أَبى الدَمعُ أَن يُشفى بِهِ هَمُّ هائِمِ

أَبى الدَمعُ أَن يُشفى بِهِ هَمُّ هائِمِ

وَلا رِيَّ إِلّا الرَشفُ مِن ظَلمِ ظالِمِ

وَلا رِيَّ إِلّا الرَشفُ مِن ظَلمِ ظالِمِ

Tears refused to heal a lovesick wanderer's grief;

My tears refused to heal the sorrows of the love-struck one,

there is no quenching thirst but sipping a tyrant's saliva.

And there is no relief except the gulps from the injustice of the unjust one.

يَضيمُ اِصطباري مَن يَعِزُّ بِبُعدِهِ

يَضيمُ اِصطباري مَن يَعِزُّ بِبُعدِهِ

مَنامي فَوا لَهفي عَلى ضَيمِ ضائِمِ

مَنامي فَوا لَهفي عَلى ضَيمِ ضائِمِ

My patience is oppressed by one whose absence denies me

My patience is tested by the one whose distance brings anguish,

sleep—ah, how I grieve at an oppressor's oppression!

My sleep, so my longing for the oppression of the oppressor.

أَشمُّ ثَراها أَو أَشيمُ بُروقَها

أَشمُّ ثَراها أَو أَشيمُ بُروقَها

فَلَم يَخلُ رَبعُ الحُبِّ مِن شمِّ شائِمِ

فَلَم يَخلُ رَبعُ الحُبِّ مِن شمِّ شائِمِ

I smell her soil or watch her lightning;

I can smell its traces or sense its lightnings,

so love's abode has never lacked a lightning-watcher's scenting.

So the abode of love was never void of the smell of the critic.

وَلَو ساجَلَت غُرُّ الغَمائِمِ أَدمُعي

وَلَو ساجَلَت غُرُّ الغَمائِمِ أَدمُعي

تَبَيَّنَ عَن قُربٍ غُرورُ الغَمائِمِ

تَبَيَّنَ عَن قُربٍ غُرورُ الغَمائِمِ

Were the radiant clouds to vie with my tears,

Had my tears debated the arrogance of the clouds,

the clouds' deception would soon become clear.

The deception of the clouds would have been uncovered up close.

أَلا سُقِيَت تِلكَ المَعالِمُ دَعوَةً

أَلا سُقِيَت تِلكَ المَعالِمُ دَعوَةً

عَنَتني فَإِنّي بَعضُ تِلكَ المَعالِمِ

عَنَتني فَإِنّي بَعضُ تِلكَ المَعالِمِ

Ah, may those landmarks be watered—a prayer

Oh if only those landmarks were watered with a prayer,

that concerns me, for I am part of those landmarks.

For I am a part of those landmarks that suffered.

عَزيزٌ عَلَينا أَن عَطَلنَ وَعِندَنا

عَزيزٌ عَلَينا أَن عَطَلنَ وَعِندَنا

ذَخائِرُ مِن دُرِّ الدُموعِ السَواجِمِ

ذَخائِرُ مِن دُرِّ الدُموعِ السَواجِمِ

It pains us that they stand unadorned, while we have

It is hard for us that he delayed though we had

stores of pearls from streaming tears.

Treasures of tears of downpour.

أَتَعجَبُ وَالواشي تَهُبُّ رِياحُهُ

أَتَعجَبُ وَالواشي تَهُبُّ رِياحُهُ

لِمَيلِ غُصونٍ كَالغُصونِ النَواعِمِ

لِمَيلِ غُصونٍ كَالغُصونِ النَواعِمِ

Do you marvel, while the slanderer's winds blow,

And I wonder—and the night wind blows gently—

at the swaying of boughs like tender boughs?

At the leaning of branches as soft as the delicate branches.

أَقولُ إِذا ما صارَمَ القَطرُ قُطرَها

أَقولُ إِذا ما صارَمَ القَطرُ قُطرَها

تُرى رَشَفَت سُحبَ السَماءِ سَمائِمي

تُرى رَشَفَت سُحبَ السَماءِ سَمائِمي

When rain forsakes her land, I say:

I say, when the raindrops pitter-pattered,

I wonder—have my scorching winds drunk the clouds of heaven?

You’d think the clouds of sky leaked my poems.

