باتَhas become عَهدُseason الصِباyouth وَباقيand the remainder جَديدِهof its freshness
باتَ عَهدُ الصِبا وَباقي جَديدِه
بَينَbetween إِعوازِelusiveness طالِبٍa seeker وَوُجودِهand his finding it
بَينَ إِعوازِ طالِبٍ وَوُجودِه
Youth's season and its remaining freshness hover
The days of youth have passed, yet some of its freshness remains
between eluding a seeker and being found.
Between the begging of an old man and his existence
وَلِماand for what قَدalready تُقاوِيانِboth lie desolate مَنَof اللَهmerriment (continued)
وَلِما قَد تُقاوِيانِ مَنَ اللَه
وِ(completes 'merriment') بَيانٌevidence فيin بيضِwhite hairs فَودٍa temple وَسودِهand its black hairs
وِ بَيانٌ في بيضِ فَودٍ وَسودِه
And what those two have lost of merriment
And however much the two may blame the Lord
is plain in a temple's white hairs and black.
There is clarity in the white and black of youth
وَعَجيبٌand strange طَريفُthe new growth ذاthis الشَعرِhair الأَبwhite (continued)
وَعَجيبٌ طَريفُ ذا الشَعرِ الأَب
يَضِ(completes 'white') أَبدىhas revealed خُلوقَةًwornness مِنthan تَليدِهits old growth
يَضِ أَبدى خُلوقَةً مِن تَليدِه
How strange: the new growth of this white hair
And strange is the wit of this eloquent poet
has shown more wear than its older growth.
Who has eternally inspired the creation from his lineage
هَلis there مُبَكٍّa mourner عَلىfor الشَبابِyouth بِمُستَغwith abundant (continued)
هَل مُبَكٍّ عَلى الشَبابِ بِمُستَغ
زَرِ(completes 'abundant') دَمعِtears الأَسىof sorrow عَلىover مَفقودِهwhat he has lost
زَرِ دَمعِ الأَسى عَلى مَفقودِه
Is there a mourner for youth, with abundant
Is there a weeping for lost youth
tears of sorrow for what he has lost?
With tears of sorrow for what is missed?
زَمَناًa time ماnot أَعاضَcompensated مَذمومُهُits blameworthy days الآcoming (continued)
زَمَناً ما أَعاضَ مَذمومُهُ الآ
تي(completes 'coming') بَديلاًa substitute نَرضاهُwe approve of it مِنfor مَحمودِهits praiseworthy days
تي بَديلاً نَرضاهُ مِن مَحمودِه
A time whose blameworthy future has not given
For a time, we were bothered by its flaws then
a welcome substitute for its praiseworthy past;
Pleased with its virtues in substitution
فائِتاًdeparted لاnot نَسومُwe seek رَجعَةَthe return ماضيof the past
فائِتاً لا نَسومُ رَجعَةَ ماضي
هِits وَلاand not نَرتَجيwe hope for دُنُوَّthe approach بَعيدِهof its distant days
هِ وَلا نَرتَجي دُنُوَّ بَعيدِه
departed—we seek no return of its past,
Gone without hope of the past returning
nor hope its far-off days will draw near.
Nor anticipation of its distant return
مِنكِfrom you (feminine) طَيفٌa phantom أَلَمَّvisited وَالأُفقُand the horizon مَلآfilled (continued)
مِنكِ طَيفٌ أَلَمَّ وَالأُفقُ مَلآ
نَ(completes 'filled') مِنَwith الفَجرِdawn وَاِعتِراضِand the spreading عَمودِهof its shaft
نَ مِنَ الفَجرِ وَاِعتِراضِ عَمودِه
A phantom of you visited, while the horizon was filled
You are a specter that pained while the horizon
with dawn and the spreading of its shaft of light.
Filled with the dawn, intercepting its pillars
زائِرٌa visitor أَشرَقَتshone لِزَورَتِهِbecause of his visit أَغlowlands (continued)
زائِرٌ أَشرَقَت لِزَورَتِهِ أَغ
وارُ(completes 'lowlands') أَرضِthe land of العِراقِIraq بَعدَafter نُجودِهits highlands
وارُ أَرضِ العِراقِ بَعدَ نُجودِه
A visitor whose coming lit the lowlands
A visitor for whom Iraq's lands glowed after its generosity
of Iraq, after its highlands.
