قِفواstop جَدِّدواrenew مِنsome of عَهدِكُمyour old acquaintance بِالمَعاهِدِwith the familiar haunts
قِفوا جَدِّدوا مِن عَهدِكُم بِالمَعاهِدِ
وَإِنand even if هِيَit لَمnot تَسمَعhear لِنَشدانِto the questioning ناشِدِof a seeker
وَإِن هِيَ لَم تَسمَع لِنَشدانِ ناشِدِ
Stop; renew your old acquaintance with these haunts,
Stand to renew your covenant, if the two ears refuse the beseechings of one who implores, they bowed in their absence, as orphans bent with grief bow in their bereavement. They made for the guest of sorrow, after they had gone, encampments with a sweet whiff and revisiting spirits. Fate had given them drafts to drink and the poison of nights above the poison of the serpents with curved fangs. A malady for separation deafened the cures, which neither healed nor occasioned a visit from the physician. In the crimson meadow a jasmine flower walks among the phantoms of the tombs. Fortune cast it with a back turned after it had lived an age, it has two saddle bags in the bond of promises. It became the firings of wrathful fancies and commanded its apparitions with two keening white-flanked ostriches. Marriage destroys its form, they said, though many have married love and it is not corrupt. My heart is seared with the agony of passion to a frozen clot of despair's blood. The most beautiful casts no favor to the noblest, each casts his favor to a noble. He has the pride of one who buys and the felicity of one who sell; the charm of Bahram and the grace of Mercury; his hands invite every suitor, they resorted to him an obstruction in the path of praise. A youth, who in the day of battle never stood alone, who attained solely by giving every sitter his fill. The days did not grow stern, but he made them pliant, pressing hard on calamities because he was not stern. We tried him in them gloriously, with high moral qualities; doubt did not undermine the glory that was his. He set out one day seeking praise until misfortune struck aimlessly the seeker of glory. They envied his glory blamelessly, an envier does not envy the honored. May Allah unite me, Allah, to love until my gain from my attainment seems to have enriched my debtor. So time has come to honor my birth because of him and the compassion of a parent. It turns from the world when cares are shown to it even were it to appear in the raiment of a blooming maid. When a man does not spurn it though it dons for him its yellow robes then he is no ascetic. So be patient with heat and patient with dew for his days though they are not lasting. Alas, time knows no everlasting sojourner, time knows no immortal lodger. Muhammad! O Ibn al Haytham son of Shu'bah My father! Repeller of every assailant of glory, they occupied your day with valor and help and brought you a celebrated name forever undimmed. When the year is a destroying flood, restrain it, when the day has an excoriating warrior, assail it! When the market is flooded by noses and the arms of the fray's youths have raged in arms many are your drinking companions from you for death's partnership. The prosperity makes you swear by its wing's plumage; the one praised among you is no unit. For you is an emerald expanse wherever I alight in it tomorrow my breast in it has no first aversion; nor do I there entertain any first boon companion. Through your right hand life has melted for me after I had stood on rugged shards of stagnant living. The Thawbiya ode called me though I am no Thawbi and granted no exception but you as my prime maintainer. Nay, but they are in me everlasting traits; if I am not provoked, I do not attack. And many a paid wergild you drove on though it had impact on my engenderings no begetter. Not blood-money for blood unlawfully spilled; but money for the blood of poems. By Allah are rivers of people cleft by Him that every endowed and needy one might voyage in them. Spread tables of ample provision for worshippers and you are for them among the best tables. You have lavished blessing on Arabia's folk when witnessed it did not humble them in their assemblies. You made the essence of justice an umbrella you spread over those of its fold Muslim or People of the Scripture so, because of your custom to them, in morn they and every acknowledging and gainsaying soul agreed. I will strive until poetry attains in full its goal even if submissively I strive not. But if my enemy praises you not through me bowed down then know I do praise you not. In roaming that walks on without a driver and trails in horizons without a leader, icicles time's nights stride though for them seem intimations on the peaks of icicles. When they stray they don the raiment of a carper's venom and without ties return from hearts estranged. They favored a friend of a foe and deserted dear worldly kin of men remote. Likes yet they do not cease to see a new arrival toward each horizon but no arrival comes; and when they tread on hearing ears they issue only from a true oath and witness.
even if they have not heeded a seeker's questioning.
