عَلى مَ وَفي مَ ظُلماً تَلحَياني

عَلى مَ وَفي مَ ظُلماً تَلحَياني

ذَراني لا أَبا لَكُما ذَراني

ذَراني لا أَبا لَكُما ذَراني

For what, and over what, do you two unjustly reproach me?

In my darkness, two serpents coil around me,

Leave me—may you two have no father—leave me.

Leave me be, I want naught of you, leave me be,

وَحَسبُكُما فَما سَمعي بِمُصغٍ

وَحَسبُكُما فَما سَمعي بِمُصغٍ

وَلا واعٍ لِما تَتَحَدَّثانِ

وَلا واعٍ لِما تَتَحَدَّثانِ

Enough, you two: my hearing does not listen,

You’ve had your fill, my ears hear no whisper,

nor heed what you two say.

Nor are they aware of your endless chatter.

فَلي هِمَمٌ إِذا جاشَت أَرَتني

فَلي هِمَمٌ إِذا جاشَت أَرَتني

قُرى عَمّان مِيلاً مِن عُمانِ

قُرى عَمّان مِيلاً مِن عُمانِ

For I have ambitions that, when they surge, make me see

When passion surges in me, it shows me

the villages of Amman a mile from Oman.

A glimpse of Oman from the land of Oman.

إِذا سُولِمتُما فَتَناسَياني

إِذا سُولِمتُما فَتَناسَياني

وَإِن أُسلِمتُما فَتَذَكَّراني

وَإِن أُسلِمتُما فَتَذَكَّراني

If you two are left in peace, put me out of mind;

When you two are reconciled, you forget me,

and if you two are abandoned, remember me.

When you clash, you suddenly remember me.

فَمِثلي مَن يُقيمُ صَغى الأَعادي

فَمِثلي مَن يُقيمُ صَغى الأَعادي

وَيُستَعدى عَلى نُوَبِ الزَمانِ

وَيُستَعدى عَلى نُوَبِ الزَمانِ

For one like me sets enemies' crookedness straight

I'm like one who bears the insults of enemies,

and is called upon against the calamities of time.

And is blamed for the evils of time.

وَما ذِكرُ المَنِيَّةِ عِندَ أَمرٍ

وَما ذِكرُ المَنِيَّةِ عِندَ أَمرٍ

أُحاوِلُهُ بِثانٍ مِن عِناني

أُحاوِلُهُ بِثانٍ مِن عِناني

Nor does the mention of death, in an undertaking

To speak of death when immersed in a task,

I pursue, turn aside my rein.

I grip the reins tighter, no matter what comes to pass.

إِذا يَومي أَظَلَّ فَما أُبالي

إِذا يَومي أَظَلَّ فَما أُبالي

بِسَيفٍ كانَ حَتفي أَو سِنانِ

بِسَيفٍ كانَ حَتفي أَو سِنانِ

When my appointed day overshadows me, I do not care

When my day darkens, what care I,

whether my death comes by sword or spearhead.

Whether the sword or the spear claims my life.

وَمَن يَكُ عُمرُهُ المَكتُوبُ تِسعاً

وَمَن يَكُ عُمرُهُ المَكتُوبُ تِسعاً

فَلا يَخشى المَنِيَّةَ في الثَمانِ

فَلا يَخشى المَنِيَّةَ في الثَمانِ

And he whose allotted lifespan is nine

He whose allotted span is but nine years,

does not fear death at eight.

Has no cause for fear in his eighth year.

وَبُعدٌ عَن أَخٍ لِأَبٍ وَأُمٍّ

وَبُعدٌ عَن أَخٍ لِأَبٍ وَأُمٍّ

إِذا ما عَقَّ خَيرٌ مِن تَدانِ

إِذا ما عَقَّ خَيرٌ مِن تَدانِ

And distance from a brother of the same father and mother,

Being away from dear father and mother,

when he breaks the bond, is better than closeness.

Is better than staying close in disgrace.

