنَ راسِيَةَ الجِبالِ
It passes over mountains, though they are unhearing,
and brings frailty to the steadfast mountains.
فَهَل قَينٌ يُباشِرُ نَسجَ دِرعٍ
لِما يَرمي الزَمانُ مِنَ النِبالِ
Is there a smith who can weave a coat of mail
against the arrows that time shoots?
أَغارَ حِبالَ قَومٍ فَاِستَمَرَّت
وَكَرَّ فَجَدَّ في نَقضِ الحِبالِ
He tightened a people's ropes, and they held firm;
then he returned and set about undoing the ropes.
عَجِبتُ لَهُ فَتَبّاً لي وَتَبّاً
لِغَيري إِن جُمِعنا لِلتِبالِ
I wondered at him—woe to me, and woe
to others, if we are gathered for ruin.
وَكَم سَرَحَ الخَليطُ لَهُم سَواماً
فَما نَفَعَ القَبائِلَ مِن قِبالِ
How often the company sent their livestock to pasture;
yet tethers did the tribes no good.
أُصالِحُ هَل أُصالِحُ أَو أُعادي
وَبالي موقِنٌ بِعِظامِ بالي
Shall I make peace? Shall I make peace or be an enemy,
when my mind is certain of the gravity of my plight?
Sol 6