1. إِلى كَمِ الطَرفُ بِالبَيداءِ مَعقودُ

    وَكَم تَشَكّى سُرايَ الضُمَّرُ القودُ

    How long must my gaze remain fixed on the desert?

    And how often have the lean, long-necked mounts complained of my night journeys!

  2. تَعِلَّةٌ لِيَ بَعدَ القُربِ تَولِيَةٌ

    عَنِ المَقامِ وَبَعدَ النَومِ تَسهيدُ

    My solace after nearness is a turning away

    From settled life, and after sleep, sleeplessness.

  3. يا دارَ ذُلٍّ لِمَن فارَقتِ قَعدَتَهُ

    وَالعِزُّ أَولى بِمَن عُلِّقتِ يابيدُ

    O abode of disgrace for him whose settled life you have forsaken!

    Honor is fitter for him to whom you are bound, O deserts.

  4. أَرمي بِأَيدي المَطايا كُلَّ مُشتَبِهٍ

    تَنبو بِأَخفافِها عَنهُ الجَلاميدُ

    I strike through every bewildering tract with my mounts' forelegs,

    From which the boulders send their padded hooves recoiling.

  5. وَكُلَّ لَيلٍ تُضِلُّ النُجمَ ظُلمَتُهُ

    قَلبُ الدَليلِ بِهِ حَيرانُ مَزؤودُ

    And every night whose darkness leads the stars astray,

    In which the guide's heart is bewildered and terrified.

  6. وَغِلمَةٍ في ظُهورِ العيسِ أَرَّقَهُم

    هَمٌّ شُعاعٌ وَآمالٌ عَباديدُ

    And youths on the backs of pale camels, kept awake by

    Dispersed worry and far-flung hopes.

  7. مُلَثَّمينَ بِما راخَت عَمائِمَهُم

    وَكُلُّهُم طَرِبٌ لِلبَينِ غَرّيدُ

    Their faces veiled with the loose ends of their turbans,

    Each stirred by parting, singing out.

  8. لا آخُذُ الطَعنَ إِلا عَن رِماحِهِمُ

    إِذا تَطاعَنَتِ الشُمُّ المَناجيدُ

    I learn spear-thrusting only from their lances,

    When proud, stalwart champions exchange thrusts.

  9. وَرُبَّ أَمرٍ بَعيدِ الغايِ قَرَّبَني

    مِنهُ السَوابِقُ وَالبُزلُ المَقاحيدُ

    Many an undertaking with a distant goal I have been brought near to

    By fleet steeds and mature, lofty-humped camels.

  10. وَخِطَّةٍ بَينَ أَرماحِ العِدى ضَمِنَت

    نَجايَ مِن ضيقِها سَمراءُ قَيدودُ

    And in many a plight amid the enemy's lances, the guarantor

    Of my escape from its straits was a long brown lance.

  11. مالي بِغَيرِ العُلى في الأَرضِ مُضطَرَبٌ

    وَلا لِجَنبي بِغَيرِ العِزِّ تَمهيدُ

    I have no sphere of action on earth except eminence,

    Nor any bedding for my side except honor.

  12. وَلا خَطَوتُ إِلى بَأسٍ وَلا كَرَمٍ

    إِلّا وَمَوضِعُ رِجلي مِنهُ مَوجودُ

    Never have I stepped toward valor or generosity

    Without finding a place there for my foot.

  13. ضاعَ الشَبابُ فَقُل لي أَينَ أَطلُبُهُ

    وَاِزوَرَّ عَن نَظَري البيضُ الرَعاديدُ

    Youth is lost; tell me where I may seek it.

    And the fair, delicate women have turned away from my gaze.

  14. وَجَرَّدَ الشَيبُ في فودَيَّ أَبيَضَهُ

    يالَيتَهُ في سَوادِ الشَعرِ مَغمودُ

    Gray hair has unsheathed its white blade at my temples;

    Would that it were sheathed in the blackness of my hair!

  15. بيضٌ وَسودٌ بِرَأسي لا يُسَلِّطُها

    عَلى الذَوائِبِ إِلّا البيضُ وَالسودُ

    White hairs and black upon my head—none gives them sway

    Over my locks but the white days and black nights.

  16. يُؤَمِّلُ الناسُ أَن يَبقَوا وَما عَلِموا

    أَنَّ الفَتى لِيَدِ الأَقدارِ مَولودُ

    People hope to live on, not knowing

    That a man is born for the hand of fate.

  17. شُغِلتُ بِالهَمِّ حَتّى ما يُفَرِّحُني

    لَولا الخَليفَةُ نوروزٌ وَلا عيدُ

    Care has so engrossed me that nothing gladdens me,

    Not Nowruz nor any feast, were it not for the caliph.

