عَرَضَتْshe appeared كَخُوطِlike a shoot of البانَةِthe moringa tree الأُمْلودِsupple
عَرَضَتْ كَخُوطِ البانَةِ الأُمْلودِ
تَختالُwalks proudly بينَamid مَجاسِدٍdyed robes وعُقودِand necklaces
تَختالُ بينَ مَجاسِدٍ وعُقودِ
She appeared like a supple shoot of the moringa tree,
Like the threads of an embroiderer's loom
swaying proudly amid dyed robes and necklaces.
You saunter between carpets and cushions
هيفاءُslender-waisted ليّنَةُsupple التّثَنّيin swaying أقْبَلَتْshe approached
هيفاءُ ليّنَةُ التّثَنّي أقْبَلَتْ
فيamong خُرَّدٍshy maidens كَمَهاlike the oryx of الصّرائِمِthe sand tracts غِيدِgraceful
في خُرَّدٍ كَمَها الصّرائِمِ غِيدِ
Slender-waisted, supple in her swaying, she approached
Graceful, supple in your swaying gait
among shy, graceful maidens, like oryx of the sand tracts.
In a gown whose trains the buckles restrain
ومَرَرْنَand they passed بالواديthrough the valley علىalong عَذَبِthe fringes of الحِمىthe protected pasture
ومَرَرْنَ بالوادي على عَذَبِ الحِمى
فحَكَيْنَso they imitated هِزّةَthe swaying of بانِهِits moringa trees بِقُدودِwith figures
فحَكَيْنَ هِزّةَ بانِهِ بِقُدودِ
And they passed through the valley along the preserve's fringes,
And we passed by the valley's soft sands
so with their figures they echoed the sway of its moringa trees.
Where they told of the swaying of slender date palms
وحَكىand imitated الشقيقُthe anemone بهِin it اسْوِدادَthe blackness of قُلوبِهاtheir hearts
وحَكى الشقيقُ بهِ اسْوِدادَ قُلوبِها
وأُعيرَand was lent منهُنّfrom them احْمِرارَthe redness of خُدودِcheeks
وأُعيرَ منهُنّ احْمِرارَ خُدودِ
There the anemone echoed the blackness of their hearts,
And the anemones told of the darkening of their hearts
and was lent the redness of their cheeks.
And their blushing cheeks borrowed redness
وكأنّand as though أعيُنَهُنَّtheir eyes منْfrom وَجَناتِهاtheir cheeks
وكأنّ أعيُنَهُنَّ منْ وَجَناتِها
شَرِبَتْdrank علىin a state of ثَمَلٍintoxication دَمَthe blood of العُنْقودِthe grape cluster
شَرِبَتْ على ثَمَلٍ دَمَ العُنْقودِ
It was as though their eyes, from their cheeks,
As though their eyes from their lids
had drunk, already tipsy, the blood of the grape cluster.
Had drunk the red juice of grapes on a vine
فَطَرَقْنَنيthen they visited me by night والليْلُwhile the night رقَّgrew thin أديمُهُits skin
فَطَرَقْنَني والليْلُ رقَّ أديمُهُ
والنّجْمُand the star كادَnearly يهُمُّwas poised بالتَّعْريدِfor flight
والنّجْمُ كادَ يهُمُّ بالتَّعْريدِ
Then they came to me by night, when night's skin grew thin,
So they passed me when night's veil was frail
and the star was almost poised to flee.
And stars began to peer out to twinkle and glitter
ووَجَدْتُand I felt بَرْدَthe coolness of حُلِيّهِنّtheir jewelry وهَزَّand shook منْfrom
ووَجَدْتُ بَرْدَ حُلِيّهِنّ وهَزَّ منْ
عِطفَيْهِhis two flanks ذوthe bearer of الرّعَثاتِthe wattles للتّغْريدِto crow
عِطفَيْهِ ذو الرّعَثاتِ للتّغْريدِ
I felt their jewels' coolness; and, with a shake of
I felt the cool touch of their jewelry and the breeze
his two flanks, the wattled cock made to crow.
