بَلَغَ الشَّوْقُ لعمري ما أراد

بَلَغَ الشَّوْقُ لعمري ما أراد

وقَضى من مُهجةِ الصَّبِّ المُرادا

وقَضى من مُهجةِ الصَّبِّ المُرادا

By my life, longing has attained all it desired,

Longing, by my life, has attained what it desired,

and exacted its desire from the lover’s very soul.

And won its wish from the lovelorn one's lifeblood.

فليَدَعْهُ في الهوى عاذِلُه

فليَدَعْهُ في الهوى عاذِلُه

يَحْسَبُ الغيَّ وإنْ ضَلَّ رشادا

يَحْسَبُ الغيَّ وإنْ ضَلَّ رشادا

So let his reproacher leave him to his passion:

So let his reproacher leave him to his love:

though he has strayed, he takes error for right guidance.

He counts error as guidance, even when astray.

يُرسِلُ الوَجْدَ إلى أجفانه

يُرسِلُ الوَجْدَ إلى أجفانه

رُسُلَ الأدمع مثنى وفرادى

رُسُلَ الأدمع مثنى وفرادى

Rapture sends to his eyelids

Passion sends to his eyelids

its messengers of tears, in pairs and one by one.

Messengers of tears, in pairs and singly.

لم يُرقْها عَبرةً إلاَّ إذا

لم يُرقْها عَبرةً إلاَّ إذا

اتَّقَدَتْ نارُ الجوى فيه اتقادا

اتَّقَدَتْ نارُ الجوى فيه اتقادا

He sheds no tear except when

He sheds not a single tear unless

the fire of inward anguish blazes fiercely within him.

The fire of heartache blazes fiercely within him.

قد مَنعتُم أعيني طيبَ الكرى

قد مَنعتُم أعيني طيبَ الكرى

فحريٌّ أنْ يُصارمن الرقادا

فحريٌّ أنْ يُصارمن الرقادا

You have denied my eyes the sweetness of sleep;

You have denied my eyes the sweetness of sleep,

they are therefore justified in shunning slumber.

So it is fitting that they break with slumber.

وبخلتُم بخيالِ طارقٍ

وبخلتُم بخيالِ طارقٍ

لو دنا ما بِتُّ أشكوه البعادا

لو دنا ما بِتُّ أشكوه البعادا

You even withheld the phantom of a nighttime visitor—

And you have begrudged a phantom visiting by night;

had it drawn near, I would not have spent the night lamenting its distance.

Had it drawn near, I would not have spent the night complaining to it of separation.

فابخلوا ما شِئْتُم أن تَبْخَلوا

فابخلوا ما شِئْتُم أن تَبْخَلوا

إنَّ طرفي كانَ بالدمع جوادا

إنَّ طرفي كانَ بالدمع جوادا

Be as withholding as you please;

So be as miserly as you wish:

my eyes have always been lavish with tears.

My eye has ever been generous with tears.

أهلَ وُدّي لِمَ لا ترعَوْن لي

أهلَ وُدّي لِمَ لا ترعَوْن لي

ذِمَّةَ الوُدِّ وأرعاكم ودادا

ذِمَّةَ الوُدِّ وأرعاكم ودادا

O those I love, why do you not honor for me

O those I love, why do you not honor for me

the covenant of love, when I faithfully honor you with affection?

The covenant of affection, while I tend you with love?

أنْفَدَ الصَّبُّ عليكم صَبْرَه

أنْفَدَ الصَّبُّ عليكم صَبْرَه

وهو لا يخشى على الدَّمع نفادا

وهو لا يخشى على الدَّمع نفادا

For your sake, the lover has exhausted his patience,

The lovelorn one has exhausted his patience over you,

though he does not fear that his tears will ever run dry.

Yet he fears no exhaustion of tears.

وعلى ما أنا فيه من جوًى

وعلى ما أنا فيه من جوًى

ما أظنُّ الوَجْدَ يبقى لي فؤادا

ما أظنُّ الوَجْدَ يبقى لي فؤادا

With all the anguish I endure,

And despite the heartache I endure,

I doubt that passion will leave me any heart at all.

