ذَهَبَ الصِّبَا وَتَوَلَّتِ الأَيَّامُ

ذَهَبَ الصِّبَا وَتَوَلَّتِ الأَيَّامُ

فَعَلَى الصِّبَا وَعَلَى الزَّمَانِ سَلامُ

فَعَلَى الصِّبَا وَعَلَى الزَّمَانِ سَلامُ

Youth has gone, and the days have passed away.

The spring has left and the days have turned,

So farewell to youth, and farewell to time.

So farewell to spring and to time!

تَاللَّهِ أَنْسَى مَا حَيِيتُ عُهُودَهُ

تَاللَّهِ أَنْسَى مَا حَيِيتُ عُهُودَهُ

وَلِكُلِّ عَهْدٍ فِي الْكِرَام ذِمَامُ

وَلِكُلِّ عَهْدٍ فِي الْكِرَام ذِمَامُ

By God, I shall not forget its days as long as I live,

By God, I forget the pacts I lived,

And every pledge among the noble carries a binding obligation.

For every pact has a fixed term.

إِذ نَحْنُ فِي عَيْشٍ تَرِفُّ ظِلالُهُ

إِذ نَحْنُ فِي عَيْشٍ تَرِفُّ ظِلالُهُ

وَلَنَا بِمُعْتَرِك الْهَوَى آثَامُ

وَلَنَا بِمُعْتَرِك الْهَوَى آثَامُ

When we lived a life whose shades fluttered,

When we lived in luxurious ease

And in love's battleground we had our sins;

And sinned in the battlefield of passion.

تَجْرِي عَلَيْنَا الْكَأْسُ بَيْنَ مَجَالِسٍ

تَجْرِي عَلَيْنَا الْكَأْسُ بَيْنَ مَجَالِسٍ

فِيهَا السَّلامُ تَعَانُقٌ وَلِزَامُ

فِيهَا السَّلامُ تَعَانُقٌ وَلِزَامُ

The cup circulated among us at gatherings

The goblet circulated between gatherings

Where greeting meant embracing and holding close.

Wherein were intimacy, union and binding.

فِي فِتْيَةٍ فَاضَ النَّعِيمُ عَلَيْهِمُ

فِي فِتْيَةٍ فَاضَ النَّعِيمُ عَلَيْهِمُ

وَنَمَاهُمُ التَّبْجِيلُ وَالإِعْظَامُ

وَنَمَاهُمُ التَّبْجِيلُ وَالإِعْظَامُ

Among young men upon whom delight had overflowed,

Among youths overwhelmed with bliss,

And whom reverence and high esteem had nurtured.

Whom esteem and respect made grow.

ذَهَبَتْ بِهِمْ شِيَمُ الْمُلُوكِ فَلَيْسَ فِي

ذَهَبَتْ بِهِمْ شِيَمُ الْمُلُوكِ فَلَيْسَ فِي

تَلْعَابِهِمْ هَذْرٌ وَلا إِبْرَامُ

تَلْعَابِهِمْ هَذْرٌ وَلا إِبْرَامُ

Kingly virtues carried them along; there was nothing in

The traits of kings left them, thus in

Their merrymaking of idle chatter or importunity.

Their play there was no nonsense or haughtiness.

لا يَنْطِقُونَ بِغَيْرِ آدَابِ الْهَوَى

لا يَنْطِقُونَ بِغَيْرِ آدَابِ الْهَوَى

سُمحُ النُّفُوسِ عَلَى الْبَلاءِ كِرَامُ

سُمحُ النُّفُوسِ عَلَى الْبَلاءِ كِرَامُ

They spoke only with the courtesy of love,

They spoke not but the etiquette of love -

Generous of soul, noble in adversity.

The generosity of soul in ordeal is nobility.

مِنْ كُلِّ أَبْلَجَ يُسْتَضَاءُ بِنُورِهِ

مِنْ كُلِّ أَبْلَجَ يُسْتَضَاءُ بِنُورِهِ

كَالْبَدْرِ حَلَّى صَفْحَتَيْهِ غَمَامُ

كَالْبَدْرِ حَلَّى صَفْحَتَيْهِ غَمَامُ

Each a radiant man whose light illumined others,

Eyes yearn for them in their deeds

Like the full moon, a cloud adorning its two cheeks.

