رَجَوناwe hoped in أَباAbu الهَيجاءِal-Hayja إِذwhen ماتَdied حارِثٌHarith
رَجَونا أَبا الهَيجاءِ إِذ ماتَ حارِثٌ
فَمُذand since مَضَياboth departed لَمdid not يَبقَremain لِلمَجدِfor glory وارِثُan heir
فَمُذ مَضَيا لَم يَبقَ لِلمَجدِ وارِثُ
We placed our hope in Abu al-Hayja when Harith died;
We hoped Abu Al-Hayja' would live when Harith died,
but since both departed, glory has had no heir.
But since they both passed away, glory has no heir.
أَلاbehold إِنَّindeed قَرمَيthe two chieftains of وائِلٍWa'il لَيلَةَthe night of السُرىnight-travel
أَلا إِنَّ قَرمَي وائِلٍ لَيلَةَ السُرى
أَقاماboth remained وَقَدwhile already سارَwent on المَطيُّthe riding camels الدَلائِثُthe plodding ones
أَقاما وَقَد سارَ المَطيُّ الدَلائِثُ
Behold, the two chieftains of Wa'il, on the night of departure,
Indeed, Quraym of Wael spent the night of Al-Surrah
remained behind while the plodding riding camels went on.
Standing guard, though the running steeds stirred up the dust.
هُماthey two البازِلانِthe two mature camel-stallions المُقرَمانِthe two prized sires تَناوَباtook turns
هُما البازِلانِ المُقرَمانِ تَناوَبا
عُرىthe handholds of المَجدِglory لَمّاwhen عَجَّcried out بِالعِبءِunder the burden لاهِثُone panting
عُرى المَجدِ لَمّا عَجَّ بِالعِبءِ لاهِثُ
They were the two mature, prized camel-stallions, taking turns
They were two gallant heroes who took turns
at glory's handholds when a panting bearer cried beneath the load.
Bearing the burden of glory when it overwhelmed the toiler.
رَفيقانِtwo companions ماnot باغاهُماvied with them both العِزَّhonor صاحِبٌa companion
رَفيقانِ ما باغاهُما العِزَّ صاحِبٌ
نَديمانِtwo drinking-companions ماnot ساقاهُماshared drink with them both المَجدُglory ثالِثُa third
نَديمانِ ما ساقاهُما المَجدُ ثالِثُ
Two companions—no companion vied with them for honor;
Two friends whom glory did not favor with a companion,
two drinking-companions—no third shared their cup of glory.
Two boon companions whom glory did not take as a third.
حُسامانِtwo sharp swords إِنif فَتَّشتَyou examine كُلَّevery ضَريبَةٍsword-stroke
حُسامانِ إِن فَتَّشتَ كُلَّ ضَريبَةٍ
فَأَثرُهُماso the mark of both فيهاwithin it قَديمٌancient وَحادِثُand new
فَأَثرُهُما فيها قَديمٌ وَحادِثُ
Two sharp swords: if you examine every sword-stroke,
Two swords - if you searched every battleground,
their mark within it is both ancient and new.
You would find their traces ancient and recent.
بَقِيَّةُsurvivors of أَسيافٍswords طُبِعنَwere forged مَعَalongside الرَدىDeath
بَقِيَّةُ أَسيافٍ طُبِعنَ مَعَ الرَدى
فَجاءَso he came وَجاءَتand they came عاثِياتٌravaging ones وَعائِثُand a ravager
فَجاءَ وَجاءَت عاثِياتٌ وَعائِثُ
Survivors of swords forged alongside Death;
A remnant of blades forged with steel
Death came, and they came—ravaging blades and a ravager.
That came and went while the calamities came roaming.
أَحَقّاًis it truly so? بِأَنَّthat indeed المَجدَglory هيضَتwere broken anew جُبورُهُits mended bones
أَحَقّاً بِأَنَّ المَجدَ هيضَت جُبورُهُ
وَزالَand vanished عَنِfrom الحَيّthe clan الطَوالُthe lofty المَلاوِثُturban-wraps
وَزالَ عَنِ الحَيّ الطَوالُ المَلاوِثُ
Is it true that glory's mended bones have broken anew,
They deserved that glory lowered its flag,
and the lofty turbans have vanished from the clan,
And that the tall heroes who craved it withdrew.
