هَتَفَتْcalled forth بِدَمْعِwith the tears of العَينِthe eye وَهْيwhile it سَجُومُstreams tears
هَتَفَتْ بِدَمْعِ العَينِ وَهْي سَجُومُ
دِمَنٌruined camps حُبِسْنَwere held captive عَلَىto البِلَىdecay ورُسُومُand traces
دِمَنٌ حُبِسْنَ عَلَى البِلَى ورُسُومُ
They called forth tears from the streaming eye:
She cried with tearful eyes while still frowning,
ruined camps and traces, held captive to decay.
Tears detained by decay and engraved lines.
منfrom كلِّevery شَاخِصَةِstanding remnant of الطُلُولِthe ruins كأَنَّهَاas though it were
من كلِّ شَاخِصَةِ الطُلُولِ كأَنَّهَا
مماfrom what جَلَتْscoured away عنهاfrom it السيولُthe floods رُقُومُinscriptions
مما جَلَتْ عنها السيولُ رُقُومُ
Each standing remnant of the ruins seemed
Every protruding tamarisk is as if
like inscriptions after the floods had scoured it clear.
It were rugged rocks sculpted by torrents.
فكأنَّso it is as though قامةَthe upright length of كلِّeach وِدٍّtent peg مَائِلٍleaning
فكأنَّ قامةَ كلِّ وِدٍّ مَائِلٍ
أَلِفٌthe letter alif ودَارَةَand the circle of كلِّeach نُؤْيٍtent trench مِيْمُthe letter mim
أَلِفٌ ودَارَةَ كلِّ نُؤْيٍ مِيْمُ
So each leaning tent peg's height seemed
So every bending affection seems to tilt
an alif, and each round tent trench a mim.
A thousand ways and every pliant twig bends.
نَادَىcalled الغُرَابُthe raven بهاthere الغُرَابَto the raven كماas دَعَاit cried
نَادَى الغُرَابُ بها الغُرَابَ كما دَعَا
فيهاthere فَجاوبَهُso answered it أخُوهُits brother البُومُthe owl
فيها فَجاوبَهُ أخُوهُ البُومُ
The raven called there to the raven; as it cried
The raven called to the raven as he invited
there, its brother, the owl, answered it.
His brother, the owl, to respond in kind.
يَتَجَاوَبَانِthe two answer one another لذاfor this one وذَاكَand that one بجوِّهَاin its air
يَتَجَاوَبَانِ لذا وذَاكَ بجوِّهَا
زَجَلٌa clamor يَطِنُّrings بِرَجْعِهِwith its echo ويُنيمُand lulls to sleep
زَجَلٌ يَطِنُّ بِرَجْعِهِ ويُنيمُ
They answer one another; this one and that have, in its air,
They call to each other, enjoying this place
a clamor that rings with its echo and lulls to sleep.
Where a disconsolate gazelle lows and sleeps.
تلكَthose المنازلُdwellings ماno لطارقِهاfor their night visitor قِرًىhospitality
تلكَ المنازلُ ما لطارقِها قِرًى
إلاَّexcept بَلابِلُanguish of أَنْفُسٍsouls وهُمُومُand cares
إلاَّ بَلابِلُ أَنْفُسٍ وهُمُومُ
Those dwellings offer their night visitor no hospitality
Those dwellings have no settled inhabitants
but anguish of souls and cares.
Save melancholic souls and worries galore.
قَلِقَتْgrew restless بِسَاكِنِهاwith its inhabitant فَطَارَso swept away بِظَعْنِهِمْtheir departing caravan
قَلِقَتْ بِسَاكِنِها فَطَارَ بِظَعْنِهِمْ
عَنْهاaway from it تَرفُّضُthe bounding of أَيْنُقٍshe-camels ورسِيمُand swift trotting
عَنْها تَرفُّضُ أَيْنُقٍ ورسِيمُ
They grew restless with their dwellers; their departing caravan was swept
Their restless dwellers took flight, annoyed
away by the bounding of she-camels and their swift trot.
By the place, as the fleeing oryx and gazelle fled.
لِلَّهِGod help مَنْthe one whom تركُواthey left غَدَاةَon the morning of وَدَاعِهِمْtheir farewell
لِلَّهِ مَنْ تركُوا غَدَاةَ وَدَاعِهِمْ
وكأنَّهُand as though he ممّاfrom what بِهِafflicts him مَسْمُومُis poisoned
وكأنَّهُ ممّا بِهِ مَسْمُومُ
God help the one they left on the morning of their farewell,
By God, those who left one morn, bidding farewell
as though poisoned by what afflicted him:
Seemed to carry something toxic inside.
صَبٌّa lovesick man يقولُspeaks ولوand if يَرَىhe sees أَظعانَهُمْtheir caravans
صَبٌّ يقولُ ولو يَرَى أَظعانَهُمْ
لَقَضَىhe would surely perish فَأَمْرُso the matter of رَحِيلهِمْtheir departure مَكْتُومُis concealed
لَقَضَى فَأَمْرُ رَحِيلهِمْ مَكْتُومُ
a lovesick man who speaks—yet if he saw their caravans,
A tearful cloud, if only it could see their nests,
he would perish; so their departure is concealed.
Would shed its drops, though their leaving was concealed.
