عُفْرُtawny ones الظَّباءِthe gazelles لدَىbeside الكثيبِthe dune الأَعفَرِtawny
عُفْرُ الظَّباءِ لدَى الكثيبِ الأَعفَرِ
سَفَحَتْshed دموعُكَyour tears يومَon the day of سفحِthe slope of مُحَجَّرِMuhajjar
سَفَحَتْ دموعُكَ يومَ سفحِ مُحَجَّرِ
The tawny gazelles beside the tawny dune
The gazelles graze by the yellow sand dune
made your tears flow that day on Muhajjar's slope.
Your tears streamed down on the day of the rocky slope
أقبلْتَyou came بينamong مُعَرَّضٍone indirectly alluded to بكَin connection with you مُعْرضٍturning away
أقبلْتَ بين مُعَرَّضٍ بكَ مُعْرضٍ
حَذَرَfor fear of الوُشاةِthe slanderers وضاحكٍand one smiling مُستعبِرِtearful
حَذَرَ الوُشاةِ وضاحكٍ مُستعبِرِ
You came among one linked with you by insinuation, turning away
You came while those around you shunned you
for fear of slanderers, and one smiling through tears.
Beware of slanderers and a laughing scorner
يلطِمْنَthey slap بالبَرَدِwith hailstones العقيقَthe agate وإنماbut only
يلطِمْنَ بالبَرَدِ العقيقَ وإنما
يَقتصُّtakes vengeance منon وَرْدِthe roses of الخُدودِthe cheeks الأحمرِred
يَقتصُّ من وَرْدِ الخُدودِ الأحمرِ
They slap the agate with hailstones, which only
They bruise ruby with hail but rather
take vengeance on the red roses of their cheeks.
They exact vengeance from the roses of the red cheeks
وإذاand when الفِراقُparting أساءَacts cruelly فيin أفعالِهِits deeds
وإذا الفِراقُ أساءَ في أفعالِهِ
كانتwas إساءتُهits cruelty بأحسنِin the fairest مَنْظَرِappearance
كانت إساءتُه بأحسنِ مَنْظَرِ
And when parting acts cruelly in its deeds,
And if parting does wrong in its actions
its cruelty appears in the fairest form.
Its wrongdoing was in the finest spectacle
سفَرَتْshe unveiled فشِمْتُso I glimpsed لهاin her بوارِقَlightning-flashes of شيمَةٍa disposition
سفَرَتْ فشِمْتُ لها بوارِقَ شيمَةٍ
وَثِقَtrusted الهَوىlove منهاfrom her بِحَظٍّin a share مُسْفِرِradiant
وَثِقَ الهَوى منها بِحَظٍّ مُسْفِرِ
She unveiled; I glimpsed her nature's lightning-flashes;
She traveled and I smelled her trail of glory
love trusted it would gain from her a radiant share.
And passion was assured of an uncovered share from her
ثمthen اكتسَتْshe donned خَفَرَthe bashfulness of الحَياءmodesty فخبَّرَتْso told
ثم اكتسَتْ خَفَرَ الحَياء فخبَّرَتْ
وَجَناتُهاher cheeks عنof ذِمَّةٍa pledge لمnot تُخْفَرِwas betrayed
وَجَناتُها عن ذِمَّةٍ لم تُخْفَرِ
Then she donned the bashfulness of modesty;
Then she donned the veil of modesty, so it informed me
her cheeks told of a pledge never betrayed.
While her gardens were not liable for disclosure
لاdo not تُنْكريreproach جَزَعَthe anguish of الشَّجيِّthe sorrowful man فإنَّهfor he
لا تُنْكري جَزَعَ الشَّجيِّ فإنَّه
لمnot يأتِcommit يومَon the day of الجِزعِthe valley bend منهُthrough it بمُنكَرِanything blameworthy
لم يأتِ يومَ الجِزعِ منهُ بمُنكَرِ
Do not reproach the sorrowing man for his anguish, for
Do not deny the agony of the ardent lover
he did nothing blameworthy through it that day at the valley bend.
