عذيري من هم ابيت احاربه

عذيري من هم ابيت احاربه

وحيداً سوى عزم تسل قواضبه

وحيداً سوى عزم تسل قواضبه

Who will excuse me from a care I persist in fighting,

Who will defend me against a care I battle through the night,

alone, with nothing but a resolve whose blades are drawn?

alone, save for resolve whose keen blades are drawn?

وماذا عسى ان يبلغ الضرب ساعدي

وماذا عسى ان يبلغ الضرب ساعدي

بلا مسعد والخصم تردي كتائبه

بلا مسعد والخصم تردي كتائبه

What can my arm’s striking hope to achieve

And what can my arm accomplish in striking,

without a helper, while the foe’s battalions charge headlong?

without a helper, while the foe's battalions charge?

كأن الدراري الزاهرات اسنة

كأن الدراري الزاهرات اسنة

لوامع في ليل تخب مقانبه

لوامع في ليل تخب مقانبه

The radiant stars seem like spearpoints,

As though the radiant stars were spearheads

flashing in a night through which its squadrons gallop.

gleaming in a night whose cavalry squadrons trot.

كأن سواد الليل صبغة غادر

كأن سواد الليل صبغة غادر

بعهد وداد من خليل يصاحبه

بعهد وداد من خليل يصاحبه

The darkness of night seems the stain of one who betrayed

As though the night's blackness were the hue of a betrayer

a covenant of love with a companion at his side.

of a pledge of affection from a friend he accompanies.

كأن نجوم الأفق اخلاق ماجد

كأن نجوم الأفق اخلاق ماجد

سري من الفتيان زهر مناقبه

سري من الفتيان زهر مناقبه

The stars along the horizon seem the virtues of a nobleman,

As though the stars of the horizon were a noble man's qualities,

a princely youth whose merits shine.

a generous youth whose merits shine.

كأن الثريا كف ابلج باسط

كأن الثريا كف ابلج باسط

إلى الوفد كفاً تستهل سواكبه

إلى الوفد كفاً تستهل سواكبه

The Pleiades seem the hand of a bright-faced giver,

As though the Pleiades were the palm of a bright-faced man extending

extending a palm to guests, its showers pouring forth.

to the delegation a hand whose showers pour forth.

كأن سهيلا خافقاً متوقداً

كأن سهيلا خافقاً متوقداً

حشا عاشق بالوجد تذكو لواهبه

حشا عاشق بالوجد تذكو لواهبه

Suhail seems a heart that throbs and burns—

As though Suhayl, throbbing and ablaze,

a lover’s breast, where passion kindles its flames.

were a lover's heart, its flames flaring with passion.

كأن السها اختار الخمول لعلمه

كأن السها اختار الخمول لعلمه

بأن نبيه الذكر جم متاعبه

بأن نبيه الذكر جم متاعبه

The faint star Suha seems to have chosen obscurity, knowing

As though al-Suha had chosen obscurity, knowing

that one renowned in fame has troubles without end.

that a man of renown has troubles in abundance.

وقد شمخ العيوق كبرا بانفه

وقد شمخ العيوق كبرا بانفه

فقل سناه عندما ازورّ جانبه

فقل سناه عندما ازورّ جانبه

Proudly the star al-‘Ayyuq has raised its nose aloft,

And al-Ayyuq has raised his nose in pride,

but its radiance waned when it turned arrogantly aside.

so his radiance waned when he turned his side away.

ارى القطب حرا في الكواكب ثابتاً

ارى القطب حرا في الكواكب ثابتاً

على مبدء تسمو سموا مراتبه

على مبدء تسمو سموا مراتبه

I see the Pole Star, free among the constellations, standing firm

I see the Pole Star, free among the stars, steadfast

upon a principle by which its rank rises ever higher.

upon a principle, its ranks rising ever higher.

ولعت بهذا الليل اكلأ نجمه

ولعت بهذا الليل اكلأ نجمه

وارقبه والنجم عان مراقبه

وارقبه والنجم عان مراقبه

I have grown enamored of this night, watching over its star,

I am enamored of this night, watching over its star,

observing it, while the star itself suffers being watched.

and watching it; the star's watcher is a captive.

ولو لم يكن هم لأدراك شأوه

ولو لم يكن هم لأدراك شأوه

لما بت ارعى سيره واصاحبه

لما بت ارعى سيره واصاحبه

Were it not my concern to attain its distant reach,

And were there no concern to attain its reach,

I would not spend the night tracing its course and keeping it company.

I would not spend the night watching its course and keeping it company.

يقولون لي كم تركب الهول مقدماص

يقولون لي كم تركب الهول مقدماص

على الأمر لم تؤمن عليك عواقبه

على الأمر لم تؤمن عليك عواقبه

They say to me, “How long will you ride into peril, boldly advancing

They say to me: How often you ride into terror, venturing

upon a venture whose consequences leave you unsafe?”

upon a venture whose consequences are not safe for you!

