بمثلِ بلائي أَو بمثلِ بلابِلي

بمثلِ بلائي أَو بمثلِ بلابِلي

تَهونُ الرَّزايا عندَ ثكلِ الثَّواكِلِ

تَهونُ الرَّزايا عندَ ثكلِ الثَّواكِلِ

With suffering like mine, or turmoil like mine,

With affliction like mine or with misfortune like my misfortune

calamities seem light amid bereaved mothers' grief.

Misfortunes become slight at the bereavement of the bereaved

أَلا لا أرى مثلي يُجَنُّ من الهوى

أَلا لا أرى مثلي يُجَنُّ من الهوى

ولا مثلَ حبِّ العامريةِ قاتِلي

ولا مثلَ حبِّ العامريةِ قاتِلي

Indeed, I see no one driven mad by love as I am,

Alas, I do not see one like me, smitten with passion

nor any killer like love for the Amirite woman.

Nor one like the love of al-‘Amiriyya that kills me

سَأَصْحَب سقماً يستوي في ظلاله

سَأَصْحَب سقماً يستوي في ظلاله

عواذرُ وجدي عنده وعواذِلِي

عواذرُ وجدي عنده وعواذِلِي

I shall keep company with an illness in whose shade

I will keep company with an illness that becomes equal in its shadows

those who excuse my passion and those who blame me are alike.

To my ecstasy with him and to my flirts with him

فَربَّ مرامٍ رمتُه فبلغتُه

فَربَّ مرامٍ رمتُه فبلغتُه

مواردُه بين القَنا والقَنَابِلِ

مواردُه بين القَنا والقَنَابِلِ

Many a goal have I sought and reached,

So the goal I aimed for and reached

whose approaches lay among spears and cavalry bands.

Its waters between al-Qana and al-Qanabila

وليلٍ يَود المدلجون لو أَنهم

وليلٍ يَود المدلجون لو أَنهم

أَطاعوا السرى أَو طاوعوا كل عاذِلِ

أَطاعوا السرى أَو طاوعوا كل عاذِلِ

And many a night when night travelers wish

And a night the sleepless wish if only they had obeyed

they had heeded night travel or obeyed every reprover.

Wandering or obeyed every coquette

رمى صدرَه حتى أَصابَ سَوادَه

رمى صدرَه حتى أَصابَ سَوادَه

طليحُ همومٍ من صدورِ الرواحِلِ

طليحُ همومٍ من صدورِ الرواحِلِ

Its breast he assailed until he struck its black heart—

He exposed his chest until he hit its core

a man worn down by cares, from the breasts of riding camels.

With worries flowing from racing camels

اذا اشتبهتْ أَعجازُه وصدورهُ

اذا اشتبهتْ أَعجازُه وصدورهُ

تغلغلَ فيه خابرٌ مثلَ جاهِلِ

تغلغلَ فيه خابرٌ مثلَ جاهِلِ

When its latter parts and beginnings were indistinguishable,

When their backs and chests became indistinguishable

the experienced traveler penetrated it like a novice.

A news-monger penetrated him like an ignoramus

ألا مَنْ لبرقٍ بين دَارَةَ والحِمىَ

ألا مَنْ لبرقٍ بين دَارَةَ والحِمىَ

يلوح على صوبٍ من المُزنِ سَائِلِ

يلوح على صوبٍ من المُزنِ سَائِلِ

Ah, who will attend to lightning between Darah and al-Hima,

Is there a lightning between Dara’a and al-Hima

gleaming above a flowing downpour from the clouds?

That flashes towards a side of al-Muzan, asking

ووادٍ ظباتُ المشرفيةِ تلتقى

ووادٍ ظباتُ المشرفيةِ تلتقى

عليه وأَطرافُ الرماحِ الذوابِلِ

عليه وأَطرافُ الرماحِ الذوابِلِ

And a valley where the edges of Mashrafi swords meet

And a valley where mounts of al-Mushrifiyya meet

above it with the tips of supple spears?

And tips of polished spears

اذا خَفَقَتْ أَحْشَاؤُهُ لك خَفْقَةً

اذا خَفَقَتْ أَحْشَاؤُهُ لك خَفْقَةً

أَرَتْكَ المنايا بينَ نسجِ القَسَاطِلِ

أَرَتْكَ المنايا بينَ نسجِ القَسَاطِلِ

When its innards give a single beat before you,

When his insides throb to you a throbbing

they show you deaths amid the weaving of dust clouds.

Deaths show you between weaving destinies

خَليلى من عليا تميمٍ تَنَسَّمَا

خَليلى من عليا تميمٍ تَنَسَّمَا

نسيمَ الصَّبا من غير نزقةِ عاقِلِ

نسيمَ الصَّبا من غير نزقةِ عاقِلِ

My two friends from the highest ranks of Tamim, breathe

My friend, scent of ‘Aliya and Tameem breathed

the east wind's breeze, without a wise man's rashness.

