لَيالي الحِمى ما كُنتِ إِلّا لَآلِيا

لَيالي الحِمى ما كُنتِ إِلّا لَآلِيا

وَجيدُ سُروري بِاِنتِظامِكِ حالِيا

وَجيدُ سُروري بِاِنتِظامِكِ حالِيا

Nights of the protected grounds, you were nothing but pearls,

Nights of yearning, you were but ephemeral,

and the neck of my joy was adorned with you strung upon it.

And my soul delighted in your regularity.

فَرَنَّقَ مِنكِ الدَهرُ ما كان رَيَّقاً

فَرَنَّقَ مِنكِ الدَهرُ ما كان رَيَّقاً

وَكَدَّرَ مِنكِ البُعدُ ما كان صافِيا

وَكَدَّرَ مِنكِ البُعدُ ما كان صافِيا

Time clouded what in you had been limpid,

Time extracted from you what was extracted,

and separation muddied what in you had been clear.

And separation made turbid what was clear.

وَقَد كُنتُ أَخشى مِن تَجافي أَحِبَّتي

وَقَد كُنتُ أَخشى مِن تَجافي أَحِبَّتي

فَلَمّا فَقَدناهُم وَدَدتُ التَجافِيا

فَلَمّا فَقَدناهُم وَدَدتُ التَجافِيا

I had feared my loved ones' estrangement;

I used to fear estrangement from loved ones,

but when we lost them, I longed for that estrangement.

But when we lost them, I loved estrangement.

وَمَن لي بِصَدٍّ مِنهُمُ وَتَجَنُّبٍ

وَمَن لي بِصَدٍّ مِنهُمُ وَتَجَنُّبٍ

إِذا كانَ مِنّا مَنزِلُ القَومِ دانِيا

إِذا كانَ مِنّا مَنزِلُ القَومِ دانِيا

Who could grant me rejection and avoidance from them,

Who can prevent me from turning away

if the people's dwelling were near us?

When their dwellings drew near to me?

لَقَد أَرسَلَت نَحوي الغَوادي مِنَ الحِمى

لَقَد أَرسَلَت نَحوي الغَوادي مِنَ الحِمى

رَوائِحَ أَرخَصنَ الكِبا وَالغَوالِيا

رَوائِحَ أَرخَصنَ الكِبا وَالغَوالِيا

Indeed, the morning rainclouds sent toward me from the protected grounds

The nights sent to me from yearning

scents that cheapened incense and precious perfumes.

Scents that made the hides of camels cheap, and cattle cheap.

وَما أَذكَرَتني سالِفاتُ عُهودِهِم

وَما أَذكَرَتني سالِفاتُ عُهودِهِم

تُذَكِّرُ بِالأَشياءِ مَن كانَ ناسِياً

تُذَكِّرُ بِالأَشياءِ مَن كانَ ناسِياً

And their bygone days did not remind me—

Bygones did not remind me of their covenants;

you remind of things only someone who has forgotten.

They remind the forgetful of things.

وَأَغيَدَ رَخصِ الجِسمِ كَالماءِ رِقَّةً

وَأَغيَدَ رَخصِ الجِسمِ كَالماءِ رِقَّةً

أُكابِدُ قَلباً مِنهُ كَالصَخرِ قاسِيا

أُكابِدُ قَلباً مِنهُ كَالصَخرِ قاسِيا

And a graceful youth, tender-bodied, soft as water—

And my body wasted away gently like water,

I struggle with a heart in him as hard as stone.

While I struggled with a heart harder than rock.

كَثيرِ التَجَنّي لَستُ أَلقاهُ شاكِراً

كَثيرِ التَجَنّي لَستُ أَلقاهُ شاكِراً

عَلى مَضَضٍ إِلّا وَأُلفيهِ شاكِيا

عَلى مَضَضٍ إِلّا وَأُلفيهِ شاكِيا

So full of unjust reproach: I never meet him with gratitude,

I am much inclined to complain ungratefully

despite my anguish, without finding him complaining.

Of any distress unless I was used to it.

يَقولُ إِذا اِستَشفَيتُ مِنهُ بِنَظرَةٍ

يَقولُ إِذا اِستَشفَيتُ مِنهُ بِنَظرَةٍ

كَفى بِكَ داءً أَن تَرى المَوتَ شافِيا

كَفى بِكَ داءً أَن تَرى المَوتَ شافِيا

He says, when I seek healing from him through a glance:

When I gain relief from it with a glance, it says,

“It is sickness enough in you to see death as a cure.”

