تُفْشيreveal يَداكَyour two hands سَرائرَthe secrets الأَغْمادِof the scabbards
تُفْشي يَداكَ سَرائرَ الأَغْمادِ
لِقِطافِfor harvesting هامٍheads واختِلاءِand mowing down هَوادِnecks
لِقِطافِ هامٍ واختِلاءِ هَوادِ
Your two hands reveal the secrets of the scabbards,
You spread your hands to uncover the secrets of sheaths
for harvesting heads and mowing down necks.
To pluck ripe fruits and traverse valleys.
إلّاexcept علىon غزوٍa campaign يُبيدُhe annihilates بِهِthrough it العِدىthe foes
إلّا على غزوٍ يُبيدُ بِهِ العِدى
للِّهfor God (in admiration) منof غزوٍa campaign لَهُhis وجهادِand holy struggle
للِّه من غزوٍ لَهُ وجهادِ
Only on a campaign through which he annihilates the foes—
Except for a conquest that destroys the enemy,
by God, what a campaign and holy struggle are his!
For God, what conquest and jihad!
وعَزائِمٍand resolves تَرمِيهُمُassail them بِضَراغِمٍwith lions
وعَزائِمٍ تَرمِيهُمُ بِضَراغِمٍ
تستأصلُeradicate الآلافَthe thousands بالآحادِwith single warriors
تستأصلُ الآلافَ بالآحادِ
And resolves that hurl lions against them,
And determination that rains them with spears
annihilating thousands with single warriors:
That uproot thousands by individuals.
مِنfrom كلّevery ذِمْرٍvaliant man فيin الكَريهَةِbattle مُقْدِمٍadvancing
مِن كلّ ذِمْرٍ في الكَريهَةِ مُقْدِمٍ
صَالٍbraving لِحَرّthe heat of سَعيرهاits inferno الوقّادِfiercely blazing
صَالٍ لِحَرّ سَعيرها الوقّادِ
each a valiant man advancing into battle,
From every regiment in the battle, a leader
braving the heat of its fiercely blazing inferno,
Charging the heat of its burning fire.
كسنادِlike a sturdy camel مَسمُرَةٍof acacia country وقَسوَرِand a lion غَيضَةٍof a thicket
كسنادِ مَسمُرَةٍ وقَسوَرِ غَيضَةٍ
وعُقابِand an eagle مَرْقَبَةٍof a lookout وَحَيّةِand a snake وادِof a valley
وعُقابِ مَرْقَبَةٍ وَحَيّةِ وادِ
like a sturdy camel of acacia country, a lion of a thicket,
Like the striking of a well-fastened spear and the overflowing rage
an eagle of a lofty lookout, and a snake of a valley.
And swooping eagle and snake of the valley.
وكَأَنَّهُمand as though they فيin السّابِغاتِthe ample mail-coats صَوارِمٌsharp swords
وكَأَنَّهُم في السّابِغاتِ صَوارِمٌ
والسّابِغاتِand the mail-coats لَهُمfor them مِنَamong الأَغمادِthe scabbards
والسّابِغاتِ لَهُم مِنَ الأَغمادِ
They seem, within their ample mail-coats, sharp swords,
As if they are in the quivers, swords
and the mail-coats serve them as scabbards.
And for them the quivers are sheaths.
أُسْدٌlions عَلَيهِمupon them منfrom جُلودِskins أَراقمٍof speckled snakes
أُسْدٌ عَلَيهِم من جُلودِ أَراقمٍ
قُمُصٌshirts أزِرّتُهاtheir buttons عيونُeyes جرادِof locusts
قُمُصٌ أزِرّتُها عيونُ جرادِ
Lions, wearing the skins of speckled snakes
A lion over them of pelts of sand grouse
as shirts whose buttons are locusts' eyes.
A shirt whose sleeves are locusts' eyes.
