أَرَواحٌ مُوَدَّعٌ أَم بُكُورُ

أَرَواحٌ مُوَدَّعٌ أَم بُكُورُ

لَكَ فاعلَم لأَيِّ حالٍ تَصيرُ

لَكَ فاعلَم لأَيِّ حالٍ تَصيرُ

An evening departure with farewells, or an early start

Farewell souls, or morning mourners,

for you? Know, then, what state you are bound for.

Learn which state awaits you,

إنَّ شُغلَ الصَّابياتِ مِنَ الأَس

إنَّ شُغلَ الصَّابياتِ مِنَ الأَس

تارِ طَرفٌ يُصبي وفيه فُتورُ

تارِ طَرفٌ يُصبي وفيه فُتورُ

Indeed, the beguiling women's art, from behind the

The occupation of young women is an adornment,

curtains, is a captivating glance, with languor in it.

with languid eyes and listlessness,

زانَهُنَّ الشُّفوفُ يَنهَزنَ بال

زانَهُنَّ الشُّفوفُ يَنهَزنَ بال

صُّبحِ وعَيشٌ مُفانِقٌ وحَريرُ

صُّبحِ وعَيشٌ مُفانِقٌ وحَريرُ

Sheer fabrics adorned them as they stirred at

Their slender waists sway at dawn,

dawn, along with pampered living and silk.

with delicate living and silk,

كَدُمَى العاجِ في الَمحاريبِ أَو كَا

كَدُمَى العاجِ في الَمحاريبِ أَو كَا

لبيضِ في الرَّوضِ زَهرُهُ مُستَنيرُ

لبيضِ في الرَّوضِ زَهرُهُ مُستَنيرُ

Like ivory figures in shrines, or like

Like the reddish sandalwood in shrines,

eggs in a meadow whose flowers shine.

or like white flowers shining in the garden,

لا تُؤاتيكَ إن صَحوتَ وإن أَش

لا تُؤاتيكَ إن صَحوتَ وإن أَش

رَقَ في العارِضَينِ منكِ القَتيرُ

رَقَ في العارِضَينِ منكِ القَتيرُ

She will not yield to you if you are sober, or if

They will not come to you if you wake up,

gray hairs gleam along the sides of your face.

or if sleep in your lids flows from you,

وَأبيضاضُ السَّوادِ مِن نُذُرِ الشَّ

وَأبيضاضُ السَّوادِ مِن نُذُرِ الشَّ

رِّ وهَل بَعدَهُ لأُنسٍ نذيرُ

رِّ وهَل بَعدَهُ لأُنسٍ نذيرُ

And the whitening of black hair is among the warnings of

And the whiteness of darkness are omens of evil,

evil; after it, is there any herald of delight?

is there after it a herald of intimacy?

وَسطهُهُ كاَليرَاعِ أَو سُرُجِ المِج

وَسطهُهُ كاَليرَاعِ أَو سُرُجِ المِج

دَلِ حيناً يَخبُو وحيناً ينُيرُ

دَلِ حيناً يَخبُو وحيناً ينُيرُ

Its midst is like fireflies or the lamps of a

Its middle like lightning one moment hidden another moment flashes,

tower: now it dims, now it shines.

Like the fire of bellows the sparks fly for whoever smells it when it rises,

مِثلُ نارِ الَحرَّاضِ يَجلُو ذُرَى الُمز

مِثلُ نارِ الَحرَّاضِ يَجلُو ذُرَى الُمز

نِ لِمنَ شامَهُ إذا يَستَطيرُ

نِ لِمنَ شامَهُ إذا يَستَطيرُ

Like the lime-burner's fire, it reveals the summits of the

The tambour answers the turncoat and the lute of the treacherous,

rain clouds to whoever watches it flare.

Then the bends of the pasture where the caravan descended,

زَجِلٌ عَجزهُ يُجاوبُهُ دَفٌّ

زَجِلٌ عَجزهُ يُجاوبُهُ دَفٌّ

لخُونٍ مَأدُوبَةٍ وزَميرُ

لخُونٍ مَأدُوبَةٍ وزَميرُ

Its rear resounds, answered by a tambourine

It quenched the stomach, so Basitha, so Hirna,

at banquet tables, and by piping.

Guiding its face and bewildered,

فَثَنايا بالرَّيِّ بَعدُ وفي الحِن

فَثَنايا بالرَّيِّ بَعدُ وفي الحِن

وَينِ حَطَّت بهِ هُنالِكَ عِيرُ

وَينِ حَطَّت بهِ هُنالِكَ عِيرُ

Then the passes by al-Rayy; afterward, at

The south turned it towards Hirna

al-Hinwayn, a caravan halted there beside it.

