ما وَدَّعَ اللَّهوَ لمَّا بانَ مُنصَرِما

ما وَدَّعَ اللَّهوَ لمَّا بانَ مُنصَرِما

حتى تَلفَّتَ في أعقابِه نَدَما

حتى تَلفَّتَ في أعقابِه نَدَما

He did not bid pleasure farewell when its departure became clear,

He had scarcely bidden farewell to pleasure as it departed, spent,

Until he turned back to tend it in regret.

Before he looked back in its wake with regret.

بكى على الجَهْلِ إذ وَلَّى فأعقَبَه

بكى على الجَهْلِ إذ وَلَّى فأعقَبَه

حِلْماً أراهُ الصِّبا لمَّا مضَى حُلُما

حِلْماً أراهُ الصِّبا لمَّا مضَى حُلُما

He wept for folly when it departed, leaving in its wake

He wept for folly when it departed, bequeathing him

A forbearance through which youth, once past, appeared to him a dream.

Wisdom that made youth, once gone, seem a dream to him.

رُدَّا عليه رِداءَ اللَّومِ فيه وإنْ

رُدَّا عليه رِداءَ اللَّومِ فيه وإنْ

رَدَّ الحنينَ أنيناً والدموعَ دَما

رَدَّ الحنينَ أنيناً والدموعَ دَما

He cast back upon it the mantle of blame, although

You two, wrap him again in the cloak of blame for it, even if

Longing returned as moaning, and tears as blood.

He turns longing into moaning and tears into blood.

صبابةٌ تَلبَسُ الكِتمانُ كامنةً

صبابةٌ تَلبَسُ الكِتمانُ كامنةً

بين الضُّلوعِ وشَيبٌ يَلبَسُ الكَتَما

بين الضُّلوعِ وشَيبٌ يَلبَسُ الكَتَما

A passion clothed in secrecy lies hidden

A longing wears concealment, lying hidden

Between the ribs, while gray hair dons black katam dye.

Between the ribs, while gray hair wears katam dye.

لا أظِلمُ الحُبَّ في رَيَّا وإنْ ظَلمتْ

لا أظِلمُ الحُبَّ في رَيَّا وإنْ ظَلمتْ

ولا أُكَفكِفُ فيه الدَّمعَ ما انسجَما

ولا أُكَفكِفُ فيه الدَّمعَ ما انسجَما

I will not wrong love in Raya, though she wronged me,

I do not wrong love for Rayya, even if she is unjust,

Nor will I check my tears for her while they stream.

Nor do I hold back tears for it as long as they flow.

هي القَضيبُ ثَنى أعطافَه هَيَفٌ

هي القَضيبُ ثَنى أعطافَه هَيَفٌ

فكادَ يَنثُرُ منه الوردَ والعَنَما

فكادَ يَنثُرُ منه الوردَ والعَنَما

She is the supple bough whose slender form has bent,

She is the bough whose curves slenderness has bent,

Until it nearly scatters roses and red berries from her.

So it almost scatters roses and red ‘anam shoots from itself.

مظلومَةُ الحُسنِ إن شبَّهتُ طَلْعَتَها

مظلومَةُ الحُسنِ إن شبَّهتُ طَلْعَتَها

صُبحاً يسالمُ في إشراقِه الظُّلَما

صُبحاً يسالمُ في إشراقِه الظُّلَما

Her beauty is wronged if I liken her countenance

Her beauty is wronged if I liken her face

To a dawn whose radiance befriends the dark.

To a dawn whose radiance makes peace with darkness.

جُهْدُ المَتَّيمِ أن يَرعى العهودَ لها

جُهْدُ المَتَّيمِ أن يَرعى العهودَ لها

حِفْظاً ويَحْمِلَ عن أجفانِها السَّقَما

حِفْظاً ويَحْمِلَ عن أجفانِها السَّقَما

The utmost a lover can do is keep his covenants with her,

The love-stricken man's utmost effort is to keep his pledges to her

Guarding them, and bear sickness on behalf of her eyelids.

Faithfully, and take her eyelids' sickness upon himself.