ماnot صَوْنُsafeguarding دينِthe faith of مُحَمَّدٍMuhammad منfrom ضَيمِهِoppression against it
ما صَوْنُ دينِ مُحَمَّدٍ من ضَيمِهِ
إلّاexcept بسيفكَwith your sword يومَon the day of كلّevery جِلادِcombat
إلّا بسيفكَ يومَ كلّ جِلادِ
There is no shielding Muhammad's faith from oppression
No protection of Muhammad’s religion from its oppression
save with your sword on every day of combat,
Except by your sword on the day of every executioner.
وطُلوعِand the raising of راياتٍbanners وقَودِand the leading of جَحافلٍgreat armies
وطُلوعِ راياتٍ وقَودِ جَحافلٍ
وقِراعِand the clash of أَبطالٍchampions وكَرِّand the charge of جِيادِfine horses
وقِراعِ أَبطالٍ وكَرِّ جِيادِ
and the raising of banners and leading of great armies,
And the rising of flags and burning of crowds
and the clash of champions and charging of fine horses.
And clashing of heroes and trotting of steeds.
وَلَدَيكَand with you هذاthis كُلَّهall of it عنfrom رائِحٍan evening arrival
وَلَدَيكَ هذا كُلَّه عن رائِحٍ
منof نَصْرِthe aid of ربّكَyour Lord فيin الحروبِthe wars وغادِand a morning arrival
من نَصْرِ ربّكَ في الحروبِ وغادِ
And all this is yours through the evening coming
And for you all this comes from a breeze
of your Lord's aid in battle, and its morning coming.
Of your Lord’s victory in wars and battles.
إِنَّindeed اهتمامَكَyour concern بالهدىfor guidance عنfrom همّةٍan aspiration
إِنَّ اهتمامَكَ بالهدى عن همّةٍ
علويَّةِlofty الإِصدارِin sending forth والإِيرادِand bringing in
علويَّةِ الإِصدارِ والإِيرادِ
Indeed, your concern for guidance springs from an aspiration
Your concern for guidance comes from a spirit
lofty in what it sends forth and brings in.
High in resolve and initiation.
وإقامَةُand the mustering of الأسطولِthe fleet تؤذنُheralds بَغْتَةًsuddenly
وإقامَةُ الأسطولِ تؤذنُ بَغْتَةً
بِقِيامةِthe doomsday of الأعداءِthe enemies والحُسّادِand the envious
بِقِيامةِ الأعداءِ والحُسّادِ
And mustering the fleet suddenly heralds
The navy's preparation heralds suddenly
the Day of Doom for enemies and the envious.
The resurrection of enemies and enviers.
والحَربُand war فيin حَربِيّةٍa warship نيرانُهاits fires
والحَربُ في حَربِيّةٍ نيرانُها
تَطأُtread المياهَthe waters بشدَّةِwith the fierceness of الإِيعادِthreatening
تَطأُ المياهَ بشدَّةِ الإِيعادِ
And war aboard a warship—its fires
The war's fire, its flames
tread the waters with fierce menace.
Trample the waters intensely.
تَرْميhurls بنفطٍwith naphtha كيفَhow يُبْقيspares لَفْحُهُits scorching blast
تَرْمي بنفطٍ كيفَ يُبْقي لَفْحُهُ
والشَمّand smelling منهُof it مُحَرّقُscorching الأَكبادِthe livers
والشَمّ منهُ مُحَرّقُ الأَكبادِ
It hurls naphtha—how could its scorching blast spare anything,
It throws oil, how its flames remain
when its very smell burns the livers?
As the sun from it, livers are burnt.
وكَأَنَّماand as though فيهاwithin it دخانُthe smoke of صواعِقٍthunderbolts
وكَأَنَّما فيها دخانُ صواعِقٍ
مُلِئَتْit was filled مِنَwith الإِبراقِlightning-flashes والإِرعادِand thunder
مُلِئَتْ مِنَ الإِبراقِ والإِرعادِ
And as though within it were the smoke of thunderbolts,
As if in it is the smoke of lightning
it is filled with lightning-flashes and thunder.
