ما للخيالِ ببطن مَرٍّ يطرقُ

ما للخيالِ ببطن مَرٍّ يطرقُ

أنّى وليس له هنالك مَطْرَقُ

أنّى وليس له هنالك مَطْرَقُ

Why does the phantom call at Batn Marr?

Why does the phantom visit by night in the valley of Marr?

How could it, when it has no path of entry there?

How, when it has no path of approach there?

زار الهجودَ وَلم يَنَلْهُ ولا اِهتدى

زار الهجودَ وَلم يَنَلْهُ ولا اِهتدى

منّا إليه مُسهَّدٌ ومؤرَّقُ

منّا إليه مُسهَّدٌ ومؤرَّقُ

It visited slumber, yet neither reached it nor found its way

It visited the sleepers, but none reached it or found a path

To any of us who lay sleepless and wakeful.

To it among us who lay sleepless and kept awake.

لو كان حقّاً زار في وَضَحِ الضُّحى

لو كان حقّاً زار في وَضَحِ الضُّحى

فالزَّوْرُ وَهْناً كاذبٌ لا يصدقُ

فالزَّوْرُ وَهْناً كاذبٌ لا يصدقُ

Had it been real, it would have visited in the clear light of morning;

Had it been real, it would have visited in broad daylight;

A visit made in the frailty of night is false and cannot speak true.

For a late-night visit is false, never true.

زرتَ الّذين توهّموها زَوْرَةً

زرتَ الّذين توهّموها زَوْرَةً

ومضيتَ لمّا خفتَ أن يتحققوا

ومضيتَ لمّا خفتَ أن يتحققوا

You visited those who imagined it a visit,

You visited those who imagined it a visit,

Then slipped away for fear they might discover the truth.

And departed when you feared they would ascertain the truth.

وقرُبتَ قرباً عاد وهو تبعُّدٌ

وقرُبتَ قرباً عاد وهو تبعُّدٌ

ووصلتَ وصلاً آب وهو تفرُّقُ

ووصلتَ وصلاً آب وهو تفرُّقُ

You drew so near that nearness itself became distance,

And you drew near, with a nearness that turned to distance;

And joined us in a union that was itself separation.

And you joined us, with a union that returned as separation.

وَخَدعتَ إلّا أنَّ كلَّ خديعةٍ

وَخَدعتَ إلّا أنَّ كلَّ خديعةٍ

رَوَّتْ صدى كَلِفٍ يُحبّ ويعشِقُ

رَوَّتْ صدى كَلِفٍ يُحبّ ويعشِقُ

You deceived us—yet every deception of yours

And you deceived—yet every deception

Watered the thirst of one enthralled, who loves and adores.

Quenched the thirst of an enamored lover who loves and adores.

ما كان عندي والرّقادُ مجانبٌ

ما كان عندي والرّقادُ مجانبٌ

لجفونِ عيني أنّ طَيْفَكَ يطرُقُ

لجفونِ عيني أنّ طَيْفَكَ يطرُقُ

I never thought, while sleep kept far away

I never thought, while sleep shunned

From my eyelids, that your apparition would call.

The lids of my eyes, that your phantom would visit by night.

كَيفَ اِهتَدى والبعدُ منّا واسعٌ

كَيفَ اِهتَدى والبعدُ منّا واسعٌ

لرحالنا هذا العَناقُ الضيّقُ

لرحالنا هذا العَناقُ الضيّقُ

How did it find the way, when the distance between us is vast,

How, with the distance from us so vast, did it find its way

And this narrow embrace lies around our encampment?

To our tents, this narrow embrace?

أم كيف طاف مُسَلَّمٌ بمكلَّمٍ

أم كيف طاف مُسَلَّمٌ بمكلَّمٍ

أم كيف عاج على الأسير المطلقُ

أم كيف عاج على الأسير المطلقُ

How could one unharmed circle a wounded man?

Or how did the unharmed visit the wounded?

How could one unfettered turn aside to a captive?

