أمنها على أنّ المزارَ بعيدُ

أمنها على أنّ المزارَ بعيدُ

خيالٌ سَرَى والساهرون هُجودُ

خيالٌ سَرَى والساهرون هُجودُ

Was it from her that I learned the place of visitation was far away—

Is it from her, though the place of visitation is far,

my phantom journeyed by night while the wakeful slept?

a phantom that traveled by night while the wakeful slept?

طوى بارقاً طيَّ الشجاعِ وبارقٌ

طوى بارقاً طيَّ الشجاعِ وبارقٌ

خِطارٌ يفلُّ القلبَ وهو حديدُ

خِطارٌ يفلُّ القلبَ وهو حديدُ

It folded the lightning-lit reaches as a serpent coils, flashing—

It crossed Bariq as a brave man would, though Bariq

a restless peril that dulls the heart, though the heart be iron.

is perilous, blunting even a heart of iron.

يجوبُ الدجى الوحشيَّ والبيدَ وحدَهُ

يجوبُ الدجى الوحشيَّ والبيدَ وحدَهُ

فكيفَ وكِسرُ البيتِ عندك بيدُ

فكيفَ وكِسرُ البيتِ عندك بيدُ

It crosses the savage dark and the deserts alone;

It ranges alone through savage darkness and deserts;

how, then, when the house lies broken in your hands?

how, then, when the tent's side beside you is itself a wilderness?

نعم تُحمَلُ الأشواقُ والعيسُ ظُلَّعٌ

نعم تُحمَلُ الأشواقُ والعيسُ ظُلَّعٌ

ويَمشِي الهوى والناقلاتُ قُعودُ

ويَمشِي الهوى والناقلاتُ قُعودُ

Yes, longings are borne though the camels are lame,

Yes, longings are carried while the white camels are lame,

and passion walks while those who bear it sit still.

and love walks while the carrying camels sit still.

وتتّسع البلوى فيمضِي مصمِّماً

وتتّسع البلوى فيمضِي مصمِّماً

جبانٌ عن الظلِّ الخَفوقِ يحيدُ

جبانٌ عن الظلِّ الخَفوقِ يحيدُ

Affliction broadens, yet the resolute press onward,

Affliction broadens, and onward, resolute, goes

while the coward veers away from the fluttering shade.

a coward who shies from a flickering shadow.

من المبلغي والصدقُ قصدُ حديثِهِ

من المبلغي والصدقُ قصدُ حديثِهِ

وفي القول غاوٍ نقلُهُ ورشيدُ

وفي القول غاوٍ نقلُهُ ورشيدُ

Who will carry my message—truth his sole purpose,

Who will bring me news, truth the aim of his account—

a diver in speech, discerning in what he conveys—

for speech may be transmitted astray or aright—

عن الرمل بالبيضاءِ هل هِيلَ بعدنا

عن الرمل بالبيضاءِ هل هِيلَ بعدنا

وبانِ الغضا هل يستوي ويميدُ

وبانِ الغضا هل يستوي ويميدُ

that at al-Bayda the sands were heaped after our departure,

of the sands at al-Bayda: have they drifted into heaps since we left,

and ask whether the ghada trees of Ban still stand and sway?

and of al-Ghada's bān trees: do they stand straight and sway?

وهل ظبياتٌ بين جوٍّ ولعلعٍ

وهل ظبياتٌ بين جوٍّ ولعلعٍ

تمرُّ على وادي الغضا وتعودُ

تمرُّ على وادي الغضا وتعودُ

And do gazelles between Jaww and La‘la‘

And are there gazelles between Jaww and La‘la‘

pass through Wadi al-Ghada and return?

that pass through the valley of al-Ghada and return?

سوانحُ للرامين تَصطادُ مثلَها

سوانحُ للرامين تَصطادُ مثلَها

وحوشُ الفلا وهي الرماةَ تَصيدُ

وحوشُ الفلا وهي الرماةَ تَصيدُ

Crossing from the right before the archers, they hunt their own kind—

Crossing before the archers—their like are hunted

wild creatures of the waste: prey that are themselves archers, hunting.

by beasts of the wilderness, yet they hunt the archers.

