أَلَيلَتَناO our night بِذيat Dhu حُسُمٍHusum أَنيريshine
أَلَيلَتَنا بِذي حُسُمٍ أَنيري
إِذاwhen أَنتِyou اِنقَضَيتِyou have passed فَلاthen do not تَحوريreturn
إِذا أَنتِ اِنقَضَيتِ فَلا تَحوري
O our night at Dhu Husum, shine!
Our night of determined resolution, how bright you are!
When you have passed, do not return.
When you end, do not turn away.
فَإِنfor if يَكُit is بِالذَنائِبِat al-Dhana'ib طالَgrew long لَيليmy night
فَإِن يَكُ بِالذَنائِبِ طالَ لَيلي
فَقَدthen indeed أَبكيI weep مِنَbecause of اللَيلِthe night القَصيرِshort
فَقَد أَبكي مِنَ اللَيلِ القَصيرِ
For if my night at al-Dhana'ib has grown long,
For if my sins make the night long,
yet I sometimes weep over the short night.
I cry over the brief night,
وَأَنقَذَنيand rescued me بَياضُthe whiteness of الصُبحِdawn مِنهاfrom it
وَأَنقَذَني بَياضُ الصُبحِ مِنها
لَقَدindeed أُنقِذتُI was rescued مِنfrom شَرٍّevil كَبيرِgreat
لَقَد أُنقِذتُ مِن شَرٍّ كَبيرِ
And the whiteness of dawn rescued me from it;
And the whiteness of dawn saves me from them -
I was indeed rescued from a great evil.
Indeed I am saved from great evil.
كَأَنَّas though كَواكِبَthe stars of الجَوزاءِOrion عُودٌaged she-camels
كَأَنَّ كَواكِبَ الجَوزاءِ عُودٌ
مُعَطَّفَةٌbending عَلىover رَبعٍa spring-born camel calf كَسيرِinjured
مُعَطَّفَةٌ عَلى رَبعٍ كَسيرِ
As though the stars of Orion were aged she-camels,
As if the stars of Gemini are logs
bending over an injured spring-born calf.
Covered over a small expanse.
كَأَنَّas though الفَرقَدَينِthe two Farqad stars يَداthe two hands of بَغيضٍa hated man
كَأَنَّ الفَرقَدَينِ يَدا بَغيضٍ
أَلَحَّkept pressing عَلىfor إِفاضَتِهِhis casting of lots قَميريmy gambling rival
أَلَحَّ عَلى إِفاضَتِهِ قَميري
As though the two Farqad stars were a hated man's hands,
As if the two tridents are the hands of a hated one
whom my gambling rival kept pressing to cast the lots.
Who persisted in his folly against me.
أَرَقتُI lay sleepless وَصاحِبيand my companion بِجَنوبِsouth of شِعبٍa ravine
أَرَقتُ وَصاحِبي بِجَنوبِ شِعبٍ
لِبَرقٍbecause of lightning فيin تِهامَةَTihama مُستَطيرِspreading widely
لِبَرقٍ في تِهامَةَ مُستَطيرِ
I lay sleepless with my companion south of a ravine,
My friend and I stayed awake in a southern valley
for lightning spreading across Tihama.
For lightning flashing in Tihama.
فَلَوif only نُبِشَwere dug open المَقابِرُthe graves عَنto uncover كُلَيبٍKulayb
فَلَو نُبِشَ المَقابِرُ عَن كُلَيبٍ
فَيَعلَمَso he might know بِالذَنائِبِat al-Dhana'ib أَيُّwhat sort of زيرِa ladies' man
فَيَعلَمَ بِالذَنائِبِ أَيُّ زيرِ
If only the graves were dug open to uncover Kulayb,
If graves were dug up for every sin,
so he might know at al-Dhana'ib what a ladies' man
It would be known which was more sinful.