The soul's relief, and the eye's provision are in his cheeks and workflow
أَرَبُthe desire النَفسِof the soul كُلَّهُall of it وَمَتاعُand the delight الthe (article, continued)
أَرَبُ النَفسِ كُلَّهُ وَمَتاعُ ال
عَينِeye فيin خَدِّهِhis cheek وَفيand in تَوريدِهits rosy coloring
عَينِ في خَدِّهِ وَفي تَوريدِه
All the soul's desire, and the delight
Granting in his union what used to prevent in its estrangement
of the eye, lie in his cheek and its rosy bloom.
The sleep of a lover is the wretchedness of his living, and the life of ease in his presence
مُعطِياًgiving فيin وِصالِهِhis union فيin كَرىthe drowsiness النَوsleep (continued)
مُعطِياً في وِصالِهِ في كَرى النَو
مِ(completes 'sleep') الَّذيwhat كانَhe was مانِعاًwithholding فيin صُدودِهhis turning away
مِ الَّذي كانَ مانِعاً في صُدودِه
Giving, in union amid the drowsiness of sleep,
We do not see the succession of nights showing us
what he had withheld in his turning away.
Glory like the blossoming green of his presence
يَقَظاتُthe waking hours المُحِبُّof the lover ساعَةُthe time بُؤساmisery
يَقَظاتُ المُحِبُّ ساعَةُ بُؤسا
هُhis وَنَعماءُand the bliss عَيشِهِof his life فيin هُجودِهhis slumber
هُ وَنَعماءُ عَيشِهِ في هُجودِه
The lover's waking hours are his time of misery,
And glory is a ladder whose rungs
and the bliss of his life is in his slumber.
Abu Amer has climbed to its summit
ماnot نُرىwe think خِلفَةَthe succession اللَياليof nights تُريناshows us
ما نُرى خِلفَةَ اللَيالي تُرينا
شَرَفاًnobility مِثلَlike بَأسِthe valor خِضراًof Khidr وَجودِهand his generosity
شَرَفاً مِثلَ بَأسِ خِضراً وَجودِه
We do not think the succession of nights will show us
He puzzles the darkness when obscure poems
nobility like Khidr's valor and generosity.
Ignite in it a flame from its fuel
وَالعُلاand high rank سُلَّمٌa ladder مَراقيهِits rungs خَطّاKhattab (continued)
وَالعُلا سُلَّمٌ مَراقيهِ خَطّا
بُ(completes 'Khattab') أَبيAbu (in a name) عامِرٍAmir إِلىto مَسعودِهhis Masud
بُ أَبي عامِرٍ إِلى مَسعودِه
Glory is a ladder, its rungs stretching from Khattab,
It suffices that glory suffices for the self-sufficient
Abu Amir's forebear, back to his Masud.
If he sought more from his surplus
دَلهَمِيٌّa Dalhami إِذاwhen اِدلَهَمَّgrows dark دُجىthe darkness الخَطcalamity (continued)
دَلهَمِيٌّ إِذا اِدلَهَمَّ دُجى الخَط
بِ(completes 'calamity') كَفَتsufficed فيهِagainst it شُعلَةٌa flame مِنfrom وُقودِهhis fuel
بِ كَفَت فيهِ شُعلَةٌ مِن وُقودِه
A Dalhami: when calamity's darkness grows black,
The departing pilgrim circles the courtyard of generosity
a single flame from his fuel suffices against it.
From my allotment to his carpet
حَسَبٌnoble lineage لَوif كَفىsufficed مِنَof المَجدِglory كافٍa sufficient share
حَسَبٌ لَو كَفى مِنَ المَجدِ كافٍ
لَاِكتَفىwould be content مُستَزيدِهِone seeking more of it مِنwith مَزيدِهits increase
لَاِكتَفى مُستَزيدِهِ مِن مَزيدِه
A lineage: if any share of glory could suffice,
A master of servants, the people's patron from above them
its seeker would be content with its abundance.
And the elite of his servants
يَتَقَرّىseeks out الغاديthe morning traveler رَباعَabodes سَماحٍof generosity
يَتَقَرّى الغادي رَباعَ سَماحٍ
مِنfrom نَصيبينِهِhis Nasibin إِلىto بَرقَعيدِهhis Barqaid
مِن نَصيبينِهِ إِلى بَرقَعيدِه
The morning traveler seeks out abodes of generosity
The fire of war makes enemies dormant
from his Nasibin to his Barqaid.
