حَيِّgreet الدِيارَthe dwellings عَلىdespite سَفيِthe dust-blowing of الأَعاصيرِthe whirlwinds
حَيِّ الدِيارَ عَلى سَفيِ الأَعاصيرِ
أَستَنكَرَتنِيَhave they found me a stranger? أَمor ضَنَّتthey begrudged بِتَخبيريtelling me
أَستَنكَرَتنِيَ أَم ضَنَّت بِتَخبيري
Greet the dwellings, despite the whirlwinds' drifting dust.
Have they taken me for a stranger, or withheld their news?
حَيِّgreet الدِيارَthe dwellings الَّتيwhich بَلّىwore away مَعارِفَهاtheir familiar traces
حَيِّ الدِيارَ الَّتي بَلّى مَعارِفَها
كُلَّutter البِلىwearing away نَفَيانُthe driving of القَطرِrain وَالمورِand windblown dust
كُلَّ البِلى نَفَيانُ القَطرِ وَالمورِ
Greet the dwellings whose familiar traces were worn
utterly away by driving rain and dust.
هَلdo ...? أَنتِyou ذاكِرَةٌremembering عَهداًa bond عَلىdespite قِدَمٍage
هَل أَنتِ ذاكِرَةٌ عَهداً عَلى قِدَمٍ
أُسقيتِmay you be watered مِنby صَبَلِthe downpour of الغُرِّthe bright clouds المَباكيرِthe early ones
أُسقيتِ مِن صَبَلِ الغُرِّ المَباكيرِ
Do you remember a bond, despite its age?
May bright, early clouds pour their rain upon you.
هَلdo ...? تَعرِفُyou recognize الرَبعَthe campsite إِذwhen فيin الرَبعِthe campsite عامِرُهُits inhabitant
هَل تَعرِفُ الرَبعَ إِذ في الرَبعِ عامِرُهُ
فَاليَومَbut today أَصبَحَit has become قَفراًdesolate غَيرَnot مَعمورِinhabited
فَاليَومَ أَصبَحَ قَفراً غَيرَ مَعمورِ
Do you remember the campsite when its inhabitant was there?
But today it has become desolate, uninhabited.
أَوor تُبصِرانِdo you two see سَناthe radiance of بَرقٍlightning أَضاءَlit up لَناfor us
أَو تُبصِرانِ سَنا بَرقٍ أَضاءَ لَنا
رَملَthe sands of السُمَينَةِal-Sumayna ذاpossessing الأَنقاءِdunes وَالدورِand dwellings
رَملَ السُمَينَةِ ذا الأَنقاءِ وَالدورِ
Or do you two see lightning's gleam, which lit up for us
the sands of al-Sumayna, with their dunes and dwellings?
ماwhat حاجَةٌneed لَكَfor you فيfor الظُعنِthe women in howdahs الَّتيwho بَكَرَتdeparted at dawn
ما حاجَةٌ لَكَ في الظُعنِ الَّتي بَكَرَت
مِنfrom دارَةِDarat الجَأبِal-Ja'b كَالنَخلِlike palm trees المَواقيرِheavy with fruit
مِن دارَةِ الجَأبِ كَالنَخلِ المَواقيرِ
What need have you of the women in howdahs who departed at dawn
from Darat al-Ja'b, like fruit-laden palms?
كادَalmost التَذَكُّرُremembrance يَومَon the day of البَينِparting يَشعَفُنيconsumed me
كادَ التَذَكُّرُ يَومَ البَينِ يَشعَفُني
إِنَّindeed الحَليمَthe man of sense بِهَذاfor this غَيرُnot مَعذورِexcused
إِنَّ الحَليمَ بِهَذا غَيرُ مَعذورِ
Remembrance almost consumed me on the day of parting;
a man of sense has no excuse for this.
ماذاwhat أَرَدتَdid you seek إِلىat رَبعٍa campsite وَقَفتَyou stopped بِهِat it
ماذا أَرَدتَ إِلى رَبعٍ وَقَفتَ بِهِ
هَلis there غَيرُanything but شَوقٍlonging وَأَحزانٍand sorrows وَتَذكيرِand recollection
هَل غَيرُ شَوقٍ وَأَحزانٍ وَتَذكيرِ
What did you seek at a campsite where you stopped?
