لا تَلُومَاهُ في الهَوَى أو لُومَا

لا تَلُومَاهُ في الهَوَى أو لُومَا

تُلفِيَا قَلبَ مُغرَمٍ مَكلُومَا

تُلفِيَا قَلبَ مُغرَمٍ مَكلُومَا

Do not blame him for love—or blame him:

Do not blame him for passion, or blame

you will find a lovesick man's heart wounded.

One whose heart is infatuated and wretched.

لَعِبَت بِإرعِوَائِهِ ذكَرَاتٌ

لَعِبَت بِإرعِوَائِهِ ذكَرَاتٌ

مَلاَتهُ زَوَافِراً وهُمُومَا

مَلاَتهُ زَوَافِراً وهُمُومَا

Memories have played havoc with his restraint,

Memories played with his mind,

filling him with sighs and sorrow.

Filling it with delusions and worries.

تَظُنَّا المَلاَمَ لِلصَّبِّ إِيَلاَ

تَظُنَّا المَلاَمَ لِلصَّبِّ إِيَلاَ

ما فَيسُلُو المُحِبُّ إِن هُو لِيمَا

ما فَيسُلُو المُحِبُّ إِن هُو لِيمَا

You two suppose reproach brings the lovesick pain,

You think blame is for the youth—how can

so the lover will forget his love if he is blamed.

A lover avoid it if he is infatuated?

ألَمُ اللَّومِ لاَ يؤَثِّرُ إِن صَا

ألَمُ اللَّومِ لاَ يؤَثِّرُ إِن صَا

دَفَ في القَلبِ لَوعَةً وكُلُومَا

دَفَ في القَلبِ لَوعَةً وكُلُومَا

The pain of reproach has no effect if it encounters

The pain of blame does not affect one whose

burning anguish and wounds within the heart.

Heart is seized by anguish and sorrows.

دأبُ ذِى الحبِّ أن يُلاَمَ ومَن لَم

دأبُ ذِى الحبِّ أن يُلاَمَ ومَن لَم

يَذُقِ الحُبِّ دَأبُهُ أَن يَلُومَا

يَذُقِ الحُبِّ دَأبُهُ أَن يَلُومَا

The lover's lot is to be blamed; whoever has never

It is the habit of a lover to be blamed, and one who

tasted love makes a habit of blaming.

Has not tasted love, his habit is to blame.

كلَّمَا ظَنَّ ذَاكَ هَذَا مُلِيماً

كلَّمَا ظَنَّ ذَاكَ هَذَا مُلِيماً

ظَنَّ هَذَا المَلِيمُ ذَاكَ المَلِيمَا

ظَنَّ هَذَا المَلِيمُ ذَاكَ المَلِيمَا

Whenever that man thinks this one blameworthy,

Whenever one thought the other too harsh,

this blameworthy man thinks that one blameworthy.

The other thought that harsh one to be harsher.

الشَّجِىُّ السبي مِثلَ خَلىٍّ

الشَّجِىُّ السبي مِثلَ خَلىٍّ

مُرعَوٍ قَد صَحَا وآضَ حَلِيمَا

مُرعَوٍ قَد صَحَا وآضَ حَلِيمَا

Is the grief-stricken captive like one free of love,

The love of the young is like a pasture

restrained, recovered, and become forbearing?

Full of vegetation that is now empty.

إِنَّ لِلعِشقِ والمَلاَمِ أذَاةً

إِنَّ لِلعِشقِ والمَلاَمِ أذَاةً

وعَذَاباً إِذَا ألَمَّ ألِيمَا

وعَذَاباً إِذَا ألَمَّ ألِيمَا

Passion and reproach bring hurt,

Love and blame both have a sting

and torment, painful when it strikes.

And torment when intensely painful.

فَاثنِيَا واكفُفَا المَلاَمَةَ عني

فَاثنِيَا واكفُفَا المَلاَمَةَ عني

واعذُرَا في الصِّبَا ولُومَا المَلُومَا

واعذُرَا في الصِّبَا ولُومَا المَلُومَا

So turn away and withhold your reproach from me;

So refrain and stop blaming me,

excuse my youthful passion, and blame the blameworthy.

