سَقَامٌ ما يُصَابُ له طَبيبُ

سَقَامٌ ما يُصَابُ له طَبيبُ

وأَيامٌ مَحَاسِنُهَا عُيُوبُ

وأَيامٌ مَحَاسِنُهَا عُيُوبُ

An illness for which no physician can be found,

An illness with no cure for its healer,

And days whose beauties are flaws,

And days whose beauties are but flaws,

ودهرٌ ليس يَقْبلُ من نَصِيْحٍ

ودهرٌ ليس يَقْبلُ من نَصِيْحٍ

كما لا يَقبلُ التَّأْدِيْبَ ذِيبُ

كما لا يَقبلُ التَّأْدِيْبَ ذِيبُ

And an age that will not listen to a sincere adviser,

And a time that accepts no good advice,

just as a wolf accepts no discipline.

Like a wolf accepts no discipline,

يُحَبُّ على المَصَائبِ والرزايا

يُحَبُّ على المَصَائبِ والرزايا

فلا كانَ المُحِبُّ ولا الحَبيبُ

فلا كانَ المُحِبُّ ولا الحَبيبُ

It is loved despite misfortunes and calamities—

Love remains despite adversities and calamities,

may neither lover nor beloved exist!

Neither was the lover nor the beloved there,

أَلا لا تَدْنُ من أَربي وخَالبْ

أَلا لا تَدْنُ من أَربي وخَالبْ

رجالاً يَستفزُّهمُ الخَلُوبُ

رجالاً يَستفزُّهمُ الخَلُوبُ

Beware: do not approach my desire; instead beguile

Beware, do not come near deceitful men

men whom the beguiler stirs.

Whose evil is stirred by seclusion,

خَفِيتَ عليهم والسُّمُ يُخفى

خَفِيتَ عليهم والسُّمُ يُخفى

مَرارةَ طَعْمِهِ العَمَلُ المَشُوْبُ

مَرارةَ طَعْمِهِ العَمَلُ المَشُوْبُ

You escaped their notice; poison too is concealed—

You hid from them while the poison hides

its bitter taste masked by adulterated honey [text reads 'work'].

The bitterness of its taste, the tainted deed,

ومغرورٍ بوصْلكَ ليسَ يَدْري

ومغرورٍ بوصْلكَ ليسَ يَدْري

متى يُدعى بِهِ ومتى يُجيبُ

متى يُدعى بِهِ ومتى يُجيبُ

And many a man deceived by your closeness does not know

And one deluded by your company who knows not

when he will be called for, and when he will answer.

When he'll be called or when he'll answer,

يَظُنُّ العيشَ ليس يَضُرُّ يوماً

يَظُنُّ العيشَ ليس يَضُرُّ يوماً

اذا ما سرَّ والبلوى ضُرُوبُ

اذا ما سرَّ والبلوى ضُرُوبُ

He thinks that life will never harm him

He thinks life will not harm one day

when it gives him joy—yet affliction has many forms.

If it went well while afflictions have kinds,

نظرتُ فما أرَى الاَّ غَفُولاً

نظرتُ فما أرَى الاَّ غَفُولاً

يَمُدُّ رَجَاءَهُ الطَّمَعُ الكَذُوبُ

يَمُدُّ رَجَاءَهُ الطَّمَعُ الكَذُوبُ

I looked, and see only a heedless man

I looked but saw none except the heedless

whose hopes deceitful greed keeps stretching.

Whose hopes are fed by the lying greed,

أَبعدَ الأَريحيِّ أَبي شُجاعٍ

أَبعدَ الأَريحيِّ أَبي شُجاعٍ

يُسَرُّ بعيشهِ الفَطِنُ اللبيبُ

يُسَرُّ بعيشهِ الفَطِنُ اللبيبُ

After the generous Abu Shujaʿ,

After Al-Arihaee, my father Abu Shuja’,

can the perceptive, discerning man rejoice in his life?

the wise and brilliant lived a happy life,

وقد ملكَ البلادَ وما أَديرتْ

وقد ملكَ البلادَ وما أَديرتْ

عليه الشّمسُ تطلُعُ أَو تَغِيبُ

عليه الشّمسُ تطلُعُ أَو تَغِيبُ

He had ruled the lands and all over which

And he ruled the lands but the sun did not rise or set

the sun circles, whether it rises or sets.

