ألا قاتَلَ اللهُ بَغْدادَ تَارا

ألا قاتَلَ اللهُ بَغْدادَ تَارا

وقاتَلَ عَيْشاً بها مُسْتَعارا

وقاتَلَ عَيْشاً بها مُسْتَعارا

Ah, may God curse Baghdad once,

Alas, may God destroy Baghdad, once bright

and curse a life borrowed there.

And destroy the borrowed pleasures of life within,

لَيالي أسحبُ بُردَ الشّبا

لَيالي أسحبُ بُردَ الشّبا

ب عُجْباً بجدَّتِهِ واغتِرارا

ب عُجْباً بجدَّتِهِ واغتِرارا

Those nights when I trailed youth's mantle,

I spend nights drawing the cold of youth over me in wonder, fooled by its novelty,

proud of its freshness, and deluded.

For gray hair inevitably followed it,

فقد أعقبَ الشيبُ من بعدِهِ

فقد أعقبَ الشيبُ من بعدِهِ

وهلْ تُعقِبُ الخَمْرُ إلاّ خُمارا

وهلْ تُعقِبُ الخَمْرُ إلاّ خُمارا

For gray hair followed after it—

And does wine lead to anything but tipsiness?

does wine leave anything but a hangover?

Congratulations to my dream that I have granted it the passion it desired and abandoned harmful drinking,

هنيئاً لحلميَ أنّي وَهَبْ

هنيئاً لحلميَ أنّي وَهَبْ

تُ لهوى له وهَجَرتُ العُقارا

تُ لهوى له وهَجَرتُ العُقارا

Good fortune to my forbearance: I have given

And stealing secret glances with my eyes dim with longing,

my diversion to it, and forsaken wine,

Show kindness, for after sunset

ومُستَرِقاً من خَفِيِّ اللحا

ومُستَرِقاً من خَفِيِّ اللحا

ظِ تُحْسِنُ عينايَ فيه الغِمارا

ظِ تُحْسِنُ عينايَ فيه الغِمارا

and a stolen share of secret glances,

I know of my fault and remorse,

in which my eyes excelled at daring plunges.

And I have not ceased disliking the absence of men since you left, until I disliked secrets,

تعطّفْ فإنّي بعد الشّماسِ

تعطّفْ فإنّي بعد الشّماسِ

على مِسْحَلي وعَرَفْتُ العِذارا

على مِسْحَلي وعَرَفْتُ العِذارا

Show compassion: after my restiveness,

So I have become barren to misfortunes and freely pour out my laments,

I submit to my bit and have learned the cheekstrap.

You consider the matter of the weak but evil seems good to you,

وما زلتُ أكرهُ غَيْبَ الرّجا

وما زلتُ أكرهُ غَيْبَ الرّجا

لِ بعدَكَ حتى كرِهتُ السِّرارا

لِ بعدَكَ حتى كرِهتُ السِّرارا

I have kept loathing men's hidden ways,

Usamah looks down on a man for his clothes and seeks to flee from him,

after you, until I loathed secret talk.

By my life, the knot of worries has been untied by the greatest

فقد صِرْتُ أصْحَرُ للنّائبا

فقد صِرْتُ أصْحَرُ للنّائبا

تِ وألقي المخاتلَ فيها جِهارا

تِ وألقي المخاتلَ فيها جِهارا

Now I face misfortunes out in the open,

Who makes the earth seem small as he spreads

and meet the schemer in them openly.

Khorasan in his right hand

تَعافُ الأمرَّ من المتَتَيْ

تَعافُ الأمرَّ من المتَتَيْ

نِ والشَّرُّ تَحسَبُ فيه خَيارا

نِ والشَّرُّ تَحسَبُ فيه خَيارا

You shun the bitterer of the two [deaths?],

And pounds the desert land with his left,

and think that evil offers a choice.

Until only the abode of humility remained, its best state to be a neighbor,

وتَحتقِرُ المرءَ في ثوبِه

وتَحتقِرُ المرءَ في ثوبِه

أُسامَةُ تطلُبُ منه الفِرارا

أُسامَةُ تطلُبُ منه الفِرارا

You scorn the man in his robe—

A young man who consults no one about his concerns

a lion, Usama, from whom you seek escape.

