1. بَكِّرا صاحِبَيَّ قَبلَ الهَجيرِ

    إِن ذاكَ النَجاحَ في التَبكيرِ

    Set out early, my two companions, before the midday heat.

    Success lies in an early start.

  2. لا تَكونا عَلَيَّ كَالخَفَضِ الرَي

    يِضِ أَمسى بِنورِهِ غَيرَ نورِ

    Do not treat me like the compliant, docile man

    whose light by evening had become no light.

  3. أولِعَ الناسُ بِالمَلامَةِ وَالمَر

    ءُ عَلى خُطَّةٍ مِن التقديرِ

    People are devoted to blame, while man

    follows a course laid down by fate.

  4. وَشِفاءُ العَيِّ السُؤالُ فَقوما

    سائِلا وَالبيانُ عِندَ الخَبيرِ

    Asking cures ignorance; so rise, both of you,

    and ask—the knowledgeable can make things clear.

  5. هَل أُسامي العُلا وَأُعوِصُ بِالخَص

    مِ وَأُعري مَحَجَّة الخَيتَعورِ

    Shall I rival the heights and confound my opponent,

    and lay bare the phantom's path?

  6. مَن يُقِم في السَوادِ وَاليَدِ وَالإِغ

    رامِ زيراً فَإِنَّني غَيرُ زيرِ

    Whoever remains among the throng, favors, and infatuation

    as a ladies' man—I am no ladies' man.

  7. لَيسَ مِنّي المُقامُ أَبكي عَلى الرَب

    عِ خَلا أَهلُهُ لِبيَنِ شَطيرِ

    It is not my way to linger, weeping over a dwelling

    whose people have left in distant separation.

  8. إِنَّ في نَدوَةِ المُلوكِ لَشُغلاً

    عَن رَبابٍ وَزَينَبٍ وَقَذورِ

    The assemblies of kings surely offer enough occupation

    to turn me from Rabab, Zaynab, and Qadhur.

  9. قَد تَعَلَّلتُ بِالشَبابِ وَعُلِّل

    تُ بِبيضٍ مِثلَ النَحارِجِ حورِ

    I have amused myself with youth and been comforted

    by fair, wide-eyed women like wild she-asses.

  10. مُشرِقاتُ الوُجوهِ يَسحَبنَ لِلَّه

    وِ عُيوناً مَكسورَةً بِفُتورِ

    Radiant-faced, they trail, in dalliance,

    eyes cast down in languor.

  11. حافِظاتٍ عَلى الأَخِلَّةِ ما طا

    بَ وَأَبرَقنَ كَالسَرابِ الغَرورِ

    Faithful to their lovers while things were pleasing,

    they glittered like the beguiling mirage.

  12. يَتَساقَينَ بِالمَضاحِكِ كَالشَه

    دِ مَشوباً بِماءِ مُزنٍ نَميرِ

    They exchange draughts from smiling mouths, like honey

    blended with sweet raincloud water.

  13. وَثِقالُ الأَعجازِ قَطَّعنَ قَلبي

    بِحَديثٍ لَذٍّ وَدَهرٍ قَصيرِ

    And the heavy-haunched women tore my heart

    with delightful talk and a brief season.

  14. وَرَضيتُ القَليلَ مِنهُنَّ إِنّي

    مِن قَليلٍ لَواثِقٌ بِكَثيرِ

    I was content with little from them; I

    trusted that little would lead to much.

  15. وَطَلَبتُ الكَبيرَ بِالأَصغَرِ الأَص

    غَرِ إِنَّ الكَبيرَ بَعدَ الصَغيرِ

    I sought the great through the lesser, the very least;

    the great comes after the small.

  16. دَيدَني ذاكَ في الدُجُنَّةِ حَتّى اِن

    جابَ عَنّي الصِبى طُلوعَ القَتيرِ

    That was my habit in the darkness, until

    youth withdrew from me as gray hairs appeared.

  17. ثُمَّ رَثَّ الهَوى وَراجَعَني الحِل

    مُ وَرُدَّت عارِيَّةُ المُستَعيرِ

    Then passion grew worn, and good sense returned to me,

    and the borrower's loan was returned.

  18. وَتَرَكتُ المُصابِياتِ مِنَ الأَش

    ياءِ صُوراً يَلمَعنَ أَو غَيرَ صُورِ

    I abandoned the things that entice to youthful folly,

    whether coyly inclined and gleaming, or not inclined.

  19. لَيسَ كُلُّ السُرورِ يَبقي نَعيماً

    رُبَّ غَيٍّ يَدُبُّ تَحتَ السُرورِ

    Not every pleasure leaves lasting bliss;

    many an error creeps beneath pleasure.

