أَرِقَgrew sleepless العُيونُthe eyes فَنَومُهُنَّso their sleep غِرارُbrief
أَرِقَ العُيونُ فَنَومُهُنَّ غِرارُ
إِذsince لاnot يُساعِفُoffers relief مِنfrom هَواكَlove of you مَزارُa visit
إِذ لا يُساعِفُ مِن هَواكَ مَزارُ
The eyes are sleepless, and their slumber is brief,
Since no visit eases longing for you.
هَلdo تُبصِرُyou see النَقَوَينِal-Naqawayn دونَthis side of مُخَفِّقٍMukhaffiq
هَل تُبصِرُ النَقَوَينِ دونَ مُخَفِّقٍ
أَمor هَلhas بَدَتappeared لَكَto you بِالجُنَينَةِat al-Junaynah نارُa fire
أَم هَل بَدَت لَكَ بِالجُنَينَةِ نارُ
Can you see al-Naqawayn this side of Mukhaffiq,
Or has a fire appeared to you at al-Junaynah?
طَرَقَتshe came by night جُعادَةُJuʿadah وَاليَمامَةُand al-Yamamah دونَهاbetween us and her
طَرَقَت جُعادَةُ وَاليَمامَةُ دونَها
رَكباًa caravan تُرَجَّمُare conjectured دونَهاshort of reaching her الأَخبارُthe reports
رَكباً تُرَجَّمُ دونَها الأَخبارُ
Juʿadah came by night, with al-Yamamah between us,
To a caravan for whom news of her was mere conjecture.
لَوif زُرتِناyou visited us لَرَأَيتِyou would have seen حَولَaround رِحالِناour saddles
لَو زُرتِنا لَرَأَيتِ حَولَ رِحالِنا
مِثلَlike الحَنِيِّbent bows أَمَلَّهاwearied them الأَسفارُthe journeys
مِثلَ الحَنِيِّ أَمَلَّها الأَسفارُ
Had you visited us, you would have seen around our saddles
Camels like bent bows, wearied by journeys.
نَزَعَimparted its strain to النَجائِبَthe noble camels سَموَةٌSamwah مِنfrom شَدقَمٍShadqam
نَزَعَ النَجائِبَ سَموَةٌ مِن شَدقَمٍ
وَالأَرحَبِيُّand al-Arhabi وَجَدُّهاand their grandsire النَطّارُal-Nattar
وَالأَرحَبِيُّ وَجَدُّها النَطّارُ
The noble camels take after Samwah, of Shadqam,
And al-Arhabi, and their grandsire al-Nattar.
وَالعيسُand the pale camels يَهجُمُهاassails them الهَجيرُthe midday heat كَأَنَّماas though
وَالعيسُ يَهجُمُها الهَجيرُ كَأَنَّما
يَغشىcovers المَغابِنَthe skinfolds وَالذَفارِيَand the ridges behind the ears قارُtar
يَغشى المَغابِنَ وَالذَفارِيَ قارُ
The pale camels are assailed by midday heat, as though
Tar were coating their skinfolds and the ridges behind their ears.
أَنّىhow تَحِنُّyou yearn إِلىfor المُوَقَّرِal-Muwaqqar بَعدَماafter
أَنّى تَحِنُّ إِلى المُوَقَّرِ بَعدَما
فَنِيَhas wasted away العَرائِكُthe hump-fat وَالقَصائِدُand the marrow-bearing bones رارُthin-marrowed
فَنِيَ العَرائِكُ وَالقَصائِدُ رارُ
How can you yearn for al-Muwaqqar, now that
The hump-fat is spent, and the marrow in their bones is thin?
وَالعيسُand the pale camels تَسحَجُهاchafe them الرِحالُthe saddles إِلَيكُمُtoward you
وَالعيسُ تَسحَجُها الرِحالُ إِلَيكُمُ
حَتّىuntil تُعَرِّقَstrip away نِقيَهاtheir marrow الأَكوارُthe saddleframes
حَتّى تُعَرِّقَ نِقيَها الأَكوارُ
The pale camels are chafed by saddles on their way to you,
Until the saddleframes drain away their marrow.
أَمسَتhas become زِيارَتُناour visit عَلَيكَto you بَعيدَةًdistant
أَمسَت زِيارَتُنا عَلَيكَ بَعيدَةً
فَسَقىso may it water بِلادَكِyour land ديمَةٌa steady rain مِدرارُcopious
فَسَقى بِلادَكِ ديمَةٌ مِدرارُ
Our visiting you has become a distant prospect;
So may a steady, copious rain water your land,
تُرويwaters الأَجارِعَthe sandy flats وَالأَعازِلَand al-Aʿazil كُلَّهاall of them
تُروي الأَجارِعَ وَالأَعازِلَ كُلَّها
وَالنَعفَand the slope حَيثُwhere تَقابَلُface one another الأَحجارُthe rocks
وَالنَعفَ حَيثُ تَقابَلُ الأَحجارُ
Drenching all the sandy flats and al-Aʿazil,
And the slope where the rocks face one another.
