لكَfor you الخَيرُgoodness هلْis there فيin لَفْتةٍa glance منْfrom مُتيَّمِone enslaved by love
لكَ الخَيرُ هلْ في لَفْتةٍ منْ مُتيَّمِ
مَجالٌroom لعَتْبٍfor reproach أوor مَقالٌsomething to say لِلُوَّمِfor faultfinders
مَجالٌ لعَتْبٍ أو مَقالٌ لِلُوَّمِ
May good be yours—is there, in a lovestruck man's glance,
You are all virtue. Is there in a glance from Mutayyam
room for reproach, or anything for faultfinders to say?
Any room for reproach or words for blame?
وماand not نظَريmy looking شَطْرَtoward الدِّيارِthe dwellings بنافِعٍof use
وما نظَري شَطْرَ الدِّيارِ بنافِعٍ
وأيُّand what فَصيحٍeloquent speaker يَرتَجيhopes for نَفْعَbenefit from أعجَمِone without speech
وأيُّ فَصيحٍ يَرتَجي نَفْعَ أعجَمِ
My looking toward the dwellings avails me nothing;
My regard does not see in the abode usefulness
what eloquent speaker hopes for help from the speechless?
And what eloquent hopes to benefit the non-Arabs?
كأنّas though ارْتِجازَthe thunder-song of السُّحْبِthe clouds واهيَةَslack الكُلىin the flanks
كأنّ ارْتِجازَ السُّحْبِ واهيَةَ الكُلى
جَلاrevealed فيin حواشيهِنَّtheir fringes عنْfrom متْنِthe back of أرْقَمِa speckled serpent
جَلا في حواشيهِنَّ عنْ متْنِ أرْقَمِ
As though the thunder-song of clouds, their flanks slack,
As if the gathering of clouds and the weakness of kidneys
had revealed along their fringes a speckled serpent's back.
Strayed in their margins from the text of firm decrees,
وماand not مَنَحَتْهاbestowed upon them العَيْنُthe eye إذwhen عَثَرَتْchanced بِهاupon them
وما مَنَحَتْها العَيْنُ إذ عَثَرَتْ بِها
سوىexcept نَظْرَةٍa glance رَوعاءَstartled منْfrom مُتَوَهِّمِone conjecturing
سوى نَظْرَةٍ رَوعاءَ منْ مُتَوَهِّمِ
The eye bestowed upon them, when it chanced upon them,
And the eye granted it, when it stumbled upon it,
only a startled glance from one trying to make them out.
Nothing but a fearful glance from an imaginative one.
وفيand among الرَّكْبِthe caravan إذwhen مِلْناwe turned إِلىtoward الرّبْعِthe dwelling زاجِرٌa driver
وفي الرَّكْبِ إذ مِلْنا إِلى الرّبْعِ زاجِرٌ
يُقوِّمُstraightens أعناقَthe necks of المَطِيِّthe riding camels المُخَزَّمِthe nose-ringed
يُقوِّمُ أعناقَ المَطِيِّ المُخَزَّمِ
Among the caravan, when we turned toward the dwelling, was a driver
And when we inclined to the open country, a deterrent
straightening the necks of the nose-ringed camels.
Who straightens the necks of the racing steed.
ويعلمُand he knows أنthat الشوقَlonging أهدىguides better فماso what لَهُis with him
ويعلمُ أن الشوقَ أهدى فما لَهُ
يُشيرُgestures بأطرافِwith the tips of القَطيعِthe whip المُحَرَّمِthe stiff, unsoftened
يُشيرُ بأطرافِ القَطيعِ المُحَرَّمِ
He knows that longing guides better—so why does he
And he knows that passion misguided me, so why
gesture with the tips of his stiff, unsoftened whip?
Does he gesture with the edges of the forbidden herd?
وهَلْand can يَستَفيقُregain its senses الوَجْدُlonging إلاexcept بِوَقْفَةٍthrough a halt
وهَلْ يَستَفيقُ الوَجْدُ إلا بِوَقْفَةٍ
مَتىwhenever يَستَجِرْseeks refuge فيهاin it بدَمْعِكَin your tears يَسْجُمِstreams forth
مَتى يَستَجِرْ فيها بدَمْعِكَ يَسْجُمِ
Can longing regain its senses except through a halt
And will fervor awaken except with a stance
where, whenever it seeks refuge in your tears, they stream forth?
