وفُودُ حَبِيبٍ أَمْ ورُودُ عِهادِ

وفُودُ حَبِيبٍ أَمْ ورُودُ عِهادِ

وصَوتُ بَشيرٍ أَمْ تَرَنُّمُ حادِي

وصَوتُ بَشيرٍ أَمْ تَرَنُّمُ حادِي

Is it the arrival of a beloved, or the coming of renewed rains?

Is it the arrival of a beloved or the blossoming of a bower,

And a herald's voice, or a camel-driver's chant?

Or is it the voice of a herald or the warbling of a guide?

بِعَيْشِكَ هَلْ قد مُزِّقَتْ حُلَلُ النَّوىَ

بِعَيْشِكَ هَلْ قد مُزِّقَتْ حُلَلُ النَّوىَ

وَحَانَ مِنَ اللُّقْيا مَنالُ مُرادِي

وَحَانَ مِنَ اللُّقْيا مَنالُ مُرادِي

By your life, have separation's robes been torn apart,

My friend, have the ties of affection been severed,

And has the hour come to attain my wish through reunion?

And has the time of reunion, my wish, drawn near?

وهَلْ طَلَعَتْ شَمْسُ التَّواصُلِ بَعْدَما

وهَلْ طَلَعَتْ شَمْسُ التَّواصُلِ بَعْدَما

تَطاوَلَ لَيْلٌ مُظْلِمٌ بِبعادِ

تَطاوَلَ لَيْلٌ مُظْلِمٌ بِبعادِ

And has the sun of communion risen after

Has the sun of communion risen after

A night dark with separation had grown so long?

A long dark night of separation?

وعادَتْ لَنَا الأَيّامُ بِيضاً زَواهِراً

وعادَتْ لَنَا الأَيّامُ بِيضاً زَواهِراً

وقَدْ لَبِسَتْ منْ قَبْلُ ثَوْبَ حِدادِ

وقَدْ لَبِسَتْ منْ قَبْلُ ثَوْبَ حِدادِ

And have our days returned white and radiant,

Have days returned to us white like flowers

Though before they had worn a robe of mourning?

After having worn the garb of mourning?

فإنْ كَانَ ما قَالَ البَشيرُ بيَقْظَةٍ

فإنْ كَانَ ما قَالَ البَشيرُ بيَقْظَةٍ

وَلَمْ يَكُ أحْلاماً وزُورَ رُقادِ

وَلَمْ يَكُ أحْلاماً وزُورَ رُقادِ

So if what the herald said was in waking life,

If what the herald said was truly awake

And was not dreams and the falsehood of sleep,

And not just dreams and false slumber,

فَيَا دَهْرُ قُمْ فاسْحَبْ ذُيولَ مَخِيلَةٍ

فَيَا دَهْرُ قُمْ فاسْحَبْ ذُيولَ مَخِيلَةٍ

وَرَنِّحَ أَعْطَافاً بِرَنَّةِ شَادي

وَرَنِّحَ أَعْطَافاً بِرَنَّةِ شَادي

Then, Time, arise and trail the hems of pride,

Then rise, O Fate, roll up the skirts of illusion

And sway your flanks to a singer's trill.

And limp, limping with joy like someone overjoyed,

ويا نَاقُ قَدْ أعْضِيتِ مِنْ تَعَبِ السُّرَى

ويا نَاقُ قَدْ أعْضِيتِ مِنْ تَعَبِ السُّرَى

ومِنْ طَيِّ أَغْوارٍ وقَطْعِ نِجادِ

ومِنْ طَيِّ أَغْوارٍ وقَطْعِ نِجادِ

And you, she-camel, are [apparently spared] the toil of night travel,

And O she-camel, you have suffered from traveling at night

And of traversing lowlands and crossing highlands.

And roaming the depths and crossing the wilderness,

وقُمْ يا غُلامِي حُطَّ رَحْلَ مَطِيَّتي

وقُمْ يا غُلامِي حُطَّ رَحْلَ مَطِيَّتي

وخُذْ ذَابِلي واحْلُلْ عُقُودَ نِجادِي

وخُذْ ذَابِلي واحْلُلْ عُقُودَ نِجادِي

And rise, my servant: take down my mount's saddle,

So rise, my boy, unload my camel’s litter,

Take my slender spear, and undo my sword-belt's ties.

