وَقفٌ عَلى العَبَراتِ هَذا الناظِرُ

وَقفٌ عَلى العَبَراتِ هَذا الناظِرُ

وَكَفاهُ سُقماً أَنَّهُ بِكِ ساهِرُ

وَكَفاهُ سُقماً أَنَّهُ بِكِ ساهِرُ

This eye is dedicated to tears,

Standing looking at the ruins is this observer,

and it is sickness enough that it keeps vigil for you.

Suffering illness is enough for him that he stayed up with you.

رُدّي عَليهِ ما نَضا مِن لَحظِهِ

رُدّي عَليهِ ما نَضا مِن لَحظِهِ

خَدّاكِ وَالغُصنُ الوَريقُ الناضِرُ

خَدّاكِ وَالغُصنُ الوَريقُ الناضِرُ

Restore to it what was stripped from its gaze

Give him back what glistened in his glance,

by your two cheeks and the leafy, verdant bough.

Your cheek and the fresh, leafy branch.

فَلَأَنتِ آمَنُ أَن يَلومَكِ عاذِلٌ

فَلَأَنتِ آمَنُ أَن يَلومَكِ عاذِلٌ

في فَرطِ حُبٍّ أَو يَغُرَّكَ عاذِرُ

في فَرطِ حُبٍّ أَو يَغُرَّكَ عاذِرُ

For you are safer from a reproacher blaming you

So you are safe from any blamer blaming you

for excessive love, or an excuser beguiling you.

For the excess of love, or any admirer deluding you,

هَذا الفِراقُ وَأَنتِ أَعلَمُ بِالهَوى

هَذا الفِراقُ وَأَنتِ أَعلَمُ بِالهَوى

فَاِرعَي فَأَيّامُ المُحِبِّ غَوادِرُ

فَاِرعَي فَأَيّامُ المُحِبِّ غَوادِرُ

This is parting, and you know love best;

This is separation, and you know more of passion,

so be mindful, for a lover's days are treacherous.

So beware - the days of the lover are fickle.

وَأَنا الفِداءُ لِمَن أَباحَ حِمى الهَوى

وَأَنا الفِداءُ لِمَن أَباحَ حِمى الهَوى

فَغَدَت تَطاهُ مَناسِمٌ وَحَوافِرُ

فَغَدَت تَطاهُ مَناسِمٌ وَحَوافِرُ

And I would be the ransom for whoever opened love's protected ground,

I ransom anyone who made the sanctuary of love lawful

so camel soles and hooves came to trample it.

So it was entered openly by riders and walkers.

حوشيتِ أَن أَلقاكَ سارِقَ لَحظَةٍ

حوشيتِ أَن أَلقاكَ سارِقَ لَحظَةٍ

تَلِدُ الوَفاءَ وَأُمُّ عَهدِكِ عاقِرُ

تَلِدُ الوَفاءَ وَأُمُّ عَهدِكِ عاقِرُ

May you be spared my meeting you as a thief of a glance

I fear to meet you stealing a glance

that begets fidelity, while the mother of your pledge is barren.

That gives birth to fidelity, though its mother is barren.

وَأَبى الهَوى ما كِدتُ أَسلو في الكَرى

وَأَبى الهَوى ما كِدتُ أَسلو في الكَرى

اِلّا اِرتَقى طَرفي الخَيالُ الزائِرُ

اِلّا اِرتَقى طَرفي الخَيالُ الزائِرُ

Love refused me respite: scarcely had I begun to forget in sleep

In my cares, I tried to be distracted,

when the visiting phantom climbed into my eye.

But imagination's vision came to me unbidden.

اليَومَ جارَ البَينُ في أَحكامِهِ

اليَومَ جارَ البَينُ في أَحكامِهِ

فَكَأَنَّ أَسبابَ الوَفاءِ جَرائِرُ

فَكَأَنَّ أَسبابَ الوَفاءِ جَرائِرُ

Today parting has been unjust in its judgments,

Today, distance has judged in its decrees,

as though the bonds of fidelity were crimes.

