إذاwhen اسْتَلَبَsnatches النّومُsleep العِنانَthe reins منَfrom اليَدِthe hand
إذا اسْتَلَبَ النّومُ العِنانَ منَ اليَدِ
عَلِقْتُI clung بأعْطافِto the flanks of الخَيالِthe phantom المُسَهَّدِsleepless
عَلِقْتُ بأعْطافِ الخَيالِ المُسَهَّدِ
When sleep snatches the reins from the hand,
When sleep takes the reins from my hand,
I cling to the flanks of the sleepless phantom.
I cling to the folds of my fanciful dreams.
وماليand what have I وللزَّوْرِand with the visitor الهِلاليِّHilali (of Hilal) مَوْهِناًin the dead of night
ومالي وللزَّوْرِ الهِلاليِّ مَوْهِناً
بنَهْجٍalong a road طَوَيْناwe folded غَوْلَهُits vast extent طَيَّlike folding مِجْسَدِa garment
بنَهْجٍ طَوَيْنا غَوْلَهُ طَيَّ مِجْسَدِ
And what have I to do with the Hilali visitor in the dead of night,
I care not for the crescent moon or the full moon,
along a road whose vast extent we folded like a garment?
As we take a path that twists their light.
بحَيْثُwhere صَهيلُthe neighing of الأعْوَجيِّthe Aʿwaji steed يَروعُهُstartles him
بحَيْثُ صَهيلُ الأعْوَجيِّ يَروعُهُ
ويُنْكِرُand finds strange سَجْرَthe drawn-out moan of الأرْحَبيِّthe Arhabi camel المُقَيَّدِtethered
ويُنْكِرُ سَجْرَ الأرْحَبيِّ المُقَيَّدِ
Where the neigh of an Aʿwaji steed startles him,
The neighing of the cross-eyed horse startles it,
and he finds strange the tethered Arhabi camel's drawn-out moan.
And the howling of the wide desert confuses it.
لكَfor you اللهُGod منْwhat a ماضٍone pressing onward علىthrough الهَوْلِterror والعِداand the enemies
لكَ اللهُ منْ ماضٍ على الهَوْلِ والعِدا
يهُزّونَthey shake أطرافَthe tips of الوَشيجِthe spear-shafts المُسَدَّدِleveled
يهُزّونَ أطرافَ الوَشيجِ المُسَدَّدِ
God be with you, pressing through terror while enemies
May God protect you from past perils and future foes,
shake the tips of leveled spear-shafts.
Who pluck at the edges of the impregnable fortress.
يُراقِبُhe watches أسرابَthe flocks of النّجومِthe stars بمُقْلَةٍwith an eye
يُراقِبُ أسرابَ النّجومِ بمُقْلَةٍ
تُقَسِّمُdivides لحْظاًa glance بينَbetween نَسْرٍNasr (a star) وفَرْقَدِand Farqad (a star)
تُقَسِّمُ لحْظاً بينَ نَسْرٍ وفَرْقَدِ
He watches the flocks of stars with an eye
With half-closed eyes, it watches the flocks of stars
that divides its gaze between Nasr and Farqad.
That divide time between eagle and pleiades.
تَراءَتْappeared لهُto him فيin مُنْحَنىa bend of الرّمْلِthe sand جَذْوَةٌa glowing brand
تَراءَتْ لهُ في مُنْحَنى الرّمْلِ جَذْوَةٌ
تَمايَلُsways سَكْرىdrunken بينbetween صالٍone warming himself ومُوقِدِand one kindling fire
تَمايَلُ سَكْرى بين صالٍ ومُوقِدِ
A glowing brand appeared to him in a bend of the sands,
It saw in the curve of the sand a spark
swaying drunkenly between one warming himself and one kindling the fire.
Reeling drunk between the campfire and brazier.
وكمand how many دُونَهاbefore her منْof أتْلَعِlong and erect الجِيدِin the neck شادِنٍa young gazelle
وكم دُونَها منْ أتْلَعِ الجِيدِ شادِنٍ
مُهفْهَفِslender مُسْتَنِّthe course of الوِشاحَيْنِthe two sashes أغْيَدِgracefully supple
مُهفْهَفِ مُسْتَنِّ الوِشاحَيْنِ أغْيَدِ
And how many a long-necked young gazelle stands before her,
And how many smooth-cheeked beauties below it
slender where his twin sashes lie, gracefully supple.
With curled tresses and double cloak fluttering.
