أَيُّwhat طَودٍtowering mountain دُكَّwas crushed مِنfrom أَيِّwhat جِبالِmountains
أَيُّ طَودٍ دُكَّ مِن أَيِّ جِبالِ
لَقَحَتconceived أَرضٌthe earth بِهِthrough him بَعدَafter حِيالِbarrenness
لَقَحَت أَرضٌ بِهِ بَعدَ حِيالِ
What towering peak has been crushed, from what mountains!
What mount was hewn from which mountains
The earth conceived through him after barrenness.
A land was inseminated by it after a period
ماnever رَأىsaw حَيُّthe clan of نِزارٍNizar قَبلَهاbefore it
ما رَأى حَيُّ نِزارٍ قَبلَها
جَبَلاًa mountain سارَtraveled عَلىupon أَيديthe hands of الرِجالِthe men
جَبَلاً سارَ عَلى أَيدي الرِجالِ
Never before had the clan of Nizar seen
No living Hayy has ever seen before it
A mountain traveling upon the hands of men.
A mountain that walked on the hands of men
عَجَباًhow strange أَصبَحتُI have become لِلضَيمِsubject to abasement وَماthough not
عَجَباً أَصبَحتُ لِلضَيمِ وَما
نَثَرَscattered الطَعنُthe spear-thrusting أَنابيبَthe joints of العَواليthe long spears
نَثَرَ الطَعنُ أَنابيبَ العَوالي
How strange: I have come to abasement, though
A wonder I have become to injustice while
No spear-thrusts have shattered the joints of the long spears.
Criticism has not scattered the pipes of loftiness
فَإِذاbut when راميthe archer of المَقاديرِdestinies رَمىshoots
فَإِذا رامي المَقاديرِ رَمى
فَدُروعُthen the armor of المَرءِa man أَعوانُallies of النِصالِthe arrowheads
فَدُروعُ المَرءِ أَعوانُ النِصالِ
But when the archer of fate lets fly,
So when the flinger of destinies flung
A man's armor becomes an ally of the arrowheads.
The armors of a man are aids for spearheads
قادَهُled him المِقدارُfate قَسراًby force بَعدَماafter
قادَهُ المِقدارُ قَسراً بَعدَما
أَكرَهَhe forced السُمرَthe dusky spears عَلىagainst المَقِّthe lanky ones الطَوالِthe tall
أَكرَهَ السُمرَ عَلى المَقِّ الطَوالِ
Fate led him away by force, after
Destiny led him forcibly after
He had driven the dusky spears against the lanky and tall.
It compelled the night watch for the long vigil
وَأَبالَand he made urinate الخَيلَthe horses فيin كُلِّevery حِمىًguarded preserve
وَأَبالَ الخَيلَ في كُلِّ حِمىً
يَمنَعُbars الماطِرَthe raincloud مُنهَلَّpouring freely العَزاليthe waterspouts
يَمنَعُ الماطِرَ مُنهَلَّ العَزالي
And made the horses urinate in every guarded preserve
And raced the horses in every ravine
That barred even a raincloud with pouring spouts.
That prevents the rain from the drinking place of the lonely
مِثلَlike عِقبانِeagles of المَواميthe desert wastes دُلَّحاًweighed down
مِثلَ عِقبانِ المَوامي دُلَّحاً
راشَهاfeathered them قَرعُthe striking of الحَناياthe curved bows بِالنِبالِwith arrows
راشَها قَرعُ الحَنايا بِالنِبالِ
Like eagles of the deserts, weighed down,
Like the hooves of ostriches prodded
Feathered by the curved bows' striking with arrows.
Its pens clanged by the arrows
حامِلاًbearing عَنon behalf of قَومِهِhis people العِبءَthe burden وَماyet not
حامِلاً عَن قَومِهِ العِبءَ وَما
حَمِدواthey thanked عُرعُرَةَthe high hump of العَودِthe old camel الجُلالِthe mighty
حَمِدوا عُرعُرَةَ العَودِ الجُلالِ
Bearing his people's burden, yet
Bearing the burden of his people while
They gave no thanks for the high hump of that mighty old camel.
