أَمِن دمنٍ مَعالِمُها قفارُ

أَمِن دمنٍ مَعالِمُها قفارُ

غَداةَ البينِ عقلك مستطارُ

غَداةَ البينِ عقلك مستطارُ

Is it over dwelling-traces whose landmarks are desolate

From the ruins of a habitation its landmarks are deserts,

that your mind takes flight on the morning of parting?

The morning after separation your mind wanders,

تَرحّلَ أهلُها عَنها فَسارَت

تَرحّلَ أهلُها عَنها فَسارَت

ظَعائنُهم بِروحكَ حينَ ساروا

ظَعائنُهم بِروحكَ حينَ ساروا

Their people departed from them, and away went

Its people moved on from it and so it was deserted,

their women in litters, carrying off your soul as they went.

Their longings roam in your spirit when they departed,

مَنازل جيرةٍ وَرسوم حيٍّ

مَنازل جيرةٍ وَرسوم حيٍّ

تقسّمك الغداة لها اِدّكارُ

تقسّمك الغداة لها اِدّكارُ

The dwellings of neighbors and the traces of a clan—

The abodes of neighbors and customs of loved ones,

remembrance of them tears you apart this morning.

Share your mornings remembering them.

تولّوا بِالحدوجِ ضحىً ونار ال

تولّوا بِالحدوجِ ضحىً ونار ال

جَوى بينَ الضلوعِ لها اِستعارُ

جَوى بينَ الضلوعِ لها اِستعارُ

They departed with camel litters at forenoon, while the fire of

They left at dawn with lit torches not a spark remains

anguish blazed between the ribs.

Between the ribs except embers that borrowed its kindling.

وَشمسٌ قَد تجلّت بالبها ما

وَشمسٌ قَد تجلّت بالبها ما

لها إلّا هوادجُها مدارُ

لها إلّا هوادجُها مدارُ

And a sun appeared in splendor, with no

A sun appeared in the horizons without

orbit but her howdahs.

Anything left of it except its orbits.

يُطاردُ جمرةَ الوجناتِ منها

يُطاردُ جمرةَ الوجناتِ منها

إِذا حالَ الحياءُ بها اِصفرارُ

إِذا حالَ الحياءُ بها اِصفرارُ

Her cheeks' glowing ember is pursued,

It chases an ember from the cheeks when

when bashfulness comes over her, by pallor.

Shyness changes its color to saffron.

نَظرت إِلى اِحمرارِ الخدِّ منها

نَظرت إِلى اِحمرارِ الخدِّ منها

مخالسةً وَقَد سقطَ الخِمارُ

مخالسةً وَقَد سقطَ الخِمارُ

I looked at the redness of her cheek

I looked upon the blushing of her cheek

with a stolen glance, her veil having fallen.

Secretly when the veil fell.

فَلاحَ لِناظري وردٌ طريٌّ

فَلاحَ لِناظري وردٌ طريٌّ

وَتفّاحٌ يُضاحكهُ بهارُ

وَتفّاحٌ يُضاحكهُ بهارُ

And to my gaze appeared a fresh rose,

So for my eyes appeared a blossoming rose

and apples with which narcissus blossoms smiled.

And apple that the spring makes it laugh.

فَتِلكم جنّةٌ للعينِ لكن

فَتِلكم جنّةٌ للعينِ لكن

لِقلبِ الهائمِ المعمود نارُ

لِقلبِ الهائمِ المعمود نارُ

So that is a paradise for the eye, but

It is a paradise for the eye but

a fire for the heart of the anguished, love-stricken one.

For the swooning infatuated heart it is fire,

مُهفهفة يَجولُ الوشح منها

مُهفهفة يَجولُ الوشح منها

إِذاً وَيضيقُ بالردف الإزارُ

إِذاً وَيضيقُ بالردف الإزارُ

She is slender-waisted; the sashes sway about her,

With flying tresses the garment roams upon it

and her waist-wrap then grows tight about her hips.

As the waist wrap tightens.

وَقَد تزدادُ فوقَ الحُسنِ حُسناً

وَقَد تزدادُ فوقَ الحُسنِ حُسناً

بِمِعصمها وَساعدها السوارُ

بِمِعصمها وَساعدها السوارُ

And beauty beyond beauty is gained

It increases in beauty over beauty

by the bracelet on her wrist and forearm.

With its bracelets and wrists adorned.

طَلبتُ وصالَها فَرنت وقالَت

طَلبتُ وصالَها فَرنت وقالَت

أَلا يا ذا المكارمِ والفخارِ

أَلا يا ذا المكارمِ والفخارِ

I sought union with her; she gazed and said,

I sought to be near her but she fled and said

Ah, O possessor of noble virtues and glory!

“Do you, of repute and pride!”

طَلبتُ وِصالها فرنت وقالت

طَلبتُ وِصالها فرنت وقالت

يُخالطهُ فتورٌ واِحمرارُ

يُخالطهُ فتورٌ واِحمرارُ

I sought union with her; she gazed and said,

I sought to be near her but she fled and said

Languor and a blush mingled with it.