And takes no action without careful consideration,

لعَمري لقد حلّ عقْدَ الخُطو

لعَمري لقد حلّ عقْدَ الخُطو

بِ أروعُ يستصغِرُ الأرضَ دارا

بِ أروعُ يستصغِرُ الأرضَ دارا

By my life, the knot of misfortunes has been untied

So inform him with a letter or voice

by an awe-inspiring man who finds earth too small a home.

Of one suffering who does not mind the difficulty,

تَضُمُّ خُراسانَ يمنى يديهِ

تَضُمُّ خُراسانَ يمنى يديهِ

وتَخْبِطُ يُسرى يديهِ الجِفارا

وتَخْبِطُ يُسرى يديهِ الجِفارا

His right hand embraces Khorasan,

You have read my letters of longing yet your affection did not increase,

and his left hand strikes al-Jifar.

Do you tell us of meetings when you would not even light a fire?

فلم يبقَ إلا محلُّ الذلي

فلم يبقَ إلا محلُّ الذلي

لِ أفضلُ حالاتِهِ أنْ يُجارا

لِ أفضلُ حالاتِهِ أنْ يُجارا

Thus nothing remains but the station of the abased,

He disdains the brave but drives away

whose best condition is to be granted protection.

The vile out of contempt,

فتىً لاي يُشاورُ في هَمِّهِ

فتىً لاي يُشاورُ في هَمِّهِ

ولا يأخذُ الأمرَ إلاّ اقتِسارا

ولا يأخذُ الأمرَ إلاّ اقتِسارا

A youth who consults none about his resolve,

Eyes that see hated faces – if fear left you waiting

and seizes command only by force.

For every raging spark whose running does not cease,

فأبلغْ ببرقةَ أو بالصّعي

فأبلغْ ببرقةَ أو بالصّعي

دِ مُنْتَفِقاً لا يريمُ الوِجارا

دِ مُنْتَفِقاً لا يريمُ الوِجارا

So tell, in Barqa or in al-Sa'id,

With flaming blade that makes the brave shudder cautiously,

a burrower who never leaves his den:

Deceiving your eye until you imagine

فَتَلْتَ على نَشَراتِ الشما

فَتَلْتَ على نَشَراتِ الشما

لِ فما زادَ حبلُكَ إلاّ انتِشارا

لِ فما زادَ حبلُكَ إلاّ انتِشارا

you twisted upon the north wind's scattered strands,

The surface of its water is vacant land,

and your rope only unraveled the more.

White but becomes brown when it touches blood,

أأنتَ تحدِّثنا باللّقاءِ

أأنتَ تحدِّثنا باللّقاءِ

وما كنتَ تَحْرِقُ لو كتَ نارا

وما كنتَ تَحْرِقُ لو كتَ نارا

Is it you who speaks to us of battle?

It leaves the palm of the skilled physician who seeks to heal its edge,

You would not burn even if you were fire.

So O crown of the community of the Lord of servants, not the crown of an insincere community,

يُعافُ الخَنا ويُصدُّ الكري

يُعافُ الخَنا ويُصدُّ الكري

مُ عن هَفَواتِ اللّئيمِ احتقارا

مُ عن هَفَواتِ اللّئيمِ احتقارا

Obscenity is abhorred; the nobleman is turned

No prayer you have uttered falsely,

from the base man's lapses by contempt.

No title you have borrowed,

نَظارِ تَرَ الأوجهَ المُنكَرَا

نَظارِ تَرَ الأوجهَ المُنكَرَا

تِ إنْ تَرَكَ الخوفُ فيكَ انتظارا

تِ إنْ تَرَكَ الخوفُ فيكَ انتظارا

Wait—you will see fearsome faces,

The days alarm me with what they bring

if fear leaves you any patience:

And what else do I fear besides your betrayal?

على كلّ سَلْهَبَةٍ لا يزي

على كلّ سَلْهَبَةٍ لا يزي

دُ جريتَها الركضُ إلاّ انفِجارا

دُ جريتَها الركضُ إلاّ انفِجارا

on every tall, slender mare, with nothing added

And still I emerge from its twists

to her stride by spurring but a greater surge;

Like the charging horses bursting forth through dust,

وملتَهبِ المَتْنِ والشّفْرتي

وملتَهبِ المَتْنِ والشّفْرتي

ن يَرْتَعِدُ القَينُ منه حِذارا

ن يَرْتَعِدُ القَينُ منه حِذارا

and a sword ablaze along its back and both edges,

You have relieved me of hardship until your palm seemed

before which the smith trembles in fear.

