بانَ الخَليطُ وَلَو طُوِّعتُ ما بانا

بانَ الخَليطُ وَلَو طُوِّعتُ ما بانا

وَقَطَّعوا مِن حِبالِ الوَصلِ أَقرانا

وَقَطَّعوا مِن حِبالِ الوَصلِ أَقرانا

The companions departed; had I been obeyed, they would not have gone,

The mixture became clear even if I were bent, it would not become clear

and they severed linked strands from the cords of union.

They cut the ropes of connection into pairs

حَيِّ المَنازِلَ إِذ لا نَبتَغي بَدَلاً

حَيِّ المَنازِلَ إِذ لا نَبتَغي بَدَلاً

بِالدارِ داراً وَلا الجيرانِ جيرانا

بِالدارِ داراً وَلا الجيرانِ جيرانا

Greet the dwellings, for we seek no substitute:

Long live the dwellings when we do not seek an alternative

no house for that house, nor neighbors for those neighbors.

A house for a house, nor neighbors for neighbors

قَد كُنتُ في أَثَرِ الأَظعانِ ذا طَرَبٍ

قَد كُنتُ في أَثَرِ الأَظعانِ ذا طَرَبٍ

مُرَوَّعاً مِن حِذارِ البَينِ مِحزانا

مُرَوَّعاً مِن حِذارِ البَينِ مِحزانا

In the wake of the departing litters I was full of longing,

I used to be in the footsteps of the solitary, confused

terrified with dread of separation, deeply grieving.

Terrified of the estrangement, grieved and saddened

يا رَبُّ مُكتَإِبٍ لَو قَد نُعيتُ لَهُ

يا رَبُّ مُكتَإِبٍ لَو قَد نُعيتُ لَهُ

باكٍ وَآخَرَ مَسرورٍ بِمَنعانا

باكٍ وَآخَرَ مَسرورٍ بِمَنعانا

Ah, many a grief-stricken man, were my death announced to him,

O Lord of the depressed, if I were announced dead to him

would weep, and another rejoice at the news of our death.

One cries and the other happy with our prevention

لَو تَعلَمينَ الَّذي نَلقى أَوَيتِ لَنا

لَو تَعلَمينَ الَّذي نَلقى أَوَيتِ لَنا

أَو تَسمَعينَ إِلى ذي العَرشِ شَكوانا

أَو تَسمَعينَ إِلى ذي العَرشِ شَكوانا

If you knew what we suffer, you would pity us,

If only you knew what we are going through, oh how you would shelter us

or heard our complaint to the Possessor of the Throne,

Or if you heard us complaining to the Lord of the Throne

كَصاحِبِ المَوجِ إِذ مالَت سَفينَتُهُ

كَصاحِبِ المَوجِ إِذ مالَت سَفينَتُهُ

يَدعو إِلى اللَهِ إِسراراً وَإِعلانا

يَدعو إِلى اللَهِ إِسراراً وَإِعلانا

like a man amid the waves when his ship lists,

Like the owner of the waves when his ship tilted

calling upon God in secret and aloud.

He prays to God secretly and openly

يا أَيُّها الراكِبُ المُزجي مَطِيَتَهُ

يا أَيُّها الراكِبُ المُزجي مَطِيَتَهُ

بَلِّغ تَحِيَّتَنا لُقّيتَ حُملانا

بَلِّغ تَحِيَّتَنا لُقّيتَ حُملانا

O rider urging his mount onward,

O you who rides, prodding his she-camel

carry our greeting—may you be granted mounts!

Convey our greetings, if you meet our caravan

بَلِّغ رَسائِلَ عَنّا خَفَّ مَحمَلُها

بَلِّغ رَسائِلَ عَنّا خَفَّ مَحمَلُها

عَلى قَلائِصَ لَم يَحمِلنَ حيرانا

عَلى قَلائِصَ لَم يَحمِلنَ حيرانا

Carry messages from us, light in their load,

Convey messages about us which their load is light

on young she-camels that have borne no calves,

On pouches that did not carry confused people before

كَيما نَقولُ إِذا بَلَّغتَ حاجَتَنا

كَيما نَقولُ إِذا بَلَّغتَ حاجَتَنا

أَنتَ الأَمينُ إِذا مُستَأمَنٌ خانا

أَنتَ الأَمينُ إِذا مُستَأمَنٌ خانا

so that, once you have delivered our request, we may say:

So we say when you convey our need

You are trustworthy when one entrusted betrays.

