ماذا عَلى طَيفِ الأَحِبَّةِ لَو سَرى

ماذا عَلى طَيفِ الأَحِبَّةِ لَو سَرى

وَعَلَيهِمُ لَو سامَحوني بِالكَرى

وَعَلَيهِمُ لَو سامَحوني بِالكَرى

What would it cost the beloveds' phantom to visit by night,

What would the ghosts of my loved ones do if they passed by,

And them, to grant me sleep?

And if they forgave me for past grievances?

جَنَحوا إِلى قَولِ الوُشاةِ فَأَعرَضوا

جَنَحوا إِلى قَولِ الوُشاةِ فَأَعرَضوا

وَاللَهُ يَعلَمُ أَنَّ ذلِكُ مُفتَرى

وَاللَهُ يَعلَمُ أَنَّ ذلِكُ مُفتَرى

They inclined toward the slanderers' words and turned away,

They inclined towards the words of slanderers and turned away,

Yet God knows that this is fabricated.

Yet God knows that is a fabrication.

يا مُعرِضاً عَنّي بِغَيرِ جِنايَةٍ

يا مُعرِضاً عَنّي بِغَيرِ جِنايَةٍ

إِلّا لِما رَقشَ الحَسودُ وَزوَّرا

إِلّا لِما رَقشَ الحَسودُ وَزوَّرا

O you who turn from me though I committed no offense,

O you who turned away from me without any wrongdoing,

Except for what the envious one embroidered and falsified:

Except for what the envious embroidered and falsified.

هَبني أَسَأتُ كَما تقَوَّلَ وَاِفتَرى

هَبني أَسَأتُ كَما تقَوَّلَ وَاِفتَرى

وَأَتَيتُ في حُبَّيكَ أَمراً مُنكَرا

وَأَتَيتُ في حُبَّيكَ أَمراً مُنكَرا

Suppose I did wrong, as he alleged and fabricated,

Suppose I did wrong, as was claimed and fabricated,

And committed a reprehensible act in loving you:

And I did something objectionable in my love for you.

ما بَعد بُعدِك وَالصُدودِ عُقوبَةٌ

ما بَعد بُعدِك وَالصُدودِ عُقوبَةٌ

يا هاجِري قَد آنَ لي أَن تَغفِرا

يا هاجِري قَد آنَ لي أَن تَغفِرا

There is no punishment beyond your absence and rejection.

There is no punishment after your estrangement and rejection,

O you who forsake me, it is time for you to forgive me.

O migrant! It is time for me to be forgiven.

لا تَجمَعَنَّ عَلَيَّ عَتبِكَ وَالنَوى

لا تَجمَعَنَّ عَلَيَّ عَتبِكَ وَالنَوى

حَسبُ المُحِب عُقوبَةً أَن يُهجَرا

حَسبُ المُحِب عُقوبَةً أَن يُهجَرا

Do not heap your reproach and separation together upon me;

Do not combine your reproach and enmity against me,

Being forsaken is punishment enough for a lover.

For the lover, estrangement is punishment enough.

عِبءُ الصُدودِ أَخَفُّ مِن عِبءِ النَوى

عِبءُ الصُدودِ أَخَفُّ مِن عِبءِ النَوى

لَو كانَ لي في الحُبِّ أَن أَتَخَيَّرا

لَو كانَ لي في الحُبِّ أَن أَتَخَيَّرا

The burden of rejection is lighter than that of separation,

The burden of rejection is lighter than the burden of enmity,

If I were allowed to choose in love.

If only I had a choice in love’s matters!

لَو عاقَبوني في الهَوى بِسوى النَوى

لَو عاقَبوني في الهَوى بِسوى النَوى

لَرَجَوتُهُم وَطَمَعتُ أَن أَتَصَبَّرا

لَرَجَوتُهُم وَطَمَعتُ أَن أَتَصَبَّرا

Had they punished me in love with anything but separation,

Had they punished me in love with anything but alienation,

I would have put hope in them and aspired to endure patiently.

I would have hoped, and aspired to show resilience.

