Sol 6.1

  1. أَأَرجوا مِن الإِلمام بِالطَلل البالي

    لَما بيَ أَبلالاً وَذَلِكَ أَبلى لي

    Do I hope, by visiting the timeworn ruins,

    for recovery from my affliction, when that only wears me more?

  2. مَنازل مَن أَهوى سقاكِ كَأَدمُعي

    عَلى كُل حال كَل أَوطف هَطّال

    Dwellings of the one I love, may you be watered, as by my tears,

    at all times by every heavy, pouring cloud.

  3. أَحيّيك أَم أُبكيك أَم أَشتَكي النَوى

    إِلَيكَ أَم الأَيّام أَم سوءَ أَحوالي

    Shall I greet you, weep for you, or complain of separation

    to you—or of the days, or of my wretched condition?

  4. وَاعذر باك مَن يُخاطب أَعجَماً

    وَيَرجو شِفاءً مِن دَوارس أَطلال

    And most excusable is the weeper who addresses the speechless,

    and hopes for healing from the faded traces of ruins.

  5. مَحا الدَهرُ مِن رقّ الفَلاة سُطورَها

    كَما أَنهجت أَيدي البَلى خَط تمثال

    Time erased their lines from the desert's parchment,

    as the hands of decay wore away a likeness's outline.

  6. وَقفت بِها والعيس بِالرَكب تَرتَمي

    هَويّ القَطا لِلوَرد في المهمهِ الخالي

    I stood there while the pale camels hurtled onward with the caravan,

    like sandgrouse swooping to water in the empty wilderness.

  7. أَهابُ بِها الحادي المُطرّب فَاِنتَضى

    سُيوفاً عَلى أَنضاءِ وَخد وَأَرقال

    The melodious camel-driver called to them and unsheathed

    swords over mounts worn thin by trotting and swift pacing.

  8. فَمَرَت سراعاً كَالسِهام بِسَهَّم

    كَسُمر القَنا أَحلاف هَمٍّ وَبلبال

    So they sped past like arrows, bearing haggard riders

    like dusky spear-shafts, sworn companions of care and distress.

  9. كَأَنّ لَم يَروا إِلّا الرِحال مواطِناً

    وَلَم يَخلقوا إِلّا لِشَدّ وَتِرحال

    As though they had known no homes but saddles,

    and had been created only for saddling up and departure.

  10. فَلَم أَرَ إِلّا أَشعَث الراس مائِلاً

    وَسَفع أَثاف ما ثلت قَلبيَ الصالي

    I saw only a leaning, shaggy-headed remnant,

    and blackened hearthstones that did not cool my burning heart;

  11. وَنؤياً كَسَتهُ الساقيات عَذافِراً

    كَمحنيّ زِند تَحتَ مَنهَج أَسمال

    and a ditch clothed by watering rains in dense growth,

    like a bent forearm beneath worn-out rags;

  12. وَأَفئِدَة للعاشِقين يَجوها

    تَلوب أَواماً كَالحَوائِمِ ضلال

    and lovers' hearts within its bounds [reading uncertain],

    circling thirstily like wandering birds around water.

  13. إِذا الوَرق غَنَت في الدِيار رايتها

    عَلى نَغَمات الطَير تَرقص كَالآل

    When the gray doves sang among the dwellings, I saw those hearts

    dance to the birds' melodies like shimmering mirages.

  14. كانَ لَم تَكُن مَأوى كِرام أَعِزة

    وَمَثوى وفود في غَدو وَآصال

    As though it had never been a haven for noble, honored men,

    and a lodging for delegations, morning and evening;

  15. وَكُلُ مَعنىً بِالمَكارم وَالعُلى

    مِن المَهد بِذّال الرَغائب مِفضال

    and every man devoted to noble deeds and high honor,

    lavish from the cradle with coveted gifts, bountiful;

  16. كَريم وَقور حازَ كُل فَضيلةٍ

    أَغَرّ السَجايا ماجد العمم وَالخال

    noble and dignified, possessing every virtue,

    radiant in character, illustrious in paternal and maternal kin.

