هَل أَنتِ يا أُختَ القَضيبِ الناضِرِ

هَل أَنتِ يا أُختَ القَضيبِ الناضِرِ

مَعدِيَّةٌ عَلى سُهادٍ ناظِرِ

مَعدِيَّةٌ عَلى سُهادٍ ناظِرِ

Are you, O sister of the verdant bough,

Are you, O sister of the fresh green bough,

infecting a watchful eye with sleeplessness?

a helper to a gazing eye against sleeplessness?

أَم عادَةٌ عِندَكِ في دينِ الهَوى

أَم عادَةٌ عِندَكِ في دينِ الهَوى

أَن لا يُبالي راقِدٌ بِساهِرِ

أَن لا يُبالي راقِدٌ بِساهِرِ

Or is it your custom, in love’s creed,

Or is it your custom, in the religion of love,

that one asleep should heed not one who wakes?

that a sleeper cares nothing for one awake?

لا وَوُجوهٍ بِالغَضا نَواظِرٍ

لا وَوُجوهٍ بِالغَضا نَواظِرٍ

فَواتِنِ الأَلحاظِ وَالنَواظِرِ

فَواتِنِ الأَلحاظِ وَالنَواظِرِ

No—by faces gazing forth amid al-Ghada,

No—by faces gazing at al-Ghada,

bewitching glances and beholders alike;

bewitching in their glances and their eyes;

وَلَيلَةٍ قَضَيتُها بِحاجِرٍ

وَلَيلَةٍ قَضَيتُها بِحاجِرٍ

سَقى الغَمامُ لَيلَتي بِحاجِرِ

سَقى الغَمامُ لَيلَتي بِحاجِرِ

and by a night I spent at Hajir—

and by a night I spent at Hajir—

may the raincloud water my night at Hajir—

may the clouds water my night at Hajir;

وَكُلِّ طَرفٍ فاتِنٍ لِحاظُهُ

وَكُلِّ طَرفٍ فاتِنٍ لِحاظُهُ

يُذكي غَرامَ كُلِّ وَجدٍ فاتِرِ

يُذكي غَرامَ كُلِّ وَجدٍ فاتِرِ

and every eye whose glances cast a spell,

and by every eye whose glances bewitch,

kindling the passion of every flagging lover:

kindling the ardor of every fading passion—

أَلِيَّةً أَنَّ جُفوني لَم تَنَم

أَلِيَّةً أَنَّ جُفوني لَم تَنَم

إِلّا اِنتِظاراً لِلخَيالِ الزائِرِ

إِلّا اِنتِظاراً لِلخَيالِ الزائِرِ

I swear my eyelids never slept

I swear that my eyelids have not slept

except in waiting for the visiting apparition.

except in expectation of the visiting phantom.

أَرسَلتُها بَينَ خَيالاتِ الكَرى

أَرسَلتُها بَينَ خَيالاتِ الكَرى

مُقتَضِياً طَيفَ الغَزالِ الناظِرِ

مُقتَضِياً طَيفَ الغَزالِ الناظِرِ

I sent them roaming among the dreams of slumber,

I sent them among the phantoms of slumber,

demanding the specter of the gazing gazelle.

claiming the apparition of the gazing gazelle.

يا نابِذاً بَينَ الظِباءِ قَلبَهُ

يا نابِذاً بَينَ الظِباءِ قَلبَهُ

دَرِيَّةً لِكُلِّ سَهمٍ عائِرِ

دَرِيَّةً لِكُلِّ سَهمٍ عائِرِ

O you who cast your heart among the gazelles,

O one who casts his heart among the gazelles,

a target for every arrow flying wide,

a target for every stray arrow,

يَرقُبُ مِنهُنَّ قَضاءَ ماطِلٍ

يَرقُبُ مِنهُنَّ قَضاءَ ماطِلٍ

يَلوي الدِيونَ وَوَفاءَ غادِرِ

يَلوي الدِيونَ وَوَفاءَ غادِرِ

awaiting from them a debtor’s delayed payment

awaiting from them a procrastinator’s repayment—

and from a traitor, faithfulness to his debt—

one who postpones his debts—and a betrayer’s fidelity:

كَيفَ تَعَرَّضتَ وَأَنتَ حازِمٌ

كَيفَ تَعَرَّضتَ وَأَنتَ حازِمٌ

يَومَ اللِوى لِأَعيُنِ الجَآذِرِ

يَومَ اللِوى لِأَعيُنِ الجَآذِرِ

how did you expose yourself, prudent as you are,

how did you expose yourself, prudent as you are,

that day at al-Liwa, to the fawns’ eyes?

on the day at al-Liwa, to the eyes of oryx calves?

