هَذيthese الرِماحُthe spears عِصِيُّsticks الضالِwild lote trees وَالسَلَمِand acacia trees
هَذي الرِماحُ عِصِيُّ الضالِ وَالسَلَمِ
لَولاwere it not for مُطاعَنَهُits thrusting الآراءِjudgments وَالهِمَمِand resolves
لَولا مُطاعَنَهُ الآراءِ وَالهِمَمِ
These spears are sticks of wild lote and acacia,
These spears are the staves of the lost and peacemakers too,
Were it not for the thrusting of judgment and resolve.
Were it not for their piercing of opinions and resolves.
إِنَّindeed الذَوابِلَthe slender spears وَالأَقلامَand the pens أَرشِيَةٌropes
إِنَّ الذَوابِلَ وَالأَقلامَ أَرشِيَةٌ
إِلىto العُلىthe heights لِمُلوكِfor kings of العُربِthe Arabs وَالعَجَمِand non-Arabs
إِلى العُلى لِمُلوكِ العُربِ وَالعَجَمِ
Slender spears and pens are ropes
Indeed the pens and swords are gifts,
To the heights for kings of Arabs and non-Arabs.
To the kings of Arabs and non-Arabs alike.
لَيسَnot السُيوفُthe swords عَنِin place of الأَقلامِthe pens مُغنِيَةًsufficient
لَيسَ السُيوفُ عَنِ الأَقلامِ مُغنِيَةً
الفَريُcutting لِلسَيفِbelongs to the sword وَالتَقديرِand devising لِلقَلَمِbelongs to the pen
الفَريُ لِلسَيفِ وَالتَقديرِ لِلقَلَمِ
Swords cannot dispense with pens:
Swords cannot make pens redundant,
Cutting is the sword's work, devising the pen's.
Battle is for the sword, destiny for the pen.
كَالكَوكَبِlike a star اِنتَشَرَتspread مِنهُfrom it ذَوائِبُهُits streaming locks
كَالكَوكَبِ اِنتَشَرَت مِنهُ ذَوائِبُهُ
وَموقِدُand the kindler النارِof fire يُذكيهاstokes it عَلىupon أَضَمِfirewood
وَموقِدُ النارِ يُذكيها عَلى أَضَمِ
Like a star whose streaming locks have spread,
Like a star whose tails have spread,
And a fire-kindler stokes his fire upon firewood;
With the fire's hearth heating it to a glow.
أَوor كَالشُجاعِlike a serpent تَمَطّىstretched بَعدَafter هَجعَتِهِits slumber
أَو كَالشُجاعِ تَمَطّى بَعدَ هَجعَتِهِ
يُرخيlets loose لِساناًa tongue كَغَربِlike the point of اللَهذَمِthe keen spear الخَذِمِcleaving
يُرخي لِساناً كَغَربِ اللَهذَمِ الخَذِمِ
Or like a serpent stretching after its slumber,
Or like a brave lion after slumber,
Letting loose a tongue like the point of a keen, cleaving spear.
Lolling a tongue like an old wineskin's nozzle.
غُرّانِtwo shining things ماnever اِجتَمَعاjoined together إِلّاexcept لِمُنصَلِتٍfor a resolute man
غُرّانِ ما اِجتَمَعا إِلّا لِمُنصَلِتٍ
عَلىagainst الحَوادِثِcalamities صَبّارٍsteadfast عَلىunder الأَلَمِpain
عَلى الحَوادِثِ صَبّارٍ عَلى الأَلَمِ
Two shining things, joined only for a resolute man,
Two neighing stallions only gathered for an arena,
Unflinching before calamities, steadfast under pain.
Patient with events, tolerant of pain.
لِهاشِمٍHashim has غُرَرٌglorious deeds تُلقىoffered لِسائِلِهاto whoever seeks them
لِهاشِمٍ غُرَرٌ تُلقى لِسائِلِها
طَلاعَةٌever emerging مِنfrom ثَناياthe mountain passes of البَأسِvalor وَالكَرَمِand generosity
طَلاعَةٌ مِن ثَنايا البَأسِ وَالكَرَمِ
Hashim has glorious deeds offered to whoever seeks them,
For Hashim there are treasures offered to questioners,
Ever emerging from the passes of valor and generosity.
