أَبُيِّنتَهاdid you recognize them أَمor ناكَرَتكَseemed strange to you شِياتُهاtheir markings
أَبُيِّنتَها أَم ناكَرَتكَ شِياتُها
نَزائِعَsteeds from afar يَنقُلنَcarry الرَدىdeath صَهَواتُهاtheir backs
نَزائِعَ يَنقُلنَ الرَدى صَهَواتُها
Did you recognize them, or did their markings seem strange to you?
Did she deny me or disown our intimacy?
Steeds from afar, whose backs carry death.
Her passionate urges make inroads into my heart.
طَلَعنَthey emerged سَواءًtogether وَالرِماحُand the spears عَوابِسٌgrim-faced
طَلَعنَ سَواءً وَالرِماحُ عَوابِسٌ
تُعاسِلُهاsway with them أَعناقُهاtheir necks وَطَلاتُهاand their throats
تُعاسِلُها أَعناقُها وَطَلاتُها
They emerged together, the spears grim-faced;
They set out evenly while the spears frowned,
Their necks and throats swayed in rhythm with them.
Their necks and forelocks challenging each other.
رَأواthey saw نَقعَهاtheir dust يَدنوapproaching فَظَنّواso they supposed غَمامَةًa cloud
رَأوا نَقعَها يَدنو فَظَنّوا غَمامَةً
فَماso not شَعَرواthey noticed حَتّىuntil بَدَتappeared جَبَهاتُهاtheir foreheads
فَما شَعَروا حَتّى بَدَت جَبَهاتُها
They saw their dust approaching and mistook it for a cloud;
They saw its kick and thought it was a small cloud,
They noticed nothing until their foreheads appeared.
Little did they know until its foreheads appeared.
وَفَوقَand above قَطاهاtheir croups غِلمَةٌyoung men غالِبِيَّةٌof Ghalib's line
وَفَوقَ قَطاها غِلمَةٌ غالِبِيَّةٌ
تَميسُsway عَلىupon أَكتافِهاtheir shoulders وَفَراتُهاtheir thick locks
تَميسُ عَلى أَكتافِها وَفَراتُها
Above their croups rode youths of Ghalib's line;
Over its haunches were victorious lads
Their thick locks swayed upon their shoulders.
Stroking its shoulders and knees.
مَغاويرُbold raiders لاnot مَيلٌweaklings تُثَنّيbend رِقابَهاtheir necks
مَغاويرُ لا مَيلٌ تُثَنّي رِقابَها
وَلاnor بِكَسالىas sluggards أَوهَنَتهاweakened them سِناتُهاtheir slumbers
وَلا بِكَسالى أَوهَنَتها سِناتُها
Bold raiders, not weaklings with drooping necks,
Valiant warriors whose necks never bend,
Nor sluggards weakened by their slumbers.
Neither cowardice nor years weakened them.
تَلَثَّمُveil themselves فَوقَover اللَثمِthe veils بِالنَقعِin dust وَالدُجىand darkness
تَلَثَّمُ فَوقَ اللَثمِ بِالنَقعِ وَالدُجى
فَلَولاwere it not for ظُباهاtheir blade-edges لَمnot تَبِنbe visible صَفَحاتُهاtheir faces
فَلَولا ظُباها لَم تَبِن صَفَحاتُها
Over their veils they veiled themselves in dust and darkness;
Covered with sweat and gloom they pass,
Without their blade-edges, their faces would not have been seen.
If not for their speed, their features would not show.
مَتىwhenever تَرَهاyou see them فيin حَيِّهاtheir encampment تَرَyou see فِتيَةًyoung men
مَتى تَرَها في حَيِّها تَرَ فِتيَةً
لِيَومِfor the day of الوَغىbattle مَأخوذَةًreadied أُهُباتُهاtheir equipment
لِيَومِ الوَغى مَأخوذَةً أُهُباتُها
Whenever you see them in their encampment, you see youths
Whenever you see them in their valley, you see youths
Whose equipment is readied for the day of battle,
Whose forelocks on the day of battle are seized.
مُفَرَّغَةًemptied مِمّاof what تُنيلُbestows عُبابَهاtheir abundance
مُفَرَّغَةً مِمّا تُنيلُ عُبابَها
مِنَof المالِwealth أَوor مَملوءَةًfilled جَفَناتُهاtheir great bowls
مِنَ المالِ أَو مَملوءَةً جَفَناتُها
Emptied of what their abundance bestows
Empty of whatever fills their quivers
Of wealth, or with their great bowls filled.
Or their eyelids filled with possessions.
تَخَطّىcarry beyond بِهاthem أَعناقَthe necks of كُلِّevery قَبيلَةٍtribe
تَخَطّى بِها أَعناقَ كُلِّ قَبيلَةٍ
صَوارِمُهاtheir sharp swords تَهتَزُّquiver أَوor قَنَواتُهاtheir spear-shafts
صَوارِمُها تَهتَزُّ أَو قَنَواتُها
Above the necks of every tribe they are borne
They leap over the necks of every tribe,
By their quivering sharp swords or their spear-shafts.