A morning breeze without a breath of reason

اذا شئتُ أَنْ القى الرماحَ ببلدةٍ

اذا شئتُ أَنْ القى الرماحَ ببلدةٍ

مررتُ على دار الحبيبِ ببابِلِ

مررتُ على دار الحبيبِ ببابِلِ

Whenever I wish to meet spears in a land,

When I wanted to throw spears in a country

I pass the beloved's dwelling in Babylon.

I passed by the house of the beloved in Babylon

تُعانقها الارواحُ من كل جانبٍ

تُعانقها الارواحُ من كل جانبٍ

عِنَاقَ المحبِ للحبيب المزايِلِ

عِنَاقَ المحبِ للحبيب المزايِلِ

Spirits embrace it from every side,

Souls embrace it from every side

as a lover embraces a departing beloved.

An embrace of a lover to his intimate friend

وطيبِ ثَرى للمسكِ فيه وديعة

وطيبِ ثَرى للمسكِ فيه وديعة

تصافحها الافواهُ دونَ الانامِلِ

تصافحها الافواهُ دونَ الانامِلِ

And fragrant earth where musk has left a treasure,

And good earth where musk is deposited in it a trust

which mouths caress instead of fingertips.

Which mouths kiss without fingers

فقالا لايِّ الناس همُك قاصدٌ

فقالا لايِّ الناس همُك قاصدٌ

ورحلتك الطولى لاى المنازلِ

ورحلتك الطولى لاى المنازلِ

They said: Which man is your ambition bound for,

So they said which of mankind is your business heading to

and which dwelling does your longest journey seek?

And your long journey to where, O settleless one

وما عرَّسَ السَّارونَ آخرَ ساعةٍ

وما عرَّسَ السَّارونَ آخرَ ساعةٍ

من الليل الاَّ كنتَ أولَ داخِلِ

من الليل الاَّ كنتَ أولَ داخِلِ

Never have night travelers halted in the last hour

The Sārūn have not married a bride in the last hours of night

of night without your being the first to arrive.

Except you were the first to enter

لعلَّ لصرفِ الدهرِ عندكَ عادةً

لعلَّ لصرفِ الدهرِ عندكَ عادةً

تُعيدُ الرُّدينياتِ ملءَ المقاتِلِ

تُعيدُ الرُّدينياتِ ملءَ المقاتِلِ

Perhaps fortune's vicissitudes have a habit with you

Maybe you have a custom to habit of vicissitudes

of planting Rudayni spears anew, filling vital parts.

To fill the empty wilderness with fighters

فقلتُ أَؤم العزَ والبأسَ والنَّدى

فقلتُ أَؤم العزَ والبأسَ والنَّدى

وسُم العدى في حى بكرِ بن وائِلِ

وسُم العدى في حى بكرِ بن وائِلِ

I said: I seek glory, valor, and generosity,

So I said I am of glory and courage and sharpness

and the enemies' bane, among Bakr ibn Wa'il,

And evil's poison in the tribe of Bakr bin Wā’il

لدى ملكٍ لا يدخل الذُّلُ قلبَه

لدى ملكٍ لا يدخل الذُّلُ قلبَه

كصدر الحُسامِ الهِندُ وانيّ باسِلِ

كصدر الحُسامِ الهِندُ وانيّ باسِلِ

with a king whose heart humiliation never enters,

With a King whom baseness does not enter his heart

brave as the breast of an Indian-made sword.

As the heart of Indian swords, and I am a brave hero

اذا أَمن الاعداءُ وقعَ سهامه

اذا أَمن الاعداءُ وقعَ سهامه

رمى أَرضَهم من خوفهِ بِزَلازِلِ

رمى أَرضَهم من خوفهِ بِزَلازِلِ

If the enemies feel safe from the impact of his arrows,

When enemies feel safe and his arrows land

he hurls earthquakes upon their land through fear of him.

He shoots their land for fear with tremors

ومن كان عبد الله رائشَ نبله

ومن كان عبد الله رائشَ نبله

فليس له صرفُ الردى بُمناضِلِ

فليس له صرفُ الردى بُمناضِلِ

And anyone whose arrows Abd Allah feathers

And whoever is a servant of God, his arrows scattered

finds death's vicissitudes no rival archer.

Then the turning away of harm has no rival for him

فتىً شَغَفت أموالُه بنوالِه

فتىً شَغَفت أموالُه بنوالِه

كما شغفت أسيافُه بالكواهِلِ

كما شغفت أسيافُه بالكواهِلِ

A young man whose wealth is enamored of his giving,

A young man whose wealth impassioned his attainment

as his swords are enamored of shoulders.

As his swords impassioned his shoulders

كريمٌ اذا ما الغيتُ ضنَّ بصوبهِ

كريمٌ اذا ما الغيتُ ضنَّ بصوبهِ

تهلل غَمرٌ من نَداه بِوَابِلِ

تهلل غَمرٌ من نَداه بِوَابِلِ

Generous: when the rain withholds its downpour,

Generous, if I become destitute in his direction

an abundant flood of his bounty beams forth in torrents.

