أَعادَكَ طَيفُها وَبِما يَعودُ

أَعادَكَ طَيفُها وَبِما يَعودُ

وَحُبُّ الغانِياتِ جَوىً يَؤودُ

وَحُبُّ الغانِياتِ جَوىً يَؤودُ

Has her phantom revisited you—and with what does it return?

Her phantom has recalled you, and with what it recalls,

And love of beautiful women is a heartache that weighs one down.

And love for singing girls is an affection that kills.

ذَكَرتُ القاطِعاتِ عَلى بِلادٍ

ذَكَرتُ القاطِعاتِ عَلى بِلادٍ

فَلِلعَينَينِ مِن سَبَلٍ فَريدُ

فَلِلعَينَينِ مِن سَبَلٍ فَريدُ

I recalled the women journeying across the lands,

I recalled the parting ones in the lands,

So pearls of streaming tears fall from both eyes.

So my eyes have a singular, amazing path.

غَداةَ يَروقُهُ كَفَلٌ نَبيلٌ

غَداةَ يَروقُهُ كَفَلٌ نَبيلٌ

وَعَينٌ في النِقابِ لَها ضَيودُ

وَعَينٌ في النِقابِ لَها ضَيودُ

On the morning when an ample rump delights him,

On a morn, his cheek pleases a noble palm,

And an eye within the veil, with a sidelong glance.

And an eye in the veil that has for it tent walls.

وَيَومَ الحِنوِ حِنوِ بَني زِيادٍ

وَيَومَ الحِنوِ حِنوِ بَني زِيادٍ

قَفا نَبَأٌ وَأَعيُنُهُم شُهودُ

قَفا نَبَأٌ وَأَعيُنُهُم شُهودُ

And the day at al-Hinw, the bend of Banu Ziyad,

And the day of weeping, the weeping of the tribe of Ziyad,

A report followed, and their eyes were witnesses.

News arrived while their eyes were witnesses.

يُحَيّي بَعضُنا بَعضاً جِهاراً

يُحَيّي بَعضُنا بَعضاً جِهاراً

كَأَنّا لا نُكادُ وَلا نَكيدُ

كَأَنّا لا نُكادُ وَلا نَكيدُ

We greet one another openly,

Some of us greet others openly,

As though we are neither plotted against nor plotting.

As if we barely survive and do not plot.

وَمِن بالي وَإِن رَغِموا كَعابٌ

وَمِن بالي وَإِن رَغِموا كَعابٌ

غَدَت في الخَزِّ أَو كادَت تَميدُ

غَدَت في الخَزِّ أَو كادَت تَميدُ

And in my thoughts, despite their resentment, is a nubile maiden,

And of my mind, even if they loathe me, a multitude

She went forth in silken cloth—or rather, nearly swayed.

Who in the morning were lively or almost stretched out dead.

مُشَهَّرَةُ الجَمالِ بِعارِضَيها

مُشَهَّرَةُ الجَمالِ بِعارِضَيها

إِذا سَفَرَت لَها نَظَرٌ جَديدُ

إِذا سَفَرَت لَها نَظَرٌ جَديدُ

Renowned for the beauty of both her cheeks,

She who reveals her beauty with her cheeks,

Whenever she unveils, she draws a fresh gaze.

When an ardent look travels to her, it is renewed.

مِنَ الخَفِراتِ لَم تَطلُع بِفُحشٍ

مِنَ الخَفِراتِ لَم تَطلُع بِفُحشٍ

عَلى جارٍ وَلا بَكَرَت تَرودُ

عَلى جارٍ وَلا بَكَرَت تَرودُ

One of the modest women, she has never appeared indecently

Of the lovely women, she did not openly commit indecency

Before a neighbor, nor gone out at dawn to roam.

Toward a neighbor, nor did she seek to return.

عَفا أَثَرٌ لِعَبدَةَ كانَ عَفّاً

عَفا أَثَرٌ لِعَبدَةَ كانَ عَفّاً

وَأَبقى الحُزنُ ما ضَرَبَ الوَريدُ

وَأَبقى الحُزنُ ما ضَرَبَ الوَريدُ

A trace of Abda, once inviolate, has faded,

The effect of worshippers of the past has vanished,

And grief outlasts it while the vein still throbs.

And grief remains for what the vein has recorded.

وَقَد طَفِقَ الوَليدُ يَلومُ فيها

وَقَد طَفِقَ الوَليدُ يَلومُ فيها

وَأَيَّ الدَهرِ ساعَفَكَ الوَليدُ

وَأَيَّ الدَهرِ ساعَفَكَ الوَليدُ

And al-Walid has begun reproaching me over her;

Al-Walid has begun to blame her,

And when has al-Walid ever aided you?

