رَأَيتُI saw فيهاwithin it بَرقَهاits lightning لَمّاwhen وَثَبit leapt
رَأَيتُ فيها بَرقَها لَمّا وَثَب
كَمِثلِlike طَرفِthe blink of العَينِthe eye أَوor قَلبٍa heart يَجِبbeats
كَمِثلِ طَرفِ العَينِ أَو قَلبٍ يَجِب
I saw its lightning within it as it leapt,
In it I saw lightning flash when it leapt,
like the blink of an eye or a throbbing heart.
Like the flutter of an eye or a pounding heart,
ثُمَّthen حَدَتdrove بِهاit onward الصَباthe east wind كَأَنَّهاas though it
ثُمَّ حَدَت بِها الصَبا كَأَنَّها
فيهاwithin it مِنَof البَرقِlightning كَأَمثالِlike الشُهُبshooting stars
فيها مِنَ البَرقِ كَأَمثالِ الشُهُب
Then the east wind drove it onward, as though it
Then the morning breeze blew it along as if
held flashes of lightning like shooting stars.
In it were flashes of lightning like shooting stars.
باكِيَةٌweeping يَضحَكُlaughs فيهاwithin it بَرقُهاits lightning
باكِيَةٌ يَضحَكُ فيها بَرقُها
مَوصولَةٌjoined بِالأَرضِto the earth مُرماةُflung out الطُنُبthe tent-ropes
مَوصولَةٌ بِالأَرضِ مُرماةُ الطُنُب
Weeping, while its lightning laughs within it,
Weeping yet its lightning laughs,
joined to the earth, its tent-ropes flung out.
Connected to the ground, its poles cast down.
كَأَنَّهاas though it وَرَعدُهاand its thunder مُستَعبِرٌa weeper
كَأَنَّها وَرَعدُها مُستَعبِرٌ
لَجَّpressed relentlessly بِهِagainst him عَلىover بُكاهُhis weeping ذوone with صَخَبclamor
لَجَّ بِهِ عَلى بُكاهُ ذو صَخَب
It and its thunder were like a weeping man,
As if it and its thunder were seeking refuge,
harried over his tears by a clamorous fellow.
Sheltering its weeping with loud clamor.
جاءَتit came بِجَفنٍwith an eyelid أَكحَلٍkohl-dark وَاِنصَرَفَتand departed
جاءَت بِجَفنٍ أَكحَلٍ وَاِنصَرَفَت
مَرهاءَwith kohl-less eyes مِنfrom إِسبالِletting flow دَمعٍtears مُنسَكِبpouring
مَرهاءَ مِن إِسبالِ دَمعٍ مُنسَكِب
It came with a kohl-dark eyelid, then departed,
It came with darkly lined eyes and left
its kohl washed away by streaming, pouring tears.
Wiping away copiously flowing tears.
إِذاwhen تَعَرّىbared itself البَرقُthe lightning فيهاwithin it خِلتَهُyou thought it
إِذا تَعَرّى البَرقُ فيها خِلتَهُ
بَطنَthe belly of شُجاعٍa serpent فيin كَثيبٍa sand dune يَضطَرِبwrithes
بَطنَ شُجاعٍ في كَثيبٍ يَضطَرِب
When the lightning bared itself within it, you thought it
When its lightning bared itself its deficiency appeared
the belly of a serpent writhing in a sand dune.
Like the belly of a courageous man on a quaking dune.
وَتارَةًand at times تُبصِرُهُyou see it كَأَنَّهُas though it
وَتارَةً تُبصِرُهُ كَأَنَّهُ
أَبلَقُa piebald horse مالَslipped aside جَلُّهُits covering حينَwhen وَثَبit leapt
أَبلَقُ مالَ جَلُّهُ حينَ وَثَب
And at times you see it as though it were
At times you see it as if it were
a piebald horse whose covering slipped as it leapt.
A piebald horse when its entirety leapt.
وَتارَةًand at times تَخالَهُyou imagine it إِذاwhen بَداit appears
وَتارَةً تَخالَهُ إِذا بَدا
سَلاسِلاًchains مَصقولَةًpolished مِنَof الذَهَبgold
سَلاسِلاً مَصقولَةً مِنَ الذَهَب
And at times, when it appears, you imagine it
And at times you imagine it when it appears
to be polished chains of gold.
As polished golden chains.
