Poems
- أبت ذكرة من حب ليلى تعودنيA memory of love for Layla will not cease revisiting me,
- أترجو اعتذاري يابن أروى ورجعتيDo you hope for my apology, O son of Arwa, and my turning
- أتعرف رسما بين رهمان فالرقمDo you recognize a campsite's trace between Rahman and al-Raqam,
- أرعى الأمانة لا أخون أمانتيI safeguard the trust; I do not betray what is entrusted to me.
- أعلم أني متى ما يأتني قدريI know that whenever my appointed fate comes to me,
- ألا أبلغا عني بجيرا رسالةListen! You two, convey a message from me to Bujayr.
- ألا أسماء صرمت الحبالاAlas, Asma had tied up the camels
- ألا بكرت عرسي تلوم وتعذلAlas, my bride blamed me and reproached
- ألا بكرت عرسي توائم من لحىLo, my wife came early, echoing whoever reproached me.
- ألما على ربع بذات المزاهرStop, you two, at a dwelling-site in Dhāt al-Mazāhir,
- أمن أم شداد رسوم المنازلFrom Umm Shaddad's abode the outlines of dwellings
- أمن دمنة الدار أقوت سنيناWas it over the dwelling's traces, deserted for years,
- أمن دمنة قفر تعاورها البلىIs it because of a desolate campsite, repeatedly ravaged by decay,
- إن عرسي قد آذنتني أخيراMy wife has lately given me notice,
- إن يدركك موت أو مشيبIf death or gray hair overtakes you,
- أنت امرؤ من أهل قدس أوراةYou are a man from the people of Quds Awrāh;
- أنى ألم بك الخيال يطيفWhence came the dream-phantom, circling about you?
- بان الشباب وأمسى الشيب قد أزفاYouth has departed, and gray hair has now drawn near.
- بان الشباب وكل إلف بائنYouth has departed, and every loved companion must part.
- بانت سعاد فقلبي اليوم متبولSu'ad has departed, so my heart today is ravaged by love,
- بكرت علي بسحرة تلحانيShe came upon me before dawn, reproaching me,
- تعلم رسول الله أنك مدركيKnow, O Messenger of God, that you will overtake me,
- تقول ابنتي ألهى أبي حب أرضهMy daughter says, "Love of his land has distracted my father,
- تمارى بها رأد الضحى ثم ردهاAt early forenoon he doubted it, then referred it back
- جاءت مزينة من عمق لتفزعناAdorned she came from the depths to startle us
- رحلت إلى قومي لأدعو جلهمI journeyed to my people to call most of them
- صبحنا الحي حي بني جحاشWe attacked the clan at dawn, the clan of the sons of Jiḥāsh,
- صموت وقوال فللحلم صمتهOften silent and often speaking—his silence springs from forbearance;
- طاف الرماة بصيد راعهم فإذاThe archers circled a quarry that frightened them, and behold—
- كأن امرأ لم يلق عيشا بنعمةAs though a man had never known a life of comfort,
- لا تفش سرك إلا عند ذي ثقةDo not reveal your secret except to someone trustworthy.
- لأي زمان يخبأ المرء نفعهFor what time does a man save the good he can do?
- لعمرك لولا رحمة الله إننيBy your life, were it not for God's mercy, I
- لعمرك ما خشيت على أبيBy your life, I did not fear for Ubayy
- لقد ولى أليته جؤيJuʾayy has indeed entrusted his oath
- له عنق تلوي بما وصلت بهIt has a neck that draws along what it is joined to,
- لو كنت أعجب من شيء لأعجبنيWere I to marvel at anything, I would be amazed by
- ما برح الرسم الذي بين حنجرThe campsite trace between Hanjar did not vanish,
- مسح النبي جبينهThe Prophet wiped his forehead.
- من سره كرم الحياة فلا يزلWhoever delights in life's nobility, let him remain
- نفى أهل الحبلق يوم وجThe people of al-Haballaq were driven out on the day of Wajj
- نفى شعر الرأس القديم حوالقهThe head's former hair has been swept away by the forces that shear it;
- هل حبل رملة قبل البين مبتورIs the rope of sand before parting severed,
- هلا سألت وأنت غير عييةWhy did you not ask, though you are not tongue-tied—
- هلم إلينا آل بهثة إنماCome to us, O clan of Buhthah; for only
- وأشعث رخو المنكبين بعثتهAnd a disheveled, slack-shouldered man I sent forth,
- وبيض من النسج القديم كأنهاAnd white coats of ancient-woven mail, as though they were
- وليس لمن لا يركب الهول بغيةAnd one who does not brave peril cannot attain his desire.
- وليلة مشتاق كأن نجومهاAnd a night of one who longs—as though its stars
- وهاجرة لا تستريد ظباؤهاAnd many a scorching noon, whose gazelles will not seek pasture,
- يقول حياي من عوف ومن جشمMy two clans, of ʿAwf and of Jusham, say:
No poems found.