Filled with flashing and thunder.
لاnot تَسكُنُcease الحَرَكاتُthe movements عِندَكَwith you إنَّهاindeed it is so
لا تَسكُنُ الحَرَكاتُ عِندَكَ إنَّها
لخواتِمُsurely the endings of الأَعمالِdeeds خيرُthe best مَبَاديbeginnings
لخواتِمُ الأَعمالِ خيرُ مَبَادي
Activity never rests with you; indeed,
The movements do not stop for you, they
the endings of deeds are the finest beginnings.
Are the seals of deeds, the best objectives.
وأشدّand the mightiest مَنْof those who قَهَرَsubdued الأعاديthe foes مِحْرَبٌa seasoned warrior
وأشدّ مَنْ قَهَرَ الأعادي مِحْرَبٌ
فيin سِلمِهِhis peace للحَربِfor war ذوpossessing استِعدادِreadiness
في سِلمِهِ للحَربِ ذو استِعدادِ
Mightiest among those who conquer foes is the seasoned warrior
And more firm than conquering enemies a warrior
who, even in peace, stands ready for war.
In his peace for war, well prepared.
سَيُثيرُwill rouse مِنكَfrom you العَزمُresolve بأساًmight مُهلكاًdeadly
سَيُثيرُ مِنكَ العَزمُ بأساً مُهلكاً
والنارُand fire تَنبعُsprings عنfrom قِداحِthe striking of زنادِfire-sticks
والنارُ تَنبعُ عن قِداحِ زنادِ
Resolve will rouse in you a deadly might,
Resolve from you will stir up destructive might
and fire springs from the striking of fire-sticks.
And the fire springs from the flint of tinder.
وغِرارُand the edge of سيفكَyour sword ساهرٌwakeful لمhas not تَكتَحِلْworn kohl
وغِرارُ سيفكَ ساهرٌ لم تَكتَحِلْ
عَينُthe eye of الردىdeath فيin جَفْنِهِits sheath بِرُقادِwith sleep
عَينُ الردى في جَفْنِهِ بِرُقادِ
And your sword's edge keeps vigil; never has
The snarling of your sword keeps vigil, slumber
death's eye within its sheath worn sleep as kohl.
Has not shut its eye with drowsiness.
وزمانُكَand your age العاصيrebellious لغيركَtoward others than you طائعٌobedient
وزمانُكَ العاصي لغيركَ طائعٌ
لَكَto you طاعَةَwith the obedience of المُنقادِthe one led لِلمُقتادِto the leader
لَكَ طاعَةَ المُنقادِ لِلمُقتادِ
And your age, rebellious toward others, is obedient
Your defiant age is obedient to none but you
to you as the led obeys the leader.
Obedience of the led to the leader.
ونَرىand we see يَمينَكَyour right hand والمُنىand hopes فيin لَثمِهاkissing it
ونَرى يَمينَكَ والمُنى في لَثمِها
فيon كلّevery أُفْقٍhorizon بالجنودِwith troops تُناديit summons
في كلّ أُفْقٍ بالجنودِ تُنادي
We see your right hand—with hopes fulfilled in kissing it—
And we see your right hand and wishes in its touch
summoning armies on every horizon.
In every horizon calling the soldiers.
مَنwhoever كانَwas عَنaway from سَننthe path of الشجاعَةِcourage والنّدىand generosity
مَن كانَ عَن سَنن الشجاعَةِ والنّدى
بِئسَwretched is المُضلُّthe misleader فَأَنتَso you are نعمَexcellent is الهَاديthe guide
بِئسَ المُضلُّ فَأَنتَ نعمَ الهَادي
Whoever strays from the path of courage and generosity
Who turned away from the ways of courage and bounty
is a wretched misleader; you are the finest guide.
Evil is the misguided; you are best guide!
