قِرىa hospitality-offering دارِهِمtheir dwelling مِنّيfrom me الدُموعُthe tears السَوافِكُstreaming
قِرى دارِهِم مِنّي الدُموعُ السَوافِكُ
وَإِنand even though عادَhas become صُبحيmy morning بَعدَهُمafter them وَهوَand it is حالِكُpitch-black
وَإِن عادَ صُبحي بَعدَهُم وَهوَ حالِكُ
My offering to their dwelling is streaming tears,
Their homes are watered by my copious tears
Though my morning after them has turned pitch-black;
Though my morn returns after them destroyed
وَإِنand though بَكَرَتset out early فيin ظُعنِهِمtheir traveling litters وَحُدوجِهِمand their howdahs
وَإِن بَكَرَت في ظُعنِهِم وَحُدوجِهِم
زَيانِبُZaynabs مِنamong أَحبابِناour beloveds وَعَواتِكُand Atikas
زَيانِبُ مِن أَحبابِنا وَعَواتِكُ
And though at dawn, in their litters and howdahs, departed
And though I rose early amid their resting places and tombs
Zaynabs and Atikas among our beloveds.
The places of our loved ones are adorned
سَقَتmay water رَبعَهُمtheir encampment لاno بَلrather سَقَتmay water مُنتَواهُمُtheir chosen abode
سَقَت رَبعَهُم لا بَل سَقَت مُنتَواهُمُ
مِنَon الأَرضِthe earth أَخلافُthe teats السَحابِof the clouds الحَواشِكُbrimming
مِنَ الأَرضِ أَخلافُ السَحابِ الحَواشِكُ
May their camp be watered—no, rather their chosen abode
It watered their meadows, nay it watered their last abode
On earth—by the brimming teats of the clouds.
With latter rains from the clouds bursting with showers
وَأَلبَسَهُمand may it clothe them عَصبَstriped cloth الرَبيعِof spring وَوَشيَهُand its brocade
وَأَلبَسَهُم عَصبَ الرَبيعِ وَوَشيَهُ
وَيُمنَتَهُand its Yemeni cloth نَبتُthe growth النَدىof dew المُتَلاحِكُclosely intertwined
وَيُمنَتَهُ نَبتُ النَدى المُتَلاحِكُ
And may they be clothed in spring's striped robes and brocade,
And clothed them in the finery of spring and adorned them
And its Yemeni cloth, by the dense, dew-fed growth.
With the soft drops of dew dripping from the meadows
إِذاwhen غازَلَcourts الرَوضُthe meadow الغَزالَةَthe sun نُشِّرَتare spread
إِذا غازَلَ الرَوضُ الغَزالَةَ نُشِّرَت
زَرابِيُّcarpets فيin أَكنافِهِمtheir surroundings وَدَرانِكُand thick-piled rugs
زَرابِيُّ في أَكنافِهِم وَدَرانِكُ
When the meadow courts the sun, there are unfurled
When the meadows court the roe-deer, they are bedecked
Carpets all around them, and thick-piled rugs.
With carpets amidst their resting places and circling streams
إِذاwhen الغَيثُthe rain سَدّىlays the warp نَسجَهُof its weaving خِلتَyou would think أَنَّهُthat it
إِذا الغَيثُ سَدّى نَسجَهُ خِلتَ أَنَّهُ
مَضَتhas passed حِقبَةٌan age حَرسٌlong لَهُfor it وَهوَand it is حائِكُa weaver
مَضَت حِقبَةٌ حَرسٌ لَهُ وَهوَ حائِكُ
When rain lays the warp of its weaving, you would think
When the rain dons its garment, you would think
It had spent a long age at the loom.
That an epoch has passed, keeping watch over it while it weaves
أَلِكنيcarry my message إِلىto حَيِّthe clan الأَراقِمِof al-Araqim إِنَّهُindeed
أَلِكني إِلى حَيِّ الأَراقِمِ إِنَّهُ
مِنَfrom الطائِرِthe fluttering one الأَحشاءِinward parts تُهدىare conveyed المَآلِكُmessages
مِنَ الطائِرِ الأَحشاءِ تُهدى المَآلِكُ
Carry my message to the clan of al-Araqim, for
Guide me to the quarters of the lovely sparrow
Messages are borne from one whose heart is aflutter.
