أأبكتْكَ المعاهدُ والمغاني

أأبكتْكَ المعاهدُ والمغاني

كدأبك قبلَهُنَّ من الغواني

كدأبك قبلَهُنَّ من الغواني

Have the old haunts and dwellings made you weep,

Do covenants and songs make you cry,

as was your wont before them with beautiful women?

As the loves did before them make you sigh?

وقفتُ بهن فاستمطرتُ عيني

وقفتُ بهن فاستمطرتُ عيني

غياثاً والتذكُّرُ قد شجاني

غياثاً والتذكُّرُ قد شجاني

I stood at them and called on my eye for rain,

I stopped at them and made my eyes rain,

a relieving downpour, for remembrance had grieved me.

As remembrance pierced me with its pain.

فجاد سحابُها تَمْريه ريحٌ

فجاد سحابُها تَمْريه ريحٌ

من الزفرات تلحَى من لحاني

من الزفرات تلحَى من لحاني

Its cloud poured forth, urged to rain by a wind

So their clouds poured down gently blown,

of sighs that rebuked whoever rebuked me.

Sighs like showers pelted from my groan.

أجلتُ بها جُماناً من دموعي

أجلتُ بها جُماناً من دموعي

لذكرِي غير جائلة الجمان

لذكرِي غير جائلة الجمان

I sent pearls of my tears rolling there,

With them I put off a troop of my tears,

remembering one whose pearls did not sway.

For my remembrance, time never wears.

وما إن زلتُ أنعي الصبرَ مِنِّي

وما إن زلتُ أنعي الصبرَ مِنِّي

إلى ذي خُلَّتي حتى نعاني

إلى ذي خُلَّتي حتى نعاني

I kept announcing the death of my patience

I will not cease to blame the loss of my patience,

to my intimate friend, until he announced mine.

To the confidant till we gain equivalence.

ولم تر مثلَ دمع مستغاث

ولم تر مثلَ دمع مستغاث

ولا كزفير صدرٍ مستعان

ولا كزفير صدرٍ مستعان

You have never seen the like of tears called on for help,

You've not seen tears plead for help like mine,

nor of a breast's sigh enlisted for aid:

Nor sighs from a breast that mourn and pine,

مُعِينَا مُغرمٍ إذْ لا معينٌ

مُعِينَا مُغرمٍ إذْ لا معينٌ

نصيرَا مُسْلَمٍ متظاهران

نصيرَا مُسْلَمٍ متظاهران

two helpers of a lovesick man when no helper remained,

Aiding a lover whom no aid attends,

two allies of an abandoned man, supporting each other.

Or saving a Muslim shame openly pretends.

أعاناني على البُرَحاء لمَّا

أعاناني على البُرَحاء لمَّا

أعان عليَّ ثَم العاذلان

أعان عليَّ ثَم العاذلان

They helped me against torment when

They gave me aid against desolation, when

the two reprovers there lent their aid against me.

They helped me, then left me alone again.

عدِمتهما لقد خذلا وضنَّا

عدِمتهما لقد خذلا وضنَّا

هناك برعيتي عمَّن رعاني

هناك برعيتي عمَّن رعاني

May I lose them both! They deserted me and begrudged

I missed them both; they failed me and barred

me there the care of those who cared for me.

Me there from my dear fold they once guarded.

ألا أسقي دموعي دارَ ظَبْي

ألا أسقي دموعي دارَ ظَبْي

لو اسْتَسْقَيْتُ رِيقَتَه سقاني

لو اسْتَسْقَيْتُ رِيقَتَه سقاني

Should I not water with my tears the home of a gazelle

Shall I not water a Gazelle's abode with my tear,

who would give me drink if I asked for his saliva?

If I sucked its spittle to quench my fire?

بلَى لا سيّما وبيَ اشتفاءٌ

بلَى لا سيّما وبيَ اشتفاءٌ

بسحِّي عَبْرَتِي مِمَّا عراني

بسحِّي عَبْرَتِي مِمَّا عراني

Indeed—especially since I find healing

Yes, especially when my love lies cured

from what befell me by pouring out my tears.

By shedding my tears for all I've endured.

قَضى حقَّيْنِ في حَقٍّ عميدٌ

قَضى حقَّيْنِ في حَقٍّ عميدٌ

بكى شجوَ الأحبةِ والمغاني

بكى شجوَ الأحبةِ والمغاني

A love-stricken man fulfilled two duties in one:

A time-honored right rule has paid my due,

he wept the sorrow of loved ones and their dwellings,

Weeping at the absence of song and lover true,

وداوى قلبَهُ من داء شَوْق

وداوى قلبَهُ من داء شَوْق

عراه ففيم لامَ اللائمان

عراه ففيم لامَ اللائمان

and healed his heart of the sickness of longing

And healed with yearning his love-sick heart

that assailed him—so why did the two reprovers blame him?

