شَقِيَتsuffered مِنكَfrom you بِالعَلاءِthrough eminence الأَعاديthe enemies
شَقِيَت مِنكَ بِالعَلاءِ الأَعادي
وَالمَعاليand lofty honors ضَرائِرُrival wives of الحُسّادِthe envious
وَالمَعالي ضَرائِرُ الحُسّادِ
Your enemies suffered through your eminence;
I have suffered from your aloofness, O enemy of the heights!
lofty honors are rival wives to the envious.
And sublime aspirations are the woes of the envious.
وَاِستَقادَand exacted vengeance الزَمانُTime بَعدَafter التَدانيdrawing near
وَاِستَقادَ الزَمانُ بَعدَ التَداني
مِنon رِجالٍmen تَفاءَلواfound good omens بِالبِعادِin separation
مِن رِجالٍ تَفاءَلوا بِالبِعادِ
And Time, after drawing near, exacted vengeance
Time regained its vigor after the rapprochement
on men who found good omens in separation.
With men who rejoiced in estrangement.
وَرَعَيتَand you cherished الإِيابَthe return غَضاًfresh جَديداًnew
وَرَعَيتَ الإِيابَ غَضاً جَديداً
وَتَبَدَّلتَand you exchanged مُطمَحاًa head held high بِالقِيادِfor the reins
وَتَبَدَّلتَ مُطمَحاً بِالقِيادِ
You cherished your return, fresh and new,
You shepherded the return with renewed rancor
and traded the reins for a head held high.
And changed your aspiration for leadership.
وَإِذاand when ماemphatic particle الشَجاعُthe brave man شَمَّرَtucked up بُردَيtwo cloaks
وَإِذا ما الشَجاعُ شَمَّرَ بُردَي
هِhis فَلِلَّهِthen, by God أَيُّwhat a يَومِday of جِلادِcombat
هِ فَلِلَّهِ أَيُّ يَومِ جِلادِ
And when the brave man tucks up both his cloaks,
When the brave girded up his robes
by God, what a day of combat!
For God's sake, what a day of strife!
أَمرَعَتgrew lush أَرضُناour land بِكُلِّin every مَكانٍplace
أَمرَعَت أَرضُنا بِكُلِّ مَكانٍ
وَاِستَجابَتand answered لَناus بُروقُthe lightning of الغَواديmorning rainclouds
وَاِستَجابَت لَنا بُروقُ الغَوادي
Our land grew lush in every place,
Our land yielded in every place
and the lightning of morning rainclouds answered us.
And the lightnings of the valleys responded to us.
وَحَباناand favored us بِوَبلِهِwith its downpour كُلُّevery أُفقٍhorizon
وَحَبانا بِوَبلِهِ كُلُّ أُفقٍ
وَأَتاناand came to us بِسَيلِهِwith its torrent كُلُّevery وادِvalley
وَأَتانا بِسَيلِهِ كُلُّ وادِ
Every horizon favored us with its downpour,
Every horizon bestowed its showers upon us
and every valley brought us its torrent.
And every valley sent us its floods.
أَتُرىdo you think? آنَit is time لِلمُنىfor wishes أَنto تُقاضيclaim fulfillment
أَتُرى آنَ لِلمُنى أَن تُقاضي
حاجَةٍa need طالَgrew long مَطلُهاits deferment فيin الفُؤادِthe heart
حاجَةٍ طالَ مَطلُها في الفُؤادِ
Do you think it is time for wishes to demand
Is it time for wishes to demand
the fulfillment of a need long deferred within the heart?
A need whose expectation was prolonged in hearts?
بَينَbetween هَمٍّa care تَحتَbeneath المَناسِمِthe camel-hooves مَطروcast down (continued)
بَينَ هَمٍّ تَحتَ المَناسِمِ مَطرو
حٍcompletion of 'cast down' وَعَزمٍand resolve عَلىon ظُهورِthe backs of الجِيادِthe steeds
حٍ وَعَزمٍ عَلى ظُهورِ الجِيادِ
Between a care cast down beneath camel-hooves
Between anxiety lurking in the writhing of lightning,
and resolve upon the backs of steeds,
And resolve upon the withers of steeds.
