سَرَىtraveled by night وَالدُّجَىwhile darkness قَدْalready آنَwas due مِنْهُfrom it رَحِيلُdeparture
سَرَى وَالدُّجَى قَدْ آنَ مِنْهُ رَحِيلُ
نَسِيمٌa breeze يُتِيحُgrants الْبُرْءَhealing وَهْوَthough it is عَلِيلُailing
نَسِيمٌ يُتِيحُ الْبُرْءَ وَهْوَ عَلِيلُ
It passed by night, when darkness was due to depart:
a breeze that grants healing, though itself ailing.
أَدَارَpassed around عَلَىamong الأَغْصَانِthe branches رَاحَthe wine of ارْتِيَاحِهِits delight
أَدَارَ عَلَى الأَغْصَانِ رَاحَ ارْتِيَاحِهِ
فَغَادَرَso it left أَعْطَافَthe sides of الْغُصُونِthe boughs تَمِيلُswaying
فَغَادَرَ أَعْطَافَ الْغُصُونِ تَمِيلُ
It passed around the wine of its delight among the branches,
and left the boughs' supple sides swaying.
وَمَاand not كُنْتُwas I أَعْتَادُaccustomed to taking الصِّبَاthe east wind قَبْلَbefore خَمْرَةٍwine
وَمَا كُنْتُ أَعْتَادُ الصِّبَا قَبْلَ خَمْرَةٍ
وَلاَnor قُلْتُdid I say فِيof الرِّيحِthe wind الشَّمَالِthe northern شَمُولُwine
وَلاَ قُلْتُ فِي الرِّيحِ الشَّمَالِ شَمُولُ
Never before had I taken the east wind as wine,
nor spoken of the northern wind as wine.
وَأَهْدَىand it offered إِلَىto الآنَافِthe nostrils مِنْfrom نَفَحَاتِهِits fragrant breaths
وَأَهْدَى إِلَى الآنَافِ مِنْ نَفَحَاتِهِ
لَطَائِمَperfume-caskets فِيهَاcontaining إِذْخِرٌaromatic rush وَجَلِيلُand thatching grass
لَطَائِمَ فِيهَا إِذْخِرٌ وَجَلِيلُ
And from its fragrant breaths it offered to the nostrils
perfume-caskets holding aromatic rush and thatching grass:
رَسَائِلَletters of شكْوَىcomplaint خَطَّpenned أَحْرُفُهَاtheir characters الْجَوَىheartache
رَسَائِلَ شكْوَى خَطَّ أَحْرُفُهَا الْجَوَى
وَحَيَّىand offered greeting عَلَىon شَطِّthe bank of الْفُرَاتِthe Euphrates نَزِيلُa sojourner
وَحَيَّى عَلَى شَطِّ الْفُرَاتِ نَزِيلُ
letters of complaint, their characters penned by heartache;
and a sojourner on the Euphrates' bank offered greeting.
أَجَدَّrenewed ادِّكَارَremembrance of الْعَهْدِthe past وَالْعَهْدُthough the past شَاسِعٌwas distant
أَجَدَّ ادِّكَارَ الْعَهْدِ وَالْعَهْدُ شَاسِعٌ
وَحَلَّand loosened عُرَىthe bonds of الأَجْفَانِthe eyelids فَهْيَand they were مُحُولُparched
وَحَلَّ عُرَى الأَجْفَانِ فَهْيَ مُحُولُ
It renewed remembrance of the past, though the past lay distant,
and unbound the eyelids, parched as they were.
وَهَاجَand stirred ضِرَاماًa blaze لِلتَّشَوُّقِof longing مَاnot خَبَاdied down
وَهَاجَ ضِرَاماً لِلتَّشَوُّقِ مَا خَبَا
فَيَاO لَبَلِيلٍwhat a cool breeze ثَارَarose عَنْهُfrom it غَلِيلُburning thirst
فَيَا لَبَلِيلٍ ثَارَ عَنْهُ غَلِيلُ
It stirred a blaze of longing that would not die:
what a cool breeze, from which burning thirst arose!