Nobility glimpsed in the folds of valor and generosity.
وَخُضخِضَand was shaken السَجلُthe bucket فيin قَعرِthe depths of القَليبِthe well فَلَمyet not
وَخُضخِضَ السَجلُ في قَعرِ القَليبِ فَلَم
يَنزَحwas drawn up لَهُfor it غَيرُexcept مَكتومٍsomething hidden مِنَfrom الوَذَمِthe bucket-straps
يَنزَح لَهُ غَيرُ مَكتومٍ مِنَ الوَذَمِ
And the bucket was shaken in the well's depths, yet
And the register murmured in the heart's depth but no
Nothing was drawn up but what the bucket-straps concealed.
Concealed shame oozed out except what was blamed.
وَأَصبَحَand came to البَرقُthe lightning يُخفيhide حُرَّthe finest part of صَفحَتِهِits face
وَأَصبَحَ البَرقُ يُخفي حُرَّ صَفحَتِهِ
عَنِfrom المَرابِعِthe spring pastures أَوor يَبَراdisclaim مِنَconnection with الدِيَمِthe steady rains
عَنِ المَرابِعِ أَو يَبَرا مِنَ الدِيَمِ
And lightning came to hide the bright expanse of its face
And dawn's lightning hid the burning of its page
From the spring pastures, or disclaim the steady rains.
From the watchmen's eyes or gushed out blood.
وَأَجدَبَand suffered drought القَومُthe people وَاِضطُرَّتand were compelled أَكُفُّهُمُtheir hands
وَأَجدَبَ القَومُ وَاِضطُرَّت أَكُفُّهُمُ
وَإِنeven though تَطَهَّرنَthey were cleansed مِنof إِثمٍsin إِلىto الزَلَمِthe casting-lot arrow
وَإِن تَطَهَّرنَ مِن إِثمٍ إِلى الزَلَمِ
And the people suffered drought, and their hands were forced—
And the tribe grew lean, their palms were forced
Though cleansed of sin—to the casting-lot arrow.
To beg, though cleansed of any sin or stumble.
وَقَلَّand dwindled عِندَamong كِرامِthe noble men of الحَيِّthe tribe نائِلُهُمtheir bounty
وَقَلَّ عِندَ كِرامِ الحَيِّ نائِلُهُم
حَتّىuntil جَلاrevealed يَومَon a day of نَحرٍslaughter مَنزِلَthe dwelling of البَرَمِthe miser
حَتّى جَلا يَومَ نَحرٍ مَنزِلَ البَرَمِ
And the bounty of the tribe's noble men dwindled,
And seeking bounty from the living's honorees became rare
Until, on slaughter-day, the miser's dwelling was laid bare.
Until the day of slaughter arrived, abode of annihilation.
وَكُلُّand every سائِمَةٍgrazing beast باتَتspent the night تُمَسِّحُهاstroking it
وَكُلُّ سائِمَةٍ باتَت تُمَسِّحُها
كَفُّthe hand of المُسيمِthe herdsman غَدَتbecame by morning لَحماًmeat عَلىon وَضَمِa butcher's board
كَفُّ المُسيمِ غَدَت لَحماً عَلى وَضَمِ
And every grazing beast stroked through the night
Every embracive she-camel, a palm caressed her
By its herdsman's hand became, by morning, meat on a butcher's board.
Becoming in the morning a hand touching cooked meat and bone.
وَصَوَّحَand withered النَبتُthe herbage حَتّىuntil كادَalmost مِنfrom سَغَبٍhunger
وَصَوَّحَ النَبتُ حَتّى كادَ مِن سَغَبٍ
فيهِمamong them يُصَوِّحُwithers نَبتُthe growth on الهامِthe heads وَاللَمَمِand the locks
فيهِم يُصَوِّحُ نَبتُ الهامِ وَاللَمَمِ
And the herbage withered, until hunger nearly
Vegetation cried out until from leanness
Withered among them the growth on heads and the locks.
