أَلاAh! مَنwho يُمطِرُbrings rain to السَنَةَthe year الجَماداbarren
أَلا مَن يُمطِرُ السَنَةَ الجَمادا
وَمَنand who لِلجَمعِfor the host يُطلِعُهُleads it up النِجاداthe highlands
وَمَن لِلجَمعِ يُطلِعُهُ النِجادا
Ah, who will bring rain to the barren year?
Oh, who will rain upon the barren years,
And who will lead the host up into the highlands?
And for the throng reveal the Pleiades,
وَمَنand who لِلخَيلِfor the horses يُقبِلُهُنَّbrings them forward شُعثاًdisheveled
وَمَن لِلخَيلِ يُقبِلُهُنَّ شُعثاً
وَيَركَبُهُنَّand rides them شُقراًchestnut أَوor وِراداbay
وَيَركَبُهُنَّ شُقراً أَو وِرادا
And who will bring the horses forward, shaggy,
And for the horses come when they are disheveled
and ride them, chestnut or bay?
And ride them tawny or white steeds,
غَداةَon the morning of الرَوعِterror يُنعِلُهاshoes them with الهَواديnecks
غَداةَ الرَوعِ يُنعِلُها الهَوادي
مِنَof الأَعداءِthe enemies وَاللَمَمَand locks of hair الجِعاداcurly
مِنَ الأَعداءِ وَاللَمَمَ الجِعادا
On the morning of terror, he shoes them with necks
On the morrow when panic disperses them
of enemies, and with curly locks.
From the enemy and the blameworthy foes,
مُجَلجِلَةًthundering كَأَنَّas though بِهاin them أُواماًa raging thirst
مُجَلجِلَةً كَأَنَّ بِها أُواماً
إِلىfor وَقعِthe clash of الصَوارِمِkeen swords أَوor جُواداintense thirst
إِلى وَقعِ الصَوارِمِ أَو جُوادا
Thundering, as though a raging thirst possessed them
Rumbling as if there were drums within them
for the clash of keen swords, or a consuming thirst.
To the clashing of swords or galloping steeds.
يُسامِحُهاfreely grants them القِيادَthe rein إِلىtoward المَعاليlofty deeds
يُسامِحُها القِيادَ إِلى المَعالي
وَعِندَand at الضَيمِhumiliation يُمطِلُهاdenies them القِياداthe rein
وَعِندَ الضَيمِ يُمطِلُها القِيادا
He gives them free rein toward lofty deeds,
He gives them free rein to glory
but in the face of humiliation he withholds the rein.
And in hardship restrains their lead,
وَمَنand who لِلحَربِfor war يَنضَحُdrenches ذِفرَيَيهاher two sweat-spots behind the ears
وَمَن لِلحَربِ يَنضَحُ ذِفرَيَيها
وَيَعرُكُهاand grapples with her جِلاداًin swordplay أَوor طِراداin mounted combat
وَيَعرُكُها جِلاداً أَو طِرادا
And who will drench war behind her ears,
And for war sprinkles their shoulders
and grapple with her in swordplay or mounted combat?
And rubs them down smooth or roughly,
يُبَدِّلُreplaces مِنfrom دَمِthe blood of الأَعداءِthe enemies فيهاin her
يُبَدِّلُ مِن دَمِ الأَعداءِ فيها
لِصارِمِهِfor his keen sword الحَمائِلَthe baldrics وَالعِماداand supporting straps
لِصارِمِهِ الحَمائِلَ وَالعِمادا
With the enemies' blood in battle, he replaces
Exchanging in them the enemies' blood
his keen sword's baldrics and supporting straps.
For the hilts and blades of his swords.
هَوىfell قَمَرُthe moon of الأَنامِmankind وَكانَand he was أَوفىhigher
هَوى قَمَرُ الأَنامِ وَكانَ أَوفى
عَلىabove قَمَرِthe moon of التَمامِfullness عُلىًin loftiness وَزاداand surpassed it
عَلى قَمَرِ التَمامِ عُلىً وَزادا
Mankind's moon has fallen; he once rose
The moon of mankind has set and he was the most faithful
above the full moon in glory, and surpassed it.
