لا عدا ربعك السحاب الهطول

لا عدا ربعك السحاب الهطول

وتمشت فيه الصبا والقبول

وتمشت فيه الصبا والقبول

May the pouring clouds never pass your dwelling by,

Your meadows have no rain save the clouds shedding their load,

and may the east wind and favorable breeze wander through it.

Whereupon the morning breeze and acceptance have walked,

وأربت على رباه سيول

وأربت على رباه سيول

ليس يدري من بعدها ما المحول

ليس يدري من بعدها ما المحول

May torrents swell upon its hills,

And poured upon its pasture torrents

so that afterward it knows not what drought is.

That know not what may come after their course.

فلكم صافحت به شمأل الري

فلكم صافحت به شمأل الري

ح بأيدي السقاة راح شمولُ

ح بأيدي السقاة راح شمولُ

How often there the north wind was clasped

So often have I stopped, embracing its appearance of dew,

by potent wine in the cupbearers’ hands.

Gone in the water-drawers' hands, spread far and wide!

حب غصن الشباب غض نضير

حب غصن الشباب غض نضير

ورداء النعيم ضاف صقيلُ

ورداء النعيم ضاف صقيلُ

How lovely youth’s bough, tender and fresh,

Love of the green of youth pursued me,

and the robe of bliss, ample and gleaming!

And the pleasaunce of life lured me smooth and bare!

ولولوعي بكل مجدولة القد

ولولوعي بكل مجدولة القد

يطيع الغرام فيها العذول

يطيع الغرام فيها العذول

And through my passion for every slender-formed woman,

My yearning for every bending, reed-grove one,

even the reproacher yields to love of her.

Obeying my passion without demur.

غادة تصمت الخلاخل ريا

غادة تصمت الخلاخل ريا

حين يظما وشاحها فيجولُ

حين يظما وشاحها فيجولُ

A full-limbed maiden whose anklets fall silent,

A beauty starts to gently sway with bracelets jingling softly,

while her sash thirsts and wanders loose.

Then swings to the left, inclining toward injustice.

تتثني على اعتدال ويرتا

تتثني على اعتدال ويرتا

ح إلى الجور قدها فيميلُ

ح إلى الجور قدها فيميلُ

She sways with balanced grace; her figure delights

With blame I have loaded myself heavy burdens,

in waywardness, and so leans aside.

And with love what is more calamitous still.

قد حملت الملام وهو ثقيل

قد حملت الملام وهو ثقيل

ورعيت الغرام وهو وبيلُ

ورعيت الغرام وهو وبيلُ

I have borne reproach, heavy though it is,

With the twilight-gatherers I have never wearied

and tended passion, grievous though it is.

of the longest-lived most unbridled emotions,

وتحدثت في السلو فما أق

وتحدثت في السلو فما أق

صر شوق ولا تمادي ذهولُ

صر شوق ولا تمادي ذهولُ

I spoke of forgetting, yet my longing did not

Restrained by the advice of a slender-waisted one,

abate, nor did oblivion endure.

Of pliant figure and smooth cheek.

ونهاني عن ذاك خصر نحيل

ونهاني عن ذاك خصر نحيل

وقوام لدن وخد أسيلُ

وقوام لدن وخد أسيلُ

A slender waist forbade me that,

But how should the anguished cry of my love-longing

and a supple figure and a smooth cheek.

Be answered, or how should my sickness gain solace?

يا عذولي وهل يبل غليل

يا عذولي وهل يبل غليل

من جوى الحب أو يبل عليلُ

من جوى الحب أو يبل عليلُ

O my reproacher, can one quench the burning thirst

My passion is for a fawn who shall ever remain satisfied,

of love’s anguish, or can an ailing lover recover?

And my desire for her is lasting and long.

وغرامي بعلوة ليس ينفك

وغرامي بعلوة ليس ينفك

ووجدي بها عريض طويلُ

ووجدي بها عريض طويلُ

And my passion for Alwa never ceases,

No path to the beloved's affection for me,

and my longing for her is wide and long.

As no path to him who dwells in the sand-hill!

ما سبيل إلى السلو كما لي

ما سبيل إلى السلو كما لي

س إلى ساكن الغوير سبيل

س إلى ساكن الغوير سبيل

There is no path to forgetting, just as there is

My wish is the wish of one powerless;

none to the dweller in al-Ghuwayr.

If power's wish is removed, what avails powerlessness?

ونحولي من لاخصور فإن زا

ونحولي من لاخصور فإن زا

ل نحول الخصور زال النحولُ

ل نحول الخصور زال النحولُ

And my wasting comes from waists; should

Yet does love change with the course of days,

the waists’ slenderness cease, my wasting will cease.

And kindliness turn the honour of princes.

غير أن الهوى يحول مع الده

غير أن الهوى يحول مع الده

ر وجود الوزير يحولُ

ر وجود الوزير يحولُ

Yet love changes with time,

Whose breadth of free giving is guarded, like the reputation

and the minister’s generosity changes.

