ألا طَرَقَت بَعدَ العِشاءِ جَنوبُ

ألا طَرَقَت بَعدَ العِشاءِ جَنوبُ

وَذَلكَ مِنها إِن عَجِبتَ عَجِيبُ

وَذَلكَ مِنها إِن عَجِبتَ عَجِيبُ

Lo, Janub came by night after nightfall,

Oh did she visit the tents after the evening feast, and that is wondrous if you are surprised.

and that from her, if you marvel, is marvelous.

And Mar passed by us, and I saw him, and Duwan spent an evening and slept below her and the scout.

تَسَدَّت وَمَرٌّ دونَنا وَأَراكُهُ

تَسَدَّت وَمَرٌّ دونَنا وَأَراكُهُ

وَدُونانُ أَمسَى دُونَها وَنَقيبُ

وَدُونانُ أَمسَى دُونَها وَنَقيبُ

She made her way, with Marr and its arak trees between us,

And we are in the desert plains of Hajun as if we are sick before their saddlebags, moaning.

and Dunan lay in her way that evening, and Naqib.

So she greeted the sleeping tents, but they did not return her greeting, and some of the ignoble showed ill-will.

وَنَحنُ بِبَطحَاءِ الحَجُونِ كأننا

وَنَحنُ بِبَطحَاءِ الحَجُونِ كأننا

مِراضٌ لَهُم وَسطَ الرِحالِ نَحيبُ

مِراضٌ لَهُم وَسطَ الرِحالِ نَحيبُ

We were on the broad valley floor of al-Hajun, as though

Indeed, she visited us from afar, and she is, in my knowledge, energetic to the night visitors.

ailing men whose sobs rose amid the saddles.

I love you as long as she leaned towards the valleys of Tuhama, as the she-camels with their returning calves moaned to their herds.

فَحَيَّت نِياماً لم يَرُدُّوا تَحِيَّةً

فَحَيَّت نِياماً لم يَرُدُّوا تَحِيَّةً

إِليها وَفي بَعضِ اللَمامِ شُغوبُ

إِليها وَفي بَعضِ اللَمامِ شُغوبُ

She greeted sleepers who returned no greeting

And as long as a cooing dove in a valley bottom responds to the evening caller.

to her—and in some fleeting visits there is vexation.

I am made to bend by shyness, so I bend, and sit, while the walk to you is near,

لَقَد طَرَقَتنَا في التَنائي وَإِنَها

لَقَد طَرَقَتنَا في التَنائي وَإِنَها

على القُربِ عِلمي للسُّرى لَهَيُوبُ

على القُربِ عِلمي للسُّرى لَهَيُوبُ

Indeed, she visited us by night while we were far apart, though she

And I come to houses around you that I do not like, and I increase abandoning the tent, and it is intimate.

even nearby, is, as I know, afraid of traveling at night.

And I wink at things from you that disturb me, and I pretend to what keeps you from me, so I respond.

أُحِبكِ ما حَنَّت بِغَورِ تُهامَةٍ

أُحِبكِ ما حَنَّت بِغَورِ تُهامَةٍ

إِلى البو مِقلاتُ النِتاجِ سَلُوبُ

إِلى البو مِقلاتُ النِتاجِ سَلُوبُ

I love you as long as, in Tihamah's lowlands, there moans

And I have not ceased remembering you, until it is as if I am a solicitor in the far sides of the abode.

toward a stuffed calfskin a bereaved she-camel whose calves do not live;

And as if I were, from passionate love of you, a solicitor in the desolate wilderness, a stranger.

وَما سَجَعَت مِن بَطنِ وادٍ حَمامَةٌ

وَما سَجَعَت مِن بَطنِ وادٍ حَمامَةٌ

يُجاوِبُها صاتُ العَشِيِّ طَرُوبُ

يُجاوِبُها صاتُ العَشِيِّ طَرُوبُ

and as long as a dove coos from a valley's hollow,

I confide in you what I experience, while in the soul there is a need for it, buzzing between my skin and bones.

answered by a rapturous evening caller.

When I visit you my visits are few, little hospitality appears from you to me.

وَإِني لَيَثنِيني الحَياءُ فَأَنثَني

وَإِني لَيَثنِيني الحَياءُ فَأَنثَني

وَأَقعُدُ والمَمشى إليكِ قَريبُ

وَأَقعُدُ والمَمشى إليكِ قَريبُ

Shyness indeed turns me back, and I turn away,

Explain to me if you depend on us with what I see of love, or if I am at fault with you.

and sit still, though the walk to you is short.

Explain to me, for I am either confused about my condition to you, or I am at fault so I will repent.

