جَلَداًbe steadfast خَلِيلِيmy friend ماwhat لِنَفْسِكَwith your soul تَجْزَعُit despairs
جَلَداً خَلِيلِي ما لِنَفْسِكَ تَجْزَعُ
آنَhas come الرَّحيلُdeparture فأَيْنَso where منهُfrom it المَفْزَعُthe refuge
آنَ الرَّحيلُ فأَيْنَ منهُ المَفْزَعُ
Be steadfast, my friend—why is your soul distraught?
My stalwart friend, why do you grieve for yourself?
Departure is at hand; where is refuge from it?
The time of departure has come, so where can refuge be found?
عَمَدُواthey set about لِتَقْوِيضِdismantling القِبَابِthe domed tents فَعِنْدَهَاand then
عَمَدُوا لِتَقْوِيضِ القِبَابِ فَعِنْدَهَا
أرْبَتْexceeded علىbeyond صَوْبِthe downpour of الرَّبَابِthe clouds الأَدْمُعُthe tears
أرْبَتْ على صَوْبِ الرَّبَابِ الأَدْمُعُ
They set about dismantling the domed tents; at that moment,
When they set out to destroy the domes,
tears surpassed the clouds' downpour.
My tears then flowed down my cheeks.
لَنْwill not يَعْدَمُواthey lack رَبَّابَهاtheir rain clouds لِرِكَابِهِمfor their riding camels
لَنْ يَعْدَمُوا رَبَّابَها لِرِكَابِهِم
فيin حَيْثُa place where يَسْتَهْوِيlures السَّرَابُthe mirage ويَخْدَعُand deceives
في حَيْثُ يَسْتَهْوِي السَّرَابُ ويَخْدَعُ
They will not lack the tears' clouds for their riding camels,
They will not lack a place for their mounts
where the mirage lures and deceives.
Where mirages form and hopes are dashed.
هَيْهَاتَfar from it عافَتْspurned وِرْدَهاtheir drinking water وَرْدِيَّةٌrose-hued
هَيْهَاتَ عافَتْ وِرْدَها وَرْدِيَّةٌ
نُجُبٌnoble camels غَدَتْset forth بِهِمُwith them تَخُبُّtrotting وتُوضِعُand hastening
نُجُبٌ غَدَتْ بِهِمُ تَخُبُّ وتُوضِعُ
Far from it! Their water was spurned by rose-hued
Alas! A watering place its visitors frequented
noble camels that bore them away, trotting and hastening.
Is now tearful and abased without its noble guests.
إنْif لَمْnot يُخَالِطْهَاmingle with it نَجِيعِيَmy blood أَحْمَراًred
إنْ لَمْ يُخَالِطْهَا نَجِيعِيَ أَحْمَراً
كَرَعَتْdrank deeply بأَزْرَقَfrom blue water سَيْحُهُits flow يَتَدَفَّعُsurges
كَرَعَتْ بأَزْرَقَ سَيْحُهُ يَتَدَفَّعُ
If my red blood did not mingle with that water,
Unless it is mingled with crimson snow
they drank deeply of blue water whose current surged.
It appears blue when its torrents surge.
عَجَبَاًhow strange لِشُرْعٍfor those watering لاnot تُدارُis passed around عَلَيْهِمُamong them
عَجَبَاً لِشُرْعٍ لا تُدارُ عَلَيْهِمُ
وَهيَand it المُدامَةُthe wine بالزُّلالِwith limpid water تُشَعْشَعُis diluted
وَهيَ المُدامَةُ بالزُّلالِ تُشَعْشَعُ
How strange that no wine is passed round those drinking,
Strange is a law not enforced against them
though it is wine, diluted with limpid water!
While it gleams through veils as it glistens!
لمَّاwhen بَكَيْتُI wept بَكَىwept يُسَاعِدُنِيjoining me الحَيَاthe rain
لمَّا بَكَيْتُ بَكَى يُسَاعِدُنِي الحَيَا
فَدُمُوعُهُso its tears مِنْfrom رِقَّةٍtenderness لِيَfor me تَهْمَعُstream down
فَدُمُوعُهُ مِنْ رِقَّةٍ لِيَ تَهْمَعُ
When I wept, the rain wept in sympathy with me;
When I wept, the doves wept in sympathy with me,
its tears stream down in tenderness for me.