Of moons, an enhancement and increase.
فَقُلso say لِلقَلبِto the heart لُبَّكَyour reason وَالتَعَزّيand consolation
فَقُل لِلقَلبِ لُبَّكَ وَالتَعَزّي
وَقُلand say لِلعَينِto the eye جَفنَكِyour eyelid وَالرُقاداand sleep
وَقُل لِلعَينِ جَفنَكِ وَالرُقادا
So tell the heart to hold to reason and consolation,
So say to the heart: sheathe your sword and resign yourself,
and tell the eye to close its lid and sleep.
And say to the eye: close your lid and sleep.
مَصائِبُcalamities لاnot أُناديI call upon الصَبرَpatience فيهاamid them
مَصائِبُ لا أُنادي الصَبرَ فيها
وَلاnor أُدعىam I summoned إِلَيهِto it وَلاnor أُنادىam I called
وَلا أُدعى إِلَيهِ وَلا أُنادى
Calamities in which I do not call upon patience,
Misfortunes wherein I call not for patience
nor am I summoned to it, nor called.
Nor summon it, nor call it to my aid.
أَلِلعَينَينِis it for the two eyes قَدalready قَذَياgrew sore بُكاءًfrom weeping
أَلِلعَينَينِ قَد قَذَيا بُكاءً
أَمِor الجَنَبَينِthe two sides قَدalready قَلِقاgrew restless وِساداon the pillow
أَمِ الجَنَبَينِ قَد قَلِقا وِسادا
Is it for the two eyes, grown sore from weeping,
Do mine eyes rain with weeping,
or the two sides, restless upon the pillow?
Or my ribs throb and stir my bed?
كَأَنَّas though الوَسمَthe branding iron شَعشَعَmade glow فيهِin it قَينٌa smith
كَأَنَّ الوَسمَ شَعشَعَ فيهِ قَينٌ
بَجُذوَتِهِwith his ember عَلَطتُI branded بِهِwith it الفُؤاداthe heart
بَجُذوَتِهِ عَلَطتُ بِهِ الفُؤادا
As though a smith had made a branding iron glow
As if the branding iron flashed within it,
with his ember, and I had branded my heart with it.
Scorching my heart with its live coal.
مِنَfrom among القَومِthe people الأُلىwho مَلَأواfilled اللَياليthe nights
مِنَ القَومِ الأُلى مَلَأوا اللَيالي
إِلىto أَصبارِهاtheir furthest bounds كَرَماًwith generosity وَآداand might
إِلى أَصبارِها كَرَماً وَآدا
He was of those who filled the nights
Of the people dear they filled the nights
to their furthest bounds with generosity and might,
To their morrows with bounty and habit,
وَرَسّواand drove deep فيinto فَواغِرِthe gaping jaws of كُلِّevery خَطبٍcalamity
وَرَسّوا في فَواغِرِ كُلِّ خَطبٍ
صُدورَthe points of البيضِbright swords وَالزُرقَand blue spears الحِداداsharp
صُدورَ البيضِ وَالزُرقَ الحِدادا
and drove into every calamity's gaping jaws
And pitched in the desolate parts of every misfortune
the points of bright swords and sharp blue spears.
The breasts of heroes and the dark blues of mourning.
إِذاif صابَfell الحَياthe rain بِبِلادِin lands of ضَيمٍhumiliation
إِذا صابَ الحَيا بِبِلادِ ضَيمٍ
جَلَواthey departed عَنهُنَّfrom them وَاِنتَجَعواand sought pasture in بِلاداlands
جَلَوا عَنهُنَّ وَاِنتَجَعوا بِلادا
If rain fell in lands of humiliation,
When evil befell the abodes of wrong
they departed from them and sought other lands for pasture.
They shunned them and sought refuge in the lands.
