أَتَرىdo you see دِيارَthe dwellings of الحَيِّthe tribe بِالat the
أَتَرى دِيارَ الحَيِّ بِال
جِزعَينِtwo valley bends باقِيَةَremaining الخِيامِthe tents
جِزعَينِ باقِيَةَ الخِيامِ
Do you see the tribe's dwellings at
Do you see the dwellings of Hayy remain,
the two valley bends, their tents still standing?
In Jiz'an, with tents still standing,
أَمor فَرَّقَتهُمdispersed them خِلفَةُthe succession of الthe
أَم فَرَّقَتهُم خِلفَةُ ال
أَيّامِdays أَوor نَجَعُpasture-seeking migrations الغَمامِthe rainclouds
أَيّامِ أَو نَجَعُ الغَمامِ
Or have they been scattered by the succession of
Or did the succession of days scatter them,
days, or by migrations after rainclouds?
Or the depression of clouds?
ماذاwhat عَلىupon الرُكبانِthe riders لَوif
ماذا عَلى الرُكبانِ لَو
حَيَّواthey greeted طُلولَكَyour ruined traces بِالسَلامِwith peace
حَيَّوا طُلولَكَ بِالسَلامِ
What harm would it do the riders if
What would the riders say
they greeted your ruins with peace,
If they revived your heights with greetings
أَوor بَلَّغواconveyed word عَنfrom واجِدٍa love-stricken man
أَو بَلَّغوا عَن واجِدٍ
لَفَّwrapped الضُلوعَthe ribs عَلىaround الغَرامِpassion
لَفَّ الضُلوعَ عَلى الغَرامِ
or conveyed word from a love-stricken man
Or reported on Wajid
who wrapped his ribs around his passion?
Who wrapped his ribs around passion?
داءٌan affliction وَصَلتُI maintained بِهاthrough her الهَوىlove
داءٌ وَصَلتُ بِها الهَوى
وَقَطَعتُand I severed أَقرانَthe bonds of المَلامِreproach
وَقَطَعتُ أَقرانَ المَلامِ
An affliction! Through her I sustained love,
An ailment I contacted through love
and severed the bonds of reproach.
And I surpassed the peers of blame,
وَبَلَوتُand I experienced مِنfrom سُكرِthe intoxication of الشَباyouth (first part)
وَبَلَوتُ مِن سُكرِ الشَبا
بِ(completes 'youth') أَجَنُّmadder مِنthan سُكرِthe intoxication of المُدامِwine
بِ أَجَنُّ مِن سُكرِ المُدامِ
And I tasted, in the intoxication of youth,
And I tasted from the drunkenness of youth
a madness wilder than the drunkenness of wine.
More maddened than the drunkenness of wine.
أَيّامَin the days when أَنظُرُI looked فيinto مَعاthe folds (first part)
أَيّامَ أَنظُرُ في مَعا
طِفِ(completes 'folds') شَملَتيmy cloak نَظَرَthe gaze of القَطاميthe falcon
طِفِ شَملَتي نَظَرَ القَطامي
In the days when I looked into the folds
Days I look in the glances of
of my cloak with a falcon's gaze,
My cloak that looked like blood stains
وَأَروحُand I went forth قائِدَas leader of فِتيَةٍyoung men
وَأَروحُ قائِدَ فِتيَةٍ
سودِblack الغَدائِرِbraids وَالجُمامِand flowing locks
سودِ الغَدائِرِ وَالجُمامِ
and went forth leading young men
And I walk as the leader of some youths
with black braids and flowing locks.
With dark braids and turbans.
سَقَياًmay rain bless لِأَزمانٍupon times بِهاin which
سَقَياً لِأَزمانٍ بِها
كُنتُI was المُلَقَّبَthe one called بِالغُلامِby the name 'young man'
كُنتُ المُلَقَّبَ بِالغُلامِ
May rain bless the days in which
Water-boy for times when
I bore the name "young man"!
I was titled “the boy”.
قَدindeed قُلتُI said لِلرَكبِto the riders الهُجوasleep (first part)
قَد قُلتُ لِلرَكبِ الهُجو
دِ(completes 'asleep') عَلىupon الأَماعِزِstony ground وَالإِكامِand hillocks
دِ عَلى الأَماعِزِ وَالإِكامِ
I said to the sleeping riders
I said to the caravan of pedigree
upon stony ground and hillocks:
On the she-goats and the burrows,
هُبّواrise فَقَدfor perhaps تَتَيَقَّظُawaken الthe
هُبّوا فَقَد تَتَيَقَّظُ ال
أَجدادُgood fortunes لِلقَومِfor the people النِيامِasleep
أَجدادُ لِلقَومِ النِيامِ
Rise! For there may awaken
“Away! For the sires may awaken
good fortunes for a sleeping people.
