ما صِيدَ قلبُك إلّا باِبنةِ الكِلَلِ

ما صِيدَ قلبُك إلّا باِبنةِ الكِلَلِ

وكم نجا النَّبلَ مَن لم ينجُ من مُقَلِ

وكم نجا النَّبلَ مَن لم ينجُ من مُقَلِ

Your heart was ensnared only by the maiden of the canopies;

Your heart was not hunted but by the daughter of dusk

And how many escaped arrows, yet did not escape eyes!

And how many arrows escaped that did not escape from the twisted one

دعتْ هوايَ إليها فاِستَجاب لها

دعتْ هوايَ إليها فاِستَجاب لها

غنيّةٌ عن سوادِ الكُحلِ بالكَحَلِ

غنيّةٌ عن سوادِ الكُحلِ بالكَحَلِ

She called my passion to her, and it answered her,

My passion called me to her, so I responded

Naturally dark-rimmed eyes sparing her the black of kohl.

She has no need for kohl with kohl on her eyes

بيضاءُ تفضح صبحَ اللّيلِ إنْ نشرتْ

بيضاءُ تفضح صبحَ اللّيلِ إنْ نشرتْ

ذُؤابةً في فروع الفاحمِ الرَّجِلِ

ذُؤابةً في فروع الفاحمِ الرَّجِلِ

Fair-skinned, she shames night's dawn whenever she unfurls

White, she shames the dawn of the night if she let down

A tress amid the branching locks of her coal-black, wavy hair.

Her braids among the branches of the tall, sturdy palm

وَلَو رأتْ وجهَها شمسُ النّهارِ وقدْ

وَلَو رأتْ وجهَها شمسُ النّهارِ وقدْ

ألْقَتْ معارجها غابتْ من الخَجلِ

ألْقَتْ معارجها غابتْ من الخَجلِ

Were the daytime sun to see her face, after

And if the sun of day saw her face after

Casting forth its ladders, it would vanish in shame.

She climbed its steps, it would disappear from shyness

وَلَم يَطُر بِيَ لولا حبُّها غَزَلٌ

وَلَم يَطُر بِيَ لولا حبُّها غَزَلٌ

فساقني حسنُها كرهاً إلى الغَزَلِ

فساقني حسنُها كرهاً إلى الغَزَلِ

But for love of her, no love verse would have borne me aloft;

And my poetry would not have flown were it not for her love

Her beauty drove me, against my will, into love verse.

So her beauty reluctantly led me to poetry

فلو رآها عذولٌ تاب معتذراً

فلو رآها عذولٌ تاب معتذراً

من أنْ يعود إلى شيءٍ من العَذَلِ

من أنْ يعود إلى شيءٍ من العَذَلِ

If a censurer saw her, he would repent with apologies,

If a virgin saw her, he would repent, apologizing

Renouncing any return to reproach.

For ever returning to any part of virginity

مرّتْ بنا وفؤادي لِي فما برحتْ

مرّتْ بنا وفؤادي لِي فما برحتْ

حتّى كأنّ فؤادي قطُّ لم يكُ لِي

حتّى كأنّ فؤادي قطُّ لم يكُ لِي

She passed us, my heart still mine, and did not leave

She passed by us, while my heart was mine, and did not stop

Until it seemed my heart had never once been mine.

Until it was as if my heart had never belonged to me

وزارني طيفُها وَهْناً فأَوْهمني

وزارني طيفُها وَهْناً فأَوْهمني

زيارةً كنتُ أرجوها فلم أَنَلِ

زيارةً كنتُ أرجوها فلم أَنَلِ

Her phantom visited me late at night, making me imagine

Her specter visited me weakly, making me imagine

A visit I had hoped for, yet never attained.

A visit I had hoped for but never attained

هي الزّيارةُ معسولاً تطعُّمُها

هي الزّيارةُ معسولاً تطعُّمُها

وليسَ فيها لنا شيءٌ من العَسَلِ

وليسَ فيها لنا شيءٌ من العَسَلِ

It is a visit honey-sweet to taste,

That is a sugared visit, yet it contains

Yet there is no honey in it for us.

Nothing of honey for us

لو كان طيفُك أوْلانا زيارَته

لو كان طيفُك أوْلانا زيارَته

على الحقيقةِ ما ولَّى على عَجَلِ

على الحقيقةِ ما ولَّى على عَجَلِ

Had your phantom granted us its visit

If your specter had truly visited us

In truth, it would not have turned away in haste.

