رُدّوا الغَليلَ لِقَلبِيَ المَشغوفِ

رُدّوا الغَليلَ لِقَلبِيَ المَشغوفِ

وَخُذوا الكَرى عَن ناظِري المَطروفِ

وَخُذوا الكَرى عَن ناظِري المَطروفِ

Quench the burning anguish of my passion-stricken heart,

Restore burning thirst to my love-stricken heart,

and ward sleep from my tear-drenched eyes.

and take sleep away from my wounded eye.

وَدَعوا الهَوى يَقوى عَلَيَّ مُضاعَفاً

وَدَعوا الهَوى يَقوى عَلَيَّ مُضاعَفاً

إِنّي عَلى الأَشجانِ غَيرُ ضَعيفِ

إِنّي عَلى الأَشجانِ غَيرُ ضَعيفِ

Let passion gather strength against me, redoubled;

And let passion rise against me with redoubled force;

amid sorrows I am no weakling.

I am not weak in bearing sorrows.

وَلَقَد رَتَقتُ عَلى العَذولِ مَسامِعي

وَلَقَد رَتَقتُ عَلى العَذولِ مَسامِعي

وَصَمَمتُ عَن عَذلٍ وَعَن تَعنيفِ

وَصَمَمتُ عَن عَذلٍ وَعَن تَعنيفِ

I have stitched my ears shut against the faultfinder,

And indeed I have sewn my ears shut against the reproacher,

and made myself deaf to blame and harsh rebuke.

and made myself deaf to blame and harsh rebuke.

أَرضى البَطالَةَ أَن تَكونَ قَلائِدي

أَرضى البَطالَةَ أَن تَكونَ قَلائِدي

أَبَداً وَلَومَ اللائِمينَ شُنوفي

أَبَداً وَلَومَ اللائِمينَ شُنوفي

I gladly accept dalliance as my necklaces forever,

I am content that frivolity should be my necklaces

and the censure of censurers as my earrings.

forever, and the censurers' blame my earrings.

هَل دارُنا بِالرَملِ غَيرُ نَزيعَةِ

هَل دارُنا بِالرَملِ غَيرُ نَزيعَةِ

أَم حَيُّنا بِالجِزعِ غَيرُ خُلوفِ

أَم حَيُّنا بِالجِزعِ غَيرُ خُلوفِ

Is our dwelling at al-Raml anything but far removed?

Is our home at al-Raml anything but far removed,

Or our tribe at al-Jazʿ anything but gone away?

or our camp at al-Jizʿ anything but deserted?

فَلَقَد عَهِدتُ بِها كَنافِرَةِ المَها

فَلَقَد عَهِدتُ بِها كَنافِرَةِ المَها

مِن كُلِّ مَمشوقِ القَوامِ قَضيفِ

مِن كُلِّ مَمشوقِ القَوامِ قَضيفِ

I once knew there a herd like skittish oryx,

For there I once knew beauties like startled oryx,

each perfect in form, slender and lithe.

each tall of stature and slender of frame.

سِربٌ إِذا اِستَوقَفتُ في ظَبَياتِهِ

سِربٌ إِذا اِستَوقَفتُ في ظَبَياتِهِ

عَينِيَّ رُحتُ عَلى جَوىً مَوقوفِ

عَينِيَّ رُحتُ عَلى جَوىً مَوقوفِ

A herd—when I paused among its gazelles,

A herd: whenever I fixed upon its gazelles

my eyes came to rest, held captive by inward passion.

my eyes, I left with an unrelenting heartache.

يَرعَينَ أَثمارَ القُلوبِ تَوارِكاً

يَرعَينَ أَثمارَ القُلوبِ تَوارِكاً

مَرعى رَبيعٍ بِاللَوى وَخَريفِ

مَرعى رَبيعٍ بِاللَوى وَخَريفِ

They graze upon the fruits of hearts, forsaking

They graze upon the fruits of hearts, forsaking

spring pasture at al-Liwa and autumn pasture.

the spring and autumn pasture at al-Liwa.