لَقَدindeed أَطرَقَbowed its head الرَبعُthe dwelling المُحيلُdesolate لِفَقدِهِمat their loss
لَقَد أَطرَقَ الرَبعُ المُحيلُ لِفَقدِهِم
وَبَينِهِمand their departure إِطراقَthe head-bowing ثَكلانَof one bereaved فاقِدِand bereft
وَبَينِهِم إِطراقَ ثَكلانَ فاقِدِ
The desolate dwelling has indeed bowed its head at their loss,
and their departure, as one bereaved and bereft bows his head.
وَأَبقَواand they left لِضَيفِfor the guest الحُزنِof sorrow مِنِّيَfrom me بَعدَهُمafter them
وَأَبقَوا لِضَيفِ الحُزنِ مِنِّيَ بَعدَهُم
قِرىًa welcome-feast مِنof جَوىًburning heartache سارٍtravelling by night وَطَيفِand a phantom مُعاوِدِreturning
قِرىً مِن جَوىً سارٍ وَطَيفِ مُعاوِدِ
They left within me, after them, for sorrow's guest,
a welcome-feast of night-roaming anguish and a returning phantom.
سَقَتهُgave it to drink ذُعافاًdeadly poison عادَةُthe customary dealings الدَهرِof Time فيهِمِwith them
سَقَتهُ ذُعافاً عادَةُ الدَهرِ فيهِمِ
وَسَمُّand the venom اللَياليof the nights فَوقَabove سَمِّthe venom الأَساوِدِof black serpents
وَسَمُّ اللَيالي فَوقَ سَمِّ الأَساوِدِ
Time's customary dealings with them gave it deadly poison to drink,
and the nights' venom surpasses the venom of black serpents.
بِهِin it عِلَّةٌan illness لِلبَينِfrom parting صَمّاءُdeaf لَمnot تُصِخheed
بِهِ عِلَّةٌ لِلبَينِ صَمّاءُ لَم تُصِخ
لِبُرءٍto recovery وَلَمand did not توجِبcall for عِيادَةَa sick-visit عائِدِof a visitor
لِبُرءٍ وَلَم توجِب عِيادَةَ عائِدِ
It bears a deaf affliction born of parting, which has not listened
to healing, nor called for a visitor's tending.
وَفيand in الكِلَّةِthe canopy الوَردِيَّةِrose-colored اللَونِin hue جُؤذُرٌa wild-ox calf
وَفي الكِلَّةِ الوَردِيَّةِ اللَونِ جُؤذُرٌ
مِنَof الإِنسِhumankind يَمشيwalks فيin رِقاقِdelicate المَجاسِدِgarments worn next to the skin
مِنَ الإِنسِ يَمشي في رِقاقِ المَجاسِدِ
Within the rose-colored canopy is a wild-ox calf,
one of humankind, walking in delicate garments.
رَمَتهُshe struck him بِخُلفٍwith a broken promise بَعدَafter أَنthat عاشَhe lived حِقبَةًa long while
رَمَتهُ بِخُلفٍ بَعدَ أَن عاشَ حِقبَةً
لَهُfor him رَسَفانٌslow, fettered walking فيin قُيودِthe fetters المَواعِدِof promises
لَهُ رَسَفانٌ في قُيودِ المَواعِدِ
She struck him with a broken promise after he had lived an age,
shuffling slowly in the fetters of promises.
غَدَتshe went forth مُغتَدىthe departure of الغَضبىan angry woman وَأَوصَتand she entrusted خَيالَهاher phantom
غَدَت مُغتَدى الغَضبى وَأَوصَت خَيالَها
بِحَرّانَwith a thirst-seared man نِضوِone worn down by العيسِpale camels نِضوِone worn down by الخَرائِدِmodest maidens
بِحَرّانَ نِضوِ العيسِ نِضوِ الخَرائِدِ
She departed as an angry woman does, and entrusted her phantom
with a thirst-seared man, worn by pale camels, worn by modest maidens.
وَقالَتand she said نِكاحُmarriage الحُبِّof love يُفسِدُspoils شَكلَهُits form
وَقالَت نِكاحُ الحُبِّ يُفسِدُ شَكلَهُ
وَكَمand how many نَكَحواthey wedded حُبّاًlove وَلَيسَand it is not بِفاسِدِspoiled
وَكَم نَكَحوا حُبّاً وَلَيسَ بِفاسِدِ
And she said, 'Marriage spoils love's form';
yet many have wedded love, and love remained unspoiled.
