غَيْري رَمَيْنَ ذواتُ الأَعْين النُّجُل

غَيْري رَمَيْنَ ذواتُ الأَعْين النُّجُل

إِذْ رِشْنَ نَبلَ فُتورِ اللّحظ بالْكَحَلِ

إِذْ رِشْنَ نَبلَ فُتورِ اللّحظ بالْكَحَلِ

The wide-eyed women shot at others, not me,

Others aimed the glances of languid eyes,

when they fletched the arrows of languid glances with dark eye-rims.

When they shot the arrows of listless looks with kohl.

مَن راحَ صَبّاً بحبّ الغانياتِ فلي

مَن راحَ صَبّاً بحبّ الغانياتِ فلي

قَلْبٌ بحبِّ المعالِي راحَ في شُغُل

قَلْبٌ بحبِّ المعالِي راحَ في شُغُل

If anyone is lovesick for beautiful women, I have

Whoever wasted his youth infatuated with singing girls,

a heart absorbed in love for lofty pursuits.

My heart was busy with love of noble ideals.

وكم صبوتُ إلى وَرْدِ الخدود ولم

وكم صبوتُ إلى وَرْدِ الخدود ولم

أَرْضِ العذولَ الذِي قد لجّ في العَذَل

أَرْضِ العذولَ الذِي قد لجّ في العَذَل

How often I yearned for the roses of cheeks, and never

How often I yearned for the roses of cheeks, but did not

pleased the reproacher who persisted in reproach.

Pick the fruit that had ripened into neglect.

لم يَحْم مَنِّيَ خَدّاً لَدْغُ عَقْرَبهِ

لم يَحْم مَنِّيَ خَدّاً لَدْغُ عَقْرَبهِ

ولا ثَنَتْنِي سهامُ اللّحظِ عن مُقِل

ولا ثَنَتْنِي سهامُ اللّحظِ عن مُقِل

The sting of its scorpion never protected a cheek from me,

No cheek was stung by the bite of its scorpion,

nor did the arrows of a glance turn me away from eyes.

Nor did the arrows of glances turn me from my calm.

ولا نَهْتني حُلَى ألفاظِ غانيةٍ

ولا نَهْتني حُلَى ألفاظِ غانيةٍ

عن رَشْفِ ما في ثَناياها من العَسَل

عن رَشْفِ ما في ثَناياها من العَسَل

Nor did the ornaments of a beauty's words deter me

Nor did the trinkets of singing girls' words

from sipping the honey between her front teeth.

Stop me from sipping the honey in their folds.

ولا قَنِعتُ بزور الْوَعْدِ من رَشَإٍ

ولا قَنِعتُ بزور الْوَعْدِ من رَشَإٍ

دون التّعانُقِ والتَّجميش والقُبَلِ

دون التّعانُقِ والتَّجميش والقُبَلِ

Nor was I content with a young gazelle's false promise,

Nor did I content myself with the false promise of a coquette,

without embraces, fondling, and kisses.

Without embracing, whispering, and kissing.

ما زلتُ أَخلع في رَبْعِ الصِّبا رَسَنِي

ما زلتُ أَخلع في رَبْعِ الصِّبا رَسَنِي

لَهْواً وأسحبُ فيه رَيْطةَ الغَزَلِ

لَهْواً وأسحبُ فيه رَيْطةَ الغَزَلِ

I kept casting off my bridle in the abode of youthful passion,

I have not ceased to sport in the spring of my youth,

for pleasure, trailing there the fine robe of courtship.

Foolishly pulling the string of flirtation.

فالآن لمّا قَضَتْ نَفْسي مآربهَا

فالآن لمّا قَضَتْ نَفْسي مآربهَا

ونِلتُ من كلّ شيءٍ غايةَ الأَملِ

ونِلتُ من كلّ شيءٍ غايةَ الأَملِ

But now, when my soul has fulfilled its desires

But now when my soul has fulfilled its wishes,

and I have attained my utmost hopes in everything,

And attained the utmost of all hopes,

أَقصرتُ يا سَلْمَ عمّا تَعلمِين فما

أَقصرتُ يا سَلْمَ عمّا تَعلمِين فما

أَصْبُو لَربْع ولا أَبْكي على طَلَل

أَصْبُو لَربْع ولا أَبْكي على طَلَل

I have desisted, O Salm, from what you know; I no longer

I refrain, Salma, from what you know, so I no longer

yearn for a dwelling or weep over ruins.

