قد أَظَلَّتْكَ يا أبا إسحاقِ

قد أَظَلَّتْكَ يا أبا إسحاقِ

غارَةُ اللَّفظِ والمعاني الدِّقاقِ

غارَةُ اللَّفظِ والمعاني الدِّقاقِ

Already you are overshadowed, O Abu Ishaq,

O Abu Isaac, the assault of words and subtle meanings has shaded you

by a raid of words and subtle meanings.

And the resolute one with piercing insight has come to you, clinging to straps

وأَتاكَ الهُمامُ ذو النَّظَرِ الشَّزْ

وأَتاكَ الهُمامُ ذو النَّظَرِ الشَّزْ

رِ إليها والصِّلُّ ذو الإطراقِ

رِ إليها والصِّلُّ ذو الإطراقِ

And the valiant one came to you, his gaze sidelong

A drop that if it were to dry up from a perfumed leather waterskin

toward it, and the viper with his downcast eyes.

After it the traditions of discord would be erased

قَطرَةٌ لو تَجِفُّ من قُطرُبيٍّ

قَطرَةٌ لو تَجِفُّ من قُطرُبيٍّ

دَرَسَتْ بعدَها رُسومُ الشَّقاق

دَرَسَتْ بعدَها رُسومُ الشَّقاق

Were a drop from Qutrubi to dry,

So make your poetry a stronghold that protects

the traces of discord would be effaced after it.

Against the assault of the deviant dissenters

فاتَّخِذْ مَعْقِلاً لشِعْرِكَ يَحْمي

فاتَّخِذْ مَعْقِلاً لشِعْرِكَ يَحْمي

ه مُروقَ الخوارجِ المُرَّاقِ

ه مُروقَ الخوارجِ المُرَّاقِ

So take a stronghold for your poetry, to shield

Before the clashing of swords that spills blood

it against the incursions of renegade rebels.

In the purity of its flowing liquid

قبلَ رَقْرَاقَةِ الحديدِ يُريقُ السْ

قبلَ رَقْرَاقَةِ الحديدِ يُريقُ السْ

مَّ في صَفْوِ مائِهِ الرَّقراقِ

مَّ في صَفْوِ مائِهِ الرَّقراقِ

Before the shimmer of iron, he pours

The looting in the barren town became

poison into its clear, shimmering water.

Seated on Iraq’s throne

كان شن الغارات في البلد القفر

كان شن الغارات في البلد القفر

فأضحى على سرير العراق

فأضحى على سرير العراق

He once launched raids in the barren land,

And violation of sanctuaries under the portico

then came to be upon the throne of Iraq.

Of the king while they are on the thrones of the portico

وانتهاك الحريم تحت رواق

وانتهاك الحريم تحت رواق

الملك وهن على ملوك الرواق

الملك وهن على ملوك الرواق

And violating the sanctuary beneath the canopy

I was adorned with wealth of poetry

of kingship brings weakness upon the kings of that canopy.

So I adorned myself with it without guile

كنتُ مِنْ ثَرْوَةِ القَريضِ مُحَلًّى

كنتُ مِنْ ثَرْوَةِ القَريضِ مُحَلًّى

فتحلَّيْتُ منه بالإِملاقِ

فتحلَّيْتُ منه بالإِملاقِ

I once was adorned with poetry's wealth;

O eyes, change your tears for this

then I decked myself in the poverty it brought.

For the loss of a loved one is not like parting

أيُّها الجَفْنُ غَيرَ دَمْعِكَ هذا

أيُّها الجَفْنُ غَيرَ دَمْعِكَ هذا

إنَّ ثُكْلَ الحبيبِ غيرُ الفراقِ

إنَّ ثُكْلَ الحبيبِ غيرُ الفراقِ

O eyelid, change these tears of yours;

The mornings of dogs have destroyed my poetry

bereavement for a beloved is not mere parting.

So it passed - or the evenings of barbers

أَغداةُ الكُلابِ أَوْدَتْ بِشِعْري

أَغداةُ الكُلابِ أَوْدَتْ بِشِعْري

فمَضَى أو عشيَّةُ التَّحلاقِ

فمَضَى أو عشيَّةُ التَّحلاقِ

Was it the morning of al-Kulab that destroyed my poetry,

A raid that was not with the reddish swords

so it passed away—or the evening of al-Tahlaq?

