قَليلٌ مِنَ الخُلّانِ مَن لا تَذُمُّهُ

قَليلٌ مِنَ الخُلّانِ مَن لا تَذُمُّهُ

وَكُثرٌ مِنَ الأَعداءِ مَن أَنتَ هَمُّهُ

وَكُثرٌ مِنَ الأَعداءِ مَن أَنتَ هَمُّهُ

Few among friends are those you do not reproach;

Few are the dear friends who you don’t blame,

and many among enemies are those whose concern is you.

And many are the enemies who are your concern,

وَغَيرُ بَعيدٍ مِنكَ ناءٍ تَزورُه

وَغَيرُ بَعيدٍ مِنكَ ناءٍ تَزورُه

وَغَيرُ قَريبٍ قاطِنٌ لا تُؤَمُّهُ

وَغَيرُ قَريبٍ قاطِنٌ لا تُؤَمُّهُ

A distant man you visit is not far from you;

And not far from you a groaning you visit,

a nearby resident you never seek is not close.

And not near, settled, you don’t worry for.

مُصافيكَ في الأَيّامِ أَنفُكَ أَنفُهُ

مُصافيكَ في الأَيّامِ أَنفُكَ أَنفُهُ

إِذا جَلَّ ما تَلقى وَرُغمُكَ رُغمُهُ

إِذا جَلَّ ما تَلقى وَرُغمُكَ رُغمُهُ

Your loyal friend through the days makes your pride his own

Your purifiers in the days are your breath,

when what you face grows grave, and your humiliation his.

When much adversity you face and your frown.

أَلا لَيتَ بَينَ الحَيِّ لَم يَقضِ يَومَهُ

أَلا لَيتَ بَينَ الحَيِّ لَم يَقضِ يَومَهُ

وَلَيتَ ظَليعَ الذودِ لَم يُبرَ سُقمُهُ

وَلَيتَ ظَليعَ الذودِ لَم يُبرَ سُقمُهُ

Ah, if only the tribe's parting had never run its course,

Oh, if only between the living his day had not ended,

and the lame camel of the herd had never been cured of its sickness!

And the sick his illness had not consumed,

وَلَيتَ أَديمَ الأَرضِ يَعرى كَما اِكتَسى

وَلَيتَ أَديمَ الأَرضِ يَعرى كَما اِكتَسى

مِنَ الناسِ أَو يَعفو كَما بانَ رَسمُهُ

مِنَ الناسِ أَو يَعفو كَما بانَ رَسمُهُ

And if only the earth's skin were stripped, as it was clothed,

And the ground bare as it was clothed,

of people—or effaced, just as its outline appeared.

Or forgave as its marks appeared from the people.

فَما ذا الوَرى مِمَّن يُرادُ بَقاؤُهُ

فَما ذا الوَرى مِمَّن يُرادُ بَقاؤُهُ

وَلا المَوتُ مَعذولٌ إِذا جارَ حُكمُهُ

وَلا المَوتُ مَعذولٌ إِذا جارَ حُكمُهُ

For these people are not among those whose survival is desired,

So what is this life for one whose stay is wanted,

nor is death blamed when its judgment is unjust.

And death is not failed when its rule comes?

تُباشِرُ عَيني فيهِمُ ما يَسوءُها

تُباشِرُ عَيني فيهِمُ ما يَسوءُها

وَيَلقى جَناني مِنهُمُ ما يَغُمُّهُ

وَيَلقى جَناني مِنهُمُ ما يَغُمُّهُ

My eye encounters among them what grieves it;

My eye experiences in them what hurts it,

and my heart meets from them what distresses it.

And my soul meets from them what saddens it.

سَقى اللَهُ قَلباً بَينَ جَنبَيَّ رَيُّه

سَقى اللَهُ قَلباً بَينَ جَنبَيَّ رَيُّه

وَما نافِعٌ قَلبي مِنَ الماءِ جَمُّهُ

وَما نافِعٌ قَلبي مِنَ الماءِ جَمُّهُ

May God give the heart between my sides its fill;

God quenched a heart between my ribs, its shepherd,

yet no abundance of water benefits my heart.

And my heart is not benefited from the water, its entirety.

وَلَكِنَّ مُشتاقاً إِذا بَلَغَ المُنى

وَلَكِنَّ مُشتاقاً إِذا بَلَغَ المُنى

تَقَضّى أُوامُ القَلبِ أَو زالَ وَغمُهُ

تَقَضّى أُوامُ القَلبِ أَو زالَ وَغمُهُ

But when a yearning lover attains his desires,

But longing, when reaching the goal,

the heart's thirst ends, or its rancor disappears.