وَلي زَفَراتٌ نَمنَمَ الخَدَّ دَمعُها

وَلي زَفَراتٌ نَمنَمَ الخَدَّ دَمعُها

وَنَمَّت بِأَسرارِ الحَشا وَالحَيازِمِ

وَنَمَّت بِأَسرارِ الحَشا وَالحَيازِمِ

I have sighs whose tears embroidered my cheek

And I have sighs—their tears moistened my cheek—

and betrayed the secrets of my heart and breast.

And they slept with the secrets of night talk and battlefields.

حَنانيكَ إِنَّ الحُسنَ عاذِلُ عاذِلي

حَنانيكَ إِنَّ الحُسنَ عاذِلُ عاذِلي

وَعاذِرُ أَشجاني وَلائِمُ لائِمي

وَعاذِرُ أَشجاني وَلائِمُ لائِمي

Have mercy! Beauty rebukes my rebuker,

Your affection—for beauty is hurtful to the hurt

excuses my sorrows, and blames the one who blames me.

And hurtful to my passions and blaming of the blamer.

عَلى غَيرِ آسٍ قَد نَبَستَ بِسَلوَةٍ

عَلى غَيرِ آسٍ قَد نَبَستَ بِسَلوَةٍ

وَزوحِمتُ مِن وَجدي بِأَلفِ مُزاحِمِ

وَزوحِمتُ مِن وَجدي بِأَلفِ مُزاحِمِ

You have murmured of solace to one who does not grieve,

You walked without a staff, comfortably,

and a thousand assailants from my longing have crowded me.

And I was squeezed by my love with a thousand jostlers.

رَأَوا أَلفَ بانٍ لا يَقومُ بِهادِمٍ

رَأَوا أَلفَ بانٍ لا يَقومُ بِهادِمٍ

فَكَيفَ بِبانِ خَلفَهُ أَلفُ هادِمِ

فَكَيفَ بِبانِ خَلفَهُ أَلفُ هادِمِ

They saw a thousand builders fail against one destroyer;

They saw a thousand buildings with no destroyer,

how, then, can one builder face a thousand destroyers behind him?

So how about a building followed by a thousand destroyers?

وَقَفتُ عَلَيهِ بَل بِهِ مُتَأَوِّداً

وَقَفتُ عَلَيهِ بَل بِهِ مُتَأَوِّداً

أُسائِلُ عَن عَهدٍ بِهِ مُتَقادِمِ

أُسائِلُ عَن عَهدٍ بِهِ مُتَقادِمِ

I stood at it—rather, leaning upon it—bowed,

I stood by it—or rather became friendly with it—

asking about a time there now long past.

Asking about an old covenant with it.

يُجيبُ صَدايَ الرَبعُ لا ما تَظُنُّهُ

يُجيبُ صَدايَ الرَبعُ لا ما تَظُنُّهُ

بِرَغمِ خَواهُ مِن جَوابِ الحَمائِمِ

بِرَغمِ خَواهُ مِن جَوابِ الحَمائِمِ

The abode answers my echo, not what you suppose,

The horizon answers me, though not what I think,

though it is empty of the doves' reply.

Despite the will of the doves against answering the doves.

أَرى طَيفَكُم كالحَظِّ في الدَهرِ ما لَهُ

أَرى طَيفَكُم كالحَظِّ في الدَهرِ ما لَهُ

سُرىً أَبَداً إِلّا إلى عَينِ نائِمِ

سُرىً أَبَداً إِلّا إلى عَينِ نائِمِ

Your phantom seems like fortune in this world: it never

I see your specter in life like fortune—it has

travels by night except to a sleeper's eye.

No constant path except to the eye of a sleeper.

وَلِلَهِ ذَاكَ الدَوحُ وَالنَوحُ سُحرَةً

وَلِلَهِ ذَاكَ الدَوحُ وَالنَوحُ سُحرَةً

وَما ثَمَّ مِن شَجوٍ بِهِ وَمَآتِمِ

وَما ثَمَّ مِن شَجوٍ بِهِ وَمَآتِمِ

And, by God, that grove and the lament before dawn!

By God, that sorrow and wailing are magic,

And all the sorrow and mourning gatherings within it!

And nothing of grief remains in them and darkness.

