ضَلالاً لَها ماذا أَرادَت إِلى الصَدِّ

ضَلالاً لَها ماذا أَرادَت إِلى الصَدِّ

وَنَحنُ وُقوفٌ مِن فِراقِ عَلى حَدِّ

وَنَحنُ وُقوفٌ مِن فِراقِ عَلى حَدِّ

Perdition to her! What did she mean by rejection,

Astray, what did she want when she inclined to estrangement,

while we stand on the brink of parting?

While we stand at the verge of separation?

مُزاوِلَةٌ أَن تَخلِطَ الوُدَّ بِالقِلى

مُزاوِلَةٌ أَن تَخلِطَ الوُدَّ بِالقِلى

وَمُزمِعَةٌ أَن تُلحِقَ القُربَ بِالبُعدِ

وَمُزمِعَةٌ أَن تُلحِقَ القُربَ بِالبُعدِ

Striving to mingle affection with hatred,

Aiming to mingle affection with rancor,

and resolved to turn closeness into distance.

And attempting to join nearness with remoteness.

رَأَت لَمَّةً عَلّى بَياضاً سَوادَها

رَأَت لَمَّةً عَلّى بَياضاً سَوادَها

تَعاقُبِ مُبيَضٍّ عَلَيها وَمُسوَدِّ

تَعاقُبِ مُبيَضٍّ عَلَيها وَمُسوَدِّ

She saw locks whose blackness had been crowned with white

She saw a blemish that dimmed her whiteness

by the succession over them of white days and black nights.

By the alternating of one who makes white and one who makes black.

فَلا تَسأَلا عَن هَجرِها إِنَّ هَجرَها

فَلا تَسأَلا عَن هَجرِها إِنَّ هَجرَها

جَنى الصَبرِ يُسقى مُرُّهُ مِن جَنى الشُهدِ

جَنى الصَبرِ يُسقى مُرُّهُ مِن جَنى الشُهدِ

So do not ask, you two, about her desertion; her desertion

So do not ask about her estrangement, for her estrangement

is aloe's fruit, its bitterness watered with honey's harvest.

Is the fruit of patience, sweetened by the fruit of joy.

وَلا تَعجَبا مِن بُخلِ دَعدٍ بِنَيلِها

وَلا تَعجَبا مِن بُخلِ دَعدٍ بِنَيلِها

فَفي النَفَرِ الأَعلَينَ أَبخَلُ مِن دَعدِ

فَفي النَفَرِ الأَعلَينَ أَبخَلُ مِن دَعدِ

And do not marvel, you two, at Da'd's withholding of her favors;

And do not wonder at the stinginess of Da'ud in seeking her,

among the men of highest rank are those more miserly than Da'd.

For among the noblest men Da'ud is the most stingy.

أَضِنُّ أَخِلّاءٍ وَضِنُّ أَحِبَّةٍ

أَضِنُّ أَخِلّاءٍ وَضِنُّ أَحِبَّةٍ

فَلا خِلَّةٍ تَصفى وَلا صِلَةٍ تَجدي

فَلا خِلَّةٍ تَصفى وَلا صِلَةٍ تَجدي

The stingiest of friends, and miserly loved ones:

I spurn both ungenerous friends and loving friends;

no friendship stays pure, no bond brings benefit.

So neither an ungenerous one becomes generous nor an affection endures.

أَيَذهَبُ هَذا الدَهرُ لَم يُرَ مَوضِعي

أَيَذهَبُ هَذا الدَهرُ لَم يُرَ مَوضِعي

وَلَم يَدرِ ما مِقدارَ حَلّي وَلا عَقدي

وَلَم يَدرِ ما مِقدارَ حَلّي وَلا عَقدي

Will this age pass with my standing still unseen,

Will this time pass and not see my position

and never know the worth of my loosening and binding?

Or know the value of my ornaments and necklaces?

وَيَكسُدُ مِثلي وَهوَ تاجِرُ سُؤدَدٍ

وَيَكسُدُ مِثلي وَهوَ تاجِرُ سُؤدَدٍ

يَبيعُ ثَميناتِ المَكارِمِ وَالحَمدِ

يَبيعُ ثَميناتِ المَكارِمِ وَالحَمدِ

And shall one like me go unsought, a merchant of eminence,

And will it disparage one like me while it is a merchant

selling the precious wares of noble deeds and praise:

Who sells the precious wares of noble deeds and praise?

