أَياO ديكُrooster عُدَّتwas counted مِنamong أَياديكَyour favors صَيحَةٌa cry
أَيا ديكُ عُدَّت مِن أَياديكَ صَيحَةٌ
بَعَثتَyou roused بِهاwith it مَيتَone dead from الكَرىslumber وَهُوَwhile he was نائِمُasleep
بَعَثتَ بِها مَيتَ الكَرى وَهُوَ نائِمُ
O rooster, a cry was counted among your favors,
with which you roused one dead in slumber as he slept.
هَتَفتَyou called out فَقالَso said الناسُthe people أَوسُAws بنُson of مُعيرٍMu'ir
هَتَفتَ فَقالَ الناسُ أَوسُ بنُ مُعيرٍ
أَوor اِبنُson of رَباحٍRabah بِالمَحَلَّةِin the quarter قائِمُstanding
أَو اِبنُ رَباحٍ بِالمَحَلَّةِ قائِمُ
You called, and people said, “Aws ibn Mu'ir
or Ibn Rabah is standing in the quarter.”
لَعَلَّperhaps بِلالاًBilal هَبَّawoke مِنfrom طولِa long duration of رَقدَةٍsleep
لَعَلَّ بِلالاً هَبَّ مِن طولِ رَقدَةٍ
وَقَدthough already بَلِيَتhave decayed فيin الأَرضِthe earth تِلكَthose الرَمائِمُcrumbling remains
وَقَد بَلِيَت في الأَرضِ تِلكَ الرَمائِمُ
Perhaps Bilal has awakened from a long slumber,
though those crumbling remains have decayed in the earth.
وَنِعمَand excellent is أُذينُthe caller to prayer of المَعشَرِthe company اِبنُson of حَمامَةٍHamamah
وَنِعمَ أُذينُ المَعشَرِ اِبنُ حَمامَةٍ
إِذاwhen سَجَعَتcoo لِلذاكِرينَfor those who remember الحَمائِمُthe doves
إِذا سَجَعَت لِلذاكِرينَ الحَمائِمُ
Fine indeed is Ibn Hamamah, the people's caller to prayer,
when the doves coo for those who remember.
وَفيكَand in you إِذاwhen ماindeed ضَيَّعَneglects النِكسُthe base man غَيرَةٌprotective jealousy
وَفيكَ إِذا ما ضَيَّعَ النِكسُ غَيرَةٌ
تُصانُare safeguarded بِهاby it المُستَصحَباتُthe female companions الكَرائِمُthe noble ones
تُصانُ بِها المُستَصحَباتُ الكَرائِمُ
In you is jealous care, when the base man is neglectful,
by which noble female companions are kept safe.
وَجودٌand generosity بِمَوجودِwith what is available of النَوالِbounty عَلىtoward الَّتيher whom
وَجودٌ بِمَوجودِ النَوالِ عَلى الَّتي
حَمَيتَyou protected وَإِنeven if لَمnot تَستَهِلَّpour forth الغَمائِمُthe clouds
حَمَيتَ وَإِن لَم تَستَهِلَّ الغَمائِمُ
And generosity with the bounty at hand toward her
whom you protect, even when the clouds do not pour.
يُزانُis deemed noble لَدَيكَin your eyes الطَعنُthrusting فيin حَومَةِthe thick of الوَغىbattle
يُزانُ لَدَيكَ الطَعنُ في حَومَةِ الوَغى
إِذاwhen زُيِّنَتare made attractive لِلعاجِزينَto the incapable الهَزائِمُrouts
إِذا زُيِّنَت لِلعاجِزينَ الهَزائِمُ
You find thrusting in the thick of battle noble,
when routs are made attractive to the incapable.
فَلَوthen if كُنتَyou were بِالدُرِّwith pearls الثَمينِprecious مُعَوَّضاًcompensated
فَلَو كُنتَ بِالدُرِّ الثَمينِ مُعَوَّضاً
مِنَinstead of البُرِّwheat ماnot لامَتwould blame عَلَيهِfor it اللَوائِمُthe reproachers
مِنَ البُرِّ ما لامَت عَلَيهِ اللَوائِمُ
Were you repaid with precious pearls
instead of wheat, no reproachers would find fault.