Bared, so why blame him whose robe was part?

ولكن لا ارتجاعَ لما تقضَّى

ولكن لا ارتجاعَ لما تقضَّى

فما استشعارُ باقٍ ذِكرَ فاني

فما استشعارُ باقٍ ذِكرَ فاني

But what has passed cannot be retrieved;

But no return for what is fulfilled,

why should one who remains cherish the memory of one gone?

For consciousness of transient days wasted and killed.

وفي هذا الأوان وفي نُهاهُ

وفي هذا الأوان وفي نُهاهُ

شواغلُ عن صِبَى ذاك الأوان

شواغلُ عن صِبَى ذاك الأوان

In this present age, and in its wisdom,

Now in this time and at its end,

are concerns that distract from that former age's youthful passion.

Worldly affairs have called me from friend.

برئتُ من الصبابةِ والتَّصابي

برئتُ من الصبابةِ والتَّصابي

إلى الغزلان والنفرِ الرواني

إلى الغزلان والنفرِ الرواني

I have renounced yearning and the pretense of youth

I'm done with youth and passion's call

for gazelles and the company of lingering gazers.

To does and the streaming horses' stall.

وزاريةٍ عليَّ بأن رأتني

وزاريةٍ عليَّ بأن رأتني

من الهزلى حقيراً في السِّمان

من الهزلى حقيراً في السِّمان

A woman scorned me because she saw me

A critic saw me as the base and vile,

as a paltry lean man among the fat.

Said I'm diminished by loves beguile.

صَبرتُ لها وقلتُ مقال حُرٍّ

صَبرتُ لها وقلتُ مقال حُرٍّ

إليكِ فإنَّني باللَّه غاني

إليكِ فإنَّني باللَّه غاني

I bore with her and spoke as a free man speaks:

I was patient with her and said free-spoken,

'Away with you! Through God, I am self-sufficient.'

“To you I belong, by God a token.”

وليستْ خِسَّةُ الأجفانِ مِمَّا

وليستْ خِسَّةُ الأجفانِ مِمَّا

يُخَسِّسُ قيمةَ النَّصْلِ اليماني

يُخَسِّسُ قيمةَ النَّصْلِ اليماني

The meanness of the sheaths is not something

My downcast eyes have no cause for shame,

that diminishes the worth of a Yemeni blade.

To devalue a Yemeni sword's claim.

وليْسَتْ إنْ نظرتِ بزائداتٍ

وليْسَتْ إنْ نظرتِ بزائداتٍ

حُلى الأغماد في السَّيْفِ الدَّدانِ

حُلى الأغماد في السَّيْفِ الدَّدانِ

Nor, if you look closely, are they any enhancement—

If you look closely, you find it's not

the ornaments of scabbards—to a blunt sword.

Scabbards that lofty blades are fraught.

فمن يكُ سائلاً ما وجهُ فَخْرِي

فمن يكُ سائلاً ما وجهُ فَخْرِي

فإني فاخِرٌ أدبي زَهاني

فإني فاخِرٌ أدبي زَهاني

Whoever asks what grounds I have for pride:

Who asks the source of my pride, for I'm proud

I am proud; my learning has made me proud.

Of my literature which mocks the crowd.

ونحنُ معاشرَ الشُّعَراءِ نَنْمي

ونحنُ معاشرَ الشُّعَراءِ نَنْمي

إلى نسب من الكُتّاب داني

إلى نسب من الكُتّاب داني

We, the company of poets, trace our descent

We poets trace to the writers' tribe

to a lineage close to that of the scribes,

A lineage, by time and world imbibed.

وإن كانوا أحقَّ بكلِّ فَضْلٍ

وإن كانوا أحقَّ بكلِّ فَضْلٍ

وأبلغَ باللسان وبالبنان

وأبلغَ باللسان وبالبنان

though they are more entitled to every distinction

Though they have the utmost merit and skill,

and more eloquent with tongue and fingertips.

More eloquent tongues and hands to fulfill;

أبُونا عندَ نِسْبتِنا أبوهم

أبُونا عندَ نِسْبتِنا أبوهم

عطاردٌ السماويُّ المكان

عطاردٌ السماويُّ المكان

When we trace our lineage, our father is their father:

Our father in our lineage is their father,

Mercury, whose dwelling is in heaven,

Mercury, celestial orb in its weather.