هَلhas حُلَّتِbeen inhabited الوَدّاءُal-Waddaʾ بَعدَafter مَحَلِّناour encampment
هَل حُلَّتِ الوَدّاءُ بَعدَ مَحَلِّنا
أَوor أَبكُرُAbkur البَكَراتِal-Bakarat أَوor تِعشارُTiʿshar
أَو أَبكُرُ البَكَراتِ أَو تِعشارُ
Has al-Waddaʾ been inhabited since we camped there,
Or Abkur al-Bakarat, or Tiʿshar?
أَوor شُبرُمانُShubruman يَهيجُstirs مِنكَfrom you صَبابَةًardent longing
أَو شُبرُمانُ يَهيجُ مِنكَ صَبابَةً
لَمّاwhen تَبَدَّلَchanged ساكِنٌan inhabitant وَدِيارُand dwellings
لَمّا تَبَدَّلَ ساكِنٌ وَدِيارُ
Or does Shubruman stir ardent longing in you,
Now that inhabitants and dwellings have changed?
وَعَرَفتُand I recognized مُنتَصَبَthe standing-place of الخِيامِthe tents عَلىdespite بِلىًdecay
وَعَرَفتُ مُنتَصَبَ الخِيامِ عَلى بِلىً
وَعَرَفتُand I recognized حَيثُwhere تُرَبَّطُare tethered الأَمهارُthe foals
وَعَرَفتُ حَيثُ تُرَبَّطُ الأَمهارُ
I recognized where the tents had stood, despite decay,
And recognized where the foals were tethered.
عُلِّقتُهاI fell in love with her إِنسِيَّةًtame وَحشِيَّةًwild
عُلِّقتُها إِنسِيَّةً وَحشِيَّةً
عَصماءَa white-legged doe لَوeven if خُضِعَwas softened الحَديثُthe talk نَوارُchaste
عَصماءَ لَو خُضِعَ الحَديثُ نَوارُ
I fell in love with her—tame yet wild,
A white-legged doe, chaste even when talk grows tender.
فَتَرىso you see مَشارِبَwatering places حَولَهاaround her حَرَمُan inviolable precinct الحِمىthe protected reserve
فَتَرى مَشارِبَ حَولَها حَرَمُ الحِمى
وَالشُربُand drinking يُمنَعُis forbidden وَالقُلوبُand the hearts حِرارُburning with thirst
وَالشُربُ يُمنَعُ وَالقُلوبُ حِرارُ
You see watering places about her—an inviolate preserve—
Yet drinking is forbidden, while hearts burn with thirst.
قَدindeed رابَنيtroubled me وَلَمِثلُand indeed the like of ذاكَthat يَريبُنيtroubles me
قَد رابَني وَلَمِثلُ ذاكَ يَريبُني
لِلغانِياتِon the part of beautiful women تَجَهُّمٌscowling وَنِفارُand avoidance
لِلغانِياتِ تَجَهُّمٌ وَنِفارُ
It has troubled me—and such a thing indeed troubles me—
The scowling and avoidance of beautiful women.
وَلَقَدand indeed رَأَيتُكَI saw you وَالقَناةُand the shaft قَويمَةٌstraight
وَلَقَد رَأَيتُكَ وَالقَناةُ قَويمَةٌ
إِذwhen لَمdid not يَشِبturn gray لَكَof yours مِسحَلٌbeard along the jaw وَعِذارُand cheek-whiskers
إِذ لَم يَشِب لَكَ مِسحَلٌ وَعِذارُ
I saw you when your shaft was still straight,
When neither your beard nor your cheek-whiskers had turned gray.
وَالدَهرُand time بَدَّلَsubstituted شَيبَةًgray hair وَتَحَنِّياًand stooping
وَالدَهرُ بَدَّلَ شَيبَةً وَتَحَنِّياً
وَالدَهرُand time ذوfull of غيرٍchanges لَهُit has أَطوارُphases
وَالدَهرُ ذو غيرٍ لَهُ أَطوارُ
And time has brought gray hair and a stoop in their place;
Time is full of changes, with many phases.
ذَهَبَis gone الصِباyouth وَنَسينَand they forgot إِذwhen أَيّامُناour days
ذَهَبَ الصِبا وَنَسينَ إِذ أَيّامُنا
بِالجَلهَتَينِat al-Jalhatayn وَبِالرَغامِand at al-Ragham قِصارُshort
بِالجَلهَتَينِ وَبِالرَغامِ قِصارُ
Youth is gone, and they have forgotten when our days
At al-Jalhatayn and al-Ragham were short.
