نَسيتُ وَما أَنسى عِتاباً عَلى الصِدِّ

نَسيتُ وَما أَنسى عِتاباً عَلى الصِدِّ

وَلا خَفَراً زادَت بِهِ حُمرَةُ الخَدِّ

وَلا خَفَراً زادَت بِهِ حُمرَةُ الخَدِّ

I have forgotten, yet I do not forget a reproach for turning away,

I have forgotten—yet I cannot forget—the reproach for my turning away,

nor bashfulness that deepened the cheek's blush,

Nor the bashfulness that deepened the crimson of her cheek,

وَلا لَيلَةً قَصَّرتُها بِقَصورَةٍ

وَلا لَيلَةً قَصَّرتُها بِقَصورَةٍ

أَطالَت يَدي في جيدِها صُحبَةَ العِقدِ

أَطالَت يَدي في جيدِها صُحبَةَ العِقدِ

nor a night I shortened with a secluded woman:

Nor a night I shortened in the company of a sheltered beauty,

my hand prolonged its company with the necklace on her neck.

When my hand prolonged its embrace of her neck, like a second necklace.

وَمَن لي بِيَومٍ مِثلِ يَومٍ كَرِهتُهُ

وَمَن لي بِيَومٍ مِثلِ يَومٍ كَرِهتُهُ

قَرُبتُ بِهِ عِندَ الوَداعِ مِنَ البُعدِ

قَرُبتُ بِهِ عِندَ الوَداعِ مِنَ البُعدِ

Who can grant me a day like a day I hated,

Oh, to relive a day like the one I loathed,

when, at farewell, I drew near to separation?

When, at our farewell, I stood so near to distance itself.

وَأَن لا يَخُصُّ الفَقدُ شَيئاً فَإِنَّني

وَأَن لا يَخُصُّ الفَقدُ شَيئاً فَإِنَّني

فَقَدتُ فَلَم أَفقِد دُموعي وَلا وَجدي

فَقَدتُ فَلَم أَفقِد دُموعي وَلا وَجدي

And that loss should not single anything out—for I

Though loss usually claims only a part, I have lost all,

have lost, yet have not lost my tears or my anguish.

Yet failed to lose my flowing tears or my burning grief.

تَمَنٍّ يَلَذُّ المُستَهامُ بِمِثلِهِ

تَمَنٍّ يَلَذُّ المُستَهامُ بِمِثلِهِ

وَإِن كانَ لا يُغني فَتيلاً وَلا يُجدي

وَإِن كانَ لا يُغني فَتيلاً وَلا يُجدي

A wish whose like delights the love-stricken,

A wish in which the lovestruck finds a sweet delight,

though it avails not a thread and brings no benefit.

Even if it avails not a whit, nor yields any gain.

وَغَيظٌ عَلى الأَيّامِ كَالنارِ في الحَشا

وَغَيظٌ عَلى الأَيّامِ كَالنارِ في الحَشا

وَلَكِنَّهُ غَيظُ الأَسيرِ عَلى القِدِّ

وَلَكِنَّهُ غَيظُ الأَسيرِ عَلى القِدِّ

And anger at the days, like fire in the entrails,

And a rage against the days like fire within the ribs,

but it is a captive's anger at his leather fetter.

Yet it is but the captive's futile rage against his bonds.

فَإِمّا تَريني لا أُقيمُ بِبَلدَةٍ

فَإِمّا تَريني لا أُقيمُ بِبَلدَةٍ

فَآفَةِ غِمدي في دُلوقي وَفي حَدّي

فَآفَةِ غِمدي في دُلوقي وَفي حَدّي

So if you see me never staying in one town,

If you see me settling in no city for long,

for my scabbard's bane is my slipping free and my sharp edge.

Know that the bane of my sheath lies in my sharpness and my unsheathing.

يَحُلُّ القَنا يَومَ الطِعانِ بِعَقوَتي

يَحُلُّ القَنا يَومَ الطِعانِ بِعَقوَتي

فَأَحرِمُهُ عِرضي وَأُطعِمُهُ جِلدي

فَأَحرِمُهُ عِرضي وَأُطعِمُهُ جِلدي

Lances descend upon my courtyard on the day of spear-fighting;

When spears descend upon my courtyard on the day of thrusting,

so I deny them my honor and feed them my skin.

I deny them my honor, but feed them my skin.

