بَعضَa little المَلامِreproach فَقَدfor already غَضَضتُI lowered طَماحيmy ambition
بَعضَ المَلامِ فَقَد غَضَضتُ طَماحي
وَكَفَيتُand I spared مِنfrom نَفسيmyself العَذولَthe reprover اللاحيthe scolder
وَكَفَيتُ مِن نَفسي العَذولَ اللاحي
Less reproach, for I have lowered my ambition,
I have curbed some of my aspirations,
and by myself have spared the scolding reprover his task.
And refrained from my impetuous self,
مِنfrom بَعدِafter ماthat خَطَرَswaggered الصِباyouthful passion بِمَقادَتيwith my reins
مِن بَعدِ ما خَطَرَ الصِبا بِمَقادَتي
وَجَرىand raced إِلىto الأَمَدِthe limit البَعيدِfar-off جِماحيmy unruliness
وَجَرى إِلى الأَمَدِ البَعيدِ جِماحي
After youthful passion swaggered with my reins,
After youth roamed with my companions,
and my unruliness raced to a far-off limit.
And soared to distant horizons.
عُشرونَtwenty أَوجَفَgalloped فيin البَطالَةِidle pleasure خَلفَهاbehind them
عُشرونَ أَوجَفَ في البَطالَةِ خَلفَها
عامانِtwo years غَلّاboth fettered مِنfrom يَدَيَّmy two hands مِراحيmy exuberance
عامانِ غَلّا مِن يَدَيَّ مِراحي
Twenty years—behind them, in idleness, galloped
Twenty languorous years passed in idleness,
two years that handcuffed my exuberance.
Followed by two sorrowful ones that weighed down my pace.
زَمَنٌa time يَخِفُّgrows light بِهِin it الجَناحُthe wing إِلىtoward الصِباyouthful passion
زَمَنٌ يَخِفُّ بِهِ الجَناحُ إِلى الصِبا
لَمّاwhen ظَفِرتُI attained بِهِit خَفَضتُI lowered جَناحيmy wing
لَمّا ظَفِرتُ بِهِ خَفَضتُ جَناحي
A time when the wing flutters lightly toward youthful passion—
An era where the wing shrinks back to youth
once I attained it, I lowered my wing.
When I attained it, I lowered my wing.
أُغضيI avert my eyes عَنِfrom المَرأىthe sight الأَنيقِlovely زَهادَةًin renunciation
أُغضي عَنِ المَرأى الأَنيقِ زَهادَةً
فيهِof it وَأَدفَعُand I repel لَذَّتيmy pleasure بِالراحِwith palms
فيهِ وَأَدفَعُ لَذَّتي بِالراحِ
I avert my eyes from the lovely sight, renouncing
I turn away in asceticism from the pleasing spectacle,
it, and push my pleasure away with my palms.
And resist my pleasure with comfort.
أَمَعاهِدَO haunts الأَحبابِof loved ones هَلis there عَودٌa return إِلىto
أَمَعاهِدَ الأَحبابِ هَل عَودٌ إِلى
مَغدىًa morning haunt نَبُلُّwe moisten بِهِthere الجَوىlove's burning ache وَمَراحِand an evening haunt
مَغدىً نَبُلُّ بِهِ الجَوى وَمَراحِ
O haunts of loved ones, is there a return to
Are the days with loved ones a return
a morning haunt where we quench love's burning, and an evening retreat?
To pastures where we shared confidences and joys?
يَكفيكِit suffices you مِنfrom أَنفاسِناour breaths وَدُموعِناand our tears
يَكفيكِ مِن أَنفاسِنا وَدُموعِنا
أَنthat تُمطَريyou be rained upon مِنfrom بَعدِناafter us وَتُراحيand be fanned by breezes
أَن تُمطَري مِن بَعدِنا وَتُراحي
Our breaths and tears suffice you
It suffices you from our breaths and tears
to be rained upon after us and fanned by breezes.
That you be watered after us and relax.
فَلَرُبَّfor how many a عَيشٍlife فيكَin you رَقَّgrew gentle نَسيمُهُits breeze
فَلَرُبَّ عَيشٍ فيكَ رَقَّ نَسيمُهُ
كَالماءِlike water رَقَّgrew thin عَلىover جُنوبِthe sides of بِطاحِbroad valleys
كَالماءِ رَقَّ عَلى جُنوبِ بِطاحِ
How often life within you had a breeze as gentle
How often has a life with you had a gentle breeze
as water thinning over the sides of broad valleys!
