حامَ الحمامُ لِفرصَة فَاِستَفرَصا

حامَ الحمامُ لِفرصَة فَاِستَفرَصا

وَسَرى إِلى شِبلِ الشَرى مُتَقَنِّصا

وَسَرى إِلى شِبلِ الشَرى مُتَقَنِّصا

Death hovered for an opening, then seized its chance.

The pigeons gathered at the chance, so they took it,

Death hovered, seeking a chance, and seized the moment,

And stole by night toward the lion-cub of al-Shara, intent on capture.

And strode to the lair of evil with ulterior motive.

Moving by night toward the lion’s cub, on the hunt.

ظَفَرت أَظافِرَه بِأَصيدِ أَصيَدٍ

ظَفَرت أَظافِرَه بِأَصيدِ أَصيَدٍ

فَعَجِبتُ كَيفَ أَصابَهُ وَتَخَلَّصا

فَعَجِبتُ كَيفَ أَصابَهُ وَتَخَلَّصا

Its claws caught a proud, high-headed lion;

Their claws took hold of unexpected prey,

Its talons clenched the proudest of the proud,

So I wondered how it struck him and escaped.

So I wondered how it was caught and freed.

And I marveled at how it struck him down and slipped away.

تَرِبَت يَدا مَن عانَهُ فَأَعانَهُ

تَرِبَت يَدا مَن عانَهُ فَأَعانَهُ

في أَقعَسِ العِزّ المَنيعِ فَأَقعَصا

في أَقعَسِ العِزّ المَنيعِ فَأَقعَصا

May the hands of whoever gave him the evil eye, and thereby helped death, be dust-covered!

Blessed be the hand that helped it escape

May dust cover the hands of the one who cast the evil eye, aiding doom,

Amid unyielding, impregnable honor, it struck him dead.

From the stubborn, unassailable confinement.

Against the steadfast fortress of glory, striking him dead instantly.

وَكَأَنَّما أَخَذَ القَصاص لِحُسَّدي

وَكَأَنَّما أَخَذَ القَصاص لِحُسَّدي

منّي بِأَن هاضَ الجَناح وَقَصَّصا

منّي بِأَن هاضَ الجَناح وَقَصَّصا

And it was as though it exacted retribution for my enviers

As though taking revenge on my enviers

It is as if Death exacted retribution for those who envy me,

From me, by breaking my wing and clipping it.

By fleeing and breaking free.

By shattering my wing and clipping its feathers.

يا مَوتُ لا أَشكوكَ إِنَّ مُصابَهُ

يا مَوتُ لا أَشكوكَ إِنَّ مُصابَهُ

قَدَرٌ عَلَيَّ يرى وَحَقٌّ حَصحَصا

قَدَرٌ عَلَيَّ يرى وَحَقٌّ حَصحَصا

O Death, I do not complain of you; the loss of him

O Death, I do not blame you, for what befell him

O Death, I do not complain of you, for his loss

Is a decree plainly laid upon me, a truth made manifest.

Is a decree ordained and a right fulfilled.

Is a decree ordained for me, and a truth made manifest.

لِلذّاتِ فَرَغتُ وَإِنَّما

لِلذّاتِ فَرَغتُ وَإِنَّما

جُهدُ المُهَنّا أَن يَعود مُنَغَّصا

جُهدُ المُهَنّا أَن يَعود مُنَغَّصا

I had devoted myself to pleasures; yet

I am free of want, yet the effort

I have emptied myself of all pleasures; indeed,

All the fortunate can achieve is to end with joy embittered.

Of the afflicted is but to return embittered.

The fate of the contented is to return to misery.

وَالشَيبُ نَهنَهَني فَكَم أَعصي النُهى

وَالشَيبُ نَهنَهَني فَكَم أَعصي النُهى

وَأَظُنُّ أَنَّ عَسى يخلّص من عَصى

وَأَظُنُّ أَنَّ عَسى يخلّص من عَصى

And gray hair has restrained me; how long shall I defy reason

My gray hair has advised me, yet how often I disobey counsel

Gray hair has restrained me—how long will I disobey reason?

And suppose that 'perhaps' will save whoever disobeys?

And expect that one day I will be rid of disobedience.

Thinking that perhaps "hope" might save the sinner.

