جَزِعَت أَن يُقالَ دامٍ عَبيطُ

جَزِعَت أَن يُقالَ دامٍ عَبيطُ

أَو أَسيرٌ لِحَلقَتَيهِ أَطيطُ

أَو أَسيرٌ لِحَلقَتَيهِ أَطيطُ

She dreaded hearing, ‘Bleeding fresh blood,’

She was distressed lest it be said an ignoble captive,

Or, ‘A captive whose two fetters creak.’

Or a prisoner bound by his shackles clanking.

فَاِستَراحَت إِلى الَّتي أَعقَبَتها

فَاِستَراحَت إِلى الَّتي أَعقَبَتها

حُرَقاً تَلفَحُ الحَشا وَتُشيطُ

حُرَقاً تَلفَحُ الحَشا وَتُشيطُ

So she took comfort in what brought her

So she took rest in her who followed her,

Burning pangs that scorch the heart and sear it.

A burning that kindles the thickets and provokes lament.

خَفَقَت جَأشَها عَلى البَينِ لَمّا

خَفَقَت جَأشَها عَلى البَينِ لَمّا

أَيقَنَت أَنَّها البَلاءُ المُحيطُ

أَيقَنَت أَنَّها البَلاءُ المُحيطُ

Her heart fluttered at parting, when

Her bosom fluttered over the distance when

She knew it was the all-encompassing calamity.

She was sure that it was the all-encompassing affliction.

ثُمَّ قالَت تَعَزِّياً إِن يَكُن لا

ثُمَّ قالَت تَعَزِّياً إِن يَكُن لا

بُدَّ مِن نَكبَةٍ فَأَمرٌ وَسيطُ

بُدَّ مِن نَكبَةٍ فَأَمرٌ وَسيطُ

Then she said, consoling herself, ‘If there is no

Then she said, consoling, though there be

Escape from calamity, let it be a moderate one.

No escape from calamity, yet it is endurable.

إِنَّ بَعضَ الخُطوبِ أَهوَنُ مِن بَع

إِنَّ بَعضَ الخُطوبِ أَهوَنُ مِن بَع

ضٍ وَدونَ البُكا يَكونُ النَحيطُ

ضٍ وَدونَ البُكا يَكونُ النَحيطُ

Some calamities are easier than others;

Verily some misfortunes are lighter than

And sighing falls short of weeping.’

Others, and ere weeping comes resignation.

يا لَها ساعَةً بِها اِنهاضَ لِلبَي

يا لَها ساعَةً بِها اِنهاضَ لِلبَي

نِ فُؤادٌ بَينَ الضُلوعِ وَهيطُ

نِ فُؤادٌ بَينَ الضُلوعِ وَهيطُ

Ah, what an hour, when parting shattered

Oh that hour in which the hearts between the ribs

A heart lying crushed between the ribs.

Were roused to life, shaking like the bough that droops in the shade, weighted down.

حينَ جاءَت يَهتَزُّ كَالغُصنِ الما

حينَ جاءَت يَهتَزُّ كَالغُصنِ الما

ثِلِ في الظِلِّ مَتنُها المَحطوطُ

ثِلِ في الظِلِّ مَتنُها المَحطوطُ

When she came, there swayed, like a branch standing

Then she showed like the blackness its lightning

In the shade, her finely shaped back.

Rent, and from which the pouring cloud recoiled.

ثُمَّ أَبدَت كَالأُقحُوانِ جَلَتهُ

ثُمَّ أَبدَت كَالأُقحُوانِ جَلَتهُ

شَمسُ دَجنٍ فَاِرفَضَّ عَنهُ السَقيطُ

شَمسُ دَجنٍ فَاِرفَضَّ عَنهُ السَقيطُ

Then she revealed teeth like daisies unveiled

The Pleiades and a heap of sand bent

By sunlight through clouds, their dew scattered away.

Between this and that in the garment sewn.

قَرنُ شَمسٍ وَدِعصُ رَملٍ تَثَنّى

قَرنُ شَمسٍ وَدِعصُ رَملٍ تَثَنّى

بَينَ هَذا وَذاكَ في الثَوبِ خوطُ

بَينَ هَذا وَذاكَ في الثَوبِ خوطُ

A sun's rim and a sandy mound; there swayed

O daughter of the Nights, thy talents will not

Between the two, within her robe, a supple bough.