So its torrent flowed confined,

فَسقَى البَطنَ فَالبَسِيطَةَ فَالحِر

فَسقَى البَطنَ فَالبَسِيطَةَ فَالحِر

نَينِ يَهدي لِوجهِهِ ويَحُورُ

نَينِ يَهدي لِوجهِهِ ويَحُورُ

It watered al-Batn, then al-Basitah, then

I did not wink at it and my business with it,

al-Hirnayn, pressing onward and turning back.

That is not what pleases me,

فاستَدَرَّت بهِ الَجنُوبُ على الحِر

فاستَدَرَّت بهِ الَجنُوبُ على الحِر

نَّةِ فَالحنوِ سَيلُهُ مَقصورُ

نَّةِ فَالحنوِ سَيلُهُ مَقصورُ

Then the south wind drew its rain over

Rather my rein is the saying of a man about whom,

al-Hirnah; at al-Hinw its flood was checked.

No right was seen or ordained,

لَم أُغَمِّض بهِ وشَأيِي بهِ ما

لَم أُغَمِّض بهِ وشَأيِي بهِ ما

ذاكَ أَنِّي بِصَوبِه مَسرورُ

ذاكَ أَنِّي بِصَوبِه مَسرورُ

I did not sleep through it; my concern with it was not

And a beloved after being guided a left,

because I delighted in its rainfall.

Sways him like the broken one is swayed,

بَل عَنَاني قَولُ امرئٍ لَم يُقَل فيه

بَل عَنَاني قَولُ امرئٍ لَم يُقَل فيه

هِ صَوابٌ بَدا ولا تَقديرُ

هِ صَوابٌ بَدا ولا تَقديرُ

Rather, a man's words troubled me; in them was expressed

Play and nonsense sweeping the torrents of water,

neither manifest soundness nor considered judgment.

As if it is pouring down,

وَحَبيٍّ بعدَ الهُدُوِّ تُزَجِّي

وَحَبيٍّ بعدَ الهُدُوِّ تُزَجِّي

هِ شَمَالٌ كما يُزَجَّى الكَسيرُ

هِ شَمَالٌ كما يُزَجَّى الكَسيرُ

And a piled-up cloud, after the stillness, is driven

I wish I knew how you are when camphor,

by a north wind, like a crippled beast urged onward.

Is sprinkled on your hot face,

مَرحٌ وبُلهٌ يَسُحُّ سُيولَ ال

مَرحٌ وبُلهٌ يَسُحُّ سُيولَ ال

ماءِ سَحّاً كأَنَّهُ مَنحورُ

ماءِ سَحّاً كأَنَّهُ مَنحورُ

Its downpour is exuberant, pouring streams of

May God have mercy on whoever wept for sins,

water in torrents, as though its throat were cut.

Every weeping one, his sin is forgiven

لَيتَ شِعري كيفَ أَنتَ إذا ما

لَيتَ شِعري كيفَ أَنتَ إذا ما

ذُرَّ في حُرِّ وَجهِكَ الكافورُ

ذُرَّ في حُرِّ وَجهِكَ الكافورُ

Would that I knew how you will be when

O you who blames fate, purified and exonerated!

camphor is scattered upon your fair face.

Are you the innocent and pardoned one?

رَحِمَ اللهُ مَن بَكَى للخَطايا

رَحِمَ اللهُ مَن بَكَى للخَطايا

كُلُّ باكٍ فذَنبُهُ مَغفورُ

كُلُّ باكٍ فذَنبُهُ مَغفورُ

May God have mercy on whoever weeps for his sins;

Or do you have a solemn promise from the days?

everyone who weeps has his sin forgiven.

Rather you are an ignorant fool,

أَيُّها الشَّامِتُ الُمعَيِّرُ بال

أَيُّها الشَّامِتُ الُمعَيِّرُ بال

دَّهرِ أَأَنتَ الُمبرَّأُ الَموفورُ

دَّهرِ أَأَنتَ الُمبرَّأُ الَموفورُ

O you who gloat, taunting me with

Who have you seen death makes eternal?

time's blows—are you exempt and left unharmed?

Or is anything missing from it?

أَم لَدَيكَ العَهدُ الوَثيقُ مِنَ ال

أَم لَدَيكَ العَهدُ الوَثيقُ مِنَ ال

أَيَّامِ بَل أَنتَ جاهِلٌ مَغرورُ

أَيَّامِ بَل أَنتَ جاهِلٌ مَغرورُ

Or do you hold a binding covenant from

Where is Chosroes, where is Sapor?

the days? No, you are ignorant and deluded.