It would not have turned away so hastily

عَطِيّةُ النومِ مَنعٌ لا اِنتِفاعَ بها

عَطِيّةُ النومِ مَنعٌ لا اِنتِفاعَ بها

للعاشقين وجودُ الطّيف كالبُخُلِ

للعاشقين وجودُ الطّيف كالبُخُلِ

Sleep's gift is denial, offering no benefit;

The gift of sleep is useless

For lovers, the phantom's presence is like miserliness.

For lovers, the specter's existence is like miserliness

فَكيفَ جِئتِ إلينا غيرَ سائرةٍ

فَكيفَ جِئتِ إلينا غيرَ سائرةٍ

على جوادٍ ولا حِدْجٍ على جملِ

على جوادٍ ولا حِدْجٍ على جملِ

How, then, did you come to us without traveling

So how did you come to us not mounted

On a steed or in a litter upon a camel?

On a steed or camel litter

وَكيفَ لَم توقِظي صحبي وقد هجعوا

وَكيفَ لَم توقِظي صحبي وقد هجعوا

برنّةِ الحَليِ أوْ مِن فَغْمَةِ الحُلَلِ

برنّةِ الحَليِ أوْ مِن فَغْمَةِ الحُلَلِ

And how did you not wake my companions, already asleep,

And why did you not wake my companions as they slept

With the chime of jewelry or the wafted fragrance of robes?

By the tinkling of anklets or the rustle of skirts

قد قلتُ للرّكب حثّوا كلَّ سَلْهَبَةٍ

قد قلتُ للرّكب حثّوا كلَّ سَلْهَبَةٍ

جَرْداءَ أو جَسْرَةٍ من أينُقٍ بُزُلِ

جَرْداءَ أو جَسْرَةٍ من أينُقٍ بُزُلِ

I told the riders: urge on every tall mare,

I told the caravan to spur on every bare, smooth camel

Sleek-coated, or every sturdy, full-grown she-camel,

Or short, beautiful foal of the finest pedigree

في مَهْمَهٍ لا ترى فيه لناجيةٍ

في مَهْمَهٍ لا ترى فيه لناجيةٍ

في ظهرها الكُورُ غيرَ الشدِّ والرَّحَلِ

في ظهرها الكُورُ غيرَ الشدِّ والرَّحَلِ

Across a wilderness where you see, for a swift she-camel

In confusion where you see no she-camel for a confidante

With a saddle-frame upon her back, only hard running and saddles.

Except firm saddles and luggage

حُطّوا بعَقْوَةِ ركنِ الدّين واِبتَهِجوا

حُطّوا بعَقْوَةِ ركنِ الدّين واِبتَهِجوا

بالمَنهلِ العَذْبِ أو في المنبَتِ الخَضِلِ

بالمَنهلِ العَذْبِ أو في المنبَتِ الخَضِلِ

Alight in Rukn al-Din's precincts and rejoice

Stop at the cornerstone of religion and rejoice

At the sweet watering-place, or amid the lush growth,

At the fresh springs or the lush planted thickets

حيثُ الملوك ملوكُ الأرض خاشعةٌ

حيثُ الملوك ملوكُ الأرض خاشعةٌ

لمالك الأرضِ والأعناقِ والدُّوَلِ

لمالك الأرضِ والأعناقِ والدُّوَلِ

Where kings—the kings of the earth—bow humbly

Where kings are kings of the earth, bowing

Before the master of earth, of necks, and of dynasties.

To the King of the earth, necks, and states

وجانبٌ تُنهبُ الأموالُ فيه فما

وجانبٌ تُنهبُ الأموالُ فيه فما

يرضى لمن أمّل الأموالَ بالأملِ

يرضى لمن أمّل الأموالَ بالأملِ

And a domain where riches are plundered, yet he will not

And a side where money is plundered, so he who hopes for money

Be content with mere hope for anyone hoping for riches.

Will not be pleased with hopes

ومطرحٌ ليس فيه للملامِ يدٌ

ومطرحٌ ليس فيه للملامِ يدٌ

ولا معابٌ لتفصيلٍ ولا جُمَلِ

ولا معابٌ لتفصيلٍ ولا جُمَلِ

And a haven where blame has no hold,

And a meadow where there is no hand for the blamer

Nor any flaw, in particulars or in the whole.

Nor critic of poems and compositions

ما فيهِ إلّا صريحٌ أو علانيةٌ

ما فيهِ إلّا صريحٌ أو علانيةٌ

بالاِتّفاقِ ولا صلحٌ على دَخَلِ

بالاِتّفاقِ ولا صلحٌ على دَخَلِ

Nothing there but candor or openness

Nothing but straightforward talk or honesty

In agreement, and no peace founded on hidden deceit.

