أرأيتَ ما صنعتْ بنا الأيّامُ

أرأيتَ ما صنعتْ بنا الأيّامُ

ضاع العزاءُ وضلّتِ الأحلامُ

ضاع العزاءُ وضلّتِ الأحلامُ

Have you seen what the days have done to us?

Have you seen what the days have done to us?

Consolation is lost, and minds have gone astray.

Solace is lost and dreams have strayed.

نبأٌ تُفَكّ له الصدور عن الحِجى

نبأٌ تُفَكّ له الصدور عن الحِجى

وتُهانُ أخطارُ النُّهى وتُضامُ

وتُهانُ أخطارُ النُّهى وتُضامُ

News at which hearts are parted from reason,

News that rends breasts apart from anguish,

and the dignity of understanding is debased and wronged.

While the perils of censure are scorned and suppressed.

ومصيبةٍ وَلَجَتْ على ملك الورى

ومصيبةٍ وَلَجَتْ على ملك الورى

أبوابَه والذّائدون نيامُ

أبوابَه والذّائدون نيامُ

And a calamity entered upon the king of humankind,

And a tragedy has assailed the king of the world,

through his gates, while the defenders slept.

Its gates, while the guards lie sleeping.

حلّ الرّجال بأمرها عُقَدَ الحُبا

حلّ الرّجال بأمرها عُقَدَ الحُبا

فكأنّهمْ وهمُ القعودُ قيامُ

فكأنّهمْ وهمُ القعودُ قيامُ

Because of it, men untied the knots of their knee-binding wraps,

The men's resolve melted at its command; bonds of love now untied,

so that, though seated, they seemed to be standing.

As if, though seated, they stand.

واِستَوهلتْ آراؤهمْ فتراهمُ

واِستَوهلتْ آراؤهمْ فتراهمُ

لا نَقْضَ عندهُم ولا إبرامُ

لا نَقْضَ عندهُم ولا إبرامُ

Their judgments were panic-stricken, so you see them

And their opinions rendered powerless - you see them

with neither reversal nor firm resolve.

With no resolve, or binding pact.

حاروا فليس لديهمُ إنْ خوطِبوا

حاروا فليس لديهمُ إنْ خوطِبوا

أو خاطبوا فَهْمٌ ولا إفهامُ

أو خاطبوا فَهْمٌ ولا إفهامُ

Bewildered, they have—whether addressed

Perplexed, so that if addressed or addressing

or speaking—neither understanding nor power to explain.

They have no understanding, or clear expression.

كالغِمْدِ فارق نَصْلَه في معركٍ

كالغِمْدِ فارق نَصْلَه في معركٍ

والسِّلْكُ مُلْقىً ليس فيه نِظامُ

والسِّلْكُ مُلْقىً ليس فيه نِظامُ

Like a sheath parted from its blade in battle,

Like a scabbard bereft of its blade in the fray,

and a thread lying discarded, with no beads strung on it.

Its strap discarded, with no system or order.

يا أَيّها الملكُ الّذي لجلاله

يا أَيّها الملكُ الّذي لجلاله

يُتَعَلَّمُ التّوقيرُ والإعظامُ

يُتَعَلَّمُ التّوقيرُ والإعظامُ

O king, from whose majesty

And the spring - the copious rain takes away its branches' yield,

reverence and veneration are learned,

While, avoiding harm, the pair of tattooed dark doves escaped.

صَبراً فَبِالأدبِ الّذي أسلفتَه

صَبراً فَبِالأدبِ الّذي أسلفتَه

في النّائباتِ تَأَدَّبَ الأقوامُ

في النّائباتِ تَأَدَّبَ الأقوامُ

be patient: from the bearing you have already shown

A cleft is not made save in the side of an aged oryx,

in misfortunes, peoples have learned how to bear themselves.

From which fault and blemish are absent when mature.

أين التَّشَرُّزُ للخطوب وأين ذا

أين التَّشَرُّزُ للخطوب وأين ذا

ك الصّبرُ والإطراقُ والإزمامُ

ك الصّبرُ والإطراقُ والإزمامُ

Where is your fierce defiance of calamities, and where is that

Only the base leaves the priceless, but the noble

patience, that lowered gaze and bridled silence?

When priceless is gone take no shame.

فالثِّقْلُ لا يسطيعه من شارفٍ

فالثِّقْلُ لا يسطيعه من شارفٍ

كوماءِ إلّا غاربٌ وسنامُ

كوماءِ إلّا غاربٌ وسنامُ

For nothing on an aged she-camel can bear the burden,

War snatches away the valiant, while the weak,

high-humped though she be, except her withers and hump.