Like water flowing gently on spread out sands.
وَتَغَزُّلٍand love-talk كَصَباlike the east wind of الأَصائِلِlate afternoons أَيقَظَتawakened
وَتَغَزُّلٍ كَصَبا الأَصائِلِ أَيقَظَت
رَيّاthe fragrance of خُزامىlavender بِاللِوىat al-Liwa وَأَقاحِand daisies
رَيّا خُزامى بِاللِوى وَأَقاحِ
And love-talk like the late-afternoon east wind that awakened
And infatuations that awakened, like the rays of dawn,
the fragrance of lavender and daisies at al-Liwa.
Passion in Khazami with intimacy and first meetings.
كَمhow many فيكِin you مِنof صاحيsober الشَمائِلِin manners مُنتَشٍintoxicated
كَم فيكِ مِن صاحي الشَمائِلِ مُنتَشٍ
بِالذُلِّwith submission أَوor مَرضىsick العُيونِof eye صِحاحِhealthy
بِالذُلِّ أَو مَرضى العُيونِ صِحاحِ
How many within you, sober in their manners, were intoxicated
How many in you have cheerful features or love-sick,
with submission—or healthy ones with languid eyes!
Lowering their eyes or bright-eyed.
فَسَقىso may it water اللَوىal-Liwa صَوبُthe downpour of الغَمامِthe cloud وَدَرُّهُand its abundant flow
فَسَقى اللَوى صَوبُ الغَمامِ وَدَرُّهُ
وَسَقىand may it water النَوازِلَthose dwelling فيهِin it صَوبُa downpour of الراحِwine
وَسَقى النَوازِلَ فيهِ صَوبُ الراحِ
May the cloud's downpour and abundant flow water al-Liwa,
Passion watered the side of the cloud and its rain,
and a downpour of wine water those dwelling there.
And watered the descending gifts on its side the wind.
وَغَداand came at dawn فَرَوَّحَthen refreshed ذاكَthat عَنfor تِلكَthose الرُبىhills
وَغَدا فَرَوَّحَ ذاكَ عَن تِلكَ الرُبى
وَسَرىand traveled by night فَرَوَّحَthen refreshed ذاthis عَنِfor الأَرواحِthe souls
وَسَرى فَرَوَّحَ ذا عَنِ الأَرواحِ
May that come at dawn and refresh those hills,
One day it cheers this one from that sadness,
and this travel by night and refresh the souls.
And travels to cheer another from spirits.
فَلَطالَماfor how often أَقصَدنَنيthey struck me mortally ظَبَياتُهُits gazelles
فَلَطالَما أَقصَدنَني ظَبَياتُهُ
وَأَرِقتُand I lay sleepless فيهِthere لِبارِقٍfor a lightning flash لَمّاحِglittering
وَأَرِقتُ فيهِ لِبارِقٍ لَمّاحِ
For often its gazelles struck me mortally,
How often its wild animals have intended me
and I lay sleepless there over a glittering flash of lightning.
And I have stayed awake for a flashing lightning.
وَالتَحتُand I grew parched مِنfrom كَمِدٍgrief إِلَيهِfor it وَوِردُهُand its watering place
وَالتَحتُ مِن كَمِدٍ إِلَيهِ وَوِردُهُ
ناءٍdistant يُعَذِّبُtorments غُلَّةَthe burning thirst of المُلتاحِthe parched one
ناءٍ يُعَذِّبُ غُلَّةَ المُلتاحِ
I grew parched with sorrow for it, while its watering place
I took shelter from a windless calm to it
lay distant, tormenting the thirst of the parched.
A sheltered oasis that torments the overtired.
أَيّامَin the days when فيin صَبغِthe dye of الشَبابِyouth ذَوائِبيmy forelocks
أَيّامَ في صَبغِ الشَبابِ ذَوائِبي
وَإِلىand toward التَصابيyouthful dalliance غُدوَتيmy morning journey وَرَواحيand my evening journey
وَإِلى التَصابي غُدوَتي وَرَواحي
In days when my forelocks wore youth's dye,
Days in the dyeing of my youth and my vigor
and my morning and evening journeys led to youthful dalliance.
To concord and my morning rise and return.