For this day of agony did not come unexpectedly from him
نَفَرَfled الكَرىsleep عنfrom مُقْلَتَيْهِhis two eyes وأحدَقَتْand encircled
نَفَرَ الكَرى عن مُقْلَتَيْهِ وأحدَقَتْ
بفؤادِهِaround his heart حَدَقُthe eyes of الظِّباءِthe gazelles النُّفَّرِskittish
بفؤادِهِ حَدَقُ الظِّباءِ النُّفَّرِ
Sleep fled his eyes, and there gathered
My glances recoiled from his eyelids and clung
around his heart the eyes of skittish gazelles.
To his heart with the staring of frightened gazelles
ولربَّماand how often أغضَتْshe lowered her gaze وفيwhile in أحشائهِhis innermost breast
ولربَّما أغضَتْ وفي أحشائهِ
ماas much as شاءَone could wish منof جَمْرِthe embers of الغَضاghada wood المُتسعِّرِfiercely blazing
ما شاءَ من جَمْرِ الغَضا المُتسعِّرِ
How often she lowered her gaze, while within his breast
And perhaps she frowns while his breast holds
lay untold embers of fiercely blazing ghada wood.
Whatever it wishes of the glowing embers
فعَلىso for اللَّياليthe nights الغُرِّradiant يأسيmy despair أَمor علىfor
فعَلى اللَّيالي الغُرِّ يأسي أَم على
ماwhat فاتَhas passed منof عَيْشٍa life أَغَرَّradiant مُشَهَّرِcelebrated
ما فاتَ من عَيْشٍ أَغَرَّ مُشَهَّرِ
Is my despair, then, for those radiant nights, or for
So over long dark nights, is my despair? Or over
the bright, celebrated life now gone?
What is past of a life sweeter than candied fruit?
لاno بدَّescape منfrom شُعُثٍshaggy mounts تُطالِعُcome in sight of مَوهِناًlate at night
لا بدَّ من شُعُثٍ تُطالِعُ مَوهِناً
أرضَthe land of الشآمِal-Sham بكلِّwith every أشعثَdisheveled rider أَغْبَرِdust-covered
أرضَ الشآمِ بكلِّ أشعثَ أَغْبَرِ
Shaggy mounts must come in sight, late at night,
Ruins must gaze upon our homeland
of the land of al-Sham, bearing disheveled, dusty riders.
Syria, with every disheveled dusty ruin
ماnot كنتُI was آمَنُsafe from فيin المَقامِstaying put منيَّتيmy death
ما كنتُ آمَنُ في المَقامِ منيَّتي
فأخافَهاthat I should fear it بينamong القِلاصِyoung she-camels الضُّمَّرِlean
فأخافَها بين القِلاصِ الضُّمَّرِ
I was never safe from death while staying put,
I did not feel safe staying in my homeland
that I should fear it among lean young she-camels.
So I feared it between close and remote meadows
لَمَّاwhen بدَتْappeared راياتُthe banners of صُبْحٍdawn مُقْبلٍadvancing
لَمَّا بدَتْ راياتُ صُبْحٍ مُقْبلٍ
يَخفُقْنَthey fluttered فيin أعجازِthe rear of ليلٍnight مُدبرِretreating
يَخفُقْنَ في أعجازِ ليلٍ مُدبرِ
When the banners of advancing dawn appeared,
When the flags of a coming dawn fluttered
fluttering at the rear of retreating night,
In the train of a receding night
وتقطَّرَتْand tumbled in showers خَيْلُthe steeds of السَّحابِthe clouds بمنزِلٍat a campsite
وتقطَّرَتْ خَيْلُ السَّحابِ بمنزِلٍ
رَكَضَgalloped الصَّباthe east wind فيهthere فلمbut did not يتقطَّرِfall
رَكَضَ الصَّبا فيه فلم يتقطَّرِ
and the cloud-steeds tumbled in showers at a campsite
And the clouds’ horses dripped in an abode
where the east wind galloped but did not fall,
Where the breeze galloped but did not drip
مِلْناwe turned aside فعفَّرْناso we rubbed in dust الوجوهَthe faces ديانةًin devotion
مِلْنا فعفَّرْنا الوجوهَ ديانةً
فيin التُّربِthe dust بينَamong مُحلِّقٍone with a shaven head ومُقَصِّرِand one with hair cut short
في التُّربِ بينَ مُحلِّقٍ ومُقَصِّرِ
we turned aside and, in devotion, rubbed our faces
We grew weary so we purified our faces
in the dust, some shaven-headed, others with hair cut short;
In the soil, between a diving bird and a shortenning one
متوشِّحينَgirt بكلِّwith every أبيضَbright blade مُرهَفٍkeen-edged
متوشِّحينَ بكلِّ أبيضَ مُرهَفٍ
نِيطَتْwere attached حَمائِلُهُits baldrics بأبيضَto a fair man أزهَرِradiant
نِيطَتْ حَمائِلُهُ بأبيضَ أزهَرِ
girt with bright, keen-edged blades,
Clad in all kinds of white delicate clothes
their baldrics slung on fair and radiant men.
