لمن الديار ببرقة الروحان — Jarir

لِمَنِ الدِيارُ بِبُرقَةِ الرَوحانِ

إِذ لا نَبيعُ زَمانَنا بِزَمانِ

Whose are the dwellings at Burqat al-Rawhan,

From when we would not trade our days for any others?

إِن زُرتُ أَهلَكِ لَم يُبالوا حاجَتي

وَإِذا هَجَرتُكِ شَفَّني هِجراني

If I visit your people, they pay no heed to my need;

And if I forsake you, my separation wastes me away.

هَل رامَ جَوُّ سُوَيقَتَينِ مَكانَهُ

أَو حَلَّ بَعدَ مَحَلِّنا البُردانِ

Has the valley of Suwayqatayn moved from its place,

Or did al-Burdan settle there after our encampment?

راجَعتُ بَعدَ سُلُوِّهِنَّ صَبابَةً

وَعَرَفتُ رَسمَ مَنازِلٍ أَبكاني

After forgetting them, I returned to ardent longing,

And recognized traces of dwellings that made me weep.

أَصبَحنَ بَعدَ نَعيمِ عَيشٍ مُؤنِقٍ

قَفراً وَبَعدَ نَواعِمٍ أَخدانِ

After the bliss of a delightful life, they became

Desolate, after tender, intimate companions.

قَد رابَني نَزَعٌ وَشَيبٌ شائِعٌ

بَعدَ الشَبابِ وَعَصرِهِ الفَينانِ

A receding hairline and spreading gray have troubled me,

After youth and its luxuriant days.

شَغَفَ القُلوبَ وَما تُقَضّى حاجَةٌ

مِثلُ المَها بِصَريمَةِ الحَومانِ

They enthralled hearts, though no desire was fulfilled—

Like oryx on the isolated sand ridge of al-Hawman.

نَزَلَ المَشيبُ عَلى الشَبابِ فَراعَني

وَعَرَفتُ مَنزِلَهُ عَلى أَخداني

Gray hair descended upon youth and alarmed me,

And I recognized its lodging upon my companions.

حورُ العُيونِ يَمِسنَ غَيرَ جَوادِفٍ

هَزَّ الجَنوبِ نَواعِمَ العيدانِ

Bright-eyed beauties sway without rough strides,

Like the south wind swaying supple branches.

وَإِذا وَعَدنَكَ نائِلاً أَخلَفنَهُ

وَإِذا غَنيتَ فَهُنَّ عَنكَ غَوانِ

And when they promise you a gift, they break their promise;

And when you dispense with them, they have no need of you.

أَصَحا فُؤادُكَ أَيَّ حينِ أَوانِ

أَم لَم يَرُعكَ تَفَرُّقُ الجيرانِ

Has your heart sobered—at what moment, what hour?

Or did the neighbors' dispersal not alarm you?

أَخَطا الرَبيعُ بِلادَهُم فَتَيَمَّنوا

وَلِحُبِّهِم أَحبَبتُ كُلَّ يَماني

Spring missed their land, so they headed toward Yemen;

And for love of them, I loved every Yemeni.

بَكَرَت حَمامَةُ أَيكَةٍ مَحزونَةٌ

تَدعو الهَديلَ فَهَيَّجَت أَحزاني

A sorrowful dove of a grove went out early,

Calling to the male dove, and stirred my sorrows.

لا زِلتِ في غَلَلٍ يَسُرُّكِ ناقِعٍ

وَظِلالِ أَخضَرَ ناعِمِ الأَغصانِ

May you ever dwell amid abundant streams that delight you,

And the shade of a green tree with tender branches.

وَلَقَد أَبيتُ ضَجيعَ كُلِّ مُخَضَّبٍ

رَخصِ الأَنامِلِ طَيِّبِ الأَردانِ

And I have spent nights beside every henna-dyed beloved,

Soft-fingered, with sweet-scented sleeves,

عَطِرِ الثِيابِ مِنَ العَبيرِ مُذَيَّلٍ

يَمشي الهُوَينا مِشيَةَ السَكرانِ

Clothes fragrant with perfume, a robe trailing,

Walking slowly, with a drunkard's gait.