Either the heart's sorrows pass or its grief.

أَما عَلِمَ الغادونَ وَالقَلبُ خَلفَهُم

أَما عَلِمَ الغادونَ وَالقَلبُ خَلفَهُم

يَضُمُّ زَفيراً يَصدَعُ الصَلدَ ضَمُّهُ

يَضُمُّ زَفيراً يَصدَعُ الصَلدَ ضَمُّهُ

Do those departing at dawn not know—my heart behind them

Do the departed not know, and the heart behind them

holds a sigh whose pressure splits hard stone—

Holds in a sigh that splits the solid when compressed?

بِأَنَّ وَميضَ البَرقِ ما لا أَشيمُهُ

بِأَنَّ وَميضَ البَرقِ ما لا أَشيمُهُ

وَأَنَّ نَسيمَ الرَوضِ ما لا أَشُمُّهُ

وَأَنَّ نَسيمَ الرَوضِ ما لا أَشُمُّهُ

that lightning's flash is something I do not watch,

That the lightning’s glimmer I don’t perceive,

and the garden's breeze something I do not smell?

And the meadow’s breeze I don’t smell?

وَرُبَّ وَميضٍ نَبَّهَ الشَوقَ وَمضُهُ

وَرُبَّ وَميضٍ نَبَّهَ الشَوقَ وَمضُهُ

وَرُبَّ نَسيمٍ جَدَّدَ الوَجدَ نَسمُهُ

وَرُبَّ نَسيمٍ جَدَّدَ الوَجدَ نَسمُهُ

Many a flash has awakened longing with its gleam,

And much glimmer awoke longing with its flash,

and many a breeze has renewed passion with its breath.

And much breeze renewed ardor with its breath.

أَضَعتُ الهَوى حِفظاً لِحَزمي وَإِنَّما

أَضَعتُ الهَوى حِفظاً لِحَزمي وَإِنَّما

يُصانُ الهَوى في قَلبِ مَن ضاعَ حَزمُهُ

يُصانُ الهَوى في قَلبِ مَن ضاعَ حَزمُهُ

I let love go to preserve my prudence; but

I neglected passion, guarding my reason, though

love is guarded only in the heart of one whose prudence is lost.

Passion is guarded in the heart of one whose reason is lost.

وَطَيفِ حَبيبٍ راعَ نَومي خَيالُه

وَطَيفِ حَبيبٍ راعَ نَومي خَيالُه

وَعَرَّفَني طولَ اللَيالي مُلِمُّهُ

وَعَرَّفَني طولَ اللَيالي مُلِمُّهُ

And many a beloved's phantom startled my sleep with its image,

And the phantom of a beloved disturbed my sleep, his imagination,

and its visitation taught me the length of nights.

And acquainted me with the length of the nights, uniting them.

وَما زارَني إِلّا لِيُخجِلَ طيبُه

وَما زارَني إِلّا لِيُخجِلَ طيبُه

نَسيمَ الصَبا أَو يَفضَحَ اللَيلَ ظَلمُهُ

نَسيمَ الصَبا أَو يَفضَحَ اللَيلَ ظَلمُهُ

It visited me only so its fragrance might shame

It only visited me to shame

the east wind's breeze, or its darkness put the night to shame.

The morning breeze with its fragrance, or expose the night’s darkness.

تَطَلَّعَ مِن أَرجاءِ عَينِيَ دَمعُها

تَطَلَّعَ مِن أَرجاءِ عَينِيَ دَمعُها

وَما كادَ لَولا الوَجدُ يَنقادُ سَجمُهُ

وَما كادَ لَولا الوَجدُ يَنقادُ سَجمُهُ

My eye's tears welled from its corners;

Its tears peered from the corners of my eye,

but for passion, their flow would scarcely have yielded.

And almost overflowed if not for ardor, its flow held back.

أَلا هَل لِحُبٍّ فاتَ أُولاهُ رَجعَةَ

أَلا هَل لِحُبٍّ فاتَ أُولاهُ رَجعَةَ

وَإِن زادَ عِندي أَو تَضاعَفَ إِسمُهُ

وَإِن زادَ عِندي أَو تَضاعَفَ إِسمُهُ

Ah, can a love whose first days have passed return,

Oh! Can a long lost love return?

even if its name grows or doubles in my esteem?

Even if at me its esteem multiplied or doubled?

