تذكر عن شَحطٍ أُمَيمَةَ فارعَوَى

تذكر عن شَحطٍ أُمَيمَةَ فارعَوَى

لها بعد إكثارٍ وطولِ نحِيبِ

لها بعد إكثارٍ وطولِ نحِيبِ

He remembered Umaymah from afar, then checked himself and came to his senses

He remembered Umaymah from afar, then came to his senses,

on her account, after much lamentation and prolonged sobbing.

after much, prolonged sobbing for her.

وإن أمرأً قد جَرَّب الدهرَ لم يَخَف

وإن أمرأً قد جَرَّب الدهرَ لم يَخَف

تَقلُّبَ عَصرَيهِ لغيرُ لَبيبِ

تَقلُّبَ عَصرَيهِ لغيرُ لَبيبِ

Indeed, a man who has experienced Time yet does not fear

And a man who has experienced time yet does not fear

the reversals of its two ages is surely no man of sense.

the changes of its day and night is surely unwise.

هل الدهرُ والأيامُ إلا كما تَرَى

هل الدهرُ والأيامُ إلا كما تَرَى

رزيئةُ مالٍ أو فراقُ حَبيبِ

رزيئةُ مالٍ أو فراقُ حَبيبِ

Are Time and the days anything but—as you see—

Are time and the days anything but what you see—

the loss of wealth or parting from a beloved?

loss of wealth or parting from a loved one?

وكلُّ الذي يأتي فأنتَ نسيبُهُ

وكلُّ الذي يأتي فأنتَ نسيبُهُ

ولستَ لشيءٍ ذاهبٍ بنسيبِ

ولستَ لشيءٍ ذاهبٍ بنسيبِ

And all that is yet to come—you are its kinsman;

And whatever is to come, you are its kin,

but you are kin to nothing that has gone.

but you are no kin to anything that has gone.

وليس بعيداً كُلُّ آت كمقبلٍ

وليس بعيداً كُلُّ آت كمقبلٍ

ولا ما مضى من مفرح بقريب

ولا ما مضى من مفرح بقريب

No coming thing is far away—it is like one drawing near;

And all that is to come is not far off, like something approaching,

nor is any gladdening thing that has passed near.

nor is any bygone joy close at hand.

ولا تَيأَسَنَّ الدَهرَ مِنّ حُبِّ كاشِحٍ

ولا تَيأَسَنَّ الدَهرَ مِنّ حُبِّ كاشِحٍ

ولا تأمَنَنَّ الدَهر صرمَ حبيبِ

ولا تأمَنَنَّ الدَهر صرمَ حبيبِ

Never, for all your days, despair of a spiteful foe’s affection,

And never despair of a foe's love,

nor ever feel secure against a beloved’s estrangement.

nor ever feel safe from a loved one's estrangement.

لعمريَ ما شتمي لكم إن شتمتكُم

لعمريَ ما شتمي لكم إن شتمتكُم

بِسِرٍّ ولا مَشيي لكم بِدَبيبِ

بِسِرٍّ ولا مَشيي لكم بِدَبيبِ

By my life, if I revile you, my reviling of you

By my life, my insults to you—if I insult you—

is no secret, nor is my advance against you a stealthy crawl.

are no secret, nor do I creep stealthily toward you.

ولا ودُّكُم عندي بعِلقِ مِضِنَّةٍ

ولا ودُّكُم عندي بعِلقِ مِضِنَّةٍ

ولا قَذعُكُم عندي بحدِّ مهيبِ

ولا قَذعُكُم عندي بحدِّ مهيبِ

Nor is your affection, in my eyes, a precious treasure to be jealously hoarded,

Nor is your affection, to me, a treasure to be jealously guarded,

nor is your foul abuse, in my eyes, a fearsome blade.

nor are your insults, to me, a fearsome edge.

إذا ما تَقَسَّمتُم تُراثَ أبيكُمُ

إذا ما تَقَسَّمتُم تُراثَ أبيكُمُ

فلا تقربوني قد شَفَهتُ نصيبي

فلا تقربوني قد شَفَهتُ نصيبي

When you divide your father’s inheritance among yourselves,

When you divide your father's inheritance among yourselves,

do not bring me near: I have already exhausted my share.

then do not approach me: I have already taken my full share.