ما ضاع من أياّمنا هل يُغرَمُ

ما ضاع من أياّمنا هل يُغرَمُ

هيهات والأزمانُ كيف تقوَّمُ

هيهات والأزمانُ كيف تقوَّمُ

Can what is lost of our days be repaid?

The days that slipped from our hands, could their loss ever be compensated?

Far from it! And how can time be appraised?

Alas! And how could time ever be set right?

يومٌ بأرواحٍ يباعُ ويشتَرى

يومٌ بأرواحٍ يباعُ ويشتَرى

وأخوه ليس يُسامُ فيه دِرهمُ

وأخوه ليس يُسامُ فيه دِرهمُ

One day is sold and bought at the price of souls,

A day in which souls are sold and bought,

and for its brother not a dirham is offered.

While its brother is not equal in worth to a single dirham

سيان قلبي في المشيب وفي الصِّبا

سيان قلبي في المشيب وفي الصِّبا

لو يستوى شَعرٌ أغرُّ وأسحمُ

لو يستوى شَعرٌ أغرُّ وأسحمُ

My heart is the same in gray-haired age and youth,

My heart is the same in old age and in youth

if only white hair and raven-black were alike.

If only gray hair and jet black were equal

لي وقفةٌ في الدار لا رجعت بما

لي وقفةٌ في الدار لا رجعت بما

أهوى ولا يأسِى عليها يُقدِمُ

أهوى ولا يأسِى عليها يُقدِمُ

I stand at the dwelling: I have not returned with what

I have a pause in this abode, I will not go back to what

I desire, nor does my despair over it advance.

I desire, nor will regret for it make me proceed

لا تحسب الآثارَ لُعبةَ هازلٍ

لا تحسب الآثارَ لُعبةَ هازلٍ

نار ادكارِك في المعالم تُضرمُ

نار ادكارِك في المعالم تُضرمُ

Do not think the ruins a jester's plaything;

Do not think the relics are some fool’s plaything

the fire of your remembrance is kindled among the landmarks.

The fire of your ruins sets landmarks ablaze

أو ما رأيتَ عِمادَها في نؤيها

أو ما رأيتَ عِمادَها في نؤيها

مثلَ السِّوار يجول فيه المِعصمُ

مثلَ السِّوار يجول فيه المِعصمُ

And have you not seen its tent poles within its trench,

Or have you not seen its pillars in its appearance

like a bracelet in which a wrist turns?

Like a bracelet circulating around the wrist

وكفَاك أنى للنواعبِ عاتبٌ

وكفَاك أنى للنواعبِ عاتبٌ

ولصُمِّ أحجارِ الديار مكلِّم

ولصُمِّ أحجارِ الديار مكلِّم

Enough for you that I reproach the cawing ravens,

It is enough for you that to the coquettish I am a reproacher

and speak to the deaf stones of the dwellings.

And to the deaf stones of the dwellings I am a speaker

ومن البلادةِ في الصبابة أنني

ومن البلادةِ في الصبابة أنني

مستخبرٌ عنهنَّ من لا يفهمُ

مستخبرٌ عنهنَّ من لا يفهمُ

And it is folly in passionate love that I

And of my naivete in youth, that to them

ask about them of someone who cannot understand.

I am an inquirer, from one who does not understand

وأنا البليغُ شكا إليها بثَّه

وأنا البليغُ شكا إليها بثَّه

عبثا فما بالُ المطايا تُرزِمُ

عبثا فما بالُ المطايا تُرزِمُ

And I, the eloquent one, poured out my anguish to it

And I am the eloquent one, who complained to her of his love

in vain; why, then, do the riding camels moan?

In vain, so how could the writs of fate be torn up?

كلٌّ كنَى عن شوقِه بلغاتهِ

كلٌّ كنَى عن شوقِه بلغاتهِ

ولربّما أبكَى الفصيحَ الأعجمُ

ولربّما أبكَى الفصيحَ الأعجمُ

Each expressed its longing in its own idioms,

Everyone alludes to his passion in his own language

and often the speechless makes the eloquent weep.

