وبأبي من قده معتدل

وبأبي من قده معتدل

نشوان من خمر الشباب ثمل

نشوان من خمر الشباب ثمل

And may my father ransom him whose figure is well-proportioned,

By my father, whose stature is upright,

intoxicated, drunk on the wine of youth.

I am intoxicated with the wine of youth,

منيتي لحاظه ومنيتي

منيتي لحاظه ومنيتي

ابيض وضاحٌ وساجٍ أكحل

ابيض وضاحٌ وساجٍ أكحل

His glances are my desire and my doom:

My wish is to gaze upon him, and my wish

fair and radiant, languid-eyed and kohl-dark.

Is a bright, smiling, kohl-lined moon.

أي هلال من عامرٍ

أي هلال من عامرٍ

أي غزالٍ طاب فيه الغزال

أي غزالٍ طاب فيه الغزال

What a crescent moon of ʿĀmir!

What crescent of `Amer,

What a gazelle, in whom gazelle-like beauty is delightful!

What gazelle whose gazelle-like qualities are excellent?

قوامه ورمحه أيهما

قوامه ورمحه أيهما

أرشق أم أيهما لي اقتل

أرشق أم أيهما لي اقتل

His figure and his spear—which of the two

His stature and his spear - which of the two

is more graceful, or which more deadly to me?

Shines brighter, or which of the two should I kill?

حتفي اللحاظ لا السيوف شهرت

حتفي اللحاظ لا السيوف شهرت

أو القدود خطرت لا الأسل

أو القدود خطرت لا الأسل

My death is in glances, not swords unsheathed,

My death by his cheek, not by swords -

or in figures swaying, not spears.

Nor by spears brandished, but by eyes.

وبالجفون لا الجفون حربي

وبالجفون لا الجفون حربي

ما السيف إلا ما انتضاه الكحل

ما السيف إلا ما انتضاه الكحل

My war is with eyelids, not sword-sheaths;

And by the eyelids - no, by the eyelids - my war,

the only sword is what kohl has drawn.

The sword is only what the kohl has extracted.

يعلم أن الوصل مسلٍ فهولا

يعلم أن الوصل مسلٍ فهولا

ينفعك يلوي عهده ويمطل

ينفعك يلوي عهده ويمطل

He knows union brings solace, so he does not

He knows that intimacy is perilous, so he

help you; he evades his pledge and delays.

Neither benefits you, nor keeps his pact, nor delays.

والحسن كالمال كما يفسده

والحسن كالمال كما يفسده

الجود كذا يصلح منه البخل

الجود كذا يصلح منه البخل

And beauty is like wealth: just as it is spoiled by

Beauty corrupts like money does -

generosity, so withholding improves it.

Just as generosity fixes it, so does stinginess.

فهو لحيني شاعر الحسن غدا

فهو لحيني شاعر الحسن غدا

يقول للعشاق ما لا يفعل

يقول للعشاق ما لا يفعل

Thus, to my undoing, he has become a poet of beauty,

So for my sake he is the poet of beauty, and tomorrow

telling lovers what he does not do.

He will say to lovers what he does not do.

ما لجفوني فيه بالسهد يدٌ

ما لجفوني فيه بالسهد يدٌ

ولا لجسمي بالسقام قبل

ولا لجسمي بالسقام قبل

My eyelids have no strength for sleeplessness over him,

My eyelids have no effect on him,

nor has my body strength for sickness.

Nor does my body's sickness, not before.

إذا سما صبح الجبين ودجا

إذا سما صبح الجبين ودجا

من صدغه ستر ظلامٍ مسبل

من صدغه ستر ظلامٍ مسبل

When the dawn of his brow rises, and there darkens

When the morning sun rises and darkness falls

a hanging veil of darkness from his temple-lock,

From his temple, covering it in dangling shadows,

رأيت دمعاً واكفاً ينصره

رأيت دمعاً واكفاً ينصره

الوجد وصبراً في هواه يخذل

الوجد وصبراً في هواه يخذل

I see tears streaming, supported by

I saw tears, copious, aided

passion, and patience in his love forsaken.