Their swords shaking or their spears piercing.
تَرىyou see عِندَهاamong them الشَهرَthe month الحَرامَsacred مُحَلَّلاًmade lawful
تَرى عِندَها الشَهرَ الحَرامَ مُحَلَّلاً
إِذاwhen خَفَرَتهاguard them لِلوَغىfor battle عَزَماتُهاtheir resolves
إِذا خَفَرَتها لِلوَغى عَزَماتُها
Among them you see the sacred month made lawful
They see the sacred month as violable
When their resolves guard them for battle.
When their resolves spur them into battle.
وَأَحلَمُand most forbearing خَلقِof the creatures of اللَهِGod حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen دَناapproached
وَأَحلَمُ خَلقِ اللَهِ حَتّى إِذا دَنا
إِلَيهاthem الأَذىharm طارَتcarried away بِهاthem جَهَلاتُهاtheir rash fury
إِلَيها الأَذى طارَت بِها جَهَلاتُها
The most forbearing of God's creatures, until there approaches
The most forbearing people, until when hurt
Harm to them, and their rash fury carries them away.
Their ignorance takes flight with them.
إِذاif وُسِمَتare branded بِالنارِwith fire خَيلٌhorses فَعِندَهاthen among them
إِذا وُسِمَت بِالنارِ خَيلٌ فَعِندَها
كَرائِمُnoble steeds آثارُthe marks of الطِعانِlance-thrusts سِماتُهاtheir brands
كَرائِمُ آثارُ الطِعانِ سِماتُها
If horses are branded with fire, among them are
When the horses are branded with fire, then with them
Noble steeds whose brands are the marks of lance-thrusts.
The honorable traces of lances are their mark.
مَتىwhenever سَمِعَتthey hear صَوتَthe voice of الصَريخِthe caller for help تَنَصَّتَتlisten attentively
مَتى سَمِعَت صَوتَ الصَريخِ تَنَصَّتَت
قِياماًupright إِلىtoward داعيthe caller to الوَغىbattle سَمَعاتُهاtheir ears
قِياماً إِلى داعي الوَغى سَمَعاتُها
Whenever they hear the cry for help, they listen,
Whenever they hear the shrieks, they listen attentively
Their ears erect toward the caller to battle.
Rising to the battle-cry their ears hear.
رَحَلناwe departed بِأَكبادٍwith hearts غِلاظٍhardened عَلىagainst الهَوىdesire
رَحَلنا بِأَكبادٍ غِلاظٍ عَلى الهَوى
قَليلٍfew إِلىtoward ماwhat خَلفَهاis behind them لَفَتاتُهاtheir backward glances
قَليلٍ إِلى ما خَلفَها لَفَتاتُها
We departed with hearts hardened against desire,
We set out with tough unyielding hearts,
Seldom turning toward what lay behind them.
Paying little heed to what we left behind.
إِذاwhen أَزمَعَتthey resolve إِزماعَةَwith the resolve of الجِدِّearnestness لَمnot تُبَلcare
إِذا أَزمَعَت إِزماعَةَ الجِدِّ لَم تُبَل
أَفِتيانُهاwhether their young men الباكونَare weeping أَمor فَتَياتُهاtheir maidens
أَفِتيانُها الباكونَ أَم فَتَياتُها
Once they firmly resolve upon earnest action, they care not
When they set out with serious intent, neither
Whether their young men are weeping or their maidens.
Their young men or girls hold back.
سَوابِقُهاtheir swift steeds أَولىworthier بِهاof them لاnot نِساؤُهاtheir women
سَوابِقُها أَولى بِها لا نِساؤُها
وَأَدراعُهاand their mail وَالبيضُand the helmets لاnot أُمَّهاتُهاtheir mothers
وَأَدراعُها وَالبيضُ لا أُمَّهاتُها
Their swift steeds are worthier of them, not their women,
Their lead horses take precedence, not their women,
And their mail and helmets, not their mothers.
As do their arms and whiteness, not their mothers.
وَحَيِّand a clan مِنَamong الأَعداءِthe enemies باتواpassed the night بِلَيلَةٍin a night
وَحَيِّ مِنَ الأَعداءِ باتوا بِلَيلَةٍ
مُنَعَّمَةٍcomfortable لَوif لَمnot تُذَمَّwere cursed غَداتُهاits morning
مُنَعَّمَةٍ لَو لَم تُذَمَّ غَداتُها
Many an enemy clan passed a night
An enemy tribe spent a night rendered helpless,
Of ease—had its morning not been cursed.
It would not have been pleasant had their tomorrow come.
وَخَيلٍand horses خَشَشناwe pierced جَوَّهُمtheir midst بِرِماحِناwith our spears
وَخَيلٍ خَشَشنا جَوَّهُم بِرِماحِنا
كَماas خَشَّpierced آنافَthe noses of القُرومِstallion camels بُراتُهاtheir nose-rings
كَما خَشَّ آنافَ القُرومِ بُراتُها
And many a cavalry troop—we pierced their midst with our spears,
And horses we startled awake with our spears
As nose-rings pierce the noses of stallion camels.
