وَابْغِAnd seekالْمَكَاسِبَthe gainsمِنْfromأَزْكَىpurestمَطَالِبِهَاits demands
And seek gains from their purest demands
مِنْFromحَيْثُwhereتَحْمِلُshe bearsحَتَّىuntilيَنْفَدَendsالْأَجَلُthe term
From where she bears until the term ends
وَلِآخَرَAnd to another
And to another:
إِذَاIfمَاeverأَطَالَprolongsالْمَرْءُa manمُكْثاًa stayبِبَلْدَةٍin a town
If a man prolongs a stay in a town
تَقَعَّبَهُit follows himمِنْfromبَعْدِafterحِدَّتِهِits sharpnessنَكْسُa relapse
After its sharpness follows a relapse
وَلَوْAnd ifأَنَّthatهَذِهِthisالشَّمْسَsunدَامَlastedطُلُوعُهَاits rising
And if this sun's rising lasted
أَوْorالْبَدْرُthe full moonلَمْnotيُحْبَبْlovedوَلَاnorحُبَّتِwas lovedالشَّمْسُthe sun
Or the moon were not loved, nor would the sun be loved
فَجُلْSo roamطَالِباًseekingلِلرِّزْقِfor sustenanceفِيinالْأَرْضِthe earthوَاغْتَرِبْand go abroad
So roam seeking sustenance in the earth and go abroad
فَفِيFor inكُلِّeveryأَرْضٍlandلِلْفَتَىfor the youthالْأَكْلُis foodوَاللِّبْسُand clothing
For in every land for the youth is food and clothing
وَلِآخَرَAnd to another
And to another:
وَإِذَاAnd ifالدِّيَارُthe abodesتَنَكَّرَتْgrow unfamiliarعَنْtoأَهْلِهَاtheir people
And if the abodes grow unfamiliar to their people
فَدَعِthen leaveالدِّيَارَthe abodesوَأَسْرِعِand hastenالتَّحْوِيلَاthe moving
Then leave the abodes and hasten the moving
لَيْسَIs notالْمَقَامُthe stayعَلَيْكَupon youحَتْماًan inevitableوَاجِباًduty
Staying is not an inevitable duty upon you
فِيInبَلْدَةٍa townتَدَعُthat leavesالْعَزِيزَthe mightyذَلِيلَاhumiliated
In a town that leaves the mighty humiliated
وَلِآخَرَAnd to another
And to another:
إِذَاIfخِفْتَyou fearمِنْfromدَارٍa houseهَوَاناًhumiliation
If you fear humiliation from a house
فَإِنَّمَاthen indeedيُنْجِيكَsaves youمِنْfromدَارِthe houseالْهَوَانِof humiliationاجْتِنَابُهَاavoiding it
Then indeed avoiding it saves you from the house of humiliation
وَلِآخَرَAnd to another
And to another:
اصْبِرْBe patientعَلَىwithحَدَثِthe vicissitudesالزَّمَانِof time
Be patient with the vicissitudes of time
فَإِنَّمَاfor indeedفَرَجَrelief fromالْحَوَادِثِaccidentsمِثْلُis likeحَلِّuntyingعِقَالِa tether
For indeed relief from accidents is like untying a tether
وَإِذَاAnd ifرَأَيْتَyou seeمِنْfromابْنِsonعَمِّكَof your uncleجَفْوَةًa slight
And if you see a slight from your cousin
فَاشْدُدْthen bindيَدَيْكَyour handsبِعَاجِلِto promptالتِّرْحَالِdeparture
Then bind your hands to prompt departure
إِنَّIndeedالْمَقَامَstayingعَلَىinالْهَوَانِhumiliationمَذَلَّةٌis disgrace
Indeed staying in humiliation is disgrace
وَالْعَجْزَAnd incapacityآفَةُis the plague ofحِيلَةِthe resourcefulness ofالْمُحْتَالِthe resourceful
And incapacity is the plague of the resourceful person's resourcefulness
وَقَدْAndقِيلَit has been saidفِيregardingحُبِّthe love ofالْوَطَنِthe homeland
And it has been said regarding the love of the homeland:
أَحَقُّMost deservingالْبُلْدَانِof citiesبِنَزْعِكَof your yearningإِلَيْهِtowards itبَلَدٌis a countryأَمَصَّكَthat made you suckحَلَبَthe milk ofرَضَاعِهِits nursing
The most deserving city of your yearning is a country that made you suck the milk of its nursing.