إن يَظْمَ مِنْها إلى طيبِ العِناقِ فكَم

إن يَظْمَ مِنْها إلى طيبِ العِناقِ فكَم

رَوَّتْ جوانِحَه ضَمّاً ومُلتَثَما

رَوَّتْ جوانِحَه ضَمّاً ومُلتَثَما

If he thirsts for the sweetness of her embrace, how often

If he thirsts for the sweetness of embracing her, how often

She has quenched his breast with clasping and kisses.

She has quenched his heart with embraces and lips to kiss!

وصاحبٍ لا أمَلُّ الدَّهْرِ صُحبَتَه

وصاحبٍ لا أمَلُّ الدَّهْرِ صُحبَتَه

يُعَبِّسُ الموتُ فيه كلَّما ابتسَما

يُعَبِّسُ الموتُ فيه كلَّما ابتسَما

And a companion whose company, lifelong, I never weary of—

And a companion whose company I never tire of:

Death frowns within him whenever he smiles.

Death scowls within him whenever he smiles.

تُنبي الطَّلاقَةُ في مَتْنَيْهِ ظاهِرَةً

تُنبي الطَّلاقَةُ في مَتْنَيْهِ ظاهِرَةً

عَنِ القُطوبِ الذي ما زالَ مُكتَتَما

عَنِ القُطوبِ الذي ما زالَ مُكتَتَما

Cheerfulness shows plainly along his two faces,

The cheerfulness plainly showing on his two sides tells

Revealing the frown that had so long remained concealed.

Of the scowl that has always lain concealed.

إذا اعتَصَمْتُ به في يَومِ مَلحمَةٍ

إذا اعتَصَمْتُ به في يَومِ مَلحمَةٍ

حسبتُني بِسَليلِ الأَزْدِ مُعْتَصِما

حسبتُني بِسَليلِ الأَزْدِ مُعْتَصِما

When I take refuge in him on a day of battle,

When I seek refuge in him on a day of battle,

I think myself sheltered by a scion of Azd.

I think myself sheltered by the scion of Azd.

وعارضً ما حَداه البَرقُ مُبْتَسِماً

وعارضً ما حَداه البَرقُ مُبْتَسِماً

إلاّ أرَانا ابنَ إبراهيمَ مُبتَسما

إلاّ أرَانا ابنَ إبراهيمَ مُبتَسما

And many a rain cloud, driven smiling by the lightning,

And a raincloud—never does smiling lightning urge it onward

Has only shown us Ibn Ibrahim smiling.

But it shows us the son of Ibrahim smiling.

يبكي فينثُرُ من أجفانِ مُقْلَتِهِ

يبكي فينثُرُ من أجفانِ مُقْلَتِهِ

دُرّاً غَدا في جُفونِ النَّورِ مُنْتَظِما

دُرّاً غَدا في جُفونِ النَّورِ مُنْتَظِما

It weeps, scattering from the lids of its eyes

It weeps, scattering from the eyelids of its eye

Pearls arrayed within the calyxes of flowers.

Pearls that have come to lie strung in the eyelids of blossoms.

كأنَّما الرَّوْضُ لمّا شامَ بارِقَه

كأنَّما الرَّوْضُ لمّا شامَ بارِقَه

أفادَ أخلاقَ عبدِ اللهِ والشِّيَما

أفادَ أخلاقَ عبدِ اللهِ والشِّيَما

It is as though the garden, when it glimpsed his lightning flash,

As though the meadow, when it glimpsed its lightning,

Acquired Abd Allah's character and virtues.

Had acquired Abdallah's character and virtues.

أَغَرُّ يَغمُرُ شُكْري فَيْضَ أَنْعُمِه

أَغَرُّ يَغمُرُ شُكْري فَيْضَ أَنْعُمِه

فكلَّما ازدَدْتُ شُكْراً زادَني نِعَما

فكلَّما ازدَدْتُ شُكْراً زادَني نِعَما

A radiant nobleman whose flood of favors overwhelms my thanks:

Radiant is he: the flood of his favors overwhelms my thanks,

Whenever I increase my gratitude, he increases my blessings.

And whenever I give more thanks, he grants me more favors.