And the people walk under their flags.

سَهْلُ الْخَلِيقَةِ لا يَسُوءُ جَلِيسَهُ

سَهْلُ الْخَلِيقَةِ لا يَسُوءُ جَلِيسَهُ

بَيْنَ الْمَقَامَةِ وَاضِحٌ بَسَّامُ

بَيْنَ الْمَقَامَةِ وَاضِحٌ بَسَّامُ

Gentle in nature, he never offended his companion,

So if he speaks the heads bow down

Among the assembled company, bright-faced and ever smiling.

And if he calls to arms the ranks stand up.

مُتَوَاضِعٌ لِلْقَوْمِ تَحْسَبُ أَنَّهُ

مُتَوَاضِعٌ لِلْقَوْمِ تَحْسَبُ أَنَّهُ

مَوْلىً لَهُمْ فِي الدَّارِ وَهْوَ هُمَامُ

مَوْلىً لَهُمْ فِي الدَّارِ وَهْوَ هُمَامُ

Humble toward the people, you would think him

We sported and played in the green gardens,

Their servant in the house, though he was a noble lord.

None but our steeds roamed in them.

تَرْنُو الْعُيُونُ إِلَيْهِ فِي أَفْعَالِهِ

تَرْنُو الْعُيُونُ إِلَيْهِ فِي أَفْعَالِهِ

وَتَسِيرُ تَحْتَ لِوَائِهِ الأَقْوَامُ

وَتَسِيرُ تَحْتَ لِوَائِهِ الأَقْوَامُ

Eyes gazed toward him in all his deeds,

Until we awoke when the spring had gone -

And peoples marched beneath his banner.

Lo, sweetness and spring are dreams.

فَإِذَا تَكَلَّمَ فَالرُّؤُوسُ خَوَاضِعٌ

فَإِذَا تَكَلَّمَ فَالرُّؤُوسُ خَوَاضِعٌ

وَإِذَا تَنَاهَضَ فَالصُّفُوفُ قِيَامُ

وَإِذَا تَنَاهَضَ فَالصُّفُوفُ قِيَامُ

When he spoke, heads bowed,

Think not that life lasts for one living softly -

And when he rose, the ranks stood up.

Alas, time has no permanence.

نَلْهُو وَنَلْعَبُ بَيْنَ خُضْرِ حَدَائِقٍ

نَلْهُو وَنَلْعَبُ بَيْنَ خُضْرِ حَدَائِقٍ

لَيْسَتْ بِغَيْرِ خُيُولِنَا تُسْتَامُ

لَيْسَتْ بِغَيْرِ خُيُولِنَا تُسْتَامُ

We amused ourselves and played among green gardens

The months come and their hours pass

That none but our horses grazed.

Like mirage's gleam, and the years fade away,

حَتَّى انْتَبَهْنَا بَعْدَ مَا ذَهَبَ الصِّبَا

حَتَّى انْتَبَهْنَا بَعْدَ مَا ذَهَبَ الصِّبَا

إِنَّ اللَّذَاذَةَ وَالصِّبَا أَحْلامُ

إِنَّ اللَّذَاذَةَ وَالصِّبَا أَحْلامُ

Until we awoke, after youth had gone:

While people between them come and go,

Pleasure and youth are dreams.

As the days flow by with them.

لا تَحْسَبَنَّ الْعَيْشَ دَامَ لِمُتْرَفٍ

لا تَحْسَبَنَّ الْعَيْشَ دَامَ لِمُتْرَفٍ

هَيْهَاتَ لَيْسَ عَلَى الزَّمَانِ دَوَامُ

هَيْهَاتَ لَيْسَ عَلَى الزَّمَانِ دَوَامُ

Never suppose life endures for one steeped in luxury;

No bird escapes nor clawed beast remains,

Far from it—nothing lasts against time.

And the fate of life is annihilation.

تَأْتِي الشُّهُورُ وَتَنْتَهِي سَاعَاتُهَا

تَأْتِي الشُّهُورُ وَتَنْتَهِي سَاعَاتُهَا

لَمْعَ السَّرَابِ وَتَنْقَضِي الأَعْوَامُ

لَمْعَ السَّرَابِ وَتَنْقَضِي الأَعْوَامُ

The months arrive, and their hours end

So repel the worries of your soul when they afflict you

Like the flash of a mirage, and the years pass away.

