دَعِleave الأَثَلاتِthe tamarisks وَآرامَand the gazelles of رامَهRama
دَعِ الأَثَلاتِ وَآرامَ رامَه
لِأَهلِto those with قُلوبٍhearts بِهاwith them مُستَهامَهinfatuated
لِأَهلِ قُلوبٍ بِها مُستَهامَه
Leave the tamarisks and the gazelles of Rama
to those whose hearts are love-struck by them.
وَخَلِّand leave عُرَيباًa little Arab band بِنَجدٍin Najd وَلاand do not
وَخَلِّ عُرَيباً بِنَجدٍ وَلا
تَكُنbe عاصِياًdisobedient to عَذَليmy reproach وَالمَلامَهand rebuke
تَكُن عاصِياً عَذَلي وَالمَلامَه
Leave the little Arab band in Najd, and do not
disobey my reproaches and rebukes.
وَصِلand court رَشَأًa fawn مِنfrom بَنيthe people of التُركِthe Turks كالlike the
وَصِل رَشَأً مِن بَني التُركِ كال
غَزالِgazelle وَكَالخَوطِand like the slender shoot لَحظاًin glance وَقامَهand in stature
غَزالِ وَكَالخَوطِ لَحظاً وَقامَه
Court a fawn from among the Turks, like the
gazelle in glance, and like the slender shoot in stature.
فَإِنّيfor I أَرىfind غَزَليmy love poetry فيabout الغلاthe young man (word beginning)
فَإِنّي أَرى غَزَلي في الغلا
مِyoung man (word ending) أَحسَنَfiner مِنthan غَزَليmy love poetry فيabout الغُلامَهthe maiden
مِ أَحسَنَ مِن غَزَلي في الغُلامَه
For I find my love verse on the young
man finer than my love verse on the maiden.
إِذاwhen اِرتَجَّquivers فيin خَدِّهِhis cheek الجُلَّنارpomegranate blossom
إِذا اِرتَجَّ في خَدِّهِ الجُلَّنار
فَفيthen in ثَغرِهِhis mouth لِلأَقاحِfor the daisies اِبتِسامَهa smile
فَفي ثَغرِهِ لِلأَقاحِ اِبتِسامَه
When pomegranate blossom trembles in his cheek,
the daisies smile within his mouth.
إِذاwhen هَزَّhe sways فَوقَabove الكَثيبِthe dune القَضيبthe slender bough
إِذا هَزَّ فَوقَ الكَثيبِ القَضيب
أَقامَhe brings on عَلىupon عاشِقيهِhis lovers القِيامَهJudgment Day
أَقامَ عَلى عاشِقيهِ القِيامَه
When he sways the bough above the dune,
he brings Judgment Day upon his lovers.
وَلِمand why لاnot يُرىis seen ثَغرُهُhis teeth كَالحَبابlike bubbles
وَلِم لا يُرى ثَغرُهُ كَالحَباب
وَمنand from فيهِhis mouth فيهِwithin it يَمُجُّhe pours forth المُدامَهthe wine
وَمن فيهِ فيهِ يَمُجُّ المُدامَه
Why should his teeth not seem like bubbles,
when he pours wine among them from his mouth?
إِذاwhen وَجهُهُhis face لاحَshines بَينَamong المِلاحِthe beautiful
إِذا وَجهُهُ لاحَ بَينَ المِلاحِ
أَقَرَّacknowledged الجَميعُeveryone لَهُto him بِالزَّعامَهsupremacy
أَقَرَّ الجَميعُ لَهُ بِالزَّعامَه
When his face shines among the fair,
all acknowledge his supremacy.
أَميرٌa prince وَتَوقيعُهُand his signature خَدُّهُhis cheek
أَميرٌ وَتَوقيعُهُ خَدُّهُ
وَطابَعهُand his seal فيهِon it وَهوَand it is العَلامَهthe distinguishing mark
وَطابَعهُ فيهِ وَهوَ العَلامَه
A prince: his cheek is his signature,
and on it is his seal, his distinguishing mark.
فَإِمّاso whenever تَثَنّىhe sways شَكاcomplains خَصرُهُhis waist
فَإِمّا تَثَنّى شَكا خَصرُهُ
إِلىto رِدفِهِhis rump جَورَهُits oppression وَالظُلامَهand injustice
إِلى رِدفِهِ جَورَهُ وَالظُلامَه
Whenever he sways, his waist complains
to his rump of its oppression and injustice,
كَماjust as يَشتَكيcomplains المالُwealth مِنof راحَتَيكyour two palms
كَما يَشتَكي المالُ مِن راحَتَيك
إِلَيكَto you فَلَمyet not تُشكِهِyou redress its grievance ياO أُسامَهUsama
إِلَيكَ فَلَم تُشكِهِ يا أُسامَه
as wealth complains of your two palms
to you—yet you grant it no redress, O Usama.
