لاdo not تَعذِليreproach جارَتيmy female neighbor أَنّىhow لَكِfor you العَذَلُreproach
لا تَعذِلي جارَتي أَنّى لَكِ العَذَلُ
فَلاfor not شَوىًtrifling harm ماwhat رُزِئناهُwe were bereaved of it وَلاand not جَلَلُa slight matter
فَلا شَوىً ما رُزِئناهُ وَلا جَلَلُ
Do not reproach me, my neighbor; how can you reproach?
Do not blame me, my neighbor, for blaming you,
For our bereavement is neither trifling nor slight.
Neither heated argument nor majesty avails.
إِحدىone of المَصائِبِthe calamities حَلَّتdescended فيin دِيارِthe dwellings of بَنيthe sons of
إِحدى المَصائِبِ حَلَّت في دِيارِ بَني
عِمرانَImran لَيسَتis not لَهاfor it أُختٌa sister وَلاnor مَثَلُan equal
عِمرانَ لَيسَت لَها أُختٌ وَلا مَثَلُ
A calamity has descended upon the homes of Banu
One of the calamities befell the abode of Banu
Imran, with neither sister nor equal.
Imran. It has no sister nor peer.
أَلوىswept away بِتيجانِهِمtheir crowns يَومٌa day أُتيحَwas allotted لَهُto it
أَلوى بِتيجانِهِم يَومٌ أُتيحَ لَهُ
نَحسٌill fortune وَأَثقَبَand kindled فيهِin it نارَهُhis fire زُحَلُSaturn
نَحسٌ وَأَثقَبَ فيهِ نارَهُ زُحَلُ
A day swept away their crowns, a day allotted
A day on which their diadems were bent,
ill fortune, and in which Saturn kindled his fire.
Misfortune weighed heavy and Saturn was baleful.
أَلوىlaid low بِهِhim وَهوَwhile he مُلوٍlaying others low بِالقَناwith spears لِتَواfor the rear-
أَلوى بِهِ وَهوَ مُلوٍ بِالقَنا لِتَوا
ليها-parts of them اِستِواءٌstraightness وَفيand in أَعناقِهاtheir necks مَيَلُa bend
ليها اِستِواءٌ وَفي أَعناقِها مَيَلُ
It laid him low, though he laid others low with spears whose rear
It bent them while they were filled with spears
shafts were straight, while their necks were bent.
In equal ranks with inclined necks.
كانَhe was الَّذيthe one who لَيسَnot فيin مَعجومِهِhis tested mettle خَوَرٌweakness
كانَ الَّذي لَيسَ في مَعجومِهِ خَوَرٌ
لِلعاجِمينَfor those who test وَلاnor فيin هَديِهِhis conduct خَلَلُa flaw
لِلعاجِمينَ وَلا في هَديِهِ خَلَلُ
He was the man whose tested mettle showed no weakness
He who had no defect in his inspired speech
to those who tested him, and whose conduct had no flaw.
For the non-Arabs and no flaw in his guidance.
كانَhe was الَّذيthe one who يُتَّقىis warded off رَيبُthe misfortune of الزَمانِtime بِهِthrough him
كانَ الَّذي يُتَّقى رَيبُ الزَمانِ بِهِ
إِذاwhen الزَمانُtime بَدَتappeared أَنيابُهُits fangs العُصُلُcrooked
إِذا الزَمانُ بَدَت أَنيابُهُ العُصُلُ
He was the one through whom time's perils were warded off,
He by whom the vicissitudes of Time were feared,
when time bared its crooked fangs.
When the fangs of Time were bared.
أَحَلَّناsettled us الدَهرُtime فيon بَطحاءَa broad plain مُسهِلَةٍlevel
أَحَلَّنا الدَهرُ في بَطحاءَ مُسهِلَةٍ
لَمّاwhen تَقَوَّضتَyou collapsed عَنهاfrom it أَيُّهاO الجَبَلُmountain
لَمّا تَقَوَّضتَ عَنها أَيُّها الجَبَلُ
Time set us on a broad, level plain,
Time settled us in a plain that flows easily
when you fell away from it, O mountain.
When you, O mountain, were shaken from it.