Their prickly vegetation cried out resolve and determination.
كانواthey were السَحائِبَthe clouds تَرميshooting مِنfrom كَنائِنِهاtheir quivers
كانوا السَحائِبَ تَرمي مِن كَنائِنِها
مَقاتِلَthe vital parts of المَحلِdrought كَالمُثعَنجِرِlike a gushing torrent الرَذِمِpouring abundantly
مَقاتِلَ المَحلِ كَالمُثعَنجِرِ الرَذِمِ
They were the clouds, shooting from their quivers
They were clouds whose burdens
At drought's vital parts, like a gushing downpour.
Pelted fighters like a furious, pounding catapult.
أَرغَتbellowed مَعَدٌّMaʿadd وَأَثغىand bleated مَنwhoever يُناضِلُهاchallenges her
أَرغَت مَعَدٌّ وَأَثغى مَن يُناضِلُها
وَمَنand who يُقايِسُcompares بَينَbetween الشاءِsheep وَالنَعَمِand camels
وَمَن يُقايِسُ بَينَ الشاءِ وَالنَعَمِ
Maʿadd bellowed, and whoever challenged her bleated;
When the stomachs rumbled and who could match their bellow?
And who would compare sheep with camels?
Who can compare sheep and goats?
دُنياa world تَرَشَّفُsips away عَيشيmy life وَهيَwhile it is كالحَةٌscowling
دُنيا تَرَشَّفُ عَيشي وَهيَ كالحَةٌ
غَضبىangry وَأَبسِمُand I smile فيهاwithin it بادِيَshowing الكَظَمِrestraint
غَضبى وَأَبسِمُ فيها بادِيَ الكَظَمِ
A world that sips away my life, scowling,
A world smiling at my life yet bitter as bile -
Angry, while I smile within it, showing my restraint.
I frown at it, smiling with hidden sorrow.
كَالخَمرِlike wine يَعبِسُfrowns حاسيهاits drinker عَلىdespite مِقَةٍaffection
كَالخَمرِ يَعبِسُ حاسيها عَلى مِقَةٍ
وَالكَأسُand the cup تَجلوreveals عَليهِto him ثَغرَthe mouth of مُبتَسِمِone smiling
وَالكَأسُ تَجلو عَليهِ ثَغرَ مُبتَسِمِ
Like wine: its drinker frowns, though he loves it,
Like wine - the taster sullen over dregs
While the cup reveals to him a smiling mouth.
Yet the cup makes its rim beam a smile.
الجِدُّearnestness لاnot يَقتَضيcalls for إِسماعَmaking heard مُلهِيَةٍa diverting song
الجِدُّ لا يَقتَضي إِسماعَ مُلهِيَةٍ
وَالهَزلُand frivolity يَكمُنُlies hidden فيin الأَوتارِthe strings وَالنَغَمِand melodies
وَالهَزلُ يَكمُنُ في الأَوتارِ وَالنَغَمِ
Earnestness does not call for a diverting song to be heard,
Earnestness needs no entertaining song,
And frivolity lies hidden in strings and melodies.
Jest lurks in melody and tune.
وَماand no اِبنُson of غيلٍa thicket تُذيعُproclaims المَوتَdeath طَلعَتُهُhis appearance
وَما اِبنُ غيلٍ تُذيعُ المَوتَ طَلعَتُهُ
إِذاwhen تَطَلَّعَemerges غَضباناًangry مِنَfrom الأَجَمِthe reed beds
إِذا تَطَلَّعَ غَضباناً مِنَ الأَجَمِ
No son of the thicket, whose appearance proclaims death,
Ibn Ghil's rising star doesn't broadcast his death
When he emerges angry from the reed beds,
When wrathfully he gazes from the horizon.