هُمُthey الجَبَلُthe mountain المُطِلُّlooming عَلىover الأَعاديthe enemies
هُمُ الجَبَلُ المُطِلُّ عَلى الأَعادي
إِذاwhen رَجَمَpelted الزَمانُTime بِهِwith it وَراداthose approaching
إِذا رَجَمَ الزَمانُ بِهِ وَرادا
They are the mountain looming over enemies,
They are the towering mountain over the enemies
when Time hurls it at those who approach.
When time pelteth it with hailstones.
لَهُمthey have حَسَبٌancestral honor إِذاif نَقَّبتَyou probe عَنهُinto it
لَهُم حَسَبٌ إِذا نَقَّبتَ عَنهُ
تَضَرَّمَit blazes جَمرَةًas an ember وَوَرىand kindles زِناداfire-sticks
تَضَرَّمَ جَمرَةً وَوَرى زِنادا
They have ancestral honor: when you probe it,
They have virtue enough, if you search it out,
it blazes like an ember and kindles fire-sticks.
To kindle flame and ignite tinder.
لَهُمthey have أَنفٌpride يَذُبُّwards off الضَيمَhumiliation عَنهُمfrom them
لَهُم أَنفٌ يَذُبُّ الضَيمَ عَنهُم
وَرَأيٌand judgment يَفرِجُrelieves الكُرَبَdistresses الشِداداsevere
وَرَأيٌ يَفرِجُ الكُرَبَ الشِدادا
They have pride that wards off humiliation,
They have a pride that protects them from injustice
and judgment that relieves severe distress.
And a view that relieves the most grievous distress,
وَأَيمانٌand right hands إِذاwhen مَطَرَتrain down عَطاءًgifts
وَأَيمانٌ إِذا مَطَرَت عَطاءً
حَسِبتَyou think الناسَthe people كُلَّهُمُall of them جَواداgenerous
حَسِبتَ الناسَ كُلَّهُمُ جَوادا
And right hands that, when they rain down gifts,
And oaths which, when they rain bounty,
make you think all people generous.
Make you deem all mankind noble steeds.
تَرىyou see رَأيَthe judgment of الفَتىthe young man فيهِمamong them مُطاعاًobeyed
تَرى رَأيَ الفَتى فيهِم مُطاعاً
وَقَولَand the words of المَرءِa man مِنهُمfrom among them مُستَعاداasked for again
وَقَولَ المَرءِ مِنهُم مُستَعادا
You see a young man's judgment among them obeyed,
You see the youth's purpose within them obeyed
and the words of a man among them asked for again.
And the man's word 'mongst them regarded,
وَقَدand indeed بَلَغواthey reached مِنَof العَلياءِhigh glory أَقصىthe highest
وَقَد بَلَغوا مِنَ العَلياءِ أَقصى
ذَوائِبِهاits summits وَماand not بَلَغواthey reached المُراداthe desired goal
ذَوائِبِها وَما بَلَغوا المُرادا
They reached, in glory, the highest
And they have attained the utmost
of its summits, yet did not reach their goal.
Of its summits, but not attained their goal.
أَشَتَّscattered جَميعَهُمall of them صَرفُthe vicissitudes of اللَياليthe nights
أَشَتَّ جَميعَهُم صَرفُ اللَيالي
وَلاand not يُبقيit spares الجَميعَthe gathered وَلاnor الفِراداthe solitary
وَلا يُبقي الجَميعَ وَلا الفِرادا
The turns of the nights scattered them all,
The passage of nights has worn away all of them,
and spare neither the gathered nor the solitary.
Leaving neither all nor individual.
مُصابُكَyour loss لَمdid not يَدَعleave قَلباًa heart ضَنيناًwithholding
مُصابُكَ لَم يَدَع قَلباً ضَنيناً
بَغُلَّتِهِwith its burning grief وَلاnor عَيناًan eye جَماداdry
بَغُلَّتِهِ وَلا عَيناً جَمادا
Your loss left no heart still hoarding
Your loss has left no heart disdainful
its burning grief, and no eye left dry.