سَآويI shall take refuge بِهَذاwith this القَلبِheart مِنfrom لَوعَةِthe burning pain الهَوىof passion
سَآوي بِهَذا القَلبِ مِن لَوعَةِ الهَوى
إِلىto ثَغَبٍa rock-pool مِنof نُطفَةِa little water اليَأسِof despair بارِدِcool
إِلى ثَغَبٍ مِن نُطفَةِ اليَأسِ بارِدِ
I shall take refuge with this heart, from passion's burning,
in a cool rock-pool of despair's scant water,
وَأَروَعَand an awe-inspiring man لاnot يُلقيsurrenders المَقالِدَthe keys لِاِمرِئٍto anyone
وَأَروَعَ لا يُلقي المَقالِدَ لِاِمرِئٍ
فَكُلُّfor every اِمرِئٍman يُلقيsurrenders لَهُto him بِالمَقالِدِwith the keys
فَكُلُّ اِمرِئٍ يُلقي لَهُ بِالمَقالِدِ
and with an awe-inspiring man who yields his keys to no one,
for every man yields his keys to him.
لَهُhe has كِبرِياءُthe majesty المُشتَريof Jupiter وَسُعودُهُand its good fortunes
لَهُ كِبرِياءُ المُشتَري وَسُعودُهُ
وَسَورَةُand the fierceness بَهرامٍof Bahram (Mars) وَظَرفُand the wit عُطارِدِof Mercury
وَسَورَةُ بَهرامٍ وَظَرفُ عُطارِدِ
His are Jupiter's majesty and auspicious fortunes,
Bahram's fierceness and Mercury's wit.
أَغَرُّradiant يَداهُhis two hands فُرصَتاthe two opportunities of كُلِّevery طالِبٍseeker
أَغَرُّ يَداهُ فُرصَتا كُلِّ طالِبٍ
وَجَدواهُand his bounty وَقفٌan endowment فيin سَبيلِthe cause المَحامِدِof praiseworthy deeds
وَجَدواهُ وَقفٌ في سَبيلِ المَحامِدِ
Radiant, his two hands are every seeker's two opportunities,
and his bounty is an endowment in the cause of praiseworthy deeds.
فَتىًa noble young man لَمnot يَقُمhe arose فَرداًalone بِيَومِon a day كَريهَةٍof battle
فَتىً لَم يَقُم فَرداً بِيَومِ كَريهَةٍ
وَلاnor نائِلٍof giving إِلّاexcept that كَفىhe sufficed for كُلَّevery قاعِدِone who stayed behind
وَلا نائِلٍ إِلّا كَفى كُلَّ قاعِدِ
A man who never rose alone on a day of battle
or giving without doing enough for all who stayed behind.
وَلاand never اِشتَدَّتِgrew harsh الأَيّامُthe days إِلّاexcept that أَلانَهاhe softened them
وَلا اِشتَدَّتِ الأَيّامُ إِلّا أَلانَها
أَشَمُّproud شَديدُmighty الوَطءِin tread فَوقَupon الشَدائِدِhardships
أَشَمُّ شَديدُ الوَطءِ فَوقَ الشَدائِدِ
Never did the days grow harsh but he softened them—
a proud man, treading heavily upon hardships.
بَلَوناهُwe tested him فيهاamid them ماجِداًnoble ذاpossessed of حَفيظَةٍhonor-defending zeal
بَلَوناهُ فيها ماجِداً ذا حَفيظَةٍ
وَماand not كانَwas رَيبُthe adversity الدَهرِof Time فيهاamid them بِماجِدِnoble
وَما كانَ رَيبُ الدَهرِ فيها بِماجِدِ
We tested him amid them: noble, fiercely protective of honor;
but Time's adversity proved anything but noble there.
غَداhe set out قاصِداًintent لِلحَمدِon praise حَتّىuntil أَصابَهُhe attained it
غَدا قاصِداً لِلحَمدِ حَتّى أَصابَهُ
وَكَمand how many مِنa مُصيبٍone who hits قَصدَهُhis mark غَيرُnot قاصِدِaiming
وَكَم مِن مُصيبٍ قَصدَهُ غَيرُ قاصِدِ
He set out intent on praise, until he attained it;
yet how many hit their mark without aiming!
