ليهْنك لبس المِهرجان وإن غدا

ليهْنك لبس المِهرجان وإن غدا

تُهنِّئه الدنيا بأنك لابسُهْ

تُهنِّئه الدنيا بأنك لابسُهْ

May your Mihrajan attire bring you joy, though now

Let your wearing of festival clothes delight you, even if the world tomorrow congratulates you for wearing them,

the world congratulates it because you wear it.

And that you are a pillar of the kingdom and the king whose standards kings’ measures fall short of,

وأنك ركنُ الملك والملِك الذي

وأنك ركنُ الملك والملِك الذي

تطول مقاييسَ الملوك مقَايسُهْ

تطول مقاييسَ الملوك مقَايسُهْ

And that you are the pillar of kingship and the king whose

And it congratulates you that no glory remains which you aspire to that your hands cannot attain, and that no palm remains to compete with it,

measure surpasses the measures of kings.

And that you have subdued misfortunes so that they submit to your might, so that no calamity remains which it can confront.

ويَهنيك أنْ لم يبقَ مجدٌ ترومُهُ

ويَهنيك أنْ لم يبقَ مجدٌ ترومُهُ

يداك وأن لم تبق كف تُنافسه

يداك وأن لم تبق كف تُنافسه

And joy to you that no glory remains for

For preoccupations have left you vacant, and blessed is your vacancy from the judgments you were conducting.

your hands to seek, nor any hand left to rival you.

Indeed, such leisure is for the likes of you, for it is the rehearsal of knowledge whose rehearsals do not pall.

وأنك ذلَّلت الخطوبَ فأذعنتْ

وأنك ذلَّلت الخطوبَ فأذعنتْ

لعزِّك حتى ليس خَطْبٌ يمارسه

لعزِّك حتى ليس خَطْبٌ يمارسه

And that you subdued calamities, and they yielded

There remains in your self something that sparks and nothing can rival the striking of the flint of knowledge.

to your might, until no calamity could contend with it.

And a generous largesse whose wealth does not cease, its bounties given unstintingly and its rarities.

فقد فرَّغتك الشاغلاتُ وحبَّذا

فقد فرَّغتك الشاغلاتُ وحبَّذا

فَراغُك من أحكام ما أنت سائسه

فَراغُك من أحكام ما أنت سائسه

Distracting cares have left you free, and how welcome

For every boon companion, the days of his life and the radiance of his face,

your leisure from the ordering of what you govern.

One day is overcast, another bright and sunny.

ألا فالْهُ لهوَ المرء مثلِك إنهُ

ألا فالْهُ لهوَ المرء مثلِك إنهُ

مُدارسُ علمٍ لا تُملُّ مَدارسه

مُدارسُ علمٍ لا تُملُّ مَدارسه

Now enjoy the pastime of a man like you: for he

All enjoy your hospitality, and indeed only the produce of palms is sweet whose roots are sweet.

studies knowledge whose lessons never weary.

And the taking of a share of listening, when the cares of the anxious youth are deadened by it.

تظل له من ذاتِ نفسك قادِحاً

تظل له من ذاتِ نفسك قادِحاً

وليس يُداني قادحَ العلم قابسه

وليس يُداني قادحَ العلم قابسه

You keep striking its sparks from your own soul,

The melodies of the world move you when its singers compete,

and knowledge's borrower cannot approach its spark-kindler.

And the drinking of wine whose draughts God has declared lawful, to which bow the prime of youth and the obstinate.

وبذل كريم ليس ينفكُّ مالُهُ

وبذل كريم ليس ينفكُّ مالُهُ

كرائمُهُ مبذولةٌ ونفائسه

كرائمُهُ مبذولةٌ ونفائسه

And a generous man's giving, whose wealth is ever—

Colored by the vine are types, but for its darkening them would cover it a yellow shirt and its woof.

its choicest things and treasures—freely bestowed.

Its drinkers have voluntarily kindled its fire, and the body of fire is no body that one can touch.

لكل جليسٍ من يديه ووجهه

لكل جليسٍ من يديه ووجهه

يدَ الدهرِ يومٌ غائمُ الجو شامسه

يدَ الدهرِ يومٌ غائمُ الجو شامسه

For each companion, his hands and face bring

For it experienced the pain of cooking in days of old until its disgrace was stripped away from it and the doubts about it disappeared,

a day, forever, cloudy in its sky yet bright with sun.