For the sleeping tribe.”
زَمّواhalter المَطِيَّthe mounts وَأَحلَسواand lay saddlecloths
زَمّوا المَطِيَّ وَأَحلَسوا
مِنهاof them عَلىupon الدُبُرِthe saddle sores الدَواميbleeding
مِنها عَلى الدُبُرِ الدَوامي
Halter the mounts and lay saddlecloths
Tether the riding-beasts and mount them
over their bleeding saddle sores.
From behind, permanently,
وَدَعواand let نَواظِرَهاtheir eyes مِنَfrom الthe
وَدَعوا نَواظِرَها مِنَ ال
إِرقالِswift trotting تَعمىgrow blind بِاللُغامِwith foam
إِرقالِ تَعمى بِاللُغامِ
And let their eyes, through
And leave their glances blind
swift trotting, grow blind with foam,
In the turbid darkness.
حَتّىuntil تُنيخواyou make them kneel فيin حِمىa protected domain
حَتّى تُنيخوا في حِمى
صَعبِdifficult المَراقيascents وَالمَراميand reaches
صَعبِ المَراقي وَالمَرامي
until you make them kneel within the sanctuary,
Until you alight in the burning heat
hard to climb to and hard to reach,
Of rugged plains and highlands.
مَلِكِthe King of المُلوكِkings بِهِwith him يُراone is moved (first part)
مَلِكِ المُلوكِ بِهِ يُرا
وَحُ(completes 'one is moved') بَينَbetween عَفوٍpardon وَاِنتِقامِand retribution
وَحُ بَينَ عَفوٍ وَاِنتِقامِ
of the King of Kings, with whom one moves
Possessor of all sovereignty, through it
between pardon and retribution.
He vacillates between pardon and vengeance.
ماnot إِنat all أُباليI care مِنfrom وَراbehind (first part)
ما إِن أُبالي مِن وَرا
ئيme (completes 'behind me') بَعدَafter أَنthat يُضحيhe comes to be أَماميbefore me
ئي بَعدَ أَن يُضحي أَمامي
I care nothing for what is behind me
I care not what is behind me
once he is before me.
After I plunge ahead of me,
كَاللَيثِlike a lion يَقتَنِصُhe hunts الرِجاthe men (first part)
كَاللَيثِ يَقتَنِصُ الرِجا
لَ(completes 'men') وَلاand does not يُغيرُraid عَلىupon السَوامِgrazing herds
لَ وَلا يُغيرُ عَلى السَوامِ
Like a lion, he hunts men
Like a lion seizing men
and does not raid the grazing herds.
And does not attack cattle.
يُظميhe makes thirsty الرِواءَthe well-watered إِذاwhen سَطاhe strikes
يُظمي الرِواءَ إِذا سَطا
وَإِذاand when سَخاhe is generous أَروىhe quenches الظَواميthe thirsty
وَإِذا سَخا أَروى الظَوامي
He makes the well-watered thirst when he strikes,
He lets the water-skins flow when he unsheathes,
and when he gives, he quenches the thirsty.
And when he rages I water the hillsides.
القائِدُthe leader of الجُردِsleek steeds العِتاnoble-bred (first part)
القائِدُ الجُردِ العِتا
قِ(completes 'noble-bred') يَجُلنَthey wheel فيamid بيضٍhelmets وَلامِand armor
قِ يَجُلنَ في بيضٍ وَلامِ
Leader of sleek, noble-bred steeds,
The leader, the bare, distinguished
wheeling amid helmets and mail;
Warrior rolls in white turbans.
مِنof كُلِّeach ذيpossessing خُصَلٍlocks مُراrested (first part)
مِن كُلِّ ذي خُصَلٍ مُرا
حِ(completes 'rested') السَوطِthe whip مَكدودِworn out اللِجامِthe bridle
حِ السَوطِ مَكدودِ اللِجامِ
each with flowing locks, sparing
From each one with a whip-like nature,
the whip, but wearing out the bridle;
Reined-in, curbed,
وَمُسَوَّمِand emblazoned الراياتِbanners يَخfluttering (first part)
وَمُسَوَّمِ الراياتِ يَخ
فِقُ(completes 'fluttering') فيamid الجَماهيرِmultitudes العِظامِmighty
فِقُ في الجَماهيرِ العِظامِ
and with emblazoned banners fluttering
And marked by banners, he roars
amid the mighty multitudes;
Amongst the great crowds,
وَمُخَوِّلِand bestower of النِعَمِblessings الجِساimmense (first part)
وَمُخَوِّلِ النِعَمِ الجِسا
مِ(completes 'immense') وَنازِعِand remover of النِعَمِblessings الجِسامِimmense
مِ وَنازِعِ النِعَمِ الجِسامِ
and bestower of immense blessings,
And authorized blessings of the body
and taker-away of immense blessings.