أَما عَلِمتَ أَنَّ أَحداقَ الظِبا

أَما عَلِمتَ أَنَّ أَحداقَ الظِبا

ءِ النُجلِ لا يوجَدنَ بِالحَرائِرِ

ءِ النُجلِ لا يوجَدنَ بِالحَرائِرِ

Did you not know that the pupils of the wide-eyed ga-

Did you not know that the eyes of gazelles,

zelles are not found among freeborn women?

the wide-eyed, are not found among freeborn women?

يا مُغمِداً في القَلبِ سَيفَ لَحظِهِ

يا مُغمِداً في القَلبِ سَيفَ لَحظِهِ

أَلِلَّهُ في دَمٍ بِغَيرِ ثائِرِ

أَلِلَّهُ في دَمٍ بِغَيرِ ثائِرِ

O you who sheathed the sword of his glance within my heart—

O one sheathing in the heart the sword of his glance,

is there, for God’s sake, blood for which no avenger rises?

for God’s sake, have regard for blood without an avenger,

وَفي سَقامٍ ما لَهُ مِن عائِدٍ

وَفي سَقامٍ ما لَهُ مِن عائِدٍ

فيكَ وَلَيلٍ ما لَهُ مِن آخِرِ

فيكَ وَلَيلٍ ما لَهُ مِن آخِرِ

And a sickness with no visitor to tend it

and for a sickness with no visitor,

is in you, and a night that has no end.

caused by you, and a night without an end.

طالَ فَما أَدري أَمِن غَدرِكُمُ

طالَ فَما أَدري أَمِن غَدرِكُمُ

صيغَ دُجاهُ أَم مِنَ الغَدائِرِ

صيغَ دُجاهُ أَم مِنَ الغَدائِرِ

So long it grows, I cannot tell: was its darkness

It has grown long; I cannot tell whether from your treachery

forged from your treachery, or from tresses?

its darkness was fashioned, or from the tresses.

وَمِن عَناءِ الحُبِّ أَنَّكَ تَطلُبُ اِن

وَمِن عَناءِ الحُبِّ أَنَّكَ تَطلُبُ اِن

صافاً وَوَصلاً مِن حَبيبٍ غادِرِ

صافاً وَوَصلاً مِن حَبيبٍ غادِرِ

One torment of love is that you seek fair—

And part of love’s torment is that you seek fair-

dealing and union from a treacherous beloved.

ness and union from a treacherous beloved.

مَن لي بِخِلٍّ اِصطَفى إِخاؤُهُ

مَن لي بِخِلٍّ اِصطَفى إِخاؤُهُ

مُهَذَّبِ الأَفعالِ وَالسَرائِرِ

مُهَذَّبِ الأَفعالِ وَالسَرائِرِ

Who will give me a friend whose chosen brotherhood

Who will find me a friend whose fellowship I would choose,

is refined in deeds and inward nature?

refined in deeds and secret thoughts?

أَقنَعُ مِن وَفائِهِ وَوُدِّهِ

أَقنَعُ مِن وَفائِهِ وَوُدِّهِ

أَن يَتَلَقّاني بِثَغرٍ كاشِرِ

أَن يَتَلَقّاني بِثَغرٍ كاشِرِ

Of his fidelity and love, I would be content

Of his fidelity and affection I ask only

if he met me with a smiling, tooth-baring mouth.

that he greet me with a smiling mouth.