قَوميmy people أُنوفُforemost leaders بَنيthe sons of مَعَدٍّMa'add وَالذُرىand the summits
قَومي أُنوفُ بَني مَعَدٍّ وَالذُرى
مِنof واضِحٍan illustrious man فيهِمamong them وَمِنand of وَضّاحِa brilliant man
مِن واضِحٍ فيهِم وَمِن وَضّاحِ
My people are the leaders of Ma'add's sons, their summits—
My people are the distinguished Banu Ma'ad
the radiant among them, and the dazzling.
Including both elucidator and inspirer.
السابِقونَthe foremost إِلىin attaining عُلىًheights وَمَفاخِرٍand glories
السابِقونَ إِلى عُلىً وَمَفاخِرٍ
وَالغالِبونَand the unsurpassed عَلىin نَدىًbounty وَسَماحِand generosity
وَالغالِبونَ عَلى نَدىً وَسَماحِ
The first to attain heights and glories,
The forerunners to glory and superiorities
and unsurpassed in bounty and generosity.
And the victors over benevolence and clemency.
ذَهَبواthey carried off بِشَأوِthe utmost reach of المَجدِglory ثُمَّthen تَلَفَّتواthey turned back
ذَهَبوا بِشَأوِ المَجدِ ثُمَّ تَلَفَّتوا
هُزُواًin mockery إِلىtoward الطُلّاعِthe climbers وَالطُلّاحِand the exhausted
هُزُواً إِلى الطُلّاعِ وَالطُلّاحِ
They carried off the utmost reach of glory, then turned
They took away the glory of honor, then bid farewell
in mockery toward the climbers and the exhausted.
Mockingly to ascent and rising.
شُسُstern الحَواجِبِof brow مُغضَبينَwhen angered وَفيand in الرِضىcontentment
شُسُ الحَواجِبِ مُغضَبينَ وَفي الرِضى
ماwhatever شِئتَyou wish مِنof بيضِfair الوُجوهِfaces صِباحِhandsome
ما شِئتَ مِن بيضِ الوُجوهِ صِباحِ
Stern-browed when angered; when pleased,
Frowning with wrath and in pleasure
all the fair, handsome faces you could wish.
However you wish of bright faces in the morning.
وَرِثواthey inherited المَعاليhigh honors بِالجُدودِthrough ancestors وَبَعدَهاand thereafter
وَرِثوا المَعالي بِالجُدودِ وَبَعدَها
بِضَرابِthrough striking مُرهَفَةٍsharpened swords وَطَعنِand thrusting رِماحِspears
بِضَرابِ مُرهَفَةٍ وَطَعنِ رِماحِ
They inherited high honors through their forefathers, and thereafter
They inherited loftiness through ancestry and then
through strokes of sharpened swords and thrusts of spears,
With finest spears and thrusts of lances.
وَقِيادِand leading مُخطَفَةِslender الخُصورِof waist كَأَنَّهاas though they were الthe
وَقِيادِ مُخطَفَةِ الخُصورِ كَأَنَّها ال
عِقبانُeagles تَحتَbeneath مُجَلجِلٍa rumbling cloud دَلّاحِrain-laden
عِقبانُ تَحتَ مُجَلجِلٍ دَلّاحِ
and leading slender-waisted steeds, as though they were the
And guiding destriers with slender bodies as if they are
eagles beneath a rumbling, rain-laden cloud.
Eagles under a sparkling coat of mail.
يَغبُقنَthey drink at evening لَيلاًby night بِالغَبيقِwith the evening draught وَتارَةًand sometimes
يَغبُقنَ لَيلاً بِالغَبيقِ وَتارَةً
يَصبَحنَthey come at morning بِالغاراتِwith raids كُلَّevery صَباحِmorning
يَصبَحنَ بِالغاراتِ كُلَّ صَباحِ
They take their evening draught by night, and at times
Sometimes openly attacking in the night and sometimes
come raiding every morning.
Raiding every morning.
ضَرَبَتstruck root بِعِرقيin my lineage دَوحَةٌa great tree نَبَوِيَّةٌprophetic
ضَرَبَت بِعِرقي دَوحَةٌ نَبَوِيَّةٌ
فيin مَنصِبٍnoble stock وَاريkindling الزَنادِfire-sticks صُراحِpure
في مَنصِبٍ وَاري الزَنادِ صُراحِ
A great prophetic tree struck root in my lineage,
There shone in my lineage an ancestral excellence
in pure noble stock whose fire-sticks kindle brightly.