إذاwhen الليلُnight أدْنىbrings near منْto يَدَيَّmy two hands وِشاحَهُits sash
إذا الليلُ أدْنى منْ يَدَيَّ وِشاحَهُ
خَلَعْتُI took off نِجادَthe baldric of المَشْرَفيِّthe Mashrafi sword المتَأوِّدِswaying
خَلَعْتُ نِجادَ المَشْرَفيِّ المتَأوِّدِ
When night brings its sash close to my hands,
When the night draws near with its cloak,
I take off the baldric of the swaying Mashrafi sword.
I take off the brilliance of the watchful one.
سَمَوْتُI rose إليهِtoward him والنّجومُand the stars كأنّهاas though they
سَمَوْتُ إليهِ والنّجومُ كأنّها
علىupon الأفْقِthe horizon مُرْفَضُّa scattering of الجُمانِpearls المُبَدَّدِstrewn apart
على الأفْقِ مُرْفَضُّ الجُمانِ المُبَدَّدِ
I rose toward him, while the stars seemed
I rise up to it while the stars seem
a spill of scattered pearls upon the horizon.
Like partridges scattered on the horizon.
علىupon لاحِقِlean in الأطْلَيْنِthe two flanks يخْتَصِرُcuts short المَدىthe distance
على لاحِقِ الأطْلَيْنِ يخْتَصِرُ المَدى
بإرْخاءِwith the lope of ذِئْبِa wolf الرّدْهَةِthe rocky water-hollow المُتَورِّدِcoming to water
بإرْخاءِ ذِئْبِ الرّدْهَةِ المُتَورِّدِ
On a steed lean in both flanks, cutting short the distance
Over the smooth surface, the distance shortens
with the lope of a wolf coming to water at a rocky hollow.
With the pacing of the racing wolf.
أُفيضُI pour عليهِupon him شِكَّتيmy battle-gear وأُخيضُهُand make him wade
أُفيضُ عليهِ شِكَّتي وأُخيضُهُ
دُجىthe darkness of اللّيْلِthe night والأعْداءُand the enemies منّيfor me بمَرْصَدِin ambush
دُجى اللّيْلِ والأعْداءُ منّي بمَرْصَدِ
I pour my battle-gear upon him and make him wade
I confide my sorrow in it while the enemies watch me,
through night's darkness, while enemies lie in wait for me.
In the darkness of night they lie in wait.
وأَجْنُبُهُand I keep him from الرِّيَّthe draught الذّليلَservile وقدand already جَلَتْburnished
وأَجْنُبُهُ الرِّيَّ الذّليلَ وقد جَلَتْ
علىat الوِرْدِthe watering-place أنْفاسُthe breaths of الصَّباthe east wind مَتْنَthe back of مِبْرَدِa file
على الوِرْدِ أنْفاسُ الصَّبا مَتْنَ مِبْرَدِ
And I keep him from a servile draught, though burnished bright
I spare it the ignoble wind, though the breaths
by the east wind's breaths at the watering-place is a file's back.
Of dawn have left their mark on the roses.
وتَجْمَحُand carries headlong بيwith me عنaway from مَوْطِنِthe abode of الذُّلِّabasement هِمّةٌhigh resolve
وتَجْمَحُ بي عن مَوْطِنِ الذُّلِّ هِمّةٌ
تُجَمِّعُgathers أشْتاتَthe scattered parts of المَعاليglories بأحْمَدِin Ahmad
تُجَمِّعُ أشْتاتَ المَعالي بأحْمَدِ
And high resolve carries me headlong from the abode of abasement,
In me, an ambition rises above the abode of disgrace,
gathering glory's scattered excellences in Ahmad.
Gathering the heights of glory in Ahmad.
هُمامٌa valiant man إذاwhen استَنهَضْتَهُyou summon him لِمُلِمّةٍto face a calamity
هُمامٌ إذا استَنهَضْتَهُ لِمُلِمّةٍ
مَضىhe presses on غَيرَnot واهيweak in المَنكِبيْنِthe two shoulders مُعَرِّدِshrinking away
مَضى غَيرَ واهي المَنكِبيْنِ مُعَرِّدِ
A valiant man: when you summon him to face a calamity,
It is a zeal - if roused for battle,
he presses on, neither weak-shouldered nor one to flee.
It goes unwavering, not weak in shoulders.
مُعَرَّسُهُhis resting-place مأوىa refuge for المَكارِمِnoble deeds والعُلاand high rank
مُعَرَّسُهُ مأوى المَكارِمِ والعُلا
ونائِلُهُand his bounty قَيْدُa tether for الثّناءِpraise المُخَلَّدِmade everlasting
ونائِلُهُ قَيْدُ الثّناءِ المُخَلَّدِ
His resting-place shelters noble deeds and high renown,
Its home is the dwelling of virtues and heights,
and his bounty is the tether of everlasting praise.
