أَتمضي كَذا أيدي الرّدى بالمصاعبِ

أَتمضي كَذا أيدي الرّدى بالمصاعبِ

وَتذهب عنّا بالذُرى والغواربِ

وَتذهب عنّا بالذُرى والغواربِ

Do death's hands thus carry off the untamable,

Do the hands of fate continue to afflict us with trials,

and take from us the summits and high crests?

And take away our homes and departing camels?

وتُستَلبُ الآسادُ وهْيَ مُلِظَّةٌ

وتُستَلبُ الآسادُ وهْيَ مُلِظَّةٌ

بأخياسهنّ من أعزّ المسالبِ

بأخياسهنّ من أعزّ المسالبِ

And are lions snatched away, though they cling

The lions are captured while fiercely roaring,

to their thickets, among the hardest spoils to seize?

Taken from us forcibly without the guard's consent.

وتُوخذ منّا من وراء سُجوفنا

وتُوخذ منّا من وراء سُجوفنا

بلا رأيِ بوّابٍ ولا إذْنِ حاجِبِ

بلا رأيِ بوّابٍ ولا إذْنِ حاجِبِ

And are they taken from us from behind our curtains,

The soul of every defiant, bold warrior is hunted in us,

without a gatekeeper's assent or a chamberlain's leave?

Even if he is not a warrior.

وتُقنص فينا روحُ كلّ محاربٍ

وتُقنص فينا روحُ كلّ محاربٍ

أبيٍّ جرِيءٍ وهو غير محاربِ

أبيٍّ جرِيءٍ وهو غير محاربِ

And is every warrior's soul hunted down among us,

O my friend, if you are in pursuit of those who passed away,

defiant and bold, though he is not fighting?

In conditions like mine, then you are my companion.

أَيا صاحَبي إِنْ كنتَ في إثْرِ من مَضى

أَيا صاحَبي إِنْ كنتَ في إثْرِ من مَضى

على مثل حالاتِي فإنّك صاحبي

على مثل حالاتِي فإنّك صاحبي

O my companion, if you are, in the wake of those who have gone,

Abandon all thoughts except those in the dovecote, and do not stand

in circumstances like mine, then you are my companion.

With greed in the house of illusory doubts.

دَعِ الفكرَ إلّا في الحِمامِ ولا تُقِمْ

دَعِ الفكرَ إلّا في الحِمامِ ولا تُقِمْ

مع الحرصِ في دار الظّنونِ الكواذبِ

مع الحرصِ في دار الظّنونِ الكواذبِ

Abandon thought, except of death, and do not dwell

And if you are one day rationalizing to my hearing,

with grasping desire in the abode of false expectations.

Then tell me the story of misfortunes.

وإنْ كنتَ يوماً بالحديثِ مُعلِّلاً

وإنْ كنتَ يوماً بالحديثِ مُعلِّلاً

لسمعِي فحدّثني حديثَ النّوائِبِ

لسمعِي فحدّثني حديثَ النّوائِبِ

And if someday you would soothe with speech

I am preoccupied with those who stayed with the departed,

my ears, then tell me tales of calamities.

And with fantasies that fascinated us with wonders.

فلي شُغلٌ عمّنْ أقامَ بمنْ مَضى

فلي شُغلٌ عمّنْ أقامَ بمنْ مَضى

وعن معجباتٍ رُقْنَنَا بالعجائبِ

وعن معجباتٍ رُقْنَنَا بالعجائبِ

For those who have gone keep me from those who remain,

A companion to the sword of religion whose words blazed,

and from wondrous things that charmed us with marvels.

And did not come near nonsense or confusion.

وناعٍ لسيف الدّين أضرم قولُه

وناعٍ لسيف الدّين أضرم قولُه

ولم يدنُ ما بين الحشا والتّرائبِ

ولم يدنُ ما بين الحشا والتّرائبِ

And a herald of Sayf al-Din's death—his words set aflame,

He came with honesty, though I suspected him

though he came nowhere near, all between my vitals and breastbones.

Deceiving myself - indeed his words were of a liar.

وجاء بصدقٍ غير أنّي إخالُهُ

وجاء بصدقٍ غير أنّي إخالُهُ

خِداعاً لنفسي إنّه قولُ كاذبِ

خِداعاً لنفسي إنّه قولُ كاذبِ

And he brought the truth, yet I imagine it—

So he deprived me of the joys of life, and drew me

in self-deception—to be a liar's words.