وَالحُرُّ يَكفيهِ الزَمانُ مُؤَدِّباً

وَالحُرُّ يَكفيهِ الزَمانُ مُؤَدِّباً

شرُّ العَبَدّى مِن تُؤَدِّبُهُ العَصا

شرُّ العَبَدّى مِن تُؤَدِّبُهُ العَصا

And for the noble man, time is teacher enough;

It suffices the freeman that time should discipline him;

Time suffices as a disciplinarian for the free soul;

The worst of slaves is he whom the rod disciplines.

The worst of slaves is he who is disciplined by the rod.

Only the worst of slaves requires the rod for discipline.

عَجِلَ السِرارُ عَلَيكَ يا قَمَرَ العُلا

عَجِلَ السِرارُ عَلَيكَ يا قَمَرَ العُلا

ما ضَرَّ لَو مدَّ المَدى فَتَرَبَّصا

ما ضَرَّ لَو مدَّ المَدى فَتَرَبَّصا

The moon's dark phase came too soon upon you, O moon of glory;

Hastening gloom overcame you, O moon of glory.

The darkness of the waning moon hastened upon you, O moon of glory,

What harm if it had lengthened the span and waited?

What harm had it been to wait in patience?

What harm would it have been to extend the span and wait?

لا ينقصُ الفَلَك الهِلال وَإِنَّما

لا ينقصُ الفَلَك الهِلال وَإِنَّما

أَلفاكَ بَدراً كامِلاً فَتَنَقَّصا

أَلفاكَ بَدراً كامِلاً فَتَنَقَّصا

The celestial sphere does not diminish the crescent; rather,

The orbit subtracts naught from the crescent, nay,

The heavens do not diminish the crescent moon, but

It found you a perfect full moon, and made you wane.

It found you a full moon, so you waned.

Finding you a full moon, they forced you to wane.

وَأَبى قَضاءُ اللَهِ فيكَ عَلى أَبٍ

وَأَبى قَضاءُ اللَهِ فيكَ عَلى أَبٍ

ما كانَ أَحرسَهُ عَلَيكِ وَأَحرَصا

ما كانَ أَحرسَهُ عَلَيكِ وَأَحرَصا

And God's decree concerning you thwarted a father—

God’s inevitable decree would not bypass a father,

And God’s decree regarding you overruled a father,

How watchful he was over you, and how devoted!

However solicitous he was to protect you.

Who was so protective of you, so desperately careful.

لَولا الرَدى الجاري حَمَتكَ حِميَّةٌ

لَولا الرَدى الجاري حَمَتكَ حِميَّةٌ

تَثني الخَميسَ مُنَكَّساً وَمُنَكَّصا

تَثني الخَميسَ مُنَكَّساً وَمُنَكَّصا

Had death not run its course, fierce protectiveness would have guarded you,

Had it not been for calamities constantly flowing,

Were it not for flowing Doom, a fierce zeal would have defended you,

Turning back an army humbled and driven into retreat.

Zeal would have folded the five fingers into a fist.

Turning back a vast army, defeated and in retreat.

إِنَّ الكَواكِبَ كُنَّ في فَلَكِ العُلا

إِنَّ الكَواكِبَ كُنَّ في فَلَكِ العُلا

يوددنَ لَو قَبَّلنَ مِنكَ الأَخمَصا

يوددنَ لَو قَبَّلنَ مِنكَ الأَخمَصا

The stars, indeed, in the sphere of glory

The stars desired, whilst orbiting the zenith,

Truly, the stars in the sphere of eminence

Longed to kiss the hollow of your foot.

To kiss your sweetest spot.

Wished they could kiss the soles of your feet.

لكِن أَصابَكَ حينَ غِظتُ بِكَ العِدا

لكِن أَصابَكَ حينَ غِظتُ بِكَ العِدا

قَدرٌ يُصيبُ مُعَمَّما وَمُخَصَّصا

قَدرٌ يُصيبُ مُعَمَّما وَمُخَصَّصا

But when I angered my foes through you, you were struck

But fate, when I was enraged with you, struck

But Fate struck you just as I enraged my enemies through your promise,

By a fate that strikes the turbaned and the crowned.

A decreed blow that hits the robed and bare.

A decree that strikes both the turbaned lord and the commoner.