يَجلوclears دُجىthe darkness of شِدقِهhis maw عَنto reveal صُبحِthe dawn of عاصِلَةٍa curved fang
يَجلو دُجى شِدقِه عَن صُبحِ عاصِلَةٍ
مَطرورَةٍsharpened كَشَباlike the points of المَطرورَةِhoned blades الخُذُمِcleaving
مَطرورَةٍ كَشَبا المَطرورَةِ الخُذُمِ
Clearing his dark maw to reveal the dawn of a curved fang,
Dawn's darkness flees from his smiling dawn
Sharpened like the points of honed, cleaving blades,
Smooth as a polished sword's pummel.
يَوماًever بِأَقدَمَbolder مِنّيthan I فيin مُلَملَمَةٍa massed battle
يَوماً بِأَقدَمَ مِنّي في مُلَملَمَةٍ
شَعواءَraging تُعرَفُis known بِالعِقبانِby eagles وَالرَخَمِand vultures
شَعواءَ تُعرَفُ بِالعِقبانِ وَالرَخَمِ
Is ever bolder than I in a massed battle,
One day I'll be taken in a swirling melee,
Raging, known by its eagles and vultures.
Barren and well-known for ravens and ruins.
وَاليَومَand the day قَطَّعَsevered قَرعُthe clashing of البيضِhelmets حَبوَتَهُits knee-binding
وَاليَومَ قَطَّعَ قَرعُ البيضِ حَبوَتَهُ
عَنِaway from العَجاجِthe dust وَخَيلُand the cavalry of اللَهِGod فيin الحَرَمِthe Sanctuary
عَنِ العَجاجِ وَخَيلُ اللَهِ في الحَرَمِ
And the day when clashing helmets severed its binding
And today the smashing of lances and neighing of steeds
Away from the dust, while God's cavalry was in the Sanctuary;
Announced war, as Allah's horses approached sanctity.
إِذاwhen العَواليthe lance-points عَلىat أَشداقِهاtheir mouths هَجَمَتattacked
إِذا العَوالي عَلى أَشداقِها هَجَمَت
أَعدىspread اللَمىdark lip-color بِالدَمِwith blood الجاريflowing عَلىover الرَثمَwhite-marked muzzles
أَعدى اللَمى بِالدَمِ الجاري عَلى الرَثمَ
When the lance-points assailed their mouths,
When the superior ones attacked their mouths
The lips' darkness spread with flowing blood over white-marked muzzles.
The blades shed blood flowing over spear shafts.
وَالطَعنُand spear-thrusting يَنتَجِعُseeks الأَجسادَthe bodies أَنفُسَهاtheir souls
وَالطَعنُ يَنتَجِعُ الأَجسادَ أَنفُسَها
وَالضَربُand striking يَبخَلُbegrudges بِالبُقياsparing عَلىto القِمَمِthe heads
وَالضَربُ يَبخَلُ بِالبُقيا عَلى القِمَمِ
And spear-thrusting seeks the souls within the bodies,
Stabbing takes souls straight from bodies
And blows begrudge the heads any sparing.
While slashing denies even scraps to the peaks.
وَرُبَّand many a لَيلٍnight كَأَنَّas though النارَfire مُقلَتُهُits eye
وَرُبَّ لَيلٍ كَأَنَّ النارَ مُقلَتُهُ
وَالكَلبَand the dog يَسمَعُهُhears it النائيone far removed عَنِfrom الصَمَمِdeafness
وَالكَلبَ يَسمَعُهُ النائي عَنِ الصَمَمِ
Many a night whose eye seemed a fire,
Oh, how many nights whose coals were like fire
And whose dog a man untouched by deafness could hear,
With even the distant deaf hearing the dog.
سَهِرتُهُI kept awake through it وَالأَمانيand hopes تَرتَقيclimb فِكَريmy thoughts
سَهِرتُهُ وَالأَماني تَرتَقي فِكَري
حَتّىuntil تَطَلَّعَit looked up مِنfrom هَمّيmy care إِلىtoward هِمَميmy ambitions
حَتّى تَطَلَّعَ مِن هَمّي إِلى هِمَمي
I passed sleepless, while hopes climbed through my thoughts,
Sleepless, hopes ascending my thoughts
Until it looked up from my cares toward my ambitions.
