ألا ما لقلبٍ بأيدي الغُواةِ

ألا ما لقلبٍ بأيدي الغُواةِ

يُعلَّل في الحبّ بالباطلِ

يُعلَّل في الحبّ بالباطلِ

Ah, what ails a heart in seducers' hands,

Alas! What heart in the hands of foes,

Soothed in love with false hopes?

Is justified loving falsely?

يرنّ اِشتكاءً إلى نازلٍ

يرنّ اِشتكاءً إلى نازلٍ

وإمّا اِشتياقاً إلى راحلِ

وإمّا اِشتياقاً إلى راحلِ

It rings out in complaint to one who stays,

Moaning in complaint to one who settled,

Or else in longing for one departing.

Or yearning to one who left?

ويُضحِي قتيلَ بدور الخدو

ويُضحِي قتيلَ بدور الخدو

رِ وَجْداً وما من دمٍ سائلِ

رِ وَجْداً وما من دمٍ سائلِ

And lies slain by the full moons of secluded chambers,

And sacrifices itself slain at the abodes,

Through longing, though no blood flows.

Passionately and no blood spilt,

وَكيفَ اِنتفاعي بأنّي كتمت

وَكيفَ اِنتفاعي بأنّي كتمت

بنطق الغرامِ عن العاذلِ

بنطق الغرامِ عن العاذلِ

And how does it profit me that I have concealed

And how can I benefit if I concealed

Love's utterance from the reproacher,

With speech of love from the wooer?

ولي ألسُنٌ شاهداتٌ به

ولي ألسُنٌ شاهداتٌ به

من الدّمع والجسدِ النّاحِلِ

من الدّمع والجسدِ النّاحِلِ

When I have tongues that testify to it

And I have eloquent tongues witnessing it

In tears and an emaciated body?

With tears and emaciated body.

ولولا الهوى قاهرٌ للرّجا

ولولا الهوى قاهرٌ للرّجا

لِ ما لِيم في النّاسِ من عاقلِ

لِ ما لِيم في النّاسِ من عاقلِ

And were love not a conqueror of men,

And were it not for love subduing hope

No sensible person among mankind would be blamed.

I would have no wisdom among people.

وزَوْرٍ أتاني وكلُّ العيون

وزَوْرٍ أتاني وكلُّ العيون

من النّومِ في شُغُلٍ شاغِلِ

من النّومِ في شُغُلٍ شاغِلِ

And a visitor came to me while every eye

And lies came to me while all eyes

Was wholly engrossed in sleep.

Were busy sleeping and preoccupied.

وكم بيننا حائلٌ هائلٌ

وكم بيننا حائلٌ هائلٌ

وأوْهَمَ أنْ ليس من جائلِ

وأوْهَمَ أنْ ليس من جائلِ

How many fearsome barriers stood between us!

And how much stands between us formidable,

And it made it seem that no one was moving about.

And imagined there is no obstructer.

ولولا لذاذةُ ذاك الغُرو

ولولا لذاذةُ ذاك الغُرو

رِ ما كان في الطّيف من طائلِ

رِ ما كان في الطّيف من طائلِ

And but for the sweetness of that deception,

And were it not for the sweetness of his presence

There would be no benefit in the dream-phantom.

There would be no purpose in the apparition.

وما ضرّ أنْ فاتني آجلاً

وما ضرّ أنْ فاتني آجلاً

وقد مسّني النّفعُ في العاجلِ

وقد مسّني النّفعُ في العاجلِ

It does no harm that it eludes me later,

And there is no harm if death misses me

When benefit has already touched me in the present.

And benefit has touched me for now.

ولا نُكْرَ في الحقّ إنْ لم أنله

ولا نُكْرَ في الحقّ إنْ لم أنله

إذا جاء نفعِيَ من باطِلِ

إذا جاء نفعِيَ من باطِلِ

Nor, in truth, is there shame if I do not attain it,

And there is no denial of truth if I do not attain it

When my benefit comes from an illusion.

If my benefit comes from falsehood.

أقول لركبٍ على أينُقٍ

أقول لركبٍ على أينُقٍ

سِراعٍ كذئبِ الغضا العاسلِ

سِراعٍ كذئبِ الغضا العاسلِ

I say to riders upon she-camels,

I say to riders on easy on the run

Swift as the loping wolf of the ghada thickets:

Wolves of wrath unleashed:

وقد أكل السّيرُ أوصالَها

وقد أكل السّيرُ أوصالَها

وأيْنُ السُّرى خير ما آكلِ

وأيْنُ السُّرى خير ما آكلِ

Travel has eaten away their joints,

Travel has worn out their bodies

And night-travel's weariness is the best devourer.