Pine for the pasturelands or weep over ruins.

لمّا بَلغتُ أشُدِّي بعدما انْقَرَضَتْ

لمّا بَلغتُ أشُدِّي بعدما انْقَرَضَتْ

بعد الثّلاثين خَمْسٌ مِن زمانِيَ لي

بعد الثّلاثين خَمْسٌ مِن زمانِيَ لي

When I reached my full maturity, after there had passed

When I reached maturity after thirty-five

five years of my life beyond thirty,

Of my years had passed, I reconsidered and preferred dignity.

راجعتُ حِلمي وآثرتُ الوَقَار وَمن

راجعتُ حِلمي وآثرتُ الوَقَار وَمن

يَحْلُمْ يُوَقَّرْ ومَنْ يَسْتَحْي يُنتضلِ

يَحْلُمْ يُوَقَّرْ ومَنْ يَسْتَحْي يُنتضلِ

I returned to my forbearance and chose dignity; whoever

Whoever is forbearing is honored, whoever is modest gains respect.

is forbearing is respected, and whoever is timid is made a target.

As I obeyed my youth in folly, so now

كما أطعتُ شبابي في الصِّبا فكذا

كما أطعتُ شبابي في الصِّبا فكذا

أُطيع في صالح الأعمال مُكْتَهلي

أُطيع في صالح الأعمال مُكْتَهلي

Just as I obeyed my youth in youthful passion, so

I obey in doing righteous deeds, though grown old.

I obey my mature years in righteous deeds.

O sacred month of obligatory fasting, in which

يا شهْرَ مُفْترضِ الصَّوْمِ الذي خَلَصَتْ

يا شهْرَ مُفْترضِ الصَّوْمِ الذي خَلَصَتْ

فيه الضمائُر بالإخلاصِ في العمل

فيه الضمائُر بالإخلاصِ في العمل

O month of obligatory fasting, in which

Hearts have been purified by true devotion.

consciences grew pure through sincerity in deeds!

You have, O Ramadan, erased our misdeeds, giving us

أَرْمَضْتَ يا رمضانُ السِّيئاتِ لنا

أَرْمَضْتَ يا رمضانُ السِّيئاتِ لنا

بُشْر بِنا للتُّقَى عَلاَّ على نَهَلِ

بُشْر بِنا للتُّقَى عَلاَّ على نَهَلِ

You scorched away our sins, O Ramadan;

Good news of reverence and exaltedness on the meadows.

give piety glad tidings of us, a second draught after the first.

Fasting, righteousness and devotion are linked in you

صَومٌ وبِرٌّ ونُسْكٌ فِيك مُتّصِلٌ

صَومٌ وبِرٌّ ونُسْكٌ فِيك مُتّصِلٌ

بِصالحٍ وخشوعٍ غيرِ منفصِل

بِصالحٍ وخشوعٍ غيرِ منفصِل

Fasting, goodness, and devotion in you are joined

To goodness, humility and unsevered connection.

to righteousness and humility, without a break.

Would that your month were a year without ending,

يا ليت شهركَ حَوْلٌ غيرُ مُنْقَطِع

يا ليت شهركَ حَوْلٌ غيرُ مُنْقَطِع

وليت ظِلِّك عنّا غيرُ مُنْتقِل

وليت ظِلِّك عنّا غيرُ مُنْتقِل

Would that your month were an uninterrupted year,

And that your shade over us were never shifting.

and that your shade never moved away from us.

Among the months that have passed, you are only

ما أنت في أشهرِ الحَوْلِ الّتِي سَلفتْ

ما أنت في أشهرِ الحَوْلِ الّتِي سَلفتْ

إلاّ كمثِلِ نِزارٍ في بني الرُّسُلِ

إلاّ كمثِلِ نِزارٍ في بني الرُّسُلِ

Among the months of the year that have passed, you are

Like al-Nizar among the messenger prophets.

only as Nizar is among the sons of the messengers.