“It is enough sickness for you to see death as a remedy.”

وَيَعجَبُ مِنّي إِن تَمَنّيتُ عَتبَهُ

وَيَعجَبُ مِنّي إِن تَمَنّيتُ عَتبَهُ

وَحَسبُ المَنايا أَن يَكُنَّ أَمانِيا

وَحَسبُ المَنايا أَن يَكُنَّ أَمانِيا

He marvels at me if I wish for his reproach;

And it is amazed that I wish for its reprimand,

and it is enough for death to become a wish.

Though death should suffice as wishes.

فَوا عَجَبا يُدعى حَبيبي وَإِن غَدا

فَوا عَجَبا يُدعى حَبيبي وَإِن غَدا

يُجاوِرُ في سوءِ الصَنيعِ الأَعادِيا

يُجاوِرُ في سوءِ الصَنيعِ الأَعادِيا

How strange! He is called my beloved, though he has come

Strange that one called "my beloved" should become

to stand beside enemies in evil conduct,

A neighbor in evil-doing to enemies!

كَما قيلَ لِلخَرمِ المَخوفِ مَفازَةً

كَما قيلَ لِلخَرمِ المَخوفِ مَفازَةً

وَلُقِّبَ أَصنافُ العَبيدِ مَوالِيا

وَلُقِّبَ أَصنافُ العَبيدِ مَوالِيا

just as the dreaded mountain pass was called a “place of safety,”

As the fearful cleft was called "an opportunity,"

and classes of slaves were titled “masters.”

And slaves were termed "freed men."

وَلَمّا اِعتَنَقنا لِلوَداعِ وَقَد وَهَت

وَلَمّا اِعتَنَقنا لِلوَداعِ وَقَد وَهَت

عُقودُ لَآلي نَحرِهِ وَمَآقِيا

عُقودُ لَآلي نَحرِهِ وَمَآقِيا

And when we embraced in farewell, already loosened were

When we embraced for farewell, and the bonds

the strings of pearls at his throat and my eye-corners.

Of my companion's throat and watering-places were loosened,

فَحَلَّت عُقودُ الدَمعِ ما كانَ عاطِلاً

فَحَلَّت عُقودُ الدَمعِ ما كانَ عاطِلاً

وَعَطَّلَ عَقدُ الضَمِّ ما كانَ حالِيا

وَعَطَّلَ عَقدُ الضَمِّ ما كانَ حالِيا

So strings of tears adorned what had been bare,

The bonds of tears, that had been idle, were loosed,

and the knot of our embrace stripped what had been adorned.

And the bond of intimacy, that had been my habit, was undone.

وَكَم سِرتُ إِثرَ الظاعِنينَ مُصَيِّراً

وَكَم سِرتُ إِثرَ الظاعِنينَ مُصَيِّراً

هَوايَ دَليلاً وَالتَذَكَّرَ حادِيا

هَوايَ دَليلاً وَالتَذَكَّرَ حادِيا

How often I journeyed after those departing, making

How often I traveled in the tracks of the women departing,

my passion a guide and remembrance a camel-driver.

Making my passion a guide, and recollection a driver!

أَسيرُ وَمَن فَوقي وَتَحتي وَوُجهَتي

أَسيرُ وَمَن فَوقي وَتَحتي وَوُجهَتي

وَخَلفي وَيُمنايَ الهَوى وَشِمالِيا

وَخَلفي وَيُمنايَ الهَوى وَشِمالِيا

I travel, and the one above me, below me, before me,

A captive - and above me, below me, my direction,

behind me, on my right and my left, is love.

Behind me, my right side and left side were passion.

فَما لي إِذا يَمَّمتُ في الأَرضِ وُجهَةً

فَما لي إِذا يَمَّمتُ في الأَرضِ وُجهَةً

وَصَرَّفتُ في أَهلِ الزَمانِ لِحاظِيا

وَصَرَّفتُ في أَهلِ الزَمانِ لِحاظِيا

Why is it that, when I set my course somewhere on earth

So when I determined a direction in the land

and turn my glances upon the people of the age,

And cast my glances upon people of the times,

تَضيقُ عَلَيَّ الأَرضُ حَتّى كَأَنَّني

تَضيقُ عَلَيَّ الأَرضُ حَتّى كَأَنَّني

أُحاوِلُ فيها لِاِبنِ أُرتُقَ ثانِيا

أُحاوِلُ فيها لِاِبنِ أُرتُقَ ثانِيا

the earth closes in on me, as though I were

The land seemed narrow to me, as if I

seeking within it a second Ibn Artuq?