وَقَفْنَاwe halted بِرَبْعِat the dwelling of الْمَالِكِيَّةِal-Malikiyya بَعْدَمَاafter
وَقَفْنَا بِرَبْعِ الْمَالِكِيَّةِ بَعْدَمَا
تَقَسَّمَwas divided بَيْنَbetween قَوْمِهits people وَرَحِيلُand departure
تَقَسَّمَ بَيْنَ قَوْمِه وَرَحِيلُ
We halted at al-Malikiyya's dwelling, after
it had been divided between its people and departure.
رُسُومُtraces of جُسُومٍbodies فِيamid رُسُومٍruins تَشَابَهَاthe two resembled each other
رُسُومُ جُسُومٍ فِي رُسُومٍ تَشَابَهَا
كِلاَنَاboth of us عَلَىunder حُكْمِthe rule of الْبِعَادِseparation نَحِيلُwasted thin
كِلاَنَا عَلَى حُكْمِ الْبِعَادِ نَحِيلُ
Traces of bodies amid ruins: the two were alike;
both of us, under separation's rule, wasted thin.
نُكَلِّفُwe task رَسْمَthe remains of الدَّارِthe dwelling رَجْعَwith returning جَوَابِنَاan answer to us
نُكَلِّفُ رَسْمَ الدَّارِ رَجْعَ جَوَابِنَا
وَذَلِكَand that شَيْءٌis something مَاnot إِلَيْهِto it سَبِيلُany way
وَذَلِكَ شَيْءٌ مَا إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلُ
We task the dwelling's remains with answering us,
but that is something for which no way exists.
فَيَاO مَنْyou who رَآنَاsaw us وَالرِّكَابُwhile the riding-camels مُنَاخَةٌwere kneeling
فَيَا مَنْ رَآنَا وَالرِّكَابُ مُنَاخَةٌ
طُلُولاًruins تُبَكِّيmake weep عَهْدَهُنَّtheir bygone days طُلُولُruins
طُلُولاً تُبَكِّي عَهْدَهُنَّ طُلُولُ
O you who saw us, with the riding-camels kneeling:
ruins ourselves, made by ruins to weep for their past!
رَعَىmay guard اللَّهُGod قَلْبِيmy heart مَاhow أَتَمَّperfect وَفَاءَهُits fidelity
رَعَى اللَّهُ قَلْبِي مَا أَتَمَّ وَفَاءَهُ
إِذَاwhen نَزَحَتْgrew distant دَارٌa dwelling وَبَانَand departed خَلِيلُa dear friend
إِذَا نَزَحَتْ دَارٌ وَبَانَ خَلِيلُ
May God guard my heart—how perfect its fidelity,
when a home lies far away and a friend departs!
مُقِيمُsteadfast عَلَىin رَعْيkeeping الْعُهُودِpledges عَلَىdespite النَّوَىseparation
مُقِيمُ عَلَى رَعْي الْعُهُودِ عَلَى النَّوَى
كَفَىis enough for الْقَلْبَthe heart ذَمّاًas reproach أَنْthat يُقَالَit be called مَلُولُfickle
كَفَى الْقَلْبَ ذَمّاً أَنْ يُقَالَ مَلُولُ
Steadfast in keeping pledges despite separation;
it is reproach enough for a heart to be called fickle.
خَلِيلَيَّmy two friends مِنْfrom سَلْمَانَSalman بِاللَّهِby God سَاعِدَاyou two, help
خَلِيلَيَّ مِنْ سَلْمَانَ بِاللَّهِ سَاعِدَا
فَمَاfor not الْخِلُّa friend إِلاَّexcept مُسْعِدٌa supporter وَمُقِيلُand a pardoner
فَمَا الْخِلُّ إِلاَّ مُسْعِدٌ وَمُقِيلُ
My two friends from Salman, by God, lend your aid,
for a friend is only one who supports and pardons.
وَلاَand do not تُجْرِيَاyou two, utter ذِكْرَmention of الْفِرَاقِseparation فإِنَّهُfor it is
وَلاَ تُجْرِيَا ذِكْرَ الْفِرَاقِ فإِنَّهُ
حَدِيثٌa tale عَلَىupon سَمْعِthe hearing of الْغَدَاةِthe morning ثَقِيلُheavy
حَدِيثٌ عَلَى سَمْعِ الْغَدَاةِ ثَقِيلُ
And do not speak of separation, for it is
a tale heavy upon the morning's ear.