صَدَعَ الظَعائِنُ يَومَ بِنَّ فُؤادَهُ

صَدعَ الزُجاجَةِ ما لِذاكِ تَدانِ

The traveling women, the day they departed, shattered his heart,

As glass shatters, with no joining it again.

هَل تُؤنِسانِ وَدَيرُ أَروى بَينَنا

بِالأَعزَلَينِ بَواكِرَ الأَظعانِ

Do you two discern, with Arwa's monastery between us,

The early-departing camel litters at al-A'zalayn?

رَفَّعتُ مائِرَةَ الدُفوفِ أَمَلَّها

طولُ الوَجيفِ عَلى وَجى الأَمرانِ

I urged on a she-camel with swaying flanks, worn out by

Long trotting despite soreness in her two forelegs.

حَرفاً أَضَرَّ بِها السِفارُ كَأَنَّها

جَفنٌ طَوَيتَ بِهِ نِجادَ يَماني

A lean she-camel, harmed by travel, as though she were

A scabbard in which you folded a Yemeni sword's baldric.

وَإِذا لَقيتَ عَلى زَرودَ مُجاشِعاً

تَرَكوا زَرودَ خَبيثَةَ الأَعطانِ

And if you meet Mujashi at Zarud,

They have left Zarud with foul watering places.

قَتَلوا الزُبَيرَ وَقيلَ أَنَّ مُجاشِعاً

شَهِدوا بِجَمعِ ضَياطِرٍ عُزلانِ

They killed al-Zubayr, and it was said that Mujashi

Were present with a host of hulking, unarmed men,

مِن كُلِّ مُنتَفِخِ الوَريدِ كَأَنَّهُ

بَغلٌ تَقاعَسَ فَوقَهُ خُرجانِ

Each with a swollen jugular vein, as though he were

A mule leaning backward beneath two saddlebags.

يا مُستَجيرَ مُجاشِعٍ يَخشى الرَدى

لا تَأمَنَنَّ مُجاشِعاً بِأَمانِ

O seeker of Mujashi's protection, fearing death,

Never trust Mujashi, even under a pledge of safety.

إِنَّ اِبنَ شِعرَةَ وَالقَرينَ وَضَوطَراً

بِئسَ الفَوارِسُ لَيلَةَ الحَدَثانِ

Indeed, the son of Shi'ra, al-Qarin, and Dawtar

Were wretched horsemen on the night of calamities.

أَبُنَيَّ شِعرَةَ إِنَّ سَعداً لَم تَلِد

قَيناً بِليتَيهِ عَصيمُ دُخانِ

O little son of Shi'ra, Sa'd never bore

A smith with smoke crusted on both sides of his neck.

أَبِنا عَدَلتَ بَني خَضافِ مُجاشِعاً

وَعَدَلتَ خالَكَ بِالأَشَدِّ سِنانِ

Did you equate Mujashi, the sons of Khadaf, with us,

And equate your maternal uncle with the mighty Sinan?

شَهِدَت عَشِيَّةَ رَحرَحانَ مُجاشِعٌ

بِمُجارِفٍ جُحَفَ الخَزيرِ بِطانِ

Mujashi were present on the evening of Rahrahan,

With scoops for porridge bowls, their bellies swollen.

وَطِئَت سَنابِكُ خَيلِ قَيسٍ مِنكُمُ

قَتلى مُصَرَّعَةً عَلى الأَعطانِ

The hooves of Qays's horses trampled men of yours,

Dead, struck down at the watering places.

وَنَسيتَ أَعيَنَ وَالرَبابَ وَجارَكُم

وَنَوارَ حَيثُ تَصَلصَلَ الحِجلانِ

And you forgot A'yan, al-Rabab, and your neighbor,

And Nawar, where the two anklets rattled.

لَمّا لَقيتَ فَوارِساً مِن عامِرٍ

سَلّوا سُيوفَهُمُ مِنَ الأَجفانِ

When you met horsemen from Amir,

They drew their swords from their sheaths.