Take off her trappings and remove the cords,

وسَكِّنْ صَهِيلَ الْمُهْرِ وانْزَعْ شَكِيمَهُ

وسَكِّنْ صَهِيلَ الْمُهْرِ وانْزَعْ شَكِيمَهُ

وَضَعْ لأمَتِي مِنْ فَوْقِ ظَهْرِ جَوَادِي

وَضَعْ لأمَتِي مِنْ فَوْقِ ظَهْرِ جَوَادِي

Quiet the colt's neighing, and remove its bit,

Calm the snorting of the mare and remove her bridle,

And take my armor down from my steed's back.

And place my cloak over the back of my steed.

فَقَدْ كُنْتُ أَزْمَعْتُ اقْتِحامَ مَتَالِفٍ

فَقَدْ كُنْتُ أَزْمَعْتُ اقْتِحامَ مَتَالِفٍ

وقَطعَ أَكَامٍ أَقْفَرَتْ وَوِهَادِ

وقَطعَ أَكَامٍ أَقْفَرَتْ وَوِهَادِ

For I had resolved to plunge into mortal dangers,

For I had intended to brave the hostility

And traverse desolate hills and lowlands.

And cross the barren wastes and deserts,

ومنْ دُونِ ما أَبْغِيهِ في كُلِّ مَوْطِنٍ

ومنْ دُونِ ما أَبْغِيهِ في كُلِّ مَوْطِنٍ

طِرادُ جِيادٍ وارْتِقاصُ صِعادِ

طِرادُ جِيادٍ وارْتِقاصُ صِعادِ

And before what I seek, in every place,

Seeking, in every abode, nothing

Lie charging steeds and dancing lances,

But chasing horses and climbing peaks,

وسَلْبُ نُفُوسٍ لا تَحِيدُ عَنِ اللّقا

وسَلْبُ نُفُوسٍ لا تَحِيدُ عَنِ اللّقا

وإنْ لَقِيَتْ في الَحْربِ حَرّ جلادِ

وإنْ لَقِيَتْ في الَحْربِ حَرّ جلادِ

And the taking of lives that never shrink from battle,

Capturing souls that do not fail to meet

Even when, in war, they face the heat of combat.

And though they face war’s fierce executioner in battle.

ولم يَكُ تَرْحالي لَجمْعِ شَوَارِدٍ

ولم يَكُ تَرْحالي لَجمْعِ شَوَارِدٍ

مِنَ المالِ أَبْغِيها بكُلِّ بِلادِ

مِنَ المالِ أَبْغِيها بكُلِّ بِلادِ

Nor was my journeying to gather scattered portions

My traveling was not to gather riches

Of wealth, pursuing them in every land;

Which I seek in every land.

ولا لِلقا خَوْدٍ رَدَاحٍ بِذِكْرِها

ولا لِلقا خَوْدٍ رَدَاحٍ بِذِكْرِها

أديرَتْ كُؤُسٌ من رحيقِ شِهادِ

أديرَتْ كُؤُسٌ من رحيقِ شِهادِ

Nor to meet a full-hipped maiden, at whose mention

Nor was it to meet with boon companions in drinking sessions

Cups of honeycomb nectar were passed around.

Where cups are passed around from the nectar of martyrdom.

وأَنىَّ لمثلي يَزْجُرُ العِيسَ قاصِداً

وأَنىَّ لمثلي يَزْجُرُ العِيسَ قاصِداً

لِقَا زَيْنَبٍ أو طَلِباً لِسُعادِ

لِقَا زَيْنَبٍ أو طَلِباً لِسُعادِ

And how could one like me urge the pale camels onward, seeking

How could one like me rein in his steed

A meeting with Zaynab, or pursuing Su'ad,

Heading towards Zainab or seeking happiness?

وقَدْ طَلَعَتْ شَمْسُ النَّهارِ بعارِضِي

وقَدْ طَلَعَتْ شَمْسُ النَّهارِ بعارِضِي

وقَدْ كَانَ لَيْلاً فاحِماً بِسَوادِ

وقَدْ كَانَ لَيْلاً فاحِماً بِسَوادِ

When daylight's sun has risen in my beard,

My day had risen with its rejected ones

Though once it was a night of coal-black darkness?

And it had been a dark night in its darkness.

وطَارَ غُرَابٌ كانَ فَوْدِيَ وَكْرُهُ

وطَارَ غُرَابٌ كانَ فَوْدِيَ وَكْرُهُ

وأَبْقَى لَهُ بَيْضاً كَثِيرَ عِدادِ

وأَبْقَى لَهُ بَيْضاً كَثِيرَ عِدادِ

And a crow has flown away whose nest was my temple,

The crow that was my comrade and whose nest

And left its eggs behind, many in number.