Accompanied by aloofness and blushing.

وَقَد جالَ الحياءُ بوجهها من

وَقَد جالَ الحياءُ بوجهها من

مَقالي وَاِستَحالَ الجلّنارُ

مَقالي وَاِستَحالَ الجلّنارُ

And bashfulness spread over her face because of

Shyness covered her face at

my words, and the pomegranate blossom was transformed.

My words and saffron turned pale.

وَقبّلت الثنايا فَاِستَمالت

وَقبّلت الثنايا فَاِستَمالت

بِغصنٍ فيه رمّانٌ صغارُ

بِغصنٍ فيه رمّانٌ صغارُ

And I kissed her front teeth; then she swayed

She kissed the branches, cajoled me

with a bough bearing little pomegranates.

With a branch that has little pomegranates.

عَرَفت فحيّت الأيّام حتّى

عَرَفت فحيّت الأيّام حتّى

كأنّ السرّ لي منها جهارُ

كأنّ السرّ لي منها جهارُ

I came to know; then the days greeted me, until

I recognized so I greeted the days as if

their secret seemed openly revealed to me.

The secret between us has become public.

لَها في الناسِ كأسٌ من نمير

لَها في الناسِ كأسٌ من نمير

وَأُخرى مِن علاقمها تدارُ

وَأُخرى مِن علاقمها تدارُ

They hold for people a cup of pure water,

For people she has a cup of crystal

and another, of their bitter colocynth, is passed around.

And another of silver she rotates.

إِذا ما المرءُ نافَ له اِرتفاعٌ

إِذا ما المرءُ نافَ له اِرتفاعٌ

بِها فلسوفَ يعقبهُ اِنحدارُ

بِها فلسوفَ يعقبهُ اِنحدارُ

When a man rises, gaining elevation

When a person climbs to high ground through her

through them, a descent will surely follow it.

He will inevitably descend.

أَلا فَاِستغنم الإقبالَ منها

أَلا فَاِستغنم الإقبالَ منها

فَيُؤنسها بعافية ديارُ

فَيُؤنسها بعافية ديارُ

Take heed: seize the good fortune they bring,

So seize the days of favor from her

and dwellings lend them cheer in well-being.

That gladdens her good dwellings.

وَلا تزخر لوترِ القوسِ نبلاً

وَلا تزخر لوترِ القوسِ نبلاً

إِذا ما أنتَ عنَّ لك الصوارُ

إِذا ما أنتَ عنَّ لك الصوارُ

And do not hoard arrows for the bowstring

Prepare not the bowstring with arrows

when a herd of wild cattle appears before you.

When you turn away the quiver bearers.

فَإنّ لكلِّ طارقةٍ ذهاباً

فَإنّ لكلِّ طارقةٍ ذهاباً

يحينُ بهِ رواحٌ واِبتكارُ

يحينُ بهِ رواحٌ واِبتكارُ

For every visitation has a departure,

For every shining star has a setting

with evening and early-morning departures coming in their time.

That is met with spirits and new inventions.

تَرى أمّ العلا في الناسِ أَضحت

تَرى أمّ العلا في الناسِ أَضحت

لَديهِم تستجيرُ ولا تجارُ

لَديهِم تستجيرُ ولا تجارُ

You see the mother of high honor among people now

You see the mother of exaltation has become

seeking their protection, yet receiving none.

With people, seeking refuge without shelter.

وَما لبني الزمانِ هم أراهم

وَما لبني الزمانِ هم أراهم

بِغيرِ المستحقّ همُ أشاروا

بِغيرِ المستحقّ همُ أشاروا

And what ails the sons of this age? I see them

As for the children of this era, I see them

pointing to someone other than the deserving one.

Signaling without the deserving.

طَلبتهم لِما أرجو اِنتصاراً

طَلبتهم لِما أرجو اِنتصاراً

فَما سعدوا وَلا حصلَ اِنتِصارُ

فَما سعدوا وَلا حصلَ اِنتِصارُ

I sought them for the victory I hoped for,

I sought them for victory

but they gave no help, and no victory was gained.

But they did not succeed nor was triumph achieved.

فَلا تلمِ الأراذلَ وَالأداني

فَلا تلمِ الأراذلَ وَالأداني

إِذا لَم تسلكِ الرشد الخيارُ

إِذا لَم تسلكِ الرشد الخيارُ

So do not blame the base and the lowly

So do not blame the inferior and lowly

when the best do not follow right guidance.

When the virtuous do not take the path of righteousness.

إِذا ما المهرُ قصّر في سباقٍ

إِذا ما المهرُ قصّر في سباقٍ

فَليسَ يفوزُ في السبقِ الحمارُ

فَليسَ يفوزُ في السبقِ الحمارُ

If the colt falls short in a race,

If the steed lags in a race

then the donkey does not win the race.

Then the donkey will not win the race.

وَبكر من بناتِ الفكرِ أضحى

وَبكر من بناتِ الفكرِ أضحى

عَليها كلُّ مفضالٍ يغارُ

عَليها كلُّ مفضالٍ يغارُ

And a maiden among the daughters of thought has become

An early dawn among the daughters of thought has become

one over whom every generous man grows jealous.