Suffer dejection in the setting of his purpose.

يا اِبنَةَ القَيلِ إِنَّ خِدنَكِ لا يَق

يا اِبنَةَ القَيلِ إِنَّ خِدنَكِ لا يَق

دَحُ في غَربِ عَزمِهِ التَثبيطُ

دَحُ في غَربِ عَزمِهِ التَثبيطُ

O daughter of the prince, your lover is not one

A horse that watches matters yet they

Whose resolve's keen edge discouragement can mar.

Escape him neither in excess nor in neglect.

هَرِسٌ يَفرِسُ الأُمورَ وَلا يَع

هَرِسٌ يَفرِسُ الأُمورَ وَلا يَع

روهُ مِنها الإِفراطُ وَالتَفريطُ

روهُ مِنها الإِفراطُ وَالتَفريطُ

Seasoned and bold, he judges affairs, and neither

Its glitter is its sword when it is polished for the

Excess nor neglect in them overtakes him.

Coward under the darkness, the smooth file.

ضَوؤُهُ سَيفُهُ إِذا حُشَّ لِلمُت

ضَوؤُهُ سَيفُهُ إِذا حُشَّ لِلمُت

رَفِ تَحتَ الدُجى الذُبالُ السَليطُ

رَفِ تَحتَ الدُجى الذُبالُ السَليطُ

His light is his sword, when for the pampered man

With two noble swords Indian and quick

Wicks are fed with oil beneath the darkness.

And hostile to the vicissitudes of Time the Evergreen.

ذو حُسامَينِ مَشرَفِيٌّ صَقيلٌ

ذو حُسامَينِ مَشرَفِيٌّ صَقيلٌ

وَغَريمٌ لِلنائِباتِ عَطوطُ

وَغَريمٌ لِلنائِباتِ عَطوطُ

He has two blades: a polished Mashrafi sword,

Every day the enemies are divided from him

And a mighty adversary of calamities.

With a leap, their reins loosened.

كُلَّ يَومٍ يَنتابُ مِنهُ الأَعادي

كُلَّ يَومٍ يَنتابُ مِنهُ الأَعادي

ذاتُ رَوقٍ عِقالُها مَبسوطُ

ذاتُ رَوقٍ عِقالُها مَبسوطُ

Each day there comes from him upon his enemies

Urge on the impetuous racer and soon

A horned calamity, its hobble loosed.

The impetuous shall be urged to speed.

قَرِّطا مُهرِيَ العِنان وَشيكاً

قَرِّطا مُهرِيَ العِنان وَشيكاً

فَحَرِيّ لِمُهرِيَ التَقريطُ

فَحَرِيّ لِمُهرِيَ التَقريطُ

Loop the reins over my colt's ears, you two, quickly;

Urge him on, excellent supporter in fright

For my colt well deserves such bridling.

For his dreams and excellent binder.

قَرِّطاهُ نِعمَ المُؤازِرُ في الرَو

قَرِّطاهُ نِعمَ المُؤازِرُ في الرَو

عِ لِأَحلامِهِ وَنِعمَ الرَبيطُ

عِ لِأَحلامِهِ وَنِعمَ الرَبيطُ

Bridle him, you two: a splendid ally amid terror,

Urge him on, more bending, the completest

For his sound judgment, and a splendid tethered steed.

In intelligence and pliant in the neck.

قَرِّطاهُ أَحوى أَحَمُّ عَلَيهِ

قَرِّطاهُ أَحوى أَحَمُّ عَلَيهِ

لِتَمامِ الذَكاءِ وَالعُنقِ ليطُ

لِتَمامِ الذَكاءِ وَالعُنقِ ليطُ

Bridle him, you two: dark bay, jet-black; upon him

Urge him on, for his starry lights a ray

Is the sheen of full maturity and a swift gait.

And for the bit in his mouth a babble.

قَرِّطاهُ لِمُقلَتَيهِ شُعاعٌ

قَرِّطاهُ لِمُقلَتَيهِ شُعاعٌ

وَلِرادَيهِ في اللِجامِ غطيطُ

وَلِرادَيهِ في اللِجامِ غطيطُ

Bridle him, you two: his two eyes blaze,

Urge him on, engaging him and stirring him

And his jaws rumble within the bridle.

