خُذواtake نَفَثاتٍoutpourings مِنfrom جَوىthe burning grief of القَلبِthe heart نافِثِone who breathes forth
خُذوا نَفَثاتٍ مِن جَوى القَلبِ نافِثِ
دَفايِنَburied stores of ضَغنٍrancor قَدalready رُمينَhave been struck بِنابِثِby one who unearths
دَفايِنَ ضَغنٍ قَد رُمينَ بِنابِثِ
Take the outpourings breathed from the heart's burning grief,
Take sips from the burning embers of my heart, poured
buried stores of rancor, struck by one who digs them up.
From urns of sorrow that were cast by a pourer.
لَقَدindeed كُنَّthey were مِنfrom قَبلِbefore البَواحِثِthe probings نُزَّعاًstraining to emerge
لَقَد كُنَّ مِن قَبلِ البَواحِثِ نُزَّعاً
فَكَيفَso how بِهِنَّwith them اليَومَtoday بَعدَafter البَواحِثِthe probings
فَكَيفَ بِهِنَّ اليَومَ بَعدَ البَواحِثِ
They were already straining to emerge before the probing;
They were once plucked out with great effort
what then of them today, after the probing?
How then can they be now after the plucking?
عَذيرِيَmy vindicator مِنagainst سَيفٍa sword رَجَوتُI hoped for قِراعَهُits striking
عَذيرِيَ مِن سَيفٍ رَجَوتُ قِراعَهُ
أَعادِيَّmy enemies طُرّاًall مِنamong قَديمٍold ones وَحادِثِand new ones
أَعادِيَّ طُرّاً مِن قَديمٍ وَحادِثِ
Who will vindicate me against a sword whose blows I hoped would strike
My excuse from a sword whose clashing I hoped for
all my enemies, both old and new?
Is foes, ancient and recent, taking wing.
فَخانَbut it betrayed يَديmy hand ثُمَّthen اِنثَنىturned back بِفَرارِهِin its flight
فَخانَ يَدي ثُمَّ اِنثَنى بِفَرارِهِ
فَكانَso it became لِعُنقيfor my neck اليَومَtoday أَوّلَthe first فارِثِripper
فَكانَ لِعُنقي اليَومَ أَوّلَ فارِثِ
Yet it betrayed my hand, then turned back in flight,
Then my hand failed me and it recoiled in flight
and today became the first to rend my neck.
And so for my neck today became the first heir.
وَمِنand against جَبَلٍa mountain أَعدَدتُI readied شُمَّthe lofty هِضابِهِits heights
وَمِن جَبَلٍ أَعدَدتُ شُمَّ هِضابِهِ
مَرَدّاًa bulwark لِأَيديagainst the hands of النائِباتِcalamities الكَوارِثِthe crushing ones
مَرَدّاً لِأَيدي النائِباتِ الكَوارِثِ
And against a mountain whose lofty heights I had readied
And from a mountain I made its rough passes
as a bulwark against the hands of crushing calamities?
A deterrent to the seizing hands of calamities.
فَطَوَّحَbut it hurled ليfor me مِنfrom حالِقٍa towering height وَأَزَلَّنيand made me slip
فَطَوَّحَ لي مِن حالِقٍ وَأَزَلَّني
زَليلَthe slipping of المَطاياmounts عَنfrom مُتونِthe ridges of الأَواعِثِsoft sandy tracts
زَليلَ المَطايا عَن مُتونِ الأَواعِثِ
Yet it hurled me from a towering height and made me slip,
It slipped from me through a barber and debased me,
like mounts sliding from the ridges of soft sand.
Abject in my saddles, from the backs of camels in rut.
وَمِنand against مَشرَبٍa watering place أَنبَطتُI tapped يَنبوعَthe spring of مائِهِits water
وَمِن مَشرَبٍ أَنبَطتُ يَنبوعَ مائِهِ
بِأَعلىat the highest of الرَوابيthe hills وَالرِياضِand the meadows الأَثائِثِthe lush ones
بِأَعلى الرَوابي وَالرِياضِ الأَثائِثِ
And against a watering place whose spring I tapped
And from a drinking place I brought out the water of its spring
on the highest hills and in lush meadows?