Then it stood in the abjection of lowliness until its clothes were crumpled away from its purity and its clothes.

تطيب مَجانيه جميعاً وإنما

تطيب مَجانيه جميعاً وإنما

تطيب مجاني من تطيب مَغارسه

تطيب مجاني من تطيب مَغارسه

All his gathered fruits are sweet; and only

And it was brought as a bride to the drinking of beneficence, so they held high festival which no ill-omened thing attended

those whose plantings are sweet bear sweet fruit.

And which encompassed on the horizon of the sky its good fortune, and on the earth its generosities and bells.

وأخذٌ بحظٍّ من سماعٍ إذا التقى

وأخذٌ بحظٍّ من سماعٍ إذا التقى

وهمُّ الفتى المهموم ماتت هَواجِسه

وهمُّ الفتى المهموم ماتت هَواجِسه

And taking a share of music, which, when it meets

In the presence of a king whose might refuses vainglory, and who is adorned by both his intimates and his court.

the careworn youth's sorrow, kills his brooding thoughts.

He has a tranquility which if it touched stone would cause water to spring from its sides, and the withered to leaf.

تسيرُ بك الدنيا إذا ما تَنازَعتْ

تسيرُ بك الدنيا إذا ما تَنازَعتْ

نَواطقُة ألحانَهُ وخوارسُه

نَواطقُة ألحانَهُ وخوارسُه

The world carries you along whenever

If his face, opinion or action shine radiantly in a night whose thick darknesses dazzle,

its voiced and voiceless instruments exchange its melodies.

He espied the right course and proper hearing, while his judgments and estimations remain correct.

وشربُ شَمول أطلق اللَهُ شُربَها

وشربُ شَمول أطلق اللَهُ شُربَها

تَدين لها بِكرُ الشباب وعانِسه

تَدين لها بِكرُ الشباب وعانِسه

And drinking wine whose drinking God has permitted:

Two noble qualities tremble the generous man over them, as the fir trembled which resisting axes cut down.

youth's freshness and its ripeness both bow to it.

When they tempt the soul of a well-fashioned man with loss and gain or the love of death that engulfs him.

من الكُمت ألواناً ولولا اصْطِلاؤها

من الكُمت ألواناً ولولا اصْطِلاؤها

عَلاها قميصٌ أصفر اللون وارِسه

عَلاها قميصٌ أصفر اللون وارِسه

Chestnut-dark in color; had it not faced the fire,

But he resisted them for glory, for were his soul not aroused for a glory above which it rises he would not resist them,

a shirt would have clothed it, its dyer yellow-hued.

And neither the sea, nor the seas with their depths, nor the lion, nor the lions with their cubs.

وقَتْ شاربيها النارَ عمداً بنفسها

وقَتْ شاربيها النارَ عمداً بنفسها

وما كان جسمُ النار جسماً تُلامسه

وما كان جسمُ النار جسماً تُلامسه

It deliberately shielded its drinkers from fire with itself,

More truthful in his generosity in every crisis, and more valiant when the trembling of his steed’s legs shake his horsemen,

though fire's body was no body it could touch.

By him the age, however much it is dispraised, hopes- his beseecher and his despairer.

فقاست أليمَ الطبخ يوماً مُكَمَّلاً

فقاست أليمَ الطبخ يوماً مُكَمَّلاً

يخالسُها أجزاءها وتُخالسه

يخالسُها أجزاءها وتُخالسه

So it endured painful cooking for a whole day,

Tomorrow he will attain what he will attain, even if what of glory he already has would suffice him

the heat stealing its substance, and it stealing from the heat.

But he refuses except to act with its like when an inheritance that guards the inheritance is lost.

فلما تجلَّى حِلُّها من حرامها

فلما تجلَّى حِلُّها من حرامها

وزالت عن المرتاب فيها وساوسه

وزالت عن المرتاب فيها وساوسه

Then, when its lawful portion stood clear of its forbidden,

So cease, you who speak ill, to extinguish his light- but that is a light whose wicks you cannot snuff,

and the doubter's misgivings about it had vanished,

You have attained the star so extinguish it! How can you attain it? And if you attained it you would not leave unextinguished.