فقلت لهم كم يدرك الحتف وادعاً

فقلت لهم كم يدرك الحتف وادعاً

بخفض وقد ينجو من الحتف راكبه

بخفض وقد ينجو من الحتف راكبه

I answer them, “How often does death overtake one resting

I said to them: How often death overtakes one at peace

in ease, while a rider may escape death?

in comfort, while its rider may escape death!

ويحيى بعز من يخوض غمارها

ويحيى بعز من يخوض غمارها

فذاك الذي تصفو وتحلو مشاربه

فذاك الذي تصفو وتحلو مشاربه

Whoever plunges into its depths lives with honor;

And he who plunges into its depths lives with honor;

that is the man whose drinks become pure and sweet.

he is the one whose draughts are clear and sweet.

وما سولت نفس الجبان فباطل

وما سولت نفس الجبان فباطل

تسول ان سدت عليه مذاهبه

تسول ان سدت عليه مذاهبه

Whatever a coward’s soul suggests is false;

Whatever the coward's soul suggests is false;

it whispers when every path before him has been barred.

it beguiles him if his paths are barred against him.

ويحمل مني الخطب والله عدتي

ويحمل مني الخطب والله عدتي

فتى لا تبالي بالخطوب مناكبه

فتى لا تبالي بالخطوب مناكبه

A young man bears adversity away from me—and, by God, he is my strength—

And within me calamity is borne—God is my support—

one whose shoulders pay no heed to calamities.

by a youth whose shoulders pay no heed to misfortunes.

وما ذل مني جانب لملمة

وما ذل مني جانب لملمة

إذا نزلت بالطود ذلت جوانبه

إذا نزلت بالطود ذلت جوانبه

No part of me has ever bowed before a host,

And no side of me has bowed before a calamity

though when it descends upon a mountain, the mountain’s flanks bow low.

that humbles a mighty mountain's flanks when it descends upon it.

وما الحر الا كالنضار وانما

وما الحر الا كالنضار وانما

تهذب في حر اللهيب شوائبه

تهذب في حر اللهيب شوائبه

A free man is nothing but pure gold:

And a free man is no different from pure gold; only

only in the fierce heat of flame are his impurities refined away.

in the flame's heat are his impurities purged.

افدت من الأيام رأياً وحكمة

افدت من الأيام رأياً وحكمة

ومن ائبات الدهر تأتي رغائبه

ومن ائبات الدهر تأتي رغائبه

From the days I have gained judgment and wisdom,

I gained judgment and wisdom from the days,

and from time’s calamities come the things one desires.

and from time's calamities come its rewards.

إذا محكمات الرأي شاقتك فاتبع

إذا محكمات الرأي شاقتك فاتبع

هدى اشيب قد حنكته تجاربه

هدى اشيب قد حنكته تجاربه

If firmly grounded counsels captivate you, follow

If sound judgments attract you, then follow

the guidance of a gray-haired man seasoned by experience.

the guidance of a gray-haired man seasoned by his experiences.

اراعك من شيبي سنا البرق في الدجى

اراعك من شيبي سنا البرق في الدجى

فما لشبابي لم ترعك غياهبه

فما لشبابي لم ترعك غياهبه

Did the lightning-glint of my gray hair amid the darkness alarm you?

Did the lightning-gleam of my gray hair in the dark alarm you?

Why, then, did the black depths of my youth not alarm you?

Why, then, did the dark depths of my youth not alarm you?

رقيت إلى أوج البهاء وهذه

رقيت إلى أوج البهاء وهذه

بقودي يا شمس الجمال كواكبه

بقودي يا شمس الجمال كواكبه

You have climbed to the zenith of splendor, and these—

I have risen to the summit of splendor, and these

under my command, O sun of beauty—are its stars.

at my temples, O sun of beauty, are its stars.

الفت مشيبي والخضاب خلابة

الفت مشيبي والخضاب خلابة

ومن حق الفي انني لا اخالبه

ومن حق الفي انني لا اخالبه

I have grown accustomed to my gray hair; dye is a deception,

I have grown fond of my gray hair, and dye is deception;

and loyalty to my familiar companion requires that I not deceive it.

and my companion has the right that I should not deceive him.

أكذب نفسي وهي جد عليمة

أكذب نفسي وهي جد عليمة

بأمري فما شأن البياض وخاضبه

بأمري فما شأن البياض وخاضبه

Should I lie to my own soul, when it knows full well

Should I lie to my own soul, when it knows so well

my state? What business have white hair and one who dyes it?

my condition? What has white hair to do with its dyer?

وللدهر اطوار فبينا تسرنا

وللدهر اطوار فبينا تسرنا

بشائره عادت تسود نوادبه

بشائره عادت تسود نوادبه

Fortune has many phases: while its glad tidings delight us,

And time has its phases: just when we are gladdened

they turn again, and its mourners don black.

by its good tidings, its mourners return to reign.