وَأَيدٍand hands عَلىin بُسطِthe extending of السَماحِgenerosity رَقائِقٌtender
وَأَيدٍ عَلى بُسطِ السَماحِ رَقائِقٌ
وَهُنَّand they عَلىin قَبضِgripping الرِماحِspears شَرائِثُcalloused
وَهُنَّ عَلى قَبضِ الرِماحِ شَرائِثُ
along with hands tender when spread in generosity,
Hands so generous when the time of magnanimity came,
but calloused when gripping spears?
Yet firm when gripping spears at the clash of battle.
وَسِربٌand a herd بَنوthe sons of حَمدانَHamdan كانواwere حُماتَهits protectors
وَسِربٌ بَنو حَمدانَ كانوا حُماتَه
رَعَتfed فيهِwithin it ذُؤبانُthe wolves of اللَياليthe nights العَوائِثُthe ravaging ones
رَعَت فيهِ ذُؤبانُ اللَيالي العَوائِثُ
And a herd once guarded by the sons of Hamdan—
A flock whose guardian at night
have the wolves of ravaging nights fed within it?
Were the wolves of long dark nights prowling.
فَأَينَwhere then? كُفاةُthe defenders of القُطرِthe land فيin كُلِّevery أَزمَةٍcrisis
فَأَينَ كُفاةُ القُطرِ في كُلِّ أَزمَةٍ
وَأَينَand where? المَلاجيthe refuges مِنهُمُamong them وَالمَغاوِثُand sources of succor
وَأَينَ المَلاجي مِنهُمُ وَالمَغاوِثُ
Where, then, are the land's defenders in every crisis,
Where are the defenders of the country in every crisis,
and where among them are refuges and sources of succor?
And where are their aides that bring rescue?
وَأَينَand where? الجِيادُthe steeds المُعجَلاتُthe hastened ones إِلىto الوَغىbattle
وَأَينَ الجِيادُ المُعجَلاتُ إِلى الوَغى
إِذاwhen غامَclouded over بِالنَقعِwith dust المَلاthe open plain المُتَواعِثُrough and sandy
إِذا غامَ بِالنَقعِ المَلا المُتَواعِثُ
And where are the steeds hastened into battle
Where are the steeds rushing into the fray
when the rough, sandy plain clouds over with dust?
When the highland was flooded by the overrunning hordes?
وَأَينَand where? الثَناياthe mountain passes المُطلِعاتُleading upward عَنِaway from الأَذىaffliction
وَأَينَ الثَنايا المُطلِعاتُ عَنِ الأَذى
إِذاwhen نابَbefell ضَغّاطٌa crushing pressure مِنَof الأَمرِevents كارِثُruinous
إِذا نابَ ضَغّاطٌ مِنَ الأَمرِ كارِثُ
And where are the passes leading out of affliction
Where are the heights overlooking harm
when a crushing, ruinous ordeal befalls?
When a contentious fool stirs up ruin?
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle دَعاcalled الداعونَthe callers لِلبَأسِfor valor وَالنَدىand generosity
إِذا ما دَعا الداعونَ لِلبَأسِ وَالنَدى
فَلاthen neither الجودُgenerosity مَنزورٌscant وَلاnor الغَوثُsuccor رائِثُdelayed
فَلا الجودُ مَنزورٌ وَلا الغَوثُ رائِثُ
When callers call for valor and generosity,
When the criers call for war and strife,
generosity is never scant, nor succor delayed.
Generosity is inaccessible and aid is scarce.
يَرُفُّhovers عَلىover ناديهِمُtheir assembly الحِلمُforbearance وَالحِجاand wisdom
يَرُفُّ عَلى ناديهِمُ الحِلمُ وَالحِجا
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle لَغاprattled لاغٍa babbler مِنَamong القَومِthe people رافِثُspeaking obscenely
إِذا ما لَغا لاغٍ مِنَ القَومِ رافِثُ
Forbearance and wisdom hover over their assembly
Forbearance and dignity attend their gatherings
whenever an obscene babbler among the people prattles.
