رأيتُI have seen فلمyet did not أرَI see فيماamong what رأيتُI have seen
رأيتُ فلم أرَ فيما رأيتُ
مصاباًa calamity كيومِlike the day of ردىthe death of الأوحدِthe peerless one
مصاباً كيومِ ردى الأوحدِ
I have seen—and in all that I have seen, never have I seen
I have seen much, yet never, in all I have seen,
a calamity like the day the peerless one fell.
a calamity like the day the peerless one died.
وعوّدنِيand accustomed me الرُّزءَto bereavement مرُّthe passing الزّمانِof time
وعوّدنِي الرُّزءَ مرُّ الزّمانِ
ومثلُand the like of الّذِيwhat حلّbefell لمnot أعتدِI grew accustomed to
ومثلُ الّذِي حلّ لم أعتدِ
Calamities had accustomed me, with the passing of time,
The passing of time had accustomed me to bereavement,
yet the like of what befell I had never known.
but nothing like what befell had I known.
وفارقنِيand he left me بغتةًsuddenly مثلماjust as
وفارقنِي بغتةً مثلما
يفارقparts from مقبضthe hilt of سيفِيmy sword يدِيmy hand
يفارق مقبض سيفِي يدِي
He left me suddenly, just as
He parted from me suddenly, just as
the hilt of a sword slips from my hand,
the hilt of my sword parts from my hand,
علىat حينa time when دانَتْsubmitted لهto him الْآبياتُthe defiant
على حين دانَتْ له الْآبياتُ
وقادand he led القُرومَthe chieftains ولمand was not يُقتَدِled
وقاد القُرومَ ولم يُقتَدِ
at the very moment the proud had submitted to him
when even the defiant had submitted to him,
and he led the great chiefs, following none.
and he led the chieftains and was never led.
وقدand indeed كنتُI had أحسبthought أنّthat الحِمامَdeath
وقد كنتُ أحسب أنّ الحِمامَ
بعيدٌfar عليهfrom him فلمyet did not يَبعدِstay far
بعيدٌ عليه فلم يَبعدِ
I had thought that death
I had thought that death
was far from him—but it proved not far.
was far from him, yet it was not far.
وماand not كانit was إِلاexcept كقولِlike the saying of العجولِthe hasty person
وما كان إِلا كقولِ العجولِ
لمنto one who قامstood وسْطَamid النّدىthe assembly أقعُدِsit down
لمن قام وسْطَ النّدى أقعُدِ
It was only like the hasty man’s command
It was no more than a hasty man's saying
to one standing amid the assembly: “Sit.”
to one standing amid the assembly, 'Sit down!'
وَساعدنيand helped me فيin بكائِيmy weeping عليfor
وَساعدني في بكائِي علي
هِhim كلُّevery بعيدremote from الأسىsorrow أصْيَدِproud man
هِ كلُّ بعيد الأسى أصْيَدِ
And in my weeping for him I was joined
And helping me in my weeping for him
by every proud, aloof man ordinarily remote from grief.
was every proud man far removed from sorrow.
تَلينُsoften القلوبُhearts وفيwhile in صدرهِhis breast
تَلينُ القلوبُ وفي صدرهِ
أصمُّunyielding الجوانبِon all sides كالجَلْمدِlike a boulder
أصمُّ الجوانبِ كالجَلْمدِ
Hearts would soften, though within his breast was
Hearts soften, yet within his breast
something hard on every side, like solid rock.
lies a heart hard on every side, like a boulder.
وَكَمand how often ذاindeed رَأَيناwe saw عيوناًeyes بكيwept (continued)
وَكَم ذا رَأَينا عيوناً بكي
نَfeminine plural ending عندat الرّزاياcalamities بلاwithout مُسعِدِa fellow mourner
نَ عند الرّزايا بلا مُسعِدِ
How many eyes have we seen that wept
How many eyes we have seen that wept
at calamities, with no comforter,
at calamities, with none to share their tears!
جَرَينthey flowed فَألحقنَand thus joined عندamid الدّموعِtears
جَرَين فَألحقنَ عند الدّموعِ
صحاحَhealthy النّواظرِeyes بالأرمدِwith the sore-eyed
صحاحَ النّواظرِ بالأرمدِ
streaming until, through tears, they made
They streamed, and in their weeping made
sound eyes as rheumy as the inflamed.
healthy eyes like those inflamed.
