كَأَنَّكَas though you لَمdid not تَقُدlead بِعُوَيرِضاتٍat ʿUwayriḍāt
كَأَنَّكَ لَم تَقُد بِعُوَيرِضاتٍ
أَباO father of العَوّامِal-ʿAwwam فِتياناًyoung men قِطاطاcurly-haired
أَبا العَوّامِ فِتياناً قِطاطا
As though you had not led at ʿUwayriḍāt,
It is as if you had not led noble youths of ‘Awwam
O Abu al-ʿAwwam, curly-haired youths,
Bearing pure swords that pierce all armour
وَلَمand did not تَحمِلcharge عَلىagainst الأَعداءِthe enemies مِنهُمfrom among them
وَلَم تَحمِل عَلى الأَعداءِ مِنهُم
قَنىًspears لَدناًsupple وَأَيماناًand right hands سِباطاlong-fingered
قَنىً لَدناً وَأَيماناً سِباطا
nor charged against the foes with their
And you had not borne against the foe among them
supple spears and long-fingered right hands.
Sharp blades and pledges that destroy protection
إِذاwhen المَنجودُthe hard-pressed man نَبَّهَهُمroused them طُروقاًby night
إِذا المَنجودُ نَبَّهَهُم طُروقاً
رَأىhe saw زَعلَexuberance الشَبيبَةِyouth وَالنَشاطاand vigor
رَأى زَعلَ الشَبيبَةِ وَالنَشاطا
When a hard-pressed man roused them by night,
Whenever the scout warned them of danger
he saw youth's exuberance and vigor.
They saw the ardour and liveliness of youth
قِيامَstanding upright السَمهَريِّthe Samhari lance تَبادَروهاthey raced to it
قِيامَ السَمهَريِّ تَبادَروها
وَقَدand already لَبِسواthey wore المَخيلَةَpride وَالشَطاطاand tall stature
وَقَد لَبِسوا المَخيلَةَ وَالشَطاطا
Upright as Samhari lances, they raced to answer it,
Rushing to take their stand with Al-Samhari
clad in pride and lofty stature.
Having donned fine garb and shining mail
وَلَمand did not تَسُقِdrive الجِيادَthe steeds مُسَوَّماتٍmarked
وَلَم تَسُقِ الجِيادَ مُسَوَّماتٍ
تُجَشِّمُهاyou make them endure المَغاوِرَraids وَالوِراطاand perils
تُجَشِّمُها المَغاوِرَ وَالوِراطا
Nor had you driven the marked steeds,
You had not loosed mailed steeds
forcing them through raids and perils,
Whose flanks the caves and meadows would bruise
وَتُرسِلُهاand you send them العَرَضنَةَprancing sideways صادِياتٍthirsty
وَتُرسِلُها العَرَضنَةَ صادِياتٍ
مُبادَرَةًracing إِلىto الماءِthe water الغُطاطاthe sandgrouse
مُبادَرَةً إِلى الماءِ الغُطاطا
and sent them prancing sideways, thirsty,
Sending them racing wildly to the waters
racing the sandgrouse to water.
Plunging in todrink deeply of its freshness
تُصيبُyou strike بِهاwith them فَواغِرَgaping mouths كُلِّevery ثَغرٍfrontier
تُصيبُ بِها فَواغِرَ كُلِّ ثَغرٍ
كَأَنَّكَas though you تُرسِلُloose النَبلَthe arrows المِراطاfeatherless
كَأَنَّكَ تُرسِلُ النَبلَ المِراطا
You struck with them the gaping jaws of every frontier,
With them you would strike the throat of every pass
as though you were loosing featherless arrows.
As if you loosed your arrows in torrents
فَلَينَthey combed مَفارِقَthe ridges المَعزاءِthe stony ground وَخداًat a trot
فَلَينَ مَفارِقَ المَعزاءِ وَخداً
كَفَليlike the combing of الأَنمُلِthe fingertips اللِمَمَthe locks الشَماطاgray-streaked
كَفَلي الأَنمُلِ اللِمَمَ الشَماطا
They combed the stony ground's ridges at a trot,
When the confederates parted and dawn broke
as fingertips comb gray-streaked locks.