Anything but longing, sorrows, and recollection?
ماnot كُنتَwere you أَوَّلَthe first مَحزونٍsorrowing man أَضَرَّharmed بِهِhim
ما كُنتَ أَوَّلَ مَحزونٍ أَضَرَّ بِهِ
بَرحُthe anguish of الهَوىlove وَعَذابٌand torment غَيرُwithout تَفتيرِrespite
بَرحُ الهَوى وَعَذابٌ غَيرُ تَفتيرِ
You were not the first sorrowing man harmed
by love's anguish and unrelenting torment.
تَبيتُyou spend the night لَيلَكَyour night ذاpossessed of وَجدٍlonging يُخامِرُهُpervades him
تَبيتُ لَيلَكَ ذا وَجدٍ يُخامِرُهُ
كَأَنَّas though فيin القَلبِthe heart أَطرافَthe points of المَساميرِnails
كَأَنَّ في القَلبِ أَطرافَ المَساميرِ
You spend your night as one whom longing possesses,
as though the points of nails were in your heart.
ياO أُمَّmother of حَرزَةَHarza إِنَّindeed العَهدَthe bond زَيَّنَهُadorned it
يا أُمَّ حَرزَةَ إِنَّ العَهدَ زَيَّنَهُ
وُدٌّaffection كَريمٌnoble وَسِرٌّand a secret غيرُnot مَنثورِdivulged
وُدٌّ كَريمٌ وَسِرٌّ غيرُ مَنثورِ
O Umm Harza, our bond was adorned
by noble affection and a secret never divulged.
حَيَّيتِyou greeted شُعثاًdisheveled men وَأَطلاحاًand worn-out camels مُخَدَّمَةًbanded at the ankles
حَيَّيتِ شُعثاً وَأَطلاحاً مُخَدَّمَةً
وَالمَيسَand hackberry saddles مَنقوشَةًengraved نَقشَwith the engraving of الدَنانيرِdinars
وَالمَيسَ مَنقوشَةً نَقشَ الدَنانيرِ
You greeted disheveled men and worn-out, leg-banded camels,
and hackberry saddles engraved like dinars.
هَلis there فيagainst الغَوانيthe beauties لِمَنfor those whom قَتَّلنَthey slew مِنany قَودٍblood vengeance
هَل في الغَواني لِمَن قَتَّلنَ مِن قَودٍ
أَوor مِنany دِياتٍblood payments لِقَتلِfor the killing by الأَعيُنِthe eyes الحورِdark-pupilled and white-bright
أَو مِن دِياتٍ لِقَتلِ الأَعيُنِ الحورِ
Is blood vengeance exacted from beauties for those they slay,
or blood money for the killing done by wide, dark eyes?
يَجمَعنَthey combine خُلفاًbroken promises وَمَوعُداًand a pledge بَخِلنَthey begrudged بِهِit
يَجمَعنَ خُلفاً وَمَوعُداً بَخِلنَ بِهِ
إِلىto جَمالٍbeauty وَإِدلالٍand coy allure وَتَصويرِand shapeliness
إِلى جَمالٍ وَإِدلالٍ وَتَصويرِ
They add broken promises, and a pledge they begrudge,
to beauty, coy allure, and shapeliness.
أَمّاas for يَزيدُYazid فَإِنَّfor indeed اللَهَGod فَهَّمَهُtaught him
أَمّا يَزيدُ فَإِنَّ اللَهَ فَهَّمَهُ
حُكماًjudgment وَأَعطاهُand gave him مُلكاًsovereignty واضِحَclear in النورِradiance
حُكماً وَأَعطاهُ مُلكاً واضِحَ النورِ
As for Yazid, God has taught him
judgment, and given him sovereignty of clear radiance.
