مَحَلٌّa dwelling عَلىon القاطولِal-Qatul أَخلَقَhas grown worn داثِرُهits ruined remains
مَحَلٌّ عَلى القاطولِ أَخلَقَ داثِرُه
وَعادَتand became صُروفُthe vicissitudes of الدَهرِtime جَيشاًan army تُغاوِرُهraiding it
وَعادَت صُروفُ الدَهرِ جَيشاً تُغاوِرُه
A dwelling on al-Qatul: its ruined remains have worn away.
A place high on Al-Qatul has become desolate,
And time's vicissitudes have become an army raiding it.
And the vicissitudes of time have become armies conquering it.
كَأَنَّas though الصَباthe east wind توفيfulfills نُذوراًvows إِذاwhen اِنبَرَتshe rises
كَأَنَّ الصَبا توفي نُذوراً إِذا اِنبَرَت
تُراوِحُهُvisit it in the evening أَذيالَهاher trailing skirts وَتُباكِرُهand visit it at dawn
تُراوِحُهُ أَذيالَها وَتُباكِرُه
As though the east wind fulfills vows whenever she rises,
As if the morning breeze, when it blows,
Her trailing skirts visiting it at evening and at dawn.
Fans it with its hems and competes with it.
وَرُبَّand many a زَمانٍtime ناعِمٍgentle ثَمَّthere عَهدُهُits days
وَرُبَّ زَمانٍ ناعِمٍ ثَمَّ عَهدُهُ
تَرِقُّgrow delicate حَواشيهِits fringes وَيونَقُand delights خَصرُهits waist
تَرِقُّ حَواشيهِ وَيونَقُ خَصرُه
And many a gentle time had its season there,
And many a soft, gentle time, then its epoch
Its fringes delicate, its waist enchanting.
Its fringes curl and its waist becomes delicate.
تَغَيَّرَchanged حُسنُthe beauty of الجَعفَرِيِّal-Ja'fari وَأُنسُهُand its convivial warmth
تَغَيَّرَ حُسنُ الجَعفَرِيِّ وَأُنسُهُ
وَقُوِّضَand was dismantled باديthe rural part of الجَعفَرِيِّal-Ja'fari وَحاضِرُهand its urban part
وَقُوِّضَ بادي الجَعفَرِيِّ وَحاضِرُه
The beauty of al-Ja'fari and its convivial warmth have changed,
The beauty and company of Al-Ja'fari has changed,
And al-Ja'fari's rural and urban quarters have been dismantled.
And the dwellings and outskirts of Al-Ja'fari are demolished.
تَحَمَّلَdeparted عَنهُfrom it ساكِنوهُits inhabitants فُجاءَةًsuddenly
تَحَمَّلَ عَنهُ ساكِنوهُ فُجاءَةً
فَعادَتso became سَواءًalike ضورُهُits houses (text uncertain) وَمَقابِرُهand its graves
فَعادَت سَواءً ضورُهُ وَمَقابِرُه
Its inhabitants departed from it suddenly,
Its inhabitants suddenly took over from it,
So its houses and graves became alike.
So its houses and graves became equal.
إِذاwhen نَحنُwe زُرناهُvisit it أَجَدَّrenews لَناfor us الأَسىgrief
إِذا نَحنُ زُرناهُ أَجَدَّ لَنا الأَسى
وَقَدand indeed كانَused to قَبلَbefore اليَومِtoday يَبهَجُdelight زائِرُهits visitor
وَقَد كانَ قَبلَ اليَومِ يَبهَجُ زائِرُه
Whenever we visit it, it renews our grief,
When we visit it, it intensifies our sorrow,
Though before today it used to delight its visitor.
While before today its visitor was delighted.
وَلَمand not أَنسَI forget وَحشَthe wild creatures of القَصرِthe palace إِذwhen ريعَwas frightened سِربُهُits herd
وَلَم أَنسَ وَحشَ القَصرِ إِذ ريعَ سِربُهُ
وَإِذand when ذُعِرَتwere terrified أَطلاؤُهُits fawns وَجَآذِرُهand its wild-ox calves
وَإِذ ذُعِرَت أَطلاؤُهُ وَجَآذِرُه
Nor have I forgotten the palace's wild creatures, when its herd was alarmed,
I have not forgotten the loneliness of the palace when its flocks were disturbed,
And when its fawns and wild-ox calves were terrified,
And its walls and tree trunks were startled.
