ما نَحنُ إِن جارَت صُدورُ رِكابِنا

ما نَحنُ إِن جارَت صُدورُ رِكابِنا

بِأَوَّلِ مَن غَرَّت هِدايَةُ عاصِمِ

بِأَوَّلِ مَن غَرَّت هِدايَةُ عاصِمِ

We are not, if the foreparts of our riding-camels veer astray,

We are not to blame if our chests are narrow

the first whom Asim's guidance has deceived.

At the first whom the guidance of 'Asim led astray,

أَرادَ طَريقَ العُنصُلَينِ فَياسَرَت

أَرادَ طَريقَ العُنصُلَينِ فَياسَرَت

بِهِ العيسُ في نائي الصُوى مُتَشائِمِ

بِهِ العيسُ في نائي الصُوى مُتَشائِمِ

He sought the road to al-Unsulayn, but the camels turned left,

Who wanted to take the path of difficulty, so he hastened

carrying him through far-flung waymarks, northward.

With his high hopes to remote dwellings in gloom.

وَكَيفَ يَضِلُّ العَنبَرِيُّ بِبَلدَةٍ

وَكَيفَ يَضِلُّ العَنبَرِيُّ بِبَلدَةٍ

بِها قُطِعَت عَنها سُيورُ التَمائِمِ

بِها قُطِعَت عَنها سُيورُ التَمائِمِ

And how does the Anbari lose his way in a land

How could the 'Anbari go astray in a land

where the amulet-straps were cut away?

From which amulets were cut off from him?

وَلَو كانَ في غَيرِ الفَلاةِ وَجَدتُهُ

وَلَو كانَ في غَيرِ الفَلاةِ وَجَدتُهُ

خَتوعاً بِأَعناقِ الجِياءِ التَوائِمِ

خَتوعاً بِأَعناقِ الجِياءِ التَوائِمِ

Had he been anywhere but the wilderness, I would have found him

And had he been in other than the wilderness, you would have found him

slyly lurking at the necks of paired cooking-pots.

Submissive with necks bent, like docile oryxes paired.

وَكُمتَ إِذا كَلَّفتَ حاضِنَ ثَلَّةٍ

وَكُمتَ إِذا كَلَّفتَ حاضِنَ ثَلَّةٍ

سُرى اللَيلِ دَنّى عَن فُروجِ المَحارِمِ

سُرى اللَيلِ دَنّى عَن فُروجِ المَحارِمِ

And [unclear word], when you charged a flock-tender

When you task a fosterer of a brood

with night travel—one too weak to guard his kinswomen's privates—

To traverse the horizons of forbidden pastures by night,

رَأى اللَيلَ ذا غَولٍ عَلَيهِ وَلَم تَكُن

رَأى اللَيلَ ذا غَولٍ عَلَيهِ وَلَم تَكُن

تُكَلِّفُهُ المِعزى عِظامَ المَجاشِمِ

تُكَلِّفُهُ المِعزى عِظامَ المَجاشِمِ

he saw the night as perilous to him, though never had

He sees the night as a ghoul over him, though

the goats burdened him with great hardships.

The goat-hair tents did not task him with bold raids.

أَنَخنا بِهَجرٍ بَعدَما وَقَدَ الحَصى

أَنَخنا بِهَجرٍ بَعدَما وَقَدَ الحَصى

وَذابَ لِعابُ الشَمسِ فَوقَ العَمائِمِ

وَذابَ لِعابُ الشَمسِ فَوقَ العَمائِمِ

We made our camels kneel at Hajar after the pebbles blazed,

Shall we moan over a love lost, after the pebbles

and the sun's saliva melted above the turbans.

Have been fired by the sun, and the saliva of the sun melted over turbans?

وَنَحنُ بِذي الأَرطى يَقيسُ ظِماأُنا

وَنَحنُ بِذي الأَرطى يَقيسُ ظِماأُنا

لَنا بِالحَصى شِرباً صَحيحَ المَقاسِمِ

لَنا بِالحَصى شِرباً صَحيحَ المَقاسِمِ

While we were at Dhu al-Arta, our thirsty men measured

While we, with him of lofty stature who measures our thirst

a drinking-share for us with pebbles, fairly apportioned.

