أَمَغْنى الهَوى غالَتْكَ أَيدي النَّوائبِ

أَمَغْنى الهَوى غالَتْكَ أَيدي النَّوائبِ

فَأَصْبَحْتَ مَغْنىً لِلْصَّبا والجَنائبِ

فَأَصْبَحْتَ مَغْنىً لِلْصَّبا والجَنائبِ

O abode of love, the hands of calamity have ravaged you,

The passion has made you dear though the vicissitudes of fate,

so you have become a haunt for the east wind and the south winds.

So you are now the darling of youth and the white hair.

إِذا أَبْصَرَتْكَ العَيْنُ جَادَتْ بِمُذْهَبٍ

إِذا أَبْصَرَتْكَ العَيْنُ جَادَتْ بِمُذْهَبٍ

عَلَى مَذْهَبٍ فِي الخَدِّ بَيْنَ المَذاهِبِ

عَلَى مَذْهَبٍ فِي الخَدِّ بَيْنَ المَذاهِبِ

Whenever an eye beholds you, it pours forth golden tears

Whenever the eye beholds you it becomes moist

along a course upon the cheek among its pathways.

With tears flowing down the cheek between the eyelids.

أَثافٍ كَنقطِ الثَّاءِ في طِرْسِ دِمْنَةٍ

أَثافٍ كَنقطِ الثَّاءِ في طِرْسِ دِمْنَةٍ

وَنُؤْي كَدَوْرِ النُّونِ مِنْ خَطِّ كَاتِبِ

وَنُؤْي كَدَوْرِ النُّونِ مِنْ خَطِّ كَاتِبِ

Hearthstones, like the dots of thāʾ on the parchment of a ruined campsite,

With a mole like the dot of "tha" in the line of writing,

and a tent-ditch like the curve of nūn in a scribe's hand.

And a complexion like the roundness of "noon" in the scribe's handwriting.

سَقَى اللَهُ آجالَ الهَوى فيك لِلْبَقا

سَقَى اللَهُ آجالَ الهَوى فيك لِلْبَقا

مُدامَ الأَماني من ثُغُورِ الحَبَائِبِ

مُدامَ الأَماني من ثُغُورِ الحَبَائِبِ

May God give the lifetimes of love within you, that they may endure,

May God water the plant of passion for long in you,

the wine of wishes from the mouths of beloveds.

The wine of wishes from the apertures of the tents.

فَلم يُبق لي فيك البِلى غَيرَ ملعبٍ

فَلم يُبق لي فيك البِلى غَيرَ ملعبٍ

يذكِّرُني عهدَ الصِّبا بملاعبِ

يذكِّرُني عهدَ الصِّبا بملاعبِ

Thus decay has left me nothing in you but a playground

So nothing of me is left in you but a playground

whose play-spaces recall for me the days of youth.

That reminds me of the era of adolescence and its playing fields.

يبيتُ الهَوى العُذْريُّ يعذرني إِذا

يبيتُ الهَوى العُذْريُّ يعذرني إِذا

خَلَعْتُ به عُذْرَ الدموعِ السواكبِ

خَلَعْتُ به عُذْرَ الدموعِ السواكبِ

ʿUdhri love spends the night excusing me when

The chaste love passes the night making excuses for me

I cast off there the bridles of streaming tears.

When I take off with it the excuse of pouring tears.

وَمَأْسورةِ الأَلْحاظِ عن سِنة الكرى

وَمَأْسورةِ الأَلْحاظِ عن سِنة الكرى

كَأَنَّ عَلَيها الصبرَ ضربةُ لازِبِ

كَأَنَّ عَلَيها الصبرَ ضربةُ لازِبِ

And one whose eyes are held captive away from sleep's drowsiness,

And cheeks bound from its tears

as though endurance were a binding decree upon her.

As if patience has slapped them severely.

تَحَّرك طفلُ التِّيهِ في مَهْدِ طرفِها

تَحَّرك طفلُ التِّيهِ في مَهْدِ طرفِها

إِذا اكتحلتْ بِالغُمْضِ عَينُ المُراقِبِ

إِذا اكتحلتْ بِالغُمْضِ عَينُ المُراقِبِ

The infant of haughtiness stirred in the cradle of her gaze

The babe of bewilderment stirs in its cradle of eyelids

when the watcher's eye wore the kohl of closed lids.

