إنْ كنتَ يا عمرو قد أسأتَ فقد

إنْ كنتَ يا عمرو قد أسأتَ فقد

رأيت فيك العدوَّ محتكما

رأيت فيك العدوَّ محتكما

If, O ʿAmr, you have done wrong, then indeed

If you, o Amr, have done wrong, then I have

I have seen the enemy holding sway over you,

Seen in you an enemy driven to refuge

في ساعةٍ لو رآك في يده

في ساعةٍ لو رآك في يده

أقسى عدوٍّ لرقّ أو رحما

أقسى عدوٍّ لرقّ أو رحما

at an hour when, had he seen you in his grasp,

In an hour, had he seen you in his hand,

the cruelest enemy would have softened or shown mercy.

The cruelest foe would have shown mercy or compassion

قُتِلتَ بالذُّلِّ والمهانةِ وال

قُتِلتَ بالذُّلِّ والمهانةِ وال

قتلُ مريحٌ إذا أسال دما

قتلُ مريحٌ إذا أسال دما

You were killed by humiliation and abasement, and—

You were killed with humiliation and wrong, not

killing brings relief when it spills blood.

A merciful killing when blood flows

فإن تعشْ برهةً فأنت بما

فإن تعشْ برهةً فأنت بما

رُمِيتَ مَيْتٌ لم تسكن الرَّجَما

رُمِيتَ مَيْتٌ لم تسكن الرَّجَما

So if you live a while, through what

If you live awhile, you are with what

you were struck with, you are dead without inhabiting the grave.

You were pelted, a dead man who finds no rest

وإنْ تكن ناجياً من الموتِ فال

وإنْ تكن ناجياً من الموتِ فال

موتُ مُنى مَن يعالجُ السَّقما

موتُ مُنى مَن يعالجُ السَّقما

And if you have escaped death, then—

And if you survive death, then no

death is the wish of one who battles illness.

Death is the wish of one who suffers illness

لم تنجُ منه كما علمتَ ومَنْ

لم تنجُ منه كما علمتَ ومَنْ

سلّمه الإتّفاقُ ما سلما

سلّمه الإتّفاقُ ما سلما

You have not escaped it, as you know; and whoever

You will not escape it as you know, and one who

chance has spared has not truly been saved.

Chance delivers is not delivered

شُلَّتْ يدا من رمى فلم تُصمك الر

شُلَّتْ يدا من رمى فلم تُصمك الر

رَميةُ لمّا لم يدر كيف رمى

رَميةُ لمّا لم يدر كيف رمى

May the shooter's hands be palsied: you were not killed outright by the—

The hands of one who shot were paralyzed, so the

shot, since he did not know how to shoot.

Shot did not strike you as he did not know how to shoot

إنّ الأُلى في صدورهمْ حَنَقٌ

إنّ الأُلى في صدورهمْ حَنَقٌ

لم تعفُ آثارُهُ ولا اِنصرما

لم تعفُ آثارُهُ ولا اِنصرما

Those in whose breasts there is rancor—

In their breasts is festering hatred

its traces have not faded, nor has it ceased.

Whose wounds will not heal or be stitched

همّوا ولم يفعلوا لعائقةٍ

همّوا ولم يفعلوا لعائقةٍ

وفاعلٌ للأمور مَن عزما

وفاعلٌ للأمور مَن عزما

They intended to act but did not, because of an obstacle;

They plotted but did not act due to an obstacle

the doer of deeds is the one who resolves.

And the doer of deeds is one who is resolute

ألَمَّ سوءٌ وما أتمَّ وكمْ

ألَمَّ سوءٌ وما أتمَّ وكمْ

أنشبَ أظفارَه وما عدما

أنشبَ أظفارَه وما عدما

Evil struck, yet did not finish its work; how often

It was painful harm though incomplete, and how

it sank in its claws and did not fail!

Its claws sank in and did not diminish

فاِخشَ لها عودةً فجارمُها

فاِخشَ لها عودةً فجارمُها

صَبٌّ بها ليس يعرف النّدما

صَبٌّ بها ليس يعرف النّدما

So fear its return, for its perpetrator

So fear its return, for its pouring rain

is enamored of it and knows no regret.

Is blindness that does not know regret

إنّ الّذي أنت غُنْمُ بُغْيتِهِ

إنّ الّذي أنت غُنْمُ بُغْيتِهِ

ما ظَفِرتْ كفُّهُ وما غنما

ما ظَفِرتْ كفُّهُ وما غنما

The one for whose quest you are the prize—

Indeed, the one whom you are prey for his tyranny

his hand has not triumphed, nor has he gained his spoils.

