مَنwho يَذودَwards off الهُمومَworries عَنfrom مَكروبِone in anguish
مَن يَذودَ الهُمومَ عَن مَكروبِ
مُستَكينٍsubdued لِحادِثاتِto the visitations of الخُطوبِcalamities
مُستَكينٍ لِحادِثاتِ الخُطوبِ
Who will ward off worries from a man in anguish,
Who will ward off worries from the distressed,
subdued by the visitations of calamity?
The helpless amid calamities and adversities?
حَوَّلَتهُturned him الدُنياthe world إِلىtoward طولِprolonged حُزنٍsorrow
حَوَّلَتهُ الدُنيا إِلى طولِ حُزنٍ
مِنfrom سُرورٍjoy وَطيبِand the sweetness of عَيشٍlife خَصيبِflourishing
مِن سُرورٍ وَطيبِ عَيشٍ خَصيبِ
The world turned him toward lasting sorrow
The days have transformed him into endless sorrow,
from joy and the sweetness of a flourishing life.
From joy and the bounty of a lush life.
فَهوَso he فيin جَفوَةِthe cold neglect of المَقاديرِfate's decrees لاnot يَأtakes (start)
فَهوَ في جَفوَةِ المَقاديرِ لا يَأ
خُذُtakes (end) يَوماًon any day مِنof دَولَةٍgood fortune بِنَصيبِwith a share
خُذُ يَوماً مِن دَولَةٍ بِنَصيبِ
So he lives under fate's cold neglect, never
Thus amid the cruelty of fate he takes
taking a share of good fortune on any day.
No day with luck or gain.
خادِمٌa servant لِلمُنىto hopes قَدِindeed اِستَعبَدَتهُenslaved him
خادِمٌ لِلمُنى قَدِ اِستَعبَدَتهُ
بِمَطالٍwith delay وَخُلفِand the breaking of وَعدٍa promise كَذوبِlying
بِمَطالٍ وَخُلفِ وَعدٍ كَذوبِ
A servant of hopes, which have enslaved him
A servant of wishes, which enslaved him
with delay and the breaking of a lying promise.
With broken promises, breach and lies.
وَجَفاهُand shunned him الإِخوانُthe brothers حَتّىeven وَحَتّىand even
وَجَفاهُ الإِخوانُ حَتّى وَحَتّى
سَمِّname مَنwhomever شِئتَyou wish مِنamong حَبيبٍa beloved friend قَريبِclose
سَمِّ مَن شِئتَ مِن حَبيبٍ قَريبِ
His brothers shunned him—even, even—
Even friends shunned him, to the point
name any close, beloved friend you please.
That any dear or close friend became poisonous.
شَغَلَتهُمengrossed them دُنياهُhis worldly life تَأكُلُdevours مِنwhoever دَرlavished gifts (start)
شَغَلَتهُم دُنياهُ تَأكُلُ مِن دَر
رَتlavished gifts (end) عَلَيهِupon him بِالحِرصِthrough greed وَالتَرغيبِand enticement
رَت عَلَيهِ بِالحِرصِ وَالتَرغيبِ
His worldly life engrossed them; it devours whoever
The world preoccupied them, feeding on his wounds
it has showered with plenty, through greed and enticement.
With greed and enticement.
وَأَرىand I see وِدَّهُمtheir affection كَلَمعِlike the shimmer of سَرابٍa mirage
وَأَرى وِدَّهُم كَلَمعِ سَرابٍ
غَرَّdeceived قَوماًa people عَطشىthirsty بِقاعٍon a plain جَدوبِbarren
غَرَّ قَوماً عَطشى بِقاعٍ جَدوبِ
And I see their affection as the shimmer of a mirage
And I see their love like a mirage
that deceived thirsty people on a barren plain.
That deceived thirsty people in barren plains.