وَقِيلَAnd it was saidاحْفَظْpreserveبَلَداًa countryأَرْشَحَكَwhich nourished youغِذَاؤُهُits nourishment
And it was said: Preserve a country whose nourishment nourished you,
وَارْعَand tendحِمًىa sanctuaryأَكَنَّكَthat sheltered youفِنَاؤُهُits courtyard
and tend a sanctuary whose courtyard sheltered you.
وَقِيلَAnd it was saidلَاDo notتَشْكُوَنَّcomplain aboutبَلَداًa townفِيهِin which areقَبَائِلُكَyour tribes
And it was said: Do not complain about a town in which are your tribes
وَلَاnorأَرْضاًan earthفِيهَاin which areقَوَابِلُكَyour midwives
nor a land in which are your midwives.
وَقِيلَAnd it was saidمِنْFromعَلَامَةِthe sign ofالرُّشْدِguidanceأَنْis thatتَكُونَbeالنَّفْسُthe soulإِلَىtowardsأَوْطَانِهَاits homelandsمُشْتَاقَةًyearning
And it was said: From the sign of guidance is that the soul is yearning towards its homelands
وَإِلَىand towardsمَوْلِدِهَاits birthplaceتَوَّاقَةًlonging
and longing towards its birthplace.
قِيلَIt was saidوَلَمَّاAnd whenخَرَجَwent outالرَّشِيدُAl-RashidإِلَىtoخُرَاسَانَKhorasan
It was said: When Al-Rashid went out to Khorasan
وَصَارَand arrivedبِعَقَبَةِat the pass ofهَمَذَانَHamadanأَنْشَأَhe beganيَقُولُreciting
and arrived at the pass of Hamadan, he began reciting:
حَتَّىUntilمَتَىwhenأَنَاam Iفِيinحِلٍّsettlingوَتِرْحَالِand journeying
Until when am I in settling and journeying
وَطُولِAnd length ofهَمٍّworryبِإِدْبَارٍwith declineوَإِقْبَالِand advance
And length of worry with decline and advance
وَنَازِحِAnd distantالدَّارِof abodeلَاdoes notيَنْفَكُّcease to beمُغْتَرِباًa stranger
And distant of abode, he ceases not to be a stranger
عَنِfromالْأَحِبَّةِthe loved onesلَاwhile theyيَدْرُونَknow notمَاwhatحَالِيmy state is
From the loved ones, while they know not what my state is
فِيInمَشْرِقِthe East ofالْأَرْضِthe earthطَوْراًat one timeثُمَّthenمَغْرِبِهَاits West
In the East of the earth at one time, then its West
لَاDoes notيَخْطُرُcrossالْمَوْتُdeathمِنْdue toحِرْصِيmy greedعَلَىuponبَالِيmy mind
Does not death cross my mind due to my greed
وَلَوْAnd ifقَنِعْتُI had been contentأَتَانِيwould have come to meالرِّزْقُsustenanceفِيinدَعَةٍease
And if I had been content, sustenance would have come to me in ease
إِنَّIndeedالْقُنُوعَcontentmentالْغِنَىis wealthلَاnotكَثْرَةُabundance ofالْمَالِwealth
Indeed contentment is wealth, not the abundance of wealth
وَذَكَرُواAnd they mentionedأَنَّthatأَبَاAbuدُلَفٍDulafلَمَّاwhenوَلِيَhe governedالشَّامَthe Levant
And they mentioned that when Abu Dulaf governed the Levant
طَالَprolongedمَقَامُهُhis stayفَحَنَّso he yearnedإِلَىtoوَطَنِهِhis homelandفَكَتَبَand wroteإِلَىtoيَزِيدَYazidبْنِson ofمِخْشٍMikhsh
his stay was prolonged, so he yearned for his homeland and wrote to Yazid ibn Mikhsh:
أَيَزِيدُO Yazidطَالَتْhas prolongedغُرْبَةٌexileوَمَقَامُand stay
O Yazid, exile and stay have been prolonged
وَبُكاًAnd weepingفَأَسْعَدَهُso aided himالْبُكَاءَin weepingحَمَامُa dove
And weeping—so a dove aided him in weeping
أَيَزِيدُO Yazidهَلْis thereمِنْanyمَطْمَعٍhopeفِيofأَوْبَةٍa return
O Yazid, is there any hope of a return