They did not praise the towering of the glorious limb
أَيُّهاO القَبرُgrave الَّذيwhich أَمسىbecame بِهِbecause of it
أَيُّها القَبرُ الَّذي أَمسى بِهِ
عاطِلَunadorned الأَرضِthe earth جَميعاًentirely وَهوَwhile it is حاليadorned
عاطِلَ الأَرضِ جَميعاً وَهوَ حالي
O grave, because of which
O grave which has resided in it
The whole earth is bare of jewels, while you are adorned!
Idle of all the land and it is my state
لَمdid not يُوارواthey bury بِكَin you مَيتاًa dead man إِنَّماrather
لَم يُواروا بِكَ مَيتاً إِنَّما
أَفرَغواthey poured فيكَinto you ذَنوباًa large bucketful مِنof نَوالِbounty
أَفرَغوا فيكَ ذَنوباً مِن نَوالِ
They did not bury a dead man in you; rather,
They did not bury a dead man in you but rather
They poured into you a bucketful of bounty.
Poured in you sins from the pail
طالَlong lasted ماthe time that لاذَsought refuge بِهِwith him المالُwealth كَماas
طالَ ما لاذَ بِهِ المالُ كَما
لاذَتِsought shelter الإِصبِعُthe toe يَوماًonce بِالقَبالِwith the sandal-thong
لاذَتِ الإِصبِعُ يَوماً بِالقَبالِ
Long had wealth clung to him, as
Wealth clung to him as
A toe once clung to a sandal-thong.
The finger clung one day to leprosy
حَمَلوهُthey carried him بازِلاًa mature camel مُحتَقِراًdisdaining
حَمَلوهُ بازِلاً مُحتَقِراً
دَلَجَjourneying through اللَيلِthe night وَلَزّاتِand the tight grips of الحِبالِropes
دَلَجَ اللَيلِ وَلَزّاتِ الحِبالِ
They bore him away, a mature camel who scorned
They carried him miserable, disdained
Night-travel and the tight bindings of ropes.
In the darkness of night and twines of ropes
إِنif غَداhe has become مَجدوعَةًlopped off أَشرافُهُhis summits
إِن غَدا مَجدوعَةً أَشرافُهُ
فَالبُنىthen the structures وافِيَةٌintact وَالمَجدُand glory عاليlofty
فَالبُنى وافِيَةٌ وَالمَجدُ عالي
Though his lofty summits have been lopped off,
If their nobles have become decapitated tomorrow
His structures are intact, and his glory is high.
Then homesteads are loyal, and glory is lofty
عَقَرواthey maimed لَيثاًa lion وَلَوand had they هاهواshouted بِهِat him
عَقَروا لَيثاً وَلَو هاهوا بِهِ
كانَhe would be بَعدَafter العَقرِmaiming أَرجىmore likely لِلصِيالِto attack
كانَ بَعدَ العَقرِ أَرجى لِلصِيالِ
They maimed a lion; had they shouted at him,
They hamstrung a lion, and had they left it alone
Even maimed, he would have been readier to pounce.
It would have been more hopeful after the hamstringing for the cubs
وَكَذاand thus الأَيّامُthe days مَنwhoever قارَعَهاbattled them
وَكَذا الأَيّامُ مَن قارَعَها
تَرَكَتthey left فيهِupon him عَلاماتِthe marks of النِزالِcombat
تَرَكَت فيهِ عَلاماتِ النِزالِ
Thus are the days: whoever battles them,
And so are the days whoever contends with them
They leave upon him the marks of combat.
It left in him traces of the fight
عَقَلوهُthey hobbled him بَعدَماafter جازَhe passed المَدىthe limit
عَقَلوهُ بَعدَما جازَ المَدى
وَطَوىand traversed شَأوَthe course of مَساعٍendeavors وَمَعاليand high honors
وَطَوى شَأوَ مَساعٍ وَمَعالي
They hobbled him after he had passed the limit
His mind after he exceeded the goal
And traversed the course of endeavors and high honors.
