يا رامَ قُومي اِصبَحينا غَيرَ تَصريدِ

يا رامَ قُومي اِصبَحينا غَيرَ تَصريدِ

لا تَبخَلي لَيسَ ذاكَ البُخلُ كَالجودِ

لا تَبخَلي لَيسَ ذاكَ البُخلُ كَالجودِ

O Ram, rise and give us morning wine, without stinting.

O Ram, arise, we have become different without chatter,

Do not be stingy: that miserliness is not like generosity.

Do not be stingy, that stinginess is not like generosity,

يا رامَ إِنَّ أَخاً لي كُنتُ آمُلُهُ

يا رامَ إِنَّ أَخاً لي كُنتُ آمُلُهُ

ساقَ الوشاةُ إِلَيها غَيرَ تَسديدِ

ساقَ الوشاةُ إِلَيها غَيرَ تَسديدِ

O Ram, a brother of mine, in whom I had placed my hopes,

O Ram, I had a brother whom I hoped for,

The slanderers drove [him] to her, without sound guidance.

But slanderers misguided him away from me,

فَبِتُّ أَنشُدُ نَومَ العَينِ مُرتَفِقاً

فَبِتُّ أَنشُدُ نَومَ العَينِ مُرتَفِقاً

حَتّى الصَباحِ وَما نَومي بِمَوجودِ

حَتّى الصَباحِ وَما نَومي بِمَوجودِ

So I spent the night seeking sleep for my eyes, propped on my elbow,

So I stay up reciting poetry, sleepless and worried,

Until morning, yet my sleep was nowhere to be found.

Until morning, though my sleep is not rewarding,

يا رامَ ما الخَفضُ مِن شَأني وَلا خُلُقي

يا رامَ ما الخَفضُ مِن شَأني وَلا خُلُقي

وَقَد تَحَرَّقَتِ الآفاقُ بِالصيدِ

وَقَد تَحَرَّقَتِ الآفاقُ بِالصيدِ

O Ram, ease is neither my way nor my nature,

O Ram, lowering myself is not in my nature or manners,

And the horizons have blazed with proud lords.

And the horizons blazed with hunting,

أَصبَحّتُ عَن شُغُلِ النَدمانِ في شُغُل

أَصبَحّتُ عَن شُغُلِ النَدمانِ في شُغُل

لا أَرعَوي لِنَعيمِ القَينَةِ الغيدِ

لا أَرعَوي لِنَعيمِ القَينَةِ الغيدِ

I am occupied with matters apart from a drinking companion's pursuits;

I have become preoccupied with regret instead of leisure,

I do not turn aside for the delights of lissome singing girls.

Not relaxing in the bliss of the soft bed,

وَكَيفَ أُسقى عَلى الرَيحانِ مُتَّكِئاً

وَكَيفَ أُسقى عَلى الرَيحانِ مُتَّكِئاً

وَالحَربُ حاسِرَةُ الخَدَّينِ وَالجِيدِ

وَالحَربُ حاسِرَةُ الخَدَّينِ وَالجِيدِ

And how can I be given drink, reclining on sweet basil,

How can I relax on the sweet basil while war

While war bares her cheeks and neck?

Rages, hitting cheeks and necks?

إِنّي وَجَدِّكِ ما رَأيي بِمُنتَشِرٍ

إِنّي وَجَدِّكِ ما رَأيي بِمُنتَشِرٍ

عِندَ الحِفاظِ وَلا عَزمي بِمَردودِ

عِندَ الحِفاظِ وَلا عَزمي بِمَردودِ

Indeed, by your fortune, my judgment is not scattered

I swear by your love, my eyes see no cheer,

When honor must be defended, nor is my resolve turned back.

And my determination is not to be turned back,

قَد أَسلُبُ المَلِكَ الجَبّارَ حِليَتَهُ

قَد أَسلُبُ المَلِكَ الجَبّارَ حِليَتَهُ

في مَأقِطٍ مِثل خَطِّ السَيفِ مَشهودِ

في مَأقِطٍ مِثل خَطِّ السَيفِ مَشهودِ

I may strip the tyrannical king of his ornaments

I can strip the tyrannical king of his ornaments,

On a crowded battlefield, narrow as a sword's edge.

In a pure swordfight witnessed by all,

وَلا أُذَبِّبُ عَن حَوضي لِأَمنَعَهُ

وَلا أُذَبِّبُ عَن حَوضي لِأَمنَعَهُ

لا خَيرَ في وِردِ قَومٍ غَيرِ مَورودِ

لا خَيرَ في وِردِ قَومٍ غَيرِ مَورودِ

Nor do I drive others from my pool to withhold it;

And I do not forbid my pool to deprive him,

There is no good in a tribe's watering place that is never visited.