If a prattling blabbermouth babbles among the people.
مِنَamong المُطعَمينَthose fed المَجدَglory بِالبيضِby bright swords وَالقَناand spears
مِنَ المُطعَمينَ المَجدَ بِالبيضِ وَالقَنا
مِلاءَfull المَقاريthe guest-bowls وَالعَريبُand the Arab folk غَوارِثُhungry
مِلاءَ المَقاري وَالعَريبُ غَوارِثُ
Among those fed glory by bright swords and spears,
Those who sustain glory with their bright swords and spears
their guest-bowls are full while the Arab folk go hungry.
Fill the dwelling places while the Arabs fill the wastes.
إِذاwhen طَرَحواthey cast off عِمّاتِهِمtheir turbans وَضَحَتshone لَهُمfor them
إِذا طَرَحوا عِمّاتِهِم وَضَحَت لَهُم
مَفارِقُcrowns لَمdid not يَعصِبbind بِهاupon them العارَshame لائِثُa turban-wrapper
مَفارِقُ لَم يَعصِب بِها العارَ لائِثُ
When they cast off their turbans, there shine for them
When they cast off their cloaks, the path was lit for them,
crowns no turban-wrapper has ever bound in shame.
By noble deeds not bound by the censure of critics.
بَكَتهُمwept for them صُدورُthe points of المُرهَفاتِsharpened blades وَبُشِّرَتand received glad tidings
بَكَتهُم صُدورُ المُرهَفاتِ وَبُشِّرَت
هِجانُwhite, well-bred camels المَتاليwith following young وَالمَطِيُّand riding camels الرَواغِثُbeing suckled
هِجانُ المَتالي وَالمَطِيُّ الرَواغِثُ
The points of sharpened blades wept for them, while glad tidings reached
They were mourned by the breasts of the soft-bodied ladies,
the white camels with trailing young and the nursing riding camels.
And the smooth-cheeked youths and the steeds were gladdened.
قُرومٌlordly sires عَلىdespite ماwhat رَوَّحواthey brought home at evening مِنof وُسوقِهاtheir loads
قُرومٌ عَلى ما رَوَّحوا مِن وُسوقِها
وَلاand not مِنهُمُamong them الوانيthe laggard وَلاnor المُتَماكِثُthe lingerer
وَلا مِنهُمُ الواني وَلا المُتَماكِثُ
Lordly sires, despite the loads they brought home,
Burial mounds from the glory they diffused,
with neither a laggard nor a lingerer among them.
With no wavering or procrastination among them.
يُخَلّىis left free لَهُمfor them مِنfrom كُلِّevery وِردٍwatering-place جِمامُهُits abundant water
يُخَلّى لَهُم مِن كُلِّ وِردٍ جِمامُهُ
إِذاwhen وَرَدواthey come to drink وَالمُعشِباتُand the grassy pastures الأَثائِثُthe lush ones
إِذا وَرَدوا وَالمُعشِباتُ الأَثائِثُ
Each watering-place's full reserve is left for them
Every meadow they entered was vacated for them,
when they come to drink, and the lush pastures too.
While the withering autumn leaves fluttered around them.
مَشَواthey walked فيin سُهولِthe easy plains of المَجدِglory حيناًawhile وَوَقَّفواand halted
مَشَوا في سُهولِ المَجدِ حيناً وَوَقَّفوا
بِحَيثُwhere اِبتَدَتbegan أَوعارُهُits rugged tracts وَالأَواعِثُand yielding sands
بِحَيثُ اِبتَدَت أَوعارُهُ وَالأَواعِثُ
They walked awhile in glory's easy plains, then halted
They roamed the plains of glory for a while and paused
where its rugged tracts and yielding sands began.
Where its blemishes and defects began.
