صُروفُ اللَيالي لا يَدومُ لَها عَهدُ

صُروفُ اللَيالي لا يَدومُ لَها عَهدُ

وَأَيدي المَنايا لا يُطاقُ لَها رَدُّ

وَأَيدي المَنايا لا يُطاقُ لَها رَدُّ

The vicissitudes of the nights keep no lasting covenant.

The nights' turns do not last, their covenant fails

And the hands of death cannot be repelled.

And the hands of death cannot be resisted or repelled

تُسالِمُنا سَهواً وَتَسطو تَعَمُّداً

تُسالِمُنا سَهواً وَتَسطو تَعَمُّداً

فَإِسعافُها عَسفٌ وَإِقصادُها قَصدُ

فَإِسعافُها عَسفٌ وَإِقصادُها قَصدُ

They make peace with us inadvertently and assault us deliberately.

They greet us absentmindedly, and attack deliberately

Their aid is oppression, and their deathblow is intentional.

Their help is transgression, their moderation, purpose

عَجِبتُ لِمَن يَغتَرُّ فيها لِجَنَّةٍ

عَجِبتُ لِمَن يَغتَرُّ فيها لِجَنَّةٍ

مِنَ العَيشِ ما فيها سَلامٌ وَلا بَردُ

مِنَ العَيشِ ما فيها سَلامٌ وَلا بَردُ

I marvel at whoever is beguiled by them into hoping for a paradise

I wonder at one who is fooled by paradise in it

of life, when they hold neither peace nor coolness.

Of life without peace or coldness

أَفي كُلِّ يَومٍ لِلنَوائِبِ غارَةٌ

أَفي كُلِّ يَومٍ لِلنَوائِبِ غارَةٌ

يُشَقُّ عَليها الجَيبُ أَو يُلطَمُ الحَدُّ

يُشَقُّ عَليها الجَيبُ أَو يُلطَمُ الحَدُّ

Do calamities launch a raid every day,

In every day the misfortunes attack

for which the neckline is torn or the cheek is slapped [probable reading]?

Ripping open the pocket or breaking the forehead

أَرى كُلَّ مَألوفٍ يُعَجَّلُ فَقدُهُ

أَرى كُلَّ مَألوفٍ يُعَجَّلُ فَقدُهُ

فَما بالُ فَقدِ الإِلفِ لَيسَ لَهُ فَقدُ

فَما بالُ فَقدِ الإِلفِ لَيسَ لَهُ فَقدُ

I see the loss of every cherished companion hastened;

I see everything familiar is quickly missed

why, then, is the loss of a friend never itself lost?

So why is missing intimacy not missed

فَقَدتُ رِجالاً كانَ في البُؤسِ بَأسُهُم

فَقَدتُ رِجالاً كانَ في البُؤسِ بَأسُهُم

هُوَ الظَهرُ لي وَالباعُ وَاليَدُ وَالزِندُ

هُوَ الظَهرُ لي وَالباعُ وَاليَدُ وَالزِندُ

I lost men whose courage in distress

I've lost men whose vigor in distress was protection

was my back, my arm's reach, my hand, and my forearm.

They were my back, my seller and hand and ally

يَزيدُهُمُ لَيلُ الخُطوبِ إِذا دَجا

يَزيدُهُمُ لَيلُ الخُطوبِ إِذا دَجا

ضِياءً وَحُسنُ الضِدِّ يُظهِرُهُ الضِدُّ

ضِياءً وَحُسنُ الضِدِّ يُظهِرُهُ الضِدُّ

The night of calamities, when it darkened, increased their

The night of adversity makes them shine

radiance; one opposite reveals the beauty of the other.

