صدودٌ ملظٌّ أو فراقٌ مواشكُ

صدودٌ ملظٌّ أو فراقٌ مواشكُ

لعمري لقد ضاقَتْ عليّ المسالكُ

لعمري لقد ضاقَتْ عليّ المسالكُ

Relentless rejection, or an imminent parting—

The farewells or hard partings have narrowed the roads for me,

By my life, the paths have narrowed upon me.

Indeed, the paths of reproach have become constricted.

أتى دون أسماءَ العتابُ ودوننا

أتى دون أسماءَ العتابُ ودوننا

مآخذُ أحْصَتْها النّوى ومتارك

مآخذُ أحْصَتْها النّوى ومتارك

Reproach stands between me and Asma; between us lie

Blame has come without names, and between us

approaches and departures, all counted by separation.

Are concerns that intent has counted, and the abandoned.

ومن لي بها والبيضُ والسُمْرُ دونها

ومن لي بها والبيضُ والسُمْرُ دونها

وَجُرْد المذاكي والقِلاص الرواتك

وَجُرْد المذاكي والقِلاص الرواتك

And who can bring her to me, when white swords and tawny spears stand before her,

And who can replace them for me? The white and the brown women,

and sleek, seasoned warhorses and swift young she-camels?

The fine garments and the collar of a coat.

وكلُّ طويلِ الرمحِ طبٌّ بِحَمْلِهِ

وكلُّ طويلِ الرمحِ طبٌّ بِحَمْلِهِ

إذا شاءَ أبكاهُ دماً وهو ضاحك

إذا شاءَ أبكاهُ دماً وهو ضاحك

And every long-speared man is expert at wielding his spear:

And each tall, speared man is apt in bearing it,

if he wishes, he makes it weep blood while he laughs.

If he wishes, he makes it weep blood while laughing.

أخو عزماتٍ لا المهارَى أمَامَها

أخو عزماتٍ لا المهارَى أمَامَها

نواجٍ ولا الخيلُ العتاق مساهِكُ

نواجٍ ولا الخيلُ العتاق مساهِكُ

A man of firm resolves, before which neither Mahri camels

The brother of resolves - no cowards before them -

can flee nor noble-bred horses keep pace.

Brides, and steeds unrestrained by the reins.

له مثقْلَةٌ شَوْساءُ أكثرُ نومها

له مثقْلَةٌ شَوْساءُ أكثرُ نومها

غِرارٌ إذا نام العُدَاةُ الصّعالك

غِرارٌ إذا نام العُدَاةُ الصّعالك

He has a heavily armed, fierce troop, whose sleep is mostly

He has a sleepy, blond wife who sleeps much,

brief snatches, when the pauper foes lie sleeping.

Agile, when the audacious sleep - the nimble.

إذا مَرَقتْ بين الودائقِ والدُّجى

إذا مَرَقتْ بين الودائقِ والدُّجى

فلا حِجْلَ إلا ما تثير السّنابك

فلا حِجْلَ إلا ما تثير السّنابك

When it darts through midday heat and darkness,

When it flows between the valleys and darkness,

there is no anklet save what the hooves stir up.

No anklet except what stirs the bracelets.

وَعَرْض فلاةٍ ما تُعارِضُها النّوى

وَعَرْض فلاةٍ ما تُعارِضُها النّوى

ترى الموتَ فيها وهو أعْزَلُ شائك

ترى الموتَ فيها وهو أعْزَلُ شائك

And the breadth of a wilderness that separation cannot rival:

And the expanse of a wilderness that the intent does not contend with,

you see death there, unarmed yet bristling with weapons.

You see death in it while it is unarmed, entangled.

وجُنْحُ ظلامٍ لو تُثارُ عجاجةٌ

وجُنْحُ ظلامٍ لو تُثارُ عجاجةٌ

لما لَمَعَتْ فيها السيوف البواتك

لما لَمَعَتْ فيها السيوف البواتك

And a wing of darkness where, were a dust cloud stirred,

And a wing of darkness - if hubbub were stirred in it,

the cleaving swords would not gleam within it.

