لَو أَنَّ مَن سَأَلَ الطُلولَ يُجابُ

لَو أَنَّ مَن سَأَلَ الطُلولَ يُجابُ

لَسَأَلتُ رَسمَ الدارِ وَهوَ يَبابُ

لَسَأَلتُ رَسمَ الدارِ وَهوَ يَبابُ

If only one who questioned the deserted dwellings could receive an answer,

If those who questioned the ruined camps were answered,

I would question the trace of the dwelling, though it lies desolate.

I would question the trace of the dwelling, though it lies desolate,

عَن مُزنَةٍ وَعَنِ الرَبابِ سَقاهُما

عَن مُزنَةٍ وَعَنِ الرَبابِ سَقاهُما

وَسَقى المَنازِلَ مُزنَةٌ وَرَبابُ

وَسَقى المَنازِلَ مُزنَةٌ وَرَبابُ

About Muzna and about al-Rabab: may rain water them both,

about Muzna and Rabab—may they both be watered,

and may Muzna and Rabab themselves water the dwellings.

and the dwellings too, by a raincloud and white clouds.

سُلَمِيَّتَين سَمِيَّتينِ نَماهُما

سُلَمِيَّتَين سَمِيَّتينِ نَماهُما

فَرعٌ لآلِ مُطَرِّفٍ وَنِصابُ

فَرعٌ لآلِ مُطَرِّفٍ وَنِصابُ

Two women of Sulaym, alike in name, whose ancestry exalted them,

Two women of Sulaym, namesakes of the clouds, both sprung from

a branch of the house of Mutarrif, of noble stock.

a branch and ancestral stock of the house of Mutarrif.

عَلِقَ الفُؤادُ هَواهُما وَزَواهُما

عَلِقَ الفُؤادُ هَواهُما وَزَواهُما

عَنهُ الفِراقُ وَشاحجٌ نَعّابُ

عَنهُ الفِراقُ وَشاحجٌ نَعّابُ

The heart grew attached to loving them both, but separation folded them away from it,

The heart clung to love for them, and they were kept

and a croaking, cawing raven proclaimed the parting.

from it by separation and a harsh, cawing raven.

أَمَنازِلَ الأَحبابِ ما صَنَعَ البِلى

أَمَنازِلَ الأَحبابِ ما صَنَعَ البِلى

بِكِ مِثلَ ما صَنَعَت بِنا الأَحبابُ

بِكِ مِثلَ ما صَنَعَت بِنا الأَحبابُ

O dwellings of the beloved, what has decay done

O dwellings of loved ones, decay has not done

to you—just as the beloved have done to us?

to you what our loved ones have done to us.

نجلُ العُيونِ وَعُودُهُنَّ كَواذِبٌ

نجلُ العُيونِ وَعُودُهُنَّ كَواذِبٌ

وَفِعالُهُنَّ خَديعَةٌ وَخِلاب

وَفِعالُهُنَّ خَديعَةٌ وَخِلاب

Large-eyed women—their promises are lies,

Wide-eyed women, whose promises are false,

their deeds deception and beguilement.

and whose deeds are deception and beguilement,

مِن كُلّ واضِحَة الجَبينِ كَأَنَّها

مِن كُلّ واضِحَة الجَبينِ كَأَنَّها

قَمَرٌ تَكَشَّفَ عَن سَناهُ حِجابُ

قَمَرٌ تَكَشَّفَ عَن سَناهُ حِجابُ

Each one clear-browed, as though she were

each with a radiant brow, as though she were

a moon whose radiance a veil uncovers.

a moon from whose radiance a veil has lifted.

مُتَقابِلاتٌ لِلزِيارَةِ في الدُجى

مُتَقابِلاتٌ لِلزِيارَةِ في الدُجى

خَفَراً كَما تَتَقابَلُ الأَسرابُ

خَفَراً كَما تَتَقابَلُ الأَسرابُ

The two met face-to-face for a night visit through the dark,

Facing one another for visits in the darkness,

modest as flocks of birds when they meet.

bashfully, as herds meet face to face.