تُبَدِّلِ أَيّامي وَعَيشي وَمَنزِلي

تُبَدِّلِ أَيّامي وَعَيشي وَمَنزِلي

نَجائِبُ لا يُفكِرنَ في النَحسِ وَالسَعدِ

نَجائِبُ لا يُفكِرنَ في النَحسِ وَالسَعدِ

My days, my life, and my dwelling are changed by

My days, my life, and my dwelling place are ever-changed

noble camels that give no thought to ill luck or good fortune,

By noble camels heedless of bad omens or good stars.

وَأَوجُهُ فِتيانٍ حَياءً تَلَثَّموا

وَأَوجُهُ فِتيانٍ حَياءً تَلَثَّموا

عَلَيهِنَّ لا خَوفاً مِنَ الحَرِّ وَالبَردِ

عَلَيهِنَّ لا خَوفاً مِنَ الحَرِّ وَالبَردِ

and the faces of young men who, out of modesty, drew veils

And the faces of young warriors, veiled in modesty—

over them, not for fear of heat or cold.

Veiled not from fear of the scorching heat or the cold,

وَلَيسَ حَياءُ الوَجهِ في الذِئبِ شيمَةً

وَلَيسَ حَياءُ الوَجهِ في الذِئبِ شيمَةً

وَلَكِنَّهُ مِن شيمَةِ الأَسَدِ الوَردِ

وَلَكِنَّهُ مِن شيمَةِ الأَسَدِ الوَردِ

Modesty of countenance is no trait of the wolf,

For facial shame is no trait found in the wolf,

but it is a trait of the tawny lion.

But it is the nature of the tawny lion.

إِذا لَم تُجِزهُم دارَ قَومٍ مَوَدَّةٌ

إِذا لَم تُجِزهُم دارَ قَومٍ مَوَدَّةٌ

أَجازَ القَنا وَالخَوفُ خَيرٌ مِنَ الوُدِّ

أَجازَ القَنا وَالخَوفُ خَيرٌ مِنَ الوُدِّ

If affection does not admit them to a people's abode,

If friendship grants them no passage through a tribe's domain,

the lances do—and fear is better than love.

Spears shall force a way—for fear is surer than affection.

يَحيدونَ عَن هَزلِ المُلوكِ إِلى الَّذي

يَحيدونَ عَن هَزلِ المُلوكِ إِلى الَّذي

تَوَفَّرَ مِن بَينَ المُلوكِ عَلى الجِدِّ

تَوَفَّرَ مِن بَينَ المُلوكِ عَلى الجِدِّ

They turn from the kings' frivolity toward the one

They turn aside from the frivolity of kings to seek him

who, among kings, devotes himself to earnestness.

Who, among all monarchs, is solely devoted to earnest intent.

وَمَن يَصحَبِ اِسمَ اِبنِ العَميدِ مُحَمَّدٍ

وَمَن يَصحَبِ اِسمَ اِبنِ العَميدِ مُحَمَّدٍ

يَسِر بَينَ أَنيابِ الأَساوِدِ وَالأُسدِ

يَسِر بَينَ أَنيابِ الأَساوِدِ وَالأُسدِ

And whoever takes Muhammad ibn al-Amid's name as his companion

Whoever bears the name of Ibn al-‘Amid Muhammad as a shield,

walks between the fangs of black serpents and lions.

May walk safely between the fangs of vipers and lions.

يَمُرُّ مِنَ السُمِّ الوَحِيِّ بِعاجِزٍ

يَمُرُّ مِنَ السُمِّ الوَحِيِّ بِعاجِزٍ

وَيَعبُرُ مِن أَفواهِهِنَّ عَلى دُردِ

وَيَعبُرُ مِن أَفواهِهِنَّ عَلى دُردِ

He passes swift-killing venom that is powerless,

He passes poison that acts swiftly, yet now lies impotent,

and crosses their mouths as though they were toothless.

And steps over their mouths as if they were toothless gums.

كَفانا الرَبيعُ العيسَ مِن بَرَكاتِهِ

كَفانا الرَبيعُ العيسَ مِن بَرَكاتِهِ

فَجاءَتهُ لَم تَسمَع حُداءً سِوى الرَعدِ

فَجاءَتهُ لَم تَسمَع حُداءً سِوى الرَعدِ

Spring's blessings spared us tending the pale camels,

The spring season spared our camels, through his blessings,

so they came to him, having heard no driving-song but thunder.

Coming to him hearing no driver’s song, but only the thunder.

إِذا ما اِستَجَبنَ الماءَ يَعرِضُ نَفسَهُ

إِذا ما اِستَجَبنَ الماءَ يَعرِضُ نَفسَهُ

كَرِعنَ بِسَبتٍ في إِناءٍ مِنَ الوَردِ

كَرِعنَ بِسَبتٍ في إِناءٍ مِنَ الوَردِ

When they answered the water offering itself,

Whenever they craved water, it offered itself freely,

they drank with leather-smooth muzzles from a bowl of roses.