  18. أَهوى لَهُ كُلَّ أَيّامٍ يُسَرُّ بِها

    وَإِن طَغى بَينَنا نَأيٌ وَتَبعيدُ

    I wish him every day that brings him joy,

    Though distance and separation loom between us.

  19. مُحَسَّدُ المَجدِ مَغبوطٌ مَناقِبُهُ

    مُتَيَّمُ القَلبِ بِالعَلياءِ مَعمودُ

    Much envied for his glory, admired for his virtues,

    His heart is enthralled by eminence, stricken with love.

  20. كَريمُ ما ضَمَّ بُرداهُ وَعِمَّتُهُ

    عَفيفُ ما ضُمَّنَت مِنهُ المَراقيدُ

    Noble is all his two mantles and his turban enclose,

    Chaste is all of him that his sleeping places contain.

  21. مُطَهَّرُ القَلبِ لا اِنهَلَّت مَدامِعُهُ

    وَجداً وَما حَقَّرَ الأَنفاسَ تَصعيدُ

    Pure of heart, his tears do not stream

    From passion, nor does sighing diminish his breath.

  22. ما راقَ عَينَيهِ إِلّا ما أَقَرَّهُما

    مِنَ المَكارِمِ لا عَينٌ وَلاجيدُ

    Nothing delights his eyes except what brings them contentment

    Among noble deeds—not an eye or a neck.

  23. المَورِدُ الرَمحَ ما نالَت عَوامِلُهُ

    وَالمُطعِمُ العَضبَ ما عَزاهُ تَجريدُ

    He gives his lance to drink of all its points can reach,

    And feeds the keen sword whatever unsheathing calls it to.

  24. وَالقائِدُ الخَيلَ يَمطو في أَعِنَّتَها

    مَطوَ النَعامِ أَضَلَّتها القَراديدُ

    He leads the horses, striding forward amid their reins,

    Like ostriches striding, led astray by stony ridges.

  25. في كُلِّ يَومٍ لَهُ نُعمى يُجَدِّدُها

    تَملا يَدي وَلَقولي فيهِ تَجديدُ

    Each day he renews a favor,

    Filling my hand, while my words about him are renewed.

  26. وَما أُسَرُّ بِمالٍ لا أَعُزُّ بِهِ

    وَلا أَلَذُّ بِرَأيٍ فيهِ تَفنيدُ

    I do not rejoice in wealth that brings me no honor,

    Nor delight in an opinion open to reproach.

  27. لَيسَ السَراءُ بِغَيرِ المَجدِ فائِدَةٌ

    وَما البَقاءُ بِغَيرِ العِزِّ مَحمودُ

    Prosperity without glory is no gain,

    And survival without honor is not praiseworthy.

  28. جُرحُ الحِمامِ وَلا جُرحُ الأَذى أَبَداً

    وَالمَوتُ عِندَ طُروقِ الضَيمِ مَورودُ

    The wound of death, but never the wound of insult!

    And death is a spring to approach when oppression comes by night.

  29. صارَت إِلَيكَ أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ عَلى

    غَرّاءَ أَحرَزَها آباؤُكَ الصيدُ

    To you, Commander of the Faithful, has passed lofty honor,

    Radiant, won by your proud forefathers.

  30. مِن هاشِمٍ أَنتَ في صَمّاءَ شاهِقَةٍ

    لَها رِواقٌ بِباعِ المَجدِ مَعمودُ

    Of Hashim's stock, you stand within a solid, towering stronghold,

    Whose canopy is upheld by glory's outstretched arms.

  31. نِهايَةُ العِزِّ أَن تَبقى لَهُ أَبَداً

    وَغايَةُ الجودِ أَن يَبقى لَكَ الجودُ

    Honor's utmost is that you remain its own forever,

    And generosity's utmost is that generosity remain yours.

  32. لِأَيِّ حالٍ يُداري القَلبُ غُلَّتَهُ

    رَجاءَ وِردٍ وَوِردي مِنكَ تَصريدُ

    To what end does the heart nurse its burning thirst,

    Hoping for water, when my share from you is only a scant draught?

  33. قَد كُنتُ عَن عَدَدِ الأَيّامِ في شُغُلٍ

    فَاليَومَ عامي لِوَعدٍ مِنكَ مَعدودُ

    I used to be too occupied to count the days,

    But today my year is counted out for a promise from you.

  34. أُلامُ فيكَ وَأُذني غَيرُ سامِعَةٍ

    فَاللَومُ مُطَّرَحٌ وَالعَذلُ مَردودُ

    I am reproached about you, but my ear will not listen;

    Reproach is cast aside, and censure rejected.

  35. يَرومُ مُلكَكَ مَن لا رَأيَ يُنجِدُهُ

    وَلا فَخارٌ وَلا بَأسٌ وَلا جودُ

    Your kingdom is sought by one whom no counsel aids,

    Nor glory, nor valor, nor generosity.

