تَذكَّرَ عَهداً بالحمى قد تَقَدَّما

تَذكَّرَ عَهداً بالحمى قد تَقَدَّما

فأجرى عليه الدَّمعَ فرداً وتوأَما

فأجرى عليه الدَّمعَ فرداً وتوأَما

He remembered a time at the ḥimā that had long passed away,

He recalled a time in the protected pasture, long past;

And shed tears over it, singly and paired.

And shed tears over it, singly and in pairs.

ولا سيَّما إذ شاهد الربع لم يدع

ولا سيَّما إذ شاهد الربع لم يدع

له أهْلُه إلاَّ تِلالاً وأرسما

له أهْلُه إلاَّ تِلالاً وأرسما

Especially when he saw the deserted abode, whose people had left

Especially when he saw the dwelling, where nothing had been left

Nothing for it but hillocks and effaced traces—

For him by its people but mounds and traces,

وآثار ما أبقى الخليط بعهده

وآثار ما أبقى الخليط بعهده

ونُؤياً كمعْوَجِّ السّار مهدَّما

ونُؤياً كمعْوَجِّ السّار مهدَّما

And remnants of what the departing company had left behind,

And vestiges of what the companions left in their time there,

And a ruined trench, crooked in its course.

And a ruined rain-trench, like bent sār wood.

منازل كانت للبدور منازلاً

منازل كانت للبدور منازلاً

وإنْ شئتَ قل كانتْ محاريب للدمى

وإنْ شئتَ قل كانتْ محاريب للدمى

Dwellings that had once been dwellings for full moons;

Dwellings that once were homes to full moons,

Or, if you wish, say they were sanctuaries for sacred images.

And if you wish, say they were shrines for statues.

لهَوْنا بها والعيش إذ ذاك ناعم

لهَوْنا بها والعيش إذ ذاك ناعم

فلله عيشٌ ما أَلَذُّ وأنعما

فلله عيشٌ ما أَلَذُّ وأنعما

We sported there when life was soft and pleasant—

We made merry there, while life was then gentle;

By God, how sweet and blissful was that life!

God be praised for that life—how sweet and blissful!

زمان مضى في طاعة الحبّ وانقضى

زمان مضى في طاعة الحبّ وانقضى

وَصَلْنا به اللّذّات حتَّى تصرَّما

وَصَلْنا به اللّذّات حتَّى تصرَّما

A time that passed in obedience to love, then ended;

A time passed in obedience to love, and came to an end;

Through it we reached delights, until it was cut short.

We joined pleasures together in it, until it was cut short.

خليليَّ عُوجا بي على الدَّار إنَّني

خليليَّ عُوجا بي على الدَّار إنَّني

أَشَدُّ بلاءاً بالمنازل منكما

أَشَدُّ بلاءاً بالمنازل منكما

My two companions, turn with me toward the dwelling, for I

My two friends, turn aside with me toward the dwelling, for I am

Am more deeply afflicted by abandoned homes than either of you.

More sorely afflicted by these dwellings than you both.

خليليَّ هذا الحبّ ما تعرفانه

خليليَّ هذا الحبّ ما تعرفانه

خليليَّ لو شاهدْتُما لعرفتما

خليليَّ لو شاهدْتُما لعرفتما

My two companions, this is the love that you both know;

My two friends, this love is something you do not know;

My two companions, had you witnessed what I have, you would understand.

My two friends, had you witnessed it, you would have known.

خليليَّ رِفقاً بي فقد ضرَّني الهوى

خليليَّ رِفقاً بي فقد ضرَّني الهوى

أَلَمْ تَرَياني مُوجَعَ القلب مؤلما

أَلَمْ تَرَياني مُوجَعَ القلب مؤلما

My two companions, be gentle with me, for passion has injured me;

My two friends, be gentle with me: passion has harmed me.

Do you not see me heartsick and in pain?

Do you not see me, heart-stricken and in pain?

ونمَّتْ على وَجدي دموعٌ أَرقتها

ونمَّتْ على وَجدي دموعٌ أَرقتها

ولم يُبْقِ هذا الدَّمع سرًّا مكتما

ولم يُبْقِ هذا الدَّمع سرًّا مكتما

The tears I poured betrayed my rapture,

And tears I shed betrayed my longing,

And these tears left no secret concealed.

