أَلاَ فتىً يَمْنَعُ الجيرانَ جَانِبُهُ

أَلاَ فتىً يَمْنَعُ الجيرانَ جَانِبُهُ

فيستجارُ بهِ بعدَ ابنِ عَبَّادِ

فيستجارُ بهِ بعدَ ابنِ عَبَّادِ

Is there no gallant whose presence protects his neighbors,

Behold a youth whose armory defends his neighbors

to whom refuge may be sought after Ibn ʿAbbād?

Then, relying on him, the son of Ibn Abbad takes refuge

ماتَتْ لميتتهِ الآمالُ وانقطعتْ

ماتَتْ لميتتهِ الآمالُ وانقطعتْ

عاداتُ نائلهِ عن كل مُعتادِ

عاداتُ نائلهِ عن كل مُعتادِ

Hopes died with his death, and ended

Dead are his hopes while his attainments are severed

his customary bounty to every accustomed recipient.

And ceased are the habits of his wonted practices

وَعُظِّلَ الأَدبُ المحرومُ وانتزعتْ

وَعُظِّلَ الأَدبُ المحرومُ وانتزعتْ

منه دعائمُ كانتْ ذاتَ أَوتادِ

منه دعائمُ كانتْ ذاتَ أَوتادِ

Bereft literature was entangled, and torn away

Deprived of props it was leaning on

from it were pillars once secured by stakes.

Literature lies shadowed and its pillars pulled out

لا من عواليهِ أبقى غيرَ ما قِصَدٍ

لا من عواليهِ أبقى غيرَ ما قِصَدٍ

ولا من البيضِ أَبقى غيرَ أَغمادِ

ولا من البيضِ أَبقى غيرَ أَغمادِ

He left of his long lances only broken shafts,

Of his lofty principles nothing survives but sincerity

and of his bright swords only scabbards,

Of the eggs none survives save the pouches

ولا مِنَ المالِ الاَّ كل مَحْمَدَةٍ

ولا مِنَ المالِ الاَّ كل مَحْمَدَةٍ

يَشْدُو بِها الشَّربُ أَو يحدو بها الحادي

يَشْدُو بِها الشَّربُ أَو يحدو بها الحادي

and of his wealth only deeds deserving praise,

And of wealth nothing survives but every bright minted coin

which drinking companions sing or the camel-driver chants.

With which wine is bought or the wayfarer lured

وقارحاً غيرَ التَّعْدَاءُ طَلْعَتَهُ

وقارحاً غيرَ التَّعْدَاءُ طَلْعَتَهُ

فليس تعرفُ الاَّ الردفَ والهَادي

فليس تعرفُ الاَّ الردفَ والهَادي

And a mature steed whose looks were changed by galloping,

Assailing his glory is my saying when I mention it

so that you recognize only its rump and neck.

And what are my praises compared to his merits

وأَدْرُعاً لم يدعْ فيهِنَّ مصطَنعاً

وأَدْرُعاً لم يدعْ فيهِنَّ مصطَنعاً

وقعُ الاسنَّةِ أَعيتْ كلُّ زَرَّادِ

وقعُ الاسنَّةِ أَعيتْ كلُّ زَرَّادِ

And coats of mail in which no sound handiwork was left

You invited me while mountains of snow were averse

by spearhead blows—armor that baffled every maker of mail.

And rain had decamped from Baghdad's land

كانَ الوحيد له في كلِّ مكرُمَةٍ

كانَ الوحيد له في كلِّ مكرُمَةٍ

زيادةٌ ما علمناها لمُزدَادِ

زيادةٌ ما علمناها لمُزدَادِ

He was peerless; in every noble deed he had

You were not pleased that I seek your bounty and you grant it

an added excellence we knew in no other seeker of more.

Rather you initiated and the credit redounds to the initiator

يَطوى كطي رداءِ العَصْبِ حُجْزَتَهُ

يَطوى كطي رداءِ العَصْبِ حُجْزَتَهُ

شَوقاً الى الحَمدِ لا شَوقاً الى الزادِ

شَوقاً الى الحَمدِ لا شَوقاً الى الزادِ

He folded his waistband as one folds a striped robe,

What a confluence of joyful news and greetings

yearning for praise, not yearning for provisions.

And delight - no appointment had been made by me

فأينَ من كان يَفديه بمهجتِهِ

فأينَ من كان يَفديه بمهجتِهِ

والمرءُ ليس له من يومهِ فَادِ

والمرءُ ليس له من يومهِ فَادِ

Where, then, is he who would ransom him with his own lifeblood,

Beyond the misfortune of my grandfather is a misfortune

when no man has a ransomer from his appointed day?

Some mourned me who yesterday were envious

متى أُحَدّثْكَ عن أَدنى مَناقبِه

متى أُحَدّثْكَ عن أَدنى مَناقبِه

بغايةٍ فَعَنِ العَلياءِ اسنادي

بغايةٍ فَعَنِ العَلياءِ اسنادي

Whenever I tell you of the least of his virtues

I spend the day in bereavement and the night busy from you

in the highest terms, my authority comes from glory's heights.