فَتَّشتُ أَبناءَ الزَمانِ بَعدَما

فَتَّشتُ أَبناءَ الزَمانِ بَعدَما

بَلَوتُهُم طُرّاً بِعَينِ خابِرِ

بَلَوتُهُم طُرّاً بِعَينِ خابِرِ

I searched the men of the age, after

I searched the sons of the age after

testing them all with an expert eye.

testing them all with an experienced eye.

فَما اِمتَرَت كَفِّيَ غَيرَ باخِلٍ

فَما اِمتَرَت كَفِّيَ غَيرَ باخِلٍ

مِنهُم وَلا جاوَرتُ غَيرَ جائِرِ

مِنهُم وَلا جاوَرتُ غَيرَ جائِرِ

My hand drew forth none but a miser,

So my hand milked none but a miser

nor did I dwell beside any but a tyrant.

among them, nor did I dwell beside any but an oppressor.

وَلا عَقَدتُ بِيَميني ذِمَّةً

وَلا عَقَدتُ بِيَميني ذِمَّةً

مَعَ غَيرِ خَوّانِ العُهودِ غادِرِ

مَعَ غَيرِ خَوّانِ العُهودِ غادِرِ

Never did my right hand bind a covenant

Nor did I bind with my right hand a covenant

except with a faithless breaker of pledges.

with anyone but a treacherous betrayer of pledges.

يَسومُني الباخِلُ جَدواهُ وَقَد

يَسومُني الباخِلُ جَدواهُ وَقَد

رَغِبتُ عَن جَدوى الغَمامِ الماطِرِ

رَغِبتُ عَن جَدوى الغَمامِ الماطِرِ

The miser makes me bargain for his bounty, though

The miser presses his bounty upon me, though

I have turned away from the bounty of the raining cloud.

I have turned away from the bounty of rain-bearing clouds.

كَفَفتُ أَطماعِ عَنِ الناسِ فَما

كَفَفتُ أَطماعِ عَنِ الناسِ فَما

كَفُّهُمُ نَوالَهُم بِضائِري

كَفُّهُمُ نَوالَهُم بِضائِري

I have curbed my hopes in people, and so

I have curbed my hopes of people, so

their withholding gifts can do me no harm.

their withholding their bounty does me no harm.

لا خَطَرَ الجودُ عَلى بالِ فَتىً

لا خَطَرَ الجودُ عَلى بالِ فَتىً

مَرَّ لَهُ رَجاؤُهُم بِخاطِرِ

مَرَّ لَهُ رَجاؤُهُم بِخاطِرِ

No thought of generosity crosses the mind of a man

May generosity never cross the mind of a young man

once hope in them has passed through his thoughts.

whose thoughts have entertained a hope in them.

كَم أَحمِلُ الضَيمَ وَكَم أُنفِقُ مِن

كَم أَحمِلُ الضَيمَ وَكَم أُنفِقُ مِن

صَبري وَلا آنالُ أَجرَ الصابِرِ

صَبري وَلا آنالُ أَجرَ الصابِرِ

How long must I bear wrong, how much expend of

How much oppression I bear, and how much of

my patience, yet never win the patient one’s reward?

my patience I spend, yet gain no patient man’s reward.

وَكَم أُجَلّي سابِقاً في حَلبَةِ ال

وَكَم أُجَلّي سابِقاً في حَلبَةِ ال

فَضلِ وَلا أُحرِزُ عُشرَ الحاصِرِ

فَضلِ وَلا أُحرِزُ عُشرَ الحاصِرِ

How often I send a racer ahead in virtue’s

And how often I finish first in the racecourse of

arena, yet win not a tenth of what the laggard gains.

excellence, yet win not a tenth of the laggard’s share.

تُكَسِّرُ الأَيّامُ حاجاتي في

تُكَسِّرُ الأَيّامُ حاجاتي في

صَدرٍ بِأَدواءِ الخُطوبِ واغِرِ

صَدرٍ بِأَدواءِ الخُطوبِ واغِرِ

The days shatter my needs within

The days shatter my needs within

a breast inflamed by the maladies of calamity.

a breast inflamed by the ailments of calamity.

