من كان يعذب عندها تعذيبي — Ibn Hamdis

مَن كانَ يعذُبُ عندها تعذيبي

أَنّى تَرقّ لِعبرتي ونَحيبي

She to whom my torment was sweet—

how could she soften at my tears and sobbing?

مِن أَين يَعلَمُ من ينام مسلَّماً

حُمَةً تؤرِّق مُقلةَ الملسوبِ

How can one who sleeps unharmed know

the sting that keeps the stricken eye awake?

أَتَدبُّ في جَفنَيه طائِفة الكرى

وعقاربُ الأصداغ ذاتُ دبيبِ

Can a wisp of sleep creep into his eyelids

while the scorpions of temple-locks are crawling?

وتَنامُ في وَردِ الخُدودِ ولَدغها

متسرّب من أعينٍ لِقُلوبِ

They sleep amid the roses of cheeks, yet their sting

steals from eyes into hearts.

وكأنّما سَمٌّ مُذيبٌ مسكُها

أَيُذيبُني والمِسكُ غَير مُذيبِ

As though her musk were a melting poison—

does it melt me, though musk does not melt?

كيفَ السّبيلُ إِلى لِقاءِ غَريرة

تَلقى ابتِسامَ الشّيبِ بالتَقطيبِ

How can I find a way to meet an innocent maiden

who greets the smile of gray hair with a frown?

مِن أَينَ أرجو أَن أَفوزَ بِسَلمِها

والحَربُ بين شَبابِها وَمَشيبي

How can I hope to win peace with her

when war divides her youth and my gray hair?

ما حبّ شَمس عَنكَ تَغرِبُ في الفَلا

مِن أَنجُمٍ طلعَت بِغَيرِ غروبِ

What is love for a sun that sets away from you in the wilderness

beside stars that have risen never to set?

قالَت لمنشدها نسيبي ما لهُ

ليس النّسيب لمثله بنسيبِ

She told the man reciting my love verse, 'What is wrong with him?

Love poetry is not fitting for a man like him.

فإلام ينشدني تغزّلَ شاعرٍ

ما كان أولاه بوعظِ خطيبِ

Why, then, does he recite a poet's love song to me?

How much more fitting for him was a preacher's admonition!'

يا هذه أصَدىً دعَوت مُرَدّداً

ليجيب منكَ فكان غير مجيبِ

O woman, was it an echo I called repeatedly,

to answer from you, yet it gave no answer?

ليتَ التفاتي في القَريض أعرتهِ

حُسْنَ التفاتك رحمةً لكئيبِ

If only you would lend my turns of speech in verse

the grace of your turning toward me, in mercy to a grieving man.

وذكرت من ضربِ المرفّل صيغةً

بمرفّل من ذلكَ المسحوبِ

And I recalled a pattern of the 'lengthened' metrical ending,

in a long hem of that trailing robe.

وعسى وعيدُك لا يضير فلم أجِدْ

في البحر ضرباً مؤلمَ المضروبِ

Perhaps your threat will not harm me, for I have found

no beat in poetry's sea that hurts the one struck.

إنّ الزمانَ أصابني بزمانةٍ

أبلت بتجديدِ الحَياة قَشيبي

Time has afflicted me with infirmity,

wearing out my fresh garment as life renews itself.

ففنيتُ إلّا ما تطالع فكرتي

بالحذق من حِكَمي ومن تجريبي

I have wasted away, except for what my thought brings forth

with skill, from my wisdom and experience.

ووجدتُ علم الشعر أخفى من هوىً

لم تفشِهِ عينٌ لعين رقيبِ

I have found the art of poetry more hidden than a passion

no eye has revealed to a watcher's eye.

ومدائحُ الحسنِ المبخّرَة التي

فغمتْ بِطيبِ الفخر أَنفَ الطيبِ

And al-Hasan's incense-scented praises, which

filled perfume's own nose with the fragrance of glory.

ذو همَّةٍ بَذَلَ الندى وحمى الهدى

بمهنّدٍ ذَرِبٍ بكفِّ ضروبِ

A man of high resolve, who bestowed bounty and defended right guidance

with a sharp Indian sword in a hand that strikes hard.

حامي الحقيقة عادلٌ لا تتّقي

في أرضه شاةٌ عداوةَ ذيبِ

A defender of honor, just: no ewe need fear

a wolf's hostility within his lands.

ملكٌ غدا للعيد عيداً مُبْهجاً

هُمُعُ العلى حوليه ذات ضروبِ

A king who became a joyous feast for the feast day,

with showers of glory of many kinds surrounding him.

وَرَدَ المصلّى في جلال مُعَظّمٍ

ووَقارِ مُختَشِع وسمتِ منيبِ

He came to the prayer ground with the majesty of one revered,

the gravity of one humbled, and the bearing of one turned to God,

بعرَمرَم رَكبت لإِرجالِ العِدى

عقبانُ جوٍّ فيه أُسْدَ حروبِ

with a mighty host, where, to unhorse the foe,

eagles of the air rode lions of war.