أَترى أَغصّكَ ذِكرُ أُمِّكَ إِذ نَأَت

أَترى أَغصّكَ ذِكرُ أُمِّكَ إِذ نَأَت

فَلَربَّما ماتَ المَشوقُ تَغَصُّصا

فَلَربَّما ماتَ المَشوقُ تَغَصُّصا

Did the memory of your mother, when she went away, choke you?

Does the memory of your mother squeeze you, when she turns away?

Did the memory of your mother choke you with grief when she departed?

For often one consumed by longing dies of choking grief.

Perhaps the longing died from being squeezed.

For the longing heart may indeed die of suppressed sorrow.

غَدَرت أَباكَ وَغادَرَتكَ لِوَحشَةِ

غَدَرت أَباكَ وَغادَرَتكَ لِوَحشَةِ

ما أَنشَزَ البيض الحَسان وَأَنشَطا

ما أَنشَزَ البيض الحَسان وَأَنشَطا

She betrayed your father and left you to loneliness—

Your father was betrayed and you were abandoned to desolation

She left your father behind, and left you to a loneliness

How rebellious and restless are fair, beautiful women!

After the warbler sang and was ecstatic.

That terrifies and scatters even the fair beauties.

وَهَبِ السقامَ مَحا سَناكَ فَما لَهُ

وَهَبِ السقامَ مَحا سَناكَ فَما لَهُ

أَفضى إِلى شَفَتَيكَ حَتّى قَلَّصا

أَفضى إِلى شَفَتَيكَ حَتّى قَلَّصا

And suppose illness erased your radiance—why did it

Send the sickness away, let it not mar your splendor, nor approach

Suppose that sickness dimmed your radiance—but why

Reach your lips and make them shrivel?

Your two lips until it withers.

Did it reach your lips, causing them to wither away?

وَلَقَد رَقيتُكَ بَعدَ أَدوِيَةِ الدَوا

وَلَقَد رَقيتُكَ بَعدَ أَدوِيَةِ الدَوا

بِاِسمِ الَّذي لَو شاءَ أَبرا الأَبرَصا

بِاِسمِ الَّذي لَو شاءَ أَبرا الأَبرَصا

And I recited healing prayers over you, after medicinal remedies,

After medicine’s remedies I invoked

I sought to heal you with prayer after medicine failed,

In the name of Him who, if He willed, would heal the leper.

The name by which even lepers are healed.

In the name of Him who, if He willed, would cleanse the leper.

فَإِذا القَضاءُ يَقولُ لي لا بُدَّ أَن

فَإِذا القَضاءُ يَقولُ لي لا بُدَّ أَن

تَثوي فَتَروي مِن مَدامِعكَ الحَصا

تَثوي فَتَروي مِن مَدامِعكَ الحَصا

But then Fate said to me: 'You must

Yet destiny says I must

But Fate replied to me: "It is inevitable that

Remain, and water the pebbles with tears from your eyes.'

Shed tears for you and thereby quench my thirst.

You must remain to water the grave's pebbles with your tears."

لَم يَقضِ مُنيَتَهُ وَعيشي بَعدَهُ

لَم يَقضِ مُنيَتَهُ وَعيشي بَعدَهُ

إِلّا لِتوثِقني الذُنوب وَيَخلُصا

إِلّا لِتوثِقني الذُنوب وَيَخلُصا

It decreed his death and my life after him

His death and my life hereafter

He did not fulfill his hopes, and my life after him

Only so that sins might bind me, while he went free.

Serves but to deepen my sins and absolve.

Is but a bond of sins for me, while he is set free.

هَل كَالَّذي لَم يَجنِ قَطّ وَلَم يَخُن

هَل كَالَّذي لَم يَجنِ قَطّ وَلَم يَخُن

مَن كانَ يَمدَحُ أَو يَذُمُّ تَخَرُّصا

مَن كانَ يَمدَحُ أَو يَذُمُّ تَخَرُّصا

Is one who never sinned, nor ever betrayed, like

Is he who never sinned nor betrayed

Is the innocent one, who never sinned nor betrayed,

One who praised or blamed through fabrication?

Like one who praises or blames with abandon?

Like the one who praises or condemns based on falsehoods?