The swords would not gleam in it, the lightening ones.

دجىً لو سرت فيها الشياطين ترتقي

دجىً لو سرت فيها الشياطين ترتقي

إلى السرِّ لم تخلص إليها النيازك

إلى السرِّ لم تخلص إليها النيازك

Darkness where, were devils to travel, ascending

A gloom - if devils walked in it at night

toward the secret, meteors could not reach them.

To the secret, the meteors would not reach it.

خليليَّ هلْ في أدْمُعي وانحدارِهَا

خليليَّ هلْ في أدْمُعي وانحدارِهَا

جِلاءٌ لعينٍ دَمْعُها مُتَمَاسِكُ

جِلاءٌ لعينٍ دَمْعُها مُتَمَاسِكُ

My two friends, is there in my tears and their flowing down

My friend, do my tears and their flowing

a cleansing for an eye whose tears are held back?

Clarify an eye whose tears are coherent?

ولي سَكَنٌ ينأى ويدنو وحبُّهُ

ولي سَكَنٌ ينأى ويدنو وحبُّهُ

بِصَبْريَ مُوْدٍ أو لِسِرِّيَ هاتك

بِصَبْريَ مُوْدٍ أو لِسِرِّيَ هاتك

And I have a beloved who draws away and draws near; his love

And I have a dwelling that comes and goes, and his love

destroys my patience or lays bare my secret.

For my patience, affection, or my secret, concerns you.

سلِ الخيلَ هل جَشّمْتُها كلَّ غايةٍ

سلِ الخيلَ هل جَشّمْتُها كلَّ غايةٍ

يهونُ عليها شَدُّهَا المتدارك

يهونُ عليها شَدُّهَا المتدارك

Ask the horses whether I tasked them with every goal

Ask the horses - did I spur them on at every goal

their unbroken gallop makes easy to reach.

Which becomes easy for them, the pursuing ones?

وهل عرفتني ربما بِتُّ مغرماً

وهل عرفتني ربما بِتُّ مغرماً

تدافعه أكفالها والحوارك

تدافعه أكفالها والحوارك

And have they known me, when at times I spent the night lovesick,

And did they recognize me while besotted, perhaps,

their croups and withers tossing me about?

Warding me off with their shoulders and flanks?

وما نكرت إلا التفاتيَ بالقنا

وما نكرت إلا التفاتيَ بالقنا

وقد شَرِقَتْ بالمعلمين المعارك

وقد شَرِقَتْ بالمعلمين المعارك

They found nothing strange except my wheeling with the spears,

And I only turned away at the canal

when the battlefields choked with warriors bearing insignia;

When the battle clashed with the instructors.

وإلا اختيالي في ذُرى صَهَوَاتها

وإلا اختيالي في ذُرى صَهَوَاتها

وقد نظرتْ شزراً إليَّ المهالك

وقد نظرتْ شزراً إليَّ المهالك

and my proud sway on the heights of their saddlebacks,

Or my arrogance in the valleys of its dashing,

while perils cast sidelong looks at me.

When death glanced askance at me, the destroyer.

أيا رحمتا للشعر أقوت ربوعُهُ

أيا رحمتا للشعر أقوت ربوعُهُ

على أنها للمكرمات مناسك

على أنها للمكرمات مناسك

Ah, pity for poetry: its abodes are deserted,

Oh, mercy for poetry, its meadows are richer

though they are shrines of noble deeds.

As if they are rituals for the generous.

وللشعراء اليوم ثُلَّتْ عروشهم

وللشعراء اليوم ثُلَّتْ عروشهم

فلا الفخر مختالٌ ولا العز تامِك

فلا الفخر مختالٌ ولا العز تامِك

And today the poets' thrones have been overthrown:

And today the thrones of poets have been demolished,

pride no longer struts, nor does honor stand high.

So neither pride is arrogant, nor glory established.

