تدَرّعْتُI armored myself with صبريmy patience جُنَّةًa shield للنوائبِagainst calamities
تدَرّعْتُ صبري جُنَّةً للنوائبِ
فإنso if لمnot تُسالمْyou make peace ياO زمانTime فحاربِthen wage war
فإن لم تُسالمْ يا زمان فحاربِ
I armored myself with patience, a shield against calamities.
I armored myself with patience against misfortunes,
If you will not make peace, O Time, then wage war.
So if you do not make peace, O Time, then we shall battle,
عجمتَyou tested حصاةًa stone لاnot تلينsoftens لعاجمٍfor a tester
عجمتَ حصاةً لا تلين لعاجمٍ
ورُضْتَand you tried to tame شموساًa restive steed لاnot يذلّsubmits لراكبِto a rider
ورُضْتَ شموساً لا يذلّ لراكبِ
You have tested a stone that will not soften for any tester,
You hardened a rock that yields to no foreigner,
and tried to tame a restive steed that yields to no rider.
And you were determined to be suns that no rider can subdue.
كأنّكas though you لمdid not تقنعwere content لنفسيfor my soul بغربةٍwith exile
كأنّك لم تقنع لنفسي بغربةٍ
إذاif لمnot أُنَقّبI wander فيthrough بِلادthe lands of المَغاربِthe western regions
إذا لم أُنَقّب في بِلاد المَغاربِ
As though exile for my soul did not content you,
It seems you were not content to exile me in a faraway land,
unless I wandered through the lands of the West.
Unless I were to dig into the lands of the Maghreb.
بِلادٌa land جرىflowed فوقover البُلادةdull-wittedness ماؤهاits water
بِلادٌ جرى فوق البُلادة ماؤها
فأصبحso became منهfrom it ناهلاًdrinking deeply كلُّevery شاربِdrinker
فأصبح منه ناهلاً كلُّ شاربِ
A land whose waters flowed over dull-wittedness,
A land whose water flowed over sterility,
so every drinker came to drink deeply of it.
So that every drinker became a drawer from it.
فُطِمتُI was weaned بهاthere عنfrom كلّevery كأسٍcup ولَذّةٍand pleasure
فُطِمتُ بها عن كلّ كأسٍ ولَذّةٍ
وأنفقتُand I spent كنزَthe treasure of العمرlife فيon غيرwhat was not واجِبِrequired
وأنفقتُ كنزَ العمر في غير واجِبِ
There I was weaned from every winecup and pleasure,
I was weaned from every cup and pleasure,
and spent life's treasure on what was not required.
And spent the treasure of my life without obligation.
يبيتspends the night رئاسُthe hilt of العضبthe keen sword فيin ثِنْيِthe bend of ساعديmy forearm
يبيت رئاسُ العضب في ثِنْيِ ساعدي
مُعاوضَةًin exchange منfor جِيدthe neck of غيداءَa supple maiden كاعبِfull-breasted
مُعاوضَةً من جِيد غيداءَ كاعبِ
The keen sword's hilt spends the night in the bend of my forearm,
The chief of rage lodges in the fold of my arm
in exchange for the neck of a supple, full-breasted maiden.
In exchange for the neck of the roaming gazelles.
وماand not ضاجعَlay beside الهنديُّthe Indian blade إلاexcept مثلّماًnotching
وما ضاجعَ الهنديُّ إلا مثلّماً
مُضارِبهits striking edges يَومَon the day of الوغىbattle فيagainst الضّرائبِthe targets of blows
مُضارِبه يَومَ الوغى في الضّرائبِ
The Indian blade has lain beside me only after notching
The Indian attacked only to be counterattacked
its striking edges on battle-day against its targets.
On the day of battle amid charges and raids.
إذاif كانَthere is ليfor me فيin السَيفِthe sword أُنسcompanionship ألِفتهI grew familiar with it
إذا كانَ لي في السَيفِ أُنس ألِفته
فلاthen no وحشةdesolation عنديfor me لِفقدfrom losing الحبائِبِbeloved women
فلا وحشة عندي لِفقد الحبائِبِ
If I have in the sword a companionship I know well,
If I am intimate with the sword, I befriend it,
then I feel no desolation at the loss of beloved women.
