وَلَهٌlove's bewilderment تَشِفُّshow through وراءَهُbehind it الأشجانُthe sorrows
وَلَهٌ تَشِفُّ وراءَهُ الأشجانُ
وهَوىًand passion يَضيقُis too confined بسِرِّهِfor its secret الكِتْمانُconcealment
وهَوىً يَضيقُ بسِرِّهِ الكِتْمانُ
Love's bewilderment, through which sorrows show,
A dreamer whose sorrows weigh down his resting place,
and passion whose secret concealment cannot contain;
While the trees weep behind him,
ومُتَيَّمٌand a love-enthralled man يُدميbloodies مَقيلَthe resting place هُمومِهِof his cares
ومُتَيَّمٌ يُدمي مَقيلَ هُمومِهِ
وَجْدٌyearning يُضَرِّمُkindles نارَهُits fire الهِجْرانُseparation
وَجْدٌ يُضَرِّمُ نارَهُ الهِجْرانُ
and a love-enthralled man whose cares' resting place is bloodied
And a secret that tightens with its mystery,
by yearning whose fire separation kindles.
And separation whose fire is stoked by estrangement.
فَنَطاthen banished الكَرىsleep عنfrom مُقلَتَيْهِhis two eyes شادِنٌa young gazelle
فَنَطا الكَرى عن مُقلَتَيْهِ شادِنٌ
عَبِثَplayed الفُتورُlanguor بلَحْظِهِwith its gaze وَسْنانُdrowsy
عَبِثَ الفُتورُ بلَحْظِهِ وَسْنانُ
Then a young gazelle banished sleep from his eyes,
So the eyelids fell off his swollen eyes,
drowsy, with languor playing in its gaze.
Neglect played with his glance and tooth.
يَرعىwatches النّجومَthe stars إذاwhen اسْتَرابَdoubts بطَيفِهِhis beloved's phantom
يَرعى النّجومَ إذا اسْتَرابَ بطَيفِهِ
هَلاّwhy not اسْتَرابَdistrust بطَرْفِهِhis own gaze اليَقظانُthe wakeful man
هَلاّ اسْتَرابَ بطَرْفِهِ اليَقظانُ
He watches the stars when he doubts his beloved's phantom;
He herds the stars when his phantom is delayed,
why does the wakeful man not distrust his own gaze?
If only his watchful eyes would delay it.
ألِفَbecame accustomed to السُّهادَsleeplessness فلوso if أهابَcalled خَيالُهُhis beloved's phantom
ألِفَ السُّهادَ فلو أهابَ خَيالُهُ
بالعَيْنِto the eye ماnot شَعَرَتْwould notice بهِit الأجْفانُthe eyelids
بالعَيْنِ ما شَعَرَتْ بهِ الأجْفانُ
He has grown used to sleeplessness: were his beloved's phantom to call
He is accustomed to sleeplessness, so if his imagination came,
to his eye, his eyelids would not notice it.
The eyelids would not feel him.
للهِto God وَقْفَتُناour halt التيwhich ضمِنَتْassured لناfor us
للهِ وَقْفَتُنا التي ضمِنَتْ لنا
شَجَناًsorrow غَداةَon the morning تَفَرّقَparted الجيرانُthe neighbors
شَجَناً غَداةَ تَفَرّقَ الجيرانُ
God, what a halt was ours, which assured us
By God, our pact which guaranteed,
of sorrow on the morning the neighbors parted!
A passion the morning after the neighbors left.
نَصِفُwe describe الهَوىlove بمَدامِعٍwith tearful eyes مَذعورةٍfrightened
نَصِفُ الهَوى بمَدامِعٍ مَذعورةٍ
تَبكيweep الأسُودُthe lions بهِنّwith them والغِزْلانُand the gazelles
تَبكي الأسُودُ بهِنّ والغِزْلانُ
We describe love with frightened, tearful eyes,
Half of desire with frightened tears,
with which lions and gazelles alike weep.
That wet the black garment and the bracelets.
وإذاand when سَمِعْناwe hear نَبْأةًa murmur منْfrom عاذِلٍa reproacher
وإذا سَمِعْنا نَبْأةً منْ عاذِلٍ
جُعِلَتْwere made مَغيضَthe sink دُموعِهاof their tears الأرْدانُthe sleeves
جُعِلَتْ مَغيضَ دُموعِها الأرْدانُ
And whenever we hear a murmur from a reproacher,
And if we heard news from a critic,
our sleeves become sinks for their tears.