And they sipped with their lips from a vessel of roses.

كَأَنّا أَرادَت شُكرَنا الأَرضُ عِندَهُ

كَأَنّا أَرادَت شُكرَنا الأَرضُ عِندَهُ

فَلَم يُخلِنا جَوٌّ هَبَطناهُ مِن رِفدِ

فَلَم يُخلِنا جَوٌّ هَبَطناهُ مِن رِفدِ

As though the earth wished for our thanks before him,

It was as if the earth sought our gratitude in his presence,

no valley we descended into left us without a gift.

For no valley we descended failed to grant us a gift.

لَنا مَذهَبُ العُبّادِ في تَركِ غَيرِهِ

لَنا مَذهَبُ العُبّادِ في تَركِ غَيرِهِ

وَإِتيانِهِ نَبغي الرَغائِبَ بِالزُهدِ

وَإِتيانِهِ نَبغي الرَغائِبَ بِالزُهدِ

Ours is the worshippers' way of forsaking all but him,

We follow the ascetics' path in renouncing all but him,

and coming to him: we seek precious boons through renunciation.

Coming to him to seek worldly riches through such devotion.

رَجَونا الَّذي يَرجونَ في كُلِّ جَنَّةٍ

رَجَونا الَّذي يَرجونَ في كُلِّ جَنَّةٍ

بِأَرجانِ حَتّى ما يَإِسنا مِنَ الخُلدِ

بِأَرجانِ حَتّى ما يَإِسنا مِنَ الخُلدِ

We hoped for what they hope for in every paradise,

We hoped for what men hope for in every paradise,

in Arrajan, to the point that we did not despair of immortality.

Here in Arjan—until we no longer despaired of immortality.

تَعَرَّضُ لِلزُوّارِ أَعناقُ خَيلِهِ

تَعَرَّضُ لِلزُوّارِ أَعناقُ خَيلِهِ

تَعَرُّضَ وَحشٍ خائِفاتٍ مِنَ الطَردِ

تَعَرُّضَ وَحشٍ خائِفاتٍ مِنَ الطَردِ

His horses' necks present themselves to visitors

The necks of his horses stretch out toward his visitors,

as wild creatures show themselves, fearful of pursuit.

Like wild beasts turning in fear of the hunt.

وَتَلقى نَواصيها المَنايا مُشيحَةً

وَتَلقى نَواصيها المَنايا مُشيحَةً

وُرودَ قَطاً صُمٍّ تَشايَحنَ في وِردِ

وُرودَ قَطاً صُمٍّ تَشايَحنَ في وِردِ

Yet their forelocks meet death with resolve,

Their forelocks meet death face-to-face, striving forward,

like deaf sandgrouse racing one another to a watering place.

Rushing like deaf sandgrouse competing for a watering hole.

وَتَنسُبُ أَفعالُ السُيوفِ نُفوسَها

وَتَنسُبُ أَفعالُ السُيوفِ نُفوسَها

إِلَيهِ وَيَنسُبنَ السُيوفَ إِلى الهِندِ

إِلَيهِ وَيَنسُبنَ السُيوفَ إِلى الهِندِ

And the deeds of swords ascribe themselves

The deeds of the swords trace their lineage back to him,

to him, while they ascribe the swords to India.

While the swords themselves trace their lineage to India.

إِذا الشُرَفاءُ البيضُ مَتّوا بِقَتوِهِ

إِذا الشُرَفاءُ البيضُ مَتّوا بِقَتوِهِ

أَتى نَسَبٌ أَعلى مِنَ الأَبِ وَالجَدِّ

أَتى نَسَبٌ أَعلى مِنَ الأَبِ وَالجَدِّ

When the fair nobles claim kinship through serving him,

When the noble white blades claim kinship through his service,

a lineage appears loftier than father or grandfather.

They gain a lineage nobler than any father or grandfather.

فَتىً فاتَتِ العَدوى مِنَ الناسِ عَينُهُ

فَتىً فاتَتِ العَدوى مِنَ الناسِ عَينُهُ

فَما أَرمَدَت أَجفانَهُ كَثرَةُ الرُمدِ

فَما أَرمَدَت أَجفانَهُ كَثرَةُ الرُمدِ

A young man whose eye has escaped contagion from mankind:

A youth whose eye has escaped the contagion of the crowd;

so the multitude of sore-eyed people has not inflamed his lids.

The widespread blindness has not inflamed his eyelids.