As the stalls are startled by lightning striking them.
فَماso not اِستَيقَظواthey awoke حَتّىuntil تَداعىanswered back and forth صَهيلُهاtheir neighing
فَما اِستَيقَظوا حَتّى تَداعى صَهيلُها
وَقَدand already سَبَقَتoutstripped أَلحاظَهُمtheir glances عَبَراتُهاtheir crossings
وَقَد سَبَقَت أَلحاظَهُم عَبَراتُها
They did not awaken until the neighing answered back and forth;
They did not wake until their neighing spread,
The horses' crossings had already outrun the men's glances.
And their tears outpaced them.
وَلَمand not يَنجُescaped إِلّاexcept مَنthose whom تَخاطَتmissed سُيوفُناour swords
وَلَم يَنجُ إِلّا مَن تَخاطَت سُيوفُنا
وَذاقَand tasted الرَدىdeath مَنthose whom عَمَّمَتturbaned شَفَراتُهاtheir blades
وَذاقَ الرَدى مَن عَمَّمَت شَفَراتُها
None escaped except those our swords missed;
None survived except those our swords missed,
Those whom their blades turbaned tasted death.
And those our blades tasted felt destruction.
قَواضِبُcleaving swords لاnot يودىis indemnified بِشَيءٍwith anything قَتيلُهاtheir slain
قَواضِبُ لا يودى بِشَيءٍ قَتيلُها
إِذاwhen أَمسَتِreach evening القَتلىthe slain تُساقُare brought دِياتُهاtheir blood-prices
إِذا أَمسَتِ القَتلى تُساقُ دِياتُها
Cleaving swords: no blood-money is paid for their slain
Deadly lionesses whom nothing of their prey escapes
When evening comes and blood-prices for the slain are brought.
When the dead are led off as blood-money.
أَنِسناwe became familiar بِأَطرافِwith the tips of الرِماحِthe spears وَإِنَّناand indeed we
أَنِسنا بِأَطرافِ الرِماحِ وَإِنَّنا
لَنَحنُwe indeed مُحِلّوهاgive them lodging وَنَحنُand we سُقاتُهاwater them
لَنَحنُ مُحِلّوها وَنَحنُ سُقاتُها
We are familiar with the spear-tips, and indeed
We are accustomed to spear tips, we
We give them lodging, and we water them.
Bear them and ply them.
نَبَتنَthey grew لِأَيديناfor our hands خُصوصاًexpressly وَإِنَّماand only
نَبَتنَ لِأَيدينا خُصوصاً وَإِنَّما
لَناfor us يَتَواصىcounsel one another بِالطَعانِto lance-thrusts نَباتُهاtheir shoots
لَنا يَتَواصى بِالطَعانِ نَباتُها
They grew expressly for our hands, and only
For our hands they specifically sprouted, truly
For us do their shoots counsel one another to thrust.
The spear plants thrive through our thrusting them.
بِأَبوابِناat our doors مَركوزَةٌplanted وَإِلىand toward الوَغىbattle
بِأَبوابِنا مَركوزَةٌ وَإِلى الوَغى
تَزَعزَعُquiver فيin أَيمانِناour right hands قَصَباتُهاtheir reed-shafts
تَزَعزَعُ في أَيمانِنا قَصَباتُها
At our doors they stand planted, and toward battle
Tethered at our doors, and into battle
Their reed-shafts quiver in our right hands.
Their stout shafts shake in our hands.
أَبيتُI refuse abasement وَكانَand was العِزُّhonor مِنّيin me خَليقَةًan innate trait
أَبيتُ وَكانَ العِزُّ مِنّي خَليقَةً
وَهَلand is there سُبَّةٌa disgrace إِلّاexcept وَقَوميand my people أُباتُهاreject it
وَهَل سُبَّةٌ إِلّا وَقَومي أُباتُها
I spurn abasement; honor has always been innate in me.
I refused though pride was my nature,
Is there any disgrace my people do not reject?
What capture whose people I did not destroy?
فَلاso do not تُفزِعونيfrighten me بِالوَعيدِwith threats سَفاهَةًfoolishly
فَلا تُفزِعوني بِالوَعيدِ سَفاهَةً
فَليfor I have هامَةٌa head لاnot تَقشَعِرُّbristle شَواتُهاits scalp
فَلي هامَةٌ لا تَقشَعِرُّ شَواتُها
Do not foolishly frighten me with threats,
So do not try to frighten me foolishly,
For mine is a head whose scalp does not bristle.
I have a zeal no insults can shake.
تَغاوَتconspired عَلىagainst عِرضيmy honor عَصائِبُbands جَمَّةٌnumerous
تَغاوَت عَلى عِرضي عَصائِبُ جَمَّةٌ
وَلَوand if شِئتُI wished ماnot التَفَّتgathered عَليَّaround me غُواتُهاtheir miscreants
وَلَو شِئتُ ما التَفَّت عَليَّ غُواتُها
Numerous bands conspired against my honor;
Many disgraceful tribes attacked my honor,
Had I wished, their miscreants would not have gathered round me.