هَلdo تَذكُرُremember الأَعياجُthe Aʿyāj (unclear term) سَبْيَthe captivity of بَناتِهاtheir daughters
هَل تَذكُرُ الأَعياجُ سَبْيَ بَناتِها
بظُبىًby sword-blades جُعِلْنَwere made قلائدَnecklaces for الأجيادِthe necks
بظُبىً جُعِلْنَ قلائدَ الأجيادِ
Do the Aʿyāj remember the capture of their daughters
Do you remember the old women taken captive
by blades made necklaces around their necks?
As gazelles made necklaces for steeds?
مِنfrom كُلّevery بيضاءِwhite الترائبِthe upper chest غادةٍa graceful maiden
مِن كُلّ بيضاءِ الترائبِ غادةٍ
تمشيwalks كَغُصْنِlike a branch of البانَةِthe bān tree الميّادِswaying
تمشي كَغُصْنِ البانَةِ الميّادِ
Each a graceful maiden, white of breast,
Of every white camel litter singing
walking like the swaying bough of a bān tree,
Walking like a swaying sapling.
مجذوبةٍdragged بذوائبٍby tresses كأساودٍlike black snakes
مجذوبةٍ بذوائبٍ كأساودٍ
عَبَثَتْhave toyed بهنّwith them براثنُthe claws of الآسادِthe lions
عَبَثَتْ بهنّ براثنُ الآسادِ
dragged by tresses like black snakes,
Captivated by plaits like lionesses
with which the lions' claws have played havoc.
Mauled by the claws of predators.
مِنfrom كُلِّevery ذيpossessing زَبَدٍfoam عَلَتهُrode upon it سُفْنُهُits ships
مِن كُلِّ ذي زَبَدٍ عَلَتهُ سُفْنُهُ
يَخْرُجْنَthey emerge منfrom جَسَدٍa body بِغَيرِwithout فُؤادِa heart
يَخْرُجْنَ من جَسَدٍ بِغَيرِ فُؤادِ
From each foaming sea ridden by its ships,
From all the arrogant, his arrogance raised him
they emerge from a body without a heart:
They come out from a body without a heart.
ثُعبانُa serpent of بَحْرٍthe sea عَضُّهُits bite بِنَواجذٍwith back teeth
ثُعبانُ بَحْرٍ عَضُّهُ بِنَواجذٍ
خُلِعَتْwere bestowed عَلَيهِupon it مِنَfrom الحديدِiron حِدادِsharp
خُلِعَتْ عَلَيهِ مِنَ الحديدِ حِدادِ
a sea-serpent, biting with molars
A sea serpent whose biting by claws
bestowed upon it, sharp and made of iron.
Adorned with iron smithery.
يُبديreveals غرابٌa raven-ship منهfrom it سقطَa wing of حمامةٍa dove
يُبدي غرابٌ منه سقطَ حمامةٍ
بِبَياضِهِthrough its whiteness فيin البحرِthe sea جَرْيُthe running of سوادِa dark shape
بِبَياضِهِ في البحرِ جَرْيُ سوادِ
A raven-ship displays from itself a dove's wing,
It shows a raven fallen, a dove
whose whiteness drives a dark shape through the sea.
With its whiteness in the sea, a streak of black.
وكَأَنَّماand as though الريحُthe wind الَّتيthat تَجْريmoves بِهِwith it
وكَأَنَّما الريحُ الَّتي تَجْري بِهِ
روحٌa soul يُحرّكُmoves منهof it جِسمَthe body of جَمادِlifeless matter
روحٌ يُحرّكُ منه جِسمَ جَمادِ
And as though the wind that carries it along
As if the wind that blows with it
were a soul moving its lifeless body.
A spirit moving its inanimate body.
ياO أَيُّهاyou المُمضيwho puts to use قُواهُhis powers وحَزمَهُand his resolve
يا أَيُّها المُمضي قُواهُ وحَزمَهُ
ومُحالفَand an ally of التَأويبِdaylong travel والإِسآدِand nightlong travel
ومُحالفَ التَأويبِ والإِسآدِ
O you who put your strength and resolve to work,
O you crossing the seasons and resolving
and ally of all-day and all-night travel,
And befriending misfortune and misery!
