قَدmay; indeed تَرىyou see دارِساتِeffaced; faded الرُسومِthe traces
قَد تَرى دارِساتِ الرُسومِ
وَغَرامَand the passion of المَعذولِthe reproached man فيهاin them; concerning them المَلومِthe blamed man
وَغَرامَ المَعذولِ فيها المَلومِ
You may see the effaced traces,
You may see those fascinated by poetry
and the passion of the man reproached and blamed for them,
And the one blamed for his passion therein standing
واقِفاًstanding يَسأَلُhe questions المَغانيthe dwellings وَيَستَغand draws forth (fragment; uncertain reading)
واقِفاً يَسأَلُ المَغاني وَيَستَغ
رِزُdraws forth (ending; uncertain reading) فَيداًa flow (uncertain reading) مِنfrom واكِفٍdripping; flowing مَسجومِpoured forth; streaming
رِزُ فَيداً مِن واكِفٍ مَسجومِ
standing, questioning the dwellings and drawing
Asking for songs and drawing
a flow from dripping, streaming tears.
A handful from a tattooed palm
إِنَّindeed أَوهىthe frailest الحِبالِthe cords حَبلُa cord of وِدادٍlove; affection
إِنَّ أَوهى الحِبالِ حَبلُ وِدادٍ
أَوشَكَتwas about to صَرمَةُseverance مَهاةُan oryx doe الصَريمِthe thicket
أَوشَكَت صَرمَةُ مَهاةُ الصَريمِ
The frailest cord is surely a cord of love
Indeed the weakest ropes are those of love
that the oryx doe of the thicket is about to sever.
The twists of passionate madness are about to snap
تابَعَتshe persisted in ظُلمَهاher cruelty ظُلومُZalum وَلَولاand were it not for
تابَعَت ظُلمَها ظُلومُ وَلَولا
شافِعُthe intercession of الحُبِّlove هانَwould become slight ظُلمُthe cruelty of ظَلومِZalum
شافِعُ الحُبِّ هانَ ظُلمُ ظَلومِ
Zalum has persisted in her cruelty; were it not
Its darkness has persisted, and were it not
for love's intercession, Zalum's cruelty would be easy to bear.
For the intercession of love, the darkness of the oppressive would have persisted
وَيَقِلُّand is slight اِنتِصارُthe self-vindication of مَنone whom هَضَمَتهُshe has wronged
وَيَقِلُّ اِنتِصارُ مَن هَضَمَتهُ
ذاتُa woman possessing كَشحٍa waist; flank مَهَفهَفٍslender مَهضومِdrawn-in; hollowed
ذاتُ كَشحٍ مَهَفهَفٍ مَهضومِ
And little can he avenge himself who has been wronged
And the triumph of one who has been wronged by
by a woman with a slender, drawn-in waist.
A crude and glittering tyrant is diminished
آمِريyou who command me بِاِبتِذالِto cheapen عِرضيmy honor وَعِرضيand my honor
آمِري بِاِبتِذالِ عِرضي وَعِرضي
رُقعَةٌa patch مُستَعارَةٌborrowed مِنfrom أَديميmy skin
رُقعَةٌ مُستَعارَةٌ مِن أَديمي
You who urge me to cheapen my honor—my honor
Commanding me to dishonor myself when my honor
is a patch borrowed from my own skin.
Is a borrowed patch from my own leather
مُكبِرٌdeeming it grievous أَنَّنيthat I عَدِمتُbecame destitute وَعُدميand my destitution
مُكبِرٌ أَنَّني عَدِمتُ وَعُدمي
لِإِفتِقادِfrom the lack of التَكَرُّمِgenerosity المَعدومِabsent; nonexistent
لِإِفتِقادِ التَكَرُّمِ المَعدومِ
You who deem my destitution grievous—my destitution
Magnifying that I am worthless and my worthlessness
comes from the lack of generosity, nowhere to be found.
Is from the loss of vanishing nobility
كَيفَhow تَقضيrender judgment لِيَfor me اللَياليthe nights قَضاءًa judgment
كَيفَ تَقضي لِيَ اللَيالي قَضاءً
يُشبِهُresembling العَدلَjustice وَاللَياليand the nights خُصوميmy adversaries
يُشبِهُ العَدلَ وَاللَيالي خُصومي
How can the nights render me a judgment
How can you decree my nights with a decree
resembling justice, when the nights are my adversaries?
That resembles justice when the nights dispute me
وَعَجيبٌand strange أَنَّthat الغُيوثَthe rains يُرَجّيhopes for
وَعَجيبٌ أَنَّ الغُيوثَ يُرَجّي
هِنَّthem (feminine) مَنone who لاnot يَرىsees مَكانَthe location of الغُيومِthe clouds
هِنَّ مَن لا يَرى مَكانَ الغُيومِ
And strange it is that the rains are hoped for
And it is wondrous that rain is hoped for
by one who does not see where the clouds lie.