To place prosperity in my left hand,

يُخادعُ عينكَ حتى تَخالَ

يُخادعُ عينكَ حتى تَخالَ

من الماءِ في صَفْحَتيهِ قِفارا

من الماءِ في صَفْحَتيهِ قِفارا

It deceives your eye until you imagine

So do not make gratitude my limit,

deserts of water upon its two faces;

I fear stumbling in that out of inadequacy,

وأبيضَ يَحْمِلُ يومَ الطِّعا

وأبيضَ يَحْمِلُ يومَ الطِّعا

نِ أسمرَ إنْ عاينَ العِرْقَ فارا

نِ أسمرَ إنْ عاينَ العِرْقَ فارا

and a fair warrior who bears, on the day of spear-fighting,

For your captivity pleases me

a dusky spear that seethes if it sights a vein.

And I never loved captivity before you,

يُغادِرُ نَجْلاءَ كفُّ الطبي

يُغادِرُ نَجْلاءَ كفُّ الطبي

بِ تَطلُبُ في حافتيها السِّبارا

بِ تَطلُبُ في حافتيها السِّبارا

It leaves a gaping wound; the physician's hand

One who praises himself deludes you

seeks the probe along its two edges.

And trials reveal the best,

فَيا تاجَ ملّةِ رَبِّ العِبا

فَيا تاجَ ملّةِ رَبِّ العِبا

دِ لا تاجَ مِلّةِ قَومٍ ظُهارا

دِ لا تاجَ مِلّةِ قَومٍ ظُهارا

So, O Crown of the faith of the Lord of His servants,

Had you sought the flowers of Edom

not the crown of a people's faith [unclear final word],

The night would not have raised its lanterns,

ولا دعوةً قُلتَها كاذِباً

ولا دعوةً قُلتَها كاذِباً

ولا لَقَباً نِلْتَهُ مُسْتَعارا

ولا لَقَباً نِلْتَهُ مُسْتَعارا

nor a claim you voiced falsely,

And the hidden lover asking where his companion went

nor a title you acquired on loan.

Would not roam by the light of your fire,

يُخَوّفني الدّهْرُ أحْداثَهُ

يُخَوّفني الدّهْرُ أحْداثَهُ

وهل غيرَ حدِّكَ أخْشى غِرارا

وهل غيرَ حدِّكَ أخْشى غِرارا

Time threatens me with its calamities,

I bear witness that in leaving it

but what edge do I fear besides yours?

You protect yourself and observe propriety,

وما زلتُ أخْرُجُ من صَرفِهِ

وما زلتُ أخْرُجُ من صَرفِهِ

خروجَ السّوابقِ تَنضو الغُبارا

خروجَ السّوابقِ تَنضو الغُبارا

I have always emerged from its vicissitudes

A poised stance for you in self-restraint

like swift racehorses shaking off the dust.

From which solemnity steals grandeur,

نَعَشْتَ من العسرِ حتى حسب

نَعَشْتَ من العسرِ حتى حسب

تُ كفّكَ تُودِعُ كفّي اليَسارا

تُ كفّكَ تُودِعُ كفّي اليَسارا

You raised me from hardship, until I thought

And depth of character where the torrent finds no rest,

your palm was placing prosperity in mine.

When minds are sought, it plays with them

فلا تجعلِ الشكرَ لي غايةً

فلا تجعلِ الشكرَ لي غايةً

أخافُ من العَجْزِ فيها العِثارا

أخافُ من العَجْزِ فيها العِثارا

So do not make gratitude my finish line,

The play of the gazelle’s glance – a confusing game,

where I fear stumbling through inadequacy.

Like a people whose hopes you extended

فإنّ إسارَكَ لي مُعْجِبٌ

فإنّ إسارَكَ لي مُعْجِبٌ

وما كنتُ قبلَك أهوى الإسارا

وما كنتُ قبلَك أهوى الإسارا

For your bonds delight me,

Then were their ruin,

and before you I never loved bondage.

Your cunning wears its own clothes

يغرُّكَ من نَفْسِهِ واصِفٌ

يغرُّكَ من نَفْسِهِ واصِفٌ

وعند التّجاربِ تبلو الخِيارا

وعند التّجاربِ تبلو الخِيارا

One who describes himself deceives you;

As the chameleon wears camouflage,

and through trials you test the best.