ثوتْ في قَرار الدَنِّ حتى تهلهلت

ثوتْ في قَرار الدَنِّ حتى تهلهلت

ملابسُها عنِ صَفْوها وملابسه

ملابسُها عنِ صَفْوها وملابسه

it rested in the jar's depths, until threadbare grew

Abu Ahmad, still your glory remains a morsel that chokes every envious or evasive rival.

its robes about its clear essence, and that essence's robes.

I swear you are the speaker, the doer, who tomorrow glory will be confined by its fetters.

وزُفَّت إلى شَربِ كرام فمهْرجوا

وزُفَّت إلى شَربِ كرام فمهْرجوا

بها مِهْرجاناً غاب عنه مَناحسه

بها مِهْرجاناً غاب عنه مَناحسه

It was led like a bride to noble drinkers, who celebrated

When your peer attains his peer, your peer is as the star- touch it and you violate its taboo!

with it a Mihrajan untouched by ill omens.

You have attained the mounts of the world and are not like the ruled is to you the ruler.

وحَفَّته في أفقِ السماءِ سُعودُهُ

وحَفَّته في أفقِ السماءِ سُعودُهُ

وفي الأرض خِيريَّاته ونَراجسه

وفي الأرض خِيريَّاته ونَراجسه

Its lucky stars surrounded it on the sky's horizon,

Indeed, many a saying you have said, O Ibn Tahir, by which after tumult its echoes resound,

and on earth its wallflowers and narcissi.

And deed the doers saw you do, so they bent their necks abased, each humbled before you.

لدى ملك يأبَى له الزَّهوَ قَدْرُهُ

لدى ملك يأبَى له الزَّهوَ قَدْرُهُ

ويُزهَى به جُلاسه ومَجالسه

ويُزهَى به جُلاسه ومَجالسه

Before a king whose stature forbids him pride,

After it speech is ashamed, so that those adept at speech fall silent,

though his companions and gatherings take pride in him.

Until speech leaves the mute inept.

له راحة لو مستِ الصخر أنبعت

له راحة لو مستِ الصخر أنبعت

جوانبُه ماءً وأورق يابسه

جوانبُه ماءً وأورق يابسه

He has a palm which, if it touched rock, would make

To action every doer is urged so that all of them circle back to it wearing it.

its sides gush water and its dry parts put forth leaves.

I am amazed by him who gifts you poetry as a present yet speaks poetry while beneath you in rank.

إذا وجهُهُ أو رأيُهُ أو فَعالُهُ

إذا وجهُهُ أو رأيُهُ أو فَعالُهُ

تبلَّجن فيِ ليلٍ تجلّتْ حَنادِسه

تبلَّجن فيِ ليلٍ تجلّتْ حَنادِسه

If his face, his counsel, or his deeds

Does he gift you poetry after hearing by your poetry, except one inattentive of heart and sleepy?

shone in a night, its darkness would clear.

You who can summon speech by power so that diffident speech comes to you familiar.

رأى الراح قدْماً والسماع ولم تزل

رأى الراح قدْماً والسماع ولم تزل

مسدَّدةً آراؤُهُ ومَحادسه

مسدَّدةً آراؤُهُ ومَحادسه

Long ago he saw wine and music—and ever

Is that not so? Or does the stumbler in resolution spurn it from you, after seeing your gifts?

his judgments and intuitions remained sound—

You who have cleared the way for bounty until its path smiled, like a downpour that laughs at thickly planted meadows.

شعارَين يهتز الكريمُ عليهما

شعارَين يهتز الكريمُ عليهما

كما اهتزَّ صَمْصَامٌ جلتْه مَداوِسه

كما اهتزَّ صَمْصَامٌ جلتْه مَداوِسه

as two emblems that set a noble man stirring,

Barriers all but bar poetry from you when it measures itself one day against your poetry, unequal.

as a keen sword quivers when its burnishers polish it.

So it hies with joy that there is no seller of praise when it sees you, though you drive a hard bargain against it.