ويُغيّضُand checks العَبَراتِthe tears إذْsince لوif أُرْسِلَتْthey were released
ويُغيّضُ العَبَراتِ إذْ لو أُرْسِلَتْ
لَغَدتْthey would surely become بِهاin them تِلكَthose المطيُّriding beasts تَعُومُswimming
لَغَدتْ بِها تِلكَ المطيُّ تَعُومُ
He checks his tears, for if they were released,
It holds back the tears that would otherwise flow
those riding beasts would swim in them.
And turn the place into a flooding sea.
أَتَراهُمُdo you think they اقتعدُواmounted المَطِيَّthe riding beasts وعندَهُwhile he has
أَتَراهُمُ اقتعدُوا المَطِيَّ وعندَهُ
مماfrom what يكابِدُhe suffers مُقْعَدٌa cause to sit ومُقِيمُand a cause to stay
مما يكابِدُ مُقْعَدٌ ومُقِيمُ
Do you think they mounted the riding beasts, while he finds
Did they ride away on their camels, leaving behind
in his suffering what seats him and holds him fast?
A companion to endure sitting there, remaining?
يصلُjoins المدامِعَthe tears بالزفيرِwith sighing وينتضيand unsheathes
يصلُ المدامِعَ بالزفيرِ وينتضي
نَفَساًa breath لمعوجِّfor the crookedness of الضُّلُوعِthe ribs يُقيمُstraightens
نَفَساً لمعوجِّ الضُّلُوعِ يُقيمُ
He joins tears to sighing, and unsheathes
He links tears with sighs and frees
a breath that straightens crooked ribs.
A breath from crooked, bent ribs.
أَأَحِبَّتيO my beloved ones إنْif هَانَcomes easily عندَكُمُto you الكَرَىsleep
أَأَحِبَّتي إنْ هَانَ عندَكُمُ الكَرَى
ليلاًat night فَليthen I have عَينٌan eye عَلَيهِaround it تَحُومُhovers
ليلاً فَلي عَينٌ عَلَيهِ تَحُومُ
O my beloved ones, if sleep comes easily to you
My loved ones, though disdain has become easy at night,
at night, my eye hovers around it.
My eye keeps vigil over this disdain.
فَسَلُواso ask بِيَabout me الليلَthe night الطويلَlong فإنَّهُfor it
فَسَلُوا بِيَ الليلَ الطويلَ فإنَّهُ
بالسَّاهرِينabout the wakeful وبالنِّيامِand about the sleeping عَلِيمُis knowledgeable
بالسَّاهرِين وبالنِّيامِ عَلِيمُ
Ask the long night about me, for it
So ask the long night about me, for it knows
knows the wakeful and the sleeping.
The sleepless and the slumbering well.
هَلْhas زَارَvisited بعدَكُمُafter you الرُّقَادُsleep مَحَاجِرِيmy eye sockets
هَلْ زَارَ بعدَكُمُ الرُّقَادُ مَحَاجِرِي
أوor مَرَّpassed مُجْتازاًin passing بهاthrough them التهويمُdrowsiness
أو مَرَّ مُجْتازاً بها التهويمُ
Has sleep visited my eye sockets since you left,
After you, did sleep visit my eyelids
or has drowsiness passed through them, even in passing?
Or pass by my dwelling in distraction?
أَذَويO possessors of الرُّقَادِsleep هُبُواgive القَليلَa little لِنَاظِريto my eye
أَذَوي الرُّقَادِ هُبُوا القَليلَ لِنَاظِري
مِنْof ذَاكَthat فَهْوfor it is السَّائِلُthe petitioner المحرومُthe deprived one
مِنْ ذَاكَ فَهْو السَّائِلُ المحرومُ
O possessors of sleep, give my eye a little
O companions in sleep, grant my onlooking eye
of it: it is the deprived petitioner.
A little of that, for it is the deprived solicitor.
ياO دَارَهُمْtheir dwelling والعَهْدُand the pledge مَسؤُولٌmust be answered for ومَنْand whoever
يا دَارَهُمْ والعَهْدُ مَسؤُولٌ ومَنْ
لمdid not يرعَhonor ذِمَّةَthe bond of صَاحبٍa companion مَذْمُومُis blameworthy
لم يرعَ ذِمَّةَ صَاحبٍ مَذْمُومُ
O their dwelling—pledges must be answered for, and whoever
O their abode, though the pact is asked about, one who
does not honor a companion's bond is blameworthy—
Does not respect a companion's bond is blamed.
وَسَمَتْكِhas marked you حَاليةُthe adornment of الرَّبيعِspring وفيand within الحَشَاthe breast
وَسَمَتْكِ حَاليةُ الرَّبيعِ وفي الحَشَا
مِمَّاbecause of how مَحَتْكِeffaced you يَدُthe hand of الخُطُوبِcalamities رُسُومُtraces
مِمَّا مَحَتْكِ يَدُ الخُطُوبِ رُسُومُ
spring's finery has marked you, while within my breast
Your condition in spring was serene, yet in the enclosure
are traces, because calamities' hand effaced you.
Were lines of misfortunes engraved.
ونَحتْكِand sought you out أَنفاسُthe breaths of الرياحِthe winds مريضةًailing
ونَحتْكِ أَنفاسُ الرياحِ مريضةً
فَأتَتْso they came وأَعْصَفُand the fiercest of مَرِّهِنَّtheir passing نَسيمُa breeze
فَأتَتْ وأَعْصَفُ مَرِّهِنَّ نَسيمُ
The breaths of the winds sought you out ailing,
The breaths of the winds sculpted you, ill,
and came, their fiercest passage only a breeze.