And the yellow king of the Romans,

مَن رَأَيتَ الَمنُونَ خَلَّدنَ أَم مضن

مَن رَأَيتَ الَمنُونَ خَلَّدنَ أَم مضن

ذا عليهِ مِن أَن يُضامَ خَفيرُ

ذا عليهِ مِن أَن يُضامَ خَفيرُ

Whom have you seen the fates make immortal? Or who

Not one of them is remembered,

has a protector to keep him from being wronged?

The brother of Khosrow when he built and,

أَينَ كسرَى كِسرَى الُملوك أَنُ

أَينَ كسرَى كِسرَى الُملوك أَنُ

شُروانَ أَم أَينَ قَبلَهُ سابورُ

شُروانَ أَم أَينَ قَبلَهُ سابورُ

Where is Kisra, the Kisra of kings—

The taxes were collected for him, and the chamberlain,

Anushirwan? Or where is Shapur, who preceded him?

He built it of marble and decorated it with clay,

وَبنثو الأَصفرِ الُملوكِ مُلوكُ ال

وَبنثو الأَصفرِ الُملوكِ مُلوكُ ال

رُّومِ لَم يَبقَ مِنهُمُ مَذكورُ

رُّومِ لَم يَبقَ مِنهُمُ مَذكورُ

And the sons of al-Asfar, the kings, the kings of

So for the birds in its rooms there are nests,

Rome—not one of them remains to be spoken of.

The specter of death did not spare him so his kingdom vanished,

وأَخُو الَحضرِ إذ بَنَاهُ وإذ دِج

وأَخُو الَحضرِ إذ بَنَاهُ وإذ دِج

لَةُ تُجبَى إليهِ والخابورُ

لَةُ تُجبَى إليهِ والخابورُ

And the lord of al-Hadr, when he built it, while

And his door became abandoned,

the Tigris and the Khabur brought him tribute?

And consider the Lord of the Arch, when one day,

شادَهُ مَرمَراً وخَلَّلَهُ كِل

شادَهُ مَرمَراً وخَلَّلَهُ كِل

ساً فِللطَّيرِ في ذُراهُ وُكورُ

ساً فِللطَّيرِ في ذُراهُ وُكورُ

He raised it in marble, filling its gaps with

He was noble and turned to the right guidance,

lime; now birds have nests on its heights.

His wealth made him happy and what he owned,

لَم يَهَبهُ رَيبُ الَمنُونِ فَبادَ ال

لَم يَهَبهُ رَيبُ الَمنُونِ فَبادَ ال

مُلكُ مِنهُ فبابُهُ مَهجُورُ

مُلكُ مِنهُ فبابُهُ مَهجُورُ

Death's vicissitudes did not fear him; gone was his

And the sea compliant and the plains,

kingship, and his gate is abandoned.

So his heart was arrogant and said: What is the sin,

وتَأَمَّل رَبَّ الَخَورنَقِ إذ أَش

وتَأَمَّل رَبَّ الَخَورنَقِ إذ أَش

رَفَ يَوماً وللهُدَى تَفكيرُ

رَفَ يَوماً وللهُدَى تَفكيرُ

And consider the lord of al-Khawarnaq, when he looked

Of the living ending in death?

out one day; reflection can lead to guidance.

Then after success, kingship and authority, they were overtaken by graves,

سَرَّهُ مالُهُ وكَثرَةث ما يَم

سَرَّهُ مالُهُ وكَثرَةث ما يَم

لكُ والبحَرُ مُعرضاً والسَّديرُ

لكُ والبحَرُ مُعرضاً والسَّديرُ

His wealth delighted him, and the abundance of what he

Then they became as if they were torn pages taken away by the winds and time.

owned, the sea spread out before him, and al-Sadir.

If I am afflicted with some hardship, there is no weakness,

فارعَوَى قَلبُهُ وقالَ وما غِب

فارعَوَى قَلبُهُ وقالَ وما غِب

طَةُ حَيٍّ إلى الَمماتِ يَصيرُ

طَةُ حَيٍّ إلى الَمماتِ يَصيرُ

Then his heart came to its senses, and he said, 'What

Nor great stumbling,

happiness has a living man who is bound for death?'

Except that days can betray a man,

ثُمَّ بعدَ الفَلاحِ والُملكِ وال

ثُمَّ بعدَ الفَلاحِ والُملكِ وال

إمَّةِ وارَتهُمُ هُناكَ القُبورُ

إمَّةِ وارَتهُمُ هُناكَ القُبورُ

Then, after prosperity, kingship, and

In them there is ease and hardship,

affluence, the graves there hid them away.

