أُرَاقِبُ فِي الظَّلْمَاءِ مَا اللَّيْلُ يَحْجُبُ

أُرَاقِبُ فِي الظَّلْمَاءِ مَا اللَّيْلُ يَحْجُبُ

وَأَقْرَأُ فِي الأَسْحَارِ مَا اللهُ يَكْتُبُ

وَأَقْرَأُ فِي الأَسْحَارِ مَا اللهُ يَكْتُبُ

I watch in the darkness what the night conceals,

I observe in the darkness what the night conceals,

And read in the predawn hours what God writes.

And I read at dawn what God has decreed.

وَأَسْتَعْرِضُ الأَيَّامَ يَوْمِي الَّذِي مَضَى

وَأَسْتَعْرِضُ الأَيَّامَ يَوْمِي الَّذِي مَضَى

دَلِيلٌ عَلَى يَوْمِي الَّذِي أَتَرَقَّبُ

دَلِيلٌ عَلَى يَوْمِي الَّذِي أَتَرَقَّبُ

And I survey the days; my day that has passed

I review the days - my day that has passed

Is a guide to the day I await.

Is guide to my day that is yet to come.

فَلاَ تَسْأَلُوا عَنِّي وَحَظِّي فَإِنَّنَا

فَلاَ تَسْأَلُوا عَنِّي وَحَظِّي فَإِنَّنَا

لأَمْثَالِ أَهْلِ الشَّرْقِ وَالْغَرْبِ مَضْرَبُ

لأَمْثَالِ أَهْلِ الشَّرْقِ وَالْغَرْبِ مَضْرَبُ

So do not ask about me and my luck, for we

So ask not of my fate and my fortune,

Are the stuff of proverbs among the people of East and West.

For we are but as the people of East and West.

طَوَى الدَّهْرُ مِنْ عُمْرِي ثَلاثِينَ حِجَّةً

طَوَى الدَّهْرُ مِنْ عُمْرِي ثَلاثِينَ حِجَّةً

طَوَيْتُ بِهَا الأَصْقَاعَ أَسْعَى وَأَدْأَبُ

طَوَيْتُ بِهَا الأَصْقَاعَ أَسْعَى وَأَدْأَبُ

Time has folded away thirty years of my life;

Time has spanned thirty pilgrimages of my life,

In them I traversed far-flung lands, striving and toiling.

And with them I traversed lands far and wide.

أُغَرِّبُ خَلْفَ الرِّزْقِ وَهْوَ مُشَرِّقٌ

أُغَرِّبُ خَلْفَ الرِّزْقِ وَهْوَ مُشَرِّقٌ

وَأُقْسِمُ لَوْ شَرَّقْتُ كَانَ يُغَرِّبُ

وَأُقْسِمُ لَوْ شَرَّقْتُ كَانَ يُغَرِّبُ

I go west in pursuit of livelihood, while it goes east,

I travel westward pursuing livelihood, though it lies east,

And I swear, were I to go east, it would go west.

And I swear, were I to travel east, it would lie west.

وَأَنْفُرُ مِنْ وَادٍ لِطَوْدٍ كَأَنَّنِي

وَأَنْفُرُ مِنْ وَادٍ لِطَوْدٍ كَأَنَّنِي

وَقَدْ بَوَّقَ الدَاعُونَ لِلصَّيْدِ رَبْرَبُ

وَقَدْ بَوَّقَ الدَاعُونَ لِلصَّيْدِ رَبْرَبُ

And I flee from valley to mountain as though I were

I flee a valley as if the hunters

A herd of antelope, the hunt's callers having sounded their horns.

Have sounded calls to the hunt - baying their hounds.

لِئَنْ غَرَّدَتْ لِلشَّاعِرِينَ بَلاَبِلٌ

لِئَنْ غَرَّدَتْ لِلشَّاعِرِينَ بَلاَبِلٌ

فَإِنَّ غُرَابَ الشُّؤْمِ حَوْلِيَ يَنْعَبُ

فَإِنَّ غُرَابَ الشُّؤْمِ حَوْلِيَ يَنْعَبُ

Even if nightingales sing for the poets,

Though songbirds may trill their song for poets,

Still, the raven of ill omen croaks around me.