إذا خامرا نفسَ امرئٍ زيّنا له

إذا خامرا نفسَ امرئٍ زيّنا له

سدى أو ندى أو وِرْدَ موتٍ يُغامسه

سدى أو ندى أو وِرْدَ موتٍ يُغامسه

When both enter a man's soul, they make attractive to him

You who says to its people what debars them from poetry in every manner they have not seen the like of,

good deeds, largesse, or death's watering place, where he plunges.

And do what summons them to it so that they all recoil to it, donning it again.

فضافاهما للمجد لا أن نفسهُ

فضافاهما للمجد لا أن نفسهُ

إذا لم يَهزّاها لمجدٍ تُشاكسه

إذا لم يَهزّاها لمجدٍ تُشاكسه

Thus he befriended both for glory, not because his soul,

So their leaving it is an avowal of selves that you are beyond mankind and jinn a horseman.

unless they stirred it toward glory, would resist him.

And their speaking it gratitude you lead them to by deed no base souls have dared.

وما البحر أضحى والبحارُ شعابه

وما البحر أضحى والبحارُ شعابه

ولا الليث أمسى والليوثُ فرَائسه

ولا الليث أمسى والليوثُ فرَائسه

No sea whose branches are all other seas,

Customs of honor that arouse gratitude when firstborn, how can gratitude slumber when honor is watchful?

nor lion whose prey are all other lions,

Though the best of saying from them is from you and from your traces- their fervid fancy takes its heading.

بأصدق جوداً منه في كل أزمة

بأصدق جوداً منه في كل أزمة

وبأساً إذا ما الروْع ريعت فَوارسه

وبأساً إذا ما الروْع ريعت فَوارسه

is truer than he in generosity in every crisis,

Who learned what you have said and done, so the produce of the planting you planted gave its harvest.

or in valor when terror terrifies its own horsemen.

Even if the enemies are unwilling to allow you your share, it is plentiful share, undiminished by rivalry,

به أعتب الدهرُ المذمَّم أهله

به أعتب الدهرُ المذمَّم أهله

فأثَّل راجيه وَأَمَّل يائسه

فأثَّل راجيه وَأَمَّل يائسه

Through him, much-blamed Time made amends to its people,

And even if the unjust belittle your due, it is a weighty due, not unjustly depreciated.

enriching its hopeful and giving its despairing hope.

So live forever in humble life and fortune, even if opposed by one of discordant hatred.

غدا يَبتني ما يبتني ولو اكتفى

غدا يَبتني ما يبتني ولو اكتفى

كفاه من المجد الحديثِ قَدامِسه

كفاه من المجد الحديثِ قَدامِسه

He goes on building what he builds; had he rested content,

You have not ceased to be, on a day you hurl a fleet, for you have many a day hurled its armadas.

his ancient glories would suffice instead of new.

And a narrow strait, its glass surfaces gleaming and its Indian blades and spears flashing.

ولكن أبَى إلا فعالاً بمثله

ولكن أبَى إلا فعالاً بمثله

إذا ضاع إرثٌ يحرس الإرثَ حارسه

إذا ضاع إرثٌ يحرس الإرثَ حارسه

But he insists on deeds by whose like,

The swelling waves of death enfolded my brother, yet their tracks were encompassed by streaming defenders.

when an inheritance is lost, its guardian preserves the legacy.

He came to you letting the dove lead him on though not deterred by those of evil and slanderous natures

فيا قائل السوءَى لتُطفِئَ نورَه

فيا قائل السوءَى لتُطفِئَ نورَه

وذلك نورٌ لا تبوخ مَقابسه

وذلك نورٌ لا تبوخ مَقابسه

O speaker of evil, seeking to extinguish his light:

Who see me with an eye of delusion and falsehood, as an object of perdition, while the fates haggle over him.

that is a light whose kindling flames never go out.

Before he spoke- and the guards were around you, horsemen like a torrent therein are threatening forms,

نَل النجمَ فاطمسْه وأنَّى تنالُه

نَل النجمَ فاطمسْه وأنَّى تنالُه

ولو نلتَه ما خلتُ أنك طامسه

ولو نلتَه ما خلتُ أنك طامسه

Reach the star and blot it out—but how could you reach it?

With cries of warriors, of piercing resolves, their chests dense, their sides massy cuirasses.

Even if you reached it, I would not think you could blot it out.

So his hopes were diminished and plans made vain, though they were such as are not usually vain.