هُمُthey حَسَدوهُenvied him لاnot مَلومينَblameworthy مَجدَهُhis glory
هُمُ حَسَدوهُ لا مَلومينَ مَجدَهُ
وَماand not حاسِدٌone who envies فيin المَكرُماتِnoble deeds بِحاسِدِa true envier
وَما حاسِدٌ في المَكرُماتِ بِحاسِدِ
They envied him his glory, and are not to blame,
for envy of noble deeds is not true envy.
قَرانيhe feasted me on اللُهىlavish gifts وَالوُدَّand affection حَتّىuntil كَأَنَّماas though
قَراني اللُهى وَالوُدَّ حَتّى كَأَنَّما
أَفادَhe gained الغِنىwealth مِنfrom نائِليmy bounty وَفَوائِديand my benefits
أَفادَ الغِنى مِن نائِلي وَفَوائِدي
He feasted me on lavish gifts and affection, until it seemed
that he had gained his wealth from my bounty and benefits.
فَأَصبَحَso now يَلقانيmeets me الزَمانُTime مِنَbecause اِجلِهِof him
فَأَصبَحَ يَلقاني الزَمانُ مِنَ اِجلِهِ
بِإِعظامِwith the reverence مَولودٍof a child وَرَأفَةِand the tenderness والِدِof a father
بِإِعظامِ مَولودٍ وَرَأفَةِ والِدِ
So Time now meets me, for his sake,
with a child's reverence and a father's tenderness.
يَصُدُّhe turns away عَنِfrom الدُنياthe world إِذاwhen عَنَّappears سُؤدُدٌnobility
يَصُدُّ عَنِ الدُنيا إِذا عَنَّ سُؤدُدٌ
وَلَوeven if بَرَزَتit comes forth فيin زِيِّthe garb عَذراءَof a virgin ناهِدِwith swelling breasts
وَلَو بَرَزَت في زِيِّ عَذراءَ ناهِدِ
He turns from the world whenever nobility presents itself,
even if it emerges dressed as a virgin with swelling breasts.
إِذاif المَرءُa man لَمnot يَزهَدrenounce وَقَدwhen already صُبِغَتit has been dyed لَهُfor him
إِذا المَرءُ لَم يَزهَد وَقَد صُبِغَت لَهُ
بِعُصفُرِهاwith its safflower الدُنياthe world فَلَيسَthen he is not بِزاهِدِan ascetic
بِعُصفُرِها الدُنيا فَلَيسَ بِزاهِدِ
If a man will not renounce when it has been dyed for him—
the world, with its safflower—he is no ascetic.
فَواكَبِديso alas for my liver الحَرّىburning وَواكَبِدَand alas for the liver النَدىof generosity
فَواكَبِدي الحَرّى وَواكَبِدَ النَدى
لِأَيّامِهِfor his days لَوif only كُنَّthey were غَيرَnot بَوائِدِpassing away
لِأَيّامِهِ لَو كُنَّ غَيرَ بَوائِدِ
Alas for my burning liver, and alas for generosity's liver,
for his days—if only they were not passing away!
وَهَيهاتَbut far from it ماnot رَيبُthe vicissitudes الزَمانِof Time بِمُخلِدٍgranting immortality
وَهَيهاتَ ما رَيبُ الزَمانِ بِمُخلِدٍ
غَريباًto a stranger وَلاnor رَيبُthe vicissitudes الزَمانِof Time بِخالِدِimmortal
غَريباً وَلا رَيبُ الزَمانِ بِخالِدِ
But far from it! Time's vicissitudes grant no immortality
to a stranger, nor are Time's vicissitudes themselves immortal.
مُحَمَّدُMuhammad ياO بنِson of الهَيثَمِal-Haytham بنِson of شُبانَةٍShubana
مُحَمَّدُ يا بنِ الهَيثَمِ بنِ شُبانَةٍ
أَبيfather of كُلَّevery دَفّاعٍstaunch defender عَنِin defense of المَجدِglory ذائِدِguardian
أَبي كُلَّ دَفّاعٍ عَنِ المَجدِ ذائِدِ
Muhammad, O son of al-Haytham ibn Shubana,
father of every staunch defender and guardian of glory!