Until from my worry emerged my aspirations.
أُراقِبُI watch for الضَيفَthe guest أَنto يَرعىpasture مَطيَّتَهُhis mount
أُراقِبُ الضَيفَ أَن يَرعى مَطيَّتَهُ
وَبَينَناand between us مَنكِبٌa shoulder عالٍhigh مِنَof الظُلَمِdarkness
وَبَينَنا مَنكِبٌ عالٍ مِنَ الظُلَمِ
I watch for the guest to pasture his mount,
I watch the guest pasturing his mare
Though between us rises a high shoulder of darkness.
While between us looms a towering darkness.
أَوحىwhispered الظَلامُdarkness إِلىto الإِصباحِdawn أَنَّthat فَتىًa young man
أَوحى الظَلامُ إِلى الإِصباحِ أَنَّ فَتىً
أَسرىtraveled by night وَماand not خَدَعَتهُdeceived him لَذَّةُthe pleasure of الحُلُمُdreams
أَسرى وَما خَدَعَتهُ لَذَّةُ الحُلُمُ
Darkness whispered to dawn that a young man
The gloom whispered to dawn that a gallant
Had journeyed by night, unenticed by the sweetness of dreams,
Had traveled, not fooled by dreams' delight.
عَلىon جُمالِيَةٍa stout she-camel توفيpays in full الزَمامَthe rein خُطاًwith strides
عَلى جُمالِيَةٍ توفي الزَمامَ خُطاً
تَكادُshe almost تَسبُقُهُoutruns it مِنthrough خِفَّةِlightness of القَدَمِfoot
تَكادُ تَسبُقُهُ مِن خِفَّةِ القَدَمِ
On a stout she-camel, answering the rein with strides,
Atop a beautiful steed whose bridle proceeded in a line
Almost outrunning it through her lightness of foot.
Nearly outstripping it in lightness of step.
خَرّاجَةِever thrusting forward الصَدرِthe breast إِنif صاحَshouts المُهيبُthe driver بِهاat her
خَرّاجَةِ الصَدرِ إِن صاحَ المُهيبُ بِها
عَلىdespite الوَجىsore feet مِنahead of صُدورِthe breasts of الأَينُقِthe she-camels الرُسُمِswift-striding
عَلى الوَجى مِن صُدورِ الأَينُقِ الرُسُمِ
Thrusting her breast forward when the driver shouts at her,
My chest's stirrup - if the fearsome one shouts to it
Despite sore feet, ahead of the breasts of swift-striding she-camels.
Over earnest souls in bodies most handsome.
حَرفٍa lean, hardy she-camel تَبوَّعُstrides widely بيwith me فيin كُلِّevery مَجهَلَةٍtrackless waste
حَرفٍ تَبوَّعُ بي في كُلِّ مَجهَلَةٍ
كَأَنَّنيas though I راكِبٌam riding مِنهاon her عَلىon عَلَمِa mountain
كَأَنَّني راكِبٌ مِنها عَلى عَلَمِ
A lean, hardy beast, striding with me through every trackless waste,
A letter followed me in every unknown
As though I were riding her atop a mountain.
As if I rode it like a flag.
تُلقيcasts out الأَجِنَّةَthe unborn young قَتلىdead فيin مَسالِكِهاher paths
تُلقي الأَجِنَّةَ قَتلى في مَسالِكِها
دَياتُهاtheir blood-price فيon رِقابِthe necks of القَصدِthe direct course وَالأَمَمِand nearness
دَياتُها في رِقابِ القَصدِ وَالأَمَمِ
She casts her unborn young dead along her paths;
It throws the cowardly dead in its paths
Their blood-price lies on the necks of the direct course and nearness.
With the true aims as ransom for their souls.
