هَوىًlonging لَكُماfor you both إِنَّindeed الشَبابَyouth يُعادُis restored
هَوىً لَكُما إِنَّ الشَبابَ يُعادُ
وَإِنَّand indeed بَياضَthe whiteness of العارِضينَboth sides of the beard سَوادُblackness
وَإِنَّ بَياضَ العارِضينَ سَوادُ
A wish for you both: that youth be restored,
and the white of the side-whiskers turn black,
وَإِنَّand indeed اللَياليthe nights عُدنَreturned وَالحَيُّand the tribe جيرَةٌneighbors
وَإِنَّ اللَيالي عُدنَ وَالحَيُّ جيرَةٌ
كَماas كُنَّthey were أَمor لاnot ماnot لَهُنَّfor them مَعادُa return
كَما كُنَّ أَم لا ما لَهُنَّ مَعادُ
and the nights return, with the tribe still neighbors,
as they were—or no, there is no return for them.
حَنَنتُI yearned إِلَيكُمfor you حَنَّةَthe yearning cry of النَيبِold she-camels أَصبَحَتcame to be
حَنَنتُ إِلَيكُم حَنَّةَ النَيبِ أَصبَحَت
تَلوبُcircling عَلىaround الماءِthe water الرِوىabundant وَتُذادُand are driven away
تَلوبُ عَلى الماءِ الرِوى وَتُذادُ
I yearned for you like old she-camels that came to
circle abundant water, only to be driven away.
تَوانٍlanguishing بِأَعناقِwith the necks of الغَليلِburning thirst وَقَدand already حَوىhas filled
تَوانٍ بِأَعناقِ الغَليلِ وَقَد حَوى
مَشارِعَهُits watering places عَذبُsweet الجُمامِbrimming pools بُرادُcool
مَشارِعَهُ عَذبُ الجُمامِ بُرادُ
Languishing, their necks burning with thirst, although
sweet, plentiful, cool water fills its watering places.
دَعِlet الوَجدَpassion يَبلُغreach ماwhatever أَرادَit wishes فَماfor not الهَوىlove
دَعِ الوَجدَ يَبلُغ ما أَرادَ فَما الهَوى
بِدانٍnear وَلاnor عَهدُthe old days of الدِيارِthe dwellings مُعادُrestored
بِدانٍ وَلا عَهدُ الدِيارِ مُعادُ
Let passion reach whatever it wishes, for love is not
near, nor are the old days at those dwellings restored.
وَإِنَّand indeed بِذاكَin that الجِزعِvalley bend وَحشاًwild creatures غَريرَةٌinnocent
وَإِنَّ بِذاكَ الجِزعِ وَحشاً غَريرَةٌ
تَصيدُhunt وَأَعياand are baffled الناسُpeople كَيفَhow تُصادُthey are hunted
تَصيدُ وَأَعيا الناسُ كَيفَ تُصادُ
Indeed, at that valley bend are innocent wild creatures
that hunt, while people are baffled how to hunt them.
إِذاwhen أَنبَضَtwangs the bow الراميthe archer رَمَينَthey shoot فُؤادَهُhis heart
إِذا أَنبَضَ الرامي رَمَينَ فُؤادَهُ
فَظَلَّso he remains وَلَمand not يُملَكis held لَهُنَّover them قِيادُa rein
فَظَلَّ وَلَم يُملَك لَهُنَّ قِيادُ
When the archer twangs his bow, they shoot his heart,
so he is left with no rein by which to master them.
غَداةَthe morning when وَقَفناwe stood وَالدُموعُand the tears مُرِشَّةٌshowering
غَداةَ وَقَفنا وَالدُموعُ مُرِشَّةٌ
كَأَنَّas though عُيونَthe eyes of الواقِفينَthose standing مَزادُwaterskins
كَأَنَّ عُيونَ الواقِفينَ مَزادُ
On the morning we stood, with tears showering down,
the eyes of those standing seemed like waterskins.
أَبىrefused طولُthe duration of هَمٍّgrief أَنthat يَكونَthere be مَضاجِعٌbeds
أَبى طولُ هَمٍّ أَن يَكونَ مَضاجِعٌ
وَغُزرُand abundant دُموعٍtears أَنthat يَكُنَّthere be رُقادُsleep
وَغُزرُ دُموعٍ أَن يَكُنَّ رُقادُ
Long sorrow would allow no beds,
and abundant tears would allow no sleep.