Crows of ill-omen circle above me, cawing.

وَإِنْ كَانَ عِلْمَاً ثَابِتَاً قَوْلُ بَعْضِهِمْ

وَإِنْ كَانَ عِلْمَاً ثَابِتَاً قَوْلُ بَعْضِهِمْ

لِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ نَجْمٌ فَنَجْمِي الْمُذَنَّبُ

لِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ نَجْمٌ فَنَجْمِي الْمُذَنَّبُ

And if what some people say is established truth—

If it be proven knowledge, what some have claimed -

“Each person has a star”—then mine is the comet.

That each person has a star, mine is a shooting star.

وَمَرْكَبَةٍ لِلنَقْلِ رَاحَتْ يَجُرُّهَا

وَمَرْكَبَةٍ لِلنَقْلِ رَاحَتْ يَجُرُّهَا

حِصَانَانِ: مُحْمَرٌّ هَزِيلٌ وَأَشْهَبُ

حِصَانَانِ: مُحْمَرٌّ هَزِيلٌ وَأَشْهَبُ

And a freight wagon set off, drawn by

I ride in a carriage drawn by two steeds:

Two horses: a scrawny chestnut and a gray.

One sorrel and lean, the other grayish-white.

لَهَا خَيْمَةٌ تَدْعُو إِلَى الْهُزْءِ شَدَّهَا

لَهَا خَيْمَةٌ تَدْعُو إِلَى الْهُزْءِ شَدَّهَا

غَرَابِيلُ أَدْعَى لِلْوَقَارِ وَأَنْسَبُ

غَرَابِيلُ أَدْعَى لِلْوَقَارِ وَأَنْسَبُ

It has a canopy, stretched tight, that invites ridicule;

It has a tent whose ragged drapes

Sieves would be more dignified and more fitting.

Appear dignified and appropriate.

جَلَسَتْ إِلَى حُوذِيِّهَا وَوَرَاءَنَا

جَلَسَتْ إِلَى حُوذِيِّهَا وَوَرَاءَنَا

صَنَادِيقُ فِيهَا مَا يَسُرُّ وَيُعْجِبُ

صَنَادِيقُ فِيهَا مَا يَسُرُّ وَيُعْجِبُ

I sat beside its driver, and behind us

My companions sit with me, and behind us

Were boxes holding things that delight and amaze.

Are boxes containing what gladdens and pleases.

حَوَتْ سِلَعَاً مِنْ كُلِّ نَوْعٍ يَبِيعُهَا

حَوَتْ سِلَعَاً مِنْ كُلِّ نَوْعٍ يَبِيعُهَا

فَتَىً مَا أَسْتَحَلَّ البَيْعَ لَوْلا التَّغَرُّبُ

فَتَىً مَا أَسْتَحَلَّ البَيْعَ لَوْلا التَّغَرُّبُ

They held goods of every kind, sold by

They hold wares of every kind, sold

A young man who would not have accepted trade but for living abroad.

By a noble youth - though selling ill suits his dignity - driven by the need to wander.

وَرَاحَتْ كَأَنَّ البَرَّ بَحْرٌ نِجَادُهُ

وَرَاحَتْ كَأَنَّ البَرَّ بَحْرٌ نِجَادُهُ

وَأَغْوَارهُ أَمْوَاجهُ، وَهْيَ مَرْكَبُ

وَأَغْوَارهُ أَمْوَاجهُ، وَهْيَ مَرْكَبُ

And it moved as though the land were a sea, its highlands

The carriage moves as though the land is a sea, with depths

And its hollows the waves, and the wagon a ship.

And waves, and it a vessel

تَبِينُ وَتَخْفَى فِي الرُّبَى وَحِيَالهَا

تَبِينُ وَتَخْفَى فِي الرُّبَى وَحِيَالهَا

فَيَحْسَبُهَا الرَاؤُونَ تَطْفُو وَتَرْسُبُ

فَيَحْسَبُهَا الرَاؤُونَ تَطْفُو وَتَرْسُبُ

It appears and vanishes among the hills and before them,

Appearing and disappearing in the mirages, so viewers

So onlookers think it floats and sinks.