A flood of his assistance pours with rain

وانتم بنو شيبان قوم بيوتهم

وانتم بنو شيبان قوم بيوتهم

مطنبةٌ فوق النجومِ الاطاوِلِ

مطنبةٌ فوق النجومِ الاطاوِلِ

And you, sons of Shayban, are a people whose houses

As for you, tribe of Shayban, whose houses

are pitched with tent ropes above the loftiest stars.

Towering atop the highest stars

يَمُدُّ اليها الناظرونَ عيونَهم

يَمُدُّ اليها الناظرونَ عيونَهم

لدفع عقاب أو لتكرير نائِلِ

لدفع عقاب أو لتكرير نائِلِ

Those who look up stretch their eyes toward them

To it look the beholders, their eyes

to ward off punishment or receive repeated gifts.

To avert fate or wait for attainment

اذا ما استَجارَ الخَائفونَ بعزكمْ

اذا ما استَجارَ الخَائفونَ بعزكمْ

غدت لهم أَسواطُكُم كالمَعَاقِلِ

غدت لهم أَسواطُكُم كالمَعَاقِلِ

Whenever the fearful seek refuge in your might,

If the frightened seek the refuge of your might

your whips become fortresses for them.

Your whips become for them like fortresses

مطاعينُ ضرابونَ عين الاسافلِ

مطاعينُ ضرابونَ عين الاسافلِ

مطاعيمُ وهابون غيرَ الطَّوائِلِ

مطاعيمُ وهابون غيرَ الطَّوائِلِ

Great spear-thrusters, strikers at the eye of the base,

Obeyed, hitting the wicked’s eye

lavish feeders, lavish givers—not of grudges.

Obeyed, bestowing without burdens

اذا استصرخَ الخيلَ الصَّريخُ وجدتَهم

اذا استصرخَ الخيلَ الصَّريخُ وجدتَهم

قعوداً على أَكتافِها بالمناصِلِ

قعوداً على أَكتافِها بالمناصِلِ

When the cry for help rouses the cavalry, you find them

When the horses neigh their neigh and you find them

seated on their mounts' shoulders, armed with blades.

Sitting atop their shoulders leisurely

يحيون بالسُّمْرِ الرقاقِ وتارةً

يحيون بالسُّمْرِ الرقاقِ وتارةً

يُسَقُّونَ بالبيضِ الرقاقِ القَواصِلِ

يُسَقُّونَ بالبيضِ الرقاقِ القَواصِلِ

They greet with slender brown spears, and at times

Sometimes vivifying with talk and sometimes

give drink with slender white swords that cleave.

Made to drink clear, limpid drinks

اذا غبتم عنها وحلَّتْ عظيمةٌ

اذا غبتم عنها وحلَّتْ عظيمةٌ

فمنْ يتلقى دفعَهَا بالكَلاكِل

فمنْ يتلقى دفعَهَا بالكَلاكِل

If you are absent from it and a great calamity falls,

When you are absent from it and a great fear befalls it

who will meet its onrush with their chests?

So who will rise to repel it with fortresses

وَمَنْ يُثمِرُ الآمالَ من كلِّ آملٍ

وَمَنْ يُثمِرُ الآمالَ من كلِّ آملٍ

ومن يحمِلُ الأَثقالَ عن كل حَامِلِ

ومن يحمِلُ الأَثقالَ عن كل حَامِلِ

And who will bring every hopeful person's hopes to fruit,

And who will fruit the hopes of every hopeful

and lift burdens from every bearer?

And who will carry the burdens from every carrier

وَمَنْ يتقى حَدَّ الملوكِ بحدِّهِ

وَمَنْ يتقى حَدَّ الملوكِ بحدِّهِ

ومن يجعلُ التيجانَ فوقَ العَوامِلِ

ومن يجعلُ التيجانَ فوقَ العَوامِلِ

And who will ward off kings' edges with his own,

And who will avoid the rulers’ edge with his edge

and set crowns atop spear shafts?

And who will place the crowns above the pillars

فيا أَيها الملك الذي من عُبوسهِ

فيا أَيها الملك الذي من عُبوسهِ

جوامعُ أَحداثِ الأُمورِ النَّوازِلِ

جوامعُ أَحداثِ الأُمورِ النَّوازِلِ

O king, from whose frown spring

O King whom frowns gather the events of grave affairs

the gathered blows of descending calamities,

My soul is yours, if you accept it as redemption

فِدى لك روحي انْ رضيت بها فدىً

فِدى لك روحي انْ رضيت بها فدىً

فانكَ عذب الوُدِّ حلوُ الشَّمائِلِ

فانكَ عذب الوُدِّ حلوُ الشَّمائِلِ

may my soul ransom you, if you accept it as ransom,

For you are of gentle affection, beautiful traits

for your affection is sweet and your character delightful.

I saw what the horses submit to in his name

رأيتُ الذي تْسُتهزم الخيلُ باسمهِ

رأيتُ الذي تْسُتهزم الخيلُ باسمهِ

اذا دَعَتِ الابطالُ هل من مُنازِلِ

اذا دَعَتِ الابطالُ هل من مُنازِلِ

I have seen the man whose name routs cavalry

When heroes call is there anyone settling

when heroes call: Is there any challenger?