ماhow كانَwould have been أَحسَنَsplendid حالاتِthe fortunes of الأَشاعِرِthe Ash'arites ياO
ما كانَ أَحسَنَ حالاتِ الأَشاعِرِ يا
يَحيىYahya بنَson of عِمرانَImran لَوif only أُنسيwere deferred لَكَfor you الأَجَلُthe appointed death
يَحيى بنَ عِمرانَ لَو أُنسي لَكَ الأَجَلُ
How fine the fortunes of the Ash'arites would have been, O
How good was the state of the Ash'aris, O
Yahya ibn Imran, had your appointed death been deferred!
Yahya ibn Imran, had not the term been fixed for you.
أَيُّwhat a اِمرِىءٍman مِنكَin you أَثرىgrew rich بَينَamong أَعظُمِهِhis bones
أَيُّ اِمرِىءٍ مِنكَ أَثرى بَينَ أَعظُمِهِ
ثَرىthe soil of المُقَطَّمِal-Muqattam أَوor مَلحودُهُhis grave الرَمِلُsandy
ثَرى المُقَطَّمِ أَو مَلحودُهُ الرَمِلُ
What a man you were! Among your bones grew rich
Which man among you was the most distinguished, on
al-Muqattam's soil, or your sandy grave.
The scattered dusty ground or its drifted sands?
لاnot يُتبِعُappends المَنَّreminders of favors ماwhat جادَتbestowed generously يَداهُhis two hands بِهِwith it
لا يُتبِعُ المَنَّ ما جادَت يَداهُ بِهِ
وَلاand not تُحَكَّمُare given authority فيover مَعروفِهِhis kindness العِلَلُexcuses
وَلا تُحَكَّمُ في مَعروفِهِ العِلَلُ
He never follows his hands' generous gifts with reminders of favor,
He who does not turn from good he has initiated,
nor lets excuses govern his kindness.
Nor slacken from accustomed virtuous deeds.
ماwhat قالَhe said كانَcame to pass إِذاwhen ماindeed القَومُthe people أَكذَبَbelied ماwhat
ما قالَ كانَ إِذا ما القَومُ أَكذَبَ ما
أَطالَlengthened مِنof قَولِهِمtheir speech تَقصيرُthe shortfall of ماwhat فَعَلواthey did
أَطالَ مِن قَولِهِم تَقصيرُ ما فَعَلوا
What he said came to pass, while others' words were belied,
His word, when people reject the truth of his saying,
however long their speeches, by the shortfall of their deeds.
Is prolonged, while their acts fall short.
ياO مَوتُDeath حَسبُكَenough for you إِذsince أَقصَدتَyou struck dead مُهجَتَهُhis life's blood
يا مَوتُ حَسبُكَ إِذ أَقصَدتَ مُهجَتَهُ
أَولاor if not فَدونَكَthen have your way لاno حَسَبٌenough وَلابَجَلُand no sufficiency
أَولا فَدونَكَ لا حَسَبٌ وَلابَجَلُ
O Death, enough for you that you struck his heart dead!
O Death, it was enough when you aimed your blow at his forehead,
Or, if not, have your way: no 'enough,' no 'suffices.'
While for others, no reckoning or term.
ماwhat حالُناour condition ياO أَباfather of العَبّاسِal-Abbas بَعدَكَafter you هَلcan
ما حالُنا يا أَبا العَبّاسِ بَعدَكَ هَل
تَنمىgrow الفُروعُthe branches وَيوديwhile perishes أَصلُهاtheir root الأَصِلُdeep-rooted
تَنمى الفُروعُ وَيودي أَصلُها الأَصِلُ
What is our state after you, Abu al-Abbas? Can
What is our state, O Abu al-'Abbas, after you?
the branches grow while their deep-rooted root perishes?
Do branches grow when their origin perishes?
ياO مَوتُDeath لَوif فيin وَغىًbattle عايَنتَهُyou saw him خَلَدَتwould have endured
يا مَوتُ لَو في وَغىً عايَنتَهُ خَلَدَت
عَلَيهِover him عَوضُforever دُموعٌtears مِنكَfrom you تَنهَمِلُstream down
عَلَيهِ عَوضُ دُموعٌ مِنكَ تَنهَمِلُ
O Death, had you seen him in battle, unceasing
O Death, had you witnessed him in battle, you would have
tears from you would have streamed over him forever.
Poured tears over him instead of taking his life.
المُشعِلُthe one who kindles الحَربَwar ناراًinto fire وَهيَwhile it خامِدَةٌlies dormant
المُشعِلُ الحَربَ ناراً وَهيَ خامِدَةٌ
وَالمُستَبيحُand the one who overruns حِماهاits sanctuary وَهيَwhile it تَشتَعِلُblazes
وَالمُستَبيحُ حِماها وَهيَ تَشتَعِلُ
He kindled war into flame while it lay dormant,
The kindler of extinguished war, the despoiler of protected
and stormed its sanctuary while it blazed.
