ألاAh! ياO ديارَdwellings الحَيِّthe tribe بالأخضَرِat al-Akhdar أسلَميremain safe
ألا يا ديارَ الحَيِّ بالأخضَرِ أسلَمي
وليسand none is علىthrough الأيامِthe days والدهرِand time سالِمُsafe
وليس على الأيامِ والدهرِ سالِمُ
Ah, dwellings of the tribe at al-Akhdar, remain safe!
O dwellings of the living greened with meadows, I bid you peace,
Yet none stays safe through the days and time.
Though days and time have no peace for anyone.
تراوَحَهاvisit them by turns العصرانِday and night طوراًat one time مسفَّةًa ground-sweeping wind
تراوَحَها العصرانِ طوراً مسفَّةً
وطوراًand at another time صَباًan east wind منfrom آخرthe end of الليلِthe night خارمُpiercing
وطوراً صَباً من آخر الليلِ خارمُ
Day and night visit them by turns: now with a ground-sweeping wind,
The ages alternate, now effacing it with a torrent,
now with a piercing east wind from the night's end.
Now restoring it at daybreak after the darkest night.
تَحِلُّyou dwell بهاin them والحيُّwhile the tribe حيٌّis alive بغبطةٍin contentment
تَحِلُّ بها والحيُّ حيٌّ بغبطةٍ
تقرُّfind delight بهمin them عَيناكَyour two eyes لوif only دامlasted دائمُanything enduring
تقرُّ بهم عَيناكَ لو دام دائمُ
You dwell there, the tribe alive in contentment;
You house a people happy in their fortune
your eyes delight in them—if only anything could endure.
Whose eyes, if it lasted, would delight you.
ولمand never أرَI saw ذاone possessing شَرِّevil تمايَلَinclined شَرُّهُhis evil
ولم أرَ ذا شَرِّ تمايَلَ شَرُّهُ
علىagainst قومِهِhis people إلاexcept that انتمىsought kinship وهوwhile he was نادِمُregretful
على قومِهِ إلا انتمى وهو نادِمُ
I have never seen an evildoer whose evil turned
Yet I have never known an evil man but evil
against his people but he sought kinship with them, remorseful.
In the end recoiled on him and he regretted it.
فلوfor if أننيthat I هانَتwere of little worth عليّto me عشيرتيmy clan
فلو أنني هانَت عليّ عشيرتي
لسُبَّwould be reviled عروضٌa tribal branch واستُحِلَّتand were treated as permissible محارِمُinviolable bonds
لسُبَّ عروضٌ واستُحِلَّت محارِمُ
For if my clan had counted for little with me,
Had I cared nothing for my tribe and made
a branch of the tribe would be reviled, and sacred bonds profaned.
No covenant sacred or inviolable,
إذنthen لانطَوَتwould withdraw عنيfrom me شُعوبٌDeath (poetic name) وأقبلتand would come
إذن لانطَوَت عني شُعوبٌ وأقبلت
عليّupon me شكاةٌcomplaints منهمfrom them وملاوِمُand reproaches
عليّ شكاةٌ منهم وملاوِمُ
Then Death would withdraw from me, and there would come
Then strangers would have turned from me and those
upon me complaints from them and reproaches.
Of my tribe blamed me, accusing me face to face.
وذيand one possessing شَفَقٍconcern ماnot يَأتلينيwithholds from me نصيحةًcounsel
وذي شَفَقٍ ما يَأتليني نصيحةً
عَصَيتُI disobeyed وقلبيthough my heart للَّذيof what قالَhe said فاهِمُunderstanding
عَصَيتُ وقلبي للَّذي قالَ فاهِمُ
And a man full of concern, who spared me no counsel,
A man of feeling cannot reproach me harshly
I disobeyed, though my heart understood what he said.
If I transgress, for the promptings of my heart he understands.
فقلتso I said لهto him لاnot أنتَyou راجعُbringing back ماwhat مضىhas passed
فقلت له لا أنتَ راجعُ ما مضى
عليّover me ولاnor مافwhat (from misdivided ما في) يin (remainder of في) غدtomorrow أنتَyou عالِمُknowing
عليّ ولا ماف ي غد أنتَ عالِمُ
I told him: 'You cannot bring back what has passed
So I said: You cannot change what is past
over me, nor do you know what tomorrow holds.'
