ألا يا انْعَمي أطلالُ خنساءَ وانْعمي

ألا يا انْعَمي أطلالُ خنساءَ وانْعمي

صباحاً وإمساءً وإنْ لم تَكلَّمي

صباحاً وإمساءً وإنْ لم تَكلَّمي

Ah, fare well, O ruins of Khansa', fare well,

O my bliss, the ruins of Khansa’ and my bliss

at morning and evening, though you do not speak.

In the morn and eve though you do not speak

ولا زلتِ في أرواقِ واهيةِ الكُلى

ولا زلتِ في أرواقِ واهيةِ الكُلى

هَتُولٍ متى تُبْسِسْ بها الريحُ تُرزِمِ

هَتُولٍ متى تُبْسِسْ بها الريحُ تُرزِمِ

May you never cease to lie amid rain-curtains from clouds with leaking flanks,

You still reside in the passages of my kidneys

pouring steadily, rumbling whenever the wind coaxes them.

Fearful whenever the wind blows it decays

عهدْنا بها الخنساءَ أيامَ ما ترى

عهدْنا بها الخنساءَ أيامَ ما ترى

لخنساءَ مِثلاً والنَّوى لم تَخرَّمِ

لخنساءَ مِثلاً والنَّوى لم تَخرَّمِ

We knew Khansa' there in days when one could see no

We knew Khansa in the days when you see

equal to Khansa', and separation had not yet torn us apart.

For Khansa an example and the seed was not split

وخنساءُ مِخماصُ الوِشاحَيْنِ خَطْوُها

وخنساءُ مِخماصُ الوِشاحَيْنِ خَطْوُها

إلى الزوجِ أقتارٌ خُطى المُتجشِّمِ

إلى الزوجِ أقتارٌ خُطى المُتجشِّمِ

Khansa' is slender beneath her two sashes; her steps

And Khansa pulls her veil with her hands, her steps

toward her husband are short, like the steps of one struggling.

To her husband graceful, steps of one wrapped up

ينوءُ بخَصْرَيْها إذا ما تأوَّدتْ

ينوءُ بخَصْرَيْها إذا ما تأوَّدتْ

نقا عُجمةٍ في صَعدةٍ لم تُوصَّمِ

نقا عُجمةٍ في صَعدةٍ لم تُوصَّمِ

There weighs upon her waist, whenever she sways,

She sways at the waist when she faints

a dune of dense sand upon an unblemished straight stem.

The swaying of a delicate branch in Sada unpierced

خليليَّ من دونِ الأخلاّءِ قد ونَتْ

خليليَّ من دونِ الأخلاّءِ قد ونَتْ

عصا البينِ هلْ في البَينِ من مُتكلِّمِ

عصا البينِ هلْ في البَينِ من مُتكلِّمِ

My two friends, above all other friends, now slackens

My intimate away from intimates, the staff of separation took her

the staff of parting; is there anyone to speak of parting?

Is there any speaker in separation?

ألِمّا نُسائلْ قبلَ أن ترمي النَّوى

ألِمّا نُسائلْ قبلَ أن ترمي النَّوى

بنافذةٍ نَبْضَ الفؤادِ المُتيَّمِ

بنافذةٍ نَبْضَ الفؤادِ المُتيَّمِ

Stop here, you two; let us inquire before separation shoots

We should ask before the seed throws

a piercing shaft at the pulse of the love-enslaved heart.

Through a window the throbbing heart that is in gloom

يقفْ عاشقٌ لم يبقَ من روحِ نفسِهِ

يقفْ عاشقٌ لم يبقَ من روحِ نفسِهِ

ولا عقلِهِ المسلوبِ غيرَ التوهُّمِ

ولا عقلِهِ المسلوبِ غيرَ التوهُّمِ

A lover stands, with nothing left of his soul's spirit

A lover stands with no soul left in him

or his ravished reason but imagining.

Nor his stolen mind but delusion remains

وما تركَ اللائي يُرَيِّشْنَ صِيغةً

وما تركَ اللائي يُرَيِّشْنَ صِيغةً

هيَ الموتُ من لحمٍ عليهِ ولا دمِ

هيَ الموتُ من لحمٍ عليهِ ولا دمِ

And the women who feather a shaft have left him nothing—

Those whom he let flutter a creation

that shaft is death—neither flesh upon him nor blood.

