خَصيمٌan adversary مِنَamong الأَيّامِthe days ليfor me وَشَفيعُand an intercessor
خَصيمٌ مِنَ الأَيّامِ لي وَشَفيعُ
كَذاthus الدَهرُtime يَعصيdefies مَرَّةًonce وَيُطيعُand obeys
كَذا الدَهرُ يَعصي مَرَّةً وَيُطيعُ
Among the days, I have an adversary and an intercessor.
My days have become both an adversary and an intercessor for me
Such is time: at times it defies, at times obeys.
Thus time defies once and obeys another time
وَبيand within me ظَمَأٌthirst لَولاbut for العُلىglory ماnot بَلَلتُهُI quenched it
وَبي ظَمَأٌ لَولا العُلى ما بَلَلتُهُ
وَفيand in كُلِّevery قَلبٍheart غُلَّةٌburning thirst وَنُزوعُand yearning
وَفي كُلِّ قَلبٍ غُلَّةٌ وَنُزوعُ
And I bear a thirst that, but for glory, I would not quench.
Thirst has overwhelmed me, else, I would not have wetted it
And in every heart are burning thirst and yearning.
In every heart there is an obstruction and a leaning
وَماand not أَناI مِمَّنamong those who يَطلُبُseek الماءَwater لِلصَدىfor thirst
وَما أَنا مِمَّن يَطلُبُ الماءَ لِلصَدى
وَيَجمَعُنيand unites me وَالوارِدينَand those coming to drink شُروعُa shared watering place
وَيَجمَعُني وَالوارِدينَ شُروعُ
And I am not one who seeks water merely to quench thirst,
And I am not of those who seek water for echo
Nor does a common watering place unite me with those who come to drink.
And meeting place of all comers brings me together with them
رَضاعيmy suckling مِنَfrom الدُنياthe world المَماتُdeath فِطامُهُits weaning
رَضاعي مِنَ الدُنيا المَماتُ فِطامُهُ
وَماand not نَزَحَdrained الثَديَthe breast الغَزيرَabundant رَضيعُa suckling
وَما نَزَحَ الثَديَ الغَزيرَ رَضيعُ
My suckling is from this world; death is its weaning.
My weaning from this life is death, while its suckling
No suckling has drained that abundant breast.
Neither does the streaming breast satisfy the weaned
أَبَيناwe refused وَلاand no ضَيمٌhumiliation أَصابَtouched أُنوفَناour noses
أَبَينا وَلا ضَيمٌ أَصابَ أُنوفَنا
وَفيand on الأَرضِthe earth مُصطافٌsummer quarters لَناfor us وَرَبيعُand spring pasture
وَفي الأَرضِ مُصطافٌ لَنا وَرَبيعُ
We refused, and no humiliation touched our noses,
We refused but no harm befell our honor
While earth has summer quarters and spring pasture for us.
And we have in the land a place to rest and a spring
إِذاwhen غَدَرَتbetrays نَفسُthe soul of الجَبانِthe coward بِصَبرِهِhis endurance
إِذا غَدَرَت نَفسُ الجَبانِ بِصَبرِهِ
حَمَتناprotected us ذُروعٌpowers طَلقَةٌunfettered وَدُروعُand armor
حَمَتنا ذُروعٌ طَلقَةٌ وَدُروعُ
When the coward's soul betrays his endurance,
If the coward's soul betrays its patience
Unfettered strength and armor protect us.
Our arms, polished and armored, defend us
وَأَقنَعَناand contented us بِالبيدِwith the deserts أَنthat لَيسَthere is no مَنزِلٌdwelling
وَأَقنَعَنا بِالبيدِ أَن لَيسَ مَنزِلٌ
وَماand what بَينَbefore أَيديthe fronts of اليَعمُلاتِthe tireless she-camels وَسيعُis vast
وَما بَينَ أَيدي اليَعمُلاتِ وَسيعُ
What reconciled us to the wastes was that there was no dwelling,
And a homestead in the desert sufficed us that it is no dwelling place
And the space before the tireless she-camels was vast.