Or foresee what the future holds in store for me.
فأقبلَthen came forward منيfrom me حينwhen وَدَّعتُI bade farewell to باطليmy folly
فأقبلَ مني حين وَدَّعتُ باطلي
أخٌa brother لكof yours ذوpossessing شَغبٍcontentiousness علىagainst منwhoever يُراجِمُtrades attacks
أخٌ لك ذو شَغبٍ على من يُراجِمُ
Then, when I forsook my folly, there came forth from me
Then as I bade farewell to vain pursuits
a brother of yours, contentious against whoever trades attacks.
A champion of the faith reproached me like a brother.
وماand no هِندوانيِّIndian sword تنقّاهselected it صيقَلٌa sword-polisher
وما هِندوانيِّ تنقّاه صيقَلٌ
بضربَتِهِin its stroke عندat الكريهَةِbattle's ordeal صارِمُkeen-edged
بضربَتِهِ عند الكريهَةِ صارِمُ
And no Indian sword, selected by a sword-polisher,
No Indian scimitar honed to a fine polish
keen in its stroke amid battle's ordeal,
Could sever at one blow the stubborn head.
بأصدقَtruer منيthan I يبتلينيhe tests me وتبتَلىand is tested
بأصدقَ مني يبتليني وتبتَلى
لهof its وقعةٌa blow منهاfrom it تُتَرُّare severed الجماجِمُthe skulls
له وقعةٌ منها تُتَرُّ الجماجِمُ
is truer than I when he tests me; tested too
With the truest of my friends I put myself to the test
is a blow of its that shears off skulls.
And we made trial of each other in the clash of arms,
ومجهولةٍand an unknown abode قدalready خَرَّمَbreached السَّيلُthe flood نُؤيَهاits encircling trench
ومجهولةٍ قد خَرَّمَ السَّيلُ نُؤيَها
إذاwhenever اعتادَrevisited عُثنونٌa trailing downpour منof الصَّيفِsummer رازِمُrumbling
إذا اعتادَ عُثنونٌ من الصَّيفِ رازِمُ
And an unknown abode, its encircling trench breached by the flood,
On a day of unknown issues when the torrent scoured
whenever a rumbling summer downpour revisits it:
The approaches where the summer camp had been.
ترىyou see فَرطَoutlying remnants حَولَيهاaround its two sides الأثافيَّthe hearthstones كأنّهاas though they were
ترى فَرطَ حَولَيها الأثافيَّ كأنّها
لدىbeside موقدِthe hearth of النارِthe fire الحمامُthe pigeons الجواثِمُcrouching
لدى موقدِ النارِ الحمامُ الجواثِمُ
around its sides you see the outlying hearthstones, as though they were
You would think the cooking-hearths scattered nearby
pigeons crouching beside the hearth.
Were doves huddled by the fire, terrified.
واسُّand the bases اواريِّthe tethering-stalls of الديارِthe dwellings كأنهاas though they were
واسُّ اواريِّ الديارِ كأنها
حياضُwatering-troughs عراكٍjostling هَدَّمتهاdemolished them المواسِمُthe seasons
حياضُ عراكٍ هَدَّمتها المواسِمُ
And the bases of the dwellings' tethering-stalls seem
The tent-pegs of the dwellings were as though
like troughs for jostling herds, battered by the seasons.
They were game-pieces overturned by the changing seasons.
وذيand one possessing عِزَّةِmight ضَخمhuge السَّوادِin dark mass اذاwhen هَوىdescended
وذي عِزَّةِ ضَخم السَّوادِ اذا هَوى
إِلىtoward الأشعراتِal-Ashʿarat الدّالِحُthe heavy-laden المُتزاحِمُthe densely crowding
إِلى الأشعراتِ الدّالِحُ المُتزاحِمُ
And a mighty one, huge in its dark mass, when it descends
And many a man of mighty power and massy form
toward al-Ashʿarat, heavy-laden and crowding close.