ويوم النقا خالفنَ منَّا فعاذلٌ

ويوم النقا خالفنَ منَّا فعاذلٌ

خليٌّ ومعذولُ الغرامِ عميدُ

خليٌّ ومعذولُ الغرامِ عميدُ

The dune turns its back behind them; meanwhile, a reproacher

On the day at the sandhill they divided us: a reprover

is carefree, while the censured thrall of love is spent.

carefree, and one reproached for love, stricken at heart.

سفكنَ دَماً حُرّاً وأهونُ هالكٍ

سفكنَ دَماً حُرّاً وأهونُ هالكٍ

دمٌ حكمتْ عَيْنٌ عليه وجِيدُ

دمٌ حكمتْ عَيْنٌ عليه وجِيدُ

They shed noble blood—and the least of those destroyed

They shed freeborn blood; and the least-valued thing to perish

is my own blood, condemned by an eye and a graceful neck.

is blood condemned by an eye and a neck.

حملن الهوى منّي على ضُعف كاهلٍ

حملن الهوى منّي على ضُعف كاهلٍ

وَهَى وتقولُ الحاملاتُ جليدُ

وَهَى وتقولُ الحاملاتُ جليدُ

They made love ride upon me despite the weakness of my shoulders,

They loaded love upon a feeble shoulder of mine

though even the strongest beasts that bear it grow numb.

that gave way; yet the bearers say, 'He is sturdy.'

تطلعتِ الأشرافَ عيني ريادةً

تطلعتِ الأشرافَ عيني ريادةً

لقلبي سفاهاً والعيونُ ترودُ

لقلبي سفاهاً والعيونُ ترودُ

My eye, a scout, sought the noble heights, seeking the foremost place

My eye surveyed the heights, scouting

for my foolish heart, while other eyes roamed.

foolishly for my heart; and eyes do scout.

وما علمتْ أنّ البدورَ برامةٍ

وما علمتْ أنّ البدورَ برامةٍ

وجوهٌ ولا أنّ الغصونَ قدودُ

وجوهٌ ولا أنّ الغصونَ قدودُ

I never knew that in Rama there were moons

It did not know that the full moons at Rama

that were faces, or branches that were slender forms.

were faces, or that the branches were figures.

وقالوا غداً ميقاتُ فُرقةِ بَينِنا

وقالوا غداً ميقاتُ فُرقةِ بَينِنا

فقلتُ لسعدٍ إنه لوعيدُ

فقلتُ لسعدٍ إنه لوعيدُ

They said, “Tomorrow is the appointed time of our separation.”

They said, 'Tomorrow is the appointed time of our separation';

I answered Sa‘d, “That is no promise, but a threat.”

I said to Sa'd, 'That is surely a threat.'

غداً نعلنُ الشكوى فهل أنت واقفٌ

غداً نعلنُ الشكوى فهل أنت واقفٌ

تسائلُ حادي الركبِ أين تريدُ

تسائلُ حادي الركبِ أين تريدُ

When tomorrow we proclaim our grief, will you stand with us

Tomorrow we will proclaim our grief: will you stand

and ask the caravan guide, “Where are you bound?”

asking the caravan's driver, 'Where are you bound?'

وهل تملك الإبقاءَ أو تجحد الهوى

وهل تملك الإبقاءَ أو تجحد الهوى

ووجهُك قاضٍ والدموعُ شهودُ

ووجهُك قاضٍ والدموعُ شهودُ

Can you preserve a life, or deny it love,

Can you make them stay, or deny your love,

when your face is judge and the tears are witnesses?

while your face is judge and your tears witnesses?

وقد كنتُ أبكي والفراقُ دَعَا بِهِ

وقد كنتُ أبكي والفراقُ دَعَا بِهِ

دلالٌ أدارِي عطفَه وصدودُ

دلالٌ أدارِي عطفَه وصدودُ

I once wept, while separation lent her tears—

I used to weep when separation was summoned

a coy one whose softness and reserve I knew how to coax.

by coyness, whose tenderness I coaxed, and by aversion.