أبا أحمدٍ لا زال مجدك غُصّةً

أبا أحمدٍ لا زال مجدك غُصّةً

لكل حسودٍ أو يواريه رامسه

لكل حسودٍ أو يواريه رامسه

Abu Ahmad, may your glory ever be a choking bone

And he was brought to a basin whose roses remained a pact, pouring the water of life while the sea is parching.

to every envier, until his burier hides him.

How many an object of desire- the death blow stands between it and attainment,

حلفتُ لأنت القائلُ الفاعل الذي

حلفتُ لأنت القائلُ الفاعل الذي

غدا المجدُ محبوساً عليه حَبائسه

غدا المجدُ محبوساً عليه حَبائسه

I swear, you are indeed the man of word and deed

And the expectation of a suppliant, disappointment in the promise, abject.

to whom glory is confined, all its treasures reserved.

He who jousts with the raging maelstrom to subdue it- the maelstrom will surely subdue him.

يراك إذا نال النظيرُ نظيرَهُ

يراك إذا نال النظيرُ نظيرَهُ

نَظيرك مثلُ النجم عَزّت مَلامسه

نَظيرك مثلُ النجم عَزّت مَلامسه

When one peer attains another, he sees you—

And how many a foe of yours has his death blow tasted from the penetrating blades of death and its hacking swords!

that peer of yours—as a star beyond all touch.

While another- deliverance and granted quarters have rescued him to the innermost quarters of an abode you have surely raided.

رأستَ بني الدنيا وليس بنازل

رأستَ بني الدنيا وليس بنازل

بمنزلةِ المرؤوس من أنت رائسه

بمنزلةِ المرؤوس من أنت رائسه

You lead the sons of this world; no man sinks

You have busied yourself with the ethics of the age to tame them, so its unruly may be valiant and its wretch grow prosperous.

to a subject's station when you are his chief.

You have disciplined them like a meadow whose permanent rain has made it fruitful,

ألا رُب قول قلتَهُ يا ابن طاهرٍ

ألا رُب قول قلتَهُ يا ابن طاهرٍ

أصاختْ له بعد الهدير قَناعسه

أصاختْ له بعد الهدير قَناعسه

How many a word you have uttered, son of Tahir,

Weeping over it until its frowner breaks into laughter.

to which the mighty lent their ears after their roaring!

Tomorrow between open and fast closed, cowled and turbaned.

وفعل رآك الفاعلون فعلتَهُ

وفعل رآك الفاعلون فعلتَهُ

فأغضوا وكلٌّ ذلُّه لك عاكسه

فأغضوا وكلٌّ ذلُّه لك عاكسه

And many a deed the doers saw you do,

Bowing in prayer to the orb of the sun aslant, their heads inclined to it if the wind has not followed what inclines.

then lowered their eyes, each bent low by his abasement before you.

At times the Magians turn to it in worship and at times the Christians humble themselves before its temples.

لك القولُ يستحيي ذوو القول بعدَهُ

لك القولُ يستحيي ذوو القول بعدَهُ

من القول حتى يترك النبسَ نابسه

من القول حتى يترك النبسَ نابسه

Yours is speech after which men of speech feel ashamed

Though its diffusion of light praises God since it remains ever sowing it.

to speak, until the speaker abandons even a murmur.

Ever bestowing life, distinguished, guarded, tilted now one way now the other, embraced.

إلى الفعل يَستخذي له كل فاعل

إلى الفعل يَستخذي له كل فاعل

من الناس حتى الأصيد الرأس ناكسه

من الناس حتى الأصيد الرأس ناكسه

Alongside deeds before which every doer humbles himself,

If no downpour befalls it the dew leaves it verdant, handsome, vying.

among men—even the proud bows his head.

When you brought together the daughters of poetry in truth, it befitted brides be revealed to you.

عجبتُ لمن أهدى لك الشعرَ تحفة

عجبتُ لمن أهدى لك الشعرَ تحفة

ومن قال شعراً وهو دونك خانسه

ومن قال شعراً وهو دونك خانسه

I marvel at one who offers you poetry as a gift,

My poetry has shrunk from all but you- so I have launched it toward you and it clings fast to you.

and at one who composes verse, yet keeps it back from you.