I frequented flew away, leaving behind many eggs.

وتَمَّتْ سِنُونُ العُمْرِ سَبْعاً وقَبْلَها

وتَمَّتْ سِنُونُ العُمْرِ سَبْعاً وقَبْلَها

ثَلاثُونَ عَاماً آذَنَتْ بِرَشادِ

ثَلاثُونَ عَاماً آذَنَتْ بِرَشادِ

Seven years of my life are complete, and before them

The years of life are complete at thirty-seven

Thirty years, heralding sound judgment.

With thirty years before them that signaled maturity.

فَهَلْ بَعْدَهَا مِنْ مَلْعَبٍ لِصَبابَةٍ

فَهَلْ بَعْدَهَا مِنْ مَلْعَبٍ لِصَبابَةٍ

وهَلْ عِنْدَها مِنْ مَرْتَعٍ لوِدَادِ

وهَلْ عِنْدَها مِنْ مَرْتَعٍ لوِدَادِ

So after these, is there any playground for longing?

Is there any sport left for youth after them

And at that age, is there any pasture for love?

Or any meadow left for love after them?

ولكِنَّ تَرْحَالي لِزَوْرَةِ ماجِدٍ

ولكِنَّ تَرْحَالي لِزَوْرَةِ ماجِدٍ

أَشادَ مِنَ العَلْيا رَفيعَ عِمادِ

أَشادَ مِنَ العَلْيا رَفيعَ عِمادِ

But my journeying was to visit a noble man,

Rather, my travel is to visit the glorious Ma’jed

Who raised a lofty pillar of eminence.

Who built the highest edifice of glory,

فَتىً حَلَّ في بَيْتٍ منَ الْمَجْدِ شامِخٍ

فَتىً حَلَّ في بَيْتٍ منَ الْمَجْدِ شامِخٍ

وَصَارَ لَهُ فِيهِ أَعَزُّ مِهادِ

وَصَارَ لَهُ فِيهِ أَعَزُّ مِهادِ

A young man who settled in a towering house of glory,

A young man who settled in an abode of triumph

And gained within it the most honored resting place.

And he attained in it the dearest rest,

وجَلَّى بِمضْمارِ الفَضائِلِ والتُّقَى

وجَلَّى بِمضْمارِ الفَضائِلِ والتُّقَى

عَلَى مَنْهَجٍ لَمْ يَعْدُ صَوْبَ سَدادِ

عَلَى مَنْهَجٍ لَمْ يَعْدُ صَوْبَ سَدادِ

And took the lead on the racecourse of virtues and piety,

And he excelled in the race track of virtues and piety

On a path that never strayed from the way of rectitude.

On a path that no longer hits the target of righteousness.

أحادِيثُهُ في المكرُمات ذَخَائِرٌ

أحادِيثُهُ في المكرُمات ذَخَائِرٌ

تعد لذي الأسفار أملح زادِ

تعد لذي الأسفار أملح زادِ

Tales of his noble deeds are treasures,

His narrations about noble deeds are treasures

Deemed the most delightful provisions for a traveler.

That travelers narrate at every abode.

تَناشَدَها الرُّكْبانُ في كُلِّ مَوْطِنٍ

تَناشَدَها الرُّكْبانُ في كُلِّ مَوْطِنٍ

وحَرَّرَها الرّاوي لَها بِمِدادِ

وحَرَّرَها الرّاوي لَها بِمِدادِ

Riders recited them to one another in every place,

The transmitters have chronicled them in ink

And their narrator recorded them in ink.

Whenever an asker narrates and questions.

إذَا سَاجَلَتْهُ فِتْيَةٌ في فَضِيلَةس

إذَا سَاجَلَتْهُ فِتْيَةٌ في فَضِيلَةس

حَدَا بِعُلاهُ للمُساجِلِ حَادِي

حَدَا بِعُلاهُ للمُساجِلِ حَادِي

When young men vie with him in virtue,

If the youth engage him in virtue,

A camel-driver chants his eminence to the challenger.

He confines them with his highest virtue.

وإنْ نَاغَمَتْهُ بالقَرِيضِ بَنَاتُهُ

وإنْ نَاغَمَتْهُ بالقَرِيضِ بَنَاتُهُ

يُنادي لَهُ بالسَّبْقِ كُلُّ مُنادِي

يُنادي لَهُ بالسَّبْقِ كُلُّ مُنادِي

And if poetry's daughters harmonize with him in verse,

And if his daughters chant poetry to him,

Every herald proclaims his precedence.

