أَطلالُهُم سَلَبَت دُماها الهيفا

أَطلالُهُم سَلَبَت دُماها الهيفا

وَاِستَبدَلَت وَحشاً بِهِنَّ عُكوفا

وَاِستَبدَلَت وَحشاً بِهِنَّ عُكوفا

Their ruins have stripped away their slender, statue-like beauties,

Their ruins robbed the valley of its blood

and replaced them with wild beasts lingering there.

And replaced them with a beast that crouched and prowled

يا مَنزِلاً أَعطى الحَوادِثَ حُكمَها

يا مَنزِلاً أَعطى الحَوادِثَ حُكمَها

لا مَطلَ في عِدَةٍ وَلا تَسويفا

لا مَطلَ في عِدَةٍ وَلا تَسويفا

O dwelling that let calamities have their rule,

O abode that misfortunes made their ruler

with no delay in a promise, no postponement.

With no respite or delaying

أَرسى بِناديكَ النَدى وَتَنَفَّسَت

أَرسى بِناديكَ النَدى وَتَنَفَّسَت

نَفَساً بِعَقوَتِكَ الرِياحُ ضَعيفا

نَفَساً بِعَقوَتِكَ الرِياحُ ضَعيفا

Generosity anchored in your gathering-place; there breathed

Your stream gave drink to the meadow and breathed

the winds in your precincts, a gentle breath.

A breath through your hills, soft winds unbound

شُعِفَ الغَمامُ بِعَرصَتَيكَ وَرُبَّما

شُعِفَ الغَمامُ بِعَرصَتَيكَ وَرُبَّما

رَوَّت رُباكَ الهائِمَ المَشغوفا

رَوَّت رُباكَ الهائِمَ المَشغوفا

The cloud was smitten with your two courtyards, and often

The clouds were awed by your courtyard, and sometimes

your hills quenched that wandering, lovesick one.

Your loved one quenched the thirst of yearning hearts

وَلَئِن ثَوى بِكَ مُلقِياً أَجرامَهُ

وَلَئِن ثَوى بِكَ مُلقِياً أَجرامَهُ

ضَيفُ الخُطوبِ لَقَد أَصابَ مُضيفا

ضَيفُ الخُطوبِ لَقَد أَصابَ مُضيفا

And if there lodged with you, laying down its bulk,

And if the guest of sorrows made his home with you

the guest of calamities, it surely found a host.

Surely, he found a hospitable host

وَهِيَ الحَوادِثُ لَم تَزَل نَكَباتُها

وَهِيَ الحَوادِثُ لَم تَزَل نَكَباتُها

يَألَفنَ رَبعَ المَنزِلِ المَألوفا

يَألَفنَ رَبعَ المَنزِلِ المَألوفا

Such are calamities: their blows have never ceased

For those misfortunes never ceased to become tribulations

to haunt the familiar dwelling-place.

That made accustomed the familiar place

خَلَفَت بِعَقوَتِكَ السُنونَ وَطالَما

خَلَفَت بِعَقوَتِكَ السُنونَ وَطالَما

كانَت بَناتُ الدَهرِ عَنكَ خَلوفا

كانَت بَناتُ الدَهرِ عَنكَ خَلوفا

Drought years took their place in your precincts, though long

Your hills have outlived years, for long indeed

the daughters of Time had kept away from you.

The days of time towards you were shy

أَيّامَ لا تَسطو بِأَهلِكَ نَكبَةٌ

أَيّامَ لا تَسطو بِأَهلِكَ نَكبَةٌ

إِلّا تَراجَعَ صَرفُها مَصروفا

إِلّا تَراجَعَ صَرفُها مَصروفا

In days when no calamity assailed your people

Days where no calamity befell your people

without its onslaught recoiling, repelled.

Except fate turned it away, averted

وَإِذا رَمَتكَ الحادِثاتُ بِلَحظَةٍ

وَإِذا رَمَتكَ الحادِثاتُ بِلَحظَةٍ

رَدَّت ظِباؤُكَ طَرفَها مَطروفا

رَدَّت ظِباؤُكَ طَرفَها مَطروفا

And whenever calamities shot a glance at you,

And when events glanced at you fleetingly

your gazelles drove their gaze back, wounded.