On him while abundance made it rebel,

رأَيتُ جنودَه لم تغن عنه

رأَيتُ جنودَه لم تغن عنه

وقد جَعَلَتْ بوفرتها تَثُوبُ

وقد جَعَلَتْ بوفرتها تَثُوبُ

I saw that his troops could not avail him,

He called them as it climbed into his throat

though in their multitudes they began to rally.

But neither the far nor the near availed,

دَعَاهُم وهي تَصْعَدُ في حَشَاهُ

دَعَاهُم وهي تَصْعَدُ في حَشَاهُ

فما نَفَعَ البعيدُ ولا القَريبُ

فما نَفَعَ البعيدُ ولا القَريبُ

He summoned them as it mounted within his breast,

Nor what his hands had amassed of every luxury,

but neither the distant nor the near was any help,

As fate had a share in him,

ولا ما جمَّعَتْ من كل وفرٍ

ولا ما جمَّعَتْ من كل وفرٍ

يداه والمنونُ لها نَصِيبُ

يداه والمنونُ لها نَصِيبُ

nor all the wealth amassed

It pains me that you yielded willingly,

by his hands—death has its share.

While you made those who roused you quiver,

يَعِزُّ عليَّ أَنْ تَنْقَادَ طَوعاً

يَعِزُّ عليَّ أَنْ تَنْقَادَ طَوعاً

وأنتَ لكلِّ ما جَدَحُوا شَرُوبُ

وأنتَ لكلِّ ما جَدَحُوا شَرُوبُ

It pains me that you should submit willingly,

It astonishes that you were subdued by those

you who drank deeply of every cup they mixed.

Whose buzzing you once frightened, strange indeed,

يَرِقُّ عليكَ مَنْ قَدْ كانَ يَخْشَى

يَرِقُّ عليكَ مَنْ قَدْ كانَ يَخْشَى

ذُبابَكَ انَّ ذا عَجَبٌ عَجيبُ

ذُبابَكَ انَّ ذا عَجَبٌ عَجيبُ

He pities you who once feared

So the astrologer knew not when he judged

your blade's edge—this is an astonishing marvel.

What the obscurities would addle in you,

فما عَلِمَ المُنَجّمُ حين يَقضي

فما عَلِمَ المُنَجّمُ حين يَقضي

بِبُرئكَ ما تُجَمْجِمُهُ الغُيُوبُ

بِبُرئكَ ما تُجَمْجِمُهُ الغُيُوبُ

The astrologer did not know, when he foretold

Nor did the doctor know the cure for an illness

your recovery, what the unseen mysteries concealed.

In which you and the doctor are equal,

ولا عَرَفَ الطبيبُ دواءَ داءٍ

ولا عَرَفَ الطبيبُ دواءَ داءٍ

سَواءٌ أَنتَ فيه والطبيبُ

سَواءٌ أَنتَ فيه والطبيبُ

Nor did the physician know a cure for a disease

One day he says the sickness is but a cold,

before which you and the physician are alike,

And that recovery's path is easy,

غَداةَ يقول انَّ السقمَ رَكضٌ

غَداةَ يقول انَّ السقمَ رَكضٌ

وانَّ البرءَ ممشاهُ دَبِيبُ

وانَّ البرءَ ممشاهُ دَبِيبُ

when he said, 'Illness gallops,

Adversities grew bold and prolonged against us

while recovery moves at a crawl.'