And their tears of pity for me kept flowing.
أَشْدُوI sing بِذِكراكُمin remembrance of you وأَنْشِجُand I sob لَوعَةًin anguish
أَشْدُو بِذِكراكُم وأَنْشِجُ لَوعَةً
وكَذاand likewise الحَمَامَةُthe dove حينَwhen تَنْدُبُit mourns تَسْجَعُit coos
وكَذا الحَمَامَةُ حينَ تَنْدُبُ تَسْجَعُ
I sing in remembrance of you and sob with anguish;
I sing their praises and weep in agony,
so too the dove coos when it mourns.
Just as the dove moans when it calls.
يَاO بَرْحَthe torment of شَوْقِيmy longing لِلذينَfor those who تَحَمَّلُواdeparted
يَا بَرْحَ شَوْقِي لِلذينَ تَحَمَّلُوا
وأَقامَand remained حُبُّهُمlove for them بِقَلْبِيin my heart يَرْبَعُdwelling
وأَقامَ حُبُّهُم بِقَلْبِي يَرْبَعُ
O, the torment of my longing for those who departed,
O solace of my passion for those who have endured
while love for them stayed, dwelling in my heart!
And whose love in my heart has settled!
أَضْحَتْbecame بَلاقِعَwastelands مِنْهُمُempty of them دَاراتُهُمtheir encampments
أَضْحَتْ بَلاقِعَ مِنْهُمُ دَاراتُهُم
فالصَّدرُso the breast إِلاexcept مِنْfor شُجونِيmy sorrows بَلْقَعُa wasteland
فالصَّدرُ إِلا مِنْ شُجونِي بَلْقَعُ
Their encampments became wastelands, emptied of them;
Their abodes have become desolate wildernesses,
so my breast is a wasteland, save for my sorrows.
While my breast except for my agonies is a wilderness.
لاnot أُنْكِرI find strange البُرَحَاءَthe torment فيin عَقِبِthe wake of النَّوَىseparation
لا أُنْكِر البُرَحَاءَ في عَقِبِ النَّوَى
قَدindeed حَلَّhas befallen بالتَّرْحالِwith departure ماwhat يُتَوَقَّعُis anticipated
قَد حَلَّ بالتَّرْحالِ ما يُتَوَقَّعُ
I do not find anguish strange in separation's wake;
I do not deny time'svicissitudes after companionship,
departure has brought what was foreseen.
For parting has occurred with traveling, as expected.
فيin ذِمَّةِthe protection of اللَّهِGod الأُلَىthose who أَمُّواheaded toward الفَلاthe wilderness
في ذِمَّةِ اللَّهِ الأُلَى أَمُّوا الفَلا
بِالعِيسِon pale camels تَخْدِيstriding swiftly والصَّوَاهِلُand the neighing horses تَمْزَعُracing
بِالعِيسِ تَخْدِي والصَّوَاهِلُ تَمْزَعُ
May those who headed for the wilderness be in God's care,
The family of the Prophet are under Allah's protection,
on swiftly striding pale camels, with neighing horses racing.
Traveling by night with the wood-carrier who creeps furtively.
وَصَلُواcontinued السُّرىnight travel لَيْلاًby night إلىuntil أنْthat عَرَّسُواthey halted to rest
وَصَلُوا السُّرى لَيْلاً إلى أنْ عَرَّسُوا
والصّبْحُwhile dawn فيin ثَوْبِthe robe of الدُّجَىdarkness مُتَلَفِّعُwas wrapped
والصّبْحُ في ثَوْبِ الدُّجَى مُتَلَفِّعُ
They continued their journey through the night until they halted,
They arrived by night to their courtyard
while dawn lay wrapped in the robe of darkness.
While morning was clothed in the garb of darkness.
وَكَأنَّمَاand as though زُهْرُthe bright ones of الكَوَاكِبِthe stars سَحْرَةًbefore dawn
وَكَأنَّمَا زُهْرُ الكَوَاكِبِ سَحْرَةً
جَشَمَتْendured سُرَاهُمtheir night journey فَهيso they are حَسْرَىweary طُلَّعُrising
جَشَمَتْ سُرَاهُم فَهي حَسْرَى طُلَّعُ
It was as though the bright stars, before dawn,
It was as if the blossoms of the stars were rioters
had endured their night march and were rising, weary.
