أجاذبهاI tug against her لوif أمكنَتْshe allowed access منto زِمامهاher halter
أجاذبها لو أمكنَتْ من زِمامها
أريدُI want وراءًbackward والهوىwhile desire منfrom أمامِهاahead of her
أريدُ وراءً والهوى من أمامِها
I tug against her, if she would let me take her halter;
I pull her toward me if I could loosen her reins,
I want to turn back, while desire lies ahead of her.
I want what's behind though passion lies ahead.
وإنand though كانis قلبيmy heart فيin الصبابةpassionate longing قلبَهاher heart
وإن كان قلبي في الصبابة قلبَها
فشتانyet far apart ماwhat شكَّيتَنيyou made me complain منof عُرامِهاher unruliness
فشتان ما شكَّيتَني من عُرامِها
And though my heart in passionate longing is her heart,
And though my heart in youth matches hers,
how different is the wildness you made me complain of in her!
Far different am I from her flirtatious ways.
كلاناboth of us أخوهhis brother الوجدyearning لكنbut غرامُهاher passion
كلانا أخوه الوجد لكن غرامُها
طليقٌfree ونفسيand my soul فيin إسارِcaptivity غرامِهاher passion
طليقٌ ونفسي في إسارِ غرامِها
Yearning is a brother to us both, but her passion
We both share passion, but hers runs free
is free, while my soul is captive to her passion.
While mine remains enthralled by love of her.
فماso not الحربُthe war إلاexcept بينbetween حِلميmy forbearance وخُرْقهاand her recklessness
فما الحربُ إلا بين حِلمي وخُرْقها
وبينand between زفيريmy sighing خائفاًafraid وبغُامِهاand her lowing
وبين زفيري خائفاً وبغُامِها
The war is only between my forbearance and her recklessness,
So conflict rages only between my forbearance and her impudence,
and between my fearful sighing and her lowing.
Between my sighs of fear and her unruliness.
يعزّis hard عليهاfor her نومُهاher sleeping تحتunder كُورهاher camel-saddle
يعزّ عليها نومُها تحت كُورها
بماbecause of what فاتpassed منof أيّامهاher days فيin مَسامِهاher grazing grounds
بما فات من أيّامها في مَسامِها
She finds it hard to sleep beneath her saddle,
She regrets her sleep beneath her blankets
remembering her bygone days in her grazing grounds,
For days of her past now gone.
وأنand that تُعلَفshe be fed الرطبَfresh fodder الخليطَmixed ببابلin Babylon
وأن تُعلَف الرطبَ الخليطَ ببابل
مكانَinstead of أراكarak trees حاجرٍHajir وبَشامِهاand its balsam trees
مكانَ أراك حاجرٍ وبَشامِها
and to be fed fresh mixed fodder in Babylon
And that ripe dates are fed to Babylon’s rubble
instead of Hajir's arak and balsam trees.
Where once I saw you, stony and unyielding.
بلادٌa land تُسِيمlets graze الضيمَoppression فوقupon تُرابهاits soil
بلادٌ تُسِيم الضيمَ فوق تُرابها
ضياعاًstraying unchecked وتسقيand waters الذلّhumiliation تحتbeneath غمامِهاits clouds
ضياعاً وتسقي الذلّ تحت غمامِها
A land that lets oppression graze upon its soil,
A country that overlooks its people’s torment
unchecked, and waters humiliation beneath its clouds.
And pours humiliation beneath its clouds.
فليتso, if only بلاداًa land شرهاits evil فيin قصورهاits palaces
فليت بلاداً شرها في قصورها
فِداًa ransom لبيوتٍfor homes خيرُهاtheir goodness فيin خِيامِهاtheir tents
فِداً لبيوتٍ خيرُها في خِيامِها
If only a land whose evil dwells in its palaces
Would that a land whose evil’s in its palaces
were ransom for homes whose goodness dwells in their tents!
Redeem the virtue in its humble tents.
نعمyes هذهthis الزوراءُal-Zawra أنضَرُfresher شارةًin adornment
نعم هذه الزوراءُ أنضَرُ شارةً
بماwith what ضُمِّنتْit was endowed with منof رَوقهاits splendor وزِمامِهاand its reins
بما ضُمِّنتْ من رَوقها وزِمامِها
Yes, this al-Zawra is fresher in its adornment,
Yes, this Zawra’ though fairest hue,
with all the splendor and reins of power it holds.
