عَلىover مِثلِهاtheir like مِنof أَربُعٍdwelling sites وَمَلاعِبِand playgrounds
عَلى مِثلِها مِن أَربُعٍ وَمَلاعِبِ
أُذيلَتwere freely spent مَصوناتُthe guarded الدُموعِtears السَواكِبِstreaming
أُذيلَت مَصوناتُ الدُموعِ السَواكِبِ
Over dwelling sites and playgrounds like these
On the likes of her, of pure descent and noble play,
the guarded, streaming tears were freely shed.
The stars of heaven cast down their veils in homage.
أَقولُI say لِقُرحانٍto one unscathed مِنَby البَينِparting لَمnot يُضِفharbor
أَقولُ لِقُرحانٍ مِنَ البَينِ لَم يُضِف
رَسيسَthe lingering trace of الهَوىlove تَحتَbeneath الحَشاthe breast وَالتَرائِبِand chest bones
رَسيسَ الهَوى تَحتَ الحَشا وَالتَرائِبِ
I say to one unscathed by parting, who has not harbored
To a lover consumed with yearning's smart I say -
love's lingering ache beneath his breast and ribs:
No healing comes to one whose love's derangement
أَعِنّيhelp me أُفَرِّقI may scatter شَملَthe gathering of دَمعيmy tears فَإِنَّنيfor indeed I
أَعِنّي أُفَرِّق شَملَ دَمعي فَإِنَّني
أَرىI see الشَملَthe company مِنهُمof them لَيسَis not بِالمُتَقارِبِdrawn together
أَرى الشَملَ مِنهُم لَيسَ بِالمُتَقارِبِ
Help me scatter my gathered tears, for indeed I
Still swells his heart beneath a cloak of melancholy.
see that their company is no longer gathered close.
Help me divide my tears! Their unity I see
وَماand not صارَbecame فيon ذاthis اليَومِday عَذلُكَyour reproach كُلُّهُall of it
وَما صارَ في ذا اليَومِ عَذلُكَ كُلُّهُ
عَدُوِّيَmy enemy حَتّىuntil صارَbecame جَهلُكَyour folly صاحِبيmy companion
عَدُوِّيَ حَتّى صارَ جَهلُكَ صاحِبي
And your reproach, all of it, became this day
No more. Disunion's now their fate. Distraught, disconsolate am I.
my enemy only when your folly became my companion.
No enemy is yours this day. Your ignorance
وَماand not بِكَwith you إِركابيmounting me مِنَof الرُشدِsound judgment مَركَباًa mount
وَما بِكَ إِركابي مِنَ الرُشدِ مَركَباً
أَلاindeed إِنَّماonly حاوَلتَyou sought رُشدَthe right course for الرَكائِبِthe riding camels
أَلا إِنَّما حاوَلتَ رُشدَ الرَكائِبِ
It is not mounting me on a steed of good sense that concerns you;
Has turned against me and become my closest intimate.
indeed, you sought only the right course for the riding camels.
In me no guidance did you seek. You only thought
فَكِلنيso entrust me إِلىto شَوقيmy longing وَسِرand go يَسِرِwill travel الهَوىlove
فَكِلني إِلى شَوقي وَسِر يَسِرِ الهَوى
إِلىto حُرُقاتيmy burning pangs بِالدُموعِwith tears السَوارِبِstreaming
إِلى حُرُقاتي بِالدُموعِ السَوارِبِ
So entrust me to my longing and go; love will travel
To tutor one who rode the winds and walked the seas.
to my burning pangs with streaming tears.
Leave me to my passion and the mysteries of love,
أَمَيدانَO playground لَهويof my pleasures مَنwho أَتاحَbrought لَكَupon you البِلىdecay
أَمَيدانَ لَهوي مَن أَتاحَ لَكَ البِلى
فَأَصبَحتَso you became مَيدانَa field الصَباthe east wind وَالجَنائِبِand southerly winds
فَأَصبَحتَ مَيدانَ الصَبا وَالجَنائِبِ
O playground of my pleasures, who brought decay upon you,
To burn in tears rushing like floods, torrents from my eyes.
so that you became a field for the east wind and southerly winds?