And the beauty of contrast reveals its opposite

أَرى كُلَّ مَن يَستَخلِصُ الشُكرَ بَعدَهُم

أَرى كُلَّ مَن يَستَخلِصُ الشُكرَ بَعدَهُم

مِنَ الناسِ نَحراً لا يَليقُ بِهِ عِقدُ

مِنَ الناسِ نَحراً لا يَليقُ بِهِ عِقدُ

I see everyone who wins gratitude after them

I see everyone who gains gratitude after them

among people as a neck unworthy of a necklace.

From people is a sacrifice unworthy of covenant

لِذاكَ هَجَرتُ الإِلفَ أَعلَمُ أَنَّني

لِذاكَ هَجَرتُ الإِلفَ أَعلَمُ أَنَّني

لَكَ السَيفُ لا يُبليهِ إِن بَلِيَ الغِمدُ

لَكَ السَيفُ لا يُبليهِ إِن بَلِيَ الغِمدُ

For that I forsook familiar company, knowing that I

So I shunned intimacy, knowing that for me

am the sword for you, unworn even if the sheath wears out.

The sword does not wear out if the sheath wears out

وَزُرتُ بِلاداً يُنبِتُ العِزَّ أَرضُها

وَزُرتُ بِلاداً يُنبِتُ العِزَّ أَرضُها

وَيَنجَحُ في أَبناءِ أَبياتِها العَقدُ

وَيَنجَحُ في أَبناءِ أَبياتِها العَقدُ

And I visited lands whose soil makes honor grow,

And I visited lands whose soil grows honor

where a pact succeeds among the sons of their households.

And success thrives in the shoots of its valleys

مَخافَةَ أَن أُضحي مِنَ الخَلِّ خالِياً

مَخافَةَ أَن أُضحي مِنَ الخَلِّ خالِياً

وَحيداً وَأُمسي عِندَ مَن ما لَهُ عِندُ

وَحيداً وَأُمسي عِندَ مَن ما لَهُ عِندُ

For fear I might reach morning bereft of a friend,

Fearing I would remain devoid of kin

alone, and reach evening beside someone with nothing to offer.

Alone, and find myself with those who have nothing

وَلَمّا عَطَفتُ العَيسَ آخِرَ رِحلَةٍ

وَلَمّا عَطَفتُ العَيسَ آخِرَ رِحلَةٍ

إِلى مَعهَدٍ لي وَالحَبيبُ بِهِ عَهدُ

إِلى مَعهَدٍ لي وَالحَبيبُ بِهِ عَهدُ

And when I turned the pale camels at a journey's end

And when I turned my camel on the final journey

toward a haunt of mine, where I had old ties with my beloved,

To a homeland where my beloved and I have history

وَشارَفتُ أَعلامَ الطَويلَةِ ذاكِراً

وَشارَفتُ أَعلامَ الطَويلَةِ ذاكِراً

عُهودَ الصِبا وَالشَيبُ لَمّا يَلُح بَعدُ

عُهودَ الصِبا وَالشَيبُ لَمّا يَلُح بَعدُ

and neared the landmarks of al-Tawilah, recalling

And approached the landmarks of Al-Tawilah, recalling

the days of youth, while gray hair had not yet appeared,

The covenants of youth before old age persists

سَأَلتُ حِمى الفَيحاءِ ما بالُ رَبعِها

سَأَلتُ حِمى الفَيحاءِ ما بالُ رَبعِها

جَديباً وَقَد كانَت نَضارَتُهُ تَبدو

جَديباً وَقَد كانَت نَضارَتُهُ تَبدو

I asked the precincts of al-Fayha why their dwelling place

I asked the protected Faiha what ails its precinct

was barren, though once its freshness was plain to see.

Now barren when its vitality used to show

وَما بالُها لَم يُروَ مِن مائِها الصَدى

وَما بالُها لَم يُروَ مِن مائِها الصَدى

لِظامٍ وَلا يوري لِقاصِدِها زَندُ

لِظامٍ وَلا يوري لِقاصِدِها زَندُ

And why their water had not quenched the thirst

Why is no echo heard from its water for a visitor

of a thirsty man, nor a fire-stick sparked for anyone seeking them.