وأعيَتْand defied محاسنُهhis virtues أنbeing تنالَattained
وأعيَتْ محاسنُه أن تنالَ
فإنْand if حَسدَenvied القومthe people لمnot يَحْسُدِhe envied
فإنْ حَسدَ القوم لم يَحْسُدِ
His virtues defied attainment;
His virtues defied attainment;
even when men envied, he lay beyond their envy.
and if others envied, he never did.
وكمand how often قعدsat down القومُthe people بعدafter القيامِrising
وكم قعد القومُ بعد القيامِ
ومذand since قامhe rose بالفضلِin excellence لمnot يقعدِhe sat down
ومذ قام بالفضلِ لم يقعدِ
How many men sank after rising;
How often men sat down after rising,
but once he rose through merit, he never sank.
but since he rose in excellence, he never sat down.
وماتand he died وغادَرَهand left him جُودُهhis generosity
ومات وغادَرَه جُودُه
خليَّempty اليدينboth hands منof العَسجدِgold
خليَّ اليدين من العَسجدِ
He died, his generosity having left him
He died, his generosity having left him
empty-handed of gold.
with both hands empty of gold.
ولمand not يدّخرْhe stored up غيرَexcept عزِّthe honor of الرّجالmen
ولم يدّخرْ غيرَ عزِّ الرّجال
وعزٍّand glory يبينshining معbeside الفرقَدِal-Farqad, a star
وعزٍّ يبين مع الفرقَدِ
He stored up nothing but the esteem of men,
He amassed nothing but honor among men
an honor shining beside the Farqad star,
and a glory shining beside al-Farqad,
وغيرَand except ضِرابٍsword-strokes يقطُّthat sever الرؤوسَheads
وغيرَ ضِرابٍ يقطُّ الرؤوسَ
إذاwhen خَمَدdied down الجمرُthe embers لمnot يخمُدِit died down
إذا خَمَد الجمرُ لم يخمُدِ
and sword-strokes that sever heads
and sword-strokes that sever heads,
and do not die when the embers die,
never dying when the embers die,
وطعنٍand spear-thrusts يمزّقthat tear أُهبَthe hides of النّحورِthroats
وطعنٍ يمزّق أُهبَ النّحورِ
كمَعْمَعَةِlike the roaring of النّارِfire بالفَرْقَدِabout the calf
كمَعْمَعَةِ النّارِ بالفَرْقَدِ
and thrusts that tear the hides of throats
and spear-thrusts that tear the hides of throats,
like fire’s roaring tumult beneath the Farqad.
like fire roaring about a calf.
وكمand how often قدindeed شهدناهwe witnessed him يومَon the day of الوغىbattle
وكم قد شهدناه يومَ الوغى
وبيضُwhile the white النّصولِblades بلاwithout أغْمُدِsheaths
وبيضُ النّصولِ بلا أغْمُدِ
How often we witnessed him on the day of battle,
How often we witnessed him on battle's day,
with the white sword-blades unsheathed,
with white blades unsheathed,
يَشُلُّhe drives back الكُماةَthe armored champions بصدرِwith the point of القناةِthe spear
يَشُلُّ الكُماةَ بصدرِ القناةِ
شلَّكَyour driving للنَّعَمِof livestock الشُّرَّدِstraying
شلَّكَ للنَّعَمِ الشُّرَّدِ
scattering armored warriors with the spear-point
driving armored champions before his spearpoint
as straying beasts are scattered for a generous patron.
as you drive straying livestock.
وتهديهِand guide him فيthrough الظُّلماتِdarkness السُّيوفُswords
وتهديهِ في الظُّلماتِ السُّيوفُ
وكمand how many ضلَّstrayed فيin الرَّوْعِbattle's terror منof مهتدِthose knowing the way
وكم ضلَّ في الرَّوْعِ من مهتدِ
Through darkness the swords guided him,
Swords guided him through darkness,
while many a rightly guided man lost his way in terror.
though many who knew their way strayed in battle's terror.
فتىًa youth فيin المشيبِgray-haired age وماand not كلُّeveryone مَنْwho
فتىً في المشيبِ وما كلُّ مَنْ
حوىattained الفضلَexcellence فيin الشَّعَرِhair الأسودِblack
حوى الفضلَ في الشَّعَرِ الأسودِ
A youth even in gray old age—for not everyone
A youth amid gray hair—not everyone who
whose hair is black possesses excellence.
attains excellence wears black hair.