فَبَينَso between ضُلوعيmy ribs وَالهُمومِand cares تَقارُعٌa clash
فَبَينَ ضُلوعي وَالهُمومِ تَقارُعٌ
وَبَينَand between جُفونيmy eyelids وَالمَنامِand sleep طِرادُa pursuit
وَبَينَ جُفوني وَالمَنامِ طِرادُ
So between my ribs and cares there is a clash,
and between my eyelids and sleep, a pursuit.
لَهُمfor them كُلَّevery يَومٍday وَالنَوىand separation مُطمَئِنَّةٌat rest
لَهُم كُلَّ يَومٍ وَالنَوى مُطمَئِنَّةٌ
سَليمٌa snake-bitten sufferer لَهُfor him يَومَthe day of الفِراقِparting عِدادُrecurring pangs
سَليمٌ لَهُ يَومَ الفِراقِ عِدادُ
For them each day, though separation lies quiet,
a snake-bitten man feels parting-day's recurring pangs.
فَياso O بَينُseparation لَمnot تَنفَعavailed إِلَيكَwith you وَسيلَةٌa means of appeal
فَيا بَينُ لَم تَنفَع إِلَيكَ وَسيلَةٌ
وَياand O وَجدُpassion لَمnot يَسلَمsurvived عَليكَunder your sway فُؤادُa heart
وَيا وَجدُ لَم يَسلَم عَليكَ فُؤادُ
O separation, no appeal to you has helped,
and O passion, no heart has survived you.
حَلَفتُI swore بِأَيدِهِنَّby their forelegs فيin كُلِّevery مَهمَةٍtrackless waste
حَلَفتُ بِأَيدِهِنَّ في كُلِّ مَهمَةٍ
عَلَيهِنَّupon them مِنfrom باقيwhat remains of الظَلامِthe darkness سَوادُblackness
عَلَيهِنَّ مِن باقي الظَلامِ سَوادُ
I swore by their forelegs in every trackless waste,
with blackness upon them from the lingering darkness,
كَأَيديlike the hands of العَذارىmaidens الفاقِداتِbereaved تَدارَعَتarmored themselves
كَأَيدي العَذارى الفاقِداتِ تَدارَعَت
لِلَدمِfor beating الطُلىthe necks أَطمارُهُنَّtheir ragged garments حِدادُmourning black
لِلَدمِ الطُلى أَطمارُهُنَّ حِدادُ
like the hands of bereaved maidens, whose necks were armored
for mourning blows; their ragged garments are mourning black.
خَوانِفُhead-swaying camels مَهبوطٌdescended into بِهِنَّon them عَشِيَّةًat evening
خَوانِفُ مَهبوطٌ بِهِنَّ عَشِيَّةً
قَرارٌlow ground وَمَطلوعٌand ascended بِهِنَّon them نِجادُuplands
قَرارٌ وَمَطلوعٌ بِهِنَّ نِجادُ
Swaying camels, ridden down at evening
into hollows, and ridden up the uplands.
تُقَصُّare tracked بِآثارِby traces of الدِماءِblood كَأَنَّهاas though they
تُقَصُّ بِآثارِ الدِماءِ كَأَنَّها
مَساحِبُdrag-trails of جَرحىthe wounded يَومَon the day when طالَgrew long طِرادُpursuit
مَساحِبُ جَرحى يَومَ طالَ طِرادُ
They are tracked by trails of blood, as though they were
the drag-trails of the wounded on a day of prolonged pursuit.
يُطَيِّرنَthey send flying بِالوَقعِwith their footfalls الشِرارَsparks كَأَنَّماas though
يُطَيِّرنَ بِالوَقعِ الشِرارَ كَأَنَّما
مَناسِمُهاtheir hoof-pads تَحتَbeneath الظَلامِthe darkness زِنادُfire-strikers
مَناسِمُها تَحتَ الظَلامِ زِنادُ
With their footfalls they send sparks flying, as though
their hoof-pads beneath the darkness were fire-strikers.
