أَتَجزَعُ لِلفِراقِ وَهُم جِوارُ

أَتَجزَعُ لِلفِراقِ وَهُم جِوارُ

فَكَيفَ إِذا نَأَت بِهِمُ الدِيارُ

فَكَيفَ إِذا نَأَت بِهِمُ الدِيارُ

Do you grieve at parting while they are still neighbors?

Do you grieve for the departure though they are neighbors,

What, then, when their dwellings take them far away?

How would it be if the homes took them far away?

وَرُحتَ وَفي الهَوادِجِ مِنكَ قَلبٌ

وَرُحتَ وَفي الهَوادِجِ مِنكَ قَلبٌ

يَسيرُ مَعَ الرَكائِبِ حَيثُ ساروا

يَسيرُ مَعَ الرَكائِبِ حَيثُ ساروا

And you go, while a heart of yours rides in the howdahs,

And you left with yearning in your breasts for them,

traveling with the riding-camels wherever they go.

A heart that travels with the caravans wherever they went.

وَقُطِّعَتِ المَواثِقُ مِن سُلَيمى

وَقُطِّعَتِ المَواثِقُ مِن سُلَيمى

وَشَطَّ بِها وَجيرَتِها المَزارُ

وَشَطَّ بِها وَجيرَتِها المَزارُ

And the pledges from Sulayma have been severed,

And the covenants with Sulaima were severed,

and her visiting-place, and her neighbors', lies far away.

And its neighborly relations and familial ties were cast away.

وَأَضحَت لا يَزورُ لَها خَيالٌ

وَأَضحَت لا يَزورُ لَها خَيالٌ

عَلى نَهي المُحِبِّ وَلا يُزارُ

عَلى نَهي المُحِبِّ وَلا يُزارُ

Now no apparition of hers comes visiting,

And it became such that no imagination visits it,

despite the lover's prohibition, nor is it visited.

Prohibited by the lover, no longer to be visited.

فَيا لِلَّهِ ما تَنفَكُّ صَبّاً

فَيا لِلَّهِ ما تَنفَكُّ صَبّاً

يَشوقُكَ مَنزِلٌ أَقوى وَدارُ

يَشوقُكَ مَنزِلٌ أَقوى وَدارُ

Ah, by God, you never cease to be lovesick;

So oh how endless is your ardent longing

a deserted dwelling and an abode stir your longing.

For an abode stronger in love, and a house.

تَحِنُّ إِذا بَدا بِالغَورِ وَهناً

تَحِنُّ إِذا بَدا بِالغَورِ وَهناً

وَميضٌ أَو أَضاءَت مِنهُ نارُ

وَميضٌ أَو أَضاءَت مِنهُ نارُ

You yearn when there appears in the lowland, late at night,

You yearn when it appears from afar, passionately,

a flash, or a fire shines from there.

Whether a figure or a fire lit from it.

سَقى اللَهُ العَقيقَ وَإِن شَجَتني

سَقى اللَهُ العَقيقَ وَإِن شَجَتني

صَباباتٌ إِلَيهِ وَاِدِّكارُ

صَباباتٌ إِلَيهِ وَاِدِّكارُ

May God water al-Aqiq, though I am grieved

May God water Al-Aqeeq even if

by ardent longings for it and remembrance.

Yearnings for it have torn me apart.

فَفي عُقُداتِ ذاكَ الرَملِ ظَبيٌ

فَفي عُقُداتِ ذاكَ الرَملِ ظَبيٌ

نَفورٌ ما أَنِستَ بِهِ نَوارُ

نَفورٌ ما أَنِستَ بِهِ نَوارُ

In the knolls of that sand there is a gazelle,

For in the dunes of that sand is a gazelle,

skittish and chaste, with whom you have never grown familiar.

Strange whom the does have not befriended.