In its sorrow, nor eye inanimate.
كَأَنَّas though الناسَmankind بَعدَكَafter you فيin ظَلامٍdarkness
كَأَنَّ الناسَ بَعدَكَ في ظَلامٍ
أَوِor الأَيّامَthe days أُلبِسَتِwere clothed in الحِداداmourning garb
أَوِ الأَيّامَ أُلبِسَتِ الحِدادا
As though mankind after you were in darkness,
As if after you the people were in darkness,
or the days had been clad in mourning black.
Or the days had donned mourning clothes.
وَكُنتُand I had أَفَدتُgained خِلَّتَهُhis friendship وَلَكِنbut
وَكُنتُ أَفَدتُ خِلَّتَهُ وَلَكِن
أَفادَنيbestowed on me الزَمانُTime وَماand did not أَفاداbestow
أَفادَني الزَمانُ وَما أَفادا
And I had gained his friendship, but
And I had hoped to gain your friendship, but
Time gave it to me—and gave me nothing.
Time has profited me, and nothing profits.
فَإِنso if لَمnot أَبكِهِI weep for him قُربىfor kinship تَلاقَتjoined
فَإِن لَم أَبكِهِ قُربى تَلاقَت
مَغارِسُهاits roots بَكَيتُI wept لَهُfor him وَداداout of affection
مَغارِسُها بَكَيتُ لَهُ وَدادا
So if I did not weep for him through kinship whose
If your kindred had not wept for you,
roots met, I wept for him out of affection.
I would have wept for you out of love.
يَعِزُّit is hard عَلَيَّfor me أَنto أَطويهِfold him away صَفحاًin disregard
يَعِزُّ عَلَيَّ أَن أَطويهِ صَفحاً
وَأَذهَبَand go away عَنهُfrom him نَأياًin remoteness أَوor بِعاداin distance
وَأَذهَبَ عَنهُ نَأياً أَو بِعادا
It pains me to fold his memory away in neglect,
I grieve to fold you away unavenged
and leave him, drawing away or keeping distant.
And remove myself from you, distant or estranged.
تَعَزَّtake solace أَباAbu عَلِيٍAli إِنَّindeed خَطباًa calamity
تَعَزَّ أَبا عَلِيٍ إِنَّ خَطباً
عَلىdespite العِلّاتِhindrances يَبلُغُattains ماwhat أَراداit desires
عَلى العِلّاتِ يَبلُغُ ما أَرادا
Take solace, Abu Ali: calamity,
Hard it was for Abu ‘Ali when misfortunes
despite all hindrances, attains what it desires.
Reached what they intended for the noble ones.
هُوَit is القَدَرُFate الَّذيthat خَطَبَتwooed يَداهُits two hands
هُوَ القَدَرُ الَّذي خَطَبَت يَداهُ
ثَموداًThamud مِنfrom مَعاقِلِهاher strongholds وَعاداand Ad
ثَموداً مِن مَعاقِلِها وَعادا
It is Fate, whose hands wooed
He is the fate whose hands demolished
Thamud from her strongholds, and Ad,
Thamud in their citadels and Aad,
وَضَعضَعَand brought low كُلَّeveryone مَنwho حَمَلَcarried العَواليlong spears
وَضَعضَعَ كُلَّ مَن حَمَلَ العَوالي
وَأَرجَلَand unhorsed كُلَّeveryone مَنwho رَكِبَrode الجِياداfine steeds
وَأَرجَلَ كُلَّ مَن رَكِبَ الجِيادا
and brought low everyone who carried long spears,
And made totter all who carried lofty burdens,
and unhorsed everyone who rode fine steeds.
And lamed all who mounted the steeds.
يُعَرّيit bares ظَهرَthe back of أَكثَرِناthe most numerous among us عَديداًin followers
يُعَرّي ظَهرَ أَكثَرِنا عَديداً
وَيَهجُمُand storms بَيتَthe house of أَطوَلِناthe tallest among us عِماداin pillars
وَيَهجُمُ بَيتَ أَطوَلِنا عِمادا
It bares the back of whoever among us has the most followers,
He strips bare the backs of our great numbers
and storms the house of whoever among us has the tallest pillars.
