ياO طُرَّةَfringe of الشّيحِwormwood بسفْحِat the foot of عاقِلِ'Aqil
يا طُرَّةَ الشّيحِ بسفْحِ عاقِلِ
كيفَhow تُناجيكِwhispers to you صَباthe east wind of الأصائِلِlate afternoons
كيفَ تُناجيكِ صَبا الأصائِلِ
O fringe of wormwood at the foot of 'Aqil,
O dove of the valley near the wise elder,
how does the late-afternoon east wind whisper to you?
How does the morning breeze whisper to you?
لاmay not خَطَرَstrut النَّعامُostriches فيكِin you مَوْهِناًearly in the night
لا خَطَرَ النَّعامُ فيكِ مَوْهِناً
يَريغُseeking تَوشيمَtattoo-like mottling of الخِضابِdye النّاصِلِfading
يَريغُ تَوشيمَ الخِضابِ النّاصِلِ
May no ostrich strut through you in the early night,
The ostriches do not tread on you wearily,
seeking the tattoo-like mottling of fading dye.
Trampling their yellow hennaed legs.
وصافَحَتْكِand may it clasp your hand الرّيحُthe wind حَسْرىweary والثّرىwhile the earth
وصافَحَتْكِ الرّيحُ حَسْرى والثّرى
مُرْتَضِعٌsuckling دَرَّthe milk of الغَمامِthe cloud الهاطِلِpouring rain
مُرْتَضِعٌ دَرَّ الغَمامِ الهاطِلِ
And may the weary wind clasp your hand, while the earth
The wind greeted you in sorrow, and the soil
suckles the milk of the pouring cloud.
Suckled the dripping clouds' downpour.
فرُبَّfor many a أعْرابيّةٍBedouin woman نَشْوىtipsy in الخُطاsteps
فرُبَّ أعْرابيّةٍ نَشْوى الخُطا
تُقْلِقُshe stirs أثناءَthe folds of الوِشاحِthe sash الجائِلِshifting loosely
تُقْلِقُ أثناءَ الوِشاحِ الجائِلِ
For many a Bedouin woman, tipsy in her steps,
Many a Bedouin girl, alluring and slender,
sets the folds of her shifting sash astir.
Disturbs the folds of her billowing cloak,
تَرميshe shoots حَواليكِaround you بأحْداقِwith the eyes of المَهاoryx
تَرمي حَواليكِ بأحْداقِ المَها
إذاwhen ارْتَقَبْنَthey watch for غِرَّةَan unguarded moment of الحَبائِلِthe snares
إذا ارْتَقَبْنَ غِرَّةَ الحَبائِلِ
She shoots glances about you with oryx eyes,
Casting glances around you with the eyes of does
when they watch for the snares' unguarded moment.
When they anticipate the knots of tribulation.
وَيْحَalas for الهَوىlove كيفَhow أصابَstruck لحْظُهاher glance
وَيْحَ الهَوى كيفَ أصابَ لحْظُها
وقدthough already أطاشَsent astray أسْهُميmy arrows مَقاتِليmy vital parts
وقد أطاشَ أسْهُمي مَقاتِلي
Alas for love! How her glance struck
Alas! How has passion afflicted her glance
my vital parts, though it sent my arrows astray.
When my arrows went wild against my fighters?
أماdid not كَفاهاsuffice her القَدُّthe figure وهْوَwhile it is رامِحٌa spearman
أما كَفاها القَدُّ وهْوَ رامِحٌ
ألاso as not to تُرامينيtrade shots with me بطَرْفٍwith a gaze نابِلِarrow-shooting
ألا تُراميني بطَرْفٍ نابِلِ
Was her figure, itself a spearman, not enough for her,
Did her stature not suffice, erect with spears,
so she need not trade shots with me through an archer's gaze?
That she should assail me with a casting glance?
أصْغَتْshe listened إِلىto الواشينَthe talebearers بعْدَafter صَبْوَةٍinfatuation
أصْغَتْ إِلى الواشينَ بعْدَ صَبْوَةٍ
أرُدُّI rebuff فيهاduring it لَغَطَthe clamor of العَواذِلِscolding women
أرُدُّ فيها لَغَطَ العَواذِلِ
She listened to the talebearers after an infatuation
She listened to the slanderers after soberness
in which I rebuffed the scolding women's clamor.
