حُكمُthe decree المَنِيَّةِof death فيamong البَرِيَّةِcreation جاريholds sway
حُكمُ المَنِيَّةِ في البَرِيَّةِ جاري
ماnot هَذِهِthis الدُنياworld بِدارan abode قَرارof permanence
ما هَذِهِ الدُنيا بِدار قَرار
Death's decree holds sway over all creation.
The decree of death in the wilderness is ongoing
This world is no abode of permanence.
This world is not a land of stability
بَيناwhile يَرىsees الإِنسانa human being فيهاin it مُخبِراًbearing news
بَينا يَرى الإِنسان فيها مُخبِراً
حَتّىbefore long يُرىis seen خَبَراًas news مِنَamong الأَخبارِthe tales
حَتّى يُرى خَبَراً مِنَ الأَخبارِ
One moment one sees a person here bearing news,
While man sees in it one who informs
Soon he is seen as a tale among tales.
Until one sees news of news
طُبِعَتwas fashioned عَلىupon كدرٍmurk وَأَنتَyet you تُريدُهاwant it
طُبِعَت عَلى كدرٍ وَأَنتَ تُريدُها
صَفواًclear مِنَof الأَقذاءِimpurities وَالأَكدارِand troubles
صَفواً مِنَ الأَقذاءِ وَالأَكدارِ
It was fashioned with murk, yet you want it
It is innately troubled, yet you want it
Clear of impurities and troubles.
Pure from muddiness and turbidity
وَمُكَلِّفand one demanding of الأَيامِthe days ضِدَّthe opposite of طِباعِهاtheir nature
وَمُكَلِّف الأَيامِ ضِدَّ طِباعِها
مُتَطَّلِبseeks فيin الماءِwater جَذوةan ember نارِof fire
مُتَطَّلِب في الماءِ جَذوة نارِ
One who demands that days oppose their nature
And the one who obligates the days against their nature
Seeks an ember of fire in water.
Seeking in the water a spark of fire
وَإِذاand if رَجَوتَyou hope for المُستَحيلthe impossible فَإِنَّماthen you merely
وَإِذا رَجَوتَ المُستَحيل فَإِنَّما
تَبنيbuild الرَجاءَhope عَلىupon شَفيرٍa brink هارِcrumbling
تَبني الرَجاءَ عَلى شَفيرٍ هارِ
If you hope for the impossible, you merely
And when you hope for the impossible, you merely
Build hope upon a crumbling brink.
Build hope on the verge of destruction
فَالعَيشُfor life نَومٌis sleep وَالمَنِيَّةُand death يَقِظَةٌan awakening
فَالعَيشُ نَومٌ وَالمَنِيَّةُ يَقِظَةٌ
وَالمَرءُand a person بَينَهُماbetween them خَيالِis a phantom ساريpassing by night
وَالمَرءُ بَينَهُما خَيالِ ساري
Life is sleep, and death an awakening;
For living is sleep and death is wakefulness
Between them, a person is a phantom passing by night.
While man between them is a fleeting illusion
وَالنَفسُand the soul إِنif رَضِيَتaccepts بِذَلِكَthat أَوor أَبَتrefuses
وَالنَفسُ إِن رَضِيَت بِذَلِكَ أَو أَبَت
مُنقادةis led بِأَزمَّةby the reins الأَقدارِof fate
مُنقادة بِأَزمَّة الأَقدارِ
Whether the soul accepts this or refuses,
Whether the soul accepts that or refuses
It is led by the reins of fate.
It is led by the crisis of predestiny
فاِقضواso fulfill مآرِبكمyour desires عُجَالاًquickly إِنَّماfor indeed
فاِقضوا مآرِبكم عُجَالاً إِنَّما
أَعمارُكُمyour lifetimes سِفرٌare a volume مِنَamong الأَسفارِvolumes
أَعمارُكُم سِفرٌ مِنَ الأَسفارِ
Fulfill your desires quickly, for
So finish your desires hastily, your lifetimes
Your lifetimes are a volume among volumes.
Are but a journey of journeys
وَتَراكَضواand race خَيلَthe horses الشَبابِof youth وَبادِرواand hasten
وَتَراكَضوا خَيلَ الشَبابِ وَبادِروا
إِنif تُستَرَدَّthey are reclaimed فَإِنَّهُنَّfor they are عَواريborrowed things
إِن تُستَرَدَّ فَإِنَّهُنَّ عَواري
Race the horses of youth, and make haste,
And race the steeds of youth, take advantage
Before they are reclaimed, for they are borrowed.
Lest they recoil, they would be bare
فالدهرfor time يَخدَعdeceives بِالمنيwith hopes وَيغُصُّand chokes إِنwhen
فالدهر يَخدَع بِالمني وَيغُصُّ إِن
هَنّاgives delight وَيَهدِمُand destroys ماwhat بَنىit built بِبوارِwith ruin
هَنّا وَيَهدِمُ ما بَنى بِبوارِ
Time deceives with hopes, and makes one choke when
Time tricks with wishes, stings with
It gives delight, destroying what it built with ruin.
Construction here, and razes with ruination
لَيسَis not الزَمانَtime وَإِنeven if حرصتyou strive مُسالِماًpeaceful
لَيسَ الزَمانَ وَإِن حرصت مُسالِماً
خُلُقthe nature الزَمانِof time عَداوَةis hostility to الأَحرارِthe noble
خُلُق الزَمانِ عَداوَة الأَحرارِ
Time is not peaceful toward you, however hard you strive;
Time is not amenable even if you befriend it
Time's nature is hostility to the noble.