And rivaling blessings of bodies.
إِنَّindeed الجِيادَthe steeds عَلىat المَراthe tethering places (first part)
إِنَّ الجِيادَ عَلى المَرا
بِطِ(completes 'tethering places') تَشتَكيcomplain of طولَthe length of الجُمامِrest
بِطِ تَشتَكي طولَ الجُمامِ
Indeed, the steeds at their tethers
Verily the steeds at the battle-grounds
complain of their long repose.
Complain of prolonged turbans.
تَرميthey cast بِأَعيُنِهاwith their eyes إِلىtoward
تَرمي بِأَعيُنِها إِلى
البَلَدِthe land اليَمانيYemeni وَالشَآمِand al-Sham
البَلَدِ اليَماني وَالشَآمِ
They cast their eyes toward
They glance with their eyes
the land of Yemen and al-Sham.
To the Yemeni cities and Greater Syria.
يَصهُلنَthey neigh مِنfrom شَوقٍlonging إِلىto
يَصهُلنَ مِن شَوقٍ إِلى
قَطعِcrossing المَفاوِزِthe wildernesses وَالمَواميand trackless wastes
قَطعِ المَفاوِزِ وَالمَوامي
They neigh in longing to
They neigh from yearning
cross the wildernesses and trackless wastes.
To traverse the deserts and plateaus,
وَمُصِرَّةِand pricking up الآذانِthe ears تَرawaiting (first part)
وَمُصِرَّةِ الآذانِ تَر
قُبُ(completes 'awaiting') وَثبَةًa leap بَعدَafter القِيامِstanding
قُبُ وَثبَةً بَعدَ القِيامِ
And, ears pricked, they await
Pricking up their ears, bounding
a leap after standing.
After rising for departure.
فَاِصدُمso strike بِهاwith them ثَغرَthe frontier of العِداthe enemies
فَاِصدُم بِها ثَغرَ العِدا
بِجَوانِبِwith the flanks of اللَجِبِthe clamorous host اللُهامِthe all-devouring
بِجَوانِبِ اللَجِبِ اللُهامِ
So crash them against the enemy's frontier
So collide with it the sides
with the flanks of the clamorous, devouring host.
Of the glorious, splendid mountains.
يَحمِلنَthey carry أُسدَthe lions of الغابِthe forest قَدalready
يَحمِلنَ أُسدَ الغابِ قَد
عَقَدواhave tied الدَوابِرَtails بِاللِمامِto flowing locks
عَقَدوا الدَوابِرَ بِاللِمامِ
They carry lions of the forest, who
Bearing the lions of the jungles,
have tied tails to flowing locks.
Who knotted their poles with banners,
مُستَلئِمينَclad in armor بِهاupon them كَأَنas though (first part)
مُستَلئِمينَ بِها كَأَن
نَ(completes 'as though') رُؤوسَهُمtheir heads بيضُeggs of النَعامِostriches
نَ رُؤوسَهُم بيضُ النَعامِ
Clad in armor upon them, as though
Harmonizing themselves with them
their heads were ostrich eggs;
As if their heads were ostrich plumes,
مِنof كُلِّeach هَفّافِlight and slender القَميthe shirt (first part)
مِن كُلِّ هَفّافِ القَمي
صِ(completes 'shirt') أَشَمَّproud-nosed مَعروقِlean of العِظامِbone
صِ أَشَمَّ مَعروقِ العِظامِ
each with a fluttering shirt,
From every slender lively one,
proud-nosed and lean of bone,
The most redolent of bones,
ماضٍresolute كَأَنَّas though ذِراعَهُhis forearm
ماضٍ كَأَنَّ ذِراعَهُ
مِنfrom قائِمِthe hilt of العَضبِthe keen sword الحُسامِthe cleaving
مِن قائِمِ العَضبِ الحُسامِ
resolute, as though his forearm
Charging as if his forearm
were made of a keen, cleaving sword's hilt.
