لعلكم بعد التجنب والهجر

لعلكم بعد التجنب والهجر

تديلون من بعد وتشفون من ضر

تديلون من بعد وتشفون من ضر

Perhaps, after avoidance and estrangement,

Perhaps after avoidance and estrangement

you will turn the tide of separation and cure my hurt.

You will incline afterwards and recover from harm

فإن الذي غادرتم بين أضلعي

فإن الذي غادرتم بين أضلعي

يزيد على مر الزمان ويستشري

يزيد على مر الزمان ويستشري

For what you left between my ribs

For what you left in my ribs

grows as time passes and spreads unchecked.

Increases over time and spreads

ولم تنبكم عني النوى غير أنكم

ولم تنبكم عني النوى غير أنكم

رحلتم من الجفن القريح إلى الفكر

رحلتم من الجفن القريح إلى الفكر

Separation has not removed you from me; only

And good intentions did not weep for me except that you

you moved from my wounded eyelid into my thoughts.

Departed from the eyelids to the mind

ومن عجب أني أسائل عنكم

ومن عجب أني أسائل عنكم

ومنزلكم بين الجوانح والصدر

ومنزلكم بين الجوانح والصدر

And strange it is that I ask after you,

And it is strange that I ask about you

when your dwelling lies between my ribs and chest.

While your dwelling is between my heart and chest

واستعطف الأيام فيكم لعلها

واستعطف الأيام فيكم لعلها

تعيد الليالي السباقت كما أدري

تعيد الليالي السباقت كما أدري

I entreat the days on your account, hoping

And I implored the days regarding you, perhaps

they will restore the bygone nights as I remember them.

They would return the preceding nights as I know

وأطمع منها في الوصال ولم أزل

وأطمع منها في الوصال ولم أزل

عليما بما يؤثرن من شيم الغدر

عليما بما يؤثرن من شيم الغدر

I hope for reunion from them, though I have always

And I hope from them for reunion and I have not ceased

known the treacherous ways they favor.

Being aware of their traits of betrayal

ويوحشني حسن الزمان لنايكم

ويوحشني حسن الزمان لنايكم

وإن كنت مأنوس الجوانح بالذكر

وإن كنت مأنوس الجوانح بالذكر

The beauty of the times makes me lonely, since you are far away,

And the beauty of the time lonelies me without you

though remembrance keeps my heart company.

Even though my heart is intimate with remembrance

ولم أنس إذا صدت كما صد شادنٌ

ولم أنس إذا صدت كما صد شادنٌ

غريرٌ من الربعي أوجس من ذعر

غريرٌ من الربعي أوجس من ذعر

I have not forgotten when she turned away as a fawn turns,

And I have not forgotten when you turned away like the turning

an innocent spring-born one, sensing fright.

Of a gazelle of my land more timid than alarmed

تميس كما ماس القضيب على النقا

تميس كما ماس القضيب على النقا

وترنو كما أغضى الشريف من السكر

وترنو كما أغضى الشريف من السكر

She sways as a branch sways upon the dune,

It grazes like a staff on the soft sand

and gazes as a nobleman lowers his eyes in drunkenness.

And it looks as the noble turns away from the wine

وما زلت صبا بالغواني تصيدني

وما زلت صبا بالغواني تصيدني

ذوات الثنايا الغر والأوجه الزهر

ذوات الثنايا الغر والأوجه الزهر

I have always been lovesick for beauties, ensnared

The singers with the tender sides and bright faces still hunt me

by those with gleaming teeth and radiant faces.

And I have innards filled with youth

وعندي أحشاء ملئن صبابة

وعندي أحشاء ملئن صبابة

كالحاظ أجفان ملئن من السحر

كالحاظ أجفان ملئن من السحر

My inward parts are filled with yearning,

Like an eye filled with sorcery

like the glances of eyelids filled with magic.