وَخالَفَهُم خَلقاً وَخُلقاً وَمَوضِعاً

وَخالَفَهُم خَلقاً وَخُلقاً وَمَوضِعاً

فَقَد جَلَّ أَن يَعدى بِشَيءٍ وَأَن يُعدي

فَقَد جَلَّ أَن يَعدى بِشَيءٍ وَأَن يُعدي

And he differs from them in form, character, and station;

He differs from them in form, in character, and in station,

for he is above being infected by anything or infecting others.

Too majestic to be infected by them, or to infect them.

يُغَيِّرُ أَلوانَ اللَيالي عَلى العِدى

يُغَيِّرُ أَلوانَ اللَيالي عَلى العِدى

بِمَنشورَةِ الراياتِ مَنصورَةِ الجُندِ

بِمَنشورَةِ الراياتِ مَنصورَةِ الجُندِ

He changes the colors of nights for his enemies

He changes the very colors of the nights for his foes,

with an army of unfurled banners and victorious troops.

With unfurled banners and a victorious host.

إِذا اِرتَقَبوا صُبحاً رَأَوا قَبلَ ضَوإِهِ

إِذا اِرتَقَبوا صُبحاً رَأَوا قَبلَ ضَوإِهِ

كَتائِبَ لا يَردِ الصَباحُ كَما تَردي

كَتائِبَ لا يَردِ الصَباحُ كَما تَردي

When they watch for dawn, before its light they see

If they wait for the dawn, they see—before its light—

battalions—the morning does not gallop as they do.

Battalions that arrive as the morning never could.

وَمَبثوثَةً لا تُتَّقى بِطَليعَةٍ

وَمَبثوثَةً لا تُتَّقى بِطَليعَةٍ

وَلا يُحتَمى مِنها بِغَورٍ وَلا نَجدِ

وَلا يُحتَمى مِنها بِغَورٍ وَلا نَجدِ

And scattered forces that no scouts can guard against,

Spread wide, they cannot be evaded by any scout,

nor can one shelter from them in lowland or highland.

Nor can the lowlands or highlands offer refuge from them.

يَغُصنَ إِذا ما عُدنَ في مُتَفاقِدٍ

يَغُصنَ إِذا ما عُدنَ في مُتَفاقِدٍ

مِنَ الكُثرِ غانٍ بِالعَبيدِ عَنِ الحَشدِ

مِنَ الكُثرِ غانٍ بِالعَبيدِ عَنِ الحَشدِ

On returning, they crowd a host whose men lose one another

They choke the gathering place when they return for muster,

in its multitude, with slaves enough to need no levies.

A multitude so vast, its own servants suffice for a crowd.

حَثَت كُلُّ أَرضٍ تُربَةً في غُبارِهِ

حَثَت كُلُّ أَرضٍ تُربَةً في غُبارِهِ

فَهُنَّ عَلَيهِ كَالطَرائِقِ في البُردِ

فَهُنَّ عَلَيهِ كَالطَرائِقِ في البُردِ

Every land has cast some soil into his dust-cloud,

Every land has cast its soil into the dust of his march,

so they lie upon it like stripes in a cloak.

So the layers lie upon him like stripes on a cloak.

فَإِن يَكُنِ المَهدِيُّ مَن بانَ هَديُهُ

فَإِن يَكُنِ المَهدِيُّ مَن بانَ هَديُهُ

فَهَذا وَإِلّا فَالهُدى ذا فَما المَهدي

فَهَذا وَإِلّا فَالهُدى ذا فَما المَهدي

So if the Mahdi is he whose guidance is manifest,

If the 'Mahdi' is truly he whose guidance is manifest,

then this is he; otherwise, this is guidance—what is the Mahdi?

Then it is he; otherwise, he is Guidance itself—so who needs the name?

يُعَلِّلُنا هَذا الزَمانُ بِذا الوَعدِ

يُعَلِّلُنا هَذا الزَمانُ بِذا الوَعدِ

وَيَخدَعُ عَمّا في يَدَيهِ مِنَ النَقدِ

وَيَخدَعُ عَمّا في يَدَيهِ مِنَ النَقدِ

This age consoles us with this promise,

Time has long beguiled us with this very promise,

and tricks us away from the ready cash in its hands.

Deceiving us regarding the treasure it held in its hands.

هَلِ الخَيرُ شَيءٌ لَيسَ بِالخَيرِ غائِبٌ

هَلِ الخَيرُ شَيءٌ لَيسَ بِالخَيرِ غائِبٌ

أَمِ الرُشدُ شَيءٌ غائِبٌ لَيسَ بِالرُشدِ

أَمِ الرُشدُ شَيءٌ غائِبٌ لَيسَ بِالرُشدِ

Is goodness an absent thing that is not goodness?

