غنى الذي يشكو من البعد والجفا — Shibli Al Atrash

غَنى الَّذي يَشكو من البُعد وَالجَفا

أَشكو لِمَن ما في التراك أَجواد

He who complains of separation and estrangement sang.

To whom shall I complain? Among the Turks there are no generous men.

أَشكو لِمَن ما في فَخر قَط وَمنفعة

وَلا أَرتَجي مِنهُم صَلاح وَكاد

To whom shall I complain? There is no honor at all, nor benefit.

Nor do I hope for any certain good from them.

ما يفهموا مني لغاتي غَريبة

وَلا يرحموا اللي من غر أمود باد

They do not understand me; my language is foreign.

Nor do they pity the one who perished from “ghar amud” [unclear wording].

وَلا من صديق بفش همي إِذا طفح

وَلا مِن كَريم الناس إِليه تنقاد

There is no friend to relieve my sorrow when it overflows.

Nor a noble man to whom people defer.

سِوى القرقره وَالمرمرة في لغاتهم

هرجا شَنيع يفتت الأَكباد

Nothing but rattling and muttering in their languages:

Ugly talk that shatters the livers.

يا حيرَتي يا ناس ضاقَت بَصيرَتي

كَما حار رَهوا تاوه القواد

Oh, my bewilderment! People, my understanding has grown narrow.

Like a bewildered flock, its guides gone astray.

وَضَعنا كَما ضاعَت ذهاب الرَعايا

في بر مُوحش ما لَها رُواد

And we were lost like the common folk’s baggage,

In a desolate wilderness, with no guides.

أَنا محنتي في بَلوَتي مع رفاقتي

بِكَثير عَن ذولي تَرى تَزداد

My ordeal, my affliction among my companions,

You see, exceeds theirs by far.

وَخان الدَهر ما شنع مهاوي مضاربو

الياسطا خيم عَلى الطَريح وَجاد

Time betrayed us—how dreadful the plunges of its blows!

When it assaults, it looms over the fallen and pours forth its blows.

يَعطيك حق للسما إِن راد يَنهضك

وَبقول لك عيش بَهنا وَرغاد

It raises you all the way to heaven if it wishes,

And tells you: live in happiness and abundance.

وَينكس عليك برغم عَنكَ يحدرك

خوان مالو بالعباد وداد

Then it overturns your fortunes and casts you down against your will.

Treacherous, it has no affection for people.

يا مؤامنين الدَهر كُونوا عَلى حَذَر

ترى الدَهر يا ما بوصفا وَنكاد

You who trust Time, be on your guard.

See how much serenity and distress Time contains.

تَرى الدَهر ياما بو عجايب مُنوعة

تَرى الدَهر ياما بو طرب وَحداد

See how Time holds so many varied wonders.

See how Time holds so much joy and mourning.

تَرى الدَهر ياما بو حلاوة وَلذة

تَرى الدَهر ياما بو مرار حداد

See how Time holds so much sweetness and pleasure.

See how Time holds so much sharp bitterness.

تَرى الدَهر ياما بو محادير ضيقة

تَرى الدَهر ياما بو فجاج بجاد

See how Time holds so many narrow descents.

See how Time holds so many broad passes.

تَرى الدَهر ياما بو خليين بالهم

تَرى الدَهر ياما بوهموم طواد

See how Time holds so many people whose minds are carefree.

See how Time holds so many mountain-high cares.

تَرى الدَهر ياما بوليالي هَنية

تَرى الدَهر ياما بو أَيام سَواد

See how Time holds so many pleasant nights.

See how Time holds so many black days.

تَرى الدَهر ياما بو ضحاوي وميسرة

تَرى الدَهر ياما بو محول جَماد

See how Time holds so many bright mornings and times of ease.

See how Time holds so many barren droughts.

تَرى الدَهر ياما بومعزة ومنجده

تَرى الدَهر ياما بو مذلة زاد

See how Time holds so much honor and succor.

See how Time holds so much humiliation, ever increasing.

تَرى الدَهر مثل الأَفعوان المبتر

لين وسمو المرواح نفاد

See how Time resembles the short-tailed viper:

Smooth, yet its venom pierces souls.

غدار خوان المَواثيق ما وَفى

مَعنا وَلا مَع غَيرنا ينقاد

Treacherous, betraying covenants, it has never been faithful.

It yields neither to us nor to anyone else.

