تذكّرَ الوصْلَ فارْفَضّتْ مَدامِعُهُ

تذكّرَ الوصْلَ فارْفَضّتْ مَدامِعُهُ

واعْتادَهُ الشّوقُ فانْقَضّتْ أضالِعُهُ

واعْتادَهُ الشّوقُ فانْقَضّتْ أضالِعُهُ

He remembered union, and his tears burst forth.

He recalled their union so his tears flowed

Longing revisited him, and his ribs collapsed.

And longing seized him so his ribs collapsed

وبَرْقَعَ الدّمعُ عينيهِ لِذي هَيَفٍ

وبَرْقَعَ الدّمعُ عينيهِ لِذي هَيَفٍ

نمّتْ على القمَرِ السّاري بَراقِعُهُ

نمّتْ على القمَرِ السّاري بَراقِعُهُ

Tears veiled his eyes for a slender-waisted one,

And tears patched his eyes for one panic-stricken

whose veils betrayed the moon journeying by night.

Its patches crept on the crescent moon

فَباتَ يَرْقُبُهُ والليلُ يخْفِرُهُ

فَباتَ يَرْقُبُهُ والليلُ يخْفِرُهُ

والقلبُ تَهفو إِلى حُزوى نَوازِعُهُ

والقلبُ تَهفو إِلى حُزوى نَوازِعُهُ

He spent the night watching for him, while night guarded him,

So he stayed up watching while the night guarded him

and the heart's yearnings fluttered toward Huzwa.

And his heart fluttered to the coaxing of his passions

ولاعِجُ الوَجْدِ يَطْويهِ وينشُرُهُ

ولاعِجُ الوَجْدِ يَطْويهِ وينشُرُهُ

حتى بَدا الصُّبْحُ مَوشِيّاً أكارِعُهُ

حتى بَدا الصُّبْحُ مَوشِيّاً أكارِعُهُ

Passion's burning pang folded and unfolded him,

And the agony of love bent and spread him

until dawn appeared, its shanks embroidered.

Until dawn shone embellishing its fringes

فزارَهُ زَوْرَةً تَعيى الأُسودُ بِها

فزارَهُ زَوْرَةً تَعيى الأُسودُ بِها

أغَرُّ زُرَّتْ على خِشْفٍ مَدارِعُهُ

أغَرُّ زُرَّتْ على خِشْفٍ مَدارِعُهُ

Then he was visited—a visit that would weary lions—

So he visited him wearily, exhausted by his black night

by a radiant one, his tunics buttoned over a fawn.

The most delicate fragrance on a gentle cheek are its patches

وراحَ ينْضَحُ حرَّ الوَجْدِ منْ نُغَبٍ

وراحَ ينْضَحُ حرَّ الوَجْدِ منْ نُغَبٍ

في مَشْرَبٍ خَصِرٍ طابَتْ مَشارِعُهُ

في مَشْرَبٍ خَصِرٍ طابَتْ مَشارِعُهُ

And he began to douse the heat of passion with sips

And he went oozing the heat of passion from a lip

at a cool drinking-place whose approaches were delightful.

In a slender waist whose paths were beautiful

كأنّها ضَرَبٌ شِيبَتْ لِذائِقِها

كأنّها ضَرَبٌ شِيبَتْ لِذائِقِها

بعاتِقٍ نَفَحَتْ مِسْكاً ذَوارِعُهُ

بعاتِقٍ نَفَحَتْ مِسْكاً ذَوارِعُهُ

As though they were white honey, mixed for their taster

As if it were a blow that had whitened to its taster

with aged wine whose spreading scents breathed musk.

With shoulders that diffused musk in its breadths

والليلُ مَدَّ رِواقاً منْ غَياهِبهِ

والليلُ مَدَّ رِواقاً منْ غَياهِبهِ

على فتًى كَرُمَتْ فيهِ مَضاجِعُهُ

على فتًى كَرُمَتْ فيهِ مَضاجِعُهُ

Night spread a canopy of its deep darkness

And the night extended a corridor from its obscurities

over a youth whose resting places were honored beneath it.

