بَكَيتُ دَماً لَو كانَ سَكبُ الدِما يُغني

بَكَيتُ دَماً لَو كانَ سَكبُ الدِما يُغني

وَضاعَفتُ حُزني لَو شَفى كَمَداً حُزني

وَضاعَفتُ حُزني لَو شَفى كَمَداً حُزني

I would have wept blood, had shedding blood availed,

I wept blood, as if shedding tears could avail,

and doubled my sorrow, had my sorrow healed anguish.

And redoubled my sorrow, as if grief could heal.

وَأَعرَضتُ عَن طيبِ الهَناءِ لِأَنَّني

وَأَعرَضتُ عَن طيبِ الهَناءِ لِأَنَّني

نَقِمتُ الرِضى حَتّى عَلى ضاحِكِ المُزنِ

نَقِمتُ الرِضى حَتّى عَلى ضاحِكِ المُزنِ

And I turned away from the sweetness of happiness, for I

I turned away from joy’s delight, for I

begrudged contentment even to the rain clouds' smiling flash.

Resented contentment, even in one who laughed through sorrow.

أَرى العَيشَ في الدُنيا كَأَحلامِ نائِمٍ

أَرى العَيشَ في الدُنيا كَأَحلامِ نائِمٍ

فَلَذّاتُها تَفنى وَأَحداثُها تُفني

فَلَذّاتُها تَفنى وَأَحداثُها تُفني

I see life in this world as a sleeper's dreams:

I see life in this world like a dreamer’s dreams—

its pleasures perish, and its calamities destroy.

Its pleasures fade and its events pass away.

فَمِن حادِثٍ جَمٍّ صَفَقتُ لَهُ يَدي

فَمِن حادِثٍ جَمٍّ صَفَقتُ لَهُ يَدي

وَمِن فادِحٍ صَعبٍ قَرَعتُ لَهُ سِنّي

وَمِن فادِحٍ صَعبٍ قَرَعتُ لَهُ سِنّي

So at an overwhelming calamity I struck my hands together,

So for an awful disaster I clapped my hands,

and at a grievous hardship I gnashed my teeth.

And for great adversity I gnashed my teeth.

أَفي السِتِّ وَالعِشرِينَ أَفقُدُ سِتَّةً

أَفي السِتِّ وَالعِشرِينَ أَفقُدُ سِتَّةً

جِبالاً غَدَت مِن عاصِفِ المَوتِ كَالعِهنِ

جِبالاً غَدَت مِن عاصِفِ المَوتِ كَالعِهنِ

At twenty-six, must I lose six—

In my twenty-sixth year, did I lose six

mountains made like dyed wool by death's storm-wind?

Mountains that, from the storm of death, became like carded wool?

فَقَدتُ اِبنَ عَمّي وَاِبنِ عَمّي وَصاحِبي

فَقَدتُ اِبنَ عَمّي وَاِبنِ عَمّي وَصاحِبي

وَأَكبَرَ غِلماني بِها وَأَخي وَاِبني

وَأَكبَرَ غِلماني بِها وَأَخي وَاِبني

I lost my cousin, another cousin, and my companion,

I lost my cousin’s son, my cousin, my friend,

and the eldest of my young servants then, my brother, and my son.

My finest youths thereby, my brother, and my son.

مَتى تُخلِفُ الأَيّامُ كَاِبنِ مُحَمَّدٍ

مَتى تُخلِفُ الأَيّامُ كَاِبنِ مُحَمَّدٍ

وَنَجلِ سَرايا بَعدَهُ وَفَتى الرُكنِ

وَنَجلِ سَرايا بَعدَهُ وَفَتى الرُكنِ

When will the days bring forth the like of Ibn Muhammad

When will the days replace—like Muhammad’s son

and Saraya's son after him, and the youth of al-Rukn—

And, after him, Saraya’s boy and the pillar’s pride—

رِجالاً لَوَ اَنَّ الشامِخاتِ تَساقَطَت

رِجالاً لَوَ اَنَّ الشامِخاتِ تَساقَطَت

عَلَيهِم لَكانَ القَلبُ مِن ذاكَ في أَمنِ

عَلَيهِم لَكانَ القَلبُ مِن ذاكَ في أَمنِ

men who, if the towering peaks came tumbling down

Men, that if the lofty peaks collapsed on them,

upon them, would leave the heart secure against that?

The heart would rest assured with them against that?

فُجِعتُ بِنَدبٍ كانَ يَملَأُ ناظِري

فُجِعتُ بِنَدبٍ كانَ يَملَأُ ناظِري

فَأَصبَحَ ناعي نَدبِهِ مالِئاً أُذني

فَأَصبَحَ ناعي نَدبِهِ مالِئاً أُذني

I was bereaved of a noble man who filled my sight,

I was anguished by a wailing that filled my eyes,

and now the herald of his lament fills my ear.

