أبا حسن طال المِطال ولم يكن

أبا حسن طال المِطال ولم يكن

غريمك ممطولاً وإني لَصابرُ

غريمك ممطولاً وإني لَصابرُ

O Abu Hasan, the postponement has dragged on, though

Abu Hasan, the delay has dragged on, though never before

your creditor was not one to be put off—and still I am patient.

was your creditor kept waiting; yet I am patient.

وقفت عليك النفس لا أنا واردٌ

وقفت عليك النفس لا أنا واردٌ

على طول أيامي ولا أنا صادر

على طول أيامي ولا أنا صادر

My soul has come to a standstill before you: I neither arrive

I have devoted myself to you; I neither arrive,

through all my lengthening days, nor do I depart.

throughout my days, nor depart.

إذا كنتَ تنسى والمذكِّر غائب

إذا كنتَ تنسى والمذكِّر غائب

وتدفع أمري والمذكِّر حاضر

وتدفع أمري والمذكِّر حاضر

If you forget when no reminder is present,

If you forget when the one reminding you is absent,

and put off my business when the reminder stands before you—

and defer my business when he is present,

فيا ليت شعري والحوادث جمة

فيا ليت شعري والحوادث جمة

متى تُنجز الوعد الذي أنا ناظر

متى تُنجز الوعد الذي أنا ناظر

would that I knew, while vicissitudes crowd upon us,

then would that I knew, with mishaps so many,

when you will fulfill the promise for which I wait.

when you will fulfill the promise I await.

عذرتك لو كان المطال وقد سقَى

عذرتك لو كان المطال وقد سقَى

جنابي ربيع من سمائك باكر

جنابي ربيع من سمائك باكر

I could excuse you, had this long delay already watered

I would excuse you if delay followed a watering

my precinct with an early spring rain from your sky.

of my ground by an early spring rain from your sky.

فأمَّا ولم يُبللْ جنابي بقطرةٍ

فأمَّا ولم يُبللْ جنابي بقطرةٍ

فما لك مني في مطالك عاذر

فما لك مني في مطالك عاذر

But since it has not wet my grounds with a single drop,

But when my ground has not been moistened by a drop,

you have no excuse from me for your delay.

you will not find me excusing your delay.

وإن كنتُ لا ألحاك إلا بهاجسٍ

وإن كنتُ لا ألحاك إلا بهاجسٍ

تَناجَى به تحت الصدور الضمائر

تَناجَى به تحت الصدور الضمائر

Though I rebuke you only through a passing thought,

Though I reproach you only with an inward thought

a secret whispered by consciences beneath the breast:

that inner selves whisper together beneath the breast.

متى استبطأ العافون رِفدك أم متى

متى استبطأ العافون رِفدك أم متى

تقاضاك أثمانَ المحامد شاعر

تقاضاك أثمانَ المحامد شاعر

When have those seeking favor ever found your bounty slow? When

When have seekers ever found your bounty slow, or when

has a poet demanded of you the price of praises?

has a poet demanded from you the price of praises?

لِيهنئ رجالاً لا تزال تجودهم

لِيهنئ رجالاً لا تزال تجودهم

سحائبُ من كلتا يديك مواطر

سحائبُ من كلتا يديك مواطر

Joy to men whom you never cease enriching,

May those men rejoice, forever watered

with clouds raining from both your hands.

by raining clouds from both your hands.

تظل تُجافي المنَّ عنهم تَحفِّياً

تظل تُجافي المنَّ عنهم تَحفِّياً

وقد غتَّهم معروفُك المتواتر

وقد غتَّهم معروفُك المتواتر

You keep even the reproach of favor far from them,

You keep reminders of your favors away from them, solicitously,

though your successive kindnesses engulf them.

though your unceasing bounty has flooded them.

منحتهُمُ مالاً وجاهاً كلاهما

منحتهُمُ مالاً وجاهاً كلاهما

لهم منه حظ يملأ الكف وافر

لهم منه حظ يملأ الكف وافر

You have granted them wealth and standing, both together;

You granted them wealth and standing; of both

of each they hold a full and ample share.

they have an ample share that fills the hand.

وعطَّلْتَني عما غَمرتهُمُ به

وعطَّلْتَني عما غَمرتهُمُ به

ورَيْعيَ أزكى ريعِ ما أنت عامر

ورَيْعيَ أزكى ريعِ ما أنت عامر

Yet you have left me bereft of what overwhelmed them—

And you left me deprived of what you lavished on them,

though my yield is the richest yield so long as you prosper.

though my yield is the richest of all you cultivate.