To the highest hilltops and verdant meadows.
يَضِنَّit begrudges عَلَيَّme اليَومَtoday مِنهُfrom it بِنَهلَةٍa draught
يَضِنَّ عَلَيَّ اليَومَ مِنهُ بِنَهلَةٍ
وَتُبذَلُand it is bestowed دونيexcluding me لِلنَقاon the sand dunes وَالكَثاكِثِand the dust-heaps
وَتُبذَلُ دوني لِلنَقا وَالكَثاكِثِ
Today it begrudges me a single draught of its water,
Today it is miserly towards me even with a mouthful
while that is lavished, bypassing me, on dunes and dust-heaps.
While it is wasted on the weeds and brambles.
هُوَit is الرِزقُsustenance مَقَسوماًapportioned وَلَيسَand not تَنالُهُyou obtain it
هُوَ الرِزقُ مَقَسوماً وَلَيسَ تَنالُهُ
بِبَردِthrough the coolness of التَباطيdawdling أَوor بِحَرِّthrough the heat of الحَثاحِثِrelentless urging
بِبَردِ التَباطي أَو بِحَرِّ الحَثاحِثِ
Sustenance is apportioned; you cannot obtain it
Sustenance is preordained and cannot be attained
through the coolness of dawdling or the heat of relentless urging.
By the coolness of pace or the heat of haste.
أَعَنتُمyou aided عَلىin حَربيwar against me المَقاديرَfate's decrees عَنوَةًviolently
أَعَنتُم عَلى حَربي المَقاديرَ عَنوَةً
وَرِشتُمand you feathered إِلىtoward قَلبيmy heart سِهامَthe arrows of الحَوادِثِmisfortunes
وَرِشتُم إِلى قَلبي سِهامَ الحَوادِثِ
You violently aided fate in its war against me,
You have aided the decrees against me perforce
and feathered misfortune's arrows toward my heart.
And aimed into my heart the arrows of events.
وَلَمand did not تَدَعونيyou leave me وَالزَمانَwith time فَإِنَّهُfor it is
وَلَم تَدَعوني وَالزَمانَ فَإِنَّهُ
لَأَكرَمُsurely nobler فِعلاًin deeds مِنكُمُthan you فيamid الهَنابِثِturmoil
لَأَكرَمُ فِعلاً مِنكُمُ في الهَنابِثِ
You would not leave me alone with time, though it
You left me not, nor time, for it is more noble
acts more nobly than you amid turmoil.
In action than you in disasters.
كَذاكَthus مَنِwhoever اِستَدرىseeks shelter إِلىtoward غَيرِother than هَضبَةٍa mountain
كَذاكَ مَنِ اِستَدرى إِلى غَيرِ هَضبَةٍ
وَشَدَّand fastened يَداًa hand بِالمُطمِعاتِto tempting hopes الرَثائِثِthe threadbare ones
وَشَدَّ يَداً بِالمُطمِعاتِ الرَثائِثِ
Such is the man who seeks shelter beneath something other than a mountain,
Whoever seeks help from other than his own people
and clings to threadbare lures of hope.
And ties his hand with the tempting hopes of vultures,
دُعائيmy calling on ذِئابَwolves of القاعِthe plain خَيرُbetter مَغَبَّةٍin outcome
دُعائي ذِئابَ القاعِ خَيرُ مَغَبَّةٍ
إِذاًthen مِنthan دُعائيmy calling on بَعضَكُمsome of you لِلمَغاوِثِfor rescue
إِذاً مِن دُعائي بَعضَكُم لِلمَغاوِثِ
Calling on the wolves of the plain would have a better outcome,
My calling the wolves of the valley is better fortune
then, than calling some of you to my rescue.
Than me calling some of you for help.
