لا راقَني إِلّا الحِدادَ لَبوسُ

لا راقَني إِلّا الحِدادَ لَبوسُ

إِنَّ النَعيمَ مَعَ النَعِيِّ لَبوسُ

إِنَّ النَعيمَ مَعَ النَعِيِّ لَبوسُ

No attire has pleased me except mourning dress.

Nothing pleases me now but the raiment of mourning,

Indeed, bliss amid tidings of death is confusion.

For bliss, when accompanied by the news of death, becomes a shroud of misery.

بِاللَهِ يا عيداً تَبَسَّمَ لِلوَرى

بِاللَهِ يا عيداً تَبَسَّمَ لِلوَرى

لا تَلقني إِلّا وَأَنتَ عَبوسُ

لا تَلقني إِلّا وَأَنتَ عَبوسُ

By God, O feast that smiled upon humankind,

By God, O Eid that smiles upon all mankind,

do not meet me unless you are frowning.

Do not approach me unless your face is frowning.

هَل عادَةُ المُشتاقِ لَيلَةَ عيدِهِ

هَل عادَةُ المُشتاقِ لَيلَةَ عيدِهِ

وَصَباحِهِ إِلّا بُكاً وَرَسيسُ

وَصَباحِهِ إِلّا بُكاً وَرَسيسُ

Is the yearning man's custom on his feast-night

Is the custom of the grieving heart, on the eve of its feast,

and its morning anything but weeping and lingering anguish?

Or in its morning, anything but weeping and lingering pain?

دَمِيَ المحلُّ وَما نَحَرت وَإِنَّما

دَمِيَ المحلُّ وَما نَحَرت وَإِنَّما

إِنسانُ عَيني في دَمي مَغموسُ

إِنسانُ عَيني في دَمي مَغموسُ

The place is bloodied, though I slaughtered nothing; rather,

The sacrificial ground is bloodied, yet I slew no beast;

the pupil of my eye is immersed in my blood.

It is the pupil of my eye that is submerged in my own blood.

وَسَدَدتُ بِابي عَن عِدايَ ثَلاثَةً

وَسَدَدتُ بِابي عَن عِدايَ ثَلاثَةً

خَوف البُكا وَالشامِتونَ جُلوسُ

خَوف البُكا وَالشامِتونَ جُلوسُ

I shut my door against my foes for three days,

I have barred my door against three of my enemies:

for fear of weeping while the gloaters sat there.

The fear of weeping while malicious gloaters sit watching.

يا رُبَّ باكِيَةٍ مَعي قَد رابَها

يا رُبَّ باكِيَةٍ مَعي قَد رابَها

فِعلٌ مِنَ المُتَمَلِّقينَ خَسيسُ

فِعلٌ مِنَ المُتَمَلِّقينَ خَسيسُ

Oh, many a woman weeping with me was troubled

Oh, how many a weeping woman with me was unsettled

by a base deed from the flatterers.

By the base actions of fawning flatterers.

قالَت لَقَد ضَيَّعتَ حَقَّكَ عِندَهُم

قالَت لَقَد ضَيَّعتَ حَقَّكَ عِندَهُم

لم لا تُماكِسهُم وَأَنتَ مَكيسُ

لم لا تُماكِسهُم وَأَنتَ مَكيسُ

She said, 'You have indeed squandered your due with them.

She said, "You have forfeited your standing among them;

Why not bargain with them, when you are shrewd?

Why do you not haggle with them, when you are so astute?"

هَل يَنفَعَنّكَ أَن يَغُصّ بِجَمعِهِم

هَل يَنفَعَنّكَ أَن يَغُصّ بِجَمعِهِم

هذا النَدى إِذا خَلا ذا الكيسُ

هذا النَدى إِذا خَلا ذا الكيسُ

Will it benefit you that their throng chokes

"Will it profit you if their gathering is choked

this assembly hall, when this purse is empty?'

By this generosity, while your own purse lies empty?"

فَأَجَبتُها وَالعِلمُ أَنفَسُ جَوهَرٍ

فَأَجَبتُها وَالعِلمُ أَنفَسُ جَوهَرٍ

حَظُّ الغَريمِ وَإِن سَما مَبخوسُ

حَظُّ الغَريمِ وَإِن سَما مَبخوسُ

I answered her—knowledge is the most precious jewel—

I answered her—and knowledge is the most precious of gems—

'The creditor's share, however high he rises, is diminished.

