نامَ الخَلِيُّ وَبِتُّ اللَيلَ مُشتَجِراً

نامَ الخَلِيُّ وَبِتُّ اللَيلَ مُشتَجِراً

كَأَنَّ عَينِيَ فيها الصابُ مَذبوحُ

كَأَنَّ عَينِيَ فيها الصابُ مَذبوحُ

The carefree man slept; I spent the night with my chin propped on my hand,

The crescent heralded nightfall while they disputed,

as though bitter spurge lay slit open in my eye.

As if there were slaughtered gazelles in my eyes.

لَمّا ذَكَرتُ أَخا العِمقى تَأَوَّبَني

لَمّا ذَكَرتُ أَخا العِمقى تَأَوَّبَني

هَمّي وَأَفرَدَ ظَهري الأَغلَبُ الشيحُ

هَمّي وَأَفرَدَ ظَهري الأَغلَبُ الشيحُ

When I remembered the man of al-'Imqa, there returned to me

When I remembered my intimate friend absence overtook me,

my grief; the stout-necked, resolute man left my back unsupported.

My care took hold of me and the most arduous of calamities weakened my back.

جودا فَوَاللَهِ لا أَنهاكُما أَبَداً

جودا فَوَاللَهِ لا أَنهاكُما أَبَداً

وَزالَ عِندي لَهُ ذِكرٌ وَتَبجيحُ

وَزالَ عِندي لَهُ ذِكرٌ وَتَبجيحُ

Shed tears freely, you two; by God, I shall never forbid you,

Generous one, by God I will never tire of you both

and remembrance and praise of him have ceased within me.

And with me there remains mention and glorification of you.

المائِحُ الأُدمَ كَالمَروِ الصِلابِ إِذا

المائِحُ الأُدمَ كَالمَروِ الصِلابِ إِذا

ما حارَدَ الخورُ وَاِجتُثَّ المَجاليحُ

ما حارَدَ الخورُ وَاِجتُثَّ المَجاليحُ

He who lavished pale camels, hard as flint, when

The red tent, like the firmly pegged ropes, when

the abundant milkers ran dry and even the enduring milkers were utterly depleted,

The wind raged and the tempests pulled up the pegs.

وَزَفَّتِ الشَولُ مِن بَردِ العَشِيِّ كَما

وَزَفَّتِ الشَولُ مِن بَردِ العَشِيِّ كَما

زَفَّ النَعامُ إِلى حَفّانِهِ الروحُ

زَفَّ النَعامُ إِلى حَفّانِهِ الروحُ

and the dry she-camels hurried from the evening cold, as

And the mares were led slowly in the cool of evening as

ostriches returning at dusk hurry toward their chicks.

Ostriches are led to their resting places by the evening breeze.

وَقالَ ما شيهِمُ سِيّانِ سَيرُكُمُ

وَقالَ ما شيهِمُ سِيّانِ سَيرُكُمُ

وَأَن تُقيموا بِهِ وَاِغبَرَّتِ السوحُ

وَأَن تُقيموا بِهِ وَاِغبَرَّتِ السوحُ

Their herd-owner said, 'It is the same whether you travel

And he said, "What is your business in Siyan and staying there

or stay here,' as the open grounds turned dusty.

While the plains turned white?"

وَكانَ مِثلَينِ أَلّا يَسرَحوا نَعَماً

وَكانَ مِثلَينِ أَلّا يَسرَحوا نَعَماً

حَيثُ اِستَرادَت مَواشيهُم وَتَسريحُ

حَيثُ اِستَرادَت مَواشيهُم وَتَسريحُ

It was alike whether they did not turn livestock out

And likewise, "Do not pasture your camels where once

where their herds sought pasture, or turned them out.

Their cattle grazed and wandered freely."

وَاِعصَوصَبَت بَكَراً مِن حَرجَفٍ وَلَها

وَاِعصَوصَبَت بَكَراً مِن حَرجَفٍ وَلَها

وَسطَ الدِيارِ رَذِيّاتٌ مَرازيحُ

وَسطَ الدِيارِ رَذِيّاتٌ مَرازيحُ

They huddled at dawn against a bitter wind; among them were

They captured some young she-camels of Harjaf that were unbroken,

beasts left exhausted amid the dwellings, utterly worn out.

Rutting in the center of the dwellings.