ما لي أَمُدُّ إِلى المُلوكِ وَغَيرهم

ما لي أَمُدُّ إِلى المُلوكِ وَغَيرهم

كَفّي لِأَقبِضَ نائِلاً أَو أَقنُصا

كَفّي لِأَقبِضَ نائِلاً أَو أَقنُصا

Why do I stretch out to kings and others

Why do I extend my hands to kings and others?

Why do I extend my hand to kings and commoners alike,

My hand, to receive a gift or hunt one down?

My fill is either to receive or hunt.

Seeking to grasp a gift or hunt for favors?

وَالنَزرُ يَكفيني مَعَ الكَرَمِ الَّذي

وَالنَزرُ يَكفيني مَعَ الكَرَمِ الَّذي

أَحيا نِزاراً في دُناها وَالقَصا

أَحيا نِزاراً في دُناها وَالقَصا

And a little suffices me, with the nobility that

The little suffices me, together with generosity

A meager amount suffices me, alongside the honor that

Revived Nizar, in its near reaches and far.

That gave life to the meager in our lowly home.

Revived the glory of Nizar, near and far.

في فيَّ صمصامُ الحمامِ المُنتَضى

في فيَّ صمصامُ الحمامِ المُنتَضى

وَبِخاطِري درُّ المَعالي المُنتَصى

وَبِخاطِري درُّ المَعالي المُنتَصى

In my mouth is death's drawn, keen-edged sword,

The twitter of infatuated pigeons—

In my mouth is the drawn sword of Death,

And in my mind the chosen pearls of noble deeds.

And my thoughts pluck sublime meanings.

And in my mind are the choicest pearls of high meaning.

وَأَنا الغَنِيُّ فَما أُبالي هِمَّةً

وَأَنا الغَنِيُّ فَما أُبالي هِمَّةً

أَغلى الهمامُ فَرائِدي أَم أَرخَصا

أَغلى الهمامُ فَرائِدي أَم أَرخَصا

And I am self-sufficient; in spirit I do not care

As I am wealthy, what care I

I am the wealthy soul; I care not for ambition,

Whether a noble lord values my rare pearls high or low.

If my most prized messenger-doves are expensive or cheap?

Whether the patron values my verses highly or holds them cheap.

إِنَّ المُتَوّج حينَ أَقبَل نَحوَهُ

إِنَّ المُتَوّج حينَ أَقبَل نَحوَهُ

إِن لَم يَقُم عزّاً إِلَيَّ تَقَرفصا

إِن لَم يَقُم عزّاً إِلَيَّ تَقَرفصا

Indeed, a crowned ruler, when I approach him,

When the coronated turns his way

For when I approach a crowned king,

If he does not rise in my honor, crouches before me.

Either he stands in honor or kneels.

If he does not rise to honor me, he shrinks in shame.

لَو كُنتُ في غَيرِ الجَزيرَةِ أَعمَلت

لَو كُنتُ في غَيرِ الجَزيرَةِ أَعمَلت

مِصرٌ إِلَيَّ اليَعملاتِ الرُقَّصا

مِصرٌ إِلَيَّ اليَعملاتِ الرُقَّصا

Were I outside al-Jazira, there would be dispatched

Had I not been on this isle

If I were outside this Peninsula, Egypt would have driven

By Egypt to me swift she-camels, swaying at a run.

Egypt’s thalers would dance for me.

Its dancing camels in haste towards me.

لكِنَّني حَيثُ المَعالي لا تُرى

لكِنَّني حَيثُ المَعالي لا تُرى

وَيُعَدُّ جامِعُ فَضلِهِنَّ مُلَخَّصا

وَيُعَدُّ جامِعُ فَضلِهِنَّ مُلَخَّصا

But I am where lofty virtues go unseen,

But as glory is not seen here

But I reside where noble virtues are unseen,

And one who gathers all their merit is reckoned a mere abridgment.

And compiling their meager sum is a summary.

And the one who gathers their fullness is deemed insignificant.

هذا مَحَلٌّ لا أُحِبُّ حُلولَهُ

هذا مَحَلٌّ لا أُحِبُّ حُلولَهُ

وَالمَحلُ أَقصَدَني إِلَيهِ وَأَشخَصا

وَالمَحلُ أَقصَدَني إِلَيهِ وَأَشخَصا

This is a place where I do not wish to dwell;

I do not like staying in this place,

This is an abode I do not wish to inhabit,

But want drove me to it and forced me abroad.