While I refute the prattle of the calumniators.
فلَيْتَهاso, if only she أوْصَتْhad instructed بِناconcerning us خَيالَهاher phantom
فلَيْتَها أوْصَتْ بِنا خَيالَها
غَداةَthe morning أبْدتْshe showed صَفحةَthe face of المُزايلِone departing
غَداةَ أبْدتْ صَفحةَ المُزايلِ
Would that she had charged her phantom to care for us,
If only she had shared with us her imagination
the morning she showed the face of one departing.
The morning after she revealed the page of separation.
تَضحكُshe laughs منْat ذيone possessed of ولَهٍlovesickness يَبكيwho mourns الصِّباyouth
تَضحكُ منْ ذي ولَهٍ يَبكي الصِّبا
شَوْقاًlonging إِلىfor أيّامِهِits days القَلائِلِfew
شَوْقاً إِلى أيّامِهِ القَلائِلِ
She laughs at a lovesick man who weeps for youth,
She laughs at the lovesick one crying over Sibāʾ
longing for its few days.
Yearning for his few days long gone.
أياO أخاkinsman of حَنظَلَةَHanzalah بنِson of مالِكٍMalik
أيا أخا حَنظَلَةَ بنِ مالِكٍ
ناضِلْcontend with عنِon behalf of الفِهْرِيِّal-Fihri أُخْتَthe sister of وائِلِWa'il
ناضِلْ عنِ الفِهْرِيِّ أُخْتَ وائِلِ
O kinsman of Hanzalah ibn Malik,
O brother Ḥanẓala son of Mālik,
fight Wa'il's sister on behalf of al-Fihri.
Struggle for me against the sister of Wāʾil.
فالنَّثْرَةُfor the coat of mail الحَصْداءُtightly linked لمْnot تَسُنَّهاyou slipped it on
فالنَّثْرَةُ الحَصْداءُ لمْ تَسُنَّها
إلاexcept علىover عَبْلِthick الذِّراعِof arm باسِلِvaliant
إلا على عَبْلِ الذِّراعِ باسِلِ
For you never slipped the tightly linked coat of mail
The blonde gazelle was not adorned
over any but a thick-armed, valiant man.
Except on the forearm of the resolute hunter.
والثّأْرُand blood vengeance لاdoes not تَغْفُلُneglect عنهُabout it خِنْدِفٌKhindif
والثّأْرُ لا تَغْفُلُ عنهُ خِنْدِفٌ
فكيْفَso how أغْضَيْتَdid you overlook علىregarding الطّوائِلِblood debts
فكيْفَ أغْضَيْتَ على الطّوائِلِ
And Khindif does not neglect blood vengeance;
Vengeance is not forgotten by one who bears a grudge,
so how have you overlooked the blood debts?
So how could you overlook the long travails?
إنْif لمْnot أرَوِّعْI terrify قَوْمَهاher people بفِتْيَةٍwith young men
إنْ لمْ أرَوِّعْ قَوْمَها بفِتْيَةٍ
يَمْشونَthey stride مَشيَwith the gait of الأُسْدِlions بالمَناصِلِwith swords
يَمْشونَ مَشيَ الأُسْدِ بالمَناصِلِ
If I do not terrify her people with young men
If I do not startle her people with some youths
who stride like lions, swords in hand,
Who walk with the gait of lions brandishing swords,
تَشُلُّهُمْdriving them along بأذْرُعٍwith arms مَفْتولَةٍtwisted
تَشُلُّهُمْ بأذْرُعٍ مَفْتولَةٍ
علىagainst الرِّقابِthe necks فيwithin عُراthe loops of السّلاسِلِchains
على الرِّقابِ في عُرا السّلاسِلِ
driving them along with arms twisted
Paralyzing them with brawny arms
against their necks within the loops of chains,
Collaring necks with chains,
فماthen not انْتَضَتْdrew أفْرىthe keenest-cutting حُسامٍsword للطُّلىfor throats
فما انْتَضَتْ أفْرى حُسامٍ للطُّلى
منْfrom خَيرِthe finest جَفْنٍsheath ضمَّهُthat held it قَوابِليmy midwives
منْ خَيرِ جَفْنٍ ضمَّهُ قَوابِلي
then the keenest throat-cutting sword was never drawn
Then no sword blades were ever unsheathed
by my midwives from the finest sheath that held it.