By passion, and patience in his love that fails.

ما جلق الفيحاء إلا جنةٌ

ما جلق الفيحاء إلا جنةٌ

فضلها وحي الغمام المنزل

فضلها وحي الغمام المنزل

Spacious Jilliq is nothing but a paradise,

The open desert is nothing but a garden -

exalted by the clouds' descending revelation.

Revelation rains upon it from above.

ساوى بها الليل النهار وضفا ال

ساوى بها الليل النهار وضفا ال

ظل ولذ في ذراها المنهل

ظل ولذ في ذراها المنهل

There night equals day, and broad spreads the

It equalized night and day, and dawn poured

shade; sweet is the watering-place beneath its shelter.

Shadows, and in its small pebbles lay the waterholes.

كم نعمٍ للعيش في أرجائها

كم نعمٍ للعيش في أرجائها

يفصح عنها سهاها والجبل

يفصح عنها سهاها والجبل

How many joys of living lie within its reaches,

How many blessings to live in its expanses -

proclaimed by its Suhā and the mountain!

Its plateau and its mountains elucidate them!

بنفسجٌ مثل الخدود قرصت

بنفسجٌ مثل الخدود قرصت

ونرجسٌ ما هو إلا المقل

ونرجسٌ ما هو إلا المقل

Violets like cheeks that have been pinched,

Violets like cheeks circled,

and narcissi that are nothing but eyes.

And narcissi - nothing but the meadows.

بكى الحمام فالثرى مبتسمٌ

بكى الحمام فالثرى مبتسمٌ

ورقص الدوح وغنى الجدول

ورقص الدوح وغنى الجدول

The doves wept, and so the earth smiled;

The doves wept - so the soil smiled,

the great trees danced, and the stream sang.

And the sand grouse danced, and the streams sang.

حيث الثنايا كالثنايا نفحةً

حيث الثنايا كالثنايا نفحةً

فبالقبول ابدأ تقبل

فبالقبول ابدأ تقبل

Where the passes resemble front teeth in fragrant breath,

Where the curvy dunes, like the curvy dunes, blew

begin with acceptance, and you will be accepted.

A scent - so begin by accepting acceptance.

يفهم كل ناشقٍ لا سامعٍ

يفهم كل ناشقٍ لا سامعٍ

ما حدثت عن الرياض الشمأل

ما حدثت عن الرياض الشمأل

Everyone who inhales, not hears, understands

Every passionate understander, not mere listener,

what the north wind has told of the gardens.

Knows what I’m telling about the bustling meadows.

يجلى وزهر الزهر للدوح حلى

يجلى وزهر الزهر للدوح حلى

والورق الخضر لهن حلل

والورق الخضر لهن حلل

It is unveiled; the flowers' radiance is jewelry for the great trees,

Dawn makes its flowers shine, and makes

and the green leaves are their robes.

The green leaves for them into gowns.

فالشرف إلا على يتيه شرفاً

فالشرف إلا على يتيه شرفاً

والسهم سهمٌ والهموم مقتل

والسهم سهمٌ والهموم مقتل

Al-Sharaf al-Aʿlā exults in its eminence,

So nobility is nothing but what ennobles it -

and al-Sahm is an arrow—a death-place for sorrows.

An arrow is just an arrow, and worries are death.

كم جدولٍ باكره مر الصبا

كم جدولٍ باكره مر الصبا

فهو حسامٌ والنسيم صيقل

فهو حسامٌ والنسيم صيقل

How many streams the passing east wind visits at dawn:

How many early brooks have passed the morning,

each is a sword, and the breeze its burnisher.

Becoming swords - and the soft winds their whetstones!

شابت بها غيد الغصون حبذا

شابت بها غيد الغصون حبذا

شيب حبيبٍ عن قليل ينصل

شيب حبيبٍ عن قليل ينصل

There the slender branches have turned gray—how lovely

The boughs of its branches have grown white with

a beloved's gray hair that soon fades!