مَتىwhenever تَنَسَّمُfeels مَسَّthe touch of السَوطِthe whip جِلدَتُهاher skin
مَتى تَنَسَّمُ مَسَّ السَوطِ جِلدَتُها
زافَتswayed كَمازافَjust as swayed عُنقُthe neck of المُصعَبِthe unbroken male camel القَطِمِrutting
زافَت كَمازافَ عُنقُ المُصعَبِ القَطِمِ
Whenever her skin feels the touch of the whip,
Whenever its side feels the whip's touch
She sways as the neck of an unbroken, rutting camel sways.
It bounds like a gazelle freed of its tether.
تُطغيoverpowers الخِطامَthe nose-rein إِذاwhen ماindeed البَرُّthe land صافَحَهُmet it
تُطغي الخِطامَ إِذا ما البَرُّ صافَحَهُ
تَيّارُthe surge of بَحرٍa sea بِأَيديwith the forelegs of العيسِpale camels مُلتَطِمِwave-tossed
تَيّارُ بَحرٍ بِأَيدي العيسِ مُلتَطِمِ
She overpowers her nose-rein when the land is met
Reining it in when righteousness meets
By a sea's surge, lashed by pale camels' forelegs.
A turbulent sea in strong hands churning.
هَوجاءُheadlong ماnever اِلتَفَتَتturned back يَوماًever عَلىbecause of أَلَمٍpain
هَوجاءُ ما اِلتَفَتَت يَوماً عَلى أَلَمٍ
مِنَfrom السِياطِthe whips وَلاnor حَنَّتyearned إِلىfor قَرَمِa breeding male camel
مِنَ السِياطِ وَلا حَنَّت إِلى قَرَمِ
Headlong, never turning back because of pain
Impetuous when did it ever turn
From whips, nor yearning for a breeding male.
To pain from whips or care for wounds?
إِذاwhen جَذَبتُI pulled لِذِكرِto recall السَيرِthe journey مِقوَدَهاher lead
إِذا جَذَبتُ لِذِكرِ السَيرِ مِقوَدَها
كَأَنَّماas though جَذَبَتهاpulled her سَورَةُa fit of اللَمَمِmadness
كَأَنَّما جَذَبَتها سَورَةُ اللَمَمِ
When I tug her lead to remind her of the journey,
When I pull the lead to recall the ride
It is as though a fit of madness has tugged her.
It's as if the oaths themselves tugged it insistently.
ماwhat يَطلُبُseeks الدَهرُtime وَالأَيامُand the days مِنfrom رَجُلٍa man
ما يَطلُبُ الدَهرُ وَالأَيامُ مِن رَجُلٍ
يَعوذُseeks refuge بِالحَمدِin praise إِشفاقاًout of concern عَلىfor النِعَمِblessings
يَعوذُ بِالحَمدِ إِشفاقاً عَلى النِعَمِ
What do time and the days seek from a man
What do fate and days demand of a man
Who seeks refuge in praise, anxious for his blessings?
Who seeks refuge in praise, to protect the blessings?
إِذاwhen اِقتَضَتهُdemands from him الأَمانيhopes بَعضَsome of مَوعِدِهِhis promise
إِذا اِقتَضَتهُ الأَماني بَعضَ مَوعِدِهِ
غَطّىcovers بِسَترِwith the veil of العَطاياgifts عَورَةَthe nakedness of العَدَمِwant
غَطّى بِسَترِ العَطايا عَورَةَ العَدَمِ
When hopes demand from him some part of his promise,
When hopes require him to fulfill some promise
He covers want's nakedness with the veil of gifts.
He veils the lack with the cloak of gifts.
مَنwhoever مَدَّextended مِعصَمَهُhis wrist مُستَعصِماًseeking protection بِيَديin my hand
مَن مَدَّ مِعصَمَهُ مُستَعصِماً بِيَدي
عَصَمتُهُI protected him بِإِخاءٍwith brotherhood غَيرِnot مُنجَذِمِsevered
عَصَمتُهُ بِإِخاءٍ غَيرِ مُنجَذِمِ
Whoever extends his wrist, seeking protection in my hand,
If I exposed the unseen's veil, the glances
I protect him with a brotherhood that never breaks.
Of every doubtful gazer would be shamed.
