تَلَفَّتَhe turned to look بالثَّوِيّةِat al-Thawiyya نحوَtoward نَجْدِNajd
تَلَفَّتَ بالثَّوِيّةِ نحوَ نَجْدِ
فَباتَso spent the night فؤادُهُhis heart عَلِقاًcaught fast بوَجْدِin longing
فَباتَ فؤادُهُ عَلِقاً بوَجْدِ
He turned at al-Thawiyya toward Najd,
He set out towards Najd draped in his cloak,
so his heart spent the night caught in longing.
His heart clung in passionate longing.
وقدand already خَلَصَتْhad reached إليهto him بُعَيْدَshortly after وَهْنٍthe first hours of night
وقد خَلَصَتْ إليه بُعَيْدَ وَهْنٍ
صَباًan east wind عَثَرَتْstumbled علىin لَغَبٍweariness بِرَنْدِamong laurel trees
صَباً عَثَرَتْ على لَغَبٍ بِرَنْدِ
And shortly after the first hours of night there reached him
Feeble old age had come upon him,
an east wind that had stumbled, weary, among laurel trees.
A youth who stumbled upon separation in that land.
فَهاجَso roused حَنينُهُhis yearning cry إبِلاًcamels طِراباًrestless
فَهاجَ حَنينُهُ إبِلاً طِراباً
تُكَفْكِفُrestrain عَرْبَهاtheir friskiness حَلَقاتُloops قِدِّrawhide
تُكَفْكِفُ عَرْبَها حَلَقاتُ قِدِّ
So his yearning cry roused restless camels,
His yearning stirred for the camels, restless,
their friskiness checked by loops of rawhide.
Their necklaces jingling as they walked.
حَثَوْنَthey scattered علىover العراقِIraq تُرابَthe dust of نَجْدٍNajd
حَثَوْنَ على العراقِ تُرابَ نَجْدٍ
فَلاso may they never ألْقَتْcast down مَراسِيهاtheir anchors بِوِرْدِat a watering place
فَلا ألْقَتْ مَراسِيها بِوِرْدِ
They scattered the dust of Najd over Iraq;
Urging them on towards Iraq, the dust of Najd,
so may they never drop their anchors at a watering place!
Until they arrived, their tethers cast aside.
وكَمْand how many خَلّفْنَthey left behind منْof طَلَلٍa ruined campsite بحُزْوىat Huzwa
وكَمْ خَلّفْنَ منْ طَلَلٍ بحُزْوى
وسَمْتُI marked عِراصَهُits open grounds مَرَحاًin merriment بِبُرْديwith my cloak
وسَمْتُ عِراصَهُ مَرَحاً بِبُرْدي
And how many ruined campsites they left behind at Huzwa,
How many ruins we left behind in barren plains,
whose open grounds I had marked with my cloak in merriment;
I marked its boulders leisurely with my stick.
ولَيِّنَةِand a supple woman المَعاطِفِthe body's curves فيin التّثَنّيswaying
ولَيِّنَةِ المَعاطِفِ في التّثَنّي
ضَعيفَةِlanguid رَجْعِturning motion ناظِرَةٍan eye وقَدِّand figure
ضَعيفَةِ رَجْعِ ناظِرَةٍ وقَدِّ
and many a woman, supple of limb as she swayed,
The folds of her soft cloak as she turned,
languid in her turning glance and swaying figure.
Weak in her retreat, her necklace glinting.
تجلّتْshe appeared للوَداعfor farewell علىin ارْتِياعٍalarm
تجلّتْ للوَداع على ارْتِياعٍ
منfrom الواشيthe tale-bearer يُنيرُweaves the weft بناagainst us ويُسْديand lays the warp
من الواشي يُنيرُ بنا ويُسْدي
She appeared for farewell, alarmed
She appeared to bid farewell in sorrow,
by the tale-bearer, weaving weft and laying warp against us.
Lit by the shimmering mirage that illuminates and shades.
وقدand already جَعَلَتْshe began علىin خَفَرٍbashfulness تَراءىto show herself
وقد جَعَلَتْ على خَفَرٍ تَراءى
فتُخفيso she conceals منsome of محاسِنِهاher charms وتُبْديand reveals
فتُخفي من محاسِنِها وتُبْدي
And she began, in bashfulness, to show herself,
She had veiled herself behind a thin screen,
concealing some of her charms and revealing others.
Now revealing, now hiding, her beauty.