And the most violent of them came blowing.
وهَفَاand hastened إلىto أَظْلالِthe shade of دَوحِكِyour great trees جُؤْذَرٌa wild-ox calf
وهَفَا إلى أَظْلالِ دَوحِكِ جُؤْذَرٌ
يعطُوreaches up إلىtoward أَغْصَانِهِنَّtheir branches ورِيْمُand a gazelle
يعطُو إلى أَغْصَانِهِنَّ ورِيْمُ
A wild-ox calf darted toward the shade of your great trees,
An oryx turned toward the shade of your walls
reaching up to their branches, and a gazelle.
And craned its neck toward the branches.
مِمَّاamong what أَغَارَraided علىagainst السُّرُورِjoy فَبَاتَso it came to lie فيin
مِمَّا أَغَارَ على السُّرُورِ فَبَاتَ في
أيديthe hands of المصَائِبِcalamities عِقْدُهُits necklace المنظُومُstrung
أيدي المصَائِبِ عِقْدُهُ المنظُومُ
Among what raided joy, so that there lay in
From jealousy over joy this knot was tied
calamities' hands its strung necklace,
And ended up in the hands of misfortunes.
نَبأٌnews أَلَمَّbefell فَمَاand did not تقشَّعَdisperse غَيمُهُits cloud
نَبأٌ أَلَمَّ فَمَا تقشَّعَ غَيمُهُ
إلاَّexcept وفيand within الأَحْشاءِthe inward parts منهُfrom it غُمُومُsorrows
إلاَّ وفي الأَحْشاءِ منهُ غُمُومُ
was news that struck; its cloud did not disperse
News that hurt, its cloud did not clear
without leaving sorrows from it within my breast.
Until worries took root inside.
أَخَوَانِtwo brothers كانَاwere لِيmine فَأوْدَىand perished مِنهماof the two
أَخَوَانِ كانَا لِي فَأوْدَى مِنهما
مَنْthe one who كَانَwas أَلْصَقُclosest بيto me وذَاكَand that عَظِيمُis grievous
مَنْ كَانَ أَلْصَقُ بي وذَاكَ عَظِيمُ
I had two brothers; of them, there perished
Two brothers I had, but he who was
the one closest to me—and that is grievous.
Closer to me passed away and that is momentous.
فمتَىso when تُمدُّcan be extended لحاجَةٍfor a need فَتَنالُهاand attain it
فمتَى تُمدُّ لحاجَةٍ فَتَنالُها
كفِّيmy hand وأَطولُwhile the longer of سَاعِدَيَّmy two forearms جَذِيمُis severed
كفِّي وأَطولُ سَاعِدَيَّ جَذِيمُ
When can it reach for a need and attain it—
When will my palms fulfill a need and attain it
my hand, when the longer of my two forearms is severed?
While my arms remain devoid of fruit?
فَسَحَابُso the cloud of مَنْwhom أرجُوI hope for نَدَاهُits bounty وبرقُand the lightning of مَنْwhom
فَسَحَابُ مَنْ أرجُو نَدَاهُ وبرقُ مَنْ
أرنُوI gaze at مَخَايلَthe signs of وَمْضِهِits flash وأَشِيمُand watch for rain
أرنُو مَخَايلَ وَمْضِهِ وأَشِيمُ
Whose cloud's bounty can I hope for, and whose lightning
The cloud I hoped would shower and the lightning
can I gaze at, watching the promise of its flash?
Of those I wished to see the flashes and fires.
قدindeed كانwas إفطَارِيmy breaking of the fast علىupon مَعْرُوفِهِhis bounty
قد كان إفطَارِي على مَعْرُوفِهِ
فاليومَso today أُمْسِكُI abstain بَعْدَهُafter him وأَصُومُand fast
فاليومَ أُمْسِكُ بَعْدَهُ وأَصُومُ
I used to break my fast upon his bounty;
My breakfast was thanks to his goodness
today, after him, I abstain and fast.
So today I fast, abstaining after him.
سُدَّتْwere blocked وُجُوهُthe avenues of رَجَايَmy hope وانقَصَمَتْand snapped عُرَىthe bonds of
سُدَّتْ وُجُوهُ رَجَايَ وانقَصَمَتْ عُرَى
أَمَليmy longing فَبَابُso the gate of مَطَالبِيmy desires مَرْدُومُis sealed with rubble
أَمَلي فَبَابُ مَطَالبِي مَرْدُومُ
The avenues of my hope are blocked, and the bonds
The faces of my hopes are blocked and the ties
of my longing snapped; the gate of my desires is sealed with rubble.
Of my aspirations broken, so my requests are barred.
لِتقلَّlet lessen هَاشِمُHashim بَعْدَهُafter him منsome of فَخْرِهاits pride
لِتقلَّ هَاشِمُ بَعْدَهُ من فَخْرِها
فلَعَظْمُfor indeed the bone of مَفْخَرِهاits glory بِهِin him مَهْشُومُis shattered
فلَعَظْمُ مَفْخَرِها بِهِ مَهْشُومُ
Let Hashim lessen its pride after him:
May the honor diminish for Hashim's clan after him
the very bone of its glory in him is shattered.
For the greatness of their pride in him is destroyed.