وَكَيفَ يَقضي وَطَراً إِلى العُلى

وَكَيفَ يَقضي وَطَراً إِلى العُلى

ساعٍ إِلى اللَحظِ بِجِدٍّ عاثِرِ

ساعٍ إِلى اللَحظِ بِجِدٍّ عاثِرِ

How can one seeking his desire toward the heights succeed,

And how can he attain an aim toward the heights,

hastening earnestly toward fortune, yet stumbling?

one seeking a glance with faltering effort?

هَذَّبتُ نَفسي جاهِداً وَلَم أَكُن

هَذَّبتُ نَفسي جاهِداً وَلَم أَكُن

عَلى اِجتِلابِ حَظِّها بِقادِرِ

عَلى اِجتِلابِ حَظِّها بِقادِرِ

I disciplined my soul with all my strength, yet was not

I strove to refine my soul, yet was not

able to draw its allotted share.

able to secure its share of fortune.

فَيا لَها يَومَ شَريتُ الفَضلَ مِن

فَيا لَها يَومَ شَريتُ الفَضلَ مِن

صَفقَةِ مَغبونِ الشَراءِ خاسِرِ

صَفقَةِ مَغبونِ الشَراءِ خاسِرِ

Ah, what a bargain, the day I bought virtue—

Ah, on the day I bought excellence, what a

the purchase of one cheated, a losing buyer!

bargain for a cheated purchaser, a loser!

قَد جَعَلَتني الحادِثاتُ أَكلَةً

قَد جَعَلَتني الحادِثاتُ أَكلَةً

يُسَدُّ بي فَمُ الزَمانِ الفاغِرِ

يُسَدُّ بي فَمُ الزَمانِ الفاغِرِ

Events have made me a morsel

Calamities have made me a morsel

with which the gaping mouth of time is stopped.

with which the gaping mouth of Time is stopped.

كَأَنَّني لَم تَعتَلِق كَفِّيَ مِن

كَأَنَّني لَم تَعتَلِق كَفِّيَ مِن

جودِ أَبي نَصرٍ بِخَيرِ ناصِرِ

جودِ أَبي نَصرٍ بِخَيرِ ناصِرِ

As though my hand had never taken hold

As though my hand had never clung, through

of Abu Nasr’s generosity—the best of helpers;

Abu Nasr’s bounty, to the best of helpers;

وَلا شَكَرتُ مُعلِناً حِباءَهُ

وَلا شَكَرتُ مُعلِناً حِباءَهُ

شُكرَ الرِياضِ لِلحَبِيِّ الماطِرِ

شُكرَ الرِياضِ لِلحَبِيِّ الماطِرِ

as though I had never proclaimed my thanks for his gift,

or openly thanked him for his gift,

the meadows’ thanks to the rain-laden cloud;

as gardens thank the rain-bearing low cloud;

وَلا مَلَأتُ الأَرضَ وَالسَماءَ مِن

وَلا مَلَأتُ الأَرضَ وَالسَماءَ مِن

أَدعِيَتي فيهِ وَمَدحي السائِرِ

أَدعِيَتي فيهِ وَمَدحي السائِرِ

nor filled the earth and sky

or filled earth and heaven with

with prayers for him and my far-traveling praise;

my prayers for him and my far-ranging praise;

وَلا نَظَمتُ في عُلاهُ مِدَحاً

وَلا نَظَمتُ في عُلاهُ مِدَحاً

تُخرِسُ كُلَّ ناظِمٍ وَناثِرِ

تُخرِسُ كُلَّ ناظِمٍ وَناثِرِ

nor woven praises of his loftiness

or composed praises of his eminence

that silence every versifier and prose writer—

that silence every poet and prose writer:

غَرائِباً أَخَّرَها عَصري وَقَد

غَرائِباً أَخَّرَها عَصري وَقَد

فُتُّ بِها أَهلَ الزَمانِ الغابِرِ

فُتُّ بِها أَهلَ الزَمانِ الغابِرِ

rare marvels my age held back, though with them

marvels that my age held back, though

I surpassed the people of bygone time.

with them I surpassed the men of ages past.