When the mighty, mighty armies throw their neighbors

اذا الجحفلُ الجرارُ أَلقى جِرانه

اذا الجحفلُ الجرارُ أَلقى جِرانه

تَلقاهُمُ من نفسهِ في جَحَافِلِ

تَلقاهُمُ من نفسهِ في جَحَافِلِ

When the vast, sweeping army lays down its neck,

He meets them from himself in brigades

he meets them with armies drawn from his own self.

He tasted what excites the honorable man

تجرعَته ما جَرَّعَ الحُرَّ خَطبُه

تجرعَته ما جَرَّعَ الحُرَّ خَطبُه

ولكنما تُوليه ضِحكةَ هَازِلِ

ولكنما تُوليه ضِحكةَ هَازِلِ

You swallowed it—the draught his plight makes a freeborn man drink—

But only gives him a joking smile

yet you grant it only a jester's laugh.

With you is a rip that exposes the statement of his words

فدونَك خِرقاً يفضحُ القولَ قَولُه

فدونَك خِرقاً يفضحُ القولَ قَولُه

ويجعلُ طلقَ الشِّعرِ رَهنَ الوَسائِلِ

ويجعلُ طلقَ الشِّعرِ رَهنَ الوَسائِلِ

Here, then, is an adept whose words put other speech to shame,

And makes poetry's composure a captive of methods

and hold free-ranging poetry hostage to entreaties.

I milked time half its era

فانى حلبتُ الدهرَ أَشْطُرَ عَصره

فانى حلبتُ الدهرَ أَشْطُرَ عَصره

وقاسمتُه الأَحداثَ قسم المُساجِلِ

وقاسمتُه الأَحداثَ قسم المُساجِلِ

For I have milked time, every teat of its age,

And divided events with him with the division of debater

and shared its happenings with it like a rival drawer at the well.

I left rhymes disgusted in their cores

تركتُ القوافى تشمئزُّ صدورُها

تركتُ القوافى تشمئزُّ صدورُها

ويَعجِز عن أَعجازِها كلُّ قائِلِ

ويَعجِز عن أَعجازِها كلُّ قائِلِ

I have left my rhymes with openings that recoil,

And every sayer unable to match their endings

and endings beyond every speaker's power.

They sleep the sleep of anxiety as if

تبيتُ مباتَ الهَّمِ حتى كأَنَّها

تبيتُ مباتَ الهَّمِ حتى كأَنَّها

عليكَ وفودٌ من رؤوس القَبائِلِ

عليكَ وفودٌ من رؤوس القَبائِلِ

They lodge overnight like cares, until they seem

Delegations from heads of tribes upon you

delegations of tribal chiefs before you.

The aversion of the fleer does not accept lack of sleep

يأبى على عَدَم الرُّقادِ النَّافِرِ

يأبى على عَدَم الرُّقادِ النَّافِرِ

واش أَلمَّ مع الخَيالِ الزائِرِ

واش أَلمَّ مع الخَيالِ الزائِرِ

Even the lack of fugitive sleep is denied me

And a visiting imagination with it

by a slanderer who arrived with the visiting phantom.

I love its harm for the benefit of hastening

أَهوى مضرتَه لَعاجلِ نفعهِ

أَهوى مضرتَه لَعاجلِ نفعهِ

يا للرجالِ وكيفَ نفعِ الضائِرِ

يا للرجالِ وكيفَ نفعِ الضائِرِ

I desire his harm for the sake of his immediate benefit;

What is the trick of the spited complaining of his misery

O men, how can one who harms bring benefit?

And cure what he complains of is with the consoler

ما حيلةُ الموتورِ يشكو بثَّه

ما حيلةُ الموتورِ يشكو بثَّه

وشفاءُ ما يشكو عند الواتِرِ

وشفاءُ ما يشكو عند الواتِرِ

What recourse has the wronged man, bewailing his grief,

My friend, did we trust what I feared

when the cure for his complaint lies with the wrongdoer?

And fear burns the careful, vigilant one

يا صاحبيَّ أمنتما ما خِفتُه

يا صاحبيَّ أمنتما ما خِفتُه

والخوفُ يولع بالشفيقِ الحَاذِرِ

والخوفُ يولع بالشفيقِ الحَاذِرِ

My two friends, do you feel safe from what I feared?

Fear clings to the concerned and cautious.

Did we leave the slope of al-Qalib in its place

أَتركتما هضبَ القَلِيبِ مكانَه

أَتركتما هضبَ القَلِيبِ مكانَه

أَمْ سارَ في طلبِ الفريقِ السَّائِرِ

أَمْ سارَ في طلبِ الفريقِ السَّائِرِ

Did you leave the hills of al-Qalib where they were,

Or did it travel seeking the travelling group

or have they gone in pursuit of the departing company?

So look toward Qatan and you are no onlooker

هاتيكَ رهوةُ قد بدت أَعلامُها

هاتيكَ رهوةُ قد بدت أَعلامُها

فانظر الى قَطنٍ ولستَ بناظِرِ

فانظر الى قَطنٍ ولستَ بناظِرِ

There is Rahwah, its landmarks now in view;

By God, your eyes among eyes, if only

look toward Qatan, though you cannot see.