وَمَنand whoever أُشَيِّعهُI escort him يَأمَنis safe مِنfrom لَوائِمِهِhis reprovers
وَمَن أُشَيِّعهُ يَأمَن مِن لَوائِمِهِ
وَلَوeven if رَموهُthey assailed him بِجَرّاحٍwith something wounding مِنَof الكَلِمِwords
وَلَو رَموهُ بِجَرّاحٍ مِنَ الكَلِمِ
And whoever I escort is safe from his reprovers,
It's enough that my slanderer, I was patient with him
Even if they assail him with wounding words.
So he sought excuse and was shy of sanctity.
وَلَوand if هَتَكتُI tore away حِجابَthe veil of الغَيبِthe unseen لَاِفتَضَحَتwould be exposed
وَلَو هَتَكتُ حِجابَ الغَيبِ لَاِفتَضَحَت
أَجفانُthe eyelids of كُلِّevery مُريبِsuspicious اللَحظِin glance مُتَّهَمِsuspect
أَجفانُ كُلِّ مُريبِ اللَحظِ مُتَّهَمِ
And if I tore away the veil of the unseen, exposed would be
My probity is chaste - if another's libertine ways
The eyelids of every suspect whose glance breeds doubt.
His garment's stitches would be blamed.
كَفىwas enough for الَّذيthe one who سَبَّنيinsulted me أَنّيthat I صَبَرتُbore patiently لَهُwith him
كَفى الَّذي سَبَّني أَنّي صَبَرتُ لَهُ
فَاِستَنصَرَso he sought support from العُذرَexcuse وَاِستَحياand felt ashamed مِنَbefore الحُرَمِsacred bonds
فَاِستَنصَرَ العُذرَ وَاِستَحيا مِنَ الحُرَمِ
It was enough for the man who abused me that I bore with him;
I am Zuheir - who is there for me in your time
So he sought aid from excuse and felt ashamed before sacred bonds.
With some of what was accomplished by two white-haired hands?
بُرديmy cloak عَفيفٌchaste إِذاwhile غَيريanother man لِفَجرَتِهِthrough his debauchery
بُردي عَفيفٌ إِذا غَيري لِفَجرَتِهِ
كانَتwere مَناسِجُthe looms of بُردَيهِhis two cloaks عَلىupon التُهَمِaccusations
كانَت مَناسِجُ بُردَيهِ عَلى التُهَمِ
My cloak is chaste, while another man, through his debauchery,
If an enemy disobeyed me, he feared my hand's blow
Has the looms of his two cloaks set upon accusations.
And his honor is safe from the emigrants of my mouth.
أَناI am زُهَيرٌZuhayr فَمَنthen who ليfor me فيin زَمانِكَyour age ذاthis
أَنا زُهَيرٌ فَمَن لي في زَمانِكَ ذا
بِبَعضِwith some of ماwhat اِقتَرَفَتearned عَنهُfor him يَداthe two hands of هَرِمِHarim
بِبَعضِ ما اِقتَرَفَت عَنهُ يَدا هَرِمِ
I am Zuhayr; who, in this age of yours, can offer me
I made my hearing forbidden to wicked words
Some of what Harim's two hands earned for him?
So what shamelessness approaches sanctity?
إِذاif العَدوُّthe enemy عَصانيdefied me خافَfeared حَدَّthe edge of يَديmy hand
إِذا العَدوُّ عَصاني خافَ حَدَّ يَدي
وَعِرضُهُand his honor آمِنٌsafe مِنfrom هاجِراتِthe foul utterances of فَميmy mouth
وَعِرضُهُ آمِنٌ مِن هاجِراتِ فَمي
If an enemy defies me, he fears my hand's edge,
My nose almost folds away in humility
But his honor is safe from my mouth's foul words.
Donning arrogance's robe.