And this weeping left no secret concealed.

فلا تمنعاني وقفةً أَنا سائل

فلا تمنعاني وقفةً أَنا سائل

بها الدَّارَ عن حيٍّ نأى أين يمَّما

بها الدَّارَ عن حيٍّ نأى أين يمَّما

Do not deny me a pause, while I inquire

So do not deny me a pause; I shall ask

Of the dwelling about a people gone far away—where did they turn?

The dwelling then about a tribe gone far away: where did they head?

وَقَفنا عليها يا هذيم وكلّنا

وَقَفنا عليها يا هذيم وكلّنا

حريصٌ على الأَطلال أنْ تتكلَّما

حريصٌ على الأَطلال أنْ تتكلَّما

We stood there, Hadhīm, all of us

We stood beside it, O Hudhaym, and all of us

Eager for the ruins to speak.

Were eager for the ruins to speak.

نعالج فيها لوعةً بحشاشةٍ

نعالج فيها لوعةً بحشاشةٍ

على الرَّسم منَّا نمزج الدَّمع بالدِما

على الرَّسم منَّا نمزج الدَّمع بالدِما

There we struggled with a burning grief in our very souls;

There we wrestle with anguish, with life's last remnant;

At the traces we mingled tears with blood.

Over the traces, we mingle our tears with blood.

فلم نرتحل يوماً لنسقي معاهداً

فلم نرتحل يوماً لنسقي معاهداً

من الدَّار في سلع وفي الدَّار من ظما

من الدَّار في سلع وفي الدَّار من ظما

Not once did we depart before giving the familiar landmarks drink—

So we never departed, that we might water the old haunts

Those of the dwelling at Salʿ and those within the abode—

Of the dwelling in Salʿ, where there was thirst,

بعبرة مشتاق إذا لم تجد لها

بعبرة مشتاق إذا لم تجد لها

من الدَّمع ما يروي الدّيار بكتْ دما

من الدَّمع ما يروي الدّيار بكتْ دما

With the tears of a lover who, when tears could no longer suffice,

With a longing lover's weeping: if it could not find

Made the dwellings weep blood.

Tears enough to water the dwellings, it wept blood.

أَحِبَّاءَنا شطَّتْ بهم شطط النوى

أَحِبَّاءَنا شطَّتْ بهم شطط النوى

فأَتْبَعْتُهمْ منِّي فؤاداً متيَّما

فأَتْبَعْتُهمْ منِّي فؤاداً متيَّما

Our loved ones—the violence of distance carried them far away,

Our beloved ones—the far reaches of separation carried them away,

And I sent after them a heart enthralled.

And I sent after them a heart of mine enslaved by love.

هَبُوا لعيوني أنْ يَحِلَّ بها الكرى

هَبُوا لعيوني أنْ يَحِلَّ بها الكرى

وإنْ كانَ نوم العاشقين محرَّما

وإنْ كانَ نوم العاشقين محرَّما

Grant my eyes that slumber may alight within them,

Grant my eyes that sleep may settle in them,

Though sleep be forbidden to lovers.

Though lovers' sleep is forbidden.

أَلا رُبَّ طَيْفاً زارَ ممَّن أُحِبُّه

أَلا رُبَّ طَيْفاً زارَ ممَّن أُحِبُّه

وما زارَ إلاَّ من سُليمى وسلَّما

وما زارَ إلاَّ من سُليمى وسلَّما

How often a phantom visited from among those I love—

Ah, many a dream-vision visited from one I love,

And it came from none but Sulaymā and Salmā.

And it came only from Sulayma, and offered greetings.

سَرى من زَرود مُنعِماً بوصاله

سَرى من زَرود مُنعِماً بوصاله

وما كانَ إلاَّ في الحقيقة منعما

وما كانَ إلاَّ في الحقيقة منعما

It journeyed by night from Zarūd, graciously granting union,

It traveled by night from Zarud, bestowing the favor of reunion,

And in truth its coming was pure grace.