So I have no loneliness without intimate friends.
فَكُنتُso I was وَقَدّيwhile my stature فيin الصَباyouth مِثلُlike قَدّهits length
فَكُنتُ وَقَدّي في الصَبا مِثلُ قَدّه
عَهدتُI charged إِلَيهto it أَنthat مِنهُfrom it مَكاسِبيmy earnings
عَهدتُ إِلَيه أَن مِنهُ مَكاسِبي
So when, in youth, my stature matched its length,
I was like my sword’s sheath in my youth,
I charged it to be the source of my gains.
I entrusted to it that it would gain me profits.
فَإِنso if تَكُthere be ليfor me فيin المَشرَفِيّthe Mashrafi sword مآربٌuses
فَإِن تَكُ لي في المَشرَفِيّ مآربٌ
فَكَمthen how many فيin عَصاthe staff of مُوسىMoses لَهُfor him مِنof مَآرِبِuses
فَكَم في عَصا مُوسى لَهُ مِن مَآرِبِ
If I have uses for the Mashrafi sword,
If I have wishes to accomplish with the noble,
how many uses Moses had for his staff!
How many wishes does Moses’ staff have!
أَتحسبنيdo you think me أنْسَىI forget وماwhile not زلتI have ceased ذاكِراًremembering
أَتحسبني أنْسَى وما زلت ذاكِراً
خِيانةَthe betrayal of دَهريmy time أوor خيانةَthe betrayal of صَاحبيmy companion
خِيانةَ دَهري أو خيانةَ صَاحبي
Do you think I forget, when I have never ceased remembering
Do you reckon I forget? Yet I still remember
the betrayal of my time or the betrayal of my companion?
The betrayal of my time or the betrayal of my companion.
تَغَذّىhe was nourished بأخلاقيon my character صغيراًas a child ولَمand not تَكُنْwere
تَغَذّى بأخلاقي صغيراً ولَم تَكُنْ
ضَرائِبُهhis dispositions إلّاexcept خِلافَthe opposite of ضَرائبيmy dispositions
ضَرائِبُه إلّا خِلافَ ضَرائبي
He was nourished on my character as a child, yet
He was nurtured by my morals when small, yet there were no
his dispositions were nothing but the opposite of mine.
Taxes for him except opposing my taxes.
وياand oh ربّhow many a نَبْتٍplant تعتريهِafflicts it مرارَةٌbitterness
ويا ربّ نَبْتٍ تعتريهِ مرارَةٌ
وقدand yet كانit was يُسقىwatered عذبَsweet ماءwater of السحائِبِthe clouds
وقد كان يُسقى عذبَ ماء السحائِبِ
And ah, how many a plant is touched by bitterness,
O Lord of a plantation made bitter
although it was watered with the clouds' sweet water.
Though it was watered by the fresh rain of clouds.
علمتُI learned بتجريبيthrough my experience أموراًthings جَهِلتُهاI had not known them
علمتُ بتجريبي أموراً جَهِلتُها
وقدand indeed تُجْهَلare unknown الأشياءُthings قبلbefore التجارِبِexperiences
وقد تُجْهَل الأشياءُ قبل التجارِبِ
Through experience I learned things I had not known,
By my experience I learned things I was ignorant of,
and things may remain unknown before experience.
For things may be unknown before being experienced.
ومَنْand whoever ظَنّsupposed أمْواهthe waters of الخضارمthe vast seas عَذْبَةًsweet
ومَنْ ظَنّ أمْواه الخضارم عَذْبَةً
قضىjudged بخلافcontrary to الظنّthe supposition عندَat المشارِبِthe drinking places
قضى بخلاف الظنّ عندَ المشارِبِ
And whoever supposes the waters of vast seas to be sweet
He who thought the waters of old wells were sweet
will judge otherwise at the drinking places.
Discovered the opposite when he drank from them.
ركبتُI rode النّوَىseparation فيin رحلِthe saddle of كلّevery نَجيبةٍnoble she-camel
ركبتُ النّوَى في رحلِ كلّ نَجيبةٍ
تُواصِلُmaintains أسبابيmy ties بقطعby crossing السَباسِبِthe trackless plains
تُواصِلُ أسبابي بقطع السَباسِبِ
I rode into exile in the saddle of every noble she-camel,
I mounted determination in the saddle of every noble steed
keeping my ties intact by crossing the trackless wastes.