Think it is floating and sinking.

وَتَدْخُلُ قَلْبَ الغَابِ وَالصُّبْحُ مُسْفِرٌ

وَتَدْخُلُ قَلْبَ الغَابِ وَالصُّبْحُ مُسْفِرٌ

فَتَحْسَبُ أَنَّ اللَّيْلَ لِلَّيْلِ مُعْقِبُ

فَتَحْسَبُ أَنَّ اللَّيْلَ لِلَّيْلِ مُعْقِبُ

And it enters the forest's heart while morning is bright,

It enters the forest's depths at dawn,

So you imagine that night follows night.

So you would think the night follows the night.

تَمُرُّ عَلَى صُمِّ الصَّفَا عَجَلاتُهَا

تَمُرُّ عَلَى صُمِّ الصَّفَا عَجَلاتُهَا

فَنَسْمَعُ قَلْبَ الصَّخْرِ يَشْكُو وَيَصْخَبُ

فَنَسْمَعُ قَلْبَ الصَّخْرِ يَشْكُو وَيَصْخَبُ

Its wheels roll over hard, smooth rocks,

Its wheels pass over the soundless valley,

So we hear the rock's heart complain and clamor.

And we hear the rocks moan and scrape.

وَتَرْقُصُ فَوْقَ النَّاتِئَاتِ مِنَ الحَصَى

وَتَرْقُصُ فَوْقَ النَّاتِئَاتِ مِنَ الحَصَى

فَنُوشِكُ مِنْ تِلْكَ الخَلاَعَةِ نُقْلَبُ

فَنُوشِكُ مِنْ تِلْكَ الخَلاَعَةِ نُقْلَبُ

And it dances over jutting pebbles,

It dances over the rocky protrusions -

So that wild abandon almost overturns us.

We almost overturn because of its reckless swaying.

نَبِيتُ بِأَكْوَاخٍ خَلَتْ مِنْ أُنَاسِهَا

نَبِيتُ بِأَكْوَاخٍ خَلَتْ مِنْ أُنَاسِهَا

وَقَامَ عَلَيْهَا البُومُ يَبْكِي وَيَنْدُبُ

وَقَامَ عَلَيْهَا البُومُ يَبْكِي وَيَنْدُبُ

We spend the night in huts deserted by their inhabitants,

We spend nights in shacks abandoned by their dwellers,

And owls perch upon them, weeping and lamenting.

Where owls weep and lament their loss.

مُفَكَّكَة جُدْرَانُهَا وَسُقُوفُهَا

مُفَكَّكَة جُدْرَانُهَا وَسُقُوفُهَا

يُطِلُّ عَلَيْنَا النَّجْمُ مِنْهَا وَيَغْرُبُ

يُطِلُّ عَلَيْنَا النَّجْمُ مِنْهَا وَيَغْرُبُ

Their walls and roofs are falling apart;

Their walls and roofs are crumbling,

Through them the stars look down on us and set.

And the stars gaze at us through the holes as they set.

عَلَيْهَا نُقُوشٌ لَمْ تُخَطَّطْ بِرِيشَةٍ

عَلَيْهَا نُقُوشٌ لَمْ تُخَطَّطْ بِرِيشَةٍ

تَظُنُّ صِبَاغَاً لَوْنَهَا وَهْوَ طُحْلُبُ

تَظُنُّ صِبَاغَاً لَوْنَهَا وَهْوَ طُحْلُبُ

On them are patterns not drawn with a brush;

On them are markings - no brush has decorated them;

You think their color is paint, but it is moss.

You would think them colored by algae.

