مَنwho مُبلِغٌwill convey نَجداًNajd وَمَنand those بِنَجدin Najd
مَن مُبلِغٌ نَجداً وَمَن بِنَجد
سَلامَthe greeting of مَيتِdead الصَبرِpatience حَيِّalive الوَجدِardent longing
سَلامَ مَيتِ الصَبرِ حَيِّ الوَجدِ
Who will carry to Najd, and to those in Najd,
Who will convey Najd's greetings, and who to Najd
the greeting of one whose patience is dead, whose longing lives?
Will bring peace to the dead of patience, alive with passion?
يَبكيhe weeps مَتَىwhenever شامَspies بَريقاًa gleam بِالحِمىin the protected pasture
يَبكي مَتَى شامَ بَريقاً بِالحِمى
وَقَلَّand seldom ما(particle completing 'seldom') يُغنيavails البُكاweeping أَوor يُجديhelps
وَقَلَّ ما يُغني البُكا أَو يُجدي
He weeps whenever he spies a gleam in the protected pasture,
He weeps when the evening glows with fever's shimmer,
yet seldom does weeping avail or help.
Yet weeping avails little, and benefits less.
يُلصِقُhe presses بِالصَعيدِto the earth قَلباًa heart خافِقاًthrobbing
يُلصِقُ بِالصَعيدِ قَلباً خافِقاً
ظَمآنَthirsty طالَhas grown long عَهدُهُits interval بِالوِردِsince drinking
ظَمآنَ طالَ عَهدُهُ بِالوِردِ
He presses to the earth a throbbing heart,
He presses a pounding heart to the ground,
thirsty, long since its last draught.
Thirsty, long estranged from the valley blooms.
يَنشُرُهُunfolds him الشَوقُlonging وَيَطويهِand folds him away كَماjust as
يَنشُرُهُ الشَوقُ وَيَطويهِ كَما
يُعيدُهُrestores him غَرامُهُhis passion وَيُبديand brings forth
يُعيدُهُ غَرامُهُ وَيُبدي
Longing unfolds him and folds him away, just as
Yearning unfurls it, then folds it away
his passion restores him and brings him forth.
As passion returns it, and lays it bare.
ذابَhe melted مِنَfrom الشَوقِlonging فَلَوso if فُتِّشَwere searched عَنfor
ذابَ مِنَ الشَوقِ فَلَو فُتِّشَ عَن
هُhim بردُهhis cloak لَمnot يُرَwould be seen غَيرُother than البُردِthe cloak
هُ بردُه لَم يُرَ غَيرُ البُردِ
He has melted with longing; if a search were made for
If searched for its coolness when melted by yearning,
him in his cloak, nothing would be seen but the cloak.
Naught would be found but the chill of the graves.
تَقرفُscrape أَظفارُthe nails of الأَسىgrief قُروحَهُhis sores
تَقرفُ أَظفارُ الأَسى قُروحَهُ
بِقَلبِهِin his heart لاnot لَحمِهِhis flesh وَالجِلدِand the skin
بِقَلبِهِ لا لَحمِهِ وَالجِلدِ
The nails of grief scrape his sores,
The claws of sorrow wound it,
in his heart, not in his flesh and skin.
Not its flesh or skin, but its heart.
أَفديI would ransom عريباًa little Arab band بِالحِمىin the protected pasture عِندَهُمُwith them
أَفدي عريباً بِالحِمى عِندَهُمُ
قَلبيmy heart وَتَبريحُand the torment of الغَرامِpassion عِنديwith me
قَلبي وَتَبريحُ الغَرامِ عِندي
I would ransom the little Arab band in the protected pasture; with them
I would ransom a loved one consumed by fever
is my heart, while passion's torment stays with me.
While my heart and agony of love lie with me.
تَكادُalmost تُلقيcasts out كَبِديmy liver أَفلاذهاits pieces
تَكادُ تُلقي كَبِدي أَفلاذها
مِنfrom لَهَفيmy anguished longing عَلىfor الكَثيبِthe dune الفَردِsolitary
مِن لَهَفي عَلى الكَثيبِ الفَردِ
My liver almost casts out its pieces
My vitals nearly cast forth their contents
from my yearning for the solitary dune.
At my burning for the lone, erect peak.
فَاِعجَبso marvel لِحُرٍّat a free man ذلَّwas humbled بَعدَafter عِزَّةٍhonor
فَاِعجَب لِحُرٍّ ذلَّ بَعدَ عِزَّةٍ
فَاِقتادَهُso led him الهَوىpassion اِقتِيادَthe leading of العَبدِa slave
فَاِقتادَهُ الهَوى اِقتِيادَ العَبدِ
Marvel, then, at a free man humbled after honor,
How strange for a free man, after such pride,
whom passion led as one leads a slave.
