أَلَم تَعجَبا لِلجارِياتِ البَوارِحِ

أَلَم تَعجَبا لِلجارِياتِ البَوارِحِ

جَرَت ثُمَّ قَفَّتها جُدودُ السَوانِحِ

جَرَت ثُمَّ قَفَّتها جُدودُ السَوانِحِ

Do you two not marvel at the ill-omened birds in flight?

Do you not wonder at the doves, as they flew,

They passed, then the good fortunes of auspicious birds followed them,

Then stopped by the exemplars of valor?

تُخَبِّرُنا أَنَّ العَشيرَةَ جامِعٌ

تُخَبِّرُنا أَنَّ العَشيرَةَ جامِعٌ

بِها عقرَ دارٍ بَعدَ نَأيٍ مُصارِحِ

بِها عقرَ دارٍ بَعدَ نَأيٍ مُصارِحِ

telling us that the clan would gather

Informing us the clan was gathering,

there in a homestead's heart, after stark separation.

At the remains of an abode after remoteness and separation.

فَقُلتُ وَهَشَّ القَلبُ لِلطَيرِ إِذ جَرَت

فَقُلتُ وَهَشَّ القَلبُ لِلطَيرِ إِذ جَرَت

عَسى اللَهُ إِنَّ اللَهَ جَمُّ الفَواتِحِ

عَسى اللَهُ إِنَّ اللَهَ جَمُّ الفَواتِحِ

I said, my heart rejoicing at the birds as they passed,

So I said, as my heart fluttered for the birds when they flew,

“May God grant it! God abounds in deliverances.”

“May God, God is Opener of all doors, grant good fortune.”

وَهَيَّجَ أَحزاناً عَلَيَّ وَعبرَةً

وَهَيَّجَ أَحزاناً عَلَيَّ وَعبرَةً

مَغاني دِيارٍ مِن جَديدٍ وَماصِحِ

مَغاني دِيارٍ مِن جَديدٍ وَماصِحِ

And sorrows and tears were stirred in me

And it stirred sorrows and lament within me,

by the dwelling grounds at Jadid and Masih,

The melodies of a land made new and devoid of companions.

لِقَومِيَ إِذ قَومي جَميعٌ نَواهُمُ

لِقَومِيَ إِذ قَومي جَميعٌ نَواهُمُ

وَإِذ أَنا في حَيٍّ كَثيرِ الوَضائِحِ

وَإِذ أَنا في حَيٍّ كَثيرِ الوَضائِحِ

my people's homes, when their abodes were all together,

For my people when all my people intended,

and I lived among a clan rich in white camels.

While I was in a place abundant with clear meadows.

عَفَت مرُّ مِن أَحياءِ سَعدٍ فَأَصبَحت

عَفَت مرُّ مِن أَحياءِ سَعدٍ فَأَصبَحت

بَسابِسَ لا نارٌ وَلا نَبحُ نابِحِ

بَسابِسَ لا نارٌ وَلا نَبحُ نابِحِ

Marr was deserted by the clans of Sa'd, and became

The dwellings of Saʿd vanished, so they were still,

barren wastes, with no fire or barking dog.

With no fire, and no howling guard dog.

فَأَجراعُ أَوسافٍ فَالاِعوَصُ كُلُّهُ

فَأَجراعُ أَوسافٍ فَالاِعوَصُ كُلُّهُ

فَبيشَةُ فَالرَوضاتُ حَتّى المَقازِحِ

فَبيشَةُ فَالرَوضاتُ حَتّى المَقازِحِ

Then the sandy tracts of Awsaf, then all al-A'was,

So the valleys of Aus, and Al-A‘waz all,

then Bishah and al-Rawdat, as far as al-Maqazih.

And the gardens, even to Maqazih.

كَأَن لَم يَكُن بَينَ الثَنِيَّةِ مِنهُمُ

كَأَن لَم يَكُن بَينَ الثَنِيَّةِ مِنهُمُ

وَتَقتد حَزمٍ مِن غَريبٍ وَرائِحِ

وَتَقتد حَزمٍ مِن غَريبٍ وَرائِحِ

As though none of them had ever been between al-Thaniyyah

As though there had not been, between them,

and Taqtad Hazm, no stranger or evening traveler;

The taking of a resolve from an estranged and departing group.