وكمْand how many باكٍa weeper كأنّas though الجيدَthe neck منهاof hers
وكمْ باكٍ كأنّ الجيدَ منها
يُوَشِّحُadorns منْfrom مَدامِعِهِhis tears بعِقْدِwith a necklace
يُوَشِّحُ منْ مَدامِعِهِ بعِقْدِ
And many a weeper, as though her neck
Many wept as though her braids themselves
were adorned with a necklace of his tears.
Were wiping his tears away with her necklace.
شَجاهُsaddened him البَرقُthe lightning فهْوَso he كماas تَنَزّىleapt
شَجاهُ البَرقُ فهْوَ كما تَنَزّى
إليكtoward you السِّقْطُthe sparks منfrom أطرافِthe tips of زَنْدِa fire-stick
إليك السِّقْطُ من أطرافِ زَنْدِ
Lightning stirred his grief; he was like the leaping
Lightning had struck him and he was ablaze,
sparks flying toward you from a fire-stick's tips.
The sparks cascading towards you from the flint stone.
تَناعَسَgrew drowsy حينَwhen جاذَبَهُtugged at it كَراهُits slumber
تَناعَسَ حينَ جاذَبَهُ كَراهُ
وقدand already شَمِطَgrew gray الظّلامُthe darkness هَديرُthe rumble of رَعْدِthunder
وقد شَمِطَ الظّلامُ هَديرُ رَعْدِ
Drowsing when its slumber tugged at it,
Drowsiness overcame him when dislike pulled him back,
with the darkness graying, was the rumble of thunder.
As the darkness roared with thunder.
فَماthen what لكِis wrong with you ياO بْنَةَdaughter of القُرَشِيِّthe Qurayshite غَضْبىangry
فَما لكِ يا بْنَةَ القُرَشِيِّ غَضْبى
أمَنْسيٌّis it forgotten? علىat العَلَمَيْنِal-ʿAlamayn عَهديmy pledge
أمَنْسيٌّ على العَلَمَيْنِ عَهدي
Then why are you angry, daughter of the Qurayshite?
Why do you frown upon me, O maiden of Quraysh,
Is my pledge at al-ʿAlamayn forgotten?
Have I forgotten our pact, the promise between us?
وبَيْنَand between جَوانِحيmy ribs شَجَنٌsorrow قَديمٌancient
وبَيْنَ جَوانِحي شَجَنٌ قَديمٌ
أَعُدُّI count لهُfor its sake الغِوايَةَstraying فيكِover you رُشْديmy right judgment
أَعُدُّ لهُ الغِوايَةَ فيكِ رُشْدي
And between my ribs lies an ancient sorrow;
In my heart is an old passion
for its sake, I count my folly over you as my wisdom.
For which I prepare temptation for your virtue.
فَلاso no مَلَلٌweariness أَلُفُّI wrap عليهaround it قَلْباًa heart
فَلا مَلَلٌ أَلُفُّ عليه قَلْباً
ولاand no غَدْرٌtreachery أَخيطُI stitch عليهِover it جِلْديmy skin
ولا غَدْرٌ أَخيطُ عليهِ جِلْدي
So no weariness do I wrap my heart around,
I will not grow weary adoring a heart,
nor treachery do I stitch my skin over.
Nor betray it though my skin is flayed.
وإنْand if يَكُis صافِياًclear وشَلٌa trickle of water تَمَشّتْwandered
وإنْ يَكُ صافِياً وشَلٌ تَمَشّتْ
بجانِبِهbeside it الصَّباthe east wind فكَذاكَthen such is وُدّيmy love
بجانِبِه الصَّبا فكَذاكَ وُدّي
And if a little stream is clear, and there has wandered
If it remains pure while the youth is infirm,
beside it the east wind, then such is my love.
Then so is my love.
وبيand in me عنaway from خُطّةِthe course of الضَّيْمِhumiliation ازْوِرارٌaversion
وبي عن خُطّةِ الضَّيْمِ ازْوِرارٌ
إذاwhen ماindeed جَدَّgrows earnest للعَلْياءِfor the heights جِدّيmy zeal
إذا ما جَدَّ للعَلْياءِ جِدّي
And I recoil from the path of humiliation,
In me are the secrets of preserving honor
when my striving grows earnest for the heights.
When seriousness sets in for the highborn.
فَلاso not أُلْقيI lay down الجِرانَthe underside of the neck بِهاon it مُبِنّاًremaining settled
فَلا أُلْقي الجِرانَ بِها مُبِنّاً
بَطيءَslow النَّهْضِto rise كالجَمَلِlike the camel المُغِدِّwith swollen glands
بَطيءَ النَّهْضِ كالجَمَلِ المُغِدِّ
So I do not lay my neck down there, rooted to the spot,
I will not expose weaknesses to people,
slow to rise, like a camel with swollen glands.