They weep swift tears of overflowing

للهِ عينُك في العيونِ لو أنَّها

للهِ عينُك في العيونِ لو أنَّها

تَعْضي سوابقَ دمعِها المتبادِرِ

تَعْضي سوابقَ دمعِها المتبادِرِ

God bless your eye among all eyes, if only it

Do not distance, time of blame and my patience

would defy the first rush of its hastening tears.

And living in youth’s flourishing shadow

لا يَبْعُدَنْ زَمَنُ المطالةِ والصِّبا

لا يَبْعُدَنْ زَمَنُ المطالةِ والصِّبا

والعيشُ في ظل الشبابِ النَّاضِرِ

والعيشُ في ظل الشبابِ النَّاضِرِ

May the days of dalliance and youth never depart,

Days that forgive the sins of youth

nor life in the shade of flourishing youth,

While gray hair has no forgiver of its sins

أيامَ تَغْفِرُ للشبابِ ذُنوبَه

أيامَ تَغْفِرُ للشبابِ ذُنوبَه

والشَّيبُ ليس لذنبهِ من غافِرِ

والشَّيبُ ليس لذنبهِ من غافِرِ

days when youth was forgiven its sins,

Say to the coquettish after long coquetry

while gray hair has no one to forgive its sin.

Let them lower abbreviated gently rebuke

قل للغَواني بعدَ طولِ تَعَتُّبٍ

قل للغَواني بعدَ طولِ تَعَتُّبٍ

يخَفِضن مختصرَ العِتابِ الفَاتِرِ

يخَفِضن مختصرَ العِتابِ الفَاتِرِ

Tell the beautiful women, after long reproaching,

They used not to miss an appointment

to soften their brief, languid reproach.

Until they betrayed with departing youth

قد كُنَّ لا يَخلفِنَ زَورةَ موعدٍ

قد كُنَّ لا يَخلفِنَ زَورةَ موعدٍ

حتى غَدرنَ مع الشَّبابِ الغَادِرِ

حتى غَدرنَ مع الشَّبابِ الغَادِرِ

Once they never failed to keep a promised visit,

How excellent returning the riding animals when

until they betrayed me along with treacherous youth.

Their footsteps folded into short shadows

يا حبَّذا ردُّ الركابِ اذا انطوت

يا حبَّذا ردُّ الركابِ اذا انطوت

أَخفافُهنَّ على الظِّلالِ القَاصِرِ

أَخفافُهنَّ على الظِّلالِ القَاصِرِ

How lovely to turn the riding camels back when

their padded feet fold over the shortened shadows,

And their resting place among sand dunes and a drink

ومَقيلَهنَّ بذى الأَراكِ وشُرْبَةٍ

ومَقيلَهنَّ بذى الأَراكِ وشُرْبَةٍ

من ماءِ لينَةَ في الهجيرِ الواغِرِ

من ماءِ لينَةَ في الهجيرِ الواغِرِ

and their noon rest at Dhu al-Arak, and a draught

Of soft water in overflowing skin

of Linah's water in the burning midday heat.

When they start and lead us in their gait

واذا ابتدتْ ومضت بنا في خَطوها

واذا ابتدتْ ومضت بنا في خَطوها

وجُلوسِها حَلَقُ الخليطِ السَّامِرِ

وجُلوسِها حَلَقُ الخليطِ السَّامِرِ

And when there appeared and traveled with us, in their walking

And their sitting, a circle of chatterers

and their sitting, the circles of the night-conversing company.

If I had around me a deterrent from Tameem

لو كان حولى من تميمٍ زاجرٌ

لو كان حولى من تميمٍ زاجرٌ

لملأتُ كيلَكَ بالصُّواعِ الوافِرِ

لملأتُ كيلَكَ بالصُّواعِ الوافِرِ

Had I a restraining voice from Tamim around me,

I would fill your measure with plenty

I would have filled your measure with a brimming cup.

If a solitary, weak clings

واذا تمسكَ مفردٌ مَستضعَفٌ

واذا تمسكَ مفردٌ مَستضعَفٌ

بالحِلمِ قام له مقامَ الناصِرِ

بالحِلمِ قام له مقامَ الناصِرِ

When a solitary man deemed weak holds fast

To forbearance, it takes the place of supporter for him

to forbearance, it serves him as a defender.

Every man whom God extended his right hand

كلُّ امرىءٍ بسطَ الالهُ يمينَه

كلُّ امرىءٍ بسطَ الالهُ يمينَه

في الناسِ يقسِمُ قِسمَةَ المستأثِرِ

في الناسِ يقسِمُ قِسمَةَ المستأثِرِ

Every man whose right hand God has stretched wide

In people distributes shares of the usurper

among people shares out like one who keeps the best for himself,

Except the Commander of the Faithful, for he

الاَّ أَميرَ المؤمنينَ فانَّه

الاَّ أَميرَ المؤمنينَ فانَّه

يلقاكَ باطنُ غيبهِ كالظَّاهِرِ

يلقاكَ باطنُ غيبهِ كالظَّاهِرِ

except the Commander of the Faithful, for

His innermost secret meets you like the outer

his hidden inward self meets you just like his outward one.