Yet it intentionally drew me in and pulled me closer.

Yet drought and necessity drove me to settle here.

اِنظُر لِعَيني اليَومَ كَيفَ تَقَلَّبَت

اِنظُر لِعَيني اليَومَ كَيفَ تَقَلَّبَت

وَاِسأَل عَنِ الخَبَرِ اليَقينِ وَأَفحَصا

وَاِسأَل عَنِ الخَبَرِ اليَقينِ وَأَفحَصا

Look at my eye today—how it has changed;

See how my eyes roam today,

Look at my eyes today, how they roll in grief,

Ask about the certain truth, and investigate.

And ask about the ascertained news, examine.

Ask for the certain news, and investigate the truth.

بِالأَمسِ عَدّتني القِراءَةُ حَمزَةً

بِالأَمسِ عَدّتني القِراءَةُ حَمزَةً

وَاليَومَ عَدّني القَريض الأَحوَصا

وَاليَومَ عَدّني القَريض الأَحوَصا

Yesterday, recitation counted me as Hamza;

Yesterday, reciting Hamzah’s version numbered me.

Yesterday, scholarship counted me a master like Hamza;

And today, poetry has counted me as al-Ahwas.

Today, reading Al-Quraishi’s copy blinded me.

Today, poetry reckons me another al-Ahwas.

لَولا رِياحُ رِياحٍ لَم أَكُ أمتَطي

لَولا رِياحُ رِياحٍ لَم أَكُ أمتَطي

ذا الأَخضَرَ الطامي وَذاكَ الأَحوَصا

ذا الأَخضَرَ الطامي وَذاكَ الأَحوَصا

But for the winds of Riyah, I would not be riding

Had it not been for the winds’ caprice

Were it not for the winds of generosity, I would not have ridden

This green, surging sea, and that narrow-eyed mount.

I would not ride the jet-black or the blind.

This surging green sea, nor that treacherous path.

وَطَنٌ بِغَيرِ غِنىً أَحَبُّ إِلى الفَتى

وَطَنٌ بِغَيرِ غِنىً أَحَبُّ إِلى الفَتى

مِن غُربَةٍ تغنيهِ إِذ لا مخلصا

مِن غُربَةٍ تغنيهِ إِذ لا مخلصا

A homeland without wealth is dearer to a man

A homeland without riches is dearer to the gallant

A homeland, even without wealth, is dearer to a man

Than exile that enriches him, when there is no escape.

Than estrangement where gold abounds but with no escape.

Than an exile that enriches him when there is no escape.

لَو عاشَ لي عَبدُ الغنيّ هنا هنا

لَو عاشَ لي عَبدُ الغنيّ هنا هنا

عيشي وَإِن فارَقت ريماً أَخمَصا

عيشي وَإِن فارَقت ريماً أَخمَصا

Had Abd al-Ghani lived for me here, sweet would have been

If only Abdel Ghani would live here,

Had Abdul-Ghani lived for me, life here would have been sweet;

My life, even if I had left a slender-waisted gazelle.

My life here, even if Remote Place were lost.

Even if I were parted from the slenderest gazelle.

عَقص الظَلام عَلى الصَباحِ وَلَم يَكُن

عَقص الظَلام عَلى الصَباحِ وَلَم يَكُن

لَولا غَدائِرهُ الظَلامُ لِيَعقَصا

لَولا غَدائِرهُ الظَلامُ لِيَعقَصا

He plaited darkness over dawn; and never could

The darkness foreshadowed the morn, otherwise

Darkness has plaited its hair over the morning light;

Darkness have been plaited, but for his tresses.

Without its shadows, how would the light break through?

Without his tresses, the darkness would not be so bound.

أَبكي عَلى اِبنِ ذُكاء إِنَّ ذكاءَهُ

أَبكي عَلى اِبنِ ذُكاء إِنَّ ذكاءَهُ

فَكَّ المعمّى وَاِستَبانَ الأَعوَصا

فَكَّ المعمّى وَاِستَبانَ الأَعوَصا

I weep for the son of Dhuka, the sun; indeed, his intelligence

I lament the son of Intelligence, verily his

I weep for the child of brilliance, for his sharp wit

Unraveled the cryptic and discerned the knottiest problems.