أُعيذُ لِسانَ الغَيثِ إِنَّ بِوَعدِهِ

أُعيذُ لِسانَ الغَيثِ إِنَّ بِوَعدِهِ

تُشَقُّ بهِ وَجداً جُيوبُ الكَمائِمِ

تُشَقُّ بهِ وَجداً جُيوبُ الكَمائِمِ

I seek protection for the rain's tongue; at its promise,

I seek refuge for the tongue of rain, for with its promise

the buds' collars are torn open in longing for it.

The collars of repression are ripped open.

فَتِلك بِشِعبٍ جَنَّةُ الأَرضِ جُنَّةٌ

فَتِلك بِشِعبٍ جَنَّةُ الأَرضِ جُنَّةٌ

فَلاحَ يَمينُ الحَقِّ إِحدى التَمائِمِ

فَلاحَ يَمينُ الحَقِّ إِحدى التَمائِمِ

So that garden of earth, in a ravine, is a shield,

For by a wadi, the land’s garden is paradise,

and the right hand of Truth shone forth, one of the amulets.

So the right hand of truth became one of the flags.

وَجالَت خُيولُ الصُبحِ في عِثيَرِ الدُجى

وَجالَت خُيولُ الصُبحِ في عِثيَرِ الدُجى

وَقَد ظَفِرَت مِن أَنجُمٍ بِغَنائِمِ

وَقَد ظَفِرَت مِن أَنجُمٍ بِغَنائِمِ

The steeds of dawn wheeled in the dust of darkness,

And the steeds of dawn paraded in the thick of darkness,

having won spoils from the stars.

And were victorious, capturing some stars.

فَيا رَحمَتا لِلَّيلِ مِن نورِ صُبحِهِ

فَيا رَحمَتا لِلَّيلِ مِن نورِ صُبحِهِ

وَيا رَحمَتا لِلصُبحِ مِن نورِ قاسِمِ

وَيا رَحمَتا لِلصُبحِ مِن نورِ قاسِمِ

Ah, pity the night before the light of its dawn,

So oh what a mercy the light of its dawn is for the night,

and pity the dawn before the light of Qasim!

And oh what a mercy its light is for the dawn of Qasim.

وَلَمّا شَقَقنا الحُجبَ عَن نورِ وَجهِهِ

وَلَمّا شَقَقنا الحُجبَ عَن نورِ وَجهِهِ

شَقَقنا عَلى عاتٍ مِنَ الدَهرِ عاتِمِ

شَقَقنا عَلى عاتٍ مِنَ الدَهرِ عاتِمِ

When we tore the veils from the radiance of his face,

And when we parted the veils from the light of his face,

we rent them over a dark tyrant of Time.

We ripped open a dark time from the times of darkness.

لِقاءٌ بِهِ إِلقاؤُنا لِعَصا السُرى

لِقاءٌ بِهِ إِلقاؤُنا لِعَصا السُرى

وَعِتقُ عِتاقِ الناجِياتِ الرَواسِمِ

وَعِتقُ عِتاقِ الناجِياتِ الرَواسِمِ

Meeting him means our laying down the staff of night travel

A meeting with him is our casting off the staff of blight,

and freeing our noble, swift, striding she-camels.

And freeing the free women from the marked ones.

وَدارٍ حَكَت لِلعَينِ أَنوارَ كَعبَةٍ

وَدارٍ حَكَت لِلعَينِ أَنوارَ كَعبَةٍ

وَضَمَّت مِنَ العافينَ جَمعَ مَواسِمِ

وَضَمَّت مِنَ العافينَ جَمعَ مَواسِمِ

And a house that mirrored to the eye the radiance of a Kaaba,

And a house that narrated to the eye the lights of Kaaba,

and gathered bounty-seekers in the throngs of pilgrimage seasons.

And gathered in it the wholesome from every season.

وَقَد كُنتُ ذا نُطقٍ مِنَ الدَهرِ مُفحَمٍ

وَقَد كُنتُ ذا نُطقٍ مِنَ الدَهرِ مُفحَمٍ

كَما كُنتُ ذا صُبحٍ مِنَ الهَمِّ فاحِمِ

كَما كُنتُ ذا صُبحٍ مِنَ الهَمِّ فاحِمِ

I had a voice that Time had silenced,

And I had been—from time—of suppressed speech,

as I had a dawn that grief had blackened.

As I was, from worry, of a blazing morning.