Is this how you reward your lover's constancy,
أَصابَتكَstruck you أَبكارُthe first onsets of الخُطوبِcalamities فَشَتَّتَتand so scattered
أَصابَتكَ أَبكارُ الخُطوبِ فَشَتَّتَت
هَوايَmy love بِأَبكارِfor the maidens of الظِباءِthe gazelles الكَواعِبِwith budding breasts
هَوايَ بِأَبكارِ الظِباءِ الكَواعِبِ
The first onsets of calamity struck you and scattered
Becoming thus the giddy world of maid and youth?
my love for the maiden gazelles with budding breasts.
New brides assailed me, scattering my love abroad,
وَرَكبٍand a band of riders يُساقونَshare a drink with الرِكابَthe riding camels زُجاجَةًa glass
وَرَكبٍ يُساقونَ الرِكابَ زُجاجَةً
مِنَof السَيرِtravel لَمnot تَقصِدhas aimed لَهاfor it كَفُّthe hand of قاطِبِa wine-mixer
مِنَ السَيرِ لَم تَقصِد لَها كَفُّ قاطِبِ
And many a band of riders shares with its mounts a glass
Like fleeing deer before the baying hounds unleashed.
of travel, untouched by any wine-mixer's hand.
They ride their steeds and none can stop their wanton power.
فَقَدfor indeed أَكَلواthey have eaten away مِنهاfrom them الغَوارِبَthe withers بِالسُرىby night travel
فَقَد أَكَلوا مِنها الغَوارِبَ بِالسُرى
فَصارَتso became لَهاupon them أَشباحُهُمtheir bodies كَالغَوارِبِlike withers
فَصارَت لَها أَشباحُهُم كَالغَوارِبِ
For by night travel they have eaten away their mounts' withers,
No hand can seize their reins, no cry their heedless course impede.
so their bodies became like withers upon them.
Swifter than mirage-bolts they raced into the gloom
يُصَرِّفُsteers مَسراهاtheir night course جُذَيلُa little tree-trunk of مَشارِقٍeastern lands
يُصَرِّفُ مَسراها جُذَيلُ مَشارِقٍ
إِذاwhenever آبَهُbesets him هَمٌّa care عُذَيقُa little date-palm of مَغارِبِwestern lands
إِذا آبَهُ هَمٌّ عُذَيقُ مَغارِبِ
Their night course is steered by an old hand, the East's little tree-trunk,
And like mirage their forms melted in the murk and haze.
the West's little date-palm, whenever care besets him.
The tresses of the dawn he takes at whim and sweeps
يَرىhe sees بِالكَعابِin the budding-breasted maiden الرَودِgentle طَلعَةَthe face of ثائِرٍan avenger
يَرى بِالكَعابِ الرَودِ طَلعَةَ ثائِرٍ
وَبِالعِرمِسِand in the sturdy she-camel الوَجناءِfull-cheeked غُرَّةَthe bright brow of آيِبِone returning
وَبِالعِرمِسِ الوَجناءِ غُرَّةَ آيِبِ
In a gentle, budding-breasted maiden he sees an avenger's face,
Them back, as evening shadows throng from east to west.
and in a sturdy, full-cheeked she-camel a homecomer's bright brow.
He sees the morning star at nightfall in the Pleiades
كَأَنَّas though بِهِin him ضِغناًa grudge عَلىagainst كُلِّevery جانِبٍquarter
كَأَنَّ بِهِ ضِغناً عَلى كُلِّ جانِبٍ
مِنَof الأَرضِthe earth أَوor شَوقاًa longing إِلىfor كُلِّevery جانِبِquarter
مِنَ الأَرضِ أَو شَوقاً إِلى كُلِّ جانِبِ
As though he bore a grudge against every quarter
And then at dawn the ruddy glow within the Hyades.
of the earth, or a longing for every quarter.