And what there is between the hands of doers is expansive
أَبُثُّكَI confide to you أَنَّthat المالَwealth عارٌa disgrace عَلىto الفَتىthe young man
أَبُثُّكَ أَنَّ المالَ عارٌ عَلى الفَتى
وَماand not المالُwealth إِلّاexcept عِفَّةٌself-restraint وَقُنوعُand contentment
وَما المالُ إِلّا عِفَّةٌ وَقُنوعُ
I confide to you that wealth is a disgrace to a young man,
Shall I denounce to you that wealth brings dishonor to a young man?
And wealth is nothing but self-restraint and contentment.
Wealth is nothing but chastity and contentment
أَيَطلُعُdoes rise ليfor me عَزمٌresolve إِلىtoward ماwhat أُريدُهُI desire it
أَيَطلُعُ لي عَزمٌ إِلى ما أُريدُهُ
وَصاحِبُand the keeper of سِرّيmy secret فيamong الرِجالِmen مُذيعُa divulger
وَصاحِبُ سِرّي في الرِجالِ مُذيعُ
Can resolve rise within me toward what I desire,
Does a firm resolution rise in me towards what I want?
While my confidant among men divulges my secret?
And the confidant of my secret among men is a blabber
وَتَشتاقُand longs نَفسيmy soul حالَةًa state بَعدَafter حالَةٍa state
وَتَشتاقُ نَفسي حالَةً بَعدَ حالَةٍ
وَأَزجُرُهاand I rebuke it إِنّيindeed I إِذاthen لَقَنوعُsurely content
وَأَزجُرُها إِنّي إِذا لَقَنوعُ
And my soul longs for one state after another,
And my soul yearns for a state after a state
And I rebuke it; then I am truly content.
And I restrain it, for I am, when solitary, content
وَإِنّيand indeed I لَأَغرىsurely captivated بِالنَسيمِby the breeze إِذاwhen سَرىtravels by night
وَإِنّي لَأَغرى بِالنَسيمِ إِذا سَرى
وَيُعجِبُنيand delight me بِالأَبرَقَينِat al-Abraqayn رُبوعُdwelling places
وَيُعجِبُني بِالأَبرَقَينِ رُبوعُ
And I am surely captivated by the breeze when it steals through the night,
And I am tempted by the blowing wind when it flows
And dwelling places at al-Abraqayn delight me.
And I admire, in it, the alternation of lightning
وَيَحنيand bends عَلَيَّover me الشَوقَlonging نَجدِيُّfrom Najd مُزنَةٍa rain cloud
وَيَحني عَلَيَّ الشَوقَ نَجدِيُّ مُزنَةٍ
وَبَرقٌand lightning بِأَطرافِat the edges of الحِجازِthe Hijaz لَموعُflashing
وَبَرقٌ بِأَطرافِ الحِجازِ لَموعُ
A rain cloud from Najd folds longing over me,
And longing bows upon me, the misery of rain in Al-Hejaz and its lightning that flashes on the outskirts
And lightning flashes at the edges of the Hijaz.
And I know not ecstasy until a dove in the valley coos
وَلاand not أَعرِفُI know الأَشجانَsorrows حَتّىuntil يَشوقَنيstirs my longing
وَلا أَعرِفُ الأَشجانَ حَتّى يَشوقَني
حَمامٌdoves بِبَطنِin the hollow of الواديّينِal-Wadiyyayn سَجوعُcooing
حَمامٌ بِبَطنِ الواديّينِ سَجوعُ
I know no sorrows until longing is stirred in me
And were it not for passion, I would have been nothing but a toiler
By cooing doves in the hollow of al-Wadiyyayn.
Who defies passion and obeys
وَلَولاand but for الهَوىlove ماnot كُنتُI would be إِلّاexcept مُشَمِّراًgirded for action
وَلَولا الهَوى ما كُنتُ إِلّا مُشَمِّراً
أُطاعُI am obeyed عَلىin رُغمَdefiance of الهَوىlove وَأُطيعُand I obey
أُطاعُ عَلى رُغمَ الهَوى وَأُطيعُ
Were it not for love, I would be nothing but girded for action,
When dawn shines, the steed is my companion
Obeyed despite love, and obedient.
And when night comes, the sword is my bedmate
إِذاwhen راقَshines clear صُبحٌdawn فَالحِصانُthen the stallion مُصاحِبٌa companion
إِذا راقَ صُبحٌ فَالحِصانُ مُصاحِبٌ
وَإِنand if عاقَimpedes لَيلٌnight فَالحُسامُthen the sword ضَجيعُa bedfellow
وَإِن عاقَ لَيلٌ فَالحُسامُ ضَجيعُ
When dawn shines clear, my stallion is my companion;
I left the nights behind me hated
And if night impedes me, my sword is my bedfellow.