And if one found what awakens and a thirst

ولوة وجد ما تفيق وظمأة

ولوة وجد ما تفيق وظمأة

لا شنب معسول اللمى طيب النشر

لا شنب معسول اللمى طيب النشر

And an anguish of passion that never abates, and a thirst

With no fermented drink, sweet dispersion

for cool teeth, honeyed dark lips, and sweet fragrance [text unclear].

And how much in the wine-skin of prostitutes is a sprinkling

وكم في كناس السمهرية من رشا

وكم في كناس السمهرية من رشا

أغن يقيم العذر في الخلع للعذر

أغن يقيم العذر في الخلع للعذر

How many a fawn inhabits the covert of the Samhari lance,

Who starts a valid excuse for taking off clothes out of desire

soft-voiced, justifying the casting off of bridles.

And a singer whose voice the breeze makes tremble when it blows

وأهيف يثنيه النسيم إذا جرى

وأهيف يثنيه النسيم إذا جرى

فلو شاء من لينٍ تختم في الخصر

فلو شاء من لينٍ تختم في الخصر

And a slender-waisted one the breeze bends as it passes,

By its softness it could cast a spell to squeeze the waist

so supple that, if he wished, he could wear a ring about his waist.

The sorceress of words, if she called

وساحرة الألفاظ لو أنها دعت

وساحرة الألفاظ لو أنها دعت

بنغمتها ميتاً للبى من القبر

بنغمتها ميتاً للبى من القبر

And an enchantress of speech: if she called

With her melody, a dead man would respond from the grave

a dead man with her melody, he would answer from the grave.

I peeked beneath the veil of modesty but good love

حسرت قناع الستر فيها ولم يكن

حسرت قناع الستر فيها ولم يكن

يطيب الهوى يوماً لمن دان بالستر

يطيب الهوى يوماً لمن دان بالستر

I lifted the veil of secrecy concerning her; never

Never pleases one who is bound by modesty

was love sweet to one who made concealment his creed.

By God, the nights of desire are further than thoughts

وللَه ليل باللوى أبعد الجوى

وللَه ليل باللوى أبعد الجوى

وقرب نحراً من مشوق إلى نحر

وقرب نحراً من مشوق إلى نحر

God be praised for a night at al-Liwa that drove heartache away,

And closer in intimacy than a throat to a throat

and brought a yearning lover's breast close to another breast.

So whatever plaint you wish is deeper than passion

فما شئت من شكوى أرق من الهوى

فما شئت من شكوى أرق من الهوى

وما شئت من نجوى الدمن من الخمر

وما شئت من نجوى الدمن من الخمر

There was all the complaint you could wish, more tender than love,

And whatever whisper you wish is sweeter than wine

and all the whispered talk you could wish, [unclear] than wine.

She walked by, wonderous in her beauty, untouched by perfume

سرت لم تمس الطيب عجباً بحسنها

سرت لم تمس الطيب عجباً بحسنها

وقد أفعمت عرض البسيطة بالعطر

وقد أفعمت عرض البسيطة بالعطر

She passed by night, untouched by perfume, proud of her beauty,

And she filled the expanse of the plain with fragrance

yet had filled the expanse of earth with fragrance.

So I said: "Obedient to God" or "His son went forth"

فقلت عبيد اللَه أو نجله سرى

فقلت عبيد اللَه أو نجله سرى

فذكرني دارين أوبت بالشحر

فذكرني دارين أوبت بالشحر

I said, 'Ubayd Allah—or his son—has passed by night,

And so recalled two homes left in ruins

recalling Darin to me—or I had spent the night in al-Shihr.'

As if the dawn's light appeared in the night as it went forth

كأن ضياء الصبح في الليل إذ سرى

كأن ضياء الصبح في الليل إذ سرى

بصيرة إيمان سرت في عمى كفر

بصيرة إيمان سرت في عمى كفر

As though dawn's radiance, as it moved through the night,

An insight of faith went forth in the blindness of disbelief

were faith's insight moving through unbelief's blindness.