Upon a young man whom its beds had honored

ثمّ افتَرَقْنا وقد بَثَّ الصّباحُ سَناً

ثمّ افتَرَقْنا وقد بَثَّ الصّباحُ سَناً

جابَتْ رِداءَ الدُّجى عنّا لوامِعُهُ

جابَتْ رِداءَ الدُّجى عنّا لوامِعُهُ

Then we parted, morning having spread a radiance,

Then we parted as morning disseminated beauty

its gleams tearing darkness's cloak away from us.

Its flashes uncovered us from the darkness

يجري منَ الدّمعِ ما يَرْضى المَشوقُ بهِ

يجري منَ الدّمعِ ما يَرْضى المَشوقُ بهِ

ويرتَقي نَفَسٌ سُدَّتْ مَطالِعُهُ

ويرتَقي نَفَسٌ سُدَّتْ مَطالِعُهُ

Tears flow to the yearning lover's satisfaction,

Tears flow that please the longing one

and a breath rises, its outlets sealed.

And a soul ascends sealed are its horizons

هذا ورُبَّ فَلاةٍ لا يُجاوزُها

هذا ورُبَّ فَلاةٍ لا يُجاوزُها

إلا النّعامُ بها تَخدي خَواضِعُهُ

إلا النّعامُ بها تَخدي خَواضِعُهُ

Such was it—and many a wilderness none traverses

Except the ostrich with its submissive young

except ostriches, their low-necked birds striding swiftly there,

I likened it to the resolves of my brother Thiqa

قَرَيْتُها عَزَماتٍ منْ أخي ثِقَةٍ

قَرَيْتُها عَزَماتٍ منْ أخي ثِقَةٍ

تَفْتَرُّ عنْ أسَدٍ ضارٍ وقائِعُهُ

تَفْتَرُّ عنْ أسَدٍ ضارٍ وقائِعُهُ

I entertained with the resolves of a trustworthy man,

That relax on a hostile injurious lion

which smile to reveal a lion fierce in his battles.

And al-Arhabiya overflows in her crisis

والأرْحَبيّةُ تَطْغى في أزِمّتِها

والأرْحَبيّةُ تَطْغى في أزِمّتِها

إذا السّرابُ ثَنى طَرْفي يُخادِعُهُ

إذا السّرابُ ثَنى طَرْفي يُخادِعُهُ

The Arhabi she-camels strain against their reins

When the mirage bends the glance that deceives him

whenever the mirage turns my gaze aside, deceiving it.

And today it threw him with its twisting sands

واليومَ ألْقَتْ بهِ الشِّعْرَى كَلاكِلَها

واليومَ ألْقَتْ بهِ الشِّعْرَى كَلاكِلَها

وصوّحَتْ منْ رُبا فَلْجٍ مَراتِعِهُ

وصوّحَتْ منْ رُبا فَلْجٍ مَراتِعِهُ

And that day Sirius laid her breasts upon it,

Shrieking from a muddy swollen stream

and parched its pastures on the hills of Falj.

So he remained shaded for the caravan and war

فظلّ للرّكْبِ والحِرْباءُ مُنتَصِبٌ

فظلّ للرّكْبِ والحِرْباءُ مُنتَصِبٌ

بَيْتٌ على مَفْرِقِ العَيّوقِ رافِعُهُ

بَيْتٌ على مَفْرِقِ العَيّوقِ رافِعُهُ

So the caravan had, while the chameleon stood erect,

A house erect at the crossroads raising it

a tent whose raiser set it upon Capella's crown.

Its fringes divert the poisons from us

تَلوي طَوارِفُهُ عنّا السَّمومُ كما

تَلوي طَوارِفُهُ عنّا السَّمومُ كما

تُهدي النّسيمَ إِلى صَحْبي وشائِعُهُ

تُهدي النّسيمَ إِلى صَحْبي وشائِعُهُ

Its fringes turn the scorching wind away from us, just as

As the breeze conveys to my friends and its rumors

its woven panels bring the breeze to my companions.

