صاحَcried out بِالوَعظِwith admonition شَيبُgray hair رَأسٍof a head مُضِيُّpiercing
صاحَ بِالوَعظِ شَيبُ رَأسٍ مُضِيُّ
حَثَّنيurged me لِلتُقىtoward piety وَقَلبيand my heart بَطِيُّslow
حَثَّني لِلتُقى وَقَلبي بَطِيُّ
My head's piercing grayness cried out in admonition,
The preacher with graying hair admonished me to piety, while my heart remained playful.
urging me toward piety, while my heart was slow.
He showed me the face of death drawing near, yet I continued headlong.
وَأَرانيand showed me وَجهَthe face المَنِيَّةِof death مِنfrom قُرnearness (first part)
وَأَراني وَجهَ المَنِيَّةِ مِن قُر
بٍcompletion of 'nearness' وَلَكِنَّنيbut I عَلَيهاbefore it جَرِيُّbold
بٍ وَلَكِنَّني عَلَيها جَرِيُّ
And it showed me the face of death close at hand;
The pleasures of the world have enchanted me, and my accustomed indulgences, so my body is aged while my heart remains a child's.
yet I am bold before it.
I have vanquished reason with passion, so the lamp of guidance is obscured beneath the darkness.
سَحَرَتنيbewitched me الدُنياthe world وَعاداتُand habits of لَذّاpleasures (first part)
سَحَرَتني الدُنيا وَعاداتُ لَذّا
تيmy (word ending) فَجِسميso my body كَهلٌmiddle-aged وَقَلبيand my heart صَبِيُّa child
تي فَجِسمي كَهلٌ وَقَلبي صَبِيُّ
The world and my accustomed pleasures bewitched me;
The eye of my mentor has abandoned me to my heedlessness and a harsh night has descended upon me.
my body is middle-aged, but my heart is a child.
It has changed my bygone nights when my ignorance made me recoil from events.
أَصرَعُI wrestle down العَقلَreason بِالهَوىwith passion فَسِراجُso the lamp الthe
أَصرَعُ العَقلَ بِالهَوى فَسِراجُ ال
راشِدِrightly guided person مِنfrom تَحتُbelow بِالظَلامِin darkness خَفِيُّhidden
راشِدِ مِن تَحتُ بِالظَلامِ خَفِيُّ
I wrestle reason down with passion; the lamp
The boughs of worldly life are near, its streams gentle,
of the rightly guided lies hidden below, in darkness.
While the abode of Sulayma continues to decay, worn by time,
تَرَكَتنيleft me عَينُthe eye الخَلِيُّof the carefree one لِماto what بيafflicts me
تَرَكَتني عَينُ الخَلِيُّ لِما بي
وَتَمَطّىand stretched out عَلَيَّover me لَيلٌa night قَسِيُّcruel
وَتَمَطّى عَلَيَّ لَيلٌ قَسِيُّ
The carefree man's eye left me to my suffering,
Like the empty desert tents, their ropes frayed,
and a cruel night stretched itself over me.
Where the jackals and wild beasts howl.
غَيرَunlike لَيلاتيmy nights القَديمَةِof old إِذwhen دَهmy days (first part)
غَيرَ لَيلاتي القَديمَةِ إِذ دَه
رِيَcompletion of 'my days' غِرٌّinnocent بِالحادِثاتِof calamities غَبِيُّignorant
رِيَ غِرٌّ بِالحادِثاتِ غَبِيُّ
Unlike my nights of old, when my days
Some recent ruins, others long collapsed,
were innocent, ignorant of calamities.
Their curved and twisted pillars eaten by dawn and dusk.
وَغُصونُand branches الدُنياof the world قَريبٌnear جَناهاtheir fruit
وَغُصونُ الدُنيا قَريبٌ جَناها
وَغَديرُand the pool الحَياةِof life صافٍclear هَنِيُّsweet
وَغَديرُ الحَياةِ صافٍ هَنِيُّ
And the world's boughs had fruit within easy reach,
So they belong each day to the wind and their remoteness makes humans seem strange.
and life's pool was clear and sweet.
Every abode has a duty of tears to shed from my eyes until the rain clouds are sated.