Your lofty spirit glanced back, repelled

مِن كُلِّ مُطمَعَةِ الهَوى جُعِلَت لَها

مِن كُلِّ مُطمَعَةِ الهَوى جُعِلَت لَها

مِنّا مَوَدّاتُ القُلوبِ وُقوفا

مِنّا مَوَدّاتُ القُلوبِ وُقوفا

Each one awakening hope of love, to whom were granted

We who longed for love, our hearts' affection

by us our hearts' affections as endowments.

Became devoted to you, fixed in place

وَرَفيقَةِ اللَحَظاتِ يُعقِبُ رِفقُها

وَرَفيقَةِ اللَحَظاتِ يُعقِبُ رِفقُها

بَطشاً بِمُغتَرِّ القُلوبِ عَنيفا

بَطشاً بِمُغتَرِّ القُلوبِ عَنيفا

And each gentle of glance, whose gentleness brings

And the companion of moments - her company

a violent assault upon unsuspecting hearts.

Follows kindness with might against deluded hearts

جُزنَ الصِفاتِ رَوادِفاً وَسَوالِفاً

جُزنَ الصِفاتِ رَوادِفاً وَسَوالِفاً

وَمَحاجِراً وَنَواظِراً وَأُنوفا

وَمَحاجِراً وَنَواظِراً وَأُنوفا

They surpassed description in their hips and necks,

The finest of manners - companions and friends

and eye-sockets, eyes, and noses.

And faces, brows, and slender noses

كُنَّ البُدورَ الطالِعاتِ فَأوسِعَت

كُنَّ البُدورَ الطالِعاتِ فَأوسِعَت

عَنّا أُفولاً لِلنَوى وَكُسوفا

عَنّا أُفولاً لِلنَوى وَكُسوفا

They were the rising full moons, then suffered prolonged

They were the rising stars and so brought out for us

setting far from us, and eclipse, through separation.

The setting and eclipse of wishes

آرامُ حَيٍّ أَنزَفَتهُم نِيَّةٌ

آرامُ حَيٍّ أَنزَفَتهُم نِيَّةٌ

تَرَكَتكَ مِن خَمرِ الفِراقِ نَزيفا

تَرَكَتكَ مِن خَمرِ الفِراقِ نَزيفا

Gazelles of a clan, drained away by a resolve to depart,

It was the rest of the living whose souls blood seeped

which left you intoxicated with the wine of parting.

Leaving you the wine of parting bleeding grief

كانوا بُرودَ زَمانِهِم فَتَصَدَّعوا

كانوا بُرودَ زَمانِهِم فَتَصَدَّعوا

فَكَأَنَّما لَبِسَ الزَمانُ الصوفا

فَكَأَنَّما لَبِسَ الزَمانُ الصوفا

They were their age's striped mantles; then they scattered,

They were the cool of their time, so they cracked

so it was as though Time had put on wool.

As if time itself was clothed in wool

ذَلَّت بِهِم عُنُقُ الخَليطِ وَرُبَّما

ذَلَّت بِهِم عُنُقُ الخَليطِ وَرُبَّما

كانَ المُمَنَّعَ أَخدَعاً وَصَليفا

كانَ المُمَنَّعَ أَخدَعاً وَصَليفا

Through them the company's neck grew meek, though often

The smooth necks bent for them, and sometimes

its neck-vein and neck-side had been impregnable.

The forbidden was tempting and pliant

عاقَدتُ جودَ أَبي سَعيدٍ إِنَّهُ

عاقَدتُ جودَ أَبي سَعيدٍ إِنَّهُ

بَدُنَ الرَجاءُ بِهِ وَكانَ نَحيفا

بَدُنَ الرَجاءُ بِهِ وَكانَ نَحيفا

I made a pact with Abu Sa'id's generosity: indeed,

I tied the generosity of my father Sa`eed, truly

through him hope grew stout, though it had been thin.

Hope was thin in him, and he was slender

وَعَزَزتُ بِالسَبُعِ الَّذي بِزَئيرِهِ

وَعَزَزتُ بِالسَبُعِ الَّذي بِزَئيرِهِ

أَمسَت وَأَصبَحَتِ الثُغورُ غَريفا

أَمسَت وَأَصبَحَتِ الثُغورُ غَريفا

And I grew strong through the lion whose roaring

And I was strengthened by the lion whose roar

turned the frontiers, evening and morning, into a thicket.

