تَصَدَّت وَحَبلُ البَينِ مُستَحصِدٌ شَزرُ

تَصَدَّت وَحَبلُ البَينِ مُستَحصِدٌ شَزرُ

وَقَد سَهَّلَ التَوديعُ ما وَعَّرَ الهَجرُ

وَقَد سَهَّلَ التَوديعُ ما وَعَّرَ الهَجرُ

She came forward, the cord of parting tightly twisted leftward,

She turned away while the rope of separation harvests sparks,

And farewell had smoothed what estrangement made rugged.

And parting has eased what remoteness complicated.

بَكَتهُ بِما أَبكَتهُ أَيّامَ صَدرُها

بَكَتهُ بِما أَبكَتهُ أَيّامَ صَدرُها

خَلِيٌّ وَما يَخلو لَهُ مِن هَوىً صَدرُ

خَلِيٌّ وَما يَخلو لَهُ مِن هَوىً صَدرُ

She wept for him with tears she once made him shed, in days when her bosom

She wept for what made her weep in the days of her prime,

Was untroubled, while his bosom was never free of love.

While my heart is empty, devoid of love for anyone else.

وَقالَت أَتَنسى البَدرَ قُلتُ تَجَلُّداً

وَقالَت أَتَنسى البَدرَ قُلتُ تَجَلُّداً

إِذا الشَمسُ لَم تَغرُب فَلا طَلَعَ البَدرُ

إِذا الشَمسُ لَم تَغرُب فَلا طَلَعَ البَدرُ

She said, "Will you forget the full moon?" I answered, steeling myself:

She said, “Can you forget the full moon?” I said, being stoic,

"If the sun has not set, may the full moon never rise."

“As long as the sun doesn’t set, the full moon won’t rise.”

فَأَذرَت جُماناً مِن دُموعٍ نِظامُها

فَأَذرَت جُماناً مِن دُموعٍ نِظامُها

عَلى الصَدرِ إِلّا أَنَّ صائِغَها الشَفرُ

عَلى الصَدرِ إِلّا أَنَّ صائِغَها الشَفرُ

Then she scattered pearls of tears, their string

So she shed copious tears, strung together,

Upon her breast—though their goldsmith was the eyelid's edge.

Pouring on her chest, except their pouring is done by the eyelids.

وَما الدَمعُ ثانٍ عَزمَتي وَلَوَ اَنَّها

وَما الدَمعُ ثانٍ عَزمَتي وَلَوَ اَنَّها

سَقى خَدَّها مِن كُلِّ عَينٍ لَها نَهرُ

سَقى خَدَّها مِن كُلِّ عَينٍ لَها نَهرُ

Tears will not turn my resolve, even if she

And shedding more tears was not my intention, even if

Had her cheek watered by a river from each of her eyes.

Every eye of hers were to water her cheek into a river.

جَمَعتُ شَعاعَ الرَأيِ ثُمَّ وَسَمتُهُ

جَمَعتُ شَعاعَ الرَأيِ ثُمَّ وَسَمتُهُ

بِحَزمٍ لَهُ في كُلِّ مُظلِمَةٍ فَجرُ

بِحَزمٍ لَهُ في كُلِّ مُظلِمَةٍ فَجرُ

I gathered my scattered thoughts, then stamped them

I gathered the rays of perception and branded it

With resolve that has a dawn in every darkness.

With resolve that gives light in every dark place.

وَصارَعتُ عَن مِصرٍ رَجائي وَلَم يَكُن

وَصارَعتُ عَن مِصرٍ رَجائي وَلَم يَكُن

لِيَصرَعَ عَزمي غَيرَ ما صَرَعَت مِصرُ

لِيَصرَعَ عَزمي غَيرَ ما صَرَعَت مِصرُ

I wrestled my hope away from Egypt; nor could

I struggled to fulfill my hope but nothing could defeat

My resolve overthrow anything but what Egypt had overthrown.

My resolve other than what Egypt itself defeated.

فَطَحطَحتُ سَدّاً سَدُّ ياجوجَ دونَهُ

فَطَحطَحتُ سَدّاً سَدُّ ياجوجَ دونَهُ

مِنَ الهَمِّ لَم يُفرَغ عَلى زُبرِهِ قِطرُ

مِنَ الهَمِّ لَم يُفرَغ عَلى زُبرِهِ قِطرُ

So I shattered a wall beside which Ya'juj's wall was slight,

So I became a barrier, blocking Gog and Magog,

A wall of care, with no molten copper poured over its blocks.

