Death is Preferable for a Youth than His Life by Antarah ibn Shaddad
Death is more favorable for a youth than his life
If a leader is needed to solidify actions,
Then engage with the significant matters, do not allow
Your heart to be subdued by the comforts of pillows.
When the winds come with storms, it incapacitates him,
The night has rendered the camels of the hunt immobile,
And the aftermath of the two rainstorms has caused a dust cloud
In a place with scant water at night that is cold.
This suffices the needs of guests until they are relieved
By the honor of our community, which is noble and brave,
For they see the resolution of issues and their unraveling.
When he received kindness, he did not turn away,
And our brother does not fear malignity when it approaches him,
Nor does he hope for good if he only expects it from one.
When asked: Who will confront the dilemmas? The response is:
The might of our extensive limbs will prevail.
The Heart Knows Best, O Accuser, of Its Ailments by Al-Mutanabbi
The heart is most aware, O accuser, of its ailments
And is more entitled to its eyelids and its tears.
And if I love, I shall defy you in passion,
I swear by Him and by His beauty and splendor.
Can I love him and also love blame?
Indeed, blame within him stems from his adversaries.
The whisperers are astonished by their praises and their words,
Cease to claim that you see me weakened by concealment.
A true friend is only one who cherishes within his heart,
And I perceive with an eye that does not see his equality.
Those who assist in longing through sorrow
Are more deserving of the mercy of their Lord and their kin.
Properly consider, for your admonishment hurts him,
And speak gently, for hearing is one of his senses.
Refrain from Blame, for Blame Aids in Calamities by Ibn al-Rumi
Refrain from blame, for it aids in difficulties,
And do not exceed the limits of admonition.
Not everyone who camps is without merit,
Nor is everyone who journeys without gain.
In pursuit, there is wisdom, and souls are precious,
Yet it is unwise to sell them for desires.
Hope for prolongation remains preferred
Over ownership and profits at the expense of virtues.
While you urged me to gather fuel for my fire, do not abandon
That goodness can warn me of the evils at bay.
You have denied my concern, but it doesn’t deter me
From seeking the pursuits of gain.
Whoever encounters what I have faced in every harvest
From thorny paths should become disenchanted with the choice fruits.
Travel has made me weary of wealth,
And lured me to reject what is sought.
Thus, I find myself in wealth, a reluctant ascetic,
Though I may still yearn for affluence.
Achieving desires makes one cautious yet yearning,
While looking at the abundance as merely an observer.
Separation Has Become a Substitute for Our Union by Ibn Zaydun
Separation has turned into a substitute for our closeness,
And the sweetness of our meetings has been replaced by our disconnection.
And now that the morning of parting has arrived, it has indeed dawned
On us, and there is an announcer mourning our separation.
Who conveys the message to us regarding their distance,
In sorrow, as time continues without fading or losing its grip.
Indeed, the time that once made us laugh,
With their presence, has now returned to make us weep.
Out of envy, adversaries wished for our love to be a source of bitterness,
And called upon fate to conspire with their hopes.
What was once bound within our souls has come undone,
And what was connected by our hands has been severed.
We may encounter a time that fears our parting,
Yet today, we find ourselves wondering about our reunion.
Oh, how I wish to know if our adversaries
Have gained any favor by our separations.
After you, we have believed in nothing but loyalty,
And we have not accepted other beliefs as our faith.
It is my right to ascertain that you do not delight the envious
In us, nor bring joy to those who wish for our distress.
We used to think despair would assuage our troubles,
Yet despair brings us no solace.
Beware of Wine, for It Ensnareth by Abu al-Ala al-Ma’arri
Beware of wine, for it ensnares,
Overcoming all, that overpowering has failed.
The large pitcher of wine is a mischievous she-camel,
For it contains naught but falsity, hardly a remedy.
More ominous than the she-camel of Basus, even when it provides,
O my dear, be cautious if you draw from its depths.
Better indeed are the offerings contained in goblets
Than what the vessels and jars may contain.
If a Person Only Attends to You Out of Pretense by Al-Shafi’i
If a person only attends to you out of pretense,
Then leave them be and do not lament excessively.
For among people, there are substitutes, and in separation, there is peace.
And the heart holds patience for a beloved, even in neglect.
Not everyone whom you cherish truly cherishes you in return,
Nor does everyone with whom you reconcile hold true fidelity.
If the purity of friendship is not inherent,
There is no value in bonds that arise from pretense.
Nor is there value in a friend who betrays his companion,
And meets him with indifference after goodwill.
He will reveal a secret, thought long hidden,
And present a truth that is long forgotten.
Peace be upon the world if it contains not
A sincere friend who honors promises with fairness.