Her elegance and reins cannot disguise
ولكنْand yet ذُنَاباهاits tail ends تطولُtower over رقابَهاits necks
ولكنْ ذُنَاباها تطولُ رقابَها
وأرجلُهاand its legs مرفوعةٌraised فوقabove هامِهاits heads
وأرجلُها مرفوعةٌ فوق هامِها
But its tail ends tower above its necks,
That her tail grows longer than her neck
and its legs are raised above its heads.
And her feet raised above her brain.
إذاif سرَّgladdened نفساًa soul يومُهاits day ساءَsaddened شهرُهاits month
إذا سرَّ نفساً يومُها ساءَ شهرُها
فإنعامهاso its favors مستطرَحٌcast aside فيamid انتقامِهاits vengeance
فإنعامها مستطرَحٌ في انتقامِها
If its day gladdens a soul, its month brings sorrow;
When a soul happily lives out its days
its favors lie cast aside amid its vengeance.
Its bounty lies destroyed by vengeance.
تمنّيتُI wished for رغماًunwillingly غيرَهاother than it وهِيَthough it التيthe one that
تمنّيتُ رغماً غيرَها وهِيَ التي
فطيرةُthe dough جِلديmy skin حشوُهاits filling منfrom رغَامِهاits dust
فطيرةُ جِلدي حشوُها من رغَامِها
Against my will I wished for another, though it is the land
I wished against her though she's the one
whose dust fills the dough of my skin.
Whose flesh and bones are my own skin.
وماذاand what blame علىupon نفسٍa soul جنَىinflicted عامُthe year خِصبهاits fertility
وماذا على نفسٍ جنَى عامُ خِصبها
عليهاupon it الأذىharm أنthat تشتهيit should desire جدبَbarrenness عامِهاits year
عليها الأذى أن تشتهي جدبَ عامِها
What blame on a soul, when its year of plenty inflicted
What can a soul gain from prosperous years
harm upon it, for craving its year's barrenness?
If harm is all it craves in time of drought?
سَلامٌfarewell عليهاto it لاnot علىto جُلِّmost أهلهاits people
سَلامٌ عليها لا على جُلِّ أهلها
لأخرىfor another land ترابُdust العزِّhonor بينamong سِلامِهاits stones
لأخرى ترابُ العزِّ بين سِلامِها
Farewell to it, but not to most of its people,
Greetings to it but not to most of its people,
for another land, where honor's dust lies among its stones.
For others, glory's dust lies in its greetings.
ركبتُI rode لهاtoward it عزميmy resolve وللنفسand for the soul قُعْدةٌa riding mount
ركبتُ لها عزمي وللنفس قُعْدةٌ
تبلّغهاcarries it onward منthrough همّهاits purpose واعتزامِهاand its determination
تبلّغها من همّها واعتزامِها
I mounted my resolve toward it; the soul has a riding mount
I roused my will though my soul lingers,
that carries it onward through its purpose and determination.
To tell her of its concerns and determination.
ورفَّعتُand I rose منfrom خفضthe abasement of الكرىslumber بابنwith a son of حُرّةٍa free woman
ورفَّعتُ من خفض الكرى بابن حُرّةٍ
تجودُlavishes لصونيto protect me عينُهhis eye بمنامِهاits sleep
تجودُ لصوني عينُه بمنامِها
I rose from slumber's abasement with a free woman's son,
And I raised up, despite my own disgrace,
whose eye gives up its sleep to protect me.
Ibn Hurra's aid whose eye protects me while he sleeps.
يَصَمُّis deaf سواهanyone but him عنto دعاءِthe call of زميلهِhis traveling companion
يَصَمُّ سواه عن دعاءِ زميلهِ
إذاwhen ماever الثريّاthe Pleiades عُلّقتْwas hung فيin مَصَامِهاits fixed station
إذا ما الثريّا عُلّقتْ في مَصَامِها
Anyone else is deaf to his companion's call
He ignores all else when his friend calls
when the Pleiades hang in their fixed station.
As cedars are hung with votive rags.
وقالand he said اِقضِaccomplish ماwhat تقضِيyou would accomplish وفيand in الليلthe night مُهلةٌrespite
وقال اِقضِ ما تقضِي وفي الليل مُهلةٌ
فأسرارُfor the secrets هذيthese العيسِpale camels تحتbeneath ظلامِهاtheir darkness
فأسرارُ هذي العيسِ تحت ظلامِها
He said, 'Accomplish what you would; the night allows time,
And he says: fulfill what you will by night, respite comes,
for these pale camels' secrets lie beneath their darkness.
