سَرَىtraveled by night البَرْقُthe lightning واللّيلُwhile the night يُدْنيdraws near خُطاهْits footsteps
سَرَى البَرْقُ واللّيلُ يُدْني خُطاهْ
فَباتَso it spent the night علىin الأيْنِweariness يَلْويtwisting مَطاهْits back
فَباتَ على الأيْنِ يَلْوي مَطاهْ
Lightning traveled by night as night drew its footsteps near;
The lightning flashed, and night drew near
so, weary, it spent the night twisting its back.
Tossing about, writhing in agony.
ولاحَand it gleamed كَماas يَقْتَذيblinks at a mote طائِرٌa bird
ولاحَ كَما يَقْتَذي طائِرٌ
ولمand could not يَسْتَطِعْmanage منْfrom كَلالٍexhaustion سُراهْits night journey
ولم يَسْتَطِعْ منْ كَلالٍ سُراهْ
It glimmered like a bird blinking at a mote,
It shone like a bird in flight
too exhausted to make its journey through the night.
Yet weakness allowed no rest.
فَمالَso he leaned علىon ساعِدَيْهِhis two forearms الغُرَيْبُthe poor exile
فَمالَ على ساعِدَيْهِ الغُرَيْبُ
بخَدّيهِwith his two cheeks حتىuntil ونَىgrew weary مِرْفَقاهْhis two elbows
بخَدّيهِ حتى ونَى مِرْفَقاهْ
The poor exile leaned upon his forearms,
The forlorn one leaned on his arms
resting his cheeks there until his elbows grew weary.
Cheeks pressing till his joints pained.
وحَنَّand he yearned إِلىfor عَذَباتِthe fringes of اللِّوىal-Liwa
وحَنَّ إِلى عَذَباتِ اللِّوى
وواديand the valley of الحِمىal-Hima وإِلىand for مُنحَناهْits bend
ووادي الحِمى وإِلى مُنحَناهْ
He yearned for the fringes of al-Liwa,
He yearned for the softness of union,
for the valley of al-Hima and its bend.
For the valley of love and its curves.
وهَلْand can يَسْتَنيمُrest trustfully إِلىin سَلْوَةٍforgetfulness
وهَلْ يَسْتَنيمُ إِلى سَلْوَةٍ
أخوa man of شَجَنٍsorrow أجْهَضَتْهُhas driven him away نَواهْhis separation
أخو شَجَنٍ أجْهَضَتْهُ نَواهْ
Can one find repose in forgetfulness—
Can one who shares a brother’s torment
a man of sorrow whom separation has driven away?
Find solace if his lament is stifled?
فَشامَso he watched بأَرْوَنْدَat Arwand ذاكَthat الوَميضَflash
فَشامَ بأَرْوَنْدَ ذاكَ الوَميضَ
وأينَand how far is سَناهُits radiance بنَجْدٍin Najd سَناهْits radiance
وأينَ سَناهُ بنَجْدٍ سَناهْ
At Arwand he watched that flash;
So it wandered like that flickering glow,
how far its radiance in Najd from its radiance here!
Where once was its radiance in Nejd?
ومنْand on دونِهِthis side of it أمَدٌa stretch نازِحٌfar distant
ومنْ دونِهِ أمَدٌ نازِحٌ
إذاif أَمَّهُheaded toward it الطَّرْفُthe gaze أوهَىweakened قُواهْits powers
إذا أَمَّهُ الطَّرْفُ أوهَى قُواهْ
Between him and it lies a far-distant stretch;
Beyond it stretched a distant respite
if the gaze seeks it, that distance saps its strength.
Which, when eyes met, was too weak to soothe.
فهلso is there مِنْany مُعينٍhelper علىagainst نأْيِهِits remoteness
فهل مِنْ مُعينٍ على نأْيِهِ
بنَظْرَةِwith the gaze of صَقْرٍa falcon رأىsaw ماwhat ابْتَغاهْit sought
بنَظْرَةِ صَقْرٍ رأى ما ابْتَغاهْ
Is there a helper against its remoteness,
Was there one to help in its misery
with the gaze of a falcon that saw what it sought,
With a falcon’s sight and sought purpose?