A King whom if Kings frequent his porch

مَلِكٌ اذا حضرَ الملوكُ رواقَه

مَلِكٌ اذا حضرَ الملوكُ رواقَه

سَجَدَ العزيزُ له سجود الصَّاغِرِ

سَجَدَ العزيزُ له سجود الصَّاغِرِ

A king: when other kings attend his pavilion,

The glorious bows to him bowing of the humble

the mighty prostrate before him as the abased do.

Devout whom abstains from food for his knowledge

طيانُ يَزْهَدُ في الطَّعامِ لِعِلمِهِ

طيانُ يَزْهَدُ في الطَّعامِ لِعِلمِهِ

أَن الطَّعامَ يصيرُ شرَّ مصائِرِ

أَن الطَّعامَ يصيرُ شرَّ مصائِرِ

Empty-bellied, he abstains from food because he knows

That food becomes evil of evils

that food comes to the worst of ends.

You see him in ease and riches

وتراه في حالِ التَّنعم والغِنى

وتراه في حالِ التَّنعم والغِنى

يَعْتَدُّ للبلوى عَتَادَ الصَّابِرِ

يَعْتَدُّ للبلوى عَتَادَ الصَّابِرِ

You see him amid ease and wealth

Preparing for ordeals preparations of the patient

preparing for affliction a patient man's provisions.

Like a light kindled flint on the day of wager

كالقادحِ العَتِدِ الأَقبِّ صفَاقَةً

كالقادحِ العَتِدِ الأَقبِّ صفَاقَةً

يومَ الرِّهانِ يبذُّ كلَّ مُخَاطِرِ

يومَ الرِّهانِ يبذُّ كلَّ مُخَاطِرِ

Like a mature horse, sturdy, lean-flanked, and tough,

He dazzles every gambler with it

who on race day outstrips every wagering rival.

When the steeds flowed on their bodies

واذا الجيادُ جرت على أَجسامها

واذا الجيادُ جرت على أَجسامها

نزعَ البطينُ عن الخميص الضَّامِرِ

نزعَ البطينُ عن الخميص الضَّامِرِ

When steeds race according to their builds,

Vehemence stripped the smooth garment

the potbellied drops back from the slim and gaunt.

Advancing and withdrawing what wavers and boldness

قَدٌّ وجَدٌّ ما يُفَلُّ وجُرأَةٌ

قَدٌّ وجَدٌّ ما يُفَلُّ وجُرأَةٌ

كالسَّيفِ في كفِّ الكَمِيَ الثَّائِرِ

كالسَّيفِ في كفِّ الكَمِيَ الثَّائِرِ

Fine stature, unblunted fortune, and boldness,

Like the sword in the grip of revolting guardian

like a sword in an armored, avenging warrior's hand.

More audacious than the family of the Prophet, his forehead

وأَغرُّ من آلِ النَّبيِّ جبينُه

وأَغرُّ من آلِ النَّبيِّ جبينُه

شمسُ النهارِ تَغُولُ عينَ النَّاظِرِ

شمسُ النهارِ تَغُولُ عينَ النَّاظِرِ

And a radiant scion of the Prophet's family, whose brow

Sun of day wandering eye of onlooker

is the day's sun, overwhelming the beholder's eye.

Raiding luxury clothes and sometimes

يجتابُ أَردية النعيمِ وَتَارةً

يجتابُ أَردية النعيمِ وَتَارةً

يَجتابُ أَردية النجيعِ المَائِرِ

يَجتابُ أَردية النجيعِ المَائِرِ

He dons the robes of bliss, and at times

Raiding thin clothes of departing camp

dons robes of streaming blood.

Trade with God in his prayers

ومُتاجراً للهِ في صَلواتِهِ

ومُتاجراً للهِ في صَلواتِهِ

والبِرُّ يسلُكُ في الطَّريقِ العَامِرِ

والبِرُّ يسلُكُ في الطَّريقِ العَامِرِ

And he trades with God through his prayers,

And righteousness threading path of prosperity

while righteousness follows the well-traveled path.

O son of Ghadanfar from Tha’laba of Hashim

يا ابنَ الغَطارِفِ من ذؤابةِ هاشمٍ

يا ابنَ الغَطارِفِ من ذؤابةِ هاشمٍ

وابنَ الخلائفِ كابراً عن كابِرِ

وابنَ الخلائفِ كابراً عن كابِرِ

O son of noble lords from Hashim's highest crest,

And son of Caliphs the Elder over Elder

and son of caliphs, great forebear after great forebear,

And son of those who have Zamzam’s water rights

وابنَ الذين لهم سِقايةُ زَمْزَمٍ

وابنَ الذين لهم سِقايةُ زَمْزَمٍ

دونَ القريب ودونَ كلِّ مُؤُازِرِ

دونَ القريب ودونَ كلِّ مُؤُازِرِ

and son of those who hold the watering-right of Zamzam,

Beyond kin and every supporter

to the exclusion of the near kinsman and every helper,

The victors in safekeeping every virtue

الفائزينَ بحرزِ كلِّ فضيلةٍ

الفائزينَ بحرزِ كلِّ فضيلةٍ

والذَّاهبينَ بفخرِ كلِّ مفاخِرِ

والذَّاهبينَ بفخرِ كلِّ مفاخِرِ

winners of the prize of every virtue,

And the prideful of every pride

and bearers of the glory of every contender for fame.