وَاللَيلُand the night قَدalready رَقَّgrew thin وَأَصغىand inclined نَجمُهُits star
وَاللَيلُ قَد رَقَّ وَأَصغى نَجمُهُ
وَاِستَوفَزَand poised itself الصُبحُthe morning وَلَمّاand not yet يَنتَقِبdonned a face-veil
وَاِستَوفَزَ الصُبحُ وَلَمّا يَنتَقِب
And the night had thinned, and its star inclined;
And the night softened and its stars listened
and morning poised itself, not yet wearing its veil,
As dawn urged itself on before it could peer out
مُعتَرِضاًstretching across بِفَجرِهِwith its dawn فيin لَيلَةٍa night
مُعتَرِضاً بِفَجرِهِ في لَيلَةٍ
كَفَرَسٍlike a mare بَيضاءَwhite دَهماءَjet-black at اللَبَبthe breast
كَفَرَسٍ بَيضاءَ دَهماءَ اللَبَب
stretching its dawn across a night
Intercepting with its dawn a night
like a white mare with a jet-black breast.
Like a grey mare with dark lips.
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen لَجَّgrew obstinate الثَرىthe soil بِمائِهاover its water
حَتّى إِذا لَجَّ الثَرى بِمائِها
وَمَلَّهاand wearied of it صَدَّتturned away صُدودَthe aversion of مَنone who غَضِبgrew angry
وَمَلَّها صَدَّت صُدودَ مَن غَضِب
Until, when the soil grew obstinate over its water
Until when its water soaked the earth
and wearied of it, the cloud turned away like one enraged,
And it tired those who were angry recoiled.
كَأَنَّهاas though it جَمعُa host of خَميسٍan army حَكَمَتdecreed
كَأَنَّها جَمعُ خَميسٍ حَكَمَت
عَلَيهِupon it أَبطالُthe champions of الرِجالِmen بِالهَرَبto flee
عَلَيهِ أَبطالُ الرِجالِ بِالهَرَب
as though it were an army's massed ranks, condemned
As if it were a party of Khums that the heroes
by the champions among men to flee.
Had judged against so they fled.
يَومَon the day يَخوضُplunges into الحَربَwar مِنّيfrom me عالِمٌone who knows
يَومَ يَخوضُ الحَربَ مِنّي عالِمٌ
إِنَّthat يَدَthe hand of الحَتفِdeath تُصيبُstrikes مَنwhomever طَلَبit sought
إِنَّ يَدَ الحَتفِ تُصيبُ مَن طَلَب
On the day I plunge into war as one who knows
The day I plunge into battle, I, a learned one, know
that death's hand strikes whomever it seeks.
The hand of death will strike the seeker.
كَمhow many غَمرَةٍa maelstrom لِلمَوتِof death يُخشىis feared خَوضُهاentering it
كَم غَمرَةٍ لِلمَوتِ يُخشى خَوضُها
جَرَيتُI ran فيهاthrough it جَريَthe running of سِلكٍa thread فيthrough ثَقَبa hole
جَرَيتُ فيها جَريَ سِلكٍ في ثَقَب
How many a maelstrom of death, whose entry men fear,
How many deadly plunges where survival is feared
have I sped through like a thread through a hole!
Have I slipped through like a thread through a needle’s eye.
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen قيلَit was said خَضيبٌstained بِدَمٍwith blood
حَتّى إِذا قيلَ خَضيبٌ بِدَمٍ
نَجَمتُI emerged فيهاamid it بِحُسامٍwith a keen sword مُختَضِبblood-dyed
نَجَمتُ فيها بِحُسامٍ مُختَضِب
Until, when it was said, 'He is dyed with blood,'
Until when it was said my blood was shed
I emerged amid it with a keen, blood-dyed sword.
I emerged from it with a bloodstained sword.
المَوتُdeath أَولىmore fitting لِلفَتىfor a young man مِنthan أَنthat يَرىhe sees
المَوتُ أَولى لِلفَتى مِن أَن يَرى
ظالِعَa cripple of دَهرٍtime كُلَّماwhenever شاءَit wishes اِنقَلَبit turns
ظالِعَ دَهرٍ كُلَّما شاءَ اِنقَلَب
Death is better for a young man than to see himself
Death is better for a youth than to see
crippled by a time that turns whenever it wills.
An unjust time that shifts however it desires.
وَصاحِبٍand a companion نَبَّهَنيroused me بِكَأسِهِwith his cup
وَصاحِبٍ نَبَّهَني بِكَأسِهِ
وَالفَجرُand the dawn قَدalready لاحَappeared سَناهُits radiance وَثَقَبand blazed
وَالفَجرُ قَد لاحَ سَناهُ وَثَقَب
And a companion roused me with his cup,
And a companion who woke me with his cup
while dawn's radiance had appeared and blazed.
As dawn had shone, its brightness pierced the dark.
لاno عُذرَexcuse ليfor me فيin سِمَتيmy appearance وَلِمَّتيand my locks
لا عُذرَ لي في سِمَتي وَلِمَّتي
سَيّانَboth alike مِنof شَيبٍgray hair وَشَعرٍand hair لَمhas not يَشِبturned gray
سَيّانَ مِن شَيبٍ وَشَعرٍ لَم يَشِب
I have no excuse in my appearance and my locks:
I have no excuse in my will or determination,
gray hair and hair not yet gray are alike.