وَمَهارٍand colts يَكُدُّهاwearies them كُلَّevery يَومٍday
وَمَهارٍ يَكُدُّها كُلَّ يَومٍ
طَرَدٌpursuit أَوor قَوارِحُmature horses فيin الطَرادِmounted combat
طَرَدٌ أَو قَوارِحُ في الطَرادِ
and colts wearied every day
And skill that is impaired each day
by pursuit—or mature steeds in mounted combat—
By chasing away or pursuit by chasers.
مِنfrom قُلوبٍhearts لَهاthey have التَقَلُّبُmovement فيin العَزresolve (continued)
مِن قُلوبٍ لَها التَقَلُّبُ في العَز
مِcompletion of 'resolve' وَأَيدٍand hands طَليقَةٍunfettered بِالأَياديwith favors
مِ وَأَيدٍ طَليقَةٍ بِالأَيادي
from hearts that stir within resolve
From hearts that have fluctuation in resolve
and hands unfettered in their favors.
And hands that are facile with hands.
ماnot يُباليcares الهُمامُthe noble hero أَينَwhere تَرَقّىhe rises
ما يُبالي الهُمامُ أَينَ تَرَقّى
وَخَباءُwhile the tent of العُلىglory أَمينُsecure العِمادِthe supporting pole
وَخَباءُ العُلى أَمينُ العِمادِ
The noble hero cares not where he rises,
The aspirants care not where they climb,
while glory's tent stands on secure supports.
And the pinnacle of glory is the secure pillar.
ياO حَياةًlife يَشجىgrieves بِهاbecause of it كُلُّevery حَيٍّliving being
يا حَياةً يَشجى بِها كُلُّ حَيٍّ
وَالتَواليand the followers شَجِيَّةٌheartsick بِالهَواديover the leaders
وَالتَوالي شَجِيَّةٌ بِالهَوادي
O life that brings grief to every living soul,
O life by which every living grieves
while followers are heartsick over leaders.
And the sequence of which is woeful in the valleys,
إِنif سَماrises بِالنِفاقِthrough hypocrisy غَيرُكَsomeone other than you فَالأَوthen the ibexes (continued)
إِن سَما بِالنِفاقِ غَيرُكَ فَالأَو
عالُcompletion of 'ibexes' مَلوِيَّةٌbent عَلىupon الأَطوادِthe towering mountains
عالُ مَلوِيَّةٌ عَلى الأَطوادِ
If another rises through hypocrisy, the ibexes
If he who feigns devotion to you ascends, destinations
too are bent atop towering mountains.
Are twisted upon the heights.
أَوor تَعاطىtries to attain مَداكَyour reach فَالمَرءُthen a man مَسبوoutstripped (continued)
أَو تَعاطى مَداكَ فَالمَرءُ مَسبو
قٌcompletion of 'outstripped' إِذاwhen كَفَّchecks مِنfrom عِنانِthe reins of الجَوادِthe steed
قٌ إِذا كَفَّ مِن عِنانِ الجَوادِ
Or if he tries to reach your stature, a man is outstripped
Or if he takes your gifts, man is deserving of blame
when he checks the reins of his steed.
When he checks the rein of his steed.
حَرَّكَتyou stirred عَزمَةَthe resolve for المَعاليlofty deeds وَلَكِنyet
حَرَّكَت عَزمَةَ المَعالي وَلَكِن
يُحدِثُproduces السَيلُthe torrent خِفَّةًlightness فيin الجَمادِinert matter
يُحدِثُ السَيلُ خِفَّةً في الجَمادِ
You stirred resolve for lofty deeds; yet
You stirred the will to glory but
the torrent gives lightness to inert matter.
The torrent produces lightness in the solid.