And had I wished their transgressions would not have glanced me.
أُوَلّيهِمُI turn toward them صَمّاءَthe deaf side أُذنٍof an ear سَميعَةٍkeen-hearing
أُوَلّيهِمُ صَمّاءَ أُذنٍ سَميعَةٍ
إِذاwhen ماever وَعَتit has heard أَلوَتturn aside بِهاit غَفَلاتُهاits heedlessness
إِذا ما وَعَت أَلوَت بِها غَفَلاتُها
I turn to them the deaf side of a keen-hearing ear;
I ignore them like deaf adders
Once it has heard, its heedlessness turns it aside.
When their braying finds me unaware.
يَطولُlasts long إِذاًthen هَمّيmy worry إِذاif كانَit were كُلَّماevery time
يَطولُ إِذاً هَمّي إِذا كانَ كُلَّما
سَمِعتُI heard نَبيحاًbarking مِنfrom كِلابٍdogs خَساتُهاI drove them away
سَمِعتُ نَبيحاً مِن كِلابٍ خَساتُها
My worry would then be long if, every time
My worries would be prolonged whenever
I heard dogs barking, I drove them away.
I hear the barking of despicable dogs.
لِذِلَّتِهاbecause of their baseness هانَتbecame slight عَلَيَّto me ذُنوبُهاtheir offenses
لِذِلَّتِها هانَت عَلَيَّ ذُنوبُها
فَلَمso not أَدرِI knew مِنbecause of نَبذيmy rejection لَهاof them مِنwho جُناتِهاtheir perpetrators
فَلَم أَدرِ مِن نَبذي لَها مِن جُناتِها
Their baseness made their offenses slight to me;
Due to their vileness, their sins diminish to me
In my contempt for them, I knew not who had committed them.
So I do not know which of their gardens to ruin.
قَوارِصُstinging taunts لَمnot تَعلَقcaught بِجِلديin my skin نِصالُهاtheir arrowheads
قَوارِصُ لَم تَعلَق بِجِلدي نِصالُها
وَلَوand if كانَit were غَيريsomeone other than me أَنفَذَتهُpierced him through شَذاتُهاtheir barbs
وَلَو كانَ غَيري أَنفَذَتهُ شَذاتُها
Stinging taunts whose arrowheads never caught in my skin;
Short spears that did not pierce my skin,
Had it been another, their barbs would have pierced him through.
Though their blades would have pierced another.
هُمُthey اِستَلدَغواcourted bites رُقشَthe speckled ones الأَفاعيamong vipers وَنَبَّهواand awakened
هُمُ اِستَلدَغوا رُقشَ الأَفاعي وَنَبَّهوا
عَقارِبَscorpions لَيلٍof night نائِماتٍsleeping حُماتُهاtheir stings
عَقارِبَ لَيلٍ نائِماتٍ حُماتُها
They courted the bites of speckled vipers and awakened
They provoked the vipers and disturbed
Night-scorpions whose stings were sleeping.
The sleeping scorpions in the night.
وَهُمand they نَقَلواreported عَنِّfrom me الَّذيwhat لَمnot أُفُهI uttered بِهِit
وَهُم نَقَلوا عَنِّ الَّذي لَم أُفُه بِهِ
وَماand not آفَةُthe bane of الأَخبارِreports إِلّاexcept رُواتُهاtheir transmitters
وَما آفَةُ الأَخبارِ إِلّا رُواتُها
They reported from me what I had never uttered;
And they conveyed what I did not comprehend
The bane of reports is none but their transmitters.
For the harm of news is in those who convey it.
رَمونيthey accused me بِماof what لَوif أَنَّthat عَينيmy eye رَمَتcast بِهِit
رَموني بِما لَو أَنَّ عَيني رَمَت بِهِ
جَنانيmy heart عَلىdespite عِزّيmy pride لَهاas for it لَفَقاتُهاI would gouge it out
جَناني عَلى عِزّي لَها لَفَقاتُها
They accused me of things which, had my eye cast them
They accused me with what had my eyes accused,
At my heart, despite my pride, I would have gouged it out.
My sanity over my honor would have ruptured.
أُريدُI wish لَئِنif indeed أَحنوI enfold عَلىaround الضَغنِthe rancor بَينَناbetween us
أُريدُ لَئِن أَحنو عَلى الضَغنِ بَينَنا
وَتَأبىand refuse قُلوبٌhearts أَنغَلَتهاmade them fester هَناتُهاtheir faults
وَتَأبى قُلوبٌ أَنغَلَتها هَناتُها
I wish, if I may, to fold away the rancor between us,
If I overlook the feud between us
But hearts made festering by their faults refuse.
