حُيَّيتِ مِن دِمَنٍ ومِن أطلالٍ

حُيَّيتِ مِن دِمَنٍ ومِن أطلالٍ

ومنازلٍ بالرقمتينِ بوالِ

ومنازلٍ بالرقمتينِ بوالِ

Hail to you, traces of camps and ruins,

I was greeted by abandoned abodes and ruins,

and weathered dwellings at al-Raqmatayn.

And dwellings with drawings made with ochre and indigo,

أجَّجنَ بين أضالِعي نارَ الهوى

أجَّجنَ بين أضالِعي نارَ الهوى

بمرابعٍ مِن أهلهنَّ خوالِ

بمرابعٍ مِن أهلهنَّ خوالِ

They kindled the fire of love between my ribs

They ignited within my ribs the fire of passion

at spring encampments empty of their people.

With blazes from their dwellers who were my intimates,

فسقى معاهدَها عهادُ مدامعٍ

فسقى معاهدَها عهادُ مدامعٍ

يغشى الطلولَ بوبلهِ الهطّالِ

يغشى الطلولَ بوبلهِ الهطّالِ

So may the recurring rain of tears water their old haunts,

So the rain of my streaming tears watered their covenant,

covering the ruins with its streaming downpour.

It covers the hills with its heavy downpour,

يهمي إذا بخلَ السحابُ على الثرى

يهمي إذا بخلَ السحابُ على الثرى

بسحابةٍ وطفاءَ ذاتِ عزالي

بسحابةٍ وطفاءَ ذاتِ عزالي

It pours when the clouds begrudge the soil their rain,

It pours when the clouds are stingy with rain over the land

from a heavy, trailing cloud with gushing spouts.

With a cloud releasing gentle, caring rain,

يروي ديارَ الغانياتِ مُلِثُّهُ

يروي ديارَ الغانياتِ مُلِثُّهُ

وكِناسَ كلَّ غزالةٍ وغزالِ

وكِناسَ كلَّ غزالةٍ وغزالِ

Its unceasing rain waters the beautiful women's dwellings,

It waters the dwellings of singers with its flooding,

and the covert of every gazelle, female and male.

And every meadow of gazelles and fawns,

فيهنَّ مِن عَصْبِ الملاحةِ عصبةٌ

فيهنَّ مِن عَصْبِ الملاحةِ عصبةٌ

برعوا جمالاً فوقَ كلَّ جمالِ

برعوا جمالاً فوقَ كلَّ جمالِ

Within them is a band from the ranks of loveliness,

Among them is a group with strong companionship

whose beauty surpassed all other beauty.

They excelled in beauty above all beauty,

مِن كلَّ حوراءِ اللحاظِ جفونُها

مِن كلَّ حوراءِ اللحاظِ جفونُها

ترمي فؤادَ محبَها بنبالِ

ترمي فؤادَ محبَها بنبالِ

Among them, each dark-eyed beauty whose eyelids

The eyelids of every soft-eyed gazelle among them

shoot arrows into her lover's heart,

Shoot the heart of her lover with arrows,

وقَوامِ ساجي الطرفِ يهزأُ قدُّه

وقَوامِ ساجي الطرفِ يهزأُ قدُّه

مِن لينهِ بالأسمرِ العَسّالِ

مِن لينهِ بالأسمرِ العَسّالِ

and each well-proportioned, languid-eyed one whose stature mocks,

And the figure of every smooth-cheeked doe mocks

in its suppleness, the swaying brown spear.

His composure with her soft dark honey.

رشقوا فؤادي يومَ رامةَ فانثنى

رشقوا فؤادي يومَ رامةَ فانثنى

عنهم بوجدٍ ما ألمَّ ببالي

عنهم بوجدٍ ما ألمَّ ببالي

They shot arrows into my heart on the day at Ramah; it came back

They wounded my heart the day they turned away

from them with a passion that had never crossed my mind.