إِذاwhen رَكِبواthey mounted سالَstreamed اللَديدانِthe two valley-sides بِالقَباwith lean-flanked steeds
إِذا رَكِبوا سالَ اللَديدانِ بِالقَبا
وَحَنَّتand yearned مَطاياهاtheir mounts المَناياdeaths الرَوائِثُthe lingering ones
وَحَنَّت مَطاياها المَنايا الرَوائِثُ
When they mounted, the two valley-sides streamed with lean-flanked steeds,
When they rode forth, the smooth spearheads began to drip
and lingering deaths yearned for their mounts.
And their swaying steeds were grieved.
كَأَنَّas though الصُقورَthe falcons اللامِحاتِthe keen-eyed ones تَلَمَّظَتlicked their beaks
كَأَنَّ الصُقورَ اللامِحاتِ تَلَمَّظَت
إِلىtoward الطُعمِprey وَاِنصاعَتand scattered لَهُنَّbefore them الأَباغِثُthe lesser birds
إِلى الطُعمِ وَاِنصاعَت لَهُنَّ الأَباغِثُ
As though keen-eyed falcons licked their beaks
It was as if the swooping birds of prey were enraged
at prey, while lesser birds scattered before them.
At the prey, and the kites submitted to them.
مَضَواthey departed لاnot الأَياديthe favors مُخدَجاتٌstunted نَواقِصٌincomplete
مَضَوا لا الأَيادي مُخدَجاتٌ نَواقِصٌ
وَلاnor مِرَرُthe cords of العَلياءِlofty honor مِنهُمfrom them رَثائِثُworn thin
وَلا مِرَرُ العَلياءِ مِنهُم رَثائِثُ
They departed with no favors stunted or incomplete,
They went forth with hands not falling short,
nor their cords of lofty honor worn thin,
Nor did the blows of the sublime among them fall gently.
وَلاnor طِوَلُthe long tether of النَعماءِbounty فيهِمamong them مُقَلِّصٌshortening
وَلا طِوَلُ النَعماءِ فيهِم مُقَلِّصٌ
إِذاwhen عَلِقَتهُclung to it المُعصِماتُthe grasping hands الشَوابِثُthe clinging ones
إِذا عَلِقَتهُ المُعصِماتُ الشَوابِثُ
nor the tether of their bounty drawn short
Nor did the luxury of life make them less resolute
when grasping, clinging hands caught hold of it.
When the elder's arms tenderly embraced them.
خَلَجتُمyou drove home لِحَسّاسِfor Hassas بنِson of مُرَّةَMurrah طَعنَةًa spear-thrust
خَلَجتُم لِحَسّاسِ بنِ مُرَّةَ طَعنَةً
رَأىsaw الجِدَّearnestness فيهاin it هِجرِسٌHijris وَهوَwhile he was حابِثُjesting
رَأى الجِدَّ فيها هِجرِسٌ وَهوَ حابِثُ
You dealt Hassas ibn Murrah a spear-thrust
You stabbed the breast of Hassas ibn Murrah
in which Hijris saw earnestness, though he was jesting.
And the valiant one saw in it shame and disgrace.
وَغادَرتُمُand you left أَشلاءَthe limbs of بَكرٍBakr مُقيمَةًremaining
وَغادَرتُمُ أَشلاءَ بَكرٍ مُقيمَةً
عَلىin العارِdisgrace لاnot تُحثىis heaped عَليهاupon them النَبائِثُdug-up earth
عَلى العارِ لا تُحثى عَليها النَبائِثُ
And you left Bakr's limbs lying
You left the members of Bakr tribe scattered about
in disgrace, with no dug-up earth heaped upon them.
In dishonor, with no birds of prey circling above them.
وَقَدand indeed كانَthere was دَينٌa debt فيfor كُلَيبٍKulayb وَفىpaid بِهِit
وَقَد كانَ دَينٌ في كُلَيبٍ وَفى بِهِ
غَريمٌa debtor مُطَولٌlong delaying بِالدُيونِover debts مُماغِثُwrangling
غَريمٌ مُطَولٌ بِالدُيونِ مُماغِثُ
A debt was owed for Kulayb, and it was paid by
Kulaib owed a debt that weighed upon him,
a debtor long delaying over debts and wrangling.