When it was waged, nor the slender polished swords

غارَةٌ لم تَكُنْ بِسُمْرِ العَوالي

غارَةٌ لم تَكُنْ بِسُمْرِ العَوالي

حينَ شُنَّتْ ولا السُّيوفِ الرِّقاقِ

حينَ شُنَّتْ ولا السُّيوفِ الرِّقاقِ

A raid not made with dark-shafted spears

Its horsemen charged me while seated

when launched, nor with slender swords.

Their hips not made lighter by the saddles

جالَ فُرسانُها عَليَّ جُلوساً

جالَ فُرسانُها عَليَّ جُلوساً

لا أَقَلَّتْهُمُ ظُهورُ العِتاقِ

لا أَقَلَّتْهُمُ ظُهورُ العِتاقِ

Its horsemen wheeled against me while seated—

The souls of kings were anguished, O father of commotion

may no thoroughbred backs ever bear them!

Who came to war with the souls of noblemen

فُجعَتْ أنفُسُ الملوكِ أبا الهَيْ

فُجعَتْ أنفُسُ الملوكِ أبا الهَيْ

جاءِ حَرباً بأنفَسِ الأَعْلاقِ

جاءِ حَرباً بأنفَسِ الأَعْلاقِ

Kings' souls were bereaved, O Abu al-Hayja,

With meadows like gardens they walked

robbed of their most precious treasures:

Among their lights the waters of irrigation canals

بِقَوافٍ مثلِ الرِّياضِ تَمَشَّتْ

بِقَوافٍ مثلِ الرِّياضِ تَمَشَّتْ

بينَ أنوارِها مياهُ السَّواقي

بينَ أنوارِها مياهُ السَّواقي

of rhymes like gardens, where wandered

And meanings that you analyzed so they became

among their blossoms the waters of the rills;

For the phrasing like powdered musk

ومَعانٍ فتَّقْتَهُنَّ فأَصبحْ

ومَعانٍ فتَّقْتَهُنَّ فأَصبحْ

نَ لمِسْكِ الكَلامِ مثلَ الفِتاقِ

نَ لمِسْكِ الكَلامِ مثلَ الفِتاقِ

and meanings you opened up, which became

Eloquent without peers, excellent in beauty

a fragrance-enhancing blend for the musk of speech.

Watered by the natural elegance of the composer

بِدَعٌ كالسُّيوفِ أُرْهِفْنَ حُسْناً

بِدَعٌ كالسُّيوفِ أُرْهِفْنَ حُسْناً

وسِقاهُنَّ رَوْنَقَ الطَّبْعِ ساقي

وسِقاهُنَّ رَوْنَقَ الطَّبْعِ ساقي

Marvels like swords, honed into beauty,

Radiant, showing you word and meaning

and a cupbearer gave them talent's luster to drink.

Red cheeks in the whiteness of well-arranged pearls

مُشرِقاتٌ تُريكَ لَفْظاً ومَعْنىً

مُشرِقاتٌ تُريكَ لَفْظاً ومَعْنىً

حُمرةَ الحَلْيِ في بياضِ التَّراقي

حُمرةَ الحَلْيِ في بياضِ التَّراقي

Radiant, they show you, in word and meaning,

O what a raid that causes confusion in the sanctuary

the redness of jewelry against the whiteness of collarbones.

Between the doves and the circular fences

يا لَها غارةً تُفَرِّقُ في الحَو

يا لَها غارةً تُفَرِّقُ في الحَو

مَةِ بين الحَمامِ والأطواقِ

مَةِ بين الحَمامِ والأطواقِ

What a raid! In the thick of battle it parts

That renders the advancing horseman noble

the doves from their neck-rings.

While some of the daring are left disgraced

تَسِمُ الفارِسَ المُقَدَّمَ بالعا

تَسِمُ الفارِسَ المُقَدَّمَ بالعا

رِ وبعضُ الإقدامِ عارٌ باقي

رِ وبعضُ الإقدامِ عارٌ باقي

It brands the foremost horseman with shame,

If you saw poetry thunder because of it

and some acts of daring are an enduring shame.