هُمُthey شَغَلواfilled يَومَيكَyour two days بِالبَأسِwith valor وَالنَدىand generosity
هُمُ شَغَلوا يَومَيكَ بِالبَأسِ وَالنَدى
وَآتَوكَand gave you زَنداًa firestick فيin العُلىgreatness غَيرَnot خامِدِextinguished
وَآتَوكَ زَنداً في العُلى غَيرَ خامِدِ
They filled your two days with valor and generosity,
and gave you a firestick for greatness that never goes cold.
فَإِنso if كانَthere is عامٌa year عارِمُfierce المَحلِin drought فَاِكفِهِthen meet its need
فَإِن كانَ عامٌ عارِمُ المَحلِ فَاِكفِهِ
وَإِنand if كانَthere is يَومٌa day ذوfull of جِلادٍcombat فَجالِدِthen fight
وَإِن كانَ يَومٌ ذو جِلادٍ فَجالِدِ
So if a year brings savage drought, meet its need;
and if a day brings combat, then fight.
إِذاwhen السوقُthe long mail-coats غَطَّتcover آنُفَthe tops السوقِof shins وَاِغتَدَتand at morning become
إِذا السوقُ غَطَّت آنُفَ السوقِ وَاِغتَدَت
سَواعِدُthe forearms أَبناءِof the sons الوَغىof battle فيin السَواعِدِarmor sleeves
سَواعِدُ أَبناءِ الوَغى في السَواعِدِ
When long mail-coats cover the tops of shins, and at dawn
the forearms of battle's sons are inside armor sleeves,
فَكَمhow many, then لِلعَواليfor the lofty spears فيكُمُamong you مِنa مُنادِمٍboon companion
فَكَم لِلعَوالي فيكُمُ مِن مُنادِمٍ
وَلِلمَوتِand for death صِرفاًunmixed مِنa حَليفٍsworn ally مُعاقِدِbound by covenant
وَلِلمَوتِ صِرفاً مِن حَليفٍ مُعاقِدِ
how many a boon companion have the lofty spears among you,
and unmixed death, how many a covenant-bound ally!
لِتُحلِفكُمُmay it ally you with النَعماءُgood fortune ريشَthe feathers جَناحِهاof its wing
لِتُحلِفكُمُ النَعماءُ ريشَ جَناحِها
فَماfor not الواحِدُthe one المَحمودُwho is praiseworthy مِنكُمamong you بِواحِدِmerely one
فَما الواحِدُ المَحمودُ مِنكُم بِواحِدِ
May good fortune ally you with the feathers of its wing;
for the praiseworthy one among you is not merely one.
لَكُمyou have ساحَةٌan expanse خَضراءُgreen أَنّىwherever اِنتَجَعتُهاI sought its pasture
لَكُم ساحَةٌ خَضراءُ أَنّى اِنتَجَعتُها
غَداbecomes فارِطيmy water-scout فيهاthere صَدوقاًtruthful وَرائِديand my pasture-scout
غَدا فارِطي فيها صَدوقاً وَرائِدي
Yours is a green expanse; wherever I seek its pasture,
my water-scout and pasture-scout prove truthful there.
فَماso not قُلُبيmy wells فيهاthere لِأَوَّلِfor the first نازِحٍwater-drawer
فَما قُلُبي فيها لِأَوَّلِ نازِحٍ
وَلاnor سَمُريmy acacias فيهاthere لِأَوَّلِfor the first عاضِدِwoodcutter
وَلا سَمُري فيها لِأَوَّلِ عاضِدِ
My wells there cannot be drained by the first water-drawer,
nor my acacias felled by the first woodcutter.
أَذابَتmelted لِيَfor me الدُنياthe world يَمينُكَyour right hand بَعدَماafter
أَذابَت لِيَ الدُنيا يَمينُكَ بَعدَما
وَقَفتُI stood عَلىat شُخبٍa spurt مِنَof العَيشِlivelihood جامِدِfrozen
وَقَفتُ عَلى شُخبٍ مِنَ العَيشِ جامِدِ
Your right hand melted the world for me, after
I had stood at a frozen spurt of livelihood.