Whose wraps are bound with whiter flowers
نَطويwe enfold علىwithin المَدحِpraise الصُّدورَthe breasts وإنماbut in truth
نَطوي على المَدحِ الصُّدورَ وإنما
تُطْوىare folded علىover أمثالِthe likes of يُمْنَةِstriped cloth عَبْقَرِ'Abqar
تُطْوى على أمثالِ يُمْنَةِ عَبْقَرِ
We enfold praise within our breasts; in truth,
We fold eulogies into our breasts, and yet
they enfold the likes of 'Abqar's striped cloth.
Breasts only fold the likes of the right hand of ‘Abqar
تَلْقَىthey meet الأميرَthe prince إلىfor السَّماحِgenerosity مشوفةًfilled with longing
تَلْقَى الأميرَ إلى السَّماحِ مشوفةً
شوقَthe yearning of الرِّياضِgardens إلىfor السَّحابِthe clouds المُمْطِرِrain-bearing
شوقَ الرِّياضِ إلى السَّحابِ المُمْطِرِ
They meet the prince, longing for generosity,
You find the prince inclined to gentleness, longing
as gardens long for rain-bearing clouds.
For the meadows to the rain-laden clouds
مَلِكٌa king ثَناturned aside الآمالَhopes صفوُthe purity of نوالِهhis bounty
مَلِكٌ ثَنا الآمالَ صفوُ نوالِه
عنfrom كلِّevery مطروقِone sought out for النَّوالِbounty مُكَدَّرِclouded
عن كلِّ مطروقِ النَّوالِ مُكَدَّرِ
A king whose pure bounty turned all hopes
A sovereign whose expectations’ cream is hopes’ harvest
from every sought-out source of clouded gifts.
From every provider of blighted bestowal
يأتيكcomes to you عنthrough فَهْمِunderstanding الثَّناءpraise نوالُهhis bounty
يأتيك عن فَهْمِ الثَّناء نوالُه
عفواًunasked وتلكand that سَجِيَّةُthe nature of المستبصِرِthe discerning man
عفواً وتلك سَجِيَّةُ المستبصِرِ
His bounty comes to you through his understanding of praise,
His bestowal comes to you beyond praise’s comprehension
unasked: such is the discerning man's nature.
Naturally - such is the way of the discerning
كَرَمٌgenerosity تكشَّفَbecame manifest عنrevealing حِلَىthe ornaments of آدابهِhis refinement
كَرَمٌ تكشَّفَ عن حِلَى آدابهِ
كالبحرِlike the sea يكشِفُdraws back غَمْرُهits deep water عنto reveal جَوهَرِgems
كالبحرِ يكشِفُ غَمْرُه عن جَوهَرِ
His generosity unveiled the ornaments of his refinement,
It is generosity whose refined manners are revealed
like the sea, whose deep waters draw back to reveal gems.
As the sea reveals its jewel under the tide
فكأنَّso it is as though أيديthe hands of الشُّكرِgratitude إذwhen عَبَثَتْplayed بهupon him
فكأنَّ أيدي الشُّكرِ إذ عَبَثَتْ به
أيديthe hands of الصَّباthe east wind عَبَثَتْplayed بمِسْكٍwith musk أذفَرِstrong-scented
أيدي الصَّبا عَبَثَتْ بمِسْكٍ أذفَرِ
It was as though the hands of gratitude, when they played upon him,
It is as if the hands of gratitude, as they toyed with it
were the east wind's hands playing with strong-scented musk.
Were the hands of morning breeze toying with ambergris
لمعَتْshone بوارِقُهhis lightning-flashes فكُنَّso they became سَحائباًrainclouds
لمعَتْ بوارِقُه فكُنَّ سَحائباً
فيamong معشرٍone people وصَواعِقاًand thunderbolts فيamong معشَرِanother people
في معشرٍ وصَواعِقاً في معشَرِ
His lightning-flashes shone, becoming rainclouds
Its lightning flashed so it was like clouds
among one people, and thunderbolts among another.