So swiftly time accomplishes my perdition

قد كانَ عقد عُفاةٍ لا نِظام لهم

قد كانَ عقد عُفاةٍ لا نِظام لهم

وكانَ نائُله منهم بِمِرصَادِ

وكانَ نائُله منهم بِمِرصَادِ

He was the necklace binding supplicants who had no thread,

May your cheek delight from a beauty that will abandon it

and his bounty lay in wait for them.

Leaving you with no brother, beyond this day, in the valley

فأَصبحوا فرقاً تأوى لهم خُرُقٌ

فأَصبحوا فرقاً تأوى لهم خُرُقٌ

الى عيونٍ قَريحاتٍ وأكبادِ

الى عيونٍ قَريحاتٍ وأكبادِ

Now they are scattered bands, their rags offering shelter

You give generously without promising and procrastinating

to wounded eyes and hearts.

And chastise only after warning

بَشَّرْ لقاحَ بني كعبٍ بمرتِعها

بَشَّرْ لقاحَ بني كعبٍ بمرتِعها

بينَ الشقيقِ الى أَكنافِ سِنْدَادِ

بينَ الشقيقِ الى أَكنافِ سِنْدَادِ

Give glad tidings to Banū Kaʿb's milch camels of their pasture,

For horses whose flanks the lances pierce

from al-Shaqīq to the outskirts of Sindād.

You have veiled some from their goal and purpose

تخيروا النقلَ والغُدرانُ مُهْمَلَةٌ

تخيروا النقلَ والغُدرانُ مُهْمَلَةٌ

فقد أَمِنتُ عليها عَدْوَةَ العَادِي

فقد أَمِنتُ عليها عَدْوَةَ العَادِي

Choose where to move; the pools lie unattended,

For the famished with no sumptuous repast

for I now fear no raider's assault upon them.

And the thirsty with no fresh water

يغْتَالُ فضلَكَ قَولي حينَ اذكرهُ

يغْتَالُ فضلَكَ قَولي حينَ اذكرهُ

وأَينَ من عدد الترباءِ تَعْدَادي

وأَينَ من عدد الترباءِ تَعْدَادي

My words strike down your excellence when I recount it;

And for a plea the adversary cannot counter

how can my tally match the number of dust grains?

Save with your guidance and wisdom

دعوتَني وجبالُ الثلجِ مُعرِضَةٌ

دعوتَني وجبالُ الثلجِ مُعرِضَةٌ

والريُّ نازحةٌ من أَرضِ بَغْدادِ

والريُّ نازحةٌ من أَرضِ بَغْدادِ

You summoned me while mountains of snow stood across the way,

And meanings over words it subjugates

and Rayy lay far from the land of Baghdad.

Until it converses with spirits through bodies

لم ترضَ أَنْ أَسأَلَ الجَدوى فتبذلَها

لم ترضَ أَنْ أَسأَلَ الجَدوى فتبذلَها

حتى ابتدأتَ فصار الفضلُ للبادي

حتى ابتدأتَ فصار الفضلُ للبادي

You were not content that I should ask for bounty and you grant it;

Death contents itself with the pride

you began instead, and the credit went to the initiator.

Of having conquered the best of mortals

يا قُربَ تَعزيةٍ من بِشْرِ تهنئةٍ

يا قُربَ تَعزيةٍ من بِشْرِ تهنئةٍ

وروعةٍ لم تكنْ مِنّى بميعَادِ

وروعةٍ لم تكنْ مِنّى بميعَادِ

How close are condolences to the joy of congratulations,

After you had forbidden and admonished it

and a terror for which I had made no appointment!

It voluntarily submitted, O best of the obedient

ما فوقَ شَقوة جَدّي شقوةٌ علمتْ

ما فوقَ شَقوة جَدّي شقوةٌ علمتْ

قومٌ رثوا لي وكانوا أمسِ حُسَّادي

قومٌ رثوا لي وكانوا أمسِ حُسَّادي

No known misery exceeds the misery of my lot:

Time is like a raging lion that consumed us all

people pitied me who yesterday were my enviers.

Reforming with corruption

أُضحى خلياً وأُمسي عنكَ في شُغُلٍ

أُضحى خلياً وأُمسي عنكَ في شُغُلٍ

لَشَدَّ ما أَسرعَ الأيام في أَأدِي

لَشَدَّ ما أَسرعَ الأيام في أَأدِي

I begin the day carefree, and end it preoccupied because of you;

Perhaps my tears will soften it

how swiftly the days hasten my undoing!

But they overwhelmed my supporters and pillars

متعْ لحاظَكَ من خِلٍّ تُفَارِقُهُ

متعْ لحاظَكَ من خِلٍّ تُفَارِقُهُ

فلا أَخٌ لكَ بعدَ اليوم بالوادي

فلا أَخٌ لكَ بعدَ اليوم بالوادي

Let your eyes feast on a friend you are leaving,

And how can I despair for a thousand lost

for after today you have no brother in the valley.