Of one who has released his mares and resigned his camels;1

ملك عرضه مصون كمن حل

ملك عرضه مصون كمن حل

ل ذراه ووفره مبذولُ

ل ذراه ووفره مبذولُ

A king whose honor is guarded, like those who settle

They blame him for kindness, but he never complains,

in his shelter; his wealth is freely bestowed.

Where are acquiescence and pliancy then?

عذلوه على السماح فلم يص

عذلوه على السماح فلم يص

غ وأين العذول والعذولُ

غ وأين العذول والعذولُ

They reproached him for his generosity, but he did not

His bounty is the bounty of a noble man; if he strives

heed them—how far apart one reproacher and another!

Honor for others, his own honor is not transient.

جوده جود عالم إن ما يذ

جوده جود عالم إن ما يذ

خر غيرا لثناء ذخر يزولُ

خر غيرا لثناء ذخر يزولُ

His giving is that of one who knows: whatever is hoarded

Pure of intention, heated is his resolution in purpose,

apart from praise is a treasure that passes away.

Kneaded with clemency from the dew's clay.2

المعي الأراء متقد الفط

المعي الأراء متقد الفط

نة من طينة الندى مجبولُ

نة من طينة الندى مجبولُ

Keen in judgment, blazing with discernment,

He says, he acts: sacred texts permit not

molded from the clay of generosity.

Glory to be behind any but the worker perfected.3

قائل فاعل وليس يجوز ال

قائل فاعل وليس يجوز ال

مجد خلف إلا القؤول الفعلوُ

مجد خلف إلا القؤول الفعلوُ

A man of word and deed; no successor attains

His palm deserves a kiss, for it is the pathway of presents,

glory except one abundant in speech and action.

And ardent hopes fly to it straight like arrows.

عبدت كفه طريق الأيادي

عبدت كفه طريق الأيادي

فحزون الآمال فيها سهولُ

فحزون الآمال فيها سهولُ

His palm has paved the path of benefactions,

He undertakes the maintenance of the needy with success -

so hope’s rugged terrain is level ground upon it.

How excellent is such a patron then!

كافل للعفاة بالنجح فيما

كافل للعفاة بالنجح فيما

أملوه منه فنعم الفإيل

أملوه منه فنعم الفإيل

A guarantor to petitioners of success in what

His writings frighten the encampments, so that

they hoped from him—how excellent a guarantor!

On a Thursday his determined writ runs vanquishing.4

روعت كتبه الكتائب فانصا

روعت كتبه الكتائب فانصا

ع هزيما خميسها والوعيلُ

ع هزيما خميسها والوعيلُ

His letters terrified the battalions, and back turned

He sufficed that he should unsheathe a sword sharp cut,

their army and its chief, routed.

Whose end was warranted death, by his unleashing.

وكفاه من أن يسل حساما

وكفاه من أن يسل حساما

مطلق الحد عزمخه المسلولُ

مطلق الحد عزمخه المسلولُ

And he had no need to draw a sword

The shining lamp of mankind, wastefully munificent,

with unfettered edge: his unsheathed resolve sufficed.

To the deserving he is a close friend.

مشرق البشر مسرف الجود للمج

مشرق البشر مسرف الجود للمج

د خدين وللعلاء خليلُ

د خدين وللعلاء خليلُ

Radiant in cheer, prodigal in bounty, he is

But for his mildness the aid of the man of petition

glory’s companion and greatness’s friend.

Would be as no rain-clouds to send down showers.

ويمين لولا سماحة عون البد

ويمين لولا سماحة عون البد

ين ما كان للغمام رسيلُ

ين ما كان للغمام رسيلُ

I swear: but for the generosity of Awn al-Badin,

His recognized merits spread not like ocean spray,

the clouds would have no rival.

Nor gushed like the Nile inundating a land.

عم معروفه فهل جاش بحر

عم معروفه فهل جاش بحر

حين أسداه أو تدفق نيل

حين أسداه أو تدفق نيل

His bounty embraced all: did a sea surge

His benefits like a highway are open to the scholar folk -

when he bestowed it, or did a Nile gush forth?

Exalted pillars - extending far and wide.

مستباح الجدوى يمد غلى العل

مستباح الجدوى يمد غلى العل

ياء باعا يزهام طول وطولَ

ياء باعا يزهام طول وطولَ

His bounty open to all, he stretches toward the heights

Every time regards him with pride, so who is there

an arm’s reach graced with bounty and length.

To compare with the princes bestowed with wreath and crown?

كل طرف الزمان عنه فمن دو

كل طرف الزمان عنه فمن دو

ن علاء السماك والإكليل

ن علاء السماك والإكليل

Time’s gaze falls short of him, for below

A lion widespreading his paws in the meadows,

his eminence lie al-Simak and the Crown.

Upon him the bushy mane shakes down black.

أسد باسط ذراعيه في الرو

أسد باسط ذراعيه في الرو

ع عليه من القنا السمر غيلُ

ع عليه من القنا السمر غيلُ

A lion extending his forelegs amid battle’s terror,

You have in him a viewpoint which disappoints the war reporters,

a thicket of dusky spears surrounding him.

And a will like a sharp sword that does not bend.