وليَحْسُand let sip مُرَّthe bitterness of الضَّيْمِoppression ثاكِلُone bereft of نَاصِرٍa defender
وليَحْسُ مُرَّ الضَّيْمِ ثاكِلُ نَاصِرٍ
فالمرءُfor a man ماso long as فَقَدَhas lost النصيرَthe defender مَضِيمُis oppressed
فالمرءُ ما فَقَدَ النصيرَ مَضِيمُ
Let one bereft of a defender sip oppression's bitterness;
May he who lacks a helper taste the bitterness
a man without a defender is oppressed.
For man is blameworthy when he lacks an aide.
فلئِنْso if indeed حُسِدْتُI was envied بِهِfor him فَهَاthen here أنذاI am كماas
فلئِنْ حُسِدْتُ بِهِ فَهَا أنذا كما
شَاءَwished الحَسُودُthe envier خِلافَهُafter him مرحومُpitied
شَاءَ الحَسُودُ خِلافَهُ مرحومُ
If I was envied for him, here I am, as
Though I am envied for him, behold, as
the envier wished, pitied after him.
The envious desired, contrary to that, he passed away.
إنْif يضْحَbecomes وَارِثُهُhis heir سِوَايَsomeone other than me فَذَاthen this one لَهُhas
إنْ يضْحَ وَارِثُهُ سِوَايَ فَذَا لَهُ
سَهمٌa share يُخَصُّhe is singled out بِهِwith it وَذَاكَwhile that one سُهُومُpining
سَهمٌ يُخَصُّ بِهِ وَذَاكَ سُهُومُ
If someone other than me becomes his heir, that man has
If the heir treats me equally, then for him
a share allotted to him, while mine is pining.
Is a portion set aside and that portion is known.
فَهَنَاهُمُso may it gladden them فَتُراثُهُfor his legacy عنديto me شَجاًa choking sorrow
فَهَنَاهُمُ فَتُراثُهُ عندي شَجاً
يُطوَىis folded closed علىaround لَذَعَاتِهِits stings الحَيْزُومُthe chest
يُطوَى على لَذَعَاتِهِ الحَيْزُومُ
May it gladden them; his legacy to me is a choking grief,
Yet his inheritance with me is a piercing wound
around whose stings my chest closes.
Bandaged over its stinging pain.
أَفَتَىO youth of الفُتُوَّةِvalor والمُرُوءَةِand honorable conduct والحِجَىand wisdom
أَفَتَى الفُتُوَّةِ والمُرُوءَةِ والحِجَى
بُعْداًaway with ليومِكَyour day إنَّهُfor it لمَشومُis surely ill-omened
بُعْداً ليومِكَ إنَّهُ لمَشومُ
O youth of valor, honorable conduct, and wisdom,
The epitomes of nobility, chivalry and sanctity
away with your day: it is indeed ill-omened!
Perished, so your day, indeed, is inauspicious!
إِنَّindeed امرءاًa man لمdid not يَشْجُgrieve يومُكَyour day قلبَهُhis heart
إِنَّ امرءاً لم يَشْجُ يومُكَ قلبَهُ
لَفُؤَادُهُsurely his heart منfrom صَخْرةٍa rock مَلْمُومُis put together
لَفُؤَادُهُ من صَخْرةٍ مَلْمُومُ
A man whose heart your day did not grieve
A man whose heart was not rent by your day,
surely has a heart put together from rock.
His inmost thoughts are of unhewn stone.
لوif أَنَّthat وَجْهَكَyour face لاnot تخوَّنَهُbetray it البِلَىdecay
لو أَنَّ وَجْهَكَ لا تخوَّنَهُ البِلَى
وانشقَّand split open عنهُto reveal it اللحدُthe grave وَهْوwhile it وسيمُis handsome
وانشقَّ عنهُ اللحدُ وَهْو وسيمُ
If decay had not betrayed your face,
If only your face would remain untouched by decay
and the grave split open to reveal it, still handsome,
And the tomb split open, you would emerge handsome.
كُشِفَwas lifted الغِطَاءُthe veil لهُfor it رأَىit would see منof حَالِنَاour condition
كُشِفَ الغِطَاءُ لهُ رأَى من حَالِنَا
ماthat which عندَهُbeside which فَرْطُthe extremity of الشَّقَاءِmisery نَعِيمُis bliss
ما عندَهُ فَرْطُ الشَّقَاءِ نَعِيمُ
with the veil lifted for it, it would see in our condition
The shroud removed from you, you would see our state -
that beside which the utmost misery is bliss.
Compared to our hardship, your bliss is bounty.
وَرأَىand it would see أَصَائِلَنَاour late afternoons وَهُنَّwhile they هَوَاجِرٌare midday heats
وَرأَى أَصَائِلَنَا وَهُنَّ هَوَاجِرٌ
مَسْجُورةٌablaze ونَسيمُهُنَّand their breezes سَمُومُa scorching wind
مَسْجُورةٌ ونَسيمُهُنَّ سَمُومُ
And it would see our late afternoons turned to midday heat,
You would see our withering flowers, their breeze poison,
ablaze, with a scorching wind for their breeze.
Withered, their breath foul.
فالخِلُّso the friend خِلٌّvinegar والنديمُand the boon companion نَدَامَةٌregret
فالخِلُّ خِلٌّ والنديمُ نَدَامَةٌ
والردءُand the helper مُردٍa destroyer والحميمُand the intimate friend حَميمُscalding water
والردءُ مُردٍ والحميمُ حَميمُ
So a friend is vinegar; a boon companion, regret;
Sincere friendship is but sin, and companions are regret,
a helper, a destroyer; an intimate, scalding water.