Where are the riders, stillness is best.

فما شئتَ من تامكٍ ناحلٍ

فما شئتَ من تامكٍ ناحلٍ

وما شئتَ من ضيّقٍ حائلِ

وما شئتَ من ضيّقٍ حائلِ

As many lofty-humped, lean ones as you wish,

Whatever matured fruitful you want

And as many narrow-flanked, unpregnant ones as you wish.

Or tight constraint you want.

أَلا فاِعدِلوا بي بتلك المنى

أَلا فاِعدِلوا بي بتلك المنى

إلى عَقْوَةِ الأوحدِ العادلِ

إلى عَقْوَةِ الأوحدِ العادلِ

Ah, turn aside with me, bearing those hopes,

Come, be just with me in those wishes

To the forecourt of the peerless, just man.

To the lodging of the unique just one.

دعوا قائلاً غيرَ ما فاعلٍ

دعوا قائلاً غيرَ ما فاعلٍ

وعوجوا على القائل الفاعلِ

وعوجوا على القائل الفاعلِ

Leave the man who talks but does not act,

Letting others say unlike the doer

And turn toward the man who speaks and acts.

And deviate from the speaking doer.

إلى صائلٍ لم تَطُفْ مرّةً

إلى صائلٍ لم تَطُفْ مرّةً

عليه صِقالاً يدا صاقِلِ

عليه صِقالاً يدا صاقِلِ

Toward a fierce assailant over whom never once

To one who never once

A polisher's two hands have passed to give him polish.

Had armor polished by a polishing hand.

فتىً يُعمِلُ السّيفَ يوم الهياج

فتىً يُعمِلُ السّيفَ يوم الهياج

ويَتَّركُ الجُبنَ للنّابلِ

ويَتَّركُ الجُبنَ للنّابلِ

A young man who wields the sword on the day of battle's fury,

A young man who wields the sword on days of defiance

And leaves cowardice to the archer.

And leaves cowardice to the archers.

وما كان يوماً وقد مسّه الل

وما كان يوماً وقد مسّه الل

لغوبُ من الجِدِّ بالهازِلِ

لغوبُ من الجِدِّ بالهازِلِ

And never, even when overtaken by

And he was never a day touched

Weariness from earnest effort, was he a trifler.

By folly in seriousness or jest.

فللّه دَرُّكَ من زائدٍ

فللّه دَرُّكَ من زائدٍ

عطاءً على أملِ الآملِ

عطاءً على أملِ الآملِ

God bless you, for exceeding

So Allah bless you - of surplus

In gifts the hopes of those who hope!

Giving beyond the hopeful's hope.

ومن مُلحِقٍ بالجبان الشّجا

ومن مُلحِقٍ بالجبان الشّجا

ع فضلاً وذا الجود بالباخلِ

ع فضلاً وذا الجود بالباخلِ

And for ranking the brave with the coward,

And joining the coward and the valiant

By your surpassing excellence, and the generous with the miser.

In merit when the generous is stingy.

ويوم يُسقّي الرّدى حاضريه

ويوم يُسقّي الرّدى حاضريه

بلا وارشٍ وبلا واغلِ

بلا وارشٍ وبلا واغلِ

And on a day that served death to those present,

And a day when destiny gives its assemblers

Without an uninvited diner or an unbidden drinker,

Without exemption or delay.

شهدتَ فكنتَ مكانَ العَفار

شهدتَ فكنتَ مكانَ العَفار

وللرّمح في موضعِ العاملِ

وللرّمح في موضعِ العاملِ

You attended, taking the place of the fire-kindling ʿafār wood,

You witnessed and were in place of the watchman

And, for the spear, occupying its striking end.

With the spear in the worker's place.

وإنّي لأعشق منك الكمال

وإنّي لأعشق منك الكمال

فلم أر قبلك من كاملِ

فلم أر قبلك من كاملِ

I indeed love the perfection in you,

And I love perfection in you

For before you I saw no perfect man.

For I never saw one complete before you.

وآسى على زمنٍ مرّ بِي

وآسى على زمنٍ مرّ بِي

وما لِيَ مثلك من كافلِ

وما لِيَ مثلك من كافلِ

And I grieve over a time that passed over me,

And I grieve over a time that passed me

When I had no patron like you.

With none like you to support me.