لَيالِيَ أَسري في أُصَيحابِ لَذَّةٍ

لَيالِيَ أَسري في أُصَيحابِ لَذَّةٍ

وَمُخُّ الدُجى رارٌ وَقَد دَقَّ عَظمُهُ

وَمُخُّ الدُجى رارٌ وَقَد دَقَّ عَظمُهُ

Those nights I traveled with a few companions of pleasure,

Nights I travel in companions of pleasure,

while darkness's marrow was watery and its bone had thinned;

And brain of darkness is evil when its bone is crushed.

وَأَغدو عَلى رَيعانِ خَيلٍ تَلُفُّها

وَأَغدو عَلى رَيعانِ خَيلٍ تَلُفُّها

صُدورُ القَنا وَالنَقعُ عالٍ أَحَمُّهُ

صُدورُ القَنا وَالنَقعُ عالٍ أَحَمُّهُ

and I rode out at dawn with the foremost horses, encircled

And I rise on the meadows of horses circling,

by spearheads, while the dust's blackness rose high.

Whose chests the wilderness and the highlands made hot.

رَأَيتُ الفَتى يَهوى الثَراءَ وَعُمرُهُ

رَأَيتُ الفَتى يَهوى الثَراءَ وَعُمرُهُ

يُرى كُلَّ يَومٍ زائِداً مِنهُ عُدمُهُ

يُرى كُلَّ يَومٍ زائِداً مِنهُ عُدمُهُ

I have seen a man desire riches, while of his life

I saw the youth crave wealth and his life

the lost portion is seen to grow each day.

Seems less each day than the day before.

عَقيبُ شَبابِ المَرءِ شَيبٌ يَخُصُّهُ

عَقيبُ شَبابِ المَرءِ شَيبٌ يَخُصُّهُ

إِذا طالَ عُمرٌ أَو فَناءٌ يَعُمُّهُ

إِذا طالَ عُمرٌ أَو فَناءٌ يَعُمُّهُ

A man's youth is followed by grayness that touches him in part,

The aftermath of a man’s youth is white hair special to him,

if his life lasts—or extinction that engulfs him.

Whether a long life or perishing envelops him.

طَليعَةُ شَيبٍ بَعدَهَ فَيلَقُ الرَدى

طَليعَةُ شَيبٍ بَعدَهَ فَيلَقُ الرَدى

بِرَأسي لَهُ نَقعٌ وَبِالقَلبِ كَلمُهُ

بِرَأسي لَهُ نَقعٌ وَبِالقَلبِ كَلمُهُ

The vanguard is gray hair; behind it comes death's host,

Vanguard of white hair, then he meets ruin,

its dust upon my head, its wound within my heart.

At my head is its kick, and in the heart its wound.

أُغالِطُ عَن نَفسي حِمامي وَإِنَّما

أُغالِطُ عَن نَفسي حِمامي وَإِنَّما

أُداري عَدوّاً مارِقاً فيَّ سَهمُهُ

أُداري عَدوّاً مارِقاً فيَّ سَهمُهُ

I try to turn my doom away by guile; yet I only

I pretend to myself, my pigeon, but really

placate an enemy whose arrow pierces through me.

I dodge a dissident enemy in me, his arrow.

وَلَيسَ يَقومُ المَرءُ يَوماً بِحُجَّةٍ

وَلَيسَ يَقومُ المَرءُ يَوماً بِحُجَّةٍ

إِذا حَضَرَ المِقدارُ وَالمَوتُ خَصمُهُ

إِذا حَضَرَ المِقدارُ وَالمَوتُ خَصمُهُ

No man can ever make a case

A man does not stand, one day, with argument,

when fate arrives and death is his adversary.

When fate arrives, and death his adversary.

وَأَولى بِمَن يَستَخلِفُ الدَهرَ بَعدَهُ

وَأَولى بِمَن يَستَخلِفُ الدَهرَ بَعدَهُ

عَلى صِرمِهِ أَن يودَعَ الأَرضَ صِمُّهُ

عَلى صِرمِهِ أَن يودَعَ الأَرضَ صِمُّهُ

And it is fitter for one who leaves Time after him

And it suits one the era succeeds after him

in charge of his clan to have his solid frame laid in earth.

To entrust the land to silence, his confidant.

فَوا عَجَبا لِلمَرءِ وَالداءُ خَلفَهُ

فَوا عَجَبا لِلمَرءِ وَالداءُ خَلفَهُ

وَمِن حَولِهِ الأَقدارُ وَالمَوتُ أَمُّهُ

وَمِن حَولِهِ الأَقدارُ وَالمَوتُ أَمُّهُ

How strange is man, with sickness behind him,

Oh, the wonder of man, and illness behind him,

fates all around him, and death his destination!

And the destinies around him, and death his mother!