عُقِدَ اللواءُ به على ذي هيبةٍ

حالي المناسبِ بالكرامِ حسيبِ

The standard was fastened there for a man of awe,

high-born, his lineage adorned with noble men.

والبُزلُ تجنحُ بالقبابِ تهادياً

عَوْمَ السفينِ بشمألٍ وجنوبِ

The mature camels sway gently with their canopied litters,

like ships swimming on north and south winds.

من كلّ رهوٍ في المقادة مشيُهُ

نَقلَ الخطى منه على ترتيبِ

Each moves gently when led,

placing its steps in measured order.

وكأنّما تعلو غواربها رُبى

روضٍ بثجّاج الحيا مَهْضوبِ

As though above their withers rose hills

of a meadow drenched by pouring rain.

ونَجائبٍ مثل القِسيِّ ضوامرٍ

وَصَلَت بقطعِ سَباسِبٍ وسهوبِ

And noble camels, lean as bows,

that arrived by crossing wastes and open plains.

من كلّ مختصرِ الفلاةِ بمُعجلٍ

فكأنها إيجازُ لفظِ أديبِ

Each abbreviates the wilderness with a swift stride,

as though they were a writer's concise speech.

يرعى الفلا بفمٍ وترعى نحضَهُ

من منْسَمٍ للمَروِ ذي تشذيبِ

It grazes the desert with its mouth, while the desert grazes its flesh

through a hoof that chips away at flint.

ومطلةٍ في الخافقين خوافقٍ

كقلوب أعداءٍ ذَواتِ وجيبِ

And fluttering banners looming over east and west,

like the pounding hearts of enemies.

من كلّ منشورٍ على أفق الوَغى

مسطورُهُ كالمُهْرَقِ المكتوبِ

Each unfurled above the horizon of battle,

its inscriptions like those of a written scroll.

جاءَتْ تتَرّبُهُ العتاقُ بنقعها

والريح تنفضه منَ التَتريبِ

The thoroughbreds came coating it in their dust,

and the wind shook it free of that dust.

أو كلّ ثعبانٍ يُناطُ بقَسْوَرٍ

بين البنود كمُحْنَقٍ وغَضُوبِ

Or each serpent hung upon a lion,

amid the banners, as though enraged and furious.

صُوَر خُلِعْنَ على المَواتِ فخيلت

فيها الحياة بسورةٍ ووثوبِ

Figures set upon lifeless matter, making it seem

that life was in them, surging fiercely and leaping.

وفغرنَ أفواهاً رحاباً عُطّلَتْ

أشداقها من ألْسُنٍ ونيوبِ

They gaped with spacious mouths, whose

jaws were stripped of tongues and fangs.

من كلّ شخصٍ يحتسي من ريحِهِ

روحاً يحرّك جسمَه بهبوبِ

Each figure drinks from its wind

a spirit that moves its body with the gusts.

وترى بها العنقاءَ تنفضُ سِقْطَها

في نَفْنَفٍ للحائماتِ رحيبِ

There you see the phoenix shaking its wings

in a spacious expanse of air for circling birds.

وَصلتْ ذُرى المَهدِيّتين وهاجرَتْ

وكراً لها بالهِند غيرَ قريبِ

It reached the heights of the two Mahdiyyas, abandoning

a far-off nest of its own in India.

وصواهلٍ مثل العواسل عَدْوُهَا

أبداً لحربِ عدوّك المحروبِ

And neighing horses, whose running is like wolves',

always to war against your despoiled foe.

من كلّ وردٍ ما يشاكلُ لونَهُ

إلا تورّدُ وجنةِ المحبوبِ

Each a rose-red bay, whose color nothing resembles

except the blush of the beloved's cheek.

وكأنّما كَنَزَتْ ذخيرةُ عِتْقِهِ

مِنهُ عبابَ البحر في يَعبوبِ

As though the treasure of its noble breeding had hoarded

within it the sea's surge, in a racing steed.

أَو أَدهمٍ داجي الإِهابِ كَأنّما

صَبَغَ الغرابَ بِلَونِهِ الغربيبِ

Or a black horse, dark of hide, as though it

had dyed the raven with its pitch-black color.

أرساغُهُ دُرَرٌ على فيروزجٍ

لان الصفا من وقعهِ لصليبِ

Its pasterns are pearls upon turquoise;

hard rock softens beneath the impact of its solid hoof.

يعدو ولا ظلٌّ له فكأنّهُ

بَرق فَيا لِلبرقِ مِن مركوبِ

It gallops without a shadow, as though it were

lightning—what a mount that lightning makes!

أَو أَشهبٍ مثل الشهابِ ورَجمهِ

شخصَ المريدِ بِمُحرقٍ مشبوبِ

Or a gray horse, like a shooting star in its pelting

of the rebel demon's form with a kindled blaze.