And excuse my passion and blame the blamed one.

وَابكِيَا الأَربُعَ الدَّوَارِسَ والأطلاَلَ

وَابكِيَا الأَربُعَ الدَّوَارِسَ والأطلاَلَ

والحِقفَ والرُّبَا والرَّسُومَا

والحِقفَ والرُّبَا والرَّسُومَا

And weep for the effaced dwellings and ruins,

And cry over the four ruins and remnants,

the curved dune, the hills, and the traces.

The enclosure, the well, and the vestiges.

واندُبَا المَعهَدَ المُحجِيلَ وسُحَّا

واندُبَا المَعهَدَ المُحجِيلَ وسُحَّا

في رَجَا عَرَصَتَيهِ دَمعاً جَمُومَا

في رَجَا عَرَصَتَيهِ دَمعاً جَمُومَا

And lament the desolate dwelling, and pour

And mourn the abandoned campsite that rains

copious tears along the edge of its two courtyards.

Poured down their necks a relentless downpour.

وَاسأَلاَ النُّؤءىَ والأوَارِىَ والسُّفعَ

وَاسأَلاَ النُّؤءىَ والأوَارِىَ والسُّفعَ

ثَلاَثاً بجَنبِ هَابٍ جُثُومَا

ثَلاَثاً بجَنبِ هَابٍ جُثُومَا

And question the encircling trench, the tethering stakes, and the darkened

And ask the camel saddle, the hilltops, and the cliffs—

three hearthstones, crouching beside Hab.

Three next to a dumbfounded old man.

واذكُرَا أزمُنَ الصِّبا إِذ جَنينَا

واذكُرَا أزمُنَ الصِّبا إِذ جَنينَا

هُ سُرُوراً ونَضرَةً ونَعِيمَا

هُ سُرُوراً ونَضرَةً ونَعِيمَا

And remember the days of youth, when we reaped

And remember the days of my youth when I gained

joy, freshness, and bliss from it.

Bliss, vitality, and luxury.

حِينَ لاَنَختَئِى الصُّدُودَ ولاَ الصَّرَّ

حِينَ لاَنَختَئِى الصُّدُودَ ولاَ الصَّرَّ

مَ ولاَ الكَاشِحَ الرَّقِيبَ النُّمُومَا

مَ ولاَ الكَاشِحَ الرَّقِيبَ النُّمُومَا

When we feared neither rejection nor severance,

When I did not fear opponents or critics

nor the spiteful, watchful talebearer.

Or a vigilant chaperone full of worries.

أذكَرَتني الربابُ يَومَ تَبَدَّت

أذكَرَتني الربابُ يَومَ تَبَدَّت

بَينَ جَارَاتِهَا الهِلاَلَ التَّمِيمَا

بَينَ جَارَاتِهَا الهِلاَلَ التَّمِيمَا

Al-Rabab, on the day she appeared, reminded me,

The guitar reminded me of the day

amid her neighbors, of the perfect crescent moon,

The crescent appeared among its neighbors.

وائتِلاَقَ البُرُوقِ لَيلاً ولَيلَ العَاشِقِ

وائتِلاَقَ البُرُوقِ لَيلاً ولَيلَ العَاشِقِ

الدَّاجِى الطَّوِيلِ البَهِيمَا

الدَّاجِى الطَّوِيلِ البَهِيمَا

and lightning's gleam by night, and the lover's night,

And lightning flashed at night, and the night of a lover

dark, long, and utterly black;

Lengthened, staying awake and raving.

وَنَسِيمَ الرِّيَاضِ والعَنبَرَ الهِندِىَّ

وَنَسِيمَ الرِّيَاضِ والعَنبَرَ الهِندِىَّ

والمِسكَ والكِبَاءَ القَضِيمَا

والمِسكَ والكِبَاءَ القَضِيمَا

and garden breezes, and Indian ambergris,

And the scent of flowers, Indian ambergris,

and musk, and crumbled incense;

Musk and aromatic twisted wood.