وَتُلقىand lay لَدَيكَbeside you المُنقِضاتُthe cackling hens نَواصِعاًpure-white things
وَتُلقى لَدَيكَ المُنقِضاتُ نَواصِعاً
يُقالُare called غَريباتُrare treasures of البِحارِthe seas التَوائِمُtwins
يُقالُ غَريباتُ البِحارِ التَوائِمُ
The cackling hens lay beside you pure-white eggs,
called rare twin treasures of the seas.
رَآهاsaw them كِباراًlarge مَنthe one who بَراهاfashioned them كَأَنَّهاas though they were
رَآها كِباراً مَن بَراها كَأَنَّها
تَريكُabandoned eggs of نَعامٍostriches أَودَعَتهُit entrusted it الصَرائِمُthe sandbanks
تَريكُ نَعامٍ أَودَعَتهُ الصَرائِمُ
He who fashioned them saw them large, as though they were
ostrich eggs left in safekeeping among the sandbanks.
وَتُؤثِرُand you favor بِالقوتِwith food الحَليلَةَthe mate شيمَةًas a trait
وَتُؤثِرُ بِالقوتِ الحَليلَةَ شيمَةً
كَريمِيَّةًnoble ماnever اِستَعمَلَتهاpracticed it الأَلائِمُthe base
كَريمِيَّةً ما اِستَعمَلَتها الأَلائِمُ
You give your mate preference in food, a trait
of nobility that the base have never practiced.
كَأَنَّكَas though you were فَحلُthe stallion of الشَولِdry she-camels حَولَكَaround you أَينَقٌshe-camels
كَأَنَّكَ فَحلُ الشَولِ حَولَكَ أَينَقٌ
عَلَيهاon them بُرىًnose-rings مِنof طاعَةٍobedience وَخَزائِمُand nose-reins
عَلَيها بُرىً مِن طاعَةٍ وَخَزائِمُ
You are like the stallion of dry she-camels, with she-camels around you,
wearing nose-rings and nose-reins of obedience.
فَتُلمَحُso they are glimpsed تاراتٍat times وَتُغضيand lower their gaze كَأَنَّهاas though they were
فَتُلمَحُ تاراتٍ وَتُغضي كَأَنَّها
ضَرائِرُrival wives سَفَّتهاhave humbled them لَدَيكَbefore you الخَصائِمُquarrels
ضَرائِرُ سَفَّتها لَدَيكَ الخَصائِمُ
They are glimpsed at times and lower their gaze, as though
rival wives whom quarrels have humbled before you.
فَحُمرٌso some are red وَسودٌand some black حالِكاتٌpitch-dark كَأَنَّهاas though they were
فَحُمرٌ وَسودٌ حالِكاتٌ كَأَنَّها
سَوامُgrazing herds of بَنيthe sons of السَيّدِal-Sayyid اِزدَهَتهُmade it proud القَوائِمُthe legs
سَوامُ بَني السَيّدِ اِزدَهَتهُ القَوائِمُ
Some are red and others pitch-black, as though they were
the grazing herds of Banu al-Sayyid, made proud by their legs.
عَلَيكَupon you ثِيابٌrobes خاطَهاsewed them اللَهُGod قادِراًin His power
عَلَيكَ ثِيابٌ خاطَها اللَهُ قادِراً
بِهاthrough them رَئِمَتكَgrew fond of you العاطِفاتُthe tender females الرَوائِمُthe loving ones
بِها رَئِمَتكَ العاطِفاتُ الرَوائِمُ
You wear robes that God in His power has sewn,
through which tender, loving females have grown fond of you.
وَتاجُكَand your crown مَعقودٌfastened كَأَنَّكَas though you were هُرمُزٌHormuz
وَتاجُكَ مَعقودٌ كَأَنَّكَ هُرمُزٌ
يُباهيboasts بِهِof it أَملاكَهُhis kings وَيُوائِمُand vies
يُباهي بِهِ أَملاكَهُ وَيُوائِمُ
Your crown is fastened as though you were Hormuz,
who boasts of it before his kings and vies with them.
