ماwhat علىupon منجدone bound for the uplands رأىsaw ماwhat أهمَّهْdistressed him
ما على منجد رأى ما أهمَّهْ
فامتطىso he mounted ليلَهhis night وجرّدand unsheathed عزمَهْhis resolve
فامتطى ليلَه وجرّد عزمَهْ
What blame lies on one bound for the uplands, who saw what distressed him,
He who had a lofty goal to attain
then mounted his night and unsheathed his resolve,
rode the night and girded his resolve,
وسرىand traveled by night هارباًfleeing منfrom الضيمoppression يعدوracing
وسرى هارباً من الضيم يعدو
غارةًa raid بالسُّرىby night travel ويغسلُand washes away وصمَهْhis stain
غارةً بالسُّرى ويغسلُ وصمَهْ
and traveled by night, fleeing oppression, racing
fleeing injustice, running to gain
on a night raid, washing away his disgrace?
a night raid, to wash away his shame.
يستنيرseeks light from النجمَthe star الخفيَّthe hidden ويستقand strikes sparks (continued)
يستنير النجمَ الخفيَّ ويستق
دحُstrikes sparks (completion) أيديthe forelegs of القِلاصِyoung she-camels والليلُand the night فحمَهْa lump of coal
دحُ أيدي القِلاصِ والليلُ فحمَهْ
He seeks light from a hidden star and strikes sparks
He took the dim star for his guide
from young she-camels' forelegs, while night is a lump of coal.
and the dark night as his cloak.
وإذاand if رابهunsettled him مريبٌsomething alarming منof الوحthe loneliness (continued)
وإذا رابه مريبٌ من الوح
شةloneliness (completion) شامdrew الحسامَthe sword أنساًfor companionship وضمَّهْand clasped it
شة شام الحسامَ أنساً وضمَّهْ
And if he was troubled by some fearful hint of
When frightened by an enemy’s cries,
loneliness, he drew his sword for company and clasped it.
he found solace in grasping his sword.
أنكرتْshe disapproved of صبغتينtwo colors خنساءKhansa فيin شَعhair (continued)
أنكرتْ صبغتين خنساء في شَع
ريmy hair (completion) بياضاًwhiteness وفيand in أديميَmy skin أُدمَهْbrownness
ري بياضاً وفي أديميَ أُدمَهْ
Khansa found fault with two colors: in my
My cheeks denied two colors—
hair, whiteness, and in my skin, brownness.
pale white and tan brown skin.
فاعجبيso marvel أنthat جنَىbrought about البياضَwhiteness علىupon المفthe crown (continued)
فاعجبي أن جنَى البياضَ على المف
رِقِcrown (completion) سهمٌan arrow جنىbrought about علىupon الوجهِthe face سُهمَهْa dusky cast
رِقِ سهمٌ جنى على الوجهِ سُهمَهْ
Then marvel that the whiteness upon my
So wonder how my cheeks were marked
crown came from an arrow that darkened my face.
by arrows, while my face took their sting.
ليتwould that هذيthis البيضاءwhiteness تأثيرهاits effect فيon الthe
ليت هذي البيضاء تأثيرها في ال
وجهface أعدىmore far-reaching than تأثيرهاits effect فيon اللِّمَّهْthe locks
وجه أعدى تأثيرها في اللِّمَّهْ
Would that this whiteness's effect upon the
Would that the white had marked my face
face were greater than its effect upon the hair.
with the force it marked my wrap!
ولكمand how many عيشةٍa life منamong الغُرِّthe radiant ones بيضاwhite (continued)
ولكم عيشةٍ من الغُرِّ بيضا
ءَwhite (completion) تسرَّتemerged منfrom ليلةٍa night مدلهمَّهْpitch-dark
ءَ تسرَّت من ليلةٍ مدلهمَّهْ
How many a radiant, white life
Many a white-robed night of joy
has emerged from a pitch-dark night!
was cheered by a night of pressing gloom.
أنحلتنيwore me thin الدنياthe world ولمand did not ينحلwaste away العمthe lifespan (continued)
أنحلتني الدنيا ولم ينحل العم
رُlifespan (completion) ومنand whoever عزَّis proud قلبُهhis heart كدَّwears out جسمَهْhis body
رُ ومن عزَّ قلبُه كدَّ جسمَهْ
The world wore me thin, yet my span of
The world undid me, but not age,
life did not dwindle; whoever keeps his heart proud exhausts his body.
for one with a proud heart bears his body’s decay.