And folded the glory of great deeds and virtues
وَكَذاand thus السابِقُthe frontrunner يَوماًone day بِعِنانٍwith a bridle
وَكَذا السابِقُ يَوماً بِعِنانٍ
يُحرِزُwins السَبقَfirst place وَيَوماًand one day بِعِقالِwith a hobble
يُحرِزُ السَبقَ وَيَوماً بِعِقالِ
So too the champion: one day, with a bridle,
And so the frontrunner one day with a bridle
He wins first place; another day, he wears a hobble.
Attains precedence and one day with a halter
قُمتَyou rose عَنهاaway from her بَعدَماafter عَجَّbellowed بِهاwithin her
قُمتَ عَنها بَعدَما عَجَّ بِها
وَرَمىand cast down أَوسُقَهاher loads بُزلُthe mature ones of الجِمالِthe camels
وَرَمى أَوسُقَها بُزلُ الجِمالِ
You rose and left her, after there had bellowed within her
You stood up from it after it had amazed you
The mature camels, casting down her burdens.
And its charioteer pelted it with cowardice
وَاِنتَزَعتَand you drew out النَصلَthe arrowhead مِنfrom مُقلَتِهاher eye
وَاِنتَزَعتَ النَصلَ مِن مُقلَتِها
بَعدَafter غاياتِthe extremes of نِزاعٍstruggle وَمَطالِand delay
بَعدَ غاياتِ نِزاعٍ وَمَطالِ
And you drew the arrowhead from her eye
And you wrenched the spear from its orbit
After the utmost struggle and delay.
After the extremes of contention and expectation
لَيتَهُمwould that they أَعطَوكَhad given you إِنif لَمnot يَعدِلواthey act justly
لَيتَهُم أَعطَوكَ إِن لَم يَعدِلوا
بُسلَةَthe fee of الراقيthe charm-healer مِنَfor الداءِthe illness العُضالِintractable
بُسلَةَ الراقي مِنَ الداءِ العُضالِ
Would that, if they would not act justly, they had given you
Would that they had given you the cure for the elite
The charm-healer's fee for an intractable illness.
From the chronic disease of hardship
نَتَجواthey brought to birth فيin المَجدِglory ماwhat أَلقَحتَهُyou had made it conceive
نَتَجوا في المَجدِ ما أَلقَحتَهُ
رُبَّماsometimes أَوقَدَkindled ناراًa fire غَيرُsomeone other than صاليone warming himself
رُبَّما أَوقَدَ ناراً غَيرُ صالي
They brought to birth in glory what you had sired;
They excelled in glory what you engendered
Sometimes a fire is lit by one who never warms himself at it.
Perhaps someone other than upright has kindled a fire
وَكَأَنّيand as though I خِلَلَthrough the gaps of الغَيبِthe unseen أَرىsee
وَكَأَنّي خِلَلَ الغَيبِ أَرى
نَغرَةًa flare-up مِنof جُرحِهاher wound بَعدَafter اِندِمالِhealing
نَغرَةً مِن جُرحِها بَعدَ اِندِمالِ
And I seem, through the gaps of the unseen, to see
And it is as if through the unseen I see
Her wound flaring up after it had healed.
A grin from its wound after contracting
وَإِذاand when الأَعداءُthe enemies عَدّوكَreckoned you fit لَهاfor her
وَإِذا الأَعداءُ عَدّوكَ لَها
سَلَّمواthey conceded فَضلَكَyour excellence مِنwith غَيرِno جِدالِdispute
سَلَّموا فَضلَكَ مِن غَيرِ جِدالِ
And when your enemies reckoned you fit for her,
And if the enemies counted you as their enemy
They acknowledged your excellence without dispute.