For the secrets of this doe hide in the dark.
تياسَرْturn left بناwith us واتركand leave لقومٍfor some people يمينَهمtheir right side
تياسَرْ بنا واترك لقومٍ يمينَهم
وبِعهمand sell them عراقَIraq الأرضthe land غَبناat a loss بشامِهاfor its Syria
وبِعهم عراقَ الأرض غَبنا بشامِها
Turn us leftward, and leave those people their right;
Good fortunes comes to us but leave to people
sell them the land's Iraq, at a loss, for its Syria.
Their Iraq, so long deceived by Syria.
فكمso how many راحةٍa palm بيضاءَfair ثَمَّthere وسَحنةٍand a face
فكم راحةٍ بيضاءَ ثَمَّ وسَحنةٍ
ترىyou see الرزقَlivelihood فيin صِفاحِهاits broad surfaces وابتسامِهاand its smile
ترى الرزقَ في صِفاحِها وابتسامِها
How many a fair palm is there, and a face
How much untroubled peace, smiles,
in whose features and smile you see your sustenance!
Provisions spread out in the open.
وأنديةٍand councils حبُّbeads العلاglory منamong عقودهاtheir necklaces
وأنديةٍ حبُّ العلا من عقودها
وأيدٍand hands كنوزُtreasures المالwealth تحتbeneath كِمامِهاtheir sleeves
وأيدٍ كنوزُ المال تحت كِمامِها
And councils whose necklaces contain the beads of glory,
Circles where love of knowledge links their bangles,
and hands with treasures of wealth beneath their sleeves,
And hands whose treasures hide beneath their sleeves.
وقومٍand a people علىfor تعظيمrevering ملككyour kingship لُوحِمتْwere fused
وقومٍ على تعظيم ملكك لُوحِمتْ
لدُنْfrom when خُلقتthey were created لحُوُمهاtheir flesh بعظامِهاto their bones
لدُنْ خُلقت لحُوُمها بعظامِها
and a people whose reverence for your kingship was welded
And people whose bodies were created
from creation into their flesh and bones.
To revere your power, bone and flesh.
أثِرْهاrouse them ورُحْand depart فالنُّجحُfor success عندat مسيرهاtheir setting out
أثِرْها ورُحْ فالنُّجحُ عند مسيرها
مغرِّبةًheading west والعجزُand failure عندat مقامِهاtheir remaining
مغرِّبةً والعجزُ عند مقامِها
Rouse them and depart: success lies in their journey
Seek it though success comes at the goal,
westward, and failure in their staying put.'
Going astray while failure waits at rest.
ولكنand yet ببغدادٍin Baghdad فماthen what أنتyou صانعٌdoing
ولكن ببغدادٍ فما أنت صانعٌ
وحظُّكand your share منهاof it شعبةٌa branch منof كرامِهاits noble men
وحظُّك منها شعبةٌ من كرامِها
But in Baghdad—what will you do,
You can do little in Baghdad
when your share there is a branch of its noble men?
Where your fortune is but a sip of its wine.
جبالُmountains بنيthe sons of عبدAbd الرحيمal-Rahim وسُحُبهاand their clouds
جبالُ بني عبد الرحيم وسُحُبها
كعهدكas you knew them فيin إرسائهاtheir firm anchoring وانسجامِهاand their rainfall
كعهدك في إرسائها وانسجامِها
The mountains of the sons of Abd al-Rahim and their clouds
Mountains of Bani Abdal Rahim and their clouds
remain as you knew them, firmly anchored and pouring down.
Are as you found them, concordant.
قبيلٌa clan بهمthrough whom شُدَّتwere fastened عُراكَyour bonds فلمso never تكنcould
قبيلٌ بهم شُدَّت عُراكَ فلم تكن
لتملكَto command كفُّthe hand of الدهرTime حلَّthe loosening of عِصامِهاtheir binding cord
لتملكَ كفُّ الدهر حلَّ عِصامِها
A clan through whom your bonds were fastened, so that
A tribe whose might cannot be spanned
Time's hand could never gain power to loosen their binding cord.
For the days and nights grab at it uncontrolled.
همthey انتقذوكَrescued you واللياليwhile the nights ضواربٌwere striking
هم انتقذوكَ والليالي ضواربٌ
بكلكلهاwith their chest فيin ضغطهاtheir crushing pressure وزحامِهاand their crowding
بكلكلها في ضغطها وزحامِها
They rescued you while the nights were striking
They found you an ember and blew away
with their chests, in their crushing pressure and throng.
