كَلَّفَنيhe burdened me فَوقَbeyond الَّذيwhat أَستَطيعُI can bear
كَلَّفَني فَوقَ الَّذي أَستَطيعُ
مُعتَزِمٌresolute فيin لَومِهِhis reproach ماnot يَريعhe relents
مُعتَزِمٌ في لَومِهِ ما يَريع
He has burdened me beyond what I can bear—
He burdened me beyond my strength,
resolute in his reproach, never relenting.
Blaming with stubbornness to make me yield
لَجاجَةٌobstinacy مِنهُon his part تَأَدّىhe has come بِهاthrough it
لَجاجَةٌ مِنهُ تَأَدّى بِها
إِلىto الَّذيwhat يُنصِبُنيwearies me أَمor وَلوعobsession
إِلى الَّذي يُنصِبُني أَم وَلوع
Is it obstinacy on his part that has brought him
To what afflicts me, whether out of passion
to what exhausts me, or sheer obsession?
Or grief.
يَأمُرُhe commands بِالسُلوانِto forget جَهلاًignorantly وَقَدthough already
يَأمُرُ بِالسُلوانِ جَهلاً وَقَد
شاهَدَhe witnessed ماwhat بَثَّتهُthey revealed it تِلكَthose الدُموعthe tears
شاهَدَ ما بَثَّتهُ تِلكَ الدُموع
Ignorantly he bids me forget, though he has
He foolishly orders me to be happy
witnessed what those tears revealed.
After witnessing the tears I have shed.
وَمِنand among عَناءِthe trouble of المَرءِa man أَوor أَفنِهِhis folly
وَمِن عَناءِ المَرءِ أَو أَفنِهِ
فيin الرَأيِjudgment أَنthat يَأمُرَhe should command مَنone who لايُطيعdoes not obey
في الرَأيِ أَن يَأمُرَ مَن لايُطيع
And part of a man's trouble—or his folly
The injustice is to insist on gladness
in judgment—is to command one who will not obey.
When sorrow lies within my ribs concealed.
وَالظُلمُand injustice أَنthat تَلحىyou reproach عَلىfor عَبرَةٍa tear
وَالظُلمُ أَن تَلحى عَلى عَبرَةٍ
مُظهِرَةٍrevealing ماwhat أَضمَرَتهُthey concealed it الضُلوعthe ribs
مُظهِرَةٍ ما أَضمَرَتهُ الضُلوع
And it is unjust to reproach me for a tear
He whose tear ducts overflow is the one I yearn for,
revealing what the ribs have hidden.
My soul's delight, while spring days last.
هُوَhe المَشوقُthe yearning lover اِستَغزَرَتmade abundant دَمعَهُhis tears
هُوَ المَشوقُ اِستَغزَرَت دَمعَهُ
مَعاهِدُthe haunts of الأُلّافِloved companions وَهيَand they are الرُبوعthe dwelling places
مَعاهِدُ الأُلّافِ وَهيَ الرُبوع
He is the yearning lover whose tears were drawn in floods
This long night has been stretched out so no enemy
by the haunts of loved ones—those dwelling places.
Can see the one you love or interrupt your bliss.
طَوَّلَlengthened هَذاthis اللَيلَnight أَنthat لاكرىًthere is no slumber
طَوَّلَ هَذا اللَيلَ أَن لاكرىً
يُريكَshows you مَنwhom تَهوىyou love وَأَنand that لاهُجوعthere is no sleep
يُريكَ مَن تَهوى وَأَن لاهُجوع
This night is lengthened because no slumber
One party sets out, no reveler among them,
shows you whom you love, and there is no sleep.
From Asma's abode, and another one arrives.
يَمضيpasses هَزيعٌa stretch of night لَمhas not يَطُفvisited طائِفٌa phantom
يَمضي هَزيعٌ لَم يَطُف طائِفٌ
مِنfrom عِندِthe presence of أَسماءَAsma وَيَأتيand comes هَزيعa stretch of night
مِن عِندِ أَسماءَ وَيَأتي هَزيع
A stretch of night passes, no phantom having come
When we expect intimacy, the planets race,
from Asma, and another stretch arrives.
