ألا كلُّ بُرءٍ بعدَ رَامة مُسقِمي

ألا كلُّ بُرءٍ بعدَ رَامة مُسقِمي

وكلُّ نعيمٍ لا أقولُ لهُ دُمِ

وكلُّ نعيمٍ لا أقولُ لهُ دُمِ

Behold: every recovery after Rāmah makes me ill,

Lo, every healing after Rama makes me ill,

and every bliss—I do not bid it, “Remain.”

And no delight do I bid to endure.

تعطلتِ الأجزاعُ من كلِّ مُسرجٍ

تعطلتِ الأجزاعُ من كلِّ مُسرجٍ

يُمسِّحُ أعطافَ الجيادِ ومُلجِمِ

يُمسِّحُ أعطافَ الجيادِ ومُلجِمِ

The sandy tracts lie empty of every saddled rider

The valley bends stand empty of every saddler,

who strokes the horses’ flanks, bridle in hand;

Who strokes the thoroughbreds' flanks, and every bridler,

وخيلٍ كأمْثالِ الأهلّةِ كُلّلَتْ

وخيلٍ كأمْثالِ الأهلّةِ كُلّلَتْ

من أبناءِ سعدٍ والرَّبابِ بأنجُمِ

من أبناءِ سعدٍ والرَّبابِ بأنجُمِ

and of horses like crescent moons, crowned

And of horses, like crescents, crowned

with stars from among the sons of Saʿd and al-Rabāb.

With stars from the sons of Sa'd and al-Rabab.

كأن لم نُردها والحيا غيرُ باخلٍ

كأن لم نُردها والحيا غيرُ باخلٍ

ولم نرعَ فيها والثّرى غيرُ مُعدَمِ

ولم نرعَ فيها والثّرى غيرُ مُعدَمِ

As though we had never watered there when the rain withheld nothing,

As though we never came to its waters when rain was generous,

nor grazed there while the soil was still unfailing.

Nor pastured there when the soil was far from barren.

وللجدِّ صيدٌ بينَ خَودٍ وفارسٍ

وللجدِّ صيدٌ بينَ خَودٍ وفارسٍ

وللهوِ صيدٌ بينَ ظَبيٍ وضَيْغَمِ

وللهوِ صيدٌ بينَ ظَبيٍ وضَيْغَمِ

Earnestness has its quarry between maiden and horseman,

Earnest pursuit had its quarry, from maiden to horseman,

and sport its quarry between gazelle and lion.

And sport its quarry, from gazelle to lion.

فمَنْ مبلغٌ عني قبائلَ خِنْدِفٍ

فمَنْ مبلغٌ عني قبائلَ خِنْدِفٍ

رِسالةَ صَبٍّ بالنصيحةِ مُغْرَمِ

رِسالةَ صَبٍّ بالنصيحةِ مُغْرَمِ

Who will carry from me to the clans of Khindif

Who, then, will carry on my behalf to Khindif's tribes

the message of a lover passionately devoted to counsel?

The message of a lover devoted to sincere counsel?

أتَخضِبُ قيسٌ بالدّماءِ رماحَها

أتَخضِبُ قيسٌ بالدّماءِ رماحَها

وفيكُم رماحٌ لا تتوقُ إلى الدّمِ

وفيكُم رماحٌ لا تتوقُ إلى الدّمِ

Does Qays stain its spears with blood

Does Qays dye her spears with blood,

while among you are spears that do not thirst for blood?

While among you are spears that never yearn for blood?

نصحتكُم حتى أرَبتُ ظنونَكُم

نصحتكُم حتى أرَبتُ ظنونَكُم

ووشيتُ بُرْدَ القولِ للمتوهّمِ

ووشيتُ بُرْدَ القولِ للمتوهّمِ

I counseled you until I made your suspicions swell,

I counseled you until I aroused your suspicions,

and embroidered speech’s mantle for the doubter.

And embroidered speech's mantle for the doubter.

فإنْ قلتمُ إنّي أكلتُ لحومَكم

فإنْ قلتمُ إنّي أكلتُ لحومَكم

بلومي فإني آكلٌ غيرُ مُطْعِمِ

بلومي فإني آكلٌ غيرُ مُطْعِمِ

If you say that, through my reproach, I have eaten your flesh,

If you say that I have eaten your flesh

then I am an eater who has fed no one.