سَوائِرُ شِعرٍ جامِعٍ بَدَّدَ العُلا

سَوائِرُ شِعرٍ جامِعٍ بَدَّدَ العُلا

تَعَلَّقنَ مَن قَبلي وَأَتعَبنَ مَن بَعدي

تَعَلَّقنَ مَن قَبلي وَأَتعَبنَ مَن بَعدي

far-ranging verses that gather scattered glories?

The rest of a comprehensive poem whose ideas

They caught up with those before me and wearied those after me.

Those before me have clung to and those after me have wearied.

يُقَدِّرُ فيها صانِعٌ مُتَعَمِّلٌ

يُقَدِّرُ فيها صانِعٌ مُتَعَمِّلٌ

لِإِحكامِها تَقديرَ داوُدَ في السَردِ

لِإِحكامِها تَقديرَ داوُدَ في السَردِ

In them a craftsman, laboring carefully, takes his measure

In it a skilled and painstaking artisan

to perfect them, as David measured in weaving mail.

Values its composition as much as David valued composing the Psalms.

خَليلَيَّ لَو في المَرخِ أَقدَحُ إِذ أَبى

خَليلَيَّ لَو في المَرخِ أَقدَحُ إِذ أَبى

رِجالٌ مُؤاتاتي إِذاً لَكَبا زَندي

رِجالٌ مُؤاتاتي إِذاً لَكَبا زَندي

My two friends, had I struck sparks from markh wood when

O my two bosom friends, if I possessed a riding camel when

men refused to oblige me, my fire-stick would surely have failed.

Men refused me their support, then my spear would make them stumble.

وَما عارَضَتني كُديَةٌ دونَ مَدحِهِم

وَما عارَضَتني كُديَةٌ دونَ مَدحِهِم

فَكَيفَ أَراني دونَ مَعروفِهِم أُكدي

فَكَيفَ أَراني دونَ مَعروفِهِم أُكدي

No hard rock blocked my way when I praised them;

Yet no weregild has been assessed against me less than their praise,

so how do I find myself hitting rock before their bounty?

So how can I be seen as less than their favours make me?

أَأَضرِبُ أَكبادَ المَطايا إِلَيهِمِ

أَأَضرِبُ أَكبادَ المَطايا إِلَيهِمِ

مُطالَبَةً مِنّي وَحاجاتُهُم عِندي

مُطالَبَةً مِنّي وَحاجاتُهُم عِندي

Shall I beat my mounts' flanks on the journey to them,

Shall I beat the livers of steeds to reach them

demanding favors, when what they need is with me?

Demanding from me while their wants are with me?

أَبى ذاكَ أَنّي زاهِدٌ في نَوالِ مَن

أَبى ذاكَ أَنّي زاهِدٌ في نَوالِ مَن

أَراهُ لِنَقصِ الرَأيِ يَزهَدُ في حَمدي

أَراهُ لِنَقصِ الرَأيِ يَزهَدُ في حَمدي

That is forbidden by my disdain for the bounty of one

That one refused saying I am ascetic in gaining one

whom I see, through poor judgment, disdaining my praise.

Whom I see as ascetic in praising me from inadequacy of perception.

لَأَفحَشَ تَقصيرِ الغَنِيِّ عَنِ العُلا

لَأَفحَشَ تَقصيرِ الغَنِيِّ عَنِ العُلا

كَما يَفحَشُ الإِقتارُ بِالحازِمِ الجَلدِ

كَما يَفحَشُ الإِقتارُ بِالحازِمِ الجَلدِ

A rich man's neglect of greatness is truly shameful,

Indeed, the rich man's falling short of eminence

just as penury disgraces a resolute, steadfast man.

Is as reprehensible as the poor man's falling short, though resolute and firm.

رَحيلُ اِشتِياقٍ مُبرِحٍ وَصَبابَةٍ

رَحيلُ اِشتِياقٍ مُبرِحٍ وَصَبابَةٍ

إِلى قَريَةِ النُعمانِ وَالسَيِّدِ الفَردِ

إِلى قَريَةِ النُعمانِ وَالسَيِّدِ الفَردِ

A departure driven by tormenting longing and ardent love,

The departure of a longing that moves on and a youthfulness

toward al-Nu'man's village and the peerless lord;

To Quraysh's village and the matchless lord.

إِلى سابِقٍ لا يَعلَقُ القَومُ شَأوَهُ

إِلى سابِقٍ لا يَعلَقُ القَومُ شَأوَهُ

بِسَعيٍ وَلا يُهدَونَ مِنهُ إِلى قَصدِ

بِسَعيٍ وَلا يُهدَونَ مِنهُ إِلى قَصدِ

toward a forerunner whose reach men cannot attain

To one who preceded whom people do not tie his glory

by striving, nor find a direct course to his goal.