  20. ذَهَبَت لَذَّةُ النِساءِ فَلا أَل

    قى نَعيماً إِلّا حَديثَ الذُكورِ

    The pleasure of women is gone; I find

    no delight except in men's conversation.

  21. وَشَبابي قَد كانَ مِن لَذَّةِ العَي

    شِ فَأَودى وَغالَهُ اِبنا سَميرِ

    My youth had been among life's pleasures,

    but it perished, consumed by the two sons of Samir.

  22. وَكَذاكَ الجَديدُ يَبلى عَلى الدَه

    رِ وَلا بُدَّ لاِمرِئٍ مِن عَشيرِ

    So too the new wears out with time,

    and every man must have a companion.

  23. وَدَعاني إِلى فَتيقِ بِن عَجلا

    نَ بِسَلمٍ إِحدى بَناتِ الصُدورِ

    And I was called to Fatiq ibn Ajlan,

    through Salm, by one of the daughters of the breast.

  24. فَحَسرتُ الهُمومَ عَنّي بِعَزمٍ

    غَيرِ بَزلاءَ واهِنٍ مُستَشيرِ

    I cast my cares away with resolve,

    not a weak, counsel-seeking man's weighty plan.

  25. وَزَميلٍ إِذا رَأى نِقبَةَ اللَي

    لِ تَثَنّى كَالشارِبِ المَخمورِ

    And a fellow-traveler, on seeing night's veil,

    swayed like a drunken drinker.

  26. بِتُّ لَيلي أَذُبُّ عَن وَجهِهِ النَو

    مَ وَما بي إِلّا اِنخِزالُ العَقيرِ

    I spent my night warding sleep from his face,

    though I myself sagged like a hamstrung beast.

  27. يَتَمَنّى مَشيَ البَلاطِ وَأُلهي

    هِ بِشعري وَكيفَ لَهوُ الحَسيرِ

    He longs for a paved road, and I distract

    him with my verse—but what diversion has the exhausted?

  28. مَنَّهُ بَينَ صِنعِ كِسرى فَحُلوا

    نَ فَمَرجِ العِدى فَذاتِ الصُخورِ

    He was worn down between Khosrow's stronghold and Hulwan,

    then Marj al-'Ida, then Dhat al-Sukhur.

  29. كُلُّ تَيهورَةٍ تَرى دونَها الخا

    لَ شُروقاً تُفضي إِلى تَيهورِ

    Each towering precipice, beneath which you see clouds

    rising, leads to another precipice.

  30. وَضَعَت بَيضَها الأَنوقُ بِأَعلا

    ها وَزادَت بِها هَوادي الصُقورِ

    The vulture laid her eggs upon its summit,

    and the falcons' heads rose higher there.

  31. تَسرَحُ الدَبرُ في جَناهُ وَيَأوي

    في نِعافٍ مَحفوفَةٍ بِالوُعورِ

    Bees range among its fruit and take shelter

    on slopes enclosed by rugged ground.

  32. مُوحِشاتٍ رَأدَ النَهارِ وَلا تُس

    طاعَ بَينَ العِشاءِ وَالتَسحيرِ

    Desolate even at daybreak, and unapproachable

    between nightfall and the predawn meal,

  33. مِن نُواحِ الفَقيرِ لاحَ عَلى الخا

    في وَعَزفِ الصَيدانَةِ العَنقَفيرِ

    from the poor one's wailing, apparent above the hidden,

    and the eerie cries of the monstrous she-ghoul.

  34. وَمَقامُ الأَكرادِ في شَفَقِ الصُب

    حِ عَلى رُكنِها قِيامَ النُسورِ

    And Kurds stand in the twilight of dawn

    upon its heights, standing like vultures.

  35. أًصدَعُ البَلدَةَ الغَريبَةَ بِالحَد

    دِ جِلاداً عولينَ في تَصبيرِ

    I traverse the strange country on keen-going mounts,

    sturdy, nourished while kept confined.

  36. لاحِقاتِ الأَطالِ عُرّينَ بِالقُض

    بِ وَماءِ الحَديدِ دونَ النُسورِ

    Lean-flanked, supplied with fresh-cut fodder,

    and tempered iron beneath their hoof-frogs.

  37. يَتَصَدَّعنَ عَن شُرافِيَّةِ الأُذ

    نِ أَمونٍ في الحُندسِ الدَيجورِ

    They part around a high-eared she-camel,

    trustworthy in the pitch-black darkness.