كَأَنَّas though الدُجىthe night-dark وَالفَجرُand dawn يَركَبُrides عِقبَهon its heels
كَأَنَّ الدُجى وَالفَجرُ يَركَبُ عِقبَه
نَزائِعُforeign-bred mares دُهمٍblack خَلفَهُنَّbehind them وِرادُbay horses
نَزائِعُ دُهمٍ خَلفَهُنَّ وِرادُ
As though the darkness, with dawn riding at its heels,
were foreign-bred black mares, with bay horses behind them.
أَزيزُthe drone of سُرىًnight travel ماnot فيهِin it لِلغَمضِfor shut-eye مَطمَعٌany hope
أَزيزُ سُرىً ما فيهِ لِلغَمضِ مَطمَعٌ
كَأَنَّas though قُتودَthe saddle-frames of اليَعمَلاتِhardy she-camels قَتادُthorn trees
كَأَنَّ قُتودَ اليَعمَلاتِ قَتادُ
The drone of night travel, with no hope of shut-eye,
as though the hardy camels' saddle-frames were thorn trees.
رَوامٍstriving إِلىtoward جَمعٍa gathering كَأَنَّas though رُؤوسَهاtheir heads
رَوامٍ إِلى جَمعٍ كَأَنَّ رُؤوسَها
قِبابٌdomes بَنَتهاbuilt them بِالمَراقِبِon lookout heights عادُʿAd
قِبابٌ بَنَتها بِالمَراقِبِ عادُ
Striving toward a gathering, their heads seem
like domes that ʿAd built on lookout heights.
يُجَعجِعنَthey jolt أَجلاداًbodies وَهاماًand heads رَواجِفاًtrembling
يُجَعجِعنَ أَجلاداً وَهاماً رَواجِفاً
وَهُنَّand they عَلىdespite ماwhat نابَهُنَّbefell them جِلادُhardy
وَهُنَّ عَلى ما نابَهُنَّ جِلادُ
They jolt bodies and trembling heads,
though despite all that befalls them, they are hardy.
لِحَيٍّtoward a clan عَلىon الجَرعاءِthe sandy plain أَلأَمِthe vilest رِحلَةٍjourney
لِحَيٍّ عَلى الجَرعاءِ أَلأَمِ رِحلَةٍ
إِذاwhen ظَعَنواthey break camp ساقواthey drive العُيوبَfaults وَقادواand they lead
إِذا ظَعَنوا ساقوا العُيوبَ وَقادوا
Toward a clan on the sandy plain—the vilest of journeys:
when they break camp, they drive and lead their faults along.
إِذاwhen رَحَلواthey depart عَنfrom خِطَّةِthe domain of اللَؤمِbaseness خالَفواthey turn back
إِذا رَحَلوا عَن خِطَّةِ اللَؤمِ خالَفوا
إِلَيهاtoward it بِأَعناقِwith the necks of المَطِيِّthe riding-camels وَعادواand they return
إِلَيها بِأَعناقِ المَطِيِّ وَعادوا
When they leave the domain of baseness, they turn
their riding-camels' necks toward it and return.
لَهُمthey have مَجلِسٌan assembly مافيهِnot in it لِلمَجدِfor glory مَقعَدٌa seat
لَهُم مَجلِسٌ مافيهِ لِلمَجدِ مَقعَدٌ
وَمَربَطُand a tethering-place of عارٍshame ماnot عَليهِat it جِيادُnoble steeds
وَمَربَطُ عارٍ ما عَليهِ جِيادُ
They have an assembly with no seat for glory,
and a tethering-ground of shame where no noble steeds stand.
بُيوتُهُمُtheir tents سودُblack الذُرىthe summits وَلِنارِهِمand for their fire
بُيوتُهُمُ سودُ الذُرى وَلِنارِهِم
مَواقِدُhearths بيضٌwhite ماnot بِهِنَّin them رَمادُash
مَواقِدُ بيضٌ ما بِهِنَّ رَمادُ
Their tents have black summits, and their fire
has white hearths with no ash in them.