There is no good in visiting a people you're not welcomed by,

يا رامَ إِنّي اِمرُؤٌ في الحَيِّ لي شَرَفٌ

يا رامَ إِنّي اِمرُؤٌ في الحَيِّ لي شَرَفٌ

أَرعى الخَليلَ وَأُدعى في الصَناديدِ

أَرعى الخَليلَ وَأُدعى في الصَناديدِ

O Ram, I am a man held in honor among my tribe;

O Ram, I am a man of nobility in life,

I look after my friend and am named among the champions.

I look after friends and am called among allies,

يُرجى مَعَ المُزنِ مَعروفي لِطالِبِهِ

يُرجى مَعَ المُزنِ مَعروفي لِطالِبِهِ

وَيُتَّقى المَوتُ مِن حَيّاتِيَ السودِ

وَيُتَّقى المَوتُ مِن حَيّاتِيَ السودِ

My bounty, like rain clouds, is awaited by those who seek it,

My kindness is hoped for alongside hard times for those who seek it,

And death is feared from my black serpents.

And death is feared during my dark days,

لا تُنكِري غِلَّ حُسّادٍ غَمَمتُهُمُ

لا تُنكِري غِلَّ حُسّادٍ غَمَمتُهُمُ

لا يَبتَني المَجدَ إِلّا كُلُّ مَحسودِ

لا يَبتَني المَجدَ إِلّا كُلُّ مَحسودِ

Do not find strange the rancor of enviers I have distressed;

Do not deny the hatred of envious foes I defeated,

No one builds glory without being envied.

Glory is not built except by the envied,

وَقائِلٍ سَرَّهُ دَهرٌ وَساءَ بِنا

وَقائِلٍ سَرَّهُ دَهرٌ وَساءَ بِنا

سَريعُهُ في أَخٍ بَرِّ وَمَولودِ

سَريعُهُ في أَخٍ بَرِّ وَمَولودِ

And one whom time had gladdened spoke, though we were afflicted

And one who was happy with fate but it turned against us,

By its swift course, in the loss of a devoted brother and a child;

Swiftly, against a dutiful and newborn brother,

وَحينَ فاتَ البُكا يَبكي عَلى سَلَفٍ

وَحينَ فاتَ البُكا يَبكي عَلى سَلَفٍ

يُهدى إِلى التُربِ مِن كَهلٍ وَمِن رودِ

يُهدى إِلى التُربِ مِن كَهلٍ وَمِن رودِ

When weeping was too late, he wept for those gone before,

And when the time for tears has passed he cries over the past,

Borne to the dust, the middle-aged and the tender young:

Gifted to dust, elder and infant alike,

مَن صاحَبَ الدَهرَ لَم يَترُك لَهُ شَجَناً

مَن صاحَبَ الدَهرَ لَم يَترُك لَهُ شَجَناً

فَاِترُك بُكاكَ عَلى نَدمانِكَ المودي

فَاِترُك بُكاكَ عَلى نَدمانِكَ المودي

Time leaves no branch to anyone who keeps its company;

One who accompanied fate, it left him no sorrow,

So cease your weeping for your departed drinking companion.

So cease your crying over your regretful affection,

فَقُلتُ هَمٌّ عَراني مِن أَخٍ سَبَقَت

فَقُلتُ هَمٌّ عَراني مِن أَخٍ سَبَقَت

بِهِ المَنايا كَريمِ العَهدِ مَودودِ

بِهِ المَنايا كَريمِ العَهدِ مَودودِ

So I said: grief overtook me for a brother whom

I said, a care has afflicted me from a brother,

The fates of death carried off first, noble in loyalty and beloved.

Whose death came early, of recent memory,

كانَ الدَنِيَّ فَغالَ الدَهرُ أُلفَتَهُ

كانَ الدَنِيَّ فَغالَ الدَهرُ أُلفَتَهُ

وَالدَهرُ يُحدِثُ وَهناً في الجَلاميدٍ

وَالدَهرُ يُحدِثُ وَهناً في الجَلاميدٍ

He had been close, but time stole away his fellowship,

He was lowly but fate made me love him,

And time brings weakness even into boulders.

