ماnot أنكرتْshe rejected إلاexcept البياضَthe white hair فصدّتِso she turned away
ما أنكرتْ إلا البياضَ فصدّتِ
وهيand she التيwho جَنَتِbrought on المشيبَthe gray hair هيshe التيwho
وهي التي جَنَتِ المشيبَ هي التي
She rejected nothing but the white hair, and turned away.
She denied naught but hoariness, yet she herself
Yet she herself brought on the gray—she herself!
Was the one whose tresses grizzled. She the roan -
غَرّاءُa radiant beauty يَشْعَفُcaptivates قلبَهاher heart فيupon نحرِهاher bosom
غَرّاءُ يَشْعَفُ قلبَها في نحرِها
وجَبينِهاand her forehead ماwhat ساءنيdistressed me فيin لِمَّتيmy locks
وجَبينِها ما ساءني في لِمَّتي
A radiant beauty, whose heart adores upon her bosom
Her breast quivers in her throat, while her brow,
and forehead what distressed me in my locks.
Not my wrapping perturbed me.
لولاwere it not for الخلافُcontrariness وأخذُهنّand their adherence بدينِهto its creed
لولا الخلافُ وأخذُهنّ بدينِه
لمnot تكلَفwould dote البيضاءُthe fair woman بالمُسوَّدةِon the dark locks
لم تكلَف البيضاءُ بالمُسوَّدةِ
Were it not for contrariness, and their adherence to its creed,
Were it not for schism and their clinging to their faith,
the fair one would not dote on dark locks.
The white-skinned would not be burdened with the black.
أأنستِdid you feel at home حينwhen سَريتِyou journeyed by night فيthrough ظَلمائهاtheir darkness
أأنستِ حين سَريتِ في ظَلمائها
ونفرتِand you recoiled أنbecause طلعتْrose عليكupon you أهلَّتيmy crescent moons
ونفرتِ أن طلعتْ عليك أهلَّتي
Did you feel at home when you journeyed through their darkness,
Have you forgotten when you walked in its darkness
yet recoil when my crescent moons rose upon you?
And were alarmed when my kinsmen came upon you?
ولقدand indeed علمتِyou knew وعهدُand the tryst of رامةَRāma عهدُناwas our tryst
ولقد علمتِ وعهدُ رامةَ عهدُنا
فَتيْينas two youths أنِّيthat I لمnot أشبْturned gray منfrom كَبرةِold age
فَتيْين أنِّي لم أشبْ من كَبرةِ
You knew—our tryst at Rāma was our tryst
And you knew - the pact of Ráma is our pact -
as two youths—that I had not turned gray from age.
Two lads. I have never aged from great eld.
وإذاand if عددتِyou counted سِنيَّmy years لمnot أكwould I be صاعداًreaching
وإذا عددتِ سِنيَّ لم أك صاعداً
عَددَthe number of الأنابيبthe joints التيwhich فيin صَعدتيmy spear
عَددَ الأنابيب التي في صَعدتي
If you counted my years, I would not have reached
And if you count my years, I am not yet
the number of joints in my spear.
Rising to the number in my grizzled locks,
أَجنيتُهاI reaped it منthrough خَلَّةٍa beloved فيin مَفرِقيmy hair's parting
أَجنيتُها من خَلَّةٍ في مَفرِقي
مَيلاءَa swaying beauty نادتهاcalled her الديارُher homeland فلبّتِand she answered
مَيلاءَ نادتها الديارُ فلبّتِ
I reaped it in my parting through a beloved,
Which I reaped from a mole on my temple,
a swaying beauty: her homeland called her, and she answered.
Calling them hoary; so the home answered its call.
وألامand I am blamed فيكِfor you وفيكِand for you شِبتُI turned gray علىdespite الصِّباyouth
وألام فيكِ وفيكِ شِبتُ على الصِّبا
ياO جَورَthe injustice of لائمتيmy censurer عليكover you ولِمّتيand my locks
يا جَورَ لائمتي عليك ولِمّتي
I am blamed for you, and for you I turned gray while young.
Oh would that there were a return of nights with trysts,
O the injustice of my censurer over you, and of my locks!
Or a glance toward the valley of Miná!
وحننتُand I yearned نحوكِtoward you حَنَّةًa yearning عربيّةًArab
وحننتُ نحوكِ حَنَّةً عربيّةً
عِيبتit was censured وتُعذرُwhile is excused ناقةٌa she-camel إنif حنّتِshe yearns
عِيبت وتُعذرُ ناقةٌ إن حنّتِ
I yearned toward you with an Arab yearning;
And night-fires and every fiery site
it was censured, though a she-camel is excused when she yearns.
Their embers kindle in the heart.
ماذاwhat علىis upon الغضبانِthe angry one ماnot استرفدتهُI asked him for
ماذا على الغضبانِ ما استرفدتهُ
دمعاًtears ولاnor استوقفتُهُdid I ask him to halt منbecause of وقفتيmy halting
دمعاً ولا استوقفتُهُ من وقفتي
What grievance has the angry one? I never begged him for
And to hunt them is sacrilege—
tears, nor asked him to halt because I halted.
Fair to them are those blood-prices paid!
أبغيI seek الشفاءَhealing بذكرهby recalling him مِنfrom مُسقِميthe one who sickens me
أبغي الشفاءَ بذكره مِن مُسقِمي
عجباًhow strange لمنfor one who هوhe علّتيmy sickness وتعلّتيand my solace
عجباً لمن هو علّتي وتعلّتي
By recalling him, I seek healing from the one who sickens me.
With heart of raging lion she judged me,
How strange: he is my sickness and my solace!
And glanced at me with eye of wild roe let loose.
ياah هلْis there لليلاتٍfor little nights بجَمعٍat Jamʿ عودةٌa return
يا هلْ لليلاتٍ بجَمعٍ عودةٌ
أمor هلis there إلىtoward واديthe valley of مِنىًMinā منany نظرةِglimpse
أم هل إلى وادي مِنىً من نظرةِ
Ah, can those nights at Jamʿ return,
And I saw Umm al-Khashaf chant her ode:
or one more glimpse of the valley of Minā?