Shaking unkempt locks played notes lyrical
فانْجابَthen dispersed منْbecause of أنوارِهِنَّtheir radiance ظَلامُهُits darkness
فانْجابَ منْ أنوارِهِنَّ ظَلامُهُ
وأظَلَّهُنّand shaded them دُجىthe darkness of ذَوائِبَtresses سُودِblack
وأظَلَّهُنّ دُجى ذَوائِبَ سُودِ
Then its darkness parted before their radiance,
So their light pierced its darkness and they
and the gloom of black tresses shaded them.
Were shaded by the gloom of trailing black trains
وأناand I بحَيثُwhere القُرْطُthe earring منfrom أجْيادِهاtheir necks
وأنا بحَيثُ القُرْطُ من أجْيادِها
يَنْأىis distant ويَقْرُبَand draws near مِحْمَليmy sword-strap مِنْto جِيديmy neck
يَنْأى ويَقْرُبَ مِحْمَلي مِنْ جِيدي
And I was where the earring, from their necks,
While I where the distance rings from their steeds
hung far, while my sword-strap lay close to my neck.
Fell far and drew near the load on my chest
كَرُمَتْwere honorable مَضاجِعُناour beds فلِيثَso were wrapped علىaround التُّقىpiety
كَرُمَتْ مَضاجِعُنا فلِيثَ على التُّقى
أُزْريmy waistcloths وَجيبَand were cut open عنِto reveal العَفافِchastity بُروديmy cloaks
أُزْري وَجيبَ عنِ العَفافِ بُرودي
Our beds were honorable; around piety were wrapped
Our beds honor guests with utmost decorum
my waistcloths, and my cloaks were cut to reveal chastity.
My cheek covers my abstinence with its flush
أزْمانَin days when يَنْفُضُtosses لِمّتيmy locks مَرَحُthe exuberance of الصِّباyouth
أزْمانَ يَنْفُضُ لِمّتي مَرَحُ الصِّبا
وهوَand it الشّفيعُthe intercessor إِلىwith الكَعابِthe budding-breasted maiden الرّودِthe tender one
وهوَ الشّفيعُ إِلى الكَعابِ الرّودِ
In days when youth's exuberance tossed my locks,
My youth fades but my whim is its advocate
it was my intercessor with the tender, budding-breasted maiden.
To the stern judge, appealing for clemency
ومَشارِبيand my drinking places زُرْقُblue الجِمامِthe gathered waters فلَمْso did not يَنَلْafflict
ومَشارِبي زُرْقُ الجِمامِ فلَمْ يَنَلْ
منّيfrom me الأُوامُburning thirst بمَنهَلٍat a watering place مَورودِfrequented
منّي الأُوامُ بمَنهَلٍ مَورودِ
My drinking places were blue with pooled water; never did
My drink is the blueness of clouds, so no days
burning thirst afflict me at a frequented watering place.
Could water their herds at my runnels
فارْفَضَّthen scattered شَملُthe gathering of الأُنْسِfellowship إذwhen جمَعَbrought together البِلىdecay
فارْفَضَّ شَملُ الأُنْسِ إذ جمَعَ البِلى
بِزَرودَat Zarud بينَbetween مَعاهِدٍold haunts وعُهودِand pledges
بِزَرودَ بينَ مَعاهِدٍ وعُهودِ
Then fellowship's gathering scattered, when decay united
So the one who destroys severed the tie of fellowship
at Zarud the old haunts and pledges.
Binding covenants and pacts with decay
وتَقاسَمَتْنيand divided me among themselves بعْدَهُafter it عُقَبُsuccessive stages of النّوىseparation
وتَقاسَمَتْني بعْدَهُ عُقَبُ النّوى
حتىuntil لَفَفْتُI wove together تَهائِماًlowlands بنُجودِwith highlands
حتى لَفَفْتُ تَهائِماً بنُجودِ
Afterward, successive spells of separation took turns with me,
Then after fortunes divided me, their turns
until I wove lowlands together with highlands.