طالَماhow often صَعَّرواthey tilted scornfully الخُدودَthe cheeks وَهَزّواand shook الthe
طالَما صَعَّروا الخُدودَ وَهَزّوا ال
أَرضَearth فيon يَومِa day of مَحفِلٍassembly وَرُكوبِand riding
أَرضَ في يَومِ مَحفِلٍ وَرُكوبِ
How often they turned their cheeks in pride and shook the
Long have they wrinkled their cheeks and struck
earth on a day of gathering and riding.
The ground on days of revelry and riding.
ثُمَّthen أَمسَواthey became وَفدَguests of القُبورِthe graves وَسُكّاand dwellers (start)
ثُمَّ أَمسَوا وَفدَ القُبورِ وَسُكّا
نَdwellers (end) الثَرىthe soil تَحتَbeneath جَندَلٍa stone مَنصوبِset upright
نَ الثَرى تَحتَ جَندَلٍ مَنصوبِ
Then they became guests of the graves and dwellers
Then they became residents of graves and dwellers
in the soil beneath a stone set upright.
Of dust beneath erected biers.
آهِah مِنat ذِكرِremembering آخَرينَothers رَماهُمstruck them down
آهِ مِن ذِكرِ آخَرينَ رَماهُم
قَدَرُthe decree of المَوتِdeath مِنamong شَبابٍthe young وَشيبِand the gray-haired
قَدَرُ المَوتِ مِن شَبابٍ وَشيبِ
Ah, to remember others whom
Alas, the memory of others whom the fate
death's decree struck down, young and gray-haired.
Of death took in their prime and old age!
بِدَعٌpeerless examples مِنof مَكارِمِnobility in الفِعلِdeed وَالقَوand speech (start)
بِدَعٌ مِن مَكارِمِ الفِعلِ وَالقَو
لِspeech (end) وَإِخوانِand brothers مَحضِرٍpresence وَمَغيبِand absence
لِ وَإِخوانِ مَحضِرٍ وَمَغيبِ
Wonders of noble deed and speech,
They are gone from virtuous deeds and words,
and brothers in presence and absence.
Brothers present and absent.
لَستُI do not مِنfrom بَعدِهِمafter them أَرىsee صورَةَthe form of الإِنhumankind (start)
لَستُ مِن بَعدِهِم أَرى صورَةَ الإِن
سِhumankind (end) يَقيناًtruly إِلّاexcept خَلائِقَthe traits of ذيبِa wolf
سِ يَقيناً إِلّا خَلائِقَ ذيبِ
After them, I see in human form
After them I do not truly see the form of man,
nothing, truly, but the nature of a wolf.
Only despicable natures.
صَحِبواthey joined الوُدَّaffection بِالوَفاءِwith loyalty وَصَحّواand were free
صَحِبوا الوُدَّ بِالوَفاءِ وَصَحّوا
مِنof نِفاقٍhypocrisy وَالبِشرِand cheerfulness وَالتَقريبِand welcome
مِن نِفاقٍ وَالبِشرِ وَالتَقريبِ
They joined affection with loyalty and were free
Accompany love with loyalty, and beware
of hypocrisy, with cheerfulness and welcome.
Of hypocrisy, deception and falsehood.
كَمmany a كَريمٍgenerous man يَرىdeems الوَعدَa promise بُخلاًstinginess
كَم كَريمٍ يَرى الوَعدَ بُخلاً
مِنهُon his part قَلَّwas scarce لِكَثرَةِbecause of the abundance of المَوهوبِgifts given
مِنهُ قَلَّ لِكَثرَةِ المَوهوبِ
How many a generous man saw a promise as stinginess
How many generous souls see a promise as stinginess
on his part—few were his promises, so many his gifts.
Due to frequent giving.
يَتَلَقّىreceives السُؤالَrequests مِنهُof him بِوَجهٍwith a face
يَتَلَقّى السُؤالَ مِنهُ بِوَجهٍ
لَمdid not يُخَدِّدfurrow خُدودَهُits cheeks بِالقُطوبِwith frowning
لَم يُخَدِّد خُدودَهُ بِالقُطوبِ
He met requests made of him with a face
They meet requests with a face
whose cheeks he had not furrowed with frowns.
