عَرَفتُ بِبُرقَةِ الوَدّاءِ رَسماً

عَرَفتُ بِبُرقَةِ الوَدّاءِ رَسماً

مُحيلاً طابَ عَهدُكَ مِن رُسومِ

مُحيلاً طابَ عَهدُكَ مِن رُسومِ

At Burqat al-Wadda I recognized a campsite trace,

I knew by the radiance of love a fine shape

timeworn—how sweet your memory among ruins!

Whose essence from shapes of old is sublime

عَفا الرَسمَ المُحَيلَ بِذي العَلَندى

عَفا الرَسمَ المُحَيلَ بِذي العَلَندى

مَساحِجُ كُلِّ مُرتَزِجٍ هَزيمِ

مَساحِجُ كُلِّ مُرتَزِجٍ هَزيمِ

The timeworn trace at Dhu al-Alanda was effaced

The shape made fair by Dhu 'l-Alwadayn effaced

by the scouring showers of every rumbling, thunderous cloud.

All the coward's imprints, leaving no sign

فَلَيتَ الظاعِنينَ هُمُ أَقاموا

فَلَيتَ الظاعِنينَ هُمُ أَقاموا

وَفارَقَ بَعضُ ذا الأَنَسِ المُقيمِ

وَفارَقَ بَعضُ ذا الأَنَسِ المُقيمِ

If only those departing had stayed,

Would that the slanderers might here have stayed

and some of this settled company had departed!

While some friend of bliss departed in time

فَما العَهدُ الَّذي عَهِدَت إِلَينا

فَما العَهدُ الَّذي عَهِدَت إِلَينا

بِمَنسِيِّ البَلاءِ وَلا ذَميمِ

بِمَنسِيِّ البَلاءِ وَلا ذَميمِ

For the pledge she made to us—

No pact remains binding on us that you made

its kindness is not forgotten, nor is it blameworthy.

With blame's forgetter, no word that is crime

وَزارَت فِتيَةً وَرِحالَ مَيسٍ

وَزارَت فِتيَةً وَرِحالَ مَيسٍ

لَدى فُتلٍ مَرافِقُهُنَّ هيمِ

لَدى فُتلٍ مَرافِقُهُنَّ هيمِ

And she visited young men and saddles of hackberry wood,

And girls once camped, troops riding Maisan steeds

beside thirsty she-camels with outward-turned elbows.

Near a band, attended by moaning and pine

يُساقِطنَ النَقيلَ وَهُنَّ خوصٌ

يُساقِطنَ النَقيلَ وَهُنَّ خوصٌ

بِغُبرِ البيدِ خاشِعَةِ الحُزومِ

بِغُبرِ البيدِ خاشِعَةِ الحُزومِ

They set down step after trotting step, sunken-eyed,

Trailing the bags, while stooped with humility

through dusty wastes, their chests drawn in.

In the dust of bleak country, slow and supine,

تُعَطَّفُ مِن تَوابِعِ كُلِّ هَجرٍ

تُعَطَّفُ مِن تَوابِعِ كُلِّ هَجرٍ

عَصيماً بِالجُلودِ عَلى عَصيمِ

عَصيماً بِالجُلودِ عَلى عَصيمِ

They are wrapped, by the after-effects of each scorching noon,

Bowed under each hardship that comes in the train

in crust upon crust of dried sweat on their hides.

Of parting, skin chafed upon skin into brine

سَرَينَ اللَيلَ ثُمَّ وَرَدنَ خَمساً

سَرَينَ اللَيلَ ثُمَّ وَرَدنَ خَمساً

وَلا يَسطيعُ ذاكَ أَخو النَعيمِ

وَلا يَسطيعُ ذاكَ أَخو النَعيمِ

They journeyed through the night, then reached water after five days;

Traveling the night, then alighting a band

and a man of luxury cannot manage that.

Of five, whom the brother of joy cannot fine,

أَعاذِلَ طالَ لَيلُكِ لَم تَنامي

أَعاذِلَ طالَ لَيلُكِ لَم تَنامي

وَنامَ العاذِلاتُ وَلَم تُنيمي

وَنامَ العاذِلاتُ وَلَم تُنيمي

O reproaching woman, your night grew long; you did not sleep,

While you blamed my vigil and did not sleep

and the reproaching women slept, but you gave me no sleep.