مَلَّأتُمُ صُفَفَ السُروجِ كَأَنَّكُم

خورٌ صَواحِبُ قَرمَلٍ وَأَفانِ

You filled the saddle pads as though you were

Weak cattle grazing qarmal and afan shrubs.

لِلَّهِ دَرُّ يَزيدَ يَومَ دَعاكُمُ

وَالخَيلُ مُجلِيَةٌ عَلى حَلَبانِ

How admirable was Yazid the day he summoned you,

As the cavalry swept across Halaban!

لاقَوا فَوارِسَ يَطعَنونَ ظُهورَهُم

نَشطَ البُزاةِ عَواتِقَ الخِربانِ

They met horsemen who stabbed their backs,

As falcons tear the shoulders of male bustards.

لا يَخفِيَنَّ عَلَيكَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً

مِن نَسلِ كُلِّ ضِفِنَّةٍ مِبطانِ

Let it not be hidden from you that Muhammad

Is descended from every squat, potbellied man.

إِن رُمتَ عِندَ بَني أُسَيدَةَ عِزَّنا

فَاِنقُل مَناكِبَ يَذبُلٍ وَذِقانِ

If you seek our might among the sons of Usayda,

Then move the shoulders of Yadhbul and Dhiqan.

إِنّا لَنَعرِفُ ما أَبوكَ بِحاجِبٍ

فَاِلحَق بِأَصلِكَ مِن بَني دُهمانِ

We certainly know: your father is no Hajib;

So join your original stock among the sons of Duhman.

لَمّا اِنهَزَمتَ كَفى الثُغورَ مُشَيَّعٌ

مِنّا غَداةَ جَبُنتَ غَيرُ جَبانِ

When you fled, a brave man defended the exposed fronts—

One of us, no coward, on the morning you turned craven.

شَبَثٌ فَخَرتُ بِهِ عَلَيكَ وَمَعقِلٌ

وَبِمالِكٍ وَبِفارِسِ العَلهانِ

Shabath—I boasted of him over you—and Ma'qil,

And of Malik and the horseman of al-Alhan.

هَلّا طَعَنتَ الخَيلَ يَومَ لَقيتَها

طَعنَ الفَوارِسِ مِن بَني عُقفانِ

Why did you not stab the cavalry the day you met them,

As the horsemen of the sons of Uqfan thrust?

أَلقوا السِلاحَ إِلَيَّ آلَ عُطارِدٍ

وَتَعاظَموا ضَرطاً عَلى الدُكّانِ

Throw your weapons to me, house of Utarid,

And puff yourselves up, farting on the platform.

يا ذا العَباءَةِ إِنَّ بِشراً قَد قَضى

أَن لا تَجوزَ حُكومَةُ النَشوانِ

O wearer of the cloak, Bishr has ruled

That a drunken man's judgment shall not stand.

فَدَعوا الحُكومَةَ لَستُمُ مِن أَهلِها

إِنَّ الحُكومَةَ في بَني شَيبانِ

So leave judgment: you are not qualified for it;

Judgment belongs among the sons of Shayban.

بَكرٌ أَحَقُّ بِأَن يَكونوا مَقنَعاً

أَو أَن يَفوا بِحَقيقَةِ الجيرانِ

Bakr are more entitled to be a trusted authority,

Or to fulfill their neighbors' rightful claims.

قَتَلوا كُلَيبَكُمُ بِلَقحَةِ جارِهِم

يا خُزرَ تَغلِبَ لَستُمُ بِهِجانِ

They killed your Kulayb for their neighbor's milch camel;

O squint-eyed men of Taghlib, you are not purebred!

كَذَبَ الأُخَيطِلُ إِنَّ قَومي فيهِمُ

تاجُ المُلوكِ وَرايَةُ النَعمانِ

Al-Akhuytil lied: among my people are

The crown of kings and the banner of al-Nu'man.

مِنهُم عُتَيبَةُ وَالمُحِلُّ وَقَعنَبٌ

وَالحَنتَفانِ وَمِنهُمُ الرِدفانِ

Among them are Utayba, al-Muhill, and Qa'nab,

And the two Hantafs; among them are the two royal deputies.