يَصيدُ وَلا يُصادُ وَمُقلَتاهُ

يَصيدُ وَلا يُصادُ وَمُقلَتاهُ

تُصيبُ وَلا يُصابُ لَديهِ ثارُ

تُصيبُ وَلا يُصابُ لَديهِ ثارُ

It hunts but is not hunted, and its two eyes

It hunts and is not hunted, and its glances

strike, yet no vengeance is exacted against it.

Hit their mark but it is not hit - it has no vengeance.

لَهُ خَصرٌ يَجولُ الحُقبُ فيهِ

لَهُ خَصرٌ يَجولُ الحُقبُ فيهِ

وَأَردافٌ يَضيقُ بِها الإِزارُ

وَأَردافٌ يَضيقُ بِها الإِزارُ

It has a waist around which the girdle moves freely,

It has a waist around which epochs revolve,

and hips that strain the waist-wrap.

And hips which narrow wraps cannot contain.

فَلا عَطفٌ لَديهِ وَلا وِصالٌ

فَلا عَطفٌ لَديهِ وَلا وِصالٌ

وَلا جَلَدٌ لَديَّ وَلا اِصطِبارُ

وَلا جَلَدٌ لَديَّ وَلا اِصطِبارُ

There is neither tenderness in it nor union,

It has no affection or union,

and I have neither endurance nor patience.

Nor do I have composure or patience.

فَيا لَمياءُ مَن لِقَتيلِ شَوقٍ

فَيا لَمياءُ مَن لِقَتيلِ شَوقٍ

مُطاحٍ في الهَوى دَمُهُ جَبارُ

مُطاحٍ في الهَوى دَمُهُ جَبارُ

Then, O Lamya, who will care for one slain by longing,

So oh tears of one slain by ardent love,

cast down in love, whose blood goes unavenged?

Fallen in passion whose blood violent pours forth.

وَداءٍ لا يُصابُ لَهُ دَواءٌ

وَداءٍ لا يُصابُ لَهُ دَواءٌ

وَعانٍ لا يُفَكُّ لَهُ إِسارُ

وَعانٍ لا يُفَكُّ لَهُ إِسارُ

And for an ailment for which no remedy is found,

An ailment that has no remedy,

and a captive whose bonds are never loosed?

A helpless one whose shackles cannot be undone.

أَميلُ إِذا اِدَّكَرتُ هَوىً وَشَوقاً

أَميلُ إِذا اِدَّكَرتُ هَوىً وَشَوقاً

كَما مالَت بِشارِبِها العُقارُ

كَما مالَت بِشارِبِها العُقارُ

I sway when I recall passion and longing,

I lean as I recall the passion and longing,

as wine makes its drinker sway.

As the spyglass leaned towards its observer.

وَأَطرَبُ وَالمَشوقُ لَهُ اِنتِشاءٌ

وَأَطرَبُ وَالمَشوقُ لَهُ اِنتِشاءٌ

إِذا ذُكِرَت لَياليهِ القِصارُ

إِذا ذُكِرَت لَياليهِ القِصارُ

And I grow rapturous—the yearning lover has his intoxication—

And I am joyous as I yearn for it, with a joy,

when his short nights are recalled.

When its short nights are remembered.

وَلائِمَةٍ تَعيبُ عَلَيَّ فَقري

وَلائِمَةٍ تَعيبُ عَلَيَّ فَقري

إِلَيكَ فَما لِباسُ الفَقرِ عارُ

إِلَيكَ فَما لِباسُ الفَقرِ عارُ

And a reproaching woman faults me for my poverty:

While the critic berates me for my destitution,

Away with you! Poverty's garb is no disgrace.

For the raiment of poverty is no shame.

وَما أَنا مَن يُرَوِّعُهُ اِغتِرابٌ

وَما أَنا مَن يُرَوِّعُهُ اِغتِرابٌ

وَلا يَعتاقُهُ وَطَنٌ وَدارُ

وَلا يَعتاقُهُ وَطَنٌ وَدارُ

I am not one whom exile terrifies,

I who am not one terrified by estrangement,

nor one held back by homeland or home.