So it is as if the means to fidelity are crimes.

هَذي الدِيارُ لَها بِمُنعَرَجِ اللِوى

هَذي الدِيارُ لَها بِمُنعَرَجِ اللِوى

قَفراً تَجَنَّبَها الغَمامُ الباكِرُ

قَفراً تَجَنَّبَها الغَمامُ الباكِرُ

These are her dwellings at the bend of al-Liwa,

These abodes whose winding paths

desolate, avoided by the early-morning raincloud.

The early cloud avoided, leaving them desolate,

أَرضٌ أَقولُ بِها لِسانِحَةِ المَها

أَرضٌ أَقولُ بِها لِسانِحَةِ المَها

أَنا إِن عَثَرنَ لَعاً وَقَلبي العاثِرُ

أَنا إِن عَثَرنَ لَعاً وَقَلبي العاثِرُ

A land where I say to the passing oryx:

A land where I say to the wild cows roaming it:

I, if they stumble, say 'Rise again!'—yet my heart is the stumbler.

If I stumble, my heart has caused me to stumble.

قالَت وَقَد غَمرَت دُموعي وَجنَتي

قالَت وَقَد غَمرَت دُموعي وَجنَتي

لِلَّهِ ما فَعَلَ المَحَلُّ الدائِرُ

لِلَّهِ ما فَعَلَ المَحَلُّ الدائِرُ

She said, when my tears had flooded my cheek,

She said, as my tears flooded my cheeks:

'By God, what the ruined dwelling has wrought!'

What has time, ceaselessly turning, done!

أَغضَيتُ عَن وَجهِ الحَبيبِ تَكَرُّماً

أَغضَيتُ عَن وَجهِ الحَبيبِ تَكَرُّماً

وَأَرَيتُهُ أَنَّ الجُفونَ كَواسِرُ

وَأَرَيتُهُ أَنَّ الجُفونَ كَواسِرُ

I lowered my gaze from the beloved's face, out of courtesy,

I turned my face from the beloved out of nobility

and showed him that my eyelids were drooping.

And showed him that my eyelids are breakers.

هَب لي وَحَسبي نَظرَةٌ أَرنو بِها

هَب لي وَحَسبي نَظرَةٌ أَرنو بِها

فَمَقَرُّها وَجهُ الحُسَينِ الزاهِرُ

فَمَقَرُّها وَجهُ الحُسَينِ الزاهِرُ

Grant me—and it is enough—a glance with which to gaze,

Come to me, it is enough for me a glance by which

for its resting place is al-Husayn's radiant face.

I look my fill, for its resting place is al-Husayn's brilliant face.

فَلَثَمَّ أَبلَجُ إِن أَهَلَّ جَبينُهُ

فَلَثَمَّ أَبلَجُ إِن أَهَلَّ جَبينُهُ

جَمَحَت إِلَيهِ خَواطِرٌ وَنَواظِرُ

جَمَحَت إِلَيهِ خَواطِرٌ وَنَواظِرُ

For there is a bright-faced man: when his brow shines forth,

Were the new moon to adorn his brow,

thoughts and eyes rush headlong toward him.

Thoughts and glances would throng to kiss it.

قَرُبَ الغَمامُ فَعَن قَريبٍ يَنثَني

قَرُبَ الغَمامُ فَعَن قَريبٍ يَنثَني

فَيَبُلُّ مَربَعَكَ العَريضُ الماطِرُ

فَيَبُلُّ مَربَعَكَ العَريضُ الماطِرُ

The raincloud has drawn near; before long it will return,

The clouds draw near, so before long they will fold

and, wide-spreading and rain-bearing, wet your spring encampment.

Their shadowy folds around your wide, raining courtyard.