والجَدِيلَ اللَّطِيفَ والمُكرَع الأنبُوبَ

والجَدِيلَ اللَّطِيفَ والمُكرَع الأنبُوبَ

والرُّمحَ والحِجلَّ الفَصِيمَا

والرُّمحَ والحِجلَّ الفَصِيمَا

and the delicate plait, and the watered reed-stem,

And fine palm trees and hollow reeds

and the spear, and the cracked anklet;

And a spear and polished sword.

والمَهاةَ الخَذُولَ أُمَّ الطَّلاَ والر

والمَهاةَ الخَذُولَ أُمَّ الطَّلاَ والر

رَشَأَ الشَّادِنَ الأَغنَّ الرَّخِيمَا

رَشَأَ الشَّادِنَ الأَغنَّ الرَّخِيمَا

and the oryx-doe apart from her herd, mother of a calf, and

And a she-camel, mother of rising dunes, crooning

the grown young gazelle, nasal-voiced and sweet;

With a long neck and a trailing mount.

والشِّهَارَ الشَّجِيجَ بالشِّبِمِ الصَّا

والشِّهَارَ الشَّجِيجَ بالشِّبِمِ الصَّا

في ودَنًّا مُعَتَّقاً خَرطُومَا

في ودَنًّا مُعَتَّقاً خَرطُومَا

and white milk mixed with cold,

And a stallion neighing with energy

clear water, and a jar of aged, choice wine;

In a cultivated meadow with a snout.

وَبَنَاتِ النَّقَى ودِعصَ النَّقَى والفَنَنَ

وَبَنَاتِ النَّقَى ودِعصَ النَّقَى والفَنَنَ

الغَضَّ والصَّبَا والنَّسِيمَا

الغَضَّ والصَّبَا والنَّسِيمَا

and the daughters of the dunes, a sandy mound, and a branch,

And the pure maidens, chaste ladies and beauties—

tender, and the east wind, and the breeze.

The blossoms, Zephyr breeze and breeze.

كيفَ أسلُو الرَّبَابَ والقَلبُ مني

كيفَ أسلُو الرَّبَابَ والقَلبُ مني

آلَ مِن حُبِّهَا جَرِيحاً كَلِيمَا

آلَ مِن حُبِّهَا جَرِيحاً كَلِيمَا

How can I forget al-Rabab, when my heart

How can I entertain the guitar when my heart

has become injured and wounded through love for her?

Has been wounded by its love intensely?

حَسَبتني صَرَمتُهَا وَتَناءَيتُ

حَسَبتني صَرَمتُهَا وَتَناءَيتُ

ومَا كُنتُ لِلحَبِيبِ صُرُومَا

ومَا كُنتُ لِلحَبِيبِ صُرُومَا

She thought I had abandoned her and drawn away,

You thought I became cold to it while

yet I have never been one to forsake a beloved.

I was not harsh at all to my beloved.

إنَّمَا أُصرِمُ المُصَرِّمَ حَبلِى

إنَّمَا أُصرِمُ المُصَرِّمَ حَبلِى

وأُصلِّيهِ بالصُّدُودِ جَحِيمَا

وأُصلِّيهِ بالصُّدُودِ جَحِيمَا

I only cut off whoever cuts my bond,

I only shun the one who shuns me

and make him burn in rejection's hellfire.

And toast him with ferocious fires.

نَبَّأتني عِصَابَةٌ قَد أتَتني

نَبَّأتني عِصَابَةٌ قَد أتَتني

نَبَاً سَرني وسَرَّ الحَمِيمَا

نَبَاً سَرني وسَرَّ الحَمِيمَا

A group that came to me brought me

A group informed me of news

news that pleased me and my dear friend:

That delighted me and my confidant—

أنَّ شَرَّ الأنَامِ نَفساً وأصلاً

أنَّ شَرَّ الأنَامِ نَفساً وأصلاً

وفِعَالاَ ومُستَمَداً وخِيمَا

وفِعَالاَ ومُستَمَداً وخِيمَا

that the worst of humankind in soul and lineage,

That the worst of mankind in self and origin

and deeds, support, and disposition,

And deeds, beliefs, and morals,

وَحَيَاةً وَبرزَخاً ومَمَاتاً

وَحَيَاةً وَبرزَخاً ومَمَاتاً

وإِفَالاً وجِلَّةً وقُرُومَا

وإِفَالاً وجِلَّةً وقُرُومَا

in life, in the intermediate state, and in death,

And life, grave, and death,

and in young camels, aged camels, and breeding stallions;

And consequences, groups, and customs,

وَمَقَاماً ومظعَنا وحُلُولاً

وَمَقَاماً ومظعَنا وحُلُولاً

وصُدُوداً وألفَةً ونَدِيمَا

وصُدُوداً وألفَةً ونَدِيمَا

in staying, traveling, and settling,

And places of stay, goals, and moves,

in aversion, affection, and boon companionship;

And opponents, friends, and companions,

وُسكُوتاً وفِكرَةً وخِطَاباً

وُسكُوتاً وفِكرَةً وخِطَاباً

وَمَرَاماً وَرَائِماً ومَرُوماً

وَمَرَاماً وَرَائِماً ومَرُوماً

in silence, thought, and speech,

And silence, reflection, and speech,

in aims, in seeking, and in being sought—

And desires, principles, and deprived ones,

رَامني بالهِجَا ولَو عَلِمَ ال

رَامني بالهِجَا ولَو عَلِمَ ال

غَيب أبَى حِينَ رُمتُهُ أن يَرُومَا

غَيب أبَى حِينَ رُمتُهُ أن يَرُومَا

has assailed me with satire; had he known the

Wanted to defame me, and had he known

unseen, he would have refused to attack when I targeted him.

The unseen, he would have refused to defame me.

يَا مُرِيدَ المُريدَ سَوفَ تَرَقَّى

يَا مُرِيدَ المُريدَ سَوفَ تَرَقَّى

فَتُرَى زَائِغاُ مرِيداً رَجِيمَا

فَتُرَى زَائِغاُ مرِيداً رَجِيمَا

O seeker of the seeker, you shall rise,

O you who claim to follow my path, you will soon

and be seen astray, rebellious, and accursed.

Be seen deviant and banished.

عِبتَ قَولِىَ لِوَالِدَىَّ فَهَلاَّ

عِبتَ قَولِىَ لِوَالِدَىَّ فَهَلاَّ

قُلتَ لِلَوَالِدَينِ قَولاً كَرِيمَا

قُلتَ لِلَوَالِدَينِ قَولاً كَرِيمَا

You faulted my words to my parents; why did you not

You insulted my words to my father—why did you not

speak graciously to your own parents?

Say to both parents words generous?

أُمَّ يَوماً وِصَالِ أُمٍّ رَأت فِي

أُمَّ يَوماً وِصَالِ أُمٍّ رَأت فِي

كَ نِفَاراً عَن وَصلِهَا وَوُجُومَا

كَ نِفَاراً عَن وَصلِهَا وَوُجُومَا

Seek one day the company of a mother who has seen in

A mother whose day of union a mother saw

you aversion to keeping ties with her, and sullen silence.

Her son turn away from her union frowning.

غُودِرَت في مَذَلَّةٍِ واكتِئَابٍ

غُودِرَت في مَذَلَّةٍِ واكتِئَابٍ

وهوَ إِنٍ وغُربِةٍ لَن تَرِيمَا

وهوَ إِنٍ وغُربِةٍ لَن تَرِيمَا

She was left in humiliation and sorrow,

She was wronged with humiliation and melancholy

and abasement and estrangement she will never escape.

While he, alas, was in estrangement that will not pass.

بَانَ عَنهَا بَنَاتُهَأ وبَنُوهَا

بَانَ عَنهَا بَنَاتُهَأ وبَنُوهَا

لَم تَجِد مِن جِمِيعِ ذَاكَ أرِيمَا

لَم تَجِد مِن جِمِيعِ ذَاكَ أرِيمَا

Her daughters and her sons departed from her;

Her daughters and sons abandoned her—

she found not a single one of them.