وَهَلّاand why not وَلَيسَتand there is no لَهُfor it قيمَةٌvalue
وَهَلّا وَلَيسَت لَهُ قيمَةٌ
لَدَيكَwith you كَماjust as ماnot لَهُfor it مِنany إِقامَهlasting stay
لَدَيكَ كَما ما لَهُ مِن إِقامَه
And why not, when it has no value
to you, just as it never stays?
يَفِرُّflee أَعاديكَyour enemies يَومَon the day of الوَغىbattle
يَفِرُّ أَعاديكَ يَومَ الوَغى
إِذاwhen ما(emphatic particle) رَأَوكَthey see you فِرارَthe flight of النَعامَهthe ostrich
إِذا ما رَأَوكَ فِرارَ النَعامَه
Your enemies flee on the day of battle,
when they see you, as an ostrich flees.
فَمَنthen who is حاتمٌHatim إِنif بَذَلتَyou bestow النَدىbounty
فَمَن حاتمٌ إِن بَذَلتَ النَدى
وَمَنand who هُوَis he فيin الجودِgenerosity كَعبُKa'b بنُson of مامَهMama
وَمَن هُوَ في الجودِ كَعبُ بنُ مامَه
Who, then, is Hatim when you bestow bounty?
And who in generosity is Ka'b ibn Mama?
أَتانيcame to me البَشيرُthe bearer of good news بِعَودِwith the return of الأَميرِthe prince
أَتاني البَشيرُ بِعَودِ الأَميرِ
بِعافِيَةٍin good health فائِزاًhaving attained بِالسَلامَهsafety
بِعافِيَةٍ فائِزاً بِالسَلامَه
The bearer of glad tidings brought me news of the prince's return,
in good health, having attained safety.
فَوافىso he arrived دِمَشقَDamascus كَشَمسِlike the sun of الضُحىthe forenoon
فَوافى دِمَشقَ كَشَمسِ الضُحى
فَزالَتso lifted مِنَof الهَمِّgrief عَنهاfrom her غَمامَهa cloud
فَزالَت مِنَ الهَمِّ عَنها غَمامَه
He came to Damascus like the forenoon sun,
and a cloud of grief lifted from her.
وَأَقبَلَand he advanced فيamid جَحفَلٍa mighty host بِاللِقاءِfor battle
وَأَقبَلَ في جَحفَلٍ بِاللِقاءِ
شَديدِintense in الغَرامِardor عَتيدِready in العَرامَهferocity
شَديدِ الغَرامِ عَتيدِ العَرامَه
He advanced amid a host, for battle
fiercely ardent, its ferocity at the ready.
غَنيمَتُهُhis booty الحَربُwar لَكنَّهُyet he
غَنيمَتُهُ الحَربُ لَكنَّهُ
يَرىsees أَنَّthat فيin السِّلمِpeace أَوفىgreater غَرامَهexpense
يَرى أَنَّ في السِّلمِ أَوفى غَرامَه
War is his gain; yet he
finds in peace a greater expense.
بِأَلفِwith a thousand ذِراعٍarms عَلىupon أَلفِa thousand ذِمرٍchampions
بِأَلفِ ذِراعٍ عَلى أَلفِ ذِمرٍ
طِمِرٍّnimble مُسَربَلَةٍclad in أَلفُa thousand لامَهsuits of armor
طِمِرٍّ مُسَربَلَةٍ أَلفُ لامَه
With a thousand arms upon a thousand champions,
nimble, clad in a thousand suits of armor.
فَلَوso if صَدَمواthey struck جَبَلاًa mountain دَهدَهوهُthey would send it rolling
فَلَو صَدَموا جَبَلاً دَهدَهوهُ
سَريعاًswiftly وَلَوeven if أَنَّهُit were أَلفُa thousand قامَهa man's height
سَريعاً وَلَو أَنَّهُ أَلفُ قامَه
If they struck a mountain, they would send it rolling,
swiftly, even were it a thousand men tall.
وَفيand on كُلِّevery ما(emphatic particle) عَلَمٍbanner أَبيَضٍwhite
وَفي كُلِّ ما عَلَمٍ أَبيَضٍ
مِنَof الذَهَبِgold الأَحمَرِred اللَونِin color جامَهa roundel
مِنَ الذَهَبِ الأَحمَرِ اللَونِ جامَه
And on every white standard
is a roundel of red-hued gold.
وَكَمand how often رَدَّhe brought back عُقبانَهُhis eagles وَهيَwhile they were حُمرٌred
وَكَم رَدَّ عُقبانَهُ وَهيَ حُمرٌ
وَقَدand indeed كُنَّthey had been بيضاًwhite كَلَونِlike the color of الحَمامَهthe dove
وَقَد كُنَّ بيضاً كَلَونِ الحَمامَه
How often he brought his eagles back red,
though they had been white as a dove.