And sometimes the eloquent makes the foreigner weep

ترجُو سُلوَّكَ في رسومٍ بينها ال

ترجُو سُلوَّكَ في رسومٍ بينها ال

أغصانُ سَكرَى والحمامُ متَّيُم

أغصانُ سَكرَى والحمامُ متَّيُم

You hope for solace among ruins where the

You hope for your path among guideposts between which

boughs are drunk and the doves love-stricken.

Are tipsiness’ branches and the pigeon is plaintive

هذى تميلُ إذا تنسَّمت الصَّبا

هذى تميلُ إذا تنسَّمت الصَّبا

والوُرق تذكر إلفَها فترَنَّم

والوُرق تذكر إلفَها فترَنَّم

These sway when the east breeze breathes,

This one sways when the morning breeze blows

and the gray doves recall their mates and sing.

And the leaves remember their haunts and murmur

فمتى تروع العيسُ غزلانَ النقا

فمتى تروع العيسُ غزلانَ النقا

بعصابةٍ سئمَ العواذلُ منهمُ

بعصابةٍ سئمَ العواذلُ منهمُ

When, then, will the pale camels startle the gazelles of the dunes,

So when will the eyes’ gazelles startle the hunters of gazelles

bearing a band of whom the reproachers have grown weary?

With a band the coquettish have grown weary of?

النُّسكُ عند عفيفهم دينُ الهوى

النُّسكُ عند عفيفهم دينُ الهوى

والنصح عند لبيبهم لا يُفهَمُ

والنصح عند لبيبهم لا يُفهَمُ

For their chaste one, piety is the religion of love,

Devotion in their chaste eyes is the religion of passion

and to their discerning one, counsel is unintelligible.

And good advice in their discerning eyes cannot be comprehended

حتّام أرعىَ وردةً لا تُجتنَى

حتّام أرعىَ وردةً لا تُجتنَى

في الخدِّ أو تُفّاحةً لا تُلثمُ

في الخدِّ أو تُفّاحةً لا تُلثمُ

How long shall I gaze upon a rose that cannot be plucked

Hatim tends a rose that is not to be plucked

upon a cheek, or an apple that cannot be kissed?

In the cheek, or an apple that is not to be kissed

أيُذادُ عن تلك المحاسنِ ناظرى

أيُذادُ عن تلك المحاسنِ ناظرى

وتريد مني أن يسَوَّغَها الفمُ

وتريد مني أن يسَوَّغَها الفمُ

Is my gaze to be barred from those beauties,

Shall my gaze be averted from those beauties?

yet you wish my mouth to savor them?

And you want my mouth to make them palatable?

في كلّ يومٍ للعيون وقائعٌ

في كلّ يومٍ للعيون وقائعٌ

إنسانُها الطمَّاحُ فيها يُكلَمُ

إنسانُها الطمَّاحُ فيها يُكلَمُ

Every day the eyes have battles,

For the eyes there are incidents every day

in which their aspiring pupil is wounded.

Their flirtatious one in them converses

لو لم تكن جَرْحَى غداةَ لقائهم

لو لم تكن جَرْحَى غداةَ لقائهم

ما كان يجرى من مآقيها الدمُ

ما كان يجرى من مآقيها الدمُ

Had they not been wounded on the morning of meeting them,

Had they not been my wounds the morning after meeting them

blood would not have flowed from their eye-corners.

Their tribulations would not have caused blood to flow

ولو اقتدرتُ قسمتُها يومَ النوى

ولو اقتدرتُ قسمتُها يومَ النوى

عينا تلاحظهم وأخرَى تَسْجُمُ

عينا تلاحظهم وأخرَى تَسْجُمُ

If I could, I would divide them on the day of separation:

And if I could I would have on the day of blaming

one eye to watch them, another to shed tears.