Whose intoxication the dawn exposed, to their regret.
بانُواthey departed فَبَانَso departed القَلْبُthe heart ليof mine عَنfrom أَضْلُعِيmy ribs
بانُوا فَبَانَ القَلْبُ لي عَن أَضْلُعِي
ياO مَنْwho لِقَلْبٍfor a heart أَسْلَمَتْهُabandoned it الأَضْلُعُthe ribs
يا مَنْ لِقَلْبٍ أَسْلَمَتْهُ الأَضْلُعُ
They departed; my heart, too, departed from my ribs.
When the brigands returned to their market
O, who will aid a heart abandoned by its ribs?
Yearning returned crestfallen.
كانَتْwas سَلامَتُهits soundness لِوَقْتِuntil the time of سَلامِهِمْtheir farewell
كانَتْ سَلامَتُه لِوَقْتِ سَلامِهِمْ
صُدِعُواthey were sundered بِرِحْلَتِهِby his departure فَهاso here هُوَit يصْدَعُis split
صُدِعُوا بِرِحْلَتِهِ فَها هُوَ يصْدَعُ
Its soundness lasted until the hour of their farewell;
If my inquiry were relieved by an answer,
they were sundered by his departure; now it, too, is split.
What is between me and the distance that hopes?
يَصْلَىit suffers the heat of الهَواجِرthe hot noons فيin الظِّلالِthe shade تَحَرُّقَاًburning
يَصْلَى الهَواجِر في الظِّلالِ تَحَرُّقَاً
ويَحِنُّand it yearns إنْeven if سَلَتfind solace القُلُوبُthe hearts وَيَنْزَعُand it longs
ويَحِنُّ إنْ سَلَت القُلُوبُ وَيَنْزَعُ
It suffers noon's heat in the shade, burning with anguish,
Am I frightened where I was during his confusion,
and yearns and longs even when hearts find solace.
Or is someone like me frightened by it?
لمَّاwhen تَراجَعَتِexchanged calls الحُداةُthe camel drivers لِسَوْقِهِمْto drive them on
لمَّا تَراجَعَتِ الحُداةُ لِسَوْقِهِمْ
رَجَعَreturned الهَوىlove أدْرَاجَهُalong its former path يَسْتَرْجِعُinvoking return to God
رَجَعَ الهَوى أدْرَاجَهُ يَسْتَرْجِعُ
When the camel drivers exchanged their songs to urge them on,
I did not know the time they purposed
love retraced its steps, saying, 'We belong to God and to Him return.'
To bid farewell to me or the ruler they would bid farewell.
أُخْفِيI conceal سُؤاليmy question لَوif only شُفِيتُI were healed إِجابَةًby an answer
أُخْفِي سُؤالي لَو شُفِيتُ إِجابَةً
مَاwhat لِيwith me وَماand what لِلْبَيْنِwith separation بيfor me يتَوقَّعُlies in wait
مَا لِي وَما لِلْبَيْنِ بي يتَوقَّعُ
I hide my question—if only an answer could heal me:
A king whose command is to obey -
What have I to do with separation, that it lies in wait for me?
So I must comply with whatever he aspires to.
أأناam I المُرَوّعُthe terrified one حَيْثُwherever كنتُI am بهَوْلِهِby its terror
أأنا المُرَوّعُ حَيْثُ كنتُ بهَوْلِهِ
أَمْor ليfor me بهِby it مَثَلٌa counterpart كَذَاكَlikewise يُرَوّعُis terrified
أَمْ لي بهِ مَثَلٌ كَذَاكَ يُرَوّعُ
Am I the one its terror frightens, wherever I am,
The seven fierce lions vie over him
or is there another like me, likewise terrified by it?
And the four directions compete for him.
