ذَكَرتُI remembered عَلىdespite بُعدِهاtheir distance مِنfrom مَناليmy reach
ذَكَرتُ عَلى بُعدِها مِن مَنالي
مَنازِلَdwellings بَينَbetween قَباًQaba وَالمَطالِand al-Matal
مَنازِلَ بَينَ قَباً وَالمَطالِ
I remembered, despite their distance from my reach,
I recalled, in her absence from my reach,
dwellings between Qaba and al-Matal,
The stages between plains and high lands,
وَمَبنىand the site of قِبابِdomed tents of بَنيthe sons of عامِرٍ'Amir
وَمَبنى قِبابِ بَني عامِرٍ
عَلىover الغَورِthe lowland أَطنابُهُنَّtheir guy ropes العَواليlofty
عَلى الغَورِ أَطنابُهُنَّ العَوالي
and the site of Banu 'Amir's domed tents,
And the structure of domed buildings of Bani Amer
whose lofty guy ropes span the lowland.
Whose peaks extended over the rough terrain,
عَقائِلُnoble women عَلَّمَهُنَّtaught them العَفاchastity (first part)
عَقائِلُ عَلَّمَهُنَّ العَفا
فُcompletion of 'chastity' وَصلَcontinuance of المَطالِdelay وَمَطلَand delaying الوِصالِunion
فُ وَصلَ المَطالِ وَمَطلَ الوِصالِ
Noble women whom chastity taught
The camels taught by Afa to bind and untie,
to prolong delay and delay union.
So it would halt at plains and resume the journey.
مَرابِعُspring quarters يَشكوlament بِهِنَّin them الجِراحَwounds
مَرابِعُ يَشكو بِهِنَّ الجِراحَ
أُسودُlions of الشَرىal-Shara مِنfrom ظِباءِgazelles of الرِمالِthe sands
أُسودُ الشَرى مِن ظِباءِ الرِمالِ
Spring quarters where wounds are lamented
The square-shaped camels complain with wounds
by al-Shara's lions, wounds dealt by the gazelles of the sands.
From the black lions of the sandy plains.
مَضاحِكُهُنَّtheir smiling mouths عُقودُnecklaces of العُقودِnecklaces
مَضاحِكُهُنَّ عُقودُ العُقودِ
وَأَجيادُهُنَّand their necks لَآليpearls of اللَآليpearls
وَأَجيادُهُنَّ لَآلي اللَآلي
Their smiling mouths are necklaces of necklaces,
Their smiles are like necklaces of pearls
and their necks are pearls of pearls.
And their valor exceeds all others.
أَبَعدَis it after الأَسىsorrow عادَreturned عيدُthe festival of الغَرامِlove
أَبَعدَ الأَسى عادَ عيدُ الغَرامِ
وَقَرفٌand peeling a scab مِنَfrom الشَوقِlonging بَعدَafter اِندِمالِhealing
وَقَرفٌ مِنَ الشَوقِ بَعدَ اِندِمالِ
Has love's festival returned after sorrow,
The sadness receded and the days of love returned,
and longing peeled the scab after healing?
But the longing remains after the union comes to an end.
هَوىlove بَينَbetween مُقتَصِّone tracing إِثرِthe tracks of الغَزاthe gazelle (first part)
هَوى بَينَ مُقتَصِّ إِثرِ الغَزا
لِcompletion of 'gazelle' وَلّىfled وَمُنتَصِّand one clasping جيدِthe neck of الغَزالِthe gazelle
لِ وَلّى وَمُنتَصِّ جيدِ الغَزالِ
Love lies between one tracing the tracks of a gazelle
Passion lies between the tracker of a dear’s footsteps
that fled, and one clasping a gazelle's neck.
And the straight posture of a doe’s neck.
وَماand not طَلَبُseeking البَذلِgenerous giving مِنfrom باخِلٍone stingy
وَما طَلَبُ البَذلِ مِن باخِلٍ
بِمَيسورِهِwith what he can afford غَيرُother than داءِa disease عُضالِincurable
بِمَيسورِهِ غَيرُ داءِ عُضالِ
And seeking gifts from one stingy
The miser’s generosity is nothing but trouble,
with what he can afford is nothing but an incurable disease.
Other than easing his debts and loans.