When the eye lines with kohl.

تَصَدَّتْ لَنا ما بين إِعْراضِ زاهِدٍ

تَصَدَّتْ لَنا ما بين إِعْراضِ زاهِدٍ

عَلَى حَذَرٍ مِنها وَإِقْبالِ راغبِ

عَلَى حَذَرٍ مِنها وَإِقْبالِ راغبِ

She showed herself to us between an indifferent man's turning away,

It turned away from me with the indifference of an ascetic

wary of her, and an eager man's approach.

And the eagerness of a desirous one.

وَقَد حُلِّيَتْ أَجفانُها مِن دموعِها

وَقَد حُلِّيَتْ أَجفانُها مِن دموعِها

بِأَحسنَ مِمَّا حُلِّيَتْ في التَّرائبِ

بِأَحسنَ مِمَّا حُلِّيَتْ في التَّرائبِ

And her eyelids had been adorned with her tears,

Its eyelids are adorned with its tears

with lovelier adornment than she wore upon her breast.

Better than adorned at weddings.

وليلٍ كَليْلِ الثَّاكلاتِ لَبِسْتُهُ

وليلٍ كَليْلِ الثَّاكلاتِ لَبِسْتُهُ

مشارقُه لا تَهْتَدي للمَغاربِ

مشارقُه لا تَهْتَدي للمَغاربِ

And a night like the night of bereaved mothers I wore,

A night I wore it like the night of the bereaved;

its eastern reaches finding no way to its western reaches.

Its dawns do not find way to the sunsets.

كَأَنَّ اخضِرارَ الجَوِّ صَرْحُ زَبَرْجَدٍ

كَأَنَّ اخضِرارَ الجَوِّ صَرْحُ زَبَرْجَدٍ

تَناثَر فيهِ الدُّرُّ مِن جيدِ كاعبِ

تَناثَر فيهِ الدُّرُّ مِن جيدِ كاعبِ

As though the green of the sky were a palace of chrysolite,

As if the greenness of the horizon is a palace of emerald

within which pearls scattered from a full-breasted maiden's neck.

Whereat pearls are scattered from the necklace of the maiden.

كَأَنَّ خَفِيَّاتِ الكَواكبِ في الدُّجى

كَأَنَّ خَفِيَّاتِ الكَواكبِ في الدُّجى

بياضُ ولاءٍ لاحَ في قلبِ ناصِبي

بياضُ ولاءٍ لاحَ في قلبِ ناصِبي

As though the faint stars amid the darkness

As if the concealments of the stars in the gloom

were the whiteness of loyalty shining in a Nasibi's heart.

Are insights of loyalty emerging in the heart of an adversary.

كَأَنَّ نجوم اللَّيل سِرْبٌ رَواتعٌ

كَأَنَّ نجوم اللَّيل سِرْبٌ رَواتعٌ

لَها البَدرُ راع في رِياضِ السَحائبِ

لَها البَدرُ راع في رِياضِ السَحائبِ

As though the stars of night were a grazing flock,

As if the stars of night are a flock of gazelles

with the full moon their shepherd in the meadows of clouds.

For which the moon is a herdsman in the meadows of clouds.

كأنَّ مُوشّى السُّحب في جَنَباتها

كأنَّ مُوشّى السُّحب في جَنَباتها

صدورُ بُزاة أَو ظهورُ الجَنَادِبِ

صدورُ بُزاة أَو ظهورُ الجَنَادِبِ

As though the brocaded clouds along their flanks

As if the ornamentations of clouds on their sides

were hawks' breasts or grasshoppers' backs.

Are breasts of young virgin maidens or backs of wild cattle.

صبحتُ بِهِ والصبحُ قَدْ خَلعَ الدُّجى

صبحتُ بِهِ والصبحُ قَدْ خَلعَ الدُّجى

عَلَى منكبيه طَيْلَسان الْغَياهِبِ

عَلَى منكبيه طَيْلَسان الْغَياهِبِ

I met the morning in it—darkness having draped dawn

It marched covering East underneath it

with a mantle of gloom upon its shoulders—

And unfolding West above the dunes.