يَسُدُّhe secures الثُغورَthe frontiers بِطَعناتِهِwith his thrusts
يَسُدُّ الثُغورَ بِطَعناتِهِ
وَيَفتَحُand he conquers ماwhat كانَwas صَعبَdifficult المَرامَهof attainment
وَيَفتَحُ ما كانَ صَعبَ المَرامَه
He secures the frontiers with his thrusts,
and conquers what was hard to attain.
ألوفٌaccustomed لِهَزمِto routing أُلوفِthousands of العِداthe foes
ألوفٌ لِهَزمِ أُلوفِ العِدا
وَبَذلِand bestowing الأُلوفِthousands لِأَهلِon people of الكَرامَهhonor
وَبَذلِ الأُلوفِ لِأَهلِ الكَرامَه
Accustomed to routing thousands of foes
and bestowing thousands on people of honor,
بِبَذلِin bestowing النَدىbounty وَاِبتِذالِand making light of الرَدىdeath
بِبَذلِ النَدى وَاِبتِذالِ الرَدى
يُسَرُّhe rejoices فَماso no تَعتَريهِassails him نَدامَهregret
يُسَرُّ فَما تَعتَريهِ نَدامَه
in dispensing bounty and making light of death
he rejoices; no regret assails him.
يَرىhe is seen ماضِيَunwavering in العَزمِresolve فيin جودِهِhis generosity
يَرى ماضِيَ العَزمِ في جودِهِ
يَقولُhe says لِمَنto whoever لامَهُblames him فيfor النَدىbounty مَهEnough!
يَقولُ لِمَن لامَهُ في النَدى مَه
He is seen steadfast in his generosity,
saying to whoever blames his bounty, "Enough!"
يُقيمُhe establishes السَدادَsound policy بِآرائِهِthrough his counsels
يُقيمُ السَدادَ بِآرائِهِ
فَيُدرِكُand he realizes آراءهُhis plans بِالحزامَهthrough prudence
فَيُدرِكُ آراءهُ بِالحزامَه
He establishes sound policy through his counsels,
and realizes his designs through prudence.
تَهُزُّstir المَدائِحُthe praises أَعطافَهُhis shoulders
تَهُزُّ المَدائِحُ أَعطافَهُ
كَهَزِّlike the stirring by النَّسيمِthe breeze فُروعَthe branches of البَشامَهthe balsam tree
كَهَزِّ النَّسيمِ فُروعَ البَشامَه
Praises set his shoulders swaying
as the breeze sways a balsam tree's branches.
وَقورٌdignified تَعجبmarvel مِنat حِلمِهِhis forbearance
وَقورٌ تَعجب مِن حِلمِهِ
عَلىtoward المُخطِئينَwrongdoers رَواسيthe steadfast mountains of تِهامَهTihama
عَلى المُخطِئينَ رَواسي تِهامَه
Dignified—at his forbearance
toward wrongdoers, Tihama's steadfast mountains marvel.
إِذاwhen سَلَّhe draws سَيفاًa sword غَداةَon the morning of اللقاءِbattle
إِذا سَلَّ سَيفاً غَداةَ اللقاءِ
فَماthen not يُغمِدُhe sheathes السَيفَthe sword إِلّاexcept بِهامَهin a head
فَما يُغمِدُ السَيفَ إِلّا بِهامَه
When he draws a sword on the morning of battle,
he sheathes it only in a head.
يُغادِرُhe leaves بِالأَسهُمِwith arrows الشَهمthe valiant man فيin الthe
يُغادِرُ بِالأَسهُمِ الشَهم في ال
وَغىfray شَيهَماًa porcupine لَمnot يُبَلhe cares بِالشَهامَهabout valor
وَغى شَيهَماً لَم يُبَل بِالشَهامَه
With arrows he leaves the valiant man in the
fray a porcupine, disregarding his valor.
يُسَمّىhe is called أُسامَةَUsama وَهوَand he is الَّذيthe one who
يُسَمّى أُسامَةَ وَهوَ الَّذي
يُرىhe is seen فيin الحُروبِwars كَأَلفَيlike two thousand أُسامَهlions
يُرى في الحُروبِ كَأَلفَي أُسامَه
He is named Usama, and he is the one
who appears in war like two thousand lions.
وَإِنّيand I لَأُقسِمُsurely swear أَنthat لاnot يُرىis seen
وَإِنّي لَأُقسِمُ أَن لا يُرى
نَظيرٌan equal لَهُto him بِيَمينِby an oath القَسامَهqasama (collective swearing)
نَظيرٌ لَهُ بِيَمينِ القَسامَه
And I do swear that none is seen
to equal him—by a solemn collective oath.