With worries whose drops never cease flooding its dam.

بِذِعلِبَةٍ أَلوى بِوافِرِ نَحضِها

بِذِعلِبَةٍ أَلوى بِوافِرِ نَحضِها

فَتىً وافِرُ الأَخلاقِ لَيسَ لَهُ وَفرُ

فَتىً وافِرُ الأَخلاقِ لَيسَ لَهُ وَفرُ

With a swift she-camel whose ample flesh was worn away

With a brave she-camel bucking mightily,

By a youth rich in virtues, yet possessing no wealth.

A generous gallant man who has no defect.

فَكَم مَهمَهٍ قَفرٍ تَعَشَّقتُ مَتنَهُ

فَكَم مَهمَهٍ قَفرٍ تَعَشَّقتُ مَتنَهُ

عَلى مَتنِها وَالبَرُّ مِن آلِهِ بَحرُ

عَلى مَتنِها وَالبَرُّ مِن آلِهِ بَحرُ

How many a barren wilderness's back I came to love,

So I fancied many barren lands I walked on their backs

Upon her back, while the land was a sea of mirage.

While the land is a sea and its people are the land.

وَما القَفرُ بِالبيدِ القَواءِ بَل الَّتي

وَما القَفرُ بِالبيدِ القَواءِ بَل الَّتي

نَبَت بي وَفيها ساكِنوها هِيَ القَفرُ

نَبَت بي وَفيها ساكِنوها هِيَ القَفرُ

Desolation is not the empty deserts, but the land

The barren land is not with sturdy pegs. But the land that grew

That cast me off, though its inhabitants dwell there—that is desolation.

Me and whose dwellers grew in it, that is the barren land.

وَمَن قامَرَ الأَيّامَ عَن ثَمراتِها

وَمَن قامَرَ الأَيّامَ عَن ثَمراتِها

فَأَحجِ بِها أَن تَنجَلي وَلَها القَمرُ

فَأَحجِ بِها أَن تَنجَلي وَلَها القَمرُ

Whoever gambles with the days for their fruits—

Whoever gambles with days against their gains

How likely they are to end with the winnings theirs!

I fear for it to be unveiled while it owns the moon.

فَإِن كانَ ذَنبي أَنَّ أَحسَنَ مَطلَبي

فَإِن كانَ ذَنبي أَنَّ أَحسَنَ مَطلَبي

أَساءَ فَفي سوءِ القَضاءِ لِيَ العُذرُ

أَساءَ فَفي سوءِ القَضاءِ لِيَ العُذرُ

If my fault is that the best of my quest

If my sin was that my best interests went wrong,

Turned ill, then in an ill decree lies my excuse:

Then the blame is on the misfortune of fate, I have an excuse.

قَضاءِ الَّذي ما زالَ في يَدِهِ الغِنى

قَضاءِ الَّذي ما زالَ في يَدِهِ الغِنى

ثَنى غَربَ آمالي وَفي يَدِيَ الفَقرُ

ثَنى غَربَ آمالي وَفي يَدِيَ الفَقرُ

The decree of Him in whose hand wealth has always lain

Fate which wealth never ceased to be in its hands

Blunted the edge of my hopes, while poverty lay in my hand.

Has folded my hopes while poverty remains in my hands.

رَضيتُ وَهَل أَرضى إِذا كانَ مُسخِطي

رَضيتُ وَهَل أَرضى إِذا كانَ مُسخِطي

مِنَ الأَمرِ ما فيهِ رِضا مَن لَهُ الأَمرُ

مِنَ الأَمرِ ما فيهِ رِضا مَن لَهُ الأَمرُ

I accepted it—but am I content, when what displeases me

I accepted it - could I be pleased if the one discontent with me

In the affair is what pleases the One to whom command belongs?

In the matter is the one whose pleasure matters the most?

وَأَشجَيتُ أَيّامي بِصَبرٍ جَلَونَ لي

وَأَشجَيتُ أَيّامي بِصَبرٍ جَلَونَ لي

عَواقِبَهُ وَالصَبرُ مِثلُ اِسمِهِ صَبرُ

عَواقِبَهُ وَالصَبرُ مِثلُ اِسمِهِ صَبرُ

I vexed my days with patience; they revealed to me

And I endured my days with composed patience that

Its outcomes; patience, like its namesake, is bitter aloe.