فياso O لوعتيmy anguish فيهfor him لاdo not تقصُرِيabate
فيا لوعتي فيه لا تقصُرِي
وياand O دمعتيmy tear فيهfor him لاdo not تجمُدِيcongeal
ويا دمعتي فيه لا تجمُدِي
O anguish for him, do not abate!
O my anguish for him, do not abate!
O tears for him, do not congeal!
O my tear for him, do not congeal!
ياO سلوتيmy consolation فيهfor him لاdo not تقربيapproach
يا سلوتي فيه لا تقربي
وإنand if كنتyou are دانيةًnear فاِبعدِيthen go far away
وإن كنت دانيةً فاِبعدِي
O consolation for him, do not draw near!
O solace for his loss, do not approach;
And though you are near, move far away!
and if you are near, go far away.
وياand O لائميyou who blame me فيfor ثناءٍpraise لهof him
ويا لائمي في ثناءٍ له
هَجَدْتَyou slept وعينِيَwhile my eye لمnot تَهجُدِhas slept
هَجَدْتَ وعينِيَ لم تَهجُدِ
O you who blame my praise of him:
O you who blame me for praising him,
you slept, while my eye did not.
you slept, while my eye did not sleep.
فلمfor not أرثِهI mourned him وحدَهalone بلْrather رثيتُI mourned
فلم أرثِه وحدَه بلْ رثيتُ
معالمlandmarks عُرِّينَstripped bare منof سُؤدَدِlordly honor
معالم عُرِّينَ من سُؤدَدِ
I did not elegize him alone; I also mourned
For I did not mourn him alone; I mourned
the landmarks of munificence and lordship.
landmarks stripped of lordly honor.
وماand not جادpoured tears جَفنِيmy eyelid وقدthough indeed كانit used to لاnot
وما جاد جَفنِي وقد كان لا
يجودكpour tears for you إلّاexcept علىover الأجودِthe most generous
يجودك إلّا على الأجودِ
Nor would my eyelid have poured forth, though it had never been wont
My eyelid has not poured tears—and it never would
to lavish tears except upon the noblest.
pour them for you—except for the most generous.
ووافقنيand he accorded with me بالوفاقِin harmony الصّريحِsincere
ووافقني بالوفاقِ الصّريحِ
موافقةَlike the accord of النّومِsleep للسُّهَّدِwith the sleepless
موافقةَ النّومِ للسُّهَّدِ
And there concurred with me, in perfect accord,
He accorded with me in sincere harmony,
sleep’s concurrence with sleeplessness.
as sleep accords with the sleepless.
وإنّand indeed التناسبَkinship بينbetween الرّجالِmen
وإنّ التناسبَ بين الرّجالِ
بالوُدِّthrough affection خيرٌis better منthan المحْتِدِlineage
بالوُدِّ خيرٌ من المحْتِدِ
Indeed, affinity among men
Indeed, kinship between men
through love is better than noble lineage.
through affection is better than lineage.
وخلّفنِيand he left me باِنتِحابٍwith sobbing عليهِfor him
وخلّفنِي باِنتِحابٍ عليهِ
يقضُّmaking harsh علىagainst أضلُعيmy ribs مرقدِيmy bed
يقضُّ على أضلُعي مرقدِي
He left me lamenting him,
He left me sobbing for him,
my bed pressing harshly against my ribs.
making my bed grate against my ribs.
فإنْand if عادvisit مضجَعِيَmy bed العائدونthe visitors
فإنْ عاد مضجَعِيَ العائدون
خفيتُI am hidden نحولاًthrough emaciation علىfrom العُوَّدِthe visitors
خفيتُ نحولاً على العُوَّدِ
If visitors return to my sickbed,
If visitors come to my sickbed,
I shall vanish through wasting upon the bed-frame.
my wasting makes me invisible to them.
فقُلْso tell للقنابِلِthe cavalry bands لاdo not تركبيride out
فقُلْ للقنابِلِ لا تركبي
وقلْand tell للكتائبٍthe battalions لاdo not تحشُدِيmuster
وقلْ للكتائبٍ لا تحشُدِي
Tell the lances: “Be mounted no more.”
Tell the cavalry bands, 'Do not ride out,'
Tell the battalions: “Muster no more.”
and tell the battalions, 'Do not muster.'