Slow to rise like a tired camel.
ولكنّيbut I أخوa man of العَزَماتِfirm resolves ماضٍpressing onward
ولكنّي أخو العَزَماتِ ماضٍ
ومَرْهوبٌand feared علىamong اللُّؤَماءِthe base حَدّيmy edge
ومَرْهوبٌ على اللُّؤَماءِ حَدّي
But I am a man of firm resolves, pressing on,
But I am the brother of resolute deeds, advancing,
and my edge is dreaded among the base.
And formidable to the cowardly, my sword sharp.
فهَلْthen is there مِنany مُبلِغٍone who conveys سَرواتِthe chiefs of قَوميmy people
فهَلْ مِن مُبلِغٍ سَرواتِ قَومي
مُضاجَعَتيmy sleeping beside علىon العَزّاءِhard ground غِمْديmy scabbard
مُضاجَعَتي على العَزّاءِ غِمْدي
Then is there someone to tell the chiefs of my people
Is there a messenger to my people's quarters
of my sleeping beside my scabbard on hard ground,
To whisper to them my resting place is my scabbard?
وإدْلاجيand my night journey وجِنْحُwhile the darkness of اللّيلِnight طاوٍfolding
وإدْلاجي وجِنْحُ اللّيلِ طاوٍ
جَناحَيْهِits two wings علىover نَصَبٍweariness وكَدِّand toil
جَناحَيْهِ على نَصَبٍ وكَدِّ
and my night journeys, while night's darkness folds
My entering in as the wing of night spreads,
its two wings over weariness and toil,
Casting its wings over hardships and toil.
وقدْand already رَنَتِgazed النّجومُthe stars إليّat me خُوصاًnarrow-eyed
وقدْ رَنَتِ النّجومُ إليّ خُوصاً
بأعْيُنِwith eyes كاسِراتِlowering الطَّرْفِthe gaze رُمْدِbleary
بأعْيُنِ كاسِراتِ الطَّرْفِ رُمْدِ
with the stars gazing at me, narrow-eyed,
The stars called me softly, winking
with bleary eyes lowering their gaze,
With eyes whose glances pierced like arrows.
لأورِثَهُمْso I might bequeath to them مَآثِرَglorious deeds صالحاتٍworthy
لأورِثَهُمْ مَآثِرَ صالحاتٍ
شَفَعْتُI joined طَريفَهاtheir newly won glories لهُمُfor them بِتُلْدِwith inherited ones
شَفَعْتُ طَريفَها لهُمُ بِتُلْدِ
so that I might bequeath to them worthy deeds,
That I may bequeath them deeds of righteousness,
whose new glories I joined, for them, to inherited ones?
By whose nobility I intercede for them on the Day of Recompense.
ولولاand were it not for اللهُGod ثمَّthen بنوthe sons of عُقَيْلٍʿUqayl
ولولا اللهُ ثمَّ بنو عُقَيْلٍ
لقصَّرَwould have fallen short دونbefore reaching غايَتِهِنّtheir goal جُهْديmy effort
لقصَّرَ دون غايَتِهِنّ جُهْدي
And were it not for God, and then Banu ʿUqayl,
Were it not for God, then the people of 'Uqail,
my effort would have fallen short of their goal.
My efforts would have fallen short of their goal.
فهاso here أناI am بالعِراقِin Iraq نَجِيُّa confidant of عِزٍّglory
فها أنا بالعِراقِ نَجِيُّ عِزٍّ
وإلْفُand an intimate of كَرامَةٍhonor وحَليفُand an ally of رِفْدِbounty
وإلْفُ كَرامَةٍ وحَليفُ رِفْدِ
So here I am in Iraq, a confidant of glory,
And a confidante of nobility, an ally of help.
and an intimate of honor and an ally of bounty.
With it I compose rhymes of perfection
أقُدُّI carve بهِin it قَوافيَrhymes مُحْكَماتٍwell-wrought
أقُدُّ بهِ قَوافيَ مُحْكَماتٍ
لأَرْوَعَfor a splendid man قُدَّwas fashioned منْfrom سَلَفَيْthe two forebears of مَعَدِّMaʿadd
لأَرْوَعَ قُدَّ منْ سَلَفَيْ مَعَدِّ
There I carve well-wrought rhymes
To surpass the excellent poetry of predecessors.
for a splendid man fashioned from Maʿadd's two forebears.
