حَلَفتُI swore بِهاby them صَيدَproudly upright الرُؤوسِof head سَوامِtowering
حَلَفتُ بِها صَيدَ الرُؤوسِ سَوامِ
طِوالَtall الذُرىin hump يَمدُدنَthey stretch كُلَّevery زِمامِrein
طِوالَ الذُرى يَمدُدنَ كُلَّ زِمامِ
I swore by them, proud-headed and towering,
tall-humped, straining at every rein,
بِكُلِّwith every غُلامٍyouth حَرَّمَforbade himself النَومَsleep هِزَّةًin eager longing
بِكُلِّ غُلامٍ حَرَّمَ النَومَ هِزَّةً
إِلىtoward بَلَدٍa land نائيdistant المَزارِto visit حَرامِsacred
إِلى بَلَدٍ نائي المَزارِ حَرامِ
with every youth who forswore sleep in eager longing
for a sacred land, far distant to visit:
لَأَستَمطِرَنَّI shall surely draw a rain of العِزِّhonor نُفساًa soul مُريغَةًseeking
لَأَستَمطِرَنَّ العِزِّ نُفساً مُريغَةً
وُرودَreaching عَلاءٍeminence أَوor وُرودَreaching حِمامِdeath
وُرودَ عَلاءٍ أَو وُرودَ حِمامِ
I shall surely draw a rain of honor from a soul seeking
a draught of eminence or a draught of death.
وَأَستَنزِلَنَّand I shall surely bring down المَجدَglory مِنfrom قُذُفاتِهِits lofty peaks
وَأَستَنزِلَنَّ المَجدَ مِن قُذُفاتِهِ
وَلَوeven if كانَit were أَعلىatop يَذبُلٍYadhbul وَشَمامِand Shamam
وَلَو كانَ أَعلى يَذبُلٍ وَشَمامِ
And I shall surely bring glory down from its lofty peaks,
even were it atop Yadhbul and Shamam.
مَلَلتُI have tired of مُقاميmy staying غَيرَwithout شَكوىcomplaint of خَصاصَةٍwant
مَلَلتُ مُقامي غَيرَ شَكوى خَصاصَةٍ
وَإِنّيand indeed I لِأَمرٍfor a reason ماunspecified أَمَلُّtire of مُقاميmy staying
وَإِنّي لِأَمرٍ ما أَمَلُّ مُقامي
I have tired of staying here, not from any complaint of want;
and indeed, for some reason, I tire of staying.
نِزاعاًyearning to depart عَنِfrom الدارِthe abode الَّتيwhere أَناI am عِندَهاdwelling in it
نِزاعاً عَنِ الدارِ الَّتي أَنا عِندَها
كَثيرُhaving many لُباناتٍdesires طَويلُlasting غَرامِin longing
كَثيرُ لُباناتٍ طَويلُ غَرامِ
Yearning to leave the abode where I dwell,
full of desires, possessed by lasting longing,
صَريعُfelled by هُمومٍcares يَحسَبُthink الناسُpeople أَنَّنيthat I
صَريعُ هُمومٍ يَحسَبُ الناسُ أَنَّني
لِماbecause of what أَخَذَتthey have taken مِنّيfrom me صَريعُfelled by مُدامِwine
لِما أَخَذَت مِنّي صَريعُ مُدامِ
felled by cares—people think that I,
from the toll they take on me, am felled by wine.
نَوائِبُcalamities أَيّامٍof days نَسَرنَthey tore at خَصائِليmy flesh
نَوائِبُ أَيّامٍ نَسَرنَ خَصائِلي
مُغالَبَةًby force حَتّىuntil عَرَقنَthey stripped bare عِظاميmy bones
مُغالَبَةً حَتّى عَرَقنَ عِظامي
The calamities of the days tore at my flesh,
overpowering me until they gnawed my bones bare.