دَعا الخطوبَ إلى سِلمي وحرَّمَني

دَعا الخطوبَ إلى سِلمي وحرَّمَني

على النوائبِ لمّا راحَ لي حَرَما

على النوائبِ لمّا راحَ لي حَرَما

He summoned calamities to make peace with me, and made me

He summoned afflictions to peace with me and made me untouchable

Inviolable to adversities, having become a sanctuary for me.

To calamities, when he became a sanctuary for me.

مُمهِّدٌ لي في أكنافِه أبداً

مُمهِّدٌ لي في أكنافِه أبداً

ظِلاً عَدِمْتُ لديه الخوفَ والعَدَما

ظِلاً عَدِمْتُ لديه الخوفَ والعَدَما

One who forever weaves throughout his shelter

He ever spreads for me within his shelter

A shade beneath which I know neither fear nor want;

A shade where I know neither fear nor want.

وتارِكٌ ماءَ وَجْهي في قَرارَتِه

وتارِكٌ ماءَ وَجْهي في قَرارَتِه

بماءٍ كَفَّيْهِ لمّا فاضَ مُنْسَجِما

بماءٍ كَفَّيْهِ لمّا فاضَ مُنْسَجِما

And one who preserves my face-water—my honor—in its depths

And keeps the water of my face undisturbed in its resting place,

With the water of his two hands whenever it pours in a stream.

With the water of his two palms, when it overflows in streams.

رَضِيتُ حُكْمَ زَمانٍ كان يُسخِطُني

رَضِيتُ حُكْمَ زَمانٍ كان يُسخِطُني

مُذْ صارَ جَدواه فيا بيننا حَكَما

مُذْ صارَ جَدواه فيا بيننا حَكَما

I accepted the judgment of a Time that once angered me,

I am content with the judgment of a time that used to vex me,

Since his bounty became the judge between us.

Since his bounty became an arbiter between us.

وإن غدوتُ زُهَيراً في مدائِحِه

وإن غدوتُ زُهَيراً في مدائِحِه

فقَد غدا بتوالي جُودِه هَرِما

فقَد غدا بتوالي جُودِه هَرِما

And if I have become a Zuhayr in praising him,

And if I have become Zuhayr in praising him,

Through his successive gifts he has become a Harim.

He has become Harim through his unceasing bounty.

هُوَ الغَمامُ الذي ما فاضَ مُحتَفِلاً

هُوَ الغَمامُ الذي ما فاضَ مُحتَفِلاً

إلا أصابَ نَداه العُربَ والعَجَمَا

إلا أصابَ نَداه العُربَ والعَجَمَا

He is the rain cloud: whenever it pours in abundant flood,

He is the cloud that never pours in full abundance

Its largesse reaches Arabs and non-Arabs alike.

Without its dew reaching Arabs and non-Arabs.

يا ابنَ الذَّوائبِ دُمْ في مُنتَهى شَرَفٍ

يا ابنَ الذَّوائبِ دُمْ في مُنتَهى شَرَفٍ

شابَتْ ذَوائِبُه والدَّهْرُ ما احتلَما

شابَتْ ذَوائِبُه والدَّهْرُ ما احتلَما

O son of men with noble forelocks, abide at honor's utmost summit—

O son of noble forelocks, remain at honor's highest summit,

Its forelocks have turned white, while Time has not yet reached maturity.

Whose forelocks turned gray before Time reached manhood.

فكم يَدٍ لكَ لم تُخلِقْ صَنائِعُها

فكم يَدٍ لكَ لم تُخلِقْ صَنائِعُها

عندَ العُفاةِ وأخرى جَدَّدَتْ نِعَما

عندَ العُفاةِ وأخرى جَدَّدَتْ نِعَما

How many a favor of yours has never worn out

How many a hand of yours has favors that never grow old

Among petitioners, and how many another has renewed their blessings.

Among seekers of bounty, while another has renewed blessings!

ومَشهَدٍ ما جَرى ماءُ الحديدِ به

ومَشهَدٍ ما جَرى ماءُ الحديدِ به

إلاّ غَدَا البَرُّ بَحراً ثَمَّ مُلتَطِما

إلاّ غَدَا البَرُّ بَحراً ثَمَّ مُلتَطِما

And how many a battlefield where the water of steel ran,

And many a battlefield where the water of steel never flowed

Until the land became a surging sea.