إِن حَلَّ بيداً فَالخَلاءُ مَحافِلٌ

إِن حَلَّ بيداً فَالخَلاءُ مَحافِلٌ

أَو قادَ خَيلاً فَالسُروجُ مَنابِرُ

أَو قادَ خَيلاً فَالسُروجُ مَنابِرُ

If he settles in deserts, the empty waste becomes assemblies;

If you travel by land, the solitudes are gathering places,

or if he leads horses, their saddles become pulpits.

Or lead horsemen, then the saddles are pulpits.

يا اِبنَ الأَكابِرِ لا أَقَمتَ بِمَشهَدٍ

يا اِبنَ الأَكابِرِ لا أَقَمتَ بِمَشهَدٍ

إِلّا وَذِكرُكَ في المَكارِمِ سائِرُ

إِلّا وَذِكرُكَ في المَكارِمِ سائِرُ

O son of the great, may you dwell in no place

O son of great ones, you stayed nowhere

without your renown for noble deeds traveling far.

But that the mention of you flows free with generosity.

ما سِرتَ حَتّى سارَ نَعتُكَ أَوَّلاً

ما سِرتَ حَتّى سارَ نَعتُكَ أَوَّلاً

فَسَرَيتَ تَتبَعُهُ وَهَمُّكَ آخِرُ

فَسَرَيتَ تَتبَعُهُ وَهَمُّكَ آخِرُ

You never journeyed before your reputation went ahead,

You never traveled until the fame of your description went first,

so you followed it by night, your concern coming last.

Then you followed it, though your care was for what comes after.

نَفَثَت لَكَ الأَمطارُ في عُقدِ الرُبى

نَفَثَت لَكَ الأَمطارُ في عُقدِ الرُبى

فَقَصَدتَها إِنَّ الغَمامَ لَساحِرُ

فَقَصَدتَها إِنَّ الغَمامَ لَساحِرُ

The rains breathed for you into the knots of the hills,

The rains poured to you through the knot of the rope,

so you made for them—truly, the raincloud is a sorcerer.

For the clouds are enchanting wherever they go.

ذَلِّل رِكابَكَ أَينَ سِرتَ كَأَنَّما

ذَلِّل رِكابَكَ أَينَ سِرتَ كَأَنَّما

وَصّى المَطِيَّ بِكَ الجَديلُ وَداعِرُ

وَصّى المَطِيَّ بِكَ الجَديلُ وَداعِرُ

Make your riding camels docile wherever you go, as though

Your mount abases itself wherever you travel, as if

al-Jadil and Da'ir had charged the mounts to care for you.

The smooth-gaited camel was charged by the jerboa and hedgehog to serve you.

ما ضَرَّ مَن شَرِبَ الحِمامَ تَكَرُّهاً

ما ضَرَّ مَن شَرِبَ الحِمامَ تَكَرُّهاً

بِظُباكَ في رَوعٍ وَأَنتَ تُعاقِرُ

بِظُباكَ في رَوعٍ وَأَنتَ تُعاقِرُ

What harm to one who drank death unwillingly

It does no harm to one who drinks the dove's water despite himself,

from your blades in terror, while you carouse with

Frightening him - while you subdue it.

قُضُبَ الأَعادي لا تَرومي ضَربَهُ

قُضُبَ الأَعادي لا تَرومي ضَربَهُ

أَبَداً فَأَنتِ لِما يَخُدُّ مَسابِرُ

أَبَداً فَأَنتِ لِما يَخُدُّ مَسابِرُ

the enemy's blades? Do not seek to strike him,

Do not ever try to strike the staff of enemies,

ever—for you are probes for the gashes he makes.

For you are equal to whatever brings humiliation.

سايَرتُ أَزماني فَلَم أَبلُغ مَدىً

سايَرتُ أَزماني فَلَم أَبلُغ مَدىً

حَتّى اِستَقَلَّ بي الثَناءُ السائِرُ

حَتّى اِستَقَلَّ بي الثَناءُ السائِرُ

I kept pace with my times, but reached no goal

I traveled my time but did not reach any goal

until far-traveling praise carried me aloft.