With the cup, for it is over worries a sword.

وَالنَّاسُ فِيمَا بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ وَارِدٌ

وَالنَّاسُ فِيمَا بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ وَارِدٌ

أَوْ صَادِرٌ تَجْرِي بِهِ الأَيَّامُ

أَوْ صَادِرٌ تَجْرِي بِهِ الأَيَّامُ

And people, meanwhile, are either arriving

For life lasts not in its colors

Or departing, carried along by the days.

Except when the goblet circulates round it.

لا طَائِرٌ يَنْجُو وَلا ذُو مِخْلَبٍ

لا طَائِرٌ يَنْجُو وَلا ذُو مِخْلَبٍ

يَبْقَى وَعَاقِبَةُ الْحَيَاة حِمَامُ

يَبْقَى وَعَاقِبَةُ الْحَيَاة حِمَامُ

No bird escapes, nor does any taloned creature

Of wine that leaves the aged when he gets intoxicated

Remain; the end of life is death.

After the flames of old age - but he is a lad.

فَادْرَأْ هُمُومَ النَّفْسِ عَنْكَ إِذَا اعْتَرَتْ

فَادْرَأْ هُمُومَ النَّفْسِ عَنْكَ إِذَا اعْتَرَتْ

بِالْكَأْسِ فَهْيَ عَلَى الْهُمُومِ حُسَامُ

بِالْكَأْسِ فَهْيَ عَلَى الْهُمُومِ حُسَامُ

So ward off the soul's cares whenever they assail you

Time toyed with it and left its body

With the cup: it is a keen sword against cares.

A wraith over which imaginations collapse.

فَالْعَيْشُ لَيْسَ يَدُومُ فِي أَلْوَانِهِ

فَالْعَيْشُ لَيْسَ يَدُومُ فِي أَلْوَانِهِ

إِلَّا إِذَا دَارَتْ عَلَيْهِ الْجَامُ

إِلَّا إِذَا دَارَتْ عَلَيْهِ الْجَامُ

For life does not endure in all its hues

Red wine which lovers circulated and which formed

Except when the goblet circulates through it.

A firmament around which constellations revolve.

مِنْ خَمْرَةٍ تَذَرُ الْكَبِيرَ إِذَا انْتَشَى

مِنْ خَمْرَةٍ تَذَرُ الْكَبِيرَ إِذَا انْتَشَى

بَعْدَ اشْتِعَالِ الشَّيْبِ وَهْوَ غُلامُ

بَعْدَ اشْتِعَالِ الشَّيْبِ وَهْوَ غُلامُ

Of a wine that leaves the old man, once intoxicated,

The eye goes not straight in its glitter

After gray hair has flared, a boy again.

And feet slip when meeting it.

لَعِبَ الزَّمَانُ بِهَا فَغَادَرَ جِسْمَهَا

لَعِبَ الزَّمَانُ بِهَا فَغَادَرَ جِسْمَهَا

شَبَحَاً تَهَافَتُ دُونَهُ الأَوْهَامُ

شَبَحَاً تَهَافَتُ دُونَهُ الأَوْهَامُ

Time played with it, leaving its body

The riders camp when its goblet glistens,

A phantom before which imaginings falter.

And when its light disappears they stop.

حَمْرَاءُ دَارَ بِهَا الْحَبَابُ فَصَوَّرَتْ

حَمْرَاءُ دَارَ بِهَا الْحَبَابُ فَصَوَّرَتْ

فَلَكاً تَحُفُّ سَمَاءَهُ الأَجْرَامُ

فَلَكاً تَحُفُّ سَمَاءَهُ الأَجْرَامُ

Red, with bubbles circling it, it depicted

It was imprisoned in perfect musk -

A celestial sphere whose sky heavenly bodies surround.

Light upon which gloom did not descend.

لا تَسْتَقِيمُ الْعَيْنُ فِي لَمَعَانِهَا

لا تَسْتَقِيمُ الْعَيْنُ فِي لَمَعَانِهَا

وَتَزِلُّ عِنْدَ لِقَائِهَا الأَقْدَامُ

وَتَزِلُّ عِنْدَ لِقَائِهَا الأَقْدَامُ

The eye cannot hold steady in its brilliance,

Till when it congealed and its essence evaporated,

And feet slip when they encounter it.