Bore good consequences, and patience is true to its name.

أَبى لِيَ نَجرُ الغَوثِ أَن أَرأَمَ الَّتي

أَبى لِيَ نَجرُ الغَوثِ أَن أَرأَمَ الَّتي

أُسَبُّ بِها وَالنَجرُ يُشبِهُهُ النَجرُ

أُسَبُّ بِها وَالنَجرُ يُشبِهُهُ النَجرُ

The stock of al-Ghawth forbade me to embrace the thing

The rivers of aid refused to let me pasture on what

For which I am reviled; stock resembles stock.

I disparage, and the act of refusal resembles the rivers.

وَهَل خابَ مَن جِذماهُ في ضَنءِ طَيِّئٍ

وَهَل خابَ مَن جِذماهُ في ضَنءِ طَيِّئٍ

عَدِيُّ العَدِيّينَ القَلَمَّسُ أَو عَمرُو

عَدِيُّ العَدِيّينَ القَلَمَّسُ أَو عَمرُو

Can one fail whose two roots among Tayyi's offspring are

How disappointed can one be who gathered in the grasps of Tayyi’

Adi of the Adis, al-Qalammas, or Amr?

‘Adiyy the most generous, or ‘Amr?

لَنا غُرَرٌ زَيدِيَّةٌ أُدَدِيَّةٌ

لَنا غُرَرٌ زَيدِيَّةٌ أُدَدِيَّةٌ

إِذا نَجَمَت ذَلَّت لَها الأَنجُمُ الزُهرُ

إِذا نَجَمَت ذَلَّت لَها الأَنجُمُ الزُهرُ

Ours are radiant glories of Zayd and Udad;

We have charms - Zaydi, Udaidi -

When they rise, the brilliant stars bow before them.

When they shine, even the bright stars submit to them.

لَنا جَوهَرٌ لَو خالَطَ الأَرضَ أَصبَحَت

لَنا جَوهَرٌ لَو خالَطَ الأَرضَ أَصبَحَت

وَبُطنانُها مِنهُ وَظُهرانُها تِبرُ

وَبُطنانُها مِنهُ وَظُهرانُها تِبرُ

Ours is an essence which, if mixed with earth, would leave it

We have a gem - if it mixed with earth it would become

With its depths and its surfaces turned by it to raw gold.

Its insides and outsides - nothing but dust.

جَديلَةُ وَالغَوثُ اللَذَينِ إِلَيهِما

جَديلَةُ وَالغَوثُ اللَذَينِ إِلَيهِما

صَغَت أُذُنٌ لِلمَجدِ لَيسَ بِها وَقرُ

صَغَت أُذُنٌ لِلمَجدِ لَيسَ بِها وَقرُ

Jadila and al-Ghawth, the two toward whom

Jadilah and Al-Gawth to whom an ear attentive

Glory's ear inclined, with no deafness in it.

To glory inclines, while in it there is no tranquility.

مَقاماتُنا وَقفٌ عَلى الحِلمِ وَالحِجى

مَقاماتُنا وَقفٌ عَلى الحِلمِ وَالحِجى

فَأَمرَدُنا كَهلٌ وَأَشيَبُنا حَبرُ

فَأَمرَدُنا كَهلٌ وَأَشيَبُنا حَبرُ

Our deeds are dedicated to forbearance and reason;

Our positions are a standstill upon wisdom and argument -

Our beardless youth is a mature man, and our gray-haired man a sage.

So our elders have grown old and our youths turned grey.

أَلَنّا الأَكُفَّ بِالعَطاءِ فَجاوَزَت

أَلَنّا الأَكُفَّ بِالعَطاءِ فَجاوَزَت

مَدى اللينِ إِلّا أَنَّ أَعراضَنا الصَخرُ

مَدى اللينِ إِلّا أَنَّ أَعراضَنا الصَخرُ

We softened our palms with giving, until they surpassed

We are soft in giving so our gentleness exceeded

The bounds of softness—yet our honor is rock.

The extent of gentleness, except our manner is rock solid.

كَأَنَّ عَطايانا يُناسِبنَ مَن أَتى

كَأَنَّ عَطايانا يُناسِبنَ مَن أَتى

وَلا نَسَبٌ يُدنيهِ مِنّا وَلا صِهرُ

وَلا نَسَبٌ يُدنيهِ مِنّا وَلا صِهرُ

It is as if our gifts were kin to whoever comes,

Our gifts seem to suit whoever came to us

Though neither blood nor marriage brings him close to us.

