ضَحِكَتsmiled ثُغورُthe mouths of حَدائِقِthe gardens of الأَرضِthe earth
ضَحِكَت ثُغورُ حَدائِقِ الأَرضِ
فَسَهَتso grew dreamy عُيونُthe eyes of النَرجِسِthe narcissus الغَضِّtender
فَسَهَت عُيونُ النَرجِسِ الغَضِّ
The mouths of the earth's gardens smiled,
The faces of the earth's gardens smiled
so the eyes of the tender narcissus grew dreamy.
And the eyes of the proud narcissi grew languid
ضَرَبَpitched الرَبيعُspring بِهاin them مَضارِبَهُits tents
ضَرَبَ الرَبيعُ بِها مَضارِبَهُ
وَجَرَتand raced جِيادُthe steeds of السُحبِthe clouds فيin الرَكضِa gallop
وَجَرَت جِيادُ السُحبِ في الرَكضِ
Spring pitched its tents there,
Spring struck its tents there
and the steeds of the clouds raced at a gallop.
And the steeds of the clouds raced by
ضاعَwafted العَبيرُthe perfume مِنَfrom الرَبيعِspring فَماso no
ضاعَ العَبيرُ مِنَ الرَبيعِ فَما
عُذرٌexcuse إِلىtoward اللَذّاتِpleasures مِنfrom نَهضِrising
عُذرٌ إِلى اللَذّاتِ مِن نَهضِ
Spring's perfume wafted forth; there is no
The fragrance of spring was lost, so no
excuse for not rising to pleasures.
Excuse remains for pleasures after rising
ضَيَّعتَyou wasted بَعضَsome of العُمرِlife مُشتَغِلاًbeing busy
ضَيَّعتَ بَعضَ العُمرِ مُشتَغِلاً
أَفَلاthen will you not خَلَفتَyou compensated for العَيشَlife's enjoyment بِالبَعضِwith the rest
أَفَلا خَلَفتَ العَيشَ بِالبَعضِ
You wasted part of your life being busy;
You wasted some of your life busy
then will you not make up for it by enjoying the rest?
Why then didn't you compensate living with some
ضَعbestow مِنَّةًa favor وَاُجلُand unveil المُدامَthe wine لَناfor us
ضَع مِنَّةً وَاُجلُ المُدامَ لَنا
فيهاthrough it مِنَfrom الأَيّامِthe days نَستَقضيwe seek repayment
فيها مِنَ الأَيّامِ نَستَقضي
Bestow a favor, and unveil the wine for us;
Pour generously and give us wine
through it we seek repayment from the days.
Wherein we regain some of the days
ضَرَّجdye crimson بِهاwith it خَدَّthe cheek of السُرورِjoy فَقَدfor indeed
ضَرَّج بِها خَدَّ السُرورِ فَقَد
أَيقَنتُI became certain أَنَّthat الدَهرَTime فيin قَبضِwithholding
أَيقَنتُ أَنَّ الدَهرَ في قَبضِ
Dye joy's cheek crimson with it, for
With it, the cheek of joy was stained
I have become certain that Time is close-fisted.
So I was certain time lies clenched
ضَحِكَlaughed الحَبابُthe bubbles بِهاin it وَقَدthough already غَضِبَتit raged
ضَحِكَ الحَبابُ بِها وَقَد غَضِبَت
لِلشارِبينَat the drinkers بِسُخطِهاwith its wrath تُرضيit pleases
لِلشارِبينَ بِسُخطِها تُرضي
The bubbles laughed in it, though it raged
The wine goblet laughed with it though it was angered
at the drinkers, pleasing them with its wrath.
At the drinkers, with its rage it is satisfied
ضَجَّتit cried out لِوَقعِat the impact of الماءِthe water وَاِضطَرَبَتand it quivered
ضَجَّت لِوَقعِ الماءِ وَاِضطَرَبَت
مِنfrom غَيرِabsence of إِيلامٍhurt وَلاnor مَضِّstinging pain
مِن غَيرِ إِيلامٍ وَلا مَضِّ
It cried out at the water's impact and quivered,
It clamored at the falling of water and was turbulent
without hurt or stinging pain.
Without pain or effort
ضَيَّعsquander كُنوزَthe treasures of المُلكِkingship وَاِبقِand keep لَناfor us
ضَيَّع كُنوزَ المُلكِ وَاِبقِ لَنا
راحاًwine إِلىto راحاتِهاits comforts تُفضيit leads
راحاً إِلى راحاتِها تُفضي
Squander the treasures of kingship, and keep for us
He lost the treasures of the kingdom, so leave us
wine that leads to its comforts.
At ease going to its comforts
ضَمِنَamid الشَبيبَةِyouth وَالرَبيعِand spring حَلاbecame sweet
ضَمِنَ الشَبيبَةِ وَالرَبيعِ حَلا
رَشفيmy sipping of الطَلاwine وَلِغَيرِهاand of anything but it رَفضيmy rejection
رَشفي الطَلا وَلِغَيرِها رَفضي
Amid youth and spring, sweet became
Guarantee us the youth and spring, provisions of wine
my sipping of wine, and my rejection of all else.