I do not think passion will leave me a heart.

فسقى عهد الهوى من مربع

فسقى عهد الهوى من مربع

بتُّ أسقيه من القطر العهادا

بتُّ أسقيه من القطر العهادا

May the rain water love’s remembered age at a dwelling

So may the dwelling of love's bygone days be watered,

that I spent the night watering with the rain of my ever-returning tears.

Which I spent the night watering with shower after shower.

أيُّ ربع وَقَفَ الركبُ به

أيُّ ربع وَقَفَ الركبُ به

ذاكراً بالربع سلمى وسعادا

ذاكراً بالربع سلمى وسعادا

At what campsite did the caravan halt,

What an abode the caravan halted at,

remembering there Salma and Su‘ad?

Remembering there Salma and Su'ad,

وبكى أرْسُمَ رسمٍ دارسٍ

وبكى أرْسُمَ رسمٍ دارسٍ

أحْسَنَ القطرُ بكاها وأجادا

أحْسَنَ القطرُ بكاها وأجادا

It wept over the traces of a vanished dwelling—

And wept over the traces of an effaced dwelling,

how beautifully and abundantly the rain wept over them!

Over which the rain wept so beautifully and well!

يَقِفُ المغرمُ فيها وقفةً

يَقِفُ المغرمُ فيها وقفةً

يخضل السَّيف عليها والنجادا

يخضل السَّيف عليها والنجادا

There the enamored man pauses awhile,

The enamored one takes his stand there,

drenching both sword-belt and baldric with tears.

Drenching his sword and baldric over it.

ما حَضَ النُّصحَ به مجتهداً

ما حَضَ النُّصحَ به مجتهداً

أخطأ الرأي به والاجتهادا

أخطأ الرأي به والاجتهادا

No earnest counselor ever urged him concerning it

Whoever earnestly presses counsel upon him

without erring in judgment and endeavor alike.

Errs in judgment and endeavor concerning him.

ذاكراً في الربع أيام الهوى

ذاكراً في الربع أيام الهوى

من لأيامك فيها أن تعادا

من لأيامك فيها أن تعادا

Remembering at the campsite the days of love—

Remembering love's days in the dwelling—

who can bring back your days there?

Who can bring your days there back?

أينَ أسرابك ما إن سَنَحَتْ

أينَ أسرابك ما إن سَنَحَتْ

أعْيَتْ القانِصَ إلاَّ أن يُصادا

أعْيَتْ القانِصَ إلاَّ أن يُصادا

Where are your flocks of gazelles? Whenever they appeared,

Where are your herds, which, whenever they appeared,

they baffled the hunter—unless it was he who became their prey.

Baffled the hunter, unless he himself was caught?

وإذا ما نَظَرَتْ أو خَطَرَتْ

وإذا ما نَظَرَتْ أو خَطَرَتْ

عَرَّفَتْك البيضَ والسُّمْر الصعادا

عَرَّفَتْك البيضَ والسُّمْر الصعادا

Whenever they looked or swayed past,

And whenever they gazed or moved with grace,

they taught you what white blades and tall brown spears are.

They showed you white blades and straight, dusky spears.

ولكَمْ من طُرَّةٍ في غُرَّةٍ

ولكَمْ من طُرَّةٍ في غُرَّةٍ

خلع الليلُ على الصُّبحِ السوادا

خلع الليلُ على الصُّبحِ السوادا

How many a dark forelock upon a radiant brow—

And how many a forelock upon a radiant brow—

as though night had cast its blackness over dawn—

Night draped its blackness over dawn!

وقَوامٍ يَرقُصُ البانُ له

وقَوامٍ يَرقُصُ البانُ له

وتَثَنَّى مُعْجَباً فيه ومادا

وتَثَنَّى مُعْجَباً فيه ومادا

and how many a figure for which the willow dances,

And many a figure for which the ban-tree danced,

then bends and sways, admiring that form!