لا صار هذه يا جماعة خصايلو

صَبراً جَميل الصَبر خير زَاد

If these, my fellows, are its traits,

Then gracious patience—patience is the best provision.

نصبر لعل اللَه يحسن خلاصنا

وَينعم علينا الواحد الجَواد

We endure, hoping God will grant us a good deliverance,

And the One, the Generous, will bestow His favor upon us.

لِأَن أُمور اللَه تَمشي عَلى قَدر

عَن دركها العقل المثقف حاد

For God’s affairs proceed according to decree,

Beyond the comprehension of the cultivated mind.

وَدي أَقتصر عَن كثر الهرج وَاكتفي

وَانظم معاني محبكات جداد

I wish to cut short this lengthy talk and be content,

And compose fresh, closely woven meanings.

مَن خاص ما يجني جنتهم قريحَتي

بمثال ما يلزم لَها نقاد

My poetic gift has gathered them from the choicest harvest,

In a form for which no critics are needed.

صار القَلم يَكتب قَوافي كَلامها

مِن فُوق قرطاس الطلاحي جاد

The pen began writing the rhymes of these words,

Pouring them forth upon Talahi paper.

يَشرح عَلى ما حاق قَلبي مِن الضَنا

مِن واهجا تَلي الضَمير وَزاد

It recounts the suffering that beset my heart,

From a blaze that pursued my heart and grew.

مِن بَعد ذا يا راكِباً نَضو جافل

اشقح شَراري مثل ظَبي حماد

After this, O rider of a lean, fleet mount:

A pale Sharari, like a gazelle of Hamad.

حر عماني يَقطع الدو وَالخَلا

وَمشيو على طُول النَهار طراد

A purebred Omani that crosses the wilderness and open wastes,

Its gait a gallop throughout the day.

وَلم هداك اللَه يا طارش النيا

وَانسف عَلى ظَهر الظَليم شداد

Prepare—may God guide you, messenger of separation—

And cast a saddle upon the ostrich’s back.

شداد اعويد الميس سالم من العطب

شغل القصيم اللي قفا بغداد

A saddle of hackberry wood, sound and undamaged,

The work of Qasim, beyond Baghdad.

منسوف عادل من الخز غالي

وَلكن من ضيم الزَمان سَواد

A balanced covering of precious silk is draped upon it,

But blackened by the oppression of Time.

إن نشدك اللي يراعوا سمارو

قلو السَواد من الحواب حداد

If those who notice its darkness ask you,

Tell them: its blackness is mourning for loved ones.

الميركه من شال ترما ثمينة

مصبوغة عقب الحمار سواد

The saddle-cushion is of a precious Terma shawl,

Dyed black after being red.

وَمشربشة بعهون تلعب مع الهَوى

وَمطرزة في ريش ربد نفاد

And fringed with wool that plays with the wind,

And embroidered with projecting gray ostrich feathers.

وَخرجا بَديع الرنك من ديرة الحَسا

يرهج شبيه الجَوهر الوقاد

And saddlebags of exquisite color from the land of al-Hasa,

Glittering like a blazing jewel.

مع لَواليح لا نسم الريح يرفلن

يشدن لخطاف السحاب إن ماد

With hanging tassels that flutter when the breeze blows,

Resembling the sweep of clouds when they sway.

كرب حزامو وَالمَواسير وَالحقب

وَاوفد عليه وَمهد اللباد

Tighten its girth, the saddle-bars, and the rear girth,

Mount upon it and spread out the felt.

وَخوذ الذهاب اللي عَلى الدَرب يَنفعك

تَرى مَعناكُم يا غُلام بعاد

Take the provisions that will serve you on the road:

Your destination, lad, is far away.

بس أَنتَ كُون بيمت الدَرب بخني

وَاحفظ وَصاتي وَذمل المطراد

But you must know the road’s direction well.

Remember my instructions and urge the courser to trot.

الأَوله إِياك يا طارش الخَلا

بِالليل عينك لا تنود نواد

First, beware, messenger of the wilderness:

At night, do not let your eyes nod with sleep.

وابعد عن اللي به مراكز من القُرى

وَكل النَواحي لِلرِجال بلاد

Keep clear of villages where there are posts;

For men, every region can be a homeland.

وَقبل أَربعة اياك تَرخي زِمامه

وَامشي الياهب النسيم براد

Before four, beware of slackening its rein.

Travel when the breeze blows cool.

قوي جنابك وانهج الدَرب وَاتكل

وَعَن غيب ربك ما يجيك نكاد

Steel yourself, follow the road, and put your trust in God.