And truly it was nothing but a benefactor.

فأرَّقني واللَّيلُ يَسْحَبُ ذيلَه

فأرَّقني واللَّيلُ يَسْحَبُ ذيلَه

وفارق صبًّا لا يزال متيَّما

وفارق صبًّا لا يزال متيَّما

It kept me wakeful while night dragged its train,

It kept me awake while night dragged its train,

Then left a lover who never ceased to be enthralled.

And left a lover still enslaved by love.

وبرقٍ كنار الشَّوق توقد بالحشا

وبرقٍ كنار الشَّوق توقد بالحشا

تلهَّبَ في جنح الدُّجى وتضرَّما

تلهَّبَ في جنح الدُّجى وتضرَّما

And lightning, like the fire of longing, kindled in my breast,

And lightning, like longing's fire kindled in the breast,

Blazed in the heart of darkness and burned fiercely.

Blazed under darkness's wing and flared up.

أُساهِرُ فيه كلّ نجمٍ يمرُّ بي

أُساهِرُ فيه كلّ نجمٍ يمرُّ بي

إلى أعيُنٍ باتت عن الصَّبِّ نُوَّما

إلى أعيُنٍ باتت عن الصَّبِّ نُوَّما

Through it I kept vigil with every star that passed me,

In it I keep vigil with every star that passes me,

Looking toward eyes that slept, heedless of the lover.

Toward eyes that spent the night asleep, heedless of the lover.

سقى الله أيَّاماً خَلَوْنَ حوالياً

سقى الله أيَّاماً خَلَوْنَ حوالياً

على الجزع بالجرعاء من أيمَنِ الحمى

على الجزع بالجرعاء من أيمَنِ الحمى

May God rain blessings upon bygone days

May God water the days that passed around me,

At the winding sands of al-Jarʿāʾ, to the right of the ḥimā—

At the valley-bend in al-Jarʿaʾ, to the right of the protected pasture,

غمائم تسقي الظَّامئين بدرّها

غمائم تسقي الظَّامئين بدرّها

رواء إذا ما ساقها الرَّعد أرزما

رواء إذا ما ساقها الرَّعد أرزما

With clouds that give the thirsty their pearly rain,

With clouds that give the thirsty drink from their copious flow,

A full draught whenever thunder drives them rumbling onward—

Quenching them, as thunder drives the clouds on with a rumble.

كراحة عبد القادر القَرم لم تزلْ

كراحة عبد القادر القَرم لم تزلْ

تهامي على العافين فضلاً وأنعما

تهامي على العافين فضلاً وأنعما

Like the hand of ʿAbd al-Qādir, the noble chief, which never ceased

Like the palm of Abd al-Qadir, the noble chief, which never ceases

To pour bounty and favors upon those who sought them.

To rain bounty and blessings upon those seeking help.

إذا جئتُه مسترفِداً رِفْدَ فضله

إذا جئتُه مسترفِداً رِفْدَ فضله

غَدَوْتُ إذَنْ في ماله متحكما

غَدَوْتُ إذَنْ في ماله متحكما

Whenever I came to him seeking a gift from his abundance,

When I come to him seeking the gift of his bounty,

I departed free to command his wealth.

I then become a master of his wealth.

وَرَدْتُ نداه ظامئاً غير أنَّني

وَرَدْتُ نداه ظامئاً غير أنَّني

وَرَدْتُ إليه البحر والبحر قد طمى

وَرَدْتُ إليه البحر والبحر قد طمى

I approached his generosity thirsty, yet

I approached his bounty thirsty, but I

I had reached the sea—and the sea was overflowing.

Reached in him the sea, and the sea had overflowed.

ولولا جميل الصّنع منه لمَا رأَتْ

ولولا جميل الصّنع منه لمَا رأَتْ

عيوني وجه العيش إلاَّ مذمَّما

عيوني وجه العيش إلاَّ مذمَّما

Had it not been for his gracious deeds, my eyes

But for his gracious kindness, never would

Would have seen nothing in life but what is blameworthy.

My eyes have seen life's face except as something blameworthy.