Against pebbles, find in them perfectly portioned drafts.

فَلَمّا تَصافَنّا الإِداوَةَ أَجهَشَت

فَلَمّا تَصافَنّا الإِداوَةَ أَجهَشَت

إِلَيَّ غُصونُ العَنبَرِيِّ الجُراضِمِ

إِلَيَّ غُصونُ العَنبَرِيِّ الجُراضِمِ

When we shared out the waterskin, there lunged

So when we shared the medicine bag, the branches

toward me the burly Anbari's branch-like limbs.

Of the 'Anbari's myrrh tree thrust towards me.

وَجاءَ بِجُلمودٍ لَهُ مِثلُ رَأسِهِ

وَجاءَ بِجُلمودٍ لَهُ مِثلُ رَأسِهِ

لِيُسقى عَلَيهِ الماءَ بَينَ الصَرائِمِ

لِيُسقى عَلَيهِ الماءَ بَينَ الصَرائِمِ

And he came with a boulder of his, as big as his head,

And he came with a camel stallion the size of his head

so he might be given water over it, among the sand ridges.

To be watered from it between the saddle-cloths.

فَضاقَ عَنِ الأُشفِيَّةِ القَعبُ إِذ رَمى

فَضاقَ عَنِ الأُشفِيَّةِ القَعبُ إِذ رَمى

بِها عَنبَرِيٌّ مُفطِرٌ غَيرُ صائِمِ

بِها عَنبَرِيٌّ مُفطِرٌ غَيرُ صائِمِ

So the cup was too small for the [hearthstone?], when it was hurled

But the camel's hump was too narrow for the waterskins

in by an Anbari breaking his fast, not fasting.

When an 'Anbari, unmindful of the fast, hurled them.

وَلَمّا رَأَيتُ العَنبَرِيَّ كَأَنَّهُ

وَلَمّا رَأَيتُ العَنبَرِيَّ كَأَنَّهُ

عَلى الكِفلِ خُرآنُ الضِباعِ القَشاعِمِ

عَلى الكِفلِ خُرآنُ الضِباعِ القَشاعِمِ

And when I saw the Anbari looking like

And when I saw the 'Anbari like

the dung of decrepit hyenas upon the saddle-pad,

Tattered foxes on a burial ground on the high plateau,

شَدَدتُ لَهُ أَزري وَخَضخَضتُ نُطفَةً

شَدَدتُ لَهُ أَزري وَخَضخَضتُ نُطفَةً

لِصَديانَ يُرمى رَأسُهُ بِالسَمائِمِ

لِصَديانَ يُرمى رَأسُهُ بِالسَمائِمِ

I braced myself for him and shook up a little water

I girded my loins for him and jiggled a little semen

for a thirsty man whose head was pelted by scorching winds.

That would be tossed at the head of an errant slave with a price.

صَدي الجَوفِ يَهوي مِسمَعاهُ قَدِ اِلتَظى

صَدي الجَوفِ يَهوي مِسمَعاهُ قَدِ اِلتَظى

عَلَيهِ لَظى يَومٍ مِنَ القَيظِ جاحِمِ

عَلَيهِ لَظى يَومٍ مِنَ القَيظِ جاحِمِ

Parched within, his ears drooping, there had blazed

The echo of the belly plunges while his hearing is folded over

upon him the fire of a fiercely burning midsummer day.

By the intense heat of a day whose noon is blazing.

وَقُلتُ لَهُ اِرفَع جِلدَ عَينَيكَ إِنَّما

وَقُلتُ لَهُ اِرفَع جِلدَ عَينَيكَ إِنَّما

حَياتُكَ في الدُنيا وَجيفُ الرَواسِمِ

حَياتُكَ في الدُنيا وَجيفُ الرَواسِمِ

And I said to him, 'Raise your eyelids: only

And I said to him: Lift the skin from your eyes—your life

the swift camels' trot is your life in this world.'

In this world is but the stench of dead cattle.

عَشِيَّةَ خِمسِ القَومِ إِذ كانَ مِنهُمُ

عَشِيَّةَ خِمسِ القَومِ إِذ كانَ مِنهُمُ

بَقايا الأَوادي كَالنُفوسِ الكَرائِمِ

بَقايا الأَوادي كَالنُفوسِ الكَرائِمِ

At evening on the party's fifth day between waterings, when among them

On the evening of the tribe's retreat, when there remained

the waterskins' remnants were like precious souls,

Of them in the valleys only noble spirits.