The whiteness of a beloved’s hair, right before it is combed.

زينت بمعسول الخلال قده

زينت بمعسول الخلال قده

كالرمح في كف الدلال يعسل

كالرمح في كف الدلال يعسل

It is adorned by one of honeyed character, whose figure,

His neck was adorned with wavy black hair

like a spear in coquetry's hand, sways.

Like a spear in the hand of one who greases it with honey.

لم يدم خديه سوى قتلي ولا

لم يدم خديه سوى قتلي ولا

أدمى خدود الورد إلا الخجل

أدمى خدود الورد إلا الخجل

Nothing bloodied his cheeks but his killing me, and nothing

His cheeks did not last long save my murder -

bloodied the rose's cheeks but shame.

Nor did the cheeks of roses redden, but for shyness.

ياعاثراً فيما سواه لا لعاً

ياعاثراً فيما سواه لا لعاً

ويا سهام جفنه لا شلل

ويا سهام جفنه لا شلل

O you stumbling over anything but him: no recovery for you!

O you who stumble in all besides! Do not

And, arrows of his eyelid, may no palsy strike you!

Incapacitate yourself! And O you, his eyelashes’ arrows! Do not paralyze!

في غيره وغيرها من بلدةٍ

في غيره وغيرها من بلدةٍ

يعصى الغرام ويطاع العذل

يعصى الغرام ويطاع العذل

With anyone but him, and in any other town,

In others, in other towns, where

passion is disobeyed and reproach obeyed.

Passion is disobeyed, and separation obeyed.

بالوجد لي شغلٌ عن العذل كما

بالوجد لي شغلٌ عن العذل كما

لابن عليٍ بالمعالي شغل

لابن عليٍ بالمعالي شغل

Passion keeps me too occupied for reproach, just as

With passion, I have no time for separation - just as

Ibn ʿAlī is occupied with lofty deeds.

The son of Ali has with glory no time.

الشرس اللين المخوف المرتجى

الشرس اللين المخوف المرتجى

النازح الداني الأخير المفضل

النازح الداني الأخير المفضل

Fierce yet gentle, feared yet hoped in,

Wild yet gentle, fearful yet hoped-for,

distant yet near, the finest, the bountiful.

Departing yet close, last yet preferred.

قصر عنه كل ساعٍ ومضى

قصر عنه كل ساعٍ ومضى

بقصب السبق الجواد المفضل

بقصب السبق الجواد المفضل

Every striver fell short of him, while onward went

Every rival fell short of him and passed,

the generous, bountiful steed with the reeds of victory.

With the steed of precedence, the generous, preferred.

له الأيادي البيض والدهر دجى

له الأيادي البيض والدهر دجى

يضرب في الدنيا بهن المثل

يضرب في الدنيا بهن المثل

His benefactions are white, though time is dark;

To him belong the white hands, and the days have darkened -

throughout the world they are proverbial.

He strikes the world with them as examples.

زها به الملك وتاه الدهر واخ

زها به الملك وتاه الدهر واخ

تال الزمان شرفاً والدول

تال الزمان شرفاً والدول

Kingship flourished through him; the age exulted, and

Adorned with the crown, the times went astray, as he

time and the dynasties strutted in glory.

Made eras stumble in nobility and power.

جلي عنه بسطاه كل ذي

جلي عنه بسطاه كل ذي

بأسٍ وحلي بنداه العطل

بأسٍ وحلي بنداه العطل

His might drove away from him every man of

Revealed through his domination each owner

valor, and his bounty adorned the unadorned.

Of might, and tied with his authority the useless.

وأمن الخوف وهان صعبه

وأمن الخوف وهان صعبه

وجبر الكسر وسد الخلل

وجبر الكسر وسد الخلل

Fear was made safe, and its hardship made easy;

And safety from fear, and ease of the arduous,

the broken was mended, and the breach closed.

And mending of breaks, and closing of holes.