فَقُد كَيفَما شِئتَ السَعادَةَ تَتَّبِع

فَقُد كَيفَما شِئتَ السَعادَةَ تَتَّبِع

وَغَيرُكَ لا يَقتادُها بِالشَكائِمِ

وَغَيرُكَ لا يَقتادُها بِالشَكائِمِ

Lead good fortune as you will: it will follow;

So however you choose fortune, it will follow you,

another cannot lead it even with bridle-bits.

While others cannot lead it with wrangling.

وَأَنتَ مِنَ الأَيّامِ تَقضي بِخاتَمٍ

وَأَنتَ مِنَ الأَيّامِ تَقضي بِخاتَمٍ

وَأَنتَ مِنَ الأَيّامِ تَدعو بِخادِمِ

وَأَنتَ مِنَ الأَيّامِ تَدعو بِخادِمِ

Among the days, you decree with a signet ring,

You judge the days with a ring,

and from among the days you summon a servant.

You call upon the days with a servant.

وَحَسبُكَ سَيفُ الجدِّ لا الحَدِّ ضارِباً

وَحَسبُكَ سَيفُ الجدِّ لا الحَدِّ ضارِباً

فَلا فَرقَ ما بَينَ الظُبا وَالعَزائِمِ

فَلا فَرقَ ما بَينَ الظُبا وَالعَزائِمِ

The sword of fortune, not sharpness, suffices you to strike;

The sword of virtue—not boundary—striking is enough for you.

so there is no difference between sword-edges and resolve.

So no difference between gazelle and resolute ones.

فَلا زِلتَ تَسطو مِن ظُباً بِصَواعِقٍ

فَلا زِلتَ تَسطو مِن ظُباً بِصَواعِقٍ

تُصَرِّفُها مِن كَفِّكُم بِغَمائِمِ

تُصَرِّفُها مِن كَفِّكُم بِغَمائِمِ

May you never cease striking with thunderbolts from blades,

You still conquer some gazelles gently with bolts

directing them from your hand through clouds.

That you direct from your palm with clouds.

نَزَلتُ مِنَ الدُنيا بِحاتِمِ وَقتِها

نَزَلتُ مِنَ الدُنيا بِحاتِمِ وَقتِها

وَكانَ النَدى حَتماً عَلى يَدِ حاتِمِ

وَكانَ النَدى حَتماً عَلى يَدِ حاتِمِ

I came in this world to the Hatim of its age,

They denied the smile of a rising light from it—

and generosity was assured at Hatim's hand.

Its disliked things are forgiven for the generous.

لَكَ السَيفُ لَمّا أَن تَأَلَّقَ نَجمُهُ

لَكَ السَيفُ لَمّا أَن تَأَلَّقَ نَجمُهُ

قَضى اللَهُ أَلا يَعتَلي نَجمُ ناجِمِ

قَضى اللَهُ أَلا يَعتَلي نَجمُ ناجِمِ

Yours is the sword; when its star shone forth,

For war, he prepared the potency of a conquering one,

God decreed that no rising star should rise above it.

And deployed for spreading peace, the adornment of a wise one.

وَقَد رَجَّموا فيهِم وَما رُدَّ مارِدٌ

وَقَد رَجَّموا فيهِم وَما رُدَّ مارِدٌ

يَصُبُّ عَلى مَن بَيضُهُ شُهبَ راجِمِ

يَصُبُّ عَلى مَن بَيضُهُ شُهبَ راجِمِ

They hurled stones among them; no rebel was sent back.

The prince of nights is continuously new and fleeting,

On whom do his bright blades pour a stone-hurler's meteors?

And the distress of enemies is ancient and imminent.

فَجاءوا بِأَسلابٍ إِلى يَدِ قاسِمٍ

فَجاءوا بِأَسلابٍ إِلى يَدِ قاسِمٍ

وَفاءوا بِأَصلابٍ إِلى أَيدِ قاصِمِ

وَفاءوا بِأَصلابٍ إِلى أَيدِ قاصِمِ

They came with spoils to the hand of Qasim,

So enemies did not distance from us—its gain

and returned with their spines to a breaker's hands.

Is to implement a decree from war that persists.

بِمَوقِفِ حُكمٍ في الرِقابِ شَهادَةٌ

بِمَوقِفِ حُكمٍ في الرِقابِ شَهادَةٌ

تُؤَدّى إِلى خَصمٍ مِنَ السَيفِ حاكِمِ

تُؤَدّى إِلى خَصمٍ مِنَ السَيفِ حاكِمِ

At a court of judgment, testimony upon necks

It has flair—or rather an Arabic flair—

is rendered to an adversary—the sword acting as judge.