In which it takes refuge in your pouring tear?
بمَغْنىًat a dwelling أَلِفْناهُwe knew it well وفيwhile in العَيشِlife غِرَّةٌinnocence
بمَغْنىً أَلِفْناهُ وفي العَيشِ غِرَّةٌ
وعَصْرُand the season of الشّبابِyouth الغَضِّthe tender لمْhad not يتَصرَّمِended
وعَصْرُ الشّبابِ الغَضِّ لمْ يتَصرَّمِ
At a dwelling we knew, when life still held innocence
With a melody we were accustomed to, and in life mischievousness,
and the season of tender youth had not yet ended.
And the prime of green youth did not decay.
ذَكَرْتُI recalled بهِat it أيَّامَdays of وصْلٍunion كأنَّنِيas though I
ذَكَرْتُ بهِ أيَّامَ وصْلٍ كأنَّنِي
عَلِقْتُI caught hold of بهاthrough them ذَيلَthe hem of الخَيالِthe phantom المُسَلِّمِthe greeting
عَلِقْتُ بها ذَيلَ الخَيالِ المُسَلِّمِ
There I recalled days of union, as though
I remembered days of union as if
I had caught, through them, the hem of a greeting phantom.
I attached the tail of imagination that surrenders.
وبالهَضَباتِand on the hills الحُمْرِthe red منْon أيْمَنِthe right side of الحِمىthe protected pasture
وبالهَضَباتِ الحُمْرِ منْ أيْمَنِ الحِمى
ظِباءٌgazelles بألْحاظِwith the glances of الجَآذِرِwild-cow calves تَرتَميshoot at one another
ظِباءٌ بألْحاظِ الجَآذِرِ تَرتَمي
On the red hills to the right of the protected pasture,
And with the red slopes of the protected area
gazelles shoot with the glances of wild-cow calves,
Gazelles leap with the looks of a watcher.
وتُوميand beckon إلَيناto us بالبَنانِwith the fingertips وقدand indeed أبَتْrefused
وتُومي إلَينا بالبَنانِ وقد أبَتْ
مَحاجِرُهاtheir eye-sockets أنْthat لاnot يُخَضَّبَbe dyed بالدَّمِwith blood
مَحاجِرُها أنْ لا يُخَضَّبَ بالدَّمِ
and beckon to us with their fingertips, while
And they wink at us with eyelids, and they refused
their eyes insist those fingers be dyed with blood.
That their eyelids be dyed with blood.
ودُونيَand before me لولاwere it not for أنّthat للحُبِّlove has رَوْعَةًawe
ودُونيَ لولا أنّ للحُبِّ رَوْعَةً
يَدٌa hand ضَمِنَتْpledged رِيَّthe slaking of thirst of الحُسامِthe sword المُصَمِّمِthe bone-cleaving
يَدٌ ضَمِنَتْ رِيَّ الحُسامِ المُصَمِّمِ
Before me—were it not that love inspires dread—
And if not for the fact that for love there is awe
stands a hand that has pledged to slake the bone-cleaving sword.
A hand that guaranteed the flow of the resolute sword -
إذاwhen اسْتَمْطَرَsought rain العافونَthe petitioners منْfrom نَفَحاتِهاits generous gifts
إذا اسْتَمْطَرَ العافونَ منْ نَفَحاتِها
تَثَنَّتْbent إلَيْهنَّtoward them الغَمائِمُthe clouds تَنْتَميclaiming kinship
تَثَنَّتْ إلَيْهنَّ الغَمائِمُ تَنْتَمي
When petitioners seek rain from its generous gifts,
When the gentle breeze rains its breaths
the clouds bend toward those gifts, claiming kinship.
The clouds incline toward it, belonging to it.
وإنْand if مَدَّextended عَبدُAbd (servant of) اللهِAllah (God) للفَخْرِtoward glory باعَهاits reach
وإنْ مَدَّ عَبدُ اللهِ للفَخْرِ باعَها
أُريحَتْwas brought to rest إلَيْهاwith it بَسْطَةُthe wide dominion of المُتَحكِّمِthe commanding ruler
أُريحَتْ إلَيْها بَسْطَةُ المُتَحكِّمِ
And if Abd Allah extends its reach toward glory,
And if Abdullah extends to pride its sale
a commanding ruler's wide dominion comes to rest in it,
The plain of the sovereign stretches out to it.
