أَصُونُI guard لِسانِيmy tongue وَالْجَنانُand the heart يُذالُis abased
أَصُونُ لِسانِي وَالْجَنانُ يُذالُ
وَأَقْصِرُand I shorten بَثِّيmy lament وَالشُّجُونُand the sorrows طِوالُlong
وَأَقْصِرُ بَثِّي وَالشُّجُونُ طِوالُ
I guard my tongue while my heart is abased.
I guard my tongue though yearning still prevails,
And I shorten my lament, though my sorrows are long.
And make my longings brief though grief assails,
وَأَحْبِسُand I hold back عَنْfrom قَوْمٍa people عِنانَthe reins of قَصائِدِيmy poems
وَأَحْبِسُ عَنْ قَوْمٍ عِنانَ قَصائِدِي
وَقَدْand indeed أَمْكَنَhas afforded الطَّرْفَthe steed الْجَوادَthe fleet one مَجالُroom to run
وَقَدْ أَمْكَنَ الطَّرْفَ الْجَوادَ مَجالُ
And I hold back the reins of my poems from certain people,
Withholding from a folk my poetry’s rein—
though room to run lies open to the fleet steed.
Though the noble eye prevails in its domain.
تُذَمُّare blamed اللَّيالِيthe nights إِنْif تَعَذَرَproves unattainable مَطْلَبٌa goal
تُذَمُّ اللَّيالِي إِنْ تَعَذَرَ مَطْلَبٌ
وَأَوْلىand more fitting لَعَمْرِيby my life أَنْthat تُذَمَّbe blamed رِجالُmen
وَأَوْلى لَعَمْرِي أَنْ تُذَمَّ رِجالُ
The nights are blamed when a goal proves elusive;
The nights are blamed if wishes are denied,
yet men, by my life, are more deserving of blame.
Yet I blame men if wishes are defied.
وَماand not أُلْزِمُI charge الأَيّامَthe days ذَنْبَthe fault of مَعاشِرٍgroups of people
وَما أُلْزِمُ الأَيّامَ ذَنْبَ مَعاشِرٍ
لِدَرِّهِمُfor their milk قَبْلَbefore الرَّضاعِsuckling فِصالُweaning
لِدَرِّهِمُ قَبْلَ الرَّضاعِ فِصالُ
I do not charge the days with the fault of people
I do not blame the days for people’s sins,
from whose milk one is weaned before suckling,
For suckling babes ere dirhams recompense.
وَآلِand a household of غِنىًwealth جَمٍّabundant هُمُthey الْبَحْرُthe sea ثَرْوَةًin riches
وَآلِ غِنىً جَمٍّ هُمُ الْبَحْرُ ثَرْوَةً
وَلكِنَّهُمْbut they عِنْدَduring النَّوائِبِcalamities آلُa mirage
وَلكِنَّهُمْ عِنْدَ النَّوائِبِ آلُ
and of a house of abundant wealth, a sea in riches,
House of Munificence, they are the sea of wealth,
yet in times of calamity they are a mirage.
Yet at calamities, they are a folk in stealth.
لَوَif أنَّthat بِلالاًBilal جاءهُمْcame to them بِمُحَمَّدٍwith Muhammad
لَوَ أنَّ بِلالاً جاءهُمْ بِمُحَمَّدٍ
لَعادَhe would surely return وَماand not فِيin فِيهِhis mouth مِنْهُfrom him بِلالُmoisture
لَعادَ وَما فِي فِيهِ مِنْهُ بِلالُ
If Bilal came to them with Muhammad,
Had Bilal come to them with Muhammad in tow
he would return with no moisture from him in his mouth.
He would return, with Bilal having nothing to show.
خَلِيلَيَّmy two friends ماnot كُلُّevery الْعَسِيرِdifficult thing بِمُعْجِزٍthwarting
خَلِيلَيَّ ما كُلُّ الْعَسِيرِ بِمُعْجِزٍ
مَرامِيmy aims وَلاand not كُلُّevery الْيَسِيرِeasy thing يُنالُis attained
مَرامِي وَلا كُلُّ الْيَسِيرِ يُنالُ
My two friends, not every difficult thing defeats
My friend, not everything dire is a miracle,
my aims, nor is every easy thing attained.