سِرناwe journeyed مِنَfrom الدامِal-Dam وَالرَوحانِand al-Rawhan وَالأُدَمىand al-Udama
سِرنا مِنَ الدامِ وَالرَوحانِ وَالأُدَمى
تَنويseeking يَزيدَYazid يَزيدَYazid المَجدِof glory وَالخيرِand goodness
تَنوي يَزيدَ يَزيدَ المَجدِ وَالخيرِ
We set out from al-Dam, al-Rawhan, and al-Udama,
seeking Yazid—Yazid of glory and goodness—
عيدِيَّةٌ'Idi camels بِرِحالِwith saddles of المَيسِhackberry wood تَنسُجُهاweaving them to and fro
عيدِيَّةٌ بِرِحالِ المَيسِ تَنسُجُها
حَتّىuntil تَفَرَّجَgaped open ماwhat lay بَينَbetween المَساميرِthe nails
حَتّى تَفَرَّجَ ما بَينَ المَساميرِ
on 'Idi camels weaving their hackberry saddles to and fro,
until the spaces between the nails gaped open.
خوصُnarrow العُيونِthe eyes إِذاwhen اِستَقبَلنَthey face هاجِرَةًthe midday heat
خوصُ العُيونِ إِذا اِستَقبَلنَ هاجِرَةً
يُحسَبنَthey are thought عوراًone-eyed وَماthough not فيهِنَّamong them مِنany عورِone-eyedness
يُحسَبنَ عوراً وَما فيهِنَّ مِن عورِ
Narrow-eyed, when they face the midday heat,
they seem one-eyed, though none has that defect.
تَخديstride swiftly بِناwith us العيسُthe pale camels وَالحِرباءُwhile the chameleon مُنتَصِبٌstands upright
تَخدي بِنا العيسُ وَالحِرباءُ مُنتَصِبٌ
وَالشَمسُand the sun والِجَةٌentering ظِلَّthe shade of اليَعافيرِyoung gazelles
وَالشَمسُ والِجَةٌ ظِلَّ اليَعافيرِ
The pale camels stride swiftly with us, while the chameleon stands erect,
and the sun enters the young gazelles' shade.
مِنfrom كُلِّevery شَوساءَproud-eyed she-camel لَمّاwhen خُشَّwas pierced with a nose-peg ناظِرُهاher nostril
مِن كُلِّ شَوساءَ لَمّا خُشَّ ناظِرُها
أَدنَتshe brought close مُذَمَّرَهاher nape مِنto واسِطِthe pommel of الكورِthe camel saddle
أَدنَت مُذَمَّرَها مِن واسِطِ الكورِ
Each proud-eyed she-camel, when her nostril was pegged,
brought her nape close to the saddle's pommel.
ماnot كادَcould almost تَبلُغُreach أَطلاحٌexhausted camels أَضَرَّharmed بِهاthem
ما كادَ تَبلُغُ أَطلاحٌ أَضَرَّ بِها
بَعدُthe distance of المَفاوِزِthe desert wastes بَينَbetween البِشرِal-Bishr وَالنيرِand al-Nir
بَعدُ المَفاوِزِ بَينَ البِشرِ وَالنيرِ
The exhausted camels could scarcely arrive, so worn were they
by the long wastes between al-Bishr and al-Nir—
مِنَof المَهاريMahri camels الَّتيwhich لَمnot يُفنِwear away كِدنَتَهاtheir flesh
مِنَ المَهاري الَّتي لَم يُفنِ كِدنَتَها
كَرُّthe repeated journeys of الرَواياwater-carrying camels وَلَمand not يُحدَجنَwere they saddled فيamong العيرِthe caravan beasts
كَرُّ الرَوايا وَلَم يُحدَجنَ في العيرِ
Mahri camels whose flesh had not been worn away
by repeated water-hauling, and which had never been saddled in caravans.