In agreement, no truce for those who enter furtively

كم موقفٍ ثمَّ فيه ليس محتكمٌ

كم موقفٍ ثمَّ فيه ليس محتكمٌ

غيرَ الصّوارمِ والخطّيّةِ الذّبلِ

غيرَ الصّوارمِ والخطّيّةِ الذّبلِ

How many a battlefield there has no arbiter

So many scenes therein, with none to arbitrate

But sharp swords and slender Khatti spears!

Except swords and lethal blades

حيث النّجاءُ مَروقٌ كفُّ طالبه

حيث النّجاءُ مَروقٌ كفُّ طالبه

ومَوْقِدُ الحربِ يرمي القومَ بالشُّعَلِ

ومَوْقِدُ الحربِ يرمي القومَ بالشُّعَلِ

Where the hand of whoever seeks escape comes up empty,

Where salvation for its seeker is grasping his sword

And the kindler of war pelts the host with flames.

And the pyre of war hurls men into flames

شهدتَه بجَنانٍ ما ألَمَّ به

شهدتَه بجَنانٍ ما ألَمَّ به

ذعرٌ ولا مسّه مسٌّ من الوَجَلِ

ذعرٌ ولا مسّه مسٌّ من الوَجَلِ

You faced it with a heart never assailed

You witnessed it in bliss - no panic touched it

By terror, nor touched by any trace of dread.

Nor any contamination of fear

ثَبْت المقامة في دحضٍ مزالقُه

ثَبْت المقامة في دحضٍ مزالقُه

لو زالتِ الصُّمُّ يوماً عنه لم يزُلِ

لو زالتِ الصُّمُّ يوماً عنه لم يزُلِ

Firm in your stance on ground slippery in its footing,

It stood firm in its rejection of pitfalls

Were the solid rocks to shift from it one day, you would not shift.

Were shadows to leave it one day, it would not falter

وأنتَ في ظهر ملطومٍ بغرّته

وأنتَ في ظهر ملطومٍ بغرّته

كأنّه شِدّةً قَدْ قُدَّ مِن جَبَلِ

كأنّه شِدّةً قَدْ قُدَّ مِن جَبَلِ

And you on the back of a steed, its brow struck white,

While you were on its erect, proud back

As though, in strength, it had been hewn from a mountain.

As if it were sheer mountain rock

لا يعرف الطَيشَ في سِلْمٍ وممتلئاً

لا يعرف الطَيشَ في سِلْمٍ وممتلئاً

في ساعة الرَّوع ممّا شئتَ من خَبَلِ

في ساعة الرَّوع ممّا شئتَ من خَبَلِ

It knows no recklessness in peace, yet is filled

Knowing no skittishness on smooth roads, brimming

In the hour of terror with whatever frenzy you desire.

In times of panic with whatever craziness you wished

مُحَكَّمٌ فيه أنّى شاء فارسه

مُحَكَّمٌ فيه أنّى شاء فارسه

للرّيث إنْ رامه طوراً وللعَجَلِ

للرّيث إنْ رامه طوراً وللعَجَلِ

Its rider is master of it, however he chooses,

Controlled by its rider wherever he willed,

For slowness, if at times he seeks it, or for speed.

Calmly for the steady, swiftly for the hasty

فقل لمن شكّ جهلاً في شجاعته

فقل لمن شكّ جهلاً في شجاعته

وإنّه قانصٌ نفسَ الفتى البَطَلِ

وإنّه قانصٌ نفسَ الفتى البَطَلِ

So tell whoever ignorantly doubts his courage—

Say to those who ignorantly doubted its courage

And indeed he hunts the champion youth's soul—

That it rivals the bravest heroic man

من أين تحكم إِلّا في يديه ظُباً

من أين تحكم إِلّا في يديه ظُباً

يوم الكريهة في الأجسام والقُلَلِ

يوم الكريهة في الأجسام والقُلَلِ

Whence can sword-edges rule, except in his two hands,

Where but in its hands can you rely on ibex

On the day of battle, over bodies and heads?

On the day of tribulation, in bodies and hills?

أَوْ مَن سواه تروّى فتقَ طعنتِه

أَوْ مَن سواه تروّى فتقَ طعنتِه

نحرَ المدجّجِ طمآناً من الأَسَلِ

نحرَ المدجّجِ طمآناً من الأَسَلِ

Or who but he calmly considered his thrust's cleaving

Or who but it can you see satisfying his thrust

The armored warrior's throat, unafraid of spears?

