وَيَومٍ عَسولِ الآلِ حامٍ كَأَنَّما

وَيَومٍ عَسولِ الآلِ حامٍ كَأَنَّما

لَظى شَمسِهِ مَشبوبُ نارٍ تَلَهَّبُ

لَظى شَمسِهِ مَشبوبُ نارٍ تَلَهَّبُ

And on a scorching day of wavering mirage, as though

On a day of stifling heat like flames

Its sun’s blaze were a kindled fire flaring up,

That scorch with blazing fire

نَصَبنا لَهُ مِنّا الوُجوهَ وَكِنُّها

نَصَبنا لَهُ مِنّا الوُجوهَ وَكِنُّها

عَصائِبُ أَسمالٍ بِها نَتَعَصَّبُ

عَصائِبُ أَسمالٍ بِها نَتَعَصَّبُ

We exposed our faces to it; their shelter was

We turned our faces towards it

Bands of tattered cloth with which we bound our heads.

Veils of dark wool donned zealously

إِلى المُجتَدى مَعنٍ تَخَطَّت رِكابُنا

إِلى المُجتَدى مَعنٍ تَخَطَّت رِكابُنا

تَنائِفَ فيما بَينَها الريحُ تَلغَبُ

تَنائِفَ فيما بَينَها الريحُ تَلغَبُ

Toward Ma‘n, whose bounty is sought, our riding camels crossed

To the appointed place of flowing purpose

Trackless wastes, across whose reaches even the wind grows weary.

Our mounts raced, winds swirling between

كَأَنَّ دَليلَ القَومِ بَينَ سُهوبِها

كَأَنَّ دَليلَ القَومِ بَينَ سُهوبِها

طَريدُ دَمٍ مِن خَشيَةِ المَوتِ يَهرُبُ

طَريدُ دَمٍ مِن خَشيَةِ المَوتِ يَهرُبُ

As though the company’s guide amid their open plains

As if the people’s guide amid the flatlands

Were a man pursued for blood vengeance, fleeing in fear of death.

Was prey fleeing mortal dread

بَدَأنا عَلَيها وَهِيَ ذاتُ عَجارِفٍ

بَدَأنا عَلَيها وَهِيَ ذاتُ عَجارِفٍ

تَقاذَفُ صُعراً في البُرى حينَ تُجذَبُ

تَقاذَفُ صُعراً في البُرى حينَ تُجذَبُ

We set out upon them while they were full of unruliness,

We began the journey over restless sands

Tossing about with necks askew against the nose-rings when tugged.

Tossed in turmoil when pulled along

فَما بَلَغَت صَنعاءَ حَتّى تَبَدَّلَت

فَما بَلَغَت صَنعاءَ حَتّى تَبَدَّلَت

حُلوماً وَقَد كانَتَ مِنَ الجَهلِ تَشغَبُ

حُلوماً وَقَد كانَتَ مِنَ الجَهلِ تَشغَبُ

But before they reached Sana‘a they had acquired

Before reaching Sana’a, minds were changed

Forbearance, though once they had been unruly out of folly.

From ignorance to grace and calm

إِلى بابِ مَعنٍ يَنتَهي كُلُّ راغِبٍ

إِلى بابِ مَعنٍ يَنتَهي كُلُّ راغِبٍ

يُرَجّى النَدى أَو خائِفٍ يَتَرَقَّبُ

يُرَجّى النَدى أَو خائِفٍ يَتَرَقَّبُ

To Ma‘n’s door comes every seeker

To the gate of meaning every seeker comes

Given hope of bounty, or every fearful man keeping anxious watch.

Awaiting rain or watching anxiously

جَرى سابِقاً مَعنُ بن زائِدَةَ الَّذي

جَرى سابِقاً مَعنُ بن زائِدَةَ الَّذي

بِهِ يَفخَرُ الحَيّانِ بَكرٌ وَتَغلِبُ

بِهِ يَفخَرُ الحَيّانِ بَكرٌ وَتَغلِبُ

Ma‘n ibn Za’idah ran ahead, he

Ma'n bin Zaida, foremost of the tribe

In whom the two tribes, Bakr and Taghlib, take pride.

Whose valor Bakr and Taghlib sing

فَبَرَّزَ حَتّى ما يُجارى وَإِنَّما

فَبَرَّزَ حَتّى ما يُجارى وَإِنَّما

إِلى عِرقِهِ يُمنى الجَوادُ وَيُنسَبُ

إِلى عِرقِهِ يُمنى الجَوادُ وَيُنسَبُ

So he outstripped all until none could match him; and only

Stepped forth peerless and unmatched

To its bloodline is the noble steed traced and ascribed.

As the steed traces its pedigree

مُحالِفُ صَولاتٍ تُميتُ وَنائِلٍ

مُحالِفُ صَولاتٍ تُميتُ وَنائِلٍ

يَريشُ فَما يَنفَكُّ يُرجى وَيُرهَبُ

يَريشُ فَما يَنفَكُّ يُرجى وَيُرهَبُ

An ally of onslaughts that kill, and of bounty

Ally of powerful feats that kill and achievements

That gives wings; so he never ceases to be hoped for and feared.

That shower glory, inspiring awe and dread