صَبَّحنَthey arrived at dawn فيwith الرَكبِthe caravan إِنَّindeed الرَكبَthe riders قَحَّمَهُمdrove them hard
صَبَّحنَ في الرَكبِ إِنَّ الرَكبَ قَحَّمَهُم
خِمسٌa five-day watering interval جَموحٌarduous فَهَذاso this is وِردُa watering تَبكيرِat dawn
خِمسٌ جَموحٌ فَهَذا وِردُ تَبكيرِ
They came at dawn with the caravan; its riders had been driven hard
by a grueling five-day march between waters: this was a dawn watering
قَفرَdeserted الجَباat the wellside لاnot تَرىyou see إِلّاexcept الحَمامَdoves بِهِthere
قَفرَ الجَبا لا تَرى إِلّا الحَمامَ بِهِ
مِنَfor الأَنيسِcompany خَلاءًempty غَيرَnot مَحضورِfrequented
مِنَ الأَنيسِ خَلاءً غَيرَ مَحضورِ
at a deserted wellside, where you see only doves
for company: an empty, unfrequented place.
تَنفيsweep away دِلاءُthe buckets of سُقاةِthe water-drawers of القَومِthe people إِذwhen وَرَدواthey came to water
تَنفي دِلاءُ سُقاةِ القَومِ إِذ وَرَدوا
كَالغِسلِlike wash-water عَنfrom جَمِّdeep water طامٍbrimming غَيرِnot مَجهورِdrained
كَالغِسلِ عَن جَمِّ طامٍ غَيرِ مَجهورِ
The water-drawers' buckets, when the people came, swept away
a wash-like film from deep, brimming, undrained water.
كَأَنَّas though لَوناًa hue بِهِin it مِنfrom زَيتِthe oil of سامِرَةَSamaria
كَأَنَّ لَوناً بِهِ مِن زَيتِ سامِرَةَ
وَلَونَand a hue وَردٍrose-red مِنَfrom الحِنّاءِhenna مَعصورِpressed
وَلَونَ وَردٍ مِنَ الحِنّاءِ مَعصورِ
One hue in it seemed to come from Samaria's oil,
and a rose-red hue from pressed henna.
لَمّاwhen تَشَوَّقَgrew homesick بَعضُsome of القَومِthe men قُلتُI said لَهُمto them
لَمّا تَشَوَّقَ بَعضُ القَومِ قُلتُ لَهُم
أَينَhow far اليَمامَةُal-Yamama مِنfrom عَينِ'Ayn السَواجيرِal-Sawajir
أَينَ اليَمامَةُ مِن عَينِ السَواجيرِ
When some of the men grew homesick, I said to them:
How far al-Yamama is from 'Ayn al-Sawajir!
زورواvisit يَزيدَYazid فَإِنَّfor indeed اللَهَGod فَضَّلَهُfavored him
زوروا يَزيدَ فَإِنَّ اللَهَ فَضَّلَهُ
وَاِستَبشِرواand rejoice بِمَريعِin lushness of النَبتِgrowth مَحبورِdelightful
وَاِستَبشِروا بِمَريعِ النَبتِ مَحبورِ
Visit Yazid, for God has favored him,
and rejoice in a lush, delightful pasture.
لاdo not تَسأَمواgrow weary لِلمَطاياof the mounts ماas long as سَرَينَthey travel by night بِكُمwith you
لا تَسأَموا لِلمَطايا ما سَرَينَ بِكُم
وَاِستَبشِرواand rejoice بِنَوالٍin bounty غَيرِnot مَنزورِscant
وَاِستَبشِروا بِنَوالٍ غَيرِ مَنزورِ
Do not tire of your mounts while they carry you by night,
and rejoice in bounty that is not scant.
وَاِستَمطِرواand seek showers of نَفَحاتٍgifts غَيرَnot مُخلِفَةٍfailing
وَاِستَمطِروا نَفَحاتٍ غَيرَ مُخلِفَةٍ
مِنfrom سَيبِthe bounty of مُستَبشِرٍone rejoicing بِالمُلكِin kingship مَسرورِdelighted
مِن سَيبِ مُستَبشِرٍ بِالمُلكِ مَسرورِ
And seek showers of gifts that never fail
from the bounty of one glad and delighted in his kingship.
سِرناwe journeyed عَلىwith ثِقَةٍconfidence حَتّىuntil نَزَلتُI alighted بِكُمamong you
سِرنا عَلى ثِقَةٍ حَتّى نَزَلتُ بِكُم
مُستَبشِراًrejoicing بِمَريعِin lushness of النَبتِgrowth مَمطورِrain-watered
مُستَبشِراً بِمَريعِ النَبتِ مَمطورِ
We journeyed in confidence until I alighted among you,
rejoicing in a lush, rain-watered pasture.