بركبٍ سُقُوا كَأْسَ الكَرى فرؤوسُهم

بركبٍ سُقُوا كَأْسَ الكَرى فرؤوسُهم

مُوَسَّدةٌ أَعْناقُها بِالمَنَاكبِ

مُوَسَّدةٌ أَعْناقُها بِالمَنَاكبِ

with a caravan made to drink the cup of sleep, their heads

Hitting the darkness a slap on the head of its mother

pillowed, their necks resting against their shoulders.

Having become intoxicated from the wine of grazing the planets.

تَلَوْا في ذُرى الأَكْوار توراةَ قَصْدِهم

تَلَوْا في ذُرى الأَكْوار توراةَ قَصْدِهم

بفكرِ جُسومٍ آتِياتٍ ذَواهِبِ

بفكرِ جُسومٍ آتِياتٍ ذَواهِبِ

On the crests of camel-saddles they recited the Torah of their purpose,

So when we crossed it through the plain of Tahir

through the thought of bodies coming and going.

It took us in its tendencies of tendencies

تَكادُ تَظُنُّ العِيسُ أَنْ ليسَ فوقها

تَكادُ تَظُنُّ العِيسُ أَنْ ليسَ فوقها

إِذا سكتوا إِلا صدور الحَقائبِ

إِذا سكتوا إِلا صدور الحَقائبِ

The pale camels almost suppose that above them there is,

To the Kaaba of hopes and wishes

when the riders fall silent, nothing but the fronts of saddlebags.

With which the generosity of leisure of processions is adorned.

كَواكِبُ رَكبٍ فِي بُروجِ أَهِلَّةٍ

كَواكِبُ رَكبٍ فِي بُروجِ أَهِلَّةٍ

تدورُ بِأَفلاكٍ بغيرِ كَواكِبِ

تدورُ بِأَفلاكٍ بغيرِ كَواكِبِ

Stars of a caravan in the zodiacal houses of crescents,

To one who sees armours as burdens,

revolving in celestial spheres without stars.

And mounting death the best of mounts.

إِذا أَشْرَقَتْ كانَتْ شموسَ مشارِقٍ

إِذا أَشْرَقَتْ كانَتْ شموسَ مشارِقٍ

وَإِنْ غَرَبتْ كانتْ بدورَ مَغارِبِ

وَإِنْ غَرَبتْ كانتْ بدورَ مَغارِبِ

When they rise, they are suns of eastern horizons,

One who is seen seeking none but the seeker,

and if they set, they are full moons of western horizons.

And going nowhere but the pathless path.

عَلَى ناحِلاتٍ كَالأَهِلَّةِ إِنْ بَدتْ

عَلَى ناحِلاتٍ كَالأَهِلَّةِ إِنْ بَدتْ

أَتَمَّ انقواساً مِن قِسىِّ الحَواجبِ

أَتَمَّ انقواساً مِن قِسىِّ الحَواجبِ

upon lean mounts, like crescents when they appear,

Responding by the edges of spears when

more completely curved than the bows of eyebrows.

The thrusts of the thrusting approach from all sides.

طَواهُنَّ طَيُّ السَّيْرِ حَتَّى كَأَنَّها

طَواهُنَّ طَيُّ السَّيْرِ حَتَّى كَأَنَّها

قَناطِرُ تسعى مُخْطَفاتِ الجَوانبِ

قَناطِرُ تسعى مُخْطَفاتِ الجَوانبِ

The folding of the journey folded them thin, until they seemed

With habits of patience that never ceased to restore him

bridges running along, their flanks drawn in.

To war until the patience of the warrior expired.

وَقَدْ عَقْرَبَتْ أَذنابَها فَكأَنَّها

وَقَدْ عَقْرَبَتْ أَذنابَها فَكأَنَّها

نَشاوى أعالٍ صاحِياتُ المَذانِبِ

نَشاوى أعالٍ صاحِياتُ المَذانِبِ

They had curled their tails like scorpions, so they seemed

A blooming youth who dressed time in the garb of adolescence

drunken in their upper parts, sober at their tail-ends.

While it had long been in the loose robes of old age.

