أراك عصي الدمع شيمتك الصبر

Poem Translation:

I see thee with dry eyes, in patience strong,
Does love not bend thee, or its rules prolong?
Yes, longing grips me, with a silent pain,
But men like me no secrets shall explain.
When nightfall drapes, I stretch my hands to love,
And tears, once proud, in humbleness they rove.
A fire, near lit, within my breast doth flare,
By thoughts and passion’s tender, burning care.
She tempts me with reunion, death’s between,
And if I die of thirst, no rain be seen.
I cherished love, but you cast it aside,
Yet in your faults, forgiveness shall abide.
These days are but a script, a fleeting tale,
Each word from fate’s own hand shall not fail.
I loved a beauty, sin was my desire,
But in her joy, forgiveness did conspire.
She listens to the slanderous words of men,
But I am deaf to all their lies again.
I roamed the wilds while kin at home did stay,
For lands where you are not, feel waste and gray.
For you, I fought my kin with love so deep,
Without you, naught but wine and water’s cheap.
And if the rumors true, or false may ring,
Faith’s fortress crumbles by suspicion’s sting.
I kept my vow, though loyalty can be,
A bitter burden, when met with treachery.
She’s dignified, yet youth tempts her to play,
As foals will prance at every fleeting day.
She asks who I am, yet she knows full well,
Can one like me be hidden, none to tell?
I answered as she wished, and passion led,
Your victim, she said, “which of them is dead?”
I said, if you desired, no question need,
For you know all of me, and none to plead.
She answered, “Time has ruined you,” she spoke,
I said, “Not time, but you, my heart’s true yoke.”
Without your love, grief ne’er had found a path,
But love, it leads to ruin in its wrath.
Between jest and earnest, hearts may break,
When distance comes, then only pain we take.
I knew then love holds no more pride for me,
And all I sought is lost in misery.
I turned to fate, her will, I did abide,
Her faults forgiven, yet my wounds denied.
As one who calls a frightened doe afar,
Upon a height, she trembles ‘neath a star.
She flees then stops, and turns her gaze to call,
Her lover lost, green valleys hid his fall.
So blame me not, O cousin dear, for you,
May scorn, but all who roam the plains knew.
And I do not deny, for none could stand,
When fate and missteps pull at victory’s hand.
I lead in battle, all my troops await,
No victory denied, nor fierce their fate.
I charge in fearsome lands, with sharpest eye,
And thirst until my sword is sated, high.
I hunger till the wolves and eagles feed,
Yet no assault without a warning lead.
O many a fortress feared me at dawn’s break,
As death and I upon their gates did wake.
And many a tribe I conquered in my might,
Yet veils and modesty kept me from their sight.
Their riches all I gave, with hand so free,
No shame, no cover lost by charity.
Wealth cannot tempt me, nor poverty bend,
To curb my giving or my honor end.
For what is wealth if honor be not kept?
May riches perish, if disgrace is swept.
I led though not alone, my horse and friends,
Not weak nor rash, but fate on me depends.
My comrades called for flight or bitter end,
I said, both bitter paths, but one must wend.
But I shall choose the way that bears no shame,
And take captivity if glory claim.
They said I sold my safety for my fall,
I said, in loss, I’ve gained no shame at all.
For death will come, no matter what we face,
And life’s best path is one of honor’s grace.
They boast they spared my clothes from bloody thread,
Yet I wear crimson dyed from foes now dead.
My sword stands broken, yet its hilt remains,
And spearheads shattered, yet their tale sustains.
When trials come, my name they shall recall,
As dark nights miss the moonlight’s soothing thrall.
If I shall live, they know my spear and hand,
My sword, my steed, all bow to my command.
If death shall come, as surely it must claim,
Long life or short, all end within its frame.
If others could fill what I once have held,
Gold would be cheap, though silver were expelled.
We are a people, all or nothing be,
For us the foremost rank or else the grave must see.
Our lives we give in search of glory bright,
Who woos the fairest must not spare the fight.
The noblest sons of earth beneath the skies,
We seek the heights of honor, no disguise.

Poem Explanation:

This poem by Abu Firas al-Hamdani speaks of the poet’s struggle between pride, love, and honor. He begins by addressing his internal conflict: while he appears stoic, he is consumed by longing and pain. His love is intense but concealed, as he fights to maintain his dignity. He criticizes those who spread rumors and remain loyal to the woman he loves, even though she does not return his affection in the same way.

As the poem progresses, the poet reflects on the futility of trying to avoid death or misfortune, seeing death as inevitable but preferring it with honor rather than disgrace. He recalls his experiences in battle, emphasizing his bravery, generosity, and refusal to let poverty or wealth affect his values. Ultimately, the poem underscores themes of nobility, honor, and the inescapable nature of fate, presenting a proud figure who values his reputation and principles above all else.