Made the borders growl morning and night

قَطَبَ الخُشونَةَ وَاللِيانَ بِنَفسِهِ

قَطَبَ الخُشونَةَ وَاللِيانَ بِنَفسِهِ

فَغَدا جَليلاً في القُلوبِ لَطيفا

فَغَدا جَليلاً في القُلوبِ لَطيفا

He blended roughness and softness in himself,

He exemplified severity and gentleness in himself

and became majestic in hearts, yet gentle.

So he became great yet kind in hearts

فَإِذا مَشى يَمشي الدِفَقّى أَو سَرى

فَإِذا مَشى يَمشي الدِفَقّى أَو سَرى

وَصَلَ السُرى أَو سارَ سارَ وَجيفا

وَصَلَ السُرى أَو سارَ سارَ وَجيفا

When he walks, he walks with a swift, flowing stride; if he journeys by night,

So if he walked - the horses walked, or if he sped -

he continues the night journey; if he travels, he travels at a swift trot.

The speeding continued, or if he went on - he went on, swaying

هَزَّتهُ مُعضِلَةُ الأُمورِ وَهَزَّها

هَزَّتهُ مُعضِلَةُ الأُمورِ وَهَزَّها

وَأُخيفَ في ذاتِ الإِلَهِ وَخيفا

وَأُخيفَ في ذاتِ الإِلَهِ وَخيفا

A knotty affair shook him, and he shook it in turn;

Worrisome events shook him and he shook them

and in God's cause he was made to fear, and was feared.

And he was revered, revered in the essence of God

يَقظانُ أَحصَدَتِ التَجارِبُ حَزمَهُ

يَقظانُ أَحصَدَتِ التَجارِبُ حَزمَهُ

شَزراً وَثُقِّفَ عَزمُهُ تَثقيفا

شَزراً وَثُقِّفَ عَزمُهُ تَثقيفا

Vigilant—experience had twisted his prudence tight,

The harvest of experiences awakened his resolve

crosswise, and his resolve was thoroughly honed.

Like tinder, and his determination was cultivated

وَاِستَلَّ مِن آرائِهِ الشُعَلَ الَّتي

وَاِستَلَّ مِن آرائِهِ الشُعَلَ الَّتي

لَو أَنَّهُنَّ طُبِعنَ كُنَّ سُيوفا

لَو أَنَّهُنَّ طُبِعنَ كُنَّ سُيوفا

And he drew from his counsels the flames that,

And I gained from his opinions flames

if forged, would have been swords.

That if they were forged would have been swords

كَهلُ الأَناةِ فَتى الشَذاةِ إِذا غَدا

كَهلُ الأَناةِ فَتى الشَذاةِ إِذا غَدا

لِلحَربِ كانَ القَشعَمَ الغِطريفا

لِلحَربِ كانَ القَشعَمَ الغِطريفا

An elder in patience, a youth in fierceness; when he went

The old man of purpose, the youth of joy, when

to war, he was the aged, noble eagle.

He marched to war he was the heavy-stepping gallant one

وَأَخو الفَعالِ إِذا الفَتى كُلُّ الفَتى

وَأَخو الفَعالِ إِذا الفَتى كُلُّ الفَتى

في الباسِ وَالمَعروفِ كانَ خَليفا

في الباسِ وَالمَعروفِ كانَ خَليفا

A man of deeds, when even the manliest of men

And the brother of action - when the valiant one, every valiant one

in valor and generosity was left behind.

Was armed and renowned, he was the successor

كَم مِن وَساعِ الجودِ عِندي في النَدى

كَم مِن وَساعِ الجودِ عِندي في النَدى

لَمّا جَرى وَجَرَيتَ كانَ قُطوفا

لَمّا جَرى وَجَرَيتَ كانَ قُطوفا

How many a lavish giver, in my eyes, in bounty,

How many times when you were generous with the dew

proved slow-paced when he ran and you ran.