خِفافٌ طَوَيْنَ الشرقَ تحت خِفافها

خِفافٌ طَوَيْنَ الشرقَ تحت خِفافها

بنا ونشرنَ الغربَ فوق الغَوارِبِ

بنا ونشرنَ الغربَ فوق الغَوارِبِ

Light-footed, they folded the East beneath their padded feet,

Death continues to remain under the shade of his swords

bearing us, and spread the West above their withers.

Whenever the brave one rages amidst the regiments.

ضَرَبْنَ الدُّجى صَفْعاً عَلَى أُمِّ رأْسِهِ

ضَرَبْنَ الدُّجى صَفْعاً عَلَى أُمِّ رأْسِهِ

وَقَد ثَملتْ من خمر رَعْيِ الكَواكبِ

وَقَد ثَملتْ من خمر رَعْيِ الكَواكبِ

They slapped the darkness upon the crown of its head,

Organizing the dispersal of the thrust in the face of a thruster

drunk on the wine of watching the stars.

And dispersing the composed blows in the throat of a striker.

فَلما أَجزناها بساحة طاهر

فَلما أَجزناها بساحة طاهر

ذهبْنَ بنا في مُذْهَبَات المذاهبِ

ذهبْنَ بنا في مُذْهَبَات المذاهبِ

So when we led them into Tahir's courtyard,

And the hands of death had written and explicated

they carried us along gilded pathways,

In the format of maxims above the line of the grave.

إلى كعبة الآمال وَالمَطْلَبِ الذي

إلى كعبة الآمال وَالمَطْلَبِ الذي

بِه حُلِّيتْ أَجيادُ عُطْلِ المَواكبِ

بِه حُلِّيتْ أَجيادُ عُطْلِ المَواكبِ

to the Kaaba of hopes and the sought-for goal through whom

If his swords seat every stander

the necks of unadorned retinues were decked with jewels;

Then his spears lame every rider.

إلى مَن يرى أَنَّ الدروعَ غلائِلٌ

إلى مَن يرى أَنَّ الدروعَ غلائِلٌ

وَأَنَّ ركوبَ المَوت خيرُ المراكبِ

وَأَنَّ ركوبَ المَوت خيرُ المراكبِ

to one who considers coats of mail mere undergarments,

Upon bare she-camels whose throats for the spears

and riding death the best of mounts;

Are less bashful than the changing vicissitudes.

وَمَنْ لا تراه طالباً غيرَ طالبٍ

وَمَنْ لا تراه طالباً غيرَ طالبٍ

ولا ذاهباً إِلا عَلَى غيرِ ذاهبِ

ولا ذاهباً إِلا عَلَى غيرِ ذاهبِ

and one whom you never see pursuing anyone but a pursuer,

And the horse race with galloping from them, smooth,

nor advancing except against one who does not retreat;

Its shoes studded with small stars.

مُجيبٌ لأَطرافِ الرِّماحِ إِذا ارتَمَتْ

مُجيبٌ لأَطرافِ الرِّماحِ إِذا ارتَمَتْ

بها وافداتُ الطعنِ من كلِّ جانبِ

بها وافداتُ الطعنِ من كلِّ جانبِ

answering the spearpoints when there come hurtling

It almost shows you the thing before you see it

with them the thrusts arriving from every side,

And fulfils the needs before you ask.

بعاداتِ صبرٍ لم تزل تستعيدُهُ

بعاداتِ صبرٍ لم تزل تستعيدُهُ

إِلَى الحرب حتى مات صبرُ المحاربِ

إِلَى الحرب حتى مات صبرُ المحاربِ

with habits of endurance that never cease to summon him back

Whenever his opinion emerges in a blink of reflection

to war, until the opposing warrior's endurance died.

It sees with the foresight of opinion what is in the consequences.

فَتىً أَلبسَ الأَيامَ ثوبَ شبيبةٍ

فَتىً أَلبسَ الأَيامَ ثوبَ شبيبةٍ

وكانتْ قديماً في جلابيبِ شائبِ

وكانتْ قديماً في جلابيبِ شائبِ

A young man who clothed the days in a robe of youth,

His enemies seek refuge from his intelligence

when formerly they had worn an old man's cloaks.

If he suffices with opinion without experiences.