And the overwhelming swarms of insects accompanied me
تَرَكتُI left اللَياليthe nights خَلفَbehind ظَهريmy back رَذِيَّةًexhausted
تَرَكتُ اللَيالي خَلفَ ظَهري رَذِيَّةً
وَصاحَبَنيand accompanied me طاغيfierce الذُبابِthe sword-tip قَطوعُkeen-cutting
وَصاحَبَني طاغي الذُبابِ قَطوعُ
I left the nights behind my back, exhausted,
I ventured fascinated by what I seek
And a sword, fierce at the point and keen to cut, accompanied me.
I traverse the darkness while the seekers are asleep
وَخاطَرتُand I took risks مَشغوفاًenthralled بِماby what أَناI طالِبٌseek
وَخاطَرتُ مَشغوفاً بِما أَنا طالِبٌ
أَجوبُI roam الدُجىthe darkness وَالطالِبونَwhile the seekers هُجوعُare asleep
أَجوبُ الدُجى وَالطالِبونَ هُجوعُ
And I took risks, enthralled by what I sought,
Be informed that a spear whose attack is not piercing is useless
Roaming the darkness while other seekers slept.
And a sword that does not strike violently is blunt
أَلاbehold إِنَّindeed رُمحاًa spear لاnot يَصولُcharges لَنَبعَةٌsurely a nabʿ branch
أَلا إِنَّ رُمحاً لا يَصولُ لَنَبعَةٌ
وَإِنَّand indeed حُساماًa sword لاnot يَقُدُّcleaves قَطيعُbroken
وَإِنَّ حُساماً لا يَقُدُّ قَطيعُ
Indeed, a spear that does not charge is merely a nabʿ branch,
And I left behind me men from Qais and Khindif
And a sword that does not cleave is a broken blade.
Without my chest provoking them to war
وَفارَقتُand I parted مِنfrom أَبناءِthe sons of قَيسٍQays وَخِندِفٍand Khindif
وَفارَقتُ مِن أَبناءِ قَيسٍ وَخِندِفٍ
رِجالاًmen وَلَمand did not تَنفُرrecoil عَلَيَّagainst me ضُلوعُribs
رِجالاً وَلَم تَنفُر عَلَيَّ ضُلوعُ
And I parted from the sons of Qays and Khindif—
I left them calling while my tears were streaming
Men whose ribs had never recoiled against me.
But my eyes did not allow them to shed tears on me
تَرَكتُهُمُI left them يَدعونَcalling out وَالدَمعُwhile tears ناشِزٌwere rising
تَرَكتُهُمُ يَدعونَ وَالدَمعُ ناشِزٌ
وَماand not مَلَكَتmastered طَرفيmy gaze عَلَيَّagainst me دُموعُtears
وَما مَلَكَت طَرفي عَلَيَّ دُموعُ
I left them calling out, with tears welling up,
A farewell heart cautioned them against me
Yet no tears mastered my gaze against my will.
And a resolute determination to meet the men head-on
وَحَذَّرَهُمand warned them مِنّيagainst me فُؤادٌa heart مُشَيَّعٌcourageous
وَحَذَّرَهُم مِنّي فُؤادٌ مُشَيَّعٌ
وَعَزمٌand resolve لِأَقانِfor rivals (unclear reading) الرِجالِmen قَطوعُcutting down
وَعَزمٌ لِأَقانِ الرِجالِ قَطوعُ
A courageous heart warned them against me,
And a soul free in confronting catastrophes
And a resolve that cuts down rival men.
And a heart obedient in the war of time
وَنَفسٌand a soul عَلىamid كَرِّthe repeated assaults of النَوائِبِcalamities حُرَّةٌfree
وَنَفسٌ عَلى كَرِّ النَوائِبِ حُرَّةٌ
وَقَلبٌand a heart عَلىin حَربِwar against الزَمانِtime مُطيعُobedient
وَقَلبٌ عَلى حَربِ الزَمانِ مُطيعُ
And a soul free amid calamities' repeated assaults,
And I said: Accepting oppression is the greatest fault
And a heart obedient in the war against time.