They would acknowledge your superiority without dispute
لاmay not أَضاعواthey abandon رابِئاًa lookout فيon قُلَّةٍa peak
لا أَضاعوا رابِئاً في قُلَّةٍ
كَلَأَguarded المَجدِglory وَقَدwhile already نامَslept الكَواليthe sentries
كَلَأَ المَجدِ وَقَد نامَ الكَوالي
May they not forsake a watchman on a peak
They did not waste a pillar in scarcity
Who guarded glory while the sentries slept.
That gathered glory and the anklets had slept
يَومَon a day when لِلشِعبِfor the ravine دِهانٌa coating مِنof دَمٍblood
يَومَ لِلشِعبِ دِهانٌ مِن دَمٍ
وَالمَواضيand the keen swords لِلمَقاديمِfor the foreheads فَواليlice-pickers
وَالمَواضي لِلمَقاديمِ فَوالي
On a day when the ravine wore a coating of blood,
A day for the people to be adorned with blood
And keen swords picked lice from the foreheads.
And the plains for the attackers therefore supreme
فيamong فُتوٍّyoung warriors شَيَّعواthey escorted أَرماحَهُمtheir spears
في فُتوٍّ شَيَّعوا أَرماحَهُم
أَمَمَwithin reach of المَوتِdeath إِلىtoward الطَعنِthrusting عِجالِhastening
أَمَمَ المَوتِ إِلى الطَعنِ عِجالِ
Among young warriors who escorted their spears,
In youth their spears bid farewell
Within death's reach, hastening to the thrust.
To the nations of death hastening to the stabbing
بِخِفافٍwith light blades فَوقَabove أَيمانِthe right hands of رِجالٍmen
بِخِفافٍ فَوقَ أَيمانِ رِجالٍ
وَثِقالٍand heavy blades فَوقَabove أَعناقِthe necks of رِجالِmen
وَثِقالٍ فَوقَ أَعناقِ رِجالِ
With blades light upon men's right hands
With light cavalry above the right hand of men
And heavy upon men's necks.
And heavy above the necks of men
قُضُبٌswords يَومُthe day of صَداهاtheir rusting فيin الوَغىbattle
قُضُبٌ يَومُ صَداها في الوَغى
بِالطُلىupon throats أَطوَلُlonger مِنthan يَومِthe day of الصِقالِpolishing
بِالطُلى أَطوَلُ مِن يَومِ الصِقالِ
Swords whose day of rusting in battle
Swords one day their clanging in the fray
Upon throats is longer than their day of polishing.
With the sharpening longer than the day of burnishing
لَكَyours مِنهاamong them ناحِلٌa slender blade تَعصىyou strike as with a staff بِهِwith it
لَكَ مِنها ناحِلٌ تَعصى بِهِ
يَومَon a day أَبدَلنَthey replaced عَصيّاًsticks بِعَواليin place of long spears
يَومَ أَبدَلنَ عَصيّاً بِعَوالي
A slender blade among them is yours, to wield like a staff,
You have from it a slaughterer with which
On the day they turned long spears into sticks.
A day you exchanged staffs for loftiness
تُلحِمُyou provide as meat الأَعداءَthe enemies مِنهُfrom it جازِراًa butcher
تُلحِمُ الأَعداءَ مِنهُ جازِراً
يَنقُلُhe carries اللَحمَthe meat إِلىto غَيرِother than عِيالِdependents
يَنقُلُ اللَحمَ إِلى غَيرِ عِيالِ
With it you offer your enemies as meat to a butcher
It welds the enemies from it as a slaughterer
Who carries the flesh to others than his household.
Transporting the flesh to other than its household
قَدindeed قَدَحتَyou struck fire from العِزَّhonor زَنداًa fire-stick غَيرَnot كابٍfailing to spark
قَد قَدَحتَ العِزَّ زَنداً غَيرَ كابٍ
وَلَبِستَand you wore المَجدَglory بُرداًa cloak غَيرَnot باليworn out
وَلَبِستَ المَجدَ بُرداً غَيرَ بالي
You struck honor like a fire-stick that never fails,
You have kindled glory an unextinguished ember
And wore glory like a cloak that never wears out.