هذاthis is ابنُson of يحيَىYahya ذوpossessor of السماحgenerosity جنابُهُhis court
هذا ابنُ يحيَى ذو السماح جنابُهُ
مُسْتَهْدَفٌa target بِعَزائِمِfor the resolves of القُصّادِseekers
مُسْتَهْدَفٌ بِعَزائِمِ القُصّادِ
here is Ibn Yahya, the generous one; his court
This is the son of gracious Yahya
is the target of determined seekers.
Targeted by the arrows of archers.
فَرِّغْrelieve مِنَfrom السّيْرِtravel الرَذِيّةَthe worn-out camel عِندَهُin his presence
فَرِّغْ مِنَ السّيْرِ الرَذِيّةَ عِندَهُ
تملأyou will fill يديكَyour two hands بطارفٍwith newly gained wealth وَتلادِand inherited wealth
تملأ يديكَ بطارفٍ وَتلادِ
Relieve your worn-out camel of travel in his presence;
Drain from the despicable course with him
you will fill your hands with new and inherited wealth.
Filling your hands with fresh kills.
مَلِكٌa king مَفَاخِرُهُhis glories تُعَدّare counted مفاخراًas glories
مَلِكٌ مَفَاخِرُهُ تُعَدّ مفاخراً
لمآثرِfor the noble deeds of الآباءِthe fathers والأجدادِand forefathers
لمآثرِ الآباءِ والأجدادِ
A king whose glories are counted as honors
A king whose glories are counted glories
for the noble deeds of fathers and forefathers.
Of the feats of forefathers and ancestors.
ومراتعُand the pastures of الروّادِpasture-seeking scouts بينَamong رُبُوعِهِhis dwellings
ومراتعُ الروّادِ بينَ رُبُوعِهِ
محفوفةٌsurrounded بمناهِلِby watering places for الوُرّادِthose who come to drink
محفوفةٌ بمناهِلِ الوُرّادِ
And the scouts' pastures among his dwellings
And the meadows of pioneers among its landscapes
are ringed with watering places for those who come to drink.
Surrounded by springs of cold water.
ثبتتْstood firm قواعدُthe foundations of مُلْكِهِhis kingdom فكأنّماso, as though
ثبتتْ قواعدُ مُلْكِهِ فكأنّما
أرساهُanchored it ربّthe Lord of العرشِthe Throne بالأطوادِwith great mountains
أرساهُ ربّ العرشِ بالأطوادِ
His kingdom's foundations stand firm, as though
His kingdom’s foundations are fixed as though
the Lord of the Throne had anchored it with mountains.
Planted by the Lord of the Throne with pegs.
وطريدُهُand his quarry منfrom حيثُwhere راحَwent at evening أوِor اغتَدىset out at dawn
وطريدُهُ من حيثُ راحَ أوِ اغتَدى
فيin قبضةٍa grasp منهُof his بِغَيرِwithout طرادِpursuit
في قبضةٍ منهُ بِغَيرِ طرادِ
And his quarry, wherever it goes at evening or dawn,
His pursued from wherever he went or transgressed
is in his grasp without pursuit.
In his grip without need of chasing.
والأرضُand the earth فيin يُمناهُhis right hand حَلْقَةًthe hoop of خاتمٍa ring
والأرضُ في يُمناهُ حَلْقَةً خاتمٍ
والبحرُand the sea فيin comparison with جدواهُhis bounty رَشْحُseepage from ثِمادِscant pools
والبحرُ في جدواهُ رَشْحُ ثِمادِ
And the earth in his right hand is a ring's hoop,
The land in his oath of allegiance a ring,
and beside his bounty the sea is seepage from scant pools.
The sea in his abundance a pool of butter.