In a towering position, bare of spearheads.
يُنمىis traced إِلىto أَعياصِthe thickets of خَيرِthe finest أَرومَةٍrootstock
يُنمى إِلى أَعياصِ خَيرِ أَرومَةٍ
لَيسَتit is not بِعَشّاتِsparse الفُروعِin branches ضَواحِbare to the sun
لَيسَت بِعَشّاتِ الفُروعِ ضَواحِ
Its ancestry reaches the thickets of the finest rootstock,
Belonging to the best roots of nobility
not sparse-branched trees standing bare to the sun.
Not subdivisions and side branches.
وَأَبيand my forefather الَّذيwho حَصَدَreaped الرِقابَnecks بِسَيفِهِwith his sword
وَأَبي الَّذي حَصَدَ الرِقابَ بِسَيفِهِ
فيon كُلِّevery يَومِday of تَصادُمٍcollision وَنِطاحِand clashing
في كُلِّ يَومِ تَصادُمٍ وَنِطاحِ
And my forefather, who reaped necks with his sword
And my father who reaped necks with his sword
on every day of collision and clashing—
In every day of clash and goring.
رُدَّتwas returned إِلَيهِto him الشَمسُthe sun يُحدِثُcreates ضَوءُهاits light
رُدَّت إِلَيهِ الشَمسُ يُحدِثُ ضَوءُها
صُبحاًa morning عَلىat بُعدٍa distance مِنَfrom الإِصباحِdaybreak
صُبحاً عَلى بُعدٍ مِنَ الإِصباحِ
the sun was returned to him, its light creating
The sun was given back to him, its light
a morning far from the hour of daybreak.
Bringing morning from a distance of dawn.
سائِلask بِهِabout him يَومَthe day of الزُبَيرِal-Zubayr مُشَمِّراًgirded for battle
سائِل بِهِ يَومَ الزُبَيرِ مُشَمِّراً
يَختالُhe strides proudly بَينَamid ذَوابِلٍslender spears وَصِفاحِand broad blades
يَختالُ بَينَ ذَوابِلٍ وَصِفاحِ
Ask the day of al-Zubayr about him, girded for battle,
Ask about him on the day of Zubair, stirring
striding proudly amid slender spears and broad blades.
Prancing between disturbances and horrors.
وَاِسأَلand ask بِهِabout him صِفّينَSiffin إِنَّindeed زَئيرَهُhis roar
وَاِسأَل بِهِ صِفّينَ إِنَّ زَئيرَهُ
أَودىlaid low بِكَبشِthe ram of أُمَيَّةَUmayya النَطّاحِfierce-butting
أَودى بِكَبشِ أُمَيَّةَ النَطّاحِ
And ask Siffin about him: his roar
And ask about the two battle lines, his roar
laid low Umayya's fierce-butting ram.
Destroyed the ram of Umayyah butting.
وَاِسأَلand ask شَراةَthe Shurat النَهرَوانِof Nahrawan فَإِنَّهُمfor they
وَاِسأَل شَراةَ النَهرَوانِ فَإِنَّهُم
ضَرَبواthey struck بِمُنذَلِقِagainst one swift اليَدَينِof both hands وَقاحِdauntless
ضَرَبوا بِمُنذَلِقِ اليَدَينِ وَقاحِ
And ask the Shurat of Nahrawan, for they
And ask the drinkers of the Euphrates, they
clashed with one swift of hand and dauntless.
Struck with hands stretched out aggressively.
كَمhow many مِنof طَعينٍa pierced man يَومَon the day of ذاكَthat مُرَمَّلٍblood-smeared
كَم مِن طَعينٍ يَومَ ذاكَ مُرَمَّلٍ
وَحَريمِand a sanctuary of عِزٍّhonor بِالطِعانِby spear-thrusts مُباحِviolated
وَحَريمِ عِزٍّ بِالطِعانِ مُباحِ
How many a pierced man lay blood-smeared that day,
How many forcibly stripped garments that day
and how many a sanctuary of honor was violated by spear-thrusts!
And sacrosanct households violated.