Sanctuaries, while war blazes.
بِكُلِّon every يَومِday of وَغىًbattle تَصدىthirst الكُماةُthe armored champions بِهِin it
بِكُلِّ يَومِ وَغىً تَصدى الكُماةُ بِهِ
عَلىat يَدَيهِhis two hands وَتَروىwhile drink their fill البيضُthe bright swords وَالأَسَلُand the spears
عَلى يَدَيهِ وَتَروى البيضُ وَالأَسَلُ
On every day of battle the armored champions thirsted
With each battle the swords clash against his hands
at his hands, while bright swords and spears drank their fill.
And the white blades drink and the curved blades sip.
يَغشىenters الوَغىbattle بِالقَناwith spears وَالخَيلُwhile the horses عابِسَةٌare grim-faced
يَغشى الوَغى بِالقَنا وَالخَيلُ عابِسَةٌ
وَالخَيلُand the cavalry لاno عاجِزٌhelpless one فيهاamong them وَلاnor وَكِلُone reliant on others
وَالخَيلُ لا عاجِزٌ فيها وَلا وَكِلُ
He entered battle with spears, while the horses scowled,
Covered in spears and scowling steeds,
and among the cavalry none was helpless or reliant on others.
Among the horses without weakling or dependant.
وَالكاشِفُand the one who dispels الكُرَبَthe afflictions اللاتيwhich يَحُفُّenvelops بِهاthem
وَالكاشِفُ الكُرَبَ اللاتي يَحُفُّ بِها
إِظلامُthe darkness of أَمرٍa crisis عَلىover البُلدانِthe lands يَنسَدِلُdescends
إِظلامُ أَمرٍ عَلى البُلدانِ يَنسَدِلُ
And he dispelled the afflictions enveloped
The dispeller of the darkness of confusing matters
by the darkness of a crisis descending over the lands,
That overwhelms the lands spreading its shadows.
بِمَشهَدٍwith a presence لَيسَnot يَثنيهِturns him aside بِهِin it زَلَلٌa misstep
بِمَشهَدٍ لَيسَ يَثنيهِ بِهِ زَلَلٌ
وَمَنطِقٍand speech لَيسَnot يَعروهُbefalls it بِهِin it خَطَلُfoolishness
وَمَنطِقٍ لَيسَ يَعروهُ بِهِ خَطَلُ
with a presence in which no misstep turned him aside,
With an aspect that no slipping diverts him,
and speech that no foolishness assailed.
And speech that no stumbling inhibits him;
مُستَجمِعٌself-possessed لاnot يَحِلُّunties الرَيثُdelay عُقدَتَهُhis resolve
مُستَجمِعٌ لا يَحِلُّ الرَيثُ عُقدَتَهُ
فيهِin it وَلاnor يَمتَطيrides إِبلاغَهُhis expression العَجَلُhaste
فيهِ وَلا يَمتَطي إِبلاغَهُ العَجَلُ
He was self-possessed: delay never loosened his resolve
Bringing together without idle delay resolving its knot,
in it, nor did haste ride his expression.
Without rushing to convey and bore.
بِحَيثُwhere لاnot يَضَعُplaces الآراءَthe judgments مَوضِعَهاin their proper place
بِحَيثُ لا يَضَعُ الآراءَ مَوضِعَها
إِلّاexcept فُلانٌso-and-so إِذاwhen يُدعىis summoned لَهاfor them وَفَلُand so-and-so
إِلّا فُلانٌ إِذا يُدعى لَها وَفَلُ
Where none could put judgments in their proper place
Where none places opinions in their proper places
except so-and-so, when called upon for them, and so-and-so.
Except So-and-so when called upon.
إِذاwhen الرِجالُthe men رَأَوهُsaw him وَهوَwhile he يَفعَلُwas doing ماwhat
إِذا الرِجالُ رَأَوهُ وَهوَ يَفعَلُ ما
أَعياهُمُdefeated them فِعلُهُdoing it قالواthey said كَذاlike this الرَجُلُthe man
أَعياهُمُ فِعلُهُ قالوا كَذا الرَجُلُ
When men saw him doing what
When men saw him do what doing exhausted them,
they could not accomplish, they said, 'That is a man!'
