وَأَبيby the father of المَنازِلِthe dwellings إِنَّهاindeed they لَشُجونُsurely sorrows
وَأَبي المَنازِلِ إِنَّها لَشُجونُ
وَعَلىand despite العُجومَةِmuteness إِنَّهاindeed they لَتُبينُsurely speak plainly
وَعَلى العُجومَةِ إِنَّها لَتُبينُ
By the father of the dwellings, they are full of sorrows;
The abodes refuse me; how full of yearning they are!
And despite their muteness, they do speak plainly.
And how clearly they show their desolation to the stranger!
فَاِعقِلso tether بِنِضوِto the wasted remnant of الدارِthe dwelling نِضوَكَyour worn-out mount يَقتَسِمshare
فَاِعقِل بِنِضوِ الدارِ نِضوَكَ يَقتَسِم
فَرطَthe excess of الصَبابَةِlonging مُسعِدٌa fellow mourner وَحَزينُand a grieving one
فَرطَ الصَبابَةِ مُسعِدٌ وَحَزينُ
So tether your worn-out mount to the wasted dwelling; they share
So school yourself, through the desolation of the abode, to share in its desolation.
The excess of longing—a fellow mourner and a grieving soul.
A youth possessed by passion, and one depressed-both will be prodigal.
لاdo not تَمنَعَنّيdeny me وَقفَةًa pause أَشفيI may heal بِهاwith it
لا تَمنَعَنّي وَقفَةً أَشفي بِها
داءَthe sickness of الفِراقِseparation فَإِنَّهاfor indeed it ماعونُa kindness
داءَ الفِراقِ فَإِنَّها ماعونُ
Do not deny me a pause in which I may heal
Do not hinder me from a halt by means of which
The sickness of separation; such a pause is a kindness.
I may cure the malady of separation; for it is a death-potion.
وَاِسقِand water الأَثافِيَّthe hearthstones مِنfrom شُؤونيmy tear ducts رِيَّهاtheir fill
وَاِسقِ الأَثافِيَّ مِن شُؤوني رِيَّها
إِنَّindeed الضَنينَthe miser بِدَمعِهِwith his tears لَضَنينُsurely miserly
إِنَّ الضَنينَ بِدَمعِهِ لَضَنينُ
And give the hearthstones their fill from my tear ducts;
Give the streaming sands a draught from my affairs;
He who begrudges his tears is truly miserly.
For he who is emaciated by grief is most emaciated.
وَالنُؤيُand the encircling ditch أُهمِدَwas effaced شَطرُهُhalf of it فَكَأَنَّهُso it is as though
وَالنُؤيُ أُهمِدَ شَطرُهُ فَكَأَنَّهُ
تَحتَbeneath الحَوادِثِcalamities حاجِبٌan eyebrow مَقرونُjoined
تَحتَ الحَوادِثِ حاجِبٌ مَقرونُ
And the encircling ditch, half effaced, looks like
Care has spread its wing in the air, so that it seems
A joined brow beneath time's blows.
As if, beneath misfortunes, it were a brow bound with great sorrow.
حُزنٌgrief غَداةَthe morning الحَزنِal-Hazn هاجَstirred غَليلَهُits burning thirst
حُزنٌ غَداةَ الحَزنِ هاجَ غَليلَهُ
فيin أَبرَقِAbraq الحَنّانِal-Hannan مِنكَfrom you حَنينُyearning
في أَبرَقِ الحَنّانِ مِنكَ حَنينُ
Grief, that morning in al-Hazn—its burning thirst was stirred
On the morrow of sadness came anguish moaning
At Abraq al-Hannan by a yearning from you.
amid the lightning flashes of your songs, O singer.
سِمَةُthe mark of الصَبابَةِlonging زَفرَةٌa sigh أَوor عَبرَةٌa tear
سِمَةُ الصَبابَةِ زَفرَةٌ أَو عَبرَةٌ
مُتَكَفِّلٌtaking responsibility بِهِماfor them both حَشاًthe heart وَشُئونُand tear ducts
مُتَكَفِّلٌ بِهِما حَشاً وَشُئونُ
The mark of longing is a sigh or a tear;
An exhalation or a tear is the mark of youth:
The heart and tear ducts supply them both.
both are the concern of a plunderer or a noble and great man.