The winds until it was ablaze.
وهمand they وجدوكfound you جمرةًan ember فتضعَّفواthen redoubled
وهم وجدوك جمرةً فتضعَّفوا
لهاfor it الريحَthe wind حتىuntil طبَّقتْit spread everywhere بضرامِهاwith its blaze
لها الريحَ حتى طبَّقتْ بضرامِها
They found you an ember, and redoubled
You were named after their qualities
the wind for it, until its blaze spread everywhere.
And what you gained of their order and arrangement.
بأوصافهمfor their virtues سُمِّيتَyou were named واحدَthe peerless one of دهرهِhis age
بأوصافهم سُمِّيتَ واحدَ دهرهِ
وماand what نلتَهyou attained منthrough ضبطِهاrecording them ونظامِهاand their ordering
وما نلتَه من ضبطِها ونظامِها
For their virtues you were called the peerless man of his age,
How many who envied you they provoked
and for what you attained in recording and arranging them.
To discontent and sickness of heart.
وكمand how often كثَّرواthey multiplied منof حاسديكyour enviers وأشرجواand sealed shut
وكم كثَّروا من حاسديك وأشرجوا
صدوراbreasts علىupon شحنائهاtheir rancor وسَقامِهاand their sickness
صدورا على شحنائها وسَقامِها
How they multiplied your enviers, and sealed
Your enemy they count as theirs, though he
breasts shut upon their rancor and sickness!
Shares no legal tie or forbidden bond.
وعدُّوكand they counted you نفساa soul منهمُone of them ماnot لهمfor them بهاin it
وعدُّوك نفسا منهمُ ما لهم بها
مساهَمةٌa share فيin حِلِّهاits lawful affairs وحرامِهاand its forbidden affairs
مساهَمةٌ في حِلِّها وحرامِها
They counted you a soul of their own, yet claimed no
You lose no ally by leaving them,
share in its lawful and forbidden affairs.
Like an approved pasture freed of its bit.
وماand not أنتyou إنif حُمَّتْwas decreed نواكyour departure بتركهمby leaving them
وما أنت إن حُمَّتْ نواك بتركهم
سوىexcept مهجةٍa soul مأذونةٍgranted leave بجمَامِهاfor its rest
سوى مهجةٍ مأذونةٍ بجمَامِها
If your departure is decreed and you leave them, you are
What sharer does the king's leader have
only a soul granted leave to rest.
When his secrets emerge from hiding?
وهلand is there عنin place of زعيمthe champion of الملكkingship فيamong الناسpeople عائضٌa replacement
وهل عن زعيم الملك في الناس عائضٌ
إذاwhen كشَفَتْuncovered مخبوءةٌa secluded woman عنfrom خِدامِهاher anklets
إذا كشَفَتْ مخبوءةٌ عن خِدامِها
Can anyone among men replace the champion of kingship,
A lineage of glory which grew with him
when a secluded woman bares her anklets?
As nobility's essence flows in his cup.
سلالةُa scion of مجدٍglory زادincreased فيهاwithin it قِرانُهاits union
سلالةُ مجدٍ زاد فيها قِرانُها
كماas الكرمُthe vine معنًىan essence فضلُهits excellence فيin مدُامِهاits wine
كما الكرمُ معنًى فضلُه في مدُامِها
A scion of glory, enhanced by its union,
With him it transcended the zeal of youth
as the vine's essence has its excellence in its wine.
To a peak they make way for in awe,
ترقَّتrose بهwith him هِمّاتُهhis ambitions قبلَbefore سِنِّهhis age
ترقَّت به هِمّاتُه قبلَ سِنِّه
إلىto ذروةٍa summit خلَّواthey withdrew لهfor him عنfrom سَنامِهاits crest
إلى ذروةٍ خلَّوا له عن سَنامِها
His ambitions raised him before his years
Eyes still perplexed beneath it
to a summit whose crest they yielded to him.
When aspiring up to dare the ascent.
تظَلُّremain العيونُeyes دونهاbelow it مستريبةًdoubtful
تظَلُّ العيونُ دونها مستريبةً
بألحاظهاof their glances إنif رفَّعتrose high فيin اقتحامِهاassailing it
بألحاظها إن رفَّعت في اقتحامِها
Eyes beneath it remain doubtful
When it rains riders he takes the rear
of their own glances, if they rise to scale it.