A king who, when asked, enriches the beggars,

مَلْكٌ إذا سِيلَ أَغْنَى السائِلين له

مَلْكٌ إذا سِيلَ أَغْنَى السائِلين له

وإن هُمُ سكَنوا أعْطَى ولم يُسَل

وإن هُمُ سكَنوا أعْطَى ولم يُسَل

A king who, when asked, enriches those who ask him,

Though they stay silent he gives without being asked.

and if they keep silent, he gives without being asked.

In war he is found attacking again and again when

تَلقاه في الحربِ كَرَّاراً إذا اسْتَعَرتْ

تَلقاه في الحربِ كَرَّاراً إذا اسْتَعَرتْ

وحامَ طيرُ الرَّدَى بالمعشِر النُّزُلِ

وحامَ طيرُ الرَّدَى بالمعشِر النُّزُلِ

You meet him charging repeatedly in war when it blazes,

The birds of calamity flock together on the battlefield.

and death's birds circle the encamped host.

A swordsman whom no mighty tasks can evade

حَسّام ما مِنْ عِظماتِ الأُمور أَبَيْ

حَسّام ما مِنْ عِظماتِ الأُمور أَبَيْ

نَ الحَسْمَ وَصَّالُ ما مِنهنّ لم يَصِل

نَ الحَسْمَ وَصَّالُ ما مِنهنّ لم يَصِل

A decisive resolver of weighty affairs that have resisted

Decisively, a reconciler whom none evaded unfinished.

resolution, a constant uniter of whatever among them remains unjoined.

Not by the weak thoughts of the timid from any

لا بالضعيف قُوَي الآراءِ عن حَدَثٍ

لا بالضعيف قُوَي الآراءِ عن حَدَثٍ

يُرْدِي الأنامَ ولا الهِّيابةِ الوْكَلِ

يُرْدِي الأنامَ ولا الهِّيابةِ الوْكَلِ

Not weak in judgment before a calamity

Event that ruins people, nor by cowardly withdrawal.

that lays mankind low, nor timid and helpless.

With his sword he attains what swords fail to reach,

يَنال بالسيف ما تَعْيا السيوفُ به

يَنال بالسيف ما تَعْيا السيوفُ به

وبالنَّباهة ما يُعِيي ذوِي الحِيَلِ

وبالنَّباهة ما يُعِيي ذوِي الحِيَلِ

With the sword he attains what other swords cannot achieve,

And by his vigilance what schemers cannot attain.

and through keen intelligence, what baffles the resourceful.

Wakeful when prudence sleeps, on guard,

يقظانُ حِين ينامُ الحزمُ مُحْتَرِسٌ

يقظانُ حِين ينامُ الحزمُ مُحْتَرِسٌ

مُتَرَّفٌ شَرِسٌ عَجْلانُ ذُو مَهَلِ

مُتَرَّفٌ شَرِسٌ عَجْلانُ ذُو مَهَلِ

Wakeful when resolve sleeps, ever watchful,

Luxurious and fierce, hasty and deliberate.

living in luxury yet fierce, swift yet deliberate.

The caliphate was adorned when you were clothed in it,

زِنْت الخلافةَ مذ أُلْبِسْتَ خِلْعَتَها

زِنْت الخلافةَ مذ أُلْبِسْتَ خِلْعَتَها

وزدْت دَوْلَتَها عِزّاً على الدُّوَل

وزدْت دَوْلَتَها عِزّاً على الدُّوَل

You adorned the caliphate since you were clothed in its robe of honor,

And through you its domain gained glory over realms.

and increased its realm's glory above other realms.

Without you it would be without splendor or glory,

لولاكَ كانتْ بِلا جِيد ولا جَيَد

لولاكَ كانتْ بِلا جِيد ولا جَيَد

ولا جفونٍ ولا كُحْلٍ ولا كَحَلِ

ولا جفونٍ ولا كُحْلٍ ولا كَحَلِ

Without you, it would have no neck, no graceful length of neck,

Without eyelids, kohl, or collyrium.

no eyelids, no kohl, no naturally dark eye-rims.