فَسقى دِمَشقَ وَوادِيَيها وَالحمى

فَسقى دِمَشقَ وَوادِيَيها وَالحمى

مُتَواصِلُ الإِرعادِ مُنفَصِمُ العُرى

مُتَواصِلُ الإِرعادِ مُنفَصِمُ العُرى

May Damascus, its two valleys, and the protected grounds be watered

It rained on Damascus, its valleys and Hama,

By an unceasing thundercloud whose bonds burst open,

With continuous thunder and broken clouds,

حَتّى تَرى وَجهَ الرِياضِ بِعارِضٍ

حَتّى تَرى وَجهَ الرِياضِ بِعارِضٍ

أَحوى وَفَودَ الدَوحِ أَزهَرَ نَيِّرا

أَحوى وَفَودَ الدَوحِ أَزهَرَ نَيِّرا

Until you see the gardens' face bearing a beard,

Until you see the face of the meadows darken

Dark-green, and the great trees' temple-lock bright and radiant.

And the peaks of the dunes blossom with flowers.

وَأَعادَ أَيّاماً مَضينَ حَميدَةً

وَأَعادَ أَيّاماً مَضينَ حَميدَةً

ما بَينَ حَرَّة عالِقين وَعَشتَرا

ما بَينَ حَرَّة عالِقين وَعَشتَرا

And may it restore the praiseworthy days gone by

It brought back pleasant bygone days

Between the lava plain of ʿAliqin and ʿAshtara.

Between Harra and Al-‘Ulayqin and Ashtar.

تِلكَ المَنازِلُ لا أَعِقَّةُ عالِجٍ

تِلكَ المَنازِلُ لا أَعِقَّةُ عالِجٍ

وَرِمالُ كاظِمَةٍ وَلا وادي القُرى

وَرِمالُ كاظِمَةٍ وَلا وادي القُرى

Those are the dwellings—not the sandy ravines of ʿAlij,

Those are the abodes, not ‘Uqqa’s precipice,

Nor the sands of Kazima, nor Wadi al-Qura.

Nor Kadhimah’s sands, nor Wadi Al-Qura.

أَرضٌ إِذا مَرَّت بِها ريحُ الصَبا

أَرضٌ إِذا مَرَّت بِها ريحُ الصَبا

حَملَت عَلى الأَغصانِ مسكاً أَذفرا

حَملَت عَلى الأَغصانِ مسكاً أَذفرا

A land where, whenever the east wind passes,

A land - when the southern breeze blows through it

It carries pungent musk upon the branches.

It carries the sweetest musk on the branches.

فارَقتُها لا عَن رِضىً وَهَجَرتُها

فارَقتُها لا عَن رِضىً وَهَجَرتُها

لا عَن قِلىً وَرَحَلتُ لا مُتَخَيِّرا

لا عَن قِلىً وَرَحَلتُ لا مُتَخَيِّرا

I parted from it unwillingly, and abandoned it

I left it - not happily, and deserted it -

Not out of hatred; I departed without a choice.

Not willingly, and departed - not by choice.

أَسمى لِرِزقٍ في البِلادِ مُفَرَّقٍ

أَسمى لِرِزقٍ في البِلادِ مُفَرَّقٍ

وَمِنَ البَلِيَّةِ أَن يَكونَ مُقتَرّا

وَمِنَ البَلِيَّةِ أَن يَكونَ مُقتَرّا

I aspire to a livelihood scattered through the lands,

Seeking sustenance scattered in the lands,

And it is an affliction that it should be so meager.

And misfortune is that it be scant.

وَلَقَد قَطَعتُ الأَرضَ طوراً سالِكاً

وَلَقَد قَطَعتُ الأَرضَ طوراً سالِكاً

نَجداً وَآوِنَةً أَجدُّ مُغَوَّرا

نَجداً وَآوِنَةً أَجدُّ مُغَوَّرا

Indeed, I have crossed the earth, at times traversing

I roamed the land for a while, journeying

The uplands, and at others pressing on into the lowlands.

Through Najd and Awina, most wary of peril.