"Are you she who stole the gazelle’s eye?"
والحاصباتِand the pebble-throwing women وكلُّand every مَوقعlanding-place of جمرةٍa pebble
والحاصباتِ وكلُّ مَوقع جمرةٍ
يَنبدْنَهاthey cast it فيin القلبِthe heart مَوقِدُa hearth for جمرةِan ember
يَنبدْنَها في القلبِ مَوقِدُ جمرةِ
And the women casting pebbles! Each landing-place of a pebble
They freed the riding-beasts from the train, so they shied off,
they toss is, in the heart, a hearth for an ember.
Stilling my ribs with the first shy.
ومِنand among المحرَّمthose forbidden صيدُهنّto hunt them خليعةًa wanton maid
ومِن المحرَّم صيدُهنّ خليعةً
طابتseemed sweet لهاto her تلكthat الدماءُbloodshed وحَلَّتِand became lawful
طابت لها تلك الدماءُ وحَلَّتِ
And one whom it is forbidden to hunt is a wanton maid;
They lifted the tent-pegs—and every seeker of temptation
she found that blood sweet and lawful.
Yearns for you, while you alone are my temptation.
حكمتْshe ruled عليكover you بقلبِwith the heart of ليثٍa lion مُخدِرٍin its lair
حكمتْ عليك بقلبِ ليثٍ مُخدِرٍ
ورنتْand she gazed إليكat you بعينwith the eye of ظبيٍa gazelle مُفلِتِescaping
ورنتْ إليك بعين ظبيٍ مُفلِتِ
She ruled you with the heart of a lion in its lair,
No barren woman has usurped your place from me.
and gazed at you with the eye of an escaping gazelle.
All the heart is the portion of her who is most fertile.
ورأيتُand I saw أمَّthe mother of الخشفِthe fawn تَنشُدseeking بيتهاher home
ورأيتُ أمَّ الخشفِ تَنشُد بيتها
أفأنتِwas it you تلكthat one سرقتِwho stole عينَthe eye of الظبيةِthe gazelle
أفأنتِ تلك سرقتِ عينَ الظبيةِ
I saw the fawn's mother seeking her home:
You who blame my sitting gathering
was it you who stole the gazelle's eye?
While earth’s expanses spread for my rising up,
نَشطُواthey untied عنfrom الركبthe caravan الحبالَthe ropes فنفَّرواand sent fleeing
نَشطُوا عن الركب الحبالَ فنفَّروا
سكناتِthe calm of أضلاعيmy ribs بأوّلِat the first نفرةِdeparture
سكناتِ أضلاعي بأوّلِ نفرةِ
They untied the caravan's ropes, and sent fleeing
And see men all propagating
all calm within my ribs at their first departure.
With friends, then blame me for my solitude,
رفعواthey lifted القبابَthe pavilions وكلُّand every طالبِseeker of فتنةٍenchantment
رفعوا القبابَ وكلُّ طالبِ فتنةٍ
يرنوgazes إليكِat you وأنتِand you وحدكِalone فتنتيare my enchantment
يرنو إليكِ وأنتِ وحدكِ فتنتي
They lifted the pavilions; every seeker of enchantment
Excuse your brother, for no sun-filled place is abandoned
gazes at you, and you alone are my enchantment.
Till umbrella’s shade contracts from it.
لاmay not استوطأَتْsettle comfortably منّيwithin me مكانَكِin your place خُلَّةٌa beloved
لا استوطأَتْ منّي مكانَكِ خُلَّةٌ
كلُّall الفؤادthe heart نصيبُis the portion of ذاتِthe lady of الكِلّةِthe gauze canopy
كلُّ الفؤاد نصيبُ ذاتِ الكِلّةِ
May no other beloved settle in your place within me!
How can I admit the friend and how can I
My whole heart belongs to the lady of the gauze canopy.
Distinguish ‘twixt my love from my hate?
ياO منone who يلومblames علىfor اجتماعيmy staying huddled قاعداًsitting
يا من يلوم على اجتماعي قاعداً
والأرضُwhile the earth واسعةُhas ample الفُروجِopen paths لنهضتيfor my setting forth
والأرضُ واسعةُ الفُروجِ لنهضتي
You who blame me for sitting huddled,
Yet my enemies’ hearts which I dread
though earth has ample paths for my setting forth,
Are fettered for me in bodies of loved ones.
ويَرَىand sees الرجالَmen وكلُّهمand each of them متكثِّرincreasing his numbers
ويَرَى الرجالَ وكلُّهم متكثِّر
بصحابةٍwith companions فيلومنيand blames me فيfor وَحدتيmy solitude
بصحابةٍ فيلومني في وَحدتي
and see men, each enlarging his numbers
Mirage danced, distracting me from dancer—
with companions, and blame me for my solitude:
Its affection shed behind a smile.
اُعذُرْforgive أخاكyour brother فماfor not تهجَّرdid he venture at noon مُشمِساًinto the sun
اُعذُرْ أخاك فما تهجَّر مُشمِساً
حتىuntil تقلَّصshrank away عنهfrom him ظلُّthe shade of الدَّوحةِthe great tree
حتى تقلَّص عنه ظلُّ الدَّوحةِ
forgive your brother: he did not venture into the midday sun
And I saw a gaper I thought puckering for my kiss.
until the great tree's shade had shrunk away from him.
It was but a yawn, while I leaned in for one!
كيفhow اعترافيam I to recognize بالصديقa friend وكيفand how ليcan I
كيف اعترافي بالصديق وكيف لي
بالفرقmake the distinction بينbetween محبتيthose who love me منand بِغضتيthose who hate me
بالفرق بين محبتي من بِغضتي
How am I to recognize a friend, and how can I
Time bore the treacherous—I see not
tell those who love me from those who hate me,
A mother of loyalty but the pathetic blinking doe.
