ترَنّحَ منْ بَرْحِ الغَرامِ مَشوقُ

ترَنّحَ منْ بَرْحِ الغَرامِ مَشوقُ

عشيّةَ زُمَّتْ للتّفرُّقِ نُوقُ

عشيّةَ زُمَّتْ للتّفرُّقِ نُوقُ

A yearning lover reeled from the agony of passion

The lover sighed from the burning of passion,

on the evening when she-camels were bridled for separation.

On an eve when the camels were gathered for parting.

فَباتَ يُواري دَمْعَهُ برِدائِهِ

فَباتَ يُواري دَمْعَهُ برِدائِهِ

وأيَّ دُموعٍ في الرِّداءِ يُريقُ

وأيَّ دُموعٍ في الرِّداءِ يُريقُ

So he spent the night concealing his tears with his cloak—

So he spent the night hiding his tears in his cloak—

and what tears he pours into the cloak!

And what tears are shed into the cloak's folds!

إذا لاحَظَ الحَيُّ اليَمانُونَ بارِقاً

إذا لاحَظَ الحَيُّ اليَمانُونَ بارِقاً

لهُ تحتَ أذْيالِ الظّلامِ خُفوقُ

لهُ تحتَ أذْيالِ الظّلامِ خُفوقُ

Whenever the Yemenite tribesfolk watched a lightning flash,

When the living discern a flash in the Yemeni,

flickering beneath the trailing skirts of darkness,

Gleaming for them beneath the skirts of darkness,

تمطّتْ إِلى حُزْوى بهِمْ غُرْبةُ النّوى

تمطّتْ إِلى حُزْوى بهِمْ غُرْبةُ النّوى

وعَيْشُ اليَماني بالسَّراةِ وَرِيقُ

وعَيْشُ اليَماني بالسَّراةِ وَرِيقُ

separation's exile stretched away with them toward Huzwa,

Longing for the sands clung to their bosoms,

while the Yemenite's life in al-Sarat is lush.

While the Yemeni's life was but milking and sipping.

ولولا الهَوى لمْ أُتْبِعِ الطَّرْفَ بازِغاً

ولولا الهَوى لمْ أُتْبِعِ الطَّرْفَ بازِغاً

كَما اهْتَزَّ ماضي الشّفْرَتَيْنِ ذَليقُ

كَما اهْتَزَّ ماضي الشّفْرَتَيْنِ ذَليقُ

But for love, I would not have followed a rising flash with my gaze,

Were it not for love, my gaze would not have followed

quivering like a keen, sharp two-edged blade.

The piercing flashes of the two eyelids.

وكانَ غُرابُ البَيْنِ يُخْشى نَعيبُهُ

وكانَ غُرابُ البَيْنِ يُخْشى نَعيبُهُ

فكيفَ دَهَتْني بالفِراقِ بُروقُ

فكيفَ دَهَتْني بالفِراقِ بُروقُ

And the croak of the raven of parting was feared;

And I had feared the raven of separation—so how

so how have lightning flashes afflicted me with parting?

Could its dire tidings make me quake?

وفي الرَّكْبِ منْ قَيْسٍ رَعابِيبُ عَهْدُها

وفي الرَّكْبِ منْ قَيْسٍ رَعابِيبُ عَهْدُها

لديَّ وإنْ شَطَّ المَزارُ وَثيقُ

لديَّ وإنْ شَطَّ المَزارُ وَثيقُ

And in the caravan are tender beauties of Qays, whose bond

Among the band are maidens whose pact with me

is firm with me, though the place of meeting lies far away.

Is strong, though the camping-grounds are far.

فَيا سَعْدُ كُرَّ اللّحْظَ هلْ تُبْصِرُ الحِمى

فَيا سَعْدُ كُرَّ اللّحْظَ هلْ تُبْصِرُ الحِمى

فإنْسانُ عَيْني في الدّموعِ غَريقُ

فإنْسانُ عَيْني في الدّموعِ غَريقُ

So, Sa'd, turn your gaze back: do you see the protected pasture?

O eyes that dart, can you make out the enclosure?

For the pupil of my eye is drowned in tears.

For my eyes' companion is drowned in tears.

ومَنْ هؤُلَيّاءِ العُريْبُ على اللِّوى

ومَنْ هؤُلَيّاءِ العُريْبُ على اللِّوى

لخَيْلِهِمُ بالوادِيَيْنِ عَنيقُ

لخَيْلِهِمُ بالوادِيَيْنِ عَنيقُ

And who are these little Arab folk upon the sand-bend,

Among those parting were noble scions,

whose horses stride swiftly through the two valleys?

Known for their steeds in both valleys.

فثمَّ عَرارٌ يُسْتَطابُ شَميمُهُ

فثمَّ عَرارٌ يُسْتَطابُ شَميمُهُ

وسِلٌّ كخيطانِ الأراكِ صَفيقُ

وسِلٌّ كخيطانِ الأراكِ صَفيقُ

There, then, is 'arar, whose fragrance delights,

There were virtuous fellows, sweet of scent,

and offspring clustered densely like slender arak shoots.