Between that rumbling and lightning

لو رَأَيْتَ القَريضَ يَرعُدُ منها

لو رَأَيْتَ القَريضَ يَرعُدُ منها

بينَ ذاكَ الإرْعادِ والإبراقِ

بينَ ذاكَ الإرْعادِ والإبراقِ

If you saw poetry trembling before it,

And the hearts of words flutter in fear

amid that thunder and lightning,

Beneath the fluttering banners

وقلوبَ الكلامِ تَخفِقُ رُعْباً

وقلوبَ الكلامِ تَخفِقُ رُعْباً

تَحتَ ثِنْيَيْ لِوائِها الخَفَّاقِ

تَحتَ ثِنْيَيْ لِوائِها الخَفَّاقِ

and the hearts of words pounding in terror

And the swords of misguidance that massacre

beneath the twin folds of its fluttering banner,

The chaste pages and sheets

وسُيوفَ الضَّلالِ تَفتُكُ فيها

وسُيوفَ الضَّلالِ تَفتُكُ فيها

بِعَذارى الطُّروسِ والأوراقِ

بِعَذارى الطُّروسِ والأوراقِ

and the swords of error slaughtering within it

And the tender faces bloodied by the red

the virgins of manuscript sheets and pages,

Lips in the battle of chaste white faces

والوجوهَ الرِّقاقَ داميةَ الأَبْ

والوجوهَ الرِّقاقَ داميةَ الأَبْ

شَارِ في مَعْرَكِ الوُجوهِ الصِّفاقِ

شَارِ في مَعْرَكِ الوُجوهِ الصِّفاقِ

and delicate faces, their skin bloodied,

You would have breathed relief for the red

in the battlefield of thick-skinned faces,

Cheeks from them, and the slender necks

لَتَنَفَّسْتَ رَحْمَةً لِلْخُدُودِ ال

لَتَنَفَّسْتَ رَحْمَةً لِلْخُدُودِ ال

حُمْرِ منهنَّ والقُدودِ الرِّشاقِ

حُمْرِ منهنَّ والقُدودِ الرِّشاقِ

you would sigh in pity for the cheeks—

And the meadows on which the rain of calamities with truthful

the red ones among them—and the slender figures;

Burning and the liar downpour was insistent

والرِّياضَ التي ألحَّ عليها

والرِّياضَ التي ألحَّ عليها

كاذبُ الوَبْلِ صادِقُ الإحْراقِ

كاذبُ الوَبْلِ صادِقُ الإحْراقِ

and the gardens that were relentlessly assailed

And the stars that remain the stars of the

by a false rain-giver, a true scorcher;

Sky, while their envious rivals watch their rising

والنُّجومَ التي تَظَلُّ نجومُ ال

والنُّجومَ التي تَظَلُّ نجومُ ال

جَوِّ حُسَّادَها على الإشراقِ

جَوِّ حُسَّادَها على الإشراقِ

and the stars constantly envied by the stars

After composing odes in the sky of glories

of the sky for their radiance,

And spreading in horizons

بعدَ ما لُحْنَ في سَماءِ المعالي

بعدَ ما لُحْنَ في سَماءِ المعالي

طُلَّعاً وانتَشَرْنَ في الآفاقِ

طُلَّعاً وانتَشَرْنَ في الآفاقِ

after they shone in the sky of high honors,

And selecting their jewelry, no longer

rising, and spreading across the horizons.

The finest of necks and throats

وتَخيَّرْتَ حَلْيَهُنَّ فلم تع

وتَخيَّرْتَ حَلْيَهُنَّ فلم تع

دُ خِيارَ النُّحورِ والأعناقِ

دُ خِيارَ النُّحورِ والأعناقِ

And you selected their jewelry, never passing beyond

And you plucked youth in it until

the choicest throats and necks.

The cold of youth was tempted by morals

وقطَعْتَ الشَّبابَ فيه إلى أن

وقطَعْتَ الشَّبابَ فيه إلى أن

هَمَّ بُرْدُ الشَّبابِ بالإخلاقِ

هَمَّ بُرْدُ الشَّبابِ بالإخلاقِ

And you spent your youth upon it until

So it is like wine in purity

youth's cloak was about to grow threadbare.

Radiance, bouquet and taste

فهيَ مِثلُ المُدامِ بينَ صَفاءٍ

فهيَ مِثلُ المُدامِ بينَ صَفاءٍ

وبهاءٍ ونَفْحَةٍ ومَذاقِ

وبهاءٍ ونَفْحَةٍ ومَذاقِ

So it is like wine, in clarity,

A diction that shames spring when

and splendor, fragrance, and flavor.