واقتسمتand I took my share of الهمومَsorrows فيin صدْعa rift in دهرٍan age
واقتسمت الهمومَ في صدْع دهرٍ
ليسis not منin خُلقهits nature اعتدالُfairness of القِسمَهْthe apportionment
ليس من خُلقه اعتدالُ القِسمَهْ
I took my share of sorrows in the rift of an age
Cares divided in a split epoch
whose nature knows no fairness in apportionment.
whose nature lacks equitable division.
ماحقاتobliterating calamities منamong الحوادثthe disasters لوif غطcovered (continued)
ماحقات من الحوادث لو غط
طَتْcovered (completion) علىover الهلالthe crescent لمnot نَرَwe see تِمَّهْits fullness
طَتْ على الهلال لم نَرَ تِمَّهْ
Obliterating calamities: if they spread
Disasters followed in quick succession;
over the crescent, we would never see its fullness.
were they to shroud the crescent, we'd see no fullness.
كلّevery يومday تقودنيleads me حاجةُthe need of الدنthe world (continued)
كلّ يوم تقودني حاجةُ الدن
ياworld (completion) ويعتاصُand proves intractable بيwithin me علوّthe loftiness of الهِمَّهْaspiration
يا ويعتاصُ بي علوّ الهِمَّهْ
Every day I am driven by the needs of the
Each day worldly needs lead me
world, while lofty ambition rebels within me.
and worries contend with me in pressing.
فيديso my hand تبتغيseeks مجاذبةwresting away الرزthe livelihood (continued)
فيدي تبتغي مجاذبة الرز
قlivelihood (completion) ورأسيand my head يأبىrefuses جذابthe tug of الأزمَّهْthe reins
ق ورأسي يأبى جذاب الأزمَّهْ
So my hand seeks to wrest
My hands seek to grasp glory,
a livelihood, while my head refuses the tug of reins.
but my head refuses the rope of duty.
لوhad أطعتُI obeyed العفافself-restraint ماnot دنَّستنيwould have sullied me
لو أطعتُ العفاف ما دنَّستني
خُلطةٌmingling فيamong رَعاعِthe rabble of هذيthis اللُّمّهْcrowd
خُلطةٌ في رَعاعِ هذي اللُّمّهْ
Had I obeyed self-restraint, I would not have been sullied
Had I obeyed chastity,
by mingling with the rabble of this crowd.
this rabble would not have soiled me.
أوor شكرتُI thanked الصنعthe kindness الجميلَthe gracious كفتتيwould have sufficed me
أو شكرتُ الصنع الجميلَ كفتتي
نعمةُthe favor of اللهGod فيin ربيبِone nurtured by النَّعمَهْbounty
نعمةُ الله في ربيبِ النَّعمَهْ
Or had I thanked the gracious kindness, I would have been satisfied
Had I thanked the Bestower for his gift,
by God's favor in one nurtured by bounty.
God’s bounty would have sufficed me.
وهبَbestowed اللهGod للعلاupon exalted honor منamong بنيهاher sons
وهبَ الله للعلا من بنيها
حسنَthe goodness of البِرِّfilial devotion إنif فتىًa youth عقَّdisobeyed أمَّهْhis mother
حسنَ البِرِّ إن فتىً عقَّ أمَّهْ
God bestowed upon exalted honor, through one of her sons,
May God grant the virtuous sons of the highborn
fine filial devotion, if a youth should disobey his mother.
goodness, if a youth has disappointed his mother!
وأضاءتand shone علىupon المحاسنvirtues شمسٌa sun
وأضاءت على المحاسن شمسٌ
تتجلَّىis dispelled بنورهاby its light كلُّevery ظُلمَهْdarkness
تتجلَّى بنورها كلُّ ظُلمَهْ
And a sun shone upon the virtues,
And may the sun of beauty shine
by whose light every darkness is dispelled.
with its light to dispel every gloom.
وسقىand watered المجدَglory منfrom أراكةan arak tree of إسماIshmael (continued)
وسقى المجدَ من أراكة إسما
عيلَIshmael (completion) غصناًa branch أطالهlengthened it وأتمَّهْand perfected it
عيلَ غصناً أطاله وأتمَّهْ
And He watered for glory, from the arak tree of
May glory water the branch of Isma’il
Ishmael, a branch He lengthened and perfected.
lengthening and perfecting it.