اليقظ الندب الأبي المصعب

اليقظ الندب الأبي المصعب

السمح الوفي القلبي الحول

السمح الوفي القلبي الحول

Vigilant, ready, proud, hard to subdue,

The vigilant caller, the excellent father, the formidable,

generous, faithful, versatile and resourceful.

The generous, the loyal, the changing.

لا ينثني عنه الثناء لا

لا ينثني عنه الثناء لا

ولا للعذل يوماً عن ذراه معدل

ولا للعذل يوماً عن ذراه معدل

Praise never turns away from him—no—

Praise cannot twist away from him,

nor can reproach ever turn one away from his heights.

Nor can separation, even for a day, turn from his domains.

جاد وجد دون عافيه

جاد وجد دون عافيه

فللمقل مالٌ واللهيف موئل

فللمقل مالٌ واللهيف موئل

He gave generously and strove on behalf of his suppliant;

He has been generous and passionate without well-being,

the poor man has wealth, and the distressed a refuge.

So for the wretched there is money, and for the homeless, shelter.

وقام بالدولة والدين معاً

وقام بالدولة والدين معاً

بأساً شديداً وتقى لا يجهل

بأساً شديداً وتقى لا يجهل

He upheld both state and faith,

He took a stand for religion and the state together -

with mighty valor and piety none can fail to know,

With mighty courage and godliness that knows no ignorance.

وهمة تشرق فهي الشمس أو

وهمة تشرق فهي الشمس أو

تسمو إلى الغايات فهي زحل

تسمو إلى الغايات فهي زحل

and an ambition that shines—it is the sun—or

An ambition that rises - it is the sun -

rises to the utmost heights—it is Saturn.

Or climbs to the heights, so it is Saturn.

حمى عرين الملك منه باسل

حمى عرين الملك منه باسل

يرهبه ليث العرين المشبل

يرهبه ليث العرين المشبل

A fearless warrior in him guards kingship's den,

He protected the lair of kingship from it with courage,

feared by the den's lion with its cubs.

Frightening the lion of the lair, the valiant.

إن شيم فهو ديمة أو هيج

إن شيم فهو ديمة أو هيج

فهو زعزع أو ريع فهو جبل

فهو زعزع أو ريع فهو جبل

If watched for rain, he is a steady shower; if roused,

If his quality is high lineage, then he is lasting,

he is a tempest; if alarmed, he is a mountain.

Or if roused, then he shakes, or if calm, then he is a mountain.

با لصاحب انصاع الزمان مصحبا

با لصاحب انصاع الزمان مصحبا

حتى لياليه الصعاب ذلل

حتى لياليه الصعاب ذلل

O, what a lord! Time yielded obediently,

O companion whose era obeyed, accompanying

until even its difficult nights became tame.

Him until even his difficult nights were subdued.

ولى شباة عزمه مراتباً

ولى شباة عزمه مراتباً

يعزل عنهن السماك الأعزل

يعزل عنهن السماك الأعزل

He appointed his resolve's sharp edge to stations

He appointed the youths of his determination to positions -

from which he displaces al-Simāk the Unarmed.

Banishing from them the worthless and fruitless.

ثبت إلى الداعي خفيف سمعه

ثبت إلى الداعي خفيف سمعه

فيه الأناة لطفاً والعجل

فيه الأناة لطفاً والعجل

Steadfast, yet quick-eared to the caller,

Firm to the supplicant, quick of hearing,

in him are deliberation, gentleness, and speed.

In him gentleness, delicacy, and haste.

ماض بأثواب العلى مشتمل

ماض بأثواب العلى مشتمل

فهو حسام والمعالي حلل

فهو حسام والمعالي حلل

Resolute, wrapped in the garments of high rank,

Proceeding in the clothes of the lofty, cloaked,

he is a sword, and lofty deeds its robes.

So he is a sword, and the heights are garments.

راق به ماء الندى بعد القذى

راق به ماء الندى بعد القذى

وأورق الذاوي ورف الممحل

وأورق الذاوي ورف الممحل

Through him the water of generosity cleared after its murk,

The water of dew flows clear after turbidity through him,

the withered leafed, and the barren grew lush.