لَولاbut for التَفَجُّعُanguished lament لَاِدَّعىwould surely claim هَضبُthe hills of الحِمىal-Hima
لَولا التَفَجُّعُ لَاِدَّعى هَضبُ الحِمى
وَصَفاand the rock of المُشَقَّرِal-Mushaqqar أَنَّهُthat it is مَحزونُgrief-stricken
وَصَفا المُشَقَّرِ أَنَّهُ مَحزونُ
But for anguished lament, the hills of al-Hima would claim,
If it were not for lamentation, the surface of the encampment
And the rock of al-Mushaqqar, that each was grief-stricken.
and the plain of al-Mushaqqar would fancy themselves dejected.
سيرواgo forth بَنيsons of الحاجاتِneeds يُنجِحwill make successful سَعيَكُمyour endeavor
سيروا بَني الحاجاتِ يُنجِح سَعيَكُم
غَيثٌrain سَحابُthe clouds of الجودِgenerosity مِنهُfrom him هَتونُpouring down
غَيثٌ سَحابُ الجودِ مِنهُ هَتونُ
Go forth, sons of need; your endeavor will be made fruitful by
Travel on, people of wants! The rain-clouds of bounty will shower upon you a plenteous rain from their water-skins.
A rain whose clouds of bounty pour down.
Events have been pinioned by their own harm,
فَالحادِثاتُso calamities بِوَبلِهِby his downpour مَصفودَةٌfettered
فَالحادِثاتُ بِوَبلِهِ مَصفودَةٌ
وَالمَحلُand drought فيin شُؤبوبِهِhis rainburst مَسجونُimprisoned
وَالمَحلُ في شُؤبوبِهِ مَسجونُ
So calamities are fettered by his downpour,
and the country in its confusion is imprisoned.
And drought is imprisoned in his rainburst.
They have undertaken the heavy load of care, and set out upon a journey
حَمَلواthey bore ثَقيلَthe weight of الهَمِّcare وَاِستَنعىand carried onward بِهِمwith them
حَمَلوا ثَقيلَ الهَمِّ وَاِستَنعى بِهِم
سَفَرٌa journey يَهُدُّcrushes المَتنَthe back وَهوَwhile it مَتينُsturdy
سَفَرٌ يَهُدُّ المَتنَ وَهوَ مَتينُ
They bore the weight of care, and were carried onward by
which levels the difficult road, but which in itself is firm.
A journey that crushes the back, sturdy though it is.
Then, when they had cast it from their shoulders,
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen أَلقَوهُthey cast it عَنoff أَكتافِهِمtheir shoulders
حَتّى إِذا أَلقَوهُ عَن أَكتافِهِم
بِالعَزمِthrough resolve وَهوَand it عَلىfor النَجاحِsuccess ضَمينُa guarantor
بِالعَزمِ وَهوَ عَلى النَجاحِ ضَمينُ
Until, when they cast it off their shoulders
resolutely-while success was guaranteed to them-
Through resolve, itself a guarantor of success,
They found the aspect of the King bright, and they attained to
وَجَدواthey found جَنابَthe precinct of المُلكِkingship أَخضَرَgreen وَاِجتَلَواand beheld
وَجَدوا جَنابَ المُلكِ أَخضَرَ وَاِجتَلَوا
هارونَHarun فيهِwithin it كَأَنَّهُas though he were هارونُHarun
هارونَ فيهِ كَأَنَّهُ هارونُ
They found the precinct of kingship green, and beheld
Harun: you would say that Harun himself was there.
Harun within it, as though he were Harun.