And the free man in the land is not lost
وَقُلتُand I said قَبولُaccepting الضَيمِhumiliation أَعظَمُthe gravest خَطَّةٍcourse of action
وَقُلتُ قَبولُ الضَيمِ أَعظَمُ خَطَّةٍ
وَماand not الحُرُّthe free man فيin رَحبِthe breadth of البِلادِthe lands مَضيعُlost
وَما الحُرُّ في رَحبِ البِلادِ مَضيعُ
And I said: accepting humiliation is the gravest course,
So when I saw humiliation among the people was common
And a free man is not lost in the breadth of the lands.
I left and no return was possible to me
فَلَمّاso when رَأَيتُI saw الذُلَّabasement فيamong القَومِthe people سُبَّةًa disgrace
فَلَمّا رَأَيتُ الذُلَّ في القَومِ سُبَّةً
ذَهَبتُI departed فَلَمand not يُقدَرcould be imposed عَلَيَّupon me رُجوعُa return
ذَهَبتُ فَلَم يُقدَر عَلَيَّ رُجوعُ
When I saw abasement as a stain upon the people,
Lo, my night in Iraq is as if
I departed, and no return could be forced upon me.
It is an emaciated camel avoided by men
أَلاbehold إِنَّindeed لَيليmy night بِالعِراقِin Iraq كَأَنَّهُas though it were
أَلا إِنَّ لَيلي بِالعِراقِ كَأَنَّهُ
طَليحٌan exhausted beast تَجافاهُabandoned it الرِجالُmen ظَليعُlame
طَليحٌ تَجافاهُ الرِجالُ ظَليعُ
Indeed, my night in Iraq is like
Resident who brings me worries and my watcher
An exhausted, lame beast that men have abandoned:
Is preoccupied with the backs of the stars and burning
مُقيمٌremaining يُعاطينيoffers me الهُمومَcares وَناظِريand my gaze
مُقيمٌ يُعاطيني الهُمومَ وَناظِري
مُعَنىًtroubled بِأَعجازِwith the trailing ends of النُجومِthe stars وَلَوعُobsessed
مُعَنىً بِأَعجازِ النُجومِ وَلَوعُ
It stays, offering me cares, while my gaze
And horse(s) whose purity we shattered in the darkness of night
Is troubled, obsessed with the stars' trailing ends.
Their hooves make the pebbles quiver and frightened
وَخَيلٍand horses أَبَحناهاwe let them range السَماوَةَal-Samawah وَالوَجىand hoof-soreness
وَخَيلٍ أَبَحناها السَماوَةَ وَالوَجى
تُنَفِّرُscatter أَيديهاtheir forelegs الحَصىpebbles وَتَروعُand terrify
تُنَفِّرُ أَيديها الحَصى وَتَروعُ
And horses we loosed in al-Samawah, their hooves growing sore—
Until dawn rises and the night departs dejectedly
Their forelegs scattered pebbles and struck fear,
Abandoning its horrors, and the planets are gazing
إِلىuntil أَنthat تَسامىrose high الصُبحُdawn وَاللَيلُwhile night لافِظٌwas casting out
إِلى أَن تَسامى الصُبحُ وَاللَيلُ لافِظٌ
حُشاشَتَهُits last breath وَالطالِعاتُand the rising stars تَريعُretreat
حُشاشَتَهُ وَالطالِعاتُ تَريعُ
Until dawn rose high, while night was casting out
And by God I survived a day in Iraq
Its last breath, and the rising stars withdrew.
Though the hands of death were about to fall
وَلِلَّهِand by God يَومٌa day بِالعِراقِin Iraq نَجَوتُهُI escaped it
وَلِلَّهِ يَومٌ بِالعِراقِ نَجَوتُهُ
وَأَيديand the hands of المَناياdeath بِالنَجاءِupon flight وُقوعُfalling
وَأَيدي المَنايا بِالنَجاءِ وُقوعُ
By God, what a day in Iraq I escaped,
I slipped away from it, slipped like a smooth pocket
While death's hands were closing upon my flight!