وَإِذand when صِيحَthe cry was raised فيهِwithin it بِالرَحيلِto depart فَهُتِّكَتso were torn aside
وَإِذ صِيحَ فيهِ بِالرَحيلِ فَهُتِّكَت
عَلىin عَجَلٍhaste أَستارُهُits screens وَسَتائِرُهand its curtains
عَلى عَجَلٍ أَستارُهُ وَسَتائِرُه
And when departure was proclaimed within it, then were torn aside,
And when the departure was called out in it, so
In haste, its screens and curtains.
Its curtains and screens were hastily taken down.
وَوَحشَتُهُand its desolation حَتّىuntil كَأَنas though لَمnot يُقِمhad dwelt بِهِin it
وَوَحشَتُهُ حَتّى كَأَن لَم يُقِم بِهِ
أَنيسٌa companion وَلَمand not تَحسُنwere pleasing لِعَينٍto an eye مَناظِرُهits vistas
أَنيسٌ وَلَم تَحسُن لِعَينٍ مَناظِرُه
And its desolation, until it seemed there had never dwelt within it
It became so lonely as if
A companion, nor had its vistas ever pleased an eye.
No friend had ever stayed in it or its sights pleased an eye.
كَأَنas though لَمnot تَبِتhad spent the night فيهِin it الخِلاَفَةُthe caliphate تَلقَةًradiant (text uncertain)
كَأَن لَم تَبِت فيهِ الخِلاَفَةُ تَلقَةً
بَشاشَتُهاits cheerfulness وَالمُلكُand sovereignty يُشرِقُshone زاهِرُهits splendor
بَشاشَتُها وَالمُلكُ يُشرِقُ زاهِرُه
As though the caliphate had never spent a night there, radiant
As if the caliphate had never tarried in it
In its cheerfulness, while sovereignty's splendor shone.
With its cheerfulness while the kingdom flourished.
وَلَمand not تَجمَعِhad gathered الدُنياthe world إِلَيهِto it بَهاءَهاits magnificence
وَلَم تَجمَعِ الدُنيا إِلَيهِ بَهاءَها
وَبَهجَتَهاand its delight وَالعَيشُand life غَضٌّfresh مَكاسِرُهits textures
وَبَهجَتَها وَالعَيشُ غَضٌّ مَكاسِرُه
And the world had never gathered there its magnificence
And as if the world had never gathered in it
And its delight, while life's very texture was fresh.
Its splendor, delight, and easy, luxurious living.
فَأَينَwhere, then الحِجابُthe barrier الصَعبُforbidding حَيثُwhere تَمَنَّعَتstood inaccessible
فَأَينَ الحِجابُ الصَعبُ حَيثُ تَمَنَّعَت
بِهَيبَتِهاthrough their majesty أَبوابُهُits gates وَمَقاصِرُهand its private chambers
بِهَيبَتِها أَبوابُهُ وَمَقاصِرُه
Where, then, is the forbidding barrier, where access was denied
Where is the difficult veil with which
By the majesty of its gates and private chambers?
Its doors and chambers were inaccessible in their awe?
وَأَينَand where عَميدُthe mainstay of الناسِthe people فيin كُلِّevery نَوبَةٍcalamity
وَأَينَ عَميدُ الناسِ في كُلِّ نَوبَةٍ
تَنوبُbefalls وَناهيand the prohibitor of الدَهرِthe age فيهِمamong them وَآمِرُهand its commander
تَنوبُ وَناهي الدَهرِ فيهِم وَآمِرُه
And where is the people's mainstay in every calamity
And where is the chief of people in every setback
That strikes, and the age's lord who forbade and commanded among them?
That befalls, the one who commands and forbids them?
