بنفسي مكحُول الجفون رماني

بنفسي مكحُول الجفون رماني

بسهمين في الألباب يحتكمان

بسهمين في الألباب يحتكمان

My soul be ransom for the kohl-lidded one who shot me

With heavy eyelids I've been made drunk,

With two arrows that hold sway over minds.

Pierced by two arrows in my heart competing,

ورقرقن لي في السقم عينيْ جَدايةٍ

ورقرقن لي في السقم عينيْ جَدايةٍ

بقلبي وجسمي منهما سقَمان

بقلبي وجسمي منهما سقَمان

And they made a young gazelle's two eyes shimmer for me in sickness;

And my sick eyes have sparkled for me morning stars,

From them come two ailments, in my heart and body.

While my heart and body both are sickened.

وأبدرنَ بدراً تحت ليل ذوائب

وأبدرنَ بدراً تحت ليل ذوائب

لستِ ليال بعدهن ثمان

لستِ ليال بعدهن ثمان

And they made a full moon shine beneath a night of tresses,

They shone like a full moon beneath a night of flowing darkness,

Of six nights followed by eight more.

No nights will be for me after them again.

واسفرن عن خدين حازا عبادتي

واسفرن عن خدين حازا عبادتي

كأنهما لي في الهَوى صَنَمان

كأنهما لي في الهَوى صَنَمان

And they unveiled two cheeks that won my worship,

They revealed from blushed cheeks my devotion won

As though they were two idols for me in love.

As if for me in passion they're idols twain.

واوضحن لي من بين بَرقَ عوارض

واوضحن لي من بين بَرقَ عوارض

لَهاتا فمٍ ريقاهما شَبِمان

لَهاتا فمٍ ريقاهما شَبِمان

And they showed me, amid the gleam of side teeth,

And they made clear to me from amidst lightning cheeks

The mouth's two palates, their saliva cool.

For these, a mouth whose spittle they gather.

وهزَّ قضيباً في مروط يقلّها

وهزَّ قضيباً في مروط يقلّها

بدْعصي نقي زانتهما قدمان

بدْعصي نقي زانتهما قدمان

And he swayed a bough in robes he held aloft

And it shook a twig among curled tresses,

With two mounds of fine sand, adorned by two feet.

With a pliant wand which adorned them legs twain.

يخيل بحسناهُ على فَرطِ حُسنه

يخيل بحسناهُ على فَرطِ حُسنه

يُماطل في دين الهوى ويماني

يُماطل في دين الهوى ويماني

He struts in his loveliness; despite his surpassing beauty,

You’d think in his beauty, for his excessive beauty,

He stalls over love's debt and offers vain promises.

He plays coy in passion’s faith, and toys with me,

وليل طويل بتّهُ بصبابةٍ

وليل طويل بتّهُ بصبابةٍ

وفكرٍ عن النوم الَّلذيذ حَماني

وفكرٍ عن النوم الَّلذيذ حَماني

And a long night I spent in yearning,

And a long night insulted me with mischief

And thought that kept me from sweet sleep,

And thoughts from peaceful sleep that saddened me.

وعينين منه اعتلَّتا فاستهلَّتا

وعينين منه اعتلَّتا فاستهلَّتا

بدَمعتين في الخدين ينسجمانِ

بدَمعتين في الخدين ينسجمانِ

And two eyes that grew sick because of him, then welled

And eyes by it wearied, so they swelled

With two tears flowing down my cheeks.

With two tears on my cheeks congealing.

أرى الليَّل فيه والنهارَ تعاونا

أرى الليَّل فيه والنهارَ تعاونا

عليّ بطول الهم فاقتسماني

عليّ بطول الهم فاقتسماني

I see night and day, within it, conspiring

I see the night in it, and day cooperating

Against me with prolonged grief, dividing me between them.

Against me, with prolonging worries dividing me.

لحسرة يومي منه مع طول ليلتي

لحسرة يومي منه مع طول ليلتي

لهيبانِ في الأحشاء يَضطْرمانِ

لهيبانِ في الأحشاء يَضطْرمانِ

From my day's anguish over him and the length of my night,

Woe to my days for it, and my night's length,

Two flames blaze in my entrails.

Two flames in my entrails kindling!

ولم أرَ من خليَّ في الحبّ مُسعداً

ولم أرَ من خليَّ في الحبّ مُسعداً

على بعضِ ما ألقى فقد ظلَماني

على بعضِ ما ألقى فقد ظلَماني

Nor have I found among my two friends a helper in love

And I haven’t seen a boon companion in love made happy

In any part of what I suffer; both have wronged me.

With some of what I have met, so he has wronged me.

يلومانِ في نادي الهَوى ولو أَنني

يلومانِ في نادي الهَوى ولو أَنني

أبثُّهما سرَّ الهَوى كتماني

أبثُّهما سرَّ الهَوى كتماني

They reproach me in love's assembly; yet if I

Blaming me in the club of love, though had I

Confided love's secret to them, they would keep me in the dark.