The cowardly, the flinching remain preserved from it.

والنّبعُ تسلبه النَّجابةُ فرعَهُ

والنّبعُ تسلبه النَّجابةُ فرعَهُ

ونجا بلؤمٍ خِرْوَعٌ وثُمامُ

ونجا بلؤمٍ خِرْوَعٌ وثُمامُ

And the nabʿ tree's excellence robs it of its branch,

Cubs - their cubs - in whom nobility runs out:

while baseness saves castor and thumām grass.

For us, after them remain the scavenging hyenas.

والثَّلْمُ ليس يَكون إِلّا في ظُبا ال

والثَّلْمُ ليس يَكون إِلّا في ظُبا ال

ماضى ويخلو منه وهْوَ كَهامُ

ماضى ويخلو منه وهْوَ كَهامُ

And chipping occurs only in the edges of the

An oryx herd whose leader expires:

keen blade; a blunt one remains free of it.

When one perishes, for him remain the vultures.

والبُخل يتّرِك النّفيسَ وإِنّما

والبُخل يتّرِك النّفيسَ وإِنّما

فقد النّفائسَ ما جدون كِرامُ

فقد النّفائسَ ما جدون كِرامُ

Miserliness leaves precious things intact; it is only

Time has taken a soul, and left souls behind:

noble, generous men who lose their treasures.

Then go, dove, and no blame is upon you.

والحربُ تقتنص الشّجاعَ وآمِنٌ

والحربُ تقتنص الشّجاعَ وآمِنٌ

فيها المَنونَ الواهنُ المِحجامُ

فيها المَنونَ الواهنُ المِحجامُ

War hunts down the brave, while safe

More deserving than us to weep for him whom

from death in it is the feeble man who shrinks from battle.

Time robbed of favor and grace.

شِبْلٌ محا فيه الرّزيّةَ إِنّه

شِبْلٌ محا فيه الرّزيّةَ إِنّه

باقٍ لنا من بعده الضّرغامُ

باقٍ لنا من بعده الضّرغامُ

A lion cub: his loss is effaced by the fact

The horses, their necks now bowed down,

that the mighty lion remains to us after him.

As if their saddlebags and harnesses were graves and cinders.

وثنيّةٍ من يَذْبُلٍ جُدنا بها

وثنيّةٍ من يَذْبُلٍ جُدنا بها

إِذْ يَذْبُلٌ خَلَفٌ له وشَمامُ

إِذْ يَذْبُلٌ خَلَفٌ له وشَمامُ

And a mountain pass of Yadhbul we freely relinquished,

Neither have they approached the descent, nor has the saddle

since Yadhbul and Shamām stand in his stead.

Or bridle been absent from them.

أخذ الرّدى نفساً وغادر أنفساً

أخذ الرّدى نفساً وغادر أنفساً

فاِذهَبْ حمامُ فما عليك مَلامُ

فاِذهَبْ حمامُ فما عليك مَلامُ

Death took a soul and left a more precious one;

Let the blunt lance, made mute, weep - paralyzed

so go your way, O Death: no blame rests on you.

Are its movements, and the old barren palm trunk.

وأحقُّ منّا بالبكاء على الّذي

وأحقُّ منّا بالبكاء على الّذي

سلب الزّمانُ الفضلُ والإنعامُ

سلب الزّمانُ الفضلُ والإنعامُ

And more entitled than we to weep for the one

Those who delayed have pitched their travel-worn mounts' forelocks

Time has stolen are excellence and beneficence,

In his courtyard - halted there, annihilated.

والخيلُ قانيةُ النّحورِ كأنّما

والخيلُ قانيةُ النّحورِ كأنّما

بجلودها الحِنّاءُ والعُلّامُ

بجلودها الحِنّاءُ والعُلّامُ

and the horses, crimson-throated, as though

They hastened at dawn, to seize the riches, and take their ease

their hides were dyed with henna and ʿullām.

When the fruits of dew had ripened, they stayed on.

لم يدنُ منهنّ النُّزول ولم يَغِبْ

لم يدنُ منهنّ النُّزول ولم يَغِبْ

عنهنّ إِسراجٌ ولا إِلجامُ

عنهنّ إِسراجٌ ولا إِلجامُ

Dismounting never came near them; never were they

O you who have outstripped the elders, though a youth,

without saddling or bridling.

And collected the fruits of old age while still a boy.