While the full moon still shone brightly
وَمَنand whoever جَعَلَmakes الدَليلَthe guide لَهُfor himself اِبنَthe son of لَيلىLayla
وَمَن جَعَلَ الدَليلَ لَهُ اِبنَ لَيلى
فَلَنthen will not يَخشىfear الضَلالَstraying وَلاnor الغِلاطاmistakes
فَلَن يَخشى الضَلالَ وَلا الغِلاطا
Whoever takes Ibn Layla for his guide
You folded up your cloak after camping
will fear neither straying nor error.
As if you spread out carpets on the sand
وَناجِيَةٍand many a swift she-camel تُساقِطُهاyou bring it down حَسيراًexhausted
وَناجِيَةٍ تُساقِطُها حَسيراً
سِقاطَthe felling by حُسامِكَyour keen sword البُدنَthe sacrificial camels العِباطَhealthy and unblemished
سِقاطَ حُسامِكَ البُدنَ العِباطَ
And many a swift she-camel you brought down exhausted,
You led raids into lands without a guide
as your keen sword felled healthy sacrificial camels.
As if their vastness was but a little ground
وَتُطلِقُand you loosen رَحلَهاits saddle وَالفَجرُwhile dawn طِفلٌan infant
وَتُطلِقُ رَحلَها وَالفَجرُ طِفلٌ
وَقَدand already أَكَلَit had gnawed البَوانِيَthe ribs وَالمِلاطاand the flanks
وَقَد أَكَلَ البَوانِيَ وَالمِلاطا
You loosened her saddle while dawn was still a child,
You returned driving their livestock before you
after it had gnawed into her ribs and flanks.
Like ants crawling upon the smooth floor
وَشاذِبَةٍand many a lean she-camel طَوَيتَyou folded up بِهاwith it اِعتِسافاًoff the beaten track
وَشاذِبَةٍ طَوَيتَ بِها اِعتِسافاً
بِساطَthe carpet الدَوِّthe desert إِنَّindeed لَهُit has بِساطاa carpet
بِساطَ الدَوِّ إِنَّ لَهُ بِساطا
And on many a lean she-camel you folded, off the beaten track,
With a black steed whose flanks
the desert's carpet—vast indeed its spread!
Were clad in the darkness of night
ذَوارِعَlong-striding لِلبِلادِacross the lands بِغَيرِwithout حادٍa camel-chanter
ذَوارِعَ لِلبِلادِ بِغَيرِ حادٍ
تَخالُyou would think فُضولَthe loose ends أَنسُعِهاtheir girth-straps سِياطاwhips
تَخالُ فُضولَ أَنسُعِها سِياطا
Striding across the lands without a camel-chanter,
The stars hung from its sides
you would take their dangling girth-straps for whips.
As if the night had adorned it with jewels
وَعُدتَand you returned بِهَwith it تُساوِكُit walks feebly مِنfrom وَجاهاits sore feet
وَعُدتَ بِهَ تُساوِكُ مِن وَجاها
دَبيبَthe creeping النَملِthe ants يَنتَعِلُwearing as sandals البَلاطاthe paving stones
دَبيبَ النَملِ يَنتَعِلُ البَلاطا
You returned with it as it hobbled on sore feet,
You pierced its darkness with your band
like a creeping ant with paving stones for sandals.
Until you saw the folds of its sides
وَمُنخَرِقٍand many an open waste كَأَنَّas though عَلىupon رُباهُits hillocks
وَمُنخَرِقٍ كَأَنَّ عَلى رُباهُ
مِنَof الظُلمِdarkness الأَكِنَّةِcoverings وَاللِياطاand plaster
مِنَ الظُلمِ الأَكِنَّةِ وَاللِياطا
And many an open waste, whose hillocks seemed to wear
And every brave warrior who donned his coat of mail
coverings and plaster made of darkness.