لدى معشرٍ أَنَا ما بينهمْ

لدى معشرٍ أَنَا ما بينهمْ

بلا منزلٍ منهمُ آهلِ

بلا منزلٍ منهمُ آهلِ

Among a people, there I was in their midst,

I am amidst a people

With no inhabited home for me among them.

With no place among them inhabited.

فدُرُّ قريضي بلا ناظمٍ

فدُرُّ قريضي بلا ناظمٍ

وغرُّ مقالي بلا قائلِ

وغرُّ مقالي بلا قائلِ

So the pearls of my poetry were without a stringer,

So spread my poetry without a composer

And my radiant utterances without a speaker.

And spread my saying without a sayer.

وحَليُ كلامي وما اِستَأصلوه

وحَليُ كلامي وما اِستَأصلوه

مَدَى الدّهر منهم على عاطلِ

مَدَى الدّهر منهم على عاطلِ

And the ornaments of my speech—which they have not exhausted

My adornment is my speech though they eradicated it

Through all time—lie upon an unadorned man among them.

Throughout time from them in futility.

ولولا مكانك كان الملوك

ولولا مكانك كان الملوك

بلا عضدٍ وبلا كاهلِ

بلا عضدٍ وبلا كاهلِ

And were it not for your presence, kings would be

And were it not for your position

Without an arm and without a shoulder,

Kings would be without pillar or shoulder.

ولا دافعٍ شرَّ ما حاذروه

ولا دافعٍ شرَّ ما حاذروه

ولا ناهضٍ لهم حاملِ

ولا ناهضٍ لهم حاملِ

With none to repel the evil they feared,

No driver away of harm they apprehended

And none to rise and bear their burdens.

Nor lifter for them carrying.

وكم ذا أعدتَ لهمْ مُلكَهمْ

وكم ذا أعدتَ لهمْ مُلكَهمْ

وقد صار في كُفّةِ الحابلِ

وقد صار في كُفّةِ الحابلِ

How often you restored their kingdom to them,

And how much you established their kingdom

When it had fallen into the trapper's snare!

When it was in the grip of one usurping.

فأضحى على ثابتٍ راسخٍ

فأضحى على ثابتٍ راسخٍ

وقد كان في هائرٍ مائلِ

وقد كان في هائرٍ مائلِ

So it came to rest on a firm, steadfast foundation,

So it stood on firm footing

Though it had stood on something crumbling and leaning.

When it was tilting and leaning.

وقد جرّبوا منك ما جرّبوه

وقد جرّبوا منك ما جرّبوه

غَداةَ المنى في يد الباسلِ

غَداةَ المنى في يد الباسلِ

And they experienced from you what they experienced

And they tested you with what they tested

On the morning when hopes lay in the valiant man's hand.

The morning of purpose in the hand of the hero.

وخالوك جهلاً كمن يعهدون

وخالوك جهلاً كمن يعهدون

وَكَم غُرّ ذو الحزمِ بالجاهلِ

وَكَم غُرّ ذو الحزمِ بالجاهلِ

In ignorance they thought you like those they knew,

And they reckoned you ignorantly like those they entrust

And how often the discerning are deceived by the ignorant!

While many gallant were deluded by the ignorant.

ولمّا طلعتَ ولم يشعروا

ولمّا طلعتَ ولم يشعروا

فأيقَظَهمْ من كرى الغافلِ

فأيقَظَهمْ من كرى الغافلِ

And when you appeared, before they were aware,

And when you rose and they were unaware

Your appearance awakened them from heedless slumber.

One heedless awoke them from heavy slumber,

أطاعَ لك الصّعبُ بعد الجِماح

أطاعَ لك الصّعبُ بعد الجِماح

وبان لنا الحقّ من باطلِ

وبان لنا الحقّ من باطلِ

The unruly obeyed you after its bolting,

The stubborn yielded to you after defiance

And truth became distinct to us from falsehood.

And the truth from falsehood was clear to us.

وإنّ خُراسانَ زَلْزَلتَها

وإنّ خُراسانَ زَلْزَلتَها

وما لَكَ من رُكُنٍ زائلِ

وما لَكَ من رُكُنٍ زائلِ

And indeed you shook Khurasan,

You shook Khurasan

While none of your own pillars shifts.

With no pillar for you collapsing.

وساروا إليك كأُسْدِ الصَّريم

وساروا إليك كأُسْدِ الصَّريم

فطاروا مع النَّعَمِ الجافلِ

فطاروا مع النَّعَمِ الجافلِ

They advanced toward you like lions of the thicket,

And they marched to you like charging lions

Then fled with the startled livestock.