Or how did the unfettered turn aside to the captive?

ومُجَدَّلٍ بيد الكَلالِ كأنّه

ومُجَدَّلٍ بيد الكَلالِ كأنّه

في الرِّيِّ يُصبح بالمُدامِ ويَغبُقُ

في الرِّيِّ يُصبح بالمُدامِ ويَغبُقُ

To one cast down by the hand of exhaustion, as though

And to one felled by weariness's hand, as though

At Rayy he drank wine morning and evening;

Sated, he drank wine morning and evening.

أمسى موسّده وقد سكن الكرى

أمسى موسّده وقد سكن الكرى

في مُقلتيه ساعدٌ أو مِرْفَقُ

في مُقلتيه ساعدٌ أو مِرْفَقُ

He passed the night pillowed, when sleep had settled

At evening his pillow—slumber having settled

Within his eyes, upon an arm or elbow.

In his eyes—was a forearm or an elbow.

وإذا ترفّعت الحدوجُ فقل لما

وإذا ترفّعت الحدوجُ فقل لما

واراه عنّا الوَشْيُ والإستبرقُ

واراه عنّا الوَشْيُ والإستبرقُ

And when the curtained litters rise to leave, ask what

And when the camel-litters rise, say to the one

The brocade and embroidered silk have hidden from us.

Whom embroidered cloth and silk brocade have hidden from us:

حتّى متى عطشانُكمْ لا يرتوي

حتّى متى عطشانُكمْ لا يرتوي

من مائكمْ ومريضُكمْ لا يُفرقُ

من مائكمْ ومريضُكمْ لا يُفرقُ

How long must your thirsty one remain unquenched

How long shall your thirsty one remain unquenched

By your water, and your sick one find no cure?

By your water, and your sick one never recover?

لم تعرفوا شوقاً فلم تأووا لمن

لم تعرفوا شوقاً فلم تأووا لمن

يُضحِي ويُمسِي نحوكم يتشوّقُ

يُضحِي ويُمسِي نحوكم يتشوّقُ

You have never known longing, and so have shown no tenderness

You have not known longing, so you have shown no pity for one

To one who morning and evening yearns toward you.

Who passes mornings and evenings yearning toward you.

أقسمتُ بالبيتِ العتيق تزورهُ

أقسمتُ بالبيتِ العتيق تزورهُ

بالشّاحطين من الرّجال الأينُقُ

بالشّاحطين من الرّجال الأينُقُ

I swear by the Ancient House, which the camels visit

I swore by the Ancient House, which is visited

Bearing men who have journeyed from far away.

By she-camels bearing men from far away:

لمّا أتوه خائفين تشبّثوا

لمّا أتوه خائفين تشبّثوا

بستاره ليجُيرهم وتعلّقوا

بستاره ليجُيرهم وتعلّقوا

When they reached it in fear, they clutched

When they came to it afraid, they clung

Its curtains, clinging there for sanctuary.

To its curtain, that it might shelter them, and held fast.

والقومُ في وادي مِنىً فمجرّدٌ

والقومُ في وادي مِنىً فمجرّدٌ

أو لابسٌ ومُلَبِّدٌ ومُحَلِّقُ

أو لابسٌ ومُلَبِّدٌ ومُحَلِّقُ

The people are in Mina’s valley: some stripped bare,

And the people in Mina's valley: some stripped,

Some clothed, some with hair matted, and some shaven.

Others clothed, some with matted hair, others shaven.

والبُدنُ يُهرَق ثَمَّ من أوداجها

والبُدنُ يُهرَق ثَمَّ من أوداجها

ما لم يكن لولا العبادةُ يُهرَقُ

ما لم يكن لولا العبادةُ يُهرَقُ

The sacrificial camels pour from their jugulars there

And there, from the sacrificial camels' jugular veins, is shed

Blood that, but for worship, would never be poured.

What, but for worship, would never be shed.