When they hope for rest from its dormancy
سَيِّدٌa lord مِنيunclear; probably 'of the sons of' عُبَيدٍUbayd مَواليthe masters الthe (article, continued)
سَيِّدٌ مِني عُبَيدٍ مَوالي ال
ناسِpeople مِنfrom فَوقِهِمabove them شَراوىthe equals عَبيدِهof his slaves
ناسِ مِن فَوقِهِم شَراوى عَبيدِه
A lord of Ubayd's line: the masters
Their homes in their perimeter ascend the stars
of men, above them all, are the equals of his slaves.
When it ends in its ascent
نارُa fire حَربٍof war تَرىyou see الأَعاديthe enemies خُموداًextinguished
نارُ حَربٍ تَرى الأَعادي خُموداً
حينَwhen يَرجونَthey hope for راحَةًrest مِنfrom خُمودِهhis extinction
حينَ يَرجونَ راحَةً مِن خُمودِه
A fire of war: his enemies lie extinguished
The non-Arabs did not exercise with it until
when they hope for respite from his extinction.
They knew the toughness of its wood
بَيتُهُمtheir house فيamong عِدِيِّهِمtheir Adi kin مُرتَقىthe ascent النَجthe star (continued)
بَيتُهُم في عِدِيِّهِم مُرتَقى النَج
مُ(completes 'the star') أَوانَat the time اِنتِهائِهِof its culmination فيin صُعودِهits ascent
مُ أَوانَ اِنتِهائِهِ في صُعودِه
Their house among their Adi kin stands as high as the star
An advisor in quandaries, whenever worries
when it reaches the utmost height of its ascent.
Ascended beyond the call of its youth
لَمnot تُمارِسput to the test بِهِthrough him الأَراقِمُthe Araqim حَتّىuntil
لَم تُمارِس بِهِ الأَراقِمُ حَتّى
عَرَفَknew العاجِمونَthose who tested شِدَّةَthe toughness عودِهof his wood
عَرَفَ العاجِمونَ شِدَّةَ عودِه
Scarcely were the Araqim tested in his person
And a precision strike on the joints of opinion if
before the testers knew the toughness of his wood.
His views were from his soldiers
مُستَشارٌone consulted فيin المُعضِلاتِdifficult matters إِذاwhen ماever (emphatic) اِرrises (continued)
مُستَشارٌ في المُعضِلاتِ إِذا ما اِر
تَفَعَ(completes 'rises') الخَطبُthe crisis عَنbeyond نِداءِthe summons وَليدِهof his boy
تَفَعَ الخَطبُ عَن نِداءِ وَليدِه
Consulted in difficult matters, whenever
His determination and dash correct
the crisis rises beyond his boy's summons.
Sophistication proceeds from his support
وَمُصيبٌand one who hits مَفاصِلَthe joints الرَأيُof judgment إِنif حاhe wages war (continued)
وَمُصيبٌ مَفاصِلَ الرَأيُ إِن حا
رَبَ(completes 'he wages war') كانَتwere آراؤُهُhis opinions مِنamong جُنودِهhis troops
رَبَ كانَت آراؤُهُ مِن جُنودِه
He strikes the very joints of judgment; when he goes
How many glories which blackened faces cleared for him
to war, his counsels are among his troops.
The whites of services, the blacks of their inks
قَوَّمَتstraightened عَزمَهُhis resolve الأَصالَةُinnate nobility وَالرُمand the spear (continued)
قَوَّمَت عَزمَهُ الأَصالَةُ وَالرُم
حُ(completes 'the spear') يُقيمُstraightens الثِقافُthe straightening frame مِنsome of تَأويدِهits crookedness
حُ يُقيمُ الثِقافُ مِن تَأويدِه
Innate nobility has straightened his resolve, just as the spear
From his equipment appears victory over conquest
has its crookedness corrected by the straightening frame.
And multiplies from his number
كَمhow many صَريحٍa trueborn man إِلَيهِrelated to him غَشَّتhave clothed بَياضاًin whiteness
كَم صَريحٍ إِلَيهِ غَشَّت بَياضاً
أَوجُهِthe faces المَكرُماتِof noble deeds سودُthe black ones أُسودِهof his lions
أَوجُهِ المَكرُماتِ سودُ أُسودِه
Many a trueborn kinsman is his; whiteness is spread
Sovereignties from leadership gathered
over noble deeds' faces by his black lions.