لَمnot تَزَلceased بِالرَحيلِwith the departure دارُthe dwelling سُلَيمىof Sulayma
لَم تَزَل بِالرَحيلِ دارُ سُلَيمى
يَتَهادىwalks gracefully بِهاthrough it المَهاthe oryx الوَحشِيُّwild
يَتَهادى بِها المَها الوَحشِيُّ
Since the departure, Sulayma's dwelling still
An evil soul has punished me with enmity and estrangement, while my susceptible heart still flows.
sees wild oryx strolling gracefully through it.
I am astonished that those who wished evil upon me did not hurt me, for my Lord is High, Knowing, and Generous.
مُشعَلَتٌscattered مِثلُlike الفَساطيطِpavilions قَدرُalready; beginning of 'planted'
مُشعَلَتٌ مِثلُ الفَساطيطِ قَدرُ
كَزَّcompletion of 'planted' فيهاin them الصِعادُthe long spear-shafts وَالخَطِّيُّand Khatti spears
كَزَّ فيها الصِعادُ وَالخَطِّيُّ
Scattered like pavilions in which
Beware, o envious ones, do not deny me forgiveness, for it is my flesh that is weak.
long spear-shafts and Khatti spears stand planted.
I am the eminent one, who bears the burden as time, the weeping one, passes.
وَمِنَand among العُفرِthe tawny gazelles بارِحٌpassing right to left وَسَنيحٌand passing left to right
وَمِنَ العُفرِ بارِحٌ وَسَنيحٌ
جامِدُhard الظَلفِof cloven hoof قَرنُهُits horn مَلوِيُّtwisted
جامِدُ الظَلفِ قَرنُهُ مَلوِيُّ
And among the tawny gazelles, one passes leftward, another rightward,
The train of my coat fills the earth as the flooding torrent fills its banks.
hard of hoof, its horn twisted.
The scales weigh for me a kingdom and glory — none of mankind is my equal.
وَثَلاثٌand three hearthstones حَنَّتmoaned لِنَوءِover a mound رَمادٍof ashes
وَثَلاثٌ حَنَّت لِنَوءِ رَمادٍ
يَأكُلُconsumes الصُبحُthe morning جَمرَهُits embers وَالعَشِيُّand the evening
يَأكُلُ الصُبحُ جَمرَهُ وَالعَشِيُّ
And three hearthstones moaned over a mound of ashes,
Yet I supposed the wretched and resentful ones to be happy and fortunate.
whose embers morning and evening consume.
They turned from me but did not harm me, for I have a Lord Most High, Bountiful.
فَهيَso it is لِلريحِfor the wind كُلَّevery يَومٍday وَلِلقَطand for rain (first part)
فَهيَ لِلريحِ كُلَّ يَومٍ وَلِلقَط
رِcompletion of 'rain' غَريبٌa stranger فيin رَبعِهاits camp الإِنسِيُّthe human
رِ غَريبٌ في رَبعِها الإِنسِيُّ
So each day it belongs to the wind and the rain;
An open expanse where the winds howl and frighten the demons,
a human is a stranger in its camp.
Where the great birds land before it, their wings outstretched.
كُلُّevery دارٍdwelling لَهاhas وَظيفَةُan allotted portion دَمعٍof tears
كُلُّ دارٍ لَها وَظيفَةُ دَمعٍ
مِنfrom جُفونيmy eyelids حَتّىuntil تَكِلَّgrow weary المَطِيُّthe riding camels
مِن جُفوني حَتّى تَكِلَّ المَطِيُّ
Every dwelling has its allotted share of tears
I have crossed it, underneath me a steed swift in gallop and strong.
from my eyelids, until the riding camels tire.
The reins are pulled taut, like a tightly strung bow.
عاقَبَتنيpunished me شُرَيرُShurayr بِالصَدِّwith rejection وَالهَجand abandonment (first part)
عاقَبَتني شُرَيرُ بِالصَدِّ وَالهَج
رِcompletion of 'abandonment' وَتَحتَand beneath العِقابِthe punishment قَلبٌa heart جَرِيُّbold
رِ وَتَحتَ العِقابِ قَلبٌ جَرِيُّ
Shurayr punished me with rejection and abandonment,
Like the son of a barren land who found an isolated rain,
yet beneath the punishment is a daring heart.