With my reproaches, I eat, but feed no others.

وإني لخافي الثغْرِ عن كلِّ فَرْحَةٍ

وإني لخافي الثغْرِ عن كلِّ فَرْحَةٍ

إذا فضّتِ اللّذّاتُ عن كلِّ مَبسمِ

إذا فضّتِ اللّذّاتُ عن كلِّ مَبسمِ

I keep my smile hidden before every delight,

And I keep my teeth concealed from every joy,

when pleasures overflow from every smiling mouth.

When pleasures unseal every smiling mouth.

تركتُ وراءَ القلبِ ليلةَ عرَّسوا

تركتُ وراءَ القلبِ ليلةَ عرَّسوا

بحرانَ عزّي في الحياةِ ومَغنَمي

بحرانَ عزّي في الحياةِ ومَغنَمي

I left Laylā behind—the darling of my heart—

Behind my heart I left, the night they encamped

at Bahrān, my glory in life and my prize.

At Harran, my life's honor and my treasure.

وألبستُ أتوابَ الدفينةِ ماجِداً

وألبستُ أتوابَ الدفينةِ ماجِداً

إذا شَمَّ ريحَ الظلمِ لم يتظلمِ

إذا شَمَّ ريحَ الظلمِ لم يتظلمِ

I clothed a noble man in the garments of one laid in the grave,

And I clothed a noble man in burial garments,

one who, catching the scent of injustice, would not complain of wrong.

Who, scenting injustice, would not plead for redress.

فإنْ بخِلَتْ عني تميمٌ بنصرِها

فإنْ بخِلَتْ عني تميمٌ بنصرِها

فربّ غلامٍ بالحسامِ مُعَمّمِ

فربّ غلامٍ بالحسامِ مُعَمّمِ

If Tamīm withheld its aid from me,

If Tamim has withheld its aid from me,

many a youth was turbaned by the sword;

Many a young man wears a sword for his turban,

وشُمٍّ من الفتيانِ سلّوا سيوفَهم

وشُمٍّ من الفتيانِ سلّوا سيوفَهم

فحلّوا عليها كلَّ جيدٍ ومِعصَمِ

فحلّوا عليها كلَّ جيدٍ ومِعصَمِ

and many noble young men drew their swords

And proud young men have drawn their swords,

and with them adorned every neck and wrist.

Then arrayed upon them every neck and wrist.

حَكمْتُ فأعطيتُ الحكومةَ فيهمُ

حَكمْتُ فأعطيتُ الحكومةَ فيهمُ

وكنتُ إذا حكّمتُ لم أتحكِّمِ

وكنتُ إذا حكّمتُ لم أتحكِّمِ

I judged, and rendered judgment concerning them;

I judged, and delivered judgment among them,

whenever I judged, I was never arbitrary.

And when I appointed an arbiter, I did not dictate.

رأيتُ أبا سهلٍ تناولَ مجدَها

رأيتُ أبا سهلٍ تناولَ مجدَها

وقد قَصُرَتْ عنها يدا كلِّ منعمِ

وقد قَصُرَتْ عنها يدا كلِّ منعمِ

I saw Abū Sahl reach out and seize its glory,

I saw Abu Sahl grasp its glory,

though every turbaned man’s hand fell short of it.

Though every benefactor's hands had fallen short of it.

أُمسّحُ أضْغانَ العدوِّ ببلدةٍ

أُمسّحُ أضْغانَ العدوِّ ببلدةٍ

تطالعُها الغاراتُ من كلِّ مخرمِ

تطالعُها الغاراتُ من كلِّ مخرمِ

I wipe away the enemy’s rancor in a land

I soothe the enemy's rancors in a town

where raids peer forth from every mountain pass.

Assailed by raids from every mountain pass,

على حين فارقتُ الهَجيمَ ومازناً

على حين فارقتُ الهَجيمَ ومازناً

وأصبحَ عِرضي فُرصةَ المتهضمِ

وأصبحَ عِرضي فُرصةَ المتهضمِ

That was when I had parted from al-Hajīm and Māzin,

At a time when I had parted from al-Hajim and Mazin,

and my honor became fair game for every accuser.