وَلَهُنَّ عَتبٌ بَينَهُنَّ كَأَنَّهُ

وَلَهُنَّ عَتبٌ بَينَهُنَّ كَأَنَّهُ

عَسَلٌ يُقَطِّرُهُ السُقاةُ مُذابُ

عَسَلٌ يُقَطِّرُهُ السُقاةُ مُذابُ

Between them passed reproaches, as though

And their reproaches to one another seem

they were honey, melted and dripped by cupbearers.

like melted honey that cupbearers drip.

يا صاحَبيَّ ذَرا العِتابَ فَذَوُ الهَوى

يا صاحَبيَّ ذَرا العِتابَ فَذَوُ الهَوى

صَعبٌ عَلَيهِ قَطيعَةٌ وَعِتابُ

صَعبٌ عَلَيهِ قَطيعَةٌ وَعِتابُ

My two companions, leave off your reproach: for the lover,

My two companions, leave reproach aside; for a lover

severance and reproach are hardship enough.

finds estrangement and reproach hard to bear.

صَرَمَت أُمامَةُ حَبلَهُ وَانتابَهُ

صَرَمَت أُمامَةُ حَبلَهُ وَانتابَهُ

بَعدَ الرُقادِ خَيالُها المُنتابُ

بَعدَ الرُقادِ خَيالُها المُنتابُ

Umama severed her bond with him, and there came to him

Umama severed his bond, and he was visited

after sleep, her ever-returning phantom.

after sleep by her returning phantom.

زارَت وَلَم تَكُنِ الزِيارَةُ عادَةً

زارَت وَلَم تَكُنِ الزِيارَةُ عادَةً

إِنّي بِزَورَةِ طَيفِها مُرتابُ

إِنّي بِزَورَةِ طَيفِها مُرتابُ

She visited, though visiting was never her custom;

She visited, though visits were not her custom;

even of this visit by her phantom I am suspicious.

I am suspicious of her phantom's visit.

يا طَيفُ كَيفَ سَخَت بِكَ ابنَةُ مالِكٍ

يا طَيفُ كَيفَ سَخَت بِكَ ابنَةُ مالِكٍ

وَالصُبحُ نَصلٌ وَالظَلامُ قِرابُ

وَالصُبحُ نَصلٌ وَالظَلامُ قِرابُ

O phantom, how could Malik’s daughter bring herself to send you,

O phantom, how did Malik's daughter freely grant you?

when love is a blade and the bones its sheath?

While dawn was a blade and darkness a sheath,

وَالجَوُّ مُشتَبِكُ النُجومِ كَأَنَّهُ

وَالجَوُّ مُشتَبِكُ النُجومِ كَأَنَّهُ

كَأسٌ عَلاهُ مِنَ المِزاجِ حَبابُ

كَأسٌ عَلاهُ مِنَ المِزاجِ حَبابُ

The sky’s stars were so interwoven that it seemed

and the sky, its stars interwoven, seemed

a cup topped with bubbles from blended wine,

a cup on which bubbles had risen from the mixture,

مِن حَولِ بَدرٍ في السَماءِ كَأَنَّهُ

مِن حَولِ بَدرٍ في السَماءِ كَأَنَّهُ

وَجهُ المُعِزِّ وَحَولَهُ الأَصحابُ

وَجهُ المُعِزِّ وَحَولَهُ الأَصحابُ

surrounding a full moon in the sky, as though it were

around a full moon in the heavens, as though it were

the face of al-Mu‘izz, with his loved ones gathered around.

al-Mu'izz's face, with his companions around him.

مَلِكٌ عَلَيهِ مِنَ المَحامِدِ حُلَّةٌ

مَلِكٌ عَلَيهِ مِنَ المَحامِدِ حُلَّةٌ

وَمِنَ التُقى دُونَ الثِيابِ ثِيابُ

وَمِنَ التُقى دُونَ الثِيابِ ثِيابُ

A king upon whom praises fashion a robe,

A king clothed in a robe of praiseworthy deeds,

while piety clothes him beneath every garment.

and, beneath his garments, in garments of piety.