To further my purposes by cutting off causes.
قِلاصٌyoung she-camels حَناهنّbent them الهزالُemaciation كَأنهاas though they
قِلاصٌ حَناهنّ الهزالُ كَأنها
حنِيّاتcurved bows of نَبْعٍnabʿ wood فيin أكفِّthe palms of جواذِبِbow-drawers
حنِيّات نَبْعٍ في أكفِّ جواذِبِ
Young she-camels, bent by emaciation, as though they were
A fleet mount made slender by emaciation
bows of nabʿ wood in the hands of those who draw them.
As if it were the bendings of a spring between restraining hands.
إذاwhen وَرَدَتْthey came to water منof زرقةthe blueness of الماءِwater أَعيُناًsprings
إذا وَرَدَتْ من زرقة الماءِ أَعيُناً
وقَفْنَthey stood علىalong أرجائهاtheir rims كالحواجِبِlike eyebrows
وقَفْنَ على أرجائها كالحواجِبِ
When they come to springs of blue water,
When eyes the color of water’s blueness arrive
they stand along their rims like eyebrows.
And pause upon its surface like frowning brows.
بصادقِwith true عزْمresolve فيin الأمانيwishes يُحِلّنيit settles me
بصادقِ عزْم في الأماني يُحِلّني
علىupon أمَلٍa hope منfrom همّةِthe ambition of النفسthe soul كاذِبِfalse
على أمَلٍ من همّةِ النفس كاذِبِ
With true resolve in my wishes, bringing me
My true determination in my wishes carries me
to a false hope born of my soul's ambition.
To a hope from the ambition of my dishonest soul.
ولاand no سَكَنٌsolace إلاexcept مناجاةcommuning with فكرضةٍa thought (reading uncertain)
ولا سَكَنٌ إلا مناجاة فكرضةٍ
كأنيas though I بهاthrough it مستحضرٌsummoning كلّevery غائِبِabsent one
كأني بها مستحضرٌ كلّ غائِبِ
I have no solace save in communion with thought,
I have no peace but the solitude of my thoughts
as though through it I brought every absent one before me.
As if with them I make present every absent one.
ولماand when رأيْتI saw الناسpeople يُرْهَبis feared شرهُمtheir evil
ولما رأيْت الناس يُرْهَب شرهُم
تجنّبْتُهمI avoided them واخترْتand chose وَحْدَةthe solitude of راهِبِa monk
تجنّبْتُهم واخترْت وَحْدَة راهِبِ
When I saw how fearsome people's evil was,
And when I saw people terrified by their evil,
I avoided them and chose a monk's solitude.
I avoided them and chose the solitude of an ascetic.
أَحتّىdoes even خَيالٌa phantom كُنتُI used to أَحظىbe favored بزَوْرِهِwith its visits
أَحتّى خَيالٌ كُنتُ أَحظى بزَوْرِهِ
لَهit has فيin الكَرىsleep عنaway from مَضجعيmy bed صدّthe aversion of عاتِبِone who reproaches
لَه في الكَرى عن مَضجعي صدّ عاتِبِ
Does even a phantom whose visits I once enjoyed
How I used to converse with an imaginary companion,
turn from my bed in sleep as though offended?
Who had, in my cares, a visitor’s prevention of my sleep.
فَهلso has حالَchanged منin شَكليmy appearance عليهِfor it فَلمand so not يَزرْit visited
فَهل حالَ من شَكلي عليهِ فَلم يَزرْ
قضافةُthe leanness of جسميmy body وابيضاضُand the whitening of ذوائبيmy locks
قضافةُ جسمي وابيضاضُ ذوائبي
Have changes in my appearance kept it from visiting—
Does my bodily form fail to resemble him, that he did not visit?
my body's leanness and my whitening locks?
The slenderness of my waist and the whiteness of my sidelocks?