Unhardened by frowns.
فَسَقاهُمso may it water them كَجودِهِمlike their generosity أَوor كَدَمعيlike my tears
فَسَقاهُم كَجودِهِم أَو كَدَمعي
صَوبَa downpour of غَيثٍrain ذيhaving هَيدَبٍtrailing fringes مَسكوبِpoured out
صَوبَ غَيثٍ ذي هَيدَبٍ مَسكوبِ
So may they be watered, like their bounty or my tears,
So they quenched them like their generosity,
by a downpour of rain with streaming fringes.
Or like my streaming tears of pouring rain.
أُمَراءٌprinces قادواled أَعِنَّةَthe reins of جَيشٍan army
أُمَراءٌ قادوا أَعِنَّةَ جَيشٍ
يَترُكُleaves الصَخرَrock خَلفَهُbehind it كَالكَثيبِlike a sand dune
يَترُكُ الصَخرَ خَلفَهُ كَالكَثيبِ
Princes who guided the reins of an army
Princes who led the blindness of an army
that left rock behind it like a sand dune.
That leaves rocks behind it like hills.
يَملَأونَthey fill السَماءَthe sky مِنwith قَسطَلِthe dust of الحَرwar (start)
يَملَأونَ السَماءَ مِن قَسطَلِ الحَر
بِwar (end) وَفيand in الأَرضِthe earth مِنwith دَمٍblood مَصبوبِpoured out
بِ وَفي الأَرضِ مِن دَمٍ مَصبوبِ
They fill the sky with the dust of war,
They fill the sky with the risen dust of war,
and the earth with blood poured out.
And the earth with spilled blood.
وَيَهُزّونَand they brandish كُلَّevery أَخضَرَgreen blade كَالبَقlike a herb (start)
وَيَهُزّونَ كُلَّ أَخضَرَ كَالبَق
لَةِherb (end) ماضٍkeen عَلىdespite الفُلولِthe nicks رَسوبِdeep-penetrating
لَةِ ماضٍ عَلى الفُلولِ رَسوبِ
And they brandish each blade, green as a herb,
And they shake all greenery like tremors
keen despite its nicks, plunging deep.
Of the past over its remnants and traces.
لاnot تَرىyou see فيin قَتيلِهِthe man it slays غَيرَother than جُرحٍa wound
لا تَرى في قَتيلِهِ غَيرَ جُرحٍ
كَفَمِlike the mouth of العودِan old camel ضَجَّcried out عِندَat اللَغوبِexhaustion
كَفَمِ العودِ ضَجَّ عِندَ اللَغوبِ
You see in the man it slays only a wound
You see in their dead only wounds
like the mouth of an old camel crying out in exhaustion.
Like the mouth of a lute lamenting.
ضَربَةٌa blow ماnot لَهاit has مِنَamong الضَربِblows جارٌa peer
ضَربَةٌ ما لَها مِنَ الضَربِ جارٌ
أَخَذَتtook نَفسَهُhis life بِلاwithout تَعذيبِtorment
أَخَذَت نَفسَهُ بِلا تَعذيبِ
A blow with no peer among blows
A blow that has no equal among blows
took his life without torment.
Took his soul without torture.
فَهوَso he لَوif عاشَlived لَمdid not يُطالِبdemand بِثَأرٍfor vengeance
فَهوَ لَو عاشَ لَم يُطالِب بِثَأرٍ
لاno وَلاnor عَدَّcounted قَتلَهُhis killing فيamong الذُنوبِsins
لا وَلا عَدَّ قَتلَهُ في الذُنوبِ
So, had he lived, he would not have demanded vengeance,
Thus had he lived he would not have sought vengeance,
no, nor counted his killing among sins.
Nor counted his killing a sin.