بِحادِثِwith fresh عِزٍّglory فيat ذُؤابَةِthe crest of عامِرٍAmir
بِحادِثِ عِزٍّ في ذُؤابَةِ عامِرٍ
أُضيفَwas added إِلىto عادِيِّهِits ancient glory المُتقَدِّمِthe preceding
أُضيفَ إِلى عادِيِّهِ المُتقَدِّمِ
with fresh glory at the crest of Amir,
With an honorable event in the abode of Amer
added to its ancient, long-established glory.
Added to its usual ancient one.
منَof القَومthe people لاnot المُزْجيone conveying إلَيهمْto them رَجاءَهُhis hope
منَ القَوم لا المُزْجي إلَيهمْ رَجاءَهُ
بِمُكْدٍcoming away empty-handed ولاnor المُثنيone praising عَلَيْهمْthem بمُفْحَمِstruck speechless
بِمُكْدٍ ولا المُثني عَلَيْهمْ بمُفْحَمِ
He is of a people: neither one who brings them his hopes
Of the people, not the flatterer hopes in them
comes away empty-handed, nor is their praiser struck speechless.
With pain, nor the praiser blames them.
همُthey يَمنعونَprotect الجارَthe neighbor والخَطْبُwhile calamity فاغِرٌgapes
همُ يَمنعونَ الجارَ والخَطْبُ فاغِرٌ
إذاwhen رَمَزَتْsignaled إحدىone of اللّياليthe nights بِمُعْظَمِa mighty disaster
إذا رَمَزَتْ إحدى اللّيالي بِمُعْظَمِ
They protect the neighbor even as calamity gapes,
They prevent the neighbor, and the discourse is bare
when one of the nights signals a mighty disaster.
If one of the nights hints with veneration.
فيَرْحَلُso he departs عَنهُمْfrom them والمُحَيَّاand the face بِمائِهِwith its luster
فيَرْحَلُ عَنهُمْ والمُحَيَّا بِمائِهِ
يُلاعِبُplays with ظِلَّthe shadow of الفائِزِthe winner المُتَغَنِّمِthe one gaining spoils
يُلاعِبُ ظِلَّ الفائِزِ المُتَغَنِّمِ
So he leaves them with his face's luster intact,
So he travels from them, and the living with his water
playing with the shadow of a winner laden with spoils.
Plays with the shadow of the triumphant winner.
أتاهمhe came to them وأحْداثُwhile the vicissitudes of الزَّمانِtime سَفيهَةٌwere reckless
أتاهم وأحْداثُ الزَّمانِ سَفيهَةٌ
وعادَand he returned وفيهاwhile in them شِيمَةُthe disposition of المُتَحلِّمِone practicing forbearance
وعادَ وفيها شِيمَةُ المُتَحلِّمِ
He came to them while time's vicissitudes were reckless,
He came to them while the events of time are foolish,
and returned when they bore a forbearing man's temper.
And returned while in them the traits of the resolute.
وخَفَّتْand grew lighter عليهِupon him وطْأَةُthe tread of الدّهْرِtime فيهِمُamong them
وخَفَّتْ عليهِ وطْأَةُ الدّهْرِ فيهِمُ
عشيّةَthe evening when ألقىhe laid down عِندهُمْwith them ثِقْلَthe burden of مَغرَمِa debt
عشيّةَ ألقى عِندهُمْ ثِقْلَ مَغرَمِ
Time's tread grew lighter upon him among them
And the burden of fate in them was lighter for him
the evening he laid down with them the burden of a debt.
One evening when he cast off the weight of love near them.
حلَفْتُI swore بأشباهِby the likenesses of الأهِلَّةِthe crescent moons فيin البُرىthe nose-rings
حلَفْتُ بأشباهِ الأهِلَّةِ في البُرى
رَثىpitied كُلُّeach دامٍbleeding one منْamong ذُراهاtheir humps لِمَنسِمِa camel's foot-pad
رَثى كُلُّ دامٍ منْ ذُراها لِمَنسِمِ
I swore by those crescent-like camels in nose-rings:
I swore by the like of the crescent in the lands
each bleeding hump of theirs pitied a foot-pad.