To effort, nor are guided by him to an aim.

إِلى أَبيَضِ الأَخلاقِ ما مَرَّ أَبيَضٌ

إِلى أَبيَضِ الأَخلاقِ ما مَرَّ أَبيَضٌ

مِنَ الدَهرِ إِلّا عَن جَداً مِنهُ أَو رِفدِ

مِنَ الدَهرِ إِلّا عَن جَداً مِنهُ أَو رِفدِ

Toward one of spotless character: no bright day has passed

To one pure of nature ― none purely white

in time that did not spring from his bounty or aid.

Has passed in time but has originated from him or flows to him.

جَديرٌ إِذا ما زُرتُهُ عَن جَنابَةٍ

جَديرٌ إِذا ما زُرتُهُ عَن جَنابَةٍ

وَإِن طالَ عَهدٌ أَن يَكونَ عَلى العَهدِ

وَإِن طالَ عَهدٌ أَن يَكونَ عَلى العَهدِ

He can be trusted, when I visit him from afar,

Worthy, if I visit him after an absence,

even after a long absence, to remain true to his pledge.

Though a period is long, to be true to the pact.

وَإِن أَنا أَهدَيتُ القَريضَ مَجازِياً

وَإِن أَنا أَهدَيتُ القَريضَ مَجازِياً

فَلَن يوكَسَ المُهدى إِلَيهِ وَلا المُهدي

فَلَن يوكَسَ المُهدى إِلَيهِ وَلا المُهدي

And if I present poetry in requital,

And if I present a poem to him in reward,

neither its recipient nor its giver will be shortchanged.

Neither the giver nor the given will recoil.

مُزايَدَةً مِنّي وَمِنهُ وَكُلُّنا

مُزايَدَةً مِنّي وَمِنهُ وَكُلُّنا

إِلى أَمَدٍ وافي النَصيبِ مِنَ البُعدِ

إِلى أَمَدٍ وافي النَصيبِ مِنَ البُعدِ

A contest of bidding between him and me, with each of us

Vying, he and I, while we in entirety

aiming toward a goal set far in the distance.

Have an ample share of remoteness.

تَشَذَّبَ مَن يُعطي الرَغائِبَ دَونَهُ

تَشَذَّبَ مَن يُعطي الرَغائِبَ دَونَهُ

وَبانَ بِهِ ما بانَ بِالكَوكَبِ السَعدِ

وَبانَ بِهِ ما بانَ بِالكَوكَبِ السَعدِ

Those who bestow coveted gifts besides him have fallen away,

He has outshone those who give wishes besides him,

and in him shines what shines in the auspicious star.

And through him what was clear through the fortunate star became clear.

فَمِن أَينَ جِئنا جَمَّةً مِن عَطائِهِ

فَمِن أَينَ جِئنا جَمَّةً مِن عَطائِهِ

وَرَدنا وَسَيرُ العيسِ خِمسٌ إِلى الوِردِ

وَرَدنا وَسَيرُ العيسِ خِمسٌ إِلى الوِردِ

From wherever we come, a brimming pool of his bounty

So whence did we come all at once with his gift

we reach, though the pale camels' march to water lasts five days.

And return while the stumbling of the walker was fivefold to roses?

يُغَضُّ عَنِ المَرفوعِ مِن دَرَجاتِهِ

يُغَضُّ عَنِ المَرفوعِ مِن دَرَجاتِهِ

كَما زِيدَ في سُلطانِ ذي تُدرَئٍ نَجدِ

كَما زِيدَ في سُلطانِ ذي تُدرَئٍ نَجدِ

Eyes are lowered before his exalted ranks,

He overlooks one elevated from his ranks

as when the authority of a mighty, valiant man is increased.

As authority was diminished in a Najdi chief with restraining power.

وَيُخشى شَذاهُ وَهوَ غَيرُ مُسَلَّطٍ

وَيُخشى شَذاهُ وَهوَ غَيرُ مُسَلَّطٍ

وَقَد يُتَوَقّى السَيفُ وَالسَيفُ في الغِمدِ

وَقَد يُتَوَقّى السَيفُ وَالسَيفُ في الغِمدِ

His fierceness is feared, though he has not been given command;

And his uniqueness is feared though he has no authority,

a sword may be guarded against even while it lies in its sheath.

As a sword is avoided while still in its scabbard.