And it bent inside the pockets of oath-breakers
تَمَلَّستُI slipped free مِنُهfrom it أَملَسَunmarked الجَيبِthe shirtfront وَاِنثَنىand it turned back
تَمَلَّستُ مِنُه أَملَسَ الجَيبِ وَاِنثَنى
لَهُit had فيin جُيوبِthe shirtfronts of الناكِثينَthe oath-breakers رُدوعُbloodstains
لَهُ في جُيوبِ الناكِثينَ رُدوعُ
I slipped free of it with my shirtfront unmarked, while it turned back
Mouths vie over it, in every arena
With bloodstains on the shirtfronts of the oath-breakers.
And every tradition in which I was the innovator
تَنازَعُهُvie over it الأَفواهُmouths فيat كُلِّevery مَشهَدٍgathering
تَنازَعُهُ الأَفواهُ في كُلِّ مَشهَدٍ
وَكُلُّand every حَدِيٍّtale (uncertain reading) كُنتُI was فيهِin it بَديعُmarvelous
وَكُلُّ حَدِيٍّ كُنتُ فيهِ بَديعُ
Mouths vie to recount it at every gathering,
We tasted it, and we let our spears drink from its blood
And every tale in which I figured is marvelous.
And hopes of men were cloven by its gaping wounds
طَعِمناwe tasted وَأَطعَمناand we fed القَناthe spears مِنfrom دِمائِهِits blood
طَعِمنا وَأَطعَمنا القَنا مِن دِمائِهِ
وَسارَتand spread بِآمالِthrough the hopes of الرِجالِmen صُدوعُcracks
وَسارَت بِآمالِ الرِجالِ صُدوعُ
We tasted its blood and fed the spears with it,
And our hands conceal the bases of our spears
And cracks spread through men's hopes.
While their tips roam between hearts
وَتَحفَظُand hold fast أَيديناour hands كُعوبَthe joints of رِماحِناour spears
وَتَحفَظُ أَيدينا كُعوبَ رِماحِنا
وَأَطرافُهاand their points بَينَamong القُلوبِhearts تَضيعُvanish
وَأَطرافُها بَينَ القُلوبِ تَضيعُ
Our hands hold fast to the joints of our spears,
My greed is to own all the glory
While their points disappear among hearts.
And every boy aspires to the heights
طَماعِيَتيmy ambition أَنto أَملِكَpossess المَجدَglory كُلَّهُall of it
طَماعِيَتي أَن أَملِكَ المَجدَ كُلَّهُ
وَكُلُّand every غُلامٍyouth فيin العَلاءِloftiness طَموعُambitious
وَكُلُّ غُلامٍ في العَلاءِ طَموعُ
My ambition is to possess all glory,
And a friend who hands me cups as a courtesy
And every youth is eager for the heights.
And he wished the mint were copious
وَمَولىًand an ally يُعاطينيpasses me الكُؤوسَthe cups تَجَمُّلاًshowing courtesy
وَمَولىً يُعاطيني الكُؤوسَ تَجَمُّلاً
وَقَدwhile indeed وَدَّhe wished لَوif only أَنَّthat العُقارَthe wine نَجيعُfresh blood
وَقَد وَدَّ لَو أَنَّ العُقارَ نَجيعُ
And an ally passed me cups in a show of courtesy,
I hid in my ribs a deadly assault for him
Though he wished the wine were fresh blood.
On the day of traitors, it will startle him
خَبَأتُI hid لَهُfor him ماwhat was بَينَbetween جَنبيَّmy two sides فَتكَةًa deadly ambush
خَبَأتُ لَهُ ما بَينَ جَنبيَّ فَتكَةً
دَهَتهُstruck him وَيَومُand the day of الغادِرينَtraitors شَنيعُgrim
دَهَتهُ وَيَومُ الغادِرينَ شَنيعُ
I hid a deadly ambush for him between my flanks;
Since no day lasts whose loyalty endures
It struck him, and grim is the day of traitors.
Then loyalty in time is a wonder
فَلاso may not كانَthere be يَومٌa day لاnot يَدومُendures وَفاؤُهُits loyalty
فَلا كانَ يَومٌ لا يَدومُ وَفاؤُهُ
فَإِنَّfor indeed وَفاءًloyalty فيin الزَمانِtime بَديعُrare
فَإِنَّ وَفاءً في الزَمانِ بَديعُ
May no day exist whose loyalty does not endure,
Some sayings of speakers are falsified
For loyalty in time is a rare wonder.