وَأَصونُ وَجهَ مَدائِحي مُتَقَنِّعاً

وَأَصونُ وَجهَ مَدائِحي مُتَقَنِّعاً

وَأَكُفُّ ذَيلَ مَطامِعي مُتَسَتِّرا

وَأَكُفُّ ذَيلَ مَطامِعي مُتَسَتِّرا

I guard the face of my praise-poems, keeping myself veiled,

I guard my countenance, discreet with flattery,

And tuck up the hem of my ambitions, keeping myself concealed.

And restrain the tail of my hopes, hiding.

كَم لَيلَةٍ كَالبَحرِ جُبتُ ظَلامَها

كَم لَيلَةٍ كَالبَحرِ جُبتُ ظَلامَها

عَن واضِحِ الصُبحِ المُنيرِ فَأَسفَرا

عَن واضِحِ الصُبحِ المُنيرِ فَأَسفَرا

How many a sea-like night have I cleft through its darkness,

How many nights, dark like an ocean,

Uncovering the clear, luminous dawn, until it shone!

I spent until the clear brilliant dawn broke!

في فِتيَةٍ مِثلُ النُجومِ تَسَنَّموا

في فِتيَةٍ مِثلُ النُجومِ تَسَنَّموا

في البيدِ أَمثالَ الأَهِلَّة ضُمَّرا

في البيدِ أَمثالَ الأَهِلَّة ضُمَّرا

Amid young men like stars, who rode

Among young men, like stars, elevated

Through the wastes on lean mounts like crescent moons.

In the desert, like landmarks set in place.

باتوا عَلى شُعَبِ الرِحالِ جَوانِحاً

باتوا عَلى شُعَبِ الرِحالِ جَوانِحاً

وَالنَومُ يُفتَلُ في الغَوارِبِ وَالذُّرى

وَالنَومُ يُفتَلُ في الغَوارِبِ وَالذُّرى

They spent the night leaning over the forks of their saddles,

They slept clinging to the camel litters,

While sleep was spun among the withers and humps.

While sleep seduced the fleeing prey and birds.

مَتَرَنِّحينَ مِنَ النُعاسِ كَأَنَّهُم

مَتَرَنِّحينَ مِنَ النُعاسِ كَأَنَّهُم

شَرِبوا بِكاساتِ الوَجيفِ المُسكِرا

شَرِبوا بِكاساتِ الوَجيفِ المُسكِرا

Swaying with drowsiness, as though they

Moaning from drowsiness, as if they had drunk

Had drunk intoxicating liquor from the cups of the swift gait.

Deep drafts from cups of old wine.

قالوا وَقَد خاطَ النُعاسُ جُفونَهُم

قالوا وَقَد خاطَ النُعاسُ جُفونَهُم

أَينَ المُناخُ فَقُلتُ جدوا في السُّرى

أَينَ المُناخُ فَقُلتُ جدوا في السُّرى

They said, drowsiness having sewn their eyelids shut:

They said, as sleep sewed up their eyelids,

"Where shall we halt?" I said, "Press on through the night."

“Where is the stopping place?” I said: “Seekit in travel by night.”

لا تَسأَموا الإِدلاجَ حَتّى تُدرِكوا

لا تَسأَموا الإِدلاجَ حَتّى تُدرِكوا

بيضَ الأَيادي وَالجَنابَ الأَخضَرا

بيضَ الأَيادي وَالجَنابَ الأَخضَرا

Do not weary of night travel until you reach

“Do not grow weary of night journeying

White hands of bounty and the verdant court,

Until you attain the palms and green thickets,

في ظِلِّ مَيمونِ النَقيبَةِ طاهِر الـ

في ظِلِّ مَيمونِ النَقيبَةِ طاهِر الـ

ـأَعراقِ مَنصورِ اللِواءِ مُظَفَّرا

ـأَعراقِ مَنصورِ اللِواءِ مُظَفَّرا

In the shade of one blessed in character, pure in

In the shade of the auspicious victorious banner,

Lineage, victorious of banner and triumphant:

The pure lineage of Mansur the trimphant,

العادِلِ المَلِكِ الَّذي أَسماؤُهُ

العادِلِ المَلِكِ الَّذي أَسماؤُهُ

في كُلِّ ناحِيَةٍ تُشَرِّفُ مِنبَرا

في كُلِّ ناحِيَةٍ تُشَرِّفُ مِنبَرا

Al-ʿAdil, the king whose names

The just King whose names

Honor a pulpit in every region.