لَمْnot أدْرِI knew ساعَةَthe moment أَزْمَعُوهاthey resolved upon it نِيَّةًin intention
لَمْ أدْرِ ساعَةَ أَزْمَعُوها نِيَّةً
مَحْيَايَmy life أمْor يَحْيَىYahya الأَميرَthe emir أُوَدِّعُI bid farewell to
مَحْيَايَ أمْ يَحْيَى الأَميرَ أُوَدِّعُ
I did not know, when they firmly resolved upon it,
He is with the angelic realm, busy or at leisure, protected
whether I was bidding farewell to my life or to Emir Yahya.
And that cannot be prevented.
مَلِكٌa king علَىincumbent upon الأَقْدارِthe fates خِدْمَةُthe service of أَمْرِهِhis command
مَلِكٌ علَى الأَقْدارِ خِدْمَةُ أَمْرِهِ
فَقَصِيُّso the farthest of ماwhat يَسْمُوhe aspires إلَيْهِto it طَيِّعُis compliant
فَقَصِيُّ ما يَسْمُو إلَيْهِ طَيِّعُ
A king whose commands the fates must serve,
He rivals the angels in his principles,
so the most distant thing he aspires to obeys.
By which the meadows of sanctity flourish.
هَامَتْwere enamored بِهِof him السَّبْعُthe seven الشِّدادُthe mighty ones يَحِلُّهاhe dwells in them
هَامَتْ بِهِ السَّبْعُ الشِّدادُ يَحِلُّها
وَتَنَافَسَتْand vied فيهِfor him الجِهَاتُthe directions الأَرْبَعُthe four
وَتَنَافَسَتْ فيهِ الجِهَاتُ الأَرْبَعُ
The seven mighty heavens love him as he dwells in them,
And he rules the realms with his most mighty determination
and the four quarters vie for him.
Which will always submit to him and bow.
بِالْعَالَمِby the world العُلْوِيِّabove فيin حَضَرٍresidence وفيand in
بِالْعَالَمِ العُلْوِيِّ في حَضَرٍ وفي
سَفَرٍtravel يُحَفُّhe is surrounded وذاكَand that ماwhat لاnot يُدْفَعُcan be denied
سَفَرٍ يُحَفُّ وذاكَ ما لا يُدْفَعُ
By the world above, at home and on
He sought the caliphate through election but obtained it
journeys, he is surrounded; that cannot be denied.
Through the one whose lineage cannot be disparaged.
ضَاهَىmatched المَلائِكَthe angels فيin ضَرائِبِهِhis qualities التِيwhich
ضَاهَى المَلائِكَ في ضَرائِبِهِ التِي
رَوْضُthe gardens of الرُّبَىthe hills مِنْfrom عَرْفِهاtheir fragrance يَتَضَوَّعُwafts perfume
رَوْضُ الرُّبَى مِنْ عَرْفِها يَتَضَوَّعُ
He matched the angels in his qualities, whose
The nights take turns through the land acting under his approval:
fragrance the gardens of the hills breathe forth.
enlivening whom he loves and helping whom he assists.
وقَضَىand decreed علَىupon الأَمْلاكِthe kings أقْعَسُunyielding عِزّهِhis might
وقَضَى علَى الأَمْلاكِ أقْعَسُ عِزّهِ
أَلاthat not تَزَالَcease لَهُto him تَذِلُّbe humbled وتَخْضَعُand submit
أَلا تَزَالَ لَهُ تَذِلُّ وتَخْضَعُ
And his unbending might decreed that kings
So the rightly guided live by his grace,
should never cease to humble themselves and submit to him.
And the misguided meet their doom through him.
خَطَبَwooed الخِلافَةَthe caliphate بالقِرَاعِthrough combat فَنَالَهاand won it
خَطَبَ الخِلافَةَ بالقِرَاعِ فَنَالَها
مِنهُin him قَريعٌa peerless champion أنْفُهُhis nose لاnot يُقْرَعُis struck
مِنهُ قَريعٌ أنْفُهُ لا يُقْرَعُ
He wooed the caliphate through combat and won it—
His armies filled the expanses
a peerless champion whose nose is never struck.
So that even the vast seemed cramped.
صَرْفُthe vicissitudes of اللَّيالِيthe nights فيamong الْوَرَىhumankind مُتَصَرِّفٌholds sway
صَرْفُ اللَّيالِي في الْوَرَى مُتَصَرِّفٌ
برِضَاهُat his pleasure يُنْعِشُit revives مَنْwhomever أحَبَّhe loves وَيَصْدَعُand it shatters
برِضَاهُ يُنْعِشُ مَنْ أحَبَّ وَيَصْدَعُ
The vicissitudes of nights hold sway among humankind,
Their flashing swords made the eyes drunk,
at his pleasure, raising those he loves and shattering others.