Before praise flowed free of me though I did not seek it.

وَصَحِبتُ أَيّامَ الهَوى فَرَأَيتُها

وَصَحِبتُ أَيّامَ الهَوى فَرَأَيتُها

سَرحاً حَمَتهُ عَواذِلٌ وَعَواذِرُ

سَرحاً حَمَتهُ عَواذِلٌ وَعَواذِرُ

And I kept company with love's days, and found them

I accompanied the days of love and saw them

a pasture guarded by reproachers and excusers.

A pasture whose people were maidens and chaste women.

وَرَأَيتُ أَكبَرَ ما رَأَيتُ مُتَيَّماً

وَرَأَيتُ أَكبَرَ ما رَأَيتُ مُتَيَّماً

مُتَنازِعاهُ آمِرٌ أَو زاجِرُ

مُتَنازِعاهُ آمِرٌ أَو زاجِرُ

The greatest I ever saw was a man enslaved by love,

And I saw the greatest sight I ever saw

with two claimants upon him—a commander or a restrainer.

Contended over by one who commands and one who forbids.

فَنَدِمتُ بَعدَ الحُبِّ كَيفَ أُطيعُهُ

فَنَدِمتُ بَعدَ الحُبِّ كَيفَ أُطيعُهُ

وَعَصَيتُ عَزماتي وَهُنَّ أَوامِرُ

وَعَصَيتُ عَزماتي وَهُنَّ أَوامِرُ

So after love I regretted how I obeyed it,

After love, I regretted obeying it

and defied my resolutions, though they were commands.

And disobeyed my resolves, which are commands.

أَبكي عَلى الأَيّامِ وَهيَ ضَواحِكٌ

أَبكي عَلى الأَيّامِ وَهيَ ضَواحِكٌ

في وَجهِ غَيري وَهوَ فيها حائِرُ

في وَجهِ غَيري وَهوَ فيها حائِرُ

I weep over the days, while they are smiling

I weep for the days while they laugh

in another's face, though he is bewildered among them.

In another's face, and he wanders among them confused.

لَو شابَ طَرفٌ شابَ أَسوَدُ ناظِري

لَو شابَ طَرفٌ شابَ أَسوَدُ ناظِري

مِن طولِ ما أَنا في الحَوادِثِ ناظِرُ

مِن طولِ ما أَنا في الحَوادِثِ ناظِرُ

If an eye could turn gray, the black of my eye would have grayed

If an eyelid had turned white, my black-eyed glance

from all the time I have spent watching calamities.

Would have turned white from all the events I have witnessed.

أَو أَنَّ هَذي الشَمسَ تَصبُغُ لِمَّةً

أَو أَنَّ هَذي الشَمسَ تَصبُغُ لِمَّةً

صَبَغَت شَواتي طولَ ما أَنا حاسِرُ

صَبَغَت شَواتي طولَ ما أَنا حاسِرُ

Or if this sun could dye a head of hair,

Or if this sun were to change color one day

it would have dyed my scalp, so long have I gone bareheaded.

It would dye my hair from all the time I have been deprived.

أَو كانَ يَأنَسُ بِالأَنيسِ أَوابِدٌ

أَو كانَ يَأنَسُ بِالأَنيسِ أَوابِدٌ

يَوماً لَزَمَّ لِيَ النِعامُ النافِرُ

يَوماً لَزَمَّ لِيَ النِعامُ النافِرُ

Or if wild creatures could be at ease with a companion,

Or if the sociable were to make friends with the desolate one day,

one day the fleeing ostriches would submit to a halter for me.

The ostrich that avoided flowers would pasture there.