Were trying to find room in it for the son of an Urtuq.

مَليكٌ إِذا شَبَّهتُ بِالغَيثِ جودَه

مَليكٌ إِذا شَبَّهتُ بِالغَيثِ جودَه

هَجوتُ نَداهُ وَاِمتَدَحتُ الغَوادِيا

هَجوتُ نَداهُ وَاِمتَدَحتُ الغَوادِيا

A king—if I compare his generosity to rain,

A king whose bounty, when I liken it to rain,

I disparage his bounty and extol the morning rainclouds.

I disparage the dripping of the rain, and praise the clouds.

يُعيدُ شَبابَ الشَيبِ مَرآهُ في النَدى

يُعيدُ شَبابَ الشَيبِ مَرآهُ في النَدى

وَفي الحَربِ مَرآهُ يُشيبُ النَواصِيا

وَفي الحَربِ مَرآهُ يُشيبُ النَواصِيا

The sight of him giving bounty restores youth to gray hair;

His freshness makes white hair seem black in the dew,

and in war the sight of him turns forelocks gray.

And his brilliance makes black hair white at the temples.

يُرينا النَدى في البَأسِ وَالبَأسَ في النَدى

يُرينا النَدى في البَأسِ وَالبَأسَ في النَدى

فَيُنعِمُ غَضباناً وَيَنقِمُ راضِيا

فَيُنعِمُ غَضباناً وَيَنقِمُ راضِيا

He shows us bounty in might and might in bounty,

He shows us softness in might and might in softness,

granting favors when angry and taking vengeance when pleased,

So he is gentle in anger and angry when pleased.

كَبيضِ الظُبى تُردي القَتيلَ ضَواحِكاً

كَبيضِ الظُبى تُردي القَتيلَ ضَواحِكاً

وَسُحبِ الحَيا تَروي الغَليلَ بَواكِيا

وَسُحبِ الحَيا تَروي الغَليلَ بَواكِيا

like bright sword-edges, smiling as they strike their victims down,

Like the smiles of antelopes that make the slain laugh,

and rainclouds, weeping as they quench burning thirst.

And the dragging of serpents that makes the afflicted weep.

وَما لِيَ لا أَسعى بِمالي وَمُهجَتي

وَما لِيَ لا أَسعى بِمالي وَمُهجَتي

إِلى مَن بِهِ اِستَدرَكتُ روحي وَمالِيا

إِلى مَن بِهِ اِستَدرَكتُ روحي وَمالِيا

Why should I not hasten with my wealth and my lifeblood

Why should I not strive with my property and talents

to him through whom I regained my soul and wealth?

Toward one through whom I recovered my soul and property?

إِلى مَلِكٍ يَستَخدِمُ الدهرَ بَأسُهُ

إِلى مَلِكٍ يَستَخدِمُ الدهرَ بَأسُهُ

وَيُرجِعُ طَرفَ الخَطبِ بِالعَدلِ خاسِيا

وَيُرجِعُ طَرفَ الخَطبِ بِالعَدلِ خاسِيا

To a king whose might puts Time into service

One whose might makes time subservient,

and with justice sends calamity's gaze back abased;

And who returns the course of events with justice humbled,

إِلى مَلِكٍ يُخفي المُلوكَ إِذا بَدا

إِلى مَلِكٍ يُخفي المُلوكَ إِذا بَدا

كَما أَخفَتِ الشَمسُ النُجومَ الدَرارِيا

كَما أَخفَتِ الشَمسُ النُجومَ الدَرارِيا

to a king who eclipses kings when he appears,

One, who when he appears, hides other kings,

as the sun hides the radiant stars;

As the sun hides the stars swarming in darkest night,

إِلى مَلِكٍ يولي الإِرادَةَ وَالرَدى

إِلى مَلِكٍ يولي الإِرادَةَ وَالرَدى

وَتَحوي المَنايا كَفُّهُ وَالأَمانِيا

وَتَحوي المَنايا كَفُّهُ وَالأَمانِيا

to a king who bestows desire and death,

One who restrains fate and calamities;

whose palm holds deadly fates and wishes;

His palm encompasses hopes and wishes.