من القوم يولون الجميل تَفَضُّلاً

من القوم يولون الجميل تَفَضُّلاً

ولم يحسنوا الإِحسان إلاَّ تكرّما

ولم يحسنوا الإِحسان إلاَّ تكرّما

He is of a people who confer kindness freely,

He is of those who bestow kindness out of generosity,

And practice beneficence solely from nobility.

And they do good only out of nobility.

أَطَرْتُ لديه طائِرَ اليمن أسعداً

أَطَرْتُ لديه طائِرَ اليمن أسعداً

وكنَّا أطرنا طائر النحس أشأما

وكنَّا أطرنا طائر النحس أشأما

In his presence I sent the bird of good omen aloft, most fortunate,

Before him I flew the bird of good fortune, most auspicious,

After we had driven away the bird of ill omen, most wretched.

And we had flown the bird of misfortune, most ill-omened.

ومُدَّخر الذّكر الحميد بفضله

ومُدَّخر الذّكر الحميد بفضله

ولم يدَّخر يوماً من المالِ درهما

ولم يدَّخر يوماً من المالِ درهما

He stores up noble remembrance through his bounty,

And he stores up praiseworthy remembrance through his bounty,

Yet never stored away a single dirham.

And never has he hoarded a dirham of his wealth.

رأَيتُ يساري كلَّما كانَ مُوسراً

رأَيتُ يساري كلَّما كانَ مُوسراً

ولم يرضَ إعدامي إذا كانَ معدما

ولم يرضَ إعدامي إذا كانَ معدما

I found myself prosperous whenever he possessed abundance;

I saw my own prosperity whenever he had means,

Even my poverty could be content were he himself without means.

Nor would he accept my poverty when he himself was poor.

فما يجمع الأَموالَ إلاَّ لبذلها

فما يجمع الأَموالَ إلاَّ لبذلها

ولا يطلب النعماء إلاَّ لينعما

ولا يطلب النعماء إلاَّ لينعما

He gathers wealth only to give it away,

He gathers wealth only to give it away,

And seeks blessings only that he may bestow them.

And seeks prosperity only to bestow blessings.

برغم الأَعادي نالَ همَّة نائل

برغم الأَعادي نالَ همَّة نائل

فجدَع آناف العداة وأرغما

فجدَع آناف العداة وأرغما

Despite his enemies, he attained the aspiration of a giver,

Despite his enemies, he attained a giver's ambition,

Lavishing his bounty and grinding hostile noses into the dust.

And cut off his foes' noses and rubbed them in the dust.

ولو رامَ أنْ يرقى إلى النَّجم لارتقى

ولو رامَ أنْ يرقى إلى النَّجم لارتقى

ويوشك ربّ الفضل أنْ يبلغ السَّما

ويوشك ربّ الفضل أنْ يبلغ السَّما

Were he to seek ascent to the stars, he would reach them;

Had he wished to climb to the stars, he would have climbed,

The lord of excellence may soon attain the sky.

And the lord of bounty is close to reaching the sky.

فلا غروَ أنْ يعلو وها هو قد علا

فلا غروَ أنْ يعلو وها هو قد علا

ولا بِدْعَ أنْ يسمو وها هو قد سما

ولا بِدْعَ أنْ يسمو وها هو قد سما

No wonder that he rises—for behold, he has risen;

No wonder he rises—behold, he has risen;

No marvel that he soars—for behold, he has soared.

No marvel he soars—behold, he has soared.

عَزائِمُه كالمَشْرِفيَّة والظّبا

عَزائِمُه كالمَشْرِفيَّة والظّبا

وآراؤه ما زِلْنَ بالخطب أنْجُما

وآراؤه ما زِلْنَ بالخطب أنْجُما

His resolutions are keen-edged swords and blades,

His resolves are like Mashrifi swords and blade-edges,

And amid calamities his judgment shines like stars.

And his counsels have ever been stars in adversity.

يُصيبُ بها الأَغراضَ ممَّا يرومه

يُصيبُ بها الأَغراضَ ممَّا يرومه

ولا يُخطئ المرمى البعيدَ إذا رمى

ولا يُخطئ المرمى البعيدَ إذا رمى

With them he strikes every object he pursues,

With them he hits the targets of what he seeks,

Never missing the distant mark when he takes aim.