Tribes unanimously agreeing on his leadership
ظاهَرَتreinforced مِنof عَتادِهِhis resources تَغلِبُTaghlib الغُلthe mighty (continued)
ظاهَرَت مِن عَتادِهِ تَغلِبُ الغُل
بُ(completes 'the mighty') لِمَجدٍfor glory وَكَثَّرَتand increased مِنof عَديدِهhis numbers
بُ لِمَجدٍ وَكَثَّرَت مِن عَديدِه
Mighty Taghlib has strengthened his resources
Deeds stuck to him and the preservation of fortune
for glory, and increased his numbers.
Is closer to a man than his vein
وَمُعانٌand aided مِنَby السِيادَةِlordship خِرقُa resourceful man
وَمُعانٌ مِنَ السِيادَةِ خِرقُ
أَجمَعَتagreed unanimously وائِلٌWail عَلىon تَسويدِهmaking him chief
أَجمَعَت وائِلٌ عَلى تَسويدِه
And a resourceful man, aided by his lordship,
They met in Rabia’s son Nizār
whom Wail unanimously agreed to make their chief.
Among its notables, the nobility of his ancestors
مَأثُراتٌglorious deeds عَلِقنَهُclung to him وَمُتاحُand the allotment الحَظfortune (continued)
مَأثُراتٌ عَلِقنَهُ وَمُتاحُ الحَظ
ظِ(completes 'fortune') أَدنىnearer إِلىto اِمرِىءٍa man مِنthan وَريدِهhis jugular vein
ظِ أَدنى إِلى اِمرِىءٍ مِن وَريدِه
Glorious deeds have clung to him; and allotted fortune
Hastening to what his hands attain
lies closer to a man than his jugular vein.
Since slow favors are burdensome
اِلتَقَتmet فيin رَبيعَةَRabia اِبنِson of نِزارٍNizar
اِلتَقَت في رَبيعَةَ اِبنِ نِزارٍ
بَينَamong أَعيانِهاits leading men سَراةُthe noble chiefs جُدودِهof his forebears
بَينَ أَعيانِها سَراةُ جُدودِه
Within Rabia ibn Nizar have gathered
Radiant, elegant, and the Indian swords—
his lordly forebears, among its leading men.
The gleam of his steel is revealed to the smooth liner
عَجِلٌquick بِالَّذيwith what تُنيلُbestow يَداهُhis two hands
عَجِلٌ بِالَّذي تُنيلُ يَداهُ
إِنَّindeed بُطءَthe slowness النَوالِof giving مِنis part of تَنكيدِهspoiling it
إِنَّ بُطءَ النَوالِ مِن تَنكيدِه
Quick to bestow what his hands give,
Laughters followed by gifts
for delay in giving is part of spoiling it.
And lightning before its thunder
مُشرِقٌradiant بِالنَدىwith generosity وَمِنand part of حَسَبِthe nobility السَيthe sword (continued)
مُشرِقٌ بِالنَدى وَمِن حَسَبِ السَي
فِ(completes 'the sword') لِمُستَلِّهِto whoever draws it ضِياءُthe radiance حَديدِهof its iron
فِ لِمُستَلِّهِ ضِياءُ حَديدِه
Radiant with generosity; and part of a sword's nobility,
The times of adversity seek his threats
to the one who draws it, is the gleam of its iron.
And the clouds roar from his promise
ضَحِكاتٌbursts of laughter فيin إِثرِهِنَّtheir wake العَطاياgifts
ضَحِكاتٌ في إِثرِهِنَّ العَطايا
وَبُروقُand the lightning flashes السَحابِof the cloud قَبلَbefore رَعودِهits thunderclaps
وَبُروقُ السَحابِ قَبلَ رَعودِه
Bursts of laughter, with gifts following in their wake—
His accessibility to the early revivalist
and a cloud's lightning comes before its thunder.
Would be issuance before its arrival
تَتَقاضىdemand fulfillment of وَعيدَهُhis threat نُوَبُthe calamities الدَهtime (continued)
تَتَقاضى وَعيدَهُ نُوَبُ الدَه
رِ(completes 'time') وَيَهميand pours rain السَحابُthe cloud مِنfrom مَوعودِهwhat he promises
رِ وَيَهمي السَحابُ مِن مَوعودِه
Time's calamities demand fulfillment of his threat,
Oh Abu Amer, you lived and found
and clouds rain down from what he promises.
