أَتَعرِفُdo you recognize رَسماًa campsite trace بَينَbetween رَهمانَRahman فَالرَقَمand al-Raqam
أَتَعرِفُ رَسماً بَينَ رَهمانَ فَالرَقَم
إِلىto ذيDhu مَراهيطٍMarahit كَماas though خُطَّwas drawn بِالقَلَمِwith a pen
إِلى ذي مَراهيطٍ كَما خُطَّ بِالقَلَمِ
Do you recognize a campsite's trace between Rahman and al-Raqam,
Do you know a symbol between uncertainties? Like a number
to Dhu Marahit, as though drawn with a pen?
Written to one with scrolls as if drawn with a pen
عَفَتهُeffaced it رِياحُthe winds الصَيفِof summer بَعديafter me بِمورِهاwith their swirling
عَفَتهُ رِياحُ الصَيفِ بَعدي بِمورِها
وَأَندِيَةُand the rains الجَوزاءِof al-Jawza بِالوَبلِwith downpours وَالدِيَمand steady rains
وَأَندِيَةُ الجَوزاءِ بِالوَبلِ وَالدِيَم
The summer winds effaced it after I left, with their swirling,
Its chastity was blown away by summer winds afterwards
and al-Jawza's rains, with downpours and steady showers.
And the valleys of Gemini with mud and blood
دِيارُthe dwellings of الَّتيher who بَتَّتcut قُواناour cords وَصَرَّمَتand severed
دِيارُ الَّتي بَتَّت قُوانا وَصَرَّمَت
وَكُنتُand I would إِذاwhen ماever الحَبلُthe cord مِنfrom خُلَّةٍa beloved صَرَمwas severed
وَكُنتُ إِذا ما الحَبلُ مِن خُلَّةٍ صَرَم
The dwellings of her who cut our cords and severed them.
The abode that pitched its tents and became desolate
And I would, whenever the cord with a beloved was severed,
And I was, when the rope was loose from the tent peg
فَزِعتُI sought refuge إِلىto وَجناءَa stout-cheeked she-camel حَرفٍlean and hardy كَأَنَّهاas though she
فَزِعتُ إِلى وَجناءَ حَرفٍ كَأَنَّها
بِأَقَرابِهاon her flanks قارٌtar إِذاwhen جِلدُهاher hide اِستَحَمgrew sweaty
بِأَقَرابِها قارٌ إِذا جِلدُها اِستَحَم
seek refuge with a stout-cheeked, lean she-camel, as though
Terrified, to the vicinity of a ruin as if it
tar lay on her flanks whenever her hide grew sweaty.
With its relatives, cooing when its skin is bathed
أَلاtake heed أَبلِغاyou two, tell هذاthis المُعَرِّضِinsinuator أَنَّهُthat he
أَلا أَبلِغا هذا المُعَرِّضِ أَنَّهُ
أَيَقظانَwas he awake? قالَhe spoke القَولَthe words إِذwhen قالَhe spoke أَمor حَلَمhe dreamed
أَيَقظانَ قالَ القَولَ إِذ قالَ أَم حَلَم
Now, you two, tell this man who makes insinuations:
Shall I convey this disregarder that he
Was he awake when he uttered those words, or was he dreaming?
Spoke words awake or was it a dream?
فَإِنso if تَسأَلِyou ask الأَقوامَthe peoples عَنّيabout me فَإِنَّنيthen indeed I
فَإِن تَسأَلِ الأَقوامَ عَنّي فَإِنَّني
أَناI اِبنُson of أَبيAbu سُلمىSulma عَلىin رَغمِdefiance of مَنwhoever زَعَمclaimed
أَنا اِبنُ أَبي سُلمى عَلى رَغمِ مَن زَعَم
If you ask the peoples about me, then indeed I—
If you ask people about me, I am
I am the son of Abu Sulma, despite whoever claims otherwise.
The son of Abi Sulma, despite him who presumes
أَناI اِبنُson of الَّذيhim who قَدindeed عاشَlived تِسعينَninety حِجَّةًyears
أَنا اِبنُ الَّذي قَد عاشَ تِسعينَ حِجَّةً
فَلَمso never يَخزَsuffered disgrace يَوماًon any day فيamong مَعَدٍّMa'add وَلَمnor يُلَمwas blamed
فَلَم يَخزَ يَوماً في مَعَدٍّ وَلَم يُلَم
I am the son of him who lived ninety years,
I am the son of him who lived ninety pilgrimages
and was never disgraced among Ma'add, nor reproached.
Yet never failed a day out of spite or blame
وَأَكرَمَهُand honored him الأَكفاءُhis peers فيin كُلِّevery مَعشَرٍcompany
وَأَكرَمَهُ الأَكفاءُ في كُلِّ مَعشَرٍ
كِرامٍof noble men فَإِنso if كَذَّبتَنيyou call me a liar فَاِسأَلِthen ask الأُمَمthe peoples
كِرامٍ فَإِن كَذَّبتَني فَاِسأَلِ الأُمَم
And his peers honored him in every company
The noble honored him in every gathering
of noble men; if you call me a liar, ask the peoples.