A prolonged burden of debts overwhelming the debtor.
وَقائِعُbattles of أَيّامٍdays كَأَنَّas though إِكامَهاtheir hills
وَقائِعُ أَيّامٍ كَأَنَّ إِكامَها
بِجارِwith the flowing دَمِblood of الطَعنِspear-thrusts الإِماءُslave-women الطَوامِثُmenstruating
بِجارِ دَمِ الطَعنِ الإِماءُ الطَوامِثُ
Battles on days when their hills seemed
Events of days when their drops of blood
like menstruating slave-women in the streaming blood of spear-wounds.
Were the handmaidens stirring the cooking pot.
تَعَودونَyou return عَنهاfrom them فيin قَناكُمyour spears مَباشِمٌsurfeits
تَعَودونَ عَنها في قَناكُم مَباشِمٌ
وَعِندَwhile in قَناthe spears of بَكرٍBakr إِلَيكُمfor you مَغارِثُhungers
وَعِندَ قَنا بَكرٍ إِلَيكُم مَغارِثُ
You return from them with your spears glutted,
You return from them with blood dripping from your mouths
while Bakr's spears go hungry for you.
While the blood of Bakr's mouth drips back to you.
عَقَدتُمyou tied بِهاthere حَبليthe two cords of إِسارٍcaptivity وَمِنَّةٍand favor
عَقَدتُم بِها حَبلي إِسارٍ وَمِنَّةٍ
وَخانَهُمُand betrayed them نَقضُthe unraveling of القُوىthe strands وَالنَكائِثُand broken bonds
وَخانَهُمُ نَقضُ القُوى وَالنَكائِثُ
There you tied the two cords of captivity and favor,
You tied them up securely, then the breaking of power and fate
while unraveling strands and broken bonds betrayed them.
Betrayed them, after vowing and promising.
تَحَلَّلتُمُyou discharged مِنfrom نَذرِa vow of طَعنٍspear-thrusts وَغَيرُكُمwhile others
تَحَلَّلتُمُ مِن نَذرِ طَعنٍ وَغَيرُكُم
كَثيرُabundant in الأَلاياoaths غِبَّjust after ماwhat قالَhe said حانِثُbreaking his oath
كَثيرُ الأَلايا غِبَّ ما قالَ حانِثُ
You discharged your vow of spear-thrusts, while others,
You broke your vows of vengeance while others unlike you -
rich in oaths, broke them as soon as they spoke.
Many are the regrets of one who promises then breaches.
حُروبٌwars مِنَfrom الأَقدارِfate طاحَstruck down عِراكُهاtheir struggle
حُروبٌ مِنَ الأَقدارِ طاحَ عِراكُها
بِحَربٍupon Harb وَلَمand did not يَسلَمsurvive عَليهُنَّthrough them حارِثُHarith
بِحَربٍ وَلَم يَسلَم عَليهُنَّ حارِثُ
Wars of fate, whose struggle struck down
Wars decreed by fate - their struggle
Harb, while Harith too did not survive them.
Befell a war in which even the cautious did not escape.
وَكانَand he was سِناناًa spear-point أوجَرَdrove down the throat of الخَطبَcalamity حَدَّهُits edge
وَكانَ سِناناً أوجَرَ الخَطبَ حَدَّهُ
وَكانَand he was يَداًa hand أُدريI outwit بِهاwith which مَنthose whom أُلاوِثُI grapple with
وَكانَ يَداً أُدري بِها مَن أُلاوِثُ
He was a spear-point that drove its edge down calamity's throat,
Sinan's tongue inflicted wounds that were incurable,
and a hand with which I outwitted those I grappled with,
And his hand knew well those it washed with blood.