وَدونَand barring وُلوجِthe entry of الضَيمِhumiliation فيَّinto me ذَوابِلٌslender spears
وَدونَ وُلوجِ الضَيمِ فيَّ ذَوابِلٌ
طِوالٌlong بِأَيديin the hands of مُنجِبينَsires of worthy sons كِرامِnoble
طِوالٌ بِأَيدي مُنجِبينَ كِرامِ
Yet barring humiliation's entry into me are slender spears,
long, in the hands of noble sires of worthy sons.
وَإِنَّand indeed زَمانيmy time يَومَwhen يَحرُقُgnashes نابَهُits fang
وَإِنَّ زَماني يَومَ يَحرُقُ نابَهُ
أُعاذِمُهُI bite it back حَتّىuntil يَمُدَّit extends itself to عِذاميmy bite
أُعاذِمُهُ حَتّى يَمُدَّ عِذامي
And when my time gnashes its fang,
I bite it back until it yields itself to my bite.
وَكَمand how often يَستَفِزُّagitates الذُلُّabasement قَلبَthe heart of اِبنِa son of هِمَّةٍhigh ambition
وَكَم يَستَفِزُّ الذُلُّ قَلبَ اِبنِ هِمَّةٍ
لَهُhe has أَمَلٌhope نائيdistant المَدىin range مُتَرامِfar-reaching
لَهُ أَمَلٌ نائي المَدى مُتَرامِ
How often abasement stirs the heart of a man of ambition,
whose hope is distant in range, far-reaching.
يُذاذُhe is driven away عَنِfrom الماءِthe water الذَّيwhich فيهِcontains رَيُّهُhis thirst's relief
يُذاذُ عَنِ الماءِ الذَّي فيهِ رَيُّهُ
وَيَرميand he casts إِلىtoward الغُدرانِthe pools مُقلَةَthe eye of ظاميa thirsty man
وَيَرمي إِلى الغُدرانِ مُقلَةَ ظامي
He is driven from the water that would quench his thirst,
and casts a thirsty man's eye toward the pools.
وَتَعرِضُand appear غُرّاتُthe bright brows of العُلىeminence وَهوَwhile he is كانِعٌhumbled
وَتَعرِضُ غُرّاتُ العُلى وَهوَ كانِعٌ
فَيَلحَظُهاso he eyes them شَزراًsidelong بِعَينِwith the eye of قَطاميa falcon
فَيَلحَظُها شَزراً بِعَينِ قَطامي
The bright brows of glory appear while he is bowed,
and he eyes them sidelong with a falcon's gaze.
وَلَستُand I am not بِراضٍcontent عَنwith مَنازِلَdwellings جَمَّةٍmany
وَلَستُ بِراضٍ عَن مَنازِلَ جَمَّةٍ
أَمُرُّI pass بِهاthrough them فيon الأَرضِthe earth مَرَّwith the passing of لَمامِa fleeting visitor
أَمُرُّ بِها في الأَرضِ مَرَّ لَمامِ
I am not content with the many dwellings
I pass through on earth in a fleeting visit,
سِوىexcept مَنزِلٍa dwelling حَصباءُthe pebbles أَرضيof my ground بِجَوِّهِin its expanse
سِوى مَنزِلٍ حَصباءُ أَرضي بِجَوِّهِ
نُجومٌstars وَأَظلالُand the shadows of الغَمامِclouds خِياميmy tents
نُجومٌ وَأَظلالُ الغَمامِ خِيامي
save a dwelling in whose expanse my ground's pebbles
are stars, and the cloud-shadows are my tents.
فَذاكَso that مَكانيmy place إِنif أَقَمتُI settle بِمَنزِلٍin a dwelling
فَذاكَ مَكاني إِن أَقَمتُ بِمَنزِلٍ
وَإِلّاand otherwise فَفيthen in أَيديthe hands of الطِلابِpursuit زِماميmy rein
وَإِلّا فَفي أَيدي الطِلابِ زِمامي
That is my place, if I settle in a dwelling;
otherwise my rein is in the hands of pursuit.