Hand on reins, though the lead was his right.
إذاwhen قطَّرتthrew headlong بالراكبينwith the riders فرِدفُهُthen his seat
إذا قطَّرت بالراكبين فرِدفُهُ
علىupon سَرجهاits saddle وكفُّهand his hand فيin لجامِهاits bridle
على سَرجها وكفُّه في لجامِها
When it throws its riders headlong, his seat remains
He followed, keeping pace with ancestral glory
upon its saddle, and his hand upon its bridle.
Except its position demanded such modesty.
جرىhe raced لاحقاًpursuing مجدَthe glory of العشيرةthe clan قادراcapable
جرى لاحقاً مجدَ العشيرة قادرا
علىof سَبقهاoutstripping it لولاwere it not for مكانُthe place of احتشامِهاreverence for it
على سَبقها لولا مكانُ احتشامِها
He raced in pursuit of his clan's glory, capable
A boy before whom old and young stand
of outstripping it, but for his reverence for it.
United as one youth in their elder.
غلامٌa youth ترىyou see أشياخَهاits elders وكهولَهاand its mature men
غلامٌ ترى أشياخَها وكهولَها
بهاamong it فِرَقاًcompanies مجموعةًgathered فيin غلامِهاits youth
بها فِرَقاً مجموعةً في غلامِها
A youth: you see its elders and mature men
When he speaks it contents them, and if he stands down
there, as companies gathered together in its youth.
His words atone for not rising to speak.
إذاwhen قالhe spoke أرضاهاhe pleased it وإنand if قامhe rose دونهاin its defense
إذا قال أرضاها وإن قام دونها
إلىto الخطبthe crisis أغنىspared سُوقَهاits shins عنfrom قيامِهاits rising
إلى الخطب أغنى سُوقَها عن قيامِها
When he speaks, he pleases it; if he rises in its defense
And if a path to glory narrows,
to face a crisis, he spares its shins the need to rise.
His clever ways thread the needle's eye.
وإنand if نقَصتْfell short منof جانبthe side of المجدglory شُعبةٌa branch
وإن نقَصتْ من جانب المجد شُعبةٌ
فشدَّthen he pressed عليهاupon it كانhe became مولىguardian of تمامِهاits completion
فشدَّ عليها كان مولى تمامِها
If a branch of glory falls short,
So it was but a mere headband its circlet lost
he presses upon it, becoming guardian of its completion.
Its gems spilling as it tipped from standing tall.
وإنand if ضاقَgrew narrow بينbetween القِرنthe opponent والقِرنand the opponent مأزِقa battlefield pass
وإن ضاقَ بين القِرن والقِرن مأزِق
ضرابُthe blows of الكماةِchampions فيهwithin it مثلُlike لِطامِهاits slaps
ضرابُ الكماةِ فيه مثلُ لِطامِها
And if a pass narrowed between opponent and opponent,
Its midpoint was knotted, strengthened by
where champions' blows were like its slaps,
Its third in linkage and arrangement.
فلمthen not تكit was إلاbut هامةa head طاحfell بدرُهاits full moon
فلم تك إلا هامة طاح بدرُها
وكفّand a hand هوتfell جوزاؤُهاits Orion فيin قيامِهاits rising
وكفّ هوت جوزاؤُها في قيامِها
then it was only a head whose full moon had fallen,
A youth who gathers wealth only to lose it
and a hand whose Orion fell as it rose.
And bestows favor with no thought of gain.
نضَتْit shed منهfrom him وُسطَىthe central jewel of عِقدهاits necklace وتعزَّزتand it gained strength
نضَتْ منه وُسطَى عِقدها وتعزَّزت
بثالِثهاthrough its third one فيin سِلكهاits thread ونظامِهاand its ordering
بثالِثها في سِلكها ونظامِها
It shed from him the central jewel of its necklace, and gained strength
Who counts livings as but for the day,
through its third jewel, in its thread and ordering.
While the wretched plan for the year ahead.
فتىa youth لاnot يربِّيnurtures المالَwealth إلاexcept لفقدهto part with it
فتى لا يربِّي المالَ إلا لفقده
ولاand not يُكرمcherishes النعمىbounty لغيرfor anything but اهتضامِهاdiminishing it
ولا يُكرم النعمى لغير اهتضامِها
A youth who grows his wealth only to part with it,
Yet I've never known him to rest at ease
and cherishes bounty only to diminish it,
Or aid his own deprivation and lack.