When a father is wont to the death of his children

يُعطى الجزيلَ بلا وعدٍ يُسَوِّفُهُ

يُعطى الجزيلَ بلا وعدٍ يُسَوِّفُهُ

ولا يُعاقِبُ الاَّ بعد اِيَعادِ

ولا يُعاقِبُ الاَّ بعد اِيَعادِ

He gives lavishly, without a promise that delays the gift,

The dew is gone and the hearts of the living hardened

and punishes only after a warning.

And the homeland was emptied of its people

فَمَنْ لخيلٍ يلفُ الطعنُ أذرعَها

فَمَنْ لخيلٍ يلفُ الطعنُ أذرعَها

غيَّبْتَ عن صَدَدٍ منها واِيْرادِ

غيَّبْتَ عن صَدَدٍ منها واِيْرادِ

Who, then, will guide horses whose forelegs spear-thrusts entangle,

And people sensed that generosity is a miracle

now you are gone from holding them back or driving them forward?

So the passing of the vanished comet is not blamed

وَمَنْ لجوعانَ لا مِنْ مَطْعَمٍ سَغبٍ

وَمَنْ لجوعانَ لا مِنْ مَطْعَمٍ سَغبٍ

وَمَنْ لظَمآنَ لا من مَشْرَبٍ صَادِ

وَمَنْ لظَمآنَ لا من مَشْرَبٍ صَادِ

And who for a hungry man, famished not for food,

and who for a thirsty man, parched not for drink?

وَمَنْ لِحُجَّةِ خَصْمٍ لا جوابَ لَها

وَمَنْ لِحُجَّةِ خَصْمٍ لا جوابَ لَها

الاَّ بيانُك في هَدى وارشادِ

الاَّ بيانُك في هَدى وارشادِ

And who for an opponent's argument that has no answer

except your clear exposition, in guidance and direction?

وللمعانى على الالفاظِ تَعرضُهَا

وللمعانى على الالفاظِ تَعرضُهَا

حتى تمازحَ أَرواحاً بأَجسَادِ

حتى تمازحَ أَرواحاً بأَجسَادِ

And for meanings that you present through words,

until you jest with souls through bodies?

حسبُ المنيةِ فَخْراً أَنَّها ظَفِرَتْ

حسبُ المنيةِ فَخْراً أَنَّها ظَفِرَتْ

بأكملِ الخَلقِ من حضَرٍ ومن بَادِ

بأكملِ الخَلقِ من حضَرٍ ومن بَادِ

It is glory enough for Death that she captured

the most perfect of humankind, townsfolk and nomads alike.

أَبعدَ ما كنتَ تَنهَاهَا وتَأمُرها

أَبعدَ ما كنتَ تَنهَاهَا وتَأمُرها

تنقادُ طوعاً لها يا خيرَ منقادِ

تنقادُ طوعاً لها يا خيرَ منقادِ

After you once restrained her and commanded her,

do you willingly submit to her, O finest of those who submit?

والدهرُ كالأَسَدِ الضرغامِ يا كُلُنا

والدهرُ كالأَسَدِ الضرغامِ يا كُلُنا

أَكلَ الفَريسةِ اصلاحاً بافْسَادِ

أَكلَ الفَريسةِ اصلاحاً بافْسَادِ

Time, like a fierce lion, devours us

as he eats his prey, repairing through destruction.

عَسَتْ عليهِ قَنَاتى أنْ يُلَيّنَها

عَسَتْ عليهِ قَنَاتى أنْ يُلَيّنَها

فمالَ يغمرُ أَعوانى وأعضادي

فمالَ يغمرُ أَعوانى وأعضادي

My spear-shaft was too hard for him to soften,

so he turned to engulf my helpers and my supporting arms.

وكيفَ يأسي على الْفٍ يُفارقُهُ

وكيفَ يأسي على الْفٍ يُفارقُهُ

أَبٌ تَعوَّدَ قدماً ثُكلَ أَولادِ

أَبٌ تَعوَّدَ قدماً ثُكلَ أَولادِ

And how can he grieve for a companion who leaves him,

a father long accustomed to the loss of children?

غاضَ الندى ونبل قلبُ الحَيا فَقَسا

غاضَ الندى ونبل قلبُ الحَيا فَقَسا

على الثَّرى وخلا من أَهلِهِ النَّادي

على الثَّرى وخلا من أَهلِهِ النَّادي

Dew ebbed; rain's heart was pierced by arrows and hardened

against the soil, and the gathering-place stood empty of its people.

واسْتشْعَرَ الناسُ أَنَّ الجودَ مُعْجِزَةٌ

واسْتشْعَرَ الناسُ أَنَّ الجودَ مُعْجِزَةٌ

فما يلامُ وميضُ الخُلَّبِ الغَادي

فما يلامُ وميضُ الخُلَّبِ الغَادي

People came to feel that generosity was a miracle,

so no blame falls on the morning flash of rainless lightning.