"The lot of the debtor, however high he rises, is meager.

ماذا عَسى يُعطونَني وَأَنا اِمرُؤٌ

ماذا عَسى يُعطونَني وَأَنا اِمرُؤٌ

عِندي دَنانيرُ المُلوكِ فُلوسُ

عِندي دَنانيرُ المُلوكِ فُلوسُ

What could they give me, when I am a man

What could they possibly grant me, when I am a man

to whom kings' dinars are mere copper coins?

To whom the gold dinars of kings are mere copper pennies?

خَبُثَ الزَمانُ كَما تَرينَ وَأَهلُهُ

خَبُثَ الزَمانُ كَما تَرينَ وَأَهلُهُ

كُلُّ اِمرئٍ في وُدِّهِ تَدليسُ

كُلُّ اِمرئٍ في وُدِّهِ تَدليسُ

The age has grown corrupt, as you see, and its people:

The times have turned wicked, as you see, and so have the people;

every person's affection conceals deceit.

Every man practices deceit in his friendship.

كُفّي سَأَقبِسُهُم هُدايَ وَمَغنَمي

كُفّي سَأَقبِسُهُم هُدايَ وَمَغنَمي

مِنهُم ثَوابُ اللَهِ وَالتَأنيسُ

مِنهُم ثَوابُ اللَهِ وَالتَأنيسُ

Enough! I shall give them the light of my guidance, and my gain

Desist; I shall lend them light from my guidance, but my prize

from them is God's reward and companionship.'

From them is only God’s reward and spiritual solace."

إِنّي إِذا سُرَّ النَديمُ بِكَأسِهِ

إِنّي إِذا سُرَّ النَديمُ بِكَأسِهِ

طافَت عَليّ مِنَ الغَرامِ كُؤوسُ

طافَت عَليّ مِنَ الغَرامِ كُؤوسُ

Whenever the drinking companion is delighted by his cup,

Whenever the drinking companion delights in his cup,

cups of anguish circle round me.

Cups of bitter passion circulate around me.

نارُ الأَسى في أَضلُعي مَشبوبَةٌ

نارُ الأَسى في أَضلُعي مَشبوبَةٌ

وَشَهابُها مِن زَفرَتي مَقبوسُ

وَشَهابُها مِن زَفرَتي مَقبوسُ

The fire of sorrow is kindled within my ribs,

The fire of sorrow is kindled within my ribs,

and its flame is drawn from my sigh.

And its flame is ignited by my own burning sighs.

قَد فُلَّ صمصامٌ لَدَيَّ مُهَنَّدٌ

قَد فُلَّ صمصامٌ لَدَيَّ مُهَنَّدٌ

وَاِبتَزَّ عِلقٌ في يَدَيَّ نَفيسُ

وَاِبتَزَّ عِلقٌ في يَدَيَّ نَفيسُ

A sharp sword of mine, of Indian steel, has been blunted,

A sharp Indian sword in my possession has been shattered;

and a precious treasure in my hands has been snatched away.

A precious treasure has been snatched from my hands.

غُصنُ الملاحَةِ غَيرَ أَنَّ وقارَهُ

غُصنُ الملاحَةِ غَيرَ أَنَّ وقارَهُ

يَأبى عَلَيهِ أَن تَراهُ يَميسُ

يَأبى عَلَيهِ أَن تَراهُ يَميسُ

A bough of beauty, except that his dignity

He was a bough of beauty, yet his immense dignity

would not allow you to see him sway.

Forbade you from ever seeing him sway with vanity.

تَثني مَعاطِفها الغُصونُ وَما لَهُ

تَثني مَعاطِفها الغُصونُ وَما لَهُ

بَينَ الغُصونِ مِنَ الحَياءِ حَسيسُ

بَينَ الغُصونِ مِنَ الحَياءِ حَسيسُ

The branches bend their supple sides, but he

The branches bend their seemingly soft sides, but he—

makes no rustle among the branches, out of modesty.

Amidst the branches, he made no sound out of modest grace.