The nature of time is enmity to the free
إِنّيindeed I وُتِرتُwas bereaved بِصارِمٍof a keen sword ذيpossessing رَونَقٍbrilliance
إِنّي وُتِرتُ بِصارِمٍ ذي رَونَقٍ
أَعدَدتَهُyou readied it لِطِلابَةِto seek الأَوتارِvengeance
أَعدَدتَهُ لِطِلابَةِ الأَوتارِ
I have been bereaved of a gleaming sword,
I have been given a sharp, elegant sword
Which you had readied to exact revenge.
That I prepared seeking to tune the strings
أَثنيI praise عَلَيهِhim بِأثرِهِfor his trace وَلَوand had أَنَّهُhe
أَثني عَلَيهِ بِأثرِهِ وَلَو أَنَّهُ
لَمnot يَغتَبِطbeen taken in his prime أَثنَيتُI would have praised بِالآثارِfor deeds
لَم يَغتَبِط أَثنَيتُ بِالآثارِ
I praise him by the mark he left; had he
I praise it for its effect though it
Not been taken in his prime, I would praise his deeds.
Does not delight that I praised relics
لَوif كنتyou were تُمنَعُprotectable خاضwould have plunged نحوكَtoward you فَتيةyoung men
لَو كنت تُمنَعُ خاض نحوكَ فَتية
مِنّاfrom among us بحارthrough seas عَوامِلof spearheads وَشفارِand blades
مِنّا بحار عَوامِل وَشفارِ
Had you been protectable, young men would have plunged toward you
If you prevented the youths among us, seas
From among us, through seas of spearheads and blades.
Swirling, from daring toward you
وَدَحواand they spread فُوَيقَjust above الأَرضthe earth أَرضاًan earth مِنof دَمٍblood
وَدَحوا فُوَيقَ الأَرض أَرضاً مِن دَمٍ
ثُمَّthen اِنثَنواthey turned فَبَنواand built سَماءَa sky غبارِof dust
ثُمَّ اِنثَنوا فَبَنوا سَماءَ غبارِ
They would have spread, just above the earth, an earth of blood,
They penetrated the earth’s expanse with blood
Then turned and built a sky of dust.
Then leaned back thus building a dust-filled sky
قَومٌmen إِذاwhen لَبِسواthey wear الدُروعَarmor حَسِبتَهاyou would think it
قَومٌ إِذا لَبِسوا الدُروعَ حَسِبتَها
سُحُباًclouds مزرَّرَةbuttoned عَلىover الأَقمارِmoons
سُحُباً مزرَّرَة عَلى الأَقمارِ
Men whose armor, when they wear it, you would think
A people, when they don armor, you would think them
Clouds buttoned over moons.
Clouds strewn with stars upon the moons
وَتَرىand you see سيوفَthe swords الدارِعينَof armored men كَأَنَّهاas though they were
وَتَرى سيوفَ الدارِعينَ كَأَنَّها
خَلجchannels تَمُدُّextend بِهاwith them أَكُفَّthe hands بِحارِof seas
خَلج تَمُدُّ بِها أَكُفَّ بِحارِ
You see the armored men's swords as though they were
And you see the swords of the armored as though they
Channels that the hands of seas stretch forth.
Were flashes that hands with palms extend
لَوif أَشرَعواthey leveled أَيمانِهِمtheir right hands مِنbecause of طولِهاtheir length
لَو أَشرَعوا أَيمانِهِم مِن طولِها
طَعَنواthey would thrust بِهاwith them عوضinstead of القَناspears الخَطَّارِswaying
طَعَنوا بِها عوض القَنا الخَطَّارِ
Were they to level their right hands, so long are they,
If they unfurled their oaths, due to their length
They could thrust with them instead of swaying spears.
They would stab with them beyond spears
شَوسٌfierce-eyed men إِذاwhen عدمواthey lack الوَغىbattle انتَجَعواthey seek لَهاit
شَوسٌ إِذا عدموا الوَغى انتَجَعوا لَها
فيin كُلِّevery أَوبٍquarter نَجعَةas in seeking الأَمطّارِrainfall
في كُلِّ أَوبٍ نَجعَة الأَمطّارِ
Fierce-eyed men: when they find no battle, they seek it
Lions, but they prefer their provisions
In every quarter, as others seek the rains.
While the lion does not stoop to preference
جنبواthey led alongside الجِيادَthe steeds إِلىbeside المُطيِّthe riding camels وَراوجواand alternated
جنبوا الجِيادَ إِلى المُطيِّ وَراوجوا
بَينَbetween السُروجِhorse-saddles هُناكَthere وَالأَكوارِand camel-saddles
بَينَ السُروجِ هُناكَ وَالأَكوارِ
They led their steeds beside the camels, and alternated
Were I to challenge him, he would depend
There between horse-saddles and camel-saddles.
Only on fangs and claws
فَكَأَنَّماso it was as though مَلأواthey filled عِيابthe cases دروعهمof their armor
فَكَأَنَّما مَلأوا عِياب دروعهم
وَغمودand the sheaths أَنصلهمof their blades سَرابwith mirage قِفارِof deserts
وَغمود أَنصلهم سَراب قِفارِ
It was as though they had filled their armor's cases
And when he clenches his jaws, you would think them
And their blades' sheaths with desert mirage.
A grievance that an annoyed lion endures
وَكَأَنَّماand as though صَنعthe maker السَوابِغof full-length mail عَزَّهُwas overcome
وَكَأَنَّما صَنع السَوابِغ عَزَّهُ
ماءby the water الحَديدof iron فَصاعَso he shaped ماءَwater قِرارِof stillness
ماء الحَديد فَصاعَ ماءَ قِرارِ
As though the maker of full-length mail had been defeated
The studs of his piercing with the spear are as
By molten iron, and so had shaped still water
Bracelets on the wrist of a bejeweled lady
زَرَداًinto mail links فَأحكمthen secured كلevery موصلjoint حَلقَةٍof a ring
زَرَداً فَأحكم كل موصل حَلقَةٍ
بِجُبابَةwith a bubble فيin مَوضعthe place المُسمارِof the rivet
بِجُبابَة في مَوضع المُسمارِ
Into links, fastening every ring's joint
He drags, when he drags, the ascent of his spear
With a bubble in the rivet's place.