Its obtainment is lasting fame.
تَشَبّتُcling منهُin him المَكْرُماتُnoble deeds بماجِدٍto a glorious man
تَشَبّتُ منهُ المَكْرُماتُ بماجِدٍ
يَروحُgoes at evening إِلىtoward غاياتِهنَّtheir utmost bounds ويغْتَديand goes at morning
يَروحُ إِلى غاياتِهنَّ ويغْتَدي
In him, noble deeds cling to a man of glory
From it, glories cling to the glorious one
who seeks their utmost bounds at evening and at morning.
Who goes to meet their goals and finds joy.
ويَبْسُطُand extends كفّاًa hand للندىًfor generosity أُمَويّةًUmayyad
ويَبْسُطُ كفّاً للندىً أُمَويّةً
تُباريrivals شآبيبَthe downpours of الغَمامِthe clouds المُنَضَّدِpiled up
تُباري شآبيبَ الغَمامِ المُنَضَّدِ
And he extends for bounty an Umayyad hand
And extends a generous hand that rivals
that rivals the downpours of banked clouds.
The streams of clouds, layered and intertwined.
ويَخْفُقُand flutter أنّىwherever سارَhe travels أوor حَلَّhe alights فَوقَهُabove him
ويَخْفُقُ أنّى سارَ أو حَلَّ فَوقَهُ
حَواشيthe fringes of ثَناءٍpraise أوor ذَوائِبُthe tresses of سُؤْدَدِhigh rank
حَواشي ثَناءٍ أو ذَوائِبُ سُؤْدَدِ
And wherever he travels or alights, above him flutter
And flutters wherever praise or slander has passed,
the fringes of praise or the tresses of high rank.
Like the fringes of a cloak, flowing and rippling.
وماand no رَوْضَةٌmeadow تَشْفيquenches الجَنوبُthe south wind غَليلَهاits thirst
وما رَوْضَةٌ تَشْفي الجَنوبُ غَليلَها
بذيwith one possessing وَطَفٍthick fringes منof غائِرِgoing to the lowlands المُزْنِrainclouds مُنجِدِgoing to the uplands
بذي وَطَفٍ من غائِرِ المُزْنِ مُنجِدِ
No meadow whose thirst the south wind quenches
No garden’s sickness is cured by the south wind
with a thick-fringed raincloud, traversing lowlands and heights,
With a waft from the depth of muffled musk.
كأنّas though الرّبيعَspring الطّلْقَradiant فيwithin حَجَراتِهاits precincts
كأنّ الرّبيعَ الطّلْقَ في حَجَراتِها
يُجَرِّرُdrags ذَيْلَthe train of الأتْحَميِّthe Atḥami cloth المُعَضَّدِbanded
يُجَرِّرُ ذَيْلَ الأتْحَميِّ المُعَضَّدِ
as though radiant spring within its precincts
As if blithe spring in its chambers
dragged the train of a banded Atḥami robe,
Drags the train of the perfumed red robe.
بأطْيَبَany sweeter نَشْراًin fragrance منْthan شَمائِلهِhis virtues التيwhich
بأطْيَبَ نَشْراً منْ شَمائِلهِ التي
يَلوذُtakes refuge بِهاin them جارٌa neighbor وضَيْفٌand a guest ومُجْتَدِand a seeker of bounty
يَلوذُ بِها جارٌ وضَيْفٌ ومُجْتَدِ
is sweeter in fragrance than his virtues, in which
With the sweetest fragrance of its charms
a neighbor, a guest, and a seeker of bounty find refuge.
That neighbor, guest, and stranger seek refuge in.
إليكَto you أباO Abu (father of) العبّاسِal-Abbas سارَتْjourneyed رَكائِبٌriding-camels
إليكَ أبا العبّاسِ سارَتْ رَكائِبٌ
بِذِكْرِكَwith mention of you تُحْدَىare urged on by song بلrather بنُورِكَby your light تَهْتَديfind their way
بِذِكْرِكَ تُحْدَى بل بنُورِكَ تَهْتَدي
To you, Abu al-Abbas, journeyed riding-camels,
To you, O Al-Abbas, caravans traveled
urged along by chants of your name—nay, guided by your light.
Guided by your name, by your light they find the way.
عليهنَّupon them منْfrom أفناءِthe various groups of قَوْمِكَyour people غِلْمَةٌyoung men
عليهنَّ منْ أفناءِ قَوْمِكَ غِلْمَةٌ
يُزَمْزِمُmurmurs عنْهُمْof them فَدْفَدٌa desert plain بعدَafter فَدْفَدِa desert plain
يُزَمْزِمُ عنْهُمْ فَدْفَدٌ بعدَ فَدْفَدِ
Upon them are young men from the various groups of your people;
Over them are youths from your people
desert plain after desert plain murmurs of them.