Its tears would be more bitter than perfume.
ولقدand indeed طَرَقْتُI visited by night الحيَّthe encampment يحْمِلُcarrying شِكّتيmy arms
ولقد طَرَقْتُ الحيَّ يحْمِلُ شِكّتي
ظاميlean الفُصوصِin the joints أديمُهُhis hide ريّانُfull-fleshed
ظامي الفُصوصِ أديمُهُ ريّانُ
I visited the encampment by night, my arms borne
And I came upon the wall carrying my complaint,
by a lean-jointed steed, his hide full-fleshed.
Its plaster torn, still wet.
لبِسَhe wore الدُّجىthe darkness وأضاءَand shone صُبحُthe dawn جَبينِهِof his brow
لبِسَ الدُّجى وأضاءَ صُبحُ جَبينِهِ
يَنشَقُّparts عنهُaway from it سَبيبُهُhis forelock الفَيْنانُluxuriant
يَنشَقُّ عنهُ سَبيبُهُ الفَيْنانُ
He wore the darkness, while the dawn of his brow shone,
Dawn broke and lit up his forehead,
his luxuriant forelock parting to reveal it.
His braid bursting open.
وسَماand advanced لِدارِtoward the home of العامريّةِthe Amirite woman بعْدَماafter
وسَما لِدارِ العامريّةِ بعْدَما
خَفَتَsubsided الهَديرُthe bellowing وروّحَand returned at dusk الرُّعْيانُthe herdsmen
خَفَتَ الهَديرُ وروّحَ الرُّعْيانُ
He made for the Amirite woman's home after
And I swore to the Abode of Amer, after
the bellowing hushed and the herdsmen returned at dusk.
The tumult subsided and the shepherds rested.
ووَقَفْتُهُand I halted him حيثُwhere اليَمينُthe right hand جَعَلْتُهاI made it
ووَقَفْتُهُ حيثُ اليَمينُ جَعَلْتُها
طَوقَa necklace for الفَتاةِthe girl وفيand in الشِّمالِthe left hand عِنانُreins
طَوقَ الفَتاةِ وفي الشِّمالِ عِنانُ
I halted him where I made my right hand
And I stopped him where I placed the right hand
a necklace for the girl, while reins lay in my left.
As the girl’s necklace, and the reins in the left.
ورَجَعْتُand I returned طَلْقَfree-flowing البُرْدِthe cloak أسْحَبُdragging ذَيْلَهُits hem
ورَجَعْتُ طَلْقَ البُرْدِ أسْحَبُ ذَيْلَهُ
ويَعَضُّand bites جِلْدَةَthe skin كفِّهِof his palm الغَيْرانُthe jealous man
ويَعَضُّ جِلْدَةَ كفِّهِ الغَيْرانُ
And I returned, my cloak flowing freely, dragging its hem,
And I returned barefoot, dragging its tail,
while the jealous man bit the skin of his palm.
While estrangement gnawed the skin of my palm.
ياO صاحِبَيَّmy two companions تقَصّياextend to the utmost نَظَرَيْكُماyour two gazes
يا صاحِبَيَّ تقَصّيا نَظَرَيْكُما
هَلْis it that بَعدَbeyond ذَلكُماthat (addressing you two) اللِّوىthe sand-bend سَفَوانُSafwan
هَلْ بَعدَ ذَلكُما اللِّوى سَفَوانُ
O my two companions, let your gazes reach their utmost:
O friends, did your sight ever wander
is Safwan beyond that bend of sand?
After that, or is madness agreeable?
فلقدْfor indeed ذَكَرْتُI remembered العامريّةَthe Amirite woman ذِكْرَةًa remembrance
فلقدْ ذَكَرْتُ العامريّةَ ذِكْرَةً
لاnot يُسْتَشَفُّcan be glimpsed وَراءَهاbeyond it النّسيانُforgetfulness
لا يُسْتَشَفُّ وَراءَها النّسيانُ
For I remembered the Amirite woman with a remembrance
For I remembered Amer in a memory
beyond which oblivion cannot be glimpsed.
Beyond which oblivion cannot heal.
وهَفاand wafted بناwith us وَلَعُthe ardor النّسيمِof the breeze علىover الحِمىthe preserve
وهَفا بنا وَلَعُ النّسيمِ على الحِمى
فثَنىso bent مَعاطِفَهُits supple limbs إليهِtoward it البانُthe ban trees
فثَنى مَعاطِفَهُ إليهِ البانُ
And the breeze's ardor wafted us over the preserve,
The wind blew gently on the fence,
so the ban trees bent their limbs toward it.