خَفيفٌlight عَلىupon ظَهرِthe back of الجَوادِthe steed تَسَرُّعيmy haste
خَفيفٌ عَلى ظَهرِ الجَوادِ تَسَرُّعي
ثَقيلٌheavy عَلىupon هامِthe heads of الرِجالِmen قِياميmy standing
ثَقيلٌ عَلى هامِ الرِجالِ قِيامي
Light is my haste upon the courser's back;
heavy my standing on the heads of men.
خَليلَيَّmy two friends روداyou two, scout بِاليَفاعِon the uplands فَأَشرِفاthen you two, look out
خَليلَيَّ رودا بِاليَفاعِ فَأَشرِفا
عَلىover قُلَلٍpeaks بِالأَبرَقَينِat al-Abraqayn سَوامِtowering
عَلى قُلَلٍ بِالأَبرَقَينِ سَوامِ
My two friends, scout the uplands and look out
over towering peaks at al-Abraqayn,
لِبَرقٍfor lightning كَتَلويحِlike the waving of الرِداءِa cloak يَشُبُّهُkindles it
لِبَرقٍ كَتَلويحِ الرِداءِ يَشُبُّهُ
تَضايُقُthe crowding of مِرنانُresounding الرُعودِwith thunder رُكامِheaped-up clouds
تَضايُقُ مِرنانُ الرُعودِ رُكامِ
for lightning like the waving of a cloak, kindled
by the crowding of thunder-resounding cloud masses.
تَرَبَّصَit waited أَنto يُلقيcast down بِنَجدٍupon Najd بَعاعَهُits rain-burden
تَرَبَّصَ أَن يُلقي بِنَجدٍ بَعاعَهُ
وَساقَand it drove إِلىtoward البَيضاءِal-Bayda' عيرَa caravan of غَمامِclouds
وَساقَ إِلى البَيضاءِ عيرَ غَمامِ
It waited to cast its rain-burden upon Najd,
and drove a caravan of clouds toward al-Bayda'.
زَفَتهُswept it along النُعامىthe Nu'ama south wind فَاِستَمَرَّso sped onward جِمامُهُits brimming masses
زَفَتهُ النُعامى فَاِستَمَرَّ جِمامُهُ
تَجَفُّلَlike the startled flight of سِربَيtwo herds of رَبرَبٍwild cattle وَنَعامَand ostriches
تَجَفُّلَ سِربَي رَبرَبٍ وَنَعامَ
The Nu'ama wind swept it on; its brimming masses sped
like the startled rush of two herds—wild cattle and ostriches.
يُضيءُit flashes إِلىtoward الرَبعِthe dwelling الَّذيwhere كُنتُI was آلِفاًaccustomed to
يُضيءُ إِلى الرَبعِ الَّذي كُنتُ آلِفاً
بِهِthere بُرءَthe cure of أَسقاميmy ailments وَبَلَّand the slaking of أُواميmy burning thirst
بِهِ بُرءَ أَسقامي وَبَلَّ أُوامي
It flashes toward the dwelling where I once knew
a cure for my ailments and the slaking of my burning thirst:
مَنازِلَdwellings كانَused to الطَرفُthe eye يَرتاحُdelight بَينَهاamong them
مَنازِلَ كانَ الطَرفُ يَرتاحُ بَينَها
لِخُضرٍin green جَميمٍlush herbage أَوor لِزُرقِin blue جِمامِbrimming pools
لِخُضرٍ جَميمٍ أَو لِزُرقِ جِمامِ
dwellings where the eye used to delight
in lush green growth or blue, brimming pools.
سَقىwatered تُربَهاtheir soil حَتّىuntil اِستَثارَit stirred خَبيئَهُits hidden treasure
سَقى تُربَها حَتّى اِستَثارَ خَبيئَهُ
سَقيطُfalling drops of رَذاذٍdrizzle دائِمٍconstant وَرِهامِand gentle rain
سَقيطُ رَذاذٍ دائِمٍ وَرِهامِ
Their soil was watered until its hidden treasure was roused
by falling drops of steady drizzle and gentle rain.