وَعَينُكَand your eye سِقطٌa spark ماnot خَباwent out عِندَin قِرَّةٍcold
وَعَينُكَ سِقطٌ ما خَبا عِندَ قِرَّةٍ
كَلَمعَةِlike a flash of بَرقٍlightning ماno لَهاfor it الدَهرَever شائِمُlightning-watcher
كَلَمعَةِ بَرقٍ ما لَها الدَهرَ شائِمُ
Your eye is a spark that never dies in the cold,
like a lightning-flash that never has a watcher.
وَماand not إِفَتَقَرتhas it needed يَوماًever إِلىfor موقِدٍa fire-kindler لَهاfor it
وَما إِفَتَقَرت يَوماً إِلى موقِدٍ لَها
إِذاwhen قُرِّبَتis brought near لِلموقِدينَto fire-kindlers الهَشائِمُdry brushwood
إِذا قُرِّبَت لِلموقِدينَ الهَشائِمُ
It has never needed anyone to kindle it,
when dry brushwood is brought to the fire-kindlers.
وَرِثتَyou inherited هُدىthe guidance of التَذكارِremembrance مِنfrom قَبلَbefore جُرهُمٍJurhum
وَرِثتَ هُدى التَذكارِ مِن قَبلَ جُرهُمٍ
أَوانَwhen تَرَقَّتascended فيin السَماءِthe sky النَعائِمُthe Ostriches
أَوانَ تَرَقَّت في السَماءِ النَعائِمُ
You inherited the guidance of remembrance before Jurhum,
when the Ostriches ascended in the sky.
وَماand never زِلتَhave you ceased to be لِلدَينِfor the faith القَديمِancient دِعامَةًa pillar
وَما زِلتَ لِلدَينِ القَديمِ دِعامَةً
إِذاwhen قَلِقَتgrew unsteady مِنamong حامِليهِits bearers الدَعائِمُthe supports
إِذا قَلِقَت مِن حامِليهِ الدَعائِمُ
You have always been a pillar of the ancient faith,
when its supports falter among those who uphold it.
وَلَوand if كُنتَyou were ليmine ماnot أُرهِفَتwould be sharpened لَكَfor you مُديَةٌa knife
وَلَو كُنتَ لي ما أُرهِفَت لَكَ مُديَةٌ
وَلاnor رامَsought إِفطاراًto break his fast بِأَكلِكَby eating you صائِمُa fasting man
وَلا رامَ إِفطاراً بِأَكلِكَ صائِمُ
Were you mine, no knife would be sharpened for you,
nor would a fasting man seek to break his fast by eating you.
وَلَمand not يُغلَbe boiled ماءٌwater كَيso that تُمَزَّقَbe torn حُلَّةٌa robe
وَلَم يُغلَ ماءٌ كَي تُمَزَّقَ حُلَّةٌ
حَبَتكَbestowed on you بِأَسناهاwith its finest العُصورُthe ages القَدائِمُancient
حَبَتكَ بِأَسناها العُصورُ القَدائِمُ
No water would be boiled to tear apart a robe
whose finest form the ancient ages bestowed upon you.
وَلاnor عُمتَwould you swim فيin الخَمرِwine الَّتيwhich حالَchanged طَعمُهاits taste
وَلا عُمتَ في الخَمرِ الَّتي حالَ طَعمُها
كَأَنَّكَas though you were فيin غَمرٍdeep water مِنَof السَيلِthe flood عائِمُa swimmer
كَأَنَّكَ في غَمرٍ مِنَ السَيلِ عائِمُ
Nor would you swim in wine whose taste has turned,
like a swimmer in the deep waters of a flood.