كَيفَhow يَستَعمِلُpractices السَماحَgenerosity وَبَذلَand the giving of الthe
كَيفَ يَستَعمِلُ السَماحَ وَبَذلَ ال
مالِwealth غَيرُanyone other than المُعَلِّمِthe teacher المُستَفادِfrom whom one learns
مالِ غَيرُ المُعَلِّمِ المُستَفادِ
How can anyone practice generosity and the giving of
How can the generous employ and expend wealth
wealth, except the teacher from whom it is learned?
Other than one who profits from the lesson?
نَحنُwe فيamong عُصبَةٍa band تَرىsees الجَورَoppression عَدلاًas justice
نَحنُ في عُصبَةٍ تَرى الجَورَ عَدلاً
وَتُسَمّيand calls الضَلالَerror دارَthe abode of رَشادِright guidance
وَتُسَمّي الضَلالَ دارَ رَشادِ
We are among a band that takes oppression for justice
We are in a league that sees injustice as justice
and calls error the abode of right guidance.
And names misguidance the house of right guidance.
فيamong رِجالٍmen تَهزاsneer بِوَفدِat the envoys of المَعاليlofty honors
في رِجالٍ تَهزا بِوَفدِ المَعالي
وَدِيارٍand dwellings تَسطوassail عَلىupon الوُرّادِthe visitors
وَدِيارٍ تَسطو عَلى الوُرّادِ
Among men who sneer at high honor's envoys,
Amongst men the heights were shaken by the delegation of glory
and dwellings that assail their visitors.
And homelands prevailed over the expanses.
إِنَّماonly أَنتَyou نِعمَةُthe blessing of اللَهِGod فيon الأَرthe earth (continued)
إِنَّما أَنتَ نِعمَةُ اللَهِ في الأَر
ضِcompletion of 'earth' إِذاwhen كانَHe is نِقمَةًa scourge لِلعِبادِto the servants
ضِ إِذا كانَ نِقمَةً لِلعِبادِ
You are God's blessing upon the earth
You are only God's blessing in the land
when He is a scourge to His servants.
If you are a scourge to the slaves.
لَكَyou have طَبعٌa nature تَعَرَّفَتهُcame to know it اللَياليthe nights
لَكَ طَبعٌ تَعَرَّفَتهُ اللَيالي
وَاِمتَرىand doubted فيهِabout it كُلُّevery قارٍsettled dweller وَباديand nomad
وَاِمتَرى فيهِ كُلُّ قارٍ وَبادي
You have a nature that the nights have come to know,
You have a nature recognized by the nights
and every townsman and nomad has doubted it.
And discerned in it is every sedentary and nomad:
جاعِلٌmaking قَسوَةَthe harshness of الوَعيدِthe threat عَلىagainst الأَيthe days (continued)
جاعِلٌ قَسوَةَ الوَعيدِ عَلى الأَي
يامِcompletion of 'days' عَبداًa slave لِرِقَّةِto the tenderness of الميعادِthe promise
يامِ عَبداً لِرِقَّةِ الميعادِ
You make the harshness of threats against the days
Appointing the severity of threat against the days
a slave to the tenderness of promises.
A servant to the tenderness of the appointed time.
أَيَكونُcan ... be? البَخيلُthe miser غَيرَother than بَخيلٍa miser
أَيَكونُ البَخيلُ غَيرَ بَخيلٍ
أَمor يَكونُcan ... be الجَوادُthe generous man غَيرَother than جَوادِgenerous
أَم يَكونُ الجَوادُ غَيرَ جَوادِ
Can the miser be anything but a miser,
Can a miser be other than miserly
or the generous man anything but generous?
Or can a generous man be other than generous?
لَأَجارَsurely sheltered الزَمانُTime مِنfrom كُلِّevery بُؤسٍmisery
لَأَجارَ الزَمانُ مِن كُلِّ بُؤسٍ
ظاهِرَradiant in الجَدِّgood fortune طاهِرَpure in الأَجدادِforefathers
ظاهِرَ الجَدِّ طاهِرَ الأَجدادِ
Time has surely sheltered from every misery
May time be rid of every misery,
a man of radiant fortune and pure forefathers.