His palm has not triumphed or gained spoils

وَقد قَضى اللَّهُ أن يزيل لنا

وَقد قَضى اللَّهُ أن يزيل لنا

نعمةَ من ليس يشكر النِّعما

نعمةَ من ليس يشكر النِّعما

God has decreed to remove, for our sake,

And God has decreed that He remove from us

the blessing of one who does not give thanks for blessings.

The blessing of one who does not thank blessings

ما شكّ قومٌ قُذِفتَ وسْطَهُمُ

ما شكّ قومٌ قُذِفتَ وسْطَهُمُ

أنّ جنوناً بالدّهر أو لمَمَا

أنّ جنوناً بالدّهر أو لمَمَا

No people among whom you were flung doubted

No people you were cast among doubted

that Time suffered madness or a touch of frenzy.

That madness in time or blemish struck you

أخَفْتَنِي ثمّ ما أمنتَ فلا

أخَفْتَنِي ثمّ ما أمنتَ فلا

يأمن منّا من خاب أو نَدِما

يأمن منّا من خاب أو نَدِما

You frightened me, then found no safety yourself; so

You frightened me, then did not feel safe, so no

let no one who failed or regretted feel safe from us.

One who fails or regrets feels safe from me

فقل لقومٍ غُرّوا بفتنتِه

فقل لقومٍ غُرّوا بفتنتِه

إِنّ أديماً دبغتُمُ حَلُما

إِنّ أديماً دبغتُمُ حَلُما

Tell a people deceived by his allure:

So say to a people who were roused by his chaos

the hide you tanned has become mite-eaten.

That I tanned a hide, patience

ظننتُمُ أنّه ينير لكمْ

ظننتُمُ أنّه ينير لكمْ

فَزادكم فَوق ظُلمةٍ ظُلَما

فَزادكم فَوق ظُلمةٍ ظُلَما

You thought that he would give you light,

You thought it would illuminate for you

but he added darkness upon darkness for you.

But it increased darkness upon darkness for you

وَإِنْ أبَيْتُمْ إلّا عِبادَتَه

وَإِنْ أبَيْتُمْ إلّا عِبادَتَه

فقد رأينا من يعبد الصَّنمَا

فقد رأينا من يعبد الصَّنمَا

And if you insist on nothing but worshipping him,

And if you insist on worshipping it

we have indeed seen people worship an idol.

Then we have seen those who worship idols

وقلتُمُ إنّه أخو كرمٍ

وقلتُمُ إنّه أخو كرمٍ

وَما رَأينا فيكم لَه كَرما

وَما رَأينا فيكم لَه كَرما

You said that he was a brother to generosity,

And you said he is a brother of generosity

yet we have seen no generosity of his among you.

But we did not see in you any generosity for him

وقال قومٌ أعطى فقلتُ لكمْ

وقال قومٌ أعطى فقلتُ لكمْ

إِنْ كانَ أَعطى فطالما حرما

إِنْ كانَ أَعطى فطالما حرما

Some people said, 'He gave'; I said to you,

And some said he gave, so I said to you

'If he gave, how often he withheld!'

If he gave, long has he deprived

قد ثلم الدّهرُ ما بناهُ لكُمْ

قد ثلم الدّهرُ ما بناهُ لكُمْ

وتاب ممّا جناه واِجترما

وتاب ممّا جناه واِجترما

Time has breached what it built for you,

Time has ruined what it built for you

and repented of the wrong it committed and perpetrated.

And turned from what it gathered and stole

فلا تروموا مثلَ الّذي

فلا تروموا مثلَ الّذي

كان فذاك الشّبابُ قد خُرِما

كان فذاك الشّبابُ قد خُرِما

So do not seek the like of what

So do not seek the like of one

once was: that youth has been cut short.

Who was, for youth has picked and left

بالجِدِّ نلتُ الّذي بلغتُ ولم

بالجِدِّ نلتُ الّذي بلغتُ ولم

تعملْ إليه كفّاً ولا قدما

تعملْ إليه كفّاً ولا قدما

Through earnest striving I attained what I reached, while you did not

With effort I attained what I attained, and hands

put either hand or foot to work toward it.

And feet did not work toward it

ولا أساسٌ لما بنيتَ فما

ولا أساسٌ لما بنيتَ فما

نُنكر منهُ أَن زال واِنهدما

نُنكر منهُ أَن زال واِنهدما

There is no foundation to what you built, so we do not

And no foundation for what you built, so we do not

find it strange that it vanished and collapsed.

