غنينَا بآل الحضرميِّ وإنما

غنينَا بآل الحضرميِّ وإنما

غَنينا بآثارِ السّحابِ المواطرِ

غَنينا بآثارِ السّحابِ المواطرِ

We have been enriched by the house of al-Hadrami; in truth,

We sang the praises of Al Hazrami's family, and indeed

we have been enriched by the traces of rain-bearing clouds.

We sang the praises of the traces of pouring clouds

بكلِّ فتىً كالسّيف إلا ارتياحَهُ

بكلِّ فتىً كالسّيف إلا ارتياحَهُ

لِطَلْعَةِ شاكٍ أو لنَغْمَةِ شاكر

لِطَلْعَةِ شاكٍ أو لنَغْمَةِ شاكر

By every young man like a sword, save for his glad response

Of every young man like a sword except for his comfort

to a complainant's appearance or a grateful man's song.

For the dawn of a complainer or the melody of a thankful one

كريمِ المساعي هزَّ عِطْفَيَّ عطفُهُ

كريمِ المساعي هزَّ عِطْفَيَّ عطفُهُ

إلى أثَرٍ من مجدهِ ومآثر

إلى أثَرٍ من مجدهِ ومآثر

Noble in his endeavors, his kindness set my sides swaying

The generous one shook my shoulder with his kindness

toward a trace of his glory and noble deeds.

To a trace of his glory and feats

بنىً شادها عيسى وشاد محمد

بنىً شادها عيسى وشاد محمد

فيا فَلَكُ امسكها بفلك المفاخر

فيا فَلَكُ امسكها بفلك المفاخر

Edifices that Isa raised, and Muhammad raised—

Sons that Isa and Muhammad built it

O heaven, hold them in the sphere of glorious deeds!

So O universe, hold it in the orbit of the glories

ضراعةَ مأمورٍ هفا متعمداً

ضراعةَ مأمورٍ هفا متعمداً

فصاغ لها من درِّهِ لفظَ آمر

فصاغ لها من درِّهِ لفظَ آمر

An entreaty from one under orders, who deliberately erred

The obedience of a commanded one, gently deliberate

and fashioned it from his pearls in the words of one commanding.

So he crafted for it from his pearls an ordering word

فلا ذنبَ لي إن لم أكنْ جدَّ عالمٍ

فلا ذنبَ لي إن لم أكنْ جدَّ عالمٍ

على أيّكمْ نبدا بِثَنْي الخنَاصر

على أيّكمْ نبدا بِثَنْي الخنَاصر

So I am not to blame if I do not know precisely

So I have no sin if I am not very serious scholar

with which of you we should begin folding our little fingers.

On which of you we start with the slitting of the throats

بهاليلُ من قحطانَ ساروا بذكرهمْ

بهاليلُ من قحطانَ ساروا بذكرهمْ

إلى مَثَلٍ في الجودِ والبأسِ سائر

إلى مَثَلٍ في الجودِ والبأسِ سائر

Noble men of Qahtan, whose renown bore them

The crescents of Qahtan marched with their mention

toward a widely current proverb of generosity and valor.

To an example in generosity and valor walking

هم جَنَبُوها بين بُصْرى وَجِلَّقٍ

هم جَنَبُوها بين بُصْرى وَجِلَّقٍ

ضوامرَ زَجُّوْهَا وغيرَ ضوامر

ضوامرَ زَجُّوْهَا وغيرَ ضوامر

They led them alongside between Busra and Jilliq—

They protected it between Busra and Jalliq

lean steeds they drove onward, and steeds not lean.

Whose reins they dragged, and others than the dragged

لياليَ اعطوها سليحَ إتاوةً

لياليَ اعطوها سليحَ إتاوةً

جَرَتْ مثلاً أُخْرَى الدهورِ الدواهر

جَرَتْ مثلاً أُخْرَى الدهورِ الدواهر

In the nights when they paid Salih a tribute

Nights they gave it the weapons of It'awah

that endured as a proverb to the last of the enduring ages.