After you left, the calamities took turns,

تَجرأتِ الحَوادثُ واستَطَالَتْ

تَجرأتِ الحَوادثُ واستَطَالَتْ

علينا بعد فُرْقَتِك الخُطُوبُ

علينا بعد فُرْقَتِك الخُطُوبُ

Misfortunes grew bold, and calamities lorded themselves

And ceaselessly you hear a fool say

over us after your departure.

Words that amazed even the orator,

وَجَاهَدْنا العدوَّ فكلُّ يومٍ

وَجَاهَدْنا العدوَّ فكلُّ يومٍ

علينا منه نائبةٌ تَنُوبُ

علينا منه نائبةٌ تَنُوبُ

We fought the enemy, and every day

By my father's life, you comforted and settled

some calamity from him befalls us.

Hearts that sadness used to haunt,

وما تنفكُّ تَسمعُ من غبيٍّ

وما تنفكُّ تَسمعُ من غبيٍّ

مَقَالاً كانَ برهبه الخطيب

مَقَالاً كانَ برهبه الخطيب

And you never cease to hear from a fool

And eyes slept that indifference would arouse

words the orator once feared [unclear reading].

Their lids for what arouses suspicion,

لعمر أبي لقد سكنت وقرت

لعمر أبي لقد سكنت وقرت

قلوب كان يألفُها الوَجِيبُ

قلوب كان يألفُها الوَجِيبُ

By my father's life, they have grown still and settled—

We knew slumber tasting and sensing

hearts that pounding once inhabited.

As you made them twist with strange sorrow,

ونامت أَعينٌ كانَ التَّغاضِي

ونامت أَعينٌ كانَ التَّغاضِي

يريبُ جُفُونَها فيما يرِيبُ

يريبُ جُفُونَها فيما يرِيبُ

And eyes have slept; once even half-closing them

Sorrow in which visions and pining increase

was among the things that troubled their lids.

With no companion or watchdog over it,

عَرَفْنَ النومَ مَضْمَضَةً وَمَذْقاً

عَرَفْنَ النومَ مَضْمَضَةً وَمَذْقاً

فقد أَلَوى بِهنَّ كَرىً غَرِيبُ

فقد أَلَوى بِهنَّ كَرىً غَرِيبُ

They knew sleep only as a mouth-rinse, a watered draught;

Grief enough that you every day

now an unfamiliar slumber has swept them away.

Return while the absent do not,

كرى يزدادُ فيه الطيفُ وهناً

كرى يزدادُ فيه الطيفُ وهناً

ولا واشٍ عليه ولا رَقيبُ

ولا واشٍ عليه ولا رَقيبُ

A slumber in which the dream-phantom grows weaker,

To a land you became neighbor of dust

with no tale-bearer against it and no watcher.

In it while both of you are strangers in it,

كفى حُزناً بأنَّكَ كلَّ يومٍ

كفى حُزناً بأنَّكَ كلَّ يومٍ

يَؤُوبُ الغائبونَ ولا تَؤُوبُ

يَؤُوبُ الغائبونَ ولا تَؤُوبُ

It is grief enough that, day after day,

Its homesickness did not bore its inhabitants

the absent return, but you do not.

With prevailing winds, pouring downpours,

بأَرضٍ صِرْتَ جارَ أَبي تُرَابٍ

بأَرضٍ صِرْتَ جارَ أَبي تُرَابٍ

بها وكلاكُما فيها غَريبُ

بها وكلاكُما فيها غَريبُ

In a land where you have become Abu Turab's neighbor,

Scattered by the north when it shed

both of you are strangers there.

Its tears and gathered by the south,

فلا سئمَ الغَريَّ وساكنيه

فلا سئمَ الغَريَّ وساكنيه

من الأنواءِ سَارِيَةٌ سَكُوبُ

من الأنواءِ سَارِيَةٌ سَكُوبُ

May al-Ghari and its dwellers never weary

I'm glad a land was generous to you

a night-traveling cloud pouring the seasonal rains.