Amongst some, and like thunderbolts amongst others
وغدَتْand began ملوكُthe kings of الأرضِthe earth تخطُبُto seek سِلمَهhis peace
وغدَتْ ملوكُ الأرضِ تخطُبُ سِلمَه
منwhether مُنجدٍone in the highlands نائيfar-off المحلِّin dwelling ومُغوِرِand one in the lowlands
من مُنجدٍ نائي المحلِّ ومُغوِرِ
The kings of the earth began to seek his peace,
The kings of earth come seeking his alliance
whether in far-off highlands or down in the lowlands.
From a far reached, secluded and well-fortified refuge
حلاَّهُمُhe adorned them مِنناًwith favors فحلُّواso they graced باسمِهِwith his name
حلاَّهُمُ مِنناً فحلُّوا باسمِهِ
يومَon the day of العُروبَةِFriday كلَّevery ذُروَةِsummit of مِنْبَرِa pulpit
يومَ العُروبَةِ كلَّ ذُروَةِ مِنْبَرِ
He adorned them with favors; they graced with his name
They departed from us honoured, so they departed in his name
every pulpit's summit on Friday.
On the day of glory, from every platform’s summit
ورأَوهُand they saw him شمساًas a sun فيin غَمامةِa cloud of نائلٍbounty
ورأَوهُ شمساً في غَمامةِ نائلٍ
تَهميpouring down وبدراًand a full moon فيin دُجُنَّةِthe darkness of عِثْيَرِdust
تَهمي وبدراً في دُجُنَّةِ عِثْيَرِ
They saw him as a sun amid a cloud of bounty
And they saw him as a sun in the cloud’s attainment
pouring rain, and a full moon in dust-darkness.
Rising and a full moon in the darkness of clouds
عَمَّhe filled السَّباسِبَthe steppes بالكتائبِwith battalions والقَناand lances
عَمَّ السَّباسِبَ بالكتائبِ والقَنا
ببَنانِهِwith his fingertips فيin كلِّevery قاعٍplain مُقفرِdesolate
ببَنانِهِ في كلِّ قاعٍ مُقفرِ
He filled the steppes with battalions and lances,
The war drums spread amongst the regiments and spears
all at his fingertips, across every desolate plain.
With their melodies in every barren wasteland
وأقامَand he remained يقظانَalert العزيمةِin resolve ساهراًkeeping vigil
وأقامَ يقظانَ العزيمةِ ساهراً
بالثَّغرِat the frontier يكلأُguarding نائماًa sleeper لمnot يَسهَرِkept vigil
بالثَّغرِ يكلأُ نائماً لم يَسهَرِ
He remained wakeful, his resolve alert,
And he kept vigilance and resolve staying up
at the frontier, guarding a sleeper who kept no vigil.
At the border, checking the sleeping who never woke
مُوفٍtowering علىover قِمَمِthe summits of المكارمِnoble deeds مُوقِدٌkindling
مُوفٍ على قِمَمِ المكارمِ مُوقِدٌ
نيرانَهاtheir fires للطارقِfor the night visitor المتحيِّرِbewildered
نيرانَها للطارقِ المتحيِّرِ
Rising above the peaks of noble deeds, he kindles
Loyal on the peaks of glory, igniting
their fires for the bewildered night traveler.
Fires for the confused invader
ماnever شَمَّرَgirded themselves الأعداءُthe enemies إلاbut راعَهمhe terrified them
ما شَمَّرَ الأعداءُ إلا راعَهم
بنُهوضِby the rising of أروعَan awe-inspiring warrior للِّقاءِfor the encounter مُشمِّرِgirded
بنُهوضِ أروعَ للِّقاءِ مُشمِّرِ
Whenever the foes girded themselves, he terrified them
No sooner did the enemies rally their courage
by rising, an awe-inspiring warrior girded for battle.