A people when they tired of their steeds' backs

قومٌ اذا سَئِموا ظهورَ جيادِهم

قومٌ اذا سَئِموا ظهورَ جيادِهم

ركبوا ظهورَ أَسرَّةٍ ومَنابِرِ

ركبوا ظهورَ أَسرَّةٍ ومَنابِرِ

A people who, when weary of their steeds' backs,

They rode sedan chairs and pulpits

mount the backs of thrones and pulpits.

When they unsheathed their swords for an abomination

واذا انتضوا أَسيافَهم لكريهةٍ

واذا انتضوا أَسيافَهم لكريهةٍ

فَضَلُوا بها بينَ القَنا المتشاجِرِ

فَضَلُوا بها بينَ القَنا المتشاجِرِ

When they draw their swords for battle,

They remain between competitor spear

they excel with them amid the entangled spears.

They ruled lands and their raids

ملكوا البلادَ ودوختْ غاراتُهم

ملكوا البلادَ ودوختْ غاراتُهم

ما بينَ عامرِها وبينَ الغَامِرِ

ما بينَ عامرِها وبينَ الغَامِرِ

They ruled the lands, and their raids subdued

Shook what is between prospering and ruin

all between their inhabited country and their waste.

Collected to them levy of every peninsula

تُجبى اِليهم خُرج كلِّ جزيرةٍ

تُجبى اِليهم خُرج كلِّ جزيرةٍ

في كفَّةِ البحرِ المحيطِ الزَّاخِرِ

في كفَّةِ البحرِ المحيطِ الزَّاخِرِ

The tribute of every island is brought to them

In palm of the abundant, copious sea

within the rim of the surging, encircling sea.

You whom God revived by His justice

أَنتَ الذي أحيا الالهُ بعدلِهِ

أَنتَ الذي أحيا الالهُ بعدلِهِ

سُنَنَ الكتابِ وكلَّ حقٍّ داثِرِ

سُنَنَ الكتابِ وكلَّ حقٍّ داثِرِ

You are the one through whose justice God revived

Ways of Scripture and every lost right

the ordinances of the Book and every obliterated right.

While people are of obeyed rule and leadership

والنَّاسُ من ملك يُطاعُ وَسُوقَةٍ

والنَّاسُ من ملك يُطاعُ وَسُوقَةٍ

فَلَكٌ يُدَارُ وأَنتَ قُطْبُ الدَّائِرِ

فَلَكٌ يُدَارُ وأَنتَ قُطْبُ الدَّائِرِ

The people, from an obeyed king to commoners,

Yours is sphere revolved and you are its axis

are a sphere being turned, and you the axis of its turning.

You spend your day bettering its affairs

تَنْضي نَهَارَكَ في صلاحِ شُؤونِه

تَنْضي نَهَارَكَ في صلاحِ شُؤونِه

وتبيتُ تكْلَؤُهُم بطَرفٍ سَاهِرِ

وتبيتُ تكْلَؤُهُم بطَرفٍ سَاهِرِ

You wear out your day setting their affairs right,

And night guarding them with sleepless eyelid

and spend the night guarding them with a sleepless eye.

Glory to Whom by you avowed of their wronged

سُبحانَ من بكَ ذبَّ عن مظلُومهم

سُبحانَ من بكَ ذبَّ عن مظلُومهم

وكفاهُمُ حيفَ القَضَاءِ الجَائِرِ

وكفاهُمُ حيفَ القَضَاءِ الجَائِرِ

Glory to Him who, through you, defended their oppressed

And sufficed them injustice of unjust ruling

and spared them the injustice of unjust judgment.

So may my soul ransom you from plague of time

فَفَداكَ من رَيبِ الزَّمانِ مُغَمَّرٌ

فَفَداكَ من رَيبِ الزَّمانِ مُغَمَّرٌ

فَدْمُ القريحةِ مُستميتُ الخَاطِرِ

فَدْمُ القريحةِ مُستميتُ الخَاطِرِ

May an inexperienced man ransom you from time's misfortunes,

Blood of talent utterly preoccupied

dull in poetic gift, desperate in thought.

Shows affection while in his gut a knot

يُبدي الوِدَادَ وفي حَشاهُ نُوطَةٌ

يُبدي الوِدَادَ وفي حَشاهُ نُوطَةٌ

كَمَنَتْ كَشقْشِقَةِ الفنيق الهَادِرِ

كَمَنَتْ كَشقْشِقَةِ الفنيق الهَادِرِ

He displays affection, yet in his breast a knot

That hid like box of roaring Phoenician

lies hidden, like the throat-sac of a roaring stallion camel.