Left me wandering, bereft of resolve or goal
وفَلَيْتُand I combed ناصِيَةَthe forelock of الفَلاthe wilderness بمَناسِمٍwith camel-foot pads
وفَلَيْتُ ناصِيَةَ الفَلا بمَناسِمٍ
وَسَمَbranded المَطِيُّthe riding camels بِهاwith them جِباهَthe brows of البيدِthe deserts
وَسَمَ المَطِيُّ بِها جِباهَ البيدِ
I combed the wilderness's forelock with camel-foot pads,
Would that the horse had perished in a land
with which the mounts branded the deserts' brows.
Where no rider's path crossed the barren waste
فسَقىso may it water الغَمامُthe rain clouds ولسْتُand I am not أقنَعُcontent بالحَياwith rain
فسَقى الغَمامُ ولسْتُ أقنَعُ بالحَيا
أيّامَناour days بينَbetween اللِّوىal-Liwa فَزَرودِand Zarud
أيّامَنا بينَ اللِّوى فَزَرودِ
So may clouds water—and rain does not content me—
Clouds gave rain but I find no life in the world
our days between al-Liwa and Zarud.
Between mere recreation, like orient pearls
بلْrather جادَهاmay he drench them ابنُthe son of العامِريِّal-Amiri براحَةٍwith a palm
بلْ جادَها ابنُ العامِريِّ براحَةٍ
وَطْفاءَdense as a rain cloud صِيغَwere fashioned بَنانُهاits fingers منْfrom جُودِgenerosity
وَطْفاءَ صِيغَ بَنانُها منْ جُودِ
Rather, may Ibn al-Amiri drench them with a palm
Rather the son of Amer bestowed it freely
dense as a rain cloud, its fingers fashioned from generosity.
Quenching the molded stars of its sphere in his munificence
مُتَوقِّدُblazing العَزَماتِresolves لوif رُمِيَتْwere pelted بِهاwith them
مُتَوقِّدُ العَزَماتِ لو رُمِيَتْ بِها
زُهْرُthe bright ones of النُّجومِthe stars لآذَنَتْwould surely announce بخُمودِof extinction
زُهْرُ النُّجومِ لآذَنَتْ بخُمودِ
His resolves blaze: were they hurled at
Kindling strong resolves which if thrown could
the bright stars, these would herald their own extinction.
Extinguish celestial bodies, reducing them to embers
ومُواصِلٍand sustaining أرَقاًsleeplessness علىin طَلَبِpursuit of العُلاlofty honors
ومُواصِلٍ أرَقاً على طَلَبِ العُلا
فيamong مَعْشَرٍa company عنregarding نَيْلِهِنَّattaining them رُقودِasleep
في مَعْشَرٍ عن نَيْلِهِنَّ رُقودِ
He keeps sleepless vigil in pursuit of lofty honors,
Seeking exaltation sleeplessly among a tribe
among a company asleep to attaining them.
Slumbering heedless of attaining any height
ذوpossessor of ساحَةٍa courtyard فَيحاءَspacious مَعروفٍknown بِهاtherein
ذو ساحَةٍ فَيحاءَ مَعروفٍ بِها
وَزَرُa refuge for اللّهيفِthe distressed وعُصْرَةُand relief for المَنْجودِthe afflicted
وَزَرُ اللّهيفِ وعُصْرَةُ المَنْجودِ
He owns a spacious courtyard; there he is known as
With a plain none dare accuse and the repute
the distressed man's refuge and the afflicted man's relief.
Of selflessness, and a crop self-sown
مَلْثومَةُkissed العَرَصاتِthe open courts فيwithin أرْجائِهاits bounds
مَلْثومَةُ العَرَصاتِ في أرْجائِها
مَثْوىa lodging for جُنودٍtroops أوor مُناخُan encampment for وفودِdelegations
مَثْوى جُنودٍ أو مُناخُ وفودِ
Its open courts are kissed; within its bounds
Whose fertile crescents are dwelling places for regiments
are soldiers' quarters or delegations' encampments.