  17. لَهُ شُغل عَن جودِهِ وَسَماحه

    عَن النَفس وَالأَنفاس مِن غَير أَخلال

    His giving and generosity keep him occupied,

    away from self and breath, without any lapse.

  18. حَديث المَعالي وَالمَكارم بَينَهُم

    وَصايا شَيوخ بَل تَمائم أَطفال

    Talk of high deeds and noble acts among them

    is elders' counsel—indeed, children's amulets.

  19. كانَ لَم يَجل فيها عَلى كُل سابق

    وَلَم يَتَلاقى كُل أَروع جَوّال

    As though none had ranged there on any fleet steed,

    nor any splendid, roaming warrior met there;

  20. وَأَغلب ضار لَيسَ غَيرَ مَفاضَةٍ

    لَهُ لبدٌ مِن فَوق أَجرَد ذَيّال

    nor any fierce, thick-necked lion, with only flowing mail

    for a mane, atop a sleek, long-tailed steed.

  21. يَفوت الرِياح النكب وَهُوَ مُقَيد

    وَيَسبُق رَجع الطَرف مِن غَير إِعجال

    It outstrips the veering winds even when fettered,

    and beats the blink of an eye without haste.

  22. أَخف عَلى الغَبرا مِن الظل وَطأَةً

    وَأَوشك مِن كَرّ الهَواجس في البال

    Lighter of tread on the dusty earth than a shadow,

    and quicker than thoughts darting through the mind.

  23. إِذا اِتَقَدَ المازيّ مِن حَرّ عَزمِهم

    وَحَرّ ذَكاءٍ يَومَ كَرّ وَأَهوال

    When polished steel blazes with the heat of their resolve,

    and the sun's heat on a day of charges and terrors,

  24. فَما ثُمَ ظَلٌّ غَير قَسطاط عَثير

    دَعائِمُهُ المرّان وَالأَسَل العالي

    there is no shade but a tent of rising dust,

    its pillars spear-shafts and lofty lances.

  25. مَرابض آساد وَمَجرى سَوابق

    وَمَسرَح آرام وَمَرتَع أَشبال

    Lairs of lions, courses for racing steeds,

    pastures for gazelles, feeding grounds for lion cubs.

  26. كانَ لَم تَكُن يَوماً كناساً وَمَعقلاً

    لِآرام أُنسٍ بَينَ حال وَمِعطال

    As though they had never been a covert and refuge

    for gazelles of humankind, some adorned and some unadorned.

  27. كانَ لَم أَطِع فيها دَواعي صَبابَتي

    وَلَم أَرضَ أَحبابي وَلَم أَعص عُذالي

    As though I had never obeyed there the urgings of my passion,

    nor pleased my loved ones, nor defied my censurers;

  28. كانَ لَم يَطف فيها عَليّ بِكاسِهِ

    أَغرُّ الثَنايا وَاضح الجيد وَالخال

    as though none had circled before me there with his cup—

    one bright-toothed, fair-necked, with a striking beauty mark.

  29. بَلى كَم سَقاني وَالصَباح مَع الدُجى

    كَتَوشيع وَشيٍ في مَدارع ابّال

    Indeed, how often he gave me drink, while dawn and darkness

    were like embroidery interwoven in camel-herders' tunics.

  30. يَشجّ الحَميّا لي بِمَعسول ريقِهِ

    فَتُسكر قَبلي مِن لَماهُ بِسلسال

    He dilutes the strong wine for me with his honeyed saliva,

    so it grows drunk before me on a clear stream from his dusky lips.

  31. بِعَينيهِ لِلرائين تَقطيب فاتك

    وَحيرة مَظلوم وَطَلعة مُغتال

    In his eyes, for onlookers, are a deadly assailant's scowl,

    a wronged man's bewilderment, an ambushed man's expression,

  32. وَرَوعة مَبغةت وَادهاش ساحر

    وَإِيناس نَبّاذٍ وَهَيبَةَ نَبّال

    the alarm of one surprised, the bewildering spell of a magician,

    the geniality of a wine-maker, the awe of an archer,

  33. وَعِفة نَساك وَتَكريه شاطر

    وَتَمويهُ مَنّاع وَأَطماع بِذّال

    the chastity of ascetics, the rebuff of a rogue,

    the deceit of a withholder, the temptations of a lavish giver,

  34. وَنَظرة مُشتاق وَإِغفاء صادف

    وَإِعراض إِهمال وَلَفتة إِقبال

    a lover's gaze, the drowsy lids of one turning away,

    a heedless aversion, a welcoming turn.