The sleepy eyes of gazelles grow wide awake.
إِذاwhen تَوَقَّعناwe anticipate نَواهاseparation from her جَرَتflow
إِذا تَوَقَّعنا نَواها جَرَت
سَواكِبٌstreaming tears يَحمَرُّglows red فيهاwithin them النَجيعblood
سَواكِبٌ يَحمَرُّ فيها النَجيع
When we anticipate separation from her, there flow
Fearing hate is but increase of torture
streaming tears in which blood shows red.
For the anxious one, not just its occurrence.
تَوَقُّعُanticipating الكُرهِhardship إِزدِيادٌan increase إِلىto
تَوَقُّعُ الكُرهِ إِزدِيادٌ إِلى
عَذابِthe torment of مَنone who يَرقُبُهُawaits it لاnot الوُقوعthe occurrence
عَذابِ مَن يَرقُبُهُ لا الوُقوع
It is expecting hardship that adds to
Wealth is bestowed or else denied
the watcher's torment—not its actual arrival.
By Him who gives whatever we seek or refuse.
المالُwealth مالانِtwo kinds of wealth وَرَبّاهُماand their two owners
المالُ مالانِ وَرَبّاهُما
مُعطٍa giver لِماof what تَسأَلُهُyou ask him for أَوor مَنوعa withholder
مُعطٍ لِما تَسأَلُهُ أَو مَنوع
Wealth is of two kinds, and their two masters are
In poverty there is honor revived;
a giver of what you ask him for, or a withholder.
In the lies of hope there is but submission.
وَاليَأسُand giving up hope فيهِin it العِزُّdignity مُستَأنَفاًrenewed
وَاليَأسُ فيهِ العِزُّ مُستَأنَفاً
وَفيand in أَكاذيبِthe false promises of الرَجاءِhope الخُضوعabasement
وَفي أَكاذيبِ الرَجاءِ الخُضوع
And in giving up hope lies dignity renewed,
He whom extravagance has led
while in hope's false promises lies abasement.
Has shown me what the vile person sees.
مَنwhoever جَعَلَhas begun الإِسرافُextravagance يَقتادُهُto lead him
مَن جَعَلَ الإِسرافُ يَقتادُهُ
فَقَدthen indeed أَرانيhas shown me مايَراهُwhat he sees الخَليعthe profligate
فَقَد أَراني مايَراهُ الخَليع
He whom extravagance has begun to lead
Moderation followed by ambition
has shown me the profligate's way of thinking.
Where wealth and contentment are confused.
قَناعَةٌcontentment تَتبَعُهاfollows it هِمَّةٌhigh ambition
قَناعَةٌ تَتبَعُها هِمَّةٌ
مُشتَبِهٌindistinguishable فيهاwithin it الغِنىwealth وَالقُنوعand supplication
مُشتَبِهٌ فيها الغِنى وَالقُنوع
Contentment attended by high ambition,
My love will seek on the Feast day a ewe
where wealth and supplication are indistinguishable.
Fat, tender, bleating with desire.
لَتَطلُبَنَّwill surely seek الشاةَthe ewe عيدِيَّةٌ‘Id-bred camels
لَتَطلُبَنَّ الشاةَ عيدِيَّةٌ
تَغَصُّstrain tightly مِنfrom بُدنٍfatness بِهِنَّaround them النُسوعthe girths
تَغَصُّ مِن بُدنٍ بِهِنَّ النُسوع
‘Id-bred camels shall surely seek the ewe,
When we have brought them closer to the beloved's dwelling,
their girths straining tight around their fat bodies.
The nursing ewes forget us in their languorous repose.