  38. مِن بَناتِ العِفِرنِ تَبأَرُ في الكو

    مَةِ بِأرَ العَسيفِ في الصاقورِ

    A daughter of the mighty sire, digging into the mound

    as a hired laborer digs with a pickaxe.

  39. فَإِذا صَوَّتَ الصَدى أَو دَعا الأَخ

    بَلُ طارَت كَالخاضِبِ المَذعورِ

    When the owl cries, or the mad one calls,

    she flies like a frightened red-legged ostrich.

  40. ظَلَّ صَدعَ النَهارِ في الآلِ والأَع

    بَلِ يَجتازُهُ وَفي الصُعرورِ

    Throughout the broad daylight he crosses mirage and white rock,

    passing through it, and through the little hillocks.

  41. ثُمَّ شامَ الفِراخَ فَاِرتَدَّ فَارمَد

    دَ فَشَقَّ الغَميرَ بَعدَ الغَميرِ

    Then he sights the chicks, turns back, and races,

    cleaving thicket after thicket.

  42. ذا عِفاءٍ يَفري الفَرِيَّ وَتَحدو

    هُ النُعامى مُزوَرَّةً عَن سَفيرِ

    Richly feathered, performing wonders, and driven

    by the south wind, swerving away from windblown dust.

  43. لا بَراتي مِنَ الجَدالَةِ إِلّا

    دونَ ما تَعتَدي مِن التَشميرِ

    My nose-ringed mounts rise off the ground only

    short of the reach of her swift stride.

  44. بَدرُ لَيلٍ يَخافُ سِندَأوُهُ الغي

    لَ وَعَيناً مِن صَيدَنِيٍّ مُغيرِ

    A nighttime full moon, whose mighty male fears treachery

    and the eye of a raiding hunter.

  45. وَحَبِيٍّ مِثلِ الكُراعِ بَدا في ال

    أُفُقِ بَلٍّ كَالفَيلَقِ الجُمهورِ

    And a creeping cloud, like a ridge, appeared on the

    horizon, rain-laden like a mighty host.

  46. أَعقَبَتهُ القَبولُ رَوقاً مِنَ الأَر

    نَبِ حَتّى حَبا حُبُوَّ الأَميرِ

    The east wind gave it a leading edge from the Hare,

    until it crept with a prince's measured crawl.

  47. يَتَلَظّى كَالشَمعِ مِن شُرَفِ المَج

    دَلِ أَو كَالنيرانِ أَعلى ثَبيرِ

    It blazes like candles upon a tower's battlements,

    or like fires on the summit of Thabir.

  48. لا أَرى ضَوءَهُ يَبوخُ وَلا يَخ

    مَدُ إِلّا عَن عامِلٍ مُستَطيرِ

    I never see its light grow dim or die,

    except beyond a far-spreading spear-shaft.

  49. أَسَدِيٌّ إِذا تَرَجَّفَ وَاِنشَق

    قَ سَناهُ أَكَلَّ طَرقَ البَصيرِ

    Asadi, when it trembles and its radiance splits,

    it blunts the sighted man's gaze.

  50. وَإِذا ما خَفي أَقولُ عَلى البَص

    رَةِ إِنّي بِها كَريبُ الضَميرِ

    When it vanishes, I say of Basra:

    my heart is troubled there.

  51. زُلتُ عَنها إِلى صُقورِ بَني عَم

    روٍ وَلاقى آسادَ تِلكَ الصُقورِ

    I moved away from it to the falcons of Banu 'Amr,

    and he met the lions among those falcons.

  52. بَرَقَت فيهُمُ السَماءُ فَكَلَّف

    تُ صِحابي وَاللَيلُ مُلقي السُتورِ

    The sky flashed above them, so I tasked

    my companions, while night spread its veils.

  53. عارِضٌ يُمطِرُ السَبيلَ وَإِن كا

    نَ دُواراً فيِ الحادِثِ القَمطَريرِ

    A raincloud watering the road, though

    a whirlwind amid a grim calamity.

  54. يَسلُقُ الحَربَ بِالحُروبِ وَيُمسي

    عَصَراً في عُصارَةِ المُستَديرِ

    He scourges war with wars, and becomes by evening

    a refuge amid the dregs of the turning year.

  55. فَإِذا حَلَّتِ الوُفودُ إِلَيهِ

    بَشَّرَت ريحُهُ بِيَومٍ مَطيرِ

    When delegations arrive before him,

    his breeze heralds a rainy day.

  56. سُنَّهٌ مِن أَبٍ كَبيرٍ وَآبا

    ءٍ تَوالَوا عَلى اِحتِمالِ الكَبيرِ

    A tradition from a great father and forefathers

    who, one after another, shouldered great burdens.