Honor every place with glory,

وَبِكُلِّ أَرضٍ جَنَةٌّ مِن عَدلِهِ الـ

وَبِكُلِّ أَرضٍ جَنَةٌّ مِن عَدلِهِ الـ

ـضافي أَسالَ نَداهُ فيها كَوثَرا

ـضافي أَسالَ نَداهُ فيها كَوثَرا

And in every land is a garden through his justice,

And every land is a paradise of his overflowing justice

Abundant; he makes his bounty flow there as a Kawthar.

For which he poured copious water.

عَدلٌ يَبيتُ الذِئبُ مِنهُ عَلى الطَوى

عَدلٌ يَبيتُ الذِئبُ مِنهُ عَلى الطَوى

غَرثانَ وَهوَ يَرى الغَزالَ الأَعفَرا

غَرثانَ وَهوَ يَرى الغَزالَ الأَعفَرا

A justice that leaves the wolf spending the night with an empty belly,

A justice where the wolf and gazelle

Famished, though it sees the tawny gazelle.

Pasture together while the lion watches.

ما في أَبي بَكرٍ لِمُعتَقِدِ الهُدى

ما في أَبي بَكرٍ لِمُعتَقِدِ الهُدى

شَكٌّ يُريبُ بِأَنَّهُ خَيرُ الوَرى

شَكٌّ يُريبُ بِأَنَّهُ خَيرُ الوَرى

Concerning Abu Bakr, no believer in right guidance has

For the believer in true guidance

Any troubling doubt that he is the best of humankind.

There is no doubt that Abu Bakr is the best of mankind.

سَيفٌ صِقالُ المَجدِ أَخلَصَ مَتنَهُ

سَيفٌ صِقالُ المَجدِ أَخلَصَ مَتنَهُ

وَأَبانَ طيبُ الأَصلِ مِنهُ الجَوهَرا

وَأَبانَ طيبُ الأَصلِ مِنهُ الجَوهَرا

A sword: glory's polishing has purified its blade,

A sword whose glory has the purest blade

And purity of origin has revealed its true metal.

And whose excellent origin is evident.

ما مَدحُهُ بِالمُستَعارِ لَهُ وَلا

ما مَدحُهُ بِالمُستَعارِ لَهُ وَلا

آياتُ سُؤدُدِهِ حَديثٌ يُفتَرى

آياتُ سُؤدُدِهِ حَديثٌ يُفتَرى

His praise is not borrowed for him, nor

His praise is not by simile, for he

Are the signs of his nobility a fabricated tale.

And the tokens of his glory are no fabricated tale.

بَينَ المُلوكِ الغابِرينَ وَبَينَهُ

بَينَ المُلوكِ الغابِرينَ وَبَينَهُ

في الفَضلِ ما بَينَ الثُرَيّا وَالثَرى

في الفَضلِ ما بَينَ الثُرَيّا وَالثَرى

Between the kings of old and him,

Between the bygone kings and him

In excellence, lies the distance between the Pleiades and the earth.

Is a difference in merit between Sirius and the ground.

لا تَسمَعَنَّ حَديثَ مَلكٍ غَيرهِ

لا تَسمَعَنَّ حَديثَ مَلكٍ غَيرهِ

يُروى فَكُلُّ الصَّيدِ في جَوفِ الفَرا

يُروى فَكُلُّ الصَّيدِ في جَوفِ الفَرا

Never listen to tales of another king

Do not listen to tales of any king but him,

Being recounted—for all game lies in the wild ass's belly.

For all the prey is in the belly of the catcher.

نَسَخَت خَلائِقُهُ الكَريمَةُ ما أَتى

نَسَخَت خَلائِقُهُ الكَريمَةُ ما أَتى

في الكُتبِ عَن كِسرى المُلوكِ وَقَيصَرا

في الكُتبِ عَن كِسرى المُلوكِ وَقَيصَرا

His noble traits have superseded all that is recorded

His noble traits transcended what was related

In books about the royal Kisra and Caesar.