Every blood-kin of theirs for the ritual-marker mourned.
فَلَيْنَthey combed بأيديهِنَّwith their forelegs ناصِيَةَthe forelock of الفَلاthe desert
فَلَيْنَ بأيديهِنَّ ناصِيَةَ الفَلا
وعِفْنَand loathed السُّرىnight-travel فيthrough مَخْرِمٍa mountain pass بَعْدَafter مَخرِمِa mountain pass
وعِفْنَ السُّرى في مَخْرِمٍ بَعْدَ مَخرِمِ
They combed the desert's forelock with their forelegs
So let their hands lead the horse of separation
and loathed night-travel through pass after pass.
And the scent of distance in a ruin after ruin.
إذاwhen راعَهاfrightened them غَولُthe ghoul of الطّريقِthe road هَفَتْswept along بِهاwith them
إذا راعَها غَولُ الطّريقِ هَفَتْ بِها
أغاريدُthe songs of حادٍa camel-driver خَلْفَهاbehind them مُتَرَنِّمِchanting
أغاريدُ حادٍ خَلْفَها مُتَرَنِّمِ
When the road's ghoul frightened them, they were borne along by
When the ghoul of the road startled them with it
the songs of a driver chanting behind them.
The warbling songs of the camel driver followed it chanting.
يُمارِينَthey rival بالرُّكْبانِbearing the riders وهْماًa mighty, swift camel كأنّهُas though it
يُمارِينَ بالرُّكْبانِ وهْماً كأنّهُ
يُحاذِرُfears صِلاًّa viper آخِذاًgripping بالمُخَطَّمِby the muzzle
يُحاذِرُ صِلاًّ آخِذاً بالمُخَطَّمِ
Bearing their riders, they rival a mighty, swift camel, as though it
It contends with the riders as if he
feared a viper gripping it by the muzzle.
Is wary of an embattled lion with blood.
فَزُرْنَso they visited بِناwith us البَيتَthe House الحَرامَthe Sacred وخُلِّيَتْand were let loose
فَزُرْنَ بِنا البَيتَ الحَرامَ وخُلِّيَتْ
تَرودُroam بمُسْتَنِّin the open ground of الحَطيمِal-Hatim وزَمزَمِand Zamzam
تَرودُ بمُسْتَنِّ الحَطيمِ وزَمزَمِ
Then they brought us to visit the Sacred House and were let loose
So we visited the Sacred House, and it was emptied -
to roam the open ground of al-Hatim and Zamzam.
The soft sands of Hatim and Zamzam.
لَجِئْتَyou indeed came مَجيءَas the coming of البَدرِthe full moon مَدَّspread رِواقَهُits canopy
لَجِئْتَ مَجيءَ البَدرِ مَدَّ رِواقَهُ
علىover أفُقٍa horizon وحْفِthick-fringed الدائِرِat the rim مُظْلِمِdark
على أفُقٍ وحْفِ الدائِرِ مُظْلِمِ
You have indeed come as the full moon comes, spreading its canopy
You came like the moon extending its dome
over a dark horizon, thick about its rim.
Upon a horizon with the surrounding darkness intense.
وزُرْتَand you visited كماjust as زارَvisited الرّبيعُspring مُطَبِّقاًspreading everywhere
وزُرْتَ كما زارَ الرّبيعُ مُطَبِّقاً
نَداهُits dew فأحْياand so revived كُلَّevery مُثْرٍwealthy person ومُعْدِمِand destitute person
نَداهُ فأحْيا كُلَّ مُثْرٍ ومُعْدِمِ
And you visited as spring visits, spreading everywhere
And you visited as spring visited cloaking
its dew, reviving every rich and destitute person.
Its call, so it revived every withered and ruined thing.
برأْيٍwith a judgment تَمشَّىwalk المُشْكِلاتُthe difficulties خِلالَهُthrough it
برأْيٍ تَمشَّى المُشْكِلاتُ خِلالَهُ
علىalong حَدِّthe edge of مَصقولِpolished الغِرارَيْنِon both edges مِخْذَمِa cleaving sword
على حَدِّ مَصقولِ الغِرارَيْنِ مِخْذَمِ
With a judgment through which tangled problems walk
With an opinion dilemmas walked through it
along the edge of a cleaving sword, both edges polished,
At the edge of the polished smooth spearheads.