Nor any landmarks shown to its pursuer

فَقالَت قَضى مَن كانَ بِالسَعدِ لي قَضى

فَقالَت قَضى مَن كانَ بِالسَعدِ لي قَضى

وَصَوَّحَ نَبتُ العِزِّ وَاِنهَدَمَ المَجدُ

وَصَوَّحَ نَبتُ العِزِّ وَاِنهَدَمَ المَجدُ

It said: He who decreed good fortune for me has died;

It said: He who was my good fortune has fulfilled

the growth of honor has withered, and glory has collapsed.

The vegetation of glory is demolished and grandeur destroyed

فَأَصبَحَ مَجدُ الدينِ في التُربِ ثاوِياً

فَأَصبَحَ مَجدُ الدينِ في التُربِ ثاوِياً

وَزالَ السَماحُ السِبطُ وَالرَجَلُ الجَعدُ

وَزالَ السَماحُ السِبطُ وَالرَجَلُ الجَعدُ

So Majd al-Din now lies in the dust,

So the glory of religion lies ravaged in the soil

and free-flowing generosity and the sturdy man are gone.

And the noble generosity and the muscular man are gone

فَتىً عَلَّمَتهُ غايَةَ الزُهدِ نَفسُهُ

فَتىً عَلَّمَتهُ غايَةَ الزُهدِ نَفسُهُ

فَأَصبَحَ حَتّى في الحَياةِ لَهُ زُهدُ

فَأَصبَحَ حَتّى في الحَياةِ لَهُ زُهدُ

A young man whose soul taught him the utmost renunciation,

A youth taught by his soul the apex of asceticism

until he came to renounce even life itself.

He became ascetic even in life

وَلَم أَرَ بَدراً قَبلَهُ حازَهُ الثَرى

وَلَم أَرَ بَدراً قَبلَهُ حازَهُ الثَرى

وَلَم أَرَ بَحراً قَبلَهُ ضَمَّهُ اللَحدُ

وَلَم أَرَ بَحراً قَبلَهُ ضَمَّهُ اللَحدُ

Before him, I had never seen a full moon possessed by the earth,

I saw no full moon before him enveloped by the earth

nor before him a sea enfolded by the grave.

Nor sea before it held by the cove

سَليلُ صَفِيِّ المُصطَفى وَاِبنُ سِبطِهِ

سَليلُ صَفِيِّ المُصطَفى وَاِبنُ سِبطِهِ

لَقَد تابَ مِنهُ الأُمُّ وَالأَبُّ وَالجَدُّ

لَقَد تابَ مِنهُ الأُمُّ وَالأَبُّ وَالجَدُّ

Scion of the Chosen One's intimate, and son of his grandson,

Descendant of the Chosen's loyal kin and son of his grandson

indeed, his mother, father, and grandfather were noble [probable reading].

His mother, father, and ancestors repent to him

فَصيحٌ إِذا الخَصمُ الأَلَدُّ تَعالَمَت

فَصيحٌ إِذا الخَصمُ الأَلَدُّ تَعالَمَت

دَلائِلُهُ كانَت لَهُ الحُجَجُ اللُدُّ

دَلائِلُهُ كانَت لَهُ الحُجَجُ اللُدُّ

Eloquent: when the most obstinate adversary's

When the most hostile litigator disputed, his evidence

proofs became known, he had unyielding arguments.

Was for him the most potent proof

إِذا قالَ قَولاً يَسبُقُ القَولَ فِعلُهُ

إِذا قالَ قَولاً يَسبُقُ القَولَ فِعلُهُ

فَليسَ لَهُ يَوماً وَعيدٌ وَلا وَعدُ

فَليسَ لَهُ يَوماً وَعيدٌ وَلا وَعدُ

Whenever he spoke, his deed preceded his word,

When he spoke a word, his action preceded his speech

so he never had either a threat or a promise.