It’s death made of flesh with no blood or skin

إذا هنَّ أحْذَيْنَ المراوِدَ بعدَما

إذا هنَّ أحْذَيْنَ المراوِدَ بعدَما

رقَدْنَ إلى قرنِ الضحى المُتجرِّمِ

رقَدْنَ إلى قرنِ الضحى المُتجرِّمِ

When they apply the kohl-sticks, after

When the beautiful ones slept until the curved horns of dawn

sleeping until the waning height of late morning,

Slept to the crookedness of late night

عيونُ المها أو مثلَها سقطَتْ لها

عيونُ المها أو مثلَها سقطَتْ لها

وأعيُنُ أرآمٍ صَرائدَ أسهُمِ

وأعيُنُ أرآمٍ صَرائدَ أسهُمِ

oryx eyes, or their like, have been allotted—

Eyes of gazelles or like them fell for her

and gazelles' eyes too—arrows that pierce through,

And eyes of oryx, prey of arrows

كما أصردَتْ حِضنَيْ جميلٍ وقبلَهُ

كما أصردَتْ حِضنَيْ جميلٍ وقبلَهُ

عُرَيَّةَ والبَكّاءةَ المُترنَّمِ

عُرَيَّةَ والبَكّاءةَ المُترنَّمِ

just as they pierced Jamil's two sides, and before him,

As she hugged the bosom of a beauty and kissed him

Urayyah and al-Bakka'ah, the singer.

Bare and crying, chanting woefully

رمتْهُ أناةٌ من ربيعةِ عامرٍ

رمتْهُ أناةٌ من ربيعةِ عامرٍ

نَؤومُ الضحى في مأتمٍ أيَّ مأتمِ

نَؤومُ الضحى في مأتمٍ أيَّ مأتمِ

A languid woman of Rabi'ah of 'Amir shot him,

She threw him to misery from the clan of Amer

a late-morning sleeper, in a women's gathering—what a gathering!

Sorrowful, in what sorrowful mourning

وجاءَ كخَوطِ البانِ لا مُتتَرِّعاً

وجاءَ كخَوطِ البانِ لا مُتتَرِّعاً

ولكنْ بخلْقَيْهِ وقارٍ ومِيسَمِ

ولكنْ بخلْقَيْهِ وقارٍ ومِيسَمِ

He came like a moringa twig, not impetuous,

And he came like the lines of an effeminate, not conceited

but bearing his twin qualities, dignity and beauty.

But with dignity and calmness, well-mannered

فقالَ صباحٌ قُلنَ غيرَ فواحشٍ

فقالَ صباحٌ قُلنَ غيرَ فواحشٍ

صباحاً وما إنْ قلنَ غيرَ التذمُّمِ

صباحاً وما إنْ قلنَ غيرَ التذمُّمِ

He said, 'Good morning'; they answered, without indecency,

So the morning said, tell without obscenities

'Good morning,' saying nothing beyond courteous propriety.

A good morning though we said no more than a groan

فأنشدَ مشعوفاً بهندٍ وأهلِها

فأنشدَ مشعوفاً بهندٍ وأهلِها

نشيداً كخُشّابِ العراقِ المُنظَّمِ

نشيداً كخُشّابِ العراقِ المُنظَّمِ

Then, his heart aflame for Hind and her people, he recited

So he recited with passion about Hind and her people

a song like the strung beads of Iraq.

A poem like the crafted garlands of Iraq

وقُلنَ لها سرّاً وقَيْناكِ لا يَرُحْ

وقُلنَ لها سرّاً وقَيْناكِ لا يَرُحْ

صحيحاً وإنْ لم تقتليهِ فألْمِمي

صحيحاً وإنْ لم تقتليهِ فألْمِمي

They whispered to her, 'May we shield you! Let him not leave

And we told her in secret, we reproach you, do not be

unharmed; if you do not kill him, at least come close.'