فَلَوfor if أَنَّنيthat I أَدعوcall upon لَؤَيِّLu'ayy بنَson of غالِبٍGhalib
فَلَو أَنَّني أَدعو لَؤَيِّ بنَ غالِبٍ
لَقَدsurely أَنجَدونيthey would aid me بِالطِوالِwith men of long المَلاوِثِturban-wraps
لَقَد أَنجَدوني بِالطِوالِ المَلاوِثِ
For if I called upon Lu'ayy ibn Ghalib,
If only I called on Banu Ghalib,
they would surely aid me with long-turbaned men.
They would have saved me with prolonged spear-thrusts.
يَجيشُsurges بِهِمwith them واديthe valley of الظِلامِdarkness كَأَنَّهُمas though they
يَجيشُ بِهِم وادي الظِلامِ كَأَنَّهُم
صُدورُthe heads of العَواليlofty lances بِالمَلاon the open plains المَواعِثِthe soft, sandy ones
صُدورُ العَوالي بِالمَلا المَواعِثِ
The valley of darkness surges with them, as though they were
They surge down the valley of darkness as though they are
the heads of lofty lances across the soft, sandy plains.
The surging waves of seas in constant motion.
هُمُthey أَطلَعونيraised me بِالنَجادِonto the highlands وَأَرزَمواand rumbled
هُمُ أَطلَعوني بِالنَجادِ وَأَرزَموا
لِنَصرِيَin my defense إِرزامَthe rumbling of المَطِيّmounts الرَواعِثِthe weary ones
لِنَصرِيَ إِرزامَ المَطِيّ الرَواعِثِ
They raised me onto the highlands and rumbled
They inspired me with resolve and bound for my victory
in my defense, like the rumbling of weary camels.
The firm binding of the trotting camel's saddle.
وَأَرخَواand they loosened خِناقيmy noose بَعدَماafter كانَwas فَتلُهُits twisting
وَأَرخَوا خِناقي بَعدَما كانَ فَتلُهُ
يُغارُis tightened عَلىaround عُنُقيmy neck بِأَيدٍby hands عَوابِثِmeddling
يُغارُ عَلى عُنُقي بِأَيدٍ عَوابِثِ
They loosened my noose after its strands had been
And they loosened my noose after it had been tightening
twisted tight around my neck by meddling hands.
To throttle me with the hands of assailing foes.
تَرىyou see حِلمَهُمtheir composure تَحتَbeneath الظُبىsword-edges غَيرَnot طائِشٍflighty
تَرى حِلمَهُم تَحتَ الظُبى غَيرَ طائِشٍ
وَخَطوَهُمُand their stride بَينَamong القَناlances غَيرَnot رائِثِslow
وَخَطوَهُمُ بَينَ القَنا غَيرَ رائِثِ
You see their composure beneath sword-edges, never flighty,
You see their patience beneath the burdens flawless
and their stride amid the lances, never slow.
And their pace between the spears unfailing,
فَلاso not الحِلمُforbearance بِالنائيfar away إِذاwhen مادَعَوتَهُever you call upon it
فَلا الحِلمُ بِالنائي إِذا مادَعَوتَهُ
وَلاand not العَزمُresolve بِالوانيslack وَلاnor المُتَماكِثِlingering
وَلا العَزمُ بِالواني وَلا المُتَماكِثِ
Their forbearance is not far away whenever you call upon it,
No patience in one who is called from afar,
nor is their resolve slack or lingering.
No resolve in one who is weak, or one who lingers.
وَكُلُّand every فَتىًyoung man إِنif آدَbears down ثِقلُthe weight of مُلِمَّةٍa calamity
وَكُلُّ فَتىً إِن آدَ ثِقلُ مُلِمَّةٍ
تَوَرَّكَtakes upon his hip حِنوَيthe two curved sides of عِبئِهاits burden غَيرَnot لاهِثِpanting
تَوَرَّكَ حِنوَي عِبئِها غَيرَ لاهِثِ
And every young man, when a calamity's weight bears down,
And every blooded knight - if the touch of disaster weighs heavy -
takes both curved sides of its burden on his hip, without panting.
Will leave its burden be, untroubled by it.