And smooth swords that clash like bangles.

أرى السِّبْرَ منهمْ عامِريّاً وكُلُّ مَنْ

أرى السِّبْرَ منهمْ عامِريّاً وكُلُّ مَنْ

ثَوى مِنْ هِلالٍ بالعُذَيْبِ صَديقُ

ثَوى مِنْ هِلالٍ بالعُذَيْبِ صَديقُ

I recognize their bearing as 'Amiri, and everyone who

I see their abodes thriving, and every

belongs to Hilal and dwells at al-'Udhayb is a friend.

New moon that dwelt in al-Udhayb, a friend.

وقد عَلِقَتْني والنّوى مُطْمَئنّةٌ

وقد عَلِقَتْني والنّوى مُطْمَئنّةٌ

بِنا مِنْ هَوى أمِّ الوَليدِ عَلوقُ

بِنا مِنْ هَوى أمِّ الوَليدِ عَلوقُ

And I was seized, while separation lay settled

And she had me in her grasp while the sands were calm,

upon us, by a clinging passion for Umm al-Walid.

With a love for Umm al-Walid that clung fast.

ولي نَشَواتٌ تَسْلُبُ المَرْءَ لُبَّهُ

ولي نَشَواتٌ تَسْلُبُ المَرْءَ لُبَّهُ

إذا ما التَقَيْنا والمُدامَةُ رِيقُ

إذا ما التَقَيْنا والمُدامَةُ رِيقُ

And I have raptures that rob a person of his reason

I have delights that steal away a man's senses

whenever we meet, with saliva for wine.

When we come together, and the wine is sipped.

وقد فرّقَ البَيْنُ المُشتِّتُ بَيْنَنا

وقد فرّقَ البَيْنُ المُشتِّتُ بَيْنَنا

فشَطَّ مَزارٌ واسْتَقَلَّ رَفيقُ

فشَطَّ مَزارٌ واسْتَقَلَّ رَفيقُ

And scattering separation has sundered us,

But absence, that scatterer, scattered us apart,

so the place of meeting grew distant, and a companion departed.

So that some shifted camp, and others moved on.

وأشأمَ منْ جيرانِنا إذْ تَزَيّلوا

وأشأمَ منْ جيرانِنا إذْ تَزَيّلوا

فَريقٌ وأعْرَقْنا ونحنُ فَريقُ

فَريقٌ وأعْرَقْنا ونحنُ فَريقُ

And of our neighbors, when they dispersed, toward al-Sham went

I was downcast when our neighbors pulled out—

one band; we went to Iraq, another band ourselves.

Some groups left while we remained a group.

طَلَعْنا إِلى الزّوْراءِ منْ أيْمَنِ الحِمى

طَلَعْنا إِلى الزّوْراءِ منْ أيْمَنِ الحِمى

ثَنايا بأخْفافِ المَطيِّ تَضيقُ

ثَنايا بأخْفافِ المَطيِّ تَضيقُ

We climbed toward al-Zawra from the right of the protected grounds,

We set out for al-Zawra from the right side of the enclosure

over passes narrow even for the riding camels' padded feet.

On camels with fast pacing feet.

نَزورُ أميرَ المؤمِنينَ ودونَهُ

نَزورُ أميرَ المؤمِنينَ ودونَهُ

خَفيُّ الصُّوى مَرْتُ الفِجاجِ عَميقُ

خَفيُّ الصُّوى مَرْتُ الفِجاجِ عَميقُ

We visit the Commander of the Faithful; before him lies

We're visiting the Commander of the Faithful, unmatched

a deep wilderness, its waymarks hidden and its passes barren.

In the hidden pathways of the deep sands.

ولا أرْضَ إلا وهْيَ منْ كلِّ جانبٍ

ولا أرْضَ إلا وهْيَ منْ كلِّ جانبٍ

إِلى بابِهِ للمُعْتَفينَ طَريقُ

إِلى بابِهِ للمُعْتَفينَ طَريقُ

And there is no land that is not, from every side,

No land but has from every side a route

a road to his door for those who seek his bounty.

To his gate, for those seeking refuge.

لهُ هزّةٌ في نَدوَةِ الحَيّ للندىً

لهُ هزّةٌ في نَدوَةِ الحَيّ للندىً

كَما هَزّ أعْطافَ الخَليعِ رَحيقُ

كَما هَزّ أعْطافَ الخَليعِ رَحيقُ

He thrills to generosity in the tribe's assembly,

He has a tremor amid the people's assembly for the dew,

as pure wine sets a libertine's sides swaying.

As the pendant necklace of the flirt trembles.

وبِشْرٌ يَلوحُ الجُودُ منه وهَيْبَةٌ

وبِشْرٌ يَلوحُ الجُودُ منه وهَيْبَةٌ

تَروعُ لِحاظَ المُجْتَلي وتَروقُ

تَروعُ لِحاظَ المُجْتَلي وتَروقُ

And cheerfulness from which bounty shines, and a majesty

A good omen he shows, and awe—

that both awes and delights the beholder's gaze.