In books about Kisra and Caesar.

مَلِكٌ إِذا خَفَّت حلومُ ذَوي النُهى

مَلِكٌ إِذا خَفَّت حلومُ ذَوي النُهى

في الرَوعِ زادَ رَزانَةً وَتَوَقُّرا

في الرَوعِ زادَ رَزانَةً وَتَوَقُّرا

A king who, when the judgment of the wise grows flighty

A king - when the flesh of the forbidden quivers in awe of him,

In terror, grows more steady and dignified.

He gains more dignity and gravitas.

ثَبتُ الجنانِ تُراعُ مِن وَثَباتِهِ

ثَبتُ الجنانِ تُراعُ مِن وَثَباتِهِ

يَومَ الوَغى وَثَباته أُسدُ الشَرى

يَومَ الوَغى وَثَباته أُسدُ الشَرى

Steadfast of heart; terrified by his leaps

His composure on the day of battle is like a lion’s,

On battle's day—his leaps—are the lions of al-Shara.

And his resolve in times of tumult, a lion of the thicket.

يَقظٌ يَكادُ يَقولُ عَمّا في غَدٍ

يَقظٌ يَكادُ يَقولُ عَمّا في غَدٍ

بِبَديهَةٍ أَغنَتهُ أَن يَتَفَكَّرا

بِبَديهَةٍ أَغنَتهُ أَن يَتَفَكَّرا

Alert, he can almost tell what tomorrow holds,

Wakeful - he almost says about the morrow

With an intuition that spares him the need to ponder.

With surety that makes it needless for him to ponder.

حُلمٌ تَخفُّ لَهُ الجِبالُ وَراءَهُ

حُلمٌ تَخفُّ لَهُ الجِبالُ وَراءَهُ

عَزمٌ وَرَأيٌ يَحقِرُ الإِسكندَرا

عَزمٌ وَرَأيٌ يَحقِرُ الإِسكندَرا

Forbearance beside which the mountains seem light; behind it

A forbearance that makes mountains seem small behind him,

Lie resolve and judgment that make Alexander seem small.

A determination and wisdom that belittles Alexander.

يَعفو عَنِ الذَنبِ العَظيمِ تَكُرُّماً

يَعفو عَنِ الذَنبِ العَظيمِ تَكُرُّماً

وَيَصُدُّ عَن قَولِ الخَنا مُتَكَبِّرا

وَيَصُدُّ عَن قَولِ الخَنا مُتَكَبِّرا

He forgives the gravest offense out of nobility,

He pardons grave sins out of nobility

And turns away from foul speech in proud disdain.

And abstains from vile speech out of pride.

أَيَنالُ حاسِدُهُ عُلاهُ بِسَعيِهِ

أَيَنالُ حاسِدُهُ عُلاهُ بِسَعيِهِ

هَيهاتَ لَو رَكِبَ البُراقَ لَقَصَّرا

هَيهاتَ لَو رَكِبَ البُراقَ لَقَصَّرا

Can his envier attain his heights through effort?

How can his envious rival reach his summit through effort?

Far from it! Even if he rode al-Buraq, he would fall short.

Never! Even if he rode Al-Buraq he would lag behind.

وَلَهُ البَنون بِكُلِّ أَرضٍ مِنهُمُ

وَلَهُ البَنون بِكُلِّ أَرضٍ مِنهُمُ

مَلكٌ يَقودُ إِلى الأَعادي عَسكَرا

مَلكٌ يَقودُ إِلى الأَعادي عَسكَرا

He has sons; in every land, one of them is

He has sons in every land - among them

A king who leads an army against the enemies.

A king who leads armies against the enemies.

مِن كُلِّ وَضّاحِ الجَبينِ تَخالُهُ

مِن كُلِّ وَضّاحِ الجَبينِ تَخالُهُ

بَدراً فَإِن شَهِدَ الوَغى فَغَضَنفَرا

بَدراً فَإِن شَهِدَ الوَغى فَغَضَنفَرا

Each with radiant brow, whom you would take for

You would think every bright-browed youth of them

A full moon—or, when he enters battle, a lion.