Not everything easy is attainable.
وَلَيْسَand is not أَخُوa man of الْحاجاتِneeds مَنْone who باتَspent the night راضِياًcontent
وَلَيْسَ أَخُو الْحاجاتِ مَنْ باتَ راضِياً
بِعَجْزٍwith helplessness عَلَىto الأَقْدارِfate فِيهِfor it يُحالُis attributed
بِعَجْزٍ عَلَى الأَقْدارِ فِيهِ يُحالُ
No seeker of his needs spends the night content
He who’s resigned to his incapacity for fate
with helplessness attributed to fate.
Is no true brother of exigencies to sate.
تَقَلَّبْتُI alternated فِيin ثَوْبِيthe two robes of رَخاءٍease وَشِدَّةٍand hardship
تَقَلَّبْتُ فِي ثَوْبِي رَخاءٍ وَشِدَّةٍ
كَذلِكَso أَحْوالُthe conditions of الزَّمانِtime سِجالُalternating turns
كَذلِكَ أَحْوالُ الزَّمانِ سِجالُ
I have alternated between the two robes of ease and hardship;
In luxury and woe I tossed and turned.
such are time's alternating fortunes.
Such are the ways of time—an endless spurned.
وَقَدْand indeed وَسَمَتْنِيhave branded me الأَرْبَعُونَthe forty years بِمَرِّهاby their passing
وَقَدْ وَسَمَتْنِي الأَرْبَعُونَ بِمَرِّها
وَحالَتْand has changed بِشَيْبِيwith my gray hair لِلْشَّبِيبَةِfor youth حالُa state
وَحالَتْ بِشَيْبِي لِلْشَّبِيبَةِ حالُ
Forty years have branded me in their passing,
My forties scarred me with their bitterness,
and with my gray hair, youth's state has changed.
And turned my hair’s raven to gray in remiss.
فَلَيْتَso, if only الَّذِيwhat أَرْجُوI hope for مِنَof الْعُمْرِlife بَعْدَهاafter those years
فَلَيْتَ الَّذِي أَرْجُو مِنَ الْعُمْرِ بَعْدَها
يَطِيبُbecomes pleasant بِهِthrough it عَيْشٌliving وَيَنْعَمُand becomes serene بالُthe mind
يَطِيبُ بِهِ عَيْشٌ وَيَنْعَمُ بالُ
If only the life I hope for after those years
Would that the life I hope for after them
might make living sweet and the mind serene.
Be sweet living and blessedness to the brim;
يَقُولُsay أناسٌsome people كَيْفَhow يُعْجزُكَeludes you الْغِنىwealth
يَقُولُ أناسٌ كَيْفَ يُعْجزُكَ الْغِنى
وَمِثْلُكَand one like you يَكْفِيهِsuffices him الْفِعالَdeeds مَقالُspeech
وَمِثْلُكَ يَكْفِيهِ الْفِعالَ مَقالُ
Some people say, 'How can wealth elude you,
That some may say “Does wealth fail you with might?”
when words suffice a man like you in place of deeds?'
When words for me suffice, not needing to fight.
وَماand not عِنْدَهُمْin their understanding أَنَّthat السُّؤالَbegging مَذَلَّةٌhumiliation
وَما عِنْدَهُمْ أَنَّ السُّؤالَ مَذَلَّةٌ
وَنَقْصٌand a deficiency وَماand not قَدْرُthe worth of الْحَياةِlife سُؤالُbegging
وَنَقْصٌ وَما قَدْرُ الْحَياةِ سُؤالُ
They do not realize that begging is humiliation
Unaware that asking is in itself disgrace,
and a failing; life is not worth begging for.
A shortcoming—for life is but a chase.