As if it were a water-spring that gushed and the tail of the comet appeared

كان مها في الأفق ريعت وقد بدا

كان مها في الأفق ريعت وقد بدا

لها ذنب السرحان من وضع الفجر

لها ذنب السرحان من وضع الفجر

As though oryxes on the horizon had taken fright, when there appeared

For it is the dawn's placing of the morning

before them the wolf's tail at the dawn's emergence.

Or else the face of the victorious king brightened

كأن سنى الشمس المنيرة إذا بدا

كأن سنى الشمس المنيرة إذا بدا

كسا ورق الإصباح ذوبا من التبر

كسا ورق الإصباح ذوبا من التبر

As though the gleam of the radiant sun, when it appeared,

And illuminated the darkness of gloom in the blazing hot sands

clothed the leaves of morning in molten gold.

I am astonished at days whose misfortunes

وإلا فوجه الظافر الملك انجلى

وإلا فوجه الظافر الملك انجلى

فجلى ظلام النقع في الجحفل المجر

فجلى ظلام النقع في الجحفل المجر

Or else King al-Zafir's face was unveiled,

Came to injure me from the west and incite against my fullness

dispelling the darkness of dust within the vast host.

And it did not know that in the heat of the victorious one's favor

عجبت لأيام تداعت خطوبها

عجبت لأيام تداعت خطوبها

لتثلم من غربي وتقدح في وفري

لتثلم من غربي وتقدح في وفري

I marveled at days whose calamities rallied together

I wanted to repel enemies with my sword, Amr

to blunt my edge and diminish my wealth,

I took sanctuary with him, spreading its shade upon me

ولم تدر أتى في حمى الظافر الرضا

ولم تدر أتى في حمى الظافر الرضا

أرد العدى عني بصمصامتى عمرو

أرد العدى عني بصمصامتى عمرو

unaware that I was under al-Zafir al-Rida's protection,

And he gave me safety from fate

repelling my foes with Amr's two keen swords.

I laughed in his rain of generosity

حللت جنابا منه مد ظلاله

حللت جنابا منه مد ظلاله

علي وأعطاني أماناً من الدهر

علي وأعطاني أماناً من الدهر

I settled in a precinct of his that spread its shade

So smile, O meadow of glory, in gratitude

over me and gave me safety from Time.

And how much since I grasped the reins of his horse

جناب بكت فيه غمائم جوده

جناب بكت فيه غمائم جوده

فاضحكن روض المجد عن زهر الشكر

فاضحكن روض المجد عن زهر الشكر

A precinct where the clouds of his bounty wept,

With his right hand from bounty and his left hand from ease

making the meadow of glory smile with blossoms of gratitude.

In the presence of a king whose brightness of forehead

وكم نلت مذ أصبحت الثم كفه

وكم نلت مذ أصبحت الثم كفه

بيمناه من يمن ويسراه من يسر

بيمناه من يمن ويسراه من يسر

How much I have received since I began to kiss his hand:

In the wings of night was like the rising moon

good fortune from his right, and ease from his left.

If he plunged into the fray with his thoughts

لدى ملك ما لاح ضوء جبينه

لدى ملك ما لاح ضوء جبينه

بجنح الدجى إلا كفى مطلع البدر

بجنح الدجى إلا كفى مطلع البدر

With a king whose brow never shone

His discernment would suffice over the white and the brown

in the dark of night without making the full moon's rising needless.

And were it not for the flames of war disturbing him

ومتقد الآراء لو جال في الوغى

ومتقد الآراء لو جال في الوغى

بخاطره أغنى عن البيض والسمر

بخاطره أغنى عن البيض والسمر

And one aflame with ideas: had he ranged through battle

His palm would make the spear shafts tremble with green

in thought, he would have dispensed with white swords and brown spears.

I see the worshipper of the Merciful a mercy

ولولا اضطرام الباس يه غدا القنا

ولولا اضطرام الباس يه غدا القنا

براحته يهتز بالورق الخضر

براحته يهتز بالورق الخضر

Were it not for the blazing valor in him, the spears would

From nights that were harsh to him, safety from poverty's wind

sway in his palm with green leaves.