خفت العُيونَ عَلَيهِ مُنذُ غَرَستهُ

خفت العُيونَ عَلَيهِ مُنذُ غَرَستهُ

فَذَوى كَأَن لَم يُثمِر المَغروسُ

فَذَوى كَأَن لَم يُثمِر المَغروسُ

I feared envious eyes for him ever since I planted him;

I feared the evil eye upon him from the moment I planted him,

then he withered, as though what was planted had borne no fruit.

And he withered, as if the sapling had never borne fruit.

رَيّان مِن ماءِ الشَبيبَةِ نائِر

رَيّان مِن ماءِ الشَبيبَةِ نائِر

لَبِسَ الجَمالَ فَخُرِّقَ المَلبوسُ

لَبِسَ الجَمالَ فَخُرِّقَ المَلبوسُ

Well-watered with the water of youth, radiant,

Lush with the waters of youth, radiant and bright;

he wore beauty, but the garment was torn.

He wore the robe of beauty, but that robe was torn to shreds.

وَالمَرءُ لَيسَ بِثابِتٍ بنيانهُ

وَالمَرءُ لَيسَ بِثابِتٍ بنيانهُ

حَتّى يَكونَ عَلى البقا التَأسيسُ

حَتّى يَكونَ عَلى البقا التَأسيسُ

A man's edifice is not secure

A man’s foundation is never secure,

until its foundation is laid upon permanence.

Unless his foundation is built upon eternity.

وَلَرُبَّما دَعَتِ الشَبيبَةُ لِلهُدى

وَلَرُبَّما دَعَتِ الشَبيبَةُ لِلهُدى

وَأَضَلَّ شَيبُ الرَأسِ وَالتَقويسُ

وَأَضَلَّ شَيبُ الرَأسِ وَالتَقويسُ

Youth may indeed call one toward guidance,

Perhaps youth called out for guidance,

while a gray head and a stooping back lead one astray.

While gray hair and the stoop of age led only to error.

تَبّاً لِقَومٍ لا يَرونَ هُداهُمُ

تَبّاً لِقَومٍ لا يَرونَ هُداهُمُ

حَتّى تَشيبَ عَوارِضٌ وَرُؤوسُ

حَتّى تَشيبَ عَوارِضٌ وَرُؤوسُ

Ruin to people who see no guidance for themselves

Woe to a people who do not perceive their right path

until their beards and heads turn gray!

Until their temples and heads have turned gray.

أَبنيّ مُذ مَنَحتكَ سبتَة لِلعُلا

أَبنيّ مُذ مَنَحتكَ سبتَة لِلعُلا

لَم يَرضَها يَحيى وَلا إِدريسُ

لَم يَرضَها يَحيى وَلا إِدريسُ

My little son, since Ceuta offered you to glory,

My son, since I granted you Ceuta to rule for glory's sake,

neither Yahya nor Idris has pleased her.

Neither Yahya nor Idris was content with it as you were.

وَالقَيرَوانُ حِمى أَبيكَ وَما نَأى

وَالقَيرَوانُ حِمى أَبيكَ وَما نَأى

إِلّا وَربعُ القَيرَوانُ دَرِيسُ

إِلّا وَربعُ القَيرَوانُ دَرِيسُ

Kairouan was your father's sanctuary; he did not depart

And Qayrawan is your father's sanctuary; it did not grow distant

except when Kairouan's dwellings lay in ruins.

Until the very quarters of Qayrawan were obliterated.

نَحنُ البُدورُ النَيِّراتُ وَمِصرُنا

نَحنُ البُدورُ النَيِّراتُ وَمِصرُنا

فَلكٌ بِشُهبِ رِماحِنا مَحروسُ

فَلكٌ بِشُهبِ رِماحِنا مَحروسُ

We are the radiant full moons, and our city

We are the luminous full moons, and our land

is a celestial sphere guarded by our spears' meteors.

Is a celestial orbit guarded by the shooting stars of our spears.

نَختالُ فَوقَ الخَيلِ في ظَلَلِ القَنا

نَختالُ فَوقَ الخَيلِ في ظَلَلِ القَنا

أسداً وَقَد وَقَدَ الغداةَ وَطيسُ

أسداً وَقَد وَقَدَ الغداةَ وَطيسُ

We strut upon our horses beneath canopies of lances,

We stride proudly upon horses beneath the shadows of lances,

like lions, while battle's furnace blazed at dawn.

Like lions, when the furnace of battle is stoked in the morning.