إذا ابتدر الناس الحظوظَ وأشرفت

إذا ابتدر الناس الحظوظَ وأشرفت

مطالبُ قومٍ وهي سود حوالك

مطالبُ قومٍ وهي سود حوالك

When people hasten toward good fortune, and there loom

When people seize fortunes and the requests

the aims of a people, black and utterly dark,

Of a group arise while you are unarmed,

رأيتهمُ لو كان عندك مَدْفَعٌ

رأيتهمُ لو كان عندك مَدْفَعٌ

كما كَسَدَتْ خلفَ الرئالِ الترائك

كما كَسَدَتْ خلفَ الرئالِ الترائك

you would see them—if you had any defense to offer—

You see them, if you had a cannon,

like abandoned eggs grown worthless behind the ostrich chicks.

As the sheds have blocked the dams.

فيا دولةَ الضّيْمِ اجْمِلِي أوْ تَجَامَلي

فيا دولةَ الضّيْمِ اجْمِلِي أوْ تَجَامَلي

فقد أصْحَبَت تلك العرى والعرائك

فقد أصْحَبَت تلك العرى والعرائك

O reign of oppression, act kindly, or at least feign kindness,

So, oh state of oppression, be gentle or compromise,

for those bonds and dispositions have become tractable.

For those bonds and shackles have stuck fast.

ويا قام زيد أعرضي أو تعارضي

ويا قام زيد أعرضي أو تعارضي

فقد حال من دون المنى قال مالك

فقد حال من دون المنى قال مالك

And O 'Zayd stood,' turn away or oppose me:

And oh pillar of increase withdraw or contend,

for 'Malik said' has barred the way to my wishes.

For between the purpose and destination lies an obstacle.

سَمَتْ بأبي العباسِ تلك وهذه

سَمَتْ بأبي العباسِ تلك وهذه

إلى حيثُ لا تسمو النجوم السّوامك

إلى حيثُ لا تسمو النجوم السّوامك

Both that and this have borne Abu al-Abbas upward

It carried Abu Al-Abbas those and this one

to where the towering stars cannot rise.

To where the stars cannot rise, the pillars.

رحيبُ مجالِ الفكر والأمرُ ضيق

رحيبُ مجالِ الفكر والأمرُ ضيق

صليبُ قناةِ الصبر والأمر ناهك

صليبُ قناةِ الصبر والأمر ناهك

Spacious is his thought's range when affairs are constricted;

The realm of thought is spacious, and the matter constricted,

stout is the shaft of his patience when affairs exhaust.

The crucifix of the canal of patience, and the matter sighing.

ومشترك الأكفاء في السخط والرضى

ومشترك الأكفاء في السخط والرضى

وليس له في المكرمات مشارك

وليس له في المكرمات مشارك

He shares with his peers in displeasure and contentment,

And the peers share in discontent and pleasure,

yet he has no partner in noble deeds.

Yet have no share of favors.

بقاضي قضاة الغرب وابن قضائه

بقاضي قضاة الغرب وابن قضائه

تودّدَتِ الآمال وهي فوارك

تودّدَتِ الآمال وهي فوارك

Through the chief judge of the West, a son of its judiciary,

With the judge of the judges of the West and the son of his judgment,

hopes have turned affectionate, though they are spurning wives.

Hopes have flirted while effervescent.

فتىً لم يكنْ يوماً لينآه مَطْلَبٌ

فتىً لم يكنْ يوماً لينآه مَطْلَبٌ

ولو أنّه في مَسْلَكِ البحرِ سالك

ولو أنّه في مَسْلَكِ البحرِ سالك

A young man whom no goal would ever elude,

A young man whose request never wearied,

even if it traveled along the path of the sea.

Even if he walked the path of the sea faring,

يُطلُّ على الأعداءِ من كلِّ جانبٍ

يُطلُّ على الأعداءِ من كلِّ جانبٍ

وقد أفكت عنه الخطوب الأوافك

وقد أفكت عنه الخطوب الأوافك

He looms over his enemies from every side,

He looks upon the enemies from every side,

while treacherous calamities have turned aside from him.

And dangers have been released from him, departing.