لَهُمthey have حَسَبٌancestral honor أَعمىblind أَضَلَّled astray دَليلَهُits guide
لَهُم حَسَبٌ أَعمى أَضَلَّ دَليلَهُ
فَلَمso not يُدرَwas known فيamong الأَحسابِancestral honors أَينَwhere يُقادُit is led
فَلَم يُدرَ في الأَحسابِ أَينَ يُقادُ
Their family honor is blind and has misled its guide,
so none knows where among noble lineages it should be led.
تَحَيَّرَit wandered bewildered فيamong الأَحياءِthe clans ذُلّاًin humiliation مَتىwhenever يَرُمit seeks
تَحَيَّرَ في الأَحياءِ ذُلّاً مَتى يَرُم
سَبيلَthe path of العُلىgreatness يُضرَبis put up عَلَيهِagainst it سِدادُa barrier
سَبيلَ العُلى يُضرَب عَلَيهِ سِدادُ
It wanders, humiliated, among the clans; whenever it seeks
the path of greatness, a barrier is raised against it.
لَهُfor it عَنaway from بُيوتِthe houses of الأَكرَمينَthe noblest دَوافِعٌrepelling forces
لَهُ عَن بُيوتِ الأَكرَمينَ دَوافِعٌ
وَعَنand away from هَضَباتِthe heights of الماجِدينَthe illustrious ذِيادُa driving away
وَعَن هَضَباتِ الماجِدينَ ذِيادُ
Forces drive it away from the noblest men's houses,
and it is driven from the heights of the illustrious.
قِبابٌtents يُطاطيbows down اللُؤمُbaseness مِنهاfrom them كَأَنَّهاas though they
قِبابٌ يُطاطي اللُؤمُ مِنها كَأَنَّها
وَلَوand even if رُفِعَتthey were raised فَوقَabove الجِبالِthe mountains وِهادُhollows
وَلَو رُفِعَت فَوقَ الجِبالِ وِهادُ
Tents that baseness bows low, as though they were,
even if raised above the mountains, hollows.
وَأَيدٍand hands جُفوفٍdry لاnot تَلينُsoften وَإِنَّهاand indeed they
وَأَيدٍ جُفوفٍ لا تَلينُ وَإِنَّها
وَلوand even if مَطَرَتrained فيهاinto them الغُيومُthe clouds جَمادُbarren
وَلو مَطَرَت فيها الغُيومُ جَمادُ
And dry hands that never soften; indeed,
even if clouds rained into them, they would remain barren.
لَهُنَّthey have عَلىfor طَردِdriving away الضُيوفِguests تَعاقُدٌa mutual pact
لَهُنَّ عَلى طَردِ الضُيوفِ تَعاقُدٌ
هِراشُthe fighting of كِلابٍdogs بَينَهُنَّbetween them عِقادُa binding pact
هِراشُ كِلابٍ بَينَهُنَّ عِقادُ
They have a pact to drive away guests;
the fighting of dogs is the bond between them.
تُصانُare kept safe النُصولُthe blades النابِياتُthat fail to bite وَعِندَهُمand they have
تُصانُ النُصولُ النابِياتُ وَعِندَهُم
نُصولٌblades مَواضٍkeen ماnot لَهُنَّfor them غِمادُa sheath
نُصولٌ مَواضٍ ما لَهُنَّ غِمادُ
Blunt blades are kept safe, while they possess
keen blades with no sheath.
أَماnot? كانَthere was فيكُمamong you مُجمِلٌa gracious person أَوor مُجامِلٌa courteous person
أَما كانَ فيكُم مُجمِلٌ أَو مُجامِلٌ
إِذاif لَمnot يَكُنthere was فيكُمamong you أَغَرُّillustrious جَوادُgenerous
إِذا لَم يَكُن فيكُم أَغَرُّ جَوادُ
Was there no one gracious among you, or at least courteous,
if there was no illustrious, generous man among you?
فَلاso no مَرحَباًwelcome بِالبَيتِto the house لاnot فيهِin it مَفزَعٌa refuge
فَلا مَرحَباً بِالبَيتِ لا فيهِ مَفزَعٌ
لِلاجٍfor a fugitive وَلاnor لِلمُستَجِنُّfor one seeking shelter عِمادُsupport
لِلاجٍ وَلا لِلمُستَجِنُّ عِمادُ
So no welcome to a house with no refuge
for a fugitive, nor support for one seeking shelter.