Or halting places for caravans on the move
لمّاwhen تَوشَّحَتِdraped themselves البِلادُthe lands بفِتْنَةٍin strife
لمّا تَوشَّحَتِ البِلادُ بفِتْنَةٍ
ماnot إنْat all (emphatic) تَصيدُhunts سوىexcept نُفوسِthe souls of الصِّيدِlordly men
ما إنْ تَصيدُ سوى نُفوسِ الصِّيدِ
When the lands draped themselves in a strife
When dissension wrapped the lands in its gown
that hunted none but the souls of lordly men,
It harvested nothing but the souls of the preyed upon
وتَشُبُّand blazes شَعْثاءَdisheveled الفُروعِthe branches وتَمْتَريand milks
وتَشُبُّ شَعْثاءَ الفُروعِ وتَمْتَري
أخْلافَthe teats of حَرْبٍwar للمَنونِfor Death وَلودِprolific in offspring
أخْلافَ حَرْبٍ للمَنونِ وَلودِ
blazing with disheveled branches, and milking
Igniting discords, feeding on fruits of war
the teats of war, prolific in offspring for Death,
Begetting strife and nursing anger and feud
أوْهىweakened مَعاقِدَهاits knots وأطْفأَand extinguished نارَهاits fire
أوْهى مَعاقِدَها وأطْفأَ نارَها
قبلَbefore انْتِشارِthe spread of لَظىًflame وبعْدَand after وَقودِkindling
قبلَ انْتِشارِ لَظىً وبعْدَ وَقودِ
he weakened its knots and put out its fire
Subduing its bonds and quenching its flames
before its blaze spread, though it had been kindled,
Before fury's inferno and after the fuel is burned
بالجُرْدِwith sleek steeds تَمتاحُdrawing up العَجاجَthe dust وغِلْمةٍand youths
بالجُرْدِ تَمتاحُ العَجاجَ وغِلْمةٍ
فيin الغابِthe forest منْof أسَلِthe points of القَناthe lances كأُسودِlike lions
في الغابِ منْ أسَلِ القَنا كأُسودِ
with sleek steeds drawing up dust, and youths
With the naked blade the deadly strokes are struck
like lions in a forest of lance points.
Like lions amid canes in the bosky wood
مِنْfrom among كُلِّevery وطّاءٍgreat trampler علىupon قِمَمِthe crowns of العِداthe enemies
مِنْ كُلِّ وطّاءٍ على قِمَمِ العِدا
بحَوافِرٍwith hooves خُلِقَتْcreated منَfrom الجُلْمودِhard rock
بحَوافِرٍ خُلِقَتْ منَ الجُلْمودِ
Each a trampler upon the enemies' crowns,
On the hilltops of enmity, on hooves created
with hooves created from hard rock,
From stubborn rock and frozen into solidity
وصَوارِمٍand keen swords عُرِّينَwere stripped منْfrom أغْمادِهاtheir sheaths
وصَوارِمٍ عُرِّينَ منْ أغْمادِها
حتىuntil ارْتَدَيْنَthey clothed themselves منَof الطُّلىthroats بغُمودِin sheaths
حتى ارْتَدَيْنَ منَ الطُّلى بغُمودِ
and keen swords were stripped of their sheaths
With sharp swords drawn from their sheaths
until they clothed themselves in sheaths of throats.
As though clad in coats of mail and armor
ولَوِand if انْتَضىhe unsheathed أقلامَهُhis pens السّودَthe black احْتَمىwould seek shelter
ولَوِ انْتَضى أقلامَهُ السّودَ احْتَمى
بِيضُthe bright الصِّفاحِsword blades بِهاin them منَfrom التّجْريدِbeing unsheathed
بِيضُ الصِّفاحِ بِها منَ التّجْريدِ
Were he to unsheathe his black pens, shelter would be sought
Had he let loose his dark plumed arrows
in them by shining sword blades against being drawn.
The white pages would have sought refuge from being torn
والسُّمْرُand the brown spears منْfor حَذَرِfear of التّحَطُّمِshattering فيin الوَغىbattle
والسُّمْرُ منْ حَذَرِ التّحَطُّمِ في الوَغى
تُبديdisplay اهْتِزازَthe trembling of مُنَضْنِضٍa tongue-flicking snake مَطْرودِdriven off
تُبدي اهْتِزازَ مُنَضْنِضٍ مَطْرودِ
And the brown spears, for fear of shattering in battle,
While the red spears from fear of being shattered in fray
show the quivering of a tongue-flicking snake driven off.