And never misses the distant mark when he shoots.

وكم من خميسٍ قد رماه عرمرم

وكم من خميسٍ قد رماه عرمرم

فَفَرَّقَ بالرَّأْي الخميسَ العرمرما

فَفَرَّقَ بالرَّأْي الخميسَ العرمرما

How many a vast, tumultuous army has confronted him,

And many a vast army has attacked him;

Only for his judgment to scatter that tumultuous host!

With strategy he scattered the vast army.

فلو أبْرَزتْ آراؤه غسقَ الدُّجى

فلو أبْرَزتْ آراؤه غسقَ الدُّجى

لحثَّ الدُّجى عن أشقر الصُّبح أدهما

لحثَّ الدُّجى عن أشقر الصُّبح أدهما

Were his lucid wisdom displayed in the darkness of night,

Were his counsels to reveal night's deepest gloom,

It would strip the blackness from the tawny dawn.

He would spur night's black horse away from dawn's chestnut steed.

وأثْقَلَ بالأَيدي لساني وعاتقي

وأثْقَلَ بالأَيدي لساني وعاتقي

ألَم تَرَني لا أستطيعُ التّكلّما

ألَم تَرَني لا أستطيعُ التّكلّما

His gifts have weighed down my tongue and shoulders;

And with favors he has weighed down my tongue and shoulder;

Do you not see that I am unable to speak?

Do you not see that I cannot speak?

وإنِّي وإنْ لم أقضِ للشُّكر واجباً

وإنِّي وإنْ لم أقضِ للشُّكر واجباً

بمستغرم أصبَحْتُ بالمجد مغرما

بمستغرم أصبَحْتُ بالمجد مغرما

And though I have not discharged the debt of gratitude,

And though I have not discharged the duty of thanks,

Overwhelmed by bounty, I have become enamored of glory.

Through one who puts me in his debt, I have become enamored of glory.

سَكتُّ وأنطقتُ اليراعَ لشكره

سَكتُّ وأنطقتُ اليراعَ لشكره

فأَعْرَبَ عَّما في ضميري وترجما

فأَعْرَبَ عَّما في ضميري وترجما

I fell silent and made the reed pen speak his praise;

I fell silent and made the reed pen speak my thanks to him,

It clearly expressed and interpreted all that lay within me.

And it voiced what lay within my heart and translated it.

جرى وكذا لا زالَ يجري بمدحه

جرى وكذا لا زالَ يجري بمدحه

فغَرَّدَ في مدحي له وترنَّما

فغَرَّدَ في مدحي له وترنَّما

It flowed—and may it never cease flowing—in celebration of him,

It ran—and so may it ever run—in his praise,

Warbling in my praise of him and singing melodiously.

Then sang in my praise of him and trilled.

وأولى الورى بالشّكر من كانَ محسناً

وأولى الورى بالشّكر من كانَ محسناً

وأولى الورى بالحمْد من كانَ منعما

وأولى الورى بالحمْد من كانَ منعما

The person most deserving of thanks is one who does good,

Most deserving of people's thanks is the benefactor,

And the person most deserving of praise is one who grants favors.

And most deserving of people's praise is the giver of blessings.

لك الله مطبوع على الجودِ والنَّدى

لك الله مطبوع على الجودِ والنَّدى

فلو رامَ إقداماً على البخل أحجما

فلو رامَ إقداماً على البخل أحجما

God preserve you: you are fashioned for liberality and generosity;

God be with you, born to generosity and bounty;

Were you to attempt stinginess, you would recoil.

If he sought to advance toward stinginess, he would retreat.

شكرتُك شُكر الرَّوض باكره الحيا

شكرتُك شُكر الرَّوض باكره الحيا

سحاباً عليه انهلَّ بالجود أو همى

سحاباً عليه انهلَّ بالجود أو همى

I thanked you as the meadow thanks the rain that visits at dawn,

I thanked you as the meadow, visited early by rain, thanks

A cloud that pours or gently showers its bounty upon it.

A cloud that showers bounty upon it or pours down rain.