To be led by passion, driven like a slave!
دَعنِيleave me وَنعمانَand Nu'man الأَراكِthe arak trees أَبكِهِlet me weep for it
دَعنِي وَنعمانَ الأَراكِ أَبكِهِ
فَكَمfor how often زَجَرتُI sought omens from فيهِthere طَيرَthe bird of سَعديmy good fortune
فَكَم زَجَرتُ فيهِ طَيرَ سَعدي
Leave me with Nu'man of the arak trees, to weep for it;
Leave me to Numan's meadows, let me weep there,
for how often there I sought omens from the bird of my good fortune!
For long I have chased the birds of Sa'di from them.
أَيامin the days when غُصنيmy branch مُثمِرٌfruitful وَلمَّتيand my locks
أَيام غُصني مُثمِرٌ وَلمَّتي
مُسوَدَّةٌblack وَالبيضُand the fair women تَرعىhonored عَهديmy pledge
مُسوَدَّةٌ وَالبيضُ تَرعى عَهدي
In days when my branch bore fruit, and my locks
My branch once fruited, my tresses darkened,
were black, and fair women kept faith with me;
While the white herons fed in my valley's peace.
وَفيand on الشِفاهِthe lips خَمرَتيmy wine وَفيand in العيوthe eyes (first part)
وَفي الشِفاهِ خَمرَتي وَفي العيو
نِ(end of 'eyes') نَرجِسيmy narcissus وَفيand on الخُدودِthe cheeks وَرديmy roses
نِ نَرجِسي وَفي الخُدودِ وَردي
and on the lips was my wine, and in the eyes
My wine was on my lips, my narcissus in my eyes,
my narcissus, and on the cheeks my roses.
My roses on my cheeks, my myrtle at my waist.
أَيامin the days when كنتُI was وَالَّذيand the one whom أُحِبُّهُI love
أَيام كنتُ وَالَّذي أُحِبُّهُ
لاno فَرقَdifference بَينَbetween خَدِّهِhis cheek وَخَدّيand my cheek
لا فَرقَ بَينَ خَدِّهِ وَخَدّي
In days when I was with the one I loved,
When my youth remained unspilled, I and my love
there was no difference between his cheek and mine;
Knew no difference between his cheek and mine.
حينَwhen شَبابيmy youth ماnot هُريقَhad been spilled ماؤُهُits water
حينَ شَبابي ما هُريقَ ماؤُهُ
وَلاnor كَباfailed to spark عِندَbefore الحِسانِthe beauties زَنديmy fire-stick
وَلا كَبا عِندَ الحِسانِ زَندي
when the water of my youth had not been spilled,
Now part of my days offers security
nor had my fire-stick failed before the beauties.
To those who decry all I have squandered and lost.
وَالآنَand now بيin me مِنfrom زَمَنيmy time ضَمانَةٌan infirmity
وَالآنَ بي مِن زَمَني ضَمانَةٌ
ضامِنَةٌguaranteeing لِلكاشِحينَto the enemies فَقديmy demise
ضامِنَةٌ لِلكاشِحينَ فَقدي
And now my time has brought me an infirmity
If the hands of the evident King do not save me,
assuring my enemies of my demise,
Best of all helpers, grantors of gifts,
إِنif لَمnot تَدارَكنيcome to my rescue أَياديthe favors of الملكِthe king الthe (name prefix)
إِن لَم تَدارَكني أَيادي الملكِ ال
ظاهِرِZahir خَيرُthe best مُنجِدٍhelper وَمُعديand giver of redress
ظاهِرِ خَيرُ مُنجِدٍ وَمُعدي
unless the favors of the king come to my rescue—
See, now I look to the days of my fate
al-Zahir, the finest helper and giver of redress.
For their justice and grace to assist me.
فَهاso behold أَناI الآنَnow عَلىagainst دَهريmy fate إِلىto
فَها أَنا الآنَ عَلى دَهري إِلى
مَعروفِهِhis kindness وَعَدلِهِand his justice أَستَعديI seek redress
مَعروفِهِ وَعَدلِهِ أَستَعدي
So here I am now, against my fate, appealing to
A king who protects his people from fate's caprice
his kindness and justice for redress.