They found the Prince of the Faithful, whose bounty
أَلفَواthey found أَميرَthe Commander of المُؤمِنينَthe Faithful وَجودُهُand his bounty
أَلفَوا أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ وَجودُهُ
خَضِلُrain-drenched الغَمامِclouds وَظِلُّهُand his shade مَسكونُinhabited
خَضِلُ الغَمامِ وَظِلُّهُ مَسكونُ
They found the Commander of the Faithful, his bounty
is the dripping cloud and its shade is wide-spread.
Drenched with cloud-rain, and his shade inhabited.
So they set out while their confidence was firm in the Guardian,
فَغَدَواso they went forth وَقَدand already وَثِقواthey trusted بِرَأفَةِin the mercy of واثِقٍal-Wathiq
فَغَدَوا وَقَد وَثِقوا بِرَأفَةِ واثِقٍ
بِاللَهِin God طائِرُهُhis omen لَهُمfor them مَيمونُauspicious
بِاللَهِ طائِرُهُ لَهُم مَيمونُ
They went forth, assured of the mercy of al-Wathiq
whose augury was fortunate for them.
Billah, whose omen for them is auspicious.
Those eyes were refreshed by him, those cheeks grew radiant;
قَرَّتwere soothed بِهِby him تِلكَthose العُيونُthe eyes وَأَشرَقَتand shone
قَرَّت بِهِ تِلكَ العُيونُ وَأَشرَقَت
تِلكَthose الخُدودُthe cheeks وَإِنَّهُنَّthough indeed they لَجونُsurely dark
تِلكَ الخُدودُ وَإِنَّهُنَّ لَجونُ
Those eyes found comfort in him, and radiant grew
and how delicious was their bloom!
Those cheeks, though they were dark.
They possessed the bridle of life through the King whose nature
مَلَكواthey gained possession of خِطامَthe halter of العَيشِlife بِالمَلِكِthrough the king الَّذيwho
مَلَكوا خِطامَ العَيشِ بِالمَلِكِ الَّذي
أَخلاقُهُhis virtues لِلمَكرُماتِfor noble deeds حُصونُfortresses
أَخلاقُهُ لِلمَكرُماتِ حُصونُ
They gained life's halter through the king whose
is firmly defended by the fortresses of noble deeds.
Virtues are fortresses for noble deeds.
He is a King, when the mention of whom reaches men's hearing,
مَلِكٌa king إِذاwhen خاضَwades through المَسامِعَthe ears ذِكرُهُhis mention
مَلِكٌ إِذا خاضَ المَسامِعَ ذِكرُهُ
خَفَّhastened الرَجاءُhope إِلَيهِtoward him وَهوَwhile he رَكينُsteadfast
خَفَّ الرَجاءُ إِلَيهِ وَهوَ رَكينُ
A king whose mention, when it courses through the ears,
hope in him droops, and he remains firm.
Makes hope hasten toward him, while he remains steadfast.
He is a lion: when the banner shakes you see him
لَيثٌa lion إِذاwhen خَفَقَflutters اللِواءُthe banner رَأَيتَهُyou see him
لَيثٌ إِذا خَفَقَ اللِواءُ رَأَيتَهُ
يَعلوmounts قَراthe back of الهَيجاءِbattle وَهيَthough she زَبونُfiercely kicking
يَعلو قَرا الهَيجاءِ وَهيَ زَبونُ
A lion: when the banner flutters, you see him
towering above the excited throng, and it cowers.
Mounting battle's back, though she kicks fiercely.
For its milk-bowls there is one who lies in wait, and for its orations
لِحِياضِهاto her watering pools مُتَوَرِّدٌapproaching to drink وَلِخَطبِهاand to her peril
لِحِياضِها مُتَوَرِّدٌ وَلِخَطبِها
مُتَعَمِّدٌdeliberately seeking وَبِثَديِهاand at her breast مَلبونُsuckled
مُتَعَمِّدٌ وَبِثَديِها مَلبونُ
To her watering pools he comes, and her peril
one who is intent, and for its full moons one who wears its badge.
He seeks deliberately, and is suckled at her breast.