فَلا يَتَوَهَّمِ السُفَهاءُ أَنّي

فَلا يَتَوَهَّمِ السُفَهاءُ أَنّي

أَحِنُّ إِلى غَوانٍ أَو مَغانِ

أَحِنُّ إِلى غَوانٍ أَو مَغانِ

So let fools not suppose that I

Let not fools think I yearn,

yearn for beautiful women or familiar abodes,

For singing girls or wine containers.

وَلا أَنّي أَرى وَالمَوتُ حَتمٌ

وَلا أَنّي أَرى وَالمَوتُ حَتمٌ

بِعَينِ جَلالَةٍ مَن لا يَراني

بِعَينِ جَلالَةٍ مَن لا يَراني

nor that, death being inevitable, I regard

Nor that I see death as certain,

with reverence anyone who does not regard me.

With awe, as one who cannot see me.

عَظيمُ الناسِ في عَيني حَقيرٌ

عَظيمُ الناسِ في عَيني حَقيرٌ

إِذا بِالمُقلَةِ الخَوصا رَآني

إِذا بِالمُقلَةِ الخَوصا رَآني

The greatest of men is contemptible in my eyes

The greatest of men are petty in my eyes,

if he looks at me through a narrowed eye.

When viewed through the slit of my helmet.

مُحالٌ أَن أُواصِلَ مَن جَفاني

مُحالٌ أَن أُواصِلَ مَن جَفاني

وَأَسمَحَ بِالوِدادِ لِمَن قَلاني

وَأَسمَحَ بِالوِدادِ لِمَن قَلاني

It is impossible for me to keep ties with one who shuns me,

It’s absurd to reconcile with those who spurned me,

or freely offer love to one who hates me.

Or show affection to those who resented me.

وَأَرعَنَ ظَلَّ يَنفُضُ مِذرَوَيهِ

وَأَرعَنَ ظَلَّ يَنفُضُ مِذرَوَيهِ

وَيُبرِقُ لي وَيُرعِدُ بِاللسانِ

وَيُبرِقُ لي وَيُرعِدُ بِاللسانِ

And a fool kept shaking his haunches,

A shadow roared and rumbled,

flashing lightning at me and thundering with his tongue.

Flashing lightning and thunder at me.

فَقُلتُ لَهُ وَقَد حَنظى وَأَربى

فَقُلتُ لَهُ وَقَد حَنظى وَأَربى

خَرِستَ أَلِي تُقَعقِعُ بِالشِنانِ

خَرِستَ أَلِي تُقَعقِعُ بِالشِنانِ

I said to him, when he had grown foul-mouthed and gone too far:

I said to it as it growled and snarled,

May you be struck dumb! Do you rattle dry waterskins at me?

"Be silent, O thing that clanks with bells!"

دَعِ الخُيلاءَ عَنكَ وَلا تُخاطِر

دَعِ الخُيلاءَ عَنكَ وَلا تُخاطِر

قُروماً كُلُّها ضَخمُ الجِرانِ

قُروماً كُلُّها ضَخمُ الجِرانِ

Put aside your swagger, and do not challenge

Leave your arrogance, do not wager,

camel stallions, each with a massive neck.

Against a tribe, all broad-chested warriors.

وَخاطِر مِثلَ قعدانِ الجَزارِي

وَخاطِر مِثلَ قعدانِ الجَزارِي

إِذا جاءَت تُساقُ مِنَ الكُرانِ

إِذا جاءَت تُساقُ مِنَ الكُرانِ

Instead, challenge the likes of the butchers' young camels,

Do not take chances like cattle led

when they come driven from al-Kuran.

To the slaughter, driven in from the pens.

فَغَيرُ مُنَفِّرٍ لِلدِّيكِ عُرفٌ

فَغَيرُ مُنَفِّرٍ لِلدِّيكِ عُرفٌ

عَلى البازِي المُطِلِّ وَرِيشَتانِ

عَلى البازِي المُطِلِّ وَرِيشَتانِ

For a cock's comb is no deterrent

Custom prevents the rooster from being alarmed,

to the hawk looming above, nor are two feathers.

By the hawk gliding above, feathers spread.