For from that bird of good omen lucky stars are guided
كُلواeat الصَبرَbitter aloe غَضّاًfresh وَأَشرَبوهُand drink it فَإِنَّكُمfor you
كُلوا الصَبرَ غَضّاً وَأَشرَبوهُ فَإِنَّكُم
أَثَرتُمyou roused بَعيرَthe camel الظُلمِof injustice وَالظُلمُand injustice بارِكُwas kneeling
أَثَرتُم بَعيرَ الظُلمِ وَالظُلمُ بارِكُ
Eat fresh bitter aloe and drink it, for you
Consume patience while still fresh and drink it in
Have roused the camel of injustice while injustice lay kneeling.
For you have saddled the camel of darkness and darkness is blessed
أَتاكُمhe came upon you سَليلُthe offspring الغابِof the thickets فيin صَدرِthe forepart سَيفِهِof his sword
أَتاكُم سَليلُ الغابِ في صَدرِ سَيفِهِ
سَناًa radiance لِدُجىthrough the gloom الإِظلامِof darkness وَالظُلمُand injustice هاتِكُrending
سَناً لِدُجى الإِظلامِ وَالظُلمُ هاتِكُ
The thickets' son has come upon you; at his sword's point
The lion cub of the thicket has come to you with his sword
Is a radiance that rends the gloom of darkness and injustice.
Its sharp edge ready in the darkness of night to attack
إِذاwhen سيلَhe is asked سُدَّis barred العُذرُexcuse-making عَنfrom صُلبِthe substance مالِهِof his wealth
إِذا سيلَ سُدَّ العُذرُ عَن صُلبِ مالِهِ
وَإِنand if هَمَّhe resolves لَمnot تُسدَرbecome obscured عَلَيهِto him المَسالِكُthe paths
وَإِن هَمَّ لَم تُسدَر عَلَيهِ المَسالِكُ
When asked, no excuse shields the substance of his wealth;
When the torrent is unleashed the excuses dry up
And when he resolves, no paths are hidden from him.
And when resolved, the roads are not closed off to him
أَلَحَّhe pressed on وَماحَكتُمand you wrangled وَلِلقَدَرِand by fate's decree اِلتَقىmet
أَلَحَّ وَماحَكتُم وَلِلقَدَرِ اِلتَقى
غَريمانِtwo adversaries فيin الهَيجاbattle مُلِحٌّone relentless وَماحِكُand one obstinate
غَريمانِ في الهَيجا مُلِحٌّ وَماحِكُ
He pressed on, and you wrangled; by fate's decree there met
You persisted and fate brought together
Two foes in battle: one relentless, one obstinate.
Two disputants in passionate debate, one stubborn the other persistent
هُوَhe الحارِثُal-Harith الناعيannouncing the death of بُجَيراًBujayr وَإِنand if يُدَنsubmission is made
هُوَ الحارِثُ الناعي بُجَيراً وَإِن يُدَن
لَهُto him فَهوَthen he is إِشفاقاًin compassion زُهَيرٌZuhayr وَمالِكُand Malik
لَهُ فَهوَ إِشفاقاً زُهَيرٌ وَمالِكُ
He is al-Harith announcing Bujayr's death; but if submission is made
He who weeps for Bujair even if brought near
To him, then in compassion he is Zuhayr and Malik.
Is like Zuhair and Malik in his compassion
رَقاحِيُّa shrewd trader حَربٍin war طالَماhow often اِنقَلَبَتturned لَهُfor him
رَقاحِيُّ حَربٍ طالَما اِنقَلَبَت لَهُ
قَساطِلُdust clouds يَومِof the day الرَوعِof terror وَهيَand they are سَبائِكُingots
قَساطِلُ يَومِ الرَوعِ وَهيَ سَبائِكُ
A shrewd trader in war—how often for him have turned
A battle-hardened warrior who has often seen
The dust clouds of battle's day into ingots.