بِأَخلاقِwith the character of أَبّاءٍan unyielding man يَعودُbecomes بِهاthrough it الأَذىharm
بِأَخلاقِ أَبّاءٍ يَعودُ بِها الأَذى
وَعوراًrough ground عَلىfor الأَعداءِenemies وَهيَthough they are دَمائِثُgentle
وَعوراً عَلى الأَعداءِ وَهيَ دَمائِثُ
with an unyielding man's virtues, through which harm becomes
With the morals of forefathers, harm recoils upon the harmful,
rough ground for enemies, though those virtues are gentle.
A disability upon the enemies - and it rends them violently.
أَقولُI say لِناعيهِto his death-announcer إِلىto المَجدِglory وَالعُلىand loftiness
أَقولُ لِناعيهِ إِلى المَجدِ وَالعُلى
رَمىmay strike فاكَyour mouth مَسمومُa poisoned blade الغِرارَينِtwo-edged فارِثُgut-rending
رَمى فاكَ مَسمومُ الغِرارَينِ فارِثُ
I say to the one announcing his death to glory and loftiness:
I say to the one who laments his death and high station -
May a poisoned, two-edged, gut-rending blade strike your mouth!
The deceived shooter died while the archer inherited.
كَأَنَّas though سَوادَthe dark core of القَلبِthe heart طارَflew away بِلُبِّهِwith its essence
كَأَنَّ سَوادَ القَلبِ طارَ بِلُبِّهِ
إِلىto الطَودِthe mountain أَقنىa hook-beaked raptor يَنفُضُshaking off الطَلَّthe dew ضابِثُclutching
إِلى الطَودِ أَقنى يَنفُضُ الطَلَّ ضابِثُ
As though the heart's dark core had its essence borne off
It was as if the darkness in his heart flew off
to the mountain by a hook-beaked raptor, shaking off dew, clutching tight.
To the hills, where the twisting serpent sheds its old skin.
وَرُزءٌand a bereavement رَمىhurled بَينَamong القُلوبِhearts شَواظَهُits flames
وَرُزءٌ رَمى بَينَ القُلوبِ شَواظَهُ
أَجيجُthe blazing roar of المَصاليfire-hearths أَسعَرَتهاkindled them المَحارِثُfire-pokers
أَجيجُ المَصالي أَسعَرَتها المَحارِثُ
And a bereavement that hurled its flames among hearts—
He flung among the hearts coal that kindled their passion,
the blazing roar of hearths kindled by fire-pokers.
The burning coal made more blaze by the ploughmen.
بِرُغمِيَagainst my will تُمسيyou pass the evening نازِلاًdwelling فارَan abode (unclear reading) هِجرَةٍexile
بِرُغمِيَ تُمسي نازِلاً فارَ هِجرَةٍ
وَأَنتَand you are المُصافيthe loyal friend وَالقَريبُand the close companion المُنافِثُsharing confidences
وَأَنتَ المُصافي وَالقَريبُ المُنافِثُ
Against my will, at evening you dwell in an abode of exile,
I insist you spend the night traveling afar,
though you are the loyal friend, the intimate confidant;
Though you are gentle and cling to close friendship.
وَأَنand that لاnot أُجافيI push away التُربَthe soil عَنكَfrom you بِراحَةٍwith a palm
وَأَن لا أُجافي التُربَ عَنكَ بِراحَةٍ
وَلَوeven if نازَعَتنيهاcontested it with me الرَقاقُthe thin blades الفَوارِثُgut-rending
وَلَو نازَعَتنيها الرَقاقُ الفَوارِثُ
and I cannot sweep the soil away from you with my palm,
I cannot brush the dust off you with ease
even if thin, gut-rending blades fought me for it.
Even if the hovering calamities snatch you away.
وَإِنand if تَشتَمِلenfolds أَرضٌearth عَليكَaround you فَإِنَّماthen only
وَإِن تَشتَمِل أَرضٌ عَليكَ فَإِنَّما
عَلىaround ماءِthe water of عَينِa spring in النَقاthe sand-dunes وَالكَثاكِثُand loose earth
عَلى ماءِ عَينِ النَقا وَالكَثاكِثُ
And if earth enfolds you, it enfolds only
If the earth covers you, it will cover
spring-water of the dunes and loose earth.
The water of the pure spring and heavy rain.