فَبَحرَةُ مَسحومائِهِ فَضُفاضِغٌ

فَبَحرَةُ مَسحومائِهِ فَضُفاضِغٌ

فَصُوَّتُهُ ذاتُ الرّباد المَنادِحِ

فَصُوَّتُهُ ذاتُ الرّباد المَنادِحِ

then the basin of Mashuma'ih, then Dufadigh,

And Bahrat with its poured water, and Dufail,

then its rocky mound, with its broad gray expanses.

And Suwait with lodges calling.

إِذِ الحَيُّ وَالحومُ المُيسّرُ وَسطَنا

إِذِ الحَيُّ وَالحومُ المُيسّرُ وَسطَنا

وَإِذ نَحنُ في حالٍ مِنَ العَيشِ صالِحِ

وَإِذ نَحنُ في حالٍ مِنَ العَيشِ صالِحِ

When the clan was there, and the herd for the lot-game among us,

When the tribe and the protected, made easy, were among us,

and we enjoyed a prosperous way of life;

And we were in a state of good living.

وَذو حَلقٍ تُقضَى العَواذيرُ بَينَهُ

وَذو حَلقٍ تُقضَى العَواذيرُ بَينَهُ

يَلوحُ بِأَخطارٍ عِظامِ اللَقائِحِ

يَلوحُ بِأَخطارٍ عِظامِ اللَقائِحِ

and the ringed gathering, where pleas were settled,

With a throat whose veins were cooled among us,

gleaming with stakes of great milch-camels.

Brandishing the perils of piercing blades.

وَإِذْ خَطْرَتانا وَالعِلاطانِ حِليَةٌ

وَإِذْ خَطْرَتانا وَالعِلاطانِ حِليَةٌ

عَلى الهَجمَةِ الغُلبِ الطِوالِ السَرادِحِ

عَلى الهَجمَةِ الغُلبِ الطِوالِ السَرادِحِ

When our two brands and the two neck-brands were ornaments

And when glory and elevation were our ornament,

on the great herd, thick-necked, tall, and long-bodied:

Against overwhelming conquest and prolonged domination.

أَناعيمُ مَحمودٌ قَراها وَقَيلُها

أَناعيمُ مَحمودٌ قَراها وَقَيلُها

وَصابِحُها أَيّامَ لا رِفدَ صابِحِ

وَصابِحُها أَيّامَ لا رِفدَ صابِحِ

well-fed herds, praised for their guest-fare and midday milk,

Days of ease Mahmoud dwelt in and recited,

and their morning bounty, when morning visitors found no gifts.

And their dawns in days without a returning dawn.

نَكُبُّ الأَكامِيَّ البَوائِكَ وَسطَنا

نَكُبُّ الأَكامِيَّ البَوائِكَ وَسطَنا

إِذا كَثُرَت في الناسِ دَعوى الوَحاوِحِ

إِذا كَثُرَت في الناسِ دَعوى الوَحاوِحِ

We felled the hump-high, fat she-camels among us

We would defeat the attacking parties among us,

when cries of distress multiplied among the people.

When the claim of raiders amongst the people multiplied.

فَلَم أَرَ قَوماً مِثلَ قَومِيَ إِذْ هُمُ

فَلَم أَرَ قَوماً مِثلَ قَومِيَ إِذْ هُمُ

بِأَوطانِهِم أَعطى وَأَغلى المرابِحِ

بِأَوطانِهِم أَعطى وَأَغلى المرابِحِ

I never saw a people like my people when they

As though ʿAwf ibn Saʿd had not been, and the sons of Hasher

were in their homelands—more giving, with richer winnings,

Had not been the tall, towering heroes.