ونهج المعالي واضح غير انه

ونهج المعالي واضح غير انه

مهيب ولم يبلغ من الفوز راكبه

مهيب ولم يبلغ من الفوز راكبه

The path of high achievement is clear, though

And the path to lofty deeds is clear, except that it

awe-inspiring; its rider has not attained victory.

is daunting, and its rider has attained no success.

أخذنا إلى المجد الأثيل سبيله

أخذنا إلى المجد الأثيل سبيله

فذلت لنا من بعد لأي مصاعبه

فذلت لنا من بعد لأي مصاعبه

We took the road leading to deep-rooted glory,

We took its path toward deep-rooted glory,

and after great struggle its hardships yielded to us.

and after toil its hardships yielded to us.

ضربنا بسيف الحق من رد حكمه

ضربنا بسيف الحق من رد حكمه

وذلك سيف لا تفل مضاربه

وذلك سيف لا تفل مضاربه

With the sword of truth we struck whoever rejected its judgment;

We struck with the sword of right whoever rejected its judgment,

that is a sword whose striking edges never grow blunt.

and that is a sword whose cutting edges cannot be blunted.

ارى الحق اقوى كل شيء وانما

ارى الحق اقوى كل شيء وانما

يعود ضعيفاً حين يضعف صاحبه

يعود ضعيفاً حين يضعف صاحبه

I see truth as stronger than everything; it only

I see right as stronger than anything; it only

becomes weak when its champion weakens.

grows weak when its champion weakens.

على السيف ان يفري الضريبة ماضياً

على السيف ان يفري الضريبة ماضياً

وليس عليه ان يقصر ضاربه

وليس عليه ان يقصر ضاربه

The sword’s task is to cleave the target while keen;

The sword must cleave its target, keen-edged;

it is not to blame if the swordsman’s stroke falls short.

it is not to blame if its wielder falls short.

إلى العز يا شعب العراق إلى العلى

إلى العز يا شعب العراق إلى العلى

إلى المجد تبدو شهبه وثواقبه

إلى المجد تبدو شهبه وثواقبه

To honor, O people of Iraq—to the heights,

To honor, O people of Iraq, to the heights!

to glory, where its meteors and piercing stars appear!

To glory, whose meteors and piercing stars come into view!

إذا عضد الحق اتفاق تطلعت

إذا عضد الحق اتفاق تطلعت

لمن يبتغيه بالنجاح مطالبه

لمن يبتغيه بالنجاح مطالبه

When unity supports the truth, the aspirations

When unity bolsters right, there come into view

of whoever seeks it look forward to success.

for whoever seeks it his goals, attended by success.

ويخضع للشعب القوي ارادة

ويخضع للشعب القوي ارادة

عدو يناويه وقرن يغالبه

عدو يناويه وقرن يغالبه

An enemy who opposes a strong-willed people submits to them,

And to a people strong in will there bows

as does every rival who strives against them.

an enemy that opposes it and a rival that contests it.

وما لمبادي ولسن من ضمانة

وما لمبادي ولسن من ضمانة

لمتكل لا تستقل مآربه

لمتكل لا تستقل مآربه

Principles and eloquent tongues offer no guarantee

And Wilson's principles offer no guarantee

to a dependent man whose aims cannot stand on their own.

to one who depends on others, whose aims cannot stand alone.

نريد وفاء بالعهود وإنما

نريد وفاء بالعهود وإنما

هي الرقم فوق الماء يعبث كاتبه

هي الرقم فوق الماء يعبث كاتبه

We demand fidelity to covenants, yet they are merely

We seek fulfillment of pledges, yet

writing upon water, toyed with by the hand that writes it.

they are merely writing on water, its writer toying in vain.

أحب من الفتيان أروع ماجداً

أحب من الفتيان أروع ماجداً

عفيفاً شريف النفس تزكو ضرائبه

عفيفاً شريف النفس تزكو ضرائبه

Among young men I love one splendid and noble,

Among young men I love one gallant and noble,

chaste and high-souled, whose natural traits are pure.

chaste and noble of soul, whose innate traits are pure.

إذا كان هم المكثرين اكتسابهم

إذا كان هم المكثرين اكتسابهم

فان المعالي همه ومكاسبه

فان المعالي همه ومكاسبه

If the chief concern of those who amass wealth is their gain,

If the wealthy men's concern is what they acquire,

then lofty deeds are his concern and his earnings.

then lofty deeds are his concern and his gains.

ويؤثر بالأخلاص صالح قومه

ويؤثر بالأخلاص صالح قومه

على النفس علماً ان ذلك واجبه

على النفس علماً ان ذلك واجبه

In sincere devotion he puts his people’s welfare

And with devotion he puts his people's welfare

before himself, knowing that this is his duty.

before himself, knowing that this is his duty.

وللوطن المحبوب يبذل واهباً

وللوطن المحبوب يبذل واهباً

نفائس ما جادت عليه مواهبه

نفائس ما جادت عليه مواهبه

For his beloved homeland he gives freely,

And to his beloved homeland he freely offers

the choicest treasures his gifts have granted him.

the choicest treasures his talents have bestowed on him.