And which time has doubled you, O Al-Walid?

فَمَهلاً لا أَبا لَكَ بَعضَ لَومي

فَمَهلاً لا أَبا لَكَ بَعضَ لَومي

ضَجِجتَ مِنَ الهَوى وَأَنا العَميدُ

ضَجِجتَ مِنَ الهَوى وَأَنا العَميدُ

So hold back some reproach of me—may you have no father!

So wait - I do not approve of some of my blame -

You complained of passion, though I am the one laid low.

You raved from passion, and I am the chief.

لَقَد تَرَكَ الفُؤادُ لِتِلكَ وُدّاً

لَقَد تَرَكَ الفُؤادُ لِتِلكَ وُدّاً

وَسُؤلاً لا يَشيدُ بِهِ مُشيدُ

وَسُؤلاً لا يَشيدُ بِهِ مُشيدُ

The heart has indeed left love for that woman,

The heart has left for that one some love

And a longing no herald proclaims.

And a request that no one who desires approves.

لَيالِيَ نَلتَقي بِحِمادِ حَوضى

لَيالِيَ نَلتَقي بِحِمادِ حَوضى

عَلى لَطَفٍ يُطالِعُهُ الحَسودُ

عَلى لَطَفٍ يُطالِعُهُ الحَسودُ

On nights when we met on the stony plains of Hawda,

Nights we would meet at the basin of my abode,

In a tender intimacy watched by the envious.

With charm that onlookers would envy.

فَأَصبَحَ عَيشُنا فيها تَوَلّى

فَأَصبَحَ عَيشُنا فيها تَوَلّى

وَهَل لِلعَيشِ في الدُنيا خُلودُ

وَهَل لِلعَيشِ في الدُنيا خُلودُ

So our life in those nights has now passed away;

So our life therein was severed,

And can life in this world last forever?

And does life in this world have eternity?

وَلَمّا قُرِّبَت لِبُكورِ ثَنيٍ

وَلَمّا قُرِّبَت لِبُكورِ ثَنيٍ

جِمالُ الحَيِّ فَاِنقَعَرَ العَمودُ

جِمالُ الحَيِّ فَاِنقَعَرَ العَمودُ

And when they were brought near for a second dawn departure—

And when she was brought close for the prime of youth,

The tribe's camels—and the tent-pole was uprooted,

The camel litter of the living collapsed.

تَصَدَّت تَستَزيدُكَ في هَواها

تَصَدَّت تَستَزيدُكَ في هَواها

عُبَيدَةُ بَعدَما جَهِدَ المَزيدُ

عُبَيدَةُ بَعدَما جَهِدَ المَزيدُ

She came forward, seeking more of your love for her—

Ubaydah persisted, asking you for more of her love,

Ubayda, after increase had been strained to its limit.

After the utmost endeavor was exhausted.

فَيا كَبِدا مِنَ الطَرَبِ المُعَنّى

فَيا كَبِدا مِنَ الطَرَبِ المُعَنّى

إِلَيها إِنَّ أَهوَنَهُ شَديدُ

إِلَيها إِنَّ أَهوَنَهُ شَديدُ

Ah, my liver, from this anguished yearning

So calm, O my liver, from the pleasing musicality -

For her! Indeed, its mildest is severe.

To it, even the easiest thing is difficult.

فَقَدتُ الحُبَّ مِن شَرعٍ لِصادٍ

فَقَدتُ الحُبَّ مِن شَرعٍ لِصادٍ

فَبِئسَ الوِردُ يَألَفُهُ الوَرودُ

فَبِئسَ الوِردُ يَألَفُهُ الوَرودُ

I have found love wanting as a watering-place for the thirsty;

I have lost love from a firm tradition,

What a wretched watering-place the water-seeker frequents!

So evil are the flowers that the flowers accompany.

رَأَيتُ الدَهرَ يَشعَبُ كُلَّ إِلفٍ

رَأَيتُ الدَهرَ يَشعَبُ كُلَّ إِلفٍ

وَلا يَبقى لِوَحدَتِهِ الوَحيدُ

وَلا يَبقى لِوَحدَتِهِ الوَحيدُ

I have seen Time sunder every intimate bond,

I saw time divide every intimacy,

Nor does the solitary one endure in his solitude.

And no one remains for its solitude but the unique one.

قَريبٌ ما مَلَكتَ وَإِن تَراخى

قَريبٌ ما مَلَكتَ وَإِن تَراخى

وَبَيتُ الجارِ مَطلَبُهُ بَعيدُ

وَبَيتُ الجارِ مَطلَبُهُ بَعيدُ

What you own is near, however distant;

What you possessed is soon gone, even if you are calm,

Yet the neighbor's house is far to reach.