And sleep came to blamers and gave them recline

إِذا ما لُمتِني وَعَذَرتُ نَفسي

إِذا ما لُمتِني وَعَذَرتُ نَفسي

فَلومي ما بَدا لَكِ أَن تَلومي

فَلومي ما بَدا لَكِ أَن تَلومي

If you blame me while I excuse myself,

If I'm blamed, I excuse myself, though my fault

then blame whatever you see fit to blame.

Shows clear; still, do not be too prompt to malign

ذَميلُ الناعِجاتِ بِكُلِّ خَرقٍ

ذَميلُ الناعِجاتِ بِكُلِّ خَرقٍ

شِفاءُ الطارِقاتِ مِنَ الهُمومِ

شِفاءُ الطارِقاتِ مِنَ الهُمومِ

The gentle trot of pale she-camels through every vast wilderness

Humbler of she-camels, whatever the breach

is a cure for the cares that come by night.

Is healing for shes who knock timidly at shrine

تُريحُ نِقادَها جُشَمُ بنُ بَكرٍ

تُريحُ نِقادَها جُشَمُ بنُ بَكرٍ

وَما نَطَقوا بِأَنجِيَةِ الحُكومِ

وَما نَطَقوا بِأَنجِيَةِ الحُكومِ

Jusham ibn Bakr bring their little sheep home at evening,

Their critic, old Jusham, son of Bakr, assuages

and they have not spoken in councils of judgment.

And they spoke no wise maxims handed from line

لَقَد سَفِهَت حُلومُهُمُ وَأُجروا

لَقَد سَفِهَت حُلومُهُمُ وَأُجروا

مَعَ المَسبوقِ حَيثُ جَرى المَليمِ

مَعَ المَسبوقِ حَيثُ جَرى المَليمِ

Their minds have indeed proved foolish, and they were made to race

Their light wits have misled them; they race with disdained

with the outstripped runner, where the blameworthy one ran.

To where the vile man runs in dust and distress fine

لَهُم مُرٌّ وَلِلنُخَباتِ مَرٌّ

لَهُم مُرٌّ وَلِلنُخَباتِ مَرٌّ

فَقَد رَجَعوا بِغَيرِ شَظىً سَليمِ

فَقَد رَجَعوا بِغَيرِ شَظىً سَليمِ

For them, bitterness; for the chosen steeds, a run—

Gall for them and the nobles--both suffered alike;

so they returned without a single sound shinbone.

They returned and no fragment was safe or condign

وَقَد نالَ الأَخيطِلُ مِن هِجائي

وَقَد نالَ الأَخيطِلُ مِن هِجائي

دَحولَ السَبرِ غائِرَةَ الهُزومِ

دَحولَ السَبرِ غائِرَةَ الهُزومِ

And al-Akhaytil has received from my satire

Al-AkhTal gained from my satires a thrust

wounds that take the probe deep, with deeply sunken hollows.

At the dullard immersed in defeat and decline

وَكَيفَ يَصولُ أَرصَعُ تَغلِبِيٌّ

وَكَيفَ يَصولُ أَرصَعُ تَغلِبِيٌّ

وَما لِلعَبدِ مِن حَسَبٍ قَديمِ

وَما لِلعَبدِ مِن حَسَبٍ قَديمِ

And how can a puny Taghlibi charge,

What can ArRad servant accomplish with lineage from ancient days gone?

when the slave has no ancient ancestral honor?

We aspired to glory, and glory made taut every nerve, loin and spine

سَمَونا لِلمَكارِمِ فَاِحتَوَينا

سَمَونا لِلمَكارِمِ فَاِحتَوَينا

بِلا وَغلِ المَقامِ وَلا سَؤومِ

بِلا وَغلِ المَقامِ وَلا سَؤومِ

We rose to noble deeds and claimed them,

We engaged in the wager and never were bowed

not as intruders into that station, nor as men who tire.

Nor weakened my sturdy, drought-hardened wood fine

وَقَد هَجَموا الرِهانَ فَما كَبَونا

وَقَد هَجَموا الرِهانَ فَما كَبَونا

وَما أَوهى قَناتِيَ مِن وُصومِ

وَما أَوهى قَناتِيَ مِن وُصومِ

They plunged into the race, but we did not stumble,

The poets you see all wonderment-clapped

and no flaws have weakened my spear-shaft.