One eye watch them, and the other wink

دع لمحةً إ تستطع عُلَقَ الهوى

دع لمحةً إ تستطع عُلَقَ الهوى

فبذاك تعلمُ كيف نام النوَّمُ

فبذاك تعلمُ كيف نام النوَّمُ

For a moment, leave love's bonds, if you can;

Let a glance that can capture the pinnacle of passion remain

then you will learn how sleepers sleep.

For by that you will know how tranquil sleep is

ولطالما اعتقب العواذل مسمعى

ولطالما اعتقب العواذل مسمعى

فزجرنَ منه مُصْعَبا ولا يُخطَمُ

فزجرنَ منه مُصْعَبا ولا يُخطَمُ

And how often the reproachers have taken turns at my ear,

And for long the coquettish reproached my hearing

rebuking through it an unruly camel that cannot be haltered.

And deterred me from it - an unpierceable and unseverable thing

ما كنتُ أولَ من عصاهُ فؤادُه

ما كنتُ أولَ من عصاهُ فؤادُه

وجنَى عليه مقَنَّعٌ ومعمَّمُ

وجنَى عليه مقَنَّعٌ ومعمَّمُ

I was not the first whose heart disobeyed him,

I was not the first one whose heart disobeyed it

and whom a veiled one and a turbaned one wronged.

Deceived by a masked and turbaned one

لم أدر أنَّ الحبَّ حوَمةُ مأزِقٍ

لم أدر أنَّ الحبَّ حوَمةُ مأزِقٍ

تُصلىِ ولا أنّ اللواحظَ أسهمُ

تُصلىِ ولا أنّ اللواحظَ أسهمُ

I did not know that love was the thick of a perilous battle,

I did not know that love is the pitfall of catastrophe

where you are scorched, nor that glances were arrows.

That is prayed for, nor that the sights are arrows

أصفُ الأحبّةَ واللسان يقول لي

أصفُ الأحبّةَ واللسان يقول لي

وصفُ الوزير أبى المعالى أعظمُ

وصفُ الوزير أبى المعالى أعظمُ

I describe my loved ones, while my tongue tells me:

I describe the loved ones while my tongue says to me

‘Praising the vizier Abu al-Maʿali is greater.’

Describing the Excellent Minister is greater

المستجير من المذمَّة بالنَّدَى

المستجير من المذمَّة بالنَّدَى

والمستجار إذا أظلَّك مَغْرمُ

والمستجار إذا أظلَّك مَغْرمُ

He takes refuge from blame in generosity,

The one seeking refuge from blame in the dew

and is the refuge when a debt looms over you.

And the one seeking refuge, when a burning love envelops you

في كلِّ يوم للمكارم عندَه

في كلِّ يوم للمكارم عندَه

سوقٌ عُكاظٌ دونَها والموسِمُ

سوقٌ عُكاظٌ دونَها والموسِمُ

Each day, noble deeds have with him

For it every day at his place are virtues

a market surpassing ʿUkaz and the seasonal fair.

An Ukaz market, without peer even in season

وكأنّما أموالُه من بَذلها

وكأنّما أموالُه من بَذلها

نَهبٌ بأيدى الغانمين مقسَّمُ

نَهبٌ بأيدى الغانمين مقسَّمُ

And it is as though his wealth, from his lavish giving,

As if his wealth, because of his spending it

were plunder apportioned among the takers of spoils.

Is war booty in the hands of the victors divided up

فلو أنها وَجدتْ عليه ناصرا

فلو أنها وَجدتْ عليه ناصرا

لرأيتها من كفّهِ تتظلّمُ

لرأيتها من كفّهِ تتظلّمُ

For if it found a champion against him,

So if it found in him a helper

you would see it complain of his hand.