And the house of a neighbor is a far sought desire.

بِجَدِّكَ يا اِبنَ قَزعَةَ نِلتَ مالاً

بِجَدِّكَ يا اِبنَ قَزعَةَ نِلتَ مالاً

أَلا إنّ اللِئامَ لَهُم جُدودُ

أَلا إنّ اللِئامَ لَهُم جُدودُ

Through your luck, O Ibn Qaz'a, you acquired wealth;

By your grandfather, O son of Qaza'ah, you have attained wealth,

Take heed: the base do have good fortune!

Beware, the vile are to them ancestry.

وَلَو تُعطى بِسَعيِكَ مُتَّ جوعاً

وَلَو تُعطى بِسَعيِكَ مُتَّ جوعاً

وَلَم تَظفَر يَداكَ بِما تُريدُ

وَلَم تَظفَر يَداكَ بِما تُريدُ

Had you been paid according to your efforts, you would have starved,

And if you were given for your effort a starving one,

Nor would your hands have gained what you desire.

And your hands did not obtain what you seek,

أَمِن خَوفِ الزِيادَةِ في الهَدايا

أَمِن خَوفِ الزِيادَةِ في الهَدايا

أَقَمتَ دَجاجَةً فيمَن يَزيدُ

أَقَمتَ دَجاجَةً فيمَن يَزيدُ

Was it for fear of increasing your gifts

Is it from fear of increased gifts

That you put a hen up for auction?

That you have remained stingy with those who increase?

كَسَوتُكَ حُلَّةً مِمّا أُسَدّي

كَسَوتُكَ حُلَّةً مِمّا أُسَدّي

بُروداً لا يُفارِقُها بُرودُ

بُروداً لا يُفارِقُها بُرودُ

I have clothed you in a robe of what I weave,

I have clothed you in a garment of what I was generous with,

Striped cloaks from which the chill never departs;

Cloaks that their fur coat does not part with.

مَلابِسَ لا تَرِثُّ عَلى اللَيالي

مَلابِسَ لا تَرِثُّ عَلى اللَيالي

وَلا تَبلى وَإِن بَلِيَت جُلودُ

وَلا تَبلى وَإِن بَلِيَت جُلودُ

Garments that do not grow threadbare through the nights,

Clothes that do not get worn down by the nights,

Nor wear out, though skins decay.

And do not wear out even if the skins do so.

جَلَستُ أَحوكُها وَاللَيلُ داجٍ

جَلَستُ أَحوكُها وَاللَيلُ داجٍ

مُحَبَّرَةً تُبيدُ وَلا تَبيدُ

مُحَبَّرَةً تُبيدُ وَلا تَبيدُ

I sat weaving them while the night was dark,

I sat weaving them while the night was dark,

Richly embroidered: they destroy, but never perish.

Embroidered, vanishing but not vanishing.

يُوَرِّثُها بَنوكَ بَني بَنيهِم

يُوَرِّثُها بَنوكَ بَني بَنيهِم

إِذا هَلِكوا وَمَنشَرُها جَديدُ

إِذا هَلِكوا وَمَنشَرُها جَديدُ

Your sons will bequeath them to their sons' sons

Your sons will inherit them, the sons of their sons,

When they perish, the unfolded fabric still new.

When they perish while their material is new.

كَذاكَ الدَهرُ يُبلي كُلَّ شَيءٍ

كَذاكَ الدَهرُ يُبلي كُلَّ شَيءٍ

وَلا يَفنى عَلى الدَهرِ القَصيدُ

وَلا يَفنى عَلى الدَهرِ القَصيدُ

Thus Time wears out everything,

Thus time wears out everything,

Yet poetry does not perish through the ages.

And poetry about time does not perish.

فَهَل مِن عارِفٍ شُرباً لِصادٍ

فَهَل مِن عارِفٍ شُرباً لِصادٍ

يَنالُ بِجودِهِ ما لا تَجودُ

يَنالُ بِجودِهِ ما لا تَجودُ

So is there anyone mindful of a drink for the thirsty,

Is there one with understanding of a drink for a departing one,

Who gains through his generosity what you will not give?

Who attains with his generosity what does not give?

صَبَبتُ عَلى اِبنِ قَزعَةَ مِن عَذابي

صَبَبتُ عَلى اِبنِ قَزعَةَ مِن عَذابي

أَذاةً لا يُسَكِّنُها البَرودُ

أَذاةً لا يُسَكِّنُها البَرودُ

I poured upon Ibn Qaz'a, from my torment,

I have poured upon the son of Qaza'ah from my torment

A hurt no cooling remedy can soothe.