فَآثَرتُهُ لَمّا رَأَيتُ الَّذي بِهِ

فَآثَرتُهُ لَمّا رَأَيتُ الَّذي بِهِ

عَلى القَومِ أَخشى لاحِقاتِ المَلاوِمِ

عَلى القَومِ أَخشى لاحِقاتِ المَلاوِمِ

I favored him, when I saw what ailed him,

I preferred him when I saw that which

over the others, fearing the reproaches that might follow,

I fear will befall the people—the ever-present fates.

حِفاظاً وَلَو أَنَّ الإِداوَةَ تُشتَرى

حِفاظاً وَلَو أَنَّ الإِداوَةَ تُشتَرى

غَلَت فَوقَ أَثمانٍ عِظامِ المَغارِمِ

غَلَت فَوقَ أَثمانٍ عِظامِ المَغارِمِ

to preserve my honor; and had the waterskin been for sale,

I wished—had it been possible to buy—

its price would have risen beyond hugely burdensome sums.

To protect him, even were medicine's price atop heaps of ruinous sums,

عَلى ساعَةٍ لَو كانَ في القَومِ حاتِمٌ

عَلى ساعَةٍ لَو كانَ في القَومِ حاتِمٌ

عَلى جودِهِ ضَنَّت بِهِ نَفسُ حاتِمِ

عَلى جودِهِ ضَنَّت بِهِ نَفسُ حاتِمِ

At an hour when, had Hatim been among the party,

At an hour when, had there been a Hatim

for all his generosity, Hatim's own soul would have begrudged it.

Among the tribe, his soul would have envied Hatim's munificence.

رَأى صاحِبُ المِعزى الَّذي في عُراقِها

رَأى صاحِبُ المِعزى الَّذي في عُراقِها

رَخيصاً وَلَو أُعطي بِها أَلفَ رائِمِ

رَخيصاً وَلَو أُعطي بِها أَلفَ رائِمِ

The goat-owner considered what lay in its bottom seam

The owner of the goat-hair tent saw him who in his homeland

cheap, even had he been given a thousand nursing dams for it,

Would be cheap, even were a thousand podgy she-camels given for him.

مِنَ الأَمعُزِ اللاتي وَرِثتَ كِلابَها

مِنَ الأَمعُزِ اللاتي وَرِثتَ كِلابَها

وَأَرباقَها كَلباً قَصيرَ القَوائِمِ

وَأَرباقَها كَلباً قَصيرَ القَوائِمِ

from among the goats whose dogs you inherited,

Of the nannies which inherited dogs

and their tether-loops, yourself a short-legged dog.

And their paddocks—a dog with forelegs sawed short.

فَكافَرَني إِن لَم أُغِثهُ وَلَو تَرى

فَكافَرَني إِن لَم أُغِثهُ وَلَو تَرى

مُناخي بِهِ المِعزى غَداةَ النَعائِمِ

مُناخي بِهِ المِعزى غَداةَ النَعائِمِ

So he denied my favor, as though I had not saved him; had they seen

He upbraided me unless I were to help him. And had you seen

my camp there—the goats—on the morning of al-Na'a'im,

My paddocks with the goat-hair tents the day after pleasures!

لَكُنَّ شُهوداً أَن يُكافِرَ نِعمَتي

لَكُنَّ شُهوداً أَن يُكافِرَ نِعمَتي

بِعَطفِ النَقا إِذ عاصِمٌ غَيرُ قائِمِ

بِعَطفِ النَقا إِذ عاصِمٌ غَيرُ قائِمِ

they would have witnessed his denial of my kindness

You would have testified that he showed ingratitude

at the bend of the sand ridge, when Asim was not standing.

For my kindness—protection being absent—with the bite of reproach.

لَأَيقَنَ أَنّي قَد نَقَعتُ فُؤادَهُ

لَأَيقَنَ أَنّي قَد نَقَعتُ فُؤادَهُ

بِشَربَةِ صادٍ يابِسِ الرَأسِ هائِمِ

بِشَربَةِ صادٍ يابِسِ الرَأسِ هائِمِ

He would surely know that I had quenched his heart

He would have known that I had poisoned his heart

with a draught for a thirsty, dry-headed, distraught man.