وَلاَand do not تَسْأَلاَyou two, ask أَنْthat يهميpour down الْغَيْثُthe rain بِالْحِمَىupon the sanctuary
وَلاَ تَسْأَلاَ أَنْ يهمي الْغَيْثُ بِالْحِمَى
فِمِنْfor from مُقْلَتِيmy eye غَيْثٌa rain أَجَشُّroaring هَمُولُstreaming
فِمِنْ مُقْلَتِي غَيْثٌ أَجَشُّ هَمُولُ
And do not ask for rain to pour upon the sanctuary,
for from my eye comes a roaring, streaming rain.
أَلاَcome! فَافْلِيَاthen you two, comb فَوْدَthe temple of الْفَلاَthe desert بِنَجَائِبٍwith noble she-camels
أَلاَ فَافْلِيَا فَوْدَ الْفَلاَ بِنَجَائِبٍ
لَهَاthey have خَبَبٌa trot لاَnot يَنْقَضِيceases وَذَمِيلُand an amble
لَهَا خَبَبٌ لاَ يَنْقَضِي وَذَمِيلُ
Come, you two, comb the desert's tresses with noble she-camels,
whose trotting and ambling never cease.
قِلاَصٌyoung she-camels بَرَاهَاwore them thin السَّيْرُtravel حَتَّىuntil كَأَنَّهَاas though they were
قِلاَصٌ بَرَاهَا السَّيْرُ حَتَّى كَأَنَّهَا
خَوَاطِرُthoughts فِيin فِكْرِthe mind of الْفَلاَةِthe desert تَجُولُwandering
خَوَاطِرُ فِي فِكْرِ الْفَلاَةِ تَجُولُ
Young she-camels, worn thin by travel, until they seem
thoughts wandering through the desert's mind.
وَرَاضَand tamed اعْتِسَافَtrackless traversal of الْبِيدِthe deserts حَتَّىeven شِمَاسِهَاtheir skittishness
وَرَاضَ اعْتِسَافَ الْبِيدِ حَتَّى شِمَاسِهَا
فَأَصْبَحَso became مِنْهَاamong them الصَّعْبُthe unruly one وَهْوَand it was ذَلُولُdocile
فَأَصْبَحَ مِنْهَا الصَّعْبُ وَهْوَ ذَلُولُ
And trackless desert crossing tamed even their skittishness,
so the unruly among them became docile.
يَلُومُونَنِيthey blame me فِيfor الْحُبُّlove قَوْمِيmy people جَهَالَةًignorantly
يَلُومُونَنِي فِي الْحُبُّ قَوْمِي جَهَالَةً
وَمَاand whatever كَانَis طَبْعَاًinborn فَهْوَthen it لَيْسَdoes not يَزُولُpass away
وَمَا كَانَ طَبْعَاً فَهْوَ لَيْسَ يَزُولُ
My people blame me for love in their ignorance,
but what is inborn can never pass away.
وَمَازِلْتُand I have never ceased مُذْsince عَقَّcut off الشَّبَابُyouth تَمَائِمِيmy amulets
وَمَازِلْتُ مُذْ عَقَّ الشَّبَابُ تَمَائِمِي
أَدِيرُI turn قِدَاحِيmy gaming arrows فِيin الْهَوَىlove وَأُجِيلُand cast them
أَدِيرُ قِدَاحِي فِي الْهَوَى وَأُجِيلُ
I have never ceased, since youth cut off my amulets,
to turn my gaming arrows in love, and cast them.
إِذَاif ever بَارِقٌa flash لِلثَّغْرِfrom the teeth يَوْمَاًone day أَهَابَcalled بِيto me
إِذَا بَارِقٌ لِلثَّغْرِ يَوْمَاً أَهَابَ بِي
رَكِبْتُI rode إِلَيْهِtoward it الْخَطْبَperil وَهْوَthough it was جَلِيلُgreat
رَكِبْتُ إِلَيْهِ الْخَطْبَ وَهْوَ جَلِيلُ
If ever a flash from smiling teeth called to me,
I rode toward it on peril, though peril was great.