لِمُتَيَّمٍfor a captive of loveطَالَتْhave been longبِهِupon himالْأَيَّامُthe days
For a captive of love upon whom the days have been long
لَعِبَPlayedالْفِرَاقُseparationبِنَوْمِهِwith his sleepفَأَفَاتَهُso it caused him to miss
Separation played with his sleep, so it caused him to miss
طِيبَthe sweetness ofالْكَرَىslumberفَدُمُوعُهُwhile his tearsتِسْجَامُare pouring
The sweetness of slumber, while his tears are pouring
مَاDid notنَامَsleepعَنْهُfrom himوَإِنْeven ifرَقَدْتُمْyou sleptشَوْقُهُhis yearning
His yearning did not sleep from him, even if you slept
وَالشَّوْقُAnd yearningيَسْرِيtravelsوَالْعُيُونُwhile the eyesنِيَامُare sleeping
And yearning travels while the eyes are sleeping
وَالشَّوْقُAnd yearningأَلْزَمَهُcompelled him toالْبُكَاءَweepingفَفَnewUserso his soul
And yearning compelled him to weeping, so his soul
حَرَّىis feverishوَأَذْبَلَand witheredجِسْمَهُhis bodyالتَّهْمَامُconstant anxiety
Is feverish, and constant anxiety withered his body
يَاOطَائِفاًvisitorأَهْدَىwho giftedالسَّلَامَpeaceإِلَىtoفَتًىa youth
O visitor who gifted peace to a youth
تُهْدِيYou giftإِلَيَّto meسَلَامَكَyour greetingالْأَحْلَامُthe dreams
Your greeting is gifted to me by the dreams
أَنَّىHowوَكَيْفَand in what wayيَنَامُcan sleepصَبٌّa passionate loverهَائِمٌinfatuated
How and in what way can a passionate, infatuated lover sleep
أَفْضَتْTo whom were entrustedإِلَيْهِto himبِسِرِّهِwith its secretالْأَقْلَامُthe pens
To whom the pens were entrusted with its secret
يَاOجَانِبَside ofالْأَهْوَازِAhwazجَادَكَmay bestow upon youوَابِلٌa heavy rain
O side of Ahwaz, may a heavy rain bestow upon you
وَسَقَاكَand water youمِنْwithدِيَمِsteady rains ofالرَّبِيعِspringرِهَامُlight showers
And water you with the steady spring rains and light showers
كَمْHow manyفِيكَin youمِنْofشَجَنٍsorrowوَمُأْنِسِand companion ofوَحْشَةٍdesolation
How many sorrows are in you, and companion of desolation
وَمُحَبَّبٍand belovedتُشْفَىare healedبِهِby itالْأَسْقَامُthe illnesses
And beloved by whom illnesses are healed
فَلَئِنْAnd if indeedأَحَلَّكُمَاsettled you bothالزَّمَانُtimeبِبَلْدَةٍin a town
And if indeed time settled you both in a town
مِنْfromدُونِهَاbefore itالْقَفْرَاتُare the desertsوَالْآكَامُand the hills
Before which lie the deserts and the hills
وَشَوَاهِقُAnd toweringتَزَعُthat deterالسَّحَابَthe cloudsشَوَامِخُlofty
And towering, lofty mountains that deter the clouds
لَيْسَتْThey are notوَإِنْeven ifدَأَبَtoiledالْمَطِيُّthe mountsتُرَامُattainable
They are not attainable, even if the mounts toiled
أَرَىI seeالْأَيَّامَthe daysتَجْمَعُgatheringبَيْنَنَاbetween us
I see the days gathering between us
وَالدَّهْرُAnd timeفِيهِin itمَسَرَّةٌis joyوَغَرَامُand passion
And time in it holds joy and passion
أَيَزِيدُO Yazidسَاعَدَكَfavored youالزَّمَانُtimeوَخَانَنَاand betrayed us
O Yazid, time favored you and betrayed us
وَالدَّهْرُAnd timeلَيْسَis notلِحَالَتَيْهِfor its two statesدَوَامُlasting
And time's two states are not lasting
تُمْسِيYou spend the eveningضَجِيعَas the companion ofخَرِيدَةٍa virgin
You spend the evening as the companion of a virgin
وَمُضَاجِعِيwhile my bedfellowعَضْبٌis a sharpحَدِيدُiron-edgedالشَّفْرَتَيْنِtwo-edgedحُسَامُsword