ما المَجدُ إِلّا في السُرى وَالحَمدُ إِل

ما المَجدُ إِلّا في السُرى وَالحَمدُ إِل

لا في القِرى وَالمُستَغِرُّ الخاسِرُ

لا في القِرى وَالمُستَغِرُّ الخاسِرُ

Glory is only in night travel, and praise only

Glory is only in traveling, and praise only

in hospitality; the seeker of ease is the loser.

In homelands, while the one who stays behind is the loser.

وَغَداً أُمَشّي العيسَ بَينَ حَطيطَةٍ

وَغَداً أُمَشّي العيسَ بَينَ حَطيطَةٍ

وَوَديقَةٍ لَم يُغنِ فيها ماطِرُ

وَوَديقَةٍ لَم يُغنِ فيها ماطِرُ

And tomorrow I shall drive the pale camels between a hollow

Tomorrow I will walk my stallion between Hatitat

and scorching heat no raincloud has relieved.

And Wadaika, which no rain saturates,

تَندى مَناسِمُها دَماً وَشِفاهُها

تَندى مَناسِمُها دَماً وَشِفاهُها

تَندى لُغاماً وَالخِفافُ مَشافِرُ

تَندى لُغاماً وَالخِفافُ مَشافِرُ

Their soles grow wet with blood, and their lips

Its lips bleed and its mouth drips thickened blood

grow wet with foam; their footpads are lips.

While the hooves knock together bones.

يَخبِطنَ أَجوازَ الصَفيحِ عَلى الوَجى

يَخبِطنَ أَجوازَ الصَفيحِ عَلى الوَجى

وَاللَيلُ مُنتَشِرُ القَوادِمِ طائِرُ

وَاللَيلُ مُنتَشِرُ القَوادِمِ طائِرُ

They pound the stretches of flat rock on aching feet,

And night spreads out its arriving wings

while night is a bird with its flight-feathers spread.

Until it hurls us into sleep while fleeing.

بَينا يُوَسِّدُنا الكَرى أَعضادَها

بَينا يُوَسِّدُنا الكَرى أَعضادَها

حَتّى قَذَفنَ النَومَ وَهيَ نَوافِرُ

حَتّى قَذَفنَ النَومَ وَهيَ نَوافِرُ

Scarcely had sleep pillowed us on their upper forelegs

Bay horses as if their eyes in their forelock

when they flung sleep off, bolting away.

Were hearts that turned away from blossoms.

خوصٌ كَأَنَّ عُيونَها في هامِها

خوصٌ كَأَنَّ عُيونَها في هامِها

قُلبٌ بَعُدنَ عَنِ الوُرودِ غَوائِرُ

قُلبٌ بَعُدنَ عَنِ الوُرودِ غَوائِرُ

Narrow-eyed, as though the eyes within their heads

When they cross the water of a valley, its width spans

were deep-sunk wells, far from anyone drawing water.

Them like racing mares.

وَإِذا عَبَرنَ بِماءِ وادٍ جُزتَهُ

وَإِذا عَبَرنَ بِماءِ وادٍ جُزتَهُ

عُجُلاً يَخِدنَ كَأَنَّهُنَّ صَوادِرُ

عُجُلاً يَخِدنَ كَأَنَّهُنَّ صَوادِرُ

And when they pass the water of a valley you crossed,

To you the excellent horses went lightly,

they hurry at a trot, as though leaving the watering place.

Tribes and buildings are rounded up by them.

وَإِلَيكَ أَنحَلَتِ الفَلا أَخفافَها

وَإِلَيكَ أَنحَلَتِ الفَلا أَخفافَها

تُطوى بِهِنَّ قَبائِلٌ وَعَمائِرُ

تُطوى بِهِنَّ قَبائِلٌ وَعَمائِرُ

On their way to you, the wasteland wore their footpads thin;

They bear lovers intoxicated when they traveled;

tribes and clans are passed by on their backs.

Beneath the darkness, graves were lifted up to them.