فما أنا من بَينٍ رجاءُ إيابِهِ

فما أنا من بَينٍ رجاءُ إيابِهِ

وعودٌ تُقَضَّى دونه وعهودُ

وعودٌ تُقَضَّى دونه وعهودُ

No parting consoles me merely because its reversal may be hoped for,

What am I, then, before a parting whose hope of return

nor a promise whose fulfillment is deferred behind delays and pledges.

is promises and pledges that expire before it?

هل السابق الغضبانُ يملكُ أمرَهُ

هل السابق الغضبانُ يملكُ أمرَهُ

فما كلّ سير اليعملاتِ وخيدُ

فما كلّ سير اليعملاتِ وخيدُ

Does the racing heartbeat possess command of itself?

Can the angry one racing ahead control himself?

Not every pace of the swift she-camels is a headlong trot.

For not every gait of the sturdy she-camels is a swift trot.

رويداً بأخفافِ المطيّ فإنما

رويداً بأخفافِ المطيّ فإنما

تداسُ جباةٌ تحتها وخدودُ

تداسُ جباةٌ تحتها وخدودُ

Gently with the riding beasts’ hooves—for beneath them

Gently with the riding-camels' hoofpads, for it is only

foreheads and cheeks are being trampled away.

foreheads and cheeks that are trampled beneath them.

عذيري من الآمال أمَّا ذراعها

عذيري من الآمال أمَّا ذراعها

فرحبٌ وأمَّا نَيْلُها فزهيدُ

فرحبٌ وأمَّا نَيْلُها فزهيدُ

Grant me an excuse against hopes: their arm stretches long,

Who will defend me against hopes? Their span

ample in promise, though what they yield is slight.

is vast, but their yield is meager.

يُرينك أنّ النجمَ حيثُ تحطُّه

يُرينك أنّ النجمَ حيثُ تحطُّه

وأنّ زمامَ الليث حيث تقودُ

وأنّ زمامَ الليث حيث تقودُ

They show you the star wherever you set it,

They show you that the star lies wherever you place it,

and the lion’s very bones wherever you lead it.

and that the lion's rein goes wherever you lead.

ودون حصاة الرملِ إن رُمتها يدٌ

ودون حصاة الرملِ إن رُمتها يدٌ

دَفوعٌ وسهمٌ للزمان سديدُ

دَفوعٌ وسهمٌ للزمان سديدُ

Before a single grain of sand, should a hand reach for it,

Yet before a grain of sand, if you seek it, stands a hand

stand stout defenses and an arrow aimed true against Time.

that thrusts you back, and Time's unerring arrow.

سقَى الناسَ كأسَ الغدرِ ساقٍ مُعدِّلٌ

سقَى الناسَ كأسَ الغدرِ ساقٍ مُعدِّلٌ

متى يُبْدِ قبلَ السكر فهو معيدُ

متى يُبْدِ قبلَ السكر فهو معيدُ

A pampered cupbearer served the people treachery’s cup;

A cupbearer dealing equally gave people the cup of treachery;

whenever he appears before intoxication has set in, he begins the round anew.

whenever he begins a round, he repeats it before drunkenness.

فمستبردٌ يَهنَى بأوّلِ شَربةٍ

فمستبردٌ يَهنَى بأوّلِ شَربةٍ

ومستكثِرٌ يثنى له ويزيدُ

ومستكثِرٌ يثنى له ويزيدُ

One, finding it cool, drinks deeply at the first draught;

One seeking refreshment enjoys the first draught,

another asks for much, and it is doubled and increased for him.

while one wanting more is given a second, and more besides.

ونَحَّى ابنَ أيّوبٍ فأصبح صاحياً

ونَحَّى ابنَ أيّوبٍ فأصبح صاحياً

وفاءٌ عريقٌ في الوفاءِ تليدُ

وفاءٌ عريقٌ في الوفاءِ تليدُ

But Ibn Ayyub turned it aside and stayed sober—

He set Ibn Ayyub aside, leaving sober

a loyalty deep-rooted in loyalty, ancient and inherited.

a loyalty deep-rooted in loyalty, inherited of old.