And fate brings weakness to the strong,

وَجارُ دَجلَةَ حَلَّت بي مُصيبَتُهُ

وَجارُ دَجلَةَ حَلَّت بي مُصيبَتُهُ

وَفاتَني سَيِّدٌ مِن مِعشَرٍ سودِ

وَفاتَني سَيِّدٌ مِن مِعشَرٍ سودِ

And the loss of the Tigris's neighbor struck me,

And my neighbor by the Tigris, his death befell me,

And a lord from a company of lords was lost to me.

And I missed a master from a line of chiefs,

كِلاهُما لَم يَكُن وُدّي لَهُم صَلَفاً

كِلاهُما لَم يَكُن وُدّي لَهُم صَلَفاً

لَكِن صَفاءً كَماءِ المُزنِ للعودِ

لَكِن صَفاءً كَماءِ المُزنِ للعودِ

My affection for both of them was no empty boast,

I did not dislike either with enmity,

But pure, like rain-cloud water for a bough.

But with purity, like the clear spring water to the willow,

قَد كُنتُ أَرجو مَعَ الراجي إِيابَهُما

قَد كُنتُ أَرجو مَعَ الراجي إِيابَهُما

حَتّى أَقاما عَلى رَغمي بِمَخلودِ

حَتّى أَقاما عَلى رَغمي بِمَخلودِ

I had hoped, with those who hoped, for their return,

I used to hope for their return along with other hopes,

Until, against my will, they settled in an everlasting abode.

Until they stayed despite me forever,

فَاِشرَب عَلى مَوتِ إِخوانٍ رُزِئتَهُمُ

فَاِشرَب عَلى مَوتِ إِخوانٍ رُزِئتَهُمُ

بابُ المَنِيَّةِ بابٌ غَيرُ مَسدودِ

بابُ المَنِيَّةِ بابٌ غَيرُ مَسدودِ

So drink after the deaths of brothers you have lost;

So drink to the deaths of brethren, enjoy their company,

The gate of death is a gate never closed.

The door of death is an irreversible door,

يَكفيكَ أَن التُقى أَيدٌ يَفوزُ بِهِ

يَكفيكَ أَن التُقى أَيدٌ يَفوزُ بِهِ

وَالفِسقُ ذُلٌّ فَلا يُعدَل بِتَأييدِ

وَالفِسقُ ذُلٌّ فَلا يُعدَل بِتَأييدِ

Let it suffice you that piety is strength through which one triumphs,

It is enough for you that piety brings success,

And sin is abasement, not to be equated with sustaining strength.

While sinfulness is disgrace, so do not replace them,

وَالمالُ عِزٌّ فَأكثِر مِن طَرائِفِهِ

وَالمالُ عِزٌّ فَأكثِر مِن طَرائِفِهِ

وَإِن عَدِمتَ فَطِب نَفساً بِتَفنيدِ

وَإِن عَدِمتَ فَطِب نَفساً بِتَفنيدِ

And wealth is power, so amass its new acquisitions;

And money is honor, so increase your clever ways to gain it,

And if you lack it, be content to endure reproach.

And if you lack it, be content with asceticism,

قَد شَبَّهَ المالَ أَوغادٌ بِرَبِّهِمُ

قَد شَبَّهَ المالَ أَوغادٌ بِرَبِّهِمُ

وَأَوضَعَ الفَقرُ قَوماً بَعدَ تَسويدِ

وَأَوضَعَ الفَقرُ قَوماً بَعدَ تَسويدِ

Base men have indeed likened wealth to their Lord,

The vulgar equated money with their Lord,

And poverty has humbled people after they held lordship.

And poverty placed a people into darkness after esteem,

يَروحُ في الجاهِ أَقوَامٌ بِمالِهِمُ

يَروحُ في الجاهِ أَقوَامٌ بِمالِهِمُ

وَذُو الخَصاصَةِ مَدفوعٌ بِتَبعيدِ

وَذُو الخَصاصَةِ مَدفوعٌ بِتَبعيدِ

Some people go forth in high standing through their wealth,

Some people boast with their money,

And the needy man is driven off and kept far away.

While the unprivileged are banished into exile,

فَاِكسِب مِنَ المالِ ما تَبني بِهِ شَرَقاً

فَاِكسِب مِنَ المالِ ما تَبني بِهِ شَرَقاً

أَو عِش بِرَغمٍ قَصِيّاً غَيرَ مَعدودِ

أَو عِش بِرَغمٍ قَصِيّاً غَيرَ مَعدودِ

So acquire wealth with which to build radiance,

So gain from money what builds your east,

Or live in humiliation, far removed and unregarded.