And worn glory a garment free of moth holes
وَإِذاand when أَغلىpriced high الوَرىmankind أُكرومَةًa noble deed
وَإِذا أَغلى الوَرى أُكرومَةً
وَجَدواthey found عِندَكَwith you أَثمانَthe prices of الغَواليthe costliest ones
وَجَدوا عِندَكَ أَثمانَ الغَوالي
And when people priced a noble deed high,
And if the land became stiflingly hot
They found with you the prices of the costliest deeds.
They found with you the prices of the unknown
إِنَّindeed لِلطائِعِfor al-Ta'i عِنديwith me مِنَّةًa favor
إِنَّ لِلطائِعِ عِندي مِنَّةً
وَحِمىًand a sacred bond قَدindeed بَلَّهاhe watered it ليfor me بِبَلاليwith my share of bounty
وَحِمىً قَد بَلَّها لي بِبَلالي
Indeed, I owe al-Ta'i a debt of gratitude,
I have a favor for the compliant with me
And a sacred bond he watered for me with my share of bounty.
And a protection I have made known to me by my Bilal
لَيسَdoes not يُنسيهاmake it forgotten وَإِنand even if طالَgrew long المَدىthe span
لَيسَ يُنسيها وَإِن طالَ المَدى
مَرُّthe passing of أَيّامٍdays عَلَيهاover it وَلَياليand nights
مَرُّ أَيّامٍ عَلَيها وَلَيالي
Though the span grow long, it is not made forgotten
It is not forgotten even if time is long
By days and nights passing over it.
Bitter days over it and nights
فاتَنيescaped me مِنكَfor you اِنتِصارٌchampioning بِيَمينيwith my right hand
فاتَني مِنكَ اِنتِصارٌ بِيَميني
فَتَلافَيتُso I made amends اِنتِصاراًchampioning بِمَقاليwith my words
فَتَلافَيتُ اِنتِصاراً بِمَقالي
The chance to defend you with my right hand escaped me,
A victory by my right hand eluded me
So I made amends by defending you with my words.
So I attained a victory by my words
لاno عَجيبٌwonder حِفظُthe protection of كَفٍّa palm لِبَنانٍfor fingers
لا عَجيبٌ حِفظُ كَفٍّ لِبَنانٍ
وَوَفاءٌand loyalty مِنfrom يَمينٍa right hand لِشِمالِto a left hand
وَوَفاءٌ مِن يَمينٍ لِشِمالِ
A palm protecting its fingers is no wonder,
It is no wonder the preservation of a palm for a branch
Nor is a right hand's faithfulness to the left.
And loyalty from a right hand to a left
عَزَّstrong is مَنone who أَمسىhas become مُعِدّاًpreparing ظَهرَهُhis mount
عَزَّ مَن أَمسى مُعِدّاً ظَهرَهُ
أَخَذَhe took الأُهبَةَprovision يَوماًone day لِلزَيالِfor departure
أَخَذَ الأُهبَةَ يَوماً لِلزَيالِ
Strong is the man who makes his mount ready,
Honored is he who spends his back
Taking provision one day for departure.
Took the gifts one day for comrades
يَنظُرُhe regards الدُنياthe world بَعَينَيwith the two eyes of ناهِضٍa bird taking flight
يَنظُرُ الدُنيا بَعَينَي ناهِضٍ
مَطَرٌrain-drenched يَنفُضُshaking off أَنداءَthe moisture of الطِلالِgentle showers
مَطَرٌ يَنفُضُ أَنداءَ الطِلالِ
Who looks on the world with the eyes of a bird rising,
He views the world with the eyes of one wide awake
Rain-drenched, shaking off the moisture of gentle showers.