عَلى أَنَّ الأَرازِلَ حَيثُ كانُوا

عَلى أَنَّ الأَرازِلَ حَيثُ كانُوا

وَإِن أُحرِجت مِنّي في أَمانِ

وَإِن أُحرِجت مِنّي في أَمانِ

Yet the lowly, wherever they may be,

The vile wretches, wherever they are,

are safe from me, even if I am provoked.

Have my forbearance, though they vex me.

يَعافُ لُحُومَهُم كِبراً حُسامي

يَعافُ لُحُومَهُم كِبراً حُسامي

وَيَأبى سَبَّهُم كَرَماً لِساني

وَيَأبى سَبَّهُم كَرَماً لِساني

My sword disdains their flesh out of pride,

My noble soul disdains insulting them,

and my tongue refuses to insult them out of generosity.

My tongue refuses to malign them.

وَقائِلَةٍ وَأَدمُعُها تَوامٌ

وَقائِلَةٍ وَأَدمُعُها تَوامٌ

تَساقُطُها كَمُرفَضِّ الجُمانِ

تَساقُطُها كَمُرفَضِّ الجُمانِ

And a woman said, her tears falling two by two,

A woman wept copious tears,

their fall like scattered pearls,

That poured like the sagging branches of a Jummana tree.

وَقَد نَظَرَت إِلى عِيسي وَرَحلي

وَقَد نَظَرَت إِلى عِيسي وَرَحلي

وَسَوطي وَالحَقيبَةِ وَالفِتانِ

وَسَوطي وَالحَقيبَةِ وَالفِتانِ

after she had looked at my pale camels and my saddle,

She looked upon my saddle, provisions and gear,

my whip, the saddlebag, and the saddle-cover:

My whip, satchel, and swords in their sheaths.

أَكُلُّ الدَهرِ نَأيٌ وَاِغتِرابٌ

أَكُلُّ الدَهرِ نَأيٌ وَاِغتِرابٌ

أَما لِدُنُوِّ دارِكَ مِن تَدانِ

أَما لِدُنُوِّ دارِكَ مِن تَدانِ

Is all of life to be distance and exile?

Estrangement and separation is the fate of all,

Is there no way of drawing near to your home?

Is there no way to draw nearer your abode?

لِمالٍ أَو لِعِزٍّ أَو لِعلمٍ

لِمالٍ أَو لِعِزٍّ أَو لِعلمٍ

تُعاني وَيبَ غَيرِكَ ما تُعاني

تُعاني وَيبَ غَيرِكَ ما تُعاني

Is it for wealth, or honor, or knowledge

You suffer for wealth, glory, or knowledge,

that you endure—woe to someone other than you!—what you endure?

While others enjoy what you suffer for.

تَغَنَّ بِما رُزِقتَ فَكُلَّ شَيءٍ

تَغَنَّ بِما رُزِقتَ فَكُلَّ شَيءٍ

خَلا مَن قَدَّرَ الأَشياءَ فانِ

خَلا مَن قَدَّرَ الأَشياءَ فانِ

Be content with what you have been granted, for everything

Be content with what you are given, everything,

except the One who ordained all things must perish.

Except the One who ordained all things, will perish.

وَلِج بابَ الخُمولِ فَذا زَمانٌ

وَلِج بابَ الخُمولِ فَذا زَمانٌ

أَباحَ اليَعرَ لَحمَ الشَيذُمانِ

أَباحَ اليَعرَ لَحمَ الشَيذُمانِ

And enter the gate of obscurity, for this is an age

Seek the refuge of stillness, for these are times,

that has allowed a kid to eat the lion's flesh.

That permit the vulture to feast on dove meat.

وَلا تَتَجَشّمِ الأَهوالَ كَيما

وَلا تَتَجَشّمِ الأَهوالَ كَيما

يُقالُ بَنى فَأَعجَزَ كُلَّ بانِ

يُقالُ بَنى فَأَعجَزَ كُلَّ بانِ

Do not brave terrors just so

Do not take on tribulations, lest it be said,

people may say, 'He built and outdid every builder.'

"He was bested, though all lent him support!"

