رآها قد أَضرَّ بها الكلال

رآها قد أَضرَّ بها الكلال

وقد ساءَت لها يا سعد حال

وقد ساءَت لها يا سعد حال

He saw that exhaustion had harmed her,

She saw it had weakened her,

and her condition had worsened, O Saʿd.

And her condition had worsened, O Saad!

فذكّرها شميمَ عَرارِ نجدٍ

فذكّرها شميمَ عَرارِ نجدٍ

ولا سيَّما إذا هبَّتْ شمال

ولا سيَّما إذا هبَّتْ شمال

So he reminded her of the scent of Najd's ʿarar blossoms,

So the gentle breeze of Najd reminded her,

especially when a north wind blew.

Especially when the north wind blew,

فحرّكها وأَينَ لها بنجد

فحرّكها وأَينَ لها بنجد

لهيبُ الشَّوق والدَّمع المذالُ

لهيبُ الشَّوق والدَّمع المذالُ

So she was stirred—yet how could she reach Najd?—

It stirred her, and where was Najd for her?

by the blaze of longing and tears shed freely.

The fervor of longing and the abased tear,

وقد كانت كأَنَّ بها عقالاً

وقد كانت كأَنَّ بها عقالاً

فأَطْلَقَها وليس بها عقالُ

فأَطْلَقَها وليس بها عقالُ

She had been as though held by a tether;

She used to be as if sane,

it freed her, though no tether bound her.

Then it unleashed her while she had no restraint,

ولولا النَّازلون هضاب نجدٍ

ولولا النَّازلون هضاب نجدٍ

تحاماها الضَّنى والاختلال

تحاماها الضَّنى والاختلال

Were it not for those dwelling on Najd's hills,

Were it not for the descending the plateaus of Najd,

wasting sickness and infirmity would have shunned her.

Grief and turmoil would have overwhelmed her,

تخال الدَّمع سابقها عَلَيْهم

تخال الدَّمع سابقها عَلَيْهم

فكيفَ تسابق المزنَ الرؤال

فكيفَ تسابق المزنَ الرؤال

You would think her tears outstrip her toward them;

She imagined the preceding tear racing them,

how, then, can ostrich chicks race the rainclouds?

So how can the slender female oryx keep pace with the stallion?

يحمِّلها الهوى عبئاً ثقيلاً

يحمِّلها الهوى عبئاً ثقيلاً

وللأَشجان أَعباءٌ ثقال

وللأَشجان أَعباءٌ ثقال

Love loads her with a heavy burden,

Ardent is her passion, and union is near,

and sorrows have heavy burdens.

So how must she be when union is denied?

ويقذفها النوى في كلّ فجٍّ

ويقذفها النوى في كلّ فجٍّ

لها فيه انْسياب وانثيال

لها فيه انْسياب وانثيال

Separation casts her into every mountain pass,

We recalled the days of your abode, O Sulaima,

through which she glides and surges.

And the necklace of tears, its links crumbling.

تمدُّ به فيقصرُ في خطاها

تمدُّ به فيقصرُ في خطاها

من البَيْداء أبواعٌ طوال

من البَيْداء أبواعٌ طوال

She lengthens her stride there, and within her steps shrink

Stages of passion I see but not envision,

long spans of the wilderness.

Like my eyes that cannot envision them.

تشيم البرق يومئذٍ سناه

تشيم البرق يومئذٍ سناه

كعَضْب القين أَرْهَقَه الصقال

كعَضْب القين أَرْهَقَه الصقال

She scans the lightning that day, its gleam

Its happy beginnings and congratulations,

like a smith's keen blade, burnished to the utmost.

And its outcomes are betrayal and affliction.

وما أدري أهاج النّوق منه

وما أدري أهاج النّوق منه

غرام حين أَومَضَ أَمْ خيال

غرام حين أَومَضَ أَمْ خيال

I do not know what in it stirred the she-camels:

It used to be the delight of sights until

passion when it flashed, or a phantom.

The vicissitudes of time changed its condition.

شديدُ وَجْدُها والوصلُ دانٍ

شديدُ وَجْدُها والوصلُ دانٍ

فكيف بها وقد مُنِعَ الوصال

فكيف بها وقد مُنِعَ الوصال

Her yearning is fierce while reunion is near;

I asked you, where is your livelihood in the first days?

how must she fare now that union is denied?

Scrutiny and questioning are futile.