You would see it complaining of his palm

أسمعتَ قبلَ يمينه وشماله

أسمعتَ قبلَ يمينه وشماله

بسحائبٍ أو أبحرٍ تتختَّمُ

بسحائبٍ أو أبحرٍ تتختَّمُ

Have you heard, before his right hand and left,

Have you heard, before his right and left

of clouds or seas that wear rings?

Of clouds or seas stamped with his seal?

فيهنَّ من قِصدِ اليراع أراقمٌ

فيهنَّ من قِصدِ اليراع أراقمٌ

تَقضِى وتَمضِى والقنا يتحطَّمُ

تَقضِى وتَمضِى والقنا يتحطَّمُ

In them, fragments of reed-pens are speckled serpents;

In them are signs of sending forth squadrons

they decree and carry through, while spears are shattered.

That fulfill, proceed, while the spear is shattered

ما هنَّ إلا موردٌ من فوقهِ

ما هنَّ إلا موردٌ من فوقهِ

طيرُ الرغائبِ والمطالبِ حُوَّمُ

طيرُ الرغائبِ والمطالبِ حُوَّمُ

They are nothing but a watering place, above which

They are but a wellspring from above him

the birds of wishes and petitions circle.

The birds of wishes and requests are confined

الجِدُّ من عزماتهِ متلقِّنٌ

الجِدُّ من عزماتهِ متلقِّنٌ

والمجدُ من أخلاقه متعلِّمُ

والمجدُ من أخلاقه متعلِّمُ

Earnestness takes its lessons from his resolves,

Seriousness from his resolves is a pupil

and glory learns from his character.

And glory from his manners is a learner

متهلّلٌ للوفد يُحسَب أنه

متهلّلٌ للوفد يُحسَب أنه

بدرٌ أحاط بجانبيهِ الأنجُمُ

بدرٌ أحاط بجانبيهِ الأنجُمُ

Beaming upon the delegation, he seems

Delighted to welcome delegations, you would think he is

a full moon encircled on either side by stars.

A full moon surrounded on its sides by stars

تُثنِى عواذله عليه بعذلهم

تُثنِى عواذله عليه بعذلهم

ولربّما نشَرَ الثناءَ اللُّوَّمُ

ولربّما نشَرَ الثناءَ اللُّوَّمُ

His reproachers praise him through their reproaches,

Its coquettish sing his praises in their gentle ways

and often faultfinders spread praise.

And sometimes the blamer spreads praise

خلعتْ عليه المكرُماتُ ملابسا

خلعتْ عليه المكرُماتُ ملابسا

ما يزال ينقُشها المديح ويرقُمُ

ما يزال ينقُشها المديح ويرقُمُ

Noble deeds have clothed him in garments

The gifts of honor dressed him in robes

that praise continually adorns and embroiders.

That eulogy continually fashions and tailors

عِشق المعالىَ فهْو من شغفٍ بها

عِشق المعالىَ فهْو من شغفٍ بها

عند الرقاد بغيرها لا يَحلُمُ

عند الرقاد بغيرها لا يَحلُمُ

He loves lofty deeds; so deeply enamored of them is he

He is passionate about the heights, so he is one who from ardor for them

that in sleep he dreams of nothing else.

When asleep dreams of nothing but them

بصوابه في الرأى ثُقِّف القنا

بصوابه في الرأى ثُقِّف القنا

وبعزمه صُقلِ الحسامُ المِخذَمُ

وبعزمه صُقلِ الحسامُ المِخذَمُ

By his sound judgment the spear-shafts are straightened,

The sword is polished by his resolve

and by his resolve the keen-edged sword is polished.

And glory in his verses is employed

يحمِى بسطوته مسارحَ لحظهِ

يحمِى بسطوته مسارحَ لحظهِ

فالعزُّ في أبياته مستخدَمُ

فالعزُّ في أبياته مستخدَمُ

His might protects the reaches of his gaze;

And if you notice, you say a watching falcon

thus glory serves within his dwellings.