إذاwhen عدَّcounted مَنone who غابَwent away الشُهورَthe months لِغُربَةٍfor exile
إذا عدَّ مَن غابَ الشُهورَ لِغُربَةٍ
عددتُI counted لهاfor it الأحقابَthe ages فوقَupon الحقائِبِlong spans of time
عددتُ لها الأحقابَ فوقَ الحقائِبِ
When one who is absent counts the months of exile,
When one counts the months of his absence in exile,
I count it in ages upon ages.
I count for them the eras above the saddlebags.
وكَمand how many عَزَماتٍresolves كالسيوفِlike swords صوادِقtrue
وكَم عَزَماتٍ كالسيوفِ صوادِق
تجرّدهاunsheathe them أيديthe hands of الأَمانيwishes الكواذِبِfalse
تجرّدها أيدي الأَماني الكواذِبِ
How many true resolves, like swords,
How many resolves like sincere swords
are unsheathed by the hands of false wishes!
Have been bared by the hands of dishonest wishes!
وليand I have فيin سماءthe sky of الشرقِthe East مَطلَعُةthe rising of كَوكَبٍa star
ولي في سماء الشرقِ مَطلَعُة كَوكَبٍ
جلاshone منfrom طلوعيmy rising بينَamong زهرِthe bright ones of الكواكِبِthe stars
جلا من طلوعي بينَ زهرِ الكواكِبِ
In the sky of the East, mine is a star's rising,
I have a star that rises in the sky of the east
shining with my ascent among the brilliant stars.
That rises above the stars from my rising among them.
ألفتُI grew used to اغترابيmy exile عنهaway from it حتىuntil تكاثَرَتmultiplied
ألفتُ اغترابي عنه حتى تكاثَرَت
لهfor it عُقَدُthe knots of الأيّامthe days فيin كفِّthe palm of حاسِبِa reckoner
له عُقَدُ الأيّام في كفِّ حاسِبِ
I grew used to my exile from it, until there multiplied
I grew accustomed to being apart from it until
the knots of its days in a reckoner's palm.
The knots of days accumulated in the hand of the recorder.
متىwhenever تَسمَعُhears الجَوزاءُOrion فيin الجوthe sky مَنطقيmy speech
متى تَسمَعُ الجَوزاءُ في الجو مَنطقي
تصخْit listens فيto مَقاليmy words لارتجالِfor the improvising of الغرائِبِmarvels
تصخْ في مَقالي لارتجالِ الغرائِبِ
Whenever Orion in the sky hears my speech,
Whenever the Pleiades hear my speech in the atmosphere
it listens to my words for improvised marvels.
They pour in my words the ascents of wonders.
وكمand how many ليI have بهthere منof صنوِa brother in وُدٍّaffection محافظٍloyal
وكم لي به من صنوِ وُدٍّ محافظٍ
لذيbefore one given to العيبfault-finding منamong أعدائهِhis enemies غيرnot غائِبِabsent
لذي العيب من أعدائهِ غير غائِبِ
How many a loyal brother in affection I have there,
How much sincere affection I have for it
never absent before a fault-finder among his enemies.
That wards off the shameful from its enemies though absent!
أخيa brother of ثقةٍtrust نادَمْتُهُI drank with him الراحَwine والصباwhile youth
أخي ثقةٍ نادَمْتُهُ الراحَ والصبا
لهfor it منfrom يدِthe hand of الأيامِthe days غَيرُnot سوالِبِplundering ones
له من يدِ الأيامِ غَيرُ سوالِبِ
A trusted brother with whom I shared wine, while youth
A trusted brother whom I counseled in comfort and youth
was still unplundered by the hand of days.
Whom the days had no garments to strip from him.
معتّقةٌaged wine دعْleave aside ذكرmention of أحْقابِthe ages of عُمرهاits life
معتّقةٌ دعْ ذكر أحْقابِ عُمرها
فقدfor already مُلئتْwere filled منهاfrom it أناملُthe fingertips of حاسِبِa reckoner
فقد مُلئتْ منها أناملُ حاسِبِ
Aged wine—leave aside mention of the ages of its life;
A lady prisoner, leave mentioning the eras of her life
for its years have already filled a reckoner's fingertips.
For the fingers of the recorder have been filled with them.