Show a tremor, ejected and cast out
فكأنّهُنّso as though they أُعِرْنَwere lent منْby أعدائِهhis enemies
فكأنّهُنّ أُعِرْنَ منْ أعدائِه
يومَon the day of اللّقاءِthe encounter تَلَوّيَthe writhing of المزْؤودِthe terror-stricken
يومَ اللّقاءِ تَلَوّيَ المزْؤودِ
So it was as though they had been lent, by his enemies,
As if unveiled before enemies on the day
on the day of encounter, the writhing of the terror-stricken.
Destinies cross and death foretold arrives
وهمُand they إذاwhen ماever (emphatic) الرّوعُterror قلّصَwithdrew ظلَّهُits shadow
وهمُ إذا ما الرّوعُ قلّصَ ظلَّهُ
عنْfrom كُلِّevery مُسْتَلَبِdeprived of الحُشاشَةِthe last breath مُودِperishing
عنْ كُلِّ مُسْتَلَبِ الحُشاشَةِ مُودِ
They, when terror has withdrawn its shadow
But when fears shrink their shadow from each
from every dying man stripped of his last breath,
Craven heart given to panic and dread
مِنْamong سائِلٍa seeker of صَفَداًa gift يُؤَمِّلُhoping for سَيْبَهُhis bounty
مِنْ سائِلٍ صَفَداً يُؤَمِّلُ سَيْبَهُ
ومُكَبَّلٍand a fettered captive فيin قِدِّهِhis rawhide bond مَصْفودِshackled
ومُكَبَّلٍ في قِدِّهِ مَصْفودِ
include gift-seekers hoping for his bounty,
Whether prisoner hoping for leniency, fettered at waist
and captives shackled in his rawhide bonds.
Or both from awe or greed, ferocity and generosity
وكِلاهُماand both of them منfrom رَهْبَةٍfear أوor رَغْبَةٍdesire
وكِلاهُما من رَهْبَةٍ أو رَغْبَةٍ
بَأساًthrough might وجُوداًand generosity مُوثَقٌbound بقُيودِwith fetters
بَأساً وجُوداً مُوثَقٌ بقُيودِ
Both, whether from fear or desire,
Manacled in shackles and bound fast
are bound in fetters by his might and generosity.
How often have I told the cunning in their affairs
كمْhow often قُلْتُI said للمُتَمَرّسينَto those vying بشأْوِهِwith his reach
كمْ قُلْتُ للمُتَمَرّسينَ بشأْوِهِ
أرْميهِمُI strike them بقَوارِعِwith crushing blows of التّفْنيدِrebuke
أرْميهِمُ بقَوارِعِ التّفْنيدِ
How often I told those vying to match his reach,
To hurl at them the calamities of refutation
hurling at them crushing rebukes:
Loyalty is betrayed so their hearts hold no water
غاضَebbed away الوفاءُloyalty فليسَso there is not فيon صَفَحاتِهِمْtheir faces
غاضَ الوفاءُ فليسَ في صَفَحاتِهِمْ
ماءٌwater وفيand in الأحشاءِthe innermost parts نارُa fire of حُقودِgrudges
ماءٌ وفي الأحشاءِ نارُ حُقودِ
Loyalty has ebbed; upon their faces there is
But inside, fires of hatred smolder and burn
no water, and within their breasts a fire of rancor.
Whether present at events or absent they are the same
وحُضورُهمْand their presence فيin حادِثٍa calamity كمَغيبِهمْlike their absence
وحُضورُهمْ في حادِثٍ كمَغيبِهمْ
وقِيامُهُمْand their rising لمُلِمّةٍto meet a crisis كقُعودِlike sitting
وقِيامُهُمْ لمُلِمّةٍ كقُعودِ
Their presence in calamity is like their absence,
Sitting for grievances as though in prayer bowed
and their rising to a crisis is like remaining seated.