When his last hour came sank like a towering palm,
ألاAh! طالماhow often احلولىbecame sweet نياميmy sleep وجرّنيand drew me
ألا طالما احلولى نيامي وجرّني
الىtoward الفضلاتindulgences الأغيدُthe graceful, languid one المتناعِمُthe pleasure-loving one
الى الفضلات الأغيدُ المتناعِمُ
Ah, how often my sleep grew sweet, and I was drawn
How often did passions distract me and draw me on
toward indulgences by the graceful, pleasure-loving one,
To the fleshpots where the singing girls throng!
أخوa brother منthose who خلاhave passed واللهوُand amusement ماnot أنat all (emphasis) يهمَّهconcerns him
أخو من خلا واللهوُ ما أن يهمَّه
مراحٌan evening return ولاnor غادٍone setting out at dawn علىamong الحيِّthe tribe سائِمُgrazing
مراحٌ ولا غادٍ على الحيِّ سائِمُ
a brother to those gone before, given to play, untroubled
The brother of one who spurns diversion and takes no thought
by an evening return or a grazer setting out at dawn among the tribe.
For travel or return to the camps of the living -
اذاwhen حَلَّcamped جَنبَيon both sides of عَرعَرٍʿArʿar ركزتwere planted بهthere
اذا حَلَّ جَنبَي عَرعَرٍ ركزت به
زجاجُthe iron butts الرماحِof the lances الاكثرونthe numerous الأكارِمُthe noble
زجاجُ الرماحِ الاكثرون الأكارِمُ
When they camped on both sides of ʿArʿar, there were planted there
When I have taken my stance by his flank in the crush
the lances' iron butts, by the numerous, noble men,
Bright blades are plied by the honorable and noble.
بقودٍwith leaders واسلافٍand advance companies وسدٍand dense ranks كأنهمas though they were
بقودٍ واسلافٍ وسدٍ كأنهم
مخارمُmountain passes موصولٌjoined بهنَّto them مخارِمُmountain passes
مخارمُ موصولٌ بهنَّ مخارِمُ
with leaders, advance companies, and dense ranks, as though they were
With an advance-guard and a rear-guard they resemble
mountain passes joined to other mountain passes.
Interlocking circles - circle interlocked with circle.
وَحلand encamped بنوthe sons of سَعدٍSaʿd بيبرينَat Yabrin فيهمamong them
وَحل بنو سَعدٍ بيبرينَ فيهم
طوالُlong القناlances والمقرباتُand prized steeds kept near الصَّلادِمُstrong, hard-hoofed
طوالُ القنا والمقرباتُ الصَّلادِمُ
And Banu Saʿd encamped at Yabrin; among them were
The Bani Sa'd came to Babrain; amongst them
long lances and prized, strong, hard-hoofed steeds.
Were the tall lances and the close-knit coats of mail,
وحَلَّand encamped بنوthe sons of قَيسِQays بنِson of عيلانَʿAylan دونَهُمbefore them
وحَلَّ بنو قَيسِ بنِ عيلانَ دونَهُم
وباتَand spent the night بنوthe sons of بَكرٍBakr هُناكَthere الأعاجِمُthe foreign-tongued
وباتَ بنو بَكرٍ هُناكَ الأعاجِمُ
And Banu Qays ibn ʿAylan encamped before them,
While the Bani Qais b. 'Ilân camped there below them
and Banu Bakr, the foreign-tongued, spent the night there.
And the Bani Bakr passed the night there like foreigners.
تَذكرَّتُI remembered هَمّاماًHammam وذكَّرَنيand reminded me بهof him
تَذكرَّتُ هَمّاماً وذكَّرَني به
زَمانٌa time كأحناءِlike the curved sides of الرحالةِthe saddle آزِمُconstricting
زَمانٌ كأحناءِ الرحالةِ آزِمُ
I remembered Hammam, and what brought him to mind
A time that recalled to me Hammâm and reminded me of him
was a constricting time, like a saddle's curved sides:
As the litter bore me along like the swaying of howdahs.