إِنّي لَيُعرَفُ في السُرادِقِ مَنزِلي

عِندَ المُلوكِ وَعِندَ كُلِّ رِهانِ

My place is surely known in the pavilion,

With kings and at every contest.

ما زالَ عيصُ بَني كُلَيبٍ في حِمىً

أَشِبٍ أَلَفَّ مَنابِتِ العيصانِ

The rootstock of the sons of Kulayb has always stood in a preserve,

Dense and tangled, where thick groves grow.

الضارِبينَ إِذا الكُماةُ تَنازَلوا

ضَرباً يَقُدُّ عَواتِقَ الأَبدانِ

They strike when armored champions meet in combat,

With blows that cleave bodies at the shoulders.

وَحَمى الفَوارِسَ مِن غُدانَةَ أَنَّهُم

نِعمَ الحُماةُ عَشِيَّةَ الإِرنانِ

And what protected the horsemen of Ghudana was that

They were excellent defenders on the evening of wailing.

إِنّا لَنَستَلِبُ الجَبابِرَ تاجَهُم

قابوسُ يَعلَمُ ذاكَ وَالجونانِ

We certainly strip tyrants of their crown;

Qabus knows that, and the two Jawns.

وَلَقَد شَفَوكَ مِنَ المُكَوّى جَنبُهُ

وَاللَهُ أَنزَلَهُ بِدارِ هَوانِ

And they gave you satisfaction over the man with the branded flank,

And God placed him in an abode of humiliation.

جارَيتَ مُطَّلِعَ الجِراءِ بِنابِهِ

رَوقٌ شَبيبَتُهُ وَعُمرُكَ فانِ

You raced a rising champion of the course, strong of fang,

His youth in bloom, while your life fades.

ما زِلتُ مُذ عَظُمَ الخِطارُ مُعاوِداً

ضَبرَ المِئينَ وَسَبقَ كُلِّ رِهانِ

Ever since the stakes grew great, I have kept

Amassing hundreds and winning every contest.

ما زالَ مَنزِلُنا لِتَغلِبَ غالِباً

وَاللَهُ شَرَّفَ فَوقَهُم بُنياني

Our standing has always prevailed over Taghlib,

And God raised my building above them.

فَاِقبِض يَدَيكَ فَإِنَّني في مُشرِفٍ

صَعبِ الذُرى مُتَمَنِّعِ الأَركانِ

So withdraw your hands: I am in a lofty stronghold,

Its heights difficult, its sides unassailable.

وَلَقَد سَبَقتُ فَما وَرائي لاحِقٌ

بَدءً وَخُلِّيَ في الجِراءِ عِناني

I have gone ahead, with no pursuer behind me,

From the outset, my reins let loose upon the course.

نَزَعَ الأُخَيطِلُ حينَ جَدَّ جِراؤُنا

حَطِمَ الشَوى مُتَكَسِّرَ الأَسنانِ

Al-Akhuytil withdrew when our racing became serious,

With shattered limbs and broken teeth.

قُل لِلمُعَرِّضِ وَالمُشَوِّرِ نَفسَهُ

مَن شاءَ قاسَ عِنانَهُ بِعِناني

Tell the insinuator who makes himself a disgrace:

Whoever wishes may measure his rein against mine.

عَمداً حَزَزتُ أُنوفَ تَغلِبَ مِثلَ ما

حَزَّ المَواسِمُ آنُفَ الأَقيانِ

Deliberately I slashed Taghlib's noses, just as

Branding-irons slashed the noses of smiths.

وَلَقَد وَسَمتُ مُجاشِعاً وَلِتَغلِبٍ

عِندي مُحاضَرَةٌ وَطولُ هَوانِ

And I have indeed branded Mujashi; for Taghlib

I have a race in store, and lasting humiliation.

قَيسٌ عَلى وَضَحِ الطَريقِ وَتَغلِبٌ

يَتَقاوَدونَ تَقاوُدَ العُميانِ

Qays follow the clear road, while Taghlib

Lead one another as blind men do.

لَيسَ اِبنُ عابِدَةِ الصَليبِ بِمُنتَهٍ

حَتّى يَذوقَ بِكَأسِ مَن عاداني

The son of a female worshipper of the cross will not desist

Until he drinks from the cup of those who opposed me.