ولاand not يحسُبُreckons الأرزاقَprovisions إلاexcept ليومهfor his day
ولا يحسُبُ الأرزاقَ إلا ليومه
إذاwhile حسَبتْreckoned نفسُthe soul of اللئيمthe miser لعامِهاfor its year
إذا حسَبتْ نفسُ اللئيم لعامِها
and reckons provisions only for his day,
He gives openly, wealth still in his packs,
while the miser's soul reckons for its year.
While hands withhold though possessing no more.
ولمand not أرَI have seen منهthan him قطّever أولدَmore fruitful راحةًin palm
ولم أرَ منه قطّ أولدَ راحةً
وأجدىand more effective علىagainst إقلاتِهاits loss of offspring وعقامِهاand its barrenness
وأجدى على إقلاتِها وعقامِها
Never have I seen a more fruitful palm than his,
Father of goodness, I respond to the call
or one more effective against its loss of offspring and barrenness.
Of affection for you, none else stirs its bolt.
يجودhe gives freely وفيwhile in أوشالهhis scant trickles جُلُّmost مالِهِhis wealth
يجود وفي أوشاله جُلُّ مالِهِ
وتَلحَزُand are miserly أيدٍhands مالُهاtheir wealth فيin جِمامِهاtheir brimming pools
وتَلحَزُ أيدٍ مالُها في جِمامِها
He gives, with most of his wealth in scant trickles,
And I courted the aid of matched pearls
while hands are miserly whose wealth lies in brimming pools.
Then left them, wandering free of restraint.
أباO Abu حسنٍHasan لبيكat your service داعيO caller of مودّةٍaffection
أبا حسنٍ لبيك داعي مودّةٍ
سواكanyone but you يناديهاcalls to it بصَمِّيwith 'be deaf!' صَمامِهاits deafness
سواك يناديها بصَمِّي صَمامِها
Abu Hasan, at your service, caller of affection;
I turned people from them, loathe to excuse
others call to it with 'Be deaf, O deafness!'
My zeal for you was the seal on the break.
وخاطبand O suitor of أبكارٍmaidens وعُونٍand matrons حميتهاI guarded them
وخاطب أبكارٍ وعُونٍ حميتها
وخلّيتand I set you free عنهاaway from them سارحاroaming فيamong سَوامِهاtheir grazing herd
وخلّيت عنها سارحا في سَوامِها
And suitor of maidens and matrons: I guarded them,
For them a fund that grows as it shrinks
and left you free to roam among their grazing herd.
And builds as it divides and splits away.
وذَبَّبتُand I drove away عنهاfrom them الناسpeople ضنًّاjealously بعُذْرهاof their virginity
وذَبَّبتُ عنها الناس ضنًّا بعُذْرها
لمجدكَfor your glory حتىuntil كنتَyou were فضَّthe breaking of ختامِهاtheir seal
لمجدكَ حتى كنتَ فضَّ ختامِها
I drove people away from them, jealous of their virginity,
I remained a stranger, like a lonely dove
for your glory, until you became the breaker of their seal.
Solely for you, like the full moon apart.
لهاfor it مَددٌa supply تزدادit increases منهfrom it بنقصهاthrough its depletion
لها مَددٌ تزداد منه بنقصها
وتنمِيand it grows علىthrough توزيعهاits distribution وانقسامِهاand its division
وتنمِي على توزيعها وانقسامِها
It has a supply that makes it grow through its depletion,
Does doubt in me reign? Am I their deity?
and it increases through its distribution and division.
Or is it their hero turned to other men?
بقيتُI remained غريباa rarity مثلَlike عنقاءِthe phoenix of جوّهاits sky
بقيتُ غريبا مثلَ عنقاءِ جوّها
لهاin relation to it ووحيداand alone مثلَlike بدرthe full moon of تمامِهاits fullness
لها ووحيدا مثلَ بدر تمامِها
I remained a rarity, like the phoenix of its sky,
The enemies believed me to be their prophet
to it, and alone, like its full moon.
Though her signs are but words from my speech.
يرجِّمguesses فيّabout me الظنُّconjecture هلwhether أناI ربُّهاits master
يرجِّم فيّ الظنُّ هل أنا ربُّها
أمor انتشرتrose from the dead فحُولهاits stallions منfrom رِجامِهاits burial cairns
أم انتشرت فحُولها من رِجامِها
Conjecture guesses about me: am I its master,
For your dignity a ready bribe from her;
or have its stallions risen from its burial cairns?