You have composed its crown of justice, and with

نَظَمتَ بالعدلِ تيجانَ البهاءِ لها

نَظَمتَ بالعدلِ تيجانَ البهاءِ لها

وبالسماحةِ وَشْيَ الْحَلْي والحُلَلِ

وبالسماحةِ وَشْيَ الْحَلْي والحُلَلِ

You fashioned for it, through justice, crowns of splendor,

Clemency dressed it in the garment of beauty and finery.

and, through generosity, the adornment of jewelry and robes.

Religion cannot be debased when you promote it,

فالدِّينُ غيرُ مهِيض إذ نهضتَ به

فالدِّينُ غيرُ مهِيض إذ نهضتَ به

وَفَيْلَقُ الجودِ منصورٌ على البَخَلِ

وَفَيْلَقُ الجودِ منصورٌ على البَخَلِ

Thus the faith is unbroken, since you rose to uphold it,

And the flood of generosity gains victory over meanness.

and the army of generosity is victorious over stinginess.

Unbelief is shattered while faith is honored,

والكفرُ في شَظَفٍ والدينُ في شَرَف

والكفرُ في شَظَفٍ والدينُ في شَرَف

والجودُ في سَرَفٍ والناس في جَذَلِ

والجودُ في سَرَفٍ والناس في جَذَلِ

Unbelief is in hardship, and faith in honor,

Extravagance is allowed and people suffer need.

generosity is in profusion, and the people in joy.

So enjoy the distant time in which you left the Muslims

فانْعَمْ بعيدٍ تركتَ المسلِمينَ به

فانْعَمْ بعيدٍ تركتَ المسلِمينَ به

سِلْماً وغادرتَ أَهل الكفِر في جَدَلِ

سِلْماً وغادرتَ أَهل الكفِر في جَدَلِ

So enjoy a feast-day on which you have left the Muslims

In peace and abandoned the unbelievers to wrangling.

at peace, and left the people of unbelief in contention.

You have supported the religion of your two forefathers

نصرتَ مِلّةَ جَدَّيك الَّلذَيْ سلَفا

نصرتَ مِلّةَ جَدَّيك الَّلذَيْ سلَفا

حتى غدتْ بك تَسْتَعلي على المِلل

حتى غدتْ بك تَسْتَعلي على المِلل

You upheld the faith of your two grandfathers who went before,

Until through you it rises above other faiths.

until through you it rose above other faiths.

If the Feast comes to us happily through seeing you,

لئن أتى العِيد مِن لُقياكَ في فَرحٍ

لئن أتى العِيد مِن لُقياكَ في فَرحٍ

لقد مَضَى الصومُ مِن منآك في ثَكل

لقد مَضَى الصومُ مِن منآك في ثَكل

If the feast-day came rejoicing at meeting you,

Fasting has indeed departed from us in sorrow.

the fast departed bereaved by your absence.

You appeared like the rising sun,

برزتَ فيه بروزَ الشمسِ طالعةً

برزتَ فيه بروزَ الشمسِ طالعةً

وقد أَعاد الضُّحاءَ النَّقْعُ كالطَّفَل

وقد أَعاد الضُّحاءَ النَّقْعُ كالطَّفَل

You appeared on it like the rising sun,

When the plain was again clothed in white, like a child.

though dust had made the morning light like dusk.

The full moons blossom and the banners flutter,

والبيضُ تَزْهَرُ والأَعلامُ خافقةٌ

والبيضُ تَزْهَرُ والأَعلامُ خافقةٌ

والأرضُ في رَهَج والجوُّ في زَجَلِ

والأرضُ في رَهَج والجوُّ في زَجَلِ

The bright swords gleamed and the banners fluttered,

While the earth glitters and the atmosphere drones.

the earth was full of dust, the air of clamor.

None who glance can prevent their eyes

فليس يَصْرِف لحظَ العين مُرْسِلُه

فليس يَصْرِف لحظَ العين مُرْسِلُه

إِلاّ إلى سابحٍ في الأرِض أو بطلِ

إِلاّ إلى سابحٍ في الأرِض أو بطلِ

No one casting a glance could turn his eye

From gazing on one who swims on land or is a hero.

except toward a steed swimming over the ground, or a hero.