And so I turned from them in fervent love for what was in my thoughts,

ولربَّ ليلٍ قد فَرَيتُ أديمَهُ

ولربَّ ليلٍ قد فَرَيتُ أديمَهُ

مِن فوقِ كلَّ نجيبةٍ مِحلالِ

مِن فوقِ كلَّ نجيبةٍ مِحلالِ

And many a night have I cut through its hide

And perhaps for many a night I wished for its darkness

from atop every noble she-camel accustomed to encampments,

Above every brilliant starry night,

حرّانَ احتثُّ النياقُ سواهماً

حرّانَ احتثُّ النياقُ سواهماً

في البيدِ بينَ دَكادِكٍ ورِمالِ

في البيدِ بينَ دَكادِكٍ ورِمالِ

parched, as I urge the gaunt she-camels onward

Passionately stirring the yearning camels

through the wastes, among low mounds and sands.

In the wilderness between its plants and sands,

أضحتْ تُراعُ مِن السَّياطِ كأنَّما

أضحتْ تُراعُ مِن السَّياطِ كأنَّما

تلكَ السياطُ قواتلُ الأصلالِ

تلكَ السياطُ قواتلُ الأصلالِ

They have come to start at the whips, as though

They were seen fearing the whips as if

those whips were deadly asps.

Those whips bring death to the noble,

من كلَّ جائلةِ الوَضينِ أذابَها

من كلَّ جائلةِ الوَضينِ أذابَها

الاِعمالُ بينَ النصَّ والاِرقالِ

الاِعمالُ بينَ النصَّ والاِرقالِ

Each with its girth slipping loose, worn thin

Melting them from the toil of every work

by hard driving between rapid pacing and swift trotting.

Between text and marginal notes,

فتخالُها مثلَ السفائنِ في الضحى

فتخالُها مثلَ السفائنِ في الضحى

تعلو وترسبُ في بحارِ الآلِ

تعلو وترسبُ في بحارِ الآلِ

So you imagine them like ships in the forenoon,

So they seemed like ships in the daylight

rising and sinking in seas of mirage.

Rising and descending in deep seas,

طمعاً بعودِ الظاعنينَ وعودِ ما

طمعاً بعودِ الظاعنينَ وعودِ ما

قد ماتَ من قربٍ وطيبِ وصالِ

قد ماتَ من قربٍ وطيبِ وصالِ

In hope of the return of those who left, and the return of what

Longing for the return of attackers and promises of what

had died: nearness and sweet union.

Had died of nearness, goodness, and union,

فلقد حُرِمتُ ببعدِ جيرانِ النقا

فلقد حُرِمتُ ببعدِ جيرانِ النقا

نوماً أُواصلَ فيه طيفَ خيالِ

نوماً أُواصلَ فيه طيفَ خيالِ

For the distance of the dune's neighbors has deprived me

So I was deprived by the distance of dear neighbors

of sleep in which I might meet a phantom in a dream.

Of sleep, continuing in it the specter of my imagination,

ومِن العجائبِ أن أُعلَّلَ بعدما

ومِن العجائبِ أن أُعلَّلَ بعدما

بانَ الأحبَّةُ عنهمُ بمحالِ

بانَ الأحبَّةُ عنهمُ بمحالِ

And it is strange that I should be consoled, after

And of the wonders is that I was given excuses after

my loved ones have gone, with impossible hopes of them,

The loved ones were denied to me by the impossible,

وأُروَّحَ القلبَ الذي لم ينسَهمْ

وأُروَّحَ القلبَ الذي لم ينسَهمْ

بعدَ النوى بكواذبِ الآمالِ

بعدَ النوى بكواذبِ الآمالِ

and that I should soothe the heart that has not forgotten them

And the heart that did not forget them was comforted

after separation, with false hopes.

After purpose by the lies of hopes,

هيهاتَ أن يُسليهِ بعدَ رحيلهمْ

هيهاتَ أن يُسليهِ بعدَ رحيلهمْ

طولُ المدى وتنقُّلُ الأحوالِ

طولُ المدى وتنقُّلُ الأحوالِ

Never will it be soothed, after their departure, by

Far from it that it would console him after their departure

long ages and changing circumstances.

The length of distance and changes of time,

فلَكَمْ سكبتْ على المنازلِ أدمعاً

فلَكَمْ سكبتْ على المنازلِ أدمعاً

أرخصتُهنَّ ن وكنَّ قبلُ غوالي

أرخصتُهنَّ ن وكنَّ قبلُ غوالي

How many tears I have poured over the dwellings!