While hearts mired in hatred refuse,
دَعوهاleave them نُدوباًas scars بَينَناbetween us بِاِندِمالِهاwith their healing
دَعوها نُدوباً بَينَنا بِاِندِمالِها
وَلاand do not تَبلُغواassail مِنّيme وَإِلّاor else نَكاتُهاI shall reopen them
وَلا تَبلُغوا مِنّي وَإِلّا نَكاتُها
Leave them as scars between us, healed over;
Let it remain a wound between us closing up
Do not assail me, or I shall tear them open.
And do not overreach me, or you will get my sharp tongue.
فَإِنّيfor I مَطولٌam tenacious لِلأَعاديtoward enemies مُماحِكٌcontentious
فَإِنّي مَطولٌ لِلأَعادي مُماحِكٌ
إِذاif نَصَّفواthey half-fill أَوساقَloads of ضَغنٍrancor مَلاتُهاI fill them
إِذا نَصَّفوا أَوساقَ ضَغنٍ مَلاتُها
For with enemies I am tenacious and contentious;
For I am forbearing with enemies, a reconciler
If they half-fill loads of rancor, I fill them to the brim.
If they halve the little feud.
لَقَدindeed غَرَّبَتنيestranged me حُظوَةُthe distinction of الفَضلِexcellence عَنكُمُfrom you
لَقَد غَرَّبَتني حُظوَةُ الفَضلِ عَنكُمُ
وَإِنalthough جَمَعَتunite أَعراقَناour roots نَبَعاتُهاtheir tree-shoots
وَإِن جَمَعَت أَعراقَنا نَبَعاتُها
The distinction of excellence has estranged me from you,
The grace I was granted estranged me from you
Though their tree-shoots unite our roots.
Though our origins join us like watering streams.
وَماand not النَفسُthe soul فيamong الأَهلينَone's kin إِلّاexcept غَريبَةٌa stranger
وَما النَفسُ في الأَهلينَ إِلّا غَريبَةٌ
إِذاwhen فُقِدَتare missing أَشكالُهاits equals وَلِداتُهاand its age-mates
إِذا فُقِدَت أَشكالُها وَلِداتُها
A soul is but a stranger among its own kin
The soul is a stranger among family
When its equals and age-mates are missing.
When its forms and offspring are gone.
بَنيO sons of مُضَرٍMudar خَلّواleave نُفوساًsouls عَزيزَةًproud
بَني مُضَرٍ خَلّوا نُفوساً عَزيزَةً
تَنامُsleep فَأَولىso it is better أَنthat يَطولَbe prolonged سِناتُهاtheir slumbers
تَنامُ فَأَولى أَن يَطولَ سِناتُها
Sons of Mudar, leave proud souls
O Bani Murrah, they left noble souls
To sleep; it is better that their slumber be prolonged.
That years cause to sleep.
دَعوهاleave them فَخَيرٌfor better لِلأَعاديfor the enemies هُجودُهاtheir sleep
دَعوها فَخَيرٌ لِلأَعادي هُجودُها
وَشَرٌّand worse لِمَنfor whoever يَغرىgoads بِهاthem يَقَظاتُهاtheir awakenings
وَشَرٌّ لِمَن يَغرى بِها يَقَظاتُها
Leave them: their sleeping is better for their foes,
Leave them be, better for enemies is their calmness
And their awakenings worse for whoever goads them.
And worse for those roused by them into wakefulness.
ثِقواbe sure عَنafter قَليلٍa little while أَنthat يَهُبَّstir شَرارُهاtheir sparks
ثِقوا عَن قَليلٍ أَن يَهُبَّ شَرارُها
وَإِنeven if قُلتُمُyou say قَدalready أُخمِدَتhave been quenched جَمَراتُهاtheir embers
وَإِن قُلتُمُ قَد أُخمِدَت جَمَراتُها
Be sure that soon their sparks will stir,
Trust that soon their evil will subside,
Even if you say their embers have been quenched.
Even if you say their embers have been extinguished.
وَلاand do not تَأنَسواfeel secure أَنَّthat الجِيادَthe steeds بِشُكلِهاare in their fetters
وَلا تَأنَسوا أَنَّ الجِيادَ بِشُكلِها
فَياoh then رُبَّماhow often أَردَتكُمُkilled you نَزَواتُهاtheir leaps
فَيا رُبَّما أَردَتكُمُ نَزَواتُها
Take no comfort that the steeds are in fetters:
And do not feel safe for their stillness,
How often their leaps have brought you death!
Sometimes their restless nature takes you by surprise.
وَلاand do not تَأمَنواfeel safe from صَولَthe onslaught of النُفوسِsouls وَإِنeven if غَدَتhave become
وَلا تَأمَنوا صَولَ النُفوسِ وَإِن غَدَت
مَضارِبُهاtheir striking blades مَفلولَةًblunted وَظُباتُهاand their edges
مَضارِبُها مَفلولَةً وَظُباتُها
Do not feel safe from the souls' onslaught, even if
And do not feel safe from the raging of souls, even if
Their striking blades and edges have grown blunted.
Their dwellings seem deflated and desolate.
