هَلْ فِي الزَّمَانِ لَنَا حُكْمٌ فَنَشْتَرِطُ

أَمْ تِلْكَ أُمْنِيَةٌ فِي طَيِّهَا قَنَطُ

Is there in time for us a rule we may dictate

Or is that wishful thinking leading to despair

نَبْكِي عَلَى غَيْرِ شَيْءٍ ثُمَّ يُضْحِكُنَا

مَا لَيْسَ فِيهِ لَنَا بُقْيَا فَنَخْتَلِطُ

We weep for naught, then it makes us laugh

With no lasting joy that we may share

وَكَيْفَ نَرْجُو مِنَ الأَيَّامِ عَافِيَةً

وَصِحَّةُ الْمَرْءِ مَقْرُونٌ بِهَا السَّقَطُ

How can we hope for gentle days

When life and health walk hand in hand to their fate

نَرْعَى مِنَ الدَّهْرِ غَيْثَاً نَبْتُهُ أَسَفٌ

لِلرَّائِدِينَ وَرَوْضاً زَهْرُهُ شَطَطُ

We herd rain from fate which growth leads to misery

And meadows whose flowers err and roam

فَلا يَغُرَّنْكَ مِنْ دَهْرٍ بَشَاشَتُهُ

فَإِنَّمَا هُوَ بِشْرٌ تَحْتَهُ سخطُ

So let not the cheer of days make you overjoy

It is but a harbinger under which wrath looms

لا يُدْرِكُ الْغَايَةَ الْقُصْوَى سِوَى رَجُلٍ

ثَبْتِ الْعَزِيمَةِ مَاضٍ حَيْثُ يَنْخَرِطُ

None shall attain the highest goal but a man

With steadfast determination who always perseveres

إِنْ مَسَّهُ الضَّيْمُ نَاجَى السَّيْفَ مُنْتَصِراً

أَوْ هَمَّهُ الأَمْرُ لَمْ يَعْلَقْ بِهِ الثَّبَطُ

If wronged, to his sword he whispers a victor

Or if a matter concerns him no worries it breeds

فَاقْذِفْ بِنَفْسِكَ في أَقْصَى مَطَالِبِهَا

إِنَّ النَّجَاحَ بِسَعْي الْمَرْءِ مُرْتَبِطُ

So hurl yourself to achieve your ultimate needs

For success comes to those who toil and make great strides

قَدْ يَظْفَرُ الْفَاتِكُ الأَلْوَى بِحَاجَتِهِ

وَلَيْسَ يُدْرِكُهَا الْهَيَّابَةُ الْخَلِطُ

The brave may gain what he wants through might

While the timid shall never attain such heights

وَإِنْ شَأَتْكَ الْمُنَى فَاقْنَعْ بِأَقْرَبِهَا

فَلَيْسَ فِي كُلِّ حِينٍ يُدْرَكُ الْوَسَطُ

And if death beckons, be content with its quickest

For the middle road is not always there for the taking

لا تَعْفُلَنَّ إِذَا أُمْنِيَّةٌ عَرَضَتْ

فَإِنَّما الْعَيْشُ فِي هَذَا الْوَرَى لَقَطُ

Falter not when a chance appears

For life in this abode is a lucky find

إِنِّي وإِنْ كَانَتِ الأَيَّامُ قَدْ أَخَذَتْ

مِنِّي وأَخْنَى عَلَيَّ الضَّعْفُ وَالشَّمَطُ

Though time may have taken its toll on me

And feebleness and age begin to show

فَقَدْ أَذُودُ السَّبَنْتَى عَنْ فَرِيسَتِهِ

وَأَفْجَأُ الْبَطَلَ الْحَامِي فَأَخْتَبِطُ

I ward off predators from their prey

I take warriors by surprise when I strike

وَأَصْدَعُ الْجَيْشَ وَالْفُرْسَانُ مِنْ مَرَحٍ

تَحْتَ الْعَجاجِ بِأَطْرَافِ الْقَنَا نُخُطُ

I crack armies and horsemen in the frenzy

Their spearheads grazing under my armor

فَمَا بِنَصْلِي إِنْ لاقَى ضَرِيبَتَهُ

نَكْلٌ وَلا فِي جَفِيرِي أَسْهُمٌ مُرُطُ

So my sword shall not fail when faced with the toll

Nor shall my quivers lack any arrows

وَرُبَّ يَوْمٍ طَوِيلِ الْعُمْرِ قَصَّرَهُ

جَرْيُ السَّوَابِقِ وَالْوَخَّادَةُ النُّشُطُ

Many a long-living day was shortened

By the racing of the vigilant and lively steeds

كَأَنَّمَا الْوَحْشُ مِنْ تَلْهَابِ جَمْرَتِهِ

مُبَدَّداً تَحْتَ أَشْجَارِ الْغَضَى خَبَطُ

As if game were scattered under the green

And warriors lie motionless, drunk with wine