أَرىI see الشامَSyria خَدّاًa cheek بِوَجهِon the face of الكَعابa maiden
أَرى الشامَ خَدّاً بِوَجهِ الكَعاب
وَسيرَتُهُand his conduct فيهِupon it خالٌa mole وَشامَهand a beauty spot
وَسيرَتُهُ فيهِ خالٌ وَشامَه
I see Syria as a cheek on a maiden's face,
and his conduct upon it, a mole and beauty mark.
وَجَنَّةَand the Garden of عَدنٍEden حَكَتhas resembled دارُهُhis home
وَجَنَّةَ عَدنٍ حَكَت دارُهُ
فَلاso may it never بَرِحَتcease to be مِنهُfrom him دارَthe abode of المُقامَهpermanence
فَلا بَرِحَت مِنهُ دارَ المُقامَه
And his home has mirrored the Garden of Eden;
may it ever remain his lasting abode.
فَإيوانُfor the vaulted hall of كِسرىKisra وَكُلُّand all القُصورthe palaces
فَإيوانُ كِسرى وَكُلُّ القُصور
تُقايَسُare compared مِنfrom ظُفرِهاits nail بِالقُلامَهto a nail-clipping
تُقايَسُ مِن ظُفرِها بِالقُلامَه
For Kisra's vaulted hall and all the palaces
compare to it as a clipping from its nail.
يَرُدُّrepels اليَواقيتَthe rubies تَرخيمُهاits marblework
يَرُدُّ اليَواقيتَ تَرخيمُها
وَقَدand indeed خَجِلَتhas put to shame مِنهُof it أَدنىthe least رُخامَهmarble slab
وَقَد خَجِلَت مِنهُ أَدنى رُخامَه
Its marblework turns rubies away;
even its least marble slab has put them to shame.
تُصَغّرُseems small عِندَin the eyes of النَصارىthe Christians إِذاwhen
تُصَغّرُ عِندَ النَصارى إِذا
رَأَواthey see حُسنَهاits beauty وَدُماهاand its figures قُمامَهQumama
رَأَوا حُسنَها وَدُماها قُمامَه
Diminished in the Christians' eyes, when
they see its beauty and its figures, is Qumama.
لَقَدindeed سَئِمَhave wearied الناسُthe people مِنof جودِهِhis generosity
لَقَد سَئِمَ الناسُ مِن جودِهِ
وَماand no لِأُسامَةَfor Usama مِنهُof it سَآمَهweariness
وَما لِأُسامَةَ مِنهُ سَآمَه
People have indeed wearied of his generosity,
but Usama never wearies of it.
فَياso O عِزَّglory of دينِthe faith of الإِلَهِGod اِستَمِعlisten
فَيا عِزَّ دينِ الإِلَهِ اِستَمِع
قَريضاًverse يُفَهِّهُthat strikes speechless قِدماًof old قُدامَهQudama
قَريضاً يُفَهِّهُ قِدماً قُدامَه
So, O glory of God's faith, listen
to verse that would have struck Qudama speechless of old.
إِذاwhen ما(emphatic particle) المُساجِلُthe rival poet رامَattempts المَقالَspeech
إِذا ما المُساجِلُ رامَ المَقالَ
تُخَيِّطُsews shut بِالعِيِّwith inarticulacy فاهُhis mouth الفَدامَهdullness
تُخَيِّطُ بِالعِيِّ فاهُ الفَدامَه
When a rival in verse attempts to speak,
dullness stitches his mouth shut with inarticulacy.
تَوَلّىhas departed غُرابُthe raven of شَبابيmy youth وَفيand on
تَوَلّى غُرابُ شَبابي وَفي
ذُرىthe crown of هامَتيmy head حَبَسَhas caged الشَّيبُgray hair هامَهan owl
ذُرى هامَتي حَبَسَ الشَّيبُ هامَه
The raven of my youth has departed, and on
the crown of my head gray hair has caged an owl.
فَلاso may you never زِلتَcease to be فيamid نِعَمٍblessings ماas long as شَداsings
فَلا زِلتَ في نِعَمٍ ما شَدا
ببانٍin a ben-tree هَزارٌa nightingale وَغَنَّتand sings حَمامَهa dove
ببانٍ هَزارٌ وَغَنَّت حَمامَه
May you ever remain amid blessings, as long as
a nightingale sings in a ben-tree and a dove sings.
وَلاand may never اِنفَكَّcease ثَغرُكَyour mouth يُبديto show اِبتِساماًa smile
وَلا اِنفَكَّ ثَغرُكَ يُبدي اِبتِساماً
وَوَجهُكَand your face يُذكيkindles سِراجَthe lamp of اِبتِسامَهa smile
وَوَجهُكَ يُذكي سِراجَ اِبتِسامَه
And may your mouth never cease to show a smile,
and your face keep kindling the lamp of a smile.
Sol 6.1