That poured towards him while plentiful and pure.
وَتَعَجَّبتُand I marveled مِنat مَعاشِرَpeople دَسّواsecretly plotted
وَتَعَجَّبتُ مِن مَعاشِرَ دَسّوا
لِيَfor me شَرّاًevil وَاللَهُand God كافٍsufficient عَلِيُّexalted
لِيَ شَرّاً وَاللَهُ كافٍ عَلِيُّ
And I marveled at people who secretly plotted
His lands flourished with vegetation, its sap cold and sweet.
evil against me; God is sufficient and exalted.
Sitting on the earth, he sends up a foot to walk among the fresh verdure.
حَذَراًbeware أَيُّهاO الحَسودُenvious one فَلاso do not تَغforgive or spare (first part)
حَذَراً أَيُّها الحَسودُ فَلا تَغ
فِرcompletion of 'forgive or spare' لِلَحميfor my flesh فَإِنَّfor indeed لَحميmy flesh وَبِيُّpestilential
فِر لِلَحمي فَإِنَّ لَحمي وَبِيُّ
Beware, envious one; do not spare
Whenever he sinks into the soil, it forms for him a soft bed.
my flesh, for my flesh is pestilential.
So he lives there secure from the reach of the seekers of plunder, with water, onions and mint around him.
أَناI جاهُthe prestige الناسِof the people الَّذيwho يَحمِلُbears العِبthe burden (first part)
أَنا جاهُ الناسِ الَّذي يَحمِلُ العِب
ءَcompletion of 'burden' وَيُمريand yields milk بِهِthrough him الزَمانُthe age البَكِيُّscant-yielding
ءَ وَيُمري بِهِ الزَمانُ البَكِيُّ
I am the people's prestige, the bearer of the burden,
A stallion neighing loudly as a refined mare neighs melodiously.
and through me the grudging age yields milk.
The seasons agree with him there, and he has a resting place, a siesta spot, a pleasant summer and autumn.
ساحِبُtrailing ذَيلٍa train جَحفَلٍa mighty host يَملَءُfills الأَرthe earth (first part)
ساحِبُ ذَيلٍ جَحفَلٍ يَملَءُ الأَر
ضَcompletion of 'earth' كَماjust as عَمَّflooded حافَتَيهِits two banks الأَتِيُّthe oncoming torrent
ضَ كَما عَمَّ حافَتَيهِ الأَتِيُّ
Trailing a mighty host's train that fills the earth,
When he clasps money in his palms he walks about content and carefree.
as an oncoming torrent floods both its banks.
Pregnant camels have filled him with anxiety so he walks behind them slowly.
راجِحٌtipping heavily بيwith me ميزانُthe balance مُلكٍof dominion وَمَجدٍand glory
راجِحٌ بي ميزانُ مُلكٍ وَمَجدٍ
لَيسَthere is not فيهِin it مِنَamong الأَنامِmankind كَفِيُّan equal
لَيسَ فيهِ مِنَ الأَنامِ كَفِيُّ
The balance of dominion and glory tips heavily with me;
They come to him together as revelation drew its followers.
among mankind, none can match me in it.
He calls them to the water, thirsty, and the unruly one hastens to drink.
ثُمَّthen ظَنّيmy belief بِأَنَّthat ماnot يَسعَدُprospers العاthe wise person (first part)
ثُمَّ ظَنّي بِأَنَّ ما يَسعَدُ العا
قِلُcompletion of 'wise person' وَالحاسِدُand the envious one المُعَنّىtormented الشَقِيُّwretched
قِلُ وَالحاسِدُ المُعَنّى الشَقِيُّ
Then I think the wise man does not prosper,
Whenever he smells a pregnant one he smells the leg of her restless foal.
and the envious man is tormented and wretched.
Emerging from the shade of palms, as the debauched and vain one shed his garb.