وَماand not زالَceased يَلويhe defers دُيونَthe debts of الهَوىlove
وَما زالَ يَلوي دُيونَ الهَوى
وَيُؤيِسُناand makes us despair مِنof قَليلِa little النَوالِbounty
وَيُؤيِسُنا مِن قَليلِ النَوالِ
And he kept putting off the debts of love,
And he continues to increase the debts of passion,
and making us despair of even a little bounty,
And disappoints us from getting even a little.
إِلىuntil أَنthat قَنِعناwe were content بِزَورِwith a visit to المَزاthe visiting-place (first part)
إِلى أَن قَنِعنا بِزَورِ المَزا
رِcompletion of 'visiting-place' بَعدَafter النَوىseparation وَخَيالِand a phantom of الخَيالِa phantom
رِ بَعدَ النَوى وَخَيالِ الخَيالِ
until we were content with a visit to the meeting-place,
Until we settled for the false hopes,
after separation, and a phantom of a phantom.
After determination, beyond imagination's imagination.
إِلَيكَaway with you فَقَدfor already قَلَصَتhas shrunk شِرَّتيmy ardor
إِلَيكَ فَقَد قَلَصَت شِرَّتي
بُعيدَshortly after البَياضِwhiteness قُلوصَlike the shrinking of الظِلالِshadows
بُعيدَ البَياضِ قُلوصَ الظِلالِ
Away with you: my ardor has shrunk,
My misery away from you decreased
soon after gray appeared, as shadows shrink.
Like the short shadows of the afternoon sun.
وَبُدِّلتُand I was given in exchange مِمّاin place of what يَروقُdelights الحِساbeautiful women (first part)
وَبُدِّلتُ مِمّا يَروقُ الحِسا
نَcompletion of 'beautiful women' مِنin مَنظَرٍappearance ماwhat يَروعُterrifies العَواليlofty spears
نَ مِن مَنظَرٍ ما يَروعُ العَوالي
I was given, in place of what delights beautiful women,
And I changed from what pleases the senses
an appearance that strikes terror into lofty spears.
To a scene that startles the highest peaks.
سَوادٌblackness يُعَجِّلُhastens زَورَthe visit of البَياضِwhiteness
سَوادٌ يُعَجِّلُ زَورَ البَياضِ
عُلوقَlike the catching of الضِرامِflame بِرَأسِat the tip of الذُبالِwicks
عُلوقَ الضِرامِ بِرَأسِ الذُبالِ
Blackness hastens the visit of whiteness,
A darkness that hastens the false dawn,
as flame catches the tips of wicks.
The rising of a black lion over hyenas.
وَمَرَّand it passed عَلىover الرَأسِthe head مَرَّlike the passing of الغَمامِclouds
وَمَرَّ عَلى الرَأسِ مَرَّ الغَمامِ
قَليلَbrief in المُقامِits stay سَريعَswift in الزِيالِdeparture
قَليلَ المُقامِ سَريعَ الزِيالِ
And it passed over my head as clouds pass,
And over my head passed clouds
brief in its stay, swift to depart.
That stay briefly and disappear quickly.
فَلَيسَso ... is not الصِباyouthful passion اليَومَtoday مِنamong أُربَتيmy desires
فَلَيسَ الصِبا اليَومَ مِن أُربَتي
وَلاnor ذَلِكَthat البالُstate of mind ياO عَزَّ'Azz باليmy state of mind
وَلا ذَلِكَ البالُ يا عَزَّ بالي
So youthful passion is not my desire today,
The youth today are no longer my friends,
nor, O 'Azz, is that state of mind mine.
Nor are those worries, O the most precious of my worries!
حَلَفتُI swore بِهِنَّby them دَواميbleeding ones in الفِجاجِthe mountain passes
حَلَفتُ بِهِنَّ دَوامي الفِجاجِ
إِلىtoward الخَوفِal-Khawf يَطلُبنَهُthey seek it مِنfrom أُلالِUlal
إِلى الخَوفِ يَطلُبنَهُ مِن أُلالِ
I swore by them, bleeding through the mountain passes,
I swore by them my lasting madness
toward al-Khawf, which they seek from Ulal,
Seeking refuge, as they do, in the ruins.