God-may He be praised and exalted! - made the Caliphate to be in him-
جَعَلَplaced الخِلافَةَthe caliphate فيهِin him رَبٌّa Lord قَولُهُHis word
جَعَلَ الخِلافَةَ فيهِ رَبٌّ قَولُهُ
سُبحانَهُglory be to Him لِلشَيءِto a thing كُنbe فَيَكونُso it comes to be
سُبحانَهُ لِلشَيءِ كُن فَيَكونُ
The Lord placed the caliphate in him; His word—
His word "Be!" and it is.
Glory be to Him—to a thing is 'Be,' and it is.
And indeed we saw it to be his in our hearts,
وَلَقَدand indeed رَأَيناهاwe saw it لَهُas his بِقُلوبِناwith our hearts
وَلَقَد رَأَيناها لَهُ بِقُلوبِنا
وَظُهورُand outward aspects خَطبٍof a crisis دونَهُbefore him وَبُطونُand hidden depths
وَظُهورُ خَطبٍ دونَهُ وَبُطونُ
We had indeed seen it as his with our hearts,
While there were pretenders around him with their interiors and exteriors.
Though troubles, outward and hidden, lay before him.
And therefore it was said, with regard to manifest surmises,
وَلِذاكَand for that reason قيلَit was said مِنَamong الظُنونِsurmises جَلِيَّةٌclear certainty
وَلِذاكَ قيلَ مِنَ الظُنونِ جَلِيَّةٌ
صِدقٌtruth وَفيand in بَعضِsome القُلوبِhearts عُيونُeyes
صِدقٌ وَفي بَعضِ القُلوبِ عُيونُ
And hence it is said: some surmise is clear
"There is a truth, and in some hearts are secrets."
Truth, and in some hearts there are eyes.
And we knew, ever since he was a child, that he
وَلَقَدand indeed عَلِمناwe knew مُذsince تَرَعرَعَhe grew to youth أَنَّهُthat he
وَلَقَد عَلِمنا مُذ تَرَعرَعَ أَنَّهُ
لِأَمينِfor the trustee of رَبِّthe Lord of العالَمينَall worlds أَمينُa trustee
لِأَمينِ رَبِّ العالَمينَ أَمينُ
We knew indeed, ever since he grew to youth, that he
was the trustee of the Lord of the Worlds.
Is a trustee for the trusted one of the Lord of all worlds.
O son of the Caliphs, the essence of your kindliness
يابنَO son of الخَلائِفِthe caliphs إِنَّindeed بُردَكَyour mantle مِلؤُهُits contents
يابنَ الخَلائِفِ إِنَّ بُردَكَ مِلؤُهُ
كَرَمٌgenerosity يَذوبُmelt المُزنُthe rainclouds مِنهُfrom it وَلينُand gentleness
كَرَمٌ يَذوبُ المُزنُ مِنهُ وَلينُ
O son of caliphs, your mantle is filled with
is a bounty that dissolves harshness and is gentle.
Generosity that melts the rainclouds, and gentleness.
A light upon you from the past, as though it
نورٌa light مِنَfrom الماضيthe predecessor عَلَيكَupon you كَأَنَّهُas though it were
نورٌ مِنَ الماضي عَلَيكَ كَأَنَّهُ
نورٌa light عَلَيهِupon him مِنَfrom النَبِيِّthe Prophet مُبينُmanifest
نورٌ عَلَيهِ مِنَ النَبِيِّ مُبينُ
Light from your predecessor rests upon you, as though it were
were a clear light upon it from the Prophet.
A clear light upon him from the Prophet.
Through you the Saffah and Mansur ascend, as also
يَسموrises high بِكَwith you السَفّاحُal-Saffah وَالمَنصورُand al-Mansur وَالand al-
يَسمو بِكَ السَفّاحُ وَالمَنصورُ وَال
مَهدِيُّMahdi وَالمَعصومُand al-Ma'sum وَالمَأمونُand al-Ma'mun
مَهدِيُّ وَالمَعصومُ وَالمَأمونُ
Al-Saffah lifts you high, and al-Mansur, and al-
the Mahdi, the Upright, and the Secure.