وَنادَتنِيَand it called me التَثويبَa renewed summons لاnot أَنَّنيthat I am اِمرُؤٌa man
وَنادَتنِيَ التَثويبَ لا أَنَّني اِمرُؤٌ
سَلاكَforgot you وَلاnor اِستَثنىsingled out سِواكَanyone but you بِرافِدِas a benefactor
سَلاكَ وَلا اِستَثنى سِواكَ بِرافِدِ
And it called me with a renewed summons—not that I was a man
who had forgotten you, or chosen anyone but you as a benefactor.
وَلَكِنَّهاbut it is مِنّيof mine سَجاياhabits قَديمَةٌold
وَلَكِنَّها مِنّي سَجايا قَديمَةٌ
إِذاif لَمnot يُجَأجَأa watering-call is made بيto me فَلَستُthen I am not بِوارِدِone who comes to water
إِذا لَم يُجَأجَأ بي فَلَستُ بِوارِدِ
But these are old habits of mine:
unless a call is made to me, I will not come to the water.
وَكَمand how many دِيَةٍa blood-price تِمٍّcomplete غَدَوتَyou set out تَسوقُهاdriving it
وَكَم دِيَةٍ تِمٍّ غَدَوتَ تَسوقُها
لَهاit has أَثَرٌa mark فيon تالِديmy inherited wealth غَيرُnot تالِدِold
لَها أَثَرٌ في تالِدي غَيرُ تالِدِ
How many a full blood-price have you set out driving,
each leaving a new mark upon my inherited wealth!
وَلَيسَتand they are not دِياتٍblood-prices مِنfor دِماءٍblood هَرَقتَهاyou shed it
وَلَيسَت دِياتٍ مِن دِماءٍ هَرَقتَها
حَراماًunlawfully وَلَكِنbut مِنfor دِماءِthe blood القَصائِدِof poems
حَراماً وَلَكِن مِن دِماءِ القَصائِدِ
They are not blood-prices for blood you shed
unlawfully, but for the blood of poems.
وَلِلَّهِand God has أَنهارٌrivers مِنَamong الناسِpeople شَقَّهاHe cleft them open
وَلِلَّهِ أَنهارٌ مِنَ الناسِ شَقَّها
لِيَشرَعَso may come to water فيهاin them كُلُّevery مُقوٍdestitute man وَواجِدِand wealthy man
لِيَشرَعَ فيها كُلُّ مُقوٍ وَواجِدِ
And God has rivers among men, which He has cleft open,
so every destitute and wealthy man may come to their waters:
مَوائِدُtables رِزقٍof sustenance لِلعِبادِfor His servants خَصيبَةٌbountiful
مَوائِدُ رِزقٍ لِلعِبادِ خَصيبَةٌ
وَأَنتَand you لَهُمfor them مِنamong خَيرِthe best تِلكَof those المَوائِدِtables
وَأَنتَ لَهُم مِن خَيرِ تِلكَ المَوائِدِ
bountiful tables of sustenance for His servants,
and you are among the finest of those tables for them.
أَفَضتَyou poured forth عَلىupon أَهلِthe people الجَزيرَةِof al-Jazira نِعمَةًa blessing
أَفَضتَ عَلى أَهلِ الجَزيرَةِ نِعمَةً
إِذاwhen شُهِدَتit is witnessed لَمnot تُخزِهِمit disgraces them فيat المَشاهِدِpublic gatherings
إِذا شُهِدَت لَم تُخزِهِم في المَشاهِدِ
You poured a blessing upon the people of al-Jazira,
which, when witnessed, brings them no shame at public gatherings.
جَعَلتَyou made صَميمَthe very essence العَدلِof justice ظِلّاًa shade مَدَدتَهُyou spread it
جَعَلتَ صَميمَ العَدلِ ظِلّاً مَدَدتَهُ
عَلىover مَنwhoever بِهاis there مِنof مُسلِمٍa Muslim أَوor مُعاهِدِone under covenant
عَلى مَن بِها مِن مُسلِمٍ أَو مُعاهِدِ
You made the very essence of justice a shade you spread
over everyone there, Muslim or under covenant.
فَقَدso now أَصبَحواthey have become بِالعُرفِthrough kindness مِنكَfrom you إِلَيهِمُtoward them
فَقَد أَصبَحوا بِالعُرفِ مِنكَ إِلَيهِمُ
وَكُلٌّand everyone مُقِرٌّacknowledging مِنamong مُقِرٍّa confessor وَجاحِدِand a denier
وَكُلٌّ مُقِرٌّ مِن مُقِرٍّ وَجاحِدِ
So, through your kindness toward them, they have become
unanimous in acknowledgment, confessors and deniers alike.