وَآتي بُيوتاً حَولَكُم لا أُحِبُّها

وَآتي بُيوتاً حَولَكُم لا أُحِبُّها

وَأُكثِرُ هَجرَ البَيتِ وَهوَ جَنِيبُ

وَأُكثِرُ هَجرَ البَيتِ وَهوَ جَنِيبُ

I visit houses around you that I do not love,

I swore, and there is no fault with a man who sees it, yet some oath takers are liars.

and often shun the house, though it is nearby.

By the Lord of the floating camels, and what Quraysh built and pilgrims donate and respond.

وَأُغضي على أَشياءَ مِنكِ تَريبُني

وَأُغضي على أَشياءَ مِنكِ تَريبُني

وَأُدعَي اِلى ما نَابَكُم فَأُجيبُ

وَأُدعَي اِلى ما نَابَكُم فَأُجيبُ

I overlook things from you that trouble me,

And the throwing of pebbles from Mina, where Iyad and Hamid circled, and Atayib stayed.

and when called to what befalls you, I answer.

The oath of a man who did not sin in it, a truthful one, and over the swearers a watcher.

وَما زِلتُ مِن ذِكراكِ حَتّى كَأَنَّني

وَما زِلتُ مِن ذِكراكِ حَتّى كَأَنَّني

أَميمٌ بِأَكنافِ الدِيارِ سَليبُ

أَميمٌ بِأَكنافِ الدِيارِ سَليبُ

I have dwelt on your memory until I seem

What a good host are those who visit his fire, and the resting place of the evening travelers while they are absent.

a man head-wounded and despoiled at the edges of the dwellings;

And the protector of the tribe’s fray, when successive double calamities and deep sorrows befall the people.

وَحَّتى كَأنّي مِن جَوَى الحُبِّ مِنكُمُ

وَحَّتى كَأنّي مِن جَوَى الحُبِّ مِنكُمُ

سَليبُ بِصَحراءِ البُرَيحِ غَريبُ

سَليبُ بِصَحراءِ البُرَيحِ غَريبُ

and until, from love's inward anguish for you, I seem

In any case, if a disaster pains us, while substitutions take turns.

a despoiled stranger in the desert of al-Burayh.

A young man whose silence is forbearance, and his speech is judicious, and in valor praised for his firmness.

أَبُثُّكِ ما أَلقى وَفي النَفسِ حاجَةٌ

أَبُثُّكِ ما أَلقى وَفي النَفسِ حاجَةٌ

لَها بَينَ جِلدي وَالعِظامِ دَبِيبُ

لَها بَينَ جِلدي وَالعِظامِ دَبِيبُ

I confide to you what I endure; in my soul is a longing

An orator who, if he one day speaks wisely, awe covers the porch, fearsome.

that creeps between my skin and bones.

Abundant in bounty, he brings bounty wherever he goes, and if he is absent, bounty is absent wherever he is absent.

أَراكُم إِذا ما زُرتُكُم وَزِيارَتي

أَراكُم إِذا ما زُرتُكُم وَزِيارَتي

قَليلٌ يُرَى فِيكُم إِلَيَّ قُطوبُ

قَليلٌ يُرَى فِيكُم إِلَيَّ قُطوبُ

When I see you on a visit—and my visits

A generous man of noble deeds, the noble do not see in him any flaw in his nobility and praiseworthy qualities.

are few—frowns toward me appear among you.

A father who refused to acknowledge tyranny, his heart is resolute against his enemies.

أَبِيني أَتعويلٌ عَلَينا بِما أَرَى

أَبِيني أَتعويلٌ عَلَينا بِما أَرَى

مِنَ الحُبِّ أَم عِندي إِلَيكِ ذُنوبُ

مِنَ الحُبِّ أَم عِندي إِلَيكِ ذُنوبُ

Tell me: is it reliance on us because of what I see

Turning his bright blue eyes above a hill, his tall neck reaching to the sky beneath him.

of love, or have I sins against you?

Tomorrow in a bright morning, the southern corners opened up for him after the pigeons returned.

أَبِيني فَإِما مُستَحيرٌ بِعِلَّةِ

أَبِيني فَإِما مُستَحيرٌ بِعِلَّةِ

عَلَيَّ وَإِمّا مُذنِبٌ فَأَتوبُ

عَلَيَّ وَإِمّا مُذنِبٌ فَأَتوبُ

Tell me: either I am bewildered by some fault

He picked the fruits of glory for Abu Hafs, a father who built beneath him difficulties for the builders.

laid against me, or I am guilty and will repent.