The sun in the orbit of the army was obscured

والشمسُ فوقَ مَدارِ الجِيشِ قد حُجِبتْ

والشمسُ فوقَ مَدارِ الجِيشِ قد حُجِبتْ

في جَوِّها بمُتون البِيضِ والأَسَلِ

في جَوِّها بمُتون البِيضِ والأَسَلِ

The sun above the army's course had been veiled

By the hilts of the white swords and spears.

in its sky by the backs of bright swords and by spears.

Until you reached the mosque, humble in devotion,

حتى بلغتَ المُصَلّى خاشعاً نَسِكاً

حتى بلغتَ المُصَلّى خاشعاً نَسِكاً

خشوعَ جَدِّك في أَزمانِه الأُولِ

خشوعَ جَدِّك في أَزمانِه الأُولِ

Until you reached the prayer-ground, humble and devout,

In the humble devotion of your ancestor in early times.

with your grandfather's humility in his days of old.

You stood before them as preacher, eloquent of tongue,

فقمتَ فيهم خطيباً مِصْقعاً لَسِناً

فقمتَ فيهم خطيباً مِصْقعاً لَسِناً

بكلّ مُنْفَصِلٍ نَثْراً ومُتَّصِل

بكلّ مُنْفَصِلٍ نَثْراً ومُتَّصِل

Then you stood among them, an eloquent, fluent preacher,

Joining each phrase smoothly and distinctly.

in every prose passage, whether separate or connected.

What stony heart was not softened by them?

فَأيُّ قلبٍ جلِيدٍ لَم يرِقَّ لهمْ

فَأيُّ قلبٍ جلِيدٍ لَم يرِقَّ لهمْ

وأيُّ موعِظَةٍ غَرَّاءَ لَم تُقَلِ

وأيُّ موعِظَةٍ غَرَّاءَ لَم تُقَلِ

What stout heart did not soften for them,

What effective sermon did not melt?

and what radiant admonition went unspoken?

An eloquence whose prose is composed masterfully,

بلاغَةٌ نبوِيٌ النَّظمِ مُحْكَمُها

بلاغَةٌ نبوِيٌ النَّظمِ مُحْكَمُها

وخُطْبَةٌ لم يَنْلها مُهْمَلُ الخَطَلِ

وخُطْبَةٌ لم يَنْلها مُهْمَلُ الخَطَلِ

Eloquence whose perfected composition was prophetic,

A speech no negligent orator ever attained.

and a sermon untouched by careless babble.

You have explained the truth plainly, so that

أَبنْتَ بالحقِّ ما قد كان مُشْتَبِهاً

أَبنْتَ بالحقِّ ما قد كان مُشْتَبِهاً

من الهُدَى فَتَجَلَّى كُلُّ مُشْتَكِل

من الهُدَى فَتَجَلَّى كُلُّ مُشْتَكِل

With truth you clarified what had been obscure

What was ambiguous of guidance appeared clear.

in right guidance, and every difficulty became clear.

A proof of sincerity by which you have solaced the saints,

برهانُ صِدْقٍ شَفَيتَ الأَولياءَ بِه

برهانُ صِدْقٍ شَفَيتَ الأَولياءَ بِه

وسُقْتُه بين رَيْثِ القَول والعَجَلِ

وسُقْتُه بين رَيْثِ القَول والعَجَلِ

A proof of truth with which you healed your loyal followers,

While I watered it evenly between haste and delay.

and I delivered it between leisurely speech and haste.

They gained by what they heard the honor of nearness,

نالوا بما سمِعوا الزُّلفَى فما افْترقُوا

نالوا بما سمِعوا الزُّلفَى فما افْترقُوا

إلاّ وهُمْ من رِضا الرّحمانِ في جُمَلِ

إلاّ وهُمْ من رِضا الرّحمانِ في جُمَلِ

Through what they heard they attained nearness, and they did not part

And did not leave until satisfied by the Merciful.

except surrounded by abundant favor from the All-Merciful.

They prayed behind you while the angels were behind them,

صلَّوا وراءَك والأَملاكُ خلفَهُمُ

صلَّوا وراءَك والأَملاكُ خلفَهُمُ

مُبَلَّغين لأَعَلى السُّؤْلِ والأَملِ

مُبَلَّغين لأَعَلى السُّؤْلِ والأَملِ

They prayed behind you, with the angels behind them,

Conveying to the Highest their hopes and aspirations.

brought to the utmost of desire and hope.