Nor freed by homeland and abode.

وَلَكِنّي أَعُدُّ لَها اللَيالي

وَلَكِنّي أَعُدُّ لَها اللَيالي

وَعِندَ بُلوغِها تَحلو الثِمارُ

وَعِندَ بُلوغِها تَحلو الثِمارُ

Yet I count the nights for her;

Rather I count the nights,

when their term is reached, the fruits grow sweet.

And at their culmination, the fruits will be sweet.

وَلَستُ عَلى الخَصاصَةِ مُستَكيناً

وَلَستُ عَلى الخَصاصَةِ مُستَكيناً

فَيُعطِبَني لَدى اليُسرِ اليَسارُ

فَيُعطِبَني لَدى اليُسرِ اليَسارُ

I am not so meekly resigned to destitution

I am not in destitution while bounty exists,

that wealth would ruin me when prosperity comes.

Lest scarcity at times of ease makes me woeful.

عَرَفتُ الدَهرَ عِرفاناً تَساوى

عَرَفتُ الدَهرَ عِرفاناً تَساوى

بِهِ عِندي ثَراءٌ وَاِفتِقارُ

بِهِ عِندي ثَراءٌ وَاِفتِقارُ

I have known time with a knowledge that has made equal

I know time in a way that to me

in my eyes both wealth and poverty.

Wealth and poverty are equal.

أَمّا لِحَوامِلِ الآمالِ عِندي

أَمّا لِحَوامِلِ الآمالِ عِندي

نِتاجٌ وَهِيَ مُثقَلَةٌ عِشارُ

نِتاجٌ وَهِيَ مُثقَلَةٌ عِشارُ

Have the pregnant hopes I cherish no

For the camels of hopes I have progeny,

offspring, though they are heavily laden, ten-month-pregnant she-camels?

While pregnant they pay a tithe.

وَما لِلبَدرِ ما يَبدو لِعَيني

وَما لِلبَدرِ ما يَبدو لِعَيني

مَطالِعُهُ لَقَد طالَ السِرارُ

مَطالِعُهُ لَقَد طالَ السِرارُ

And what ails the full moon, that my eye does not see

The full moon - nothing of it appears to my eyes -

its risings? Its dark concealment has lasted long.

Its emergence has been so long concealed.

أَما مَلَّت مَرابِطَها المَذاكي

أَما مَلَّت مَرابِطَها المَذاكي

أَما سَئِمَت حَمائِلَها الشِفارُ

أَما سَئِمَت حَمائِلَها الشِفارُ

Have the mature steeds not tired of their tethering-places?

Are not its pillars tired, its burdens exhausting,

Have the blades not wearied of their sword-belts?

Have not its containers thirsted, so they take from my tears,

أَما ظَمِئَت فَتَستَسقي بَناني

أَما ظَمِئَت فَتَستَسقي بَناني

رِقاقُ البيضِ وَالأَسَلُ الحِرارُ

رِقاقُ البيضِ وَالأَسَلُ الحِرارُ

Have they not thirsted, asking my fingers for drink—

The shells of eggs and the honey of bees?

the slender white swords and the parched spears?

If you do not seek glory in your youth,

إِذا لَم تَبغِ مَجداً في شَبابٍ

إِذا لَم تَبغِ مَجداً في شَبابٍ

أَتَطلُبُهُ وَقَد شابَ العِذارُ

أَتَطلُبُهُ وَقَد شابَ العِذارُ

If you do not seek glory in your youth,

Will you desire it when gray hairs have sprouted?

will you seek it when your sideburns have grown gray?

Why do I grieve when the abodes are desolate,

عَلامَ تَأَسُّفي إِذ حُمَّ بَينٌ

عَلامَ تَأَسُّفي إِذ حُمَّ بَينٌ

وَلا قُربٌ يَسُرُّ وَلا جَوارُ

وَلا قُربٌ يَسُرُّ وَلا جَوارُ

Why should I grieve when separation is decreed,

With no kinship to delight, nor neighborhood?

and neither closeness nor living nearby brings delight?