يَحمِلنَ رَكباً مُغرَمينَ إِذا سَروا

يَحمِلنَ رَكباً مُغرَمينَ إِذا سَروا

رُفِعَت لَهُم تَحتَ الظَلامِ عَقائِرُ

رُفِعَت لَهُم تَحتَ الظَلامِ عَقائِرُ

They carry a love-struck riding company; when they travel by night,

They shared the afflictions of their pacing mount

voices are raised for them beneath the darkness.

So it was as if the packs atop them were also burdened.

نَحِلوا مِنَ البَلوى نُحولَ مَطِيِّهِم

نَحِلوا مِنَ البَلوى نُحولَ مَطِيِّهِم

فَضَوامِرٌ مِن فَوقِهِنَّ ضَوامِرُ

فَضَوامِرٌ مِن فَوقِهِنَّ ضَوامِرُ

Hardship has made them as lean as their mounts,

If you tasked them, the turns of time would have come to you

so lean mounts have lean riders above them.

Panting as they sped to you.

فَأَتَتكَ لَو كَلَّفتَ ما كَلَّفتَها

فَأَتَتكَ لَو كَلَّفتَ ما كَلَّفتَها

نُوَبَ الزَمانِ أَتَتكَ وَهيَ زَوافِرُ

نُوَبَ الزَمانِ أَتَتكَ وَهيَ زَوافِرُ

So they came to you; had you laid what you laid on them

With your patience as the gazelles separate

on time's calamities, those would have come to you groaning.

Between valleys and the canyons, contending.

لِلَّهِ صَبرُكَ حَيثُ تَفتَرِقُ الظُبى

لِلَّهِ صَبرُكَ حَيثُ تَفتَرِقُ الظُبى

بَينَ الهَوادي وَالقَنا مُتَشاجِرُ

بَينَ الهَوادي وَالقَنا مُتَشاجِرُ

By God, what steadfastness is yours, where blade-edges scatter

Today is blackened by its night

among necks, while the spears are interlocked!

Veils and curtains protected you from it.

وَاليَومُ أَسوَدُ لِمَّةً مِن لَيلِهِ

وَاليَومُ أَسوَدُ لِمَّةً مِن لَيلِهِ

سَتَرَتكَ مِنهُ ذَوائِبٌ وَغَدائِرُ

سَتَرَتكَ مِنهُ ذَوائِبٌ وَغَدائِرُ

And the day has blacker locks than its night;

Where the birds' way was closed off

its tresses and braids have veiled you,

Until the ostrich shepherded whatever was in the reserves.

في حَيثُ سُدَّ عَلى الطُيورِ مَجالُها

في حَيثُ سُدَّ عَلى الطُيورِ مَجالُها

حَتّى رَعى ما في الوُكورِ الطائِرُ

حَتّى رَعى ما في الوُكورِ الطائِرُ

where even the birds have had their range of flight barred,

The sun's cheek took from it a black stain,

until the bird fed on what lay in the nests.

And the light testifies that your face is radiant.

لَثَّمتَ خَدَّ الشَمسِ مِنهُ بِأَسوَدٍ

لَثَّمتَ خَدَّ الشَمسِ مِنهُ بِأَسوَدٍ

وَالنورُ يَشهَدُ أَنَّ وَجهَكَ سافِرُ

وَالنورُ يَشهَدُ أَنَّ وَجهَكَ سافِرُ

You veiled the sun's cheek with that day's blackness,

A day when the fledglings wish their chests

while light bears witness that your face is unveiled.

Could tally what your hands have done as girths.

يَومٌ تَوَدُّ السُمرُ أَنَّ صُدورَها

يَومٌ تَوَدُّ السُمرُ أَنَّ صُدورَها

لِتَعُدَّ ما كَسَبَت يَداكَ خَناصِرُ

لِتَعُدَّ ما كَسَبَت يَداكَ خَناصِرُ

A day when the tawny spears wish their breasts

The captives push their palms into their purses

were little fingers, to count what your two hands have won.