حُلوُ الشَمائِلِ عَذبَةٌ أَخلاقُهُ

حُلوُ الشَمائِلِ عَذبَةٌ أَخلاقُهُ

وَكَذاكَ أَخلاقُ الكِرامِ عِذابُ

وَكَذاكَ أَخلاقُ الكِرامِ عِذابُ

Sweet in disposition, delightful in character—

Sweet in his ways, sweet in character,

and so the character of noble men is sweet.

and so the characters of noble men are sweet.

لا عَيبَ فيهِ سِوى السَخاءِ فَلَيتَهُ

لا عَيبَ فيهِ سِوى السَخاءِ فَلَيتَهُ

يَبقى وَيَبقى بِالسَخاءِ يُعابُ

يَبقى وَيَبقى بِالسَخاءِ يُعابُ

No fault is in him save generosity—if only

He has no fault save generosity; would that he

he might live and live on, faulted solely for generosity.

might live on, and keep being faulted for generosity.

وَتَراهُ سَهلاً وَهوَ إِن خاشَنتَهُ

وَتَراهُ سَهلاً وَهوَ إِن خاشَنتَهُ

خَشِنُ العَريكَةِ يُتَّقى وَيُهابُ

خَشِنُ العَريكَةِ يُتَّقى وَيُهابُ

You find him gentle; yet if you treat him harshly,

You see him gentle, but if you treat him harshly,

his mettle is hard, and he is guarded against and feared.

he is stern of temper, to be guarded against and held in awe.

لا تُغرَرَنَّ بِهِ فَتَحتَ قَميصِهِ

لا تُغرَرَنَّ بِهِ فَتَحتَ قَميصِهِ

لِلكَيدِ أَرقَمُ ضالَةٍ مُنسابُ

لِلكَيدِ أَرقَمُ ضالَةٍ مُنسابُ

Do not be deceived by him: beneath his shirt

Do not be deceived by him: beneath his shirt

for kingship glides a thick-ribbed, speckled serpent.

a spotted serpent of a wild lote tree glides, bent on guile.

لِلّهِ دَرُّ المُدرِكِيِّ فَإِنَّهُ

لِلّهِ دَرُّ المُدرِكِيِّ فَإِنَّهُ

لِلحَمدِ مُنذُ عَرَفتُهُ كَسّابُ

لِلحَمدِ مُنذُ عَرَفتُهُ كَسّابُ

How excellent are those who attain his favor! For he has been

God bless al-Mudriki! For he,

ever a source of gain to Muhammad, since I knew him.

ever since I knew him, has earned abundant praise.

لا حامِلاً حِقداً وَلا مُتَطَلِّباً

لا حامِلاً حِقداً وَلا مُتَطَلِّباً

عَتباً لِصاحِبِهِ وَلا مُغتابُ

عَتباً لِصاحِبِهِ وَلا مُغتابُ

He bears no rancor, nor seeks

He bears no grudge, nor seeks

to reproach a companion, nor does he backbite.

grounds to reproach his companion, nor backbites.

يا واهِبَ الدُنيا لِأَيسَرِ طالِبٍ

يا واهِبَ الدُنيا لِأَيسَرِ طالِبٍ

ما خابَ مِنكَ وَلا يَخيِبُ طِلابُ

ما خابَ مِنكَ وَلا يَخيِبُ طِلابُ

O giver of the world to the humblest petitioner,

O giver of the world to the humblest petitioner,

no plea to you has failed, nor shall any fail.

no request of you has failed, nor will one fail.

دارُ المَعُونَةِ دِمنَةٌ مَدروسَةٌ

دارُ المَعُونَةِ دِمنَةٌ مَدروسَةٌ

لِلناسِ فيها جِيئَةٌ وَذَهابُ

لِلناسِ فيها جِيئَةٌ وَذَهابُ

The House of Aid is an effaced, trampled ruin,

Dar al-Ma'una is an effaced ruin;

yet people still come and go through it.

people come and go within it.