لك منه رأي يفل شبا الخط

لك منه رأي يفل شبا الخط

ب وعزم منافر لا يفيلُ

ب وعزم منافر لا يفيلُ

From him you have judgment that blunts calamity’s edge,

O Pride of Islam, this is the pride of poetry, not what

and a defiant resolve that never falters.

Is said by the sayer of whatever he says!

يا جلال الإسلام هذا جلال الش

يا جلال الإسلام هذا جلال الش

عر لا ما يقوله من يقولُ

عر لا ما يقوله من يقولُ

O Jalal al-Islam, this is poetry’s glory,

O rhymers who have diminished rhyming and sold it

not whatever any speaker says.

For worthless scandal, as idols are sold!

معشر قرضوا القريض وباعو

معشر قرضوا القريض وباعو

ه بزيف كما يباع الغلولُ

ه بزيف كما يباع الغلولُ

A company composed verse and sold it

They have misled it from the path, and said

for counterfeit coin, as stolen spoils are sold.

Disparagingly, 'He has misled the Evangel!'

حرفوه عن السبيل وقالوا

حرفوه عن السبيل وقالوا

باحتقار قد حرف الإنجيلُ

باحتقار قد حرف الإنجيلُ

They distorted it from its path, and said

Would that I knew whether the sanctuary of poetry is violated,

with contempt, ‘The Gospel has indeed been altered.’

Yet the violator among them is no bloodwit!5

ليت شعري أيستباح حمى الشع

ليت شعري أيستباح حمى الشع

ر ولا يستباح منهم قتيلُ

ر ولا يستباح منهم قتيلُ

Would that I knew: may poetry’s sanctuary be violated,

By my life you are more equitable to judge it

yet none of them be slain?

And more appropriate, your office, for its conclusions.

ولعمري لأنت أعدل من يح

ولعمري لأنت أعدل من يح

كم فيه ومن إليه يؤولُ

كم فيه ومن إليه يؤولُ

By my life, you are the fairest of those who judge

Your talents are those of Mutanabbi and Buhturi,6

it, and of those to whom it turns.

And you are their peer, unlike other pretenders!

متنبيه بحتريه أبو تم

متنبيه بحتريه أبو تم

مامه مرء قيسه الضليلُ

مامه مرء قيسه الضليلُ

Its Mutanabbi, its Buhturi, its Abu Tammam,

Happy your meadows, green and rain-watered!

its Imru’ al-Qays, the wayward one.

For how many dwellers in the reed-huts they have!

حبذا ربعك الخصيب ومرعا

حبذا ربعك الخصيب ومرعا

ه فكم فيه للمقيل مقيلُ

ه فكم فيه للمقيل مقيلُ

How lovely your fertile dwelling and its pasture,

Where no stranger is scorned in his remoteness,

with so many places in it for midday rest!

Nor man of letters keeps company in his folly.7

حيث لا يذمم الغريب تنائي

حيث لا يذمم الغريب تنائي

ه ولا يصحب الأديب خمول

ه ولا يصحب الأديب خمول

Where the stranger never regrets his remoteness,

A nature like the spring in its early morn,

nor does obscurity accompany the man of letters.

So your life is the flower at its perfection!

خلق كالربيع باكر القط

خلق كالربيع باكر القط

ر فحياك زهره المطلول

ر فحياك زهره المطلول

A disposition like spring, visited by early rain,

Hear them, therefore, softly humming like partridges

its dew-moistened blossoms greeting you.

Scattering their wit, reasonable though distracted.

فاستمعها غراء شاردة الأب

فاستمعها غراء شاردة الأب

يات معقولة لديها العقولُ

يات معقولة لديها العقولُ

So hear it, radiant, its verses roaming free,

No arid plain of facile utterance flatters it,

with minds tethered in its presence.

Nor gift of yours awards it ease.

لم يعزها سهل الكلام ولا يع

لم يعزها سهل الكلام ولا يع

وزها من عطائك التسهيلُ

وزها من عطائك التسهيلُ

It lacked no ease of language, nor does it lack

It glistens resplendently, cheerfully receiving

the ease your generosity provides.

Endeavors, while the niggard wrinkles up.

يتلالا لها الكريم ارتياحا

يتلالا لها الكريم ارتياحا

للمساعي ويضمحل البخيلُ

للمساعي ويضمحل البخيلُ

At it, the generous man glows with delight

The years roll by and it has never ceased

in noble endeavors, while the miser fades away.

In what the revolution of a thousand years revolves.

وتمل الحول الجديد فلازل

وتمل الحول الجديد فلازل

ت مما بألف حول يحولُ

ت مما بألف حول يحولُ

And enjoy the new year; may you ever remain

Remain what the wind sheds of the ben-tree's scent,

among those who change only after a thousand years.

And what the morrow and the following exchange.

وابق ما ناوح النسيم ذرى البا

وابق ما ناوح النسيم ذرى البا

ن وما راوح الغد والأصيلُ

ن وما راوح الغد والأصيلُ

And live on as long as breezes blow against the ban-tree tops,

and as long as the morrow and evening alternate.