وَقلْand tell للصُّلاةِthose enduring بنارin the fire of الحروthe wars (continued)
وَقلْ للصُّلاةِ بنار الحرو
بِending of 'wars' قدindeed ذهبَhas gone الموتُdeath بالمُوقِدِwith the kindler
بِ قد ذهبَ الموتُ بالمُوقِدِ
Tell those who bask in the fire of war—
Tell those enduring the fire of war:
—death has carried off its kindler.
'Death has carried off its kindler.'
وقلْand tell للصّوارمِthe keen swords مسلولةًunsheathed
وقلْ للصّوارمِ مسلولةً
فُجِعْتُنَّyou are bereaved بالصّارمِof the keen sword المُغمَدِsheathed
فُجِعْتُنَّ بالصّارمِ المُغمَدِ
Tell the keen swords while they are drawn:
Tell the keen swords, unsheathed:
“You have been bereft of the keen sword now sheathed.”
'You are bereaved of the keen blade now sheathed.'
وقلْand tell للجيادِthe steeds يَلُكْنَchewing الشَّكيمَthe bits
وقلْ للجيادِ يَلُكْنَ الشَّكيمَ
بلاwithout مُسرِجٍone to saddle وبلاand without مُلبِدِone to fit saddle-felts
بلا مُسرِجٍ وبلا مُلبِدِ
Tell the steeds to chew their bits
Tell the steeds chewing their bits,
unsaddled and without saddle-cloth.
with none to saddle them or fit their saddle-felts:
أقمنَstay فماfor not بعدهafter him للخيولِfor horses
أقمنَ فما بعده للخيولِ
مقاديرُstanding حتَّىeven معwith القُوَّدِthe leaders
مقاديرُ حتَّى مع القُوَّدِ
“Stand still; after him no destinies remain for horses,
'Stay; after him, horses have
even when they are led forth by the rein.”
no standing, even with their leaders.'
وقلْand tell لأنابيبِthe jointed shafts of سُمرِtawny الرّماحِspears
وقلْ لأنابيبِ سُمرِ الرّماحِ
ثوينَremain حِياماًthirsty بلاwithout مَوْرِدِa watering-place
ثوينَ حِياماً بلا مَوْرِدِ
Tell the hollow shafts of the tawny spears:
Tell the jointed shafts of tawny spears:
“Lie shattered, with no watering-place to reach.”
'Remain thirsty, with no watering-place.'
فلاso let not تطلعَنْever rise فوقكنّabove you النّجومthe stars
فلا تطلعَنْ فوقكنّ النّجوم
فذاكfor that طلوعٌis a rising بلاwithout أسعُدِgood fortune
فذاك طلوعٌ بلا أسعُدِ
Let no stars rise above you,
Let no stars rise above you,
for such a rising is inauspicious.
for such a rising brings no good fortune.
وكيفand how يرِدْنَcan they drink نجيعthe fresh blood of الكُماةِchampions
وكيف يرِدْنَ نجيع الكُماةِ
بغيرِwithout شديدِone mighty in القُوىstrength أَيِّدِpowerful
بغيرِ شديدِ القُوى أَيِّدِ
How shall they drink the warriors’ blood
How can they drink the champions' fresh blood
without a mighty, strong-handed man?
without one of mighty strength and power?
وقالواand they said تسلَّtake comfort وكلَّwhile every اِمرئٍperson
وقالوا تسلَّ وكلَّ اِمرئٍ
أرىI see ذاpossessing أسىًsorrow فبِمَنْso after whom أقتدِيshall I follow
أرى ذا أسىً فبِمَنْ أقتدِي
They said, “Take comfort,” while every man
They said, 'Take comfort'; yet every person
I see bears grief—whom then should I follow?
I see is grieving—whom shall I follow?
وكيفand how السُّلُوُّconsolation وعنديwhile within me الغرامُconsuming grief
وكيف السُّلُوُّ وعندي الغرامُ
يبرّحdeals harshly بالرّجلِwith the man الأجلَدِmost enduring
يبرّح بالرّجلِ الأجلَدِ
How can there be consolation when the passion within me
How can I take solace, when the anguish within me
torments even the hardiest man?
torments even the hardiest man?
وليand I have أسفٌsorrow بِاِفتقادٍat the loss لهof him
ولي أسفٌ بِاِفتقادٍ له
نَفَدْتُI am spent حنيناًwith longing ولمand not يَنفدِit is spent
نَفَدْتُ حنيناً ولم يَنفدِ
I grieve at losing him;
I have such sorrow at his loss
I am spent with longing, yet it is unspent.
that I am spent with longing, yet it is not spent.