Is 'Goodness' anything but a void when he is absent?

Or is right guidance an absent thing that is not right guidance?

Is 'Rectitude' anything real if it is not him?

أَأَحزَمَ ذي لُبٍّ وَأَكرَمَ ذي يَدٍ

أَأَحزَمَ ذي لُبٍّ وَأَكرَمَ ذي يَدٍ

وَأَشجَعَ ذي قَلبٍ وَأَرحَمَ ذي كِبدِ

وَأَشجَعَ ذي قَلبٍ وَأَرحَمَ ذي كِبدِ

O most prudent of those with minds, most generous of those with hands,

O most resolute of mind, O most generous of hand,

and bravest of those with hearts, most merciful of those with livers,

O bravest of heart, and most merciful of spirit,

وَأَحسَنَ مُعتَمٍّ جُلوساً وَرِكبَةً

وَأَحسَنَ مُعتَمٍّ جُلوساً وَرِكبَةً

عَلى المِنبَرِ العالي أَوِ الفَرَسِ النَهدِ

عَلى المِنبَرِ العالي أَوِ الفَرَسِ النَهدِ

and finest turbaned man, seated or mounted,

The finest chieftain, whether seated in council or riding

on the lofty pulpit or the tall, powerful horse:

Upon the high pulpit or the high-spirited steed.

تَفَضَّلَتِ الأَيّامُ بِالجَمعِ بَينَنا

تَفَضَّلَتِ الأَيّامُ بِالجَمعِ بَينَنا

فَلَمّا حَمِدنا لَم تُدِمنا عَلى الحَمدِ

فَلَمّا حَمِدنا لَم تُدِمنا عَلى الحَمدِ

The days showed favor by bringing us together,

The days were gracious in uniting us,

but when we gave thanks, they did not keep us thankful.

But when we gave thanks, they let not our gratitude endure.

جَعَلنَ وَداعي واحِداً لِثَلاثَةٍ

جَعَلنَ وَداعي واحِداً لِثَلاثَةٍ

جَمالِكَ وَالعِلمِ المُبَرِّحِ وَالمَجدِ

جَمالِكَ وَالعِلمِ المُبَرِّحِ وَالمَجدِ

They made my single farewell a farewell to three:

They made my single farewell a farewell to three:

your beauty, prodigious learning, and glory.

To your beauty, to overwhelming knowledge, and to glory.

وَقَد كُنتُ أَدرَكتُ المُنى غَيرَ أَنَّني

وَقَد كُنتُ أَدرَكتُ المُنى غَيرَ أَنَّني

يُعَيِّرُني أَهلي بِإِدراكِها وَحدي

يُعَيِّرُني أَهلي بِإِدراكِها وَحدي

And I had attained my wishes, except that

I had attained my heart's desires, save that

my family reproaches me for attaining them alone.

My people reproach me for attaining them alone.

وَكُلُّ شَريكٍ في السُرورِ بِمُصبَحي

وَكُلُّ شَريكٍ في السُرورِ بِمُصبَحي

أَرى بَعدَهُ مَن لا يَرى مِثلَهُ بَعدي

أَرى بَعدَهُ مَن لا يَرى مِثلَهُ بَعدي

And every partner in the joy of my morning arrival—

And for every friend who would share the joy of my dawn,

after him I see one whose equal he will not see after me.

I see one left behind who will find no equal after I am gone.

فَجُد لي بِقَلبٍ إِن رَحَلتُ فَإِنَّني

فَجُد لي بِقَلبٍ إِن رَحَلتُ فَإِنَّني

مُخَلِّفُ قَلبي عِندَ مَن فَضلُهُ عِندي

مُخَلِّفُ قَلبي عِندَ مَن فَضلُهُ عِندي

So grant me a heart if I depart, for I

So grant me a heart if I must depart, for I—

leave my heart with him whose bounty remains with me.

Am leaving my heart with him whose bounty remains with me.

وَلَو فارَقَت نَفسي إِلَيكَ حَياتَها

وَلَو فارَقَت نَفسي إِلَيكَ حَياتَها

لَقُلتُ أَصابَت غَيرَ مَذمومَةِ العَهدِ

لَقُلتُ أَصابَت غَيرَ مَذمومَةِ العَهدِ

Even if my soul forsook its life to come to you,

And if my soul were to part from its life for your sake,

I would say it chose rightly, its fidelity beyond reproach.

I would say it struck true, with its covenant unblemished.