Manifest serious, pure ancestry,
فَرِحاتٌrejoicing بِهِat him العُيونُthe eyes كَماjust as تَفrejoice (continued)
فَرِحاتٌ بِهِ العُيونُ كَما تَف
رَحُcompletion of 'rejoice' بِالعُشبِat the grass أَعيُنُthe eyes of الرُوّادِpasture-scouts
رَحُ بِالعُشبِ أَعيُنُ الرُوّادِ
Eyes rejoice at him, just as
Joys by which eyes rejoice
the eyes of pasture-scouts rejoice at grass.
As the eyes of visitors rejoice in vegetation.
واضِحُclear in العَزمِresolve مُتلَئِبُّsteadily advancing المَطاياthe mounts
واضِحُ العَزمِ مُتلَئِبُّ المَطايا
مُستَطيبُdelighting in الإِتهامِgoing into Tihama وَالإِنجادِand going into Najd
مُستَطيبُ الإِتهامِ وَالإِنجادِ
Clear in resolve, his mounts moving unswervingly,
Clear in purpose, humble in pretense,
delighting in journeys to Tihama and Najd.
Sweetening innuendo and assistance.
أَخَذَتtook hold كَفُّهُhis hand بِصَخرَةِof a rock of عَزمٍresolve
أَخَذَت كَفُّهُ بِصَخرَةِ عَزمٍ
دَوَّخَتsubdued بِالطِلابِthrough striving هامَthe heads of البِلادِthe lands
دَوَّخَت بِالطِلابِ هامَ البِلادِ
His hand took hold of a rock of resolve
His palm took up the rock of resolve
that subdued the heads of the lands through striving.
That pounded the cliffs with seekers.
وَجَبانٍand a coward لَوَيتَyou turned away عَنهُfrom him فَأَمسىso he became
وَجَبانٍ لَوَيتَ عَنهُ فَأَمسى
وَجِلَfearful in العَينِthe eye مِنof قِراعِthe assault of الرُقادِsleep
وَجِلَ العَينِ مِن قِراعِ الرُقادِ
And a coward you turned away from became
And a coward whom he turned away from so he passed the night
fearful-eyed at the onslaught of sleep,
Tossing and turning from the clashing of the shields.
مُستَطيراًpanic-stricken كَأَنَّas though هُدّابَthe lashes of جَفنَيthe two eyelids
مُستَطيراً كَأَنَّ هُدّابَ جَفنَي
هِhis عَلىupon الناظِرَينِthe two pupils شَوكُthe thorns of القَتادِthe qatad shrub
هِ عَلى الناظِرَينِ شَوكُ القَتادِ
panic-stricken, as though the lashes of his eyelids
As if the eyelids were upon the beholders
were thorns of the qatad shrub upon his pupils.
The thorns of prickly pears.
لاmay not أَقالَpardon الإِلَهُGod مَنwhoever خانَكَbetrayed you in العَهthe covenant (continued)
لا أَقالَ الإِلَهُ مَن خانَكَ العَه
دَcompletion of 'covenant' وَجازاكَand repaid you بَغضَةًhatred بِالوَدادِfor affection
دَ وَجازاكَ بَغضَةً بِالوَدادِ
May God never pardon whoever betrayed his pledge to you
May God not appease one who betrayed your covenant
and repaid your affection with hatred.
And reciprocated your affection with hatred!
ظَنَّhe thought بِالعَجزِthrough weakness أَنَّthat حَبسَكَyour imprisonment ذُلٌّhumiliation
ظَنَّ بِالعَجزِ أَنَّ حَبسَكَ ذُلٌّ
وَالمَواضيwhile keen swords تُصانُare protected بِالإِغمادِby sheathing
وَالمَواضي تُصانُ بِالإِغمادِ
He thought, in his weakness, that your imprisonment was humiliation,
He thought imprisonment was baseness to you
while keen swords are protected by sheathing.