فَلاso do not تَرهِبونيfrighten me بِالرِماحِwith spears سَفاهَةًfoolishly
فَلا تَرهِبوني بِالرِماحِ سَفاهَةً
فَعيدانُfor the sticks of أَوطانيmy native lands قَناًspear-shafts وَصِعادُand lances
فَعيدانُ أَوطاني قَناً وَصِعادُ
Do not foolishly frighten me with spears,
for the sticks of my native lands are spear-shafts and lances.
وَلاnor توعِدونيthreaten me بِالصَوارِمِwith sharp swords ضِلَّةًin folly
وَلا توعِدوني بِالصَوارِمِ ضِلَّةً
فَبَينيfor between me وَبَينَand between المَشرَفيِّthe Mashrafi sword وِلادُkinship by birth
فَبَيني وَبَينَ المَشرَفيِّ وِلادُ
Nor misguidedly threaten me with sharp swords,
for I and the Mashrafi sword are kin by birth.
سَأَمضَغُI shall chew بِالأَقوالِwith words أَعراضَthe honor of قَومِكُمyour people
سَأَمضَغُ بِالأَقوالِ أَعراضَ قَومِكُم
وَلِلقَولِand speech has أَنيابٌfangs لَدَيَّwith me حِدادُsharp
وَلِلقَولِ أَنيابٌ لَدَيَّ حِدادُ
With words I shall chew up your people's honor,
and my speech has sharp fangs.
تَرىyou will see لِلقَوافيfor the rhymes وَالسَماءُand the sky جَلِيَّةٌclear
تَرى لِلقَوافي وَالسَماءُ جَلِيَّةٌ
عَليكُمupon you بُروقٌlightning flashes جَمَّةٌabundant وَرِعادُand thunderclaps
عَليكُم بُروقٌ جَمَّةٌ وَرِعادُ
You will see from the rhymes, though the sky is clear,
many lightning flashes and thunderclaps upon you.
فَحَمداًso praise لِآلِto the house of الفَوثِal-Fawth إِنَّindeed أَكُفَّهُمtheir palms
فَحَمداً لِآلِ الفَوثِ إِنَّ أَكُفَّهُم
سِباطُsmooth الحَواشيthe edges وَاللِمامُand the hair-locks جِعادُcurly
سِباطُ الحَواشي وَاللِمامُ جِعادُ
So praise to the house of al-Fawth! Their palms
have smooth edges, while their locks are curled.
إِذاwhen وَقَفواthey stand فيin المَجدِglory خافواthey fear نَقَيضَهُits opposite
إِذا وَقَفوا في المَجدِ خافوا نَقَيضَهُ
فَتَمّواso they reach perfection عَلىdespite عُنفِthe harshness of السِياقِthe driving وَزادواand they exceed
فَتَمّوا عَلى عُنفِ السِياقِ وَزادوا
When they stand in glory, they fear its opposite,
so they reach perfection despite the harsh drive, and go beyond.
أَقامواthey dwelt بِأَقطارِin the reaches of العُلىgreatness وَتَناقَلواand they moved about
أَقاموا بِأَقطارِ العُلى وَتَناقَلوا
عَليهاover them وَأَبدواand they showed forth فيin العُلىgreatness وَأَعادواand they repeated
عَليها وَأَبدوا في العُلى وَأَعادوا
They settled in the reaches of greatness and ranged
over them, displaying greatness again and again.
إِلىto حَسَبٍancestral honor مِنهُfrom it عَلىupon البَدرِthe full moon عِمَّةٌa turban
إِلى حَسَبٍ مِنهُ عَلى البَدرِ عِمَّةٌ
وَفيand on عاتِقِthe shoulder of الجَوزاءِOrion مِنهُfrom it نِجادُa sword-belt
وَفي عاتِقِ الجَوزاءِ مِنهُ نِجادُ
To a lineage whose turban crowns the full moon,
and whose sword-belt rests on Orion's shoulder.
بِمَنwith whom تَنزِلُalight الحاجاتُneeds ياأُمَّO mother of مالِكٍMalik
بِمَن تَنزِلُ الحاجاتُ ياأُمَّ مالِكٍ
وَأَينَand where رِجالٌmen تُعتَفىare sought for bounty وَبِلادُand lands
وَأَينَ رِجالٌ تُعتَفى وَبِلادُ
With whom shall needs alight, O Umm Malik,
and where are men and lands to be sought for bounty?