So they fled with scattered cattle.

وأضحى كثيرهُمُ كالقليل

وأضحى كثيرهُمُ كالقليل

وناصرهْم منك كالخاذلِ

وناصرهْم منك كالخاذلِ

Their multitude became like the few,

And many of them became like the few

And their supporter, before you, was like a deserter.

With your supporters like the abandoners.

وأسمَعتَنا أنّةَ المُعْوِلات

وأسمَعتَنا أنّةَ المُعْوِلات

على القوم أو رنّةَ الثّاكلِ

على القوم أو رنّةَ الثّاكلِ

You made us hear the wailing of lamenting women

You made us hear the wailing of resolutions

Over the people, or the cry of the bereaved.

Upon the people or the whimpering of one recoiling.

وأشبعتَ منهمْ سِغابَ السُّيوف

وأشبعتَ منهمْ سِغابَ السُّيوف

وروّيتَ منهمْ صَدَى الذّابلِ

وروّيتَ منهمْ صَدَى الذّابلِ

You fed the hungry swords upon them,

You satiated from them the thirst of swords

And quenched upon them the slender spear's thirst.

And watered from them the echo of those wasting away.

ولمّا رأوا صَهَوات الجياد

ولمّا رأوا صَهَوات الجياد

عَليهنّ كلُّ فتىً باسلِ

عَليهنّ كلُّ فتىً باسلِ

And when they saw the backs of the steeds,

And when they saw the neighing of the steeds

Upon each a valiant young man,

Every young man boldly assailing them.

رمتْ كلَّ سيفٍ ورمحٍ بها

رمتْ كلَّ سيفٍ ورمحٍ بها

على الرّغمِ منها يدُ الحامِلِ

على الرّغمِ منها يدُ الحامِلِ

Every sword and spear was flung away there,

Every sword and spear cast at them

By its bearer's hand, against its will.

Despite them the hand of the caster.

فلم تَرَ غيرَ قتيلٍ هوى

فلم تَرَ غيرَ قتيلٍ هوى

تَدَوَّسُهُ الخيلُ أو قاتلِ

تَدَوَّسُهُ الخيلُ أو قاتلِ

You saw only a slain man who had fallen,

You did not see but a slain corpse

Trampled by horses, or a slayer.

Trampled by horses or a killer.

وولَّوا وفارسهمْ في الممات

وولَّوا وفارسهمْ في الممات

بحدِّ سيوفك كالرّاجلِ

بحدِّ سيوفك كالرّاجلِ

They turned and fled, their horsemen facing death

And they retreated, their horsemen in death

By your sword-edges just like men on foot.

By the edge of your swords like infantry.

وظنّوا نكولَك لمّا دعوك

وظنّوا نكولَك لمّا دعوك

وحاشاك من خُلُقِ النّاكلِ

وحاشاك من خُلُقِ النّاكلِ

They imagined you would shrink back when they challenged you,

And they thought you reneged when they called you

But far are you from the character of one who shirks.

While you are far from the trait of one failing.

وليس الشّجاعةُ هتكَ الوري

وليس الشّجاعةُ هتكَ الوري

د طعناً ولا ضربةَ القابلِ

د طعناً ولا ضربةَ القابلِ

Courage is not tearing open the jugular vein

And courage is not violating the veil with a stab

With a thrust, nor striking an opponent.

Or the blow of a receivable.

ولكنَّها باِمتِطاء الصّوا

ولكنَّها باِمتِطاء الصّوا

ب والحزم في الموقفِ الهائلِ

ب والحزم في الموقفِ الهائلِ

Rather it lies in riding the right course,

Rather it is enduring harm

And in resolve at a fearsome crisis.

And resolve in the formidable stance.

فلا تَلُمِ النَّاسَ في شوقهمْ

فلا تَلُمِ النَّاسَ في شوقهمْ

إِلى غيثك المسبِلِ الهاطلِ

إِلى غيثك المسبِلِ الهاطلِ

So do not reproach people for their yearning

So do not blame the people for their longing

For your rain, streaming and pouring down.

For your pouring rain unleashing.

ولِمْ لا يَحِنّ إلى المخصبا

ولِمْ لا يَحِنّ إلى المخصبا

ت مَن كان في البلد الماحِلِ

ت مَن كان في البلد الماحِلِ

And why should he not yearn for fertile lands,

Why shouldn't one yearn for the fertilizers

Who has lived in a barren land?

Who was in the barren, desolate land?