وقلوبُand the hearts of أعدائيmy enemies الذينwhom أخافُهمI fear
وقلوبُ أعدائي الذين أخافُهم
مغلولةٌbound in rancor لِيَtoward me فيwithin جسومthe bodies of أحبَّتيmy loved ones
مغلولةٌ لِيَ في جسوم أحبَّتي
when the hearts of the enemies I fear
And I jested that the base have grown fat, but in truth
lie locked against me in the bodies of my loved ones?
Ambitions’ abasement eroded my pride’s height.
رَقَصdanced السرابُthe mirage فراقنيand charmed me منas راقصٍa dancer
رَقَص السرابُ فراقني من راقصٍ
كَشَرتْbared its teeth مودّتهُhis affection وراءَbehind الضَّحكةِthe smile
كَشَرتْ مودّتهُ وراءَ الضَّحكةِ
The mirage danced: how that dancer charmed me,
Each body has its woe in leanness,
whose affection bared its teeth behind its smile!
And my body’s bane is imbalance in my resolve.
ورأيتُand I saw فاغرةًa gaping mouth ظننتُI thought كُشورَهاits baring of teeth
ورأيتُ فاغرةً ظننتُ كُشورَها
طلباًa desire لتقبيليto kiss me فكانbut it was لنهستيto bite me
طلباً لتقبيلي فكان لنهستي
I saw a gaping mouth and thought its bared teeth
The false suppositions speak truth
sought to kiss me, but they meant to bite me.
In al-Husayn, and excellence she declared!
وَلَدَbegot الزمانُTime الغادرينthe traitors فماso not أرىdo I see
وَلَدَ الزمانُ الغادرين فما أرى
أمَّa mother of الوفاءloyalty سوىexcept المقِلِّthe poor المُقلِتِthe child-bereft
أمَّ الوفاء سوى المقِلِّ المُقلِتِ
Time has begotten traitors; I see
Glory impregnated a cloud in the sky—
no mother of loyalty but one poor and child-bereft.
She gave birth from it a land’s rains encompassing.
وهُزِلتُand I grew lean أنbecause سَمِنَgrew fat اللئامُthe base وإنماyet only
وهُزِلتُ أن سَمِنَ اللئامُ وإنما
ذلُّthe abasement of المطامعgreed حزَّcut into عزَّةَthe pride of جَوْعتيmy hunger
ذلُّ المطامع حزَّ عزَّةَ جَوْعتي
I grew lean because the base grew fat; yet only
I water dried lips and her hands whitened,
the abasement of greed wounded the pride of my hunger.
Cool, blackened hearth rubble.
ولكلِّand for every جسمٍbody فيin النحولthinness بليَّةٌan affliction
ولكلِّ جسمٍ في النحول بليَّةٌ
وبلاءُand the affliction of جسميmy body منcomes from تفاوتِthe far reach of همّتيmy ambition
وبلاءُ جسمي من تفاوتِ همّتي
Every body has some affliction that makes it thin;
Exultant he brought green of his bounty,
my body's affliction is my ambition's far reach.
Reviving the meadows’ drought-stricken barrens.
أمَّاyet علىdespite كذبِthe falsehood of الظنونexpectations فإنهاindeed they
أمَّا على كذبِ الظنون فإنها
صدَقتْproved true أمانٍhopes فيin الحسينal-Ḥusayn وبرَّتِand kept faith
صدَقتْ أمانٍ في الحسين وبرَّتِ
Yet, though expectations lie, these
The youth accompanied us, parting gentle zephyrs
hopes in al-Ḥusayn proved true and kept faith.
Fertile, palms’ lengths surpassing the staff’s.
المجدُglory ألقحَmade conceive فيin السماءheaven سحابةًa cloud
المجدُ ألقحَ في السماء سحابةً
نَتَجتْit gave birth بهthrough him مطرَto rain for البلادthe lands فعمَّتِand spread everywhere
نَتَجتْ به مطرَ البلاد فعمَّتِ
Glory made a cloud conceive in heaven;
His days’ prime were guaranteed glory’s foremost,
through him it bore rain for the lands and spread everywhere.
Reviving all perished excellence.
أَروَىhe quenched thirst علىdespite يَبَسthe dryness of الشفاهِthe lips وبيَّضتْand whitened
أَروَى على يَبَس الشفاهِ وبيَّضتْ
كفّاهhis two hands باردةًcool سوادَthe blackness of الحِرَّةthe lava-field
كفّاه باردةً سوادَ الحِرَّة
He quenched parched lips, and whitened
Glory to Banú ‘Abd al-Rahím, for fruits
with his cool hands the blackness of the lava-field.
Are plucked according to the soil’s goodness.
متهلِّلاًbeaming أعدَىhe spread contagiously بخُضرةwith the greenness of جودِهhis bounty
متهلِّلاً أعدَى بخُضرة جودِه
جدبَthe barrenness of الرُّبَىthe hills منof أرضهاits earth المغبَرَّةِdust-gray
جدبَ الرُّبَى من أرضها المغبَرَّةِ
Beaming, he spread the greenness of his bounty
For you all are forebears of glory—but this wing
over the barren hills of the dust-gray land.
Added further, soaring to the peak.
بالصاحبthrough al-Ṣāḥib انفتقتْopened لناfor us ريحُthe wind of الصَّباthe east
بالصاحب انفتقتْ لنا ريحُ الصَّبا
خِصباًin fertility وغنىand sang الساقُthe ringdove فوقَabove اليكةِthe thicket
خِصباً وغنى الساقُ فوقَ اليكةِ
Through al-Ṣāḥib, the east wind opened for us
Leadership came to be from you in one man
in plenty, and the ringdove sang above the thicket.
Numbers multiplied when dearth was expected.