تَخَفّىlay hidden لَهُfor him مُغتالُهُhis assassin تَحتَunder cover of غِرَّةٍunwariness
تَخَفّى لَهُ مُغتالُهُ تَحتَ غِرَّةٍ
وَأَولىand woe لِمَنto whoever يَغتالُهُassassinates him لَوif يُجاهِرُهconfronts him openly
وَأَولى لِمَن يَغتالُهُ لَو يُجاهِرُه
His assassin lurked for him under cover of his unwariness,
His killer lay in wait for him under a deceitful guise,
And woe to his assassin, had he confronted him openly!
And it would be more appropriate for the killer to confront him.
فَماso not قاتَلَتfought عَنهُon his behalf المَنونَDeath جُنودُهُhis troops
فَما قاتَلَت عَنهُ المَنونَ جُنودُهُ
وَلاnor دافَعَتdefended أَملاكُهُhis estates وَذَخائِرُهand his treasures
وَلا دافَعَت أَملاكُهُ وَذَخائِرُه
Yet his troops did not fight Death on his behalf,
Neither his soldiers nor his possessions defended him from death,
Nor did his estates and treasures defend him.
Nor did the one he trusted, the dear of his people, give him victory.
وَلاnor نَصَرَsupported المُعتَزَّal-Mu'tazz مَنwhoever كانَwas يُرتَجىhoped for
وَلا نَصَرَ المُعتَزَّ مَن كانَ يُرتَجى
لَهُfor him وَعَزيزُand the mighty one of القَومِthe people مَنhe whose عَزَّis mighty ناصِرُهhis champion
لَهُ وَعَزيزُ القَومِ مَن عَزَّ ناصِرُه
Nor did al-Mu'tazz gain support from anyone expected
The vagaries of fate struck him without him opening,
To aid him; mighty among a people is he whose champion is mighty.
And hid his brilliance from him in Khurasan.
تَعَرَّضَintervened ريبُthe calamity of الدَهرِtime مِنfrom دونِbefore فَتحِهِhis Fath
تَعَرَّضَ ريبُ الدَهرِ مِن دونِ فَتحِهِ
وَغُيِّبَand was kept away عَنهُfrom him فيin خُراسانَKhurasan طاهِرُهhis Tahir
وَغُيِّبَ عَنهُ في خُراسانَ طاهِرُه
Time's calamity came between him and his Fath,
If one dead had lived or one gone had drawn near
And his Tahir was kept from him in Khurasan.
His abode, the cycles of woes would have revolved.
وَلَوand if عاشَlived مَيتٌa dead man أَوor تَقَرَّبَdrew near نازِحٌone far away
وَلَو عاشَ مَيتٌ أَو تَقَرَّبَ نازِحٌ
لَدارَتwould have turned مِنَof المَكروهِmisfortune ثَمَّthere دَوائِرُهhis cycles
لَدارَت مِنَ المَكروهِ ثَمَّ دَوائِرُه
Had a dead man lived, or a distant one drawn near,
Had the servants of God been given support over themselves,
His wheels of misfortune would have turned there.
The sources of the twisters of affairs would have narrowed.
وَلَوand if لِعُبَيدِfor Ubayd اللَهِAllah عَونٍhelp عَلَيهِمِagainst them
وَلَو لِعُبَيدِ اللَهِ عَونٍ عَلَيهِمِ
لَضاقَتwould have narrowed عَلىfor وُرّادِthose entering أَمرٍan affair مَصادِرُهits exits
لَضاقَت عَلى وُرّادِ أَمرٍ مَصادِرُه
And had Ubayd Allah had help against them,
Dreams that desires misled, a term that ended,
The ways out of the affair would have narrowed for those entering it.
And a lifespan whose measures almost ran out.
حُلومٌminds أَضَلَّتهاled them astray الأَمانيhopes وَمُدَّةٌand a lifespan
حُلومٌ أَضَلَّتها الأَماني وَمُدَّةٌ
تَناَهَتcame to an end وَحَتفٌand a death أَوشَكَتهُhastened it مَقادِرُهits decrees of fate
تَناَهَت وَحَتفٌ أَوشَكَتهُ مَقادِرُه
Minds led astray by hopes, and a lifespan
And a usurper of murder who did not dread its evil
That ended, and a death hastened by its decrees of fate.