Every pretender envies her.

عَزوت لعادةٍ ما في جميع ال

عَزوت لعادةٍ ما في جميع ال

وَرى كفؤاً لها إلّا عرارُ

وَرى كفؤاً لها إلّا عرارُ

I ascribed her to a custom; nowhere among all

She singles out a custom that does not

humankind is there a match for her but ʿArār.

See an equal except the bare mountains.

أَتيت بها زفافاً فاِطمأنّت

أَتيت بها زفافاً فاِطمأنّت

لديهِ واِستقرّ بها القرارُ

لديهِ واِستقرّ بها القرارُ

I brought her in bridal procession, and she found peace

I came to her in marriage so she felt reassured

with him, and her repose became secure.

And settled with her the settlement.

مَليكٌ ساسَ أمّته وليداً

مَليكٌ ساسَ أمّته وليداً

بهمّته وما خضر العذارُ

بهمّته وما خضر العذارُ

A king who ruled his people while still a child,

A just king who rightly guided his nation

through his resolve, before his cheek-down had grown green.

With his determination the saplings grew.

يدبّر ملكهُ في كلِّ يومٍ

يدبّر ملكهُ في كلِّ يومٍ

نواظِرُها لجينٌ أو نظارُ

نواظِرُها لجينٌ أو نظارُ

He governs his realm each day;

He manages his kingdom everyday

her eyes are silver or gold.

His perspectives for it a leaning staff or spectacles.

تزينُ له المكارم إن سواهُ

تزينُ له المكارم إن سواهُ

لَهُ زانَت بُثينة أو نوارُ

لَهُ زانَت بُثينة أو نوارُ

Noble virtues adorn him, while another

Virtues adorn him, if you exclude him

is adorned by Buthayna or Nawār.

Adorned with an old cloak or a string of beads.

فَتىً يُمناهُ أمنٌ واِئتمانٌ

فَتىً يُمناهُ أمنٌ واِئتمانٌ

لِسائلهِ ويسراهُ يسارُ

لِسائلهِ ويسراهُ يسارُ

A young man whose right hand is safety and trust

A young man whom security and trust grace

for his petitioner, and whose left hand is abundance.

To his questioner, easing his affair.

إِليك بالأريح تنوّهت بي

إِليك بالأريح تنوّهت بي

همومٌ في الأمورِ لها اِنتشارُ

همومٌ في الأمورِ لها اِنتشارُ

To you at al-Arīḥ, I have been lifted by

To you, gently, I complained of

concerns that spread throughout my affairs.

Worries in affairs spreading wide.

أَشيم لجودِ كفّك شيم برقٍ

أَشيم لجودِ كفّك شيم برقٍ

لِوابلهِ اِنسكابٌ واِنهِمارُ

لِوابلهِ اِنسكابٌ واِنهِمارُ

I watch for your hand's bounty as one watches lightning,

I characterize your palm’s generosity, characterizing lightning

whose heavy rain spills and streams down.

In its clouds pouring and flooding.

فَما أَنت أَأنت فأَنت أولى

فَما أَنت أَأنت فأَنت أولى

وَأجدرُ أَن يُحيط بك الفخارُ

وَأجدرُ أَن يُحيط بك الفخارُ

So what are you? Is it you? For you are more worthy

You are the most deserving, the most worthy

and more deserving that glory should surround you.

To be surrounded by pride.

فَجدّك ذو المنارِ على بلوغٍ

فَجدّك ذو المنارِ على بلوغٍ

عَلا دونَ الرسيل له منارُ

عَلا دونَ الرسيل له منارُ

For your ancestor Dhū al-Manār, in his attainment,

Your grandfather, the possessor of the minaret, at the pinnacle

had a beacon rise beyond any peer.

Ascended, above the messengers, his minaret.

لَكُم من سرّ زاد الركب عيصٌ

لَكُم من سرّ زاد الركب عيصٌ

ومزهود وقحطان فخارُ

ومزهود وقحطان فخارُ

Yours is a lineage from the noble stock of Zād al-Rakb,

You have, from the provisions of the caravan, a stick

and glory from Mazhūd and Qaḥṭān.

And mat, honored and glorious lineage.

تَروحُ بناتُ جودكَ مسرعاتٍ

تَروحُ بناتُ جودكَ مسرعاتٍ

بعينك في حلايلها اِحتقارُ

بعينك في حلايلها اِحتقارُ

The daughters of your bounty go forth swiftly,

The daughters of your generosity move about hastily

in your eyes, their consorts are held in contempt.

In your eyes disparaging their anklets.

لَو اِنّ الرأيَ منك سهامُ رامٍ

لَو اِنّ الرأيَ منك سهامُ رامٍ

لقصّر عنه مصدع أو قذارُ

لقصّر عنه مصدع أو قذارُ

If your judgment were the arrows of an archer,

If the opinion came from you, arrows of an archer

Miṣdaʿ or Qadhār would surely fall short of it.

It falls short of him, a crack or crevice.