وَلاقَيتَand you would find عِنديwith me الخَيرَkindness تَحسَبُreckoned عَيِّلاًa dependent
وَلاقَيتَ عِندي الخَيرَ تَحسَبُ عَيِّلاً
يُنافيكَwould shun you قَولٌspeech سَيِّئٌevil وَشَتائِمُand insults
يُنافيكَ قَولٌ سَيِّئٌ وَشَتائِمُ
You would find kindness with me, counted as a dependent;
evil speech and insults would shun you.
فَإِنthen if كَتَبَrecords اللَهُGod الجَرائِمَcrimes ساخِطاًin wrath
فَإِن كَتَبَ اللَهُ الجَرائِمَ ساخِطاً
عَلىagainst الخَلقِcreation لَمnot تُكتَبwould be recorded عَلَيكَagainst you الجَرائِمُcrimes
عَلى الخَلقِ لَم تُكتَب عَلَيكَ الجَرائِمُ
If God in wrath records crimes
against His creatures, no crimes would be recorded against you.
فَهَلthen will تُرِدنَyou surely reach حَوضَthe pool of الحَياةِlife مُبادِراًhastening ahead
فَهَل تُرِدنَ حَوضَ الحَياةِ مُبادِراً
إِذاwhen حُلِّئَتare driven away عَنهُfrom it النُفوسُthe souls الحَوائِمُcircling thirstily
إِذا حُلِّئَت عَنهُ النُفوسُ الحَوائِمُ
Will you then hasten first to the pool of life,
when the circling souls are driven away from it?
وَتَرتَعُand you graze ماwhat lies بَينَbetween النَبيئَينِthe two prophets ناعِماًblissfully
وَتَرتَعُ ما بَينَ النَبيئَينِ ناعِماً
بِعَيشَةِin a life of خُلدٍeternity لَمnot تَنَلهاhave touched it السَمائِمُscorching winds
بِعَيشَةِ خُلدٍ لَم تَنَلها السَمائِمُ
And graze blissfully between the two prophets,
in an eternal life untouched by scorching winds?
وَأَقوالُand the doctrines of سُكّانِthe inhabitants of البِلادِthe lands ثَلاثَةٌthree
وَأَقوالُ سُكّانِ البِلادِ ثَلاثَةٌ
تَوالىhave followed in succession عَلَيهاin holding them عانِدٌan obstinate man وَمُلائِمُand a compliant one
تَوالى عَلَيها عانِدٌ وَمُلائِمُ
The inhabitants of the lands have three doctrines,
held in succession by the stubborn and the compliant:
فَقَولٌthus one doctrine جَزاءٌrecompense ماof some kind وَقَولٌand another doctrine تَهاوُنٌindifference
فَقَولٌ جَزاءٌ ما وَقَولٌ تَهاوُنٌ
وَآخَرُand another يُجزىare requited إِنسُهُits human beings لاnot البَهائِمُthe beasts
وَآخَرُ يُجزى إِنسُهُ لا البَهائِمُ
one holds some recompense, another is indifference,
and a third says humans are requited, but not beasts.
يُضارِعُناresemble us مَنthose who بَعدَناcome after us فيin أُمورِناour affairs
يُضارِعُنا مَن بَعدَنا في أُمورِنا
وَنَمضيand we pass on عَلىdespite العِلّاتِinfirmities وَالفِعلُwhile action دائِمُcontinues
وَنَمضي عَلى العِلّاتِ وَالفِعلُ دائِمُ
Those who come after us resemble us in our affairs;
we pass on, for all our infirmities, while action continues.
وَكُلٌّand everyone يُوَصّيcounsels النَفسَthe self عِندَduring خُلُوِّهِhis solitude
وَكُلٌّ يُوَصّي النَفسَ عِندَ خُلُوِّهِ
بِزُهدٍto renunciation وَلَكِنbut لاnot تَصِحُّhold firm العَزائِمُresolutions
بِزُهدٍ وَلَكِن لا تَصِحُّ العَزائِمُ
Everyone in solitude counsels his own soul
to renunciation, yet resolutions do not hold.