لكِن أَصابَتنا مَصائِبُ ذُلِّلَت

لكِن أَصابَتنا مَصائِبُ ذُلِّلَت

مِنهُنَّ أُمُّ اللَيثِ وَهيَ شَموسُ

مِنهُنَّ أُمُّ اللَيثِ وَهيَ شَموسُ

But calamities struck us and tamed

But calamities have struck us, humbling even

the lion's mother, though she is untamable.

The lioness, fierce and stubborn though she be.

عَبدَ الغنيّ اِشتَقتُ هَل لَكَ أَوبَةُ

عَبدَ الغنيّ اِشتَقتُ هَل لَكَ أَوبَةُ

في الدَهرِ تُرجى أَم أَبوكَ يَؤوسُ

في الدَهرِ تُرجى أَم أَبوكَ يَؤوسُ

Abd al-Ghani, I yearn for you; is there a return for you

Abd al-Ghani, I yearn for you; is there any return for you

that may be hoped for in time, or is your father without hope?

To be hoped for in this life, or must your father despair?

دِمَني وَإِن مُلِئَت دُمىً وَحَدائِقاً

دِمَني وَإِن مُلِئَت دُمىً وَحَدائِقاً

كَالبيدِ بَعدَكَ ما بِهِنَّ أَنيسُ

كَالبيدِ بَعدَكَ ما بِهِنَّ أَنيسُ

My abodes, though filled with doll-like beauties and gardens,

My palaces, though filled with statues and gardens,

are like deserts after you, with no companion in them.

Are like empty deserts without you, devoid of any comfort.

قبحت مَحاسِنها وَضاقَ رَحيبُها

قبحت مَحاسِنها وَضاقَ رَحيبُها

إِنَّ القُصورَ عَلى الكَظيمِ حَبوسُ

إِنَّ القُصورَ عَلى الكَظيمِ حَبوسُ

Their beauties have grown ugly, their spaciousness constricted;

Their beauties have turned hideous, their vastness has narrowed;

palaces are prisons for the grief-stricken.

Truly, to the grief-stricken soul, palaces are but prisons.

حَسَناتُ أَيّامي ذُنوبٌ بَعدَما

حَسَناتُ أَيّامي ذُنوبٌ بَعدَما

فارَقتني وَسُعودُهُنَّ نُحوسُ

فارَقتني وَسُعودُهُنَّ نُحوسُ

My days' blessings are sins now that

The joys of my days have transformed into sins

you have left me, and their good fortunes are misfortunes.

Since you left me, and their fortunes are now misfortunes.

وَلَقَد أَحومُ عَلى المَوارِدِ خامِساً

وَلَقَد أَحومُ عَلى المَوارِدِ خامِساً

فَإِذا شَرِبت فَعَذبهنَّ مَسوسُ

فَإِذا شَرِبت فَعَذبهنَّ مَسوسُ

I circle the watering places on my fifth day of thirst;

I hover over the water springs, parched with thirst,

yet when I drink, their sweet water is brackish.

But when I drink, even the sweetest water tastes brackish.

لَقبانِ ذا مَعكوسُ ذا وَكِلاهُما

لَقبانِ ذا مَعكوسُ ذا وَكِلاهُما

حَسنٌ وَقَد يستَقبحُ المَعكوسُ

حَسنٌ وَقَد يستَقبحُ المَعكوسُ

Two epithets—one the reverse of the other, yet both

Two titles, one the inverse of the other, and both—

are beautiful, though a reversal may be deemed ugly.

Are beautiful, though the reversed is often deemed ugly.

زانَ الحلى عَبد الغنيّ بِحُسنِهِ

زانَ الحلى عَبد الغنيّ بِحُسنِهِ

وَاِزّيّنَت هِندٌ بِها وَلَميسُ

وَاِزّيّنَت هِندٌ بِها وَلَميسُ

Abd al-Ghani adorned jewelry with his beauty,

Abd al-Ghani adorned the jewels with his own beauty,

while Hind and Lamis adorned themselves with it.

While Hind and Lamis were merely adorned by the jewels.

قَد كانَ يُقعِدُ دَهرَهُ وَيُقيمهُ

قَد كانَ يُقعِدُ دَهرَهُ وَيُقيمهُ

طِفلاً وَيُبرِمُ أَمرَهُ وَيَسوسُ

طِفلاً وَيُبرِمُ أَمرَهُ وَيَسوسُ

He would make his age sit down and stand up,

He used to command his era, making it sit or stand,

though a child, settling its affairs and governing.