You are trustworthy when entrusted, you have not betrayed

تُهدي السَلامَ لِأَهلِ الغَورِ مِن مَلَحٍ

تُهدي السَلامَ لِأَهلِ الغَورِ مِن مَلَحٍ

هَيهاتَ مِن مَلَحٍ بِالغَورِ مُهدانا

هَيهاتَ مِن مَلَحٍ بِالغَورِ مُهدانا

You bear greetings from Malah to the people of al-Ghawr;

Give regards to the people of Al-Ghor from salty land

how far from Malah, in al-Ghawr, is the one we greet!

Alas! No regards from salty land to Al-Ghor

أَحبِب إِلَيَّ بِذاكَ الجِزعِ مَنزِلَةً

أَحبِب إِلَيَّ بِذاكَ الجِزعِ مَنزِلَةً

بِالطَلحِ طَلحاً وَبِالأَعطانِ أَعطانا

بِالطَلحِ طَلحاً وَبِالأَعطانِ أَعطانا

How dear to me is that valley bend as a dwelling,

I loved the place of sadness in that barren valley

its acacias as acacias, its watering grounds as watering grounds!

With Al-Talh equally and Al-A'tan equally

يا لَيتَ ذا القَلبَ لاقى مَن يُعَلِّلُهُ

يا لَيتَ ذا القَلبَ لاقى مَن يُعَلِّلُهُ

أَو ساقِياً فَسَقاهُ اليَومَ سُلوانا

أَو ساقِياً فَسَقاهُ اليَومَ سُلوانا

Would that this heart found someone to comfort it,

O if only this heart would find one who comforts it

or a cupbearer to give it forgetfulness to drink today!

Or a water-bearer who quenched its thirst today with fresh water

أَو لَيتَها لَم تُعَلِّقنا عُلاقَتَها

أَو لَيتَها لَم تُعَلِّقنا عُلاقَتَها

وَلَم يَكُن داخِلَ الحُبُّ الَّذي كانا

وَلَم يَكُن داخِلَ الحُبُّ الَّذي كانا

Or would that she had not ensnared us in her attachment,

Or if only it had not tied us with its ties

and the love that came to be had never entered!

And love had not been there that existed between us

هَلّا تَحَرَّجتِ مِمّا تَفعَلينَ بِنا

هَلّا تَحَرَّجتِ مِمّا تَفعَلينَ بِنا

يا أَطيَبَ الناسِ يَومَ الدَجنِ أَردانا

يا أَطيَبَ الناسِ يَومَ الدَجنِ أَردانا

Why do you not scruple at what you do to us,

Why are you not shy from what you do to us

O you whose sleeves smell sweetest on an overcast day?

O the most fragrant of people, flexible and delicate

قالَت أَلِمَّ بِنا إِن كُنتَ مُنطَلِقاً

قالَت أَلِمَّ بِنا إِن كُنتَ مُنطَلِقاً

وَلا إِخالُكَ بَعدَ اليَومِ تَلقانا

وَلا إِخالُكَ بَعدَ اليَومِ تَلقانا

She said: Visit us if you are departing;

She said, "Does it hurt you that I am leaving

and I do not think you will meet us after today.

And I will not meet you after today again?"

يا طَيبَ هَل مِن مَتاعٍ تُمتِعينَ بِهِ

يا طَيبَ هَل مِن مَتاعٍ تُمتِعينَ بِهِ

ضَيفاً لَكُم باكِراً يا طَيبَ عَجلانا

ضَيفاً لَكُم باكِراً يا طَيبَ عَجلانا

O Tayb, have you any pleasure to offer

O goodness, is there any commodity you endow

an early guest of yours, O Tayb, in haste?

A guest, soon O goodness, hurry!

ما كُنتُ أَوَّلَ مُشتاقٍ أَخا طَرَبٍ

ما كُنتُ أَوَّلَ مُشتاقٍ أَخا طَرَبٍ

هاجَت لَهُ غَدَواتُ البَينِ أَحزانا

هاجَت لَهُ غَدَواتُ البَينِ أَحزانا

I was not the first yearning man, possessed by longing,

I was not the first lover confused, whose sibling was disturbed

for whom the mornings of separation stirred sorrows.