وَلَجْتُI entered عَلَىin the presence of الْغِيرَانِthe jealous man بَيْتَthe house of فَتَاتِهِhis maiden
وَلَجْتُ عَلَى الْغِيرَانِ بَيْتَ فَتَاتِهِ
وَجُبْتُand I traversed عَرِينَthe den of اللَّيْثِthe lion وَهْوَwhile he يَهُولُstruck terror
وَجُبْتُ عَرِينَ اللَّيْثِ وَهْوَ يَهُولُ
I entered his maiden's house in the jealous man's presence,
and crossed the lion's den, though he struck terror.
وَلِيand I have وَطْأَةٌa tread فَوْقَupon الزَّمَانِTime ثَقِيلَةٌheavy
وَلِي وَطْأَةٌ فَوْقَ الزَّمَانِ ثَقِيلَةٌ
يُطَأَطِىءُit lowers خَدَّيْهِits two cheeks لَهَاbefore it وَيُمِيلُand bends
يُطَأَطِىءُ خَدَّيْهِ لَهَا وَيُمِيلُ
I have a heavy tread upon Time;
it lowers both cheeks before it and bows.
أُجَرِّرُI trail ذَيْلَthe hem of الْعَيْشِlife وَالْعَيْشُwhile life أَخْضَرٌis green
أُجَرِّرُ ذَيْلَ الْعَيْشِ وَالْعَيْشُ أَخْضَرٌ
وَأَغْشَىand I brave رِمَاحَthe spears of اللَّحْظِthe glance وَهْوَwhile it is كَحِيلُkohl-darkened
وَأَغْشَى رِمَاحَ اللَّحْظِ وَهْوَ كَحِيلُ
I trail the hem of life while life is green,
and brave the spears of a glance darkened with kohl.
وَكَمْand how many an سَاعَةٍhour شَافَهْتُI met face-to-face فِيat مَوْقِفِthe station of النَّوَىparting
وَكَمْ سَاعَةٍ شَافَهْتُ فِي مَوْقِفِ النَّوَى
تُقَبِّحُmakes ugly وَجْهَthe face of الصَّبْرِpatience وَهْوَthough it is جَمِيلُbeautiful
تُقَبِّحُ وَجْهَ الصَّبْرِ وَهْوَ جَمِيلُ
How many an hour I met face-to-face at the station of parting,
that made patience's face ugly, though it is fair!
غَضَضْتُI lowered عَلَىat التَّوْدِيعِfarewell جَفْنِيَmy eyelid عِنْدَهَاat that hour
غَضَضْتُ عَلَى التَّوْدِيعِ جَفْنِيَ عِنْدَهَا
وَفِيwhile in الْقَلْبِthe heart دَاءٌan illness لِلْفِرَاقِfrom parting دَخِيلُlodged deep within
وَفِي الْقَلْبِ دَاءٌ لِلْفِرَاقِ دَخِيلُ
Then I lowered my eyelid at farewell,
while deep in the heart lay an illness from parting.
وَكَمْand how many a لَيْلَةٍnight مزَّقْتُI tore جَيْبَthe collar of ظَلاَمِهَاits darkness
وَكَمْ لَيْلَةٍ مزَّقْتُ جَيْبَ ظَلاَمِهَا
وَقَدْwhile already سُحِبَتْwere drawn مِنْهَاfrom it عَلَيَّover me ذُيُولُtrailing hems
وَقَدْ سُحِبَتْ مِنْهَا عَلَيَّ ذُيُولُ
And how many a night I tore the collar of its darkness,
while its trailing hems had been drawn over me,
إِلَىuntil أَنْthat تَبَدَّىappeared الشَّيْبُgray hair فِيin مَفْرِقِthe hair-parting of الدُّجَىdarkness
إِلَى أَنْ تَبَدَّى الشَّيْبُ فِي مَفْرِقِ الدُّجَى
وَفُجِّرَand burst forth نَهْرُthe river of الْفَجْرِdawn فَهْوَso it يَسِيلُflows
وَفُجِّرَ نَهْرُ الْفَجْرِ فَهْوَ يَسِيلُ
until gray hair appeared in darkness's parting,
and dawn's river burst forth and flowed.