خِماصاًlean-bellied تُساوِكُstaggering بِالمُجرِمينَwith sinners
خِماصاً تُساوِكُ بِالمُجرِمينَ
بِعُقلِin the hobbles of الوَجاhoof-pain وَقُيودِand the fetters of الكَلالِweariness
بِعُقلِ الوَجا وَقُيودِ الكَلالِ
lean-bellied, staggering along with sinners,
Hiding like criminals,
in hobbles of hoof-pain and fetters of weariness.
Tied up in chains and shackles.
يُماطِلنَthey delay بِالوَخدِin trotting عِندَat الجِذابِthe tugging of reins
يُماطِلنَ بِالوَخدِ عِندَ الجِذابِ
كَأَنَّas though الزَمامَthe rein مَكانَwere in place of العِقالِthe hobble
كَأَنَّ الزَمامَ مَكانَ العِقالِ
They delay their trot when their reins are tugged,
They toy with my cheeks when I try to pull them close,
as though the rein were a hobble.
As if the bridle is in place of the halter.
أُطِرنَthey were bent مِنَby الأَينِfatigue حَتّىuntil بُريwere whittled (first part)
أُطِرنَ مِنَ الأَينِ حَتّى بُري
نَthey (feminine plural ending) أَطرَlike the bending of القِسيِّbows وَبَريَand the whittling of النِبالِarrows
نَ أَطرَ القِسيِّ وَبَريَ النِبالِ
Bent by fatigue, until they were whittled down,
They are pierced by spears until
bent as bows are bent, and whittled as arrows are whittled.
They exceed the thick and thin arrows.
لَقَدindeed رَبَّناnurtured us مِنamong غِياثِsuccorers of الأَنامِhumankind
لَقَد رَبَّنا مِن غِياثِ الأَنامِ
مُقيمُa straightener of الصَغاcrookedness وَدَليلُand a guide of الضَلالِthose astray
مُقيمُ الصَغا وَدَليلُ الضَلالِ
Indeed, one of humankind's succorers has nurtured us:
God has sent us a savior of mankind,
a straightener of crookedness and a guide of the lost,
Who helps the weak and guides the lost.
حَمولٌa bearer of burdens نَهوضٌrising readily بِأَعبائِهاwith their burdens
حَمولٌ نَهوضٌ بِأَعبائِها
إِذاwhen البُزلُmature camels جَرجَرنَthey groan تَحتَunder الرِحالِriding saddles
إِذا البُزلُ جَرجَرنَ تَحتَ الرِحالِ
a bearer of burdens, rising to carry them
A carrier of burdens, rising with them
when mature camels groan beneath their saddles.
When the camels kneel down under the loads.
فَتىًa youth فيin النَدىgenerosity أَخرَقُreckless with الراحَتَينِboth palms
فَتىً في النَدى أَخرَقُ الراحَتَينِ
صَناعُهُماskillful with both فيin بِناءِbuilding المَعاليlofty honors
صَناعُهُما في بِناءِ المَعالي
A youth whose palms are reckless in generosity,
A knight whose hands excel
but both are deft at building lofty honors.
In building the highest glories.
إِذاwhen ماemphasis عَلِقتَyou cling بِهِto him فيamid الخُطوبِcalamities
إِذا ما عَلِقتَ بِهِ في الخُطوبِ
زَحَمتَyou press forward بِكَلكَلِwith the breast of عَودٍan old camel جُلالِmighty
زَحَمتَ بِكَلكَلِ عَودٍ جُلالِ
When you cling to him amid calamities,
If you hold onto him in hardships,
you press forward with the breast of a mighty old camel.
You will be pushed by waves of supreme power.
عَرَفناwe recognized بِكَthrough you اليَومَtoday عَلياthe greatness of أَبيfather (continued)
عَرَفنا بِكَ اليَومَ عَليا أَبي
كَyour وَالفَحلُand the sire تَعرِفُهُyou know him بِالسِخالِby the young offspring
كَ وَالفَحلُ تَعرِفُهُ بِالسِخالِ
Through you today we have known your father's greatness,
Today we recognize you, O Father,
and you know the sire by his offspring.
Like the stallion recognized by his powerful gallop.