While no lineage brings them close to us, nor in-laws.

إِذا زينَةُ الدُنيا مِنَ المالِ أَعرَضَت

إِذا زينَةُ الدُنيا مِنَ المالِ أَعرَضَت

فَأَزيَنُ مِنها عِندَنا الحَمدُ وَالشُكرُ

فَأَزيَنُ مِنها عِندَنا الحَمدُ وَالشُكرُ

When the world's adornment of wealth turns away,

If the adornment of life with wealth turned away

Praise and gratitude are fairer than it to us.

The finest adornment with us is praise and gratitude.

وُكورُ اليَتامى في السِنينَ فَمَن نَبا

وُكورُ اليَتامى في السِنينَ فَمَن نَبا

بِفَرخٍ لَهُ وَكرٌ فَنَحنُ لَهُ وَكرُ

بِفَرخٍ لَهُ وَكرٌ فَنَحنُ لَهُ وَكرُ

We are nests for orphans in lean years; whoever has

The nests of orphans in the years - so whoever mews

A fledgling rejected by its nest—we are a nest for him.

For a chick that has a nest, we are for it a nest.

أَبى قَدرُنا في الجودِ إِلّا نَباهَةً

أَبى قَدرُنا في الجودِ إِلّا نَباهَةً

فَلَيسَ لِمالٍ عِندَنا أَبَداً قَدرُ

فَلَيسَ لِمالٍ عِندَنا أَبَداً قَدرُ

Our standing in generosity admits only distinction;

Our fate in generosity refused to be anything but glorious

So wealth itself never counts for anything with us.

So wealth has never had any significance for us.

لِيُنجِح بِجودٍ مَن أَرادَ فَإِنَّهُ

لِيُنجِح بِجودٍ مَن أَرادَ فَإِنَّهُ

عَوانٌ لِهَذا الناسِ وَهوَ لَنا بِكرُ

عَوانٌ لِهَذا الناسِ وَهوَ لَنا بِكرُ

Let whoever wishes succeed through generosity; it is

Whoever wants to succeed through generosity, it

A matron to these people, but a virgin to us.

Is a helper for people, and for us it is an early mark.

جَرى حاتِمٌ في حَلبَةٍ مِنهُ لَو جَرى

جَرى حاتِمٌ في حَلبَةٍ مِنهُ لَو جَرى

بِها القَطرُ شَأواً قيلَ أَيُّهُما القَطرُ

بِها القَطرُ شَأواً قيلَ أَيُّهُما القَطرُ

Hatim ran in its racecourse; had the rain raced

Hatem competed in an arena - if the rain competed

There for a stretch, one would ask, "Which of the two is rain?"

Therein, it would be said which of the two is the rain?

فَتىً دَخَرَ الدُنيا أُناسٌ وَلَم يَزَل

فَتىً دَخَرَ الدُنيا أُناسٌ وَلَم يَزَل

لَها باذِلاً فَاِنظُر لِمَن بَقِيَ الذُخرُ

لَها باذِلاً فَاِنظُر لِمَن بَقِيَ الذُخرُ

A noble youth: others hoarded worldly wealth, while he never ceased

A gallant man, people hoarded the life while he

Giving it away—so see for whom the treasure endured.

Kept giving it away - so see for whom the treasures remained!

فَمَن شاءَ فَليَفخَر بِما شاءَ مِن نَدىً

فَمَن شاءَ فَليَفخَر بِما شاءَ مِن نَدىً

فَلَيسَ لِحَيٍّ غَيرَنا ذَلِكَ الفَخرُ

فَلَيسَ لِحَيٍّ غَيرَنا ذَلِكَ الفَخرُ

Let whoever wishes boast of whatever bounty he wishes;

Whoever wishes, let him take pride in whatever he wishes,

No tribe but ours can claim that boast.

For no clan other than us has that pride.

جَمَعنا العُلى بِالجودِ بَعدَ اِفتِراقِها

جَمَعنا العُلى بِالجودِ بَعدَ اِفتِراقِها

إِلَينا كَما الأَيّامُ يَجمَعُها الشَهرُ

إِلَينا كَما الأَيّامُ يَجمَعُها الشَهرُ

We gathered the heights of glory through generosity, after their scattering,

We gathered the heights and generosity after their separation

To ourselves, as a month gathers the days.