One still, one reciting his verses line to line

تَرى الشُعَراءَ مِن صَعِقٍ مُصابٍ

تَرى الشُعَراءَ مِن صَعِقٍ مُصابٍ

بِصَكَّتِهِ وَآخَرَ مُستَديمِ

بِصَكَّتِهِ وَآخَرَ مُستَديمِ

You see the poets: one struck senseless,

My shedding of blood they found constant ever;

by the blow he took, and another still bleeding.

My pool never fails, unlike pools diaphanous syne

لَقَد وَجَدوا رِشائِيَ مُستَمِرّاً

لَقَد وَجَدوا رِشائِيَ مُستَمِرّاً

وَدَلوِيَ غَيرَ واهِيَةِ الأَديمِ

وَدَلوِيَ غَيرَ واهِيَةِ الأَديمِ

They have indeed found my well-rope tightly twisted,

The like have I sought, and he came to seem

and my bucket's leather not frail.

Like a forbearing brother, though having no sign

وَمِثلَكَ قَد قَصَدتُ لَهُ فَأَمسى

وَمِثلَكَ قَد قَصَدتُ لَهُ فَأَمسى

أَخا حِلمٍ وَما هُوَ بِالحَليمِ

أَخا حِلمٍ وَما هُوَ بِالحَليمِ

I have targeted one like you before, so he became

Of forbearance--he watches his losses and dreads

a man of forbearance, though he is no forbearing man.

His abaser, from the eye of the lesser turns syne

يَرى حَسَراتِهِ وَيَخافُ دَرئي

يَرى حَسَراتِهِ وَيَخافُ دَرئي

وَيُغضي طَرفَهُ نَظَرَ الأَميمِ

وَيُغضي طَرفَهُ نَظَرَ الأَميمِ

He sees his regrets and fears my thrust,

Now if you are bested recall you are Taghlibi

and lowers his gaze like one wounded in the head.

Come down to the worst foolishness, evil and malign

فَإِن تُغلَب فَإِنَّكَ تَغلِبِيٌّ

فَإِن تُغلَب فَإِنَّكَ تَغلِبِيٌّ

نَزَلتَ بِغايَةِ الحَمِقِ اللَئيمِ

نَزَلتَ بِغايَةِ الحَمِقِ اللَئيمِ

If you are beaten, you are a Taghlibi after all—

You will know my clan is Khindif - and rightly

you have reached the utmost in base folly.

From a people most noble this lineage fine

سَتَعلَمُ أَنَّ أَصلي خِندِفِيٌّ

سَتَعلَمُ أَنَّ أَصلي خِندِفِيٌّ

جَبا لِيَ أَفضَلَ الحَسَبِ الكَريمِ

جَبا لِيَ أَفضَلَ الحَسَبِ الكَريمِ

You will learn that my stock is Khindifi,

My soul and all souls are ransom for folk

which garnered for me the finest noble ancestral honor.

Who built over high ground a great edifice's shrine

فَنَفسي وَالنُفوسُ فِداءُ قَومٍ

فَنَفسي وَالنُفوسُ فِداءُ قَومٍ

بَنوا لي فَوقَ مُرتَقَبٍ جَسيمِ

بَنوا لي فَوقَ مُرتَقَبٍ جَسيمِ

My life, and all lives, are ransom for a people

In Khindif's branch I alighted, where destiny's concerns

who built for me above a mighty lookout.

Are gathered, affairs disciplined line after line

نَزَلتُ بِفَرعِ خِندِفَ حَيثُ لاقَت

نَزَلتُ بِفَرعِ خِندِفَ حَيثُ لاقَت

شُؤونُ الهامِ مُجتَمَعَ الصَميمِ

شُؤونُ الهامِ مُجتَمَعَ الصَميمِ

I settled on Khindif's high branch, where

I vie with Rabab's house, Saad's house, and

the skull's sutures meet at the pure core.

The Zayd of Manat, what time my steeds were brought to me fine

أُفاضِلُ بِالرَبابِ وَآلَ سَعدٍ

أُفاضِلُ بِالرَبابِ وَآلَ سَعدٍ

وَزَيدِ مَناةَ إِذ خَطَرَت قُرومي

وَزَيدِ مَناةَ إِذ خَطَرَت قُرومي

I vie in honor through al-Rabab and the house of Sa'd,

Glory in Mu'add we found was taught and prized-

and Zayd Manat, when my mighty stallions strutted.