Than it frightened them, with his finest rising to the fight
سَالواthey poured forth فسالَand poured عليهمُupon them مطرُthe rain of الرَّدَىdeath
سَالوا فسالَ عليهمُ مطرُ الرَّدَى
منfrom كلِّevery أجردَsleek-coated steed سابحٍswimming in its gallop مُتمَطِّرِracing swiftly
من كلِّ أجردَ سابحٍ مُتمَطِّرِ
They poured forth, and death's rain poured upon them
They advanced so down poured the rain of doom
from every sleek steed, swimming along at full gallop.
From every swift swimmer pouring heavy drops
وِدَنَواand they drew near فلمbut did not تَنُبِrecoil القَناthe lances عنfrom جُنَّةٍa shield
وِدَنَوا فلم تَنُبِ القَنا عن جُنَّةٍ
منهمof theirs ولاnor نَبَتِglanced off الظُّباthe sword-edges عنfrom مِغفَرِa helmet
منهم ولا نَبَتِ الظُّبا عن مِغفَرِ
They drew near; the spears recoiled from no shield
And they approached but the spears did not swerve from their wrath
of theirs, nor did the blades glance off any helmet.
Nor the gazelles from pardon or forgiveness
حتىuntil انثنَىhe turned back والخيلُwhile the horses تسحَبُdragged فوقَهمabove them
حتى انثنَى والخيلُ تسحَبُ فوقَهم
بالرَّكْضِas they galloped أرديةَthe cloaks of العَجاجِthe swirling dust الأكدَرِmurky
بالرَّكْضِ أرديةَ العَجاجِ الأكدَرِ
Until he turned back, while the horses dragged above them,
Until they recoiled while the horses dragged above them
as they galloped, cloaks of murky dust.
The gowns of the ugly raven by galloping
لوif أنَّthat مُصْطَلَماًone annihilated بَكَتْهُwept for him رِمَّةٌdecayed remains
لو أنَّ مُصْطَلَماً بَكَتْهُ رِمَّةٌ
لبكَتْهُمwould have wept for them فيin التُّربِthe dust رِمَّةُthe remains of قَيصَرِCaesar
لبكَتْهُم في التُّربِ رِمَّةُ قَيصَرِ
If mortal remains could weep for one annihilated,
If fate made a war prisoner weep
Caesar's remains in the dust would have wept for them.
Fate would make them weep in the soil like Caesar
أَعليُّO Ali لاmay not زالَتْcease عُلاكَyour glories سَوافراًunveiled
أَعليُّ لا زالَتْ عُلاكَ سَوافراً
تختالُstrutting بينَamong مثقَّفٍa straightened lance ومُذَكَّرِand a steel-edged sword
تختالُ بينَ مثقَّفٍ ومُذَكَّرِ
O Ali, may your glories never cease to stand unveiled,
Most high! Your ascension still climbs loftily
strutting among straightened lances and steel blades.
Prancing between the well-versed and the literates
فلقَدfor indeed جريْتَyou raced أمامَahead of تَغلِبَTaghlib سافِراًunveiled
فلقَد جريْتَ أمامَ تَغلِبَ سافِراً
جَرْيَthe running of السِّنانِthe spearhead أمامَbefore لَدْنِthe supple shaft of الأَسَمرِthe brown spear
جَرْيَ السِّنانِ أمامَ لَدْنِ الأَسَمرِ
For you have raced, unveiled, ahead of Taghlib,
So you have raced ahead of Taghlib traveling by night
as the spearhead races before the supple brown shaft.
The race of arrows ahead of smooth Indian steel
شَرَفاًin nobility تَبينُare visible قِبابُهits pavilions مضروبةٌerected
شَرَفاً تَبينُ قِبابُه مضروبةٌ
فيin كلِّevery مبدىًdesert camp للفَخارِfor glory ومَحْضَرِand settled gathering
في كلِّ مبدىً للفَخارِ ومَحْضَرِ
In nobility, whose pavilions can be seen erected
Glory - its domes stand out - is struck
in every desert camp and settled seat of glory;
In every extended desert plain and populated town
ومَكارِماًand noble deeds يسعَىhasten إليهنَّtoward them المُنىhopes
ومَكارِماً يسعَى إليهنَّ المُنى
سعيَthe hastening of الحجيجِpilgrims إلىto الصَّفاal-Safa والمَشْعَرِand al-Mash'ar
سعيَ الحجيجِ إلى الصَّفا والمَشْعَرِ
and in noble deeds toward which hopes hasten,
And chivalry that hopes run towards
as pilgrims hasten to al-Safa and al-Mash'ar;
Like the pilgrims’ Sa’y between Safa and Marwah
موصولةًjoined بشمائلِto the traits of الأدبِrefinement التيwhich
موصولةً بشمائلِ الأدبِ التي
إنif فاخَرَتْthey vie in glory جاءَتْthey bring بأفضلِthe finest مَفْخَرِclaim to pride
إن فاخَرَتْ جاءَتْ بأفضلِ مَفْخَرِ
joined to those traits of refinement which,
Chained to the traits of etiquette that, if vying,
when they vie in glory, bring the finest claim to pride.