She did not find any of that merciful or kind.

فَتَذكَّرتُ إِذ رَأَيتُ بَنِيهَا

فَتَذكَّرتُ إِذ رَأَيتُ بَنِيهَا

عَدِمَت مِنهُمُ عَطُوفاً رَحِيمَا

عَدِمَت مِنهُمُ عَطُوفاً رَحِيمَا

Then, seeing her sons, I remembered—

So I remembered when I saw her children,

she had found none compassionate or merciful among them—

Among them I missed one gentle and compassionate.

إِنَّ مَن صَادَ عَقعَقاً لَمَشُومٌ

إِنَّ مَن صَادَ عَقعَقاً لَمَشُومٌ

كَيفَ مَن صَادَ عَقعَقَينِ وَبُومَا

كَيفَ مَن صَادَ عَقعَقَينِ وَبُومَا

whoever catches a magpie is surely ill-omened:

Truly cursed is one who hunted a bustard—

what of someone who catches two magpies and an owl?

What of one who hunted two bustards and a lizard!

رُمتَ رَمَىَ الأَرُومَ مني بِسَبٍّ

رُمتَ رَمَىَ الأَرُومَ مني بِسَبٍّ

ومِن الجَهلِ أن تَرُومَ الأرُومَا

ومِن الجَهلِ أن تَرُومَ الأرُومَا

You sought to strike at my lineage with abuse,

You insulted the most insulted from me with disgrace,

and attacking lineage is ignorance.

And ignorance that you would insult the most insulted.

غَفلَةٌ مِنكَ مَا اطَّلَعتَ عَلَيهَا

غَفلَةٌ مِنكَ مَا اطَّلَعتَ عَلَيهَا

فَتَنَبَّه تَجِدكَ وَغداً زَنِيمَا

فَتَنَبَّه تَجِدكَ وَغداً زَنِيمَا

It is a blindness in you that you have not noticed;

An inadvertence you were unaware of

wake up, and find yourself a scoundrel of spurious lineage,

So wake up and find yourself despised tomorrow.

نَاقِصَ العَقلِ طَامِسَ الأصلِ والفَصلِ

نَاقِصَ العَقلِ طَامِسَ الأصلِ والفَصلِ

مُرِبًّا بِكُلِّ عَارٍ مُقِيمَا

مُرِبًّا بِكُلِّ عَارٍ مُقِيمَا

deficient in mind, obscure in lineage and distinction,

Deficient in mind, obscure in origin and ancestry,

clinging to every disgrace, settled in it,

Stuck with every shame dwelling permanently.

مستَمِرّاً على الخَنَا عَاثِرَ الجَد

مستَمِرّاً على الخَنَا عَاثِرَ الجَد

دِ كَذُوباً مُذَمَّماً مَشُئوماً

دِ كَذُوباً مُذَمَّماً مَشُئوماً

persisting in obscenity, stumbling in fortune,

Continuing in sins, violating the ancestors, lying habitually,

a habitual liar, reviled and ill-omened.

Despicable, inauspicious.

لم تُمَيِّز مِنَ الحَلاَلِ حَرَاماً

لم تُمَيِّز مِنَ الحَلاَلِ حَرَاماً

لاَ تُرَاعِى التَّحلِيلَ والتَّحرِيمَا

لاَ تُرَاعِى التَّحلِيلَ والتَّحرِيمَا

You do not distinguish the forbidden from the lawful,

Not distinguishing halal from haram,

nor heed what is permitted and prohibited.

Not considering legal and illegal.

في الأرضِينَ جُلتَ شَرقاً وغَرباً

في الأرضِينَ جُلتَ شَرقاً وغَرباً

تَتَقفي المَشرُوبَ والمَطعُومَا

تَتَقفي المَشرُوبَ والمَطعُومَا

You roamed the lands, east and west,

You roamed the lands, east and west,

seeking out drink and food.

Seeking drinks and foods.