In the narrow, gushing valley
فَتَدَرَّعواso they armored themselves بمتونin expanses ماءof water جامِدٍfrozen
فَتَدَرَّعوا بمتون ماء جامِدٍ
وَتَقنَّعواand veiled their faces بِحَبابwith bubbles ماءof water جاريflowing
وَتَقنَّعوا بِحَباب ماء جاري
They armored themselves in sheets of frozen water,
What lies between a garb clad with blood
And veiled their faces in bubbles of flowing water.
Slippery, and fruits falling with hail
أسدlions ولكنbut يؤثرونَthey favor others بِزادِهِمwith their provisions
أسد ولكن يؤثرونَ بِزادِهِم
وَالأسدand lions لَيسَdo not تدينpractice بالإِيثارِselfless giving
وَالأسد لَيسَ تدين بالإِيثارِ
Lions, yet they give others preference with their provisions;
And death in the shadow of death lurking
Lions do not practice selfless giving.
Solemnity of dangers in endangering
يَتَزَّيَنُis adorned الناديthe gathering بِحُسنِby the beauty وُجوهِهِمof their faces
يَتَزَّيَنُ النادي بِحُسنِ وُجوهِهِم
كَتَزَيُّنِlike the adornment الهالاتِof halos بالأَقمارِby moons
كَتَزَيُّنِ الهالاتِ بالأَقمارِ
The gathering is adorned by their handsome faces,
The happiness of his face and his right hand glow
As halos are adorned by moons.
In poverty and in wealth
يَتَعَطَّفونَthey show tenderness عَلىtoward المَجاوِرthe neighbor فيهِمamong them
يَتَعَطَّفونَ عَلى المَجاوِر فيهِم
بالمنفساتwith precious things تعطُّفwith the tenderness الآظارِof wet-nurses
بالمنفسات تعطُّف الآظارِ
They show tenderness toward the neighbor among them
And he extends fingers toward favors
With precious gifts, tender as wet-nurses.
With sustenance flowing through them
مِنamong كلevery مَنone who جَعلَmade الظُبىsword-edges أَنصارَهُhis supporters
مِن كل مَن جَعلَ الظُبى أَنصارَهُ
وَكرُمنَand they proved noble فاِستَغنىso he had no need عَنِfor الأَنصارِsupporters
وَكرُمنَ فاِستَغنى عَنِ الأَنصارِ
Each is a man who made sword-edges his supporters;
He contains glories, gaining or defeating
They proved noble, so he needed no other supporters.
Never evading them or evading
وَاللَيثُand the lion إِنif بارَزتُهُI confront him لَمdoes not يَعتَمِدrely
وَاللَيثُ إِن بارَزتُهُ لَم يَعتَمِد
إِلّاexcept عَلىupon الأَنيابِfangs وَالأَظفارِand claws
إِلّا عَلى الأَنيابِ وَالأَظفارِ
The lion, when I confront him, relies
Stars appeared in the night of youth
Only upon his fangs and claws.
If neglected, they incline toward setting
وَإِذاand when هوَhe اعتَقَلَcradles القَناةthe spear حَسِبتُهاyou would think it
وَإِذا هوَ اعتَقَلَ القَناة حَسِبتُها
صِلاًa cobra تأبَّطُهُhe tucked under his arm هزبَرٌa lion ضاريfierce
صِلاً تأبَّطُهُ هزبَرٌ ضاري
When he cradles his spear, you would think it
O star, none had a life as short
A cobra tucked under a fierce lion's arm.
Just like the stars of daybreak
زَرَدُthe rings الدِلاصِof polished armor مِنَfrom الطِعانِthrusting بِرُمحِهِwith his spear
زَرَدُ الدِلاصِ مِنَ الطِعانِ بِرُمحِهِ
مِثلَare like الأَساوِرbracelets فيon يدthe hand الإِسوارِof a horseman
مِثلَ الأَساوِر في يد الإِسوارِ
The rings of polished armor, pierced by his spear,
A crescent of days has passed, it did not
Are like bracelets on a horseman's hand.
Become full, or have time for secrets
وَيَجُرُّand he drags حينَwhen يُجَرُّis dragged صَعدَةَthe straight shaft رُمحِهِof his spear
وَيَجُرُّ حينَ يُجَرُّ صَعدَةَ رُمحِهِ
فيin الجَحفَلِthe army المُتَضائِقclosely packed الجِرارِjars
في الجَحفَلِ المُتَضائِق الجِرارِ
As his spear's straight shaft is dragged, he drags
The eclipse rushed upon it before its time
Jars through the closely packed army.
So erased it before the chance for shining
ماwhat lies بَينَbetween ثَوبٍa garment بِالدماءِwith blood مُلَبَّدٍcaked
ما بَينَ ثَوبٍ بِالدماءِ مُلَبَّدٍ
زَلقٍslippery وَتَقَعand falls (probably 'and dust') بِالطِرادِby the charge مثارِstirred up
زَلقٍ وَتَقَع بِالطِرادِ مثارِ
Between a garment caked with blood,
And it slipped from its peers and offspring
Slippery, and dust raised by the charge [reading uncertain].