But now its crier fills my ears at dawn.

عَفيفُ نَواحي الصَدرِ مِن طَيِّ ريبَةٍ

عَفيفُ نَواحي الصَدرِ مِن طَيِّ ريبَةٍ

سَليمُ ضَميرِ القَلبِ مِن دَنَسِ الضَغنِ

سَليمُ ضَميرِ القَلبِ مِن دَنَسِ الضَغنِ

Pure in the recesses of his breast, harboring no suspicious intent,

Chaste of spirit, free of any speck of doubt,

his heart's conscience untouched by the stain of rancor;

Pure of heart, untouched by any stain of hatred,

قَريبٌ إِلى المَعروفِ وَالخَيرِ وَالتُقى

قَريبٌ إِلى المَعروفِ وَالخَيرِ وَالتُقى

بَعيدٌ عَنِ الفَحشاءِ وَالإِفكِ وَالأَفنِ

بَعيدٌ عَنِ الفَحشاءِ وَالإِفكِ وَالأَفنِ

close to kindness, goodness, and piety,

Close to benevolence, rectitude, and piety,

far from indecency, falsehood, and folly.

Far from lewdness, slander, and disgrace.

جَبانٌ عَنِ الفَحشا شَحيحٌ بِعِرضِهِ

جَبانٌ عَنِ الفَحشا شَحيحٌ بِعِرضِهِ

إِذا عَيبَ بَعضُ الناسِ بِالشُحِّ وَالجُبنِ

إِذا عَيبَ بَعضُ الناسِ بِالشُحِّ وَالجُبنِ

Cowardly before indecency, miserly with his honor,

Timid of vileness, stingy with his honor,

when some people are reproached for miserliness and cowardice.

When some blamed him for stinginess and cowardice.

وَمَن أَتعَبَ اللُوّامَ في بَذلِ بِرِّهِ

وَمَن أَتعَبَ اللُوّامَ في بَذلِ بِرِّهِ

فَلائِمُهُ يَثني وَآمِلُهُ يُثني

فَلائِمُهُ يَثني وَآمِلُهُ يُثني

And one who wearied reprovers with the outpouring of his kindness—

He wearied the blamer with his benevolence,

his reprover urges restraint, while his hopeful petitioner offers praise.

So the critic praised him and the hopeful loved him.

مَضى طاهِرَ الأَثوابِ وَالنَفسِ وَالخُطى

مَضى طاهِرَ الأَثوابِ وَالنَفسِ وَالخُطى

عَفيفَ مَناطِ الذَيلِ وَالجَيبِ وَالرَدنِ

عَفيفَ مَناطِ الذَيلِ وَالجَيبِ وَالرَدنِ

He departed with garments, soul, and footsteps pure,

He passed—pure of garb, soul, and step—

chaste at the fastenings of hem, neckline, and sleeve.

Chaste of skirt’s hem, pocket, and neckline.

وَلَم يَبقَ مِن تَذكارِهِ غَيرُ زَفرَةٍ

وَلَم يَبقَ مِن تَذكارِهِ غَيرُ زَفرَةٍ

تُفَرِّقُ بَينَ النَومِ في اللَيلِ وَالجَفنِ

تُفَرِّقُ بَينَ النَومِ في اللَيلِ وَالجَفنِ

And nothing remained of his remembrance but a sigh

And naught remains of his mementos but a moan

that parts sleep at night from the eyelid.

That separates between sleep and eyelid in the night.

وَلَو سَلَبَتهُ الحَربُ مِنّي لَشاهَدَت

وَلَو سَلَبَتهُ الحَربُ مِنّي لَشاهَدَت

كَما شاهَدَت في ثارِ أَخوالِهِ مِنّي

كَما شاهَدَت في ثارِ أَخوالِهِ مِنّي

And had war wrested him from me, it would have witnessed

And had war bereft me of him, it would have seen—

what it witnessed from me in vengeance for his maternal uncles,

As it saw in avenging his uncles—from me,

وَأَبكَيتُ أَجفانَ الصَوارِمِ وَالقَنا

وَأَبكَيتُ أَجفانَ الصَوارِمِ وَالقَنا

نَجيعاً غَداةَ الكَرِّ في الضَربِ وَالطَعنِ

نَجيعاً غَداةَ الكَرِّ في الضَربِ وَالطَعنِ

and I would have made the eyelids of keen swords and spears weep

And I would have wept over the eyelids of swords and spears

fresh blood on the morning of the charge, in blows and thrusts.

Yelping at sunrise during striking and stabbing.