But the land became a surging sea there.

ضاقَتْ جوانبُه بالبِيضِ فازدَحَمَتْ

ضاقَتْ جوانبُه بالبِيضِ فازدَحَمَتْ

كالماءِ ضاقَ به اليَنبوعُ فازدَحَما

كالماءِ ضاقَ به اليَنبوعُ فازدَحَما

Its confines narrowed beneath the press of white blades,

Its bounds grew cramped with white blades, so they crowded together,

As water crowds when its spring is too narrow.

Like water crowding together when its spring grows too narrow for it.

أضرَمْتَ نارَ المَنايا في النُّفوسِ بِه

أضرَمْتَ نارَ المَنايا في النُّفوسِ بِه

ضَرماً وأَخْمَدْتَ من نيرانِهِ ضَرَما

ضَرماً وأَخْمَدْتَ من نيرانِهِ ضَرَما

There you kindled the fire of death within men's souls,

There you kindled the fire of death within souls,

Blazing fiercely, and quenched the blaze of its fires.

Fiercely, and quenched a blaze among its fires.

أما الصِّيامُ فقد لَبَّيْتَ داعِيَه

أما الصِّيامُ فقد لَبَّيْتَ داعِيَه

إلى العَفافِ ولم تُظْهِرْ له صَمَما

إلى العَفافِ ولم تُظْهِرْ له صَمَما

As for fasting, you answered its summons

As for fasting, you have answered its summons

To chastity, and did not pretend deafness to it.

To self-restraint, and shown no deafness to it.

تركْتَ فيه سماءَ الجُودِ هاطِلةً

تركْتَ فيه سماءَ الجُودِ هاطِلةً

فإنْ مَضَتْ دِيَمٌ أَتبَعْتَها دِيَما

فإنْ مَضَتْ دِيَمٌ أَتبَعْتَها دِيَما

Yet throughout it you left generosity's sky pouring rain;

During it, you left the sky of generosity pouring;

Whenever one steady shower passed, you followed it with another.

So if steady rains passed, you followed them with steady rains.

أناملٌ ما هَجَرْتَ الكأسَ دائرةً

أناملٌ ما هَجَرْتَ الكأسَ دائرةً

إلا وَصَلْنَ النَّدى والسَّيفَ والقَلَما

إلا وَصَلْنَ النَّدى والسَّيفَ والقَلَما

Fingers that never let the circulating cup go

Your fingers—whenever you forsook the cup as it passed round—

But to take up bounty, the sword, and the pen.

Joined bounty, the sword, and the pen.

فاسلَمْ لرَعْيِ زِمامِ المَجدِ مُجتنِباً

فاسلَمْ لرَعْيِ زِمامِ المَجدِ مُجتنِباً

مَنْ ليسَ يَرعَى له إلاّ ولا ذِمَما

مَنْ ليسَ يَرعَى له إلاّ ولا ذِمَما

Remain safe, holding glory's reins and shunning

So remain safe to tend the reins of glory, shunning

Whoever respects neither bond nor covenant.

Whoever respects neither its bonds nor its covenants.

واسعَدْ بقادِمَةٍ كالحَلْيِ حامِلَةٍ

واسعَدْ بقادِمَةٍ كالحَلْيِ حامِلَةٍ

شُكْراً تُهنِّيكَ بالعيدِ الذي قَدِما

شُكْراً تُهنِّيكَ بالعيدِ الذي قَدِما

Rejoice in an arrival, ornament-like, that bears

And rejoice in an arriving ode, like jewelry, bearing

Thanks congratulating you on the Eid now come—

Thanks, congratulating you on the Eid that has arrived.

مُقلَّدٌ بِزمامِ القَولِ قائِلُها

مُقلَّدٌ بِزمامِ القَولِ قائِلُها

فما تَكلَّمَ إلا دَبَّجَ الكَلِما

فما تَكلَّمَ إلا دَبَّجَ الكَلِما

Its speaker entrusted with the reins of speech:

Its speaker is entrusted with the reins of speech;

Whenever he spoke, he brocaded words.

So he never speaks without embroidering words.