ضَنينٌjealously protective بِوَدّيof my friendship لاnot يَزالُceases بِوَجهِهِbefore his face
ضَنينٌ بِوَدّي لا يَزالُ بِوَجهِهِ
كَلامُthe talk of العِدىthe enemies عَنّيabout me وَنَفثُand the breathings of النَوافِثِvenom-breathers
كَلامُ العِدى عَنّي وَنَفثُ النَوافِثِ
Jealously guarding my friendship, he is ever faced with
A hatred of my tribe, unceasing in its enmity,
the enemies' talk against me and the breath of venom-breathers.
The words of foes about me and the spittle of the spitting.
شِعارِيَmy inner garment مِنfrom دونِwithin الشِعارِthe inner garment وَتارَةًand at times
شِعارِيَ مِن دونِ الشِعارِ وَتارَةً
قَريبِيَmy kinsman مِنfrom دونِcloser than القَريبِthe kinsman المُنافِثِwho shares confidences
قَريبِيَ مِن دونِ القَريبِ المُنافِثِ
He is my inner garment, closer than any garment, and at times
My friends are other than friends, and my near kin
my kinsman, closer than a kinsman who shares confidences.
Other than near kin, intimate and familiar.
تَعَمَّمتُموهاyou wrapped it as your turbans سَوأَةًa disgrace جاهِلِيَّةًof the age of ignorance
تَعَمَّمتُموها سَوأَةً جاهِلِيَّةً
لَقَدtruly فازَhas triumphed مَنwhoever أَمسىreaches evening بِهاin it غَيرَnot لائِثِwrapped
لَقَد فازَ مَن أَمسى بِها غَيرَ لائِثِ
You have turbaned yourselves with it, a disgrace of the age of ignorance;
You pronounced it an ignorance of pagan days
truly fortunate is he who reaches evening unwrapped in it.
Blessed is he who does not end it unceasing!
فَجُرّواso drag ذُيولَthe hems of العارِshame ثُمَّthen تَضاءَلواshrink away
فَجُرّوا ذُيولَ العارِ ثُمَّ تَضاءَلوا
تَضاؤُلَthe dwindling of أَطهارِthe intervals of purity of الإِماءِthe slave-women الطَوامِثِthe menstruating ones
تَضاؤُلَ أَطهارِ الإِماءِ الطَوامِثِ
So drag shame's trailing hems, then shrink away
So drag along the tails of disgrace and then dwindle
as dwindle the intervals of purity of menstruating slave-women.
To the dwindling of the pure maid’s breaches.
تَقَطَّعَتِhave broken off الأَطماعُhopes فيكُمin you وَلَمand not يَدَعhas left
تَقَطَّعَتِ الأَطماعُ فيكُم وَلَم يَدَع
لَكُمfor you أَمَلاًany hope لُؤمُthe baseness of الطِباعِnatures الحَوابِثِthe foul ones
لَكُم أَمَلاً لُؤمُ الطِباعِ الحَوابِثِ
Hopes in you have broken off; nor has
Hopes in you are cut off and no hope remains
the baseness of your foul natures left you any hope.
In the vile natures of those who bring harm.
وَأَصبَحتُمُand you have become أَطلالَthe ruins of دارٍa house بِقَفرَةٍin a wasteland
وَأَصبَحتُمُ أَطلالَ دارٍ بِقَفرَةٍ
تَرىyou see الرَكبَthe caravan مُجتازاًpassing through بِهاthrough it غَيرَnot لابِثِstaying
تَرى الرَكبَ مُجتازاً بِها غَيرَ لابِثِ
You have become the ruins of a house in a wasteland,
You have become like the ruins of an abode in desolation
where you see the caravan pass through without stopping.
Which travelers pass by, not staying.
وَكَيفَand how أُرَجّيكُمI put hope in you لِدَفعِto ward off مَغارِمٍheavy losses
وَكَيفَ أُرَجّيكُم لِدَفعِ مَغارِمٍ
وَقَدwhen indeed خابَwas disappointed راجيكُمthe one hoping in you لِدَفعِto ward off مَعارِثِcalamities
وَقَد خابَ راجيكُم لِدَفعِ مَعارِثِ
How can I hope for you to ward off heavy losses,
And how can I expect you to ward off troubles
when he who hoped in you to ward off calamities was disappointed?