Even as a child, he settled affairs and governed with skill.

وَيَحِلُّ ما عَقَدَ الكَهول بِرَأيِهِ

وَيَحِلُّ ما عَقَدَ الكَهول بِرَأيِهِ

وَيُصيبُ مَعنى الشَيء حينَ يَقيسُ

وَيُصيبُ مَعنى الشَيء حينَ يَقيسُ

With his judgment he untied what mature men had knotted,

With his judgment, he unraveled what elders had knotted,

and grasped a thing's meaning when he reasoned by analogy.

And struck the truth of matters whenever he deliberated.

ثَبَتَت حباهُ فَدونَهُنَّ يلملمٌ

ثَبَتَت حباهُ فَدونَهُنَّ يلملمٌ

وَسَمَت علاهُ فَدونَها البِرجيسُ

وَسَمَت علاهُ فَدونَها البِرجيسُ

His sitting-wraps held firm; Yalamlam stood beneath them,

His prominence was steadfast; Mount Yalamlam stood below it,

and his eminence rose, with Jupiter beneath it.

And his nobility soared until Jupiter orbited beneath it.

آنَست مِنهُ سَكينَةً وَتُقىً عَلى

آنَست مِنهُ سَكينَةً وَتُقىً عَلى

عَقبَيهِ يَنكُصُ مِنهُما إِبليسُ

عَقبَيهِ يَنكُصُ مِنهُما إِبليسُ

I perceived in him serenity and piety; upon

I perceived in him a serenity and a piety

his heels Iblis retreats from them both.

From which the Devil himself would retreat on his heels.

جادَت ثَراكَ مِنَ العُيونِ سَحائِبٌ

جادَت ثَراكَ مِنَ العُيونِ سَحائِبٌ

وَنَعَتكَ أَقمارٌ مَعي وَشموسُ

وَنَعَتكَ أَقمارٌ مَعي وَشموسُ

Clouds from eyes have rained generously upon your soil,

May rain-clouds from weeping eyes water your grave,

and moons and suns have mourned you with me.

And may suns and moons join me in mourning you.

فَأَنا أُقيمُ مَعَ النَوادِبِ مَأتَماً

فَأَنا أُقيمُ مَعَ النَوادِبِ مَأتَماً

وَمَعَ الحِسانِ الحورِ أَنتَ عَروسُ

وَمَعَ الحِسانِ الحورِ أَنتَ عَروسُ

I hold a mourning assembly with the lamenting women,

For I am holding a funeral wake with the wailing women,

while you are a bridegroom among the beautiful, wide-eyed houris.

While you, among the fair Houris, are a bridegroom.

أَسعِد أَباكَ بِرَحمةٍ وَاِشفَع لَهُ

أَسعِد أَباكَ بِرَحمةٍ وَاِشفَع لَهُ

يَرحَمهُ رَبُّ العِزَّةِ القدّوسُ

يَرحَمهُ رَبُّ العِزَّةِ القدّوسُ

Aid your father with mercy and intercede for him,

Bring joy to your father with mercy, and intercede for him,

that the Lord of Might, the All-Holy, may have mercy on him.

That the Lord of Glory, the Holy, may have mercy upon him.

وَالوَيلُ مِمّا يَتَّقيهِ لَهُ غَداً

وَالوَيلُ مِمّا يَتَّقيهِ لَهُ غَداً

إِن غابَ عَنهُ وَجهكَ المَرغوسُ

إِن غابَ عَنهُ وَجهكَ المَرغوسُ

Woe awaits him tomorrow from what he fears,

And woe unto him for what he fears on the Morrow,

if your blessed face is absent from him.

If your blessed face is absent from his sight.

ها إِنّ أَجفان الكَظيمِ غَضيضَةٌ

ها إِنّ أَجفان الكَظيمِ غَضيضَةٌ

حَتّى تَراكَ وَرَأسهُ مَنكوسُ

حَتّى تَراكَ وَرَأسهُ مَنكوسُ

Look: the grief-stricken man's eyelids are lowered

Behold, the eyelids of this grieving man are humbled,

until they see you, and his head is bowed.

Until he sees you, and his head remains bowed low.