بَنوthe sons of هاشِمٍHashim عَينٌan eye وَنَحنُand we سَوادُهاits pupil
بَنو هاشِمٍ عَينٌ وَنَحنُ سَوادُها
عَلىdespite رُغمِthe spite of أَقوامٍsome people وَأَنتُمand you قَذاتُهاits mote
عَلى رُغمِ أَقوامٍ وَأَنتُم قَذاتُها
The sons of Hashim are an eye, and we its pupil,
O Banu Hashim, we are the pupil of their eye
Despite certain people's spite—and you are its mote.
Despite a people's disdain, and you their eyelashes.
وَمازِلتُمُand you have remained داءًa disease يُفَرّيtearing apart إِهابَهاits hide
وَمازِلتُمُ داءً يُفَرّي إِهابَها
وَإِنalthough كُنتُمُyou are مِنهاof it وَنَحنُand we أُساتُهاits healers
وَإِن كُنتُمُ مِنها وَنَحنُ أُساتُها
You have ever been a disease that tears its hide,
And you remain a disease that makes it blink
Though you belong to it, while we are its healers.
Even if you are part of it and we its corners.
وَأَعجَبُand the strangest ماthing يَأتيbrings بِهِforth الدَهرُtime أَنَّكُمis that you
وَأَعجَبُ ما يَأتي بِهِ الدَهرُ أَنَّكُم
طَلَبتُمsought عُلىًheights ماnot فيكُمُamong you أَدَواتُهاtheir means
طَلَبتُم عُلىً ما فيكُمُ أَدَواتُها
The strangest thing time brings is that you
Strangest is that you sought heights without
Sought heights for which you have no means,
The tools to attain its elevations.
وَأَمَّلتُمُand you hoped أَنto تُدرِكوهاattain them طَوالِعاًrising high
وَأَمَّلتُمُ أَن تُدرِكوها طَوالِعاً
دَعوهاleave them سَتَسعىwill strive لِلمَعاليfor high deeds سُعاتُهاtheir strivers
دَعوها سَتَسعى لِلمَعالي سُعاتُها
And hoped to attain them, lofty as they are.
You hoped to attain it by beginnings
Leave them: their strivers will strive for high deeds.
Leave it, its times will seek the heights.
وَإِمّاand if حَرَنتُمyou balk عَنat مَداهاtheir farthest reach فَإِنَّناthen we
وَإِمّا حَرَنتُم عَن مَداها فَإِنَّنا
سِراعٌswift إِذاwhen مُدَّتare laid out لَناfor us حَلَباتُهاtheir racecourses
سِراعٌ إِذا مُدَّت لَنا حَلَباتُها
If you balk at their farthest reach, we
If you fell short of its extent, we surely
Are swift when their racecourses are laid out for us.
Are swift when its racetracks extend to us.
أَبيmy father دونَكُمnot you ذاكَthat man الَّذيto whom ماnot تَعَلَّقَتclung
أَبي دونَكُم ذاكَ الَّذي ما تَعَلَّقَت
بِأَثوابِهِto his garments الدُنياthe world وَلاnor تَبِعاتُهاits liabilities
بِأَثوابِهِ الدُنيا وَلا تَبِعاتُها
My father, unlike you, is the man to whose
I refuse before you that which the world’s vanities
Garments neither the world nor its liabilities clung.
And dependencies did not cling to.
تَجَنَّبَهاhe shunned it هَوجاءَreckless لاnot مُستَقيمَةٌstraight
تَجَنَّبَها هَوجاءَ لا مُستَقيمَةٌ
خُطاهاits steps وَلاnor مَأمونَةٌsafe عَثَراتُهاits stumbles
خُطاها وَلا مَأمونَةٌ عَثَراتُها
He shunned it as reckless, neither straight
He avoided it disorderly, not upright
In its steps nor safe in its stumbles.
Were its steps or safe its stumbling.
غَداhe lived راضِياًsatisfied بِالنَزرِwith little مِنهاof it قَناعَةًout of contentment
غَدا راضِياً بِالنَزرِ مِنها قَناعَةً
وَلَوand if شاءَhe wished قَدindeed كانَتwould have been لَهُhis جَفَناتُهاits great bowls
وَلَو شاءَ قَد كانَت لَهُ جَفَناتُها
He lived satisfied with little of it, out of contentment,
Pleased tomorrow with the trifling of it, sufficed
Though, had he wished, its great bowls could have been his.
Though its containers could have been his had he wished.
تَلافَظَهاhe spat it out مِنfrom بَعدِafter ماhaving ذاقَtasted طَعمَهاits flavor
تَلافَظَها مِن بَعدِ ما ذاقَ طَعمَها
فَكانَتso were زُعاقاًbitter brine عِندَهُto him طَيِّباتُهاits delights
فَكانَت زُعاقاً عِندَهُ طَيِّباتُها
He spat it out after tasting its flavor;
He rid himself of it after tasting its flavor
Its delights were bitter brine to him.
So its delicacies seemed clamor to him.