  35. يَميت وَيُحيي مَن يَشاءُ بِنَظرة

    وَيُبدي الَّذي تَخفي الضَمائر في الحال

    He kills and revives whomever he wills with a glance,

    and reveals at once what hearts conceal.

  36. وَفي كُل عَضو مِنهُ ساق وَقَرقف

    وَفي كُل عرق فيَّ سورة جريال

    In every limb of him are cupbearer and wine,

    and in my every vein, a surge of crimson wine.

  37. وَهاتنة تُملي حَديث صَبابة

    عَلى غُصنٍ عالٍ مِن الرندميّال

    And a plaintive dove dictating a tale of longing

    on a high, swaying branch of laurel—

  38. فَنبه أَشواقي وَوَجديَ سَجعَها

    وَلم أَكُ ساهٍ عَن هَواهُ وَلا سالي

    her cooing awakened my longings and my passion,

    though I was neither heedless of loving him nor forgetful.

  39. كَأَنّ غَليل الشَوق بَينَ جَوانِحي

    لِسان لَهيب دَبَّ في جسم

    As though the burning thirst of longing within my breast

    were a tongue of flame creeping through a body.

  40. فَواحرَّ أَشواقي وواطول غلَتي

    وَواكَبدي الحَرّا وَواجسميَ البالي

    Ah, how hot my longings! Ah, how long my burning thirst!

    And ah, my burning liver! Ah, my wasted body!

  41. رَمَتني اللَيالي بِالفُراق وَجَذ ذت

    بِسَيف النَوى وَالبين قَلبي وَأَوصالي

    The nights struck me with separation and severed

    my heart and limbs with the sword of distance and parting.

  42. فَإِن تَردني الأَشواق أَقض بِحَسرَتي

    وَيَبقى الهَوى وَالشَوق أَسرَع قتّال

    If longing kills me, I shall die of my grief,

    while love endures—and longing is the swiftest killer.

  43. وَإِن تَبقني الأَشواق لِلحُزن وَالضَنا

    أَعش كاسِفاً بالي بِهَمٍّ وَاوجال

    And if longing leaves me alive for sorrow and wasting,

    I shall live dark of mind, in care and fear.

  44. كَفى حُزناً طول اِغتِراب وَوَحشة

    وَقلَّة أَعوان وَإِخفاق آمال

    Sorrow enough are long exile and loneliness,

    few helpers and hopes brought to nothing.

  45. فَلا بدع إِن قَلَّ اِحتِمالي مُنكَرٌ

    تَغَير حالي بَعدَ خَمسة أَحوال

    No wonder if my endurance wanes—appalling

    is my changed condition after five years:

  46. تَنوع أَطوار وَفَقَد موانس

    وَأَعواز أَوطار وَقلة أَشكال

    changing circumstances and the loss of companions,

    unmet desires and a dearth of kindred spirits,

  47. وَهمّ بِلا حَد وَطَرف بِلا كَرى

    وَقَلبٌ بِلا أُنس وَكَفٌّ بِلا مال

    boundless care, an eye without sleep,

    a heart without solace, a hand without money.

  48. تَنكبك الهَمّ الدَخيل فَإِنَّهُ

    إِلى الحُر أَسى مِن خَيال إِلى خال

    May intrusive sorrow shun you, for it

    reaches a freeborn man faster than a vision reaches a dreamer [reading uncertain].

  49. وَأَضيع مِن أَودى بِهِ الهَم وَالأَسى

    كَريم أَهانَت قَدرُهُ رِقَةَ الحال

    Most forsaken of those whom care and sorrow destroy

    is a noble man whose worth straitened means debase,

  50. وَغَيَّر مِنهُ العَدم غُرَّ خِصالِهِ

    وَكَلفهُ الإِقلال عادة بِخّال

    whose shining qualities poverty has altered,

    and whom want has forced into a miser's ways.