مُطِلَwere deferred الدُيونُthe debts فَلاso never يَزالُceases مُطالِبٌa claimant
مُطِلَ الدُيونُ فَلا يَزالُ مُطالِبٌ
يَرجوhopes for القَضاءَrepayment وَماand what وَعَدنَthey promised ضِمارُa debt of doubtful recovery
يَرجو القَضاءَ وَما وَعَدنَ ضِمارُ
The debts are deferred, and a claimant still
Hopes for payment, though what they promised is a doubtful debt.
ياO كَعبُKaʿb قَدindeed مَلَأَhas filled القُبورَthe graves مَهابَةًwith awe
يا كَعبُ قَد مَلَأَ القُبورَ مَهابَةً
مَلِكٌa king تَقَطَّعُare cut short دونَهُbefore reaching him الأَبصارُthe gazes
مَلِكٌ تَقَطَّعُ دونَهُ الأَبصارُ
O Kaʿb, the graves have been filled with awe
By a king before whom gazes falter.
هَلis there مِثلُlike حاجَتِناour need إِلَيكُمfor you حاجَةٌa need
هَل مِثلُ حاجَتِنا إِلَيكُم حاجَةٌ
أَوor مِثلُlike جاريmy neighbor بِالمُوَقَّرِat al-Muwaqqar جارُa neighbor
أَو مِثلُ جاري بِالمُوَقَّرِ جارُ
Is there a need like our need for you,
Or a neighbor like my neighbor at al-Muwaqqar,
حِلماًforbearance وَمَكرُمَةًand nobility وَسَيباًand bounty واسِعاًabundant
حِلماً وَمَكرُمَةً وَسَيباً واسِعاً
وَرَوافِدٌand streams of bounty حُلِبَتwere milked إِلَيكَto you غِزارُcopious
وَرَوافِدٌ حُلِبَت إِلَيكَ غِزارُ
In forbearance, nobility, and abundant bounty?
And copious streams of bounty have been milked for you.
بَدرٌa full moon عَلاrose high فَأَنارَand so shone لَيسَis not بِآفِلٍone that sets
بَدرٌ عَلا فَأَنارَ لَيسَ بِآفِلٍ
نورُthe light البَرِيَّةِof creation ماnot لَهُfor it اِستِسرارُconcealment
نورُ البَرِيَّةِ ما لَهُ اِستِسرارُ
A full moon has risen and shone, one that never sets,
The light of creation, never hidden from view.
لَمّاwhen مَلَكتَyou took possession of عَصاthe staff of الخِلافَةِthe caliphate بَيَّنَتshowed themselves
لَمّا مَلَكتَ عَصا الخِلافَةِ بَيَّنَت
لِلطالِبينَto seekers شَمائِلٌqualities of character وَنِجارُand lineage
لِلطالِبينَ شَمائِلٌ وَنِجارُ
When you took the caliphate's staff, there were revealed
To seekers your qualities and lineage.
ساسَgoverned الخِلافَةَthe caliphate حينَwhen قامَundertook بِحَقِّهاits rightful duties
ساسَ الخِلافَةَ حينَ قامَ بِحَقِّها
وَحَمىand safeguarded الذِمارَwhat must be defended فَماso no يُضاعُis neglected ذِمارُprotected charge
وَحَمى الذِمارَ فَما يُضاعُ ذِمارُ
He governed the caliphate, fulfilling its rightful duties,
And guarded what must be defended; no charge is neglected.
وَيَزيدُand Yazid قَدindeed عَلِمَتhas known قُرَيشٌQuraysh أَنَّهُthat he
وَيَزيدُ قَد عَلِمَت قُرَيشٌ أَنَّهُ
غَمرُthe deep plenitude of البُحورِthe seas إِلىtoward العُلىglory سَوّارُsurging upward
غَمرُ البُحورِ إِلى العُلى سَوّارُ
And Yazid—Quraysh well knows that he
Is the fullness of the seas, surging toward glory.
وَعُروقُand the roots نَبعَتِكُمof your bow-wood tree لَهاthey have طيبُgoodness الثَرىof the soil
وَعُروقُ نَبعَتِكُم لَها طيبُ الثَرى
وَالفَرعُand the branch لاnot جَعدٌgnarled وَلاand not خَوّارُweak
وَالفَرعُ لا جَعدٌ وَلا خَوّارُ
The roots of your bow-wood tree have good soil,
And its branch is neither gnarled nor weak.
إِنَّindeed الخَليفَةَthe caliph لِليَتامىfor orphans عِصمَةٌa refuge
إِنَّ الخَليفَةَ لِليَتامى عِصمَةٌ
وَأَبوand the father of العِيالِdependents يَشُفُّهُwears him down الإِقتارُpoverty
وَأَبو العِيالِ يَشُفُّهُ الإِقتارُ
The caliph is surely a refuge for orphans,
And want wears down the father of a household.