وَراقَتand were lovely بِهاthere الأَنواءُthe seasonal rains كُلَّevery صَبيحَةٍmorning
وَراقَت بِها الأَنواءُ كُلَّ صَبيحَةٍ
وَرَقَّتand grew gentle بِهاthere الأَرواحُthe winds كُلَّevery ظَلامِnight
وَرَقَّت بِها الأَرواحُ كُلَّ ظَلامِ
The seasonal rains were lovely there each morning,
and the winds grew gentle there each night.
تَضُمُّit shelters رِجالاًmen كَالرِماحِlike spears إِذاwhen دُعواthey are summoned
تَضُمُّ رِجالاً كَالرِماحِ إِذا دُعوا
إِلىto الحَربِwar لَفّواthey wrap نارَهاits fire بِضِرامِin kindling
إِلى الحَربِ لَفّوا نارَها بِضِرامِ
It shelters men like spears who, when summoned
to war, wrap its fire in kindling.
لَهُمthey have عَدَدٌa stock جَمٌّabundant مِنَof البيضِbright swords وَالقَناand spears
لَهُم عَدَدٌ جَمٌّ مِنَ البيضِ وَالقَنا
وَزافِرَةٌand a supporting host بِاللَيلِby night ذاتُpossessing بُعامِa roar
وَزافِرَةٌ بِاللَيلِ ذاتُ بُعامِ
They have a great store of bright swords and spears,
and a supporting host that roars by night.
إِذاwhen غَضِبواthey grow angry جاشَتsurge رُبىthe hills of الأَرضِthe earth مِنهُمُwith them
إِذا غَضِبوا جاشَت رُبى الأَرضِ مِنهُمُ
بِبيضٍwith bright swords وَبيضٍand helmets كَالنُجومِlike stars وَلامِand armor
بِبيضٍ وَبيضٍ كَالنُجومِ وَلامِ
When they grow angry, the earth's hills surge with them,
with blades and helmets like stars, and armor.
بِأَيِّon which سَراةٍchieftains أَحمِلُcan I lay الخَطبَcalamity إِنif عَراit strikes
بِأَيِّ سَراةٍ أَحمِلُ الخَطبَ إِن عَرا
وَقَدwhen already جُبَّhave been cut away مِنهُمamong them غارِبيmy withers وَسَناميand my hump
وَقَد جُبَّ مِنهُم غارِبي وَسَنامي
On which chiefs can I lay calamity if it strikes,
when my withers and my hump among them have been cut away?
وَكانواand they were دُروعيmy armor إِنif رَمَتنيstruck me مُلِمَّةٌa calamity
وَكانوا دُروعي إِن رَمَتني مُلِمَّةٌ
وَنَبلِيَand my arrows إِنif رامىexchanged shots العِداthe enemies وَسِهاميand my shafts
وَنَبلِيَ إِن رامى العِدا وَسِهامي
They were my armor when a calamity struck me,
and my arrows and shafts when foes exchanged shots.
وَلَولاand but for اِبنُthe son of موسىMusa ماnot اِعتَصَمتُI would have taken refuge بِجُنَّةٍbehind a shield
وَلَولا اِبنُ موسى ما اِعتَصَمتُ بِجُنَّةٍ
وَلاnor عَلِقَتwould have clung كَفّيmy hand بِعَقدِto a knot of ذِمامِpledged protection
وَلا عَلِقَت كَفّي بِعَقدِ ذِمامِ
But for Ibn Musa, I would have no shield for shelter,
nor would my hand have grasped a knot of pledged protection.
مَلاذِيَmy refuge إِنif أُعطيis given الزَمانُTime مَقادَتيmy leading rein
مَلاذِيَ إِن أُعطي الزَمانُ مَقادَتي
مَعاذِيَmy shelter إِنif جَرَّdrags العَدُوُّthe enemy خِطاميmy halter
مَعاذِيَ إِن جَرَّ العَدُوُّ خِطامي
My refuge, if Time is given my leading rein,
my shelter, if the enemy drags my halter.