Were the upright blade.
يَغدونَthey go forth in the morning فيin فيحِthe expanse of الفَلاthe wilderness
يَغدونَ في فيحِ الفَلا
مُتَجارِحينَwounding one another مِنَfrom الزَحامِthe press
مُتَجارِحينَ مِنَ الزَحامِ
They go forth in the morning through the wide wastes,
They set out at dawn
wounding one another in the press.
Battling the crowds,
يَتَفَيَّؤونَthey take shade beneath عَجاجَةًa dust-cloud
يَتَفَيَّؤونَ عَجاجَةً
كَجآجِىءِlike the breasts of الغَيمِclouds الرُكامِheaped up
كَجآجِىءِ الغَيمِ الرُكامِ
They take shade beneath a dust-cloud
Flaying violently
like the breasts of heaped-up clouds,
Like the streaming of cumulus clouds,
حَتّىuntil تَقودَyou lead away مِنَamong المَطاthe goals (first part)
حَتّى تَقودَ مِنَ المَطا
لِبِ(completes 'goals') كُلَّeach مَمنوعِinaccessible الزَمامِthe rein
لِبِ كُلَّ مَمنوعِ الزَمامِ
until you lead away, among your goals,
Until you lead, of things prohibited,
each one whose reins were out of reach.
Every restrained thing by the halter.
لاdo not let تَغرُرَنَّكَdeceive you مِنfrom عَدُوan enemy (first part)
لا تَغرُرَنَّكَ مِن عَدُو
وِكَyour (completes 'your enemy') رَميَةٌa shot مِنfrom غَيرِnot a رامِarcher
وِكَ رَميَةٌ مِن غَيرِ رامِ
Do not be deceived by your enemy's
Let not the arrow of your enemy,
shot, fired by one who is no archer.
Shot without intent, trick you.
أَشلىgoaded بِهاwith it الضِرغامُthe lion حَتuntil (first part)
أَشلى بِها الضِرغامُ حَت
تى(completes 'until') هَبَّhe sprang up مِنfrom طيبِthe sweetness of المَنامِsleep
تى هَبَّ مِن طيبِ المَنامِ
It goaded the lion, until
The sucklings were crippled by it
he sprang from his pleasant sleep.
Until they awoke from sweet sleep.
هِيَit عِندَهُto him سَبَبُa cause of الشَباyouth (first part)
هِيَ عِندَهُ سَبَبُ الشَبا
بِ(completes 'youth') وَعِندَناand to us سَبَبُa cause of الفِطامِweaning
بِ وَعِندَنا سَبَبُ الفِطامِ
To him it is a cause of youth,
It is to him the cause of youth
and to us, a cause of weaning.
While to us the cause of weaning.
أَنّىhow يُقَرطِسُhits dead center ذوone with العَمىblindness
أَنّى يُقَرطِسُ ذو العَمى
غَرَضَthe target of المَراميarchery بِالسِهامِwith arrows
غَرَضَ المَرامي بِالسِهامِ
How can a blind man hit
How can the blind one
the archery target squarely with arrows?
Aim at the high places with arrows!
هَيهاتَfar from possible أَنthat تَطَأَshould tread الذِئاthe wolves (first part)
هَيهاتَ أَن تَطَأَ الذِئا
بُ(completes 'wolves') مَرابِضَthe lairs of اللَيثِthe lion الهُمامِthe valiant
بُ مَرابِضَ اللَيثِ الهُمامِ
Far be it that wolves should tread
Alas! For the hyenas to tread
the valiant lion's lairs!
The den of the resolute lion!
أَينَwhere النُجومُthe stars مِنَfrom الحَصىpebbles
أَينَ النُجومُ مِنَ الحَصى
أَينَwhere النُضارُpure gold مِنَfrom الرُغامِdust
أَينَ النُضارُ مِنَ الرُغامِ
How far are the stars from pebbles!
Where are the stars compared to pebbles!
How far is pure gold from dust!
Where the blossoms compared to pumice!
غَلَبَتprevailed عَلىover كَرَمِthe nobility of المَعاthe bloodlines (first part)
غَلَبَت عَلى كَرَمِ المَعا
رِقِ(completes 'bloodlines') فيهِin him أَخلاقُthe morals of اللِئامِthe base
رِقِ فيهِ أَخلاقُ اللِئامِ
The nobility of his bloodlines was overcome
The morals of the ignoble prevailed
in him by the ways of the base.
Over the vineyard of the fine ones among them.