As the brave was engaged by the glorious feat.

قَرِّطاهُ مُلاحِكاً حارِكاهُ

قَرِّطاهُ مُلاحِكاً حارِكاهُ

مِثلَ ما لُزَّ بِالكَتيفِ الغَبيطُ

مِثلَ ما لُزَّ بِالكَتيفِ الغَبيطُ

Bridle him, you two: his withers are closely joined,

Urge him on, in his face appears

Just as a camel-saddle is lashed fast with a strap.

A joy like what appears in the blade straight and polished.

قَرِّطاهُ تَلوحُ في الوَجهِ مِنهُ

قَرِّطاهُ تَلوحُ في الوَجهِ مِنهُ

غُرَّةٌ مِثلَ ما يَلوحُ الشَميطُ

غُرَّةٌ مِثلَ ما يَلوحُ الشَميطُ

Bridle him, you two: upon his face there shines

Urge him on, as if when he listens intently

A white blaze, as the pale dawn gleams.

To every news report, his hearing is the highest.

قَرِّطاهُ كَأَنَّ سامِعَهُ المُص

قَرِّطاهُ كَأَنَّ سامِعَهُ المُص

غي إِلى كُلِّ نَبأةٍ إِعليطُ

غي إِلى كُلِّ نَبأةٍ إِعليطُ

Bridle him, you two: his ear, listening intently

Urge him on, soon he will sever a chord

To every faint sound, is like a seedpod.

Or meet his destined death allotted.

قَرِّطاهُ لا بُدَّ يَنقُضُ وِتراً

قَرِّطاهُ لا بُدَّ يَنقُضُ وِتراً

أَو يُلاقيهِ حَتفُهُ المَخطوطُ

أَو يُلاقيهِ حَتفُهُ المَخطوطُ

Bridle him, you two: he must settle a blood-debt,

Before Oman gathered a shadow of abasement,

Or his appointed death will meet him.

Its structures of misery outspread.

قَبَضَت عَن عُمانَ ظِلّاً مِنَ الخَف

قَبَضَت عَن عُمانَ ظِلّاً مِنَ الخَف

ضِ دَهاريسُ بُؤسُها مَبسوطُ

ضِ دَهاريسُ بُؤسُها مَبسوطُ

The shade of ease has been withdrawn from Oman

May God curse wherever he lingered and passed the night

By calamities whose misery spreads wide.

A curse whose erection is solid.

لَعَنَ اللَهُ حَيثُ ظَلَّ وَأَمسى

لَعَنَ اللَهُ حَيثُ ظَلَّ وَأَمسى

لَعنَةً عِبؤُها مَحطوطُ

لَعنَةً عِبؤُها مَحطوطُ

May God curse, wherever he spends his day and evening,

Misguided the corrupt, then followed Musa

With a curse whose burden is laid upon him—

A curse filling the plains and encompassing.

غاوِيَ الفُجحِ ثُمَّ أَتبَعَ موسى

غاوِيَ الفُجحِ ثُمَّ أَتبَعَ موسى

لَعنَةً تَملَأُ القَصا وَتَحوطُ

لَعنَةً تَملَأُ القَصا وَتَحوطُ

The wayward man of al-Fujh; then may He follow Musa

Oh my people, indeed the slave Musa has rebelled

With a curse filling the farthest reaches and surrounding him.

And the armed and powerful destroyer.

يا لقَومي لَقَد بَغى العَبدُ موسى

يا لقَومي لَقَد بَغى العَبدُ موسى

وَالعَسيفُ المُدَفَّعُ العُضروطُ

وَالعَسيفُ المُدَفَّعُ العُضروطُ

O my people, the slave Musa has indeed transgressed,

Uzzan attained a kingdom, which if

And the hireling, the spurned lackey who serves for food.

Patience saw, it would think it a myth.

نالَ عَزّانُ دَولَةً لَو رَآها

نالَ عَزّانُ دَولَةً لَو رَآها

حُلُماً ظَنَّ أَنَّها تَخليطُ

حُلُماً ظَنَّ أَنَّها تَخليطُ

Azzan attained dominion; had he seen it

The Azd swooped with the Hutuf to the Azd

In a dream, he would have thought it muddled fantasy.