أَمّا أولاتُ الذُرا مِنها فَعاصِبَةٌ

أَمّا أولاتُ الذُرا مِنها فَعاصِبَةٌ

تَجولُ بَينَ مَناقيها الأَقاديحُ

تَجولُ بَينَ مَناقيها الأَقاديحُ

As for the high-humped among them, they huddle together,

As for the mature she-camels among them, they are defiant,

the gaming arrows circulating among their fat, marrow-rich beasts.

Wandering among their pastures while the cooking pots boil.

لا يُكرَمونَ كَريماتِ المَخاضِ وَأَن

لا يُكرَمونَ كَريماتِ المَخاضِ وَأَن

ساهُم عَقائِلَها جوعٌ وَتَرزيحُ

ساهُم عَقائِلَها جوعٌ وَتَرزيحُ

They do not spare the finest pregnant camels, even though

They do not value the honorable pregnant ones, and their

hunger and exhaustion have made their choicest beasts gaunt.

Udders are dry and lacking in milk.

أَلفَيتَهُ لا يَذُمُّ الضَيفُ جَفنَتَهُ

أَلفَيتَهُ لا يَذُمُّ الضَيفُ جَفنَتَهُ

وَالجارُ ذو البَثِّ مَحبُوٌّ وَمَمنوحُ

وَالجارُ ذو البَثِّ مَحبُوٌّ وَمَمنوحُ

You found him: no guest disparaged his serving-bowl,

You will find that the guest does not dislike his entertainment,

and the grieving neighbor was favored with gifts and grants.

And the neighbor, though complicated, is loving and generous.

ثُمَّ إِذا فارَقَ الأَغمادَ حُشوَتُها

ثُمَّ إِذا فارَقَ الأَغمادَ حُشوَتُها

وَصَرَّحَ المَوتُ إِنَّ المَوتَ تَصريحُ

وَصَرَّحَ المَوتُ إِنَّ المَوتَ تَصريحُ

Then, when the blades left their sheaths,

Then, when their laden saddlebags are emptied

and death revealed itself—for death is stark revelation—

And death is revealed—truly death is stripping away—

وَصَرَّحَ المَوتُ عَن غُلبٍ كَأَنَّهُم

وَصَرَّحَ المَوتُ عَن غُلبٍ كَأَنَّهُم

جُربٌ يُدافِعُها الساقي مَنازيحُ

جُربٌ يُدافِعُها الساقي مَنازيحُ

and death laid bare stout-necked warriors, as though they were

And death stripped away with overwhelming power, as if they

mangy camels kept far off and driven back by the waterer,

Were leather water skins the water bearer defends with the tent pegs.

أَلفَيتَهُ لا يَفُلُّ القِرنُ شَوكَتَهُ

أَلفَيتَهُ لا يَفُلُّ القِرنُ شَوكَتَهُ

وَلا يُخالِطُهُ في البَأسِ تَسميحُ

وَلا يُخالِطُهُ في البَأسِ تَسميحُ

you found him: no opponent blunted his edge,

You will find that the tribe does not weaken its thorns

nor did yielding mingle with him in battle.

Nor does vileness mix with it in war.

أَلفَيتَ أَغلَبَ مِن أُسدِ المَسَدِّ حَدي

أَلفَيتَ أَغلَبَ مِن أُسدِ المَسَدِّ حَدي

دَ النابِ إِخذَتُهُ عَفرٌ فَتَطريحُ

دَ النابِ إِخذَتُهُ عَفرٌ فَتَطريحُ

You found a stout-necked lion of al-Masad, sharp-

You will find that it prevails over the lion of Masadd, whose

fanged: his grip rolls prey in dust, then throws it down.

Incisors when bared are blades that slash and cut.

وَمَتلَفٍ مِثلِ فَرقِ الرَأسِ تَخلِجُهُ

وَمَتلَفٍ مِثلِ فَرقِ الرَأسِ تَخلِجُهُ

مَطارِبٌ زَقَبٌ أَميالُها فيحُ

مَطارِبٌ زَقَبٌ أَميالُها فيحُ

And a deadly tract, like a hair-parting, from which branch

And one worn out as if by the separation of a head that convulses him

narrow byways whose long stretches spread wide.

With deadly, far-reaching strokes of its tent ropes.