كُفِلَتْwere guaranteed بأُولَىby the earliest of مجدهِhis glory أيامُهُhis days الthe (continued)
كُفِلَتْ بأُولَى مجدهِ أيامُهُ ال
أخرَىlater ones فأحَياso he revived كلَّevery فضلٍexcellence ميِّتِdead
أخرَى فأحَيا كلَّ فضلٍ ميِّتِ
His earliest glory stood surety for his days—
She yielded her hand to him, brows
the later ones—and he revived every dead excellence.
Scenting without her coquetry humbling.
شَرَفاًglory بنيO sons of عبدʿAbd الرحيمal-Raḥīm فإنماfor indeed
شَرَفاً بني عبد الرحيم فإنما
تُجنَىare harvested الثمارُthe fruits بقدرِin proportion to طِيبِthe goodness of المنَبِتِthe growing soil
تُجنَى الثمارُ بقدرِ طِيبِ المنَبِتِ
Glory to you, sons of ʿAbd al-Raḥīm! For
Since assuming it while still refractory,
fruits are harvested according to the goodness of their soil.
She cast her staff aside for the stance, bent.
لكُمُyours are قُدامَىthe flight-feathers of المجدِglory لكنbut زادكمincreased you
لكُمُ قُدامَى المجدِ لكن زادكم
هذاthis الجَناحُwing تحلُّقاًin soaring فيat الذّروةِthe summit
هذا الجَناحُ تحلُّقاً في الذّروةِ
Yours are glory's flight-feathers; yet you were raised
Branded by you, so whoever hangs claim to it—
by this wing to soar still higher at the summit.
His pretense exposed by the brand’s scar.
غدتِcame to be الرياسةُleadership منكُمُamong you فيin واحدٍone man
غدتِ الرياسةُ منكُمُ في واحدٍ
كَثُرتْbecame many بهthrough him الأعدادُthe numbers لمّاwhen قلَّتِthey were few
كَثُرتْ به الأعدادُ لمّا قلَّتِ
Leadership among you came to rest in one man,
Her nakedness was clothed from him in a noble scion—
through whom your numbers grew when they were few.
Facile, dignified, under shields unfathomed.
عَطَفتْbent favorably لكمtoward you يدُهُhis hand وزَمَّتْand bridled آنُفاnoses
عَطَفتْ لكم يدُهُ وزَمَّتْ آنُفا
شُمّاًproudly raised لغيرto any but خِشاشِهِhis nose-rein ماnot ذلَّتِwere humbled
شُمّاً لغير خِشاشِهِ ما ذلَّتِ
His hand bent toward you, and bridled noses
Vigilant, grasping opportunities from his lids—
proudly raised, humbled by no nose-rein but his.
Foresight and avoiding chances slim.
لماwhen تقلَّدهاhe assumed it وكانتand it had been ناشزاًrebellious
لما تقلَّدها وكانت ناشزاً
ألقتْit laid down عَصاهاits staff للمقامto stay وقَرَّتِand settled
ألقتْ عَصاها للمقام وقَرَّتِ
When he assumed it, though it had been rebellious,
His heart trusts not in self-neglect
it laid down its staff to stay, and settled.
Regarding what he tended, if the herd’s keeper slept.
موسومةbranded بكُمُas yours فمَنso whoever تَعلَقْfastens بهاto it
موسومة بكُمُ فمَن تَعلَقْ بها
دعواهُhis claim يَفضحْهُwill expose him عِلاطُthe neck-mark of الوسمةِthe brand
دعواهُ يَفضحْهُ عِلاطُ الوسمةِ
It is branded as yours; whoever fastens to it
Matters perplex, yet he possesses of his thoughts
his claim, the mark of that brand exposes him.
A sun, when events don darkened.
نِيطتْwere fastened عُراهاits loops منهin him بابنِto a son of نجيبةٍa noble woman
نِيطتْ عُراها منه بابنِ نجيبةٍ
سهلِeasy of الخُطَاstep تحتَamid الخطوبِadversities الصعبةِhard
سهلِ الخُطَا تحتَ الخطوبِ الصعبةِ
Its bonds were fastened, in him, to a noble mother's son,
And he hits the mark improvising at the onset
whose steps remain easy amid hard adversities.
Of notions by every fermenter secreted.
يقظانَwakeful يلتقِطُplucks away الكرىsleep منfrom جفنِهhis eyelid
يقظانَ يلتقِطُ الكرى من جفنِه
نظرُconsideration of العواقبِconsequences واتقاءُand avoidance of العِذرَةِdisgrace
نظرُ العواقبِ واتقاءُ العِذرَةِ
Wakeful: sleep is plucked from his eyelid by
His years’ smooth track follows regrets—
foresight of consequences and avoidance of disgrace.
No roughness there from scraping remorse.
لاnot يطمئنُّrests assured علىin التواكُلِleaving things to others قلبُهُhis heart
لا يطمئنُّ على التواكُلِ قلبُهُ
فيماover what رعىhe tends إنeven if نامَsleeps راعيthe shepherd of الثَّلَّةِthe flock
فيما رعى إن نامَ راعي الثَّلَّةِ
His heart does not rest in leaving things to others
None gathered the realm’s mantle but his thought
in what he tends, even if the flock's shepherd sleeps.
After its hem’s strands dispersed asunder.
تدجُوgrow dark الأمورaffairs وعندهwhile he possesses منfrom رأيهhis judgment
تدجُو الأمور وعنده من رأيه
شمسa sun إذاwhen ماever جَنَّbrings darkness خطبٌa calamity جلَّتِit shines forth
شمس إذا ما جَنَّ خطبٌ جلَّتِ
Affairs grow dark, yet in his judgment he possesses
He skimmed the shells from its basin and quenched
a sun that shines when a calamity brings night.
At echo’s length, healing with the first drink.
ويُصيبُand he hits مرتجلاًimpromptu بأوّلwith the first خَطْرةٍthought
ويُصيبُ مرتجلاً بأوّل خَطْرةٍ
أغراضَthe targets of كلِّevery مخمِّرdeep ponderer ومُبيِّتِand overnight planner
أغراضَ كلِّ مخمِّر ومُبيِّتِ
Impromptu, at his first thought, he hits
After foes winked, flouting his estate,
the marks of every long brooder and overnight planner.