While the honor of others is target to her arrows.
وقدand indeed آمَنَhave believed الأعداءُthe enemies أنّيthat I am نبيُّهاits prophet
وقد آمَنَ الأعداءُ أنّي نبيُّها
وكمand how many رسُلٍmessengers آياتُهاtheir signs فيin كلامِهاtheir speech
وكم رسُلٍ آياتُها في كلامِها
The enemies have believed that I am its prophet,
Due reward for how you kept her rights,
and how many messengers have their signs in their words!
And performed your duties by God and by reins.
لِعرضِكfor your honor منهاfrom it نَثرةٌa coat of mail سابغيَّةٌfull-length
لِعرضِك منها نَثرةٌ سابغيَّةٌ
وأعراضُand the honors of قومٍsome people عُرضةٌa target لسهامِهاfor its arrows
وأعراضُ قومٍ عُرضةٌ لسهامِها
From it, your honor has a full-length coat of mail,
As she cried out for your hands while fate gaped
while others' honors are targets for its arrows,
To grind, not content she be striped of meat.
جزاءًas recompense بماfor what راعيتَهyou safeguarded منof حقوقهاits rights
جزاءً بما راعيتَه من حقوقها
وأوجبتَهand you made binding منof إِلِّهاits covenant وذِمامِهاand its pledge of protection
وأوجبتَه من إِلِّها وذِمامِها
as recompense for the rights you safeguarded
And a soul called you while strangling squeezed
and the covenants and pledges you made binding.
Bent on severing her neck, binding her waist
كماas استصرختْit cried for help to كفَّيْكyour two hands والدهرُwhile Time فاغرٌwas gaping
كما استصرختْ كفَّيْك والدهرُ فاغرٌ
ليمضُغَهاto chew it لاnot قانعاًcontent بِعذامِهاwith biting it
ليمضُغَها لا قانعاً بِعذامِها
When it cried to your two hands for help, while Time gaped
You were rescue, not the sword, and like the serpent
to chew it, not content merely to bite it,
That restored the earth its milk after weaning.
ونادتْكand called to you نفسٌa soul والخِناقُwhile the noose مصمِّمٌwas tightening relentlessly
ونادتْك نفسٌ والخِناقُ مصمِّمٌ
علىaround جُولِthe rim of طوقَيْهاits two collars ومجرىand the course of حزامِهاits belt
على جُولِ طوقَيْها ومجرى حزامِها
and a soul called to you while the noose tightened relentlessly
Your well-known gifts return renewed
around its two collars' rims and the course of its belt,
Should I forget, neglectful as they fade.
فكنتَso you were مكانَin place of السيفthe sword نصراhelp وكالحياand like rain
فكنتَ مكانَ السيف نصرا وكالحيا
أعادrestored رضاعَthe suckling of الأرضthe earth بعدafter فطامِهاits weaning
أعاد رضاعَ الأرض بعد فطامِها
you were help in place of the sword, and like the rain
If you're consulted you judge by her rule,
that restored the earth's suckling after its weaning.
Bending to her sway, appealing to her arbitration.
عوايدُrecurring gifts منfrom نعماكyour bounty يرجِعreturns وصلُهاtheir bond
عوايدُ من نعماك يرجِع وصلُها
جديداrenewed إذاwhenever ماever خفتُI feared وشكَthe imminence of انصرامِهاtheir severance
جديدا إذا ما خفتُ وشكَ انصرامِها
Recurring gifts of your bounty, whose bond returns
But if she clings to you out of modesty,
renewed whenever I fear its imminent severance.
You strive to gently end such propriety.
إذاwhen سألتit asked حكّمتهاyou made it arbiter ونزلتَand you yielded بالwith the
إذا سألت حكّمتها ونزلتَ بال
سماحgenerosity علىto سلطانهاits authority واحتكامِهاand its judgment
سماح على سلطانها واحتكامِها
When it asked, you made it arbiter and yielded, with
She will never lack you as refuge in distress
generosity, to its authority and judgment.
And a door when her goal seemed out of reach.
فإنand if أمسكتْit held back بُقْيَاout of consideration عليكfor you وحشمةًand bashfulness
فإن أمسكتْ بُقْيَا عليك وحشمةً
تبرّعتَyou volunteered سعياًstriving فيfor زوالthe ending of احتشامِهاits reserve
تبرّعتَ سعياً في زوال احتشامِها
If it held back out of care for you and bashfulness,
And days of celebration came to you with delegations
you volunteered your efforts to dispel its reserve.