And bodies could not bear it.

تَعْشُو الرِّكَابُ فِإِنْ تَبَلَّجَ كَأْسُهَا

تَعْشُو الرِّكَابُ فِإِنْ تَبَلَّجَ كَأْسُهَا

سَارُوا وَإِنْ زَالَ الضِّيَاءُ أَقَامُوا

سَارُوا وَإِنْ زَالَ الضِّيَاءُ أَقَامُوا

The mounts grope in dimness; if its cup shines forth,

Its flammability kindled, so were it not for its blending

They travel on, and if the light fades, they halt.

With water after water, flames would have ignited.

حُبِسَتْ بِأَكْلَفَ لَمْ يَصِلْ لِفِنَائِهِ

حُبِسَتْ بِأَكْلَفَ لَمْ يَصِلْ لِفِنَائِهِ

نُورٌ وَلَمْ يَسْرَحْ عَلَيْهِ ظَلامُ

نُورٌ وَلَمْ يَسْرَحْ عَلَيْهِ ظَلامُ

It was held in a dusky vessel whose confines

It charms eyes with its light but is

No light reached, nor did darkness roam over it.

A chill for its drinker and peace.

حَتَّى إِذَا اصْطَفَقَتْ وَطَارَ فِدَامُهَا

حَتَّى إِذَا اصْطَفَقَتْ وَطَارَ فِدَامُهَا

وَثَبَتْ فَلَمْ تَثْبُتْ لَهَا الأَجْسَامُ

وَثَبَتْ فَلَمْ تَثْبُتْ لَهَا الأَجْسَامُ

Until, when it surged and its cloth stopper flew off,

So by it polish the rust of worries and be not

It leapt, and bodies could not withstand it.

A fool made dizzy by sorrows.

وَقَدَتْ حِمَيَّتُهَا فَلَوْلا مَزْجُهَا

وَقَدَتْ حِمَيَّتُهَا فَلَوْلا مَزْجُهَا

بِالْمَاءِ بَعْدَ الْمَاءِ شَبَّ ضِرَامُ

بِالْمَاءِ بَعْدَ الْمَاءِ شَبَّ ضِرَامُ

Its fiery strength blazed; had it not been mixed

And know that no man lives forever

With water, then more water, a blaze would have flared.

And that health and sickness are in time.

تَسِمُ الْعُيُونَ بِنُورِهَا لَكِنَّهَا

تَسِمُ الْعُيُونَ بِنُورِهَا لَكِنَّهَا

بَرْدٌ عَلَى شُرَّابِهَا وَسَلامُ

بَرْدٌ عَلَى شُرَّابِهَا وَسَلامُ

It brands the eyes with its light, yet it is

The youth pines all his life, and truly it

Coolness and peace for those who drink it.

Is a disease to him, if balances be set right.

فَاصْقُلْ بِهَا صَدْأَ الْهُمُومِ وَلا تَكُنْ

فَاصْقُلْ بِهَا صَدْأَ الْهُمُومِ وَلا تَكُنْ

غِرّاً تَطِيشُ بِلُبِّهِ الآلامُ

غِرّاً تَطِيشُ بِلُبِّهِ الآلامُ

So polish away with it the rust of cares; do not be

So glance with your eye - do you see any nation

A naive man whose reason is unhinged by pain.

That lasted? And is there rest for a wayfarer?

وَاعْلَمُ بِأَنَّ الْمَرْءَ لَيْسَ بِخَالِدٍ

وَاعْلَمُ بِأَنَّ الْمَرْءَ لَيْسَ بِخَالِدٍ

وَالدَّهْرُ فِيهِ صِحَّةٌ وَسَقَامُ

وَالدَّهْرُ فِيهِ صِحَّةٌ وَسَقَامُ

And know that man is not immortal,

These cities - after their order their people left them,

And time contains both health and sickness.

And these pyramids - and they became ruins.

يَهْوَى الْفَتَى طُولَ الْحَيَاةِ وَإِنَّهَا

يَهْوَى الْفَتَى طُولَ الْحَيَاةِ وَإِنَّهَا

دَاءٌ لَهُ لَوْ يَسْتَبِينُ عُقَامُ

دَاءٌ لَهُ لَوْ يَسْتَبِينُ عُقَامُ

A young man longs for length of life, though it is

Naught lasts but the deception

For him, if he could see clearly, an incurable disease.