To the side of sorrows, from every side.

فأثْكَلنِي طيبَ الحياةِ وضمّنِي

فأثْكَلنِي طيبَ الحياةِ وضمّنِي

إلى جانبِ الأحزانِ من كلّ جانِبِ

إلى جانبِ الأحزانِ من كلّ جانِبِ

So he bereft me of life's sweetness and pressed me

Oh, what an affliction that saddened me,

to the side of sorrows from every side.

And introduced me to troubles.

فيا لكَ من رُزءٍ أزارَنِيَ الأسى

فيا لكَ من رُزءٍ أزارَنِيَ الأسى

وَعرّف ما بيني وبين المصائبِ

وَعرّف ما بيني وبين المصائبِ

Ah, what a loss that brought sorrow to visit me

Were it not for him, I would not have closed my eyelids to motes,

and revealed what lies between me and calamities!

Nor would my cheek inclined to flowing tears.

وَلَولاه لَم أغضِ الجفونَ على قذىً

وَلَولاه لَم أغضِ الجفونَ على قذىً

وَلا لانَ للوجدِ المبرّحِ جانِبي

وَلا لانَ للوجدِ المبرّحِ جانِبي

But for it, I would not have closed my eyelids over grit,

I am led to grief from every direction,

nor would my side have yielded to tormenting grief.

As if I am submissive in the palms of aggressors.

أُساقُ إلى الأحزانِ من كلِّ وُجْهَةٍ

أُساقُ إلى الأحزانِ من كلِّ وُجْهَةٍ

كَأنّي ذَلولٌ في أكفِّ الجواذِبِ

كَأنّي ذَلولٌ في أكفِّ الجواذِبِ

I am driven toward sorrows from every direction,

So there is no appetizing food for one who tastes,

as though I were a docile beast in the hands of those who drag it.

Nor a drink that delights the drinker among us.

فلا مَطعمٌ فينا يطيبُ لطاعمٍ

فلا مَطعمٌ فينا يطيبُ لطاعمٍ

ولا مشربٌ منّا يَلَذّ لشاربِ

ولا مشربٌ منّا يَلَذّ لشاربِ

So no food among us tastes good to an eater,

Tell the Indian swords after his loss:

nor any drink of ours delights a drinker.

You have reached your limit in striking the striker.

فَقُل لِسيوفِ الهندِ من بعد فقدِهِ

فَقُل لِسيوفِ الهندِ من بعد فقدِهِ

تناهَيْنَ ما فيكنّ ضربٌ لضاربِ

تناهَيْنَ ما فيكنّ ضربٌ لضاربِ

So tell the swords of India, after his loss:

And tell the tall in status to be firm, for he who

Desist: there is no stroke in you for a striker.

Guided you is gone, not returning disappointed.

وَقلْ لِطوالِ الخَطِّ يُركَزْن فالّذي

وَقلْ لِطوالِ الخَطِّ يُركَزْن فالّذي

سَقَتْكُنَّ يمناهُ مضى غيرَ آئبِ

سَقَتْكُنَّ يمناهُ مضى غيرَ آئبِ

And say of al-Khatt's long spears: let them be planted; for he

And tell the steeds of battle, after he who held their reins left,

whose right hand gave you drink has departed, never to return.

You are no longer worthy of carrying a rider.

وَقُل لِجيادِ القُودِ لَستنَّ بعد ما

وَقُل لِجيادِ القُودِ لَستنَّ بعد ما

تولّى جديراتٍ بركبةِ راكبِ

تولّى جديراتٍ بركبةِ راكبِ

And tell the fine long-necked steeds: you are not, now that

And tell those raiders who were accustomed

he has departed, fit for a rider to mount.

To the crowds of sublime deeds in the hearts of battalions:

وَقُل لِلمُغيرين الّذين تعوّدوا

وَقُل لِلمُغيرين الّذين تعوّدوا

زِحامَ العوالي في صدور الكتائبِ

زِحامَ العوالي في صدور الكتائبِ

And tell the raiders who were accustomed

Leave what you have become accustomed to of clanging, for the leader of your plunging attacks is gone,

to the crush of lances at the fronts of battalions:

By the decree of fate among you all.

