نِقَمِيmy acts of vengeance تَتْبَعُهاfollow them نِعَميmy favors
نِقَمِي تَتْبَعُها نِعَمي
وَيَمينيand my right hand دَرَّةُthe copious outpouring الدِّيَمِof steady rains
وَيَميني دَرَّةُ الدِّيَمِ
My acts of vengeance are followed by my favors,
My blessings are followed by misfortunes,
And my right hand is the outpouring of steady rains.
And my right hand is the pearly star of misfortune.
لَيْتَwould that شِعْريmy knowledge وَالمُنىand hopes خُدَعٌdeceptions
لَيْتَ شِعْري وَالمُنى خُدَعٌ
هَلْwhether أُرَوِّيI slake صارِميmy sharp sword بِدَمِwith blood
هَلْ أُرَوِّي صارِمي بِدَمِ
Would that I knew—though hopes are deceptions—
Would that I knew! Is hope a deceiver?
whether I shall slake my sharp sword with blood,
Shall I water my sword with blood?
وَجِباهُand the foreheads الصِّيدِof the proud nobles لاثِمَةٌkissing
وَجِباهُ الصِّيدِ لاثِمَةٌ
ماwhat تَمَسُّtouches الأَرْضُthe earth مِنْof قَدَميmy foot
ما تَمَسُّ الأَرْضُ مِنْ قَدَمي
while the foreheads of proud nobles kiss
The brows of the hunter are sinful.
the part of my foot that touches the earth.
My feet touch not the ground.
تَقْتَفيfollow الأَفْواهُthe mouths مَوْطِئَهاits place of treading
تَقْتَفي الأَفْواهُ مَوْطِئَها
راعِياتٍhonoring حُرْمَةَthe sanctity الكَرَمِof generosity
راعِياتٍ حُرْمَةَ الكَرَمِ
Mouths follow where it treads,
The mouths follow its trace,
honoring the sanctity of generosity.
Shepherdesses, preserving the honor of the vineyard.
أَتَراهُdo you think it خَدَّa cheek غَانِيَةٍof a beautiful woman
أَتَراهُ خَدَّ غَانِيَةٍ
مَدَّdrew forward لِلْتَقْبيلِfor kissing كُلَّevery فَمِmouth
مَدَّ لِلْتَقْبيلِ كُلَّ فَمِ
Do you think it a beautiful woman's cheek
Do I see him kiss the mouth of every singing girl
that has drawn every mouth forward for a kiss?
Who stretches her mouth for a kiss?
وَالعُلاand glory إِرْثيmy inheritance وَلَسْتُand I do not أَرَىsee
وَالعُلا إِرْثي وَلَسْتُ أَرَى
حاجِزاًa barrier عَنْهاfrom it سِوىexcept العَدَمِnonexistence
حاجِزاً عَنْها سِوى العَدَمِ
And glory is my inheritance, and I do not see
Glory is my inheritance, and I see
a barrier to it except nonexistence.
No obstacle to it except annihilation.
كَيفَhow أَرْجُوI hope أَنْto أَفُوزَsucceed بِهاin attaining it
كَيفَ أَرْجُو أَنْ أَفُوزَ بِها
فيin زَمانٍan age ضَاقَhas grown too narrow عَنْfor هِمَمِيmy ambitions
في زَمانٍ ضَاقَ عَنْ هِمَمِي
How can I hope to attain it
How can I hope to attain it
in an age too narrow for my ambitions?
In an age too narrow for my aspirations?
Sol 6.1