For battle by the excellent scabbards of my heroes.
وقدand indeed أرابَaroused unease والرّقيبُwhile the watcher هاجِعٌslept
وقد أرابَ والرّقيبُ هاجِعٌ
طُروقُهاher night visit تَرفُلُshe sways فيin الغَلائِلِthin robes
طُروقُها تَرفُلُ في الغَلائِلِ
And, while the watcher slept, unease was stirred
Though the guard was asleep, her procession marched on
by her night visit, as she swayed in thin robes.
With their long trains trailing in the darkness.
مرّتْshe passed بجَرْعاءِthrough the sandy tract of الحِمىthe protected pasture فعَطّرَتْand so perfumed
مرّتْ بجَرْعاءِ الحِمى فعَطّرَتْ
أشباحَthe shapes of أطْلالٍruins بهاthere نَواحِلِgaunt
أشباحَ أطْلالٍ بها نَواحِلِ
She passed through the preserve's sandy tract and scented
They passed by scorched encampments, scenting
the gaunt shapes of the ruins there.
The ruins with perfumes of musk-pod trees.
تَبغيshe seeks كأنْضاءِlike the bare blades of السّيوفِswords فِتْيَةًyoung men
تَبغي كأنْضاءِ السّيوفِ فِتْيَةً
مُوَسَّدينَpillowed on أذْرُعَthe forelegs of الرّواحِلِriding-camels
مُوَسَّدينَ أذْرُعَ الرّواحِلِ
She seeks youths like the bare blades of swords,
They seek youths like the gleam of swords, resting
with riding-camels' forelegs for pillows.
Their arms on well-stuffed saddles.
فأرَّقَتْand so she awakened أسْوانَa grieving man خاطَstitched جَفْنَهُhis eyelid
فأرَّقَتْ أسْوانَ خاطَ جَفْنَهُ
كَرىًslumber هوَwhich is الصّهْباءُtawny wine فيin المَفاصِلِthe joints
كَرىً هوَ الصّهْباءُ في المَفاصِلِ
She awakened a grieving man whose eyelid had been stitched shut
So she deprived the eyelids of sleep, which forms
by slumber that was tawny wine in his joints.
Crescents that gleam white at the joints.
عَدِّturn aside عنِfrom الطّيفِthe phantom فماfor what أتىcame بهِwith it
عَدِّ عنِ الطّيفِ فما أتى بهِ
حُلْمٌa dream جَنَتْهُbrought it forth سَوْرَةُa surge of البَلابِلِanguish
حُلْمٌ جَنَتْهُ سَوْرَةُ البَلابِلِ
Leave the phantom aside: what it brought
Stop imagining this specter which
was a dream begotten by a surge of anguish.
Wisdom cloaked in the robe of confusion.
والشِّعْرُand poetry فيabout غَيرِanyone other than الإمامِthe Imam صادِرٌproceeds
والشِّعْرُ في غَيرِ الإمامِ صادِرٌ
عنْfrom فِكَرٍthoughts تعلّلَتْconsoled themselves بالباطِلِwith falsehood
عنْ فِكَرٍ تعلّلَتْ بالباطِلِ
Poetry about anyone other than the Imam proceeds
Poetry without a noble theme emerges
from thoughts that console themselves with falsehood.
From a mind debilitated by falsehood―
منْfrom مَعْشَرٍa people شُمِّlofty الأنوفِof nose ذادَةٍdefenders
منْ مَعْشَرٍ شُمِّ الأنوفِ ذادَةٍ
بَيضِwhite الوجوهِof face سادَةٍlords أماثِلِeminent
بَيضِ الوجوهِ سادَةٍ أماثِلِ
He comes from a lofty-nosed people, defenders,
From a crowd with arrogant leaders
white of face, eminent lords.