They said: "Such is the man!"
إِمّاif indeed يُدَلare granted a turn مِنكَagainst you بِالمَوتِthrough death العِدىthe enemies فَبِماthen because of what
إِمّا يُدَل مِنكَ بِالمَوتِ العِدى فَبِما
دارَتturned عَلَيهِمagainst them بِلاwithout مَوتٍdeath لَكَfor you الدُوَلُthe turns of fortune
دارَت عَلَيهِم بِلا مَوتٍ لَكَ الدُوَلُ
If death gives your foes a turn against you, it is for the times
Either death turns you from oppression, but with
fortune turned against them while you were still alive.
What has passed over them without death is your eternity.
أَيَّامَin the days when سَيفُكَyour sword مَشهورٌdrawn وَبَحرُكَand your sea مَسfull (word begins)
أَيَّامَ سَيفُكَ مَشهورٌ وَبَحرُكَ مَس
جورٌfull (word ends) وَقَرنُكَand your rival مَقصورٌshortened لَهُfor him الطِوَلُthe tether
جورٌ وَقَرنُكَ مَقصورٌ لَهُ الطِوَلُ
In the days when your sword was drawn and your sea was
The days of your sword notorious, your sea overflowing,
full, and your rival's tether was shortened.
Your spearhead limited only by its length.
إِذwhen لابِسُthe wearer of الذِلَّةِhumiliation المَقطوعُcut off ذوone with رَحِمٍkinship
إِذ لابِسُ الذِلَّةِ المَقطوعُ ذو رَحِمٍ
قَطَعتَهُyou cut him off وَإِذاand when المَوصولُthe connected one مَنwhoever تَصِلُyou maintain ties with
قَطَعتَهُ وَإِذا المَوصولُ مَن تَصِلُ
When the man clad in humiliation, cut off, was a kinsman
As you cut relations with the disgraced weakling
you had cut off; and the one with ties was whoever you befriended.
And joined ties with those you brought together.
جَرَّعَكَmade you swallow الدَهرُtime كاسَthe cup of الصَبرِbitter aloes فيamid لُجَجٍdeep seas
جَرَّعَكَ الدَهرُ كاسَ الصَبرِ في لُجَجٍ
لِلمَوتِof death يَغرِقُdrowns فيin آذِيِّهاits surging waves الجَبَلُa mountain
لِلمَوتِ يَغرِقُ في آذِيِّها الجَبَلُ
Time made you swallow the cup of bitter aloes amid deep seas
Fate made you drink the cup of patience in deep
of death, in whose surging waves a mountain would drown.
Seas where mountains drown in its injuries.
مَوتاًdeath وَقَتلاًand killing كَأَنَّas though الدَهرَtime يَظمَأُthirsts ماas long as
مَوتاً وَقَتلاً كَأَنَّ الدَهرَ يَظمَأُ ما
عاشواthey lived وَيَنقَعُand slakes its thirst ماwhen ماتواthey died وَماand when قُتِلواthey were killed
عاشوا وَيَنقَعُ ما ماتوا وَما قُتِلوا
Death and slaughter—as though time thirsted so long as
Death and killing as if Time thirsted for those
they lived, and slaked its thirst when they died and when they were slain.
Who lived and enjoyed those who died and were killed.
ياO شاغِلَone who kept occupied الدَهرِtime عَنّاaway from us ماnot لِصَولَتِهِfor its assault
يا شاغِلَ الدَهرِ عَنّا ما لِصَولَتِهِ
مُذsince صالَassailed فيكَupon you الرَدىdeath إِلّاexcept بِناwith us شُغُلُan occupation
مُذ صالَ فيكَ الرَدى إِلّا بِنا شُغُلُ
O you who kept time busy away from us! Its assault has found,
O you whose adventures preoccupied Time from us
since death assailed you, no occupation but us.
Since misfortune lodged in you except through us no preoccupations.
ياO حِليَةَornament of المَجدِglory إِنَّindeed المَجدَglory عَنafter عُفُرٍa long interval
يا حِليَةَ المَجدِ إِنَّ المَجدَ عَن عُفُرٍ
بَداappeared وَحِليَتُهُand its ornament مِنfrom بَعدِكَafter you العَطَلُlack of adornment
بَدا وَحِليَتُهُ مِن بَعدِكَ العَطَلُ
O ornament of glory! Glory, after a long interval,
O adornment of glory! Glory is revealed as squalor
has appeared, and after you its ornament is bareness.