And assaults the tallest of our pillars.
كَذاكَsuch is الدَهرُTime إِنif أَبقىit spares قَليلاًa little
كَذاكَ الدَهرُ إِن أَبقى قَليلاً
أَحالَit turns عَلىagainst بَقِيَّتِهِwhat remains of it وَعاداand returns
أَحالَ عَلى بَقِيَّتِهِ وَعادا
Such is Time: if it spares a little,
Thus is time: if it leaves a little,
it turns upon the remnant and returns.
It renders the rest again and repeats.
وَبَيناand while المَرءُa man يَجنيهِharvests it ثِماراًas fruit
وَبَينا المَرءُ يَجنيهِ ثِماراً
إِلىuntil أَنthat عادَit became يُخرَطُهُhe strips it قَتاداas thorn-bushes
إِلى أَن عادَ يُخرَطُهُ قَتادا
And a man is harvesting its fruit—
While a man gathers its fruits,
until it turns into a thorn-bush he must strip.
Until it returns to shred him like tatters,
وَأَقرَبُand nearest ماwhen تَرىyou see فيهِin it اِنتِقاصاًdecline
وَأَقرَبُ ما تَرى فيهِ اِنتِقاصاً
إِذاwhen ماindeed قيلَit is said قَدalready كَمَلَbecame complete اِزدِياداin growth
إِذا ما قيلَ قَد كَمَلَ اِزدِيادا
And you are nearest to seeing its decline
And the nearest you see it diminish aught
when they say its increase has reached fullness.
Is when it is said "he has fully grown."
وَنَعلَمُand we know أَنthat سَيوجِرُناit will force-feed us مُراراًbitterness
وَنَعلَمُ أَن سَيوجِرُنا مُراراً
بِآيَةِby the sign أَنthat يُلَمَّظَناit lets us taste شِهاداhoneycombs
بِآيَةِ أَن يُلَمَّظَنا شِهادا
And we know it will force bitterness down our throats,
And we know it will defraud us over and over
by the sign that it lets us taste honeycomb.
With the sign that it has throttled us once.
وَماand not تُجديbenefit الدُموعُtears عَلىfor فَقيدٍthe departed
وَما تُجدي الدُموعُ عَلى فَقيدٍ
وَلَوeven if غَسَلَتthey washed away مِنَfrom العَينِthe eye السَواداthe blackness
وَلَو غَسَلَت مِنَ العَينِ السَوادا
Tears do nothing for the departed,
And tears avail not for a lost one,
even if they wash the blackness from the eye.
Even if they wash the black from the eye.
وَكُنتَand you were مُقَلَّداًgirded with مِنهاfrom them حُساماًa keen sword
وَكُنتَ مُقَلَّداً مِنها حُساماً
عَلىagainst الأَعداءِthe enemies داهِيَةًa calamity نَآدىgrievous
عَلى الأَعداءِ داهِيَةً نَآدى
And the days had girded you with a keen sword,
You were girded with a sword against the foes
a grievous calamity for the enemies.
Frightful upon the enemies when it was unsheathed.
فَنافَسَكَso vied with you الرَدىdeath فيfor مَضرِبَيهِits two striking edges
فَنافَسَكَ الرَدى في مَضرِبَيهِ
فَبَزَّand snatched النَصلَthe blade وَاِختَلَعَand tore off النِجاداthe baldric
فَبَزَّ النَصلَ وَاِختَلَعَ النِجادا
Then death vied with you for its two striking edges,
But fate vied with you in its strokes,
and seized the blade and tore off the baldric.
So the blade snapped and the scabbard split.