So it folded its cloak to it, compliant.
ومَشىand walked بأجْرَعِهِover its sandy rise فهَبَّso awoke عَرارُهُits arar blossoms
ومَشى بأجْرَعِهِ فهَبَّ عَرارُهُ
منْfrom نَومِهِits sleep وتَناجَتِand whispered together الأغْصانُthe branches
منْ نَومِهِ وتَناجَتِ الأغْصانُ
It walked across its sandy rise, and its arar blossoms awoke
And it walked slowly, so its foliage stirred
from sleep, and the branches whispered to one another.
From its sleep and the branches' whispers.
وإذاand when الصَّباthe east wind سَرَقَتْstole إليهاtoward them نَظرَةًa glance
وإذا الصَّبا سَرَقَتْ إليها نَظرَةً
مالَتْthey leaned كَماas يتَرَنّحُsways النّشوانُthe drunkard
مالَتْ كَما يتَرَنّحُ النّشوانُ
And when the east wind stole a glance toward them,
And when the morning breeze stole a glance at it
they leaned as a drunkard sways.
It swayed like a nashwan drunk with nasha.
غُبِقَتْwere given an evening draught حواشيthe fringes التُّرْبِof the soil منْfrom أمْواهِهِits waters
غُبِقَتْ حواشي التُّرْبِ منْ أمْواهِهِ
راحاًwine تَصوغُfashion حَبابَهاits bubbles الغُدْرانُthe pools
راحاً تَصوغُ حَبابَها الغُدْرانُ
The soil's fringes were given, from its waters, an evening draught—
The edges of the ground were clouded by its waters
wine whose bubbles the pools fashion.
That trickled to shape its pools.
فكأنّso, as though وَفْدَthe envoys الرّيحِof the wind شافَهَaddressed face-to-face أرْضَهاits land
فكأنّ وَفْدَ الرّيحِ شافَهَ أرْضَها
بثَرًىof a soil تُعَفَّرُare rubbed in dust عندَهُbefore it التّيجانُthe crowns
بثَرًى تُعَفَّرُ عندَهُ التّيجانُ
So it was as though the wind's envoys had spoken to its land
As if the wind's delegation cured its land
of a soil before which crowns are rubbed in dust,
With fresh rain to stir its marshes.
منْfrom عَرْصَةٍa courtyard تَسِمُmark الجِباهَthe foreheads بتُرْبِهاwith its dust
منْ عَرْصَةٍ تَسِمُ الجِباهَ بتُرْبِها
صِيدٌproud chiefs يُطيفُcircles بعِزِّهِمْaround their might إذعانُsubmission
صِيدٌ يُطيفُ بعِزِّهِمْ إذعانُ
from a courtyard where foreheads are marked with its dust
People from a yard who branded foreheads with its soil,
by proud chiefs whose might is ringed by submission.
Game fenced in by their glory, submitting.
خَضَعواthey bowed لمَلْثومِto the kissed one الخُطاin the footsteps عَرَصاتُهُhis courtyards
خَضَعوا لمَلْثومِ الخُطا عَرَصاتُهُ
للمُعْتَفينَfor seekers of bounty وللعُلاand for greatness أوطانُhomes
للمُعْتَفينَ وللعُلا أوطانُ
They bowed to one whose footsteps are kissed; his courtyards
They bowed to the owner of an ancient, lofty lineage,
are homes for seekers of bounty and for greatness.
For the glorious, homeland for Adnan.
ذوpossessor of مَحْتِدٍlineage سَنِمٍlofty رَفيعٍhigh سَمْكُهُits height
ذو مَحْتِدٍ سَنِمٍ رَفيعٍ سَمْكُهُ
تُعليraises دَعائِمَthe pillars مَجدِهِof his glory عَدنانُAdnan
تُعلي دَعائِمَ مَجدِهِ عَدنانُ
He is of towering lineage, lofty in its height;
A people, if they loudly proclaimed descent from Amer,
Adnan raises the pillars of his glory.
The oryx trembled, and the small deer shook.
قوْمٌa people إذاwhen جَهَرواthey cry aloud بدَعوىwith the rallying cry of عامِرٍAmir
قوْمٌ إذا جَهَروا بدَعوى عامِرٍ
قَلِقَquiver الظُّباthe blade-edges وتَزَعْزَعَand shake الخِرْصانُthe lances
قَلِقَ الظُّبا وتَزَعْزَعَ الخِرْصانُ
A people who, when they cry aloud the call of Amir,
And an eagle shaded the edges of the plain,
set blades quivering and lances shaking.