Rain scattering the folds of slopes
يَنشُطُhe snatches البُلغَةَa meager ration مِنfrom آكِلِهاits eater
يَنشُطُ البُلغَةَ مِن آكِلِها
نِشطَةَthe snatch of المَطرودِthe driven-away one وَلّىhe departed وَهوَwhile he was خاليempty-handed
نِشطَةَ المَطرودِ وَلّى وَهوَ خالي
He snatches a morsel from the one eating it,
It invigorates eloquence from its consuming
Like an outcast's snatch as he departs empty-handed.
Like the expelled became active and left empty handed
لاmay not يَرِمleave قَبرَكَyour grave مِبراقُa lightning-flashing cloud الذُرىat the crests
لا يَرِم قَبرَكَ مِبراقُ الذُرى
مُنجِدَupland-reaching الأَعناقِthe necks غَوريَّlowland-reaching التَواليthe trailing parts
مُنجِدَ الأَعناقِ غَوريَّ التَوالي
May a cloud with lightning-flashing crests never leave your grave,
No lightning bolt of creatures will hurl your grave
Its necks in the uplands, its trailing parts in the lowlands.
The savior of necks, cave-like consecutive
كُلَّماwhenever عَجَّit roared رَمىhurled فيacross عُرضِهِits breadth
كُلَّما عَجَّ رَمى في عُرضِهِ
شُعَلَflames of البَرقِlightning الرَبابُthe cloudbank المُتَعاليtowering
شُعَلَ البَرقِ الرَبابُ المُتَعالي
Whenever it roars, across its breadth are cast
Whenever it grew disturbed it hurled at its honor
Flames of lightning by the towering cloudbank.
The flashes of lightning the loud rumbling
كَرَهاءِlike throngs of الدُهمِthe dark steeds لاقَيتَyou confronted بِهِwith it
كَرَهاءِ الدُهمِ لاقَيتَ بِهِ
فيin رِعالٍsquadrons يَتَعَدّىpressing onward بِرِعالِwith squadrons
في رِعالٍ يَتَعَدّى بِرِعالِ
Like throngs of dark steeds with which you faced the foe,
Abhorrent misfortunes you met with it
In squadrons, one pressing onward with another.
In a quiver transgressing with a quiver
تُطلِقُloosens الصَرَّةَthe teat-binding مِنfrom أَخلافِهِits teats
تُطلِقُ الصَرَّةَ مِن أَخلافِهِ
أُمُّthe mother of أَوبَينِtwo returns نُعامىthe south wind وَشَمالِand the north wind
أُمُّ أَوبَينِ نُعامى وَشَمالِ
The binding is loosened from its teats
It unleashes the arrow from behind it
By the mother of two returns: south wind and north wind.
Mother of frightened ostriches and left
أُلحِقَتwas driven onward شَعّاعَةُthe scattered cloud الريحِby the wind كَماjust as
أُلحِقَت شَعّاعَةُ الريحِ كَما
جَرَّتِdragged الخَيلُthe horses رَعابيبَthe tender beauties of الحِلالِthe encampments
جَرَّتِ الخَيلُ رَعابيبَ الحِلالِ
The wind-scattered cloud was driven onward, as
The streak of wind was made concurrent as
Horses dragged the tender beauties of the encampments.
The mares dragged the virgins of the halal
لاnot أَرىI see الدَمعَtears كِفاءًa match لِلجَوىfor heartache
لا أَرى الدَمعَ كِفاءً لِلجَوى
لَيسَit is not أَنَّthat الدَمعَtears مِنfrom بَعدِكَafter you غاليcostly
لَيسَ أَنَّ الدَمعَ مِن بَعدِكَ غالي
I do not see tears as a match for the heart's grief;
I do not see tears as adequate for the torment
It is not that tears are too costly after you.
It is not that tears after you are expensive
وَبِرُغميand against my will أَنthat كَسَوناكَwe clothed you الثَرىthe earth
وَبِرُغمي أَن كَسَوناكَ الثَرى
وَفَرَشناكَand we bedded you زَرابيَّcarpets of الرِمالِsand
وَفَرَشناكَ زَرابيَّ الرِمالِ
It was against my will that we clothed you in earth,
And in spite of me that we clothed you in soil
And bedded you upon carpets of sand.