As a star slips from stars
وَالهَونand humiliation فيin ظِلِّthe shade الهوَيناof ease كامِنٌlurks
وَالهَون في ظِلِّ الهوَينا كامِنٌ
وَجَلالَةand the greatness الأَخطارِof ranks فيin الإِخطارِrisk-taking
وَجَلالَة الأَخطارِ في الإِخطارِ
Humiliation lurks in the shade of ease;
So my heart is its tomb, as though
Great standing lies in taking risks.
In its fold, a secret of secrets
تندىare dewy أسرةthe lines وَجهِهِof his face وَيَمينَهُand his right hand
تندى أسرة وَجهِهِ وَيَمينَهُ
فيin حالَةِthe condition الإِعسارِof hardship والإِيسارِand prosperity
في حالَةِ الإِعسارِ والإِيسارِ
The lines of his face and his right hand are dewy,
If disparaged as small, many a boastful one
In hardship and prosperity alike.
Appears insignificant to onlookers
وَيَمُدُّand he extends نَحوَtoward المَكرُماتِnoble deeds أَنامِلاًfingers
وَيَمُدُّ نَحوَ المَكرُماتِ أَنامِلاً
لِلرِزقِfor sustenance فيin أَثنائِهِنَّtheir midst مَجاريare channels
لِلرِزقِ في أَثنائِهِنَّ مَجاري
He extends fingers toward noble deeds,
The stars, from the height of their positions
With channels for sustenance running between them.
Appear small though they are not small
يَحويhe gains المَعاليhigh honors كاسِباًby earning أَوor غالِباًby conquest
يَحوي المَعالي كاسِباً أَو غالِباً
أَبداًalways يُدارىhe is courted دونَهاfor their sake وَيُداريand he courts others
أَبداً يُدارى دونَها وَيُداري
He wins high honors by earning or by conquest,
When some of the promising youth dies
Ever courted in their pursuit, and himself courting others.
The rest live on in his footsteps
قَدhave لاحَshone فيin لَيلِthe night الشَبابِof youth كَواكِبٌstars
قَد لاحَ في لَيلِ الشَبابِ كَواكِبٌ
إِنif أَمهلتgiven time آلَتthey lead إِلىto الإِسفارِdaybreak
إِن أَمهلت آلَت إِلى الإِسفارِ
Stars have shone in the night of youth;
I cry for him, then say consoling him
If granted time, they would come to daybreak.
You were blessed when you left the pains of the abode
ياO كَوكَباًstar ماhow كانَwas أَقصَرَshort عُمرَهُhis lifespan
يا كَوكَباً ما كانَ أَقصَرَ عُمرَهُ
وَكَذاكَand likewise عُمرُis the lifespan كَواكِبِof stars الأَسحارِbefore dawn
وَكَذاكَ عُمرُ كَواكِبِ الأَسحارِ
O star, how short his life has been!
I dwelled with my enemies and he dwelled with his Lord
Such is the lifespan of the stars before dawn.
Great is the difference between his and my dwelling
وَهلالand a crescent أَيّامٍof days مَضىpassed لَمnot يَستَدِرgrowing round
وَهلال أَيّامٍ مَضى لَم يَستَدِر
بَدراًinto a full moon وَلَمand not يمهلgranted time لِوَقتuntil the time سِرارِof moonless nights
بَدراً وَلَم يمهل لِوَقت سِرارِ
And a crescent of days that passed before it could become
I complain of your distance though you are somewhere
A full moon, not spared until the moonless nights.
If not for misfortune, you would hear my secrets there
عَجِلَhastened الخُسوفthe eclipse عَلَيهِupon him قَبلَbefore أَوانِهِits due time
عَجِلَ الخُسوف عَلَيهِ قَبلَ أَوانِهِ
فَمَحاهُso it erased him قَبلَbefore مَظَنَّةthe expected time الإِبدارِof becoming full
فَمَحاهُ قَبلَ مَظَنَّة الإِبدارِ
The eclipse hastened upon him before its time,
The east to the west is nearer in distance
And erased him before he could be expected to wax full.
Than that remoteness of a few yards
واستَلَّand he was plucked مِنfrom أَترابِهِhis age-mates وَلِداتِهِhis contemporaries
واستَلَّ مِن أَترابِهِ وَلِداتِهِ
كَالمُقلَةِlike the eyeball استَلَتwas plucked مِنَfrom الأَشفارِthe eyelashes
كَالمُقلَةِ استَلَت مِنَ الأَشفارِ
He was plucked from his peers, born alongside him,
Alas! The shackles of misfortune have chained you
Like an eyeball plucked from its lashes.
And the barrier of lifetimes freed your life
فَكَأَنَّso it is as though قَلبيmy heart قبرهwere his grave وَكَأَنَّهُand as though he
فَكَأَنَّ قَلبي قبره وَكَأَنَّهُ
فيin طَيِّهِits folds سِرٌّwere a secret مِنَamong الأَسرارِsecrets
في طَيِّهِ سِرٌّ مِنَ الأَسرارِ
It is as though my heart were his grave, and he
You ran as I ran toward an aim
A secret folded within it among secrets.
You reached it while your father remained in the race
إِنif يُحتقرhe is belittled صِغَراًfor smallness فَرُبٌthen many a مُفَخَّمٍgreat one
إِن يُحتقر صِغَراً فَرُبٌ مُفَخَّمٍ
يَبدوappears ضَئيلsmall الشَخصِin body لِلنُّظّارِto onlookers
يَبدو ضَئيل الشَخصِ لِلنُّظّارِ
If he is belittled for his smallness, many a great one
When I speak, you are the first of my speaking
Appears small in body to onlookers.