Made the sheath for his blade his inner cloak
تَعَلَّقَتِhung النُجومُthe stars بِجانِبَيهِfrom its two sides
تَعَلَّقَتِ النُجومُ بِجانِبَيهِ
كَأَنَّas though اللَيلَnight أَلبَسَهاclothed them in القِراطاearrings
كَأَنَّ اللَيلَ أَلبَسَها القِراطا
The stars hung from its two sides,
With an attacking band you crowded the foe
as though night had adorned them with earrings.
Exchanging thrusts ofyour deadly blades
طَعَنتَyou pierced ظَلامَهُits darkness بِالرَكبِwith the mounted band حَتّىuntil
طَعَنتَ ظَلامَهُ بِالرَكبِ حَتّى
رَأَيتَyou saw لَهُfor it اِنجِياباًa parting وَاِنعِطاطاand a tearing open
رَأَيتَ لَهُ اِنجِياباً وَاِنعِطاطا
You pierced its darkness with the mounted band, until
Their blades sought to tear your skin
you saw it part and tear open.
Whenever their tongues uttered vile insults
وَكُلُّand every فَتىًyoung man تَبَطَّنَsheltered inside بَيتَa house نَبعٍnabʿ wood
وَكُلُّ فَتىً تَبَطَّنَ بَيتَ نَبعٍ
وَصَيَّرَand made غِمدَthe sheath قاطِعِهِof his keen blade إِباطاarmpits
وَصَيَّرَ غِمدَ قاطِعِهِ إِباطا
And every youth who sheltered in a house of nabʿ wood
On a day of terrible carnage
and made his armpits the sheath of his keen blade:
When the cauldron of war boiled over
أُغَيلِمَةٍyoung lads زَحَمتَyou pressed بِهاwith them الأَعاديthe enemies
أُغَيلِمَةٍ زَحَمتَ بِها الأَعادي
تَعاطىundertook بِالذَوابِلِwith supple spears ماwhatever تَعاطىundertook
تَعاطى بِالذَوابِلِ ما تَعاطى
young lads with whom you pressed upon the enemy,
You scattered their ranks as buzzards scatter
doing with supple spears whatever they did.
While the spearpoint mixed the fray
تَخالُyou would imagine عَلىupon عَوامِلِهاtheir spearheads إِذاwhen ماemphasis
تَخالُ عَلى عَوامِلِها إِذا ما
وَرَدنَthey entered الطَعنَthe thrusting أَلسُنَهاtheir tongues السِلاطاsharp
وَرَدنَ الطَعنَ أَلسُنَها السِلاطا
You would imagine, upon their spearheads, whenever
You offered the cup but the coward refused it
they entered the thrusting, their biting tongues.
While the valiant gladly drank his share
وَيَومٍand many a day لِلوَقيعَةِof battle ذيpossessing أُوارٍfierce heat
وَيَومٍ لِلوَقيعَةِ ذي أُوارٍ
كَكيرِlike the forge of القَينِthe smith أُوقِدَwas kindled فَاِستَشاطاthen blazed furiously
كَكيرِ القَينِ أُوقِدَ فَاِستَشاطا
And many a day of battle, fiercely hot,
You made the pools of blood in it an omen
like a smith's forge, kindled into raging flame.
To the white ships demanding payment
فَرَقتَyou scattered جُموعَهُits hosts فَرقَlike the scattering of العَناصيhair tufts
فَرَقتَ جُموعَهُ فَرقَ العَناصي
وَقَدand already مَزَجَhad mingled الطِعانُthe spear-fighting بِهِin it اِختِلاطاintermingling
وَقَد مَزَجَ الطِعانُ بِهِ اِختِلاطا
You scattered its hosts like scattered tufts of hair,
In their skulls the peaks scrape
though spear-thrusts had tangled them together.
As your swords scraped the whetstones
تُعاطىyou are offered كَأسَهُits cup فَتَعُبُّthen you gulp فيهاin it
تُعاطى كَأسَهُ فَتَعُبُّ فيها
وَيُحتَقَرُand is despised الجَبانُthe coward فَلاso is not يُعاطىoffered
وَيُحتَقَرُ الجَبانُ فَلا يُعاطى
You are offered its cup and gulp deeply from it,
After your day, every proud boaster
while the coward is despised and offered none.