بِوَجهٍ غَدا لِلشَمسِ وَالبَدرِ ثالِثاً

بِوَجهٍ غَدا لِلشَمسِ وَالبَدرِ ثالِثاً

وَقَلبٍ غَدا لِلجَوهَرِ الفَردِ ثانِيا

وَقَلبٍ غَدا لِلجَوهَرِ الفَردِ ثانِيا

with a face that has become a third to the sun and full moon,

With a face that has become a third to sun and moon,

and a heart that has become a second to the indivisible atom;

And a heart that has become a second to the unmatched pearl.

وَعَزمٍ يُزيلُ الخَطبَ عَن مُستَقَرِّهِ

وَعَزمٍ يُزيلُ الخَطبَ عَن مُستَقَرِّهِ

رَأَينا بِهِ السَبعَ الطِباقَ ثَمانِيا

رَأَينا بِهِ السَبعَ الطِباقَ ثَمانِيا

and resolve that dislodges calamity from its resting place—

With a resolve that removes misfortunes from their dwellings;

through it we saw the seven layered heavens become eight;

Through it we saw the seven spheres as eight.

وَشِدَّةِ بَأسٍ تَترُكُ الماءَ جامِداً

وَشِدَّةِ بَأسٍ تَترُكُ الماءَ جامِداً

وَرِقَّةِ خُلقٍ تَجعَلُ الصَخرَ جارِيا

وَرِقَّةِ خُلقٍ تَجعَلُ الصَخرَ جارِيا

and fierceness of might that leaves water frozen,

With terrible might that leaves water frozen,

and tenderness of character that makes stone flow;

And gentle manners that make hard rock flow.

وَكَفٍّ تَشيمُ السَيفَ غَضبانَ ضاحِكاً

وَكَفٍّ تَشيمُ السَيفَ غَضبانَ ضاحِكاً

وَتَثنيهِ بَعدَ الكَرِّ جَذلانَ باكِيا

وَتَثنيهِ بَعدَ الكَرِّ جَذلانَ باكِيا

and a hand that draws the sword, angry yet smiling,

With a palm that makes the angry sword laugh when it draws it

then returns it after the charge, joyful yet weeping.

And bend weeping when it returns it to its sheath.

هُوَ الصالِحُ السُلطانُ وَالمَلِكُ الَّذي

هُوَ الصالِحُ السُلطانُ وَالمَلِكُ الَّذي

يَعُمُّ الأَقاصي جودُهُ وَالأَدانِيا

يَعُمُّ الأَقاصي جودُهُ وَالأَدانِيا

He is al-Salih, the sultan and the king whose

He is the righteous sultan and king who

bounty embraces the farthest and the nearest.

His bounty encompasses the farthest and nearest regions.

جَوادٌ أَبادَ المالَ إِلّا صِيانَةً

جَوادٌ أَبادَ المالَ إِلّا صِيانَةً

مَخافَةَ أَن يُمسي مِنَ البَذلِ خالِيا

مَخافَةَ أَن يُمسي مِنَ البَذلِ خالِيا

A generous lord who exhausts wealth only to preserve it,

A generous man who destroyed wealth except to preserve it,

lest it reach evening untouched by giving.

Fearing that his spending might leave him bankrupt.

لَهُ قَلَمٌ إِن خَرَّ في الطِرسِ ساجِداً

لَهُ قَلَمٌ إِن خَرَّ في الطِرسِ ساجِداً

يَخُرُّ لَهُ ذو التاجِ في الأَرضِ حاكِيا

يَخُرُّ لَهُ ذو التاجِ في الأَرضِ حاكِيا

He has a pen: if it falls prostrate upon the parchment,

He has a pen - if it falls prostrate in writing,

the crown-bearer falls to earth before it in imitation.

Monarchs bow down on earth following it.

إِذا ما مَشى يَوماً عَلى الرَأسِ موحِياً

إِذا ما مَشى يَوماً عَلى الرَأسِ موحِياً

إِلى مَلِكٍ وافى عَلى الرَأسِ ماشِيا

إِلى مَلِكٍ وافى عَلى الرَأسِ ماشِيا

If one day it walks upon its head, conveying a message

When he walked one day above heads giving commands

to a king, that king comes walking upon his head.