Set against what they pushed away of spear and sword points.

وَالسَبيُ تَعصِفُ بِالجُيوبِ أَكُفُّها

وَالسَبيُ تَعصِفُ بِالجُيوبِ أَكُفُّها

في جَنبِ ما عَصَفَت قَناً وَبَواتِرُ

في جَنبِ ما عَصَفَت قَناً وَبَواتِرُ

And the captives' hands tear their robes at the breast,

So the women have tatters of rent clothing

beside the havoc wrought by spears and cleaving swords.

And the men have forgiveness for the little they possess.

فَعَلى النِساءِ مِنَ الخُروقِ يَلامِقٌ

فَعَلى النِساءِ مِنَ الخُروقِ يَلامِقٌ

وَعَلى الرِجالِ مِنَ النَجيعِ مَغافِرُ

وَعَلى الرِجالِ مِنَ النَجيعِ مَغافِرُ

So the women wear tunics made of rents,

They turned, covering their heads with their hands,

and the men wear mail hoods made of gore.

As if those palms were shovels.

وَلَّوا وَأَيديهِم عَلى هاماتِهِم

وَلَّوا وَأَيديهِم عَلى هاماتِهِم

فَكَأَنَّما تِلكَ الأَكُفُّ مَعاجِرُ

فَكَأَنَّما تِلكَ الأَكُفُّ مَعاجِرُ

They fled, with their hands upon their heads,

You sacrificed the bodies of the champions to the wild beasts

as though those palms were head-wraps.

So they knew you were supreme among them.

وَبَذَلتَ أَجسادَ الكُماةِ لِوَحشَةٍ

وَبَذَلتَ أَجسادَ الكُماةِ لِوَحشَةٍ

فَعَلِمنَ أَنَّكَ أَنتَ فيهِ الظافِرُ

فَعَلِمنَ أَنَّكَ أَنتَ فيهِ الظافِرُ

And you gave the armored warriors' bodies to wild beasts,

Where do you wed when the meadows are empty

so they knew that you were indeed the victor there.

For the camels of your camel herd, and the wild beasts roam free?

أَنّى تُعَرِّسُ فَالرِياضُ مَطافِلٌ

أَنّى تُعَرِّسُ فَالرِياضُ مَطافِلٌ

لِسَوامِ إِبلِكَ وَالوُحوشُ جَآذِرُ

لِسَوامِ إِبلِكَ وَالوُحوشُ جَآذِرُ

Wherever you halt by night, the meadows are nursing mothers

When you make peace, the poisons are streaming;

to your grazing camels, and the wild beasts are oryx calves.

When you make war, the soft winds flee.

وَإِذا تُسالِمُ فَالسَمومُ صَوارِدٌ

وَإِذا تُسالِمُ فَالسَمومُ صَوارِدٌ

وَإِذا تُحارِبُ فَالنَسيمُ هَواجِرُ

وَإِذا تُحارِبُ فَالنَسيمُ هَواجِرُ

And when you make peace, the scorching winds turn cold;

As if your spear is one that drinks the blood of heroes

and when you wage war, the breeze becomes blazing noonday heat.

And your sword one that slaughters skulls.

وَكَأَنَّ رُمحَكَ حالِبٌ لِدَمِ الطُلى

وَكَأَنَّ رُمحَكَ حالِبٌ لِدَمِ الطُلى

وَكَأَنَّ سَيفَكَ في الجَماجِمِ جازِرُ

وَكَأَنَّ سَيفَكَ في الجَماجِمِ جازِرُ

And it is as though your spear milks blood from necks,

If the spheres knew I was your son,

and as though your sword is a butcher among skulls.

They would not be pleased that I am allied to the heavens!