And a Kaaba of hopes, many are its pilgrims

أرى عابد الرحمن رحمة من قست

أرى عابد الرحمن رحمة من قست

عليه الليالي أمن من ريع بالفقر

عليه الليالي أمن من ريع بالفقر

I see Abid al-Rahman as mercy for those upon whom

It has a sanctuary wherein are feelings for poetry

the nights were cruel, and safety for those terrified by poverty.

For those who performed pilgrimage to it with kindness, he commands

وكعبة آمالٍ كثيراً حجيجها

وكعبة آمالٍ كثيراً حجيجها

لها حرمٌ فيه مشاعر للشعر

لها حرمٌ فيه مشاعر للشعر

And a Kaaba of hopes whose pilgrims are many,

And with his forbearance, he prevents hostility and estrangement

with a sanctuary containing sacred stations for poetry.

A young man who never girded himself

له من حجاه بالسماحة آمر

له من حجاه بالسماحة آمر

ومن حلمه ناه عن اللغو والهجر

ومن حلمه ناه عن اللغو والهجر

His reason commands him to generosity,

Except for his enemies, and set forth war, trailing his robe

and his forbearance restrains him from idle and foul speech.

Stinginess never confined him in the arena of his justice and striving

فتىً لم يشمر قط إلا عنا له

فتىً لم يشمر قط إلا عنا له

عداه وساق الحرب مسبلة الأزر

عداه وساق الحرب مسبلة الأزر

A youth who never girded himself but his

Except his striving was rewarded with victory

foes yielded to him, while war's shank remained wrapped in trailing robes.

O father of Amr, you remain populous for glory

ولم يعترك بخل بميدان عدله

ولم يعترك بخل بميدان عدله

وجدواه إلا فاز جدواه بالنصر

وجدواه إلا فاز جدواه بالنصر

Never did stinginess fight in the arena of his justice

For you are the midpoint of the necklace of pride

and bounty without his bounty winning victory.

And you repelled enemies from me with the wonders of triumph

أبا عامرٍ لازلت للمجد عامرا

أبا عامرٍ لازلت للمجد عامرا

فأنك وسطى العقد في عنق الفخر

فأنك وسطى العقد في عنق الفخر

Abu Amir, may you always be a builder of glory,

And flooding attainment when attainment was difficult

for you are the central jewel in the necklace on pride's neck.

You expanded what my burden narrowed in carrying it

وقمت العدا عني برافة ماجد

وقمت العدا عني برافة ماجد

وغمر نوال سر إذ ساء ذا الغمر

وغمر نوال سر إذ ساء ذا الغمر

You repelled my enemies with a noble man's compassion,

So if you lightened my life, you indeed weighed down my back

and a flood of gifts that pleased me while vexing the resentful.

And when you raised me to your heavens, my ambition

وأوسعت تعمى ضيقت ذرعا بحملها

وأوسعت تعمى ضيقت ذرعا بحملها

فإن خففت عمري لقد أثقلت ظهري

فإن خففت عمري لقد أثقلت ظهري

You lavished favors that strained my power to bear them;

Tomorrow my feet above comforts and eagles

though you eased my life, you certainly burdened my back.

I gave life to the sun of the king in the orbit of highness

ولما ارتقت بي في سمائك همتي

ولما ارتقت بي في سمائك همتي

غدا أخمصي فوق النعائم والنسر

غدا أخمصي فوق النعائم والنسر

When my ambition lifted me into your heaven,

And smelled the clouds of generosity in the lightning of munificence

the hollow of my foot rose above the Ostriches and the Eagle.

Can one who envies you hope to plot against you

فحييت شمس الملك في فلك العلا

فحييت شمس الملك في فلك العلا

وشمت سحاب الجود في بارق البشر

وشمت سحاب الجود في بارق البشر

I saluted the sun of kingship in the sphere of exaltation,

When you have taken up the quality of firmness while he is still on the trace?

and watched bounty's clouds in the lightning of gladness.