Its hospitality flows generously,
أغَرُّradiant تُدِرُّpours forth راحَتُهُhis palm سَماحاًgenerosity
أغَرُّ تُدِرُّ راحَتُهُ سَماحاً
ولمand not تُعْصَبْwere bound رغائِبُهُhis precious gifts بوَعْدِto a promise
ولم تُعْصَبْ رغائِبُهُ بوَعْدِ
Radiant, his palm pours forth generosity,
Its pride is not constrained by promises.
and his precious gifts are not bound to a promise.
And in his munificence is a shyness
ويُغْضيand he lowers his gaze منْout of تَكَرُّمِهِhis nobility حَياءًin modesty
ويُغْضي منْ تَكَرُّمِهِ حَياءً
ودونَand short of إبائِهِhis proud defiance سَطَواتُthe assaults of أُسْدِlions
ودونَ إبائِهِ سَطَواتُ أُسْدِ
And he lowers his gaze in modesty, out of nobility,
That falls short of the boldness of lions.
and lions' assaults fall short of his proud defiance.
When the place was emptied of all goodness,
لهُhe has والمَحْلُwhile drought غادَرَleft كُلَّevery عافٍseeker of bounty
لهُ والمَحْلُ غادَرَ كُلَّ عافٍ
يكُدُّdrives hard العيسَthe pale camels مُنتَجِعاًseeking sustenance فيُكْديso comes away empty-handed
يكُدُّ العيسَ مُنتَجِعاً فيُكْدي
He has—though drought has left every seeker of bounty
It tries the mettle of men, exhausting them.
driving pale camels hard for sustenance, only to come away empty-handed—
A fertile expanse, a vast abode,
فِناءٌa courtyard مُخْصِبُfertile in العَرَصاتِthe open grounds رَحْبٌspacious
فِناءٌ مُخْصِبُ العَرَصاتِ رَحْبٌ
إذاwhen ضاقَتْbecame cramped مَباءَةُthe dwelling of كُلِّevery وَغْدِbase man
إذا ضاقَتْ مَباءَةُ كُلِّ وَغْدِ
a spacious courtyard, fertile in its open grounds,
When the hospitality of each tomorrow is limited.
when every base man's dwelling grows cramped.
Gifts rain upon it daily,
تُلَثِّمُهُveil it المَواهِبُgifts كلَّevery يومٍday
تُلَثِّمُهُ المَواهِبُ كلَّ يومٍ
تَمُجُّdisgorges سَماؤهُits sky عَلَقاًclotted blood بَوفْدِfor a delegation
تَمُجُّ سَماؤهُ عَلَقاً بَوفْدِ
Gifts veil it every day;
Its sky laden with incoming delegations.
its sky showers blood for a delegation.
The maidens listen intently to its commotion
وتُصْغيand incline their ears الأرحَبيَّةُthe Arhabi camels فيin ذَراهُhis shelter
وتُصْغي الأرحَبيَّةُ في ذَراهُ
إِلىtoward قُبٍّlean steeds أياطِلُهُنَّtheir flanks جُرْدِsleek
إِلى قُبٍّ أياطِلُهُنَّ جُرْدِ
And the Arhabi camels in his shelter incline their ears
Towards a courtyard, their braids uncovered.
toward lean, sleek-flanked steeds.
Ever watchful, heated glances protect it,
وماand not متَوقِّدُfiery اللّحَظاتِin its glances يَحْميguards
وما متَوقِّدُ اللّحَظاتِ يَحْمي
علىin حَذَرٍcaution مُعَرَّسَهُits resting place بوَهْدِin a hollow
على حَذَرٍ مُعَرَّسَهُ بوَهْدِ
And no fiery-eyed beast, guarding
Fortified with caution against transgression.
warily its resting place in a hollow,
As though the tanning of its leather hides
كأنّas though نَفِيَّwhat is shed from جِلْدَتِهِits hide بَقاياremnants
كأنّ نَفِيَّ جِلْدَتِهِ بَقايا
دِلاصٍsmooth armor فَضّهاshattered it المَلَوانِnight and day سَرْدِlinked mailwork
دِلاصٍ فَضّها المَلَوانِ سَرْدِ
as though what its hide sheds were remnants
Were the remnants of gilded armor rent by stabs.
of smooth, linked armor shattered by night and day,
You see time has kohl-lined eyes,
تَراهُyou see it الدّهْرَalways مُكتَحِلاًwith kohl-lined eyes بجَمْرٍwith embers
تَراهُ الدّهْرَ مُكتَحِلاً بجَمْرٍ
يَكادُalmost يُذيبُmelts مُهْجَتَهُits heart بوَقْدِwith burning heat
يَكادُ يُذيبُ مُهْجَتَهُ بوَقْدِ
that you see always, its eyes lined with embers,
Its passion almost melting its core.