فلو لم يُبرِّزْ يومَ كلِّ فضيلةٍ

فلو لم يُبرِّزْ يومَ كلِّ فضيلةٍ

كفَى أنه يومَ الحِفاظِ وحيدُ

كفَى أنه يومَ الحِفاظِ وحيدُ

Even had he not come forth whenever virtue called,

Even had he not excelled on the day of every virtue,

it would suffice that on the day of defense he stood alone.

it would suffice that, on the day of keeping faith, he stands alone.

حواني وأيّام الزمان أراقمٌ

حواني وأيّام الزمان أراقمٌ

وهَبهَبَ عنّي والخطوبُ أسودُ

وهَبهَبَ عنّي والخطوبُ أسودُ

He sheltered me when the days of Time were serpents—

He sheltered me when Time's days were speckled serpents,

and imagine him taken from me while calamities were lions!

and drove danger back from me when calamities were lions.

ولبَّى دعائي والصدَى لا يُجيبني

ولبَّى دعائي والصدَى لا يُجيبني

بيقظتِهِ والسامعون رُقودُ

بيقظتِهِ والسامعون رُقودُ

He answered my call when events themselves were daring,

He answered my call when even the echo would not answer me,

through his vigilance, while all who heard lay sleeping.

with his wakefulness, while those who heard lay asleep.

وأنهضَني بالدهر حتى دفعتُه

وأنهضَني بالدهر حتى دفعتُه

وجانِبُه وعْرٌ عليّ شديدُ

وجانِبُه وعْرٌ عليّ شديدُ

He raised me against the age until I drove it back,

He raised me against Time until I could repel it,

though its flank was rough, estranged, and hard against me.

though its flank was rugged and hard for me.

وقد قعدتْ بي نُصرةُ اليدِ أختَها

وقد قعدتْ بي نُصرةُ اليدِ أختَها

وقُلِّصَ عني الظلُّ وهو مديدُ

وقُلِّصَ عني الظلُّ وهو مديدُ

His aid took up my cause—a sister to good fortune—

Even one hand's help for its sister had failed me,

and the shadows withdrew from me though they had stretched long.

and shade was drawn away from me, though long and ample.

تكفَّلَ لي بالعيشِ حتى رعيتُهُ

تكفَّلَ لي بالعيشِ حتى رعيتُهُ

على وَخِم الأيّام وهو رغيدُ

على وَخِم الأيّام وهو رغيدُ

He guaranteed my livelihood until I grazed upon it,

He guaranteed me sustenance until I fed upon it,

lush despite the foulness of the days.

despite the days' foulness, abundant and easy.

وأطلقَ من ساقَيَّ حتى أنافَ بي

وأطلقَ من ساقَيَّ حتى أنافَ بي

على أَرَبِي والحادثاتُ قُيودُ

على أَرَبِي والحادثاتُ قُيودُ

He loosed the shackle from my leg until it bore me aloft

He loosed the bonds from my legs until he lifted me

toward my desire, though adversities were chains.

beyond my desire, while misfortunes were fetters.

فما راعني من عقَّني وهو واصلٌ

فما راعني من عقَّني وهو واصلٌ

ولا ضرّني من غابَ وهو شهيدُ

ولا ضرّني من غابَ وهو شهيدُ

Then one who severed me could not alarm me, though he remained connected,

So none who severed ties with me alarmed me while he maintained them,

nor could the reproach of one present do me harm.

nor did anyone absent harm me while he was present.

من القوم مدلولٌ على المجدِ واصلٌ

من القوم مدلولٌ على المجدِ واصلٌ

إذا ضلَّ عن طُرْقِ العلاء بليدُ

إذا ضلَّ عن طُرْقِ العلاء بليدُ

In speech he is guided toward glory and reaches it,

Of his people, he is guided to glory and reaches it

when the dull-witted wander from the roads of eminence.

when a dullard loses the paths to eminence.

عتيقُ نجارِ الوجهِ أصيدُ صرَّحتْ

عتيقُ نجارِ الوجهِ أصيدُ صرَّحتْ

به عن صفاياها غَطارِفُ صِيدُ

به عن صفاياها غَطارِفُ صِيدُ

Pure in stock and lion-faced, of unmingled noble blood—

Noble of countenance and stock, proud-necked, brought forth

through him its choicest strain brought forth lordly lions.

from their choicest stock by proud-necked noble lords.