They built no lofty glory or gained any lasting
لمdid not يَبْتَنواthey build المَجْدَglory الطّريفَnewly won ولاnor اقْتَنَواthey acquired
لم يَبْتَنوا المَجْدَ الطّريفَ ولا اقْتَنَوا
مِنهُof it التّليدَthe inherited kind بأنْفُسٍthrough themselves وجُدودِand forefathers
مِنهُ التّليدَ بأنْفُسٍ وجُدودِ
They have neither built new glory nor acquired
Renown with themselves or their forebears' devotion
its ancestral kind, through themselves and their forefathers.
Seek it not for the worst that can befall a man
لاdo not تَطْلُبوهُseek it فشَرُّfor the worst of ماwhat لَقيَencountered امْرُؤٌa man
لا تَطْلُبوهُ فشَرُّ ما لَقيَ امْرُؤٌ
فيin السَّعْيstriving خَيْبَةُthe disappointment of طالِبٍa seeker مَكْدودِexhausted
في السَّعْي خَيْبَةُ طالِبٍ مَكْدودِ
Do not seek it: the worst thing a man meets
Is seeking disappointment for petitioner rejected
in striving is the disappointment of an exhausted seeker.
O Ali, yours are deeds compared to which
لكَfor you ياO عَليُّAli مآثِرٌnoble deeds فيfor مِثلِهاtheir like
لكَ يا عَليُّ مآثِرٌ في مِثلِها
حُسِدَwas envied الفتىthe young man والفَضْلُand merit للمحسودِbelongs to the envied
حُسِدَ الفتى والفَضْلُ للمحسودِ
You, O Ali, have noble deeds such as those
A man is envied and excellence claimed by the envious
for which a young man is envied; merit belongs to the envied.
Your attributes that malice did not obscure
وَضَحَتْbecame clear مَناقِبُكَyour virtues التيwhich لمْdid not يُخْفِهاhide them
وَضَحَتْ مَناقِبُكَ التي لمْ يُخْفِها
حَسَدٌenvy يُلثِّمُهُveils it العِداthe enemies بجُحودِwith denial
حَسَدٌ يُلثِّمُهُ العِدا بجُحودِ
Your virtues stand clear; they have not been hidden by
Are evident despite the enemies' disavowal
envy that your enemies veil with denial.
While other men went astray, all glory is yours
والناسُand people غَيْرَكَother than you والعُلاand lofty honor لكَis yours كُلُّهاall of it
والناسُ غَيْرَكَ والعُلا لكَ كُلُّها
ضَلّواthey missed مَعالِمَthe landmarks of نَهْجهاits path المَسْدودِthe barred one
ضَلّوا مَعالِمَ نَهْجها المَسْدودِ
People other than you—lofty honor is all yours—
Losing the markers on its blocked, dead-end path
have missed the landmarks of its barred path.
So turn your face to the auspicious New Year
فاسْتَقْبِلِso welcome النّيروزَNowruz طَلْقَbright المُجْتَلىof aspect
فاسْتَقْبِلِ النّيروزَ طَلْقَ المُجْتَلى
والدّهْرَand time عَذْبَsweet الوِرْدِthe watering نَضْرَfresh العُودِthe bough
والدّهْرَ عَذْبَ الوِرْدِ نَضْرَ العُودِ
So welcome Nowruz, bright of aspect,
And time, fragrant as blossoms, soft as lute's wood
and time, sweet to drink from, fresh of branch,
In a state lowering its banners over a glory
فيin دَولَةٍa reign تُرْخيlets fall ذَوائِبهاits tresses علىupon
في دَولَةٍ تُرْخي ذَوائِبها على
عِزٍّmight يُلاذُrefuge is sought بظِلِّهِbeneath its shade المَمْدودِoutspread
عِزٍّ يُلاذُ بظِلِّهِ المَمْدودِ
in a reign that lets its tresses fall upon
Sheltered in its shade, ever-extending
might beneath whose outspread shade refuge is sought.
Partial English translation: 85 of 86 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1