Or respect its causes and ties.
وَمُغتَصِبٌand one forcibly seized لِلقَتلِfor slaughter لَمnot يُخشَwas feared رَهطُهُhis clan
وَمُغتَصِبٌ لِلقَتلِ لَم يُخشَ رَهطُهُ
وَلَمand not يُحتَشَمwere respected أَسبابُهُhis ties وَأَواصِرُهand his bonds
وَلَم يُحتَشَم أَسبابُهُ وَأَواصِرُه
And a man seized for slaughter, whose clan was not feared,
A corpse that the swords demanded voraciously
Nor were his ties and bonds respected.
To be generous to it while death's claws were unsheathed.
صَريعٌa fallen man تَقاضاهُexacted from him السُيوفُthe swords حُشاشَةًa last spark of life
صَريعٌ تَقاضاهُ السُيوفُ حُشاشَةً
يَجودُhe gives freely بِهاwith it وَالمَوتُand Death هُمرٌred (text uncertain) أَظافِرُهits claws
يَجودُ بِها وَالمَوتُ هُمرٌ أَظافِرُه
A fallen man: the swords exacted from him his last spark of life,
I defend him with my hands, and there was not
Which he yields, while Death's claws are red.
In the darkest night a defender to drive back the enemies.
أُدافِعُI defend عَنهُon his behalf بِاليَدَينِwith both hands وَلَمand not يَكُنwas
أُدافِعُ عَنهُ بِاليَدَينِ وَلَم يَكُن
لِيَثنيto turn back الأَعاديthe enemies أَعزَلُan unarmed man of اللَيلِthe night حاسِرُهits unhelmeted man
لِيَثني الأَعادي أَعزَلُ اللَيلِ حاسِرُه
I defend him with both hands, but no man could
Had my sword at the time of the killing been in my hand,
Turn back the foes unarmed and unhelmeted in the night.
The hasty killer would have known how I would grip him.
وَلَوand if كانَhad been سَيفيmy sword ساعَةَat the hour of القَتلِthe killing فيin يَديmy hand
وَلَو كانَ سَيفي ساعَةَ القَتلِ في يَدي
دَرىwould have known القاتِلُthe killer العَجلانُhasty كَيفَhow أُساوِرُهI assail him
دَرى القاتِلُ العَجلانُ كَيفَ أُساوِرُه
Had my sword been in my hand at the hour of the killing,
It is forbidden for me to feel comfort after you or see
The hasty killer would have learned how I could assail him.
Blood flowing with blood spreading on the ground.
حَرامٌforbidden عَلَيَّto me الراحُwine بَعدَكَafter you أَوuntil أَرىI see
حَرامٌ عَلَيَّ الراحُ بَعدَكَ أَو أَرى
دَماًblood بِدَمٍfor blood يَجريflows عَلىover الأَرضِthe earth مائِرُsurging
دَماً بِدَمٍ يَجري عَلى الأَرضِ مائِرُ
Wine is forbidden to me after you, until I see
And could I expect the times to seek retaliation
Blood for blood, flowing and surging over the earth.
When death's hand and the blood-claimer are bound together?
وَهَلand can أَرتَجيI hope أَنthat يَطلُبَseek الدَمَblood vengeance واتِرٌa blood-shedder
وَهَل أَرتَجي أَن يَطلُبَ الدَمَ واتِرٌ
يَدَthroughout الدَهرِall time وَالمَوتورُwhile the bereaved man بِالدَمِby bloodshed واتِرُهis its blood-shedder
يَدَ الدَهرِ وَالمَوتورُ بِالدَمِ واتِرُه
And can I hope that a blood-shedder will seek blood vengeance
Did the heir apparent secretly harbor betrayal?
Ever, when the man bereaved by bloodshed is himself its shedder?
So it is no wonder the heir apparent abandoned him.
أَكانَdid ...? وَلِيُّthe heir to العَهدِthe succession أَضمَرَharbor غَدرَةًan act of treachery
أَكانَ وَلِيُّ العَهدِ أَضمَرَ غَدرَةً
فَمِنthen among عَجَبٍwonders أَنthat وُلِّيَwas entrusted with العَهدَthe pledge غادِرُهits betrayer
فَمِن عَجَبٍ أَن وُلِّيَ العَهدَ غادِرُه
Did the heir apparent harbor treachery?