And the withering bloom flourished, and theoved wadi.

فالوجه طلق والسماح مفهم

فالوجه طلق والسماح مفهم

والحكم عدل والمقال فيصل

والحكم عدل والمقال فيصل

His face is cheerful, his generosity eloquent,

So the face is bright, the generosity understood,

his judgment just, his speech decisive.

The rule just, and the words final.

قل فيه ما يرضي العلى فإنه

قل فيه ما يرضي العلى فإنه

يقول ما يرضي المنى ويفعل

يقول ما يرضي المنى ويفعل

Say of him what pleases high rank, for he

Say of him what pleases the lofty, for he

says what satisfies desire, and acts.

Speaks what pleases the hoped-for, and does.

سل إن عراك الشك عن أقلامه

سل إن عراك الشك عن أقلامه

يجبرك عنهن الظبى والأسل

يجبرك عنهن الظبى والأسل

If doubt assails you, ask about his pens:

Ask - even if the doubts’ contention deafens you -

the sword-edges and spears will tell you of them.

His pens will convince you, and the male gazelle, and the chained.

كل أصم ناطق له القنا

كل أصم ناطق له القنا

الصم عبيد والسوف خول

الصم عبيد والسوف خول

Every deaf shaft speaks for him; the spears,

Every deaf speaker - the reed-flute is his voice,

solid-shafted, are slaves, and the swords servants.

The deaf are slaves, and pipes are boys.

فيها النعيم والشقاء للوري

فيها النعيم والشقاء للوري

أجل ومنها رزقهم والأجل

أجل ومنها رزقهم والأجل

In them are bliss and misery for humankind—

In it is bliss and misery for the doll -

yes, and from them come their livelihood and appointed death.

Yes, and from it is their sustenance and term.

يغضب للمذنب فهو الصاب أو

يغضب للمذنب فهو الصاب أو

يرضى عن المحسن فهو العسل

يرضى عن المحسن فهو العسل

He grows angry with the wrongdoer: he is bitter sap; or

He is enraged at the sinner - so he is the pelting rain,

he is pleased with the benefactor: he is honey.

Or pleased with the good-doer - so he is honey.

ملقوم يقضي العدم في ساحاتهم

ملقوم يقضي العدم في ساحاتهم

وينشر الجود ويقضى المل

وينشر الجود ويقضى المل

For a people in whose courtyards want is destroyed,

Rectifying - he ordains non-existence in their plains,

generosity is spread, and hope fulfilled.

And spreads generosity and ordains bounty.

ما المجد إلا ما أبوا فمنعوا

ما المجد إلا ما أبوا فمنعوا

والمال الاَّ ما سخوا فبذلوا

والمال الاَّ ما سخوا فبذلوا

Glory is only what they refuse and keep inviolate;

Glory is none but what they desired, so they prevented,

wealth is only what they generously give away.

Wealth is none but what they were generous with, so they spent.

سيلوا هموا سلوا على الخطب مضوا

سيلوا هموا سلوا على الخطب مضوا

شيموا الندى جادوا ولوا فعدلوا

شيموا الندى جادوا ولوا فعدلوا

Asked, they pour like rain; drawn against disaster, they advance.

They poured forth, they strove, they questioned the calamities and proceeded -

Sought for bounty, they give; appointed, they rule justly.

Their quality was bounty, they gave and so were just.

هم الألى بيأسهم وعدهم

هم الألى بيأسهم وعدهم

عز الذليل وأقيم الميل

عز الذليل وأقيم الميل

They are those through whose might and promise

Seas of generosity and dew never exhausted,

the lowly gains honor and the crooked is set straight.

Full moons of justice and guidance never weakening.

صاحون ما صاح بهم داع فان

صاحون ما صاح بهم داع فان

سقاهم كأس الثناءِ ثملوا

سقاهم كأس الثناءِ ثملوا

They are sober whenever a caller calls them; but if

How much they bestowed when approached, and prevented when distanced!

he serves them the cup of praise, they are drunk.

How many favors they revived, and sorrows they killed!