Complete respect among men came to Tamim clan syne

وَجَدنا المَجدَ قَد عَلِمَت مَعَدٌّ

وَجَدنا المَجدَ قَد عَلِمَت مَعَدٌّ

وَعِزَّ الناسِ تَمَّ إِلى تَميمِ

وَعِزَّ الناسِ تَمَّ إِلى تَميمِ

We found glory—as Ma'add knows—

Stern natures of North, when roused in the bare

and mankind's honor perfected in Tamim.

Highlands of every dawn fruitless and saline

مَطاعيمُ الشَمالِ إِذا اِستُحِنَّت

مَطاعيمُ الشَمالِ إِذا اِستُحِنَّت

وَفي عُرَواءِ كُلِّ صَباً عَقيمِ

وَفي عُرَواءِ كُلِّ صَباً عَقيمِ

They feed others generously when the north wind moans,

We surpassed mankind in each deed of glory

and in the shivering chill of every rainless east wind.

And in rain-stars streaming as blessings divine

سَبَقنا العالَمينَ بِكُلِّ مَجدٍ

سَبَقنا العالَمينَ بِكُلِّ مَجدٍ

وَبِالمُستَمطَراتِ مِنَ النُجومِ

وَبِالمُستَمطَراتِ مِنَ النُجومِ

We surpassed all mankind in every glory,

Does a star set? Another appears in the sky

and in the stars from which rain is sought.

No blankness, no clouds there, no shadow supine

إِذا نَجمٌ تَغَيَّبَ لاحَ نَجمٌ

إِذا نَجمٌ تَغَيَّبَ لاحَ نَجمٌ

وَلَيسَت بِالمُحاقِ وَلا الغُمومِ

وَلَيسَت بِالمُحاقِ وَلا الغُمومِ

When one star disappears, another shines;

On you I will lavish of bounty and grace

and they neither wane into darkness nor are clouded.

We who do violence to tyranny malign

سَأَبسُطُ مِن يَدَيَّ عَلَيكَ فَضلاً

سَأَبسُطُ مِن يَدَيَّ عَلَيكَ فَضلاً

وَنَحنُ القاطِعونَ يَدَ الظَلومِ

وَنَحنُ القاطِعونَ يَدَ الظَلومِ

I shall spread bounty over you from my two hands,

They saw the strong-breasted she-leopard's foray

and we are those who cut off the tyrant's hand.

But knew not the coward faint-hearted in brine

رَأوا أَثبِيَةَ الفَهَداتِ وِرداً

رَأوا أَثبِيَةَ الفَهَداتِ وِرداً

فَما عَرَفوا الأَغَرَّ مِنَ البَهيمِ

فَما عَرَفوا الأَغَرَّ مِنَ البَهيمِ

They saw the companies of al-Fahadat coming to water,

Your father we helped till he failed, Abu

and could not tell the white-blazed horse from the unmarked dark one.

Ghuwayth, to fight against all who in enmity shine

وَأَعيَينا أَباكَ أَبا غُوَيثٍ

وَأَعيَينا أَباكَ أَبا غُوَيثٍ

فَأَعيا عَن مُجاهَدَةِ الخُصومِ

فَأَعيا عَن مُجاهَدَةِ الخُصومِ

We exhausted your father, Abu Ghuwayth,

The Hudhayl we met with sharp blades that released

until he was powerless to contend with opponents.

The red spittle's flow from the gullet's confine

وَأَدرَكنا الهُذَيلَ بِلافِظاتٍ

وَأَدرَكنا الهُذَيلَ بِلافِظاتٍ

دَمَ الأَشداقِ مِن عَلَكِ الشَكيمِ

دَمَ الأَشداقِ مِن عَلَكِ الشَكيمِ

And we overtook al-Hudhayl with horses spitting

Chewed then with his molars did hardened Taghlibi

blood from their mouths' corners as they champed the bits.