ولْيَبكِهِ الرّمحُ الأصمُّ تعطّلَتْ

ولْيَبكِهِ الرّمحُ الأصمُّ تعطّلَتْ

حركاتُهُ والباترُ الصُّمْصامُ

حركاتُهُ والباترُ الصُّمْصامُ

Let the solid spear weep for him—stilled are

The ways of youth slink away from your sober piety,

its movements—and the cleaving, unbending sword,

And sins avoid the sanctity of your retreat.

ومؤمِّلون أَناخَ شعْثَ رِكابهمْ

ومؤمِّلون أَناخَ شعْثَ رِكابهمْ

بفِنائِهِ الإنفاضُ والإعدامُ

بفِنائِهِ الإنفاضُ والإعدامُ

and hopeful men, whose shaggy mounts were made to kneel

You passed away before calumny's uncertainty about you cleared,

in his courtyard by exhausted provisions and destitution.

Nor did sins cleave to you.

بكروا ليستلبوا الغِنى ويروّحوا

بكروا ليستلبوا الغِنى ويروّحوا

فحلا لهمْ ثمرُ النّدى فأقاموا

فحلا لهمْ ثمرُ النّدى فأقاموا

They came early to seize riches and depart at evening,

Only the hearts - they now quake with grief

but the fruit of generosity was sweet to them, so they stayed.

For your day, and tears flow copiously.

يا نازحاً فَضَلَ الأكابر ناشئاً

يا نازحاً فَضَلَ الأكابر ناشئاً

وجنى ثمارَ السِّنِّ وهْوَ غلامُ

وجنى ثمارَ السِّنِّ وهْوَ غلامُ

O departed one, who surpassed the great while still young,

What! By the tomb you were made to dwell,

and harvested the fruits of age while still a boy.

Should no cloud pass over its soil?

تَزْوَرُّ عن صَبَواته سُنَنُ الصِّبا

تَزْوَرُّ عن صَبَواته سُنَنُ الصِّبا

وتطيح عن خَلَواته الآثامُ

وتطيح عن خَلَواته الآثامُ

Youth's ways turn aside from his youthful inclinations,

It should suffice it, when life lies frozen, your own pouring,

and sins fall away from his private hours.

As clouds mass, or rain pours in torrents.

وَقَضى ولم تقض اللبانةُ رِيبةً

وَقَضى ولم تقض اللبانةُ رِيبةً

منه ولا عَلِقَتْ به الأَجرامُ

منه ولا عَلِقَتْ به الأَجرامُ

He died, and desire had accomplished no shameful deed

Or that no garden adjoins his tomb, while yours,

through him, nor had crimes clung to him.

By your eminence, is a garden and haven.

أمّا القلوبُ فإِنّهنّ رواجِفٌ

أمّا القلوبُ فإِنّهنّ رواجِفٌ

حزناً ليومك والدّموعُ سِجامُ

حزناً ليومك والدّموعُ سِجامُ

As for hearts, they are trembling

Or that no friends visit him, while by you

in grief for your day of death, and tears are streaming.

Stands one greeting and invocation to God.

ماذا على الجَدَثِ الّذي أُسكنتَهُ

ماذا على الجَدَثِ الّذي أُسكنتَهُ

أَلاّ يمرَّ على ثراه غمامُ

أَلاّ يمرَّ على ثراه غمامُ

What harm to the grave where you were laid

A grave that rends hearts - and before it

if no cloud passes over its earth?

Tombs themselves are rent asunder.

يكفيه منك السّكبُ إِنْ جَمَدَ الحَيا

يكفيه منك السّكبُ إِنْ جَمَدَ الحَيا

والمستهلّ إِذا السّحابُ جَهامُ

والمستهلّ إِذا السّحابُ جَهامُ

Your outpouring suffices it if rain is withheld,

Defiled before it are inviolable spirits,

and your downpour when the clouds are rainless.

While, beside it, cattle themselves are defiled.

أو لا يجاورَ روضةً وضريحُهُ

أو لا يجاورَ روضةً وضريحُهُ

منه بعَرْفِك روضةٌ ومُدامُ

منه بعَرْفِك روضةٌ ومُدامُ

Or if it borders no garden, when its burial chamber

We are here but for demise; it is but

is itself, through your fragrance, a garden and wine?

The days that delude us with their passage.

أو لا يُحيّيه الرّفاقُ وعاكفٌ

أو لا يُحيّيه الرّفاقُ وعاكفٌ

للَّه منه تحيّةٌ وسلامُ

للَّه منه تحيّةٌ وسلامُ

Or if companions do not greet it, while a devotee

And if you reflect upon time you find it

of God sends forth greeting and peace?