ضَنَّwas grudging عَنّيtoward me فَلَمbut did not يَضِرنيharm me حَسوديmy envier
ضَنَّ عَنّي فَلَم يَضِرني حَسودي
وَحَبانيand bestowed gifts on me رَبٌّa Lord عَلِيٌّexalted سَخِيُّgenerous
وَحَباني رَبٌّ عَلِيٌّ سَخِيُّ
My envier begrudged me, but did me no harm;
Bargaining and pulling has left them like leather sacks.
an exalted, generous Lord bestowed gifts on me.
For them the clear water in the polished trough appeared,
وَفَلاةٍand a wilderness عَمياءَblind يَردىperish بِهاin it السَفَthe travelers (first part)
وَفَلاةٍ عَمياءَ يَردى بِها السَفَ
رُcompletion of 'travelers' خَلاءٍdesolate يَهابُهاfears it الجَنِيُّthe jinn
رُ خَلاءٍ يَهابُها الجَنِيُّ
And a blind wilderness, where travelers perish,
Rippling over the pebbles from which the wind had stolen the moss.
a desolation feared by the jinn—
When a pearl of sunlight laughs upon it, jewels are shed over it.
تَقِفُstand still العُصَّفُthe raging winds الزَعازِعُgusting فيهاwithin it
تَقِفُ العُصَّفُ الزَعازِعُ فيها
وَلَهاand they have قَبلَهاbefore it جَناحٌa wing سَرِيُّswift
وَلَها قَبلَها جَناحٌ سَرِيُّ
the raging, gusting winds stand still within it,
Amid trees and bushes he sings, above their branches like the shining moon.
though before it they possessed a swift wing.
There he has supplies for arrows stained with blood,
قَدindeed تَجاوَزتُهاI crossed it وَتَحتيand beneath me سَبوحٌa swimming-striding mount
قَد تَجاوَزتُها وَتَحتي سَبوحٌ
ذوpossessing مَطارٍflight فيin عَدوِهِhis running مَهرِيُّMahri
ذو مَطارٍ في عَدوِهِ مَهرِيُّ
I have crossed it, with a swimming-striding mount beneath me,
Each day a roasted lamb, its fat dripping.
a Mahri camel with flight in his running.
He lies in wait for them with a sharpened carving knife, its blade glowing red over the embers.
وَيُمَدُّand is stretched الزِمامُthe rein مِنهُfrom him بِجِزعٍalong banded onyx
وَيُمَدُّ الزِمامُ مِنهُ بِجِزعٍ
مِثلَlike ماas مُدَّwas stretched حَيَّةٌa snake مَطوِيُّcoiled
مِثلَ ما مُدَّ حَيَّةٌ مَطوِيُّ
And his rein stretches from him along an onyx-like neck,
as a coiled snake is drawn out straight.
كَاِبنِlike a son قَفرٍof the desert أَصابَfound غَيثاًrain-fed pasture خَلاءًdeserted
كَاِبنِ قَفرٍ أَصابَ غَيثاً خَلاءً
جادَهُwatered it lavishly صَوبُthe downpour وابِلٍof heavy rain وَسَمِيُّautumnal
جادَهُ صَوبُ وابِلٍ وَسَمِيُّ
Like a son of the desert who found a deserted, rain-fed pasture,
lavished with the downpour of a heavy autumn rain.
وَأَجادَتand yielded abundantly بِلادُهُhis land بِنَباتٍwith vegetation
وَأَجادَت بِلادُهُ بِنَباتٍ
عِرقُهُits root بارِدُcool الشَرابِwith drink غَنِيُّrichly supplied
عِرقُهُ بارِدُ الشَرابِ غَنِيُّ
And his land yielded fine vegetation,
its root cool with drink, richly supplied.
قاعِداًseated فيin الثَرىthe moist earth يُطَيِّرُsends aloft ساقاًa stalk
قاعِداً في الثَرى يُطَيِّرُ ساقاً
يَتَمَشّىcourses فيهاthrough it شَبابٌyouth وَرِيُّvigorous
يَتَمَشّى فيها شَبابٌ وَرِيُّ
Seated in the moist earth, it sends a stalk aloft,
through which vigorous youth courses.