وَمَناقِبٍand noble deeds بيضِfair الوُجوهِof face مُضيئَةٍradiant
وَمَناقِبٍ بيضِ الوُجوهِ مُضيئَةٍ
أَبَداًforever تُكاثِرُoutnumber أَلسُنَthe tongues of المُدّاحِpanegyrists
أَبَداً تُكاثِرُ أَلسُنَ المُدّاحِ
And noble deeds, fair-faced and radiant,
And shining white faces
forever outnumbering the tongues of panegyrists!
Forever inspiring the praises of eulogizers.
مَنwhoever قاسَcompared ذاone possessing شَرَفٍnobility بِهِwith him فَكَأَنَّماis then as though
مَن قاسَ ذا شَرَفٍ بِهِ فَكَأَنَّما
وَزَنَweighed الجِبالَmountains القودَtowering بِالأَشباحِagainst shadows
وَزَنَ الجِبالَ القودَ بِالأَشباحِ
Whoever compares a man of nobility with him is as one
Whoever compares himself to such nobility
who weighs towering mountains against shadows.
Then he has weighed mountains against fantasies.
قَدindeed قُلتُI said لِلعاديto the assailant عَلَيَّagainst me بِبَغيِهِwith his wrongdoing
قَد قُلتُ لِلعادي عَلَيَّ بِبَغيِهِ
مَهلاًgently فَماfor no يَلحوstrips the bark of القَتادَةَthe thorn-tree لاحيbark-stripper
مَهلاً فَما يَلحو القَتادَةَ لاحي
I have told the assailant who wrongs me:
I have said to the enemy aggrieving me with his enmity:
Gently! No bark-stripper strips the thorn-tree.
Wait, an adept fighter is not hasty.
فَحَذارِso beware إِنif مَطَرَتrained عَليكَupon you صَواعِقيmy thunderbolts
فَحَذارِ إِن مَطَرَت عَليكَ صَواعِقي
وَحَذارِand beware إِنif هَبَّتblew عَليكَagainst you رِياحيmy winds
وَحَذارِ إِن هَبَّت عَليكَ رِياحي
So beware if my thunderbolts rain upon you,
So beware if my lightnings pour upon you
and beware if my winds blow against you.
And beware if my winds blow upon you.
أَوفىrose الصَباحُmorning فَشَقَّthen split كُلَevery دُجُنَّةٍdarkness
أَوفى الصَباحُ فَشَقَّ كُلَ دُجُنَّةٍ
وَعَلاand rose الزَئيرُthe roar فَغَضَّthen hushed كُلَّevery نِباحِbarking
وَعَلا الزَئيرُ فَغَضَّ كُلَّ نِباحِ
Morning rose and split every darkness,
Morning arrived and split every darkness
and the roar rose high and hushed every bark.
And the roar ascended silencing every barking.
أَناI مَنthe one whom عَلِمتَyou know عَلىagainst المُكاشِحِthe spiteful foe مُرهَفٌsharpened
أَنا مَن عَلِمتَ عَلى المُكاشِحِ مُرهَفٌ
نابيmy fang وَشاكٍand keen فيin الخِصامِconflict سِلاحِweapon
نابي وَشاكٍ في الخِصامِ سِلاحِ
I am the man you know: against the spiteful, sharpened is
I am the one whom you knew in combat
my fang, and in conflict my weapon is keen.
With sharp fangs and skilled in conflict.
وَأَبيتُand I refuse أَنto أُعطيgive الأَعاديthe enemies مِقوَديmy reins
وَأَبيتُ أَن أُعطي الأَعادي مِقوَدي
أَوor أَنthat تَدُرَّyield milk عَلىunder الهَوانِhumiliation لَقاحيmy milch camels
أَو أَن تَدُرَّ عَلى الهَوانِ لَقاحي
And I refuse to give my enemies my reins,
And I refused to give the enemies my reins
or let my milch camels yield milk in humiliation,
Or for disgrace to run its course upon my morals.
مِنfrom بَعدِafter ماthat أَوضَعتُI sped فيalong طُرُقِthe roads of العُلىgreatness
مِن بَعدِ ما أَوضَعتُ في طُرُقِ العُلى
وَأَضَرَّand harmed بِالأَعداءِthe enemies طولُthe length of كِفاحيmy struggle
وَأَضَرَّ بِالأَعداءِ طولُ كِفاحي
after I sped along the roads to greatness,
After I placed myself in the paths of loftiness
and my long struggle harmed my enemies,
And harmed the enemies by prolonged struggle.