كَم بَينَ أَثناءِ الضَلوعِ لَهُنَّ مِن

كَم بَينَ أَثناءِ الضَلوعِ لَهُنَّ مِن

قِرفٍ بِأَظفارِ النَوى مَقروفَ

قِرفٍ بِأَظفارِ النَوى مَقروفَ

How many wounds within the folds of my ribs, for their sake,

How many lie for them within the folds of ribs—

have separation’s claws scratched open!

rinds stripped by separation's fingernails!

لا تَأخُذيني بِالمَشيبِ فَإِنَّهُ

لا تَأخُذيني بِالمَشيبِ فَإِنَّهُ

تَفويفُ ذي الأَيّامِ لا تَفويفي

تَفويفُ ذي الأَيّامِ لا تَفويفي

Do not reproach me for gray hair, for it is

Do not reproach me for gray hair; it is

the streaking wrought by time, no adornment of mine.

the white striping of these days, not my own.

لَو أَستَطيعُ نَضَوتُ عَنّي بُردَهُ

لَو أَستَطيعُ نَضَوتُ عَنّي بُردَهُ

وَرَمَيتُ شَمسَ نَهارِهِ بِكُسوفِ

وَرَمَيتُ شَمسَ نَهارِهِ بِكُسوفِ

If I could, I would strip its mantle from myself

If I could, I would strip its cloak from me,

and cast the sun of its day into eclipse.

and cast an eclipse upon the sun of its day.

كانَ الشَبابُ دُجُنَّةً فَتَمَزَّقَت

كانَ الشَبابُ دُجُنَّةً فَتَمَزَّقَت

عَن ضَوءِ لا حَسَنٍ وَلا مَألوفِ

عَن ضَوءِ لا حَسَنٍ وَلا مَألوفِ

Youth was a dark cloud; then it broke apart

Youth was a darkness; then it tore apart,

to reveal a light neither lovely nor familiar.

revealing a light neither fair nor familiar.

وَلَئِن تَعَجَّلَ بِالنُصولِ فَخَلفَهُ

وَلَئِن تَعَجَّلَ بِالنُصولِ فَخَلفَهُ

رَوحاتُ سَوقٍ لِلمَنونِ عَنيفِ

رَوحاتُ سَوقٍ لِلمَنونِ عَنيفِ

Though the arrowheads of gray hastened on, behind them

And though it has hurried to fade, behind it come

come evening marches—a harsh drive toward death.

evening journeys, a harsh driving toward death.

وَإِذا نَظَرتُ إِلى الزَمانِ رَأَيتُهُ

وَإِذا نَظَرتُ إِلى الزَمانِ رَأَيتُهُ

تَعَبَ الشَريفِ وَراحَةَ المَشروفِ

تَعَبَ الشَريفِ وَراحَةَ المَشروفِ

When I contemplated Time, I saw it to be

And when I look at Time, I see it as

the noble man’s toil and the base man’s ease;

the nobleman's toil and the lesser man's ease,

وَعِقالَ كُلِّ مُشَيَّعٍ مُتَغَطرِفٍ

وَعِقالَ كُلِّ مُشَيَّعٍ مُتَغَطرِفٍ

وَمَجالَ كُلِّ مُوَضَّعٍ مَضعوفِ

وَمَجالَ كُلِّ مُوَضَّعٍ مَضعوفِ

a fetter upon every well-defended, high-spirited man,

a fetter for every valiant, proud-spirited man,

and open range for every abased weakling.

and free scope for every debased, enfeebled one.

أَعَليَّ يَستَلُّ الدَنِيُّ لِسانَهُ

أَعَليَّ يَستَلُّ الدَنِيُّ لِسانَهُ

سَيَذوقُ مَوبى مَربَعي وَمَصيفي

سَيَذوقُ مَوبى مَربَعي وَمَصيفي

Does the lowborn man draw out his tongue against me?