تَلافىcame to the rescue of قُرَيشاًQuraysh حينَwhen رَقَّgrew thin أَديمُهاits hide
تَلافى قُرَيشاً حينَ رَقَّ أَديمُها
وَخَفَّتand grew light عَلىin أَيديthe hands of الرِجالِmen حَصاتُهاits stone
وَخَفَّت عَلى أَيدي الرِجالِ حَصاتُها
He came to Quraysh's rescue when its hide grew thin
He shunned Quraysh when its hide was flayed
And its stone grew light in men's hands.
And the men’s grip on its pebbles weakened.
وَرَجَّبَهاand propped it up مِنfrom بَعدِafter ماthat مالَbent فَرعُهاits branch
وَرَجَّبَها مِن بَعدِ ما مالَ فَرعُها
وَحينَand when أَبَتrefused إِلّاanything but اِعوِجاجاًcrookedness قَناتُهاits spear-shaft
وَحينَ أَبَت إِلّا اِعوِجاجاً قَناتُها
He propped it up after its branch had bent,
And he boycotted it after its branch inclined
When its spear-shaft insisted on crookedness.
And when its channels insisted on twisting.
وَكَمand how often عادَvisited فيwith إِحدىone of عَواليهِhis spearheads هامَةًa skull
وَكَم عادَ في إِحدى عَواليهِ هامَةً
لِجَبّارِof a tyrant قَومٍof a people قَطَّرَتهُfelled him شَباتُهاits sharp points
لِجَبّارِ قَومٍ قَطَّرَتهُ شَباتُها
How often he visited, with one of his spearheads, the skull
And how often he returned in one of its misfortunes, enraged
Of a people's tyrant, felled by its sharp points.
At an overbearing people whose youth were oozing.
فَمَنso who غَيرُهُother than he لِليَعمَلاتِfor the swift she-camels يُقيمُهاmakes them stand
فَمَن غَيرُهُ لِليَعمَلاتِ يُقيمُها
إِذاwhen وَقَعَتthey fall مَثنِيَّةًbent رُكُباتُهاtheir knees
إِذا وَقَعَت مَثنِيَّةً رُكُباتُها
Who but he sets the swift she-camels upright
So who but him will straighten it
When they fall with their knees bent?
When its knee joints stumble?
وَمَنand who لِعَجاجِfrom the dust of الحَربِwar يَجلوclears ظَلامَهُits darkness
وَمَن لِعَجاجِ الحَربِ يَجلو ظَلامَهُ
إِذاwhen خَفَقَتflutter فيin نَقعِهاits dust عَذَباتُهاits banner-fringes
إِذا خَفَقَت في نَقعِها عَذَباتُها
Who clears the darkness from the dust of war
And who will clear the darkness of battle’s din
When its banner-fringes flutter in its dust?
When its torrents surge in its kick?
وَمَنand who لِلمَعاليfor the heights القودِtowering يَقرَعُstrikes هامَهاtheir crowns
وَمَن لِلمَعالي القودِ يَقرَعُ هامَها
إِذاwhen نَفَتِrepel الإِقدامَbold advance عَنهاfrom them صِفاتُهاtheir rocks
إِذا نَفَتِ الإِقدامَ عَنها صِفاتُها
Who strikes the crowns of the towering heights
And who will drive the steeds of glory onward
When their rocks repel any bold advance?
When virtues evade them?
وَمَنand who لِأَضاميمِfor the massed bands of الجِيادِsteeds فُدوُّهاtheir advance
وَمَن لِأَضاميمِ الجِيادِ فُدوُّها
لِطَعنِto pierce حَماليقِthe eye-whites of العِدىthe foes وَبَياتُهاand their night-raids
لِطَعنِ حَماليقِ العِدى وَبَياتُها
Who sends the massed steeds forth
And who takes up the reins of the noble steeds
To pierce the foes' eye-whites and raid them by night?
To pierce the champions of enmity and affliction?
لَناfor us وَعَليناand incumbent upon us إِنif لَبِثناwe linger هُنَيهَةًa moment
لَنا وَعَلينا إِن لَبِثنا هُنَيهَةً
قِطافُthe harvesting of رُؤوسٍheads أَينَعَتhave ripened ثَمَراتُهاtheir fruits
قِطافُ رُؤوسٍ أَينَعَت ثَمَراتُها
Ours to claim, and ours to undertake, if we linger a moment,
For us and upon us, if we remain hesitant,
Is the harvesting of heads whose fruits have ripened.
Is the plucking of heads ripe with fruit.
فَياoh لَهَفيmy sorrow كَمhow many مِنof نُفوسٍsouls كَريمَةٍnoble
فَيا لَهَفي كَم مِن نُفوسٍ كَريمَةٍ
تَموتُdie وَفيand within أَثنائِهاtheir depths حَسَراتُهاtheir regrets
تَموتُ وَفي أَثنائِها حَسَراتُها
Alas, how many noble souls
Oh my craving! How many noble souls
Die with their regrets still within them!
Die while regrets lie between them.