وَأَينَand where فِراريmy escape مِنfrom زَمانيmy age وَأَهلِهِand its people
وَأَينَ فِراري مِن زَماني وَأَهلِهِ
وَقَدwhen indeed غَصَّis choked شَرّاًwith evil نَجِدهُits uplands وَالتَهائِمُand the lowlands
وَقَد غَصَّ شَرّاً نَجِدهُ وَالتَهائِمُ
Where can I flee from my age and its people,
when its uplands and lowlands are choked with evil?
وَفيand in كُلِّevery شَهرٍmonth تَصرَعُthrows into a fit الدَهرَTime جِنَّةٌmadness
وَفي كُلِّ شَهرٍ تَصرَعُ الدَهرَ جِنَّةٌ
فَنُعقَدُthen are tied فيهِupon it بِالهِلالِwith the crescent التَمائِمُthe amulets
فَنُعقَدُ فيهِ بِالهِلالِ التَمائِمُ
Each month a fit of madness throws Time down,
and amulets are tied upon it with the crescent moon.
لَهُit has عُوَذٌprotective charms فيin كُلِّevery شَرقٍeast وَمَغرِبٍand west
لَهُ عُوَذٌ في كُلِّ شَرقٍ وَمَغرِبٍ
رَعاهاtended them اليَمانِيَthe Yemeni in الدارِhome وَالمُتَشائِمُand the Syria-bound
رَعاها اليَمانِيَ الدارِ وَالمُتَشائِمُ
It has protective charms in every east and west,
kept by the Yemen-dweller and the man who turns toward Syria.
أَبىwould accept none القَلبُthe heart إِلّاexcept أُمَّUmm دَفرٍDafr كَماjust as أَبىwould accept none
أَبى القَلبُ إِلّا أُمَّ دَفرٍ كَما أَبى
سِوىother than أُمَّUmm عَمرٍوAmr موجَعُstricken in القَلبِthe heart هائِمُa wandering lover
سِوى أُمَّ عَمرٍو موجَعُ القَلبِ هائِمُ
The heart accepts none but Umm Dafr, just as
a heartsick, wandering lover accepts none but Umm Amr.
هِيَshe المُنتَهىthe ultimate goal وَالمُشتَهىand the desired one وَمَعَand beside السُهىSuha
هِيَ المُنتَهى وَالمُشتَهى وَمَعَ السُهى
أَمانِيُّhopes مِنهاof her دونَهُنَّbefore them العَظائِمُmighty obstacles
أَمانِيُّ مِنها دونَهُنَّ العَظائِمُ
She is the ultimate goal and the desire, and beside Suha
lie hopes of her, with mighty obstacles before them.
وَلَمand never تَلقَناhas she met us إِلّاexcept وَفيناwhile among us تَحاسُدٌmutual envy
وَلَم تَلقَنا إِلّا وَفينا تَحاسُدٌ
عَلَيهاover her وَإِلّاand except with فيin الصُدورِthe breasts سَخائِمُgrudges
عَلَيها وَإِلّا في الصُدورِ سَخائِمُ
She has never met us without mutual envy among us
over her, and grudges within our breasts.
نَزَتshe leapt فيin الحَشاthe heart ثُمَّthen اِستَقَلَّتshe departed فَغادَرَتand left behind
نَزَت في الحَشا ثُمَّ اِستَقَلَّت فَغادَرَت
جَماجِمَskulls تَنزوleap فَوقَهُنَّabove them الغَمائِمُthe clouds
جَماجِمَ تَنزو فَوقَهُنَّ الغَمائِمُ
She leapt within our hearts, then departed and left
skulls above which the clouds go leaping.
وَأَيّاand days- مُنا-of ours عيسٌpale camels وَلَيسَand there are no أَزِمَّةٌreins
وَأَيّا مُنا عيسٌ وَلَيسَ أَزِمَّةٌ
عَلَيهاupon them وَخَيلٌand horses أَغفَلَتهاhave left them untended الشَكائِمُthe bits
عَلَيها وَخَيلٌ أَغفَلَتها الشَكائِمُ
Our days are pale camels with no reins
upon them, and horses whose bits have left them unrestrained.