فَذَوَتso withered نَضارَتُهُhis freshness وَغُصand branch (first part)
فَذَوَت نَضارَتُهُ وَغُص
نُكَyour (completes 'your branch') دونَهُapart from him رَيّانُwell-watered نامِgrowing
نُكَ دونَهُ رَيّانُ نامِ
So his freshness withered, while your branch
So its blossoms melted away
is, unlike his, well-watered and growing.
And you were warned below it the slumbering informant.
طَلَبَhe sought العُلىhigh rank خَبَطاًblindly فَضَلand went astray (first part)
طَلَبَ العُلى خَبَطاً فَضَل
لَ(completes 'went astray') ضَلالَthe straying of عاشِيَةِone dim-sighted الظَلامِthe darkness
لَ ضَلالَ عاشِيَةِ الظَلامِ
He sought high rank blindly, and went astray
He sought the Most High falteringly so he strayed
as one dim-sighted strays in darkness.
Straying in the darkness of night.
يَحدوhe urges on with song بِهاwith it سَفَهاًfoolishly وَقَدthough already
يَحدو بِها سَفَهاً وَقَد
عَلِقَتhas gripped يَمينُكَyour right hand بِالخُطامِonto the halter
عَلِقَت يَمينُكَ بِالخُطامِ
He sings to drive it on in folly, though
He bounds with it foolishly though
your right hand has seized the halter.
Your right hand holds the bridle.
ياO كاشِفَdispeller of الكَربِdistress المُلِمbesetting (first part)
يا كاشِفَ الكَربِ المُلِم
مِ(completes 'besetting') وَكافِيَand warder-off of الداءِthe disease العُقامِincurable
مِ وَكافِيَ الداءِ العُقامِ
O dispeller of besetting distress
O He who relieves grave distress
and warder-off of incurable disease:
And remedies chronic disease!
بُلِّغتَmay you be brought to غاياتِthe utmost ends of المُنىwishes
بُلِّغتَ غاياتِ المُنى
وَوَرِثتَand may you inherit أَعمارَthe lifetimes of الأَنامِhumankind
وَوَرِثتَ أَعمارَ الأَنامِ
May you be brought to the utmost of your wishes,
You attained the ultimate wishes
and inherit the lifetimes of humankind!
And inherited the lifespans of mankind.
فَاِسلَمso be safe عَلىdespite غَيظِthe wrath of الزَماTime (first part)
فَاِسلَم عَلى غَيظِ الزَما
نِ(completes 'Time') وَدُمand endure عَلىin رُغمِdefiance of الحِمامِdeath
نِ وَدُم عَلى رُغمِ الحِمامِ
So be safe despite Time's wrath,
So submit to the rage of Time
and endure in defiance of death.
And persist in spite of mourning doves,
وَتَهَنَّand rejoice بِالتَحويلِin the year's turning غَيnot (first part)
وَتَهَنَّ بِالتَحويلِ غَي
رَ(completes 'not') مُحَوَّلٍremoved عَنfrom ذاthis المَقامِstation
رَ مُحَوَّلٍ عَن ذا المَقامِ
And rejoice in the year's turning, never
And be gentle with transferring
turned away from this station,
One not transferred from this position,
مُتَمَلِّياًenjoying to the full بِالعُمرُlife يُعgrants (first part)
مُتَمَلِّياً بِالعُمرُ يُع
طيكَyou (completes 'grants you') الرَدىdeath عَقدَa covenant of الذِمامِprotection
طيكَ الرَدى عَقدَ الذِمامِ
enjoying life to the full, while
Wearing out your life, which gives you
death grants you a covenant of protection.
The knotted rope of obligation.
لاnot زِلتَmay you cease تَلبَسُwearing كُلَّeach عاyear (first part)
لا زِلتَ تَلبَسُ كُلَّ عا
مٍ(completes 'year') واعِدٍpromising بِبُلوغِattainment of عامِa year
مٍ واعِدٍ بِبُلوغِ عامِ
May you ever don each year,
You still wear each promising year
with its promise of reaching another year.
The reaching of a year.
لَوif كانَwere شَيءٌanything دائِماًeverlasting
لَو كانَ شَيءٌ دائِماً
بَشَّرتُI would give glad tidings to مُلكَكَyour reign بِالدَوامِof permanence
بَشَّرتُ مُلكَكَ بِالدَوامِ
If anything could last forever,
If something were everlasting
I would give your reign glad tidings of eternity.
I would give good tidings to your kingdom of permanence!
Sol 6.1