فَيا اِبنَ أَبي وَالأُمِّ قَد كُنتَ لي أَباً

فَيا اِبنَ أَبي وَالأُمِّ قَد كُنتَ لي أَباً

حُنوّاً وَلَكِن في الإِطاعَةِ لي كَاِبني

حُنوّاً وَلَكِن في الإِطاعَةِ لي كَاِبني

O son of my father and mother, you were a father to me

O son of my father and mother! You were like a father to me—

in tenderness, but in obedience to me, like my son.

Tenderly—but obedient toward me as my son.

لِيَهنِكَ إِنَّ الدَمعَ بَعدَكَ مُطلَقٌ

لِيَهنِكَ إِنَّ الدَمعَ بَعدَكَ مُطلَقٌ

لَفَرطِ الأَسى وَالقَلبَ بِالهَمِّ في سِجنِ

لَفَرطِ الأَسى وَالقَلبَ بِالهَمِّ في سِجنِ

May it gladden you: after you, tears are unbound

May it bring you tranquility! After you, tears flow

because of overwhelming anguish, while sorrow holds the heart in prison.

Unchecked for agony and the heart imprisoned by sorrow.

جَعَلتُ جِبالَ الصَبرِ بِالحُزنِ صَفصَفاً

جَعَلتُ جِبالَ الصَبرِ بِالحُزنِ صَفصَفاً

وَصَيَّرتُ أَطوادَ التَجَلُّدِ كَالعِهنِ

وَصَيَّرتُ أَطوادَ التَجَلُّدِ كَالعِهنِ

I made the mountains of patience a level plain through grief,

With grief, I made the mountains of patience like carded wool

and made the towering peaks of fortitude like dyed wool.

And turned the hillocks of fortitude to fleece.

وَحاوَلتُ نَظمَ الشِعرِ فيكَ مَراثِياً

وَحاوَلتُ نَظمَ الشِعرِ فيكَ مَراثِياً

فَأُرتِجَ هَتّى كِدتُ أُخطىءُ في الوَزنِ

فَأُرتِجَ هَتّى كِدتُ أُخطىءُ في الوَزنِ

I tried to compose elegies in verse about you,

I then tried composing poetry in your elegy,

but words failed me, until I nearly erred in the meter.

But was shaken until I almost erred in meter.

بَنَيتُ عَلى أَن أَتَّقِ بِكَ شِدَّتي

بَنَيتُ عَلى أَن أَتَّقِ بِكَ شِدَّتي

وَلَم أَدرِ أَنَّ الدَهرَ يَنقَضُ ما أَبني

وَلَم أَدرِ أَنَّ الدَهرَ يَنقَضُ ما أَبني

I built my hopes on warding off my hardship through you,

I built my firmness on fearing you,

not knowing that time demolishes what I build.

Unaware that fate destroys what I erect.

وَبُلَّغتُ ما أَمَّلتُ فيكَ سِوى البَقا

وَبُلَّغتُ ما أَمَّلتُ فيكَ سِوى البَقا

وَما رُمتُهُ إِلّا الوُقوفَ عَلى الدَفنِ

وَما رُمتُهُ إِلّا الوُقوفَ عَلى الدَفنِ

I was granted what I hoped for in you, save survival,

I accomplished, regarding you, what I hoped

and I sought it only for attendance at the burial.

Save for continuance, aiming only at burial.

سَبَقتَ إِلى الزُلفى وَما مِن مَزيَّةٍ

سَبَقتَ إِلى الزُلفى وَما مِن مَزيَّةٍ

مِنَ المَجدِ حَتّى كِدتَ عَنهِ لَنا تُغني

مِنَ المَجدِ حَتّى كِدتَ عَنهِ لَنا تُغني

You went ahead to divine nearness; and there is no distinction

You attained proximity while no advantage

of glory, until you nearly sufficed for us in his stead.

Of glory remained that you had not provided for us.

خَلَفتَ أَباكَ النَدبَ في كُلِّ خِلَّةٍ

خَلَفتَ أَباكَ النَدبَ في كُلِّ خِلَّةٍ

مِنَ المَجدِ حَتّى كِدتَ عَنهُ لَنا تُغني

مِنَ المَجدِ حَتّى كِدتَ عَنهُ لَنا تُغني

You succeeded your noble father in every trait

You left your father moaning in every empty spot

of glory, until you nearly sufficed for us in his stead.

Of glory until you sufficed for us.

سَرايا خِصالٍ مِن سَرايا وَرِثتَها

سَرايا خِصالٍ مِن سَرايا وَرِثتَها

عَلى أَنَّ هَذا الوَردَ مِن ذَلِكَ الغُصنِ

عَلى أَنَّ هَذا الوَردَ مِن ذَلِكَ الغُصنِ

Hosts of virtues you inherited from Saraya,

Saraya, qualities of Saraya you inherited—

for this rose comes from that branch.

As if this blossom were from that branch.