كرامٌ تُضيء المشكلاتُ برأيهم

كرامٌ تُضيء المشكلاتُ برأيهم

ويُنظَمُ شملُ المجدِ وهو بديدُ

ويُنظَمُ شملُ المجدِ وهو بديدُ

Noble men who illuminate perplexities with their counsel

Generous men, whose counsel illuminates difficult matters,

and gather glory’s scattered company into order.

and gathers glory's scattered company into order.

يَسُودُ فتاهم في خيوطِ تميمِهِ

يَسُودُ فتاهم في خيوطِ تميمِهِ

ويشأى كهولَ الناس وهو وليدُ

ويشأى كهولَ الناس وهو وليدُ

He leads their young men while still an infant in amulets,

Their youth rules while still wearing his amulet's strings,

and outstrips the elders of mankind while newly born.

and outstrips men's elders while still a newborn.

إذا نزلوا بالأرضِ غبراءَ جعدةً

إذا نزلوا بالأرضِ غبراءَ جعدةً

أماهَ حصىً فيها وطابَ صعيدُ

أماهَ حصىً فيها وطابَ صعيدُ

Its pebbles yield beneath them, and its soil grows pleasant,

When they settle on dust-gray, rugged land,

when they alight upon dusty, parched ground.

its pebbles yield water and its soil grows fertile.

كأنَّ نصوعَ الروض حين تسحَّبتْ

كأنَّ نصوعَ الروض حين تسحَّبتْ

مآزِرُ منهم فوقَها وبُرودُ

مآزِرُ منهم فوقَها وبُرودُ

It is as though the meadow’s flowering patches, when clouds trail over them,

As though the meadow's brilliant colors, as they trailed,

were waistcloths and mantles spread across the ground.

were their waist-wraps and striped cloaks spread over it.

سخا بهِمُ أنَّ السخاءَ شجاعةٌ

سخا بهِمُ أنَّ السخاءَ شجاعةٌ

وشجّعهم أنَّ الشجاعةَ جودُ

وشجّعهم أنَّ الشجاعةَ جودُ

Their generosity springs from knowing generosity to be courage,

That generosity is courage stirred their generosity,

and they are emboldened by knowing courage to be generosity.

and that courage is generosity made them brave.

لهم بابنهم ما للسحابة أقلعتْ

لهم بابنهم ما للسحابة أقلعتْ

من الروض يومَ الدَّجْنِ وهو صَخود

من الروض يومَ الدَّجْنِ وهو صَخود

Through their son, theirs is what belongs to a cloud that has lifted

Through their son they have what a cloud has when it withdraws

from a meadow on an overcast day, leaving it rain-soaked.

from a meadow on a clouded day, though the day is scorching.

وما غابَ عن دارِ العلا شخصُ هالكٍ

وما غابَ عن دارِ العلا شخصُ هالكٍ

مضَى وبنوه الصالحون شُهودُ

مضَى وبنوه الصالحون شُهودُ

No dead man’s absence has marred the dwelling of high honor:

No dead man's person is absent from the house of greatness

he passed away, but his worthy sons remain as witnesses.

when he has passed away and his worthy sons are present.

أبا طالبٍ لا يُخلف الفخرُ دوحةً

أبا طالبٍ لا يُخلف الفخرُ دوحةً

وأنتَ لها فرعٌ وبيتُك عُودُ

وأنتَ لها فرعٌ وبيتُك عُودُ

Abu Talib, glory never fails a tree

O Abu Talib, glory does not fail a great tree

of which you are the branch and your house the trunk.

of which you are a branch and your house the trunk.

بَغَى الناسُ أدنَى ما بلغتَ فطُيِّرتْ

بَغَى الناسُ أدنَى ما بلغتَ فطُيِّرتْ

رياحُك عَصفاً والبُغاةُ ركُودُ

رياحُك عَصفاً والبُغاةُ ركُودُ

In people’s eyes, the lowest height my native thought has reached

People sought the least of what you attained; then swept aloft

is where your winds rage while the rebels remain still.

were your winds, storming, while the seekers lay becalmed.