A full moon - and if he witnessed battle, a fierce lion.

يَعشو إِلى نارِ الوَغى شَغَفاً بِها

يَعشو إِلى نارِ الوَغى شَغَفاً بِها

وَيَجِلُّ أَن يَعشو إِلى نارِ القِرى

وَيَجِلُّ أَن يَعشو إِلى نارِ القِرى

He seeks the fire of battle, enamored of it,

They rush eagerly into the flames of battle,

And is too exalted to seek the fire of hospitality.

And disdain rushing eagerly into the flames of home.

مُتَقَدِّمٌ حَتّى إِذا النَقعُ اِنجَلى

مُتَقَدِّمٌ حَتّى إِذا النَقعُ اِنجَلى

بِالبيضِ عَن سَبيِ الحَريمِ تَأَخَّرا

بِالبيضِ عَن سَبيِ الحَريمِ تَأَخَّرا

He advances until, when the battle-dust has cleared

Pressing ahead until the piercing white swords

By bright swords, he holds back from taking the women captive.

Bared the captivity of the protected souls - then they stepped back.

قَومٌ زَكَو أَصلاً وَطابوا مُخبراً

قَومٌ زَكَو أَصلاً وَطابوا مُخبراً

وَتَدَفَّقوا جوداً وَراعوا مَنظَرا

وَتَدَفَّقوا جوداً وَراعوا مَنظَرا

A people pure in lineage and good in inner nature,

A people of pure lineage and virtuous upbringing,

Overflowing with generosity and awe-inspiring to behold.

Open-handed and regardful of dignity.

وَتعافُ خَيلُهُمُ الوُرودَ بِمنهَلٍ

وَتعافُ خَيلُهُمُ الوُرودَ بِمنهَلٍ

ما لَم يَكُن بِدَمِ الوَقائِعِ أَحمَرا

ما لَم يَكُن بِدَمِ الوَقائِعِ أَحمَرا

Their horses refuse to drink at a watering place

Their steeds disdain drinking at a watering place

Unless it is red with the blood of battles.

That has not been reddened with blood of battle.

كَم حادِثٍ خَفَّت حلومُ ذَوي النُهى

كَم حادِثٍ خَفَّت حلومُ ذَوي النُهى

خَوفاً وَجَأشُكَ فيهِ أَربطُ مِن حِرا

خَوفاً وَجَأشُكَ فيهِ أَربطُ مِن حِرا

How many a calamity has made the judgment of the wise falter

How many incidents made the forbidden flesh tremble in fear

With fear, while your heart in it was firmer than Hira!

While your boldness in them was more entwined than string!

يا أَيُّها المَلِكُ الَّذي ما في فَضا

يا أَيُّها المَلِكُ الَّذي ما في فَضا

ئِلِهِ وَسُؤدَدِهُ وَمُحتَدِهِ مِرا

ئِلِهِ وَسُؤدَدِهُ وَمُحتَدِهِ مِرا

O king, concerning whose

O King! There is none among your superlative qualities, customs and principles

Virtues, nobility, and lineage there is no dispute:

Comparable or approaching you.

أَنتَ الَّذي اِفتَخَرَ الزَمانُ بِجودِهِ

أَنتَ الَّذي اِفتَخَرَ الزَمانُ بِجودِهِ

وَوُجودِهِ وَكَفاهُ ذلِكَ مَفخَرا

وَوُجودِهِ وَكَفاهُ ذلِكَ مَفخَرا

You are the one in whose bounty time takes pride,

You, whom time takes pride in for his munificence, existence and being -

And in whose existence; that is honor enough for it.

That alone suffices as a matter of pride.

اللَهُ خَصَّكَ بِالمَمالِكِ وَاِجتَبى

اللَهُ خَصَّكَ بِالمَمالِكِ وَاِجتَبى

لَمّا رَآكَ لَها الصَلاح الأَكبَرا

لَمّا رَآكَ لَها الصَلاح الأَكبَرا

God singled you out for kingdoms and chose you

God has privileged you with kingdoms and chosen you

When He saw you were the greatest good for them.