Wisdom cured the blind and cleared the dimness for the bleary-eyed.

Unraveled riddles and clarified the most obscure meanings.

أقلامهُ أَسَلٌ تَروعُ عَدُوُّهُ

أقلامهُ أَسَلٌ تَروعُ عَدُوُّهُ

وَكَلامهُ درٌّ يفوتُ الغوَّصا

وَكَلامهُ درٌّ يفوتُ الغوَّصا

His pens are spears that terrify his enemy,

His pens are weapons that terrify the foe

His pens were spears that terrified his foe;

And his words are pearls beyond divers' reach.

And his words, a jewel outwitting even the deepest diver.

His speech was pearls beyond the diver’s reach.

طِفلٌ وَلَستُ أَرى حجاهُ بِأَشيَبٍ

طِفلٌ وَلَستُ أَرى حجاهُ بِأَشيَبٍ

حَتّى أَرى طولَ الطلاةِ

حَتّى أَرى طولَ الطلاةِ

A child—yet his wisdom I do not find even in a graybeard,

A child—yet I see no diminishing of his station with gray hair,

A child he was, yet his wisdom was not merely that of an elder,

Until I see the length of his neck.

Until I see the students argue.

Until I could witness the elegance of his stature,

يُصغي إِلى الذِكرِ الحَكيمِ وَيَقتَفي

يُصغي إِلى الذِكرِ الحَكيمِ وَيَقتَفي

قرّاءَهُ وَسِواهُ يَقفو القصَّصا

قرّاءَهُ وَسِواهُ يَقفو القصَّصا

He listens closely to the wise Reminder and follows

He listens to the wise sermons and trails

He listened intently to the Holy Word, following

Its reciters, while others follow storytellers.

Its reciters and the like, a storyteller trailing stories.

Its reciters, while others chased mere tales.

وَيُواظِبُ الكتّابَ لَيسَ بِخائِصٍ

وَيُواظِبُ الكتّابَ لَيسَ بِخائِصٍ

عَنهُ إِذا كانَ الأَصاغِر خيّصا

عَنهُ إِذا كانَ الأَصاغِر خيّصا

And he attends the school faithfully, never slipping away

He frequents the scriptorium sparing it no peculiarities

He attended the school diligently, never absent,

From it when the younger children played truant.

If little ones are its special keep.

Even when the other children were at play.

مُتَعَوِّداً أَلّا مَحيصَ لِطَرفِهِ

مُتَعَوِّداً أَلّا مَحيصَ لِطَرفِهِ

عَن لَوحِهِ حَتّى يعبهُ مُمحَّصا

عَن لَوحِهِ حَتّى يعبهُ مُمحَّصا

Accustomed to keep his gaze from turning aside

His gaze accustomed not to be torn

Accustomed to fixing his gaze, without wavering,

From his tablet until he drank it in, thoroughly examined.

From his tablet until tiring from extreme examination

Upon his slate, until he mastered it completely.

كانَ المَآرِب فيهِ حَتّى رابَني

كانَ المَآرِب فيهِ حَتّى رابَني

وَرَمٌ بِعَينَيهِ أَبى أَن يخمَصا

وَرَمٌ بِعَينَيهِ أَبى أَن يخمَصا

All my hopes lay in him, until I was alarmed

Thus did calamities befall him until they broke me

My hopes resided in him, until I was alarmed by

By a swelling in his eyes that refused to subside.

While ailments in his eyes refused to be treated.

A swelling in his eyes that refused to subside.

لَو ناصَ نصّ الفِقهَ قَبلَ بُلوغِهِ

لَو ناصَ نصّ الفِقهَ قَبلَ بُلوغِهِ

هَيهاتَ ما أَهلُ النَجابَةِ نُوَّصا

هَيهاتَ ما أَهلُ النَجابَةِ نُوَّصا

Had he escaped, he would have expounded jurisprudence before coming of age;

Had he mastered half the jurisprudence before maturity,

Had he debated the texts of Law before coming of age,

Far from it! Those of noble talent find no escape.

Alas! The people of excellence are rarely advised.

Alas, the truly noble do not shrink from their calling.