And deemed his step for stumbling apt—
تَدمَىbleed بنانُthe fingertips of النادمينthe remorseful وسِنُّهُwhile his tooth
تَدمَى بنانُ النادمين وسِنُّهُ
ملساءُis smooth إثرَafter ندامةٍregret لمnever تُنكَتِhas been chipped
ملساءُ إثرَ ندامةٍ لم تُنكَتِ
The remorseful bleed at their fingertips, while his tooth
Many a spark at first, yet a blaze
stays smooth, never nicked in the aftermath of regret.
Fueled in al-Husayn, perfection achieved!
ماnot ضمَّunited شملَthe scattered company of المُلكِthe kingdom إلاexcept رأيُهُhis counsel
ما ضمَّ شملَ المُلكِ إلا رأيُهُ
بعدafter انتشارthe spreading of شَعاعهِits rays المتشتِّتِscattered
بعد انتشار شَعاعهِ المتشتِّتِ
Nothing but his counsel reunited the kingdom
You shielded him with the mettle of armored assaults,
after its scattered rays had spread apart.
No common attacks, and the weakling’s yield.
حَسَرhe cleared القذَىthe debris عنfrom حوضهِits pool وسقَىand gave drink علىafter
حَسَر القذَى عن حوضهِ وسقَى على
طولِlong duration of الصدَىthirst فشفَىand healed بأوّلِwith the first شربةِdraught
طولِ الصدَى فشفَى بأوّلِ شربةِ
He cleared the debris from its pool and gave drink after
When the judicious stripped naked, the lad’s
long thirst, bringing healing with the first draught,
Fortune clung to the range of the nimble’s stride.
منfrom بعدafter ماwhen غَمزprobed for weakness العداthe foes فيin عُودِهِits timber
من بعد ما غَمز العدا في عُودِهِ
واستضعفواand deemed weak قَدَماًa foot لهof its لمnot تثبُتِstanding firm
واستضعفوا قَدَماً له لم تثبُتِ
after foes had tested its timber for weakness
Those occupying your station bring perdition—
and scorned its footing, which had not held firm.
Their Indian blades never blunted.
ولربَّand many a بادئةٍbeginning وكانتwhich was جذوةًa live coal
ولربَّ بادئةٍ وكانت جذوةً
كُملتْgrew complete ضِراماًas a blaze بالحسينْthrough al-Ḥusayn وتمَّتِand was perfected
كُملتْ ضِراماً بالحسينْ وتمَّتِ
Many a beginning, once a glowing coal,
Seeking heaven, neither did they rise to it,
grew into a full blaze through al-Ḥusayn, and was fulfilled.
Nor slack grip, nor heaven lowered itself.
حاميتَyou defended عنهit بصولةِwith the onslaught of المتخمِّطِthe raging one الthe (continued)
حاميتَ عنه بصولةِ المتخمِّطِ ال
عاديassailant وهَدْيand the bearing of المستكينِthe submissive المُخبِتِthe humble
عادي وهَدْي المستكينِ المُخبِتِ
You defended it with the onslaught of a raging
The estranged’s wish to walk far, had it
assailant, and the bearing of the meek and humble.
Greeted him, stumbling over its rope cords.
وإذاand when عُرَىthe bonds of الحزمِresolve التقتْcome together عَلِقَattains الفتىa young man
وإذا عُرَى الحزمِ التقتْ عَلِقَ الفتى
بمَدَىto the reach of السريعthe swift علىwith خُطَاthe steps of المتثبِّتِthe deliberate
بمَدَى السريع على خُطَا المتثبِّتِ
When the bonds of resolve are joined, a man attains
The mounts deserted the caravan’s journey,
the swift one's reach with the deliberate one's steps.
Sands expansive delivered to barren shrubs.
إنindeed الذينَthose who علىagainst مكانِكyour station أجلبواrallied
إن الذينَ على مكانِك أجلبوا
ضربواstruck الطُّلىthe necks بصوارمwith cutting swords ماnever سُلَّتِunsheathed
ضربوا الطُّلى بصوارم ما سُلَّتِ
Those who rallied against your station
One doubting fortune’s stumble would ransom you
struck at necks with blades never drawn.
Usurping glory in the melee slipped.
طلبواthey sought السماءَthe sky فلاbut neither همthey ارتفعواrose لهاto it
طلبوا السماءَ فلا هم ارتفعوا لها
شُلَّpalsied الأكفِّof hand ولاnor السماءُthe sky انحطَّتِdescended
شُلَّ الأكفِّ ولا السماءُ انحطَّتِ
They sought the sky: neither did they rise to it,
Never did an absentmind return from his senses
their hands palsied, nor did the sky descend.
Except to see the world addled by him.
وبودّand it is the wish of ذيthe one with القَدَمِthe foot القطيعةِsevered ماشياًwhile walking
وبودّ ذي القَدَمِ القطيعةِ ماشياً
لوif only أنّهاit سلِمتْhad stayed sound عليهfor him وزَلَّتِand had slipped
لو أنّها سلِمتْ عليه وزَلَّتِ
One with a severed foot would wish, as he walks,
His hands were restrained—what cares the questioner
that it had stayed sound for him, even if it slipped.
If they stint from a lord or slackened?
خانbetrayed السُّرىnight travel رَكْبَthe riders of القِلاصِthe young she-camels وسُلِّمتْand were handed over
خان السُّرى رَكْبَ القِلاصِ وسُلِّمتْ
بُسُطُthe expanses of الفلاةِthe desert إلىto القُرومِthe camel stallions الجِلّةِthe mighty
بُسُطُ الفلاةِ إلى القُرومِ الجِلّةِ
Night travel failed the riders of young she-camels, and yielded
I see the ministry, none rivals its bending twigs
the desert's expanses to mighty camel stallions.