To tell of their continuity and permanence.
فلاso may it not عدِمتْكlose you فارجاas a reliever لمَضيقهاof its straits
فلا عدِمتْك فارجا لمَضيقها
وباباand a door إلىto ماwhat استصعبتْit found difficult منamong مرامِهاits aims
وبابا إلى ما استصعبتْ من مرامِها
May it never lack you as a reliever of its straits,
The noblest of its ornaments were conferred on her
and a door to the aims it found difficult.
Necks enchained by circlets of necklaces.
وجاءتكand came to you أيّامthe days of التهانيcongratulations بوفدِهاwith their delegation
وجاءتك أيّام التهاني بوفدِها
تخبِّرtelling عنof تخليدهاtheir perpetuation ودوامِهاand their permanence
تخبِّر عن تخليدها ودوامِها
The days of congratulation came to you with their delegation,
And the day of the festival selects its portion
telling of their perpetuation and permanence.
Of its abundance and production beyond need.
لأجيادهاfor their necks منamong حَلْيهاtheir ornaments ماthat which تعلَّقتْhung
لأجيادها من حَلْيها ما تعلَّقتْ
بهfrom it حلقاًin rings أطواقُهاtheir collars منof حمَامِهاtheir doves
به حلقاً أطواقُها من حمَامِها
Their necks have ornaments to which
For the feast, arrows of kings were appointed
their dove-collars cling in rings.
To receive their share of its plenty.
فيأخذُso takes يومُthe day of المهرجانMihrjan اصطفاءَهits chosen share
فيأخذُ يومُ المهرجان اصطفاءَه
بحصَّتهwith its portion منof فذِّهاtheir single ones وتؤامِهاand their twins
بحصَّته من فذِّها وتؤامِها
So the day of Mihrjan takes its chosen share,
It has the step of Islam and triumph tomorrow
its portion of their single ones and twins.
In Paradise, coolness and peace.
فللعيدso for the feast منfrom مِرباعهاtheir quarter-share وفضولهاand their surplus
فللعيد من مِرباعها وفضولها
سهامُthe shares of الملوكkings حُكِّمتْwere given authority فيover سهامِهاtheir shares
سهامُ الملوك حُكِّمتْ في سهامِها
The feast has, from their quarter-share and surplus,
So triumph in both and clench glory in them,
the shares of kings, given authority over their shares.
A bond no eye can see the point where it frays.
لهit has قِدَمُthe precedence of الإسلامِIslam والفوزُand triumph فيin غدٍtomorrow
له قِدَمُ الإسلامِ والفوزُ في غدٍ
بجنَّةِin the Garden of عَدْنٍEden بَردِهاits coolness وسلامِهاand its peace
بجنَّةِ عَدْنٍ بَردِها وسلامِها
It has Islam's precedence, and triumph tomorrow
Fragrance touched whatever a hoof treaded
in the Garden of Eden, its coolness and peace.
Or weighed down its surface pressing under belly and snout.
ففزْso win بهماboth of them واشددand fasten علىupon العزّhonor فيهماin both of them
ففزْ بهما واشدد على العزّ فيهما
عُرًىbonds لاnot يَرىfinds خطبٌa calamity مكانَthe place of انفصامِهاtheir breaking
عُرًى لا يَرى خطبٌ مكانَ انفصامِها
So win them both, and fasten your honor in them
No soul can claim its motto preserved it
with bonds no calamity can find a place to break,
Or its fasting redeemed it in days to come.
أشمَّlofty العلاin glory ماas long as لامسtouched الأرضَthe earth حافرٌa hoof
أشمَّ العلا ما لامس الأرضَ حافرٌ
وماand as long as ثقُلتْit grew heavy بأُحدِهاwith its Uhud وشَمامِهاand its Shamam
وما ثقُلتْ بأُحدِها وشَمامِها
lofty in glory, as long as a hoof touches earth,
and as long as it is weighted with its Uhud and Shamam,
وماand as long as أحرزتْstored up نفسٌa soul تُقاهاits piety شعارُهاits watchword
وما أحرزتْ نفسٌ تُقاها شعارُها
لذخرِas a store for غدٍtomorrow منfrom فطرِهاits breaking fast وصيامِهاand its fasting
لذخرِ غدٍ من فطرِها وصيامِها
and as long as a soul whose watchword is piety lays up
a store for tomorrow from its breaking fast and fasting.
Partial English translation: 140 of 144 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1