He had no days or feasts or promises

لَئِن أَخطَأَت أَيدي الرَدى بِمُصابِهِ

لَئِن أَخطَأَت أَيدي الرَدى بِمُصابِهِ

لَعَمرُ أَبي هَذا هُوَ الخَطَأُ العَمدُ

لَعَمرُ أَبي هَذا هُوَ الخَطَأُ العَمدُ

If the hands of death erred in striking him,

If the hands of evil struck him, by my father

by my father's life, this was deliberate error.

This is indeed the intended misstep

مَضى طاهِرَ الأَثوابِ وَالجِسمِ وَالحَشى

مَضى طاهِرَ الأَثوابِ وَالجِسمِ وَالحَشى

لَهُ الشُكرُ دِرعٌ وَالعَفافُ لَهُ بُردُ

لَهُ الشُكرُ دِرعٌ وَالعَفافُ لَهُ بُردُ

He departed pure in his garments, his body, and his heart;

The pure of garb, body and conscience has passed

gratitude was his armor, and chastity his cloak.

Gratitude his armor, chastity his coat of mail

وَأَبقى لَنا مِن طيبِهِ طيبَ وُلدِهِ

وَأَبقى لَنا مِن طيبِهِ طيبَ وُلدِهِ

يَنوبُ كَما أَبقى لَنا ماءَهُ الوَردُ

يَنوبُ كَما أَبقى لَنا ماءَهُ الوَردُ

He left us, from his fragrance, the fragrance of his children,

And he left for us from his goodness, the goodness of his son

to take his place, as the rose leaves us its water.

Who acts as his water left fragrance for us in roses

هُمُ القَومُ فاهوا بِالفَصاحَةِ رُفَّعاً

هُمُ القَومُ فاهوا بِالفَصاحَةِ رُفَّعاً

وَشابَت نَواحي مَجدِهِم وَهُمُ مُردُ

وَشابَت نَواحي مَجدِهِم وَهُمُ مُردُ

They are the people who spoke eloquently, exalted,

They are people who have ascended in eloquence

and the reaches of their glory grew gray while they were beardless.

And the regions of their glory have become youthful while they are catapults

إِذا حَلَّ مِنهُم واحِدٌ في قَبيلَةٍ

إِذا حَلَّ مِنهُم واحِدٌ في قَبيلَةٍ

يُشارُ إِلَيهِ إِنَّهُ العَلَمُ الفَردُ

يُشارُ إِلَيهِ إِنَّهُ العَلَمُ الفَردُ

If one of them settled in a tribe,

If one of them settles in a tribe, he is pointed to

he would be pointed out: he is the peerless banner.

As the unique scholar

كَفاهُم فَخاراً أَنَّهُ لَهُمُ أَبٌ

كَفاهُم فَخاراً أَنَّهُ لَهُمُ أَبٌ

وَيَكفيهِ أَن أَمسى وَمِنهُم لَهُ وُلدُ

وَيَكفيهِ أَن أَمسى وَمِنهُم لَهُ وُلدُ

It is glory enough for them that he is their father,

It suffices them pride that he is their father

and enough for him that he has children among them.

And it suffices him that one of them is his son

فَيا نازِحاً يُدنيهِ حُسنُ اِدِّكارِهِ

فَيا نازِحاً يُدنيهِ حُسنُ اِدِّكارِهِ

فَفي بُعدِهِ قُربٌ وَفي قُربِهِ بُعدُ

فَفي بُعدِهِ قُربٌ وَفي قُربِهِ بُعدُ

O distant one whom sweet remembrance brings near,

So one lamenting him, drawn near by recalling his beauty

in his distance there is nearness, and in his nearness distance.