Into the throat of armored men with ease?

مَن عالج الملك لولاه وقد طرأتْ

مَن عالج الملك لولاه وقد طرأتْ

على ضواحيه صعباتٌ من العِلَلِ

على ضواحيه صعباتٌ من العِلَلِ

Who, but for him, healed the kingdom when there arose

Who aided the king but it when difficulties

Upon its borders grievous ailments?

Afflicted the outskirts of his domains?

مَن راشَهُ بعد أنْ حُصَّتْ قَوادِمُهُ

مَن راشَهُ بعد أنْ حُصَّتْ قَوادِمُهُ

مَن صانه وهو في أظفارِ مبتذلِ

مَن صانه وهو في أظفارِ مبتذلِ

Who feathered it anew after its flight-feathers were shorn?

Who defended him after his troops were defeated

Who guarded it while it lay in a despoiler's claws?

Who shielded him while in the claws of the debased?

مَن ذبّ عنه ببيصٍ ما عَرفن وقد

مَن ذبّ عنه ببيصٍ ما عَرفن وقد

سُلِلْن في نصره عَوْداً إلى الخِلَلِ

سُلِلْن في نصره عَوْداً إلى الخِلَلِ

Who defended it with gleaming blades that never knew, once

Who warded off from him with a flashing blade what we knew

Drawn in its defense, a return to their sheaths?

When they crept crookedly to help him?

مَن ردّ عنه نيوباً للخطوب وقد

مَن ردّ عنه نيوباً للخطوب وقد

هَفَوْن بالرّأي أو برّحْن بالحِيَلِ

هَفَوْن بالرّأي أو برّحْن بالحِيَلِ

Who warded off from it the fangs of calamities, when they

Who drove away from him the fanged tribulations when they

Swept judgment astray or sorely taxed stratagems?

Swayed with opinions or plotted with cunning?

مَن كفّ أيدِيَ أقوامٍ به عبثوا

مَن كفّ أيدِيَ أقوامٍ به عبثوا

وردّهنّ بما يكرهن من شَلَلِ

وردّهنّ بما يكرهن من شَلَلِ

Who restrained the hands of men who toyed with it,

Who held back the hands of people who had betrayed him

And sent them back with the paralysis they abhorred?

And repelled them with what they hated of being repelled?

لا تحسبنّي كأقوامٍ خبرتَهمُ

لا تحسبنّي كأقوامٍ خبرتَهمُ

قيدوا بأرشيةِ النَّعماءِ والنَّفَلِ

قيدوا بأرشيةِ النَّعماءِ والنَّفَلِ

Do not think me like men you have tested,

Think not of me as the people whose way you knew

Fettered by the cords of blessings and largesse,

Bound by the leashes of singing girls and gifts

بلا قرارٍ على دارٍ يحلّ بها

بلا قرارٍ على دارٍ يحلّ بها

ولا مقامٍ على شيءٍ من السُّبُلِ

ولا مقامٍ على شيءٍ من السُّبُلِ

With no settled stay in a dwelling where they lodge,

With no resolve to stay where they lodged

Nor constancy on any path.

No halting place on any path

فإنّني لك صافٍ غيرُ ذي كَدَرٍ

فإنّني لك صافٍ غيرُ ذي كَدَرٍ

وواردٌ منك عِدّاً غيرَ ذي وَشَلِ

وواردٌ منك عِدّاً غيرَ ذي وَشَلِ

For I am clear and true to you, unclouded,

I am sincere to you, without resentment

And draw from you as from an unfailing spring, never a scanty trickle.

Coming to you again and again, without hesitation

وإنْ تبدّل قومٌ عنك واِنتَقلوا

وإنْ تبدّل قومٌ عنك واِنتَقلوا

فليس لِي منك عُمْرَ الدّهرِ من بَدَلِ

فليس لِي منك عُمْرَ الدّهرِ من بَدَلِ

If others turn away from you and move elsewhere,

If people turned away from you and moved on

I have no replacement for you as long as time endures.

I have no one but you for the life of this world

وإنْ يحولوا ويَضحَوا غيرَ مَن عهدوا

وإنْ يحولوا ويَضحَوا غيرَ مَن عهدوا

فإنّني لم يَزُلْ ودّي ولم يَحُلِ

فإنّني لم يَزُلْ ودّي ولم يَحُلِ

And if they change, becoming other than they once were,

If they change and become other than what they once were

My affection has neither departed nor changed.