يُغَنِّي لَنَا فِيهَا الْهَوَاءُ كَأَنَّهُ

يُغَنِّي لَنَا فِيهَا الْهَوَاءُ كَأَنَّهُ

يُنَوِّمُنَا، وَالْبَرْدُ لِلنَّوْمِ مُذْهِبُ

يُنَوِّمُنَا، وَالْبَرْدُ لِلنَّوْمِ مُذْهِبُ

The wind sings to us inside them, as though

The wind sings to us in them as though

Lulling us to sleep, while the cold drives sleep away.

Lulling us to sleep, while the cold dispels drowsiness.

فَنُمْسِي وَفِي أَجْفَانِنَا الشَّوْقُ لِلْكَرَى

فَنُمْسِي وَفِي أَجْفَانِنَا الشَّوْقُ لِلْكَرَى

وَنُضْحِي وَجَمْرُ السُّهْدِ فِيهِنَّ يَلْهَبُ

وَنُضْحِي وَجَمْرُ السُّهْدِ فِيهِنَّ يَلْهَبُ

So evening finds our eyelids longing for slumber,

We sleep with longing in our eyes for friends left behind,

And morning finds the embers of sleeplessness blazing in them.

And wake with burning embers of affection still aglow.

وَمَأْكَلُنَا مِمَّا نَصِيدُ وَطَالَمَا

وَمَأْكَلُنَا مِمَّا نَصِيدُ وَطَالَمَا

طَوَيْنَا لأَنَّ الصَّيْدَ عَنَّا مُغَيَّبُ

طَوَيْنَا لأَنَّ الصَّيْدَ عَنَّا مُغَيَّبُ

Our food is what we hunt, and many a time

Our food is what we hunt, though often

We have gone hungry because game is hidden from us.

We go hungry when prey eludes us.

وَنَشْرَبُ مِمَّا تَشْرَبُ الخَيْلُ تَارَةً

وَنَشْرَبُ مِمَّا تَشْرَبُ الخَيْلُ تَارَةً

وَطَوْرَاً تَعَافُ الخَيْلُ مَا نَحْنُ نَشْرَبُ

وَطَوْرَاً تَعَافُ الخَيْلُ مَا نَحْنُ نَشْرَبُ

Sometimes we drink what the horses drink,

At times we drink what the horses drink,

And sometimes the horses refuse what we drink.

At others the horses disdain what we drink.

حَيَاةُ مَشَقَّاتٍ وَلَكِنْ لِبُعْدِهَا

حَيَاةُ مَشَقَّاتٍ وَلَكِنْ لِبُعْدِهَا

عَنِ الذُّلِّ تَصْفُو لِلأَبِيِّ وَتَعْذُبُ

عَنِ الذُّلِّ تَصْفُو لِلأَبِيِّ وَتَعْذُبُ

A life of hardships, but because it is far

A life of hardship, but in its distance

From humiliation, it is clear and sweet to the unbowed.

From disgrace, it is wholesome and sweet to one with spirit.

وَقَدْ نَلْتَقِي بَعْضَ الجَمِيلاَتِ صُدْفَةً

وَقَدْ نَلْتَقِي بَعْضَ الجَمِيلاَتِ صُدْفَةً

فَيُطْرِبْنَنَا وَالْمُبْدُع الغِيد مُطْرِبُ

فَيُطْرِبْنَنَا وَالْمُبْدُع الغِيد مُطْرِبُ

And sometimes we chance upon some beautiful women,

We chance to meet some beauties along the way

So they delight us; the creator of graceful beauties delights.

Who delight us, while talented singers also please us.

وَكُلُّ مَكَانٍ فِيهِ لِلْحُسْنِ مَرْتَعٌ

وَكُلُّ مَكَانٍ فِيهِ لِلْحُسْنِ مَرْتَعٌ

وَلِلطَّرْفِ مَلْهَىً فِيهِ لِلْحُبِّ مَلْعَبُ

وَلِلطَّرْفِ مَلْهَىً فِيهِ لِلْحُبِّ مَلْعَبُ

And every place where beauty has a pasture

Every land has a pasture for beauty,

And the eye a diversion is a playground for love.

And a playground of love for the eyes to frolic in.