رمتَ في إفتِخَازا فَأضحَكتَ بما

رمتَ في إفتِخَازا فَأضحَكتَ بما

قُلتَ في الفَخَارِ الأنِيمَا

قُلتَ في الفَخَارِ الأنِيمَا

You sought to boast, making people laugh at what

You were arrogant in empty boasts making

you said in your self-praise.

Fools think you a prominent poet.

وأدَّعَيتَ العُلُومَ فاشتَكَتِ الأر

وأدَّعَيتَ العُلُومَ فاشتَكَتِ الأر

ضُ وضَجَّت إِذِ أدَّعَيتَ العُلُومَا

ضُ وضَجَّت إِذِ أدَّعَيتَ العُلُومَا

And you claimed learning, and the earth complained,

You became arrogant and haughty as if

and cried out when you claimed learning.

I were in your eyes lowly and oppressed.

وادَّعَيتَ إقتِفَاءَ نَهجٍ قَوِيمٍ

وادَّعَيتَ إقتِفَاءَ نَهجٍ قَوِيمٍ

والهُدَى ما اقتَفَيتَ نَهجاً قَوِيمَا

والهُدَى ما اقتَفَيتَ نَهجاً قَوِيمَا

And you claimed to follow a straight path,

So the lowly oppressed one is you, and I

and guidance; you have followed no straight path.

Am not lowly or oppressed in might and valor.

إنَّمَا أنتََ لِلفَخَارِ مُعِدٌّ

إنَّمَا أنتََ لِلفَخَارِ مُعِدٌّ

لَو غَشِينَا بِكَ النَّدِىَّ العَظِيمَا

لَو غَشِينَا بِكَ النَّدِىَّ العَظِيمَا

All you have prepared for boasting—

If you see me worthless debris, or

were we to bring you to the great assembly—is

See me as fragments, I am not fragments.

حَسَباً مُخزِياً وطَبعاً غَلِيظاً

حَسَباً مُخزِياً وطَبعاً غَلِيظاً

وأبَا نَاقِصَا وأُمَّاً شَرِيمَا

وأبَا نَاقِصَا وأُمَّاً شَرِيمَا

shameful ancestry and a coarse nature,

You, you are the debris, sluggish and vile,

a deficient father and a mother with torn genitals;

And you are the fragments in meaning and appearance.

وجلاَءً وهَفوةً وجَفَاءً

وجلاَءً وهَفوةً وجَفَاءً

والتِوَاءً عن العُلُوِّ ولُومَا

والتِوَاءً عن العُلُوِّ ولُومَا

and exile, lapses, and harshness,

They honored a low contemptible pauper,

and turning from nobility, and baseness;

An ignorant lost gloomy sleepy one.

وضلاَلاً مُخَامِراً واعتِلاَلاً

وضلاَلاً مُخَامِراً واعتِلاَلاً

واختِلاَلاً ابَنَّ فِيكَ قَدِيمَا

واختِلاَلاً ابَنَّ فِيكَ قَدِيمَا

and ingrained error, and infirmity,

A debauched one who abandoned all virtues completely,

and disorder long evident in you;

Proceeding in misguidance condemned.

وَانتِاءً عن الهُدَى وأنزَواءً

وَانتِاءً عن الهُدَى وأنزَواءً

وجُنُوحاً ِإلَى الهَوَى وهُجُومَا

وجُنُوحاً ِإلَى الهَوَى وهُجُومَا

and distancing yourself from guidance, and withdrawal,

Betrayer of pacts, violator of promises, tough-palmed

and inclining toward desire, and rushing into it;

For betrayers—he was their adversary.

واغتِرَافاً مِنَ الخَنَا واعتِرَافاً

واغتِرَافاً مِنَ الخَنَا واعتِرَافاً

بالمَعَاصِي التِي تُشِيبُ الفَطِيمَا

بالمَعَاصِي التِي تُشِيبُ الفَطِيمَا

and drinking deeply of obscenity, and confessing

All whose traits are as you have

sins that would turn a weaned child's hair gray.

Do not deserve reverence and esteem.