هُوَhe الغَيثُthe rain أَقلَعَceased مُستَخلِفاًleaving a successor
هُوَ الغَيثُ أَقلَعَ مُستَخلِفاً
عَلَيناfor us وَقيعَةَa pool of ماءٍwater زُلالِclear and sweet
عَلَينا وَقيعَةَ ماءٍ زُلالِ
He is the rain that ceased, leaving behind
You are the rain that came to us,
for us a pool of clear, sweet water.
Leaving behind a drink of pure water.
لَئِنif indeed كُنتَyou are تاليهِhis follower فيin ذاthis الجَلالِgrandeur
لَئِن كُنتَ تاليهِ في ذا الجَلالِ
فَإِنَّكَthen you indeed قُدّامَهُare ahead of him فيin الكَمالِperfection
فَإِنَّكَ قُدّامَهُ في الكَمالِ
If you follow him in this grandeur,
If you follow him in this majesty,
you stand ahead of him in perfection.
You precede him in perfection.
وَلَولاand were it not for الحَياءُmodesty لَجاوَرتَهُyou would have stood beside him
وَلَولا الحَياءُ لَجاوَرتَهُ
وَرُبَّand many a أَخيرٍlatecomer أَمامَahead of الأَواليthe firstcomers
وَرُبَّ أَخيرٍ أَمامَ الأَوالي
But for modesty, you would have stood beside him;
Had it not been for shyness, you would have stayed by him,
and many a later one precedes the first.
Though the last predecessor may lead the first.
مُقيمٌdwelling بِحَيٍّamong a clan عَلىin فارِسٍFars
مُقيمٌ بِحَيٍّ عَلى فارِسٍ
رِقاقِthin of البُرودِcloaks رِقاقِthin of النِعالِsandals
رِقاقِ البُرودِ رِقاقِ النِعالِ
He dwells among a clan in Fars,
Living in a neighborhood of a horseman
with fine, thin cloaks and fine, thin sandals.
Whose shoes and slippers are lined up.
أَبَواthey refused أَنto يُخِلّواneglect بِنارِthe fire of القِرىhospitality
أَبَوا أَن يُخِلّوا بِنارِ القِرى
وَلَوeven if وَقَدواthey kindled نارَهُمtheir fire بِالعَواليwith long spears
وَلَو وَقَدوا نارَهُم بِالعَوالي
They refuse to neglect hospitality's fire,
They refused to abandon lighting the villages,
even if they kindle their fire with long spears.
Even if they lit it with tree branches.
يَدُلُّguides الضُيوفَthe guests عَلىto دارِهِمtheir house
يَدُلُّ الضُيوفَ عَلى دارِهِم
سَناthe radiance of المَجدِglory أَوor طيبُthe sweetness of عَرفِthe scent of الخِلالِvirtues
سَنا المَجدِ أَو طيبُ عَرفِ الخِلالِ
Guests are guided to their house
They guide guests to their homes
by glory's radiance or the sweet scent of their virtues.
With good reputation or perfume of musk.
بِنارِwith the fire of المَقاريguest-hearths وَنَقعِand the cloud of الغُبارِdust
بِنارِ المَقاري وَنَقعِ الغُبارِ
تَشابَهُresemble one another أَيّامُهُمtheir days وَاللَياليand the nights
تَشابَهُ أَيّامُهُم وَاللَيالي
With guest-hearth fires and dust-clouds,
The days and nights resembled each other
their days and nights resemble one another.
With glowing embers and rising dust.
لَقَدindeed نَطَحَbutted الجَدُّfortune أَعداءَهُمtheir enemies
لَقَد نَطَحَ الجَدُّ أَعداءَهُم
بِرَأسٍwith a head جَموحٍunyielding وَرَوقٍand a horn طُوالِvery long
بِرَأسٍ جَموحٍ وَرَوقٍ طُوالِ
Fortune has indeed butted their enemies
Indeed, the grandfather gored his enemies
with an unyielding head and a long horn.
With an obstinate head and tall neck.
لَهُمthey have صَفَحاتٌfaces كَبيضِlike bright blades of الصَفيحِsteel
لَهُم صَفَحاتٌ كَبيضِ الصَفيحِ
حَلاهُنَّadorned them عَنfrom جَوهَرِthe jewels of المَجدِglory حالِan adorner
حَلاهُنَّ عَن جَوهَرِ المَجدِ حالِ
They have faces like bright steel blades,
They have pages as white as tin
decked by an adorner with jewels of glory,
Adorned with the essence of glory.