وَمَا تَلْتَقِي عَيْنَا فَتَاةِ حَيِيَّةٍ

وَمَا تَلْتَقِي عَيْنَا فَتَاةِ حَيِيَّةٍ

وَعَيْنَا فَتَىً إلاَّ لِكُوبِيدَ مَأْرَبُ

وَعَيْنَا فَتَىً إلاَّ لِكُوبِيدَ مَأْرَبُ

And a bashful maiden's eyes never meet

No eyes of a lively girl will meet

A young man's eyes without Cupid having a purpose.

The eyes of a youth except for Cupid's battleground.

وَهَلْ أَنَا إِلاَّ شَاعِرٌ لاَنَ قَلْبُهُ

وَهَلْ أَنَا إِلاَّ شَاعِرٌ لاَنَ قَلْبُهُ

فَلَيْسَ لَهُ مِنْ صَوْلَةِ الحُبِّ مَهْرَبُ

فَلَيْسَ لَهُ مِنْ صَوْلَةِ الحُبِّ مَهْرَبُ

And am I anything but a poet whose heart has softened,

Am I other than a poet whose heart

Who has no escape from love's assault?

Passion has captured? I have no refuge from love's confinement.

نَفَتْنِي مِنَ الْمُدْنِ العَوَاصِمِ عِزَّتِي

نَفَتْنِي مِنَ الْمُدْنِ العَوَاصِمِ عِزَّتِي

فَرُحْتُ بِأَطْرَافِ الوِلايَاتِ أَضْرِبُ

فَرُحْتُ بِأَطْرَافِ الوِلايَاتِ أَضْرِبُ

My pride banished me from the capital cities,

My pride expelled me from the great cities,

So I went roaming the remote reaches of the states.

So I delighted in wandering the provinces.

أُعَاشِرُ مَنْ لَوْ عَاشَرَ القِرْدُ بَعْضَهَمْ

أُعَاشِرُ مَنْ لَوْ عَاشَرَ القِرْدُ بَعْضَهَمْ

لَمَا رَدَّ عَنْ دَرْوِين قَبْرٌ مُقَبَّبُ

لَمَا رَدَّ عَنْ دَرْوِين قَبْرٌ مُقَبَّبُ

I keep company with men such that, if an ape mixed with some of them,

I socialize with those whose company would shame

A domed tomb would not shield Darwin.

Even monkeys - Darwin's theories would be refuted!

وَأُنْصِتُ مُضْطَّرَاً إِلَى كُلِّ أَبْلَهٍ

وَأُنْصِتُ مُضْطَّرَاً إِلَى كُلِّ أَبْلَهٍ

كَأَنِّي بِأَسْرَارِ البَلاهَةِ مُعْجَبُ

كَأَنِّي بِأَسْرَارِ البَلاهَةِ مُعْجَبُ

And I am forced to listen to every fool,

I listen perforce to every fool,

As though I admired the mysteries of stupidity.

As though impressed with the mysteries of inanity.

وَأَكْرَهُ أَشْيَاءً رَفِيقِي يُحِبُّهَا

وَأَكْرَهُ أَشْيَاءً رَفِيقِي يُحِبُّهَا

وَأَرْغَبُ فِي أَشْيَاءَ عَنْهُنَّ يَرْغَبُ

وَأَرْغَبُ فِي أَشْيَاءَ عَنْهُنَّ يَرْغَبُ

And I hate things my companion loves,

I dislike what my companions love,

And long for things he shuns.

And crave what they spurn.

وَأَرْهَبُ قُطَّاعَ الطَّرِيقِ وَرُبَّمَا

وَأَرْهَبُ قُطَّاعَ الطَّرِيقِ وَرُبَّمَا

تَعَمَّدْتُ إِظْهَارَ السِّلاَحِ لِيَرْهَبُوا

تَعَمَّدْتُ إِظْهَارَ السِّلاَحِ لِيَرْهَبُوا

And I fear highwaymen, and sometimes

I fear highway robbers, and sometimes

I deliberately display my weapon to frighten them.

Deliberately display arms to intimidate them.