And their blades, when they shone, were similar.
فَأَخُوso the man of الرَّشادِright guidance لِعَيْشِهِhis life مُتَسَوِّغٌswallowing with ease
فَأَخُو الرَّشادِ لِعَيْشِهِ مُتَسَوِّغٌ
وأَخوand the man of الضَّلالِerror لِحَتْفِهِhis death مُتَجَرِّعُgulping bitterly
وأَخو الضَّلالِ لِحَتْفِهِ مُتَجَرِّعُ
So the rightly guided drinks his life with ease,
He refuses to be confined in might and glory,
while the misguided gulps down his doom.
For he who scatters the eminent there gathers them.
هَجَعَتْslept رَعاياهُhis subjects علَىupon فُرُشِbeds of المُنَىhopes
هَجَعَتْ رَعاياهُ علَى فُرُشِ المُنَى
أَمْناin safety وباتَand spent the night لِرَعْيِهاto tend them لاnot يَهْجَعُsleeping
أَمْنا وباتَ لِرَعْيِها لا يَهْجَعُ
His subjects slept upon beds of hope,
Attaining the height of glory, most proud,
secure, while he spent the night tending them, sleepless.
With his banner raised at the summit.
يَصِلُhe joins ابْتِساماًa smile فيin الوَغَىbattle بِطَلاقَةٍwith cheerfulness
يَصِلُ ابْتِساماً في الوَغَى بِطَلاقَةٍ
كَرَماًout of nobility وَوَجْهُwhile the face of اليَوْمِthe day أرْبَدُis dusky أسْفَعُblackened
كَرَماً وَوَجْهُ اليَوْمِ أرْبَدُ أسْفَعُ
He joins a smile in battle to a cheerful countenance,
Through him guidance has been revived, led by the Imam of his choice,
out of nobility, while the day's face is dusky and blackened.
And by him wrongdoing is fought, by the most intrepid.
فَكَأَنَّماso it is as though النَّقْعُthe dust المُثارُstirred up دجُنَّةٌdeep darkness
فَكَأَنَّما النَّقْعُ المُثارُ دجُنَّةٌ
وَكأنَّand as though غُرَّتَهُhis bright brow صَباحٌa dawn يَسْطَعُshines
وَكأنَّ غُرَّتَهُ صَباحٌ يَسْطَعُ
It is as though the stirred-up dust were deep darkness,
Does it seem the heavens produced one who acts
and his bright brow a dawn that shines.
So for that reason what it produced suits him?
لَمْnot يَسْلُgrew forgetful عَنْof شَوْقٍlonging إلَيْهِfor him مِنْبَرٌa pulpit
لَمْ يَسْلُ عَنْ شَوْقٍ إلَيْهِ مِنْبَرٌ
لَمnot يَخْلُwas free مِنْof حِرْصٍeagerness عَلَيْهِfor him مَوْضِعُa place
لَم يَخْلُ مِنْ حِرْصٍ عَلَيْهِ مَوْضِعُ
No pulpit ceased longing for him;
The land, wherever he shifts from its edges
no place was without desire for him.
And settles, is either meadow or pasture.
نَادَىcalled بهfor him الغَرْبُthe West القَصيُّthe far-distant مُثَوِّباًrepeating its summons
نَادَى به الغَرْبُ القَصيُّ مُثَوِّباً
فأَجَابَهُso he answered it يَطْوِيfolding up الفَلاةَthe desert ويَذْرَعُand measuring in strides
فأَجَابَهُ يَطْوِي الفَلاةَ ويَذْرَعُ
The distant West called for him, repeating its summons,
I have reproached the immaculate ones saying:
so he answered, folding up the desert and measuring it in strides,
You have traversed the sea of dew, so be expansive
ثِقَةًconfident بأنَّthat جُنُودَهُhis troops وبُنُودَهُand his banners
ثِقَةً بأنَّ جُنُودَهُ وبُنُودَهُ
يَغْدُوwill become الوُجودُall creation لَهاto them يُطيعُit obeys وَيَسْمَعُand it heeds
يَغْدُو الوُجودُ لَها يُطيعُ وَيَسْمَعُ
confident that his troops and his banners
If you intend - do not be excluded or draw near,
would be obeyed and heeded by all creation.