And my honor had become prey to the oppressor.

ولمّا التوى حبلُ الخِناقِ تلوّمتْ

ولمّا التوى حبلُ الخِناقِ تلوّمتْ

عن النصْرِ كفي وهو لم يتلومِ

عن النصْرِ كفي وهو لم يتلومِ

When the noose’s rope twisted tight, my hand delayed

When the strangling cord tightened, my hand hesitated

in giving aid, though never before had it delayed.

To offer aid, though he did not hesitate.

تخطّى حُقود القومِ ينقُلُ ظلَّهُ

تخطّى حُقود القومِ ينقُلُ ظلَّهُ

على كل مقرورٍ من الغيظِ مُفعمِ

على كل مقرورٍ من الغيظِ مُفعمِ

He crossed the people’s massed ranks, his shadow bearing him,

He strode beyond the people's grudges, spreading his shade

over every man chilled and brimming with rage—

Over every shivering man, brimming with rage.

فتىً مثلُ طعمِ الرّاحِ تحيا بهِ المُنى

فتىً مثلُ طعمِ الرّاحِ تحيا بهِ المُنى

وتَسلُبُ لُبَّ الفالِ المتكلّمِ

وتَسلُبُ لُبَّ الفالِ المتكلّمِ

a youth like the savor of wine, through whom hopes revive,

A youth like wine's savor, through whom hopes come alive,

and whose presence robs even the eloquent speaker of his wits.

And steal the speaker's wits [one word unclear].

كأنّك إذْ كررتَ طرفَك فيهمُ

كأنّك إذْ كررتَ طرفَك فيهمُ

رميتَهُم من مقلتيكَ بأسهُمِ

رميتَهُم من مقلتيكَ بأسهُمِ

As though, whenever I turned my gaze among them,

As though, when you turned your gaze upon them again,

I shot them with arrows from my eyes.

You shot arrows at them from your two eyes.

فما تركَ الأعداءُ ظلمى تقيّةً

فما تركَ الأعداءُ ظلمى تقيّةً

ولكنّهم خافوا حميّة أرقمِ

ولكنّهم خافوا حميّة أرقمِ

My enemies did not cease wronging me out of pious restraint,

The enemies did not cease wronging me out of scruple,

but because they feared Arqam’s fierce protection—

But feared a speckled viper's fierceness,

ووثبةَ ضرغامٍ كأنّ زئيرَهُ

ووثبةَ ضرغامٍ كأنّ زئيرَهُ

تَهَدُّمُ طودٍ من هِضابِ يَلَمْلَمِ

تَهَدُّمُ طودٍ من هِضابِ يَلَمْلَمِ

and the pounce of a lion whose roar seems

And the leap of a lion whose roar seemed

a mountain collapsing from Yalamlam’s highlands.

The collapse of a mountain among Yalamlam's heights.

لهُ في الدّروعِ السابريةِ وَقفةٌ

لهُ في الدّروعِ السابريةِ وَقفةٌ

تُبدّدُ أعيانَ الحديدِ المنظّمِ

تُبدّدُ أعيانَ الحديدِ المنظّمِ

Against close-woven coats of Sābirī mail he makes a stand

In Sabirian armor he takes a stand

that scatters the very substance of ordered iron.

That scatters the very substance of linked iron.

نظرتُ بصدرِ العينِ فاشتدّ ساعِدي

نظرتُ بصدرِ العينِ فاشتدّ ساعِدي

وطارتْ يَميني بالحُسامِ المُصَمّمِ

وطارتْ يَميني بالحُسامِ المُصَمّمِ

I looked with an unflinching eye, and my arm grew strong,

I looked with my eye's full gaze, and my forearm grew strong,

and my right hand flew with the resolute sword.

And my right hand flew with the bone-cleaving sword.

فإنّ معزَ الملكِ أتعبَ همّه

فإنّ معزَ الملكِ أتعبَ همّه

فحازكَ من آمالِه بالتّجشُّمِ

فحازكَ من آمالِه بالتّجشُّمِ

The exalter of the kingdom, wearied by his lofty purpose,

For Mu'izz al-Mulk strained his resolve,

won you from among his hopes through hardship.