Many eloquent ones never saw the abode of dwellers.

وَما في صُدورِ الزغفِ غَيرُ وَدائِعٍ

وَما في صُدورِ الزغفِ غَيرُ وَدائِعٍ

وَلا في ظُهورِ الخَيلِ غَيرُ غَنائِمِ

وَلا في ظُهورِ الخَيلِ غَيرُ غَنائِمِ

In the breasts of fine chain mail lie only deposits,

Frank as you called the faltering of feeble,

and on horses' backs nothing but spoils.

Decisive as you called the leap of resolute.

وَتَعرفُ وَجهَ النَصرِ مِن وَجهِ نَصلِهِ

وَتَعرفُ وَجهَ النَصرِ مِن وَجهِ نَصلِهِ

إِذا سَلَّهُ وَالضَربُ ضَربَةُ لازِمِ

إِذا سَلَّهُ وَالضَربُ ضَربَةُ لازِمِ

You know the face of victory from the face of his blade

I pass the night with the water of nature, watering its iron

when he draws it; the stroke is an unrelenting striker's stroke.

To imprint it in the dawn as one of the cutting swords.

وَيَلقى العِدا مِنهُ تَوَقُّدُ باسِلٍ

وَيَلقى العِدا مِنهُ تَوَقُّدُ باسِلٍ

يُمازِجُهُ مِنهُ تَوَقُّدُ باسِمِ

يُمازِجُهُ مِنهُ تَوَقُّدُ باسِمِ

His enemies meet a warrior's blaze from him,

And I gave it—for hearing—the bashfulness of downpour,

mingled in him with the radiance of one who smiles.

And I granted it—for nature—the potency of protector.

فَكَم أَنكَروا مِنهُ تَبَسُّمَ طَلعَةٍ

فَكَم أَنكَروا مِنهُ تَبَسُّمَ طَلعَةٍ

مَكارِهُها مَغفورَةٌ لِلمَكارِمِ

مَكارِهُها مَغفورَةٌ لِلمَكارِمِ

How often they found strange the smile of his face,

And I read in your eyes the translation of love,

its terrors forgiven for the sake of its noble deeds.

And the solution of the translator is the solution of translators.

أَعَدَّ لِجَمعِ الحَربِ ضَغمَةَ فاتِكٍ

أَعَدَّ لِجَمعِ الحَربِ ضَغمَةَ فاتِكٍ

وَسَرّى لِنَشرِ السَلمِ حِليَةَ حازِمِ

وَسَرّى لِنَشرِ السَلمِ حِليَةَ حازِمِ

He readied a deadly attacker's bite for war's gathering,

What delighted him from us—for it he has the thanks of a squanderer,

and sent forth a prudent man's adornment to spread peace.

And what delighted us from him—for it we have the righteousness of a concealer.

أَميرُ اللَيالي مِن جَديدٍ وَذاهِبٍ

أَميرُ اللَيالي مِن جَديدٍ وَذاهِبٍ

وَكَربُ الأَعادي مِن قَديمٍ وَقادِمِ

وَكَربُ الأَعادي مِن قَديمٍ وَقادِمِ

Prince of nights, both new and gone,

I have, for today’s union, the joy of a winner,

and torment of foes, both old and yet to come.

And I have, for yesterday’s separation, the sorrow of a regretter.

فَلا بَعُدَت عَنّا العِدا إِنَّ رِبحَهُ

فَلا بَعُدَت عَنّا العِدا إِنَّ رِبحَهُ

لِتَحصيلِ مَرسومٍ مِنَ الحَربِ قائِمِ

لِتَحصيلِ مَرسومٍ مِنَ الحَربِ قائِمِ

May the enemies not be far from us, for his profit

It watered the garden when it let the discourse of doves flow,

is assured in securing a prescribed due from war.

So it let water flow from crying eyelids.

لَها خَلَّةٌ بَل حُلَّةٌ عَرَبِيَّةٌ

لَها خَلَّةٌ بَل حُلَّةٌ عَرَبِيَّةٌ

وَرُبَّ فَصيحٍ ما رَأى دارَ دارِمِ

وَرُبَّ فَصيحٍ ما رَأى دارَ دارِمِ

It has a quality—rather, an Arab robe,

I will borrow a pearl from the singing of passions,

and many an eloquent man has never seen Darim's abode.