إِذاwhen بَعَثناهُنَّwe set them moving ذُدنَthey drive away الكَرىdrowsiness
إِذا بَعَثناهُنَّ ذُدنَ الكَرى
عَنّاfrom us إِلىto حَيثُwhere اِطَّباهُhas lured it الضُجوعlying down
عَنّا إِلى حَيثُ اِطَّباهُ الضُجوع
When we set them moving, they drive drowsiness
High of rank, nearing a master
away from us, to where lying down has lured it,
Whose place is lofty above his peers.
بِالسَيرِby traveling مَرفوعاًat a quickened pace إِلىtoward سَيِّدٍa lord
بِالسَيرِ مَرفوعاً إِلى سَيِّدٍ
مَكانُهُhis station فَوقَabove ذَويهِhis peers رَفيعlofty
مَكانُهُ فَوقَ ذَويهِ رَفيع
as we press the journey swiftly toward a lord
A light from his smile that cannot be matched
whose station is lofty above his peers.
By the finely wrought blades of Indian swords.
إِضاءَةٌa radiance مِنfrom بِشرِهِhis cheerful face لايُرىis not seen
إِضاءَةٌ مِن بِشرِهِ لايُرى
مِثلَthe like of تَلاليهاits gleaming الحُسامُthe sword الصَنيعfinely wrought
مِثلَ تَلاليها الحُسامُ الصَنيع
From his cheerful face comes a radiance; one never sees
A plainness in his tallness, that if it alone
a finely wrought sword match its brilliance.
Remained, armored forms would be shaped after it.
وَبَسطَةٌand amplitude مِنin طولِهِhis stature لَوif خَلاwere available
وَبَسطَةٌ مِن طولِهِ لَو خَلا
شِبهٌa likeness لَهاto it صيغَتwould be fashioned عَلَيهِupon it الدُروعcoats of armor
شِبهٌ لَها صيغَت عَلَيهِ الدُروع
And such breadth of stature that, if there were
His feet come close to the pebbles
a likeness of it, armor would be fashioned upon it.
While his gaze remains fixed, relaxed, radiant.
تَدنوcome close رِكاباهُhis two stirrups لِمَسِّto touching الحَصىthe pebbles
تَدنو رِكاباهُ لِمَسِّ الحَصى
وَالطِرفُand the thoroughbred مُستَعلٍlofty قَراهُits back تَليعlong-necked
وَالطِرفُ مُستَعلٍ قَراهُ تَليع
His two stirrups come close to touching the pebbles,
The enemies are startled by a horseman
though his thoroughbred is high-backed and long-necked.
Who overawes or terrifies them.
وَتَذعَرُand take fright الأَعداءُthe enemies مِنat فارِسٍa horseman
وَتَذعَرُ الأَعداءُ مِن فارِسٍ
يَهولُهُمappalls them إِشراقَةُa radiance أَوor يَروعterrifies
يَهولُهُم إِشراقَةُ أَو يَروع
And enemies take fright at a horseman
Their purposes are divided, for they know him,
whose radiance appalls them or strikes them with terror.
While they are as one in their scheming.
أَهواؤُهُمtheir inclinations شَتّىdiverse لِعِرفانِهِin acknowledging him
أَهواؤُهُم شَتّى لِعِرفانِهِ
وَهُمwhile they سِوىapart from ماwhat أَضمَروهُthey have concealed it جَميعall united
وَهُم سِوى ما أَضمَروهُ جَميع
Their inclinations differ in acknowledging him,
Do not be fooled by his forbearance, but beware
though, apart from what they hide, they stand united.
His power, in which swords inflict deadly blows.
لاتَغتَرِرdo not be deceived مِنby حِلمِهِhis forbearance وَاِحتَرِسand beware
لاتَغتَرِر مِن حِلمِهِ وَاِحتَرِس
مِنof سَطوَةٍan onslaught فيهاwithin it السِمامُthe poisons النَقيعpotent
مِن سَطوَةٍ فيها السِمامُ النَقيع
Do not be deceived by his forbearance; beware
The horses’ faces are marked by valor
of an onslaught holding potent poisons.