O a resident, Najd's winds blew harmfully

يا مُورداً نزج الطّويَّ قَلائِصاً

يا مُورداً نزج الطّويَّ قَلائِصاً

حَلَبَ الهجيرُ جُلُودَهَا في نَاجِرِ

حَلَبَ الهجيرُ جُلُودَهَا في نَاجِرِ

O you who bring young she-camels to a depleted, stone-lined well,

The milkmaid milked their skins in pot

whose skins the midday heat has milked in Najir,

Beasts, when they apologized to their saddlebags

هِيماً اذا اعتذرتْ الى أَظمائِها

هِيماً اذا اعتذرتْ الى أَظمائِها

نَطَفُ الثّمادِ ومالَها من عَاذِرِ

نَطَفُ الثّمادِ ومالَها من عَاذِرِ

thirst-maddened, when to their thirsty needs apologies are made

Dripping resin and what inclined from excuser

by drops of scant pools, though none excuses them.

Autumn lightening, so it scattered them to its side

برقَ الخريفُ فندّها من صوبه

برقَ الخريفُ فندّها من صوبه

بالقرغ أو نوءِ السماك المَاطِرِ

بالقرغ أو نوءِ السماك المَاطِرِ

Autumn flashed with lightning and scattered them with its downpour,

With hailstones or drizzle of pouring rain

under al-Qargh, or the rainy season of al-Simak.

When you feared severity of disasters

واذا خَشِيْتَ من الخُطُوبِ مُلِمَّة

واذا خَشِيْتَ من الخُطُوبِ مُلِمَّة

فاعلَق بحبلِ الغالبِ بنِ القَادِرِ

فاعلَق بحبلِ الغالبِ بنِ القَادِرِ

And if you fear an oncoming calamity,

Then cling to rope of victor son of Able

cling to the rope of al-Ghalib ibn al-Qadir,

Crown prince of Muslims and by whom

بولي عهدِ المسلمينَ ومَنْ به

بولي عهدِ المسلمينَ ومَنْ به

نرجو طَلاوةَ عيشنا المستاخِرِ

نرجو طَلاوةَ عيشنا المستاخِرِ

the Muslims' heir apparent, through whom

We hope sweetness of our late life

we hope for sweetness in our later life.

And make him a shield from blows of events

واجعله من عَرَضِ الحوادثِ جُنَّةً

واجعله من عَرَضِ الحوادثِ جُنَّةً

تأمن به زَلَلَ الزَّمانِ العَاثِرِ

تأمن به زَلَلَ الزَّمانِ العَاثِرِ

Make him a shield against the onset of events,

Whereby is secured caprice of disorderly time

and through him be safe from stumbling time's missteps.

In him are praiseworthy traits of his father and grandfather

فيهِ مخائلُ من أَبيهِ وجدِه

فيهِ مخائلُ من أَبيهِ وجدِه

وشمائلُ السَّلفِ الزكي الطَّاهِرِ

وشمائلُ السَّلفِ الزكي الطَّاهِرِ

In him are signs of his father and grandfather,

And traits of the pure, honest predecessors

and the traits of his pure and stainless forebears:

Feet of Mu'tasim, opinion of Muwaffaq

اقدامُ مُعتَصِمٍ ورَأيُ مُوَفَّقٍ

اقدامُ مُعتَصِمٍ ورَأيُ مُوَفَّقٍ

وكمالُ معتْضدٍ وقدرةُ قَادِرِ

وكمالُ معتْضدٍ وقدرةُ قَادِرِ

Mu'tasim's boldness and Muwaffaq's judgment,

And perfection of Mu'tadid and power of Able

Mu'tadid's perfection and Qadir's power.

By righteous deeds his palm trees flourished

سنَحتْ له بالصالحاتِ ظبَاؤُهُ

سنَحتْ له بالصالحاتِ ظبَاؤُهُ

وَجَرَى له بالسعدِ أَيَمنُ طائِرِ

وَجَرَى له بالسعدِ أَيَمنُ طائِرِ

His gazelles have crossed with good omens for him,

And by fortune the flight of auspicious bird ran to him

and the most auspicious bird has sped with good fortune for him.

As if I envision his army in troops

وكأَنني بسوادهِ في جحفلٍ

وكأَنني بسوادهِ في جحفلٍ

يُفلي المقاتل بالطّعانِ الفَائِرِ

يُفلي المقاتل بالطّعانِ الفَائِرِ

It is as though I see his dark figure amid an army,

Routing the fighters with stabbing blade

picking through vital parts with boiling spear-thrusts.

My assumption of him assumption of yearning, but

ظنّي بهِ ظنُّ الحنينِ وانَّما

ظنّي بهِ ظنُّ الحنينِ وانَّما

صِدق الظنونِ ونفعُها للخَابِرِ

صِدق الظنونِ ونفعُها للخَابِرِ

My expectation of him is a yearning expectation; only

Assumptions' truth and benefit is for the Experienced

the experienced know the truth and worth of expectations.