إزاء العوالي وهو جذلانُ بِاسمٌ

إزاء العوالي وهو جذلانُ بِاسمٌ

ودونَ المعالي وهو شيحانُ فاتِك

ودونَ المعالي وهو شيحانُ فاتِك

Before lofty spearpoints he is joyful and smiling;

Facing the sublime while he is gentle in name,

in defense of high honors he is vigorous and deadly.

And beneath the noble while he is lowly in manner.

حَرِيٌّ بأن لا يعدو الحقَّ وَجْهُهُ

حَرِيٌّ بأن لا يعدو الحقَّ وَجْهُهُ

لديه وقد راغ الأَلدُّ المُمَاحِك

لديه وقد راغ الأَلدُّ المُمَاحِك

Worthy that truth should never lose its proper face

It befits that his face does not transgress truth,

before him, though the stubborn quibbler dodges;

As the ancient and wise have contended before him.

وأن تعرف الأقوامُ سَوْرَةَ عَدْلِهِ

وأن تعرف الأقوامُ سَوْرَةَ عَدْلِهِ

كما احتَمَلتْ نارَ القيون السبائك

كما احتَمَلتْ نارَ القيون السبائك

and that peoples should know the force of his justice,

And that people recognize the image of his justice,

as ingots bear the smiths' fire;

As the fires of battle have borne the swords.

وأن يتوقّى الضيمُ جانبَ جاره

وأن يتوقّى الضيمُ جانبَ جاره

كما يتوقّى البعل عَذْراءُ عارِكُ

كما يتوقّى البعل عَذْراءُ عارِكُ

and that oppression should shun the side of his neighbor,

And that oppression avoid the side of its neighbor,

as a menstruating maiden shuns a husband.

As the husband avoids the chaste bride.

نضاه أميرُ المؤمنين مهنّداً

نضاه أميرُ المؤمنين مهنّداً

لكلِّ دمٍ منه وإن عزَّ سافك

لكلِّ دمٍ منه وإن عزَّ سافك

The Commander of the Faithful unsheathed him, an Indian-forged sword;

The Commander of the Faithful refined him as a sword,

every blood has in him a shedder, however fiercely guarded.

For each blood he spilt, even if shed.

وتاهتْ به الأيامُ عِلقَ مضِنَّةٍ

وتاهتْ به الأيامُ عِلقَ مضِنَّةٍ

تَنَازَعُهُ أَمْلاكُهُ والممالك

تَنَازَعُهُ أَمْلاكُهُ والممالك

The days vaunted him as a treasure jealously guarded,

And days confused him - attached to worries -

his kings and the kingdoms contending for him.

That disputed his possessions and kingdoms.

إذا التقتِ النارُ الفَرَاش تأَلّقَتْ

إذا التقتِ النارُ الفَرَاش تأَلّقَتْ

أياديه فالتفّتْ عليها الهوالك

أياديه فالتفّتْ عليها الهوالك

When fire meets moths, there flare

When fire meets kindling it blazes,

his favors, and the doomed gather around them.

His hands, so destruction turns upon it.

إذا سمعتْ أُذناه حيَّ على العلا

إذا سمعتْ أُذناه حيَّ على العلا

فلا الجودُ متروكٌ ولا البأس تارك

فلا الجودُ متروكٌ ولا البأس تارك

When his ears hear, 'Come to the heights!'

When his ears hear, "Take heed!"

generosity is not forsaken, nor does courage forsake him.

Neither generosity abandoned, nor might leaving.

وإن علقتْ كفاه حبلَ سيادةٍ

وإن علقتْ كفاه حبلَ سيادةٍ

فلله مسموكٌ به المجدُ سامِكُ

فلله مسموكٌ به المجدُ سامِكُ

And if his palms grasp the rope of lordship,

And if his hands seize the rope of authority,

God be praised: glory is raised through him, its raiser!

The glory is entrusted to him, established.

وإن أسعرت عيناهُ وجه صنيعةً

وإن أسعرت عيناهُ وجه صنيعةً

رأيتَ عيون الأسدِ وهي مضاحك

رأيتَ عيون الأسدِ وهي مضاحك

And if his eyes kindle a beneficiary's face,

And if his eyes ignite before an action,

you see a lion's eyes, yet smiling.