بِمَحَبَّةِ القُرآنِ كُنت موكّلاً

بِمَحَبَّةِ القُرآنِ كُنت موكّلاً

حَتّى رَثى لَكَ لَوحُكَ المَدروسُ

حَتّى رَثى لَكَ لَوحُكَ المَدروسُ

You were entrusted with love of the Qur'an,

You were devoted to the love of the Quran,

until your much-studied tablet itself lamented you.

Until your very study-tablet wept in mourning for you.

يلهى عَنِ الكتّابِ صَحبُكَ نوّماً

يلهى عَنِ الكتّابِ صَحبُكَ نوّماً

عِندَ الصَباحِ وَهَمُّكَ التَغليسُ

عِندَ الصَباحِ وَهَمُّكَ التَغليسُ

Your companions, sleeping, neglect the Qur'an school

Your companions neglect their studies in sleep,

in the morning, while you cared to go before dawn.

At dawn, while your only concern was early prayer.

وَلَقَد تَسوؤكَ لِلبَطالَةِ حَلقَةٌ

وَلَقَد تَسوؤكَ لِلبَطالَةِ حَلقَةٌ

سَرَّتهُمُ أَو جُمعَةٌ وَخَميسُ

سَرَّتهُمُ أَو جُمعَةٌ وَخَميسُ

An idle gathering would indeed distress you,

A circle of idleness would displease you,

though it pleased them, as would Friday and Thursday.

Even if it pleased them, or the leisure of weekends.

لَم تدّغم فيهِم كَأَنَّكَ مُطبِقٌ

لَم تدّغم فيهِم كَأَنَّكَ مُطبِقٌ

وَكَأَنَّ كلاً مِنهُم مَهموسُ

وَكَأَنَّ كلاً مِنهُم مَهموسُ

You did not assimilate to them, as though you were an emphatic consonant,

You did not blend in with them, distinct and precise,

and each of them a voiceless consonant.

While they were but faint whispers compared to your voice.

نَغَماتُ داوودٍ قَرَأتَ بِها فَلَو

نَغَماتُ داوودٍ قَرَأتَ بِها فَلَو

أَصغى إِلَيكَ لَأَسلَمَ القِسّيسُ

أَصغى إِلَيكَ لَأَسلَمَ القِسّيسُ

You recited with David's melodies; had

You recited with the melodious tones of David; if

the priest listened to you, he would have embraced Islam.

A priest had listened to you, he would have embraced the Faith.

شَتّانَ نَحنُ سَكَنتَ طوبى آمِناً

شَتّانَ نَحنُ سَكَنتَ طوبى آمِناً

وَسَكَنت حَيثُ يَروعَني الناقوسُ

وَسَكَنت حَيثُ يَروعَني الناقوسُ

How far apart we are! You dwell safely in Tuba,

How far apart we are! You dwell safely in Paradise,

and I dwell where the church bell frightens me,

While I dwell where the tolling of church bells terrifies me.

في دارِ إِسلامٍ وَسِلمٍ لِلعِدا

في دارِ إِسلامٍ وَسِلمٍ لِلعِدا

ضامَ النَصارى أَهلها وَمَجوسُ

ضامَ النَصارى أَهلها وَمَجوسُ

in an abode of Islam, at peace with enemies,

In a land of Islam that has surrendered to the enemy,

whose people Christians and Magians have oppressed.

Where Christians and Magi oppress the faithful.

ما خِلتُ قَبلَ مَغيبِ وَجهِكَ في الثَرى

ما خِلتُ قَبلَ مَغيبِ وَجهِكَ في الثَرى

أَنَّ البُدورَ تَحوزهُنَّ رُموسُ

أَنَّ البُدورَ تَحوزهُنَّ رُموسُ

Before your face disappeared into the earth, I never thought

I never imagined, before your face vanished into the earth,

that graves could enclose full moons.

That the cold grave could ever contain the full moon.

أُسدُ الشَرى مِمّا مَلَأت عُيونها

أُسدُ الشَرى مِمّا مَلَأت عُيونها

ظَنَّت بِأَنَّ حِمى أَبيكَ الخيسُ

ظَنَّت بِأَنَّ حِمى أَبيكَ الخيسُ

The lions of al-Shara, so fully did you fill their eyes,

The lions of the thicket, awed by your presence,

thought your father's sanctuary was their thicket.