Do not keep your distance or ask and be denied.
حَفِظَhe guarded الذيwhat شَرَعَordained الإلَهُGod حِفَاظَهُits preservation
حَفِظَ الذي شَرَعَ الإلَهُ حِفَاظَهُ
بالْبِيضِwith bright swords تُنْضَىbeing unsheathed والأَسِنَّةُand the spearheads تُشْرَعُbeing leveled
بالْبِيضِ تُنْضَى والأَسِنَّةُ تُشْرَعُ
He guarded what God ordained should be guarded,
Oh what an age that has harmed me!
with bright blades unsheathed and spearheads leveled.
I have resigned myself to eternal captivity in it.
مَلأَتْfilled جَحافِلُهُhis armies مَنَادِيحَthe expanses of المَلاthe open land
مَلأَتْ جَحافِلُهُ مَنَادِيحَ المَلا
وَلَرُبَّماand often ضاقَgrew cramped الأَمَدُّthe longest stretch الأوْسَعُthe widest
وَلَرُبَّما ضاقَ الأَمَدُّ الأوْسَعُ
His armies filled the open land's broad expanses,
No stratagem can extract safety from it,
and often the longest, widest stretch grew cramped.
So I will be content with its judgment.
أَعْشَىdazzled العُيونَthe eyes بِهاamid them الْتِماعُthe flash of حَديدِهِمْtheir steel
أَعْشَى العُيونَ بِها الْتِماعُ حَديدِهِمْ
فَتَشابَهَتْso looked alike لامَاتُهُمْtheir suits of armor إذْas تَلْمَعُthey gleamed
فَتَشابَهَتْ لامَاتُهُمْ إذْ تَلْمَعُ
Among them, the flash of their steel dazzled eyes,
Whence do I have patience for the bitterness of parting
so their suits of armor looked alike as they gleamed.
When the path to patience has been blocked?
يَأْبَىhe refuses عَلَىto البَأْسِvalor اقْتِصاراًbeing limited والنَّدَىand generosity
يَأْبَى عَلَى البَأْسِ اقْتِصاراً والنَّدَى
فَمُفَرّقso the scattered parts of العَلياءexcellence فيهِin him مُجَمَّعُare gathered
فَمُفَرّق العَلياء فيهِ مُجَمَّعُ
He refuses to be confined to valor and generosity,
Were it not for my dislike of disobeying
for scattered excellences are gathered together in him.
I would strive to proceed straightforwardly and strongly.
مُتَبَوِّئٌoccupying للْمَجْدِof glory أَشْمَخَthe loftiest ذِرْوَةٍsummit
مُتَبَوِّئٌ للْمَجْدِ أَشْمَخَ ذِرْوَةٍ
ولَهُand for him بِأَعْلاهَاat its highest point لِواءٌa banner يُرْفَعُis raised
ولَهُ بِأَعْلاهَا لِواءٌ يُرْفَعُ
He occupies glory's loftiest summit,
Since I have been assigned to serve Emir Muhammad -
and at its highest point a banner is raised for him.
Separation from him is most bitter.
أحْيَاrevived الهُدَىright guidance منهُin him إمامٌan imam مُرْتَضىًchosen
أحْيَا الهُدَى منهُ إمامٌ مُرْتَضىً
وغَزاand battled العِدَىthe foes منهُin him هُمَامٌa gallant hero أرْوَعُawe-inspiring
وغَزا العِدَى منهُ هُمَامٌ أرْوَعُ
He revived right guidance as a chosen imam,
A regret the evening clouds announced, from which dripped
and battled the foes as an awe-inspiring hero.
The downpour - who compares to him in loftiness?