Bending in admiration of it and swaying.

آه من فاتكةٍ ألحاظُهُ

آه من فاتكةٍ ألحاظُهُ

فتكةَ السَّهمِ إذا أصمى الفؤادا

فتكةَ السَّهمِ إذا أصمى الفؤادا

Ah, for a deadly beauty whose glances strike

Ah, for one whose glances deal death,

like an arrow that pierces the heart!

Like an arrow's killing stroke when it strikes the heart dead!

لا تؤاخِذْ بدمي ناظِرَهُ

لا تؤاخِذْ بدمي ناظِرَهُ

وقَتيلُ الحبّ يأبى أن يفادى

وقَتيلُ الحبّ يأبى أن يفادى

Do not hold his gaze accountable for my blood;

Do not hold his eye accountable for my blood;

love’s slain one refuses to be ransomed.

One slain by love refuses to be ransomed.

قد بَلَوْتُ الدهر وَصلاً وقلًى

قد بَلَوْتُ الدهر وَصلاً وقلًى

وَوَرَدْتُ الحبَّ غمراً وثمادا

وَوَرَدْتُ الحبَّ غمراً وثمادا

I have tested time in union and estrangement,

I have tried time in union and aversion,

and entered love at both its flood and its scantest pool.

And come to love's waters, abundant and scant.

فتمنَّيْتُ مع الوصل القلى

فتمنَّيْتُ مع الوصل القلى

وتخيَّرْتُ على القرب البعادا

وتخيَّرْتُ على القرب البعادا

In union I came to wish for estrangement,

So amid union I wished for aversion,

and chose distance over nearness.

And chose distance over closeness.

عَرف العالمَ من خالَطَهم

عَرف العالمَ من خالَطَهم

واستفاد العلمَ فيهم وأفادا

واستفاد العلمَ فيهم وأفادا

Whoever mingles with people comes to know the world,

He knows mankind who has mingled with them,

gaining knowledge among them and imparting it.

Gaining knowledge among them and imparting it.

وإذا ما اتقد النَّاسَ امرؤٌ

وإذا ما اتقد النَّاسَ امرؤٌ

زهد النَّاسَ وملَّ الانتقادا

زهد النَّاسَ وملَّ الانتقادا

When a man has tested people thoroughly,

And when a man [scrutinizes] people,

he renounces them and tires of finding fault.

He shuns them and tires of scrutiny.

قل لمن ظنَّ علياً راجياً

قل لمن ظنَّ علياً راجياً

أن يبارى في المعالي أو يحادى

أن يبارى في المعالي أو يحادى

Tell whoever hopes that Ali might

Tell whoever thought, in hope, that Ali

be rivaled in lofty deeds or matched in pace:

Could be rivaled in lofty deeds or matched:

وإذا ما قَدَحَتْ أيديهُمُ

وإذا ما قَدَحَتْ أيديهُمُ

بزنادٍ كانَ أوراهم زنادا

بزنادٍ كانَ أوراهم زنادا

whenever their hands strike sparks

And whenever their hands struck sparks

from a firesteel, his steel yields the brightest flame.

With a fire-steel, his gave the brightest spark.

بَعُدَ النجمُ على طالبه

بَعُدَ النجمُ على طالبه

ومن المعجز يوماً أن يرادا

ومن المعجز يوماً أن يرادا

The star is far beyond its seeker,

The star is far beyond its seeker,

and it is impossible even to aspire to him.

And aspiring to it, even once, is beyond one's power.

رفعةٌ قائمةٌ في ذاتِه

رفعةٌ قائمةٌ في ذاتِه

أطِرافاً يبتغيها أم تلادا

أطِرافاً يبتغيها أم تلادا

An eminence inherent in his very being—

An eminence abiding in his very being—

does he seek it newly won, or inherited from of old?

Does he seek it as new gain or ancestral inheritance?

قمرُ النادي إذا نادَيته

قمرُ النادي إذا نادَيته

حبَّذا النادي مجيباً والمنادى

حبَّذا النادي مجيباً والمنادى

The moon of the assembly: when you call to him—

The moon of the assembly, when you call him—

how excellent the company, both answerer and one addressed!