In his remoteness is nearness, and his nearness, remoteness

لَكَ اللَهُ كَم أَدرَكتَ في المَجدِ غايَةً

لَكَ اللَهُ كَم أَدرَكتَ في المَجدِ غايَةً

تَقاعَسَ عَن إِدراكِها الأَسَدُ الوَردُ

تَقاعَسَ عَن إِدراكِها الأَسَدُ الوَردُ

God be with you! How many heights of glory you attained

God reward you! How you reached the utmost extent of glory

that the tawny lion shrank from reaching.

The zealous lion fell short of attaining

إِذا اِفتَخَرَ الأَقوامُ يَوماً بِمَجدِهِم

إِذا اِفتَخَرَ الأَقوامُ يَوماً بِمَجدِهِم

فَإِنَّكَ مِن قَومٍ بِهِم يَفخَرُ المَجدُ

فَإِنَّكَ مِن قَومٍ بِهِم يَفخَرُ المَجدُ

When peoples one day boast of their glory,

When people one day boast of their glory

you belong to a people in whom glory itself takes pride.

Yours are a people whose glory boasts of them

تَعَوَّدَ مَتنَ الصافِناتِ صَغيرُهُم

تَعَوَّدَ مَتنَ الصافِناتِ صَغيرُهُم

إِلى أَن تَساوى عِندَهُ السُرجُ وَالمَهدُ

إِلى أَن تَساوى عِندَهُ السُرجُ وَالمَهدُ

Their youngster grew accustomed to the backs of poised steeds,

Their small ones are accustomed to the backs of thoroughbreds

until saddle and cradle were alike to him.

Until saddle and cradle are equal to them

حَموا لِجُنودِ الجَأشِ حَولَ بُيوتِهِم

حَموا لِجُنودِ الجَأشِ حَولَ بُيوتِهِم

مِنَ المَجدِ مالَ يَحمِهِ الجَيشُ وَالجُندُ

مِنَ المَجدِ مالَ يَحمِهِ الجَيشُ وَالجُندُ

For the hosts of courage, around their houses they guarded

They protected the armies' soldiers around their homes

a wealth of glory defended by the army and the troops [wording uncertain].

With glory that no army or soldiers can protect

بُيوتُ كُماةٍ دونَها تُحطَمُ القَنا

بُيوتُ كُماةٍ دونَها تُحطَمُ القَنا

وَغاباتُ أُسدٍ دونَها تُفرَسُ الأُسدُ

وَغاباتُ أُسدٍ دونَها تُفرَسُ الأُسدُ

Houses of armored warriors, before which spears are shattered,

Homes of pillars that battering rams are shattered against

and forests of lions, before which lions are torn apart.

And lion thickets that the lions bolt from

أَقاموا وَبَردُ العَيشِ عِندَهُمُ لَظىً

أَقاموا وَبَردُ العَيشِ عِندَهُمُ لَظىً

وَصالوا وَحَرُّ الكَرَّ عِندَهُمُ بَردُ

وَصالوا وَحَرُّ الكَرَّ عِندَهُمُ بَردُ

They dwelt while life's coolness was a blaze to them,

They stood while the cold of life was fury to them

and charged while the heat of assault was coolness to them.

And were intimate while the heat of war was cold to them

وَعَزّوا إِلى أَن سالَمَتهُم نُجومُها

وَعَزّوا إِلى أَن سالَمَتهُم نُجومُها

فَلا نَجمَ إِلّا وَهوَ في رَبعِهِم سَعدُ

فَلا نَجمَ إِلّا وَهوَ في رَبعِهِم سَعدُ

And they grew mighty until the nights' stars made peace with them,

And they became dignified until their constellations saluted them

so every star in their dwelling was auspicious.

No constellation but is auspicious in their region

وَرَثتَ عُلاهُم وَاِقتَدَيتَ بِفَضلِهِم

وَرَثتَ عُلاهُم وَاِقتَدَيتَ بِفَضلِهِم

فَأَنتَ إِذاً نِدَّ الكِرامِ لَهُم نِدُّ

فَأَنتَ إِذاً نِدَّ الكِرامِ لَهُم نِدُّ

You inherited their eminence and took their virtue as your model;

You inherited their summit and followed their merit

thus you, O peer of the noble, are their equal.