Upright even if you do not kill him, then disdain

فأدنَتْ قناعاً دونَهُ الشمسُ واتَّقتْ

فأدنَتْ قناعاً دونَهُ الشمسُ واتَّقتْ

بأحسنِ موصولَيْنِ كفٌّ ومِعصَمِ

بأحسنِ موصولَيْنِ كفٌّ ومِعصَمِ

She drew a veil close, with the sun beneath it, and screened herself

So she brought closer a veil, the sun shy of it

with the loveliest joined pair: a hand and a wrist.

In the best joined hand and wrist

فراحَ ابنُ عَجِلانَ الغوِيُّ بحاجةٍ

فراحَ ابنُ عَجِلانَ الغوِيُّ بحاجةٍ

يُجاوبُ قُمْرِيَّ الحَمامِ المُهيَّمِ

يُجاوبُ قُمْرِيَّ الحَمامِ المُهيَّمِ

So Ibn 'Ajlan, the infatuated, went off with a yearning,

And the lustful son of 'Ajlan left desiring

answering the lovesick turtledove among the doves.

The amorous turtledove moaning sadly

وراحَ وما يدري أفي طلقةِ الضحى

وراحَ وما يدري أفي طلقةِ الضحى

تَروَّحَ أو داجٍ منَ الليلِ مُظلمِ

تَروَّحَ أو داجٍ منَ الليلِ مُظلمِ

He went off not knowing whether in the clear light of forenoon

And left not knowing if at dawn's first light

he was departing, or in a dark, gloomy stretch of night.

He strolled or a darkness of the gloomy night

وأغيدَ من طولِ السُّرى برَّحَتْ بهِ

وأغيدَ من طولِ السُّرى برَّحَتْ بهِ

أفنانيُ نَهّاضٍ على الأيْنِ مِرْجَمِ

أفنانيُ نَهّاضٍ على الأيْنِ مِرْجَمِ

And a supple youth whom the long night journey had sorely tried

And he disappeared due to the length of travel, the open desert confused him

with the varied gaits of a mount rising despite fatigue, pounding the ground—

With the deception of journeys, whenever it touches it writhes

وأقتالُهُ من مَنكبَيْهِ كأنّها

وأقتالُهُ من مَنكبَيْهِ كأنّها

نوادرُ أعناقٍ رِبابةُ مُسْهِمِ

نوادرُ أعناقٍ رِبابةُ مُسْهِمِ

and his limbs, hanging from his two shoulders, were like

I walked with him until the layers of gloom scattered

jutting necks in a lot-drawer's arrow-case,

And the clear dark night was illuminated

خواضعُ يَسْتَدِمينَ في كلِّ خِلقةٍ

خواضعُ يَسْتَدِمينَ في كلِّ خِلقةٍ

لوَتْها بكفَّيْهِ كِلابُ المُخشِّمِ

لوَتْها بكفَّيْهِ كِلابُ المُخشِّمِ

drooping, bleeding in every loop

We knelt but when sleep poured in his mind

the nose-ringer's hooks had twisted with his two hands;

And eyes the cup of slumber I said to him arise

وأدراجِ ليلٍ بعدَ ليلٍ يجوبُهُ

وأدراجِ ليلٍ بعدَ ليلٍ يجوبُهُ

بهِ زَورُ أسفارٍ متى تُمسِ تُجذِمِ

بهِ زَورُ أسفارٍ متى تُمسِ تُجذِمِ

and stretches of night after night were crossed

But he did not arise except between hands that erect him

with him by a journey-hardened mount, pressing on whenever dusk fell.

As the north wind tilted a pliable branch

سرَيْتُ بهِ حتى إذا ما تمزّقتْ

سرَيْتُ بهِ حتى إذا ما تمزّقتْ

توالي الدُّجى عن واضحِ الليلِ مُعْلِمِ

توالي الدُّجى عن واضحِ الليلِ مُعْلِمِ

I traveled by night with him until there were torn away

He walked drunk, as if his tongue

the last folds of darkness from night's clear, unmistakable edge.