ذكرنا عَهْدَ رَبعك يا سُلَيْمى

ذكرنا عَهْدَ رَبعك يا سُلَيْمى

وعقد الدَّمع يوهيه انحلال

وعقد الدَّمع يوهيه انحلال

We recalled the days of your dwelling, O Sulayma,

In the morning, your grove and the cresses

while the necklace of tears is weakened by unraveling.

Were covered by the white sands and tall spears.

منازل للهوى ما لي أراها

منازل للهوى ما لي أراها

كطرفي لا يلمّ بها خيال

كطرفي لا يلمّ بها خيال

Dwellings of love—why do I see them

Before this, gazelles and antelopes used to breed

like my eyes, visited by no phantom?

In your orchard from the herd adorned with beauty.

مباديها المسَرَّة والتَّهاني

مباديها المسَرَّة والتَّهاني

وغايتها التغابن والوبال

وغايتها التغابن والوبال

Their beginnings are joy and congratulations;

Radiant moons used to rise from your tents,

their end is mutual loss and woe.

With houses enveloping them in perfection.

وكانتْ بهجةَ الأَبصار حتَّى

وكانتْ بهجةَ الأَبصار حتَّى

أحالَتْها من الحدثان حال

أحالَتْها من الحدثان حال

They were a delight to the eyes, until

And every swaying palm tree praises it

a turn of time transformed them.

As its fronds and clusters praise it.

سألتك أينَ عيشُك بالأَوالي

سألتك أينَ عيشُك بالأَوالي

وما يغني التفحُّص والسُّؤال

وما يغني التفحُّص والسُّؤال

I asked you: where is the life you had of old?

Archers whose brows are harsh,

What good are scrutiny and questioning?

Pluck from the eyelids arrows for it.

غداة الشِّيح نبتُك والخزامى

غداة الشِّيح نبتُك والخزامى

حَمَتْها البيض والأسل الطوال

حَمَتْها البيض والأسل الطوال

On that morning when wormwood and lavender grew upon you,

Would that my eyes could see its radiance

guarded by bright swords and long spears.

To delight the eyes and give comfort to the heart.

وتسنَحُ في عِراصِك قبلَ هذا

وتسنَحُ في عِراصِك قبلَ هذا

من السَّرْبِ الغزالة والغزال

من السَّرْبِ الغزالة والغزال

And before this, in your open grounds would appear

The beloveds turned away, so I found my heart

from the herd, the doe-gazelle and the buck-gazelle.

Parting with them while the living depart.

وتَطْلُعُ من خيامك مشرقات

وتَطْلُعُ من خيامك مشرقات

بدورٌ من أسِرَّتها الكمالُ

بدورٌ من أسِرَّتها الكمالُ

And from your tents would rise, radiant,

Those she-camels kneeled down after

full moons, with perfection shining from their faces.

Gazelles had lightened their burden.

وكلُّ مهفهفٍ تُثني عليه

وكلُّ مهفهفٍ تُثني عليه

معاطفه ويَثْنيه دلال

معاطفه ويَثْنيه دلال

And each slender one, praised by

How much carrion they protected and hid

his supple curves and swayed by coy grace.

While my innermost being has always been humbled before it.

رماة من حواجبها قِسِيٌّ

رماة من حواجبها قِسِيٌّ

تُراشُ لها من الحَدَق النبال

تُراشُ لها من الحَدَق النبال

Archers, whose eyebrows are bows,

So they inclined to the sands, not toward us,

for which arrows are fletched from their pupils.

And we inclined to passion, wherever they inclined.

ومن لي أن ترى عيني سناها

ومن لي أن ترى عيني سناها

فتنعم أعينُ ويُراح بال

فتنعم أعينُ ويُراح بال

And who will grant that my eye may see their radiance,

I seek refuge for you from a person whose mention

so eyes delight and the mind finds rest?

Is a malady, its cure formidable.

تنافَرَتِ المها فوَجَدْتُ قلبي

تنافَرَتِ المها فوَجَدْتُ قلبي

يجدُّ به وللحيِّ ارتحال

يجدُّ به وللحيِّ ارتحال

The oryx scattered, and I found my heart

They who loved you and whom you were miserable for

driven onward, as the clan departed.

Asked of your tears what they asked.

وهاتيك الرَّكايب أَرْقَلَتْها

وهاتيك الرَّكايب أَرْقَلَتْها

ظِباءٌ قَدْ أَقلَّتها الجِمال

ظِباءٌ قَدْ أَقلَّتها الجِمال

And those riding-camels were set trotting

For the fires of passion, O camel driver,

by gazelles whom the camels bore.