فياso O غافلاًone heedless عنof طروقِthe night-coming of الحمامِdeath
فيا غافلاً عن طروقِ الحمامِ
رَقدتَyou slept اِغتراراًin false security ولمwhile not يرقُدِit slept
رَقدتَ اِغتراراً ولم يرقُدِ
O heedless one, unaware of death’s paths,
O you heedless of death's coming by night,
you sleep in delusion, while death does not sleep.
you slept in false security, while it did not sleep.
وَياand O كادحاًone toiling جامعاًamassing للأُلوفِthousands
وَيا كادحاً جامعاً للأُلوفِ
وغيرُكand someone other than you يأخذهاtakes them منfrom غدِtomorrow
وغيرُك يأخذها من غدِ
O toiler gathering thousands,
O you who toil, amassing thousands,
another will take them from you tomorrow.
another will take them tomorrow.
وَهَلand is there للفَتىfor a man عَنfrom جميعِall الغِنىwealth
وَهَل للفَتى عَن جميعِ الغِنى
سوىexcept بلِّwetting أنمُلةٍa fingertip منof يدِa hand
سوى بلِّ أنمُلةٍ من يدِ
Of all wealth, nothing remains for a man
Does a man gain from all his wealth
save the moisture of two fingertips from one hand.
more than the wetting of a fingertip on his hand?
فَبِنْso depart مِثلَماjust as بانdeparted ظلُّthe shadow of الغَمامِclouds
فَبِنْ مِثلَما بان ظلُّ الغَمامِ
عنfrom طالبيthose seeking سحّهِits downpour الرُّوَّدِthe pasture-scouts
عن طالبي سحّهِ الرُّوَّدِ
Then depart, just as the rain-cloud’s shadow departed
Depart, then, as the shadow of a cloud departs
from one who sought its gentle outpouring.
from pasture-scouts who seek its downpour.
وبِتْand spend the night كارهاًunwilling فيin بطونِthe depths of التّرابthe earth
وبِتْ كارهاً في بطونِ التّراب
وكمand how many سكنdwelt in التُّربَthe dust منof سيّدِa lord
وكم سكن التُّربَ من سيّدِ
You must spend the night unwillingly in the earth’s depths—
Spend the night unwilling in the depths of earth;
and how many a lord has dwelt in dust!
how many a lord has dwelt in the dust!
ولاand may not زالcease قبركyour grave بينamong القبوthe graves (continued)
ولا زال قبرك بين القبو
رِending of 'graves' يُنضَحُbe sprinkled بالسَّبِلِwith rain المُزْبدِfoaming
رِ يُنضَحُ بالسَّبِلِ المُزْبدِ
May your grave never cease, among all graves—
May your grave among the graves never cease
—to overflow with foaming torrents,
to be sprinkled with foaming rain;
ويندىand may it be dewy وإنْeven if جاورتهadjoin it القبورُthe graves
ويندى وإنْ جاورته القبورُ
وفيهنَّand within them بالقاعِin the plain غيرُnot الندِيgenerous
وفيهنَّ بالقاعِ غيرُ الندِي
remaining fresh though other graves lie beside it
and may it be dewy, though other graves adjoin it,
while others on the plain are dry.
with the ungenerous lying within them in the plain.
وحيَّاكand may greet you ربّكyour Lord عندat اللّقاءِthe meeting
وحيَّاك ربّك عند اللّقاءِ
بعفوٍwith pardon ومغفرةٍand forgiveness سَرمَدِeverlasting
بعفوٍ ومغفرةٍ سَرمَدِ
May your Lord greet you at the meeting
May your Lord greet you at the meeting
with pardon and everlasting forgiveness,
with pardon and everlasting forgiveness,
وخصّكand may He favor you يومَon the day of مَفَرِّthe flight of العباthe servants (continued)
وخصّك يومَ مَفَرِّ العبا
دِending of 'servants' بالعَطَنِwith the watering-place الأفسحِmost spacious الأرغدِmost blissful
دِ بالعَطَنِ الأفسحِ الأرغدِ
and single you out, on the day the servants flee,
and favor you on the day His servants flee
for the broadest, most delightful resting-place.
with the most spacious, most blissful watering-place.