So this one builds upon the foundation of that one, both excellent and refined.

حَلَفتُ وَما بِالصِدقِ عَيبٌ عَلى اِمرِىءٍ

حَلَفتُ وَما بِالصِدقِ عَيبٌ عَلى اِمرِىءٍ

يَرَاهُ وَبَعضُ الحالِفينتَ كَذوبُ

يَرَاهُ وَبَعضُ الحالِفينتَ كَذوبُ

I swore—and truthfulness is no disgrace to a man

A grandfather whose father built the foundation, and each grew up cultured and lettered.

who recognizes it, though some oath-takers are liars—

So you follow their example, following in their footsteps. What they closed up is before you, and you come after.

بِرَبِّ المَطايا السَابِحاتِ وَما بَنَت

بِرَبِّ المَطايا السَابِحاتِ وَما بَنَت

قُرَيشٌ وَأَهدَت غَافِقٌ وَتُجِيبُ

قُرَيشٌ وَأَهدَت غَافِقٌ وَتُجِيبُ

by the Lord of the mounts that swim along, and of what

You came to imitate your father, just as your father imitated his father in his deeds and was successful.

Quraysh built and Ghafiq and Tujib brought as offerings;

You have become in the evening a heart growing in tenderness, just as hearts grow amongst the tender.

وَمُلقَى الوَلايا مِن مِنىً حَيثُ حَلَّقَت

وَمُلقَى الوَلايا مِن مِنىً حَيثُ حَلَّقَت

إيادٌ وَحَلَّت غامِدٌ وَعَتيبُ

إيادٌ وَحَلَّت غامِدٌ وَعَتيبُ

and by the place where saddlecloths are laid down at Mina, where

Your father is the father of rebels, so who are you making him out to be? Some fathers are refined.

Iyad shaved their heads, and Ghamid and 'Atib encamped—

You are the one purified from one side, then the other, and from over here, and your luck when you repent.

يَمينَ اِمرِىءٍ لَم يَغشَ فيها أَثيمَةً

يَمينَ اِمرِىءٍ لَم يَغشَ فيها أَثيمَةً

صَدوقٍ وَفَوقَ الحالِفَينَ رَقيبُ

صَدوقٍ وَفَوقَ الحالِفَينَ رَقيبُ

the oath of a man who committed no sin in it,

You gave support during the destruction of Malik's wealth, when a time of hardship befell the prosperous.

truthful, with a Watcher above those who swear:

You are the hoped for and the redeemer of the destroyed, and you are forbearing, beneficial, and successful.

لَنِعمَ أَبو الأَضيافِ يَغشَونَ نارَهُ

لَنِعمَ أَبو الأَضيافِ يَغشَونَ نارَهُ

وَمُلقى رِحالِ العيسِ وَهيَ لَغُوبُ

وَمُلقى رِحالِ العيسِ وَهيَ لَغُوبُ

How splendid a host to guests who approach his fire,

If only you did not neglect a friend or abandon a companion, or deprive a stranger in your midst.

a resting place for the saddles of weary pale camels,

You gave life to one whose wealth was dead, for one who is called upon but does not answer is dead.

وَمُختَبَطُ الجادي إذا ما تَتابَعَت

وَمُختَبَطُ الجادي إذا ما تَتابَعَت

عَلى النَاسِ مَثنى قَرَّةٍ وَجُدوبُ

عَلى النَاسِ مَثنى قَرَّةٍ وَجُدوبُ

and a patron sought by the seeker of bounty, when there follow

You fulfilled the noble qualities of the lofty, so you embodied them, as you are the mantle of the lofty.

upon the people repeated cold spells and droughts;

It is not the people who gave you the caliphate and piety, so do not thank them, the rewarder will reward you.

وَحامي ذِمارِ القومِ في ما يَنوبُهُم

وَحامي ذِمارِ القومِ في ما يَنوبُهُم

إذا ما اِعتَرَت بَعدَالخَطوبِ خُطوبُ

إذا ما اِعتَرَت بَعدَالخَطوبِ خُطوبُ

a defender of the people's honor in what befalls them,

Rather, it is a Knowing One who gave you that, a Bestower of the abundant and gifts.

when hardships come after hardships;

عَلى كُلِّ حالٍ إِن أَلَمَّت مُلِمَّةٌ

عَلى كُلِّ حالٍ إِن أَلَمَّت مُلِمَّةٌ

بِنا عُمَرٌ وَالنَّائِباتُ تَنوبُ

بِنا عُمَرٌ وَالنَّائِباتُ تَنوبُ

in every circumstance, whenever a calamity strikes

us—is Umar, while misfortunes come round.