To a king who walked on feet,

إِذا أَعلَمَتهُ كَفُّهُ خِلتَ أَنَّهُ

إِذا أَعلَمَتهُ كَفُّهُ خِلتَ أَنَّهُ

يَسُنُّ سِناناً أَو يَسُلُّ مَواضِيا

يَسُنُّ سِناناً أَو يَسُلُّ مَواضِيا

When his hand notches it, you would think that he

When his palm informs him, you would think

is sharpening a spearpoint or drawing keen swords.

That it gestures or unleashes meadows.

لَقَد حَسَدَ الأَقوامُ لَفظي وَفَضلَهُ

لَقَد حَسَدَ الأَقوامُ لَفظي وَفَضلَهُ

وَقَد غَبَطوا إِحسانَهُ وَلِسانِيا

وَقَد غَبَطوا إِحسانَهُ وَلِسانِيا

The peoples have indeed envied my words and his excellence,

The people envied my expression and its merits,

and admired with envy his beneficence and my tongue,

Yet they congratulated me on his favors and my tongue.

غَداةَ تَجارَينا إِلى السَبقِ فَاِغتَدى

غَداةَ تَجارَينا إِلى السَبقِ فَاِغتَدى

يَشيدُ المَعالي أَو أُجيدُ المَعانِيا

يَشيدُ المَعالي أَو أُجيدُ المَعانِيا

the morning we raced each other for precedence, when he began

The morning after we vied in racing, and it transgressed -

to build noble deeds—or I to perfect meanings.

It composes lofty subjects, or I excel in meanings.

وَقالوا أَجَدتَ النَظمَ فيهِ أَجَبتُهُم

وَقالوا أَجَدتَ النَظمَ فيهِ أَجَبتُهُم

يُرى الزَهرُ أَنّى أَصبَحَ الغَيثُ هامِيا

يُرى الزَهرُ أَنّى أَصبَحَ الغَيثُ هامِيا

They said, “You have perfected verse about him.” I answered them:

They said, “You created poetry in it.” I answered them,

“Flowers are seen wherever the rain pours down.”

“The flower shows where the rain came torrentially.”

فَيا مُحسِناً إِلّا إِلى المالِ وَحدَهُ

فَيا مُحسِناً إِلّا إِلى المالِ وَحدَهُ

وَفي ذاكَ إِحسانٌ لِمَن كانَ راجِيا

وَفي ذاكَ إِحسانٌ لِمَن كانَ راجِيا

O benefactor to all except wealth alone,

O you who are generous only toward money alone -

and even that is kindness to whoever hopes!

In that there is a favor for one who is hopeful.

فَذَلِكَ قَومٌ لَو مَدَحتُ صَنيعَهُم

فَذَلِكَ قَومٌ لَو مَدَحتُ صَنيعَهُم

لَظَنَّ الوَرى أَنّي أَعُدُّ المَساوِيا

لَظَنَّ الوَرى أَنّي أَعُدُّ المَساوِيا

So those are a people—if I praised their deeds,

For they are a people - had I praised their actions

mankind would think I was counting faults.

The world would think me equating the sublime and base.

رَعيتُ أُمورَ المُسلِمينَ بِهِمَّةٍ

رَعيتُ أُمورَ المُسلِمينَ بِهِمَّةٍ

رَأَيتُ بِها مُستَقبَلَ الأَمرِ ماضِيا

رَأَيتُ بِها مُستَقبَلَ الأَمرِ ماضِيا

I tended the Muslims' affairs with a resolve

I tended to the affairs of the Muslims with an resolve

through which I saw the future of the matter already past.

Through which I saw the outcome of the matter concluded.

لَقَد عَجِزوا عَن أَن يَرَوا لَكَ في النَدى

لَقَد عَجِزوا عَن أَن يَرَوا لَكَ في النَدى

مَدى الدَهرِ أَو عَنهُ مِنَ الناسِ ثانِيا

مَدى الدَهرِ أَو عَنهُ مِنَ الناسِ ثانِيا

They have indeed failed to find you, in bounty,

They were incapable of seeing for you in glory

throughout time—or beyond it—an equal among mankind.

An equal in the world or among the people.

وَيومٍ أَعَدتَ الصُبحَ كَاللَيلِ عِندَما

وَيومٍ أَعَدتَ الصُبحَ كَاللَيلِ عِندَما

حَجَبتَ ذُكا لَمّا أَجَلتَ المَذاكِيا

حَجَبتَ ذُكا لَمّا أَجَلتَ المَذاكِيا

And on a day you made the morning like night, when

A day you made the dawn like night when

you veiled Dhuka, the sun, as you wheeled the mature steeds,

You veiled lights when you delayed the wine-cups.