As though he bore the burdens of all men, but wished
إِذاwhen العيسُthe pale camels لاقَتmeet بيbearing me أَباAbu دُلَفٍDulaf فَقَدthen indeed
إِذا العيسُ لاقَت بي أَبا دُلَفٍ فَقَد
تَقَطَّعَhas been severed ماwhat بَينيbetween me وَبَينَand between النَوائِبِcalamities
تَقَطَّعَ ما بَيني وَبَينَ النَوائِبِ
When the pale camels bring me to meet Abu Dulaf, then
For more, still burdened by the world's immensity.
all ties between me and calamities are severed.
Whenever the Virgins rose to meet Abu Dhulf, then all
هُنالِكَthere تَلقىyou find الجودَgenerosity حَيثُwhere تَقَطَّعَتbroke apart
هُنالِكَ تَلقى الجودَ حَيثُ تَقَطَّعَت
تَمائِمُهُits amulets وَالمَجدَand glory مُرخىwith loosened الذَوائِبِtresses
تَمائِمُهُ وَالمَجدَ مُرخى الذَوائِبِ
There you find generosity, in the place where
Between us was cut off. Gone happiness and peace!
its amulets snapped, and glory with its tresses flowing.
For there men's generosity was pledged and glory's train
تَكادُalmost عَطاياهُhis gifts يُجَنُّgoes mad جُنونُهاtheir madness
تَكادُ عَطاياهُ يُجَنُّ جُنونُها
إِذاif لَمnot يُعَوِّذهاhe charms them بِنَغمَةِwith the voice of طالِبِa petitioner
إِذا لَم يُعَوِّذها بِنَغمَةِ طالِبِ
His gifts' very madness almost goes mad
Unrolled its banners outspread in the winds at large.
unless he charms them with a petitioner's voice.
His gifts could drive one mad, did not the hand restrain,
إِذاwhen حَرَّكَتهُmoves him هِزَّةُa stirring of المَجدِglory غَيَّرَتchange
إِذا حَرَّكَتهُ هِزَّةُ المَجدِ غَيَّرَت
عَطاياهُhis gifts أَسماءَthe names of الأَمانيhopes الكَواذِبِfalse
عَطاياهُ أَسماءَ الأَماني الكَواذِبِ
When glory's thrill stirs him,
Curb their wild frenzy with the poet's gentle touch.
his gifts change the names of false hopes.
Ambition shook him and his gifts put on new guises,
تَكادُalmost مَغانيهِhis dwellings تَهِشُّquiver with welcome عِراصُهاtheir courtyards
تَكادُ مَغانيهِ تَهِشُّ عِراصُها
فَتَركَبُand so mount up مِنfrom شَوقٍlonging إِلىtoward كُلِّevery راكِبِrider
فَتَركَبُ مِن شَوقٍ إِلى كُلِّ راكِبِ
The courtyards of his dwellings almost quiver with welcome
Exchanging their old names for empty, windy boasts.
and mount up in longing toward every rider.
His songs poured from his throat till they could barely breathe,
إِذاwhen ماever غَداhe goes forth at dawn أَغدىhe sends forth at dawn كَريمَةَthe choicest of مالِهِhis wealth
إِذا ما غَدا أَغدى كَريمَةَ مالِهِ
هَدِيّاًas a bride وَلَوand even if زُفَّتshe is led as a bride لِأَلأَمِto the basest خاطِبِsuitor
هَدِيّاً وَلَو زُفَّت لِأَلأَمِ خاطِبِ
Whenever he goes forth at dawn, he sends his choicest wealth forth
Gasping with love and yearning for each listener's heart.
as a bride, even if she is led to the basest suitor.