إذاwhen خاضwaded منهاinto it الماءُwater فيwithin مُضْمَرslender الحشاthe belly
إذا خاض منها الماءُ في مُضْمَر الحشا
بداappeared الدرّpearls منهاfrom it بينbetween طافٍfloating وراسِبِand sinking
بدا الدرّ منها بين طافٍ وراسِبِ
When water wades into it in a slender-bellied cup,
When the water flows in the racecourse of valour
pearls appear in it, some floating and some sinking.
The pearls in it become manifest between the foam and sediments.
لياليّmy nights بالمهديَّتينin the two Mahdiyyas كأنهاas though they were الthe
لياليّ بالمهديَّتين كأنها ال
لآلئُpearls منْfrom دنْياكyour world فَوقَupon ترائِبِcollarbones
لآلئُ منْ دنْياك فَوقَ ترائِبِ
My nights in the two Mahdiyyas were like the
Nights in Mahdiyya seem to be
pearls from your world upon collarbones.
Pearls from your world placed atop necklaces.
لياليnights لمnot يذهبنthey passed away إلّاexcept as لآلئاًpearls
ليالي لم يذهبن إلّا لآلئاً
نظمنَwere strung عقوداًas necklaces للسّنينfor the years الذواهِبِthe departing ones
نظمنَ عقوداً للسّنين الذواهِبِ
Nights that passed away only as pearls,
Nights that went away taking only
strung into necklaces for the departing years.
The pearls they threaded on necklaces for the fleeting years.
إذاwhen شئتُI wished أنْto أرْميcast at الهلالَthe crescent بلحظَةٍwith a glance
إذا شئتُ أنْ أرْمي الهلالَ بلحظَةٍ
لمحتُI glimpsed تَميماًTamim فيin سماءِthe sky of المناقِبِnoble deeds
لمحتُ تَميماً في سماءِ المناقِبِ
Whenever I wished to cast a glance at the crescent,
When I wish to throw the crescent with a glance
I glimpsed Tamim in the heaven of noble deeds.
I glimpse a pendant in the sky of high rank.
ولوand if أنّthat أرضيmy land حرةٌfree لأتَيتُهاI would surely come to it
ولو أنّ أرضي حرةٌ لأتَيتُها
بعزمٍwith resolve يعُدُّthat deems السيرَthe journey ضربةَan obligation لازِبِbinding
بعزمٍ يعُدُّ السيرَ ضربةَ لازِبِ
Were my homeland free, I would come to it
Had my land been free, I would have come to it
with resolve that deems the journey an inescapable duty.
With a resolve that considers travel a single leap.
ولكنَّbut أَرضيmy land كَيفَhow ليcan I بفكاكهاsecure its release
ولكنَّ أَرضي كَيفَ لي بفكاكها
منfrom الأسْرcaptivity فيin أيديthe hands of العُلوجِthe foreign barbarians الغواصِبِthe usurpers
من الأسْر في أيدي العُلوجِ الغواصِبِ
But my homeland—how can I free it
But how can I redeem my land
from captivity in the hands of barbarian usurpers?
From captivity in the hands of the plundering tyrants?
لَئِنif indeed ظَفِرتsucceeded تِلكَthose الكِلابُdogs بأَكلِهاin devouring it
لَئِن ظَفِرت تِلكَ الكِلابُ بأَكلِها
فبعدthen after سكونٍthe stilling للعروقِof the veins الضوارِبِthe throbbing ones
فبعد سكونٍ للعروقِ الضوارِبِ
If indeed those dogs succeeded in devouring it,
If those dogs gain its food
it was only after the throbbing veins grew still.
It will be after tranquility for the pulsing veins.
أَحينَwas it when تفانىdestroyed one another أَهلهاits people طوْعَin obedience to فتنةٍstrife
أَحينَ تفانى أَهلها طوْعَ فتنةٍ
يضرّمkindles فيهاwithin it نارَهhis fire كلُّevery حاطِبِwood-gatherer
يضرّم فيها نارَه كلُّ حاطِبِ
Was it when its people destroyed one another, yielding to strife,
When its people perish because of sedition
where every wood-gatherer kindles his fire?
In which every fire-kindler fans his flames?