لك القلم العالي على البيض والقنا

لك القلم العالي على البيض والقنا

جرى فجرى رزق العباد مقسَّما

جرى فجرى رزق العباد مقسَّما

Yours is the lofty pen, surpassing swords and spears;

Yours is the pen exalted above bright swords and spears;

It flowed, and thereby the people’s livelihoods flowed out apportioned.

It ran, and people's sustenance flowed in allotted shares.

ففي القلم الحادي وصاحبه النهى

ففي القلم الحادي وصاحبه النهى

عَلَوْتْ به حتَّى ظننَّاه سُلَّما

عَلَوْتْ به حتَّى ظننَّاه سُلَّما

Within the guiding pen—and in its master—lies discernment;

For the pen is a guide, and reason its companion;

Through it you rose until we made it a ladder to the heights.

You rose through it until we thought it a ladder.

وسَيَّرْتَ ذكر الحمْد في كلّ منزلٍ

وسَيَّرْتَ ذكر الحمْد في كلّ منزلٍ

فأنْجَدَ في شرق البلاد وأتْهَما

فأنْجَدَ في شرق البلاد وأتْهَما

You sent the memory of your praise through every dwelling:

You sent praise's remembrance abroad to every dwelling,

It reached the eastern highlands and the western lowlands.

It went up to Najd in the eastern lands, and down to Tihamah.

أضاءَ بك الأَيَّام لي وتَبَلَّجَتْ

أضاءَ بك الأَيَّام لي وتَبَلَّجَتْ

وأَشرقَ فجرٌ بعد ما كانَ مظلما

وأَشرقَ فجرٌ بعد ما كانَ مظلما

Through you my days grew radiant and bright,

Through you the days shone for me and grew radiant,

And my dawn shone after it had been dark.

And dawn gleamed after it had been dark.

رَفعتَ مقامي مرغماً أنْفَ حاسدي

رَفعتَ مقامي مرغماً أنْفَ حاسدي

فأصبحتُ إذ ذاك العزيز المكرَّما

فأصبحتُ إذ ذاك العزيز المكرَّما

You raised my station, rubbing my envier’s nose in dust,

You raised my station, rubbing my envier's nose in the dust,

So that I became mighty and honored.

And then I became respected and honored.

صفا لي منك الجود عذبٌ غديُرُه

صفا لي منك الجود عذبٌ غديُرُه

فجرّعت أعدائي من الغيظ علقما

فجرّعت أعدائي من الغيظ علقما

From you generosity ran pure, its stream sweet to me,

Your bounty ran clear for me, sweet was its pool,

While I made my enemies drink the bitterest colocynth.

And you made my enemies swallow rage's bitter colocynth.

أَطَلْتَ يدي في كلّ أمرٍ طَلَبْتُه

أَطَلْتَ يدي في كلّ أمرٍ طَلَبْتُه

وغادَرْتَ شاني عبد نعماك أجذما

وغادَرْتَ شاني عبد نعماك أجذما

You lengthened my reach in every matter I pursued,

You lengthened my reach in every matter I sought,

And left my detractor, enslaved by your favors, handless.

And left my hater, a slave to your favors, handless.

وبلَّغْتَني أقصى الرَّجاء فلم أقلْ

وبلَّغْتَني أقصى الرَّجاء فلم أقلْ

عسى أبلغُ القصدَ القصيّ وربَّما

عسى أبلغُ القصدَ القصيّ وربَّما

You brought me to the furthest limit of hope, so I no longer said,

You brought me to hope's furthest end, so I did not say,

“Perhaps I may someday attain even the nearest goal.”

‘Perhaps I shall reach the far-off goal,’ and ‘maybe.’

وعَظَّمتَني في نفس كلّ معاند

وعَظَّمتَني في نفس كلّ معاند

فلا زلْتَ في نفس المعالي مُعَظَّما

فلا زلْتَ في نفس المعالي مُعَظَّما

You magnified me in the eyes of every stubborn adversary;

You made me great in the mind of every adversary;

May you remain forever magnified in the very soul of lofty honor.

So may you ever be exalted in the soul of high glory.