تَرَفَّعَتُI held myself above إِلاّexcept عَنْfrom نَدىthe bounty of ابْنِson of مُحَسِّنٍMuhassin
تَرَفَّعَتُ إِلاّ عَنْ نَدى ابْنِ مُحَسِّنٍ
وَخَيْرُand the best of النَّدىbounty ماwhat كانَwas فِيهِin it جَمالُbeauty
وَخَيْرُ النَّدى ما كانَ فِيهِ جَمالُ
I have held aloof from bounty, except Ibn Muhassin's;
I refused none but Ibn Muḥassin’s boon.
and the best bounty is that which carries beauty.
The best gifts are those of beauty as opportune.
وَعِنْدَand with وَجِيهِWajih الدَّوْلَةِal-Dawla ابْنِson of رَشِيدِهاits Rashid
وَعِنْدَ وَجِيهِ الدَّوْلَةِ ابْنِ رَشِيدِها
سَماحٌgenerosity وَبَذْلٌand giving غامِرٌoverflowing وَنَوالُand bounty
سَماحٌ وَبَذْلٌ غامِرٌ وَنَوالُ
And with Wajih al-Dawla, son of Rashid al-Dawla,
The Chief Minister, Pride of the State,
are generosity, overflowing giving, and bounty,
Is open-handed—an overflowing plate.
وَأَخْلاقُand qualities of غَيْثٍrain كُلماwhenever جِئْتُI came صادِياًthirsty
وَأَخْلاقُ غَيْثٍ كُلما جِئْتُ صادِياً
وَرَدْتُI came to drink بِهِنَّthrough them الْعَيْشَlife وَهْوَwhile it is زُلالُclear, sweet water
وَرَدْتُ بِهِنَّ الْعَيْشَ وَهْوَ زُلالُ
and qualities like rain: whenever I come thirsty,
Ghauth’s nature, whenever I come a-begging,
through them I drink of life, clear and sweet.
Restores my life as fresh water welling.
وَبِشْرٌand cheerfulness إِلىtoward الزُّوّارِvisitors فِيin كُلِّevery لَزْبَةٍhardship
وَبِشْرٌ إِلى الزُّوّارِ فِي كُلِّ لَزْبَةٍ
بِهِthrough it تُلْقَحُare made fertile الآمالُhopes وَهْيَalthough they are حِيالُbarren
بِهِ تُلْقَحُ الآمالُ وَهْيَ حِيالُ
And a cheerful welcome for visitors in every hardship,
Good tidings to visitors during hardships
through which hopes are made fertile, though barren.
Impregnate hopes once infertile and crisp.
تَدانَتْdrew near بِهِthrough him الْغاياتُthe goals وَهْيَalthough they are بَعِيدَةٌdistant
تَدانَتْ بِهِ الْغاياتُ وَهْيَ بَعِيدَةٌ
وَخَفَّتْand grew light بِهِthrough him الْحاجاتُneeds وَهْيَalthough they are ثِقالُheavy
وَخَفَّتْ بِهِ الْحاجاتُ وَهْيَ ثِقالُ
Through him the goals have drawn near, though distant,
Through him far goals come within reach,
and needs have grown light through him, though heavy.
Light burdens once so heavy and bleak.
وماand not البِشْرُcheerfulness إِلاّexcept رائِدٌa scout بَعْدَهُafter it الْحَياlife-giving rain
وما البِشْرُ إِلاّ رائِدٌ بَعْدَهُ الْحَيا
أَلاlo إِنَّماonly وَعْدُthe promise of السَّحابَةِthe cloud خالُlightning
أَلا إِنَّما وَعْدُ السَّحابَةِ خالُ
And cheerfulness is but a scout, with rain following after;
Yet omens except what comes after are hollow.
lo, a cloud's promise is its lightning.
Lo, the promise of clouds is only to follow.
مَتىwhenever أَرجُI hope for إِسمعيلَIsma'il لِلْعِزِّfor honor وَالْغِنىand wealth
مَتى أَرجُ إِسمعيلَ لِلْعِزِّ وَالْغِنى
فَماthen not هُوَhe إِلاّexcept عِصْمَةٌprotection وَثِمالُand refuge
فَما هُوَ إِلاّ عِصْمَةٌ وَثِمالُ
Whenever I look to Isma'il for honor and wealth,
When shall I await Ismāʿīl’s return to glory and riches?
he is nothing but protection and refuge:
He is but integrity and the perfect relishes.