عمَّembraced all بالجودwith generosity والوفاءِand loyalty أبيٌّa proud nobleman
عمَّ بالجود والوفاءِ أبيٌّ
مشبهاًresembling فيهماin both أباهhis father وعمَّهْand his paternal uncle
مشبهاً فيهما أباه وعمَّهْ
A proud nobleman embraced all with generosity and loyalty,
With generosity and loyalty a father
in both resembling his father and his paternal uncle.
resembled his father and uncle.
ورعىand upheld الفضلَvirtue مبرِمُone who makes firm العهدthe covenant لمnot تُخwas betrayed (continued)
ورعى الفضلَ مبرِمُ العهد لم تُخ
فَرْwas betrayed (completion) لديهin his presence ولمand not تُرَعْwas violated قطُّever ذِمَّهْa pledge of protection
فَرْ لديه ولم تُرَعْ قطُّ ذِمَّهْ
Firm in his covenant, he upheld virtue; no pledge was
He observed excellence, true to his vow—
broken in his presence, nor any sacred obligation ever violated.
no treachery or blame was found in him.
أَريَحِيٌّopenhanded إذاwhen ذكرتَyou mention الندىgenerosity أصlistens (continued)
أَريَحِيٌّ إذا ذكرتَ الندى أص
غىlistens (completion) بِأُذْنَيهwith his two ears مُخلِياًclearing لكfor you فهمَهْhis understanding
غى بِأُذْنَيه مُخلِياً لك فهمَهْ
Openhanded: when you mention generosity, he
An easy man, when you mention bounty,
listens with both ears, giving you his undivided understanding.
he inclines his ear, leaving you his understanding.
وإذاand when قيلit is said سائلٌa petitioner ظنّهاhe takes it for فَغْa waft (continued)
وإذا قيل سائلٌ ظنّها فَغْ
مَةَwaft (completion) مِسكٍof musk منbecause of طيبهاits sweetness أوor نَغْمَهْa melody
مَةَ مِسكٍ من طيبها أو نَغْمَهْ
And when someone says, 'A petitioner,' he takes it for
When asked, he thinks it a musk pouch
a waft of musk for its sweetness, or a melody.
of perfume or a musical tune.
طاهرpure in الشيمتينboth virtues معتدلbalanced in الأخthe character (continued)
طاهر الشيمتين معتدل الأخ
لاقcharacter (completion) جمّabundant in العطاءgiving عذبsweet الجُمَّهْthe wellspring
لاق جمّ العطاء عذب الجُمَّهْ
Pure in both virtues, balanced in
Pure of nature, moderate in manners,
character, lavish in giving, his deep waters sweet.
bountiful, sweet of speech.
لوif تعاطيتyou attempted عصرَpressing أخلاقهhis character منof
لو تعاطيت عصرَ أخلاقه من
كَرَمٍgenerosity لاعتصرتyou would press out ماءَthe juice of الكَرْمَهْthe grapevine
كَرَمٍ لاعتصرت ماءَ الكَرْمَهْ
If you sought to press his character, made of
If I tried to extract his era’s virtues,
generosity, you would press out the juice of the grapevine.
I'd press out the water of generosity.
منfrom رجالٍmen نَشَوْاwho grew up ملوكاًas kings علىupon الأفthe horizon (continued)
من رجالٍ نَشَوْا ملوكاً على الأف
قhorizon (completion) وداسواand trod upon شمسَthe sun of الفخارglory ونجمَهْand its star
ق وداسوا شمسَ الفخار ونجمَهْ
He comes of men who grew up kings upon the
Of men who grew up as kings of the horizon
horizon, and trod upon glory's sun and star.
and trod the sun of glory and its stars,
ومضواand they went on راكبينriding فيin طلبquest of السؤthe lordship (continued)
ومضوا راكبين في طلب السؤ
ددlordship (completion) شُهبَthe gray steeds of الزمانtime قِدْماًof old ودُهْمَهْand its black steeds
دد شُهبَ الزمان قِدْماً ودُهْمَهْ
And they went riding in quest of
Who sped on their quest for fortune,
lordship, of old, on time's gray steeds and black ones.
the meteors of Time, its steps and tail,
سُمُحاًgenerous لاnot يُصرّمونfinish off شهورthe months of الthe
سُمُحاً لا يُصرّمون شهور ال
محلdrought عنleaving ثَلَّةٍa flock of sheep ولاnor عنleaving صِرمَهْa herd of camels
محل عن ثَلَّةٍ ولا عن صِرمَهْ
Generous, they never finish the months of
Open-handed, never stingy
drought with a sheep-flock or camel-herd to spare.
of months of ease or cramped quarters.