وشالَ بكَ القِدحُ المعلَّى وحطَّهم

وشالَ بكَ القِدحُ المعلَّى وحطَّهم

وليس لهاوٍ بالطباعِ صعودُ

وليس لهاوٍ بالطباعِ صعودُ

Through you the highest lot rose, while theirs was cast down;

The highest-winning lot-arrow raised you and lowered them,

even what naturally falls must rise for you.

and one who falls by nature cannot rise.

فلو كلَّمتْك الشمسُ قالتْ لحِقتَ بي

فلو كلَّمتْك الشمسُ قالتْ لحِقتَ بي

علاءً وإِشراقاً فأينَ تريدُ

علاءً وإِشراقاً فأينَ تريدُ

Had the sun spoken to you, it would have said, “You have overtaken me

If the sun spoke to you, it would say, 'You have caught up with me

in height and radiance—where can you still be bound?”

in loftiness and radiance—where now do you aspire?'

أقرّ لك الأعداءُ بالفضل عَنوةً

أقرّ لك الأعداءُ بالفضل عَنوةً

ومعترِفٌ من لم يسَعْهُ جُحود

ومعترِفٌ من لم يسَعْهُ جُحود

Your enemies conceded your excellence under compulsion,

Your enemies acknowledged your excellence unwillingly,

and even one unable to deny it has confessed.

and whoever has no room for denial must confess.

وكيف يُمارِي في الصباحِ معاندٌ

وكيف يُمارِي في الصباحِ معاندٌ

وقد فَلقَ الخضراءَ منه عمودُ

وقد فَلقَ الخضراءَ منه عمودُ

How can any obstinate man dispute the morning

How can an obstinate man dispute the morning

when its pillar has split the blue vault of heaven?

when its column has cleft the green sky?

تسمَّعْ من الحسادِ وصفَك واغتبطْ

تسمَّعْ من الحسادِ وصفَك واغتبطْ

فأعجبُ فضلٍ ما رواه نديدُ

فأعجبُ فضلٍ ما رواه نديدُ

I listened to the envious describe you and rejoiced;

Listen to your description from the envious, and rejoice;

your virtue pleased me all the more because a rival recounted it.

the most wondrous excellence is what a rival relates.

وإن نَكَلوا شيئاً فإن فصاحتي

وإن نَكَلوا شيئاً فإن فصاحتي

وراءك كَنزٌ في الكلام عتيدُ

وراءك كَنزٌ في الكلام عتيدُ

Though they shrink from casting light upon you, my eloquence

If they hold anything back, then my eloquence

is a treasure of speech kept ready behind you.

stands behind you, a treasure of words held ready.

وبين يَديْ نُعماك منّي حميَّةٌ

وبين يَديْ نُعماك منّي حميَّةٌ

لها مَدَدٌ من نفسها وجُنودُ

لها مَدَدٌ من نفسها وجُنودُ

Before your favors stands my faithful ardor,

Before your beneficence stands a zeal of mine,

with reinforcements and armies drawn from its own strength.

with its own reinforcements and troops.

إذا رامحتْ حرباً رأيت كماتَها

إذا رامحتْ حرباً رأيت كماتَها

تلاوَذُ من أطرافها وتَحيدُ

تلاوَذُ من أطرافها وتَحيدُ

When my two spears engage in battle for you, you see its champions

When it meets war with its lances, you see war's champions

seek shelter from their points and turn aside.

seeking shelter from its points and turning aside.

أذودُ بها عن سَرح عِرضك كلّما

أذودُ بها عن سَرح عِرضك كلّما

تطلَّعَ فيه للفريسةِ سِيدُ

تطلَّعَ فيه للفريسةِ سِيدُ

With them I defend the open pasture of your honor whenever

With it I defend the pasture of your honor whenever

some quarry peers into it, seeking an opportunity.

a wolf peers into it in search of prey.