وعَزْمٍand a resolve إذاwhen ماfor emphasis الحَرْبُwar حَطّتْlaid aside لِثامَهاits veil
وعَزْمٍ إذا ما الحَرْبُ حَطّتْ لِثامَها
يُلَوِّيtwists أنابيبَthe joints of الوَشيجِthe spear-shafts المُقَوَّمِthe straightened
يُلَوِّي أنابيبَ الوَشيجِ المُقَوَّمِ
and a resolve that, when war lays aside its veil,
And resolve - if war donned its mask -
twists the joints of straightened spear-shafts.
That bends the tubes of interlaced confusion.
فأيّامُكَso your days الخُضْرُgreen الحَواشيat the borders كأنّهاas though they
فأيّامُكَ الخُضْرُ الحَواشي كأنّها
منَin الحُسْنِbeauty تَفْويفُthe fine striping of الرِّداءِthe robe المُسَهَّمِthe arrow-patterned
منَ الحُسْنِ تَفْويفُ الرِّداءِ المُسَهَّمِ
So your days, green-fringed, seem
So your green days - their margins are like
in beauty like the fine striping of an arrow-patterned robe.
A rippling of beauty of the ornate cloak.
وأنتَand you إذاwhen أوغَلْتَyou press far فيin طَلَبِthe pursuit of العُلاeminence
وأنتَ إذا أوغَلْتَ في طَلَبِ العُلا
كقَادِحِlike one striking زَندٍa fire-stick تحتَهُbeneath it يَدُthe hand of مُضْرِمِa fire-kindler
كقَادِحِ زَندٍ تحتَهُ يَدُ مُضْرِمِ
And you, when you press far in pursuit of eminence,
And you, when you penetrated in seeking exaltation,
are like one striking a fire-stick, a kindler's hand beneath it.
Like the kindling of firewood beneath which is a burning hand.
وحَسْبُand enough for المُباريthe rival أنْthat تَلُفَّyou wrap عَجاجَةًa dust-cloud
وحَسْبُ المُباري أنْ تَلُفَّ عَجاجَةً
علىaround المُنتَضىthe drawn blade منْfrom طَرْفِهِhis gaze المُتَوسِّمِthe discerning
على المُنتَضى منْ طَرْفِهِ المُتَوسِّمِ
And it is enough for a rival that you wrap a dust-cloud
And sufficient for the emulous is that you wrap
around the blade drawn from his discerning gaze.
A cloud over the one you choose from its edge.
ورُبَّand many an حَسودٍenvious man باتَspent the night يَطويenclosing علىaround الجَوىheartache
ورُبَّ حَسودٍ باتَ يَطوي على الجَوى
حَشًىa heart باكِياًweeping عنaway from ناظِرٍan eye مُتَبَسِّمِsmiling
حَشًى باكِياً عن ناظِرٍ مُتَبَسِّمِ
And many an envious man spends the night enclosing anguish
And how many envious spent the night winding over the embers,
in a weeping heart behind a smiling eye.
A bag of sorrows from a smiling watcher.
لكَyours is الشَّرفُhonor الضَّخْمُthe mighty الذيwhich فيin ظِلالِهِits shades
لكَ الشَّرفُ الضَّخْمُ الذي في ظِلالِهِ
مُعَرَّسُa resting place for حَمْدٍpraise فيin مَباءَةِthe abode of مُنْعِمِa benefactor
مُعَرَّسُ حَمْدٍ في مَباءَةِ مُنْعِمِ
Yours is the mighty honor beneath whose shade
For you is the immense honor in whose shadows
praise finds lodging in a benefactor's abode,
Praise is sheltered in the blessings of a benefactor.
ومَجْدٌand glory مُعَمٌّwith paternal kin فيin كِنانةَKinana مُخْوَلٌwith maternal kin
ومَجْدٌ مُعَمٌّ في كِنانةَ مُخْوَلٌ
تَنوسُsway حَوالَيْهِaround it ذَوائِبُthe tresses of أنْجُمِstars
تَنوسُ حَوالَيْهِ ذَوائِبُ أنْجُمِ
and glory with paternal and maternal kin in Kinana,
And extended glory nestled in the bosom of being honored,
around which the tresses of stars sway.