والموقِفَين ومن تراه فيهما

والموقِفَين ومن تراه فيهما

يرنو إلى عفو الإله ويرمُقُ

يرنو إلى عفو الإله ويرمُقُ

And by the two standing places, and all whom you see within them

And by the two stations, and those you see in both,

Gazing and looking toward God’s forgiveness.

Gazing toward God's pardon, watching intently.

لبسوا الهجير محرّقين جلودهمْ

لبسوا الهجير محرّقين جلودهمْ

من خوف نارٍ في الجحيم تُحرِّقُ

من خوف نارٍ في الجحيم تُحرِّقُ

They have clothed themselves in scorching noon, their skins burning

They wore the noonday heat, scorching their skins,

For fear of a fire in Hell that burns.

For fear of a fire that burns in Hell.

إنّ الّذين أعدّهمْ من عنصري

إنّ الّذين أعدّهمْ من عنصري

وبهمْ إذا فاخرتُ يوماً أعلقُ

وبهمْ إذا فاخرتُ يوماً أعلقُ

Those whom I reckon as sprung from my own stock—

Indeed, those whom I count as of my own stock,

When I boast, it is through them that I rise.

And to whom I cling if ever I boast,

شَجعوا فمِنْسَرُهمْ يروّع جَحْفَلاً

شَجعوا فمِنْسَرُهمْ يروّع جَحْفَلاً

ووحيدُهمْ يومَ الكريهةِ فَيْلَقُ

ووحيدُهمْ يومَ الكريهةِ فَيْلَقُ

They are brave: their raiding troop terrifies a mighty army,

Have proved brave: their raiding band terrifies a great army,

And on the day of battle, one man among them is a host.

And their lone man on battle's day is an army.

ولهمْ إذا جمدتْ أكفٌّ في ندىً

ولهمْ إذا جمدتْ أكفٌّ في ندىً

أو في وغىً أيد هناك تَدَفَّقُ

أو في وغىً أيد هناك تَدَفَّقُ

When hands grow frozen in generosity, theirs

And when palms freeze in generosity,

Flow there—just as their hands pour forth in battle.

Or in battle, theirs are hands that overflow.

قلْ للّذين تطامحوا أنْ يفخروا

قلْ للّذين تطامحوا أنْ يفخروا

بمفاخرٍ ببنائهمْ لا تَعْلِقُ

بمفاخرٍ ببنائهمْ لا تَعْلِقُ

Tell those who aspire to boast

Say to those who aspired to boast

Of glories to which their ancestry cannot reach:

Of honors that do not cling to their own edifice:

غُضّوا اللِّحاظَ فقد عَلَتْ تَلْعاتِكمْ

غُضّوا اللِّحاظَ فقد عَلَتْ تَلْعاتِكمْ

في مفخرٍ منّا الجبالُ الشُّهَّقُ

في مفخرٍ منّا الجبالُ الشُّهَّقُ

Lower your eyes; above your uplands have risen

Lower your glances: your hills have been overtopped

From our glory towering mountains.

In glory by our towering mountains.

وإذا تسابقت الجيادُ إلى مدىً

وإذا تسابقت الجيادُ إلى مدىً

أو غايةٍ أخذ الرّهانَ السُّبِّقُ

أو غايةٍ أخذ الرّهانَ السُّبِّقُ

When horses race toward a distant mark

And when steeds race toward a mark

Or goal, ours seize the prize and precedence.

Or a finish, the frontrunners take the stakes.

ولنا وليس لكم سوى الثَّمْدِ الّذي

ولنا وليس لكم سوى الثَّمْدِ الّذي

لم يروِ ظمآناً بُحورٌ فُهَّقُ

لم يروِ ظمآناً بُحورٌ فُهَّقُ

Ours are the brimming seas; yours is only the scant pool

And ours—while you have only the scant water that

That cannot slake a single thirsty man.

Never quenched a thirsty one—are brimming seas.