For what it uttered was the tongue of the eloper

أنخْنا فلمّا أفرغَتْ في دماغِهِ

أنخْنا فلمّا أفرغَتْ في دماغِهِ

وعينَيْهِ كأسُ النومِ قلتُ لهُ قُمِ

وعينَيْهِ كأسُ النومِ قلتُ لهُ قُمِ

We made our mounts kneel; and when into his brain

And he wanted with the center of the five, if only we

and eyes the cup of sleep had poured, I said to him, 'Rise!'

Departed and said to him in the rest, sleep

فما قامَ إلاّ بينَ أيدٍ تُقيمُهُ

فما قامَ إلاّ بينَ أيدٍ تُقيمُهُ

كما عطفَتْ ريحُ الصَّبا عودَ ساسَمِ

كما عطفَتْ ريحُ الصَّبا عودَ ساسَمِ

He rose only amid hands lifting him,

But when drowsiness overcame him on the saddle, he bent

as the east wind bends a sasam bough.

His shoulders behind and forward

خطا الكُرهَ مغلوباً كأنَّ لسانَهُ

خطا الكُرهَ مغلوباً كأنَّ لسانَهُ

لِما ردَّ من رجْعٍ لسانُ المُبَرْسَمِ

لِما ردَّ من رجْعٍ لسانُ المُبَرْسَمِ

He stepped unwillingly, overcome, as though his tongue,

We gathered his wings with every embrace

in the replies he gave, were a fever-delirious man's tongue.

And await blessing, covered in garb

وودَّ بوُسْطى الخمسِ منهُ لو اننا

وودَّ بوُسْطى الخمسِ منهُ لو اننا

رحَلْنا وقُلنا في المَناخِ لهُ نَمِ

رحَلْنا وقُلنا في المَناخِ لهُ نَمِ

He would have given the middle of his five fingers if only we

So he awoke not knowing in which land

had moved on, telling him at the campsite, 'Sleep!'

Nor where in it a place he had not darted to

فلمّا تغشّاهُ على الرحْلِ ينثَني

فلمّا تغشّاهُ على الرحْلِ ينثَني

مُسالَيْهِ عنهُ في وراءٍ ومُقْدَمِ

مُسالَيْهِ عنهُ في وراءٍ ومُقْدَمِ

Then, when sleep covered him upon the saddle, he swayed,

He sways next to the shoulders as if he were

his two jaw-tips drooping away, backward and forward.

Feeble upon one with might, mumbling

ضمَمْنا جناحَيْهِ بكلِّ شِمِلَّةٍ

ضمَمْنا جناحَيْهِ بكلِّ شِمِلَّةٍ

ومُرتَقِبِ اليُمنى كَتُومِ التزَغُّمِ

ومُرتَقِبِ اليُمنى كَتُومِ التزَغُّمِ

We hemmed his two flanks in with all the swift she-camels,

Aimless destiny took him far and the torrents of

and a mount watching the right hand, stifling its grumbles.

The wild desert, the vicious floods of Theehamah

فأضحى وما يدري بأيّةِ بلدةٍ

فأضحى وما يدري بأيّةِ بلدةٍ

ولا أينَ منها مَيدةٌ لمْ تُصرَّمِ

ولا أينَ منها مَيدةٌ لمْ تُصرَّمِ

By morning he did not know in which country he was,

When it saw the sun whose day against it

nor where in it lay a stretch not yet traversed.

Was long it approached and the ground said to it crawl

يخِرُّ حِيالَ المَنكِبَيْنِ كأنّهُ

يخِرُّ حِيالَ المَنكِبَيْنِ كأنّهُ

نَخيعٌ على ذي قوةٍ مُتَغَمْغِمِ

نَخيعٌ على ذي قوةٍ مُتَغَمْغِمِ

He slumped level with the shoulders, as though he were

It gathered barren plain when it flowed

a slain beast upon a powerful, low-muttering mount.

Arrogant, still when calm beneath the sloping

أَميمُ كرىً أثْأى بهِ خطَلُ السُّرى

أَميمُ كرىً أثْأى بهِ خطَلُ السُّرى

وهَيْجات عُرْيانِ الأشاجعِ شَيْظَمِ

وهَيْجات عُرْيانِ الأشاجعِ شَيْظَمِ

Sleep-struck in the head, hurt by reckless night-travel

They yelp when it splits a stick, glad of it

and the jolts of a tall, bare-knuckled mount.