أيهدي إليك الشعرَ بعد سماعِه

أيهدي إليك الشعرَ بعد سماعِه

بشعرِك إلا غافِلُ القلب ناعسه

بشعرِك إلا غافِلُ القلب ناعسه

Does anyone offer you verse after hearing

your poetry, save one whose heart is heedless and asleep?

وأنت الذي يدعو الكلامَ بقدرةٍ

وأنت الذي يدعو الكلامَ بقدرةٍ

فيأتيه وَحْشي الكلام وآنسه

فيأتيه وَحْشي الكلام وآنسه

You are he who summons words with power,

and their wild and tame alike come to him.

أذلك أم يَزويه عنك وقد رأى

أذلك أم يَزويه عنك وقد رأى

عطاياك إلا عاثرُ الجَدّ ناعِسه

عطاياك إلا عاثرُ الجَدّ ناعِسه

Is it so—or does anyone withhold it from you, having seen

your gifts, except one whose fortune stumbles and sleeps?

وأنت الذي سحَّ النوالَ بَنانُهُ

وأنت الذي سحَّ النوالَ بَنانُهُ

كما سحَّ غيثٌ ضاحك المزنِ راجسه

كما سحَّ غيثٌ ضاحك المزنِ راجسه

You are he whose fingertips pour out gifts,

as rain pours from smiling, thundering clouds.

تكاد تعوق الشعرَ عنك عوائق

تكاد تعوق الشعرَ عنك عوائق

إذا قاسه يوماً بشعرك قائسه

إذا قاسه يوماً بشعرك قائسه

Hindrances almost keep poetry from you,

whenever someone measures it against your poetry.

فيَحدو به أنْ ليس للحمدِ بائع

فيَحدو به أنْ ليس للحمدِ بائع

يراك وإن أغْلى عليك تُماكسه

يراك وإن أغْلى عليك تُماكسه

Yet what urges it onward is that no seller of praise

finds you haggling, however high he sets your price.

تقول الذي ينهى عن الشعر أهلَه

تقول الذي ينهى عن الشعر أهلَه

بكل طِرازٍ لم يَرَوا ما يجانسه

بكل طِرازٍ لم يَرَوا ما يجانسه

You utter what deters poets from poetry,

in every style whose like they have never seen;

وتفعل ما يدعو إليه فكلُّهم

وتفعل ما يدعو إليه فكلُّهم

يكرُّ عليه عائداً فيُلابسه

يكرُّ عليه عائداً فيُلابسه

and you do what calls them back to it, so all

return to it again and take it up.

فتركهُمُ إياه إقرار أنفُس

فتركهُمُ إياه إقرار أنفُس

بأنك دون الإنس والجن فارِسه

بأنك دون الإنس والجن فارِسه

Their leaving it is their souls' acknowledgment

that you alone, among humans and jinn, are its champion.

وقولُهُمُ إياه شكر تقودهم

وقولُهُمُ إياه شكر تقودهم

إليه بفعل لم تَشنْه خَسائسه

إليه بفعل لم تَشنْه خَسائسه

Their speaking it is gratitude you lead them

to through deeds unsullied by base qualities.

عوائدُ عُرْفٍ يوقظ الشكرَ نخسُه

عوائدُ عُرْفٍ يوقظ الشكرَ نخسُه

وكيف ينام الشكرُ والعرفُ ناخسه

وكيف ينام الشكرُ والعرفُ ناخسه

Repeated kindness whose prodding awakens gratitude:

how could gratitude sleep when kindness spurs it?

على أنهم مَنْ أحسن القول منهمُ

على أنهم مَنْ أحسن القول منهمُ

فمنك ومن آثارِك امتار هاجسه

فمنك ومن آثارِك امتار هاجسه

Yet whoever among them speaks best

has provisioned his inspiration from you and your works.

تعلَّم ما قد قلتَهُ وفعلتهُ

تعلَّم ما قد قلتَهُ وفعلتهُ

فأهدى جنى الغرس الذي أنت غارسه

فأهدى جنى الغرس الذي أنت غارسه

He learned what you have said and done,

then gave you the fruit of the planting you planted.

لئن نَفِس الأعداءُ حظك إنه

لئن نَفِس الأعداءُ حظك إنه

لحَظّ جزيل لا يعنَّف نافسه

لحَظّ جزيل لا يعنَّف نافسه

If enemies envy your portion, it is indeed

a great portion, whose envier should not be reproached.