And Obedullah established your house in power

أيرجو ضلالاً أن يناويك حاسد

أيرجو ضلالاً أن يناويك حاسد

وقد حزت خصل لسق وهو على الأثر

وقد حزت خصل لسق وهو على الأثر

Does an envious man foolishly hope to rival you,

And harmonized it between the pillars and forgiveness

when you have won the prize of precedence, while he trails behind?

And you became like al-Ma'mun walking his path

وأرسى عبيد اللَه بيتك في الغلا

وأرسى عبيد اللَه بيتك في الغلا

وطنبه بين السماكين والغفر

وطنبه بين السماكين والغفر

Ubayd Allah anchored your house in the heights,

As if you were Moses retracing the steps of al-Khidr

and stretched its ropes between the two Simaks and al-Ghafr.

You did not rise with patience when the heights

وأصبحت كالمأمون تقفو سبيله

وأصبحت كالمأمون تقفو سبيله

كأنك موسى تقتفي أثر الخضر

كأنك موسى تقتفي أثر الخضر

You have become like al-Ma'mun, following his path,

Gave you command with a matter from its wonders, my prince

as though you were Moses, tracing al-Khidr's footsteps.

By God, how they elevated and you elevated from the heights

وما علت صبراً حين قلدك العلا

وما علت صبراً حين قلدك العلا

وجاء بأمر من بدائعه أمري

وجاء بأمر من بدائعه أمري

Nor did you lack patience [reading uncertain] when he invested you with high rank,

And by God, what they attained and what you attained in fame

and came with a command—my affair among his wonders.

You composed the scattered realm with justice and piety

فلله ما شادوا وشدت من العلا

فلله ما شادوا وشدت من العلا

وللَه ما حازوا وما حزت من ذكر

وللَه ما حازوا وما حزت من ذكر

God be praised for the heights they built and you have built,

And stood by the right of God in private and public

and God be praised for the renown they gained and you have gained.

And fasting came to you after a feast you fulfilled

نظمت شتيت الملك بالعدل والتقى

نظمت شتيت الملك بالعدل والتقى

وقمت بحق اللَه في السر والجهر

وقمت بحق اللَه في السر والجهر

You strung the scattered kingdom together with justice and piety,

With two fortunate, abundant pleasures and reward

and upheld God's due in secret and in public.

And sickness went away from you, giving glad tidings to his body

وجاءك صوم إثر فطرٍ قضيته

وجاءك صوم إثر فطرٍ قضيته

بحظين من سعدٍ جزيلٍ ومن أجر

بحظين من سعدٍ جزيلٍ ومن أجر

Fasting came to you after a time without fasting that you had passed,

With the return of blindness and continuance of life

with two blessings: abundant good fortune and reward.

My gratitude will fill each drop it reaches

وأدبر سقمٌ عنك بشر جسمه

وأدبر سقمٌ عنك بشر جسمه

بأقبال تعمى واتصالٍ من العمر

بأقبال تعمى واتصالٍ من العمر

Illness departed from you; his body was given glad tidings

With spreading praise of you, more fragrant than perfume

of approaching favors and a continuation of life.

And there remains within my heart a love for you

سيملاً شكري كل قطرٍ تحله

سيملاً شكري كل قطرٍ تحله

بنشر ثناءٍ عنك أذكى من العطر

بنشر ثناءٍ عنك أذكى من العطر

My gratitude will fill every region in which you settle,

With which I will meet the Merciful at the Gathering

by spreading praise of you more fragrant than perfume.

وتبقى لكم بين الضلوع محبةً

وتبقى لكم بين الضلوع محبةً

ألاقي بها الرحمن في موقف الحشر

ألاقي بها الرحمن في موقف الحشر

And love for you will remain between my ribs,

with which I shall meet the Merciful at the assembly of the Resurrection.