بِيَومِon the day of الشَعثَمَينِthe two Sha'thams أَقَرَّgladdened عَيناًan eye
بِيَومِ الشَعثَمَينِ أَقَرَّ عَيناً
وَكَيفَand how لِقاءُmeeting مَنthose who تَحتَbeneath القُبورِthe graves
وَكَيفَ لِقاءُ مَن تَحتَ القُبورِ
gladdened his eye on the day of the two Sha'thams.
On the day of reckoning, delighting the eyes!
And how can one meet those beneath the graves?
How strange is the meeting of those beneath the tombs.
وَأَنّيand that I قَدalready تَرَكتُI left بِوارِدَاتٍat Waridat
وَأَنّي قَد تَرَكتُ بِوارِدَاتٍ
بُجَيراًBujayr فيin دَمٍblood مِثلِlike العَبيرِperfume
بُجَيراً في دَمٍ مِثلِ العَبيرِ
And that I had left at Waridat
I left the Udayn tribe drenched
Bujayr in blood like fragrant perfume.
In blood like fragrant wine.
هَتَكتُI tore open بِهِthrough him بُيوتَthe houses of بَنيthe sons of عَبادٍ'Abbad
هَتَكتُ بِهِ بُيوتَ بَني عَبادٍ
وَبَعضُand some الغَشمِruthless violence أَشفىmore healing لِلصُّدورِfor breasts
وَبَعضُ الغَشمِ أَشفى لِلصُّدورِ
Through him I tore open the houses of Banu 'Abbad,
I violated the homes of the tribe of ‘Abbad
and some ruthless violence is a better balm for the breast.
And some of the raid cured my breast.
عَلىdespite أَنthat لَيسَis not يوفىfully requited مِنfor كُلَيبٍKulayb
عَلى أَن لَيسَ يوفى مِن كُلَيبٍ
إِذاwhen بَرَزَتcomes forth مُخَبَّأَةُthe woman secluded in الخُدورِcurtained chambers
إِذا بَرَزَت مُخَبَّأَةُ الخُدورِ
Yet no full recompense is made for Kulayb,
For Kulayb does not fulfill his word
when the woman secluded in curtained chambers comes forth.
When the hidden thoughts come forth.
وَهَمّامَand Hammam بنَson of مُرَّةَMurra قَدindeed تَرَكناwe left
وَهَمّامَ بنَ مُرَّةَ قَد تَرَكنا
عَلَيهِupon him القُشعُمانِthe two aged vultures مِنَamong النُسورِthe vultures
عَلَيهِ القُشعُمانِ مِنَ النُسورِ
And Hammam ibn Murra we have left,
We left Hammam bin Murra
with the two aged vultures upon him.
With eagles tearing his chest.
يَنوءُhe heaves upward بِصَدرِهِwith his chest وَالرُمحُand the spear فيهِin him
يَنوءُ بِصَدرِهِ وَالرُمحُ فيهِ
وَيَخلُجُهُand jerks him خَدبٌa hulking man كَالبَعيرِlike a camel
وَيَخلُجُهُ خَدبٌ كَالبَعيرِ
He struggles to raise his chest, with the spear in him,
He sways with a spear in his chest
and a hulking man, camel-like, jerks him about.
And a gaping wound convulses him like a camel.
قَتيلٌa slain man ماhow great! قَتيلُthe victim of المَرءِthe man عَمرٌو'Amr
قَتيلٌ ما قَتيلُ المَرءِ عَمرٌو
وَجَسّاسُand Jassas بنُson of مُرَّةَMurra ذوpossessing ضَريرِfierce resolve
وَجَسّاسُ بنُ مُرَّةَ ذو ضَريرِ
A slain man! How great the victim of the man 'Amr,
What a slain man Murra's son ‘Amr was!
and Jassas ibn Murra, a man of fierce resolve!
And Jassas bin Murra, what a wicked spy!