وَقَدand indeed نَسِيَتthey have forgotten حُسنَthe goodness of العُهودِcovenants وَماand not لَهاhave they
وَقَد نَسِيَت حُسنَ العُهودِ وَما لَها
بَنانُfingers of يَدٍa hand فيهِon it تُشَدُّare tied الرَتائِمُreminder-knots
بَنانُ يَدٍ فيهِ تُشَدُّ الرَتائِمُ
They have forgotten the goodness of covenants, and have no
fingers on a hand where reminder-knots can be tied.
فَإِنfor if سَكِرَتthey are drunk فَالراحُthen wine فيهاwithin them كَثيرَةٌplentiful
فَإِن سَكِرَت فَالراحُ فيها كَثيرَةٌ
ذَوارِعُهاits wineskins وَالمُخرَزاتُand the awl-stitched ones الحَتائِمُthe blackened ones
ذَوارِعُها وَالمُخرَزاتُ الحَتائِمُ
If they are drunk, wine is plentiful within them:
its wineskins and its black, awl-stitched bags.
قَسيماتُfair in أَلوانٍcolor سَميحاتُgenerous in شيمَةٍdisposition
قَسيماتُ أَلوانٍ سَميحاتُ شيمَةٍ
لَهاon them ضائِعٌwasted ماwhat طَيَّبَتهُhave perfumed it القَسائِمُthe perfume-caskets
لَها ضائِعٌ ما طَيَّبَتهُ القَسائِمُ
Fair in hue, generous in disposition,
the fragrance imparted by perfume-caskets is wasted on them.
وَماand not خِلَقُthe forms of البيضِfair-skinned women الحِسانِthe beautiful حَميدَةًpraiseworthy
وَما خِلَقُ البيضِ الحِسانِ حَميدَةً
إِذاwhen اِشتَهَرَتbecome notorious أَخلاقُهُنَّtheir characters الدَمائِمُthe ugly ones
إِذا اِشتَهَرَت أَخلاقُهُنَّ الدَمائِمُ
The forms of fair, beautiful women are not praiseworthy
when their ugly characters become notorious.
وَتَمضيand carry onward بِناus الساعاتُthe hours مُضمِرَةًharboring لَناfor us
وَتَمضي بِنا الساعاتُ مُضمِرَةً لَنا
قَبيحاًevil عَلىdespite أَنَّthe fact that الوُجوهَthe faces وَسائِمُhandsome
قَبيحاً عَلى أَنَّ الوُجوهَ وَسائِمُ
The hours carry us onward, harboring for us
evil, although their faces are handsome.
نَمَمنَthey divulged بِماof what يَخفيهِconceals it حَيٌّa living person وَمَيِّتٌand a dead one
نَمَمنَ بِما يَخفيهِ حَيٌّ وَمَيِّتٌ
وَمِنand among شَرِّthe worst of أَفعالِdeeds of الرِجالِmen النَمائِمُtale-bearing
وَمِن شَرِّ أَفعالِ الرِجالِ النَمائِمُ
They divulge what the living and the dead conceal,
and tale-bearing is among men's worst deeds.
يَعيشُlives الفَتىthe young man فيin عُدمِهِhis poverty عَيشَthe life of راغِبٍone eager for life
يَعيشُ الفَتى في عُدمِهِ عَيشَ راغِبٍ
وَيُثريand grows wealthy مُسِنٌّan old man لِلمَعيشَةِof living سائِمُweary
وَيُثري مُسِنٌّ لِلمَعيشَةِ سائِمُ
A young man in poverty lives like one eager for life,
while an old man grows wealthy, weary of living.
وَأَنوارُand the blossoms of أَعوامٍyears مَضَينَgone by شَواهِدٌwitnesses
وَأَنوارُ أَعوامٍ مَضَينَ شَواهِدٌ
بِماto what ضَمِنَتهُhave enclosed it بَعدَهُنَّafter them الكَمائِمُthe flower-sheaths
بِما ضَمِنَتهُ بَعدَهُنَّ الكَمائِمُ
The blossoms of years gone by bear witness
to what the flower-sheaths after them enfold.
Sol 6.1