When its clouds are not seen in their place
مَنَعَhas forbidden الدَهرُtime; fate أَنthat يُسَوَّىequality be established فيin القِسthe division (beginning)
مَنَعَ الدَهرُ أَن يُسَوَّى في القِس
مَةِdivision (ending) بَينَbetween المَحظوظِthe fortunate one وَالمَحرومِand the deprived one
مَةِ بَينَ المَحظوظِ وَالمَحرومِ
Time has barred an equal division
Fate has prevented equality in dividing
between the fortunate and the deprived.
Between the fortunate and deprived
أَلِحَتمٍis it by an inevitable decree? مُقَدَّرٍpredestined أَمor بِحَقٍّby a right
أَلِحَتمٍ مُقَدَّرٍ أَم بِحَقٍّ
واجِبٍnecessarily due ماwhat إِدَّعاهُclaimed it أَهلُthe people of النُجومِthe stars
واجِبٍ ما إِدَّعاهُ أَهلُ النُجومِ
Is it by a predestined decree, or by a right
Is it destined or a right
necessarily due, as the astrologers have claimed?
That the astrologers claim?
وَمَرامُand the pursuit of المَعروفِbounty; kindness صَعبٌdifficult إِذاif لَمnot
وَمَرامُ المَعروفِ صَعبٌ إِذا لَم
تَلتَمِسهُyou seek it لَدىwith; from الشَريفِthe noble one الأُرومِancestral roots
تَلتَمِسهُ لَدى الشَريفِ الأُرومِ
And bounty is hard to attain, unless
And the goal of kindness is difficult if
you seek it from one of noble lineage.
You do not seek it from a noble Arab
وَمَتىand whenever تَستَعِنyou seek help بِيونُسَfrom Yunus تُرفَدyou are aided
وَمَتى تَستَعِن بِيونُسَ تُرفَد
بِعَظيمٍby a great man يَكفيكَsuffices you شَأنُthe power of العَظيمِthe great man
بِعَظيمٍ يَكفيكَ شَأنُ العَظيمِ
Whenever you seek help from Yunus, you are aided
And if you ask for the aid of Jonas you will be granted
by a great man; a great man's power suffices you.
Greatness sufficient for the affair of the great
كَرَمٌgenerosity يَدرَأُrepels الخُطوبَthe calamities وَلاand not يَدrepels (beginning)
كَرَمٌ يَدرَأُ الخُطوبَ وَلا يَد
رَءُrepels (ending) لُؤمَthe malice of الخُطوبِthe calamities غَيرُother than الكَريمِthe generous one
رَءُ لُؤمَ الخُطوبِ غَيرُ الكَريمِ
Generosity repels calamities, and none can repel
Generosity that wards off disasters, and nothing
the malice of calamities but the generous.
Wards off the evils of disasters but the generous
فيin العُلاhigh rank; glory مِنof; from مُلوكِthe kings of غَسّانَGhassan وَالصيand the proud (beginning)
في العُلا مِن مُلوكِ غَسّانَ وَالصي
دِproud (ending) الصَناديدِthe mighty champions مِنamong; of مُلوكِthe kings of الرومِthe Romans
دِ الصَناديدِ مِن مُلوكِ الرومِ
In glory, he is of Ghassan's kings and the proud
Apparent in the beauty of his fame
champions among the Roman kings.
Which was not concealed
فارِسٌa horseman; knight يُحسِنُtreats kindly البَقِيَّةَthe survivors إِنif أوis made to tread (beginning)
فارِسٌ يُحسِنُ البَقِيَّةَ إِن أو
طِئَis made to tread (ending) أَعقابَthe heels; rear عَسكَرٍan army مَهزومِdefeated; routed
طِئَ أَعقابَ عَسكَرٍ مَهزومِ
A horseman who spares the survivors, if made
Kind acts pause, not inclining
to tread on the heels of a routed army.
To any face except where it leans
ماnot; never اِستَماحَsought bounty العافونَthe petitioners جَدواهُhis bounty إِلّاexcept; unless
ما اِستَماحَ العافونَ جَدواهُ إِلّا
كانَhe was عِدّاًan unfailing spring لَهُمfor them عَتيدَready for الجُمومِfullness; replenishment
كانَ عِدّاً لَهُم عَتيدَ الجُمومِ
Whenever petitioners sought his bounty,
We are of his divided horses given to us
he was an unfailing spring for them, ready to overflow.
In a living rain pouring upon us
نابِهٌdistinguished; renowned فيin; for مَحاسِنِthe beauties of شُهرَتِهِhis fame
نابِهٌ في مَحاسِنِ شُهرَتِهِ
لَمnot (past negation) يَكُنwas; has been فَضلُهُنَّtheir excellence بِالمَكتومِat all concealed
لَم يَكُن فَضلُهُنَّ بِالمَكتومِ
He is renowned for the glories of his fame;
Of the assets of a bankrupt that you see him
their excellence has never been concealed.
Embarrassed in repaying an old debt
تَقِفُstand still المَكرُماتُthe noble deeds لاnot يَتَوَجَّهturn toward (verb beginning)
تَقِفُ المَكرُماتُ لا يَتَوَجَّه
نَthey (feminine verb ending) لِوَجهٍtoward a direction إِلّاexcept إِلىtoward حَيثُwhere يُميhe points (incomplete, uncertain reading)
نَ لِوَجهٍ إِلّا إِلى حَيثُ يُمي
Noble deeds stand still; they turn nowhere
The enemy of bankruptcy appeals to the covenant
except toward where he points.