جُجَحٌgreat lords فيin الندىgenerosity إذاwhen اتُّبعواthey are followed فيin
جُجَحٌ في الندى إذا اتُّبعوا في
سُنَنِthe paths of المكرماتnoble deeds كانواthey were أَئِمَّهْleaders
سُنَنِ المكرمات كانوا أَئِمَّهْ
Great lords in generosity: when others follow them in
Brave in bounty, if emulated
the paths of noble deeds, they are leaders.
in honorable deeds, they were imams.
وإذاand when ثوّبَrepeats his cry الصريخُthe caller for help توافَواthey assemble
وإذا ثوّبَ الصريخُ توافَوا
يملأونthey fill الفضاthe open space كهولاًmature men وغلْمَهْand youths
يملأون الفضا كهولاً وغلْمَهْ
And when the caller for help repeats his cry, they assemble,
When the war cry rose they gathered,
filling the open land, mature men and youths.
filling the space with warriors and boys.
كلّeach غَمرٍbountiful man كأنَّas though فيin كفّهhis palm منagainst
كلّ غَمرٍ كأنَّ في كفّه من
حتفهhis death فيin الوغىbattle أماناًsafety وعِصْمَهْand protection
حتفه في الوغى أماناً وعِصْمَهْ
Each bountiful man seems to hold in his palm
Each a piercing sword as if
safety and protection against his death in battle.
his palm held his death grip in battle.
يمنعguards الجانبَthe flank العريضَthe broad إذاwhen سُدwas sealed (continued)
يمنع الجانبَ العريضَ إذا سُد
دَتْwas sealed (completion) بهby him ثُغرةُa breach in الأمورِaffairs المهمَّهْpressing
دَتْ به ثُغرةُ الأمورِ المهمَّهْ
He guards the broad flank when, through him,
Guarding the exposed flank when
a breach in pressing affairs is sealed.
a gap was breached in important affairs.
يزِنُmatches in weight الراسياتthe rooted mountains حلماًin forbearance فإنbut if كفclenched (continued)
يزِنُ الراسيات حلماً فإن كف
فَclenched (completion) يداًa hand بالقناةaround the spear أنكرbelied حِلمَهْhis forbearance
فَ يداً بالقناة أنكر حِلمَهْ
He matches the rooted mountains in forbearance; but if he
He makes pacts reverently. If a truce
closes a hand upon the spear, he belies his mildness.
were breached, he’d revoke his own.
يكتفيis content فيin الدجىdarkness بشُعلةwith the blaze of عينيtwo eyes
يكتفي في الدجى بشُعلة عيني
هhis ويكفيand spares الحسامَthe sword إنif شَهَرَhe proclaims اسمَهْhis name
ه ويكفي الحسامَ إن شَهَرَ اسمَهْ
In darkness he needs only the blaze of his two eyes,
In the dark he's content with his eyes’ flames.
and spares the sword if he proclaims his name.
His sword suffices when he wields his name.
وإذاand when أخدجbear prematurely النساءُwomen تمطَّتْstretched herself
وإذا أخدج النساءُ تمطَّتْ
عنهُin bearing him فيamong المنجباتِmothers of noble sons أمٌّa mother متِمَّهْcarrying to term
عنهُ في المنجباتِ أمٌّ متِمَّهْ
And when women give birth prematurely, a mother stretches
When women screamed, a perfect mother
to bear him—among mothers of noble sons, one who carries to term.
wrapped herself to hide from him.
دَرَجواthey passed away طيِّبيsweet in الحديثِremembrance وبقَّوْand they left (continued)
دَرَجوا طيِّبي الحديثِ وبقَّوْ
كyou علىamid شَعْثِthe dishevelment of مجدهمtheir glory لتَلُمَّهْfor you to gather it
ك على شَعْثِ مجدهم لتَلُمَّهْ
They passed away, sweet in remembrance, and left
They walked the path of gentle words
you amid their glory's disheveled strands, to gather them.
and let their glory’s dishevelment be.