وَأَيدٍand hands سِجاحٍgentle كِرامٍgenerous مَعاًtogether
وَأَيدٍ سِجاحٍ كِرامٍ مَعاً
بِمَجدٍwith honor مَصونٍguarded وَمالٍand wealth مُذالِfreely spent
بِمَجدٍ مَصونٍ وَمالٍ مُذالِ
and hands both gentle and generous,
And hands that bestow generously together
with honor guarded and wealth freely spent.
With protected glory and humiliated wealth.
إِذاwhen اِفتَخَرواthey boast ضَعضَعواthey humble الفاخِريthe boasters (first part)
إِذا اِفتَخَروا ضَعضَعوا الفاخِري
نَcompletion of 'boasters' خَطمَlike the battering by القُرومِgreat camel-stallions رِقابَthe necks of الإِفالِyoung camels
نَ خَطمَ القُرومِ رِقابَ الإِفالِ
When they boast, they humble the boasters,
When they pride, they shake the arrogant
as great camel-stallions batter young camels' necks.
Breaking the noses of domes and necks of palms.
وَجاؤواand they brought بِأَصلٍa lineage مِنَfrom الدَيلَمينَthe Daylamites
وَجاؤوا بِأَصلٍ مِنَ الدَيلَمينَ
أَرسىmore firmly rooted عُلىًin eminence مِنthan أُصولِthe roots of الجِبالِmountains
أَرسى عُلىً مِن أُصولِ الجِبالِ
They brought a lineage from the Daylamites,
And they come from a lineage of Dailami
more firmly rooted in eminence than mountain-roots.
That established peaks over mountain ranges.
أَقولُI say لِساعٍto one striving عَلىin إِثرِهِمtheir wake
أَقولُ لِساعٍ عَلى إِثرِهِم
يُطالِبُhe seeks شَأواًa goal بَعيدَdistant المَنالِin reach
يُطالِبُ شَأواً بَعيدَ المَنالِ
I say to one striving in their wake,
I say to one who follows their path
seeking a goal far beyond reach:
Seeking glory beyond reach:
حَذارِbeware فَإِنَّfor indeed عَلىon الجَلهَتَينِthe two valley-sides
حَذارِ فَإِنَّ عَلى الجَلهَتَينِ
هَموسَa silent prowler of الدُجىthe darkness مُرصِداًlying in wait لِلرِعالِfor bands of horsemen
هَموسَ الدُجى مُرصِداً لِلرِعالِ
Beware: on the two valley-sides
Beware, for the two stupid ones have
a silent night-prowler lies in wait for bands of horsemen.
An observer of folly waiting in ambush.
لَهُhe has هامَةٌa head كَرَحىlike the millstone of الطاحِناتِthe grinders
لَهُ هامَةٌ كَرَحى الطاحِناتِ
تَدورُturning عَلىupon لُبدَةٍa mane كَالثِفالِlike a mill's leather mat
تَدورُ عَلى لُبدَةٍ كَالثِفالِ
His head is like the grinders' millstone,
He has a tuft like the grindstone
turning upon a mane like a mill's leather mat.
Spinning over a sticky neck.
يَنوءُhe rises heavily تَحامُلَwith the effort of ذيone possessing رَيثَةٍslowness
يَنوءُ تَحامُلَ ذي رَيثَةٍ
وَيَقعُدُand he sits إِقعاءَcrouching like غَرثانَa hungry one صالِan attacker
وَيَقعُدُ إِقعاءَ غَرثانَ صالِ
He heaves himself up like one slow to move,
He kneels with the posture of a coward
and crouches like a hungry beast ready to attack.
And sits with the posture of a singing cricket.
وَماand not زالَceased ساعِدُهُhis foreleg وَاللَبانُand the breast
وَما زالَ ساعِدُهُ وَاللَبانُ
عَلىover جَزَرٍslaughtered bodies مِنof لُحومِthe flesh of الرِجالِmen
عَلى جَزَرٍ مِن لُحومِ الرِجالِ
His foreleg and breast have ever been
His arm and the milk
over slaughtered bodies of human flesh.
Remain on islands of men’s flesh.