عَلى مَجيدٍ ناطِقٍ بِمِثلِها

عَلى مَجيدٍ ناطِقٍ بِمِثلِها

يَحسُنُ أَن يُطلَقَ إِسمُ الشاعِرِ

يَحسُنُ أَن يُطلَقَ إِسمُ الشاعِرِ

An illustrious speaker of their like

Upon an accomplished man who speaks their like

may rightly bear the name of poet.

it is fitting to bestow the name of poet.

يَقطَعُ ما كَرَّرَها الراوي بِها

يَقطَعُ ما كَرَّرَها الراوي بِها

مَفازَةَ الساري وَليلَ السامِرِ

مَفازَةَ الساري وَليلَ السامِرِ

With them, the reciter who repeats them traverses

Their reciter, whenever he repeats them, traverses with them

the night-traveler’s waste and the storyteller’s night.

the night traveler’s desert and the evening talker’s night.

فَهيَ بِما ضَمَّنتُهُ مِن مَدحِهِ

فَهيَ بِما ضَمَّنتُهُ مِن مَدحِهِ

إِنسُ المُقيمِ راحَةُ المُسافِرِ

إِنسُ المُقيمِ راحَةُ المُسافِرِ

Through the praise of him that I placed within them, they are

For, through the praise of him that I placed in them,

the resident’s companion and the traveler’s comfort.

they are the resident’s solace and the traveler’s rest.

أَحيا عِمادُ الدينِ كُلَّ دارِسٍ

أَحيا عِمادُ الدينِ كُلَّ دارِسٍ

مِن مَنهَجِ الجودِ وَكُلَّ داثِرِ

مِن مَنهَجِ الجودِ وَكُلَّ داثِرِ

Imad al-Din revived every effaced

Imad al-Din has revived every effaced trace

path of generosity, and every vanished trace.

of generosity’s path, and every vanished one.

يَعُدُّ ظُلماً أَن يَرُدَّ آمِلاً

يَعُدُّ ظُلماً أَن يَرُدَّ آمِلاً

وَلَو بَغى عُلاهُ غَيرُ ظافِرِ

وَلَو بَغى عُلاهُ غَيرُ ظافِرِ

He counts it an injustice to turn away one who hopes,

He deems it unjust to turn away a hopeful seeker,

even if that seeker fails to attain his heights.

even if the seeker of his heights is unsuccessful.

يُضيءُ مِن غُرَّتِهِ وَعَزمِهِ

يُضيءُ مِن غُرَّتِهِ وَعَزمِهِ

وَسَيفِهِ لَيلُ العَجاجِ الثائِرِ

وَسَيفِهِ لَيلُ العَجاجِ الثائِرِ

From his brow, his resolve,

Illumined by his radiant brow and his resolve,

and his sword, the night of billowing battle-dust shines.

and his sword, is the night of swirling dust.

عِتادُهُ في الرَوعِ كُلُّ ذابِلٍ

عِتادُهُ في الرَوعِ كُلُّ ذابِلٍ

لَدنٍ وَعَضبِ الشَفرَتَينِ باتِرِ

لَدنٍ وَعَضبِ الشَفرَتَينِ باتِرِ

His armament amid terror is every slender spear,

His arms amid terror are every slender spear,

supple, and a keen sword with two cutting edges;

supple, and a keen, two-edged, cleaving sword;

وَنَثرَةٍ تِخالُها مِن رَأيِهِ

وَنَثرَةٍ تِخالُها مِن رَأيِهِ

مُحكَمَةَ السَردِ وَطَرفٍ ضامِرِ

مُحكَمَةَ السَردِ وَطَرفٍ ضامِرِ

and a coat of mail you would think, from its design,

and mail you would think made of his judgment,

firmly woven in its links—and a lean steed.

its links firmly wrought, and a lean steed.

كَأَنَّهُ إِذا اِمتَطاهُ عائِراً

كَأَنَّهُ إِذا اِمتَطاهُ عائِراً

لَيثُ شَرى عَلى عُقابٍ كاسِرِ

لَيثُ شَرى عَلى عُقابٍ كاسِرِ

It is as though, when he mounts it hurtling forth,

As though, when he mounts it as it races,

he were a lion of al-Shara upon a swooping eagle.

he were a lion of Shara upon a swooping eagle.