مِنَof القَومِa people ماnever زَرّواthey buttoned الجُيوبَtheir collars عَلىover الخَناbaseness
مِنَ القَومِ ما زَرّوا الجُيوبَ عَلى الخَنا
وَلاnor قُرِعَتwere struck أَسماعُهُمtheir ears بِمَلامِby reproach
وَلا قُرِعَت أَسماعُهُم بِمَلامِ
Of a people who never buttoned their collars over baseness,
nor have their ears been struck by reproach:
سَريعونَswift إِنif نودواthey are summoned لِيَومِfor a day of كَريهَةٍbattle
سَريعونَ إِن نودوا لِيَومِ كَريهَةٍ
جَريئونَbold إِنif قيدواthey are led لِيَيمِfor a day of خِصامِconflict
جَريئونَ إِن قيدوا لِيَيمِ خِصامِ
swift when summoned to a day of battle,
bold when led to a day of conflict.
لَهُمthey possess شَرَفٌnobility آبٍrefusing to bow عَلىbefore الناسِmen أَقعَسٌunbending
لَهُم شَرَفٌ آبٍ عَلى الناسِ أَقعَسٌ
وَفَضلٌand excellence عَديدٌmanifold لِلعَدُوِّto the enemy لُهامِdevouring
وَفَضلٌ عَديدٌ لِلعَدُوِّ لُهامِ
Their proud nobility bows to no man,
and their manifold excellence devours the foe.
نُجومُهُمُtheir stars فيin العِزِّmight غَيرُnever غَوارِبٍsetting
نُجومُهُمُ في العِزِّ غَيرُ غَوارِبٍ
وَأَجدادُهُمand their fortunes فيin المَجدِglory غَيرُnever نِيامِsleeping
وَأَجدادُهُم في المَجدِ غَيرُ نِيامِ
Their stars of might never set,
and their fortunes in glory never sleep.
يُهابُawe is inspired بِهِمthrough them مُستَلئِمينَclad in armor إِلىtoward الرَدىdeath
يُهابُ بِهِم مُستَلئِمينَ إِلى الرَدى
عَلىupon عارِفاتٍsteeds familiar بِالطَعانِwith spear-thrusts دَوامِbloodied
عَلى عارِفاتٍ بِالطَعانِ دَوامِ
They inspire awe as, armored, they ride toward death,
on bloodied steeds well versed in spear-thrusts.
عَناجيجُfleet steeds قَدhave indeed طَوَّحنَthey flung away كُلَّevery حَقيبَةٍsaddlebag
عَناجيجُ قَد طَوَّحنَ كُلَّ حَقيبَةٍ
مِنَfrom الرَكضِgalloping وَاِستَهلَكنَand they wore out كُلَّevery لِجامِbridle
مِنَ الرَكضِ وَاِستَهلَكنَ كُلَّ لِجامِ
Fleet steeds that have flung away every saddlebag
in galloping, and worn out every bridle.
نَزائِعُhigh-bred steeds ماnot تَنفَكُّcease تَفريrend صُدورُهاtheir chests
نَزائِعُ ما تَنفَكُّ تَفري صُدورُها
جُيوبَthe collars of ظَلامٍdarkness أَوor ذُيولَthe skirts of قَتامِdust
جُيوبَ ظَلامٍ أَو ذُيولَ قَتامِ
High-bred steeds whose chests never cease to rend
the collars of darkness or the skirts of dust.
يُخالِطنَthey come alongside بِالفُرسانِwith their riders كُلَّevery طَريدَةٍquarry
يُخالِطنَ بِالفُرسانِ كُلَّ طَريدَةٍ
وَيَبلُغنَand they reach بِالأَرماحِwith the spears كُلَّevery مَرامِtarget
وَيَبلُغنَ بِالأَرماحِ كُلَّ مَرامِ
They bring their riders alongside every quarry,
and carry their spears to every target.
أَحاسِدَO envier of ذاthis الضَرغامِlion دونَكَkeep back فَاِجتَنِبso avoid
أَحاسِدَ ذا الضَرغامِ دونَكَ فَاِجتَنِب
بَوادِرَthe sudden assaults of مِقدامِone bold الجَنانِof heart مُحاميa defender
بَوادِرَ مِقدامِ الجَنانِ مُحامي
O envier of this lion, keep back, and avoid
the sudden assaults of a bold-hearted defender.