يُسَرُّ بِماضي يَومِهِ وَهوَ حَتفُهُ

يُسَرُّ بِماضي يَومِهِ وَهوَ حَتفُهُ

وَيَلتَذُّ ما يُغذى بِهِ وَهوَ سُمُّهُ

وَيَلتَذُّ ما يُغذى بِهِ وَهوَ سُمُّهُ

He rejoices at his day's passing, though it is his death,

Delighted with his day passing, though it’s his pitfall,

and delights in what feeds him, though it is his poison.

And tasting what nourishes him, though it’s his poison!

وُرودٌ مِنَ الآجالِ لا يَستَجِمُّنا

وُرودٌ مِنَ الآجالِ لا يَستَجِمُّنا

وَوِردٌ مِنَ الآمالِ لا نَستَجِمُّهُ

وَوِردٌ مِنَ الآمالِ لا نَستَجِمُّهُ

Death's visitations give us no respite,

Coming to us decreed terms we cannot rest at,

and hope's water we never leave to replenish.

And arriving to us from hopes we cannot rest in.

إِلى كَم أَذودُ السَيفَ عَن هامِ عُصبَةٍ

إِلى كَم أَذودُ السَيفَ عَن هامِ عُصبَةٍ

أَما فيهِمُ مَن يَطعَمُ السَيفَ لَحمُهُ

أَما فيهِمُ مَن يَطعَمُ السَيفَ لَحمُهُ

How long must I fend the sword from the heads of a band?

To what extent do I block the sword from the neck of an allied tribe,

Is there none among them whose flesh will feed the sword?

When among them is one the sword devours his flesh?

وَعِندِيَ عالٍ مِن دَمِ الجَوفِ شُربُهُ

وَعِندِيَ عالٍ مِن دَمِ الجَوفِ شُربُهُ

وَماضي الظُبى مِن أَسوَدِ القَلبِ طَعمُهُ

وَماضي الظُبى مِن أَسوَدِ القَلبِ طَعمُهُ

With me is a high-raised blade that drinks the blood of entrails,

And I have a lofty of the blood of the belly, its drinking,

and a keen-edged blade that feeds on the heart's black core.

And my former glory is from the courage of heart, its taste.

أَقولُ لِغِرٍّ بي لُفِفتُ بِضَيغَمٍ

أَقولُ لِغِرٍّ بي لُفِفتُ بِضَيغَمٍ

يَؤودُ الأَعادي خَطفُهُ ثُمَّ حَطمُهُ

يَؤودُ الأَعادي خَطفُهُ ثُمَّ حَطمُهُ

I say to one ignorant of me: 'I have been bound up with a lion

I say to a noble tied to me, I knit you with

whose pounce, then crushing blow, overwhelms enemies.'

Willingness the enemies’ seize then break you.

فَدَع هَضبَةً مِنّا بَنى اللَهُ سَمكَها

فَدَع هَضبَةً مِنّا بَنى اللَهُ سَمكَها

فَإِنَّ بِناءَ اللَهِ يُعيِيكَ هَدمُهُ

فَإِنَّ بِناءَ اللَهِ يُعيِيكَ هَدمُهُ

So leave alone a mountain of ours whose height God built;

So leave a cliff from us God built its elevation,

for demolishing God's building will exhaust you.

For God's building will fatigue you its demolition.

وَمِن عَجَبِ الأَيّامِ أَنّي مُحَسَّدٌ

وَمِن عَجَبِ الأَيّامِ أَنّي مُحَسَّدٌ

أُعادى عَلى ما يوجِبُ الوُدُّ حُكمُهُ

أُعادى عَلى ما يوجِبُ الوُدُّ حُكمُهُ

Among the wonders of these days is that I am much envied,

And of the wonder of days that I am envied,

treated as an enemy for what ought to command affection.

I am hostile for what obligates affection, its rule.

وَلَيسَ الفَتى مَن يُعجِبُ الناسَ مالُهُ

وَلَيسَ الفَتى مَن يُعجِبُ الناسَ مالُهُ

وَلَكِنَّهُ مَن يُعجِبُ الناسَ عِلمُهُ

وَلَكِنَّهُ مَن يُعجِبُ الناسَ عِلمُهُ

A worthy man is not one whose wealth impresses people,

The youth is not who the people's wealth impresses,

but one whose knowledge impresses them.

But he who the people’s knowledge impresses.