From life its prime happiness
كادَalmost مُمتاحَهُhis bounty-seeker لِسابِقِbecause of the swiftness of جَدواbounty
كادَ مُمتاحَهُ لِسابِقِ جَدوا
هُhis يَكونُwould be الإِصدارُbeing sent from the water قَبلَbefore وُرودِهhis arrival at it
هُ يَكونُ الإِصدارُ قَبلَ وُرودِه
His bounty-seeker, such is the swiftness of his giving, almost
Every era we were enlightened by it or saw it
leaves the water before he has come to it.
Informing from your elite about its pillar
ياO أَباAbu (in direct address) عامِرٍAmir عَمِرتَmay you live long وَلُقّيand may you be granted (continued)
يا أَبا عامِرٍ عَمِرتَ وَلُقّي
تَ(completes 'may you be granted') مِنَof العَيشِlife باكِراتِthe earliest blessings سُعودِهof its good fortune
تَ مِنَ العَيشِ باكِراتِ سُعودِه
O Abu Amir, long may you live, and may you receive
The enmity of enemies returned destruction and ruin
life's earliest blessings of good fortune.
Enmity ruined the stone the misery of its repeat
كُلُّevery دَهرٍage نُنبىwe are told بِهِof it أَوor نَراهُwe see it
كُلُّ دَهرٍ نُنبى بِهِ أَو نَراهُ
مُخبِرٌtells مِنfrom among سَراتِكُمyour noblemen عَنof عَميدِهits chief
مُخبِرٌ مِن سَراتِكُم عَن عَميدِه
Every age we hear of or behold
And they saw you rise so they committed suicide
proclaims its chief to be among your noblemen.
Out of envy of the revival of its elevation
عادَturned بَغيُthe aggression الأَعداءِof the enemies هُلكاًto ruin وَقِدماًand long ago
عادَ بَغيُ الأَعداءِ هُلكاً وَقِدماً
أَهلَكَdestroyed الحِجرَal-Hijr بَغيُthe outrage أَشقىof the most wretched ثَمودِهof its Thamud
أَهلَكَ الحِجرَ بَغيُ أَشقى ثَمودِه
Your enemies' aggression turned to ruin; long ago
Envy in superiority, yet growing among all people
the outrage of Thamud's most wretched man destroyed al-Hijr.
Has eroded the envious more than the superior
وَرَأَوكَand they saw you اِعتَلَيتَyou had risen high فَاِنتَحَرواso they slew themselves حِقrancor (continued)
وَرَأَوكَ اِعتَلَيتَ فَاِنتَحَروا حِق
داً(completes 'rancor') عَلىagainst مُبدِءِthe initiator العُلُوِّof high rank مُعيدِهits renewer
داً عَلى مُبدِءِ العُلُوِّ مُعيدِه
They saw you risen high, and slew themselves in rancor
Boasting, and reminding the repeater at its tune
against one who wins high rank and wins it anew.
A treasure of remembrance increasing in it
حَسَداًout of envy فيof العُلاhigh rank وَنماunclear; probably 'and none' فيamong جَميعِall الthe (article, continued)
حَسَداً في العُلا وَنما في جَميعِ ال
ناسِpeople أَبلىmore sorely tried بِذيby one possessing عُلاًeminence مِنthan حَسودِهhis envier
ناسِ أَبلى بِذي عُلاً مِن حَسودِه
Out of envy of high rank; and among all
Is your affection for its glorifier
men, none is more tried by a great man than his envier.
هاكَهاtake it ذاتَpossessing رَونَقٍluster يَتَباهىglories
هاكَها ذاتَ رَونَقٍ يَتَباهى
وَشيُهاits embroidery المُستَعادُcalled for again عِندَat نَشيدِهits recitation
وَشيُها المُستَعادُ عِندَ نَشيدِه
Take this radiant poem, whose embroidery glories
in being called for again when it is recited.
كَنزُa treasure ذِكرٍof remembrance يَزيدُincreases فيهِin it نَماءًgrowth
كَنزُ ذِكرٍ يَزيدُ فيهِ نَماءً
أَنthat تُجيدواyou make generous حِباءَكُمyour gift لِمُجيدِهto its skillful composer
أَن تُجيدوا حِباءَكُم لِمُجيدِه
A treasure of remembrance, whose growth is increased
by your generous gift to its skillful composer.
Partial English translation: 75 of 80 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1