لا فرقَ ما بين الصباحَ وبينه

إلّا بِعَدْوٍ منه أو تقريبِ

There is no difference between it and the morning,

save that it gallops or moves at a canter.

أو أصفرٍ مثل البهار مغيّر

بسواد عَرْفٍ عَن سَوادِ عسيبِ

Or a yellow horse, like the oxeye blossom, variegated

with a black mane, apart from its black tail.

أو أشعلٍ للون فيه شُعْلَةٌ

تُذْكى بريحٍ منه ذاتُ هبوبِ

Or a white-tailed horse, whose coloring holds a flame

fanned by the gusting wind it makes.

وكأنّه مرداة صخرٍ حَطّهُ

من عَلْوَ سيلٌ ماجَ في تَصويبِ

As though it were a rock-crushing stone, brought down

from on high by a torrent surging in descent.

وكأنّما سَكِرَ الكميتُ بلونه

فلَهُ بمشيتِهِ اختيالُ طروبِ

As though the dark bay were drunk on its own color,

swaggering in its gait like a joyous reveler.

وكأنّ حدّة طرفه وفؤادِه

من خَلْقِهِ في الأذنِ والعرقوبِ

As though the keenness of its gaze and heart

were in its very build, in ear and hock.

وجَلَتْ سروجُ الحَلْيِ فوق متونها

سُرُجاً تألّقُ وهي ذاتُ لهيبِ

The jeweled saddles unveiled above their backs

glittering lamps, alive with flame.

صَدَرَتْ منَ الذَهَب الثَقيلِ خِفافُها

ونشاطها متخثّرٌ بلغوبِ

Their nimble steeds returned, weighed down by heavy gold,

their vigor dulled by weariness.

وكأنّما من كلّ شمسٍ حلية

صيغتْ لكلّ مُسَوّمٍ مَجْنوبِ

As though an ornament from every sun

had been fashioned for each marked steed led alongside.

صلّيتَ ثم قفوتَ مِلّةَ أحْمَدٍ

في نَحْرِ كلّ نجيبةٍ ونَجيبِ

You prayed, then followed Ahmad's faith

in sacrificing every noble she-camel and male camel.

مِن كُلّ مُرتَفِعِ السنام تَحمّلتْ

فيه المُدَى بالفرْيِ والتّرغيبِ

Each with a lofty hump, upon which

the knives undertook the cutting and enticing.

حيثُ الندى بعفاتِه مُتبرحٌ

تُسْديه كفّ متوَّج محجوبِ

Where bounty is lavish toward those who seek it,

bestowed by the hand of a crowned, secluded ruler.

يا من قوافينا مخافةَ نَقْدِهِ

خَلُصَتْ منَ التَنقيحِ وَالتَهذيبِ

O you, for fear of whose criticism our rhymes

have emerged flawless from revision and refinement,

لَم يَبقَ في الدنيا مَكان غَير ذا

يُجْري المديحَ به ذوو التأويبِ

no place remains in all the world but this

where daylong travelers pour forth praise.

خُذها عَروسَ مَحافل لا تجتلى

إلا بحلي علاك فَوقَ تَريبِ

Take her, a bride of assemblies, never unveiled

save with the jewels of your loftiness upon her breast.

لَم يَخرج الدرُّ الَّذي زينت به

إلّا بغوصٍ في البُحورِ قَريبِ

The pearls with which she was adorned came forth

only through a brief dive into the seas of verse.

أَما بَناتي المفرداتِ فإنَّها

في الحُسنِ أَشهر من بناتِ حبيبِ

As for my matchless daughters,

they are more renowned for beauty than Habib's daughters.

لا ينكحُ العذراءَ إلا ماجدٌ

تَبقَى بِعصمَتِه بقاءَ عسيبِ

Only a noble man weds the virgin,

who stays in his protection as long as Asib endures.

وأنا أبو الحسناءِ والغرّاءِ إنْ

أُغْرِبْ فما الإغرابُ لي بغريبِ

I am father to the fair and the radiant; if

I create wonders, wonder is no stranger to me.

يَدعو لكَ الحجّاجُ عند عجيجهم

وصِياحِهِمْ بالبيتِ في ترجيبِ

The pilgrims pray for you amid their clamor

and their cries at the House, in reverence:

من كلّ أشعثَ مُحْرِمٍ بلغ المُنَى

بِمِنىً وأدركَ غايةَ المطلوبِ

each disheveled pilgrim in consecration who attained his wishes

at Mina, and reached his sought-for goal,

يبكي بمكّة والحجونِ مُرَدّداً

وبيثربٍ يدعو بلا تَثريبِ

weeping at Mecca and al-Hajun, repeating his prayer,

and praying at Yathrib without reproach.

فَبَقيتَ في العليا لتدميرِ العِدَى

وغِنى الفَقير وفرجةِ المَكروبِ

So may you remain in highest glory, to destroy the foes

and enrich the poor and relieve the distressed.