أَنعِم عَلَيَّ بِها لِعَشرَةِ صِبيَةٍ

أَنعِم عَلَيَّ بِها لِعَشرَةِ صِبيَةٍ

هِبَةً فَأَنتَ المُنعِمُ الوَهّابُ

هِبَةً فَأَنتَ المُنعِمُ الوَهّابُ

Bestow it on me, for the sake of ten young children;

Bestow it upon me for ten boys

grant it as a gift—you are the gracious Bestower.

as a gift, for you are the benefactor, the lavish giver.

فهُم عَبيدُكَ لا أَخافُ عَلَيهِمُ

فهُم عَبيدُكَ لا أَخافُ عَلَيهِمُ

ظَمَأً وَبَحرُكَ زاخِرٌ عَبّابُ

ظَمَأً وَبَحرُكَ زاخِرٌ عَبّابُ

They are your servants; I need not fear for them

For they are your slaves; I have no fear for them

thirst, while your sea surges with towering waves.

of thirst, while your sea is brimming and surging.

وَاِفعَل كَما فَعَلَ الخَليفَةُ جَعفَرٌ

وَاِفعَل كَما فَعَلَ الخَليفَةُ جَعفَرٌ

بِالبُحتُرِيِّ وَرَهطُهُ الأَنجابُ

بِالبُحتُرِيِّ وَرَهطُهُ الأَنجابُ

Do as the caliph Ja‘far did

And do as the caliph Ja'far did

for Buhturi’s family and his noble clan:

and his noble kinsmen did for al-Buhturi.

أَقناهُمُ مالا يَبيدُ وَقابَلوا

أَقناهُمُ مالا يَبيدُ وَقابَلوا

ذاكَ الفَعالَ بِمِثلِهِ فَأَصابُوا

ذاكَ الفَعالَ بِمِثلِهِ فَأَصابُوا

he enriched them with wealth unfailing and fruitful,

He endowed them with what never perishes, and they repaid

and they repaid that deed in kind, and prospered.

that deed with its like, and did rightly.

وَنَداكَ أَوسَعُ وَالَّذي أَنا قائِلٌ

وَنَداكَ أَوسَعُ وَالَّذي أَنا قائِلٌ

أَبقى وَمالُكَ لِلعُفاةِ نِهابُ

أَبقى وَمالُكَ لِلعُفاةِ نِهابُ

Your bounty is broader, and what I utter

And your bounty is broader, and what I utter

will endure longer; your wealth is spoil for petitioners.

is more enduring, while your wealth is plunder for petitioners.

وَلَقَد سَأَلتَكَ واثِقاً بِكَ إِنَّني

وَلَقَد سَأَلتَكَ واثِقاً بِكَ إِنَّني

أَدعُوكَ عِندَ مَطالِبي فَأُجابُ

أَدعُوكَ عِندَ مَطالِبي فَأُجابُ

I have asked you, placing my trust in you; whenever

And indeed I asked you, trusting in you; I

I call on you in need, you answer.

call on you in my needs, and am answered.

يابنَ الكِرامِ وَلَو سَأَلتُكَ عامِراً

يابنَ الكِرامِ وَلَو سَأَلتُكَ عامِراً

لَوَهَبتَنيهِ فَكَيفَ وَهوَ خَرابُ

لَوَهَبتَنيهِ فَكَيفَ وَهوَ خَرابُ

O son of noble men, even had I asked you for it while flourishing,

O son of noble men, even had I asked you for it flourishing,

you would have granted it to me—how much more when it lies desolate?

you would have given it to me—how much more when it lies ruined!

وَبِكُلِّ فَضلٍ مِن يَمينكَ طالِبٌ

وَبِكُلِّ فَضلٍ مِن يَمينكَ طالِبٌ

وَلَرُبَّما تَتَفاضَلُ الطُلّابُ

وَلَرُبَّما تَتَفاضَلُ الطُلّابُ

Every bounty flowing from your right hand is ample,

And for every favor from your right hand there is a seeker,

though petitioners’ requests may differ in worth.

and petitioners do sometimes differ in merit.