Though I may summon strength and a heart

عَلى أَنّي وَإِن جَرَّدتُ عَزماً

عَلى أَنّي وَإِن جَرَّدتُ عَزماً

وَقَلباً لا يُراعُ فَيُستَطارُ

وَقَلباً لا يُراعُ فَيُستَطارُ

Yet, though I have unsheathed resolve

Which circumstances cannot make lose courage.

and a heart that cannot be frightened into panic,

I roamed the land which casts off my aspirations,

وَجُبتُ الأَرضَ تَلفُظُني المَرامي

وَجُبتُ الأَرضَ تَلفُظُني المَرامي

وَتُنكِرُني السَباسِبُ والقِفارُ

وَتُنكِرُني السَباسِبُ والقِفارُ

and traversed the earth, its farthest reaches casting me out,

And the wastes deserted me, denying acknowledgement.

its open plains and wastelands disowning me,

I seek, like the glory of faith, a companion,

أُحاوِلُ مِثلَ مَجدِ الدينِ جاراً

أُحاوِلُ مِثلَ مَجدِ الدينِ جاراً

بِهِ عِندَ الحَوادِثِ يُستَجارُ

بِهِ عِندَ الحَوادِثِ يُستَجارُ

I seek a protector like Majd al-Din,

In calamities, a refuge sought.

in whom refuge is sought when calamities strike;

And a comfort from it more fresh,

وَأَندى راحَةً مِنهُ وَكَفّاً

وَأَندى راحَةً مِنهُ وَكَفّاً

وَقَد جَمِدَت مِنَ السَنَةِ القِطارُ

وَقَد جَمِدَت مِنَ السَنَةِ القِطارُ

and one more generous in palm and hand than he,

When the winters have solidified into ice.

when drought has frozen the raindrops;

I proceed ahead of it in fright,

وَأمضى مُقدَماً في الرَوعِ مِنهُ

وَأمضى مُقدَماً في الرَوعِ مِنهُ

إِذا الأَبطالَ أَعجَلَها الفِرارُ

إِذا الأَبطالَ أَعجَلَها الفِرارُ

and one more resolute in advancing amid terror than he,

When even heroes hurry to flee.

when flight hurries the champions away;

I find in it a broader arena and abode,

وَأَرحَبَ ساحَةً مِنهُ وَداراً

وَأَرحَبَ ساحَةً مِنهُ وَداراً

إِذا ضاقَت بِساكِنِها الدِيارُ

إِذا ضاقَت بِساكِنِها الدِيارُ

and one more spacious of courtyard and house than he,

When homes become too narrow for their inhabitants.

when dwellings close in upon their inhabitants.

It guaranteed to show the land benevolence,

تَكَفَّلَ أَن يُري لِلأَرضِ جوداً

تَكَفَّلَ أَن يُري لِلأَرضِ جوداً

وَما كَفِلَت بِهِ السُحبُ الغِرارُ

وَما كَفِلَت بِهِ السُحبُ الغِرارُ

He undertook to show the earth a generosity

While the delusive clouds did not fulfill.

that scant-raining clouds have never guaranteed.

It swore to subjugate the dark nights,

وَأَقسَمَ ان يُذَمَّ مِنَ اللَيالي

وَأَقسَمَ ان يُذَمَّ مِنَ اللَيالي

فَما يَخشى الخُطوبَ لَديهِ جارُ

فَما يَخشى الخُطوبَ لَديهِ جارُ

And he swore that protection be granted against the nights,

No calamities frightening it into flight.

so no neighbor with him fears calamities.