If he set out one morn, his wealth's bright fountainhead,
يَرىhe deems أَقبَحَthe ugliest الأَشياءِof things أَوبَةَthe return of آيِبٍa homecomer
يَرى أَقبَحَ الأَشياءِ أَوبَةَ آيِبٍ
كَسَتهُhas clothed him يَدُthe hand of المَأمولِthe hoped-for patron حُلَّةَthe robe of خائِبِone disappointed
كَسَتهُ يَدُ المَأمولِ حُلَّةَ خائِبِ
He deems the ugliest thing the return of a homecomer
His bounty flowed - though brides made far more modest claims.
whom the hoped-for patron's hand has clothed in disappointment's robe.
To him the ugliest thing seemed like the morn's first light,
وَأَحسَنُand more beautiful مِنthan نَورٍblossoms تُفَتِّحُهُopens them الصَباthe east wind
وَأَحسَنُ مِن نَورٍ تُفَتِّحُهُ الصَبا
بَياضُthe whiteness of العَطاياgifts فيamid سَوادِthe blackness of المَطالِبِrequests
بَياضُ العَطايا في سَوادِ المَطالِبِ
And more lovely than blossoms opened by the east wind
Which disappointment's hand had clothed in radiant hues.
is the whiteness of gifts amid the blackness of requests.
Fairer than fairest light, bounty's whiteness shone
إِذاwhen أَلجَمَتbridles يَوماًone day لُجَيمٌLujaym وَحَولَهاand around it
إِذا أَلجَمَت يَوماً لُجَيمٌ وَحَولَها
بَنوthe sons of الحِصنِal-Hisn نَجلُoffspring of المُحصِناتِchaste women النَجائِبِnoble
بَنو الحِصنِ نَجلُ المُحصِناتِ النَجائِبِ
When one day Lujaym bridles its horses, surrounded by
Against the gloom, a darkness cleft by suppliants' cries.
the sons of al-Hisn, offspring of chaste, noble women,
When War's black standards rose and sovereigns of strongholds,
فَإِنَّthen indeed المَناياdeaths وَالصَوارِمَand keen swords وَالقَناand spears
فَإِنَّ المَنايا وَالصَوارِمَ وَالقَنا
أَقارِبُهُمtheir kin فيin الرَوعِterror دونَrather than الأَقارِبِkinsmen
أَقارِبُهُم في الرَوعِ دونَ الأَقارِبِ
then deaths, keen swords, and spears
Nobles and dames from curtained litters stared aghast,
are their kin amid battle's terror, in place of their kin.
Then doom and death and steel were kinsmen. Not in name
جَحافِلُhosts لاnot يَترُكنَleave ذاone possessing جَبَرِيَّةٍtyrannical might
جَحافِلُ لا يَترُكنَ ذا جَبَرِيَّةٍ
سَليماًunharmed وَلاand not يَحرُبنَplunder مَنwhoever لَمnot يُحارِبِhas fought
سَليماً وَلا يَحرُبنَ مَن لَم يُحارِبِ
Hosts that leave no tyrant
Alone they were related. In their terrible, fearsome might,
unharmed, nor plunder anyone who has not fought.
No creature did they spare of overweening pride
يَمُدّونَthey stretch forth مِنfrom أَيدٍhands عَواصٍdefiant عَواصِمٍprotecting
يَمُدّونَ مِن أَيدٍ عَواصٍ عَواصِمٍ
تَصولُstrike fiercely بِأَسيافٍwith swords قَواضٍjudging قَواضِبِcleaving
تَصولُ بِأَسيافٍ قَواضٍ قَواضِبِ
They put forth hands, defiant and protecting,
Or enemy that shunned and sought no war with them.
striking with swords that judge and cleave.
Their hands stretched forth destroying swords to rend and crush,
إِذاwhen الخَيلُthe horses جابَتcut through قَسطَلَthe dust cloud of الحَربِwar صَدَّعواthey shatter
إِذا الخَيلُ جابَت قَسطَلَ الحَربِ صَدَّعوا
صُدورَthe heads of العَواليtall lances فيin صُدورِthe breasts of الكَتائِبِbattalions
صُدورَ العَوالي في صُدورِ الكَتائِبِ
When the horses cut through war's dust cloud, they shatter
Brandished by warriors, thirsty blades that drink their fill of blood.
the heads of tall lances in the breasts of battalions.