وَيَوْمَand many a day دَعَوْتُI called to الْوَحْشَthe wild beasts تَحْتَbeneath هَجيِرِهِits midday heat
وَيَوْمَ دَعَوْتُ الْوَحْشَ تَحْتَ هَجيِرِهِ
وَلِلأَسْدِwhile the lions had فِيin ظِلِّthe shade of الْقَتَادِthorn-bushes مَقِيلُa noonday resting-place
وَلِلأَسْدِ فِي ظِلِّ الْقَتَادِ مَقِيلُ
And many a day I called to wild beasts beneath its midday blaze,
while lions took their noonday rest in the shade of thorn-bushes.
إِذَاwhen زَأَرَتْthey roared عَنْfrom جَانِبَيَّeither side of me أَجَابَهَاanswered them
إِذَا زَأَرَتْ عَنْ جَانِبَيَّ أَجَابَهَا
رُغَاءٌcamel-bellowing يُبَارِيrivals زَأَرَهَاtheir roaring وَصَهِيلُand neighing
رُغَاءٌ يُبَارِي زَأَرَهَا وَصَهِيلُ
When they roared from either side of me, they were answered by
camel-bellowing that rivaled their roar, and neighing,
إِلَىuntil أَنْthat تَلقَّىreceived مَغْرِبُthe setting-place of الشَّمْسِthe sun قُرْصَهَاits disk
إِلَى أَنْ تَلقَّى مَغْرِبُ الشَّمْسِ قُرْصَهَا
كَمَاjust as الْتَقَمَswallowed القُرْصَthe round loaf الرَّهِيفَthe wafer-thin أَكُولُa glutton
كَمَا الْتَقَمَ القُرْصَ الرَّهِيفَ أَكُولُ
until the sun's setting-place received its disk,
as a glutton gulps down a wafer-thin round loaf.
وَلاَand no صَاحِبٌcompanion إِلاَّexcept سِنَانٌa spearhead وَصَارِمٌand a keen sword
وَلاَ صَاحِبٌ إِلاَّ سِنَانٌ وَصَارِمٌ
وَعَزْمٌand a resolve بِتَيْسِيرِto make easy الْعَسِيرِthe difficult كَفِيلُpledged
وَعَزْمٌ بِتَيْسِيرِ الْعَسِيرِ كَفِيلُ
With no companion but a spearhead and a keen sword,
and a resolve pledged to make the difficult easy,
وَوَجْنَاءَand a stout-cheeked she-camel تَجْنِيharvests الْقُربَnearness مِنْfrom شَجَرِthe tree of السُّرَىnight travel
وَوَجْنَاءَ تَجْنِي الْقُربَ مِنْ شَجَرِ السُّرَى
قَلُوصٍa young she-camel نَمَاهَاbred her شَدْقَمٌShadqam وَجَدِيلُand Jadil
قَلُوصٍ نَمَاهَا شَدْقَمٌ وَجَدِيلُ
and a stout-cheeked she-camel plucking nearness from night travel's tree:
a young she-camel descended from Shadqam and Jadil.
وَعَاذِلِةٌand a woman reproaching فِيfor الْجُودِgenerosity قُلْتَyou said لَهَاto her اقْصِرِيdesist
وَعَاذِلِةٌ فِي الْجُودِ قُلْتَ لَهَا اقْصِرِي
رُوَيْدَكِtake it easy هَلْhas...? نَالattained الْعَلاَءَeminence بَخِيلُa miser
رُوَيْدَكِ هَلْ نَال الْعَلاَءَ بَخِيلُ
And to a woman reproaching generosity you said, 'Desist;
easy now! Has a miser ever attained eminence?'
إِذَاif الْمَرْءُa man لَمْdoes not يَشْرِbuy الثَّنَاءَpraise بِمَاwith what اقْتَنَىhe acquired
إِذَا الْمَرْءُ لَمْ يَشْرِ الثَّنَاءَ بِمَا اقْتَنَى
فَكُلُّthen every كَثِيرٍgreat amount يَقْتَنِيهِhe acquires قَلِيلُis little
فَكُلُّ كَثِيرٍ يَقْتَنِيهِ قَلِيلُ
If a man does not buy praise with what he has acquired,
then every great fortune he acquires is little.