His hands and if he reaches their cats he crushes

ومنهنَّ تحتَ الرحْلِ جلْسٌ جعلْنَها

ومنهنَّ تحتَ الرحْلِ جلْسٌ جعلْنَها

دواءً لنجوى الطارقِ المُتنوِّمِ

دواءً لنجوى الطارقِ المُتنوِّمِ

Among them, beneath the saddle, was a sturdy she-camel they made

It wanders fearing the abandoned as if it were

a remedy for the whispered plaint of the drowsy night-traveler.

The quails in its burrow all huddled up

إذا المُنقِياتُ العِيدُ بلَّغْنَ أرقَلَتْ

إذا المُنقِياتُ العِيدُ بلَّغْنَ أرقَلَتْ

على الأيْنِ إرقالَ الفَنيقِ المُسدَّمِ

على الأيْنِ إرقالَ الفَنيقِ المُسدَّمِ

When the marrow-rich 'Id camels reach their limit, she trots

It sees its sustenance day by day but its only

despite fatigue, like a restrained stud-camel.

Wealth when content with carcass and arrows

كأنَّ السُّرى ينجابُ في كلِّ ليلةٍ

كأنَّ السُّرى ينجابُ في كلِّ ليلةٍ

إلى الصبحِ عن نازِي الحماتَيْنِ صِلدِمِ

إلى الصبحِ عن نازِي الحماتَيْنِ صِلدِمِ

It is as though each night's journey is stripped away

Subsisting on the smooth surface of valleys as if they

at dawn from a sturdy beast springing on its two haunches.

Were patterned blue, the slopes of Ed-Deem

رعى الرملَ حتى استنَّ كلُّ مُزمزِمٍ

رعى الرملَ حتى استنَّ كلُّ مُزمزِمٍ

على الشاةِ محبوكِ الذراعينِ كلْدِمِ

على الشاةِ محبوكِ الذراعينِ كلْدِمِ

He grazed the sands until each rumbling male ran headlong

It threw aside the elbow of life so its interior

at his mate, close-knit in the forelegs, compact and stout.

Entered another interior unpierced

شُوَيْقٍ رعى الأنداءِ حتى تعذَّرتْ

شُوَيْقٍ رعى الأنداءِ حتى تعذَّرتْ

مَجاني اللِّوى من كوكبٍ مُتضرِّمِ

مَجاني اللِّوى من كوكبٍ مُتضرِّمِ

A longing creature, he grazed the dewy pastures until

So that is the one whom I likened in rhyming couplets

the fruits of the winding sands were denied him by a blazing star.

To him the day we reconstructed after five molded

وآضَتْ بقايا كلِّ ثمْلٍ كأنّها

وآضَتْ بقايا كلِّ ثمْلٍ كأنّها

عُصارةُ فَظٍّ أو دُوافةُ كُرْكُمِ

عُصارةُ فَظٍّ أو دُوافةُ كُرْكُمِ

And the remnants of every pool became as though they were

Enduring the blazing expanses and rolling

juice pressed from paunch-contents, or a turmeric slurry.

On the slippery incline of Al-Abiyy, unruly

وهاجَتْ منض الغَورَيْنِ غَورَيْ تِهامةٍ

وهاجَتْ منض الغَورَيْنِ غَورَيْ تِهامةٍ

نواشطُ يهجمْن الحصى كلّ مَهجَمِ

نواشطُ يهجمْن الحصى كلّ مَهجَمِ

And from the two lowlands, the two lowlands of Tihamah, rose

To Ja'far I travel the night and departure

sweeping winds, assaulting the pebbles at every turn.

To the noble relative without blemish

فلمّا رأى الشمسَ التي طالَ يومُها

فلمّا رأى الشمسَ التي طالَ يومُها

عليهِ دنتْ قالتْ لهُ أرضُهُ ارغَمي

عليهِ دنتْ قالتْ لهُ أرضُهُ ارغَمي

When he saw the sun, whose day had stretched so long

He is spoiled for two months and it nourishes

over him, drawing near, his land said to him, 'Be humbled!'