When He saw you as most worthy of them.

أَشكو إِلَيكَ نَوىً تَمادى عُمرُها

أَشكو إِلَيكَ نَوىً تَمادى عُمرُها

حَتّى حَسِبتُ اليَومَ مِنها أَشهُرا

حَتّى حَسِبتُ اليَومَ مِنها أَشهُرا

I complain to you of a separation whose life has dragged on,

I complain to you of an enmity that has prolonged

Until I reckoned one day of it as months.

Until today I count it as months.

لا عيشَتي تَصفو وَلا رسمُ الهَوى

لا عيشَتي تَصفو وَلا رسمُ الهَوى

يَعفو وَلا جَفني يُصافِحُهُ الكَرى

يَعفو وَلا جَفني يُصافِحُهُ الكَرى

Neither does my life grow clear, nor does love's trace

My life does not settle, the pattern of passion does not pardon,

Fade, nor does sleep shake hands with my eyelid.

And my eyelid is not clasped by sleep.

أُضحي عَنِ الأَحوى المَريعِ مُحَلأً

أُضحي عَنِ الأَحوى المَريعِ مُحَلأً

وَأَبيتُ عَن وِردِ النَميرِ مُنَفَّرا

وَأَبيتُ عَن وِردِ النَميرِ مُنَفَّرا

By day I am barred from the dark-green, lush pasture,

I have neglected the swift she-camel, now accustomed

And by night driven from the draught of sweet water.

To avoid the pasturage of An-Nimir, disgusted.

وَمِنَ العَجائِبِ أَن تَفَيَّأَ ظِلَّكُم

وَمِنَ العَجائِبِ أَن تَفَيَّأَ ظِلَّكُم

كُلُّ الوَرى وَنُبِذتُ وَحدي بِالعَرا

كُلُّ الوَرى وَنُبِذتُ وَحدي بِالعَرا

It is a wonder that your shade has sheltered

Of wonders is that all the lands took shade under your shadow

All humankind, while I alone was cast into the open.

While I was rejected and abandoned in the bare plains.

وَلَقَد سَئِمتُ مِنَ القَريضِ وَنظمِهِ

وَلَقَد سَئِمتُ مِنَ القَريضِ وَنظمِهِ

ما حيلَتي بِبِضاعَةٍ لا تُشتَرى

ما حيلَتي بِبِضاعَةٍ لا تُشتَرى

I have indeed grown weary of poetry and composing it;

I have wearied of poetry and its composition

What can I do with merchandise no one will buy?

When I have no wares that can be sold.

كَسَدَت فَلَمّا قُمتُ مُمتَدِحاً بِها

كَسَدَت فَلَمّا قُمتُ مُمتَدِحاً بِها

مَلِكَ المُلوكِ غَدَوتُ أَربَحُ متجَرا

مَلِكَ المُلوكِ غَدَوتُ أَربَحُ متجَرا

It languished unsold, but when I rose to praise with it

When I set about praising with it

The king of kings, I became the most prosperous in trade.

The King of Kings, I profited the most as a merchant.

فَلَأَشكُرَنَّ حَوادِثاً قَذَفَت بِآ

فَلَأَشكُرَنَّ حَوادِثاً قَذَفَت بِآ

مالي إِلَيكَ وَحَقُّها أَن تُشكَرا

مالي إِلَيكَ وَحَقُّها أَن تُشكَرا

So I shall surely thank the events that hurled my

So I will give thanks for circumstances that have cast

Hopes toward you; they deserve to be thanked.

My hopes to you - and their due is to be thanked.

لا زِلتُ مَمدودَ البَقا حَتّى تَرى

لا زِلتُ مَمدودَ البَقا حَتّى تَرى

عيسى بِعيسى في الوَرى مُستَنصِرا

عيسى بِعيسى في الوَرى مُستَنصِرا

May I remain long-lived until you see

I will remain outstretched, surviving, so long as you see

Isa seeking Isa's aid among humankind.

Jesus seeking the aid of Jesus in the lands.