And I fulfilled a pearl from the crying of downpours.

وَطَلقٌ كَما اِستَدَرَيتَ هَزَّةَ ذابِلٍ

وَطَلقٌ كَما اِستَدَرَيتَ هَزَّةَ ذابِلٍ

وَجَزلٌ كَما اِستَدعَيتَ وَثبَةَ صارِمِ

وَجَزلٌ كَما اِستَدعَيتَ وَثبَةَ صارِمِ

And fluent, as when you coax a slender spear's quiver,

The intended meaning can be unknown by its words

and robust, as when you summon a keen sword's leap.

If the thought of a learned one does not turn it over.

وَبِتُّ بِماءِ الطَبعِ أَسقي حَديدَها

وَبِتُّ بِماءِ الطَبعِ أَسقي حَديدَها

لِأَطبَعَها في الصُبحِ إِحدى الصَوارِمِ

لِأَطبَعَها في الصُبحِ إِحدى الصَوارِمِ

I spent the night watering its iron with natural talent's water,

He says—and the traces of eyes are in his heart—

to forge it by dawn into one of the cutting swords.

A slain lover or slain in battles.

وَأَعطَيتُها لِلسَمعِ حِشمَةَ مُورِدٍ

وَأَعطَيتُها لِلسَمعِ حِشمَةَ مُورِدٍ

وَعاطَيتُها لِلطَبعِ غُلَّةَ حائِمِ

وَعاطَيتُها لِلطَبعِ غُلَّةَ حائِمِ

I offered it to the ear with a water-bringer's reserve,

For gazelles meet necks gently,

and shared it with native taste, with the thirst of one circling water.

So are they gentle at the strike, gentleness of merciful?

وَأَقرَأُ في عَينَيكَ تَرجَمَةَ الهوى

وَأَقرَأُ في عَينَيكَ تَرجَمَةَ الهوى

وَحَلُّ وِكاءِ العَينِ حَلُّ التَراجِمِ

وَحَلُّ وِكاءِ العَينِ حَلُّ التَراجِمِ

I read in your eyes the interpretation of love,

And I aim to violate prohibitions, intending

and untying the eye's drawstring unlocks the interpretations.

To other violations, violations of some prohibitions.

وَأَعجَبَهُ مِنّا لَهُ شُكرُ بائِحٍ

وَأَعجَبَهُ مِنّا لَهُ شُكرُ بائِحٍ

وَأَعَجبَنا مِنهُ لَنا بِرُّ كاتِمِ

وَأَعَجبَنا مِنهُ لَنا بِرُّ كاتِمِ

He delighted in our openly spoken thanks to him,

Our peace ruled that no disgrace will be after it,

and we delighted in his hidden kindness to us.

And drawing swords rules with drawing swords.

وَبي لِوِصالِ اليَومِ غِبطَةُ رابِحٍ

وَبي لِوِصالِ اليَومِ غِبطَةُ رابِحٍ

وَبي لفِراقِ الأَمسِ حَسرَةُ نادِمِ

وَبي لفِراقِ الأَمسِ حَسرَةُ نادِمِ

For today's reunion, I have the joy of one who gains,

It is enough for you that the sword has no benefit if

and for yesterday's parting, a penitent one's regret.

It does not connect its drawing with resolute.

سَقى الرَوضَ إِذ أَجرى حَديثَ حَمائِمِ

سَقى الرَوضَ إِذ أَجرى حَديثَ حَمائِمِ

فَأَجرَينَ ماءً مِن جُفونٍ حَوائِمِ

فَأَجرَينَ ماءً مِن جُفونٍ حَوائِمِ

He watered the garden when he set a tale of doves flowing,

So stand without being ordered by my order, for I—

and they made water flow from wandering eyelids.

And far be it from you— complain today of helpers of crime.

لَأَقرَضنَ دُرّاً مِن غِناءِ سَواجِعٍ

لَأَقرَضنَ دُرّاً مِن غِناءِ سَواجِعٍ

فَوَفَّيتُ دُرّاً مِن بُكاءِ سَواجِمِ

فَوَفَّيتُ دُرّاً مِن بُكاءِ سَواجِمِ

They surely lent pearls from the song of cooing birds,

Without steering fate, an excuse letter,

so I repaid pearls from the weeping of streaming eyes.

And it has no one except the will of determined.