Does the base man unsheathe his tongue against me?

He shall taste the death I deal in both my spring and summer quarters.

He shall taste the deadly blight of my spring and summer pastures.

فيمَن تُعَيِّرُني بِفيكَ رُغامُها

فيمَن تُعَيِّرُني بِفيكَ رُغامُها

أَبِتالِدي في المَجدِ أَم بِطَريفي

أَبِتالِدي في المَجدِ أَم بِطَريفي

With which of these do you taunt me? May dust fill your mouth!

Whom do you taunt me for? May earth's dust fill your mouth!

My inherited glory, or the glory I won myself?

For my inherited glory, or the glory I have newly won?

أَبِمَعشَري وَهُمُ الأُلى عاداتُهُم

أَبِمَعشَري وَهُمُ الأُلى عاداتُهُم

في الرَوعِ ضَربُ طُلىً وَخَرقُ صُفوفِ

في الرَوعِ ضَربُ طُلىً وَخَرقُ صُفوفِ

Or my clan? They are men whose custom is,

Or for my clan, whose customary deeds

amid battle’s terror, striking necks and piercing ranks—

in battle are striking necks and breaking ranks?

مِن كُلِّ وَضّاحِ الجَبينِ مُغامِرٍ

مِن كُلِّ وَضّاحِ الجَبينِ مُغامِرٍ

عِندَ العَظائِمِ بِاِسمِهِ مَهتوفِ

عِندَ العَظائِمِ بِاِسمِهِ مَهتوفِ

each a bright-faced, clear-browed warrior who plunges into danger,

Each one a bright-browed, daring warrior,

whose name is cried aloud in moments of great calamity.

whose name is shouted in moments of great peril.

وَإِذا قَرَعتُ فَهُم صُدورُ ذَوابِلي

وَإِذا قَرَعتُ فَهُم صُدورُ ذَوابِلي

وَمِنَ العَدوِّ مَعاقِلي وَكُهوفي

وَمِنَ العَدوِّ مَعاقِلي وَكُهوفي

When tested, they are the foremost points of supple spears,

And when I strike, they are the points of my slender spears,

and against the enemy they are strongholds and caves.

and against the enemy, my strongholds and refuges.

فَاِذهَب بِنَفسِكَ حاسِماً أَطماعُها

فَاِذهَب بِنَفسِكَ حاسِماً أَطماعُها

عَن صَلِّ وادٍ أَو هِزَبرِ غَريفِ

عَن صَلِّ وادٍ أَو هِزَبرِ غَريفِ

Then go, your soul severed from every hope of it,

So take yourself off, abandoning your designs

before a valley-viper or a thick-maned lion.

against a valley's viper or a lion of the thicket.

فَلَقَد جَرَرتُ عَلى الزَمانِ عَوائِدي

فَلَقَد جَرَرتُ عَلى الزَمانِ عَوائِدي

إِنّي أَدُقُّ زُحوفَهُ بِزُحوفي

إِنّي أَدُقُّ زُحوفَهُ بِزُحوفي

I have imposed my accustomed ways upon Time;

For I have imposed my accustomed ways on Time;

I crush its massed armies with my own.

I crush its advancing hosts with mine.

هَذا وَقَومُكَ بَينَ قاذِفِ مَعشَرٍ

هَذا وَقَومُكَ بَينَ قاذِفِ مَعشَرٍ

كَذِباً وَبَينَ مُلَعَّنٍ مَقذوفِ

كَذِباً وَبَينَ مُلَعَّنٍ مَقذوفِ

This, while your people stand between one who slanders my clan

All this, while your people are divided between slanderers of a clan

with lies, and another who is cursed and assailed.

with lies, and accursed men themselves defamed.