وأَضحَتand arose بهاthere أَهواؤهمtheir passions وكَأَنَّماand as though
وأَضحَت بها أَهواؤهم وكَأَنَّما
مذاهبهمtheir paths فيهاthere اختلافُthe divergence of المذاهِبِcreeds
مذاهبهم فيها اختلافُ المذاهِبِ
And their passions prevailed there, as though
Their whims have become in it as though
their paths there were the discord of creeds.
Their ways are the differing of doctrines.
ولَمand not يرحَمِshowed mercy to الأَرحامَthe ties of kinship منهاthere أقارِبٌkinsmen
ولَم يرحَمِ الأَرحامَ منها أقارِبٌ
تروّيslaking سيوفاًswords منwith نجيعthe fresh blood of أقارِبِkinsmen
تروّي سيوفاً من نجيع أقارِبِ
Nor did kinsmen there show mercy to kinship,
Nor did relatives spare relatives,
slaking swords with the fresh blood of kinsmen.
Watering swords from the resting place of relatives.
وكانand there was لهمamong them جَذْبُthe wrenching of الأصابِعِthe fingers لمnot يَكُنthere were
وكان لهم جَذْبُ الأصابِعِ لم يَكُن
رواجبُfinger-joints منهاamong them حانياتِbending tenderly toward رواجِبِfinger-joints
رواجبُ منها حانياتِ رواجِبِ
Theirs was the wrenching of fingers; there were no
Had they been pulled by their fingers, it would not have been
finger-joints among them bending kindly toward other joints.
The fees of the singing girls therein.
حُماةٌdefenders إذاif أبْصَرْتَهُمْyou saw them فيin كريهَةٍa dreadful battle
حُماةٌ إذا أبْصَرْتَهُمْ في كريهَةٍ
رضيتَyou would be satisfied منfrom الآسادthe lions عنfor كلّevery غاضِبِraging one
رضيتَ من الآساد عن كلّ غاضِبِ
Defenders—if you saw them in a dreadful battle,
Defenders - when you see them in an evil predicament
you would take every raging warrior for a lion.
You would be satisfied with lions after every angry one.
إِذاwhen ضَارَبواthey exchanged blows فيin مأزِقِthe crush of الضربِcombat جرّدواthey unsheathed
إِذا ضَارَبوا في مأزِقِ الضربِ جرّدوا
صواعقَthunderbolts منfrom أيديهمُtheir hands فيamid سحائِبِclouds
صواعقَ من أيديهمُ في سحائِبِ
When they exchanged blows in the crush of combat, they unsheathed
When they strike in the strait of striking they bare
thunderbolts from their hands amid clouds.
Lightning bolts from their hands in clouds.
لهمthey have يومَon the day of طَعْنِthrusting السُّمْرِthe brown spears أيدٍhands مبيحةٌgranting
لهم يومَ طَعْنِ السُّمْرِ أيدٍ مبيحةٌ
كُلَىthe kidneys of الأسْدِlions فيin كرّاتهمtheir charges للثَعالِبِto foxes
كُلَى الأسْدِ في كرّاتهم للثَعالِبِ
On the day of thrusting brown spears, they have hands that offer
The day they stab with lances they have hands
lions' kidneys to foxes in their charges.
That tear apart the lions in their den for the foxes.
تخبّtrot بهمْcarrying them قبٌّlean horses يُطيلُprolongs صهيلُهاtheir neighing
تخبّ بهمْ قبٌّ يُطيلُ صهيلُها
بأرْضin the land of أعاديهمtheir enemies نياحَthe wailing of النّوادِبِthe mourning women
بأرْض أعاديهم نياحَ النّوادِبِ
Lean horses trot bearing them; their neighing prolongs
Ruin lies in wait for them, their neighing lasting long
the mourning women's wails in their enemies' land.
In the land of their enemies with the crying of wild animals.
مؤلَّلَةُsharply pointed الآذانears تحتَbeneath إلالهمْtheir spearheads
مؤلَّلَةُ الآذان تحتَ إلالهمْ
كماas حُرّفَتْwere beveled بالبريِby trimming أقلامُthe pens of كاتِبِa scribe
كما حُرّفَتْ بالبريِ أقلامُ كاتِبِ
With sharply pointed ears beneath their spearheads,
Their ears adorned as if bent
like a scribe's pens beveled by trimming.