To us, as the days are gathered into months.

بِنَجدَتِنا أَلقَت بِنَجدٍ بَعاعَها

بِنَجدَتِنا أَلقَت بِنَجدٍ بَعاعَها

سَحابُ المَنايا وَهيَ مُظلِمَةً كُدرُ

سَحابُ المَنايا وَهيَ مُظلِمَةً كُدرُ

Through our valor, in Najd they emptied their full load—

With our aid, the clouds of death cast their lightning in aid

The clouds of death, dark and murky.

While gloomy - it is our aid that cleared them.

بِكُلِّ كَمِيٍّ نَحرُهُ غَرَضُ القَنا

بِكُلِّ كَمِيٍّ نَحرُهُ غَرَضُ القَنا

إِذا اِضطَمَرَ الأَحشاءُ وَاِنتَفَخَ السَحرُ

إِذا اِضطَمَرَ الأَحشاءُ وَاِنتَفَخَ السَحرُ

With every armored champion whose throat is the target of spears,

With every brave warrior charging his throat as prey

When the entrails contract and the lungs swell.

When bellies are inflamed and dawn approaches.

فَأَعجِب بِهِ يَهدي إِلى المَوتِ نَحرَهُ

فَأَعجِب بِهِ يَهدي إِلى المَوتِ نَحرَهُ

وَأَعجَبُ مِنهُ كَيفَ يَبقى لَهُ نَحرُ

وَأَعجَبُ مِنهُ كَيفَ يَبقى لَهُ نَحرُ

Marvel at him, offering his throat to death;

Be amazed - he guides his throat to death,

More marvelous still is how he has any throat left.

And more amazing - how does his throat remain for him?

يُشَيِّعُهُ أَبناءُ مَوتٍ إِلى الوَغى

يُشَيِّعُهُ أَبناءُ مَوتٍ إِلى الوَغى

يُشَيِّعُهُم صَبرٌ يُشَيِّعُهُ نَصرُ

يُشَيِّعُهُم صَبرٌ يُشَيِّعُهُ نَصرُ

Sons of death escort him to the clash of battle;

He is seen off by the sons of death to the battlefield

Steadfastness escorts them, and victory escorts steadfastness.

Patience sees him off, victory sees him off.

كُماةٌ إِذا ظَلَّ الكُماةُ بِمَعرِكٍ

كُماةٌ إِذا ظَلَّ الكُماةُ بِمَعرِكٍ

وَأَرماحُهُم حُمرٌ وَأَلوانُهُم صُفرُ

وَأَرماحُهُم حُمرٌ وَأَلوانُهُم صُفرُ

Champions: when champions spend the day in battle,

Archers - when the archers shaded the battlefield

Their spears red and their complexions yellow,

Their spears red, their faces yellow.

رَأَيتَ لَهُم بِشراً عَلى أَوجُهٍ لَهُم

رَأَيتَ لَهُم بِشراً عَلى أَوجُهٍ لَهُم

أَبى بَأسُهُم أَلّا يَكونَ لَها بِشرُ

أَبى بَأسُهُم أَلّا يَكونَ لَها بِشرُ

You see cheerfulness upon their faces;

You saw them with good tidings on faces that

Their valor refuses to let those faces lack cheer.

Refused through their might to have other than good tidings.

بِخَيلٍ لِزَيدِ الخَيلِ فيها فَوارِسٌ

بِخَيلٍ لِزَيدِ الخَيلِ فيها فَوارِسٌ

إِذا نَطَقوا في مَشهَدٍ خَرِسَ الدَهرُ

إِذا نَطَقوا في مَشهَدٍ خَرِسَ الدَهرُ

With a cavalry in which are riders of Zayd al-Khayl;

With horses exceeding horses - so many horsemen

When they speak in an assembly, Time falls silent.

That when they speak in dignity, even eternity falls silent.

عَلى كُلِّ طِرفٍ يَحسُرُ الطَرفَ سابِحٍ

عَلى كُلِّ طِرفٍ يَحسُرُ الطَرفَ سابِحٍ

وَسابِحَةٍ لَكِن سِباحَتُها الحُضرُ

وَسابِحَةٍ لَكِن سِباحَتُها الحُضرُ

Upon every noble steed that wearies the eye as it swims,

On every edge, eyes squint at the sight of warriors

And every swimming mare—yet her swimming is a gallop.