My affection remains, does not leave

وإنْ يُمَلّوا وما مُلَّ الجميلُ بهمْ

وإنْ يُمَلّوا وما مُلَّ الجميلُ بهمْ

فإنّني مُعتَقٌ من رِبْقَةِ المَلَلِ

فإنّني مُعتَقٌ من رِبْقَةِ المَلَلِ

And if they are wearied, though kindness has not been wearied by them,

If they weary, though the beautiful does not weary them

I am freed from the tether of weariness.

I am free of the shackles of weariness

خوّلتنِي منك إكراماً يُخَيَّل لِي

خوّلتنِي منك إكراماً يُخَيَّل لِي

أنّ الأنامَ لما خوّلتني خَوَلي

أنّ الأنامَ لما خوّلتني خَوَلي

You have bestowed such honor on me that I imagine

You granted me such honor from you I imagine

Mankind, through what you granted me, are my servants.

People granted me no honor when you honored me

وما جذلتُ لشيء في الزّمان وقدْ

وما جذلتُ لشيء في الزّمان وقدْ

أَسحبتني باِجتبائي حُلَّةَ الجَذَلِ

أَسحبتني باِجتبائي حُلَّةَ الجَذَلِ

I had rejoiced at nothing in this age, yet you

I have not been miserly about anything in life since

Have, by choosing me, made me trail the robe of joy.

You made me wear the garment of generosity

فإنْ وردتُ زلالاً غبَّ معطشةٍ

فإنْ وردتُ زلالاً غبَّ معطشةٍ

ففي ولائك عَلِّي اليومَ أو نَهَلِي

ففي ولائك عَلِّي اليومَ أو نَهَلِي

If I reach clear water after a thirsty tract,

If I come to fresh, gushing water, thirsty

In your patronage lies my second draught today, or my first.

In loyalty to you, water me today or provide me drink

ومذْ وصلتُك دون النّاس كلّهم

ومذْ وصلتُك دون النّاس كلّهم

فقد قطعتُ على خُبْرٍ بهمْ وُصُلِي

فقد قطعتُ على خُبْرٍ بهمْ وُصُلِي

Since I bound myself to you alone among all people,

Since I reached you, apart from all people

I have severed my ties with them, knowing them well.

Indeed, I have cut off my ties and connections with them

ومذْ جعلتُ لظهري منك مستَنَداً

ومذْ جعلتُ لظهري منك مستَنَداً

غَنِيتُ عن أَكَمِ القِيعانِ بالجبلِ

غَنِيتُ عن أَكَمِ القِيعانِ بالجبلِ

Since I made you a support for my back,

Since I made you the pillar upon which my back relies

With the mountain, I need no hillocks of the plains.

I am needless of mountain peaks and crags

فَاِسعَدْ بذا العيد وليمضِ الصّيامُ فقد

فَاِسعَدْ بذا العيد وليمضِ الصّيامُ فقد

أثنى عليك بخير القولِ والعملِ

أثنى عليك بخير القولِ والعملِ

So rejoice in this Eid, and let the fast pass, for it

So be joyous on this feast day and let fasting pass

Has praised you with the best of words and deeds.

For the best words and deeds have praised you

يمضي بلا هفوةٍ في عرضه مرقتْ

يمضي بلا هفوةٍ في عرضه مرقتْ

ولا عثارٍ ولا شيءٍ من الزَّلَلِ

ولا عثارٍ ولا شيءٍ من الزَّلَلِ

It passes with no lapse that has slipped into its course,

Passing with no stumbling in its manner

No stumble, and not a trace of error.

No shame, nothing of lapses

وعشْ مُوَقّىً خطوبَ الدّهرِ محتمياً

وعشْ مُوَقّىً خطوبَ الدّهرِ محتمياً

عمادُ عزّك عن ثلمٍ وعن مَيَلِ

عمادُ عزّك عن ثلمٍ وعن مَيَلِ

And live shielded from time's calamities, with

Live secured from the afflictions of fate

Your glory's pillar guarded from breach and from leaning,

The pillar of your might against any leaning or bending

وثوبُ فخرك لا يُطوى على شَعَثٍ

وثوبُ فخرك لا يُطوى على شَعَثٍ

وشمسُ ملكك لا تُدني إلى طَفَلِ

وشمسُ ملكك لا تُدني إلى طَفَلِ

And your robe of pride never folded in tatters,

And the robe of your pride is not folded over filth

And the sun of your sovereignty never drawing near to dusk.

Nor does the sun of your kingdom near childhood