A burly lion foretelling its young.
وأظَلَّand overshadowed أطرافَthe far reaches البسيطةِof the earth جَحفَلٌa vast army
وأظَلَّ أطرافَ البسيطةِ جَحفَلٌ
لَجِبٌclamorous يُبَشِّرُbrings glad tidings to نَسرَهُits vulture السِّرْحانُthe wolf
لَجِبٌ يُبَشِّرُ نَسرَهُ السِّرْحانُ
And a vast army overshadows the earth's far reaches,
The tails of the she-camel flock spilling over,
clamorous, the wolf bringing glad tidings to its vulture.
Polished swords and seasoned blades.
تَفْريcleave ذُيولَthe skirts النّقعِof the dust-cloud فيهِwithin it صَوارِمٌkeen swords
تَفْري ذُيولَ النّقعِ فيهِ صَوارِمٌ
مَذْروبَةٌwell-sharpened وذَوابِلٌand slender spears مُرّانُof murran wood
مَذْروبَةٌ وذَوابِلٌ مُرّانُ
The skirts of dust within it are cleft by keen swords,
With the palms of heroes whose armors
well-honed, and by slender murran-wood spears,
Melt away at the clash of forearms.
بأكُفِّin the hands of أبطالٍheroes تَكادُalmost دُروعُهُمْtheir coats of mail
بأكُفِّ أبطالٍ تَكادُ دُروعُهُمْ
عِندَat اللّقاءِthe encounter تُذيبُهاmelt them الأضْغانُrancors
عِندَ اللّقاءِ تُذيبُها الأضْغانُ
in the hands of heroes whose coats of mail
Whenever war grew harsh, their supple mounts
are nearly melted by rancor when battle is joined.
Frolicked, playing with their flexible necks.
منْof كُلِّevery عَرّاصٍquivering lance إذاwhen جَدَّgrows earnest الرّدىdeath
منْ كُلِّ عَرّاصٍ إذا جَدَّ الرّدى
فيin الرّوْعِbattle's terror لاعَبَtoys with مَتْنَهُits shaft العَسَلانُswift swaying
في الرّوْعِ لاعَبَ مَتْنَهُ العَسَلانُ
Each quivering lance—when death grows earnest,
And a brown-skinned one whose tents were stained with blood
in battle's terror, swift swaying toys with its shaft—
From a hand generosity flourished through.
ومُهَنّدٍand an Indian-forged sword تندىًgrow wet مَضارِبُهُits striking edges دَماًwith blood
ومُهَنّدٍ تندىً مَضارِبُهُ دَماً
بيدٍin a hand يَنُمُّproclaims بجودِهاits bounty الإحسانُgood deeds
بيدٍ يَنُمُّ بجودِها الإحسانُ
and each Indian-forged sword, its striking edges wet with blood,
If spirits had a remainder in it,
is in a hand whose good deeds proclaim its bounty.
The bodies would cling to its every part.
لوif كانَthere were للأرْواحِfor the souls منهُagainst it ثائِرٌan avenger
لو كانَ للأرْواحِ منهُ ثائِرٌ
لَتَشَبّثَتْwould surely have clung بغِرارِهِto its edge الأبْدانُthe bodies
لَتَشَبّثَتْ بغِرارِهِ الأبْدانُ
If souls had an avenger against it,
The sons of Ruwas travel the path of glory,
the bodies would have clung to its edge.
A route deprivation itself loses sight of.
وبَنوand the sons of رُؤاسٍRu'as يَنهَجونَopen up إِلىtoward الندىًbounty
وبَنو رُؤاسٍ يَنهَجونَ إِلى الندىً
طُرُقاًpaths يَضِلُّloses its way أمامَهاbefore them الحِرْمانُdeprivation
طُرُقاً يَضِلُّ أمامَها الحِرْمانُ
And the Banu Ru'as open up, toward bounty,
Noble, while the heavy clouds are vile,
paths before which deprivation loses its way.
Wise when the brave are foolish.
كُرَماءُgenerous والسُّحْبُwhile the clouds الغِزارُrain-laden لَئيمَةٌmiserly
كُرَماءُ والسُّحْبُ الغِزارُ لَئيمَةٌ
حُلَماءُforbearing حينَwhen تُسَفَّهُare driven to folly الشُّجْعانُthe brave
حُلَماءُ حينَ تُسَفَّهُ الشُّجْعانُ
Generous, while rain-laden clouds are miserly;
Whether they wrest smiles from the swords,
forbearing when the brave are driven to folly.