Chanting rhythmically, chorus after chorus.
وتَشكُوand they complain إليكَto you الدَّهْرَTime تَفْريtear apart خُطوبُهُits calamities
وتَشكُو إليكَ الدَّهْرَ تَفْري خُطوبُهُ
بقيّةَthe remnant of شِلْوٍa body-fragment منfrom ذَويكَyour kin مُقَدَّدِcut into strips
بقيّةَ شِلْوٍ من ذَويكَ مُقَدَّدِ
And they complain to you of Time, whose calamities tear
And they complain to you of the blows of fate
the remnant of a kinsman's body, shredded into strips.
Upon the remnant of your people, shattered.
حَوىclaimed عُنفُوانَthe prime of المَكْرَعِthe watering-place الناسُthe people قَبلَناbefore us
حَوى عُنفُوانَ المَكْرَعِ الناسُ قَبلَنا
وأوْرَدَناand it led us to water أعْقابَthe remnants of شِرْبٍa draught مُصَرَّدِstinted
وأوْرَدَنا أعْقابَ شِرْبٍ مُصَرَّدِ
Others before us claimed the watering-place in its prime,
The people before us contained the pride of the valiant,
and Time brought us to the remnants of a stinted draught.
And left us the dregs of the diluted cup.
ولابدّand there is no escape منْfrom يَومٍa day أغَرَّwhite-blazed مُحَجَّلٍwhite-stockinged
ولابدّ منْ يَومٍ أغَرَّ مُحَجَّلٍ
يُبَوّئُناsettles us in ظِلَّthe shade of الطِّرافِthe leather tent المُمَدَّدِspread wide
يُبَوّئُنا ظِلَّ الطِّرافِ المُمَدَّدِ
And there must come a day, white-blazed and white-stockinged,
Inevitably will come a day of uncovered perils
that lodges us in the shade of a wide-spread leather tent.
That grant us the shade of outstretched wings.
فإنّكَfor you are أصْلٌa root طَيِّبٌgoodly أناI فَرْعُهُits branch
فإنّكَ أصْلٌ طَيِّبٌ أنا فَرْعُهُ
وأيُّand what a نَجيبٍnoble scion سُلَّwas drawn منْfrom أيِّwhat a مَحْتِدِancestral stock
وأيُّ نَجيبٍ سُلَّ منْ أيِّ مَحْتِدِ
For you are a goodly root, and I am its branch—
For you are a goodly root, and I am its branch,
and what a noble scion, drawn from what a stock!
And what noble one was ever cut off from its trunk?
وكمْand how many لكَof yours عِنديwith me منْof يَدٍa favor مُسْتَفيضَةٍoverflowing
وكمْ لكَ عِندي منْ يَدٍ مُسْتَفيضَةٍ
لبِسَتْdonned بهاthrough it طَوْقَthe collar of الحَمامِthe dove المُغَرِّدِsinging
لبِسَتْ بها طَوْقَ الحَمامِ المُغَرِّدِ
And how many an overflowing favor I have from you,
And how much generosity do you have toward me
through which I have donned the collar of the singing dove.
That adorned me with the collar of the warbling dove!
بَقِيتَmay you remain مَصونَguarded in العِرْضِhonor مُبْتَذَلَfreely giving الندىًbounty
بَقِيتَ مَصونَ العِرْضِ مُبْتَذَلَ الندىً
مَديدَfar-spreading رِواقِthe canopy of العِزِّglory طَلاّعَever ascending أنْجُدِheights
مَديدَ رِواقِ العِزِّ طَلاّعَ أنْجُدِ
May you remain, your honor guarded, your bounty freely given,
You remained protected in dignity, abundant in bounty,
with glory's canopy far-stretched, ever a climber of heights.
With the courtyard of honor before you, steps leading upward.
ويَوْمُكَand your day يَلْويtwists أخْدَعَthe neck-vein of الأمْسِyesterday نَحْوَهُtoward itself
ويَوْمُكَ يَلْوي أخْدَعَ الأمْسِ نَحْوَهُ
ويَهْفوand sways بعِطْفَيْهِwith both its flanks اشْتِياقاًin longing إِلىfor الغَدِtomorrow
ويَهْفو بعِطْفَيْهِ اشْتِياقاً إِلى الغَدِ
And your today twists yesterday's neck toward itself,
And your day bends the deception of yesterday toward it,
and sways both its flanks, yearning for tomorrow.
Looking with affection toward tomorrow.
Sol 6.1