قُلsay لِدُنيايَto my world قَدindeed تَمَكَّنتِyou have gained mastery مِنّيover me
قُل لِدُنيايَ قَد تَمَكَّنتِ مِنّي
فَاِفعَليso do ماwhatever أَرَدتِyou wished أَنto تَفعَليdo بيto me
فَاِفعَلي ما أَرَدتِ أَن تَفعَلي بي
Say to my world: You have gained mastery over me;
Say to my life: you have overpowered me,
so do to me whatever you wish to do.
So do what you want with me.
وَاِخرُقيand act rashly كَيفَhowever شِئتِyou wish خُرقَthe rashness of جَهولٍan ignorant fool
وَاِخرُقي كَيفَ شِئتِ خُرقَ جَهولٍ
إِنَّindeed عِنديI have لَكِfor you اِصطِبارَsteadfast patience لَبيبِa wise man
إِنَّ عِندي لَكِ اِصطِبارَ لَبيبِ
And act as rashly as you please, with a fool's rashness;
And tear me as you please like a fool,
I have for you the steadfast patience of a wise man.
For I have the patience of a wise man for you.
رُبَّmany a أُعجوبَةٍmarvel مِنَof الدَهرِtime بِكرٍvirgin-new
رُبَّ أُعجوبَةٍ مِنَ الدَهرِ بِكرٍ
وَعَوانٍand seasoned قَدindeed راضَهاtamed it تَجريبيmy experience
وَعَوانٍ قَد راضَها تَجريبي
Many a marvel of time, virgin-new,
Wondrous are the workings of time
and many a seasoned one, my experience has tamed.
That satisfied me through experience.
رُدَّturn away عَنّيfrom me كَأسَthe cup of المُدامِwine خَليليmy friend
رُدَّ عَنّي كَأسَ المُدامِ خَليلي
إِنَّindeed نَفسيmy soul صارَتhas become عَلَيَّagainst me حَسيبيmy reckoner
إِنَّ نَفسي صارَت عَلَيَّ حَسيبي
Turn the wine-cup away from me, my friend;
My friend, remove from me the wine cup,
my soul has become my judge, calling me to account.
For my soul has become sufficient company for me.
وَبَدَتand appeared شَيبَتيmy gray hair وَتَمَّand ended شَبابيmy youth
وَبَدَت شَيبَتي وَتَمَّ شَبابي
وَاِنتَهىand ceased عاذِليmy reprover وَنامَand slept رَقيبيmy watcher
وَاِنتَهى عاذِلي وَنامَ رَقيبي
My gray hair has appeared, and my youth has run its course;
My hair turned white and my youth ended,
my reprover has ceased, and my watcher has gone to sleep.
My critic slept and my watcher disappeared.
وَتَنَحَّيتُand I withdrew عَنfrom طَريقِthe path of الغَوانيbeautiful women
وَتَنَحَّيتُ عَن طَريقِ الغَواني
وَالتَصابيand youthful dalliance وَقُلتُand I said ياO نَفسِmy soul توبيrepent
وَالتَصابي وَقُلتُ يا نَفسِ توبي
And I turned aside from the path of beautiful women
And I avoided the path of passion and folly,
and youthful dalliance, and said: O my soul, repent.
Saying: "O soul, repent!"
وَلَقَدand indeed حَثَّurged بِالمُدامَةِtoward wine كَفّيmy hand
وَلَقَد حَثَّ بِالمُدامَةِ كَفّي
شادِنٌa young gazelle حاذِقٌskilled بِصَيدِat hunting القُلوبِhearts
شادِنٌ حاذِقٌ بِصَيدِ القُلوبِ
And indeed my hand was urged toward wine
And hands that urged me to drink
by a young gazelle skilled at hunting hearts.
Were an expert hunter of hearts.
جاءَناhe came to us مُقبِلاًapproaching فَأَيُّthen what a قَضيبٍslender branch
جاءَنا مُقبِلاً فَأَيُّ قَضيبٍ
ثُمَّthen وَلّىturned away عَنّاfrom us فَأَيُّthen what a كَثيبِsand dune
ثُمَّ وَلّى عَنّا فَأَيُّ كَثيبِ
He came toward us—what a slender branch!