وَأَنا الحَقيقُ وَلَو سَأَلتُ مَشَقَّةً

وَأَنا الحَقيقُ وَلَو سَأَلتُ مَشَقَّةً

وَالخَيرُ عِندَ الخيِّرينَ يُصابُ

وَالخَيرُ عِندَ الخيِّرينَ يُصابُ

I would be deserving even had I asked for all the East;

And I am deserving, even were I to ask something burdensome;

good is found with those who are good.

and good is found among good men.

أَغنى عَلَيّاً صالِحٌ بِنَوالِهِ

أَغنى عَلَيّاً صالِحٌ بِنَوالِهِ

قِدماً وَأَغنى قاسِماً وَثّابُ

قِدماً وَأَغنى قاسِماً وَثّابُ

I mean ‘Ali, whose open hand has long poured forth,

Salih enriched Ali with his bounty

and I mean Qasim, and Thawab,

long ago, and Waththab enriched Qasim.

وَمُفَضَّلٌ سَبَغَت عَلَيهِ لِفاتِكٍ

وَمُفَضَّلٌ سَبَغَت عَلَيهِ لِفاتِكٍ

دُونَ المُلوكِ مَواهِبٌ وَرِغابُ

دُونَ المُلوكِ مَواهِبٌ وَرِغابُ

and Mufaddal, whom your hand surpassed

And Mufaddal was showered by Fatik,

in gifts and favors, beyond all kings.

not by kings, with gifts and ample bounties.

لَم يَترُكُوا لَهُمُ كَما أَنا تارِكٌ

لَم يَترُكُوا لَهُمُ كَما أَنا تارِكٌ

لَكَ بَعدَ ما تَتَطاوَلُ الأَحقابُ

لَكَ بَعدَ ما تَتَطاوَلُ الأَحقابُ

They left none of them the like of what I now leave

They did not leave for them, as I am leaving

to you, when lengthening ages have passed:

for you, once the ages have stretched far,

حَمداً كَحاشِيَةِ الرِداءِ مُحبَّراً

حَمداً كَحاشِيَةِ الرِداءِ مُحبَّراً

لا الحَضرُ تُحسِنُهُ وَلا الأَعرابُ

لا الحَضرُ تُحسِنُهُ وَلا الأَعرابُ

an immortal work, embroidered like the border of a robe,

praise richly adorned like the border of a cloak,

which neither townsmen nor Bedouins can fashion.

which neither townsfolk nor Bedouins can fashion so well.

ما كُلُّ مَن صاغَ الكَلامَ بِماهِرٍ

ما كُلُّ مَن صاغَ الكَلامَ بِماهِرٍ

فيهِ وَلا كُلُّ الجِيادِ عِرابُ

فيهِ وَلا كُلُّ الجِيادِ عِرابُ

Not everyone who coins speech is its master,

Not everyone who fashions speech is skilled

nor are all horses purebred.

in it, nor are all fine steeds purebred Arabians.

وَمِن النَباتِ ذَوابِلٌ وَمَعابِلٌ

وَمِن النَباتِ ذَوابِلٌ وَمَعابِلٌ

وَمِنَ الحَديدِ أَخِلَّةٌ وَحِرابُ

وَمِنَ الحَديدِ أَخِلَّةٌ وَحِرابُ

Among plants are straight lance-shafts and arrow-shafts;

And from plants come slender spears and broad-headed arrows,

among iron are swords and spears.

and from iron come pins and lances.

تَفديكَ رُوحُ فَتىً تَبَسَّمَ رَوضُهُ

تَفديكَ رُوحُ فَتىً تَبَسَّمَ رَوضُهُ

مِمّا سَقاهُ غَمامُكَ السَكّابُ

مِمّا سَقاهُ غَمامُكَ السَكّابُ

May my soul ransom you—a youth whose pasture smiled

May the soul of a youth ransom you, whose garden smiled

from the rain your clouds poured upon it,

from the water your pouring cloud gave it,

مِن بَعدِ ما قاسى الخُمولَ وَداسَهُ

مِن بَعدِ ما قاسى الخُمولَ وَداسَهُ

دَوسَ الهَشيمِ زَمانُهُ اللعّابُ

دَوسَ الهَشيمِ زَمانُهُ اللعّابُ

after it had endured obscurity and trampling,

after he had endured obscurity and been trampled

like dry brushwood in its blameworthy old age.

like brittle brushwood by his capricious times.