وَأَجرَيتَها قُبَّ البُطونِ تَخالُها

وَأَجرَيتَها قُبَّ البُطونِ تَخالُها

إِذا ما سَعَت تَحتَ العَجاجِ سَعالِيا

إِذا ما سَعَت تَحتَ العَجاجِ سَعالِيا

you set them running, lean of belly; you would think them,

And you made them flow into the bellies of bosses

when they raced beneath the dust-cloud, female ghouls.

When they expanded under the skins of the water bags.

يُمَزَّقُ تَكرارُ الصِدامِ جُلودَها

يُمَزَّقُ تَكرارُ الصِدامِ جُلودَها

فَتُكسى دَماً ما أَصبَحَ السَيفُ عارِيا

فَتُكسى دَماً ما أَصبَحَ السَيفُ عارِيا

Their hides are torn by repeated collisions,

The repetition of collisions tears their skins

so they are clothed in blood while the sword remains bare.

So they are clothed in the blood the swords stripped off.

سَقَيتَ بِها الأَعداءَ كَأساً مِنَ الرَدى

سَقَيتَ بِها الأَعداءَ كَأساً مِنَ الرَدى

غَداةَ غَدا كُلٌّ مِنَ الكَرِّ ظامِيا

غَداةَ غَدا كُلٌّ مِنَ الكَرِّ ظامِيا

With them you gave enemies a cup of death to drink,

With it you gave the enemies a cup of destruction

on a morning when each grew thirsty from the charge.

The morning after each became drunk with war.

جَعَلتَ الرَدى راحاً وَخَيلَكَ راحَةً

جَعَلتَ الرَدى راحاً وَخَيلَكَ راحَةً

وَبيضَ الظُبى كَأساً وَعَزمَكَ ساقِيا

وَبيضَ الظُبى كَأساً وَعَزمَكَ ساقِيا

You made death wine and your horses the serving hand,

You made destruction repose and your horses rest,

the bright sword-edges a cup and your resolve the cupbearer.

And the eggs of ostriches a cup and your resolve a butler.

وَكَم قَد كَسَيتَ العِزَّ مِن جاءَ آمِلاً

وَكَم قَد كَسَيتَ العِزَّ مِن جاءَ آمِلاً

إِذا ما مَشى في رَبعِ قُدسِكَ حافِيا

إِذا ما مَشى في رَبعِ قُدسِكَ حافِيا

How often you have clothed in honor one who came hopeful,

How often you clothed glory on one who walked

when he walked barefoot in your sacred dwelling.

Barefoot when he walked in the region of your sanctity!

بَسَطتَ مِنَ المَعروفِ أَرضاً مَديدَةً

بَسَطتَ مِنَ المَعروفِ أَرضاً مَديدَةً

وَأَنبَتَّ فيها لِلحُلومِ رَواسِيا

وَأَنبَتَّ فيها لِلحُلومِ رَواسِيا

You spread from your kindness a vast land,

You spread a wide expanse of good works

and planted in it firm mountains of wisdom.

And erected lofty ambitions upon it.

وَإِنّي وَإِن فارَقتُ مَغناكَ مُخطِئاً

وَإِنّي وَإِن فارَقتُ مَغناكَ مُخطِئاً

لَأَعلَمُ أَنّي كُنتُ في ذاكَ خاطِيا

لَأَعلَمُ أَنّي كُنتُ في ذاكَ خاطِيا

And I, though I left your abode in error,

Even if I parted from your plenty wrongfully,

know indeed that in doing so I sinned.

I know that in that I was sinful.

فَكيفَ بِعادي عَن مَغانٍ أَلِفتُها

فَكيفَ بِعادي عَن مَغانٍ أَلِفتُها

وَأَفنَيتُ عُمري بَينَها وَشَبابِيا

وَأَفنَيتُ عُمري بَينَها وَشَبابِيا

How, then, can I be far from dwellings I grew used to,

So how about one estranged from pleasures he was used to

among which I spent my life and my youth,

And spent his life among them and his youth?