To an independent with calamities, lively

جمى قلقٌ سهلُ الجِراءِ إذا جرى

جمى قلقٌ سهلُ الجِراءِ إذا جرى

طغا ثبت ما تحتَ اللِّبانِ المُقدَّمِ

طغا ثبت ما تحتَ اللِّبانِ المُقدَّمِ

He rushed [reading uncertain], restless and easy-running; when he ran,

And his two companions who suffered the night's journey said

he surged ahead, firm beneath his forward-thrusting chest.

He who suffers the night's journey endures

يُشِعْنَ إذا شقَّتْ عصاً يغتبِطْنَهُ

يُشِعْنَ إذا شقَّتْ عصاً يغتبِطْنَهُ

يداهُ وإنْ يُدركْ قَطاهُنَّ يَكْدِمِ

يداهُ وإنْ يُدركْ قَطاهُنَّ يَكْدِمِ

They scatter when they split the staff, delighting in him,

And the hands of the skilled are in spacious coffins

in his two forelegs; if he catches their rumps, he bites.

Enclosures from one enwrapped and extended

يحيدُ ويخشى عازِبِيّاً كأنّهُ

يحيدُ ويخشى عازِبِيّاً كأنّهُ

ذُؤالةُ في شِمطاطِهِ المُتخذّمِ

ذُؤالةُ في شِمطاطِهِ المُتخذّمِ

He swerves, fearing a solitary hunter who is like

By my life, you have relieved anxiety and sleeplessness

a wolf in his torn and tattered garb.

And how much wealth after anxiety and sleeplessness

ترى رزقَهُ يوماً بيومٍ وإنّما

ترى رزقَهُ يوماً بيومٍ وإنّما

غِناهُ إذا استغنى بفِلْقٍ وأسهُمِ

غِناهُ إذا استغنى بفِلْقٍ وأسهُمِ

You see his livelihood come day by day; his only

So I said to them I am a man whose resolve

wealth, when he has wealth, is a split-wood bow and arrows.

And pursuit is not with the lowest determination

مُقِيتاً على صُلْتِ الهوادي كأنّها

مُقِيتاً على صُلْتِ الهوادي كأنّها

مُخَطَّطةٌ زُرقاً أعِنّةُ مُؤْدِمِ

مُخَطَّطةٌ زُرقاً أعِنّةُ مُؤْدِمِ

Keeping watch over sleek-necked beasts, as though they were

So do not increase blaming me, for I am not, my friends

blue-striped reins belonging to a leather-worker.

A blamer of companions or the blamed

رمى مِرفَقَ الدنيا فأرسلَ جوفُها

رمى مِرفَقَ الدنيا فأرسلَ جوفُها

إلى جوفِ أخرى مائراً لم يُثلَمِ

إلى جوفِ أخرى مائراً لم يُثلَمِ

He shot the nearest mare's elbow; her belly sent onward

Perhaps you two will be safe and befriend

into another's belly a speeding shaft, undamaged.

In well being whom God befriends is safe

فذاكَ الذي شبَّهتُ حرفاً شبيهةً

فذاكَ الذي شبَّهتُ حرفاً شبيهةً

بهِ يومَ أُبْنا بعدَ حَمْسٍ مُقحَّمِ

بهِ يومَ أُبْنا بعدَ حَمْسٍ مُقحَّمِ

That is the beast I likened a lean she-camel to, resembling

And if you rise above the doubt of mortality and go early

him on the day we returned after a fierce, overwhelming ordeal.

To Ja'far you will earn the best reception

تُقاسي الفِجاجَ اللامعاتِ وتَغتلي

تُقاسي الفِجاجَ اللامعاتِ وتَغتلي

بأتْلَعَ مسفوح العَلابِيّ شَجْعَمِ

بأتْلَعَ مسفوح العَلابِيّ شَجْعَمِ

She battles the shimmering passes, rising high

And you recognize a face most generous and descend

with a tall neck, its sinews spread wide, massive and long.