كَم شاعِرٍ طَلَبَ العُلى فَتَقَطّعَت

كَم شاعِرٍ طَلَبَ العُلى فَتَقَطّعَت

مِن دُون مَطلَبِهِ بِهِ الأَسبابُ

مِن دُون مَطلَبِهِ بِهِ الأَسبابُ

How many poets sought the heights, only for the means

How many a poet sought the heights, only to have

to their desire to be severed before them.

his means cut off short of his goal!

غَيري فَإِني مُذ أَتَيتُكَ قاصِداً

غَيري فَإِني مُذ أَتَيتُكَ قاصِداً

ما اِستَدّ دُوني لِلفَوائِدِ بابُ

ما اِستَدّ دُوني لِلفَوائِدِ بابُ

Not I: since I came to you with purpose,

Not I, for ever since I came seeking you,

no gate to benefits has been barred against me.

no door to benefits has been closed against me.

لي مِنكَ في خِصبِ الزَمانِ وَجَدبِهِ

لي مِنكَ في خِصبِ الزَمانِ وَجَدبِهِ

مَرعىً أَغَنُّ وَرَوضَةٌ مِعشابُ

مَرعىً أَغَنُّ وَرَوضَةٌ مِعشابُ

From you, in time’s abundance and its drought, I have

From you, in time's abundance and its drought, I have

a lush pasture and a meadow rich in grass.

a lush pasture and a garden thick with grass.

فَلأَشكُرَنَّكَ ما حَيِيتُ وَإِن أَمُت

فَلأَشكُرَنَّكَ ما حَيِيتُ وَإِن أَمُت

شَكَرَتكَ بَعدَ بَنيّها الآدابُ

شَكَرَتكَ بَعدَ بَنيّها الآدابُ

I shall thank you while I live; and if I die,

So I shall surely thank you as long as I live; and if I die,

the daughter of letters will thank you after me.

literature will thank you after its sons are gone.

وَإَلَيكَ مُحكَمَةً إِذا هِيَ أُبرِزَت

وَإَلَيكَ مُحكَمَةً إِذا هِيَ أُبرِزَت

خَطَبَت إِلى أَخَواتِها الخُطّابُ

خَطَبَت إِلى أَخَواتِها الخُطّابُ

A poem comes to you, tightly wrought; once unveiled,

And here is a finely wrought poem for you: when it is displayed,

suitors seek her hand among the virgin poems.

suitors ask for its sisters' hands.

تَسري كَما تَسري النُجومُ وَيَهتَدي

تَسري كَما تَسري النُجومُ وَيَهتَدي

رَكبٌ بِساطِعِ نُورِها وَرِكابُ

رَكبٌ بِساطِعِ نُورِها وَرِكابُ

She journeys as stars journey, and by

It journeys by night as the stars do, and guides

her radiant light caravans and riders find their way.

riders and riding camels with its radiant light.

وَلَها إِذا هَرِمَ الزَمانُ وَأَهلُهُ

وَلَها إِذا هَرِمَ الزَمانُ وَأَهلُهُ

عُمرٌ كَعُمرِكَ دائِمٌ وَشَبابُ

عُمرٌ كَعُمرِكَ دائِمٌ وَشَبابُ

When time and its people grow old, she shall possess

And when time and its people grow old, it has

an everlasting lifetime and youth.

an enduring life like yours, and youth.

فَثَوابُها ما قَد عَلِمتَ وَرُبَّما

فَثَوابُها ما قَد عَلِمتَ وَرُبَّما

يَأتيكَ مِن دونِ الثَوابِ ثَوابُ

يَأتيكَ مِن دونِ الثَوابِ ثَوابُ

Her reward is what you already know; and sometimes

So its reward is what you already know; and sometimes

reward may come to you without recompense.

a reward comes to you apart from recompense.