He approached us, so which staff
Then he turned away from us—what a sand dune!
Then turned away from us, so which hill!
وَلَقَدand indeed أَغتَديI go out at dawn عَلىon طائِرِflying العَدrunning (start)
وَلَقَد أَغتَدي عَلى طائِرِ العَد
وُrunning (end) جَوادٍa noble steed مُسَوَّمٍmarked يَعبوبِswift and vigorous
وُ جَوادٍ مُسَوَّمٍ يَعبوبِ
And I would set out at dawn on one flying in its gallop,
And he preyed on the bird of the Eden,
a noble, marked horse, swift and strong.
A thoroughbred steed bounding ahead.
فَإِذاthen when سارَhe moved دُكَّتِwas pounded الأَرضُthe earth دَكّاًa pounding
فَإِذا سارَ دُكَّتِ الأَرضُ دَكّاً
بَعدَafter إِذwhen رامَهاhe reached for it بِذَيلِwith the end of عَسيبِa tailbone
بَعدَ إِذ رامَها بِذَيلِ عَسيبِ
When he moved, the earth was pounded flat,
So when he traveled, the land was pounded
after he reached for it with the end of his tail.
After his tail whipped it.
قارِحٍa full-grown horse زانَهُadorned him خِمارٌa veil مِنَof العُرthe mane (start)
قارِحٍ زانَهُ خِمارٌ مِنَ العُر
فِmane (end) يُفاديransoms himself بِالسَبحِby galloping وَالتَقريبِand cantering
فِ يُفادي بِالسَبحِ وَالتَقريبِ
A full-grown horse, adorned with a veil of mane,
A beast whose inebriation was increased
ransoming himself by galloping and cantering.
By the wine flask and repeated sips.
ذاكَthat one مَنwho لَذَّنيdelighted me وَزَيّافَةُand a strutting she-camel المَشthe gait (start)
ذاكَ مَن لَذَّني وَزَيّافَةُ المَش
يِgait (end) خَنوفٍswinging her forelegs outward نَجيبَةٍa noble she-camel لِنَجيبِfor a noble rider
يِ خَنوفٍ نَجيبَةٍ لِنَجيبِ
That delighted me, as did a she-camel strutting in her gait,
That is the one who seduced me,
her forelegs swinging outward, a noble mount for a noble rider.
The deceit of an alluring and gentle lady.
ضَربُهاbeating her زَجرُهاshouting at her إِذاwhen اِستُعمِلَwas used السَوthe whip (start)
ضَربُها زَجرُها إِذا اِستُعمِلَ السَو
طُwhip (end) وَعَضَّand bit المَطِيَّthe mounts طولُthe length of الدُروبِthe roads
طُ وَعَضَّ المَطِيَّ طولُ الدُروبِ
A shout was all the beating she needed, when the whip was used
Her slapping and scolding when the whip was used
and the long roads bit at the mounts.
And the rider endured long roads.
إِنif تَرَينيyou see me ياO شَرُّSharr مُلقىًlaid down عَلىon الفُرthe bedding (start)
إِن تَرَيني يا شَرُّ مُلقىً عَلى الفُر
شِbedding (end) وَقَدand already مَلَّgrew weary عائِديmy sickbed visitor وَطَبيبيand my physician
شِ وَقَد مَلَّ عائِدي وَطَبيبي
If you see me, O Sharr, laid upon the bedding,
If you see me, O evil one, lying down and
my visitor and physician already weary of me,
Tired of my returning and doctor.
كُنتُI was رَيحانَةَthe sweet basil of المَجالِسِgatherings فيin السِلpeace (start)
كُنتُ رَيحانَةَ المَجالِسِ في السِل
مِpeace (end) وَحَتفَand the death of الأَبطالِchampions يَومَon the day of الحُروبِwars
مِ وَحَتفَ الأَبطالِ يَومَ الحُروبِ
I was the sweet basil of gatherings in peace,
I was the flower of gatherings in peace,
and the death of champions on the day of war.