In war until the ground is covered with slain foes.
يُؤنَسُone feels reassured بِالسَيفِby the sword اِغتِراراًin delusion بِهِabout it
يُؤنَسُ بِالسَيفِ اِغتِراراً بِهِ
وَفيyet in غِرارِthe edge of السَيفِthe sword مَوتٌdeath ذَريعswift
وَفي غِرارِ السَيفِ مَوتٌ ذَريع
One takes comfort in the sword, misled by it,
If we set out early when his palm is still moist,
yet in the sword's edge lies swift death.
We will catch up with the caravan just leaving.
ثانيturning وُجوهُthe faces of الخَيلِthe horses مُقَوَّرَةٌlean-flanked
ثاني وُجوهُ الخَيلِ مُقَوَّرَةٌ
فيin الكَرِّthe charge حَتّىuntil تَستَقِلَّthey lift الصَريعthe fallen warrior
في الكَرِّ حَتّى تَستَقِلَّ الصَريع
He wheels the heads of lean-flanked horses
And if we walk in his perfumed breath, just say—
in the charge, until they lift the fallen.
In the wafting fragrance of musk—we took delight.
إِذاwhen شَرَعناwe come to drink فيin نَدىthe bounty of كَفِّهِhis hand
إِذا شَرَعنا في نَدى كَفِّهِ
أَلحَقناbrings us بِالرِيِّto quenched thirst ذاكَthat الشُروعapproach to drink
أَلحَقنا بِالرِيِّ ذاكَ الشُروع
When we come to drink from the bounty of his hand,
Through his overflowing munificence I intercede
that very approach leaves our thirst fully quenched.
For favors granted early or by a benefactor.
وَإِنand if أَفَضناwe speak at length فيof نَثاهُhis good repute فَقُلthen speak
وَإِن أَفَضنا في نَثاهُ فَقُل
فيof نَفَحاتِwafts of المِسكِmusk غَضّاfresh يَضوعdiffusing fragrance
في نَفَحاتِ المِسكِ غَضّا يَضوع
And if we speak at length of his good repute, speak then
We race to our appointed shares from his hand—
of wafts of fresh musk spreading its perfume.
No laggard, no hasty snatcher among us.
مُشَفَّعٌone whose intercession is accepted فيfor فَضلِan added measure of أُكرومَةٍkindness
مُشَفَّعٌ في فَضلِ أُكرومَةٍ
مُعجَلَةٍhastened عَنbefore وَقتِهاits time أَوor شَفيعan intercessor
مُعجَلَةٍ عَن وَقتِها أَو شَفيع
His intercession is accepted for an added kindness,
The seven planets make their rounds,
hastened before its time—or he acts as intercessor.
Though one or the other may pause briefly and turn back,
نَجريwe run إِلىtoward أَقسامِناour allotted shares عِندَهُwith him
نَجري إِلى أَقسامِنا عِندَهُ
فَماكِثٌso one lingers عَنaway from حَظِّهِhis share أَوor سَريعswift
فَماكِثٌ عَن حَظِّهِ أَو سَريع
We race toward our allotted shares with him,
Rising or setting in their celestial sphere,
one lingering away from his portion, another swift.
A lofty sphere of glory buttressed by boughs.
وَالأَنجُمُand the stars السَبعَةُseven تَجريrun their courses وَقَدthough indeed
وَالأَنجُمُ السَبعَةُ تَجري وَقَد
يَريثُdelays طَوراًat times بَعضَهُنَّsome of them الرُجوعretrograde motion
يَريثُ طَوراً بَعضَهُنَّ الرُجوع
And the seven stars run their courses, though
Radiance in them is nothing special,
at times retrograde motion holds some of them back.
Nor is any lovely thing they initiate without precedent.