When expecting you to ward off ruin has failed?
قَعواalight وِقعَةَthe alighting of الساريa night-traveler فَقَدfor indeed طالَhas lasted long حَثُّكُمyour urging
قَعوا وِقعَةَ الساري فَقَد طالَ حَثُّكُم
إِلىtoward العارِshame أَعناقَthe necks of المَطِيِّmounts الدَلائِثِthe swift-paced ones
إِلى العارِ أَعناقَ المَطِيِّ الدَلائِثِ
Alight as a night-traveler alights; long have you urged
Fall like the fallen saddle, for your driving
the necks of swift-paced mounts toward shame.
Necks of the pacing camel to disgrace has lasted long.
فَحَتّىso until مَتىwhen أُخفيI conceal التِراتِold wrongs وَأَنتُمwhile you
فَحَتّى مَتى أُخفي التِراتِ وَأَنتُم
تُثيرونَyou stir up عَنfrom مَدفونِهاwhat is buried of them بِالمَباحِثِwith probing
تُثيرونَ عَن مَدفونِها بِالمَباحِثِ
How long must I conceal old wrongs, while you
So until when will I hide grievances while you
stir up what is buried of them with your probing?
Rouse what is buried in them with investigations?
وَكَمand how often أَدمُلُI heal الأَضغانَgrudges بَينيbetween me وَبَينَكُمand between you
وَكَم أَدمُلُ الأَضغانَ بَيني وَبَينَكُم
وَأُغضيand close my eyes عَلىto نَقضِthe unravelling of القُوىrope-strands وَالنَكائِثِand broken pledges
وَأُغضي عَلى نَقضِ القُوى وَالنَكائِثِ
How often must I heal the grudges between me and you,
How many resentments do I internalize between me and you
and close my eyes to unravelled strands and broken pledges?
And disregard the breaking of ties and estrangements?
إِذاwhenever رُمتُI tried مِنamong سَوآتِكُمyour disgraces سَدَّthe filling of هُوَّةٍa chasm
إِذا رُمتُ مِن سَوآتِكُم سَدَّ هُوَّةٍ
تَشاغَلتُمُyou busied yourselves عَنaway from غَيرِهاthe others بِالنَبائِثِwith excavations
تَشاغَلتُمُ عَن غَيرِها بِالنَبائِثِ
Whenever I try to fill a chasm among your disgraces,
When I fling aside one of your disgraces to block a gap
you neglect the others and busy yourselves with digging.
You become occupied with other issues.
رَأَيتُI saw الصُقورَthe falcons الغُلبَthe stout-necked ones خُمصىhollow-bellied مِنَfrom الطَوىhunger
رَأَيتُ الصُقورَ الغُلبَ خُمصى مِنَ الطَوى
وَماand not مَطعَمُthe food of الدُنياthis world لِغَيرِfor any but الأَباغِثِthe feeble birds
وَما مَطعَمُ الدُنيا لِغَيرِ الأَباغِثِ
I have seen stout-necked falcons, hollow-bellied with hunger,
I have seen the hawks humbled, withdrawn from the nest,
while this world's food is for none but feeble birds.
And the world is not a feeding ground save for the greedy.
فَلاso no حَظَّluck فيin اِستِنزالِbringing down رِزقٍsustenance مُحَلَّقٍsoaring high
فَلا حَظَّ في اِستِنزالِ رِزقٍ مُحَلَّقٍ
وَلاand no نَفعَbenefit فيin حَثِّhurrying الحُظوظِfortunes الرَوائِثِthe slow-coming ones
وَلا نَفعَ في حَثِّ الحُظوظِ الرَوائِثِ
So no luck lies in bringing down sustenance that soars high,
No fortune in obtaining suspended, airborne provision,
nor any benefit in hurrying slow-coming fortunes.
No use in urging on the penetrating hopes.