And whom no lion's might can overmaster;
مَلكٌa king مِنَfrom الدَهرِfate يُجيرُshelters ناسَهُhis people
مَلكٌ مِنَ الدَهرِ يُجيرُ ناسَهُ
وَلاand not يُجارُare sheltered مِنهُfrom him غُلبُthe thick-necked الأسدِlions
وَلا يُجارُ مِنهُ غُلبُ الأسدِ
A king who shelters his people from fate,
One day when you see the lances in rows
yet thick-necked lions find no shelter from him.
And the horses charging and the warriors lunging,
لَوif كانَhad been يَومَon the day of الدارِthe House غازيGhazi شاهِداًpresent with
لَو كانَ يَومَ الدارِ غازي شاهِداً
عُثمانَUthman رَدَّhe would have repelled عَنهُfrom him كُلَّevery حَدِّblade-edge
عُثمانَ رَدَّ عَنهُ كُلَّ حَدِّ
Had Ghazi been present on the Day of the House,
When the brandishing there is like clouds
he would have turned every blade away from Uthman.
And its lightning is the clash of arms,
وَلَمand not يَكُنwould have been جَرىoccurred الَّذيthat which قَبلُpreviously جَرىoccurred
وَلَم يَكُن جَرى الَّذي قَبلُ جَرى
بَينَbetween أَبيthe father of السبطَينِthe two grandsons وَاِبنِand the son of هِندِHind
بَينَ أَبي السبطَينِ وَاِبنِ هِندِ
Nor would what once befell have come to pass
There he will wrap his sword in his cloak,
between Abu al-Sibtayn and Ibn Hind.
Cleansed of the blood of foes in its sheath,
مَلكٌa king إِذاwhen نارُthe fire of الهياجِconflict اِحتَدَمَتrages
مَلكٌ إِذا نارُ الهياجِ اِحتَدَمَت
فيin مَأزِقِthe narrow press of الحَربِwar الشَديدِfierce الوَقدِburning
في مَأزِقِ الحَربِ الشَديدِ الوَقدِ
A king—when the fire of conflict rages
Bow in the dust so those who never recited
in the fiercely blazing press of war,
The 'Mother of the Book' prostrate before him.
يَوماًon a day تَرىyou see فيهِon which القَناthe spears رَواعِفاًbleeding
يَوماً تَرى فيهِ القَنا رَواعِفاً
وَالخَيلُand the horses تَرديgallop وَالكُماةُand the armored warriors تُرديslay
وَالخَيلُ تَردي وَالكُماةُ تُردي
on a day when you see the spears bleeding,
Who there is like Antar and like Aamir
and horses gallop, and armored warriors slay,
In valor, like the son of Ma'adi?
وَالنَّقعُand the dust فيهِthere كَالغَمامِlike a cloud وَالظُّبىand the blades
وَالنَّقعُ فيهِ كَالغَمامِ وَالظُّبى
بُروقُهُits lightning وَالرَّكضُand the galloping صَوتُthe sound of الرَعدِthunder
بُروقُهُ وَالرَّكضُ صَوتُ الرَعدِ
and the dust there is like a cloud, and the blades
His awe of demeanor almost frees him
its lightning, and the galloping the sound of thunder—
When horrors strike from seeking troops.
هُناكَthere يُلفىis found سَيفُهُhis sword بِكَفِّهِin his hand
هُناكَ يُلفى سَيفُهُ بِكَفِّهِ
صَلتاًunsheathed وَمِنand of دَمِthe blood of العِداthe foes فيin غِمدِa sheath
صَلتاً وَمِن دَمِ العِدا في غِمدِ
there his sword is found in his hand,
The kings are as a necklace, and he
bare, yet sheathed in the blood of his foes.
At the nape, joining together its strands.
يَركَعُit bows فيin الهامِheads فَتَهويso they fall سُجَّداًprostrate
يَركَعُ في الهامِ فَتَهوي سُجَّداً
مِنof كُلِّevery مَنone who لَمdid not يَتلُrecite آيَthe verses of الحَمدِal-Hamd ('Praise')
مِن كُلِّ مَن لَم يَتلُ آيَ الحَمدِ
It bows within heads, and they tumble down prostrate,
The cheeks of every tyrant supplicate him,
those of all who never recited the verses of al-Hamd.
And he fells the frivolous with utmost gravity.
فَمنthen who هُناكَthere عَنتَرٌAntar وَعامِرٌand Amir
فَمن هُناكَ عَنتَرٌ وَعامِرٌ
لَدَيهِbeside him فيin الإِقدامِdaring وَاِبنُand the son of مَعدِيMa'di
لَدَيهِ في الإِقدامِ وَاِبنُ مَعدِي
Then who are Antar and Amir there,
His deeds have earned him, in all the world,
and Ibn Ma'di, beside him in daring?