When silent, you are in my thoughts
إِنَّindeed الكَواكِبِthe stars فيin عُلُوِّthe height مَكانِهاof their station
إِنَّ الكَواكِبِ في عُلُوِّ مَكانِها
لَتُرىare surely seen صِغاراًas small وَهيَthough they are غَيرُnot صِغارِsmall
لَتُرى صِغاراً وَهيَ غَيرُ صِغارِ
The stars, in the height of their stations,
I hide a fire, as embers hide
Are surely seen as small, though they are not small.
Fire though blankets cover it
ولدُthe child المُعَزّىof the bereaved بَعضهis part of him فَإِذاand when مَضىpasses away
ولدُ المُعَزّى بَعضه فَإِذا مَضى
بَعضُa part الفتىof the man فَالكُلُّthen the whole فيin الآثارِits footsteps
بَعضُ الفتى فَالكُلُّ في الآثارِ
A bereaved man's child is part of him; when he loses
And I restrain sighs though they ascend
A part of himself, the whole follows in its tracks.
I restrain tears though they flow
أَبكيهِI weep for him ثُمَّthen أَقولُI say مُعتَذِراًapologizing لَهُto him
أَبكيهِ ثُمَّ أَقولُ مُعتَذِراً لَهُ
وُفِّقتَyou were fortunate حينَwhen تَرَكتَyou left آلامَthe pains دارِof an abode
وُفِّقتَ حينَ تَرَكتَ آلامَ دارِ
I weep for him, then say, apologizing to him:
The sparks of sorrow’s flint, if I indulge them
You were blessed when you left this abode's pains.
Subside, though if I disobey they hide
جاوَرتُI dwelt beside أَعدائيmy enemies وَجاوَرَand he dwelt beside رَبَّهُhis Lord
جاوَرتُ أَعدائي وَجاوَرَ رَبَّهُ
شَتّانhow different بَينَbetween جِوارِهِhis dwelling وَجِواريand my dwelling
شَتّان بَينَ جِوارِهِ وَجِواري
I dwell beside my enemies, while he dwells beside his Lord;
I hold back the fires of grief, and sometimes
How far apart his dwelling and mine!
Patience overwhelms so they release sparks
أَشكوI lament بُعادكyour absence ليto myself وَأَنتwhile you are بَمَوضِعٍin a place
أَشكو بُعادك لي وَأَنت بَمَوضِعٍ
لولاbut for الرَدىdeath لَسَمِعتَyou would have heard فيهِthere سَراريmy whispers
لولا الرَدى لَسَمِعتَ فيهِ سَراري
I lament your absence to myself, though you are in a place
The garb of hypocrisy reveals what lies beneath it
Where, but for death, you would hear my whispers.
So when I dress in it, I am bare
وَالشَرقand the east نَحوَtoward الغَربِthe west أَقرَبُis nearer شُقةin distance
وَالشَرق نَحوَ الغَربِ أَقرَبُ شُقة
مِنthan بُعدِthe distance تِلكَof those الخَمسَةِfive الأَشبارِhandspans
مِن بُعدِ تِلكَ الخَمسَةِ الأَشبارِ
The east is a shorter journey from the west
Did my eyelids shorten or widen between them
Than the distance of those five handspans.
Or are my eyes pictured without lashes?
هَيهاتalas قَدalready علقتكhave caught you أَشراكthe snares الرَدىof death
هَيهات قَد علقتك أَشراك الرَدى
واعتاقَand hindered عُمرَكَyour lifetime عائِقthe hinderer الأَعمارِof lifetimes
واعتاقَ عُمرَكَ عائِق الأَعمارِ
Alas, death's snares have caught you,
Tears dried until it was as though their deception
And the hinderer of lifetimes has cut your life short.
When the eyes squeeze shut, the ridge of a mountain
وَلَقَدand indeed جَرَيتَyou ran كَماas جريتُI ran لِغايَةٍtoward a finish
وَلَقَد جَرَيتَ كَما جريتُ لِغايَةٍ
فبلغتهاand you reached it وَأَبوكَwhile your father فيis in المِضمارِthe racecourse
فبلغتها وَأَبوكَ في المِضمارِ
You ran, as I have run, toward a finish,
If drowsiness donned attire between my lids
And reached it while your father is still on the track.
To the flowing tears, what lies between would connect
فَإِذاand when نَطَقتُI speak فَأَنتthen you are أَوَلthe first مَنطِقيof my speech
فَإِذا نَطَقتُ فَأَنت أَوَل مَنطِقي
وَإِذاand when سكتI fall silent فَأَنتَthen you are فيin إِضماريmy hidden thoughts
وَإِذا سكت فَأَنتَ في إِضماري
Whenever I speak, you are the first of my words;
I give life to nights of darkness though they kill me
When I am silent, you are in my hidden thoughts.
And the gleam of lights kills them
أَخفيI conceal مِنَof البُرَحاءanguish ناراًa fire مِثلَماjust as
أَخفي مِنَ البُرَحاء ناراً مِثلَما
يَخفىhide مِنَof النارِfire الزِنادَthe firesticks الواريthat kindle flame
يَخفى مِنَ النارِ الزِنادَ الواري
I hide a fire of anguish, just as
Until I saw the dawn raise its palm
The kindling firesticks hide their fire.
With light, fluttering like a tent of mist
وَأُخَفِّضُand I lower الزَفراتthe sighs وَهيَwhile they are صَواعِدٌrising
وَأُخَفِّضُ الزَفرات وَهيَ صَواعِدٌ
وَأُكَفكِفُand I check العَبراتthe tears وَهيَwhile they are جَواريflowing
وَأُكَفكِفُ العَبرات وَهيَ جَواري
I lower my sighs while they rise,
Dawn has immersed the stars, as though a flood
And check my tears while they flow.