فَقُلتُ لَها إِلَيكِ فَعَن قَليلٍ

فَقُلتُ لَها إِلَيكِ فَعَن قَليلٍ

أُعَرِّفُ مَن تَجاهَلَني مَكاني

أُعَرِّفُ مَن تَجاهَلَني مَكاني

I said to her: Leave me be; before long

I said to her, soon I will make plain,

I shall make my standing known to those who pretend not to know me.

To those feigning ignorance, who I am.

فَقَد شاوَرتُ يا رَعناءُ عَزمي

فَقَد شاوَرتُ يا رَعناءُ عَزمي

مِراراً في الخُمولِ وَقَد نَهاني

مِراراً في الخُمولِ وَقَد نَهاني

For I have consulted my resolve, foolish woman,

O tender one, I have often deliberated,

often about obscurity, and it has forbidden me.

On remaining still, though it is forbidden me.

وَكَيفَ يَرى الخُمولَ فَتىً أَبُوهُ

وَكَيفَ يَرى الخُمولَ فَتىً أَبُوهُ

أَبي وَجنانُهُ الماضي جَناني

أَبي وَجنانُهُ الماضي جَناني

How could a young man choose obscurity whose father

How can one whose father was my father,

is my father, and whose steadfast heart is mine?

Whose bygone Paradise was also mine, abide stillness?

سَأَرحَلُ رِحلَةً تَذَرُ المَطايا

سَأَرحَلُ رِحلَةً تَذَرُ المَطايا

وَشارِفَها الخُدَيَّةَ كَالإِهانِ

وَشارِفَها الخُدَيَّةَ كَالإِهانِ

I shall make a journey that leaves the riding camels

I will journey a journey that leaves disgrace

and even their swift old she-camels like palm-stalks.

As close as a stain on my cheek.

فَإِمّا أَن أَعيشَ مَصادَ عِزٍّ

فَإِمّا أَن أَعيشَ مَصادَ عِزٍّ

لِمَجنِيٍّ عَلَيهِ أَو لِجانِ

لِمَجنِيٍّ عَلَيهِ أَو لِجانِ

Either I shall live as a mountain refuge of might

Either I will live with glory and pride,

for the wronged or the wrongdoer,

Vanquishing a challenger or assisting an ally.

وَإِمّا أَن أَمُوتَ وَما عَلَيها

وَإِمّا أَن أَمُوتَ وَما عَلَيها

سِوى مَن خافَني أَو مَن رَجاني

سِوى مَن خافَني أَو مَن رَجاني

or I shall die, with none on earth

Or I will die with no burden upon her,

but those who feared me or hoped in me.

Except those who feared or hoped in me.

فَمَوتُ الحُرِّ خَيرٌ مِن حَياةٍ

فَمَوتُ الحُرِّ خَيرٌ مِن حَياةٍ

يُقاسي عِندَها ذُلَّ الهَوانِ

يُقاسي عِندَها ذُلَّ الهَوانِ

For a free man's death is better than a life

For death with honor is better than a life,

in which he suffers the humiliation of disgrace.

Where one suffers utter humiliation.

أَأَخلُد بَينَ خِبٍّ أُسحُوانٍ

أَأَخلُد بَينَ خِبٍّ أُسحُوانٍ

يُماكِرُني وَجِلفٍ حِنظِيانِ

يُماكِرُني وَجِلفٍ حِنظِيانِ

Shall I settle among a lanky, crafty rogue

Shall I languish between ungrateful proteges,

who plots against me, and a coarse, foul-mouthed brute?

Who betray me, and unrefined upstarts?

يُوَفَّرُ ما عَنى هَيُّ بنُ بَيٍّ

يُوَفَّرُ ما عَنى هَيُّ بنُ بَيٍّ

عِناداً لِي وَيُؤكَلُ ما عَناني

عِناداً لِي وَيُؤكَلُ ما عَناني

What concerns Hayy ibn Bayy is kept intact

Shall I let the wolves of Bani Baih,

to spite me, while what concerns me is consumed.

Defy me out of spite and devour what I defend?

تَرى أَنّي بِذا أَرضى وَعَزمي

تَرى أَنّي بِذا أَرضى وَعَزمي

يَضيقُ بِمُقتَضاهُ الخافِقانِ

يَضيقُ بِمُقتَضاهُ الخافِقانِ

Do you think I would accept this, when my resolve

Do you think I would accept this, when my spirit,

makes both horizons too narrow for its demands?