وإن بخسَ المُطْرون حقك إنهُ

وإن بخسَ المُطْرون حقك إنهُ

لحق ثقيل لا يُظلَّم باخسه

لحق ثقيل لا يُظلَّم باخسه

If eulogists give your due short measure, it is indeed

a weighty due, whose undervaluer is not called unjust.

فعِش أبداً في خفض عيشٍ وغبطةٍ

فعِش أبداً في خفض عيشٍ وغبطةٍ

وإن رَغمت من ذي شقاقٍ مَعاطسه

وإن رَغمت من ذي شقاقٍ مَعاطسه

Live forever in ease and happiness,

though every dissenter's nostrils be rubbed in dust.

ولا زلتَ في يوم ترنُّ قيانه

ولا زلتَ في يوم ترنُّ قيانه

فكم لك من يوم أرنت معاجِسه

فكم لك من يوم أرنت معاجِسه

May you ever spend a day whose singing girls sing,

for many a day have your bow-grips rung.

ومعتركٍ ضَنْكٍ تلوح زِجاجُهُ

ومعتركٍ ضَنْكٍ تلوح زِجاجُهُ

وتبرقُ هِنْديّاته وقوانسه

وتبرقُ هِنْديّاته وقوانسه

And many a narrow battlefield where spear-butts gleam

and Indian swords and helmet crests flash,

شهدت فضلَّت تُرّهاتُ أخي المُنى

شهدت فضلَّت تُرّهاتُ أخي المُنى

وقفَّت على آثارِهن بسَابسه

وقفَّت على آثارِهن بسَابسه

you witnessed, and the dreamer's idle fancies went astray,

and his wastelands followed in their tracks.

أتاك مُدِلّاً والحمام يسوقُهُ

أتاك مُدِلّاً والحمام يسوقُهُ

ولم تنهه من قالِ سوءٍ عَواطسه

ولم تنهه من قالِ سوءٍ عَواطسه

He came to you vaunting, while death drove him on;

his sneezing omens did not restrain him from evil speech.

يراني بعينٍ من غرورٍ وباطلٍ

يراني بعينٍ من غرورٍ وباطلٍ

مُنىً من ضلال والمنايا تشاوسه

مُنىً من ضلال والمنايا تشاوسه

He sees me through an eye of delusion and falsehood,

with misguided hopes, while deaths glare sidelong at him.

فلا قال والخَطِّيّ حولك بينه

فلا قال والخَطِّيّ حولك بينه

فوارسه كالغيل فيه عَنابسه

فوارسه كالغيل فيه عَنابسه

May he speak no more! The Khatt spears around you, with

their horsemen among them, are like a thicket with its lions,

بأرعنَ جرّارٍ عِراضٍ صدورُهُ

بأرعنَ جرّارٍ عِراضٍ صدورُهُ

كثافٍ نَواحيه ضخام كَرادِسه

كثافٍ نَواحيه ضخام كَرادِسه

in a towering, vast-moving army, broad in its fronts,

dense in its flanks, huge in its battalions.

فذيدت أمانيه وهنّ خَوامِسٌ

فذيدت أمانيه وهنّ خَوامِسٌ

وقد كان ممّا لا تُذاد خوامسه

وقد كان ممّا لا تُذاد خوامسه

His hopes were driven off, like camels five days thirsty,

though such thirsty herds of his once could not be driven off.

وأُورد حوضاً ظلَّ عقد وروده

وأُورد حوضاً ظلَّ عقد وروده

يجود بماء النفس والبحر قالسه

يجود بماء النفس والبحر قالسه

He was led to a pool, where throughout his drinking

he poured out life's water, while the sea disgorged it.

وكم من مُنى حالَ المَنَى دون نيلها

وكم من مُنى حالَ المَنَى دون نيلها

وظنِّ مدلٍّ خاس بالعهد خائِسه

وظنِّ مدلٍّ خاس بالعهد خائِسه

How many hopes has death kept from attainment,

and how many a vaunter's expectation had its betrayer break faith!