And Musa is resigned, congratulated.

سَمَتِ الأَزدُ بِالحُتوفِ إِلى الأَز

سَمَتِ الأَزدُ بِالحُتوفِ إِلى الأَز

دِ وَموسى مُسَلَّمٌ مَغبوطُ

دِ وَموسى مُسَلَّمٌ مَغبوطُ

The Azd advanced with death against the Azd,

The slave drinks its pure wine while the

While Musa was kept safe and envied.

Azd’s share of it is the dregs and the problematically obtained.

يَشرَبُ العَبدُ صَفوَها وَشَرابُ ال

يَشرَبُ العَبدُ صَفوَها وَشَرابُ ال

أَزدِ مِنها مَطروقُها وَالمَطيطُ

أَزدِ مِنها مَطروقُها وَالمَطيطُ

The slave drinks its clear draught; the drink of

So fate wandered never to return, and wander with it

The Azd is its trampled water and muddy dregs.

An oblivion no eraser can erase.

فَهَبِ الدَهرَ لا يَثوبُ وَهبها

فَهَبِ الدَهرَ لا يَثوبُ وَهبها

غَمرَةً لا يُميطُها مَن يُميطُ

غَمرَةً لا يُميطُها مَن يُميطُ

Then suppose time does not return, and suppose it

So strive utterly or die nobly

A calamity no dispeller can dispel.

The glamoring and the plotting do not avail.

فَاِبلغوا الجَهدَ أَو فَموتوا كِراماً

فَاِبلغوا الجَهدَ أَو فَموتوا كِراماً

لَيسَ يُغني التَبريقُ وَالتَخطيطُ

لَيسَ يُغني التَبريقُ وَالتَخطيطُ

Then exert your utmost, or die nobly;

To what, to what do we live, men of humiliation,

Flashing threats and drawing lines avail nothing.

All of us bound by it, patterned?

كَم إِلى كَم نَعيشُ أَنضاءَ ذُلٍّ

كَم إِلى كَم نَعيشُ أَنضاءَ ذُلٍّ

كُلُّنا مُلجَم بِهِ مَعلوطُ

كُلُّنا مُلجَم بِهِ مَعلوطُ

How long, how long shall we live, worn-out mounts of humiliation,

Do you see the Azd apportioning humiliation among them

Every one of us bridled and branded by it?

An outsider and a ruinous fabricator?

أَتَرى الأَزدَ يَقسِمُ الذُلَّ فيها

أَتَرى الأَزدَ يَقسِمُ الذُلَّ فيها

خارِجِيٌّ وَخارِبٌ عُمروطُ

خارِجِيٌّ وَخارِبٌ عُمروطُ

Can you see humiliation being portioned among the Azd

Then do you agree to that, O Azd, if you

By a Kharijite and a destitute camel-thief?

Agree, neither plume nor pile of its arrows winged.

ثُمَّ تَرضى بِذَلِكَ الأَزدُ إِن تَر

ثُمَّ تَرضى بِذَلِكَ الأَزدُ إِن تَر

ضى فَلا ريشَ سَهمُها المَمروطُ

ضى فَلا ريشَ سَهمُها المَمروطُ

And will the Azd accept that? If they accept it,

No - by the life to which I clung

Then may their stripped arrow never be fletched!

In hope which despair cannot defy!

لا لَعمر الَّذي تَمَسَّكتُ مِنهُ

لا لَعمر الَّذي تَمَسَّكتُ مِنهُ

بِرَجاءٍ لا يَعتَفيهِ القُنوطُ

بِرَجاءٍ لا يَعتَفيهِ القُنوطُ

No! By the life of Him to whom I cling

Let not my uprising delude you, gently,

With a hope that despair cannot efface.

My care is bound to the two noble steeds.

لا يَغُرَّنكُمُ اِنبِعاثي رُوَيداً

لا يَغُرَّنكُمُ اِنبِعاثي رُوَيداً

إِنَّ هَمّي بِالفَرقَدَينِ مَنوطُ

إِنَّ هَمّي بِالفَرقَدَينِ مَنوطُ

Do not let my slow advance deceive you;

Verily these matters beyond the sphere of divine mercy

My ambition is hung upon the two Farqad stars.