عُنِيتَ بهم حتى كأنك والدٌ

عُنِيتَ بهم حتى كأنك والدٌ

لهم وهمُ دوني بنوك الأصاغر

لهم وهمُ دوني بنوك الأصاغر

You tended them as though you were their father,

You cared for them as though you were a father

as though they—not I—were your younger sons.

to them, though they are beneath me, your lesser sons.

وغادرتني خلف العناية ضائعاً

وغادرتني خلف العناية ضائعاً

وللَهِ ماذا يا ابن يحيى تُغادِر

وللَهِ ماذا يا ابن يحيى تُغادِر

And you left me beyond the reach of care, abandoned—

And left me beyond the reach of care, abandoned—

by God, son of Yahya, what a thing you leave abandoned!

by God, son of Yahya, what you are abandoning!

أراني دها شِعري لديك اقتصارُهُ

أراني دها شِعري لديك اقتصارُهُ

عليك وإن لم تبتذله المَعاشر

عليك وإن لم تبتذله المَعاشر

I see that what has undone my poetry in your eyes is its confinement

It seems my verse has suffered in your eyes from being confined

to me—even though society has never made it commonplace.

to you, though no gatherings have cheapened it.

وإن لم يُنَوِّه ربه باسم نفسه

وإن لم يُنَوِّه ربه باسم نفسه

فأنت له من أجل ذلك حاقر

فأنت له من أجل ذلك حاقر

Though its master has not trumpeted it in his own name,

And if its master has not trumpeted his own name,

you therefore treat it with contempt.

you despise it for that very reason.

ولم أر شيئاً أخلقتْه صيانة

ولم أر شيئاً أخلقتْه صيانة

سِوايَ وشعرِي مُذْ بدَتْ لي المَناظر

سِوايَ وشعرِي مُذْ بدَتْ لي المَناظر

I have seen nothing that my careful guarding has worn threadbare

I have never seen anything worn out by being guarded,

except my poetry, since the world’s prospects opened before me.

except me and my poetry, since the world first came into view.

ولو شئتُ لم تَذهب على حُوَّليَّتي

ولو شئتُ لم تَذهب على حُوَّليَّتي

هَناتٌ لأسماء الرجال شواهر

هَناتٌ لأسماء الرجال شواهر

Had I wished, no little stratagem would have escaped me—

And had I wished, my resourcefulness would not have missed

those petty arts that make men’s names renowned:

the small practices that make men's names renowned:

وقُوفٌ على بابِ وتشييعُ موكب

وقُوفٌ على بابِ وتشييعُ موكب

وإنشاد جُمَّاع وتلك مَقادر

وإنشاد جُمَّاع وتلك مَقادر

standing at a doorway, escorting a procession,

standing at a door, escorting a procession,

reciting before an assembly—such are the usual means.

and reciting to crowds—such things are within reach.

ولو أنني أرضىَ بهن خلائقاً

ولو أنني أرضىَ بهن خلائقاً

لأضحى لي اسمٌ يطرِفُ الشمسَ باهر

لأضحى لي اسمٌ يطرِفُ الشمسَ باهر

Had I accepted such habits as my way to win your favor,

And if I accepted those practices as my ways,

my name would now shine forth, dazzling even the sun.

I would have a brilliant name that dazzled the sun.

ولكنني أعطي الصيانة حقّها

ولكنني أعطي الصيانة حقّها

فهل ذاك للأحرار عندك ضائر

فهل ذاك للأحرار عندك ضائر

But I give self-respect its full due;

But I give self-respect its due;

does that, in your eyes, injure free and noble men?

is that, in your eyes, harmful to freeborn men?

يخوفني من ذاك أنك إنما

يخوفني من ذاك أنك إنما

تُخَصُّ بجَدْواك القوافي الحواسر

تُخَصُّ بجَدْواك القوافي الحواسر

What frightens me is that perhaps you grant your bounty

What makes me fear this is that you only

only to verses that go barefaced and unveiled.

favor unveiled verses with your bounty.

ويؤْمنني من ذاك أن لستَ جاهلاً

ويؤْمنني من ذاك أن لستَ جاهلاً

فتستر بالأسماء ما أنت ساتر

فتستر بالأسماء ما أنت ساتر

What reassures me is that I know you are not ignorant:

And what reassures me is that you are not so ignorant

you veil beneath names whatever you truly conceal.

as to cloak with names whatever you cloak.

على أنني قد جاش صدري جيْشة

على أنني قد جاش صدري جيْشة

فقلت وقد تعصي الحليمَ الهواجر

فقلت وقد تعصي الحليمَ الهواجر

Yet my breast has at last heaved with a single surge,

Yet my breast has surged with a sudden surge,

and I have spoken—for scorching heat can make even the forbearing rebel:

and I spoke—for heated outbursts can defy the forbearing:

أرى الدهر في نصر الأباطيل مُجلباً

أرى الدهر في نصر الأباطيل مُجلباً

وفي الله يوماً للحقائق ناصر

وفي الله يوماً للحقائق ناصر

I see Time mustered in support of falsehood,

I see time rallying noisily in support of falsehoods,

yet in God, one day, truths shall have a champion.

yet in God truths will one day find a champion.