Distance causes burning and inflammation for me.

وكم صانَتْ أَكِلَّتها وُجواً

وكم صانَتْ أَكِلَّتها وُجواً

عَليها مهجتي أبداً تذال

عَليها مهجتي أبداً تذال

How many faces their canopies have sheltered,

I justify hopeless wishes and wishes

for which my life's blood is forever squandered.

Are matters made of the impossible.

فمالوا بالأَباعر لا إليْنا

فمالوا بالأَباعر لا إليْنا

ومال بنا الهوى من حيث مالوا

ومال بنا الهوى من حيث مالوا

They steered the camels, but not toward us,

A mirage which cannot quench thirst,

and love drew us in the direction they took.

And has no fresh water for the wayfarer.

أعيذك من حشاً تذكر لظاها

أعيذك من حشاً تذكر لظاها

وهمٍّ داؤه الدَّاء العضال

وهمٍّ داؤه الدَّاء العضال

I seek protection for you from a heart whose blaze you recall,

It suffices you, if you come to Abu Jameel,

and from grief whose malady is incurable.

A beauty that pleases you or grace.

أحبّتك الذين شَقِيتَ فيهم

أحبّتك الذين شَقِيتَ فيهم

أسالوا من دموعك ما أسالوا

أسالوا من دموعك ما أسالوا

Your loved ones, for whom you suffered,

Send from its cloud sweet fresh water,

have made your tears flow as they did.

For there lies the fresh sweet wellspring.

لنيران الجوى يا ناقُ عندي

لنيران الجوى يا ناقُ عندي

على البُعد اتّقادٌ واشتعال

على البُعد اتّقادٌ واشتعال

The fires of heartache, O she-camel, within me

Hopes flock to his door ceaselessly

burn and blaze despite the distance.

And are filled from his gifts the mounts.

أُعَلِّلُ بالأَماني والأَماني

أُعَلِّلُ بالأَماني والأَماني

أُمورٌ من زخارفها المحال

أُمورٌ من زخارفها المحال

I console myself with wishes, and wishes

Calamities magnify him and he scorns them

are things adorned with the impossible:

Without formally celebrating their greatness.

سرابٌ ولا يُبَلُّ به غليل

سرابٌ ولا يُبَلُّ به غليل

ولا فيه لوارده بلال

ولا فيه لوارده بلال

a mirage, by which no burning thirst is quenched,

And he rises above fatherhood with a burden

nor is there moisture in it for whoever comes to drink.

Too small for even men to carry.

وحَسبُك إنْ وَرَدْتَ أبا جميل

وحَسبُك إنْ وَرَدْتَ أبا جميل

جميلٌ ما يروقك أو جمال

جميلٌ ما يروقك أو جمال

But if you come to Abu Jamil, enough for you

Of high-reaching lofty deeds,

is a lovely favor that delights you, or beauty.

Whose foundations exceed any height.

رِدِي من سَيْبه عَذباً زلالاً

رِدِي من سَيْبه عَذباً زلالاً

فثَمَّ الموردُ العذب الزُّلال

فثَمَّ الموردُ العذب الزُّلال

Come to drink sweet, crystal-clear water from his bounty;

And when reckless men go too far,

there is the sweet, crystal-clear watering-place.

He is revered, their insolence being but hills to him.

تُناخ ببابه الآمال طرًّا

تُناخ ببابه الآمال طرًّا

وتُملأُ من مواهبه الرِّحال

وتُملأُ من مواهبه الرِّحال

All hopes are made to kneel at his gate,

Polished striker of resolute deeds, proceeding,

and packs are filled with his gifts.

His striking place never chipped by the whetstone.

تعظّمه الخطوب ويزدَريها

تعظّمه الخطوب ويزدَريها

وليسَ له بمعظمها احتفال

وليسَ له بمعظمها احتفال

Calamities magnify him, while he scorns them;

The pillar of religion and world altogether,

he pays no heed even to the greatest of them.

Their remedy when disorder prevails.

وينهضُ من أُبوَّته بعبءٍ

وينهضُ من أُبوَّته بعبءٍ

قليل ما تنوءُ به الرِّجال

قليل ما تنوءُ به الرِّجال

And in his fatherly dignity he shoulders a burden;

His cloud shaded us with a shade,

little is what men struggle to bear.

When the hot wind blew with spears.