فَعِزُّ الفَتَى الطَّاوِي الفَيَافِي مُسَدَّسٌ

فَعِزُّ الفَتَى الطَّاوِي الفَيَافِي مُسَدَّسٌ

كَمَا أَنَّ عِزَّ اللَيْثِ نَابٌ وَمِخْلَبُ

كَمَا أَنَّ عِزَّ اللَيْثِ نَابٌ وَمِخْلَبُ

For a young man crossing the wastes, strength lies in a revolver,

A wanderer's honor is a pistol, just as

Just as a lion's strength lies in fang and claw.

A lion's honor is fang and claw.

وَمَا صِينَ حَقٌّ لاَ سِلاَحَ لِرَبِّهِ

وَمَا صِينَ حَقٌّ لاَ سِلاَحَ لِرَبِّهِ

وَأَضْعَفُ أَنْوَاعِ السِّلاَحِ التَّأَدُّبُ

وَأَضْعَفُ أَنْوَاعِ السِّلاَحِ التَّأَدُّبُ

And no right is protected if its holder has no weapon,

China's law gains no respect lacking arms,

And the weakest kind of weapon is courtesy.

And the weakest weapons are those of etiquette.

وَلْولاَ نُيُوبُ الأُسْدِ كَانَتْ ذَلِيلَةً

وَلْولاَ نُيُوبُ الأُسْدِ كَانَتْ ذَلِيلَةً

تُسَاطُ وَتَعْنُو لِلشَّكِيمِ وَتُرْكَبُ

تُسَاطُ وَتَعْنُو لِلشَّكِيمِ وَتُرْكَبُ

And but for lions' fangs, they would be abased,

Were it not for the lion's fangs, it would be

Whipped, submitting to the bit, and ridden.

Abase, shackled and ridden.

وَكَمْ ظَالِمٍ يَسْتَعْبِدُ النَّاسَ عُنْوَةً

وَكَمْ ظَالِمٍ يَسْتَعْبِدُ النَّاسَ عُنْوَةً

وَحُجَّتُهُ الكُبْرَى الحُسَامُ الْمُشَطّبُ

وَحُجَّتُهُ الكُبْرَى الحُسَامُ الْمُشَطّبُ

And how many a tyrant enslaves people by force,

How many oppressors enslave people by force,

His greatest argument the grooved sword.

Wielding swords as their greatest argument?

أَقُولُ لِنَفْسِي كُلَّمَا عَضَّهَا الأَسَى

أَقُولُ لِنَفْسِي كُلَّمَا عَضَّهَا الأَسَى

فَآلَمَهَا : صَبْرَاً فَفِي الصَّبْرِ مَكْسَبُ

فَآلَمَهَا : صَبْرَاً فَفِي الصَّبْرِ مَكْسَبُ

I tell my soul whenever sorrow bites it

I say to my soul whenever sorrow afflicts it,

And pains it: patience, for patience brings gain.

And anguish wounds it: Patience, for in patience lies gain.

لِئَنْ كَانَ صَعْبَاً حَمْلُكِ الْهَمَّ وَالأَذَى

لِئَنْ كَانَ صَعْبَاً حَمْلُكِ الْهَمَّ وَالأَذَى

فَحَمْلُكِ مَنَّ النَّاسِ لاَ شَكَّ أَصْعَبُ

فَحَمْلُكِ مَنَّ النَّاسِ لاَ شَكَّ أَصْعَبُ

Hard though it may be for you to bear grief and harm,

If bearing anxiety and suffering is hard,

Bearing people's reminders of their favors is surely harder.

Bearing people's scorn is undoubtedly harder.

فَلَوْلاَ إِبَاءٌ مَازَجَ الطَّبْعَ لَمْ أَكُنْ

فَلَوْلاَ إِبَاءٌ مَازَجَ الطَّبْعَ لَمْ أَكُنْ

لِمِثْلِي مَجِيءٌ فِي البَرَارِي وَمَذْهَبُ

لِمِثْلِي مَجِيءٌ فِي البَرَارِي وَمَذْهَبُ

But for pride woven into my nature, there would be no

Were it not for stubbornness ingrained in my nature,

Coming and going through the wilderness for one like me.