While the pastures are protected by flooding.
قَصَّرَlowered الدَهرُTime مِنfrom ذُراهُhis heights وَقَدthough indeed كاhe had been (continued)
قَصَّرَ الدَهرُ مِن ذُراهُ وَقَد كا
نَcompletion of 'had been' بِتِلكَwith those الظُبىblades طَويلَlong of النِجادِsword-belt
نَ بِتِلكَ الظُبى طَويلَ النِجادِ
Time lowered his stature, though once,
Time fell short of its height yet it had been
with those blades, he had borne a long sword-belt.
With that gazelle long of stride.
وَأَذَلَّand humbled الزَمانُTime بَعدَكَafter you عِطفَيboth sides
وَأَذَلَّ الزَمانُ بَعدَكَ عِطفَي
هِhis وَقَدthough كانَhe had been مِنamong أَعَزِّthe mightiest of العِبادِmen
هِ وَقَد كانَ مِن أَعَزِّ العِبادِ
And Time humbled both his sides after you,
And time humiliated you after you
though he had been among the mightiest of men.
When it had been among the proudest of worshipers.
كُنتَyou were لَيثاًa lion وَكانَand he was ذِئباًa wolf وَلَكِنyet
كُنتَ لَيثاً وَكانَ ذِئباً وَلَكِن
لاnot تَلَذُّtake pleasure الأَشكالُlike natures بِالأَضدادِin opposites
لا تَلَذُّ الأَشكالُ بِالأَضدادِ
You were a lion and he a wolf; yet
You were a lion and he was a wolf but
like natures take no pleasure in opposites.
Forms do not delight in contraries.
وَتَمادىand persisted بِماin what جَناهُhe perpetrated it عَلىagainst الأَيthe days (continued)
وَتَمادى بِما جَناهُ عَلى الأَي
يامِcompletion of 'days' حَتّىuntil جَنىwrought harm عَلَيهِupon him التَماديpersistence
يامِ حَتّى جَنى عَلَيهِ التَمادي
He persisted in the wrongs he wrought against the days,
And he went to excess with what he gained over the days
until persistence wrought his own undoing.
Until excess gained over him.
سَمَحَتgave freely كَفُّهُhis hand بِهِwith him لِلمَناياto the fates of death
سَمَحَت كَفُّهُ بِهِ لِلمَنايا
بَعدَafter أَنthat لَمnot يَكُنhe was مِنَamong الأَجوادِthe generous
بَعدَ أَن لَم يَكُن مِنَ الأَجوادِ
His hand gave him freely to death,
His palm relented to the deaths
after never having been among the generous.
After he had not been one of the generous.
ظَنَّhe thought أَنَّthat المَدىthe span يَطولُwould lengthen وَفيyet among الآhopes (continued)
ظَنَّ أَنَّ المَدى يَطولُ وَفي الآ
مالِcompletion of 'hopes' ماwhat لاnot يُعانُis helped بِالإِجدادِby earnest effort
مالِ ما لا يُعانُ بِالإِجدادِ
He thought his span would lengthen; yet among hopes
He thought the course would be long while in hopes
are things no earnest effort can bring to pass.
Is what cannot be attained by exertion.
كُلُّevery حَيٍّliving being يُغالِطُtries to deceive العَيشَlife بِالدَهwith Time (continued)
كُلُّ حَيٍّ يُغالِطُ العَيشَ بِالدَه
رِcompletion of 'Time' وَكُلٌّand everyone تَعدوassail عَلَيهِhim العَواديcalamities
رِ وَكُلٌّ تَعدو عَلَيهِ العَوادي
Every living being tries to cheat life with Time,
Every living deceives life with fate
and calamities assail everyone.
And each surpasses it with disasters.