Their horses roamed through battle's realm and hacked apart
إِذاif اِفتَخَرَتboasts يَوماًone day تَميمٌTamim بِقَوسِهاof its bow
إِذا اِفتَخَرَت يَوماً تَميمٌ بِقَوسِها
وَزادَتand adds عَلىto ماwhat وَطَّدَتit has established مِنof مَناقِبِnoble deeds
وَزادَت عَلى ما وَطَّدَت مِن مَناقِبِ
If one day Tamim boasts of its bow
The foe till spear and sword dripped red with flowing gore.
and adds to the noble deeds it has established,
Once Tameem proudly vaunted their superior bows
فَأَنتُمthen you بِذيat Dhu قارٍQar أَمالَتtoppled سُيوفُكُمyour swords
فَأَنتُم بِذي قارٍ أَمالَت سُيوفُكُم
عُروشَthe thrones of الَّذينَthose who اِستَرهَنواtook in pledge قَوسَthe bow of حاجِبِHajib
عُروشَ الَّذينَ اِستَرهَنوا قَوسَ حاجِبِ
then it is you at Dhu Qar whose swords toppled
And all the glory binding fame about their name,
the thrones of those who took Hajib's bow in pledge.
Your swords at Dhi Qar struck down those noble lords
مَحاسِنُsplendors مِنof مَجدٍglory مَتىwhenever تَقرِنواyou compare بِهاwith them
مَحاسِنُ مِن مَجدٍ مَتى تَقرِنوا بِها
مَحاسِنَthe splendors of أَقوامٍpeoples تَكُنwill be كَالمَعايِبِlike faults
مَحاسِنَ أَقوامٍ تَكُن كَالمَعايِبِ
Splendors of glory: whenever you set beside them
Who made their eyebrows' bow the bowmen's guarantee.
the splendors of other peoples, those become like faults.
When you compare your glorious deeds with actions of men
مَكارِمُnoble deeds لَجَّتhave persisted فيin عُلُوٍّascent كَأَنَّهاas though they
مَكارِمُ لَجَّت في عُلُوٍّ كَأَنَّها
تُحاوِلُseek ثَأراًvengeance عِندَfrom بَعضِsome of الكَواكِبِthe stars
تُحاوِلُ ثَأراً عِندَ بَعضِ الكَواكِبِ
Noble deeds that have persisted in ascent, as though
Whose repute is stained, yours shine out pure and free of blame.
they sought vengeance against some of the stars.
Your virtues soar to the sublime, as though they strove
وَقَدand indeed عَلِمَhas learned الأَفشينُal-Afshin وَهوَand he الَّذيthe one who بِهِthrough him
وَقَد عَلِمَ الأَفشينُ وَهوَ الَّذي بِهِ
يُصانُis guarded رِداءُthe robe of المُلكِkingship عَنfrom كُلِّevery جاذِبِone who tugs
يُصانُ رِداءُ المُلكِ عَن كُلِّ جاذِبِ
And al-Afshin has learned—he through whom
To rival planets in their orbits through the heavens high.
the robe of kingship is guarded from anyone who would tug at it—
The keeper of the cloak knows well - and he alone secures
بِأَنَّكَthat you لَمّاwhen اِسحَنكَكَgrew pitch-dark الأَمرُthe affair وَاِكتَسىand clothed itself
بِأَنَّكَ لَمّا اِسحَنكَكَ الأَمرُ وَاِكتَسى
أَهابِيَّdust clouds تَسفيblow dust فيinto وُجوهِthe faces of التَجارِبِexperience
أَهابِيَّ تَسفي في وُجوهِ التَجارِبِ
that when the affair grew pitch-dark and clothed itself
The raiment of the throne from every grasping hand -
in dust clouds blowing into the faces of experience,
That when perils pressed round you and trials came in force,
تَجَلَّلتَهُyou enveloped it بِالرَأيِwith counsel حَتّىuntil أَرَيتَهُyou showed him
تَجَلَّلتَهُ بِالرَأيِ حَتّى أَرَيتَهُ
بِهِthrough it مِلءَfilling عَينَيهِhis two eyes مَكانَthe place of العَواقِبِoutcomes
بِهِ مِلءَ عَينَيهِ مَكانَ العَواقِبِ
you enveloped it in counsel until you showed him
You faced them with strong hearts, disdainful of misfortune's blows.
through it, plainly before his eyes, where the outcomes lay.