إِنَّ القَصائِدَ يا أُخَيطِلُ فَاِعتَرِف

قَصَدَت إِلَيكَ مُجِرَّةَ الأَرسانِ

Indeed, the poems, O Akhuytil—admit it—

Have headed straight for you, their halters trailing.

وَعَلِقتَ في قَرَنِ الثَلاثَةِ رابِعاً

مِثلَ البِكارِ لُزِزنَ في الأَقرانِ

And you were fastened, a fourth, to the tether of the three,

Like young she-camels pressed together in paired tethers.

وَالنَمرُ حَيٌّ ما يُنالُ قَديمُهُم

سَبَقوكَ حينَ تَخاطَرَ الحَيّانِ

Al-Namir is a tribe whose ancient glory is beyond reach;

They outstripped you when the two tribes contended for stakes.

إِنَّ الفَوارِسَ مِن رَبيعَةَ كُلَّهُم

يَرضَونَ لَو بَلَغوا مَدى الضَحيانِ

All the horsemen of Rabi'a

Would be content to attain al-Dahyan's reach.

ما نابَ مِن حَدَثٍ فَلَيسَ بِمُسلِمي

عَمري وَحَنظَلَتي وَلا السَعدانِ

Whatever calamity comes, none will surrender me—

My Amr, my Hanzala, nor the two Sa'ds.

وَإِذا بَنو أَسَدٍ عَلَيَّ تَحَدَّبوا

نَصَبَت بَنو أَسَدٍ لِمَن راداني

And when the sons of Asad rally protectively around me,

The sons of Asad rise against whoever opposes me.

وَالغُرُّ مِن سَلَفي كِنانَةَ إِنَّهُم

صيدُ الرُؤوسِ أَعِزَّةُ السُلطانِ

The illustrious men of my forebears, Kinana, indeed

Hold their heads high, mighty in authority.

مالَت عَلَيكَ جِبالُ غورِ تِهامَةٍ

وَغَرِقتَ حَيثُ تَناطَحَ البَحرانِ

The mountains of Tihama's lowland bore down upon you,

And you drowned where the two seas collided.

وَلَقيتَ رايَةَ آلِ قَيسٍ دونَها

مِثلُ الجِمالِ طُلينَ بِالقَطِرانِ

You met the banner of the house of Qays; before it stood

Men like camels smeared with tar.

هَزّوا السُيوفَ فَأَشرَعوها فيكُمُ

وَذَوابِلاً يَخطِرنَ كَالأَشطانِ

They shook their swords, then leveled them into you,

And slender lances swaying like well-ropes.

فَتَرَكنَهُم جَزَرَ السِباعِ وَفَلُّكُم

يَتَساقَطونَ تَساقُطَ الحَمنانِ

They left them as carcasses for beasts, while your routed survivors

Fall like small ticks.

تَرَكَ الهُذَيلُ هُذَيلَ قَيسٍ مِنكُمُ

قَتلى يُقَبِّحُ روحَها المَلَكانِ

Al-Hudhayl—Hudhayl of Qays—left men of yours

Dead, their souls reviled by the two angels.

فَاِخسَء إِلَيكَ فَلا سُلَيمٌ مِنكُمُ

وَالعامِرانِ وَلا بَنو ذُبيانِ

So slink back: Sulaym are none of yours,

Nor the two Amirs, nor the sons of Dhubyan.

قَومٌ لَقيتَ قَناتَهُم بِسِنانِها

وَلَقوا قَناتَكَ غَيرَ ذاتِ سِنانِ

A people whose spear you encountered with its point intact,

While they encountered your spear without a point.

يا عَبدَ خِندِفَ لا تَزالُ مُعَبَّداً

فَاِقعُد بِدارِ مَذَلَّةٍ وَهَوانِ

O slave of Khindif, you will ever remain enslaved;

So sit in an abode of abasement and humiliation.

إِنّي إِذا خَطَرَت وَرائي خِندِفي

لا يَقشَعِرُّ مِنَ الوَعيدِ جَناني

When my Khindif strides proudly behind me,

My heart does not shudder at threats.