Of the covenants of Azdi other than the blemished
نَحنُwe مِنfrom; through سيبِهِhis bounty المُقَسَّمِapportioned فيناamong us
نَحنُ مِن سيبِهِ المُقَسَّمِ فينا
فيin حَياlife-giving rain وابِلٍpouring; heavy عَلَيناupon us مُقيمِabiding
في حَيا وابِلٍ عَلَينا مُقيمِ
We, through his bounty apportioned among us,
A master whose rhymes speak of his blessings
are in a life-giving downpour that remains over us.
Whereas before they were sullen
مِنamong إِماراتِthe signs of مُفلِسٍa bankrupt أَنthat تَراهُyou see him
مِن إِماراتِ مُفلِسٍ أَن تَراهُ
موجِفاًhastening فيin إِقطِضاءِcollection of a debt (intended reading) دَينٍa debt قَديمِold
موجِفاً في إِقطِضاءِ دَينٍ قَديمِ
One sign of a bankrupt is that you see him
Oh boy of Azd, oh pillar, oh Abu Al-Abbas
hurrying to collect an old debt.
Oh Ahmad ibn Ibrahim
وَعَدُوُّand the enemy of الإِفلاسِbankruptcy ناشِدُone seeking عَهدٍa pledge
وَعَدُوُّ الإِفلاسِ ناشِدُ عَهدٍ
مِنfrom; among عُهودِthe pledges of الأَزدِيِّthe Azdi غَيرِnot ذَميمِreproachable
مِن عُهودِ الأَزدِيِّ غَيرِ ذَميمِ
And bankruptcy's foe is one who seeks a pledge
We only praise the Doer of good
from the Azdi's pledges, beyond reproach.
When he receives the act of the atrocious
سَيِّدٌa lord أَنطَقَmade speak القَوافيthe rhymes بِنُعماهُthrough his bounty
سَيِّدٌ أَنطَقَ القَوافي بِنُعماهُ
وَكانَتand they had been مِنfrom قَبلُbefore ذاتِpossessed of وُجومِbrooding silence
وَكانَت مِن قَبلُ ذاتِ وُجومِ
A lord who made the rhymes speak through his bounty,
If your palm dried up, we would ask
though before they had been gloomily silent.
About the absent slow to arrive from it
ياO فَتىyoung man الأَزدِAzd سُؤدُداًin nobility; lordship ياO أَباAbu; father of العَبّاal-Abbas (name beginning)
يا فَتى الأَزدِ سُؤدُداً يا أَبا العَبّا
سِal-Abbas (name ending) ياO أَحمَدَAhmad بنِson of إِبراهيمِIbrahim
سِ يا أَحمَدَ بنِ إِبراهيمِ
O Azd's young lord, O Abu al-Abbas,
If what I sought is right, it obligates itself
O Ahmad ibn Ibrahim!
To satisfy a creditor
إِنَّماonly نَحمَدُwe praise الفَعالَthe deeds مِنَfrom; in الحُرِّthe noble, freeborn man
إِنَّما نَحمَدُ الفَعالَ مِنَ الحُرِّ
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle اِستَلامَinvited blame فِعلَthe deed of المُليمِthe blameworthy man
إِذا ما اِستَلامَ فِعلَ المُليمِ
We praise the deeds of a noble man only
Or to pardon abundantly, for abundant
when the blameworthy man's deed invites reproach.
Is the poverty that the noble pardons
لَوif; had جَفَتshunned; forsook كَفَّكَyour hand النَدىbounty; generosity لَسَلَوناwe would cease longing
لَو جَفَت كَفَّكَ النَدى لَسَلَونا
مِنهُfrom it عَنfor; concerning غائِبٍan absent one بَطيءِslow القُدومِin arriving
مِنهُ عَن غائِبٍ بَطيءِ القُدومِ
Had your hand shunned bounty, we would have ceased longing
for it, as for an absent one slow to arrive.
إِنif يَكُنit is ماwhat طَلَبتُI asked for حَقّاًa rightful due يُطالِبcalls upon; demands
إِن يَكُن ما طَلَبتُ حَقّاً يُطالِب
نَفسَهُhimself بِالوَفاءِto fulfill أَرضىthe most pleasing غَريمِdebtor
نَفسَهُ بِالوَفاءِ أَرضى غَريمِ
If what I ask is my right, he calls upon
himself to fulfill it—the most obliging debtor.
أَوor تَغابىfeigned ignorance; overlooked مُسامِحاًindulgently فَكَثيراًthen often
أَو تَغابى مُسامِحاً فَكَثيراً
ماemphatic particle أَراناhas shown us الغِنىwealth تَغابىfeigned ignorance; overlooking الكَريمِthe generous man
ما أَرانا الغِنى تَغابى الكَريمِ
Or if he overlooks it indulgently, how often
has the generous man's overlooking shown us wealth!
Partial English translation: 50 of 56 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1