لازالَmay it never cease مُحتَفِلُthe teeming mass الغَمامِof clouds الباكِرِearly-morning
لازالَ مُحتَفِلُ الغَمامِ الباكِرِ
يَهميpours عَلىupon حَجَراتِthe quarters of أَهلِthe people of الحاجِرِal-Hajir
يَهمي عَلى حَجَراتِ أَهلِ الحاجِرِ
May the teeming mass of early-morning clouds never cease
The early rain cloud still celebrates
pouring over the quarters of the people of al-Hajir.
Rushing upon the homes of those in tents
فَلَرُبَّfor many a مَنزِلَةٍdwelling هُناكَthere مُحيلَةٍdesolate
فَلَرُبَّ مَنزِلَةٍ هُناكَ مُحيلَةٍ
وَمَحَلَّةٍand a settlement قَفرٍdeserted وَرَسمٍand a trace داثِرِeffaced
وَمَحَلَّةٍ قَفرٍ وَرَسمٍ داثِرِ
For many a dwelling there lies desolate,
So how many dwellings there are now deserted
many a deserted settlement, many an effaced trace.
And settlements of wasteland and crumbling walls
أَبهَتtook heed لِساكِنِهاof its dweller النَوىseparation وَتَكَشَّفَتand lifted away
أَبهَت لِساكِنِها النَوى وَتَكَشَّفَت
عَنfrom أَهلِهاits people سِنَةُthe slumber الزَمانِof time الناضِرِradiant
عَن أَهلِها سِنَةُ الزَمانِ الناضِرِ
Separation took heed of its dweller, and there lifted
The years have confused their inhabitants and uncovered
from its people the slumber of radiant time.
From its people the freshness of time
وَلَقَدand indeed تَكونُused to be بِهاin it الأَوانِسُcompanionable maidens مِنof مَهاًwhite oryxes
وَلَقَد تَكونُ بِها الأَوانِسُ مِن مَهاً
صورِinclined القُلوبِin heart إِلىtoward الصِباyouthful love وَجَآذِرِand oryx calves
صورِ القُلوبِ إِلى الصِبا وَجَآذِرِ
And once it held companionable maidens—white oryxes
And tender loves may still linger there
with hearts inclined to youthful love, and oryx calves.
Whose images stir the hearts to passion and fervor
أَخَيالَO apparition of عَلوَةَAlwa كَيفَhow زُرتَdid you visit وَعِندَناwhile with us
أَخَيالَ عَلوَةَ كَيفَ زُرتَ وَعِندَنا
أَرَقٌsleeplessness يُشَرِّدُdrives away بِالخَيالِthe apparition الزائِرِvisiting
أَرَقٌ يُشَرِّدُ بِالخَيالِ الزائِرِ
O apparition of Alwa, how did you visit when we were beset
How I wished, O citadel, that I had visited
by sleeplessness that drives away the visiting shade?
When insomnia disturbs the thoughts of one who dreams
طَيفٌa phantom أَلَمَّvisited بِناus وَنَحنُwhile we بِمَهمَهِin a wilderness
طَيفٌ أَلَمَّ بِنا وَنَحنُ بِمَهمَهِ
قَفرٍbarren يَشُقُّis hard عَلىupon المُلِمِّthe visitor الخاطِرِpassing through
قَفرٍ يَشُقُّ عَلى المُلِمِّ الخاطِرِ
A phantom visited us while we were in a wilderness,
An apparition pained us while we were
barren and hard upon any visitor passing through.
In the desolate desert, grieving the heart
أَفضىreached إِلىto شُعثٍdisheveled men تُطيرُscatter كَراهُمtheir slumber
أَفضى إِلى شُعثٍ تُطيرُ كَراهُم
رَوحاتُevening journeys قودٍof long-necked camels كَالقِسِيِّlike bows ضَوامِرِlean
رَوحاتُ قودٍ كَالقِسِيِّ ضَوامِرِ
It reached disheveled men whose slumber was scattered
It led to disheveled hair blown about
by the evening marches of long-necked camels, lean as bows.
By the gusts of encampment like scattered ashes
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen نَزَعواthey stripped off الدُجىthe darkness وَتَسَربَلواand clothed themselves
حَتّى إِذا نَزَعوا الدُجى وَتَسَربَلوا
مِنfrom فَضلِthe trailing portion هَلهَلَةِgauzy thinness الصَباحِof dawn الغائِرِpenetrating
مِن فَضلِ هَلهَلَةِ الصَباحِ الغائِرِ
Until, when they stripped off the darkness and clothed themselves
Until they uncovered themselves from darkness and dressed
in the trailing, gauzy fabric of dawn seeping in,
In the surplus of the radiant dawn’s first light
وَرَمواand cast إِلىtoward شُعَبِthe forks الرِحالِof the saddles بِأَعيُنٍwith eyes
وَرَموا إِلى شُعَبِ الرِحالِ بِأَعيُنٍ
يَكسِرنَhalf-close مِنfrom نَظَرِthe gaze النُعاسِof drowsiness الفاتِرِlanguid
يَكسِرنَ مِن نَظَرِ النُعاسِ الفاتِرِ
and cast toward the forks of their saddles eyes
And set out with eyes that penetrate
half-closed with the languid gaze of drowsiness,
The languor of drowsiness’ weakened gaze
أَهوىswooped down فَأَسعَفَthen obliged بِالتَحِيَّةِwith a greeting خُلسَةًfurtively
أَهوى فَأَسعَفَ بِالتَحِيَّةِ خُلسَةً
وَالشَمسُwhile the sun تَلمَعُglittered فيin جَناحِthe wing الطائِرِof the bird
وَالشَمسُ تَلمَعُ في جَناحِ الطائِرِ
it swooped down and offered a furtive greeting,
I fell in love and was answered subtly
while the sun glittered on the bird's wing.