Both are equal from hoary hair or hair not gone white.
لِأَيِّtoward which غاياتيmy goals أَجريI run بَعدَماafter
لِأَيِّ غاياتي أَجري بَعدَما
رَأَيتُI saw أَترابيmy peers وَقَدand already صارواthey became تُرَبdust
رَأَيتُ أَترابي وَقَد صاروا تُرَب
Toward which of my goals shall I run, now that
To what ends shall I run after having seen
I have seen my peers become dust?
My peers who have become dust?
لَبِستُI wore أَطوارَthe phases of الزَمانِtime كُلَّهاall of them
لَبِستُ أَطوارَ الزَمانِ كُلَّها
فَأَيُّso what عَيشٍlife أَرتَجيI hope for وَأَطَّلِبand seek
فَأَيُّ عَيشٍ أَرتَجي وَأَطَّلِب
I have worn all the changing phases of time;
I have worn every mask of time,
what life, then, can I hope for and pursue?
What life can I yearn for and seek?
وَسابِحٍand a swimming-gaited steed مُسامِحٍwilling ذيpossessing مَيعَةٍvigor
وَسابِحٍ مُسامِحٍ ذي مَيعَةٍ
كَأَنَّهُas though it حَريقُa blaze of نارٍfire تَلتَهِبflaming
كَأَنَّهُ حَريقُ نارٍ تَلتَهِب
And a swimming-gaited steed, willing and full of vigor,
A slim gracefully gliding steed
as though it were a blaze of flaming fire.
As if it were a raging fire flaming up.
تَراهُyou see it إِنif أَبصَرتَهُyou behold it مُستَقبَلاًhead-on
تَراهُ إِن أَبصَرتَهُ مُستَقبَلاً
كَأَنَّماas though يَعلوrises مِنَfrom الأَرضِthe earth حَدَبa mound
كَأَنَّما يَعلو مِنَ الأَرضِ حَدَب
You see it, if you behold it head-on,
If you see it facing you,
as though a mound were rising from the earth.
It seems to rise up from the earth like a hillock.
عاريbare-fleshed at النَساthe sciatic nerve يَنتَهِبُit plunders التُربَthe dust لَهُit has
عاري النَسا يَنتَهِبُ التُربَ لَهُ
حَوافِرٌhooves باذِلَةٌgiving freely ماwhat يَنتَهِبit plunders
حَوافِرٌ باذِلَةٌ ما يَنتَهِب
Lean in the haunches, it plunders the dust; it has
Bare of clothing, it rends the earth,
hooves that give away what it plunders.
Its hooves pouring forth what it rends.
تُصالِحُmake peace with التُربَthe dust إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle رَكَضَتthey gallop
تُصالِحُ التُربَ إِذا ما رَكَضَت
لَكِنَّهاbut they مَعَwith الصُخورِthe rocks تَصطَخِبclatter
لَكِنَّها مَعَ الصُخورِ تَصطَخِب
They make peace with the dust when they gallop,
It makes peace with the earth when it gallops
but clash noisily with the rocks.
But with rocks it clashes wildly.
تَحسَبُهُyou think it يُزهىtakes pride عَلىover فارِسِهِits rider
تَحسَبُهُ يُزهى عَلى فارِسِهِ
وَإِنَّماand yet يُزهىone takes pride بِهِin it إِذاwhen رُكِبit is ridden
وَإِنَّما يُزهى بِهِ إِذا رُكِب
You think it vaunts itself above its rider,
You’d think it was adorned by its rider
yet it is the rider who takes pride in it when mounted.
But truly it adorns him when ridden.
أَسرَعُfaster مِنthan لَحظَتِهِits glance إِذاwhen رَناit gazes
أَسرَعُ مِن لَحظَتِهِ إِذا رَنا
أَطوَعُmore obedient مِنthan عِنانِهِits rein إِذاwhen جُذِبit is pulled
أَطوَعُ مِن عِنانِهِ إِذا جُذِب
Faster than its glance when it gazes,
Swifter than its glance when it neighs,
more obedient than its rein when pulled.
More obedient than its rein when pulled.
يَبلوغُit reaches ماwhat تَبلُغُهُreaches it الريحُthe wind وَلاand not
يَبلوغُ ما تَبلُغُهُ الريحُ وَلا
تَبلوغُit reaches ماwhat يَبلُغُهُreaches it إِذاwhen طَلَبit pursues
تَبلوغُ ما يَبلُغُهُ إِذا طَلَب
It reaches wherever the wind reaches, yet the wind cannot
It reaches what the wind reaches but cannot reach
reach where it reaches when it gives chase.
What it reaches when sought.