So how much did I pour tears over the dwellings

I made them cheap, though once they were precious.

Degrading them when they were once my glory,

وأذلتُ دمعي في عراصِ ربوعِها

وأذلتُ دمعي في عراصِ ربوعِها

سَحّاً ولم يكُ قبلَهُ بِمُذالِ

سَحّاً ولم يكُ قبلَهُ بِمُذالِ

And I abased my tears in the open courts of their dwellings,

And I debased my tears in the plains of her dwellings

pouring in torrents, though never before had they been humbled.

Crawling when they did not crawl before,

وسألتُها عن أهلهنَّ وما الذي أجدى

وسألتُها عن أهلهنَّ وما الذي أجدى

وقد رحلَ الخليطُ سؤالي

وقد رحلَ الخليطُ سؤالي

And I asked them about their people; what good was

And I asked them about their people and what use is

my questioning, when the companions had already departed?

My questioning when the loved ones are gone,

في كلَّ يومٍ لا أزالُ مروَّعاً

في كلَّ يومٍ لا أزالُ مروَّعاً

بغناءِ حادٍ أو بِزَمَّ جِمالِ

بغناءِ حادٍ أو بِزَمَّ جِمالِ

Every day I remain alarmed

Every day I still have no peace

by a camel-driver's song or the haltering of camels.

From fervent singing or the beauty of gazelles,

ولهانَ أقلقُ للحمامِ إذا شدا

ولهانَ أقلقُ للحمامِ إذا شدا

مِن فوقِ البانةِ الميّالِ

مِن فوقِ البانةِ الميّالِ

Distraught with longing, I grow restless at the doves when they sing

Restless am I for the cooing of doves when calling

from atop the swaying ban tree,

From the roof of an abandoned abode,

ولبارقٍ ما لاحَ في غَسَقِ الدُّجى

ولبارقٍ ما لاحَ في غَسَقِ الدُّجى

اِلاّ أَرِقْتُ لومضهِ المتعالي

اِلاّ أَرِقْتُ لومضهِ المتعالي

and at lightning: never does it flash in night's deep darkness

And for lightning flashes in the gloom of night

but I lie sleepless at its lofty gleam.

Unless I stay awake for its lofty glow,

ما لي وما للامعاتِ أَشيمُها

ما لي وما للامعاتِ أَشيمُها

سَفَهاً وما للهاتفاتِ ومالي

سَفَهاً وما للهاتفاتِ ومالي

What have I to do with the flashes, which I scan

What is it to me, the lightning I blame

foolishly? What have the calling birds to do with me?

Foolishly, and what is it to the clouds and me,

يُضْرِمْنَ في قلبي لواعجَ جمرِه

يُضْرِمْنَ في قلبي لواعجَ جمرِه

قلبي لها بعدَ التفرُّقِِ صالِ

قلبي لها بعدَ التفرُّقِِ صالِ

They kindle in my heart the searing pangs of its embers;

Kindling in my heart the embers of their fervor

my heart is scorched by them after separation.

My heart is theirs after the separation,

ما هبَّ معتلُّ النسيمِ عنِ الحِمى

ما هبَّ معتلُّ النسيمِ عنِ الحِمى

اِلاّ فَزِعتُ إلى صَباً وشَمالِ

اِلاّ فَزِعتُ إلى صَباً وشَمالِ

Never does the languid breeze blow from the guarded pasture

Nothing stirs of the defective breeze from fever

without my hastening toward the east and north winds.

Unless I startle towards youth and north,

وسألتُ نفّاحَ النسيمِ لأنَّهُ

وسألتُ نفّاحَ النسيمِ لأنَّهُ

يَدري بِكُنْهِ قضيَّتي وبحالي

يَدري بِكُنْهِ قضيَّتي وبحالي

And I asked the wafting breeze, since it

And I asked the blowing breeze as he knows

knows the true nature of my plight and my condition,

The essence of my decree and my state,

عن جيرة لم تخل فكرة خاطري

عن جيرة لم تخل فكرة خاطري

من ذكر أيام لهم وليال

من ذكر أيام لهم وليال

about neighbors; my thoughts have never been empty

About a neighbor who did not cease to occupy

of memories of their days and nights.