Or live contentedly in scarcity, obscure and uncounted,

وَمَعشَرٍ مُنقَعٍ لي في صُدورِهِمُ

وَمَعشَرٍ مُنقَعٍ لي في صُدورِهِمُ

سُمُّ الأَساوِدِ يَغلي في المَواعيدِ

سُمُّ الأَساوِدِ يَغلي في المَواعيدِ

And many a band, in whose breasts lay steeped against me

A group has been steeped into their chests against me,

The venom of black serpents, seething in their threats—

The poison of dragons boils during appointments,

وَسَمتُهُم بِالقَوافي فَوقَ أعَيُنِهِم

وَسَمتُهُم بِالقَوافي فَوقَ أعَيُنِهِم

وَسمَ المُعَيدِيِّ أَعناقَ المَقاحيدِ

وَسمَ المُعَيدِيِّ أَعناقَ المَقاحيدِ

I branded them with rhymes above their eyes,

And I named them in verse over their eyes,

As al-Mu'aydi brands the necks of camels.

And the replier's poison struck the necks of fools,

إِذا رَأَوني أَصاخُوا في مَجاثِمِهِم

إِذا رَأَوني أَصاخُوا في مَجاثِمِهِم

كَما أَصاخَ اِبنُ نِهيا بَعدَ تَغريدِ

كَما أَصاخَ اِبنُ نِهيا بَعدَ تَغريدِ

When they see me, they listen silently in their roosts,

When they see me they hiss from their burqas,

As Ibn Nihya fell silent after warbling.

As Ibn Nihiya hissed after singing,

كَأَنَّما عايَنُوا بي لَيثَ مَلحَمَةٍ

كَأَنَّما عايَنُوا بي لَيثَ مَلحَمَةٍ

غَضبانَ أَو مَلِكاً بِالتاجِ مَعقودِ

غَضبانَ أَو مَلِكاً بِالتاجِ مَعقودِ

As though they saw in me a lion of fierce battle,

It is as if they saw in me a fierce battle lion

Enraged, or a king with a crown bound upon his head.

Angry, or a crowned king,

يا أَيُّها الجاهِلُ المُبتاحُ لي سَفَهاً

يا أَيُّها الجاهِلُ المُبتاحُ لي سَفَهاً

لاقَيتَ جَهداً وَلَم تَظفَر بِمَحمودِ

لاقَيتَ جَهداً وَلَم تَظفَر بِمَحمودِ

O ignorant one, who assails me foolishly,

O ignorant one who shamelessly antagonizes me,

You have met hardship and gained nothing praiseworthy.

You have tried and gained no praise,

لا تَحسَبَنّي كَمَن تَجري مَدامِعُهُ

لا تَحسَبَنّي كَمَن تَجري مَدامِعُهُ

مِنَ الوَعيدِ مَعَ الحورِ الرَعاديدِ

مِنَ الوَعيدِ مَعَ الحورِ الرَعاديدِ

Do not think me like one whose tears flow

Do not think me like one whose tears flow,

From threats, among the wide-eyed, trembling cowards.

At threats, from the thundering maidens,

إِنّي إِذا الحَربُ راحَت غَيرَ قاعِدَةٍ

إِنّي إِذا الحَربُ راحَت غَيرَ قاعِدَةٍ

آتي الهُوَينى وَأَغدو غَيرَ مَهدودِ

آتي الهُوَينى وَأَغدو غَيرَ مَهدودِ

Indeed, when war goes forth and does not sit still,

When war stirs I come rushing, unstoppable,

I move at an easy pace and go forth unbroken.

I come to the battlefield and march unrelented,

قَد جَرَّبَ الجِنُّ أَحراسي وَجَرَّبَني

قَد جَرَّبَ الجِنُّ أَحراسي وَجَرَّبَني

أُسدُ الأَنيسِ مُدِلّات بِتَأسيدِ

أُسدُ الأَنيسِ مُدِلّات بِتَأسيدِ

Indeed, the jinn have tested my guards, and I have been tested by

Jinn have tested my guards and tested me,

The lions of humankind, confident in their lion-like prowess.

The lion of mankind, humbling with my leadership,

تَفِحُّ دوني القَوافي كُلَّ شارِقَةٍ

تَفِحُّ دوني القَوافي كُلَّ شارِقَةٍ

فَحَّ الأَفاعي لِكَلبِ الحَيِّ وَالسيدِ

فَحَّ الأَفاعي لِكَلبِ الحَيِّ وَالسيدِ

The rhymes hiss in my defense at every sunrise,

Verses flow from me better than any brilliant star,

As vipers hiss at the tribe's dog and the wolf.

More than snake venom to the living dog and master.