تظلُّ المنايا تحتَ ظِلِّ سيوفه

تظلُّ المنايا تحتَ ظِلِّ سيوفه

إذا خطر الخَطِّيُّ بينَ الكتائبِ

إذا خطر الخَطِّيُّ بينَ الكتائبِ

Deaths remain beneath the shadow of his swords

A riding of the necks of matters when he pounces

when the Khatti spear sways among the battalions.

He excuses with capability when they transgress duty.

ينظّمُ نثرَ الطَّعن في وجه طاعنٍ

ينظّمُ نثرَ الطَّعن في وجه طاعنٍ

وينثرُ نظم الضَّرب في نحر ضاربِ

وينثرُ نظم الضَّرب في نحر ضاربِ

He strings the scattered thrusts upon an attacker's face,

It is forbidden that his spears be returned

and scatters the strung blows upon a striker's throat.

From thrusting except red with blood.

وَقد كتبتْ أَيدي الْمَنايا وأَعرَبتْ

وَقد كتبتْ أَيدي الْمَنايا وأَعرَبتْ

بشكل العوالي فوق خطِّ القَواضبِ

بشكل العوالي فوق خطِّ القَواضبِ

The hands of death have written and made the inflections clear,

A refuge for someone seeking refuge, and awe for the secured one,

with the vowel-marks of spears above the script of cleaving swords.

A cave for the wanted one, and war for the victor.

لئن أَقعدتْ أسيافُه كلَّ قائِمٍ

لئن أَقعدتْ أسيافُه كلَّ قائِمٍ

فَقد أَرْجَلتْ أَرماحُه كلَّ راكبِ

فَقد أَرْجَلتْ أَرماحُه كلَّ راكبِ

If his swords have seated every standing man,

When your swords flash striking, they rain

his spears have surely unhorsed every rider.

The heads of enemies upon the land of tribulations.

عَلَى سافراتٍ للطِّعان نحورُها

عَلَى سافراتٍ للطِّعان نحورُها

أَقَلُّ حياءً من صروف النوائبِ

أَقَلُّ حياءً من صروف النوائبِ

upon mounts whose throats are unveiled to spear-thrusts,

With what poured from your palm in that dew

less shy than the turns of calamity.

And what it carried of spears and grave pits.

وَيَحْدُو الصفا بالركضِ منها أَهلَّةٌ

وَيَحْدُو الصفا بالركضِ منها أَهلَّةٌ

مرصَّعَةٌ حافاتُها بِالكَواكبِ

مرصَّعَةٌ حافاتُها بِالكَواكبِ

And crescents from them drive the rock onward as they gallop,

Rest them a little that they may settle, for verily they

their edges studded with stars.

From the striking have become striking the places of striking.

يكاد يريك الشيءَ قبل عِيانِهِ

يكاد يريك الشيءَ قبل عِيانِهِ

ويقضي لك الحاجاتِ قبل المَطالبِ

ويقضي لك الحاجاتِ قبل المَطالبِ

He almost shows you a thing before you see it,

The days pass by you, and they are witnesses

and fulfills your needs before your requests.

That you left no excuse for one leveling reproach.

إِذا ما انبَرى في هفوةِ الفكرِ رأيُهُ

إِذا ما انبَرى في هفوةِ الفكرِ رأيُهُ

رأى بِعَيانِ الرأْي ما في العَواقبِ

رأى بِعَيانِ الرأْي ما في العَواقبِ

When his judgment comes forward amid a lapse of thought,

O Abu Hasan, this is the son of your praise who has come

he sees with judgment's sight what lies in the outcomes.

For your praise while the days are green.

تُعوِّذُه أَعداؤُه من ذكَائِهِ

تُعوِّذُه أَعداؤُه من ذكَائِهِ

إِذا ما اكتَفى بالرأْي دون التجاربِ

إِذا ما اكتَفى بالرأْي دون التجاربِ

His enemies invoke protective blessings upon him for his brilliance,

With a female servant for the hearing, owned by it,

when he relies on judgment rather than experience.

Its wonders from the mothers of wonders.

رَكوبٌ لأَعناقِ الأُمور إِذا سطا

رَكوبٌ لأَعناقِ الأُمور إِذا سطا

عفا باقتدارٍ حين يسطو بِواجبِ

عفا باقتدارٍ حين يسطو بِواجبِ

A rider upon the necks of affairs; when he overpowers,

When she is recited in a gathering, they testify for her

he pardons in full power, even when entitled to strike.