With your bones under its solid melting,

تُفرقُها الشَّمالُ اذا أَراقَتْ

تُفرقُها الشَّمالُ اذا أَراقَتْ

مَدَامِعَها وتَجمعهَا الجَنُوبُ

مَدَامِعَها وتَجمعهَا الجَنُوبُ

The north wind scatters it when it sheds

And happy with the winds and no stillness

its tears, and the south wind gathers it.

Feels your echo nor blowing,

أُسَرُّ بأَنْ تجادَ عليكَ أَرْضٌ

أُسَرُّ بأَنْ تجادَ عليكَ أَرْضٌ

عِظامُكَ تَحْتَ جامدِها تَذُوبُ

عِظامُكَ تَحْتَ جامدِها تَذُوبُ

I rejoice that the earth above you is lavishly watered,

Hope the day you left us nears

while your bones dissolve beneath its solid crust.

However much it comes near,

وأَفرحُ بالرياحِ ولا ركودٌ

وأَفرحُ بالرياحِ ولا ركودٌ

يُحِسُّ به صَداكَ ولا هُبُوبُ

يُحِسُّ به صَداكَ ولا هُبُوبُ

And I rejoice in the winds, though no stillness

After you ties of elegy were untied

is felt by your lifeless body, nor any gust.

And praise and lineage were cancelled,

عسى اليومَ الذي غاداكَ منَّا

عسى اليومَ الذي غاداكَ منَّا

قريبٌ كلما يأتي قَريبُ

قريبٌ كلما يأتي قَريبُ

May the day that came to you at dawn be, for us,

And the first ranks were excused and rested

near—for everything yet to come is near.

And battles slept after their wakefulness,

فَبعْدَكَ وُشِّيَتْ حُلَلُ المَراثي

فَبعْدَكَ وُشِّيَتْ حُلَلُ المَراثي

وَعُطلتِ المدائحُ والنَّسِيبُ

وَعُطلتِ المدائحُ والنَّسِيبُ

After you, the robes of elegy were embroidered,

Your thoroughbreds in meadows stalled

while praise-poems and love-poetry were left idle.

Running after you tired them and the pulls,

وأُعفيتِ السَّوابقُ فاستَراحَت

وأُعفيتِ السَّوابقُ فاستَراحَت

ونامتْ بعدَ يَقْظَتِهَا الحُروبُ

ونامتْ بعدَ يَقْظَتِهَا الحُروبُ

The fleet steeds were released from service and rested,

So there is no chewing the sorrel for them

and wars slept after their wakefulness.

Nor smelling the south wind's tails,

جَيادُكَ في الرياضِ مُعَطَّلاتٌ

جَيادُكَ في الرياضِ مُعَطَّلاتٌ

جَفَاهَا السيرُ بعدَكَ واللغُوبُ

جَفَاهَا السيرُ بعدَكَ واللغُوبُ

Your fine steeds stand idle in the meadows;

And with your quandaries each day

travel and weariness have forsaken them since you.

The enemies are lured by greed,

فلا مضغ الشكيم لها قضيم

فلا مضغ الشكيم لها قضيم

ولا شم الجنوب لها ذَنوبُ

ولا شم الجنوب لها ذَنوبُ

No chewing of the bit now serves them as fodder,

Well-bred are led to the stirrups

nor smelling the south wind as a bucketful of water.

While the feeble cannot bridle them,

وكنَّ بِمُعْضِلاتِكَ كلَّ يومٍ

وكنَّ بِمُعْضِلاتِكَ كلَّ يومٍ

على الأَعداءِ تجلبها الجَلُوبُ

على الأَعداءِ تجلبها الجَلُوبُ

Every day, in your arduous undertakings, they were

Their teeth eaten by afflictions

driven against the enemies by the tireless musterer.

So neither walking nor trotting from them,

تُقاد الى الركابِ مُجنَّباتٍ

تُقاد الى الركابِ مُجنَّباتٍ

وما لهوانهِ قِيْدَ الجَنِيبُ

وما لهوانهِ قِيْدَ الجَنِيبُ

They were led alongside the riding camels as spare mounts,

Seats of youths who shunned their comrades

yet no led horse was led because it was despised.