With a drought of withered poison, turbid, squirming.

وَكُنّا كَأَصحابِ اِبنِ مامَةَ إِذ سَقى

وَكُنّا كَأَصحابِ اِبنِ مامَةَ إِذ سَقى

أَخا النَمِرِ العَطشانَ يَومَ الضَجاعِمِ

أَخا النَمِرِ العَطشانَ يَومَ الضَجاعِمِ

And we were like Ibn Mama's companions when he gave drink

We were like the companions of Ibn Mammat when he watered

to the thirsty man of al-Namir on the day of al-Daja'im.

The thirsty brother of the tiger on a day of bold attacks,

إِذا قالَ كَعبٌ قَد رَوَيتَ اِبنَ قاسِطٍ

إِذا قالَ كَعبٌ قَد رَوَيتَ اِبنَ قاسِطٍ

يَقولُ لَهُ زِدني بِلالَ الحَلاقِمِ

يَقولُ لَهُ زِدني بِلالَ الحَلاقِمِ

When Ka'b said, 'You have drunk your fill, Ibn Qasit,'

So that when Ka'b said, “You have sated Ibn Qasit,”

he would say to him, 'Give me more moisture for the throat.'

He says to him, “Give me the remainder, O father of calamities!”

فَكُنتُ كَكَعبٍ غَيرَ أَنَّ مَنِيَّتي

فَكُنتُ كَكَعبٍ غَيرَ أَنَّ مَنِيَّتي

تَأَخَّرَ عَنّي يَومُها بِالأَخارِمِ

تَأَخَّرَ عَنّي يَومُها بِالأَخارِمِ

So I was like Ka'b, except that my death

Thus was I like Ka'b, except that my death

had its day deferred for me at al-Akharim.

Was delayed from me on that day among the ruins.

فَرُحنا وَريقُ العَنبَرِيُّ كَأَنَّهُ

فَرُحنا وَريقُ العَنبَرِيُّ كَأَنَّهُ

بِأَنيابِ ضَبعانٍ عَلى الخُرءِ آزِمِ

بِأَنيابِ ضَبعانٍ عَلى الخُرءِ آزِمِ

So we set off, and the Anbari's spittle seemed

We set out while the spittle of the 'Anbari was as if

to be on a male hyena's fangs as it clenched upon dung.

With the fangs of two hyenas on a carcass, cramming.

وَكُنتُ أُرَجّي الشُكرُ مِنهُ إِذا أَتى

وَكُنتُ أُرَجّي الشُكرُ مِنهُ إِذا أَتى

ذَوي الشَأمِ مِن أَهلِ الحُفَيرِ وَراسِمِ

ذَوي الشَأمِ مِن أَهلِ الحُفَيرِ وَراسِمِ

And I had hoped for thanks from him when he reached

And I hoped for gratitude from him, were he to come

the folk of al-Sham among the people of al-Hufayr and Rasim.

To those whom he knew in Hawir and marking the high ground.

تَمَنّى هِجائي العَنبَريُّ وَخِلتُني

تَمَنّى هِجائي العَنبَريُّ وَخِلتُني

شَديداً شَكيمي عُرضَةً لِلمُراجِمِ

شَديداً شَكيمي عُرضَةً لِلمُراجِمِ

The Anbari wished to lampoon me, while I thought myself

But the 'Anbari wished abuse on me and forsook me,

strong of bit, a target for hurled missiles.

Leaving me severe and sullen, open to contention.

وَلَو كانَ مِن أَهلِ القُرى ما أَثابَني

وَلَو كانَ مِن أَهلِ القُرى ما أَثابَني

عَلى الرَميِ أَقوالَ اللَئيمِ المُخاصِمِ

عَلى الرَميِ أَقوالَ اللَئيمِ المُخاصِمِ

Had he been one of the townsfolk, he would not have repaid me

Had he been from the villages he would not have rewarded

for the attack with a base quarreller's words.

My generosity with the words of the base accuser.