تَشُفُّ خِلالُ المَرءِ لي قَبلَ نُطقِهِ

تَشُفُّ خِلالُ المَرءِ لي قَبلَ نُطقِهِ

وَقَبلَ سُؤالي عَنهُ في القَومِ ما اِسمُهُ

وَقَبلَ سُؤالي عَنهُ في القَومِ ما اِسمُهُ

A man's qualities show through to me before he speaks,

The man's traits shine to me before his speaking,

and before I ask among the people what his name is.

And before my asking of him among the people, his name.

أَساءَ جِوارُ الذُلِّ مِنّي اِبنَ هِمَّةٍ

أَساءَ جِوارُ الذُلِّ مِنّي اِبنَ هِمَّةٍ

إِذا هَمَّ واطى بَينَ رَأيَيهِ هَمُّهُ

إِذا هَمَّ واطى بَينَ رَأيَيهِ هَمُّهُ

Abasement's proximity has wronged the son of ambition in me,

The company of disgrace ruined from me a resolute son,

whose purpose, when he resolves, brings his two judgments into accord.

When determined, between his opinions his concern penetrated.

وَلو غَيرَ قَلبي ضَمَّ ذا العَزمَ شَقَّهُ

وَلو غَيرَ قَلبي ضَمَّ ذا العَزمَ شَقَّهُ

وَلَكِنَّهُ لا يَقتُلُ الصِلَّ سُمُّهُ

وَلَكِنَّهُ لا يَقتُلُ الصِلَّ سُمُّهُ

Were any heart but mine to contain this resolve, it would split it;

And if he changed the heart he carried determination split it,

but a viper is not killed by its own poison.

But poison does not kill kinship, its poison.

وَأَبلَجَ لا يَرضى عَنِ العَجزِ رَأيُهُ

وَأَبلَجَ لا يَرضى عَنِ العَجزِ رَأيُهُ

تُمَدُّ عَلى أَضوى مِنَ البَدرِ لُثمُهُ

تُمَدُّ عَلى أَضوى مِنَ البَدرِ لُثمُهُ

And many a radiant man whose judgment accepts no helplessness,

Shining brightly, not satisfied with weakness his opinion,

whose face-veils are drawn over one brighter than the full moon.

Stretching further than the full moon its crescent.

إِذا خَلَعَ اللَيلُ النَهارَ سَمَت بِهِ

إِذا خَلَعَ اللَيلُ النَهارَ سَمَت بِهِ

مَآرِبُ مَضّاءٍ عَلى ما يَهُمُّهُ

مَآرِبُ مَضّاءٍ عَلى ما يَهُمُّهُ

When night casts off the day, he is borne aloft

When the night discards the day, it travels with it

by the aims of one relentless in what concerns him.

The intentions of a shining to what it wants.

وَكَم في نِزارٍ مِن نَهيضٍ نَجيبَةٍ

وَكَم في نِزارٍ مِن نَهيضٍ نَجيبَةٍ

إِذا سَلَّ عَضباً سابِقَ الضَربِ عَزمُهُ

إِذا سَلَّ عَضباً سابِقَ الضَربِ عَزمُهُ

How many a grown scion of a noble dam is found in Nizar,

And how much in a little of the noble is a glorious tribe,

whose resolve, when he draws a keen sword, precedes the blow!

When it marched angrily quick striking resolve.

أَنيسٍ بُلُقيانِ الحُروبِ كَأَنَّما

أَنيسٍ بُلُقيانِ الحُروبِ كَأَنَّما

تَمَطَّت بِهِ في ناشِرِ النَقعِ أُمُّهُ

تَمَطَّت بِهِ في ناشِرِ النَقعِ أُمُّهُ

At ease in encounters of war, as though

A companion in the wars’ trials as though

his mother had stretched in labor with him amid spreading dust.

In the saddlebags of the highlands his mother carried him.

إِذا ضَرَعَ الأَقوامُ مِن سوءِ نَكبَةٍ

إِذا ضَرَعَ الأَقوامُ مِن سوءِ نَكبَةٍ

جَلاها قَويمُ الأَنفِ فيها أَشَمُّهُ

جَلاها قَويمُ الأَنفِ فيها أَشَمُّهُ

When peoples bow beneath an evil calamity,

When the tribes seek refuge from evil defeat,

a straight-nosed man dispels it, lofty-nosed in its midst.

The strong-nosed among them smell it out.

رَفيعُ بُيوتِ المَجدِ كَالجَدِّ جَدُّهُ

رَفيعُ بُيوتِ المَجدِ كَالجَدِّ جَدُّهُ

فَخاراً وَفي العَلياءِ كَالخالِ عَمُّهُ

فَخاراً وَفي العَلياءِ كَالخالِ عَمُّهُ

His houses of glory are lofty: grandfather matches grandfather

High houses of glory, like the grandfather his grandfather,

in pride, and in high rank his paternal uncle matches his maternal.