Of white faces, equal in rank.
دلّتْpointed علىto أعراقِهِمْtheir lineage أفعالُهُمْtheir deeds
دلّتْ على أعراقِهِمْ أفعالُهُمْ
والمَكْرُماتُand noble deeds جمّةُabundant in المَخائلِtelling signs
والمَكْرُماتُ جمّةُ المَخائلِ
Their deeds revealed their lineage,
Their deeds point to their lineage
and noble deeds abound in telling signs.
And generous gifts reveal noble dispositions.
فطرّفواso they defended عنِon behalf of العُلاglory بأذْرُعٍwith arms
فطرّفوا عنِ العُلا بأذْرُعٍ
شابَتْmingled أسابيَّstreams of دَمٍblood بِنائِلِwith bounty
شابَتْ أسابيَّ دَمٍ بِنائِلِ
Thus they guarded glory with arms
So turn away from eminence with arms
that mingled streams of blood with bounty.
Whose fingertips are dyed red with blood.
شنّواthey launched علىupon الأعْداءِthe enemies غاراتِهمْtheir raids
شنّوا على الأعْداءِ غاراتِهمْ
تَتْرىin succession كوَلْغِlike the lapping of الأذْؤُبِwolves العَواسِلِloping
تَتْرى كوَلْغِ الأذْؤُبِ العَواسِلِ
They launched their raids upon their foes,
Raid your enemies with continuous assaults
one after another, like the lapping of loping wolves.
That seem like the raids of ferocious jackals.
وكمand how often أناخُواthey made kneel الحَربَwar وهْيَwhile it تَلْتَظيblazed
وكم أناخُوا الحَربَ وهْيَ تَلْتَظي
علىupon مُسِرِّone concealing الضِّغْنِrancor بالكَلاكِلِwith breasts
على مُسِرِّ الضِّغْنِ بالكَلاكِلِ
How often they made war kneel, blazing as it was,
How often they halted war while it boiled
with its heavy breasts upon one who concealed rancor.
With the clashing of weapons at the thick of battle!
وقدand indeed وفَوْاthey fulfilled their pledge إذاwhenever ضمنواthey promised يومَon the day of الوَغىbattle
وقد وفَوْا إذا ضمنوا يومَ الوَغى
رِيَّthe quenching of القَناthe spears للأَسْلfor the lance-points النَّواهلِthirsty
رِيَّ القَنا للأَسْل النَّواهلِ
They kept their pledge whenever, on battle's day, they promised
They fulfilled their vows on the day of turmoil
full draughts for the spears, for the thirsty lance-points.
To make the channels run with the blood of heroes.
فهاشمٌso Hashim خيرُthe best of بَنيthe sons of فِهْرٍFihr وهُمْand they
فهاشمٌ خيرُ بَني فِهْرٍ وهُمْ
خَيْرُthe best of الوَرىhumankind وأشْرَفُand the noblest of القَبائِلِthe tribes
خَيْرُ الوَرى وأشْرَفُ القَبائِلِ
Hashim is the best of Fihr's sons, and they
For Hāshim is the best of the clan of Fihr
are the best of humankind and the noblest of tribes.
And they are the best of mankind and noblest of tribes.
لِلّهِGod be praised for بَيْتٌa house شَدَّstrengthened مِنْof أطْنابِهِits tent-ropes
لِلّهِ بَيْتٌ شَدَّ مِنْ أطْنابِهِ
رَكْزُthe planting of القَناspears فيin ثُغَرِthe gaps of القَنابِلِwarbands
رَكْزُ القَنا في ثُغَرِ القَنابِلِ
God be praised for a house whose tent-ropes were braced
Allah has a House whose pillars
by planting spears in the gaps of warbands.
Anchor the poles of warfare at the throats of passes.
عَبدُ'Abd مَنافٍManaf ضُرِبَتْwere driven أوْتادُهُits stakes
عَبدُ مَنافٍ ضُرِبَتْ أوْتادُهُ
علىinto طُلىthe throats of الأعْداءِthe enemies والكَواهِلِand shoulders
على طُلى الأعْداءِ والكَواهِلِ
'Abd Manaf—its stakes were driven
The peg of Manāf was driven in
into the enemies' throats and shoulders.