  57. الكُفاةُ الحُماةُ إِن قامَتِ الحَر

    بُ حَبانا وَعَزَّ ما في الصُدورِ

    Capable men, protectors: if war breaks out,

    he favors us, and what lies within their breasts grows strong.

  58. خُطَباءٌ عَلى المَنابِرِ فُرسا

    نٌ إِذا أُعلِموا لِيَومٍ نَكيرٍ

    Orators upon pulpits, horsemen

    when marked out for a fearful day.

  59. عِندَهُم نَجدَةٌ إِذا حَمِسَ الرَو

    عُ وَفيهُم مَهابَةٌ لِلفُجورِ

    They have valor when terror rages,

    and an awe that deters wickedness.

  60. وَسِراعٌ إِلى الأَتاوِيّ بِالعُر

    فِ وَلا يَمحَقونَ سَهمَ الفَقيرِ

    Swift in kindness toward the stranger,

    they do not diminish the poor man's share.

  61. نَزَلوا بِاليَفاعِ مِن ذِروَةِ المَج

    دِ بِحِلمٍ وَنائِلٍ وَنَكيرِ

    They dwell on the heights at glory's summit,

    with forbearance, bounty, and stern redress.

  62. وَوَفاءٍ بِما أَقَرّوا عَلى الأَن

    فُسِ وَأياً في العِسرِ وَالتَيسيرِ

    And with faithfulness to what they pledged upon themselves,

    a promise in hardship and ease.

  63. نَهَضَ الشيبُ بِالحَمالَةِ وَالمَج

    دِ بِرَأيٍ عالٍ وَأَيدٍ بُحورِ

    The gray-haired bore indemnities and glory

    with lofty judgment and hands like seas.

  64. وَفُتُوٌّ إِذا اِستَخَفَّتهُمُ الحَر

    بُ لَقوها كَالأُسدِ أَو كَالنُمورِ

    And young men, when war rouses them,

    meet it like lions or tigers.

  65. رُتَّقٌ لِلثَّأي مَراجيحُ في النَد

    وَةِ يَشفونَ غُلَّةَ المُستَجيرِ

    Menders of breaches, weighty in council,

    they quench the thirst of one seeking refuge.

  66. لَعِبوا في الحُروبِ حَتّى اِستَكانَت

    ثُمَّ راحوا في المِسكِ أَو في العَبيرِ

    They played amid wars until the wars submitted,

    then departed in musk or fragrant perfume.

  67. كُلُّهُم يَصدُقُ اللِقاءَ وَلا يُل

    فى كَسَلمٍ في المَأزِقِ المُستَجيرِ

    All of them are steadfast in combat, yet none is found

    like Salm in the straits of one seeking refuge.

  68. مُسلِمِيٌّ تَنجابُ عَن وَجهِهِ الحَر

    بُ نَصيراً كَالهِبرِزِيِّ النَصيرِ

    A man of Muslim's line, from whose face war withdraws,

    a champion like a distinguished champion.

  69. وَأَتاني مَسيرُ سَلمٍ عَنِ النا

    سِ أَميراً فَقُلتُ خَيرُ أَميرِ

    Word reached me of Salm's departure from the people

    as commander, and I said, 'The finest commander!'

  70. نَصَبَ المُقرَباتِ وَالمُسهِبَ الآ

    فِقَ حَتّى اِنطوينَ طَيَّ الجَريرِ

    He wearied the cherished mares and the long-striding,

    far-ranging steed, until they folded like a tether.

  71. بِغُدُوٍّ عَلى الأَعادي وَرَوحا

    تٍ لَقينَ الحَياتِ مِن تَقريرِ

    Through morning attacks on enemies and evening sorties,

    they encountered serpents while held still.

  72. كُلُّ خَيفانَةٍ تُصانُ عَلى الأَق

    رَبِ صَونَ العَروسِ في الزَمهَريرِ

    Each slender mare is sheltered even from those nearest,

    as a bride is sheltered in bitter cold.

  73. سَمحَةٍ في الشَمالِ مِثلِ عَصا الذا

    ئِدِ أَو مِثلُها رَحاةُ السَجيرِ

    Compliant in the left hand, like a herdsman's staff,

    or like a close companion's millstone.

  74. وَمُنيفِ القَذالِ أَضلَعَ ذي ني

    رَينِ يَختالُ عادِياً في المَسيرِ

    And a lofty-polled, strong-ribbed horse, with two neck-ridges,

    prancing as he runs along the road.

  75. مِثلَ كَرِّ الصَناعِ يَهوي إِذا حَن

    نَ كَما حَنَّتِ الصَبا للِدَّبورِ

    Like a craftswoman's spool, he darts when he whinnies,

    as the east wind sighs to the west wind.