And in the peak like the maternal uncle, his paternal uncle,

مَهيبُ وَقارِ الجانِبَينِ أَبيُّهُ

مَهيبُ وَقارِ الجانِبَينِ أَبيُّهُ

وَمُخوِلُ مَجدِ الوالِدَينِ مُعِمَّهُ

وَمُخوِلُ مَجدِ الوالِدَينِ مُعِمَّهُ

Proud and imposing in the dignity of both lineages,

Frightening dignity of both flanks, his father,

glorious through both parents, noble in maternal and paternal kin.

And endowed with the glory of both parents, his wet nurse.

فَمِن خائِفٍ عِندَ اللَيالي نُجيرُهُ

فَمِن خائِفٍ عِندَ اللَيالي نُجيرُهُ

وَمِن شَعَثٍ بَينَ المَعالي نَلُمُّهُ

وَمِن شَعَثٍ بَينَ المَعالي نَلُمُّهُ

How many fearful men we shelter against the nights,

So who among the fearful in the nights we console,

and how much disarray among high endeavors we set right!

And the disheveled between glories we caress?

وَإِنّي لَدَفّاعٌ بِيَ العَزمُ وَالمُنى

وَإِنّي لَدَفّاعٌ بِيَ العَزمُ وَالمُنى

إِلى كُلِّ لَيلٍ يَعقِدُ الطَرفَ نَجمُهُ

إِلى كُلِّ لَيلٍ يَعقِدُ الطَرفَ نَجمُهُ

Indeed, resolve and hopes drive me ever onward

I am a defender the resolve and death drive me

into every night whose star holds the gaze fast.

To each night the stars in its darkness dot.

وَما تَستَدِلُّ النَجمَ عَينايَ في الدُجى

وَما تَستَدِلُّ النَجمَ عَينايَ في الدُجى

ضَلالاً وَلَكِن مِثلُ عَينيَّ جِرمُهُ

ضَلالاً وَلَكِن مِثلُ عَينيَّ جِرمُهُ

My eyes do not seek the star's guidance in the dark

My eyes do not infer from the stars in darkness

because I am lost; rather, its orb is like my eyes.

Misguidance, but like my eyes, their orbit.

شَدَدنا بِأَيدي العيسِ كُلَّ ثَنِيَّةٍ

شَدَدنا بِأَيدي العيسِ كُلَّ ثَنِيَّةٍ

وَمِن دونِها جونُ القَرا مُدلَهِمُّهُ

وَمِن دونِها جونُ القَرا مُدلَهِمُّهُ

We raced over every mountain pass on pale camels' forelegs,

We tied down with hands of firmness every gentle slope,

with black-backed, pitch-dark gloom lying before it.

And below it the sides of quartz polished smooth.

وَمُنخَرِقٍ لا يَقطَعُ الطَرفُ عَرضَه

وَمُنخَرِقٍ لا يَقطَعُ الطَرفُ عَرضَه

وَلا يَنزَوي عَن أَعيُنِ الرَكبِ خَرمُهُ

وَلا يَنزَوي عَن أَعيُنِ الرَكبِ خَرمُهُ

And many an open expanse whose breadth the gaze cannot span,

And uncovered, the glance does not cut its expanse,

whose cleft does not vanish from the riders' eyes.

Nor shrinks from the riders’ eyes, its tear.

تَوَهَّمتُ عَصفَ الريحِ بَينَ فُروجِهِ

تَوَهَّمتُ عَصفَ الريحِ بَينَ فُروجِهِ

يُسِرُّ إِلى سَمعي مَقالاً يُصِمُّهُ

يُسِرُّ إِلى سَمعي مَقالاً يُصِمُّهُ

I imagined the wind's blast among its gaps

I imagined the wind’s breeze between its edges

whispering to my hearing words that deafened it.

Traveling to my hearing, speech making it deaf.

وَجَيشٍ يُسامي كُلَّ طَودٍ عَجاجُهُ

وَجَيشٍ يُسامي كُلَّ طَودٍ عَجاجُهُ

وَيَفتَرَّ عَنهُ كُلُّ وادٍ يَضُمُّهُ

وَيَفتَرَّ عَنهُ كُلُّ وادٍ يَضُمُّهُ

And many an army whose dust rivals every mountain,

And an army as high as every dune, its lumbering,

and every valley enclosing it smiles open to reveal it.

And from which every valley containing it withdraws.