لَوif رَجَعناwe returned إِلىto العُقولِreason يَقيناًwith certainty
لَو رَجَعنا إِلى العُقولِ يَقيناً
لَرَأَيناwe would surely see المَماتَdeath فيin الميلادِbirth
لَرَأَينا المَماتَ في الميلادِ
If we truly turned back to reason,
If we returned to reason certainly
we would see death within birth.
We would see death in birth.
كَيفَhow لاnot يَطلُبُseeks الحِمامَdeath عَليلٌan ailing man
كَيفَ لا يَطلُبُ الحِمامَ عَليلٌ
حَكَّمَgave authority to الدَهرُTime فيهِover him رَأيَthe will of المَعادِthe adversary
حَكَّمَ الدَهرُ فيهِ رَأيَ المَعادِ
How could an ailing man not seek death,
Why does not the sick seek the dove?
when Time has subjected him to an enemy's will?
Fate ruled its judgment in him.
لَوif أُجيزَتwere permitted لَهُto him العِيادَةُsickbed visits يَوماًone day
لَو أُجيزَت لَهُ العِيادَةُ يَوماً
لَقَضىhe would surely die مِنfrom فَظاظَةِthe harshness of العُوّادِthe visitors
لَقَضى مِن فَظاظَةِ العُوّادِ
If visits to his sickbed were allowed one day,
If visitation were allowed him one day
he would die from his visitors' harshness.
He would have expended the coarseness of the visitors.
أَوor تَصَدّىhe presented himself لَمَجمَعٍat a gathering جَرَحَتهُwounded him
أَو تَصَدّى لَمَجمَعٍ جَرَحَتهُ
أَلسُنُthe tongues of القَومِthe people بِالعُيونِthrough the eyes الحِدادِpiercing
أَلسُنُ القَومِ بِالعُيونِ الحِدادِ
Or if he faced a gathering, he would be wounded
Or attacked an assembly whose wounds
by the people's tongues through their piercing eyes.
Were slit by the tongues of the people there.
هَكَذاthus تُدرِكُobtain النُفوسُsouls مِنَfrom الأَعthe enemies (continued)
هَكَذا تُدرِكُ النُفوسُ مِنَ الأَع
داءِcompletion of 'enemies' بَردَcoolness القُلوبِthe hearts وَالأَكبادِand the livers
داءِ بَردَ القُلوبِ وَالأَكبادِ
Thus souls obtain from their enemies
Thus souls gain from enemies
coolness for their hearts and livers.
The cold of hearts and livers.
كُلُّevery حَبسٍconfinement يَهونُseems slight عِندَin the eyes of اللَياليthe nights
كُلُّ حَبسٍ يَهونُ عِندَ اللَيالي
بَعدَafter حَبسِthe confinement of الأَرواحِsouls فيin الأَجسادِbodies
بَعدَ حَبسِ الأَرواحِ في الأَجسادِ
Every confinement is slight in the nights' eyes,
Every imprisonment becomes slight with nights
after the confinement of souls within bodies.
After imprisoning souls in bodies.
وَتَدارَكتَand you attained ماwhat تَمَنّيتَyou wished وَالأَحwhile the entrails (continued)
وَتَدارَكتَ ما تَمَنّيتَ وَالأَح
شاءُcompletion of 'entrails' مَزرورَةٌbuttoned shut عَلىaround الأَحقادِgrudges
شاءُ مَزرورَةٌ عَلى الأَحقادِ
And you attained your wish, while the entrails
And you regained what you wished and sorrows
were buttoned shut around rancor.
Are scattered upon hatreds.
نِلتَyou attained بَعضاًa part وَسَوفَand you will تُدرِكُattain كُلّاًthe whole
نِلتَ بَعضاً وَسَوفَ تُدرِكُ كُلّاً
إِنَّماonly السَيلُthe torrent بَعدَafter قَطرِthe drops of العِهادِsuccessive rains
إِنَّما السَيلُ بَعدَ قَطرِ العِهادِ
You attained a part, and will attain the whole;
You got some and you will attain all
the torrent comes only after drops of successive rain.
The torrent is after the dripping of the spout.