إذا نَشَطتْ من عُقلةِ الفكرِ أرسلتْ

إذا نَشَطتْ من عُقلةِ الفكرِ أرسلتْ

بها طَلِقاتٍ وثْبُهنّ شُرودُ

بها طَلِقاتٍ وثْبُهنّ شُرودُ

When they are freed from the tether of thought, I send them forth—

When my eloquence slips free of thought's tether, it sends

unbridled bolts whose leaps are wild.

with that zeal free-ranging steeds whose leaps run wild:

مطايا لأبكار الكلام إذا مشى

مطايا لأبكار الكلام إذا مشى

على حَسَكِ السَّعدانِ منه رديدُ

على حَسَكِ السَّعدانِ منه رديدُ

They are mounts for virgin thoughts; whenever they advance,

mounts for virgin utterances, while there plods

even the thorns of the sa‘dan beneath them are crushed.

on sa‘dan thorns a faltering repetition of speech.

نطقتُ بها الإعجازَ فالمؤمنون لي

نطقتُ بها الإعجازَ فالمؤمنون لي

على دِينها بين الجِنانِ خُلودُ

على دِينها بين الجِنانِ خُلودُ

Through them I utter miraculous speech; those who believe in me

Through it I uttered the inimitable; those who believe me

follow their creed, immortal among human hearts.

and follow its faith abide forever among the gardens.

ويحسدني قومٌ عليها وحظُّها

ويحسدني قومٌ عليها وحظُّها

شقيٌّ وحظّ المقرفاتِ سعيدُ

شقيٌّ وحظّ المقرفاتِ سعيدُ

My people envy me for them, though their own lot is wretched,

Some people envy me for it, though its fortune

while the lot of those to whom they are recited is blessed.

is wretched, and the fortune of base-born verses is happy.

تمنَّوا على إخصابهم جدبَ عيشِها

تمنَّوا على إخصابهم جدبَ عيشِها

وأنهُمُ خُصُّوا بها وأُفيدوا

وأنهُمُ خُصُّوا بها وأُفيدوا

They covet them: though the verses are fertile, their own life is barren,

Despite their own abundance, they wished its life barren,

even though through them they have prospered and profited.

and wished that they alone had been granted it and endowed.

ولم أحسبِ البلوى عليها مُزاحِمٌ

ولم أحسبِ البلوى عليها مُزاحِمٌ

ولا أنَّ ضنكَ العيش فيه حسودُ

ولا أنَّ ضنكَ العيش فيه حسودُ

I never thought adversity would contend with them,

I never thought anyone would compete over its affliction,

or that life’s hard experience would grow jealous of them.

or that straitened living could have an envier.

لها النسبُ الحرُّ الصريحُ إذا طغت

لها النسبُ الحرُّ الصريحُ إذا طغت

عليك إِماءٌ غيرها وعبيدُ

عليك إِماءٌ غيرها وعبيدُ

They possess a free and unmixed lineage when they hasten toward you,

It has freeborn, unmixed lineage, even when

while all other verses are slave-girls and bondsmen.

other slave-women and male slaves overwhelm you.

يزورك منها والنساءُ فواركٌ

يزورك منها والنساءُ فواركٌ

كواعبُ تُصْفِيك المودّةَ غِيدُ

كواعبُ تُصْفِيك المودّةَ غِيدُ

From them there come to visit you—though women may be disdainful—

From it come to visit you, while women shun their mates,

full-breasted maidens, graceful, lavishing affection upon you.

budding-breasted maidens, graceful, giving you unalloyed affection.

لهنّ جديدٌ من نوالك كلَّما

لهنّ جديدٌ من نوالك كلَّما

أتى طالعاً يومٌ بهنّ جديدُ

أتى طالعاً يومٌ بهنّ جديدُ

For them there is ever a fresh gift from your bounty whenever

For them there is a fresh gift from your bounty whenever

a new star rises upon them on a new day.

a new day rises upon them.

ففي كلّ يومٍ مهرجانٌ مقلَّدٌ

ففي كلّ يومٍ مهرجانٌ مقلَّدٌ

بهنّ ونيروزٌ لديك وعيدُ

بهنّ ونيروزٌ لديك وعيدُ

Thus every day is a garlanded Mihrjan with them,

So every day holds a Mehrgan garlanded

and beside you, a Nowruz and a feast-day.

with them, and at your side a Nowruz and a feast.