My thoughts with memories of days with them and nights,

يا حارِ قد غَدَتِ الديارُ عواطلاً

يا حارِ قد غَدَتِ الديارُ عواطلاً

منهمْ وقد كانت وهنَّ حوالِ

منهمْ وقد كانت وهنَّ حوالِ

O Harith, the dwellings have become unadorned

O stirring of passion! The abode has become desolate

without them, though once they were adorned.

Of them though it was once filled with loved ones,

أُرْدُدْ عليَّ الظاعنينَ وخلَّني

أُرْدُدْ عليَّ الظاعنينَ وخلَّني

وهواهمُ وملامةَ العُذّالِ

وهواهمُ وملامةَ العُذّالِ

Bring back to me those who departed, and leave me

Make me remember the departed and leave me

with my love for them and the censurers' reproaches.

With their love and reproach of one who finds faults,

ودعِ القريضَ لقائليهِ سوى الذي

ودعِ القريضَ لقائليهِ سوى الذي

يأتيكَ مثلَ الدرَّ مِن أغزالي

يأتيكَ مثلَ الدرَّ مِن أغزالي

And leave verse to those who utter it, except what

And leave poetry to its composer unless it comes

comes to you like pearls from my love poems.

To you like a pearl from my gazelles,

فلقد ظَفِرتُ مِن النظيمِ ببحرهِ ال

فلقد ظَفِرتُ مِن النظيمِ ببحرهِ ال

طامي وغيري منه بالأوشالِ

طامي وغيري منه بالأوشالِ

For I have gained from crafted verse its sea, the

So I have gained from prosody in its ocean

surging one, while others gain from it mere trickles.

Endless surging waves and others mere pebbles,

مِن كلَّ قافيةٍ ترى في طيَّها

مِن كلَّ قافيةٍ ترى في طيَّها

ما شئتَ مِن حِكَمٍ ومِن أمثالِ

ما شئتَ مِن حِكَمٍ ومِن أمثالِ

In every rhymed poem you see, within its folds,

In every rhyme its schemes contain

all you wish of wise sayings and proverbs.

Whatever you wish of wisdom and proverbs,

وعلى جزالتِها وجودةِ سكبِها

وعلى جزالتِها وجودةِ سكبِها

لم تمشِ يوماً مِسيةَ المختالِ

لم تمشِ يوماً مِسيةَ المختالِ

For all its vigor and the excellence of its casting,

And in the richness of its pouring and quality

it has never walked with a swaggerer's gait.

It never walks the walk of pretentiousness,

ولها المعاني الباهراتُ يَزينُها

ولها المعاني الباهراتُ يَزينُها

لفظٌ كما نَضَّدْتَ سِمْطَ لآلي

لفظٌ كما نَضَّدْتَ سِمْطَ لآلي

And it has dazzling meanings, adorned by

And it has magnificent meanings adorned

wording like a strand of pearls you have arranged.

With words well-arranged like pearls,

شِعرٌ هو السَّحرُ الحلالُ وغيرُه

شِعرٌ هو السَّحرُ الحلالُ وغيرُه

شِعرٌ إذا ما جاءَ غيرُ حلالِ

شِعرٌ إذا ما جاءَ غيرُ حلالِ

Poetry that is lawful magic; other

Poetry which is permitted sorcery and otherwise

poetry, when it comes, is unlawful.

Just poetry when it comes is unlawful,

سِيّانِ اِكثاري إذا ألفَّتُه

سِيّانِ اِكثاري إذا ألفَّتُه

يَحكي النجومَ الزُّهْرَ أو اِقلالي

يَحكي النجومَ الزُّهْرَ أو اِقلالي

It is all one whether I write much, when I compose it

It makes no difference, my abundance, if I compose

to resemble the radiant stars, or write little.

Telling of stars, flowers, or my visions,

فالفضلُ تعرفهُ وتعرفُ أهلَه

فالفضلُ تعرفهُ وتعرفُ أهلَه

بأقلَّ شيءٍ مِن بديعِ مقالِ

بأقلَّ شيءٍ مِن بديعِ مقالِ

For you recognize excellence, and recognize its possessors,

For you know virtue and you know its people

by the slightest sample of exquisite speech.

With the slightest thing of eloquent speech,