Of prestige, and if you doubt me, then ask the nations
أَتىreached العُجمَthe non-Arabs وَالآفاقَand the horizons مِنهُfrom him قَصائِدٌpoems
أَتى العُجمَ وَالآفاقَ مِنهُ قَصائِدٌ
بَقينَthey endured بَقاءَwith the endurance of الوَحيِinscriptions فيin الحَجَرِthe stone الأَصَمsolid
بَقينَ بَقاءَ الوَحيِ في الحَجَرِ الأَصَم
His poems reached non-Arabs and distant horizons;
Poems of his reached non-Arabs and horizons
they endured as inscriptions endure in solid stone.
Remaining like Quranic revelation in solid stone
أَناI اِبنُson of الَّذيhim who لَمdid not يُخزِنيdisgrace me فيin حَياتِهِhis lifetime
أَنا اِبنُ الَّذي لَم يُخزِني في حَياتِهِ
وَلَمnor did أُخزِهُI disgrace him حَتّىuntil تَغَيَّبَhe vanished فيin الرَجَمthe stone-covered grave
وَلَم أُخزِهُ حَتّى تَغَيَّبَ في الرَجَم
I am the son of him who never disgraced me in his lifetime,
I am the son of him who did not humiliate me in his life
nor did I disgrace him before he vanished beneath the grave-stones.
Nor did I humiliate him until he disappeared into the grave
فَأُعطِيَso he was granted حَتّىuntil ماتَhe died مالاًwealth وَهِمَّةًand lofty ambition
فَأُعطِيَ حَتّى ماتَ مالاً وَهِمَّةً
وَوَرَّثَنيand bequeathed me إِذwhen وَدَّعَhe bade farewell المَجدَglory وَالكَرَمand generosity
وَوَرَّثَني إِذ وَدَّعَ المَجدَ وَالكَرَم
So he was granted wealth and lofty ambition until he died,
He was given wealth and ambition until he died
and, when he bade farewell, bequeathed me glory and generosity.
And left me glory and nobility when he bid farewell
وَكانَand he used to يُحاميdefend حينَwhen تَنزِلُdescends لَزبَةٌdire hardship
وَكانَ يُحامي حينَ تَنزِلُ لَزبَةٌ
مِنَfrom الدَهرِfortune فيupon ذُبيانَDhubyan إِنif حَوضُهاits watering-pool اِنهَدَمcollapsed
مِنَ الدَهرِ في ذُبيانَ إِن حَوضُها اِنهَدَم
And he would stand in defense when dire hardship fell
He would defend when misfortunes descended
from fortune upon Dhubyan, if its watering-pool collapsed.
From fate upon his horses even if their troughs crumbled
أَقولُI utter شَبيهاتٍsimilar verses بِماto what قالَhe said عالِماًknowing
أَقولُ شَبيهاتٍ بِما قالَ عالِماً
بِهِنَّof them وَمَنand whoever يُشبِهresembles أَباهُhis father فَماthen has not ظَلَمdone wrong
بِهِنَّ وَمَن يُشبِه أَباهُ فَما ظَلَم
I utter verses like those he uttered, knowing
I speak similitudes to what a scholar said
them; and whoever resembles his father has done no wrong.
With them, and he who emulates his father is not unjust
وَأَشبَهتُهُand I resembled him مِنfrom بَينِamong مَنthose who وَطِئَtrod الحَصىthe pebbles
وَأَشبَهتُهُ مِن بَينِ مَن وَطِئَ الحَصى
وَلَمand did not يَنتَزِعنيdraw me away شِبهُa resemblance to خالٍa maternal uncle وَلاnor اِبنِthe son of عَمّa paternal uncle
وَلَم يَنتَزِعني شِبهُ خالٍ وَلا اِبنِ عَمّ
And of all who tread the pebbles, I have taken after him,
I resembled him from between those who stepped on pebbles
nor has likeness to a maternal uncle or paternal cousin drawn me away.
No resemblance of an uncle or cousin pulled me away
إِذاwhen شِئتُI wish أَعلَكتُI make it chew الجَموحَthe unruly horse إِذاwhen بَدَتappeared
إِذا شِئتُ أَعلَكتُ الجَموحَ إِذا بَدَت
نَواجِذُthe molars of لَحيَيهِits two jaws بِأَغلَظِon the toughest of ماwhat عَجَمit has bitten
نَواجِذُ لَحيَيهِ بِأَغلَظِ ما عَجَم
When I wish, I make the unruly horse chew—when it bares
When I desire, I restrain the unruly when
the molars of its jaws—on the toughest thing it has ever bitten.