How splendid the answering assembly and the one called!

لِمُلِمٍ تَتَرجَّى نَقْصَه

لِمُلِمٍ تَتَرجَّى نَقْصَه

ونوالٍ تبتَغي منه ازديادا

ونوالٍ تبتَغي منه ازديادا

In calamity, you hope that he will lessen it;

For an affliction whose lessening you hope for,

from his bounty, you seek only further increase.

And bounty from which you seek increase.

أبحُر الجود وكلٌّ منهمُ

أبحُر الجود وكلٌّ منهمُ

ربَّما أربى على البحر وزادا

ربَّما أربى على البحر وزادا

They are oceans of generosity, and every one of them

Seas of generosity, and each one of them

may surpass the sea and overflow beyond it.

May well exceed the sea and surpass it.

جاذَبوا العَلياءَ فانقادت لهم

جاذَبوا العَلياءَ فانقادت لهم

يوم قادوها من الخيل جيادا

يوم قادوها من الخيل جيادا

They contended with Glory, and she yielded to them

They contended for the heights, which yielded to them

the day they led her like a noble mare from among the horses.

When they led noble steeds from among the horses.

ولئن لانوا قلوباً خَشَعَتْ

ولئن لانوا قلوباً خَشَعَتْ

فلقد كانوا على الكفر شدادا

فلقد كانوا على الكفر شدادا

Though they were gentle, with hearts humbled in devotion,

And though they were gentle, with humbled hearts,

they were unyielding against unbelief.

They were stern indeed against unbelief.

أعْرَضوا عن عَرض الدنيا وما

أعْرَضوا عن عَرض الدنيا وما

زُوِّدوا غيرَ التقى في الله زادا

زُوِّدوا غيرَ التقى في الله زادا

They turned away from the fleeting goods of this world, and

They turned away from worldly goods, and

were provisioned with no viaticum but piety for God’s sake.

Were given no provision but piety toward God.

سادَةَ الدّنيا وأعلام الهدى

سادَةَ الدّنيا وأعلام الهدى

أكرمَ الخلق على الله عبادا

أكرمَ الخلق على الله عبادا

Lords of the world and beacons of guidance,

Lords of the world and banners of guidance,

the noblest of creation as servants before God.

The noblest of all creatures as servants in God's sight.

حَسْبُ آل البيت من مفتخر

حَسْبُ آل البيت من مفتخر

ولَبيتِ المجد مذ أضحى عمادا

ولَبيتِ المجد مذ أضحى عمادا

The Household’s distinction is glory enough,

He suffices as a source of pride for the Household,

and enough for the house of Glory that he became its pillar.

And for the house of glory, since he became its pillar:

سيْد في الغرّ من أبنائهم

سيْد في الغرّ من أبنائهم

لمباني مجدهم شاد وسادا

لمباني مجدهم شاد وسادا

A lord among their illustrious sons,

A lord among their illustrious sons,

who raised the structures of their glory and rose supreme.

Who raised their glory's edifices and became preeminent.

منعمٌ أمرح في أنعامه

منعمٌ أمرح في أنعامه

وإذا ما زدته بالشكر زادا

وإذا ما زدته بالشكر زادا

A benefactor, exultant in his benefactions,

A benefactor in whose favors I revel,

and whenever you increase your thanks, he increases his gifts.

And whenever I offer him more thanks, he gives more.

يا أبا سلمان يا ربَّ النَّدى

يا أبا سلمان يا ربَّ النَّدى

والأيادي البيض ما أعطى وجادا

والأيادي البيض ما أعطى وجادا

O Abu Salman, lord of munificence

O Abu Salman, O lord of generosity

and shining acts of kindness—how freely he gives!

And of white-handed favors—how much he has given and lavished!