كَأَنَّas though التابِعَthe follower المِسكينَthe wretched فيهاin it
كَأَنَّ التابِعَ المِسكينَ فيها
أَجيرٌa hired hand فيamong حُداباتِthe low hills of الوَقيرِthe sheep-flock
أَجيرٌ في حُداباتِ الوَقيرِ
As though the wretched follower there
As if the poor subordinate among them
were a hireling among the flock's low hills.
Is a hireling in dangerous straits.
عَلىdespite أَنthat لَيسَis not عَدلاًan equal مِنfor كُلَيبٍKulayb
عَلى أَن لَيسَ عَدلاً مِن كُلَيبٍ
إِذاwhen خافَis afraid المُغارُthe raided man مِنَof المُغيرِthe raider
إِذا خافَ المُغارُ مِنَ المُغيرِ
Yet he is no equal to Kulayb,
Yet Kulayb is not just
when the raided man fears the raider.
When the cave dweller fears the raider;
عَلىdespite أَنthat لَيسَis not عَدلاًan equal مِنfor كُلَيبٍKulayb
عَلى أَن لَيسَ عَدلاً مِن كُلَيبٍ
إِذاwhen طُرِدَis driven away اليَتيمُthe orphan عَنِfrom الجَزورِthe slaughtered camel
إِذا طُرِدَ اليَتيمُ عَنِ الجَزورِ
Yet he is no equal to Kulayb,
Nor is Kulayb just
when the orphan is driven away from the slaughtered camel.
When the orphan is denied scraps;
عَلىdespite أَنthat لَيسَis not عَدلاًan equal مِنfor كُلَيبٍKulayb
عَلى أَن لَيسَ عَدلاً مِن كُلَيبٍ
إِذاwhen ماever, emphatically ضيمَis wronged جارُthe neighbor of المُستَجيرِthe refuge-seeker
إِذا ما ضيمَ جارُ المُستَجيرِ
Yet he is no equal to Kulayb,
Nor is Kulayb just
whenever the neighbor of one seeking refuge is wronged.
When a neighbor seeking refuge is wronged;
عَلىdespite أَنthat لَيسَis not عَدلاًan equal مِنfor كُلَيبٍKulayb
عَلى أَن لَيسَ عَدلاً مِن كُلَيبٍ
إِذاwhen ضاقَتgrow constricted رَحيباتُthe broad expanses of الصُدورِbreasts
إِذا ضاقَت رَحيباتُ الصُدورِ
Yet he is no equal to Kulayb,
Nor is Kulayb just
when broad breasts grow constricted.
When hearts are straitened;
عَلىdespite أَنthat لَيسَis not عَدلاًan equal مِنfor كُلَيبٍKulayb
عَلى أَن لَيسَ عَدلاً مِن كُلَيبٍ
إِذاwhen خافَis afraid المَخوفُthe feared man مِنَof الثُغورِthe frontier passes
إِذا خافَ المَخوفُ مِنَ الثُغورِ
Yet he is no equal to Kulayb,
Nor is Kulayb just
when the feared man dreads the frontier passes.
When the fearful fear raids;
عَلىdespite أَنthat لَيسَis not عَدلاًan equal مِنfor كُلَيبٍKulayb
عَلى أَن لَيسَ عَدلاً مِن كُلَيبٍ
إِذاwhen طالَتis prolonged مُقاساةُthe struggle with الأُمورِtroubles
إِذا طالَت مُقاساةُ الأُمورِ
Yet he is no equal to Kulayb,
Nor is Kulayb just
when the struggle with troubles drags on.
When hardships are prolonged;
عَلىdespite أَنthat لَيسَis not عَدلاًan equal مِنfor كُلَيبٍKulayb
عَلى أَن لَيسَ عَدلاً مِن كُلَيبٍ
إِذاwhen هَبَّتblow رِياحُthe winds of الزَمهَريرِbitter cold
إِذا هَبَّت رِياحُ الزَمهَريرِ
Yet he is no equal to Kulayb,
Nor is Kulayb just
when the winds of bitter cold blow.