I sip and reject all else
ضاءَshone الزَمانُTime إِضاءَةًillumination بِسَماsmiling
ضاءَ الزَمانُ إِضاءَةً بِسَما
يَزهوit glories بِثَوبٍin a robe غَيرِnot مُرفَضِّcoming apart
يَزهو بِثَوبٍ غَيرِ مُرفَضِّ
Time shone brightly, smiling,
Time shone with a radiance from the sky
glorying in a robe that has not frayed.
Gleaming in a robe beyond wrinkling
ضَربٌa variety مِنَof الأَنوارِblossoms مُبتَهِجٌexuberant
ضَربٌ مِنَ الأَنوارِ مُبتَهِجٌ
ماwhat lies بَينَbetween مَزرورٍbuttoned shut وَمُنفَضِّand spread open
ما بَينَ مَزرورٍ وَمُنفَضِّ
An exuberant array of blossoms,
A category of lights joyfully shining
some buttoned shut, others spread open.
Between twinkling and dimming
ضَفَتِflourished الرِياضُthe gardens وَماand not أَضَرَّharmed بِهاthem
ضَفَتِ الرِياضُ وَما أَضَرَّ بِها
إِخلافُthe breaking of وَعدِthe promise of البَرقِthe lightning فيin الوَمضِflashing
إِخلافُ وَعدِ البَرقِ في الوَمضِ
The gardens flourished, unharmed by
The banks of the gardens and what damage was caused them
the lightning's failure to keep the promise of its flashes.
By the lightning's broken promise of flashing
ضَنَّwithheld السَحابُthe clouds بِمائِهِtheir water فَرَوَتso quenched
ضَنَّ السَحابُ بِمائِهِ فَرَوَت
كَفُّthe palm of اِبنِthe son of أُرتُقَArtuq غُلَّةَthe thirst of الأَرضِthe earth
كَفُّ اِبنِ أُرتُقَ غُلَّةَ الأَرضِ
The clouds withheld their water, so
The clouds hoarded their water, so they irrigated
Ibn Artuq's palm quenched the earth's thirst.
The palms of the land their ripening fruits
ضَرّابُa mighty smiter of هاماتِthe heads of الكُماةِarmored warriors وَمَنand one who
ضَرّابُ هاماتِ الكُماةِ وَمَن
راضَtamed الزَمانَTime بِخُلقِهِwith his character المَرضيpleasing
راضَ الزَمانَ بِخُلقِهِ المَرضي
A mighty smiter of warriors' heads, and one who
Hitting the resolute zealots and one
tamed Time with his gracious character.
Who pleased fate with his agreeable nature
ضِرغامُa lion of بَأسٍvalor غَيرُnot مُحتَجِبٍhiding
ضِرغامُ بَأسٍ غَيرُ مُحتَجِبٍ
خَوفاًin fear وَنَجمٌand a star غَيرُnot مُنقَضِّfalling
خَوفاً وَنَجمٌ غَيرُ مُنقَضِّ
A lion of valor, who does not hide
A fearless hero, an unwavering star
in fear, and a star that never falls.
Matching the clouds in his open-handedness
ضاهىrivaled السَحائِبَthe clouds مِنهُof his جودُthe generosity of يَدٍa hand
ضاهى السَحائِبَ مِنهُ جودُ يَدٍ
مُعتادَةٍaccustomed بِالبَسطِto opening وَالقَبضِand closing
مُعتادَةٍ بِالبَسطِ وَالقَبضِ
His hand's generosity rivaled the clouds—
The generosity of his hands guaranteed us
a hand accustomed to opening and closing.
The goodness of the land with his pure generosity
ضَمِنَتassured سَماحَةُthe generosity of راحَتَيهِhis two palms لَناfor us
ضَمِنَت سَماحَةُ راحَتَيهِ لَنا
بِرَّthe welfare of البِلادِthe lands بِجودِهِthrough his generosity المَحضِpure
بِرَّ البِلادِ بِجودِهِ المَحضِ
The generosity of his two palms assured us
A hyena for the religion of God since
the lands' welfare through his pure bounty.
Islam rose securely above being lowered
ضَبعٌan arm لِدينِfor the faith of اللَهِGod مُنذُsince عَلاrose الthe
ضَبعٌ لِدينِ اللَهِ مُنذُ عَلا ال
إِسلامُIslam آمِنَةٌsecure مِنَfrom الخَفضِbeing lowered
إِسلامُ آمِنَةٌ مِنَ الخَفضِ
An arm of God's faith that, since the rise of
The affairs of Muslims are controlled by him
Islam, has been safe from being lowered.
Controlled by him, secured from nullification
ضُبِطَتwere set in order أُمورُthe affairs of المُسلِمينَthe Muslims بِهِthrough him
ضُبِطَت أُمورُ المُسلِمينَ بِهِ
ضَبطاًwith firm control بِهِthrough him أَمِنَتthey became secure مِنَfrom النَقضِundoing
ضَبطاً بِهِ أَمِنَت مِنَ النَقضِ
Through him the Muslims' affairs were set in order,
Great is his munificence, his generosity lavish
so firmly that through him they were safe from unraveling.