تَرَكتُI left صُدوعاًrifts بَينَناbetween us لِاِنشِعابِهاfor their spreading apart
تَرَكتُ صُدوعاً بَينَنا لِاِنشِعابِها
وَلَمand did not أَتَجَشَّمI burden myself لَمَّwith mending تِلكَthose المَشاغِثِtangled breaches
وَلَم أَتَجَشَّم لَمَّ تِلكَ المَشاغِثِ
I left the rifts between us to spread apart,
I have left crevices between us to split them open
and did not trouble myself to mend those tangled breaches.
And do not suffer the pain of those grievances.
فَزيدواso add more فَإِنّيfor I بَعدَهاafter it غَيرُnot ناقِصٍdiminished
فَزيدوا فَإِنّي بَعدَها غَيرُ ناقِصٍ
وَجِدّواand be earnest فَإِنّيfor I بَعدَهاafter it غَيرُnot عابِثِjesting
وَجِدّوا فَإِنّي بَعدَها غَيرُ عابِثِ
So add more, for afterward I am undiminished;
Increase them, for I will still have no lack after them,
and be earnest, for afterward I am not jesting.
And renew them, for I will still have no game after them.
دُيونٌdebts مِنَof الأَضغانِgrudges إِنif أَبقَI survive أُجزِكُمI will repay you
دُيونٌ مِنَ الأَضغانِ إِن أَبقَ أُجزِكُم
بِهِنَّwith them وَإِنand if أَعطَبI perish يَرِثهُنَّwill inherit them وارِثيmy heir
بِهِنَّ وَإِن أَعطَب يَرِثهُنَّ وارِثي
These are debts of rancor; if I survive, I will repay you
Debts of resentment - if I remain silent I will repay you for them
with them; and if I perish, my heir will inherit them.
And if I am infirm they will be inherited by my heirs.
وَإِنand if أَنسَI forget يَوماًone day ذَمَّكُمcondemning you يُمسِwill become فِعلُكُمyour deeds
وَإِن أَنسَ يَوماً ذَمَّكُم يُمسِ فِعلُكُم
عَلىto الذَمِّcondemnation عِنديfor me مِنamong أَشَدِّthe strongest of البَواعِثِmotives
عَلى الذَمِّ عِندي مِن أَشَدِّ البَواعِثِ
If one day I forget to condemn you, your deeds will become
If I forget a day blaming you, your actions
for me among the strongest motives for condemnation.
Remind me, for with me blaming is the strongest motivation.
وَإِنand if أُبطِI delay يُسرِعwill hasten بيme إِلىtoward ماwhat يَسوؤُكُمgrieves you
وَإِن أُبطِ يُسرِع بي إِلى ما يَسوؤُكُم
لَواعِجُthe burning pangs of أَضغانٍgrudges إِلَيكُمtoward you حَثائِثِswiftly urging
لَواعِجُ أَضغانٍ إِلَيكُم حَثائِثِ
And if I delay, I am hurried toward whatever grieves you
If I am eased, what irks you will be quickened in me -
by burning pangs of rancor, spurring me toward you.
Stirrings of resentment towards you, fervent.
نَحَلتُI would assume إِذاthen ماwhatever فيكُمُis in you مِنof مَعائِبٍfaults
نَحَلتُ إِذا ما فيكُمُ مِن مَعائِبٍ
وَنازَعتُكُمand would vie with you for طُعماتِmorsels of تِلكَthose الخَبائِثِvile things
وَنازَعتُكُم طُعماتِ تِلكَ الخَبائِثِ
Then may I take on whatever faults are in you,
Whenever any disgrace is in you I overlook it
and vie with you for morsels of those vile things,
And dispute with you the tastes of those shameful things.
لَئِنif indeed أَناI لَمnot أُعلِقI fasten بِأَعراضِinto the honor of قَومِكُمyour people
لَئِن أَنا لَم أُعلِق بِأَعراضِ قَومِكُم
بَراثِنَthe taloned paws of أَظفارِthe claws of القَريضِpoetry الضَوابِثِthe gripping ones
بَراثِنَ أَظفارِ القَريضِ الضَوابِثِ
if I do not fasten into your people's honor
If I have not fastened to the honor of your people
the clutching, taloned paws of poetry.