Beneath their turbans like the reeds of a writer in the desert.
إذاwhen ماever أدارَتهاit whirled them علىover الهامheads خلتَهاyou would think them
إذا ما أدارَتها على الهام خلتَها
تَدورُcircling لِسَمعِto hear الذِكرrenown فوقَabove الكَواكِبِthe stars
تَدورُ لِسَمعِ الذِكر فوقَ الكَواكِبِ
Whenever they are whirled over heads, you would think them
When they turn them to the aspirations, they make them
circling above the stars to hear their renown.
Circle about to hear mention above the stars.
إذاwhen سكتواthey fell silent فيin غمرةِthe engulfing tumult of الموْتِdeath أنْطقواthey made speak
إذا سكتوا في غمرةِ الموْتِ أنْطقوا
علىupon البيضthe helmets بيضَthe bright blades of المرهفاتِthe keen swords القواضِبِthe cleaving ones
على البيض بيضَ المرهفاتِ القواضِبِ
When they fall silent in death's engulfing tumult, they give voice
When they are silent in the overwhelmings of death they speak
upon helmets to bright, sharp-edged, cleaving swords.
Of the whites of their sharp swords on the whites of the cheeks.
تَرىyou see شُعَلflames of النيرانِfires فيin خَلجِthe swift movements of الظباblade-tips
تَرى شُعَل النيرانِ في خَلجِ الظبا
تذيقgive a taste of المناياdeaths منfrom أكفِّthe palms of المواهِبِbounties
تذيق المنايا من أكفِّ المواهِبِ
You see flames of fire in the darting of sword-tips,
You see the flames of fires writhing in the thickets of acacia
giving a taste of death from bountiful palms.
Tasting deaths from the palms of the givers.
أُولئكَthose قومٌa people لاnot يُخافis feared انحرافُهُمْtheir turning aside
أُولئكَ قومٌ لا يُخاف انحرافُهُمْ
عنfrom الموتdeath إنif خامَتْquailed أسودُthe lions of الكتائِبِthe battalions
عن الموت إن خامَتْ أسودُ الكتائِبِ
Those are men whose turning away is never feared
They are a people who are not feared to divert
from death, even if the lions of the battalions quail.
From death if the black standards advance.
إِذاif ضَلَّstrayed قومٌa people عنfrom سَبيلِthe path of الهُدىguidance اهتدواthey found the way
إِذا ضَلَّ قومٌ عن سَبيلِ الهُدى اهتدوا
وأيّand what ضَلالٍstraying للنّجومfor the stars الثواقِبِthe piercingly bright ones
وأيّ ضَلالٍ للنّجوم الثواقِبِ
If others stray from the path of guidance, they find it;
If a people go astray from the path of guidance they are guided aright,
and how could piercing stars ever stray?
What misguidance is there for the penetrating stars?
وكمand how many منهمُamong them منof صادقone true in البأسcourage مُفْكِرٍthinking
وكم منهمُ من صادق البأس مُفْكِرٍ
إذاwhen كَرّhe charged فيabout الأقدامِadvancing لاnot فيabout العَواقِبِconsequences
إذا كَرّ في الأقدامِ لا في العَواقِبِ
How many among them, true in courage, think,
How many of them are earnest in might when he charges
when charging, of advancing—not of consequences.
Not heeding the consequences when attacking the feet.
لهhe has حملةٌa charge عنinto فتكَتَينِtwo deadly attacks انفراجُهاits opening
له حملةٌ عن فتكَتَينِ انفراجُها
كفتكِكlike your attack منfrom وجهينtwo directions شاهَthe king of الملَاعِبِthe playing boards
كفتكِك من وجهين شاهَ الملَاعِبِ
He has a charge that opens into two deadly attacks,
He has a band whose opening of two rent valleys
like your attack from two directions on the chessboard's king.
Is like your rending in the faces of the well-trained horses.
إذاwhen ماever غَزَوْاthey raided فيin الرّومِRum كانwas دخولُهُمْtheir entry
إذا ما غَزَوْا في الرّومِ كان دخولُهُمْ
بطونَthe bellies of الخلاياthe ships فيon مُتونthe backs of السّلاهِبِthe tall steeds
بطونَ الخلايا في مُتون السّلاهِبِ
When they raided Rum, their entry was
When they invade Roman lands their entrance therein
into the bellies of ships, on the backs of tall steeds.