يَعِزُّit pains عَليناus أَنthat تَفوتَthey pass out of reach وَأَنَّهاand that they
يَعِزُّ عَلينا أَن تَفوتَ وَأَنَّها
قَضَتhave fulfilled نَحبَهاtheir doom أَوor ماnot اِنقَضَتhave ceased زَفَراتُهاtheir sighs
قَضَت نَحبَها أَو ما اِنقَضَت زَفَراتُها
It grieves us that they are lost to us, whether they
It pains us if they pass while still
Have met their doom or their sighs are not yet spent.
Their sighs were unfulfilled or breaths unfinished.
وَكانَand were بِدارِin the abode of الهونِabasement مُلقىًcast down جُنوبُهاtheir sides
وَكانَ بِدارِ الهونِ مُلقىً جُنوبُها
سَواءٌalike عَلَيهاto them مَوتُهاtheir death وَحَياتُهاand their life
سَواءٌ عَلَيها مَوتُها وَحَياتُها
Their sides lay cast down in the abode of abasement;
And the abode of humiliation became their resting place,
Their death and life were alike to them.
Whether their life or death is equal to them.
أَسارىcaptives تُعَنّيهاtorment them الكُبولُthe fetters مَذودَةٌrestrained
أَسارى تُعَنّيها الكُبولُ مَذودَةٌ
بَواطِشُهاtheir striking hands مَقصورَةٌconfined خَطَواتُهاtheir steps
بَواطِشُها مَقصورَةٌ خَطَواتُها
Captives tormented by fetters, restrained
Prisoners whom shackles confine, debased,
In their striking hands, their steps confined.
While their steps are restricted.
وَماand not بَرِحَتhave ceased تَبكيweeping for قَتيلاًone slain عُيونُهاtheir eyes
وَما بَرِحَت تَبكي قَتيلاً عُيونُها
فَلاso not دَمعُهاtheir tears يَرقاstop flowing وَلاnor عَبَراتُهاtheir weeping
فَلا دَمعُها يَرقا وَلا عَبَراتُها
Their eyes have never ceased weeping for one slain;
Their eyes never ceased crying for the slain
Neither their tears nor their weeping cease.
With neither tears flowing nor lamentations speaking.
عَسىmay اللَهُGod أَنto يَرتاحَbe moved يَوماًone day بِفَرحَةٍto grant joy
عَسى اللَهُ أَن يَرتاحَ يَوماً بِفَرحَةٍ
فَتَنطِقَso speak أَنضاءٌwasted beings أُطيلَwas prolonged صُماتُهاtheir silence
فَتَنطِقَ أَنضاءٌ أُطيلَ صُماتُها
May God one day be moved to grant joy,
May God one day allow them to delight
And the wasted speak, whose silence has been prolonged,
In a voice silenced too long finding speech.
وَيُؤخَذَand be exacted ثارٌvengeance ماتَdied هَمّاًof grief وُلاتُهُits claimants
وَيُؤخَذَ ثارٌ ماتَ هَمّاً وُلاتُهُ
وَلَمّاand not yet تَمُتhave died أَضغانُهاtheir rancors وَتِراتُهاand their blood-grudges
وَلَمّا تَمُت أَضغانُها وَتِراتُها
And vengeance be taken, whose claimants died of grief,
And vengeance had died in anguish while
Though their rancors and blood-grudges have not died.
Their grudges and wounds still bled.
فَكَمso how often فُرِّجَتwere relieved مِنfrom بَعدِafter ماthat أُغلِقَتwere shut لَناagainst us
فَكَم فُرِّجَت مِن بَعدِ ما أُغلِقَت لَنا
مَغالِقُهاits locks وَاِستَبهَمَتand grew impenetrable حَلَقائُهاits enclosing rings
مَغالِقُها وَاِستَبهَمَت حَلَقائُها
How often relief came after there had closed against us
How many of their impossible straights were relieved!
Its locks, and its enclosing rings had grown impenetrable.
Their predicaments clarified and confusions dispelled.
غَرَستُI planted غُروساًsaplings كُنتُI was أَرجوhoping for لَحاقَهاtheir maturity
غَرَستُ غُروساً كُنتُ أَرجو لَحاقَها
وَآمُلُand I hope يَوماًone day أَنthat تَطيبَbecome sweet جَناتُهاtheir fruits
وَآمُلُ يَوماً أَن تَطيبَ جَناتُها
I planted saplings whose maturity I hoped for,
I planted seeds hoping for their fruits
And hoped one day their fruits would become sweet.
And hoping one day their gardens will thrive.
فَإِنso if أَثمَرَتthey bear fruit ليfor me غَيرَother than ماwhat كُنتُI was آمِلاًhoping for
فَإِن أَثمَرَت لي غَيرَ ما كُنتُ آمِلاً
فَلاthen no ذَنبَblame ليon me إِنif حَنظَلَتbear bitter gourds نَخَلاتُهاtheir palms
فَلا ذَنبَ لي إِن حَنظَلَت نَخَلاتُها
If they bear me fruit other than what I hoped for,
If they bear other than what I hoped,
No blame is mine if their palms bear bitter gourds.
It is no fault of mine if their palms twisted.
Sol 6.1