اكفهم للخطب كف وهي

اكفهم للخطب كف وهي

فينا قبل تسجد فيها القبل

فينا قبل تسجد فيها القبل

Their palms restrain calamity, and they are

Were it not for you, the cup of eulogy would not

our prayer-directions, where kisses bow down.

Have described me roses, nor would bees have settled upon me.

يا باغياً شأوهم إن شئت أن

يا باغياً شأوهم إن شئت أن

تنزل فوق النجم حيث نزلوا

تنزل فوق النجم حيث نزلوا

O you who seek their height, if you wish to

As long as the knots of praise from

alight above the stars, where they have alighted,

Its branches continue to untie upon you.

جد جودهم وآحم حماهم أن عدا

جد جودهم وآحم حماهم أن عدا

دهر وأثل في العلى ما أثلوا

دهر وأثل في العلى ما أثلوا

give as they give, and guard their sanctuary when

A young man who hopes in you succeeds - no, loses if

time attacks; build in loftiness what they have built.

After God, he does not rely upon you.

حبار جود وندى لا نضبوا

حبار جود وندى لا نضبوا

أقمار عدل وهدى لا ألوا

أقمار عدل وهدى لا ألوا

Seas of generosity and bounty—may they never run dry!

So accept the gift of the tail that the auspicious

Moons of justice and guidance—may they never flag!

Night has woven, with this year ahead departing.

كم منح ادنوا ومنع ابعدوا

كم منح ادنوا ومنع ابعدوا

ونعمة أحيوا وبؤس قتلوا

ونعمة أحيوا وبؤس قتلوا

How many gifts they brought near, and refusals they drove far away,

It goes in the world like your gifts - not

blessings they revived, and miseries they killed!

Staying but a moment before departing.

لولاك لم يصف صفي الدين لي

لولاك لم يصف صفي الدين لي

ورد ولم تضف علي النحل

ورد ولم تضف علي النحل

Without you, Ṣafī al-Dīn, I would have no clear

And if the dishonest gain from it, then for it

watering-place, nor would gifts abound upon me.

Are the hearings' rejection and the hearts' settlement.

مادمت لي فالصعب هين والنوى

مادمت لي فالصعب هين والنوى

قرب وإحداث الزمان جلل

قرب وإحداث الزمان جلل

As long as you are mine, hardship is easy, and distance

Lawful magic unlike any affectation -

is nearness, and time's mishaps are trifling.

A polished sword unlike any scabbards.

فاز فتى يرجوك لا بل خاب من

فاز فتى يرجوك لا بل خاب من

عليك بعد الله لا يتكل

عليك بعد الله لا يتكل

Fortunate is the youth who hopes in you—no, rather, lost is he who

And may you remain as long as the knots of praise

does not rely on you, after God.

From its branches continue to untie upon you.

فاقبل حصان الذيل بنت ليلة

فاقبل حصان الذيل بنت ليلة

وليها العام السعيد المقبل

وليها العام السعيد المقبل

So accept a chaste-hemmed daughter of a night,

whose guardian is the happy coming year.

تسير في الدنيا كنعماك فما

تسير في الدنيا كنعماك فما

تقيم إلا ريثما ترتحل

تقيم إلا ريثما ترتحل

She travels the world like your favors, and

stays only long enough to depart.

وان ينل منها لغوب فلها

وان ينل منها لغوب فلها

الأَسماع ورد والقلوب منزل

الأَسماع ورد والقلوب منزل

And if weariness overtakes her, she has

ears as her watering-place, and hearts as her lodging.

سحر حلال لم يشبه كلفة

سحر حلال لم يشبه كلفة

سيف صقيل لم يشبه فلل

سيف صقيل لم يشبه فلل

Lawful magic, not mingled with strain;

a polished sword, unmarred by nicks.

ودمت ما دامت عقود الحمد من

ودمت ما دامت عقود الحمد من

جمانها عليكم تفصل

جمانها عليكم تفصل

And may you endure as long as necklaces of praise, from

their pearls, are fashioned for you.