كَسوبٌan avid hunter إِذاwhen ماemphasis اِكتَفىhe is sated بِالقَنيwith prey (first part)
كَسوبٌ إِذا ما اِكتَفى بِالقَني
صِcompletion of 'prey' لَمnot يَدَّخِرhe stores مَطعَماًfood لِلعِيالِfor dependents
صِ لَم يَدَّخِر مَطعَماً لِلعِيالِ
A keen hunter who, when sated with his prey,
When the hidden provisions are enough,
stores up no food for his brood.
He does not store food for the family.
أَلَمdid ... not? يَنهَكُمrestrain you رَشُّthe spray of شُؤبوبِهِhis rainburst
أَلَم يَنهَكُم رَشُّ شُؤبوبِهِ
بِوابِلِwith a downpour ذيbearing بَرَدٍhail وَاِنسِجالِand torrential flow
بِوابِلِ ذي بَرَدٍ وَاِنسِجالِ
Has the spray of his rainburst not warned you off,
Did not the evil of his clouds exhaust you
with a downpour of hail and torrents?
With a downpour of cold and quarrel?
وَيَحمِكُمُand protect you عَنfrom وُرودِapproaching الحِمامِdeath
وَيَحمِكُمُ عَن وُرودِ الحِمامِ
تَخَمُّطُthe raging of قَرمٍa champion قَديمِlong-practiced in الصِيالِassault
تَخَمُّطُ قَرمٍ قَديمِ الصِيالِ
And are you not kept from approaching death
And prevent you from entering the dovecote
by the fury of a champion long seasoned in combat,
With the writhing of an old worm?
وَقَودُand the driving of الجِيادِsteeds عَلىdespite أَنَّهاthat they
وَقَودُ الجِيادِ عَلى أَنَّها
تَصاهَلُneigh to one another تَحتَbeneath القُنيِّthe lances الطِوالِlong
تَصاهَلُ تَحتَ القُنيِّ الطِوالِ
and the driving of steeds, though they
The horses’ fodder as if it is
neigh beneath long spears?
Entangled in the long spearheads.
تُوَقَّعُare marked يَومَon the day of الوَغىbattle بِالنَجيعِwith fresh blood
تُوَقَّعُ يَومَ الوَغى بِالنَجيعِ
وَتُنعَلُand are shod بَينَamid الفَناdestruction بِالقِلالِwith skulls
وَتُنعَلُ بَينَ الفَنا بِالقِلالِ
They are marked with blood on the day of battle,
They are shod on the day of battle
and shod amid carnage with skulls.
With iron in the open wilderness.
سَبَقنَthey outstripped العَجاجَةَthe dust-cloud يَحمِلنَهاthey carry it
سَبَقنَ العَجاجَةَ يَحمِلنَها
أَراقِمُmottled vipers لامِظَةٌlicking their lips لِلنِزالِfor combat
أَراقِمُ لامِظَةٌ لِلنِزالِ
They outstripped the dust-cloud, carrying it,
The zebras surpassed them, carrying them
mottled vipers licking their lips for combat.
With bodies ready for fighting.
عَلَيهِنَّupon them كُلُّevery اِبنِson of أُمِّthe mother of الطِعانِspear-thrusting
عَلَيهِنَّ كُلُّ اِبنِ أُمِّ الطِعانِ
رَبِيِّa foster-child of القَناlances أَوor رَبيبِa nursling of النِصالِblades
رَبِيِّ القَنا أَو رَبيبِ النِصالِ
Upon them rides each son of the mother of spear-thrusts,
Upon them, every son of a critic
a foster-child of lances or a nursling of blades.
Who wields a spear or swings a sword.
إِذاwhen ريعَhe is alarmed شَمَّرَhe girds himself لِلمُحفِظاتِfor provocations
إِذا ريعَ شَمَّرَ لِلمُحفِظاتِ
وَجَرَّand he trails ذُيولَthe skirts of الحَديدِiron armor المُذالِtrailing
وَجَرَّ ذُيولَ الحَديدِ المُذالِ
When roused, he girds himself to meet provocations,
If one becomes weary, he braces himself
and trails the hems of his flowing iron armor.
And drags the hanging iron chains.