ألم تحزنِ الآداب حزناً يَشفُّها

ألم تحزنِ الآداب حزناً يَشفُّها

وتجري له منها الدموع البوادر

وتجري له منها الدموع البوادر

Have not letters grieved with a grief that wastes them,

Have not the literary arts suffered a grief that wastes them,

their first tears streaming freely down?

with sudden tears streaming from them,

قواف مصوناتٌ تُقَرَّب دونها

قواف مصوناتٌ تُقَرَّب دونها

قوافٍ بأبواب الرجال سوافر

قوافٍ بأبواب الرجال سوافر

Guarded poems—while ahead of them are ushered

for guarded verses passed over in favor of

poems unveiled at the doors of men.

verses unveiled at men's doors?

أما وأبي أبكارِ شعرٍ عقائلٍ

أما وأبي أبكارِ شعرٍ عقائلٍ

نُكِحن بلا مهر وهن مهائر

نُكِحن بلا مهر وهن مهائر

My father be their ransom! Virgin poems are freeborn ladies,

Indeed, by the father of noble virgin verses,

married without dowries though they command rich bridal gifts.

wed without dower, though brides entitled to it—

لئن أحظِيَتْ يوماً عليهن ضَرَّةٌ

لئن أحظِيَتْ يوماً عليهن ضَرَّةٌ

لمَا هُنَّ من تُحظَى عليه الضرائر

لمَا هُنَّ من تُحظَى عليه الضرائر

If one day you favor a co-wife over them,

if a rival wife is ever favored above them,

they are not women over whom rival wives may justly be preferred.

they are surely not brides over whom co-wives should be preferred.

وإنك لَلْمرءُ الجليُّ بصيرة

وإنك لَلْمرءُ الجليُّ بصيرة

ولكن مع الأهواء تَعشَى البصائر

ولكن مع الأهواء تَعشَى البصائر

Though your lucid understanding possesses insight,

And you are indeed a man of clear insight,

passion can nonetheless blind discerning eyes.

but amid passions, insight grows dim.

وقد قيل كم من رِشدة في كريهةٍ

وقد قيل كم من رِشدة في كريهةٍ

ومن غَيّةٍ تُلقَى عليها الشراشر

ومن غَيّةٍ تُلقَى عليها الشراشر

How often sound guidance lies within a hated thing,

It has been said: how many a sound choice lies in something hated,

and error is encountered beneath splendid curtains.

and how many an error has one's whole being thrown upon it.

وكم أمةٍ ورهاءَ قد فاز قِدحها

وكم أمةٍ ورهاءَ قد فاز قِدحها

بما حُرِمتْه السيدات الحرائر

بما حُرِمتْه السيدات الحرائر

How often has the lot of a foolish slave girl prevailed

And many a foolish slave-girl's lot-arrow has won

in what was denied to noble, freeborn ladies.

what freeborn ladies were denied.

ومن دونِ ما قد سُمْتني في كرائمي

ومن دونِ ما قد سُمْتني في كرائمي

يقول امرُؤٌ نعم البُعولُ المقابر

يقول امرُؤٌ نعم البُعولُ المقابر

Short of all that you have assigned me among the noble,

And for less than what you have inflicted on me concerning my noble maidens,

a man might say, “Yes—what excellent husbands the graves are!”

a man would say, 'Graves are fine husbands indeed.'

وما كنَّ في بعلٍ بِجِدِّ رواغب

وما كنَّ في بعلٍ بِجِدِّ رواغب

ولو كان كُفء الشمس لولا المفاقر

ولو كان كُفء الشمس لولا المفاقر

They never desired a dull and witless husband,

And they would not truly have desired a husband,

though he rivaled the sun itself—if only poverty were absent.

even the sun's equal, had it not been for poverty.

سيسألني الأقوام عما أثبْتني

سيسألني الأقوام عما أثبْتني

به فبماذا أنت إياي آمر

به فبماذا أنت إياي آمر

People will ask me what has kept me waiting;

People will ask me what you rewarded me

what answer, then, do you command me to give?

with; so what do you command me to say?

أأخبرهم بالحق وهْي شَكِيَّة

أأخبرهم بالحق وهْي شَكِيَّة

أم الإفكِ فالإسلام عن ذاك زاجر

أم الإفكِ فالإسلام عن ذاك زاجر

Shall I tell the truth—a grievance plain to see?