وَسَحَبتُand I trailed مِنof خُلَعِrobes of honor الخَلائِفِthe caliphs طارِفاًdazzling
وَسَحَبتُ مِن خُلَعِ الخَلائِفِ طارِفاً
لَحَظاتِthe glances of كُلِّevery مُعانِدٍdefiant foe طَمّاحِhigh-aspiring
لَحَظاتِ كُلِّ مُعانِدٍ طَمّاحِ
and trailed caliphs' robes of honor, dazzling
And haughtily snatched from the caliphate moments
the glances of every defiant, high-aspiring foe;
Of the aspiration of each obstinate ambitious one.
وَوَليتُand I took charge of فيat السِنِّthe age القَريبَةِyoung أُسرَتيmy family
وَوَليتُ في السِنِّ القَريبَةِ أُسرَتي
فَوَكَلتُso I entrusted فاسِدَهُمtheir corrupt members إِلىto إِصلاحيmy reform
فَوَكَلتُ فاسِدَهُم إِلى إِصلاحي
and took charge of my family while still young,
And in recent years I reformed my family
entrusting their corrupt members to my reform,
So I delegated their corrupt ones to rectify.
بِمَهابَةٍwith awe عَمَّتencompassed all بِغَيرِwithout تَكَبُّرٍarrogance
بِمَهابَةٍ عَمَّت بِغَيرِ تَكَبُّرٍ
وَصَرامَةٍand sternness أَدمَتdrew blood بِغَيرِwithout جِراحِwounds
وَصَرامَةٍ أَدمَت بِغَيرِ جِراحِ
with an awe that embraced all without arrogance,
With an awe that spread without arrogance
and a sternness that drew blood without wounds.
And firmness that subjugated without wounds.
حِلمٌforbearance كَحاشِيَةِlike the hem of الرِداءِa robe وَدونَهُand before it
حِلمٌ كَحاشِيَةِ الرِداءِ وَدونَهُ
بَأسٌmight يَدُقُّcrushes عَوامِلَthe heads of الأَرماحِspears
بَأسٌ يَدُقُّ عَوامِلَ الأَرماحِ
Forbearance like a robe's hem, and before it
Clemency like the fringes of a cloak and beneath it
a might that crushes spearheads.
Might that pounds the shafts of spears.
فَلَئِنso if indeed عَلَوتُهُمُI rose above them فَليسَit is then not بِمُنكَرٍstrange
فَلَئِن عَلَوتُهُمُ فَليسَ بِمُنكَرٍ
إِمّاif عَلَتrose غُرَرٌforehead blazes عَلىabove أوضاحِwhite leg-marks
إِمّا عَلَت غُرَرٌ عَلى أوضاحِ
If I rose above them, it is no strange thing
If I overcome them then it is no wonder
when forehead blazes rise above white leg-marks.
When uncertainties overcome elucidations.
فَالآنَyet now أَمدَحُI praise غَيرَone who is not مَولىa giver of نِعمَةٍa favor
فَالآنَ أَمدَحُ غَيرَ مَولى نِعمَةٍ
لَوif كُنتُI were أُنصَفُtreated justly كانَhe would be مِنamong مُدّاحيmy praisers
لَو كُنتُ أُنصَفُ كانَ مِن مُدّاحي
Yet now I praise one who is no benefactor;
Now I praise without thanks to a benefactor
were I treated justly, he would be among my praisers.
If I were equitable, he would be among my praisers.
بُعداًaway with لِدَهرٍan age خاضَplunged بيwith me أَهوالَهُits terrors
بُعداً لِدَهرٍ خاضَ بي أَهوالَهُ
وَأَجازَنيand made me cross غَمراًdeep water إِلىinto ضَحضاحِshallows
وَأَجازَني غَمراً إِلى ضَحضاحِ
Away with an age that plunged me into its terrors,
Far from a time that subjected me to its calamities
and made me cross deep water into shallows!
And amidst deep water I reached peril.
لاmay not دَرَّflow دَرّيmy milk إِنif رَضَيتُI accepted بِذِلَّةٍhumiliation
لا دَرَّ دَرّي إِن رَضَيتُ بِذِلَّةٍ
تَلويtwists يَديmy hand وَتَرُدُّand blunts غَربَthe edge of طَماحيmy ambition
تَلوي يَدي وَتَرُدُّ غَربَ طَماحي
May my milk never flow if I accept a humiliation
Do not blame me if I accept disgrace
that twists my hand and blunts the edge of my ambition,
That twists my hand and turns back my aspirations.