  76. ثَمَّ جَلّى عَنِ الخَليفَةِ بِالسَي

    فِ غَداةَ اِلتَقَت صَياصي الأُمورِ

    Then he defended the caliph with the sword

    on the morning when the horns of events locked.

  77. صَدَعَ العَسكَرَ المُنيفَ بَدا خَض

    رى بِضَربٍ أَتى عَلى المَغرورِ

    He split the towering army, green to the eye,

    with a stroke that destroyed the deluded man.

  78. فَاِرعوى جَهلُهُم وَأَدرَكَتِ الحَر

    بُ رِجالاً تَجَرَّدوا لِلظهورِ

    Their folly was checked, and war caught up

    with men who had devoted themselves to ascendancy.

  79. وَكَريمٌ يَرى المَلامَةَ كَالحَي

    يَةِ صَبَّحنَهُ مَذَرَّ الذُرورِ

    And a noble man, who sees reproach as a serpent—

    they met him at dawn where the powder is scattered,

  80. بِأَطيرٍ مِنَ المَوَدَّةِ دانٍ

    وَثَناءٍ كَالعَصبِ عَصبِ الحَريرِ

    with a winged expression of affection, near at hand,

    and praise like patterned cloth—silken patterned cloth.

  81. فَاِنتَمى صاعِداً وَأَشرَقَ لِلمَج

    دِ وَجَلّى عَن صَوبِ غَيثٍ غَزيرِ

    He rose upward and shone for glory,

    revealing the downpour of abundant rain.

  82. أَريَحِيٌّ إِلى المَحامِدِ يَهتَز

    زُ اِهتِزازَ المُهَنَّدِ المَشهورِ

    Generous-hearted, he quivers toward praiseworthy deeds,

    as a drawn Indian sword quivers.

  83. ضامِنٌ لِلحُلولِ إِن هَبَّتِ الري

    حُ بَليلاً أَرزاقَهُم مِن عَقيرِ

    He guarantees the encamped, when the wind blows

    chill and damp, their sustenance from slaughtered beasts.

  84. لا يُصابي عَلى الفُضولِ وَلا يُع

    طي اِفتِخاراً لا خَيرَ في الفِخّيرِ

    He does not indulge in vain excess, nor give

    for boasting; there is no good in boastfulness.

  85. سَيِّدٌ سُوقَةٌ وَفي المُلكِ فَيّا

    ضٌ يُحامي عَن عِرضِهِ بِالنَذورِ

    A lord among commoners; in kingship overflowing

    with bounty, guarding his honor through vows.

  86. وَسَماءٌ عَلى العَشيرَةِ لايُق

    لِعُ إِلّا عَن زاهِرٍ مُستَنيرِ

    And a sky above his clan, whose rain clears

    only to leave things blooming and radiant.

  87. يَشتري الحَمدَ بِالعَتادِ وَبِالأَم

    نِ يَرى كَسبَهُ مِن التَوفيرِ

    He buys praise with his stores and with security,

    counting such gain as thrift.

  88. يا اِبنَ سَيفِ العِراقِ إِن لَم يُزَر مِث

    لُكَ مِنّا فَأَينَ بَيتُ المَزورِ

    O son of Iraq's sword, if one like you is not visited

    by us, where is the house of one worth visiting?

  89. كَثُرَت حَولَكَ الوفودُ وَقَد جِئ

    نا قَصيراً هَذا أَوانُ الصَيورِ

    Delegations abound around you, and we have come

    for a short stay; this is the hour of fruition.

  90. إِن تَكُن سَيِّداً فَأَنتَ اِبنُ مَن سا

    دَ تَوَلّى وَما لَهُ مِن نَظيرِ

    If you are a lord, you are the son of one who was lord,

    who assumed command and had no peer.

  91. كانَ غَيثَ الضَريكِ في حَجرَةِ البَأ

    سِ وَجاراً لِلحارِمِ المُستَجيرِ

    He was rain to the destitute in the confines of hardship,

    and a protector to the deprived who sought refuge.

  92. كَم تَلافى أَبوكَ مِن خائَفٍ جا

    ءَ طَريداً وَغارِمٍ وَأَسيرِ

    How many fearful men your father rescued, who came

    as fugitives—and debtors and captives!

  93. أَنبَتَ الريشَ في جَناحَيهِ حَتّى

    عادَ وَحفا وَطارَ كُلَّ مَطيرِ

    He made feathers grow upon his wings, until

    he was thickly feathered again and flew wherever he could.