Whose yearnings of estrangement were grieved

يا أُمَّ عَمروٍ جَزاكِ اللَهُ مَغفِرَةً

يا أُمَّ عَمروٍ جَزاكِ اللَهُ مَغفِرَةً

رُدّي عَلَيَّ فُؤادي كَالَّذي كانا

رُدّي عَلَيَّ فُؤادي كَالَّذي كانا

O Umm Amr, may God reward you with forgiveness:

O mother of Amr, may God reward you with forgiveness

give me back my heart as it once was.

Return my heart to me as it once was

أَلَستِ أَحسَنَ مَن يَمشي عَلى قَدَمٍ

أَلَستِ أَحسَنَ مَن يَمشي عَلى قَدَمٍ

يا أَملَحَ الناسِ كُلِّ الناسِ إِنسانا

يا أَملَحَ الناسِ كُلِّ الناسِ إِنسانا

Are you not the fairest of all who walk on feet,

Are you not best than who walks on a foot

O loveliest human being among all mankind?

O most salty of people, the saltiest of people indeed

يَلقى غَريمُكُمُ مِن غَيرِ عُسرَتِكُم

يَلقى غَريمُكُمُ مِن غَيرِ عُسرَتِكُم

بِالبَذلِ بُخلاً وَبِالإِحسانِ حِرمانا

بِالبَذلِ بُخلاً وَبِالإِحسانِ حِرمانا

Your creditor meets, though you suffer no hardship,

Your enemy finds without your hardship

stinginess instead of generosity, and denial instead of kindness.

Stinginess with generosity and grace with deprivation

لا تَأمَنَنَّ فَإِنّي غَيرُ آمِنِهِ

لا تَأمَنَنَّ فَإِنّي غَيرُ آمِنِهِ

غَدرَ الخَليلِ إِذا ما كانَ أَلوانا

غَدرَ الخَليلِ إِذا ما كانَ أَلوانا

Never feel safe—for I am not safe from it—

Do not feel safe, for I am not like the safe ones

from a friend's betrayal when he changes colors.

The betrayal of a confidant when he was colorful

قَد خُنتِ مَن لَم يَكُن يَخشى خِيانَتَكُم

قَد خُنتِ مَن لَم يَكُن يَخشى خِيانَتَكُم

ما كُنتُ أَوَّلَ مَوثوقٍ بِهِ خانا

ما كُنتُ أَوَّلَ مَوثوقٍ بِهِ خانا

You have betrayed one who did not fear your treachery;

You have betrayed one who did not fear your betrayal

I was not the first trusted one to betray.

I was not the first entrusted who then betrayed

لَقَد كَتَمتُ الهَوى حَتّى تَهَيَّمَني

لَقَد كَتَمتُ الهَوى حَتّى تَهَيَّمَني

لا أَستَطيعُ لِهَذا الحُبُّ كِتمانا

لا أَستَطيعُ لِهَذا الحُبُّ كِتمانا

I concealed passion until it drove me mad;

I have concealed love until it bewildered me

I cannot conceal this love.

I cannot conceal this love anymore

كادَ الهَوى يَومَ سَلمانينَ يَقتُلُني

كادَ الهَوى يَومَ سَلمانينَ يَقتُلُني

وَكادَ يَقتُلُني يَوماً بِبَيدانا

وَكادَ يَقتُلُني يَوماً بِبَيدانا

Love nearly killed me on the day at Salmanayn,

Love almost killed me the day of Salamun

and nearly killed me one day at Baydan.

And it almost killed me one day in Bayda

وَكادَ يَومَ لِوى حَوّاءَ يَقتُلُني

وَكادَ يَومَ لِوى حَوّاءَ يَقتُلُني

لَو كُنتُ مِن زَفَراتِ البَينِ قُرحانا

لَو كُنتُ مِن زَفَراتِ البَينِ قُرحانا

And it nearly killed me at the sand bend of Hawwa,

And it almost killed me the day Luway twisted the snake

had I been unscarred by the sighs of separation.

If I was one of the groans of estrangement, hurt

لا بارَكَ اللَهُ فيمَن كانَ يَحسِبُكُم

لا بارَكَ اللَهُ فيمَن كانَ يَحسِبُكُم

إِلّا عَلى العَهدِ حَتّى كانَ ما كانا

إِلّا عَلى العَهدِ حَتّى كانَ ما كانا

May God not bless anyone who thought you

May God not bless whoever thought you

anything but faithful to the pledge, until what happened happened.