لَمّاwhen بَلَغتُI reached إِمامَthe imam of العَدلِjustice قُلتُI said لَهُمto them
لَمّا بَلَغتُ إِمامَ العَدلِ قُلتُ لَهُم
قَدindeed كانَit came مِنfrom طولِthe length of إِدلاجيmy night travel وَتَهجيريand my noonday travel
قَد كانَ مِن طولِ إِدلاجي وَتَهجيري
When I reached the imam of justice, I said to them:
This has come through my long night journeys and noonday marches.
فَاِستَورِدواso come to water at مَنهَلاًa watering-place رَيّانَbrimming ذاhaving حَبَبٍbubbles
فَاِستَورِدوا مَنهَلاً رَيّانَ ذا حَبَبٍ
مِنfrom زاخِرِthe surging of البَحرِthe sea يَرميit tosses بِالقَراقيرِgreat ships
مِن زاخِرِ البَحرِ يَرمي بِالقَراقيرِ
So come to a brimming watering-place, covered with bubbles,
from a surging sea that tosses great ships.
لَقَدindeed تَرَكتَyou left فَلاso may ... not نَعدَمكَwe lose you إِذwhen كَفَرواthey turned faithless
لَقَد تَرَكتَ فَلا نَعدَمكَ إِذ كَفَروا
لَاِبنِfor Ibn المُهَلَّبِal-Muhallab عَظماًa bone غَيرَnot مَجبورِmended
لَاِبنِ المُهَلَّبِ عَظماً غَيرَ مَجبورِ
You left—may we never lose you—when they turned faithless,
Ibn al-Muhallab with an unmended bone.
ياO اِبنَson of المُهَلَّبِal-Muhallab إِنَّindeed الناسَthe people قَدalready عَلِمواknow
يا اِبنَ المُهَلَّبِ إِنَّ الناسَ قَد عَلِموا
أَنَّthat الخِلافَةَthe caliphate لِلشُمِّbelongs to the proud-nosed المَغاويرِvaliant warriors
أَنَّ الخِلافَةَ لِلشُمِّ المَغاويرِ
O son of al-Muhallab, the people know well
that the caliphate belongs to proud-nosed, valiant warriors.
لاdo not تَحسِبَنَّever suppose مِراسَgrappling with الحَربِwar إِذwhen خَطَرَتit looms
لا تَحسِبَنَّ مِراسَ الحَربِ إِذ خَطَرَت
أَكلَeating القِبابِfish وَأَدمَand seasoning الرُغفِloaves بِالصيرِwith fish sauce
أَكلَ القِبابِ وَأَدمَ الرُغفِ بِالصيرِ
Do not suppose that grappling with war, when it looms,
is eating fish and seasoning loaves with fish sauce.
خَليفَةَO caliph of اللَهِGod إِنّيindeed I قَدhave جَعَلتُmade لَكُمfor you
خَليفَةَ اللَهِ إِنّي قَد جَعَلتُ لَكُم
غُرّاًwhite-blazed steeds سَوابِقَforemost racers مِنfrom نَسجيmy weaving وَتَحبيريand my embellishment
غُرّاً سَوابِقَ مِن نَسجي وَتَحبيري
Caliph of God, I have made for you
white-blazed winners from my own weaving and embellishment.
لاnot يُنكِرُdeny الناسُthe people قِدماًlong since أَنthat تُعَرِّفَهُمyou show them
لا يُنكِرُ الناسُ قِدماً أَن تُعَرِّفَهُم
سَبقاًprecedence إِذاwhen بَلَغواthey reach نَحزَthe bounds of المَضاميرِthe racecourses
سَبقاً إِذا بَلَغوا نَحزَ المَضاميرِ
People have long acknowledged that you show them
your lead when they reach the bounds of the racecourses.