لَو تَعلَمُ الأَفلاكُ أَنَّكَ والِدي

لَو تَعلَمُ الأَفلاكُ أَنَّكَ والِدي

لَم تَرضَ أَنّي لِلسَماءِ مُصاهِرُ

لَم تَرضَ أَنّي لِلسَماءِ مُصاهِرُ

If the celestial spheres knew that you were my father,

It is enough, by your generosity, that I praise you,

they would not consent to my marrying into heaven.

And enough, by my glory, that I pride myself on you.

وَبِحَسبِ جودِكَ أَنَّني لَكَ مادِحٌ

وَبِحَسبِ جودِكَ أَنَّني لَكَ مادِحٌ

وَبِحَسبِ مَجدي أَنَّني بِكَ فاخِرُ

وَبِحَسبِ مَجدي أَنَّني بِكَ فاخِرُ

It is enough for your generosity that I am your panegyrist,

The one graced by my praises,

and enough for my glory that I take pride in you.

Which clothed him in virtues and glories, was prompted by passion.

إِنَّ الَّذي حَلَّتهُ غُرُّ مَدائِحي

إِنَّ الَّذي حَلَّتهُ غُرُّ مَدائِحي

نَدبٌ كَساهُ مَفاخِرٌ وَمَآثِرُ

نَدبٌ كَساهُ مَفاخِرٌ وَمَآثِرُ

Indeed, the man whom my radiant panegyrics have adorned

Praise of his noble traits proliferated in praising him

is a gallant man, clothed by glories and noble deeds.

As if his eloquent praiser was chatting idly.

كَثُرَت نُعوتُ صِفاتِهِ في مَدحِهِ

كَثُرَت نُعوتُ صِفاتِهِ في مَدحِهِ

فَكَأَنَّ مادِحَهُ المُفُوَّهَ سامِرُ

فَكَأَنَّ مادِحَهُ المُفُوَّهَ سامِرُ

Descriptions of his qualities abound in his praise,

He guaranteed eternity by his own self, so if

as though his eloquent panegyrist were a nighttime conversationalist.

This age vanished, time past would restore him.

كَفَلَ البَقاءَ بِنَفسِهِ فَلَوِ اِنقَضى

كَفَلَ البَقاءَ بِنَفسِهِ فَلَوِ اِنقَضى

ذا الدَهرُ عاوَدَهُ الزَمانُ الغابِرُ

ذا الدَهرُ عاوَدَهُ الزَمانُ الغابِرُ

He has personally guaranteed continuance; should there be an end

Today, how many hopes rest in his chest to reward you

to this age, bygone time would return to him.

And how many backs bent in weakness to thank you!

وَاليَومَ كَم في صَدرِهِ لَكَ آمِلٌ

وَاليَومَ كَم في صَدرِهِ لَكَ آمِلٌ

يُعطى وَكَم في عَجزِهِ لَكَ شاكِرُ

يُعطى وَكَم في عَجزِهِ لَكَ شاكِرُ

And today, how many look to you in hope at its beginning

O company of the young in their prime

and are given gifts—and how many thank you at its close!

My praises reach you while ancestral deeds are remembered.

أَمُعَشِّرَ الأَحداثِ في أَذيالِها

أَمُعَشِّرَ الأَحداثِ في أَذيالِها

ناجاكَ مَدحي وَالجُدودُ عَواثِرُ

ناجاكَ مَدحي وَالجُدودُ عَواثِرُ

O tithe-taker of calamities in their trailing skirts,

I was pleased for you to be praised in time

my praise whispered to you while fortunes stumbled.

And your ascent does not please me to be a poet!

إِنّي رَضيتُكَ في الزَمانِ مُمَدَّحاً

إِنّي رَضيتُكَ في الزَمانِ مُمَدَّحاً

وَعُلاكَ لا تَرضى بِأَنِّيَ شاعِرُ

وَعُلاكَ لا تَرضى بِأَنِّيَ شاعِرُ

Indeed, I have chosen you in this age as one much praised,

yet your loftiness will not accept that I am a poet.