While my bedfellow is a sharp, iron-edged, two-edged sword
وَتَجُرُّAnd you dragأَذْيَالَthe skirts ofالنَّعِيمِblissمُرَفَّلاًtrailing your garments
And you drag the skirts of bliss trailing your garments
وَأَظَلُّwhile I remainيَكْسُونِيclothe meالشُّحُوبُpallorقَتَامُand dust
While I remain clothed in pallor and dust
مُتَسَرِّبلاًclad inحَلَقَlinks ofالْحَدِيدِironيَحُفُّنِيsurrounding me
Clad in links of iron surrounding me
لَجِبٌa clamorous hostيَضِيقُnarrowsبِهِwith itالْفَضَاءُthe spaceلُهَامُvast
A clamorous, vast host with which the space narrows
مِنْFromكُلِّeveryأَشْعَثَdisheveledفِيinالْحَدِيدِironمُقَنَّعٍmasked
From every disheveled man masked in iron
ذَرِبِsharp ofالْحُسَامِswordكَأَنَّهُas if he wereضِرْغَامُa lion
Sharp of sword, as if he were a lion
وَالْحَرْبُAnd warحِرْفَتُنَاis our craftوَلَيْسَتْand is notحِرْفَةًa craft
And war is our craft and is not a craft
إِلَّاexceptلِمَنْfor the one whoهُوَhe isفِيinالْوَغَىbattleمِقْدَامُvaliant
Except for the one who is valiant in battle
نُعَرِّيWe bareالسِّيُوفَthe swordsفَلَاand they remainتَزَالُcease not to beعَرِيَّةًbare
We bare the swords, and they cease not to be bare
حَتَّىuntilتَكُونَareجُفُونُهُنَّtheir scabbardsالْهَامُthe skulls
Until their scabbards are the skulls
مَاWhat hasلِلزَّمَانِtimeاعْتَاقَنَاhindered usمِنْfromبَيْنِكُمْamong you
What has time hindered us from among you
فَجَرَتْso flewعَلَيْنَاat usلِلزَّمَانِof timeسِهَامُarrows
So arrows of time flew at us
يَاOلَيْتَهُwould that itإِذْsinceلَمْdid notيَدُمْlastإِحْسَانُهُits benevolence
O would that it, since its benevolence did not last
أَنْthatلَاnotيَكُونَthere beلِمَاfor whatأَسَاءَit did evillyدَوَامُlasting
That what it did of evil would not last
فَبَلَغَSo reachedشِعْرُهُhis poetryالْمَأْمُونَAl-Ma'munفَقَالَso he said
So his poetry reached Al-Ma'mun, and he said:
حَنَّYearnedالْقَاسِمُAl-Qasimبْنُson ofعِيسَىIsaإِلَىtoوَطَنِهِhis homeland
Al-Qasim ibn Isa has yearned for his homeland,
فَأَمَرَهُso he commanded himبِالْانْصِرَافِto depart
so he commanded him to depart.
قَالَSaidالْأَصْمَعِيُّAl-Asma'iقَدِمَArrivedسَعِيدُSaeedبْنُson ofصَمْصَمٍSamsam
Al-Asma'i said: Saeed ibn Samsam arrived
عَلَىtoالْحَسَنِAl-Hasanبْنِson ofسَهْلٍSahlفَأَنْشَدَهُand he recited to himالْقَصِيدَةَthe poem
to Al-Hasan ibn Sahl and recited to him the poem
يَصِفُdescribingفِيهَاin itحَنِينَهُhis yearningإِلَىtoسُوءِthe badحَالِهِstate of hisبِالْبَادِيَةِin the desertوَيَسْتَمِيحُهُand seeking his bounty
describing in it his yearning regarding his poor condition in the desert and seeking his bounty:
سُقْياًRainلِحَيٍّfor a neighborhoodبِاللِّوَىat Al-LiwaعَهِدْتُهُمْI knew them
Rain for a neighborhood at Al-Liwa, I knew them
مُنْذُsinceزَمَانٍa timeثُمَّthenهَذَاthisرَبْعُهُمْis their abode
Since a time, then this is their abode
عَهِدْتُهُمْI knew themوَالْعَيْشُwhile lifeفِيهِin itغُرَّةٌis radiant
I knew them while life in it was radiant
وَلَمْAnd notيُنَاوِdisruptedالْحَدَثَانُthe vicissitudes of timeشَعْبَهُمْtheir union
And the vicissitudes of time had not disrupted their union