أديبٌ لم يلِدْ إلا أديباً

أديبٌ لم يلِدْ إلا أديباً

ذكيّ القلبِ مشحوذَ اللسان

ذكيّ القلبِ مشحوذَ اللسان

a man of letters who begets only men of letters,

A scholar who only scholars bred,

keen of heart and sharp of tongue,

Wise of heart and sharp of head,

مليئاً إن توسّم بالمعاني

مليئاً إن توسّم بالمعاني

وفيَّاً إنْ تَكَلَّمَ بالبيان

وفيَّاً إنْ تَكَلَّمَ بالبيان

rich in meanings when he discerns,

Full, if of meanings he grew aware,

fully endowed with eloquence when he speaks.

And excellent, if he speaks his care.

أإخوتَنا من الكتَّابِ رِقُّوا

أإخوتَنا من الكتَّابِ رِقُّوا

عليْنَا من مُغالطةِ الزَّمان

عليْنَا من مُغالطةِ الزَّمان

O our brothers among the scribes, have pity

O writers, have mercy on us, don't dictate

on us against Time's deception.

What an era's injustice might relate.

فإنْ لم تفعلوا وجفوْتمونا

فإنْ لم تفعلوا وجفوْتمونا

على إثرائِكم فيمن جفاني

على إثرائِكم فيمن جفاني

But if you do not, and you shun us

If you don't and you're harsh to us,

despite your wealth, joining those who have shunned me,

Despite enriching you as we were thus;

فإنَّ أبا الحسين أخا المعالي

فإنَّ أبا الحسين أخا المعالي

طَبيبٌ إنْ تَفَرَّد بي شفاني

طَبيبٌ إنْ تَفَرَّد بي شفاني

then Abu al-Husayn, brother of noble deeds,

Then Father Abu Al Husain, Brother of the Lofty Signs,

is a physician who cures me even if he alone attends me.

Is a doctor who alone can heal my lines.

طبيبٌ كم شفاني من سَقامٍ

طبيبٌ كم شفاني من سَقامٍ

وما جدحَ الدواءَ ولا رقاني

وما جدحَ الدواءَ ولا رقاني

A physician—how often he has cured me of sickness,

A doctor who healed me of many a sickness,

without mixing medicine or chanting a charm over me.

His medicine never harsh or quickness.

فهلْ يُرْضيهِ شكرٌ أعجزتْهُ

فهلْ يُرْضيهِ شكرٌ أعجزتْهُ

يداه فما له بهما يدان

يداه فما له بهما يدان

Would gratitude please him, when it is overwhelmed

Can mere thanks satisfy when it couldn't avail,

by his two hands and has no strength to match them?

Since to his hands I cannot prevail?

نعَمْ إنَّ الفتَى سمحٌ تمامٌ

نعَمْ إنَّ الفتَى سمحٌ تمامٌ

وفي السُّمَحاءِ منقوصُ المعاني

وفي السُّمَحاءِ منقوصُ المعاني

Yes: this young man is generous and complete,

Yes, the lad is generous, complete,

while some generous men are deficient in their qualities.

And in generosity, meanings deplete.

يجودُ أبو الحسين ولا يعاني

يجودُ أبو الحسين ولا يعاني

منافَسةَ الجِراء كما نُعاني

منافَسةَ الجِراء كما نُعاني

Abu al-Husayn gives freely, without enduring

Abu Al Husayn gives freely and feels no dearth,

the rivalry of racing as we endure it.

Unlike we feel competing for worth.

غدا عن كلِّ مَحْمدةٍ سَخِيّاً

غدا عن كلِّ مَحْمدةٍ سَخِيّاً

وليس بها عليه من هوان

وليس بها عليه من هوان

He freely yields every claim to praise,

Tomorrow he will freely give any praise,

though he does not hold praise in contempt,

Without owning it he'll amaze.

ولكنْ همَّةٌ رَفَعَتْهُ حتى

ولكنْ همَّةٌ رَفَعَتْهُ حتى

سمتْ قدماه فوق الفرقدان

سمتْ قدماه فوق الفرقدان

but an aspiration has raised him until

But his ambition lifted him so high,

his feet soared above the two Farqad stars.

His feet went above the throne on high.

وتخفيفٌ عن الإخوان منه

وتخفيفٌ عن الإخوان منه

وإنْ هم ثقَّلوا في كل آن

وإنْ هم ثقَّلوا في كل آن

He also lightens his brothers' burdens,

He eases others though heaviness prevails,

even if they heap burdens on him at every moment.

And always helps when one fails.