Reject its fading and collapse

فَقد سَئِمناك والمدى كَثِبٌ

فَقد سَئِمناك والمدى كَثِبٌ

ومن ثَوَى الرّيفَ جانَبَ السَّأَما

ومن ثَوَى الرّيفَ جانَبَ السَّأَما

We have grown weary of you, though the span is short;

For we are tired of you, and the road is rugged

one who dwells in fertile country keeps weariness at bay.

And whoever dwells in the countryside turns away in boredom

وإنْ تُصَبْ بالرّدى فليس ترى

وإنْ تُصَبْ بالرّدى فليس ترى

دمعاً لعينٍ عليك مُنسَجِما

دمعاً لعينٍ عليك مُنسَجِما

And if death strikes you, you will not see

And if you are struck by abasement, you will not see

tears flowing from any eye over you.

A tear from an eye shedding for you

وَإِنْ تَغبْ فالّذي به غُصَصٌ

وَإِنْ تَغبْ فالّذي به غُصَصٌ

منك بواقٍ يقول لا قَدِما

منك بواقٍ يقول لا قَدِما

And if you depart, the one in whom choking pangs

And if you are absent, one in anguish from you

from you remain will say, 'May he never return!'

Says no foot has stepped

فَلا سَقى اللَّهُ وادياً حلّه الس

فَلا سَقى اللَّهُ وادياً حلّه الس

سوءاتُ لمّا حللتَه الدِّيَما

سوءاتُ لمّا حللتَه الدِّيَما

May God not water a valley where the—

So may God not water a valley made muddy by the

disgraces settled when you settled there—with steady rains.

Evils you made muddy with shame

ولا هَناك الّذي أتاك ولا

ولا هَناك الّذي أتاك ولا

أمنتَ فيما جنيتَه النِّقَما

أمنتَ فيما جنيتَه النِّقَما

May what came to you bring you no joy, nor

Neither will He be there as He was, nor

may you be safe from vengeance for what you committed.

Did you feel safe in what you reaped of blame

وَماءُ قومٍ حلَلتَ بينهُمُ

وَماءُ قومٍ حلَلتَ بينهُمُ

لا كان عَذْباً لهمْ ولا شَبما

لا كان عَذْباً لهمْ ولا شَبما

And the water of a people among whom you settled—

And the water of a people you muddied among them

may it be neither sweet to them nor cool.

Was neither fresh for them nor brackish

فلا يَرُعني منك الوعيد فما

فلا يَرُعني منك الوعيد فما

زلتُ أُولِّيهِ مِنّيَ الصَّمَما

زلتُ أُولِّيهِ مِنّيَ الصَّمَما

Let your threats not frighten me, for I have

So threats do not alarm me, for I have not

always turned a deaf ear to them.

Ceased to turn a deaf ear to them

ومَن ترى أنّني أهاب أذىً

ومَن ترى أنّني أهاب أذىً

فمبصرٌ في منامه حُلُما

فمبصرٌ في منامه حُلُما

Anyone whose harm you think I fear

And whoever sees I fear harm

is seeing a dream in his sleep.

Is one dreaming dreams

سَلْ عَن صُخوري مَن كان يقرعها

سَلْ عَن صُخوري مَن كان يقرعها

وَعن قناتي اِمرءاً لها عَجَما

وَعن قناتي اِمرءاً لها عَجَما

Ask about my rocks those who have struck them,

Ask the rocks I used to strike

and about my spear-shaft a man who has tested its strength.

And the warrior I used to confront

فلم أكنْ شحمةً لمُزْدَرِدٍ

فلم أكنْ شحمةً لمُزْدَرِدٍ

كلّا ولا مضغةً لمن ضغما

كلّا ولا مضغةً لمن ضغما

I was no lump of fat for a gulper—

For I was no fat for the chewing of the scorner

no, nor a morsel for one who bites.

No, nor a morsel for the one who chews

قد كنتُ سيلاً وكنتمُ وَهَداً

قد كنتُ سيلاً وكنتمُ وَهَداً

وكنتُ ناراً وكنتمُ فحما

وكنتُ ناراً وكنتمُ فحما

I was a torrent, and you were lowlands;

I was a flood and you were debris

I was fire, and you were charcoal.

And I was fire and you were embers

للَّه قَومٌ رأيتُ قبلك فو

للَّه قَومٌ رأيتُ قبلك فو

ق العرش من هذه البِنا جُثُما

ق العرش من هذه البِنا جُثُما

God bless the men I saw before you, above—

By God, I saw a people before you hovering

the roofs of these buildings, crouching there.