Surged and erased the streams
وَشِهابُand the flame زَندِof the firestick الحُزنِof sorrow إِنif طاوَعتُهُI yield to it
وَشِهابُ زَندِ الحُزنِ إِن طاوَعتُهُ
وَآرٍblazing وَإِنand if عاصَيتَهُyou resist it مُتَواريhidden
وَآرٍ وَإِن عاصَيتَهُ مُتَواري
The flame of sorrow's firestick, if I yield to it,
The inflammation of entrails has grayed my parting hair
Blazes; if you resist it, it lies hidden.
This radiance is flames of that fire
وَأَكُفُّand I restrain نيرانthe fires الأَسىof grief وَلَرُبَّماand often
وَأَكُفُّ نيران الأَسى وَلَرُبَّما
غلبovercomes التَصَبُّرforced patience فارتَمَتthen they fling themselves بِشَرارِin sparks
غلب التَصَبُّر فارتَمَت بِشَرارِ
I restrain the fires of grief, yet often
The barren tree has sprouted and every growing branch
Grief overcomes forced patience, and they fling out sparks.
The enclosure of desolation toward blossoming
ثَوبthe garment الرِياءof pretense يَشِفُّreveals عَنof ماwhat تَحتَهُis beneath it
ثَوب الرِياء يَشِفُّ عَن ما تَحتَهُ
فَإِذاand when التحفتyou wrap yourself بِهِin it فَإِنَّكَthen you are عاريnaked
فَإِذا التحفت بِهِ فَإِنَّكَ عاري
The garment of pretense shows what lies beneath it;
Similarity is attracted so why the whiteness
When you wrap yourself in it, you are naked.
Of his parting from the whiteness of one with aversion?
قَصُرتhave shortened جُفونيmy eyelids أَمor تَباعَدhas widened بَينَهاbetween them
قَصُرت جُفوني أَم تَباعَد بَينَها
أَمor صُوِّرتwere fashioned عَينيmy eyes بِلاwithout أَشفارِeyelashes
أَم صُوِّرت عَيني بِلا أَشفارِ
Have my eyelids shortened, or has the gap between them widened,
It wishes the loyal white hair and the crack
Or were my eyes made without lashes?
Of fleeting betraying youth were my hair dye
جَفَتthey have forsaken الكَرىsleep حَتّىuntil كَأَنَّas though غرارهits brief snatch
جَفَت الكَرى حَتّى كَأَنَّ غراره
عِندَat اِغتِماضِthe closing العَينَof the eye حدthe edge غِرارِof a sword
عِندَ اِغتِماضِ العَينَ حد غِرارِ
They have forsaken sleep, until its briefest snatch seems,
The prime of youth and its splendor have flown from the world
When the eye closes, like a sword's edge.
So when it ends, my glory has ended
وَلَوand if اِستَزارَتit invited a visit رقدةa spell of sleep لَدَجابِهاwould darken with it (unclear form)
وَلَو اِستَزارَت رقدة لَدَجابِها
ماthe space بَينَbetween أَجفانيmy eyelids إِلىto التَيّارِthe torrent
ما بَينَ أَجفاني إِلى التَيّارِ
Were my eye to invite a spell of sleep, darkness would fall
I deemed it short in distance and its virtues
Between my eyelids, down to the torrent.
To me are not few
أُحَييI keep alive لَياليthe nights التَمِّof greatest length وَهيَwhile they تُميتُنيkill me
أُحَيي لَيالي التَمِّ وَهيَ تُميتُني
وَيُميتُهُنَّand kills them تبلجthe breaking الأَنوارِof lights
وَيُميتُهُنَّ تبلج الأَنوارِ
I give life to the longest nights, while they kill me,
We increase in worry the more we gain wealth
And the breaking light kills them.
While poverty is utter poverty in amassing
حَتّىuntil رَأَيتُI saw الصُبحَdawn يَرفَعُlift كفهits hand
حَتّى رَأَيتُ الصُبحَ يَرفَعُ كفه
بِالضوءِwith light رَفرَفthe flap خيمَةof a tent كالقارِlike pitch
بِالضوءِ رَفرَف خيمَة كالقارِ
Until I saw dawn's hand lift,
What exceeds provision is left lost
With light, the flap of a tent black as pitch.
To an event, or heir, or naked
وَالصُبحُand dawn قَدhad غمرsubmerged النُجومthe stars كَأَنَّهُas though it were
وَالصُبحُ قَد غمر النُجوم كَأَنَّهُ
سيلa torrent طَغىrose فَطمىand overflowed عَلىover النَوارِthe blossoms
سيل طَغى فَطمى عَلى النَوارِ
Dawn had submerged the stars, as though it were
I pity my envier for the heat
A torrent swelling and overflowing the blossoms.
Their chests contained of coal
وَتلهُّبand the burning الأَحشاءof the entrails شَيَّبgrayed مفرقيmy hair-parting
وَتلهُّب الأَحشاء شَيَّب مفرقي
هَذاthis الضِياءbrightness شَواظis the flame تِلكَof that النارِfire
هَذا الضِياء شَواظ تِلكَ النارِ
The burning in my entrails has whitened my parted hair;
They saw God’s work in me so their eyes
This brightness is the flame of that fire.
Are in Paradise while their hearts are in Hell
شابَhas grayed القذالthe back of the head وَكُلُّand every غُصنٍbranch صائِرٍis destined
شابَ القذال وَكُلُّ غُصنٍ صائِرٍ
فينانهits luxuriant foliage الأَحوىdark-colored إِلىto الإِزهارِblossoming
فينانه الأَحوى إِلى الإِزهارِ
The back of my head has grayed; every branch will turn
I am not to blame though I hid my merits
Its dark, luxuriant foliage into blossom.