فإن كنتَ قد غبتَ عن بابلٍ

فإن كنتَ قد غبتَ عن بابلٍ

فذكرُك ما غاب عن بابِلِ

فذكرُك ما غاب عن بابِلِ

For if you have been absent from Babylon,

For if you were absent from Babylon

Your remembrance has not been absent from Babylon.

Your memory did not absent from Babylon.

ومثلُ مثولك بين الرّجال

ومثلُ مثولك بين الرّجال

ثناؤك في المجلس الحافلِ

ثناؤك في المجلس الحافلِ

The equal of your presence among men

And your arrival amongst men

Is the praise of you in a crowded assembly.

Is like your praise in the bustling assembly.

وما زلتَ تمطلنا باللّقا

وما زلتَ تمطلنا باللّقا

ءِ للحزم عاماً إلى قابلِ

ءِ للحزم عاماً إلى قابلِ

You have kept putting off our meeting,

You still keep us waiting for the meeting

Out of prudence, from one year to the next.

For resolve - a year to another.

ومَن كان إرجاؤه باللّقا

ومَن كان إرجاؤه باللّقا

ءِ مصلحةً ليس بالماطلِ

ءِ مصلحةً ليس بالماطلِ

And one whose postponement of a meeting

And whoever's postponement of the meeting

Serves a good purpose is no procrastinator.

Is an interest - he is no procrastinator.

فقولِي لقومِيَ إنّي اِعتصمت

فقولِي لقومِيَ إنّي اِعتصمت

بعرِّيسَةِ الأسدِ الصّائلِ

بعرِّيسَةِ الأسدِ الصّائلِ

So tell my people: I have sought protection

So say to my people I hold fast

In the lair of the attacking lion.

To the saddlebow of the pouncing lion.

فلا مُفزِعٌ أبداً مُفزِعي

فلا مُفزِعٌ أبداً مُفزِعي

ولا هائلٌ أبداً هائلي

ولا هائلٌ أبداً هائلي

No frightener will ever frighten me,

No startler can ever startle me

And no terror will ever terrify me.

Nor can any frightener frighten me.

ولا مثل عزّي به لاِمرئٍ

ولا مثل عزّي به لاِمرئٍ

ولا لِكُلَيْبِ بني وائلِ

ولا لِكُلَيْبِ بني وائلِ

No man has honor like mine through him,

And none has glory like my glory

Not even Kulayb of the sons of Wa'il.

Not Ka'b bin Wail's progeny.

وكيف أخاف وأنتَ الخَفير

وكيف أخاف وأنتَ الخَفير

لداري ورحلِيَ من غائِلِ

لداري ورحلِيَ من غائِلِ

How can I fear when you are the protector

How can I fear and you are the guard

Of my home and baggage against any assailant?

Of my abode and merchandise from marauders?

أَلا فاِحبُنِي بدوام الصّفاء

أَلا فاِحبُنِي بدوام الصّفاء

فحسبِيَ ذلك من نائلِ

فحسبِيَ ذلك من نائلِ

Ah, then favor me with lasting goodwill,

Come, love me with lasting sincerity

For that is gift enough for me.

For that suffices me from attainer.

وَقَد حُزتَ منّي جميع القبول

وَقَد حُزتَ منّي جميع القبول

وأرجوك أنّك لي قابلي

وأرجوك أنّك لي قابلي

You have won all my acceptance,

And you have already won all acceptance from me

And I hope that you will accept me.

And I hope you are responding to me.

وإنّي لأرضى بأنْ كنتَ بِي

وإنّي لأرضى بأنْ كنتَ بِي

عليماً وكلُّ الورى جاهلي

عليماً وكلُّ الورى جاهلي

I am indeed content that, concerning me, you are

I am pleased that you were knowing of me

Well informed, while all mankind knows me not.

While all the world is ignorant of me.

وَما أنْ أُبالي جفاءً لهمْ

وَما أنْ أُبالي جفاءً لهمْ

إذا كنت وحدَك لي واصلي

إذا كنت وحدَك لي واصلي

I care nothing for their estrangement,

And I do not care about their aloofness

If you alone maintain your bond with me.

If you alone are loyal to me.

ولمّا جلعتك لِي مَوْئِلاً

ولمّا جلعتك لِي مَوْئِلاً

دعاني الورى خيرَ ما وائلِ

دعاني الورى خيرَ ما وائلِ

And when I made you my refuge,

And when I made you a refuge for me

Mankind called me the best of refuge-seekers.

The world called me best of the loyal.