وطارَand flew علىon إثْرِهِits trail فامْتَطىthen mounted
وطارَ على إثْرِهِ فامْتَطى
سَراةَthe back of نَهارٍa day صَقيلٍburnished ضُحاهْits forenoon
سَراةَ نَهارٍ صَقيلٍ ضُحاهْ
and flew after it, then mounted
It flew in pursuit till it mounted
the back of a day with a burnished forenoon?
The steeds of a polished, bright day.
فَهاso here هُوَhe يَذْكُرُrecalls مِلْءَwith the fullness of الفُؤادِthe heart
فَها هُوَ يَذْكُرُ مِلْءَ الفُؤادِ
زَماناًa time مَضىgone by وشَباباًand youth نَضاهْhe cast off
زَماناً مَضى وشَباباً نَضاهْ
Here he is, remembering with all his heart
Now it remembers what filled its heart -
a time gone by and youth he cast off,
A time now gone, fled youth.
ومُرْتَبَعاًand a springtime dwelling بالحِمىin al-Hima والنّعيand bliss (word continued)
ومُرْتَبَعاً بالحِمى والنّعي
مُend of 'bliss' يُلْقيlays down بِحاشِيَتَيْهِalong its two borders عَصاهْits staff
مُ يُلْقي بِحاشِيَتَيْهِ عَصاهْ
and a springtime dwelling in al-Hima, where bliss
And a square shaded by love and companionship
lays down its staff along both borders.
Where it once cast its staff’s shadow.
هُنالِكَthere رَبْعٌa dwelling تَشيمُsheathe الأسُوthe lions (word continued)
هُنالِكَ رَبْعٌ تَشيمُ الأسُو
دُend of 'lions' فيهِwithin it لَواحِظَهاtheir glances عَنْaway from مَهاهْits oryx
دُ فيهِ لَواحِظَها عَنْ مَهاهْ
There stands a dwelling where lions sheathe
There the happy band smiled in comfort,
their glances, turning them from its oryx.
Veils guarding them from repute’s eyes.
ويخْتالُand walk proudly فيin ظِلِّهِits shade المُعْتَفونَthose seeking bounty
ويخْتالُ في ظِلِّهِ المُعْتَفونَ
وتندىًand shed dew علىupon زائِريهِits visitors رُباهْits hills
وتندىً على زائِريهِ رُباهْ
Seekers of bounty walk proudly in its shade,
And seekers of guidance frequented its shade,
and its hills shower dew upon its visitors.
Sheltered there, their wants fulfilled.
فهَلْthen will أرَيَنَّI surely see بعَيْنيwith my eye المَطِيَّthe riding camels
فهَلْ أرَيَنَّ بعَيْني المَطِيَّ
يهُزُّshakes الذَّميلُthe brisk trot إليهِtoward it طُلاهْtheir necks
يهُزُّ الذَّميلُ إليهِ طُلاهْ
Will I ever see with my own eyes the riding camels,
Will my eyes now see on a steed
their necks tossed by a brisk trot toward that place,
The friend, towards whom the camel yearns?
ويَسْتَرْجِعُand regains القَلْبُthe heart أفْاحَهُits joys (text uncertain)
ويَسْتَرْجِعُ القَلْبُ أفْاحَهُ
بهِthere ويُصافِحُand shakes hands with جَفْنيmy eyelid كَراهْits slumber
بهِ ويُصافِحُ جَفْني كَراهْ
and will the heart recover its joys
Will my heart regain its bloom
there, and its slumber clasp my eyelid?
As my sore eyelids welcome their balm?
أمِثْليone like me? ولاand no مِثْلَequal ليto me فيamong الوَرىmankind
أمِثْلي ولا مِثْلَ لي في الوَرى
ولاand none لأُميَّةَfor Umayya حاشاfar be it from عُلاهْhis lofty rank
ولا لأُميَّةَ حاشا عُلاهْ
Should one like me—who has no peer among mortals,
None like me remains in this world,
nor has Umayya, far be it from his lofty rank—
Except perhaps one whose repute excels,
تُفَوِّقُنيfeed me in small sips نَكَباتُthe calamities of الزّمانِTime
تُفَوِّقُني نَكَباتُ الزّمانِ
عُفافَةَa scant remnant ماwhat أسْأَرَتْهُleft it as a remnant الشِّفاهْthe lips
عُفافَةَ ما أسْأَرَتْهُ الشِّفاهْ
be fed in scant sips by Time's calamities
Surpassing me in the blows of fate,
the meager remnants that lips have left?