إِن تَكُن عَظَّمَتكَ يَوماً إِمَاءٌ

إِن تَكُن عَظَّمَتكَ يَوماً إِمَاءٌ

وَدَجَاجِيلُ إِذ قَدِمتَ قُدومَا

وَدَجَاجِيلُ إِذ قَدِمتَ قُدومَا

If slave women once exalted you,

I will roast you in fires of invective blazing,

and impostors, when you made your arrival,

Scorching meat, skin and bones.

وأصَاخُوا لِسَردِ شِعرِكَ حتى

وأصَاخُوا لِسَردِ شِعرِكَ حتى

خَالَكَ الجَاهِلُونَ حَبراً زَعِيمَا

خَالَكَ الجَاهِلُونَ حَبراً زَعِيمَا

and listened to your verse being recited until

With rhymes that if gathered will disperse

the ignorant thought you a scholar and leader,

And tear apart whatever they find intact.

وتَكَبَّرتَ وانتَفَختَ إِلَى أن

وتَكَبَّرتَ وانتَفَختَ إِلَى أن

خِلتني في المَدَى لَطِيفاً مَضِيمَا

خِلتني في المَدَى لَطِيفاً مَضِيمَا

and you grew arrogant and puffed yourself up until

And if understood will ease up

you thought me slight and downtrodden in the race,

And go right, keeping away from sins.

فاللَّطِيمُ المَضِيمُ أنتَ فَإني

فاللَّطِيمُ المَضِيمُ أنتَ فَإني

لَستُ في الشَّأوِ والحَطيمِ لَطِيمَا

لَستُ في الشَّأوِ والحَطيمِ لَطِيمَا

you are the beaten, downtrodden one; for I

And if recited you will waver though you are

am not beaten in the race or at the Hatim.

Heavily robed in great confusion.

لَستُ إِن خِلتني أضَاةً أضَاةً

لَستُ إِن خِلتني أضَاةً أضَاةً

لا أو خِلتني هَشِيماً هَشِيمَا

لا أو خِلتني هَشِيماً هَشِيمَا

If you thought me a pool, I am not a pool;

Wise sayings that will shame pearls

no—nor, if you thought me dry chaff, am I dry chaff.

And out-sagacity the sagacious.

أنتَ أنتَ الأَضَاةُ والرَّاكِدُ الرَّن

أنتَ أنتَ الأَضَاةُ والرَّاكِدُ الرَّن

قُ وأنتَ الهَشِيمُ مَعنًى وِسيمَا

قُ وأنتَ الهَشِيمُ مَعنًى وِسيمَا

You—you are the pool, the stagnant, turbid

They long for you awake and asleep

water; and you are dry chaff, in substance and appearance.

Until they allow of you the unlawful.

فَلَقَد عَظَّمُوا حَقِيراً فَقِيراً

فَلَقَد عَظَّمُوا حَقِيراً فَقِيراً

جَاهِلاً ذَاهِلاً نَمُوماً نَئُومَا

جَاهِلاً ذَاهِلاً نَمُوماً نَئُومَا

They have indeed exalted a contemptible pauper,

Each journey speaks to a journey with them

ignorant, heedless, tale-bearing, and forever asleep;

And with them the wise man gifts the wise.

فَاجِراً هَاجِرَ المَكَارِم هَجراً

فَاجِراً هَاجِرَ المَكَارِم هَجراً

سَادِراً في غِوَايةٍ مذمُومَا

سَادِراً في غِوَايةٍ مذمُومَا

depraved, utterly abandoning noble qualities,

So answer them when they come to you

heedless in delusion, reviled;

With a healing, covering answer from me.

خَائِنَ العَهدِ مُخلِفَ الوَعدِ جَعدَ ال

خَائِنَ العَهدِ مُخلِفَ الوَعدِ جَعدَ ال

كَفِّ لِلخَائِنِينَ كَانَ خَصِيمَا

كَفِّ لِلخَائِنِينَ كَانَ خَصِيمَا

faithless to covenants, breaking promises, tight-

Do not neglect it as is your habit for a year

fisted, an advocate for traitors.

Then come with it feeble and frail.