وإذاand when كنتyou are عَقْبَthe successor of مَيْتٍa dead man فلمthen not تعfades (continued)
وإذا كنت عَقْبَ مَيْتٍ فلم تع
فُfades (completion) لهof him آيةٌa trace ولمand not تَبلَdecays رِمَّهْmortal remains
فُ له آيةٌ ولم تَبلَ رِمَّهْ
And when you succeed a dead man, no
If, after a death, you neglect
trace of him fades, nor do his mortal remains decay.
no verse for him and mourn no grave,
لاmay not خلَتْbe empty منكof you أربُعُthe dwellings of الدهرtime تُحيِيyou revive
لا خلَتْ منك أربُعُ الدهر تُحيِي
ذِكرهَhis memory دارساًfaded وتحفظand preserve رسمَهْhis trace
ذِكرهَ دارساً وتحفظ رسمَهْ
May time's dwellings never be empty of you, reviving
Then the four corners of Time will fail
his faded memory and preserving his trace.
to keep his memory, protect his trace.
وفَدَىand may ransom تُربَthe dust of أخمَصَيْكyour two insteps بعينيwith the two eyes
وفَدَى تُربَ أخمَصَيْك بعيني
هhis أصمُّdeaf in الأذْنينboth ears إنif سِيلَis petitioned أكمَهْblind from birth
ه أصمُّ الأذْنين إن سِيلَ أكمَهْ
May the dust beneath your insteps be ransomed with the eyes
He died jesting at blame and villains,
of one deaf in both ears when petitioned, and blind from birth.
until miserliness fattened his wealth.
ماتhe died هزلاًemaciated بالذمّwith reproach واللؤمand baseness حتىuntil
مات هزلاً بالذمّ واللؤم حتى
أسمنfattened البخلُmiserliness مالَهhis wealth وأجمَّهْand amassed it
أسمن البخلُ مالَه وأجمَّهْ
He wasted to death in blame and baseness, until
He wished for the robes of your pride
miserliness fattened his wealth and heaped it up.
bare, and barren his body of hair.
يتمنىhe longs for أثوابthe robes of فخركyour glory عُرياnaked (continued)
يتمنى أثواب فخرك عُريا
نَnaked (completion) ومنand who للحليقfor the shaven man يوماًever بجُمّهْwith flowing locks
نَ ومن للحليق يوماً بجُمّهْ
He longs for the robes of your glory, stark
Your eyes saw the roads of endeavor
naked; but who can ever give the shaven man flowing locks?
while he was blind to their narrowness.
أبصرتْdiscerned مقلتاكyour two eyes طُرْقَthe paths of المساعيhigh endeavor
أبصرتْ مقلتاك طُرْقَ المساعي
وهوwhile he يَعمَىis blind عنto ضيقهنَّtheir narrowness ويَعمَهْand wanders bewildered
وهو يَعمَى عن ضيقهنَّ ويَعمَهْ
Your two eyes discerned the paths of high endeavor,
You traced lineage while he contended
while he is blind to their narrowness and wanders bewildered.
with intricate, branching family trees.
ونَسبتَand you traced kinship with الجبالَthe mountains وهوwhile he يدارِيconceals
ونَسبتَ الجبالَ وهو يدارِي
نسبةًa lineage مستدِقَّةًthin and frail مسترِمَّهْin need of repair
نسبةً مستدِقَّةً مسترِمَّهْ
You traced kinship with mountains, while he conceals
I'm the one who tied passion for you
a frail lineage in need of repair.
and love with a rope no betrayal can sever.
أناI منthe one who قيَّدَbound الهوىlove لكto you والودand affection (continued)
أنا من قيَّدَ الهوى لك والود
دَaffection (completion) بحبلٍwith a cord لاnot يملكِcan manage الغدرُbetrayal فصمَهْits severance
دَ بحبلٍ لا يملكِ الغدرُ فصمَهْ
I am the one who bound love and affection to you
Your generous hands captivated me,
with a cord that betrayal has no power to sever.
so I was generous; your abounding gifts.