فَتىًa young man ظافَرَتْaided هِمّاتُهُhis aspirations عَزَماتِهِhis resolves
فَتىً ظافَرَتْ هِمّاتُهُ عَزَماتِهِ
كَماjust as ظافَرَتْaided سُمْرَbrown الصِّعادِspear-shafts نِصالُspearheads
كَما ظافَرَتْ سُمْرَ الصِّعادِ نِصالُ
a youth whose aspirations join forces with his resolves,
A youth whose resolve triumphed like the swords
as spearheads join forces with the brown spear-shafts.
Prevailed over themountain of al-Saʿd’s hoards.
هُوَhe الْبَدْرُthe full moon إِلاexcept أَنَّهُthat he لاnot يُغِبُّهُleaves him at intervals
هُوَ الْبَدْرُ إِلا أَنَّهُ لا يُغِبُّهُ
عَلَىover طُولِthe length of أَوْقاتِthe periods of الزَّمانِtime كَمالُperfection
عَلَى طُولِ أَوْقاتِ الزَّمانِ كَمالُ
He is the full moon, except that he is never forsaken
He is the moon that never wanes
by perfection throughout the long ages of time.
Throughout the length of time that remains.
مِنَof الْقَوْمِthe people ذادَdrove back النّاسَother people عَنْfrom نَيْلِattaining مَجْدِهِمْtheir glory
مِنَ الْقَوْمِ ذادَ النّاسَ عَنْ نَيْلِ مَجْدِهِمْ
قِراعٌswordplay لَهُمْtheirs دُونَin defense of الْعُلىeminence وَنِضالُand archery
قِراعٌ لَهُمْ دُونَ الْعُلى وَنِضالُ
He is of a people whose glory others are barred from attaining
A people who warded harm from the pride of men—
by their swordplay and archery in defense of eminence.
Against them spears, but for them spears defend.
نِبالُnoble الْمَساعِيendeavors ماnot تَزالُcease ثَوابِتاًfirmly lodged
نِبالُ الْمَساعِي ما تَزالُ ثَوابِتاً
لَهُمْtheirs فِيin قُلُوبِthe hearts of الحاسِدِينَthe envious نِبالُarrows
لَهُمْ فِي قُلُوبِ الحاسِدِينَ نِبالُ
Noble in their endeavors, ever firmly lodged
Their feats ever fixed in enviers' hearts as arrows,
are their arrows in the hearts of the envious.
Should they lunge with their perfect throws,
إِذاwhen قاوَلُواthey debated بِالأَحْوَذِيَّةِwith adroitness أَفْحَمُواthey silenced others
إِذا قاوَلُوا بِالأَحْوَذِيَّةِ أَفْحَمُوا
وَإِنْand if طاوَلُواthey vied بِالْمَشْرَفِيَّةِwith Mashrafi swords طالُواthey prevailed
وَإِنْ طاوَلُوا بِالْمَشْرَفِيَّةِ طالُوا
When they debate, their quick wit leaves others speechless;
Or excel with their lofty highs, they smite their foes.
and when they vie with Mashrafi swords, they prevail.
They are the Prophet’s comrades and his elite.
أُولئِكَthose أَنْصارُsupporters of النَّبِيِّthe Prophet وَرَهْطُهُand his clan
أُولئِكَ أَنْصارُ النَّبِيِّ وَرَهْطُهُ
إِذاwhen عُدَّis reckoned فَخْرٌglory باهِرٌdazzling وَجَلالُand majesty
إِذا عُدَّ فَخْرٌ باهِرٌ وَجَلالُ
Those are the Prophet's helpers and his clan,
When counted, they are manifest brilliance and feat.
when dazzling glory and majesty are reckoned.
Shall I claim to have naught after this?