جَعَلتُI made سَمعيmy hearing عَلىagainst قَولِspeech of الخَناobscenity حَرَماًa sanctuary
جَعَلتُ سَمعي عَلى قَولِ الخَنا حَرَماً
فَأَيُّthen what فاحِشَةٍindecency تَدنوapproaches إِلىto حَرَمِa sanctuary
فَأَيُّ فاحِشَةٍ تَدنو إِلى حَرَمِ
I made my hearing a sanctuary against obscene speech;
My grandfather the Prophet, and my mother his daughter,
What indecency, then, can approach a sanctuary?
My father his successor, my ancestors the best of nations.
يَكادُalmost أَنفيmy nose إِذاwhen ماindeed اِستافَscents مَرتَبَةًa rank
يَكادُ أَنفي إِذا ما اِستافَ مَرتَبَةً
مِنَout of التَواضُعِhumility يَنضوcasts off خُلعَةَthe robe of الشَمَمِproud bearing
مِنَ التَواضُعِ يَنضو خُلعَةَ الشَمَمِ
My nose, whenever it scents a rank, almost
For our aims every dancing impetuous she-camel writhes,
Out of humility casts off the robe of proud bearing.
Pounding the rock and stone of the desert.
جَدّيmy grandfather النَبيُّthe Prophet وَأُمّيand my mother بِنتُهُhis daughter وَأَبيand my father
جَدّي النَبيُّ وَأُمّي بِنتُهُ وَأَبي
وَصِيُّهُhis appointed successor وَجُدوديand my forebears خيرَةُthe choicest of الأُمَمِnations
وَصِيُّهُ وَجُدودي خيرَةُ الأُمَمِ
My grandfather is the Prophet, my mother his daughter, and my father
With each disheveled one mending his shirt's tatters, when
His appointed successor; my forebears are the choicest of nations.
He persevered the best of attributes were diminished.
لَقَصدِناto seek us تَتَمَطّىstretches out كُلَّevery راقِصَةٍdancing she-camel
لَقَصدِنا تَتَمَطّى كُلَّ راقِصَةٍ
هَوجاءَheadlong تَخبِطُstrikes هامَthe heads of الصَخرِrocks وَالرَجَمِand stone heaps
هَوجاءَ تَخبِطُ هامَ الصَخرِ وَالرَجَمِ
To seek us, every dancing she-camel stretches out,
For us is the abode and Allah's house his lodging,
Headlong, striking the heads of rocks and heaps of stones,
Fixed in glory, towering, supported.
بِكُلُّbearing every أَشعَثَdisheveled man مُنقَدُّtorn القَميصِthe shirt إِذاwhen
بِكُلُّ أَشعَثَ مُنقَدُّ القَميصِ إِذا
جَدَّbecame urgent النَجاءُswift travel بِهِwith him عَنrevealing أَطيَبِthe finest of الشِيَمِcharacter traits
جَدَّ النَجاءُ بِهِ عَن أَطيَبِ الشِيَمِ
Bearing each disheveled man, his shirt torn open, when
And my birthplace - pure of garments, you would think me born
Swift travel presses him, revealing the noblest character.
In that sanctum, that inviolable precinct.
لَناours is المَقامُthe station وَبَيتُand the House of اللَهِGod حُجرَتُهُits chamber
لَنا المَقامُ وَبَيتُ اللَهِ حُجرَتُهُ
فيin المَجدِglory ثابِتَةُfirmly fixed الأَطنابِthe tent-ropes وَالدُعُمِand supports
في المَجدِ ثابِتَةُ الأَطنابِ وَالدُعُمِ
Ours is the station, and God's House its chamber,
In glory, its tent-ropes and supports firmly fixed.
وَمَولِديand my birthplace طاهِرُpure of الأَثوابِgarments تَحسَبُنيyou think me
وَمَولِدي طاهِرُ الأَثوابِ تَحسَبُني
وُلِدتُI was born فيin حِجرِthe lap of ذاكَthat الحِجرِHijr وَالحَرَمِand the Sanctuary
وُلِدتُ في حِجرِ ذاكَ الحِجرِ وَالحَرَمِ
And my birthplace is pure-robed; you would think me
Born in the lap of that Hijr and the Sanctuary.
Partial English translation: 100 of 104 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1