Raiment is ruin, intimacy is intimacy.
والخِصْبُand plenty جَدْبٌdrought والثَرَاءُand wealth خَصَاصَةٌpoverty
والخِصْبُ جَدْبٌ والثَرَاءُ خَصَاصَةٌ
والعَذْبُand sweet water مُرٌّbitter والغَدِيرُand the pool وخيمُunwholesome
والعَذْبُ مُرٌّ والغَدِيرُ وخيمُ
Plenty is drought, wealth poverty;
Fertility is barrenness, wealth want,
sweet water is bitter, and the pool unwholesome.
Sweetness bitter, water foul.
وسَبيلُand the path to أنديةِassemblies of النَّدَىgenerosity عَافٍeffaced علىfor
وسَبيلُ أنديةِ النَّدَى عَافٍ على
العَافِيthe petitioner ورَوْضُand the garden of المكْرمَاتِnoble deeds هَشِيمُdry stubble
العَافِي ورَوْضُ المكْرمَاتِ هَشِيمُ
The path to assemblies of generosity is effaced for
The path to the assemblies of fellowship is locked
the petitioner; the garden of noble deeds is dry stubble.
To the healthy, and the meadow of favors is rubble.
والفضلُand merit أكْسَدُthe least saleable ماthing that يعرِّضُoffers تاجرٌa merchant
والفضلُ أكْسَدُ ما يعرِّضُ تاجرٌ
للبيعِfor sale فيin أَسواقِناour markets ويسُومُand prices
للبيعِ في أَسواقِنا ويسُومُ
Merit is the least saleable thing a merchant offers
Favor is like a tired trader displaying
for sale in our markets and sets a price on.
His goods in our markets, pricing and bargaining.
فَلَئِنْso if indeed تبوَّأْتَyou have settled in النعيمَbliss فعندَناthen we have
فَلَئِنْ تبوَّأْتَ النعيمَ فعندَنا
مماfrom what نكابدُهُwe suffer عليكَover you جحِيمُa hell
مما نكابدُهُ عليكَ جحِيمُ
If you have made your abode in bliss, we have
So if you attained bliss, with us remains
a hell in what we suffer over you.
That which we endure the heat of, for you a hell.
أَأُخَيَّO my dear little brother لاnot لأبٍthrough a father ولاnor أُمٍّa mother سِوَىexcept
أَأُخَيَّ لا لأبٍ ولا أُمٍّ سِوَى
وِدٍّaffection لأيدينَاfor our hands عَليهِupon it ضُمُومُclasps
وِدٍّ لأيدينَا عَليهِ ضُمُومُ
O my dear brother, not through father or mother, but only
O brother of no father or mother but affection
through affection upon which our hands are clasped.
For our hands to cling to, of compact knots.
أثريتُI grew rich بعدَكَafter you منin عِدَايَmy enemies وإننيwhile I
أثريتُ بعدَكَ من عِدَايَ وإنني
بخلافِin contrast to ذَاكَthat منin الصَّدِيقِfriends عَدِيمُam destitute
بخلافِ ذَاكَ من الصَّدِيقِ عَدِيمُ
After you, I grew rich in enemies, while I
After you, from enemies, though I am detached,
am, by contrast, destitute of friends.
Without the likes of that friend, I remain devoid.
فَكَأنَّمَاso it is as though الأيامُthe days آلَىswore صَرفُهاtheir vicissitudes
فَكَأنَّمَا الأيامُ آلَى صَرفُها
أنْthat لاnot يدومَendure علىthrough الزَّمَانِtime كَرِيمُa generous man
أنْ لا يدومَ على الزَّمَانِ كَرِيمُ
It is as though the vicissitudes of the days had sworn
So it is as if the turns of time
that no generous man should endure through time.
Have determined that no noble soul should endure.
ياAh قاتلَmay slay اللّهُGod الحِمامَDeath بمثلِهِwith its like
يا قاتلَ اللّهُ الحِمامَ بمثلِهِ
وجَرَىand may fall عليهِupon it قضاؤُهُHis decree المحتُومُirrevocable
وجَرَى عليهِ قضاؤُهُ المحتُومُ
Ah, may God slay Death with its own like,
May God destroy the likes of him who killed
and may His irrevocable decree fall upon it.
The perfect one, by His ordained decree.
أَفْنَىdestroyed أَوَائلَنَاour forebears فأشْرَبَthen made drink فارِساًPersia
أَفْنَى أَوَائلَنَا فأشْرَبَ فارِساً
منfrom كأسِهِits cup ماwhat أفضلتْهُleft over الرُّومُthe Romans
من كأسِهِ ما أفضلتْهُ الرُّومُ
It destroyed our forebears, then made Persia drink
He finished off our finest horses, making
from its cup what the Romans had left.
A Persian drink from his cup the dregs.
مِنfrom كُلِّevery مَنْone who طَافَroamed البلادَthe lands ومَنْand whoever طَوَىtraversed
مِن كُلِّ مَنْ طَافَ البلادَ ومَنْ طَوَى
الأحياءَthe tribes فيin طَلَبِpursuit of الغَرِيمِthe debtor غَرِيمُa creditor
الأحياءَ في طَلَبِ الغَرِيمِ غَرِيمُ
For everyone who roamed the lands, and whoever traversed
All those who roamed the lands or crossed
the tribes in pursuit of a debtor, it is a creditor.