لاdo not تسألَنْever ask عمّاabout what يصيبُhe attains برأيِهِthrough his judgment
لا تسألَنْ عمّا يصيبُ برأيِهِ
وطعانِهِand his thrusting بمقوَّمٍwith a straight spear مَيّادِsupple
وطعانِهِ بمقوَّمٍ مَيّادِ
Do not ask what he accomplishes through his judgment
Do not ask what his opinion and piercing achieves
and his thrusting with a straight, supple spear.
With straightener of bending staffs.
يضعُhe applies الهِناءَtar-ointment مواضعَto the sites of النُّقَبِmange sores الَّذيthe one who
يضعُ الهِناءَ مواضعَ النُّقَبِ الَّذي
يضعُplaces السِّنانَthe spearhead مواضعَat the sites of الأحقادِrancors
يضعُ السِّنانَ مواضعَ الأحقادِ
He applies tar where the mange-sores lie, he who
He places weakness where cunning should be
sets the spearhead where rancors lie.
He places the point where grudges should be.
كالبدرِlike the full moon يومَon the day of الطّعْنِspear-thrusting يُطفئُextinguishes رُمحهُhis spear
كالبدرِ يومَ الطّعْنِ يُطفئُ رُمحهُ
روحَthe soul of الكميِّthe armored warrior بِكَوكبٍwith a star وقّادِblazing
روحَ الكميِّ بِكَوكبٍ وقّادِ
He is like the full moon on the day of battle; his spear extinguishes
Like the full moon the day of piercing, his spear
the armored warrior's soul with a blazing star.
Extinguishes the spirit of enemies with a blazing star.
تبنيbuild سلاهبُهُhis tall steeds سماءَa sky of عجاجةٍswirling dust
تبني سلاهبُهُ سماءَ عجاجةٍ
منfrom ذُبّلِslender الأرماحthe spears ذاتَpossessing عمادِpillars
من ذُبّلِ الأرماح ذاتَ عمادِ
His tall steeds build a sky of swirling dust,
Its lighting builds a sky of sprawling
with pillars of slender spears.
From the bending of spears with bases.
وَيَرُدُّand he brings back سُمرَthe brown spears of الطعنِthrusting عنfrom أَرضِthe land of العِدىthe foes
وَيَرُدُّ سُمرَ الطعنِ عن أَرضِ العِدى
وكَأَنّهاand as though they فيin صِبْغَةِthe dye of الفرصادِmulberries
وكَأَنّها في صِبْغَةِ الفرصادِ
And he brings back the brown thrusting-spears from enemy soil,
And it deflects the strike of the piercing from the land of enemies
as though they had been dipped in mulberry dye.
As if it is in the dye of quicksilver.
وسُقوطِand the falling of هاماتٍheads بِضَربِthrough blows of مَناصِلٍsword-blades
وسُقوطِ هاماتٍ بِضَربِ مَناصِلٍ
وصعودُand the rising of أرواحٍsouls بِطَعنِthrough thrusts of صِعادِstraight spears
وصعودُ أرواحٍ بِطَعنِ صِعادِ
And heads fall beneath strokes of sword-blades,
And falling of Notables by strike of butchery
and souls rise through thrusts of straight spears.
And rising of souls by stabbing with sword points.
أمّاas for شِدَادُthe strongest of المجرمينthe evildoers فعزُّهُthen his might
أمّا شِدَادُ المجرمين فعزُّهُ
أبقاهُمُleft them بالذلّin humiliation غيرَnot شدادِstrong
أبقاهُمُ بالذلّ غيرَ شدادِ
As for the strongest of the evildoers, his might
As for the insolence of criminals, his might
has left them abased, no longer strong.
Kept them in disgrace without insolence.
والنّارُand fire تأخذُtakes فيin تَضَرُّمِهاits blazing الغَضَاthe ghaḍā wood
والنّارُ تأخذُ في تَضَرُّمِها الغَضَا
جَزْلاًas thick logs وتتركُهُand leaves it مَهيلَa loose heap of رمادِash
جَزْلاً وتتركُهُ مَهيلَ رمادِ
And fire in its raging blaze takes ghaḍā wood
And the fire takes to crackling the timber
in thick logs, and leaves it a loose heap of ash.