Save you, despite the varying natures.
يَفديكmay he ransom you مُرتابٌone doubtful بغلطَةِof the blunder of حظِّهhis fortune
يَفديك مُرتابٌ بغلطَةِ حظِّه
سَرَقَhe stole السيادةَlordship منfrom خِلالِthe midst of الفَلتةِa chance lapse
سَرَقَ السيادةَ من خِلالِ الفَلتةِ
May one bewildered by his fortune's blunder ransom you—
The tottering requests you steady its saddlecloth
one who stole lordship through a chance lapse.
Slippery—its horsemen scattered piecemeal.
ماnever رُدَّwas restored يوماًone day عازبٌa straying fragment منof عقلهhis reason
ما رُدَّ يوماً عازبٌ من عقله
إلاexcept that رأَىhe saw الدنياthe world بهover him قدhad indeed جُنَّتِgone mad
إلا رأَى الدنيا به قد جُنَّتِ
Whenever a straying scrap of his wits returned,
Your back yearns for its assembly’s chest, and how
he saw that the world had gone mad over him.
Bosoms complained of backs, combusting!
قُبِضتْwere clenched يداهhis two hands وماand not يباليcares سائلٌa beggar
قُبِضتْ يداه وما يبالي سائلٌ
بخِلتْwas stingy عليهtoward him يدُthe hand of امرىءٍa man أوor شَلَّتِwas paralyzed
بخِلتْ عليه يدُ امرىءٍ أو شَلَّتِ
His hands are clenched; a beggar does not care
And if I glance back at matters, I see them
whether a man's hand is stingy toward him or paralyzed.
Hoarded for you amidst my looking round.
وأرىand I see الوزارةَthe vizierate لاnot يُعاصلُcan wrestle with نابَهاits fang
وأرى الوزارةَ لا يُعاصلُ نابَها
حاوٍa snake-charmer سواكother than you علىdespite اختلافthe diversity of الرُّقيَةِincantation
حاوٍ سواك على اختلاف الرُّقيَةِ
I see that no one can wrestle with the vizierate's fang
What family, when its bird’s auspices sleep,
but you, its snake-charmer, however varied the spells.
Speak truth in visiting with first rebuff?
يرجوكlooks to you ريِّيضُهاits trainer لمتنٍfor a back مُزلِقٍslippery
يرجوك ريِّيضُها لمتنٍ مُزلِقٍ
قدalready قُطِّرتْwere thrown headlong فُرسانُهُits horsemen فتردَّتِand fell
قد قُطِّرتْ فُرسانُهُ فتردَّتِ
Its trainer hopes for you to master a slippery back,
There, remember to tell me of your welfare,
whose horsemen have been flung off and fallen.
And preserve lingering from my company.
يشتاقlongs for ظهرُكyour back صدرَthe head of مجلسهاits council وكمand how often
يشتاق ظهرُك صدرَ مجلسها وكم
شكَتhave complained الصدورُthe foremost seats منof الظهورِbacks وضَجّتِand cried out
شكَت الصدورُ من الظهورِ وضَجّتِ
Your back yearns for the head of its council; how often
If the deaf were told of you, O Banú ‘Abd al-Rahím,
have places of honor complained and cried out against backs!
By an interlocutor, they would incline an ear!
وإذاand when التلتُّI turned إلىtoward الأمورaffairs رأيتُهاI saw them
وإذا التلتُّ إلى الأمور رأيتُها
مذخورةًstored up لكfor you منthrough خِلالِthe midst of تلفُّتيmy looking around
مذخورةً لك من خِلالِ تلفُّتي
When I turn toward affairs, I see them
Or heaven substituted its fallen stars for you,
stored up for you wherever my gaze turns.
Their lights slipping for nothing shed.
فأْلٌan omen متىwhenever يامنتI take as auspicious سانحَthe rightward flight of طيرهِits birds
فأْلٌ متى يامنت سانحَ طيرهِ
صدقَتْproved true عِيافتُهاtheir bird-augury بأوّلِat the first زجرةِcry
صدقَتْ عِيافتُها بأوّلِ زجرةِ
An omen: whenever I heed its auspicious passing birds,
Givers—if your hands shook the zephyrs’ hands,
their augury proves true at the first cry.
Shying, the living wind would feel shame!
فهناكthen there فاذكُرْthen remember ليfor me طريفَthe freshness of بِشارتيmy good tidings
فهناك فاذكُرْ لي طريفَ بِشارتي
بعلاكof your ascent واحفَظْand preserve تالداًthe longstanding منof صحبتيmy companionship
بعلاك واحفَظْ تالداً من صحبتي
There, remember for me my fresh good tidings
Orators—if the mother of eloquence adored lovingly ‘midst you,
of your ascent, and preserve my long-standing companionship.
She would be stricken dumb from awe!
لوif شافَهspoke face to face to الصُّمَّthe deaf rocks الجِلادَthe hard محدِّثٌa teller
لو شافَه الصُّمَّ الجِلادَ محدِّثٌ
عنكمabout you بنيO sons of عبدʿAbd الرحيمal-Raḥīm لأصغتِthey would listen
عنكم بني عبد الرحيم لأصغتِ
If a teller spoke face to face to hard, deaf rocks
Your mouths intimate with the Fatiha of scripture,
of you, sons of ʿAbd al-Raḥīm, they would listen.
God’s victories attained, decisive gained!
أوor عُوِّضتْwere compensated بكمwith you السماءُheaven وقدafter already هوتْhad fallen
أو عُوِّضتْ بكم السماءُ وقد هوتْ
أنوارهاits lights بَدَلَin place of النجومِthe stars تسلَّتِit would find solace
أنوارها بَدَلَ النجومِ تسلَّتِ
Or were heaven given you instead, after its
For you my hunting bows, and the valley of Hunazla honeyed,
lights had fallen, it would be consoled for the stars.
Bees stirred once more, and my solitude kindled.