The ends of his beard bristle with the harshest Arabic
أَعَيَّرتَنيdo you reproach me for عِزّاًhonor عَزيزاًunassailable ومَعشَراًand a company
أَعَيَّرتَني عِزّاً عَزيزاً ومَعشَراً
كِراماًof noble men بَنواthey built لِيَfor me المَجدَglory فيat باذِخٍa towering height أَشَمlofty
كِراماً بَنوا لِيَ المَجدَ في باذِخٍ أَشَم
Do you reproach me for unassailable honor and a company
You vilified me a dear and noble lineage and people
of noble men, who built my glory at a towering, lofty height?
Who built glory for me in a splendid towering peak
هُمُthey الأَصلُthe roots مِنّيof mine حَيثُwherever كُنتُI am وَإِنَّنيand indeed I
هُمُ الأَصلُ مِنّي حَيثُ كُنتُ وَإِنَّني
مِنَof المُزنِيّينَthe Muzaynis المُصَفّينَmade pure بِالكَرَمby nobility
مِنَ المُزنِيّينَ المُصَفّينَ بِالكَرَم
They are my roots wherever I am; and indeed I am
They are my origin wherever I was and I
of the Muzaynis, made pure by nobility.
Am from the refined, noble Muzaynah
هُمُthey ضَربوكُمstruck you حينَwhen جُرتُمyou strayed عَنِfrom الهُدىright guidance
هُمُ ضَربوكُم حينَ جُرتُم عَنِ الهُدى
بِأَسيافِهمِwith their swords حَتّىuntil اِستَقَمتُمyou kept straight عَلىupon القِيَمthe upright way
بِأَسيافِهمِ حَتّى اِستَقَمتُم عَلى القِيَم
They struck you when you strayed from right guidance,
They are the ones who struck you when you deviated
with their swords, until you kept to the upright way.
From the right path with their swords until you straightened upon the straight
وَساقَتكَand drove you مِنهُمfrom among them عُصبَةٌa band خِندَفِيَّةٌof Khindif
وَساقَتكَ مِنهُم عُصبَةٌ خِندَفِيَّةٌ
فَماso not لَكَfor you فيهِمamong them قَيدُthe span of كَفٍّa palm وَلاnor قَدَمa foot
فَما لَكَ فيهِم قَيدُ كَفٍّ وَلا قَدَم
And a Khindifi band from among them drove you,
And a lowly gang from them led you astray
so you have among them not a palm's breadth, nor a foot's length.
So you have no ties or foothold among them
هُمُthey مَنَعواdefended حَزنَthe rugged ground of الحِجازِthe Hijaz وَسَهلَهُand its plains
هُمُ مَنَعوا حَزنَ الحِجازِ وَسَهلَهُ
قَديماًlong ago وَهُمand they أَجلَواexpelled أَباكَyour father عَنِfrom الحَرَمthe Sanctuary
قَديماً وَهُم أَجلَوا أَباكَ عَنِ الحَرَم
They defended the rugged ground of the Hijaz and its plains
They are the ones who prevented the sorrow of Hejaz and its plains
long ago; and they drove your father out of the Sanctuary.
Long ago, and they are the ones who prevented your father from the sanctuary
هُمُthey اأُسدُlions عِندَin البَأسِbattle وَالحَشدُand lavish hosts فيin القِرىhospitality
هُمُ اأُسدُ عِندَ البَأسِ وَالحَشدُ في القِرى
وَهُمand they عِندَwhen عَقدِthe covenant of الجارِthe protected neighbor يَوفونkeep faith بِالذِمَمwith the pledges
وَهُم عِندَ عَقدِ الجارِ يَوفون بِالذِمَم
They are lions in battle and lavish hosts in hospitality,
They are lions in valor and the army in villages
and when they pledge protection to a neighbor, they honor their covenants.
And they are true to their word when binding a pact with a neighbor
فَكَمand how many فيهِمُamong them مِنof سَيِّدٍa chief مُتَوَسِّعٍopenhanded
فَكَم فيهِمُ مِن سَيِّدٍ مُتَوَسِّعٍ
وَمِنand of فاعِلٍa doer لِلخَيرِof good إِنif هَمَّhe intends أَوor عَزَمhe resolves
وَمِن فاعِلٍ لِلخَيرِ إِن هَمَّ أَو عَزَم
And how many openhanded chiefs are among them,
So how many noble, generous men are among them
and doers of good whenever they intend or resolve!
And those who do good, whether they desire or intend
مَتىwhenever أَدَعُI call فيamong أَوسٍAws وَعُثمانَand Uthman يَأتِنيcome to me
مَتى أَدَعُ في أَوسٍ وَعُثمانَ يَأتِني
مَساعيرُfirebrands حَربٍof war كُلُّهُمall of them سادَةٌchiefs دِعَمpillars
مَساعيرُ حَربٍ كُلُّهُم سادَةٌ دِعَم
Whenever I call among Aws and Uthman, there come to me
When will Aus and Othman cease coming to me
firebrands of war, all of them chiefs and pillars.
With sparks of war, all of them eminent pillars?
Sol 6.1