Heavily and leaves it ember and ashes.
ياO منone who إليهto him بانتجاعِin seeking bounty مؤمِّلٍa hopeful seeker
يا من إليه بانتجاعِ مؤمِّلٍ
مُستَمطِرٌseeking rain مِنهُfrom him سَماءَa sky of أَياديfavors
مُستَمطِرٌ مِنهُ سَماءَ أَيادي
O you to whom a hopeful seeker comes for bounty,
O you to whom returns with hope
seeking showers from your sky of favors,
Seeking from you a sky of hands.
أُلْقِيتُI was cast منfrom نَيْلِattaining المنىhopes عنoff عاتقٍa shoulder
أُلْقِيتُ من نَيْلِ المنى عن عاتقٍ
فكأنّنيso I am like سيفٌa sword بِغَيرِwithout نِجادِa baldric
فكأنّني سيفٌ بِغَيرِ نِجادِ
I have been cast from the shoulder of fulfilled hopes,
I was cast from attaining wishes without capacity
so I am like a sword without a baldric.
As if I am a sword without a sword belt.
ماnot ليfor me بأرضكَin your land يومَon the day of جودكَyour generosity مُعْرِبٌa spokesman
ما لي بأرضكَ يومَ جودكَ مُعْرِبٌ
بِلِسانِهِwith his tongue عنof خِدمتِيmy service وَوِداديand my affection
بِلِسانِهِ عن خِدمتِي وَوِدادي
In your land, on the day of your bounty, I have no spokesman
I have no means in your land the day of your generosity but an eloquent
whose tongue declares my service and affection,
In its language of my service and affection.
إلّاexcept قصائدُpoems بالمحامدِwith praises صُغْتُهاI fashioned them
إلّا قصائدُ بالمحامدِ صُغْتُها
غُرّاًradiant تهزّstir مَحافلَthe gatherings of الإِنشادِrecitation
غُرّاً تهزّ مَحافلَ الإِنشادِ
save poems of praise that I have fashioned,
Except poems of praise I composed for you
radiant, stirring assemblies of recitation.
Proudly shaking circles of chanting.
خَلَعَتْbestowed معانيهاtheir meanings علىupon أَلفاظِهاtheir words
خَلَعَتْ معانيها على أَلفاظِها
ألحانَmelodies of أشعارٍverse ونَقْرَand the plucking of شَوَادِsingers
ألحانَ أشعارٍ ونَقْرَ شَوَادِ
Their meanings have bestowed upon their words
Their meanings bestowed on their words
the melodies of verse and the plucked notes of singers.
Tunes of poems and twang of strings.
رَجَحَتْweighed heavier بِقِسطاسِon the scales of البَديعِpoetic artistry وإنّهاand indeed they
رَجَحَتْ بِقِسطاسِ البَديعِ وإنّها
لَخفيفَةُtruly light الأرْواحِin souls والأجسادِand bodies
لَخفيفَةُ الأرْواحِ والأجسادِ
They weigh heavy in the scales of poetic artistry, yet
Preferred by the balance of rhetoric, they are
are light of soul and body.
Light of spirit and body.
تَبقىendure كَنَقشِlike carving in الصخرِrock وهيَwhile they are شَواردٌwandering verses
تَبقى كَنَقشِ الصخرِ وهيَ شَواردٌ
مَثَلُthe proverb of المقيمِthe settled resident بهاthere وحَدْوُand the chanting of الحاديthe camel-driver
مَثَلُ المقيمِ بها وحَدْوُ الحادي
They endure like carving in rock, though they wander far:
Remaining like rock carvings though compose
a proverb for the one dwelling there, and the camel-driver's chant.
Embodiment for resident and walker alike.
Sol 6.1