Or the guests wrest dinner from the bowls.
إنif جالَدواthey fight لَفَظَcast out السّيوفَthe swords جُفونُهاtheir scabbards
إن جالَدوا لَفَظَ السّيوفَ جُفونُها
أوor جاوَدواthey vie in generosity غَمَرَoverwhelm الضّيوفَthe guests جِفانُgreat bowls
أو جاوَدوا غَمَرَ الضّيوفَ جِفانُ
If they fight, the scabbards cast out their swords;
And when the vagabonds cloaked themselves in their homes,
or vie in bounty, great bowls overwhelm the guests.
The two guests dressed in its shade.
وإذاand when العُفاةُseekers of bounty تمَرّسواpress close بفِنائِهِمْto their courtyard
وإذا العُفاةُ تمَرّسوا بفِنائِهِمْ
وتوَشّحَتْand wrap themselves بظِلالِهِin its shade الضِّيفانُthe guests
وتوَشّحَتْ بظِلالِهِ الضِّيفانُ
And when seekers of bounty press into their courtyard,
Spilt blood boiled in its corners,
and guests wrap themselves in its shade,
Fires stoked around it.
طَفَحَoverflowed الدّمُthe blood المُهَراقُspilled فيin أرْجائِهاits quarters
طَفَحَ الدّمُ المُهَراقُ في أرْجائِها
دُفَعاًin gushes تُضَرَّمُare kindled حَولَهاaround them النّيرانُthe fires
دُفَعاً تُضَرَّمُ حَولَها النّيرانُ
spilled blood floods its quarters
And toward the glory of the state we faltered,
in surges, with fires blazing around them.
The feet of travelers danced and the riders sang.
وإِلىand toward سَناءِSana (Splendor) الدّولةِal-Dawla (of the State) اضْطَرَبَتْswayed بِناwith us
وإِلى سَناءِ الدّولةِ اضْطَرَبَتْ بِنا
شعبthe forks الرِّحالِof the saddles وغَرَّدَand sang الرُّكْبانُthe riders
شعب الرِّحالِ وغَرَّدَ الرُّكْبانُ
And toward Sana al-Dawla swayed beneath us
Full of praise like one intoxicated by his cup,
the saddle-forks, while the riders sang.
And the finest lute nourished him with pure wine.
ثَمِلُintoxicated الشّمائِلِin disposition للمَديحِwith praise كأنّماas though
ثَمِلُ الشّمائِلِ للمَديحِ كأنّما
عاطاهُshared with him نَشْوَةَthe exhilaration كأسِهِof his cup النَّدْمانُthe drinking companion
عاطاهُ نَشْوَةَ كأسِهِ النَّدْمانُ
His disposition is intoxicated with praise, as though
O you the enemies fell short of,
a drinking companion had shared his cup's exhilaration with him.
We celebrated his terrifying assault.
ونَماهُand begot him أرْوَعُa noble sire عُودُهُhis stem مِنْfrom نَبْعَةٍa nab' tree
ونَماهُ أرْوَعُ عُودُهُ مِنْ نَبْعَةٍ
رَفّتْfluttered علىabove أعْراقِهاits roots الأفْنانُthe branches
رَفّتْ على أعْراقِها الأفْنانُ
And a noble sire begot him, his stem from a nab' tree
Our holidays in your sheltering care
whose branches fluttered above its roots.
Are white like the hem of a robe.
ياO مَنْyou who تَضاءَلَdwindled دونَshort of غايتِهِhis utmost reach العِداthe foes
يا مَنْ تَضاءَلَ دونَ غايتِهِ العِدا
وعَناand bowed لسَوْرَةِto the onslaught of بأسِهِhis might الأقْرانُthe rivals
وعَنا لسَوْرَةِ بأسِهِ الأقْرانُ
O you before whose utmost reach the foes dwindle,
So meet the Feast with a resplendent kingdom,
and to whose surging might rivals bow,
With the mark of glory across its pages.
أيّامُناour days الأعْيادُfestivals فيin أفيائِكُمْyour shades
أيّامُنا الأعْيادُ في أفيائِكُمْ
بِيضٌwhite كَحاشيَةِlike the border of الرِّداءِthe cloak لِدانُsoft
بِيضٌ كَحاشيَةِ الرِّداءِ لِدانُ
our days are festivals beneath your shade,
And browse through the words that the heights of eloquence reached,
white as a cloak's border, and soft.