One like me would not have come to the wilderness as refuge.

وَلَوْلاَ رَجَائِي أَنْ تَظَلَّي بَعِيدَةً

وَلَوْلاَ رَجَائِي أَنْ تَظَلَّي بَعِيدَةً

عَنِ الضَّيْمِ لَمْ يُوطَأْ بِرِجْلِيَ سَبْسَبُ

عَنِ الضَّيْمِ لَمْ يُوطَأْ بِرِجْلِيَ سَبْسَبُ

And but for my hope that you would remain far

And were it not for my hope that you, my soul, will remain

From oppression, no plain would have been trodden by my foot.

Far from injustice, my feet would not have trod this path.

فَلاَ تَعْذِلِي صَحْبَاً دَرُوا بِي وَمَا عَنَوا

فَلاَ تَعْذِلِي صَحْبَاً دَرُوا بِي وَمَا عَنَوا

بِأَمْرِي فَهُمْ مِنِّي إِلَى الفَقْرِ أَقْرَبُ

بِأَمْرِي فَهُمْ مِنِّي إِلَى الفَقْرِ أَقْرَبُ

So do not reproach friends who knew of me but did not care

So reproach not my companions who ignored me

About my affairs, for they are closer to poverty than I.

And disregarded my affairs, for they are closer to poverty than I.

وَلاَ تَأْمَلِي مِنْ غَيْرِ صَحْبِي مَعُونَةً

وَلاَ تَأْمَلِي مِنْ غَيْرِ صَحْبِي مَعُونَةً

مَا تُخْضَبُ الكَفَّانِ وَالقَلْبُ مُجْدِبُ

مَا تُخْضَبُ الكَفَّانِ وَالقَلْبُ مُجْدِبُ

And do not hope for help from anyone but my friends;

Nor expect aid from any but my companions,

Palms are not dyed while the heart is barren.

As hands may be dyed while the heart remains barren.

وَلاَ تَرْتَجِي الإِخْلاَصَ مِنْ كُلِّ بَاسِمٍ

وَلاَ تَرْتَجِي الإِخْلاَصَ مِنْ كُلِّ بَاسِمٍ

فَفِي البَاسِمِينَ الْمُبْغِضُ الْمُتَحَبِّبُ

فَفِي البَاسِمِينَ الْمُبْغِضُ الْمُتَحَبِّبُ

Nor expect sincerity from every smiling person,

Do not anticipate sincerity from every smiling face,

For among those who smile is the hater feigning affection.

For among the friendly lurks the deceitful pretender.

وَلَوْ كَانَ كُلُّ المُظْهِرِينَ لِيَ الوَفَا

وَلَوْ كَانَ كُلُّ المُظْهِرِينَ لِيَ الوَفَا

وَفِيِّينَ لَمْ يُعْجِزْكِ يَا نَفْسُ مَطْلَبُ

وَفِيِّينَ لَمْ يُعْجِزْكِ يَا نَفْسُ مَطْلَبُ

And were all those who show me loyalty

Even if all who feign devotion to me were truly devoted,

Truly loyal, no wish, O my soul, would elude you.

That would not satisfy you, O soul, in what you seek!

عَتِبْتُ عَلَى نَاسٍ أَضَاعُوا مَوَدَّتِي

عَتِبْتُ عَلَى نَاسٍ أَضَاعُوا مَوَدَّتِي

وَكُلُّ كَرِيمٍ خَانَهُ الصَّحْبُ يَعْتَبُ

وَكُلُّ كَرِيمٍ خَانَهُ الصَّحْبُ يَعْتَبُ

I felt aggrieved at people who squandered my affection,

I have reproached people who discarded my affection,

And every noble person betrayed by friends feels aggrieved.

Though every noble person has been betrayed by a companion.