Harm that coldness does not soothe.

عَلى الضُعَفاءِ لَيثٌ حينَ يَسطو

عَلى الضُعَفاءِ لَيثٌ حينَ يَسطو

وَتوعِدُهُ فَيُسهِرُهُ الوَعيدُ

وَتوعِدُهُ فَيُسهِرُهُ الوَعيدُ

Against the weak, he is a lion when he pounces;

Upon the weak he is a lion when he pounces

Yet threaten him, and the threat keeps him awake.

And his threat keeps him awake at night.

مولَينا عَلى الأُمّاتِ جَلدٌ

مولَينا عَلى الأُمّاتِ جَلدٌ

عَلى وَجَلٍ فَدِرهَمُهُ قَيودُ

عَلى وَجَلٍ فَدِرهَمُهُ قَيودُ

Our patron is tough against mothers,

Our lord is harsh on the servant girls -

Fearful all the while; his dirham is fast bound.

On a neck in chains, so his dirham is fetters.

يَخالُ البُخلَ مُفتَرَضاً عَلَيهِ

يَخالُ البُخلَ مُفتَرَضاً عَلَيهِ

فَيَجمَدُ مِثلَ ما جَمَدَ الحَديدُ

فَيَجمَدُ مِثلَ ما جَمَدَ الحَديدُ

He imagines stinginess is obligatory upon him,

He imagines stinginess an obligation upon him

So he hardens just as iron hardens.

So he freezes like what iron has frozen.

فَأَفرَخَ رَوعُهُ لا أَجتَديهِ

فَأَفرَخَ رَوعُهُ لا أَجتَديهِ

وَلَكِن سَوفَ يَبلُغُهُ النَشيدُ

وَلَكِن سَوفَ يَبلُغُهُ النَشيدُ

So his fear has eased: I seek no gifts from him,

Thus his cowardice hatched that I cannot suffice,

But the song will reach him.

But soon the melody will reach him.

لَهُ وَجهٌ يَخِفُّ عَلى المَوالي

لَهُ وَجهٌ يَخِفُّ عَلى المَوالي

وَكَفٌّ لا يُؤَمِّلُها الوُفودُ

وَكَفٌّ لا يُؤَمِّلُها الوُفودُ

He has a face easy for the clients to bear,

He has a face that hides from intimates

And a hand in which delegations place no hope.

And a palm that delegations do not hope for.

يَقومُ بِهِ القَليلُ إِلى المَخازي

يَقومُ بِهِ القَليلُ إِلى المَخازي

وَيَخزِلُهُ عَنِ المَجدِ القُعودُ

وَيَخزِلُهُ عَنِ المَجدِ القُعودُ

A little carries him toward disgrace,

He undertakes with the little to the lowness

And idleness holds him back from glory.

And sitting keeps him from glory.

غَبِيُّ العَينِ عَن طَلَبِ المَعالي

غَبِيُّ العَينِ عَن طَلَبِ المَعالي

وَفي السَوآتِ شَيطانٌ مَريدُ

وَفي السَوآتِ شَيطانٌ مَريدُ

Dim-eyed in the pursuit of high honors,

Ignorant of the eye from seeking lofty things,

Yet in shameful deeds, a rebellious devil.

And in evil deeds a rebel devil.

أَبا يَحيى عَلامَ تَكونُ وَغداً

أَبا يَحيى عَلامَ تَكونُ وَغداً

كَبِرتَ وَفيكَ عَن كَرَمٍ صُدودُ

كَبِرتَ وَفيكَ عَن كَرَمٍ صُدودُ

Abu Yahya, why are you a scoundrel?

Abu Yahya, why will you be tomorrow

You have grown old, yet still recoil from generosity.

You have grown old and in you generosity is blocked.

فَإِن تَكُ ناقِصاً مِن كُلِّ خَيرٍ

فَإِن تَكُ ناقِصاً مِن كُلِّ خَيرٍ

فَما لَكَ في مَساءَتِنا تَزيدُ

فَما لَكَ في مَساءَتِنا تَزيدُ

So if you are deficient in every good,

So if you are lacking in every good,

Then why do you increase the harm you do us?

Why for you in our fellowship any increase?

سَتَهجُرُكَ الكِرامُ فَبِن ذَميماً

سَتَهجُرُكَ الكِرامُ فَبِن ذَميماً

فَإِنَّكَ لِلِّئامِ أَخٌ وَدودُ

فَإِنَّكَ لِلِّئامِ أَخٌ وَدودُ

The noble will abandon you; so depart disgraced,

The generous will shun you, so be vile,

For you are an affectionate brother to the base.

For you to the ignoble are a loving companion.