الباذلونthe givers فلوso if تُصافحُwere to shake راحَكمyour palms
الباذلون فلو تُصافحُ راحَكم
ريحُthe wind of الصَّباthe east وهيthough it is الحياlife-giving rain لاستحيتِit would be ashamed
ريحُ الصَّبا وهي الحيا لاستحيتِ
You are the givers: were your palms shaken by
You censured me sincerely with affection
the east wind, though itself life-giving rain, it would blush.
And good company in my most straitened days.
والقائلونand the speakers بلاغةًeloquently فلوso if احتبَتْshe sat with her knees clasped
والقائلون بلاغةً فلو احتبَتْ
أمُّthe mother of الفصاحةeloquence بينكمamong you لأَذَمَّتِshe would be found wanting
أمُّ الفصاحة بينكم لأَذَمَّتِ
And eloquent speakers: were she to sit, knees clasped,
You gave me pasture, so I fattened in your meadows,
the mother of eloquence among you, she would be found wanting.
Time suffices me the favor of scrimped provender.
أَنِستْgrew familiar بفاتحةwith the Opening of الكتابthe Book شِفاهُكمyour lips
أَنِستْ بفاتحة الكتاب شِفاهُكم
ورزقتُمُand you were granted ظَفَرَthe triumph of الكتابِthe scribes المُسكِتِsilencing
ورزقتُمُ ظَفَرَ الكتابِ المُسكِتِ
Your lips are familiar with the Opening of the Book;
I pray, and my father went absent, my clan diminished,
you were granted the scribes' silencing triumph.
So your triumph responds unto my prayers.
لكُمfor you انحنَىbowed صَيَديmy stiff-necked pride وأعسلَand turned honeyed حنظليmy colocynth
لكُم انحنَى صَيَدي وأعسلَ حنظلي
للمجتنيfor the gatherer وتولَّدتْand became domesticated حُوشِيّتيmy wild speech
للمجتني وتولَّدتْ حُوشِيّتي
For you my stiff neck bowed, and my colocynth turned honeyed
And whenever the nights confine me to an expanse,
for the gatherer, and my wild speech grew tame.
You rise up to widen the range for me.
وسجرتمونيand you filled me منصفينdealing fairly مودّةًwith affection
وسجرتموني منصفين مودّةً
ورِفادةًand support يومَىْin the two times of رَخايَmy ease وشدَّتيand my hardship
ورِفادةً يومَىْ رَخايَ وشدَّتي
You filled me, dealing fairly, with affection
Wondrous is praise! I made you its object,
and support, in days of ease and hardship.
My sole return therein after my strains waned.
أَعشبتُمُyou grew lush فَبطِنْتُso I ate my fill فيin مَرعاكُمُyour pasture
أَعشبتُمُ فَبطِنْتُ في مَرعاكُمُ
والدهرُwhile Time يَقْنَعُis content ليfor me بفضلِwith the remnant of الجِرَّةِthe cud
والدهرُ يَقْنَعُ لي بفضلِ الجِرَّةِ
You grew lush, and I fed full in your pasture,
I banned it a time, so you alone remained
while Time would allow me only the leftover cud.
‘Mid those the dust carried in dissolution.
أدعوI call وغابَwhile absent is أبيmy father وقَلَّand few are عشيرتيmy kinsfolk
أدعو وغابَ أبي وقَلَّ عشيرتي
فيكونand becomes نصرُكُمُyour aid إجابةَthe answer to دعوتيmy call
فيكون نصرُكُمُ إجابةَ دعوتي
I call, my father gone and my kinsmen few,
It is a gem no deep-diver by thought
and your help becomes the answer to my call.
Can know—where embedded lies the pearl.
ومتىand whenever تقيِّدُنيfetter me اللياليthe nights عfrom مدىًa goal
ومتى تقيِّدُني الليالي ع مدىً
قمتمyou rose فأوسعتمand widened إليهاtoward it خطتيmy course
قمتم فأوسعتم إليها خطتي
Whenever the nights fetter me short of a goal,
Its meaning rings true and its words intact,
you rise and open up my way toward it.
As does its prosody—the rest are defects.
عجِبَwas astonished المديحُpraise وقدwhen indeed عَمَمتُكُمI included you all بهin it
عجِبَ المديحُ وقد عَمَمتُكُم به
منat رَجعتيmy return فيهto it عَقيبَafter أَليَّتيmy oath
من رَجعتي فيه عَقيبَ أَليَّتي
Praise was astonished, when I embraced you all with it,
How many addresses with his hands’ most precious
at my return to it after my oath.
A maiden, excusing her, while he my daughter!
حَرَّمتُهI forbade it زمناًfor a time فكنتمso you were وحدكمalone
حَرَّمتُه زمناً فكنتم وحدكم
منfrom بينِamong مَنْthose whom حَملَbore الترابُthe earth تحلَّتيmy release from my oath
من بينِ مَنْ حَملَ الترابُ تحلَّتي
I forbade it for a time; you alone,
I gave away brides in plenty you graced me,
among all whom earth has borne, released me from my vow.
Son-in-law ennobled and kinsmen blameless.
هوit جوهرٌa jewel ماnot كلُّevery غائصةٍdiver لهfor it
هو جوهرٌ ما كلُّ غائصةٍ له
بالفكرwith thought تَعلمُknows ماwhat مكانُthe location of الدُّرَّةِthe pearl
بالفكر تَعلمُ ما مكانُ الدُّرَّةِ
It is a jewel: not every diver seeking it
Safeguarded through her chastity from defects,
in thought knows where the pearl lies.
The riding-camel’s beauty faulting the obstinate.
ويَصحُّand is sound معناهits meaning ويسلَمand is flawless لفظُهُits wording
ويَصحُّ معناه ويسلَم لفظُهُ
ونظامُهُand its composition وهناكyet there باقيthe remainder of العلَّةِthe flaw
ونظامُهُ وهناك باقي العلَّةِ
Its meaning may be sound, its wording flawless,
She played proud, stumbling not but by charm,
and its structure too; yet a flaw still remains.