Where you went and I went, it was plucked

أَحسَنتُما صَفَدي وَلَكِن كُنتَ لي

أَحسَنتُما صَفَدي وَلَكِن كُنتَ لي

مِثلَ الرَبيعِ حَياً وَكانَ خَريفا

مِثلَ الرَبيعِ حَياً وَكانَ خَريفا

You both gave me handsome rewards, but you were to me

You were both good to me, but you were to me

like a rain-rich spring, while he was autumn.

Like Spring, alive, while he was Autumn

وَكِلاكُما اِقتَعَدَ العُلى فَرَكِبتَها

وَكِلاكُما اِقتَعَدَ العُلى فَرَكِبتَها

في الذَروَةِ العُليا وَجاءَ رَديفا

في الذَروَةِ العُليا وَجاءَ رَديفا

And both of you mounted the heights, but you rode them

And you both mounted the heights, so you rode them

at the highest summit, while he came riding behind.

At the very top, and he came as your companion

إِن غاضَ ماءُ المُزنِ فِضتَ وَإِن قَسَت

إِن غاضَ ماءُ المُزنِ فِضتَ وَإِن قَسَت

كَبِدُ الزَمانِ عَلَيَّ كُنتَ رَؤوفا

كَبِدُ الزَمانِ عَلَيَّ كُنتَ رَؤوفا

If the rain-clouds' water runs low, you overflow; and if

If the water of affliction overflowed, you poured out

Time's liver grows hard against me, you are compassionate.

And if the liver of time was harsh to me, you were compassionate

وَإِذا خَلائِقُهُم نَبَت أَو أَجدَبَت

وَإِذا خَلائِقُهُم نَبَت أَو أَجدَبَت

أَنشَأتَ تَمهَدُ لي خَلائِقَ ريفا

أَنشَأتَ تَمهَدُ لي خَلائِقَ ريفا

And when their natures grow harsh or barren,

And if their natures grew or were barren

you begin laying out for me a fertile country of virtues,

You began to pave for me plentiful natures

وَمَواهِباً مَطلوبَةً مَلحوقَةً

وَمَواهِباً مَطلوبَةً مَلحوقَةً

تَذَرُ الشَريفَ بِفَضلِها مَشروفا

تَذَرُ الشَريفَ بِفَضلِها مَشروفا

and gifts sought and attained,

And sought-after, attained gifts

whose excellence leaves the noble surpassed in honor.

That left the noble through them, prosperous

يَلقى بِها حُرُّ التِلادِ وَعَبدُهُ

يَلقى بِها حُرُّ التِلادِ وَعَبدُهُ

عِندَ السُؤالِ مَصارِعاً وَحُتوفا

عِندَ السُؤالِ مَصارِعاً وَحُتوفا

Through them, inherited wealth, both free and enslaved, meets

He meets through them the free of birth and the slave

at the asking, fatal falls and deaths.

When asked, dead and fallen

إِسمَع أَقامَت في دِيارِكَ نِعمَةٌ

إِسمَع أَقامَت في دِيارِكَ نِعمَةٌ

خَضراءُ ناضِرَةٌ تَرُفُّ رَفيفا

خَضراءُ ناضِرَةٌ تَرُفُّ رَفيفا

Listen: a blessing has settled in your dwellings,

Listen - a green, vibrant blessing made its home in your abode

green and fresh, quivering with lushness.

Flowing gently

رَيّا إِذا النِعَمُ اِنتَقَلنَ تَخَيَّمَت

رَيّا إِذا النِعَمُ اِنتَقَلنَ تَخَيَّمَت

وَإِذا نَفَرنَ غَدَت عَلَيكَ أَلوفا

وَإِذا نَفَرنَ غَدَت عَلَيكَ أَلوفا

Well-watered: when blessings depart, it pitches its tent;

Moving about when blessings move, gathering

and when they flee, it grows fondly attached to you.

Over you in throngs when they flee

أَنا ذو كَساكَ مَحَبَّةً لا خَلَّةً

أَنا ذو كَساكَ مَحَبَّةً لا خَلَّةً

حِبَرَ القَصائِدِ فُوِّفَت تَفويفا

حِبَرَ القَصائِدِ فُوِّفَت تَفويفا

I am the one who clothed you, out of love, not need,

I am one whose bond with you is love, no fault

in the brocades of poems, finely patterned in stripes.