فَتىً صَمتُهُ حِلمٌ وَفَصلٌ مَقالهُ

فَتىً صَمتُهُ حِلمٌ وَفَصلٌ مَقالهُ

وَفي البَأسِ مَحمودُ الثَناءِ صَليبُ

وَفي البَأسِ مَحمودُ الثَناءِ صَليبُ

A young man whose silence is forbearance and whose speech is decisive,

and in battle, well praised and resolute.

خَطيبٌ إِذا ما قالَ يوماً بِحِكمَةٍ

خَطيبٌ إِذا ما قالَ يوماً بِحِكمَةٍ

مِنَ القولِ مغشيُ الرَواقِ مَهيبُ

مِنَ القولِ مغشيُ الرَواقِ مَهيبُ

An orator, if some day he speaks with wisdom

in his words, with a thronged pavilion, commanding awe.

كَثيرُ النَدى يَأتي النَدى حَيثُما أَتى

كَثيرُ النَدى يَأتي النَدى حَيثُما أَتى

وَإِن غابَ غابَ العُرفُ حَيثُ يَغِيبُ

وَإِن غابَ غابَ العُرفُ حَيثُ يَغِيبُ

Abundant in generosity: generosity comes wherever he comes,

and when he goes away, kindness vanishes wherever he vanishes.

كَريمُ كِرَامٍ لا يُرى في ذوي النَدى

كَريمُ كِرَامٍ لا يُرى في ذوي النَدى

له في النَدى وَالمَأثُراتِ ضَريبُ

له في النَدى وَالمَأثُراتِ ضَريبُ

Noble among nobles; among the generous none is seen

to equal him in generosity and glorious deeds.

أَبيٌّ أبى أَن يَعرِف الضيمَ غالِبٌ

أَبيٌّ أبى أَن يَعرِف الضيمَ غالِبٌ

لأَعدَائه شَهمُ الفؤادِ أَريبُ

لأَعدَائه شَهمُ الفؤادِ أَريبُ

Unbowed, refusing to know oppression, victorious

over his enemies, stouthearted and discerning.

يقلِّبُ عَينَي أزرَقٍ فوقَ مَرقَبٍ

يقلِّبُ عَينَي أزرَقٍ فوقَ مَرقَبٍ

يَفاعٍ لَهُ دونَ السَماءِ لُصوبُ

يَفاعٍ لَهُ دونَ السَماءِ لُصوبُ

He turns a blue-eyed hawk's eyes atop a lookout,

a lofty height with narrow clefts beneath the sky.

غَدا في غَداةٍ قَرَّةٍ فاِنتَحَت لَهُ

غَدا في غَداةٍ قَرَّةٍ فاِنتَحَت لَهُ

عَلى إِثرِ وُرادِ الحَمَام جَنوبُ

عَلى إِثرِ وُرادِ الحَمَام جَنوبُ

It set out on a cold morning, and toward it blew

a south wind, in the wake of pigeons bound for water.

جَنى لأَبي حَفصٍ ذُرَى المَجدِ والدٌ

جَنى لأَبي حَفصٍ ذُرَى المَجدِ والدٌ

بَنى دونَهُ لِلبانِيَينِ صُعوبُ

بَنى دونَهُ لِلبانِيَينِ صُعوبُ

A father won for Abu Hafs the heights of glory,

building heights that other builders found hard to reach.

فَهذا على بنيانِ هَذاك يَبتَني

فَهذا على بنيانِ هَذاك يَبتَني

بُناهُ وَكُلٌّ مُنجِبٌ وَنَجيبُ

بُناهُ وَكُلٌّ مُنجِبٌ وَنَجيبُ

This one builds upon that one's structure

his own edifices; each begets noble offspring and is noble.

وَجَدٌّ أَبيهُ قَد يُنافي على البُنا

وَجَدٌّ أَبيهُ قَد يُنافي على البُنا

بُناهُ وَكُلٌّ شَبَّ وَهُوَ أَديبُ

بُناهُ وَكُلٌّ شَبَّ وَهُوَ أَديبُ

And his father's grandfather vies in building,

with his own edifices; each grew up cultivated.

فَأَنتَ عَلى مِنهاجِهم تَقتَتَدي بِهم

فَأَنتَ عَلى مِنهاجِهم تَقتَتَدي بِهم

أَمامَكَ ما سَدّوا وَأَنتَ عَقيبُ

أَمامَكَ ما سَدّوا وَأَنتَ عَقيبُ

You follow their path, taking them as your models,

their firm work before you, and you follow after.