The discerning says, when he sees it,

ولو كنتَ تَطْلُبُ زُهْرَ النّجو

ولو كنتَ تَطْلُبُ زُهْرَ النّجو

مِ ما رفعَ الليلُ منها مَنارا

مِ ما رفعَ الليلُ منها مَنارا

Had you sought the radiant stars,

“Was this not an earring?”

night would have raised no beacon from them,

Though fire may lie in its coil

وباتَ الخَفيُّ من الفَرْقَدَيْ

وباتَ الخَفيُّ من الفَرْقَدَيْ

نِ يسْأَلُ عن إلْفِهِ أينَ سارا

نِ يسْأَلُ عن إلْفِهِ أينَ سارا

and the hidden one of the two Farqads would spend the night

And it refuses along with mankind anything but borrowed light,

asking after its companion: 'Where has it gone?'

If the days knew how your nearness increased them

وما طِرْنَ يَشرينَ هامَ الرجا

وما طِرْنَ يَشرينَ هامَ الرجا

لِ من ضوءِ نارِكَ إلا شَرارا

لِ من ضوءِ نارِكَ إلا شَرارا

Nor did they fly out, buying men's heads,

And closeness did not lead to aversion,

from the light of your fire except as sparks.

Its sun would never be strange

وأشْهَدُ أنكَ في تَركِها

وأشْهَدُ أنكَ في تَركِها

تَحوطُ الذمامَ وتَرعى الجِوارا

تَحوطُ الذمامَ وتَرعى الجِوارا

And I testify that, in leaving them alone,

Nor its night the opposite of its day.

you safeguard pledges and honor neighborly protection.

أبَتْ وَقفةٌ لكَ في المُحْفِظا

أبَتْ وَقفةٌ لكَ في المُحْفِظا

تِ يسترقُ الحِلْمُ منها الوَقارا

تِ يسترقُ الحِلْمُ منها الوَقارا

A stand of yours amid provocations forbade that,

from which forbearance steals its dignity,

وغائرة القَعْرِ من شِيمَتَي

وغائرة القَعْرِ من شِيمَتَي

كَ لا يجد السّيْلُ فيها قَرارا

كَ لا يجد السّيْلُ فيها قَرارا

as did a deep-bottomed one of your two traits,

in which a torrent finds no resting-place.

إذا طُلِبَتْ لَعِبَتْ بالعقو

إذا طُلِبَتْ لَعِبَتْ بالعقو

لِ لَعْبَ الغزالةِ بالطَرفِ حارا

لِ لَعْبَ الغزالةِ بالطَرفِ حارا

When sought, it plays with minds

as the sun plays with the eye, leaving it dazzled.

كقومٍ مددتَ لهم في المُنى

كقومٍ مددتَ لهم في المُنى

مطامعَ كانتْ عليهم دَمارا

مطامعَ كانتْ عليهم دَمارا

Like a people for whom you stretched out, amid their wishes,

hopes that brought them destruction.

وكيدُكَ يَلبَسُ أثوابهُ

وكيدُكَ يَلبَسُ أثوابهُ

كما يلبسُ الزِبْرِقانُ السِّرارا

كما يلبسُ الزِبْرِقانُ السِّرارا

And your guile puts on its garments

as the full moon dons the moonless dark.

يقولُ البَصيرُ إذا ما رآ

يقولُ البَصيرُ إذا ما رآ

هُ تاجاً أمَا كانَ هذا سِوارا

هُ تاجاً أمَا كانَ هذا سِوارا

The discerning man says, when he sees

it as a crown, 'Was this not a bracelet?'

وقد تكمن النارُ في زندِها

وقد تكمن النارُ في زندِها

وتأبى مع الوَرى إلاّ استِعارا

وتأبى مع الوَرى إلاّ استِعارا

And fire may lie hidden in its fire-stick,

yet among mankind it insists on nothing but blazing.

فلو شعرَ الدّهرُ ما زادَهُ

فلو شعرَ الدّهرُ ما زادَهُ

دُنوّكَ والقربُ إلاّ نِفارا

دُنوّكَ والقربُ إلاّ نِفارا

If Time could feel, it would be made

only more prone to flee by your nearness and approach.

ولا غَرَبَتْ أبداً شمْسُهُ

ولا غَرَبَتْ أبداً شمْسُهُ

ولا خالفَ الليلُ فيهِ النّهارا

ولا خالفَ الليلُ فيهِ النّهارا

And its sun would never set,

nor would night differ from day within it.