And if he looks away, you say a blinking owl

وإذا تلمَّح قلت صقرٌ ناظرٌ

وإذا تلمَّح قلت صقرٌ ناظرٌ

وإذا تغاضَى قلت أطرقَ أرقمُ

وإذا تغاضَى قلت أطرقَ أرقمُ

When he looks keenly, you say: ‘A watching falcon’;

Steadfast of soul, as if in his chill

when he lowers his gaze, you say: ‘A speckled serpent bows its head.’

On the day of tremors the orange tree withers and shrivels

ثَبْتُ الجَنانِ كأنّما في بُرده

ثَبْتُ الجَنانِ كأنّما في بُرده

يومَ الزعازع يذبُلٌ ويلَملَمُ

يومَ الزعازع يذبُلٌ ويلَملَمُ

Steadfast of heart, as though beneath his cloak,

His anxieties and his hopes raised for him

on a day of tempests, stood Yadhbul and Yalamlam.

An edifice of glory whose pillar does not crumble

رفَعتْ له هِمّاتُه وزَماعُه

رفَعتْ له هِمّاتُه وزَماعُه

بنيانَ مجدٍ ركنُه لا يُهدَمُ

بنيانَ مجدٍ ركنُه لا يُهدَمُ

His aspirations and determination have raised for him

A long period roamed in the lands, so for him, glorious

an edifice of glory whose pillar cannot be demolished.

He quenches the thirst of the one who quenches, another accused

طَوْلٌ تشرَّد في البلادِ فمنِجدٌ

طَوْلٌ تشرَّد في البلادِ فمنِجدٌ

يَروِى الذي يَرويه آخرُ متهِمُ

يَروِى الذي يَرويه آخرُ متهِمُ

His bounty has roamed through the lands: one traveling to Najd

By God, you, when worries insinuate themselves

relates what another traveling to Tihama relates.

And the unremitting whip their bridle and halters

لله أنتَ إذا تسلَّبت الرُّبَى

لله أنتَ إذا تسلَّبت الرُّبَى

وشكا الأُحاحَ سِماكُها والمِرْزَمُ

وشكا الأُحاحَ سِماكُها والمِرْزَمُ

God bless you when the hills wear mourning,

To repel the one who harms your neighbor, the head of an asp

and their Simak and Mirzam complain of burning thirst!

Not every horse in the race is properly trained

لِيرُدَّ مَن جاراك رأسَ طِمِرةٍ

لِيرُدَّ مَن جاراك رأسَ طِمِرةٍ

ما كلُّ طِرْفٍ في السّباقِ مطهَّمُ

ما كلُّ طِرْفٍ في السّباقِ مطهَّمُ

Let whoever vies with you turn back his swift mare's head;

Glory has burdens that make carrying them difficult

not every steed in the race is finely formed.

Which the mythological Phoenix, decayed, bears

للمجد أثقالٌ تعِجُّ إفالهُم

للمجد أثقالٌ تعِجُّ إفالهُم

منها وينهَزها الفنيقُ المقُرَمُ

منها وينهَزها الفنيقُ المقُرَمُ

Glory has burdens; their young camels cry out

Far be it from you that a second nature change your disposition for generosity

under them, while the prized breeding camel heaves them up.

And the resolute in you be rent asunder

حاشاك أن يَثنِى طباعَك في الندى

حاشاك أن يَثنِى طباعَك في الندى

ثانٍ وينقُضَ من خِلالكَ مُبرِمُ

ثانٍ وينقُضَ من خِلالكَ مُبرِمُ

Far be it that your generous nature should be turned aside

If you do good, you are exceeding

by a deflector, or your virtues unraveled by a knot-maker.

Or if you bestow bounty, you are perfecting

إن تَصنع الحسنَى فإنك زائدٌ

إن تَصنع الحسنَى فإنك زائدٌ

أو تُسبغ النُّعمَى فأنت متمّمُ

أو تُسبغ النُّعمَى فأنت متمّمُ

If you do good, you add yet more;

And I, whose way is to thank you in life

or if you lavish favor, you make it complete.