لا المَجدُ في أَبياتِهِم بِمُعَرَّقٍ

لا المَجدُ في أَبياتِهِم بِمُعَرَّقٍ

يَوماً وَلا لَهُمُ النَدى بِحَليفِ

يَوماً وَلا لَهُمُ النَدى بِحَليفِ

Glory never struck deep roots within their houses,

Glory has no deep roots within their houses,

nor was generosity ever their constant ally.

ever, nor is generosity their ally.

قَبلي سَقاكَ أَبي كُؤوسَ مَذَلَّةٍ

قَبلي سَقاكَ أَبي كُؤوسَ مَذَلَّةٍ

وَلَتَشرَبَن بِيَدي كُؤوسَ حُتوفِ

وَلَتَشرَبَن بِيَدي كُؤوسَ حُتوفِ

Before me, my father made you drink cups of humiliation;

Before me, my father made you drink cups of humiliation;

by my hand you shall surely drink cups of death.

and from my hand you shall surely drink cups of death.

ذاكَ الثِقافُ يُقيمُ كُلَّ مُمَيَّلٍ

ذاكَ الثِقافُ يُقيمُ كُلَّ مُمَيَّلٍ

وَأَنا الجُرازُ أَقُدُّ كُلَّ صَليفِ

وَأَنا الجُرازُ أَقُدُّ كُلَّ صَليفِ

That is the straightening tool that sets every crooked thing upright;

He is the shaft-straightener, setting every bent one straight;

and I am the cleaving blade: I cut through every hard-necked man.

and I am the keen sword, cleaving every stout shaft.

فَحَذارِ إِن شَبَّ الفَنيقُ لِحاظَهُ

فَحَذارِ إِن شَبَّ الفَنيقُ لِحاظَهُ

وَتَقارَبَت أَنيابُهُ لَصَريفِ

وَتَقارَبَت أَنيابُهُ لَصَريفِ

Beware when the stallion’s glances blaze

So beware if the prized camel-stallion raises his gaze,

and its fangs draw close together to bite.

and brings his fangs together to gnash.

خَلِّ الطَريقَ لِمُجمِرٍ أَخفاقَهُ

خَلِّ الطَريقَ لِمُجمِرٍ أَخفاقَهُ

ماضٍ عَلى سَنَنِ الطَريقِ مُنيفِ

ماضٍ عَلى سَنَنِ الطَريقِ مُنيفِ

Clear the road for a destroyer ravaging its farthest reaches,

Clear the road for one gathering his hoofbeats,

advancing loftily along the road’s straight course;

striding along the road's course, towering high;

وَلَضَيغَمٍ يَطَأُ الرِجالَ غُلُبَّةً

وَلَضَيغَمٍ يَطَأُ الرِجالَ غُلُبَّةً

بِقَناً مِنَ الأَنيابِ أَو بِسُيوفِ

بِقَناً مِنَ الأَنيابِ أَو بِسُيوفِ

and for a lion that tramples men by overpowering force,

and for a lion who tramples men by sheer force,

with lances in place of fangs—or with swords.

with spears of fangs or with swords.

وَاِشدُد حَشاكَ فَلَستَ تَطمَحُ خالِياً

وَاِشدُد حَشاكَ فَلَستَ تَطمَحُ خالِياً

إِلّا بَدا لَكَ مَوقِفي وَوُقوفي

إِلّا بَدا لَكَ مَوقِفي وَوُقوفي

Brace your heart: you shall never aspire unchallenged

Brace your heart, for even alone you never lift your gaze

unless my stature and resolute stand appear before you.

without my station and my steadfast stand appearing before you.

وَإِذا رَمَيتَ مِنَ الحِذارِ بِمُقلَةٍ

وَإِذا رَمَيتَ مِنَ الحِذارِ بِمُقلَةٍ

في الجَوِّ راعَكَ في السَماءِ حَفيفي

في الجَوِّ راعَكَ في السَماءِ حَفيفي

Whenever, out of caution, you cast a glance

And when, out of fear, you cast an eye

into the air, my wingbeat in the sky will terrify you.

into the air, my rustling in the sky alarms you.