وَقَضيتُ فيها الأَربَعينَ مُجاوِراً

وَقَضيتُ فيها الأَربَعينَ مُجاوِراً

مُلوكَ البَرايا وَالبُحورَ الطَوامِيا

مُلوكَ البَرايا وَالبُحورَ الطَوامِيا

and where I spent forty years, dwelling beside

I dwelt among them forty years residing

the kings of mankind and the overflowing seas?

Among the kings of the land and the raging seas.

أَصيفُ وَأَشتو بَينَهُم فَكَأَنَّني

أَصيفُ وَأَشتو بَينَهُم فَكَأَنَّني

نَزَلتُ عَلى آلِ المُهَلَّبِ شاتِيا

نَزَلتُ عَلى آلِ المُهَلَّبِ شاتِيا

I summer and winter among them, as though I

I summered and wintered among them, so it was as if

had lodged with the house of al-Muhallab for the winter.

I alighted with the family of Muhalhil.

بَذَلتَ لَنا ياذا المَكارِمِ أَنعُماً

بَذَلتَ لَنا ياذا المَكارِمِ أَنعُماً

تَسُرُّ المَوالي إِذ تَسوءُ المُعادِيا

تَسُرُّ المَوالي إِذ تَسوءُ المُعادِيا

You bestowed on us, O possessor of noble virtues, blessings

You lavished gifts on us, O most generous,

that delight allies while distressing the enemy.

That make allies happy when enemies are wretched.

وَلَولاكَ لَم تُعنَ المُلوكُ بِمَنطِقي

وَلَولاكَ لَم تُعنَ المُلوكُ بِمَنطِقي

وَلا خَطَبوا مَدحي لَهُم وَخِطابِيا

وَلا خَطَبوا مَدحي لَهُم وَخِطابِيا

Were it not for you, kings would not have cared for my speech,

Were it not for you, kings would not delight in my speech

nor courted my praise of them and my address.

Or seek my praise of them and my orations.

وَلَولاكَ لَم يُعرَف مُسَمّايَ بَينَهُم

وَلَولاكَ لَم يُعرَف مُسَمّايَ بَينَهُم

وَلا أَصبَحَ اِسمي في المَمالِكِ سامِيا

وَلا أَصبَحَ اِسمي في المَمالِكِ سامِيا

Were it not for you, my identity would not have been known among them,

Were it not for you, my name would not be recognized among them

nor would my name have risen high in the kingdoms,

Or become lofty in the realms.

وَلاسِيَّما لَمّا رَأَونِيَ راغِباً

وَلاسِيَّما لَمّا رَأَونِيَ راغِباً

عَنِ الرِفدِ لا أُبقي مِنَ المالِ باقِيا

عَنِ الرِفدِ لا أُبقي مِنَ المالِ باقِيا

especially when they saw me turning away

Especially when they saw me inclined

from gifts, keeping none of my wealth in reserve.

To refrain from gain, not leaving any wealth remaining,

أَحيدُ عَنِ السُحبِ الَّتي تُرسِلُ الحَيا

أَحيدُ عَنِ السُحبِ الَّتي تُرسِلُ الحَيا

وَإِن كُنتُ حَرّانَ الجَوانِحِ صادِيا

وَإِن كُنتُ حَرّانَ الجَوانِحِ صادِيا

I turn aside from clouds that send down rain,

Shunning the clouds that send torrents

though my breast is burning and I am parched.

Even if I was seizing the flying creatures.

فَسَوفَ أُجيدُ النَظمَ فيكَ وَأَنثَني

فَسَوفَ أُجيدُ النَظمَ فيكَ وَأَنثَني

إِلى النَثرِ إِن أَفنى النِظامُ القَوافِيا

إِلى النَثرِ إِن أَفنى النِظامُ القَوافِيا

I shall perfect my verse about you, and turn

So I will excel in poetry about you and compose,

to prose if versification exhausts the rhymes.

And turn to prose when metrics are exhausted.

وَأَشكُرُكُم ما دُمتُ حَيّاً وَإِن أَمُت

وَأَشكُرُكُم ما دُمتُ حَيّاً وَإِن أَمُت

وَلَم أوفِهِ أَوصَيتُ بِالشُكرِ آلِيا

وَلَم أوفِهِ أَوصَيتُ بِالشُكرِ آلِيا

I shall thank you as long as I live; and if I die

I thank you as long as I live, and if I die

without fulfilling it, I shall charge my family to give thanks.

Without fulfilling it, I bequeath thankfulness to my family.