أَتُرَىdo you think السَّماءَthe sky دَرَتْknew بماof what هُوَhe صانِعٌwas doing
أَتُرَى السَّماءَ دَرَتْ بما هُوَ صانِعٌ
فَلِذاكَso for that reason ماindeed دَرَّتْit poured rain لَهُfor him تَتَصَنَّعُseeking his favor
فَلِذاكَ ما دَرَّتْ لَهُ تَتَصَنَّعُ
Do you think the sky knew what he would do,
His soul and heart judged him superior amid his peers -
and so poured rain for him, seeking his favor?
A cultivated soul and a heart most wise.
فَالأَرْضُso the earth حَيْثُwherever يَحُولُhe moves مِنْthrough أَطْرَافِهاits regions
فَالأَرْضُ حَيْثُ يَحُولُ مِنْ أَطْرَافِها
وَيَحِلُّand alights إِمَّاeither مَرْتَعٌa pasture أَوْor مَشْرعُa watering place
وَيَحِلُّ إِمَّا مَرْتَعٌ أَوْ مَشْرعُ
So the earth, wherever he moves through its regions
No house equals his in purity,
and alights, is either pasture or a watering place.
Dawn has risen and its furthest limit is most resplendent.
ضَايَقْتُI pressed فيregarding العُذْرِexcuses العُفاةَthe seekers of gifts وقُلْتُand I said قَدْindeed
ضَايَقْتُ في العُذْرِ العُفاةَ وقُلْتُ قَدْ
يَمَّمْتُمُyou headed toward بَحْرَthe sea of النَّدَىgenerosity فَاسْتَوْسِعُواso seek abundance
يَمَّمْتُمُ بَحْرَ النَّدَى فَاسْتَوْسِعُوا
I left the seekers of gifts no room for excuses and said: 'You have
What shall I say and how far shall I go praising
headed for the sea of bounty, so ask abundantly.
When the eloquent master poet sings their praise?
إِنْif تَقْصدواyou seek him لاnot تُحْجَبواyou will be barred أوor تَقْرُبُواyou approach
إِنْ تَقْصدوا لا تُحْجَبوا أو تَقْرُبُوا
لاnot تبْعدُواyou will be kept away أوor تَسْأَلُواyou ask لاnot تمْنَعُواyou will be refused
لا تبْعدُوا أو تَسْأَلُوا لا تمْنَعُوا
If you seek him, you will not be barred; or if you approach,
Let me start over striving
you will not be kept away; or if you ask, you will not be refused.'
Perhaps my mind will produce something original when it starts.
ياalas للزَّمانِfor time أَعَلَّنِيit afflicted me بِزَمَانَةٍwith chronic infirmity
يا للزَّمانِ أَعَلَّنِي بِزَمَانَةٍ
أَصْبَحْتُI have become بالإخْلادِwith remaining at rest فيهاin it أقْنَعُcontent
أَصْبَحْتُ بالإخْلادِ فيها أقْنَعُ
Alas for time! It has afflicted me with infirmity;
If my nature pours forth a string of pearls regarding them
I have come to content myself with remaining at rest in it.
Then the sweetest in the generous land springs forth.
لاno بُرْءَcure مِنْهَاfrom it يُسْتَفَادُcan be gained بِحيلَةٍby a stratagem
لا بُرْءَ مِنْهَا يُسْتَفَادُ بِحيلَةٍ
فإِلىso to الرِّضَىacceptance بالحُكْمof the decree فيهاconcerning it المَرْجِعُthe recourse
فإِلى الرِّضَى بالحُكْم فيها المَرْجِعُ
No cure for it can be gained by any stratagem,
so the recourse is acceptance of the decree concerning it.
مِنْfrom أيْنَwhere لِيfor me صَبْرٌpatience عَلىfor مَضَضِthe pain of النَّوَىseparation
مِنْ أيْنَ لِي صَبْرٌ عَلى مَضَضِ النَّوَى
سُدَّتْhas been blocked إلَىto الصَّبْرِpatience الطَّرِيقُthe road المَهْيَعُthe broad one
سُدَّتْ إلَى الصَّبْرِ الطَّرِيقُ المَهْيَعُ
Where can I find patience for separation's pain?
The broad road to patience has been blocked.