Comes with the best pride
إنَّindeed السَّماحَgenerosity مواردٌwatering places مخصوصَةٌdistinguished
إنَّ السَّماحَ مواردٌ مخصوصَةٌ
بالحمدِby praise بينَbetween ورودِهاarrival at them والمَصدَرِand departure
بالحمدِ بينَ ورودِها والمَصدَرِ
Generosity is watering places, singled out
Gentleness holds reserves specified
for praise from arrival at them until departure.
For praise between its roses and springs
وَأَعَلُّهاand the most thirst-quenching of them ماwhat كانَis عذباًsweet سائغاًeasy to drink
وَأَعَلُّها ما كانَ عذباً سائغاً
حُفَّتwere surrounded مناهلُهits watering places بروضٍby meadow أخضَرِgreen
حُفَّت مناهلُه بروضٍ أخضَرِ
The most thirst-quenching is that which is sweet and easy to drink,
The highest spring being pure sweet
its watering places fringed with green meadow.
Whose springs are rimmed with greenery
آليتُI swore لاnot أُهديI offer كرائمَthe choicest of مَنْطِقيmy speech
آليتُ لا أُهدي كرائمَ مَنْطِقي
إلاexcept إلىto المَلِكِthe king الكريمِnoble العُنْصُرِin lineage
إلا إلى المَلِكِ الكريمِ العُنْصُرِ
I have sworn to offer my choicest words
I have resolved to bestow my speech’s virtues
only to the king of noble lineage.
Only to the generous king, the purebred steed
منfrom كلِّevery مُشرقَةِradiant poem النِّظامِin composition تلأْلأَتْsparkled
من كلِّ مُشرقَةِ النِّظامِ تلأْلأَتْ
فحَكَتْso it resembled نِظامَa string of اللُّؤلُؤِpearls المتخَّيرِchoicest
فحَكَتْ نِظامَ اللُّؤلُؤِ المتخَّيرِ
Each radiant, well-ordered poem sparkled
From which all orderly splendor glittered
and resembled a string of choicest pearls.
And patterned the stringing of select pearls
عَبِقَتْit became fragrant وقدand indeed فَصَّلْتُهاI interspersed it بخَلالَهَwith his virtues
عَبِقَتْ وقد فَصَّلْتُها بخَلالَهَ
حتىuntil كأنَّas though فصولَهاits sections منof عَنْبَرِambergris
حتى كأنَّ فصولَها من عَنْبَرِ
It grew fragrant when I interspersed it with his virtues,
It exhaled as I contextualized it
until its passages seemed made of ambergris.
As if its contexts were from amber
ودَعَتْand it called ينابيعَthe springs of النَّدىbounty فتفجَّرَتْso they gushed
ودَعَتْ ينابيعَ النَّدى فتفجَّرَتْ
كَرَماًin generosity علىupon ينبوعِهاits spring المتفجِّرِgushing
كَرَماً على ينبوعِها المتفجِّرِ
It called to the springs of bounty, and they burst forth
It abandoned the springs of dew, so they gushed forth
in generosity upon its own gushing spring.
Generously from its gushing spring
كَثُرِتْwere many محاسِنُهاits beauties وقلَّand were few كلامُهاits words
كَثُرِتْ محاسِنُها وقلَّ كلامُها
فأتتْكَso it came to you تُخْبِرُtelling عنof مُقِلٍّone saying little مُكْثِرِyet expressing much
فأتتْكَ تُخْبِرُ عن مُقِلٍّ مُكْثِرِ
Its beauties were many, its words few,
Its good traits multiplied and its words diminished
so it came to tell you of one who says little yet expresses much.
So it brought you news from a seldom speaker