Every singer announces his precedence.

وإنْ جاذَبَتْهُ بَحْثَ عِلْمٍ رُواتُهُ

وإنْ جاذَبَتْهُ بَحْثَ عِلْمٍ رُواتُهُ

رَوَى مَا تُرَوّي كُلَّ سائِلِ صَادِي

رَوَى مَا تُرَوّي كُلَّ سائِلِ صَادِي

And if knowledge's transmitters engage him in learned debate,

And if the scholars dispute with him some knowledge,

He relates what quenches every thirsty questioner.

He narrates what exhausts every inquiring questioner.

يَجُولُ بِفِكْرٍ منْهُ في كُلِّ مُعْضِلٍ

يَجُولُ بِفِكْرٍ منْهُ في كُلِّ مُعْضِلٍ

فَيَقْدَحُ في إيضاحِهِ بِزِنادِ

فَيَقْدَحُ في إيضاحِهِ بِزِنادِ

With his own thought, he ranges through every difficult problem,

He roams with a thought that unravels every problem,

Then strikes a spark with a fire-striker to make it clear.

Lighting the way to clarify with the spark of his mind.

أَبا أَحْمَدٍ أَهْدَيْتَ لي مِنْكَ مِدْحَةً

أَبا أَحْمَدٍ أَهْدَيْتَ لي مِنْكَ مِدْحَةً

تَقَاصَرَ عَنْها طارِفِي وتِلادِي

تَقَاصَرَ عَنْها طارِفِي وتِلادِي

Abu Ahmad, you have given me your own ode of praise,

O Abu Ahmad, you have bestowed upon me praise

Beside which my new and inherited wealth falls short.

That falls short of my compositions and poems.

وطَوَّقْتَني ما لا أَقومُ بشُكْرِهِ

وطَوَّقْتَني ما لا أَقومُ بشُكْرِهِ

وإِنْ رَكِبَتْ رِجْلاي كُلَّ جَوادِ

وإِنْ رَكِبَتْ رِجْلاي كُلَّ جَوادِ

And garlanded me with what I cannot repay in thanks,

You have garlanded me with that which I cannot

Even if my legs bestrode every noble steed.

Fulfill in gratitude, even if I mounted every steed.

بَدَأتَ بإهْداءِ العِهادِ سَقَاك مِنْ

بَدَأتَ بإهْداءِ العِهادِ سَقَاك مِنْ

سَحابِ العُلَى والفَضْلِ صَوْبُ عهادِ

سَحابِ العُلَى والفَضْلِ صَوْبُ عهادِ

You first bestowed renewed rains; may you be watered from

You began by gifting vows – the lofty rain of virtue

Clouds of eminence and bounty by a downpour of renewed rain.

Quenched you from the clouds of highness and nobility.

فَهَا أنا قَدْ قَابَلْتُ دُرّكَ بالحَصَى

فَهَا أنا قَدْ قَابَلْتُ دُرّكَ بالحَصَى

وشَمْسُكَ قَدْ قَابَلْتُها بِدَادِي

وشَمْسُكَ قَدْ قَابَلْتُها بِدَادِي

So here I have answered your pearls with pebbles,

So here I am, repaying your pearl with pebbles

And matched your sun with a dadi plant.

And I face your sun with my firebrand.

فَلَسْتُ امْرَءاً رَاضَ القَرِيضَ بفِكْرِهِ

فَلَسْتُ امْرَءاً رَاضَ القَرِيضَ بفِكْرِهِ

ولا كان لي مُذْ كُنْتُ طَوْعَ قِيادِ

ولا كان لي مُذْ كُنْتُ طَوْعَ قِيادِ

For I am not a man who tamed verse with his thought,

For I am not one who is content with his mind’s poetry,

Nor has it ever, throughout my life, obeyed my reins.

Nor has it ever obeyed me since I submitted to destiny.

وإنْ رُمْتُهُ يَجْري عَلَى ما أُريدُهُ

وإنْ رُمْتُهُ يَجْري عَلَى ما أُريدُهُ

جَرَى جَامِحاً مُغْرىً بِشَوْطِ شِرادِ

جَرَى جَامِحاً مُغْرىً بِشَوْطِ شِرادِ

And if I wish it to run as I desire,

And if I guide it, it flows to what I want,

It runs headstrong, intent on a runaway course.

Galloping rebelliously at full speed.