Purer than the words my lips have uttered,
وفيand within مِدْرَعيmy tunic ماجِدٌa noble man لاnot يَحومُhovers
وفي مِدْرَعي ماجِدٌ لا يَحومُ
علىover نُغَبٍsips كَدِراتٍmurky صَداهْhis thirst
على نُغَبٍ كَدِراتٍ صَداهْ
Within my tunic is a noble man whose thirst will not hover
Nobler than the faults that have stained
over murky draughts.
The glory built by my people,
ويَطْويand folds الضُّلوعَthe ribs علىaround غُلَّةٍburning thirst
ويَطْوي الضُّلوعَ على غُلَّةٍ
إذاif درَّعَتْهُclothed him in الهَوانَhumiliation المِياهْthe waters
إذا درَّعَتْهُ الهَوانَ المِياهْ
He closes his ribs around a burning thirst
Folding adversities in my ribs
if the waters would clothe him in humiliation.
When the seas of dishonor flood me,
ولاand does not يتَهَيَّبُfear أمْراًa venture تشُدُّfasten
ولا يتَهَيَّبُ أمْراً تشُدُّ
عَواقِبُهُits consequences بالمَناياto deaths عُراهْits bonds
عَواقِبُهُ بالمَنايا عُراهْ
He does not fear a venture whose consequences fasten
Fearing no command, though its consequences
its bonds to death.
Are bound to death’s nakedness.
وإنْand if تَقْتَسِمْdivides مُضَرٌMudar ماwhat بَنَتْhas built
وإنْ تَقْتَسِمْ مُضَرٌ ما بَنَتْ
هُit منْof مَجْدِهاits glory يتفَرَّعْascends ذُراهْits summits
هُ منْ مَجْدِها يتفَرَّعْ ذُراهْ
And if Mudar divides what it has built
And if an enemy divides what my people
of its glory, he will ascend its peaks.
Have built, its fragments will spread like dust.
وليand I have هِمّةٌan ambition بمَناطِat the hanging-place of النُّجومِthe stars
ولي هِمّةٌ بمَناطِ النُّجومِ
وفَضْلٌand excellence تَوَشَّحَdonned دَهْريmy age حُلاهْits ornaments
وفَضْلٌ تَوَشَّحَ دَهْري حُلاهْ
I have an ambition set where the stars are hung,
I have the ambition of the stars,
and excellence whose ornaments my age has donned,
The excellence that has clothed my days.
وسَطْوَةُand the onslaught of ذيone possessing لَبِدٍa matted mane فيin العَريthe lair (word continued)
وسَطْوَةُ ذي لَبِدٍ في العَري
نِend of 'lair' مَنْضوحَةٍspattered بنَجيعٍwith fresh blood سُطاهْits assaults
نِ مَنْضوحَةٍ بنَجيعٍ سُطاهْ
and the onslaught of a maned lion in its lair,
The power of one firmware in danger,
its assaults spattered with fresh blood.
Mixed from the dripping of swords in battle,
يُحَدِّدُsharpens ظُفْراًa claw يَمُجُّspews المَنونَdeath
يُحَدِّدُ ظُفْراً يَمُجُّ المَنونَ
إذاwhen ساوَرَassails القِرْنَthe rival أدْمىbloodies شَباهْits points
إذا ساوَرَ القِرْنَ أدْمى شَباهْ
It sharpens a claw that spews death;
Defines a victory that wards off death
when it assails a rival, it bloodies its points.
When the vultures descend in their darkest youth.
ويوقِدُand kindles لَحْظاًa gaze يكادُnearly الكَمِيُّthe armored warrior
ويوقِدُ لَحْظاً يكادُ الكَمِيُّ
يَقْبِسُtakes a spark واللّيلُwhile the night داجٍis dark لَظاهْits blaze
يَقْبِسُ واللّيلُ داجٍ لَظاهْ
And it kindles a gaze from which the armored warrior almost
It kindles a glare by which the knight
takes a spark of its blaze, while night is dark.