To abundance with the glorious noble

إلى جعفرٍ أطوي بها الليلَ والفلا

إلى جعفرٍ أطوي بها الليلَ والفلا

إلى سَبِطِ المعروفِ غيرِ مُذمَّمِ

إلى سَبِطِ المعروفِ غيرِ مُذمَّمِ

Toward Ja'far I fold up night and wilderness upon her,

With an alert white upon the lofty bastions

toward one open-handed in kindness, never blamed.

Steps a young man traces not a twin

يُغالى بها شهرانِ وهْيَ مُغِذّةٌ

يُغالى بها شهرانِ وهْيَ مُغِذّةٌ

إلى مُستقلٍّ بالنوائبِ خِضْرِمِ

إلى مُستقلٍّ بالنوائبِ خِضْرِمِ

Two months' distance is traversed upon her as she presses on,

toward one who shoulders calamities, ocean-like in bounty.

وقال رفيقاكَ اللذانَ تجشَّما سُرى الليلِ

وقال رفيقاكَ اللذانَ تجشَّما سُرى الليلِ

من يَجشَمْ سُرى الليلِ يَجشَمِ

من يَجشَمْ سُرى الليلِ يَجشَمِ

And your two companions, who endured the night journey, said:

'Whoever undertakes night-travel undertakes hardship.'

وأيدي المَهاري في فَيافٍ عريضةٍ

وأيدي المَهاري في فَيافٍ عريضةٍ

هوابطَ من اخرى تَغلَّى وترتمي

هوابطَ من اخرى تَغلَّى وترتمي

And the Mahri camels' forelegs in the broad deserts

descend from another rise, then surge and fling themselves forward.

لَعمري لقد أبعدتَ همّاً ومَنْسِماً

لَعمري لقد أبعدتَ همّاً ومَنْسِماً

وكم من غِنىً من بعدِ هَمٍّ ومَنسِمِ

وكم من غِنىً من بعدِ هَمٍّ ومَنسِمِ

'By my life, you have carried your ambition and your camel's foot far!

And how much wealth follows striving and the camel's tread!'

فقلتُ لهمْ إنّي امرؤ ليسَ همَّتي

فقلتُ لهمْ إنّي امرؤ ليسَ همَّتي

ولا طلبي حظّي بأدنى التَّهَمُّمِ

ولا طلبي حظّي بأدنى التَّهَمُّمِ

I said to them, 'I am a man; neither my ambition

nor my pursuit of my portion is a lowly striving.

فلا تُكثروا لَومي فليسَ أخوكُما

فلا تُكثروا لَومي فليسَ أخوكُما

بلَوّامِ أصحابٍ ولا بالمُلَوَّمِ

بلَوّامِ أصحابٍ ولا بالمُلَوَّمِ

So do not heap blame upon me; your brother is not

one who blames his companions, nor one deserving blame.

لعلَّكُما أنْ تسلَما وتَصاحبا

لعلَّكُما أنْ تسلَما وتَصاحبا

بعافيةٍ من يصحَبِ اللهُ يَسلَمِ

بعافيةٍ من يصحَبِ اللهُ يَسلَمِ

May you both be safe and journey together

in well-being; whoever God accompanies is safe.

وإنْ تُرْقِيا ريبَ المنونِ وتُقْدِما

وإنْ تُرْقِيا ريبَ المنونِ وتُقْدِما

على جعفرٍ تَسْتوجِبا خيرَ مَقْدَمِ

على جعفرٍ تَسْتوجِبا خيرَ مَقْدَمِ

And if you charm away death's vicissitudes and come

to Ja'far, you will deserve the finest welcome.

وتعترِفا وجهاً أغَرَ وتنزِلا

وتعترِفا وجهاً أغَرَ وتنزِلا

على سَعةٍ بالماجدِ المُتكرِّمِ

على سَعةٍ بالماجدِ المُتكرِّمِ

You will recognize a radiant face and lodge

in abundance with the noble, generous man,

بأبيضَ نَهّاضٍ إلى سُورِ العُلى

بأبيضَ نَهّاضٍ إلى سُورِ العُلى

جراثيمُ يخطوها فتىً غيرُ توأمِ

جراثيمُ يخطوها فتىً غيرُ توأمِ

with a fair man ever rising toward the ramparts of glory—

lofty mounds a youth strides over, without a twin.'