Neither sneezing but others bless her too.
كمmany a خاطبٍsuitor بأعزِّoffering the dearest ماthat which تحوِيholds يدٌa hand
كم خاطبٍ بأعزِّ ما تحوِي يدٌ
عذراءَa virgin منهof it وعِرضُهُthough his honor دونَbelow ابنتيmy daughter
عذراءَ منه وعِرضُهُ دونَ ابنتي
Many a suitor, offering the dearest thing a hand can hold,
A community for you in plenty you grant,
sought a virgin of it, though his honor stood beneath my daughter.
Esteemed in your eyes the sanctity of free women.
ولقدand indeed زففتُI brought as brides لكمto you كنائنَthe brides of خِدرِهِits secluded chamber
ولقد زففتُ لكم كنائنَ خِدرِهِ
فكرمتُمُand noble were you صِهراًas kin by marriage ووالِيَand guardians of عُذْرَةِmaidenhood
فكرمتُمُ صِهراً ووالِيَ عُذْرَةِ
I have brought you as brides the maidens of its secluded chamber;
Delivered from schism’s rarities her births
noble were you as kin by marriage and guardians of maidenhood!
In one nation—and her friendships another.
منof كلِّeach راكبةٍriding بفضلِby the excellence of عَفافِهاher chastity
من كلِّ راكبةٍ بفضلِ عَفافِها
والحُسنِand beauty عُنْقَthe neck of العائبِthe faultfinder المتعنِّتِthe obstinate
والحُسنِ عُنْقَ العائبِ المتعنِّتِ
Each one riding, by her surpassing chastity
She stretched to Sásán her veins’ vintage,
and beauty, the neck of the obstinate faultfinder.
While for her ‘Adnán decreed the Arabic tongue.
عزَّتْshe was cherished فماso never عَثَرتْdid she stumble بغيرwithout معوِّذٍsomeone invoking protection
عزَّتْ فما عَثَرتْ بغير معوِّذٍ
بِلَعاًwith ‘Rise unharmed!’ ولاnor عَطَستْdid she sneeze بغيرwithout مُشمِّتِone blessing her sneeze
بِلَعاً ولا عَطَستْ بغير مُشمِّتِ
So cherished, she never stumbled without a well-wisher
Let the envier incline his ear—he thanks it
saying ‘Rise unharmed!’, nor sneezed without a blessing.
In delight, wishing if she fall mute!
أَمَةٌa bondwoman لكمto you بجزيلfor the abundance of ماwhat أوليتُمُyou bestowed
أَمَةٌ لكم بجزيل ما أوليتُمُ
وتُصانُand she is protected عندكُمُamong you صِيانَwith the safeguarding of الحُرَّةِa free woman
وتُصانُ عندكُمُ صِيانَ الحُرَّةِ
Your bondwoman, for the abundance you bestowed,
Each day of life’s crier she escorts,
yet guarded among you with a free woman's care.
Announcing bliss—and if pains come, she comes.
سلِمتْwas safe علىdespite غَرَرِthe hazards of الخلافdifference وِلادُهاher birth
سلِمتْ على غَرَرِ الخلاف وِلادُها
فيamong أُمَّةٍone people ووِدادُهاand love for her فيamong أُمَّةِanother people
في أُمَّةٍ ووِدادُها في أُمَّةِ
Her birth was safe despite the hazards of difference—
Quoting for you the two-horned’s quotation
born among one people, and loved among another.
Venerably—and its publication ennobles the eminent.
مَدَّتْshe extended إلىto ساسانَSāsān ناشرَthe spreading reach of عِرقِهاher root
مَدَّتْ إلى ساسانَ ناشرَ عِرقِها
وقضتand ruled لهاher to be عَدنانُʿAdnān بالعربيَّةِArabic
وقضت لها عَدنانُ بالعربيَّةِ
She stretched her spreading root back to Sāsān,
You praised her exemplars in bygone eras,
and ʿAdnān judged her to be Arabic.
And if any remain, they shall yet be praised!
يُصغيlistens الحسودُthe envious man لهاto her فيشكرand thanks أُذنَهُhis ear
يُصغي الحسودُ لها فيشكر أُذنَهُ
طرباًin delight ووَدَّyet wishes لغيظهin his rage لوif only صَمَّتِit were deaf
طرباً ووَدَّ لغيظه لو صَمَّتِ
The envious man listens and thanks his ear
in delight, yet wishes in his anger it were deaf.
تَسرِيshe journeys by night رفيقةَas companion to كلِّevery يومٍday مُؤذنٍannouncing
تَسرِي رفيقةَ كلِّ يومٍ مُؤذنٍ
بسعادةٍhappiness فإذاand when ألمَّit arrives ألمَّتِshe arrives
بسعادةٍ فإذا ألمَّ ألمَّتِ
She journeys by night, companion to each day that heralds
happiness: when it arrives, so does she.
تَروِيshe recounts لكمto you عنabout ذيDhū القرونal-Qurūn حديثَهُhis tale
تَروِي لكم عن ذي القرون حديثَهُ
قِدْماًfrom of old ويُحييand revives نشرُهاher dissemination ذاDhū الرُّمَّةِal-Rumma
قِدْماً ويُحيي نشرُها ذا الرُّمَّةِ
She recounts to you the tale of Dhū al-Qurūn
from of old; her spreading brings Dhū al-Rumma back to life.
أحمدتُمُyou praised ماضيَّmy past فيin أمثالهاpoems like her
أحمدتُمُ ماضيَّ في أمثالها
ولئنand if indeed بقيتُI live on لتحمَدُنَّyou will surely praise بقيَّتيwhat remains of me
ولئن بقيتُ لتحمَدُنَّ بقيَّتي
You have praised my past in poems like her;
if I live, you shall surely praise what remains of me.
Partial English translation: 174 of 182 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1