Claims, as if you were but a fantasy
جَعَلتَyou made طُلىthe necks العِدىthe foes فيهِin it اِقتَراحاًa demand
جَعَلتَ طُلى العِدى فيهِ اِقتَراحاً
عَلىupon بيضِthe gleaming القَواضِبِsevering swords وَاِشتِراطاand a condition
عَلى بيضِ القَواضِبِ وَاِشتِراطا
You made the foes' necks that day a demand
But where is the swift flight from death
and a condition upon the gleaming, severing swords.
If the cloak trips or loosens?
تُغَلغِلُyou drive deep فيinto جَماجِمِهاtheir skulls العَواليthe long spears
تُغَلغِلُ في جَماجِمِها العَوالي
كَماas غَلغَلتَyou drove deep فيinto اللُمَمِthe locks المِشاطاthe combs
كَما غَلغَلتَ في اللُمَمِ المِشاطا
You drive the long spears deep into their skulls,
When he entered upon the path
as you worked combs into locks of hair.
You saw him taking long strides
تَتَرّىfollow one another بَعدَafter يَومِكَyour day كُلُّevery خَطبٍcalamity
تَتَرّى بَعدَ يَومِكَ كُلُّ خَطبٍ
كَأَنَّكَas though you كُنتَwere لِلجُلّىfor great calamity رِباطاa restraint
كَأَنَّكَ كُنتَ لِلجُلّى رِباطا
After your day, calamities come one after another,
And I, when I grasped his shoulders
as though you had been a restraint upon great disaster.
In the distress of the strait, he relieved my burdens
أَلاah أَينَwhere السَريعُthe swift one إِلىtoward المَناياdeaths
أَلا أَينَ السَريعُ إِلى المَنايا
إِذاwhen المِعزالُthe shirker عَرَّدَfled أَوor تَباطاhung back
إِذا المِعزالُ عَرَّدَ أَو تَباطا
Ah, where is the man swift to meet death,
How often did the routed call to him
when the shirker fled or hung back?
And he hastened, not breaking his pace
إِذاwhen وَلَجَhe entered الرِواقَthe pavilion رَأَيتَyou saw مِنهُin him
إِذا وَلَجَ الرِواقَ رَأَيتَ مِنهُ
طَويلَmighty in الباعِreach قَدalready غَمزَpressed upon السِماطاthe ranks
طَويلَ الباعِ قَد غَمزَ السِماطا
When he entered the pavilion, you saw in him
Say to the deserter who slithers away
a man of mighty reach who pressed upon the ranks.
Plunge into the fray immersed and choking
وَكُنتُand I was إِذاwhen أَخَذتُI took hold بِمَنكِبَيهِof his shoulders
وَكُنتُ إِذا أَخَذتُ بِمَنكِبَيهِ
غَداةَon the morning of الضيقِdistress فَرَّجَhe relieved ليfor me الضِغاطاthe pressures
غَداةَ الضيقِ فَرَّجَ لي الضِغاطا
Whenever I took hold of his shoulders,
The tides of war drew away his blade
on a morning of distress, he eased my straits.
And the long days of peace drew you to comfort
وَكَمand how many بَزلاءَa dire calamity صيحَa cry was raised بِهاabout it إِلَيهِto him
وَكَم بَزلاءَ صيحَ بِها إِلَيهِ
تَطاطَbow لَهاbefore it تَجُزكَit will pass you by فَماbut not تَطاطاhe bowed
تَطاطَ لَها تَجُزكَ فَما تَطاطا
How many a dire calamity prompted a cry to him:
Though they carried goodness to you unasked
'Bow before it, and it will pass you by!'—but he would not bow.