وَلِيand I have هِمَّةٌan ambition مِنْfrom دُونِهَاbeneath it كُلّevery شَارِقٍrising luminary
وَلِي هِمَّةٌ مِنْ دُونِهَا كُلّ شَارِقٍ
يُرَجَّعُis turned back عَنْهَاfrom it الطَّرْفُthe gaze وَهْوَwhile it is كَلِيلُweary
يُرَجَّعُ عَنْهَا الطَّرْفُ وَهْوَ كَلِيلُ
I have an ambition beneath which lies every rising luminary;
from it the gaze is turned back, exhausted.
تَقَلَّدَنِيgirded itself with me دَهْرِيmy age حُسَامَاًas a sword مُهَنَّداًof Indian steel
تَقَلَّدَنِي دَهْرِي حُسَامَاً مُهَنَّداً
لَهُit has فِيamong رِقَابِthe necks of الدَّارِعِينَarmored warriors صَلِيلُa clang
لَهُ فِي رِقَابِ الدَّارِعِينَ صَلِيلُ
My age has girded itself with me, a sword of Indian steel,
whose clang rings against the necks of armored men.
وَمَازَالَand it has always يُلْفَىbeen found فِيamid الْحَوَادِثِcalamities ضَارِبَاًstriking
وَمَازَالَ يُلْفَى فِي الْحَوَادِثِ ضَارِبَاً
فَعِنْدِيso I bear لأِحْدَاثِfrom the events of الزَّمَانِTime فُلُولُblade-notches
فَعِنْدِي لأِحْدَاثِ الزَّمَانِ فُلُولُ
It has always been found striking amid calamities,
so I bear the blade-notches of Time's events.
تَغَنَّىsang بِأَشْعَارِيwith my poems الْحُدَاةُthe camel-drivers إِذَاwhen سَرَتْthey traveled by night
تَغَنَّى بِأَشْعَارِي الْحُدَاةُ إِذَا سَرَتْ
وَشَدَّتْand set out لَهَاfor them فِيthrough الْخَافِقِيْنِeast and west حُمُولُladen caravans
وَشَدَّتْ لَهَا فِي الْخَافِقِيْنِ حُمُولُ
Camel-drivers sing my poems as they travel by night,
and for them laden caravans journey through east and west.
أَبَتْrefused غَيْرَanything but مَحْضِthe pure essence of الْعِزِّhonor نَفْسِيmy soul فَلَيْسَso there is no لِيfor me
أَبَتْ غَيْرَ مَحْضِ الْعِزِّ نَفْسِي فَلَيْسَ لِي
بِسَاحَةِin the court of ضَيْمٍhumiliation مَاas long as حيِيتُI live نُزُولُlodging
بِسَاحَةِ ضَيْمٍ مَا حيِيتُ نُزُولُ
My soul rejects all but pure honor; I shall have no
lodging in humiliation's court as long as I live.
وَكَيْفَand how بِإِلْمَامِwith the visitation of الْمَذَلَّةِabasement لاِمْرِىٍءto a man
وَكَيْفَ بِإِلْمَامِ الْمَذَلَّةِ لاِمْرِىٍء
وَمِنْwhile from يَمَنٍYemen رَهْطٌa clan لَهُhe has وَقَبِيلُand a tribe
وَمِنْ يَمَنٍ رَهْطٌ لَهُ وَقَبِيلُ
How could abasement visit a man
whose clan and tribe come from Yemen?
إِذَاwhen الْعَرَبُthe Arabs الْعَرْبَاءُof pure lineage نَصَّتْrecounted قَدِيمَهَاtheir ancient past
إِذَا الْعَرَبُ الْعَرْبَاءُ نَصَّتْ قَدِيمَهَا
وَرُجِّعَand was repeated قَالٌtalk عِنْدَat ذَاكَthat time وَقِيلُand hearsay
وَرُجِّعَ قَالٌ عِنْدَ ذَاكَ وَقِيلُ
When Arabs of pure lineage recount their ancient past,
and talk and hearsay are repeated then,
كَفَانَاsuffice us افْتِخَاراًfor pride وَانْتِصَاراًand triumph وَنِسْبَةًand lineage
كَفَانَا افْتِخَاراً وَانْتِصَاراً وَنِسْبَةً
تَبَابِعَةٌTubba' kings مِنْfrom يَعْرُبٍYa'rub وَقُيُولُand chieftains
تَبَابِعَةٌ مِنْ يَعْرُبٍ وَقُيُولُ
sufficient for our pride, our triumph, and our lineage are
the Tubba' kings and chieftains descended from Ya'rub.