In fate over which dreams stumble.

فَاطْمَحْ بِطَرْفِكَ هَلْ تَرَى مِنْ أُمَّةٍ

فَاطْمَحْ بِطَرْفِكَ هَلْ تَرَى مِنْ أُمَّةٍ

خَلَدَتْ وَهَلْ لاِبْنِ السَّبِيلِ مُقَامُ

خَلَدَتْ وَهَلْ لاِبْنِ السَّبِيلِ مُقَامُ

So lift your gaze: do you see any nation

And I had realized matters through others

That has lived forever? Has the wayfarer a lasting abode?

And reversal and decree came upon me.

هَذِي الْمَدَائِنُ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ أَهْلِهَا

هَذِي الْمَدَائِنُ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ أَهْلِهَا

بَعْدَ النِّظَامِ وَهَذِهِ الأَهْرَامُ

بَعْدَ النِّظَامِ وَهَذِهِ الأَهْرَامُ

These cities have been emptied of their people,

So silence is motion and dimness

After their ordered life—and these are the pyramids.

Burning, and silence - speech.

لا شَيءَ يَخْلُدُ غَيْرَ أَنَّ خَدِيعَةً

لا شَيءَ يَخْلُدُ غَيْرَ أَنَّ خَدِيعَةً

فِي الدَّهْرِ تَنْكُلُ دُونَهَا الأَحْلامُ

فِي الدَّهْرِ تَنْكُلُ دُونَهَا الأَحْلامُ

Nothing endures forever, yet there is a deception

And life - no life - passed away,

In time before which intellects recoil.

By which bodies live, and it is ruin.

وَلَقَدْ تَبَيَّنْتُ الأُمُورَ بِغَيْرِهَا

وَلَقَدْ تَبَيَّنْتُ الأُمُورَ بِغَيْرِهَا

وَأَتَى عَلَيَّ النَّقْضُ وَالإِبْرَامُ

وَأَتَى عَلَيَّ النَّقْضُ وَالإِبْرَامُ

Indeed, I have discerned things through what differs from them,

This changes and that departs against its will,

And undoing and binding have passed over me.

So at times harmony and at times discord.

فَإِذَا السُّكُونُ تَحَرُّكٌ وَإِذَا الْخُمُو

فَإِذَا السُّكُونُ تَحَرُّكٌ وَإِذَا الْخُمُو

دُ تَلَهُّبٌ وَإِذَا السُّكُوتُ كَلامُ

دُ تَلَهُّبٌ وَإِذَا السُّكُوتُ كَلامُ

Then behold: stillness is motion, and dying out

And light - had you explained your matter clearly - is darkness,

Is blazing, and silence is speech;

And the beginning - had you reflected on it - is the end.

وَإِذَا الْحَيَاةُ وَلا حَيَاةَ مَنِيَّةٌ

وَإِذَا الْحَيَاةُ وَلا حَيَاةَ مَنِيَّةٌ

تَحْيَا بِهَا الأَجْسَادُ وَهْيَ رِمَامُ

تَحْيَا بِهَا الأَجْسَادُ وَهْيَ رِمَامُ

And life—though there is no life—is death,

Through which bodies live, though they are decayed remains.

هَذَا يَحُلُّ وَذَاكَ يَرْحَلُ كَارِهَاً

هَذَا يَحُلُّ وَذَاكَ يَرْحَلُ كَارِهَاً

عَنْهُ فَصُلْحٌ تَارَةً وَخِصَامُ

عَنْهُ فَصُلْحٌ تَارَةً وَخِصَامُ

This one settles, and that one leaves unwillingly

From it: peace at one time, strife at another.

فَالنُّورُ لَوْ بَيَّنْتَ أَمْرَكَ ظُلْمَةٌ

فَالنُّورُ لَوْ بَيَّنْتَ أَمْرَكَ ظُلْمَةٌ

وَالْبَدْءُ لَوْ فَكَّرْتَ فِيهِ خِتَامُ

وَالْبَدْءُ لَوْ فَكَّرْتَ فِيهِ خِتَامُ

For light, if you examined your condition, is darkness,

And the beginning, if you pondered it, is an end.