وَأَعبطَ لِلكَوماءِ يَرغَو حُرارُها

وَأَعبطَ لِلكَوماءِ يَرغَو حُرارُها

وَأَندى أَكُفّاً بَينَ مُعطٍ وَمانِحِ

وَأَندى أَكُفّاً بَينَ مُعطٍ وَمانِحِ

more ready to slaughter a high-humped camel, her young bawling,

And an allowed clan from Ghuwayth as though they

or more generous-handed in giving and lending;

Were lions, in a jungle of wrestling beasts.

وَأَكثَرَ مِنهُم قائِماً بِمَقالَةٍ

وَأَكثَرَ مِنهُم قائِماً بِمَقالَةٍ

تُفَرِّجُ بَينَ العَسكَرِ المُتَطاوِحِ

تُفَرِّجُ بَينَ العَسكَرِ المُتَطاوِحِ

nor any with more men rising to utter words

And a living clan, Jabir, had not protected with them,

that parted clashing armies.

A night the like of sharp swords.

كَأَن لَم يَكُن عَوفُ بنُ سَعدٍ وَلَم تَكُن

كَأَن لَم يَكُن عَوفُ بنُ سَعدٍ وَلَم تَكُن

بَنو الحَشرِ أَبناءَ الطِوالِ الشَرامِحِ

بَنو الحَشرِ أَبناءَ الطِوالِ الشَرامِحِ

As though 'Awf son of Sa'd had never been, nor

Crafted for determined striking, leaders

Banu al-Hashr, sons of tall, towering men,

Handling the reins of racing steeds.

وَحَيٌّ حِلالٍ مِن غُوَيثٍ كَأَنَّهُم

وَحَيٌّ حِلالٍ مِن غُوَيثٍ كَأَنَّهُم

أُسودُ الشَرى في غيلِهِ المُتَناوِحِ

أُسودُ الشَرى في غيلِهِ المُتَناوِحِ

nor an encamped clan of Ghuwayth, who seemed

For them is a present they do not neglect and a caller

lions of al-Shara in its echoing thicket;

Like a torrent’s flow plunging with burdens.

وَلَم يَغنَ مِن حَيّانَ حَيٌّ وَجابِرٌ

وَلَم يَغنَ مِن حَيّانَ حَيٌّ وَجابِرٌ

بِها لِيلُ أَمثالِ السُيوفِ الجَوارِحِ

بِها لِيلُ أَمثالِ السُيوفِ الجَوارِحِ

nor had a clan of Hayyan, or Jabir, ever dwelt

So if my people have become their abodes

there—stalwart men, like swords that wound;

Intentions of a possessor of ravines for some to cast down.

مَطاعيمُ ضَرّابونَ لِلهامِ قادَةٌ

مَطاعيمُ ضَرّابونَ لِلهامِ قادَةٌ

مَعاطٍ بِأَرسانِ الجِيادِ السَوابِحِ

مَعاطٍ بِأَرسانِ الجِيادِ السَوابِحِ

lavish hosts, smiters of heads, leaders,

Then my people were not supplicating, humiliated,

givers, by their reins, of noble steeds that swim along.

Or let down in grave affairs.

لَهُم حاضِرٌ لا يجهَلونَ وَصارِخٌ

لَهُم حاضِرٌ لا يجهَلونَ وَصارِخٌ

كَسَيلِ الغَوادي يَرتَمي بِالقَوازِحِ

كَسَيلِ الغَوادي يَرتَمي بِالقَوازِحِ

They have a gathered host that acts without folly, and a rescuing force

And they knew I did not demolish what they built,

like a torrent of morning rains, surging against the heights.

And I did not uproot their pillars with provocations.

فَإِن كانَ قَومي أَصبَحوا حَوَّطَتهُمُ

فَإِن كانَ قَومي أَصبَحوا حَوَّطَتهُمُ

نَوىً ذاتُ أَشطانٍ لِبَعضِ المَطارِحِ

نَوىً ذاتُ أَشطانٍ لِبَعضِ المَطارِحِ

If my people have now been encompassed

I was not one to seek out their slips,

by separation with long cords, toward some far-off abode,

And I do not transgress in them, I am no spy.