The settlements seeking a debt or vengeance.
يَطَأُtramples الملوكَkings فكلُّso every ذِيpossessor of جَبْرِيَّةٍtyrannical power
يَطَأُ الملوكَ فكلُّ ذِي جَبْرِيَّةٍ
بالذلِّin humiliation مارنُهُhis nose-tip لَهُby it مَخْطُومُis bridled
بالذلِّ مارنُهُ لَهُ مَخْطُومُ
It tramples kings; every wielder of tyrannical power
Trampling kings, all the tyrannical
has his nose-tip bridled by it in humiliation.
Were reduced by him to base submission.
أورافعٍor one raising فوقَabove السماءِthe sky بِنَاءَهُhis building
أورافعٍ فوقَ السماءِ بِنَاءَهُ
فَيَرَىso he sees لهfor himself بنُجومِهِwith its stars تَعْمِيمُa turbaning
فَيَرَى له بنُجومِهِ تَعْمِيمُ
Or one who raises his building above the sky,
Or one whose building reached into the sky
and sees himself turbaned with its stars,
Would see his stars encompassed.
جَاثٍkneeling علىon حَدِّthe edge of الفُرَاتِthe Euphrates كبازلٍlike a mature camel
جَاثٍ على حَدِّ الفُرَاتِ كبازلٍ
سِيمَwas forced to البُرُوكَkneeling وظهرُهُand its back مَعْكُومُis laden with bundles
سِيمَ البُرُوكَ وظهرُهُ مَعْكُومُ
kneels on the Euphrates' bank like a mature camel
Prostrating on the Euphrates' shore like a basil plant
forced to kneel with bundles laden on its back.
Steeped in scent, his back bent.
وَجثَاand it knelt علىupon حَيّيْthe two peoples of نِزارَNizar ويعرُبٍand Ya'rub
وَجثَا على حَيّيْ نِزارَ ويعرُبٍ
عَرَكاًgrinding كماas سِيمَwas subjected to الدباغَtanning أَديمُa hide
عَرَكاً كما سِيمَ الدباغَ أَديمُ
And it knelt upon the two peoples, Nizar and Ya'rub,
Prostrating over Hayyan's sands, Nizari and Yemen's
grinding them as a hide is subjected to tanning.
Wrestled until their hides were tanned like leather.
وَقَفَاand sent after بناus تِلكَthose القرومَgreat chiefs فشرُّهُso its evil
وَقَفَا بنا تِلكَ القرومَ فشرُّهُ
فيناamong us وفيهمْand among them حَادِثٌis new وقديمُand ancient
فينا وفيهمْ حَادِثٌ وقديمُ
It sent us after those great chiefs; its evil
They stood against us, the worst of them
is new among us and ancient among them.
And the oldest of their evil toward us.
لَشَرِبْتَyou have indeed drunk شُرْبَthe drinking of الهِيمِthirst-stricken camels أَعْمارَthe lifespans of الوَرَىmankind
لَشَرِبْتَ شُرْبَ الهِيمِ أَعْمارَ الوَرَى
هلاّwhy not صَدرتَyou left the water كماas صَدَرْنَthey left the water الهِيمُthe thirsty camels
هلاّ صَدرتَ كما صَدَرْنَ الهِيمُ
You have drunk mankind's lives like thirst-stricken camels;
You would have drunk the draft of oblivion for ages
why have you not left the water as those camels do?
If only you had acted as the oblivious act!
هَلاَّwhy not اتَّخَمْتَyou became surfeited بماwith what أَكَلْتَyou ate فَطَالَماfor often
هَلاَّ اتَّخَمْتَ بما أَكَلْتَ فَطَالَما
أُوذِيis harmed بتخمَةِby the surfeit of أَكْلِهِhis eating المَنْهُومُthe glutton
أُوذِي بتخمَةِ أَكْلِهِ المَنْهُومُ
Why have you not become surfeited with what you ate? Often
If only you had gorged on what you ate, for long
the glutton is harmed by the surfeit of his eating.
Have I been troubled by the gorge of his gluttony.
لمdid not ينجُescape مِنْكَfrom you أَزَلُّa lean-haunched wolf ينطِفُdrips مَاؤُهُits spittle
لم ينجُ مِنْكَ أَزَلُّ ينطِفُ مَاؤُهُ
عَلَقَاas clotted blood ولاnor جَهْمُgrim in اللقاءِencounter شَتيْمُhideous
عَلَقَا ولا جَهْمُ اللقاءِ شَتيْمُ
No lean-haunched wolf escaped you, its spittle dripping
None were spared by you, neither withered bones
clotted blood, nor a grim, hideous beast to face.
Nor an embryo's clot or the insult of confrontation.
كلاَّno indeed ولاnor رقشاءُa speckled serpent يَقدحُstrikes لَحْظُهاits glance
كلاَّ ولا رقشاءُ يَقدحُ لَحْظُها
شرراًsparks بِهنَّwith them إِهابُهاits skin مَوْسُومُis branded
شرراً بِهنَّ إِهابُها مَوْسُومُ
No, nor a speckled serpent whose glance strikes
No indeed, nor the maiden whose amorous glance
sparks with which its skin is branded.
Launches sparks by which their veils are marked.