Lights his way though the night is blinding.
سَليask (addressing a woman) ياO بْنَةَdaughter of القَومِthe tribe عمّنْabout whom تَضُمُّencloses
سَلي يا بْنَةَ القَومِ عمّنْ تَضُمُّ
دِرْعيmy armor وبُرْديَand my mantle عمّاabout what حَواهْhas contained it
دِرْعي وبُرْديَ عمّا حَواهْ
Ask, daughter of the tribe, about the one
Ask my breastplate and coat of mail, girl,
my armor encloses, and ask my mantle what it holds.
What secrets they hide.
ففيthen in تِلْكَthat one أصْحَرُa tawny lion يَغْشَىenters المَكَرَّthe battle-ground
ففي تِلْكَ أصْحَرُ يَغْشَى المَكَرَّ
وفيand in ذاكthat one أسحَمُa black cloud واهٍfailing كُلاهْits kidneys
وفي ذاك أسحَمُ واهٍ كُلاهْ
In the former is a tawny lion entering the fray,
For in them lies a desert that covers disgrace,
and in the latter, a black cloud with failing kidneys.
And in them a defender, though flawed.
أُجَرِّرُI trail أذيالَهاits skirts كالغَديرِlike a pool
أُجَرِّرُ أذيالَها كالغَديرِ
إذاwhen ماemphatic particle النّسيمُthe breeze اعْتَراهُpassed over it زَهاهْstirred it
إذا ما النّسيمُ اعْتَراهُ زَهاهْ
I trail its skirts like a pool
I trail them like a river
when the breeze passes over it and stirs it.
When the breeze stirs its undulation.
وقائِمُand the hilt of سَيْفيmy sword بمِسْكٍwith musk يَفوحُgives off scent
وقائِمُ سَيْفي بمِسْكٍ يَفوحُ
وتَرْشَحُand ooze منْwith عَلَقٍthick blood شَفْرَتاهْits two edges
وتَرْشَحُ منْ عَلَقٍ شَفْرَتاهْ
My sword's hilt gives off musk,
My upright sword holds sweet fragrance
and its two edges ooze thick blood.
As ointment drips from its blade.
وتَحتيَand beneath me أدْهَمُa black horse رَحْبُbroad اللَّبانِthe chest
وتَحتيَ أدْهَمُ رَحْبُ اللَّبانِ
حَبيكٌwell-knit قَراهُits back سَليمٌsound شَظاهْits splint-bones
حَبيكٌ قَراهُ سَليمٌ شَظاهْ
Beneath me is a black horse, broad of chest,
Beneath it lies a roan of spacious might,
its back well-knit, its splint-bones sound.
A steady, elegant, grayish steed.
كَساclothed الفَجْرُdawn منْwith some of نُورِهِits light صَفْحَتَيْtwo flanks
كَسا الفَجْرُ منْ نُورِهِ صَفْحَتَيْ
هِits واللّيلُand night ألبَسَهُdressed it منْwith some of دُجاهْits darkness
هِ واللّيلُ ألبَسَهُ منْ دُجاهْ
Dawn clothed its two flanks with its light,
Dawn has clothed its flanks in light
and night dressed it in its darkness.
While night has given its darkness.
سَيعْلَمُwill learn دَهْرٌTime عَداoverstepped طَوْرَهُits bounds
سَيعْلَمُ دَهْرٌ عَدا طَوْرَهُ
علىagainst أيِّwhat خِرْقٍbold noble man جَنىcommitted ماwhat جَناهْit committed
على أيِّ خِرْقٍ جَنى ما جَناهْ
Time, which has overstepped its bounds, will learn
Time will tell how it ransacked
against what bold man it has committed its wrongs,
And which threadbare clothes it stole,
وأيَّand what غُلامٍyouth سَماrose up نَحْوَهُagainst him
وأيَّ غُلامٍ سَما نَحْوَهُ
ولَمand did not يَسأَلِask المَجْدَGlory عنْabout مُنْتَماهْhis lineage
ولَم يَسأَلِ المَجْدَ عنْ مُنْتَماهْ
and what youth it has risen against,
Which lad it carried high
without asking Glory about his lineage.