فَما كانَ قَومي ضارِعينَ أَذِلَّةً

فَما كانَ قَومي ضارِعينَ أَذِلَّةً

وَلا خُذّلاً عِندَ الأُمورِ الجَوارِحِ

وَلا خُذّلاً عِندَ الأُمورِ الجَوارِحِ

my people were never cringing or abased,

Rather I blame whoever faults them,

nor deserters when wounding crises came.

And I am one who praises them with praise of one loyal.

وَقَد عَلِموا ما كُنتُ أَهدِمُ ما بَنَوا

وَقَد عَلِموا ما كُنتُ أَهدِمُ ما بَنَوا

وَما أَنتَحي عيدانَهُم بِالقَوادِحِ

وَما أَنتَحي عيدانَهُم بِالقَوادِحِ

They knew I never tore down what they built,

So convey to the clan of Saʿd ibn Bakr my reprimand,

nor attacked their timbers with wood-borers.

A messenger of one whose affection is sincere.

وَما كُنتُ أَسعى أَبتَغي عَثَراتِهِم

وَما كُنتُ أَسعى أَبتَغي عَثَراتِهِم

وَما أَغتَدي فيها وَلَستُ بِرائِحِ

وَما أَغتَدي فيها وَلَستُ بِرائِحِ

I never went about seeking their slips,

That the honored house has become in its place,

nor set out in that pursuit at dawn or dusk.

And the Prophet’s tomb is not transient.

وَإِنِّي لَعَيّابٌ لِمَن قالَ عيبهُم

وَإِنِّي لَعَيّابٌ لِمَن قالَ عيبهُم

وَإِنّي لِمَدّاحٌ لَهُم قَولَ مادِحِ

وَإِنّي لِمَدّاحٌ لَهُم قَولَ مادِحِ

I sharply censure whoever speaks of their faults,

Remaining until the trumpet is blown twice,

and praise them lavishly, with a praiser's words.

And another, then each straining worker is recompensed.

فَبَلِّغ بَني سَعدِ بنِ بَكرٍ مُلِظَّةً

فَبَلِّغ بَني سَعدِ بنِ بَكرٍ مُلِظَّةً

رَسولَ اِمرئٍ بادي المَوَدَّةِ ناصِحِ

رَسولَ اِمرئٍ بادي المَوَدَّةِ ناصِحِ

So convey to Banu Sa'd ibn Bakr an insistent message,

For by my life I do not sell them tomorrow,

the message of a man open in affection and sincere in counsel:

For a valley or Shayban in the sale of one tossing blame.

بِأَنَّ العَتيقَ البَيتَ أَمسى مَكانَهُ

بِأَنَّ العَتيقَ البَيتَ أَمسى مَكانَهُ

وَقَبرُ رَسولِ اللَهِ لَيسَ بِبارِحِ

وَقَبرُ رَسولِ اللَهِ لَيسَ بِبارِحِ

the Ancient House still stands in its place,

Nor one day will I buy the neighborship of a clan,

and the grave of God's Messenger does not depart,

With the neighbors of Sidq from Quraysh of scattered sands.

مُقيمينَ حَتّى يُنفخَ الصورُ نَفخَةً

مُقيمينَ حَتّى يُنفخَ الصورُ نَفخَةً

وَأُخرى فَيُجزى كَدَحَهُ كُلُّ كادِحِ

وَأُخرى فَيُجزى كَدَحَهُ كُلُّ كادِحِ

both remaining until the Trumpet is blown once,

Come to the two ruins of Qays and Khandaf,

and again, and every toiler is repaid for his toil.

And the plain of Nejd and the sincere chests.

فَإِنّي لعَمري لا أَبيعُهُما غَداً

فَإِنّي لعَمري لا أَبيعُهُما غَداً

بِشِعب وَلا شَيبانَ بَيعَ المُسامِحِ

بِشِعب وَلا شَيبانَ بَيعَ المُسامِحِ

By my life, I will not trade those two tomorrow

And do not toss me into infirm Quda‘ah,

for Shi'b or Shayban in a careless bargain.