وَمتَىand whenever شَحَتْit opened فَاهاًits mouth فثَمَّthen there are سَحَائبٌclouds
وَمتَى شَحَتْ فَاهاً فثَمَّ سَحَائبٌ
بِيضُwhite المَخَايلِin appearance وَدْقُهُنَّtheir rain سُمُومُpoisons
بِيضُ المَخَايلِ وَدْقُهُنَّ سُمُومُ
Whenever it opens its mouth, there are clouds,
When she frowns, clouds gather, white
white in appearance, whose rain is poison.
Of disposition, their strike virulent.
وطويلُand one long of قَادِمَةِthe leading feather of الجَنَاحِthe wing لهit has إذاwhen
وطويلُ قَادِمَةِ الجَنَاحِ له إذا
شَمَّit scents الهوانَhumiliation بِجَوِّهِin its sky تَدويمُcircling flight
شَمَّ الهوانَ بِجَوِّهِ تَدويمُ
Nor the one with long leading wing-feathers, which, when
With wings so long, belonging to one who,
it scents humiliation, wheels through its sky,
When he senses disgrace, endures it constantly.
مَاضٍswiftly advancing يشيّعُهُescorts it إلىtoward أوطارِهِits desires
مَاضٍ يشيّعُهُ إلى أوطارِهِ
حَجْزٌtalons بهِنَّon them منof الدماءِblood وُسُومُmarks
حَجْزٌ بهِنَّ من الدماءِ وُسُومُ
swiftly advancing, escorted toward its desires by
Vanished, escorted to his nest
talons bearing marks of blood.
By bloodstained feathers by which they are known.
وأَثِيثُand one thick-haired at عُرْعُرَةِthe summit of السَّنَامِthe hump كأنَّهاas though it were
وأَثِيثُ عُرْعُرَةِ السَّنَامِ كأنَّها
نبتٌvegetation علىon بعضِone of الهِضَابِthe hills عَميمُlush and tall
نبتٌ على بعضِ الهِضَابِ عَميمُ
Nor the camel with a shaggy summit to its hump, as though
The saddle of the mighty stallion is as if
it were lush growth upon one of the hills,
It sprouted on some of the plateaus.
يتخبّطُthrashes through الأحياءَthe tribes حتىuntil لمdid not يكدْnearly
يتخبّطُ الأحياءَ حتى لم يكدْ
لَيسيمُto drive to pasture خشيتَهُfor fear of it السوامَthe grazing beasts مُسِيمُa herdsman
لَيسيمُ خشيتَهُ السوامَ مُسِيمُ
thrashing through the tribes, so that scarcely
Slapping the living until he barely
any herdsman pastures his stock for fear of it.
Let the sword's terror goad them like a brand.
تَتَناذرُwarn one another of الأحياءُthe tribes صولَتَهُits onslaught فَمَاso no
تَتَناذرُ الأحياءُ صولَتَهُ فَمَا
حيٌّtribe وليسand there is not لهfor it عليهِagainst it هُجُومُan assault
حيٌّ وليس له عليهِ هُجُومُ
The tribes warn one another of its onslaught; no
The living are warned of his savagery, yet no
tribe exists that it does not attack.
Living soul dares attack or confront him.
يَسِمُbrands الفحولَthe stallions بِنَاجِذَيْهِwith its two molars فمُعوِزٌso scarce is
يَسِمُ الفحولَ بِنَاجِذَيْهِ فمُعوِزٌ
حَيٌّa living one وليسand there are no بصفحتَيْهon its two flanks كُلُومُwounds
حَيٌّ وليس بصفحتَيْه كُلُومُ
It brands the stallions with its two molars; scarce is
He strikes heroes with his claws, so there is
a living one whose two flanks are unwounded.
No living man with undamaged cheeks.
أَرْثِيI elegize الحَمِيمَthe dear friend فَماand not تتمُّis completed قصيدةٌa poem
أَرْثِي الحَمِيمَ فَما تتمُّ قصيدةٌ
يُرْثَىhe is mourned بهاin it حتَّىbefore يموتَdies حميمُa dear friend
يُرْثَى بها حتَّى يموتَ حميمُ
I elegize a dear friend; no poem is completed
I lament the dear one, but no elegy
in mourning him before another dear friend dies.
Can be completed for a dear one until he dies.
إنْif يُتَّخَذْis assigned نظمُthe composing of المراثيelegies لامرئٍto a man
إنْ يُتَّخَذْ نظمُ المراثي لامرئٍ
دونيother than me فَجُلُّthen most of قَصَائِديmy poems مَقْسُومُare allotted
دوني فَجُلُّ قَصَائِدي مَقْسُومُ
If composing elegies is assigned to anyone
If elegies are composed for anyone
besides me, most of my poems are allotted to it.
Other than me, my poems are halved.
أَرِجَالَهُO his men وأَخُصُّand I single out منكُمْamong you جَعْفَراًJa'far
أَرِجَالَهُ وأَخُصُّ منكُمْ جَعْفَراً
ولشأَنِكُمْand to your standing ولشأنِهِand to his standing التعظِيمُhonor is due
ولشأَنِكُمْ ولشأنِهِ التعظِيمُ
O his men—and I single out Ja'far among you—
His feet and, closer to you, Ja'far, the best
honor is due to your standing and his.
Of people, in your service and his is reverence.