أَأَزْعُمُshall I claim أَنْthat لاno مالَwealth لِيfor me بَعْدَafter هذِهِthis
أَأَزْعُمُ أَنْ لا مالَ لِي بَعْدَ هذِهِ
وَجُودُكَand your generosity ذُخْرٌa treasure لِلْمُقِلّfor the needy وَمالُand wealth
وَجُودُكَ ذُخْرٌ لِلْمُقِلّ وَمالُ
Shall I claim that I have no wealth after this,
For your munificence suffices the destitute.
when your generosity is a treasure and riches for the needy?
Whoever journeys to you for wealth
وَمَنْand whoever سارَtraveled يَسْتَقْرِيtracing نَداكَyour bounty إِلىtoward الْغِنىwealth
وَمَنْ سارَ يَسْتَقْرِي نَداكَ إِلى الْغِنى
فَلَيْسَthen is not بِمَخْشِيٍّfeared عَلَيْهِfor him ضَلالُgoing astray
فَلَيْسَ بِمَخْشِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ ضَلالُ
And whoever journeys toward wealth, tracing your bounty,
Fears no straying into misery or ill health.
there is no fear that he will lose his way.
The essence of creation cannot be obscured
وَماand not جَوْهَرُthe essence of الأَشْياءِthings وَالْخَلْقِand people خافِياًhidden
وَما جَوْهَرُ الأَشْياءِ وَالْخَلْقِ خافِياً
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle طِباعٌnatures مُيِّزَتْare distinguished وَخِلالُand traits
إِذا ما طِباعٌ مُيِّزَتْ وَخِلالُ
And the essence of things and people is not hidden
When nature distinguishes them as demurred.
when natures and traits are distinguished.
It favored some swords for their flashing light,
لَفَضَّلَsurely distinguished ماwhat is بَيْنَbetween السُّيُوفِswords مَضاؤُهاtheir keenness
لَفَضَّلَ ما بَيْنَ السُّيُوفِ مَضاؤُها
وَفَضَّلَand distinguished ماwhat is بَيْنَbetween الرِّجالِmen فِعالُdeeds
وَفَضَّلَ ما بَيْنَ الرِّجالِ فِعالُ
Their keenness has surely set swords apart,
And favored some men for their deeds and might.
and deeds have set men apart.
You were late to be praised, but not because
تَأَخَّرَwas delayed عَنْكَfrom you الْمَدْحُpraise لاnot عَنْbecause of تَجَنُّبٍavoidance
تَأَخَّرَ عَنْكَ الْمَدْحُ لا عَنْ تَجَنُّبٍ
وَلكِنَّهُbut it الْمَعْشُوقُthe beloved فِيهِin it دَلالُcoyness
وَلكِنَّهُ الْمَعْشُوقُ فِيهِ دَلالُ
Praise has been late in reaching you, not from avoidance,
I wished to refrain. For the beloved is the cause.
but it is the beloved, and has its coyness.
My praise for you will never weary,
وَعِنْدِيand I have ثَناءٌpraise لاnot يُمَلُّis wearied of كَماjust as انْثَنىreturned
وَعِنْدِي ثَناءٌ لا يُمَلُّ كَما انْثَنى
إِلىto عاشِقٍa lover بَعْدَafter الصُّدُودِrejection وِصالُunion
إِلى عاشِقٍ بَعْدَ الصُّدُودِ وِصالُ
And I have praise that never palls, like the return
As true love’s relief after being leery.
of union to a lover after rejection.
With it, a man’s honor competes when sublime,
يُزانُis adorned بِهِby it عِرْضُthe honor of الْفَتىthe man وَهْوَwhile he is ماجِدٌnoble
يُزانُ بِهِ عِرْضُ الْفَتى وَهْوَ ماجِدٌ
كَماjust as زانَadorned مَتْنَthe flat of الْمَشْرَفِيِّthe Mashrafi sword صِقالُpolish
كَما زانَ مَتْنَ الْمَشْرَفِيِّ صِقالُ
By it a man's honor is adorned, noble as he is,
As the excellent blade competes in its shine.
as polish adorns the flat of a Mashrafi sword.