أَهوي إِلى فُرَصٍ يَسوؤُكَ غِبُّها

أَهوي إِلى فُرَصٍ يَسوؤُكَ غِبُّها

مُتَسَرِّعاً كَالأَجدَلِ الغِطريفِ

مُتَسَرِّعاً كَالأَجدَلِ الغِطريفِ

I swoop upon opportunities whose outcome will grieve you,

I swoop upon opportunities whose aftermath will grieve you,

rushing like the mighty crested eagle.

rushing like a noble falcon,

كَيداً يُري أَن لا دَعيَّ أُمَيَّةٍ

كَيداً يُري أَن لا دَعيَّ أُمَيَّةٍ

كادَ الرِجالَ وَلا دَعيَّ ثَقيفِ

كادَ الرِجالَ وَلا دَعيَّ ثَقيفِ

Plotting, he imagines that no claimant of Umayya ever

with guile that shows that neither Umayya's spurious son

schemed against men—nor any claimant of Thaqif.

nor Thaqif's spurious son ever plotted against men.

أَوفيتُ مُعتَلِياً عَلَيكُم واضِعاً

أَوفيتُ مُعتَلِياً عَلَيكُم واضِعاً

قَدَمي عَلى قَمَرِ السَماءِ الموفي

قَدَمي عَلى قَمَرِ السَماءِ الموفي

I rose high above you, setting

I rose high above you, setting

my foot upon heaven’s full-risen moon.

my foot upon the high-risen moon of heaven.

وَوَليتُكُم فَحَزَزتُ في عيدانِكُم

وَوَليتُكُم فَحَزَزتُ في عيدانِكُم

حَتّى أَقامَ مُميلَها تَثقيفي

حَتّى أَقامَ مُميلَها تَثقيفي

When I governed you, I cut deep into your branches

And I governed you, cutting notches in your rods,

until my correction straightened what was bent in them.

until my straightening set their bent parts upright.

وَفَطَمتُكُم بِالزَجرِ عَن عاداتِكُم

وَفَطَمتُكُم بِالزَجرِ عَن عاداتِكُم

وَرَدَدتُ مُنكَرَكُم إِلى المَعروفِ

وَرَدَدتُ مُنكَرَكُم إِلى المَعروفِ

With stern rebuke I weaned you from your customs

I weaned you from your habits through rebuke,

and brought your wrongdoing back to what is right.

and turned your wrongdoing back to what is right.

عَفُّ السَريرَةِ لَم تُلَطَّ لِريبَةٍ

عَفُّ السَريرَةِ لَم تُلَطَّ لِريبَةٍ

يَوماً عَلَيَّ مَغالِقي وَسُجوفي

يَوماً عَلَيَّ مَغالِقي وَسُجوفي

Pure in private life, never stained by suspicion;

Pure of heart: never for any suspect deed

never, to my discredit, were my locks or curtains.

have my locks and curtains been shut upon me.

فَلَئِن صُرِفتُ فَلَستُ عَن شَرَفِ العُلى

فَلَئِن صُرِفتُ فَلَستُ عَن شَرَفِ العُلى

وَمَقاعِدِ العُظَماءِ بِالمَصروفِ

وَمَقاعِدِ العُظَماءِ بِالمَصروفِ

Though I be turned away, I am not turned from exalted honor,

Yet if I am dismissed, it is not from exalted honor

nor barred from the seats of the great.

or the seats of the great that I am driven.

وَلَئِن بَقيتُ لَكُم فَإِنّي واحِدٌ

وَلَئِن بَقيتُ لَكُم فَإِنّي واحِدٌ

أَبداً أُقَوَّمُ مِنكُمُ بِأُلوفِ

أَبداً أُقَوَّمُ مِنكُمُ بِأُلوفِ

And though I remain among you, I am but one man;

And if I stay on for you, I am one man,

forever I stand for thousands of you.

forever valued at thousands of you.