سَقىmay water النَضَدَthe piled clouds النَجدِيَّfrom Najd مَلقىthe resting-place of ضَرائِحٍtombs
سَقى النَضَدَ النَجدِيَّ مَلقى ضَرائِحٍ
بِهاin them مِنكُمُamong you المُستَصرَخونَthose called upon for help الغَوايِثُthe rescuers
بِها مِنكُمُ المُستَصرَخونَ الغَوايِثُ
May piled clouds from Najd water the resting-place of tombs
It quenched the thirst of Najd's upland meeting the remains
where lie those of you called upon for help, the rescuers.
Of those who cried for help from among you.
فَسَيّانِso equal are فيهاin it مِنin وَقارٍdignity وَمَنand in عُلىًloftiness
فَسَيّانِ فيها مِن وَقارٍ وَمَن عُلىً
عِظامُكُمُyour bones وَالراسِياتُand the rooted mountains اللَوابِثُthe enduring ones
عِظامُكُمُ وَالراسِياتُ اللَوابِثُ
For equal there in dignity and height are
In it two selves of dignity and loftiness
your bones and the firmly rooted, enduring mountains.
Are your bones and those firmly anchored.
وَلاand not بَرِحَتever cease تُنديto moisten عُقودَthe knots of صَعيدِهاits soil
وَلا بَرِحَت تُندي عُقودَ صَعيدِها
نُفاثَةُa spray of ماwhat جادَbestowed الغَمامُthe clouds النَوافِثُrain-spouting
نُفاثَةُ ما جادَ الغَمامُ النَوافِثُ
And may the knots of its soil never cease to be moistened
And it never ceased being bound by the knots of its soil
by the spray bestowed by the rain-spouting clouds.
To the outpourings the rains abundantly outpoured.
لَهاit has خَدَشاتٌscratch-marks بِالمَواميin the wastes كَأَنَّهاas though they were
لَها خَدَشاتٌ بِالمَوامي كَأَنَّها
عَلىupon لَقَمِthe broad road of البَيداءِthe desert أَيدٍhands عَوابِثُplaying
عَلى لَقَمِ البَيداءِ أَيدٍ عَوابِثُ
It scratches the wastes, as though its marks were
It has etchings by tombs as if they were
hands playing upon the desert's broad road.
The work of hands rending the white plain.
صُبابَةُthe last dregs of عِزٍّhonor عَبَّdrank deeply فيfrom مائِهاits water الرَدىDeath
صُبابَةُ عِزٍّ عَبَّ في مائِها الرَدى
وَعادَand returned إِلَيهاto it وَهوَwhile he was ظَمآنُthirsty غارِثُhungry
وَعادَ إِلَيها وَهوَ ظَمآنُ غارِثُ
A remnant of honor, from whose water Death drank deep,
The manliness of glory overflowed in its waters
and returned to it still thirsty and hungry.
And returned to it, parched with thirst.
وَأَفنانُand branches of دَوحاتٍmighty trees مِنَof المَجدِglory أُشرِعَتwere leveled
وَأَفنانُ دَوحاتٍ مِنَ المَجدِ أُشرِعَت
مَشاظيsplinters of الرَدىDeath ماemphatic particle بَينَهاamong them وَالمَشاعِثُand rending spikes
مَشاظي الرَدى ما بَينَها وَالمَشاعِثُ
And branches of mighty trees of glory—leveled
The heights of glory's sand dunes billowed,
among them were Death's splinters and rending spikes.
With nothing between them and the neighboring dunes.
وَماand not كُنتُI was أَخشىfearing الدَهرَtime إِلّاexcept عَلَيهِمُfor them
وَما كُنتُ أَخشى الدَهرَ إِلّا عَلَيهِمُ
فَهانَso became slight الرَزاياafflictions بَعدَهُمafter them وَالحَوادِثُand calamities
فَهانَ الرَزايا بَعدَهُم وَالحَوادِثُ
I feared time only for their sake,
I feared nothing but them in the days of old,
so after them afflictions and calamities became slight.
Calamities lost their bitterness after them.
Sol 6.1