With excellent infinity in summarizing the methodologies.

حرامٌ عَليه أَن تُرَدَّ رماحُهُ

حرامٌ عَليه أَن تُرَدَّ رماحُهُ

من الطعن إِلا وَهي حمرُ الثعالبِ

من الطعن إِلا وَهي حمرُ الثعالبِ

It is forbidden him that his spears return

That you may know I am Hatim of poetry

from thrusting unless their shaft-tips are red.

Whose wonders in it are the wonders of wonders.

أَمانٌ لمرتاعٍ ورَوْعٌ لآمنٍ

أَمانٌ لمرتاعٍ ورَوْعٌ لآمنٍ

وكهفٌ لمطلوبٍ وحَرْبٌ لغالبِ

وكهفٌ لمطلوبٍ وحَرْبٌ لغالبِ

Safety for one alarmed, terror for one secure,

a refuge for the pursued, and war against a conqueror.

إِذا أَبْرقتْ ضرباً سيوفُك أَمطرتْ

إِذا أَبْرقتْ ضرباً سيوفُك أَمطرتْ

رؤوسَ الأَعادي فَوق أَرْضِ المصائبِ

رؤوسَ الأَعادي فَوق أَرْضِ المصائبِ

When your swords flash lightning with their blows, they rain

enemy heads upon the earth of calamities.

بما انهلَّ من كَفَّيْكَ في ذلك الندى

بما انهلَّ من كَفَّيْكَ في ذلك الندى

وما حَمَلَتْهُ من قناً وَقَواضبِ

وما حَمَلَتْهُ من قناً وَقَواضبِ

By what poured from your two palms in that generosity,

and what they bore of spears and cleaving blades,

أَرِحْها قليلاً كي تَقَرَّ فَإِنَّها

أَرِحْها قليلاً كي تَقَرَّ فَإِنَّها

من الضَّرب أَمستْ ناحِلاتِ المضاربِ

من الضَّرب أَمستْ ناحِلاتِ المضاربِ

give them a little rest, that they may be still, for they

have grown thin at their striking edges from striking.

تَمُرُّ بِك الأَيَّامُ وهْيَ شواهدٌ

تَمُرُّ بِك الأَيَّامُ وهْيَ شواهدٌ

بأَنكَ ما أبقيتَ عَتْباً لِعاتبِ

بأَنكَ ما أبقيتَ عَتْباً لِعاتبِ

The days pass by you, bearing witness

that you have left no grievance for any reproacher.

أَبا حَسَنٍ هذا ابنُ مدحِكَ قد أَتى

أَبا حَسَنٍ هذا ابنُ مدحِكَ قد أَتى

لِمَدْحِكَ وَالأَيَّامُ خُضْرُ الشواربِ

لِمَدْحِكَ وَالأَيَّامُ خُضْرُ الشواربِ

O Abu Hasan, this son of your praise has come

to praise you, while the days' mustaches are green,

بِمالِكَةٍ للسمعِ مملوكةٍ به

بِمالِكَةٍ للسمعِ مملوكةٍ به

عجائِبُها من أُمَّهات العجائبِ

عجائِبُها من أُمَّهات العجائبِ

with a poem that owns the ear, yet is owned by it,

its wonders among the mothers of wonders.

إِذا أُنْشِدَتْ في مشهدٍ شَهِدُوا لها

إِذا أُنْشِدَتْ في مشهدٍ شَهِدُوا لها

بِحُسنِ التَّنَاهي في اختصارِ المَذَاهبِ

بِحُسنِ التَّنَاهي في اختصارِ المَذَاهبِ

When it is recited at a gathering, they testify on its behalf

to its consummate beauty in condensing its themes,

لتعلم أَني حَاتِمُ الشعرِ والَّذي

لتعلم أَني حَاتِمُ الشعرِ والَّذي

غرائِبُه فيه حِسانُ الغَرَائبِ

غرائِبُه فيه حِسانُ الغَرَائبِ

so you may know I am the Hatim of poetry, and the one

whose rarities in it are the beauties among rarities.