Swimming, though their swimming is but sitting aback.

طَوى بَطنَها الإِسآدُ حَتّى لَوَ اَنَّهُ

طَوى بَطنَها الإِسآدُ حَتّى لَوَ اَنَّهُ

بَدا لَكَ ما شَكَّكتَ في أَنَّهُ ظَهرُ

بَدا لَكَ ما شَكَّكتَ في أَنَّهُ ظَهرُ

Nightlong travel has tucked her belly up so that, if it

Its belly is folded by the saddlecloth as though

Appeared to you, you would not doubt it was a back.

Exposed, you would doubt that it is truly its back.

ضَبيبِيَّةٌ ما إِن تُحَدِّثُ أَنفُساً

ضَبيبِيَّةٌ ما إِن تُحَدِّثُ أَنفُساً

بِما خَلفَها ما دامَ قُدّامَها وِترُ

بِما خَلفَها ما دامَ قُدّامَها وِترُ

Dabibi cavalry, whose thoughts never turn

My she-camel, when it narrates what came behind

To what lies behind them while a blood-debt lies ahead.

As long as what’s ahead remains, the lute falls silent.

فَإِن ذَمَّتِ الأَعداءُ سوءَ صَباحِها

فَإِن ذَمَّتِ الأَعداءُ سوءَ صَباحِها

فَلَيسَ يُؤَدّي شُكرَها الذِئبُ وَالنَسرُ

فَلَيسَ يُؤَدّي شُكرَها الذِئبُ وَالنَسرُ

If the enemies curse the evil of their dawn,

If enemies blamed its terrible morning

The wolf and the vulture cannot thank them enough.

Neither the wolf nor the eagle can pay its dues of gratitude.

بِها عَرَفَت أَقدارَها بَعدَ جَهلِها

بِها عَرَفَت أَقدارَها بَعدَ جَهلِها

بِأَقدارِها قَيسُ بنُ عَيلانَ وَالفِزرُ

بِأَقدارِها قَيسُ بنُ عَيلانَ وَالفِزرُ

Through them they learned their worth, after ignorance

Through it, the Aqdar knew their worth after ignorance

Of their worth—Qays ibn Aylan and al-Fizr.

Of it - Qays bin ‘Ailan and Al-Fizar.

وَتَغلِبُ لاقَت غالِباً كُلَّ غالِبٍ

وَتَغلِبُ لاقَت غالِباً كُلَّ غالِبٍ

وَبَكرٌ فَأَلفَت حَربَنا بازِلاً بَكرُ

وَبَكرٌ فَأَلفَت حَربَنا بازِلاً بَكرُ

And Taghlib met one who conquers every conqueror;

Taghlib met a vanquisher - every vanquisher,

And Bakr found our war a mature camel—Bakr, the young camel.

And Bakr, so it befriended our war turned feeble, Bakr.

وَأَنتَ خَبيرٌ كَيفَ أَبقَت أُسودُنا

وَأَنتَ خَبيرٌ كَيفَ أَبقَت أُسودُنا

بَني أَسَدٍ إِن كانَ يَنفَعُكَ الخُبرُ

بَني أَسَدٍ إِن كانَ يَنفَعُكَ الخُبرُ

And you know what our lions left of

And you are well aware how our lions kept

The sons of Asad—if knowledge does you any good.

The clan of Asad - if knowing benefits you.

وَقِسمَتُنا الضيزى بِنَجدٍ وَأَرضِها

وَقِسمَتُنا الضيزى بِنَجدٍ وَأَرضِها

لَنا خُطوَةٌ في عَرضِها وَلَهُم فِترُ

لَنا خُطوَةٌ في عَرضِها وَلَهُم فِترُ

And our unjust division in Najd and its land:

And we divided Al-Dhizya in aid and its land -

We have a stride across its breadth; they have a finger-span.

For us a foothold in its breadth, while for them frustration.

مَساعٍ يَضِلُّ الشِعرُ في طُرقِ وَصفِها

مَساعٍ يَضِلُّ الشِعرُ في طُرقِ وَصفِها

فَما يَهتَدي إِلّا لِأَصغَرِها الشِعرُ

فَما يَهتَدي إِلّا لِأَصغَرِها الشِعرُ

Deeds whose paths of description bewilder poetry,

An ear loses its way in describing its routes

So poetry finds its way only to the smallest of them.

So none is guided to it but the smallest ear of corn.