Another of the revolving times flowed like it

وهمْ ذَعَرُوا أفناءَ عكٍ بوقعةٍ

وهمْ ذَعَرُوا أفناءَ عكٍ بوقعةٍ

أدارتْ على همدانَ إحدى الدَّوَائرِ

أدارتْ على همدانَ إحدى الدَّوَائرِ

And they frightened the clans of Akk with a battle

And they panicked the corners of Aka with a battle

that brought one of fortune's reversals upon Hamdan.

That turned on Hamdan one of the circles

وهمْ زحموا أرضَ الحجاز بزحمةً

وهمْ زحموا أرضَ الحجاز بزحمةً

ببيض الظُّبا والراعفاتِ الشواجر

ببيض الظُّبا والراعفاتِ الشواجر

And they crowded the land of the Hijaz with an onslaught

And they crowded the land of Hijaz with a crowd

with gleaming sword-edges and blood-dripping, interlacing spears.

With the whites of mountain goats and the towering palm trees

وهمْ ملأوا نجداً شَمَاماً وَنَجْدَةً

وهمْ ملأوا نجداً شَمَاماً وَنَجْدَةً

وِرِقَّةَ آدابٍ وطَيبَ عَنَاصر

وِرِقَّةَ آدابٍ وطَيبَ عَنَاصر

And they filled Najd with lofty pride and valor,

And they filled Najd shamam and najdah

and gentleness of manners and nobility of origins.

And the gentility of manners and good elements

لهمْ أجأٌ يحميه زيدٌ وحاتمٌ

لهمْ أجأٌ يحميه زيدٌ وحاتمٌ

بِشَدِّ المذاكي أو بشدِّ المَغَافر

بِشَدِّ المذاكي أو بشدِّ المَغَافر

Theirs is Aja, which Zayd and Hatim defend

For them a refuge that Zayd and Hatim protect

by saddling full-grown steeds or fastening mail coifs.

With the sharpness of swords or the sharpness of daggers

وَجِلَّقُ في سلطانِ عمروِ بن عامرٍ

وَجِلَّقُ في سلطانِ عمروِ بن عامرٍ

وكم لهمُ مِنْ مثلِ عمرو بن عامر

وكم لهمُ مِنْ مثلِ عمرو بن عامر

And Jilliq is under the rule of Amr ibn Amir;

And Jalliq in the sultanate of Amr bin Amer

and how many another Amr ibn Amir they have!

And how many examples for them like Amr bin Amer

وطيبةُ مما أنزلتْهُ سيوفهم

وطيبةُ مما أنزلتْهُ سيوفهم

فهل من مُباهٍ أو فَهَلْ مِنْ مفاخر

فهل من مُباهٍ أو فَهَلْ مِنْ مفاخر

And Tayba is among what their swords secured;

And Taybah from what their swords descended on it

so is there one to vie in pride, or one to rival their glory?

Is there a boaster or so there a pride

لياليَ طابتْ سُبْلها وَشِعَابُها

لياليَ طابتْ سُبْلها وَشِعَابُها

بأكرمِ منصورٍ وأكرمِ ناصر

بأكرمِ منصورٍ وأكرمِ ناصر

In nights when its roads and mountain paths grew pleasant

Nights whose paths and valleys were perfumed

with the noblest of the aided and the noblest of helpers,

With the most generous Mansur and most generous Nasir

بِحيَّينِ من أبناءِ قَيْلةَ أقْدَمُوا

بِحيَّينِ من أبناءِ قَيْلةَ أقْدَمُوا

على الموتِ إقدامَ الليوثِ الخوادر

على الموتِ إقدامَ الليوثِ الخوادر

through two tribes of Qayla's sons, who advanced

With two good men from the sons of Qaylah who embarked

upon death as lions from their lairs advance.

On death with the courage of ferocious lions

سخاؤهُمُ ظلٌّ لكلِّ مُهَجّرٍ

سخاؤهُمُ ظلٌّ لكلِّ مُهَجّرٍ

وبأسُهُمُ أمنٌ لكلِّ مُهَاجر

وبأسُهُمُ أمنٌ لكلِّ مُهَاجر

Their generosity is shade for every traveler in the midday heat,

Their generosity is a shade for every homeless person

and their might is safety for every emigrant.