Confided passion’s secret, it would hide me.

كتمتُ سقاميَّ الّلذين إذا بدا

كتمتُ سقاميَّ الّلذين إذا بدا

نحولٌ ودمعٌ ليس يكتتمانِ

نحولٌ ودمعٌ ليس يكتتمانِ

I hid my two afflictions, which, whenever there appear

I concealed my sickness which if appeared

Wasting and tears, cannot remain hidden.

Emaciation and tears cannot conceal me.

كما ليس نخفي فضل ذهل ويعربٍ

كما ليس نخفي فضل ذهل ويعربٍ

وذانكم المجدان والكرمانِ

وذانكم المجدان والكرمانِ

Just as we do not hide the excellence of Dhuhl and Ya'rub,

Just as excellence of Dhahal and Ya'arub is not hidden,

And those are the two glories, the two paragons of generosity.

And your two glories and noblenesses,

جوادانِ معلومان بالفضل والنّهيَ

جوادانِ معلومان بالفضل والنّهيَ

كأنهما بين الورى عَلَمَانِ

كأنهما بين الورى عَلَمَانِ

Two generous men renowned for excellence and wisdom,

Two generous steeds well known for merit and grace

As though they were two landmarks among mankind.

As if between all creation signs ye twain.

ترى في سَنى وجهيهما من بشاشةٍ

ترى في سَنى وجهيهما من بشاشةٍ

مزيدَ بهاء حين يبتسمانِ

مزيدَ بهاء حين يبتسمانِ

In the radiance of their faces you see, from their cheer,

You see in the splendor of their two faces from joy

Added splendor when they smile.

Additional beauty when they smile.

مُجدّان في كَسبَ المكارم والعُلى

مُجدّان في كَسبَ المكارم والعُلى

على شرف الأخلاق مُعتزمانِ

على شرف الأخلاق مُعتزمانِ

Earnest in winning noble virtues and high rank,

Two honored in acquiring virtues and ascendance,

Resolute in the nobility of their character.

Upholding the glory of character fully intent.

كأَنهما في كل يوم كريهةٍ

كأَنهما في كل يوم كريهةٍ

لدى الرّوع ليثا غابةِ لحمانِ

لدى الرّوع ليثا غابةِ لحمانِ

As though, on every day of battle,

As if on every dreadful day before adversity

Amid terror, they were two forest lions hungry for flesh.

Like lions roaring in thickets they’re found.

وقد أمن المهوفُ في عرصتيهما

وقد أمن المهوفُ في عرصتيهما

كأنهما من منعة حَرَمانِ

كأنهما من منعة حَرَمانِ

And the frightened man has found safety in their courtyards,

And the frightened has safety in their enclosure

As though their protective might made them two sanctuaries.

As if they are a refuge inviolate.

وقد الفا بسط اليدين كأنّما

وقد الفا بسط اليدين كأنّما

أُقيما لأرزاق الورى بضمانِ

أُقيما لأرزاق الورى بضمانِ

And they are accustomed to extending their hands, as though

And they have clasped the palm as if they are

They were appointed guarantors of humankind's sustenance.

Established for sustenance to people guaranteed.

لنفسيهما في فعل كل فضيلةٍ

لنفسيهما في فعل كل فضيلةٍ

ضميرا وفاء ليس يُتَّهمانِ

ضميرا وفاء ليس يُتَّهمانِ

Within their two souls, in doing every virtuous deed,

For themselves in doing every virtue

Are two faithful intentions beyond suspicion.

A conscience of loyalty no blame they sustain.

لكفيهما التّقبيلُ من كل ناطقٍ

لكفيهما التّقبيلُ من كل ناطقٍ

كأنّهما رُكنان مُستَلمانِ

كأنّهما رُكنان مُستَلمانِ

Their two palms receive kisses from every speaker,

For their palms the kissing of every speaker

As though they were two sacred corners ritually touched.

As if two pillars revered.

وسيفان في يوم يثجان من دمٍ

وسيفان في يوم يثجان من دمٍ

ويوم يمجّان النّدى قلَمانِ

ويوم يمجّان النّدى قلَمانِ

And two swords that one day pour forth blood,

And two swords on a day they gush blood

And another day, two pens that gush generosity.

Another day to the thirsty, pens they contain

بهذين طورا ينعمان وتارةً

بهذين طورا ينعمان وتارةً

بذينك بالأعداء ينتقمانِ

بذينك بالأعداء ينتقمانِ

With these, at times, they bestow favors; and at other times

With two boons from Dhahal and Ya’arub exalted

With those, they take vengeance on their enemies.

Above every Egypt, the bounty of Oman.

بفضلين من ذهل ويعرب قد علا

بفضلين من ذهل ويعرب قد علا

على كل مصرٍ فضل مصر عُمانِ

على كل مصرٍ فضل مصر عُمانِ

Through the two excellences of Dhuhl and Ya'rub has risen

A time in which Dhahal and Ya’arub

The excellence of Oman's land above every land.