Mistook your father’s sanctuary for their own den.

وَالطَيرُ مِمّا اِستَحسَنَتكَ وَرُعتَها

وَالطَيرُ مِمّا اِستَحسَنَتكَ وَرُعتَها

ظَنّت أَبازٌ أَنتَ أَم طاووسُ

ظَنّت أَبازٌ أَنتَ أَم طاووسُ

The birds, finding you beautiful and fearing you,

And the birds, admiring your beauty yet fearing you,

wondered whether you were a hawk or a peacock.

Wondered: are you a falcon, or a peacock?

لِلَّهِ نَفسكَ ما أَشَدّ إِذا وَهَت

لِلَّهِ نَفسكَ ما أَشَدّ إِذا وَهَت

عِندَ المَكارِهِ لِلكِرامِ نُفوسُ

عِندَ المَكارِهِ لِلكِرامِ نُفوسُ

God bless your soul! How strong it was when

To God belongs your soul! How steadfast, even when

noble souls weakened before hardships.

The souls of the noble crumble under calamity.

لَو كُنتَ في نوبِ اللَيالي مَعقلي

لَو كُنتَ في نوبِ اللَيالي مَعقلي

ما نالَني بِذُنوبِها تَضريسُ

ما نالَني بِذُنوبِها تَضريسُ

Had you been my fortress against the turns of the nights,

Had you been my fortress against the nights' misfortunes,

I would not have suffered their sins' grinding blows.

Their cruel biting would never have harmed me.

لَو كانَ عُمرُكَ خَمسَ عَشرَةَ حِجَّةً

لَو كانَ عُمرُكَ خَمسَ عَشرَةَ حِجَّةً

لَسَطا عَلى الأَعداءِ مِنكَ خَميسُ

لَسَطا عَلى الأَعداءِ مِنكَ خَميسُ

Had your life reached fifteen years,

If your life had spanned but fifteen years,

an army of yours would have assailed the enemies.

A mighty army led by you would have crushed the enemy.

وَدَعَتكَ أَعلامُ العُلومِ إِمامها

وَدَعَتكَ أَعلامُ العُلومِ إِمامها

وَتَيَمَّمَتكَ مِنَ العِراقِ العيسُ

وَتَيَمَّمَتكَ مِنَ العِراقِ العيسُ

The luminaries of learning would have called you their leader,

The masters of knowledge would have proclaimed you their Imam,

and pale camels would have journeyed to you from Iraq.

And caravans would have sought you out from as far as Iraq.

لكِن طَوَتكَ يَدٌ شَديدٌ بَطشها

لكِن طَوَتكَ يَدٌ شَديدٌ بَطشها

سِيّانِ مَرؤوسٌ بِها وَرَئيسُ

سِيّانِ مَرؤوسٌ بِها وَرَئيسُ

But a hand whose grip is fierce folded you away,

But a hand of terrible might has folded you away;

before which the ruled and the ruler are alike.

Before it, the ruler and the ruled are equals.

كتبَ الفناءُ عَلى بَني الدنيا فلم

كتبَ الفناءُ عَلى بَني الدنيا فلم

يَسلم سُليمانٌ وَلا بلقيسُ

يَسلم سُليمانٌ وَلا بلقيسُ

Death wrote its decree upon this world's children; neither

Annihilation is decreed for all the sons of the world;

Solomon nor Bilqis escaped.

Neither Solomon nor the Queen of Sheba was spared.

سَل كُلَّ جَبّارٍ عَنيدٍ ما لَهُ

سَل كُلَّ جَبّارٍ عَنيدٍ ما لَهُ

بَعدَ القُصورِ مَحلّهُ الناووسُ

بَعدَ القُصورِ مَحلّهُ الناووسُ

Ask every stubborn tyrant why,

Ask every stubborn tyrant what remains for him

after palaces, his dwelling is a stone tomb.

When, after palaces, his only abode is the tomb.

داسَ الكُماةَ بِخَيلِهِ حَتّى غَدا

داسَ الكُماةَ بِخَيلِهِ حَتّى غَدا

وَمناطُ تاجِ المُلكِ مِنهُ مَدوسُ

وَمناطُ تاجِ المُلكِ مِنهُ مَدوسُ

He trampled armored warriors with his horses, until

He trampled warriors with his cavalry, until he became

the place that bore his royal crown lay trampled.