تَخَطَّفُ أَبصارَ الأَعادي سُيوفُهُ

تَخَطَّفُ أَبصارَ الأَعادي سُيوفُهُ

وَتَملَأُ أَسماعَ القَبائِلِ لُجمُهُ

وَتَملَأُ أَسماعَ القَبائِلِ لُجمُهُ

Its swords snatch away the enemies' sight,

Their swords snatch the enemies’ gazes,

and its bridles fill the tribes' ears.

And fill the tribes’ hearings, their clamor.

إِذا سارَ صُبحاً طارَدَ الشَمسَ نَقعُه

إِذا سارَ صُبحاً طارَدَ الشَمسَ نَقعُه

وَإِن سارَ لَيلاً طَبَّقَ الأَرضَ دَهمُهُ

وَإِن سارَ لَيلاً طَبَّقَ الأَرضَ دَهمُهُ

When it marches at dawn, its dust chases the sun,

If traveling morning, its neighing chases the sun,

and when it marches by night, its black steeds blanket the earth.

And if night, its darkness blankets the land.

تَراجَعُ حُمراً مِن دَمِ الضَربِ بيضُه

تَراجَعُ حُمراً مِن دَمِ الضَربِ بيضُه

وَتَنجابُ شُقراً مِن دَمِ الطَعنِ دُهمُهُ

وَتَنجابُ شُقراً مِن دَمِ الطَعنِ دُهمُهُ

Its white blades return red with the blood of blows,

Retreating red from the blood of striking, its whiteness,

and its black steeds emerge chestnut with the blood of thrusts.

And wheeling blond from the blood of stabbing, its darkness.

صَدَمنا بِهِ الجَبّارَ في أُمِّ رَأسِهِ

صَدَمنا بِهِ الجَبّارَ في أُمِّ رَأسِهِ

وَكانَ شِفاءَ الرَأسِ ذي الداءِ صَدمُهُ

وَكانَ شِفاءَ الرَأسِ ذي الداءِ صَدمُهُ

With it we struck the tyrant at the crown of his head,

We clashed with it the giant in the depth of his source,

and striking him cured that diseased head.

And the head’s cure of the illness was its clash.

وَما ضاقَتِ الأَقطارُ مِن دونِ فَوتِهِ

وَما ضاقَتِ الأَقطارُ مِن دونِ فَوتِهِ

ظُبانا وَلَكِن أوبَقَ العَبدَ ظُلمُهُ

ظُبانا وَلَكِن أوبَقَ العَبدَ ظُلمُهُ

The lands were not too narrow for him to elude

The regions did not narrow without its loss,

our blades; rather, his injustice ruined the slave.

Fleeing, but the slave’s injustice ruined him.

عَذيرِيَ مِمَّن ذَمَّ عَهدي وَقَد نَبا

عَذيرِيَ مِمَّن ذَمَّ عَهدي وَقَد نَبا

مِراراً وَقَلبي وادِعٌ لا يَذُمُّهُ

مِراراً وَقَلبي وادِعٌ لا يَذُمُّهُ

Who will vindicate me against one who censures my pledge, though he has turned away

My excuse to one who blamed my pact though it advised

repeatedly, while my heart is peaceful and does not reproach him?

Again and again, while my heart is peaceful, not blaming.

تَجَرَّمَ لَمّا لَم يَجِد لِيَ زَلَّةً

تَجَرَّمَ لَمّا لَم يَجِد لِيَ زَلَّةً

وَأَقصَدَني بِاللَومِ وَالجُرمُ جُرمُهُ

وَأَقصَدَني بِاللَومِ وَالجُرمُ جُرمُهُ

He accused me when he could find no lapse of mine,

He sinned when he did not find for me a slip,

and pierced me with blame, though the guilt was his.

And accused me of blame while the sin was his sin.

تَعَمَّدتُ بُعدي عَنهُ مِن غَيرِ سَلوَةٍ

تَعَمَّدتُ بُعدي عَنهُ مِن غَيرِ سَلوَةٍ

لِيُعلِمَني يَومَ النَوى كَيفَ طَعمُهُ

لِيُعلِمَني يَومَ النَوى كَيفَ طَعمُهُ

I deliberately kept my distance from him, without forgetting,

I intended my distance from him without deviation,

so he might teach me, on parting's day, what it tastes like.

To teach me on the day of passion how it tastes.

وَأَجمَمتُهُ لا عَن غَناءٍ وَإِنَّما

وَأَجمَمتُهُ لا عَن غَناءٍ وَإِنَّما

لَأَشرَبَهُ في حَرَّ خَطبٍ أَجُمَّهُ

لَأَشرَبَهُ في حَرَّ خَطبٍ أَجُمَّهُ

I let him replenish, not because I could do without him, but

And I was silent to him, not out of singing, but

to drink him in a calamity's heat, I let him fill again.