أُوَجِّهُهُ شَرْقاً فَيَقْصِدُ مَغْرِباً

أُوَجِّهُهُ شَرْقاً فَيَقْصِدُ مَغْرِباً

وإنْ رُمْتُ إصْعَاداً جَرَى بِوِهادِ

وإنْ رُمْتُ إصْعَاداً جَرَى بِوِهادِ

I steer it eastward, and it heads west,

I direct it east, and it goes west,

And if I seek an ascent, it runs through lowlands.

And if I guide it uphill, it flows downhill.

وكَمْ مَوْطِنٍ أَجْرَيْتُهُ في رُبُوعِهِ

وكَمْ مَوْطِنٍ أَجْرَيْتُهُ في رُبُوعِهِ

وطَارَدْتُ فيهِ القِرْنَ أَيَّ طِرادِ

وطَارَدْتُ فيهِ القِرْنَ أَيَّ طِرادِ

In many a field I have raced it through its grounds,

How many places have I set it loose in their expanses

And chased my rival there in fierce pursuit.

And chased glory in them with every chase!

فَعُدْتُ وكُلُّ الشاهِدينَ بِسوحِهِ

فَعُدْتُ وكُلُّ الشاهِدينَ بِسوحِهِ

شُهودٌ بأنَّ الْمُهْرَ غَيْرَ جَوادِ

شُهودٌ بأنَّ الْمُهْرَ غَيْرَ جَوادِ

So I returned, with all the onlookers in its courts

Yet I return with all the witnesses in its plains

Bearing witness that the colt was no noble steed.

Bearing witness that the steed is no racer.

ولَيْسَ عَلَى شَخْصٍ يُكَلَّفُ فَوْقَ ما

ولَيْسَ عَلَى شَخْصٍ يُكَلَّفُ فَوْقَ ما

يُطاقُ ولا إدْراكُ كُلِّ مُرادِ

يُطاقُ ولا إدْراكُ كُلِّ مُرادِ

No person is to be burdened beyond what

A person cannot be tasked beyond what

He can bear, nor must he attain every wish.

He can endure, nor attain every wish.

وَرُبَّ فَتىً يَهْوَى المعَالي ونَيْلَها

وَرُبَّ فَتىً يَهْوَى المعَالي ونَيْلَها

وحَظُّ الفَتَى يأْتي بِكُلِّ عِنادِ

وحَظُّ الفَتَى يأْتي بِكُلِّ عِنادِ

Many a young man desires high honors and their attainment,

And how often a young man desires glories and attaining them

Yet his fortune comes with every kind of resistance.

Yet the young man’s fortune comes with every obstinacy!

وإنَّ امْرَءاً أَجْرَى إلَى كُلِّ غايَةٍ

وإنَّ امْرَءاً أَجْرَى إلَى كُلِّ غايَةٍ

وأَوْغَلَ في مِضْمارِ كُلِّ رشادِ

وأَوْغَلَ في مِضْمارِ كُلِّ رشادِ

Indeed, a man who has raced toward every goal

Surely a man who accomplishes every goal

And ventured deep on every course of right guidance

And delves deep into the track of every guidance

يَقُومُ لَهُ بالعُذْرِ في كُلِّ مَحْفِلٍ

يَقُومُ لَهُ بالعُذْرِ في كُلِّ مَحْفِلٍ

بِكُلِّ بلادٍ في الأَنامِ مُنادِي

بِكُلِّ بلادٍ في الأَنامِ مُنادِي

Has his excuse upheld at every gathering,

Will have, in every assembly, someone apologizing for him

By a herald among mankind in every land.

A speaker in every land defending him among people.

ودُمْ يا بْنَ يحيى ما حَييتَ مُسَوَّداً

ودُمْ يا بْنَ يحيى ما حَييتَ مُسَوَّداً

ومَجْدُكَ مَرْفوعاً بكُلِّ عِمادِ

ومَجْدُكَ مَرْفوعاً بكُلِّ عِمادِ

May you remain, son of Yahya, a leader as long as you live,

So last, O son of Yahya, for as long as you live darkened

And your glory be raised upon every pillar.

With your glory held high by every pillar.

ولا بَرِحَتْ أَفْعالُكَ الغُرُّ في الوَرَى

ولا بَرِحَتْ أَفْعالُكَ الغُرُّ في الوَرَى

تَؤُمُّ بها الرُّكْبانُ كُلَّ بِلادِ

تَؤُمُّ بها الرُّكْبانُ كُلَّ بِلادِ

May your shining deeds among mankind never cease

Your deeds never ceased to be wondrous in the land

To accompany riders bound for every land.

With travelers guided by them in every land.