After you and its adornment henceforth is loss.
ياO مَوئِلاٌa refuge كانَwas مَأوىa shelter for الآزِماتِpressing crises بِهِin it
يا مَوئِلاٌ كانَ مَأوى الآزِماتِ بِهِ
إِذاwhen اِدلَهَمَّتgrew dark بِمَكروهاتِهاwith their horrors العُضُلُthe intractable calamities
إِذا اِدلَهَمَّت بِمَكروهاتِها العُضُلُ
O refuge that was a haven for pressing crises,
O haven! The refuge of adversities when
when intractable calamities grew dark with their horrors!
Calamities crowd with their misfortunes.
فَأَيُّso what مُعتَمَدٍreliable support يَزكوflourishes بِهِthrough him عَمَلٌa deed
فَأَيُّ مُعتَمَدٍ يَزكو بِهِ عَمَلٌ
وَأَيُand what مُنتَظَرٍawaited one يَحياcomes alive بِهِthrough him أَمَلُhope
وَأَيُ مُنتَظَرٍ يَحيا بِهِ أَمَلُ
So what support can make a deed flourish?
What dependent now can prosper? What expectation live?
And what awaited one can bring hope to life?
But Husayn and the like of Husayn, when
لَكِنbut حُسَينٌHusayn وَأَمثالُand the likes of الحُسَينِal-Husayn إِذاwhen
لَكِن حُسَينٌ وَأَمثالُ الحُسَينِ إِذا
ماindeed الناسُthe people يَومَon a day of حِفاظٍdefending honor حُصِّلواare tested قُلُلُmountain peaks
ما الناسُ يَومَ حِفاظٍ حُصِّلوا قُلُلُ
But Husayn, and the likes of Husayn, when
People are lacking defenders, are few.
men are tested on a day of defending honor, are mountain peaks.
Situations proclaim about him that he is a support;
تُنبيdeclare المَواقِفُthe stands عَنهُof him أَنَّهُthat he is سَنَدٌa support
تُنبي المَواقِفُ عَنهُ أَنَّهُ سَنَدٌ
وَيُخبِرُand tells الرَوعُterror عَنهُof him أَنَّهُthat he is بَطَلُa hero
وَيُخبِرُ الرَوعُ عَنهُ أَنَّهُ بَطَلُ
His stands proclaim that he is a bulwark,
And awe proclaims about him that he is a hero.
and terror tells that he is a hero.
He gives so he is generous, or is called so he answers,
يُعطيhe gives فَيُجزِلُand gives lavishly أَوor يُدعىis summoned فَيَنزِلُand comes down أَوor
يُعطي فَيُجزِلُ أَو يُدعى فَيَنزِلُ أَو
يُؤتىis approached لِمَحمَلِto bear أَعباءٍburdens فَيَحتَمِلُand bears them
يُؤتى لِمَحمَلِ أَعباءٍ فَيَحتَمِلُ
He gives, and gives lavishly; or is summoned and comes down; or
Or is resorted to with heavy burdens so he bears them.
is approached to carry burdens, and shoulders them.
You would think him bent with age were it not
تَظُنُّهُyou would think him شَيخَهُhis father لَولاwere it not for شَبيبَتُهُhis youth
تَظُنُّهُ شَيخَهُ لَولا شَبيبَتُهُ
وَالزَرعُand the crop يَنبُتُsprouts فَذّاًsingly ثُمَّthen يَكتَهِلُcomes of age
وَالزَرعُ يَنبُتُ فَذّاً ثُمَّ يَكتَهِلُ
You would think him his father, were it not for his youth;
For his youth, and vegetation sprouts then thickens.
and the crop sprouts singly, then comes of age.
He has become for us a replacement, bending under it.
أَضحىhas become لَناfor us بَدَلاًa replacement مِنهُin his stead تَنوءُyou rise with effort بِهِwith him
أَضحى لَنا بَدَلاً مِنهُ تَنوءُ بِهِ
وَالشِبلُand the cub مِنin place of لَيثِهِits lion إِمّاif مَضىhe is gone بَدَلُa replacement
وَالشِبلُ مِن لَيثِهِ إِمّا مَضى بَدَلُ
He has become his replacement for us, whom you strain to bear;
But the cub is never a substitute for the vanished lion.
and a cub replaces its lion when the lion is gone.
Partial English translation: 71 of 72 Arabic lines translated.