Fleeting, with the days of life but ill.

قبرٌ تُشَقُّ له القلوبُ وقبله

قبرٌ تُشَقُّ له القلوبُ وقبله

عند القبور تُشقّق الأهدامُ

عند القبور تُشقّق الأهدامُ

A grave for which hearts are rent; before it,

We rise and retire laughing, but it is

at graves, worn garments were torn.

Morn and eve that laugh at our weeping.

وتُعَقَّرُ المُهجُ الحرامُ حِيالَهُ

وتُعَقَّرُ المُهجُ الحرامُ حِيالَهُ

وسواه تُعقر عنده الأنعامُ

وسواه تُعقر عنده الأنعامُ

And inviolable souls are slaughtered before it,

We rejoice at the new year, but it is the years

while at other graves livestock are slaughtered.

That pace us inexorably towards demise.

ما نَحنُ إِلّا للفناءِ وإِنّما

ما نَحنُ إِلّا للفناءِ وإِنّما

تغترّنا بمرورها الأيّامُ

تغترّنا بمرورها الأيّامُ

We are destined only for perishing; it is merely

Each day, one of us strides toward the belly of the earth, to our place of rest,

the days that deceive us as they pass.

A visitor never to return, irredeemably gone.

ومتى تأمّلْتَ الزّمانَ وجَدْتَهُ

ومتى تأمّلْتَ الزّمانَ وجَدْتَهُ

أَجَلاً وأَيّامُ الحياةِ سَقامُ

أَجَلاً وأَيّامُ الحياةِ سَقامُ

And whenever you reflect upon time, you find it

So entrust to us the protected kingdom of the King of Kings,

an appointed end; the days of life are sickness.

With you holding its reins fast from disasters.

نُضحِي ونُمسي ضاحكين وإِنّما

نُضحِي ونُمسي ضاحكين وإِنّما

لبكائنا الإصباحُ والإظلامُ

لبكائنا الإصباحُ والإظلامُ

We pass mornings and evenings laughing, yet

Fate refuses as you refuse, and does not

daybreak and nightfall are for our weeping.

Cease to flow as the Pens decree.

ونُسَرُّ بالعام الجديد وإنّما

ونُسَرُّ بالعام الجديد وإنّما

تسري بنا نحو الرّدى الأعوامُ

تسري بنا نحو الرّدى الأعوامُ

And we rejoice in the new year, yet

Success and prosperity to those you befriend,

the years carry us by night toward death.

Subjugation and oppression to those you loathe.

في كلّ يومٍ زَوْرَةٌ من صاحبٍ

في كلّ يومٍ زَوْرَةٌ من صاحبٍ

منّا إلى بطن الثّرى ومقامُ

منّا إلى بطن الثّرى ومقامُ

Each day there is a visit by a companion

For the kingdom - since its affairs were raised unto you -

from among us to the belly of the earth, and a stay.

Is inviolable by all men.

لا تُرتجى منه إيابةُ قادمٍ

لا تُرتجى منه إيابةُ قادمٍ

هيهات أعوزَ من ردىً قَدّامُ

هيهات أعوزَ من ردىً قَدّامُ

No traveler's return from it can be hoped for;

far from it! No bold man comes forth from death.

فاِسلَمْ لنا ملكَ الملوكِ مُحَصَّناً

فاِسلَمْ لنا ملكَ الملوكِ مُحَصَّناً

في راحتيك من الخطوب زِمامُ

في راحتيك من الخطوب زِمامُ

So remain safe for us, king of kings, protected,

with the rein of calamities held in your palms.

تأبى المقادرُ ما أبَيْتَ ولا تزلْ

تأبى المقادرُ ما أبَيْتَ ولا تزلْ

تجري بما تختاره الأقلامُ

تجري بما تختاره الأقلامُ

May fate reject what you reject, and may there be no end

to the pens' running with whatever you choose.

ولمن هَويتَ نجاحةٌ وفلاحةٌ

ولمن هَويتَ نجاحةٌ وفلاحةٌ

ولمنْ شَنِئتَ الكَبْتُ والإرغامُ

ولمنْ شَنِئتَ الكَبْتُ والإرغامُ

And for those you love, success and prosperity;

and for those you hate, humiliation and abasement.

فالملك مذْ رُفعتْ إليك أُمورُه

فالملك مذْ رُفعتْ إليك أُمورُه

حَرَمٌ على كلّ الرّجالِ حرامُ

حَرَمٌ على كلّ الرّجالِ حرامُ

For sovereignty, since its affairs were entrusted to you,

is an inviolable sanctuary barred to all men.