كُلُّ مَن في صِفَاتِكَ تِى لَم

كُلُّ مَن في صِفَاتِكَ تِى لَم

يَستَحِقِّ الإجلالَ والتَّعظِيمَا

يَستَحِقِّ الإجلالَ والتَّعظِيمَا

Anyone with these qualities of yours does not

Each travel converses with a journey

deserve reverence or honor.

And with it the wise man gifts the wise one.

سَوفَ أُصلِيكَ نَارَ هَجوٍ تَلَظَّى

سَوفَ أُصلِيكَ نَارَ هَجوٍ تَلَظَّى

تَسفَعُ اللَّحمَ والحَشَا والأَدِيمَا

تَسفَعُ اللَّحمَ والحَشَا والأَدِيمَا

I shall make you burn in blazing satirical fire,

So answer it when it comes to you

scorching flesh, entrails, and skin,

With a healing reply silencing my blame.

بِقَوَافٍ إِذَا اجتَمَعنَ تَفَرَّق

بِقَوَافٍ إِذَا اجتَمَعنَ تَفَرَّق

نَ فَمَزَّقنَ مَا وَجَدنَ سَلِيمَا

نَ فَمَزَّقنَ مَا وَجَدنَ سَلِيمَا

with rhymes that, when gathered, scatter

Do not neglect it as is your habit for a year

and tear apart whatever they find intact.

Then come with it despised and frail.

وإِذَا مَا عُقِلَن فَأَيسَر

وإِذَا مَا عُقِلَن فَأَيسَر

نَ وأيمَنَّ وَاجتَرَ منَ الجَرِيمَا

نَ وأيمَنَّ وَاجتَرَ منَ الجَرِيمَا

And when they are understood, they go left

and right, and cut down the offender.

وإِذَا أُنشِدَت غَدوتَ وإِن كُن

وإِذَا أُنشِدَت غَدوتَ وإِن كُن

تَ طَرُوباً على اضطِرَابٍ كَظِيمَا

تَ طَرُوباً على اضطِرَابٍ كَظِيمَا

When they are recited, you become—even if you were

once merry—agitated and choked with rage.

حِكَمٌ اُحكِمَت فَأخجَلَتِ الدُّر

حِكَمٌ اُحكِمَت فَأخجَلَتِ الدُّر

رَ نَثِيراً وأخجَلَتهُ نَظِيمَا

رَ نَثِيراً وأخجَلَتهُ نَظِيمَا

Maxims finely wrought, putting pearls to shame—

loose, and shaming them when strung.

تَتَوَخَّاكَ في المَقَاظِ وفي المَش

تَتَوَخَّاكَ في المَقَاظِ وفي المَش

تاةِ حتى تُبِيحَ مِنكَ الحَرِيمَا

تاةِ حتى تُبِيحَ مِنكَ الحَرِيمَا

They seek you in your summer quarters and your winter

quarters, until they lay your protected sanctuary open.

كُلُّ سَفرٍ بها يُسامِرُ سَفراً

كُلُّ سَفرٍ بها يُسامِرُ سَفراً

وبِها يُتحِفُ الحَكِيمُ الحَكِيمَا

وبِها يُتحِفُ الحَكِيمُ الحَكِيمَا

Every band of travelers tells them to another by night,

and with them one sage regales another.

فَأجِبهَا إِذَا أتَتكَ جَواباً

فَأجِبهَا إِذَا أتَتكَ جَواباً

شَافِياً كَاسِياً لِسَاني مُومَا

شَافِياً كَاسِياً لِسَاني مُومَا

So answer them, when they reach you, with a reply

satisfying, clothing my tongue in sickness.

لا تُعَطِّلهُ مِثلَ دَأبِكَ عَاماً

لا تُعَطِّلهُ مِثلَ دَأبِكَ عَاماً

ثُمَّ تَأتِى بِهِ رَكِيكاً سَقِيمَا

ثُمَّ تَأتِى بِهِ رَكِيكاً سَقِيمَا

Do not leave it idle for a year, as is your habit,

then bring it forth feeble and sickly.