وَلَهُand he has كُلَّماwhenever تَغَلغَلَpenetrates deeply فيinto الأَرthe earth (first part)
وَلَهُ كُلَّما تَغَلغَلَ في الأَر
ضِcompletion of 'earth' فِراشٌa bed مِنَof التُرابِdust وَطِيُّsoft
ضِ فِراشٌ مِنَ التُرابِ وَطِيُّ
And whenever he makes his way deep into the land,
he has a soft bed of dust.
فَخَلاso he roamed alone مِنهُfrom it آمِناًsafe باغِيَseeking الطَلthe fresh shoots (first part)
فَخَلا مِنهُ آمِناً باغِيَ الطَل
عِcompletion of 'fresh shoots' لَهُhe has مَشرَبٌa drinking-place وَبَقلٌand green herbage جَنِيُّfresh
عِ لَهُ مَشرَبٌ وَبَقلٌ جَنِيُّ
So the seeker of fresh shoots roamed there alone and safe;
he had a drinking-place and fresh green forage.
شاحِجٌbraying يَرفَعُraises النَهيقَthe bray كَماjust as غَرsang (first part)
شاحِجٌ يَرفَعُ النَهيقَ كَما غَر
رَدَcompletion of 'sang' حادٍa camel-driver بِأَينَقٍwith she-camels نَجدِيُّNajdi
رَدَ حادٍ بِأَينَقٍ نَجدِيُّ
Braying, he raises his cry like the song
of a Najdi camel-driver with she-camels.
طابَwas pleasant فيهِin it لَهُfor him مَراحٌan evening range وَمَغدىًand a morning range
طابَ فيهِ لَهُ مَراحٌ وَمَغدىً
وَمَصيفٌand a summer range عِدٌwith perennial water وَمَشتىًand a winter range عَدِيُّoutlying
وَمَصيفٌ عِدٌ وَمَشتىً عَدِيُّ
His evening and morning ranges there were pleasant,
with lasting water for summer, and an outlying winter range.
فَلَهُso he has حينَwhen يَقبِضُclenches المالُwealth كَفَّيtwo hands (first part)
فَلَهُ حينَ يَقبِضُ المالُ كَفَّي
هِits or his (word ending) وَيَمشيand he walks النَهارَby day بالٌa mind رَخِيُّat ease
هِ وَيَمشي النَهارَ بالٌ رَخِيُّ
Thus, while wealth clenches its hands,
he roams by day with a mind at ease.
شَغَلَتهُengrossed him لَواقِحٌpregnant females مَلَأَتهُfilled him
شَغَلَتهُ لَواقِحٌ مَلَأَتهُ
عِبرَةًwith tears فَهوَso he is خَلفَهُنَّbehind them كَمِيُّan armored warrior
عِبرَةً فَهوَ خَلفَهُنَّ كَمِيُّ
Pregnant females engrossed him, filling him
with tears; behind them he is an armored warrior.
قابَلنَthey faced him جَمعَهاhe gathered them إِلَيهِto himself كَماjust as جَمَّgathered (first part)
قابَلنَ جَمعَها إِلَيهِ كَما جَمَّ
عَcompletion of 'gathered' أَتباعَهُhis followers إِلَيهِto himself الوَحِيُّthe swift one
عَ أَتباعَهُ إِلَيهِ الوَحِيُّ
They faced him; he gathered them to himself, as
the swift one gathers his followers around him.
فَدَعاهاso he called them لِمَشرَبِto the drinking-place الماءِof water عَطشاthirsty (first part)
فَدَعاها لِمَشرَبِ الماءِ عَطشا
نَcompletion of 'thirsty' فَكَرَّتthen she wheeled back لِوَقعِهِنَّat their hoofbeats بَغِيُّa wanton female
نَ فَكَرَّت لِوَقعِهِنَّ بَغِيُّ
Thirsty, he called them to the water's drinking-place;
a wanton female wheeled back at their hoofbeats.
كُلَّماwhenever شَمَّsniffed لاقِحاًa pregnant female شَمَّsniffed مِنهاfrom her
كُلَّما شَمَّ لاقِحاً شَمَّ مِنها
رَأسَthe head فَحلٍof a stallion بِرِجلِهاat her leg مَغلِيُّmade to boil
رَأسَ فَحلٍ بِرِجلِها مَغلِيُّ
Whenever he sniffs a pregnant female, he smells from her
a stallion's head, seething at her leg.