Its pillars are spears watered when kindled

عِمادُهُ أسَلٌ تَرْوى إذا اضْطَرَمَتْ

عِمادُهُ أسَلٌ تَرْوى إذا اضْطَرَمَتْ

نارُ الوغى منْ دَمِ الجاني شَوارِعُهُ

نارُ الوغى منْ دَمِ الجاني شَوارِعُهُ

Its poles are spears that drink their fill whenever

The fire of turmoil with the blood of the transgressor its streets

war's fire blazes, their leveled points drinking the aggressor's blood.

And the wind is a perplexed goddess who takes refuge in it

والريحُ والِهَةٌ حَيْرى تَلوذُ بهِ

والريحُ والِهَةٌ حَيْرى تَلوذُ بهِ

حيثُ النّسيمُ يَروعُ التُّرْبَ وادِعُهُ

حيثُ النّسيمُ يَروعُ التُّرْبَ وادِعُهُ

The wind, distraught and bewildered, seeks refuge with it,

Where the breeze frightens the soil and its docile one

where its gentle breeze startles the dust.

You made its ropes the reins of `Adiy

جَعَلْتَ أطْنابَهُ أرْسانَ عاديةٍ

جَعَلْتَ أطْنابَهُ أرْسانَ عاديةٍ

يَشْجى بها مِنْ فَضاءِ الأرضِ واسِعُهُ

يَشْجى بها مِنْ فَضاءِ الأرضِ واسِعُهُ

You made its guy ropes the halters of galloping steeds,

With which he drives from the expanse of the earth, its breadth

with which the earth's broad expanse is choked.

It was visited by Nasir al-Din whom she frequented

زارَتْ بِناصِرَ الدّينِ الذي نَهَجَتْ

زارَتْ بِناصِرَ الدّينِ الذي نَهَجَتْ

إِلى العُلا طُرُقاً شتّى صَنائِعُهُ

إِلى العُلا طُرُقاً شتّى صَنائِعُهُ

They came visiting with Nasir al-Din, whose

The myriad paths to ascendancy, diverse are his talents

benefactions opened diverse paths to the heights.

Sweet of traits, bitter of calamity, noble lineage

حُلْوُ الشّمائِلِ مُرُّ البأسِ ذو حَسَبٍ

حُلْوُ الشّمائِلِ مُرُّ البأسِ ذو حَسَبٍ

منْ مَجْدِهِ مُكْتَسٍ عارٍ أشاجِعهُ

منْ مَجْدِهِ مُكْتَسٍ عارٍ أشاجِعهُ

Sweet in disposition, bitter in battle, possessed of noble lineage,

From his glory, warded off all shame are his protectors

clothed in his glory, his knuckles bare.

Favor does not follow the tracks of its obtainer

والمَنُّ لا يَقْتَفي آثارَ نائِلِهِ

والمَنُّ لا يَقْتَفي آثارَ نائِلِهِ

إذا تَقرّاهُ منْ عافٍ مَطامِعُهُ

إذا تَقرّاهُ منْ عافٍ مَطامِعُهُ

No reminders of favors follow in his bounty's wake

If his hopes lead him to be satisfied from his pursuits

when a petitioner's hopes seek him out.

Time took him to the farthest limit to nobility

أفْضى بهِ الأمَدُ الأقصى إِلى شرَفٍ

أفْضى بهِ الأمَدُ الأقصى إِلى شرَفٍ

ضاحٍ لهُ منْ سَنامِ العِزِّ يافِعُهُ

ضاحٍ لهُ منْ سَنامِ العِزِّ يافِعُهُ

The utmost reach has led him to an eminence,

Dazzling for him from the insignia of honor, its climber

its lofty summit plain to him upon the hump of glory.

Were it not for you O son of Abu `Adnan, it would not have presented

لولاكَ يا بْنَ أبي عَدْنانَ ما عَرَضَتْ

لولاكَ يا بْنَ أبي عَدْنانَ ما عَرَضَتْ

شُوسُ القَوافي لِمَنْ بارَتْ بَضائِعُهُ

شُوسُ القَوافي لِمَنْ بارَتْ بَضائِعُهُ

But for you, O son of Abu Adnan, there would not have appeared

The meters of poetry to one whose goods have diminished

defiant rhymes to one whose wares went unsold.