With wisdom then you counselled him till wisdom filled his eyes,
بِأَرشَقَat Arshaq إِذwhen سالَتpoured عَلَيهِمover them غَمامَةٌa cloud
بِأَرشَقَ إِذ سالَت عَلَيهِم غَمامَةٌ
جَرَتflowed بِالعَواليwith tall lances وَالعِتاقِand thoroughbreds الشَوازِبِlean
جَرَت بِالعَوالي وَالعِتاقِ الشَوازِبِ
At Arshaq, when a cloud poured over them,
Blinding them to all but what the wise diviner sees.
streaming with tall lances and lean thoroughbreds,
Brilliant, when clouds of doom burst over them, you drew
نَضَوتَyou unsheathed لَهُfor him رَأيَينَtwo counsels سَيفاًa sword وَمُنصَلاًand a blade
نَضَوتَ لَهُ رَأيَينَ سَيفاً وَمُنصَلاً
وَكُلٌّand each كَنَجمٍlike a star فيin الدُجُنَّةِdense darkness ثاقِبِpiercing
وَكُلٌّ كَنَجمٍ في الدُجُنَّةِ ثاقِبِ
you unsheathed two counsels for him—a sword and a blade—
Your sword and spear, twin meteors blazing through the dark.
each like a star piercing the dense darkness.
In war's upheaval you were like the subtlest spells,
وَكُنتَand you were مَتىwhenever تُهزَزyou are roused لِخَطبٍagainst a crisis تُغَشِّهِyou cover it
وَكُنتَ مَتى تُهزَز لِخَطبٍ تُغَشِّهِ
ضَرائِبَblows أَمضىsharper مِنthan رِقاقِthin المَضارِبِsword-edges
ضَرائِبَ أَمضى مِن رِقاقِ المَضارِبِ
And whenever you were roused against a crisis, you showered it
Beyond all trickery, victors in the game of war.
with blows sharper than thin sword-edges.
Thus he recalls you in his heart of hearts and you
فَذِكرُكَso remembrance of you فيin قَلبِthe heart of الخَليفَةِthe caliph بَعدَهاafter that
فَذِكرُكَ في قَلبِ الخَليفَةِ بَعدَها
خَليفَتُكَyour deputy المُقفىfavored بِأَعلىwith the highest المَراتِبِranks
خَليفَتُكَ المُقفى بِأَعلى المَراتِبِ
So remembrance of you in the caliph's heart after that
Remain his closest confidant, the best that may aspire
is your deputy, favored with the highest ranks.
To fame and fortune's utmost; none shall reach so high.
فَإِنso if تَنسَyou forget يَذكُرhe remembers أَوor يَقُلspeaks فيكَagainst you حاسِدٌan envier
فَإِن تَنسَ يَذكُر أَو يَقُل فيكَ حاسِدٌ
يَفِلis blunted قَولُهُhis speech أَوor تَنأَis far away دارٌa dwelling تُصاقِبِyou remain near
يَفِل قَولُهُ أَو تَنأَ دارٌ تُصاقِبِ
For if you forget, he remembers; or if an envier speaks against you,
And if he forgets or malice whispers, let it die.
his words go blunt; or if your home is far away, you remain near.
To him you're there though absent, gone, yet still in view.