And a fortress for heroes in times of war.
وَعِداًand foes صَبَّحتُهُمI assailed them at dawn بِرَحىwith the mill of جَيan army (start)
وَعِداً صَبَّحتُهُم بِرَحى جَي
شٍarmy (end) رُكامٍmassed مِثلِlike الدَبىyoung locusts المَجلوبِdriven together
شٍ رُكامٍ مِثلِ الدَبى المَجلوبِ
And foes I assailed at dawn with the grinding mill of an army,
At dawn I bid them farewell with a grinding millstone,
massed like young locusts driven together.
Like attacking troops of cavalry.
يَلِغُlaps الذِئبُthe wolf مِنهُمُfrom them كُلَّevery يَومٍday
يَلِغُ الذِئبُ مِنهُمُ كُلَّ يَومٍ
فيat نُحورٍthroats مَعطوطَةٍrent open كَالجُيوبِlike garment necklines
في نُحورٍ مَعطوطَةٍ كَالجُيوبِ
The wolf lapped from them every day,
Everyday the wolf takes his fill of them
at throats rent open like garment necklines.
In outstretched necks like robes.
وَلَقَدand indeed أَكشِفُI dispel الخُطوبَcalamities بِرَأيٍwith judgment
وَلَقَد أَكشِفُ الخُطوبَ بِرَأيٍ
لَيسَis not عَنهُfrom it الصَوابُthe right course بِالمَحجوبِconcealed
لَيسَ عَنهُ الصَوابُ بِالمَحجوبِ
And I would dispel calamities with judgment
And I uncover tribulations with an opinion
from which the right course was not concealed:
From which truth is not concealed.
مُنضَجٍmatured غَيرِnot مُعجَلٍhurried وَهوَand it is إِنif أُمenabled (start)
مُنضَجٍ غَيرِ مُعجَلٍ وَهوَ إِن أُم
كِنَenabled (end) فيin فُرصَةٍan opportunity سَريعُswift الوُثوبِleaping
كِنَ في فُرصَةٍ سَريعُ الوُثوبِ
matured, not hurried, yet, if given
Mature, not hasty, and if enabled
an opportunity, swift to leap.
In an opportunity, quick to pounce.
وَأُعافيand I relieve العافينَseekers of bounty مِنof سَقَمِthe sickness of الجوhunger (start)
وَأُعافي العافينَ مِن سَقَمِ الجو
عِhunger (end) وَأَسقيand I give to drink سَيفيmy sword دَمَthe blood of العُرقوبِthe hock
عِ وَأَسقي سَيفي دَمَ العُرقوبِ
And I would relieve seekers of bounty of hunger's sickness,
And I pardon those free of illness,
and give my sword the blood of the hock to drink.
And quench my sword with the blood of the oppressor.
وَلَقَدand indeed صِرتُI have become ماwhat تَرينَyou see فَإِنso if كاis (start)
وَلَقَد صِرتُ ما تَرينَ فَإِن كا
نَis (end) حِماماًdeath ياO شَرُّSharr هَذاthis الَّذيwhich بيis in me
نَ حِماماً يا شَرُّ هَذا الَّذي بي
And now I have become what you see; if
Yet here you see what became of me.
this affliction of mine is death, O Sharr,
So if something afflicts you,
فَإِذاso if ماever اِبتَلاكِtests you شَيءٌanything فَميليthen turn aside
فَإِذا ما اِبتَلاكِ شَيءٌ فَميلي
أَوor فَدوميthen persist عَلىin البُكاweeping وَالنَحيبِand wailing
أَو فَدومي عَلى البُكا وَالنَحيبِ
then, if anything puts you to the test, turn aside,
Turn to me or continue with crying and wailing.
or keep on weeping and wailing.
Partial English translation: 87 of 88 Arabic lines translated.