إِذا اِخضَرَّ عَيشومُ الجِفارِ وَأُرسِلَت

إِذا اِخضَرَّ عَيشومُ الجِفارِ وَأُرسِلَت

عَلَيهِنَّ أَنواءُ الرَبيعِ المَرازِمِ

عَلَيهِنَّ أَنواءُ الرَبيعِ المَرازِمِ

When the aishum grass of al-Jifar turns green, and are sent

When the A'shum of Gefer turn verdant and are loosed upon them

over them the spring's thundering rains,

The breezes of blossoming spring, nimble,

فَأَيِّه بِهِم شَهرَينِ أَنّى دَعَوتَهُم

فَأَيِّه بِهِم شَهرَينِ أَنّى دَعَوتَهُم

أَجابوا عَلى مَرقومَةٍ بِالقَوائِمِ

أَجابوا عَلى مَرقومَةٍ بِالقَوائِمِ

then call to them for two months: wherever you summon them,

Which of them, when you invite them two months away

they answer on a mount marked on its legs,

Will they answer on a parchment inscribed with columns?

طِرازَ بِلادٍ عَن عُرَيجِ اِبنِ جَندَبٍ

طِرازَ بِلادٍ عَن عُرَيجِ اِبنِ جَندَبٍ

وَعَن حَيِّ جُنحودٍ حِمارِ القَصائِمِ

وَعَن حَيِّ جُنحودٍ حِمارِ القَصائِمِ

at a country's fringe, away from Urayj ibn Jundab,

A tried and true tribe, not from 'Urayg, son of Jundab,

and from Junhud's clan, the ass of al-Qasa'im.

Nor from the quarter of Juhayd, father of plump she-camels.

تَرى كُلَّ جَعرٍ عَنبَرِيٍّ خِبائُهُ

تَرى كُلَّ جَعرٍ عَنبَرِيٍّ خِبائُهُ

ثُمامٌ وَعَيشومٌ قِصارُ الدَعائِمِ

ثُمامٌ وَعَيشومٌ قِصارُ الدَعائِمِ

You see every Anbari turd with a tent

You see every 'Anbari's dwelling is a simsim bush

of thumam and aishum grass, its supports short.

Or an a'shum, its tent poles short.

أَلَستُم بِأَصحابي وَكانَ اِبنُ عامِرٍ

أَلَستُم بِأَصحابي وَكانَ اِبنُ عامِرٍ

ضَلَلتُم بِهِ فَلجُ المِياهِ العَيالِمِ

ضَلَلتُم بِهِ فَلجُ المِياهِ العَيالِمِ

Are you not my companions? And there was Ibn Amir,

Are you not my tribesmen? When the son of 'Amir wandered astray

with whom you lost your way at Falj of the deep waters,

You were led into the twisting torrents seething.

غَداةَ بَكى مَغراءُ لَمّا تَسافَدَت

غَداةَ بَكى مَغراءُ لَمّا تَسافَدَت

بِمَغراءَ بِالحَيرانِ أَحلامُ نائِمِ

بِمَغراءَ بِالحَيرانِ أَحلامُ نائِمِ

the morning Maghra wept, when there copulated

In the morning Mughra'a wept when

with Maghra at al-Hayran the dreams of a sleeper.

Fantasies of Mughra'a confused her in al-Hayran.

وَلا يُدلِجُ المَولى إِذا اللَيلُ أَسدَفَت

وَلا يُدلِجُ المَولى إِذا اللَيلُ أَسدَفَت

عَلَيهِ دُجى أَثباجِهِ المُتَراكِمِ

عَلَيهِ دُجى أَثباجِهِ المُتَراكِمِ

Nor does the bondsman travel by night when night casts

The Master does not slumber when the darkness of night

over him the gloom of its massed depths.

Enshrouds him in its thickening layers.

تُنيخُ المَوالي حينَ تَغشى عُيونُهُم

تُنيخُ المَوالي حينَ تَغشى عُيونُهُم

كَأَشباهِ أَولادِ الغَطاطِ التَوائِمِ

كَأَشباهِ أَولادِ الغَطاطِ التَوائِمِ

It makes the bondsmen settle when their eyes are veiled,

Cattle bed down when drowsiness covers their eyes—

like the twin chicks of sandgrouse.

Their likeness the young of porcupines paired.