كم ذا نكصتمْ عن طلابِ فضيلةٍ

كم ذا نكصتمْ عن طلابِ فضيلةٍ

أنا من جوانبها أخُبُّ وأَعنِقُ

أنا من جوانبها أخُبُّ وأَعنِقُ

How often have you recoiled from the pursuit of excellence

How often you recoiled from pursuing a virtue

While I galloped and sped along its every side.

Along whose flanks I trot and stride swiftly!

وفررتُمُ ووقفتُ في ملمومةٍ

وفررتُمُ ووقفتُ في ملمومةٍ

فيها القنا بيد الطّعانِ تُدَقَّقُ

فيها القنا بيد الطّعانِ تُدَقَّقُ

You fled, while I stood firm within a dense battle mass

You fled, while I stood amid a massed host,

Where spears are splintered in the hands of charging warriors.

Where the hand of spear-fighting splinters the lances.

وخرستُمُ ونطقتُ في النّادي الّذي

وخرستُمُ ونطقتُ في النّادي الّذي

يُعطَى المقادَةَ فيه مَن هو أنطقُ

يُعطَى المقادَةَ فيه مَن هو أنطقُ

You fell silent, while I spoke in the assembly

You fell silent, while I spoke in the assembly where

Where leadership is granted to the most eloquent.

Command is given to whoever is more eloquent.

ورُزقتُ لمّا أن سعيتُ إلى العُلا

ورُزقتُ لمّا أن سعيتُ إلى العُلا

فاِسعوا كما أنّي سعيتُ لتُرزقوا

فاِسعوا كما أنّي سعيتُ لتُرزقوا

I was rewarded when I strove toward eminence;

And I was granted bounty when I strove for high honor;

Strive as I strove, then, that you too may be rewarded.

So strive as I have striven, that you may be granted bounty.

وفريتُ لمّا أنْ خلقتُ فما لكمْ

وفريتُ لمّا أنْ خلقتُ فما لكمْ

والفَريُ ناءٍ عنكُمُ أن تخلقوا

والفَريُ ناءٍ عنكُمُ أن تخلقوا

I achieved great deeds because I was fashioned for them—what is wrong with you?

And I cut when I had measured; why should you,

Since achievement lies far from you, go fashion it yourselves.

With cutting far beyond your reach, presume to measure?

والنّاسُ في الدنيا إذا جرّبتَهمْ

والنّاسُ في الدنيا إذا جرّبتَهمْ

إِمّا هباءٌ أو سرابٌ يبرقُ

إِمّا هباءٌ أو سرابٌ يبرقُ

The people of this world, when you have tested them,

And people in this world, once you have tested them,

Are either drifting dust or a glittering mirage:

Are either dust motes or a shimmering mirage.

إمّا صديقٌ كالعدوِّ تقاعداً

إمّا صديقٌ كالعدوِّ تقاعداً

عن نصرتي أو فالعدوّ المُحْنَقُ

عن نصرتي أو فالعدوّ المُحْنَقُ

Either a friend who, by withholding help, is like an enemy,

Either a friend like an enemy in hanging back

Or else an enemy burning with rancor.

From supporting me, or else an enraged enemy.

لا مَخبَرٌ يُرضِي القلوبَ ولا لهمْ

لا مَخبَرٌ يُرضِي القلوبَ ولا لهمْ

مرأَى به ترضى النّواظرُ يُونِقُ

مرأَى به ترضى النّواظرُ يُونِقُ

No report of them contents the heart, nor have they

No inward character pleases hearts, nor have they

A sight whose beauty delights and charms the eyes.

An appearance that delights and satisfies the eyes.

في كلِّ يومٍ لِي ديارُ أخوَّةٍ

في كلِّ يومٍ لِي ديارُ أخوَّةٍ

تخلو وشملُ مودّةٍ يتفرّقُ

تخلو وشملُ مودّةٍ يتفرّقُ

Each day I have dwellings of brotherhood

Each day, my homes of brotherhood

That empty, while the gathered bond of affection breaks apart.

Stand empty, and the gathering of affection scatters.