So be patient with adversity, for time,

ثُمَّ أَضحَوا كَأَنَّهُم وَرَقٌ جَ

ثُمَّ أَضحَوا كَأَنَّهُم وَرَقٌ جَ

فَّ فأَلوَت بهِ الصَّبا والدَّبورُ

فَّ فأَلوَت بهِ الصَّبا والدَّبورُ

Then they became like leaves that had

Sometimes is dark and sometimes bright,

dried, swept away by the east wind and the west wind.

And I am the true victorious one, when a day oppresses,

إن يُصِبني بَعضُ الأَذاةِ فَلاَ وا

إن يُصِبني بَعضُ الأَذاةِ فَلاَ وا

نٍ ضَعيفٌ ولا أَكَبُّ عَثورُ

نٍ ضَعيفٌ ولا أَكَبُّ عَثورُ

If some hurt befalls me, I am no

In which hearts are constricted,

feeble laggard, nor one who falls headlong and stumbles.

A day in which intricacies are useless,

غيرَ أنَّ الأَيَّامَ يَغدُرنَ بالَمر

غيرَ أنَّ الأَيَّامَ يَغدُرنَ بالَمر

ءِ وفيها الَميسورُ والَمعسورُ

ءِ وفيها الَميسورُ والَمعسورُ

Yet the days betray a

And none benefits but the sincere friend,

man; in them are ease and hardship.

And I have bought beauty with praise, indeed,

فاصبِرِ النَّفسَ للخُطُوبِ فأنَّ

فاصبِرِ النَّفسَ للخُطُوبِ فأنَّ

الدَّهرَ يَدجُو حيناً وحيناً يُنيرُ

الدَّهرَ يَدجُو حيناً وحيناً يُنيرُ

So school your soul to bear calamities, for

In it exertion and ordainment,

time is dark awhile and bright awhile.

Good fortune escorted me because,

وأَنَا النَّاصِرُ الَحقيقَةَ إذ أَظلَ

وأَنَا النَّاصِرُ الَحقيقَةَ إذ أَظلَ

مَ يَومٌ تَضِيقُ فيهِ الصُّدورُ

مَ يَومٌ تَضِيقُ فيهِ الصُّدورُ

And I am honor's defender when there darkens

I entrusted my Lord, truly the righteous is grateful,

a day when breasts grow tight.

Like a short man who found none but,

يَومَ لا يَنفَعُ الرَّواغُ ولا

يَومَ لا يَنفَعُ الرَّواغُ ولا

يَنفَعُ إلاَّ الُمشَيَّعُ النِّحريرُ

يَنفَعُ إلاَّ الُمشَيَّعُ النِّحريرُ

A day when evasion is no use, and

To call the nobles for meager gratitude,

only the bold, seasoned man is of use.

You from what you faced the ignorant rebuke you,

واشَترَيتُ الَجمَالَ بالَحمدِ إنَّ

واشَترَيتُ الَجمَالَ بالَحمدِ إنَّ

السَّعيَ فيهِ الإِمضاءُ والتَّقديرُ

السَّعيَ فيهِ الإِمضاءُ والتَّقديرُ

And I bought fair repute with praise; indeed,

With recklessness, an arrogant fool,

endeavor requires both execution and planning.

And you waited a little, and attained honor,

شَيَّعَتني نُعمَى علَيَّ لِمَا وا

شَيَّعَتني نُعمَى علَيَّ لِمَا وا

ثَقتُ رَبِّي إنَّ التَّقيَّ شَكورُ

ثَقتُ رَبِّي إنَّ التَّقيَّ شَكورُ

A favor bestowed upon me sustained me when I pledged

Many witnesses of blame and praise,

loyalty to my lord; the pious man is grateful.

If you had endured the like, matters would have distressed you,

كَقَصيرٍ إذ لَم يَجِد غيرَ أَن جَدَّ

كَقَصيرٍ إذ لَم يَجِد غيرَ أَن جَدَّ

عَ أَشرافَهُ لِشُكرٍ قَصيرُ

عَ أَشرافَهُ لِشُكرٍ قَصيرُ

Like Qasir, who found no course but to mutilate

And the affairs would have been confusing,

his prominent features—Qasir did it out of gratitude.