Run their course of ascent and descent.

إِنَّ هاتي الأُمورَ عَن قَدَرِ الرَح

إِنَّ هاتي الأُمورَ عَن قَدَرِ الرَح

مانِ يَجري صُعودُها وَالهُبوطُ

مانِ يَجري صُعودُها وَالهُبوطُ

Indeed, these affairs, by the All-Merciful's decree,

Whether I show anger or am content, travel on!

Run their course in rising and falling.

By my life both my contentment and my anger;

إِن تَسَخَّطتُ أَو رَضيتُ فَسِيّا

إِن تَسَخَّطتُ أَو رَضيتُ فَسِيّا

ن لَعَمري رِضايَ وَالتَسخيطُ

ن لَعَمري رِضايَ وَالتَسخيطُ

Whether I am displeased or content, equal

All that was fated to be near,

Are, by my life, my contentment and displeasure.

And that which no buzzing of flies can hinder, I roar.

كُلُّ ما حُمَّ أَن يَكونَ قَريبٌ

كُلُّ ما حُمَّ أَن يَكونَ قَريبٌ

وَالَّذي لا يُحَمُّ ناءٍ نَعيطُ

وَالَّذي لا يُحَمُّ ناءٍ نَعيطُ

Whatever is decreed to be is near;

Companion, had the pillar of my patience slipped a handbreadth,

And what is not decreed is remote, far distant.

The handbreadth on the day the truth was shown would have slipped it!

صاحِ لَو هَدَّ رُكن صَبرِيَ رُزءاً

صاحِ لَو هَدَّ رُكن صَبرِيَ رُزءاً

هَدَّهُ الرُزءُ يَومَ بانَ الخَليطُ

هَدَّهُ الرُزءُ يَومَ بانَ الخَليطُ

My friend, if a loss could break the pillar of my patience,

The day I traversed the desert with the anklets

The loss when the companions departed would have broken it.

Crashing with the traveling company, and it was desolate.

يَومَ خِلتُ الفَضاءَ مُنصَفِقَ الأَك

يَومَ خِلتُ الفَضاءَ مُنصَفِقَ الأَك

نافِ بِالرَكبِ وَهوَ رَحبٌ بَسيطُ

نافِ بِالرَكبِ وَهوَ رَحبٌ بَسيطُ

The day I thought the open plain closed in

Let not the enemies suppose my stand

On the caravan from all sides, though vast and broad.

Is where the pitiful watering-hole traps me.

لا يَظُنُّ الأَعداءُ أَنَّ مُقامي

لا يَظُنُّ الأَعداءُ أَنَّ مُقامي

حَيثُ يَغتالُني المَحَلُّ الشَحيطُ

حَيثُ يَغتالُني المَحَلُّ الشَحيطُ

Let my enemies not suppose that my staying

Diverting my purpose not, nor does degradation until

Where a far-off dwelling preys upon me

I neglect revenge in my heart concealed.

صارِفاً عَزمَتي وَلا الخَفضُ ما لَم

صارِفاً عَزمَتي وَلا الخَفضُ ما لَم

أَترُكِ الثَأرَ بِالفُؤادِ يَليطُ

أَترُكِ الثَأرَ بِالفُؤادِ يَليطُ

Will turn my resolve aside—nor ease—so long as

Then I pretended - the people reckon I am

I do not forsake the vengeance clinging to my heart.

Among them a friend and relation and neighbor;

ثُمَّ أَخلَدتُ يَحسبُ القَومُ أَنّي

ثُمَّ أَخلَدتُ يَحسبُ القَومُ أَنّي

بَينَهُم لِلأسى قَريفٌ وَخيطُ

بَينَهُم لِلأسى قَريفٌ وَخيطُ

Then I settled down; the people think that I,

Patience and hope are unleashed against the people, soon

Among them, am sorrow's close, intimate companion.

Unleashing them against it will unleash.

سُلِّطَ الصَبرُ وَالرَجاءُ عَلى النا

سُلِّطَ الصَبرُ وَالرَجاءُ عَلى النا

سِ سَيُغريهِما بِهِ التَسليطُ

سِ سَيُغريهِما بِهِ التَسليطُ

Patience and hope have been given sway over people;

That mastery will spur them both against it.