I must have an eminent state through you
وَلاand no بُدَّescape لِيfor me مِنْfrom دَوْلَةٍa turn of fortune بِكَthrough you فَخْمَةٍsplendid
وَلا بُدَّ لِي مِنْ دَوْلَةٍ بِكَ فَخْمَةٍ
بِهاthrough it مِنْover صُرُوفِthe reversals of النّائِباتِcalamities أُدالُI am given victory
بِها مِنْ صُرُوفِ النّائِباتِ أُدالُ
Through you I must have a splendid turn of fortune,
Wherefrom I seek respite from fate as it grew.
by which I triumph over calamity's reversals,
And a blessing, verdant, fresh bestowed by you,
وَمِنْand from نِعْمَةٍa blessing خَضْراءَgreen عِنْدَكَwith you غَضَّةٍtender
وَمِنْ نِعْمَةٍ خَضْراءَ عِنْدَكَ غَضَّةٍ
يُمَدُّare spread عَلَيْهاover it لِلنَّعيمِof bliss ظِلالُshades
يُمَدُّ عَلَيْها لِلنَّعيمِ ظِلالُ
and a blessing with you, green and tender,
Whereupon ease extends its shade anew.
over which the shades of bliss are spread.
Let no ignorant impugn your glory’s time—
فَلاso let not يَسْتَرِثْdeem tardy مِيعادَthe promise of مَجْدِكَyour glory جاهِلٌan ignorant man
فَلا يَسْتَرِثْ مِيعادَ مَجْدِكَ جاهِلٌ
فَماfor not عِنْدَwith مَجْدِthe glory of الأَسْعَدينَthe two As'ads مِطالُdelay
فَما عِنْدَ مَجْدِ الأَسْعَدينَ مِطالُ
Let no ignorant man deem your glory's promise tardy,
For the magnificent have no defined clime.
for the glory of the two As'ads knows no delay.
The stars of night in the dusk’s goblet, hushed,
فَإِنَّfor indeed نُجُومَthe stars of اللَّيْلِnight فِيin حِنْدِسِthe deep blackness of الدُّجىdarkness
فَإِنَّ نُجُومَ اللَّيْلِ فِي حِنْدِسِ الدُّجى
يُرَيْنَare seen بَطِيئاتٍslow وَهُنَّthough they are عِجالُswift
يُرَيْنَ بَطِيئاتٍ وَهُنَّ عِجالُ
For the stars of night, in the deepest gloom,
Though slow, are meteors in a flush.
appear slow, though they are swift.
Does the world rely on other than you?
وَهَلْand is there لِلْوَرىfor mankind إِلاّexcept عَلَيْكَupon you مُعَوَّلٌreliance
وَهَلْ لِلْوَرى إِلاّ عَلَيْكَ مُعَوَّلٌ
وَهَلْand is there لِلعُلىfor eminence إِلاّexcept إِلَيْكَtoward you مَآلُa return
وَهَلْ لِلعُلى إِلاّ إِلَيْكَ مَآلُ
And on whom but you can mankind rely?
Or glory aspire but to you as its due?
And to whom but you does eminence return?
For is not glory empire for the magnanimous?
فَماfor not الْمَجْدُglory إِلاّexcept لِلْكِرامِfor the noble مَمالِكٌkingdoms
فَما الْمَجْدُ إِلاّ لِلْكِرامِ مَمالِكٌ
وَلاand not النّاسُpeople إِلاّexcept لِلْكُفاةِfor the capable عِيالُdependents
وَلا النّاسُ إِلاّ لِلْكُفاةِ عِيالُ
For glory is but realms for the noble,
And people dependants for the bounteous?
and people but dependents of the capable.
When verses give you the tidings you keep,
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle الْقَوافِيthe rhymes بَشَّرَتْكَbring you glad tidings بِمَطْلَبٍof a goal
إِذا ما الْقَوافِي بَشَّرَتْكَ بِمَطْلَبٍ
وَفىfulfilled its promise لَكَto you مِنْهاfrom them بِالْحقائِقِwith realities فالُa good omen
وَفى لَكَ مِنْها بِالْحقائِقِ فالُ
When rhymes bring you glad tidings of a desired goal,
Their realities suffice, message complete.
their good omen fulfills its promise to you in fact.
Partial English translation: 79 of 80 Arabic lines translated.