Except for the promise until what happened, happened

مِن حُبَّكُم فَاِعلَمي لِلحُبِّ مَنزِلَةً

مِن حُبَّكُم فَاِعلَمي لِلحُبِّ مَنزِلَةً

نَهوى أَميرُكُمُ لَو كانَ يَهوانا

نَهوى أَميرُكُمُ لَو كانَ يَهوانا

Out of love for you—know, then, the place of love—

Know about my love, the leader loves

we love your chieftain, if only he would love us.

He desires even if he was lowly

لا بارَكَ اللَهُ في الدُنيا إِذا اِنقَطَعَت

لا بارَكَ اللَهُ في الدُنيا إِذا اِنقَطَعَت

أَسبابُ دُنياكَ مِن أَسبابِ دُنيانا

أَسبابُ دُنياكَ مِن أَسبابِ دُنيانا

May God not bless the world if they are severed—

May God not bless the world if your means

the ties of your life from the ties of ours.

Of livelihood are cut off from my means of livelihood

يا أُمَّ عُثمانَ إِنَّ الحُبُّ عَن عَرضٍ

يا أُمَّ عُثمانَ إِنَّ الحُبُّ عَن عَرضٍ

يُصبي الحَليمَ وَيُبكي العَينَ أَحيانا

يُصبي الحَليمَ وَيُبكي العَينَ أَحيانا

O Umm Uthman, love that comes unbidden

O mother of Uthman, love is surely shameful

infatuates the prudent and sometimes makes the eye weep.

It makes the forbearing cry and the eye sometimes weep

ضَنَّت بِمَورِدَةٍ كانَت لَنا شَرَعاً

ضَنَّت بِمَورِدَةٍ كانَت لَنا شَرَعاً

تَشفي صَدى مُستَهامِ القَلبِ صَديانا

تَشفي صَدى مُستَهامِ القَلبِ صَديانا

She withheld a watering place once freely open to us,

It niggardly dried up a creek that was legitimate for us

quenching the thirst of one love-distraught at heart and parched.

That quenches the echo of the fervent heart

كَيفَ التَلاقي وَلا بِالقَيظِ مَحضَرُكُم

كَيفَ التَلاقي وَلا بِالقَيظِ مَحضَرُكُم

مِنّا قَريبٌ وَلا مَبداكِ مَبدانا

مِنّا قَريبٌ وَلا مَبداكِ مَبدانا

How can we meet, when your summer encampment is not

How is the meeting when your presence is not near us

near us, nor is your desert camp the same as ours?

One of us is near and your abode is not near

نَهوى ثَرى العِرقِ إِذ لَم نَلقَ بَعدَكُمُ

نَهوى ثَرى العِرقِ إِذ لَم نَلقَ بَعدَكُمُ

كَالعِرقِ عِرقاً وَلا السُلّانِ سُلّانا

كَالعِرقِ عِرقاً وَلا السُلّانِ سُلّانا

We love the earth of al-Irq, since after you we have not found

We yearn for the threshing floor of Irq when we have not met you after

a sand ridge like al-Irq, nor valleys like al-Sullan.

Like Irq and not sillyn for sillyn

ما أَحدَثَ الدَهرُ مِمّا تَعلَمينَ لَكُم

ما أَحدَثَ الدَهرُ مِمّا تَعلَمينَ لَكُم

لِلحَبلِ صُرماً وَلا لِلعَهدِ نِسيانا

لِلحَبلِ صُرماً وَلا لِلعَهدِ نِسيانا

Time, as you know, has brought no change toward you:

The times have not changed what you know of

no severing of the cord, nor forgetting of the pledge.

No harm for the rope nor forgetfulness for the pact

أَبُدِّلَ اللَيلُ لا تَسري كَواكِبُهُ

أَبُدِّلَ اللَيلُ لا تَسري كَواكِبُهُ

أَم طالَ حَتّى حَسِبتُ النَجمَ حَيرانا

أَم طالَ حَتّى حَسِبتُ النَجمَ حَيرانا

Has the night been altered, that its stars do not travel,

Did the night change? Its planets do not rise

or has it grown so long I thought the star bewildered?

Or was it prolonged until I thought the star was confused?