تَرى بِهِ الْقَوْمَ صَرْعَى لا حِرَاكَ بِهِمْ

كَأَنَّهُمْ مِنْ عَتِيقِ الْخَمْرِ قَدْ سَقَطُوا

On a night so dark, gloomy and murky

As lightning therein rules with might

وَلَيْلَةٍ ذَاتِ تَهْتَانٍ وَأَنْدِيَةٍ

كَأَنَّمَا الْبَرْقُ فِيها صَارِمٌ سَلِطُ

Clouds shrouding its far edges with darkness

With floods pouring from its bulging flanks

لَفَّ الْغَمَامُ أَقَاصِيها بِبُرْدَتِهِ

وَانْهَلَّ فِي حجْرَتَيْهَا وَابِلٌ سَبِطُ

A haze with shooting stars obscured

Nor pathways clear amid the gloom

بَهْمَاءَ لا يَهْتَدِي السَّارِي بِكَوْكَبِهَا

مِنَ الْغَمَامِ وَلا يَبْدُو بِهَا نَمَطُ

Bewildered, people know not where to turn

If not for the whinnying of stallions and cries

يَكَادُ يَجْهَلُ فِيهَا الْقَوْمُ أَمْرَهُمُ

لَوْلا صَهِيلُ جِيَادِ الْخَيْلِ وَاللَّغَطُ

Lightning reigns supreme and thunder SILENCES it

With a resounding roar thwarting its flashes

يَطْغَى بِهَا الْبَرْقُ أَحْيَاناً فَيَزْجُرُهُ

مُخْرَنْطِمٌ زَجِلٌ مِنْ رَعْدِهَا خَمِطُ

As if lightning be a whip and snakes the punished prey

Writhe from the strikes that brake and contort

كَأَنَّمَا الْبَرْقُ سَوْطٌ والْحَيا نُجُبٌ

يَلُوحُ فِي جِسْمِهَا مِنْ مَسِّهِ حَبَطُ

Like a sword unsheathed from battle flashing

To be then concealed within the horizon

كَأَنَّهُ صَارِمٌ يَرْفَضُّ مِنْ عَلَقٍ

بِالأُفْقِ يُغْمَدُ أَحْيَاناً وَيُخْتَرَطُ

With steeds I tore its gown racing forth

Like doves in the glory of their prime

مَزَّقْتُ جِلْبَابَهَا بِالْخَيْلِ طَالِعَةً

مِثْلَ الْحَمَائِمِ فِي أَجْيَادِهَا الْعُلُطُ

Though the threads of light penetrate the darkness

Like hairline fractures in obsidian stone

وَقَدْ تَخَلَّلَ خَيْطُ النُّورِ ظُلْمَتَهَا

كَمَا تَخَلَّلَ شَعْرَ اللَّمَّةِ الْوَخَطُ

As if it were the crack of dawn revealed

By a stroke of darkness from the purest hearts

كَأَنَّهَا وَصَدِيعُ الْفَجْرِ يَصْدَعُهَا

مِنْ جَانِبٍ أَدْهَمٌ قَدْ مَسَّهُ نَبَطُ

A sanctuary for the gentle morning breeze

With birds gathered chirping from all its corners

وَمَرْبَعٍ لِنَسِيمِ الْفَجْرِ هَيْنَمَةٌ

فِيهِ وَلِلطَّيْرِ فِي أَرْجَائِهِ لَغَطُ

Dew drops like pearls embedded within

Plucked from floral seashells scattered about

كَأَنَّمَا الْقَطْرُ دُرٌّ في جَوَانِبِهِ

يَكَادُ مِنْ صَدَفِ الأَزْهَارِ يُلْتَقَطُ

The wafting breeze murmurs through the groves

Like a comb through braided hair it weaves a tune

وَلِلنَّسِيمِ خِلالَ النَّبتِ غَلْغَلَةٌ

كَمَا تَغَلْغَلَ وَسْطَ اللِّمَّةِ الْمُشُطُ

Winds erase then etch lines on the stream

With neither rhyme nor reason to the words

وَالرِّيحُ تَمْحُو سُطُوراً ثُمَّ تُثْبِتُهَا

فِي النَّهْرِ لا صِحَّةٌ فِيها وَلا غَلَطُ

Heaven’s unfading threads stretched taut

As if gathered by hand to form a knot

وَلِلسَّمَاءِ خُيُوطٌ غَيْرُ وَاهِيَةٍ

تَكَادُ تُجْمَعُ بِالأَيْدِي فَتُرْتَبَطُ

Like the palms of winds slapping to distort

A necklace that has faded and come undone

كَأَنَّهَا وَأَكُفُّ الرِّيحِ تَضْرِبُها

سُلُوكُ عِقْدٍ تَوَاهَتْ فَهْيَ تَنْخَرِطُ

So shadows capture light and rain is released

The air contracts as darkness spreads its breadth

فَالضَّوْءُ مُحْتَبِسٌ وَالْمَاءُ مُنْطَلِقٌ

وَالْجَوُّ مُنْقَبِضٌ وَالظِّلُّ مُنْبَسِطُ