When the gazes adorned themselves with it they cast down,

إِذا اِكتَحَلَت بِهِ الأَبصارُ أَغضَت

إِذا اِكتَحَلَت بِهِ الأَبصارُ أَغضَت

وَفيها مِن مَهابَتِهِ اِنكِسارُ

وَفيها مِن مَهابَتِهِ اِنكِسارُ

When eyes take his sight as kohl, they lower their gaze,

In awe of its reverence they blinked away.

humbled by awe of him.

So it returns them in sorrow without sight,

فَيُرجِعُها عَلى الأَعقابِ حَسرى

فَيُرجِعُها عَلى الأَعقابِ حَسرى

بِهُدّابِ الجُفونِ لَها عِثارُ

بِهُدّابِ الجُفونِ لَها عِثارُ

He turns them back upon their heels, exhausted,

With the lids of their eyes it has blinded them.

stumbling over their eyelids' lashes.

It is gentle in humility, yet also lofty,

يَلينُ تَواضُعاً وَبِهِ اِعتِلاءٌ

يَلينُ تَواضُعاً وَبِهِ اِعتِلاءٌ

وَيُعرِضُ صافِحاً وَلهُ اِقتِدارُ

وَيُعرِضُ صافِحاً وَلهُ اِقتِدارُ

He is gentle in humility, yet possesses eminence,

Presenting its hand in greeting, yet also able.

and turns away forgivingly, though he has power.

If at night it boasts of glory,

إِذا أَمسى يُفاخِرُهُ بِمَجدٍ

إِذا أَمسى يُفاخِرُهُ بِمَجدٍ

طَريفُ المَجدِ لَيسَ لَهُ اِفتِخارُ

طَريفُ المَجدِ لَيسَ لَهُ اِفتِخارُ

If one sets out to rival him in glory—

The most esteemed glory does not flatter itself.

a newcomer to glory—he has no cause to boast.

The treasures of wealth evade it,

تَذُبُّ ذَخائِرُ الأَموالِ عَنهُ

تَذُبُّ ذَخائِرُ الأَموالِ عَنهُ

وَيَخذُلُهُ الخَليقَةُ وَالنِجارُ

وَيَخذُلُهُ الخَليقَةُ وَالنِجارُ

His hoards of wealth defend him,

Yet people and carpenters have let it down.

but his character and lineage forsake him.

Some are named misguided in the kingdom,

يُسَمّى ضَلَّةً بِالمُلكِ قَومٌ

يُسَمّى ضَلَّةً بِالمُلكِ قَومٌ

سِواكَ وَذَلِكَ اِسمٌ مُستَعارُ

سِواكَ وَذَلِكَ اِسمٌ مُستَعارُ

Some are called kings in error,

Except for you - that name is a false loan.

other than you; that is a borrowed title.

I forbid them even if they exert themselves,

أَكُفُّهُمُ وَإِن بَذَلوا جُمودٌ

أَكُفُّهُمُ وَإِن بَذَلوا جُمودٌ

وَأَنفُسُهُم وَإِن كَرّوا صِغارُ

وَأَنفُسُهُم وَإِن كَرّوا صِغارُ

Their hands are frozen, even when they give,

And their selves even if they are enraged, the insignificant.

and their souls are small, even when they charge.

They thought they had become kings,

وَظَنّوا أَنَّهُم أَمسَوا مُلوكاً

وَظَنّوا أَنَّهُم أَمسَوا مُلوكاً

وَهُم أَهلُ البَضائِعِ وَالتِجارُ

وَهُم أَهلُ البَضائِعِ وَالتِجارُ

They thought that they had become kings,

When they are but people of merchandise and trade.

though they are owners of wares and merchants:

A brow which no crown illuminates,

جَبينٌ لا يُضيءُ عَليهِ تاجٌ

جَبينٌ لا يُضيءُ عَليهِ تاجٌ

وَكَفٌّ لا يَليقُ بِهِ السِوارُ

وَكَفٌّ لا يَليقُ بِهِ السِوارُ

a brow on which no crown shines,

A palm which no bracelet befits.

and a hand which no bracelet befits.