The clouds conclude upon it the pact of assembly

مَنْطِقٌ يُخْجِلُ الرَّبيعَ إذا حَلْ

مَنْطِقٌ يُخْجِلُ الرَّبيعَ إذا حَلْ

لَ عليه السَّحابُ عِقْدَ النِّطاقِ

لَ عليه السَّحابُ عِقْدَ النِّطاقِ

Speech that puts spring to shame when

An Arabian whose breaths are the smell of Artemisia and

clouds untie the girdle's knot over it.

Wormwood, and Artemisia flowers and chamomile

عربيٌّ روائحُ الشِّيحِ والقَي

عربيٌّ روائحُ الشِّيحِ والقَي

صومِ منه والشَّثِّ والطُّبَّاقِ

صومِ منه والشَّثِّ والطُّبَّاقِ

Arabic, with the scents of wormwood and yarrow

A questioner from the valleys of Thawr

rising from it, and of shath and tubbaq.

Among its trunks and open spaces

سائلٌ من شِعابِ وَجْرَةَ ثاوٍ

سائلٌ من شِعابِ وَجْرَةَ ثاوٍ

بينَ أجزاعِها وبين البُراقِ

بينَ أجزاعِها وبين البُراقِ

Flowing from the ravines of Wajra, dwelling

So it is whatever you wish of the neighing of steeds

between its valley bends and the stony tracts.

And it is whatever you wish of the moaning of she-camels

فهوَ ما شِئتَ من هَديرِ قُرومٍ

فهوَ ما شِئتَ من هَديرِ قُرومٍ

وهو ما شِئتَ من حَنينِ نِياقِ

وهو ما شِئتَ من حَنينِ نِياقِ

For it has all you wish of mighty camel-stallions' bellowing,

O crescent moon of literature, O son of Hilal

and all you wish of she-camels' yearning cries.

May God protect you from the course of destruction

يا هلالَ الآدابِ يا ابْنَ هلالٍ

يا هلالَ الآدابِ يا ابْنَ هلالٍ

صَرَفَ اللهُ عنكَ صَرْفَ المَحاقِ

صَرَفَ اللهُ عنكَ صَرْفَ المَحاقِ

O crescent moon of letters, O son of Hilal,

You whom the glories are made smooth for

may God avert from you the calamity of the moon's darkening.

While among the companions of difficult paths

أنتَ مَنْ تَسهُلُ المعالي عليه

أنتَ مَنْ تَسهُلُ المعالي عليه

وهي في مَعْشَرٍ صِعابِ المَراقي

وهي في مَعْشَرٍ صِعابِ المَراقي

You are the one for whom high honors come easily,

Merchandise that has no guardian against one who covets it

though for other people they are hard to climb.

A serpent that has no charmer against one who wrangles with it

سِلْعَةٌ ما لِمَنْ يحاولُ حِرْزٌ

سِلْعَةٌ ما لِمَنْ يحاولُ حِرْزٌ

حَيَّةٌ ما لِمَنْ يُساوِرُ راقي

حَيَّةٌ ما لِمَنْ يُساوِرُ راقي

A commodity, with no talisman for one who seeks it;

The sustenance was apportioned in talents among us

a serpent, with no charmer for one who grapples with it.

So we called its apportioner the sustenance-apportioner

قسم الرزق بالمواهب فينا

قسم الرزق بالمواهب فينا

فدعوناه قاسم الأرزاق

فدعوناه قاسم الأرزاق

He apportioned sustenance among us through his gifts,

I will gift you from the servants of glory

so we called him the apportioner of livelihoods.

Maidens who shun the ugliness of immorality

سَوف أُهْدي إليك من خَدَمِ المَجْ

سَوف أُهْدي إليك من خَدَمِ المَجْ

دِ إماءً تَعافُ قُبحَ الإباقِ

دِ إماءً تَعافُ قُبحَ الإباقِ

I shall offer you, from glory's servants,

All imprinted with your name in perishing

slave girls who disdain the shame of running away.

Its mark on their foreheads and hidden places

كلَّ مَطبوعَةٍ على اسِمك بادٍ

كلَّ مَطبوعَةٍ على اسِمك بادٍ

وَسْمُها في الجِباهِ والآماقِ

وَسْمُها في الجِباهِ والآماقِ

Each stamped with your name; plain to see

Truthful in affection, their tongues truthful

is her brand upon foreheads and inner eye-corners.