وَقَد يَجهَلُ المعنى المُعَنَّى بِلَفظِهِ

وَقَد يَجهَلُ المعنى المُعَنَّى بِلَفظِهِ

إِذا لَم يُقَلِّب فيهِ فِكرَةَ عالِمِ

إِذا لَم يُقَلِّب فيهِ فِكرَةَ عالِمِ

One troubled by its wording may not know the meaning,

I called you when great calamity tortured me,

if he does not turn a scholar's thought upon it.

And the like of you is not called except for the greatest matters.

يَقولُ وَآثارُ العُيونِ بِقَلبِهِ

يَقولُ وَآثارُ العُيونِ بِقَلبِهِ

صَريعُ مِلاحٍ أَو صَريعُ مَلاحِمِ

صَريعُ مِلاحٍ أَو صَريعُ مَلاحِمِ

He says, with the traces of eyes upon his heart:

He did best when I did worst and his worry

Felled by beauties, or felled by battles?

Was with the honor of oppressed and humiliation of unjust.

فَإِنَّ الظُبا تَلقى الرِقابَ بِرِقَّةٍ

فَإِنَّ الظُبا تَلقى الرِقابَ بِرِقَّةٍ

فَهَل هِيَ عِندَ الضَربِ رِقَّةُ راحِمِ

فَهَل هِيَ عِندَ الضَربِ رِقَّةُ راحِمِ

For sword-edges meet necks with delicacy,

For us is the most righteous of people, veiling my sin,

but at the stroke, is that a merciful one's tenderness?

And I came to him appealing with crimes.

وَأَعتَدُّ غِشيانَ المَحارِمِ قاصِداً

وَأَعتَدُّ غِشيانَ المَحارِمِ قاصِداً

إِلى غَيرِهِ غِشيانَ بَعضِ المَحارِمِ

إِلى غَيرِهِ غِشيانَ بَعضِ المَحارِمِ

I deem entry into inviolable precincts, seeking

If the night of neglect darkened in the heart,

anyone other than him, a committing of forbidden acts.

Then your bright stars of virtues increased in clarity.

قَضى سَلمُنا أَن لا سَخيمَةَ بَعدَها

قَضى سَلمُنا أَن لا سَخيمَةَ بَعدَها

وَسَلُّ الظُبا يَقضي بِسَلِّ السَخائِمِ

وَسَلُّ الظُبا يَقضي بِسَلِّ السَخائِمِ

Our peace decreed that no rancor should follow it,

A position with the taste of honey in the mouth of taster,

and drawing blades ordains the drawing out of grudges.

And meaning like the scent of musk in the nose of smeller.

وَيَكفيكَ أَنَّ السَيفَ لا نَفعَ عِندَهُ

وَيَكفيكَ أَنَّ السَيفَ لا نَفعَ عِندَهُ

إِذا هُوَ لَم يوصَل ظُباهُ بِقائِمِ

إِذا هُوَ لَم يوصَل ظُباهُ بِقائِمِ

It is enough for you that a sword has no use

You caught it while time vanishes the vanquisher,

if its edges are not joined to a hilt.

And you reached it while blasphemy perishes the perisher.

فَقُم غَيرَ مَأمورٍ بِأَمري فَإِنَّني

فَقُم غَيرَ مَأمورٍ بِأَمري فَإِنَّني

وَحاشاكَ أَشكو اليَومَ أَعوانَ عارِمِ

وَحاشاكَ أَشكو اليَومَ أَعوانَ عارِمِ

Rise, without being commanded by my request, for I—

You relieved it while the sword is like its enemy,

far be it from you—complain today of a violent man's helpers.

So is there a strike from it other than peaceful?

وَمِن دونِ تَصريفِ المُنى حَرفُ عِلَّةٍ

وَمِن دونِ تَصريفِ المُنى حَرفُ عِلَّةٍ

وَلَيسَ لَها إلّا عَزيمَةُ جازِمِ

وَلَيسَ لَها إلّا عَزيمَةُ جازِمِ

A weak letter obstructs the conjugation of wishes,

Oh home, our days have no blemishes near you,

and they have no recourse but a decisive man's resolve.

Nor do our passions have pretenses.