How many fierce, valiant raids,

وَكَم مِن غارَةٍ شَعواءَ تُمسي

وَكَم مِن غارَةٍ شَعواءَ تُمسي

لَها في كُلِّ جارِحَةٍ أُوارُ

لَها في كُلِّ جارِحَةٍ أُوارُ

And many a raging raid comes at evening,

In each limb are gaps and wounds.

with a blaze in every limb;

They provoke in the hearts of the people turmoil,

تَجيشُ بِها صُدورُ القَومِ حَتّى

تَجيشُ بِها صُدورُ القَومِ حَتّى

تَكادُ تَطيرُ بَينَهُم الشِرارُ

تَكادُ تَطيرُ بَينَهُم الشِرارُ

men's breasts boil with it, until

Almost making the sparks fly among them.

sparks almost fly among them.

When the concealer among them reveals it with a garment,

إِذا حَسَرَ الكَمِيُّ بِها لِثاماً

إِذا حَسَرَ الكَمِيُّ بِها لِثاماً

غَدا وَلِثامُهُ النَقعُ المُثارُ

غَدا وَلِثامُهُ النَقعُ المُثارُ

When the armored warrior removes his face-veil in it,

It becomes in the morning a torn, tattered cover.

the stirred-up dust becomes his veil.

The hearts of the horsemen are almost blown away in shock,

تَكادُ تَطيرُ مِن دَهشٍ قُلوبُ ال

تَكادُ تَطيرُ مِن دَهشٍ قُلوبُ ال

فَوارِسِ لَو يَكونُ لَها مَطارُ

فَوارِسِ لَو يَكونُ لَها مَطارُ

Almost taking flight in bewilderment are the hearts of the

If only it had wings to fly.

horsemen, if they had a place to fly.

You met it with wisdom, not in foolishness,

تَلَقّاها بِرَأيٍ غَيرِ نابٍ

تَلَقّاها بِرَأيٍ غَيرِ نابٍ

وَعَزمٍ لا يُفَلُّ لَهُ غِرارُ

وَعَزمٍ لا يُفَلُّ لَهُ غِرارُ

He met it with unfailing judgment,

And resolve which no delusions make fail.

and resolve whose edge cannot be blunted.

So you steered its calamities, and for it are wings,

فَقادَ صِعابِها وَبِها جَماحٌ

فَقادَ صِعابِها وَبِها جَماحٌ

وَأَخمَدَ نارَها وَلها اِستِعارُ

وَأَخمَدَ نارَها وَلها اِستِعارُ

He led its unruly steeds, despite their headstrong defiance,

And extinguished its fire, though it has kindling.

and quenched its fire, though it blazed fiercely.

Its leaders subdued, dispersed,

أَقائِدَها مُسَوَّمَةً عِراباً

أَقائِدَها مُسَوَّمَةً عِراباً

شَوارِدَ لا يُشَقُّ لَها غُبارُ

شَوارِدَ لا يُشَقُّ لَها غُبارُ

O leader of those marked, purebred Arab steeds,

Vagrants whom no dust storm can dishevel.

far-ranging, whose dust no one can cleave,

Are you not of those who have illumination

أَلستَ مِنَ الَّذينَ لَهُم مُضاءٌ

أَلستَ مِنَ الَّذينَ لَهُم مُضاءٌ

إِذا نَبَتِ الصَوارِمُ وَالشِفارُ

إِذا نَبَتِ الصَوارِمُ وَالشِفارُ

are you not of those whose resolve cuts through

When the swords gleam and the blades are bared?

when sharp swords and blades fail to cut?

When they attend war they are ferocious lions,

إِذا شَهِدوا الوَغى فَهُمُ لُيوثٌ

إِذا شَهِدوا الوَغى فَهُمُ لُيوثٌ

وَإِن سُئِلوا النَدى فَهُمُ بِحارُ

وَإِن سُئِلوا النَدى فَهُمُ بِحارُ

When they attend battle, they are lions,

And if asked for help they are seas full.

and when asked for bounty, they are seas.