Mahdi, al-Ma'sum, and al-Ma'mun.
He who lives in the brightness of the Family knows that they
مَنwhoever يَعشُseeks ضَوءَthe light of الآلِthe Family يَعلَمknows أَنَّهُمthat they
مَن يَعشُ ضَوءَ الآلِ يَعلَم أَنَّهُم
مَلَأٌan assembly لَدىbefore مَلَإِthe assembly of السَماءِheaven مَكينُhighly placed
مَلَأٌ لَدى مَلَإِ السَماءِ مَكينُ
Whoever seeks the light of the Family knows that they
are a replenishment among the replenishments of Heaven.
Are an assembly held in honor before heaven's assembly.
The horsemen of a kingdom whose Caliphs are lions:
فُرسانُknights of مَملَكَةٍa kingdom أُسودُlions of خِلافَةٍa caliphate
فُرسانُ مَملَكَةٍ أُسودُ خِلافَةٍ
ظِلُّthe shade of الهُدىguidance غابٌa thicket لَهاfor them وَعَرينُand a lair
ظِلُّ الهُدى غابٌ لَها وَعَرينُ
Knights of a kingdom, lions of a caliphate;
the shadow of guidance has departed from it, and it has no lair.
The shade of guidance is their thicket and their lair.
A people who inherited from the Apostle a partition made for them
قَومٌa people غَداhas become الميراثُthe inheritance مَضروباًraised لَهُمfor them
قَومٌ غَدا الميراثُ مَضروباً لَهُم
سورٌa wall عَلَيهِaround it مِنَfrom القُرانِthe Qur'an حَصينُfortified
سورٌ عَلَيهِ مِنَ القُرانِ حَصينُ
A people whose inheritance has been fenced for them:
as a fence in the Quran, firm.
A stout wall around it, made of the Qur'an.
In them is the tranquility of their Lord, His Book,
فيهِمin them سَكينَةُthe tranquility of رَبِّهِمtheir Lord وَكِتابُهُand His Book
فيهِم سَكينَةُ رَبِّهِم وَكِتابُهُ
وَإِمامَتاهُand His two imamates وَاِسمُهُand His name المَحزونُsorrowful
وَإِمامَتاهُ وَاِسمُهُ المَحزونُ
In them are their Lord's tranquility and His Book,
His vicegerency, and His Name, the Erasing.
His two imamates, and His sorrowful name.
A valley of the Sultan protected, in which
وادٍa valley مِنَof السُلطانِauthority مُحمىًprotected لَمnot يَكُنwas
وادٍ مِنَ السُلطانِ مُحمىً لَم يَكُن
لِيَضيمَto encroach upon فيهِwithin it المُلكَkingship إِلّاexcept الدينُreligion
لِيَضيمَ فيهِ المُلكَ إِلّا الدينُ
A protected valley of authority, where none could
naught diminished the kingdom save religion.
Encroach upon kingship there except religion.
In a white, Abbasid state,
فيin دَولَةٍa reign بَيضاءَradiant هارونِيَّةٍHarunian
في دَولَةٍ بَيضاءَ هارونِيَّةٍ
مُتَكَنِّفاهاflanking it on both sides النَصرُvictory وَالتَمكينُand secure dominion
مُتَكَنِّفاها النَصرُ وَالتَمكينُ
In a radiant Harunian reign,
encompassed by victory and consolidation,
Flanked by victory and secure dominion.
Islam became glorious through its Sultanate,
قَدindeed أَصبَحَhas come to be الإِسلامُIslam فيunder سُلطانِهاits authority
قَد أَصبَحَ الإِسلامُ في سُلطانِها
وَالهِندُand India بَعضُpart of ثُغورِهاits frontiers وَالصينُand China
وَالهِندُ بَعضُ ثُغورِها وَالصينُ
Islam has now come under its authority,
and India is a part of its outskirts, and China.
And India and China are among its frontier lands.