We revel in its fringes and birds encircle the scene

With light intermingling within the gloom’s embrace

لُذْنَا بِأَطْرَافِهِ وَالطَّيْرُ عَاكِفَةٌ

عَلَيْهِ وَالنُّورُ بِالظَّلْمَاءِ مُخْتَلِطُ

Boon companions nursed on kinship’s teat

When gathered no injustice nor enmity breeds

فِي فِتْيَةٍ رَضِعُوا ثَدْيَ الْوِفَاقِ فَمَا

فِيهمْ إِذَا مَا انْتَشَوْا جَوْرٌ وَلا شَطَطُ

Bound in affection and united for eternity

Their lifelong alliance etched into the creed

تَحَالَفُوا فِي صَفَاءِ الْوُدِّ وَاجْتَمَعُوا

عَلَى الْوَفَاءِ طَوَالَ الدَّهْرِ وَاشْتَرَطُوا

Merciful as rain, fierce as lions when prodded

Calm as water, just as fire when it feeds

كَالْغَيْثِ إِنْ وَهَبُوا وَاللَّيْثِ إِنْ وَثَبُوا

وَالْمَاءِ إِنْ عَدَلُوا وَالنَّارِ إِنْ قَسَطُوا

Fate has finally lifted its veil to reveal

What was for so long shielded from all eyes

تَكَشَّفَ الدَّهْرُ عَنْهُمْ بَعْدَ غُمَّتِهِ

كَمَا تَكَشَّفَ عَنْ مَكْنُونِهِ السَّفَطُ

Gaze fixed upon me, a silence to hear my voice

Each obedient to command with readiness and zeal

مِيلٌ بِأَبْصَارِهِمْ نَحْوِي لِيَسْتَمِعُوا

قَوْلِي وَكُلٌّ لأَمْرِي طَائِعٌ نَشِطُ

When still they remain so, and when high ground I seize

Whether ascent or descent, they dutifully wheel

إِنْ سِرْتُ سَارُوا وَإِنْ أَصْعَدْ إِلَى نَشَزٍ

كَانُوا صُعُوداً وَإِنْ أَهْبِطْ بِهِمْ هَبَطُوا

Circling around me, as caraculs heel to heel

If one strides ahead, the others shall reveal

يَمْشُونَ حَوْلِي كَمَا يَمْشِي الْقَطَا بَدَداً

فَإِنْ مَضَى بقَطٌ مِنْهُمْ أَتَى بَقَطُ

To crowd around me is no surprise

For birds gather wherever grains they may reveal

إِنْ يَكْنُفُونِي مِنْ حَوْلِي فَلا عَجَبٌ

لا يَسْقُطُ الطَّيْرُ إِلَّا حَيْثُ يَلْتَقِطُ

We walk amid trees whose branches display

Yemeni brocade of the highest grade

نَمْشِي بِهِ بَيْنَ أَشْجَارٍ كَأَنَّ عَلَى

أَفْنَانِهَا مِنْ بُرُودِ الْيَمْنَةِ الرِّيَطُ

A marvel in their plumage and magnificent steeds

Like honored beauties wrapped in prestige

مِثْل الطَّوَاوِيسِ فِي أَذْنَابِهَا عَجَبٌ

لِلنَّاظِرِينَ وَفِي أَجْيَادِهَا عَنَطُ

The cooing from their feathers such delight brings

That all are merry from the song the countryside sings

كَأَنَّهُنَّ جِمَالاتٌ مُوَقَّرَةٌ

تَمُورُ مَوْراً عَلَى أَثْبَاجِها الْغُبُطُ

Green wings and collar make you think

Garbed like the young of angel kings

وَلِلْفَوَاخِتِ فِي أَفْنَانِهَا هَزَجٌ

قَدْ مَاجَ مِنْ لَحْنِهِنَّ السَّهْلُ وَالْفُرُطُ

In gowns of silk their beauty it brings

Till Dawn has shown the morn all it could give

خُضْرُ الْجَنَاحَيْنِ وَالأَطْوَاقِ تَحْسَبُهَا

أَطْفَالَ مَلْكٍ لَهَا مِنْ سُنْدُسٍ قُمُطُ

As the sun makes way descending to night’s crib

We strode pulling Glory’s train behind

حَتَّى إِذَا حَلَّ ضَاحِي الْيَوْمِ حَبْوَتَهُ

وَكَادَتِ الشَّمْسُ بَيْنَ الْغَرْبِ تَنْهَبِطُ

Each of us blissful in life and beginnings

A day fate brought which if it would stay

رُحْنَا نَجُرُّ ذُيُولَ الْعِزِّ ضَافِيَةً

وَكُلُّنَا بِنَعِيمِ الْعَيْشِ مُغْتَبِطُ

I would give anything if only it would stipulate

يَوْمٌ مِنَ الدَّهْرِ أَهْوَى لَو بَذَلْتُ لَهُ

مَا شَاءَ فِي مِثْلِهِ لَوْ كَانَ يَشْتَرِطُ