Until overcome by ardent zeal,

وقد أكلتْ سنابكَهَا المَوامى

وقد أكلتْ سنابكَهَا المَوامى

فلان المشيُ منها والدَّبيبُ

فلان المشيُ منها والدَّبيبُ

The desert wastes had eaten away their hooves,

Were beds prohibited or neglected?

so their walking and slow stepping grew gentle.

Or are the youth without ardors?

مقاعدُ فتيةٍ هجروا كَراهُمْ

مقاعدُ فتيةٍ هجروا كَراهُمْ

الى أَنْ يُدرِكَ التِّرَةَ الطَّلُوبُ

الى أَنْ يُدرِكَ التِّرَةَ الطَّلُوبُ

Seats for young men who forsook their sleep

As if impoverished of rides,

until the relentless seeker attained his blood-revenge.

Propped up by canes.

أَحُرِّمتِ المضاجعُ أَمْ أُضِيعَتْ

أَحُرِّمتِ المضاجعُ أَمْ أُضِيعَتْ

أمِ الفتيانُ ليس لهم جُنُوبُ

أمِ الفتيانُ ليس لهم جُنُوبُ

Were beds forbidden, or abandoned,

I remembered you and nothing makes me forget you

or did the young men have no sides to lie upon?

Does the insightful forget his experiences?

كأَنهم على فِقَرِ المطايا

كأَنهم على فِقَرِ المطايا

أَنابيبٌ تُساندُها كُعُوبُ

أَنابيبٌ تُساندُها كُعُوبُ

As though, upon their mounts' vertebrae, they were

While the people softened toward my equal

hollow shafts supported by joints.

And gloom showed on their faces,

ذكرتُ فليسَ يُنْسِينيِكَ شيءٌ

ذكرتُ فليسَ يُنْسِينيِكَ شيءٌ

وهل يَنْسَى تَجَارِبَهُ اللبِيبُ

وهل يَنْسَى تَجَارِبَهُ اللبِيبُ

I remembered you; nothing makes me forget you,

You have no protector from injustice's harm

for does a discerning man forget his experiences?

If the angry conscience does not protect you,

على حينَ استلانَ القومُ مَسِّي

على حينَ استلانَ القومُ مَسِّي

وأَعلنَ في وجوهِهم القُطُوبُ

وأَعلنَ في وجوهِهم القُطُوبُ

When the people found me soft to the touch,

Oh eye, so celebrate him

and scowling showed openly upon their faces.

Though your lids ulcerate and the sun sets,

وما لكَ من اباءِ الضيمِ حَامٍ

وما لكَ من اباءِ الضيمِ حَامٍ

اذا لم يَحْمِكَ الأنِفُ الغَضُوبُ

اذا لم يَحْمِكَ الأنِفُ الغَضُوبُ

You have no defender who will reject humiliation,

And tears washed away my eye's darkness

unless a proud, wrathful man defends you.

Just so, my greying made the old age,

أَلاَ يا عينُ فاحْتَفِلي عليهِ

أَلاَ يا عينُ فاحْتَفِلي عليهِ

وانْ قَرِحَتْ جُفُونُك والغُروبُ

وانْ قَرِحَتْ جُفُونُك والغُروبُ

O eye, pour out your utmost tears for him,

If I'm said to have panicked while some rejoiced

even if your lids and tear-ducts grow sore.

That I answer misfortunes, responsive,

ويا دُرَراً غَسَلْنَ سَوادَ عيني

ويا دُرَراً غَسَلْنَ سَوادَ عيني

كذاكَ بِلِمَّتي صنعَ المَشِيبُ

كذاكَ بِلِمَّتي صنعَ المَشِيبُ

O pearls that washed the blackness from my eye,

I have a soul that remains with sighs

thus has gray hair dealt with my locks.