And won you, one of his hopes, through arduous toil.

وكان إذا هبّت زعازعُ فتنةٍ

وكان إذا هبّت زعازعُ فتنةٍ

دعاكَ لنا قبل الخميسِ العَرَمْرَمِ

دعاكَ لنا قبل الخميسِ العَرَمْرَمِ

Whenever the gales of sedition blew,

Whenever the gales of discord blew,

he summoned you for us before the teeming host.

He summoned you for us before the mighty host.

برأيكَ يُثنَى الدّهرُ عن حدثانِهِ

برأيكَ يُثنَى الدّهرُ عن حدثانِهِ

ويُفتحُ من قُفلٍ من العيسِ مبهمِ

ويُفتحُ من قُفلٍ من العيسِ مبهمِ

Through your counsel, Time turns aside from its calamities,

Through your counsel, Time is turned from its calamities,

and the obscure lock upon life is opened.

And a tightly sealed lock of pale camels is opened.

ولمّا دعاهُ الموتُ قال لأهلِهِ

ولمّا دعاهُ الموتُ قال لأهلِهِ

صِلوا حبلَ قومٍ بالوفاءِ متيمِ

صِلوا حبلَ قومٍ بالوفاءِ متيمِ

When death called him, he said to his people,

When death summoned him, he told his household:

“Bind your bond to a people enamored of fidelity.”

'Maintain the bond with a people enthralled by loyalty.'

لقد جعلَ الأهواءَ وهي حَزونةٌ

لقد جعلَ الأهواءَ وهي حَزونةٌ

تَخُبُّ إليكُم من فصيحٍ وأعْجَمِ

تَخُبُّ إليكُم من فصيحٍ وأعْجَمِ

He made affections, though their paths were rugged,

He made affections, rugged as they were,

hasten toward you from the eloquent and inarticulate alike.

Trot toward you, from eloquent and foreign-tongued alike.

رمى دونَكُم حدّ السيوفِ بوجهِه

رمى دونَكُم حدّ السيوفِ بوجهِه

وعانقَ أطرافَ الوشيجِ المقَوَّمِ

وعانقَ أطرافَ الوشيجِ المقَوَّمِ

In your defense he met the sword’s edge with his face

To shield you, he flung his face against sword-edges,

and embraced the points of straightened spears.

And embraced the points of straightened spears.

وكان لكُم لمّا تلجلجَ قولُكم

وكان لكُم لمّا تلجلجَ قولُكم

مكانَ الثّنايا واللّسانِ من الفمِ

مكانَ الثّنايا واللّسانِ من الفمِ

When your speech faltered, he served you

When your speech faltered, he served you

as the front teeth and tongue serve the mouth.

As incisors and tongue serve the mouth.

فهلْ سرّكم أنّ الخِصامَ تكشّفتْ

فهلْ سرّكم أنّ الخِصامَ تكشّفتْ

صبابتُه عنكم ولم يتكلّمِ

صبابتُه عنكم ولم يتكلّمِ

Did it please you that the quarrel revealed

Did it please you that strife fell away—

its yearning away from you, without speaking?

Its very last remnants—from you, though he did not speak?

وبالبصرةِ الحمراءِ خاضَ مُشَمّراً

وبالبصرةِ الحمراءِ خاضَ مُشَمّراً

إلى عزّكمْ نارَ الحَريقِ المضرَّمِ

إلى عزّكمْ نارَ الحَريقِ المضرَّمِ

At Ṣabra he waded into death, his garments hitched,

And in red Basra, his robe tucked up, he plunged

through blazing fire, for the sake of your glory.

For your glory, into the kindled conflagration.

عشيةَ لا يُغني عن السيفِ حدُّه

عشيةَ لا يُغني عن السيفِ حدُّه

إذا لم تُقدّمهُ يدُ المتقدمِ

إذا لم تُقدّمهُ يدُ المتقدمِ

On an evening when the sword’s edge availed nothing

On an evening when a sword's edge avails it nothing

unless the hand of one advancing drove it on;

Unless an advancing warrior's hand thrusts it forward.