حَبَستُI confined مَقاليmy speech مَحبَسَthe confinement of البُدنِsacrificial camels أَبتَغيseeking
حَبَستُ مَقالي مَحبَسَ البُدنِ أَبتَغي
بِهِthrough it عِوَضاًa recompense جَمّاًabundant وَلَيسَand it is not يُرادُwanted
بِهِ عِوَضاً جَمّاً وَلَيسَ يُرادُ
I penned my words like sacrificial camels, seeking
a plentiful recompense for them, yet they are unwanted.
أَرىI see زُهدَthe indifference of مُستامٍa bidder وَأَرجوand I hope for زِيادَةًan increase
أَرى زُهدَ مُستامٍ وَأَرجو زِيادَةً
ضَلالاًin folly أَبَينَis it among الزاهِدينَthe indifferent أُزادُI am paid more
ضَلالاً أَبَينَ الزاهِدينَ أُزادُ
I see a bidder's indifference, yet hope for an increase.
What folly! Shall I be paid more among the indifferent?
فَلاso may no اِخضَرَّturn green وادٍvalley أَنتُمُyou مِنamong حِلالِهِits dwellers
فَلا اِخضَرَّ وادٍ أَنتُمُ مِن حِلالِهِ
وَلاnor جيدَbe watered ماwhile جادَwatered البِلادَthe lands عِهادُrecurring rains
وَلا جيدَ ما جادَ البِلادَ عِهادُ
May no valley where you are among its dwellers turn green,
nor be watered while recurring rains water the lands.
وَلاnor رُفِعَتbe raised نارٌa fire لَكُمfor you مِسيَat the evening of لَيلَةٍa night
وَلا رُفِعَت نارٌ لَكُم مِسيَ لَيلَةٍ
وَلاnor راجَprosper مالٌwealth طارِفٌnewly acquired وَتِلادُand inherited
وَلا راجَ مالٌ طارِفٌ وَتِلادُ
Nor may a fire be raised for you at nightfall,
nor may wealth prosper, newly acquired or inherited.
فَماfor not لِلنَدىfor generosity فيكُمamong you نَصيبٌa portion وَسَهمُهُand its share
فَما لِلنَدى فيكُم نَصيبٌ وَسَهمُهُ
وَلاnor لِلأَمانيfor hopes مَسرَحٌa field to roam وَمُرادُand a goal
وَلا لِلأَماني مَسرَحٌ وَمُرادُ
For generosity has no portion among you, no allotted share,
nor do hopes have a field to roam in or a goal.
أَلاbehold إِنَّindeed مَرعىthe pasture of الطالِبينَseekers هَشائِمٌdry stalks
أَلا إِنَّ مَرعى الطالِبينَ هَشائِمٌ
لَديكُمamong you وَوِردَand the watering place of الآمِلينَthe hopeful ثِمادُscant pools
لَديكُم وَوِردَ الآمِلينَ ثِمادُ
Behold, the seekers' pasture is dry stalks
among you, and the hopeful's watering place mere scant pools.
لَكُمyou have عِقدَةٌa knot قَبلَbefore النَوالِgiving مَريرَةٌtightly bound
لَكُم عِقدَةٌ قَبلَ النَوالِ مَريرَةٌ
وَداهِيَةٌand a calamity بَعدَafter النَوالِgiving نَآدُcrushing
وَداهِيَةٌ بَعدَ النَوالِ نَآدُ
You have a tightly bound knot before the gift,
and a crushing calamity after the gift.
زَرَعتُمyou sowed وَلَكِنbut حالَstood in the way مِنfrom دونِbefore زَرعِكُمyour crop
زَرَعتُم وَلَكِن حالَ مِن دونِ زَرعِكُم
جُنودُarmies of أَذىًharm مِنهاamong them دَبىًlocust nymphs وَجَرادُand locusts
جُنودُ أَذىً مِنها دَبىً وَجَرادُ
You sowed, but blocking the way to your crop were
armies of harm, including young and full-grown locusts.
Sol 6.1