And the enemies say: An enemy destroyed him,

أَنتَ ممَّا لاَقَيتَ يُبِطرُكَ الأَغ

أَنتَ ممَّا لاَقَيتَ يُبِطرُكَ الأَغ

ابُ بالطَّيشِ مُعجَبٌ مَحبورُ

ابُ بالطَّيشِ مُعجَبٌ مَحبورُ

After what you have faced, [unclear word] makes you insolent,

With the wrath of an angry Lord, captive,

recklessly self-admiring and elated.

Not with the wrath of the King, the servant was escorted,

وتَمَهَّلتَ فَوزَةً أَحرَزَت عِر

وتَمَهَّلتَ فَوزَةً أَحرَزَت عِر

ضي مِنَ الشَّتمِ والشُّهُودُ كَثيرُ

ضي مِنَ الشَّتمِ والشُّهُودُ كَثيرُ

And you took your time over a victory that safeguarded my

Nor in his punishment, coercion,

honor from insult, with many witnesses.

It is an assumption, the mind took it,

لَو تَحَمَّلتَ مثلَها كَظَّكَ الأَم

لَو تَحَمَّلتَ مثلَها كَظَّكَ الأَم

مرُ وحارَت بهِ لَدَيكَ الأُمورُ

مرُ وحارَت بهِ لَدَيكَ الأُمورُ

Had you borne the like of it, the matter would have weighed you

So it counted him while the Expert is Expert,

down, and your affairs would have fallen into confusion.

And we both are righteous, righteousness aids righteousness,

وتقولُ العُداةُ أَودَى عَدِيٌّ

وتقولُ العُداةُ أَودَى عَدِيٌّ

وعدَِديٌّ بِسُخطِ رَبٍّ أَسيرُ

وعدَِديٌّ بِسُخطِ رَبٍّ أَسيرُ

And the enemies say, 'Adi has perished,

And my Lord for what came is excused,

and Adi is a prisoner under a lord's wrath.'

Indeed, if not for my Lord's care of him,

لا بِسُخطِ الَمليكِ ما شَيَّعَ العَب

لا بِسُخطِ الَمليكِ ما شَيَّعَ العَب

دُ ولا في عِقابِه تَنكيرُ

دُ ولا في عِقابِه تَنكيرُ

Not through the king's wrath, so long as the

With the people of Iraq, the excuse would have been poor,

servant gives loyal support; nor is his punishment disavowed.

God chose him and approved him for what

ظُنَّهٌ شُبِّهَت فأَملَكَها القَس

ظُنَّهٌ شُبِّهَت فأَملَكَها القَس

مُ فعَدَّاهُ والَخبيرُ خَبيرُ

مُ فعَدَّاهُ والَخبيرُ خَبيرُ

A suspicion was made plausible, and given sway by an

A king who distributes treasures and favors,

oath; it carried him too far, and the knowing one knows.

He has restored them though almost ruined,

وكِلاَنَا بَرٌّ يُساعِدُهُ بَرٌّ

وكِلاَنَا بَرٌّ يُساعِدُهُ بَرٌّ

ورَبِّي لِمَا أَتَى مَعذورُ

ورَبِّي لِمَا أَتَى مَعذورُ

And both of us are upright, each aided by an upright man;

A knower of what he wants, pure of heart,

and my lord is excused for what he did.

Pardoning over his corpse, slaughtered,

إنَّ رَبِّي لَو لاَ تَدارُكَهُ الُمل

إنَّ رَبِّي لَو لاَ تَدارُكَهُ الُمل

كَ بأَهِل العِراقِ ساءَ العَذيرُ

كَ بأَهِل العِراقِ ساءَ العَذيرُ

Indeed, had my lord not rescued the

kingship with Iraq's people, his excuse would have been poor.

خَصَّهُ اللهُ وارتَضاهُ لِمَا قَد

خَصَّهُ اللهُ وارتَضاهُ لِمَا قَد

مَلِكٌ يَقسِمُ الَخزائِنَ والذِّمَّ

مَلِكٌ يَقسِمُ الَخزائِنَ والذِّمَّ

God singled him out and chose him for what he had...

A king who distributes treasures, and the covenant—

ةَ قَد رَدَّها وكادَت تَبورُ

ةَ قَد رَدَّها وكادَت تَبورُ

عالِمٌ بالَّذي يُريدُ نَقِيُّ الصَّ

عالِمٌ بالَّذي يُريدُ نَقِيُّ الصَّ

he restored it when it had almost perished.

Knowing what he wants, pure of

درِ عَفٌّ عَلَى جُثَاهُ نَحورُ

درِ عَفٌّ عَلَى جُثَاهُ نَحورُ

heart, chaste, lavish in slaughter upon his mounds [reading uncertain].