والقلبُ منّي بالكروبِ مُقَلْقَلٌ

والقلبُ منّي بالكروبِ مُقَلْقَلٌ

والجلدُ منّي بالنّيوبِ مُمَزَّقُ

والجلدُ منّي بالنّيوبِ مُمَزَّقُ

My heart is shaken by afflictions,

And my heart is shaken by afflictions,

And my skin is torn by calamity’s fangs.

And my skin is torn by fangs.

وعَرِيتُ من ورق الإخاءِ وطالما

وعَرِيتُ من ورق الإخاءِ وطالما

كانت غصوني بالأخوّةِ تورقُ

كانت غصوني بالأخوّةِ تورقُ

I have been stripped of the leaves of fellowship, though long

And I was stripped of brotherhood's leaves, though for so long

My branches used to flourish with brotherhood.

My branches put forth leaves with brotherhood.

فاليوم ما لِي من خليلٍ أرتَضي

فاليوم ما لِي من خليلٍ أرتَضي

منه الإِخاءَ ولا صديقٌ يصدقُ

منه الإِخاءَ ولا صديقٌ يصدقُ

Today I have no intimate whose fellowship

So today I have no dear companion from whom I would accept

I approve, nor any friend who proves true.

Brotherhood, nor any friend who is true.

أعطاهُمُ زمنٌ مضى فتجمّعوا

أعطاهُمُ زمنٌ مضى فتجمّعوا

واِبتزّهمْ زمنٌ أتى فتفرّقوا

واِبتزّهمْ زمنٌ أتى فتفرّقوا

A bygone age bestowed them, and they gathered;

A bygone age gave them to me, and they gathered;

Another age seized them away, and they dispersed.

A later age snatched them away, and they scattered.

فلقد قطعتُ العمرَ في قومٍ لهمْ

فلقد قطعتُ العمرَ في قومٍ لهمْ

في كلّ مكرُمةٍ جبينٌ مشرقُ

في كلّ مكرُمةٍ جبينٌ مشرقُ

I have spent my life among a people whose

For I spent my life among people whose

Brow shines in every noble quality.

Brow shone in every noble deed.

وعليهمُ من كلّ ما زان الفتى

وعليهمُ من كلّ ما زان الفتى

في العين أو في القلب منّا رَوْنَقُ

في العين أو في القلب منّا رَوْنَقُ

Upon them rests every grace by which a young man is crowned,

And upon them, from all that adorns a young man,

A splendor in the eye and a radiance in the heart.

There lay a splendor in our eyes or in our hearts.

ما فيهمُ إلّا مُحَلّىً بالعُلا

ما فيهمُ إلّا مُحَلّىً بالعُلا

ومَسَوَّرٌ ومتوّجٌ ومطوَّقُ

ومَسَوَّرٌ ومتوّجٌ ومطوَّقُ

Among them every man is adorned with eminence,

None among them was other than adorned with high honor,

Braceleted, crowned, and collared with honor.

Braceleted, crowned, and necklaced.

وتراهُمُ سامين في طرقِ العُلا

وتراهُمُ سامين في طرقِ العُلا

فإذا رأوْ سُبْلَ العضيهة أطرقوا

فإذا رأوْ سُبْلَ العضيهة أطرقوا

You see them rising along the paths of glory;

And you see them rising along the paths of high honor,

But when they see the paths of slander, they lower their heads.

But when they saw the roads of slander, they lowered their heads.

فالآن والسّبعون تعطِفُ صَعْدَتِي

فالآن والسّبعون تعطِفُ صَعْدَتِي

وتُرِثُّ مِنّي ما تشاءُ وتُخلِقُ

وتُرِثُّ مِنّي ما تشاءُ وتُخلِقُ

Now seventy years bend down my upward course

So now, while seventy years bend my spear-shaft,

And wear away from me whatever they will, making it threadbare.