ذُؤَابَةُthe crest of سَلْمَانٍSalman وَسَلْمَانُand Salman كِنْدَةٍof Kinda
ذُؤَابَةُ سَلْمَانٍ وَسَلْمَانُ كِنْدَةٍ
وَكِنْدَةُand Kinda ظِلٌّa shade مَاas much as أَرَدْتَyou wish ظَلِيلُdeeply sheltering
وَكِنْدَةُ ظِلٌّ مَا أَرَدْتَ ظَلِيلُ
The crest of Salman—and Salman is of Kinda—
and Kinda is shade as deep as you could wish.
سَتَدْرِيwill learn عِدَاتِيmy enemies أَيُّwhat لَيْثِa lion of حَفِيظَةٍprotective wrath
سَتَدْرِي عِدَاتِي أَيُّ لَيْثِ حَفِيظَةٍ
أَثَرْنَthey have roused وَأَيَّامُwhile the days الزَّمْانِof Time تَدُولُtake turns
أَثَرْنَ وَأَيَّامُ الزَّمْانِ تَدُولُ
My enemies shall learn what lion of protective wrath
they have roused, as Time's days turn,
إذَاwhen أَصْبَحَتْcame at dawn خَيْلِيmy cavalry الْبُيوتَthe houses مُغِيرةًraiding
إذَا أَصْبَحَتْ خَيْلِي الْبُيوتَ مُغِيرةً
وَفِيand in كُلِّevery شِعْبٍravine مِقْنَبٌa cavalry squadron وَرَعِيلُand a troop
وَفِي كُلِّ شِعْبٍ مِقْنَبٌ وَرَعِيلُ
when my cavalry raids the houses at dawn,
and in every ravine is a squadron and a troop.
عَذِيِرِيَwho will vindicate me? مِنْagainst قَوْمٍa people تَجِيشُseethe صُدُورُهُمْtheir breasts
عَذِيِرِيَ مِنْ قَوْمٍ تَجِيشُ صُدُورُهُمْ
لَهُمْthey have عَنْaway from طَرِيقِthe path of الْعَدْلِjustice مِنِّيconcerning me عُدُولُa turning aside
لَهُمْ عَنْ طَرِيقِ الْعَدْلِ مِنِّي عُدُولُ
Who will vindicate me against men whose breasts seethe,
who turn from justice's path where I am concerned?
إِذَاwhen قُلْتُI speak غَضُّواthey lower their eyes أَوْor إِذَاwhen لُحْتَyou appear أَطْرَقُواthey bow their heads
إِذَا قُلْتُ غَضُّوا أَوْ إِذَا لُحْتَ أَطْرَقُوا
وَإِنْbut if غِبْتُI am absent مِنْهُمْamong them قَائِلٌa talker وَفَعُولُand a doer
وَإِنْ غِبْتُ مِنْهُمْ قَائِلٌ وَفَعُولُ
When I speak they lower their eyes, or when you appear they bow their heads;
but when I am absent, among them are talkers and doers.
عَمَواthey were blind عَنْto سَنَاthe radiance of فَضْلِيmy excellence فَضَلُّواso they strayed عَنْfrom الْهُدَىguidance
عَمَوا عَنْ سَنَا فَضْلِي فَضَلُّوا عَنْ الْهُدَى
هَوَىthe desire of النَّفْسِthe soul قِدْماًsince ancient times لِلرِّجَالِto men قَتُولُdeadly
هَوَى النَّفْسِ قِدْماً لِلرِّجَالِ قَتُولُ
They were blind to my excellence's radiance, and strayed from guidance;
the soul's desire has long been deadly to men.