ولم تر طالباً للحمد أحْظَى

ولم تر طالباً للحمد أحْظَى

به من طالبٍ فيه تواني

به من طالبٍ فيه تواني

You have never seen a seeker of praise more favored

You've not seen one who seeks less fame,

with it than one who is leisurely in its pursuit.

Rewarded more than one who's too tame.

إذا نامَ الجوادُ عن التقاضي

إذا نامَ الجوادُ عن التقاضي

أتاه الحمدُ يركض غيَر واني

أتاه الحمدُ يركض غيَر واني

When a generous man sleeps, heedless of claiming his due,

When the steed sleeps and claims no prize,

praise comes galloping to him, never flagging.

Fame comes galloping bringing highs.

أعدِّدُ لابن أحمد بن يحيى

أعدِّدُ لابن أحمد بن يحيى

مكارمَ غير خاشعة المباني

مكارمَ غير خاشعة المباني

I count for the son of Ahmad ibn Yahya

I count the merits of Ahmad ibn Yahya's son,

noble deeds whose edifices stand unbowed.

Generosities like towering dunes.

فتىً ضَمنَ الصيانة وهي سُؤْلي

فتىً ضَمنَ الصيانة وهي سُؤْلي

فكان ضمانه أملَى ضمان

فكان ضمانه أملَى ضمان

A man who pledged protection, my desire,

He brought security, though it was my request,

and his pledge was the surest pledge.

So his guarantee was the real test.

وآمَننِي تلوُّنَ حالتيْهِ

وآمَننِي تلوُّنَ حالتيْهِ

فكان أمانه أوفى أمان

فكان أمانه أوفى أمان

He shielded me from changes in his two states,

The changing of my states has secured me,

and his assurance was the fullest assurance.

So his safety was the best safety.

بل انتقدَ الحياةَ من المنايا

بل انتقدَ الحياةَ من المنايا

بجودٍ كالجلادِ وكالطعان

بجودٍ كالجلادِ وكالطعان

Rather, he wrested life from death

But he ransomed life from death's pull,

with generosity like sword-fighting and spear-thrusts.

With a munificence that pierced and lulled.

قسطْتُ على الزَّمانِ به فأضحى

قسطْتُ على الزَّمانِ به فأضحى

وقد أعفَى بحقِّي واتَّقاني

وقد أعفَى بحقِّي واتَّقاني

Through him I dealt harshly with Time, and now it

I burdened time with him, so he could

has paid my due in full and fears me.

Acquit my right with care and good.

فتَى الكتّابِ نُبْلاً واضطلاعاً

فتَى الكتّابِ نُبْلاً واضطلاعاً

وصدقَ أمانةٍ وعلوَّ شان

وصدقَ أمانةٍ وعلوَّ شان

The scribes' foremost man in nobility and capability,

The writers' youth, noble and knowing,

in true integrity and exalted standing.

Truthful, sure, and status showing.

شكرتُ له نداه وإن أراني

شكرتُ له نداه وإن أراني

نداه تخلُّفي فيما أراني

نداه تخلُّفي فيما أراني

I thanked him for his bounty, though I was shown

I thanked his hand though it showed me,

by it how far I fell short of what he showed me.

His hand left me lacking, it was plain to see.

أنالَ وقلتُ يُعطيني وأثنَى

أنالَ وقلتُ يُعطيني وأثنَى

فما جاريتُهُ حتى شآني

فما جاريتُهُ حتى شآني

He bestowed; I said, 'He gives to me'; and he praised me,

He gave me and I praised, but didn't equal him,

so before I could match his pace, he outstripped me.

Until he showered me beyond the brim.

أبرَّ عليَّ إبرارَ المُعادي

أبرَّ عليَّ إبرارَ المُعادي

وليٌّ منه بَرَّ فما اتَّلاني

وليٌّ منه بَرَّ فما اتَّلاني

He outdid me as an adversary would—

He was righteous to me like a hating foe,

a friend whose kindness left me no chance to follow him.

But a friend wronged me, even in show.

فلولا أنَّه رجلٌ كريمٌ

فلولا أنَّه رجلٌ كريمٌ

لقلتُ هناك ممدوحي هجاني

لقلتُ هناك ممدوحي هجاني

Had he not been a generous man,

If he weren't a noble man,

I would have said there, 'The man I praise has lampooned me.'

I'd have said my praise made him vain.

ولولا أنني رجلٌ سليمٌ

ولولا أنني رجلٌ سليمٌ

لقابلتُ الصنيعةَ باضْطغان

لقابلتُ الصنيعةَ باضْطغان

And had I not been a guileless man,

If I weren't a man of integrity, too,

I would have answered his kindness with rancor.