مِثلَthe like of ماwhat مَرَّpassed لاnot تُعيدُrepeat اللَياليthe nights
مِثلَ ما مَرَّ لا تُعيدُ اللَيالي
وَالحَديثُand the talk السَفيهُfoolish غَيرُnot مُعادِrepeated
وَالحَديثُ السَفيهُ غَيرُ مُعادِ
The nights will not repeat the like of what has passed,
What passed will not be repeated by nights
and foolish talk is not repeated.
And foolish talk is not renewable.
رُبَّmany a يُومٍday شَهِدتُهُI witnessed it وَالمَناياwhile the fates of death
رُبَّ يُومٍ شَهِدتُهُ وَالمَنايا
تَطرَحُhurl الطَعنَspear-thrusts مِنfrom رُؤوسِthe tips of الصِعادِthe spears
تَطرَحُ الطَعنَ مِن رُؤوسِ الصِعادِ
Many a day I witnessed, while Death
How many a day I witnessed it and death
hurled thrusts from the tips of spears,
Casts its spears from the mountaintops,
وَالظُبىand the blades تَقذِفُfling away الغُمودَthe sheaths وَماءُwhile the water of الthe
وَالظُبى تَقذِفُ الغُمودَ وَماءُ ال
نَقعِbattle-dust جارٍflows عَلىover الرُبىthe hills وَالوِهادِand the hollows
نَقعِ جارٍ عَلى الرُبى وَالوِهادِ
and blades flung away their sheaths, while the water
While the gazelle pelts the clouds and the water of the pool
of battle-dust flowed over hills and hollows.
Flows over the hillsides and the lowlands.
خَلَّقَperfumed الخَيلَthe horses بِالنَجيعِwith fresh blood وَكانَتand were
خَلَّقَ الخَيلَ بِالنَجيعِ وَكانَت
غُرَرُthe white blazes of الخَيلِthe horses مَعقِلاًa stronghold لِلجِسادِfor saffron dye
غُرَرُ الخَيلِ مَعقِلاً لِلجِسادِ
It perfumed the horses with fresh blood, and
It deployed the horses with neighing and the deception
the horses' white blazes were a stronghold for saffron dye.
Of horses had been a refuge for bodies.
ياO قَريعَchampion of الزَمانِthe age دِعوَةَthe plea of صَبٍّone passionately enamored
يا قَريعَ الزَمانِ دِعوَةَ صَبٍّ
بِالأَمانيof hopes مُتَيَّمٍenthralled بِالمُرادِby the desired goal
بِالأَماني مُتَيَّمٍ بِالمُرادِ
O champion of the age, hear a lover's call—
O reproacher of time with the call of morning
one enamored of hopes, enthralled by his goal.
Aspirant in wishes accomplished in purpose.
لَكَyours إِنif ذُمَّتِare censured المَحاضِرُthe assemblies يَوماًone day
لَكَ إِن ذُمَّتِ المَحاضِرُ يَوماً
عُنفُوانُthe full vigor of الثَناءِpraise فيin كُلِّevery نادِgathering
عُنفُوانُ الثَناءِ في كُلِّ نادِ
Yours, if assemblies should ever be censured,
The tongues of assemblies will have one day
is the full vigor of praise in every gathering.
The vigor of praise in every club.
نَظَرَbeheld العيدُthe festival مِنكَin you بَدراًa full moon تَخَفّىhid itself
نَظَرَ العيدُ مِنكَ بَدراً تَخَفّى
بُرهَةًfor a while عَنfrom نَواظِرِthe eyes of الأَعيادِfestivals
بُرهَةً عَن نَواظِرِ الأَعيادِ
The festival beheld in you a full moon that had hidden
The Feast looked upon you like a full moon appearing
awhile from the eyes of festivals.
Briefly to the gazers upon feasts.