Every hypocrite professing enmity to the trustee of God
يَفديoffers himself for أَمينَthe trustee of اللَهِGod كُلُّevery مُنافِقٍhypocrite
يَفدي أَمينَ اللَهِ كُلُّ مُنافِقٍ
شَنَآنُهُhis hatred بَينَbetween الضُلوعِthe ribs كَمينُhidden
شَنَآنُهُ بَينَ الضُلوعِ كَمينُ
Every hypocrite offers his life for God's trustee,
redeems him by the hatred stored up within his breast.
Though his hatred lies hidden between his ribs.
Of those whose right hands distribute favors, nor have
مِمَّنamong those who يَداهُhis two hands يُسرَيانِtwo left hands وَلَمand not تَزَلyou ceased
مِمَّن يَداهُ يُسرَيانِ وَلَم تَزَل
فيناamong us وَكِلتاand both راحَتَيكَyour palms يَمينُa right hand
فينا وَكِلتا راحَتَيكَ يَمينُ
Among those whose hands are both left hands; yet you have remained
both your hands ever ceased to be our place of rest.
Among us with both your palms right hands.
The wild creatures are summoned by your rule and pasture,
تُدعىare called بِطاعَتِكَto obey you الوُحوشُthe wild beasts فَتَرعَويso they heed
تُدعى بِطاعَتِكَ الوُحوشُ فَتَرعَوي
وَالأُسدُand the lions فيin عِرّيسِهاtheir lair فَتَدينُso they submit
وَالأُسدُ في عِرّيسِها فَتَدينُ
Wild beasts are called to obey you, and they yield;
and the lion, in awe, humbles itself in its lair.
And lions in their lairs give allegiance.
Above your glory there is no ascent of glory, nor
ماthere is no فَوقَabove مَجدِكَyour glory مُرتَقىa height of مَجدٍglory وَلاnor
ما فَوقَ مَجدِكَ مُرتَقى مَجدٍ وَلا
كُلُّevery اِفتِخارٍboast دونَbeneath فَخرِكَyour honor دونُbase
كُلُّ اِفتِخارٍ دونَ فَخرِكَ دونُ
No height of glory stands above your glory, nor
is all boasting, apart from boasting in you, base.
Is every boast beneath your honor contemptible.
There came to you from the composition of the tongue a necklace
جاءَتكَhas come to you مِنfrom نَظمِthe stringing of اللِسانِthe tongue قِلادَةٌa necklace
جاءَتكَ مِن نَظمِ اللِسانِ قِلادَةٌ
سِمطانِtwo strands فيهاwithin it اللُؤلُؤُthe pearls المَكنونُwell-guarded
سِمطانِ فيها اللُؤلُؤُ المَكنونُ
A necklace strung by the tongue has come to you,
in which were strung pearls stored away.
Two strands, with well-guarded pearls within.
It was shod with the sandals of Hadramawt, was decked out
حُذِيَتwas cut حِذاءَafter the pattern of الحَضرَمِيَّةِthe Hadrami sandal أُرهِفَتwas finely pared
حُذِيَت حِذاءَ الحَضرَمِيَّةِ أُرهِفَت
وَأَجادَهاand perfected it التَخصيرُwaist-narrowing وَالتَلسينُand tongue-shaping
وَأَجادَها التَخصيرُ وَالتَلسينُ
Cut to the pattern of a Hadrami sandal, finely thinned,
in fine elaboration and artful adornment.
And perfected by a narrow waist and tongue-shaped taper.
Tribal and refined, therein were multiplied
إِنسِيَّةٌfamiliar وَحشِيَّةٌwild كَثُرَتhave multiplied بِهاthrough it
إِنسِيَّةٌ وَحشِيَّةٌ كَثُرَت بِها
حَرَكاتُthe movements of أَهلِthe people of الأَرضِthe earth وَهيَwhile it سَكونُstillness
حَرَكاتُ أَهلِ الأَرضِ وَهيَ سَكونُ
Familiar yet wild; through it have multiplied
the movements of the people of the earth, all still.
The movements of earth's people, though it lies still.