So you are the peer of their nobles, a peer

فَإِن شاقَ صَدرُ الخَودِ وَالنَهدُ مَعشَراً

فَإِن شاقَ صَدرُ الخَودِ وَالنَهدُ مَعشَراً

يَشوقُكَ صَدرُ الدِستِ وَالفَرَسُ النَهدُ

يَشوقُكَ صَدرُ الدِستِ وَالفَرَسُ النَهدُ

If a maiden's bosom and breast entice some men,

If the breasts of beauties and gazelles weary you

you long for the council's foremost seat and the mighty steed.

The breasts of shields and steeds will make you yearn

فَبِالرَغمِ مِنّي أَن يُغَيّبَكَ الثَرى

فَبِالرَغمِ مِنّي أَن يُغَيّبَكَ الثَرى

وَيَرجَعَ مَردوراً بِخَيبَتِهِ الوَفدُ

وَيَرجَعَ مَردوراً بِخَيبَتِهِ الوَفدُ

It is against my will that the earth should hide you,

In spite of me, may the earth not obscure you

and that the delegation should return, repulsed and disappointed,

And the delegation returns frustrated in its quest

وَيُعرِضَ عَن رَدِّ الجَوابِ لِسائِلٍ

وَيُعرِضَ عَن رَدِّ الجَوابِ لِسائِلٍ

وَقَد كُنتَ لَم يَعرَف لِسائِلِكَ الرَدُّ

وَقَد كُنتَ لَم يَعرَف لِسائِلِكَ الرَدُّ

and that you should turn away from answering a petitioner,

And decline to respond to a questioner's plea

when refusal had never known anyone who asked you.

When you never declined a questioner response

سَأَبكيكَ جُهدَ المُستَطيعِ مُنَظَّماً

سَأَبكيكَ جُهدَ المُستَطيعِ مُنَظَّماً

رِثاكَ وَهَذا جُهدُ مَن ما لَهُ جُهدُ

رِثاكَ وَهَذا جُهدُ مَن ما لَهُ جُهدُ

I shall mourn you with all the strength I can, setting in verse

I will cry for you with all an able man's discipline

your elegy; this is the effort of one who has no strength.

Eulogizing you, which is the effort of one with no effort

فَإِن رَمِدَت أَجفانُ عَينِيَ بِالبُكا

فَإِن رَمِدَت أَجفانُ عَينِيَ بِالبُكا

فَكَم جُلِيَت مِنّا بِكَ الأَعيُنُ الرُمدُ

فَكَم جُلِيَت مِنّا بِكَ الأَعيُنُ الرُمدُ

If the lids of my eye grow sore with weeping,

If my eyelids cloud with tears

how often through you were our inflamed eyes made clear!

How many clouded eyes you cleared of rheum

لَئِن كُنتَ قَد أَصبَحتَ عَنّا مُغَيَّباً

لَئِن كُنتَ قَد أَصبَحتَ عَنّا مُغَيَّباً

فَقَد نابَ عَنكَ الذِكرُ وَالشُكرُ وَالحَمدُ

فَقَد نابَ عَنكَ الذِكرُ وَالشُكرُ وَالحَمدُ

Though you have now been hidden from us,

If you have become obscured from us

remembrance, gratitude, and praise have taken your place.

Mentions, thanks, and praise have turned from you

وَما غابَ مَن يَقصو وَمَعناهُ حاضِرٌ

وَما غابَ مَن يَقصو وَمَعناهُ حاضِرٌ

وَلازالَ مَن يَخفى وَآثارُهُ تَبدو

وَلازالَ مَن يَخفى وَآثارُهُ تَبدو

One who is far away is not absent while his essence is present,

One who is visited does not disappear and his meaning is present

nor has one vanished who is unseen while his traces appear.

One who is hidden remains, his vestiges visible