جَزاكَ الَّذي يَمَّمتَ سَعياً لِبَيتِهِ

جَزاكَ الَّذي يَمَّمتَ سَعياً لِبَيتِهِ

وَلَبَّيتَ فيهِ مُحرِماً جَنَّتَي عَدنِ

وَلَبَّيتَ فيهِ مُحرِماً جَنَّتَي عَدنِ

May He whose House you earnestly sought reward you,

May He who you strove to obey and for whose House

with Eden's two gardens, for answering His call there in pilgrim's consecration.

You cried “At your service,” being sacred to Him, reward you—

وَوَفّاكَ مَن لَم تَنسَ في الدَهرِ ذِكرَه

وَوَفّاكَ مَن لَم تَنسَ في الدَهرِ ذِكرَه

شَفاعَتَهُ وَالناسُ في الحَشرِ كَاللُكنِ

شَفاعَتَهُ وَالناسُ في الحَشرِ كَاللُكنِ

And may he whose remembrance you never forgot throughout your life grant you

And may He who you never forgot in life

his intercession, when people at the Resurrection gathering are like the tongue-tied.

Reward you with intercession, mankind gathered on the Day of Assembly.

فَقَد كُنتَ تُحيي اللَيلَ بِالذِكرِ ضارِعاً

فَقَد كُنتَ تُحيي اللَيلَ بِالذِكرِ ضارِعاً

إِلى اللَهِ حَتّى صِرتَ بِالنُسكِ كَالشَنِّ

إِلى اللَهِ حَتّى صِرتَ بِالنُسكِ كَالشَنِّ

For you used to keep the night alive in remembrance, humbly pleading

You would enliven the night by invoking God humbly

to God, until devotion made you like a worn waterskin.

Until you became, through worship, like the rugged mountains.

فَيُؤنِسُني تَرتيبُ نَفلِكَ في الضُحى

فَيُؤنِسُني تَرتيبُ نَفلِكَ في الضُحى

وَيُطرِبُني تَرتيلُ وِردِكَ في الوَهنِ

وَيُطرِبُني تَرتيلُ وِردِكَ في الوَهنِ

So the ordering of your voluntary prayers at midmorning comforts me,

So it gladdened me to regulate your supererogations at dawn

and the measured recitation of your devotions in the deep of night delights me.

And delighted me to chant your litanies at dusk.

أَمِنتُ صُروفَ الدَهرِ بَعدَكَ وَالأَذى

أَمِنتُ صُروفَ الدَهرِ بَعدَكَ وَالأَذى

فَمَن ذا رَأى مِن صارَ بِالخوفِ في أَمنٍ

فَمَن ذا رَأى مِن صارَ بِالخوفِ في أَمنٍ

I am safe from time's reversals and harm after you;

I felt safe from fate’s caprices after you—

who has seen someone made safe through fear?

Who ever felt secure yet frightened?

سَأَبكيكَ بِالعِزِّ الَّذي كُنتَ مُلبِسي

سَأَبكيكَ بِالعِزِّ الَّذي كُنتَ مُلبِسي

لَديكَ وَثِقلٍ كُنتَ تَحمِلُهُ عَنّي

لَديكَ وَثِقلٍ كُنتَ تَحمِلُهُ عَنّي

I shall mourn you for the honor in which you clothed me

I will weep for you by the honor with which you clothed me,

in your presence, and for the burden you used to bear for me.

The heavy burden you shouldered from me.

وَأَعلَمُ أَنَّ الحُزنَ وَالمَوتَ واحِدٌ

وَأَعلَمُ أَنَّ الحُزنَ وَالمَوتَ واحِدٌ

عَلَيَّ فَذا يُضني القُلوبَ وَذا يُفني

عَلَيَّ فَذا يُضني القُلوبَ وَذا يُفني

And I know that grief and death are one

I know that grief and death are one—

to me: this wears down hearts, and that annihilates.

This saddens hearts while that terminates life.

فَإِن كانَ عُمرُ البَينِ قَد طالَ بَينَنا

فَإِن كانَ عُمرُ البَينِ قَد طالَ بَينَنا

كَما طالَ في آناءِ مُدَّتِهِ حُزني

كَما طالَ في آناءِ مُدَّتِهِ حُزني

So if the span of separation between us has grown long,

If the life of separation has grown long between us

as my grief has lengthened through the hours of its duration,

As my sorrow has dragged on through its appointed time,

فَحُبُّكَ في قَلبي وَذِكرُكَ في فَمي

فَحُبُّكَ في قَلبي وَذِكرُكَ في فَمي

وَشَخصُكَ في عَيني وَلَفظُكَ في أُذني

وَشَخصُكَ في عَيني وَلَفظُكَ في أُذني

then love for you is in my heart, remembrance of you in my mouth,

Your love is in my heart, your memory on my tongue,

and your form in my eye, your words in my ear.

Your form before my eye, your name within my ear.