فأسندتُ ظهري إلى يَذْبُلٍ

فأسندتُ ظهري إلى يَذْبُلٍ

وألقيتُ ثِقْلي على بازِلِ

وألقيتُ ثِقْلي على بازِلِ

So I braced my back against Yadhbul,

So I leaned my back on withering

And cast my burden upon a full-grown camel.

And rested my burden on decaying.

وإنّي مقيمٌ وإن أجدبتْ

وإنّي مقيمٌ وإن أجدبتْ

بلادي عَلى الرّجل الفاضلِ

بلادي عَلى الرّجل الفاضلِ

And I remain, even if drought should afflict

I will remain though my lands are barren

My country, beside the virtuous man.

Upon the outstanding man.

ولستُ بغير الطّوالِ الخُطا

ولستُ بغير الطّوالِ الخُطا

إلى الفخر في النّاس بالحافلِ

إلى الفخر في النّاس بالحافلِ

I pay heed to none but those with long strides

And I am not of the tall in pride

Toward glory among mankind.

Boasting among people in the assembly.

ولا مِن حياض الأذى والصَّدى

ولا مِن حياض الأذى والصَّدى

يُزعزعني قطُّ بالنّاهلِ

يُزعزعني قطُّ بالنّاهلِ

Nor from pools of harm, though thirst

Nor of those who censure and prevent

Shakes me, will I ever drink.

Shaking me ever with the scooper.

وَليسَ الفتى للّذي سار عن

وَليسَ الفتى للّذي سار عن

ه من دَنَسِ العِرْضِ بالغاسلِ

ه من دَنَسِ العِرْضِ بالغاسلِ

And a man cannot wash away what has spread about

And the young man is not one who walked away

Him as a stain upon his honor.

From the filth of honor by the washer.

فخذها ومِن بعدها مثلَها

فخذها ومِن بعدها مثلَها

فكمْ ذا تُنبّه من غافلِ

فكمْ ذا تُنبّه من غافلِ

So take it, and after it another like it:

Take it and after it the like of it

How many heedless souls it awakens!

So how you awaken the heedless!

مقالاً يبرّح بالقائلين

مقالاً يبرّح بالقائلين

وقد جاء عفواً من القائلِ

وقد جاء عفواً من القائلِ

An utterance that sorely taxes other poets,

Words making the speakers depart

Yet came spontaneously from its speaker.

Coming forgivingly from the sayer.

ولَم أكُ قبل اِمتداحي علا

ولَم أكُ قبل اِمتداحي علا

ك إلّا كبُرْدٍ بلا رافلِ

ك إلّا كبُرْدٍ بلا رافلِ

Before I praised your eminence, I was

And I was not before praising you

Only a fine cloak without a proud wearer.

But a moth without fluttering.

فهبْ لِيَ ما فات من زلّةٍ

فهبْ لِيَ ما فات من زلّةٍ

فما زلتَ تصفح عن واهلِ

فما زلتَ تصفح عن واهلِ

So forgive me any past slip,

So grant me what is past of stumbling

For you have always pardoned the erring.

You still overlook the erring.

وفي الشّعر إمّا خمولُ النّبيه

وفي الشّعر إمّا خمولُ النّبيه

وإمّا التَّنابُلُ للخاملِ

وإمّا التَّنابُلُ للخاملِ

In poetry there is either obscurity for the distinguished,

And in poetry either the genius's indifference

Or distinction for the obscure.

Or the fraud of the pretentious.

وما كلُّ مَن قرعتْ كفُّهُ

وما كلُّ مَن قرعتْ كفُّهُ

لأبوابه فيه بالدّاخلِ

لأبوابه فيه بالدّاخلِ

Not everyone whose hand has knocked

Not everyone whose palm knocks

At its doors is admitted within.

Its doors is one entering.

فلا زال نجمُك نجمُ السّعو

فلا زال نجمُك نجمُ السّعو

دِ غيرَ الخفيِّ ولا الآفلِ

دِ غيرَ الخفيِّ ولا الآفلِ

May your star remain a star of good fortune,

So your star remains the star of felicity

Neither hidden nor setting.

Not the hidden nor the setting.

وبُقّيتَ مشتملاً بالثَّواء

وبُقّيتَ مشتملاً بالثَّواء

بغير رحيلٍ مع الرّاحلِ

بغير رحيلٍ مع الرّاحلِ

And may you be preserved, enfolded in abiding here,

And you remained covered in glory

Without departing with those who depart.

Without departing with the departing.