يا رُبُّ عائِذَةٍ بِالغَورِ لَو شَهِدَت

يا رُبُّ عائِذَةٍ بِالغَورِ لَو شَهِدَت

عَزَّت عَلَيها بِدَيرِ اللُجِّ شَكوانا

عَزَّت عَلَيها بِدَيرِ اللُجِّ شَكوانا

Ah, many a woman seeking refuge in al-Ghawr, had she been present,

O Lord of the sheltered one in the cave, if she witnessed

would have found our lament at Dayr al-Lujj hard to bear.

She would be too proud for the cave of Lujj, complaining

إِنَّ العُيونَ الَّتي في طَرفِها حَوَرٌ

إِنَّ العُيونَ الَّتي في طَرفِها حَوَرٌ

قَتَلنَنا ثُمَّ لَم يُحيِينَ قَتلانا

قَتَلنَنا ثُمَّ لَم يُحيِينَ قَتلانا

Those eyes, with dark pupils set against bright whites,

The eyes in whose corners are bay, have killed us

killed us, then did not revive our slain.

Then did not resurrect after killing us

يَصرَعنَ ذا اللُبَّ حَتّى لا حِراكَ بِهِ

يَصرَعنَ ذا اللُبَّ حَتّى لا حِراكَ بِهِ

وَهُنَّ أَضعَفُ خَلقِ اللَهِ أَركانا

وَهُنَّ أَضعَفُ خَلقِ اللَهِ أَركانا

They fell the man of reason until he lies motionless,

It fells this gentle one until there is no movement in him

though in limbs they are the weakest of God's creatures.

And they are the weakest of God's creation

يا رُبُّ غابِطِنا لَو كانَ يَطلُبُكُم

يا رُبُّ غابِطِنا لَو كانَ يَطلُبُكُم

لاقى مُباعَدَةً مِنكُم وَحِرمانا

لاقى مُباعَدَةً مِنكُم وَحِرمانا

Ah, many a man who envies us, if he sought you,

O Lord of those who pine, if he sought you

would meet estrangement from you and denial.

He would find rejection from you and deprivation

أَرَينَهُ المَوتَ حَتّى لا حَياةَ بِهِ

أَرَينَهُ المَوتَ حَتّى لا حَياةَ بِهِ

قَد كُنَّ دِنَّكَ قَبلَ اليَومِ أَديانا

قَد كُنَّ دِنَّكَ قَبلَ اليَومِ أَديانا

They showed him death until no life remained in him;

As if he saw death, so there is no life in him

they had subdued you, before today, in many ways.

Your religion were weak before today

طارَ الفُؤادُ مَعَ الخَودِ الَّتي طَرَقَت

طارَ الفُؤادُ مَعَ الخَودِ الَّتي طَرَقَت

في النَومِ طَيِّبَةَ الأَعطافِ مِبدانا

في النَومِ طَيِّبَةَ الأَعطافِ مِبدانا

My heart flew with the tender maiden who visited by night

The heart flew with the cheek that charmingly appeared

in sleep, sweet in her contours and full-bodied,

In the dream, of beautiful physique and mouth

مَثلوجَةَ الريقِ بَعدَ النَومِ واضِعَةً

مَثلوجَةَ الريقِ بَعدَ النَومِ واضِعَةً

عَن ذي مَثانٍ تَمُجُّ المِسكَ وَالبانا

عَن ذي مَثانٍ تَمُجُّ المِسكَ وَالبانا

her saliva snow-cool after sleep, laying aside her covering

Frigid saliva after sleep, placing

from folded contours, breathing musk and ben oil.

From smooth skin, kneading musk and ambergris

بِتنا نَرانا كَأَنّا مالِكونَ لَنا

بِتنا نَرانا كَأَنّا مالِكونَ لَنا

يا لَيتَها صَدَّقَت بِالحَقِّ رُؤيانا

يا لَيتَها صَدَّقَت بِالحَقِّ رُؤيانا

We spent the night seeing ourselves as masters of ourselves;

We passed by each other as if we owned

would that she had truly fulfilled our dream!

Oh, if only she was truthful in the vision

قالَت تَعَزَّ فَإِنَّ القَومَ قَد جَعَلوا

قالَت تَعَزَّ فَإِنَّ القَومَ قَد جَعَلوا

دونَ الزِيارَةِ أَبواباً وَخُزّانا

دونَ الزِيارَةِ أَبواباً وَخُزّانا

She said: Take comfort, for the people have set

She said, be patient, for the people have made

doors and guards in the way of visiting.