قَمرَmoon of المحافلِassemblies لاnot يُشَكَّكُis doubted أنَّهthat he
قَمرَ المحافلِ لا يُشَكَّكُ أنَّه
للبدرِto the full moon فيin حُسْنِthe beauty of الرُّوَاءِappearance قَسِيمُan equal
للبدرِ في حُسْنِ الرُّوَاءِ قَسِيمُ
Moon of assemblies—there is no doubting that he
The caliphate's pen, whose judgment
is the full moon's equal in beauty of appearance.
Among its people is either delay or advance.
المُرْتضيthe one choosing الشِّيَمَvirtues التيwhich لوif قُسِّمتْwere distributed
المُرْتضي الشِّيَمَ التي لو قُسِّمتْ
فيamong الناسِpeople ماnot كَانَwould be امرؤٌa man مَذْمُومُblameworthy
في الناسِ ما كَانَ امرؤٌ مَذْمُومُ
He chooses virtues which, were they shared
A pen encircled by the lands, protecting
among mankind, would leave no man blameworthy.
Every region, every region, every region.
وَذَوِيand O possessors of مودَّتِهِaffection for him وأَوّلُكُمْand foremost among you فَتَىthe gallant of
وَذَوِي مودَّتِهِ وأَوّلُكُمْ فَتَى
الدنياthe world أبوfather of إسحاقَIshaq إبراهيمُIbrahim
الدنيا أبو إسحاقَ إبراهيمُ
And you who love him, foremost among you the gallant
If only the nights renewed your joy for us
of the world, Abu Ishaq Ibrahim,
And the army of grief turned and fled defeated.
قَلَمُthe pen of الخِلافَةِthe caliphate والذيand the one who لقضائِهِto his judgment
قَلَمُ الخِلافَةِ والذي لقضائِهِ
فيamong أهلِهاits people التأخيرُdemotion والتقديمُand promotion
في أهلِها التأخيرُ والتقديمُ
the caliphate's pen, whose judgment determines
Bent its elbow and spent its arrows,
who among its people is set back or advanced;
Restless, its white arrows misaimed.
قَلَمٌa pen تُحاطُare protected بهِby it البِلادُthe lands ويُحفظُand is safeguarded الْthe
قَلَمٌ تُحاطُ بهِ البِلادُ ويُحفظُ الْ
إقليمُprovince فالإقليمُthen the province فالإقليمُthen the province
إقليمُ فالإقليمُ فالإقليمُ
a pen that protects the lands and safeguards the
Our needs in life are for you to remain with us.
province after province after province.
So remain with the permanence of rivers and endure.
لاجدّدتْmay never renew لكمُfor you اللياليthe nights تَرْحةًsorrow
لاجدّدتْ لكمُ الليالي تَرْحةً
وانفضَّand may scatter جَيْشُthe army of الحُزْنِgrief وَهْوwhile it هَزِيمُis routed
وانفضَّ جَيْشُ الحُزْنِ وَهْو هَزِيمُ
May the nights never renew sorrow for you,
As for me, Abu al-Kalim, whose pasture
and may the army of grief scatter in defeat,
Is forever isolated from the scourge of afflictions,
وثَنَىand may turn back أَعِنَّتَهُits reins وأنفذَand exhaust نَبلَهُits arrows
وثَنَى أَعِنَّتَهُ وأنفذَ نَبلَهُ
قَلَقٌin turmoil وأَمْضَىand the keenest of بِيضِهُits bright swords مثلومُis notched
قَلَقٌ وأَمْضَى بِيضِهُ مثلومُ
turn back its reins, and spend its arrows,
As it spread from every landmark, embellished
shaken, with its keenest swords notched.
With wishing wells and cairns.
حاجاتُناour needs فيin الدهرِtime أَنْthat تبقُواyou remain لَنَاfor us
حاجاتُنا في الدهرِ أَنْ تبقُوا لَنَا
فابقُواso remain بَقَاءَfor the duration of النَّيِّرَاتِthe shining stars ودُومُواand endure
فابقُوا بَقَاءَ النَّيِّرَاتِ ودُومُوا
Our need in this world is that you remain with us;
They are the stars, so if a transgressor
remain as long as the shining stars, and endure.
Defies their heavens, they are meteors.
وأناand I أَبوam the father of الكَلِمِthe words اللواتِيwhich رَوْضُهاtheir meadow
وأنا أَبو الكَلِمِ اللواتِي رَوْضُها
أَبَداًforever علىdespite رَعْيِthe grazing of الخُطُوبِcalamities جَميمُis lush
أَبَداً على رَعْيِ الخُطُوبِ جَميمُ
I am the father of words whose meadow
is forever lush despite calamities' grazing.
منof كلِّeach مَعْلَمةٍdistinctly patterned verse كماas نَشَّرتَyou unfolded منfrom
من كلِّ مَعْلَمةٍ كما نَشَّرتَ من
طَيِّthe folds of البُرُودِstriped cloaks يزينهadorns it التسهيمُarrow-patterning
طَيِّ البُرُودِ يزينه التسهيمُ
Each distinctly patterned, like what you unfold from
the folds of cloaks, adorned with arrow-like stripes.
هُنَّthey النجومُare the stars فإنْand if سَمَاrises مُتمَرِّدٌa rebel
هُنَّ النجومُ فإنْ سَمَا مُتمَرِّدٌ
لسمائِهِنَّtoward their sky فإنَّهنَّthen they are رُجُومُpelting missiles
لسمائِهِنَّ فإنَّهنَّ رُجُومُ
They are the stars; if a rebel rises
toward their sky, they are pelting missiles.
Partial English translation: 150 of 156 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1