وَاِلزَم بِحِلفِكَ في قُضاعَةَ إِنَّما

قَيسٌ عَلَيكَ وَخِندِفٌ أَخَوانِ

Keep to your alliance in Quda'a, for

Qays and Khindif are two brothers against you.

أَحمَوا عَلَيكَ فَلا تَجوزُ بِمَنهَلٍ

ما بَينَ مِصرَ إِلى قُصورِ عُمانِ

They have shut you out, so you cannot pass a watering place

Between Egypt and the palaces of Oman.

وَالتَغلَبِيُّ عَلى الجَوادِ غَنيمَةٌ

بِئسَ الحُماةُ عَشِيَّةَ الإِرنانِ

A Taghlibi upon a fine horse is booty;

Wretched defenders on the evening of wailing!

وَالتَغلَبِيُّ مُغَلَّبٌ قَعَدَت بِهِ

مَسعاتُهُ عَبدٌ بِكُلِّ مَكانِ

The Taghlibi is vanquished, held down by

His ambition—a slave in every place.

سوقوا النِقادَ فَلا يَحِلُّ لِتَغلِبٍ

سَهلُ الرِمالِ وَمَنبِتُ الضَمرانِ

Drive the sheep on: Taghlib may not occupy

The level sands and the ground where damran grows.

لَعَنَ الإِلَهُ مِنَ الصَليبُ إِلَهُهُ

وَاللابِسينَ بَرانِسَ الرُهبانِ

May God curse whoever has the cross for his god,

And those who wear the monks' hooded cloaks,

وَالذابِحينَ إِذا تَقارَبَ فِصحُهُم

شُهبَ الجُلودِ خَسيسَةَ الأَثمانِ

And those who slaughter, when their Easter draws near,

Gray-skinned beasts of paltry price,

مِن كُلِّ ساجي الطَرفِ أَعصَلَ نابُهُ

في كُلِّ قائِمَةٍ لَهُ ظِلفانِ

Each dull-eyed beast whose tusk is crooked,

With two hoof-halves upon each of its legs.

تَغشى المَلائِكَةُ الكِرامُ وَفاتَنا

وَالتَغلَبِيُّ جَنازَةُ الشَيطانِ

The noble angels attend our death,

While a Taghlibi is a corpse for Satan to carry.

يُعطى كِتابَ حِسابِهِ بِشِمالِهِ

وَكِتابُنا بِأَكُفِّنا الأَيمانِ

He is given the book of his reckoning in his left hand,

While our book is in our right palms.

أَتُصَدِّقونَ بِمارِ سَرجِسَ وَاِبنِهِ

وَتُكَذِّبونَ مُحَمَّدَ الفُرقانِ

Do you believe in Saint Sergius and his son,

And disbelieve Muhammad of the Criterion?

ما في دِيارِ مُقامِ تَغلِبَ مَسجِدٌ

وَتَرى مَكاسِرَ حَنتَمٍ وَدِنانِ

There is no mosque in the lands where Taghlib dwell,

And you see broken glazed jars and wine-vats.

وَإِذا وَزَنتَ بِمَجدِ قَيسٍ تَغلِباً

رَجَحوا عَلَيكَ وَشُلتَ في الميزانِ

When you weigh Taghlib against the glory of Qays,

They outweigh you, and you rise in the balance.

غَرَّ الصَليبُ وَمارِ سَرجِسَ تَغلِباً

حَتّى تَقاذَفَ تَغلِبَ الرَجَوانِ

The cross and Saint Sergius deceived Taghlib,

Until the two banks tossed Taghlib to and fro.

تَلقى الكِرامَ إِذا خُطِبنَ غَوالِياً

وَالتَغلَبِيَّةُ مَهرُها فِلسانِ

You find noble women costly when sought in marriage,

While a Taghlibi woman's dowry is two fils.

قَبَحَ الإِلَهُ سِبالَ تَغلِبَ إِنَّها

ضُرِبَت بِكُلِّ مُخَفخِفٍ خَنّانِ

May God disgrace Taghlib's mustaches, for they

Have been struck by every sputtering, droning fart.