نَضَحنَthey spurted مِنَfrom الشَدِّgalloping نَضحَlike the spurting of المَزادِwaterskins
نَضَحنَ مِنَ الشَدِّ نَضحَ المَزادِ
ثُمَّthen اِنطَلَقنَthey rushed forth اِنطِلاقَlike the rushing forth of العَزاليwaterskin spouts
ثُمَّ اِنطَلَقنَ اِنطِلاقَ العَزالي
From galloping they spurted like waterskins,
They gush with persistence like an auctioneer
then rushed forth like streams from opened spouts.
Then set out like isolated fortresses.
يُخَلنَthey seem إِذاwhen بَلَهُنَّdrenches them الجَميمُprofuse sweat
يُخَلنَ إِذا بَلَهُنَّ الجَميمُ
عِقبانَeagles يَومِon a day of نَدىًdew أَوor ظِلالِshade
عِقبانَ يَومِ نَدىً أَو ظِلالِ
When profuse sweat drenches them, they seem
When the battlefield tries them,
like eagles on a day of dew or shade.
It leaves them as lions without rings.
تَرىyou see كُلَّevery مُشتَرِفٍtowering one لِلعَوارِexposed to wounds
تَرى كُلَّ مُشتَرِفٍ لِلعَوارِ
ضَليعَstout in الأَضالِعِthe ribs ساميlofty of القَذالِthe poll
ضَليعَ الأَضالِعِ سامي القَذالِ
You see each one towering, exposed to wounds,
You see every prominent one
broad-ribbed and high of poll.
With injured ribs and high neck,
يَفوتُlies beyond مُقَلَّدُهُhis neck وَالعِذاand the cheek-strap (first part)
يَفوتُ مُقَلَّدُهُ وَالعِذا
رُcompletion of 'cheek-strap' مَرمىthe reach of يَدِthe hand of الشَيظَميِّthe long-limbed man الطُوالِvery tall
رُ مَرمى يَدِ الشَيظَميِّ الطُوالِ
His neck and cheek-strap lie beyond
His weapon missing him and the spear
the reach of a very tall, long-limbed man's hand.
In the hand of the tall athlete.
كَأَنَّas though الطَريدَthe quarry إِلىtoward ظُلَّةٍa canopy
كَأَنَّ الطَريدَ إِلى ظُلَّةٍ
يَمُدُّhe stretches بِعَلوٍhigh upward لِفاتَthe crests of الجِبالِmountains
يَمُدُّ بِعَلوٍ لِفاتَ الجِبالِ
As though the quarry were reaching toward a canopy,
As if the prey climbs into shade
stretching high to the mountain-crests.
Stretching high above the mountains.
يَنالُhe reaches المَدىthe goal قَبلَbefore رَشحِthe sweating of العِذارِthe cheek-strap
يَنالُ المَدى قَبلَ رَشحِ العِذارِ
وَماand not سَوطُthe whip of فارِسِهِhis rider غَيرَother than هالِa threat
وَما سَوطُ فارِسِهِ غَيرَ هالِ
He reaches the goal before sweat beads on his cheek-strap,
Reaching the distance before the spear is thrown
and his rider's whip is merely a threat.
While the rider’s whip does not waver.
إِذاwhen حَرَّكَتهُstir him عُروقُthe veins of السِياقِdriving onward
إِذا حَرَّكَتهُ عُروقُ السِياقِ
بَينَamong الحِضارِthe white camels وَبَينَand among الثِقالِthe heavily laden
بَينَ الحِضارِ وَبَينَ الثِقالِ
When the drive to run stirs in his veins,
When the veins of zeal move him
among white camels and heavily laden ones,
Between civilization and sluggishness,
مَضىhe went on يَثِبُleaping across الدَوَّthe open waste وَثبَwith the leap of التَمامِcompleteness
مَضى يَثِبُ الدَوَّ وَثبَ التَمامِ
وَيَنضوand he leaves behind المَقاديمَthe leaders نَضوَas when outstripping التَواليthe stragglers
وَيَنضو المَقاديمَ نَضوَ التَوالي
he goes bounding across the waste in full bounds,
He goes leaping over the hills
and leaves the leaders behind as if they were stragglers.
And shortening the distances like waves.