بِالغَرشِin al-Gharsh أَوor بِالغَورِin al-Ghawr مِنamong رَهطِهِhis kin
بِالغَرشِ أَو بِالغَورِ مِن رَهطِهِ
أُرومُroots of مَجدٍglory سانَدَتهاhave supported them الفُروعthe branches
أُرومُ مَجدٍ سانَدَتها الفُروع
In al-Gharsh or al-Ghawr, among his kin, are
None of them fancies himself beyond
roots of glory that the branches have upheld.
What he fancies in the Sublime Assembly.
لَيسَis not النَدىgenerosity فيهِمamong them بَديعاًnovel وَلاnor
لَيسَ النَدى فيهِم بَديعاً وَلا
ماwhat بَدَأوهُthey have begun it مِنof جَميلٍkindness بَديعnovel
ما بَدَأوهُ مِن جَميلٍ بَديع
Generosity is no novelty among them, nor
Acts of courage have preferred the buyer
is any kindness they have begun a novelty.
Of mental keenness over the seller.
لايَرتَئيdoes not choose الواحِدُa single one مِنهُمof them سِوىexcept
لايَرتَئي الواحِدُ مِنهُم سِوى
ماwhat يَرتَئيهِhe chooses it فيin العُلُوِّeminence الجَميعall of them
ما يَرتَئيهِ في العُلُوِّ الجَميع
Not one of them chooses anything but
The envious wish it transferred, but
what all choose in their pursuit of eminence.
Stability and self-reliance have taken control.
مَكارِمٌnoble deeds فَضَّلنَhave favored مَنone who يَشتَريbuys
مَكارِمٌ فَضَّلنَ مَن يَشتَري
نَباهَةَdistinction of الذِكرِrepute عَلىabove مَنone who يَبيعsells
نَباهَةَ الذِكرِ عَلى مَن يَبيع
Noble deeds have raised the one who buys
Relying on my father Ghānim’s favors,
distinction of name above the one who sells it.
I stand firm, my cave in his kingdom impenetrable.
يَرجوhope لَهاfor them الحُسّادُthe envious نَقلاًa transfer وَقَدthough already
يَرجو لَها الحُسّادُ نَقلاً وَقَد
أَرسىstands rooted ثَبيرٌThabir وَتَأَيّاand remains firm تَبيعTabi‘
أَرسى ثَبيرٌ وَتَأَيّا تَبيع
The envious hope these virtues may be shifted, though
The days have brought me so many debts
Thabir stands rooted and Tabi‘ remains firm.
Preserved honorably in his care, never to lapse.
رُكنيmy pillar بِآلاءِthrough the favors of أَبيAbu غانِمٍGhanim
رُكني بِآلاءِ أَبي غانِمٍ
ثَبتٌfirm وَكَهفيand my refuge فيin ذَراهُhis shelter مَنيعimpregnable
ثَبتٌ وَكَهفي في ذَراهُ مَنيع
My pillar, through the favors of Abu Ghanim,
In his shade, how often have I suffered debasement,
is firm, and my refuge in his shelter is impregnable.
My life still youth, my time still spring.
كَمhow many أَدَّتِhave delivered الأَيّامُthe days ليto me ذِمَّةًa pledge
كَم أَدَّتِ الأَيّامُ لي ذِمَّةً
مَحفوظَةًsafeguarded فيin ضِمنِهِhis keeping ماnot تَضيعis lost
مَحفوظَةً في ضِمنِهِ ما تَضيع
How many a pledge have the days delivered to me,
safeguarded in his keeping, never to be lost.
وَكَمand how often لَبِستُI have worn الخَفضَease فيbeneath ظِلِّهِhis shade
وَكَم لَبِستُ الخَفضَ في ظِلِّهِ
عُمريmy life شَبابٌyouth وَزَمانيand my time رَبيعspring
عُمري شَبابٌ وَزَماني رَبيع
And how often have I worn ease beneath his shade,
my life all youth, and my days all spring.
Partial English translation: 72 of 76 Arabic lines translated.