The poet whose odes were composed with rhythm

مُتنَخِّلٌ حَلّاكَ نَظمَ بَدائِعٍ

مُتنَخِّلٌ حَلّاكَ نَظمَ بَدائِعٍ

صارَت لِآذانِ المُلوكِ شُنوفا

صارَت لِآذانِ المُلوكِ شُنوفا

A careful chooser, I adorned you with a string of marvels

An intimate whose dissolution is halal - he composed wonders

that became earrings for the ears of kings.

That became wondrous to the ears of kings

وافٍ إِذا الإِحسانُ قُنِّعَ لَم يَزَل

وافٍ إِذا الإِحسانُ قُنِّعَ لَم يَزَل

وَجهُ الصَنيعَةِ عِندَهُ مَكشوفا

وَجهُ الصَنيعَةِ عِندَهُ مَكشوفا

Loyal: when beneficence is veiled, there remains

Loyal - when favor was limited he did not cease to see

before him the unveiled face of a favor.

The face of your favor upon him revealed

وَإِذا غَدا المَعروفُ مَجهولاً غَدا

وَإِذا غَدا المَعروفُ مَجهولاً غَدا

مَعروفُ كَفِّكَ عِندَهُ مَعروفا

مَعروفُ كَفِّكَ عِندَهُ مَعروفا

And when kindness goes unrecognized,

And when favor became unknown, the favor of your palm

the kindness of your hand is still recognized by him.

Became known to him as favor

هَذا إِلى قِدَمِ الذِمامِ بِكَ الَّذي

هَذا إِلى قِدَمِ الذِمامِ بِكَ الَّذي

لَو أَنَّهُ وَلَدٌ لَكانَ وَصيفا

لَو أَنَّهُ وَلَدٌ لَكانَ وَصيفا

This, besides the long-standing bond with you, which,

This - to the foot of flaws through you, which

if it were a child, would be a serving boy.

If it were a son would have been a companion

وَحَشاً تُحَرِّقُهُ النَصيحَةُ وَالهَوى

وَحَشاً تُحَرِّقُهُ النَصيحَةُ وَالهَوى

لَو أَنَّهُ وَقتٌ لَكانَ مَصيفا

لَو أَنَّهُ وَقتٌ لَكانَ مَصيفا

And an inmost heart that sincerity and love burn—

And a beast whom advice and love set aflame

if it were a season, it would be summer.

If it were a season would have been a summer

وَمَقيلُ صَدرٍ فيكَ باقٍ رَوعُهُ

وَمَقيلُ صَدرٍ فيكَ باقٍ رَوعُهُ

لَو أَنَّهُ ثَغرٌ لَكانَ مَخوفا

لَو أَنَّهُ ثَغرٌ لَكانَ مَخوفا

And a breast's resting-place, with fear for you unspent—

And the shelter of a breast within you remains fervent

if it were a frontier, it would be feared for.

If it were a mouth it would have been fearful

وَلَئِن أَطَلتُ مَدائِحي لَبِنائِلٍ

وَلَئِن أَطَلتُ مَدائِحي لَبِنائِلٍ

لَكَ لَيسَ مَحدوداً وَلا مَوصوفا

لَكَ لَيسَ مَحدوداً وَلا مَوصوفا

And if I have prolonged my praises, it is for a bounty

And if I prolonged my praises of excellencies for you

of yours that is neither bounded nor describable.

There is no end or description for you

خَفَّضتَ عَنّي الدَهرَ بَعدَ مُلِمَّةٍ

خَفَّضتَ عَنّي الدَهرَ بَعدَ مُلِمَّةٍ

تَرَكَت لِنابَيهِ عَلَيَّ صَريفا

تَرَكَت لِنابَيهِ عَلَيَّ صَريفا

You subdued Time for me after a calamity

You lowered the days upon me after adversity

that left its two fangs gnashing against me.