فَأَصبَحتَ تَحذو مِن أَبيكَ كَما حَذا

فَأَصبَحتَ تَحذو مِن أَبيكَ كَما حَذا

أَبوكَ أَباهُ فِعلَهُ فَتُصيبُ

أَبوكَ أَباهُ فِعلَهُ فَتُصيبُ

You have come to follow your father's example, just as

your father followed his father's deeds, and so you do rightly.

وَأَمسَيتَ قَلباً نابِتاً في أَرومَةٍ

وَأَمسَيتَ قَلباً نابِتاً في أَرومَةٍ

كَما في الأَرُومِ النابِتاتِ قُلوبُ

كَما في الأَرُومِ النابِتاتِ قُلوبُ

You have become a heart growing in a rootstock,

just as growing rootstocks have their hearts.

أَبوكَ أَبو العاصي فَمَن أَنتَ جاعِلٌ

أَبوكَ أَبو العاصي فَمَن أَنتَ جاعِلٌ

إِلَيهِ وَبَعضُ الوَالِدَينِ نَجيبُ

إِلَيهِ وَبَعضُ الوَالِدَينِ نَجيبُ

Your father is Abu al-'Asi; whom will you set

beside him? Some parents are nobly born.

وَأَنتَ المُنقّى مِن هُنا ثُمَّ مِن هُنا

وَأَنتَ المُنقّى مِن هُنا ثُمَّ مِن هُنا

وَمِن هاهُنا وَالسَّعدكُ حينَ تؤوبُ

وَمِن هاهُنا وَالسَّعدكُ حينَ تؤوبُ

You are of pure stock from this side, then from that,

and from here too; good fortune is yours when you return.

أَقَمتَ بِهَلكى مالكٍ حينَ عَضَّهُم

أَقَمتَ بِهَلكى مالكٍ حينَ عَضَّهُم

زَمَانٌ يَعُرُّ الواجِدينَ عَصيبُ

زَمَانٌ يَعُرُّ الواجِدينَ عَصيبُ

You stood by Malik's ruined folk when they were bitten

by a harsh age that afflicts men of means.

وَأنتَ المُرَجَّى والمُفَدّى لِهالِك

وَأنتَ المُرَجَّى والمُفَدّى لِهالِك

وَأَنتَ حَليمٌ نافِعٌ وَمُصيبُ

وَأَنتَ حَليمٌ نافِعٌ وَمُصيبُ

You are the hoped-for one, worth ransom to a ruined man,

and you are forbearing, beneficial, and sound in judgment.

وَلِيتَ فَلَم تُغفِل صَديقاً وَلَم تَدَع

وَلِيتَ فَلَم تُغفِل صَديقاً وَلَم تَدَع

رَفيقاً وَلَم يُحرَم لَدَيكَ غَريبُ

رَفيقاً وَلَم يُحرَم لَدَيكَ غَريبُ

You assumed authority, neglecting no friend and forsaking no

companion; no stranger was denied in your presence.

وَأَحييتَ مَن قَد كانَ مَوَّتَ مالَهُ

وَأَحييتَ مَن قَد كانَ مَوَّتَ مالَهُ

فِإِن مُت مَن يُدعى لَهُ فَيُجِيبُ

فِإِن مُت مَن يُدعى لَهُ فَيُجِيبُ

You revived one who had exhausted his wealth;

if you die, who will be called for him and answer?

قَضَيتَ لِسَوراتِ العُلا فَاِحتَويتَها

قَضَيتَ لِسَوراتِ العُلا فَاِحتَويتَها

وَأَنتَ لِسَوراتِ العَلاءِ كَسُوبُ

وَأَنتَ لِسَوراتِ العَلاءِ كَسُوبُ

You attained the heights of eminence and made them yours,

and you are ever winning the lofty ranks of glory.

وَمَا النَاس أَعطَوكَ الخِلافَةَ والتُقى

وَمَا النَاس أَعطَوكَ الخِلافَةَ والتُقى

وَلا أَنتَ فاِشكُرهُ يُثِبكَ مُثيبُ

وَلا أَنتَ فاِشكُرهُ يُثِبكَ مُثيبُ

It was not people who gave you the caliphate and piety,

nor you yourself; thank Him, and the Rewarder will reward you.

وَلَكنَما أَعطاكَ ذلِكَ عالمٌ

وَلَكنَما أَعطاكَ ذلِكَ عالمٌ

بِما فيكَ مُعطٍ لِلجَزيلِ وَهوبُ

بِما فيكَ مُعطٍ لِلجَزيلِ وَهوبُ

Rather, that was given you by One who knows

what is in you, a Giver of abundance, ever bountiful.