Chafes under the constraints it imposes?

وَبَيتي دُونَ مَحتدِهِ الثُرَيّا

وَبَيتي دُونَ مَحتدِهِ الثُرَيّا

وَجاراتُ السُهى وَالشِّعرَيانِ

وَجاراتُ السُهى وَالشِّعرَيانِ

And beneath the ancestral seat of my house lie the Pleiades,

While my home is beneath the Thurayya constellation,

Suha's neighboring stars, and the two Shi'ras.

With the neighborhoods of Suhay and Shi'ran closeby.

وَلِي بِفَصاحَةِ الأَلفاظِ قُسٌّ

وَلِي بِفَصاحَةِ الأَلفاظِ قُسٌّ

يُقِرُّ وَدَغفَلٌ وَالأَعشَيانِ

يُقِرُّ وَدَغفَلٌ وَالأَعشَيانِ

And in eloquence of speech, Quss

My eloquence is unmatched by all tribes,

concedes to me, as do Daghfal and the two A'shas.

Daghfal, Dou Jannan or Al-A'shai can attest.

وَلَستُ إِذا تَشاجَرَتِ العَوالي

وَلَستُ إِذا تَشاجَرَتِ العَوالي

بِغمرٍ في اللِّقاءِ وَلا جَبانِ

بِغمرٍ في اللِّقاءِ وَلا جَبانِ

And when the spears interlock, I am not

When the nobles quarrel, I plunge into the fray,

untried in combat, nor a coward.

Neither passive, nor fleeing in cowardice.

وَلَكِنّي حُدَيّا كُلِّ يَومٍ

وَلَكِنّي حُدَيّا كُلِّ يَومٍ

تَلاقى عِندَهُ حَلَقُ البِطانِ

تَلاقى عِندَهُ حَلَقُ البِطانِ

But I am the match for every day

Rather each day I am the impetuous hero,

when the saddle-girth's rings meet.

Where the elite and nobility gather.

أَخُو الكَرَمِ العَتيدِ وَذُو المَقالِ الس

أَخُو الكَرَمِ العَتيدِ وَذُو المَقالِ الس

سدِيدِ وَمِدرَهُ الحَربِ العَوانِ

سدِيدِ وَمِدرَهُ الحَربِ العَوانِ

A man of ready generosity and of speech that is

Brother of the generous, and wise in speech,

sound, and the champion of renewed war.

My lances pierce, my blade cuts sure.

وَلَولا السَيفُ ما سَجَدَت قُرَيشٌ

وَلَولا السَيفُ ما سَجَدَت قُرَيشٌ

وَلا قامَت تُثَوِّبُ بِالأَذانِ

وَلا قامَت تُثَوِّبُ بِالأَذانِ

Were it not for the sword, Quraysh would not have prostrated,

Had it not been for the sword, Quraish would not bow,

nor risen to repeat the call to prayer.

Or stand to make the call to prayer.

رَأَيتُ العُمرَ بِالساعاتِ يَفنى

رَأَيتُ العُمرَ بِالساعاتِ يَفنى

وَتُنفِدُهُ الثَوالِثُ وَالثَواني

وَتُنفِدُهُ الثَوالِثُ وَالثَواني

I have seen life wasting away by the hour,

I have seen life fade hour by hour,

and sixtieths of a second and seconds exhaust it.

As days and moments slip away.

وَبَينَ عَسى وَعَلَّ وَسَوفَ يَأتي ال

وَبَينَ عَسى وَعَلَّ وَسَوفَ يَأتي ال

حِمامُ وَآفَةُ العَجزِ التَواني

حِمامُ وَآفَةُ العَجزِ التَواني

Between 'perhaps,' 'maybe,' and 'later,' comes

Between "perhaps" and "if only" old age will come,

death; the blight of weakness is delay.

Bringing weakness, the cause of all sorrow.

فَآهِ مِن التَفَرُّقِ وَالتَنائِي

فَآهِ مِن التَفَرُّقِ وَالتَنائِي

وَآهِ مِن التَجَمُّعِ وَالتَداني

وَآهِ مِن التَجَمُّعِ وَالتَداني

Ah, for separation and distance!