حبَّبَتْنيwon my devotion لكto you الأياديthe favors الفسيحاthe ample (continued)
حبَّبَتْني لك الأيادي الفسيحا
تample (completion) فأسمحتُso I yielded freely والعطاياand the gifts الضخمَهْlavish
ت فأسمحتُ والعطايا الضخمَهْ
Your ample favors made me yours,
For me the flavors of your nature were sweet,
and your lavish gifts; I surrendered willingly.
and how many friends have I tasted bland!
وحلَتْand grew sweet ليto me طعومthe flavors of أخلاقكyour character الغُرthe radiant (continued)
وحلَتْ لي طعوم أخلاقك الغُر
رِradiant (completion) وكمand how many صاحبٍa companion تمرَّرتُI found bitter طعمَهْhis flavor
رِ وكم صاحبٍ تمرَّرتُ طعمَهْ
Sweet to me were the flavors of your radiant virtues;
With you I tamed Time, which after
how many a companion's flavor I have found bitter!
calmness, I fought.
بكthrough you جاريتI raced منthose who يروضtrain horses وحاربand fought (continued)
بك جاريت من يروض وحارب
تI (completes 'fought') زمانيmy age منfrom بعدafter ماthat كنتI was سَلمَهْat peace with it
ت زماني من بعد ما كنت سَلمَهْ
Through you I raced those who train their steeds, and fought
I knew I had a champion to defend me
my age, after once having been at peace with it.
against each foe’s breast.
وتيقَّنتُand I became certain أنّthat ليfor me ناصراًa champion يدpushes back (continued)
وتيقَّنتُ أنّ لي ناصراً يد
فعpushes back (completion) دونيin my defense فيagainst صدرِthe breast of كلِّevery مُلِمَّهْcalamity
فع دوني في صدرِ كلِّ مُلِمَّهْ
And I became certain I had a champion who would
You've held every place in my heart
push against each calamity's breast in my defense.
until you ruled its entirety.
لمnot تزلyou ceased بيwithin me تختصُّyou claim exclusively كلَّevery مكانٍplace
لم تزل بي تختصُّ كلَّ مكانٍ
منof فؤاديmy heart حتىuntil ملكتَyou possessed أعمَّهْits whole expanse
من فؤادي حتى ملكتَ أعمَّهْ
Within me, you kept claiming every place
Pure, pure of fraud—no doubt
in my heart, until you possessed its whole expanse.
remained, no blame penetrated.
طاهرٌpure طاهرٌpure منof الغشِّdeceit لمnot يسreached (continued)
طاهرٌ طاهرٌ من الغشِّ لم يس
بقreached (completion) إليهto it ريْبٌdoubt ولمand not تَسِرcrept تهمَهْsuspicion
بق إليه ريْبٌ ولم تَسِر تهمَهْ
Pure, pure of deceit; never has
Except that estrangement hid in him
doubt reached it, nor suspicion crept in.
a giver whose meaning corrupts his name.
غيرَexcept أنّthat الجفاءَestrangement مستترٌis concealed فيin
غيرَ أنّ الجفاءَ مستترٌ في
هِit ومعطٍand gives معناهits meaning ماwhat يُفسِدspoils اسمَهْits name
هِ ومعطٍ معناه ما يُفسِد اسمَهْ
Yet estrangement lies concealed
Whenever I say: “Be just in intimacy,”
within it, giving it a meaning that belies its name.
estrangement decrees its sentence on the heart.
كلَّماwhenever قلتُI said يُنصفhe does justice to الوصلَunion أمضىenforced الthe
كلَّما قلتُ يُنصف الوصلَ أمضى ال
هجرُestrangement منthrough جَورهits tyranny علىupon القلبthe heart حكمَهْits judgment
هجرُ من جَوره على القلب حكمَهْ
Whenever I say, 'He will do justice to union,'
So the realms of passion are protected haunts
separation tyrannously imposes its sentence on my heart.
while the realm of communion has a breach.
فنواحيso the regions of الهوىlove وِثاقٌsecure مصوناprotected (continued)
فنواحي الهوى وِثاقٌ مصونا
تٌprotected (completion) وفيand on جانبthe side of التواصلcommunion ثُلمَهْa breach
تٌ وفي جانب التواصل ثُلمَهْ
So love's domains are firm and guarded,
Rhymes are clouds, so won't you let
yet there is a breach on the side of communion.
mercy rain in their abodes?