To make him drink in burning conditions I gathered.

وَإِنّي وَإِن والى عَلى القَلبِ حَربَهُ

وَإِنّي وَإِن والى عَلى القَلبِ حَربَهُ

لمُنتَظِرٌ أَن يَعقُبَ الحَربَ سِلمُهُ

لمُنتَظِرٌ أَن يَعقُبَ الحَربَ سِلمُهُ

And I, though he keeps waging war against my heart,

Though I fought passion in my heart,

am waiting for his peace to follow the war.

I await the war will bring peace, its harbinger.

وَلا تَيأَسَن مِن عَفوِ حُرٍ فَإِنَّما

وَلا تَيأَسَن مِن عَفوِ حُرٍ فَإِنَّما

تَحَلُّمُهُ باقٍ إِذا ضاعَ حِلمُهُ

تَحَلُّمُهُ باقٍ إِذا ضاعَ حِلمُهُ

Never despair of a noble man's pardon, for

Do not despair of the forgiving free man, for only

his practiced forbearance remains when his patience is lost.

His composure remains when his composure is lost.

أَأَطمَعُ أَن أَنساكَ يَوماً وَإِنَّما

أَأَطمَعُ أَن أَنساكَ يَوماً وَإِنَّما

هَواكَ ضَجيعُ القَلبِ مِنّي وَحُلمُهُ

هَواكَ ضَجيعُ القَلبِ مِنّي وَحُلمُهُ

Can I hope ever to forget you, when

Will I hope one day to forget you? But only

love for you is my heart's bedfellow and its dream?

Your love is the heart’s companion from me and its dream.

يَقَرُّ بِعَيني مَنظَرٌ أَنتَ قَيدُهُ

يَقَرُّ بِعَيني مَنظَرٌ أَنتَ قَيدُهُ

وَيَعتاقُ قَلبي مَطلَبٌ أَنتَ غُنمُهُ

وَيَعتاقُ قَلبي مَطلَبٌ أَنتَ غُنمُهُ

A sight bound to you delights my eye,

Contented with my eye a scene you're its prisoner,

and a quest whose prize is you holds my heart captive.

And freed with my heart a desire you're its spoils.

وَأَنتَ الفَتى لا عاجِزٌ عَن فَضيلَةٍ

وَأَنتَ الفَتى لا عاجِزٌ عَن فَضيلَةٍ

وَغَيرُ قَليلٍ مِن مَعاليهِ قَسمُهُ

وَغَيرُ قَليلٍ مِن مَعاليهِ قَسمُهُ

You are the worthy man, never incapable of virtue,

You’re the youth, no incapable of a merit,

and no small share of high attainments is his.

And little of its glories is your allocation.

تَجاوَز بَعَمدٍ وَاِعفُ فَالعَتبُ إِن يَدُم

تَجاوَز بَعَمدٍ وَاِعفُ فَالعَتبُ إِن يَدُم

عَلى الخِلِّ يَفسُد ظَنُّ قَلبٍ وَوَهمُهُ

عَلى الخِلِّ يَفسُد ظَنُّ قَلبٍ وَوَهمُهُ

Overlook faults deliberately and pardon; if reproach persists

Offend deliberately and gently forgive, so continuing

against a friend, a heart's judgments and imaginings become corrupt.

Reproach if it festers spoils a heart’s notion and delusion.

أَرى آخِرَ اّلخُلّانِ وُدّاً يَسوءُني

أَرى آخِرَ اّلخُلّانِ وُدّاً يَسوءُني

وَيَمدَحُ عِندي أَوَّلاً طالَ ذَمُّهُ

وَيَمدَحُ عِندي أَوَّلاً طالَ ذَمُّهُ

I see the latest friend in affection distressing me,

I see the last of the dear as malice that pains me,

and commending to me an earlier one long reproached.

And first he praises me though long his blame.

عَلى أَنَّني راضٍ بِما جَرَّ هَجرُهُ

عَلى أَنَّني راضٍ بِما جَرَّ هَجرُهُ

وَهَل أَنا إِلّا القَلبُ يَلتاثُ جِسمُهُ

وَهَل أَنا إِلّا القَلبُ يَلتاثُ جِسمُهُ

Even so, I am content with what his abandonment has brought,

Because I accept what his estrangement brought,

and am I anything but a heart whose body sickens?

And am I anything but the body the heart that withers?