And if the valleys of gloom become straitened they endure,

وَإِن ضَنَّت غَوادي المُزنِ صابوا

وَإِن ضَنَّت غَوادي المُزنِ صابوا

حَيّاً وَإِذا دَجى خَطبٌ أَناروا

حَيّاً وَإِذا دَجى خَطبٌ أَناروا

And if the rainclouds' morning showers are stingy, they pour down

Vigilant, and if darkness falls they illuminate.

life-giving rain; and when calamity darkens, they give light.

And if they intend a distant goal they attain it,

وَإِن أَومَوا إِلى غَرَضٍ بَعيدٍ

وَإِن أَومَوا إِلى غَرَضٍ بَعيدٍ

أَصابوهُ وَإِن شَهِدوا أَغاروا

أَصابوهُ وَإِن شَهِدوا أَغاروا

And if they aim at a distant target,

And if witnessing aggressions they deter.

they hit it; and when they take the field, they raid.

In their palms ascend glories,

وَتَثبُتُ في أَكُفِّهِمُ العَوالي

وَتَثبُتُ في أَكُفِّهِمُ العَوالي

وَتَزلُقُ فَوقَها البِدرُ النِضارُ

وَتَزلُقُ فَوقَها البِدرُ النِضارُ

And tall spears stay firm in their hands,

While above them the full moons circle.

while purses of pure gold slip across them.

They have kindness to offenders, spacious,

لَهُم لُطفٌ عَلى الجاني رَحيبٌ

لَهُم لُطفٌ عَلى الجاني رَحيبٌ

لَهُم عُرفٌ وَفي الخَمرِ الخُمارُ

لَهُم عُرفٌ وَفي الخَمرِ الخُمارُ

Their kindness toward the offender is ample;

Customs of refinement, even when intoxicated.

theirs is bounty, while wine brings a hangover.

Faces like suns radiating light,

وُجوهٌ كَالشُموسِ لَها ضِياءٌ

وُجوهٌ كَالشُموسِ لَها ضِياءٌ

وَأَحسابٌ كَما اِتَضَحَ النَهارُ

وَأَحسابٌ كَما اِتَضَحَ النَهارُ

Faces like suns, possessed of radiance,

And manners when day has dawned clear.

and noble pedigrees as clear as day;

Dreams, that when calamities boil,

وَأَحلامٌ إِذا الأَطوادُ طاشَت

وَأَحلامٌ إِذا الأَطوادُ طاشَت

رَسَت وَلَها السَكينَةُ وَالوَقارُ

رَسَت وَلَها السَكينَةُ وَالوَقارُ

and minds that, should the mountains reel,

Settle, upon them tranquility and dignity.

stay firmly rooted, possessed of serenity and dignity.

They are the star which if a straying traveller loses his way,

هُمُ النَجمُ الَّذي إِن ضَلَّ سارٍ

هُمُ النَجمُ الَّذي إِن ضَلَّ سارٍ

هَداهُ بِنورِهِ وَهُمُ المَنارُ

هَداهُ بِنورِهِ وَهُمُ المَنارُ

They are the star which, if a night-traveler strays,

Its light guides him - they are the minaret.

guides him by its light; they are the beacon.

The whiteness of the swords points to them,

يَدُلُّ عَليهِمُ بيضُ السَجايا

يَدُلُّ عَليهِمُ بيضُ السَجايا

إِذا دَلَّت عَلى الكُرَماءِ نارُ

إِذا دَلَّت عَلى الكُرَماءِ نارُ

Their white virtues point them out,

When the fires signal upon the generous.

when a fire points the way to the generous.