زانَhe adorned المَنابِرَthe pulpits وَاِختالَتand they exulted بِمُنتَجَبٍin a chosen man
زانَ المَنابِرَ وَاِختالَت بِمُنتَجَبٍ
مُثَبَّتٍmade steadfast بِكِتابِby the Book of اللَهِGod مَنصورِgranted victory
مُثَبَّتٍ بِكِتابِ اللَهِ مَنصورِ
He graced the pulpits, and they exulted in a chosen man,
made steadfast by God's Book and granted victory.
فيin آلِthe house of حَربٍHarb وَفيand in الأَعياصِal-A'yas مَنبِتُهُhis roots
في آلِ حَربٍ وَفي الأَعياصِ مَنبِتُهُ
هُمthey وَرَّثوكَbequeathed to you بِناءًan edifice عالِيَlofty in السورِwalls
هُم وَرَّثوكَ بِناءً عالِيَ السورِ
His roots are in the house of Harb and al-A'yas;
they bequeathed you an edifice with towering walls.
يَستَغفِرونَthey seek forgiveness لِعَبدِfor the servant of اللَهِGod إِذwhen نَزَلواthey alighted
يَستَغفِرونَ لِعَبدِ اللَهِ إِذ نَزَلوا
بِالحَوضِat the Pool مَنزِلَa station of إِهلالٍacclamation وَتَكبيرِand proclaiming God's greatness
بِالحَوضِ مَنزِلَ إِهلالٍ وَتَكبيرِ
They seek forgiveness for God's servant when they alight
at the Pool, a place of acclamation and cries of 'God is greatest.'
يَكفيit suffices الخَليفَةَthe caliph أَنَّthat اللَهَGod فَضَّلَهُfavored him
يَكفي الخَليفَةَ أَنَّ اللَهَ فَضَّلَهُ
عَزمٌresolve وَثيقٌfirm وَعَقدٌand a covenant غَيرُwithout تَغريرِdeceit
عَزمٌ وَثيقٌ وَعَقدٌ غَيرُ تَغريرِ
It suffices the caliph that God has favored him:
firm resolve, and a covenant free of deceit.
ماnot يُنبِتُgrows الفَرعُthe mountain height نَبعاًa nab'-tree مِثلَlike نَبعَتِكُمyour nab'-tree
ما يُنبِتُ الفَرعُ نَبعاً مِثلَ نَبعَتِكُم
عيدانُهاits boughs غَيرُnot عَشّاتٍspindly وَلاnor خورِweak
عيدانُها غَيرُ عَشّاتٍ وَلا خورِ
No mountain height grows a nab'-tree like yours;
its boughs are neither spindly nor weak.
قَدindeed أَخرَجَdrove out اللَهُGod قَسراًby force مِنfrom مَعاقِلِهِمtheir strongholds
قَد أَخرَجَ اللَهُ قَسراً مِن مَعاقِلِهِم
أَهلَthe people of الحُصونِthe fortresses وَأَصحابَand the occupants of المَطاميرِunderground chambers
أَهلَ الحُصونِ وَأَصحابَ المَطاميرِ
God has forcibly driven from their strongholds
the people of the fortresses and those in underground chambers.
كَمhow many مِنa عَدُوٍّenemy فَجَذَّthen cut off اللَهُGod دابِرَهُمtheir last remnant
كَم مِن عَدُوٍّ فَجَذَّ اللَهُ دابِرَهُم
كادواthey plotted بِمَكرِهِمُwith their guile فَاِرتَدَّbut it recoiled فيinto بورِruin
كادوا بِمَكرِهِمُ فَاِرتَدَّ في بورِ
How many an enemy—God cut off their last remnant—
plotted with guile, only for it to recoil in ruin!
وَكانَand it was نَصراًa victory مِنَfrom الرَحمَنِthe All-Merciful قَدَّرَهُHe ordained it
وَكانَ نَصراً مِنَ الرَحمَنِ قَدَّرَهُ
وَاللَهُand God رَبُّكَyour Lord ذوpossessor of مُلكٍsovereignty وَتَقديرِand ordaining power
وَاللَهُ رَبُّكَ ذو مُلكٍ وَتَقديرِ
It was a victory from the All-Merciful, who ordained it;
and God, your Lord, holds sovereignty and the power to ordain.
Sol 6.1