فَأَنتَso you لَدَيهِbefore him حاضِرٌpresent غَيرُnot حاضِرٍpresent
فَأَنتَ لَدَيهِ حاضِرٌ غَيرُ حاضِرٍ
جَميعاًboth at once وَعَنهُand away from him غائِبٌabsent غَيرُnot غائِبِabsent
جَميعاً وَعَنهُ غائِبٌ غَيرُ غائِبِ
So before him you are present though not present,
Both, neither, seen yet hidden from his searching eye.
both at once; and away from him, absent though not absent.
To you we sent the poet, wanderer in verse, once he
إِلَيكَto you أَرَحناwe brought home at evening عازِبَthe wandering الشِعرِverse بَعدَماafter
إِلَيكَ أَرَحنا عازِبَ الشِعرِ بَعدَما
تَمَهَّلَlingered فيin رَوضِthe meadow of المَعانيmeanings العَجائِبِwondrous
تَمَهَّلَ في رَوضِ المَعاني العَجائِبِ
To you we brought home our wandering verse at evening, after
Had loitered long amid the gardens of sublime conceits,
it had lingered in the meadow of wondrous meanings.
Where marvels met like old companions. At your court
غَرائِبُstrange wonders لاقَتfound فيin فِنائِكَyour courtyard أُنسَهاtheir familiar company
غَرائِبُ لاقَت في فِنائِكَ أُنسَها
مِنَfrom المَجدِglory فَهيَso they الآنَnow غَيرُnot غَرائِبِstrangers
مِنَ المَجدِ فَهيَ الآنَ غَيرُ غَرائِبِ
Strange wonders found their familiar company in your courtyard,
They lost their strangeness, put aside their odd, exotic traits.
from glory, and now they are strangers no more.
If verse could die your palace fount alone gave birth
وَلَوand if كانَwere يَفنىto perish الشِعرُpoetry أَفناهُwould exhaust it ماwhat قَرَتhave hosted
وَلَو كانَ يَفنى الشِعرُ أَفناهُ ما قَرَت
حِياضُكَyour pools مِنهُof it فيin العُصورِages الذَواهِبِbygone
حِياضُكَ مِنهُ في العُصورِ الذَواهِبِ
If poetry could perish, it would be exhausted by all that
To springs whose flow nourished the ages as they passed.
your pools have welcomed of it in bygone ages.
But verse is reason's branch; from it clouds massed on high
وَلَكِنَّهُand yet it صَوبُthe downpour of العُقولِminds إِذاwhenever اِنجَلَتclear away
وَلَكِنَّهُ صَوبُ العُقولِ إِذا اِنجَلَت
سَحائِبُclouds مِنهُof it أُعقِبَتare followed بِسَحائِبِby clouds
سَحائِبُ مِنهُ أُعقِبَت بِسَحائِبِ
But it is the downpour of minds: whenever
Drip down in welcome rain when drought has parched the earth.
clouds of it clear, they are followed by clouds.
I say to my companions: "He's the solution, he untied
أَقولُI say لِأَصحابيto my companions هُوَhe القاسِمُal-Qasim الَّذيthe one who
أَقولُ لِأَصحابي هُوَ القاسِمُ الَّذي
بِهِthrough him شَرَحَhas clarified الجودُgenerosity اِلتِباسَthe confusion of المَذاهِبِpaths
بِهِ شَرَحَ الجودُ اِلتِباسَ المَذاهِبِ
I say to my companions: he is al-Qasim, the one
The knot of differences where creeds diverged in doubt."
through whom generosity has made its tangled paths plain.
And I hope your gifts reward my own poor eclogues, made
وَإِنّيand indeed I لَأَرجوsurely hope أَنthat تَرُدَّwill send back رَكائِبيmy riding camels
وَإِنّي لَأَرجو أَن تَرُدَّ رَكائِبي
مَواهِبُهُhis gifts بَحراًas a sea تُرَجّىare hoped for مَواهِبيmy gifts
مَواهِبُهُ بَحراً تُرَجّى مَواهِبي
And I surely hope that my riding camels will be sent back
A sea of generosity to answer my scant drops of praise.
by his gifts as a sea, with my own gifts hoped for.
Partial English translation: 89 of 90 Arabic lines translated.