The loftiest praise and most splendid acclaim.
هَيبَتُهُhis fearsome presence تَكادُalmost تَغنيهِsuffices him لَدىamid الthe (article)
هَيبَتُهُ تَكادُ تَغنيهِ لَدى ال
رَوعِterror عَنِfrom اِستِظهارِهِhis seeking support بِالجُندِwith the troops
رَوعِ عَنِ اِستِظهارِهِ بِالجُندِ
His fearsome presence almost spares him, amid
The kings fall short of his lofty qualities,
terror, the need to seek support from troops.
Of the apex of his glory and might.
كَأَنَّماas though المُلوكُthe kings عِقدٌa necklace وَهوَand he فيon
كَأَنَّما المُلوكُ عِقدٌ وَهوَ في
جِيدِthe neck of العُلىglory واسِطَةٌthe central jewel لِلعِقدِof the necklace
جِيدِ العُلى واسِطَةٌ لِلعِقدِ
It is as though kings were a necklace, and he, on
It is as if his traits of justice, goodness,
glory's neck, were the necklace's central jewel.
And superiority are the Mahdi's traits.
يَضرَعُsubmits خَدُّthe cheek of كُلّevery جَبّارٍtyrant لَهُto him
يَضرَعُ خَدُّ كُلّ جَبّارٍ لَهُ
وَيصرَعُand fells الهَزلَfrivolity بِجِدِّwith the earnestness of الجِدِّearnestness
وَيصرَعُ الهَزلَ بِجِدِّ الجِدِّ
Every tyrant's cheek submits to him,
O King, who trembles at praise
and he fells frivolity with the utmost earnestness.
Like the quaking of a sharpened sword,
أَكسَبَهُhave earned him فِعالُهُhis deeds بَينَamong الوَرىmankind
أَكسَبَهُ فِعالُهُ بَينَ الوَرى
أَجَدَّthe most earnest مَدحٍpraise وَأَجَلَّand the loftiest حَمدِacclaim
أَجَدَّ مَدحٍ وَأَجَلَّ حَمدِ
His deeds have won him among mankind
Take this eulogy, and pay no heed
the most earnest praise and the loftiest acclaim.
To the dangerous utterances of slanderers!
تَقاعَسَfell behind المُلوكُthe kings دونَshort of شَأوِهِhis course
تَقاعَسَ المُلوكُ دونَ شَأوِهِ
عَنfrom غايَتَيthe twin goals of سُؤدَدِهِhis eminence وَالمَجدِand glory
عَن غايَتَي سُؤدَدِهِ وَالمَجدِ
Kings have fallen short of his course,
They spurned Labid like an idiot, and a slave
far from the twin goals of his eminence and glory.
In rags recoiled from their evil gifts.
يُسَرُّhe is delighted بِالوَفدِby the delegation مَتىwhenever ما(emphatic particle) أَمَّهُit comes to him
يُسَرُّ بِالوَفدِ مَتى ما أَمَّهُ
فَهوَfor he بِبَذلِby bestowing الرِّفدِgifts مُغنيenricher of الوَفدِthe delegation
فَهوَ بِبَذلِ الرِّفدِ مُغني الوَفدِ
He rejoices in a delegation whenever it comes to him;
No Kindeh envies the merit of such a gift;
for by bestowing gifts, he enriches the delegation.
I mean Imru' al-Qais ibn Hujr al-Kindeh.
ماnot أَمَّهُcame to him فيin دَهرِناour age مِنany قاصِدٍseeker
ما أَمَّهُ في دَهرِنا مِن قاصِدٍ
فَشَدَّand then saddled عَنساًa sturdy she-camel بَعدَهاafter that visit لِقَصدِfor a quest
فَشَدَّ عَنساً بَعدَها لِقَصدِ
No seeker in our age has come to him
I gave you a maiden, peerless,
and afterward saddled a sturdy she-camel for another quest.
And she is pleased with the visit.
فاقَsurpassed المُلوكَthe kings فيin المَعاليnoble achievements مِثلَjust as ما(clause-linking particle)
فاقَ المُلوكَ في المَعالي مِثلَ ما
فاقَتsurpassed أَياديهِhis favors اِنحِصارَthe bounds of العَدِّcounting
فاقَت أَياديهِ اِنحِصارَ العَدِّ
He has surpassed kings in noble achievements, just as
An august gift for a most capable king
his favors have surpassed the bounds of counting.
