خبرت بني عصري على البسط والقبض

خبرت بني عصري على البسط والقبض

وكاشفتهم كشف الطبائع بالنبض

وكاشفتهم كشف الطبائع بالنبض

I tested my contemporaries in ease and constraint,

I tested my contemporaries in prosperity and adversity,

and probed them as temperaments are discerned by the pulse.

And probed their natures by feeling their pulse,

فأنتج لي فيهم قياسي تخلّياً

فأنتج لي فيهم قياسي تخلّياً

عن الكلّ إذ هم آفة الوقت والعرض

عن الكلّ إذ هم آفة الوقت والعرض

Thus my assessment of them led me to withdraw

So my appraisal led me to dissociation from them all,

from them all, for they are the bane of time and honor.

Since they are the bane of time and company.

ألازم كسر البيت خلواً وإن يكن

ألازم كسر البيت خلواً وإن يكن

خروجٌ ففرداً ملصق الطّرف بالأرض

خروجٌ ففرداً ملصق الطّرف بالأرض

I keep to a corner of the house alone; and if there is

I make it a rule to break away in seclusion, though

an outing, I go alone, my gaze fixed on the ground.

It be a departure, with my gaze fixed to the ground.

أرى الشخص من بعدٍ فأغضي تغافلاً

أرى الشخص من بعدٍ فأغضي تغافلاً

كمشدوه بالٍ في مهمته يمضي

كمشدوه بالٍ في مهمته يمضي

I see a person from afar and lower my gaze, feigning heedlessness,

I see a person from afar, so I feign oblivion,

like one bewildered in mind, proceeding with his task.

Like one confounded, proceeding in his task.

ويحسبني في غفلةٍ وفراستي

ويحسبني في غفلةٍ وفراستي

على الفور من لمحي بما قد نوى تقضي

على الفور من لمحي بما قد نوى تقضي

And he thinks me heedless, yet my discernment

And he thinks me inattentive, while my insight

at once determines from my glance what he has intended.

In an instant discerns what he intends by his stride.

أجانبهم سلماً ليسلم جانبي

أجانبهم سلماً ليسلم جانبي

وليس لحقدٍ في النفوس ولا بغض

وليس لحقدٍ في النفوس ولا بغض

I keep away from them peaceably, so my side may be safe,

I shun them in peace, so my side may have peace,

and not out of rancor in souls or hatred.

Not out of any rancor or hatred in souls.

تخلّيت عن قومي ولو كان ممكني

تخلّيت عن قومي ولو كان ممكني

تخلّيت عن بعضي ليسلم لي بعضي

تخلّيت عن بعضي ليسلم لي بعضي

I withdrew from my people; and were it in my power,

I parted from my people, and if it were possible

I would withdraw from part of myself, to keep part of myself safe.

I would part from some of myself, to keep some of myself intact.