When winds of tumult blow;
عَلىdespite أَنthat لَيسَis not عَدلاًan equal مِنfor كُلَيبٍKulayb
عَلى أَن لَيسَ عَدلاً مِن كُلَيبٍ
إِذاwhen وَثَبَleaps المُثارُthe provoked man عَلىupon المُثيرِthe provoker
إِذا وَثَبَ المُثارُ عَلى المُثيرِ
Yet he is no equal to Kulayb,
Nor is Kulayb just
when the provoked man leaps upon his provoker.
When the provoked leaps on the provoker;
عَلىdespite أَنthat لَيسَis not عَدلاًan equal مِنfor كُلَيبٍKulayb
عَلى أَن لَيسَ عَدلاً مِن كُلَيبٍ
إِذاwhen عَجَزَis unable الغَنِيُّthe rich man عَنِwith regard to الفَقيرِthe poor man
إِذا عَجَزَ الغَنِيُّ عَنِ الفَقيرِ
Yet he is no equal to Kulayb,
Nor is Kulayb just
when the rich man fails the poor.
When the wealthy man ignores the poor;
عَلىdespite أَنthat لَيسَis not عَدلاًan equal مِنfor كُلَيبٍKulayb
عَلى أَن لَيسَ عَدلاً مِن كُلَيبٍ
إِذاwhen هَتَفَcries out المُثَوِّبُthe alarm-caller بِالعَشيرِto the clan
إِذا هَتَفَ المُثَوِّبُ بِالعَشيرِ
Yet he is no equal to Kulayb,
Nor is Kulayb just
when the alarm-caller cries out to the clan.
When the rewarded man summons the tribe.
تُسائِلُنيshe asks me أُمَيمَةُUmayma عَنabout أَبيهاher father
تُسائِلُني أُمَيمَةُ عَن أَبيها
وَماand not تَدريshe knows أُمَيمَةُUmayma عَنof ضَميرِhidden thought
وَما تَدري أُمَيمَةُ عَن ضَميرِ
Umayma asks me about her father,
Umayma asks me about her father
and Umayma knows nothing of hidden thoughts.
Yet Umayma does not know my conscience.
فَلاso no وَأَبيby the father of أُمَيمَةَUmayma ماnot أَبوهاher father
فَلا وَأَبي أُمَيمَةَ ما أَبوها
مِنَwith النَعَمِthe livestock المُؤَثَّلِamassed وَالجَزورِand slaughter-camels
مِنَ النَعَمِ المُؤَثَّلِ وَالجَزورِ
So no—by Umayma's father! Her father is not to be requited
No, by Umayma's father, he had no
with amassed livestock and camels for slaughter.
Choice meat or abundant scraps.
وَلَكِنّاbut we طَعَنّاwe stabbed القَومَthe men طَعناًwith spear-thrusts
وَلَكِنّا طَعَنّا القَومَ طَعناً
عَلىupon الأَثباجِthe upper backs مِنهُمof them وَالنُحورِand the throats
عَلى الأَثباجِ مِنهُم وَالنُحورِ
But we stabbed the men with spear-thrusts,
Rather, we stabbed the tribe with a stab
in their upper backs and throats.
To their platforms and their necks.
نَكُبُّwe topple القَومَthe men لِلأَذقانِonto the chins صَرعىlaid low
نَكُبُّ القَومَ لِلأَذقانِ صَرعى
وَنَأخُذُand we strike بِالتَرائِبِat the breastbones وَالصُدورِand the chests
وَنَأخُذُ بِالتَرائِبِ وَالصُدورِ
We topple the men onto their chins, laid low,
We topple the tribe prone to the ground
and strike them in their breastbones and chests.
And seize the women’s robes and chests.