إِذا قارَعوهُ عَن عُلا الأَمرِ قارَعوا

إِذا قارَعوهُ عَن عُلا الأَمرِ قارَعوا

صَليبَ الصَفا مِن دونِها خَشِنَ الحَدِّ

صَليبَ الصَفا مِن دونِها خَشِنَ الحَدِّ

When they challenge him for the heights of authority, they strike

If they confront him about the loftiness of authority they confront

unyielding rock before those heights, rough-edged.

The sword of purity besides it, brittle of edge.

ثَوابَةُ أَو مِهرانُ يَقتَضِيانِهِ ال

ثَوابَةُ أَو مِهرانُ يَقتَضِيانِهِ ال

سُمُوَّ اِقتِضاءَ الوَعدِ مِن مُنجِزِ الوَعدِ

سُمُوَّ اِقتِضاءَ الوَعدِ مِن مُنجِزِ الوَعدِ

Thawaba or Mihran demand from him

Thawba or Mihran would require him for

loftiness, as a promise is claimed from one who keeps promises.

The loftiness of keeping a promise, not the promiser of a promise.

وَلِلسَيفِ ذو الحَدَّينِ أَجنى عَلى العِدى

وَلِلسَيفِ ذو الحَدَّينِ أَجنى عَلى العِدى

وَأَبأَسُ في الجُلّى مِنَ السَيفِ ذي الحَدِ

وَأَبأَسُ في الجُلّى مِنَ السَيفِ ذي الحَدِ

Indeed, the two-edged sword is more destructive to enemies

And the double-edged sword is more effective in checking aggression

and fiercer in great ordeals than a single-edged sword.

And more bold in the fray than the single-edged sword.

مُعَوَّلُ آمالٍ يَرُحنَ نَسيئَةً

مُعَوَّلُ آمالٍ يَرُحنَ نَسيئَةً

وَيُصبِحُ مُنسوها مَلِيّينَ بِالنَقدِ

وَيُصبِحُ مُنسوها مَلِيّينَ بِالنَقدِ

He is the mainstay of hopes that go forth on credit at evening,

The repository of hopes that brings ease to the forgotten

and their creditors awaken wealthy in ready cash.

And makes the indebted wake up in the morning with cash.

وَقَد دَفَعوا بُخلَ الزَمانِ بِجودِهِ

وَقَد دَفَعوا بُخلَ الزَمانِ بِجودِهِ

وَلا طِبَّ حَتّى يُدفَعَ الضِدُّ بِالضِدِّ

وَلا طِبَّ حَتّى يُدفَعَ الضِدُّ بِالضِدِّ

They have countered Time's stinginess with his generosity;

They have repelled the time's stinginess with their generosity,

there is no cure until one opposite is countered by another.

And no good until the opposite is repelled by the opposite.

مُقيمينَ في نُعماهُ لا يَبرَحونَها

مُقيمينَ في نُعماهُ لا يَبرَحونَها

فَواقاً وَلَو باتَ المَطِيُّ بِهِم يَخدي

فَواقاً وَلَو باتَ المَطِيُّ بِهِم يَخدي

They dwell in his bounty, never departing from it

Remaining in his comforts, never moving from them,

for even a moment, though their mounts trot with them through the night.

Roving, even if their riding camel spent the night walking with them.

يَفوتُ اِحتِفالَ القَومِ أَوَّلَ عَفوِهِ

يَفوتُ اِحتِفالَ القَومِ أَوَّلَ عَفوِهِ

وَقَد بَلَغوا أَو جاوَزوا آخِرَ الجُهدِ

وَقَد بَلَغوا أَو جاوَزوا آخِرَ الجُهدِ

His first effortless gift outstrips the people's fullest exertion,

They miss the people's celebrating the first of his pardon,

though they have reached, or surpassed, the utmost bounds of effort.

And have reached or surpassed the final effort.

مُخَفَّضَةٌ أَقدارُهُم دونَ قَدرِهِ

مُخَفَّضَةٌ أَقدارُهُم دونَ قَدرِهِ

كَما اِنخَفَضَت سُفلى تِهامَةَ عَن نَجدِ

كَما اِنخَفَضَت سُفلى تِهامَةَ عَن نَجدِ

Their ranks lie lowered beneath his rank,

Their worth belittled beneath his worth

as low-lying Tihama lies below Najd.

As the lowlands of Tihama are beneath Najd.