And their might is safety for every immigrant

وفي كلِّ أرضٍ بلّغوا المجد حقه

وفي كلِّ أرضٍ بلّغوا المجد حقه

بحدِّ العوالي واحتمال الجرائر

بحدِّ العوالي واحتمال الجرائر

And in every land they accorded glory its due

And in every land they delivered glory its right

with the edge of lofty spears and the bearing of liabilities.

With the height of glories and enduring calamities

ولا مثلَ عيسى منهمُ ومحمدٍ

ولا مثلَ عيسى منهمُ ومحمدٍ

طهارةَ أثوابٍ وحُسْنَ مناظرِ

طهارةَ أثوابٍ وحُسْنَ مناظرِ

And none among them equal Isa and Muhammad

And no equal to Isa and Muhammad from them

in purity of garments and beauty of appearance.

The purity of clothes and beauty of views

ونعم الفَتَى إن أخلفَ الغيثُ مالكٌ

ونعم الفَتَى إن أخلفَ الغيثُ مالكٌ

قِرَى النازلِ الثّاوي وزادُ المسافر

قِرَى النازلِ الثّاوي وزادُ المسافر

And if the rain fails, what a fine young man Malik is—

And good is the young man if the rain held back Malik

hospitality for the guest who stays, and provisions for the traveler.

The dwellings of the resident and the traveler's supplies

لك الفضلُ في ما صُغْتُهُ وَصنَعْتهُ

لك الفضلُ في ما صُغْتُهُ وَصنَعْتهُ

وما شاعرٌ لم يَمْتَدِحْك بشاعر

وما شاعرٌ لم يَمْتَدِحْك بشاعر

Yours is the credit for what I fashioned and made,

To you belongs the merit in what I sculptured and made

and no poet who has not praised you is a poet.

And no poet has praised you undeserving

حذوتَ مثالاً فامتثلت فإن أُجِدْ

حذوتَ مثالاً فامتثلت فإن أُجِدْ

فلستُ لما أوْلَيْتَنِيهِ بكافر

فلستُ لما أوْلَيْتَنِيهِ بكافر

You shaped a pattern; I followed it: if I excel,

I took an example so I complied, and if I am ungrateful

I am no ingrate toward what you have bestowed on me.

I am not to what you granted me an infidel

وعلّمتني كيف المديحُ فليسَ لي

وعلّمتني كيف المديحُ فليسَ لي

سوى فِقَرٍ للحاسدينَ فواقر

سوى فِقَرٍ للحاسدينَ فواقر

And you taught me how to praise, so I have

And you taught me how to praise so I have nothing

only verses—backbreaking blows to the envious.

Except poverty to the envious blamers

فإن تكنِ الأبصارُ تُجْلى بإثْمِدٍ

فإن تكنِ الأبصارُ تُجْلى بإثْمِدٍ

فإنّ المعالي إثمدٌ للبصائر

فإنّ المعالي إثمدٌ للبصائر

If eyes are brightened with antimony kohl,

If the sights are blinded by injustice

then lofty deeds are antimony kohl for inward sight.

Then the glories are blinding to the sights

تَرَفّقْ فقد سالت بوسعي وطاقتي

تَرَفّقْ فقد سالت بوسعي وطاقتي

غواربُ من تلك البحار الزواخر

غواربُ من تلك البحار الزواخر

Be gentle: my capacity and strength have been carried off

Be gentle, my ability and power have flowed

by wave-crests from those overflowing seas.

Whirlpools from those deep seas

أَنَحْسبني أسطيعُ جودَكَ كُلَّهُ

أَنَحْسبني أسطيعُ جودَكَ كُلَّهُ

لك اللهُ دعني من لساني وناظري

لك اللهُ دعني من لساني وناظري

Do we think I can encompass all your generosity?

Do you think me able to match all your generosity

God keep you! Set aside my tongue and my eye.

May Allah spare me from my tongue and sight

شَكَرْتُ ولكنْ أينَ مني مواهبٌ

شَكَرْتُ ولكنْ أينَ مني مواهبٌ

بواطنُ قد أتْحَفْتها بِظَواهرِ

بواطنُ قد أتْحَفْتها بِظَواهرِ

I gave thanks, but how far beyond me are gifts—

I thanked but where are the endowments from me

hidden gifts I have answered with outward offerings!