As the sun gleamed on the bird’s wing
سِرناwe journeyed وَأَنتِwhile you مُقيمَةٌstaying وَلَرُبَّماand often
سِرنا وَأَنتِ مُقيمَةٌ وَلَرُبَّما
كانَwas المُقيمُthe one staying عَلاقَةًan attachment لِلسائِرِfor the traveler
كانَ المُقيمُ عَلاقَةً لِلسائِرِ
We journeyed on while you stayed, and often
We traveled while you remained, and sometimes
the one who stays is what binds the traveler.
The one who stays is the companion of the one who goes
إِمّاwhenever انجَذَبنَthey sped away بِناwith us فَكَمthen how many مِنof عَبرَةٍa tear
إِمّا انجَذَبنَ بِنا فَكَم مِن عَبرَةٍ
تُثنىis turned back إِلَيكَtoward you بِلَفتَةٍwith a glance مِنfrom ناظِرِan eye
تُثنى إِلَيكَ بِلَفتَةٍ مِن ناظِرِ
Whenever they bore us onward, how many a tear
Either we were drawn to you, and how many tears
was turned back toward you with a glance of the eye!
Are turned to you with a glance from the watcher
كَشَفَتrevealed لَناto us سَيَرُthe conduct الأَميرِof the emir مُحَمَّدٍMuhammad
كَشَفَت لَنا سَيَرُ الأَميرِ مُحَمَّدٍ
عَنabout أَمرِthe character ناهٍof one who forbids بِالسَدادِwith sound judgment وَآمِرِand one who commands
عَن أَمرِ ناهٍ بِالسَدادِ وَآمِرِ
The conduct of Emir Muhammad has revealed to us
The travel of Prince Muhammad has revealed to us
a man of sound judgment in forbidding and commanding.
A purposeful matter of renewal and command
لاnot يَقتَفيfollows أَثَرَthe track الغَريبِof a stranger وَلاnor يُرىis seen
لا يَقتَفي أَثَرَ الغَريبِ وَلا يُرى
قَلِقَrestless المَطِيِّthe mounts عَلىupon الطَريقِthe road الجائِرِleading astray
قَلِقَ المَطِيِّ عَلى الطَريقِ الجائِرِ
He follows no stranger's trail, nor is he seen
He neither tracks the stranger, nor is seen
with restless mounts on a road that leads astray.
Disturbed, restless upon the winding road
مُتَقَيِّلٌemulating شَرَفَthe nobility الحُسَينِof al-Husayn وَمُصعَبِand Mus'ab
مُتَقَيِّلٌ شَرَفَ الحُسَينِ وَمُصعَبِ
وَفَعالَand the deeds of عَبدِAbd اللَهِAllah بَعدُfurthermore وَطاهِرِand Tahir
وَفَعالَ عَبدِ اللَهِ بَعدُ وَطاهِرِ
He emulates the nobility of al-Husayn and Mus'ab,
Honoring the nobility of Hussein and Musab,
and, too, the deeds of Abd Allah and Tahir.
And the actions of Abdullah and thereafter Tahir
قَومٌa people أَهانواheld cheap الوَفرَwealth حَتّىuntil أَصبَحواthey became
قَومٌ أَهانوا الوَفرَ حَتّى أَصبَحوا
أَولىmost entitled الأَنامِof mankind بِكُلِّto every عِرضٍhonor وافِرِabundant
أَولى الأَنامِ بِكُلِّ عِرضٍ وافِرِ
A people who held wealth cheap, until they became
A people who humiliated abundance until they became
of all mankind, the most entitled to abundant honor.
The most deserving of people of every honor
آسادُlions مَلحَمَةٍof fierce battle فَإِنthen if سَكَنَgrew still الوَغىthe battle din
آسادُ مَلحَمَةٍ فَإِن سَكَنَ الوَغى
كانواthey were بُدورَfull moons أَسِرَّةٍof thrones وَمَنابِرِand pulpits
كانوا بُدورَ أَسِرَّةٍ وَمَنابِرِ
Lions in fierce battle; when the battle din grew still,
Lions of an epic, and if tumult subsides
they were full moons upon thrones and pulpits.