That alarms the gazer—and pleases.

وكَفٌّ كما انْهَلَّ الغَمامُ طَليقَةٌ

وكَفٌّ كما انْهَلَّ الغَمامُ طَليقَةٌ

ووَجْهٌ كَما لاحَ الهِلالُ طَليقُ

ووَجْهٌ كَما لاحَ الهِلالُ طَليقُ

And a generous hand, like rainclouds pouring down,

A hand that pours forth like pouring clouds,

and a cheerful face, like the crescent shining forth.

And a face that gleams like the crescent moon.

وعِزٌّ بمَرْسى الأخْشَبَيْنِ مُخيِّمٌ

وعِزٌّ بمَرْسى الأخْشَبَيْنِ مُخيِّمٌ

ومجْدٌ لدى البَيْتِ العَتيقِ عَتيقُ

ومجْدٌ لدى البَيْتِ العَتيقِ عَتيقُ

And might encamped at the foot of al-Akhshabayn,

Glory dwells at the Ancient House, and might

and ancient glory beside the Ancient House.

Within reach of the two fir trees.

إمامَ الوَرى إنّي بحَبْلِكَ مُعْصِمٌ

إمامَ الوَرى إنّي بحَبْلِكَ مُعْصِمٌ

ومَسْرَحُ طَرْفي في ذَراكَ أنيقُ

ومَسْرَحُ طَرْفي في ذَراكَ أنيقُ

O Imam of mankind, I hold fast to your rope,

Imam of mankind, I cling to your cause,

and my gaze finds a lovely pasture in your shelter.

My gaze fixed hopefully upon you.

أسيرُ وأسْري للمَعالي وما بِها

أسيرُ وأسْري للمَعالي وما بِها

لطالِبِها إلا لَدَيْكَ لُحوقُ

لطالِبِها إلا لَدَيْكَ لُحوقُ

I travel, and journey by night, toward lofty honors; none of them

I march on, aspiring to great deeds, which for

can a seeker attain except with you.

Their seeker are attained only through you.

وأزْهى على الأيّامِ وهْيَ تَروعُني

وأزْهى على الأيّامِ وهْيَ تَروعُني

وأنْيابُها لا ريعَ جارُكَ رُوقُ

وأنْيابُها لا ريعَ جارُكَ رُوقُ

And I lord it over the days, though they frighten me,

I bloom though time fills me with dread,

and their fangs are long—may your protégé never be frightened!

While its fangs cannot pierce your bastion's walls.

وقد وَلَدَتْني عُصْبَةٌ ضمَّ جَدَّهُمْ

وقد وَلَدَتْني عُصْبَةٌ ضمَّ جَدَّهُمْ

وجَدَّ بَني ساقي الحَجيجِ عُروقُ

وجَدَّ بَني ساقي الحَجيجِ عُروقُ

And a clan bore me whose forefather was joined

I was born of a clan whose ancestor

to the forefather of the sons of the pilgrims' water-giver by bloodlines.

Was he of the curly hair—al-Sāq al-Ḥajjāj.

وإني لأبوابِ الخلائِفِ قارِعٌ

وإني لأبوابِ الخلائِفِ قارِعٌ

بهِمْ ولِساحاتِ المُلوكِ طَروقُ

بهِمْ ولِساحاتِ المُلوكِ طَروقُ

And I knock at the gates of caliphs,

I knock on the doors of the Caliphs,

through them, and visit the courtyards of kings by night.

Through them, and at the courts of kings.

ولولاكَ ما بلّتْ بدِجْلَةَ غُلّةً

ولولاكَ ما بلّتْ بدِجْلَةَ غُلّةً

مَطايا لَها تحتَ الرِّحالِ شَهيقُ

مَطايا لَها تحتَ الرِّحالِ شَهيقُ

But for you, no burning thirst would have been slaked at the Tigris

Were it not for you, dappled horses would not have reached

by mounts that gasp beneath their saddles.

Badghis whose stirrups resound beneath the saddle.

وكمْ خَلّفَتْ أنْضاؤُها منْ مَعاشِرٍ

وكمْ خَلّفَتْ أنْضاؤُها منْ مَعاشِرٍ

تَساوَى صَهيلٌ عندَهمْ ونَهيقُ

تَساوَى صَهيلٌ عندَهمْ ونَهيقُ

And how many bands of people those spent camels left behind,

How many companions have they left behind

for whom neighing and braying were the same!

Whose neighing equals their own!

فإنّي وإنْ ضَجّتْ رِكابي منَ النّوى

فإنّي وإنْ ضَجّتْ رِكابي منَ النّوى

بِها حينَ يَلْقَيْنَ الهَوانَ خَليقُ

بِها حينَ يَلْقَيْنَ الهَوانَ خَليقُ

For I, though my mounts cry out at the long journey,

Though my own steeds stamp in grief for them,

am fit for it when they encounter humiliation.

When grief meets me, I endure it calmly.