يَجري بِجَوَّتِهِ مَوجَ السَرابِ كَأَن

يَجري بِجَوَّتِهِ مَوجَ السَرابِ كَأَن

ضاحِ الخُزاعِيِّ حازَت رنقَهُ الريحُ

ضاحِ الخُزاعِيِّ حازَت رنقَهُ الريحُ

Waves of mirage run through its hollow, as though

He runs in his valley as if he is the mirage

the wind had gathered the murky water of Dah al-Khuza'i.

Of Dhahal al-Khuza'i that the wind makes tremble.

مُستَوقِدٌ في حَصاهُ الشَمسُ تَصهَرُهُ

مُستَوقِدٌ في حَصاهُ الشَمسُ تَصهَرُهُ

كَأَنَّهُ عَجَمٌ بِالكَفِّ مَرضوحُ

كَأَنَّهُ عَجَمٌ بِالكَفِّ مَرضوحُ

It blazes among its pebbles; the sun melts them,

With the sun melting him down in his rocky area

as though they were fruit-stones crushed in the palm.

As if he were a Persian scorched by the palm of a hand.

يَستَنُّ في جانِبِ الصَحراءِ فائِرُهُ

يَستَنُّ في جانِبِ الصَحراءِ فائِرُهُ

كَأَنُّهُ سَبِطُ الأَهدابِ مَملوحُ

كَأَنُّهُ سَبِطُ الأَهدابِ مَملوحُ

Its seething mirage races along the desert's edge,

He lies next to the edge of the desert with his masculinity exposed

as though it were a smooth-fringed cloth streaked black and white.

Like a great-humped young male goat salt-encrusted.

جاوَزتَهُ حينَ لا يَمشي بِعَقوَتِهِ

جاوَزتَهُ حينَ لا يَمشي بِعَقوَتِهِ

إِلّا المَقانِبُ وَالقُبُّ المَقاريحُ

إِلّا المَقانِبُ وَالقُبُّ المَقاريحُ

You crossed it when none travelled its outskirts

When he is not walking with his loose saddle and scarf

but bands of horsemen and lean, sore-ridden horses.

None pass by him except the short-necked camels with their nose rings.

بُغايَةً إِنَّما يَبغي الصِحابَ مِن ال

بُغايَةً إِنَّما يَبغي الصِحابَ مِن ال

فِتيانِ في مِثلِهِ الشُمُّ الأَناجيحُ

فِتيانِ في مِثلِهِ الشُمُّ الأَناجيحُ

On a quest; companions are sought only by the

Truly, he only seeks to be among the zealous

proud, successful youths in a place like this.

Youth, the heat at midday and the sighing of the restless mares.

لَو كانَ مِدحَةُ حَيٍّ أَنشَرَت أَحَداً

لَو كانَ مِدحَةُ حَيٍّ أَنشَرَت أَحَداً

أَحيا أُبُوَّتَكِ الشُمَّ الأَماديحُ

أَحيا أُبُوَّتَكِ الشُمَّ الأَماديحُ

If a living person's praise had ever raised anyone from the dead,

By your life, if praising the living would resurrect someone

eulogies would have revived your noble forefathers.

I would revive your fatherhood, O piercing heat of noon!

لَعَمرُكَ إِنّي يَومَ أَنظُرُ صاحِبي

لَعَمرُكَ إِنّي يَومَ أَنظُرُ صاحِبي

عَلى أَن أَراهُ قافِلاً لَشَحيحُ

عَلى أَن أَراهُ قافِلاً لَشَحيحُ

By your life, the day I await my companion,

By your life, when I look forward to seeing my companion

I am fiercely eager to see him coming home.

About to return, my tears pour forth abundantly.

وَإِنَّ دُموعي إِثرَهُ لَكَثيرَةٌ

وَإِنَّ دُموعي إِثرَهُ لَكَثيرَةٌ

لَو أَنَّ الدُموعَ وَالبُكاءَ يُريحُ

لَو أَنَّ الدُموعَ وَالبُكاءَ يُريحُ

And many indeed are my tears after him,

And by God, I will not be satisfied with the son of an uncle who is like

if only tears and weeping brought relief.

The hoary hair that persists as long as the doves moan!

فَوَاللَهِ لا أُرزا اِبنَ عَمٍّ كَأَنَّهُ

فَوَاللَهِ لا أُرزا اِبنَ عَمٍّ كَأَنَّهُ

نُشَيبَةُ ما دامَ الحَمامُ يَنوحُ

نُشَيبَةُ ما دامَ الحَمامُ يَنوحُ

By God, I shall never lose a cousin like

Rather, a lad gained in early manhood with a gaze

Nushayba, so long as doves lament.