Alas the partings and separations!

And ah, for gathering and closeness!

Alas the unions and intimacies!

بَلى إِنّي رَأَيتُ البُعدَ أَولى

بَلى إِنّي رَأَيتُ البُعدَ أَولى

وَما الخَبَرُ المُطَوَّحُ كَالعِيانِ

وَما الخَبَرُ المُطَوَّحُ كَالعِيانِ

Indeed, I have found distance preferable;

But I saw that distance is best,

far-flung hearsay is not like seeing with one's own eyes.

For reports can never match eyewitness.

فَصَبَّحَ سَرحِيَ الأَعداءُ إِن لَم

فَصَبَّحَ سَرحِيَ الأَعداءُ إِن لَم

أُصبِّحها بِيَومٍ أَروَنانِ

أُصبِّحها بِيَومٍ أَروَنانِ

May the enemies raid my grazing herd at dawn if I do not

If I do not rouse the foe at dawn,

bring them a tumultuous day at dawn.

They will awaken me with a painful dawn.

وَضافَنيَ الرَّدى إِن بِتُّ ضَيفاً

وَضافَنيَ الرَّدى إِن بِتُّ ضَيفاً

لَدى كَلبٍ يَهِرُّ وَجَردبانِ

لَدى كَلبٍ يَهِرُّ وَجَردبانِ

May death be my guest if I spend the night as a guest

And if I do not confront adversity,

with a growling dog and a greedy food-hoarder.

I will be a guest of a snarling cur.

أَنا اِبنُ النازِلينَ بِكُلِّ ثَغرٍ

أَنا اِبنُ النازِلينَ بِكُلِّ ثَغرٍ

كَفيلٍ بِالضِّرابِ وَبِالطِّعانِ

كَفيلٍ بِالضِّرابِ وَبِالطِّعانِ

I am the son of those who encamp at every frontier

I am the son of those who camped in every land,

that promises sword-strokes and spear-thrusts.

Skilled with spears and skilled with swords.

نَماني مِن رَبيعَةَ كُلُّ قَرمٍ

نَماني مِن رَبيعَةَ كُلُّ قَرمٍ

هِجانٍ جاءَ مِن قَرمٍ هِجانِ

هِجانٍ جاءَ مِن قَرمٍ هِجانِ

Every noble lord of Rabi'a gave me my lineage,

The clans of Rabi'ah wherever they are,

pure-bred, descended from a pure-bred lord.

Fear me, for I came from fearsome clans.

أَبي مَن قَد عَلِمتَ وَلَيسَ يَخفى

أَبي مَن قَد عَلِمتَ وَلَيسَ يَخفى

بِضاحي شَمسِ يَومٍ إِضحِيانِ

بِضاحي شَمسِ يَومٍ إِضحِيانِ

My father is the man you know, and he is not hidden

You know who my father is, and his light shone

in the open sunlight of a cloudless day.

Clear like the sun on a feast day.

سَلِ العُلماءَ يا ذا الجَهلِ عَنهُ

سَلِ العُلماءَ يا ذا الجَهلِ عَنهُ

وَنارُ الحَربِ ساطِعَةُ الدُخانِ

وَنارُ الحَربِ ساطِعَةُ الدُخانِ

Ask the learned about him, you ignorant man,

O ignorant one, ask the scholars about him,

while the fire of war sent smoke billowing upward,

For in war his fire raged bright.

غَداةَ كَفى العَشيرَةَ ما عَناها

غَداةَ كَفى العَشيرَةَ ما عَناها

بِعَزمَةِ ماجِدٍ كافٍ مُعانِ

بِعَزمَةِ ماجِدٍ كافٍ مُعانِ

on the morning he spared the clan what beset it,

One morning his determination sufficed,

with the resolve of a noble man, capable and aided.

To defend the tribe with his potent support.