فَقَدْ زَعَمُوا أَنِّي هَجَوْتُ حَبِيبَهُمْ

فَقَدْ زَعَمُوا أَنِّي هَجَوْتُ حَبِيبَهُمْ

وَأَنِّي سَأَهْجُو غَيْرَهُ حِينَ أَخْطُبُ

وَأَنِّي سَأَهْجُو غَيْرَهُ حِينَ أَخْطُبُ

For they claimed that I had satirized their beloved,

They claimed I lampooned their beloved,

And that I would satirize another when I spoke.

And that I will lampoon others when I compose poetry.

وَلَسْتُ بِهَجَّاءٍ .. وَلَكِنَّهُ الْهَوَى

وَلَسْتُ بِهَجَّاءٍ .. وَلَكِنَّهُ الْهَوَى

إِذَا قَادَ نَفْسَ الْمَرْءِ فَالنُّورُ غَيْهَبُ

إِذَا قَادَ نَفْسَ الْمَرْءِ فَالنُّورُ غَيْهَبُ

I am no habitual satirist; but passion,

I am no lampooner... but passion -

When it leads a person's soul, makes light pitch darkness.

When it leads a man - dims the light of discernment.

أَنَا مَنْ يَرَى أَنَّ الرِّيَاءَ مَعَرَّةٌ

أَنَا مَنْ يَرَى أَنَّ الرِّيَاءَ مَعَرَّةٌ

وَأَنَّ خَبِيثَ القَوْلِ فِي الصِّدْقِ طَيِّبُ

وَأَنَّ خَبِيثَ القَوْلِ فِي الصِّدْقِ طَيِّبُ

I am one who holds hypocrisy to be a disgrace,

I view ostentation as shameful,

And foul speech, when truthful, to be good.

And that vile words in truth are foul ones.

وَمَا أَنَا إِلاَّ كَالزَّمَانِ وَأَهْلِهِ

وَمَا أَنَا إِلاَّ كَالزَّمَانِ وَأَهْلِهِ

أَعَافُ وَأَسْتَحْلِي وَأَرْضَى وَأَغْضَبُ

أَعَافُ وَأَسْتَحْلِي وَأَرْضَى وَأَغْضَبُ

And I am only like the times and their people:

I am but as time and its people -

I loathe and relish, am pleased and grow angry.

I pardon, pretend, satisfy, and anger.

فَأَيُّ هِجَاءٍ فِي مَقَالِي لِعَقْرَبٍ

فَأَيُّ هِجَاءٍ فِي مَقَالِي لِعَقْرَبٍ

لَهُ وَلَعٌ بِالشَّرِّ إِنَّكَ عَقْرَبُ

لَهُ وَلَعٌ بِالشَّرِّ إِنَّكَ عَقْرَبُ

What satire, then, is there in my saying to a scorpion

What lampoon is it if I say of a scorpion

With a passion for evil, “You are a scorpion”?

Obsessed with evil, "You are a scorpion!"

فَيَا نَفْسُ إِلاَّ أَنْتِ مَا لَكِ وَاعْلَمِي

فَيَا نَفْسُ إِلاَّ أَنْتِ مَا لَكِ وَاعْلَمِي

بِأَنَّ كُلَّ بَرْقٍ غَيْر بَرْقِكِ خُلَّبُ

بِأَنَّ كُلَّ بَرْقٍ غَيْر بَرْقِكِ خُلَّبُ

O my soul, you have none but yourself; know

O soul, none but you are responsible for yourself,

That every lightning flash but your own is rainless.

And know that any lightning other than your own goes astray.

تَعِبْتِ إِذَا اسْتَنْظَرْتِ خَيْرَاً مِنَ الوَرَى

تَعِبْتِ إِذَا اسْتَنْظَرْتِ خَيْرَاً مِنَ الوَرَى

وَمُسْتَقْطِرُ السَّلْوَى مِنَ الصَّابِ يَتْعَبُ

وَمُسْتَقْطِرُ السَّلْوَى مِنَ الصَّابِ يَتْعَبُ

You weary yourself if you await kindness from mankind,

You grow weary when you look to people for good,

And whoever distills honey from bitter sap grows weary.

While one who squeezes honey from thorns grows weary.