Upon the shoulders and clavicles of enemies.
هلْwill يَخفِضُlower السّادِرُthe reckless man منْof هَديرِهِhis bellowing
هلْ يَخفِضُ السّادِرُ منْ هَديرِهِ
فالمَجْدُfor glory لاdoes not يَعْبَقُcling as fragrance بالأراذِلِto the vile
فالمَجْدُ لا يَعْبَقُ بالأراذِلِ
Will the reckless man lower his bellow?
Can the flow of superiority decrease its roar?
For glory's scent does not cling to the vile.
Glory does not reek with rottenness.
كمْhow often يُلْقِحُhe fertilizes الآمالَhopes وهْيَwhile they تَرْعَويturn back
كمْ يُلْقِحُ الآمالَ وهْيَ تَرْعَوي
إليهِto him فيin أعقابِthe aftermath of جَدٍّfortune حائِلِbarren
إليهِ في أعقابِ جَدٍّ حائِلِ
How often he fertilizes hopes as they turn back
How he sets hopes grazing toward him
to him in the wake of barren fortune!
In the footsteps of an obstructing ancestor!
يُمْسيhe spends the evening إذاwhen الليلُthe night ارْجَحَنَّgrew heavy ظِلُّهُits shadow
يُمْسي إذا الليلُ ارْجَحَنَّ ظِلُّهُ
فيin شُغُلٍpreoccupation عنِfrom الرُّقادِsleep شاغِلِdistracting
في شُغُلٍ عنِ الرُّقادِ شاغِلِ
He passes the evening, when night's shadow grows heavy,
He remains sleepless as night drapes its shadow,
engrossed in concerns that keep him from sleep.
Preoccupied with wakefulness instead of rest.
وإنْand when أضاءَshines الصُّبْحُdawn زَرَّcloses tight صَدْرُهُhis breast
وإنْ أضاءَ الصُّبْحُ زَرَّ صَدْرُهُ
علىover الجَوىburning grief مُرْتَعِدَtrembling in الخَصائِلِthe muscles
على الجَوى مُرْتَعِدَ الخَصائِلِ
And when dawn shines, his breast closes tight
If dawn illuminates, it flutters his breast
over burning grief, his muscles trembling.
With shuddering determination and zeal.
سيَخْطِرُwill strut الآبيthe defiant man علىagainst شَكيمِهِhis bridle-bit
سيَخْطِرُ الآبي على شَكيمِهِ
منْfrom زُبَرِblocks of الحَديدِiron فيin الخَلاخِلِanklets
منْ زُبَرِ الحَديدِ في الخَلاخِلِ
The man who balks at his bit will yet strut
The valiant man will be struck on his intellect
in anklets fashioned from blocks of iron.
By sparks from the steel links in his armor.
ودونَand before ماwhat يُعْليhe raises إليهِtoward it طَرْفَهُhis gaze
ودونَ ما يُعْلي إليهِ طَرْفَهُ
عَيْطاءُa towering height تُدميbloodies قَدَمَthe foot of المُساجِلِthe rival
عَيْطاءُ تُدمي قَدَمَ المُساجِلِ
Between him and what he raises his gaze toward
Beneath what draws his gaze upward
stands a lofty height that bloodies a rival's foot.
Is a battlefield that dyes the feet of wrestlers.
ياO خَيْرَbest of مَنْthose who تَفترُّsmile open كلَّeach شارِقٍsunrise
يا خَيْرَ مَنْ تَفترُّ كلَّ شارِقٍ
عَنْrevealing ذِكْرِهِhis remembrance ضَمائِرُthe hearts of المَحافِلِassemblies
عَنْ ذِكْرِهِ ضَمائِرُ المَحافِلِ
O best of those whose remembrance, at each sunrise,
O best of all those whose mention
the hearts of assemblies disclose with a smile!
Thrills the consciences of every assembly!