Above the Throne, courage their mark

كانوا بسِلمٍ إنْ سادَ في حومة ال

كانوا بسِلمٍ إنْ سادَ في حومة ال

حربِ أسودٌ إِفراسةً حَطما

حربِ أسودٌ إِفراسةً حَطما

They were in peace—if, in the thick of—

They were on a path, if amidst the fray of battle

war, lions held sway—crushing in their assaults.

A vicious lion dominated, they would break him

لم يك فيهمْ ولا لهمْ أحدٌ

لم يك فيهمْ ولا لهمْ أحدٌ

خالٍ بسوءِ الفِعالِ متَّهما

خالٍ بسوءِ الفِعالِ متَّهما

There was no one among them, nor anyone of theirs,

Among them was no one, and none had

accused of wicked deeds, even in private.

Anyone free of blame for vile deeds

من كلِّ قَرْمٍ يشفي إذا شهد ال

من كلِّ قَرْمٍ يشفي إذا شهد ال

حومةَ بالبِيض والقنا القَرَما

حومةَ بالبِيض والقنا القَرَما

Each a mighty chief who quenches, when he enters the—

All were cavaliers who when battle raged

fray, his craving with white swords and spears.

Drew white swords and reddened spears

يرهب في عرضة الملام ولا

يرهب في عرضة الملام ولا

يرهب يوماً في جسمه الألما

يرهب يوماً في جسمه الألما

He fears reproach when exposed to it, but does not

They did not in war shed blood except of

ever fear pain in his body.

Bodies and skulls

كأنّني بالخيول ثائرةً

كأنّني بالخيول ثائرةً

مُعجَلَةً أنْ تَقَلَّدَ اللُّجُما

مُعجَلَةً أنْ تَقَلَّدَ اللُّجُما

I seem to see the horses surging forth,

So if hints deserted me, then suggestion

hurried to be fitted with bridles.

Is like clear statement if understood

مثلُ الدَّبا إذْ يقول مبصرها

مثلُ الدَّبا إذْ يقول مبصرها

شلَّ اليمانون بالقنا النَّعَما

شلَّ اليمانون بالقنا النَّعَما

Like young locusts, when their beholder says,

Sometimes the tongue volunteers and I do not

'The Yemenis have driven off the herds with spears!'

Restrain a tongue from speaking and mouth

وفوقهنّ الكماةُ حاملةٌ

وفوقهنّ الكماةُ حاملةٌ

سُمْراً طِوالاً وبُتَّراً خُذُما

سُمْراً طِوالاً وبُتَّراً خُذُما

And above them are warriors, bearing

For often men did not fear swords

long brown spears and keen, cutting swords.

Or words and cautious speech

لم ينثروا بالسّيوفِ مصلتةً

لم ينثروا بالسّيوفِ مصلتةً

في الحربِ إلّا الأجسادَ والقِمما

في الحربِ إلّا الأجسادَ والقِمما

With swords drawn they scattered nothing

Take this, and after it its like,

in war but bodies and heads.

For I am not to truth with you discreet

فلا غَبَت منِّيَ المعارِضُ فالت

فلا غَبَت منِّيَ المعارِضُ فالت

تعْريض مثلُ التّصريحِ إنْ فُهِما

تعْريض مثلُ التّصريحِ إنْ فُهِما

May allusions never leave me, for—

So the most ignorant of all people is a man

allusion is like explicit speech, if understood.

With reckless tongue or roused pen

وربّما ساعد اللّسان فلمْ

وربّما ساعد اللّسان فلمْ

أحبسْ لساناً عن نطقه وفما

أحبسْ لساناً عن نطقه وفما

Often the tongue has lent its aid, so I have not

restrained a tongue or a mouth from speaking.

فطالما لم يخفْ رجالٌ من ال

فطالما لم يخفْ رجالٌ من ال

أَسْيافِ كَلْماً وحاذروا الكَلِما

أَسْيافِ كَلْماً وحاذروا الكَلِما

Often men have felt no fear of the—

swords' wounds, yet have dreaded words.

خذها ومن بعدها نظائرها

خذها ومن بعدها نظائرها

فلستُ للصّدق فيك مُحتشما

فلستُ للصّدق فيك مُحتشما

Take this, and after it others like it;

I am not ashamed to tell the truth about you.

فأغبنُ النّاسِ كلِّهمْ رجلٌ

فأغبنُ النّاسِ كلِّهمْ رجلٌ

هاج لساناً أو نَبَّهَ القَلما

هاج لساناً أو نَبَّهَ القَلما

The greatest loser among all people is the man

who provokes a tongue or rouses the pen.