  51. فَإِن تَرِني مِن حلية المال عاطِلاً

    فَإِن بَحَمد اللَهِ مِن عَفَّة حالي

    If you see me bereft of wealth's adornment,

    I am, praise God, adorned with chastity.

  52. وَما فَضل حَرّ ذل في طَلَب الغِنى

    وَرَب الوَرى يَكفيهِ مِن غَير إِشكالِ

    What merit has a freeborn man who abases himself in seeking wealth,

    when the Lord of all creatures provides for him without difficulty?

  53. وَلا كُنت أَن لانَت قَناتي لِغامز

    وَلو قطَّعت نَحري قَوارض أَغلالي

    May I be no more if my spear-shaft yields to one who presses it,

    even if my shackles' gnawing edges cut my throat.

  54. وَإِن كانَ ما زانَ اللِئام مِن الثَرا

    يُعادل عِندي كُلُهُ وَزن مِثقال

    And though the riches that adorn the base

    amount in my eyes, all together, to one mithqal,

  55. فَقُل لِغَبي بِالزَمان وَأَهلِهِ

    يُحاول جَهلاً مِنهُ هَضمي وَإِذلالي

    say to one ignorant of the age and its people,

    who ignorantly attempts to wrong and humiliate me:

  56. يَميناً بِحَول اللَهِ لَيسَ يَنالُهُ

    وَلَو حَزَّ أَوصالي بِأَبيض فِصال

    I swear by God's might, he shall not attain it,

    even if he severs my limbs with a bright, cleaving sword.

  57. الأَمنِ غَيري الخَسف وَاِستَبق وَثبَتي

    فَإِن إِذا ساررَتني غَير نِكال

    [Impose] abasement on another; forestall my pounce [text uncertain].

    For if you assail me, I do not flinch [text uncertain].

  58. فَإِن تَرَ يَوماً لِلخَطوب اِستكانَتي

    ما خالَفت وَاللَهِ قَوليَ أَفعالي

    If one day you see me bow before calamities,

    by God, my deeds have not belied my words.

  59. وَما ذاكَ إِلا لِلقَضاءِ ضَراعة

    وَهَل تَدفَع الأَقدار حيلةَ مُحتالِ

    That is only humble submission to divine decree—

    can a schemer's cunning ever repel fate?

  60. وَمضطغن تَبدو شَرارة حِقدِهِ

    فَيَطفِئُها صَفحي وَحِلمي وَإِمهالي

    Many a grudge-bearer's spark of hatred shows,

    but my pardon, forbearance and patience extinguish it.

  61. انزه طَبعي إِن أَحمِلُهُ القَذا

    وَما خَلقت نَفسي مطيئة ادغال

    I keep my nature too pure to burden it with filth,

    and my soul was not made a mount for hidden malice.

  62. يَجشمني خَوف الهَوان إِذا بَدا

    كَأَنيَ مِنها بَينَ أَشداق رئبال

    Fear of humiliation, whenever it appears, makes me suffer

    as though it had put me between a lion's jaws.

  63. وَدوّيَّة تَشكو الرِياح كِلالها

    إِذا سَلَكتَها وَالقَطا خَوف أَضلال

    And a wilderness whose weariness even the winds lament,

    when you cross it, where sandgrouse fear losing their way—

  64. إِذا ما طَفا فيها حَريق هَجيرها

    تَحصنت الأَرواح في طُرر الضال

    when its noonday conflagration rises,

    the breezes shelter in the fringes of wild lote trees—

  65. أَحر نَسيماً مِن دِيار تَنكرت

    لِحَر رَأى فيها تَحكم أَنذال

    hotter in its breeze than lands that turned hostile

    to a freeborn man who saw base men ruling there,

  66. وَأَعوز مِن كَف البَخيل مَخارِجاً

    وَأَفسح مِن آمال أَخرق بِطال

    more lacking in outlets than a miser's palm,

    yet wider than an idle fool's hopes,

  67. أَحَب إِلى قَلبي مِن الخُلد مَوطِناً

    إِذا حاوَلوا في الخُلد ذلة أَمثالي

    is dearer to my heart as a homeland than Paradise,

    if there they sought to humble men like me.