مَدَدتُمyou lengthened بِباعِيَin my reach بَعدَafter القُصورِfalling short
مَدَدتُم بِباعِيَ بَعدَ القُصورِ
وَأَلحَقتُمُand you joined عَطَليmy unadorned state بِالحَواليto the bejeweled
وَأَلحَقتُمُ عَطَلي بِالحَوالي
You lengthened my reach after it fell short,
You have extended my deficient arms
and joined my unadorned self to the bejeweled.
And joined my broken parts.
وَأَطلَعتُمونِيَand you raised me فَوقَabove الرَجاءِhope
وَأَطلَعتُمونِيَ فَوقَ الرَجاءِ
بَعيداًfar وَفَوقَand above مَنالِthe reach of اللَياليthe nights
بَعيداً وَفَوقَ مَنالِ اللَيالي
And you raised me above hope,
And you have elevated me beyond hopes
far, and beyond the reach of the nights.
To far and beyond the reach of nights.
وَأَطلَقتُمُand you released الحَدَّthe edge مِنof مَضرَبيmy striking blade
وَأَطلَقتُمُ الحَدَّ مِن مَضرَبي
وَحادَثتُمُand you renewed قائِميmy hilt بِالصِقالِwith polishing
وَحادَثتُمُ قائِمي بِالصِقالِ
And you freed the edge of my striking blade,
You have freed me from my confined space
and renewed my hilt with polishing.
And provided my pillar with polish.
وَأَحذَيتُمُand you shod قَدَميmy foot حَذوَةًwith a shoe
وَأَحذَيتُمُ قَدَمي حَذوَةً
مِنَof المَجدِglory غَيرَnot جَذيمِsevered القِبالِin its thong
مِنَ المَجدِ غَيرَ جَذيمِ القِبالِ
And you fitted my foot with a shoe
You have shod my feet with a pair
of glory, its thong unsevered.
Of glory without any blemish.
رَمىmay ... cast اللَهُGod دَولَتَكُمyour rule بِالثَباتِwith permanence
رَمى اللَهُ دَولَتَكُم بِالثَباتِ
إِذاwhen ماemphasis رَمىHe casts غَيرَهاothers besides it بِالزَوالِwith extinction
إِذا ما رَمى غَيرَها بِالزَوالِ
May God cast permanence upon your rule
May God make your state lasting
when He casts extinction upon others,
When He makes other states decline.
وَأَسحَبَكُمand let you drag صافِناتِpoised steeds of العَلاءِeminence
وَأَسحَبَكُم صافِناتِ العَلاءِ
جَرَّlike the dragging by الشَموسِa restive steed طِراقَthe layers of الجِلالِsaddlecloths
جَرَّ الشَموسِ طِراقَ الجِلالِ
and let you draw behind you glory's poised steeds,
And may He pull you into the highest sphere
as a restive steed drags layered saddlecloths.
As He pulls the suns into majesty.
جَرَيتُمyou ran عَلىover الدَهرِTime جَريَlike the running of الثَقافِthe spear-straightening clamp
جَرَيتُم عَلى الدَهرِ جَريَ الثَقافِ
رَأبَmending اللَثىfractures وَقِيامَand straightening المُمالِthe bent
رَأبَ اللَثى وَقِيامَ المُمالِ
You have gone over Time like a spear-straightening clamp,
You have flowed through time like pouring rain
mending fractures and straightening what was bent.
Mending cracks and erecting buildings.
زَمانُan age of عُلىًeminence كَزَمامِlike the reins of الشَبابِyouth
زَمانُ عُلىً كَزَمامِ الشَبابِ
غَضُّfresh الجَنىin fruit أَوor زَمانِthe time of الوِصالِunion
غَضُّ الجَنى أَو زَمانِ الوِصالِ
An age of eminence, like the reins of youth,
An era of glory like the reign of youth
fresh-fruited, or like the season of union.
With ripe fruits or days of union.
لَياليهِits nights صُبحٌare dawn مِنَfrom المُغبِطاتِenviable joys
لَياليهِ صُبحٌ مِنَ المُغبِطاتِ
وَأَيّامُهُand its days مِنthrough سُكونٍstillness لَياليare nights
وَأَيّامُهُ مِن سُكونٍ لَيالي
Its nights are dawn-bright with enviable joys,
Its nights are the mornings of bliss
and its days, in their stillness, are nights.
And its days are calm nights.
Sol 6.1