بأبيضَof a radiant, noble man ماnot ينفَكُّceases عاقدَtying رايةٍa banner
بأبيضَ ما ينفَكُّ عاقدَ رايةٍ
لمردٍfor beardless youths علىon جردٍsleek horses لَهُنَّthey have هماهِمُlow neighs
لمردٍ على جردٍ لَهُنَّ هماهِمُ
a radiant man, never ceasing to tie a banner
With a line of white not lacking a standard-bearer
for beardless youths on sleek horses with low neighs.
For every ten, their flags like the wing-feathers of eagles.
وَخُيَّرَand he was given a choice فاختارَso he chose الجهادَstriving in battle وقدthough perhaps يُرىis seen
وَخُيَّرَ فاختارَ الجهادَ وقد يُرى
لديهِbeside him نساءٌwomen مرشقاتٌslender نواعِمُdelicate
لديهِ نساءٌ مرشقاتٌ نواعِمُ
He was given a choice and chose battle, though there might be seen
He was offered the choice between war and peace and chose
beside him slender, delicate women.
War, though one might see women there, soft and delicate,
لإفراسِهfor his horses يَوماًone day علىalong الدَّربِthe pass غارَةٌa raid
لإفراسِه يَوماً على الدَّربِ غارَةٌ
تصلصِلُclatter فيin اشداقِهنَّtheir jaws الشَّكائِمُthe bits
تصلصِلُ في اشداقِهنَّ الشَّكائِمُ
One day his horses raid along the pass,
Whose throats, if the cavalry made a surprise attack one day
the bits clattering inside their jaws.
Would be collared by the breastplates cut to fit them.
نَمىraised up بكyou ياO هَمّامُHammam شيخٌan elder ورَثتَهُyou inherited from him
نَمى بك يا هَمّامُ شيخٌ ورَثتَهُ
بنىhe built لكfor you والآباءُand fathers بانٍa builder وهادِمُand a destroyer
بنى لك والآباءُ بانٍ وهادِمُ
An elder raised you high, O Hammam; you inherited his legacy.
For you, O Hammam, a venerable father inherited
He built for you; fathers are builders or destroyers.
Sons who have built for you a house you demolished.
فقُلso say لبنيto the sons of مَروانMarwan لاdo not تَجعَلَنَّهُever make him
فقُل لبني مَروان لا تَجعَلَنَّهُ
كآخَرَlike another يمتدُّlengthens الضُّحىthe forenoon وهوwhile he is نائِمُasleep
كآخَرَ يمتدُّ الضُّحى وهو نائِمُ
So tell Banu Marwan: 'Do not treat him
Say to the Bani Marwân: Do not let it be
like another who sleeps while the forenoon wears on.'
Like a late riser who wakes to find the day departed.
فأصبَحَand have come to be قوميmy people قدalready تَفَقَّدَfound missing منهُمُfrom among them
فأصبَحَ قومي قد تَفَقَّدَ منهُمُ
رجالُthe men of العواليthe long lances والخطيبُand the orator المراجِمُwho hurls verbal attacks
رجالُ العوالي والخطيبُ المراجِمُ
And my people have come to miss from among them
So my tribe awoke to find amongst them
the men of long lances and the orator who hurls attacks.
The horsemen who protect the camels and the eloquent orator.
وماand no لمثاباتِfor the abodes العروشِthe roofs بقيةٌlasting remnant
وما لمثاباتِ العروشِ بقيةٌ
اذاwhen سُلَّare pulled out منfrom تَحتِbeneath العروشِthe roofs الدعائِمthe supporting pillars
اذا سُلَّ من تَحتِ العروشِ الدعائِم
No roofed dwelling can endure
Of the dynasties that upheld the ordinances
when the pillars are drawn out from beneath the roofs.
What remnants are there when the columns are overthrown?
ألمhave you not تَرَىseen للبُنيانof built structures تَبلىwear away بيوُتهُits houses
ألم تَرَى للبُنيان تَبلى بيوُتهُ
وتبقىwhile remain منof الشَعرِpoetry البيوتُthe verses الصوارمُthe sharp-edged
وتبقى من الشَعرِ البيوتُ الصوارمُ
Have you not seen how built houses decay,
Do you not see that the mansions wear away
while poetry's sharp-edged verses endure?
While the structures of verse remain resistant and firm?
Sol 6.1