فَكَم سَبِطٍ مِنهُم إِذا اِختَبَرَ اِمرُؤٌ

فَكَم سَبِطٍ مِنهُم إِذا اِختَبَرَ اِمرُؤٌ

عُلالَتُهُ أَلفاهُ ذا خُلُقٍ جَعدِ

عُلالَتُهُ أَلفاهُ ذا خُلُقٍ جَعدِ

How many a smooth, open-handed man among them, when someone tests

So many glorious ones among them, when a man

his further bounty, proves knotted and miserly in character.

Tests their meekness he finds of noble character.

وَواجِدِ مُلكٍ أَعوَزَتهُ سَجِيَّةٌ

وَواجِدِ مُلكٍ أَعوَزَتهُ سَجِيَّةٌ

تُسَلِّطُهُ يَوماً عَلى ذَلِكَ الوَجدِ

تُسَلِّطُهُ يَوماً عَلى ذَلِكَ الوَجدِ

And many a possessor of wealth lacks the disposition

And the finder of a realm whom an evil nature

that would one day give him command of those riches.

Empowers one day over that finding.

فَعُسرَكَ لا مَيسورَ نُكدٍ أَشائِمٍ

فَعُسرَكَ لا مَيسورَ نُكدٍ أَشائِمٍ

وَهَونَكَ لا مَرفوعَ أَحمِرَةٍ قُفدِ

وَهَونَكَ لا مَرفوعَ أَحمِرَةٍ قُفدِ

Your hardship, not the plenty of ill-omened misers;

So ease is not of wretched disparagement,

and your low estate, not the elevation of stiff-legged asses.

Nor loftiness of red-faced shackled ones.

لَقَد كُنتُ أَستَعدي إِلى الدَهرِ مَرَّةً

لَقَد كُنتُ أَستَعدي إِلى الدَهرِ مَرَّةً

فَجِئتُكَ مِن عَتبٍ عَلى الدَهرِ أَستَعدي

فَجِئتُكَ مِن عَتبٍ عَلى الدَهرِ أَستَعدي

Once I used to seek redress from Time;

I used to blame time once,

so I came to you for redress, aggrieved against Time.

So I have come to you blaming time.

وَما كُنتُ إِذ أَنحى عَلَيَّ بِلاجِئٍ

وَما كُنتُ إِذ أَنحى عَلَيَّ بِلاجِئٍ

إِلى فِئَةٍ مِنهُ سِواكَ وَلا رِدِّ

إِلى فِئَةٍ مِنهُ سِواكَ وَلا رِدِّ

And when it assailed me, I sought no refuge

I was not, when it inclined with one with no refuge,

with any band against it but you, nor with any other helper.

Inclined to a group but you and rebuttal.

تَمُرُّ بِأَعلى جَرجَراياءَ صُحبَتي

تَمُرُّ بِأَعلى جَرجَراياءَ صُحبَتي

وَقَد عَلِموا ما جَرجَراياءُ مِن عَمدي

وَقَد عَلِموا ما جَرجَراياءُ مِن عَمدي

My companions pass through upper Jarjaraya,

They pass the summit of my lofty companionship

though they know Jarjaraya is not my intended goal.

And know the summit is not my pillar.

وَلا قَصرَ بي عَن ضامِنٍ مُتَكَفِّلٍ

وَلا قَصرَ بي عَن ضامِنٍ مُتَكَفِّلٍ

بَوائِقَ ما يَطوي الزَمانُ وَما يُبدي

بَوائِقَ ما يَطوي الزَمانُ وَما يُبدي

Nor have I been kept from a guarantor who undertakes

Nor did any supporter guarantee me

the calamities Time folds away and those it reveals.

The vicissitudes of time and what it discloses.

فَأَشهَدُ أَنّي في اِختِيارِكَ دونَهُم

فَأَشهَدُ أَنّي في اِختِيارِكَ دونَهُم

مُؤَدّاً إِلى حَظّي وَمُتَّبِعٌ رُشدي

مُؤَدّاً إِلى حَظّي وَمُتَّبِعٌ رُشدي

So I testify that, in choosing you over them,

So I witness that in choosing you over them

I am led to my good fortune and follow my sound judgment.

I am fulfilling my fortune and following correct guidance.

وَأَعلَمُ أَنَّ السُبلَ ما فَجِأَتكُمُ

وَأَعلَمُ أَنَّ السُبلَ ما فَجِأَتكُمُ

بِزَورٍ مِنَ الأَقوامِ مِثلي وَلا وَفدِ

بِزَورٍ مِنَ الأَقوامِ مِثلي وَلا وَفدِ

And I know the roads have never surprised you

And I know the roads have not surprised you all

with visitors like me among the peoples, nor with such a delegation.

With false tales of people or delegations.