In praise, fulfilling in friendship

صادِقاتِ الوَدادِ تَصدُقُ فيها

صادِقاتِ الوَدادِ تَصدُقُ فيها

ألسُنُ الحَمْدِ وافياتِ الصِّداقِ

ألسُنُ الحَمْدِ وافياتِ الصِّداقِ

Sincere in affection; truthful about them

I and enemies over time are a draught

are the tongues of praise; their bridal dowers are complete.

We take turns sipping destruction in a large cup

إنني والعِدا على الدَّهْرِ شَرْبٌ

إنني والعِدا على الدَّهْرِ شَرْبٌ

نتَساقَى الرَّدَى بكأسٍ دِهاقِ

نتَساقَى الرَّدَى بكأسٍ دِهاقِ

Indeed, my enemies and I are lifelong drinking companions,

If our blood met in an abode

giving one another death to drink from a brimming cup.

We would part from it after the meeting

لو تَلاقَتْ دِماؤُنا في مَقامٍ

لو تَلاقَتْ دِماؤُنا في مَقامٍ

لَتَفَرَّقْنَ عنه بعدَ التَّلاقي

لَتَفَرَّقْنَ عنه بعدَ التَّلاقي

If our bloods met in a single place,

And they are our old strings that do not

they would part from it after that meeting.

Take our strings out of tunefulness

وهي أوتارُنا القديمةُ لا تُخ

وهي أوتارُنا القديمةُ لا تُخ

رِجُ أوتارَنا من الأَفواقِ

رِجُ أوتارَنا من الأَفواقِ

And these are our old blood-feuds; they do not release

In it is only the striking of lutes

our bowstrings from the arrow-nocks.

And the piercing of throats and cheeks

ليسَ فيها إلا ضِرابُ الهَوادي

ليسَ فيها إلا ضِرابُ الهَوادي

وطِعانُ النُّحورِ والأحداقِ

وطِعانُ النُّحورِ والأحداقِ

There is nothing in them but sword-blows to necks,

Or you see other than what you have seen, for I am

and spear-thrusts at throats and eyes.

One who reconciles from a pretentious deceiver

أو تَرى غيرَ ما رَأيتَ فإني

أو تَرى غيرَ ما رَأيتَ فإني

صافِحٌ عن مُمَوِّهٍ مِخراقِ

صافِحٌ عن مُمَوِّهٍ مِخراقِ

Or if you see otherwise than you saw, I am

He falsified poetry and youth so he became

forgiving toward a deceitful, empty boaster.

Morals of the face darkened

زَوَّرَ الشِّعْرَ والشَّبابَ فأَضْحى

زَوَّرَ الشِّعْرَ والشَّبابَ فأَضْحى

خَلَقَ الوَجْهِ مُظْلِمَ الأَخْلاقِ

خَلَقَ الوَجْهِ مُظْلِمَ الأَخْلاقِ

He counterfeited poetry and youth, becoming

He almost drowned me, and many a drowned one

worn of face and dark of character.

Waded into the depth of drowning

كادَني مُغرِقاً ورُبَّ غريقٍ

كادَني مُغرِقاً ورُبَّ غريقٍ

خاضَ للكَيْدِ لُجَّةَ الإغْراقِ

خاضَ للكَيْدِ لُجَّةَ الإغْراقِ

He schemed against me, bent on drowning me; many a drowning man

And when the enemy unmasks and shows

has plunged, for mischief, into drowning's abyss.

Injustice, or creeps in the darkness of hypocrisy

وإذا كاشفَ العدوُّ فأبَدى ال

وإذا كاشفَ العدوُّ فأبَدى ال

غِمْرَ أو دَبَّ في ظَلامِ النِّفاقِ

غِمْرَ أو دَبَّ في ظَلامِ النِّفاقِ

And when the enemy comes openly, revealing

So I am wrath in the breasts of enemies

his rancor, or creeps in the darkness of hypocrisy,

And my resolute self dwelling in the intestines

فأَنا الغَيْظُ في صُدورِ الأعادي

فأَنا الغَيْظُ في صُدورِ الأعادي

وشَجاها المُقيمُ في الأَحلاقِ

وشَجاها المُقيمُ في الأَحلاقِ

then I am the fury in my enemies' breasts,

and the choking bone lodged in their throats.