سَأَجهَدُI shall strive حَتّىuntil أُبلِغَI bring الشِعرَpoetry شَأوَهُto its farthest reach
سَأَجهَدُ حَتّى أُبلِغَ الشِعرَ شَأوَهُ
وَإِنeven though كانَit is ليto me طَوعاًobedient وَلَستُand I am not بِجاهِدِstraining
وَإِن كانَ لي طَوعاً وَلَستُ بِجاهِدِ
I shall strive until I bring poetry to its utmost reach,
though it obeys me, and I need not strain.
فَإِنfor if أَناI لَمnot يَحمَدكَhe praises you عَنِّيَthrough me صاغِراًhumbled
فَإِن أَنا لَم يَحمَدكَ عَنِّيَ صاغِراً
عَدُوُّكَyour enemy فَاِعلَمthen know أَنَّنيthat I am غَيرُnot حامِدِa praiser
عَدُوُّكَ فَاِعلَم أَنَّني غَيرُ حامِدِ
For if, through me, he does not praise you, humbled—
your enemy—then know that I am no praiser,
بِسَيّاحَةٍwith a far-roaming poem تَنساقُmoves along مِنwith غَيرِno سائِقٍdriver
بِسَيّاحَةٍ تَنساقُ مِن غَيرِ سائِقٍ
وَتَنقادُand is led فيthrough الآفاقِthe horizons مِنwith غَيرِno قائِدِguide
وَتَنقادُ في الآفاقِ مِن غَيرِ قائِدِ
with a far-roaming poem that moves without a driver
and follows its course across the horizons without a guide.
جَلامِدُboulders تَخطوهاstep over them اللَياليthe nights وَإِنeven though بَدَتappear
جَلامِدُ تَخطوها اللَيالي وَإِن بَدَت
لَهاbelonging to them موضِحاتٌbone-baring wounds فيin رُؤوسِthe heads الجَلامِدِof boulders
لَها موضِحاتٌ في رُؤوسِ الجَلامِدِ
Boulders the nights step over, though there appear
the nights' bone-baring wounds in the heads of boulders.
إِذاwhen شَرَدَتit ranges afar سَلَّتit draws out سَخيمَةَthe rancor شانِئٍof a hater
إِذا شَرَدَت سَلَّت سَخيمَةَ شانِئٍ
وَرَدَّتand brings back عُزوباًestranged ones مِنamong قُلوبٍhearts شَوارِدِwandering
وَرَدَّت عُزوباً مِن قُلوبٍ شَوارِدِ
When it ranges afar, it draws out a hater's rancor
and brings back the estranged among wandering hearts.
أَفادَتit gained صَديقاًa friend مِنfrom عَدُوٍّan enemy وَغادَرَتand left
أَفادَت صَديقاً مِن عَدُوٍّ وَغادَرَت
أَقارِبَkinsmen دُنياnear مِنfrom رِجالٍmen أَباعِدِfar removed
أَقارِبَ دُنيا مِن رِجالٍ أَباعِدِ
It wins a friend from an enemy, and leaves
close kinsmen out of men far removed.
مُحَبَّبَةًbeloved ماnot إِنindeed (emphatic) تَزالُyou cease تَرىyou see لَهاfor it
مُحَبَّبَةً ما إِن تَزالُ تَرى لَها
إِلىto كُلِّevery أُفقٍhorizon وافِداًan envoy غَيرَnot وافِدِan envoy
إِلى كُلِّ أُفقٍ وافِداً غَيرَ وافِدِ
Beloved, you never cease to see on its behalf
an envoy to every horizon, though no envoy at all.
وَمُحلِفَةًand oath-compelling لَمّاnever yet تَرِدit enters أُذنَthe ear سامِعٍof a listener
وَمُحلِفَةً لَمّا تَرِد أُذنَ سامِعٍ
فَتَصدُرَthen departs إِلّاexcept عَنwith يَمينٍan oath وَشاهِدِand a witness
فَتَصدُرَ إِلّا عَن يَمينٍ وَشاهِدِ
And oath-compelling: it has never entered a listener's ear
and departed except with an oath and a witness.
Partial English translation: 1 of 100 Arabic lines translated.