فَلَولاso, were it not for الريحُthe wind أُسمِعُI would make hear مِنthose who بِحُجرٍat Hujr
فَلَولا الريحُ أُسمِعُ مِن بِحُجرٍ
صَليلَthe clang of البيضِthe helmets تُقرَعُare struck بِالذُكورِby hard-tempered swords
صَليلَ البيضِ تُقرَعُ بِالذُكورِ
So, were it not for the wind, I would make those at Hujr hear
If not for the wind, I would hear from Bujur
the clang of helmets struck by hard-tempered swords.
The neighing of white mares with stallions.
فِدىًa ransom لِبَنيfor the sons of شَقيقَةَShaqiqa يَومَthe day جاءواthey came
فِدىً لِبَني شَقيقَةَ يَومَ جاءوا
كَأُسدِlike lions of الغابِthe forest لَجَّتpersisted فيin الزَئيرِroaring
كَأُسدِ الغابِ لَجَّت في الزَئيرِ
May I be a ransom for Banu Shaqiqa, the day they came,
A ransom to the Banu Shaqiqa the day they came
like forest lions relentless in their roaring,
Like raging lions bellowing!
غَداةَthe morning when كَأَنَّناas though we وَبَنيand the sons of أَبيناour father
غَداةَ كَأَنَّنا وَبَني أَبينا
بِجَنبِbeside عُنَيزَةَ'Unayza رَحياtwo millstones of مُديرِone who turns them
بِجَنبِ عُنَيزَةَ رَحيا مُديرِ
that morning, when we and our father's sons seemed
One morning it was as if we and our fathers
beside 'Unayza like a miller's two millstones.
Were neighbors to ‘Unayza’s pasture.
كَأَنَّas though الجَديَthe Kid star جَديَthe Kid of بَناتِthe Daughters of نَعشٍthe Bier
كَأَنَّ الجَديَ جَديَ بَناتِ نَعشٍ
يَكُبُّfalls headlong عَلىonto اليَدَينِthe two forelegs بِمُستَديرِin a circular course
يَكُبُّ عَلى اليَدَينِ بِمُستَديرِ
As though the Kid—the Kid of the Daughters of the Bier—
As if the vertebra of the daughters of Na‘sh
were pitching onto its forelegs in a circle.
Collapses onto the hands in a circle.
وَتَخبوand fade الشُعرَيانِthe two Shi'ra stars إِلىtoward سُهَيلٍSuhayl
وَتَخبو الشُعرَيانِ إِلى سُهَيلٍ
يَلوحُit gleams كَقُمَّةِlike the summit of الجَبَلِthe mountain الكَبيرِgreat
يَلوحُ كَقُمَّةِ الجَبَلِ الكَبيرِ
And the two Shi'ra stars fade toward Suhayl,
The Pleiades set toward Suhayl
which gleams like the summit of a great mountain.
Beaming like the summit of a great mountain.
وَكانواand they were قَومَناour people فَبَغَواthen they transgressed عَلَيناagainst us
وَكانوا قَومَنا فَبَغَوا عَلَينا
فَقَدso indeed لقاهُمُmet them لَفَحُthe scorching blast of السَعيرِthe blaze
فَقَد لقاهُمُ لَفَحُ السَعيرِ
And they were our people, yet they wronged us;
They were our tribe, so they rebelled against us,
so the scorching blast of the blaze has met them.
And so the blaze of hell met them.
تَظَلُّremain الطَيرُthe birds عاكِفَةًgathered عَلَيهِمover them
تَظَلُّ الطَيرُ عاكِفَةً عَلَيهِم
كَأَنَّas though الخَيلَthe horses تَنضَحُspatter بِالعَبيرِwith perfume
كَأَنَّ الخَيلَ تَنضَحُ بِالعَبيرِ
The birds remain gathered over them,
Birds shadow them, alighting
as though the horses were spattering perfume.
As if the horses were dripping with musk.
Sol 6.1