almost melting its heart with their blaze,
When it sees redness, it flares up,
بأحْضَرَany readier وَثبَةًto leap مِنْهُthan he إذاwhen ماindeed
بأحْضَرَ وَثبَةً مِنْهُ إذا ما
رأىhe saw إغْضاءَهُhis forbearance يَلِدُgives birth to التّعَدّيaggression
رأى إغْضاءَهُ يَلِدُ التّعَدّي
is readier to leap than he, whenever
Inciting it to exceed proper bounds.
he sees his forbearance give birth to aggression.
I prepare you for battle, O Saad, so cry out
أُعِدُّكَI keep you ready للْعِداagainst foes ياO سَعْدُSaʿd فاهْتِفْso call out
أُعِدُّكَ للْعِدا يا سَعْدُ فاهْتِفْ
بسُمْرٍfor brown shafts مِنْamong رِماحِthe spears of الخَطِّal-Khatt مُلْدِsupple
بسُمْرٍ مِنْ رِماحِ الخَطِّ مُلْدِ
I keep you ready against foes, Saʿd; call out
With a forest of spears flashing.
for supple brown spears from al-Khatt.
And raise your forelegs up high and prevent
ومُدَّand stretch إِلىtoward العُلاthe heights ضَبْعَيَّmy two upper arms وامْنَعْand prevent
ومُدَّ إِلى العُلا ضَبْعَيَّ وامْنَعْ
صُروفَthe vicissitudes of الدّهْرِtime أنْthat يُضْرِعْنَthey humble خَدّيmy cheek
صُروفَ الدّهْرِ أنْ يُضْرِعْنَ خَدّي
And stretch my arms toward the heights, and prevent
The turns of fate from subduing my cheek.
time's reversals from humbling my cheek.
With you is the convergence of the paths to glory
فعِنْدَكَfor with you مُلتَقىthe meeting place of سُبُلِthe paths of المَعاليhigh renown
فعِنْدَكَ مُلتَقى سُبُلِ المَعالي
ومُعْتَرَكُand the battlefield of القوافيrhymes الغُرِّradiant عنديwith me
ومُعْتَرَكُ القوافي الغُرِّ عندي
For with you the paths of high renown meet,
And the battlefield of wonderful poetry is with me.
and with me is the battlefield of radiant rhymes.
The feast day comes to you, raising its gaze
أتاكَcame to you العيدُthe festival يَرْفَعُraising ناظِرَيْهِits two eyes
أتاكَ العيدُ يَرْفَعُ ناظِرَيْهِ
إِلىtoward ماwhat فيكَis in you منْof كَرَمٍgenerosity ومَجْدِand glory
إِلى ما فيكَ منْ كَرَمٍ ومَجْدِ
The festival has come to you, raising its eyes
To your magnanimity and glory.
toward the generosity and glory within you.
Let your time call its people to you
ودَهْرُكَand your age دَعْleave aside بَنيهِits sons إليكَtoward you يَهْفوinclines
ودَهْرُكَ دَعْ بَنيهِ إليكَ يَهْفو
بِطاعَةِwith the obedience of مُسْتَبينِmanifest الرِّقِّbondage عَبْدِa slave
بِطاعَةِ مُسْتَبينِ الرِّقِّ عَبْدِ
And your age—leave its sons aside—inclines toward you
In obedience to the clear authority of the compliant servant.
with the obedience of a slave whose bondage is manifest.
And know that your sword in a little while
ويعلَمُand knows أنّthat سَيفَكَyour sword عنin قَليلٍa little while
ويعلَمُ أنّ سَيفَكَ عن قَليلٍ
يَشوبُmixes منَfrom العَدُوِّthe enemy دَماًblood بحِقْدِwith hatred
يَشوبُ منَ العَدُوِّ دَماً بحِقْدِ
And it knows that your sword, before long,
Will stain the enemy's blood with hatred.
will mingle the enemy's blood with hatred.
So may your days remain secure for you,
فلاso may not زالَتْcease لكfor you الأيامُthe days سِلْماًat peace
فلا زالَتْ لك الأيامُ سِلْماً
مُلَقَّحَةًmade fruitful لَيالِيهاtheir nights بِسَعْدِwith good fortune
مُلَقَّحَةً لَيالِيها بِسَعْدِ
So may the days remain at peace with you,
Their nights sown with good fortune.
their nights made fruitful with good fortune.
Partial English translation: 83 of 84 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1