The nails of the burning claws of the twisting scorpion
فَوَاللَهِthen by God لاnot أَقلَعنَI shall withdraw إِلّاexcept دَوامِياًbloodied
فَوَاللَهِ لا أَقلَعنَ إِلّا دَوامِياً
أَلِيَةَthe oath of بَرٍّan upright man لاnot أَلِيَّةَthe oath of حانِثِan oath-breaker
أَلِيَةَ بَرٍّ لا أَلِيَّةَ حانِثِ
By God, I shall not withdraw them except bloodied—
By God, I will not refrain save unceasingly
an upright man's oath, not an oath-breaker's.
An incapacity to do good, not to do evil.
لِكَيso that تَعلَمواyou may learn غِبَّthe aftermath of العَداوَةِhostility بَينَناbetween us
لِكَي تَعلَموا غِبَّ العَداوَةِ بَينَنا
وَيَعرُكَكُمand grind you down كَيدُthe scheming of المَطولِone kept waiting المُماغِثِa grappling adversary
وَيَعرُكَكُم كَيدُ المَطولِ المُماغِثِ
So that you may learn the aftermath of hostility between us,
So that you may know the estrangement between us fully
and be ground down by the plotting of one kept waiting, who grapples with you.
And your guile as drawn-out as possible may irk you.
سَلامٌfarewell عَلىto الآمالِhopes فيكُمin you وَلاand not سَقىmay water
سَلامٌ عَلى الآمالِ فيكُم وَلا سَقى
مَعاهِدَهاtheir haunts جَودُthe bounty of القُطارِrain-showers الدَثائِثِthe gently falling ones
مَعاهِدَها جَودُ القُطارِ الدَثائِثِ
Farewell to hopes in you; may no water reach
Peace be upon hopes in you - though the downpour
their haunts from the bounty of gentle rain-showers.
Of abundant rain has not watered their covenant!
لَعَلَّمتُمونيyou have indeed taught me اليَأسَdespair مِنof كُلِّevery مَطمَعٍhope
لَعَلَّمتُموني اليَأسَ مِن كُلِّ مَطمَعٍ
وَعَوَّدتُمونيand you accustomed me to الصَبرَpatience فيin كُلِّevery حادِثِcalamity
وَعَوَّدتُموني الصَبرَ في كُلِّ حادِثِ
You have indeed taught me to despair of every hope,
You have taught me despair of every ambition
and accustomed me to patience in every calamity.
And inured me to patience in every affliction.
وَعَرَّفتُمونيand you showed me كَيفَhow أَلتَمِسُI seek الجَداbounty
وَعَرَّفتُموني كَيفَ أَلتَمِسُ الجَدا
إِلىtoward غَيرِother than أَيديthe hands of الأَلأَمينَthe basest men الشُرابِثِthe brutish ones
إِلى غَيرِ أَيدي الأَلأَمينَ الشُرابِثِ
You have shown me how to seek bounty
You have shown me how I might seek redemption
at hands other than those of the basest brutes.
From hands other than those of the unjust tormenting.
تُذَلّلُكُمhumbles you لُقيايَmy meeting بِاليَأسِthrough despair مِنكُمُof you
تُذَلّلُكُم لُقيايَ بِاليَأسِ مِنكُمُ
وَلَمand did not أَتَذَلّلI humble myself للمِطالِto procrastination المُلابِثِthe lingering kind
وَلَم أَتَذَلّل للمِطالِ المُلابِثِ
My meeting you without hope in you humbles you,
My despair of you makes me humble before you
and I have not humbled myself to lingering procrastination.
When I have not humbled myself to prolonged demands.