The battalions wavering on a day of clamor as they surge
وَمُستَنبِطٌand one who digs forth فيin كُلِّevery يَومٍday مِنَfrom الغِنىriches
وَمُستَنبِطٌ في كُلِّ يَومٍ مِنَ الغِنى
قَليباًa well رِشاآهاits two ropes القَناlances وَالسَنابِكُand hooves
قَليباً رِشاآها القَنا وَالسَنابِكُ
And every day he digs from riches
And one who extracts every day from the rich
A well whose two ropes are lances and hooves.
Booty watered by the spear and arrows
مُطِلٌّlooking down عَلىupon الآجالِlife's appointed ends حَتّىuntil كَأَنَّهُas though he
مُطِلٌّ عَلى الآجالِ حَتّى كَأَنَّهُ
لِصَرفِin apportioning المَناياdeaths فيamong النُفوسِsouls مُشارِكُa partner
لِصَرفِ المَنايا في النُفوسِ مُشارِكُ
He looks down upon life's appointed ends, until he seems
One who gazes at fate until it seems he
A partner in apportioning death among souls.
Shares in dispensing doom among souls
فَماfor not تَترُكُspare الأَيّامُthe days مَنwhomever هُوَhe آخِذٌseizes
فَما تَترُكُ الأَيّامُ مَن هُوَ آخِذٌ
وَلاand not تَأخُذُseize الأَيّامُthe days مَنwhomever هُوَhe تارِكُspares
وَلا تَأخُذُ الأَيّامُ مَن هُوَ تارِكُ
For the days spare no one he seizes,
For time does not spare one who takes
Nor do the days seize anyone he spares.
Nor does time vanquish one who desists
صَفوحٌforgiving إِذاwhen لَمnot يَثلِمِblunts الصَفحُforgiveness حَزمَهُhis resolve
صَفوحٌ إِذا لَم يَثلِمِ الصَفحُ حَزمَهُ
وَذوand possessed of تُدرَإٍdefensive might بِالفاتِكِagainst the deadly assailant الخِرقِbold فاتِكُdeadly
وَذو تُدرَإٍ بِالفاتِكِ الخِرقِ فاتِكُ
Forgiving, when forgiveness does not blunt his resolve,
Clement, when clemency does not soften his sternness
And a man of might, deadly to the daring assailant.
And one who wards off death blows with a splitting coat of mail
رَبيبُthe foster-son مُلوكٍof kings أَرضَعَتهُsuckled him ثُدِيَّهاtheir breasts
رَبيبُ مُلوكٍ أَرضَعَتهُ ثُدِيَّها
وَسِمعٌand a wolf-hyena hybrid تَرَبَّتهُreared him الرِجالُthe men الصَعالِكُpenniless
وَسِمعٌ تَرَبَّتهُ الرِجالُ الصَعالِكُ
The foster-son of kings, who suckled him at their breasts,
A lord's foster-son nurtured at her breast
And a wolf-hyena hybrid reared by penniless men.
And one whose hearing was trained by mighty warriors
وَلَوand if لَمnot يُكَفكِفhe held back خَيلَهُhis horses عَرَكَتكُمُthey would have ground you down
وَلَو لَم يُكَفكِف خَيلَهُ عَرَكَتكُمُ
بِأَثقالِهاunder their weight عَركَthe kneading of الأَديمِa hide المُعارِكُthe leather-worker
بِأَثقالِها عَركَ الأَديمِ المُعارِكُ
Had he not held his horses back, they would have ground you down
Else their horses beneath the riders' weights
Beneath their weight, as a leather-worker kneads a hide.
Would have shredded the hides of war
وَلَولاand but for تُقاهُhis piety عادَwould have become قَيضاًeggshells مُفَلَّقاًshattered
وَلَولا تُقاهُ عادَ قَيضاً مُفَلَّقاً
بِأُدحِيِّهِin its ostrich nest بَيضُthe eggs الخُدورِof curtained chambers التَرائِكُleft unhatched
بِأُدحِيِّهِ بَيضُ الخُدورِ التَرائِكُ
But for his piety, they would have turned to shattered shells:
And were it not for Him protecting their flank
The unhatched eggs of curtained chambers, in their ostrich nest.