يَنتَظِمونَ في الوَلاءِ سَيِّداً

يَنتَظِمونَ في الوَلاءِ سَيِّداً

مِن سَيِّدٍ وَكابِراً مِن كابِرِ

مِن سَيِّدٍ وَكابِراً مِن كابِرِ

They are strung in allegiance: lord

They form a chain in allegiance, lord

after lord, and elder after elder—

from lord, and great man from great man;

مُمتَشِقي الأَقلامِ وَالبيضِ مَعاً

مُمتَشِقي الأَقلامِ وَالبيضِ مَعاً

وَلابِسي التيجانِ وَالمَغافِرِ

وَلابِسي التيجانِ وَالمَغافِرِ

wielders together of pens and white swords,

wielding pens and bright swords together,

wearers of crowns and helmets;

and wearing crowns and mail helmets:

مِن مَلِكٍ يَومَ النَدى مُتَوَّجٍ

مِن مَلِكٍ يَومَ النَدى مُتَوَّجٍ

وَبَطَلٍ يَومَ الوَغى مُغامِرِ

وَبَطَلٍ يَومَ الوَغى مُغامِرِ

each a king crowned on the day of largesse,

a king crowned on the day of bounty,

and a daring champion on the day of battle.

and a daring hero on the day of battle.

جاوَرتُهُم فَما شَكَكتُ أَنَّني

جاوَرتُهُم فَما شَكَكتُ أَنَّني

جارٌ لِتَيّارِ الفُراتِ الزاخِرِ

جارٌ لِتَيّارِ الفُراتِ الزاخِرِ

I dwelt beside them and never doubted I was

I dwelt beside them, and never doubted that I

a neighbor to the Euphrates’ swelling flood.

was neighbor to the surging current of the Euphrates.

وَاِعتَصَمَت كَفِّيَ مِن وَلائِهِم

وَاِعتَصَمَت كَفِّيَ مِن وَلائِهِم

بِذِمَّةٍ مُحصَدَةِ المَرائِرِ

بِذِمَّةٍ مُحصَدَةِ المَرائِرِ

My hand held fast to allegiance to them

And through their patronage my hand held fast

through a compact whose strands were tightly twisted.

to a covenant whose cords are tightly twisted.

أَحكَمَها جودُهُم فَتَلاً فَما

أَحكَمَها جودُهُم فَتَلاً فَما

في نَقضِها طَماعَةٌ لِناشِرِ

في نَقضِها طَماعَةٌ لِناشِرِ

Their generosity made its twisting firm, so

Their generosity twisted it firmly, so

no would-be unraveler can hope to undo it.

no unraveler has any hope of undoing it.

لَولا عَلِيٌّ ذو النَدى ما نَهَضَت

لَولا عَلِيٌّ ذو النَدى ما نَهَضَت

أُمُّ العَلاءِ عَن سَليلٍ طاهِرِ

أُمُّ العَلاءِ عَن سَليلٍ طاهِرِ

Were it not for Ali, lord of bounty, Umm al-Ala

Were it not for Ali, lord of bounty, she would not have risen—

would not have risen from a pure scion.

the mother of eminence—from bearing a pure scion.

يَلقى العُفاةَ بِمُحَيّا باسِمٍ

يَلقى العُفاةَ بِمُحَيّا باسِمٍ

جَذلانَ مِن ماءِ الحَياءِ قاطِرِ

جَذلانَ مِن ماءِ الحَياءِ قاطِرِ

He meets petitioners with a smiling face,

He meets seekers of bounty with a smiling face,

jubilant, with the water of modesty dripping.

joyful, dripping with the water of modesty.

فِداؤُهُ إِذا اِستَهَلَّ بِشرُهُ

فِداؤُهُ إِذا اِستَهَلَّ بِشرُهُ

لِوَفدِهِ كُلُّ عَبوسٍ باسِرِ

لِوَفدِهِ كُلُّ عَبوسٍ باسِرِ

When his good cheer breaks forth, may every

May his ransom, when his cheer shines forth

gloomy, scowling man be his ransom before his delegation—

before his visitors, be every sullen, scowling man—

مُقَصِّرٍ طالَت أَمانيهِ وَقَد

مُقَصِّرٍ طالَت أَمانيهِ وَقَد

جارى مَساعيهِ بِعَزمٍ قاصِرِ

جارى مَساعيهِ بِعَزمٍ قاصِرِ

the deficient man whose hopes stretch long, though

one who falls short, whose hopes stretch far, and who

his endeavors race on with feeble resolve;

has tried to match his striving with inadequate resolve.