The interiors you have endowed with the externals

ملأتَ يدي من كلِّ مجدٍ وَسُؤْدَدٍ

ملأتَ يدي من كلِّ مجدٍ وَسُؤْدَدٍ

وأبقيتَ ذكري آيةً للذواكر

وأبقيتَ ذكري آيةً للذواكر

You filled my hand with every glory and distinction,

You have filled my hand with every glory and help

and preserved my memory as a sign for those who remember.

And kept my mention a verse for the memorizers

وَرِشْتَ جَنَاحي بالمواهبِ واللُّهَا

وَرِشْتَ جَنَاحي بالمواهبِ واللُّهَا

فطار بها حظّي ولستُ بطائر

فطار بها حظّي ولستُ بطائر

You feathered my wing with gifts and lavish grants;

And you have sprinkled my wing with gifts and brilliance

my fortune flew with them, though I am no bird.

So my fortune took flight, and I am no bird

وأعليتَ قَدْري أو نهضْتَ بقدرتي

وأعليتَ قَدْري أو نهضْتَ بقدرتي

فلا أمْرَ لي إن كنتُ أضعفَ قادر

فلا أمْرَ لي إن كنتُ أضعفَ قادر

You exalted my worth, or lifted my strength,

And you have elevated my worth or promoted my ability

so I have no say if I am the weakest of the able.

So I have no command if I am the weakest able

وأنت الغمامُ الجَوْدُ يُرْجَى وَيُتقَى

وأنت الغمامُ الجَوْدُ يُرْجَى وَيُتقَى

على بدَرٍ منْ صَوْبهِ وبَوَادِر

على بدَرٍ منْ صَوْبهِ وبَوَادِر

You are the copious raincloud, hoped for and feared

And you are the clouds, generosity hoped and feared

for sudden bursts of its rainfall and its abrupt outbursts.

On a full moon in its direction and early drops

مكارمُ تَنْدَى أو مَكَارِمُ تَلْتَظِي

مكارمُ تَنْدَى أو مَكَارِمُ تَلْتَظِي

توارثْتُموهَا كابراً بعدَ كابر

توارثْتُموهَا كابراً بعدَ كابر

Noble deeds that shed dew, or noble deeds that blaze—

Perfections that shine or perfections that ignite

you inherited them from great forebear after great forebear.

You have inherited them as great after great

وكم لكَ مِنْ مَنٍ رَجَعْتَ به المنى

وكم لكَ مِنْ مَنٍ رَجَعْتَ به المنى

سوافرَ تُزْري الخدود السوافر

سوافرَ تُزْري الخدود السوافر

How many a favor is yours, by which you brought hopes back

And how many blessings have you returned with

unveiled, putting unveiled cheeks to shame.

Cups that make cheeks flow their first down

نظمتَ بها شَمْلي وكنتُ نَثرتُهُ

نظمتَ بها شَمْلي وكنتُ نَثرتُهُ

على خُطَّةٍ في كفِّ أخْرَق ناثر

على خُطَّةٍ في كفِّ أخْرَق ناثر

With them you gathered my affairs, though I had scattered them

You have composed my affairs with it, and I would have scattered it

along a course in the hand of a clumsy scatterer.

On a scheme in the palm of a prodigal scatterer

ثلاثُ أثافِي نارِ صدريَ أُضْرِمَتْ

ثلاثُ أثافِي نارِ صدريَ أُضْرِمَتْ

على واردٍ من همِّ صَدْري وصادر

على واردٍ من همِّ صَدْري وصادر

Three hearthstones of my breast's fire were kindled

The three burning coals of my chest's fire were ignited

upon cares coming and going within my breast.

On an arrival from the worry of my chest and origins

ينامون عن ليلِ التمامِ أبِيتُهُ

ينامون عن ليلِ التمامِ أبِيتُهُ

كأني قطاةَ فوق فتخاءَ كاسِرِ

كأني قطاةَ فوق فتخاءَ كاسِرِ

They sleep through the longest night, while I spend it awake,

They sleep away the night of completion, I spent it

as though I were a sandgrouse above a broad-winged raptor.