Father of al-Faraj, listen to my praise

أَبا الفَرَجِ اِسِتَمَع مِنّي ثَناءً

أَبا الفَرَجِ اِسِتَمَع مِنّي ثَناءً

لِغَيرِكَ لا يُباعُ وَلا يُعارُ

لِغَيرِكَ لا يُباعُ وَلا يُعارُ

Abu al-Faraj, hear from me a praise

Of others - it cannot be sold or borrowed.

that is neither sold nor lent to anyone but you.

For you strings of pearls were composed, and in it

لَكُم نُظِمَت قَلائِدُهُ وَفيهِ

لَكُم نُظِمَت قَلائِدُهُ وَفيهِ

عَلى أَجيادِ غَيرِكُمُ نِفارُ

عَلى أَجيادِ غَيرِكُمُ نِفارُ

For you its necklaces were strung, and it feels

About others than you there is unwillingness.

aversion to the necks of anyone else.

It remains at your homes, residing in them nightly,

يَظَلُّ لَدى بُيوتِكُمُ وَيُمسي

يَظَلُّ لَدى بُيوتِكُمُ وَيُمسي

بِها وَلَهُ طَوافٌ وَاِعتِمارُ

بِها وَلَهُ طَوافٌ وَاِعتِمارُ

It stays by your houses through the day, and spends the evening

Circling, as if in pilgrimage and devotion.

there, performing circumambulation and lesser pilgrimage.

It goes to your hospitality, while in it

يَسيرُ إِلى نَوالِكُمُ وَفيهِ

يَسيرُ إِلى نَوالِكُمُ وَفيهِ

عُدولٌ عَن سِواكُم وَاِزوِرارُ

عُدولٌ عَن سِواكُم وَاِزوِرارُ

It travels toward your bounty, and within it is

Is aversion from others, and hesitation.

a turning away and aversion from all others.

Chinstraps which enchant the hearts, until

قَوافٍ تَسحَرُ الأَلبابَ حَتّى

قَوافٍ تَسحَرُ الأَلبابَ حَتّى

يُخالُ بِها فُتورٌ وَاِحوِرارُ

يُخالُ بِها فُتورٌ وَاِحوِرارُ

Rhymes that enchant the minds, until

Listlessness and confusion are imagined.

one fancies in them languid eyes, dark against white.

It is the excellent, unsaddled she-camel, whose bride-price

هِيَ البِكرُ الحَصانُ يَقِلُّ مَهراً

هِيَ البِكرُ الحَصانُ يَقِلُّ مَهراً

لَها غُرَرُ المَطافيلِ البِكارُ

لَها غُرَرُ المَطافيلِ البِكارُ

She is the chaste virgin; too small as a dowry

Is little, whose deceptions are those of the virgins.

for her are the choicest young she-camels with calves.

You remain throughout time with the eternity of a king,

بَقيتَ عَلى الزَمانِ بَقاءَ مَلكٍ

بَقيتَ عَلى الزَمانِ بَقاءَ مَلكٍ

يَدورُ بِأَمرِكَ الفَلَكُ المُدارُ

يَدورُ بِأَمرِكَ الفَلَكُ المُدارُ

May you endure through time as a king endures,

Through your command the revolving sphere circles.

the revolving celestial sphere turning at your command.

The nights obey you in their circumstances,

تُطيعُكَ في تَصَرُّفِها اللَيالي

تُطيعُكَ في تَصَرُّفِها اللَيالي

إِلَيكَ الحُكمُ فيها وَالخِيارُ

إِلَيكَ الحُكمُ فيها وَالخِيارُ

The nights obey you in their changing courses;

For you is the judgement among them and the choice.

yours are authority over them and the choice.

For you is the extended lifetime, and for the enemies,

لَكَ العُمُرُ المَديدُ وَلِلأَعادي

لَكَ العُمُرُ المَديدُ وَلِلأَعادي

وَإِن رَغَمَت أُنوفُهُمُ البَوارُ

وَإِن رَغَمَت أُنوفُهُمُ البَوارُ

Yours be long life, and your enemies'—

Even if their eagerness sharpens into depravity.

though their noses be rubbed in dust—ruin.