Around which the tails of stars hover.
وهاand here أناI أرجوhope for منْfrom زَمانِكَyour age رُتْبةًa rank
وها أنا أرجو منْ زَمانِكَ رُتْبةً
لهاit has غارِبٌa crest فيin المَجْدِglory لمْhas not يُتَسَنَّمِbeen climbed
لها غارِبٌ في المَجْدِ لمْ يُتَسَنَّمِ
And here I am, hoping from your days for a rank
And here I am hoping in your time for a rank
whose crest in glory has not yet been climbed.
With a rising in glory never attained.
وعنديand I have ثَناءٌpraise وهْوand it is أرجىthe most promising وَسيلةٍmeans
وعندي ثَناءٌ وهْو أرجى وَسيلةٍ
إليكَto you كتَفْصيلِlike the arrangement of الجُمانِpearls المُنَظَّمِstrung in order
إليكَ كتَفْصيلِ الجُمانِ المُنَظَّمِ
And I have praise—it is the most promising means
And I have praise - and it is the most hopeful means
of reaching you—like the arrangement of strung pearls.
To you - like the rhyming of strung pearls.
وكَمْand how many منْof لِسانٍa tongue يَنظِمُcomposes الشِّعْرَverse فَلَّهُblunted it
وكَمْ منْ لِسانٍ يَنظِمُ الشِّعْرَ فَلَّهُ
شَباthe sharp edges of كَلِميmy words والصّارِمُand the sword العَضْبُthe keen-edged فيin فَميmy mouth
شَبا كَلِمي والصّارِمُ العَضْبُ في فَمي
And many a verse-composing tongue has been blunted by
And how many tongues compose poetry, so it incapacitated them -
the sharp edges of my words; the keen sword is in my mouth.
My words grew tough, and the sharp blade is in my mouth.
وقدand indeed مَرَّpassed عَصْرٌan age لمdid not أفُزْI attain فيهِin it بالمُنىthe things wished for
وقد مَرَّ عَصْرٌ لم أفُزْ فيهِ بالمُنى
فماso not لِيَfor me إلاexcept زَفرَةُthe sigh of المُتَندِّمِone regretting
فما لِيَ إلا زَفرَةُ المُتَندِّمِ
And an age has passed in which I did not attain my wishes,
And an era passed in which I did not attain wishes
so I have nothing but a regretful man's sigh.
So I have nothing left but the sigh of the regretful.
وليسَand there is not لآماليfor my hopes سِواكَanyone but you فإنّهاfor they
وليسَ لآمالي سِواكَ فإنّها
تُهيبُcall upon بأقوامٍpeople عنِaway from المَجْدِglory نُوَّمِdeeply asleep
تُهيبُ بأقوامٍ عنِ المَجْدِ نُوَّمِ
My hopes have none but you, for they
And I have no hopes but you, for they
appeal to people who slumber heedless of glory.
Fear people who slumber from glory.
بَقيتَmay you endure لمَجْدٍfor a glory يتَّقِيguard against دونَهُbefore it العِداthe enemies
بَقيتَ لمَجْدٍ يتَّقِي دونَهُ العِدا
تَناوُشَthe lunges of رَقَّاصِquivering الأنابيبِin the shaft-joints لَهْذَمِa long, keen spear
تَناوُشَ رَقَّاصِ الأنابيبِ لَهْذَمِ
May you endure for a glory before which foes guard themselves
You remained for a glory the enemies evade
against the lunges of a long, keen spear with quivering joints.
Wrestling the spying tubes in order to crush them.
ولاand never بَرِحَتْcease to be فيكَin you الأمانِيُّthe hopes غَضَّةًfresh
ولا بَرِحَتْ فيكَ الأمانِيُّ غَضَّةً
تَرِفُّfluttering علىover إنعامِكَyour bounty المُتَقَسِّمِshared out
تَرِفُّ على إنعامِكَ المُتَقَسِّمِ
And may hopes in you never cease to be fresh,
And hopes did not cease in you, fresh,
fluttering over the bounty you share.
Fluttering over your divided gifts.
Sol 6.1