Besides visitation, doors and storehouses

لَمّا تَبَيَّنتُ أَن قَد حيلَ دونَهُمُ

لَمّا تَبَيَّنتُ أَن قَد حيلَ دونَهُمُ

ظَلَّت عَساكِرُ مِثلُ المَوتِ تَغشانا

ظَلَّت عَساكِرُ مِثلُ المَوتِ تَغشانا

When I realized that a barrier had been set before them,

When I realized that they hindered them

armies like death kept enveloping us.

Armies like death remained covering us

ماذا لَقيتُ مِنَ الأَظعانِ يَومَ قِنىً

ماذا لَقيتُ مِنَ الأَظعانِ يَومَ قِنىً

يَتبَعنَ مُغتَرِباً بِالبَينِ ظَعّانا

يَتبَعنَ مُغتَرِباً بِالبَينِ ظَعّانا

What I suffered from the departing litters on the day at Qina,

What did I face from the lonesome on the day of hardship

as they followed a wanderer, ever traveling away in separation!

Following the estranged, ravenous and hungry

أَتبَعتُهُم مُقلَةً إِنسانُها غَرِقٌ

أَتبَعتُهُم مُقلَةً إِنسانُها غَرِقٌ

هَل يا تُرى تارِكٌ لِلعَينِ إِنسانا

هَل يا تُرى تارِكٌ لِلعَينِ إِنسانا

I followed them with an eye whose pupil was drowning.

I followed them with teary eyes, its person drowned

I wonder: is there one who will leave the eye its pupil?

Does he who leaves the eye a person remain?

كَأَنَّ أَحداجَهُم تُحدى مُقَفِّيَةً

كَأَنَّ أَحداجَهُم تُحدى مُقَفِّيَةً

نَخلٌ بِمَلهَمَ أَو نَخلٌ بِقُرّانا

نَخلٌ بِمَلهَمَ أَو نَخلٌ بِقُرّانا

Their howdahs, urged onward by song as they receded, seemed

As if their bosoms challenge rifled palms

palms at Malham, or palms at Qurran.

A palm tree with firm bunches or a palm tree with fruits

يا أُمَّ عُثمانَ ما تَلقى رَواحِلُنا

يا أُمَّ عُثمانَ ما تَلقى رَواحِلُنا

لَو قِستِ مُصبَحَنا مِن حَيثُ مُمسانا

لَو قِستِ مُصبَحَنا مِن حَيثُ مُمسانا

O Umm Uthman, what our riding camels endure—

O mother of Uthman, our she-camels did not meet

if you measured where we are at dawn from where we were at dusk!

As our morning was measured from where we traveled at night

تَخدي بِنا نُجُبٌ دَمّى مَناسِمَها

تَخدي بِنا نُجُبٌ دَمّى مَناسِمَها

نَقلُ الحَزابِيِّ حِزّاناً فَحِزّانا

نَقلُ الحَزابِيِّ حِزّاناً فَحِزّانا

Noble camels trot with us, their footpads bloodied

She throws at us gazelles whose gatherings bloodied

by the uplands' gravel, rough tract after rough tract.

Conveying the meadows, grieved, so grieved

تَرمي بِأَعيُنِها نَجداً وَقَد قَطَعَت

تَرمي بِأَعيُنِها نَجداً وَقَد قَطَعَت

بَينَ السَلَوطَحِ وَالرَوحانِ صُوّانا

بَينَ السَلَوطَحِ وَالرَوحانِ صُوّانا

They cast their eyes toward Najd, having crossed

They throw with their eyes Najd, though they cut off

flinty ground between al-Salawtah and al-Rawhan.

Between Sulaytah and al-Ruhān the pass

يا حَبَّذا جَبَلُ الرَيّانِ مِن جَبَلٍ

يا حَبَّذا جَبَلُ الرَيّانِ مِن جَبَلٍ

وَحَبَّذا ساكِنُ الرَيّانِ مَن كانا

وَحَبَّذا ساكِنُ الرَيّانِ مَن كانا

Ah, how dear is Mount al-Rayyan among mountains,

Blessed is Mount Rayyan from a mountain

and how dear the dweller of al-Rayyan, whoever it may be!