وَقَد كَثُرَ التَعازي في أُناسٍ

وَقَد كَثُرَ التَعازي في أُناسٍ

حِذارَ المَوتِ مِن بَعدِ التَهاني

حِذارَ المَوتِ مِن بَعدِ التَهاني

When condolences had multiplied among people,

Did not Fate find in him a heart,

for fear of death, after congratulations,

More steadfast than mountains against afflictions?

فَعَمَّت تِلكُمُ النَعماءُ مِنهُ

فَعَمَّت تِلكُمُ النَعماءُ مِنهُ

نِزاريَّ الأُبُوَّةِ وَاليَماني

نِزاريَّ الأُبُوَّةِ وَاليَماني

that blessing from him encompassed

On the eve of Aamir and the clan of Ali,

those of Nizari paternal descent and the Yemenis.

He stood like a dam holding back floods.

وَيَومَ عَلا بِجَرعاءِ المُصَلّى

وَيَومَ عَلا بِجَرعاءِ المُصَلّى

عَجاجٌ غابَ فيهِ المَسجِدانِ

عَجاجٌ غابَ فيهِ المَسجِدانِ

And on the day when, over the sandy tract of al-Musalla,

And my uncle who was selfless in battle,

dust rose until the two mosques vanished within it,

Like one wrapped in a scarlet robe.

أَلم يَلقَ الرَدى مِنهُ بِقَلبٍ

أَلم يَلقَ الرَدى مِنهُ بِقَلبٍ

عَلى الأَهوالِ أَثبتَ مِن أَبانِ

عَلى الأَهوالِ أَثبتَ مِن أَبانِ

did he not face death there with a heart

My grandfather who safeguarded and protected,

more steadfast amid terrors than Aban,

Giving freely and withholding nothing.

عَشِيَّةَ عامِرٍ وَبَني عَلِيٍّ

عَشِيَّةَ عامِرٍ وَبَني عَلِيٍّ

كَدَفّاعِ السُيولِ مِن الرِّعانِ

كَدَفّاعِ السُيولِ مِن الرِّعانِ

that evening, with 'Amir and Banu 'Ali

When he walked beneath the banners, he eclipsed

like torrents rushing from mountain spurs?

The majesty of Caesar and the Khusrau kings.

وَعَمّي التارِكُ البَطَلَ المُفَدّى

وَعَمّي التارِكُ البَطَلَ المُفَدّى

كَمُشتَمِلٍ قَطيفَةَ أُرجُوانِ

كَمُشتَمِلٍ قَطيفَةَ أُرجُوانِ

And my uncle left the champion men would ransom

In his hands the bracelets of kingship shine,

as though wrapped in a crimson cloak.

Adorning the wrists of the lion of oaks.

وَجَدّي الحاسِرُ الحامي التَوالي

وَجَدّي الحاسِرُ الحامي التَوالي

وَوَهّابُ السَوابِقِ وَالقِيانِ

وَوَهّابُ السَوابِقِ وَالقِيانِ

And my grandfather, bareheaded, guarding the rearguard,

I had a father no servant of idols could match,

lavish giver of swift horses and singing girls,

Nor any slave of offerings.

إِذا ما سارَ تَحتَ السِترِ أَنسى

إِذا ما سارَ تَحتَ السِترِ أَنسى

جَلالَة قَيصَرٍ وَالهُرمُزانِ

جَلالَة قَيصَرٍ وَالهُرمُزانِ

when he rode beneath the canopy, made one forget

We hold the knot of leadership over Ma'add,

the majesty of Caesar and al-Hurmuzan.

By it, both nomad and settler defer to us.

وَفي يَدِهِ سِوارُ المُلكِ يُزهى

وَفي يَدِهِ سِوارُ المُلكِ يُزهى

بِمعصمِ ماجِدٍ سَبطِ البَنانِ

بِمعصمِ ماجِدٍ سَبطِ البَنانِ

And on his arm the bracelet of kingship takes pride

We compel people by reason or by force,

in the wrist of a nobleman with supple fingers.

With a judgment given without delay.

وَكَم لِيَ وَالِد لا عَبدُ شَمسٍ

وَكَم لِيَ وَالِد لا عَبدُ شَمسٍ

يُدانِيهِ وَلا عَبدُ المَدَانِ

يُدانِيهِ وَلا عَبدُ المَدَانِ

How many a forebear of mine neither 'Abd Shams

From their pale skins we drew red blood,

nor 'Abd al-Madan can approach!