Forcefully, smoothly, and clearly.
فاسْتَقْبِلِso welcome الأضحىthe Feast of Sacrifice بمُلْكٍwith a dominion طارِفٍnewly acquired
فاسْتَقْبِلِ الأضحى بمُلْكٍ طارِفٍ
للعِزِّfor glory فيon صَفَحاتِهِits pages عُنوانُa heading
للعِزِّ في صَفَحاتِهِ عُنوانُ
So welcome al-Adha with a new dominion,
They put their reins in my hands out of obedience,
on whose pages glory has a heading.
And they are free with the sensitive.
وتصَفّحِand peruse الكَلِمَthe words التيwhich وَصَلَتْjoined بهاthrough them
وتصَفّحِ الكَلِمَ التي وَصَلَتْ بها
مِرَرَthe twisted strands البلاغَةِof eloquence شِدّةٌstrength ولَيانُand suppleness
مِرَرَ البلاغَةِ شِدّةٌ ولَيانُ
And peruse the words through which are braided
For glory disdains to be flattered by an unskilled one,
eloquence's strands by strength and suppleness.
While the excellent have intelligence.
تُلْقيyield إليّto me عِنانَهاtheir reins عنْout of طاعَةٍobedience
تُلْقي إليّ عِنانَها عنْ طاعَةٍ
ولَهاand they have علىtoward المُتَشاعِرينَpretenders to poetry حِرانُbalkiness
ولَها على المُتَشاعِرينَ حِرانُ
They yield their reins to me in obedience,
And poetry is pleased with its spontaneous outpouring,
while they balk at pretenders to poetry.
Foolishness of youth, and clarity and eloquence.
فالمجْدُfor glory يأنَفُdisdains أنthat يُقَرِّظَshould extol باقِلٌBaqil
فالمجْدُ يأنَفُ أن يُقَرِّظَ باقِلٌ
أربابَهُits masters ولَدَيهِمُwhile they have سَحْبانُSahban
أربابَهُ ولَدَيهِمُ سَحْبانُ
For glory disdains that Baqil should extol
My hand is honored, so I do not give
its masters while they have Sahban beside them.
Handouts over their bent wrists shamefully.
والشِّعْرُand poetry راضَtamed أبِيَّهُits defiant part ليfor me مِقْوَلٌa tongue
والشِّعْرُ راضَ أبِيَّهُ لي مِقْوَلٌ
ذَرِبُkeen الشَّباof edge وفَصاحَةٌand eloquence وبَيانُand clear expression
ذَرِبُ الشَّبا وفَصاحَةٌ وبَيانُ
And poetry's defiant spirit is tamed for me by a tongue,
The water in clefts is abundant, and wealth is
keen of edge, and by eloquence and lucid expression.
Where contentment and modest provisions are.
ويَديand my hand مُكَرَّمَةٌhonored فلاso not أعْطوI reach out بِهاwith it
ويَدي مُكَرَّمَةٌ فلا أعْطو بِها
مِنَحاًfor gifts علىupon أعْطافِهِنَّtheir folds هَوانُhumiliation
مِنَحاً على أعْطافِهِنَّ هَوانُ
And my hand is honored; I do not reach it out
Wishes give birth to determination, while
for gifts whose folds bear humiliation.
Humiliation sterilizes my resolve.
والماءُand moisture فيin الوَجَناتِthe cheeks جَمٌّabundant والغِنىand wealth
والماءُ في الوَجَناتِ جَمٌّ والغِنى
حيثُwhere القَناعَةُcontentment والحَشىwhile the belly طَيّانُfamished
حيثُ القَناعَةُ والحَشى طَيّانُ
And my cheeks retain abundant freshness; wealth
is where contentment is, though my belly is famished.
تَلِدُgive birth to المُنىwishes هِمَمٌambitions وتَعقُمُand is barren همّتيmy ambition
تَلِدُ المُنى هِمَمٌ وتَعقُمُ همّتي
فيَمَسُّهُنَّso touches them الهُونُhumiliation وهْيَwhile it is حَصانُchaste
فيَمَسُّهُنَّ الهُونُ وهْيَ حَصانُ
Ambitions give birth to wishes; my ambition is barren,
so humiliation touches them, while mine remains chaste.
Partial English translation: 92 of 96 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1