No distress will reach you beyond your Lord’s knowledge.

وَدعتكم لِلّه رَبي وَخالقي

وَدركتكم لشعيب وَالمقداد

I commend you to God, my Lord and Creator,

And entrust your protection to Shuayb and al-Miqdad.

الصُبح من سيناب زُوع مع العفا

وَانهج عَلى مَد الفَضى مداد

At dawn, set out from Sinab through the open waste,

And follow the open expanse, pressing onward.

وَاجمح عليها الصور لا تنحر الحَرس

تَرى ان نضوك يا غُلام جَواد

Gallop along the walls on her; do not head toward the guards.

Your mount, lad, is a noble one.

يَمم على ميواط نحر ذلولك

وَصامسون بِاليسره عليك تكاد

Point your riding she-camel’s breast toward Miwat,

And Samsun will surely be on your left.

وَسلم عَلى محمود وَحامد ربعنا

بجاروم ماتوا وَالمَنايا بعاد

Greet Mahmoud and Hamid, our comrades:

In Jarum they died, though death was far away.

يا حيف عاكسابة الحَمد وَالثَنا

يصّيعوا بديران الترك بداد

Alas for those who earned praise and commendation,

Scattered apart through the lands of the Turks.

على يوزغا وَحث نضوك عَن البَطا

وَفيها بَعد لينا رُبوع وَكاد

Head toward Yuzgha, and urge your mount out of its slowness.

There too we certainly have comrades.

أَقري سَلامي ثُمَ بَلغ تَحيتي

عَلى الكُل مجمل لا تخص فراد

Give them my greetings, then convey my salutation,

To everyone together; do not single out individuals.

يا حيف عَلى ربع المعزات وَالكَرَم

ياما لَهُم تَحتَ العَجاج طراد

Alas for the comrades of affection and generosity:

How often theirs were the charges beneath the battle-dust!

من طَلعة الميزان وَالضو لا بَدا

حث الهجين وَسير يانجاد

From the rising of the Scales, when the light appears,

Urge the riding camel onward and travel, gallant one.

وَمحريك عقب الثلاث وَالأَربَعا

عَلى قَيسرية ضيف يا قصاد

After three and four, continue your journey,

And be a guest in Kayseri, O messenger.

عِندَ القروم اللي يبادوك بالكرم

وَابشر وَلَو هُم في مرار وَنكاد

Among the noble chiefs who meet you with generosity,

Rejoice, even though they suffer bitterness and distress.

يا حيف عاكسارة الخيل بِالقَنا

كِرام اللحى إِن شح قُوت الزاد

Alas for those who shatter cavalry with lances,

Men of noble beards, even when provisions run short.

من قيسرية سير يا طارش النيا

عا أَدنا دَرب الهجين حماد

From Kayseri travel, messenger of separation,

By the nearest camel road through Hamad.

على ماردين وَديار بكر بجالها

وَمِنها عَلى الشَهبا سَماح مهاد

To Mardin, with Diyarbakir alongside it,

And from there to al-Shahba, over gentle, level ground.

حماه وَحمص وَحث نَضوك عَن البَطا

مِن دُون جلق لا تَبات وَكاد

Hama and Homs—urge your mount out of its slowness.

Do not spend the night short of Jilliq—be sure of that.

من طَلعة الميزان وَسهيل لا بَدا

ثور وَدربك يا غُلام نفاد

From the rising of the Scales, when Suhayl appears,

Rise, lad: your road leads onward.

من الشام عالكسوة عاذنون قبلي

عالغدر عاتبنه على المقداد

From Damascus to al-Kiswah, then south toward Dhanun,

To al-Ghadr, to Tabnah, then to al-Miqdad.

عازرع عالداره عَلى الدير نيتك

عَلى المجيمر وَالطريق بياد

Toward Izra, al-Darah, and al-Dayr is your aim,

Then to al-Mujaymir; the road is clear.

لاجيت بكا ريح يا طارش الخَلا

ما غير هذه يا ولد ما عاد

When you reach Bakka, rest, messenger of the wilderness.

Only this place, lad; no farther.

نوخ ذَلولك وَانسف الكور جانبو

وَانطي المسطر في حروف مداد

Make your she-camel kneel and cast the saddle beside her,

And give the message written in letters of ink,

ليد أَبو جبر الشجيع المسمى

وَفارس تمام أَما زَمانو باد

Into the hand of Abu Jabr, renowned for bravery:

A consummate horseman, though his prime has passed.