مِنfrom دونِshort of قودِleading الجُردِsleek steeds تَمريdraws out جَريهاtheir gallop
مِن دونِ قودِ الجُردِ تَمري جَريها
رَبَلاتُthe thigh muscles of كُلِّevery مُغامِرٍdaring warrior جَحجاحِmighty leader
رَبَلاتُ كُلِّ مُغامِرٍ جَحجاحِ
instead of leading sleek steeds, their gallop drawn out
Without the ammunition of regiments, they pass their running
by the thigh muscles of each daring, mighty warrior,
The trudging camels of every venturesome gambler.
عَنَقاًat a swift gait عَلىupon عُنقِthe neck of الطِلابِpursuit تَحُثُّهاurge them onward
عَنَقاً عَلى عُنقِ الطِلابِ تَحُثُّها
هِمَمٌaspirations ضَمَنَّhave guaranteed عَوائِدَthe repeated gifts of الإِنجاحِsuccess
هِمَمٌ ضَمَنَّ عَوائِدَ الإِنجاحِ
at a swift gait upon the neck of pursuit, urged onward
Necks over the necks of students urging them
by ambitions that guarantee success time and again.
Ambitions that assumed the habits of success.
فُظَعُthe terrors of البِلادِlands وَراءَin pursuit of قاضِيَةِthe culmination العُلىof greatness
فُظَعُ البِلادِ وَراءَ قاضِيَةِ العُلى
مُتَغَرِّباًwhile exiled عَنfrom مَوطِنيmy homeland وَمَراحيand my evening haunt
مُتَغَرِّباً عَن مَوطِني وَمَراحي
The terrors of lands in pursuit of consummate glory,
I am a stranger in the land behind the judge of loftiness
while exiled from my homeland and evening haunt,
Away from my homeland and meadows.
أَشهىdearer إِلَيَّto me مِنَthan النَعيمِcomfort يَدومُlasting ليfor me
أَشهى إِلَيَّ مِنَ النَعيمِ يَدومُ لي
وَأَلَذُّand sweeter مِنthan نِعَمٍblessings عَلَيَّupon me مُراحِbrought at evening
وَأَلَذُّ مِن نِعَمٍ عَلَيَّ مُراحِ
are dearer to me than comfort that endures,
More desirous to me than lasting bliss for me
and sweeter than blessings brought to me at evening.
And sweeter than bounties showered upon me.
إِنّيindeed I إِلىin preference to العَذبِsweet water النَميرِwholesome أَصابَنيreached me
إِنّي إِلى العَذبِ النَميرِ أَصابَني
بِيَدِby the hand of الهَوانِhumiliation شَرِبتُI drank بِالأَملاحِbriny waters instead
بِيَدِ الهَوانِ شَرِبتُ بِالأَملاحِ
Indeed, rather than sweet, wholesome water reaching me
I was made to drink brackish water by
by humiliation's hand, I would drink brine.
The hand of humiliation mixed with salts.
دَعنيlet me أُخاطِرrisk بِالحَياةِlife وَإِنَّماand only
دَعني أُخاطِر بِالحَياةِ وَإِنَّما
طَلَبُthe pursuit of الرِجالِmen العِزَّhonor ضَربُcasting قِداحِgambling arrows
طَلَبُ الرِجالِ العِزَّ ضَربُ قِداحِ
Let me risk my life; for it is but
Let me risk my life though
a cast of gambling arrows when men seek honor:
Men’s pursuit is honor, lighting fires.
إِمّاeither لِقاءُattaining المُلكِkingship قَسراًby force أَوor كَماas
إِمّا لِقاءُ المُلكِ قَسراً أَو كَما
لَقِيَmet اِبنُson of حُجرٍHujr مِنfrom يَدِthe hand of الطَمّاحِal-Tammah
لَقِيَ اِبنُ حُجرٍ مِن يَدِ الطَمّاحِ
either attaining kingship by force, or meeting the fate
Either meeting the king by force
that Ibn Hujr met at the hand of al-Tammah.
Or as Ibn Hujr met by the hand of the archer.
Sol 6.1