Dust to be trampled, where once the royal crown sat.

دَمعي عَلى القَبرِ الأَنيقِ جَمالهُ

دَمعي عَلى القَبرِ الأَنيقِ جَمالهُ

أَبَداً وَإِن حَبَسَ الحَبيبَ حَبيسُ

أَبَداً وَإِن حَبَسَ الحَبيبَ حَبيسُ

My tears upon the lovely grave are its adornment

My tears fall upon the grave—how elegant its beauty—

forever, though a prison holds my beloved.

Forever, though it is a prison confining my beloved.

وَلِعلَّةٍ ما زُرتهُ غِبّاً وَهَل

وَلِعلَّةٍ ما زُرتهُ غِبّاً وَهَل

يَشفي غَليلي حَولَهُ التَعريسُ

يَشفي غَليلي حَولَهُ التَعريسُ

For some reason I visited it at intervals; can

For a painful cause I visit him but rarely; for does

a brief night's halt beside it quench my burning thirst?

Camping around his grave ever quench my burning grief?

يا لَيتَ شِعري وَالذُنوبُ كَثيرَةٌ

يا لَيتَ شِعري وَالذُنوبُ كَثيرَةٌ

وَالظَنُّ إِلّا في الكَريمِ بَخيسُ

وَالظَنُّ إِلّا في الكَريمِ بَخيسُ

Would that I knew—my sins are many,

Oh, how I wish I knew—for my sins are many,

and trust, except in the Generous One, is worth little—

And hope in anyone but the Generous Lord is worthless—

رَوعي المَروعُ هَل يَكونُ جَزاؤهُ

رَوعي المَروعُ هَل يَكونُ جَزاؤهُ

بِاِبنِ المقدّسِ روحهُ التَقديسُ

بِاِبنِ المقدّسِ روحهُ التَقديسُ

whether the recompense for my terror-stricken heart

Will my terrified heart find its recompense

will be sanctification through a son whose soul is sanctified.

In the son of the Sanctified, whose spirit is holiness?

يا مُبتَلي النَعيم بعلةٍ

يا مُبتَلي النَعيم بعلةٍ

فيها عَذابٌ لِلصَبورِ بَئيسُ

فيها عَذابٌ لِلصَبورِ بَئيسُ

O you whose bliss was afflicted by an illness

O you who were afflicted with sickness amidst bliss,

in which the patient suffer grievous torment,

A misery that tortures even the most patient soul.

وَمُكبّراً مُذ كانَ لا صغرٌ بِهِ

وَمُكبّراً مُذ كانَ لا صغرٌ بِهِ

وَمُطهّراً لَم يَدرِ ما التَدنيسِ

وَمُطهّراً لَم يَدرِ ما التَدنيسِ

and exalted since you came to be, with no littleness in you,

You were great since birth, with no pettiness in you,

and purified, never knowing what defilement was!

And purified, never knowing the stain of sin.

شَمسُ المَعالي لَو بَزَغت زَمانهُ

شَمسُ المَعالي لَو بَزَغت زَمانهُ

لَأَتاكَ يَقتَبِسُ السَنا قابوسُ

لَأَتاكَ يَقتَبِسُ السَنا قابوسُ

Sun of noble heights, had you risen in his age,

You were the sun of nobility; had you fully risen,

Qabus would have come to you to draw from your radiance.

Qaboos himself would have come to borrow your light.

كُنّا نُنفّسُ عَنكَ غمّاءُ الرَدى

كُنّا نُنفّسُ عَنكَ غمّاءُ الرَدى

بِنُفوسِنا لَو أَمكَنَ التَنفيسُ

بِنُفوسِنا لَو أَمكَنَ التَنفيسُ

We would have relieved you of death's crushing anguish

We would have pushed back the suffocating cloud of death

with our own lives, had such relief been possible.

With our own souls, if such relief were possible.

إِنَّ المَنِيَّةِ عِلَّةٌ في برئِها

إِنَّ المَنِيَّةِ عِلَّةٌ في برئِها

غُلب المَسيحُ فَكَيفَ جالينوسُ

غُلب المَسيحُ فَكَيفَ جالينوسُ

Death is an ailment whose cure

But death is a malady for which, in seeking a cure,

defeated the Messiah—how, then, could Galen prevail?

The Messiah was overcome, so how could Galen succeed?