  36. وَكَيفَ يَطلُبُ شَأواً مِنكَ ذو ظَلَعٍ

    باقي غُبارِكَ في عَينَيهِ مَوجودُ

    And how can one who limps seek to match your stride,

    With the remnants of your dust still in his eyes?

  37. ما كُلُّ بارِقَةٍ تَحدو السَحابَ وَلا

    كُلَّ السَحابِ مَباريقٌ مَراعيدُ

    Not every lightning flash drives the clouds, nor

    Are all clouds flashing with lightning and rumbling with thunder.

  38. يَستَفرِهُ الخَيلَ وَالأَقدارُ تَحصُرُهُ

    وَيَستَطيلُ العَوالي وَهوَ رِعديدُ

    He chooses the finest horses while the fates hem him in,

    And seeks long lances though he is a trembling coward.

  39. لا تَحفَلَن بِوَعيدٍ زَلَّ عَن فَمِهِ

    فَما يَضُرُّ مِنَ المَغرورِ تَوعيدُ

    Pay no heed to a threat that slips from his mouth,

    For threats from a deluded man do no harm.

  40. وَلا يُؤمَّلُ أَن يَلقاكَ في عَدَدٍ

    إِن أَصحَرَ اللَيثُ أَخفى شَخصَهُ السيدُ

    Nor is he expected to face you with an army;

    If the lion comes into the open, the wolf hides himself.

  41. وَلو بَسَطتَ يَميناً بِالعِراقِ إِذاً

    نالَتهُ وَهوَ بَعيدُ الدارِ مَطرودُ

    Were you to stretch out your right hand in Iraq, then

    It would reach him, though his dwelling is distant and he is banished.

  42. أُعيذُ مَجدَكَ أَن أَبقى عَلى طَمَعٍ

    وَأَن تَكونَ عَطايايَ المَواعيدُ

    I would shield your glory from my being left in expectation,

    And from my gifts being nothing but promises,

  43. وَإِن أَعيشَ بَعيداً مِن لِقائِكُمُ

    ظَمآنَ قَلبٍ وَذاكَ الوِردُ مَورودُ

    And from my living far from meeting you,

    Thirsty of heart, while that watering place is frequented.

  44. ما لي أُحِبُّ حَبيباً لا أُشاهِدُهُ

    وَلا رَجايَ إِلى لُقياهُ مَمدودُ

    Why do I love a beloved I never see,

    With no hope extending toward a meeting with him?

  45. وَأُتعِبُ القَلبَ فيمَن لا وِصالَ لَهُ

    يا لِلرِجالِ أَقَلَّ الخُرَّدُ الغيدُ

    And weary my heart over one with whom there is no union?

    Men, help! Have shy, graceful maidens grown so scarce?

  46. أَكثَرتُ شِعري وَلَم أَظفَر بِحاجَتِهِ

    فَسَقَّني قَبلَ أَن تَفنى الأَغاريدُ

    I have multiplied my verses, yet won none of what they seek;

    So give me drink before the songs are spent.

  47. قَد جاءَ عيدٌ وَعيدُ المَرءِ لَذَّتُهُ

    وَأَنتَ فيهِم عَظيمُ القَدرِ مَحمودُ

    A festival has come; a man's festival is his delight,

    And among them you are great in rank and praised.

  48. عَيشُ الفَتى كُلُّهُ وَقتٌ يُسَرُّ بِهِ

    مِنَ الدُنا وَجَميعُ العَيشِ مَفقودُ

    A man's whole life is the moment that brings him joy

    In this world; all the rest of life is lost.

  49. فَاِسعَد بِهِ وَبِأَيّامٍ طُرِفنَ بِهِ

    إِنَّ العَزيزَ عَلى العِلّاتِ مَسعودُ

    So rejoice in it, and in days graced with it;

    For the honored man is fortunate despite all afflictions.

  50. قَليلُ مَدحِكَ في شِعري يُزَيِّنُهُ

    حَتّى كَأَنَّ مَقالي فيكَ تَغريدُ

    A little praise of you adorns my verse,

    Until my words of you seem birdsong.

  51. كَم خَوَّضَ الناسُ في قَولي وَقائِلِهِ

    وَكَم غَلا بِيَ إِغراقٌ وَتَجويدُ

    How often have people plunged into talk of my words and their speaker,

    And how high hyperbole and fine craftsmanship have carried me!

  52. أُذَمُّ مِن أَجلِ أَشعاري فَواعَجَبا

    تُذَمَّ إِن جَنَتِ الخَمرَ العَناقيدُ

    I am blamed for my poems—how strange!

    Are grape clusters blamed when wine commits a wrong?

  53. وَما شَكَوتُ لِأَنَّ العِزَّ يُقعِدُني

    وَأَنتَ سَيفي وَيَومَ الرَوعِ مَشهودُ

    I have not complained, for pride holds me back,

    And you are my sword, present on the day of terror.