صَلّىinvoked blessings القَبائِلُthe tribes مِنof قُرَيشٍQuraysh كُلُّهُمall of them
صَلّى القَبائِلُ مِن قُرَيشٍ كُلُّهُم
بِالمَوسِمَينِat the two festival gatherings عَلَيكَupon you وَالأَنصارُand the Ansar
بِالمَوسِمَينِ عَلَيكَ وَالأَنصارُ
All the tribes of Quraysh have invoked blessings
Upon you at both festival gatherings, and so have the Ansar.
تَرضىapproves قُضاعَةُQudaʿah ماwhat قَضَيتَyou decreed وَسَلَّمَتand submitted
تَرضى قُضاعَةُ ما قَضَيتَ وَسَلَّمَت
لِرِضىًin willing acceptance بِحُكمِكَto your judgment حِميَرٌHimyar وَنِزارُand Nizar
لِرِضىً بِحُكمِكَ حِميَرٌ وَنِزارُ
Qudaʿah approves your decrees, and submission has been given
Willingly to your judgment by Himyar and Nizar.
قَيسٌQays يَرَونَكَthey see you ماas long as حَيِيتَyou live لَهُمfor them حَياًlife-giving rain
قَيسٌ يَرَونَكَ ما حَيِيتَ لَهُم حَياً
وَلِآلِand for the house of خِندِفِKhindif مُلكُكَyour reign اِستِبشارُglad tidings
وَلِآلِ خِندِفِ مُلكُكَ اِستِبشارُ
Qays sees you, as long as you live, as their life-giving rain,
And to the house of Khindif, your reign is glad tidings.
وَلَقَدand indeed جَرَيتَyou raced فَماso no أَمامَكَahead of you سابِقٌforerunner
وَلَقَد جَرَيتَ فَما أَمامَكَ سابِقٌ
وَعَلىand upon الجَوالِبِthe rival racehorses كَبوَةٌa stumble وَغُبارُand dust
وَعَلى الجَوالِبِ كَبوَةٌ وَغُبارُ
You have indeed raced, and none runs ahead of you,
While the rival steeds are left with stumbling and dust.
آلُthe house of المُهَلَّبِal-Muhallab فَرَّطواthey neglected فيin دينِهِمtheir faith
آلُ المُهَلَّبِ فَرَّطوا في دينِهِم
وَطَغَواand they transgressed كَماas فَعَلَتdid ثَمودُThamud فَبارواso they perished
وَطَغَوا كَما فَعَلَت ثَمودُ فَباروا
The house of al-Muhallab neglected their faith,
And transgressed as Thamud did, and perished.
إِنَّindeed الخِلافَةَthe caliphate ياO اِبنَson of دَحمَةَDahmah دونَهاbefore it
إِنَّ الخِلافَةَ يا اِبنَ دَحمَةَ دونَها
لُجَجٌbillowing seas تَضيقُgrow tight بِهاbecause of them الصُدورُthe breasts غِمارُdeep and engulfing
لُجَجٌ تَضيقُ بِها الصُدورُ غِمارُ
Before the caliphate, O son of Dahmah, lie
Deep, engulfing seas that make the chest tighten.
هَلdo تَذكُرونَyou remember إِذِwhen الحِساسُtiny fish طَعامُكُمyour food
هَل تَذكُرونَ إِذِ الحِساسُ طَعامُكُم
وَإِذِand when الصَغاوَةُal-Saghawah أَرضُكُمyour land وَصُحارُand Suhar
وَإِذِ الصَغاوَةُ أَرضُكُم وَصُحارُ
Do you remember when tiny fish were your food,
And when al-Saghawah and Suhar were your land?
رَقَصَتdanced نِساءُthe women of بَنيthe sons of المُهَلَّبِal-Muhallab عَنوَةًunder compulsion
رَقَصَت نِساءُ بَني المُهَلَّبِ عَنوَةً
رَقصَthe dance of الرِئالِostrich chicks وَماand no لَهُنَّfor them خِمارُa head-veil
رَقصَ الرِئالِ وَما لَهُنَّ خِمارُ
The women of the sons of al-Muhallab danced under compulsion,
As ostrich chicks dance, with no veil upon them.
لَمّاwhen أَتَوكَthey came to you مُصَفَّدينَfettered أَذِلَّةًabased
لَمّا أَتَوكَ مُصَفَّدينَ أَذِلَّةً
شُفِيَwere healed النُفوسُthe souls وَأُدرِكَand were satisfied الأَوتارُthe claims of vengeance
شُفِيَ النُفوسُ وَأُدرِكَ الأَوتارُ
When they came to you fettered and abased,
Souls were healed, and vengeance was exacted.
Sol 6.1