Its source is prolific, the ornament of its ode
يَنبوعُهاits spring خَضِلٌlush وَحَليُand the adornment of قَريضِهاits verse
يَنبوعُها خَضِلٌ وَحَليُ قَريضِها
حَليُthe adornment of الهَدِيِّthe bride وَنَسجُهاand its weave مَوضونُclosely woven
حَليُ الهَدِيِّ وَنَسجُها مَوضونُ
Its spring is lush, and the adornment of its verse
is the ornament of guidance, and its composition harmonious.
Is a bride's adornment, and its weave is close-knit.
As for the meanings, they are unsullied virgins when
أَمّاas for المَعانيthe meanings فَهيَthen they are أَبكارٌvirgins إِذاwhen
أَمّا المَعاني فَهيَ أَبكارٌ إِذا
نُصَّتare displayed وَلَكِنَّbut القَوافيthe rhymes عونُmatrons
نُصَّت وَلَكِنَّ القَوافي عونُ
As for the meanings, they are virgins when
expressed - but the rhymes give them support.
Displayed, though the rhymes are matrons.
The craft of the tongue sought them out, extending
أَحذاكَهاgave it to you صَنَعُa craftsman of اللِسانِthe tongue يَمُدُّهُsupplies him
أَحذاكَها صَنَعُ اللِسانِ يَمُدُّهُ
جَفرٌa broad well إِذاwhen نَضَبَruns dry الكَلامُspeech مَعينُflowing
جَفرٌ إِذا نَضَبَ الكَلامُ مَعينُ
A craftsman of the tongue has given it to you, sustained by
abundant streams when the discourse was exhausted.
A broad well that flows when speech runs dry.
It behaves generously, though harboring an ill opinion - not like one
وَيُسيءُand thinks poorly بِالإِحسانِof excellence ظَنّاًin judgment لاnot كَمَنlike one who
وَيُسيءُ بِالإِحسانِ ظَنّاً لا كَمَن
هُوَhe بِاِبنِهِwith his son وَبِشِعرِهِand with his poetry مَفتونُinfatuated
هُوَ بِاِبنِهِ وَبِشِعرِهِ مَفتونُ
He mistrusts his own excellence, unlike one
enamored of his son and his poetry.
Infatuated with his son and his poetry.
It aims its purpose at you, while its concern
يَرميaims بِهِمَّتِهِwith his ambition إِلَيكَtoward you وَهَمُّهُand his concern
يَرمي بِهِمَّتِهِ إِلَيكَ وَهَمُّهُ
أَمَلٌa hope لَهُof his أَبَداًforever عَلَيكَon you حَرونُobstinately fixed
أَمَلٌ لَهُ أَبَداً عَلَيكَ حَرونُ
He aims his ambition toward you, and his concern
is a hope it everlastingly cherishes for you.
Is a hope of his, forever stubbornly fixed on you.
So its homeland is in the realm of hopes,
فَمُناهُso his wishes فيin حَيثُwhere الأَمانيwishes رُتَّعٌgrazing at ease
فَمُناهُ في حَيثُ الأَماني رُتَّعٌ
وَرَجاؤُهُand his hope حَيثُwhere الرَجاءُhope كَنينُsheltered
وَرَجاؤُهُ حَيثُ الرَجاءُ كَنينُ
So his wishes lie where wishes graze at ease,
and its expectation is where expectation whimpers.
And his hope where hope lies sheltered.
Perhaps that which it hopes for, of what has not been,
وَلَعَلَّand perhaps ماwhat يَرجوهُhe hopes for مِمّاof what لَمnot يَكُنhas been
وَلَعَلَّ ما يَرجوهُ مِمّا لَم يَكُن
بِكَthrough you عاجِلاًsoon أَوor آجِلاًlater سَيَكونُwill come to be
بِكَ عاجِلاً أَو آجِلاً سَيَكونُ
And perhaps what he hopes for, of things not yet come to pass,
either soon or late, will be through you.
Will come to pass through you, sooner or later.
Partial English translation: 95 of 96 Arabic lines translated.