Quda‘ah which has assumed the lower part of ankles.

وَلا أَشتَري يَوماً جوارَ قَبيلَةٍ

وَلا أَشتَري يَوماً جوارَ قَبيلَةٍ

بِجيرانِ صِدقٍ مِن قُرَيشِ الأَباطاحِ

بِجيرانِ صِدقٍ مِن قُرَيشِ الأَباطاحِ

Nor will I ever buy the protection of a tribe

They refused to be, from Ma‘add, an invented lineage,

in exchange for true neighbors from Quraysh of the gravel flats.

Recently, for we know those attributions.

هَلُمَّ إِلى الأَثرَينِ قَيسٍ وَخِندفٍ

هَلُمَّ إِلى الأَثرَينِ قَيسٍ وَخِندفٍ

وَساحَةِ نَجدٍ وَالصُدور الصَحائِحِ

وَساحَةِ نَجدٍ وَالصُدور الصَحائِحِ

Come to the two ancestral legacies, Qays and Khindif,

By my life, if Quda‘ah has parted

and Najd's open expanse, and sound hearts.

On other than ancestors of clear saying—

وَلا تَقذِفوني في قُضاعَةَ عاجَزَت

وَلا تَقذِفوني في قُضاعَةَ عاجَزَت

قُضاعَةُ وَاِستَولَت حَطاطَ المَجامِحِ

قُضاعَةُ وَاِستَولَت حَطاطَ المَجامِحِ

Do not thrust me into Quda'ah; it strove to outstrip—

I will make us needless of an inconsistent companion,

Quda'ah—and prevailed in the downward rush of headlong flight.

And every taster and viceroy fanning.

أَبَوا أَن يَكونوا مِن مَعَدٍّ قَريحَةً

أَبَوا أَن يَكونوا مِن مَعَدٍّ قَريحَةً

حَديثاً فَإِنّا عِلمُ تِلكَ القَرائِحِ

حَديثاً فَإِنّا عِلمُ تِلكَ القَرائِحِ

They refused to be of Ma'add—a notion

We are, and our Master Rabi‘ah, a people

newly devised; we know such notions well.

Who live on barrenness from every disputant.

لَعَمري لَئِن كانَت قُضاعَةُ فارَقَت

لَعَمري لَئِن كانَت قُضاعَةُ فارَقَت

عَلى غَيرِ جُدّادٍ مِنَ القَولِ واضِحِ

عَلى غَيرِ جُدّادٍ مِنَ القَولِ واضِحِ

By my life, if Quda'ah has indeed departed

O Banu ‘Illah we are not among us cowards,

without a clear, straight course of argument,

Leapers striking the pillar of wrestling.

لَأغنى بِنا عَن صاحِبٍ مُتَقَلِّبٍ

لَأغنى بِنا عَن صاحِبٍ مُتَقَلِّبٍ

وَعَن كُلِّ ذَوّاقٍ وَمَلٍّ مُراوِحِ

وَعَن كُلِّ ذَوّاقٍ وَمَلٍّ مُراوِحِ

we are surely enough for ourselves, without a fickle companion,

or any sampler, easily bored, forever changing.

فَإِنّا وَمَولانا رَبيعَة مَعشَرٌ

فَإِنّا وَمَولانا رَبيعَة مَعشَرٌ

نَعيشُ عَلى الشَحناءِ مِن كُلِّ كاشِحِ

نَعيشُ عَلى الشَحناءِ مِن كُلِّ كاشِحِ

For we and our ally Rabi'ah are a people

who live on despite the rancor of every hidden foe.

بَنو علَّةٍ ما نَحنُ فينا جَلادَةٌ

بَنو علَّةٍ ما نَحنُ فينا جَلادَةٌ

زَبَنُّونَ صَمّاحونَ رُكنَ المُصامِحِ

زَبَنُّونَ صَمّاحونَ رُكنَ المُصامِحِ

Half-brothers are we, with hardihood among us,

stout repellers, breakers of the challenger's pillar.