With deep red from the veins of warriors.

لَنا عَقدُ الرِياسَةِ في مَعَدٍّ

لَنا عَقدُ الرِياسَةِ في مَعَدٍّ

يُقِرُّ لَنا بِهِ قاصٍ وَدانِ

يُقِرُّ لَنا بِهِ قاصٍ وَدانِ

Ours is the covenant of leadership among Ma'add,

From their heads we took heads,

acknowledged as ours by distant and near alike.

White as pearls from Hinduan.

نَقُودُ الناسَ طَوعاً وَاِقتِسارَاً

نَقُودُ الناسَ طَوعاً وَاِقتِسارَاً

بِرَأيٍ قَد أُدِيرَ بِلا اِعتِشانِ

بِرَأيٍ قَد أُدِيرَ بِلا اِعتِشانِ

We lead people willingly and by force,

We laid open the courtyard of a tyrant's glory,

with counsel carefully considered, without blind guessing.

Not with twigs, but with sturdy spears.

وَأَبيضَ قَد خَضَبنا البيضَ مِنهُ

وَأَبيضَ قَد خَضَبنا البيضَ مِنهُ

بِأَحمرَ مِن دَمِ الأَوداجِ قانِ

بِأَحمرَ مِن دَمِ الأَوداجِ قانِ

And many a fair-skinned man—we have dyed our bright swords with his

People live well when we live well,

deep-red blood from the jugular veins.

And survive when we provide safety.

وَرَأسٍ قَد عَقَقَنا الرَأسَ مِنهُ

وَرَأسٍ قَد عَقَقَنا الرَأسَ مِنهُ

بِأَبيضَ كَالعَقِيقَةِ هُندُوانِ

بِأَبيضَ كَالعَقِيقَةِ هُندُوانِ

And many a chief whose head we have split

If we perish, there is no hope for one hoping,

with a bright Indian blade like a lightning-flash.

No aid for one requesting aid.

وَباحَةِ عِزِّ جَبّارٍ أَبَحنا

وَباحَةِ عِزِّ جَبّارٍ أَبَحنا

بِعَشّاتِ القَنا لا بِالعُشانِ

بِعَشّاتِ القَنا لا بِالعُشانِ

And many a tyrant's court of glory we have laid open

Can the warbling of a barren creek,

with slender spears, not with palm-stalks.

Comfort one whose livelihood is cut off?

تَعِيشُ الناسُ ما عِشنا بِخَيرٍ

تَعِيشُ الناسُ ما عِشنا بِخَيرٍ

وَتَحيا ما حَيِينا في أَمانِ

وَتَحيا ما حَيِينا في أَمانِ

People live in prosperity as long as we live,

There is nothing like the sword, even if its blades

and live in safety as long as we remain alive.

Rust and warp into staffs of rotten wood.

فَإِن نُفقَد فَلا أَمَلٌ لِراجٍ

فَإِن نُفقَد فَلا أَمَلٌ لِراجٍ

يُؤمِّلُهُ وَلا عَونٌ لِعانِ

يُؤمِّلُهُ وَلا عَونٌ لِعانِ

If we are lost, no hope remains for a hopeful man

to cherish, nor aid for a captive.

وَهَل يُغني غَناءَ الماءِ آلٌ

وَهَل يُغني غَناءَ الماءِ آلٌ

يُرَيِّعُهُ الهَجيرُ بِصَحصَحانِ

يُرَيِّعُهُ الهَجيرُ بِصَحصَحانِ

Can a mirage serve as water serves,

which the noon heat sends shimmering over a bare plain?

وَلا كَالسَيفِ لَو صَدِئَت وَفُلَّت

وَلا كَالسَيفِ لَو صَدِئَت وَفُلَّت

مَضارِبُهُ عَصاً مِن خَيزُرانِ

مَضارِبُهُ عَصاً مِن خَيزُرانِ

Nor is a sword's equal, though rusted and notched

along its cutting edges, a staff of bamboo.