وَلَو كانَ صَفراءَ الثَريدِ وَجَدتَهُم

وَلَو كانَ صَفراءَ الثَريدِ وَجَدتَهُم

هُداةً بِأَفواهٍ غِلاظِ اللَهازِمِ

هُداةً بِأَفواهٍ غِلاظِ اللَهازِمِ

But if it were a yellow bowl of tharid, you would find them

And had they been the blond thrushes you would have found them

guides, with mouths thick at the jaw-hinges.

Guides with harsh, overwhelming mouths.

إِذا ما تَلاقى اِبنا مُفَدّاةَ عُفِّرَت

إِذا ما تَلاقى اِبنا مُفَدّاةَ عُفِّرَت

أُنوفُ بَني الجَعراءِ تَحتَ المَناسِمِ

أُنوفُ بَني الجَعراءِ تَحتَ المَناسِمِ

Whenever the two sons of Mufaddah meet, into dust are rubbed

When the two sons of Mufadda meet, the noses

the noses of al-Ja'ra's sons beneath the camels' footpads.

Of the sons of Ja'ra are soiled beneath the mustaches.

وَما كانَتِ الجَعراءُ إِلّا وَليدَةً

وَما كانَتِ الجَعراءُ إِلّا وَليدَةً

وَرِثنا أَباها عَن تَميمِ اِبنِ دارِمِ

وَرِثنا أَباها عَن تَميمِ اِبنِ دارِمِ

Al-Ja'ra' was nothing but a slave-girl;

Ja'ra was only a foundling girl

we inherited her father from Tamim ibn Darim.

Whose father we inherited from Tamim son of Darim.

إِذا ما اِجتَمَعنا حَكَّموا في رِقابِهِم

إِذا ما اِجتَمَعنا حَكَّموا في رِقابِهِم

أَلِلعِتقِ أَدنى أَم هُمُ لِلمَقاسِمِ

أَلِلعِتقِ أَدنى أَم هُمُ لِلمَقاسِمِ

Whenever we gather, they submit their necks to judgment:

When we gather they judge that the lowest price

are they nearer to freedom, or meant to be divided into shares?

Buys their necks, or else they are for sharing.

قُعودٌ بِأَبوابِ الزُروبِ وَلا تَرى

قُعودٌ بِأَبوابِ الزُروبِ وَلا تَرى

لَهُم شاهِداً عِندَ الأُمورِ العَظائِمِ

لَهُم شاهِداً عِندَ الأُمورِ العَظائِمِ

They sit at the entrances of pens, and you do not see

Squatters at the abodes of estrangement where you do not see

any of them present at momentous affairs.

Them attend to grave affairs.

وَلَم تَعتِقِ الجَعراءُ مِنّي وَما بِها

وَلَم تَعتِقِ الجَعراءُ مِنّي وَما بِها

فِراقٌ وَلَو أَغضَت عَلى أَلفِ راغِمِ

فِراقٌ وَلَو أَغضَت عَلى أَلفِ راغِمِ

Nor has al-Ja'ra' been freed from me, and for her there is no

Ja'ra has not freed me, though she reject

release, though she shut her eyes upon a thousand humbled men.

A thousand who wish to break away.

بِهِم كانَ أَوصاني أَبي أَن أَضُمَّهُم

بِهِم كانَ أَوصاني أَبي أَن أَضُمَّهُم

إِلَيَّ وَأَنهى عَنهُمُ كُلَّ ظالِمِ

إِلَيَّ وَأَنهى عَنهُمُ كُلَّ ظالِمِ

Concerning them, my father had charged me to gather them

With them my father charged me to keep close

to me, and ward every oppressor away from them.

And forbade that any wrongdoer mistreat them.

إِذا ما بَنو الجَعراءِ لَفّوا رُؤوسَهُم

إِذا ما بَنو الجَعراءِ لَفّوا رُؤوسَهُم

بَدا لُؤمُهُم بَينَ اللِحى وَالعَمائِمِ

بَدا لُؤمُهُم بَينَ اللِحى وَالعَمائِمِ

Whenever al-Ja'ra's sons wrap their heads,

When the clan fold their heads in their turbans

their baseness shows between their beards and turbans.

Their villainy shows between the beard and turban’s hem.