ومَنْ قامَسَ الحوتَ الملجِّج مرةً

ومَنْ قامَسَ الحوتَ الملجِّج مرةً

ليقمِسَه فالحوت لا شك قامسه

ليقمِسَه فالحوت لا شك قامسه

Whoever contests a dive with the whale of the deep,

to submerge it—the whale will surely submerge him.

وكم لك من ضِدٍّ أذاقتْه حتفَهُ

وكم لك من ضِدٍّ أذاقتْه حتفَهُ

مناصلُ موتٍ ناجزٍ ومَداعِسه

مناصلُ موتٍ ناجزٍ ومَداعِسه

How many a rival of yours has tasted his doom

from the sword-blades and thrusting spears of swift death!

وآخر نجّاهُ نجاءٌ موائلٌ

وآخر نجّاهُ نجاءٌ موائلٌ

إلى عُقر دارٍ أنت لا شك جائسه

إلى عُقر دارٍ أنت لا شك جائسه

Another was saved by a flight that sought refuge

in the heart of a home you will surely penetrate.

عُنيتَ بأخلاق الزمان تروضُها

عُنيتَ بأخلاق الزمان تروضُها

ليبأسَ عاتيه ويَنعم بائسه

ليبأسَ عاتيه ويَنعم بائسه

You have taken Time's character in hand, training it

so its insolent suffer and its wretched prosper.

منحْتُكَها كالروض جادتْه دِيمةٌ

منحْتُكَها كالروض جادتْه دِيمةٌ

بكت فوقه حتى تضاحك عابسه

بكت فوقه حتى تضاحك عابسه

I have given it to you like a garden watered by steady rain

that wept above it until its frowning blossoms laughed.

غدا بين مفتوقٍ وبينِ مكمَّمٍ

غدا بين مفتوقٍ وبينِ مكمَّمٍ

مُبَرْنَسةً قُسَّانه وشَمامسه

مُبَرْنَسةً قُسَّانه وشَمامسه

It stands with blossoms opened and others still hooded,

its priests and deacons wearing cowls.

يُصلِّي لقرن الشمس ميلاً رؤوسه

يُصلِّي لقرن الشمس ميلاً رؤوسه

إليها إذا لم يتبع الريحَ مائسه

إليها إذا لم يتبع الريحَ مائسه

It prays to the sun's horn, its heads bowed

toward it, unless its swaying stems follow the wind.

فطوراً تُولِّيه المجوسَ صلاتُة

فطوراً تُولِّيه المجوسَ صلاتُة

وطوراً توليه النصارى بَرانسه

وطوراً توليه النصارى بَرانسه

Sometimes its prayer makes it seem Magian,

and sometimes its cowls make it seem Christian.

على أنه يُثني على اللَه نشْرُهُ

على أنه يُثني على اللَه نشْرُهُ

بنُعمى غدٍ إذ لم يزل وهو غارِسه

بنُعمى غدٍ إذ لم يزل وهو غارِسه

Yet its fragrance praises God

for tomorrow's blessings, since He has ever been its planter.

حَياً جاده وَسميُّهُ ووليُّهُ

حَياً جاده وَسميُّهُ ووليُّهُ

يراوحه طوراً وطوراً يُغالسه

يراوحه طوراً وطوراً يُغالسه

Rain whose first and following showers watered it,

visiting it sometimes at evening, sometimes before dawn.

إذا لم يُصِبه وابلٌ طلَّه الندى

إذا لم يُصِبه وابلٌ طلَّه الندى

فغادَره خُضراً حِساناً طنافسه

فغادَره خُضراً حِساناً طنافسه

When no downpour strikes it, dew moistens it,

leaving its carpets green and beautiful.

وكنتَ إذا ما الشعر صينت بناتُهُ

وكنتَ إذا ما الشعر صينت بناتُهُ

حقيقاً بأن تُجلَى عليك عرائسه

حقيقاً بأن تُجلَى عليك عرائسه

And when poetry's daughters are guarded, you are

worthy to have its brides unveiled before you.

تقاعس شعري عن سواك فسقْتُهُ

تقاعس شعري عن سواك فسقْتُهُ

إليك فأضحى مُعْنِقاً مُتقاعِسه

إليك فأضحى مُعْنِقاً مُتقاعِسه

My poetry held back from everyone but you; I drove it

to you, and its laggard became swift-paced.