You see the eyes of a lion while laughing.

الكني إليه في السلام وبيننا

الكني إليه في السلام وبيننا

مخارمُ لا تسمو إليها المآلك

مخارمُ لا تسمو إليها المآلك

Carry my greeting to him; between us lie

Speak to him in peace while between us

mountain passes beyond the reach of messages—

Are cheek-pieces that misfortunes cannot reach.

بآيةِ ما يَكْفي الملمَّ وربّما

بآيةِ ما يَكْفي الملمَّ وربّما

وَنَتْ فيه أخْلافُ السّحاب الحواشك

وَنَتْ فيه أخْلافُ السّحاب الحواشك

in token of how he wards off affliction, when at times

With the sign of what suffices the refugee, and perhaps

the brimming udders of the clouds have slackened before it.

The ensuing clouds have taken oaths in it.

أَجِدَّكَ لم توقظكَ والنجمُ هاجعٌ

أَجِدَّكَ لم توقظكَ والنجمُ هاجعٌ

هواتفُ لِلّبِّ الأَصيلِ هَوَاتك

هواتفُ لِلّبِّ الأَصيلِ هَوَاتك

In earnest—have you not been woken, while the star slumbers,

I see you - the star did not wake you and the guide star sleeps -

by voices that tear through the steadfast mind?

The intuitions of sincere love call to you.

دَعَتْ فأَشاعتْ بَثَّها وسرورَهَا

دَعَتْ فأَشاعتْ بَثَّها وسرورَهَا

وأنضاءُ همي والدياجي بوارك

وأنضاءُ همي والدياجي بوارك

They called, spreading their sorrow and their joy,

They called and disseminated their joy and bliss,

while the worn mounts of my care and the dark nights crouched.

My worries and the dawn lights have mingled.

بناتُ الهوى تُمليه أو تَسْتَمِلُّه

بناتُ الهوى تُمليه أو تَسْتَمِلُّه

لها الشجْوُ مني والأرَاكُ أرائك

لها الشجْوُ مني والأرَاكُ أرائك

The daughters of longing dictate it, or ask its dictation;

The daughters of passion dictate it or draw him in,

from me they have sorrow, and arak trees for couches.

My devotion is to them, and the camels their she-camels.

يَلُكْنَ حديثاً ربما أفْصَحَتْ به

يَلُكْنَ حديثاً ربما أفْصَحَتْ به

هَنَاتٌ لحبَّاتِ القلوبِ هواتك

هَنَاتٌ لحبَّاتِ القلوبِ هواتك

They chew over a tale that at times has been plainly spoken

They gently converse, sometimes elucidating

by little matters that rend the hearts' very cores.

The yearnings of enamored hearts that love you.

وأحسبها غنَّتْ بذكركَ موهناً

وأحسبها غنَّتْ بذكركَ موهناً

وأيدي المطايا بالرِّحالِ بواشك

وأيدي المطايا بالرِّحالِ بواشك

I think they sang your name late in the night,

And I reckon they sung your name infatuated,

while the mounts' forelegs hastened beneath their saddles.

While the hands of the saddles nearly touch.

لذاك جلاها من سنا الصبحِ شارقٌ

لذاك جلاها من سنا الصبحِ شارقٌ

وَصَاكَ بها من مسكِ دارينَ صائك

وَصَاكَ بها من مسكِ دارينَ صائك

For that, a rising gleam of dawn unveiled them,

Thus the brilliance of dawn adorned them,

and a clinging scent of Darin's musk suffused them.

And the musk of tents imbued them.

وراقتْ رباها كلَّ حسنٍ كأنما

وراقتْ رباها كلَّ حسنٍ كأنما

تُنَشَّرُ فيما بينهن الدَّرَانك

تُنَشَّرُ فيما بينهن الدَّرَانك

Their hills surpassed every beauty, as though

Their pasture delighted every beauty as if

plush carpets were spread among them.

Necklaces were strewn among them.