خارِجٌemerging مِنfrom ظِلالِthe shadows نَقعٍof raised dust كَماjust as مَزtore (first part)
خارِجٌ مِن ظِلالِ نَقعٍ كَما مَز
زَقَcompletion of 'tore' جِلبابَهُhis cloak الخَليعُthe libertine الغَوِيُّthe wayward one
زَقَ جِلبابَهُ الخَليعُ الغَوِيُّ
Emerging from the shadows of dust, as
a wayward libertine tears his cloak.
قَدalready طَواهاmade them lean التَسويقُdriving onward وَالشَدُّand hard running حَتّىuntil
قَد طَواها التَسويقُ وَالشَدُّ حَتّى
هُنَّthey قُبٌّhollow-bellied كَأَنَّهُنَّas though they were الرَكِيُّwells
هُنَّ قُبٌّ كَأَنَّهُنَّ الرَكِيُّ
Driving and hard running have worn them lean, until
their bellies are hollow, as though they were wells.
فَتَبَدّىthen appeared لَهُنَّto them بِالنَجَفِat the ridge المَقفِيthe rear-sheltered (first part)
فَتَبَدّى لَهُنَّ بِالنَجَفِ المَقفِي
يُcompletion of 'rear-sheltered' ماءٌwater صافيclear الجِمامِin its pooled depths غَرِيُّenticing
يُ ماءٌ صافي الجِمامِ غَرِيُّ
Then at the sheltered ridge there appeared to them
water with clear, enticing pools.
يَتَمَشّىmoves gently عَلىover حَصىًpebbles سَلَبَstripped away الريthe wind (first part)
يَتَمَشّى عَلى حَصىً سَلَبَ الري
حُcompletion of 'wind' قَذاهُits debris فَمَتنُهُso its surface مَجلِيُّpolished
حُ قَذاهُ فَمَتنُهُ مَجلِيُّ
It moves gently over pebbles; the wind has swept
away its debris, so its surface is burnished.
فَإِذاand when ضاحَكَتهُsmiled at it دُرَّةُa pearl شَمسٍof sun
فَإِذا ضاحَكَتهُ دُرَّةُ شَمسٍ
خِلتَهُyou imagined it كُسِّرَتwere shattered عَلَيهِover it الحِلِيُّthe jewels
خِلتَهُ كُسِّرَت عَلَيهِ الحِلِيُّ
And when the sun's pearl smiles at it,
you would think jewels had been shattered across it.
وَسَطَamid غابٍreeds وَأَيكَةٍand a thicket يَتَغَنّىsings
وَسَطَ غابٍ وَأَيكَةٍ يَتَغَنّى
فَوقَabove أَغصانِthe branches أَيكِهاof its grove القُمرِيُّthe turtledove
فَوقَ أَغصانِ أَيكِها القُمرِيُّ
Amid reeds and a thicket, there sings
a turtledove above the branches of its grove.
عِندَهاbeside it مُلحَمٌa meat-providing hunter لِسَهمٍfor an arrow خَضيبٍbloodstained
عِندَها مُلحَمٌ لِسَهمٍ خَضيبٍ
كُلَّevery يَومٍday لَهُhe has شِواءٌroast meat طَريُّfresh
كُلَّ يَومٍ لَهُ شِواءٌ طَريُّ
Nearby, a hunter feeds flesh to a bloodstained arrow;
each day fresh roast meat is his.
فَتَمَطّىthen he stretched لَهُtoward him بِأَهزَعَwith a last remaining arrow ماضٍkeen
فَتَمَطّى لَهُ بِأَهزَعَ ماضٍ
موقَدِblazing النَصلِof point مَتنُهُits shaft مَبرِيُّshaved smooth
موقَدِ النَصلِ مَتنُهُ مَبرِيُّ
Then he stretched toward him with his last, keen arrow,
its point aflame, its shaft shaved smooth.
Partial English translation: 48 of 90 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1