And we spread you out on the carpets of sands
وَهَجَرناكَand we forsook you عَلىdespite ضَنِّthe jealous clinging of الهَوىlove
وَهَجَرناكَ عَلى ضَنِّ الهَوى
رُبَّmany a هِجرانٍparting عَلىwith غَيرِno تَقاليmutual hatred
رُبَّ هِجرانٍ عَلى غَيرِ تَقالي
And forsook you, though love was loath to let you go;
And we abandoned you with the bitterness of passion
Many a parting comes without mutual hatred.
Perhaps an abandonment without wear
أَيُّهاO الظاعِنُdeparting one لاmay not جازَpass الحَياlife-giving rain
أَيُّها الظاعِنُ لا جازَ الحَيا
أَبَداًever بَعدَكَafter you بِالحَيِّthrough the tribe الحِلالِsettled
أَبَداً بَعدَكَ بِالحَيِّ الحِلالِ
O departed one, may life-giving rain never pass
O you who pointed out, the living never
After you, ever, through the settled tribe's camp.
Transcended after you with the halal living
كُنتَyou were فيin الأَحجالِfetters أَرجوكَI hoped for you وَلاand I do not
كُنتَ في الأَحجالِ أَرجوكَ وَلا
أَرتَجيhope for اليَومَtoday عَظيماًa great man فيin الحِجالِcurtained chambers
أَرتَجي اليَومَ عَظيماً في الحِجالِ
While you were in fetters, I hoped for you; I do not
You were in shackles I hoped for you but today
Today place hope in a great man in curtained chambers.
I do not hope for the great in shackles
كُلُّevery مَأسورٍcaptive يُرَجّىis hoped for فَكُّهُhis release
كُلُّ مَأسورٍ يُرَجّى فَكُّهُ
غَيرَexcept مَنone who أَصبَحَhas become فيin قَيدِthe bondage of اللَياليthe nights
غَيرَ مَن أَصبَحَ في قَيدِ اللَيالي
Every captive may be hoped to find release,
Every captive is hoped to be released
Except one who has fallen into the chains of nights.
Other than one who became in the captivity of nights
نَسَبٌa lineage كَالشَمسِlike the sun أَوفَيتَyou rose high بِهِthrough it
نَسَبٌ كَالشَمسِ أَوفَيتَ بِهِ
فيin المَعاليhigh honors بَينَbetween نَجمٍa star وَهِلالِand a crescent
في المَعالي بَينَ نَجمٍ وَهِلالِ
A lineage like the sun, with which you rose
A lineage you were loyal to like the sun
In high honors, between a star and a crescent.
Among the stars and crescent
زَلِقَslippery المَرقىin ascent بَعيدَdistant المُنتَمىin its origin
زَلِقَ المَرقى بَعيدَ المُنتَمى
فيamong قِنانٍpeaks لِلمَساعيof noble endeavors وَقِلالِand summits
في قِنانٍ لِلمَساعي وَقِلالِ
Slippery to climb, remote in its origin,
The path slipped far-fetched
Among peaks of noble endeavors and lofty summits.
In paths for endeavors and scarcity
تَقصُرُfall short الأَلحاظُglances عَنهُنَّof them فَماso what
تَقصُرُ الأَلحاظُ عَنهُنَّ فَما
ظَنُthe expectation of مَنone who مَدَّstretched يَدَيهِhis two hands لِلمَنالِto attain
ظَنُ مَن مَدَّ يَدَيهِ لِلمَنالِ
Glances fall short of them; what, then, is
The sights fall short of them so what
The expectation of one who stretches out his hands to reach them?