He gathered the plains, pure white in breadth
ضَخمُgreat in الدَسيعَةِbounty جودُهُhis generosity غَدِقٌcopious
ضَخمُ الدَسيعَةِ جودُهُ غَدِقٌ
أَحوىdark-green in المَرابِعِpastures أَبيَضُwhite in العِرضِhonor
أَحوى المَرابِعِ أَبيَضُ العِرضِ
Great in bounty, his generosity copious;
Harmful to the enemies and beneficial to one with purpose
his pastures dark green, his honor white.
Each sees him as obligatory
ضُرُّharm to العُداةِthe enemies وَنَفعُand benefit to قاصِدِهِwhoever seeks him
ضُرُّ العُداةِ وَنَفعُ قاصِدِهِ
كُلٌّeach يَراهُhe regards it عَلَيهِupon him كَالفَرضِlike a duty
كُلٌّ يَراهُ عَلَيهِ كَالفَرضِ
Harming his enemies and helping whoever seeks him—
The awe and sharpness of his sword guaranteed
each he regards as a duty incumbent on him.
The power of the guardian and abasement of the hostile
ضَمِنَensured اليَراعُthe reed pen وَحَدُّand the edge of صارِمِهِhis sharp sword
ضَمِنَ اليَراعُ وَحَدُّ صارِمِهِ
عِزَّthe glory of الوَلِيَّthe ally وَذَلَّand the abasement of ذيthe one with البُغضِhatred
عِزَّ الوَلِيَّ وَذَلَّ ذي البُغضِ
The reed pen and his sword's edge ensured
Two opposites, one who rewards good and one
the ally's glory and the hater's abasement.
Who forever destroys his enemies
ضِدّانِtwo opposites ذاthis one يوليbestows الجَميلَkindness وَذاand that one
ضِدّانِ ذا يولي الجَميلَ وَذا
أَبَداًalways بِحَتفِwith the death of عُداتِهِhis enemies يَقضيdecrees
أَبَداً بِحَتفِ عُداتِهِ يَقضي
Two opposites: this one bestows kindness, and that one
The wakeful were delighted with a group, so he saw
always decrees the death of his enemies.
His wakefulness sweeter than slumber
ضَرَّharmed السُهادُsleeplessness بِمَعشَرٍa group of men فَرَأىbut he found
ضَرَّ السُهادُ بِمَعشَرٍ فَرَأى
سُهادَهُhis wakefulness أَحلىsweeter مِنَthan الغُمضِsleep
سُهادَهُ أَحلى مِنَ الغُمضِ
Sleeplessness harmed some men, but he found
The land of conquest was confined by his great army and resolve
his wakefulness sweeter than sleep.
In length and breadth
ضاقَتgrew too narrow بِجَحفَلِهِfor his army وَعَزمَتِهِand his resolve
ضاقَت بِجَحفَلِهِ وَعَزمَتِهِ
أَرضُthe land of الفَلاthe desert فيin الطولِlength وَالعَرضِand breadth
أَرضُ الفَلا في الطولِ وَالعَرضِ
Too narrow for his army and resolve grew
Lost is one who dared defy him
the desert land, in length and breadth.
And by his will fate's decree runs its course
ضَلَّwent astray الَّذيthe one who أَضحىbegan to يُطاوِلُهُrival him
ضَلَّ الَّذي أَضحى يُطاوِلُهُ
وَبِإِصرِهِand by his binding covenant يَجريruns القَضاfate المَقضيordained
وَبِإِصرِهِ يَجري القَضا المَقضي
Astray is the one who sets out to rival him,
Annoyed is one who resisted him when he saw
and ordained fate runs by his binding covenant.
The arrow of destiny by his command set forth
ضَجِرَgrew vexed الَّذيthe one who جاراهُraced him حينَwhen رَأىhe saw
ضَجِرَ الَّذي جاراهُ حينَ رَأى
سَهمَthe arrow of القَضاءِfate بِأَمرِهِat his command يَمضيgoes forth
سَهمَ القَضاءِ بِأَمرِهِ يَمضي
Whoever raced him grew vexed upon seeing
I would be lost if I did not describe him in my eulogy
fate's arrow fly at his command.
And toward him the urge of my muse leads
ضَلَّيتُI am astray إِنif لَمdo not أُصفِهِI sincerely offer him مِدَحيmy praises
ضَلَّيتُ إِن لَم أُصفِهِ مِدَحي
وَإِلَيهِand toward him نِضوُthe gaunt mount of قَريحَتيmy poetic gift أُنضيI wear out
وَإِلَيهِ نِضوُ قَريحَتي أُنضي
I am astray if I do not offer him my sincere praises,
and wear out my poetic gift's gaunt mount on the way to him.
Partial English translation: 56 of 58 Arabic lines translated.