Until an energetic one or a dispirited one succeeds me

وأنا الذي سيرَّتُ شكرك في الدُّنَى

وأنا الذي سيرَّتُ شكرك في الدُّنَى

حتى تلاه مُعرِقٌ أو مُشئمُ

حتى تلاه مُعرِقٌ أو مُشئمُ

And I am the one who sent praise of you throughout the world,

And I brought from the sea of praise, pearls

until travelers to Iraq or Syria recited it.

Strung in the throat of a water camel or smooth fish

وجلبتُ من بحر الثناءِ لآلئا

وجلبتُ من بحر الثناءِ لآلئا

في نحرِ ما أو ليتنيه تُنظَّمُ

في نحرِ ما أو ليتنيه تُنظَّمُ

And I brought pearls from the sea of praise,

I presented my hopes to your abundant spring, secure

to be strung upon the neck of what you bestowed on me.

That behind honey there would not be bitter aloe

أوردتُ آمالى غديرَك آمنا

أوردتُ آمالى غديرَك آمنا

من أن يكون وراءَ شهدٍ عَلقمُ

من أن يكون وراءَ شهدٍ عَلقمُ

I led my hopes to drink at your pool, assured

And I sucked the teat of your bounty, without passion

that no bitter colocynth lay behind the honey.

Trusting that its ration would not be weaned

ورضعتُ ثدىَ نداك من دون الهوى

ورضعتُ ثدىَ نداك من دون الهوى

ثقةً بأنّ رصيعَه لا يُفطَمُ

ثقةً بأنّ رصيعَه لا يُفطَمُ

And I suckled at your bounty's breast rather than love's,

The Nawruz presented to you in its branches

trusting that its suckling is never weaned.

Flowers in leaves of loftiness, veiled

أهَدى لك النيروزُ في أغصانهِ

أهَدى لك النيروزُ في أغصانهِ

زَهرا بأوراقِ العلاء يُكمَّمُ

زَهرا بأوراقِ العلاء يُكمَّمُ

Nowruz offered you upon its branches

Every day its horses and its riders

flowers enfolded in the leaves of eminence.

Their brows marked with good mention of you

في كلِّ يومٍ خيلُه وركابُه

في كلِّ يومٍ خيلُه وركابُه

جَبَهاتُهنَّ بطيب ذكرك تُوسمُ

جَبَهاتُهنَّ بطيب ذكرك تُوسمُ

Every day, its horses and riding camels

The blessing still in your presence has its udder full

have their foreheads branded with the fragrance of remembering you.

A filled vessel whose opening does not constrict

لا زالت النَّعماءُ عندك حَلْبُها

لا زالت النَّعماءُ عندك حَلْبُها

ملءُ الإناء وبطنُها لا يُعقَمُ

ملءُ الإناء وبطنُها لا يُعقَمُ

May blessing ever remain with you, its milk

And fate is subjugated behind you whenever

filling the vessel, its womb never barren.

The appointed destiny makes you prosper

والدهر مجنوبٌ وراءك كلّما

والدهر مجنوبٌ وراءك كلّما

وأتاك أسعده القضاءُ المبرَمُ

وأتاك أسعده القضاءُ المبرَمُ

And may Time be led behind you; whenever

Like the ascendant’s night and the day of one with a horoscope

it comes to you, irrevocable decree makes it fortunate.

Success writes and good fortune seals

كالنِّقسِ ليلتُه وطِرسٍ يومُهُ

كالنِّقسِ ليلتُه وطِرسٍ يومُهُ

والنُّجحُ يَكتبُ والسعادةُ تختِمُ

والنُّجحُ يَكتبُ والسعادةُ تختِمُ

Its night is like ink, its day like parchment,

and success writes, and happiness seals.