They would have returned ripped to pieces
وَلَاِصطُفِيَتand would have been taken as spoils شَولٌdry she-camels فَظَلَّتand would have remained شَوارِداًstraying
وَلَاِصطُفِيَت شَولٌ فَظَلَّت شَوارِداً
قُرومُbreeding bulls عِشارٍof pregnant she-camels ماnot لَهُنَّfor them مَبارِكُkneeling places
قُرومُ عِشارٍ ما لَهُنَّ مَبارِكُ
And dry she-camels would have been seized as spoils, and left to wander
By the white feathers of the whizzing arrows
Would be the sires of pregnant she-camels, with nowhere to kneel.
And the choice herds would have been left neglected
إِذاًthen لَلَبِستُمyou would surely have worn عارَthe shame دَهرٍof an age كَأَنَّماas though
إِذاً لَلَبِستُم عارَ دَهرٍ كَأَنَّما
لَياليهِits nights مِنfrom بَينِamong اللَياليthe nights عَوارِكُmenstruating women
لَياليهِ مِن بَينِ اللَيالي عَوارِكُ
Then you would have worn an age-long shame, as though
Else you would have worn the shame of an age as though
Its nights, among all nights, were menstruating women.
Its nights amongst nights were disgraceful
وَلَاِجتُذِبَتand would have been pulled away فُرشٌbeds مِنَof الأَمنِsafety تَحتَكُمfrom beneath you
وَلَاِجتُذِبَت فُرشٌ مِنَ الأَمنِ تَحتَكُم
هِيَthey المُثلُthe exemplars فيin لينٍsoftness بِهاin them وَالأَرائِكُand canopied couches
هِيَ المُثلُ في لينٍ بِها وَالأَرائِكُ
And beds of safety would have been snatched from beneath you,
And furnishings of safety would have been pulled out from beneath you
They and canopied couches proverbial for their softness.
The example of soft furnishings and couches
وَلَكِنbut أَبىhe refused أَنthat يُستَباحَbe despoiled بِكَفِّهِby his hand
وَلَكِن أَبى أَن يُستَباحَ بِكَفِّهِ
سَنامُكُمُyour hump فيamong قَومِكُمyour people وَهوَand it is تامِكُlofty
سَنامُكُمُ في قَومِكُم وَهوَ تامِكُ
But he refused to let his hand despoil
But He refused to allow your authority in your people to be violated
Your hump among your people, lofty as it is,
While it remains intact and perfect
وَأَنand that تُصبِحواyou should become تَحتَbeneath الأَظَلِّthe camel's sole وَأَنتُمُand you are
وَأَن تُصبِحوا تَحتَ الأَظَلِّ وَأَنتُمُ
غَوارِبُthe crests حَيَّيof the two clans تَغلِبٍof Taghlib وَالحَوارِكُand the withers
غَوارِبُ حَيَّي تَغلِبٍ وَالحَوارِكُ
Or let you come beneath the camel's hoof, when you are
And that you wake under shade while you
The crests and withers of Taghlib's two clans.
Are the protectors of my quarters and environs
فَتَنجَذِمَso be severed الأَسبابُthe cords وَهيَand they are مُغارَةٌtightly twisted
فَتَنجَذِمَ الأَسبابُ وَهيَ مُغارَةٌ
وَتَنقَطِعَand be cut الأَرحامُkinship ties وَهيَand they are شَوابِكُinterwoven
وَتَنقَطِعَ الأَرحامُ وَهيَ شَوابِكُ
So that the cords would be severed, though tightly twisted,
Then relationships would split though clinging together
And kinship bonds be cut, though closely interwoven.
And kinship ties would snap though intertwined
فَلاso do not تَكفُرُنَّbe ungrateful to الصامِتِيَّal-Samiti مُحَمَّداًMuhammad
فَلا تَكفُرُنَّ الصامِتِيَّ مُحَمَّداً
آيادِيَfavors شَفعاًdoubled سَيبُهاtheir bounty مُتَدارِكُfollowing in succession
آيادِيَ شَفعاً سَيبُها مُتَدارِكُ
So do not be ungrateful to Muhammad al-Samiti
Do not then deny favors to the Silent One Muhammad
For his doubled favors, their bounty arriving in succession.