You guarded it closely and selfishly
فَقولاso say, you two لِلمُنَفَّضِto the one shaking مِذرَوَيهِhis two flanks
فَقولا لِلمُنَفَّضِ مِذرَوَيهِ
خُضِplunge into الأَمرَthe matter اِنغِماساًwith immersion وَاِنغِطاطاand submersion
خُضِ الأَمرَ اِنغِماساً وَاِنغِطاطا
So tell, you two, the man shaking his flanks:
Their protection encompassed you while the tongues
'Plunge into the matter, immersed and wholly submerged.'
In the valleys cried like seeking birds
مِراسُthe practice of الحَربِwar أَسحَبَهُmade him trail العَواليthe long spears
مِراسُ الحَربِ أَسحَبَهُ العَوالي
وَطولُand the length of الأَمنِsecurity أَسحَبَكَmade you trail الرِياطاthe fine robes
وَطولُ الأَمنِ أَسحَبَكَ الرِياطا
War's hard schooling made him trail lofty spears,
When at dawn the foe entered your homes
while long peace made you trail fine robes.
They left not a basin in your homes
هُمُthey حَمَلواbrought لَكَto you الإِحسانَkindness عَفواًfreely
هُمُ حَمَلوا لَكَ الإِحسانَ عَفواً
فَدونَكَهُنَّso take them وَلغاًlapping وَاِستِراطاand gulping
فَدونَكَهُنَّ وَلغاً وَاِستِراطا
They brought you kindness freely,
The peaks rend your skins
so take them—lapping and gulping them down.
As if the spears clothe them in patches
حَمَوكُمthey protected you وَالأَسِنَّةُwhile the spearheads فيin الهَواديthe necks
حَمَوكُم وَالأَسِنَّةُ في الهَوادي
وُقوعَlike the alighting of الطَيرِbirds تَبتَدِرُrushing to اللِقاطاpick up morsels
وُقوعَ الطَيرِ تَبتَدِرُ اللِقاطا
They protected you, with spearheads in the necks,
Each grim-faced one among you
like birds alighting, racing to peck up morsels,
Passes the night sighing and groaning
غَداةَon the morning خَلاhad free rein بِدارِكُمُin your dwelling الأَعاديthe enemies
غَداةَ خَلا بِدارِكُمُ الأَعادي
فَلَمand did not يَدعواleave لِحَوضِكُمُfor your cistern لِياطاa plaster lining
فَلَم يَدعوا لِحَوضِكُمُ لِياطا
on the morning the foes had your dwelling to themselves
He gathered you when your power waned
and left no plaster lining on your cistern.
From the blows of spears and the hail of swords
تُشَقِّقُtear open فيin جُلودِكُمُyour skins العَواليthe long spears
تُشَقِّقُ في جُلودِكُمُ العَوالي
كَأَنَّas though الطَعنَthrusting يُلبِسُهاclothed them in الرِهاطاslit leather aprons
كَأَنَّ الطَعنَ يُلبِسُها الرِهاطا
The long spears tore through your skins,
He led the charge with your heroes until you were
as though thrusting dressed them in slit leather aprons.
Like stars, the nearest of you to the high stars
بِكُلِّin every قَرارَةٍhollow مِنكُمof you لَحيمٍa wounded man
بِكُلِّ قَرارَةٍ مِنكُم لَحيمٍ
يُقَضّيhe spends اللَيلَthe night زَفراًsighing وَاِنتِحاطاand groaning
يُقَضّي اللَيلَ زَفراً وَاِنتِحاطا
In every hollow lay a wounded man of yours,
And a death omen hovered above you
spending the night sighing and groaning.
For every bird that takes flight must land
أَجَمَّكُمُhe gave you respite وَلاقىand faced عَنon behalf of عُلاكُمyour glory
أَجَمَّكُمُ وَلاقى عَن عُلاكُم
عِضاضَthe biting الطَعنِspear-thrusts وَالضَربِand striking الخِلاطاin close combat
عِضاضَ الطَعنِ وَالضَربِ الخِلاطا
He gave you respite and met, defending your glory,
No men of Quraysh remain
the bite of spear-thrusts and blows in close combat.