The far-biting hero no striking could undermine

ضَغا في القِدِّ آدَرُ تَغلِبِيٌّ

ضَغا في القِدِّ آدَرُ تَغلِبِيٌّ

ضَبيحُ الجِلدِ مِن أَثَرِ الكُلومِ

ضَبيحُ الجِلدِ مِن أَثَرِ الكُلومِ

A swollen-scrotumed Taghlibi yelped in rawhide bonds,

We denied them the meat and the hump-laden camel

his skin seared by the marks of wounds.

And said to the woman, "Begone to your shrine!"

مَنَعنا الجَوفَ وَالنَعَمَ المُنَدّى

مَنَعنا الجَوفَ وَالنَعَمَ المُنَدّى

وَقُلنا لِلنِساءِ بِهِ أَقيمي

وَقُلنا لِلنِساءِ بِهِ أَقيمي

We defended al-Jawf and the herds brought to water,

Kays' horses attacked--with your mother--and trampled

and said to the women, 'Remain there.'

The cheek-slapping fool with his mouthful of wine

وَقَد هَجَمَت وَأُمِّكَ خَيلُ قَيسٍ

وَقَد هَجَمَت وَأُمِّكَ خَيلُ قَيسٍ

عَلى رَعنِ السَلَوطَحِ ذي الأُرومِ

عَلى رَعنِ السَلَوطَحِ ذي الأُرومِ

And, by your mother, the horses of Qays charged

Not I killed Jusham ibn Bakr in slaughter

upon the spur of al-Salawtah, with its tree-roots.

With blood spilled profusely or gobbets of chine

وَما قَتلي بَني جُشَمَ بنِ بَكرٍ

وَما قَتلي بَني جُشَمَ بنِ بَكرٍ

بِزاكِيَةِ الدِماءِ وَلا اللُحومِ

بِزاكِيَةِ الدِماءِ وَلا اللُحومِ

And the slain of the sons of Jusham ibn Bakr

You're remnant enough with your braying far out

are pure neither in blood nor in flesh.

'Twixt Dann, al-Batiya, and wineskins supine

فَحَسبُكَ أَن تَنَوَّحَ بَينَ دَنٍّ

فَحَسبُكَ أَن تَنَوَّحَ بَينَ دَنٍّ

وَباطِيَةٍ وَإِبريقٍ رَذومِ

وَباطِيَةٍ وَإِبريقٍ رَذومِ

Enough for you to wail between a wine-jar

Judged you by your mother when blendings occur

and a wine-bowl and a dripping ewer.

From a dung-rolling cross of Slavs and worm syne

حَكَمتَ بِحُكمِ أُمِّكَ حَيثُ تَلقى

حَكَمتَ بِحُكمِ أُمِّكَ حَيثُ تَلقى

خَليطاً مِن صَقالِبَةٍ وَرومِ

خَليطاً مِن صَقالِبَةٍ وَرومِ

You judged by your mother's judgment, where she meets

What! your sire the eighth of a cubit

a mixed company of Slavs and Romans.

Your dam a class zero scored on the beauties' fine?

أَلَيسَ أَبوكَ ذا زَمَعٍ ثَمانٍ

أَلَيسَ أَبوكَ ذا زَمَعٍ ثَمانٍ

وَأُمُّكَ ذاتَ مُكتَشَرٍ ذَميمِ

وَأُمُّكَ ذاتَ مُكتَشَرٍ ذَميمِ

Is not your father possessed of eight dewclaws,

What a stallion he was, the night that she wrapped

and your mother of an ugly tooth-baring mouth?

Him round in her patchwork of rags threadbare syne!

لَبِئسَ الفَحلُ لَيلَةَ أَشعَرَتهُ

لَبِئسَ الفَحلُ لَيلَةَ أَشعَرَتهُ

عَباءَتَها مُرَقَّعَةً بِنيمِ

عَباءَتَها مُرَقَّعَةً بِنيمِ

What a wretched sire, on the night she wrapped him

From that stallion came a foal ever inclined

in her cloak, patched with fur!

To persistence in evil and probity's decline

فَذاكَ الفَحلُ جاءَ بِشَرَّ نَجلٍ

فَذاكَ الفَحلُ جاءَ بِشَرَّ نَجلٍ

خَبيثاتِ المَثابِرِ وَالمَشيمِ

خَبيثاتِ المَثابِرِ وَالمَشيمِ

So that sire brought forth the worst offspring,

foul in their birthplaces and their placentas.