من الشّمِّ الشَّوامخ في المعالي

من الشّمِّ الشَّوامخ في المعالي

يطولُ الرَّاسيات ولا يُطال

يطولُ الرَّاسيات ولا يُطال

One of the lofty, towering peaks of eminence,

A day sunny, in it clarity,

he overtops the rooted mountains and is not overtopped.

So a sun whose place of rising lasts.

ويوقره إذا طاشتْ رجالٌ

ويوقره إذا طاشتْ رجالٌ

حلومُ لا تضاهيها الجبال

حلومُ لا تضاهيها الجبال

And when men grow rash, he is steadied by

A night in it an illuminating moon,

forbearance that mountains cannot rival.

Upon the cheeks of this age without blemish.

صقيلُ مضارب العزمات ماضٍ

صقيلُ مضارب العزمات ماضٍ

فلا فُلَّت مضاربُه الصّقال

فلا فُلَّت مضاربُه الصّقال

The striking edges of his resolve are polished and keen;

It relieves every distressed one of hardship,

may his polished edges never be blunted.

Near a day where there is little room.

قوام الدِّين والدُّنيا جميعاً

قوام الدِّين والدُّنيا جميعاً

شفاؤهما إذا كانَ اعتلال

شفاؤهما إذا كانَ اعتلال

The support of faith and worldly life alike,

A heaven among the heavens of glories,

their cure whenever illness comes.

Its planets are merits and virtues.

أظلَّتْنا غمامَتُه بظلٍّ

أظلَّتْنا غمامَتُه بظلٍّ

إذا لفح الهجير به ظلال

إذا لفح الهجير به ظلال

His cloud has sheltered us beneath a shade

Deeds precede words from him,

where shadows lie when the midday heat scorches.

And words precede deeds.

ويومٍ مشمسٍ فيه مضيءٍ

ويومٍ مشمسٍ فيه مضيءٍ

فشمسٌ لا لمطلعها زوال

فشمسٌ لا لمطلعها زوال

And on a sunny day he shines:

You see the ink of his generosity, on a day of giving,

a sun whose rising knows no setting.

Applied as kohl to the eyes of the seekers.

وليلٍ فيه أقْمرٌ مستنيراً

وليلٍ فيه أقْمرٌ مستنيراً

على وجنات هذا الدَّهر خال

على وجنات هذا الدَّهر خال

And a night in which he shines moon-bright

And of his words, some are said

is a beauty-spot on the cheeks of this age.

To be the magic chain and the permitted sorcery.

ينفّس كلَّ كاربة بكَرٍّ

ينفّس كلَّ كاربة بكَرٍّ

لدى يومٍ يضيقُ به المجال

لدى يومٍ يضيقُ به المجال

He eases every anguish with a charge,

My tongue is honest in praising him

on a day when room to maneuver narrows.

Truthfully saying what is said of him.

سماءٌ من سماوات المعالي

سماءٌ من سماوات المعالي

كواكبها المناقب والخصال

كواكبها المناقب والخصال

A heaven among the heavens of eminence,

When he bestows wealth upon me,

whose stars are virtues and qualities.

Hearts incline toward me and are inclined.

فعالٌ تسبق الأَقوال منه

فعالٌ تسبق الأَقوال منه

وأَقوالٌ تقدّمها الفعال

وأَقوالٌ تقدّمها الفعال

His deeds precede his words,

So I have from his wealth prominence and status,

and his words are preceded by his deeds.

And I have from his stature might and wealth.

يريك مِدادَه في يوم جودٍ

يريك مِدادَه في يوم جودٍ

لأحداق النَّوال به اكتحال

لأحداق النَّوال به اكتحال

He shows you his ink on a day of bounty:

Near in attainment, lofty in qualities,

the eyes of generosity line themselves with it as kohl.

Remote in attainment the distant goal.

ومن كلماته ما قيل فيها

ومن كلماته ما قيل فيها

هي السّلسال والسِّحر الحلال

هي السّلسال والسِّحر الحلال

Among his words are those of which it is said:

You are enveloped by mercy and gentleness,

They are limpid water and lawful enchantment.

While loftiness and majesty raise you.

لساني في مدائحه صدوق

لساني في مدائحه صدوق

يصدّق فيه منِّي ما يُقال

يصدّق فيه منِّي ما يُقال

My tongue is truthful in his praises;

Dear soul, dear to the wilderness, your peer

what I say of him is borne out.

In glories and exemplary character.