وصبحٌ من البيضِ القواضبِ مشرقٌ

وصبحٌ من البيضِ القواضبِ مشرقٌ

يُصَبُّ على ليلٍ من النقعِ مُظْلِمِ

يُصَبُّ على ليلٍ من النقعِ مُظْلِمِ

and a radiant dawn of white, cutting swords

And a radiant dawn of white, cleaving swords

poured over a dark night of battle dust—

Is poured upon a dark night of battle-dust.

من النفر البيضِ الذين توسّدوا

من النفر البيضِ الذين توسّدوا

أكفَّ اللّيالي قبلَ عاد وجرهمِ

أكفَّ اللّيالي قبلَ عاد وجرهمِ

from those fair-faced men who made pillows

Of the radiant band who pillowed their heads

of the hands of nights before ʿĀd and Jurhum.

On the palms of nights before 'Ad and Jurhum.

تَدلّوا على هامِ المكارمِ والعُلا

تَدلّوا على هامِ المكارمِ والعُلا

وغيرُهم يَرقى إليها بسُلَّمِ

وغيرُهم يَرقى إليها بسُلَّمِ

They alight upon the summits of noble deeds and eminence,

They hung above the summits of noble deeds and glory,

while others climb to them by a ladder.

While others climbed toward them by a ladder.

تحرمتُ بالوُدّ المقرَّبِ منكُمُ

تحرمتُ بالوُدّ المقرَّبِ منكُمُ

ولمْ آتّخذْ أموالَكم للتحرُّمِ

ولمْ آتّخذْ أموالَكم للتحرُّمِ

I sought sanctuary in the affection that draws me near to you,

I claimed protection through the affection that brought me near you,

and did not take your wealth as the price of sanctuary.

And did not use your wealth to secure that protection.

وأخفيتُ عنكُم حاجتي وهي خلةٌ

وأخفيتُ عنكُم حاجتي وهي خلةٌ

تلوحُ لعينِ الناظرِ المتوسمِ

تلوحُ لعينِ الناظرِ المتوسمِ

I hid my need from you, though it is a want

And I hid my need from you, though such poverty

plain to the discerning observer’s eye.

Is plain to the discerning observer's eye.

ولستُ بقوالٍ إذا الرزقُ فاتني

ولستُ بقوالٍ إذا الرزقُ فاتني

وصادفَ غيري قد ضللتَ فيمِّمِ

وصادفَ غيري قد ضللتَ فيمِّمِ

I am not one to say, when provision passes me by

I am not one to say, when sustenance passes me by

and reaches another, “You have strayed—turn this way.”

And finds another, 'You have strayed—change course!'

لأفْقَر منّا بلدةً ومحلّةً

لأفْقَر منّا بلدةً ومحلّةً

تشبُّ بروقُ العارضِ المُترنّمِ

تشبُّ بروقُ العارضِ المُترنّمِ

No town or dwelling place is poorer than ours,

For one poorer than us in land and home,

though the lightning of a rumbling raincloud flares there.

The singing raincloud's lightning flares.

وآخذُ عفوَ العيشِ لا أستكدّه

وآخذُ عفوَ العيشِ لا أستكدّه

لَحا اللهُ غنماً يستقادُ بمغْرَمِ

لَحا اللهُ غنماً يستقادُ بمغْرَمِ

I give freely from life’s surplus and do not toil after it;

I take what life freely offers; I do not wring it out.

may God curse gain that must be driven forth through loss.

May God curse a gain secured through loss.

فإن كنتُ أرضى بالبَشاشةِ منكُمُ

فإن كنتُ أرضى بالبَشاشةِ منكُمُ

ويسترُ عدمي شيمتي وتكرُّمي

ويسترُ عدمي شيمتي وتكرُّمي

If I am content with your cheerful welcome,

If I am content with your cheerful welcome,

while my character and dignity veil my poverty,

And my character and dignity conceal my poverty,

فربَّ جوادٍ قيّدَ الفقرُ جودَهُ

فربَّ جوادٍ قيّدَ الفقرُ جودَهُ

ومبتسمٍ تعبيسُه في التبسُّمِ

ومبتسمٍ تعبيسُه في التبسُّمِ

many a generous man has had poverty fetter his generosity,

Many a generous man's bounty is fettered by poverty,

and many a smiling man bears a frown within his smile.

And many a smiling man's frown is hidden in his smile.