Thinker of one who extended his hands for attainment
فيon الرَوابيthe hills مِنof مَعَدٍّMa'add وَالذُرىand the summits
في الرَوابي مِن مَعَدٍّ وَالذُرى
نُهِزَwas drawn up المَجدُglory بِعاديِّwith enormous السِجالِbuckets
نُهِزَ المَجدُ بِعاديِّ السِجالِ
On the hills of Ma'add and their summits,
In the hillsides from aiding and creatures
Glory was drawn up with enormous buckets.
Glory tossed by the transgressor of quarrel
وَإِذاand if ماever الأَرضُthe earth كانَتbecame شَوكَةًa thorn
وَإِذا ما الأَرضُ كانَت شَوكَةً
خَطَرواthey strode proudly فيهاupon it عَلىwith غَيرِno نِعالِsandals
خَطَروا فيها عَلى غَيرِ نِعالِ
And if ever the earth became a thorn,
And if the earth were thorns
They would stride proudly upon it without sandals.
They strode over it without sandals
كُلُّevery راقٍclimber مَرَّpassed بِالنَجمِby the star إِلىtoward
كُلُّ راقٍ مَرَّ بِالنَجمِ إِلى
قُنَنِthe peaks of السُؤدَدِlordship وَالمَجدِand glory الطَوالِtowering
قُنَنِ السُؤدَدِ وَالمَجدِ الطَوالِ
Every climber passed beyond the star to
Every arriver to the star until
The towering peaks of lordship and glory.
The regulations of Sudaad and long glory
مَعشَرٌa people إِنeven if غابَتِhid from sight الأَرضُthe earth بِهِمwith them
مَعشَرٌ إِن غابَتِ الأَرضُ بِهِم
لَمdid not يَغيبواthey disappear عِندَin matters of مَجدٍglory وَفَعالِand noble deeds
لَم يَغيبوا عِندَ مَجدٍ وَفَعالِ
A people: though the earth concealed them,
A group if the earth is absent with them
They did not disappear from glory and noble deeds.
They are not absent with glory and deeds
كُلَّماwhenever اِزدادَتincreased بِلىًin decay أَعظُمُهُمtheir bones
كُلَّما اِزدادَت بِلىً أَعظُمُهُم
نَشَرَتهُمresurrected them سُمَعٌrenown غَيرُnot بَواليdecaying
نَشَرَتهُم سُمَعٌ غَيرُ بَوالي
Whenever their bones grew more decayed,
Whenever they wore out more, their greatest
Renown that never decays resurrected them.
Spread them a hearing other than truncated
وَالعُلىand loftiness ماso long as لَمnot يَرُبّواthey nurture دارَهاits abode
وَالعُلى ما لَم يَرُبّوا دارَها
طُرُقٌpaths عوجٌcrooked وَأَطلالٌand ruins خَواليdeserted
طُرُقٌ عوجٌ وَأَطلالٌ خَوالي
And loftiness, unless they tend its abode,
And the loftiness they did not breed in it
Is crooked paths and deserted ruins.
Winding paths, ruins, and lonely ruins
ضَمِنَتenclosed مِنهُمof them قَراراتُهُمُtheir resting places
ضَمِنَت مِنهُم قَراراتُهُمُ
عَمَدَthe pillars of المَجدِglory وَأَركانَand the cornerstones of المَعاليhigh honors
عَمَدَ المَجدِ وَأَركانَ المَعالي
Their resting places hold within them
Their resolutions guaranteed from them
The pillars of glory and the cornerstones of high honors.
The pillars of glory and cornerstones of loftiness
لاdo not تَقُلsay تِلكَthose قُبورٌgraves إِنَّماrather
لا تَقُل تِلكَ قُبورٌ إِنَّما
هِيَthey are أَصدافٌshells عَلىenclosing غَيرِother than لَآلِpearls
هِيَ أَصدافٌ عَلى غَيرِ لَآلِ
Do not say, "Those are graves"; rather,
Do not say those are graves but rather
They are shells containing something other than pearls.
They are shells upon other than pearls
Sol 6.1