That left its fangs upon me biting

جَدوى أَصيلِ العِلمِ أَن سَيُمِضُّهُ

جَدوى أَصيلِ العِلمِ أَن سَيُمِضُّهُ

قَضَفُ المَكارِمِ إِن رَجَعتُ قَضيفا

قَضَفُ المَكارِمِ إِن رَجَعتُ قَضيفا

Bounty from one who knows full well he will be pained

The lasting fruits of true knowledge - its decrees

by the leanness of noble deeds, if I return lean.

Will be spent if I return biting

عَمرِيُّ عُظمِ الدينِ جَهمِيُّ النَدى

عَمرِيُّ عُظمِ الدينِ جَهمِيُّ النَدى

يَنفي القُوى وَيُثَبِّتُ التَكليفا

يَنفي القُوى وَيُثَبِّتُ التَكليفا

Amr-like in the greatness of faith, Jahm-like in generosity:

My life for the greatness of religion, my munificence of dew

he denies powers, yet affirms obligation.

Denying powers and affirming duties

سَأَقولُ قَولَةَ ناصِحٍ لَكَ يَنتَحي

سَأَقولُ قَولَةَ ناصِحٍ لَكَ يَنتَحي

قَلباً نَقِيّاً في رِضاكَ نَظيفا

قَلباً نَقِيّاً في رِضاكَ نَظيفا

I shall speak a sincere adviser's word to you, directing

I will speak the saying of an advisor for you that comes from

a pure heart, clean in seeking your satisfaction.

A heart pure in your contentment, cleansed

لَكَ هَضبَةُ الحِلمِ الَّتي لَو وازَنَت

لَكَ هَضبَةُ الحِلمِ الَّتي لَو وازَنَت

أَجَأً إِذا ثَقُلَت وَكانَ خَفيفا

أَجَأً إِذا ثَقُلَت وَكانَ خَفيفا

Yours is a mountain of forbearance that, if weighed against

For you is the plateau of forbearance which if it weighed

Aja, would be heavy, while Aja would be light.

Against firebrands, however heavy, would be light

وَحَلاوَةُ الشيمِ الَّتي لَو مازَجَت

وَحَلاوَةُ الشيمِ الَّتي لَو مازَجَت

خُلُقَ الزَمانِ الفَدمِ عادَ ظَريفا

خُلُقَ الزَمانِ الفَدمِ عادَ ظَريفا

And a sweetness of character that, if mingled with

And the sweetness of character that if mixed

the nature of boorish Time, would make it charming.

With the morals of this bloody time would be refined

وَأَراكَ في أَرضِ الأَعادي غازِياً

وَأَراكَ في أَرضِ الأَعادي غازِياً

ما تَستَفيقُ يُبوسَةً وَجُفوفا

ما تَستَفيقُ يُبوسَةً وَجُفوفا

And I see you campaigning in the land of foes,

And I see you in the land of enemies, a conqueror

never recovering from dryness and desiccation.

You do not awaken to kisses or dry lips

إِن كانَ بِالوَرَعِ اِبتَنى القَومُ العُلى

إِن كانَ بِالوَرَعِ اِبتَنى القَومُ العُلى

أَو بِالتُقى صارَ الشَريفُ شَريفا

أَو بِالتُقى صارَ الشَريفُ شَريفا

If people built the heights of glory through religious scruple,

If through piety the people built highness

or the noble became noble through piety,

Or through conscience the noble became noble

فَعَلامَ قُدِّمَ وَهوَ زانٍ عامِرٌ

فَعَلامَ قُدِّمَ وَهوَ زانٍ عامِرٌ

وَأُميطَ عَلقَمَةٌ وَكانَ عَفيفا

وَأُميطَ عَلقَمَةٌ وَكانَ عَفيفا

then why was Amir preferred, though he was a fornicator,

Why then was he brought forward immaculate and prosperous

and Alqama set aside, though he was chaste?

And a sin concealed though he was chaste?

وَبَنى المَكارِمَ حاتِمٌ في شِركِهِ

وَبَنى المَكارِمَ حاتِمٌ في شِركِهِ

وَسِواهُ يَهدِمُها وَكانَ حَنيفا

وَسِواهُ يَهدِمُها وَكانَ حَنيفا

And Hatim built noble deeds amid his polytheism,

And Hatim built generosity in his partnership

while another tears them down, though an upright monotheist.

While another destroyed it, though he was upright