Without asking glory for its price -
أغَرّradiant عَزائِمُهُhis resolves منْfrom ظُباsword-edges
أغَرّ عَزائِمُهُ منْ ظُبا
أُعِرْنَwere lent التألُّقَbrilliance مِنْfrom مُجْتَلاهْhis shining presence
أُعِرْنَ التألُّقَ مِنْ مُجْتَلاهْ
A radiant youth, with resolves forged from sword-edges
More daring than the swooping eagle,
lent their glitter from his own shining presence.
Though not known for its striking beauty,
وليسَand he is not برِعْديدَةٍa trembling coward فيamid الخُطوبِgrave affairs
وليسَ برِعْديدَةٍ في الخُطوبِ
ولاand not خَفِقٍfluttering فيamid الرّزاياcalamities حَشاهْhis heart
ولا خَفِقٍ في الرّزايا حَشاهْ
He is no trembling coward amid grave affairs,
Neither thunderous in trials
nor does his heart flutter amid calamities.
Nor timid when the calamities clash.
أتَخْشىare they to fear? الضَّراغِمُthe lions ذُؤْبانَهُits wolves
أتَخْشى الضَّراغِمُ ذُؤْبانَهُ
وتَشْكوand complain of الصُّقورُthe falcons إليهِto it قَطاهْits sandgrouse
وتَشْكو الصُّقورُ إليهِ قَطاهْ
Are lions to fear its wolves,
I fear its snarling wolves
and falcons complain to it of its sandgrouse?
And the eagles complain of its harshness.
ولولاand were it not for تَنَمُّرُهُits tigerish rage للكِرامِtoward the noble
ولولا تَنَمُّرُهُ للكِرامِ
لمَاwould never have فارَقَتْleft أخْمَصَيْهِthe arches of its feet الجِباهْforeheads
لمَا فارَقَتْ أخْمَصَيْهِ الجِباهْ
Were it not for its tigerish rage toward the noble,
Had it not fiercely defended honors
foreheads would never have left the arches of its feet.
Its forehead would not be bare of forelocks.
وعنand from كَثَبٍclose quarters يتَقَرّىseeks out بَنيهِits sons
وعن كَثَبٍ يتَقَرّى بَنيهِ
بِماwith that which يَعْقِدُknots العِزُّHonor فيهِwithin it حُباهْits knee-bands
بِما يَعْقِدُ العِزُّ فيهِ حُباهْ
And at close quarters he seeks out its sons,
For children it surpasses its rivals
with that wherein Honor knots its knee-bands.
With ties honor alone can knot.
فيَسْقيthen gives to drink صَوارِمَهُhis keen swords مِنْهُمُfrom them
فيَسْقي صَوارِمَهُ مِنْهُمُ
عَبيطَfresh and pure دَمٍblood ويُرَوّيand slakes قَناهْhis spears
عَبيطَ دَمٍ ويُرَوّي قَناهْ
Then he gives his keen swords to drink from them
It quenches the thirst of its swords
fresh blood, and gives his spears their fill.
With the crimson juice of youth.
ومنand whoever يَنْحَسِرْrecedes عنهُfrom him ظِلُّthe shade of الغِنىwealth
ومن يَنْحَسِرْ عنهُ ظِلُّ الغِنى
ففيthen in المَشْرَفيّاتِthe Mashrafi swords مالٌwealth وجَاهْand rank
ففي المَشْرَفيّاتِ مالٌ وجَاهْ
And whoever loses the shade of wealth
And those denied its wealth’s shade
can find riches and rank in Mashrafi swords.
Have property and status in villas.
فَماso what للذّليلِwith the abject man يُسامُis made to suffer الأذىharm
فَما للذّليلِ يُسامُ الأذى
ويَخْشىand fears الرّدىdeath لاmay not وَقاهُprotect him الإلهْGod
ويَخْشى الرّدى لا وَقاهُ الإلهْ
What ails the abject man who is made to suffer harm
So why should the disgraced persist
yet fears death? May God not protect him!
And fear doom though protected by God?
Sol 6.1