قُدْتَها مستصعباتٍ في العُلى

قُدْتَها مستصعباتٍ في العُلى

قد أبَتْ إلاَّ لعلياك انقيادا

قد أبَتْ إلاَّ لعلياك انقيادا

You led the most ungovernable heights of glory;

You led them, unruly, amid the heights;

they refused submission to any loftiness but yours.

They refused to yield to any but your loftiness.

رُبَّ أنْفٍ شامخٍ أرْغَمْتَه

رُبَّ أنْفٍ شامخٍ أرْغَمْتَه

فاستحالت نارهُ فيك رمادا

فاستحالت نارهُ فيك رمادا

Many a proud, uplifted nose you humbled,

Many a haughty nose you forced into the dust,

until its fire against you turned to ash.

So its fire against you turned to ashes.

قد جَنَيْتَ العزَّ غضاً يانعاً

قد جَنَيْتَ العزَّ غضاً يانعاً

ومضى يخرُط شانيك القَتادا

ومضى يخرُط شانيك القَتادا

You have harvested honor, fresh and ripe,

You have plucked honor, fresh and ripe,

while your maligner went off stripping thorns from the tragacanth.

While your foe went on stripping the qatad thorn-tree.

مَنَعَ الصدقُ أكاذيب العدى

مَنَعَ الصدقُ أكاذيب العدى

فإذا خاضوا بها خاضوا عنادا

فإذا خاضوا بها خاضوا عنادا

Truth has barred the enemy’s lies;

Truth has thwarted the enemies' lies,

when they spread them, they do so only from obstinacy.

So when they wade into them, they do so out of obstinacy.

عَقَدَ الله به ألْسِنَةً

عَقَدَ الله به ألْسِنَةً

كانت الأمس على الزور حدادا

كانت الأمس على الزور حدادا

Through it, God has tied tongues

Through it God tied tongues

that only yesterday were sharp in uttering falsehood.

That yesterday were sharp in falsehood.

لستُ أستوفي ثنائي فيكم

لستُ أستوفي ثنائي فيكم

ولو انِّي أجعل البحر مدادا

ولو انِّي أجعل البحر مدادا

I cannot render all the praise I owe you,

I cannot fully render my praise of you,

even if I were to make the sea my ink.

Even if I were to make the sea my ink.

أنا ممن يرتجي إحسانكم

أنا ممن يرتجي إحسانكم

أبَدَ الدهر وإن مات وبادا

أبَدَ الدهر وإن مات وبادا

I am one who hopes for your kindness

I am one who hopes for your kindness

forever, even when he has died and perished.

For all time, even should I die and perish.

قد مَلأتُ الأرض فيكم مِدَحاً

قد مَلأتُ الأرض فيكم مِدَحاً

ذَهَبَتْ في الأرض تستقري البلادا

ذَهَبَتْ في الأرض تستقري البلادا

I have filled the earth with poems praising you,

I have filled the earth with poems in your praise,

and they have traveled through it, surveying every land.

Which have traveled the earth, visiting land after land.

كلَّما أنْشَدَها مُنْشِدُها

كلَّما أنْشَدَها مُنْشِدُها

أطربَ الإنسانَ فيها والجمادا

أطربَ الإنسانَ فيها والجمادا

Whenever a reciter declaims them,

Whenever their reciter recites them,

they enrapture both humankind and lifeless stone.

He delights humanity and inanimate things with them.

ولقد ألتَذُّ في مدحي لكم

ولقد ألتَذُّ في مدحي لكم

في الأحاديث وإن كانَ معادا

في الأحاديث وإن كانَ معادا

I truly delight in praising you

And indeed I delight in praising you

in conversation, even when my praise is repeated.

In conversation, even when it is repeated.

وإذا أمْلَقْتُ أيْقَنْتُ الغنى

وإذا أمْلَقْتُ أيْقَنْتُ الغنى

ثقةً بالجود منكم واعتمادا

ثقةً بالجود منكم واعتمادا

And whenever I fall into poverty, I feel certain of wealth,

And when I fall into poverty, I am certain of wealth,

trusting and relying upon your generosity.

Trusting in your generosity and relying upon it.