As if I were a warrior on alert for raids

وأُخْرَى كريعانِ الشَّبابِ استحثَّها

وأُخْرَى كريعانِ الشَّبابِ استحثَّها

نداءُ المنادي بالخليطِ المجاور

نداءُ المنادي بالخليطِ المجاور

And another, like youth's prime, was hurried on

And another like the sprouts of youth it hastened

by the caller's summons to the neighboring company,

The call of the caller with the mixed neighbor women

وبالظاعنين المستقلين إذ غَدَوْا

وبالظاعنين المستقلين إذ غَدَوْا

بأفئدةِ العُشَّاقِ لا بالأَباعر

بأفئدةِ العُشَّاقِ لا بالأَباعر

and to those departing, moving away as they set out

And with the lunging independent ones when they went

on lovers' hearts, not on camels.

With the hearts of lovers, not with the spears

وقد قَرَّبوا أجْمَالَهُمْ يُوْطِئُونها

وقد قَرَّبوا أجْمَالَهُمْ يُوْطِئُونها

بياضَ خدودٍ أو سوادَ نواظر

بياضَ خدودٍ أو سوادَ نواظر

They had brought their camels near, making them tread

And they brought their beauty stepping on it

on the whiteness of cheeks or the blackness of eyes.

With the whiteness of cheeks or blackness of gazes

تقول وكفُّ البين حَيْرَى بجيدها

تقول وكفُّ البين حَيْرَى بجيدها

وكلٌّ بكلٍّ سادرٌ أوْ كَسَادر

وكلٌّ بكلٍّ سادرٌ أوْ كَسَادر

She speaks, while separation's hand falters at her neck,

She says, and the patience of parting confused her with its hand

and each is distracted by the other, or like one distracted.

And each to each is lunging or recoiling

فقلتُ لها يَقْضِي الذي كان قاضياً

فقلتُ لها يَقْضِي الذي كان قاضياً

فَسِيَّانِ إنْ حاذرتِ أو لم تُحَاذري

فَسِيَّانِ إنْ حاذرتِ أو لم تُحَاذري

I told her: he who decreed before will decree,

So I said to her, "He who was judge will judge

so it is all one whether you take care or do not.

So it's the same if you are cautious or don't be cautious"

ثقي بابنِ عيسى مالكٍ ومحمد

ثقي بابنِ عيسى مالكٍ ومحمد

بجبرِ كسيرٍ أو إقالةِ عاثر

بجبرِ كسيرٍ أو إقالةِ عاثر

Trust in Isa's son, Malik, and in Muhammad,

Trust in the son of Isa, Malik, and Muhammad

to mend one broken or lift one who stumbles.

With the mending of broken or saving of fallen

سِرَاجَا المعالي أشْرَقَا فَتَكفَّلا

سِرَاجَا المعالي أشْرَقَا فَتَكفَّلا

لما غارَ من تلك النجوم الغَوَائر

لما غارَ من تلك النجوم الغَوَائر

Two lamps of glory, they shone and took over

The two lanterns of glories shone so they took charge

from those stars that had sunk from sight.

Of what was jealous of those orbiting stars

إليكَ أبا عبدِ الإلهِ ألوكةً

إليكَ أبا عبدِ الإلهِ ألوكةً

سهرتُ لها والنجمُ ليس بساهر

سهرتُ لها والنجمُ ليس بساهر

To you, Abu Abd al-Ilah, a message—

To you Abu Abdullah, I gave a poem

I stayed awake for it, while the star was not awake.

I stayed up for it while the star was no stayer

من اللائي صارتْ أسوةَ الشعر مذ بدت

من اللائي صارتْ أسوةَ الشعر مذ بدت

أصابت لها فضلاً على كلِّ شاعر

أصابت لها فضلاً على كلِّ شاعر

one of those that became a model for poetry when it appeared,

Of those who became the ideal of poetry when she appeared

winning for itself distinction above every poet.

She gained merit over every poet