Who attained the heights with her dower and price.
كَأَنَّماas though صِفاتُهُhis qualities فيin العَدلِjustice وَالand the (article)
كَأَنَّما صِفاتُهُ في العَدلِ وَال
إِحسانِbenevolence وَالفَضلِand bounty صِفاتُthe qualities of المَهديal-Mahdi
إِحسانِ وَالفَضلِ صِفاتُ المَهدي
It is as though his qualities in justice and
May the Evident King remain evidently
benevolence and bounty were those of al-Mahdi.
Victorious over enemies, sublimely glorious!
ياO أَيُّهاyou المَلكُking الَّذيwho يَهتَزُّthrills لِلto the (article)
يا أَيُّها المَلكُ الَّذي يَهتَزُّ لِل
مَدحِpraise اِهتِزازَthe quivering of السَيفِthe sword ذيpossessing الفِرِندِwatered-steel markings
مَدحِ اِهتِزازَ السَيفِ ذي الفِرِندِ
O king, who thrills to
No morning breeze blew gently there,
praise as a watered-steel sword quivers,
No ringdoves crooned to stir the pine trees.
خُذtake مِدحَةًa panegyric وافَتكَhas come to you مِنfrom مُفَوَّهٍan eloquent poet
خُذ مِدحَةً وافَتكَ مِن مُفَوَّهٍ
بِالأَفوَهِto al-Afwah الأَودِيِّal-Awdi جاءَتit came تُوديbringing ruin
بِالأَفوَهِ الأَودِيِّ جاءَت تُودي
accept a panegyric brought to you by an eloquent poet.
It comes to lay al-Afwah al-Awdi low.
رَدَّتit made لَبيداًLabid كَالبَليدِlike a dullard وَاِنثَنىand turned back
رَدَّت لَبيداً كَالبَليدِ وَاِنثَنى
عَنهاfrom it عَبيدٌAbid فيin ثِيابِthe clothes of عَبدِa slave
عَنها عَبيدٌ في ثِيابِ عَبدِ
It made Labid seem a dullard; away recoiled
Abid from it, dressed in a slave's clothes.
لاnot يَكنِدُdenies الكِندِيُّal-Kindi فَضلَthe merit of مِثلِهاits like
لا يَكنِدُ الكِندِيُّ فَضلَ مِثلِها
أَعنيI mean اِمرَأَImru' القَيسِal-Qays بنَson of حُجرِHujr الكِنديal-Kindi
أَعني اِمرَأَ القَيسِ بنَ حُجرِ الكِندي
Al-Kindi does not deny the merit of such a poem—
I mean Imru' al-Qays ibn Hujr al-Kindi.
أَهدَيتُهاI have offered her عَذراءَa virgin غَيرَnot فارِكٍone who hates her husband
أَهدَيتُها عَذراءَ غَيرَ فارِكٍ
لَكِنَّهاbut she مَسرورَةٌdelighted بِالقَصدِwith the destination
لَكِنَّها مَسرورَةٌ بِالقَصدِ
I have offered her as a virgin, not a husband-hating bride,
but she is delighted by her destination.
كَفيئَةًa worthy match تُهدىis offered لِأَكفىto the ablest مَلِكٍking
كَفيئَةً تُهدى لِأَكفى مَلِكٍ
حازَwon العُلىthe heights بِمَهرِهاwith her dowry وَالنَقدِand cash payment
حازَ العُلى بِمَهرِها وَالنَقدِ
A worthy match, bestowed on the ablest king,
who won the heights with her dowry and cash payment.
لاmay not بَرِحَcease to be الظاهِرُal-Zahir مَلكاًa king ظاهِراًvictorious
لا بَرِحَ الظاهِرُ مَلكاً ظاهِراً
عَلىover الأَعاديthe foes بِعُلُوِّthrough the loftiness of الجَدِّgood fortune
عَلى الأَعادي بِعُلُوِّ الجَدِّ
May al-Zahir ever remain a triumphant king
over his foes, through his lofty fortune,
ماas long as هَبَّblows مُعتَلُّlanguid النَسيمِthe breeze سحرَةًbefore dawn
ما هَبَّ مُعتَلُّ النَسيمِ سحرَةً
وَماand as long as شَدَتsing حَمائِمٌdoves فيamong الرَّندِthe laurel trees
وَما شَدَت حَمائِمٌ في الرَّندِ
as long as the languid breeze blows before dawn,
and as long as doves sing among the laurel trees.
Partial English translation: 72 of 86 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1