الشيب عيا عاذياب ابن غانم

لا يا خَسارة شاخ نمر الواد

Gray hair has overcome Dhiyab ibn Ghanim.

Alas, the valley’s tiger has grown old!

أَما سَلامي ماضيات مضاربو

لَولا الكبر زير الحُروب يكاد

As for the man I greet, his blows are still keen;

But for age, he could be a champion of wars.

سلم عَلى محمد وَعَبدي وَفارس

وَعيالهم يشدوا حرار هداد

Greet Muhammad, Abdi, and Faris,

And their sons, who resemble noble, swooping falcons.

أَشكي لَهُم أَني حَزين مُوجع

عَلى فرقة اللي توسدون لحاد

Tell them my complaint: I am sorrowful and hurting,

At parting from those who took grave niches as pillows.

عَلى فَقد جبر انهد حيلي وَقوتي

وَعَلى نايف الفُرسان بالمطراد

The loss of Jabr broke my vigor and strength,

And that of Nayif among the horsemen in the charge.

رشراش رش الدَمع فُوق عارِضي

لا يا خَسارة قبل حينة انصاد

Rashrash set tears raining upon my cheek.

Alas, he was hunted down before his time!

تَرى فَقذهم يا عم خلخل عَزايمي

وَادعا هُمومي عالفهود طواد

Their loss, uncle, has shaken my resolve,

And made my grief for those leopards mountain-high.

تَرى فقدهم يا عم ضعضع جَوانِبي

كَأَني من البَلوى بِغَير رَشاد

Their loss, uncle, has weakened my frame,

As though affliction had left me without direction.

تَرى فَقدهم يا عم شيب عَوارضي

وَادعا دُموعي عَالخُدود بداد

Their loss, uncle, has grayed my whiskers,

And made my tears scatter over my cheeks.

تَرى همهم يا عم من أَعظَم البَلا

عَلَينا وَلَكن هيك ربك راد

Grief for them, uncle, is among the greatest trials

Upon us; but this is what your Lord willed.

رَأسي صفا وَأَنبَت حيلي مِن الجَفا

وَجسمي اِختَفى عَن مَنظر العواد

My head has grown bare; harshness has drained my strength,

And my body has vanished from the visitors’ sight.

عَلى الدُوم أَشخصهم كَأني قبالهم

ما يُوم قَلبي عَن هَواهُم حاد

I always picture them as though I stood before them;

Not one day has my heart turned away from loving them.

يا حيف عاتلك السباع البَواسل

من مقطع أَقصى مِن البُولاد

Alas for those valiant lions,

Of a mettle harder than steel!

فُرسان بِاللقا كَريمين بِالعَطا

وَنسين بِالمَحكى عيال جَواد

Horsemen in battle, generous in giving,

Companionable in conversation, sons of a generous man.

تَرى ضيمنا وَالهَم وَالغَم وَالنيا

إِذا قوطروا عَنا بفير سَداد

See our hardship, worry, grief, and separation,

When they departed from us, with no redress.

هَذا كَلامي يا سَلامي وَبَلوَتي

عَالبُعد أَعزيكم بِغَير مراد

These are my words, O my greeting, and my ordeal:

From afar I offer you condolences against my wishes.

أصبر وَلَو ذُقت البَلاوي مِن العِدا

تَرى الصَبر لِلإِنسان خير الزاد

I endure, though I have tasted calamities from enemies;

Patience is a person’s best provision.

لَعَلها تفرج وَيتغير الهَوى

وَيَركب عريفتها بِيوم طراد

Perhaps relief will come and the wind will change,

And its seasoned rider will mount it on a day of charges.

نطلب قَطايع الدين وَنحاسب الَّذي

عمل بكتتا بالبوق وَالافساد

We shall demand the settlement of debts and call to account the one

Who wrought treachery and corruption among us.

تَراني حَزين وَعادم الرُشد وَالهُدى

عَلَيهُم وَعاللي من جبلنا باد

You see me sorrowful, bereft of sense and guidance,

For them, and for those from our mountain who perished.

وَهَمي فيال الهند تَعجز تشيله

يا قَلب من مر الزَمان وراد

The elephants of India cannot carry my grief.

O heart, it comes from the bitterness of Time.

صلوا عَلى من شرف الأَرض ذكره

ضابط نِظام الكُون بالتعداد

Send blessings upon the one whose mention ennobled the earth,

Who governs the order of the cosmos in due measure.