حَذارِكَbeware مِنof لَيثٍa lion تَرىyou see حَولَaround غيلِهِhis lair
حَذارِكَ مِن لَيثٍ تَرى حَولَ غيلِهِ
سَواقِطَfallen أَيدٍhands لِلرِجالِof men وَهامِand heads
سَواقِطَ أَيدٍ لِلرِجالِ وَهامِ
Beware a lion around whose lair you see
the fallen hands and heads of men.
لَهُhis is العَدوَةُthe charge الأولىfirst الَّتيwhich تَحَطِمُshatters القَناspears
لَهُ العَدوَةُ الأولى الَّتي تَحَطِمُ القَنا
وَتُجليand drives away الأَعاديthe enemies كُلَّevery يَومِday of مُقامِbattle
وَتُجلي الأَعادي كُلَّ يَومِ مُقامِ
His is the first charge, which shatters spears
and drives the foes away on every day of battle.
هَنيئاًmay it be joyful لَكَfor you العَيدُthe Eid الجَديدُnew وَلاand may you never تَزَلcease
هَنيئاً لَكَ العَيدُ الجَديدُ وَلا تَزَل
تَخَلَّصُyou emerge safely مِنfrom عامٍa year يَمُرُّthat passes وَعامِand another year
تَخَلَّصُ مِن عامٍ يَمُرُّ وَعامِ
May the new Eid bring you joy; may you ever
come safely through each passing year, and the next.
تَلَثَّمتَyou veiled yourself مِنthrough فَضلِthe abundance of العَفافِchastity عَنِagainst الهَوىdesire
تَلَثَّمتَ مِن فَضلِ العَفافِ عَنِ الهَوى
نَجاءًseeking escape مِنَfrom الدُنياthe world أَعَزَّthe noblest لِثامِveil
نَجاءً مِنَ الدُنيا أَعَزَّ لِثامِ
Through surpassing chastity you veiled yourself against desire,
seeking escape from the world, in the noblest veil.
وَخالَفتَand you departed from فيin ذاthis الصَومِfast سُنَّةَthe practice of مَعشَرٍa people
وَخالَفتَ في ذا الصَومِ سُنَّةَ مَعشَرٍ
صِيامٍfasting عَنِfrom العَوراءِfoul speech غَيرُnot صِيامِfasting
صِيامٍ عَنِ العَوراءِ غَيرُ صِيامِ
And in this fast you departed from the practice of people
who fast, yet do not fast from foul speech.
أَلاbehold إِنَّنيindeed I am غَربُthe edge of الحُسامِthe sword الَّذيwhich تَرىyou see
أَلا إِنَّني غَربُ الحُسامِ الَّذي تَرى
وَغارِبُand the crest of هَذاthis الأَرعَنِrugged mountain المُتَساميtowering
وَغارِبُ هَذا الأَرعَنِ المُتَسامي
Behold, I am the edge of the sword you see,
and the crest of this rugged, soaring mountain.
كِلاناboth of us لَهُeach has السَبقُthe lead المُبِرُّfar-surpassing إِلىtoward العُلىeminence
كِلانا لَهُ السَبقُ المُبِرُّ إِلى العُلى
وَإِنalthough كانَhe was فيin نَيلِattaining العَلاءِeminence إِماميmy leader
وَإِن كانَ في نَيلِ العَلاءِ إِمامي
We both have the surpassing lead toward glory,
though in attaining eminence he was my leader.
وَماand no بَينَناbetween us يَومَon the day of الجَزاءِrecompense تَفاوُتٌdifference
وَما بَينَنا يَومَ الجَزاءِ تَفاوُتٌ
سِوىexcept أَنَّهُthat he خاضَtraversed الطَريقَthe road أَماميahead of me
سِوى أَنَّهُ خاضَ الطَريقَ أَمامي
On the day of recompense there is no difference between us,
except that he traversed the road ahead of me.
Sol 6.1