وَمَنْand whoever حَسَدَenvies الشَّمْسَthe sun الْمُنِيرَةَthe shining نُورَهَاits light
وَمَنْ حَسَدَ الشَّمْسَ الْمُنِيرَةَ نُورَهَا
وَرِفْعَتَهاand its height فِيin الْجَوِّthe sky فَهْوَthen he is جَهُولُignorant
وَرِفْعَتَها فِي الْجَوِّ فَهْوَ جَهُولُ
Whoever envies the shining sun its light
and its height in the sky is surely ignorant.
أَبَاO Abu قَاسِمٍQasim خُذْهَاtake it إِلَيْكَto yourself كَأَنَّهَاas though it were
أَبَا قَاسِمٍ خُذْهَا إِلَيْكَ كَأَنَّهَا
حُسَامٌa sword يُروعُterrifies النَّاقِدِينَthe critics صَقِيلُpolished
حُسَامٌ يُروعُ النَّاقِدِينَ صَقِيلُ
Abu Qasim, take this to yourself, as though it were
a polished sword that strikes terror into critics.
أَتَتْcame كَأَنَابِيبِlike the jointed sections of الْقَنَاةِa spear بُيُوتُهَاits verses
أَتَتْ كَأَنَابِيبِ الْقَنَاةِ بُيُوتُهَا
لَهَاit has مِنْfrom قَوَافِيهَاits rhymes الْحِسَانِthe beautiful نُصُولspearheads
لَهَا مِنْ قَوَافِيهَا الْحِسَانِ نُصُول
Its verses have come like the jointed sections of a spear;
its beautiful rhymes furnish its spearheads.
إِذَاwhen شَردَتْstrayed عَنَّيfrom me الْقَوَافِيthe rhymes نَوازِعَاwandering far
إِذَا شَردَتْ عَنَّي الْقَوَافِي نَوازِعَا
فَلَيْسَthen there is no لَهَاfor them إِلاَّexcept لَدَيْكَwith you حُلُولُlodging
فَلَيْسَ لَهَا إِلاَّ لَدَيْكَ حُلُولُ
When rhymes stray from me, wandering far,
they find no lodging except with you.
وَإِنْand if هَطَلَتْpoured down سُحْبُthe clouds of الْبَيَانِeloquence حَوَافِلاًheavy-laden
وَإِنْ هَطَلَتْ سُحْبُ الْبَيَانِ حَوَافِلاً
فَلَيْسَthen there is no لَهَاfor them إَلاَّexcept عَلَيْكَupon you هُمُولُdownpour
فَلَيْسَ لَهَا إَلاَّ عَلَيْكَ هُمُولُ
And if clouds of eloquence pour down, heavy-laden,
their downpour falls on none but you.
وَأَنْتَand you are عِمَادِيmy pillar وَاعْتِدَادِيand my strength وَمَفْزَعِيand my refuge
وَأَنْتَ عِمَادِي وَاعْتِدَادِي وَمَفْزَعِي
وَذُخْرُand the treasure of زَمَانِيmy days وَالْحَدِيثُand the tale يَطُولُgrows long
وَذُخْرُ زَمَانِي وَالْحَدِيثُ يَطُولُ
You are my pillar, my strength, and my refuge,
and the treasure of my days—but the tale grows long.
وَأَنْتَand you are حُسَامِيmy sword كُلَّمَاwhenever جَلَّgrows great حَادِثٌa calamity
وَأَنْتَ حُسَامِي كُلَّمَا جَلَّ حَادِثٌ
أَذُودُI defend بِهِwith it عَنْon behalf of حَوْزَتِيmy domain وَأَصُولُand I charge
أَذُودُ بِهِ عَنْ حَوْزَتِي وَأَصُولُ
You are my sword whenever a calamity grows great,
with which I defend my domain and charge.
تَحَامَتْshunned حِمَاكَyour sanctuary النَّائِبَاتُcalamities وَأَصْبَحَتْand have become
تَحَامَتْ حِمَاكَ النَّائِبَاتُ وَأَصْبَحَتْ
سُعُودُكَyour fortunes زُهْرَاًbright stars مَاno لَهَنَّfor them أُفُولُsetting
سُعُودُكَ زُهْرَاً مَا لَهَنَّ أُفُولُ
Calamities have shunned your sanctuary, and now
your fortunes are bright stars that never set.
Sol 6.1