I composed your praise as hopes shouted at me

ألِفْتُ مَدْحَكَ والآمالُ تَهتِفُ بي

ألِفْتُ مَدْحَكَ والآمالُ تَهتِفُ بي

وراضَ جودُكَ أفكاراً تُطاوعُهُ

وراضَ جودُكَ أفكاراً تُطاوعُهُ

I have grown accustomed to praising you, while hopes call to me,

While your generosity satisfied thoughts that obey it

and your generosity has tamed thoughts that obey it.

And poetry does not flourish for the likes of me though strayed

والشِّعْرُ لا يَزْدَهي مِثْلي وإن شَرَدَتْ

والشِّعْرُ لا يَزْدَهي مِثْلي وإن شَرَدَتْ

أمثالُهُ وثَنى الأسْماعَ رائِعِهُ

أمثالُهُ وثَنى الأسْماعَ رائِعِهُ

Poetry does not make one like me vain, even if

Have its like and the ears turned away its prominent

its proverbial lines roam afar and its splendor turns listeners' ears.

But your ascendancy entices me with praising you

لكنّ مَدْحَكَ تُغْريني عُلاكَ بهِ

لكنّ مَدْحَكَ تُغْريني عُلاكَ بهِ

فالدّهْرُ مُنْشِدُهُ والمَجْدُ سامِعُهُ

فالدّهْرُ مُنْشِدُهُ والمَجْدُ سامِعُهُ

Yet your eminence entices me to praise you,

For fate sings it and glory hears it

so time is its reciter, and glory its listener.

And independent through it from the people, a man

ومُسْتَقِلٌّ به دونَ الأنامِ فتًى

ومُسْتَقِلٌّ به دونَ الأنامِ فتًى

تَضْفو على نَغَمِ الرّاوي بدائِعُهُ

تَضْفو على نَغَمِ الرّاوي بدائِعُهُ

And a youth alone among mankind bears it,

Who adds to the melody of the narrator, his masterpieces

his marvels overflowing the reciter's cadences.

I came to you, and the attainer, fulfilled are his wants

أتاكَ والنّائِلُ المَرْجوُّ بُغْيَتُهُ

أتاكَ والنّائِلُ المَرْجوُّ بُغْيَتُهُ

لدَيْكَ والأدَبُ المَجْفُوُّ شافِعُهُ

لدَيْكَ والأدَبُ المَجْفُوُّ شافِعُهُ

He has come to you, seeking the bounty he hopes for

Through you, and poetry, though dry, its intercessor

from you, with neglected literary art as his intercessor.

Sincere brotherhood, flowing verse, and love

خِلٌّ كَريمٌ وشِعْرٌ سائِرٌ وهَوىً

خِلٌّ كَريمٌ وشِعْرٌ سائِرٌ وهَوىً

ثَوى على مُنْحَنى الأضْلاعِ ناصِعُهُ

ثَوى على مُنْحَنى الأضْلاعِ ناصِعُهُ

A generous friend, verse that travels far, and a love

That dwelt on the curve of the ribs, its prominent

whose pure essence dwells along the curve of the ribs—

And how can the seeker not attain his needs

وكيفَ لا يَبْلُغُ الحاجاتِ طالِبُها

وكيفَ لا يَبْلُغُ الحاجاتِ طالِبُها

وهذه في مَباغيهِ ذَرائِعُهُ

وهذه في مَباغيهِ ذَرائِعُهُ

how can a seeker fail to attain his needs,

When for him in his pursuits are its paths?

when these are his means of pursuing them?

So pull me closer for the generous have what is acquired

فاجْذِبْ بضَبْعي ففي الأحرارِ مُصطَنَعٌ

فاجْذِبْ بضَبْعي ففي الأحرارِ مُصطَنَعٌ

وحِلْيَةُ السّيّدِ المَتْبوعِ تابِعُهُ

وحِلْيَةُ السّيّدِ المَتْبوعِ تابِعُهُ

So lift me by the upper arm: among the freeborn is one worth favoring,

And the ornament of the master followed is his dependent

and a follower is the adornment of the lord he follows.