And patience catastrophes do not exhaust,

فان أَكُ قد جَزعْتُ وسُرَّ قَومٌ

فان أَكُ قد جَزعْتُ وسُرَّ قَومٌ

بأَني للنَّوائِبِ مُستَجيبُ

بأَني للنَّوائِبِ مُستَجيبُ

If I have indeed despaired, and some have rejoiced

The deaf calamities can burn

that I yield to calamities,

Like a fresh branch burns,

فلي نفسٌ على الزفراتِ باقٍ

فلي نفسٌ على الزفراتِ باقٍ

وصبرٌ ليس تفنيهِ الكُرُوبُ

وصبرٌ ليس تفنيهِ الكُرُوبُ

yet I have breath that lasts despite my sighs,

Like a stream's stick which has blemishes

and patience that anguish cannot consume.

While beneath its skin is a decayed core,

وقد تَتَأَوَّدُ الصُّمُ العَوالي

وقد تَتَأَوَّدُ الصُّمُ العَوالي

كما يَتَأَوَّدُ الغُصْنُ الرَّطِيبُ

كما يَتَأَوَّدُ الغُصْنُ الرَّطِيبُ

Even solid, lofty spears may bend,

With the nation's crown my tears sufficed

just as a supple branch bends.

And my wailing hurried to adorn,

كَعُودِ النبعِ يُحْسَبُ فيه أَينٌ

كَعُودِ النبعِ يُحْسَبُ فيه أَينٌ

وَتَحْتَ لِحَائِهِ متنٌ صَلِيبُ

وَتَحْتَ لِحَائِهِ متنٌ صَلِيبُ

Like a rod of nabʿ wood, thought to be weary,

I reserved for him a hand that asked my praise

with a hard, strong core beneath its bark.

And the scolding of essaying beyond me,

بتاجِ الملَّةِ اقتَسَرَتْ دموعي

بتاجِ الملَّةِ اقتَسَرَتْ دموعي

وأَسرعَ في تَجمّلِيَ النَحيبُ

وأَسرعَ في تَجمّلِيَ النَحيبُ

For Taj al-Milla my tears were wrung out,

And the words of critics whom he disobeyed,

and sobbing swiftly overcame my composure.

"Is there a lad who listens to you or admonishes you?"

حفظْتُ له يَداً خَطَبَتْ ثَنائِي

حفظْتُ له يَداً خَطَبَتْ ثَنائِي

وَشُمُّ الهُضْبِ دوني والسُّهُوبُ

وَشُمُّ الهُضْبِ دوني والسُّهُوبُ

I remembered his favor, which sought my praise,

So the echoer of spittle pure of him and his like

though towering hills and plains stood before me;

Deceived the shrewd,

وقولُ الكاشِحينَ وقد عَصَاهُمْ

وقولُ الكاشِحينَ وقد عَصَاهُمْ

فتى يُصغي لقولك أو تُنيبُ

فتى يُصغي لقولك أو تُنيبُ

and the words of the ill-wishers, whom he had defied:

Matters one does not dare desire

'A youth who heeds your words—or you turn back' [wording unclear].

Unless possessed of mighty dignity,

فَخَالَفَهُمْ معيدُ النَّفْثِ رَاقٍ

فَخَالَفَهُمْ معيدُ النَّفْثِ رَاقٍ

به وبمثلهِ خُدِعَ الأَريبُ

به وبمثلهِ خُدِعَ الأَريبُ

A charm-worker repeating his breath-spells opposed them;

by him and his like the shrewd man was deceived.

أُمورٌ لا يُخاطِرُ في هَواهَا

أُمورٌ لا يُخاطِرُ في هَواهَا

بِسَورَةِ عِزَّةٍ الاّ نَجِيبُ

بِسَورَةِ عِزَّةٍ الاّ نَجِيبُ

Such matters: none hazards, for love of them,

the ardor of his proud honor, except a noble man.