The remainder does not inherit the legacy of the departed,
Strange, then, that the pledge was entrusted to its betrayer!
Nor did its pulpits carry that prayer.
فَلاso may not مُلِّيَbe granted long enjoyment of الباقيthe survivor تُراثَthe inheritance of الَّذيthe one who مَضىdeparted
فَلا مُلِّيَ الباقي تُراثَ الَّذي مَضى
وَلاnor may حَمَلَتbear ذاكَthat الدُعاءَprayer مَنابِرُهhis pulpits
وَلا حَمَلَت ذاكَ الدُعاءَ مَنابِرُه
May the survivor not long enjoy the inheritance of the departed,
Neither did the suspected escape nor was the treacherous sword's
Nor may his pulpits bear that prayer.
Brandisher, who betrayed it openly, saved from the sword.
وَلاnor may وَأَلَfind refuge المَشكوكُthe suspected man فيهِregarding him وَلاnor نَجاescape
وَلا وَأَلَ المَشكوكُ فيهِ وَلا نَجا
مِنَfrom السَيفِthe sword ناضيthe drawer of السَيفِthe sword غَدراًtreacherously وَشاهِرُهand its brandisher
مِنَ السَيفِ ناضي السَيفِ غَدراً وَشاهِرُه
Nor may the suspected man find refuge, nor escape
Excellent is the spilled blood the night Ja'far was killed.
From the sword, he who drew and brandished the sword treacherously.
You were darkened while the wings of night were inked black.
لَنِعمَtruly noble is الدَمُthe blood المَسفوحُspilled لَيلَةَon the night of جَعفَرٍJa'far
لَنِعمَ الدَمُ المَسفوحُ لَيلَةَ جَعفَرٍ
هَرَقتُمyou poured out وَجُنحُand the wing of اللَيلِnight سودٌblack دَياجِرُهits dark depths
هَرَقتُم وَجُنحُ اللَيلِ سودٌ دَياجِرُه
Noble indeed was the blood spilled on Ja'far's night,
It is as if you did not know who its guardian was
That you poured out, while night's wing was black with gloom.
And its keeper beneath the well-guarded pavilions.
كَأَنَّكُمُas though you لَمnot تَعلَمواknew مَنwho وَلِيُّهُhis guardian
كَأَنَّكُمُ لَم تَعلَموا مَن وَلِيُّهُ
وَناعيهِand the herald of his death تَحتَbeneath المُرهَفاتِthe keen-edged swords وَثائِرُهand his avenger
وَناعيهِ تَحتَ المُرهَفاتِ وَثائِرُه
As though you did not know who his guardian was,
I do hope your affairs will be returned
And the herald of his death beneath the keen swords, and his avenger.
To a successor from him, he does not forsake him.
وَإِنّيand indeed I لَأَرجوI surely hope أَنthat تُرَدَّbe returned أُمورُكُمyour affairs
وَإِنّي لَأَرجو أَن تُرَدَّ أُمورُكُم
إِلىto خَلَفٍa successor مِنfrom شَخصِهِhis person لاnot يُغادِرُهdeparts from him
إِلى خَلَفٍ مِن شَخصِهِ لا يُغادِرُه
And I indeed hope that your affairs will be returned
One who turns schemes that his prologues
To a successor sprung from him, who departs in nothing from him,
Frighten when the wretched hasty one takes precautions.
مُقَلِّبِa weigher of آراءٍopinions تَخافُis feared أَناتُهُhis deliberation
مُقَلِّبِ آراءٍ تَخافُ أَناتُهُ
إِذاwhen الأَخرَقُthe rash man العَجلانُhasty خيفَتwere feared بَوادِرُهhis sudden outbursts
إِذا الأَخرَقُ العَجلانُ خيفَت بَوادِرُه
A weigher of opinions, whose deliberation inspires fear,
When the rash, hasty man's sudden outbursts are feared.
Partial English translation: 64 of 66 Arabic lines translated.