يَشيمُ مِن يَرجوهُ مِن نَوالِهِ

يَشيمُ مِن يَرجوهُ مِن نَوالِهِ

خُلَّبَ بَرقٍ مِن سَحابٍ عابِرِ

خُلَّبَ بَرقٍ مِن سَحابٍ عابِرِ

who watches the one he hopes in for a gift,

Whoever hopes in him sees, in his bounty,

but sees false lightning from a passing cloud;

a rainless flash of lightning from a passing cloud.

عَدَّ رَباحاً ما اِقتَنَتهُ كَفُّهُ

عَدَّ رَباحاً ما اِقتَنَتهُ كَفُّهُ

مِنَ الشَراءِ وَهوَ عَينُ الخاسِرِ

مِنَ الشَراءِ وَهوَ عَينُ الخاسِرِ

who counts as profit what his hand acquired

He counted as profit what his hand acquired

in the purchase, though he is the very loser.

from the purchase, though he is the very embodiment of a loser.

يا مُنهِضي وَالدَهرُ قَد حَضَّ بِما

يا مُنهِضي وَالدَهرُ قَد حَضَّ بِما

أَولاهُ مِن أَحداثِهِ عَواشِري

أَولاهُ مِن أَحداثِهِ عَواشِري

O you who raised me when time had pressed me with

O you who raise me, while Time has incited, through

the calamities it bestowed upon my intimates;

the calamities it bestowed, my companions;

وَحافِظي في أُمَّةٍ لا يَشتَكي

وَحافِظي في أُمَّةٍ لا يَشتَكي

بَينَهُمُ الضَيعَةَ غَيرُ الشاعِرِ

بَينَهُمُ الضَيعَةَ غَيرُ الشاعِرِ

and guarded me among a people where no one

and my protector among a people where none complains

complains of neglect among them except the poet:

of neglect in their midst except the poet.

إِن قَعَدوا عَن نُصرَتي قُمتَ بِها

إِن قَعَدوا عَن نُصرَتي قُمتَ بِها

وَإِن تَناسَونِيَ كُنتَ ذاكِري

وَإِن تَناسَونِيَ كُنتَ ذاكِري

if they sat back from helping me, you rose to it;

If they hold back from aiding me, you rise to it;

if they forgot me, you remembered me.

and if they deliberately forget me, you remember me.

لا عَدِمَت وَطأَتَكَ الأَيّامُ مِن

لا عَدِمَت وَطأَتَكَ الأَيّامُ مِن

ناهٍ عَلى أَبنائِها وَآمِرِ

ناهٍ عَلى أَبنائِها وَآمِرِ

May the days never lack your forceful tread,

May the days never lack your forceful tread,

forbidding and commanding their children.

as one who forbids and commands their sons.

وَزادَكَ العيدُ بِخَيرِ طالِعٍ

وَزادَكَ العيدُ بِخَيرِ طالِعٍ

أَمَّت بِهِ رَبعاً رِكابُ زائِرِ

أَمَّت بِهِ رَبعاً رِكابُ زائِرِ

May the feast increase you in an auspicious rising sign

And may the festival enrich you with the best omen

by which the visitor’s mounts make for your dwelling.

with which a visitor’s mounts have sought a dwelling.

وَلا خَلَوتَ مِن فُؤادٍ صادِقٍ

وَلا خَلَوتَ مِن فُؤادٍ صادِقٍ

وَلاؤُهُ وَمِن لِسانٍ شاكِرِ

وَلاؤُهُ وَمِن لِسانٍ شاكِرِ

And may you never lack a sincere heart

And may you never lack a heart sincere

in its allegiance, nor a grateful tongue.

in its loyalty, nor a grateful tongue.