That pierces like the point of a sharp sword.

وَإِنَّ غُلاماً نيلَ في عَهدِ كاهِلٍ

وَإِنَّ غُلاماً نيلَ في عَهدِ كاهِلٍ

لَطِرفٌ كَنَصلِ المَشرَفِيَّ صَريحُ

لَطِرفٌ كَنَصلِ المَشرَفِيَّ صَريحُ

And the youth struck down under Kahil's pledge

I will launch a raid with warriors at daybreak

was truly noble and pure-bred, like a Mashrafi blade.

And am I made of what is touched by the tomb!

سَأَبعَثُ نَوحاً بِالرَجيعِ حَواسِراً

سَأَبعَثُ نَوحاً بِالرَجيعِ حَواسِراً

وَهَل أَنا مِمّا مَسَّهُنَّ ضَريحُ

وَهَل أَنا مِمّا مَسَّهُنَّ ضَريحُ

I shall send forth bareheaded mourning women at al-Raji',

And a mare that casts off her clothing as if

and am I removed from what has afflicted them?

She were shaking it beneath the howdah by the stirrup.

وَعادِيَةٍ تُلقي الثِيابَ كَأَنَّما

وَعادِيَةٍ تُلقي الثِيابَ كَأَنَّما

تُزَعزِعُها تَحتَ السَمامَةِ ريحُ

تُزَعزِعُها تَحتَ السَمامَةِ ريحُ

And a charging band, flinging off their clothes as though

And I scattered them until when their faces were exposed

a wind were shaking them beneath the battle-standard—

Rapidly there appeared faces and shaved heads.

وَزَعتَهُمُ حَتّى إِذا ما تَبَدَّدوا

وَزَعتَهُمُ حَتّى إِذا ما تَبَدَّدوا

سِراعاً وَلاحَت أَوجُهٌ وَكُشوحُ

سِراعاً وَلاحَت أَوجُهٌ وَكُشوحُ

you held them back until they scattered

You rushed against their vanguard and outstripped them

swiftly, and faces and flanks came into view.

And combed through early in the day—truly you are combing!

بَدَرتَ إِلى أولاهُمُ فَسَبَقتَهُم

بَدَرتَ إِلى أولاهُمُ فَسَبَقتَهُم

وَشايَحتَ قَبلَ اليَومِ إِنَّكَ شيحُ

وَشايَحتَ قَبلَ اليَومِ إِنَّكَ شيحُ

You rushed toward their foremost and outstripped them;

Then if you touch during a night march the desolation of a ruin

you fought fiercely before this day: you are resolute.

Your companion will be the moaning of graves.

فَإِن تُمسِ في رَمسٍ بَرهَوةَ ثاوِياً

فَإِن تُمسِ في رَمسٍ بَرهَوةَ ثاوِياً

أَنيسُكَ أَصداءُ القُبورِ تَصيحُ

أَنيسُكَ أَصداءُ القُبورِ تَصيحُ

And if you spend the evening lying in a grave at Rahwa,

Against my inclination I do not restrain my tears

your companions the owls of the graves, crying out—

Rather I let loose their flock to flow freely.

عَلى الكُرهِ مِنّي ما أُكَفكِفُ عَبرَةً

عَلى الكُرهِ مِنّي ما أُكَفكِفُ عَبرَةً

وَلكِن أُخَلّي سَربَها فَتَسيحُ

وَلكِن أُخَلّي سَربَها فَتَسيحُ

though unwilling, I do not hold back a tear,

For you have no neighbors or helpers

but free its course and let it flow.

Nor kindness that weeps for you sincerely.

فَما لَكَ جيرانٌ وَما لَكَ ناصِرٌ

فَما لَكَ جيرانٌ وَما لَكَ ناصِرٌ

وَلا لَطَفٌ يَبكي عَلَيكَ نَصيحُ

وَلا لَطَفٌ يَبكي عَلَيكَ نَصيحُ

You have no neighbors, and you have no helper,

And if they had tried him for an hour, his horn,

nor a faithful intimate to weep for you.

When it clashes, makes the legs of men stumble.