فَنادِso call اليَومَtoday غَيرَsomeone other than أَبيAbu شُجاعٍShuja
فَنادِ اليَومَ غَيرَ أَبي شُجاعٍ
وَصَمَّand deafened أَباAbu شُجاعٍShuja أَنto يُنادىbe called
وَصَمَّ أَبا شُجاعٍ أَن يُنادى
So call today upon someone other than Abu Shuja,
Call then today other than Abu Shuja‘,
and death has deafened Abu Shuja to every call.
And forbid that Abu Shuja' be called.
حَداdrove onward غَيرَother than الغَمامِthe clouds إِلَيهِtoward him كَوماًhigh-humped herds
حَدا غَيرَ الغَمامِ إِلَيهِ كَوماً
تَعِزُّare difficult عَلىfor المَقاوِدِthe halters أَنto تُقاداbe led
تَعِزُّ عَلى المَقاوِدِ أَن تُقادا
Something other than clouds drove high-humped herds toward him,
Heap none but the clouds toward him,
too proud to be led by halters:
Hard it is for seats to be led.
نَزائِعَstray gusts مِنof رِياحِthe winds الغَورِof the lowlands شَبَّتkindled
نَزائِعَ مِن رِياحِ الغَورِ شَبَّت
عَلىupon القُلَلِthe peaks البَوارِقَlightning flashes وَالرِعاداand thunderclaps
عَلى القُلَلِ البَوارِقَ وَالرِعادا
stray gusts of lowland winds that kindled
Squalls from the winds of the valley roared,
lightning and thunder upon the peaks.
Against the towering mountains and thunder.
مُخِّضنَthey were churned بِهِنَّby them مَخضَlike the churning of الوَطَبِthe milk-skin حَتّىuntil
مُخِّضنَ بِهِنَّ مَخضَ الوَطَبِ حَتّى
إِذاwhen جَلجَلنَthey rumbled أَطلَقنَthey released المَزاداthe waterskins
إِذا جَلجَلنَ أَطلَقنَ المَزادا
They were churned by those winds like a milk-skin, until,
They swelled with them as the pond swells, until
when they rumbled, they opened the waterskins.
When they rumbled aloud they unleashed the torrents.
تَلامَحَتِflickered البُروقُthe lightning flashes بِجانِبَيهاalong their two sides
تَلامَحَتِ البُروقُ بِجانِبَيها
كَأَنَّas though لَهاit had اِنحِلالاًan unraveling وَاِنعِقاداand a knotting
كَأَنَّ لَها اِنحِلالاً وَاِنعِقادا
Lightning flickered along their two sides,
Lightning flashed on either side of them
as though it unraveled and knotted itself again.
As if they split and rejoined.
كَأَنَّas though بِهِنَّamong them راعيa herdsman of مُرزِماتٍlowing she-camels
كَأَنَّ بِهِنَّ راعي مُرزِماتٍ
أَبَسَّcalled to the camels فَحَرَّكَand stirred الحورَthe white camels الجِلاداhardy
أَبَسَّ فَحَرَّكَ الحورَ الجِلادا
As though among them a herdsman of lowing she-camels
As if with them a driver goaded startled she-camels
called out and stirred the white, hardy camels.
And slapped the white-flanked herd to a gallop.
فَياso, O! لِلناسِto the people أوقِرُهُI burden him تُراباًwith earth
فَيا لِلناسِ أوقِرُهُ تُراباً
وَأَستَسقيand I ask for rain لِأَعظُمِهِfor his bones العِهاداrepeated rains
وَأَستَسقي لِأَعظُمِهِ العِهادا
So, O people! I heap earth upon him,
So O people, honour him with earth
and ask for repeated rains for his bones.
And for his greatest sake I pray for rain.
وَماand not السُقياthe watering لِتَبلُغَهُto reach him وَلَكِنbut
وَما السُقيا لِتَبلُغَهُ وَلَكِن
وَجَدتُI found لَهاfor it عَلىupon قَلبيmy heart بُراداcool relief
وَجَدتُ لَها عَلى قَلبي بُرادا
The watering will not reach him, but
But no rain can reach him—I only found
I found in it cool relief for my heart.
In my heart a cistern for it.
Sol 6.1