And God purged what wrongs they had committed,

ومَحَّصَ الله ما كانوا قد اقْترفوا

ومَحَّصَ الله ما كانوا قد اقْترفوا

حتى تَبَّروا من الآثام والزَللِ

حتى تَبَّروا من الآثام والزَللِ

God purged what they had committed,

Until they were cleansed of sins and error.

until they were free of sins and slips.

I have not lagged behind in the asceticism by which

وما تَأخرّتُ من زهد خسرتُ به

وما تَأخرّتُ من زهد خسرتُ به

أجري ولا غبت عن رؤياك من مَلَلِ

أجري ولا غبت عن رؤياك من مَلَلِ

I did not stay behind out of indifference, thereby losing

I would lose my reward, or avoided seeing you from boredom.

my reward, nor miss seeing you out of weariness.

Who would sell a radiant day for gloom?

ومَن يبيعُ نهاراً مُشْرِقاً بدُجىً

ومَن يبيعُ نهاراً مُشْرِقاً بدُجىً

ومن يَخُوصُ ضُحَى الإِصباح للطَّفَل

ومن يَخُوصُ ضُحَى الإِصباح للطَّفَل

Who would exchange a radiant day for darkness,

Who would swap the dawn for a child's comfort?

and who would barter the morning's bright forenoon for dusk?

But I stayed behind because of illness and pain,

لكن تخلّفتُ من سُقْمٍ ومِن أَلمٍ

لكن تخلّفتُ من سُقْمٍ ومِن أَلمٍ

طِفقْتُ بينهما كالهائِم الخَبِل

طِفقْتُ بينهما كالهائِم الخَبِل

But I stayed behind through sickness and pain;

While they came and went like one crazed and confused.

between them I was like a distraught wanderer.

A malady that deprived my eyes of sleep,

داءٌ يذودُ عن العينين نومَهُما

داءٌ يذودُ عن العينين نومَهُما

وعِلَّةٌ بِيَ قد زادَتْ على العِلل

وعِلَّةٌ بِيَ قد زادَتْ على العِلل

An illness drives sleep away from my eyes,

And an affliction that increased past afflictions.

and my affliction has surpassed all afflictions.

But if my legs failed me when I was sick

فإن تكن قَصَّرتْ بِي عنك إذ سَقِمَتْ

فإن تكن قَصَّرتْ بِي عنك إذ سَقِمَتْ

رِجلِي فإنّي صحيحُ الودّ والعملِ

رِجلِي فإنّي صحيحُ الودّ والعملِ

If, when it fell ill, I was held back from you

From coming to you, my affection and deeds are sincere.

by my leg, then I am sound in affection and service.

Neither my faithful counsel nor my obedience

لا وجُه نُصْحي وطاعاتي بمُنْصَرِفٍ

لا وجُه نُصْحي وطاعاتي بمُنْصَرِفٍ

عَمّا عهِدتَ ولا قلبي بمُنْتَقِل

عَمّا عهِدتَ ولا قلبي بمُنْتَقِل

The face of my counsel and obedience does not turn away

Have ever swerved from what you ordained, nor has my heart.

from what you have known, nor does my heart move elsewhere.

I am imbued with love of you as the water-carriers mixed

إنِّي بحبّك ممزوجٌ كما مَزَجَتْ

إنِّي بحبّك ممزوجٌ كما مَزَجَتْ

أيِدي السُّقاة مِزاجَ الماء بالعَسلِ

أيِدي السُّقاة مِزاجَ الماء بالعَسلِ

I am mingled with love for you, just as

Their water with honey from the running brooks.

the hands of cupbearers mingle water with honey.

May the blessings of Him who endowed you with victory

صلّى عليك وأعطاك السعادةَ مَنْ

صلّى عليك وأعطاك السعادةَ مَنْ

حَباك بالنّصرِ والتأخيرِ في الأَجل

حَباك بالنّصرِ والتأخيرِ في الأَجل

May He bless you and grant you happiness, He who

And delayed your term pray over you and grant you happiness.

favored you with victory and a longer span of life.