ففي كل بطنٍ مَشْرَعق مُتَلاحِنٌ

ففي كل بطنٍ مَشْرَعق مُتَلاحِنٌ

وفي كل ظَهْرٍ مَرْتَعٌ متلاحك

وفي كل ظَهْرٍ مَرْتَعٌ متلاحك

In every hollow is a melodious watering place,

In each belly is a lover glancing,

and on every rise a thickly interwoven pasture.

And on each back, a pasture they traverse.

إليك أبا العباسِ غُرَّ مدائحي

إليك أبا العباسِ غُرَّ مدائحي

تُصلِّي عليهن العُلا وَتُبارك

تُصلِّي عليهن العُلا وَتُبارك

To you, Abu al-Abbas, go the brightest of my praises:

To you Abu Al-Abbas - the goal of my praises -

lofty glory prays over them and blesses them.

Is to bless them, sublime and bless.

إليكَ وريعانُ الرجاءِ يَؤُمُّها

إليكَ وريعانُ الرجاءِ يَؤُمُّها

وَقِدْماً رَجَتْهَا البائسات الضرائك

وَقِدْماً رَجَتْهَا البائسات الضرائك

To you, while the first bloom of hope makes for them,

To you the saplings of hope lead them,

and long have the wretched, destitute hoped for them.

As the wretched crawled to meet you.

قلائدَ أعناقس وأزهارَ أعينٍ

قلائدَ أعناقس وأزهارَ أعينٍ

ومنهنَّ في بعضِ الصدورِ حَسَائك

ومنهنَّ في بعضِ الصدورِ حَسَائك

Necklaces for necks and blossoms for eyes,

Necklaces of their necks and flowers of eyes,

yet some are thorns in certain breasts.

Among them in some chests are loves.

فَحِكْ ليَ من نَعْماك بُرْداً أجُرُّهُ

فَحِكْ ليَ من نَعْماك بُرْداً أجُرُّهُ

فإني لأبرادِ المدائح حائك

فإني لأبرادِ المدائح حائك

Weave me, from your bounty, a cloak whose hem I can trail,

So ordain for me some of your bounty, a quilt I will sew,

for I am a weaver of the cloaks of praise.

For I sew quilts of praises.

بني قاسمٍ قد زنتم الدهرَ كلَّه

بني قاسمٍ قد زنتم الدهرَ كلَّه

كما زانتش الصدرَ الثُّدِيُّ الفَوَالك

كما زانتش الصدرَ الثُّدِيُّ الفَوَالك

Sons of Qasim, you have adorned all of time,

O Banu Qasim you have adorned time completely,

as round, swelling breasts adorn the chest.

As its bosom adorned the undulating camels.

رفعتمْ لأهلِ الغربِ أعلامَ دينهمْ

رفعتمْ لأهلِ الغربِ أعلامَ دينهمْ

فأبصرَ مأفوكٌ وأقْصَرَ آفك

فأبصرَ مأفوكٌ وأقْصَرَ آفك

You raised for the people of the West the banners of their faith,

You raised the banners of their religion for the people of the West,

so the misled saw clearly, and the deceiver desisted.

So the deceived could see, and the short reach.

فَقُلْ لِسَلاَ شحي على آلِ قاسمٍ

فَقُلْ لِسَلاَ شحي على آلِ قاسمٍ

ولا تَسَلي بغدادَ أين البرامك

ولا تَسَلي بغدادَ أين البرامك

Say to Sala: 'Guard the house of Qasim jealously,'

Then say to the pouring rain over the family of Qasim,

and do not ask Baghdad where the Barmakids are.

“Do not pour on Baghdad - where are the pools?”

إذا الدِّيمُ الوُطْفُ انتحتْكَ فلا تُبَلْ

إذا الدِّيمُ الوُطْفُ انتحتْكَ فلا تُبَلْ

وقد عرَّجَتْ عنكَ الذِّهَابُ الرَّكَائِك

وقد عرَّجَتْ عنكَ الذِّهَابُ الرَّكَائِك

When the heavy, steady rains make for you, do not care,

If hardship severs you, do not mind,

though the scant, feeble showers have turned aside from you.

When events turn away from you, the iterable.