دعوا ما ألِفْتُمْ من قِراعٍ فقد مضى

دعوا ما ألِفْتُمْ من قِراعٍ فقد مضى

بحكمِ الرّدى منكم قريعُ المقانِبِ

بحكمِ الرّدى منكم قريعُ المقانِبِ

Leave the clash of arms you knew; for he has passed,

And tell the secretive ones aspiring for wealth:

by death's decree—your champion of the cavalry troops.

They will never be between one who walks and one who rides.

وَقُل للسّراة النازعين إلى الغِنى

وَقُل للسّراة النازعين إلى الغِنى

فهمْ أبداً ما بين سارٍ وساربِ

فهمْ أبداً ما بين سارٍ وساربِ

And tell the nobles seeking wealth—

No fire will be lit for the villages,

for they are always either traveling by night or abroad by day—

Nor an opened feast with gifts.

أقيموا فلا نارٌ تَوَقَّدُ للقِرى

أقيموا فلا نارٌ تَوَقَّدُ للقِرى

ولا راحةٌ مفجورةٌ بالمواهبِ

ولا راحةٌ مفجورةٌ بالمواهبِ

Stay where you are: no fire is kindled for hospitality,

A young man whose generosity and nobility have abandoned him,

nor is there a palm gushing with gifts.

And when his fortune ended, the bags of virtue emptied.

فتىً أوحشتْ منه المكارم والعُلا

فتىً أوحشتْ منه المكارم والعُلا

ولمّا قضى عُطّتْ جيوبُ المناقبِ

ولمّا قضى عُطّتْ جيوبُ المناقبِ

A gallant whose loss left noble deeds and lofty honor desolate;

And how many days have its misfortunes stung you

and when he died, the collars of virtues were rent.

With the thorns of sublime deeds, not the thorns of scorpions!

وَكَم لكَ مِن يومٍ لدغت كُماتَه

وَكَم لكَ مِن يومٍ لدغت كُماتَه

بِشَوكِ العوالي لا بشوك العقاربِ

بِشَوكِ العوالي لا بشوك العقاربِ

And how many a battle-day was yours, when you stung its armored warriors

You roamed the night until you possessed it

with the thorns of lances, not the thorns of scorpions!

Against creatures of difficulties, obstinate adversaries.

وحيٍّ خبطتَ اللّيلَ حتى ملكتَهُ

وحيٍّ خبطتَ اللّيلَ حتى ملكتَهُ

على آلفاتٍ للصّعاب شَوازبِ

على آلفاتٍ للصّعاب شَوازبِ

And many a tribe—you felt your way through the night until you subdued it,

You see them biting the dignity as if

upon lean steeds accustomed to hardships.

They wore the knitting of sarcasm and the red gowns.

تراهُنّ يقضمنَ الشّكيمَ كأنّما

تراهُنّ يقضمنَ الشّكيمَ كأنّما

لَبِسنَ بنسجِ الطَّعنِ حُمْرَ الجلابِبِ

لَبِسنَ بنسجِ الطَّعنِ حُمْرَ الجلابِبِ

You see them champing their bits, as though

And around you are scouts on every path

they wore red cloaks woven of spear-thrusts.

To glory, imagining the supervision of guards.

وَحَولك طلّاعونَ كلَّ ثنيّةٍ

وَحَولك طلّاعونَ كلَّ ثنيّةٍ

إِلى المَجدِ حلّالونَ شُمَّ المراقِبِ

إِلى المَجدِ حلّالونَ شُمَّ المراقِبِ

And around you are climbers of every mountain pass

When determined, they do not retract from resolve,

toward glory, dwellers on lofty lookout heights.

And if they advance, they do not look at consequences.

إِذا عَزموا لم يَرجِعوا من عزيمةٍ

إِذا عَزموا لم يَرجِعوا من عزيمةٍ

وإنْ أقدموا لم ينظروا في العواقِبِ

وإنْ أقدموا لم ينظروا في العواقِبِ

When they resolve, they do not retreat from their resolve,

The loss of a true friend is hard, so how can I endure,

and if they advance, they do not consider the consequences.

When I have lost a friend among my closest relatives?

وَفقدُ الصَّديقِ المَحض صَعْبٌ فَكيفَ بي

وَفقدُ الصَّديقِ المَحض صَعْبٌ فَكيفَ بي

وفقدي صديقاً من أجلّ أقاربي

وفقدي صديقاً من أجلّ أقاربي

Losing a true friend is hard; then what of me,

It pains me that I left you alone

when I have lost a friend, one of my noblest kinsmen?

On a path between youth and old age.