And I was named among them but now decline
وَقَدَّand he extended بِبوعِكُمwith your reach حَتّىuntil غَدَوتُمyou became
وَقَدَّ بِبوعِكُم حَتّى غَدَوتُم
وَعاليand the loftiest النَجمِstar أَقرَبُكُمnearest to you مَناطاmooring
وَعالي النَجمِ أَقرَبُكُم مَناطا
He extended your reach until you stood
They enjoyed the fruits of this glory for a time
with the loftiest star your nearest mooring.
With the fangs of heroes and in delight
وَحَلَّقَand soared مَضرَحيٌّa broad-winged eagle كانَwas فيكُمamong you
وَحَلَّقَ مَضرَحيٌّ كانَ فيكُم
وَإِنَّand indeed لِكُلِّfor every طائِرَةٍflying creature سِقاطاa fall
وَإِنَّ لِكُلِّ طائِرَةٍ سِقاطا
A broad-winged eagle that lived among you soared away,
The mortal stroke culled them from us
and every flying thing has its fall.
Choosing the best, the ripe fruit
فَلاso may not تَبعُدbe far away رِجالٌmen مِنof قُرَيشٍQuraysh
فَلا تَبعُد رِجالٌ مِن قُرَيشٍ
وُسِمتُI was branded بِهِمthrough them فَلَمand did not أَعَدُgo beyond العِلاطاthe neck-brand
وُسِمتُ بِهِم فَلَم أَعَدُ العِلاطا
May the men of Quraysh never be far away:
They passed away, from each dire strait
I was branded through them, and never passed beyond the neck-brand.
When honour demands it, unveiled
رَعواthey grazed تَلَعاتِthe uplands هَذاthis المَجدِglory لَسّاًcropping
رَعوا تَلَعاتِ هَذا المَجدِ لَسّاً
بِأَنيابِwith the fangs of العَوامِلِspearheads وَاِنتِشاطاand swift snatching
بِأَنيابِ العَوامِلِ وَاِنتِشاطا
They grazed this glory's uplands, cropping them
They avoided me, and their avoidance shook me
with the fangs of spearheads and swift snatching.
For when they went, they cut the ties
تَخَيَّرَهُمselected them حِمامُthe decree المَوتِof death مِنّاfrom among us
تَخَيَّرَهُم حِمامُ المَوتِ مِنّا
خِيارَthe choosing of الزائِدِthe herd-driver اِعتَرَضَsurveying النِماطاthe herds
خِيارَ الزائِدِ اِعتَرَضَ النِماطا
Death's decree selected them from among us,
as a herd-driver chooses, surveying the herds.
تَدعواthey fell away كَالسُلوكِlike bead-strings وَهَتgrew weak قُواهاtheir strands
تَدعوا كَالسُلوكِ وَهَت قُواها
مُروقاًslipping free بِالنَوائِبِthrough calamities وَاِنخِراطاand sliding off
مُروقاً بِالنَوائِبِ وَاِنخِراطا
They fell away like bead-strings whose strands grew weak,
slipping free and sliding off amid calamities.
مَضواthey passed away مِنof كُلِّevery أَغلَبَlionlike man مُستَميتٍresolved to die
مَضوا مِن كُلِّ أَغلَبَ مُستَميتٍ
إِذاwhen ماemphasis العارُdisgrace جَلَّلَهُcloaked him أَماطاhe cast it off
إِذا ما العارُ جَلَّلَهُ أَماطا
They passed away, each a lion resolved to die,
who cast off disgrace whenever it cloaked him.
نَأَواthey went far away عَنّيfrom me فَضَعضَعَنيand shattered me نَواهُمtheir distance
نَأَوا عَنّي فَضَعضَعَني نَواهُم
وَماand what كانواthey were فَقَدfor indeed قَطَعواthey severed النِياطاthe heartstrings
وَما كانوا فَقَد قَطَعوا النِياطا
They went far from me; their distance shattered me,
and what men they were! They have severed my heartstrings.
Partial English translation: 84 of 92 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1