Are the lords of its people, the best of times.

وإنَّ زماناً فيه ذهل ويعرب

وإنَّ زماناً فيه ذهل ويعرب

هما سيّدا أهليه خيرُ زمانِ

هما سيّدا أهليه خيرُ زمانِ

And an age in which Dhuhl and Ya'rub

They have allied in the glory of ‘Amr ibn ‘Amer

Are the two lords of its people is the best of ages.

At my two houses lofty, no ruin sustaining,

قد احتبيا في مجد عمرو بن عامرٍ

قد احتبيا في مجد عمرو بن عامرٍ

ببيتي علاء ليس ينهدمانِ

ببيتي علاء ليس ينهدمانِ

They have seated themselves in the glory of 'Amr ibn 'Amir,

A pledge to Dhahal and pledge to Ya’arub

In two houses of eminence that cannot fall.

And they are of one allied, two oaths maintaining.

يميناً بذهل مع يمين بيعربِ

يميناً بذهل مع يمين بيعربِ

وانهما من حالفٍ قسمانِ

وانهما من حالفٍ قسمانِ

An oath by Dhuhl, together with an oath by Ya'rub—

They have necessitated love for me and endeared

And these, from one who swears, are two oaths:

To me all the lords of Yemen.

لقد أوجبا حباً عليَّ وحبَّبا

لقد أوجبا حباً عليَّ وحبَّبا

إلي من السّادات كُلَّ يماني

إلي من السّادات كُلَّ يماني

They have made love binding upon me, and endeared

They spared me my hardship and assumed

To me every Yemeni among the lords.

For my sustenance from its lack, securely containing,

هما كَفياني عُسرتي وتكفلا

هما كَفياني عُسرتي وتكفلا

لرزقي من اقتاره بأمانِ

لرزقي من اقتاره بأمانِ

They have relieved my hardship and guaranteed

How often I tended to them hoping

Security for my livelihood against scarcity.

Yet they did not reduce my share or deprive me.

وكم يمَّمْت نفسي رجاء اليهما

وكم يمَّمْت نفسي رجاء اليهما

فما بخسا حظّي ولا حرماني

فما بخسا حظّي ولا حرماني

And how often I turned my soul toward them in hope,

And I neglected my duties yet they did not care,

Yet they neither diminished my share nor deprived me.

And I fell behind in my needs, yet they did not weary of me.

واكثرت زلاّتي فما اكترثا بها

واكثرت زلاّتي فما اكترثا بها

واترت حاجاتي فما سئماني

واترت حاجاتي فما سئماني

And I multiplied my lapses, but they paid them no heed;

They are my two lords, may I not lack their pleasure,

I brought my needs in succession, but they never tired of me.

And please them, if I say, may I not lack them.

هما سيدايَ لاعدمت رضاهما

هما سيدايَ لاعدمت رضاهما

وأرضيهما إن قلت لاعدماني

وأرضيهما إن قلت لاعدماني

They are my two lords; may I never lose their favor,

For I am enriched by the merit of their ascendance,

And I please them if I say: may they never lose me.

And they are for praise opportune twain.

لأنّي أنا المثني بفضل عُلاهما

لأنّي أنا المثني بفضل عُلاهما

وانهما للحمد مغتنمانِ

وانهما للحمد مغتنمانِ

For I am the one who extols their lofty excellence,

So you two have lived long, my lords, and I have lived

And they are two prized subjects for praise.

And your protection in glory aligning.

فعمّرتما من سيدين وعشتما

فعمّرتما من سيدين وعشتما

وشملاكما بالعزّ ملتئمانِ

وشملاكما بالعزّ ملتئمانِ

So may you, two lords, live long and flourish,

And you remain in bliss and wellbeing

And may both your households remain united in honor.

And good fortunes and attaining wishes.

ولا زلتما في غبطة وسلامةٍ

ولا زلتما في غبطة وسلامةٍ

وحسن سعادات ونيل أَماني

وحسن سعادات ونيل أَماني

And may you always remain in happiness and safety,

I call them for ascendance a necklace

With fair fortunes and wishes fulfilled.

Detailed with topaz and pearls refining.

ودونكماها للمعالي قلادةً

ودونكماها للمعالي قلادةً

مفصلة من عسجد وجُمانِ

مفصلة من عسجد وجُمانِ

And take this, you two, as a necklace for noble achievements,

You see each line of its meter and verse

Set with gold and pearls.

As if two threaded strings aligning.

ترى كل مصراعيْ عَروض وضَربها

ترى كل مصراعيْ عَروض وضَربها

كأنّهما عقدان منتظمانِ

كأنّهما عقدان منتظمانِ

You see each pair of hemistichs, their first and second endings,

As though they were two necklaces, neatly strung.