And some visitors of relatives are deceivers
وَبَوضُand some (unclear spelling) مَقالِspeech القائِلينَthe speakers مُكَذَّبٌbelied
وَبَوضُ مَقالِ القائِلينَ مُكَذَّبٌ
وَبَعضُand some وِرادِvisits الأَقرَبينَthe closest kin خَدوعُdeceptive
وَبَعضُ وِرادِ الأَقرَبينَ خَدوعُ
And some of what speakers say is belied,
I see a guided one listening while none is speaking
And some visits from the closest kin are deceptive.
And one seeking guidance calling while none can hear
أَرىI see راشِداًa rightly guided man يُصغيlistening وَليسَthough not مُكَلَّمٌaddressed
أَرى راشِداً يُصغي وَليسَ مُكَلَّمٌ
وَمُستَرشَدٌand one consulted for guidance يَدعوcalls وَليسَthough not سَميعُlistening
وَمُستَرشَدٌ يَدعو وَليسَ سَميعُ
I see a rightly guided man listening though not addressed,
People are nothing but a pretentious eulogizer
And a consulted guide calling, though he does not listen.
And another, the train of whose cloak is vile
وَماand not الناسُpeople إِلاexcept ماجِدٌa noble man مُتَلَثِّمٌveiling his face
وَما الناسُ إِلا ماجِدٌ مُتَلَثِّمٌ
وَآخَرُand another مَجرورُdragging العِطافِthe cloak خَليعُdissolute
وَآخَرُ مَجرورُ العِطافِ خَليعُ
People are only a noble man veiling his face,
Time is naught but blessings and tribulations
And another, trailing his cloak, dissolute.
And creatures are naught but secure and terrified
وَماand not الدَهرُtime إِلّاexcept نِعمَةٌa blessing وَمُصيبَةٌand a calamity
وَما الدَهرُ إِلّا نِعمَةٌ وَمُصيبَةٌ
وَماand not الخَلقُmankind إِلّاexcept آمَنٌsecure وَجَزوعُand fearful
وَما الخَلقُ إِلّا آمَنٌ وَجَزوعُ
Time is nothing but blessing and calamity,
The day of soft steps, hand-clapping
And mankind is nothing but the secure and the fearful.
And the speech of creaky sandals braying
وَيَومُand a day رَقيقِdelicate الطُرَّتينِthe two fringes مُصَفِّقٌclapping
وَيَومُ رَقيقِ الطُرَّتينِ مُصَفِّقٌ
وَخَطبُand a calamity جُرازِkeen-cutting المَضرَبَينِthe two striking edges قَطيعُsevering
وَخَطبُ جُرازِ المَضرَبَينِ قَطيعُ
And a day, delicate at both fringes, claps its hands,
It astonished me — it moves with us while standing still
And a calamity, keen at both striking edges, severs.
It eats from our lifetimes and is ravenous
عَجِبتُI marveled لَهُat it يَسريtravels by night بِناwith us وَهوَwhile it واقِفٌstands still
عَجِبتُ لَهُ يَسري بِنا وَهوَ واقِفٌ
وَيَأكُلُand consumes مِنfrom أَعمارِناour lifespans وَيَجوعُand hungers
وَيَأكُلُ مِن أَعمارِنا وَيَجوعُ
I marvel at it: it travels with us while standing still,
Which man of Saʿd's offspring did I befriend
And it consumes our lifespans, yet hungers.
That did not debase those roots with branches?
وَأَيُّنand what a (unclear spelling) فَتىًyouth مِنfrom فَرعِthe stock of سَعدٍSa'd صَحِبتُهI accompanied him
وَأَيُّن فَتىً مِن فَرعِ سَعدٍ صَحِبتُه
وَماand not هَجَنَتdebased تِلكَthose الأُصولَroots فُروعُbranches
وَما هَجَنَت تِلكَ الأُصولَ فُروعُ
And what a youth of Sa'd's stock I accompanied!
Lightweight on the back of the noble that shakes him
No branches have debased those roots.
Poems on his shoulders and short poetry
خَفيفٌlight عَلىon ظَهرِthe back of النَجيبِthe noble camel تَهُزُّهُshake him
خَفيفٌ عَلى ظَهرِ النَجيبِ تَهُزُّهُ
عُروضٌbaggage عَلىon أَعطافِهِits flanks وَقُطوعُand saddlecloths
عُروضٌ عَلى أَعطافِهِ وَقُطوعُ
Light on the noble camel's back, he is rocked
When one day is obscured, his honor's face rises
By baggage along its flanks, and saddlecloths.