Whose hands will compensate with intercession
أَهَبَّhe set blowing لَكُمfor you ريحَthe wind الصَفاءِof amity جَنائِباًas south winds
أَهَبَّ لَكُم ريحَ الصَفاءِ جَنائِباً
رُخاءًgently وَكانَتand it had been وَهيَwhile it was نُكبٌcrosswinds سَواهِكُfiercely buffeting
رُخاءً وَكانَت وَهيَ نُكبٌ سَواهِكُ
He made the winds of amity blow for you from the south,
He brought you the sweet breezes as tailwinds
Gently, though they had been fierce, buffeting crosswinds.
And ease, while they were headwinds causing adversity
فَرَدَّso he turned back القَناthe lances ظَمآنَthirsty عَنكُمfrom you وَأُغمِدَتand were sheathed
فَرَدَّ القَنا ظَمآنَ عَنكُم وَأُغمِدَت
عَلىwith their heat حَرِّهاthe bright ones بيضُof swords السُيوفِdeadly الفَواتِكُline_59
عَلى حَرِّها بيضُ السُيوفِ الفَواتِكُ
So he turned the lances from you, thirsty, and sheathed
So he turned away the thirst of the spear points from you and sheathed
Were the bright, deadly swords, their heat unspent.
The sharp blades of the swords
وَآبَand returned عَلىunder سَعدِSa'd (Fortune) السُعودِal-Su'ud (Fortunes) بِرَحلِهِwith his baggage
وَآبَ عَلى سَعدِ السُعودِ بِرَحلِهِ
عِتاقُwell-bred المَذاكيmature steeds وَالقِلاصُand young she-camels الرَواتِكُswift-trotting
عِتاقُ المَذاكي وَالقِلاصُ الرَواتِكُ
And under Sa'd al-Su'ud, with his baggage, returned
And time moved into the realm of auspicious destiny
Well-bred, mature steeds and swift-trotting young she-camels.
The freedman of good fortune and the intimate friend of blessings
غَداhe went forth at dawn وَكَأَنَّand as though اليَومَthe day مِنfrom حُسنِthe beauty وَجهِهِof his face
غَدا وَكَأَنَّ اليَومَ مِن حُسنِ وَجهِهِ
وَقَدand already لاحَhe shone بَينَamong البيضِbright swords وَالبَيضِand helmets ضاحِكُsmiling
وَقَد لاحَ بَينَ البيضِ وَالبَيضِ ضاحِكُ
He went forth at dawn, and the day seemed, from his face's beauty,
As though the morn emerged today from his beautiful face
As he shone amid swords and helmets, to be smiling.
Gleaming between white and white, smiling
حَياتُكَyour life لِلدُنياfor the world حَياةٌa life ظَليلَةٌof sheltering shade
حَياتُكَ لِلدُنيا حَياةٌ ظَليلَةٌ
وَفَقدُكَand your loss لِلدُنياfor the world فَناءٌannihilation مُواشِكُswift-approaching
وَفَقدُكَ لِلدُنيا فَناءٌ مُواشِكُ
Your life is the world's life in sheltering shade;
While you live life is short
And your loss is the world's swift-approaching end.
And when you go loss for life is imminent
مَتىwhen يَأتِكَcomes to you المِقدارُfate لاnot تُدعَyou are called هالِكاًdead
مَتى يَأتِكَ المِقدارُ لا تُدعَ هالِكاً
وَلَكِنbut rather زَمانٌan age غالَslew مِثلَكَone like you هالِكُdead
وَلَكِن زَمانٌ غالَ مِثلَكَ هالِكُ
When fate comes for you, you shall not be called dead;
Whenever fate comes to you, leave not as one perished
Rather, the age that slays your like is dead.
But time itself will pass as one destroyed in your stead
Sol 6.1