جاءَكَhas come to you شَهْرُthe month of اللهِGod طَلْقَradiant in المُجْتَلىappearance
جاءَكَ شَهْرُ اللهِ طَلْقَ المُجْتَلى
مُبارَكَblessed in الأيّامِdays واللّيائِلِand nights
مُبارَكَ الأيّامِ واللّيائِلِ
God's month has come to you, radiant to behold,
The month of Allah has come to you benign,
blessed in its days and nights.
Blessed in its days and nights.
يُهْديit offers لكَto you الأجْرَreward وتَقْريهِand you host it with الندىًgenerosity
يُهْدي لكَ الأجْرَ وتَقْريهِ الندىً
مِنْfrom نِعَمٍblessings مُتْرَعَةِbrimming in المَناهِلِwatering-places
مِنْ نِعَمٍ مُتْرَعَةِ المَناهِلِ
It brings you reward, and you host it with generosity,
It brings you reward while the dew nourishes you
from blessings whose watering-places brim.
With abundant blessings from fountains.
فلْيَرْعَso let it graze حَوْذانَthe buttercups of الغُمَيْرِal-Ghumayr هَجْمَةٌa camel-herd
فلْيَرْعَ حَوْذانَ الغُمَيْرِ هَجْمَةٌ
لِعامِرٍbelonging to 'Amir طائِرَةُflying النّسائِلِhair-tufts
لِعامِرٍ طائِرَةُ النّسائِلِ
Let a camel-herd graze on al-Ghumayr's buttercups,
So let a flood pounce on the watering places of wild cows―
belonging to 'Amir, its hair-tufts flying.
Good fortune takes wing through the lineages.
فَليfor I have بأكْنافِin the environs of العِراقِIraq مَسْرَحٌa grazing ground
فَلي بأكْنافِ العِراقِ مَسْرَحٌ
رَحْبُspacious in المندىًpasturage أرِجُfragrant in الخَمائِلِthickets
رَحْبُ المندىً أرِجُ الخَمائِلِ
For I have a grazing ground in Iraq's environs,
I have in the regions of Iraq an arena
with spacious pasture and fragrant thickets,
Vast, beloved, and most fertile.
ومِنْحَةٌand a grant ضافيَةٌample أرْميI cast بِهاwith it
ومِنْحَةٌ ضافيَةٌ أرْمي بِها
طَرْفِيَmy gaze فيin إثْرِthe wake of الغَمامِthe cloud الوابِلِpouring rain
طَرْفِيَ في إثْرِ الغَمامِ الوابِلِ
and an ample grant with which I cast
I have a gift of hospitality with which I cast
my gaze in the wake of the downpouring cloud.
My gaze in the wake of pouring clouds.
وأستَدِرُّand I draw forth صَوْبَهاits rainfall بمِدْحَةٍwith a praise-poem
وأستَدِرُّ صَوْبَها بمِدْحَةٍ
تَغْرَىare glued لَهاbecause of it الأسْنانُteeth بالأنامِلِto fingertips
تَغْرَى لَها الأسْنانُ بالأنامِلِ
And I draw forth its rainfall with a praise-poem
I turn toward it with praise
that makes teeth cling to fingertips.
That makes teeth shine through fingers.
غَرّاءُradiant لوif ذابَتْit melted لَصاغَتِwould fashion الدُّمىthe statues
غَرّاءُ لو ذابَتْ لَصاغَتِ الدُّمى
منهاfrom it حُلىornaments for أجْبادِهاtheir necks (likely أجيادها) العَواطِلِunadorned
منها حُلى أجْبادِها العَواطِلِ
Radiant: if it melted, the statues would fashion
Radiant one―if she melted she would mold
from it ornaments for their unadorned necks.
Idols from her flowing tresses.
ولَوْand if رَضِيتُI consented حَبَّرَتْwould embellish رُواتُهاits reciters
ولَوْ رَضِيتُ حَبَّرَتْ رُواتُها
بِهاwith it كَلامَthe speech of العَرَبِthe Arabs الأوائِلِof old
بِها كَلامَ العَرَبِ الأوائِلِ
And, were I willing, its reciters would embellish
If I were satisfied, her transmission would adorn
with it the speech of the Arabs of old.
The speech of early Arabs with it.
Sol 6.1