And for us the full moon has setting and rising
إِذاwhen غابَsets يَومٌa day أَطلَعَmakes rise العِزُّglory وَجهَهُhis face
إِذا غابَ يَومٌ أَطلَعَ العِزُّ وَجهَهُ
وَلِلبَدرِand for the full moon فيناamong us مَغرِبٌa setting وَطُلوعُand a rising
وَلِلبَدرِ فينا مَغرِبٌ وَطُلوعُ
When a day sets, glory raises his face,
I will pounce from the night of disorder and escape
And among us the full moon has a setting and a rising.
To an abode where time is submissive
سَأَنقُضُI shall shake loose مِنfrom لَيلِthe night of الثَوِيَّةِal-Thawiyyah وَفرَتيmy locks
سَأَنقُضُ مِن لَيلِ الثَوِيَّةِ وَفرَتي
إِلىtoward مَنزِلٍa dwelling لِلدَهرِfor time فيهِin it خُضوعُsubmission
إِلى مَنزِلٍ لِلدَهرِ فيهِ خُضوعُ
I shall shake my locks free of al-Thawiyyah's night,
I see the stallion whose lips the bridle has chafed
Toward a dwelling where time itself submits.
And without him is the rugged, firm ground
أَرىI see العيسَthe pale camels قَدalready خاطَstitched اللُغامُfoam شِفاهَهاtheir lips
أَرى العيسَ قَد خاطَ اللُغامُ شِفاهَها
وَمِنand from دونِهاin front of them صَعبُfierce الضِرابِcombat مَنيعُunassailable
وَمِن دونِها صَعبُ الضِرابِ مَنيعُ
I see the pale camels: foam has stitched their lips,
When crisis seizes him, deliverance takes him
And before them stands a fierce fighter, unassailable.
And the legs of the steed bound forth
إِذاwhen أَخَذَتtake hold مِنهاfrom them الأَزِمَّةُthe reins حَثَّهاurges them
إِذا أَخَذَت مِنها الأَزِمَّةُ حَثَّها
نَجاءٌswift flight وَأَعضادُand the upper forelegs of المَطِيِّthe mounts تَبوعُfollowing
نَجاءٌ وَأَعضادُ المَطِيِّ تَبوعُ
When the reins hold them back, they are urged onward
As for us, when the whips wave boastfully
By haste, and the mounts' upper forelegs follow in turn.
We bow down on its withers and kneel
وَنَحنُand we إِذاwhen طارَfly السِياطُthe whips بِشَأوِهاwith their racing speed
وَنَحنُ إِذا طارَ السِياطُ بِشَأوِها
سُجودٌprostrate عَلىover أَكوارِهاtheir saddles وَرُكوعُand bowing
سُجودٌ عَلى أَكوارِها وَرُكوعُ
And we, when the whips fly with their racing speed,
I do not accept satisfaction from time
Are prostrate over their saddles, and bowing.
And my resolve is taken while time is prevented
وَإِنِّيَand indeed I لاnot أَرضىam content مِنَfrom الدَهرِtime بِالرِضاwith satisfaction
وَإِنِّيَ لا أَرضى مِنَ الدَهرِ بِالرِضا
وَعَزميand my resolve أَخوذٌgrasping وَالزَمانُwhile time مَنوعُwithholding
وَعَزمي أَخوذٌ وَالزَمانُ مَنوعُ
And I will not settle for mere satisfaction from time,
In life, the suckling of the udder is speckled
My resolve is grasping, while time withholds.
And on earth, the pasturing plain is verdant
وَفيand in العَيشِlife مَشمولُnorth-wind-cooled النِطافِthe drops مُرَقرَقٌshimmering
وَفي العَيشِ مَشمولُ النِطافِ مُرَقرَقٌ
وَفيand on الأَرضِthe earth مُخضَرُّverdant الجَنابِthe borders مَريعُfertile
وَفي الأَرضِ مُخضَرُّ الجَنابِ مَريعُ
And in life is a shimmering draught cooled by the north wind,
And on earth, a fertile place with verdant borders.
Partial English translation: 102 of 104 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1