And make what they wish of me shabby and worn,

وتألّقتْ لِي لِمَّةٌ كان الهوى

وتألّقتْ لِي لِمَّةٌ كان الهوى

كلّ الهوى إنْ لم تكنْ تتألّقُ

كلّ الهوى إنْ لم تكنْ تتألّقُ

My locks have begun to gleam—the passion was

And my locks have gleamed—love would have been

All passion, if they had not begun to gleam.

Love in full, had they not gleamed—

واِسودّ منّي كلُّ ما هو أبيضٌ

واِسودّ منّي كلُّ ما هو أبيضٌ

بالرّغمِ لمّا اِبيضّ منّي المَفْرقُ

بالرّغمِ لمّا اِبيضّ منّي المَفْرقُ

Everything white in me has darkened

And all that is white in me has turned black,

Against my will, now that the hair at my parting has turned white.

Against my will, when my hair-parting turned white,

طوّحتُ بين معاشرٍ ما فيهمُ

طوّحتُ بين معاشرٍ ما فيهمُ

خُلُقٌ ولا خَلْقٌ يُحَبُّ ويومَقُ

خُلُقٌ ولا خَلْقٌ يُحَبُّ ويومَقُ

I have been cast among people in whom there is

I have been flung among people with

Neither character nor form that can be loved or cherished.

Neither character nor form to be loved and cherished.

من دونهمْ أبداً لكلّ فضيلةٍ

من دونهمْ أبداً لكلّ فضيلةٍ

سَترٌ وبابٌ للكريمةِ مغلقُ

سَترٌ وبابٌ للكريمةِ مغلقُ

Between them and every excellence there stands forever

Between them and every virtue there is always

A curtain, and against every noble deed a locked door.

A screen, and the door to nobility is closed.

فالظّنّ فيهمْ للجميل مكذِّبٌ

فالظّنّ فيهمْ للجميل مكذِّبٌ

والظّنّ فيهمْ للقبيح مصدّقُ

والظّنّ فيهمْ للقبيح مصدّقُ

Concerning them, suspicion disbelieves whatever is beautiful,

So any supposition of goodness in them proves false,

While suspicion readily believes whatever is ugly.

And any supposition of foulness in them proves true.

فَإِلامَ يرمينِي بسهمٍ صائبٍ

فَإِلامَ يرمينِي بسهمٍ صائبٍ

مَن ليس لِي منهم إليه مفوِّقُ

مَن ليس لِي منهم إليه مفوِّقُ

Why, then, should one of them strike me with a sure arrow

Then how long will I be shot with an unerring arrow

When none possesses an arrow readied against me?

By one of them at whom no archer of mine takes aim?

فَعلى الّذين مَضوا وعينِي بعدهمْ

فَعلى الّذين مَضوا وعينِي بعدهمْ

تجري وقَلبي نحوهم يتشوّقُ

تجري وقَلبي نحوهم يتشوّقُ

Upon those who have passed away—while my eyes after them

So upon those departed—while my eye, since they left,

Still flow and my heart still yearns—

Streams, and my heart yearns toward them—

منّي التحيّةُ غدوةً وعشيّةً

منّي التحيّةُ غدوةً وعشيّةً

ووكيفُ منخرقِ العَزالِي مُغْدقُ

ووكيفُ منخرقِ العَزالِي مُغْدقُ

From me be greetings morning and evening,

Let my greeting fall, morning and evening,

And a lavish downpour from the burst mouths of the clouds.

And a copious shower from burst-open waterskin spouts.

وعلى مساكنهمْ وإنْ سكنوا الثّرى ال

وعلى مساكنهمْ وإنْ سكنوا الثّرى ال

أَرَجُ الذكيُّ أو النّسيمُ الأعبقُ

أَرَجُ الذكيُّ أو النّسيمُ الأعبقُ

And over their dwellings, though they inhabit the earth beneath,

And upon their dwellings, though they dwell in the earth,

Be sweet fragrance, or the most redolent breeze.

Let sweet fragrance rest, or the most fragrant breeze.