والقوافيand the rhymes مستسقياتseeking rain فهلّاso why not
والقوافي مستسقيات فهلّا
نزلَتْdescended فيinto بيوتهنّtheir houses الرحمَهْmercy
نزلَتْ في بيوتهنّ الرحمَهْ
The rhymes seek rain—why not let
Every creased forehead, spare body—
mercy descend into their houses?
who made permissible to violate that sanctity?
كلّeach حسَرىuncovered at الجبينthe brow عاريةِbare of الجسthe body (continued)
كلّ حسَرى الجبين عاريةِ الجس
مbody (completion) فمنso who ذاthis one أحلَّpermitted هتكَviolation of الحُرمَهْsanctity
م فمن ذا أحلَّ هتكَ الحُرمَهْ
Each has an uncovered brow and a naked
When will they cloak themselves from the disgrace
body—who has permitted this violation of sanctity?
not worn by echoed sound or pressing gloom?
ومتىand whenever تكسُهنَّyou clothe them منfrom عرضa portion of ماwhat تَلyou wear (continued)
ومتى تكسُهنَّ من عرض ما تَل
بَسُwear (completion) تَشفِyou quench الصدىthirst وتَجْلُand dispel الغُمَّهْgloom
بَسُ تَشفِ الصدى وتَجْلُ الغُمَّهْ
And when you clothe them in some of what you
A sword is but a tool, and eye paint
wear, you will quench their thirst and dispel the gloom.
casts beauty on it, gives it a mark.
إنماonly السيفthe sword زُبرةٌa lump of iron وحُلِيُّand the ornaments of الthe
إنما السيف زُبرةٌ وحُلِيُّ ال
جفنِscabbard يُلقيcast حُسْناًbeauty عليهupon it ووسمَهْand its distinctive mark
جفنِ يُلقي حُسْناً عليه ووسمَهْ
A sword is merely an iron lump; the ornaments of
My Lord of perfect beauty,
the scabbard bestow beauty upon it and a mark of distinction.
a glow increaseth in his shirt and turban.
ربَّmany a وافيperfect in الجمالِbeauty قدindeed زادincreased فيهin him
ربَّ وافي الجمالِ قد زاد فيه
رونقٌsplendor فيin قميصهِhis tunic والعمَّهْand the turban
رونقٌ في قميصهِ والعمَّهْ
Many a man of perfect beauty has had it enhanced
Take from the feast soft of mind and<br>
by splendor in his tunic and turban.
of the Nairouz a fateful arrow as your fortune’s share.
خذtake منfrom العيدِEid ناعمَat ease in البالmind والنيand Nowruz (continued)
خذ من العيدِ ناعمَ البال والني
روزِNowruz (completion) سهماًa share يُسنِيmakes ample لكfor you اللهُGod قِسمَهْits allotment
روزِ سهماً يُسنِي لك اللهُ قِسمَهْ
Take, with a carefree heart, from Eid and from
Drape yourself in the raiment of fortune
Nowruz a share—may God make its allotment ample for you.
that trails its train or sleeves.
وتَجَلبَبْand wrap yourself منfrom السعادةhappiness ثَوباًa robe
وتَجَلبَبْ من السعادة ثَوباً
يسحبُtrails الفخرُglory ذيلَهُits hem أوor كُمَّهْits sleeve
يسحبُ الفخرُ ذيلَهُ أو كُمَّهْ
And wrap yourself in a robe of happiness,
Whenever a miss of yours went astray,
whose hem or sleeve glory trails along.
the registers of Fate guaranteed its payment.
كلماwhenever شذَّstrays عنكfrom you فائتa missed portion of حظٍّfortune
كلما شذَّ عنك فائت حظٍّ
ضمِنتْguarantees ذمّةُthe pledge of المقاديرdestiny غُرْمَهْits repayment
ضمِنتْ ذمّةُ المقادير غُرْمَهْ
Whenever a passing share of fortune strays from you,
For you have surpassed the utmost praise,
destiny's pledge guarantees its repayment.
so that praising you borders on blame.
فلقدfor indeed فتَّyou surpassed غايةَthe utmost limit of المدحpraise حتىuntil
فلقد فتَّ غايةَ المدح حتى
كادnearly مدحيكَmy praise of you أنto يكونbe مذمَّهْreproach
كاد مدحيكَ أن يكون مذمَّهْ
For you have surpassed the utmost reach of praise, until
my praise of you nearly becomes reproach.
Partial English translation: 120 of 122 Arabic lines translated.