And blessed is the dweller of Rayyan whoever he was

وَحَبَّذا نَفَحاتٌ مِن يَمانِيَةٍ

وَحَبَّذا نَفَحاتٌ مِن يَمانِيَةٍ

تَأتيكَ مِن قِبَلِ الرَيّانِ أَحيانا

تَأتيكَ مِن قِبَلِ الرَيّانِ أَحيانا

And how dear are gusts of a Yemeni wind,

And blessed are breezes from Yemenite

that sometimes reach you from the direction of al-Rayyan!

That come to you from the side of Rayyan sometimes

هَبَّت شَمالاً فَذِكرى ما ذَكَرتُكُمُ

هَبَّت شَمالاً فَذِكرى ما ذَكَرتُكُمُ

عِندَ الصَفاةِ الَّتي شَرقَيَّ حَورانا

عِندَ الصَفاةِ الَّتي شَرقَيَّ حَورانا

It blew northerly—what memories, as I recalled you

A north wind blew, so the memory I mentioned you

at the smooth rock east of Hawran!

At dawn, oriental and bay-like

هَل يَرجِعَنَّ وَلَيسَ الدَهرُ مُرتَجِعاً

هَل يَرجِعَنَّ وَلَيسَ الدَهرُ مُرتَجِعاً

عَيشٌ بِها طالَما اِحلَولى وَما لانا

عَيشٌ بِها طالَما اِحلَولى وَما لانا

Will there ever return—though time does not return—

Will they return while time does not go back?

a life there that so often grew sweet and gentle?

A life in which hopelessness settled, and we did not refuse

أَزمانَ يَدعونَني الشَيطانَ مِن غَزَلي

أَزمانَ يَدعونَني الشَيطانَ مِن غَزَلي

وَكُنَّ يَهوَينَني إِذ كُنتُ شَيطانا

وَكُنَّ يَهوَينَني إِذ كُنتُ شَيطانا

In the days when they called me the devil for my love poetry,

Times call me a devil because of my flirting

and they loved me when I was a devil.

And they passionately loved me when I was a devil

مَن ذا الَّذي ظَلَّ يَغلي أَن أَزورَكُمُ

مَن ذا الَّذي ظَلَّ يَغلي أَن أَزورَكُمُ

أَمسى عَلَيهِ مَليكُ الناسِ غَضبانا

أَمسى عَلَيهِ مَليكُ الناسِ غَضبانا

Who is the one who kept seething that I should visit you?

Who is it that kept boiling so I visit you

By evening, the King of mankind was angry with him.

The King of people became angry with him tonight?

ما يَدَّري شُعَراءُ الناسِ وَيلَهُمُ

ما يَدَّري شُعَراءُ الناسِ وَيلَهُمُ

مِن صَولَةِ المُخدِرِ العادي بِخَفّانا

مِن صَولَةِ المُخدِرِ العادي بِخَفّانا

What do the poets among men know—woe to them—

The poets of people do not know - woe to them

of the onslaught of the lair-dwelling lion attacking at Khaffan?

From the onslaught of the accustomed, running poet

جَهلاً تَمَنّى حُدائي مِن ضَلالَتِهِم

جَهلاً تَمَنّى حُدائي مِن ضَلالَتِهِم

فَقَد حَدَوتُهُمُ مَثنى وَوُحدانا

فَقَد حَدَوتُهُمُ مَثنى وَوُحدانا

Ignorantly, someone longed for my camel-driving song, out of their folly;

Ignorantly, they wished my guidance from their misguidance

so I drove them by song, in pairs and singly.

For I have guided them together and individually

غادَرتُهُم مِن حَسيرٍ ماتَ في قَرَنٍ

غادَرتُهُم مِن حَسيرٍ ماتَ في قَرَنٍ

وَآخَرينَ نَسوا التَهدارَ خِصيانا

وَآخَرينَ نَسوا التَهدارَ خِصيانا

I left some spent, dead in a coupling-rope,

I left them from perished Haseer who died in Qarn

and others, gelded, who had forgotten their bellowing.

And others who forgot the conversation, castrated

ما زالَ حَبلِيَ في أَعناقِهِم مَرِساً

ما زالَ حَبلِيَ في أَعناقِهِم مَرِساً

حَتّى اِشتَفَيتُ وَحَتّى دانَ مَن دانا

حَتّى اِشتَفَيتُ وَحَتّى دانَ مَن دانا

My rope kept chafing at their necks,

My rope remained coiled around their necks

until I had my satisfaction, and those who yielded had yielded.