دَعَوتُكَ لَمّا أَن عَنَتني عَظيمَةٌ

دَعَوتُكَ لَمّا أَن عَنَتني عَظيمَةٌ

وَمِثلُكَ لا يُدعى لِغَيرِ العَظائِمِ

وَمِثلُكَ لا يُدعى لِغَيرِ العَظائِمِ

I called you when a great calamity beset me,

And here are my tears in you from a diffusing eye,

and one like you is called only for great calamities.

And here is my poem in you from a compiling mouth.

وَأَحسَنَ لَمّا أَن أَسَأتُ وَهَمُّهُ

وَأَحسَنَ لَمّا أَن أَسَأتُ وَهَمُّهُ

بِعِزَّةِ مَظلومٍ وَإِذلالِ ظالِمِ

بِعِزَّةِ مَظلومٍ وَإِذلالِ ظالِمِ

He did good when I did wrong; his concern

I rightfully have the wailing, not metaphorically, in its wadi,

is to exalt the wronged and humble the oppressor.

And the rhyming of verses is other than the rhyming of doves.

لَنا بِأَبَرِّ الناسِ ساتِرِ زَلَّتي

لَنا بِأَبَرِّ الناسِ ساتِرِ زَلَّتي

وَقَد جِئتُهُ مُستَشفِعاً بِالجَرائِمِ

وَقَد جِئتُهُ مُستَشفِعاً بِالجَرائِمِ

We have, in the kindest of men, one who veils my fault,

though I came to him seeking intercession through my crimes.

إِذا أَظلَمَت في القَلبِ لَيلَةُ هَفوَةٍ

إِذا أَظلَمَت في القَلبِ لَيلَةُ هَفوَةٍ

فَزادَت وُضوحاً مِنكَ شُهبُ المَكارِمِ

فَزادَت وُضوحاً مِنكَ شُهبُ المَكارِمِ

When the night of a lapse darkened within the heart,

the meteors of your noble deeds grew brighter.

مَقامٌ كَطَعمِ الشَهدِ في فَمِ ذائِقٍ

مَقامٌ كَطَعمِ الشَهدِ في فَمِ ذائِقٍ

وَمَعنىً كَنَفحِ المِسكِ في أَنفِ ناسِمِ

وَمَعنىً كَنَفحِ المِسكِ في أَنفِ ناسِمِ

A station like honey's taste in a taster's mouth,

and a meaning like musk's scent in the nose of one inhaling.

تَدارَكتَها وَالدَهرُ غالِبُ غالِبٍ

تَدارَكتَها وَالدَهرُ غالِبُ غالِبٍ

وَأَدرَكتَها وَالكُفرُ هاشِمُ هاشِمِ

وَأَدرَكتَها وَالكُفرُ هاشِمُ هاشِمِ

You rescued it, while Time was vanquishing Ghalib,

and reached it, while unbelief was crushing Hashim;

وَفَرَّجتَها وَالسَيفُ مِثلُ عَدُوِّهِ

وَفَرَّجتَها وَالسَيفُ مِثلُ عَدُوِّهِ

فَهَل فيهما مِن ضَربِهِ غَيرُ سالِمِ

فَهَل فيهما مِن ضَربِهِ غَيرُ سالِمِ

and brought it relief, while the sword was like its enemy:

so is either of them not safe from its stroke?

فَيا دارُ ما أَيّامُنا بِذَمائِمٍ

فَيا دارُ ما أَيّامُنا بِذَمائِمٍ

لَدَيكَ وَلا أَشواقُنا بِرَمائِمِ

لَدَيكَ وَلا أَشواقُنا بِرَمائِمِ

O dwelling, our days are not blameworthy

in your midst, nor are our longings decayed remains.

وَهَذي دُموعي فيكِ مِن عَينِ ناثِرٍ

وَهَذي دُموعي فيكِ مِن عَينِ ناثِرٍ

وَهَذا قَريضي فيكِ مِن فَمِ ناظِمِ

وَهَذا قَريضي فيكِ مِن فَمِ ناظِمِ

These are my tears for you, from a scatterer's eye,

and this is my verse for you, from a poet's mouth.

لِيَ النَوحُ حَقّاً لا مَجازاً بِرَبعِها

لِيَ النَوحُ حَقّاً لا مَجازاً بِرَبعِها

وَسَجعُ القَوافي غَيرُ سَجعِ الحَمائِمِ

وَسَجعُ القَوافي غَيرُ سَجعِ الحَمائِمِ

Mine is true lament, not metaphor, at her abode;

and the cadence of rhymes is not the cooing of doves.