As though I veiled the face of my day
وَالشِبهand likeness مُنجَذِبٌis attracted فَلِمso why بَيضُthe fair ones الدُمىthe doll-like beauties
وَالشِبه مُنجَذِبٌ فَلِم بَيضُ الدُمى
عَنfrom بَيضِthe whiteness مفرقهof his hair-parting ذَواتpossessing نِفارِaversion
عَن بَيضِ مفرقه ذَوات نِفارِ
Like is drawn to like; why, then, do fair, doll-like beauties
I concealed them in my humility so their necks strained
Shrink from the white hairs at his parting?
High above the screens
وَتَوَدُّand they wish لَوif only جعلتthey made سوادthe dark cores قُلوبِهاof their hearts
وَتَوَدُّ لَو جعلت سواد قُلوبِها
وَسوادand the blackness أَعيُنهاof their eyes خِضابa dye عِذاريfor my sideburns
وَسواد أَعيُنها خِضاب عِذاري
They wish they could make the dark cores of their hearts
Among men are those known and unknown
And the blackness of their eyes a dye for my sideburns.
As among stars are those setting and revolving
لاnot تَنفِرflee الظَبَياتُthe gazelles عَنهfrom it فَقَدfor they have رأتseen
لا تَنفِر الظَبَياتُ عَنه فَقَد رأت
كَيفَhow اختِلافthe changing النَبتof vegetation فيthrough الأَطوارِthe stages
كَيفَ اختِلاف النَبت في الأَطوارِ
The gazelles do not flee from it; they have seen
People are indistinguishable in their income
How plants change through their stages.
While peoples vary in their output
شَيئانِtwo things يَنقَشِعانِvanish أَوَّلat the first وَهلَةٍinstant
شَيئانِ يَنقَشِعانِ أَوَّل وَهلَةٍ
ظِلُّthe shade الشَبابِof youth وَخِلَّةُand the friendship الأَشرارِof the wicked
ظِلُّ الشَبابِ وَخِلَّةُ الأَشرارِ
Two things vanish at the first instant:
My life! I have tread their paths of sublimity
The shade of youth, and the friendship of the wicked.
So they are blind but have not fallen on my traces
لاnot حَبَّذاwelcome الشيبgray hair الوَفيُّthe faithful وَحَبَّذاand welcome
لا حَبَّذا الشيب الوَفيُّ وَحَبَّذا
شَرخthe prime الشَبابِof youth الخائِنِthe faithless الغَدّارِthe treacherous
شَرخ الشَبابِ الخائِنِ الغَدّارِ
Unwelcome is faithful gray hair; welcome
If they saw with their hearts they would see
Is the prime of treacherous, faithless youth.
But the blindness of insights is the blindness of sights
وَطريmy desire مِنَin الدُنياthis world الشَبابis youth وَروقهand its splendor
وَطري مِنَ الدُنيا الشَباب وَروقه
فَإِذاand when اِنقَضىit ends فَقَدthen indeed انقَضَتhave ended أَوطاريmy desires
فَإِذا اِنقَضى فَقَد انقَضَت أَوطاري
My desire in this world is youth and its splendor;
Why not emulate the endeavors of the noble and attain?
When it ends, all my desires have ended.
Or surrender to the turns of fate?
قصرتwas short مَسافَتهits course وَماbut not حَسَناتُهُits virtues
قصرت مَسافَته وَما حَسَناتُهُ
عِنديin my eyes وَلاnor آلاؤُهُits favors بِقِصارِshort-lived
عِندي وَلا آلاؤُهُ بِقِصارِ
Its course was short, but its virtues
Generosity and loyalty have gone from the world
And its favors are not short-lived in my eyes.
Embodied only in poetry
نَزدادُwe increase هَمّاًin worry كُلَمّاwhenever اِزدَدناwe increase غِنَىًin wealth
نَزدادُ هَمّاً كُلَمّا اِزدَدنا غِنَىً
وَالفَقرُand poverty كُلَّutter الفَقرِpoverty فيlies in الإِكثارِamassing more
وَالفَقرُ كُلَّ الفَقرِ في الإِكثارِ
Our worries grow whenever our wealth grows,
The treacheries of trusted ones and others have spread
And utter poverty lies in amassing more.
Until we suspect the sight of visions
ماwhatever زادَexceeds فَوقbeyond الزادِprovisions خُلِّفis left behind ضائِعاًwasted
ما زادَ فَوق الزادِ خُلِّف ضائِعاً
فيin حادِثٍa calamity أَوor وارِثan heir أَوor عاريa borrower
في حادِثٍ أَو وارِث أَو عاري
Whatever exceeds one's provisions is left to waste,
Sometimes the forbearing takes support from the ignorant
To a calamity, an heir, or a borrower.
No good in an ally without a comrade
إِنّيindeed I لأَرحَمtruly pity حاسِديَّmy enviers لِحَرِfor the heat ماof what
إِنّي لأَرحَم حاسِديَّ لِحَرِ ما
ضَمَّتcontain صُدورُهُمtheir breasts مِنَof الأَوغارِrancor
ضَمَّت صُدورُهُم مِنَ الأَوغارِ
I truly pity my enviers for the heat of what
God’s blows are jewels, for they
Their breasts contain of rancor.
Are the blunting of villains and the polishing of the noble
نَظَرواthey saw صَنيعَthe favor اللَهِof God بيtoward me فَعُيونُهُمso their eyes
نَظَروا صَنيعَ اللَهِ بي فَعُيونُهُم
فيare in جَنَّةٍa garden وَقُلوبهمand their hearts فيin نارِfire
في جَنَّةٍ وَقُلوبهم في نارِ
They saw God's favor toward me: their eyes
Was I anything but iron so He stamped me
Are in a garden, while their hearts are in fire.
A sword and unleashed me, wild?