إذا أَسدى إليَّ المالَ أَمْسَتْ

إذا أَسدى إليَّ المالَ أَمْسَتْ

تُمالُ لي القلوب وتستمال

تُمالُ لي القلوب وتستمال

When he bestows wealth upon me, then

As if among traveling people, a guidance

hearts are turned toward me and won over.

Beyond which is but misguidance.

فلي من ماله شرف وجاه

فلي من ماله شرف وجاه

ولي من جاهه عِزٌّ ومال

ولي من جاهه عِزٌّ ومال

From his wealth I have honor and prestige,

And I have seen toward you from them

and from his prestige I have dignity and wealth.

An aspiration that may be aspired but not attained.

قريبُ النَّيل ممتنع المعالي

قريبُ النَّيل ممتنع المعالي

ومُدني النَّيْل ما بَعُدَ المنال

ومُدني النَّيْل ما بَعُدَ المنال

His bounty is near at hand, his heights beyond reach,

They cannot offer, try as they may,

and he brings within reach what was far from attainment.

Your noble refined merits and qualities.

تحطّك رأفةٌ شملَتْ ورقَّتْ

تحطّك رأفةٌ شملَتْ ورقَّتْ

وترْفَعُكَ الأُبوَّة والجلال

وترْفَعُكَ الأُبوَّة والجلال

Compassion, embracing all and tender, brings you low,

Chivalry is your nature wherever it was,

while fatherly dignity and majesty raise you.

As generosity and free giving are your traits.

عزيز النَّفس عزَّ على البرايا

عزيز النَّفس عزَّ على البرايا

نظيرك في الأَماجد والمثال

نظيرك في الأَماجد والمثال

You are noble in soul; humankind can scarcely find

Why would I fear detachment by fate?

your peer among the illustrious, or your equal.

When I have the honor of your company.

كأنَّك بين أقوامٍ سراةٍ

كأنَّك بين أقوامٍ سراةٍ

هُدًى ما بعده إلاَّ الضَّلال

هُدًى ما بعده إلاَّ الضَّلال

Among noble leaders, you seem

Graciousness and generosity please you,

guidance, beyond which is nothing but error.

As do courage and combat.

وإنِّي قد رأيت علاك منهم

وإنِّي قد رأيت علاك منهم

مرامٌ قد يرامُ ولا ينال

مرامٌ قد يرامُ ولا ينال

And I have seen that your lofty rank, for them,

You are not like some people who only

is a goal that may be sought but cannot be attained.

Give wealth until spoken of.

وليسَ لهم وإنْ دفعوا إليها

وليسَ لهم وإنْ دفعوا إليها

مناقِبُك الشَّريفة والخلال

مناقِبُك الشَّريفة والخلال

They do not possess, though they press toward them,

So O lofty towering mountain of glories,

your noble virtues and qualities.

Lasting, unchanging, eternal upon us.

خليقتك المروءةُ حيثُ كانتْ

خليقتك المروءةُ حيثُ كانتْ

وشيمتك السَّماحة والنَّوال

وشيمتك السَّماحة والنَّوال

Your nature is chivalry wherever it is found,

Gifts from you come to both near and far,

and your disposition is generosity and bounty.

Neither promise nor expectation from you.

وهل أخشى من الحظِّ انفصالاً

وهل أخشى من الحظِّ انفصالاً

ولي من قرب حضرتك اتّصال

ولي من قرب حضرتك اتّصال

Should I fear being severed from good fortune,

when I am connected through nearness to your presence?

تَلَذُّ لك المكارم والعطايا

تَلَذُّ لك المكارم والعطايا

وتطربك الشَّجاعة والنزال

وتطربك الشَّجاعة والنزال

Noble deeds and gifts delight you,

and courage and combat exhilarate you.

ولستَ من الكرام كبعض قوم

ولستَ من الكرام كبعض قوم

يجود بماله حتَّى يقالُ

يجود بماله حتَّى يقالُ

Among the generous, you are not like certain people

who give their wealth merely to be spoken of.

فيا جبلاً أطَلَّ من المعالي

فيا جبلاً أطَلَّ من المعالي

عَلَيْنا لا تزول ولا تزال

عَلَيْنا لا تزول ولا تزال

O mountain that looms from the heights

over us, may you neither pass away nor be removed.

هباتٌ منك للعافين تترى

هباتٌ منك للعافين تترى

ولا وعدٌ لديْكَ ولا مطال

ولا وعدٌ لديْكَ ولا مطال

Gifts from you come in succession to seekers of bounty,

and with you there is neither promise nor delay.