وَلَو مارَسوهُ ساعَةً إِنَّ قِرنَهُ

وَلَو مارَسوهُ ساعَةً إِنَّ قِرنَهُ

إِذا خامَ أَخدانُ الرِجالِ يَطيحُ

إِذا خامَ أَخدانُ الرِجالِ يَطيحُ

Had they grappled with him for an hour, his opponent

And a flock perfumed with ambergris, as if it is

would fall when men's comrades lost heart.

The blood of young gazelles with slit throats.

وَسِربٍ يُطَلّى بِالعَبيرِ كَأَنَّهُ

وَسِربٍ يُطَلّى بِالعَبيرِ كَأَنَّهُ

دِماءُ ظِباءٍ بِالنُحورِ ذَبيحُ

دِماءُ ظِباءٍ بِالنُحورِ ذَبيحُ

And a band of women anointed with perfume, as though it were

You devoted yourself to them in speech—truly you possess

the blood of slaughtered gazelles upon their necks.

Whatever you wish of the sweetness of elegant words!

بَذَلتَ لَهُنَّ القَولَ إِنَّكَ واجِدٌ

بَذَلتَ لَهُنَّ القَولَ إِنَّكَ واجِدٌ

لِما شِئتَ مِن حُلوِ الكَلامِ مَليحُ

لِما شِئتَ مِن حُلوِ الكَلامِ مَليحُ

You freely gave them words; you had at hand

Thus you enabled yourself to obtain what you want, but some of them

whatever sweetness of speech you wished, and you were charming.

Are wretched in the face of your goodness—headstrong.

فَأَمكَنَّهُ مِمّا يُريدُ وَبَعضُهُم

فَأَمكَنَّهُ مِمّا يُريدُ وَبَعضُهُم

شَقِيٌّ لَدى خَيراتِهِنَّ نَطيحُ

شَقِيٌّ لَدى خَيراتِهِنَّ نَطيحُ

So they granted him what he wanted, while some men

And he competed with them in speech until

are wretched before their favors, knocked aside.

Hearts that used to keep away now inclined toward him and rested.

وَنازَعَهُنَّ القَولَ حَتّى اِرعَوَت لَهُ

وَنازَعَهُنَّ القَولَ حَتّى اِرعَوَت لَهُ

قُلوبٌ تَفادى مَرَّةً وَتُريحُ

قُلوبٌ تَفادى مَرَّةً وَتُريحُ

He exchanged words with them until there yielded to him

He left behind, as he crossed, a hazy cloud of dust

hearts that shied away at times and at times came to rest.

That a horseman makes shine, waving.

وَأَغبَرَ ما يَجتازُهُ مُتَوَضِّحُ ال

وَأَغبَرَ ما يَجتازُهُ مُتَوَضِّحُ ال

رِجالِ كَفَرقِ العامِرِيِّ يَلوحُ

رِجالِ كَفَرقِ العامِرِيِّ يَلوحُ

And a dust-gray waste no daylight traveller among

In it are remnants of shoes, counterpart

men crosses, gleaming like al-Amiri's hair-parting.

To the feet, scattered about from the caravans.

بِهِ مِن نِعالِ القافِلينَ شَراذِمٌ

بِهِ مِن نِعالِ القافِلينَ شَراذِمٌ

مُقابَلَةٌ أَقدامُها وَسَريحُ

مُقابَلَةٌ أَقدامُها وَسَريحُ

In it lie scraps of returning travellers' sandals,

In it are stones pelted between them, deadly

their toe-pieces facing one another, and leather thongs.

Missiles, like the barking of wild dogs, are discharged.

بِهِ رُجُماتٌ بَينَهُنَّ مَخارِمُ

بِهِ رُجُماتٌ بَينَهُنَّ مَخارِمُ

نُهوجٌ كَلَبّاتِ الهِجانِ تَفيحُ

نُهوجٌ كَلَبّاتِ الهِجانِ تَفيحُ

There are stone cairns there, with passes between them,

You crossed when the mirage was as if it were

clear paths spreading wide like the breasts of white camels.

The milk boiling on cooking pots over the fires.

أَجَزتَ إِذا كانَ السَرابُ كَأَنَّهُ

أَجَزتَ إِذا كانَ السَرابُ كَأَنَّهُ

عَلى مُحزَئِلّاتِ الإِكامِ نَضيحُ

عَلى مُحزَئِلّاتِ الإِكامِ نَضيحُ

You crossed it when the mirage seemed

like water sprinkled over the rising hillocks.