Is like the entering of intestines into the bodies of lions.
يموتونَthey die موتَthe death of العِزّhonor فيin حَوْمةِthe thick of الوَغىbattle
يموتونَ موتَ العِزّ في حَوْمةِ الوَغى
إذاwhile ماتَdie أهلُthe people of الجبنِcowardice بينamong الكَواعِبِfull-breasted maidens
إذا ماتَ أهلُ الجبنِ بين الكَواعِبِ
They die the death of honor in the thick of battle,
They die the death of honour in the intensity of the fray
while cowards die among full-breasted maidens.
While the people of cowardice die between the elbows.
حَشَوْاthey stuffed منwith عجاجاتِthe dust-clouds of الجهادِjihad وسائداًcushions
حَشَوْا من عجاجاتِ الجهادِ وسائداً
تُعَدّare prepared لهمfor them فيat الدّفنburial تَحتَbeneath المَناكِبِthe shoulders
تُعَدّ لهم في الدّفن تَحتَ المَناكِبِ
They filled cushions with the dust-clouds of jihad,
They filled cushions of struggle to be their grave pillows
prepared for them beneath their shoulders at burial.
Prepared for them in burial beneath their shoulders.
فغارواso they sank away أفولَlike the setting of الشهبthe bright stars فيinto حُفَرِthe pits of البلىdecay
فغاروا أفولَ الشهب في حُفَرِ البلى
وأبْقَوْاand left علىover الدنْياthe world سوادَthe blackness of الغياهِبِdeep darkness
وأبْقَوْا على الدنْيا سوادَ الغياهِبِ
They sank like setting stars into the pits of decay,
They hid in the graves of decay like the setting
and left over the world the blackness of deep darkness.
Of stars, and left upon the world the blackness of gloom.
ألاah فيin ضمانِthe keeping of اللَّهGod دارthe abode of بِنُوطَسٍBinutas
ألا في ضمانِ اللَّه دار بِنُوطَسٍ
وَدَرّتْand may pour abundantly عليهاupon it مُعْصِراتُrain-laden clouds الهواضِبِthe downpouring ones
وَدَرّتْ عليها مُعْصِراتُ الهواضِبِ
Ah, may the abode of Binutas be in God's keeping,
Behold! The abode of the Banu Tus is in the protection of God,
and may rain-laden, downpouring clouds stream upon it.
And its pouring torrents have run upon it.
أُمَثّلُهاI picture it فيin خاطريmy mind كلّevery ساعةٍhour
أُمَثّلُها في خاطري كلّ ساعةٍ
وأمْريand I draw forth لهاfor it قَطْرَthe drops of الدّموعِtears السواكِبِthe streaming ones
وأمْري لها قَطْرَ الدّموعِ السواكِبِ
I picture it in my mind every hour,
I portray it in my mind every hour
and draw forth for it drops of streaming tears.
And my tears flow for it drop by drop.
أَحنّI yearn حنينَwith the yearning of النيبِold she-camels للمَوطنِfor the homeland الّذيwhich
أَحنّ حنينَ النيبِ للمَوطنِ الّذي
مغَانيthe dwellings of غوانيهits lovely women إِليهِto it جَواذبيwhat draws me
مغَاني غوانيه إِليهِ جَواذبي
I yearn like old she-camels for the homeland where
I yearn with the nostalgia of the prophet for the homeland
the dwellings of its lovely women draw me back.
Whose songs appeal to me.
ومنand whoever سارdeparted عنfrom أرْضٍa land ثوىremained قلبُهُhis heart بهاin it
ومن سار عن أرْضٍ ثوى قلبُهُ بها
تَمَنَّىlonged لهto it بالجِسمِin body أَوبةَfor the return of آيِبِa homecomer
تَمَنَّى له بالجِسمِ أَوبةَ آيِبِ
Whoever leaves a land where his heart remains
He who travels from a land where his heart settled
longs to return to it in body, like a traveler coming home.
Wishes for the returning there like a returning raven.
Sol 6.1