لَوْلاwere it not for التَّكَرُّهُreluctance أَنْto أُخِلَّI fail بِطاعَةٍin obedience
لَوْلا التَّكَرُّهُ أَنْ أُخِلَّ بِطاعَةٍ
لَسَعَيْتُI would set out زَحْفاًcrawling أَسْتَقيمُI straighten up وأَظْلَعُand I limp
لَسَعَيْتُ زَحْفاً أَسْتَقيمُ وأَظْلَعُ
Were I not loath to fail in obedience,
I would make my way crawling, straightening up and limping.
وبِأَنْand because وُكِلْتُI was entrusted إلىto الأَميرِthe emir مُحَمَّدٍMuhammad
وبِأَنْ وُكِلْتُ إلى الأَميرِ مُحَمَّدٍ
عَذُبَbecame sweet الأَمَرُّthe bitterest مِنَof الفِرَاقِseparation الأَقْطَعُthe most sundering
عَذُبَ الأَمَرُّ مِنَ الفِرَاقِ الأَقْطَعُ
And because I was entrusted to Emir Muhammad,
the bitterest, most sundering separation became sweet.
نَدْبٌa gallant man نَباrepelled عَنهُfrom him الحِجَىreason نَزَقَthe rashness of الصِّباyouth
نَدْبٌ نَبا عَنهُ الحِجَى نَزَقَ الصِّبا
رُبَّmany a اكْتِهالٍmaturity مَاnot عَداهُsurpassed it تَرَعْرعُyouthful growth
رُبَّ اكْتِهالٍ مَا عَداهُ تَرَعْرعُ
A gallant man whose reason repelled the recklessness of youth—
many a maturity is never surpassed by youthful growth.
حَكَمَتْdecreed لَهْfor him بالْفَضْلِsuperiority بَيْنَamong لِدَاتِهِhis peers
حَكَمَتْ لَهْ بالْفَضْلِ بَيْنَ لِدَاتِهِ
نَفْسٌa soul مُهَذَّبَةٌrefined وَقَلْبٌand a heart أَصْمَعُkeen
نَفْسٌ مُهَذَّبَةٌ وَقَلْبٌ أَصْمَعُ
His superiority among his peers was decreed by
a refined soul and a keen heart.
لاno بَيْتَhouse يَعْدِلُequals فيin الطَّهارَةِpurity بَيْتَهُhis house
لا بَيْتَ يَعْدِلُ في الطَّهارَةِ بَيْتَهُ
نَصَعَshone white الصَّباحُthe dawn وَمُنْتَهاهُand its summit أَنْصَعُwhiter
نَصَعَ الصَّباحُ وَمُنْتَهاهُ أَنْصَعُ
No house equals his house in purity;
dawn shines white, but his house's summit is whiter still.
ماذَاwhat أَقولُshall I say وأَيْنَand where أبْلُغُcan I reach مادِحاًin praise
ماذَا أَقولُ وأَيْنَ أبْلُغُ مادِحاً
وبِمَدْحِهمand in their praise غَنَّىsang البَليغُthe eloquent man المِصْقَعُthe consummate orator
وبِمَدْحِهم غَنَّى البَليغُ المِصْقَعُ
What can I say, and how far can I go in praise,
when the eloquent, consummate orator has sung their praise?
دَعْنِيlet me أَعِدْrepeat فيهِabout him وأُبْدِئُand begin afresh جَاهِداًstriving hard
دَعْنِي أَعِدْ فيهِ وأُبْدِئُ جَاهِداً
فَلَعَلَّso perhaps فِكْرِيmy thought حينَwhen يُبْدِئُit begins يُبْدِعُit creates wonders
فَلَعَلَّ فِكْرِي حينَ يُبْدِئُ يُبْدِعُ
Let me repeat his praise and begin afresh, striving hard,
so perhaps my thought, when it begins, will create wonders.
إنْif سَالَflows طَبْعيmy poetic nature فيin ذراهُمْtheir shelter سَلْسَلاًlimpidly
إنْ سَالَ طَبْعي في ذراهُمْ سَلْسَلاً
فالعَذْبُfor sweet water فيin الأَرْضِthe earth الكَرِيمَةِthe noble يَنْبُعُsprings forth
فالعَذْبُ في الأَرْضِ الكَرِيمَةِ يَنْبُعُ
If my poetic nature flows limpid in their shelter,
for sweet water springs forth in noble soil.
Partial English translation: 92 of 112 Arabic lines translated.