ذوpossessing غُرَّةٍa white blaze قَدalready شَدَخَتspread broadly across جَبهَتَهُits forehead
ذو غُرَّةٍ قَد شَدَخَت جَبهَتَهُ
وَأُذُنٍand an ear مِثلَlike السِنانِthe spearhead المُنتَصِبupright
وَأُذُنٍ مِثلَ السِنانِ المُنتَصِب
With a white blaze spread wide across its forehead,
With a forelock that combs its brow
and an ear like an upright spearhead,
And ears like upright spears.
وَناظِرٍand an eye كَأَنَّهُas though it ذوone with رَوعَةٍfright
وَناظِرٍ كَأَنَّهُ ذو رَوعَةٍ
وَكَفَلٍand a rump مُلَملَمٍrounded ضافيluxuriant in الذَنَبthe tail
وَكَفَلٍ مُلَملَمٍ ضافي الذَنَب
and an eye like that of one in alarm,
A look as if it has great timidity
and a rounded rump with a flowing tail,
And a docked tail sweeping its rear.
وَمِنخَرٍand a nostril كَالكيرِlike bellows لَمdid not تَشقَsuffer بِهِthrough it
وَمِنخَرٍ كَالكيرِ لَم تَشقَ بِهِ
أَنفاسُهُits breaths وَلَمand did not يَخُنهاfail them فيin تَعَبfatigue
أَنفاسُهُ وَلَم يَخُنها في تَعَب
and a nostril like bellows, never causing hardship
With nostrils through which its breaths have not worn holes
to its breaths, nor failing them in fatigue.
And which have not failed it in exertion.
يَبعَثُهاit sends them out شَمائِلاًnorth winds وَيَنثَنيand turns back
يَبعَثُها شَمائِلاً وَيَنثَني
جَنائِباًsouth winds إِلىtoward فُؤادٍa heart يَضطَرِبthrobbing
جَنائِباً إِلى فُؤادٍ يَضطَرِب
It sends them out as north winds, and they turn back
It sends them forth as nostrils and they curl back
as south winds toward a throbbing heart.
Toward a pounding heart.
قَدalready خاضَplunged فيon يَومِthe day of الوَغىbattle فيin حُلَّةٍa robe
قَد خاضَ في يَومِ الوَغى في حُلَّةٍ
حَمراءَred تَسديهاlay its warp العَواليthe lances وَالقُضُبand keen swords
حَمراءَ تَسديها العَوالي وَالقُضُب
It has plunged on the day of battle in a robe
It plunged on the day of battle in a scarlet saddlecloth
of red, woven by lances and keen swords,
Shaded by maple trees and brambles.
فيin غَمرَةٍa maelstrom كانَتwas رَحىthe millstone of المَوتِdeath بِهاtherein
في غَمرَةٍ كانَت رَحى المَوتِ بِها
تَدورُturns وَالصَبرُand endurance لَهاfor it مِنّيfrom me قُطُبan axle
تَدورُ وَالصَبرُ لَها مِنّي قُطُب
in a maelstrom where death's millstone was
In a flood where the mill of death
turning, and my endurance was its axle.
Spun and my patience for it was a pole.
وَلَيلَةٍand a night ضَمَّbrought close إِلَيَّto me شَطرَهاits half
وَلَيلَةٍ ضَمَّ إِلَيَّ شَطرَها
ضَيفيmy guest وَنادىand called out بِاليَفاعِon the height تَلتَهِبit blazes
ضَيفي وَنادى بِاليَفاعِ تَلتَهِب
And a night, half of which was brought close to me
And a night whose half was pressed
by my guest, who called out while fire blazed on the height.
To my chest by my guest as the kindling ignited.
حَلَّتalighted بِهِwith him الأَقدارُthe fates نَحوَtoward عاشِقٍa lover
حَلَّت بِهِ الأَقدارُ نَحوَ عاشِقٍ
لِحَمدِهِof praise for him صَبٍّenamored بِتَفريقِof scattering النَشَبwealth
لِحَمدِهِ صَبٍّ بِتَفريقِ النَشَب
Fate brought him toward a lover
Fortune came to a lover whose praise
of praise for himself, enamored of scattering wealth,
Pours with the scattering of embers.
يَرىhe sees اِبتِزالَlavishing الوَفرِabundant wealth صَونَas protection of عِرضِهِhis honor
يَرى اِبتِزالَ الوَفرِ صَونَ عِرضِهِ
وَيَجعَلُand makes الذُخرَtreasure لَهُfor himself فيماin what يَهَبhe gives
وَيَجعَلُ الذُخرَ لَهُ فيما يَهَب
who sees lavishing riches as safeguarding his honor,
Who sees surrendering splendor as protecting his honor
and stores his treasure in what he gives away.
And makes surplus his provision in what it grants.
Sol 6.1