وَيُؤلِمني أنّي تركتكَ مفرداً

وَيُؤلِمني أنّي تركتكَ مفرداً

بمَدْرَجةٍ بين الصَّبا والجنائبِ

بمَدْرَجةٍ بين الصَّبا والجنائبِ

And it pains me that I left you alone

On it the command of fate is obeyed among a people

on a path between the east wind and the south winds,

Who refused to obey a conqueror after a conqueror.

يُطاع بها أمرُ البِلى في معاشرٍ

يُطاع بها أمرُ البِلى في معاشرٍ

أبَوْا أن يطيعوا غالباً بعد غالبِ

أبَوْا أن يطيعوا غالباً بعد غالبِ

where decay's command is obeyed among men

And none among them reached a position

who refused to obey conqueror after conqueror.

That rose and towered over all these positions.

وَما منهُمُ إِلّا الّذي نال رتبةً

وَما منهُمُ إِلّا الّذي نال رتبةً

سَمتْ وعلتْ عن كلّ هذي المراتِبِ

سَمتْ وعلتْ عن كلّ هذي المراتِبِ

And not one of them but attained a rank

If they are shrouded in a cave of their graves,

that soared and rose above all these ranks.

Then they shone a lifetime dispelling the darkness of the pitfalls.

فإنْ يُكسَفوا في غَيْهَبٍ من قبورهْم

فإنْ يُكسَفوا في غَيْهَبٍ من قبورهْم

فَقَد ضوّؤوا دهراً ظلام الغياهبِ

فَقَد ضوّؤوا دهراً ظلام الغياهبِ

If they are eclipsed in the blackness of their graves,

And if their palms are detained from gifts,

they long lit the darkness of the deepest shadows.

Then they stretched lifetimes receiving wishes.

وإنْ قُبضتْ منهمْ أكفٌّ عن النّدى

وإنْ قُبضتْ منهمْ أكفٌّ عن النّدى

فقد بُسطتْ دهراً لهمْ بالرّغائبِ

فقد بُسطتْ دهراً لهمْ بالرّغائبِ

And if their hands have been withdrawn from generosity,

And if they crouched in the dust willingly,

those hands of theirs were long outstretched with prized gifts.

Then how many glorious processions they dragged among us!

وإنْ جَثَموا بالتُّربِ طوعَ حِمامِهمْ

وإنْ جَثَموا بالتُّربِ طوعَ حِمامِهمْ

فكم جرّروا فينا ذيولَ المواكِبِ

فكم جرّروا فينا ذيولَ المواكِبِ

And if they crouch in the dust, yielding to their death,

Do not give me to drink the tears of my eyes after him,

how often they trailed among us the trains of cavalcades!

And do not let me hear anything but the voice of mourning.

ألا سقّياني دمعَ عينِيَ بعدَه

ألا سقّياني دمعَ عينِيَ بعدَه

ولا تُسمعاني غيرَ صوتِ النّوادبِ

ولا تُسمعاني غيرَ صوتِ النّوادبِ

Ah, you two, give me my eye's tears to drink after him,

May God water what you have become of dust

and let me hear nothing but the sound of women wailing.

With the pure rain from the pure clouds.

سَقى اللَّهُ ما أصبحتَ فيه من الثَّرى

سَقى اللَّهُ ما أصبحتَ فيه من الثَّرى

زُلالَ التَّحايا عن زلالَ السّحائبِ

زُلالَ التَّحايا عن زلالَ السّحائبِ

May God water the earth in which you now lie

And may it continue flowing with pardon and mercy,

with the pure waters of salutations instead of the pure waters of clouds.

And the spirit of Heaven from all sides.

وَلا زالَ مَنضوحاً بعفوٍ ورحمةٍ

وَلا زالَ مَنضوحاً بعفوٍ ورحمةٍ

ورَوْحِ الجنانِ من جميع الجوانبِ

ورَوْحِ الجنانِ من جميع الجوانبِ

And may it always be sprinkled with pardon and mercy

For it the pages were folded forcibly

and the refreshing breath of Paradise from every side.

Over the towering necks and massive duties.

فقد طُوِيَتْ منه الصفائحُ عَنْوةً

فقد طُوِيَتْ منه الصفائحُ عَنْوةً

على سامقِ الأعراقِ ضخم الضّرائبِ

على سامقِ الأعراقِ ضخم الضّرائبِ

For its stone slabs were forcibly closed

over one of lofty lineage and mighty character.