Shall I tell them the truth—and that is a complaint—

Or utter falsehood, when Islam forbids me that?

or falsehood? Islam forbids that.

وإن امرأً باع الثناء من امرئٍ

وإن امرأً باع الثناء من امرئٍ

فباء بحرمان وإثمٍ لخَاسر

فباء بحرمان وإثمٍ لخَاسر

A man who sells one man another man’s praise,

And a man who sells his praise to another

then comes away deprived and sinful, is surely a loser.

then comes away with deprivation and sin is surely a loser.

أتحرمني الجدوى وأطريك كاذباً

أتحرمني الجدوى وأطريك كاذباً

فتحظَى وأشقَى بالذي أنا وازر

فتحظَى وأشقَى بالذي أنا وازر

Will you deny me bounty while I praise you falsely,

Will you deny me bounty while I praise you falsely,

so that you prosper while I groan beneath the burden of my sin?

so you gain favor while I suffer for the sin I bear?

شهدت إذاً أني لنفسيَ ظالم

شهدت إذاً أني لنفسيَ ظالم

وأنك إن كلفتَني ذاك جائر

وأنك إن كلفتَني ذاك جائر

Then I would testify that I had wronged myself,

Then I would testify that I wrong my own self,

and that you, if you imposed this on me, were unjust.

and that you are unjust if you require that of me.

وهبني كتمتُ الحق أو قلتُ غيرهُ

وهبني كتمتُ الحق أو قلتُ غيرهُ

أتخفَى على أهل العقول السرائر

أتخفَى على أهل العقول السرائر

Suppose I concealed the truth or spoke its opposite—

And suppose I concealed the truth or said something else:

can inward secrets be hidden from people of understanding?

can secrets remain hidden from people of reason?

أبى ذاك أن السر في الوجه ناطق

أبى ذاك أن السر في الوجه ناطق

وأن ضمير القلب في العين ظاهر

وأن ضمير القلب في العين ظاهر

My face refuses: the secret speaks upon it,

That cannot be, for the secret speaks upon the face,

and the heart’s concealed intent shows plainly in the eye.

and the heart's hidden thought is visible in the eye.

وحسبك من شكواي في كل مجلسٍ

وحسبك من شكواي في كل مجلسٍ

نَئيمي وأنفاسي عليك الزوافر

نَئيمي وأنفاسي عليك الزوافر

Enough to tell my complaint, in every gathering, are

Sufficient complaint for you, in every gathering, lies in

my breath and the deep sighs I heave because of you;

my moans and the heaving sighs I breathe against you,

وصمتي ومطِّي حاجبي وإشاحتي

وصمتي ومطِّي حاجبي وإشاحتي

بوجهي إذا سمَّى ليَ اسمَك ذاكر

بوجهي إذا سمَّى ليَ اسمَك ذاكر

my silence, my lowered brows, and every gesture

my silence, my raised brows, and my averting

of my face whenever someone mentions your name.

my face when someone mentions your name to me.

سئِلتَ فلم تحرم سواي وإنه

سئِلتَ فلم تحرم سواي وإنه

لوترٌ وإني لو أشاء لثائر

لوترٌ وإني لو أشاء لثائر

I asked, and still you have not granted what I asked, although

You were asked, and denied none but me; and this

it is an unsettled debt—and I, if I choose, can rise to settle it.

is surely a wrong, and if I wished I would take revenge.

ولكنْي عفوي عفوُ حرٍّ ولم يكن

ولكنْي عفوي عفوُ حرٍّ ولم يكن

ليسبقَني لولاه بالوتر واتر

ليسبقَني لولاه بالوتر واتر

Yet my forgiveness is the forgiveness of a freeborn man;

But my forgiveness is a freeborn man's forgiveness; no

no base avenger shall outstrip me in exacting requital.

wrongdoer, but for it, would outdo me in inflicting injury.

ولو ثوِّبتْ تلك المدائحُ ألحِقتْ

ولو ثوِّبتْ تلك المدائحُ ألحِقتْ

بها أخريات للثواب شواكر

بها أخريات للثواب شواكر

Had those praises been rewarded, I would have joined

Had those praises been rewarded, they would have been followed

new poems to them, grateful for the recompense.

by others, grateful for the reward.

إذا أُنشِدَتْ قال الألى يسمعونها

إذا أُنشِدَتْ قال الألى يسمعونها

ألا ليتنا للمُنْشديها منابر

ألا ليتنا للمُنْشديها منابر

Whenever they were recited, those who heard would say:

When they were recited, those who heard them would say,

“Ah, would that we had pulpits for such reciters!”

'Ah, if only we were pulpits for their reciters!'