I'd have met his favor with hate undue.

ولو سَخِطَ امرؤ يُولَى جميلاً

ولو سَخِطَ امرؤ يُولَى جميلاً

سَخِطتُ وحُقَّ لي مِمَّا اعتلاني

سَخِطتُ وحُقَّ لي مِمَّا اعتلاني

If a man could resent receiving a kindness,

If one grows angry when given favor,

I would resent it, and rightly, for what overwhelmed me.

I'd grow angry, my state exposed as color.

وما سَخَطِي على من جاءَ يَجرِي

وما سَخَطِي على من جاءَ يَجرِي

إليَّ وغبطتي فَرَسَيْ رِهان

إليَّ وغبطتي فَرَسَيْ رِهان

But why would I resent a man who came racing

I'm not angry at one who came to grace me,

toward me—he and my happiness a pair of racing steeds?

My pride in him like steeds race me.

وما حسدي امرءاً ما زال يُغْرِي

وما حسدي امرءاً ما زال يُغْرِي

بي الحُسَّادَ وهْوَ علَيَّ حاني

بي الحُسَّادَ وهْوَ علَيَّ حاني

And why would I envy a man who keeps stirring

Nor am I envious of one who set the enviers,

the envious against me, while tenderly caring for me?

To slander me while he stayed staunch, nary stirs.

حلفتُ لقد غدا في النَّاسِ فرداً

حلفتُ لقد غدا في النَّاسِ فرداً

فليتَ اللَّهَ يُؤْنسُه بثاني

فليتَ اللَّهَ يُؤْنسُه بثاني

I swear, he has become peerless among men;

I swear from now he's matchless among all,

would that God gave him a second to keep him company!

If only God would give him a comrade's call.

وليتَ اللَّه يغفِرُ لي اشتطاطي

وليتَ اللَّه يغفِرُ لي اشتطاطي

فقد جاز اشتطاط ذوي الأماني

فقد جاز اشتطاط ذوي الأماني

And would that God forgave me my extravagance,

If only God forgives my raging,

for it exceeds the extravagance of wishful dreamers.

For raging can suit those love engaging.

محمد يا ابنَ أحمدَ يا ابنَ يحيى

محمد يا ابنَ أحمدَ يا ابنَ يحيى

أخا الآلاءِ والنِّعمِ الحسانِ

أخا الآلاءِ والنِّعمِ الحسانِ

Muhammad, O son of Ahmad, O son of Yahya,

Muhammad, O son of Ahmad, O son of Yahya,

brother of favors and beautiful blessings,

Brother of munificence and graces of joy!

أما لقد ارتَهنْتَ الدهرَ شكري

أما لقد ارتَهنْتَ الدهرَ شكري

بعرفكَ غيرَ معتمدِ ارتهان

بعرفكَ غيرَ معتمدِ ارتهان

truly, you have held my gratitude in pledge for all time

You've taken my gratitude as pledge,

with your kindness, never intending to take a pledge,

Based on your custom, not contingent edge.

كما اسْتعبدْتَني وملكت رِقِّي

كما اسْتعبدْتَني وملكت رِقِّي

بلطفك غيرَ معتمد امتهان

بلطفك غيرَ معتمد امتهان

just as you enslaved me and took possession of my bondage

You captured me, ruled my slavery,

through your gentleness, never intending humiliation.

With your kindness, not dependent mastery.

وما الرجُل الطليقُ الحُرُّ إلا

وما الرجُل الطليقُ الحُرُّ إلا

أسيرٌ في يدَيْ نعماكَ عاني

أسيرٌ في يدَيْ نعماكَ عاني

The unfettered, free man is nothing but

A free man unfettered, unconfined, is only

a captive bound in the two hands of your bounty;

A prisoner in your favors, bowing lowly.

ولا الرجلُ الأسيرُ العَبْدُ إلا

ولا الرجلُ الأسيرُ العَبْدُ إلا

طليقٌ من يدٍ لك وامتنان

طليقٌ من يدٍ لك وامتنان

and the captive, enslaved man is nothing but

A captive slave in others' hands can only be,

a freed man through your benefaction and grace.

Free from what you possess, captivity.

بقيتَ بقاءَ ما تبني فإني

بقيتَ بقاءَ ما تبني فإني

أراهُ بقاءَ يذبُلَ أو أَبان

أراهُ بقاءَ يذبُلَ أو أَبان

May you endure as long as what you build, for I

You remain eternal by what you've built,

see it lasting as long as Yadhbul or Aban.

I see it lasting until it wilts or fades.