فَتَهَنَّso savor السُرورَjoy فَاليَومَfor today مَصقوpolished (continued)
فَتَهَنَّ السُرورَ فَاليَومَ مَصقو
لُcompletion of 'polished' الحَواشيthe edges مُجَرَّرُtrailing الأَبرادِthe cloaks
لُ الحَواشي مُجَرَّرُ الأَبرادِ
So savor joy: today is polished
So joy sneaked in and today is
at its edges, its cloaks trailing.
Decked out in margins soiled in hail.
مِنfrom مَرامِan aim بِعادُهُits remoteness لِتَدانٍfor nearness
مِن مَرامِ بِعادُهُ لِتَدانٍ
وَمُرادٍand a desire نُقصانُهُits diminution لَاِزدِيادِfor increase
وَمُرادٍ نُقصانُهُ لَاِزدِيادِ
From an aim whose remoteness yields nearness,
Of an aspiration whose removal is for abasement
and a wish whose dwindling brings increase.
And whose diminution is not for increase.
لَوif قَدَرناwe had power عَلىover المُنىwishes لَفَدَيناwe would surely ransom
لَو قَدَرنا عَلى المُنى لَفَدَينا
ذيthese الأَضاحيsacrificial victims مِنَfrom الظُبىthe blades بِالأَعاديwith the enemies
ذي الأَضاحي مِنَ الظُبى بِالأَعادي
If we had power over wishes, we would ransom
If we could over the wishes we would ransom
these sacrificial victims from the blades with enemies.
The owner of offerings from the gazelle with enemies.
إِنَّماonly نَحنُwe مُشبِهوكَthose who resemble you وماand not الأَشthe lion cubs (continued)
إِنَّما نَحنُ مُشبِهوكَ وما الأَش
بالُcompletion of 'lion cubs' إِلّاexcept طَبائِعُthe natures of الآسادِthe lions
بالُ إِلّا طَبائِعُ الآسادِ
We are but your likenesses; and lion cubs
We only resemble you and resemblances are only
are nothing but the natures of lions.
The natures of predators.
نَحنُwe ذاكَthat الغِرارُthe cutting edge مِنfrom هَذِهِthese البيwhite swords (continued)
نَحنُ ذاكَ الغِرارُ مِن هَذِهِ البي
ضِcompletion of 'white swords' وَذاكَand that الشَرارُspark مِنfrom ذاthis الزِنادِfire-striker
ضِ وَذاكَ الشَرارُ مِن ذا الزِنادِ
We are that cutting edge from these white swords,
We are the embers from this flint
and that spark from this fire-striker.
And the sparks from that kindling.
هَذِهِthis تُحفَتيmy gift إِلَيكَto you وَخَيرُand the best of الthe
هَذِهِ تُحفَتي إِلَيكَ وَخَيرُ ال
شِعرِpoetry ماكانَwhat is تُحفَةَa gift for الإِنشادِrecitation
شِعرِ ماكانَ تُحفَةَ الإِنشادِ
This is my gift to you; the finest
This is my gift to you and the best poetry
poetry is that which is a gift in recitation.
Is what was a gift of recital.
وَضَميريand my mind إِذاwhen طَرَحتُكَI cast you فيهِinto it
وَضَميري إِذا طَرَحتُكَ فيهِ
جاشَsurged ليfor me بَحرُهُits sea بِخَيرِwith the best of العَتادِprovisions
جاشَ لي بَحرُهُ بِخَيرِ العَتادِ
And my mind, when I cast you into it,
When I cast you into it my conscience
its sea surges for me with the finest provisions.
Surged for me an ocean with the best equipment.
أَناI مِنof صَفوَةِthe chosen stock of النَبيِّthe Prophet وَغَيريand someone other than me
أَنا مِن صَفوَةِ النَبيِّ وَغَيري
وَلَدٌa child لاnot يُعَدُّis counted فيamong الأَولادِthe children
وَلَدٌ لا يُعَدُّ في الأَولادِ
I am of the Prophet's chosen stock; another
I am from the elite of the Prophet and none other
is a child not counted among children.
Is counted amongst the children.
Sol 6.1