لاno ذَنبَfault ليof mine كَمhow often رمتI sought كتمto conceal فَضائِليmy virtues
لا ذَنبَ لي كَم رمت كتم فَضائِلي
فَكَأَنَّماso it was as though برقعتI veiled وَجهthe face نَهاريof my daylight
فَكَأَنَّما برقعت وَجه نَهاري
It is no fault of mine: how often I sought to hide my virtues,
A time like the mother dog who raises her young
As though I had veiled the face of my daylight.
And wards off the harm of the hissing snake
وَسترتهاand I concealed them بِتَواضعيwith my humility فَتطلَّعتthen they peered up
وَسترتها بِتَواضعي فَتطلَّعت
أَعناقهاtheir necks تَعلوrise عَلىabove الأَستارِthe curtains
أَعناقها تَعلو عَلى الأَستارِ
I covered them with my modesty, but they stretched
Their necks upward above the curtains.
وَمِنَand among الرِجالmen مَعالِمare landmarks وَمَجاهِلand unknown wastes
وَمِنَ الرِجال مَعالِم وَمَجاهِل
وَمِنَand among النُجومِstars غَوامِضare dim ones وَداريand bright ones (unclear form)
وَمِنَ النُجومِ غَوامِض وَداري
Among men are landmarks and trackless wastes,
And among stars are dim ones and shining ones.
وَالناسُand people مُشتَبِهونَare alike فيin إِيرادِهِمtheir approach to water
وَالناسُ مُشتَبِهونَ في إِيرادِهِم
وَتَباينand the difference الأَقوامِbetween peoples فيin الإِصدارِdeparture from water
وَتَباين الأَقوامِ في الإِصدارِ
People are alike when they approach the watering-place;
Their differences show when they leave.
عَمريby my life لَقَدindeed أَوطأتُهُمI led them onto طُرقthe paths العُلىof greatness
عَمري لَقَد أَوطأتُهُم طُرق العُلى
فَعَمواso they went blind وَلَمand did not يَقَعواfind عَلىupon آثاريmy tracks
فَعَموا وَلَم يَقَعوا عَلى آثاري
By my life, I set them upon the paths of greatness,
But they went blind and did not find my tracks.
لَوif أَبصَرواthey had seen بِقُلوبِهِمwith their hearts لاستَبصَرواthey would have understood
لَو أَبصَروا بِقُلوبِهِم لاستَبصَروا
وَعمىand blindness البَصائِرِof insight مَنfrom عَمىblindness الأَبصارِof sight
وَعمى البَصائِرِ مَن عَمى الأَبصارِ
Had they seen with their hearts, they would have understood;
Blindness of insight comes from blindness of sight.
هَلّاwhy did they not سَعواstrive سَعيَwith the striving الكِرامِof the noble فَأَدرَكواand attain
هَلّا سَعوا سَعيَ الكِرامِ فَأَدرَكوا
أَوor سَلَّمواsubmit لِمَواقِعِto the workings الأَقدارِof fate
أَو سَلَّموا لِمَواقِعِ الأَقدارِ
Why did they not strive as noble people strive, and attain,
Or submit to the workings of fate?
ذهبdeparted التَكرمnobility وَالوَفاءand loyalty مِنَfrom الوَرىhumankind
ذهب التَكرم وَالوَفاء مِنَ الوَرى
وَتصرَّماand both vanished إِلّاexcept مِنَfrom الأَشعارِpoetry
وَتصرَّما إِلّا مِنَ الأَشعارِ
Nobility and loyalty have departed from humankind,
And vanished everywhere but in poetry.
وَفَشَتand spread خِياناتthe betrayals الثِقاتِof the trusted وَغيرهمand others
وَفَشَت خِيانات الثِقاتِ وَغيرهم
حَتّىuntil أتَّهمناwe doubted رُؤيةthe seeing الأَبصارِof eyes
حَتّى أتَّهمنا رُؤية الأَبصارِ
The treachery of trusted men and others has spread,
Until we doubt what our own eyes see.
وَلَرُبَّماand often اعتَضدgained support الحَليمthe forbearing man بِجاهِلٍfrom a fool
وَلَرُبَّما اعتَضد الحَليم بِجاهِلٍ
لاno خَيرgood فيin يُمنيa right hand بِغَيرِwithout يَسارِa left hand
لا خَير في يُمني بِغَيرِ يَسارِ
Often the forbearing man gains strength from a fool;
There is no good in a right hand without a left.
لِلَّهِto God belongs دُرُّthe excellence النائِباتِof calamities فَإِنَّهاfor they are
لِلَّهِ دُرُّ النائِباتِ فَإِنَّها
صَدأُrust اللِئامِto the base وَصيقلand polish الأَحرارِto the noble
صَدأُ اللِئامِ وَصيقل الأَحرارِ
God bless calamities, for they are
Rust to the base and polish to the noble.
هَلwas it that كنتI was إِلّاanything but زَبرَةًa lump of iron فَطَبَعنَنيso they forged me
هَل كنت إِلّا زَبرَةً فَطَبَعنَني
سَيفاًinto a sword وَأطلقand released صرفهنtheir vicissitudes غراريmy blade's edge
سَيفاً وَأطلق صرفهن غراري
Was I anything but a lump of iron? They forged me
Into a sword, and their vicissitudes freed my edge.
زَمنan age كأمِّlike the mother of الكلبa dog ترyou see (fragmentary) أُمa mother جروهاher pup
زَمن كأمِّ الكلب تر أُم جروها
وَتصدand turns away عَنfrom ولدthe cub الهزبرof the lion الضاريthe fierce
وَتصد عَن ولد الهزبر الضاري
An age like a dog's mother: you see her mothering her pup,
Yet turning away from the fierce lion's cub.
Partial English translation: 156 of 180 Arabic lines translated.