They are like the full moons and the Pleiades
جاؤواthey came عَلىon غُرَرِthe finest السَوابِقِfront-running steeds إِذwhen سَعىstrove الthe
جاؤوا عَلى غُرَرِ السَوابِقِ إِذ سَعى ال
ساعيcontender فَجاءَthen came عَلىon السُكَيتِthe last-place steed العاشِرِthe tenth
ساعي فَجاءَ عَلى السُكَيتِ العاشِرِ
They came on the finest front-running steeds, while the
They came following the forerunners when there was no
contender raced and came on the laggard, the tenth.
Other runner, and so came after the tenth
أَبَنيO sons of الحُسَينِal-Husayn وَلَمand not تَزَلhave ceased أَخلاقُكُمyour virtues
أَبَني الحُسَينِ وَلَم تَزَل أَخلاقُكُم
مِنfrom ديمَةٍsteady rain سَحٍّpouring وَرَوضٍand a garden زاهِرِblooming
مِن ديمَةٍ سَحٍّ وَرَوضٍ زاهِرِ
O sons of al-Husayn, your virtues have always sprung
O sons of Hussein, your character has not ceased
from steady, pouring rain and a garden in bloom.
To be of a gentle, radiant garden
إِنَّindeed المَكارِمَnoble deeds قَدalready بُدِئنَwere begun بِأَوَّلٍwith the first
إِنَّ المَكارِمَ قَد بُدِئنَ بِأَوَّلٍ
مِنof مَجدِكُمyour glory وَخُتِمنَand were sealed بَعدُafterward بِآخِرِwith the last
مِن مَجدِكُم وَخُتِمنَ بَعدُ بِآخِرِ
Indeed, noble deeds began with the first
Great deeds were begun with the first of you
of your glory, and were sealed afterward with the last.
And concluded thereafter with the last
تَقفونَyou follow طَلحَةَTalha بِالفَعالِin deeds وَإِنَّماand only
تَقفونَ طَلحَةَ بِالفَعالِ وَإِنَّما
تَسرونَyou travel by night فيin قَمَرِthe moon السَماءِof heaven الباهِرِdazzling
تَسرونَ في قَمَرِ السَماءِ الباهِرِ
You follow Talha in deeds, and are but
You pursue Talha in action, even while you travel
traveling by night in the light of heaven's dazzling moon.
Along the bright moon of the sky
الرَملُthe sand فيكُمamong you مِنamong عَتادِthe reserves مُفاخِرٍof one vying in glory
الرَملُ فيكُم مِن عَتادِ مُفاخِرٍ
يَومَon the day اللِقاءِof encounter وَمِنand among عَديدِthe numbers مُكاثِرِof one vying in multitude
يَومَ اللِقاءِ وَمِن عَديدِ مُكاثِرِ
Among you, sand is a resource for one who vies in glory
Sands for you are the equipment of the proud
on the day of encounter, and a tally for one who vies in numbers.
On the day of battle and multitude of the superior
وَمَواهِبٍand gifts فيamong الخابِطينَseekers of bounty كَأَنَّماas though
وَمَواهِبٍ في الخابِطينَ كَأَنَّما
يَطلُعنَthey spring forth مِنfrom خَلَلِthe midst الرَبيعِof spring الباكِرِearly
يَطلُعنَ مِن خَلَلِ الرَبيعِ الباكِرِ
And gifts to those who seek your bounty, as though
And gifts among you are like
they sprang from the midst of early spring.
Blossoms opening through the early spring
إِنif تُكفَرواyou are met with ingratitude لاnot تَنقُصواyou diminish أَوor تُشكَرواyou are thanked
إِن تُكفَروا لا تَنقُصوا أَو تُشكَروا
فَالنَجمُfor the star ماnot لَحَظَتهُhas glimpsed it عَينُthe eye الناظِرِof the beholder
فَالنَجمُ ما لَحَظَتهُ عَينُ الناظِرِ
If you go unthanked, you lose nothing; or if thanked,
Whether you are thanked or unthanked
for no beholder's eye has glimpsed the star.
The star is as the beholder's eye has seen it
أَوor سارَtraveled فيthrough إِقدامِكُمyour courage وَسَماحِكُمand your generosity
أَو سارَ في إِقدامِكُم وَسَماحِكُم
شِعريmy poetry فَتِلكَthen those مَناقِبيmy virtues وَمآثِريand my glorious deeds
شِعري فَتِلكَ مَناقِبي وَمآثِري
Or if there travels through your courage and generosity
Or my poetry has walked in your determination and generosity
my poetry, then those are my virtues and my glorious deeds.
Those are my merits and achievements
وَالمَدحُand praise لَيسَdoes not يَجوزُreach قاصِيَةَthe farthest limit المَدىof the range
وَالمَدحُ لَيسَ يَجوزُ قاصِيَةَ المَدى
حَتّىuntil يَكونَbecomes المَجدُthe glory مَجدَthe glory الشاعِرِof the poet
حَتّى يَكونَ المَجدُ مَجدَ الشاعِرِ
And praise cannot reach the farthest bounds
And praise that goes beyond bounds
until the glory becomes the poet's own glory.
Cannot be proper unless the glory is the poet’s glory
Sol 6.1