Until I became sated and until who judged, judged

مَن يَدعُني مِهُمُ يَبغي مُحارَبَتي

مَن يَدعُني مِهُمُ يَبغي مُحارَبَتي

فَاِستَيقِنَنَّ أُجِبهُ غَيرَ وَسنانا

فَاِستَيقِنَنَّ أُجِبهُ غَيرَ وَسنانا

Whoever among them calls me out, seeking to fight me—

Who among them wants to war with me

be certain: I answer him, far from drowsy.

Then let them be certain I will respond without a canine tooth

ما عَضَّ نابِيَ قَوماً أَو أَقولَ لَهُم

ما عَضَّ نابِيَ قَوماً أَو أَقولَ لَهُم

إِيّاكُمُ ثُمَّ إِيّاكُمُ وَإِيّانا

إِيّاكُمُ ثُمَّ إِيّاكُمُ وَإِيّانا

My fang never bites a people until I say to them:

My fang did not bite a people or I say to them

Beware! Again beware—and beware of us!

Beware, then beware and beware of us

إِنّي اِمرُؤٌ لَم أُرِد فيمَن أُناوِئُهُ

إِنّي اِمرُؤٌ لَم أُرِد فيمَن أُناوِئُهُ

لِلناسِ ظُلماً وَلا لِلحَربِ إِدهانا

لِلناسِ ظُلماً وَلا لِلحَربِ إِدهانا

I am a man who, regarding those I oppose, has never sought

I am a man who did not intend to wrong

injustice toward people, nor appeasement in war.

People in war or make war delicious

أَحمي حِمايَ بِأَعلى المَجدِ مَنزِلَتي

أَحمي حِمايَ بِأَعلى المَجدِ مَنزِلَتي

مِن خِندِفٍ وَالذُرى مِن قَيسِ عَيلانا

مِن خِندِفٍ وَالذُرى مِن قَيسِ عَيلانا

I defend my domain; my station is at glory's summit,

I protect my glory at the highest place of glory

among Khindif, and in the heights of Qays Aylan.

From Kindif and the lineage from Qays and Ailan

قالَ الخَليفَةُ وَالخِنزيرُ مُنهَزِمٌ

قالَ الخَليفَةُ وَالخِنزيرُ مُنهَزِمٌ

ما كُنتَ أَوَّلَ عَبدٍ مُحلِبٍ خانا

ما كُنتَ أَوَّلَ عَبدٍ مُحلِبٍ خانا

The caliph said, as the pig fled in defeat:

The Caliph said and the Khinzir are defeated

You were not the first conspiring slave to betray.

You were not the first cupper who betrayed

لَقى الأُخَيطِلُ بِالجَولانِ فاقِرَةً

لَقى الأُخَيطِلُ بِالجَولانِ فاقِرَةً

مِثلَ اِجتِداعِ القَوافي وَبرَ هِزّانا

مِثلَ اِجتِداعِ القَوافي وَبرَ هِزّانا

Al-Ukhaytil met a back-breaking calamity in al-Jawlan,

Al-Ukhaidhir met in Al-Jawlan desolate

like the rhymes shearing off Hizzan's fur.

Like the rhyming of meters and the rugged verse maker

يا خُزرَ تَغلِبَ ماذا بالُ نِسوَتِكُم

يا خُزرَ تَغلِبَ ماذا بالُ نِسوَتِكُم

لا يَستَفِقنَ إِلى الدَيرَينِ تَحنانا

لا يَستَفِقنَ إِلى الدَيرَينِ تَحنانا

O narrow-eyed men of Taghlib, what ails your women,

O Khazar, what is wrong with your women?

that they never regain their senses, yearning for the two monasteries?

They do not wake up to the two monasteries yearning

لَن تُدرِكوا المَجدَ أَو تَشروا عَباءَكُمُ

لَن تُدرِكوا المَجدَ أَو تَشروا عَباءَكُمُ

بِالخَزِّ أَو تَجعَلوا التَنّومَ ضَمرانا

بِالخَزِّ أَو تَجعَلوا التَنّومَ ضَمرانا

You will not attain glory until you trade your cloaks

You will not attain glory or buy your dignity

for silk, or turn tannum into damran.

With rags or make fur garments your livelihood