فَشُكراًso thanks لِمَنto whoever لَمdid not يَجعَلِplace الرِزقَsustenance عِندَكُمwith you
فَشُكراً لِمَن لَم يَجعَلِ الرِزقَ عِندَكُم
فَلاso no رَيَّquenching of ظَمآنٍa thirsty man وَلاand no شِبعَsatisfaction of غارِثِa hungry man
فَلا رَيَّ ظَمآنٍ وَلا شِبعَ غارِثِ
So thanks to Him who did not place sustenance in your hands:
So thanks to Him who did not place provision with you,
no quenching for the thirsty, no fullness for the hungry.
Else no drink for a thirsty soul, no food for a deprived one.
لَئِنif indeed ساءَكُمoffends you مِنّيfrom me حُزونُthe roughness of خَلائِقيmy character traits
لَئِن ساءَكُم مِنّي حُزونُ خَلائِقي
فَقَدfor indeed طالَhas been long ماthe time that لَمnot أَنتَفِعI benefit بِالدَمائِثِfrom gentle qualities
فَقَد طالَ ما لَم أَنتَفِع بِالدَمائِثِ
If the ruggedness of my character offends you,
If my morose nature has saddened you
I have long gained nothing from gentler ways.
Then long has it been useless to me in disasters.
خُذوهاtake them كَأَطواقِlike the collars of الحَمامِdoves فَإِنَّهاfor they
خُذوها كَأَطواقِ الحَمامِ فَإِنَّها
سَتَبقىwill endure بَقاءَthe endurance of الراسِياتِfirmly rooted mountains اللَوابِثِthe abiding ones
سَتَبقى بَقاءَ الراسِياتِ اللَوابِثِ
Take them like the collars of doves, for they
Take them like the neck-rings of a dove, for they will remain
will endure as firmly rooted, abiding mountains endure.
Remaining like milestones on the traveled roads.
قَوافِيَrhymes يَقطُرنَdripping النَجيعَblood كَأَنَّماas though
قَوافِيَ يَقطُرنَ النَجيعَ كَأَنَّما
طُبِعنَthey were forged عَلىin طَبعِthe temper of الرِقاقِslender blades الفَوارِثِthe flesh-rending ones
طُبِعنَ عَلى طَبعِ الرِقاقِ الفَوارِثِ
Rhymes dripping blood, as though
Verses that drip grief, as though
they were forged with the temper of slender, flesh-rending blades.
Cast in the mold of parchment steeped in tears.
إِذاwhen ماever مَطَلناهُنَّwe hold them back بُقياout of mercy عَليكُمُfor you
إِذا ما مَطَلناهُنَّ بُقيا عَليكُمُ
خَرَجنَthey come out خُروجَthe coming out of الخالِعينَrebels النَواكِثِthe oath-breakers
خَرَجنَ خُروجَ الخالِعينَ النَواكِثِ
Whenever we hold them back to spare you,
If we draw them out lengthily they will remain yours
they break out like rebels who break their vows.
Going out like one who discards and casts off.
فَآلَيتُso I swore لاnot أُعطيI yield اللِئامَto the base مَقادَةًthe reins
فَآلَيتُ لا أُعطي اللِئامَ مَقادَةً
وَلَوeven if تَحتَunder ضَغّاطٍcrushing pressure مِنَfrom الأَمرِa situation كارِثِoverwhelming
وَلَو تَحتَ ضَغّاطٍ مِنَ الأَمرِ كارِثِ
I swore I would not yield the reins to the base,
So I have resolved I will not indulge the lowly
even under crushing pressure from an overwhelming plight.
Even if forced under consuming pressures.
ذُنوبيmy sins إِنِif اِستَمطَرتُI sought rain مِنfrom غَيرِother than ماطِرٍone who brings rain
ذُنوبي إِنِ اِستَمطَرتُ مِن غَيرِ ماطِرٍ
وَأَنّيand that I طَلَبتُsought الغَيثَsuccoring rain مِنfrom غَيرِother than غائِثِone who gives succor
وَأَنّي طَلَبتُ الغَيثَ مِن غَيرِ غائِثِ
My faults lie in having sought rain from one who brings none,
My sins, if I seek rain without a rain-giver at hand
and in having sought life-giving rain from one who offers no succor.
And I sought rain with no aid at hand.
Sol 6.1